The White House sent senior adviser
Stephen Miller to CNN
To blast the recent publication
FIRE AND FURY. Once again,

Jake Tapper must know when they
Invite White House racist slime
To CNN for interviews,
They're wasting both his and our time.

Miller merely had talking points
And wasn't there to be interviewed.
Seeing that it was going nowhere,
Jake Tapper became unglued

And stopped the interview altogether.
Trump tweeted that Miller destroyed
Tapper, but what else would we expect
From Trump, a man who lives in a void.

It's funny: it's not at all surprising
How Trump and his team, by hook or by crook,
Resort to using antics that
Confirm everything in the book.

They and Republican members of Congress
Haven't just been caught unawares.
All of them have drunk the Kool-Aid.
What a sorry state of affairs!

-by Bob B (1-8-18)

For almost three years the State Department
Has been trying to pin a crime
On Hilary Clinton regarding her emails.
Imagine all the effort and time!

What have they found? Zilch. Nada.
A nothing burger on a big scale.
Zero. Naught. Nothing. Zip.
The email scandal: a fairy tale.

A new report has come out showing
That the whole bizarre fixation
On emails was baseless. There was NO
Mishandling of classified information.

But how the scandal dominated
The news! The media took the bait.
During the Trump election campaign,
The attacks carried a lot of weight.

Hilary and the email scandal…
Back then it was front-page news.
Trump would mention the topic at rallies,
And oh, the angry shouts and boos!

But news outlets now don't seem
So eager to share the recent conclusions.
By keeping people in the dark
They only perpetuate illusions.

Trump is now attempting again
To dupe us all with major distractions,
Projecting corruption on his opponents.
But many see through his words and actions.

Let's go after the REAL corruption,
The REAL scandals, the REAL misdeeds
Within the Trump administration.
Expose the deceit! Follow the leads!

-by Bob B (10-22-19)

Touching her forehead to the cobblestone street
And raising her upturned palms in the air,
The beggar maintains her pose for hours--
A pose of misery, pain, and despair.

Into the Venetian square pours
A constant flow of tourist mobs.
Few pay any attention
To the beggar's miserable, plaintive sobs.

Once in a while her eye will catch
The eye of somebody passing by.
Feeling remorse, disgust, or discomfort,
The person turns away with a sigh.

Occasionally, a kind-hearted
Soul will drop a coin in the palm
Of the beggar woman's beseeching hand,
Hoping to give her a moment of calm.

"Grazie molto, signore, signora,"
The woman cries, lifting her head.
Tears stream down her wrinkled cheeks
From watery eyes, puffy and red.

"Don't encourage her," somebody says.
"Why doesn't she find some employment?"
"How disgusting!" says another.
"She puts a damper on my enjoyment."

Who knows the desperation
That brought the woman to her current state?
It's always easier to turn one's head,
To criticize or castigate.

One man says, "You'll never find me
Begging like her. That's what I know."
He's unaware that the poor woman
Said the same thing years ago.

-by Bob B

A hungry fox was walking along
And spied some very familiar shapes.
Deep in a garden he noticed a trellis
From which were hanging some bunches of grapes.

"I must have those grapes," he thought.
He took a giant leap but found
The fruit too high and so he landed
Empty-handed back on the ground.

"This is not a good thing at all.
Perseverance!" he said, but when
He leaped into the air for the fruit,
He landed empty-handed again.

"****!" he exclaimed. "Not to eat
Those luscious grapes would be a crime,"
And so the exasperated fox
Attempted to reach them one more time.

But, alas, once more he failed.
"Oh, well," he sighed. "Some other day.
Why did I waste my time? Those grapes
Were probably sour, anyway."

Of course, the fable has a moral:
Often we become upset
And criticize and denigrate
Whatever it is that we can't get.

Ah, but there's another lesson:
Why rush to grab the grapes on the vine
When we can wait a little longer
And then partake of some heavenly wine?

-by Bob B (8-25-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The Fox and the Grapes," retold here in verse

Trump and his First Lady Musk
Are rapidly destroying this nation
While Republicans suffer from
A case of political constipation.

They sit in Congress and watch as Trump
Guts our agencies--one by one.
How much more irreparable
And careless damage is going to be done?

People's lives matter! Really!
But Trump and Elon Musk don't care.
You only matter to them if you
Happen to be a billionaire.

Our allies are being disregarded
And adversaries are being praised.
And still Republicans sit on their butts,
Useless, feckless, fickle, unfazed.

And Trump and Musk are spewing lies.
One would have to be a fool
Not to see how both of them
Favor autocratic rule.

Look at the deals they are making.
It's obvious what they are doing.
They just care about lining their pockets
And couldn't care less whom they are *******.

Spineless, gutless members of Congress,
Do your job. Let them know
That you stand for democracy.
Tell the tyrants where to go!

-by Bob B (2-20-25)

Would you hold a tarantula
On your upturned palm
And watch it creep up your arm
While you stayed cool and calm?
 
You might be able to do it,
Or at least be willing to try.
Not for a billion dollars!
No, no, no…not I!
 
In some parts of the world
Tarantulas are a snack.
Could you eat one without
Having a heart attack?
 
They're roasted on a stick
And eaten with gusto and glee.
That might be something you'd like;
It's NOT my cup of tea.
 
Tell me: why do spiders
Send shivers down my spine?
Only some are dangerous;
Most of them are benign.
 
I mean, in CHARLOTTE'S WEB
I have to admit that I cried
When--SPOILER ALERT!--
The poor spider died.
 
Although in my garden they eat
Flies and other critters,
Despite their usefulness,
They STILL give me the jitters.
 
Maybe some spider jokes
Would make them less of an irk:
A spider walked into a bar…
No, that doesn't work.
 
