Who is President Volodymyr Zelenskyy?

Who is President Volodymyr Zelenskyy?

Who is President Volodymyr Zelenskyy?

By Cate Rees-Hessel

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a man of courage and class, who, while being insulted by the demon and the demon’s apprentices in the Oval Office, on national television, no less; showed incredible dignity in response to the attack. This man has many positive attributes – below are just a few:

  1. He earned a law degree, but never practiced law, instead opting for a career in entertainment, working as a comic and actor. He is both funny and eloquent. From 2013 thru 2019 he played a fictional Ukrainian president on television. The show was called “Servant of the People,” which in real life he certainly is. On New Year’s Eve 2018-2019 he announced his candidacy for the president of Ukraine. He  received 73.23% of the vote – the largest landslide in Ukraine presidential election history. Donald Trump can never hold a candle to President Z…
  2. Born to Jewish parents, his native language is Russian. (Remember, Ukraine declared independence from the collapsed Soviet Union in 12/1991). Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a true man of peace…
  3. This handsome and classy gentleman was born January 25, 1978. Donald Trump can never hold a candle to President Z…
  4. He became interested in theater while in school, and it became his main career focus. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a true man of peace…
  5. He appeared in many feature films, including a farce utilizing his natural comic timing – he appeared in romantic comedies, as well. Donald Trump can never hold a candle to President Z…
  6. He declared he would enter politics and successfully made it all the way to the presidency of the Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a true man of peace…
  7. He does not need a business suit to look his best and command attention. He would look better in a burlap sack than Trump or Vance ever will. Donald Trump can never hold a candle to President Z…
  8. He gave up his acting and comedy career to become a servant to the people of Ukraine.
  9. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a true man of peace…he won his country’s presidency on 4/23/2019 and was sworn in on 5/20/2019.
  10. During the COVID crisis he created a national mitigation strategy crafted to limit the spreading of the then deadly virus. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a true man of peace…
  11. He passed a law curbing the influence of oligarchs. Donald Trump can never hold a candle to President Z…
  12. He is a peacemaker, even delivering a televised plea for peace directly to the people of Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a true man of peace…
  13. World leaders recognize him as a man of integrity, including former President Biden. President Zelenskyy did his best in an effort to rally support for from Europe and the U.S.  He warned of a new “Iron Curtain” making its descent upon Europe. Donald Trump can never hold a candle to President Z…
  14. He is a family man of excellent character. He and his  beautiful wife Olena have been married since 2003 and have two lovely children. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a true man of peace…

I want to dedicate this article to another courageous president, Joe Biden. I pray President Biden is cancer free, for his overall health and well-being, and for his family. God bless both former President Biden and President Zelenskyy for their service.

 

I’ve Got 25 MORE Reasons to Make You Smile

I’ve Got 25 MORE Things To Make You Smile

I’ve Got 25 MORE Things To Make You Smile

By D.S. Mitchell

I am back at the computer making my second post to my Calamity Politics blog, today.  Before I started this blog, I worried that I wouldn’t have enough to scream about, but I’m finding that I could probably do half a dozen posts a day related to the Trump Administration, and its basket of corruption and outrage.  But I thought, before I start my rant on the collapse of the progressive agenda. I should deliver something positive and uplifting.

So, here are twenty-five things to make you smile:

  1. Blowing the wrapper off the straw.
  2. Sunsets over water
  3. Wraparound sunglasses
  4. The Science Channel
  5. Kite flying contests
  6. The Muppets
  7. Astronauts
  8. Blowing the wrapper off the straw
  9. Winning at Monopoly
  10. Astronauts
  11. Blowing the wrapper off the straw
  12. Barhopping
  13. The sound of your lovers voice
  14. The clatter of skis being loaded
  15. The rumble of a train as it passes
  16. Walking in the rain
  17. The imagination of a six year old
  18. Margaritas at midnight
  19. Blowing the wrapper off the straw
  20. Volunteering for a cause you believe in
  21. The smell of a new car
  22. Roller skating
  23. Memories of your first grade teacher
  24. A good book
  25. Daddy’s wisdom

I know this Thursday distraction did little to take your mind off the continuing chaos in the Trump White House, but if it gave you a couple minutes of respite, that’s a good thing. Have a gem of a day and never forget to blow the wrapper off the straw.

Join the New Resistance

Calamity Clown/AKA D. S. Mitchell

The Danger of Indifference

The Danger of Indifference

The Danger of Indifference

By D.S. Mitchell

 

Writer, Teacher

Elie Wiesel, teacher, writer, philosopher and Auschwitz death camp survivor, told the US Congress in a speech in 1999, “indifference can be tempting-more than that, seductive.  It is much easier to look away from victims.  It is after all, awkward and troublesome to be involved in another person’s pain and despair.”

Forgotten

Furthermore, “to be indifferent to that suffering makes the human being, inhuman.  Indifference is always the friend of the enemy, for it benefits the aggressor-never the victim, whose pain is magnified when he or she feels forgotten.  The political prisoner, the starving children, the homeless refugees-not to respond to their plight, not to relieve their despair by offering them a spark of hope is to exile them from human memory.  And in denying their humanity, we betray our own.  Indifference, then, is not only a sin, it is a punishment.  Where I came from, society was composed of three simple categories: the killers, the victims, and the bystanders.”

Then and Now

Today’s bystanders are no different than the “bystanders,” of the past; wanting more than anything to look away from the victims, to look anywhere but in the direction of the suffering.

I frequently hear my friends and even those in power claim to be “a good person.”  “A person with a heart,” I am repeatedly told.

Why is it then, we continue to ignore the plight of the war ravaged Ukrainians and the mass murder of the Palestinians in Gaza, or the starving children of Sudan?  The photos  of the pain  and destruction  is horrific.  We have all seen television clips of bloodied, crying, starving, and even dead children.  I have seen their pain.  I have heard their cries.

A Plea to America

My simple plea to America; shed the hate and grow the love. Get involved, call out the offenders and the perpetrators, do not turn away, do not be silenced. Remember, it could be you, instead of them, ducking bombs and searching for a dead rat to eat. There is no comfort in being  5,000 miles from their wars, not if you are truly a “person with a heart.”

America are you listening, are you seeing, or are you destined to become just another group of bystanders?

USAid

We are the wealthiest country on earth and the home of the most generous people on earth and our basic instinct is to help, not turn away.  The American people want to help. Sadly, the richest and the most powerful of the 1% want big tax breaks, and they plan on gutting services, not only USAid, but also health care, disability assistance, and food from the poorest in this country.

The New Resistance

We were once the light of the world; now we ignore the homeless and the starving here and abroad. Come on America, don’t continue to look away, show your heart, show that “goodness” we always hear about. Don’t be a bystander, be an activist, be a demonstrator, be a protestor.

The New Resistance to Trump’s cruel and disastrous agenda is active and growing. Join the fight to save our democracy from the oligarchs and the dictators. Join the fight to save lives; not destroy them. Join the fight for universal health care. Join the fight against homelessness. Join the fight for voting justice. Join the fight to save public education. Join the fight to save Due Process.

Find your cause and hit the streets. Enlist support of your friends and neighbors. Everyone, but a few die hard MAGA’s dislike what’s happening. We need to prove our numbers; hit the streets, be visible. Carry a sign. Hit Facebook. Call your congressman, Call your Senators. If you have a FaceBook page create a support section for the warriors in the field, post pictures of local protests.. You can’t hear silence. Make noise. As Arthur Ashe said, “disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed.”

Campaign Lies

Trump lied when he said he’d end the wars in the Ukraine and Gaza; “on day one.” Yet, the wars go on, he has not contributed in one way to a  just end in either of those conflicts. Trump lied when he told voters that he would not touch Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security. After a meeting with hold outs Trump personally twisted arms at a  meeting on the Hill, leading to the House passing a bill that would destroy health care for millions of Americans.  The estimate runs from 8-13.5 million Americans, bringing with it the closure of nursing homes across the country and a new round of rural hospital closures.

The destruction and gutting of our government and destruction of our social safety nets was not what anyone in their right mind voted for.

I understand the forces opposing the soldiers of good are powerful but if the many leave the ranks of the bystanders and join the war against Trump cruelty and lawlessness we can win the battle for due process, human decency, and justice.

Let’s Be Real

The list of needs for a country of 350,000,000 million human beings eliminates any further discussion of return to small government. The list of proposed cuts to basic services will effect everyone, but those most hard hit will be the already suffering. Stop turning away. Stop being a  bystander.

WORD CHAIN-Black to White

WORD CHAIN-Black to White

WORD CHAIN-Black to White

By D.S. Mitchell

Political blogging requires mostly research and the desire to tell the world all of your political theories. Ideas you are driven to share with people who may or may not support your theories. I try to provide discussion, analysis and relevant topics from current U.S. political news. But, sometimes, I like to play, so for this session here are a few word chains, related in some twisted way, to the current political situation. LOL.

