The Spider Series Commercial
“I’ve finished my 3 book Spider Series. If you’re into hot sex and heart pounding adventure please check it out. Available on Amazon. Thank you for your interest and support. D. S. Mitchell aka “Calamity” at Calamity News and Politics.

“There is nothing more inspiring than taking action against injustice.” D.S. Mitchell 2025

“If stupidity got us into this mess, why can’t it get us out of it.” Will Rogers

“If you can’t be a poet, be a poem.” David Carradine

“No god would want a child killed in his name.” D.S. Mitchell 2023

“Without music, life would be a mistake.” Friedrich Nietzsche

“Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair.” ― George Burns

“A politician thinks of the next election – a statesman of the next generation.” – James Freeman Clarke

“I want to disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed.” Arthur Ashe

“Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and it’s beauty.” ― Albert Einstein

“So the America I loved still exists, if not in the White House or the Supreme Court or the Senate or the House of Representatives or the media. The America I love still exists at the front desks of our public libraries.” ― Kurt Vonnegut

“Let’s just remember that social security is not the government’s money, it belongs to the people who had it taken out of the checks involuntarily their entire working lives.” Mike Huckabee

“I have insecurities of course, but I don’t hang out with anyone who points them out to me.” ADELE

“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.” Christian Grey

“My favorite old car had no reverse gear. It taught me I could only go forward.” Flavia

“Education is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela

“Those who think they can control the mob are fools and are often the victims of their own incitement.” D.S. Mitchell 2021

“A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

“If now isn’t a good time for the truth I don’t see when we’ll get to it.” Nikki Giovanni

“Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes the reason is that you are stupid and make bad decisions.” Your mother

“Studying American politics has taught me several disgusting lessons, the first being, money buys friends in Congress. That alone should terrify the American public.” D. S. Mitchell 2021

“My art is my heart.” D. S. Mitchell 2015

“Love life and life will love you back. Love people and they will love you back.” Arthur Rubenstein

“Every lie is like stepping in a quicksand pit. Every lie as dangerous, as telling the truth.” D. S. Mitchell 2020

“Sometimes when challenged we find out we are capable of the unthinkable.” D. S. Mitchell 2022

“Surround yourself with those on the same mission as you.” Anonymous

“Dimming the lights will not hide the social injustice in America.” D. S. Mitchell 2017

“The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true. So I elect for neither label.” – James Branch Cabell

Smile

"If puppies and kittens don't make you smile, you might consider therapy." D. S. Mitchell 2015.
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill

“Every moment is a fresh beginning.” T. S. Eliot

“Voting is like a prayer.” Raphael Warnock 2021

“We are all valuable. The problem is not everyone is smart enough to realize it.” D. S. Mitchell 2021

“I wonder, if you were blind, lost and confused, would you care what color the offered hand?” D. S. Mitchell 2015

“Silence in front of savagery is savagery itself.” Abhijit Naskar

“To be happy and contented, count your blessings, not your cash.” Chinese Proverb

“We can never be too busy to be kind.” D. S. Mitchell 2017

RIP RBG

“The rain falls because the cloud can no longer handle the weight. The tears fall because the heart can no longer handle the pain.” The Wise You

“Let my old days be my best days,” Cousin Lucille

“In no instance have… the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.” James Madison

“Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it, but to delight in it when it comes.” Charles Dickens

“Thoughtful people are slow to anger, not necessarily less efficient in their killing.” D. S. Mitchell 2019

“Endings are not always bad. Most times they’re just beginnings in disguise.” Kim Harrison

“The United States like so many countries around the world has chosen to give to the few and deny the many.” D.S. Mitchell 2020

“It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. This is true, its called life.” Terry Pratchett

“Trickle down economics is like having three dogs and giving one of them a hot dog, and thinking he’ll share.” Bill Maher

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” John Kenneth Galbraith

“When people start acting as though the past is the same as the present and context doesn’t matter, things start to get dangerous.” Trevor K. McNeil 2020

