Month: July 2024

Calamity’s Favorite Quotes

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Calamity’s Favorite Quotes:

Calamity’s Favorite Quotes:

“Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours.”

                                                                                                                                 Unknown

Who is Kamala Harris?

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Who is Kamala Harris?

Joe has passed the torch to Kamala Harris.

Who is Kamala Harris?

Editor: A previous version of this article appeared during the 2020 presidential campaign. I thought it might be a good time to replay the article about Kamala Harris’s life story.

By Cate Rees-Hessel

History in the Making

Joe Biden made history in 2020 with his selection of the bright, beautiful, and tenacious Kamala Harris as his running mate.  Now in 2024, Biden has stepped back and turned the campaign over to Harris who is about to become the first woman ever elected president of the United States. As President Biden points out, “There is no door Kamala won’t knock on, no stone she’ll leave unturned, if it means making life better for the people.”  Our beloved Joe originally met Kamala Harris through his son Beau when the younger Biden was Attorney General of Delaware.  Joe valued his son’s respect for the strong-willed Harris.  Kalama and Beau became friends when Harris was the AG for California and the two worked together on financial institution reform.

Day One

Biden knows Ms. Harris has demonstrated her ability to be a leader from day one.  As the Attorney General for the state of California, she ran one of the biggest governmental legal organizations in the world, and was a member of the Senate Judiciary and Intelligence committees when she served as Senator from California.

Rooted in Community and Excellence

Women of all races and walks of life identify strongly with this spirited heroine.  Kamala Devi Harris is 5’ 2” of pure energy and strength. This pretty, petite powerhouse has stood for justice since she was a child.  Harris is an East Bay native, deeply rooted in the area, She was born October 20th, 1964, in Kaiser Oakland Hospital, Oakland, CA.  Her name Kamala, means “lotus” and refers to empowered women.

Mom and Dad

Her parents were immigrants and academics. Donald Harris, her father, is an emeritus professor at Stanford University. Her mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris, worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.  Shyamala attended the University of Delhi, completing her undergraduate degree when she was only 19.

A Family Of Activists

Kamala’s grandmother,  Rajam Gopalan, who married at the age of 16. Rajam was considered an upper-caste wife.  She used her elite class status to help disadvantaged women in India. She was famous for driving around in a Volkswagen Beetle, announcing through a bullhorn how underprivileged women could access birth control.

Grown to the Sky

Kamala holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science from Howard University. Ms Harris  received her law degree through Hasting College Legal Education Opportunity Program for Students from Adverse Backgrounds.   She was elected as the Attorney General of California in 2010. She was reelected in 2014.  In 2016, Ms. Harris became the junior senator from California, making her the third female senator from California, and the first South Asian American senator and the second African-American woman elected to the United States Senate.

In the Beginning

Harris has always fought for our nation’s good. She has worked tirelessly for the American people, a lifelong leader for civil rights and public safety.  Kamala’s political career spans decades, and her exposure to activism started early.  Her parents, met at UC Berkeley and shared a  passion for civil rights. When Kamala was still a toddler her parent’s took her to numerous campus protests.  As a toddler, fussing little Kamala was once asked what it was she that she wanted – having already attended several civil rights rallies, the adorable, precocious tyke replied, “fweedom”.

A Childhood Like So Many Others

When she was only seven years old, her parents divorced.  Kamala was raised by her mother in a yellow duplex in Berkeley, along with her little sister Maya.  As part of integration, Kamala from the first grade,  was one of a group of students bused to Thousands Oaks Elementary School, a very prosperous upper-class Caucasian neighborhood.

Movin’ On Up

Maya and Kamala attended both an African-American Baptist church, as well as a Hindu temple, at the same time.  Ms. Harris was influenced by her grandparents when she visited India as a child.  Her grandmother was an activist and her grandfather was a government official of high-rank, both educating and fighting for the rights of the Indian people.  She attended high school in Montreal, where her mother taught at McGill University, and also held a position at Jewish General Hospital as a cancer researcher.  13-year-old Kamala, along with younger sister Maya, successfully led a protest outside their apartment building due to the policy that prohibited children from playing out front on the lawn.

Been There, Done That

Harris had wanted to be a lawyer since childhood.  Harris interned for Senator Alan Cranston of California, worked as a press aide at the Federal Trade Commission, and even served as a tour guide at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  Her role models include Charles Hamilton Houston, Thurgood Marshall, and Constance Baker Motley.  Kamala advocates for abuse victims, and works to educate the public that certain behaviors such as dress and music do not necessarily equate to gang membership.

Apples Fall Close to the Tree

Her sister Maya received a B.A. from UC Berkeley, and then her law degree from Stanford.  She was in charge of her sister’s 2020 presidential campaign, having worked in television as a commentator and as an executive director of ACLU for Northern California.  Maya’s husband, Tony West, served during the Obama administration as an Associate United States Attorney General, and now is the Chief Legal Officer for Uber Technologies, Inc., in San Francisco.

The Fruit Begins to Show

The stunning and stylish Ms. Harris joined the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha while at Howard University.  Also, during her time at the school, she ran her first campaign, for the freshman representative position on the liberal arts student council, and was also a member of the debate team.  Howard taught an excited Kamala that you can be many things – the homecoming queen can also be the valedictorian, channeling Elle Woods.

“What, Like It’s Hard?”

Daily after classes in law school, she helped potty-train her niece. Recalling the experience in 2018, Harris said, “I’m dealing with this brutal stuff, dog-eat-dog in school, and then I would come home and we would all stand by the toilet and wave bye to a piece of shit.  It will put this place in perspective.”  She passed the bar exam on her second try in 1990. The same year, she joined the Alameda County Prosecutor’s Office in Oakland, as an Assistant DA.

Working to Keep Victims From Being Victimized Further

She was recruited by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office to help end teen prostitution.  Ms. Harris’ goal for these young women was to view them as victims, not criminals, selling sex.  She has always advocated for women and children. She was instrumental in developing the San Francisco Department of Public Health program which enables emergency rooms to identify evidence of sexual abuse.   Kamala is the co-founder of the Coalition to End the Exploitation of Kids, pushing the strengthening of laws to end profiteering of those under age.  Her efforts produced San Francisco’s very first safe house for minors to escape sexual exploitation.  Ms. Harris’ creativity and influence has resulted in punishment for perpetrators victimizing youth.

Getting on the Right Track

Even when she receives criticism, she does not back down from her principals.  Kamala insists that it is imperative to be “smart on crime.”  “Back on Track” is a program, she helped design for non-violent lower-level drug traffickers. The program offers life skill and job training, with the chance to avoid a prison sentence.  Only 10% of the program’s graduates had repeat offenses, contrasted with the typical recidivism of 53% for those with drug convictions.  Her rehabilitative program is more cost-effective than jail time.  She refuses to consider offenders as lost causes.

Attending to the Heart of the Matter

Ms. Harris also targeted the truancy of elementary school children when she discovered that nearly 95% of those murdered before the age of 25 in the San Francisco area happened to have dropped out of high school.  Those who were very often absent while in grammar school were more susceptible to leave high school prior to graduation, typically by age 35 ending up dead or jailed.  She developed programs to assist parents with school attendance.

Raising the Bar

In 2003, Kamala Harris ran against her former boss  to become the first African-American female elected DA in California.  Within her first three years as the District Attorney of San Francisco, conviction rates increased from 52% to 67%.  She endorsed her friend Barack Obama when he ran for the Senate in 2004, and in 2010 she went on to win the race for the state’s top attorney.  Attorney General Harris filed a successful civil enforcement action citing “widespread misconduct” on foreclosures against OneWest Bank.

Fashion and Plate

The fashionable and funny presidential candidate often sports pearls and has an extensive collection of Converse sneakers, including platform versions and All-Stars.  Her unique style rocks; a high-low mix of classic attire.  Rumor has it she enjoys a good burrito, and loves cheeseburgers, but admits we need to establish more healthy eating habits, reducing red meat consumption.  She also recognizes the importance of American families being able to put food on the table.

Food Network Calling?

Kamala loves to cook.  In a video she shows Senator Mark Warner the proper way to assemble a yummy tuna melt.  She can roast a chicken with the best of them, using salt, pepper, chopped herbs, lemon zest, and minced garlic, trussing the poultry and allowing it 24 hours in the fridge. Then rubbing it with butter or oil, and slow-roasting it at 325 degrees for at least a couple hours, making a sauce of the drippings and using the leftovers for a scrumptious chicken salad.

