Category: Uncategorized

 

Wall Street, it seems, woke up today
From dreaming Trump would lead the way
To jobs and tax cuts. In dismay
They see there’s nothing there

They pinned their hopes on Donald’s statements
Ignoring Trump’s embarrassments
And his lack of accomplishment
Asleep or unaware

But this time Trump has sealed his fate
His words defending those who hate
And traitors he would celebrate
Not long will he be there

His Presidency is in shambles
In his bubble on he rambles
Falsehoods needing no preamble
Truth within laid bare

When Mueller gives the ready sign
It’s then that Donald will resign
Nor will that be too long a time
What’s next, we must beware

8/17/17

 

 

Hats off to Stanton, Phoenix mayor, asking Trump to change the date
The date next week of Trump’s planned rally so to pardon his pal Joe
Joe Arpaio, former sheriff who ignored the court’s mandate
But true to form the Trump ignored the mayor’s wish; it’s still a go

Greg Stanton is a Democrat, while Phoenix is Republican
Emotions there still running high about events in Charlottesville
The travesty of Trump equating members of the Ku Klux Klan
And Neo Nazis with the ones who actively oppose their will

Meanwhile our leadership in Congress cowers from denouncing Trump
Just what are you afraid of, Mitch; and who has hid your tongue young Paul?
Profiles in Courage you are not; your Faustian bargain hit a bump
Not like the Phoenix mayor who has shown he’s really got the gall

8/16/17

 

 

As you know a week ago we both attended a retreat
We heard a story, short of glory, made me think the GOP
One brother asked the other brother what it was he did that day
The other brother answered “nothing” in a voice somewhat diminished
“But that’s the same as yesterday!” “I know, I know, I wasn’t finished!”

Trump’s unscripted rhetoric equating Nazi demonstrations
On a par with those opposing drew the Party’s condemnation
Not of Trump but of the Neo Nazis of today
Who among the GOP will drop their Trump endorsement
So far it’s gained them nothing but acute embarrassment

Be that as may these last few days revealed a scary fact
Those demonstrating white extremists were of middle class
Well educated, modern, skilled, the bright youth of our day
Like Trump they learned from dear old dad their white supremacy
It is ego addictive; hate is in ascendancy

8/15/17

 

Heather Heyer demonstrator killed by car in Charlottesville
Neo Nazis, Alt Right movement protesting a statue’s take-down
Heather there to counter Alt Right, struck by Jimmy Alex Field
White supremacy’s new victim joins with thousands of renown

White-Supremacy’s resurgence, now that Trump is President
Like a spigot spouting bigots, dating back to Civil War
Since the biggest racist bigot is the White-House resident
They’re accepted now like others, much more open than before

On Saturday Trump’s neutral comments caused a lot of consternation
Reading from a written script he blamed it on extremist groups
He mentioned not the Neo Nazis in his general condemnation
His words were trite and uninspiring, written by some nincompoop

This evening witnessed demonstrations in the cities of our nation
Thousands marched against the Alt Right and against supremacists
Provoked they were to aggravation and a sense of indignation
That this leader of our nation on this issue could care less

Our hearts go out to Mark and Susan, parents of the murdered Heather
They have vowed to honor Heather, carry on what she stood for
That her death will not be in vain, and in her way make this world better
Saying: go from strength to strength; and all who read this lend support

8/14/17

 

 

 

We hold our breath, we of the world
That into war we might be hurled
By careless bluster-threats unfurled
Like battle flags at sea

Apocalyptic threats exchanged
By leaders people think deranged
No meetings yet have been arranged
Between these enemies

Yet each can claim he’s justified
That other options have been tried
That haven’t worked for either side
Trust not the other’s word

And all that’s left is brinksmanship
The game of chicken, who will flip
And back off this relationship
Whose essence is absurd

Both Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un
Know wars like this, once they’ve begun
They end and no one will have won
And millions will have died

It’s time now to avert this fate
It’s time now to negotiate
All threats and bluster to abate
And cease this suicide

