Letter #169... Dear Mr. President... The Absurdity!

Dear Mr. President,

I think it’s time to have a discussion about the “absurdity” of Americans and most particularly, parents when it comes to ‘protecting’ our children.

Yesterday there was yet another school shooting, this time at a middle school in Sparks, Nevada by a 12 year old boy that got a gun from his own home, a semi-automatic pistol that was apparently not “locked up”…

I find it absolutely ‘crazy’ that parents ‘claim’ they will do anything to protect their children from harm, except apparently, to lock up their guns. The lengths that our society is going to, to protect children is simply mind-boggling.

We claim to protect our kids... and yet...

Here are a few examples:  Just recently the Kentucky High School Athletic Assoc. directed its high schools to “not participate in organized post-game hand-shake lines/ceremonies,” due to too many fights. Sportsmanship be damned, we need to prevent our ‘kids’ from fighting by protecting them from an outstretched hand.

Kids on too many playgrounds are not allowed to play 'tag' anymore because it constitutes ‘physical contact’… another school in N.Y. just banned 'balls' at recess. Really? The answer? According to the district superintendent, “we want to make sure our children have fun but are also protected.” Protected from what… a ball? How much fun can recess be now? Our kids can’t go out and play by themselves anymore… they have to have ‘arranged play dates’… they can’t ride bikes without a helmet or roller blade without a helmet, kneepads, and elbow pads. They can’t skate board without all of the above gear, and most communities won’t let them skate on the sidewalks, but it’s illegal to skate board in the street because it’s not safe. Kids don’t play pick-up baseball or football games any more it’s all organized through the school or recreation centers. Most kids don’t walk to school any more, even if they live within walking distance, because parents are afraid that they might be snatched by some stranger, which by the way, rarely happens.

The point is, is that most parents go to great lengths to protect their children from all kinds of ‘perceived’ dangers, but they don’t have the common sense to lock up their guns. I just cannot wrap my mind around that mentality. We pass all kinds of school rules to protect kids from being… well, kids. We can even ‘protect’ them from learning sportsmanship, but we can’t seem to pass a single law that protects them from gun violence… it is absolutely criminal, and ABSURD!

I don’t give a tinkers damn how many ‘men’ shoot off their penis’, but I do care about the children in this country who are slaughtered by guns each and every day. Please bring this “absurdity” to the attention of the public because we seem to have lost all semblance of common sense when it comes to “really” protecting children.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers,

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #168... Dear Mr. President... It's Time to Fight for Our Kids

Dear Mr. President,

On Tuesday you said you plan to, “make the best case that I can,” for a military strike on Syria, and that “there are times where we have to make hard choices if we’re going to stand up for the things that we care about, and I believe that this is one of those times.”

Didn’t you make the best case you could for Congress to pass some common sense gun control laws? Or, was that just lip service for the parents, friends, family, and the country, just after the slaughter of ‘innocent children’ at Sandy Hook? How can you make a case to the world or even this Congress regarding military action in Syria when you can’t make a case for saving the lives of ‘innocent children’ slaughtered by weapons of mass destruction in this country?

We’re wringing our hands over 400 ‘innocent children’ killed by their own government in Syria, but we are doing absolutely nothing about the 2,848 children that are killed in America every year because of gun violence… that’s 8 ‘innocent children’ every single day, day in and day out.

Stop the bombing...It's time to protect our children

I find it offensively hypocritical of the U.S. to be ‘up in arms’ over the use of chemical weapons when you consider our history… the horrors of WWI led to the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which banned the use of chemical weapons. The U.S. didn’t sign until 1975, long after dumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of Agent Orange in Vietnam and Cambodia, with the ‘unintended consequence’ being the loss of thousands of lives, including our own U.S. Servicemen. It wasn’t until a 1997 that an international treaty banned the production, stockpiling and use of these weapons. Angola, North Korea, Egypt, South Sudan and Syria are still not signatories to the pact.

You condemn Assad’s “brazen use” of chemical weapons and the deaths of hundreds of children as a violation of international norms and said that failure to act would empower other “rogue nations, authoritarian regimes and terrorist organizations” to develop and use weapons of mass destruction. Don’t you think that the U.S. is outside the “norm” when it comes to our obsessive use of ‘personal weapons’? Don’t you think that our failure to pass comprehensive background checks, limiting magazine capacities, and limits on the amount of ammunition one person can purchase, is outside the ‘norm’ and could embolden “stand your ground’ crackpots and right-wing gun enthusiasts, not to mention how it's already emboldened the NRA?

If we worked half as hard at passing laws that keep our streets safe, and our kids alive, as we do in trying to ‘police’ the world and trying to protect Syria's children, then we wouldn’t have 8 children a day and 2,848 children a year, slaughtered in this country.

Yes, these are hard times and you have hard choices to make, it’s time to stand with Americans who want an END to bombing, an END to boots on the ground, an END to more military interventions, and an END to any and all wars of any kind… It’s time to make our children what you care about most. It's time to end the violence against our children with weapons of mass destruction... ENOUGH is ENOUGH.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers, 

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #167... Dear Mr. President... Time to Reignite the Dream

Dear Mr. President,

For the first time in my 67 years on this planet I’m afraid for this country, and I’m starting to be afraid of the people in this country. I’m afraid that the horrific upswing in blatant racism toward you, will take this country back to the early 60’s.

