Welcome to the Dog Days

 The Dog Days are upon our and the crazy, almost unbelievable happenings of the past four days attest to the fact that we are in the midst of the toughest days of the calendar. 

Saturday there was an assignation attempt on a former president. No matter our politics, that is unacceptable. As I wrote yesterday, elections should be resolved not by a bullet, but through the ballot box. 

Yesterday the Republican candidate for president, who survived the assignation attempt on Saturday,  announced his running mate: J.D. Vance from Ohio. Wow, talk about picking someone with no experience and who is full of repressive ideas. He was a Marine, yes, but a very junior enlisted Marine meaning he has little experience leading and a lot of experience being told what to do. 

And now, the sideshow called the Republican National Convention has started. 

Can you believe that the theme of the convention is "Make America Wealthy Again?" Really? That is what they want? Not world peace, security for Americans and all people, contain despotism, or even something as basic as confirming the basic rights of people everywhere? No, they want total and wanton greed. Funny thing is, like so many twisted concepts coming from the Republicans, most Americans are doing better today than they were four years ago when their candidate was President! Problem is that the top 1 percent may not be gouging the middle class enough to satisfy themselves. 

And then there is Project 2025--not yet the official platform of the Republicans, but surely being touted as the roadmap for the next conservative president. I am wading my way through the document trying to confirm whether what I am hearing about the plan are true. I have stumbled on the first big truth in that while touting freedom for Americans, the plan clearly wants to limit freedoms and access for many by eliminating Executive Order 14020 which provides for the establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council (GPC). While Project 2025 purports to support family values, the GPC is charged for ensuring the family is supported, among many other important social issues. 

Everyone should read, or try to read Project 2025 to see what are the true intentions of the Republicans. 

Yes, it is the Dog Days--and it is going to be a long hot summer.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL