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Posted by on Mar 5, 2020 in Blog, Essays, Politics | 2 comments

A Message to the Bernie Bashers

 

 

Though Bernie Sanders is correct on virtually all the issues of this election, his presidential aspirations now appear to be fading over the horizon,  His ideals are a setting sun of hopes and dreams.

But before Democrats and Biden supporters and Bernie haters in the tens of millions rejoice and pile on about Sanders’ shortcomings (and they are many), it’s worth just a moment — no, make that TWO MINUTES of your time — to remember exactly who has been there for progressive causes for nearly SIXTY FUCKING YEARS.

Yeah, I’m pissed. I’m pissed because piling on about Bernie Sanders is disgraceful.

Evidence: Watch this clip.

 

Do you think ANY OTHER CANDIDATE would stand up and take on flagrant bigotry like this?

Virtually everyone in political office was a bigot, or a fraud, or a gutless coward 25 to 35 years ago. All of them.  Certainly every Republican, and most Democrats, too. NO ONE defended gays or took on unpopular social causes. Not Biden. Not Clinton. No one.

Except for Bernie Sanders, who has been there in the trenches. Since the early 1960s. While other candidates were fellating so-called “traditional values” and cowering to hate, SANDERS has been on the front lines making enemies. Fighting the fight.

When it comes to certain issues of human rights, let me say this as clearly as I can — fuck your mainstream moderate politics.

Now — do I want Sanders to continue battling for the nomination once it’s apparent he can’t win?

No.

But a little FUCKING RESPECT during this primary process would be nice.

I guaran-damn-tee you there are ZERO clips os Biden or others in the race who stood up for things that weren’t popular 30 years ago. ZERO. NONE. NOTHING.

So, think about that next time you tear Sanders from his flesh on social media for being “too ideological” or “too extreme.”

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Posted by on Mar 3, 2020 in Blog, Essays, Restaurant Reviews | 0 comments

Big B’s Texas Barbecue (Review)

 

 

 

BIG B TEXAS BARBECUE (REVIEW)

Big B Texas Barbecue is located on the far south side of Las Vegas. It’s adjacent to South Hills Medical Center on Fort Apache. It took over the Chef Jose Andres spot (which I loved) after the french bistro closed down last year. It’s also a few doors down from where Khoury’s (Lebanese) used to be before they relocated to Village Square.

Las Vegas is stacked with several average-to-good barbecue joints. Most are serviceable. Barbecue is either hit or miss, with not much in-between, but can be great comfort food. I’ve tried most of them here in town.

Big B appears to be independently run (I did no research on this, so some things might be incorrect). It’s one of those old-fashioned open-air kitchen places with giant slabs of pork and beef, with a standing line where customers order over the counter. Meals are served on wax paper on plastic trays. The whole place smells like smoke. This is probably ideal for the neighborhood and is a quick take out, though plenty of tables are available for dining in.

The barbecue was very good. I’d rate it 8/10. We enjoyed a platter of smoked ribs, pork, and brisket. Platters come with two sides and are priced around $10-15. Quality was a high thumbs up.

Where I think Big B missed the target was entirely a matter of personal taste. I don’t like hoagie rolls and that’s how sandwiches are served. I much prefer a butter crusted shiny bun, lightly toasted. Hoagies are cold, doughy, and are simply too much bread for the barbecue. I don’t like hoagies. But hey, that’s me.

I was also unimpressed with the sauces. Big B offers sweet, mustard, and spicey. I found out the sauces are all homemade, which I appreciate. Unfortunately, none of the three were the right match for my taste. I’m far more inclined towards a Worcestershire flavor with a thick ketchup-like texture. These house sauces didn’t work for me and given how vital moisture is to a mix of mead and bread, this was a strikeout. I stress, my tastes might be different from yours. Others might like Big B’s hoagies and homemade sauces.

The sweet barbecue beans were also annoying, but this too is a matter of personal taste. I don’t like sweet food, certainly not on my barbecue, but others may disagree.

Big B’s was busy during my lunch visit. It appears to be doing well.

Let me add that I hope Big B’s succeeds. A man I presume was the owner came by and was very attentive. He brought us silverware, re-fills, and genuinely enjoyed his role as host. I like “hands-on” ownership and admire people who pay attention to details. I only wish I could give Big B’s a higher recommendation.

Unfortunately, my criticism of this authentic Texas barbecue joint was entirely based on my own tastes and expectations. Others might have different ideas. So, I don’t want to dissuade anyone from trying this place, at least once.