Yesterday my husband and I went to see Lee Daniels’ The Butler, it was an excellent film in every way, in fact, most of the people in the theater applauded at the end… it was that powerful.

With the 50^th Anniversary of Dr. Kings “I Have a Dream” speech, I see his dream coming apart piece by piece, vote by vote, gun by gun, and law by law. When this country elected you I thought, ‘at last’ we would finally see the end of racism in America… that having an African American in the White House would unite us ‘at last’. But it seems that quite the opposite has happened, we are more divided, and more divisive than ever before in my memory. It seems that racism has only lain dormant during that time, and your election, instead of reigniting the dream, has brought the Confederacy back to life with all of it’s ugly symbolism using tea bags instead of white sheets and pointed hats.

I’m not alone in feeling this way, I read more and more people expressing utter dismay at the things we are witnessing…  Citizens United saying that corporations are people, median income a full 6% lower than its peak in 2007, literally hundreds of bills introduce that restrict a woman’s right to choose and mandate unreasonable intrusive reproductive screenings, Stand Your Ground laws that allow a person to shoot an unarmed teen, the Supreme Court striking down a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and over 80 measures to restrict voting rights in 31 states, in 2013 alone. The reduction in early voting, the elimination of same-day voter registration, and the repeal of high school voter registration drives. Texas Republicans even pushed through a bill that would allow a concealed-carry gun permit to be used as voter identification but not a student ID. Now you have to prove that the laws are discriminatory rather than the state having to show they are not before implementing them. All of these things are outrageous and unacceptable.

I was heartened and surprised to see the ACA passed, but in the short time since and even before full implementation the Republicans have voted 40 times to overturn it in part or in whole. Why? I know you have asked this Congress to pass the Jobs Act on numerous occasions, but they have failed to pass a single piece of legislation regarding jobs, and all the while we see peoples income declining. Why? Just maybe if a Jobs Act had been passed then the three teenage boys would have had jobs instead of being so bored that shot and killed an innocent Australian man while he was jogging. Why? Where is the Dream that MLK talked about almost 50 years ago?

In a recent poll for the Pew Research Center, titled “King’s Dream Remains an Elusive Goal,” only 26% of African Americans said the situation for black people has improved and 21% said that things have gotten worse. Things are going backwards.

I don’t know what else you can do that you have not already tried. Your positivity in the face of immense adversity is laudable even if it goes unnoticed and unappreciated.

The big question is; how do we reignite Dr. King’s Dream? How did we let a minority of haters wield a bigger stick than the majority of people who want to move this country forward? How do we reverse this insidious trend to destroy this country just to see your Presidency fail, because that seems to be the GOP agenda?

We can all do it just like Dr. King did back in the 60’s… by speaking up, by calling people out when they lie or misrepresent the truth, or try to suppress and alter the facts. YOU, Mr. President must lead the way… you can no longer afford to let the radical right-wingers get away with maligning you with impunity, and threats of impeachment. Because every time you let them get away with it by not speaking up, it emboldens them to continue and signals to those listening that it may be the truth. We need all elected Democrats to push back against any and all falsehoods with swiftness and conviction. You, and other Democrats can take a lesson from Kentucky Governor, Steve Beshear when he spoke about the ACA at a fundraising breakfast attended by both Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul.

Beshear said,"it's no fun" hoping and praying you don't get sick, or choosing whether to pay for food or medicine. He also said Kentucky is at or near the top of the charts on bad-health indicators, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer deaths, and preventable hospitalizations. He said all that affects everything from productivity and school attendance to health costs and the state's image.

"We've ranked that bad for a long, long time," he said. "The Affordable Care Act is our historic opportunity to address this weakness and to change the course of the future of the commonwealth. We're going to make insurance available for the very first time in our history to every single citizen of the commonwealth of Kentucky."

This is what all Democrats should be doing and saying because if we don’t start pushing back now, and pushing back unapologetically, then the 2014 elections will be another mid-term disaster. We can’t let that happen, you can’t let that happen. We need you to be the fearless leader we saw during your campaigns, you’ve got nothing to lose at this point and everything to gain… now LIGHT THAT FIRE!

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers,

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #166... Dear Mr. President... You Were Wrong!

Dear Mr. President,

I don’t often say this, but “you were wrong.” I must respectfully disagree with your remarks after the acquittal of G. Zimmerman in the murder of Trayvon Martin. To say that “We are a nation of laws and a jury has spoken. I now ask every American to respect the call for calm reflection from two parents who lost their son” is like saying you can “Stand Your Ground” if you’re white, and you can do it with a gun, but if you’re a black teenager using your fists, you are dead.

However, I’m going to give you the benefit of doubt, and will assume that the reason you did not make a more proactive statement of utter disgust is because you did not want to jeopardize either a civil lawsuit or a DOJ lawsuit against Zimmerman for a wrongful death or a federal hate crime.

Trayvon should haunt all of us until the "SYG" laws are abolished

With that said, I cannot imagine a world where we calmly accept a travesty of justice like the Zimmerman trial based on a flawed law that allows a person to chase an innocent person down the street, after being told by the police to stop, start a fight, then shoot and kill that person and claim it was self defense. The verdict makes me feel ashamed to be a woman, a mother, and an American.

