God Bless America (New Found Verses)

Please Forgive Me Irving Berlin

God help America

Land that we loved

Whisper to her

To show her

You still care

With a light from above.

From the right wing

To the left wing

Those who tarnish her good name

God help America

Remove their shame.

God help America

Seeking a way

To caring

And sharing

To the soul you gave her every day.

From the east coast

To the west coast

North and south please, help us all

God help America

Once more stand tall

#thebrewsterblock

Schumer: Another Mess You've Gotten Us Into

Thanks for Nothing Chuck Schumer

You can tell a lot about a person by image and first impression alone. Take JFK or Obama or George H. W. Bush for example. You know they were first class and highly intelligent. They had charisma. Take Trump - please. He has none of that.

During the impeachment hearings I admired the way both Pelosi and Schiff handled themselves even though they were not victorious. They were well spoken and passionate.

Then there was Schumer and Nadler. It is hard to imagine JFK and Nadler on the same stage for example. He has all the enthusiasm and charm of Newman in Seinfeld.

But this is about Chuck. He certainly did not do any Democrat any favour by attacking Judges of the Supreme Court. If the Democrats were ready to climb the last stretch of Everest and place their flag at the summit, he just kicked them back to their last camp and maybe into a crevasse.

Just look at the eyes peering over the glasses. He is acting - performing for the crowd. He reminded me of Bob Hope. Loved by many, he had a certain annoying delivery. He would tell a joke and the punch line and then get a smirk on his face and wait to see the crowd's reception of it. Chuck does the same thing by looking over his glasses. It is like "How was THAT one - really good right? I'm really clever right?"

Wrong. You played right into Trump's hand and his people's. Criticism of a Court decision or expressing an opinion on a pending one is OK, but naming judges and threatening them is absolutely wrong. And that is what you did Chuck. Dance 'till the cows come home. Sorry, that's an image I don't want to see, especially if he is peering over the specs.

Watch the re-run and observe your eyes. Don't ever run for President. You will lose on your first speech.

#thebrewsterblock

Tip My Hat to Steyer, Buttigieg, and Klobuchar

I Was Wrong And Glad Of It!

In recent posts I have to admit I wrote about the unlikelihood of any of the Democratic candidates dropping out for the good of the party. I thought they would fight until the last of them was standing. I wish more professional politicians could make similar admissions.

Now that Tom Steyer and Pete Buttigieg have already done so I eat my words in a most humble pie. It is indeed good for the party. FLASH! I just heard that Amy Klobuchar has joined them.

Tonight is another evening of CNN town halls with the remainders. Tomorrow is Super Tuesday. We shall see if any more follow after Tuesday. I suspect so. It has been a long road since the peak of 20 plus announced. I guess this is democracy at its best - certainly better than the Republican race was in 2016. But then only one really dragged them down into the mud.

I admire the three who packed it in. Besides money it also takes a special kind of person to handle that pressure and be able to speak on their feet never knowing what will be thrown at them next. I think all of them could serve the country well as part of another's team, especially at the White House.

Congratulations on great campaigns and a tough decision. I'm sure we will be hearing from you again.

#thebrewsterblock

Democratic Debate Mic Left On By Mistake

The Magnificent Seven; The Seven Wonders; or The Seven Dwarfs?

In the most recent Democratic debate, live on stage, somebody turned the microphones on too soon. It was not broadcast but is alleged to have gone something like this...

The Rest: OK Bernie. No offence but the target is on your back tonight.
Bernie: You nitwits couldn't draw a target if you all got together and together is just not in your vocabulary.
Pete: When I was serving in the military, I hit more targets than...
Bernie: Ya, Ya, Ya, hail to BUTThead.
Pete: That's "BOOT", not BUTT
Amy: You're going to feel six boots tonight and they will all be on your BUTT.
Liz: You all sound worse than the kids I used to teach.
Joe: God help those kids ...
Tom: I thought we all agreed to ditch the sniping or we will all pay the price...
Liz: How about you and your moneybags buddy over there paying the price. You've both bought everything else!
Mike: Typical frickin bitch remark...
Amy and Liz: What did you just say Mayor Frisky-Frisk?
Pete: When I was serving in the military, when we heard misogynistic comments like that ...
Joe: Oh stick a mortar shell in it Pete
Moderators: OK guys, we are nearing air time. Bring it down a notch.
All: Oh stick a mortar shell in it! Good one Joe. Can't you see we're busy fighting here?
Liz: So purple suit. Why don't you just face facts and drop out for the rest of us?
Amy: At least I own a suit four eyes. Where'd you get that outfit - Target Boutique?
Pete: Speaking of targets, when I was serving...
Tom: OK Patton, we get it.
Amy: Before I was interrupted, I'm not folding. When they hear about my support in the Midwest...
Liz: News flash snowbird. Neither Carolina is part of the Midwest. By the way, since you are facing East right now, the part of you facing West could use a little more support...
Amy: Oh yeah Miss Native Minority Queen? Want to step outside? That war paint you're wearing isn't going to help you out there, or your military brothers.
Pete: OK guys. I'm taking bets. Could use a little boost in the funds.
Joe, Mike, Tom, Bernie: We're in. What are the odds on Liz?

Mike to self: I knew the claws would come out. Two down, four to go...

#thebrewsterblock

Corona Virus COVID-19

Can You Name 5-6 COVID-19 Precautions?

I have seen simple precautions we should all be taking now, published in many places, to help limit the spread of this potential killer and to help prevent contracting it.

I could list them here but you should look them up and PRACTICE them. I shake my head when I see people violating the obvious ones every day. I try to follow them, but even as I write I just scratched my eye and the side of my face. This is a no-no.

Every Seinfeld fan probably remembers the episode with his girlfriend's father. He owns a restaurant and cooks in it. While Jerry washes his hands at the sink in the men's room he sees the father leave a cubicle after doing his "business" and head straight out the door, tainted hands and all. He then handles Jerry's food with his bare hands.

I can't believe the number of times I have witnessed this very act (without the food prep. I hope.) The majority of men after using a urinal only hold their fingers under water for a few seconds and then wipe them thereby polluting the towel dispenser or the door handle! I hope women are better.

People sneeze, cough, pick their noses and bite their nails constantly. What chance do we have when all of these habits will spread it and anything else?

Here are a few more ideas :

- Perhaps this is happening already but employers should take the initiative and emphasize to all staff that coming to work if they show any symptoms of illness IS NOT AN OPTION and they will not suffer loss of pay.
- We should all be calling out the sneezers, those not washing hands etc.
- How about posting anonymous videos of violators. Maybe fear of being caught will work.
- Wearing surgical or other rubber gloves will help protect you (but will still spread the virus when gloves touch surfaces IF this virus is spread by contacting surfaces.)
- Don't shake hands or even fist pump.

- For sure don't do the kissy cheek thing

- Come down really hard on violators of safe hygiene practices in restaurants, bars, and pubs

- Don't have any form of sex under any circumstances. OK just testing to see if you are still with me.

Another thought: When we get over this, it seems to me there is a fortune to be made using today's technology by developing devices for the future. Here are some to get started:

- Move to making all doors touchless open / close by default
- Keep developing speech driven PCs and other electronic devices to eliminate finger use
- Make all washrooms touchless for washing, drying, door opening/closing including cubicles, tissue dispensing. We are making progress here. Same goes for showers and lockers in gyms and sporting facilities.
- Provide and encourage use of touchless hand sanitizers on public vehicles and private shopping facilities

- Research and develop efficient sanitizing devices (like UV) for virtually any surfaces. Use them for all personal devices and for cleaning your home, office, car, hotels etc.

- Make government awards available for developing such items

Feel free to comment below with any other ideas. This is serious stuff.

#thebrewsterblock