People talk about all kinds of things
Like the weather
Like their politics
Like the things that they watch on TV
But still the roads diverge
Funny though all this chatter don't mean a thing
When compared with the wondering
When they speak of just how
The roads diverge
There comes a moment
You’re suddenly face with a choice
All that you thought that you
Knew becomes smoke
And all of your detailed and
Best laid-out plans
Have become just one
Great big joke
Some will cope
Some will agonize endlessly
Pleading take this away from me
This decision I face
When roads diverge
". . . it was the threat, not the fact, of impeachment that drove Nixon from office, and that the two other impeachments in U.S. history — of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton — couldn’t gain the three-quarters Senate vote required to remove a president from office. . . All Americans ought to be deeply fearful about what this portends for the future. If those responsible for illegal and corrupt acts don’t pay the price for their flagrant disregard of our laws and the U.S. Constitution — and if new laws and institutions are not created to prevent their happening again — the nation’s future is not bright. . ."
". . . “What I worry about is not the president’s fantasy wall on the Mexican border that’s not going to get built anyway,” Buttigieg said. “What I worry about are the very real walls that we are putting up between us as we get divided and carved up.” . . . Buttigieg offered the most pointed critique of his own party so far in the campaign, in a moment that had echoes of Bill Clinton’s “Sistah Souljah” moment in 1992 when he distanced himself from a black political activist who had made controversial comments about race. . . “When an auto worker, 12 years into their career, is no longer sure how to provide for their family, they’re not part of the country we think of ourselves as all living in together. That’s why we can’t seem to get on the same page,” . . . Such "divisive lines of thinking” have entered Democrats’ mindset, Buttigieg said, adding: “Like when we’re told we have to choose between supporting an auto worker and a trans woman of color, without stopping to think about the fact that sometimes the auto worker is a trans woman of color, and she definitely needs all the security she can get.”. . . “But I know … that real democracy means that the voice you have in our political process is gauged by the merits of what you have to say and not by the number of zeros in your bank balance.”. . . "
(from https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/watergate-2-0-trump-s-presidency-may-end-nixon-s-ncna947976?icid=related)
". . . For all the comparisons made between the scandals, much separates them. Nixon’s fall was a classic tragedy. He was a man of substance, with immense political experience and a record of presidential achievement in both domestic politics and foreign policy. His own resentments and paranoia about his perceived enemies propelled him into Watergate. . .There’s no such substance with Trump. His presidency has been one piece of tawdriness after another. To see the Trump tragedy, look to the Americans who are so estranged from the country’s institutions that they seem willing to risk blowing them up in order to be heard. . ."
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. . . if principle transcends political ambition . . .
(from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/sen-elect-mitt-romney-says-op-ed-trump-s-character-n953621)
". . . (Mitt)Romney, just two days from being sworn in as the junior Republican Senator from Utah, wrote in the Washington Post that Trump's most glaring failure has been his inability to unite a "nation so divided, resentful and angry.". . . "It is well known that Donald Trump was not my choice for the Republican presidential nomination," Romney said. "After he became the nominee, I hoped his campaign would refrain from resentment and name-calling. It did not.". . ."
John McCain speaks his mind and sounds a bit like John Adams.
(https://medium.com/@SenatorJohnMcCain/remarks-at-the-2017-liberty-medal-ceremony-8d69751a5ac1)
". . . To fear the world we have organized and led for three-quarters of a century, to abandon the ideals we have advanced around the globe, to refuse the obligations of international leadership and our duty to remain “the last best hope of earth” for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history. . ."
We actually can disagree and still accomplish something good. . . can't we?
The church of music
Holds no ham and oyster suppers
We're all just deacons
With our boots upon the ground
Marching into mystery
In command but
Still can't quite see
The church of music
Won't require your weekly presence
You'll find it stays with you
No matter where you are
No dogmatic postulates
No demands on
Your fidelity
It can end the darkest night
Carry you through the hours
Know not if it’s wrong or right
Make no mistake
It’s divine
This church of mine
There are no fiery demons
In what I believe
It’s not for me to say
Who’s what and where they go
All things flowing naturally
No controlling
Power over you or me
It can end the darkest night
Carry you through the hours
Know not if it’s wrong or right
Make no mistake
It’s divine
This church of mine
Stricly spiritual
No trace of any politics
Lurking in the mix or in the fabric
Only what is good
No room for hate and no deceit
Honesty
Sincerity will move you
And me
This church won’t interfere
With what you think or do
Your body and your mind are
Yours and yours alone
No one tells you what to say
No one criticizes
What you feel inside
It can heal the deepest wound
Shine a light in the darkness
Warm a chill in any room
Make no mistake
It’s divine
This church . . .
