Trump's Concession Speech ;) ;) ;)

(P.S. added, after Former Republican President, George W. Bush, just accepted, and congratulated, Joe Biden as president-elect).

Gotcha!   

I mean the Alec Baldwin version on SNL, last night :)

It's near the end of the cold-open clip, and it includes a little musical number  :)

 

LOL, the "Macho Man" ballad at the piano bit - priceless!

And this time, the Ace Ventura "Loser" bit worked, so now you're happy with Jim Carrey people, aren't you, admit it?

Oh, ya fickle fans!

Also, can I just add - that in my 51 years, I have NEVER seen people  this happy and full of pure joy, or celebrate this much - after a presidential election, for any president, even Obama, the first black POTUS (fairly close, but not this much pure joy)!

Not so much here in Kentucky overall, but in Louisville, and even here in downtown Lexington, we had ourselves car parade and a masked-up block party! 

Regardless - no, the real Trump has not conceded. 

Instead, he tweeted this ...

Yeah ... by really, really, a lot! 

LOL

*Sigh*

It's so embarrassing that the person leading this country, for the last 4 years, has a command of English language, the grammatical skills, and the vocabulary skills of a 3rd grader - not to mention apparently the same level of math skills - because even Biden's win wasn't "by a lot."

The press did NOT decide the winner - the electoral college did - press just reported it. 

Though the Associated Press did report "projected winners" yesterday, these reports were were based on official press-release statements given by the Secretary of States for both Pennsylvania and Nevada, literally moments before the electoral college officially called these states (however, they have not been certified, and will not be, until there are no more contestations.)

Once the electoral college officially announced Biden's win, within 30 minutes, they changed from "projected winner" to "winner" - with some press still calling it "projected victory" only because Trump refuses to concede, and because the electoral college votes still need to be certified - which will happen once all legal disputes are settled.

There was nothing "press-driven" or fraudulent about it - the problem is not the press, the problem is the electoral college.

However, this is the way the electoral college works and has always worked  - nobody likes it, but nobody talks about changing it until their candidate loses.

People who think this is fraud have not done/been doing the math all along, do not understand that it is the electoral college who calls the winner of a state, nor how the electoral college works, and are still operating on emotional belief and suspicion rather than policy, fact, and state and federal election constitutional laws. 

Also, note that Trump was actually closer to winning certain states yesterday, than he was Wednesday, when he sued to stop the count!


Had we called it then, when Trump wanted to, Biden would've won by an even greater margin, but it wouldn't have been even close to an accurate reflection of votes!

This election, with so many mail-in votes during a pandemic - which Trump has tried to discourage (suppress) from the get-go - we needed to make sure all the votes were in before the electoral college called a state (a problem in 2016) - and to do that, we had to count all mail-in votes, including overseas military votes, during a pandemic - and that takes extra time. 

If you're holding on to the idea of a supreme court save because of a packed conservative court, I wouldn't hold your breath - keep in mind that Trump has thus far lost all of his lawsuits - including his petition to stop the count in Pennsylvania, with even with the most conservative SCOTUS justice we have, Justice Alito.


Alito ruled NOT to stop the count, but granted a partial win, in that he allowed Pennsylvania to increase the number of more poll watchers on both political sides - and the electoral college still called it a loss for Trump.

And in order to win his legal case, Trump would (for the first time in his presidency) need to actually provide proof of his accusations - that widespread illegal votes were counted or discarded improperly - and though there are sometimes small pockets of these in certain areas, they likely would still not be enough to secure a win for Trump.

Believe me, I know how you feel after 2016, your frustration with the electoral college - none of us are happy with the electoral college system.  

In 2016, states were called for Trump by the electoral college - despite Hillary winning the popular vote nationwide by more than 4 million votes!

However, when the electoral college works in our favor, no one will address and challenge it, and thus it never changes and no one b*tches about it until their candidate loses!

This is another reason why this election took extra time to call - because this time, the electoral college wanted to make sure that didn't happen again, and that at least 98% of the votes were in before the electoral calls a state, which they didn't do last time - they still go by the most populated geographic areas, but went with the 51% rule instead of 98%.


However, unlike in 2016 - again, when Hillary actually won the popular vote nationwide by 4 million votes - it appears Biden won both the electoral college AND the popular vote.

Now, of course, Trump has changed his tune from lawsuits to stop the count, to wanting to keep the count going, hoping that that small number of provisional votes will bring a win - hilarious!

That's fine, keep going - no one but Trump himself has ever asked to stop the count - in fact, never stop the count.

However, remember that in 2016, in the end, there were 4 million more popular votes nationwide for Hillary, and even that did not change the electoral college call for Trump - but it's likely Biden won the popular as well. 

Lastly, I'd like to thank all the brave poll workers of both parties, who worked tirelessly into all hours of the night, despite being falsely accused, screamed at, chanted at, and even threatened with violence.

THANK YOU, poll workers of both parties, for what you had to endure, this election!!!

In fact, I'm not sure Trumpers realize that poll workers are from both parties - thus, accusing even Trump-supporting poll workers of fraud isn't exactly helping your case!

For more on what poll workers of both parties had to endure, this election, read this story on a poll worker who was videoed throwing away a piece of paper while counting, which went viral, falsely claiming this was a vote, and has received death threats and went into hiding.

