Poetry Sunday

If you grew up in the 50s and 60s in a middle-class family, like I did, chances are you ate a lot of baloney sandwiches, both baloney and white sandwich bread being pretty cheap, especially when Mom bought the day-old loaves at the local bakery outlet. 

Since I married Agnes, we still eat a lot of baloney in the summer, but in the form of Wurstsalat - a delicious summer salad made from strips of baloney mixed with chopped tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers in a vinaigrette sauce. It sounds awful to a lot of people, but I could eat it by the carload.

And speaking of baloney, here are some thoughts on the topic for Poetry Sunday - 

Baloney

by Louis Jenkins

There's a young couple in the parking lot, kissing.

Not just kissing, they look as though they might eat

each other up, kissing, nibbling, biting, mouths wide

open, play fighting like young dogs, wrapped around

each other like snakes. I remember that, sort of, that

hunger, that passionate intensity. And I get a kind of

nostalgic craving for it, in the way that I get a craving,

occasionally, for the food of my childhood. Baloney

on white bread, for instance: one slice of white bread

with mustard or Miracle Whip or ketchup-not

ketchup, one has to draw the line somewhere-and

one slice of baloney. It had a nice symmetry to it, the

circle of baloney on the rectangle of bread. Then you

folded the bread and baloney in the middle and took

a bite out of the very center of the folded side. When

you unfolded the sandwich you had a hole, a circle in

the center of the bread and baloney frame, a window,

a porthole from which you could get a new view of

the world.

There's a lot to be said for baloney, the modest hero of the middle-class table. Less so, of course, for the rotting baloney that comes from the White House.

Have a good day and enjoy the rest of your weekend. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

Cartoon Saturday

How can this month not be over yet?? 

Two children were murdered and 17 others wounded when a murderer opened fire on a church service in Minnesota; Centers for Disease Control (CDC) director Susan Monarez was fired after less than a month on the job for failure to "aline with" Der Furor's agenda and refusing to resign; Der Furor has directed the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) to train only immigration enforcement officers through the end of the year; at a made-for-TV spectacle of a cabinet meeting, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer informed Der Furor that his "big, beautiful face" was hanging on a banner at the Labor Department's headquarters building in Washington, DC; and in Britain, three men who illegally imported more than 91 million (!) cans of nitrous oxide - sometimes called "laughing gas" for its psychotropic effects when misused - were sentenced to as much as six years in jail after being found guilty of conspiracy to import a psychoactive substance, money laundering and possessing criminal cash. A fourth charge of criminal stupidity was dropped.

This week, because we all need a friend sometimes, and as a reflection of where the country is going, a collection of cartoons about dogs. 

I imagine so!

His visa had better not be overstayed ...

This must be a standard interview question ...

We've all been there ...

Canine pick-up strategy ...

I need this dog ...

Every dog has had his day ...

I need this dog, too ...

Canine security measures ...

It's probably all he needs ...

And that's it for the last Cartoon Saturday of August, 2025 - a month that didn't actually have much for us to laugh about. I hope you enjoyed it.

Have a good day and a great weekend. More thoughts tomorrow, when Poetry Sunday discusses the subject of baloney. No, not the kind offered by Der Furor and his enablers. See you then.

Bilbo

Great Moments in Editing and Signage

This week, a special edition of Great Moments in Editing and Signage inspired by Der Furor's war on all crime not carried out or endorsed by himself or his allies ...

I guess the National Guard was busy ...

I wonder what gave the counterfeit note away?

An interesting father-daughter relationship ...

I think this is easily worth the deployment of a National Guard battalion or two ...

I think this housekeeper is now on an ICE watch list ...

Oh, the horror!

I guess it wasn't that nice a day after all ...

It must have been a Skype call ...

Someone had fun writing the police blotter entry for this one ...

I guess it's good to have a trustworthy informant ...

And that's it for this special Crime Stoppers edition of Great Moments in Editing and Signage. Put your hands behind your head, lace your fingers together, and walk backwards away from the keyboard. You have the right to remain silent ... a right one wishes Der Furor and the rest of the MAGAts would exercise more often.

Have a good day, and come back tomorrow for Cartoon Saturday, when we'll go the dogs. More thoughts then.

Bilbo

Renaming the Cabinet

A few days ago, Der Furor mused that he intended to change the name of the Department of Defense back to its original, pre-1947 name, "Department of War." His rationale was that "it had a stronger sound." This is, of course, important to a weak man posturing as a strong one.

