Where was all the election fraud
That Trump declared was going on
As he vigorously campaigned
And as his battle lines were drawn?

Oh, I see: fraud occurs
In the event he does not win,
For IF Republicans should lose,
Fraud's the story that they spin.

After a vicious, nasty campaign
Of stirring up fear and employing deceit,
Trump has won a second term
With help from his buddies on easy street.

Once he is in office again,
We will see an escalation
Of his being able to get his way
Through vengeance and intimidation.

He and his crony Elon Musk,
Who has become his partner in crime,
Are ramping up the threats already.
So here's a Trumpian nursery rhyme:

Donnie Trumpy, pudding and pie,
Wants his way or else he'll cry.
Watch him as he flouts our laws;
How much damage will he cause?

-by Bob B (12-19-24)

When you were a child, did you
Believe in Santa Claus? If so,
Did you ever doubt his actions?
Or was that far too long ago?

Did you wonder how the man
Could know which kids were naughty or nice,
Or how he could give gifts to so many
Kids in the world and be so precise?

It's like today: a lot of people
Find no fault with Trump's absurd
Policies and promises
And never attempt to question his word.

They do not think his tariff plans
Will have a negative effect
On the nation's economy,
Which could easily be wrecked.

They don't consider how mass deportations
Of millions of people living here hurts
ALL of us, including extremist
Americans with whom Trump flirts.

They can't imagine how the crackpots
That he appoints to his admin team
Will put us in danger as they support
His anti-rule-of-law regime.

They don't even react when Trump
Thumbs his nose at rules and laws.
Yes, a lot of adults--it appears--
Still believe in Santa Claus.

-by Bob B (12-10-24)

So President Biden pardoned Hunter.
Of course, he was attacked--
Especially by the Right that had
To scream and overreact.

"Corrupt!" they called him. They said he had
Abused his power. Oh, no!
Have they forgotten what Trump had done
Just a few years ago?

Consider the REAL crooks that Trump
Pardoned and also set free.
No president has ever been
As corrupt as he.

Some of those he's pardoned are being
Given positions as well
In government, and yet Trump now
Screams to *******.

Trump has also said he will pardon
Insurrectionists, who
To him were merely patriots.
A warped point of view.

But Biden is favoring family,
Some people will say.
Trump did that before and still
Continues to do it today.

He says that Biden has weaponized
The DOJ. Oh, my!
Trump must learn to take the log
Out of his own eye.

His pick for future AG has
A hit list to carry out.
With Trump in his ear, who knows what
Nonsense will come about.

If you're upset with Biden now,
Get over it, and hurry.
After Trump's in office again,
You'll have a bigger worry.

-by Bob B (12-3-24)

This is the tale of the gumyocho bird.
It had two heads, which would suggest
That IF two heads are better than one,
The gumyocho bird should have been blessed.

But it had two personalities.
Each head thought it was always right,
And so, as you can surely surmise,
The bird's two heads would constantly fight.

One day while one head was asleep,
The other head, an herbivore,
Feasted on luscious fruits and flowers
Until its stomach could take no more.

When the other head woke up,
Its body was feeling indigestion.
Food sounded good, but it was so full
That eating was certainly out of the question.

The head--so angry, resentful, and bitter--
Planned to get even, but not being shrewd,
When hungry again, it slyly led
The other head to some poisonous food.

The head then ate its fill with gusto.
You can imagine what happened next.
Since the two heads shared one body,
No one should be surprised or perplexed.

Before dying, the vengeful head
Realized the mistake it had made
And hoped a compassionate buddha would feel
Pity for it and come to its aid.

Transported to an awakened realm,
The bird tells its story for our sake,
To help us see the repercussions
That come from decisions that all of us make.

Listen to the gumyocho bird.
It has a relevant story to tell:
When we’re hurtful to other people,
We're hurtful to ourselves as well.

-by Bob B (11-24-24)

The spider spins its silky web,
Carefully constructing its trap.
Then it sits and waits for its prey
To figuratively land in its lap.

Patiently, it waits and waits.
It hopes an unsuspecting fly
Will dart into its fibrous silk
Where it will then bid life good-bye.

The web shakes. Aha! A victim!
Very aware of the struggling shape,
The spider rushes to nab the creature,
For whom there will be no escape.

After injecting the fly with venom,
Then it quickly and deftly bestrides
Its helpless and now paralyzed victim.
The venom will liquify its insides.

The spider also wraps its capture.
Soon the sneaky spiderweb spinner
Will hungrily **** out every bit
Of liquified parts of the fly for dinner.

Of course, not all spiders spin webs.
Some just sit and patiently wait
For their prey to wander by.
Then they pounce and seal its fate.

So who's the spider? Vladimir Putin.
Its prey? Americans who pretend
That Putin is NOT our adversary,
But, instead, a trustworthy friend.

-by Bob B (11-22-24)

This is NOT the time to give up.
To throw in the cards wouldn't be wise.
In order to save our democracy,
People, we've got to mobilize!

Medicare and social security:
Watch them fade before your eyes.
Protect the benefits we have earned.
People, we've got to mobilize!

People's rights are being threatened.
Discrimination is on the rise.
The wolf is knocking on the door.
People, we've got to mobilize!

****** autonomy
Of women is threatened by those who devise
Draconian laws that are killing mothers.
People, we've got to mobilize!

Our health will be in serious danger
By those who want to legitimize
Wild and crazy conspiracy theories.
People, we've got to mobilize!

Look at the suffering that's caused
By lawmakers who demonize
Our immigrant community.
People, we've got to mobilize!

Yes, at times there is too much
Over which to agonize,
So vote, march, write, make calls!
People, we've got to mobilize!

You feel the cards are stacked against you?
Remember: keep your eyes on the prize.
They will try to beat you down.
People, we've got to mobilize!

-by Bob B (11-21-24)

The MAGA-monster reared his head
To see how far his venom would spread.
"How dare they defy me!" he loudly exclaimed.
His hatred and anger could never be tamed.
Whether he told the truth or lied,
Whatever he said could not be defied.
If you chose to disagree,
His enemy was what you would be.
Loyalty was a major concern;
Those who withheld it were those he would spurn.

"I will show 'em!" he loudly roared.
His face turned orange as he brandished his sword.
His sycophantic subjects drew near,
Obsequiously kowtowing in fear.
He didn't care if someone should suffer.
His other concern: to take care of his fluffer--
One of the slimiest toadies around,
Who made the country his new battleground.
The two of them, salaciously smiling,
Had looks on their faces, oddly beguiling.