I find it ironic that people are so afraid of “black men” and “black boys” in this country, and yet history and countless recent tragedies, prove that fear to be totally unfounded. NO assassinations or attempted assassinations of our Presidents were committed by a black man, it was NOT a black man that slaughtered 20 innocent babies and 6 teachers in Sandy Hook, OR shot Gabby Gifford in the head, OR gunned down people at a theater in Colorado killing 12 and injuring 60, OR detonated pressure cooker bombs at the Boston Marathon killing 3 and injuring 264, OR blew up a federal building in Oklahoma City killing 168 and injuring 600. And it was NOT two black teenage boys that took semi-automatic weapons to Columbine H.S. to gun down schoolmates killing 12 students, 1 teacher and injuring 24 others. No, these were all “white” men. In reality we should be much more afraid of white men.

We are not a nation of laws when those laws do NOT protect us equally, treat us equally, try us equally or defend us equally.  We are not a free country when we are imprisoned by bigotry, fear and hate. And we cannot call ourselves Christians when we perpetuate that bigotry, fear and hate with laws like “Stand Your Ground.”

The murder of Trayvon Martin cannot be allowed to stand, because if it does, the message we are sending is that it’s open season on black youth in Florida… come one come all if you want to kill a black child, Florida is the state for you, bring your handguns, chase them down, shoot them and claim you were just “standing your ground.” A “bad law” cannot go unchallenged, and we cannot accept the verdict from a jury given instructions by the judge based solely on the “Stand Your Ground” Law.

We cannot rest until the “Stand Your Ground” laws are abolished in every state where they have been passed… Trayvon Martin deserves no less …

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers, 

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #165... Dear Mr. President... That Dog is a Democrat

Dear Mr. President,

A friend passed this along from his conservative daughter, and I thought it was interesting enough to reply to my friend that his daughter was indeed a lucky woman. Perhaps this is something Congress can agree on, even though each is seen from a different perspective.

It just hit me!

My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day. He has his food prepared for him. He can eat whenever he wants, 24/7/365. His meals are provided at no cost to him.

He visits the doctor once a year for his checkup, and again during the year if any medical needs may arise. For this he pays nothing, and nothing is required of him.

He lives in a nice neighborhood in a house that is much larger than he needs, but he is not required to do any upkeep. If he makes a mess, someone else cleans it up.

He has his choice of luxurious places to sleep. He receives these accommodations absolutely free. He is living like a king, and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever.

All of his costs are picked up by others who go out and earn a living every day.

I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me like a brick in the head,

My dog is a Democrat!

My answer to this woman would be the following:

"I give you everything that's in me... unconditionally"

First, that dog gives you his unconditional love without you even needing to ask.

That dog discourages those who would invade your private domain, and that dog provides an early warning system so that you can either get your gun to protect your precious family, or call for for help.

That dog provides you with 100% loyalty and devotion (a lot more than most husbands), and is always home to greet you after a long or difficult day. That dog listens to every word you say without any preconceived ideas of his own, and without interrupting. That dog provides comfort when you are sad, and celebrates with wonderfully wacky antics and tail wagging when you are happy.

That dog will remain by your side in sickness and in health, no matter what (again, more than some husbands). And that dog would probably lay down his life for the person that provides his basic needs... food, housing, and healthcare... and love, and the fact that you provide a little extra gravy with those basic needs is to your credit, for which that dog is eternally grateful.  

And if by chance that dog happens to make a mess, perhaps it was because he was left alone too long and didn’t have a choice. On those rare occasions he feels ashamed, but he doesn’t judge you for leaving him too long, he doesn’t get angry, and he doesn’t complain, even if he’s punished. He tells you that he’s sorry with is sad eyes and his limp tale, and begs you for forgiveness.

While some people are not able to place a great deal of value on these wonderful attributes, some of us know they have infinite value, much more than any dollar amount you can attach. And did I mention that your dog would suffer and grieve terribly if he lost you due to an untimely death… and not because that dog was afraid he’d lose his meal ticket, his luxurious home, or even his own health… but simply because he loves you, more than he loves himself.

And lastly, you should count the lucky stars that you’re seeing after being hit in the head by that brick because…

‘That wonderful Dog is a Democrat, and he’ll be right by your side until you regain your senses.’

So Mr. President, give Beau a big hug  and a kiss, because I know he’s a Democrat too.

Most respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #164... Dear Mr. President...Committed to FIX not fight...

Dear Mr. President,

It’s been a while since my last letter, I asked that you do something about gun violence and other pressing problems facing this country, and you did, but you can’t do all of it alone… you need cooperation from members of Congress and Senators.

The "First Forty" Problem Solvers

So I have a favor to ask of you. Somewhere in your State of the Union address on February 12^th, I’d like you to publicly acknowledge the 40 lawmakers that have pledged to find bipartisan fixes to our nations problems. You will be able to recognize them by the orange buttons they will be wearing under their congressional lapel pins, identifying themselves as “Problem Solvers”… displaying their pledge… “Committed to fix not fight.”

The 23 Democrats and 17 Republicans want everyone to know that they have signed a pledge to try to end hyper-partisanship and reach across the aisle to solve the myriad of problems facing the people and the country. These men and women know that the only way to solve these problems is through cooperation. We can no longer afford to waste time and energy by clinging to separate ideologies that pander to the radical fringe on either end of the political spectrum.

