Incrementalists say we should wait.

We are not impatient.

We are dying.

Hair Furor

    Last week we participated in the second annual [T]Rump Roast.  As you may know, each successive speaker tries to outdo the former, usually after "trash talking" the previous effort.  For example, the commentator following us remarked:  "I didn't know you were such a fan of the man." 

    Here is a tiny, G-Rated snippet of our "tribute" to Red Don:

    This anencephalic invertebrate, this Amuse Douche, is a waste of foreskin, a human hyperbole, a urolagniac hamper bandit who could make a dung beetle puke.  He is primordial slime four billion years past its expiry date.  Half canker, half cancer.  Despite bearing an unfortunate resemblance to himself, it is hard to regard him without thinking of Jabba the Hutt.

    He proved that man has not evolved from apes.  

    Not yet, anyway. 

    He brings joy everywhere he leaves. 

    Mortality is his only redeeming feature. 

    His arguments against abortion are an irony.  

    His only contribution to human discourse was introducing Americans to the term "Backpfeifengesicht".  If he had a native language it would be Mendacity. 

     He is a sneeze on the breeze, trifling even in its own toxicity.  His historical "significance" will be overstated by an asterisk.

There Are No More Red States

James Thompson

      Republicans are experiencing Colony Collapse Disorder.  For reasons too numerous to iterate, Trump's numbers are plummeting, as is interest in special elections (even more so that usual) among right-leaners.  In the Kansas 4th--Koch's home ground--James Thompson polled within 1% shortly before the election and lost by only 6.8%.  What is more, he did so with almost no help from the DNC or the liberal media (most notably MSNBC, who have focused exclusively on Jon Ossoff).  Not bad for a Kansan without his own Wikipedia page! 

     To put this in perspective, the last Democrat to win this seat was segregationist Jon James Flynt Jr. in 1965.

Rob Quist, Montana.

      Was the Kansas 4th an anomaly? 

      Hardly. 

      True, Governor Sam Brownback is almost universally detested but that was the case on November 8th, 2016, when the district went for Trump by 20.5% while Mike Pompeo (now CIA Director) beat Democrat Daniel Giroux by 31.1%. 

     That was then.  Flash forward 5 months and the GOP is free-falling in the polls, as is enthusiasm among the remaining supporters.

    James Thompson ran an excellent campaign but he was more the result than the cause.  Simply put, the Thompson Effect is:  There are no more red districts.  By extension, his outcome underscored the obsolescence of the concept of red states. 

     Every seat should be contested.  Vigorously.  We agree that our discretionary resources should go into the tightest races.  However, the Overton Window has shifted left so far and so fast that these previously unattainable seats are the new battleground.  To wit, we should regard Jon Ossoff (Georgia 6th),  Rob Quist (Montana), Larry Barnett (Virginia 27th), and others like them as the front line.  This isn't merely a "healthy conceit" aimed at rallying supporters;  it is the status quo.

Larry Barnett, Virginia.

     We're talking about a 50-state strategy on steroids.  No more "Keep our powder dry!" nonsense.  Every challenged candidate should be supported equally, without regard to whether the nominee is centrist or progressive.  Think "Big Mo"[mentum] here:  Democratic success in one previously difficult region will translate into enthusiasm and support--including funding--in subsequent tilts.

      Everyone loves a winner!

Song for Day 83 - "Can't Go Back to Kansas" by John Stewart

Day 83 - "Can't Go Back to Kansas" by John Stewart

Kingston Trio 1961:  John Stewart, Nick Reynolds, Bob Shane.

     In the 4th Kansas district yesterday, Republican Ron Estes defeated Democrat James Thompson
by 53.3%-45%.  Dolt 45 won the 4th by 27% in November, and the outgoing Rep. Mike Pompeo, who will now direct the CIA [shudder], won it in 2010 with 59%, in 2012 with 62%, in 2014 with 66.7%, and in 2016 with 60.6% of the vote.  Each time, Pompeo faced a different Democratic opponent--sometimes more than one.  (Please, no more Duo Democrats!)

     This is one of the reddest districts in the country.  For those who don't understand momentum, this means that our worst loss between now and November 2018 may be single digits.  Statistically, that virtually guarantees a landslide in 2020.  Do the math.  Oh, and this is before we factor in recent legal decisions against gerrymandering.

Kingston Trio 1957: 
Dave Guard, Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds

     The result is remarkable in its own right--so much so that the margin isn't mentioned in most Republican accounts.  On the circuit, this is where the more ornery among us would turn to an opponent, smile, and ask:  "Do you feel something slipping?"

