If it's Trump vs. Bernie...

It would be an easy decision for me to support Bernie Sanders over Donald Trump, even though I think each of the other contenders for the Democratic nomination would make better presidents. I believe his mistakes would be tempered by the Congress (whether one or both parties control the houses.) And unlike Trump he has morals and ethics.David Brooks, the conservative writer for the New York Times, and former protege of William F. Buckley, has written that he could vote for any of the other candidates against Trump, but not Sanders.

Read the Brooks article here.

So I share this opinion piece, not because I completely agree with it but as evidence of the fact that MANY Americans who despise Donald John Trump would hold their noses and vote for him anyway or sit out the race altogether (by staying home or wasting a vote on a third party) rather than vote for someone who labels himself a Democratic Socialist and has a decades long audio/video/written record of unwise words. If Sanders ends up capturing our nomination I will regret having posted this, but I cannot watch quietly while my party makes such a damnable mistake.

We have several strongly progressive candidates who do not carry the baggage of Bernie Sanders. Even David Brooks would vote for Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, or Elizabeth Warren rather than allow the re-election of the most dangerous president in American history.

Bernie Sanders has been just too much in the eyes of too many for too long. In this existential moment for the American republic we need the largest possible consensus of opposition to Trumpism. We need to wipe it out forever. We need to build our house majority. We need to take the Senate majority. We need to take back state legislatures. We need the evil of Trump obliterated at the ballot box by the absolute maximum vote possible.

I do not believe Sanders can be competitive in Georgia; Joe Biden can be. Joe might help a Teresa Tomlinson or Raphael Warnock; Bernie would make their races more difficult. Neither, in my opinion, will Sanders be competitive in Ohio, or Iowa, or Wisconsin, or, Pennsylvania, or Florida, or Arizona --- especially after the Trump/Putin/Fox/SocialMedia campaign machine has weaponized fifty years of Sanders' remarks about communist and socialist societies and leaders. Now fact is, though I wish he were stronger in his condemnations of Castro, I find little to argue with when I listen to the complete 1985 interview.

I live in Northwest Georgia. Even here in the Congressional district once home to John Birch himself, and once represented by the second president of the John Birch Society --- even here --- I know some pretty conservative folks who would vote for Joe Biden, a lifelong progressive, over Trump.  They know he was out in front of Barack Obama on marriage equality. They know he fought for universal healthcare. They know that Biden is progressive. But they trust him not to be autocratic or extreme or rash or chaotic.

I know of some folks who voted for Barack Obama who cannot bring themselves to vote for Sanders, even over the evil of Trump. I am horrified that that is true, but it is.

I am for Joe Biden because I think he will make a thoughtful and unifying president. Oh, I know Joe's negatives: like me he is old, he stumbles over words, he mis-speaks, he has a long record that can also be picked apart. But the people in general like and trust him. He is a known quantity.

I think he will help us reorient our republic to the balanced, and I believe progressive, goals stated so eloquently in the Preamble -- unity, justice, civility, safety, the common good, and liberty for all Americans now and forever.

I also support him because, of those available in 2016, he is most likely to gain an unquestioned mandate to end Trumpism.

Gleaning Facebook: Armuchee Elementary Sorting

 I was honored to be invited to spin the Sorting Wheel at Armuchee Elementary this morning. The wheel decided that Curae House is most appropriate for me, and I do like those red shirts. The other houses are Reverentia, Honestus, and Civitas.

Gleaning Facebook: The Persuader

Another Facebook post from Mike Burton that I need to preserve here on my blog. When Sheila and I bought our little log cabin in Chubbtown this six-foot iron bar was in the cabin. When the dug well went dry just a few days after we bought the place Mike and I used shovels and picks, but mainly this "Persuader" to try to dig out more of a pit at the bottom to collect the trickle of an aquifer feeding the well. We were not very successful, and eventually hired Abernathy Well-drillers to drill a new well. And soon Mike found a need for the "Persuader" and borrowed it. That was about 1972. He has always said he'll return it just as soon as he's through using it. I'm sure he will. If I outlast him I expect the boys to bring it to me at the funeral. 

Once Miles has hit a massive underground stone it’s Cody who takes his weight lifting body to pulverize it. He is using one of favorite gifts. A six foot long piece of heavy steel pointed on one end. Uhh gift is not exactly right. Terrell Shaw loaned it to me fifty years ago. I told him I’d return it when I’m done. Now I can barely lift it but guess what there’s miles and Cody to continue the tradition. Depending on the use it’s called. A chunking bar. Wrecking bar or digging bar. Notice Cody had the same physique I did at 17.