In fact, when investigated, it was discovered what he actually threw away were the instructions that came with your mail-in ballot, which were not supposed to be mailed back with the ballot - and he was following protocol. 

Otherwise, I get your disappointment, and it sucks, I know -  we felt it in 2016 - only with less triple-checking, investigations, and ridiculous lawsuits lol.  

However, the problem is really rooted in the electoral college and what they use to determine to make the call  - although it does appear that unlike in 2016, Biden actually won the popular vote, too.

Since none of us like the electoral college unless our candidate wins - shouldn't we change it?

I'm sorry you don't like the call, but to borrow Trump's phrase on the coronavirus, but with less nonchalance  - "it is what it is."

_____________________________

P.S. - Former President, George W. Bush, just released a press statement congratulating President-elect Joe Biden, making him the highest-ranking Republican to accept the election results, and thanked him for his patriotic, unifying message, last night, saying though they disagree politically, he trusts Joe Biden as a "good man"  ...

“I extended my warm congratulations and thanked him for the patriotic message he delivered last night ... I also called Kamala Harris to congratulate her on her historic election to the vice presidency. Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country.”

If you check the link, he says he actually called both Biden and Harris to congratulate them -  but there is no mention of actually calling or speaking to Trump personally.

However, he does go on, in written statement, to congratulate the Trump team for the accomplishment of pulling in a record 71 million American votes and reassuring that their voices will still be heard, going forward.

(Now - what he didn't say, of course, is that this U.S. record of 71 million votes is out of a grand total U.S. record of 168 million votes  - which again, for those who haven't done the math -  is roughly 43% of the total votes nationwide, generously rounded.)

Interestingly, the Senate Majority Leader from my state of Kentucky, Mitch McConnell, has said similar about Biden previously, about not agreeing with him, but trusting him completely and Biden being a "good man." 

He has not said that now, though - he hasn't said anything at all, regarding either candidate.

My guess is there's still going to be obstruction and a constitutional crisis from the get-go, in the age of Trump, on everything from cabinet appointments to healthcare, but it's nice to know that if nothing else, Republicans may not agree with him, but they trust him - and there's hope they can make a deal, based on track record?

Biden Takes Pennsylvania and Nevada - BIDEN WINS! (That's Right, Trump - YOU'RE FIRED!) HaHaHa!

Pennsylvania announced Biden the winner, and with 20 electoral votes, that puts him at 273, plus 6 electoral votes from Nevada, makes 276 electoral votes - winning the presidency!

Hallelujah, and thank you, Jesus - and I mean that!   

Tears are rolling down my cheeks this election again, as I write this - but this election -  it's because I'm happy, tears of joy! 

All the lies, all the cheating, all the unfounded conspiracy theories, failed lawsuits, all the extra "watchers" Trump put in, verified absentee votes during a pandemic, all the recount - and  STILL turned out in Biden's favor!

And Go Kamala - first female VP of the United States! 

This has been a very long past four years of lies, cheating, anger, hatred, insanity, dysfunction and darkness are finally over There's finally a light at the end of this tunnel, thank GOD! 

I'm not pretending it's going to be easy - Biden's got a long road ahead of him of cleaning up the stinking, rotten refuse and debris left over from Trump's presidency, plus he's in for a fight in the Senate still with the GOP still in charge - but it's a start.

Thank, you, America - I can honestly say I'm finally proud of you again - I love you!

WE DID IT!

Without false accusations, lies, smear campaigns, and conspiracy theories - without frivolous lawsuits, peacefully voting without cheating (verified by double and triple-checked votes and extra poll count watchers)!

That's right, Trump - YOU'RE FIRED - you selfish, greedy, corrupt, false-accusing, pathologically lying, divisive, traitorous,  false prophet/thief in the temple, racist, wannabe fascist/Nazi dictator, poser President! 

Earlier this week, I played a little music from my husband's home city after Stevie Wonder and Obama showed up to rally for Biden in Detroit - and part of my tears are in happiness for Detroit because they voted in record numbers, their voices and votes are no longer suppressed and America heard them!

Thus, for everyone who voted for Biden, who anyone who has ever felt oppressed and/or silenced because you're a person of color, a woman, your religion, your sexual orientation, your political orientation, just because you're poor and powerless, or any other reason - this song is for you!

Martha and the Vandellas - "Dancing in the Street"

Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the street

They're dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street)
Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)
In New York City (dancing in the street)

All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging, swaying, and records playing
Dancing in the street

Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
They'll be dancing (dancing in the street)
They're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)

It's an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughing, singing, and music swinging
Dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA (dancing in the street)
Baltimore and D.C. now (dancing in the street)
Can't forget the Motor City (dancing in the street)

All we need is music, sweet music (sweet music)
There'll be music everywhere (everywhere)
There'll be swinging, swaying, and records playing

Dancing in the street
Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
They're dancing
They're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)

Way down in L.A. (dancing in the street)
Every day, they're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Let's form a big, strong line (dancing in the street)
Get in time, we're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Across the ocean blue (dancing in the street)
Me and you, we're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)

Wow, People are Cray Cray, Right Now, Here In Kentucky ...

So I had to go out to the walk-in clinic this late afternoon (just another UTI) ... and though I'm in an exam room with the door shut, I hear someone screaming at a nurse through the phone (I'm not sure if she was on speaker, I don't think so, actually). 

After a few minutes of trying to calm the woman down, the nurse just started yelling back. I don't really blame her - the woman wasn't listening to what she was trying to tell her.  

From what I could gather, though I couldn't actually understand what the screaming women was saying through the phone, it was apparently about some lab results that were positive, but the woman thought they should be negative (my assumption was it was COVID testing because of what the nurse said).

The nurse kept saying, "Well, we can leave a message for the nurse practitioner, but all we have is the rapid.  We told you that when you came in and you choose to proceed. I'm sorry you don't like the results, but that is what they are.  All we have here is the rapid, we don't have percentages for you.  You won't get the results that quickly if it's the regular version.  If you think it's a false-positive and you'd like the non-rapid test, you'll need to see your regular PCP and the results will take a few days to come back.  What else can I do for you today?"

More screaming, so the nurse just repeated what she said above, until she was yelling back.  Then the woman asked for her name and apparently hung up.

(At that point, I was super glad I was wearing an N95 mask, let me tell you, because I'm assuming that was a COVID test and the screaming lady was positive!)

Then, as we're leaving, we pull up to a red light, and this guy in a MAGA hat pulls up alongside us with his window down.

 Man in a MAGA Hat: (Yelling) "Hey, are those masks so big you can't see the gas pedal!  It's easy, just push it down, you f*ckin' retards!"  

 

Me: (Waves):   "Okay, thank you! God bless you anyway, sir!" 

 

Man in MAGA hat:  "F*ck you too, sweetheart!"

 

I guess he thought I was being sarcastic, rather than meet hate with love, attempting bless those who curse us like Christ said - plus it just throws people off , when they're expecting  to provoke you into a fight, but you bless them instead lol. 

 

Then I just cocked my head to the side, like, "Really, with that?"   

 

I turned back to my husband - and we just looked at each other, laughing, and rolled up the window, the guy still yelling and cursing.  Hilarious!  lol.   

 

Believe me, my husband usually isn't a slow driver - it's just  he was just listening to me about what the nurse practitioner said, and what happened on the crazy phone call I overheard - so if anything, it was my fault.  

GEEZ are Kentucky Trumpers full of hate right now, or what?

Wow, if Trump loses, I'm half afraid Kentucky's going go violent nuts, they're just a hair away from it already!

(Well, Trump did tell them to "stand back and stand by," at the first debate - and we knew beforehand he wasn't going to concede regardless.)

 And they said we reacted badly when Hillary won the popular vote, but lost the electoral college,  and we don't even know who won yet, sheesh!

Oh, Ya Crazy Conspiracists - Separating Belief/Suspicion/Opinion From Fact

 

Ya know, I could just as easily falsely state my suspicion/belief/opinion as fact, like so many do, these days ... 

... which would be that the reason Trump wanted to stop the count is yet another attempt to suppress votes, because he knows that most of the ballots left are mail-ins, and that absentee/mail-in ballots are mostly Democrat, as we are the ones who trust science and our healthcare providers over politicians, and continue to observe social-distancing guidelines ...

... but the truth is, just like you, I have no proof either; thus, it is still just my suspicion, belief, and opinion.

And even though unlike your wild conspiracies, my suspicion isn't just pulled from thin air - it's at least based on Trump's track record of tweeting mail system distrust repeatedly -- and his his buddy, Postmaster General Louis Dejoy, was complicit, and was caught physically removing mailboxes and mail processing machines, actually having to testify before congress about it, promising to replace them (but never fully doing so) -- I still don't have actual proof of my suspicion.

Also, IMO, I personally think the most suspicious thing thus far is actually South Carolina's electoral college calling the state for Trump when only 48% of the votes had been counted, plus throwing out 14,000+ ballots that apparently weren't postmarked correctly.

However, do see us us accusing them of anything, making up our own conspiracy theories about it, suing people, and still bitching about it? 

No, you do not - the most we've said was, "Huh, that's odd.  I don't get what/how that happened."

Thus, I could just as easily falsely state as fact that the reason it's taking so long is because aliens from Alpha Centauri landed, took over the poll counting, and voted for Biden lol.


And no, as I showed you in my post two days ago, doing the electoral map count if we stopped counting then, Biden would've won - so, no - Trump was NOT winning before now - had we stopped the counting, Biden would've won, at that point.  

(If you think that, then you are just listening to internet dysinformation nonsense and clearly didn't do the electoral-college math.)

Also, Trump actually gained votes in both Nevada and Arizona, since the counts of mail-in ballots have been allowed to continue. 

Additionally, despite the state supreme courts throwing out Trump's lawsuits in Georgia and Michigan, Trump had a slight legal win in Pennsylvania, which granted the allowance of more "watchers" (as long as they weren't campaign members) to observe/double-check the counters - and yet Biden is now winning Pennsylvania nonetheless, so whatcha got now? lol

Also, note Trump isn't saying crap about Alaska, whose counts are still out, too, because he's winning by a long shot, even though it's the same issue, mail-in ballots being counted.