Final grade: This wasn’t suited to my tastes, but you might think otherwise. The quality of meat and hands-on ownership alone is enough to make at least one visit worthwhile.

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Posted by on Mar 2, 2020 in Blog, Essays | 0 comments

A Bridge to the Ugly Past and an Even More Shameful Reminder of the Present

 

pettus bridge

 

I wish I could say I’m amused. But I’m not amused.

I wish I could say I’m shocked. But I’m not shocked.

I wish I could say I’m done writing about ignorance and stupidity in America. But I’m not done writing about ignorance and stupidity in America.

Today marked the 55th anniversary of the Selma civil rights march, which turned into America’s “Bloody Sunday.”

It happened at a bridge named after Edmund W. Pettus — a Confederate general and head of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan. Perhaps we can forgive naming a bridge after this traitorous racist scumbag during the 1920s, a time when Dixie was misty-eyed for the Old Confederacy. Perhaps we can overlook that historical blight and simply do the right thing now by taking a couple of gallons of white paint and slapping a fresh new coat over that dead rebel’s disgraced name.

But we can’t. Look! There it is. The decomposed bigot and favorite son of Alabama — he’s still with us today. Every time someone drives on that bridge and passes under that name, he’s remembered, when he should be buried and long ago forgotten.

It’s 2020 folks — tell me why THIS FUCKING BRIDGE hasn’t been renamed? I did some research that renaming a bridge on a state highway requires approval by Alabama State Legislature. So GET OFF YOUR RACIST ASSES, bigots. Do something.

Yeah, I know. You’re White. You’re nice to Black people. You even have a Black friend or two. There’s no way you’re a racist. Heavens, no.

So, you’re sick of hearing about racism in America? Yeah, me too — I’m sick of hearing about it. I’m sick of writing about it.

As long as we see shit like this, it’s pretty hard to say we’ve made enough progress since that sad day in 1965.

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Posted by on Mar 1, 2020 in Blog | 2 comments

My Advice for Joe Biden Supporters

 

joe biden advice

 

MY ADVICE FOR JOE BIDEN, THE CAMPAIGN, AND HIS FOLLOWERS

How We Might Win the Battle but Lose the War / How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Biden

Congratulations to Joe Biden after winning the South Carolina primary.

Just in time for Easter, he’s risen from the dead and is now back in the race. Biden may even deserve to be the favorite to win the Democratic nomination based on this sudden and shocking turnaround combined with his support among the party establishment.

That said, Biden will go only as far as how he, his staff, and supporters treat Bernie Sanders (and progressives). Read that again, but it’s critical to know.

***Biden will go only as far as how he, his staff, and supporters treat Bernie Sanders (and progressives).***

Want to WIN the party nomination then LOSE the general election, in other words, replay a repulsive redux of 2016?

Easy.

Keep on slinging the shit and doing the Democratic establishment’s dirty deeds and see where we all end up on the morning of Nov. 4, 2020, screaming at our screens with tears and bloodshot eyes wondering how the fucking gawdawful hell Trump ended up winning the ’20 election 309 electoral votes. I know it’s difficult to go back, but try to learn something from history.

Me, condescending? Yeah, you betcha’.

I’m terrified of the political lightweights and losers who couldn’t beat the worst person to run for president in my lifetime now infecting the 2020 Biden campaign and serving another batch of stale leftovers with all the appeal of cold meatloaf. If I see another Hillary hand-me-down spewing political counsel, I’m going to scream in my best Jim Carey voice…..”scoreboard!”

Let’s face it: Biden is far from the ideal candidate we can choose among 65,000,000 Americans who absolutely loathe Donald Trump and would vote for a moldy bologna sandwich if it were the only option to the dumpster that is Trump. Seriously — BIDEN is the best we can do? But hey, if he’s our nominee I’ll work for him like our future depends on it, because it will depend on it.

More thoughts in numerical order, because I like typing in bullet points and using numbers because it makes me look smart:

[1] If we piss off the Bernie Sanders supporters, and specifically millions of young people, then we can kiss the 2020 election goodbye and the country might just dissolve into disco-era Paraguay. I don’t know why I need to explain this to the mainstream Democrats and independents who despise Trump. Fact: A Democrat WILL NOT win the general election without progressive support. This will not happen. It would be like a one-winged bird trying to fly. Think about that next time you’re all amped up and determined to blast a so-called “Bernie Bro” in a tweet or on Facebook.