Today, on Facebook, I posted a list of the 40 “Problem Solvers” and asked my friends that if their representative was not on the list, they should ask them why. Ask them why they are not willing to work to solve, this nations problems. Ask them why they are not committed to fixing things. I think those are fair questions, and I think you should be asking those questions during your State of the Union speech.

I’m proud to say that my new Congressman, Dr. Ami Bera, is part of this historic group. We worked very hard to get him elected replacing obstructionist Republican, Dan Lungren, and Dr. Bera promised that he would work just as hard to get things done. We are all sick and tired of political gridlock… we need to move this country forward. This ‘fabulous forty’ group of ‘problem solvers’ also scored a victory when Congress passed, and you signed the “No Budget No Pay Act. Great start… maybe it will inspire others to sign up to be problem solvers as well.

Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia said he would proudly wear his Problem Solvers lapel pin. “It says that we are willing to sit down and put the good of the country and the good of the people ahead of the good of our party, our party affiliation or our political well-being. We were sent here to do a job, and it wasn’t just to make sure that we stay here.”

I look forward to hearing your speech on the 12^th, and I will be enjoying it while visiting the beautiful island of Maui…

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers,

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #163... Dear Mr. President... The Whole World is Watching

Dear Mr. President,

The whole world will be watching… they will be watching to see what you do about common sense gun control, they will be watching to see what you do when the NRA tries to say you’re trying to circumvent the 2^nd amendment, and they will be watching to see if you have the real strength of leadership to buck the GOP.

Purpose of Assault Weapons... to KILL people

People say everything happens for a reason, but I don’t believe that… some things defy reason, and are beyond reason, like the senseless slaughter of 20 innocent babies and 6 innocent adults. Like the shooting in the head of an innocent girl in Afghanistan for wanting an education for herself and other girls, and like the brutal rape of a young woman in India… yes, Mr. President, some things are beyond reason.

Reason is something you can calculate, something that is justified, like you are our President because more people voted for you than Mitt Romney… that’s the reason. Or, more people are murdered in this country because we have more guns than any other country… that’s the reason.

It’s not because our people are angrier, or more evil than people in other countries, because that’s just not the case, we are a caring, loving, compassionate people (for the most part), we give more aid after disasters anywhere in the world, than any other country, and when disaster strikes here at home, people come out of the woodwork to help and pull together. Even people with very little money of their own, often donate what they can, when people are hurt or suffering.

So the problem in this country is not the people, it’s the guns. There is no “reason” or justification for ordinary citizens to own assault weapons, the only “reason” for a person to have an assault weapon is to KILL people. The only “reason” for a person to possess clips that carry multiple rounds, is to KILL multiple people at the same time, and there is NO “reason” or justification for this unless you are in the military and under attack.

Mr. President, the whole world will be watching.

I’ve heard many critics that say you are just another “corporate” politician, that you are just as beholden to the interests of big business and Wall Street as any other politician, but I refuse to believe that. I refuse to believe that you are unwilling, or unable to stand up to the NRA and the manufacturers of assault weapons used for non-military reasons. I refuse to believe that because I saw the look on your face, the tears in your eyes, and heard the catch in your voice when you responded to the horrific slaughter of those babies at Sandy Hook.

The whole world will be watching, and waiting to see what kind of a leader you really are, and they will be judging you by how you handle this issue above all others. I implore you to be the kind of a leader we need… one that puts the lives of OUR CHILDREN above the “bogus” hue and cry over the infringement rights of the 2^nd Amendment. 

The time has come… our “children” are our “reason” to act now.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers, 

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #162... Dear Mr. President... It's time to support the 1%

Dear Mr. President,

You may be surprised to learn that I support the 1%, even though I am part of the 99%. The 1% that I support are the 78,000 men and women still serving in Afghanistan, and their families still praying for their safety. I support bringing them home much sooner than the end of 2014. Move that timeline up by one year.

Soldiers in Afghanistan... Bring Them Home Now!

When you first announced that all troops would be out of Afghanistan by 2014, I thought, well, that's not too bad, one more year to wrap things up seemed reasonable. Upon reflection, my thoughts are that it is not reasonable. It's not reasonable because nothing further can be gained by keeping our men and women there. It is counter productive to keep forces there that are being attacked by the very people they are training to take over their own security. The Afghans.

What is the gain verses the cost of remaining where we are clearly not welcome? The gains are negligible compared to the losses. The loss of additional American lives, the loss of billions of dollars, thousands more injured requiring extensive medical rehabilitation, and mental rehabilitation, more marriages destroyed by long and multiple deployments, including the Generals. And hundreds of children living with single parents, some of them permanently due to the death of one parent. This is no longer acceptable, it time to end  the charade of this terrible war.

What are the gains, war profiteers will continue to make billions while our young men and women who put their lives on the line, make pennies on the dollar compared to the war profiteers. The Afghans who profit by what we bring to their country, including millions of dollars given to corrupt Afghan politicians.

The election is over and the war in Afghanistan was hardly even mentioned during the campaign, let alone actually talked about. Why are we still committing our men and women to a war no one wants to talk about? It's not right and we need to end this travesty sooner rather than later.