Seriously, people - just because you believe something strongly, it still does not make it a fact - you still have the burden of proof. 

So let's all stop trusting our suspicions, fears, beliefs, and opinions as actual fact, when they are not, shall we?

All of us, on both political sides, could speculate all day, but none of us know or have proof of anything - let's stop trusting our own biased suspicions as "proof" of anything - because it isn't.

Lastly, according to the NYT, most of the mail-in votes left to count are from overseas military (and I'm sure they're not the only state doing so) - our overseas military, more than anyone, deserve to have their votes counted!

Loving These "I Hereby Claim" Tweets Mocking Trump's Latest Flagged Tweet - LOL!

(PS added) 

We all could use a laugh, right now, methinks. 

Thus, in case you haven't seen it, this was Trump's tweet a few hours ago, falsely claiming victory in Michigan (though the electoral college officially claimed Biden the winner in Michigan), as well as that he had a "big" lead in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina,  in which he actually has a 3% lead at most (but will likely win those other 3 states, yes).  

Twitter flagged this as dysinformation, of course, along with 2 more of his false tweets today ... 

Dohkay.  

Well, as long as we're apparently suffering from delusions of grandeur, and 'hereby" proclaiming things, with neither the evidence nor authority to do so  ... 

"I hereby claim that I am 29 years old forever, and that I have just been canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church ... despite not being Catholic."

"Also, I hereby claim that from this day forward, that because Donald J. Trump sits on a throne of lies, he shall no longer be referred to as President by anyone in the entire universe; instead, he shall henceforth and hitherto only be referred to as the 'Greatest' Delusional and Deranged Douchebag 'of all time/in American History.'" 

Others apparently had the same idea ... hehehe

PS - As I explained 2 posts below, showing the electoral college math, if we stopped the counts now, and called it based on current count status, then Biden would win by electoral votes anyway, so it would be in Trump's best interest to let the count finish.  

In fact, I jokingly said, "Okay, I'm good with that, then Biden wins" lol.  


I was joking, of course - because why would we encourage people to get out and vote, but then not count their votes, when things don't go our way? 

Would you want your vote not to be counted?

This is the democratic electoral process during a pandemic - it is what it is, and it takes as long as it takes.


If you want a recount when the counts are complete, that's perfectly fine, reasonable, and understandable, considering the difficulties and contentiousness of this election - but IMO, trying to stop the count altogether is yet another attempt by a wannabe dictator to undermine the electoral process.

So, My Husband From Detroit Nearly Just Did a Cartwheel: Michigan Officially Turns Blue for POTUS - Official Electoral Vote Makes Biden the Winner in Michigan!

I don't have a picture of it, but very nearly - and my husband also shouted a "woooooooooo!" so loud the entire apartment community could probably hear it.  (Which is okay, because all our neighbors in this building voted for Biden.)

Detroit was pretty amped for this election (as I posted about earlier this week) - and they voted like never before.

Trumpers, let this be a lesson:

1)  Dysinformation propaganda only goes so far - the rest of the country may believe it, but don't try to lie to automotive labor in Michigan themselves, about the tens of thousands of automotive jobs cut at GM and Ford that began 2 years before COVID.

 

2)  Don't encourage a terrorist militia to kidnap and kill a Democratic governor, simply because she temporarily shut down your state for 6 weeks!  LOL

PS - We are NOT claiming Biden won the election, by the way - we're still waiting to see - he's just happy that his home state of Michigan flipped blue :)

With 270 Electoral Votes to Win, Trumpers - Erm - I Don't Think You Want Them to Stop Counting Votes

I'm not sure what Trumpers are complaining about, regarding not waiting until all the votes are counted - because this election, based on the electoral numbers, it's actually in their best interest to wait until all the votes are counted - but then I guess they haven't done the math (as usual).

I'm no fan of the electoral college myself (it's outdated, population concentrations have changed since our constitution was written and since new states were added to the union; plus I don't understand who gets to be an electoral college rep and how), but apparently, those saying the count should stop clearly have no idea of how this works or what they're talking about, because they clearly haven't done the electoral college math. 

Because if we called a win based on the electoral college already officially in - then Biden wins  (Biden's 227 existing electoral votes to Trump's 213 existing electoral votes).

If we stopped the counting votes for the uncalled states now, and the electoral college decided who won based solely on the count in thus far - then Biden still wins (see below).  

Okay, fine by me, Trumpers! I'm good with that lol.

HOWEVER,  I reeeeally think you want wait until all those votes are counted, for your own good?

Especially in states that have close races that are within 2%?

Seriously - it's simple, basic math, here - and if I was a Trumper, I'd be saying "Keep counting, count them allllll" - because that's the only way Trump can win!

I'm no math whiz, but let me help you ...

As of right now, as of 11:20 a.m. on November 4th, with 270 votes needed to win, the electoral college votes currently stand at Biden 227 VS. Trump at 213.

Still to go are the 8 states below, with the number of electoral college votes each state has (based on population), in order of amount of electoral votes:

Pennsylvania - 20 electoral votes.

Michigan - 16 electoral votes.

Georgia - 16 electoral votes. 

North Carolina - 15 electoral votes.

Arizona - 11 electoral votes.

Wisconsin - 10 electoral votes.