It can end the darkest night
Carry you through the hours
Know not if it’s wrong or right
Make no mistake
It’s divine
This church of mine
(from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anna-post/the-etiquette-of-talking-_b_87893.html)
1. Just the facts, ma’am. Stick to discussions of general knowledge: What is a candidate’s stance? What did they say in the debate? What are the latest headlines? Stay away from anything too personal, opinionated or judgmental: Who are you voting for? I hate the (insert political party here)! How on earth could you support that candidate?!
2. Have an exit strategy. It takes two to argue, and if you choose not to participate the other person will run out of steam fast. Have a stock answer ready to get you out of a heated conversation: I guess we just don’t see eye-to-eye; or: I’ll have to consider that; or: For me, it’s private.
3. What’s your position? Think about what your purpose is for the conversation. Are you there to learn? Are you there to try to change somebody’s mind? If you’re going to do that, I would strongly suggest doing it in a respectful manner. Or are you just there to vent, to dump on somebody? That’s neither productive nor helpful to your own cause.
4. Know when to fold ‘em. There are still times I’d strongly advise avoiding political topics, especially if it’s liable to get heated. Weddings and holidays are risky; they are memorable events, and you don’t want the memories to be bad. When meeting new people it’s best not to broach such a personal subject—think your girlfriend’s parents or a new client.
5. Assume nothing. No matter how perceptive you think you are, you can’t possibly know what someone else’s personal beliefs are. Don’t presume that someone agrees with you—or disagrees, for that matter.
The church of music
Holds no ham and oyster suppers
We're all just deacons
With our boots upon the ground
Marching into mystery
In command but
Still can't quite see
The church of music
Won't require your weekly presence
You'll find it stays with you
No matter where you are
No dogmatic postulates
No demands on
Your fidelity
It can end the darkest night
Carry you through the hours
Know not if it’s wrong or right
Make no mistake
It’s divine
This church of mine
There are no fiery demons
In what I believe
It’s not for me to say
Who’s what and where they go
All things flowing naturally
No controlling
Power over you or me
It can end the darkest night
Carry you through the hours
Know not if it’s wrong or right
Make no mistake
It’s divine
This church of mine
Stricly spiritual
No trace of any politics
Lurking in the mix or in the fabric
Only what is good
No room for hate and no deceit
Honesty
Sincerity will move you
And me
This church won’t interfere
With what you think or do
Your body and your mind are
Yours and yours alone
No one tells you what to say
No one criticizes
What you feel inside
It can heal the deepest wound
Shine a light in the darkness
Warm a chill in any room
Make no mistake
It’s divine
This church . . .
It can end the darkest night
Carry you through the hours
Know not if it’s wrong or right
Make no mistake
It’s divine
This church of mine
My latest solo offering, No Frills, is now available at - No Frills
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)
(from http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/first-read-gop-trump-go-unraveling-break-glass-mode-n622116)
". . . In a Washington Post interview, Trump declined to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan against his primary challenger . . .
He reiterated that he hasn't endorsed Sen. John McCain and said the onetime prisoner of war "has not done a good job for the vets". . .
He slapped out at Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte, saying "she has given me zero support". . .
He suggested that Americans should pull their 401(k) funds out of the stock market. . .
He said he's "always wanted" to receive a Purple Heart but that having one gifted to him by a supporter was "much easier". . .
He said that the handling of sexual harassment has "got to be up to the individual". . .
He accused Khizr Khan of being "bothered" by his plan to keep terrorists out of the country, and said that he had no regrets about his clash with the family. . .
He appeared to feud with a crying baby during a rally. . .
He reiterated that "if the election is rigged, I would not be surprised". . .
The sitting president of the United States publicly called Trump "unfit to serve" and urged Republicans to withdraw their support for him. . .
Trump spokesman Katrina Pierson suggested that Obama and Clinton are to blame for the death of Humayan Khan, who died in 2004, when neither were in the executive branch at the time. . .
An ally of Paul Manafort told our colleague John Harwood at CNBC that the campaign chairman is "mailing it in," leaving the rest of the staff "suicidal.". . .
Sitting GOP congressman Richard Hanna, HP head Meg Whitman and former Christie aide Maria Comella all said they plan to vote for Hillary Clinton. . .
The Washington Post released a transcript of its full interview with Trump, indicating among other things that he paused five times to watch TV coverage in the middle of the sit-down. . .
A GOP source told NBC's Katy Tur that Reince Priebus is "apoplectic" over Trump's refusal to endorse Ryan and is making calls to the campaign to express his "extreme displeasure". . ."
My latest solo offering, No Frills, is now available at - No Frills
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)
. . . to fans of 'He who speaks yet says nothing' . . .