The monster's coffers were filled to the brim.
EVERYTHING was all about HIM.
He gave the semblance of caring, but no,
His woeful act was all bluster and show.
In other lands, to get more support,
He looked for other monsters to court.
Urged on by callous and heartless trolls
Who helped him achieve his nefarious goals,
The monster displayed an ego that grew
Taller than buildings on Fifth Avenue.

Where are the heroes who are not afraid
To challenge the monster and come to our aid.
Where are the champions, so brave and so deft,
To fight him from both his right and his left.
The MAGA-monster wields his power
To make all the people around him cower.
A nation once full of hope and freedom
Has turned into an all-about-me-dom.
The selfish, contemptible, carrot-topped,
And cruel monster has got to be stopped.

(End of Part 1)

-by Bob B (11-19-24)

Thanks to people who didn't vote
For putting us all in the mess we're in.
Thanks to those who were uninformed
For making sure that Trump would win.

A number of voters who took to the polls
Did us all a disservice because,
For one thing, a lot of them didn't
Even know what a tariff was.

For some, the word "autocrat"
Was not in their vocabulary.
A lot of those people voted for Trump.
Frankly, that is downright scary.

And even though in history classes
We have studied the past, it seems
That many people have forgotten
Or still don’t know what “fascism” means.

There were voters who said they'd never
Vote for a woman, and so they chose
To cast their vote for Donald Trump
To be a part of the party of bros.

To voters who cast a protest vote,
Now are you satisfied?
Do you see what happens when
Common sense and anger collide?

Of course, some just like the man.
They like Trump for his tough guy stance.
Watch as he and Elon Musk
Carry out their bro-romance.

A lot of people were clueless about
How the Biden administration
Played a substantial role in helping
Americans across our nation.

And so, we are stuck with a man
Who'll do his best to cater to
Extremists and wackos everywhere.
The damage will be hard to undo.

-by Bob B (11-18-24)

Trump's picks for his Cabinet
Are in-your-face kinds of picks.
It's obvious from what he's doing
That he is up to his old tricks.

He doesn't want the FBI
To be involved in the nominees' vetting,
Which Democrats and conscientious
Republicans find very upsetting.

For Secretary of Defense,
Pete Hegseth, a veteran who
Displays as part of his body art
A white supremacist tattoo?

Tulsi Gabbard as DNI°
Who couldn't pass a background check
Because she's compromised by Russia?
Trump's feelings: What the heck?

Matt Gaetz as Attorney General--
A grifter and a trouble-maker
Accused of ***-trafficking?
For Trump that's NOT a deal breaker.

Hegseth, Gabbard, and Gaetz are all
Deeply unfit for such positions.
A competent president wouldn't
Select them under any conditions.

It’s almost as if in making his choices
Trump is trying to deride
All of us by asking himself,
"Who is the most unqualified?"

Will Republicans cave in
To pressure from Trump or show some spine
And tell him no when he attempts
To sidestep rules and cross the line?

-by Bob B (11-16-24)

°Director of National Intelligence

Americans have made a decision.
Why did they decide
To put someone into office who
Will take them for a ride?

They elected a man so full
Of vengeance and desperation
That his campaign was principally
Lies and misinformation.

He pandered to the people's worries--
Worries that he created
By turning people against the folks
That he has deprecated.

He won't focus on key issues;
No, those he ignores.
He would rather perpetuate
Hateful culture wars.

Islamo-, trans-, and homophobia
Will now be on the rise
As players in Trump's administration
Begin to mobilize

Racist stooges surrounding him
Will always be in his ear,
Chipping away at human rights
And constantly stoking fear.

The deportation of immigrants
He says is first on his list
Of things to do, for he is such
A heartless nativist.

Loyalty above all else
Is what he always demands.
With autocrats all over the world,
He'll be shaking hands.

We’ve all seen that Trump's whole world
Is strictly quid pro quo.
With Elon Musk so tight with him,
Will Musk be running the show?

With no more guardrails to keep Trump in line,
He'll FURTHER disunite
Americans, and that will be
Much to Putin's delight.

I'm glad I wasn't complicit in choosing
One of the vilest of men
To take a seat in the Oval Office
And wreck the country again.

-by Bob B (11-13-24)

Beware of populist demagogues.
Don't let them be misunderstood:
They build their popularity
Without promoting the public good.

They pander to passions and prejudice
And also hold reason and truth in contempt.
From all accountability
Demagogues want to remain exempt.

They are masters of the masses
And try to tear down norm after norm.
Using tricks to betray the people,
They are experts at how to perform.

Using their popular support,
They undermine our institutions.
Swindling us through sophistry,
They stand firm in their resolutions.

Wearing contempt that they invite
As a badge of honor, they hope
That no one scrutinizes them
Or puts them under a microscope.

Notice their quest for unrestrained power,
Their hunger for vengeance, their thirst for control.
Support for ideas that violate
The rights of others is often their goal.

Controlling the hearts and minds of the people,
They want you to think that they are friends.
Then they leverage your support
For their own political ends.

It's scary to think that Americans
Could eagerly cast their vote in a fog,
Electing a dangerous person who is
Clearly a populist demagogue.

-by Bob B (11-9-24)

°Inspired by the writings of Dani Rudrik, Eli Merritt, and Emily Pears

Cry, beloved country,
For what we fear will come.
A bleak, uncertain future
Leaves us feeling numb.

Weep about the darkness
That's crept into our day
As fear and hate extinguish
The torch that guides our way.

Mourn the loss of judgment
At dark times such as this.
For far too many people,
Ignorance is bliss.

Grieve the loss of hope
That many of us had known.
Despair has now replaced it,
And hearts have turned to stone.

Lament the death of knowledge
That always has been needed
To help ensure that lessons
Of history are heeded.

Bewail the sad misfortune
That empathy's now gone,
While those who deeply suffer
Are treated with a yawn.

Cry, beloved country.
Was ALL of this our fate?
Can we turn the tide,
Or might it be too late?

-by Bob B (11-7-24)

Listen to this: We all know
That Vladimir Putin is not our friend.
When you hear what he's doing right now,
Every hair should stand on end.

Iran and North Korea have both
Assisted in Putin's bombing campaign.
Now North Korean troops
Are helping Russia to fight in Ukraine!

Putin also asked the owner
Of Starlink Satellite if he'd
Not let it be activated
Over Taiwan. The owner agreed.

Who is the owner? Elon Musk,
Who we know has also had
Secret communications with Putin.
Are you upset? At least a tad?

Putin said that his request
Was a favor to China. Oh, well.
But there is more. It is going
To make you wonder, "What the hell?"

Putin asked Musk NOT to let
Ukraine access his satellite
Over the Black Sea area
Where Russia hoped to exert its might.