I have to see spiders as simply
Mysterious creatures of nature.
My fears, however, are real
And not about nomenclature.
 
I can try to stay calm
In the future whenever I meet one.
But I can tell you right now:
I'll never HOLD or EAT one!

- by Bob B

Stand up for freedom--
For the right of self-expression.
Speak out against tyranny,
Cruelty and aggression.

Stand up for tolerance,
Acceptance and good will.
Embrace understanding,
So bigotry comes to nil.

Stand up for unity--
For oneness, not separation.
Let inclusiveness
Strengthen our foundation.

Stand up for equality--
For the promise of equal rights.
Keep mutual respect
Clearly in our sights.

Stand up for action
To save the human race.
Unite with others to make
The world a better place.

Stand up for giving--
For generosity and sharing.
Let your noble heart
Be ruled by compassion and caring.

Stand up for justice--
For fair treatment of all.
Let sound decisions
Be our protocol.

Stand up for peace--
For amicable contributions.
Celebrate diplomacy
And nonviolent solutions.

Stand up for love.
Let it resonate
Throughout the world, and let
The tides of hatred abate.

- by Bob B

Stand up for democracy--
For true democracy, I mean,
And NOT for what is being spread
By the far-right propaganda machine.

Stand up for the rights of voters--
For rights that make democracy strong.
Ignore the cries of voter fraud
From folks who try to string you along.

Stand up for integrity
And truth, and do not give the nod
To efforts of many folks on the Right
Who are committing election fraud.

Stand up for the rule of law.
Accountability is key.
No one should be carrying a card
That reads Get Out of Jail Free.

Stand up for a compassionate nation--
One that can learn from past mistakes.
When it approaches danger it knows
How to swerve and apply the brakes.

Stand up for responsible
Behavior. May everybody strive
To work conscientiously
With others to make democracy thrive.

-by Bob B (1-18-22)

Russian aggressors made their move.
Now they're in Ukraine.
What is Putin trying to prove?
What is there to gain?
The autocrat's messages are cloaked
In lies that Russia was provoked.

Stand with Ukraine as Russian forces
Put Putin's plan into action.
We already know that this of course is
More than a mere infraction.
Playing the role of boogeyman
Is part of Putin's larger plan.

Putin claims his forces are there
To stop denazification.
The argument, which is full of holes,
Is total fabrication.
We already know that he's obsessed
With Ukraine's interest in the West.

We watch as the egomaniac
Causes death and destruction
With this unwarranted attack--
Another Putin production!
Stand with Ukraine in this sad hour
As Putin basks in his ill-gotten power.

-by Bob B (2-24-22)

(This poem could be sung to the melody of the song "Stand by Your Man" by Tammy Wynette and Billy Sherrill.)

It can be hard to be a country
When a bully lives next door to you.
He will cause strife
And try to make life
A nightmare. Know what you must do.

You'll have to count on other nations
For supplies to help defend your land.
Don't you grow weary
When things look dreary.
Someday you'll get the upper hand.

Stand with Ukraine.
Don't let the world forsake it
When Putin tries to break it.
Give it the help that it needs.

Stand with Ukraine.
Show it how much you love it.
Don't let its struggles be in vain.
Stand with Ukraine.

Stand with Ukraine.
Show it how much you love it.
Don't let its struggles be in vain.
Stand with Ukraine

-by Bob B (5-23-23)

Republicans, please stay out
Of women's uteruses, okay?
What EACH one does with her ******
Is something in which you have no say.

Another thing: While you're at it,
Please leave women's eggs alone.
Why turn people's bodies into
A stupid political combat zone?

Stay OUT of our bedrooms, and stop making
Our intimacy an issue for you.
It's as though you are unable
To find something better to do.

There are many important matters
That should be addressed. Oh, but no!
Instead, you are hung up on
What to do with an embryo.

Instead of obsessing about such things
As women's embryos and eggs,
Worry about yourselves and what
Happens between YOUR OWN legs!

-by Bob B (2-24-24)

(Can be sung to the tune of "Stand by Your Man," by Tammy Wynette and Billy Sherrill)

Senator Lindsey Graham soliloquizes about the president:

It can be tough being a Trump fan
When the man's completely lost his mind.
All your visions
And his decisions
Clash, but he's the one with whom you bind.
But you'll support him
And defend him,
Even though his worth is hard to find.
And if you neglect
Your self-respect,
He'll be the one to get behind.

Stick with your prez.
Though he disgusts you clearly,
Pretend you love him dearly,
Or ratings drop. My goodness,
Stick with your prez.
Even though you might despise him,
You'll do whatever the man says.
Stick with your prez.

Stick with your prez.
Even though you might despise him,
You'll do whatever the man says.
Stick with your prez.

-by Bob B (9-29-19)

"Never again." We have said
“Never again!” too many times.
The hours advance, leaving us
With doleful reminders when the clock chimes.

“Never again” echoes through
The deep canyons of empty hearts
As irretrievable hopes remain
Buried by anguish that never departs.

"Never again" emerged through pain--
Through unspeakable affliction,
Horrified by the shamelessness
Of facts being smothered by fiction.

"Never again" for a moment
Rose from yearnings, deep and profound
Until woeful indifference
Muffled the once inspirited sound.

"Never again" filled a chasm
Of bleak despair with promising goals,
Without which we're on the cliffs of uncertainty,
Constantly asking for whom the bell tolls.

-by Bob B (11-11-18)

All over America
Injustices are rapidly mounting
As Trumplicans keep looking for ways
To keep every vote from counting.

Democracy is under attack.
What's more, this ugly ballot rejection
Is shamefully occurring right
Smack in the middle of our election!

