Question of the Day

How could anyone, anyone, anywhere think it's somehow bizarrely okay if a rogue police officer ends up killing another American citizen who is only SUSPECTED of having passed a counterfeit $20 bill?

How and where does that make ANY sense? #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd

Quote of the Day -- On Republicans After Trump

What Republicans have learned from Trump:

Never apologize. Lie. Never admit wrongdoing. Lie. Never take responsibility. Lie. Never follow the rules. Lie. Never be on the defensive. Lie. Attack. Accuse. Attack. Accuse. Lie. Play the victim. Lie. Play the victim some more. Lie. --Joe Walsh @WalshFreedom (Keeping in mind Joe Walsh is a conservative and former Republican himself).

Republicans in Jefferson City Have Done it Again

Have you heard this latest obscenity from Republican legislators in Jefferson City? Missourians voted for the state to accept federal Medicaid dollars from Washington so more Missourians would have health insurance--and so, health care--but the Republicans wanted nothing of it. So in spite of our voice and vote, they voted down accepting this money and funding Medicaid for more Missourians, more lower income Missourians.

Once again, like on the people voting down the "Right to Work" law some time ago, we, the people, vote on something, let our will be known but the GOP, the Republicans do away with it. We all, Missourians, voted to end the Right to Work legislation and we voted to expand Medicaid but the Republicans upended both our votes. Not done there, our own Kansas City Star reports that one representative, Justin Hill of Lake St. Louis, is quoted as having said “I am proud to stand against the will of the people.” What unmitigated gall. Clearly he and his fellow Republicans know not at all how our election system and government is supposed to work. And check this out--from the same Star article: "Business people, social workers and others stood on the floor repeating the facts: Missouri has more than enough money to extend health insurance coverage to the working poor. Expanding Medicaid will actually bring more money into the state."

This is insane. This is obscene. This is heartless and immoral. The way these Republicans would have it, it's all only for them and their own political party and their donors. This is wrong. So wrong. We must stand up, Missourians. And we must vote these people, these Republicans, out of office. They must be made to pay for not just ignoring but denying the will of we, the people.

Quote of the Day -- Former President Karma Ediction

"At this point, Donald Trump is the only President to have more open grand juries than election wins," Neal Katyal says as The Daily Beast reports that two Georgia grand juries are underway in an investigation of the former President.

The GOP Just Now on Guns, Voting and America

God help us, folks.

The only thing this doesn't also show is their racism. Oh, and their love of power. Over all else.

On Guns and Common Sense Gun Legislation

"Make no mistake about it: Universal background checks will save lives...

Make no mistake about it: Outlawing high capacity magazines will save lives. Make no mistake about it: Getting the military-style weapons off our street and private ownership will save lives." --Senator Ben Cardin, Maryland (D)

Only One Political Party In the Nation This Bad

What kind of horrorshow political party is so patently, provenly, repeatedly bad and unpopular for its citizens it has to actually disenfranchise those fellow citizens in order to get into and/or stay in office so they all stay in power? There's only one in the USA.

Yes sir and ma'am, it is the Republican Party. Republicans. The GOP. Greedy Old Poops. #VoteThemOut

Quote of the Day -- Timely, Sunday, "Good Book" Edition

"I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink." Matthew 25:35

*While supplies last, not valid in Georgia, other restrictions may apply. --Antione Jackson @JacksonAntione, Replying to @atrupar Thanks, Republicans! You racist, power hungry, un-American stooges.

What Happened This Week In Georgia

Seven very white men get in a room---under a picture of a slaveholding plantation, no less---to sign a very racist government bill that actually disenfranchises fellow Americans all the while also literally locking out a Black female legislator so she can't watch the bill be signed.

Only in America. Only with Republcians. #EndVoterSuppression #EndRacism

Kansas Republicans---This Is Your Leader?

Yes, a question for all Kansas Republicans. Are you aware that your State Majority Leader, Gene Suellentrop, was arrested last week for --drunk driving --driving the wrong way on the highway for TEN MINUTES --speeding, going 90 MILES AN HOUR --dodging police roadblocks --also dodging tire deflation devices the police had put out for him --causing a vehicle accident --also causing property damage and finally --fleeing the police?

Did you know all that? And this is your LEADER?? Really?? Because it really seems like he has great judgment. Right?

Gene Suellentrop---and Republicans, really. Making Wichita and Kansas so very proud.

Republican Party Priorities

There's only one political party in the nation that is so patently, provenly bad and unpopular that they have to--and do--actively disenfranchise fellow American citizens.

End vote and voter suppression.

Require background checks for all weapons purchases, coast to coast, for mental stability and criminal history.

