Election Day - November 4th, 2025 - A New and More Hopeful Day Dawns For American Democrats

Tuesday November 11th, 2025

My Dear America:

Something Amazing happened in America this past November 4th.  I certainly didn't expect it and I don't think many other Americans expected it either.

Democrats, who haven't had a lot to celebrate since before November of 2024, suddenly stared into their Television sets and watched with wonder, appreciation and hope as the unexpected Landslide of epic proportions came into perspective and the unexpected Blue Wave turned into a Blue Tsunami in every State, County and City in the United States of America.  After all the bad news that Democrats had begun to get used to every day during the past year it was a wonderful and historic change that had taken place in the churches and VFW Halls where Americans got used to showing up to vote in their proper voting districts.

In reality, it should have been no surprise to anyone that Democrats had run the table and won races everywhere in the country, mostly by wide margins.  Everywhere in the country people were hurting thanks to Donald Trump.  The Government continued to be shut down, Snap benefits were gone and prospects for hungry children were going up.  Donald Trump had torn down the East Wing of the White House in order to put up a Golden Ballroom.  Republicans in Congress had become gutless toadies who fell in line every time Donald Trump cracked his whip.  The Supreme Court did not support those decent County, State and Federal Judges who were trying their best to stem the pattern of  Injustice and Corruption in the United States of America.  Many Americans, as well as Illegal Immigrants, were enduring senseless beatdowns in some of the major cities in America and there was more, much much more for Americans to be angry about.

The truth is that after many years in which many Americans didn't pay a lot of attention to elections, people had found out during the past year just how much elections matter to Americans and on Tuesday November 4th, 2025 we saw that the days of Americans failing to pay attention to their elections had apparently come to a close.  Clearly Donald Trump's Reckless behavior over the past year, as well as other years, had caused many Americans to recognize that in the USA the shit had certainly hit the fan and it was not only falling on protestors in Donald Trump Videos it was flying back to hit Donald Trump and his Reckless Republican cronies in the face.

The American Electorate had truly become WOKE.

WOKE to the insensitivity of the Trump Republican Insane Posse.

WOKE to the lack of Empathy toward other human beings who are sharing the Planet with one another.

WOKE to the blatant Corruption going on in the Trump Administration.

WOKE  to the strangeness of Cabinet meetings with the fawning praises toward Donald Trump that look so weirdly like something that belongs more in North Korea.

WOKE to the killing of Faceless Supposed Drug Smuggling Strangers on boats in the Caribbean Ocean.

What the hell, man.  Why the hell wouldn't Americans be voting for Democrats over this Reckless Corrupt Republican Agenda.

And They Did.

The Election Results were something that hadn't been seen for some time.  They were staggering.  Democrats seemed to be winning in every place in the country from the top to the bottom of the ticket.  

Democrats were back big time and an important and loud message was being sent by the American Electorate to Donald Trump and the Republicans who followed and supported his every move.

The message was clear to any Republican Politician who dared to pay attention to what the American voters were saying in November of 2025.

Like Peter Finch in the movie "Network" Americans were clearly saying to American Politicians:

We're Mad As Hell And We're Not gonna take it anymore

It Was about time that this message was sent loud and clear by American Voters.

But unfortunately the Voters Message seems to be getting completely ignored by the Republicans in Congress.  They are continuing their disastrous policies such as keeping the Government shut down and racing toward giving  more tax breaks to millionaires, Jamming outrageous price hikes to Obamacare while eliminating Snap benefits that keep food on the table for many Americans and giving 40 Billion Dollars to Argentina while more American Family Farms go bankrupt every day and the suicide rates among farmers in America continues to skyrocket.  

But I guess that it is going to take time for Republicans to face up to the fact that Donald Trump is leading us all over the cliff together and that we had all better wake up before it is too late to save America from it's disastrous Republican Party agenda.

It seems to me that we Democrats have also been sent an important message by the American voters.  We need to pay attention to the fact that in the 2026 Mid Term Elections Democrats seem to have an excellent chance to return to power and save Democracy from Donald Trump and his Toad Squad.  

Clearly we need to savor the victories we have experienced in this last election.  But we also need to keep alert to the Trump Republican distractions that are bound to be on their way.  

And we also need to be careful not to fall into one of the traps that not only Republicans but also some of our own Zealous Democrats sometimes place us in.  One of those traps that Democrats set for each other is the prospect of Democrats demanding too much from each other and in particular from their Leadership.  The Democratic Party has always been a big tent party and should remain so.  Progressives and Conservatives in the party have at times demanded too much allegiance from one end of the party to another.  In other words Democratic Progressives may demand only Progressive Policies and Democratic Conservatives may demand the opposite from their party namely Democratic Conservative policies.

Presently there is a move afoot by some in the Democratic party to denigrate and remove from leadership both Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries.  Some Democrats who are frustrated by their present lack of political power are quick to blame Democratic leadership for our problems and certainly Republicans and Donald Trump, in particular are going to be stirring up this backbiting on the part of Democrats.

We need to avoid falling into this trap.  Lawrence O'Donnell on one of his recent shows pointed out all of the accomplishments of Senate Leader, Chuck Schumer and they were many and they were important.  Certainly, Republicans are going to encourage dissatisfaction with Leadership in the Democratic party.  The more divided the Democratic party is the easier life is for them.

Let's not make life easier for Republicans.  Let's not fall into the trap of demanding so much of a Democratic Leader or Candidate that no human being can fit the bill.  

One lesson that I think we should all take away from watching Republicans and Donald Trump in action is that No Matter What - The Republicans stick with their Guy - Regardless.

Instead of Democrats quickly finding fault with Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani who just became the Mayor Elect of New York City in a very high profile and difficult race maybe it might make sense for Democrats to give him a chance and support his efforts to care more about poor people than rich People.  

Mamdani won by a lot - Maybe he was onto something.

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher        

 

No Nukes - It's Not Just A Slogan For Hippies Anymore

Saturday, November 1st, 2025

My Dear America:

While Donald Trump was rambling around the world getting his Ass Kissed by World Leaders in such far off countries as Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and China those of us back here in the United States were wondering where our next meal might be coming from and how the hell we were going to afford Health Care Next year, among other important questions.

The day after the No Kings Protest in which Seven Million Americans expressed their displeasure with Donald Trump we were all treated with his tremendous slap in the face when his AI produced cartoon of him dropping poop all over protesters hit the airwaves along with the startling pictures of the East Wing of The White House being reduced to Rubble.

Also during this  period of time we have seen Republicans in Congress stay home and refuse to do their job which should have involved being outraged by the White House Demolition, helping Democrats to protect Americans from Outrageous Health Care Costs and opening up the Government, as well as also opening up the Epstein Files.

Although it has been obvious for some time that there is something terribly wrong with Donald Trump, the time has come when we also recognize that Donald Trump could not get away with committing his crimes without the complicity of his MAGA Supporters and the Do Nothing Republicans in Congress who prefer to rant senselessly to and about Those Congressional Democrats who are focused on actually helping Americans get their Democratic Country somewhat back on Track.

What is really aggravating to me is that this Push and Pull of Republicans Versus Democrats is nothing new.  We have been living with this insanity for a long time now and there seems to be no end in sight for the madness  involved in this lack of Bipartisanship on the part of Republicans in Congress. It is a deadly disease  that seemingly has no cure as long as Americans continue to watch and accept the Alternative Facts of the Alternative News Universe presented on the Republican Networks of Fox News, Newsmax and OAN.   And the Madness is not only on Fox News and the other Republican Propaganda Networks.  I turned on C-Span this week only to find all 3 S-Span Channels filled With Republican Spokesmen ranting about how the Government Shutdown was all the Democrats Fault.  John Thune, Lindsey Graham and Mike Johnson were all touting the same message which was that the Government Shutdown was only the fault of Democrats.  Certainly none of it was the Republicans Fault. There was, of course, no acknowledgement by the Republican Spokesmen on C-Span that the So Called "Big Beautiful Bill" was going to Jack up Health Care Prices to unacceptable levels which would inevitably push countless Americans to lose Health Care.  No, There was none of that in the Reckless Republican C-Span Ravings.

But that's how it goes in America these days.  Nothing makes sense anymore.  That is why 7 Million Americans showed up for the No Kings Protest.  Did that Protest do any Good?  I genuinely think that it did.  Time will tell, I guess.  But while President Trump raced around the world trying to forget about The Epstein Files and basked in the glory of World Leaders bowing down to him he still had to be worrying about the fact that even Super MAGA Mama, Marjorie Taylor Greene was still showing that She wanted the Epstein Files Released.  And she was not alone.  

At some point the Epstein Files will be released and based on the fact that Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were best friends and birds of a feather for over 15 years It is inevitable that Donald Trump will not be viewed as a hero when the Epstein Files crash into Donald Trump and crush him like he crushed the East Wing of the White House.

And with everything else going on these days we also have to put up with the incredible cruelty of ICE beating the hell out of  Legitimate Americans as well as Illegal Aliens in their quest to rid America of people who Donald Trump Views as "Vermin" .  

And Now into this completely messed up situation we can also add that on his way back to America from his trip abroad Donald Trump has advised people who were interviewing him on the plane That he has decided to bring back NUCLEAR TESTING.  Why?  Because many other Countries are doing it.

WHAT THE HELL!

Is there no relief from this madness.  No, I don't think there is, other than perhaps Americans thinking very seriously about taking a break from electing MAGA Republicans from high office or from Any Government Office of any kind.

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher    

"Are We Living In Nazi Germany?" - It Looks Like Than Answer Is YES

Friday, October 17th, 2025 

My Dear America:

Several years ago, America, we all heard Donald Trump Ask that important question:

"Are We Living In Nazi Germany?"

Although most of what he was doing in his first Presidential term was suspect, I thought at the time that he asked that question that maybe he might actually be on the right track and might turn out to be a good President.  At least I hoped that would be the case.

I certainly didn't know when Donald Trump made that statement that his first wife, Ivanna had already revealed in an interview for a magazine article that Donald's choice of bedtime reading material was a book of translated speeches that had been made by Adolph Hitler.  The fact was that Donald Trump was proudly identified as a dedicated Non-Reader. What in the hell was this Non-Reader doing with a book of Hitler's Speeches on his nightstand?

Well now We know, America, why Donald Trump was so focused on Adolph Hitler. We can see every day with our Lying Eyes just why and how Donald Trump admired Adolph Hitler.  Clearly Donald Trump did pay attention to what was revealed to him in the Hitler Playbook and after his election to the Presidency for the second time after supposedly narrowly defeating Kamala Harris, Donald Trump has unleashed himself on the American Federal Government with a vengeance.

During his First Term in the White House Donald Trump was not able to completely destroy Democracy.  He made several attempts to do so but he was not smart enough in his first term to pull it off.  Unfortunately for Trump during his first term he continued to make the mistake of appointing Cabinet members and White House staff who. for the most part, believed in the American Constitutional Form of Government and were not interested in America following the terrible lead of Nazi Germany.

Unfortunately for us, America, during Donald Trump's second term in the Presidency, however, it has been a completely different story.  Donald Trump has roared into the Presidency with Elon Musk and Several Reckless Billionaires by his side and a Cabinet and Congress full of weak kneed syncophants who seem powerless and unwilling to stand up to the American Fuhrer.  In addition to that, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have manipulated their way into setting up the Supreme Court with a group of Unqualified Right Wingers who brashly committed Perjury in their Confirmation Hearings when they identified Roe versus Wade as settled Law and once confirmed almost immediately decimated that settled Law and also set up Donald Trump with a Get out of jail free card by stating that anything he does is legal if it is done in the course of his job as President.

What The Hell. 

To say the least, Donald Trump's Second term in the White House has been a Rocky and Bumpy ride for us all, America and unfortunately for us nothing seems as though anything is getting better during the Trump Administration.

Clearly The Supreme Court and Congressional Republicans seem to be closely allied in allowing Donald Trump Free Reign in his Overwhelming efforts To completely corrupt every Department in the Federal Government.  Although most American Judges have tended to rule against Trump's Ruthless Rampage across the American Government, Trump's Right Wing Cronies on the Supreme Court have time after time seemed to forget what they learned about Constitutional Government in Law School and allowed Convicted Felon, Donald Trump to run Roughshod over not only the Federal Government but also nearly every phase of American life.