I'm sorry Mr. President, the costs are too great, the loss of American lives is too great, and the sacrifices of the 1% are too numerous to justify continuing this war for another TWO years, because that's what you're really talking about.

Yes Mr. President, it's time for you to support the 1% now, it's time to bring our 78,000 men and women home from the longest war in our history, they have sacrificed enough, and so have their families. It’s time to move that timeline up by one year and it’s time to bring the 1% back to the country they fought for… America.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers,

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #161... Dear Mr. President...It wasn't even close... it was a Landslide!

Dear Mr. President,

This morning while I was in the shower I couldn’t help but feel it was one of the best showers I’ve ever felt… it felt like I was washing off four years of racism, bigotry, homophobia, birtherism, and hate… washing away the divisiveness, ugliness, and anger that has raged through our country for the last two years.

The People have spoken... again.

As we head into this season of Thanksgiving, I’m extremely grateful to the over 60 million people that voted to re-elect you as our 44^th President. I’m grateful that the big money of Citizens United, the Koch Bros., the Adelson’s, the Trump’s and many like them, learned that the American people cannot be bought and the White House is not for sale. I’m grateful that the haters like Trump, Rove, Limbaugh, and Fox viewers learned that over 60 million people are not buying their relentless messages of lies, cynicism and divisiveness. I’m grateful that the 30 states that tried to impose voter ID laws and that they too were rebuffed by the voters. I’m particularly grateful to all those people who stood in long lines just to vote and send a clear message that those un-American tactics will not be tolerated, and are not acceptable in this country.

People say that this election isn’t a mandate, but it is… it’s a mandate for women’s rights, it’s a mandate against Citizens United, it’s a mandate for everyone paying their fair share in taxes, and that the very rich should pay a little more. It’s a mandate that discrimination will no longer be tolerated, and that includes a persons right to love and marry whom they choose. The State of Wisconsin proved this with Tammy Baldwin being the first female Senator and the first openly gay candidate ever elected.

I’m grateful that you opened the door and emboldened so many women by setting an example and appointing two women to the Supreme Court, one of them being the first Latino ever appointed. I’m grateful that you will make the next two or three appointments to the Supreme Court, ensuring the protection of women’s rights and the ACA. I’m grateful that you are using drones to help fight al qaeda, saving the lives of our men and women. I know it is not a popular position, and that innocent lives are lost, many of them women and children, and I know you do not make these decisions lightly, but that is what a great leader and the Commander and Chief is supposed to do... make the tough decisions that protect American lives.

My granddaughter came home from school yesterday visibly upset, upset because only 11 people in her 4^th grade class voted for you, and she thought that you’d lose the election. Her mom assured her that they lived in a neighborhood that was mostly Republican and that the kids would vote like their parents, but that because we live in California, she had nothing to worry about… you would win. I wish I could have gone to school with her today, I wish I could see the pride on her face and the faces of the other kids that voted for you, even though the majority of their friends didn’t. I hope the teacher explained what a meaningful election this truly is.

In closing, I want to thank you for always taking the high road, never stooping to the level of those detractors that have tried so hard to delegitimize your presidency. You have truly been an inspiration to many of us who have not always been on the same high road with you, myself included. To push back and respond to the ugliness and rancor was easy enough to do, but not necessarily the right thing to do, because it just added fuel to the fire… you never did that. This country is so fortunate to have you remain as our President, you lift us all, you lift the poor, the sick, the weak, the disenfranchised… you in fact, lift the whole world by your example.

Congratulations Mr. President, we’re fired up and ready to go… ready to go forward and raise this country back to its former greatness… we can, and will, do it together.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #160... Dear Mr. President... Romnesia & Bain Capital Voting Machines

Dear Mr. President,

I knew you could do it, and I knew you would do it… the second debate was outstanding, and I’m quite sure that Gov. Romney is still reeling from the smack-down. The one-two punch at the end, about the 47%, was perfect, and perfectly timed, not allowing Romney a chance to defend his indefensible remarks.

Since that second debate you seem to have energized and rejuvenated yourself just as much as you’ve energized and rejuvenated millions of your supporters. In many ways we’re a lot like dogs… a simple pat on the head, a smile, or a good debate performance, will get our tails and our tongues wagging.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better… you did it again! Romnesia! The blogosphere, Twitter, Facebook, and its many threads all across the country, are lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree, spreading happiness throughout the land.

Romnesia is simply brilliant, and perfect for the crowd at GMU, especially the women. I fully expect your new word to be added to the dictionary by next year, with the definition being… Romnesia, [Rom-nee-zhuh] Noun - a condition when a person shifts from one position to another, over and over again.

The cure for Diarrhea of the Mouth

And now Vice President Biden is telling a crowd in Florida that Romnesia is contagious, and Congressman Ryan has caught it as well, citing the fact that Ryan is now giving a new explanation for cuts in the budget he oversaw and passed in the house. Both Romney and Ryan suffer from a ‘constipation’ of ideas, and ‘diarrhea’ of the mouth… but there is a remedy for them and it’s called “Milk of Romnesia”… when taken orally, guaranteed to work once both orifices have been sufficiently clogged, rendering them inoperable.

Romnesia couldn’t have come at a better time, with enough material to carry us through the election, and carrying you and Vice President Biden, to a decisive victory. You have redeemed yourself with Chris Matthews, and I’m quite sure that David Axelrod is giddy with all the attention this is getting, both for the energy it brings, and the comedic value, changing a very ugly and divisive campaign into something that is making most of us smile broadly and laugh out loud.