Facebook Comments

Andrea Burns That looks like something Steve would have used For whatever fit his fancy

Michael J. Burton Andrea Burns agreed

Calvin Hughes Jr Great job

Ronnie Grindle

Larry Madden When your kids get "stoned" it's best to have adult supervision...

Michael J. Burton Larry Madden but I had to show them how to hit the stone. Laid me up for two days 

Larry Madden Michael J. Burton yeah I empathize with you! I have a 6ft digging bar that I retired several years ago for that very reason. A friend of mine does chain link fence work and I told him he can have it!

John T House Michael J. Burton 

Teresa Lee Michael J. Burton hope you are better now.

Michael J. Burton Larry Madden I need to put it in my will

Michael J. Burton Teresa Lee can’t stop working. What’s wrong with me doc

Teresa Lee Michael J. Burton you have always been a worker.

Michael J. Burton Teresa Lee 

Teresa Lee Michael J. Burton I should have also mentioned your creativity.

Michael J. Burton Teresa Lee 

Terrell Shaw I think you owe me about 50 gallons of Booger Hollow honey. 

Seems like we once called that tool a persuader.

Michael J. Burton Terrell Shaw honey gone so maybe substitute black berry

Michael J. Burton Terrell Shaw yes it did persuade walls to move and floors to elevate but my nine pound sledge hammer did most of the true persuasion 

Benje Estes Unfortunately I don't have any boys like yours so I have been depending on tractor powered auger and backhoe.

Michael J. Burton Benje Estes what a wuss. Just kidding 

I just borrowed a tractor and will be using auger tomorrow

Benje Estes Michael J. Burton The older I get the more wuss I get.

Gleaning Facebook: Joe Biden & the Democratic Primaries

These are part of my Joe Biden 2020 collection. I have been collecting American political items since 1964. My collection is small compared to many others. but I enjoy it. My oldest item is a log cabin metal clothing button from the "Tippecanoe & Tyler Too" campaign of ill-fated president Willam Henry Harrison. I try to especially keep a lookout for Georgia related buttons.

If anyone runs into a Biden/Buttegeig/ Warren/Bernie /Bloomberg etc button that I don't have, I'd love a crack at it... especially if it is specifically Georgia-related. I have more Carter items than those for any other candidate. (I do not collect unAmerican buttons, so I have no interest in buttons for the Putin ticket.)

Drew Fountain

I've got a Phil Collins bumper sticker, a Beto button, and a Supreme Vermin lapel pin from this election. Want those.

Terrell Shaw
Sure!

Ray Langley
Terrell Shaw I have a Barry Goldwater button

Ray Barton
Terrell Shaw I have a “LBJ for the USA” button.

David Matheny
Vermin Supreme was a local candidate from VT... (no, not Bernie.)

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It is time for progressives to coalesce around a candidate who can win big. It is a vote of states not people; Joe puts more states in play. And Joe has the best chance of bringing more Senate and House and state candidates with him. Vote Joe!

John Hickman

Understand the impulse but not feeling the coalescing happen.

Terrell Shaw
John Hickman I’m hoping we see some coalescing today and some more after SC? Whadya think? Any chance Amy or Pete or Tom or ??? Will bow out? Maybe my guy if he falters in SC? I am scared frankly. This last time I saw what I see now was 72... the hard left was so excited abt McG!!!

John Hickman
Terrell Shaw I am with you. When I met McGovern long after he lost I didn't sense the sort of charisma that Sanders is said to exhibit. He just seemed a sincere man who might have been out of depth. We might not see much attrition until Super-T. Biden and Warren both look seriously wounded to me.

Terrell Shaw
Sadly yes.

Jenifer Beaver
It is time for Biden to drop out of this race. Passed time actually.

Terrell Shaw
Jenifer he is still our best shot in my opinion. He did well today.. hope he can win SC and have mo for Super Tuesday.

Jenifer Beaver
He will not beat Trump.

Amy Durham Mendes
He didn’t do well — he was tied for a distant second.

Terrell Shaw
Jenifer Beaver who do you think can? Sanders is the longest of long shots, I think Biden’s our best chance, then Klobuchar, then Warren.

Jenifer Beaver
Sanders can do it. I still think Pete can. I said this about Sanders in 2016. I made a prediction that came true and I didn't want to be right. But I was. If democrats ignore the primaries and nominate Biden, then I don't want to hear another word complaining about the electoral college. To say Sanders is the longest of long shots is to be completely tone deaf.

