Don't Let Sandersnistas Hijack OUR Party

We Democrats need to learn the lesson that the Republicans didn't.
The allowed the Tea Party to hijack their party in the name of betterment.
They fell for their seemingly reasonable rhetoric.
And it helped usher in the age of Trump Republicanism.
If we allow these so-called Democrats from the "Independent" Socialist Bernie Sanders camp derail and plunder our party and the progress we're making, we'll find ourselves with a Trump-like candidate and in complete disarray

Trump or ?

I still feel somehow Trump won't be on the ballot in November. Either the GOP will force him out or he'll quit so he won't have to say he was defeated. Loser!

To EU, or Not to EU. . .

As Britain hand counts and tallies their votes on whether to remain or leave the EU, Europe and the rest of the world waits to see the fate of this economic experiment.
Admittedly, I'm not as vested in or knowledgeable about the proposed pros and cons of the initiative, but my basic knowledge and common sense tells me it's best for all of Europe for Britain to remain, being it's arguably the strongest of all EU members. 
Should they vote to pull out, I'm fairly certain the whole EU will crumble and those countries struggling will find themselves in a financial predicament of certain implosion.  Greece is already there.  I imagine Italy wouldn't be far behind.
I heard once someone say something along the lines of, in this global world and economy, that unlike most eras of the past, what happens in one country's back yard is certainly the business of other countries.  I can't think of another case where this is more evident for Europe and the world than the current referendum being decided by Great Britain at this moment.
Polls shows them staying in the EU by about 4% of the vote.
But thinking of polls from this year's American Democratic primary, specifically in Michigan than showed Secretary Clinton beating Vermont Independent Sanders by 13%, in where he beat her by 14%. That's way outside the margin of error.  And it shows a new method of polling might be best not only here, but worldwide.
I'll update this as Britain counts their ballots.
Long live the Queen!

Remembering PETER ALLEN

                  PETER WOOLNOUGH ALLEN
            FEBRUARY 10, 1944-JUNE 18, 1992

While we still grieve over the victims of the Orlando Gay Massacre, it's important to not forget those we loved whose blood is on the government's hands for the Reagan administration's inaction regarding the HIV/ AIDS crisis.

My friend, Academy-Award winning singer-songwriter, Peter Allen was one of nearly 700,000 in America alone.  Nearly 1.3 million Americans remain infected.

I created this little photo, roughly, as a tribute to him on the 24 anniversary of his death.  It reflects the lyrics to one of his obscure songs, but one that resonated with me at one time in my life.  I will include some of the lyrics below.

May you always lead the Rockettes angel kickline and help Judy heal the newest members.

From "I Could Really Show You Around" Music & Lyrics by Peter Allen.

                     "I'm gonna buy you,
            Calla lilies, cognacs & Cadillacs
          Caviar, coke and a charge at Saks,
 Breakfast in my bed when we wake up at noon,
      Trips to the Island and trips to the moon."

Orlando's Angels (Los Angeles de Orlando)

Heaven's doors have opened
Judy greets them at the gates
For 49 new angels
Have met celestial fates.

Her smile turns into laughter
As she warms them with a song
They've met the rainbow's ending
But they knew it all along.

The pain and hurt and sorrow
Floats away amongst the clouds
Mama Judy holds them tightly
As they marvel at the crowds;

For all lives once met with struggle
To be treated with some love
Now gleam as angels faces
In a wonderland above.

They're members of a people
Tight knit because of hate
Some battled deadly viruses
Just to get to heaven's gates.

Strike up the band
With a little Latin beat
Miss Judy's gonna lead them
To dance on golden streets.

They leave behind their loved ones
Fear not!
They know no pain
For now they're with her Majesty
Long live Miss Judy's reign.

Remember all their energy
Their humor and their love
For some day if we are lucky
We'll dance again with them above.

We must let this be our battle cry
Let their deaths not be in vain
Fight every single demon
Who fosters all this pain.

For those who sought oppression
Through God's holy names
May your pain be ten-fold greater
May you wallow in your shame.

<Put on a smile, c'mon get happy, You gotta put all your cares away.
Shout Hallelujah c'mon get happy>

GET READY FOR YOUR JUDGEMENT DAY!

-by Nicholas Yaekle
June 16, 2016
All Rights Reserved.
<Last stanza "Get Happy" Music by Harold Arlen, Lyrics by Ted Koehler, Copyright 1930>

Using Fear: Your Guns and Your Rights.

