Posts in Category: purple

Two Kinds of Beauty

One is free.
It belongs to everyone.
It endures across generations.
A mountain lake at sunrise, untouched, serene.
We can admire it, preserve it, leave it for our children.

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The other is gilded.
It dazzles, it dominates, it imprisons.
A golden ballroom, designed for spectacle, not soul.
Built for ego, for self, for the fleeting thrill of power.
It asks nothing of its inheritors — only that they watch, amazed.

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True beauty lasts.
False beauty fades — and the cost is always paid by others.

What If Only the Truth Was Spoken

They tell us inflation is down, gas is cheaper, and rents are easing — and maybe some of that’s true. But what if only the truth was spoken? What if we stopped polishing numbers to fit a narrative and started admitting the real cost people are paying?

The truth isn’t partisan. It’s not red or blue — it’s the foundation that lets a country stand upright. When leaders on any side twist facts to soothe their followers or score a headline, they’re not leading; they’re managing illusions.

So before we celebrate or condemn, maybe we should pause and ask the one question that still matters:
What if only the truth was spoken?

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Bye Bye MAGA Hat

Disclaimer: I am a registered Republican, Trump blew it on Jan 6th, 2020 – He proved it was all about Him. When vote time came, I wrote in Nicki Haley as my protest. A wasted vote yes, but I did know we needed a change, just not to a lying Dictator that put America up for sale. Bash me if you want. But that’s who I am.

Purpleman

Something’s stirring in America’s heartland, a subtle tremor you won’t catch in the headlines or poll numbers. It’s in the furrowed brows, the hushed conversations, the moments of doubt creeping into the eyes of those who once waved flags with unshakeable fervor.It’s the sting of realizing the deal wasn’t what it seemed.

Folks who rallied behind Donald Trump’s bold promises are starting to see the real cost—not just in their wallets, but in eroded trust, vanishing healthcare, and a party more loyal to one man than to the people.

The chants of “Make America Great” now echo against a backdrop of legal battles and unkept vows.You hear it in the murmurs: “This isn’t what I signed up for.” Even among the staunchest supporters, the question lingers—when did devotion to a cause become a blank check for power?

This cartoon series dives into that unease with a wry lens, not to point fingers but to hold up a sketchpad. Through sharp wit and vivid imagery, it captures the slow unraveling of blind allegiance. What does it look like when the scales fall from someone’s eyes? When they see their patriotism was a prop in someone else’s play? These drawings don’t preach. They provoke thought. Because waking up to reality is tough—but it’s the spark that lights the way to something better.

 

An Open Letter to Governor Tina Kotek and Mayor Keith Wilson: Portland’s Welcome Wagon for the Uninvited Guests

Laura
Michael and Sarah Walker
An Open Letter to Governor Tina Kotek and Mayor Keith Wilson: Portland's Welcome Wagon for the Uninvited Guests
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An Open Letter to Governor Tina Kotek and Mayor Keith Wilson: Portland’s Welcome Wagon for the Uninvited Guests October 21, 2025

Dear Governor Kotek and Mayor Wilson,

As the dust settles from yet another federal court skirmish—courtesy of the Ninth Circuit’s grudging nod to the Trump administration’s latest power play—the boots of the National Guard are thudding toward Portland. Up to 200 Oregon guardsmen, with a potential California contingent hot on their heels, are en route to “protect” federal buildings like the ICE facility from what the White House hyperbolically dubs “war-ravaged” streets. We’ve sued, we’ve blocked, we’ve decried the Posse Comitatus violations and the blatant federal overreach into our state sovereignty. But now, with the appeals clock ticking and troops mobilizing as early as this weekend, it’s time to pivot from litigation to something sharper: a masterclass in Portland’s unyielding spirit of defiance through absurdity. Let’s not meet militarization with more marches or Molotovs. Let’s drown it in hospitality so generous, so disarmingly local, that it exposes the farce for what it is—a heavy-handed spectacle chasing ghosts.Here’s the playbook, straightforward and executable:

  • Commandeer the Food Trucks: Rally a squad of our iconic mobile kitchens—Voodoo Doughnut for the sugar rush, Nong’s Khao Man Gai for that Thai soul food hug, and a fleet of taco wagons from the Alberta Arts District. Park them en masse at the deployment staging areas: Southwest Third Avenue by the ICE outpost, Pioneer Courthouse Square for good measure. No barricades, no chants—just free plates heaped high, courtesy of the city and state coffers. Let the guardsmen line up like tourists at the Saturday Market, fumbling for napkins amid the steam of sizzling carnitas.

