In Honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, an excerpt from my new book, Douchebag Wisdom: Dealing with Donald Trump, Chapter 3, DarthTrump: the Force Be Damned!

We Don’t Turn Off the Dark; We Turn On the Light

How do we stand against hate and bigotry? How do we expose the dark without ourselves being consumed?

We turn on the light.

“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
Martin Luther King Jr.*

It’s up to us; each one of us. We must turn on our own light and then shine that light on others. Marianne Williamson is my favorite spiritual leader. And wow, can that woman pray! She’s the leader of a love revival, SisterGiant. From her September 3, 2017 Facebook post:

“Dear God, Send legions of angels to all the leaders of the world. Heal their minds of thoughts of war and fill their hearts with thoughts of peace. May their emotions be calmed and their higher selves emerge. May wisdom and nobility and spiritual brilliance guide their every move, now and forever. And so it is. Amen. “
Marianne Williamson

See what I mean? But my favorite Marianne Williamson quote comes from her book A Return to Love. Take this passage to heart and indeed we’ll change the world.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marianne Williamson

Are you ready? Because it’s time to liberate others.

We must keep focused on DarthTrump and we must turn on the light. Most everything Trump is doing—or undoing—with his streak of executive orders I am opposed to.

No! It is not ok to persecute immigrants. Give them a path to citizenship.
No! It is not ok to deny refugees entry to our country. Vet them and let them in.
No! It is not ok to turn back equality for our LGBTQ community. Discrimination is senseless.
No! It is not ok to take Medicaid away from the poor. That would be heartless and unhealthy for the economy.
No! It is not ok to build a wall. Talk to our neighbors like you’re a civilized human being.
No! It is not ok to cut funding to Vets. Put our money where your mouth is, help them.
No! It is not ok to deny women equal pay for equal work.
No! It is not ok to deny women access to birth control and family planning options.
No! It is not ok to frack the crap out of the land or pollute our waters.
No! It is not ok to shit on the Press, to verbally assault them or incite violence against them.
No! It is not okay to pick fights with foreign leaders.

And the list keeps going. But this is my list. You must have one of your own. What do you think is good versus evil? Now is the time to ask yourself. And now is the time to stand up and turn on YOUR light!

We must keep searching for and sharing the truth. But how can we break through DarthTrump’s onslaught of lies and lies and more lies via Twitter? Don’t be fooled by bragger or buffoonery and be willing to call out the Douchebaggery.

Hope you enjoyed the excerpt. Read more on Amazon’s a Look Inside. Check out the amazing art from artist, ZTDroc. Trump as movie villains. Lol, spot on.

Shine on!

#LimaBravo #LoquaciousLima
#douchebagwisdom

* (my apologies, I left off the “Jr.” in my book, I’ll fix all the typos soon)

Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Christmas 2017 has come and gone, and, unfortunately, no Trump Family Indictments. Yet. But I will not be deterred. The crap spewing from Trump’s mouth continues to motivate me to #resist and #persist.

“You all just got a lot richer” proclaimed Trump proudly as he dined with his rich friends at Mar-a-Lago mere days before Christmas. He’d just come from signing the $1.5 TRILLION #GOPTaxScam that will give 83% of the financial benefits to the top 1% of wealthiest Americans–that FACT according to the non-partisan Tax Policy Center.

Now, that just makes me mad. Those rich Mar-a-Lago friends paid a one-time $200,000 initiation fee for the privilege of joining the gold-diggers club, a fee Trump doubled once he became President. Then Trump’s friends pay $14,000 annually to remain part of that elite club. They willingly and knowingly are putting money straight into the President’s pockets.

Are we to believe there will not be quid pro quo? Of course there is. Trump’s tax bill is directly rewarding them for their support. He’s buying their vote, believing that money trumps morality, and that money is power. It’s Wolf of Wall Street Gobbles Up Democracy and shits out morality with the help of the rich–and for the rich!

Ahh, “rich.” It’s a relative term and hard to define, to me, “rich” means a steady income of over $100,000/yearly, and you’ve made that consistently 10 or more years. That you own your home, have retirement saving, have money invested in the stock market. To me, “rich” is never having to wake-up at 2:00 a.m. and wonder how you’re going to pay next month’s rent, or if you can squeeze one more utility payment on a maxed-out credit card, or whether the local food bank will be open this week. “Rich” is wondering how many hundreds of thousands of dollars you’ve made in dividends and interest since Trump took office. “Rich” is never wondering how $18 a week trickled down to the average American worker isn’t enough to pay their electric bill, let alone provide financial “relief.” “Rich” is having no cares about money, theirs (the poor or average) or yours. You can afford it, “it” being anything your heart desires. You never worry about losing your home or going without a meal, and you don’t think about those that do. That’s “rich.”