Trump's Corruption has spread like Wildfire far and wide throughout our Country and there seems to be no end of the Corruption in sight.  Trump's Justice Department has truly become The Department of Judicial Retribution of Donald Trump's Enemies list under Attorney General, Pam Bondi and FBI Director, Kash Patel. There seems to be no end to the lengths that the Justice Department will go to satisfy President Trump.  So Far Former FBI Director, James Comey, New York Attorney General Leticia James and former Trump First Term National Security Advisor turned Trump Critic, John Bolton have been indicted on ridiculous Trumped up Charges which will probably never hold up in court but will certainly harass and if not bankrupt will at least cost a great deal to defend their honor and keep themselves out of Jail.   And Trump and Bondi seem to be just starting to go after Trump's least favorite people.  There will undoubtedly be other victims to come.

Speaking of Americans harmed by the Trump Administration lets not forget about the damage to nearly every Department of Government in America caused by DOGE (The Department of Government Efficiency) recklessly run by Elon Musk before his falling out with Donald Trump.  With Trump's blessing DOGE fired thousands of American Federal Workers mostly with no good reason.

Trump has also seemingly gleefully rattled many American Allied Countries with his threats to take over Greenland and the Panama Canal and more recently provoke Venezuela.  He has also put into place incredibly high tariffs on nearly every country in the world except Russia.  

Unfortunately for Truth, justice and The American Way, Trump has been successful in getting CBS Late Show Host and Comedian Stephen Colbert and ABC Late Night Host Jimmy Kimmel Fired from their jobs because Trump clearly can't take jokes at his expense. ABC relented and put Jimmy Kimmel back on the air after serious pushback by viewers but Colbert (whose show has gotten awards and good ratings) is still scheduled to end his show sometime in 2026.  

Although Donald Trump does deserve some credit for getting the remaining living Israeli Hostages back from Gaza It is doubtful that he will ever get the Nobel Peace Prize that he seems to desire.  Although he did deserve credit for bringing the hostages home from Gaza it is doubtful that The Nobel Peace Prize committee will consider a man who has set ICE Agents free in American Cities to brutalize not only Illegal immigrants but many American citizens as well.  

America, we are truly living in Overwhelming Times and to our credit every day is filled on the streets of America with American Citizens pushing back against the corruption and brutality of the Trump administration and ICE, which has a similar level of brutality to that of the Nazi Era Gestapo and Secret Police.  

Maybe we are not quite at the extreme level of corruption and brutality as that of Nazi Germany but Look around, America and realize and recognize just how far we have gone in denigrating and degrading Democracy in the United States Of America in a very short time.

No KIngs Day is this Saturday and wherever we are we need to support this Nationwide Effort to let those in charge know that we will never be OK with a King or A Dictator running The United States Of America.

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher 

The Dark Legacy Of Charlie Kirk

Monday, September 22nd  2025 

My Dear America:

First Of All, I want to add my voice to all of the Left Leaning Democrats who Donald Trump has called out as Lunatics and who he says are responsible for (according to Trump) pretty much all of the problems with Guns and Assassinations in this country including the Assassination of Charlie Kirk.

There are more than a few problems with Trump's laying Assassinations in general and Charlie Kirk's Assassination, in particular on Left Leaning Democrats.

One problem is the fact that almost all of the responses to Kirk's death by Democrats have included strong Condemnations of the killing of Kirk by a young man who was apparently the son of a rather noted Right Wing Republican Utah Father.  Certainly no Democrats have any problems with the Assassin's Father.  After all, it appears as though Tyler Robinson's Father was instrumental in encouraging his son to surrender to the Utah Authorities.

I don't know how stupid Donald Trump believes his supporters to be but they would have to be idiots to believe the President who has designated Left Wing Groups as the people who are largely responsible for Gun Violence in the United States of America.  The overwhelming evidence is that that Right Wing nuts have committed far more murders in America than Left Wing Nuts.  Democrats have consistently been the party who want to remove weapons of mass destruction like AR 15's from the Walmart's and Sporting Goods Stores of America, while Republicans can be heard Weeping and Wailing whenever the subject of Gun Control is discussed.

Charlie Kirk was a young handsome intelligent Influencer who seems to have espoused many of the same controversial Ultra Right Notions as those of Donald Trump and Adolph Hitler.