Musk has contracts with NASA and with
The DOD. Wouldn't you bet
That his close ties with Putin make him
A national security threat?

We've watched as he's turned Twitter into
A huge propaganda machine.
His connections with Trump and Putin
Show which way his loyalties lean.

We have a serious problem here.
Choose to agree or disagree,
But someone assisting our adversaries
Sounds a lot like a traitor to me.

-by Bob B (11-5-24)

(Clap) One, two, three, four…

Come on, put on your shoes and socks
And traipse on down to the ballot box
If you haven't voted yet.
Do it now before you forget.
Please, however, heed my advice:
Don't be sneaky and try to vote twice.
We know that some voters cast
Second votes for Trump in the past.

Clap your hands and stamp your feet!
Let's all try to stay upbeat!

We are lucky we can vote.
Let's all keep that right afloat.
This election's consequential;
That means that your vote's essential.
Do not fall for someone who
Lies until his face is blue.
How can anybody laud
A liar who screams "Election fraud!"?

Clap your hands and stamp your feet!
Let's all try to stay upbeat!

Voting right means voting smart;
Vote with both your head and heart.
The one to vote for should be clear:
One talks freedom; the other talks fear.
Her I'll gladly get behind.
He is clearly losing his mind.
Let's all hope the winner will be
The one who'll save democracy.

Clap your hands and stamp your feet!
Let's all try to stay upbeat!

-by Bob B (11-4-24)

At a campaign rally,
Trying to be Mr. Hot,
Trump said HE'LL protect women
Whether they like it or not.

Protect women? Hmmm.
Eight years ago we heard
Trump disparaging women.
Every salacious word!

In dealing with women, he said,
Your stardom's easy to flaunt.
Grab their private parts
And do whatever you want.

Has he protected women
Who died from lack of care
Due to abortion bans
Cropping up everywhere?

How about when he was
A predator on the loose
And faces allegations
Of ****** abuse?

I can't imagine women
Wanting Trump's "protection"
Or EVEN casting a vote
For him in any election.

-by Bob B  (11-3-24)

After high school graduation
In May 2023,
Eighteen-year-old Nevaeh Crain
Discovered she was a mother-to-be.

A mother-to-be in Texas, however,
Is no longer a top priority,
For her body turns into something
Over which she has no authority.

Excited about the pregnancy,
Nevaeh--vibrant, young, and strong--
Was doing well until the day
Of her baby shower, when something went wrong.

She grew ill and had to go
To the hospital. Time number one.
They gave her antibiotics and sent
Her home; her troubles had barely begun.

Back to the hospital she went
Writhing in pain. That is when
They said she had a UTI
And sent her home with some meds again.

Nevaeh returned to the hospital.
A miscarriage was suspected.
However, they couldn't act until
No fetal heartbeat was detected.

Nevaeh's mother panicked when seeing
Her daughter's ****** hospital gown.
Things grew worse as sepsis started
To shut Nevaeh's organs down.

Delayed miscarriage treatment
Meant the untimely and sad demise
Of young Nevaeh Crain who suffered
And died before her mother's eyes.

Again, doctors in Texas are fearing
Prosecution for doing what's right--
For giving needed care to women,
On whom strict laws have cast a blight.

Do not listen to lawmakers
Who push their agenda with lies and distortion.
Abortion bans EVEN **** women
Who normally wouldn't have an abortion.

-by Bob B (11-2-24)

If Trump wins a second term,
Apparently, he has a plan
To make the multi-billionaire
Elon Musk his number-one man.

Musk in a Cabinet-level position?
People might say, "No big deal."
Think about the consequences.
Come on, people! Let's get real!

The following is one idea
That Elon Musk is recommending:
Cut the federal government.
Good-bye, discretionary spending!

To carry out his plan we must
Expect a hardship, he adds. But hey!
That is very easy for
A billionaire like him to say.

Many leading economists
Who hear Trump's plans tend to agree
That his proposals would really crash
Our current booming economy.

Musk with all his secret ties
To Vladimir Putin is also suspicious.
No wonder his election support
For Trump has been so overambitious.

Republicans will do away,
With needed regulations and let
All of us see the removal of
Our basic social safety net.

Trump and his billionaire amigos
Think their schemes will be a plus.
Maybe it's good for lining their pockets
But NOT good for the rest of us.

-by Bob B (11-1-24)

Josseli Barnica was a young mother
Who unfortunately became
The victim of laws in Texas denying
Women their rights. Remember her name.

This happened in 2021,
Even before the overturning
Of Roe v. Wade, and all of us
Should find Josseli's story concerning.

The 28-year-old pregnant mother,
Thrilled to be having child number two,
Learned that she was miscarrying--
Suddenly, and out of the blue.

Occurring shortly after Texas
Had passed strict abortion bans,
The incident reminds us that life
Doesn't always heed our plans.

The doctors faced a dilemma here.
The matter should have been routine,
But the new abortion laws
Made it a crime to intervene.

They said they wanted to help the patient
But told her that their hands were tied.
Because of their delay in treatment,
The young mother, Josseli, died.

Sepsis had taken the mother's life.
Abortion bans can sadly make
Pregnancies quite dangerous,
And many women's lives are at stake.

Lawmakers, are you happy now?
You SHOULD have been aware of the flaws
In your reckless attempts to control
Women with your draconian laws!

-by Bob B (10-31-24)

How often throughout our history
When it was growing clear
That danger approached did people say
"It couldn't happen here"?

Could Russians imagine atrocities
That Stalin would engineer?
How many of them might have thought
"It couldn't happen here"?

When ******'s concentration camps
Started to appear,
How many Germans also insisted
"It couldn't happen here"?

Chairman Mao had policies
So vile, cruel and severe
That millions died. How many had said
"It couldn't happen here"?

Pol *** with his Killing Fields
Caused millions to shed a tear.
Had Cambodians also thought
"It couldn't happen here"?

Complacency is dangerous
When there are reasons to fear
That tyranny is possible,
For it could happen here!

-by Bob B (10-29-24)

Some folks don't like Harris's giggle;
Some folks do not like her laugh.
Some don't like what people say
When they speak on her behalf.

Some, of course, don’t like the fact
That she's a Democrat. Oh, my!
And some would never cast their vote
For her because she's not a guy!

Some don't like her stance on women's
Reproductive rights and choice.
There are those who say they can't
Stand to listen to her voice.

And, of course, there are many
Who think that it is quite all right
To say that they would never vote
For her because she isn't White.

When I hear such stupid, racist,
Misogynistic reasons, I'll stress--
And many folks must also agree--
That all of that is pure BS!

They'd rather vote for a man, who,
When asked difficult questions, balks?
They'd VOTE for a man who sounds just like
A racist and fascist when he talks?

