The Locke Report: The Blame Game

The United States of America finds many of its cities embroiled in racial riots. Again. This is neither new nor unexpected. Blacks blame Whites and Whites blame Blacks. African-American communities blame White policing policies and White cops blame the crime ridden Black communities. Everybody’s right and Everybody’s wrong.

The situation will calm down. The raging fire will burn itself out. Until the next time. The embers never leave. Life will return to its familiar and uncomfortable rhythm. The Man will still walk his beat and the Brother will still lurk in the shadow each occupying their stereotypical hereditary zone.

And when life moves on from the latest this is it, no more incident life in the hood will be forgotten. Hollywood will go back to making movies and sports will go back to shut up and dribble.

No solution or common ground will be found and the blame game will have won. Again.

But a good hard look in the mirror followed by a substantive discussion could pave the way for a better future.

White America needs to accept that the legacy of slavery is real. Just because my particular family tree did not own slaves does not mean that some of the benefits society has granted me on my journey have not been at least partially paved by the institution of slavery. Let’s start with that acknowledgement. Time to pay up. A bill of reparation needs to be drawn up guaranteeing that African-American citizens are able to cash a check their ancestors were not granted. A debt needs to be paid.

Next, there are historically and predominantly Black communities throughout the land. These can be transitioned into autonomous zones. Education, policing, and other social institutions will be run and administered by the community. The citizens of these autonomous communities, the vast majority African-American, will then hold the reigns and responsibilities of governing while also retaining the full benefits of being a United States citizen.

This will eliminate the specter of a White-controlled political structure governing or as some perceive misgoverning Black communities.

All of this will matter little however if the Black community fails to heed the advice that both Black and White sociologists have given for more than 60 years. In the introduction to the Moynihan Report it states that “the gap between the Negro and most other groups in American society is widening.” He also said that the collapse of the nuclear family in the black lower class would preserve the gap between possibilities for Negroes and other groups and favor other ethnic groups.

This fact is as true, more so perhaps, than it was upon its publication in 1965. Thomas Sowell, a leading economist who also happens to be Black, stands 100% behind this socio-economic tenet. And if Black leaders want to see positive change in their communities this is the starting line.

Many in the White community point to this fact as leading to the crime that necessitates bringing a heavy police presence to bear. The Black community counters that White systemic racism is the cause of their socio-economic woes.

I do not know who is to blame. I do know that casting blame always brings us back to the same fiery place.

Thomas Sowell is quoted as saying: “When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.”

It is time for the truth.

The Locke Report: Fanning the Flames

I am going to write a very unpopular article. My liberal friends will not care for my position and my friends who shade conservative will not like my tone. Those of you who reside in the center of the political square will also shake your head, no!

An African-American man by the name of George Floyd, was murdered last week. He was killed in cold blood, it was pre-meditated, and it was caught on camera by the police. Surely you have read about this incendiary incident so I need not go into further detail.

The man who committed the crime, a police officer, should be charged with murder and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I am not sure as to Minnesota’s laws regarding the death penalty, I am personally against it, but if it is their law then so be it. The other officers on the site should also be held accountable to the fullest extent as accessories to murder.

Period. Full stop.

Ok, so that is something that most law-abiding citizens will agree with, Left or Right.

That is not my thesis however, merely trying to get the obvious out of the way. No, my main point is that this is common and what we should expect to continue deep into the future.

Why is that?

Let’s look at Law Enforcement. Over the past 20 years or so it is my observation that police departments throughout the 50 states have morphed from peace keeping agents onto a more paramilitary footing. They are armed to the hilt and many wearing the Blue bring an aggression to the job that either was not there in the past or it was well-managed. If you are trained in hand to hand contact and find yourself at the firing range as part of your monthly training well guess what, you start itching for action.

The officer who committed this heinous murder has been bringing his brand of aggression to the streets for 20 years and, looking at his record, it was only a matter of time before somebody expired on his watch and by his hands.

Most policemen and women are exemplerary citizens who keep the streets safe at their own risk so we can enjoy our daily lives cloaked with safety.

But make no mistake about it, there are plenty of George Chauvins. Everyday and in every police academy a George Chauvin is being trained and given a badge. So, sooner rather than later, another George Floyd will meet his maker.

Before long another person will don his pressed blues and go on his deadly patrol cloaked with a protect the shield mentality. Over the years communities have tried to set up community oversight boards in an effort to reign in the overzealous policing activities that manty African-American communities must endure. And while well-intentioned they often have sided with the police and thusly they create precedents that make it difficult to prosecute those who continue to bring acts of violence against the people they have sworn to protect. Well, if we didn’t fire this guy for that, then we can’t fire this one for this. So, officers such as Chauvin continue to make a mockery of the system and take to the streets despite some 2 dozen warnings.