I can change black to white, by changing one letter at a time:  black, blank, blink, clink, chink, chine, whine, white

I can change give to take, by changing one letter at a time: give, live, like, lake, take

I can change tears to smile, by changing one letter at a time: tears, scars, stars, stare, stale, stile, smile

I can change poor to rich, by changing one letter at a time: poor, boor, book, rook, rock, Rick, rich

I can change hate to love by changing one letter at a time: hate, rate, rave, cave, cove, love

Fun and amazing, huh?

I wonder if Donald Trump can change treason to impeach by changing one letter at a time, or impeach to imprison?

Join The New Resistance; protest, protest, protest. I want to encourage all of those who aren’t hospitalized  or dead, to hit the streets on June 14th, 2025 to protest Trump’s 92 plus million dollar military-personal birthday parade. Millions of dollars for phony adoration while his administration terrorizes  our veterans, the disabled, the sick, the poor, the disenfranchised, hungry children, and the elderly, with loss of funding for basic health care and other safety net services. We as a nation don’t have to take this shit. Destroying our democratic government and promised benefits for millions of Americans in exchange for tax benefits and special government contracts to a handful of sociopaths and oligarchs seems out of balance. It is clear that the billionaire values his needs above those of his country and his fellow equal citizens. There are more of us than there are of them. It is time we remind them of that fact. Show your outrage; make a sign, find the sneakers, and tell Trump, Musk, and that whole billionaire cabinet to suck dick.

Calamity Clown/ AKA D.S Mitchell

**Thank you Rod L Evans, Ph.D for your permission to use your work on this website. (Displayed word chain taken directly from his book Tyrannosaurus Lex). Look for it.

 

Trump’s Tariffs and a Whole Lot More Mess, Part 2

Trump’s Tariffs and a Whole Lot More Mess, Part 2

Trump’s Tariffs and a Whole Lot More Mess, Part 2

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

The Donald continues to perpetuate hatred, bigotry, chaos, and stupidity in the Oval Office. I can barely keep up with Trump’s growing list of atrocities, below you will find just a couple of them highlighted. Trust more is coming in part three of this series as we continue to persevere in the wake of the worst president in history. We must resist against Trump’s evil regime of terror:

Acts of Terrorism

  1. Trump’s administration deported adorable 2 year old toddler Maikelys’ parents with no evidence of any criminal activity; this precious child had both a mother and a father but now little Maikely is in the foster care system. We must seek impeachment now…
  2. Trump has attacked Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and, of course, Bert and Ernie – the Trumpsters want to see programs such as Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and Sesame Street off the air for teaching our children empathy and kind behavior, attacking PBS and NPR who they feel will eliminate objective reporting on the illegal, incredibly stupid, and very cruel things that the Trump administration keeps doing. “The Donald” has signed yet another completely ridiculous “executive order” with no legal basis; this particular order is a claim zeroing out any Federal funding for the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio, which we all grew up with and have the utmost respect for. We must seek impeachment now…
  3. Per NBC News via the Free and Fair Democracy PAC, “The Supreme Court has given Donald Trump the go-ahead to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military. Yes, that’s right—the convicted felon who called veterans ‘suckers’ and ‘losers,’ showing nothing but disdain for those who’ve sacrificed life and limb for our country. Let’s ensure that the real heroes—regardless of gender identity—are respected and honored for serving honorably despite being stabbed in the back by the likes of Donald ‘Bone Spurs’ Trump.” We must seek impeachment now…
  4. The orange haired monster wants to reopen Alcatraz as a federal prison, much to the chagrin of many Californians and other Americans. We must seek impeachment now…
  5. A healthy 31 year old North Carolina woman by the name of Elisabeth Weber discovered that her fetus had no heartbeat for weeks. Despite the fact medical diagnosis confirmed a non-beating heart, Elisabeth announced when she did not naturally miscarry medical help was denied to her in accordance with the very strict anti-reproductive freedom laws in place. In an interview with People Magazine, the Greenville resident said she felt she was carrying her a son – she has three daughters. In 2018 her baby boy died of SIDS; her husband Thomas and her wanted this child – they even let their landlord know they would need a larger rental. In late March, only nine weeks pregnant, there was no detectable heartbeat – her fetus three weeks earlier had ceased growing. Mrs. Weber, having been told that she was, “definitely having a miscarriage”, was still turned away to suffer through at home. Bedridden and nauseous, she went back to the ER at almost ten weeks. She asked for a D&C (dilation & curettage) – this procedure removes dead tissue from the uterus. Nearly 6% more infant deaths occur where restrictive abortion bans are in place. Her story, like many others, is frightening and sad. This is not pro-life.  We must seek impeachment now…