Early voting has already started,
And yet they continue to change the rules,
Claiming possible voter fraud.
Deception's one of their devious tools.

Throwing out ballots due to petty
Issues is one of their favorite ploys.
Limiting mail-in ballots is
Also a scheme that adds to their joys.

Crippling the U.S. postal system:
Another strategy that will be
Making their efforts to throw out votes
A self-fulfilling prophecy.

The unfair tactics hit minority
Communities especially hard
By limiting opportunities.
Another reason to be on our guard.

And then we have a president
Constantly misleading his base.
He lies about the current system
Of voting and does it with a straight face!

And all of this voter suppression occurs
While a COVID pandemic rages.
We have observed a chipping away
Of democratic values in stages.

How sad it is, America,
That what's going on truly appears
To brazenly discredit a system
That's worked quite well for many years!

-by Bob B (10-30-20)

Hey, everybody! Just in case
You thought I was going away…WRONG!
There is so much more I want
To do before I say, "So long!"

I'm sure by now you know my name.
Some people call me Mr. C.--
The "C" being short for Coronavirus.
You must have seen me on TV.

I'm a social kind of guy.
Where there are crowds, I can be found.
You can do your best to ignore me
And act as though I'm not around,

But I rely on your assistance,
Whether you want to meet me or not.
I can easily find you if
You want me to. Give it a shot.

I like traveling around the world--
From country to country and city to city.
If I go before you get
The chance to meet me, more's the pity.

"Look what you have done to our
Economy," people say.
Economies, borders, age groups, gender:
I let nothing get in my way.

My meetings with some are quite protracted;
With some the encounter is short and sweet.
Excuse me now, for I must go.
I've got many more people to meet.

-by Bob B (7-24-20)

COVID-19 is still around us;
Don't think the virus has disappeared.
In fact, what is happening now
Is just what many people had feared.

Numbers are rising in many states.
Many people have lowered their guard.
While some of us are being careful,
The careless ones are making it hard.

Consistent messaging has been
Lacking from our leadership.
And what kind of guidance are
We now getting? Practically zip!

Because the wearing of masks is required
In certain places, people complain
At city council meetings. It makes
You wonder: Can't they use their brain?

As we reopen, we have to consider
A whole new way of thinking. What's more,
We can't--for now, at least--behave
Exactly as we behaved before.

We should watch how other countries
Got the virus under control.
Something here is not working.
Negligence is taking its toll.

As much as we'd like to wish it away,
Facing reality is a must.
It would be especially nice
If we had a president we could trust.

-by Bob B (6-15-20)

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)

Months have passed, and now we're in
The very merry month of May,
And much to Trump's consternation,
Stormy° hasn't gone away.

Trump's attorney Michael Cohen
Has also gotten himself in a bind.
Now he's under investigation.
Just imagine what they'll find!

Stormy's lawyer, Avenatti,
After digging was able to unearth
Some pertinent and interesting
Information, for what it's worth:

Millions of dollars have flowed in and out
Of Michael Cohen's LLC.
It seems that access to Donald Trump
Doesn't happen without a fee.

Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg
Deposited a substantial sum,
Along with a few corporations.
A lot of people ask, How come?

Suspicious explanations abound,
Though we are tiring of the charades.
Is Cohen really an all-around expert
At everything--a jack of all trades?

Members of Congress say follow the money.
One says that without a doubt
Shake any tree in the forest of Trump,
And what do you know? a Russian falls out.

More dots are being connected,
Which to Trump must be a ******.
We've had a Stormy winter and spring;
Will we have a Stormy summer?

-by Bob B (5-10-18)

°Stormy Daniels (Stephanie Clifford)

Stormy is back in the news,
Looking for better reviews.
It wouldn't be keen
Not to come clean
On something she couldn't refuse.

People say Trump's a bit harried;
It all happened after he married.
'Twas just a short fling;
No promise, no ring.
But big plans for silence miscarried.

Trump's fine attorney then later,
Serving as negotiator,
Paid Stormy a sum
To make her stay mum
And said, "Good-by, alligator."

As **** star, Stormy might brag
About any man she might snag.
Her story and pix
From twenty-oh-six
Came out this year in a mag.

Attorney and Trump both deny
That anything happened. Then why
Did both of them feel
That Stormy would squeal,
And give her the dough on the sly?

We hear now that Stormy is saying
Their pact to stay silent is fraying.
She blurted out, “Halt!
The lawyer’s at fault.
No longer will I be obeying.”

Stormy is sly, people say.
To some she's a Morgan le Fay.
She said to the press
That she'll take her dress
And test it for Trump's DNA.

It seems as though only Trump's base
Completely ignores his disgrace.
When he is errant
And so **** transparent,
How can he keep a straight face?

Perhaps we will find that no doubt there
Will be more to scribble about. There
IS one suggestion:
Bring up the question
Of how many "Stormys" are out there?

-by Bob B (2-16-18)

A lion had his eye on three bulls
That grazed in a farmer's grassy field.
Being close together always
Provided them with a safety shield.

The lion longed to capture them
And eat them up with utmost joy,
But due to their strength in unity,
He desperately needed a ploy.

His plan: to whisper damaging gossip
Among the bulls to make them suspicious
Of one another. And we all know
That gossipers can be malicious.

The lion's strategy worked like a charm--
Just as he had anticipated.
Each of the bulls grew to dislike
The others, and thus they separated.

The field was large enough that each
Could graze alone in a different section.
Of course, since they were on their own,
They no longer had the same protection.

Then the lion moved in on the three,
Eating them one by one, which shows
That quarrels among friends provide
Opportunities for foes.

By the way, if the lion
Devoured all three, he HAD to be full.
Can a lion be that famished?
Or do you think it's a lot of bull?