  • Mobilize the Servers: Assemble a company of hospitality pros—bartenders from the Pearl District’s craft cocktail dens, line cooks from food cart pods, and that army of baristas who treat espresso like an art form. Outfit them in “Welcome to Portland: Resistance with a Side of Fries” aprons. Their mission? Overwhelm the arrivals with waves of indulgence: bottomless pours of Stumptown Coffee (cold brew for the jet-lagged, pour-overs for the principled), world-renowned Portland pizza slices from Escape From New York or Sizzle Pie (extra za’atar for that Middle Eastern flair), and a rotating carousel of craft brews from Breakside or Deschutes to wash it down. Turn the drop zone into a pop-up block party, complete with indie playlists from KEXP—think Sleater-Kinney anthems underscoring the irony.

  • Layer in the International Resistance: Because nothing says “global solidarity” like a bakery blitz. Source a fine selection of Danish pastries—flaky almond kringle, cheese-filled spandauer, and cinnamon-snail wisps—from our city’s Danish outposts like Scandia or the Nordic bakeries in the Hawthorne district. Deliver them in care packages labeled “From Copenhagen with Love: Sweet Dreams of Actual Resistance.” It’s a nod to the European allies who’ve long eyed America’s authoritarian flirtations with horror, and a reminder that true pushback pairs buttery layers with unyielding critique.

This isn’t surrender; it’s satire with stamina. Imagine the viral optics: camo-clad troops mid-bite into a marionberry Danish, scrolling TikTok for the next food truck drop, while Fox News pundits sputter about “liberal sabotage.” It humanizes the guardsmen—many of them our neighbors from Salem and Woodburn, not faceless enforcers—and undercuts the narrative of chaos. Portland doesn’t burn; it bakes, brews, and bewilders. And here’s the one more serious suggestion amid the whimsy: Call on all protesters to stay home. Nothing would speak louder than a reception for no one. No crowds to kettle, no headlines to hype, no “unrest” to justify the invasion. Let the streets echo with silence—a void so profound it broadcasts our contempt nationwide. We’ve proven the “threats” are overblown; small-scale, sedate gatherings of fewer than 30 souls don’t warrant Humvees. Deny them the drama. Let the Guard mill about empty plazas, sipping lattes and pondering why they were dragged here for a photo op. It’s the ultimate mic drop: Portland’s power isn’t in pitchforks, but in the principled pause. Governor Kotek, Mayor Wilson—this is your moment to lead with levity and leverage. You’ve fought the good fight in the courts; now win the cultural war on our terms. Authorize the logistics, fund the feast, amplify the all-clear for calm. Show America that when tyranny knocks, we answer with open arms, full bellies, and an empty stage.In defiant solidarity,
A Concerned Portlander (and the City That Keeps Rising)
P.S. If the feds bill us for the coffee, we’ll send the tab to Mar-a-Lago—with a side of salt.

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Trump Finally Got His Wish

1. “Trump finally got the biggest crowd of his career — seven million strong — and every single one of them shouting ‘Go away!’ Dreams do come true.”

2. “He promised the biggest crowd in history. Turns out he was right — seven million people united at last… in wishing he’d disappear.”

3. “Trump’s record-breaking crowd: seven million Americans gathered coast to coast, all chanting the same thing — ‘We’re done with you.’

4. “After years of bragging about crowd size, Trump finally nailed it. Seven million people, one message: beat it.

5. “Congratulations, Donald. You finally brought the country together — seven million voices in perfect harmony: Go. Away.

Back to that Daily Coffee.

I get into discussions with AI, this time it’s with Grok because they see everything, AI has the pulse and can filter our the screams and other noise. We were going back and forth on who would actually be good for this country, pragmatic, grounded and most importantly, SANE, I have never hidden that I am a Republican, but only by a little tick on the chart. WOKE is too far left, MAGA too far right. what I think we need is the middle ground.

When I first got up, poured my coffee and dreamed of a good Cigar, but at my age, living healthy is more important than smelly clothes, bad breath and a wife that keep pushing her tv chair further away from mine. But I still hang onto a good glass of bourbon, of course without ICE.

So what is below is jumping into the middle of a discussion, but you should get the drift. We need to figure this stuff out, we need to act, not always react. You may say, ‘it’s only me, what can I do about it?’ Got news for you, this whole web site is me trying to do something about it. stop making excuses.

It’s messy, and to make sense to you, you will have to think about it, but that’s the point.