“Pardoning the Bad, is injuring the Good.” – Benjamin Franklin

“I don’t need to attend every argument I’m invited to.” Unknown

“I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret between the shadow and soul.” Pablo Neruda

“Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” ― Bruce Lee

“I have been far oftener discriminated against because I am a woman than because I am black.” Shirley Chisholm 5/21/1969

“The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they pass unobserved.” ― George Washington

“We only fail when we fail to try.” Rosa Parks

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have little.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” Thomas Jefferson

“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.” Albert Einstein

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

“The 7 Social Sins are: Wealth without Work; Pleasure without Conscience; Knowledge without Character; Commerce without Morality; Science without Humanity; Worship without Sacrifice; Politics without Principle.” Frederick Lewis Donaldson

“All evils are equal when they are extreme.”-Pierre Corneille

“Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.” John F. Kennedy

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” Isaac Asimov

“People without vaginas shouldn’t be able to regulate them.” Unknown

“What this country needs is more unemployed politicians.” Edward Langley, artist

“Be sure to put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” Abraham Lincoln

“When sleeping women wake, mountains move.” Chinese proverb

“If people stopped searching for things that offended them and started looking for things that inspired them; what a wonderful world this would be.” Night Owl

A Poem For Don and Vlad
“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” Booker T. Washington

“To argue with a person who has given up reason is like administering medicine to the dead.” Thomas Paine

“Imagination is the bridge between the things we know for sure, and the things we need to believe, when our world becomes unbearable.” Staceyann Chin

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” Steve Jobs

“Inspiration descends only in flashes to clothe circumstances; it is not stored up in a barrel, like salt herrings to be doled out.”Patrick White

“I will not allow my life’s light to be determined by the darkness that surrounds me.” Sojourner Truth

“Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.” Doug Larson

“Law without humanity is injustice.” D. S. Mitchell 2020

“Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear, is the beginning of wisdom.” Bertrand Russell

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” Plato

valuable article
What folks are saying
- Cate Rees Hessel on A Trunk of Trump Junk
- Cate Rees Hessel on A Trunk of Trump Junk
- D'Arcy Mies on What’s Joe Biden Done? Plenty. . .
- Suzanne on What’s Joe Biden Done? Plenty. . .
- Osman Aksamlija on What’s Joe Biden Done? Plenty. . .
Month: December 2024
A Woman of a Certain Age: Political Edition
A Woman of a Certain Age :
The Political Edition…

A Woman of a Certain Age:
The Political Edition…
By Cate Rees-Hessel
- If you campaigned for Shirley Chisholm, you might be a woman of a certain age…
- If you know who Shirley Chisholm is…
- If you brought a folding chair to the table…
- If you campaigned for Mondale/Ferrara…
- If you’re not going back…
- If you voted against Reaganomics…
- If you know what Reaganomics is, just think “trickle down.”
- If you think President Biden is a hottie…
- If you think Donald Trump is a hottie, ewwwww – you actually need a comprehensive eye exam, at the very least…
- If you’re not going back…
- If you stood on street corners in the sun and rain to fight for ERA, reproductive freedom, going to bat for girls in sports…
- If despite your aches and pains, you are still willing to stand on street corners in the sun and rain again to fight for ERA, reproductive freedom, and girls/women in sports…
- If you can remember when women couldn’t get credit in their own names…
- If you voted for Jimmy Carter…
- If you’re not going back…
- If you subscribed to Ms. Magazine…
- If you know who Gloria Steinem is…
- If you’re old enough to be JD Vance‘s mother or grandmother, but glad you aren’t…
- If you thought we would finally see a women President after years of fighting for a female when Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris gave it their all…
- If you’re not going back…
- If you want your daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters to have equality and inclusion…
- If you quote Eleanor Roosevelt, Roslyn Carter, or Jackie Kennedy Onassis…
- If you think Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone…
- If you remember that awful day in Dallas when President John Kennedy was assassinated…
- If you’re not going back…
- If you were a founding member of NOW…
- If you remember Watergate…
- If ever wore a POW/MIA bracelet…
- If you are a “childless cat lady”…
- If you have ever been barefoot and pregnant, but your daughters and granddaughters are wearing shoes because you fought for freedom…
- If you ever declared, “we are young, good looking, we’ll be there”, and you’re empowered because you were there…
- If you’re not going back…
- If you attended Woodstock or Live Aid…
- If you participated in Hands Across America…
- If you never joined a protest in your youth but felt compelled to do so during Trump’s original term, please do so again…
- If you campaigned against the swimsuit competition in the Miss America pageant…
- If you’re not going back…
- If you supported Vanessa Williams when the scandal broke…
- If you thought Party Hearst might have possibly been not guilty…
- If you feel “Hell no, we won’t go” bubbling from your soul, because we are “NOT GOING BACK”…
Trump’s Terrible Legacy
Trump’s Terrible Legacy
Trump’s Terrible Legacy
By Cate Rees-Hessel
Not Again
As we approach Trump’s second inauguration, something I thought I would never say, allow me to point out 25 things he has done prior to his taking office again in 2025. We must resist this insanity…
- The pandemic – need I say more. So many deaths while the Donald told us COVID-19 was nothing to be afraid of; he then tried to take credit for the life saving vaccines that President Biden put into play to save lives and end the pandemic. So very many businesses closed permanently and are still shutting down. Many retailers and restaurants reduced their hours as our economy completely shut down, and the resulting skyrocketing costs are still with us now. Trump’s minions refused to comply with President Biden mask mandate or believe in science despite Dr. Fauci’s warnings.
- The Donald is trying to take credit for all of President Biden’s accomplishments, like the much needed infrastructure bill and the $35 insulin cap for seniors…
- Trump is a convicted felon who can’t vote, so how can he be in public office, especially the Oval Office? He is a rapist. What a horrific message we are sending our young ladies. The adulterer that talks about amazing sex with wives of friends is who the right wing fundamentalists are worshiping. Have no other gods before Him is what the Bible teaches us, yet they place the orange haired monster that held a Bible upside down on a pedestal.
- Our country is a world wide laughing stock, and history is about to repeat itself.
- Donnie boy is delusional, making remarks about being better looking and smarter than our beautiful and intelligent Vice President, the woman who by my thinking, should have won the 2024 election.
