Looney Tunes

Really!

During the presidential campaign, specifically August 2024, pledged to the American people that he would bring food prices down starting on Day One of his term if elected.  Specifically, he stated, “When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on Day One.”  A week beyond Day One of his second term the price of eggs has not gone down.  Nope, they are getting more expensive than ever.  Promises, promises, promises.

 

But hold your horses—or maybe chickens, the press secretary for the president had a good explanation.  White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed soaring egg prices on former President Joe Biden’s administration.  She proclaimed with certainty: “As far as the egg shortage ... the Biden administration and the Department of Agriculture directed the mass killing of more than 100 million chickens which has led to a lack of chicken supply in this country. Therefore, a lack of egg supply ... is leading to the shortage.”  Tell me it ain’t so, Joe!

 

I can’t believe that Joe sent out chicken hit squads to round up 100 million birds and kill them thus curbing the availability of affordable eggs to the American people.  The cruelty of it all!  What a meanie!

 

The truth is that the government did no such thing.  There were no chicken hit squads.  Blame the farmers with all the chickens.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Inspection Service states that when a crisis like an outbreak of H5N1 (a highly transmissible and fatal strain of avian influenza) happens, egg producers are forced to cull their flocks according to policy.  This has affected more than 147 million birds since the outbreak in 2022.  To compensate these egg producers the Department of Agriculture has spend at least $1.14 billion for the birds they have had to kill. 

 

Whatever the case, a promise is a promise . . . and we ain’t seen it delivered yet. 

 

The communication and responses we are hearing from the administration and president are completely looney tunes.  I feel like that Looney Tunes soundtrack should be softly playing behind every press conference that is held by the Orange One and his administration.  The only thing that is missing is Porky Pig adding the benediction at the end . . . “That’s all folks!”

 

Unfortunately, it is not only the cartoon characters doling out these sadly comic responses.  Even the big guy is picking up this outlandish excuse and blaming behavior . . . he never misses an opportunity to insert his foot into his mouth.  Take for example his response to the plane crash that happened in Washington, D.C. in which 67 people tragically died.  Minimal empathy and a whole lot of ridiculousness, finger pointing, and blaming.

 

Though there is no official statement about the cause of the crash, it did not stop the Orange One from sharing his thoughts.  He variously pointed the finger at the helicopter’s pilot, air traffic control, Joe Biden, and other Democrats—including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.  He said, "We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas.”  Which, of course, he freely shared.

 

The biggest culprit is DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion).  “I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first," he stated. "The FAA's website states they include hearing, vision, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability, and dwarfism." Ever the intellectual giant that he is, he was basically spewing out echoes of a “false news” story about FAA policy to recruit people with disabilities from Fox News after the problem with the Alaska Airlines that had a door blow off during flight last year.  The story basically stated that the accident was due to unqualified people with disabilities hired to do jobs like air traffic controllers.  This was a false accusation.  When questioned how he could make such a claim, he responded, “Because I have common sense, OK, and unfortunately a lot of people don’t."

 

Common sense would dictate that he actually read what it takes to be an air traffic controller.  It has nothing to do with diversity, equity, or inclusion . . . it has to do with standards that the federal government determined.  Standards that are tougher than those placed upon the individuals flying the planes.  Those include:

• Be a United States citizen
• Be under the age of 31
• Pass a medical examination
• Pass a security investigation
• Pass the FAA air traffic pre-employment tests, including the Air Traffic Controller Specialists Skills Assessment Battery (ATSA)
• Speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment
• Have three years of progressively responsible work experience, or a Bachelor's degree, or a combination of post-secondary education and work experience that totals three years

Then they must complete the required training courses and attend the FAA Academy.  Once this is done individuals must gain two to three years’ additional training in the classroom and on the job site—before being certified as a professional controller.  It is open to anyone who can do the job regardless of diversity, equity, or inclusion status.

Not enough evidence of the craziness and looney tunes being shared?  How about the one about Jesus and electricity?  As impending tariffs are being threatened against Canada, Mexico, and China, it comes as no surprise that those countries are pushing back with their own retribution.  The prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has stated that his country might cut off energy to the United States.  The ever-eloquent press secretary for the White House responded with assurance that it was okay because “Jesus didn’t have electricity either and he did just fine.”  WHAT!!