Put back into effect the Assault Weapons Ban.Require a waiting period for weapons purchases. Simple, important things we need to do as a nation. Oh, and vote out Republicans. For sure.

Kansans! Here's What Your State Legislators Did This Week!

Once again, Davis Hammet at his organization Loud Light is doing a fantastic job of reporting on just what Kansas State Legislators are doing and did this past week in the Topeka statehouse. The fact is, the facts are, it's abominable, Kansans! Check this out. I can't recommend enough following Lous Light on YouTube, Facebook and/or Twitter. No one, no other source is reporting just what Kansas legislators do during their sessions than Mr. Hammet. As for Republicans? #VoteThemOut

Quote of the Day -- On America, Americans and Assault Weapons

"After Bill Clinton banned assault weapons in 1994, mass shooting deaths dropped by 43%.

After the Republican Congress let the ban expire in 2004, they shot up by 239%. This isn't rocket science: we need to ban assault weapons again." --Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, Pennsylvania Democratic Party candidate for the US Senate.

What Took Place in Georgia Yesterday

And understand, everyone, vote suppression is un-American. Patently.

Know, too, it's been reported there have been 253 laws proposed in 43 different states to disenfranchise fellow Americans. This must not stand. This cannot stand. End voter and vote suppression, America.

Kansas Republicans Now Trying to Kill Democracy, Too

I just learned there is a new bill just presented in Kansas, in Topeka SB307...

"..that would disenfranchise tens of thousands of Kansas voters (it would have thrown out 32,367 votes in 2020). --Davis Hammet, Loud Light

Democracy Died Yesterday in Georgia

From Heather Cox Richardson last evening: "...Tonight, Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia signed a 95-page law designed to suppress the vote in the state where voters chose two Democratic senators in 2020, making it possible for Democrats to enact their agenda. Among other things, the new law strips power from the Republican secretary of state who stood up to Trump’s demand that he change the 2020 voting results. The law also makes it a crime to give water or food to people waiting in line to vote. The Georgia law is eye-popping, but it is only one of more than 250 measures in 43 states designed to keep Republicans in power no matter what voters want....

The story today is not about coronavirus vaccines, or border solutions, or economic recovery, because all of those things depended on the election of Joe Biden. If the Republicans get their way, no matter how popular Democrats are, they will never again get to direct the government." This bill in Georgia does the following things: 1) severely limits ballot dropboxes, 2) curtails early voting in all-important run-off elections, 3) allows for unlimited ballot challenges by right-wing activists, 4) gives the gerrymandered GOP legislature the ability to take over local county election boards, and 5) makes giving food and/or water to people in lines, waiting to vote, a crime, among other things.

What to do About Guns in America?

What do we do about weapons in the United States? 3 things, at minimum---all common sense and not complicated. These won't solve all our problems, no, certainly not but they'll go a long way to curing some of our nation's ills and keeping people from getting shot and/or killed.

1) Require background checks, coast to coast, for ALL weapons purchases, for mental stability and criminal history, 2) Put into law a waiting period for receiving a gun after purchase and 3) Ban assault weapons. Again. Period.

On Guns -- and Shootings and Killings -- In America

There aren't two sides to this issue of guns in America.

There's sensible people who know we need solutions and then there are the weapons supporters, putting guns and gun ownership over human life. That's it. That's all there is.

Missouri Senator Eric Greitens?

Eric Greitens wants to be our next Missouri US Senator?

--He sexually abused and tried to exploit and blackmail his hairdresser; --He stole from his Veterans' charity and from taxpayers; --He resigned hours after a judge ordered him to reveal his dark money donors. No. Heck no. Hell no.

Quote of the Day -- On Guns In America

"Today it's a tragedy in Boulder, Colorado. This past weekend it was a house party in Philadelphia. And last week it was an armed attack on Asian American women in the Atlanta area.

It doesn't have to be this way. It’s beyond time for our leaders to take action." --Gabrielle Giffords @GabbyGiffords

The New Jim Crow Republican Party

What's going on right now, folks. They're trying to, anyway.

(Click on the picture for bigger, easier viewing and reading).

The Low Down on Plastics

John Oliver gives the facts, the truth, the details of plastics in our world and in our lives on his TV show "Last Week Tonight" on HBO. Note: some expletives. And here we thought most plastics were recycled. And even recyclable. We're killing ourselves. By killing our own world. As I wrote here some time ago and as this video proves, I think, unless or until we finally require all people and companies, corporations to recycle everything, nothing much will happen. The consclusion? We're doomed. Whether it's with guns or plastics or whatever, we humans are going to simply kill ourselves, honestly.