Wife and Stepmom

She is married to prominent entertainment attorney Douglas Emhoff. When they married, Harris became stepmom to Emhoff two children. Harris and Mr. Emhoff met on a blind date set up by a friend. Harris is tough and courageous, yet still has a big heart – her two stepchildren affectionately call her “Momala.” JD Vance’s recent attacks on stepmother’s as less than real parent’s has set the political scene on fire.

Making History

She is also resolved and resilient – in 2017, under her persistent grilling,  AG, Jeff Sessions remarked she made him “nervous” after only three-and-a-half minutes of her Senate interrogation. The exchange went  viral. Another viral moment came during the intensive questioning of Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court Justice confirmation hearings in 2018.   During the 2019 Democratic Presidential Debates, Joe Biden quipped to Kamala Harris to, “Go easy on me, kid…,”  Six months later he chose this amazing woman to make history as his running mate, making her the first female and minority Vice President in U.S. history.

‘Beeing’ Herself

The lady Donald Trump referred to as, “nasty” and a “DEI”, we call, “insurmountable, decisive, intelligent, and caring”.  Kamala allows us to see her fun-loving side. One video shows her  attired in leggings, a jacket, and sneakers, dancing like everybody’s watching, and we are.  On November 3rd, my leggings, jacket, and sneakers are ready to join our new President-elect in a victory dance – “you go, girl….”

Joe Biden, Passes the Torch

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Joe Biden, Passes the Torch

Joe Biden has done a lot since being elected in 2025.

Joe Biden, Passes the Torch

By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel

Editor: As we adjust to a new political landscape I think we should spend a few minutes and a few words reflecting on Joe Biden, the most influential president of the last century.  Here’s a list of  what Joe’s done for this country. I and many historians believe his incredible legislative record will stand the test of time. So, here me go, a long list of what Joe has done over the last 3 and 1/2 years for the American people. This list of course does not include his accomplishments as a Senator or Vice President, those accomplishments will be addressed on another day.  Kamala Harris will bring a younger face to Biden’s policies but she supports most of them and will push for more legislation to help working and middle class families. VOTE BLUE.

  1.  Joe brought us the much needed infrastructure bill.
  2.  Joe was Vice President to our first black president, Barack Obama.
  3. Joe brought us our first female and multi-racial VP, Kamala Harris.
  4. Joe wrote and continues to champion the Violence Against Women Act.
  5. Joe has worked tirelessly to preserve Social Security for seniors and Medicaid for impoverished and disabled folks.
  6. Joe has fought his entire career for women’s rights, equality, and reproductive freedom.
  7. Joe won the largest plurality in history with his 2020 victory over Donald Trump.
  8. Joe guided our country back from the pandemic with the least economic damage of any nation in the world.
  9. Joe despite interference from the Supreme Court is working to eliminate student debt.
  10.  Joe is standing up for renters rights, advocating for a cap on rent increases, and other needed national standards.
  11. Joe got insulin prices capped at $35.00 for Medicare participants and is working at the same for other insulin dependent citizens.
  12. Joe has worked ceaselessly to expand healthcare to all Americans, today providing healthcare for more Americans than at any other time in our history.
  13.  Joe has been pushing for legislation to force billionaires pay their fair share.
  14.  Joe and his beautiful wife, Dr. Jill Biden brought class and elegance back to the White House.
  15.  Joe’s passion to address climate change, has brought money and attention to the problem including the US rejoining The Paris (climate) Accord.
  16. Joe has brought new respect to our service members. While Trump, the convicted felon, called our service members “losers” and “suckers.” Joe has worked hard to secure benefits for our veterans one such being the passage of the PACT Act.
  17. Joe Biden has stood with the LGBTQ community defending and expanding their protections.
  18. Joe never once held a Bible upside and then tried to sell “The Bible” for $60 bucks apiece. I think you can pick one up free just about anywhere.
  19. Joe is a mature silver fox, not crazy like a fox.
  20. Joe’s humor does not include insulting others.
  21. Joe is respected by world leaders, except for Putin, Kim Jung Un and  their ilk
  22. Joe cares about the war in the Ukraine – he is not Putin’s puppet- he has rallied NATO members to send money and weapons to the Ukraine to repel Russia’s invasion.
  23. Joe is working every day to end the fighting in Gaza, standing up to Hamas, and helping to end anti-Semitism in the United States.
  24. Joe is not a 34 count convicted felon, nor is he under indictment for any crimes.
  25. Joe stopped his busy work to empower little boy who stutters; an affliction that has plagued Joe since childhood, to stand tall and be proud and keep talking, you could become president one day.
  26. Joe respects people and is kind and considerate, not brash and rude like the other candidate.
  27.  Joe is truly pro union and proved it by being the only president in history to walk the picket line last year with striking UAW workers.
  28. Joe against all predictions brought unemployment to a record low, creating 15 million plus good jobs.
  29. Joe Biden has made creating “good-paying jobs,” including bringing work from overseas back to America, a central theme of his economic agenda at home.
  30. Joe has been pointing out Trump’s horrifying and insane Project 2025 plan. If you plan on voting you better read it; scary stuff.