Kirk became a Celebrity and a Millionaire because of those marginalized Americans who he disparaged.  Kirk, in fact, did not seem to endorse hardly anything.  He, like his hero, Donald Trump, seemed to be Anti A lot of things.

Charlie Kirk was born and raised in the wealthy suburbs of Chicago and I suspect that he didn't want for much when he was growing up.  For some reason he dropped out of Harper College after One Semester.  He was also disappointed after applying to West Point and being rejected.  After suffering these setbacks Charlie Kirk began to realize what direction America was turning as Donald Trump began to emerge from the Republican Pack in the 2016 Election and in the end won that Election.

In 2012 Charlie Kirk established "Turning Point USA" with money donated from some wealthy Republican donors.  Turning Point was established as a 501 C Non profit and as Trump began to break out of the pack in 2016 Charlie Kirk began to be enamored of Donald Trump.

While Charlie could present himself as a Clean Cut All American Boy, as his influence grew with his attachment to Trump and MAGA Charlie realized that he had some talent that could be put to good use by supporting Donald Trump and appealing to his MAGA followers.  Charlie Kirk did not subscribe to the "Catching more Flies with Honey" prospect but understood that the real money and power could be found with the "more flies with vinegar" concept..

Turning Point and Charlie Kirk began to show some serious opposition to such important American concepts as Abortion, Gun Control, DEI (Diversity, Equity And Inclusion) Programs and LGBT Rights. 

Some of Charlie's other interesting and controversial opinions included the following: 

Criticizing The Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as Criticizing Martin Luther King Jr.

Promoting Covid 19 Misinformation.

Promoting False Claims of Voter Fraud in 2020.

Opposition to Immigration and Immigrants.  

Repudiation of Liberal College Education.

Embracing of Q'anon, MAGA and Pro Trump Conspiracies.

Promoting of debunked Claims about George Floyd including accusing Floyd of illegally Counterfeiting Currency and putting a gun to the head of a pregnant woman.

Donald Trump has denied having anything to do with the firing of Jimmy Kimmel and Steven Colbert from their Late Night Talk Shows.  Trump, however, has made it clear that the thin skinned President has not found the humor of the Late Night Comedians very funny and has made it clear to his followers on Social Media that he wanted all of the Late Night Trump Critics GONE.

Well, Right now 2 down and Several more to go.  Trump has already made it clear that he wants Jimmy Fallon and Seth Myers gone also.  Hopefully that won't happen but one never knows what is going to happen in Trump World.

Right now Donald Trump is doing his best to try to turn Charlie Kirk into a Folk Hero for the Ultra Right.  Hopefully most Americans will be able to see through this Right Wing Charade and recognize that it certainly is a Shame that Charlie's wife, Erika and her two children are without a husband and father.  But that does not change the fact that Charlie Kirk does not deserve to be idolized by anyone in the United States of America.  

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher    

  

How To Destroy An Incredible Family Legacy - OR - There Is Something Terribly Wrong With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Wednesday September 10th, 2925 

My Dear America:

To A Democrat and also to most Republicans My Age (Heading Toward 83) The Name Kennedy has always meant certain things to most Americans.  John Kennedy, along with his Brothers, Bobby and Ted gave their working lives to Public Service.  John and Bobby actually gave their lives to their country.  They were both gunned down while in the process of campaigning for the Presidency of the United States. Their deaths were some of the first examples of why we needed serious gun control in the United States, which we don't appear to be any closer to having today than we were when these two great American Patriots were killed.

For those not old enough to remember, John Kennedy was elected President of the United States in 1960 after serving in the United States Senate.  His famous catchphrase was "Ask Not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country."  While he was alive he had some very good ideas, most of which were not implemented in his lifetime but many were implemented following his Assassination in Dallas Texas on November 22nd of 1963.

Some of JFK' s ideas and accomplishments included the following:

Establishing The Peace Corps, which sent Americans into other countries to assist with many everyday activities,    

Establishing NASA and prioritizing Space Exploration with the goal of landing a man on the moon by the end of the 1960's

The reduction of Poverty in the United States and Prioritizing  Civil Rights.

Keeping Russian Missiles out of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Robert Francis Kennedy, John Kennedy's younger brother also had quite an extensive work resume when he ran for President in 1968.