Entertainment Overnight -- Carol King and the Queen of Soul

Carole King, honored and feted by none other than the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin with President Barack Obama and First Lady (truly a lady) Michelle Obama in the audience, 2015.

Because these things happened all the time during the Trump administration. Sure they did.

What's In the For the People Act?

Know this, everyone! What the For the People Act does:

--Expands voting rights, --Limits partisan gerrymandering, --Strengthens ethics rules, and --Limits the influence of private donor money in politics. It's only bad for Republicans and the Republican Party. It is patently good to great for Americans and America. Please contact your Senators now and tell them to support it.

Quote of the Day -- On Our Wealth Inequality

Please keep in mind, folks, gross wealth inequality actually weakens nations, weakens our nation.

"...When Gates, Bezos, and Musk together have more wealth than the bottom half of Americans put together? When 1 out of 8 American children are hungry? When 20 million can't afford to see a doctor? When our schools are literally falling apart? We need a wealth tax." --Robert Reich   @RBReich

Never Forget Who Voted Against COVID Relief, Missouri

Yes, Missourians, let's never, never forget just who, exactly voted against the COVID Relief Plan.

During the worst, most killing, deadly international pandemic in the last more than 100 years, when Americans supported this relief package, they didn't and voted against. Remember in 2022. And 2024. And forever.

Republican Party Vote Suppression

They just won't quit. All for the political party, people, nation and Democracy be damned.

They're unrelenting. Of course, they're desperate.

We have to stop them. We have to stop this. Nothing is any more racist or systemically racist than this.

They don't have any views the majority of Americans support so they work on more of this. It's deeply un-American.

We mustn't let them do this. We mustn't let them disenfranchise still more Americans. We must take back the vote. We must.

Quote of the Day -- On Wealth Inequality and a Stronger Nation

"We are in a moment in American history where two guys — Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos — own more wealth than the bottom 40% of people in this country. That level of greed and inequality is not only immoral. It is unsustainable." --Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders

KCPT's "Week In Review", Keeping it White, Keeping it Male

Unbelievable. It's supposed to be "Kansas City Public Talevision" but their one weekly local news program is once again, mostly just white. And what isn't just white is very mostly just male.

Once again, tonight, our local PBS station, the one asking us to send them our money and who says they represent us all, had--count them--three white people and one token Black person, a Black man, Eric Wesson, God bless him, on their weekly news program. Two white men a white woman and Eric Wesson. That was it. No Hispanic. No two women. Nothing. That was it.Thank goodness Eric Wesson can and will show up every week. When the program was over, Kliff Kuehl, who runs KCPT, thanked us for sending in money and swore it's about representing us all. Hey, send in your money, folks. We represent you. Right.Our local paper, the Kansas City Star, apologizes for not representing all of us over the years. Then KCPT gives us this. Wow.

Republicans Have Trumpified

"Republicans have learned from Trump.

They now lie just like Trump, they insult people just like Trump, they toss bigotry out there just like Trump and they whine and play the victim just like Trump." --Joe Walsh, former GOP, Republican Party Congressman

On Republican Party Vote Suppression

--"The Republicans' new voter suppression bills are truly un-American. There's no real voter fraud. It's their naked effort to try and suppress Black, brown and Indigenous votes, to suppress any kind of votes from people who they think will not go for their far-right, 'promote the interests of the wealthy' program." --Al Gore

Quotes of the Day -- On Republicans and America

"The only thing Republicans are more scared of than facts are votes." --Middle Age Riot #VoteThemOut

"Instead of making it harder to vote...maybe Republicans should take a close look at whether they have bad ideas and people just don't want to support them." --Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary

Mitch McConnell and the Republicans now suddenly want to protect minority voting rights in the Senate but not voting rights for minorities. Know this, America. #VoteThemOut

America Needs Common Sense Gun Reform Legislation

Yes, as the slaughter of 8 innocent Americans in Atlanta, Georgia this week shows, we, America need just that, common sense gun reform legislation. And Republicans need to get on board or get out of the way.

I Hope Every Adult Missourian Has Seen or Sees This Video

I saw this on social media in the last week and was thrilled the man was out there, testifying for his daughter but ecstatic that he was also from Missouri. Mr. Brandon Boulware was testifying why transgender people should be allowed to be themselves in our state including playing in sports. Kudos, Mr. Boulware and thank you for this, your testimony. You spoke perfectly and very eloquently on the subject. I'm sure it wasn't easy and hasn't been easy. Now here's hoping we can get beyond the narrow and narrow-minded Right Wingers and Republicans and not have anyone put into law that transgender citizens can't be themselves and play sports.

Republican Party Policies

38,000 gun deaths a year in US: who needs gun control?