But why stop with just DoD? Why not rename all the other cabinet departments, too? I think these would be names more appealing to the MAGA mentality ... 

The Department of Agriculture becomes The Department of Buying off Farmers After Crashing Their Markets;

The Department of Commerce becomes The Department of Tariffs as the Cure for Everything;

What's left of The Department of Education becomes The Department of Revisionist History;

The Department of Energy becomes The Department of Drill, Baby, Drill;

The Department of Health and Human Services becomes The Department of Quit Whining and Die, Already; 

The Department of Homeland Security becomes The Department of Eliminating Immigration and Ensuring White Supremacy Through the Deportation of Undesirables and Support of Militias; 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development becomes The Department of Support to the Mortgage Industry;

The Department of the Interior becomes The Department of Monetizing Useless National Parks; 

The Department of Justice becomes The Department of Retribution and Political Loyalty Enforcement;

The Department of Labor becomes the Department of Keeping the Workforce in Its Place;

The Department of State becomes The Department of Russia Good, China Bad; 

The Department of Transportation becomes The Department of Ensuring Dominance of Fossil-Fueled Vehicles; 

The Department of the Treasury becomes The President's Personal Account; and 

The Department of Veteran Affairs becomes The Department of Get Homeless and Disabled Veterans Out of Sight.

I was feeling pretty angry when I wrote this. Does it show?

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

"Housing Crisis"

 

I bought my first house in 1983. It was a three-bedroom, four-bath (two full baths, two powder rooms), three-level, end unit townhouse in Northern Virginia, and it cost $68,200. I sold it three years later for about $120,000. According to Zillow.com, that house today is worth $500,100. A new townhouse development not far from our home is advertising homes "from the $800s*."

Riddle me this, Batman: if you are a low- to middle-income wage earner, whether single or with a family, how do you afford a home at these prices ... which, of course, do not include insurance, utilities, or taxes (all quite high in many areas)? And, having paid for all that, how do you afford other frivolous things like food, clothing, medical care?

We do not have a "housing crisis" ... we have a housing affordability crisis. 

There are many reasons for this, including:

1. Inflation, aka "Greed." See my earlier blog post on the topic.

2. Purchase of multiple homes by wealthy investors and used as rental properties, and the calculated deflection of responsibility for the cost increases.

3. Overconstruction of huge, expensive "McMansions" marketed to more affluent purchasers, at the expense of smaller, less expensive homes affordable for couples or small families with lower incomes.

4. Wages that do not allow workers to afford adequate housing

That the nation has a serious shortage of affordable housing is reflected in the problem of homelessness that plagues our cities. Der Furor - offended by the presence of homeless persons and homeless encampments in Washington, DC - has deployed an alphabet soup of federal law enforcement agencies and National Guard forces from multiple states to the streets of the capital to remove unfortunate persons who often have nowhere else to go. Out of sight, out of mind.

The presence of homeless persons on our streets is a scandal unworthy of a great nation. A real president, rather than an incompetent, posturing, authoritarian buffoon, would address the causes of homelessness - among them the outrageous cost of housing, zoning rules that prevent the construction of the types of housing most needed, and a lack of mental-health support for those in need, especially homeless veterans - rather than its symptoms.   

Simply publishing more royal decrees executive orders** won't solve the problem. Only action to address the root causes will. But don't expect it from this administration.

Have a good day. If you are fortunate enough to afford a place to live, enjoy it ... too many of your fellow citizens are not so lucky.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* Realtors and developers are reluctant to actually say "Eight hundred thousand dollars and up."

** Executive Order 14321, "Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets," is not a substitute for effective, broad-based action, but it sounds good to the MAGAts.

Musical Sunday

Chances are that you've never heard of the Swiss singer Erkan Aki. I hadn't, until I heard this song played for a slow waltz heat at a dance competition, and I was struck by the power and beauty of his voice. I think this is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard ...

Here are the lyrics:

I've gone many ways

Just to see who I am

Been stranded in faith 

There were moments

But through your eyes I can see

That as long as I believe

I'll know that I'm still me

You touched me and saw

There were times I was weak

You turned every fault

Into fortune

'cause through your eyes I can see

That as long as I believe

I'll know that I'm still me

And if my dreams have all been shattered

If my will is pale from battle

Your love gives me hope and meaning

Like a breath of spring

The will to survive

Can be distant at times

But I'll stay alive for tomorrow

'cause through your eyes I can see

That as long as I believe

I'll know that I'm still me

Yes through your eyes I can see

That as long as I believe 

I'll know that I'm still me

I'm still me, too. Have a good day and enjoy the rest of your weekend. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

Cartoon Saturday

Oy, vey ...