But, there is one more CRITICALLY IMPORTANT thing you need to do before the election… Make sure that there are boots on the ground in every state, every precinct, and every polling place, ensuring that there is no voter suppression. Nor, any corruption/manipulation of votes with the machines from Hart Intercivic, controlled by Bain Capital Investment. I don’t care if you have to call the National Guard to protect these machines, because the connection between the Romney family, Bain Capital, and ownership of these machines is anything but coincidental.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #159... Dear Mr. President... Next hand is "All in"...

Dear Mr. President,

Kudos to you Mr. President, the debate last night was one of the best-played bluffs in the history of debates. You sucked Gov. Romney into your web like dirt up a vacuum, allowing him to repeat his lies over and over again. Watching you was like watching the final table at a championship poker tournament, with the chip leader giving up just enough to suck his opponent into going all in.

Your poker face was extraordinary.

I could see it was nearly killing you to keep your cool… the ‘tells’ were easy to spot, like a poker player pulling his hood up when he has a really good hand, in hopes that the others won’t see his excitement. Your ‘tells’ were nodding in the affirmative like you were agreeing with him, encouraging him to continue, pursing your lips at obvious lies, and appearing to take notes that you didn’t actually use to refute his continuous lies and misrepresentations.

Of course all of my left leaning, dyed in the wool, Democratic friends were imploding all over Facebook. No one could believe how poorly you were doing, no pushback, no hitting him with your record, no reference to the 47% video… you just let him run off at the mouth, like he usually does. Even at the conclusion when Romney’s family all came up on stage, you and the First Lady walked quietly offstage leaving the crowd to cheer for Romney.

I think I know why you played your hand this way… 1. Get Romney to reveal all of his talking points in the first debate. 2. Gather as many lies and inconsistencies to use in new ads. 3. Give Romney the illusion that he’s got you on a bad hand, so he goes all in, while you’re already holding the straight flush. 4. Send the Vice President into his debate with Ryan, with all the ammunition he’ll need to mop the floor with him, and 5. Get all of Romney’s million dollar donors back in his game, committing their dollars back to him and not the down ticket candidates.

A very dangerous strategy for anyone in politics, except you Mr. President, because you have the brains, the facts, and the confidence to pull it all back together in the next debate. However, the next debate has to be ‘ALL IN’ for you, you’ve held your cards close, you’ve bluffed long enough to give your opponent a sense of false security and confidence, now it’s time to put him away… game over.

When the pundits come to their senses, they’ll realize you threw the first hand, and very nearly overplayed it with your terrible performance, but those of us who know just how smart you are, and what a great chess player you are, weren’t fooled.

Now it’s time to ante up and bring it home to the American people, we deserve the gold bracelet just as much as you do.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

The Gadfly Granny

Letter #158... Dear Mr. President... What's not on Mitts Laundry List

 Dear Mr. President,

Today is the 11th anniversary of 9/11, a time for all Americans to reflect on that horrific day, and how it has changed all our lives in such a profound and irrevocable way. It is a day for us to remember that as a result of that single terrorist act, hundreds of thousands of men and women were committed to two wars, wars that plunged this country into the deepest recession since the Great Depression.

Since the illegal invasion of Iraq we’ve watched our Vets get short changed on safe helmets and armor to protect their vehicles, putting our troops at even greater risk. We’ve seen our war wounded come home to face inadequate rehabilitative care and job retraining services, and our Vets are quickly becoming one of the largest percentages of the homeless in America, because they lack comprehensive mental health care, and adequate job opportunities.

I know that you have done a great deal to turn things around, ending the war in Iraq and establishing a date to end the war in Afghanistan, and most notably, fulfilling your promise to eliminate the mastermind behind the 9/11 attack, Osama bin Laden. You’ve brought closure to thousands of victims and their families and justice for America. I also know that the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden are working diligently to address the problem of homelessness in our Veteran population.

Mitts "Laundry List" of things that are important

What I find completely amazing is a recent statement by Gov. Romney when asked about why he didn’t mention the troops in Afghanistan during his speech at the Republican Convention. Here’s what Romney said, “When you give a speech you don’t go through a laundry list, you talk about the things you think are important.”

Really? What on earth can possibly be more important than American Troops fighting in a foreign country to keep America safe from another terrorist attack? I guess in RomneyWorld, if his five sons aren’t serving in the military then other peoples sons aren’t important enough to mention, even when you’re running to become not only President, but “Commander and Chief” of the armed forces.

So not only did Romney ask for, and receive, four deferments from serving in Vietnam, but he feels that his sons are “showing support for our nation” by helping to get him elected. Does he really believe that is in any way comparable to our service men and women serving in the military? What planet does this man come from? In what parallel universe does working on a campaign, or fighting for your country seem the same?

As we look back at the tragedy of 9/11, besides the loss of 3000 innocent lives and the continued suffering of thousands of families, there is no greater sacrifice being made today than those who served in Iraq and those who served and continue to serve in Afghanistan, and the tens of thousands of men and women who have died while serving in these wars.