-by Bob B (8-24-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The Lion and the Bulls," retold here in verse

Strongmen and their death squads.
In many countries, both exist.
The squads inflict terror while
The strongmen rule with an iron fist.

The people have to watch what they say,
Watch what they do, and live in fear.
Often they will end up in a morgue;
Sometimes they'll merely disappear.

Indirectly, Donald Trump
Appears to have his death squads, too--
Far-right extremists who
Are a rather deplorable crew.

All that Trump must do is find
Someone out there to criticize--
Opponents, prosecutors, judges,
Their families--with vicious lies,

And suddenly, they will have
Giant targets on their backs.
They live in constant fear for their lives
Merely because of Trump's attacks.

Many Republicans also fear
Opposing Trump and therefore feel
Coerced into supporting him.
The chances of being a target are real.

Whether or not Trump likes it, his thugs
Are there to terrorize us. Alas!
Imagine the nightmare if for Trump
A win in November should come to pass!

-by Bob B (3-30-24)

So often we hear "Live the moment!"
"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,"
"You may delay, but time will not,"
And "Carpe diem!" or "Seize the day!"

Ah, such reminders cajole us,
Tease us, nudge us, make us reflect.
Alas, the wise admonitions
Always seem wiser in retrospect.

Flowers wilt; snows melt;
Mountains crumble by and by;
The universe is constantly changing:
Stars are born, while others die.

Acknowledging that everything passes
And changes, deep inside we hold fast
To stubborn longings of permanence--
To vain hopes that all will last.

-by Bob B (11-2-17)

(can be sung to "Over the Rainbow" from the film THE WIZARD OF OZ)

"Down on our southern border
There's my wall.
Even though you can't see it,
I see it standing tall.

"Some say it doesn't need to
Be in place.
But I've worked very hard to
Dupe my believing base.

"Congress might not give me cash,
But I've got ways to find the stash
To fund it.
I've declared--as you can see!--
A national emergency.
***** those who shunned it.

"I will get what I want; I
Always do.
My great wall is going to
Make all my dreams come true.

"If Putin gets his way, then why
Can't Donald Trump? Yes,
Why the hell can't I?"

-by Bob B (2-19-19)

They sit on their comfy couches
In their stuffy suits and ties
Or their stylish sleeveless dresses,
Expounding pernicious lies.

Promoting "purposeful ignorance"
As well as "aggressive stupidity,"
They inadvertently show
Their frightful lack of lucidity.

Facts are unimportant.
(The same for credibility?)
Expert manipulators,
They manage with great facility

To lead a gullible public
Into their intricate maze
Of wildly spurious claims
And specious reporting malaise.

Carefully selected "experts"
Throw in their two cents
While fawning interviewers
Come to their defense.

Masters of hypnosis,
They put thinkers to sleep--
The ones caught in their spell
Are led around like sheep.

And they have the audacity
To refer to themselves as "news."
That must be part of their strategy--
Their well-crafted ruse.

Control the minds of the people
And you will secure great power
To sustain them with propaganda
Hour after hour after hour….

- by Bob B

If you served in the military,
I hope you don't expect to receive
Praise and respect from Donald Trump--
For some, I know it's hard to believe--

If your plane's shot down by your foe
And you become a prisoner of war,
Or if you die on the field of battle.
If so, to Trump, you'll be a bore.

President Bone Spur much prefers
Soldiers who--and this is his thought--
Come home intact from having served
And those, of course, who never got caught.

Visiting a cemetery
To pay respects--to honor the dead--
Is senseless to him, for such a place
Is "filled with losers," the callous man said.

"Suckers" and "losers" are what he calls them--
Those who fought and didn't survive.
To him service and sacrifice
Mean nothing unless you stay alive.

The man is such a hypocrite!
His comments are truly unprecedented.
Do his heartless words reflect
His cruel nature, or is he demented?

-by Bob B (9-4-20)

As the world mourns the death of Alexei Navalny,
The truth of how he died won't be disclosed--
At least while Putin maintains an iron grip on the country,
For we all know he hates being opposed.

Beware of mourning in public if you live in Russia
Or if you demand the truth of Navalny's death.
Beware of consequences when your country is run
By someone who's as cruel as Lady Macbeth.

Russian penal colonies are far from pleasant,
But no one expects them to be comfy resorts.
However, couldn’t conditions at least be more humane?
Inmates end up in a torture chamber of sorts.

"Sudden death syndrome" is how Navalny died.
That's what we're told. Sounds suspicious, no?
That could run the gamut from colds or flu to ******.
However he died, his death was a horrible blow.

Beware if you go to Russia while Putin is in control,
For speaking your mind might be something you rue.
As long as the tyrant continues to have unlimited powers,
"Sudden death syndrome" could happen to you.

-by Bob B (2-18-24)

Putin's year-long war continues
To batter Ukraine--to ****, to destroy.
The autocrat's reasons for being there
Are definitely a political ploy.

Killing civilians while also attacking
Ukraine's infrastructure as well,
The Russians are bent on total destruction.
Where this will go is hard to foretell.

And Russian sympathizers here
Join in with Putin's sing-a-long.
Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis,
Claims that Putin's done nothing wrong!

Who can tell where DeSantis gets
His false information and mistaken views?
Probably from too many incorrect
Podcasts and also from watching Fox News.

While Russia ramps up its fierce attacks,
Ukraine will fight to the bitter end.
Here's a reminder for those who've forgotten:
Putin, folks, is NOT our friend.

We pledged our support for Ukraine, and so
For the sake of freedom, we MUST follow through.
Condoning Putin's atrocities
Would certainly be the wrong thing to do.