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wants Immigration and Customs Enforcement to use part of its huge budget to buy, own and operate its own fleet of airplanes, which would be costly but could allow the agency potentially to double the number of people it deports each month; in the final stage of sycophancy to Der Furor*, the FBI raided the home and office of former National Security Advisor John Bolton; a new report, denied by Israel, claims that famine has broken out in Gaza; the Food and Drug Administration (or, at least, as much of it as Der Furor has decided to retain) has issued a warning about frozen shrimp that may be radioactive; and a British woman has complained that the UK has "too many foreigners" ... from her new home in Spain.

This week, in honor of an administration that keeps giving us the bird, a collection of cartoons about birds. 

I'd do the same ...

When the crows' party just isn't going well ...

Can you guess? 

Uh, oh ...

Not to mention that she might explode ...

When married birds settle down ...

Birds on the make ...

Interim reply by pigeon ...

Priorities ...

I can see where this might be unsettling ...

Now that I've given you the bird(s), it's time to move on to the rest of the weekend. Have a good day, have fun, and remember to keep an eye on what the government is doing in your name.

More thoughts tomorrow, when Musical Sunday returns.

Bilbo

* Mr Bolton probably saw it coming ...

The Left-Cheek Ass Clown for August, 2025

Friends, I'm tired. I'm tired not just because I'm getting old and rickety, but because I'm sick of the news, sick of the state of the nation, and sick of the "leaders" we elect and those they appoint, even though they are utterly useless.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Readers, with sorrow for the state of the nation, I give you*

The Left-Cheek Ass Clown for August, 2025

to 

Nick "alpha male" Adams

In an era of comical, testosterone-fueled wannabe manhood, Nick Adams, the self-described and relentlessly self-promoted "alpha male," stands head and shoulders above other sad excuses for masculine supremacy. His over-the-top Twitter** feed, slavishly cartoonish adoration of Der Furor, resolute promotion of Hooters, and ludicrous public statements on relations between the sexes show a man best described by one observer as "ostentatiously buffoonish," presenting himself as a paragon of masculine virtue while demonstrating a complete lack of empathy, manners, education, and - indeed - sex appeal***. 

And yet, despite his ridiculous behavior and complete lack of qualifications for any position of public trust and confidence, Der Furor has seen fit to nominate him as the nation's ambassador to Malaysia. Aside from the questionable wisdom of appointing a full-throated supporter of Israel as the ambassador to the world's most populous Muslim nation, one notes that he has been appointed to replace an experienced career diplomat ... the sort of person unwelcome in Der Furor's amateurish approach to international relations.

As I noted in my blog post on the topic of alpha males (linked earlier in this post),

"When men refer to themselves as "alpha males," I hear that in the context of software, where alpha versions are unstable, missing important features, filled with flaws, and not fit for the public."

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Readers, self-described "alpha male" Nick Adams - now positioned for a job as the official representative of the United States to a major Asian nation - is our Left-Cheek Ass Clown for August, 2025, and a sterling example of the sad deterioration of the once-great nation bequeathed to us by the Founders.

Have a good day, and expect better from your national "leadership," unlikely though you may be to receive it. I'll see you tomorrow for Cartoon Saturday - more thoughts then.

Bilbo

* And please, gawd, take him!

** I refuse to call it "X."

*** I'm sure there are some misguided female MAGAts who can admire his neo-caveman persona, but I doubt that there are many who would appeal to most actual men.

Lawfare

You've probably heard the term lawfare, defined as "(noun) 1. the strategic use of legal proceedings to intimidate or hinder an opponent; 2. the use of the law by a country against its enemies, esp by challenging the legality of military or foreign policy." It is also the name of a popular website presenting essays on the use of law for political, military, and policy purposes. 

Lawfare is indeed a thing, and it's being used every day by a government weaponized against its citizens by a president and a party that used to complain bitterly about a government they believed was weaponized against them, simply because they chose to ignore inconvenient laws. 