- Trump promises to be a dictator from day one, threatening to over throw our democracy, telling his brainwashed followers they will never need to vote again. He is old and in apparently poor health, so who does he think will run the country when he is gone? JD Vance is inexperienced and heavily disliked by both parties. Vance referred to “The Donald” as a Hitler prior to becoming his running mate. Mike Pence his first running mate refused to run with him again.
- January 6th – need I elaborate? The blood-curdling violence that shook our nature to the very core. Where were the fundamentalists? Why didn’t they pray for peace?
- Hitler faked assassination attempts during his reign of terror, and I honestly believe so did the Donald in Butler, PA, this past summer, and later at the golf course. There are many suspicious things regarding these shootings. There was innocent loss of life at that rally…
- Mass deportation awaits us. I am very glad to see sheriff’s departments refusing to comply with Trump’s racist hatred, especially since it would likely be an unfunded mandate…
- He made fun of a disabled journalist, mocking the man for having been born with a disability.
- He threatens to remove Social Security, leaving seniors and those on disability with no means of support. He wants to cut federal nutrition programs, and is now telling his followers that reducing the cost of groceries will be very difficult.
- Tax cuts for billionaires, while our money that was paid into social security, he wants to stop hard working retirees from receiving money we earned.
- His anti-Semitism is so very apparent, wishing he had generals just like Hitler had.
- His wife, our first naked “first lady”, and a complete embarrassment to our country.
- Elon Musk, enough said.
- Selling tacky tennis shoes, Trumpy Bears, and vodka, late night television junk, unbefitting a public official, yet alone the president.
- He has the audacity to autograph Bibles, as if the Word of God actually needs an endorsement from a convicted criminal. This is clearly blasphemous, egocentric behavior.
- Trump feels he is above the law, and had the complete nerve to say that black folks will now understand him because he is a convicted felon. This despicable racist comment stands against common decency and we need to fight back.
- “Windmills cause cancer,” again enough said.
- When asked this so called Christian what Easter is about he said to spend time with family. The actual gospels, had he ever read it, not just turned it over outside of church he never attended, clearly explains that Easter is the core of the Christian faith, the resurrection of Jesus. Sure, we can spend Easter with family, but that’s not the actual reason for the Easter celebration. Any member of any Christian denomination should understand this to be Christianity 101…
- Trophy hunting, penned animals; yet again enough said.
- He is incapable of opening the door to a garbage truck. How can he run the nation?
- His cabinet choices make no sense – pandering at its worst.
- He brags about the destruction of reproductive freedom, while a woman having a natural occurring miscarriage are now likely to bleed to death in hospital parking lots instead of receiving standard life saving care.
- Project 2025, a very frightening proposition of right wing idiocy that can literally destroy our freedom.
Putin’s Puppet
Please, President Biden, invoke the Fourteenth Amendment now to stop “Donnie boy” from destroying America. Merrick Garland please do your best to put him in prison, where he certainly belongs before it’s too late. We don’t want Trump’s terrible legacy which can lead to the ruination of our nation as we know it, further damaging the country we hold dear. The evil one who called our hard working military “suckers” and “losers” will once again have access to our nuclear codes – Putin’s puppet can cause an all out nuclear war.
The Anti-Christ and McDonald’s
God help us, please save our nation from this false prophet who is an anti-Christ and the biggest danger to our democracy in history. Trump is not just a few fries short of a happy meal, he is missing the cheeseburger. He is not capable of running our country anywhere but into the ground. Resist – we are not going back. Ruth Bader Ginsburg has passed the torch down to us – it’s time to stand up for what’s right and “The Donald” is just not right about anything. When we fight we win. Let’s follow Michele Obama’s sound advice and “Do something”. I pray for peace, and hope for a miracle, because the Donald just won’t do…
How to Save Money this Holiday Season
How to Save Money this Holiday Season

