Bob Pacilio's "Meet Me at Moonlight Beach" book signing NOVEMBER 15th 7-7:30 pm

Gang:

We had a FANTASTIC turnout on Nov. 15 at Coffee and Co. for the book launch of "Meet Me at Moonlight Beach." We sold out! More books are arriving today from my publisher--so YOU CAN ORDER AND GET YOUR SIGNED COPY NOW ! 

As you know the novel is available on Amazon, and will soon be a Kindle, as well. Naturally, I had the good fortune to have two of my dear friends Linda Englund and David Fares with me for a reading and as always my fantastic photographer and cover designer Bob Bjorkquist, as well.

I have some of the three previous novels available, too. 

Here is the excerpt from the back cover:

Noelani Keoka and Lewis Bennett sit next to each other in the waiting room of Dr. Amos Adler, an aging African-American psychiatrist, unaware that they are two of a kind. Both of them are trusting souls, blind to the betrayals life can deliver in one swift blow.

A native Hawaiian, Noelani’s passion is to be a professional dancer in Los Angeles, but all that depends on the strength of her legs. Lewis Bennett is a high school journalism teacher in Encinitas, the coastal town north of San Diego, and his eyes are his guide. What can happen when each of them ignores the warning signs of infidelity?  

This contemporary novel explores the brutal physical and emotional consequences that come from misfortune and blind faith. Meet Me at Moonlight Beach addresses the unseen, the unknown and the reckless behavior that can cripple the innocent, and it raises the question of how people can recover when their world suddenly goes dark. 

A few books are available at Book Tales on the 101 in Encinitas (signed):

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT FROM---Coffee and Co. 

A locals hangout!

The owners (also locals) support the arts, music, authors...and make a great cup of Java. [ Next to the Light Gallery ]

  

MEET ME AT MOONLIGHT BEACH: we are LIVE!!

I just published my newest novel Meet Me at Moonlight Beach in paperback (and in Kindle formats is coming soon), and I will be speaking (and signing) in Rancho Bernardo and Encinitas.  (dates/ times TBA.) My book signings will have music, guest readers, and folksy stories about why I wrote a book set in Encinitas!

On a serious note, Joyce Daubert, who read my first draft, thought this was a book about surviving life's physical and emotional betrayals. As the years went by, the novel morphed into a story about trust and the courage to seek guidance and take action.

Speaking of help, I have had a wonderful team of supporters whom I cannot thank enough. Some, like Bob Bjorkquist, were hands on, and others were part of my cheering section, like Linda Englund. Of course, my wife Pam was the person I counted on when it came to the final finished product. I look forward to seeing you folks in the coming months. I have learned much about writing, but the two most important lessons I learned are to slow down and trust my own voice. 

For folks who cannot make it to a book signing, you can buy directly from me either through my website www.robertpacilio.net or by emailing me at robertpacilio@gmail.com. Payment can be through PayPal or by check.  I will be also accepting credit cards at presentations. The novel costs $15. Of course, you can purchase the book or ebook via Amazon, too. The Kindle will cost $9.99 (Naturally, I earn larger royalties buying direct from me--and I will pay for your shipping.) My mailing address is 446 Countrywood Lane, Encinitas CA 92024. I will be filling book  orders ASAP.

I cannot thank my publishing team enough (Christa Tiernan and Michelle Lovi), as well as all my loyal readers (and former students).

Bob

“Living on a Prayer” from Paycheck to Paycheck (with apologies to Bon Jovi)

In the last few weeks, I have been working on the publication of my newest novel Meet Me at Moonlight Beach; however, during this time, the topics for my Metaphor Café Blog have been piling up. So in the interest of time and brevity, here is what I’ve been reading about that old political slogan “It’s the the economy, Stupid”:

First, let’s talk jobs, specifically the jobs at the Carrier plant. The NY Times business section of 8/12/18 did an in depth story on those folks who have still have their jobs. Remember, Indiana gave tax credits to Carrier (due to Pence’s appeal as its former governor) in return for keeping some of the jobs that were going to be outsourced to Mexico. Most jobs were still heading south. One might think those who still have jobs would be happy. 

