SundayMorningCoffee

Sunday Morning Coffee 29 November 2020

It's the final Sunday of November 2020...like you needed to be told...let's get into some Sunday Morning Coffee and enjoy a bit of time
together. Here is hoping you had a meaningful Thanksgiving and that you and yours are well. Tough times friends.  So, we'll start out with a slight twist this morning and look to sports rather than politics. Let's go!

OK, This is Serious

COVID19 has, once again, hit the National Football League. Early on Saturday it was reported that the Denver Broncos will lack a quarterback for their game against the New Orleans Saints. You see, all the Broncos QBs are ineligible due to coming into contact with each other. It seems Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles were, at some time last week, with QB Jeff Driskel who tested positive for COVID19 on Thursday. The team will play today but it's up in the air who will handle the snaps.  See, told you this is getting serious.

Meanwhile the Thursday night game was moved to Sunday and now the unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday evening. Why not...it is 2020.

But the big Midwestern Game is this evening between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. Oh yeah.... Sorry for the divergence let's claw our way back to politics.

He's Running!

The "Clown Car" that has been running around shouting about voter fraud is running out of gas. Crazy Uncle Rudy continues to show up and make a us wince at the antics. Meanwhile its looking more and more like "45" will run again in 2024 and some are suggesting that he will announce his candidacy on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021. All of which makes sense. But you've gotta be thinking that that move will frost others, in what once was the Grand Old Party, as they were frothing at the mouth to run. Mike Pence always the bridesmaid never the bride.

Obama

Speaking of Mike Pence what a sorry bastard he is. This weekend MSNBC has been running a four-part special "Obama" and it was enlightening. Lots of great stories that I'd missed and some familiar bits that still resonate. One of those misses was just how badly then Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) wanted to defeat the Affordable Care Act. The special showed speech after speech of how the six term congressman bellowed about the "socialist takeover" of health care.  He was...and no doubt is...a true believer in denying health care to Americans. You can hide a bunch behind that label of "Caring Christian".

Shit Hole Country

Remember when "45" blasted third world nations as "shit hole countries"? I know, it's hard to keep up but now I wonder if, because he is so very good at projecting, if he were really foreshadowing the United States? Millions are ill with COVID19, the economy (it is not Wall Street) is in shambles and about to get worse, unemployment continues to rise, those on extended unemployment will lose benefits the day after Christmas, putting political pals in charge of the Pentagon, AstraZeneca last week admitted they gave only a half-dose of their vaccine to some study volunteers...and the Broncos don't have a quarterback.

Yikes!  What have we become under this mad-man? Looks a hell-of-alot like some shit hole county and this guy wants to run for president...again. Heaven help us. (Image - East Bay Times)

America Did Fail Our Kids

Looking back at the election it's easy to see we've got a bunch of work to do as we head into 2022. That the Democrats failed to hold a number of seats in the House and failed to take out Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and capture the Senate is an abject failure. Sure, we were able to elect Joe and Kamala but really kids...what the hell? I live in Iowa and here the state not only went for "45" but we also were not able to hold but one of the Democratic House Seats with Congresswoman Cindy Axne cruising to victory because of Polk County. If the party doesn't change direction look for disaster in the Mid-Terms.  That change needs to come in the form of local organizing now. Enough of this waiting for the DNC to tell us what to do it's clear they haven't got a clue.  As the great Congressman Thomas "Tip" O'Neill (D-Mass) said, "All politics is local." and that means that we can rise only on drilling down to what our folks want at the local level.

Let me give you but one example: If I hear one more Democrat utter the words "defund the police" I'm gonna lose it. Those three words were used as a billy-club against us. Come on, there must be some smart people out there...someplace. Weary.

Partly Personal

A couple of weeks ago I was on a call with members of the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus. I joined this group months ago because I believe in the idea of being an ally to the cause of equality...real equality. There is no way I can feel what it is like to be Black in America but I can do what I can to help fix what is an awful history...past and, frankly, present.  There was a discussion about story telling, letting the people know who and what the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus is about and what folks on the local level can do to move forward in the fight for equality. I had an idea and privately shared that with some in leadership positions. Crickets. OK, maybe it wasn't such a good idea. I dunno...maybe.