I am sure that Ms. Leavitt was just attempting to be assuring to the American people that everything would be fine . . . because, you know, “Jesus didn’t have electricity he did just fine.”   Duh!  In the times of Jesus no one had electricity!  Nowhere in the scriptures does it mention electricity.  Maybe it was in those writings that the Church rejected as being a part of the holy tomb.  I don’t know, but I get her point.  If Jesus can do without electricity, so can we . . . after all, this is a solidly Christian nation . . . right?  I roll my eyes and wonder where in the world the Orange One gets these people. 

If you have been keeping up with the Senate confirmation hearings . . . well, you have been witnessing even more looney tunes.  The president of common sense has picked some real winners to take on the responsibility of leading our nation.  People who are not even aware of what the job is they are being asked to do and what it means to the people of this country.  They give ridiculous answers that echo the words of the one who nominated them . . . they cannot think for themselves . . . cannot think beyond their loyalty to the Orange One.  Plus, we are witnessing that they are willing to say whatever it takes to get the job and then do a 180 when they assume the job.  It is just crazy.  For entertainment’s sake, it is better than Saturday morning cartoons.

How can we take these people serious when they keep spewing out these crazy communications?  How can we trust these people when they tell us these looney tune answers to serious situations?  We know that our president has a difficult time with the truth, remembering things, and shooting off at the mouth before putting his brain in gear.  It might be because he is getting OLD.  But still . . . come on.  What we are witnessing . . . what the world is witnessing . . . makes us all look like dolts.  We are not idiots nor are we lacking common sense despite what the Donald says.  We recognize a comedy of errors when we see it.  Let’s call it what it is . . . cue the music . . . it’s Looney Tunes. 

 

Chosen?

Enough is enough.

During his inauguration address President Donald Trump recalled the assassination attempt during the campaign.  He has often referred to it as a “divine intervention” and “mandate” from the Most High—namely, God.  He proclaimed, “I felt then, and I believe even more so now, that my life was saved by God to make America great again.”  He believes—or at least acts like he believes—that God has chosen him to make America great again.  In this mission he doubled down that his administration “will not forget our country, we will forget our Constitution and we will not forget our God.”

 

The Orange One is now a god-fearing person on a mission for God.  Near brushes with death can do that to a person.  It can change them.  Or maybe his campaign team saw it as an opportunity for exploitation.  People love a good “brink of death” story that involves religious overtones.  Especially the evangelical.  Whatever the case, he’s been working it ever since—he is the “chosen”.

 

Somehow, I must have missed the memo.  You know the one . . . the one declaring him the salvation of the nation and its citizens. It seems all of the evangelicals got it.  All his MAGA supporters got it. I must have missed the cut.  Being a fair-minded person of faith, I want to give him the benefit of doubt whether I got the memo or not.  A faithful version of the Orange One would be a remarkable upgrade over the previous one from 2017-2021.

 

I really do . . . I really do want to believe him.  At the same time, I am reminded that “words are cheap” and “action speaks volumes”.  Sadly, “the Donald” fails at both as God’s emissary—as God’s chosen.  Neither his words or actions live up to his supposedly divine calling or the promises he made at what many believe was his coronation.  So far there hasn’t been a whole lot of the “divine mission” displayed.

 

It started with the ironic during his oath to the office of the president.  Traditionally the swearing in takes place with the president-elect placing a hand over a Bible (or other religious or symbolic book) while taking the oath.  Trump did not.  Nope . . . with one arm raised, the other hung down by his side.  It was just danglingly there despite the fact that his wife held two Bibles—the family Bible and the Bible used by Abraham Lincoln at his swearing in.

 

For a person called by God to save the nation, one would have thought he’d have no qualms about swearing on a stack of Bibles.  Someone suggested that he was afraid that they would burst into flames or that he would be struck by lightning.  I mean the guy has a remarkable track record.  Maybe he had a brain fart . . . after all he is the oldest person ever to be sworn in as president at 78 years old.  He forgot.  Old people do that.  Maybe, subconsciously, it was a tribute to old Joe.  Whatever the reason, this person of faith missed a public opportunity to show his faith and affirm God’s touch upon his life . . . after all, he said he was the “Chosen”.  People noticed.

 

Come on, we know he is a person of faith.  He told us he was.  He has his own Bible which anyone can buy for the low price of $59/99 or four monthly payments of $25.00.  As Trump proclaims it is “the best” . . . “the finest” . . . “better than any other Bible”.  Probably because it comes in the King Donald—oops, I mean the King James Version—and comes with the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance . . . plus a copy of the handwritten words to the chorus of Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA.  It is a Bible that Jesus himself would be proud to own.

 

He could have sworn the oath on a stack of those Bibles that he is selling.  There are plenty to go around as they are sitting in a warehouse in China where they are published.  If you are interested in getting your own copy you had better do it soon before the Orange One slaps the 60% tariff on China.  If you wait too long, it could end up costing you another $36.00.  That’s the American way!

 

Still . . . I want to take him as a person of his word.  Give him a chance (again).  He said, “I felt then, and I believe even more so now, that my life was saved by God to make America great again . . . we will not forget our country, we will not forget our Constitution, and we will not forget our God.”  So far, his words ring hollow.

 

The day after the coronation, the king—I mean, president—and his entourage attended worship at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.  There he heard a sermon that challenged him to honor his position as God’s “Chosen One” by loving others as Jesus did.  Episcopal Bishop, the Right Reverend Mariann Budde called for the Orange One to serve the presidency with honor, mercy, compassion, empathy, respect, and love for the people . . . the “people in our country who are scared” of all the rhetoric spewing from his mouth.  Needless to say, “the Donald” was not pleased . . . angry might be a better word.  Really angry.

 

 In true Trumpian fashion he fumed in the early morning hours on his Truth Social platform: “The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical left hard one Trump hater.  She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way.”  He proclaimed the service “wasn’t too exciting”, “uninspiring”, “nasty in tone, and not very compelling or smart.”  He finished his diatribe by writing, “She is not very good at her job!  She and her church owe the public an apology!”

 

In common terms, Trump was pissed.  No apology came.  The bishop was preaching the Gospel.  It just was not the Gospel of Trump.  It was the Gospel of Jesus.  That’s what the gospel is supposed to do . . . confront personal sin, challenge societal norms, and call people to radical change.  Essentially it forces people to examine their lives and consider a new way of living and relating. This can be unsettling for some.  Apparently, it was for “the Donald”.  The gospel as shared by the bishop not only stepped on his toes . . . it stomped on his toes . . . and he didn’t like it.  Being a person of deep thought, compassion, and faith as God’s “Chosen One”, the bishop really irked the Orange One.  The Gospel challenges even those who are “chosen”.  Maybe he needs to figure out why words of truth angered him so much.

 

Actions speak louder than words.

 

“Remember the Constitution . . .”  In less than one week in the office, the “Chosen One” has blatantly run roughshod over the Constitution.  In total disregard for the 14^th Amendment he has denounced and rescinded birthright citizenship through an Executive Order.  One of his cronies has proposed a new constitutional amendment to allow Trump for be president a third term.  He has asked all federal employees to be snitches and turn in any of their co-workers for speaking about DEI (Diversity-Equity-Inclusion) despite their right to.  This shows so much respect for the Constitution and all that it stands for.  He has also trampled on laws created to protect the rights of citizens—declared the end for a diverse equitable society that includes all people—ripped hard earned rights from the people.  Yup, he really cares for the people of the United States—NOT!

 

He has forgotten our country . . . our Constitution . . . God.

 

The words that he speaks are far from the actions he takes.  In less than a week he has forgotten all of his promises he said he would do as the one chosen by God to save our nation.

 

I really thought my patience for “the Donald” would last longer than five days, but it is hard to ignore the slaughter of our great nation and what it stands for.  I really tried . . . but . . . I can’t do it.  The constant onslaught is killing me . . . practically driving me to drink.  I don’t think there is enough alcohol to do the trick.  I’ve been taught to give people a chance.  People can change . . . so I have been told.  The Orange One has blown those premises out of the water.  God knows I have tried.

 

Donald Trump is not God’s “Chosen One” in any way.  Just look at what he has inflicted upon our nation and its people . . . upon God’s children . . . in less than a week.  Where is the example of the one sent to show “the way”?  Where is Jesus in all of this?  I don’t see him in Donald Trump.  Trump didn’t read the memo that I never received.  I do not care what he says.  His words are the opposite of his actions.  His actions suck.  The god that Donald Trump serves is created in his own image.  If that is the case and we chose to follow him blindly according to the Gospel of Trump . . . then shame on us.  God, help us all.

 

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15. NIV)

 

Let us serve the Holy and love one another.  That is the way.