Truth be told, “…the factory which Mr. Trump is credited with saving is plagued with rising absenteeism and low moral.”  Writer Nelson Schwartz concluded, “Instead, employees share a looming sense that a factory shutdown is inevitable—that Carrier has merely postponed the closing until a more politically opportune time.” 

This is despite growing demand for air conditioners for the company. “No one feels secure or hopeful…’People still don’t trust Carrier,’ said Paul Roeli, who has worked there for 19 years.”

Generally speaking, blue collar workers see a tad more in their pay but inflation is eating that away and with the trade wars starting to have impact in the coming months, the workers are the most likely to feel the brunt; meanwhile, the shareholders keep seeing their profits rise…for now.

Second, let’s discuss the wage gap and the difference between the haves and the have-not-so-much folks. Steven Brill’s newest book is chock full of data about how my generation has rigged economic growth for ourselves. (Well, not all of my generation, but hear me out.) For example, in 1975 the average CEO pay was 1.2M and the worker pay was 46K; in 2016 it’s 15M for the CEO team and 53K for the worker bees. 

So in 40+ years, worker pay has risen microscopically, and I do not need to tell you that insurance coverage has gotten worse, inflation has zoomed up and up. Needless to say, even though the job situation in terms of having a job under President Obama and Trump has improved, nobody on the ground floor has much hope of seeing the American Dream that some in my generation have inherited.

Brill concludes “The result is a divided America. On one side the protected few—the winners—who don’t need government for much and even have a stake in sabotaging the government’s responsibility to all its citizens. For them, the new broken America works fine….” They have private schools, gated communities, private security, and the gold standard of medical care with the insurance coverage that few can afford. So they say, who needs government—Obamacare, public schools, etc.?

And Brill points out that it’s likely to stay that way since the cost of running for higher office has risen with 6.4B spent per election cycle overall. So the interests of the average Joe or Josie working paycheck to paycheck depends on, as Tennessee Williams once wrote, “The kindness of strangers.”

Yes, in 2008 all hell broke loose economically for the Bush administration and the thousands upon thousands of folks who lost their jobs, their homes, and their dreams in the Great Recession. And, yes, President Obama steadied the ship in his eight years in office. That is a fact. Even the anti-Obama folks cannot argue that the USA was on the verge of financial disaster, and it was averted—but not without pain and decades of suffering.

Beware those who now feel that the economy is “just doing great”—chances are, it is for some, but for a far larger audience and their children…not so much. A steady hand will be needed at the helm to keep America from harm’s way. I could say more…and I will, but sometimes one has to accept the reality, acknowledge the truth, and set a course for more “domestic tranquility”…

I am confident that “Yes, We Still Can.”

John McCain: For Whom America's Bell Tolls

This will be the shortest but possibly the most important blog that I write.

I simply want to encourage, with all my heart and soul, each person to take the time to watch HBO's documentary on Senator John McCain entitled "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

It is the examination of the hardships and triumphs of a true American hero. People of my 'vintage' know some of the story of this heroic man--but this telling, by politicians of all political stripes including President Obama, paints the picture of what it is to serve this country, first and foremost. And for the younger generations, this is a profile in courage and a lesson drenched in American valor.

His is a lifetime of sacrifice. It is a tale of love, loss, grit ...and a few other choice four letter words that this maverick experiences all in the service of truth, honor, and always in the positive values that makes America "the last and best hope for the Earth" of which we live.

He is a fan of Hemingway. He is the grandson of an admiral. His ancestors fought for the Confederacy. He survived torture that is beyond comprehension as a POW in the "Hanoi Hilton."

The pity for me personally is that he did not win the presidency in 1999 when he ran against George W. Bush. The documentary explains why.I wonder what shape our nation would have been had he not been so viciously attacked in that 'political race.'

This is the man Mr. Trump insulted. This is a man who gave more to this nation in a day than Mr. Trump could ever give in a lifetime. Mr. Trump cannot possibly embody even a molecule of the Senator's character and nobility. McCain is repulsed by what he sees today in the political partisanship of Congress.

To all those people rallying at Trump's shows...take to time to see what a real hero stands for. You will be humbled and, frankly, embarrassed by the buffoon you are idolizing.

