SMITHEREENS: Reflections on Bits & Pieces. Category: Columns from The Berkeley Daily Planet – Berkeley Daily Planet

QAnon's Featured Ghosts

We all witnessed the witless waves of QAnoners gathered in Dallas's Dealey Plaza last November, eagerly awaiting the return of John F. Kennedyand/or his equally deceased son, JFK Jr. It was daunting to watch their devotion. Many remained on the sidewalks waiting for a Kennedy Moment days after the promised resurrection date had passed. (Granted, a few true believers bailed and decamped to a Rolling Stone concert that evening, buoyed by rumors that the Stone's Keith Richards was actually JFK Jr. in disguise.)

So now: an update on Trump's Reincarnation Nation.

A Trumpster recently interviewed on national TV assured reporters that The Donald would not only win reelection in 2024, but that the entertainment for his victory celebration would feature an appearance by Michael Jackson!

What is it with the Far Right's fetish for wanting to bring-back-the-dead? Is this a faith-based fixationthe belief in the coming of an A-List Neo-Jesus (minus The Rapture)?

But here's the really odd part about these Second Comings of pop-culture icons: why are these "featured ghosts" all celebrities of a "liberal" persuasion? Why are there no forecasts that Trump's Triumph will be visited by the ghastly likes of a ghostly Rush Limbaugh? A not-yet-deceased David Koch? A wide-awake Herman Cain?

Russia Defuses Ireland's Ire

The Russian military, which had announced naval drills off the coast of Ireland, subsequently agreed to move them further away after the local fisherfolk threatened to disrupt the sea-going exercises. CNN's Donie O'Sullivan interviewed two of the fishermen who were involved in "making waves" and netting a win for diplomacy. Thank you, Ireland! Thank you, Russia!

PS: I can't imagine a scenario in which our pugnacious Pentagon would order the US Navy to stand down from a war game because of complaints from a foreign fishing fleet.

Trump Keeps On Lyin' On Line

D. Trump continues to be a terrifying and malignant force in US politics. According to his self-aggrandizing DonaldTrump.com website, "the Former Guy" appears to believe he's still an in-charge nation-builder. The home page blandly boasts: "Together, we are rebuilding our nation. Help fulfill our promise to Make America Great Again!"

The options at the top right of Trump's "Save America" screen offer seven selectionsAbout, Events, News, Alerts, Contact, Shop, and Contribute. Let's take a look.

You would think that an "About" page by-and-about a recognized hyper-narcissist would be filled with large blocks of type, celebrity photos, lots of ego-crowing, and bales of boastful blather. But Trump's "About" page is pretty bare-bones.

A 96-word overview claims: "my administration delivered for Americans of all backgrounds like never before" and "we respect our great American Flag." A dozen short sentences salute a familiar roster of conservative touchstones: "Judeo-Christian values," human rights that "come from God" including "the right to Keep and Bear Arms," "rebuilding our previously depleted military," opposing the "oppressive dictates of political correctness," believing "that the Constitution means exactly what it says AS WRITTEN," that police "deserve our absolute support," "that America must always have the most powerful military on the face of the Earth," and that leaders should be chosen by "secure elections going forward where every LEGAL VOTE counts."

Trump's Webpage Presence: One Dead-end After Another

Two of the seven selections receive special treatment. "Shop" is highlighted in a box. "Contribute" appears as a MAGA-red button. Clicking on the "Events" option brings forth a blank screen. Similarly, the "News" option has no news to offer, just a page with a sign-up sheet for "exclusive updates from Donald J. Trump" and the "Alerts" page contains nothing but the same, empty sign-up sheet.

The "Contact" link leads to a small gallery of photos, mainly depicting Trump in front of large crowds. Unlike the previous pages, there is a hunk of text on this screen that reads: "The Office of Donald J. Trump is committed to preserving the magnificent legacy of the Trump Administration, while at the same time advancing the America First agenda. Through civic engagement and public activism, the Office of Donald J. Trump will strive to inform, educate, and inspire Americans from all walks of life as we seek to build a truly great American Future. Through this office, President Trump will remain a tireless champion for the hardworking men and women of our great countryand for their right to live in safety, dignity, prosperity, and peace."

For Trump, The Press is So Depressing

In a special slot designed to handle "Press Inquiries," there is just a single photo of Trump posed in front of a mob of reporters. But there's really no reason to visit this page since (as the only verbiage on display explains): "Donald J. Trump and Melania Trump enjoy hearing from the American people. Due to the volume of media requests President and Mrs. Trump receive, we will not provide status updates. Thank you for your understanding."

Understood. The Trumps are clearly too busy with affairs-of-state (the state being Florida) to attend to the needs of curious reporters (and too cheap to hire an intern to handle the "flood" of press queries). At least the page doesn't invoke the phrase, "enemy of the people."

Trump.com's Only Working Pages: Buy and Give

The only two functioning links on the Trump webpage are "Contribute" and "Shop." The page for contributions offers the following news: "Having enough cash on hand is essential to SAVING AMERICA from Joe Biden and his liberal cronies. Step up now! Were about to surpass 1 MILLION online donors - an absolutely historic achievement! As soon as we hit 1 MILLION, were sending President Trump a PRINTED donor list IMMEDIATELY. Will your name be in the 1 millionth spot?

"Shop," the final webpage (and the only one to feature actual content) is both shameless and sad. It displays an array of cheesy collectibles, all sporting Trump's brand name and/or his smirking image. The opening page displays a dozen featured items ranging from Special Edition MAGA Caps ($40), to Save America beer glasses ($22) and Trump Signature Photo Mugs ($30).

But the sorriest sight is all the items apparently left over from what must have been a rather listless holiday sales season. The collection of unsold Christmas gifts include a Single Trump Merry Christmas Greeting Card ($10, postage not included), an ornamental Save America Cap to hang on your holiday tree ($68), a Trump Save America Christmas Stocking ($40), and six-feet of holiday wrapping paper featuring the face of the smiling ex-president wearing a "Trump Santa Hat" ($28).

There are six pages of not-so-goodies, in toto, including, on the very last page, a $20 yard sign reading "Let's Go Brandon"which, if you haven't heard, is a rightwing slur-chant aimed at the current president. It translates into: "F Joe Biden."

Kinda tacky, even for a disgraced ex-president. But just more proof that TrumpleThinSkin remains a living contagion capable of spreading lies faster and farther than the latest COVID-19 variant. He deserves to be quarantined and confinedideally in a federal prison (following a trial and conviction, of course).

Peace Constitutions

Wouldn't it be great if peace was enshrined as a right under national law? Well, the Action Network has come up with a campaign to petition "Governments of the World's Nations to Put Military Neutrality and a Ban on War in Every Nation's Constitution."

A group called the Veterans Global Peace Network has begun promoting a proposal to persuade countries to "enshrine positive military neutrality in their constitutions." VGPN notes that the Hague Convention on neutrality provides the legal foundation on which to build internationally recognized laws on military neutrality. If the prospect of enshrining peace (and proscribing war) appeals to you, you can learn more and take action by clicking here. In the meantime, here's an "instant bumper-sticker" you can enlarge and print out:Want Peace, Unconditional?Make War Unconstitutional!

And if you want to protest the fact that US "defense spending" (including veterans benefits and nuclear weapons costs hidden in the Department of Energy budget) claims nearly two-thirds of the $1.522 trillion FY 2022 federal budget, here's a slogan you might want to use for the annual April anti-war tax protests:

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SMITHEREENS: Reflections on Bits & Pieces. Category: Columns from The Berkeley Daily Planet - Berkeley Daily Planet