-by Bob B (2-21-23)

Putin's year-long war continues
To batter Ukraine--to ****, to destroy.
The autocrat's reasons for being there
Are definitely a political ploy.

Killing civilians while also attacking
Ukraine's infrastructure as well,
The Russians are bent on total destruction.
Where this will go is hard to foretell.

And Russian sympathizers here
Join in with Putin's sing-a-long.
Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis,
Claims that Putin's done nothing wrong!

Who can tell where DeSantis gets
His false information and mistaken views?
Probably from too many incorrect
Podcasts and also from watching Fox News.

While Russia ramps up its fierce attacks,
Ukraine will fight to the bitter end.
Here's a reminder for those who've forgotten:
Putin, folks, is NOT our friend.

We pledged our support for Ukraine, and so
For the sake of freedom, we MUST follow through.
Condoning Putin's atrocities
Would certainly be the wrong thing to do.

-by Bob B (2-21-23)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

Oleaginous swamp monsters
Inhabit the swamp where they
Carry out nefarious deeds,
Victimizing their prey.

Pertinacious in how they manage
To obfuscate their acts,
They disregard well-meaning
Attempts to get at facts.

Fleecing America, laundering money,
Wily defrauding banks,
And practicing insider trading:
Some ways they fill their tanks.

How their greed pushes them
To plot and plan and scheme!
How they pledge allegiance to
The Swamp Monster Supreme!

They do their best to cover their tracks.
Not only do they smother
Investigations, but they also
Steal from one another!

Who can get away with more?
Who can feel no shame?
Who can withstand more shocking scandals?
It almost becomes a game.

Many people will fall for the lies.
They can rest assured
That falsehoods will be one thing to which
They'll have become inured.

As long as the murky swamp remains,
The swamp monsters will thrive.
If we fail to take on the monsters,
How will we ever survive?

-by Bob B (8-9-18)

(This poem can be sung to the verse and chorus of the Village People's song "Macho Man.")

Trump doesn't like it if you call him TACO° man.
Anyone who calls him that cannot be his fan.
Tariffs up the ying yang--not so cool.
Thinks he's smart but he is just a fool.

Everyone can see that he's the TACO man.
He's turned the U.S.A. into TACOSTAN.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

TACO TACO man--
Trump's nothing but the TACO man.
TACO TACO man--
Just call him Mr. TACO (man).
TACO TACO man--
He'll cheat you any way that he can.
Know that that's his plan.
Just call him Mr. TACO (man).

You can read right through him; he's like an open book.
The people who are near him know he is a crook.
******* over others: his routine,
With the biggest ego that we've seen.

Everyone can see that he's the TACO man.
A boy who will not grow up, he's just like Peter Pan.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

TACO TACO man--
Trump's nothing but the TACO man.
TACO TACO man--
Just call him Mr. TACO (man).
TACO TACO man--
He'll cheat you any way that he can.
Know that that's his plan.
Just call him Mr. TACO (man).

He has filed for bankruptcy many many times.
One wonders when he'll have to pay for all his crimes.
Filling all his coffers to the brim,
He thinks corruption, greed, and grift can't hurt HIM.

It's so obvious that he's the TACO man.
We saw his shenanigans before his term began.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

TACO TACO man--
Trump's nothing but the TACO man.
TACO TACO man--
Just call him Mr. TACO (man).
TACO TACO man--
He'll cheat you any way that he can.
Know that that's his plan.
Just call him Mr. TACO (man).

-by Bob B (6-12-25)
(Thanks to Larry R for the inspiration.)

°The term "TACO trade" was first coined by Financial Times columnist Robert Armstrong and stands for "Trump Always Chickens Out." Some people prefer "Trump Always Cheats Others."

Take a stand for democracy
When you go to the polls.
Watch out for the shenanigans
Of Right extremist trolls.

Pay attention to candidates'
Records from the past.
Often they will lie and say
Their views have been recast.

Watch out for the ones who cheat,
Pretending to be fair.
Once you vote them in, they will
Devour you in their lair.

Be aware of hypocrites
Who smile but keep their sights
On any tactic they can use
To threaten women’s rights.

Do not vote for those who don’t
Have YOUR interests at heart.
Their loyalties to wealthy donors
Play a giant part.

Vote for those whose messages
Are reasonable and not
For those who let conspiracy theories
Color every thought.

Vote for those who want to keep
Democracy afloat,
And not for those who go all out
To make it harder to vote.

Vote for those who do not condone
Violent measures to gain
Power to toss our democratic
Values down the drain.

Take a stand for democracy;
It needs you more than ever.
When demagogues say, “Vote for me!”
Tell them, “Never! Never!”

-by Bob B (9-3-22)

When the anthem begins and the players
Hear the words "Oh, say can you see…"
Some have chosen not to remain
Standing; instead, they've taken a knee.

Taking a knee to protest injustice,
The players have faced their critics who feel
That when the national anthem is played,
People don't have the right to kneel.

But what about a president
Who criticizes our institutions--
Who calls the press the enemy
And scorns their vigorous contributions?

What about a president
Whose racist ties are loud and glaring--
Whose stance on U.S. asylum laws
Is unequivocally cold and uncaring?

What about a president
Who boldly refuses to take a stand
Against the industries that poison
Our water and threaten to ravage our land?

What about a president
Who throws our allies under the bus
And sidles up to Vladimir Putin
After what Putin has done to us?

What about a president--
A blowhard who has dropped the ball
In dealing with corruption, for his
Admin's the most corrupt of all?

What about a president
Who calls unpatriotic those
Who take a stand--or knee--against
Practices that they oppose?

This from a man whose actions border
The actions of someone strangely psychotic!
Trump has no right to call any
Other American unpatriotic.