Trump desperately wants you to believe the middle-class will get a tax cut, but by the time the trickery is done, anyone making under $75,000/yr will pay more in taxes. According to the U.S. Census, “the median household income in the United States is $56,516.” The “average middle-class worker” is going to get crushed! In comparison, anyone making $150,000/year is indeed rich.

Who will benefit most from the #goptaxscam? Large corporations, Trump himself, his family and his already rich toadies, including cabinet member, and members of Congress. Need a few numbers?

We don’t know for sure because PRESIDENT CONMAN still refuses to release his tax returns, BUT, from what we know, Trump will save about $15 million in taxes; Jared Kushner about $12 million. Betsy DeVos, Wilbur Ross, Steve Mnushit? Between $2-$5 million. I could go on and on.

But I won’t, not here, not tonight. I’m done with being mad. Now, I’m motivated. I’m activated, and I’m working my own 12 Days of Christmas promotion. I pledge here and now I will:

Register 12 new voters; Make 11 calls to Congress; Attend 10 peaceful marches and rallies; Sign 9 petitions; Give 8 gifts of charity; Get 7 pussy power hats and pass them out to my friends; Do 6 sessions of yoga as often as I can; and Hope and pray for 5 Trump family indictments. I’m lunching 4 times with my girlfriends; smoking 3 pre-rolled fatties, passing on 2 shots of tequila…and continue to promote my book—Douchebag Wisdom: a book for Dealing with Donald Trump.

What will YOU do?

#limabravo #loquaciouslima
#resist #enlist #persist

Get Douchebag Wisdom: Dealing with Donald Trump

Tags: Douchebag Wisdom, Dealing with Donald Trump, resist, enlist, persist

 

You’re a Mean One, Grinch Trump

You’re a mean one, Mr. Trump,
You really are quite rude,
You’ll pick a fight with anyone,
Your language is quite crude, Mr. Trump,
When you open your mouth to speak
You prove you are quite unglued.

You are a loser, Mr. Trump,
Your words contain nothing but lies,
You sit atop Trump Tower,
Plotting against those you despise, Mr. Trump,
Your need for adoration and revenge,
Will surely lead to your demise.

You are a liar, Mr. Trump,
You blame your staff, the Congress, fake news,
You speak nonsensical sentences
With the intent to abuse and accuse, Mr. Trump,
But thanks to the REAL news,
You have educated and informed voters you cannot confuse.

You are a Douchebag, Mr. Trump,
Seeing and hearing you makes us gag,
You bullied your way to the White House,
Made promises that were vague, Mr. Trump,
The 3 words that best describe you are,
Using your own words: disappointing, terrible, and sad.

(Excerpt from Chapter 10, Grinch Trump, Douchebag Wisdom: Dealing with Donald Trump)

Here we are, the week before Christmas, and I’ve all but given up hope on Trump and the GOP. Trump says he’s giving Americans a “giant tax cut for Christmas.” In reality, this #GOPTaxScam gives tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and corporations AT THE EXPENSE of middle-class Americans. Trump, himself, will make out like a Russian authoritarian dictator. We don’t know for sure how much he and the Trump kids will make because Trump still refuses to release his taxes. He knows he can’t. They will prove he’s bought and paid-for by his BFF, Putin. Do you suppose our tax-payer dollars will also make their way into Putin’s pocket?

Perhaps Grinch Trump can still have a heart-opening moment. We can all hope and pray…but it doesn’t look good. Trump and his capitalist cronies are screwing over working-class Americans, the very ones he vowed to help. Tax breaks to corporations DO NOT and HAVE NOT ever trickled down to the working class. Merry friggin’ Christmas, Trump is not just handing out coal, Grinch Trump, the con-man, is SELLING us all “clean coal.” This tax cut—and his environmental policies–will cost us all dearly.

But there is something we can do. We can have our own heart-opening moment!

We can take care of each other and the people Trump’s policies are hurting. We can reach out to our family members who are hurting, our neighbors who are struggling, and the strangers we pass on the street who have real problems they are hiding. We can reach out, offer a comforting word, and share. Yes, share what we have; spare a dollar when we can. And always, an encouraging word.

We can #resist. We can call out the douchebaggery when we see it. We can fight this #GOPTaxScam. We can call our congressmen and women and demand they not siphon money from middle-class and poor pockets. We can relentlessly sign petitions and demand that Trump release his taxes.

And we can assemble and PEACEFULLY protest. We can call on every Who down in Whoville to stand up and be counted. We can rise. AND WE CAN VOTE!!

Gobble Gobble; Merry Merry; Happy Happy!

Lima Bravo
#loquaciouslima

PS Read more of the book on Amazon’s Look Inside. Check out the amazing artwork of ZT Droc!

