17 Comments
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Beth L. Gainer's avatar

Walter, this is a powerful, true post. You say so much, but I'm using one quote here: "A dithering madman is at the controls. That's what we got because nobody allows anyone who advocates for education, healthcare, reason, or accountability to ever ascend." Truth, unfortunately.

Now with the bombing of Iran, I'm afraid we are undone. It's true that Trump is a madman, but he is also evil and has made choices to do evil. We appeased him during his first term, with politicians basically giving him what he wanted. Appeasement never works.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

We had the power to stop him from committing atrocities. Now it feels as if atrocities are inevitable (and many are happening). But our resistance will never falter. Thanks for your kind words Beth. We can still do a lot to make sure it's not as bad as it could be.

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Alene N.'s avatar

America has killed America. The citizens of this country who would rather watch reality TV instead of reality have a lot to answer for, too. Great post, Walter.

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Maria Tambien's avatar

Morning ritual: My husband wakes up, he looks at his cellphone and I ask, “Is he dead yet?” He answers, “Not yet.” And another day begins.

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Jo Burns's avatar

Similar response here. I turn on the news and step out to take my dog for a potty, but I always catch a bit and it is always about T. I sigh and say, "not yet." And the day begins.

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Patricia Ross's avatar

Walter it's time to pry yourself away from the new for 24-48 hours. For your own mental health. War doesn't make sense. It really never has. What is it for? Land? Spoils to the victor? Occupation of lands where the inhabitants hate you? We're all going to die anyway. Donald Trump is going to die, doesn't he realize it? And in the meantime there is poverty and death and illness while nations spend a large portion of their GNP for weapons to kill other people. Is this sane? I don't think so. We are not evolved as a species. Our technology has advanced far ahead of where we humans are developmentally. Take a break. Go out in nature. Hug your wife and daughters. As someone once said: "Don't let your pain spoil your joy." Find those moments of joy again while you're alive.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

I have! Thank you. We were out swimming all day yesterday. Thanks again!

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Forrest Lonefight's avatar

Growing up a metal kid with all the dark prophetic lyrics, I feel I was ready for dystopia. I recently unearthed some high school journals that are similar to the words in your blog. The dark words help with the coping. 📝 👏🏼👏🏼

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Teri Gelini's avatar

Love this piece. It really sums up how we all feel at times.. Giving up is not an option for any of us. It would be an unforgivable act to give up and not fight for our democracy. We are all going to have days when going back to bed and burrowing under the covers and wishing the world would go away. That is the we take a break and go walk in the woods or by the beach to help settle ourselves. We must stand together and"NO KINGS" no matter what the mad orange mussolini thinks

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Arthur Rosch's avatar

I enjoy your works, Walter. I share your opinions. This poem sums it up.

Ugly

June 15, 2025

Unfortunately

There is really ugly

And I don’t mean an ugly look

I mean an ugly vibe a thing that got loose

Like a contagion

It wears a face

An ugly face

It is shrill

It steams like poop

That’s how ugly and

I’m having a tough time

Getting that shit out of my head. I mean

It’s everywhere

I can’t take a piss without hearing about ugly

Can’t wipe my ass without comparing uglies

And I’m a beautiful lad, trust me, I am.

I don’t like ugly but it’s the opposite of beautiful

And what can you do? That’s the way stuff works: there

Isn’t one thing without the other. So if ugly has to exist

I better change myself to

Make room in my spirit for such crap cuz it isn’t going away

Any time soon.

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Teri Gelini's avatar

Love this piece. It really sums up how we all feel at times.. Giving up is not an option for any of us. It would be an unforgivable act to give up and not fight for our democracy. We are all going to have days when going back to bed and burrowing under the covers and wishing the world would go away. That is the we take a break and go walk in the woods or by the beach to help settle ourselves. We must stand together and"NO KINGS" no matter what the mad orange mussolini thinks

Expand full comment
Teri Gelini's avatar

Love this piece. It really sums up how we all feel at times.. Giving up is not an option for any of us. It would be an unforgivable act to give up and not fight for our democracy. We are all going to have days when going back to bed and burrowing under the covers and wishing the world would go away. That is the we take a break and go walk in the woods or by the beach to help settle ourselves. We must stand together and"NO KINGS" no matter what the mad orange mussolini thinks

Expand full comment
Teri Gelini's avatar

Love this piece. It really sums up how we all feel at times.. Giving up is not an option for any of us. It would be an unforgivable act to give up and not fight for our democracy. We are all going to have days when going back to bed and burrowing under the covers and wishing the world would go away. That is the we take a break and go walk in the woods or by the beach to help settle ourselves. We must stand together and"NO KINGS" no matter what the mad orange mussolini thinks

Expand full comment
Teri Gelini's avatar

Love this piece. It really sums up how we all feel at times.. Giving up is not an option for any of us. It would be an unforgivable act to give up and not fight for our democracy. We are all going to have days when going back to bed and burrowing under the covers and wishing the world would go away. That is the we take a break and go walk in the woods or by the beach to help settle ourselves. We must stand together and"NO KINGS" no matter what the mad orange mussolini thinks

Expand full comment
Arthur Rosch's avatar

I enjoy your works, Walter. I share your opinions. This poem sums it up.

Ugly

June 15, 2025

Unfortunately

There is really ugly

And I don’t mean an ugly look

I mean an ugly vibe a thing that got loose

Like a contagion

It wears a face

An ugly face

It is shrill

It steams like poop

That’s how ugly and

I’m having a tough time

Getting that shit out of my head. I mean

It’s everywhere

I can’t take a piss without hearing about ugly

Can’t wipe my ass without comparing uglies

And I’m a beautiful lad, trust me, I am.

I don’t like ugly but it’s the opposite of beautiful

And what can you do? That’s the way stuff works: there

Isn’t one thing without the other. So if ugly has to exist

I better change myself to

Make room in my spirit for such crap cuz it isn’t going away

Any time soon.

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Jun 24
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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you Jo! We’ll keep resisting and doing the good work!

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Kathy Loves Flowers's avatar

I saw that post from Reich supposedly written by Liz Chaney. While the post was an excellent manifesto for how democrats should be behaving right now, it was not written by Liz Chaney according to the lengthy comments about it. It was written by someone named Pru Pru. Neither here nor there but there was a lot of discussion about properly attributing the author of the essay.

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