RFK had worked as a Staff Member of Important Senate committees while his brother was a Senator

RFK had worked very hard in his brother's campaign for the Presidency in 1960

He was also appointed by his brother to be the Attorney General of the United States during John Kennedy's Administration and continued in that role for a time  in the Lyndon Johnson Administration.

Following in his brother's footsteps RFK ran for the Senate from New York and won prior to running for the Presidency.

If these two All Star Kennedy's weren't enough, Their Brother, Edward Kennedy (Ted) also ran for the Senate and won his Brother John's seat and over many years established a reputation as a Senator who could get along with Republicans  and get things done.  Unfortunately for Ted Kennedy his  problematic behavior regarding the drowning death of a young staffer from Bobby's Senate Office at Chappaquiddik seemed to permanently tarnish Ted's reputation.

Many other Kennedy Family Members had their own accomplishments as well as difficulties over the years but by and large the Kennedy Family has been a close knit and highly accomplished group of family members.

Now we have Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as our Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump Administration and since his appointment by Donald Trump to this position we have seen some startling changes happening at HHS.  

The importance of numerous vaccines in schools all across the United States and elsewhere has been a long established precedent for many years.  Unfortunately for many believers in Vaccines, RFK Jr. does not seem to subscribe to the worth of Vaccines. In a recent Senate hearing many of the Democratic and Republican Senators took the HHS Secretary to task on a whole range of subjects including Vaccines.

Many Republicans pointed out that the Covid 19 vaccine was one of the greatest accomplishments of the first Trump Administration.  

It is true that the Covid Vaccine was developed and approved at "Warp Speed" during the First Trump Administration.  The truth however is that the person in the Administration who was primarily responsible for the quick development of the  Covid 19 Vaccine was Vice President Mike Pence.  

After Donald Trump began getting tired of providing updates every day on Covid, he passed on this pain in the ass chore to the Vice President who clearly seemed to take Covid far more seriously than Trump.  Trump just seemed to see Covid as an obnoxious impediment to getting Re Elected to a second term, which of course it was.

Mike Pence, however took his appointment to be the Covid Tsar very seriously.  In addition to just being a talking head about Covid to the media, Pence worked closely with Health and Human Services, State Governors and Pharmaceutical Companies and emphasized to all of them the importance of getting a vaccine fast.

It might be remembered that the Covid Vaccine did not become widely available  until after the end of the Trump Administration and the beginning of the Biden Administration when dealing with Covid became issue Number One with the Biden Administration.

During the 2025 Election Campaign Robert Kennedy Jr. made a half hearted attempt at running for President. He was advised by the vast majority of his family members not to run and I remember that the Biden Campaign had a widely publicized White House meeting with all of the Kennedy Family members who had pledged their support for Biden.  It was a large gang of Kennedy Family members who were supporters of Biden.

When the steam ran out of the Robert Kennedy Jr. Campaign for President Kennedy approached both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump about Joining their Campaign's and Cabinet.  Kamala wasn't interested in playing games with Kennedy and turned him down flat.  Donald Trump, on the other hand quickly took Kennedy on the road with him and promised him Health and Human Services if Trump won.

It seems as though Donald Trump liked the idea of having a Kennedy in his Administration.  What seems to be very clear at this point is that Kennedy's attitude about vaccines is Reckless and Wrong and is a clear and present danger to the children of America and probably to the adults of America also.

None of us want to have this long time former heroin addict making choices that affect the health of Americans.

Playing Russian Roulette with the health of our children, grandchildren and Americans of all ages is way too dangerous a game.

The bottom line here is that Robert F. Kennedy must go and he must go fast enough to prevent this wacko from killing any more Americans with his insane, dangerous and just plain Weird Ideas about Vaccines.

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher   

        

   

Darkness At The End Of Summer 2025

Sunday,  August 31st, 2025

My Dear America:

It is the day before Labor Day and it is also two days before what would have been the Forty Seventh Anniversary of My Marriage to Sandy Horne Gallagher.  I suppose that is why I am missing her a little more today than I normally do.  This day and Labor Day were days that always made Sandy more sad and depressed about the end of Summertime and Swimming at our Pool Club.  Whatever it is, I am just missing her a little extra today.  I always get depressed about this time also but I could always count on the fact that Sandy and I could face the challenge of another Fall and Winter together.

