Author: Darlene Mitchell

It Is More Than Just Politics In 2020

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It Is More Than Just Politics In 2020

D. S. Mitchell

The Blogosphere

Writing for Calamity News and Politics gives me a platform to discuss headline events and political policy. It also provides me a place to vent and fume. If somebody doesn’t like the drum I’m beating, they are fully able, and encouraged to move on; to a site that better satisfies their social view of the world.

My Son

“Don’t get so wound up, it’s just politics”, my son recently told me.  Well, whether I’m saying it to my son, or to a potential reader, or to a neighbor, that is the wrong attitude. In the end, politics is policy, and policy effects everything in our lives. Schools, hospitals, parks, highways, airports, waterways, international trade, health care, military defense and social justice to name just a few.  Nearly every part of our daily life is effected in someway by the policies that our elected officials enact in Washington, D.C., or our state capitols. Got it?

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OPINION: Introducing The Redneck Revolt

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OPINION: Introducing The Redneck Revolt

Redneck Revolt is an American far-left political group that organizes predominantly among white working-class people. The group supports gun rights and members often openly carry firearms. Its political positions are anti-capitalist, anti-racist and anti-fascist-Wikipedia

Trevor K. McNeil

Close the Gap

In this age of populism and division it can be easy to forget that there were once politicians who claimed to be uniters not dividers.  The current political divide, which is exactly why there is a political divide, are driven by extremists on both sides.  The refusal to even look for common ground and tear down and vilify everyone and anyone who disagrees is a greater threat to democracy than nearly anything else. The Trump administration is a manifestation of the problem not the source. A certain amount of  partisanship is required for democracy to work. Otherwise we might as well be in Russia. Where one ruling party runs unopposed. People are a lot more complicated than that. As the Redneck Revolt shows.

Not What You Think

Far from the banjo-plucking, cousin marrying, right-wing gun nuts of the cultural imagination, the Redneck Revolt presents a more nuanced view of Southern culture. Founded in Lawrence, Kansas, the group is a less militant and more political off-shoot of the distinctly leftist John Brown Gun Club. Some may cringe at the 2nd Amendment advocacy and that is fair.  It should be kept in mind that guns really are a part of southern rural culture, and it is unrealistic if not unreasonable to expect that to change.

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COVITA: The Lincoln Project

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COVITA: The Lincoln Project

Here is another anti-Trump ad from The Lincoln Project group. Please share. We here at Calamity News and Politics want to give a shout out to the former Republicans who are co-founders of the group. Thank you, Rick Wilson, George Conway, Steve Schmidt, Jennifer Horn, John Weaver, Ron Steslow, Reed Galen, Mike Madrid. It will take all of us that want to keep this a democratic country to come out this election and vote Joe Biden-Kamala Harris.

Serious Jester: The Michigan Kidnapping Plot

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Serious Jester: The Michigan Kidnapping Plot

T.K. McNeil talks about the Michigan Kidnapping Plot. Trump is the first president that has encouraged terrorism and violence against a sitting governor, in this case, Gretchen Whitmer. Trump frequently encourages his supporters to break the law. While Trump tries to destroy the country at least some of the law enforcement groups believe the white supremacists are terrorists and needed to be treated as such.

Trump Pre-Hospitalization Timeline

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EDITORIAL: Trump Pre-Hospitalization Timeline

By D. S. Mitchell

 

In The Early Morning Hours

I had gone to bed late Thursday (10/01/20) night and was sort of watching TV while sort of dozing. It was early a.m. Friday (10/02/20) on the west coast, when Kaisie Hunt, on her show “Way Too Early,”  made a dramatic announcement.  Close advisor to the president, Hope Hicks had tested positive for Coronavirus. The name of Hope Hicks caused me to sit up and take notice. Over the next couple hours information  dribbled in; and eventually we got word that Donald J. Trump, president of the United States had tested positive for COVID-19. Yikes and oh, my! I got up and made a cup of coffee. I knew I had to hit Twitter.  Where the prevailing sentiment seemed to be, “Wouldn’t it be funny if Trump died from COVID-19?” and “big surprise, he doesn’t even wear a mask or social distance.”

Prayers And Best Wishes

Okay, I have to admit I have a greater than normal share of cynicism. I nearly barfed when I heard all the TV hosts wishing the president “health and happiness” and the proverbial “thoughts and prayers.” I know, I know. Be nice.  But, really… here is a man holding super spreader rallies, Rose Garden COVID-19 parties, insulting Biden and others for mask wearing, undermining the postal service, threatening our very democracy, refused to admit he would give up power if he loses the election, has in my view at least, encouraged armed insurrection, and I am now supposed to say, “oh, poor Donnie.” To be blunt, fuck that shit! I will not.

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The Serious Jester #5 The Boogaloo Boys

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The Serious Jester #5

The Boogaloo Boys

T.K. McNeil our sharp tongued maverick is back for his regular Saturday video cast. Today he is wandering down the railroad tracks and ranting on the outrageous stupidity of groups like Proud Boys and Boogaloo Boys. Can’t get enough of Trevor? Check out our OPINION archives for more of Calamity Politics  resident curmudgeon.

OPINION: Trump Embraces Fascism

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OPINION: Trump Embraces Fascism

(In Plain Sight)

By Trevor K. McNeil

The Vital Importance of Language

Words matter. Talk can be both cheap or expensive depending on the context. All words are arbitrary in their invention but also vital in terms of their function which is to help understand existence. Which is why people can get quite irritable about words being used correctly. Misuse of words quickly leads to miscommunication. Something the last four years of Trump has shown us.

The Definition Is This

A favorite word tossed at Trump is fascism. A much used and seldom understood word. This is at least a linguistic issue, the original word being the Italian fascismo, roughly translated as fastening or togetherness. The main symbolism of the time being a bundle of sticks. One stick can be broken, a bundle of sticks cannot. A nice idea undercut by the fact that by fastening together, the members of a fascist society also close others out.

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