They're at It Again!

Okay, now they're at it again!
Yep, and they aren't fooling.

Trump and some Republican friends

Are in support of a ruling

To take away the health care from

Twenty-one million souls.

Destroying the ACA° has been

One of their loathsome goals.

Do you have a pre-existing

Condition? If that's true,

Finding affordable health care is

Going to be hard to do.

Dependents under twenty-six

Who up to this point can

Be covered on your policy will

Be kicked off your plan.

Are you perhaps on Medicare?

Well, congratulations!

You are going to have to pay

More for medications!

To roll back Medicaid expansion

In thirty-seven states

Means that millions of people are going

To be in desperate straits.

Did you hear that Trump has said--

Such hypocrisy!--

The real party of health care is going

To be the GOP?

He claims he loves America!

It really seems as if

Republicans don't care that he

Is leading them over a cliff.

-by Bob B (3-27-19)

°Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)

"Vengeance Is Mine!"

"Vengeance is mine!" says Donald Trump.

When he strikes out, he thinks for sure he

Will make his critics cringe and cower,

For they'll be met with "fire and fury."

He expects apologies

From all who tried to "bring him down."

"No Obstruction" he says in a tweet--

Capitalizing a common noun.

"I have been exonerated!"

He says to the world, although it's not true.

But when has truth ever been

Essential from Trump's point of view?

Poor Trumpy just doesn't see

That when you lie, you raise suspicions.

Concerned people have looked for answers

Despite the president's admonitions.

When one lie after another is told,

People don't know what to believe.

It seems the Trumpian motto is

"To get ahead, lie and deceive."

If he were the only one lying then we

Could say, "Well, that's par for the course."

But when surrogates back up his stories,

Deception's become a tour de force.

Were there any apologies

For TEN Benghazi investigations,

None of which proved that there

Were any criminal violations?

If we weren’t constantly barraged

With lies and cover-ups, we could

Move ahead and find some ways

To benefit the common good.

Now watch how Trump behaves at rallies.

He'll find ways to weaponize

The Mueller Report. Ready, set,

Go! Ah, here come more lies!

-by Bob B (3-26-19)

Crackdown

Putin signed a bill into law--

Another bill that will surely curtail

Freedom of speech, for violators

Could very likely end up in jail.

This is the most recent attempt

To stifle the freedom of thought and expression.

For years, such autocratic

Control has been Putin's obsession.

They say that it's an effort to make

Fake news disappear,

Although "fake news" is anything that

The government doesn't want to hear.

This is what it basically means:

Russia will not tolerate

Criticism of Vladimir Putin

Or "disrespect" of the Russian state.

Of course, that's just attacks on Russia.

Everything else remains the same.

Russian attempts to tamper with

Elections here will be fair game.

So American democracy

And institutions remain under threat

While Russian troll farms and Russian bots

Keep on flooding the Internet.

Will Trump speak out, or will he stay silent?

We hear how often he defends

Autocrats, and to hear him speak,

Putin and he are the best of friends.

-by Bob B (3-20-19)

On the Rise

As Trump speaks from his bully pulpit,

Spreading more nonsense and lies,

White nationalist violence is

Definitely on the rise.

He may downplay atrocious behavior

And overlook figures and facts,

But other leaders feel that they're given

The right to commit egregious acts.

Listen to the president's words.

It isn't hard to see where he stands.

If fans don't get their way, he says,

They'll take matters into their own hands.

We know when Trump gives a command

In code or directly, some will jump.

He claims he has support from police,

The military, and Bikers for Trump.

Immigrants are "invading" our country;

Rough up hecklers. Those words are his.

He may claim he's not a racist,

But white nationalists THINK he is.

-by Bob B (3-18-19)

Is There a Last Straw?

America has no monopoly

On white nationalism and hate,

Which the recent shootings in

The mosques in New Zealand demonstrate.

Men, women, and children were slaughtered

While praying on a holy day

When a deranged hater decided

Their lives were his to take away.

It doesn't help when Trump comes off

Sounding like an Islamophobe.

To see evidence of that

Doesn't require a Mueller probe.

Calling for a Muslim ban

During his campaign, he sought

To gain support by stoking fears

And HE knows how to stir the pot.

His vitriol continues as he

Calls asylum seekers invaders

And stone-cold criminals, thereby

Inciting his abhorrent crusaders.

Use fear and what happens?

The consequences prove to be dire.

We see what kinds of maniacs

That vile and odious words inspire--

Maniacs filled with anger,

Malice, bitterness, and spite,

Who think it is a privilege

And special honor to be white.

We all have a duty: we must

Use our vote to shut off the spigots

Of extremism and hatefulness--

To stop electing hateful bigots.

The world grieves as innocent people

Lose their lives while at prayer.