One of the internal things I find myself struggling with concerning the massacre in Orlando is one thought.
"I hope they died quickly."
Yes, I'm thinking and wishing that.
And that's what troubles me.
I'm not saying that's the worst thing. 
What I mean is that out of humanity, I hope they suffered very little.
Having a gun designed to mow multiple armoured soldiers quickly and efficiently while tearing through flesh and bone is not what the authors of the Constitution meant in the second amendment.
I said to a friend yesterday that I looked all over for a way to exercise my 2nd amendment right and couldn't find any C4 or ICBM missiles ANYWHERE.  That too are arms, right?  Why aren't they legal?  Because they're designed for war, not self defense.
The radical nut jobs are using semantics to discount the danger of these AR-15 ASSAULT weapons.  Saying the military version shoots 800 rounds per minute and this one "only" shoots 45.  Only?  They're out in full force trying to justify that this weapon, when used properly, you pull the trigger once and one round fires. No disagreement there. But, what they're not saying, is this: no one meaning harm is going to pull it and let go. The fact that it has the ability to be pulled and multiple rounds fired does not justify it as a weapon of self defense.
I've always been at odds with my Democratic party on the second amendment. I have always been fine, all along acknowledging exactly what it says.
The amendment, written at a time when we had no national military, reads:

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Now, let's examine the definition of militia.  Johnson's Dictionary of 1755, likely used by the framers, defines militia as, "the standing force of a nation."  Hence the word military.

We have a military. They are armed to protect us. Using lame and cowardly lines like "I keep my gun to stand up to the government" is ridiculous and likely untrue. The few loons who have tried were swiftly removed by the military that defends the greater good of the nation.

No one is attempting to take away your handgun which can legitimately be said to be used for self protection. Nor are they trying to take away your ability to hunt, whether out of need or just because you enjoy killing animals. Never has been the issue, even though the NRA and their Religious Right counterparts have tried to convince you of that to further their own agendas.
But military weapons belong in the military. Just like armed warplanes, nuclear weapons and C4.  Not in your basement.
Want to play with guns of war?
Join the US armed forces and be real patriots.  Not arm chair patriots.
Further, my proposal. Want to own these military grade weapons (and let's cut the bullshit and not split hairs over their classification)?
Serve a career in the armed forces. Retire. And as part of your retirement package, you can keep your rifle. Conditional upon you agreeing to be on call in the event of war so that you may continue your dedication to the preservation of this great country.
Having any rights comes with responsibilities.
Otherwise, stop acting like your fucking guns are the most important issue facing any single American. If you're as tough as you act, a spray of kevlar-shredding, poison tipped bullets couldn't kill you anyhow.

Come to Jesus, Senator Sanders, Because the Mountain Has Already Come to Muhammad

In an effort to give Senator Sanders the opportunity to address his supporters tonight, I will reserve comment concerning any refusal on his part to officially drop out of the race thus far.  With a resounding victory in the Washington, DC primary yesterday, some 80% to 20%, Secretary Clinton finished the Democratic presidential primary still the clear winner on all counts.
Senator Sanders met with Secretary Clinton last evening at his request and has scheduled an 8:30pm EST address from Burlington to his supporters.
I'm hearing he had made demands.
What loser gets to make demands?
Comments tomorrow will be reflective on how he chooses to leave this race.
Whether he bows out semi-gracefully, as gracefully passed when he refused to leave six weeks or longer ago when it was clear he had no path, or attempts to stay in a race where everyone has already gone home knowing the winner, will dictate the tone of my comments.

Massacre in Orlando

I'm still trying to wrap my head and heart around the horrific mass murders that occurred June 12, 2016, this past Sunday, at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.  My heart and thoughts go out to the families of these sweet angels.  They are truly soldiers in the battle for equality, giving their lives simply for being themselves.

This isn't about religion.  It's about hate.

And be they Christian or Muslim, there's plenty of blood of hate on all their hands. To decry one religion while working tirelessly to oppress the same group of people targeted in this massacre is not only hypocritical, but blasphemy to the very teachings of the Jewish man the Christians worship.

Replace the hate in your heart with your religion, for that's the only place your religion belongs: your heart. Not in someone else's.

To those slaughtered and those wounded, critically or emotionally, we will not forget you. The gay community has plenty of experience fighting for rights and for our very lives.

And to the LGBTQ+ community, including all those that stand WITH us, fight on.  This isn't the opening salvo.

It's just a reminder the war is never over!