-by Bob B (7-21-18)

Watch our mob boss president
Take an axe to democracy,
Bringing us another step closer
To what we'd call an autocracy.

Calling on AG Barr for help,
Trump shockingly intends
To put the Department of Justice to use
To harm his opponents and help his friends.

Trump has been politicizing
The DOJ for quite some time.
If you thought he was bad before,
Well, now he is in his prime.

Watch our spineless Senators
Turn their heads and look askance
As Trump defies the rule of law
And does his banana republic dance.

Career officials are resigning;
They can't take it any longer:
Watching Trump retaliate
And seek out ways to make himself stronger.

Woe to us if we can't stop
This maniac who's out of control.
Has America lost its will?
Has America lost its soul?

-by Bob B (2-12-20)

Dear illustrious Republicans in Congress,
You can run, but don't think you can hide,
As more Americans come to understand
How you've taken the people for a ride.

A tax reform bill you call it. Please!
Doesn't it more resemble a tax deformity?
Or better yet a vicious and outrageous
And monstrous act known as an enormity?

Something wasn't on the up-and-up.
Your great desire for secrecy underscores
The fact that you were hiding something big
When you wrote the bill behind closed doors.

Your suspicious need to rush it through
Made us wonder why you'd vote to embed it
In our system of laws when there were many
Members of Congress who hadn't even read it.

Hasn't the thought ever occurred to you
That one doesn't have to be a ****
To see your great desire to pass a bill
Before people could see how bad it is?

You'll make your donors happy; that is true.
Their money hasn't lost its strong appeal.
Now you have to convince the people you've *******
How they are all getting a wonderful deal.

What a bold redistribution of wealth
To rich Americans, who will benefit most!
You pulled off an outrageous scam,
And then you raised your glass and made a toast.

That millions lose their health care doesn't faze you.
The deficit? Oh, that's an easy fix.
You'll just target Americans' earned benefits.
(That's how Paul Ryan gets his kicks.)

Go ahead: throw us under the bus.
Expect, however, that people will verbally smite you.
Prepare for consequences of your actions:
Your callous decision will soon come back to bite you.

-by Bob B (12-20-17)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Tammy" by Jay Livingston and Raymond B. Evans.)

You topped TV's televangelist scene.
Tammy Faye, Tammy Faye, you were the queen.
When hubby Jim Bakker was forced to come clean,
Tammy Faye, Tammy Faye, you were still queen.
Will we ever know
What it was
That made you tick?
And people still wonder why
Your make-up was so thick.
We can still picture your face with its sheen.
Tammy Faye, Tammy Faye, you were the queen.

When other preachers were badmouthing gays,
Tammy Faye, you had new pathways to blaze.
You offered them love in so many kind ways,
Even though there was much money to raise.
When the world was cruel,
So very cruel,
To people with AIDS,
Compassion for them became
One of your crusades.
Although people blasted your actions and mien,
Nonetheless, Tammy Faye, you were the queen.

-by Bob B (9-21-21)

Our economy is a mess.
What else would anyone expect?
Experts say that Trump's huge tariffs
Will have a devastating effect.

Millions of people are hitting the streets.
Wall Street folks are feeling grim
As they acknowledge that Donald Trump
Is someone who runs the country by whim.

When Trump was reelected to office,
The nation was in excellent shape
Economically, but now
Economists watch with mouths agape.

Will Trump listen to experts? No!
He, instead, has made it clear
That if you are a conspiracy theorist,
You will surely have his ear.

The wackier you are the better;
Your crazy theories are your tools.
Therefore, we have quickly become
A country run by dangerous fools.

Republicans in Congress could stop him.
But, no, they'd rather toe the line
And do what their puppeteer makes them do.
How can one live without a spine?

As workers are being fired from their jobs
And prices rise, there's no remorse
From Trump who's merrily playing golf
On his Florida golfing course.

He keeps doubling down on his tariffs
And says they are a beautiful thing--
A stupid comment to make; however,
He doesn't care, for he's the king.

-by Bob B (4-7-25)

Technology is a blessing at times,
And yet it's also a curse.
Hackers and scammers glom onto it with
A glee that's sick and perverse.

You always have to take precautions
And be on your guard in case
A demon is out there lurking behind
A corner in cyberspace.

That's a hassle, or course, but frankly,
It's also a hassle when
Programs and apps keep being updated
Over and over again!

I just get used to how one works,
Which takes me a while to do,
When all of a sudden an update occurs,
And I have to start anew.

Sometimes the features I used to like
On both my computer and phone
No longer exist. Why can't they leave
Well enough alone?

I'm not a Luddite, by any means,
And change one can't dismiss;
But, app designers, please have pity;
I'm getting too old for this!

-by Bob B (6-7-22)

He rode into town like a wannabe--
The town we'll simply call D.C.--
And sat back with his feet upon the desk.
He brought his team--a ruthless bunch,
Most of whom are out to lunch
And operate in a manner quite grotesque.

Yep, a real phenomenon--
This man known as Teflon Don…

It didn't take long for him
To know he had to sink or swim
And this guy was determined not to sink.
Confuse and befuddle, he said,
And that's how he would get ahead:
By practicing the art of doublethink.

Yep, a real phenomenon--
This man known as Teflon Don…

Undo progress done before,
Defy the critics keeping score,
And do not worry if you sound uncouth.
Such was the man's M.O.
To win he knew he must let go
Of any close connection with the truth.

Yep, a real phenomenon--
This man known as Teflon Don…

Trusting not his experts here,
He let Putin have his ear,
And yet his fans never seemed to mind.
He could do no wrong, they felt.
Such is how the cards were dealt.
And how they hate it when their man's maligned!