Terrorists want us to think

That we aren't safe anywhere.

Offering sympathy is fine,

But frankly, inaction has its flaws.

Instead of requesting thoughts and prayers,

New Zealanders will change gun laws.

-by Bob B (3-16-19)

Nancy's Smile: Remembering a Friend

When Nancy smiled, the world smiled.

There is naught that can erase

Her smile that's etched into my heart--

A smile that brightly lit up her face.

Think of a lustrous beam of light

That blissfully penetrates

A pitch-black night or darkest gloom--

That rapturously radiates.

Such a beam was Nancy's charm;

Such a beam was Nancy's smile.

How I envy her effortless laugh,

Her quick wit, her perky style!

Three daughters left behind

Inherited their mother's charming

Traits: her wit, her zest for life,

Her smile so radiant and disarming.

More than once Nancy faced

Close calls but vanquished death.

While paying one more visit, the thief

Absconded with her final breath.

I hope that when my end draws near,

I can be as calm, as brave.

I hope that I can take with me

Her beautiful smile to my grave.

-by Bob B (3-8-19)

The Big One

California--earthquake country--

Faces a threat that's true:

A massive quake we call the Big One

Is LONG overdue.

We must face the facts, and here

Is something to think about:

California's experiencing

A so-called "earthquake drought."

The southernmost stretch of the San Andreas

Fault--it appears--

Hasn't had a major rupture

For 340 years!

When it happens--man o man!--

We'll be rocking and rolling.

Even though we're better prepared,

That's not too consoling.

The ground will shake, overpasses

And bridges may collapse,

And houses can slide off their foundations

As the seconds elapse.

Walls will crack, chimneys will topple,

Dishes will crash on the floor.

We will see a mess such as

We've never seen before.

Knick-knacks will fly off the shelves.

What else? It's hard to tell,

But bookcases and curio cabinets

Will topple over as well.

Objects will fly across the room.

So, be sure to stand clear.

If the magnitude is high,

Damage will be severe.

Gas lines, sewage lines,

And water mains may break.

Widespread, destructive fires

May happen after the quake.

We may be without power

And water for many days.

Helpless, we will have to stand by

And watch the fires blaze.

The Big One could happen now,

Tomorrow, or years down the line.

To scorn its inevitability

Would be asinine.

Without warning, the quake will occur.

It's hard not to be scared.

I'm NOT looking forward to that day.

Tell me: are you prepared?

-by Bob B (3-5-19)

You're My Man

D.J.T. to world autocrats:

"If you can rule with an iron fist

And get your critics to cease and desist

By forceful means--get the gist?--

Then you're my man.

"If you have got the strength and power

To make the wondering masses cower,

And if you'll let me build my tower,

Then you're my man.

"If you know how to control elections

And put down those who raise objections

Because you've got the right connections,

Then you're my man.

"If you get people to misconstrue

Deceitful things you say or do

'Cause you've got people who'll lie for you,

Then you're my man.

"If you know how to ride roughshod

Over the rules to get the nod

For finance and insurance fraud,

Then you're my man.

"If you know how to blast and blame

To make divide and conquer your game,

And deception is your claim to fame,

Then you're my man.

"If you can win through populism,

Get away with nepotism,

And stoke the fires of nativism,

Then you're my man.

"If you know how to cleverly make

Your trusting fans give you a break,

Despite the fact that you're a fake,

Then you're my man.

"If you know how to work it right

And let yourself be full of fight

So you can gain more power and might,

Then you're my man."

-by Bob B (3-3-19)

Sing, Michael!

Sing, Michael! Sing your song.

Let your voice be loud and clear.

Yes, you might have done some wrong,

But now what have you got to fear?

Suborning perjury, tax evasion,

Bank fraud, insurance fraud…

And yet your previous boss continues

To hide behind his MAGA façade.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg,

For we can guess what else he's done.

We wait for more revealing details

On Individual Number One.

What ever possessed you to be

The fixer for a conman who

Lies to us--the American people?

Did you not know what would ensue?

Illegal campaign contributions

Don't upset his supporters at all.

Their main concern is that their man's

In office and that he'll build his wall.

You have seen how his Republican

Goon squad in Congress has his back,

And how the members will lie and cheat

To help the megalomaniac?

You must face the consequences

For what you've done, but pray tell,

Will he have to pay for all

The illegal things he's done as well?

So you've lied for the president.

Maybe the truth will set you free.

We are patiently waiting for

The results of Mueller's inquiry.

So sing, Michael! Sing your song.

Let your voice be loud and clear.

Yes, you might have done some wrong,

But now what have you got to fear?

-by Bob B (3-1-19)

How Do I Know? 'Cause Putin Told Me So

D.J.T.:

"There was no conspiracy.