Inner-city predominantly African-American communities are dangerous places to live and/or work. Gun violence is rampant, education rates and levels are low, unemployment is high, crime is a viable option, glorified even, and the police are feared and reviled. Black on black crime is one of the most under-reported phenomena in this country. It does not suit the narrative of the Left Wing/Mainstream Media and the Right does not care.

Ironically, a career in law enforcement is an option that could lift an individual and his family out of poverty. But wearing a badge is not held in high esteem on the street and for a community that places great weight on street cred, recruitment efforts have met with little success.

The same can be said of educational policies that allow for African-American high school graduates a guaranteed path towards a college degree. The dirty little secret is that after decades in place these programs rarely meet their intended goals.

Are there success stories. Absolutely! Go into any hospital throughout the land and you will encounter people of color as doctors and nurses. You’ll be lucky to have them guide you throughout whatever ailment you may have.

These are the best and the brightest. And as such they tend to find domiciles that reflect their success. They ain’t down with the hood. Again, let’s not forget, black on black crime is rampant.

This leaves us in 2020, much like as in 1970, with an intractable situation. There are plenty of more Chauvins out there. And when the heat rises the lid will eventually explode. There is no solution to this.

The Black Community is going to retain its character. The police will continue to patrol its neighborhoods akin to an army unit in enemy territory. And, in those terms, George Chauvin was probably a guy you wanted to roll on patrol with. Another innocent will die.

The streets will erupt in riot once again. There is no winning solution here. But governments, big city to small, state to local, must put in place plans and procedures to limit the damage. Property is devastated without regard. Businesses are demolished. Life is cheap and rape often unreported in these situations as the the worst elements of a community are unhinged and unleashed. These legal transgressions will be largely ignored because of the situation.

This is the ugly part of the melting pot. People can decry a lack of leadership but that misses the point. Black culture and white culture are different and, at times, hostile. When you place two communities that harbor such ill-will and distrust in such close proximity sparks will fly.

All the well intended social programs will not create harmony where it does not exist. By all means keep them staffed and funded. They play a valuable role for society. But these community programs will not prevent a George Chauvin from donning his uniform with deadly intent. They will not prevent a city from erupting into flames.

So, as I began, I know my opinion will not be received well. To that I would counter that this is a dose of realism. We have fire departments because we understand fire is an unfortunate yet unavoidable tragedy. The same can be said of the situation that is now playing out in streets throughout 50 streets.

Unfortunate yet unavoidable…

The Locke Report: This & That

There is little of interest going on nowadays. The whole COVID-19 thing is a bore. Please, can someone just tell me when it’s over, when we can get back to life as normal. Or, at the very least, tell me what the ‘new’ normal is. The body bag count and the minute by minute analysis by people who know as much about biology as I do is tedious.

Being a writer and small business owner while living off the beaten track the lockdown isoloation gig is not so difficult. I still put in my 12 hours, get in an hour of fitness, and hangout with my family. Life goes on.

But I do miss sports. This is my big kick back shake the day off relaxation activity that is such a big and fun part of my life. Or was. Specifically my beloved Red Sox, cheering on the Bruins and Celts for another championship run, and looking forward to my new look Patriots. That is all on hold. Indefinitely…

The only news of note are the rumors of how to get the boys back on the field. Now, I’m no doctor, but it is beyond me how any sport is going to put together a squad of sweaty athletes together in a competitive environment when I have to go through three separate checkpoints just to get into the local mall while also giving up my QR Line code for tracing purposes each time I step into a store. By count, I scanned the code 7 times. Then my battery ran out. Sorry, sir, but we cannot let you in…

The no shower no spit no scratch no taxi no round the horn no bubblegum/chew lockers 6 feet apart baseball COVID rules beg the question: Why bother?

The NBA boy in the bubble proposal sounds little more appealing. For me, the common sense solution is pull the plug on 2020. And so the boredom will march on.

Still, there is always politics. And, as they say, it is a contact sport. But, again, big yawn. This boredom however brings an element of danger. Trump’s erratic and reckless behavior is on public display on a daily basis. Joe Biden’s declining mental ability is sadly on view if not daily then at least weekly.

His latest if you don’t vote for me you ain’t black gaffe is just the latest scrape the poop off the shoe moment for the ridin’ with Biden virtual campaign. I also think I read where he just got the 20th & 21st Centuries jumbled up. Basically, the campaign’s foundational message appears to be: I’m not Trump so…

Sadly, and when I say that I mean slumped over head in my hands sobbing sad, he’ll get my vote. In regards Trump and in the words of Ray Davies: My hostility for you defies description.