It was a weird Thanksgiving. I suspect, judging from my social media feeds, it was much the same for you. Usually our table is lined with family and friends this year it was just me and my Bride...and the dogs. It was beautiful and meaningful and loving.  Meanwhile millions of people ignored the advice of the experts and traveled. I can only hope and pray that those decisions don't come back to bite us in the weeks ahead. I know you are weary of this and I know that it could have been different if only we had taken COVID19 seriously at the beginning. But, now is not the time to give up. Take care of yourself and those you love...by refusing to gather. We need more time.

Thanks for reading... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 22 November 2020

Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly review of the news stories you may have seen, or missed, all laced with my commentary. It's what I get to do and, what the hell, it makes my Republican friends...angry.  Truth hurts. Let's go...

Fifty-Seven Years

Take another look at the date. It was 57 years ago today that President John F. Kennedy was murdered in Dallas. If you are old enough to remember that date you, no doubt, know exactly where you were when you heard the news.  I was in a 7th Grade English class when the teacher walked out of the room. She had been called out by the principal who was, I learned later, going to each classroom the share the dreadful news. When she came back in the room tears were rolling down her face and she told us, between sobs, that the president had been killed. School was dismissed and the nation mourned those four days until the burial on the 25th. Such was November 22, 1963.

What Is The Matter With You?

It is Thanksgiving week and millions of Americans are traveling for the holiday. Never mind that we're experiencing 200,000 COVID19 cases a day and that death is taking out roughly 2,000 a day. Yet...you are traveling for the holiday like nothing is going on? The denial is stunning but even more is the selfishness. "I wanna to see my kids." "I wanna have a nice dinner with friends and family." Well, know what? I would like to see you alive and not burdened with thousands of dollars in medical bills.  I would like you to actually think about others that you may come into contact with following your family-spreader adventure of turkey and ham or whatever you are planning.  Weary. (Image - Chicago Tribune)

Michigan

I've written before about how my home state of Michigan is a looney bin of right-wing nut jobs. Last week several GOP state legislators were summoned to the White House to talk...turkey.  It's the latest ploy of a desperate president attempting to stage a coup. After their meeting the Michigan legislators were photographed downing Dom Perignon at the Trump Hotel in D.C. The champaign goes for $750 a bottle. Two things stand out: 1) How much tax money went to the maskless party and who paid? 2) Do you see the hypocrisy of this crowd as thousands line up in a "bread line" in Dallas?  Here's the deal.  If you support this mob if you vote for these people you are enabling the worst of us.  Seriously?  How can you call yourself a "Republican"...you are part of the problem. (Image - KXAN)

The Election

I was going to write about the foolishness but decided against it. We've all been watching the clown show for days. The G-20 did have a meeting to talk about COVID19 and the world response. The president took a pass and went golfing.  And 70,000,000 voted for this guy. Says volumes.

North Dakota

You might have heard about this place. It is a country just south of Canada that is the leading the nation when it comes to COVID19 infections. In fact North Dakota last week reported more coronavirus deaths than any other state or nation. More than one in 1,000 people there have died. Nobody much cares because not many people live there...and there is soon to be even fewer.  Sad, but true. Right now there are 75 striking Teamster Local 120 workers on a picket line outside of Cash-Wa a food distribution center that supplies products for 10,000 restaurants, hotels,hospitals and schools in several states. The company is privately owned by the Henning family and Tom Henning is the CEO.  The workers there have been without a contract since March. They are working in unsafe conditions with no temperature checks, no hand sanitizer stations no social distancing. 

North Dakota, like Iowa, is a "Right to Steal" state where union activity is frowned upon and strikes are rare. The media is concerned about food shortages...now. Meanwhile we're learning that here in Iowa Tyson supervisors were making bets on how many people would test positive in their stinking meat processing facilities. Not caring one bit about the people working there. Let that sink in. 

Teamsters Local 120 represents 11,500 workers in the Midwest. There should be a way to contribute to their strike fund.  If I find a link I'll pass it along. 

Georgia

As long as we're talking about what is possible here, once again, are the websites so you can send a donation to Rev. Raphael Warnock and his election bid for 5 January and for Jon Ossoff. BOTH are solid Democrats and with their win we can move forward in the U.S. Senate and help Joe Biden and Kamala Harris carry out the work that needs to be done in this nation.  So...please take a moment and chip in for victory.

Partly Personal

I worry. Maybe it's a Jewish thing? I dunno but I worry about you. I worry about my co-workers, friends, family and the thousands of people I've come into contact with over the years. I just want you to be safe and healthy. And I worry that you are not paying attention. I worry that following Thanksgiving we'll see yet another surge of infections and then, because of the Christmas Holiday we'll see even more. Oh, yeah...then we've got New Year's....  Please wear a mask, refrain from gatherings, wash your hands. If you want to do something positive write and call your U.S. Senator and demand they take this seriously and pass a stimulus bill that can help America stay whole. We need...the time.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 15 November 2020

Hello and welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee a weekly look at some of the stories you've seen, or missed, all laced with my commentary and opinion. It's what I get to do...and thanks for reading.

Now What?

Early each Sunday Morning, long before the sun is up, my first thought is, "What will I write about this week?". With the news coming so fast that you feel like you are drinking from a firehose...the options are many. I could write about the absurd reality of a government that fails to govern. I could write about the wishful thinking of over 70 million Americans who believe their "dear leader" and say the election was stolen and that the president will prevail. I could write about the failure of Democrats, in my home state of Iowa, to connect with the voters here.  There is much to consider.  But, let's start with this....

The Dead and Dying

In my career as a Jewish spiritual leader and the former president of what was Iowa's largest continuing care community I have been at the bedside of countless of people who are dying. On a very personal level, I was there, attempting CPR on my Father z"l as he died. I was there, in my home years later, watching my Mother z"l slip away and telling her what a beautiful First Day of Spring it was. It was awesome and it was awful.  But, I was there.

Today, with the death toll in the United States rising, families are not there to say their goodbyes.  If lucky, they may have had some brave and dedicated health care worker hold up a phone or a tablet so they might, in a virtual way, be there. The toll on humanity is like nothing we have witnessed in our lifetime. The dead are...dead.  The living are traumatized.

Numbers, it would seem, mean nothing. But as the pandemic rages more and more of us are coming face to face with the reality that a person we know and love will soon be gasping for air.

While Nero fiddles we debate wearing masks. We debate closing up shop. We debate how many can be together. Is it 25, 20 or in the words of Abraham as he attempted to defend the people of Sodom, "What if twenty (righteous people) would be found there?' And He said, "I will not destroy on account of the twenty." So he said, "Let not my Lord be annoyed and I will speak but this once: What if ten would be found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy on account of the ten." (Gen. 18:31-32)

What We Should Do

We should stop playing with death. Look, the reality is that we can beat this and save our economy. Because, my friends COVID19 is the economy. As the weeks slip by and more people become infected and die we will be forced into action. We should take the offensive.

Money right now is...cheap. The Fed has said they will keep interest rates at near zero. Now is the time for Congress to get their head out of their ass and pass a massive aid package that rescues small businesses, bars, restaurants, nursing homes, schools, manufacturing facilities, food processing centers. Keep their employees whole and then...stay home.  Stay home until there is a proven vaccine. We don't need but ten righteous United States Senators to make this happen.

But, Don't Count on It

However power and politics are far more important than people. That is why, if you are reading this, click these two links and send some cash to our friends in Georgia. Rev. Raphael Warnock is right here. And, Jon Ossoff is right here. I've talked to my friends in Georgia and what they need is money. The two GOP senators are lying to the electorate. They care nothing about the people. They, at every turn, are instilling fear with profound lies about the two men who can fight for the people of the United States. It has come to this.

Right now...do it. I get it. We've been through a bruising election and here in Iowa we have failed the future. But we can bend the specter of death and save our people. It is that...critical.  You can give to Rev. Warnock here.  And you can give to Jon Ossoff here.  If every Democrat in Iowa puts up $25 and we do that in Missouri and Minnesota and in Michigan and Wisconsin and Pennsylvania we can save humanity. We just need time...and time is running out.

Partly Personal

I know...I'm in a mood. Let me explain.

Last week as I was preparing my writing about the Torah Portion for my congregation, Adas Israel, I learned the tragic news of the death of Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks the former Chief Rabbi (22 years) of Great Britain. He was 72. He died on Saturday the 7th of November (Shabbat) of cancer. The fact that I learned about his death days later is an embarrassment. You see, I was preoccupied with the election. I was preoccupied with the pandemic. I was preoccupied with my job. I was preoccupied about a worn out alternator on my vehicle. I was not paying attention.

Why is this such a big deal?  Let me tell you a story:

Rabbi Sacks was an amazing man rooted in Modern Orthodoxy. He traveled all the time...especially among the colleges and universities of the world...explaining in very profound ways...the meaning of faith and of Judaism. He was a person who wrote and spoke about the goodness of religion be it his or others. 

I was honored, in 2008 to have Shabbat dinner with Rabbi Sacks in Israel. We were in a room with 200+ other Orthodox men and women and, rather than sitting at the "head table", he decided to sit among the people. Fate stepped in and he sat at our table.  I remember he was intently interested in our personal stories...both secular and religious. I didn't know much about him at the time. And when it was his turn at the podium he gave a powerful and insightful address of hope and faith. I was taken back.

For years I would read his works and tailor my sermons or lectures with bits that I gleaned from this great person. But, in the past several months, I became preoccupied with other things and so, to my embarrassment, I did not know of this great loss.

There is a lesson here. We can spend our time listening to noise or we can spend our time working to preserve hope and love and kindness.  This doesn't mean that I don't cringe at the failures of our political or religious leaders. It simply means that we must fight harder. We must pay attention. We must, as we are told, "Love the stranger in your midst for you too were once a stranger..."

Thanks for reading.

Sunday Morning Coffee 8 November 2020

Yesterday afternoon following the announcement that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the election the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo tweeted this: "Welcome back America!" How very true. Welcome to the Victory Edition of Sunday Morning Coffee. Politics, religion and opinion every Sunday Morning for years.  Let's go.

Done Yet?

Just hours after watching Joe and Kamala address the nation I started thinking about the future...in the short term. If you are done cheering and feeling a bit hung-over from last night know there is work to be done, NOW! You need to know that the rich folks that run Wall Street are cheering a divided government because they know it will be impossible to get tax roll-backs through the senate. It will be tough to get mega-corporations, that currently pay no tax, to pay their fair share. It will be tough to get health care for Americans. In fact, it will be impossible for the Biden White House to do much of anything because standing in the way is the United States Senate.

We've been here before. We know that Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will do what he did to President Obama...stonewall. That, my friends is how it works.

So, if you are done celebrating it's time to get to work in Georgia. The election there is on January 5.  Right now you can donate, volunteer and make a difference for the positive election of Rev. Raphael Warnock to the U.S. Senate. Right now you can donate, volunteer and make a difference for the positive election of Jon Ossoff to the U.S. Senate.

Look, nothing...NOTHING...gets done unless we wage war in Georgia and get this done. You can make a difference. Let's do this. (Photo: Politico)

Then...

Then we can start working on ridding ourselves of the tragedy that is Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA). This embarrassment has got to stop. She sold her soul and the souls of hundreds of Iowans for a red cap of shame. She is unfit for office and, just like her idol, has failed in her basic duty to keep Iowans safe.

We can argue, later, about who is the best person to take her on but right now we need to unite behind that mission. It's going to be tough because we failed at retaking the Iowa House and Senate. Do not think for a moment that she and her cadre are going to "moderate". They are going to double down on making life in Iowa a living hell. You want proof?  Yesterday Sen. Bran Zaun (R-Urbandale) was whipping up the faithful at a MAGA rally on the steps of the Iowa State Capital.  They are not gone or silent they are motivated to attack.

Partly Personal

I know a short cup but I'm pissed off. Many of my friends lost on Tuesday...too many. While we can enjoy the victory the nation gave us we should hang our heads in shame for what Iowa did on Election Day. Yes, we were able to return Cindy Axne to Congress. Yes, it looks like Rita Hart, with a lead of only 163 votes, will go to Washington. But, that ain't good enough.

You want to win in Iowa? Start listening to the people of Iowa and not the DCCC or the DNC. Yeah, I'm pissed off.

But, there is this. I have never met Wendy Martin in person. She works in Washington D.C. and we met a couple of years ago because she handles payments for the organization she works for.  So, Wendy and I met...on the phone.  Last night, after Shabbat, Wendy called me. We had talked earlier in the week, expressing our concern about the election and where it was headed. Last night we cried in joy and talked about the future of our nation.  There is something magical about chance meetings...because they are not "chance" at all. Wendy is all in for the Georgia Senate Race on 5 January. Can we do...less?

Thanks for reading. Have a great Sunday...now let's go!

