tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977625681756554695.post7244977974075124692..comments2024-03-26T13:46:42.738-05:00Comments on 4 Quarters, 10 Dimes: Continued Stray Thoughts on the Current Political ClimateDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463621516644789183noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977625681756554695.post-67654492977001140092019-03-31T17:49:09.388-05:002019-03-31T17:49:09.388-05:00What's interesting is backdating those ages to...What's interesting is backdating those ages to 1776 when the Revolution started. Lafayette, Monroe, Burr, and Hamilton were teenagers.<br /><br />Of course, people died younger then too.<br /><br />There are two definitions of home that I've always liked. One comes from Molly Ivins, who once said that "home is where you understand the bastards." The other is mine - the brain is an electrochemical organ, the earth has a strong magnetic field, and I figure home is where your magnets line up. For me both of those definitions point to Philadelphia and its western suburbs.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03463621516644789183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977625681756554695.post-72922821652565269682019-03-31T17:39:23.294-05:002019-03-31T17:39:23.294-05:00Surprised by a couple of those ages. Some of those...Surprised by a couple of those ages. Some of those guys went on to be elected to the Presidency decades after the Constitution was adopted.<br /><br />And 'sclerotic' sent me to the dictionary again. Good word. Thank you.<br /><br />I suppose that "home" is where your heart is, not necessarily where you currently hang your hat. In my case, both heart and hat live here in North Eastern Nevada (even though I was born in SLC, I never once considered the 'Land of Zion' my home).<br /><br />LucyLucyInDisguisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08169432604954981941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977625681756554695.post-53049944264011424442019-03-31T17:27:19.229-05:002019-03-31T17:27:19.229-05:00The Founding Fathers were surprisingly young at th...The Founding Fathers were surprisingly young at the time of the Revolution, but by the time the Constitution was written they'd mostly have been in their forties or fifties. Here's a list of how old some of them (and some general Revolutionary figures) were in 1787, when the Constitution was written:<br /><br />Marquis de Lafayette 29<br />James Monroe 29<br />Aaron Burr 30<br />Hamilton 30<br />Gouverneur Morris 35<br />Madison 36<br />John Jay 41<br />Benjamin Rush 41<br />Charles Cotesworth Pinckney 41<br />Elbridge Gerry 43<br />James Wilson 45<br />Thomas Jefferson 46<br />Ethan Allen 49<br />Thomas Paine 50<br />Patrick Henry 51<br />John Adams 51<br />Robert Morris 53<br />Richard Henry Lee 55<br />John Dickinson 55<br />George Washington 55<br />George Mason 62<br />Samuel Adams 64<br />Roger Sherman 66<br />Ben Franklin 81<br /><br />Note, however, that this is considerably younger than the average age of Representatives (58) and Senators (62) today.<br /><br />I suspect that the new members of Congress are indeed shaking things up, and I wish them success in doing so. The sclerotic hold of the right wing extremists needs to be broken and half measures aren't going to do that.<br /><br />Hey - we're okay with adulthood here! Drinking is encouraged, the previous junta made firearms mandatory in all public spaces and events including kindergartens, weddings and baptisms (which, come to think of it, doesn't really help my case so forget that), and right now only the legislature and the Supreme Court are evil, which is a one-third reduction now that we have an Actual Governor and not a Koch Brothers meat puppet.<br /><br />Besides, it's not my home state. I just live here. It's a nice place to live most of the time, even if the politics have been catastrophically evil since 2011.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03463621516644789183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977625681756554695.post-18156871173544643422019-03-31T16:43:37.828-05:002019-03-31T16:43:37.828-05:00I was wondering, and too lazy to do the research -...I was wondering, and too lazy to do the research - My impression from talking to people over the years is that most believe the Founding Fathers were a bunch of old white guys (emphasis on OLD). I believe they were more likely in their late 20s and 30s. Young and Idealistic - not old, and entrenched in the ways of yore.<br /><br />The freshman members of Congress seem to have the old guard shaking in their boots, and ready to call retreat at the drop of a drumpth.<br /><br />One must be allowed their fantasies, correct?<br /><br />The thing with the John Oliver link is the interview he does with Monica at the end of the segment. Eye opening. <br /><br />And, finally, cheese curds are not enough. Actual cash would not be enough. Not intending to diss your home state or anything ... but at least here adulthood is legal, and the state government is not actually evil.