Terrell Shaw
This tone deaf fella watched the 1972 election. Btw... Hillary got the most votes. If Bernie gets 50% plus one he’ll have my support, till then I want someone who can compete in places like GA, OH, AZ, PA, Wi etc

Jaki Day
Not counting any of the top three out yet. 

Jeri Carter
I still think a Joe Biden-Stacey Abrams ticket is the way to go.

Paula Graves
Sanders just swept Nevada.

My mail in vote is just sitting here gathering dust because I can’t figure out who to vote for in the primary. I have liked Biden, but he has had so much crap thrown his way and it reminds me of John Kerry and Hillary Clinton. I’m not sure if he will be able to rise above it. I feel the same about Warren. Again, I really like her and the work she’s done in politics, but the whole Native American thing won’t go away. I don’t know enough about the others. I’m thinking Sanders and maybe (fingers crossed) Warren as VP. I wanted a Warren/Sanders ticket in 2016 so I’ll take that again. 

Terrell Shaw
Paula Graves he ‘swept’ with the help of the Russians and less than half the vote of those activists who go to caucuses in Nevada. (I hope this is the last cycle with caucuses) Hillary won Nevada in the general election, Sanders might but might not. Biden would win NV almost certainly. Sanders cannot compete in GA, Biden would likely lose GA too, but the Trumpists would have t fight for it. Again this a fight for states , all the other candidates give us a better shot in 2016 red states than Bernie does. Think of what a second Trump term would do to our republic.

Dan Bolton
I am a Biden fan but I am going to be honest I am going to wait to after SuperTuesday, I was told to mail them in by the 19th but I was going to drop them by there. I am am sure not voting for Sanders so it is anyone else situation If Joe is in For Georgia I am voiting for him.

Paula Graves
Absolutely! I’m voting for anyone who gets the nomination.

Jeri Carter
Terrell Shaw , he also "swept" Nevada in a caucus environment where many wanted to vote for someone else, but because their choice didn't make the cut, ALL the votes were automatically assigned to Bernie. Many news reports of people frustrated by the process, and by not being able to have their voices represented in the final tally. A straight one-person one-vote count would have seen a much broader distribution of the vote. If we don't like the electoral college, why the HELL are we still caucusing?

Jo Ann Thompson
Here Here

 

Gleaning Facebook: Five Course Love

After the show with Barbie/Sophia/Gretchen/Rosalinda/Kitty...
L-R: Terrell, Lillian, Sheila at Marietta.
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Hans Andre Dorce

Great family picture,thanks for sharing.

John Paul Schulz

Terrell, you are flanked by great beauty.

Nora Matthews

Wait so Lillian played 5 different people?

Terrell Shaw

Nora Drewek yep! Crazy play. Only three cast members. Each played five roles!

Nancy Johal Singh

Wow, that’s a lot of characters!!! Very impressive, you will have to keep us posted on her shows.

 

Lillian’s washed out, not washed up, friends Robbie & Becca at the show. Sorry about the flash!

Back at Marietta Theatre Company to see Lillian Shaw in Five Course Love.
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Marsha Yancey Atkins
Lillian is amazing in this delightful play! Love all her characters and her vocals-wow!

Look who else showed up in Mayretta tonight to see Lillian Shaw in Five Course Love!
---

Sandy Davis
She was simply marvelous as always 

Mary Rose Ortwein
It's always fun to see Lillian onstage.

Wendell W Barnes Jr
Wish I had been there that night but I did enjoy it another night and Lil was marvelous as always!

Baby Ruth

November 15, 2019 (and later)

To my Baby Ruth,

I started this note to you the day you were born, and here I am three months later getting back to it. 

We (Granny and I) bought our airline tickets early, trying to time things so we’d likely arrive in San Diego County as close as possible to your arrival. As it turned out you beat us there, but only by three days. 

Like your sister you made a lot of work for your wonderful mother on November 15. Your Dad was there to help her and cheer her and welcome you. So was our friend Sue.

And what beautiful pictures there are of you with your happy but exhausted Mom and Dad and later with your sister and Gamma — thanks to a family friend who is also a wonderful photographer.

I am so happy those folks could be with you. But how your Granny and Grandshaw wanted to be, and how joyous a meeting it was when we got to Vista.