     For the 50-state strategy to continue to work we need to raise money, yes, but we also need to "think outside the bucks", raising the profile and goodwill of our [potential] candidates, as with regular meet-and-greets.  Not in 2018 or 2020 but today and every day.  Find some venue:  swap meets, farmers' markets, craft shows, music mini-festivals, et cetera.  Get musicians' permissions to use their videos in your food courts;  ask them if they would make one in support of the candidate(s).

     All volunteer.  $0.

     That said, what money the Democratic Party does spend on red states invariably gets more "bang for the buck" than in blue districts.  As Bill Clinton would say:  "It's called 'arithmetic'."

     Would it be too much to ask that MSNBC, at least, do stories--plural--on the races of James Thompson (Kansas 4th), Jon Ossoff (Georgia 6th), and Rob Quist (Montana)?  Can we at least organize Wikipedia pages for all of our candidates?

     In 2018 we can and will go back to Kansas.

Lyrics and Chords for "Can't Go Back To Kansas":

(C) (G) (Am) (C7) (F) (G) (C) (G)
(C) Time (G)moves like a (Am)river,(C7)
(F) You can (G)either sink or (C)swim.(G)
(C) And a wise man (G)learns to for(Am)give her(C7)
(F) For (G)all she's done to (C)him.(C7)
And (F)no-one's getting (C)younger,
And a (F)few aren't (G)getting (C)old,
It's (Am)all in what you (Em)feel,
And (D)not in what you're (G)told.

Oh, you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
I was (F)there just (G)yester(C)day,
Oh, you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
It just (D)up and blew a(G)way.
Oh, but (F)I will go on (C)loving you,
It's (F)easi(G)er that (C)way,
But you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
'Cause (F)that was (G)yester(C)day.
(G) (Am) (C7) (F) (G) (C) (G)

(C) I see the (G)sun rise and (Am)fall,(C7)
(F) And I feel the (G)earth beneath my (C)shoes.(G)
(C) Still I´m (G)stuck in my be(Am)lieving(C7)
(F) That some were (G)born and cursed to (C)lose.(C7)
But (F)nothing´s gonna (C)happen here,
That´s (F)all I´ve (G)got to (C)say,
It´s (Am)nothing to be (Em)down about,
It´s (D)always been that (G)way.

Oh, I (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
I was (F)there just (G)yester(C)day,
Oh, I (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
It just (D)up and blew a(G)way.
Oh, but (F)I will go on (C)loving you,
It's (F)easi(G)er that (C)way,
But you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
'Cause (F)that was (G)yester(Am)day. (Em) (F)(G)(C)
(Am) (Em) (D) (G) (F) (C) (F)(G)(C) (Am) (Em) (F)(G)(C)

Oh, you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
I was (F)there just (G)yester(C)day,
Oh, you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
It just (D)up and blew (G)away.
Oh, but (F)I will go on (C)loving you,
It's (F)easi(G)er that (C)way,
But you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
'Cause (F)that was (G)yester(C)day.
(G) (Am) (C7) (F) (G) (C)

When you play this alternate version, please WATCH OUT:
The distinctive high-notes run is written out
John plays during the chord change from (G) to (C)
only once, see first line of intro.
Play most of the runs on the bass-strings,
“it´s easier that way.”

(C) (Em7/B) (Am7) (Am7/G) (F) (G, highlight high notes:g-b-c-d)
(C) "And across the (G)plains of Wichita,
(C)at the farms being (Em7/B)sold at auction,(Am7)
they listened to the (Am7/G)clear New England voice (F)
cut the cold (G)Kansas sky."(C) (Em7/B)

(C) Time (Em7/B)moves like a (Am7)river,(Am7/G)
(F) You can (G)either sink or (C)swim. (G)
(C)And a wise (Em7/B)man learns (Am7)to forgive her(Am7/G)
(F) For (G)all she's done to (C)him. (C7)
(F) No one's getting (Cj7)younger,
(Dm7) But a (G)few aren't getting (C)old, (high notes:e-d)(Am)
It's all in what you (Em)feel (D)
It's not in what you're (G)told.(G/F) (G/E) (Bass run: G-A-B-D)

(Am) But you can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
(F) I was (G)there just yester(C)day.(Bass run: G-A-B-D)
(Am) You can't go back to (Em)Kansas, (D)
It just up and blew a(G)way. (Fj7)
So I will go on (Cj7)loving you, (F)
It's (G)easier that (C)way,(run, start on G-string:g-a-b-d)
(Am) And you can't go back to (Em)Kansas, (F)
'Cause (G)that was yester(C)day. (Em7/B) (Am7) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C) (G)
(C) (Em7/B) (Am7) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C) (G)

