Trae Crowder Rips Vance

Your Head Trucker doesn't necessarily agree with every word that comes out of Trae Crowder's rude, crude mouth - but what he says about his old drinking buddy J. D. is certainly noteworthy.  Funny, too.

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Waitin' for the Weekend

You know, fellas, your old Head Trucker is always concerned for your mental and moral welfare.  So at the end of a hellacious week, our text for the day is, Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.  

And to show you how it's done, here's a charming little sermonette in film:

 

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We're Fucked

 And by "we," I don't mean just Democrats.  I mean Democracy.

This morning I saw this headline:

Tonight, I saw this one:

Shit.

Whether crude face-saving ploy or cosmic irony, this election's over.

Shit.

Frail old grandpa or death-defying superhero, whodyathink is gonna win?

Shit.

The clock's running down and we got no team, no replacement.

Shit.  Shit.  Goddamn fucking shit.

What else is there to say?

Update, 7/18/24, 11 a.m.:

Well, I was pretty upset and frustrated yesterday, fellas.  I still am; but please don't despair.  Bad things happen, and we've seen a string of them in the last few weeks.  But good things happen, too. 

Perseverance through adversity is what makes a man a man:  what has made many men worthy of our respect and admiration down through the ages.  Even a girly boy like me can be a real man by that measure.

I really don't know if it's better for Biden to stay or go, or what the future holds for us and our country.  But we can face it together if we hang tough, buddies.  A good time may come yet.  Keep a smile on your face and peace in your heart.  

Cowboy up!  The rodeo ain't over yet.

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Convicted Felon Picks "Never-Trump Guy" for Veep

I think that I’m going to vote third party because I can’t stomach Trump.  I think that he’s noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place.

--J. D. Vance, 

NPR "Fresh Air"

August 17, 2016

The words quoted were spoken when Trump was making his first run for the Presidency. Vance is now the junior Republican senator from Ohio, who began his political career just 18 months ago in January 2023 and today was formally named the vice-presidential candidate at the Republican convention in Milwaukee.  

Vance's remarkable rise from childhood poverty to Yale Law School to author and journalist to the heights of national politics is very well documented in his Wikipedia article as well as today's report on his nomination by the Associated Press.  I recommend these sources to all my truckbuddies for reading and reflection.

In 2016, Vance repeatedly condemned Trump harshly.  But by 2021, Vance had become one of Trump's staunchest supporters.  Now what on earth could make a smart guy like that do a total 180?  I wonder.  I highly recommend watching the following reports by Rachel Maddow and by Nicolle Wallace on Vance's stunning transformation from outspoken never-Trumper to toady-in-chief:

And if there's still any question in your mind where Vance stands, check out this New York Times report from last December that begins, "When a historian wrote an essay the other day warning that the election of former President Donald J. Trump next year could lead to dictatorship, one of Mr. Trump’s allies quickly responded by calling for the historian to be sent to prison."  Yep, it was Senator Vance - himelf a published book author and writer for the likes of CNN and the NYT -  who wanted a fellow writer thrown in jail merely for daring to suggest that the divine DJT could ever possibly become a dictator.  Perish the thought.

Who's really on the side of democracy here, and who's all for dictatorship, hmm?

For another perspective on the crisis in American politics, listen to the remarks by former U.S. Representative (R-Ill.) Adam Kinzinger on the Stephen Colbert show earlier this evening:

Part 2 of 3 - remarks about Vance

While in Congress, Kinzinger was an outspoken critic of Trump - one of the very few Republicans who had the guts to call a spade a spade - and served as one of the two Republican members on the January 6 Committee that conducted an exhaustive inquiry into Trump's failed self-coup in 2021.

And just for laughs, though it is no laughing matter, you could read this dimwitted opinion piece (or plain old propaganda?) by a completely cluleless Guardian contributor in the UK:  

Blue MAGA:  We Need to Talk about the Cult-like Turn of the Democratic Party.

That's as Orwellian a wordfuck as I ever saw:  black is white, white is black, and 2 + 2 = 5.  Sad!

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Biden Tells the Nation: Cool It

For the second time since Friday's assassination attempt on Donald Trump, President Biden addressed the nation today, saying,

There is no place in America for this kind of violence, for any kind of violence, ever, period, no exceptions.  We can't allow this violence to be normalized.  You know, the political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated.  It's time to cool it down.  We all have a responsibility to do that.

