Carole Simpson

Impeachment Crazy

Jan 28, 2020 | Bad Behavior, Congress, Republicans, Something. To. Say., Trump

Impeachment Crazy

Hello Everyone:

      I have something to say about Donald Trump’s Impeachment Trial. It’s Crazy Town.       

      I have watched many hours of the coverage. I heard the Democratic House Managers lay out their case against the President. They made compelling arguments that Trump should be removed from office because he abused his power and obstructed Congress. They had evidence. And Congressman Adam Schiff was eloquent.

       And then I watched Trump’s defense lawyers lay out their case for Trump to remain in office because he didn’t do anything wrong. He didn’t abuse his power because he is all-powerful. Oh, really. But they had no evidence. They tried to mount scholarly arguments that the impeachment law didn’t apply to Trump, and they also lied. Why not, they represent Trump and he lies all the time.

      It’s all too sad. Because witnesses or not, the fix is in. The Republican Senators, like lemmings, will follow Mitch McConnell into the sea. Trump will remain in office.

            And who’s going to suffer over the next eight or nine months of his term—maybe even four more years? We will. The American people. And our country.

            If that’s not what you want, then you better get out there and vote. Not only in November but in your primaries and caucuses that will be coming up.

            See you next time.

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Harry & Megan: Are You Kidding?

Jan 21, 2020 | Something. To. Say.

Harry & Megan: Are You Kidding?

Greetings everyone.  I have something to say about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. I’m talking of course about Prince Harry and Megan Markle.

         Forgive my attempt at a British accent. More specifically, Queen Elizabeth’s accent. I do want to talk about Harry and Megan.

        When I first heard that a black actress from Los Angeles was going to marry into Britain’s royal family, I was ecstatic. Fairy tales do come true. I wondered what effect she would have on the Royals and the effect they would have on her. Apparently, it wasn’t good for either side.

        Now Megan and Harry are abdicating their royal duties, moving to Canada and striking out on their own to have a more peaceful life. Are they crazy? Most people would want to be in their shoes. They want to be like the rest of us, having jobs, paying their bills, getting stuck in traffic, flying commercial airliners, and calling the plumber. Will baby Archie be in day care? They are just throwing away the palaces, world travel, limos and the gold carriages.

        Okay, I get it. Megan has had a rough time. The British press has been racist, her in-laws have been frosty and so the dashing Harry basically left his family for the woman he loves. But it hasn’t even been two years. They couldn’t wait a little bit longer to see how things work out.

         Well, I hope it will all work out for them.  But it sure was nice to see a beautiful black American woman holding little bi-racial Archie, while talking with his great grandmother, the Queen of England!

        See you next time.

How Does an Impeachment Trial Work?

Jan 15, 2020 | Congress, Something. To. Say., Trump

How Does an Impeachment Trial Work?

Hello Everybody. I have something to say about how the Trump impeachment trial will work. I found out some friends were confused about what the House and Senate are doing.

        As a former civics teacher, who knows firsthand about the sorry state of civics education in America, I thought I’d offer a simple explanation to everyone.

        First of all, remember that this is a trial. Think of President Donald Trump as the defendant. He has been charged with committing crimes: obstructing justice and obstructing Congress.  Who made the charges? The House of Representatives, who voted in December to impeach Trump. They found him guilty.           

        The impeachment case then moved to the Senate, for trial. A real trial. Several House members will act as the prosecuting attorneys. They will present their case against the President to all 100 members of the Senate. The Senators are the jury and at the end of the case they will vote on whether to remove Trump from office. The President, like any accused person, will have a team of White House lawyers who will act as his defense attorneys.

         Presiding over the trial is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts. He serves as the Judge. Sustaining or overruling objections and maintaining order.

         How an impeachment trial should be conducted was established more than 213 years ago by the Founders and enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Got it? Got it.

Until next time.

C’mon. Cure the Common Cold

Jan 13, 2020 | Health, Something. To. Say.

C’mon. Cure the Common Cold

Hello Everybody.  I have something to say about the common cold.

As you can see, I’m suffering from one right now, like millions of Americans. I wonder how we can design driverless cars, and smartphones and take pictures of a black hole, but can’t come up with a cure for the common cold. I know it’s a bad flu season but there’s a flu vaccine. But nothing to prevent a cold. Do you know Americans have a billion colds a year? Adults get colds 2 to 3 times, and children 10 times a year.

I was walking down an aisle in Home Goods a few days ago and a man was approaching on the other side. He got about a foot from me and let out a loud, wet, sloppy sneeze. I was like, “Oh no. There are cold droplets in the air and they’re falling on me.” What could I do? Nothing. And two days later I was had a runny nose, started coughing and sneezing, had a headache and sore throat. No fever. A bad cold.

Researchers, who have been trying to find a cure since 1950, say it’s extremely difficult because there are at least 160 different viruses that cause colds. They ask, how do you get a vaccine that will take care of all of them? Still seems a cure is a long way off.