 

Older and Wiser

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Older and Wiser

Enjoying life is important to staying happy and healthy

Older and Wiser

By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel

The Last 3 Weeks

The last three weeks have been torturous for Democrats. Joe Biden, one of the greatest presidents of the last 100 years has been under fire because he’s old. The drumbeat to pass the torch to the next generation became too loud to ignore and he has stepped down and endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris. Well, we just wanted to remind folks that many people do their best work well into their 80’s.

Age is Just a Number…

Folks in their 70’s, 80’s, and beyond are still going strong. Here are 80 examples of individuals still rockin’ it; capable, determined, and resilient:

  1. Betty White was entertaining audiences until the age of 99 – this Golden Girl let nothing stop her.
  2. Dick Van Dyke – still vital and funny at 98.
  3. Carol Burnett – still as lovely as ever and doing MeTV promos at age 91.
  4. Barbara Eden – pretty as a picture at 92.
  5. Mary Kaye Ash – was still keeping her skin care empire in the pink at 83.
  6. Patrick Stewart – as sexy as can be and still captain of his ship at age 84.
  7. Engelbert Humperdinck still has the pipes to croon the most romantic songs and tour at 88.
  8. Kent McCord (Jim Reed on “Adam-12”) at 81 is still doing voice overs, and involved in the Screen Actors Guild; he and his bride have been married 62 years.
  9. Clara Peller – she brought us the iconic “Where’s the Beef?” line forty years ago, starting her acting career at the age of 81; prior to that she was a manicurist and beautician for 35 years.
  10. Eric Estrada – as handsome as ever, still acting, and assisting law enforcement to help keep children safe at age 75.
  11. Robert Redford – good looking and active activist at the age of 87; as part of his very lengthy resume, he had a role in two Marvel films, the most recent in 2019.
  12. Randolph Mantooth, age 78, and Kevin Tighe, 79 – they continue to advocate for EMS and paramedicine, which their acting work helped create, and recently were working on producing a paramedic reality show.
  13. Rick Springfield – sexy, handsome and tearing up concert stages at age 74
  14. Angela Lansbury – was still acting, beautiful, and elegant at age 97 before she passed away in 2022.
  15. Julie Andrews – beautiful, regal, and still going strong at 88.
  16. Carol King – the phenomenal lady is still lovely and melodic, entertaining audiences at 82.
  17. Barbara Hale – known to many as Della Street, was still very vital at age 94.
  18. Della Reese – an ordained minister and actress until age 86.
  19. Anthony Fauci – now age 83, sustained us through the COVID crisis; director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 38 years until 2022.
  20. Jonas Salk – director of the virus research lab at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School when he created the polio vaccine; at his Salk Institute, he was diligently working on an AIDS vaccine until his death at age 80.
  21. Stanley Sacks – at age 100, has been practicing law for 75 years in Norfolk, Virginia.
  22. Warren Buffet – he has complained he doesn’t pay his fair share in taxes; at 92, and has been CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, number 7 on the Fortune 500 list, for nearly 60 years.
  23. Roger Penske at age 84 has been CEO for 25 years at Enterprise Products Partners.
  24. Joe Grier, at 99, is working full time at Victory (a Planter Company), making molds for awards and trophies.
  25. Mike Nussbaum – Had the pleasure of sharing appetizers with him at a Chicago Shakespeare reception; at age 99 he was the oldest working actor in America.
  26. Sara Dappen – per oldest.org, at age 92, finally retired from McDonald’s.
  27. Michelin Star sushi chef Jiro Ono – still active at age 97.
  28. Dolly Saville – at age 99, retired from her work as a barmaid at Britain’s Red Lion Pub.
  29. Jim Clements – in Essex, England, worked in the office of a security firm until age 100.