How to Save Money this Holiday Season
By Cate Rees-Hessel
It seems that everyone wants and needs to save money this holiday season – perhaps we are quite worried the upcoming Trump tariffs and his recent admission that it will be very difficult to bring down grocery prices. If only we had Kamala coming, instead, but since we don’t, here are some unique and practical ideas for your last minute holiday shopping. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah on a budget…
- Recycle and re-gift.
- A well thought out thrift gift is perfectly fine, as long as it’s in good condition.
- Nothing wrong with a white elephant Christmas grab bag.
- Homemade gifts are often appreciated – after all you created it with your own two hands.
- It’s the thought that counts, not the amount spent. A nice card for a dollar store gift as long as it’s tasteful is fine if that’s all your budget will allow.
- e-cards save postage and are environmentally friendly.
- Give homemade gift certificates for babysitting, cleaning, lawn mowing, and the like.
- Potluck dinners can be a fun way to enjoy each other’s company
- There are many free holiday movies on streaming, and paid streaming services offer great deals during the holidays.
- Host a spa party to get everyone holiday ready. Saves money on professional nail, hair, and makeup services.
- Live trees are often cheaper later in the season – the closer to Christmas, the cheaper the tree.
- Go caroling.
- Host a party right after Christmas – holiday food and décor will be half off or more…
- Pass that fruitcake back and forth – okay, maybe not.
- Go to a food pantry or clothing swap.
- Many libraries offer craft and cooking classes for free – most include the supplies.
- Last year’s holiday outfits with a change of accessories will look fresh and fashionable.
- Festive foods don’t need to be expensive – look online or at your local library for recipes.
- Classic TV favorites or nostalgic episodes of old shows with a bowl of popcorn and hot chocolate are always fun
- An ornament swap is a great way to change decorations for a new look.
- Cookie exchanges are a yummy way to enjoy fellowship and a variety of Christmas cookies.
- Build a snowman.
- Family game night with finger foods or pizza is a great form of entertainment.
- Read the Christmas story “The Night before Christmas” aloud in your pajamas.
- Dreidel parties with chocolate coins are very festive.
- If you can’t afford eight nights of gifts, consider gifting the first and last night, and maybe have a trinket grab bag the other six nights.
- How about a gift the entire family can enjoy: board games, tins of popcorn, box of chocolate? If your budget allows, a television, computer, Soda Stream, or air fryer, for example. Anything your household will enjoy…
- Pet gifts can be cans of food or treats or doggy, kitty sweaters – furbabies can receive practical gifts, also.
- Stocking stuffers can be stock uppers like toothpaste and brush, socks, deodorant, razors, and the like.
- Local light displays are usually, free and some neighbors actually set up lights that move to music that you can listen to on your car radio.
- Midnight mass, church services, and school concerts are beautiful and free ways to celebrate the holiday season.
- House parties for New Year’s Eve are cheaper and safer – champagne and alcohol are not a requirement to have fun. Above all, never drink and drive…
- Homemade noise makers, pots and pans, musical instruments, etc., can all be fun with no cost.
- Silly party hats can come out of your closet, no cost and environmentally friendly. No cardboard hats to throw away after midnight.
- Television football games and parades with a light brunch and/or snacks are a great way to enjoy the company of loved ones.
- A sock puppet show with a painted cardboard box stage is a great holiday craft project for children.
- A living room song and dance show is also fun and creative.
- Look for Groupon-type offers, BOGO’s, and coupons.
- Borrow and barter.
- Out of season clearance gifts are fine. The pool toys and swimwear season will be here sooner than you think. During the bitter cold winter, the promise of warm weather might just be a welcome gift.
Holiday Reflections and Inflections
Holiday Reflections and New Year’s Inflections