Yep, a real phenomenon--
This man known as Teflon Don…

He can lie, cheat, and steal,
Come on strong and cop a feel,
And some say even get away with killing.
And yet his fans will all bow down
And do obeisance to their clown,
Which others find incredibly blood chilling.

Yep, a real phenomenon--
This man known as Teflon Don…

-by Bob B (2-26-19)

No! Tell me it isn't true!
Tell me that Trump didn't say
That Russia should have been attending
The G7 summit yesterday.

Alas! It's true. We have it on tape--
A message from our commander in chief,
Which caught off guard our loyal allies,
Whose jaws dropped in disbelief.

What a return of investment for Putin,
Who's made no effort to rectify
Conditions that got him ousted from
The summit in the first place! Why

Doesn't Trump understand
How clearly transparent his actions are?
(That's the kind of president
You get when people lower the bar.)

It appears that Putin is dictating
American policy once again.
He loves seeing a rift between
The US and its allies. But then,

Collusion during the presidential
Campaign is one thing. What takes the prize
Is watching Trump collude with Russia
Right before our very eyes!

-by Bob B (6-9-18)

Tell me: where's a leader when you need one--
When we have a crisis in full swing?
What we have is hardly what we need now:
Instead, we have a man who would be king.

We know the president's administration
Attended crisis briefings; it was warned.
And yet when people point out some of its failures,
They in turn are pilloried and scorned.

A national emergency requires
That we have all the proper tools at hand.
It requires a coordinated effort
And someone with some know-how in command.

What does Trump do? He puts Kushner in charge;
He wants his son-in-law to run the show,
As if he's an expert on pandemics.
Tell me: what the hell does Jared know?

The willful ignorance of those in charge
Of fighting a deadly virus that knows no borders
Has led to chaos. And sadly some who have spoken
The truth have been given their marching orders.

The states shouldn't have to compete for supplies.
And no one out there should be making a killing
On badly needed medical equipment.
What we see occurring is truly chilling.

By downplaying the crisis at the start,
The president put many lives in danger.
The fact that some have praised his slow response
In fighting COVID-19 is even stranger.

Also, playing favorites isn't right
When doling out necessary supplies.
Patchwork policies aren't going to help.
And most of us are tired of all the lies.

It's hard when the leadership is feckless--
And when there's moral bankruptcy at the top--
For any country to deal with major crises.
When is the nonsense going to stop?

So tell me: where's a leader when we need one?
The one we have leaves much to be desired.
If only this November we will hear
The lovely words, "Mr. Trump, you're fired!"

-by Bob B (4-5-20)

Medicare and Social Security
Again are coming under attack.
Don't give Republicans
Who mess with the programs any slack.

Earned benefits are exactly
What most Americans want to preserve.
Whenever lamebrained politicians
Threaten them, they touch a nerve.

Fight, people; fight to keep
Necessary programs strong.
Don't let manipulating
Schemers con you and string you along.

When they blather on about vouchers
And privatization and drive you nuts,
Politely tell them to take their vouchers
And stuff them up their you-know-whats.

- by Bob B (11-15-16)

Saturday night, November 19:
A gunman entered a bar
And started shooting at those who were present,
Leaving a somber scar

On many lives, for five were killed;
Their lives can't be replaced.
Such a shooter lives with hatred
And anger interlaced.

Nineteen others were injured there.
Their lives will never be
The same again, for they'll live with
That dreadful memory.

The patrons used to consider the club
A place where they could feel
Safe and secure with being themselves--
A place where they could be real.

No longer will that be the case.
The LGBTQ
Community has once again
Seen malice flourish anew.

Vicious words and violent speech
Have gotten out of hand,
And people lose their humanity when
The fires of rancor are fanned.

Hatred comes in many forms
And leaves a nasty smirch
On all of us, and sadly it
Is often taught in church.

-by Bob B (11-22-22)

I ran into Tom Turkey this morning
As he was leaving a bar.
"Starting early?" I asked as I
Stopped and got out of my car.

"Yes," he said, "I'm drowning my sorrows--
More than just a tad.
Many have lost their loved ones lately.
That's why I'm so sad.

"After the recent mass shootings,
How are people able
To sit down and be thankful this year
At their Thanksgiving table?

"Some are going to mourn as they
Sit next to empty chairs
And ask one another plaintively
If anybody cares."

"I know what you mean," I said, "for I
Wonder the very same thing.
Deaths by shootings in this country
Seem to be in full swing."

"I guess," Tom mused, "that people will be
Thankful for what they've got.
Moreover, they will probably be
Thankful that they weren't shot."

"Maybe, " I said, "people could be
Thankful that we have the means
To stop all these atrocities
And end these horrible scenes.

"But that won't happen unless we act.
Certainly that is key.
People who care about this country
Probably will agree.

"And then you've got Putin's war
Devastating Ukraine!"
"Don't get me started on THAT!" he cried,
"You're piling pain upon pain!"

"Gotta go now," he said, as he walked
Away with a wobbly gait,
And added, "I'm thankful that I did NOT
End up on a Thanksgiving plate."

-by Bob B (11-24-22)

The crowd cheers, faces light up,
As Trump beams and mentally tallies
The number of fawning participants
Attending the first of his thank-me rallies.

Confusing facts and figures, such as
The number of refugees "pouring in,"
He blasts the "dishonest" media, which
Inadvertently helped him win.

He also promises scores of changes
In jingoistic words and phrases,
Oblivious to the repercussions
And questions that such talk raises.

He claims to be the "messenger."
By voting for him, we all won;
And even without our help, change
Will happen. HE will get it done.

Loving the spotlight, he looks upon
His thank-me rallies with great affection,
Even though normally
Campaign rallies PRECEDE an election.