  30. Irving Kahn – retired from investment banking at age 109.
  31. Eileen Kramer – still dancing as a performing ballerina at age 108 – check her moves out on Youtube; she began dancing over 80 years ago in 1943.
  32. Senator Dianne Feinstein – retired last year at the age of 90.
  33. Walter Bingham – at age 99 was the oldest working journalist, in Israel; a heroic Holocaust survivor.
  34. Governor (Republican) Kay Ivey is running the state of Alabama nearing age 80.
  35. Buddy Guy – still touring, singing the blues at age 88.
  36. Dolly Parton – been performing since 1956, this beautiful lady is 78.
  37. The legendary Victor Borge continued to perform until his passing at age 91, having done so for 83 years.
  38. Magda Olivero – opera diva still belting out arias at 96 years old.
  39. Margaret Tunes – was still singing age 104; an African-American beauty that made her Met debut at age 55.
  40. James Ivory – director and screenwriter; won his Academy Award at age 89 in 2018.
  41. George Takei – strident activist, writer, and actor, 87.
  42. Barry Manilow – sensational singer/songwriter; still touring at age 81.
  43. Pope Francis – living a life worthy of Christ, while overseeing the Catholic Church at 87
  44. Robert Di Nero – actor, including recent Oscar nominee for “Killers of the Flower Moon”, father, and family man, recently on the cover of People Magazine, at 80.
  45. King Charles – monarch of the United Kingdom and cancer fighter at age 75.
  46. Lou Zambelli – at 87, still works 7 days a week at the family fireworks plant of the Zambelli pyrotechnic dynasty, manufacturing custom specialty shells (per the company’s website).
  47. Mel Brooks – still active producer/director at 97 years young.
  48. Quincy Jones – continues to produce music at age 90.
  49. Berry Gordy – producer and Motown founder, still going at 94.
  50. Al Pacino – still sexy as ever at 83.
  51. James Earl Jones – still intoning that signature bass in acting at 93.
  52. David Attenborough – another icon at age 97
  53. Michael Caine – still a silver fox at 90.
  54. Martha Stewart – the lifestyle maven, still creating and absolutely beautiful at 82.
  55. Joan Collins still stunning at 90.
  56. William Shatner – 93 and literally out of this world (in sub-orbital space) just 3 years ago, the oldest person in space.
  57. Kim Novak – still lovely and working at age 91.
  58. The “Hart to Hart” favorites still shine – Stephanie Powers at 81, and Robert Wagner, recently active in a recurring role on “NCIS”, at 94.
  59. Willie Nelson – still making music at 90.
  60. The two remaining of the Fab Four – Ringo Starr, 83 and Paul McCartney, 81.
  61. Gene Hackman – still can hack it at 94.
  62. Rita Moreno – full of energy at age 92.
  63. Morgan Freeman – the legend, active actor at 87.
  64. Gena Rowlands – still full of life at age 93.
  65. Eva Marie Saint – one of my favorite actresses; absolutely beautiful, gracious, and talented at 99.
  66. Clint Eastwood – age 93, ‘nuff said.
  67. The powerhouse pair, Lily Tomlin at 84, and Jane Fonda at 86 – both still activist and actors.
  68. Chuck Norris – 84.
  69. Tippi Hedren – vivacious vigor at age 94.
  70. Bob Newhart – still playing the ultimate straight man at 94.
  71. Robert Duvall – acting at 93.
  72. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are both 80 – still tearing up the stage…
  73. Buzz Aldrin may no longer be in orbit but still active at 94.
  74. Ellen Burton – very pretty and present at age 91.
  75. Joel Grey – still the incomparable man, also at 91.
  76. Ruth Westheimer – continued to prove a good sex life keeps you young, up until her recent passing at age 96.
  77. Senator Bernie Sanders – still advocating for American people at age 82.
  78. Harrison Ford – ever the rakish rogue, now just the silver fox version, continuing his career at 82.
  79. Hellen Mirren – the perennial great actress, who was on the runway during Paris Fashion Week this past October, now 78.
  80. Judi Dench – another ground-breaking female, who had even taken on the classically male role of James Bond’s boss “M”; won an Oscar two years ago, still working at age 89.