A man who'll chase down his opponents?
(We all know he's keeping tallies.)
Whose speakers belittle Puerto Ricans
When speaking at his campaign rallies?

Dehumanizing immigrants
In general is Trump's M.O.
You think he will not go any lower?
Just WATCH! You'll see how low he'll go.

Even if a person doesn't
Agree with Harris one hundred percent,
How could anyone not think that
She'd be a better president?

Protecting our democracy:
That's the pivotal issue here.
Should people vote for her or him?
The answer should be very clear.

-by Bob B (10-28-24)

Fighting for our freedoms is
A goal within our reach.
That's a major focus when
Michelle gives a speech.°

If she sings your praises, then
That is something each
And everyone should cherish when
Michelle gives a speech.

If YOU embrace important thoughts
That speakers want to teach,
Then you'll appreciate it when
Michelle gives a speech.

Rightly she unmasks the man
The House did twice impeach.
The words are blunt and lucid when
Michelle gives a speech.

She SIMPLY calls it what it is
And doesn't have to preach.
Each word hits the target when
Michelle gives a speech.

Trump's thick barrier of lies
Is what her words can breach.
Everyone should listen when
Michelle gives a speech.

Some folks always rant and rave
And shout and shriek and screech.
However, you won't hear that when
Michelle gives a speech.

If you've never heard her speak,
Then you I do beseech
To take the time to hear her when
Michelle gives a speech.

-by Bob B (10-27-24)

°Referring to Michelle Obama's speech at the Harris rally in Kalamazoo, MI, on 10-26-24

So Mike Johnson° and Mitch McConnell°°
Are angry with Harris, for she
Called Donald Trump a fascist.
Oh, my goodness me!

Let's just say there COULD be a reason
Why she went out on a limb:
She was just agreeing with
People who'd worked with him.

General Kelly°°° and General Milley°°°°
Expressed a condemnation
Directed at Trump. They said he was
A dangerous threat to this nation.

Perhaps there is another reason
Why she would concur.
But first, let's look at some of the things
That Trump has said about her:

He has called her a communist,
A fascist and Marxist and still
Continues to say that she is stupid
And also mentally ill.

When Trump criticizes others--
Something he'll often do--
His words reflect aspects of
Himself. That's so true!

Frankly, after hearing and seeing
All he's said and done,
If either of the two were a fascist,
HE would be the one.

Mike Johnson and Mitch McConnell
Ought to open their eyes
To see how they hurt America
By spreading MAGA lies.

-by Bob B (10-26-24)

°Current speaker of the House
°°Senate minority leader
°°°Former White House chief of staff
°°°°Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

If I were the president,
Would it really be okay
To go after my opponents
By weaponizing the DOJ?

If I said that I'd shut down
Papers or networks reporting news
That made me feel uncomfortable
Because they criticized my views;

Or that I'd want to terminate
Parts of the U.S. Constitution;
Or that certain peoples are
Animals, or gene pollution;

Or that I'd use the military
Against American citizens here;
Wouldn't you agree that my
Ideas would be cruelly severe?

What if I said that there would be
A bloodbath after the fall elections;
That my political enemies
Would be locked up per my directions;

That I would want to execute
Former joint chiefs of staff
(Of course, I'd let appointed henchmen
Do it all on my behalf);

Or that I wished my generals
Would be much more like ******'s? Say what?
Then wouldn't you find my message
To be alarmingly clear-cut?

I'd be called a fascist--yes,
If all of the above were true.
And since Trump has promised it all,
He would have to be one, too.

When people say he doesn't sound
At all like a fascist, I'm thunderstruck.
If something walks and flies and quacks
And looks like a duck, it's a duck!

-by Bob B (10-24-24)

(This poem could be sung to the melody of Cole Porter's song "You're the Top" from ANYTHING GOES.)

The fear's gigantic;
I'm getting frantic.
Although it MIGHT make some folks squirm,
My thoughts about this are really firm:
There can't be a second term.
It's worth repeating;
I'm not retreating,
For I know there's a lot at stake.
And if my ramble
Is worth the gamble,
I can't help saying
Which choice I'd make.

He's a mess.
He's a real loser.
He's a mess.
He's a sunken cruiser.
He's a song that goes on and on; who knows how long?
He's a rotten apple,
A rusty scapple,
A deal gone wrong.

He's a car
That has lost its power.
He's a jar
Full of food that's sour.
He's a popped balloon, a sick cartoon, and yes,
You can't help but see how truly
He's a mess!

He's a mess.
He is Batman's Joker.
He's a grade--
Worse than mediocre.
He's a cloudy day that's so cold and gray in spring.
He is Putin's BFF,
Hannibal Lecter's chef,
A ding-a-ling!

He's the score
Of the team that's losing.
He's a joke
That is not amusing.
So much separates the candidates. I'll stress:
One should NEVER vote for Trump 'cause
He's a mess!

-by Bob B (10-19-24)

This is a tale of a hustler
And also regrettably how
TV created "a monster"
That we are stuck with right now.

The show was called "The Apprentice,"
And it was largely to blame
For turning a person called Trump
Into a household name.

They claimed that he was inventive
And super successful as well.
The truth, however, came out
And shot that assumption to hell.

We have to ask if it's really
And truly a mark of success
If one goes bankrupt six times.
Of COURSE NOT would be my guess.

Marketers for the series
Did irreversible harm
With the false image they made
Of Trump: no shot in the arm!

He is just an illusion--
One in which to exult--
And all that he's done is become
A con artist leading a cult.

Marketer John D Miller
Deeply regrets what was done.
He says Trump's bad for the country
And ought to be one we should shun.

This tale has a dire warning:
Someone you give a green light to--
Someone who doesn't deserve it--
Maybe will come back and bite you.

-by Bob B (10-18-24)

"Why did Mommie have to die?"
Asks a child? The answer, in short,
Is because of a lousy decision
Made by the country's highest court.

Since the 2022
Overturning of Roe v. Wade,
The Court has caused chaos and panic,
For women and doctors are afraid.

Not in every state, however--
Only in states that have curtailed
Women's rights. And still we see
New restrictions being unveiled.

When doctors are even afraid to treat
Miscarriages for fear
That they'll be prosecuted, well,
We have a real problem here.

Lack of prompt and urgent attention,
Can lead to sepsis, and women have died.
Many women refuse to seek help
For fear of being vilified.

The huge uncertainty about
Reproductive access has led
Some women who wanted children
To choose sterilization instead.

A number of states with very strict
Abortion bans have made provisions
For exceptions; fear, however,
Of criminal charges affects decisions.

Some women are willing to travel
To other states for medical care.
Other women cannot afford it,
Or they are scared and do not dare.

There's TOO much confusion and misinformation.
Many women seek out a bit
Of help on Reddit and TikTok, but
Do we know if the info's legit?

Here's an idea: if WE know that
An aborted fetus can live on its own,
Then "pro-lifers" can raise the child
And leave the mothers and doctors alone!

-by Bob B (10-17-24)

As Trump becomes more demented,
We know what would happen should he
Win a second term: the person
Running the country would be the VP.

JD Vance, who's held an elected
Office for only a very short time,
Would do his best to fully dismantle
The government with his partner in crime.

Vance, along with others, would have
Our institutions "pulled to pieces."
The more we hear him talk, the more
His ugly extremism increases.

Purge the federal government
Of secular leaders, he has said,
And fill all the positions with
Christian nationalists instead.

Tech leaders such as Musk
Should be planning our future as well,
He feels. And powerful leaders must also
Be ruthless. To hell with the freedom bell!

Freedom and democracy
Are incompatible, he claims.
Enforcing HIS idea of
Morality is one of his aims.

What the majority of people
Feel is not important to Vance.
Strong leaders impose their will--
An antidemocratic stance!

Vance supports abortion bans.
For him, of course, it goes without saying.
It wouldn't surprise me if he said that God
Talked to him when he was praying.

This is just a smattering
Of all the damage that Vance could do.
If he pulled it off, it would
Be a devastating coup.

-by Bob B (10-16-24)

D.T.

THIS playbook chapter is
Extremely vital for maintaining
Competitive advantages
When you happen to be campaigning.

Create chaos--the more, the better.
That is one of my winning solutions.
Sow discord and make supporters
Distrust the country's institutions.

Get supporters riled up.
That's NOT a difficult thing to do.
Violence is fine--just be
Certain it's not directed at you.

To rile up people, you have to lie.
Lying is the name of the game.
You can make a lasting impression
If you're crafty and have no shame.

Avoid the discussion of policies
Or real solutions, as much as you can.
Merely say that you will fix
The country because you have a plan.

Develop the art of name calling
And bad-mouthing; THOSE are the kinds
Of things you can do to make distaste
Stick in your supporters' minds.

Make the people fearful of others;
Then your fans will stand by your side.
They won't even know that they're
Being taken for a ride.

Draw support from every extremist
Group that's out there if you can--
Militant groups, nativists,
Christian nationalists, the ****.

Try to get support from "friends"
In other countries. You can get
Tons of help as they spread lies
All across the Internet.

Don't let accurate information
Regarding your health and mental state
Get into the hands of the public.
My favorite word is obfuscate!

Being "nice" just doesn't cut it;
Be as obnoxious as you can be.
You DON"T want folks to think you're weak.
Rudeness is great; take it from me.

So if you want to win an election,
You merely have to follow my lead.
Remember: if you lose the race,
Never, never, never concede.

-by Bob B (10-15-24)

IF a warning falls on deaf ears,
Does it make a sound?
If people are led astray, can they
Eventually come round?

The more Trump talks, the more we can
See a mental decline.
We can also see that he
Has truly crossed the line.

He says the country is overrun
By criminals Brown and Black.
So people of color and immigrants
Are under constant attack.

Execution or deportation
Are two parts of his plan--
And with the help of the military!
Oh, he's a dangerous man.

Never before has America
Faced such a dire threat.
And people who fear Trump's rhetoric
Have reason to be upset.

Many disenchanted people
Are looking for someone to hate.
As Trump hands them scapegoats, they're
Willing to take the bait.

"Evil" people "infect" this country.
That is what he claims.
Immigrants and Democrats
Are the ones he blames.

The race science of Naziism
Clearly comes out in his speeches.
War zones, "illegals," and migrant crime:
That is what he preaches.

Experts have warned us what a second
Term for Trump would mean:
A scary nation, the likes of which
Here we've never seen.

-by Bob B (10-14-24)

When an election affects you directly,
And human rights are clearly at stake,
You have a very good reason to worry:
The situation is make or break.

When voters' decisions are swayed by untruths
Prejudice, or even the curse
Of hard-to-swallow religious dogma,
Such decisions are truly perverse.

When people look at their ballots and say
"THAT issue doesn't affect me at all,"
They do not care that other people
Might be up against a wall.

When people feel complacent and comfy
In their own lives and do not try
To see the bigger picture, they often
Ignore an issue and turn a blind eye.

However, when voters think about others
And say, "This ISN'T just about me,"
Then their choices truly affect
The greater good of humanity.

-by Bob B (10-12-24)

"Where be these enemies?"
Asks the Prince. Can he defuse
The bitter, violent feud between
The Capulets and the Montagues?

How sad it is when we observe
How human hatred seems here to stay,
And years and years of antidotes
Of love aren't able to wash it away!

And when we see the tactics used
By some to make America great,
We see the consequences of
The "scourge that's laid upon [our] hate."

The cruel dehumanization of people
Does not bring the people together.
It merely unites a certain group,
Or angry mob--birds of a feather.

The misrepresentation of facts--
Of pulling the wool over people's eyes--
Only perpetuates all the hatred
With a cacophony of lies.

By seeking enemies constantly
In other people, we tend to forget
That "all are punished" because there is
A deeper, darker, more dangerous threat.

"Where be these enemies?"
That's the question we have to pose.
And so it's hatred within our hearts?
There, you've hit it on the nose!

-by Bob B (10-11-24)

A second term of Donald Trump
Would be a nightmare, to say the least.
Here are potential team members
Now that he's unleashed the beast:

Stephen Miller

A policy adviser to Trump…
Crafted border separation…
A white nationalist at heart…
Massive voter fraud his fixation…

RFK Jr.

Blamed Bill Gates for tracking chips…
Bioweapons from DNA?...
Vaccine conspiracy theorist…
Total nutjob! What more can I say?

Kash Patel

Trump loyalist par excellence…
Foot soldier for Donald Trump…
Threatens revenge against Trump's critics…
Trump commands, Patel will jump!

Russell Vought

Architect of the terrifying
Project 2025…
Withheld aid from Ukraine…
Keeps MAGA nonsense alive…

Founder of think tanks for Donald Trump…
Is fine with Christian nationalism
And presidential power over
The courts…. That's called despotism.

Richard Grenell

Part of the "Stop the Steal" effort…
Super MAGA through and through…
Wants government offices
Filled with MAGA loyalists, too…

Flirted while in Germany
With the ascendant German far right…
Looks for authoritarian leaders
With whom Trump can closely unite…

Steve Bannon

Believes you completely destroy opponents…
Strongly in favor of mass deportations…
Our institutions must be destroyed:
Another one of his recommendations…

Vivek Ramaswamy

Believes the "Great Replacement" conspiracy
And other crazy theories as well…
A son of immigrants, he also pushes
Nativist bigotry. What the hell?