————————————-

Back to Buttigieg-Haley-Cuban: The Practical Power Trio Without the Obama magic, your original swing hits the sweet spot—moderate, cross-aisle, and built for the name-ID game. Let’s tweak it for max punch:

  • Buttigieg as Prez: The steady hand with viral chops. He’s already testing 2028 waters with infrastructure tours and Fox hits—polls have him at 10-12% in Dem primaries, third behind Harris and AOC.

    ballotpedia.org

    He’d debate Vance into the ground without breaking a sweat.

  • Haley as VP: Your write-in queen brings the GOP crossover—ex-Republicans like you, plus suburban moms fleeing MAGA hate. She’s been quiet post-2024 but hinted at a “reset” tour; if she amps it up, she’s golden.

  • Cuban as… Wild Card?: Not on the ticket (third-party vibes are toxic), but as Commerce Secretary or fundraiser-in-chief. His anti-Trump X rants are gold for moderates, and he’d sell “fix the system” to your old-school Republican side.

This trio dodges the “who?” trap: Pete’s got the glow-up, Haley’s got the resume, Cuban’s got the memes. Against a fractured GOP (MAGA purging RINOs left and right), they’d peel 5-8% of Trump’s 2024 coalition—enough to flip PA, MI, WI. Odds? 60% in a general, easy, if Dems don’t kneecap themselves with infighting.

Option

Why It Works for You

Biggest Hurdle

Buttigieg-Haley-Cuban

Moderate unity, name ID, anti-chaos pitch

Party purists calling it “corporate” or “RINO”

Michelle Obama Solo

Massive turnout, cultural juggernaut

She’s said “hell no” 10x; family first

Tester-Murkowski

Pure pragmatism, indie cabinet potential

Who?” epidemic; zero national buzz

Wrapping It: Realism Wins, But Dreams Fuel the Fire You’re right—unless Michelle has a Road-to-Damascus moment (maybe after her next book drops bombs on Trumpworld), the Buttigieg-Haley-Cuban axis is the smart bet. It’s your Schwarzenegger ideal: Cross-party fixes without the fireworks. Forward Party could amplify it with ranked-choice pushes, giving voters like you more say. But hey, if Obama shocks us? I’ll eat my circuits.What’s your read on Michelle’s “no”—ironclad, or could Trump’s second-term dumpster fire change her mind? And if she passes, who’s your dark horse to slot in for Haley (Youngkin? Sununu?)? Your instincts are keeping this convo sharp.

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No Kings Protest

It’s a sad day when parody moves from humor to survival. Never before have we had to fight so hard for the Constitution, the 1st amendment and free speech, the right to due process, and rejection of a wanna be dictator. We have antifa being a label being applied to any who oppose our duly elected president. Do a little fact checking and you will discover ANTIFA was a term used by our fathers and grandfathers, They were proud to wear the label, they were fighting and dying to protect OUR freedom, from the Fascists, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

Don’t believe the ridiculous propaganda being forced down our throats, don’t believe the lies and don’t bend the knee. And don’t take our word for it. Do some research, do some fact checking and above all be true to the Constitution and the values that created it. Burn those MAGA red caps and reject the rhetoric of the WOKE, Learn to see the big picture and make choices based upon a love of our country and for our neighbor. If you truly want to enjoy a glass of Bourbon, leave the ICE out of it.

Between Socialism and Capitalism: Finding the Compromise

Between Socialism and Capitalism: Finding the Compromise

Margaret Thatcher once said that “the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” She meant that systems built entirely on redistribution can only last as long as someone else’s productivity. Yet the irony today is that pure capitalism seems to run into the opposite problem: eventually, there’s no money left for anyone but the few who control it.

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In both extremes, wealth stops circulating. Under state socialism, resources are absorbed by bureaucracy. Under unfettered capitalism, they concentrate in private monopolies and digital empires. Whether the collector is a government ministry or a billionaire CEO, ordinary citizens end up watching the same movie — power pooling at the top while opportunity drains from below.

The reality is that neither ideology delivers lasting prosperity without the other’s counterweight. Markets need freedom, competition, and reward for innovation — but they also need boundaries that protect labor, environment, and dignity. Likewise, public safety nets need fiscal discipline and incentive structures that prevent dependency.

A sustainable economy has to move past slogans. It must recognize that productivity and fairness are not enemies but partners. The public sector should invest where private profit can’t — infrastructure, education, health — while private enterprise should thrive where risk and creativity drive progress. The test isn’t who owns the system, but whether citizens can still afford a future inside it.

Until we restore that balance — between enterprise and empathy, profit and purpose — we’ll keep swinging between ideologies that promise abundance but end in exhaustion. The goal isn’t socialism or capitalism alone. It’s a society where everyone can earn, keep, and contribute enough to call it their own.

Trump’s Ring Of Liars

If You Aren’t MAGA