Senator McCain speaks of how government is supposed to work because it used to be that way. 

Joe Biden was one of his best friends. Almost everyone who speaks of Senator McCain chokes up when trying to take the measure of the man.

God Speed Senator John McCain. God Speed.

The Eulogy to My Uncle Joe and Aunt Lillian May 19, 2018

Today I speak at the Celebration of Life for a man, my Uncle Joe who was known by those who
loved him as "The Legend." These are a portion of my remarks (if I can get through them). For all of my loyal readers, I hope that you have had Aunts and Uncles like Joe and Lillian Cantone.

Joe and Lillian headed west to California…

My folks, Louie and Tessie followed…

They encouraged Benny and Rosie…

…And thus began “Brooklyn’s Glenmore Avenue Trek” to find the California Dream.

They have all passed now. And their children and their children’s children continue their legacy… following in the footsteps of my Uncle Joe and Aunt Lillian.

With my Uncle Joe’s passing yesterday, it made for a tossing-and-turning night of sleep, as my mind kept trying to find the words to take the measure of a man, as I recalled the memories of the patriarch of the Cantone family.

*          *

Joe Cantone and “his bride” Lillian were no frills, but plenty of thrills, kinda folks. Joe would tell me that he might be the brawn, but Lillian was the brains of the operation. Joe was a talker; Lillian a listener. Both were wise, humble and, most of all, generous. These were qualities passed down to the Fab Five: Joe, Doreen, Joyce, Janet, and Neal.

The Cantone’s are all about family. Inclusion. Love. They follow the lead of their mom and dad: hard working, multi-gifted, and kind. Even though I saw them occasionally, I always sensed that their “second cousin” was blood. They went out of their way to see me speak in schools, and my wife Pam and I were proud to be in their circle of love when Uncle Joe flew past his 85^th birthday in style—even dancing the hula in a grass skirt with coconut shells adorning his chest. He cracked everyone up. I will forever be grateful for their embrace.

Joe was a master of many trades, but his greatest accomplishment was to put five children on his back, make sure they understood that “Christ, ya gotta be smart and work your ass off to make it.” And make it they all did. It was never easy for Joe, but it was never dull, and it was always, always loud in their house. Whether it was singing at Christmas or just a get together on a birthday, you had to adjust the volume on your own headset as your ears would ring—and when you left you always knew that your own voice would be happily strained.

There were special moments between me and my Uncle Joe. One such moment was on the morning my father passed away, Joe came up the steps of their mobile home, and said to me, “Son of a Bitch, Bobby—well, if you ya gotta go, Christ, Louie went the right way.”

One thing you had to understand was Uncle Joe had his own vocabulary and style of speaking to you. He reminded me visually of the actor James Cagney, with that “Listen to me, Kid” style as his shoulders often lifted, and he poised himself to make a point. He always called me “Bobby”—and I liked that. He often started sentences with “Christ”—to Joe, the word “Christ” was a variation of “Okay” or “Well” or just “Geeze”—as in “Christ, Tessie anytime you need me I’m just down the street.” “Jesus Christ” was reserved for when he was mad…but I won’t go there.

All of us “kids” knew that we always saw the best of our uncles and aunts at get togethers. My cousins always thought Aunt Tessie and Uncle Louie were funny and caring. But we also knew that when the party was over, all of the aunts and uncles could face hard times, too. Nevertheless, when we were all together, it brought out the best in all of us.

Uncle Joe was a larger than life character. We all referred to him as “The Legend.” But he was real; his smile wide; his eyes would twinkle behind his wrap-around shades (so Italian); and his laugh so hearty that all those around him were sucked into the laughter, as well. And his dreams, his California dreams of a lasting legacy, were realized by the generations he witnessed with his own two eyes.

No greater accolade can be said of a man than that he made his family’s dreams come true.

That is what I most admire about him.

God Bless,

“Bobby”

I Stand as “the Loyal Opposition.”

Here’s the difference between me and Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s Majority leader who decides what goes to a vote in the hallowed halls of the Capitol. I want America to succeed—even under Mr. Trump. We need a vigorous Department of State, a Veterans’ Administration that continues to successfully serve our wounded soldiers, an Environmental Protection Agency that does just that and, naturally, an Immigration Service that has control of America’s borders and vets those who come to our nation in the hopes of a better and safer life. Who could be against any of these things, you ask?