Holiday Reflections and New Year’s Inflections
By Cate Rees-Hessel
Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Kwanzaa, everyone. I have been thinking about unique holiday gifts this season, not the same old, same old. A classic carol came to mind as I began to ponder unusual presents…
Too Much of Good Things?
“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree. ” A cute, quiet little birdie in a tree the bears fruit, a gift that keeps on giving – Amazon does have everything.
On the second day, “two turtle doves” – doves signify peace, very appropriate for the season and our often crazy world.
The third day brings us more birds, “three French hens” – no offense to those birds, but French perfume would suit my tastes a bit better.
The fourth day. “Four calling birds”, more avian gifts – it’s getting just a bit crowded in here, and surely the neighbors will call the cops with all the squawking…
“Five golden rings” – jewelry! Much better, thank you.
Day six geese, even more feathered friends – they are a-laying on my best holiday quilt and making quite the mess. My true love is getting on my last nerve…
The seventh day, swimming swans – what’s with all these birds? Perhaps a pair of tickets to see Swan Lake would be a more appropriate present?
Number eight, maids milking – I do enjoy an ice cold glass of fat free milk, and who can’t use the services of a good maid, but this is kind of overkill…
“Nine ladies dancing” – please refer to number seven, tickets to the ballet – thank you.
“Ten lords a leaping” – what the heck kind of goofy gift is this? These clumsy dudes are scaring my pets and destroying my home decor.
“Eleven pipers piping” – I met a very understanding police officer, courtesy of my next door neighbor…
Phew, we made it to the last day, a full dozen drummers, drumming up even more noise. and I am seriously considering taking out a restraining order. Perhaps my true love should have purchased a gift card for a massage and pedicure, much more my style…
New Year, New You…
And then, of course, Happy 2025. Hopefully, we are all resolving to show love and kindness to others, this year and always.
Resolute!
I realize many of us have personal resolutions to enrich and better our own lives: for example, I resolve to buy more shoes and drink more mocha lattes – I believe in making resolutions that I know I can keep. Hopefully, my husband has resolved to be a bit more careful with the outside mirrors on our Mini Cooper; this will certainly improve his wellbeing. I, in turn, could resolve to allow him to sleep indoors, since our puggle Sasha misses the use of her house.
Food for Thought…
Of course, I realize resolutions can come in many different forms. Perhaps many of you might be traditionalists, for instance, resolving to lose weight. As a plus-size princess, I have learned to be comfortable in my own skin, but I do advocate healthy eating and exercise. We can all resolve to eat healthier by avoiding processed foods, preservatives, and sodium intake. I am resolving to stick with Meatless Mondays and enjoy a wide variety of fish – our cat Prada applauds this part of my resolution.
Stretch Yourself
If you are anything like me, exercise needs to be fun – a stroll through the dog park, or a dance class at the park district or local studio can help one reach my fitness goals. I certainly hope you dance in the coming year, but whatever you resolve to do, remember to do it with style.
Old Long Since
On a more serious and reflective note, we remember a beautiful version of “Auld Lang Syne” by Celtic Woman; it got me to thinking about that New Year’s Eve favorite – many artists have sung it, including a lovely rendition by Barry Manilow. The song actually derives from an old Scottish poem – I never really thought about the lyrics much except to have always considered them to be just a bit depressing. “Should auld (old) acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind”. There are many old acquaintances that I truly care to remember and remain acquainted with. Those who are no longer here, the reminiscence can be rife with sadness, yet oddly comforting. Some whom have gone on and many whom still remain in our lives, of course, don’t always bring happy memories.
Greet Someone Different Than You
Several years ago, we attended a fabulous Kirk Franklin concert on New Year’s Day. Mr. Franklin talked about saying hello to someone you didn’t know, as well as not taking certain people into the new year with us. Truth be told, there are certain folks I don’t care to take into the next minute with me. Getting rid of toxicity in our lives can often be the best resolution we can make – heartbreaking as it can be, sometimes a clean break is for the best.
Forgive, But Not Forget…
The Lord teaches us to forgive, but forgiveness does not mean to carry another person’s bad behavior with us through the coming months. Let bygones be bygones but do so with wisdom – maybe that is what this song is trying to communicate. When our hearts are heavily burdened, it’s time for a spiritual and emotional renewal.
Those who Forgot History, Doomed Us to Repeat It
The phrase, “Let go and let God” comes to mind, however, as we enter 2025 we are forced to take “The Donald” with us, much to the disappointment of many of us. With 49.5 per cent of the vote it is clear Trump did not receive a mandate to do anything. Less than half the electorate chose a repeat term of terror by the orange-haired former “occupant” of the Oval Office; but we must endure in resistance with the help and hope of the Lord. We will “take a cup of kindness yet” and have a stiff drink from it, as we offer God’s grace and walk away from those that don’t enrich our lives, because self-care has style…
Deals No One Bought, Or Should Ever Buy
Deals No One Bought, Or Should Ever Buy