 

 

Some are Saying it Was an Inside Job

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OPINION:

Some are Saying it was an Inside Job

Some are saying it was an inside job

OPINION:

Some are Saying it was an Inside Job

 **Editors note. This is an opinion piece and Calamity News and Politics is neutral on this topic.

By Anonymous II

It seems like more and more often I find my writing fueled by outrage. My current outrage centers on the bedwetters in the Democratic Party and the hysterics in the media; instead of focusing on the dangers of a second Trump administration, the Republican 2025 Plan, and now the assassination melodrama.

For the last two weeks the only news filling the airwaves has been dump demented old Joe. This is in spite of old Joe having had the most significant presidency in the last 90 years. No one said the transition would be complete in four years. There is still much to do.

The news of an assassination attempt against Trump has finally changed the focus of the news. Unfortunately, the incident has only amped up Trump’s message of hate and violence instead of tamping it down. As a conspiracy theorist friend of mine said, ‘it’s a plot by Trump to solidify his position as targeted and persecuted.’ You know kinda like Jesus Christ.

As my friend noted, Trump doesn’t care that people were killed. He hadn’t given a fuck on January 6th when people were getting wounded and killed; so why would he give a fuck now? My friend’s thought was that Trump would have a small device tucked behind his ear and when Trump’s paid shooter started firing Trump would detonate the device which would ignite behind his ear making it appear he was shot.

My friend is convinced it was an inside job.

Who Would You Rather Run the Nation?

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Who Would You Rather Run the Nation?

I'd rather be Joe Biden than Donald Trump

Who Would You Rather Run the Nation?

Editor’s Note: Over the last couple days most of the political talk shows have been rehashing Joe’s poor debate performance. I think it involved terrible optics. Why did his people allow him to be facing away from the camera? Whoever it was on the presidents team that okay’d the studio lighting should be horsewhipped. And the total incompetent that was responsible for Joe’s make up should be fired.  So much of what happened was visual. In response to all the negative chatter Cate Rees-Hessel and hubby Wes Hessel wants to have a word with you. 

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel

 

Winner, and Still Champion…

After the first presidential debate, I must say that I honestly feel President Biden won. Why? Because he actually answered the questions, didn’t whine or insult like a spoiled brat, and he was honest. Would you rather have a slow talker that tells the truth, or a fast-talking felon as president? Yes, it comes down to this.

A Real Leader

Joe had a cold – his voice was a bit soft and raspy, but his answers were solid. He spoke slowly with his stutter, but that has never stopped him from being an effective leader. He has even helped empowered a little boy who has a stammer challenge, because Joe Biden is a good man. He cares about America. Even if you felt his lost his train of thought at times during the debate, many of us need to pause to think in order to give an intelligent answer. Taking a moment to compose yourself is not a sign of weakness, especially when you’re not feeling well from a bad cold – our President got the job done, because he is a professional. “The Donald” was arrogant, spewing the same old hate instead of giving legitimate answers.

Run, Joe, Run…

After the debate, our president said he walks a bit different, does not debate as well, but knows he can continue to run our nation because he is mentally and physically fit. He quipped that he is not a young man – that is stating the obvious – but I truly feel he does not look or act his age at all. When he accepted his victory in 2020, Joe jogged to the podium like a man half his age – that was only four years ago. I can recall President Obama stating that before his presidency he was a much younger man. The office can age a person, but President Biden is still as strong as ever.

Breakfast (Lunch, and Dinner) of Champions

He was on fire when he gave the State of the Union a few months back. One slow talking debate does not mean he is not able to continue being a strong leader. Donald Trump is only three years younger than President Biden. Just look at them – it’s clear Joe is in better shape than Trump, and that’s without the hair and makeup jobs that Trump has used for years. President Biden eats nutritious food, not a diet of junk food; he exercises and does not have the stress of a possible jail sentence like the Donald has.

Running Mate

Joe Biden also has a very capable vice president if Lord forbid something were to happen to him. Kamala Harris is a very capable woman that can run the country well. Trump has not even chosen a running mate – Lord only knows whom our president would be if Trump’s felony convictions or poor diet catch up with him. Rumor has it Marco Rubio may be his choice, and frankly Marco scares me with his extremist mind set and Tea Party-type association.

Just a Number

Age is just a number. Patrick Stewart at 84 is a fine actor, intelligent and powerful and still a little bit sexy. Engelbert Humperdinck is still entertaining audiences live at age 88 with a clear voice, moving about the stage with vigor and grace. Carol Burnett is still on the tube for MTV at 91, and Dick Van Dyke is going strong at 98 years old. And Clint Eastwood is still directing movies at 94. In fact, his recent thriller “Juror #2” should be released around Christmas. The number of capable senior citizens that continue to handle challenging careers is growing.