Mitch McConnell. The moment Barack Obama was sworn in as our 44^th President, McConnell proclaimed to the nation that he would do all in his power to make Mr. Obama a “one term President” and obstruct any and all policies that the newly minted President offered to our legislators. Thus, he was rooting for President Obama to fail.

And that is exactly what McConnell did. Obamacare only passed on a straight party vote because at that time and for two years, the President had a majority in the Senate and House. But during those two years, the forces of the right wing screamed bloody murder. “There will be death panels!” “He is a socialist!” “He is not even an American—he wasn’t born here!” “He’ll bankrupt the country!” and of course, “He’s a Muslim!”

As we know, the truth was that 24 million people were added to health care insurance market; people who had put off seeing a doctor because they could not afford it. Yes, some insurers pulled out of states because they were not making enough profit, but not all insurers. Mr. Obama said over and over that the system is not perfect, far from it, but he continued to implore the ‘loyal opposition’ to help fix it and improve it. And we know exactly what these loyalists did—they tried in vain to repeal it some 50 times. In those eight years of complaining, we learned, after the fact, they had no plan to “replace” it, not to ignore that Mr. Obama is a US citizen and Christian, there were no death panels, and the nation’s economy wasn’t bankrupted at all.  

After the mid-term elections, the impact of the lies and brazen attacks on Mr. Obama took a toll. And to be fair, most Presidents’ luster wears off after two years. And once in control, the Republicans literally shut down the government. Ted Cruz sure was happy.

Enter stage right, Mr. Trump. He claimed in his Inaugural Address that the “American carnage” was over. This was ironic, since the “carnage” to the job market, the Stock Market, and the financial institutions that Mr. Obama inherited in 2008 had been healed, treated, and the patient was recovering fairly well, all things considering—especially the US auto industry. 

The facts are evidenced of this graphic. Is there still a wealth disparity that looms over the nation?and that was a heavy lift. Clearly, America eight years of President Obama had set the ship back on course.

Yes. But that is my point. One President tries to build on the next President’s accomplishments, not tear those accomplishments down. Ronald Reagan asked if we were better off in four or eight years. Not all Americans were after Mr. Obama, but the nation was on the precipice of economic catastrophe with major institutions going bankrupt. We were bleeding out hundreds of thousands of jobs a month. All of that was reversed,

I root for America. I am glad that the unemployment rate has continued to drop from Obama’s 5% to its 4% level. Good on us. I’m glad ISIS is slowly (seemingly) falling apart. The controversial drone attacks Obama authorized seemed to have a serious effect. I know that Mr. Obama deported many people who were here illegally; those whom his administration felt were a threat to our security. Mr. Obama felt this needed to happen in a humane manner.  I’m glad the economy is growing and has been growing since 2008. Good on us. All Presidents and United States legislators should advance the nation’s interest—that is their goal and their sworn oath of office.

However, that was not McConnell’s view. It is not Mr. Trump’s view. They are intent on taking anything that has the signature of President Obama on it and ripping it to shreds. DACA cancelled. Obamacare’s mandate that people pay into the system cancelled. (Only the integrity of John McCain saved the program from being completely leveled). Environmental regulations on auto emissions cancelled. The Paris Accords limiting global warming—America checks out. Soon the treaty agreed to by the United States, Europe and Iran, dismantling its nuclear program is in serious jeopardy. Why? If it is because Mr. Trump does not ‘trust them”—then why would he trust North Korea? And as for negotiations in general, the State Department has been gutted, US ambassadors in many critical nations unnamed. Even Mr. Pompeo, the new Secretary of State, realizes this disaster waiting to happen.

And finally, the incontrovertible fact confirmed by the CIA, NSA and FBI that Russia meddled in our election: hacking and subverting our most important institution, the American trust in free and fair elections. And this fact has been denied, downplayed or ignored by President Trump, who is sworn to uphold the oath of office to protect the United States… “against all enemies, foreign and domestic; ...” Even Mr. Trump’s Republican colleagues are frustrated with his feigned ignorance on this issue.