I won the race legitimately.

How do I know? 'Cause Putin told me so.

"Kim Jong Un can toil and toil,

But his bombs can't reach our soil.

How do I know? 'Cause Putin told me so.

"Before I ask our experts,

Usually I think twice.

I would rather go

To Putin for advice.

"NATO doesn’t need our aid.

I think we are being played.

How do I know? 'Cause Putin told me so.

“Nuclear treaties? Not essential.

Power makes you presidential.

How do I know? ‘Cause Putin told me so.”

-by Bob B (2-27-19)

Teflon Don

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)

And Yet Another Crackpot Emerges

Wow! Here we go again:

The FBI stopped a crime,

Preventing a screwy miscreant

From mass killings just in time.

A Coast Guard lieutenant he was

Who loves Russia's autocracy

And neo-Nazi literature,

Which threaten our democracy.

He had the names of Democrats

And media figures on his list,

Along with a stockpiled arsenal--

This crazed domestic terrorist.

Advocating violence,

He’s published words of hate and fear:

He would do his part in order

To make a "white homeland" here.

In our current environment,

Where vitriol is a daily occurrence

In presidential tweets and no

Criticisms provide deterrence,

The president's hateful attacks on reporters

Should truly sound an alarm bell.

He says, "I HATE some of these people.

But I would never kill them…WELL…"

So unfit for office he is,

He doesn't even realize

The impact of his messages--

The lives his words jeopardize.

He can’t seem to help himself

Or see his own contradictions.

The country is filled with crackpots who

Eat up all of his crazy fictions.

It took Trump a week to speak out

Or mention the seriousness of this case.

Why so long? Heaven forbid

He anger extremists among his base!

-by Bob B (2-25-19)

Stuck on the Wall

(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.

Screw 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)

Beware

Beware the Sinclair Broadcast Group,

Where needed attention to truth is skipped.

Anchors from all across the country

Have to read the very same script.

Harmless? Well, that's what you think.

The trouble is problems arise

When the news stations are forced

To spread to millions the president's lies.

What should be an anathema to

A free society happens to be

A broadcasting system that is

The next best thing to state-run TV.

Here's the major emphasis:

Coordinate presentations.

The Group cunningly sets out

To brainwash viewers of local stations.

The wise, of course, see through all

The blatant deception, but many don't

See through the crafty propaganda

Machine--either they CAN'T or WON'T.

Woe is us if our news system

Imitates Putin's, and so

Beware the Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Reject the dangerous puppet show.

-by Bob B (2-12-19)

The Anointed One?

The leader's fans grovel before him--

The wannabe autocrat.

The "anointed one" is what they call him.

Yes, they actually call him that--

A morally corrupt man

With nineteen or so accusations

Of sexual misconduct, and is

The center of many investigations;

Whose character ought to be

A shining example in people's lives,

And yet who has, as everyone knows,

Cheated on ALL three of his wives;

Whose thirst for attention, praise, fame,

And recognition is undying;

Who's known for stiffing workers and is

Given to pathological lying;

Who brags about grabbing women's

Private parts because he can,

Because he thinks his wealth has made him

A privileged, entitled man;

Who had a fling with a porno star

When his son was four-months-old;

Who also paid hush money to

A sexy Playboy centerfold;

Who incites hateful white extremists,

Who now feel more emboldened to spread

Hatred and animosity

And cause innocent blood to be shed.

And yet…and yet…despite all this,

A person whom rational people would shun

Is called by some supporters out there

A savior--THE anointed one.

What a mondo bizzarro we live in!

Nowadays so much is at stake.

But calling him the anointed one?

For goodness' sake! Give us a break!

Unless one day they open their eyes,

They'll be in for a BIG surprise.

-by Bob B (2-5-19)

One Woman's Complaint

"I am having trouble understanding what it is

That motivates the machinations of the male sex.

They LOVE to flex their muscles but the mental muscle ought

To be the real muscle that they flex.

"I will not apologize for having natural beauty.

I've been a lucky person ever since my birth.

But why is it so hard for men to gaze beneath the surface?

They constantly overlook my worth.

"Hey, tell me what is wrong with clever conversation.

My girlfriends tell me it's a gift for which I have a knack.

But guys come up and talk to me for one reason only,

And that is to get me in the sack!

"I'm not saying all men out there out there act like lecherous louses.

Some have great respect for women; they know how to treat them.

But they must be a dime a dozen, for to tell the truth,

I have no idea where to meet them.

"I wish I could be optimistic, but it's really hard

To meet that special person who could be that perfect find.

Someday I would really love to meet a guy who has

More than sex and football on his mind.

"They say that all the nice ones have a wife and kids, or maybe

They have other interests, and that's fine. But egad!

