There on TV, in plain view,
Right before our very eyes--
Although what the president said
Was shocking, it was not a surprise.

Pulling no punches, he admitted
That he would not keep a distance
From foreign meddling in our elections--
That he would accept Russian assistance.

He did it before, he'll do it again.
Whose interests is he protecting
When he accepts outside help--
Something he should be rejecting?

Instead of protecting democracy,
He is basically doubling back
By letting our whole election system
Be undermined by an outside attack.

After observing the president's actions
During the past few years, I guess
The fact that we're not shocked shows that
We wouldn't expect anything less.

Some people call it treasonous.
Trump calls it another name:
"Oppo research." Winning to him
Justifies it. It's just a game.

Is there a breaking point for congressional
Republicans? Hard to tell.
Why don't we just give the Russians our ballots
And let them vote for us as well?

-by Bob B (6-13-19)

(Can be sung to the tune of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee")

This country once was grand.
It's hard to understand
What has gone wrong.
Without change, rest assured,
Rights that were once secured
Will all become obscured.
Hear this sad song!

Our country nationwide
Was once more unified;
Now it is split.
Our leader--not so smart--
Who lacks a caring heart
Is tearing us apart,
Yes, bit by bit.

When presidents defy
Rule of law, tell me why
People don't act.
Obstructing justice should
Prove they're up to no good.
Let this be understood:
They must be sacked.

When leaders lie we must
Find others whom we trust
To tell the truth.
Climate change ought to be
A huge priority,
If not for you and me,
Then for our youth.

If people are too dense
And have no commonsense
Can we survive?
May eyes be opened so
More people here can know
What we must do to grow.
Let wisdom thrive!

-by Bob B (6-12-19)

The president gazed out the White House window.
Squinting to see through the mist and rain,
He gasped as he made out the faint outline
Of the USS John S. McCain.

His pallid face froze in a grimace.
Turning, he said, “That just can’t be.
It has to be an apparition.
How could the ship be here in D.C.?”

Consulting his television set,
He let out a scream of utter disdain.
The image was on his TV screen:
The USS John S. McCain.

Dashing around the Oval Office
Like a madman, completely deranged,
He called his advisers, blathering madly,
"The name of that ship has to be changed!"

Off to Asia the president flew.
As he took in the view from his plane,
Down below him his eyes fell upon
The USS John S. McCain.

"Why…why…must he torment me?"
He asked his wife in a fit of despair.
He bit his lip with so much force,
The blood gushed out, causing a scare.

"Give me a towel!" he yelled. He held it
Up to his lip, which was throbbing in pain.
Moments later the blood left an image:
The USS John S. McCain.

Members of the president's team
Rushed to find places to hide.
Contradicting the angry boss
Would be political suicide.

The president, loving to bully others,
Finds his impulses hard to restrain.
May he be haunted forever and ever
By the USS John S. McCain.

-by Bob B (6-10-19)

I met a guy the other day,
And this is what he had to say--
And yes, he says he is for real--
Despite the leaps of science, he
Says that he must disagree
For he has something sounder to reveal:

"Come join our Flat Earth Society.
Don't fear notoriety.
Come on: there's no degree of risk.
Just be a flat-Earther AND
Help the world to understand
That Earth is not a globe, it is a disc."

Astounded, I asked, "How can I
Accept your theory? Tell me why,
When that was disproved so long ago."
He said that science isn't true;
Scientists don't have a clue.
He knows because the Bible told him so.

I asked how he can prove his case.
Photos shot from outer space
Show that Earth is round instead of flat.
"Conspiracy, for goodness' sake!"
He said, "Those photos all are fake.
'Flat Earth News' is really where it's at."

He said, "You see: we allege
Antarctica is on the edge;
The Arctic is the center our plate.
Scientists all severely
Hurt us with their theories clearly.
Flat Earth truths are what we propagate."

Obviously, it makes no sense
When certain people are that dense
To try to reason with their addled brain.
As scary as it is, I guess
I have to say I must confess
It's humorous to hear their strange refrain:

"Come join our Flat Earth Society.
Don't fear notoriety.
Come on: there's no degree of risk.
Just be a flat-Earther AND
Help the world to understand
That Earth is not a globe, it is a disc."

-by Bob B (6-8-19)

In the western highlands of Guatemala
Living conditions are turning sour
As people face adversity,
Day by day, hour by hour.

Climate change is taking a toll
On the lives of many, especially the poor.
When asked why they're fleeing, they say,
"Food doesn't grow here anymore."

The growth of many of their children is stunted;
Children are dying of malnutrition.
The parents want what all people want
Who find themselves in their position:

They want to leave, to find a place
Where their children can survive--
Where life is not an overwhelming
Challenge of trying to stay alive.

They know the journey north is hard;
Some have died along the way.
What are their options? To take a chance?
One thing's certain: they die if they stay.

Our government threatens to cut off aid
Which would only make matters worse.
That will not stop desperate people
From fleeing; it will do the reverse.

Hear the cries from Guatemala.
Don't close your eyes or cover your ears.
A ghostly lament will echo along
The banks of a dried up river of tears.

-by Bob B (6-7-19)

°Based on a report by Nicholas Kristof

Autocrats clearly despise
Congressional oversight,
For autocrats love control.
They always must pretend they're right.

Autocrats despise the truth.
If asked about it, they hem and haw.
They want to avoid our scrutiny,
Thinking they're above the law.

Autocrats have no problem
Obstructing justice. How they glower
At anyone who tries to prevent
Them from gaining total power!

Autocrats couldn't care less
Whether the people raise objections
As to how they rose to the top.
Forget the legitimacy of elections!

Autocrats stifle voices.
Freedom of speech? What is that?
Controlling what the people hear
Is the goal of the autocrat.

Autocrats have their fans
Who are quick to scoff and demean
Those who aren't brainwashed by
The huge propaganda machine.

Autocrats trample on rights.
Freedoms are on the chopping block
While the autocrats distract
The people with sanctimonious talk.

Autocrats can garner votes,
Despite their having no sense of shame.
If people elect autocrats,
They have only themselves to blame.

-by Bob B (6-5-19)

Watch as the hawks preen their feathers.
Searching the landscape, they keep track
Of what is happening all around them
Before planning their attack.

Having a keen sense of vision
While on the lookout for easy prey,
They don't care how others see them
As long as they can win the day.

Traditional diplomacy?
No, that's not part of their plan.
Their hearts are set on crushing their victims
And seeing how far their wings will span.

Conflict seems to energize them,
For conflict is their food, their source
Of livelihood. They don't care
If others suffer. There's no remorse.

Surreptitiously, they act--
Never flaunting their true intent.
Their prime tactics cause confusion--
A truth they try to misrepresent.

They say that acting so is their nature.
Does ALL their aggression make them feel joyous?
It’s sad to suddenly realize
That they were always out to destroy us.

Peace comes at a giant cost
As high above us they circle and soar.
Negotiating with them is useless
When their minds are set on war.

Don't be taken in by their cunning.
Don't fall prey to their devious cries.
Save yourself and others by knowing
How to separate truth from lies.

-by Bob B (5-11-19)