FYI

From the Washington Post

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), an orthopedic surgeon who has been one of Capitol Hill's fiercest critics of President Obama's health care law, to be secretary of health and human services, a person briefed on the decision confirmed Monday night.
The public announcement of Trump's selection of Price, a six-term congressman who chairs the House Budget Committee and is regarded as a policy wonk, is expected to be made as early as Tuesday.

TODAY'S POTPOURRI WITH APOLOGIES TO NIEMOLLER

An exhausting past 4 days in which I was unable to find time to write a blog. Perhaps it is a form of burn out but in the 8 years that I have been posting daily with few exceptions I have not suffered from a lack of material. I have not suffered from a lack of material.

This last month has been different. Oh there is plenty of news about Trump and his Transition team but my impression is that the rank and file are tired of hearing about it or are reluctant to question the potentialities of a Trump Presidency.

There are public voices risking future retaliation such as the late night hosts, Colbert, Kimmel, and to a lesser extent Fallon and SNL have continued to satirize Trump.

Even some of the “comic strips” such as the political satirist Doonesbury and recently “Funky Winkerbean” with its present recall of Joe McCarthy’s era have shown some concern of what may take place.

What disturbs me is the absence of the rank and file public voice. I am aware of the few large protest mobs in the larger city, but they have been largely political as a result of the election and about possible loss of entitlements not civil liberties.

The other day before the cartoon was published I recalled this quotation of Martin Niemöller who was before Hitler a prominent Protestant pastor anti-Semitic for which he later apologized and who became an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.

Niemöller said: “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me”

NOTE

Wishing Dan a speedy complete recovery.

THANKSGIVING POTPOURRI

Enjoy your turkey or ham and all the stuff and family as well as the TV on this 2016 Thanksgiving. Be safe and let this be the message of the day. 

 

 

Subject: Pfizer & Pepsi to Merge

 

This will no doubt put Coca Cola out of business in the near future…!

 

The Pfizer Corporation announced today that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form and this new product will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a mixer.

 

It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one. Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning to the names of cocktails, highballs and just a good old-fashioned stiff drink. Pepsi will market the new concoction by the name of: MOUNT & DO.

 

Thought for the day...There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2025, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs, huge erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them. 

 

And...if you don't send this to five senior friends right away there will be five fewer people laughing today.

ADDENDUM JUST POTPOURRI TIME

 When I wrote “My week started off on a low note” I forgot that the week begins on Sunday. If I had remembered that fact I would have written that “My week began on a high for Sunday night I attended a meeting  of Better Together” a group  interested in civil rights and relationships.

This group consisting of senior citizens and high school students  from the Townships of Scotch Plains/Fanwood and the membership of Temple Sholom.  Interested members of other area Jewish organizations or residents are invited to attend.

This year the focus is on Civil Rights. The project is funded by a grant for one year and depending on sufficient participation the grant may be renewed for another year.

Although the weather was horrendous at least a half dozen high school students from both the community and the Temple attended with about 10 total Senior citizens for the hour and half discussion.

Since the Civil Rights movement began over 70 years ago none of the youths had any concept of its origins and most of the elders had no appreciation of conditions in either the South or the North.

Some of the youths were quiet verbal in expressing their feeling on the meaning of the movement, and its viability today.

I felt that this type program has merit and potentiality for the high schoolers in today’s world where there is some much racial, ethnic, economic, and religious tensions.

Back to Trumpism. His two Cabinet appointments this Wednesday; Nikki Haley as UN ambassador and Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education is most encouraging. The jury will still be out up to Jan. 20 as to an indication as to what kind of government we can expect.