Actually, I have been guilted and chided into this by a really close friend and a close family member. Both of whom I respect greatly. If you follow this site you’ll remember my vow to stay away from the POTUS race. Ok, I’m in. Thoroughly unenthusiastically in, but a vote nonetheless. Sigh…

I had been excited for the new season of Billions. This is exceptionally well done from the dialogue to the acting to the strorylines. Unfortunately, it does seem to be running out of steam in season 5. It is still a thoroughly well crafted series though and I’m viewing this as its last great hurrah. If you have yet to watch I recommend starting from season 1 and just binge away.

A month or so ago I recommended planning a trip as a cool lockdown activity. The kids are now thoroughly into it too. Hunter is all up for whale watching off the Cape and Meggie has her heart set on a day at the Boston Children’s Science Museum. Plenty of Youtube fodder for both. So those are two days of the trip back home booked and, social distancing permitting, a day at Fenway will be tossed in as well.

To mask or not to mask! That is the question. Actually, I don’t care what you do. But in either case, don’t be a dick about it. Guess what? Masking, or unmasking, isn’t a political statement. Follow the rules, or not, but don’t try to be some Youtube internet socially conscious warrior for harrasing people who don’t follow your Corona Virus Political Playbook.

That’s it! I hope this blog post finds you navigating this tough stretch in a happy, healthy, and productive way. I’ll try to be better next time and until then…

Peace!!

The Locke Report: The Curious Case of Joe Biden

These are strange times in which we live. And this is true for a myriad of reasons which touch on all levels of life and lifestyle.

Naturally COVID-19 and all that it entails comes straight to mind. Social-Distancing is now part of the everyday lexicon and lockdown a concept that is welcomed in many corners. But I’m not talking about this. The Corona Virus has blindsided us all bringing out the best in many and the worst in some.

What has not blindsided us has been a slow yet steady change in the social fabric. Mostly it has been for the good. Gay and Transgender people have been more or less welcomed, or at least accepted, as equal members of society. The color barrier has been radically redesigned as evident by the Prsidency of Barack Obama.

Does prejidice, bigotry, and racism still exist? Yes. This is unambiguous. I am Catholic. It does not take long surfing Facebook before I can come along a disparaging remark against my Church and the idiot I must be for carrying my Bible every Sunday. It is worse, much worse, for my Jewish friends. But these pockets of ignorance are increasingly becoming marginalized.

Victims of sexual assault and discrimination have also found a stronger voice as the political correctness of the 1990s has become more organized. As a person of a certain age one can appreciate the level of casual intimacy that a man was allowed in the 1980s and 90s which now seems so anachronistic. As a father of a vibrant young daughter, I appreciate the change society has allowed itself to experience along these lines of gender equality.

This transformation has been able to come to fruition because of a free and open society where ideas can be discussed in the light of day then digested so a new generation can articulate it in their own voice based on their experiences, dreams, and aspirations.

Still, one thing has not changed. There is one significant element of society that tenaciously clings to the old ways. That is politics.

Which brings me to the curious case of Joe Biden. If a movie needed a sort of cooler older dude who pinched the cashier clerk in the arse everytime he picked up his six-pack and still approached every lady under 50 with a “How you doin, Sweethheart?” Joe is your guy straight out of central casting.

It should not be surprising that Joe is now facing what appears to be a credible sexual assault charge including digital penetration. For those of you around my age that means he fingered her.

The lady in question is, like me, in her mid-50s meaning, at the time of the alleged incident, Joe was a solid 20+ years older than her. When she rebuffed his advances Joe backed off and the young lady soon was looking for a new job. That’s just the way it went back in those days.

So, when Joe says he is innocent he is telling the truth. His Truth. And when Tara Reade says she was assaulted she is telling the truth. Her Truth.

And, considering Joe’s age, he really may not remember this encounter. Memories fade and recollections change after all.

Not long ago the former Vice-President told a crowd that they could count on him to “Speak power to truth.” Of coure he turned this new-age phrase on its head prompting many to scratch theirs. But in the rough and tumble 60s & 70s where Joe made his bones that is exactly what you did. You used your power to create your truth.

As society has changed it has created some powerful special-interest groups. Identity politics is real. And it will be used. In many cases to great effect. What has not changed is the ability of the political class to use whatever tool they can to gain or maintain power.

The #metoo movement is a perfect example. A group of strong young ladies through the advent of the internet and social media created a powerful special interest group to guard against sexual predators in the halls of academia, business, and politics. It has been a roaring success even if it has fallen prey to excess on occasion.

Now it is a political sledghammer. A certain Senator from Minnesota has been permanently sidelined and it almost derailed a candidate for the United States Supreme Court. It is not my intent to debate the merits of those specific cases today.

They are brought forth to bring us back to the curious case of Joe Biden, the presumed Democratic nominee for the President of the United States. The might of media power will certainly speak on behalf of Joe and the Democratic National Committee to sully Tara Reade’s Truth.

Politico just the other day threaded the needle. In one article they opined that the passage of time has surely obscured the event making difficult to embrace or reject. The New York Times has thrown its weight behind Joe. While not outright calling Tara Reade a liar, they sorta did. Joe can be seen hoisting the NYT into the air as he dances around the issue and we presume Justice Kavanaugh has found another use for the Gray Old lady.

So, yes, all things considered, it certainly is curious that the first woke election will feature Trump on the right and Biden on the left. One can only imagine the disillusionment that young person with all their dreams and aspirations for the future is experiencing being left with a choice of elderly white men with, at best, dodgy morals. Does an 18 year old woman really want to pull the lever for a cad?

Then again, even considering the times in which we live, maybe it should come as no surprise at all. Politics as usual, after all.

That’s all I’ve got! I’ll try to be wittier and even more insightful next time. And to all of you, whether you agree with my somewhat different point of view or not, I hope for nothing but health and happiness to lie in your path.

The Locke Report: A Strange World

While the Corona Virus is at the top of everyone’s mind and dominating online discussions, platforms, and media, I find myself quite detached and bored by it all.

Oh, I and my family are following all the rules put in place by those crack government officials who strive each day to make our world a safer and healthier place to live. We wear our masks and practice social distancing on the rare occasions we venture out. The government tells us it is our civic duty to obey these rules for the good of our community.

Beer and alcohol have been banned. That’s ok for me. I am not a heavy drinker though I do enjoy a couple of pints every Saturday as a way to unwind. I also enjoy a nice meal at Sizzler and diving into the all you can eat salad bar. That too has been deemed a health risk.

Many claim that the whole pandemic began in a wet-market in Wuhan, China. Here you can treat yourself to delicacies including Bat or several other exotic creatures from the animal kingdom. It is claimed by several of the world’s leading scientists that cross-contamination in the Wuhan market ignited a virus to which humans are not immune.

I am not an expert, but this does seem reasonable. If you do want a more expert nuanced opinion you can go to your Facebook page and scroll through many of the posts that will guide you to the right answers. One such author/lawyer/virologist even has his 10 favorite scientists that he follows and encourages you to do the same. And as you scroll you’ll hear arguments for and against the Wuhan Market Theory and reasons why suggesting it even came from China is racist or that this really is a CIA plot and…Well, you get the point.

But I don’t have the time for that. Busy converting my business into an online venture, working on a new book, and finding interesting ways to engage the kids.

Just let me know when it is over. Or, at least, when I can get a beer. Funny that. But, you know, if I lived in Wuhan, the supposed epicenter of the pandemic that would be no problem. In fact, I could even roam around their famed wet-markets which are now opened. I trust the Bat Fillet business has suffered however.

Strange World.

But we can understand that this is more than simply a health concern. It is a political test. COVID-19 is an opportunity to see exactly how much control a government can exert. And what better cover than a health emergency.

Now I am not suggesting any conspiracy theory. The Corona Virus is real with real world consequences. Measures need to be taken. But one would be naive to think that those in the halls of power from Beijing to Tokyo to Washington to London to Brussels are not also using this as a test case to understand the ability to control the citizenry.

In Beijing where the virus has ravaged the population it may be to test the limits of safety as is suggested by reopening many of these markets and here in Thailand where there have been few deaths it may be to shut everything down.

No matter the case, these measures are all reactive. What the virus has really exposed is the inability of governments throughout the Globe to be proactive. That, more than the virus, is what should scare people.

The Corona scare will fade. Businesses will reopen. And we will be told to get back to normal. But what if that Sizzler Salad Bar does not look as appealing? Maybe the pub isn’t the wisest choice after all. I’ll take that burger to go, thank you.

Governments will again react to the situation. It is your civic duty to go to the mall, flock to your local restaurants, hang out, they will urge.

And, slowly at first, but more surely as time goes on, people will obey.

Me? Sure, I’ll go get that salad with my family and grab a pint with my friends. Why not? But I do so, now, with the even greater knowledge that I better know what I am doing because those that inhabit the upper echelons of government probably don’t.

The Locke Report: Quarantine Edition

To begin, I hope the latest Locke Report finds you safe and sound. There is nothing like a pandemic to help put one’s priorities in order. But I am not here today to opine on the current crisis.

In any case, Facebook and, I presume, Twitter abound with experts on the topic of virology. I am in awe of one certain writer of noir crime Southeast Asia style and his wealth of information regarding climate change and viruses such as, though surely not limited to, COVID-19. He’s got it down.

Jealous? You bet! I am simply doing my best trying to make correct parental decisions, keep a business afloat in the online world, and belt out my yearly novel. So don’t look to me for answers.