In a representative democracy, the sort that we used to have, laws exist to protect the rights of the citizens and provide a stable legal environment in which business can flourish. But the law by itself is the proverbial double-edged sword: it tells us what we are allowed to do, but it does not tell us what we should do.

Consider the rush in Texas to conduct an out-of-constitutional-cycle gerrymander of congressional districts to favor Republican candidates. This blatant attempt to cement a congressional Republican majority had a predictable tit-for-tat result, with populous (and solidly blue) California threatening to gerrymander its own districts if Texas does so, in order to ensure perpetual Democratic seats and cancel out the Republican advantage. 

The Supreme Court has ruled (Rucho v Common Cause, 18-422, June 27, 2019) that gerrymandering for political advantage is legal ... odious and undemocratic, perhaps, but nevertheless legal. Considered in light of the actions of Texas and California, it demonstrates lawfare at both the state and the federal level. And I would argue that lawfare is what is replacing the rule of law that once made America unique.

The words "Equal Justice Under Law" are engraved over the entrance to the Supreme Court ...

... and yet we see that justice is hardly equal. As an example, look at the case of the man recently arrested and charged with felony assault for throwing a sandwich* at a Customs and Border Patrol agent last week. A federal judge permitted assault charges to be filed after a local judge declined to press charges; the man is currently free on bail and faces up to eight years in prison. You may recall that Der Furor has pardoned and lionized dozens of individuals who vandalized the Capitol, savagely beat police officers (with an American flag on a pole, no less), and attempted to overthrow the results of the 2024 election in the January 6th riot.

Who's weaponizing the government against whom?

Der Furor is the most litigious president in our history. He has spent his entire career using the law as a weapon, deploying battalions of lawyers to tie up his opponents in costly and time-consuming litigation, the goal of which is often less to win than to financially ruin his targets. He recently sued the Wall Street Journal for a staggering $10 billion dollars over the newspaper's report that his name was on a 2003 birthday greeting for Jeffrey Epstein that included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to secrets they shared. He has sued individuals and businesses relentlessly for decades, never admitting guilt or fault even when judgements go against him. His immediate reaction to any loss is to appeal, and to carry those appeals to the highest possible court, using his time-honored strategy of Deny, Deflect, and Delay. His strategy of endless delays and appeals is intended to wear down his opponents, and proves the truth of the old adage that justice delayed is justice denied. And you can only imagine how much good could be done with the time, money, and energy expended on his frivolous lawfare.

It's no secret that I detest Der Furor and despise the class of lawyers willing to enable him and his like. If Der Furor is lawfare's commanding general, the divisions of amoral lawyers who conduct lawfare on his behalf are its foot soldiers.

And we are its collateral damage.

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* Some commentators suggested that the man be charged with "assault with a deli weapon."

P.S. - in case you're interested, the illustration I used in today's post was generated by my request to Chat GPT to draw me a picture of a weapon made out of the Constitution. I thought it was appropriate to the topic.

Cartoon Saturday, Special Edition

Cartoon Saturday is one of my longest-running theme posts, and ranks as the most popular by total number of readers and comments. I usually try to have a particular theme for the cartoons each week, drawing from the many thousands of cartoons in my collection, sorted by subject matter. 

By far, the largest folder in the collection is devoted to Der Furor, MAGA, and their assault on our history, values, national standing, and international image. Today, I'm running a special, out-of-cycle edition of Cartoon Saturday dedicated to Der Furor ... because it's good to laugh when you can't cry.

Let's begin with a classic summary of Der Furor's overall effect on our government and our lives ...

Der Furor is a master of using the law as a bludgeon against his enemies and a shield against personal accountability ...

Variations on the TACO presidency ...

The performance appraisal with the boss didn't go well ...

But ... but ... but her e-mails!! ...

'Ya think? ...

I tend to agree ...

It's easier to whisper sweet nothings in your beloved's ear in a big car with lots of privacy ...

The whining, sneering sound of the man's voice is the political equivalent of nails on a blackboard* - it's wonderful to be where you don't have to listen to it ...

It's not easy to be a translator in this administration ...

And that's it for this special edition of Cartoon Saturday. The cartoonists have an easy and critical job drawing attention to the most corrupt and incompetent administration in our history ... and given that the competition includes figures like James Buchanan and George W. Bush, that's saying something.

Have a good day and a good week. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* I understand that this allusion is probably lost on more recent generations of students. Too bad.