Nevada - 6 electoral votes. 

Alaska - 3 votes.  

At present, the following 4 states have 85% to 98% of their votes counted, and likely Biden:

Michigan           16

Wisconsin          10

Arizona              11

Nevada                6

_______________________

                    43 additional Biden electoral votes.

           +     227 existing Biden electoral votes

_______________________________

                  270 total electoral votes.

At present, the following 4 states have 36% (Alaska) to 95% of their votes counted, and are predicted to likely Trump:

Pennsylvania          20 

Georgia                   16 

North Carolina      15

Alaska                      3

______________________

                       54   additional Trump electoral votes.

             +      213 existing Trump electoral votes.

_______________________________

             267  total electoral votes

____________________

*HOWEVER* - the races are so close in these states (except Alaska), even the remaining 2 % of additional votes in some states could flip the script and how Trump could still win.

So either way, whether we just went with the official electoral votes already in - or if we stopped counting the electoral college judged the rest based on what's already in - that means Biden wins.

But hey, if you Trumpers really want to to stop it right where it stands, who am I to stop you? ;)

(Not the brightest bulbs in the box, though, are you, poor things? But we knew that already ;)

We shall see - North Carolina had already given mail-in-ballots until November 12th to be counted, decided before the election.

Struggling to Understand What's Going On in South Carolina, Right Now?

How is it the electoral college rep from South Carolina can call Lindsey Graham and Donald Trump the winners for the state -  when only 48% of the votes have been counted?

I thought the electoral college had to wait until the majority of the votes were counted before they called it?

Some reports of having to throw out at least 14,000 ballots because they had the wrong postmark and can't be traced or ???

Then again, I'm not sure how they can call anyone the winner, of any state, considering mail-in votes can still be counted in most states up to three days after the election if postmarked by today.

I understand how the electoral college works - but I have never understand how the reps are chosen - I mean, who picks these people, who are they, and how come we don't vote for them?

Welp, as I said, nothing surprises me - I fully expected Teflon Don to con and cheat, that's what he does and has all his life, and people keep letting him get away with it - nothing has changed. 

And the thing is, Trump has chanted about fraudulent voting and "rigged" elections before voting even began -  both in 2016 and now - so just like I said when he said that in 2016 - if it's rigged and as rampant as he says - what does that say about him winning, then?  lol

As for Lindsey Graham, he was trailing Jaime Harrison significantly, right up until yesterday, in the polls - but Graham ended up winning by 17% anyway?  Seriously? 

Not that I trust the polls anyway, considering what happened in 2016, but that's about a 30% difference between polls and actual outcome in that state for Lindsey, it's a bit odd.

If Trump does win, that's fine - we know what to expect from him, there's really nothing new he can do, we've seen all his tricks.

And the truth will eventually come out - the truth that we already know, but that Fox News, Breitbart, and QAnon people don't, because their news doesn't tell them.  

It may take a long time, even years, perhaps even after many of us have passed on, before it does - but it will.

Even still, some people will continue to believe propaganda without proof, but won't believe evidence right front of their faces - i.e., Nazis went to their deaths, even when caught later, without remorse, still believing in Hitler.  

Trumpers could read other sources and look at evidence, but they won't.

Just like the people who still believe the holocaust never happened, because they refuse to even look at the actual evidence - even if they don't trust historical documents and history books, they have the option to then go visit the former camps, talk with a holocaust survivor, or the American GIs who were there and freed the prisoners - but they won't - because it doesn't support what they want to believe.

Lots of people would suffer, many more would die from COVID - particularly hourly-wage laborers and the poor, who can't work from home, until the time when truth, fact, and evidence are valued again.

But their suffering will not be in vain - because you can only deflect and project your own misdeeds onto others with proof-less propaganda and hysteria for so long - you cannot suppress truth and change forever :)

And remember, though the Dark Ages set us back for centuries - next came the Age of Enlightenment - where we made progress double-time that which we'd lost :)

Then, we will look back in shame over this time in history, just like we did the Dark Ages after the Age of Enlightenment, or just like we do with Salem in 1692.

And it could be worse - because even though we're heading firmly in the direction of Russia and the Ukraine (because Trump's using communist-dictator tactics himself, but the poor idiots that vote for him don't even notice, because he's so busy deflecting and projecting "communist" and "socialist" labels all over everybody else) - the fact remains, were not yet - and people lived in those countries and endured much worse, for years - so if we had to, we would, and just carry on, as they did/have.

Regardless, I won't lose hope, I won't lose faith, and I'll keep speaking up and fighting for a better world and for what I know in my soul and spirit to be right - because I believe true sheep can easily tell the difference between their master's voice and the voice of wolf-in-sheep's-clothing in graven-image idolatry ;)

Ah well, if the wolf in sheep's clothing, using Christ's name as subterfuge to cover a multitude of sins,  wins again, despite what the votes actually were, at least we won't be as shocked/devastated - I just won't want to rehash it.

I mean, what does it tell you that I'm actually looking forward to going to my dentist, tomorrow, as a place to hide, rather than be subjected to any more BS about this election lol?