I have yet another acquaintance who is an expert on such diverse topics as the Euro, Brexit, American Policing, and yep, you guessed it, COVID-19. All a big hoax he claims with authority. And, in any event, even if something is going around it surely did not come from any wet-market in China. You can take that to the bank. He is so locked in!

Me, I don’t know. And, like Sam Cooke, was never much for biology or science books as a student. I do make sure the kids wear masks when we go out for our afternoon walks. Mom and Dad do insist they thoroughly wash their hands with soap upon coming back home from the local general store where we buy our household essentials.

I wish I had a crystal ball like some on my FB Friend list. Sadly, I do not. But there is one thing I do have control over. I will always be here for my family. I cannot claim to have a solution for all that ails, but I sure will try to find one. And, failing that, I can let them know it is all right because nobody has all the answers!

However, I am sort of an expert on one thing. Finding cool ways to occupy my time.

1. Plan a trip. Even if all travel is limited for the foreseeable future life will return to normal at some point. And with the internet at our fingertips, the world awaits. Just think of all the deals with airlines, hotels, and even eateries yearning to bring back customers. Where will you go? What will you do? How about dinner? Fix a budget… Trust me, I am salivating over The Orchard: Turkey, apple, Vermont cheddar, honey mustard & New England Fare: Turkey, bacon, Muenster cheese, lettuce, tomato,mayonnaise served up fresh at the Mason Jar in Harwichport.
2. This one is for parents. Create a game or activity that is good for your child. My 5 year old son likes to box with dad. So, ok, a small boxing ring was set up, 3 rounds of 2 minutes, and a champion is crowned. Hunter holds all the belts, but I’m coming…Huffing & Puffing! Lots of fun, spending time with my Boy, and a bit of exercise to boot. I am also beginning a homeschool program for my daughter. Sure, she’d rather play on her ipad. But the activities are fun, she’s improving her writing skills, and dad doesn’t complain as much about her playing ROV so much. It works!
3. Expand your horizons. Develop a skill, Start a blog and teach people about your hidden talents or your secret passion, learn a new language, write that book you know you have in you, read War and Peace. If you are bored, blame yourself.

Let’s take a peek into the future.

I am sad to say that all sporting events relevant to me are cancelled for 2020. It is hard to see anyway Baseball, Football, Hockey, or Basketball games can be played until this pandemic it is corralled. And that seems like months away. As a sports fan it sucks, of course. But better to be safe than sorry for all involved.

There will be a Presidential Election in November. 77, soon to be 78, year old Joe Biden will challenge 74 year old incumbent Donald Trump for the right to inhabit the Oval Office for the next 4 years. Though, to be fair, actuarial charts may dispute the validity of the 4 years. In any case, in this era of woke politics & #me too morals, you would be hard pressed to find any more pasty white set in their ways boomers than these two party standard bearers.

Combine COVID-19 with a lack of sizzle in each candidacy and record low turnouts are likely. This brings me to a larger point. Elections are designed to bring the best people into government. Government is designed to produce a safe and healthy environment in which people can go and lead productive lives. But, if your government has failed to do that then what is the purpose of participating.

Look, most people can understand that we do not live in a fairy land. Bad stuff can happen. There is no government that can place us in an auto-immune bubble. But to be not prepared? To not have enough masks? To not have enough testing kits available? That is called gross mismanagement.

So, Left, Right, or Center, governments throughout the world have dropped the ball. Stay at Home is not a policy. That is the cry of the weak. From Beijing to Washington to London to Brussels to Tokyo corrupt weak individuals have been given the keys to government. And this is the result.

The problem is not some wet market in Wuhan. Pathogens can build their niche in any farm, sewer, or marketplace it is allowed to thrive. Governments exist for the sole purpose of managing those problems. Stay at Home is an admission of guilt, a recognition of inadequacy, the white flag. Worst of all, it is the only solution these governments: democratic, socialist, or communist, can come up with.

So, as my vote resides in the United States, I will exercise my Constitutional right to not use it in 2020. Maybe this is the best way to employ my civic duty.

Anyway, I am better off relying on myself, believing in my family, building my business, improving my writing craft, and, most of all, living life and cherishing all that is dear to me.

I hope you do the same. I’ll finish where I started: Be Safe, Healthy, Kind, & Generous!!

Till Next Time…

2020 Let’s Go!

Time to get pumped! The 20’s are here and let’s hope they are roaring. Lots to do and, as the saying goes, there’s no time like the present.

I try to approach each day with 4 P’s in mind: Personal, Professional, Physical, and Positivity. Each day the first 3 P’s need to be worked with the 4th P being the approach.

And if each day involves that I’m probably on the right track.

Just published another novel. Big Mac is back in Bangkok Lit! I truly enjoy this series and always look forward to what Colin “Big Mac” McDonald, Ai, and Doi are up to. And what I thoroughly enjoy about these characters is the way they embody that exotic, erotic, grimy mass of commercialism and hucksterism that is Bangkok. They aren’t living their life on Facebook, they are not bemoaning the state of the climate, they are trying to make the best out of the hand they were dealt.