<br /><br />LucyLucyInDisguisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08169432604954981941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977625681756554695.post-36486034600592319642019-03-31T16:11:19.638-05:002019-03-31T16:11:19.638-05:007. I'll be first in line to buy tickets for th...7. I'll be first in line to buy tickets for the award ceremony. <br /><br />I'm guessing that's why the loyal minions of der Sturmtrumper have tried so hard to force him to resign in the wake of the coverup of the Mueller Report. They know he's a dangerous opponent, and like any bully they're afraid of someone who won't be cowed (see AOC, below).<br /><br />9. I will try to watch that soon - I'm knee deep in grading essays right now, and I'll need a break. John Oliver is definitely a voice of sanity these days, and that's enough to be a national treasure in the current political climate.<br /><br />18. Can we drop an anvil on some folks, then? It would be funny, even if in such a universe all that would happen would be that they'd distend into weird shapes, walk off camera, and then come back for the next go 'round.<br /><br />22. Jim can have whatever position he wants as far as I'm concerned.<br /><br />24. But we do have cheese curds! That has to count for something.<br /><br />25. Sometimes I wonder how much of her being an asshole is just a distraction from her being evil, and sometimes I wonder if that distinction is worth making at all. <br /><br />29. You know, the original draft of that item ended with "I'm guessing 1980." Great minds, and all that. :)<br /><br />34. That would be cool if she did.<br /><br />37. AOC has perhaps the clearest picture of what's going on and what needs to change of anyone currently in Congress or in the Executive Branch, which is why der Sturmtrumper and his minions, lackeys, cronies, and enablers hate her so much. They have no idea how to handle a non-white, non-male, intelligent and uncowed critic. I think she'll be old enough to run for president in 2024 (or possibly 2028), and I hope she does.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03463621516644789183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977625681756554695.post-38579031530038541592019-03-31T15:02:05.814-05:002019-03-31T15:02:05.814-05:00You’re definitely letting it all hang out, as it w...You’re definitely letting it all hang out, as it were.<br /><br />7. There is currently no such thing as a “Congressional” medal of honor. But the time is nearing when we should create such a thing. And Adam Shiff (D-CA) should be the first Congress Person to be awarded that honor. IMHO.<br /><br />9. If you haven’t already seen this:<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq7Eh6JTKIg<br />you should take 26.1 minutes and watch it. Seriously, John Oliver may not yet be a Citizen, but he has become a National Treasure - Worthy successor to Jon Stewart.<br /><br />18. [EditorMode] Understatement. “You know things have entered the Coyote & Roadrunner Universe when” …<br />[/EditorMode]<br /><br />22. Okay, if not President, how ‘bout “Jim Wright for Secretary of Interior War” ?<br /><br />24. Let’s just remind everyone why I don’t live in Wisconsin, shall we? I mean, that’s a pretty complete list you’ve made up there …<br /><br />27. Watching that, ahhhh, ahhhh, (there isn’t an actual noun I can use here that won’t offend something*) try to defend the budget cuts for the Special Olympics left a perfect impression of my lower jaw in our hardwood flooring. It would never have made it through the budget process, but still.<br /><br />29. “ … to be a hoarder?” I recognize a rhetorical when I see one; however, this has at least one actual factual answer:<br />November 4, 1980.<br /><br />34. STOP saying that - I’ve run out of eyes to keep on this shit! (Note to Rachel: I have also run out of pins to stick in it.) (Oh, come on, you know she reads this blog.)<br /><br />37. IMNSHO, AOC is our present-day Audie Murphy**. She charges the line, metaphorically dropping hand grenades into tanks, and machine-gunning those who impede her advance to victory.<br /><br />She appears to have a clearer vision of from where this country has fallen, and where it needs to go than any other politician currently on the front lines. Hopefully, the DCCC will veer away from its recently announced plans to become the New Republican Replacement Douchebag Party, and allow more Citizens like AOC to be elected by the Electorate.***<br /><br />May Thor grant her the protection of His Mighty Hammer and shield her from harm…<br /><br />Lucy<br /><br />*Some<i>thing</i> = intentional.<br />**For the unfamiliar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Murphy<br />***In the odd chance you unaware: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/3/30/1846545/-Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez-Blasts-the-DNCC-for-picking-winners-in-Democratic-Primaries?utm_campaign=trendingLucyInDisguisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08169432604954981941noreply@blogger.com