A Government Shutdown

Our friends, the Moorheads, at the No Kings Rally

Trump and Congress cannot agree on a budget so the government is shut down again.  In fact, Johnson won’t call the House of Representatives back to Washington to even vote—probably because they will ask for the infamous Epstein files to be released and Trump’s name may be in them.  The Democrats are holding out so that Obamacare premiums are not increased.  Meanwhile Trump is using this as an excuse to cut back more and more on government employees.  People who are close to us are affected.  One is an “essential employee” so he has to report for work but he is not getting paid.  How is he going to pay his bills?  I’m sure none of us would want to see him homeless.   This is a disaster for many.  

 A grandson who is a student in Washington DC says that Yes, he sees the National Guard on the streets, at the train station, and even walking through his college campus.  Trump is threatening military action on the cities where he says there is so much crime—and those mayors and governors are not welcoming their presence.  It’s costing a fortune to place them there and is not necessary—just his way of punishing Democratic office bearers. 

And then there is Trump’s calling for indictments on those who have publicly opposed him—Comey, Bolton, and the DA in NYC, Letitia James  He is searching for reasons to indict.  One hopes that the judges will see that these are not legitimate but are for retribution and revenge.  The irony is that he says Bolton held classified documents when Trump himself had all those documents at Mar a Lago.  But he got away with it because the Supreme Court said one cannot indict a sitting President.  

I am glad we are not applying for Social Security or looking for a tax refund.  Or hoping to visit a national park like we were trying to do years ago in Maine when everything shut down.  

At least Trump put pressure on Netanyahu and the hostages are being released from their captivity by Hamas in Gaza.  Now for aid to get back into Gaza and the rebuilding to start.  I pray for the return of Doctors Without Borders.  Things are really bad when they are forced to leave for their own safety because they go most everywhere.   The situation in Ukraine is still dire.

What can we do?  I give to ACLU which has won court cases fighting deportations.  I am giving to a Neighbor to neighbor fund through our church which pays for legal costs and living costs for refugees. I gave to Mickie Sherrill who is running for governor in NJ in a campaign called a “bell wether” for the national elections.  Her ads highlight her opposition to Trump and call her opponent the “Trump of Trenton.”  Some might think that will hurt her chances but I hope NJ citizens will know better. Jim and I have already voted for her and delivered our ballots to the Plainsboro box.  

———-October 21.  On Saturday millions of folks congregated for No Kings rallies across the USA.  They marched with signs protesting the Trump administration.  The protests were peaceful.  Trump’s response was an AI created visual with him as a king and was vulgar in a way I would rather not put on my blog.  It is embarrassing to have him as a leader.  

October 23. It is unbelievable but daily more outrages come from our leader.  Now he is taking a wrecking ball to the East Wing of the White House and putting in a ballroom.  It is not his house but he does not care.  He has bombed another fishing boat claiming they are drug dealers—Murder without anyone stopping him.  I despair!  He is asking for millions of dollars in damages from the DOJ when he had been charged with crimes.  The judges in charge were appointed by him so he will probably get what he wants.