This is what discord brings. President Lincoln said “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

How divided are we as a people? Today at the Encinitas Street Fair a man strutted by me aloof to his t-shirt’s insulting bold lettered message (and I am omitting the three letters with *):

TRUMP

F*** WHAT YOU FEEL.

That is not American patriotism. Not in my book. I stand as “the loyal opposition.”

Bob Pacilio's Metaphor Cafe.blogspot.com: Do You Understand This Man? We Think We Do…But Do ...

Bob Pacilio's Metaphor Cafe.blogspot.com: Do You Understand This Man? We Think We Do…But Do ...: For years I told my students a story, a true story, a quiz really, about a man who, as a reward for his distinguished work in his field, p...

Do You Understand This Man? We Think We Do…But Do We?

For years I told my students a story, a true story, a quiz really, about a man who, as a reward for his distinguished work in his field, purchased a Lamborghini. He then drove it to visit his father.

I have left out some key details, and as I include them, you will undoubtedly begin to know how the story, and the quiz, concludes. (My high school students did, too.)

The Year—early 1960’s

The State the father lived—Alabama

The Man driving the car—A black man, approximately 6’10’’ tall

The City he purchased the car---Boston

With those clues you may have already solved the mystery of what happened to this black man once he crossed the Alabama state line.

 

Yep, you guessed it. He was pulled over by the police. You’ve probably guessed why.

After telling the “boy” to get out of the car, assumed to be stolen, (you know why, right?) the man did something that only someone well versed in the politics of the situation does—he raised his hands, high—oh, so very high. He waved them around. Why?

You may have guessed that, too. So other motorists would stop and see this spectacle: a 6’10” black man standing next to a Lamborghini. Not an everyday occurrence on a country road in the heart of Dixie.

Naturally people stopped. Lots of folks did. Before the policeman could do too much mischief, someone turned to the officer and said something to the effect, “Hey, y’all know who that man is, Officer? That man is Bill Russell. Why he’s that famous basketball player from up north in Boston. I seen him on TV. Others confirmed this identification.

And finally, predictably, the officer decided to apologize. But before he let Mr. Russell go he asked for something. You know what it is, right? Tell you in a minute.

55 years later the Black Lives Matter is still marching for the dignity that all lives deserve. However, this is not an essay about civil injustice. It’s not about police harassment. It’s not about race. It’s not about Mr. Bill Russell, the greatest champion his sport has ever known. Nope.

This is an essay about one of the many lessons Atticus Finch imparted on his daughter Scout…and if he is not known to you, perhaps you’d best read the novel.

I have no idea what it is like to be black, Hispanic, illegal, female, famous, athletically gifted, etc.

I have no idea what it is like to be a student at any school where there has been a mass shooting.

I do not know the prejudice faced by women in the work place. 

I do not know what it is like to be a slave. 

I do not know what it is like to run the Veterans Administration VA.

I don’t know what it is like to be a hunter. 

I don’t know what it is like to be a politician, democrat/ republican or something in between. 

I don’t know what it is like to be gifted beyond the normal scope of men and women.

But this I do know. I want to learn. Ignorance is not bliss—it is lazy. Ignorance wraps itself in a security blanket that makes people secure in their myopic view of the world. 

I have never been a soldier or one that parachuted into a war zone.

I have never been homeless. 

I have never been addicted to drugs. 

But I know these people.I tried to understand them.

I can have sympathy, but not empathy. So life’s journey, if you are a person who is compassionate and tolerant—open minded to different ideas, even some that at first blush are distasteful, life’s journey is to find out the answers. To make the effort to learn about those whose experiences are so different than your own.

Atticus Finch sat on the porch with his daughter Scout, who can’t understand her teacher’s actions, and explained it this way: “If you learn a simple lesson, Scout, you’ll get along a whole lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. Step in their shoes and walk around in them.” To Atticus’ way of thinking, that was the only way to explain compassion and understanding. It is when we feel it, really feel it, whether in a book, a documentary, a film, a neighbor, a relative, a song…or the man whose room has the decorations won in a war that ultimately we as a nation…lost.

It’s really simple. Oh, and the officer who stopped Bill Russell that sunny day, what did he ask for?

An  autograph. God’s honest truth…but I bet you already guessed that.   

Dedicated: to the Students who created "The March for Our Lives"

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Bob Dylan

Come gather 'round people

Wherever you roam

And admit that the waters

Around you have grown

And accept it that soon

You'll be drenched to the bone.

If your time to you

Is worth savin'

Then you better start swimmin'

Or you'll sink like a stone

For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen

Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now...Will later be last

For the times they are a-changin'.

I heard this song just the other day...and I stopped dead in my tracks. 

I thought about what it means.

You can't ignore these young people.

One sign reads at the March reads...

"You cannot stop 'stupid', but you can vote it out"

Ode to Sergeant Joe Friday: “Just the facts, Ma’am.” [Dedicated to teachers who are assigning a research paper this spring!]

As a Baby Boomer, I watched “Dragnet” and, however corny and stiff the police show appeared on my black and white TV, it was always clear two things mattered to the gumshoe investigators. What was the data (physical evidence that could be measured (“See that blood on the carpet, Joe?”), and what credibility did the witnesses bring to the investigation in order to discover the truth? (“How did you know it was him, Ma’am?”…. “Because he was my, my lover!)

They got it right 100% of the time. Ah, Hollywood. If it were always that easy. But even today, those principles still are neither out of date nor are they irrelevant. The problem is that they are often ignored. In a Trump World of Fake News, how can we tell “Just the facts,Ma’am”—when we don’t establish what facts are? Here are some tried and true methods.

First. The data. Crunch the numbers and consider whose fingers crunched them. Let’s take the issue of the economy and whether the wage gap is really significant, i.e. “The rich get richer and the poor…have children.” In February of 2017, “In the last two quarters, Gross Domestic Product has risen more than 3%...but many people don’t feel the upside….According to the Pew Research Center report, the average hourly wage for nonmanagement private-sector work was $20.67, a measly $1.49 higher than 1964, adjusted for inflation.” [Time 2-5-18 p41] And that’s the average. Imagine the low end of the pay scale! So despite a “booming economy”—it’s not booming for the worker bees. Those are the facts. Legit. The Pew Foundation is as non-partisan as it gets. Numbers are numbers.

Let’s try the immigration debate. Is Trump deporting the bad “hombres”? He claimed he was going to do, as opposed to Obama’s deportation policy? In this example, let’s use data and an excellent knowledgeable “witness”—Pratheepan Gulasekaram, a constitutional and immigration law professor from the University of Santa Clara. His studies show,“Despite the President’s frequent talk of ‘rapists and murderers”; the most influential shift in 2017 was that ICE agents arrested 146% more noncriminals, compared to a year before [under Obama]. In 2016, 14% of the people whom ICE arrested had no criminal record. In 2017 close to 26% were.” [Time 3-19-18 p40] So clearly Trump is arresting a lot of “low hanging fruit”; people who were just easy to scoop up at 7-11 while they are heading to their low paying job. (This was the cover story in Time.)

Okay, one more. Global Warming and its effects on the disasters in various cities. It is public knowledge Trump claimed it was “a hoax’ perpetrated by the Chinese. In an article entitled “How We Know It Was Climate Change” by professor of earth systems science at Stanford, he concludes, “ This was the year of devastating weather, including historic hurricanes and wildfires….Did climate change play a role? Increasingly scientists are able to answer that question—and increasingly, the answer is yes.” [NYT 12-31-17 p.10] The article discusses the fact that these events are all of the highest magnitude in history because of the warming of the planet and the rising of sea level. No mention of the Chinese…or Russian hackers.

So apply these standards: legit studies and qualified sources reported by organizations that are adhering to the highest standards of journalistic ethics. (Remember, they can be sued and reporters fired.) When teachers assign research papers, demand source citations and teach students to inspect them. Wikipedia is only acceptable if the source is quoted directly and cited in the footnotes. Websites by organizations that do not adhere to journalistic standards are just left or right wing propaganda.

Is MSNBC, FOX, CNN legit? Consider this: whom they interview and if those interviews are part of a written piece in a journalistic publication or a journal like SCIENCE, authentic data or qualified sources. Don Lemon’s opinion is just that—one man’s opinion. He is not a lawyer who studies the case, nor is he a scientist. Rachel Maddow admits she is not a lawyer either, so she interviews them—often they are folks who worked directly with cases like Nixon’s prosecution. Fox’s Hannity is really unqualified. Not a college grad (no journalistic background); he is merely a radio shock-talker. Read up on him (or read my Hannitygate Blog). Same with Fox and Friends. They just gab about ‘stuff’…and have the ear of the president.

Final note: Teachers—your librarian is our best asset. They often purchase  research cites that  have published articles. DO NOT GOOGLE “Is racism still a problem?” You are likely to get all sorts of bogus ads, websites, and the fringe ilk who have little validity.

  

If you live in the 49th Congressional District—your VOTE will be critical and Mike Levin is the best candidate to give a check on Trump’s chaos attack on America’s instructions

It’s gotten down to this: too many Democrats are in the race for the 49^th,  and in California the two who get the most votes in the June primary, are advancing to the final November vote. The problem: it could be two Republicans! (More on them shortly.)

We have passed the date when the weaker candidates can drop out. So Here is why Mike Levin is the BEST, most electable candidate for, frankly, everyone to support—that includes Republicans.

Why? First a quick explanation of the faults in the other three Democratic candidates. First and foremost, when the Democrats realized the problem that they could be locked out of even making the primary ballot, their was a forum called “The Viability Forum” to have all five candidates speak to why they should be the best choice. All five confirmed they would be there. On the morning of the well publicized and attended meeting, only Mike LEVIN showed up. (A fifth candidate had the good sense to drop out.) Mr. Applegate claimed he would go to “a bar” totalk to his supporters; Ms. Jacobs and Mr. Kerr just said they did not want to be associated with a PAC (at the last minute), and just like that Mike LEVIN was the only one there. So lying to the people of the 49^th and wasting so any people’s time and efforts is a huge strike against them.

As for Mr. Applegate, two things haunt him: he has raise a pittance compared to LEVIN and even Jacobs. (LEVIN has been one of the first in and has knocked on doors raising 1.2 million to Applegate’s 662 thousand, despite Applegate’s name recognition. Secondly, the Republican, Diane Hartney, a big Issa supporter and a tax cutter, will certainly raise the issues that Issa raise (unfairly, I add, but in politics your past can haunt you). See below:

“Democrat Douglas Applegate, a retired U.S. Marine colonel challenging Rep. Darrell Issa’s reelection bid, was accused of harassing and threatening his ex-wife during their divorce proceedings and child custody battle more than 10 years ago, court records show….An Orange County Superior Court judge granted Applegate's former wife, Priscilla Greco, two temporary restraining orders against him in 2002 and 2004.”

So Applegate could not win when Democrats came out in droves for Ms. Clinton. He has little chance four years later. Personally I have issues with his temperament. He comes across as a ‘tough guy’—but not very smart. I saw him speak to 100’s of people at the Democratic forum and I am not kidding –the first words out of his mouth were “I’m gonna beat that SON OF A BITCH (Issa)! Really? Is this the kind of person we expect to bring a sense of integrity and decorum to government? I can he is the lesser of the two evils—the two Republican nominees, but we can do better.

As for Ms. Jacobs, if Mike LEVIN were not in this race I would support her. But her poll numbers will make it very likely that she will eliminate both LEVIN and APPLEGATE and she cannot catch up fast enough. Check out this data:

“In a narrowed field of candidates, Chavez maintains the lead with 23% followed by Democrat Levin at 17%, Republican Harkey at 16%, and Doug Applegate at 15%. “The Top Two primary math is working against Democrats in these districts,” said Katie Merrill, chief strategist for Fight Back CA. “With a bus load of Democratic candidates in each of these races, the odds are increasing everyday that Democrats could lose these seats without ever seeing the general election “

 She grew up at the southern tip of the 49th district, in Del Mar,…Her grandfather, Irwin Jacobs, co-founded Qualcomm, the hundred-billion-dollar telecommunications company, and her family are prominent Democratic donors.  That is why she has 1.3 million in her coffers as of Jan 1, 2018. I like her, but she entered the race far too late and she will rely on a barriage of TV (expensive) ads. In the end ever person (particularly young folks who vote for her will likely simply give the election to Rocky Chavez or Hartney who will nudge out LEVIN and the unelectable Applegate. Had she made the decision to run at the beginning of 2017, things would be different but even she admits at 29 she was not sure she ws ready. One more thing—the Republicans will tie her to President Obama (which makes her appealing to me, but she worked for Ms. Clinton prominently as an unpaid foreign policy adviser on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign.…and that will hurt her.) And she DID NOT SHOW UP top the meeting. I saw her speak—she will be terrific, but right now, she will just end up strengthening Trump’s hold on Congress. Sorry, Sara.

Mr. Kerr is raising money 1.0 million, but I saw him speak and, frankly, he knows a lot about small business in exclusively Sa Diego and he is a rags-to-riches- guy, but he will 1. Do what Ms. Jacobs will do, and 2. He is utterly unprepared for national office. His lack of knowledge of domestic affairs and international issues was hard to watch. He just repeats his mantra—I am from here and I’m a businessman. We deserve someone who already knows the issues and can speak to them lucidly and has a vision of what is going on in Trump’s administration. Sorry, Paul—run for State Assembly. Oh, and he also did not show up for the meeting he promised he would!

 So why Mike LEVIN? Here is what I wrote on Sunday, May 7, 2017: I have seen the future of the 49th Congressional District and its name is Mike Levin ! (It is even truer today IF PEOPLE REALIZE HOW THEIR VOTE IS PIVOTAL.

“Mike Levin has outraised Applegate in every single quarter, despite the fact that Applegate ran in 2016 and should have had a ready-made donor base at his disposal,” Levin’s campaign consultant, Parke Skelton, said in a statement.

The most impressive quality that Levin displayed is his temperament. He calmly explained how a disastrous house bill that has no Congressional Budget Office score was passed with the deciding vote attributed to Issa--vote 216. This bill has no cost estimate yet, will knock 20+ million people off insurance, and allows insurance companies to weasel out of covering some people with pre-existing conditions.

Mike Levin has an impeccable resume. He is forward thinking and knows the Trump agenda that Mr. Issa embraces with glee, despite the evidence that renewable energy is America's future; that Obamacare is more popular than ever; and that a 20+ billion dollar wall between the USA and Mexico (that America will pay for !) is not supported by the majority of voters or legislators on the border.

Mike Levin sees the future in a world that author Tom Friedman argues is accelerating rapidly. That makes Mike Levin a political rock star...if we are wise enough to listen to him.

Two Footnotes: 1. Ms. Hartney is cut out of the mold of Issa. Tax cutter, and worked in that industry exclusively. Orange County all the way. She will be just what Trump wants. 2. Rocky Chavez—“In the Legislature, Chavez has built a reputation as a moderate with an interest in veterans issues and education. Last year, he faced heat from his GOP colleagues after he and seven other Republicans helped pass an extension of the state’s cap-and-trade system, a signature climate change program backed by Gov. Jerry Brown.” Now will he cave to Paul Ryan and Donald Trump? That is a chance, right now, I’m not taking.

And finally why does all this matter? Our nation’s strength is built on checks and balances. Trump and his cronies control both houses of Congress, the majority of Supreme Court Judges, the EPA, the Justice Dept., and he has eviscerated the FBI and NSA  as well as the CIA. He listens to no one, except his own TV network. He will fire anyone who will speak truth to power. As for the massive tax cut he signed, check out Kansas and Louisiana and see how that’s going. They are failing states. Now they are trying to reinstate the taxes because the promised jobs are not coming and the schools and infrastructures are crumbling.

So only through the election can Trump’s march to power be at least muted. Don’t just believe me: ask Romney, Bush, and an assortment of Republicans who are leaving office, or are Generals, former top aides to Republican Presidents, etc. Trump running a muck is the most dangerous thing to our democracy.

So vote LEVIN. Don’t split the vote. We live in the most forward thinking state, California, with a 6 million dollar surplus—yes, we are not perfect, but we can stop Trump. 11 seats are needed. The 49^th may be the most critical.

Thanks for your patience. I know this was a long one. Footnotes will appear in my “comments”—no fake news here.