Jeffrey Clark

Thinks the president should have
Power over prosecutions…
Election-related racketeering:
One more of his contributions…

__

This is only a partial list
Of dangerous people lining up
To bow down to Donald Trump,
Kiss his ring, and drink from his cup.

-by Bob B (10-10-24)

We hear that Trump enjoys keeping
In touch with his ***** buddy,
Vladimir Putin; in fact, he could be
Putin's understudy.

Their commonalities are clear--
These two peas in a pod.
Cut from the same piece of cloth,
Both pretend to be God.

Both of them disdain opponents;
Both want total control;
Both of them are leading the people
Down a rabbit hole.

Putin will find a way to jail
Whomever he sees as a threat.
He's had a few of his critics killed;
Trump hasn't--at least not yet.

Birds of a feather flock together;
So the saying goes.
When it comes to gaslighting,
Putin and Trump are pros.

No one's surprised why Trump is for
Cutting off aid to Ukraine,
For HE knows very well that its
Loss is Putin's gain.

Why Putin meddles in our elections
Is obvious, for he
Wants his pal in the White House again--
Yes, his fellow pea.

Both of them have taken the art
Of lying to greater heights.
Both of them are not averse
To trampling on our rights.

Russia is stuck with Putin until
The tyrant meets his end.
But we have the choice at the ballot box
To stop Putin's friend.

-by Bob B (10-8-24)

JD Vance, what a performance!°
Yes, you are a slick debater.
However, much of what you said
Shows that you're a fabricator.

Blaming all the problems that
America faces on Harris is wrong.
You're VERY good at one thing, though:
Stringing a lot of people along.

You criticize Harris for
Not effecting policy.
Did you forget that she is NOT
The president, but his VP?

When asked to give a solution for curbing
Gun violence, this is yours:
Making windows with thicker glass
And putting stronger locks on doors!

You STILL will not admit that Biden
Won the 2020 election!°°
You and the truth apparently
Suffer from a disconnection.

And you won't disavow the hoax
Of Springfield migrants eating pets.
Your lack of compassion for immigrants
Is about as bad as it gets.

You lied about your previous stance
On a nationwide abortion ban.
If people want a mini-Trump,
Well, Mr. Vance, you’re their man.

Hopefully, people saw through
Your slick and smarmy presentation.
I also hope that when they vote,
They know who'll truly help this nation.

-by Bob B (10-3-24)

°Referring to the Tim Walz/JD Vance vice presidential candidate debate
°°After the debate Vance made the ludicrous statement that Trump had indeed won the 2020 election!

The story below is just for fun--
Fiddle-de-dee and folderol.
But it has FIFTEEN spelling mistakes;
See if you can find them all.

           * * * * *

The steakholders got together
And poured over the company's books.
A certain member of the group
Was giving the others ***** looks.

You see, he'd been steeling from them
And had not been at all discrete.
After a few distractions, he said,
"My deer sirs, let's go eat.

"I don't mean to be callus, you see,
And there are concerns to bring to bare,
And though we must all tow the line,
With a bit of savoir faire,

"I have to say that this hole matter,
Is becoming quite a boar.
It greats on my nerves, to put it bluntly.
My head is throbbing; my heart is soar.

"All of us are wasting our time
Going over the books this way.
My soul desire would be that we
Could do this on some other day.

"You are all so smart, so clever,
So wise and astute, and SO judicious!"
The others, however, were on to him;
His words made them more suspicious.

One of the things that gave him away--
Something that ended up being so telling--
Was, along with his indiscretion,
The careless criminal's horrible spelling!

They remained there stationery.
One had already called the police,
Who soon arrived and took the embezzler
To jail, so now the cheating will cease.

The moral of the story is
One that's obvious, short, and sweet:
Don't give empty complements,
Watch your spelling, and DO NOT CHEAT!

-by Bob B (10-2-24)

I'm SO tired--so VERY tired--
Of what the Right is doing.
I'm tired of crooked strategies--
The nonsense always brewing.

We haven't even voted yet,
And yet they're planning cases
To fight upcoming election results
In courts in various places.

They've GLOMMED onto some far-right lies
Of rampant voter fraud;
Their talk of voter integrity
Is merely a façade.

They feel that there is no way that
Trump can be defeated
In a major election unless
Thousands of voters cheated!

Their baseless allegations show
Their sorry desperation.
May one more nail go into their coffins
With every accusation!

-by Bob B (9-29-24)

Malignant narcissists are dangerous people
With no concern for others—not a bit!
They require constant admiration.
If things don't go their way, they have a fit.

It’s a personality disorder,
And those who suffer from it have a dearth
Of sympathetic feelings and compassion
And have inflated concepts of self-worth.

They derive great pleasure when they lie
To get all that they want and have no shame
Employing any means on earth to have
Control of others, power, wealth, or fame.

Paranoid, they often say that they
Are being persecuted without proof.
Distancing themselves from social standards,
They tend to be standoffish, cold, aloof.

They can be obnoxiously aggressive,
And since they are so selfish, they, of course,
Eagerly abuse and hurt their victims,
And do it with no feelings of remorse.

You MUST have noticed that these traits appear
In someone who is hoping he will be
Living once again inside the White House.
The characteristics fit him to a T!

-by Bob B (9-26-24)

What will it take to overcome
The anger, the constant retaliation,
The frequent demand of an eye for an eye,
The bellicose leaders and war-caused starvation?

What will it take to put an end
To built-in hatred that's centuries old,
To never-ending power plays,
To warring factions that can't be controlled?

What will it take to stop the many
Proxy wars that **** and maim
Innocent people who then become
Collateral damage in a war game?

What will it take to persuade intransigent
People with power to compromise--
To strive for peaceful solutions by seeing
The world through more compassionate eyes?

What WILL it take? Is it beyond
Our human capacity to know?
Is it part of our DNA
To always have to battle a foe?

And if there's a god who could intervene,
He/She/It must be horrified
To watch the battling parties at work,
Each one thinking a god's on its side.

-by Bob B (9-24-24)

Wow, Mr. Robinson!°
Talk about an aberration!
You are very near to reaching
The lowest point of depravation.

You want to be the governor
Of North Carolina, you say.
But you do not appear to be
Going about it in a good way.

You said that reinstating human
Enslavement wouldn't be so bad
And that you'd "certainly buy a few"
Slaves if you could. What a cad!