What I say:  Well, all right, Mr. President.  I agree that calmness is needed now.  But a spade is a spade is a spade.  

How can you succeed in defeating this Teflon-coated opponent if you don't plainly point out that he tried to overthrow the government of the United States, overturn an election, and is a pathological liar with no conscience or sense of shame?  As you yourself have done before.

How can we ordinary citizens down here at the bottom of the totem pole discuss what you yourself have called a grave threat to democracy without telling the simple truth?  Without mentioning the many, many outright lies and bogus claims that we have all seen and heard, which were recorded by every news outlet in the country?

How can any decent, intelligent, moral person ignore that fact that your opponent and his political cohorts are openly planning to shred the Constitution and establish a permanent dictatorship in this country?  Aided and abetted - indeed, encouraged - in that enterprise by a corrupt and partisan Supreme Court?

Just what are we supposed to say - cooly, calmly, reasonably?  Please tell us in plain words so that we can follow your lead,

I know you're a very busy man, and don't have the time to get back to every constituent immediately.  That's okay - I'll wait for your response.  But I'm not sure history will.

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Sunday Drive: Do the Locomotion

Richard Simmons in 2011.  Click to enlarge.

Bubbly, bouncy Richard Simmons died yesterday at his home in Hollywood Hills, just a day after his 76th birthday.  I'll be honest, I never liked or watched his show:  too silly and way too, um, fruity!  Your Head Trucker never wanted to be that damn obvious: there's safety in camouflage and just keeping your gay mouth shut. And apparently Richard never spoke about his sexuality one way or the other in public.

But twinkly, sparkly Richard had a huge fan base, and thousands claimed his exercise and diet routines saved or greatly improved their lives. I have read that during personal appearances he would hug his fans, weep with them over personal stories, and even pray with them.  So at the end of the day, with so many testimonials, I say he was a sweet guy who used his fabulous talents to do much good for others, so he's OK in my book.  And no doubt St. Peter will smile and wave him right on through the Pearly Gates, toll-free.  May he rest in peace.

I couldn't find a single-song tape to play for you, but you can listen to just the first one on this.  Got your dancing clothes on?  Well move it, girlfriend!

Update, 7/21/24:  Richard's "team" has shared his final social media message to his fans, written but not yet posted at the time of his death.

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DON'T CELEBRATE

ABC news reports on the attempt to assassinate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) north of Pittsburgh:

 

NBC provides this aerial photo of the location where the shooting occurred during a Trump campaign rally.  (148 yards = 444 feet = 135 meters)

Click to enlarge.

According to early reports, the shooter on a nearby rooftop fired at least eight shots from an automatic rifle.  On spectator was shot in the head and died instantly.  Two others are in critical condition at a local hospital.

The shooter was killed by a police sniper.  Details are yet to be provided.

This despicable act will only infuriate and energize the Trumpists.  Political violence has no place in American life.  What goes around, comes around, fellas.  Don't rejoice, don't gloat.  Biden could be next. 

And now Trump is a kind of martyr:  the Passion of the Donald will be a powerful icon.  This changes everything.  

Pray for our country:  deliver us from evil.

CBS News:

NBC News:

 President Biden spoke at an impromptu press conference shortly after the shooting:

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Waitin' for the Weekend

Oh yeah, baby . . . pull my chain. 

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Vive La France Libre!

An alliance of left-wing parties has slapped down the far-right National Rally in France in today's legislative elections.  This will complicate things for centrist President Emmanuel Macron, but when have French politics ever been easy?

Thank God the fascist threat is removed - for now.

This is an upset victory; last night all the pollsters were predicting a right-wing majority.  But the left turned out en masse.  A lesson for us in America.  The bullies don't have to win, if we stick together. 

 

The French election upset follows the victory of the Labour Party in last Thursday's UK election.  Having accepted the King's invitation to form a government, Sir Keir Starmer is now off to a running start with his program of "National Renewal," after 14 years of endemic corruption, mismanagement, and gross incompetence by successive Tory governments.

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Sunday Drive: Rhythm of the Blues

An old favorite by Mary Chapin Carpenter:  just the right vibe for a lazy, wistful Sunday afternoon.

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Waitin' for the Weekend

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!

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