Meanwhile Trump will tour the states,
Full of himself and hoping that we go
To celebrate his "victory"--
To feed and nurture his giant ego.

- by Bob B (12-2-16)

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)

I ran into Tom the Turkey again.
It's been a year since I saw him last.
He told me he was trying out
A recommended Thanksgiving fast.

"If everybody would fast today,"
He said, "wouldn't THAT be sweet?
They'd be healthier; instead,
They gorge themselves on turkey meat.

"The president can pardon turkeys.
That is something I'd like to discuss
With White House folks. If HE can do that,
Why can't he pardon ALL of us?

"It's getting harder for me each year
To find a place where I can hide.
I've tried to disguise myself, but that
Is awkward. You know I've got my pride.

"People are always making up stories.
Maybe I will do the same.
Spread the word: the meat from turkeys
Is bad and it will bring you shame.

"So it's not true. That doesn't matter.
My goal is to hoodwink and I can achieve it.
People who like conspiracy theories
Are gullible enough to believe it.

"In the meantime, I'm going to keep
A very low profile again today."
He waddled off, wishing me
A happy Thanksgiving anyway.

-by Bob B (11-23-23)

We eat soup with a knife.
We cut steak with a spoon;
The sun shines at night;
The stars come out at noon.

The earth has too few people.
Sugar makes you strong.
Giraffes have short necks;
Elephants' necks are long.

Glaciers are not melting;
Earth is growing cooler.
Thirteen inches make
A simple foot-long ruler.

Don't look at me
As though I'm totally cracked.
Each of the above
Is an alternative fact.  

I was eighteen when we brought you home.
How I will always remember that day!
The prettiest baby that I’d ever seen!
(What would you expect your proud brother to say?)
A six-week-old infant had now become ours
After many months on a paperwork sea.
We held in our arms a tiny bundle—
My baby sister, Rebecca Marie.

A new baby sister can be exciting—
For a few days, that is; I cannot lie.
To babysit wasn't part of my plans.
My social life? I just knew it would die!
But somehow we managed. It wasn’t so bad.
But those ear infections! Man, what a scare!
Helpless, sometimes I held you for hours;
I’m glad we still had that old rocking chair.

It seems now that the days passed by quickly.
You started swimming before you were one.
Mom had to take you to all of your lessons;
That tearful experience for Dad was no fun.
But you grew up fast. Can you imagine
How my life quickly became so enriched
From taking you to parks and to movies
And from watching Sesame Street and Bewitched?

I’ll never forget when I joined the army—
You were that slightly rambunctious small fry—
And I had to fly from L.A. to Missouri.
It killed me inside to have to kiss you good-bye!
But I returned home after leaving the service,
Finished my schooling, began my career.
It seemed like watching a film in fast motion:
Images fleeting, you in high gear.

The seasons sped by as we journeyed onward.
We shared happy moments, along with the sad.
But the saddest days that we spent together
Were in '98 when we lost both Mom and Dad.
Then life made you, our brothers, and me
Enter a sobering, eye-opening new phase.
Though living apart, we all held together;
We kept looking forward to happier days.

I now look back at all of life’s moments
Some memories are fading, but one thing I know:
Your coming into our lives was a blessing;
You filled our lives with both sparkle and glow.
Though you are now grown-up with a family,
Whenever I see you my thoughts start to swirl,
For I can still see you prancing around me—
All I can see is that same little girl.

- by Bob B

Trump has no idea as to
How to debate. That's NO surprise.
He merely bombards his opponent with
A litany of foolish lies.

Lie after lie shoots out of his mouth.
How does he do it with no chagrin?
Attempts to address his many untruths
Has one wondering where to begin.

January 6? He lied.
Immigration? He lied again.
Roe v Wade? Another lie.
Do your job, CNN.

For moderators of Trump's debates,
I'd like to offer a little suggestion:
Stop him when he rambles on
And say, "Mr. Trump, answer the question!"

Getting him to make any sense
Was difficult, to say the least.
His fans who eat up his lies with gusto
Were offered that night a real feast.

He blamed the failure to call the National
Guard on Nancy Pelosi! How rude!
How dare he cast the blame on her
For his own ineptitude!

That Democrats think women's choice
Should be determined by each state?
The truth for Trump is meaningless--
Only something to desecrate.

It's really hard to imagine how
American voters would desire
To have a president in office
Who's such a pathological liar.

-by Bob B (7-1-24)

DT:
Of ONE thing I must say that I am aware:
A marriage can be any person's cross to bear.
So that is why I put my trust in laissez faire.
And that’s how I survive.

My first wife frowned on my philandering.
I said that paparazzi were just slandering.
No way! she said. I was meandering.
And that's how I survive.

The situation then grew hairier.
And since there was no way to bury her,
I merely said, "I'll just unmarry her."
And that's how I survive.

There was a gal that I was with when I got caught.
In 1993 we tied the knot.
I think she had a certain liking for my yacht.
And that's how I survive.

My second marriage started out to be a blast.
But everybody knows that it didn't last.
Divorce for me was just a rebroadcast.
And that's how I survive.

Then I met this gorgeous pinup girl.
Talk about a beauty! Yes, a real pearl!
I thought that I should give this one a whirl.
And that's how I survive.

But everybody knows that a wedding ring
Won't STOP me if I feel I want to have a fling.
Fidelity is not a deal to which I cling.
And that's how I survive.

How long this one will last, well, no one knows.
Every marriage has both its highs and lows.
My wife's aware of what she can and can't disclose.
And that's how I survive.

I’ve a special tool, which--I must say--
Helps me keep both friends and foes at bay.
It happens to be called an NDA.°
And that’s how I survive.
Yes, that’s…how…I…survive.

-by Bob B (2-4-25)

°non-disclosure agreement