And Dr. Martin Luther King
Was an f-word ****** b-word?
Well, Mr. Robinson,
You sound like a real p-word!

You prefer ****** to
Barack Obama? It seems you lack
An understanding of history.
Have you forgotten that you are black?

And yet you went and called yourself
A "black ****," which clearly means
You couldn't care less if you should blow
Your reputation to smithereens.

You attack transgender rights,
And when you said "some folks need killing,"
What folks were you talking about?
Your words at times are truly chilling.

You cannot help casting slurs
On Blacks and gays and Muslims and Jews.
How could anybody vote
For someone with such crazy views?

In choosing such a candidate
For governor, Mr. R,
It shows that state Republicans
Have definitely lowered the bar.

-by Bob B (9-21-24)

°Mark Robinson, Lt. Governor of NC and running for governor of the state

The account that follows fills me with sadness--
Sadness and anger at the same time.
Oftentimes a draconian law
Can itself be a crime.

A mother, Amber Nicole Thurman,
Because of Georgia's abortion "solution,"
Died because her doctors wouldn't
Treat her, fearing prosecution.

Unexpelled fetal tissue
Required attention--a D&C.°
Thurman had developed sepsis.
They had to move ASAP.

But because of Georgia's laws,
The doctors, afraid of going to jail,
Waited far too long to act.
Thurman's organs had started to fail.

When the doctors finally
Performed the procedure, it was too late,
Thanks to the strict and narrow-minded
Laws affecting the folks in that state.

Governor Kemp was thrilled when the state's
Abortion ban went into effect.
What other anti-freedom laws
Will Georgia try to resurrect?

Whether to end a pregnancy
Is not an easy decision, but still,
Women should have the right to decide
If it should be by procedure or pill.

Applying loaded words such as "******"
To women and doctors is simply wrong!
Some lawmakers want us to think
That we are weak, but they are strong.

In their attempts to limit women's
Choice, they think that they have won,
While Amber Thurman leaves behind
A six-year-old motherless son.

-by Bob B (9-18-24)

°dilation and curettage, a surgical procedure that involves removing tissue from the ******

Some folks think that God is Love--
A concept that is much revered;
Other people say that he's
An elderly man with a long, white beard.

Some say he is strict and vengeful,
Ready to banish sinners to hell;
Others say he is merciful,
Unless you are an infidel.

There are many people on Earth
Who believe that gods are many;
There are also people on Earth
Who don't believe that there are any.

Many monotheistic people
Firmly believe that God had a son.
They reconcile their one-God view
By saying the TWO are really ONE.

The gods of polytheistic folks
Also have offspring--babies galore.
When you believe in multiple gods,
There is always room for more.

Some folks say God's NOT a he,
But maybe a she or even an it;
And many say you MUST believe
Or end up In a fiery pit.

Some believe that God is Nature,
Which boils down to THAT which IS.
Then should Nature's hand towel be
Marked with "ITS" or "HERS" or "HIS"?

Some believe that God's impatient,
Too demanding, and quick to condemn;
And there are those who truly believe
That God communicates with them.

Those who "talk" to God are not
Necessarily addle-pated;
But those who say God talks to them
Maybe should be medicated.

Some say that their sacred scriptures
Prove their god or gods exist.
Of course, all those writings prove
Nothing to an atheist.

No one knows for sure if God
Is or isn't a human invention.
The best we can do is say God is
Beyond our human comprehension.

-by Bob B (9-13-24)

The Trump v. Harris TV showdown
Had long been anticipated,
And Trump's usual windstorm of lies
Continued to blow unabated.

I saw a text by a friend who wrote,
"That was amazing. Wasn't Trump great?"
I had to ask, "Were she and I
Both watching the same debate?"

Trump repeated again and again
His strange and false information
Regarding our economy,
Roe v. Wade, and immigration.

He couldn't speak on policies
Or even describe his healthcare plan.
Refusing to look at Harris, he looked
More like a weak, pitiful man.

When talking about a world leader
Who sang his praises, what did he do?
He referred to Viktor Orbán--
A demagogue, through and through!

Harris spoke of child tax credits,
Job creation, business assistance,
Energy plans, women's choice,
Moving forward, and coexistence.

True, a couple of times she did
Sidestep her questions; that I admit.
For Trump, that is par for the course.
And when he's pressed, he throws a fit.

How could any voter be
Undecided when it's so clear
Who is fit to lead us forward
Toward a hopeful, new frontier?

-by Bob B (9-11-24)

Watch out, childless cat ladies!
This is as crazy as it gets:
JD Vance says migrants who
Shouldn't be here are eating our pets.

Republicans continue to push
A giant disinformation campaign--
One that makes conscientious
People ask: "ARE THEY INSANE?"

Throwing spaghetti at the wall,
They say, "Whatever sticks will do"
And hope that with their tactics they
Can stir up fear in me and you.

If there's a way that they can create
A fear of immigrants, they will try it.
It's the old scapegoat idea
That they are pushing. They hope you'll buy it.

And many of these Republicans
Have taken their giant erasers out
In order to erase our past,
Cause confusion, and bring up doubt.

To rewrite history is their goal.
They want to ignore our racist past.
Historians are wrong, they say.
The truth is out, at long last.

Russian asset Tucker Carlson,
Embracing Holocaust deniers,
Is touring the country with JD Vance,
Spreading poison and looking for buyers.

They insists that the Holocaust
Was principally a Jewish hoax,
Created with the intention to
Defame white Christian folks!

Voters have to realize
How dangerous these nuts can be
And how with power in their hands
They're a threat to democracy.

-by Bob B (9-10-24)

(Do you know the 1958 Sheb Wooley song "The Purple People Eater"? Here is a poem/song version for 2024.)

Well, this strange phenomenon came walking our way
With a deep orange glow. Boy what a day!
'Twas the weirdest creature you ever could see.
It looked like an orangish freedom hater to me.

It was a big ol', foul-mouthed, lyin' orangish freedom hater.
(Big ol', foul-mouthed, lyin' orangish freedom hater.)
A big ol', foul-mouthed, lyin' orangish freedom hater.
NOT so fun to see! (Loud mouth?)

So he came to this land to spread all of his hate
And he told people here that he would make them great.
He also said he's the chosen one!
His first time here was a mere dry run!

It was a big ol', foul-mouthed, lyin' orangish freedom hater.
(Big ol', foul-mouthed, lyin' orangish freedom hater.)
A big ol', foul-mouthed, lyin' orangish freedom hater.
'Twas so weird to see! (Big old?)

We asked the orangish freedom hater, "What's your plan?"
Then HE said, "Doing what it takes to be a moneyman.
But what's more important is to meet my goal:
To kick out non-loyalists and be in control."