It may be on a “laundry list” of unimportant things for Gov. Romney, but I can assure you it has the highest priority for families in America and the families of the coalition forces, and all caring and compassionate Americans, and Mr. President, I know it is one of your top priorities to bring our men and women home safely, to be reunited with their families, to end the war, and to reaffirm your promise and commitment to peace.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

Your Gadfly Granny 

Letter #157... Dear Mr. President... My Phone won't Ring this Year.

Dear Mr. President,

For the last 27 years on August 14^th I’ve received a phone call from my son Jeff saying, “Thanks for the kidney mom, I love you.” This year there will be no phone call, because Jeff passed away on April 7^th of this year from Pancreatic/Liver Cancer.

But I have to tell you, as much as I miss Jeff, I am eternally grateful for the ‘extra’ 27 years I had with him, because in 1984 I had a good job with a fortune five hundred company that provided excellent health care benefits. Those benefits paid for not only Jeff’s transplant costs, but mine as well, even though my kidney donation was elective. I doubt we would be so fortunate in 2012.

Jeff with Itchy and Scratchy in Pahoa, Hawaii

No, the phone won’t ring this year, and I’ll never hear his happy voice again, but I have 27 years of wonderful memories to count and savor whenever I think of him. I have photos to remind me of the sweet man he turned into, his love of family, animals, and his music. He wasn’t perfect by any means, but he had a good heart, and was loved by all who knew him.

Jeff was a champion of the underdog, often taking in a homeless person, or planning a benefit to feed needy families. The last gig he planned was to benefit “Food for Families” in Pahoa, Hawaii, where he lived. Unfortunately he was unable to play his drums in that gig because his cancer was too advanced, and he had to move home with us before the event. His band mates sent photos and a CD, so he could see that his last gig was a success even though he wasn’t there.

Although this will be a quiet day, it is not a sad day, because time can never erase those 27 years of memories. Others have not been so fortunate, many people die every year because they don’t have the kind of insurance that would allow them receive a lifesaving transplant like Jeff got.

I want you to know Mr. President, that you and Vice President Biden, and the Democratic Party are all that stand between Americans being able to afford the type of health care Jeff and I had back in 1984, and the Republican Party that seeks to destroy and dismantle that health care for all but the very wealthy. You must stop the GOP’s radical agenda that will decimate the middle class and this country.

You simply must prevail in November, lives depend on you winning a second term, ensuring the continuation of the Affordable Care Act, strengthening Medicare and Medicaid, and protecting Social Security, as we know it. You must make the case to the American people, that continuing to appease the top 2% will bankrupt America.

So instead of receiving a phone call this year, I’d like to make a phone call to you Mr. President, saying “Thank you for protecting our health care, Medicare, Social Security, and our Country.”

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers,

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #156... Dear Mr. President... A 'Yellow Book' for your Birthday.

Dear Mr. President,

I need my own ‘yellow book’ and at this point I think you could use one too. In fact the whole world needs a ‘yellow book’. So right about now you’re probably thinking what the heck is a ‘yellow book’?

Before I explain, let me say that I think you’ve had just about enough of my letters. Sometimes I harangue, cajole, implore, beg, encourage, and yes, sometimes criticize something that you’ve done or failed to do, or something I’d like you to do. I post my letters on my blog at Washboardexpress.com, and then on Facebook, where I’m  ‘friends’ of numerous groups and hundreds of people. I often get comments from people agreeing with me, and occasionally those that don’t.

Each day I read volumes of political sites with endless opinions, some of which I respond to with vigor and enthusiasm, my mighty pen is my sword. But I’m tired. Tired of the discourse, tired of the senseless acts of violence like the massacre in Colorado, tired of people in politics being too afraid to speak the truth about the need for gun control, tired of feeling disgusted that Clinton’s assault weapon ban was allowed to expire. I’m tired of the assault on women’s reproductive rights, and mindless drones that are incapable of thinking for themselves. I’m just plain tired of everything. I simply cannot sustain the fire in the belly that I’ve had for four years… After my son died on April 7^th, and I lost that piece of myself, so many of the things I thought to be important, aren’t. Right now I think it’s time for me to let it go, to stop fighting my invisible war, and find my own ‘yellow book’.

Asleep with her 'Yellow Book'

My daughter and her family are renting a place in Lake Tahoe this week for their vacation. They left last Friday, July 20^th, on my granddaughter Gwendolyn’s 4^th Birthday. That’s the day she found it… she found the ‘yellow book’, after carrying it around for quite some time, she wanted to take it to bed. My daughter asked her why she liked the ‘yellow book’, but she didn’t know why, she just did. Something about it gave her comfort, something about it made smile and made her happy, but only being four, she didn’t know how to express it, she just knew she liked it.  

The ‘yellow book’ doesn’t have any stories in it, and not the kind of pictures that a small girl would be interested in… in fact most of us would have never given it a second look. Most of us have given up on our ‘yellow books’… we have, after all, we have Google and Yahoo, and any number of apps on our phones that can provide whatever information we want or need.

As you’ve probably guessed by now Mr. President… The ‘yellow book’ as Gwendolyn calls it, is actually the South Lake Tahoe Yellow Pages. The fact that something so uninteresting, so inconsequential, and so mundane to the rest of us, actually brought her joy… is a gift to the rest of us. That’s what’s missing in our lives… the pure joy of everyday things, little things, silly things, even stupid things. Something to embrace, to bring a smile to our faces, something to take our minds off of the myriad of things we cannot change and cannot control… and something to take to bed in hopes of sweet dreams and better days ahead.

It’s not often that we can learn something so vital from a four year old, but then again, when you look around and really ‘see’ things, the very best things are all around us every day… a smile, a wagging tail, a door held opened, the sound of giggles from the other room, the hand you hold tight, and the kiss good night.

Happiness is a 'Yellow Book'

Those are the things that keep us going, those are the things that bring us joy, and those are the things that matter most. Those are the things that my sweet granddaughter taught me when she embraced the ‘yellow book’. 

I’ll write occasionally and continue to support you in any way I can, but this old Granny is done trying to convince the rest of the world what I have always known… you’re a good man, a good President, and this country is lucky to have you on the side of ordinary people like me, and for that I’m immensely grateful.

Since your birthday is almost here, my heartfelt wish for you on your 51^st birthday is that you have the opportunity to find your own ‘yellow book’… and that it brings the same sense of joy and happiness that it brought to my sweet Gwendolyn on her 4^th birthday.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

Your Gadfly Granny

Letter #155... Dear Mr. President... Let them Cry, this is a Win for All Americans

Dear Mr. President,

Congratulations, you deserve a huge ‘THANK YOU’ from the American people, including those that do not understand just what the Affordable Care Act does for them. You know, and I know, that this is just the first step towards a single payer plan, but it’s a very big and important step.

This isn't your Party, but you can Cry if you want too.

I listened to your speech after the Supreme Court upheld all of the provisions of the ACA, and you did a terrific job of explaining just what it means for ordinary Americans. I also saw the list of benefits posted on the White House web site. My one suggestion would be to add just what is in effect now, and with each check point the date it was implemented or will be implemented, and then publish the heck out of it… the general public is a little slow on the uptake and sometimes they need to be hit between the eyes with a two-by-four before it finally sinks in.

Check it Out!

It’s a message that every single Democrat should carry to every corner, and nook and cranny of this country, along with their own two-by-four.  It’s a message that you need to drive home at each and every opportunity, including how much of it is like RomneyCare, and just how successful RomneyCare is in Massachusetts. Just keep hanging both RomneyCare and ObamaCare around Mitts neck like a gold medal from the Olympics, and watch him squirm because he can’t trash what he started in his home state without looking like a complete fool. Extol the virtues of his plan and tell the American people that just like Massachusetts, very soon at least 98% of adults and nearly 100% of the children in this country will be covered.

Thanks again Mr. President, for fighting to provide all American’s with affordable health care… for the first time in a long time SCOTUS did the right thing in upholding the provisions of this vital piece of legislation.

Keep on fighting for us Mr. President, we need you on our side for another four years… for some of us, our very lives depend on it.

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers,

Your Gadfly Granny

Washboard Express: Letter #154... Dear Mr. President... Why Would You Share Ignorance?

Washboard Express: Letter #154... Dear Mr. President... Why Would You Share Ignorance?

Letter #154... Dear Mr. President... Why Would You Share Ignorance?

Dear Mr. President,

What’s wrong with people these days, why don’t they want to hear the truth anymore? Why, when confronted with actual facts, do they insist that ‘someone’ made up the facts? Why is this mentality so widespread, and when are we going to take our heads out of the sand? 

I have a friend that I went to high school with that recently posted a reply to one of her friends, that she shares things on Facebook as long as they’re not political, because she gets so many that she doesn’t look at any of them.

In fact Mr. President, that’s not quite true… she shared a post that I believe was very pointed and political, and here is the post verbatim, typos and all.

“SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT… If you cross the North Korean border illegally, you get 12 years hard labor. If you cross the Afghanistan border illegally, you get shot. Two Americans just got eight years for crossing the Iranian border. If you cross the U.S. border illegaly, you get a job, a driver’s license, food stamps, a place to live, health care, housing, child benefits, education, and a tax free business for 7 years? No wonder we’re a country in debt. LIKE AND SHARE IF YOU AGREE!!!!”  

The person she got it from had 5 likes and 1,106 shares, and she had 6 likes and 42 shares. My response was: “So let me get this straight… if only 6 people liked it, why did 42 people share it. Why would you share something you don’t like?” One can only imagine how many others ‘shared’ it as well.  I can only hope that this was only meant as political hyperbole, used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally, but that would assume that all those people that saw fit to share it, actually knew it to be factually incorrect.

Does anyone ever question these outrageous claims? Illegal immigrants are never guaranteed a job; in fact, they’re often exploited and work for much less than others get for the same work because they are afraid to complain. If getting a drivers license was so easy, why are there so many driving without a license and insurance? Most would never apply for food stamps, or child benefits because the risk of being deported is too great. Health care is sought only under extreme conditions, and then it can only be provided through emergency care at a hospital. Yes, their children can, and do go to our public schools, but a tax-free business for 7 years, is just ludicrous.

Even Ostriches aren't this stupid.

The frustrating part of this is that you can’t even talk to these people, they don’t want to hear it, but I suppose it’s like the quote from Thomas Paine – “Attempting to debate with a person who has abandoned reason is like giving medicine to the dead.”

When are the American people going to take their collective heads out of the sand and start thinking for themselves?

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers, 

Your Gadfly Granny