(C) I see the (Em7/B)sun rise and (Am7)fall,(Am7/G)
(F) And I feel the (G)earth beneath my (C)shoes. (G)
(C) There's no (Em7/B)need in you be(Am7)lieving(Am7/G)
(F) That you were (G)born and cursed to (C)lose.(C7)
(Fj7) So why not go on (Cj7)dreaming then?
(F) Yeah, take (G)anyone you (C)choose. (Am)
There's nothing to be (Em)down about, (D)
'Cause you either (G) win or lose.(G/F) (G/E) (Bass run: G-A-B-D)

(Am)You can't go back to (Em)Kansas,(high notes:g-f-e-d-f)
(F) I was (G)there just yester(C)day.(high notes:g-g g-g g-g)
(Am You can't go back to (Em)Kansas, (D)
It just up and blew (G)away. (Fj7)
So I will go on (Cj7)loving you, (F)
'Cause it's (G)easier that (C)way,(single notes:g-a-b-d-a)
(Am) But you can't go back to (Em)Kansas, (F)
'Cause (G)that was (C) yesterday.
(Em7/B) (Am7) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C)

 

Song for Day 82 - "Dreamers on the Rise" by John Stewart

Day 82 - "Dreamers on the Rise" by John Stewart

     "Dreamers on the Rise" from "Revenge of the Budgie" (1983) demonstrates yet again John Stewart's utter mastery of the campaign song genre (in case "The Last Campaign", "Survivors",  "Clack, Clack" and "The Last Hurrah" didn't remove any doubt).

     "Dreamers on the Rise" is a poignant view of another loss.  It is dedicated to us, and the memory of those with us in spirit.

 Lyrics for "Dreamers on the Rise":

Bobby, Buffy and John campaigning in 1968.

Ah, once
We were dreamers on the rise
We were the sun
Where the sun never shines
And we were gold
Where the night bird only flies
Oh, that's a long time you know
For that kind of wind to blow
A long time ago
We were dreamers on the rise

And twice
We said we'd begin again
And we made a vow
That we'd remain as friends
And fallen down
We said we shall rise again
Ah, that's a long time you know
For that kind of wind to blow
A long time ago
We were dreamers on the mend
A long time ago
We were dreamers on the mend

And if three
Wishes came into my life
I'd say one
Was to gaze into your eyes
And I'd say two
Would be turning back our lives
And three's a long way to go
For that kind of wind to blow
A long time ago
We were dreamers on the rise
A long time ago
We were dreamers on the rise
A long time ago
We were dreamers on the rise

Song for Day 81 - "Keep on Rockin' in the Free World" by Neil Young

Songwriter Neil Young.

Day 81 - "Rockin' in the Free World" by Neil Young

     Whether you listen to the solo accoustic  or group electric version, this song defined the difference between the right and left in the 2016 election.  When he used it to announce his candidacy, Trump used it without permission and much to the displeasure of the author.  With Neil Young's explicit and enthusiastic support, Bernie Sanders used it throughout his campaign.

     Enough said.

Lyrics for "Rockin' in the Free World" (1989):

There's colors on the street
Red, white and blue
People shufflin' their feet
People sleepin' in their shoes
But there's a warnin' sign
on the road ahead
There's a lot of people sayin'
we'd be better off dead
Don't feel like Satan,
but I am to them
So I try to forget it,
any way I can.

Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world.

I see a woman in the night
With a baby in her hand
Under an old street light
Near a garbage can
Now she puts the kid away,
and she's gone to get a hit
She hates her life,
and what she's done to it
There's one more kid
that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love,
never get to be cool.

Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world.

We got a thousand points of light
For the homeless man
We got a kinder, gentler,
Machine gun hand
We got department stores
and toilet paper
Got styrofoam boxes
for the ozone layer
Got a man of the people,
says keep hope alive
Got fuel to burn,
got roads to drive.

Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world.

Songs for Day 80 - "Nasty Man" and "Gulf Winds" by Joan Baez

Songwriter Joan Baez.

Day 80 -  "Nasty Man" and "Gulf Winds" by Joan Baez

   Having recently spoken about retirement,  legendary folksinger Joan Baez produced "Nasty Man" , taunting the erstwhile, ersatz lame dick president, Genghis Don.

