Summer's Almost Gone

[H2O Man]

I've just come in from picking my daily meal from my garden. I had been pulling some weeds, too, which serve as a constant reminder that the Earth is alive, and constantly bring new life. I heard my chickens and Guinea hens making a fuss, and looked up to see a very large bald eagle soaring overhead. Against the blue sky, it made a beautiful sight. I tried to assure the birds that the eagle wasn't interested in them, but their noise continued until the eagle was long gone.

It is in the low 80s here today in the northeast. Summer is coming to an end, and soon it will be fall. Even in the relatively short time I've been alive, there has been changes in the climate here. But, overall, the seasons come one after another, and with this, life forms come and go. We all have a turn.

On Sunday, I was told that my last blood uncle was very sick. My son took me for a ride to visit the rural farm, where he and my father grew up. The family had lived in Nutley, NJ, until the Great Depression resulted in NYS being unable to pay Grandpa's construction company for the latest highway going into NYC. His company had also put in the piping that brought water to the city from an upstate reservior. At age 58, Grandpa moved the an already old farm, which had neither running water nor electricity. While we were there, I got word that my uncle had died.

One can learn about life by watching the endless cycles. I have a picture hanging on the wall, of my great grandparents and their children after arriving from Ireland. I have pictures of my grandfather with his family, up at the farm. And on and on, though generations. Each had their turns in the eternal now.

I check DU for a news update. An OP/thread about CNN's Brianna Keilar catches my eye. I watch qa clip of herfrom earlier today:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/09/08/keilar-military-attacks-sanders-lies-fact-check-vpx.cnn

Trump isn't the first president to lie. He just does it more frequently, with less talent, but with better results with his supporters, than anyone before him. And, by no coincidence, like the worst liars of the past, this president is surrounded by criminals, for he is a criminal. It is possible that he is the "greatest" liar and criminal to ever inhabit the Oval Office. More, unlike Nixon and Reagan, "many experts" have noted he has accomplished this in record time.

Nixon set the bar for corruption very high. He was the 1961 Roger Maris of crooked politics. Today's experts will note that Nixon served a longer season than some of the earlier presidents. But his administration's record seemed destined to hold for a century:

https://watergate.info/analysis/casualties-and-convictions

Then came Reagan-Bush. As hard as it was to believe, their administration out-did the Nixon team's record:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reagan_administration_scandals

Others would attempt to set a new record when George W. Bush's supervisor, V.P. Dick Cheney, was running the show. But the system, imperfect as it is, held until Barack Obama took over. The country had eight years of Obama-Biden to heal, although there was an under-current of rabid republican hatred growing.

The 2016 election delivered a four-year season of hate in America. We have endured the worst liar in the White House. And, while we can't be sure of just how many more of his administration will face legal charges after Biden and Harris take office in January, 2021, this may be the most corrupt administration ever. And that makes the thought of crushing them in November very attractive, indeed.

[tblue37]

1. K&R. nt

[H2O Man]

3. Thank you!

[StClone]

2. Surreal isn't it? Charlatan, Soviet leaning stooge, Endless lies...GHUA

After summer https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=yjIUkiGCFTg&feature=emb_logo

[H2O Man]

4. That it is.

I've long loved that song. Thanks for posting it.

To paraphrase Jim, this is the strangest administration I have ever known.

[StClone]

6. Thanks for the comforting-it has not been a good day for me on DU

I think I was blocked by another poster for the first time ever to my knowledge.

H2O you and I have been around here a long time and after all these years it seems the days are getting stranger, darker, more disparate, less kind and redeeming.

But we hold on and hope for the best.

Thanks for the Doors music.

[H2O Man]

8. It is a strange time.

I've probably been blocked by a few dozen people, and ignored by many, many more. I suppose it's the nature of internet discussion forums. And add to that the break-downs in society, in every community, and in so many extended families. We are dealing with the Trump cult -- people who can look you in the eye and insist Trump never called McCain a loser, even seconds after they watch the films of him doing exactly that -- and so many good people are tired, their nerves frazzled, and they are more likely to react by arguing or shutting down communication .....even when they agree on 19 out of 20 issues. I try to not take it personal, which can be hard for a grumpy old man like myself.

[misanthrope]

5. Nice piece. I wish I could say summer was over

We've still got a couple of months of it left on the Gulf Coast. Two days ago, the heat index here was well past 100 degrees, 110 in some places and yet it felt like a relief solely because the dew point dropped below 72 degrees for the first time since early June. It actually felt cooler in the shade for a change.

What passes for autumn hereabouts will arrive in mid-November, if then.

[H2O Man]

10. I love hot weather,

though hot & humid tires me out these days. And having it that warm for so long can't help with sleep. But this has been the nicest summer weather-wise that I can remember. Our only issue is that the water table is low .....some creeks have dried up almost completely.

I've heard from my west coast brother and some old friends in CA. Terrible what is happening there. I haven't heard from a couple of friends on the Gulf Coast, but I hope there aren't severe storms before the season passes.

[Me.]

7. I Can't Believe Time Is Actually Passing

xo many days feel the same.

[H2O Man]

11. Right.

It can seem like the same waking nightmare, day after day. I try to avoid watching the news daily. It helps me.

[tavernier]

9. Not here in Key Largo.

[H2O Man]

12. Well, hopefully

we'll get a nice caucasion summer. (All credit due to Chief Paul Waterman.)