Deals No One Bought, Or Should Ever Buy
By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel
- That damn Trumpy Bear from late night television.
- Trump Vodka – we have enough Russian piss to deal with…
- Tacky gold sneakers that are certainly not Chucks.
- JD Vance hair care kit (clarifying shampoo definitely not included) – his hair isn’t the only thing that is oily…
- Donald Trump Chia head.
- MAGA (made proudly in China) red hat – watch for the tariff exception…
- Anything souvenir to do with the Trump inauguration.
- A 2024 calendar (election sold separately)…
- Beaded Trump head earrings – yes, I actually saw these hideous creations online…
- Earrings made of safety pins – they won’t help hold our nation together (or fix any of the gross damage)…
- Fake pearl toilet paper earrings left over from 2020. We all have enough crap to deal with…
- Trump’s memoirs for bathroom reading – should you receive this as a “gift” and run out of toilet paper, be prepared for a hefty plumbing bill…
- Anything from the boxes in the Mar-A-Largo bathroom.
- A membership in the JD Vance Barefoot and Pregnant Society.
- Putin puppet theater, complete with an orange-haired marionette.
- Red neck ties (read that any way you want)…
- “Fail to the Chief” remix recording, sung by Hershel and the Hillbillies..
- Vintage Apprentice bored game
- Box set of “The Apprentice” on VHS
- Cat and dog dinnerware.
- Deportation vacation.
- Commemorative brick from the fallen border wall.
- Trump garbage truck.
- Big Mac gift certificate.
- McDonald’s French fry machine replica toy used by Donnie boy – most parents prefer educational toys…
- McDonald’s Not Happy Meal with a toy Trump figurine.
- Anything designed by Melania.
- Fake blood pellets left over from the Donald’s fake assassination attempt.
- Trumpo-monopoly game – missing the Get Out of Jail Free card
- Autographed Trump mug shot – wait a minute, this I might buy…
- Vance and Trump candle set – um, hold on…
- “My Pillow” anything.
- Pussy cat stuffed animal that hisses when you grab it (caution: kitty also has claws…)
- Locker talk handbook for creepy old men.
- Orange toupee.
- A video of “The Donald” swaying to a 45 minute 1960’s music playlist.
- JD Vance non-fashion doll.
- 34 guaranteed felony escape gift certificates…
- Toy Trump Train – no self-respecting tree would have that thing underneath it; besides, personally I’m still ridin’ with Biden…
- Anything signed by the blasphemous Donald – I have no respect for anyone who scribbles on the Word of God, nor does the Scriptures need anyone’s endorsement, especially from someone consistently breaks the majority, if not all, of the Ten Commandments…
For Giving Tuesday (or any other time), support any or all of these or other progressive organizations, by giving what you can or by volunteering. In the wise words of Michelle Obama, this holiday season and beyond, “do something”…
The Christian Left: https://donorbox.org/friends-of-tcl
The Progressive Jewish Fund (PJF): https://www.nif.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/pjf/
Democratic National Committee (DNC): https://democrats.org/
The Barack Obama Foundation: https://www.obama.org/
MoveOn: https://front.moveon.org/
The Lincoln Project: https://lincolnproject.us/
National Organization for Women (NOW): https://now.org/
Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/
ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/
Southern Poverty Law Center: https://www.splcenter.org/
Wildlife Conservation Society (formerly World Wildlife Federation): https://www.wcs.org/
The Humane Society of the United States: https://www.humanesociety.org/
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): https://www.aspca.org/
PETA: https://www.peta.org/
Sierra Club: https:`//www.sierraclub.org/
National Audubon Society: https://www.audubon.org/
World Food Program USA (WFP – part of UN): https://www.wfpusa.org/
Feeding America: https://www.feedingamerica.org/
March of Dimes: https://www.marchofdimes.org/
Doctors Without Borders: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
UNICEF: https://www.unicefusa.org/
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): https://www.unrefugees.org/
The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Amnesty International (AI) USA: https://www.amnestyusa.org/
24 Things to be Thankful For
24 Things to be Thankful For
24 Things to be Thankful For
By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel
A Sad Day
Thanksgiving 2024 was a very sad day for so many of us. It’s unbelievable that Donald Trump has once again been elected president of the United States. But despite that despicable result, we still have many things to be thankful for. I was heartbroken hearing a favorite and familiar hymn being sung by right-wing conservative fundamentalists, when Trump received the number of electoral votes to win the election.
Blasphemy