So, we have to be content with cough syrup, decongestants, nose sprays, Tylenol, and lot of tissues and hot tea. It’ll be over in 7 to 10 days, but in the meantime, it’s a drag.

Until next time.

2019 Top Ten List

Jan 2, 2020 | Activism, Bad Behavior, Something. To. Say., Trump, Women

2019 Top Ten List

Happy New Year, Everybody!

I have something to say about 2019. Everybody has a top ten list. Since I am a wise old woman, I compiled mine.

My whole year seemed consumed with all things Donald Trump. But Number One on my list is his impeachment in December. Finally, somebody told him, no more.

Number Two was seeing old women leaders exercise power, like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Senator Elizabeth Warren and the best Supreme, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Similarly, young women showed their muscle and that’s my Number Three. The four Congresswomen of color, known as the Squad, shook up the old white men in Congress, who didn’t much like their chutzpah. And Katie Bouman, the young scientist who helped make possible the image we saw of a Black Hole.

Number Five is youth activism. Greta Thunberg and youth across the planet have taken on the fight for climate change and American teenagers continue to protest gun violence.

The MeToo Movement was my Number Six. The resistance gained traction that led to new laws and corporate policies against sexual harassment and sexual assault.

I joined a huge gathering of some of the most successful, brilliant, and celebrated African Americans in the country. My Number Seven was the History Makers, an important reminder of the contributions that black people have made and continue to make to our communities and the nation.

Like any wise old woman, I feel compelled to speak about some personal things that happened in 2019.

My Number Seven is retirement ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. After 62 years of non-stop working, I retired in 2019, not because I wanted to, I was given a push. I realized that I love to work, so I started this blog.

Children and grandchildren are Number Eight. My son and daughter are both happily married and enjoying their careers, and nothing is better than watching my three grandchildren grow and learn. My best times are spent with them.

Number Nine is my health. I’m grateful to still have most of it. I do what the doctors say, wear sensible shoes and grab handrails.

Now Number Ten may seem inconsequential but it’s not. It’s my pets—my toy poodle Coco-Puff and my Siberian cat, Catarina. They are my home companions. They are glad to see me, happy to cuddle and don’t talk back. They made 2019 tolerable. 2020 may be pretty rough. I expect them to ease the pain.

 

The best to you all.

Christmas Time Blues

Dec 12, 2019 | Congress, Politics, Something. To. Say., Trump

Christmas Time Blues

Hello everybody. I have something to say about all the flurry over impeachment this Christmas season. To be honest, I don’t have anything to say about it. Because I don’t know what to say. Except, I’ve got the Christmastime blues. Never felt like this.

       I should be glad that House Democrats got around to writing articles of impeachment. I think Donald Trump has been a bad president. He’s done everything he wants to undermine our democracy. He should be impeached and the House will vote that way just before Christmas. A nice present? Yes, but only momentarily.

       After the New Year, the case goes to the Senate for trial. There will never be enough votes to kick him out of office. The Republicans will see to that. So, he will remain president all next year. And he’ll run again in the November…AND he may be re-elected, God forbid.       

      So, these are the thoughts hanging over my holidays.  You know what, I’ve even messed up the famous Dickens’ tale, A Christmas Carol.  Trump is Scrooge, because he’s rich and doesn’t care about poor people; and he’s also the Ghost of Christmas past 2016, when he got elected and there were shenanigans; the ghost of Christmas present 2019, when shenanigans are still going on; and the ghost of Christmas future 2020. Oh, Lord have mercy on us all.

Republicans Deaf and Dumb on Impeachment

Dec 6, 2019 | Congress, Republicans, Something. To. Say.

Republicans Deaf and Dumb on Impeachment

Hello Everybody. I have something to say about Republicans.

     I’m talking specifically about those elected to Congress as the people’s representatives. Could someone please tell me what turned congressional Republicans into a ragtag band of sycophants bowing and scraping to President Donald Trump?

       These Republicans were on display in all their vainglory during the House hearings into the impeachment of President Trump.  They squealed, shouted, interrupted and insulted witnesses while putting on a pitiful defense of the president. They had no facts, no evidence, just “hoax”, “witchhunt” and “scam.” If you watched the testimony and had only half a brain it would probably be clear, that our president is corrupt and should not only be impeached but kicked out of office.   

     Yet, except for Senator Mitt Romney some time ago, not one Republican in Congress has had the cojones to speak out against the President’s misconduct. Aren’t there some— one or two— Republicans who will say Trump has violated his oath of office? But they say nothing. Nothing.

            A close friend of mind says the congressional Republicans act like they are in a cult. A Trump cult. I can imagine that— like they drank the Kool-Aid and can’t and won’t, speak ill of Trump, under any circumstances.  Are they so anxious to get re-elected that they are putting party before country? God help us. I don’t think history will look kindly on the Congressional Republicans of today.