[2] Taking issue on public policy during a campaign is one thing, but if Biden and other mainstream Democrats continue to malign and misrepresent “democratic socialism,” then they’ll not only lose the electoral college but probably lose the popular vote, as well. Millions of working-class Americans, especially those struggling in the rust belt, are sick of insurance companies, banks, and Wall Streeters calling the shots. “Mr. Delaware” will have some ‘splaining to do as that state’s corporate bag boy for decades. Keep on attacking, and progressives will stay home in Nov. I wish this were not the case. Indeed, I wish all progressives would recognize the dangers of a second Trump Administration. But many Sanders people will not vote for Biden if the path to the nomination gets dirty (and it has) And if Biden dispatches the typical party henchmen to do his dirty work as this increasingly turns into a two-candidate primary season (James Carville, Debbie Schultz-Wasserman, and so forth), prepare for an all-out political war. Progressives on the far-Left are sick of these retread establishment lapdogs, and frankly, I agree with them. We don’t need more failed ex-Clinton campaign staffers, corrupt party insiders, and barnacle research teams who failed us four years ago advising the next Democratic nominee.

[3] After this Tuesday, the Democratic race should come down to Sanders, Biden, and probably Bloomberg. I wish he’d drop out, but there’s something about billionaires (and wannabe faux-billionaires like Trump) that makes them think their shit doesn’t stink. Moderates must consolidate forces into one candidate after Super Tuesday, or chances are, we’ll end up with a brokered convention. And I sure as hell don’t trust Democrats in backrooms to act smart or do the right thing. If possible, this party needs to get a clear nominee on the first ballot, come summertime.

[4] I have lots more to say about the prospects of a brokered Democratic national convention. Stay tuned.

[5] Finally, it’s true that many Sanders’ backers are abusive trolls. I ascribe some of this to youthful enthusiasm and growing up in the modern era of vitriolic social media. Many twentysomethings have no knowledge of political civility, cooperation, and coalition-building — which are essential to electing a national candidate. Let me be clear: That’s on them. Some people need to grow up. At the same time, true liberals have been marginalized in the Democratic party for a very long time and there’s justification for mistrust and resentment. How this gets handled going forward may determine our fate.

Finally, the Russian troll factories and the Republican slime machine will do everything in their power to divide Democrats. They will lie, cheat, and steal the election if they can. The moron you are arguing with at midnight on social media might be a bot, or some boiler room zit doing the GOP’s dirty work. Trump’s army of nitwits won’t fact-check anything and will repost every juvenile meme. Don’t be like them.

I’ll have more thoughts after Super Tuesday.

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Posted by on Feb 27, 2020 in Blog, Essays | 1 comment

More Questions Than Answers on Yesterday’s Coronavirus “Press Conference”

 

coronavirus 2020

 

What did we learn yesterday?

Anything?

Forget Mike “Thoughts and Prayers” Pence being placed in charge of a complex viral pandemic threatening to explode into a full-blown public health crisis. Nevermind that jaw-dropper of an executive decision by the Trump Administration.

Let’s examine this purely from a public relations and information management standpoint.

Did anyone watching and listening yesterday gain a better understanding of COVID-19?

Were any of the symptoms of the virus addressed by the speakers?

Were any instructions given on what people should do if they suspect an outbreak of the virus?

Where was the leadership?

Why didn’t a medical professional take a few minutes to talk straight to the American public about what this virus is all about? Sure, I can go to Google on my own and search the word “Coronovirus” and hundreds of articles and videos will pop up — many hits with confusing information and conflicting data. Most of what we see online is written by non-medical people. Some of the things to be found on the Internet with a “Coronavirus” search are flat out lies, tainted by political and financial interests. It’s tantamount to DIS-information.

Instead, what we expect from our government leaders — regardless of party or partisanship — are FACTS and UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION. Is that really too much to ask?

Donald Trump should not be expected to know nor understand the complexities of viruses. I have no issues with him standing on stage and letting people in science handle the matter. That would have been the smart thing to do.

Instead, Trump spent nearly 15 minutes rambling, lying, and even went so far as to claim “We’re Number 1!” in some meaningless health poll, as though fighting a global pandemic is akin to beating the Alabama Crimson Tide in a college football game.

It was embarrassing. But it was also what we’ve come to expect from a President who is a perpetual embarrassment.

Instead of being subject to a labyrinth of lies fabricated to cheerlead the tanking stock market, I, as an American citizen who knows little about science and medicine, would have liked some answers from those in charge.  I’d like to have been informed…..

  • How does the virus spread?
  • What can we do to prevent it?
  • What happens if we fear someone we know has it?
  • How is the government prepared to deal with it?

We didn’t get any answers yesterday.  Only more questions.

But gee, it’s sure great to know “We”re Number 1!”

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