But I promise you, if Trump wins, and if any of the staff seems overly happy that (which I suspect most will not be), I'm getting myself right up out of the chair and walking myself out the door, considering I already braved COVID to even be there, which was scary enough! lol

An Effort to Welcome November and Thanksgiving... I Think? ;)

Trying to focus on home, hearth, and comfort, right now, rather than other - erm - occurrences that may be happening in my country, right now ;)

Here's the daytime photo ...

And here's the nighttime (with candles instead of lighting the wood just yet) ...

The mantel still looks like it's missing something (perhaps the garland is a bit skimpy?), but nevertheless, that's enough fussing over my Thanksgiving fireplace display, methinks - not sure anyone's gonna see it, this year, anyway with COVID and all - but still, a cozy nook, right?  :)  

PS - Motown Monday Motivation (Part #1?) - The 1970s :)

(*Edited - important paragraph regarding my Dad.) 

Just a little Motown Monday pre-election bonus - a few more Motown classics for ya - to bring a smile, then get ya moving, on a Monday:)

Blogger tends to slow down loading, with the more videos you put, so I'll start this Monday Motown post with the first Motown songs I can remember, as a little tyke, in the early 70s, then going back even further (because believe it or not, Motown is older than me  ;).

Let's start with the song that unfortunately is still as relevant today, as it was almost 50 years ago.

(If I have time, I'll do a Part 2, later today.) 

Marvin Gaye - "What's Going On?"

Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today, eh eh

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today, oh oh oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going on
Yeah, what's going on
Ah, what's going on

In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on brother
Right on babe

Mother, mother, everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply 'cause our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh oh oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
C'mon talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
Yeah, what's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on, ooh ooh ooh ooh
Right on baby
Right on baby

Next up, I wish you "young 'uns" knew how much of a big deal the The Jackson 5 was, back in the day - Saturday morning cartoon, lunchboxes, Teen Beat magazine covers, they were everywhere, for good reason. 

It may sound silly, but my heart still skips a beat when I hear one of the following 2 tracks fire up - and I have to dance, it's a compulsion - no matter where I am  :)

In fact, I can still do the little rolling modified Pip-style box-step/early Bus Stop move, that the Jacksons did, before Michael starts to sing, that my friends and I used to do in a line, just like the Jacksons, when this song came on lol. 

Yes, believe it or not, that was a Michael Jackson's sweet little face, back in the day - wow, what a voice - and wow, dig those outfits lol :)  

Are you ready to get your 70s modified "Pip" style roll step/early Bus Stop, back on?

*Piano roll* ... *funky guitar* 

The Jackson 5 - "I Want You Back"  

... and lest we forget ... 

"B-B-B-Bah bomp, bomp bomp, ba bomp, BAH?  Bah bomp bomp bomp, ba BAH!"

The Jackson 5 - "ABC"

Truth be told, though I love Stevie Wonder as a person, I wasn't a huge fan of his music, but my two favorites were "Signed, Sealed Delivered" "and "Superstition" especially - it's all about that bass).

Here's the first time I heard this song ...

Stevie Wonder - "Superstition" from Sesame Street in 1973.

Stevie Wonder - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" ...

(Note  - in the early years of this song, when Stevie's actually played this song live, he tended to speed up the tempo faster than the recording of the song, which IMO, caused it to loose most of it's soul/funk - I like it better at the recorded speed - so here he is on Soul Train, singing it to the music, without playing ... :)

How about a little more Marvin Gaye, to start your day?  :)

Marvin Gaye - "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" 

 

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" 

Okay, so first, a little family history - yes, it's true - my dad was racist AF, and an all around a-hole in general.

But on the plus side, though most of the time, he listened to country when around other people - the truth that he'd never tell anyone else was - he secretly enjoyed R&B and soul music the most, when no one else was around lol.  

Neither of my parents liked rock music, except 50s stuff - and as I've mentioned, when my mother became a charismatic evangelical in the mid 70s, she began to disallow most secular music, especially rock  - especially after my Dad left, there was nothing but Christian music allowed in the home :(

It's a shame he felt like he had to hide that part of himself, as a white man from Harlan, Kentucky, isn't it?

In fact, though he could talk the talk, I'm not sure he was actually as racist as his culture raised him to be (and I say his Harlan culture because it definitely wasn't his dad, my grandad). 

I think it was mostly what he felt he had to become, in Harlan - the only acceptable definition of being a white man in the rural South - a high-school football/basketball/baseball star, a country music, football, money, guns, God, country-loving shady businessman,  ordering/knocking their Southern women and people of color around, to "keep them in line" (having no one, then, of course, to keep themselves, in line) - never showing compassion for others, for fear of making him appear "weak."  

In Cincinnati, he was proud of his degrees (double Bachelor's degrees in physics and chemistry from EKU, on scholarship), but still felt like an outsider there, because we lived around people who came from at least upper-middle class wealth all their lives, but he came from nothing in Harlan, Kentucky, and my mom came from blue-collar central Kentucky. Also, though he excelled at math and science, he knew he didn't speak "correct" English and Midwestern, as well as he felt his language and reading earlier education had been subpar. He wouldn't admit most of that, of course - but his insecurity and overcompensation for it was obvious.