They will return in 2021, or 22. Now I am settling into 1770 Boston. The working title for my latest project is The Incident on King Street. Josiah Milton will make his debut as a rather dissolute if dashing man of the law tasked to uncover a mystery as the events of the Boston Massacre swirl about.

The research has been fascinating. So many things that I was unawares regarding my hometown. Turning over as many stones as I can find, bringing that thriving port back to life is indeed a challenge being met with a smile. Positivity!! You can look for the first in Josiah Milton: Colonial Boston Mystery Series come December of this year.

Turning to my other hat, my brick and mortar business is gaining steam on the web. And with a new market new products need to be developed. I won’t bore you with the details but it may very well be that the N.U. Test Prep. Center will be completely online come 2022. It is exciting for many reasons.

That brings me to the Personal. Family. An online business means more mobility. As the kids get older, why not a working vacation at the beach? Or Bangkok…Or back in Boston & the Cape?

The foundation has been built. Now it is time to think big. Which brings me to another P: Physical. I need to hit the gym. Daily. If I am not busting it with the weights and the cardio then my personal & professional suffer. My positivity too. No fitness means no energy, physical or mental, in my case.

So my 4 P’s brings me to my PP, or Personal Philosophy. By staying focused on what is important, always striving to improve on what matters, and always keeping a smile on my face while I bust it each and every day, then most assuredly I will have something to cherish when it is finally time to kick up the feet and enjoy the view.

Quoting Ray Davies: There’s gas in my tank and I’ve still got a ways to go…

That is where I am at as we begin the Twenties. And It is a good place to be. I have not arrived at where I want to get to. Not yet. But I’ve got my dreams. I have my purpose. Better yet, I’ve got my family. Hell, I’ve got my Philosophy!! I hope you do too.

I’ll try to be better next time and until then, keep it positive!

That’s One Way To Look At It

An interesting situation is unfolding in Washington, Baghdad, and Tehran. It involves politics, religion, and power. A geo-political game of chess with obvious adversaries and potentially surprising allies.

Let’s look at the event that has fanned the flames of war. Last week U.S. Military forces took out a high level target from Iran. Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and associates were taken out on the tarmac of an airport in Baghdad.

Apparently Soleimani cut quite the figure. He was the commander of a special forces unit which purpose was to fight ISIS and as a side hustle create as many headaches for the Great Satan possible. He was good at his job. So good in fact he had achieved legendary status as a real Revolutionary hero capable of taking the fight to the enemy with swagger and a smile. “The time has come to take out our swords,” he said in one memorable quote.

His swashbuckling style not only gained him fans in the Middle East but the New York Times was almost referential as it gushed about his exploits while writing about his demise. It is early, but Clooney is in the running for Soleimani’s Hollywood turn.

And so his end should come as no surprise. The Great Satan is good at its job too.

At the moment he had set his sights on American targets in Iraq. A military contractor had been killed with the American Embassy under siege. Casualties were likely to mount.

Ok, so these are the events as they stand in the lands of Persia. But what about in Washington and Tehran where the events are being orchestrated.

Washington is waking up to impeachment as the new year dawns. Nancy Pelosi is clutching the articles tightly and tucks them under her pillow each night as she dreams of endless press conferences waxing poetically of the solemn oath she took to defend the Constitution. Trump being led out of Washington in chains brings her to a place she has not felt in years.

For Trump, his eyes are set on November. So this Impeachment, while not a deal breaker, is quite the annoyance.

On the Democrat side we have four sets of eyes on the Oval. But, for better or worse, impeachment fever has sucked all the air out of the room. Rumor has it a debate was held a few weeks back.

Things for Ayatollah Khamenei are even more dire. The economy is in a downward spiral, the gutter is the next floor up, unemployment is rampant, people are out in the streets, talk of revolution is in the air. The Supreme Leader has a supreme crisis.

There it is. Two world leaders, fully in control of their office, true, but storm clouds clearly in the not far distance. Trump has his Pelosi, a true thorn in the side, and Khamenei surely noticed the adoration the Iranian people had, indeed still have, for Soleimani. And who knows, perhaps the revered warrior saw in his future more than a loyal soldier.

But, with one swift blow, impeachment, always a dud of a story, finds itself on page two while Major General Soleimani has been promoted to martyr.

The Great Satan has reappeared with vengeance and who better to slay the White Devil than the Supreme Leader. Mobs again have taken to the streets. But now they are after someone else’s blood.