Please look for part three of the diabolical Trump series, coming soon…

You Might Just Be a Woman of a Certain Age, Once Again

You Might Just Be a Woman of a Certain Age, Once Again

You Might Just Be a Woman of a Certain Age, Once Again

 

Editor: Thank God, we can take a five minute break from the Orange One. Hail, Cate! Thank you.

By Cate Rees-Hessel

  1.  If you ever used Dep or Aqua Net, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  2. If you refer to your hair style as a “do”, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  3. If you own a flip phone, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  4. If Jean Nate is your go to fragrance, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  5. If you had to remove shoulder pads from half your wardrobe, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  6. If you ever had a plastic rain bonnet in a plastic container in your purse, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  7. If you ever drank from a collapsible cup, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  8. If you know what rag curls are, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  9. If you set your hair on frozen orange juice cans, or beer cans, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  10. If Great Lash is your go to mascara, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  11. If you were ever a candy striper, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  12. If you know that bunny ears have nothing to do with rabbits, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  13. If you know what Emerson College is, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  14. If you have heard of Ned Nickerson, Bess, George, or Hannah Gruen, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  15. If you had white patent leather gogo boots, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  16. If you know what a gogo girl is, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  17. If you have LPs of the GoGos, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  18. If you know what an LP is, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  19. If you ever had your daily sprinkle, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  20. If you know who Midge and Alan are, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  21. If your Skipper doll grew boobs, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  22. If you know you can dance to it, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  23. If you know the Bangles are not a set of bracelets, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  24. If you had a Spirograph or Light Brite, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  25. If you had a Rainbow Brite doll, you might just be a woman of a certain age…

Trump’s Tariffs and a Whole Lot More Mess, Part 1

Trump’s Tariffs and a Whole Lot More Mess,

Part 1

 

Despicable and Disgusting:

Trump’s 100 Day Highlights

 

Editor: I want to thank my friend Cate Hessel for allowing me to join her in trashing the Orange tinged monster that has manifested his bloated ass into our government.

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel with D.S. Mitchell

 

I want to talk about Trump’s disastrous first 100 days in office. His continuing attempts to destroy our democracy weigh heavily on the shoulders of our nation. This horrific excuse for a “president” displays his racism, anti-Semitism, anti-LGBTQ, and misogyny openly. 140 Executive Orders in his first hundred days. The Trump Administration has acted not only illegally but unconstitutionally.  His actions are intended to destroy our democratic institutions, slow down our economy, gut public education, roll back protections for public health and our threatened environment, in addition to putting health care and Social Security benefits at risk for millions of senior and disabled Americans. And that’s just the start. The Trump administration is impacting the arts, universities, scientific research, and cultural organizations across the country. He and his allies are running a game of bait and switch, look here, no over there. Overwhelm us. Nothing new, just unprecedented intentional chaos and absurdity and cruel lawlessness with the intent to overwhelm the system.  As more of us flow into the streets in protest of Trump’s disgusting agenda, I feel we are moving toward Martial Law; bone-chilling imaginings. Bone-chilling fear for those who dare to speak up, but we must speak up, before we can’t. This isn’t Russia, yet.