However, when around relatives in Kentucky, it was the opposite - it was almost like he was ashamed of his college degrees - afraid they'd think he was "putting on airs." Having money was fine, and to be flaunted, even abusing your money and power in politics and shady business was acceptable - but actually acting like you were better than anyone else, especially in Harlan - was not.

However, that was quite an accomplishment he should've been proud of, actually, to come from poverty-stricken Harlan and a coal-mining family to obtaining double-degrees in physics and chemistry at college - and yet I can see where they left him feeling a little like a male Eliza Doolittle as to where to fit in society, especially in the rigid social structure that exists in the south and Midwest. 


What's interesting, however, is that my granddad, his father, was Southern, but didn't always follow the Southern culture rules, but it still worked out - because he didn't care. Unlike my dad, he didn't have a college degree, but he was nevertheless a well-respected, decorated Navy gunner, former Sheriff's deputy, and successful engineer nonetheless, and eventually moved to Louisville for more opportunity himself. 

*FYI - speaking of my granddad being a decorated WWII Navy gunner, just in case you're in danger of giving any sympathy whatsoever to my Dad because of the culture he grew up in, because of this story, think again - among other violent things, here's a reminder why not to ...


Despite becoming all of those things the South wanted and a Republican - he managed to dodge the Vietnam draft by becoming a high school physics teacher temporarily - but lied about this to everyone to the day he died, saying he did serve in Vietnam, though he was never there.


Like I said, my Dad was a real piece of work. However, this story is trying to focus any good memories I had, with the election and holidays coming, to avoid any anger, hatred, or depression - to not let those things win.


I've already worked through all of those feelings as a result of my Dad in therapy, so I can see the whole picture of my Dad better now - this monster wasn't born this way - he was created from desperately wanting to please and gain respect from a toxic culture :(

Back to my granddad, if they didn't accept him in Harlan because of certain things he didn't support, that was fine by him - he accepted himself as he was, and frankly, didn't care - and like I said, eventually moved from Harlan to Louisville for more opportunity and less drama anyway.

However, my Dad didn't just want financial security and stability - he desperately wanted to be rich and famous, and for people to actually fear him and his power, admiring his super shady, super racist father-in-law more than his father.

In fact, I suspect he became a sales executive for Fisher Scientific because it made him more money/was more socially acceptable, in his Kentucky culture, rather than becoming an actual scientist, like he originally wanted.

And my mom, of course, despite also being intelligent, gave up her degree and dream of becoming a doctor, was obsessed with her appearance (valuing it greater than her intelligence), and thus, did the only truly acceptable thing for a white Southern woman from rural Kentucky was supposed to do - leave college to marry such a Southern man.

Regardless, back to my point,  I remember my Dad literally hiding his Isaac Hayes records record behind all the others, even down in his work area in the basement - as well as and his secret love of one of his favorite movies, "Shaft,"  which he'd deny if you ever brought it up in front of anyone else - in fact, he'd say, "Oh, I think you mean my favorite movie, 'Shane' (a Western), not 'Shaft' (a Western) - are you crazy? lol" 

No, I'm not - and - "Hush yo' mouth - I'm talkin' 'bout Shaft :) LOL

(No, I did not actually say this to my Dad, or I would've been backhanded  - it's just an actual line from the song lol.)

And every once in a blue moon - he would include his kids in his secret R&B and soul music time  - and dance with us :)

Now, you may not believe me - but my Dad could really dance, you should've seen him.  I didn't get my singing ability from my Dad, I got it from my mother and grandmother - my Dad couldn't sing a lick - but he could dance like a Temptation, a Pip, or even a Jackson lol.

No one would've ever suspected this former big white football-playing from Harlan, Kentucky, could dance like he could, and many never knew.  

In fact, it was an extremely rare treat even for us -  but my Dad was actually a great dancer, with a partner to 50s stuff, or alone like a backup dancer.

So I guess if there's even one gift my Dad left me, which happened from extremely rare moments - it was teaching me how to dance :)

As well as fun facts, like Sam and Dave's hit "Soul Man" was actually written by Isaac Hayes  - or that "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" was actually recorded first by Motown's Gladys Knight and the Pips in 1966 (whom my dad was also a big fan of), but Marvin re-recorded it and sent it platinum :)

He loved Motown - old school R&B pop like the Supremes, the Temptations, and especially when Motown went more soul and funk in the 70s -  Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Glady Knight and the Pips, The Jackson 5 - and also non-Motown artists like Isaac Hayes and Ike and Tina Turner.

Speaking of Gladys Knight and the Pips, honest to God, I could listen to her voice all day.

Gladys Knight at the Pips - "Midnight Train to Georgia."

Now - when I said my Dad could dance like a Jackson, a Temptation or a Pip -  I do NOT mean uptight white-man style, like Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. did,  behind Gladys Knight - but this clip still makes me laugh lol.  (Jack Black isn't TOO horrible, comparatively.   Still not a Pip, though!)

No.

(Gladys, you don't want to turn around.  No, really lol.)

No - I meant my Dad actually had rhythm - and could genuinely dance just like a Pip or a Temptation - he could watch a dance move once and do it immediately.

I love the Temptations  - and this was a departure for them from their usual, and this song always made me sad ... but nevertheless, it was memorable. 