8/12/17

 

Both Trump and Kim trade off again
Their schoolyard threats like boys, not men
Both liars, unpredictable
Both ratcheting their rhetoric
With phrases for the hell of it
And outcomes unforgivable
Were one to misinterpret acts
The other made, as an attack
And launches, to retaliate
Apocalyptic in its scope
By then, the world devoid of hope
Will witness each annihilate
Some tens of million innocents
From reckless threats of bad intent

8/8/17

 

Congress is in recess, really in pro forma session
They’ll gavel the near empty chamber: come-to-order statement
And then adjourn for several days accomplishing their mission
To stymie any Trump attempted recess time appointment

The President, too, took his leave: New Jersey for a while
Three weeks of playing golf and working in between the putts
It’s not rejuvenation, he’s already juvenile
It’s R and R and morning tweets, his feelings from his gut

My wife and I are also taking leave this coming week
To journey to Palm Desert, somewhat in-land from LA
Attending a retreat for Jews to hear our wise ones speak
I, too, will be pro forma posting poems when I may

8/6/17

Back in February Ken posted a poem, “Diss stress!”, as a guest. On August 3rd Charles Krauthammer published an op ed in the Washington Post that paralleled Ken’s poem such that Ken brought it to my attention.  This poem draws upon some of Krauthammer’s insights.

Systemic Stress

Our founding fathers and our founding mothers too
Designed a Constitution that in ways was very new
That government should have three branches, each one powerful
Within its realm of governance and relatively equal

What’s more each branch, its duty was each other branch to check
A tension written in the text engendering respect
And fostering dynamic balance o’er the branches three
This week it was exemplified in our democracy

Opinion writer, Krauthammer, op-eds for WP
His article, “The guardrails hold” discusses candidly
How Congress thwarted Trump’s demands, defied him all around
And on transgender how the generals balked and stood their ground

Trump tests us with “systemic stress” as Krauthammer explains
So far the rails are still in place, Trump’s nonsense is contained
With all that’s swirling Trump about, his future’s far from certain
This show is real reality; what’s next behind the curtain?

8/5/17

 

New jobs, two hundred thousand plus were gained throughout July
And unemployment now at four point three percentage points
The lowest it has been since H-bomb tests lit up the sky
And most stock-market indices are at their all-time highs
That Trump has bragging rights may put you somewhat out of joint
This speaks politically of strength; on polls one can’t rely

And if these numbers persevere and if Trump’s not indicted
He stands a chance in twenty twenty for a second term
But even though our outlook now has marketeers excited
My own prognostication here, though largely unrequited
Is when the market’s bubble bursts, recession will return
In which the Trump would get the blame for being so blind sighted

Trump promised infrastructure and tax cuts that’s not occurred
The gains in the economy have not to do with Trump
But he’ll take credit while he can and bask in every word
And when the market plummets down Trump loudly will be heard
He’ll blame the Democrats and others, you can be assured
But Democrats more likely would succeed in dumping Trump

8/4/17

 

Three and twenty citizens comprise a jury, grand
They’ve been empowered by Mueller in his probe of Russia’s hand
In meddling in our elections on the Trump’s behalf
They can subpoena Trump and every member of his staff

When testifying to grand juries, you are by yourself
You’re under oath to tell the truth, no lawyers there to help
And if you by intention lie, you’ll likely end in jail
For Trump ‘twould be a travesty, a test he’d likely fail

Trump’s lying is pathology, he cannot help this bent
The fifth amendment he could take avoiding questions meant
To show his culpability, collusion and much more
But Trump hates being seen as weak. He’d lie as has before

So if there’s something serious Trump’s hiding all along
Some something that’s indictable with consequences strong
His lawyers won’t suggest he risk his family or himself
And tell him best to abdicate, go off with all his wealth

Mike Pence would then be President, a true Republican
It would surprise me not at all if his staff had begun
To source the leaks so damaging to Trump, as President
Which sets the stage for ousting current White House residents

8/3/17