Hey ladies and dudes, boys and girls, kiddies and carpet crawlers, it’s the last day of June, 2023. That makes it akin to half-time in the smash mouth game of NFL football. To extend the analogy, this “half-time” highlights the successes or failures of each competing team. Is this one evenly matched and the score tied or showing no signs of dominance by either team? Hmm. Let’s take a look at the stats, but let’s drop the football game hypothetical.

Let’s make it the nastiest game, the most important game going on at this calendar year half-time: politics. In our essentially two-party system of Donkeys and Elephants, the game does feature one side–Donkeys–with a numerical advantage. That would be the Dems. Inasmuch as they have the majority in the senate, and have the more powerful “quarterback” by occupying the White House, one might assume they are controlling the game, using that advantage by using the power that advantage confers. basically using that political muscle to ensure victory.

Having an inherent advantage by having the majority in the senate and White House should place the odds of victory squarely in their corner. This Donkey bunch, however, has neither any real muscle nor do they have the leadership skills that ought to ensure that office-holding advantage provide results for its “fan base” to feel smug about. In fact, here at the half-time of 2023, they are actually getting their asses kicked by the team that wishes it had the advantage the Donkey possess but still appear to be in control of the flow of this political game, scoring almost at will. But 2023’s Donkey edge in controlling the game, using the levers of power pales in comparison to their ineptitude at pleasing their fan base when 2021 is recalled.

As of January, 2021, the Dems had even more of an advantage over the Elephant party by not only having the White House and the senate, but also the house of representatives. That edge was quickly lost in the mid-term election of 2022 (half-time until the 2024 tilt). The fan base again sees their support not being rewarded by giving their team control of ALL the levers of power.

Clearly, there seems to be a lack of effort here for democrats, from fossilized Joe B. down to a progressive wing called The Squad that barely barks, let alone bite. The minority party, the one that is now in full-bore fascist mode may be outnumbered, but no sweat, they see that their opponent lacks any energy in terms of fighting back. Joe Biden. Nancy Pelosi. Diane Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Jim Clyburn and their ilk are simply the latest incarnation of the play to lose DNC. And remember, Joe B held the gavel during the Clarence Thomas hearings. In spite of a 15 seat senate majority wussy Joe ushered a most vile and dangerous excuse of a human being into a LIFETIME appointment on SCOTUS. Then recall that it was 5-4 in Citizens United and 5-4 on gutting the Voting Rights Act. That fifth vote was Thomas. Way to go, Joe!!

Now SCOTUS is a 6-3 fascist nightmare, and although Joe, the Donkey QB, could add liberals to the Court, which he has the power to use, he chooses not to, then decries the latest radical Right rulings that continue to chip away (maybe jackhammer away at this point) at what is supposed to be a democracy. This started with Reagan in 1981, and with the help of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, the slow but unabated slide into plutocracy, corporatocracy and the rule of the billionaire class.still grinds away.

If you care about the environment, social justice, education, worker-friendly economics, the ability to have your vote counted, or a woman’s right to control her reproductive rights and more, you have no party among the rigged frick or frack system forced down your throat. Third party? Not with a corporate media, which playing to win the ratings game circa 2015, escorted the now indicted, now convicted of sexual assault, twice impeached ex-president onto the political stage. And still this media normalizes the fascist take-over that is happening in plain sight.

This game, at a 2023 half-time mark, is not even intended to be a match of political opposites. The game is already over. One side scores a field goal here and there while the other side scores touchdowns, even while technically being shorthanded!

Me, I DO vote 3rd party. I know it is an act of futility as the game is so rigged, but it is with complete sincerity that I can proclaim: don’t blame me, I never voted for this.