(from http://famguardian.org/Subjects/Politics/thomasjefferson/jeff1350.htm)
". . . An enlightened citizenry is indispensable for the proper functioning of a republic. Self-government is not possible unless the citizens are educated sufficiently to enable them to exercise oversight. It is therefore imperative that the nation see to it that a suitable education be provided for all its citizens. . . " - Thomas Jefferson
. . . and if I may ad, a serious candidate for government office must also be 'educated sufficiently'. . .
My latest solo offering, No Frills, is now available at - No Frills
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)
(https://www.change.org/p/president-jimmy-carter-to-have-an-emergency-meeting-of-the-democratic-national-committee-called?recruiter=415438634&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=des-lg-share_petition-reason_msg)
". . . In politics, perception is reality, and both Caesar and his wife must be above suspicion. The perception is out there that despite clear language in the Democratic National Charter Article 5, the DNC and its chair have been trying to influence the outcome of the primary process. "SECTION 4. The National Chairperson shall serve full time and shall receive such compensation as may be determined by agreement between the Chairperson and the Democratic National Committee. In the conduct and management of the a airs and procedures of the Democratic National Committee, particularly as they apply to the preparation and conduct of the Presidential nomination process, the Chairperson shall exercise impartiality and evenhandedness as between the Presidential candidates and campaigns. The Chairperson shall be responsible for ensuring that the national officers and staff of the Democratic National Committee maintain impartiality and evenhandedness during the Democratic Party Presidential nominating process. . . And yet despite this the DNC has been involved in:
1. Scheduling primary debates to garner as few viewers as possible.
2. Grassroots Clinton field offices being co-located at DNC offices.
3. The attempted dismantling of Bernie Sanders’ campaign over one staffer’s mistake.
4. The DNC finance chair caught raising money for Clinton.
5. The DNC lining up super delegates for Clinton before first debate.
6. Created a hostile work environment that forced Rep Gabbard to resign as Vice Chair.
7. Using the press and their own private agitprop machine to keep the super delegate myth going. "Unpledged delegates exist, really, to make sure that party leaders and elected officials don’t have to be in a position where they are running against grassroots activists,” according to Chairperson, Debbie Wasserman Shultz.
8. Either thru negligence or conspiracy has allowed wide spread voter suppression and fraud affect numerous states, the most egregious being what played out in Arizona.
9. Painted New Democrats and independents looking to join the party, as outsiders and interlopers. Whether true or not, Debbie Wasserman Schultz has allowed the impression that the primaries are rigged, and that they have already hand picked their nominee. This has led not only to impugning the integrity of the process, but the possibility of fracturing the party beyond repair. Therefore we the undersigned Democrats, Independents looking to join a Democratic Party, and progressive Americans; ask that you, as Distinguished Leaders of the Party, call an emergency meeting of the Democratic National Committee, investigate these and any other charges, and if warranted remove Ms Wasserman-Schultz as Chair. In what may be the most important election of our lifetime, we cannot afford to go limping into battle. We need the Party to unite, not around a candidate; but around the principles that made our party great. This year we need a candidate not mired in the scandal of perceived political cronyism; and with the current leadership that seems impossible. For the good of our party, please help us save it. . . "
My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)
". . . Bernie is the underdog, and he’s going to be vastly outspent by Secretary Clinton. 96% of the time, the candidate spending the most money wins a race. If he’s going to secure the Democratic nomination, leverage and insurance will be needed. 1,000,000+ voters pledged to write-in Senator Sanders will be a compelling argument for some Democratic primary voters. Bloomberg Politics reports, “in Iowa and New Hampshire, with four-fifths of likely Democratic voters in both states saying they think Clinton is destined to be the nominee.” A write-in campaign is designed to undermine that “destiny.” Call it arm twisting, call it “breaking eggs,” call it compellence; we call it leverage on Democratic primary voters and insurance against corrupted super delegates “pledged” to another candidate before one primary vote is cast. A write-in strategy is an innovative idea to help a candidate secure a party’s nomination. . ."
My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)
Is it me, or is it refreshing to hear this news story? No terrorism, no politics, no deaths, no injuries. A hi-jacked plane, freed hostages and . . . a woman . . .
(from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35915139)
Most of the passengers and crew who were on board a hijacked Egyptian plane that was forced to divert to Larnaca airport in Cyprus have been freed. . .EgyptAir Flight MS181 was taken over after a passenger claimed to be wearing a suicide explosive belt. . .Reports say the lone hijacker wants to talk to his estranged wife in Cyprus, and the Cypriot president has said the hijack is not a terrorist incident. . .Egypt's civil aviation minister said seven people remained on board the jet.
My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)
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