June 9, 2020

It’s Junember here at the house. It’s been “raining cats and dogs” for two days, and as my father-in-law would say, “it’s colder than a witches tit.” The good news is that it has given us a short reprieve from working in the yard and allows some inside time. The missus can sew and work on her cards, and I can sit on my behind and read or do whatever I feel like.

I just read that Barr(f) had an interview on Fox yesterday and contradicted “Bunker Boy” about the lying assertion that he was down in the bunker during the middle of the day for a “tiny” amount of time for an “inspection.” Last week on Fox News Radio, Trump told a reporter, “They said it would be a good time to go down and take a look because maybe sometime you’re going to need it. I looked at it. It was during the day. It was not a problem … There was never a problem.” According to Barr during yesterday’s interview, the Secret Service moved the “alpha male” in the evening into the bunker while the protests were getting heated outside the gates of the White House. The Donald isn’t going to like his little “butt boy” telling the world that 1) he lied, and 2) he’s not the tough guy that he tries to portray.

And how about this tweet from Donnie trying to justify a 75 year old man being assaulted by the police in Buffalo, New York a couple of days ago. One America News (@OANN) is an online, far-right, conspiratorial news channel that is tRump’s new favorite media outlet as Faux has become more critical of him lately.

Okay, today’s rambling theme is “defunding” the police. I’m not sure what that means. I have seen some reports that it is the cutting back of police budgets, with some of the police funds being directed to other social services and education. Other reports have it as eliminating police agencies completely, such as the talk of dismantling the police force in Minneapolis. In my opinion, it’s about time we recognize that the police have, over time, taken over or been given responsibilities that are not law enforcement tasks and there has been an over reliance by citizens on what the police do. Is rousting a homeless person from the street corner a police matter? Is arresting a person for a heroin overdose something the police should do? Should the police be called to resolve a verbal argument with your spouse or neighbor, or sent to the home of someone having a mental crisis? I say, let’s provide the funding to agencies that are better equipped to handle these tasks. Whatever defunding means, it is clear that reform and the restructuring of law enforcement services is going to happen in many cities, counties, and states. I’ve heard many times that it’s just a few “bad apples” in a department, the other 99% are professional, law abiding officers serving the citizenry, and I believed it. Over the past few weeks, however, I am beginning to see this issue as more of a huge systemic problem with examples of untruthful police department communications following an event to protect their involved officers to the massive power of the police unions and the support they give to the “bad apples.” I do believe we are going to see some reform measures going forward as a result of the recent actions of police in departments across the nation and I also believe that there will be adjustments to governmental budgets with less going to police services and more funding to other more appropriate services. Hopefully, the horrific killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmad Aubrey over the past few months will result in reforms that redefine the role of the police in public safety; reforms that hold police accountable for their actions; and equal justice for all citizens in America. While George Floyd’s funeral is being held today and Joe Biden shared condolences to the family via live video, Mr. Law and Order is busy tweeting away, and I have not seen one mention of George Floyd by the president in any of his tweets.

Time to get up and move around a bit, so I’ll be signing off for now. Remember to keep washing your hands frequently, social distance, and wear your mask in the grocery store — it’s too soon to let up. Sunday had the largest number of Covid cases in one day since the beginning of this pandemic. Happy Gay Pride Month!