Lyrics to "Nasty Man" (2017):

Here's a little song
about a man gone wrong
while building up his evil empire.
And after months of ifs and buts
the papers got the guts
to call The Man Of The Year a liar,
to call the Man of the Year a liar.

Hustlin' and bustlin'
across the big green lawn
stampin' through the famous rose garden,
but every little rose
turned up its pretty nose,
saying "You owe the earth a pardon,"
saying "You owe the earth a pardon."

Fumblin' and bumblin'
through the halls at night,
turn every light switch on,
searching for the room
where you used to be the groom
but she's packed all her jewelry
and gone.
Yeah, she's scooped up all her jewelry
and gone.

Well, the former residents
and Mrs. President
left you corn and lima beans and tomatoes.
You said "Rip 'em all out.
They'll only give you gout
and that's unbecoming for a future dictator,
and that's unbecoming for a future dictator.

And you're gonna build a wall,
the big-liest wall,
the beautifulliest wall around our borders
but here's what I think,
you better talk to a shrink,
'cause you got serious psychological disorders.
You've got dangerous pathological disorders.

Well, that's my little song
about a man gone wrong.
He's nasty from his head to his feet.
When the dirt on this man
finally hits the fan
and no one gives a damn about his tweets,
he'll be finally and forever obsolete,

     At the far end of the seriousness spectrum is the stunningly beautiful autobiographical "Gulf Winds", from the 1976 CD of that name.

Lyrics for "Gulf Winds" (1976):

It's only when the high winds blow that I wish my hair was long
Sailing through the autumn leaves singing an ancient song
Or falling in love in the streets at night at the edge of a local square
It's only that I'm here tonight thinking I was there
There are high winds on the pier tonight, my soul departs from me
Striding like Thalia's ghost south on the murky sea
And into midnight's tapestry she fades, ragged and wild
Searching down her ancestry in the costume of a Persian child
And gulf winds bring me flying fish that shine in the crescent moon
Show me the horizon where the dawn will break anew
And cool me here on this lonely pier where the heron are flying low
Echo the songs my father knew in the towns of Mexico
When I was young my eyes were wise, my father was good to me
Instead of having a flock of sons he had two other girls and me
And if we had used our Spanish names, here's the way they'd run
Thalia, Margarita and Juanita, I'm the middle one.
The screen door kept the demons in as we moved from town to town
It's hard to be a princess in the States when your skin is brown
And mama smoothed my worried brow as I leaned on the kitchen door
Why do you carry the weight, she said, of the world and maybe more?
And gulf winds bring me flying fish that shine in the crescent moon
Show me the horizon where the dawn will break anew
And cool me here on this lonely pier where the heron are flying low
Echo the songs my father knew in the towns of Mexico
My grandfathers were ministers and it came on down the line
My father preached in his parents' church when he was ten years and nine
And mama dressed in parishoners' clothes and didn't believe in hell
Her daddy fought the DAR, if he'd lived I'd have known him well
They said go find a Sunday School, we must have tried them all
I never stole from the silver plate, my sisters had more gall
One preacher said sing out loud and clear, it's the only life you've got
And the next one said be good on earth, you've another life at the feet of God
And gulf winds bring me flying fish that shine in the crescent moon
Show me the horizon where the dawn will break anew
And cool me here on this lonely pier where the heron are flying low
Echo the songs my father knew in the towns of Mexico
My father turned down many a job just to give us something real
It's hard to be a scientist in the States when you've got ideals
And mama kept the budget book, she kept the garden, too
Bought fish from the man on Thursday, fed all of us and strangers, too
But time will pass and so, alas, will most of what we know
Though tonight my memory's eye is clear as the story's being told
And I'll play ball with the underdog and sit with the child who's wrong
Be still when the earth is silent and sing when my strength is gone
And gulf winds bring me flying fish that shine in the crescent moon
Show me the horizon where the dawn will break anew
And cool me here on this lonely pier where the heron are flying low
Echo the songs my father knew in the towns of Mexico
Now father's going to India sometime in the fall
They tried to stay together but you just can't do it all
I'll think about him if he goes, there's a little grey in his hair
Though not much because he's Mexican, they don't age, they just prepare
And if he goes to India I'll miss him most of all
He'll see me in the mudlarks' face, hear me in the beggar's call
And mama will stay home, I guess, and worry if she did wrong
And I'll say a prayer for both of them and sing them both my song
And gulf winds bring me flying fish that shine in the crescent moon
Show me the horizon where the dawn will break anew
And cool me here on this lonely pier where the heron are flying low
Echo the songs my father knew in the towns of Mexico