Pelosi, the four candidates, and the New York Times have been caught off-guard and find themselves in a quagmire. Trump assassinated a sworn enemy who had just led siege to our Embassy. They are now left trying to figure out a way to criticize Trump without seeming too dovish. Reckless seems to be the adjective being employed out of the gate. Not sure about that. Hopefully more effective than quid pro quo.

Doesn’t matter. Trump is on war footing. Everybody and everything else fades into the background. He gets photo ops in the war room while his enemies huddle together pondering what to do with those articles of impeachment.

Hollywood, as if on cue, has made its opinion known. From the mouth of Rose McGowan: “Dear #Iran, The USA has disrespected your country, your flag, your people. 52% of us humbly apologize. We want peace with your nation. We are being held hostage by a terrorist regime. We do not know how to escape. Please do not kill us. #Soleimani”

Mana from heaven.

That my friends is a winning Trump ad coming your way soon.

In both countries the conversation has now changed. And Trump and the Ayatollah control the message. Funny how that worked. And so timely. Almost like an I’ll scratch your back if you… moment. Enemies can find common cause, you know.

Anyway, That’s One Way To Look At It…

To Impeach Or Not To Impeach

After nearly three years of chipping at the stone, endless meetings, hours of Rachel Maddow promising that just around the corner a smoking gun would be unveiled, the United States House of Representatives has just concluded Trump is a hard-headed often erratic arsehole.

Was it worth it? Is it still worth it?

Depends on your perspective I suppose. For me, ardently opposed to the very thought of Trump , I was hoping something Nixonian was to be found. Even when it appeared The Donald was getting railroaded I did not care so much as I am confident he has dished out worse in his time. Bottom line: Sorry, Bro, had it coming.

The goal was to either remove him from office or make him such damaged goods he’d bow out not wanting to go through the humiliation of a contested primary run.

Yeah, ok, that didn’t work. In fact, we failed miserably. Rather, the opposite appears true. It seems to have invigorated him. Worse, the Dems have riled up the Deplorables.

Which leads me to one conclusion:

My Party has wasted the last three years on a Quixotic quest for the Resistance. Even with that said, they at least, at the very very least, could have made it interesting.

First of all, if you are going to throw an impeachment bash there is nothing worse than inviting boring to the party. Boring and impeachment? Never in the history of the Republic has that been accomplished.

If we harken back to Watergate one can recall that Hollywood casting country lawyer, Sam Ervin. In addition, a cast of characters including H.R. Haldeman, the White House Plumbers, not to mention the Saturday Night Massacre, still echo throughout the hallowed halls of Washington. “Well, I’m not a crook,” was on the lips of every comedian in the land.

Fast forward a couple of decades and we find ourselves hanging out with Bill and Monica knee deep in the mud of Whitewater. A little black dress took on new meaning and we all rolled over as Bill argued, “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”

We learned that campaign staffers were specifically tasked to deal with bimbo eruptions and more somberly were forced to ponder exactly why Vince Foster took his life.

Those were exciting times no matter which team you were rooting for. In each case, we cried, shared genuine non-partisan outrage, and even got to laugh. The journey was worth it.

Trumps’s Impeachment has nothing as scintillating and everlasting to match the Clinton and Nixon affairs. It will be forgotten by spring’s thaw.

Though, to be fair, the sheer ineptitude of the Dem team and their cable tv warriors has caused more than a few tears.

The lasting image of the Trump drama may well be quid pro quo, a Latin term foreign to some so, midstream, it was changed to bribery. And for those of us who do know the term it sort of struck us as business as usual for politics. Growing up in Boston, I sort of thought quid pro quo was how the wheels of government worked ut solet.

No shady Indonesian businessmen with briefcases stuffed with cash, no slush funds, no Bimbo #3, no pray with me, Henry moments. And certainly no Woodward and Bernstein feeding us ammunition as the gates to the castle crumbled. By any standards, this was a snooze fest.

There is Hunter Biden. He’s interesting, and sort of central to the proceedings but for all the wrong reasons. In any case, just go google Joe’s son and his name is tied to the hip with debunked. That was quick. For what it is worth, he has been locked in a closet somewhere left to deal with a paternity suit though he has hit the mattresses with a tasty South African starlet. Well played, Hunter. Papa, Joe…It’s a boy!! Pass the Cubans…

So, what are we left with? Not a lot other than the hard-headed arsehole we started with and that we all knew was a little shady to begin with.

But, if somewhat corrupt, he is also now more sympathetic to his deplorable base. That brings us to November 2020.

It’s not the economy, stupid.

That apparently will be the rallying cry come next month as we move into Iowa. Basically, whoever emerges from the Primary Season will need to appeal to the voters sense of right and wrong, their political etiquette, rather than to their wallet. Tough sell.

