AROUND THE BLOCK
I learned…
I learned today that sometimes you just can’t make stuff up.
Long time readers of Around the Block will remember that for several years I sub-titled my posts: “News with a Twist.” The idea was to report on a real news story and then expand on it using my satirical imagination to drive the news home.
Posts included:
- "Trump: Hillary Got Schlonged,” the first in a 3-part series on Trump’s use of Yiddish;
- “Maine governor slip of the tongue may require therapy,” a riff on Governor Paul LePage’s racist comments;
- “Clintons/Trump -- Sleaze and Sleazier,” no explanation necessary;
- “Bornstein: Not schizophrenia but Breitbart Withdrawal Syndrome (BbWS);” one of a series on Trump’s crazy doctor...
Well you get the point.
Now, if I was still doing “News with a Twist,” a Huff Post story about a blog post by Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor, former GOP presidential candidate and father of former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee “Colonel” Sanders, would not have required my satirical imagination.
Mike Huckabee: Thoughts And Prayers Are ‘Only Thing’ That Will Stop Mass Shootings
The former Arkansas governor suggested the lack of thoughts and prayers is the real reason why mass shootings keep happening.
By David Moye – Huffington Post
This weekend’s mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio,have many people demanding that something be done to stop gun violence.
However, Mike Huckabee insists there’s only one solution to curbing the violence and it’s ― you guessed it ― “thoughts and prayers,” that time-honored solution of pretending to do something without actually doing anything.
On Monday, the former Arkansas governor and twice Republican presidential candidate wrote a post on his blog where he attempted to make the case that “thoughts and prayers” are “the only thing that’s ever really going to help.”
Despite all those who are denouncing the idea of prayers for the victims (do a Google search for “Thoughts and prayers are not enough” and see how many hits you get), I will continue to pray for the victims and their families and for an end to this mindless violence, and I hope you will, too.
In fact, ... I would posit that the lack of thought and prayers is probably the single biggest factor in what is behind them.
Huckabee said mass shootings will never stop until “kids are brought up once again to believe that we are all made in the image of God, that life is sacred and superficial differences like skin color are meaningless.”
He added:
Until then, passing more laws and pointing more fingers is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
That’s why I will keep ignoring the scoffers and saying prayers and urging everyone to join together and do the same.
Huckabee also criticized current Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke for calling President Donald Trump a “racist” for a really bizarre reason: “I also don’t see how someone who has repeatedly denied being racist can be an ‘open, avowed racist.’”
We’re sending out thoughts and prayers that Huckabee will figure out that denying you’re a racist does not count as proof that what you do and say are not racist.
In case you missed it, let me repeat Huckabee’s final statement, “I also don’t see how someone who has repeatedly denied being racist can be an ‘open, avowed racist.’”
As I said, you cannot make this stuff up!
One last, REALLY IMPORTANT thought –
Donald Trump is making a presidential “healing” tour of Dayton and El Paso today. The mayor of Dayton, Nan Whaley said she would respectfully welcome the nation’s elected leader to her city while adding, “When he comes as president, I will greet him. I hope he’s coming here to add value and to help our community, and I hope it’s not about just a press hit, and I hope it’s about him actually doing something.”
In El Paso however, the Times reports, “some of the city’s political leaders have urged Mr. Trump not to visit, including the Democratic congresswoman from the area, Representative Veronica Escobar, and her predecessor, Beto O’Rourke, a candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. ‘He should not come out here while we’re in mourning,’ Ms. Escobar said on Monday.
The Times continued, “Mr. Trump lashed out at Mr. O’Rourke on Twitter late Tuesday, saying he had a ‘phony name to indicate Hispanic heritage’ and telling him to 'be quiet.’ Mr. O’Rourke responded that 'El Paso will not be quiet, and neither will I.’”
Congresswoman Escobar has been asked to join Trump in his El Paso motorcade and appearance. When she asked the White House that she would like to first phone the President to discuss the appearance, the response was, “The President is too busy to take a call.”
Right, the "President is too busy" to take a call from the sitting Congresswoman from the district that just endured the slaughter of 32 innocent people by a white supremacist with an assault rifle!
What, was it "executive time," or was the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door while he was watching Fox and Friends?
By the way, in his comments on the South Lawn before leaving for the trip, Trump said, "...we'll be meeting with first responders, law enforcement and some of the victims," going on to say, "it's a terrific opportunity to congratulate some of the police and law enforcement -- the job they've done was incredible, simply incredible."
And, in response to the local politicians in the cities who have been critical of him, "...these are people who supported Hillary, supported Bernie, support Warren. They have nothing to do with Trump."
And there you have it, the "Healer in Chief," the "President of all the people of the United States" in full display.
I repeat: You can’t make this stuff up!