Your name is so special to me, Ruth Irmgard Carlin. I love “family names”. We named your mom Brannon Ruth to commemorate two remarkable women. I am glad that you and your mom share one namesake.

Annie Belle Brannon Snell was your great great grandmother. She lived to be 96. She was a school teacher as a young woman in L.A. (Lower Alabama — Dale and Henry counties) before she became a mother of five wonderful daughters. She was a great cook, a devout Christian, a quick intellect, and a very practical loving mother, wife, sister, aunt, grandmother, and in-law. She (and her daughter Mavis) welcomed me into her family immediately with open arms. She had very weak eyes and bad knees when I kew her, but still a quick wit and an infectious laugh. And how I loved her Butter Roll. I hope that recipe continues in the family — though if you inherit certain family genes you’ll need to be careful to enjoy so many calories only occasionally!

Sarah Ruth Baird Shaw is your great grandmother and my mother and we still get to visit with her almost every day. I’ll let you read about the namesake that your share with your mother here. You will also want to read her books to know more about this fascinating woman that you are named after. She looks so forward to seeing the photos and videos of you that we bring to her house across town here in Rome, Georgia.

Whatever anyone can say about us, they cannot say our family is “Ruthless”!
We have 

• Sarah Ruth Baird Shaw
• Deborah Ruth Shaw Lewis
• Brannon Ruth Shaw Carlin
• Jessica Ruthanne Shaw
• Hannah Ruth Yoest

Your other namesake is also a remarkable woman. Irmgard Charlotte Klebba Huzel lives in Los Angeles but she was born even farther away than Grandshaw. Your Dad calls her Oma. She was born in Germany and her childhood was lived during the terrible years between the two World Wars when Germany was experiencing terrible social and economic revolutions and the terror of the Nazi ascendancy. You should read your great-grandfather Huzel's (her husband) book about his experiences as a German soldier then an engineer with the rocket program, and after the war as a prisoner of war in America and then as a new American citizen. I have told Oma that she should write up her own life story. It would be fascinating to hear the story of the war and later the escape with Dieter from her perspective.

I wrote to your Mom when she was only an infant. I told her that I knew that she was a person of great strength. I don’t know how I knew it, but I did. And I was right. She is a person of character, and determination, and deep love. I have watched her with your Dad and see the love they share, and I see those same traits in my son-in-law, and in your sister, and now in you. Like most babies you had a struggle getting here, though not as hard as Clementine had, thank Goodness! I know that those traits will carry you through the hard times and enrich the good times. I look forward to getting to see some of those times myself. 

My father was named Grandshaw by your cousin Joey. He said something about his grandfather and his Dad asked, “Do you mean Granddaddy Johnston?” “No,” Joey responded, “You know, Gran..Shaw!” Well my Daddy has been gone since 1986. When my sister Carol and Debi and Joan were sitting with me and my Mother and your Granny not long before Clementine was born, they asked what I’d want my grandkids to call me. One suggested Granshaw. I wondered if I had a right to that name! My sisters seemed to like the idea, so I guess that will be it, unless, of course, y'all exercise every granddaughter's prerogative and give me a name of your own choosing.

Like I told Clemmie, I hope I get lots of chances to talk with you. but at 72 I suppose it is practical, if also a little morbid, to suppose I ought to be as proactive as possible, just in case. I want you to know a little about me, and Granny, and my parents, and theirs.... all the wonderful people who made me who I am, and who would love you just as much as I do.  But I want to know all about you too! Your questions, and dreams, and wonders.

So this first letter to Ruth of, I hope, many. One of these days, I hope you will begin to respond yourself. Maybe till then your Mom and Dad will keep us abreast of all your doings over there on the other side of the continent.

I promise you exactly what I promised Clemmie: for all the spins of this big globe, across all the miles between us, through every joy and deep into every sorrow, at the apex of every triumph and into the depths of every despair, I will love you to the moon and back. That’s a promise.

So you can always look up at that old moon and imagine my love in an endless stream of kisses banking off its shining face from wherever I am and down to wherever you are, Ruth Irmgard Carlin, my granddaughter. I love you.

-Grandshaw

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From Facebook:

April 19, 2019

Our granddaughter Ruth Irmgard Carlin as well as Charles Shaw Lewis (my sister Debi's grandson), who are my mother's thirty-fifth and thirty-fourth great-grandchildren were among the 23 babies of 2019 who were rcognized in the 38th Annual Louise Langham Baby Recognition Sunday at our church, Trinity United Methodist, this morning!