Well, boogeyman, Putin fan, lyin' orangish freedom hater,
Addled-brained, unrestrained, lyin' orangish freedom hater.
(He wears golf pants) lyin' orangish freedom hater.
Looks so strange to me!

He said he HAD many friends who could help him succeed,
And he asked us why we had a problem with greed.
He said that greed's a virtue and it must be clear--
That the government shouldn't stop a profiteer!

Well, boogeyman, Putin fan, lyin' orangish freedom hater,
Addled-brained, unrestrained, lyin' orangish freedom hater.
(He loves golf pants) lyin' orangish freedom hater.
Strange? You must agree! (Freedom hater?)

There's a problem with him, and, yes, it's sad to say:
It looked as though he would be here to stay.
"Move to Russia," we said--"a perfect country for you.
Let the Russian dictator make all your dreams come true."

-by Bob B (9-7-24)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67tKNEsJjTI

The Cult of Trump does NOT want all
Americans to vote UNLESS
They cast their vote for a certain person.
Who do you think that could be? GUESS!

WHAT they're saying is IF Trump doesn't
Win the election this fall, by God!
That means the whole election was rigged
Because of rampant voter fraud!

There's NO evidence whatsoever
Of massive voter fraud, and yet
Trumplicans are spreading the lie
That it is a major threat.

Immigrants who happen to be
Undocumented, they say,
Are registering to vote in hordes.
That's NOT occurring, by the way.

Spreading such vile misinformation
Is devious and downright wrong.
And yet election deniers continue
To keep on singing the same old song.

Now they're saying that President Biden
Is encouraging people to vote
Who aren't American citizens!
Another lie they want to promote.

Sowing distrust in our elections
Is one of their underhanded goals:
Jim Crow-era strategies
To keep Americans from the polls.

When people have to cheat to win,
Have they no decency? Have they no shame?
How sad for the country to see so many
People playing the Lying Game!

-by Bob B (9-5-24)

Oh, poor drone! Do you think
That life has dealt you a nasty blow
While you do what nature demands,
And while about your business you go?

The female bees--the worker bees--
Gather nectar and pollen. Not you.
You make no honey and have no stinger.
There's not a lot for you to do.

The workers feed you and keep you around
To help them heat or cool the hive.
But, ultimately, they have an excellent
Reason for keeping you alive:

You truly play a major role,
For you are there to mate with the queen.
But after you mate, you die, poor fellow.
Why must Nature be so mean?

The queen will mate with more than one,
But MOST drones never have the chance.
That fact that you must die after mating:
Is that something that's known in advance?

As winter approaches and food grows scarce,
The workers will say, “Farewell, drone!"
They will kick you out of the hive,
And you will perish on your own.

Ah, we humans also have
Our reasons for being, but by and by,
No matter what our role is on Earth,
Eventually, we ALL have to die.

-by Bob B (9-2-24)

The River of Lies and Deceit keeps flowing.
It's obviously a matter of course.
Desperation and guile feed it,
And Donald Trump is the river's source.

Almost everything that comes
Out of that man's mouth is a lie.
Have the psychoanalysts tried
To figure out the reason why?

Poor ***** training perhaps
When he was a kid, wetting his pants?
Does that explain his nasty behavior?
Does that explain his childish rants?

Call someone a socialist
And that will spell the person's doom,
He thinks. Donald Prevaricator
Ought to be his nom de plume.

He lies about his opponent's record;
He lies when he talks about immigration;
He lies about election polls;
He lies about the state of the nation;

He lies when he speaks of border issues;
He lies about his foreign connections;
He lies about the economy;
He lies about fraud in our elections.

Would it be better to count the times
He tells the truth instead of lying?
Hmm. Let's see. It's going to take
A while to do it…. We're still trying.

How he gets away with it
Is really hard to understand.
Meanwhile, the River of Lies
And Deceit continues to flood the land.

-by Bob B (8-31-24)

Book banning is humankind's
Sad display of puny minds.
Narrowmindedness, indeed,
Spreads as does a nasty ****.

It's another way to control
What others can do, and on the whole,
Banning books is clearly a tool
Of harsh, dictatorial rule.

If you don't want your kids to peruse
A certain book, then you can choose
To tell your kids, "It's not for you."
But DON’T tell others what THEY can't do.

Some books headed for the bin
Have gay characters therein.
Making believe that gays aren't here
Will not make them disappear.

It's so absurd when people say
That books can turn their children gay.
Books can merely make it known
That gay youth are not alone

And that we are not all the same;
Therefore, no one should feel shame.
Families can be different from
One another. Rule of thumb:

Open minds, open hearts:
That's where loving acceptance starts.
Providing people with love and support
Is an idea we all should court.

And if a kid remarks, "Ye gads!
Why does Freddy have two dads?"
A book can show the reason why
And simply try to clarify.

If Hope, perchance, has TWO moms, we
Should not say "I disagree
With their lifestyle." No, we should
Say "LOVE is love, and LOVE is good."

Here's a thing to contemplate:
Books don't make us gay or straight.
Instead, they help us understand
Ourselves and thus should not be banned.

-by Bob B (8-25-24)

The con man and the crazy crackpot
Have now become aligned
With each other, and both of them
Are threats to humankind.

RFK Jr. has
Aligned with DJT.
Trump thinks that will help him win
Another term, you see.

Strange conspiracy theory monger,
Kennedy is known
For having eccentric ideas that
Make wise people groan:

That climate change is nothing but
A pretext with the goals
Of forcing on society
Autocratic controls;

That antidepressants have led to a rise
In school shootings; what's more,
That vaccines are worse than the virus itself!
Are you keeping score?

And listen to this: Now Kennedy
Wants you to remember
That chemicals in the water supply
Can turn our kids transgender!

Could Trump and his campaign team
Get any more bizarre?
Not only foolish but dangerous
Is what they truly are.

-by Bob B (8-24-24)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of George M. Cohen's song "Harrigan.")

Who is the one who will lead us to victory?
Kamala--that's she!
Who is consistent and not contradictory?
Kamala--that's she!
For she has the courage and fight in her
To insure that she'll be the one we prefer.
Who is the star who'll make Trump give his au revoir?
Kamala--that's she!
K - A - M - A - L - A: That's how you spell Kamala.
She's PROUD of what her record has to show us.
WE know that SHE will truly try to know us.
K - A - M - A - L - A: She is bound to be
One with grit who should sit at the desk in the Oval Office.
Kamala--that's she!

-by Bob B (8-22-24)

In case you don't know or remember the old song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmPBl-XbM-8&list=RDwmPBl-XbM-8&start_radio=1