Biden, Sanders, and Warren are the favorites at this point with Mayor Pete lurking. I adore Bernie. But is a 77 year old socialist Jew likely to move into the Oval? Can Joe with all his baggage get close to the finish line? Can Professor Warren, again somebody I really like, have a plan to keep her tribe from falling asleep? Is America ready to install a small-city gay mayor in the highest office of the land?

The entirety of Trump’s term, the past two Congressional sessions, has been spent figuring how to remove him from office. Perhaps it would have been best spent focusing on the ballot box and using the Rachel Maddow’s of the world as a platform from which to craft an attractive candidate or two.

That has not been the case. Hard to believe, but Trump will spend New Year’s with the wind solidly at his back and full steam ahead to mix nautical metaphors.

And all because the best that Pelosi, Schiff, and company could dredge up was quid pro quo.

Which leaves me at a crossroads. I still need to pick my horse. But, truth be told, I’m not there yet. No pizzazz seems to be on the horizon so eventually I’ll need to settle on the best of a mediocre field.

Ok, that is it for this edition of The Locke Report… I’ll try to be better next time. And, if we don’t talk beforehand, the very best of Holidays!!

Let The Good Times Roll

The Locke Report will endorse a Presidential candidate before 2020 dawns. Quite frankly, the process has been winnowed down to two candidates, Bernie Sanders & Elizabeth Warren. I supported Bernie in 2016 and may well this time too. But I dig Liz. So we’ll see.

And I will choose one or the other based on optimism. But I’m not here to talk about them today.

Rather I would like to remind everybody that the sun is truly shining on the democratic experiment John Adams and Thomas Jefferson created almost 250 years ago.

You see, I do not share the doom and gloom scenario that so many seem to revel in. This is not a time of crisis. These are the good old days.

American Democracy is neither under attack nor paralyzed no matter what the New York Times is blathering about nowadays. Is it messy? Absolutely. Show me a passive quiet democracy and I will show you a system in trouble. This is not Britain dealing with Brexit. This is not a mealy mouth body politic unable to function coherently leaving the populace rudderless.

No. The exact opposite is now happening in the United States. The Congress of the United States of America has two chambers. The lower house is controlled by the Democrats while the upper house is run by the Republicans. Conservatives and Democrats both have a large microphone to push their respective agendas. Guess what, they use it.

Against this backdrop we have a raving lunatic in the White House. But here’s the point, in a little over a year the American public will have an opportunity to vote him out. Or, if things fall the right way, he’ll be impeached and perhaps be forced out of office. And if he is not, well that will be democratic as well.

This is not a democracy in crisis, this is a democracy acting exactly as John Adams and Thomas Jefferson drew it up. Democracy does not guarantee utopia or even equal outcomes. What it does guarantee is your right to kick and scream and march and protest and organize and vocally persuade all in the name of pushing your agenda. And as long as you don’t trample on my God-given inalienable rights then have at it.

On any given Facebook day I can see Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s name being dragged through the mud or it being held in the highest ring of honor. Likewise Mitch McConnell is the White Devil incarnate to some while at the same time being lauded for his White Christian gun-toting virtues by others. Each has their champions.

The point being, the spectrum of voices participating and thriving in American politics is as diverse as it has ever been. And just as corrupt too. Yeah, that is also part and parcel of the American experience. It is also a testament to the success the economy has enjoyed for ages. You can even call it White Privilege if you want. Hunter Biden and the Trump brood can wax eloquent on the benefits of power. They can also be brought before a court. Hear Hear to that.

I live in the center of the political spectrum with a bay window looking just left. There is an LGBT…community way off in the distance. They despise my baseball loving beer drinking church and football Sunday rituals rock & roll listening white boy ways. It is their right. And they can denigrate me and my White Privilege from highest hilltop. As long as you don’t tread on my God-given inalienable rights. Truth be told, I’m not a fan of their lot either. But I will defend their rights. Why? Because they are the same as mine.

Rejoice in the foot stomping table pounding finger pointing mud-slinging pile of dung our Democracy is. That is what the Founding Fathers envisioned. The more mud being slung the better the system is working.

The imperfections of the system, in my estimation, highlight its beauty. Is Trump an eyesore? Yes! Bottom of the heap. But the system Jefferson and Adams designed is a system of men and women. We are imperfect. Our leaders will reflect both the best and the worst of our character. But as imperfect as we are and as imperfect as the system may be, it is also the best system designed by man to rectify its own mistakes.

John Kennedy once said: Our problems are man-made — therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. Man’s reason and spirit have often solved the seemingly unsolvable — and we believe they can do it again.”

That’s the spirit, Jack!

So let Mitch McConnell thump his Bible and applaud when AOC rails against cows farting, heck, applaud harder when she hurls the cow dung at Mitch, because when you see that, man’s reason and spirit, then you know the wheels of democracy are churning.

I am out and will try to be better next time. Have a great Halloween! Whatever you do, Live Life!!