My friends, hang on to your hats as we head to the “Big Day.” It’s not just going to be a big day, but it’s going to be the biggest day, the biggest day that you’ve ever seen. It’s going to be a beautiful day, the most beautiful day. It’s too bad it’s on the same day that we honor a greater man than our president-elect, Martin Luther King, Jr. I think this sums up what that day means for many of us: “We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example—the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility, and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership,” according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office. “On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness, and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.” I don’t think you could have two individuals with polar opposite character traits. You can do your own compare and contrast of character traits and values between MLK and DJT – courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility, forgiveness, and nonviolence. I would bet that DJT is pissed that he has to share the day with that other guy. After all, it was bad enough that the flags are at half-staff during the inauguration. But, oh wait, Trump fumed and complained about it so much that Speaker Johnson has ordered that the flags at the Capitol, which are at half-staff due to the death of former president Jimmy Carter be raised for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration — defying a White House proclamation and U.S. Congressional Code. Republican governors of several states have followed suit and will be raising the flag to full mast on that day. Donnie’s not going to let the death of a member of the Presidential Club ruin his inauguration flag. Sheesh, shows how thin skinned he is. If you’re a football fan be ready. I think his first Executive Order will be to have the NCAA Championship game between Notre Dame and Ohio State that day postponed so we don’t miss he and Melania dancing to Frank Sinatra’s “I’ll Do It My Way.” I’ve got to check the betting odds on whether she will even be there. You should probably go right now and check your pantry to be sure you have some fresh popcorn ready for the event.
I’m thankful I have Apple News and can get current articles from a number of sources with that subscription. I mentioned in an earlier post that I cancelled my Time magazine subscription after Trump was made “Person of the Year.” Last week I cancelled my Washington Post subscription after the paper’s editorial page editor rejected a cartoon that Ann Telnaes, a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist created to mock media and tech leaders sucking up to the President-elect. One of the figures depicted was Post owner Jeff Bezos. Her resignation followed other Post writers and editors who resigned earlier after Bezos blocked a decision by the editorial board in October to endorse Kamala Harris. As a result of these latest Post decisions she resigned after having been there since 2008. Yesterday, I learned that Jen Rubin one of my favorite Post opinion writers has also resigned immediately from the Post and on her way out the door torched Bezos. She and Norm Eisen are launching a new independent media project, The Contrarian. In an interview with the Daily Beast she said, “We’ve watched as corporate and billionaire owners of media outlets abused their audiences’ loyalty and undercut journalism’s vital role in a free democracy. Instead of safeguarding democratic values, they have enabled the gravest threats to democracy—Donald Trump and his allies—at the very time when a robust and independent press is most essential. We need an alternative, truly independent outlet that is unafraid of the administration and unwilling to equivocate or bend the knee.” When I finish this post I will be going to their site and subscribing to The Contrarian. Their motto or tagline is “Not Owned by Anybody.” The Washington Post adopted the motto “Democracy Dies in Darkness” during Trump 1.0. I wonder what their new motto will be in Trump 2.0? Perhaps “Democracy Died at the Washington Post.”
Well, it’s another beautiful day at the beach so I think the missus and I will put on our walking shoes and head out for a walky-poo. Go check your pantry now and have a great day. Ziggyman
Mountain Man Musings 