Butter…butt…BUT… #GOPTaxScam…Not So Fast!

There will be times when talking about Donald Trump is not appropriate—Thanksgiving Dinner—BUT, saying “please pass the butter” as a diversion from talking about the issues is only a temporary fix. We have huge issues that need to be discussed. We must speak to each other, and make a concerted effort to do so. Yes, “Please pass the butter” and keep the tone civil, but it’s also important to keep the dialog going. All you need is an issue.

And here’s a doozy: Scrooge Trump and the #goptaxscam will take money from the pockets of college students.

Money.com says, “The House bill eliminates several tax deductions and credits to pay for tax cuts and to simplify the tax code. It eliminates the student loan interest deduction as well as the tax exclusion for tuition reimbursement received from an employer.”

Millionaires and billionaires get tax breaks, and our college kids pay the price. One grad student, a Ph.D. student studying engineering at the University of California, said his tax liability will increase from $14,600 to $44,800, meaning, he’ll owe an additional $3600 in taxes.

Our future is at stake!

The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities said, “The current tax code,” meaning what has been in place prior to Trump, “helps reduce the cost of college for good reason — not just because a college education benefits individuals, but because it benefits society at large.” It is in the nation’s best interest to help students get an education. But Nooooo….

…instead Trump and the Republicans are ramming a TERRIBLE #goptaxbill down our throats and it is TERRIBLE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS!

Call your Senator and tell them to vote NO! 202 224-3121

#limabravo #douchebagwisdom #douchebagdonaldtrump

How to Talk Turkey and Trump over Thanksgiving Dinner

DIN-NER! Time to eat!

It’s time for holiday dinner and your family is gathered ‘round. Blessings have been said acknowledging everyone’s safe travel and arrival; the Thanksgiving feast complete with turkey and all the trimmings cover the table, and then 8-yr-old Pat utters one fateful phrase, “This sweet potato pie is the color of Donald Trump’s hair.”

Everyone hold’s their breath; horror clearly on their stricken faces. Dinner time is no time to talk politics! Nor the place!

But then Grandma to the rescue. In a calm, pleasant voice she chimes in, “Please pass the butter.” Sweetly, kindly, before another phrase is uttered, she repeats, “Please pass the butter.”

Then with a smile on her face, Grandma redirects the conversation, “Now, who can pass around those rolls?”

A collective sigh of relief is heard when no one takes the “elephant-in-the-room” bait, and a potential political calamity is avoided.

Now THAT’s how you talk politics over Thanksgiving dinner. You put it off for another time. And, here are 4 ways to casually side-step  that awkward political talk:

1. Politics should be a one-to-one conversation

Resist the urge to talk politics in a group. Conversation around the table can quickly get out-of-mouth-and-hand. Even “safe” topics, i.e. saving the endangered African Elephant, will spark relatives ready to argue the other side. Save that conversation for a time when you’re NOT ready to enjoy a holiday meal. Simply say to that person, “I so enjoy political discussions when there’s just the two of us. Why don’t we save that talk for after dinner?”

2. You can always reschedule a discussion

There’s always someone who wants to talk politics over turkey but no rule that says you have to. Kick that conversation down the road, after pie and coffee, and the football game, and the movie, or whenever appropriate. Say this, “I’d love to hear what you have to say but don’t have time now to listen. How about we pick-up this discussion when everyone else has gone? Or perhaps tomorrow?”

3. Politics is a “To Be Continued…” topic

When the conversation “goes there,” meaning it turns to Donald Trump, allow everyone to express their beliefs. Trump-lovers and Trump-haters will both need to vent! And they won’t see eye-to-eye on many issues. Seek dialog and common ground, not solutions necessarily. Nothing has to be resolved now, no one has to be persuaded, no actions have to be taken in this moment. This dialog can be interrupted, rescheduled, and revisited many times down the road. Life goes on; don’t let politics ruin the day.

4. Expect it to get LOUD

People passionately love or hate the President, the parties, and the issues. And “passion” equals volume. Each one of us believes what we do based on our education, our experience, and our intellect. When people feel safe to express their views, and they passionately agree or disagree with a topic, voices and volumes will rise. It’s going to get loud! Volume is a sign of intensity; rate of speech is an indicator of intensity. Bulging veins in red faces are a dead give-away that the conversation is intense!!

Just remember, when the conversation gets too heated, you can always redirect. Put a smile on your face, turn to the person next to you, and with a pleasant tone of voice at a reasonable level of volume say, “Please pass the butter.”

 

#limabravo #loquaciouslima #douchebagwisdom

Get the book! Douchebag Wisdom: Dealing with Donald Trump, or check out Amazon’s Look Inside!