Just because they're married doesn't mean that they are perfect.

A married man can also be a cad.

"Though I’m not a rocket scientist, I am not a dummy.

To try to guess what makes men tick I guess would be in vain,

For even though I graduated summa cum laude,

The SOBs don't want me for my brain!"

-by Bob B (2-2-19)

Slow Down!

An article recently published by BUZZFEED--

Damning to Trump--came up short.

A spokesman for the Mueller team

Questioned the accuracy of the report.

Trump thinks it exonerates him;

He thinks he's off the hook. But NO,

Mueller's saying, "Not so fast."

In other words, he's saying, "WHOA!

"Slow down, everybody.

Let me finish my job here."

Trump keeps hoping his inane tweets

Can make the facts all disappear.

BUZZFEED, however, stands by its words.

Reporters want to know just where

Inaccuracies can be found.

And we remain left up in the air.

We don't know as much as Mueller,

And even though we're not omniscient,

What we know about Trump already

That gets him in trouble is sufficient.

Trump's been involved in constant scandals.

I guess that is to be expected

When a country goes berserk,

And someone like him is elected.

-by Bob B (1-19-19)

Doing Things My Way (3)

(Can be sung to the melody of Frank Sinatra's "My Way")

For TWO years now I've been

The mighty leader of this nation,

But I can't stand it when

I don’t receive great adoration.

Believe me when I say

My way's the ALWAYS-best-to-lie way.

And you can do it too

By doing things my way.

Mueller is going strong.

I am sick of his damn query.

But they've all got it wrong.

They can't prove their stupid theory.

My fans KNOW my style is NOT

A JUST-lay-down-and-die way.

I have gotten by

By doing things my way.

My tryst with Stormy and my fling

With that McDougal woman bring

So much grief into my life,

Especially with my wife.

But, nonetheless, I will confess

I love things my way.

And now I want my wall;

If I don't get it some will suffer.

I will shut things down

Just to show I'm not a bluffer.

You can dupe the world

With simply the "M" "Y" way.

So I will not deny

I love things MY way.

I've had to fire more than a few

'Cause they say things that are untrue.

And my toadies on the Hill

All bow down; they know the drill.

They know the ways to get my praise:

Just do things my way.

Yes, do things my way.

-by Bob B (1-16-19)

______________________________

2017 and 2018 VERSIONS:

DOING THINGS MY WAY (1):

(THE INAUGURATION SONG)

(Can be sung to the melody of Frank Sinatra's "My Way")

And so, I'm standing here

To say an oath and pledge allegiance.

Though some will cry and jeer

And accuse me of malfeasance,

The fact that I can stand

Before you now in a tough-guy way

Proves that you can play it through

By doing things my way.

Yes, I've stiffed a few,

But that's my disposition.

That's what you have to do

To carry forth your mission.

I knew what I was doing;

I was acting in a sly way.

Just do what I tell you

And do things my way.

You might not like the things I say

Or what I do, but that's okay.

Celebs like me all have it made.

Just don't drop the masquerade.

It's all the same; just play the game

And do things my way.

I've had three wives. So what!

I've had just two divorces.

The news? Don't watch that smut.

I have found better sources.

I didn't get this far

By choosing the just-get-by way.

Since life is dog eat dog

Just do things my way.

You never know who you can screw

Until you shift your point of view.

Remember: screw, before you're screwed.

At times be crass; at times be lewd.

Make up the rules; treat them like fools

By doing things my way.

Yes, do things my way.

-by Bob B (1-19-17)

______________

DOING THINGS MY WAY (2)

(SEVENTEEN MONTHS AFTER THE INAUGURATION)

(Can be sung to the melody of Frank Sinatra's "My Way")

Despite all that you hear,

I'm doing great; I'm number one now.

My made-up "truths" endear

Me to my base; we're having fun now.

My ranting and my raving

Show that mine's not the small fry way.

You'll win…you'll win much more

By doing things my way.

I wish the FBI

Would stop investigating.

They know too much. That's why

It is all so aggravating.

I never liked a wuss

Who would take the humble pie way.

No, I am much more ruthless

Doing things my way.

I've told some lies, once in a while

Well, every day, but that's my style.

My Congress boobs, have got my back.

At the right time we'll attack.

I plot and scheme for my regime

By doing things my way.

Putin's my friend, oh,

And Kim Jong Un and I are buddies.

Merkel and Trudeau?

My goodness, they're such fuddy-duddies.

All I have to do

Is just display my evil eye way,

And I'll get what I want

'Cause it is my way.

I am the law; that's plain to see.

And very few are smart like me.

I will say what comes to mind,

And I don't care if it's unkind.

A little greed helps you succeed

When doing things my way.

Yes, do things my way.

-by Bob B (6-26-18)