Now the Florida governor befuddles us

So this morning there is a headline out of Florida where the governor compares the opening of regular school to the killing of Osama bin Laden. He's a Republican. Did the Republicans even want to give much credit to Obama for getting bin Laden? At the time, they probably resented how Obama had stolen some thunder from George W. Bush.
George W. Bush? At present he along with Dick Cheney's daughter Liz have largely fallen out of favor with what purports to be the GOP. How to characterize the GOP of today? It would tax my grasp of the language to try to characterize anymore. I'm weary. But with time on my hands I still try to shout from the proverbial rooftop.
Doesn't do much good here in Morris MN. Heard a couple of older guys this morning talking in typical sympathetic terms about the president, one of them saying "he gets criticized no matter what he does." It was said in a head-shaking way. I too would say the criticism is legitimate but for different reasons. The criticism really is legitimate.
But we're past exchanging views based on legitimate criticism. Let's see, "the train has left the station?" Something like that. I mean, much of the media really has done its job and revealed the dangerous nature of the Trump presidency - the danger of ignorance and paranoia - for months on end. And the beat goes on.
We're getting news of a very real slowdown with the Postal Service. Mail voting aside, a lot of people and businesses really do depend on this government service, and that's what it is: a service, i.e. the people pay taxes to support it and then the service delivers. Basic enough to grasp, isn't it?
Republicans have always been rather reflexive with their skepticism of such things, but generally it has been rhetoric. It is true that GOPers don't want people to like government, and I'd agree there are times when largesse must be attacked - it's essential. The problem now is that the president and his growing number of influential apologists surrounding him are literally trying to apply all the rhetoric. They ask "why can't the Postal Service make a profit?" It would be nice if the profit motive solved everything. Markets are essential in a healthy society but government is still needed for essential services. What about the largesse in the military? GOPers not so vigilant about that because they have to tap into their John Wayne side. They get many of their supporters eating out of their hands. And when Trump berates a reporter at a press conference for wearing a mask - teasing about being "politically correct" - it has such reach with a large element of the American public.
The Republican governor of Florida grandstands about regular school re-opening. It's the thrust by GOPers to make life seem "normal" and maybe we can look the other way re. the toll of the pandemic. "Normal" school would put people in a more comfortable frame of mind for continuing to keep so many Republicans like Trump in power.
We are truly not out of the woods with the pandemic. If we were to get some sort of sudden miracle, wonderful, we could have church bells ringing across the land. As of this day there are pervasive question marks, one of these attached to the uncertainty surrounding any potential vaccine. As Trump's desperation grows, so does the risk for our whole society, exponentially.
It seems rather naked now: Trump and his supporters wanting the rug to get pulled from under the Postal Service around November. Foil mail-in voting.
I probably don't need to vote because my one Democratic voice would be so overwhelmed by all the red staters who populate where we live. So you guys, don't worry, I'll stay out of your way and you can keep waving your pom poms for your hero Republicans, guys like Congressman Ted Yoho who called Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a "fucking bitch" in a recent encounter.
Doesn't seem like the kind of language I would expect for a hero to the likes of the local conservative church members, the Apostolics, the Good Shepherd crowd and various others. And they can keep waving their pom poms for us. State Representative Jeff Backer who talks about "liberal homosexual money" and puts his imprimatur on language like "leaping lesbians."
So don't worry all you Republicans of the year 2020, I probably will not even vote. I have not arranged to get a mail-in ballot. Simply asking for one might put a target on my forehead with a preponderance of the local folks, all the Apostolics etc. You associate with such class now, a president who pays hush money to a porn star etc. The Florida governor talks about the necessity of real school, yet he spouts ideas like his own education was a disaster. So, where has our education system really gotten us?
Don't all of you rely on the Postal Service on a daily basis for aspects of your lives? Don't you take it for granted in fact? To assail the U.S. Postal Service is really just a rhetorical thing, isn't it? A little therapeutic "venting" sometimes? Which isn't always pointless.
Oh, I have always conceded that conservatives can make excellent points sometimes. They get in line with Trump on criticizing endless Mideast wars - right on. But when George W. Bush was in power, they got right in line with the jingoism, waving the pom poms, cheering for the "Fox and Friends" morning crew that fed the beast.
Today it's all different? Today George W. Bush and Liz Cheney are irrelevant to them, maybe even adversaries to them. There is no logic, no consistency, no morals What has become of us? Ah Bartleby, ah humanity!
I worry about UMM retiree Jim Carlson sitting down in Florida where the virus has ravaged.
  
Should UMM open?
My podcast entry for today, Aug. 13, reminds of the concerns and potential dangers faced by college towns. Hey, that's us. IMHO the regular activity should be delayed, but that's not the plan here. You may click on permalink below for my "Morris Mojo" podcast:
https://anchor.fm/brian-williams596/episodes/Should-UMM-open-ei3nlv
 
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com