The Right Choice

I am voting for the silver fox, in the ever so cool Aviators. Joe Biden, is one of the best presidents to ever serve this country. Joe Biden is the first real working man’s president. Joe Biden knows what its like to worry if there will be enough money to make it through the month. He will stand up to terrorists, foreign and domestic. His administration has created a record number of jobs, cares about the environment and women’s rights, including reproductive freedom. Women with unsafe pregnancies that are approaching death’s door before they can get the medical treatment they need, can rely on Joe Biden to save their lives. He will protect the children already on this Earth with nutritious school lunches, quality child and health care.

Clean Up Man

Are prices higher than before Joe Biden took office? Yes, they are because during Trump’s reign of terror, the pandemic raged unchecked, leading to rampant deaths and economic collapse. Americans are back at work now, thanks to the hard work of Joe and Democratic lawmakers, and it’s only a matter of time before prices begin to decline, but only if President Biden remains in office. Trump gives tax breaks to big business and the ultra-wealthy, not caring if Americans can put food on the table.

…vs. Sell His Soul

Maybe you don’t like President Biden, perhaps he is not your first choice for whatever reason, but please recognize he is the only choice, because the alternative(s) is unthinkable: a convicted felon that holds the Bible upside down and then tries to sell them for sixty dollars apiece. A racist that tries to claim a connection to the African American community because he is now a convicted criminal, and wears gold sneakers that he is also peddling. That is the biggest insult to the Black community that I can even imagine. And his claim that immigrants are stealing “black jobs” should outrage us all. And then the rarely mentioned third candidate Robert Kennedy Jr, who is an extremist anti-vaxxer who claims a now dead worm ate a portion of his brain. Oh my. The choice is clear, Joe gets four more years.

What a Leader Looks Like

The real man of God is the one who prayed during his inaugural speech, attends church on a regular basis for worship of the Higher Power, not himself, and does not participate in “locker room talk”. A convicted felon cannot vote, so how can one run for political office? Donald Trump, the person that wants to be president, has lost his right to vote – think about that. He didn’t belong in the Oval Office before, and he certainly does not now.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

President Biden respects women – he wrote the Violence Against Women Act; he respects our military – his son served. He’s created a record number of good jobs, brought unemployment down, is daily working to protect our labor force and our unions. Joe stands up to large corporations, getting them to pay their fair share of taxes. He got insulin capped at $35.00, finally affordable for those that need it to control diabetes. Allowing Medicare (the government) to negotiate drug prices is another big Biden win.

Oh, Sleaze…

Donald Trump brought us the first “lady” with a belly button staple, President Biden brought us a beautiful Doctor of Education, a true lady. There is no doubt about it the Biden’s have brought class and dignity back to the White House. The Trump era had a mice infestation and a chief rat in the Oval Office. Don’t let our nation go back to being the laughingstock we were during the orange monster’s “presidency”. Trump had the audacity during the debate to refer to the Biden era as an embarrassment – this is surely the pot calling the kettle gray. There’s a reason, well, dozens of them, why he wasn’t reelected. Donald Trump promised a bloodbath if he does not win; don’t let that bully scare you, vote blue and the authorities will stop the violence. He promise to be a dictator from day one should on itself be disqualifying.

Democracy in Action

America is a democracy. We have the best economy in the world after the pandemic because Joe Biden took office – he is the clear choice. President Biden promises to stay in the race after this debate, because one debate does not define a President. A record of making a needed infrastructure bill happen, decreasing student loan debt, limiting rent raises for tenants, saving social security for our seniors, these things define a good president. “When you get knocked down, you get back up” – President Biden got right back up; ninety minutes does not define a presidency.

Go, Go, Go, Joe…

I agree with my girl Jill, there is no one I would rather see in the Oval Office than her husband, a President for the people, not a criminal puppet of Vladimir Putin. Let’s go Joe, four more years; there is still more work to be done, and you are the man to do it.

“Go, go, go, Joseph, you know what they say

Hang on now, Joseph, you’ll make it some day

Don’t give up, Joseph, fight till you drop

We’ve read the book, and you come out on top…”

(Go-Go-Go Joseph, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Andrew Lloyd Webber)