I do still question the legitimacy of this outcome, and intend to fight back by joining in any and all peaceful protests against “The Donald” and JD Vance. As a devout liberal Christian of Jewish heritage, I found the singing of this hymn for Trump’s “win” to be blasphemous.
In This Storm
I do find comfort, however, in the lyrics of one of my favorite Christian contemporary songs by the very talented CCM recording artists “Casting Crowns”. For almost the past two decades “Praise You in this Storm” has brought me comfort. I am not sure where this band stands politically, but the music brings me hope. “Although my heart is torn, I will praise you in this Storm”. I do believe that God is in control, but I will always vehemently disagree with anyone supporting the orange monster, even those I care about.
24 Reasons
But there are things to be yet thankful for in the holiday season. I want to offer encouragement to our saddened world this holiday season, so here are my twenty four things to be thankful for in ‘24…
- I am thankful for loved ones, including my furbabies.
- I am thankful that while we celebrate the conclusion of this year that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are still in office.
- I am thankful for the Lincoln Project.
- I am thankful that we can still put a turkey on the table this Thanksgiving before we have one in the White House again. My spouse feels calling Trump a turkey is an insult to the mean, cantankerous, stupid fowl, but it’s a far less insulting term than the ones I usually reserve for the Donald.
- I am thankful for Harris-Walz, and the honest campaign they ran.
- I am thankful for Democrats and our fight to retain democracy against the “dictator from day one”.
- I am thankful for certain Republicans like Liz Cheney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and others that actually voted against Trump.
- I am thankful for Mary Trump.
- I am thankful for feminist pride.
- I am thankful for every woman that did not die from miscarriages and lack of health care before the extremist “anti-abortion” laws, and I am broken hearted for those who perished at the hands of the tyrant Trump.
- I am thankful to currently live in a free democracy.
- I am thankful for the right to vote, and hope to continue living in our nation as I pray it remains a free country.
- I am thankful for necessary government programs that benefit the disabled, children, and seniors, but will I be able to say this next Thanksgiving? I hope so, but I am not holding my breath.
- I am thankful for those willing to fight for our freedom – our military will never be “suckers” or “losers”, no matter what the immoral orange haired monster calls them.
- I am thankful that I live in a state with a very strong Democratic governor.
- I am thankful for the many women that I have stood with over the years that fought for equality – we still won’t go back.
- I am thankful for COVID vaccines that President Biden made available after the Donald wrecked our economy and cost thousands to lose their lives with the mishandling of the pandemic.
- I am thankful the pandemic is over and we can finally manage COVID, thank you again to the Biden administration, as well as Dr. Fauci and all those who worked tirelessly to slow down and stop the pandemic.
- I am thankful for my neighbors that have immigrated to our nation in hopes of a better life or to be with family, but will they be deported?
- Although I am not diabetic, I am thankful for insulin being capped at $35 for those who do need it.
- I am thankful that no one’s cats or dogs were actually eaten – that rumor was started by a racist crazy man whose lemmings voted him unbelievably into office again.
- I am thankful that I am a childless cat lady that proudly voted for Kamala Harris and will continue to show my love for children and furbabies in my own ways, joining the many women who although are not mothers per se, are vital and strong without the approval of Mr. Vance.
- I am thankful I don’t use any of JD Vance’s hair products – I thought Brill Cream went out in the 1960’s.
- I am thankful that I won’t be purchasing blasphemous books that I simply can’t refer to as God’s Word signed by Trump (the Bible in no way needs his endorsement), or the bevy of Trumpy souvenirs this holiday season. My fireplace just isn’t big enough for MAGA hats and hideous gold sneakers, or worse yet Trumpy Bear (and burning those hats, sneakers, or “bear” would be toxic)…
In Conclusion
I would be very thankful to see Trump sentenced to prison for his 34 felonies this week. That would be a holiday miracle to benefit the greater good. Yes, our hearts are certainly torn up for sure, but we must not give up hope. Happy Trump-free holiday season for everyone. In closing, thanks to our current Biden Harris administration for the second year in a row the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner cost less than in previous years. Be blessed and stay safe everyone…









































