2 cases of voter fraud in 2020: let’s pass 253 new voter suppression laws --Ari Berman @AriBerman

Know This About Amazon and Jeff Bezos and Union Organization

Amazon: --World's 4th biggest company --$21 billion a year in profit --Owner Jeff Bezos is worth $184B, up $70B in a year

--Sends workers 5 anti-union messages a day --36,000+ employees are on food stamps and Medicaid --Cost to lift them from poverty? 2% of annual profit --Dan Price @DanPriceSeattle

The Kansas Legislature is Broken

What you don't and won't hear from more mainstream media in the area like the Kansas City Star, KCUR, KCPT or certainly not from the local TV news stations. This is from Davis Hammet @Davis_Hammet of the organization Loud Light today including the headline above:

--Legislators are hiding who actually wrote bills. --Public hearings are being scheduled with less than 24 hrs notice or entirely skipped. --The day waiting period between debate and the final vote is constantly being suspended. #ksleg

Republicans Reached a New Low Yesterday

On the same day 7 women and 1 man were gunned down by a 21 year old madman in Atlanta, Georgia after purchasing a 9mm handgun EARLIER THAT DAY at a local gun shop, 172 Republicans voted against the Violence Against Women Act. The very same day. Unconscionable.

Republicans are NOT for Americans or America. They are for themselves and their own political party and money and power, period. That's it. Know this, America. Then let's vote them out.

Guns In America

On that Atlanta, Georgia slaughter of more innocent American citizens earlier today: Tom Winter @Tom_Winter "NEW: Two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter tell NBC News that the gun -- a 9mm handgun -- used by Robert Aaron Long in yesterday’s shooting spree in Georgia was purchased legally and it was purchased yesterday prior to the shooting." Reported w/ Mike Kosnar

igorvolsky @igorvolsky "Waiting period laws that delay the purchase of firearms by a few days reduce gun homicides by roughly 17%. 10 states + DC do have waiting periods for at least some types of firearm purchases. Georgia is not one of them." Again and as ever, thanks, NRA. Thanks, Republicans.

After the Atlanta Murders Today

"Every Republican official who has ever called it the 'Chinavirus' or 'Kung-Flu' has played a part in the violence being directed towards the Asian American community right now. #StopAsianHate" --Kaivan Shroff @KaivanShroff

Thanks Mr. Trump. Thanks, NRA. Thanks, Republicans.

Quote of the Day -- Insane Guns Edition

"The big increase in the murder rate in 2020 has carried over to 2021. Early data shows murder 18% in first 3 months of 2021.

Meanwhile, last week, 203 members of Congress voted to make it 'easier' for prohibited purchasers to purchase guns & traffic firearms." --igorvolsky @igorvolsky Doesn't portend well for the nation. Certainly doesn't bode well for the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Contact Your Senators

What's in the #ForThePeople Act?

--Automatic voter registration --All states allow online updates --Limits voter purges --Same-day Voter registration --Universal vote by mail with online tracking --15 days of early voting --Nonpartisan redistricting Oh, yeah. #PassFTPA

A Solution for PBS and KCPT for Fundraising

Yes, indeed. Herewith, a good solution for PBS and our own Kansas City Public Television for the biannual fundraising. Instead of blackmailing us with God-awful nearly ancient 60s music and musicians.

Instead of all that, why not--please--take your BEST programs and show them, instead? Much of America out here, including me, sees a lot of New York Broadway plays on PBS. Why not use those to fund raise,instead? Sure, chop them up just the same way you do those God-awful 60s music pieces and artists but with this material we can and do only get from you, from PBS. Use Broadway plays, your "Nature" programs, "Frontline", all of it. It recognizes both your viewers education and intelligence as well as their monthly and/or annual contributions they make to your organization and existence. I'll never forget the only way or reason I was exposed to the New York Broadway play of Charles Dickens' "Nicholas Nickleby" was because of a PBS broadcast. And you know what? It hasn't been on in years. This is a perfect example of why and how you could show that, fund raise and still not insult your audience/contributors, all at the same time. They could, at the same time as the programs, run a tape at the bottom asking, begging, pleading, reminding viewers to call and support them, too. It would be perfect. So please, PBS, do this. Please make this change, these changes.Respect us. Respect your audience, your contributors. Make it all make sense. This Fall, stop showing us ancient, disconnected rock and roll. You're not an oldies FM radio program. Do this, instead. Again, please. Please. I'm begging. We're all begging. Really. Give us reasons to watch your programming 52 weeks a year, even DURING fund raising weeks. You'll gain, you'll win and we will, too. Stop insulting your audience and contributors.