The Temptations - "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" 

And  you can't leave the early 70s Motown funk without mentioning, grand funkmaster himself, the indomitable voice of Barry White, just before Motown went disco for a while ...

Barry White - "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" 

For My Husband, Mark: Just A Little Sunday Morning Stevie Wonder For Ya

(*Edited - moved "bonus" videos to the above post.)

Stevie Wonder live from Motown yesterday, where both he and my husband grew up - at the Biden campaign speech with Obama :)

(Yes, it was outside, everyone wore masks, and were socially distanced as best as possible.)

This is for my husband to refer to, over the next few days - and likely in coming weeks - to help remember his smile - and for anyone else reading, just in case you've misplaced your joy, your hope, and your faith in humanity, during this election (or for the last 4 years?) - don't let them steal your joy! :) 

If you're looking for "Superstition" - which is my personal favorite Stevie Wonder song (it all about that bass) - it's at time stamp 32 minutes - with the words changed to match current affairs lol :)

Stevie's voice is doing just fine, despite a recent kidney transplant, isn't it? 

In fact, some frank and powerful words from Stevie Wonder, before he performs, too: "Yes, I pay a lot of taxes, I do. But you know what? If I have to pay a lot more, I don't mind that, if that's going to stop a starving child, stop a person from dying." 

Amen!

This was clearly not just referring to Republican tax complaints - even though Biden has said repeatedly his tax plan would only affect your personal taxes if you made a profit of over $400,000 per year - and most Americans don't - but also wealthy black rappers like Lil Wayne and 50 Cent recently jumping on the Trump train, admittedly over nothing more than higher taxes for people who make over $400,000, despite "Trump not liking black people" - and the fact that most blacks don't make even close to that figure.

Ex-girlfriend Chelsea Handler took her favorite ex-boyfriend to task (as did many others), stating she would happily pay his taxes for him, if that was the problem - reminding him that BLM means him, too -  so he has sense changed his tune, stating the tweet was a poor moment, in realizing what that means for people in his tax bracket - again, over $400,000 a year - but then realized most black people are nowhere near that tax bracket, and that racial injustice is a bigger issue than just himself and his money.

Otherwise, unless actually some shoots someone else, over the next few days, nothing surprises me anymore - so I don't plan on posting politically, because essentially, everyone's already decided where they're going to be on this, and other than voting, I have no control what happens.

Thus, as a likely last statement of appeal to America, I'll essentially just echo Stevie and Chelsea and say this, regardless of your skin color, if you still haven't voted yet: 

Fellow Americans?   

Everything is not all about YOU - just YOUR money, YOUR health, and YOUR justice. 

THAT is what's actually wrong with this country - greed, arrogance, materialism, and selfishness.   

In fact, we Americans have the worst 'Mine, mine, mine,'  arrogant, greedy, materialistic, shallow, and selfish reputation in the world, for legitimate reason - we've proven it repeatedly.  

 

 

Fellow Christians, I'm talking to you, now, especially.

It's time to be honest with yourselves about why Trump appeals to you. 

Because the truth is, somewhere inside, you know Trump doesn't appeal to the Christ in you - Trump appeals to the worst in you. 

Not just selfishness, greed, and materialism - Trump also appeals to your fear - manipulating/controlling you with it, with propaganda and lies  - just to get your vote, to keep himself/the GOP in power.   

 

Now, you can dress your up your politics with a cross, cherry-pick bible verses that were NOT Christ's words (and in fact are from other humans who even in the NT sometimes contracted Christ) all you like, to justify yourselves.    

However, none of that will change the truth - and that truth is that Christ's actual words, and what Christ most often preached against, was nearly everything Trump supports -  and somewhere inside, you know that - as well as that you are NOT justified based on the words of Christ.    

 

 

You know dang well Christ would never support anyone who regularly manipulated your fear to get your vote - Christ would support someone who brought healing, peace, unity, and fair justice, to this country -  as well as encourage support care for the sick, poor, and oppressed. 

Now, we're hoping that's Joe Biden - but I understand not being sure he'll provide that, I'm not sure myself - and I can't promise you it will be.  However, Biden is a heck of a lot closer to being a healer and unifier than Trump is, with a lot more class, dignity, character, and basic human decency, than Trump has, or will ever have.

 

Do you not want healing, unity, peace, and equal justice too?

Or is it true that you only care about YOUR money, being in total control, and to heck with everyone else?

Four more years of stoking the flames of your fear, anger, greed, hatred, and violence, of us Democrats, people of color, Muslims, LGBTQ, and you name it, based on a record/precedent-setting presidential propaganda and dishonesty?

 

In fact, as much as Trumpers try to scare you to death about us Democrats, erm - WE'RE not the ones in power, for the last four years, THEY were - the POTUS, the Senate, AND the Supreme Court - we're just reacting to it!

So if you don't like this mess made in society, the last 4 years, you have no one to blame but yourselves - but you can change it - with your vote.

 

ANYway,  back to Stevie Wonder and finding smiles - as much as America loves Stevie, I also enjoyed watching the American Sign Language interpreter on the right side of the screen just as much, when the music starts, playing her air drums and strumming her guitar, then dancing while she interprets the lyrics - OMG, I love her!

And to top it all off, Obama does a just a slight lil' dance at the end to Stevie :)