Not this year. Sandy Passed Away on June 9th of this year.

I am facing the prospect of living through this year alone and it feels very strange and more than a bit scary.

I am very lucky to have Wonderful Children and Grandchildren and a few very good friends that I can and do depend on.

I tried going to the pool today but that didn't go well.  The water was too damn cold and I didn't stick around very long.  

My friend Mickey texted me today to let me know that he read my letter to the editor of our local newspaper about the Billy Joel Tribute Band concert that I saw recently.

I had actually experienced a pretty good week last week, I thought.  I finished up my Greif Share Group by singing a song I wrote about Sandy and I was pleased to get applause from the group.  I enjoyed that.  I also participated in an open mike where I sang a couple of my favorite Bob Dylan songs and they seemed to go over pretty well.

I also went to visit with My Ex Wife who had a bad fall and is healing in a local hospital.  We had a very interesting, pleasant and friendly conversation.

All things considered I would have to admit that in some ways things are really OK for me right now.  Certainly my wife's passing was a horrendous experience for me but thanks to what I have learned in Greif Share I also realize that although her death was unexpected and shocking to me, she was also not languishing in pain for many months or years waiting to die.  It happened so fast that If she had any pain at all it was certainly over very quickly.

Playing music with my friends online and in my Jam group has really meant a lot to me during this past summer and also through many years before this summer.

So I guess my point is that I am probably doing the best that I can right now 

BUT

I am also living at the present time in America and things are definitely not going well in the United States of America.  Illegal Aliens and even some legitimate American Citizens are being snatched off the streets of major American Cities and being hauled off to what can only rightly be called Concentration Camps.  Although we are not yet aware of any Crematoriums or Death Camps in our country as of yet, an insidious darkness is running rampant in our land with Gestapo like masked strangers bashing in car windows to get to their human prey.

We Americans live in fear of what in the hell Donald Trump and his Band of Fascists have in store for the rest of us as this Long National Nightmare Continues.

One of the positive aspects of today's situation, however, is that Donald Trump's attempt to cover up his 15 year friendship with Jeffrey Epstein as his Running Buddy is coming apart at the seams.  Mostly all of his Q'anon cronies and even some of his previously Balless Congressional Toadies want to see what is in the Epstein files and as the Epstein Connection to Donald Trump is revealed drip by drip we are going to see an increasing disappearance in support for Donald Trump the likes of which we've never seen before.

What we have already seen about Trump and Epstein is disturbing enough but when it comes to Trump/Epstein revelations I don't think we have scratched the surface of this scandal.  It remains to be seen if Republican members of the House Oversight Committee will be willing to stonewall to try to protect Trump but the Committee seems to be at least willing to subpoena information relating to Epstein and his Partner in Crimes, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Certainly what we already know about Epstein's "Sweetheart Deal" , His strange and Terrible Suicide inside a Federal Prison while Trump was President, Ghislaine Maxwell's unusual meeting with Trump's Former Criminal Defense Attorney and Presently Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche and Maxwell's inexplicable move to a Texas Country Club Prison Facility are topics of conversation that are bound to erode Donald Trump's support among reasonable Republicans.  There is also no doubt about the fact that Democrats in Congress are certainly going to want to talk to some of the more than a thousand Epstein Survivors about their experiences.

Whether or not any of this information will matter is really up to Republicans in Congress.  These gutless Republican Stooges seem to have only one idea on their minds and that is protecting Donald Trump.  They don't seem to give a damn about whether Democracy lives or dies.  

It is time for Democrats to step up like many Democrats in Congress and in Governor's offices are doing and sound the alarm as troops are deployed to several Democratic cities supposedly to fight crime.

Unfortunately for Democrats the burning concern about Crime should not be so much about American Cities as it should be on the Crimes being committed by Donald Trump And his Cronies at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher 

       

 

What Needs To Be Done To End The War In Ukraine

Monday, August 18th, 2025

My Dear America:

First of all, I want to say that I am fully supportive of Donald Trump's Efforts to find an end to the war in Ukraine.  He certainly seems to be on a more firm footing these days than he was a short while ago when he was basically accusing Ukraine of starting the war with Russia. Ukraine clearly did not start this war.  Although the realities of history seem to be on shaky ground these days It must be recognized that Ukraine did not want a war with Russia although in the end they had no choice but to fight when Russia stormed across their border with Ukraine in a brazen attempt to destroy Democracy in Ukraine, something that Vladimir Putin had a hard time accepting.  