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 1 November 2020

Grab a cup of Sunday Morning Coffee - The news stories you might have seen, or missed, all laced with my commentary and opinion.  It's what I get to do.  And, gosh, just hours before Election Day 2020...what could go wrong?

The Republican Death Cult

In case you missed it yesterday Stamford University released a study saying that the result of these rallies held to inflate the president's ego are responsible for over 30,000 new COVID19 cases and an additional 700 deaths. It's becoming more clear to me that the Republicans simply want you...dead.

Think of it. What an amazing strategy. Deny COVID19, blame doctors and hospitals for inflating the number of cases and deaths just to line their own pockets with cash. Meanwhile older people are dying ("They are gonna die anyway.") And people of color (pick one) once infected are more likely to die. Then we won't be bothered by all of this "equality crap". It's brilliant.

And it fits that so many "born agains" are willing to abide with this concept. After all, life here is full of trouble and toil. When you die it's "pie in the sky" and paradise. Onward Christian Soldiers....

Let Me Give You A Sample

Last week I was making calls to Iowa voters in the 16 counties that make up the Third Congressional District.  Lots of phones out of service but I was able to get through to a couple dozen. Some great conversations. One woman by the name of Mary who lives in the tiny town of McClelland kept me on the phone for some time sharing stories of her family and friends (all voting for Democrats). It was a heartfelt conversation.

There was also this call:  After saying I was calling on behalf of the Iowa Democratic Party this guy said, "F*ck you you mother-f*ckers. I am so grateful that Jesus caused that judge to die (Ruth Bader Ginsburg) and has sent us this warrior (Amy Coney Barrett) to right the wrongs this nation has been doing for nearly eighty years!" He then hung up.  Yeah...there is that.

What Is Your Deal?

The Selzer Iowa Poll came out yesterday and has the president and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) leading by more than the margin of error. I remember when I came to Iowa. We were a leader in so many things from science to agriculture to education. Heck, we even had the Iowa Test of Basic Skills which became the national measurement of education. Today? Meh....we're leading the middle of the pack. We're losing teachers, we have a governor who denies science and has bought into the GOP Death Cult (Privatize Medicaid and watch 'em drop like flies.) And, now the guy who every time he opens his mouth he is lying...is leading in...Iowa.  Moving away from a solid education has its rewards.  That you fawn over this president really does say more about you...then him.

Single Issue Voters

Then there is this. It would seem that people that are so against abortion have something in common. Let me be clear, our family is, in general, opposed to abortion. Now, not all abortion. We tend to take the biblical view. Go ahead, look it up. However that does not mean that we wish to remove the option from the women of our nation.

But there are some that do. You know why it is so easy for them to be pro-life? The answer is because the fetus doesn't need anything. True, once the child is born then they may actually require care and that's where my pro-life friends draw the line. Education, food, housing, child-care, medical care...that's a whole bunch of needs that they care little about.  So, yeah...it's pretty easy to support something that doesn't ask for anything.

Joe Biden in Iowa

It was a moving speech this past Friday as hundreds jammed into the Iowa State Fairgrounds to hear Joe deliver a great address. I had been asked to go but, because of work, I was not able to attend. However, I was able to watch the entire event online thanks to the Des Moines Register stream. Joe delivered in a forceful and articulate manner.  It truly is his time...he was made for this time.

Ross Daniels also spoke about the death of his father z"l at the hands of COVID19. It was a moving tribute from a man who has championed health care. Joe had words for him as well saying, "Ross, you turned a tragic event into a cause and by doing so you honor your father..." That is pretty close to the conversation Joe Biden and I had last fall.  I'll never forget that...never.

Partly Personal

Yesterday I received word that a close personal friend lost her dear mother to COVID19. Altjie Larson was living in a senior center in Osage, Iowa where 47 of the 48 residents tested positive for the coronavirus two weeks ago. She was 84 and a person, once you met her, you would not forget. Some would call her "feisty".  I know that because that is what her daughter said yesterday when I made the phone call. The family is well known there having started Larson's Hardware way back in 1979. The store is still in the family.  When I spoke to Audra, Altjie's daughter, she said, "Mom could not stand this president and was so happy when she learned that her grand-daughter had joined the Biden Team here in Iowa."

It didn't have to be this way and one wonders how many more family members will be missing from the Thanksgiving Dinner...  What the hell is the matter with you Iowa?

Thanks for reading...now VOTE!