Despicable and Disgusting Trump 100 Day Highlights

  1. Trump was handed a booming economy per all the financial gurus and within 100 days of taking office Trump has tanked the stock market, started a trade war leading to tariffs that are predicted to raise prices on consumer goods, worsening inflation, the GDP now in a tailspin and egg prices skyrocketing. Russia and China don’t have tariffs, do they?
  2. Immediately upon taking office, Trump reversed President Biden’s $35 cap on insulin for seniors.
  3. Giving Elon Musk access to Social Security, Medicaid, the VA, and other legally protected records.
  4. Allowing Elon Musk to run our country while Trump himself is out playing golf.
  5. Massive deportation of innocent people, many with legal status or U.S. citizenship, being sent to foreign prisons without due process. We aren’t being shown proof of criminal elements being deported.
  6. Insulting and berating Ukraine President Zelensky, on national television, a man who has served heroically during his nation’s crisis, with ultimate dignity and compassion. Two qualities Trump has shown he does not possess.
  7. Having a judge arrested for not complying with “The Donald’s” racist agenda.
  8. Wasting money on a military parade (for his birthday!) in his self-created poor economy. An estimated $100M, plus post-parade clean up and repairs to damaged concrete and asphalt.
  9. For planning another run in 2028, when it is unconstitutional for a president to run for a third term. A man of 82, well into his dotage is not the face of the future.
  10. Disrespectful of Pope Francis’ memory – falling asleep at his funeral, wearing a blue suit, and walking on the sacred rug meant only for clergy. Never afraid to confirm his ignorance and social stupidity.
  11. Stripping funds from PBS and NPR.
  12. Outrageous funding cuts from the African American museum.
  13. Making moves to get rid of the Department of Education.
  14. Stopping funding for medical research at labs and universities across the country while exploiting a child who has cancer.
  15. Attacking Social Security with a horde of 20-year-old hackers.
  16. Attacking SNAP. A program that is good for the giver and the recipient. Farm to Hungry Americans. Such basic support for the needy in America is vital.
  17. Moving to defund the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which protects consumers’ food supply and keeps our food safe, as well as regulating pharmaceuticals. The absurdity of this action is beyond words.
  18. Continues to sell Made in China junk and is blasphemous in signing and selling the word of God for profit. Where are the watchdogs in Congress authorized to constrain this heathen?
  19. Defunding library grants. I love my library.
  20. Trump’s ridiculous, racist insistence that the Gulf of Mexico be changed to the Gulf of America. I saw a protest sign that called it the Golf of America with an AI-generated cartoon rendering of a bloated golf club swinging Donald Trump.
  21. Appointing a complete moron to fuck up the workings of the CDC and National Institute of Health (NIH).
  22. Taking away the funding for the National Suicide Prevention line – we need that service now more than ever before.
  23. Defunding DEI programs and threatening companies and universities that continue such instruction.
  24. Slashed funding for our colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning.
  25. Cut veterans’ benefits.
  26. His constant attacks against the LGBTQ and trans communities.
  27. Empty cargo ships from China, thanks to outrageous tariffs, mean no work for truck drivers, retailers, or dock workers.
  28. Made sure egg prices went sky high.
  29. Signed a presidential memo directing his Attorney General to investigate ActBlue in an attempt to silence MoveOn, a progressive political organization.
  30. Trump wants to be king in a country that never had one, by choice. His recent comment, “I run the country and the world,” is frighteningly sociopathic.

Don’t blame me, I voted for Kamala and Tim. But I’ll move over if you want to join the protests against this outrageous administration. We all must resist, resist, resist. We all must protest, protest, protest.  We all must join every march, sign every petition, vote in every election to come, and stand firm in our fervent prayers for impeachment. We are better than this, America…at least we proclaim to be.

Letting Go

LETTING GO

Letting Go

By David L. Shadrick

 

My mother has been in my closet since last August.

I think that’s disrespectful.  But, letting go isn’t easy. First, we have the problem of where to spread her ashes. All she told me was that she wanted to be spread ‘among the wildflowers’. Unfortunately most wildflower fields are in parks or other places that have restrictions against spreading human remains. This leaves private property, unfortunately the only property available to me is our gold mine in Railroad Flats, California. The gold mine is owned by the Shadrick side of the family not the Staggs; and quite honestly Dad may not have wanted her there. He and mom had a very contentious divorce, and I don’t think either of them are interested in spending eternity together.

After months of anxiety I think my brother and I have settled on a place to disperse mom’s remains. While it may be illegal, we’ve decided to take the risk and release her ashes into the Rogue River wilderness of Southern Oregon.

Quite honestly I can hardly wait for this to all be over. I need this to happen, because the responsibility of this task feels like an anvil on my chest.

“Goodbye Mom.”

 

RIP, Carlie (Staggs) Clayborn

 

OBITUARY

Mom’s accomplishments include: the first woman stockbroker at Kidder, Peabody, Portland, OR. Chairwoman for National Cerebral Palsy Association, Member of the Million Dollar Club in Real Estate Sales, Santa Rosa, CA. BA in Business, SSU. These outstanding accomplishments took place in the 1970’s, when thanks to the Women’s Movement, women were beginning to break into those coveted ‘men’s jobs’. Carlie was a pioneer in life and myself, my brother Randy, and my sister Sheila know that mom will shine bright in her new home.