February 11th, Thursday

There was a low rumble of thunder outside as my alarm went off this morning. by the time the grandkids were up and eating breakfast rain was falling. It’s a cool, wet, winter’s day, heading towards the heaviest shot of winter weather we’ve had all season. The weather gurus are predicting will get down into the teens come Monday morning or Tuesday morning. That is not a normal winter’s situation here on the gulf coast. There’s even a chance of wintry mix precipitation on Monday. February snow is very rare hereabouts.

I spent yesterday with the Senate trial on the TV played in the background as I went about my day. Even though, I’m sure it’s a waste of time, I feel it’s an exercise that must be done. I find myself unable to comprehend the thoughts of the conservative, and I use that word reluctantly, followers of Donald J Trump. There is such a dichotomy between the professed beliefs and the stated praise of his actions.

There is only one thing that seems to run through all of his supporters’ speech and action. And that one thing is anger. Anger at the unknown. Anger at the other. Anger at the changes that have been wrought in this nation. Anger at their feelings of lost power. Lost identity. Lost direction. Anger.

Even the relatives that I’ve grown up loving, gone to church with, shared bread with… I no longer recognize them through their anger. And I can’t understand it, I can’t condone it, I can’t believe it… What has changed over the years other than the power base that they’ve enjoyed most of their lives?

I hold out a very little hope that the Republicans in the Senate will hold Donald Trump accountable for his actions and his words. And is someone said yesterday, how can we work together with someone who has tried to overthrow our democracy, even if it is by inaction?

Bipartisanship means two different things to the two parties that run our country. Sadly, it seems to me at least, that Democrats version is to negotiate with themselves, trying for something that Republicans will support until the bill becomes something even most Democrats don’t like, and still no Republicans supported. For Republicans though, it seems bipartisanship means support us or else. Government can’t work this way.

So I suppose, we’ll stumble along in two year increments fighting over the scraps of democracy until there’s nothing left. Hell, and I’m an optimist, what does that say about us?

Well, my rant is over… I’ll leave you with a couple of pretty flowers out of my front yard. I don’t know if they’ll be here next week. I’m not sure what a hard freeze will do to these… we don’t generally get hard freezes this time of year.