I heard Donald Trump doing stand-up comedy instead of campaigning. A little levity in criticizing your opponents is necessary, and Trump has been delivering entertainment along those lines; now, that has changed. He is working the audience for laughs. He follows those laughs with a quick platitude. Ridiculing his opponents is not enough. He needs more details in his presentation. You have people’s attention and they may be laughing, but they need details to bring home and pass along to others. The jokes will be stale or forgotten the following day. Getting people to think as you do with levity, not strained attempts at reaching comedic hysteria, should be the goal. I understand his thoughts, agree with some, and leave the jokes behind. Only details are worth pondering.
I believe the Republican Party “leaders” never fully comprehended the message of the 2014 election landslide. That is obvious in that they have no idea why Donald Trump is doing well. In the minds of most people, they are wedded to the Democratic Party and the result is decay. A truly contentious atmosphere in the Congress would be welcome. Visceral, intelligent debate is lacking, and the people want it to return. The people voted overwhelmingly against the Democrats in 2014, and they will find party leaders willing to stand up for their concerns. By now, Boehner and McConnell are probably receiving that message. Whether they comprehend that message is inconsequential; they are too late. Donald Trump knows how to make a point. He knows what we know. He is doing well because he is leading the way and taking fire from both sides. People admire that fortitude.
I am Catholic. I was born into a Catholic family. September eighth is the Nativity of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Four days later is the feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary. The next day is the fifth appearance of Our Lady of Fatima. Today is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Mary’s feast days are numerous, and female saints fill in between with their feast days. Countless Catholic churches are dedicated to Mary and those female saints, but no women are allowed to celebrate mass. What does a woman have to do above and beyond giving birth to Jesus to rank her with one of the twelve Apostles? Is Mary of Magdala or Martha, both saints, any less devoted to Jesus than the Apostles? My religion is the definition of misogyny. Mary gave birth to Catholicism. These small-minded, solipsistic men, the Catholic hierarchy, will surely be the death of a great religion.
I humbly begin this pursuit with the sole intention of emptying my head of various thoughts. Whether these thoughts merit any attention, I am not certain. I am certain my thoughts are better outside my skull than left inside only to make a racket. I fear my ignorance in many matters will become only too evident, but humility teaches well. Since I consider myself a fool in many respects, I can only move forward with this effort. I make no claim to any special insights. I possess a sense of humor, and for that I am grateful. Hopefully, my words here will matter.