Although Putin seemed to be under the impression that Ukraine was weak and would fold quickly as a result of Putin's Russian Blitzkrieg he was under the wrong impression.  Although at first President Zelensky of Ukraine tried his best to pretend that the Russian Incursion into Ukraine was not going to happen when warned by Joe Biden and members of the Biden Administration who had cracked the Russian intelligence code.

Once Russia invaded their neighboring country, however, Zelensky, a novice politician who was a comedian and an actor in his previous life turned into a Genuine Superhero Politician who swung into action in order to turn his Relatively Peaceful Democratic Country into a Country that was at war with its neighbor.  Far from being the Quickly Vanquished Victim of Vladimir Putin's Brutal Invasion Zelensky has shown over the past 3 years that Ukrainians have not and never will simply allow themselves to be taken over by Russia.

Unfortunately Russian President Putin has yet to recognize that he has tried to bite off more than he can chew in Ukraine and although he has worn down Ukraine to some extent The Ukrainian people with the inspiration of their leadership and their hastily put together Military Organization have shown the Russians the determination of the Ukrainian population.

On Friday of last week President Trump met with Russian President Putin in Alaska with the stated purpose of trying to broker a Peace deal for Ukraine with the Russian President.  Expectations of success were low for many reasons but the chief reason was that  Ukrainian President Zelensky had not been invited to the Alaskan meeting.  President Trump greeted President Putin in Alaska with the enthusiasm of an Ally.  After the Alaskan Presidential Conference at a hasty Press Conference both leaders tried to put a positive spin on the meeting which in the end did not seem to have shown much in the way of real positive results, with the exception of putting War Criminal Putin back on the World Stage.

Today President Trump met not only with President Zelensky but with several Leaders of European Countries who are all concerned not only with the future of Ukraine but are also concerned with their own countries futures.  Once again Trump did his best To make it sound as though something important was happening.  

But was it.

We can only hope that something worthwhile comes out of these meetings.  What was obvious to anyone watching Trump meeting with Zelensky and his rather impressive backup crew today was that, far from the last time Zelensky met with Trump and was verbally ambushed by Trump and Vice President Vance and thrown out of the White House, Zelensky was the point man of a United Group of European Leaders who were not going to let Trump disparage and embarass Zelensky this time around.  Certainly the impressive Group who met with Trump had learned their lessons about how to handle Trump.  They praised Trump and almost sounded as embarassing as if they were at one of Trump's Fawning Cabinet meetings.  

Trump talked about all of the war's that he had solved in the past few months and of course it would have been nice if someone would have demanded some truth rather than Trump's bullshit but he is who he is and it is a waste of time to be looking for him to change into someone different.

Clearly at this point it is anybody's guess as to where the Ukraine war goes from here.  It would be great if these meetings are going to lead to an end to the war in Ukraine.  It sounds as thought nobody except Vladimir Putin wants it to continue but as Donald Trump talks about "Land swaps" it is important to remember who started the war in the first place.  Donald Trump seems to want to lay the blame on Zelensky I guess because he was not cooperative enough to simply hand over his country to the Russians.  But the truth is that Putin invaded his neighboring country of Ukraine with no legitimate reason for doing so and has punished Ukraine for being brave enough to stand up to the Russians.

What I am sure that all of the Leaders of European countries know and are worried about is that if Vladimir Putin gets away with annexing any part of Ukraine that their countries may be and probably will be next.  We found out in World War II that appeasement does not work.

What should be the case right now is that Genuine Democracies in Europe in NATO should meet immediately and declare that they are admitting Ukraine and are warning Putin to get his troops out of Ukraine.  

Along with this the United Nations should meet immediately and declare that they are demanding that Russia should begin removing their troops from Ukraine and should be out of Ukraine in 30 days.  It is way past time for Democracies to allow Vladimir Putin to take over neighboring countries because he wants to renew the Soviet Union.  

Putin needs to be stopped and stopped now so that the majority of the world can live in peace with their neighbors knowing that they are not in danger of being taken over by their neighboring countries.

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher