scapegoats

What is on Gabby’s mind today are the scapegoats POTUS 47 is creating to the delight of numb-minded Americans and the MAGA crowd. Immigrants, transgenders, blacks and browns, the unhoused population, woke folks, and most recently the Democrats have become his targets.

Certainly, Charlie Kirk did not deserve to die by an assassin’s bullet. His was just another dedicated voice for the far-right rhetoric pumped by the POTUS and his supporters. But on cue, the POTUS played his favorite trump card, viciously blaming everyone and everything for the shooting other than a man and his gun.

If y’all need a scapegoat, take a look at gun violence which has become a sad commentary on American society in 2025. However, it seems that disenfranchised people are an easier target for the POTUS and his minions. All of history’s infamous despots hit upon this realization quickly in their reigns of terror.

Of course, Gabby is not comparing POTUS 47 to any of history’s bad boys. Trump doesn’t have the intelligence to stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Nero or Hitler or Stalin or Putin or Kim Jong Un. He is nothing more than a seasoned PR man who hit upon a winning formula with his TV series and gained favor as the lap dog of the world’s truly notorious bad boys.

By now, some of you are asking, “Gabby, and your point is?”

Martin Niemöller, a prominent German pastor in the 1920’s and 1930’s, said, “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”

After Hitler’s reign of terror was eliminated, Niemöller toured allied-occupied Germany sharing his self-defined ‘confession’ to urge fellow Germans to accept personal responsibility for their complicity in the Nazi regime’s horror.

Gabby must ask of himself and all Americans, “Are we complicit in the crimes of a rogue government led by a modern-day demigod?” Am I fearful of speaking up and standing shoulder to shoulder with the disenfranchised, the poor, the meek, the homeless, the persecuted, the people of color?”

If so, what is my problem? Lack of courage, lack of compassion, a distorted view of faith?

If any of the above are true, perhaps I should align my life according to the grace and blessing bestowed upon me as an American, to always ask WWJD, to honor the freedom which sober living affords. This is my personal responsibility as an American and as a man of faith. To remain quiet dishonors the many patriots and martyrs who have given their lives trusting all of us with America’s legacy.

……and Gabby says, “AMEN, brother.”

77,302,580

Y’all are asking, “Gabby, where are you taking us with seventy-seven million, three hundred-two thousand, five hundred eighty?”

Doesn’t ring a bell, does it?

That, dear friends, is the number of Americans who cast their vote for what we have today as POTUS 47. I promised myself not to take the role of political antagonist when I resumed blogging a few weeks ago. Several of my blogging friends are, by far, more talented and informed than I am. But I also promised to find my voice in support of what is the truth of my heart. If I can rattle a few MAGA cages than I should do so.

Yes, I have several acquaintances who are part of that number, family members also. We have an understanding when we get together. No talk about gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and politics. Truly, that doesn’t leave much to fill the dinner table conversation. Talking about errant cousins and idiot neighbors is not edifying either.

But one question I often die to ask is this. Are you still the strident MAGA supporter screaming vulgarities at rallies, using your middle finger as your primary form of communication, ridiculing those who are not as privileged as you, bullying those who oppose your choice of candidates, wearing your silly red caps and ‘trump girl’ tees?

Does your dollar miraculously stretch further than mine does at the grocery store? The head of lettuce I bought yesterday was almost 5 bucks. Indeed, most fresh produce or fresh meat is priced beyond what I am willing to pay. I shop the grocery store, ACE HARDWARE and local thrift shops. If I can’t find it there, I obviously don’t need it.

“Beans n rice, baby” was a mantra of years ago when I was trying to cook healthier, earth friendly recipes. But, my media connections tell me that rice will become scarce as tariffs stifle international trade. My survivalist friends advise to stock up on essentials and staples that will endure a food crisis. But alas, we also know that in a declared national emergency which POTUS 47 threatens, our food stash can be confiscated by the same military that is terrorizing our Democratic-led cities today. Some call it ICE while others compare that force to Hitler’s special police force. Does that scare you, MAGA? It should, but y’all are too absorbed in the beautiful big bill that guarantees massive tax cuts to the wealthiest of Americans and gives us peanuts.

Nothing wrong with peanuts. I love peanuts. I have a terrific peanut butter cookie recipe that Grandma shared with me decades ago. But, get honest with me you 77,302,580 American voters. Are you still proud of what you did? Is your life better than it was in 2023? Will you sit idly by the roadside as your immigrant co-workers and neighbors are rounded up and sent to hell holes that in any other society would be termed concentration camps? What will you do when they come for you? Y’all ain’t special. POTUS 47 will one day throw you under the bus like he’s done to all the folks who are no longer useful to him. Think about it. If there are future elections in 2026 and 2028, who and what will you vote for?

Will you spiffy up in your red caps and silly tees when you head out to vote? Will you say a prayer asking the good Lord to guide your thinking and vote for what’s good for all the people? Will you try to remember that all of us from the highest-ranking leaders to the immigrants working the fields and meat factories are all children of the same God. We are a population of brothers and sisters.

No, God did not send to us POTUS 47 to save America. God doesn’t make mistakes. Seventy-seven million, three-hundred-two thousand, five-hundred eighty Americans elected him. People make mistakes.