This Needs to End

I was going to write about Devonta Smith today, but that will have to wait for tomorrow.

I, like many others, have been waiting for this day. Today is the day that Congress is supposed to certify Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' victory in November. I have been staying away from politics because it is a trigger for me. I am a super liberal, and all the legal nonsense, and infighting and refusal to concede has just made me more anxious by the day. I have ways of thwarting all the anxiety, and that has worked. Then one of my own state's senators, a man I truly despise, Josh Hawley, said he was going to object to certify. This is wrong, it is selfish, it was all about himself and he knows that it will not work. Then something like twelve other senators decided they would join the house republicans in objecting. Again, this is a futile attempt, and the people doing this are only doing it to further their own political careers. They know Biden and Harris won, but they want that crazy far right vote. They are playing to their base, and that is wrong. But all politics is dirty and gross and shady.

What just happened, what I just read when I went to check on how the session was going, is one of the most disturbing and upsetting things I have ever read. Apparently some of these far right protesters, egged on earlier in the day by this century's Hitler, Donald Trump, stormed the capitol, threatened violence and they had to suspend the count to get the people inside to safety. What we are witnessing now, what we are all seeing is an attempted coup. It shouldn't have come to this. It didn't have to come to this. This is supposed to be a quiet day where congress gets the job done quickly, and people are able to go back to their everyday lives. But not today. Because Trump, and all of his enablers that have fed into his hysteria, we are now in a situation that no one, and I mean no one, wants. This is a nightmare. This is a disaster. This was the worst possible outcome of the day. The election is over. Biden won. He won both the popular vote and the electoral vote. But Trump, and his insane lawyers, have tried to deny all the way, and now we have ended up with what happened today.

Is this the new Republican party? Do they invite coups? Do they feel good about all of this? Are they happy with where we are right now because they didn't get their way? Why the challenge to the election when they were on the same ballot? None of this, and I mean NONE, makes any sense. My children have more sense and respect than this, and they are eight and five. What am I supposed to tell them today about our country? What have we become? To the people that voted for this four years ago, are you happy today? Is this the country you wanted? Is this the look you were going for in 2016? Gosh I hope not.

This is a day that is going to go down in history as one of the worst ever. My kids will read about this in history books. I will remember exactly where I was 20, 30 and 40 years from now on January 6th 2021. To all the republicans that decided to contest the election, this is on you. I hope you are proud of yourselves. And to Trump, and his baseless, phony goons, this is all of your fault. You are a disgrace. You will be remembered only as a monster, a nuisance and a national nightmare. Your "legacy" is forever tarnished by your actions. Anything he says and does now, it is all moot because of his actions today, and for the past two months, and in fact, for all of his life. People are in danger. People from his own party, and people who supported him, are in danger because of him, and the dozen or so senators, and hundreds of house republicans, who thought contesting this election, named the most secure in history, are in this mess because of him. The US is the "shithole" country, and it is because of Trump and his enablers. This is horrible, it will go down as a horrible day in history and it will take a long, long time to recover from this as a country. I would hope that Trump is removed from office today, and then thrown in jail. That seems like the only fair punishment for what he has wrought. We need Biden and Harris in power ASAP because we cannot allow this to happen. We are supposed to be the greatest country in the world, but today, we are the worst. I am scared and I am disappointed.

What a tragic day, and a day that will go down in infamy.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Saturday Was a Very Good Day

This is a blog I have been waiting, and hoping, to write for four years now. And I know that the current "president" is trying to throw a fit, act like a petulant child, claim there has been fraud, is firing people for no reason, not signing documents and not conceding, but Joe Biden has won the 2020 presidential election. He, and Kamala Harris are the president and vice president elect, and on January 20th, they will be in the White House.

I am very proud, and relieved. I have been on pins and needles for over a week now. I was very, very nervous about the outcome. Even when Biden gained ground, and then took the lead in Pennsylvania and Georgia, I was still very nervous. After what happened in 2016, I will always be a bit nervous about election stuff. But it is clear that Biden/Harris have won. Even with the court cases, many of which are being thrown out daily, and many, many people within the GOP telling him to concede, there is no evidence to anything that he and his people are trying to say was wrong. What he is doing is a waste of time, and is going to hurt people every day in the long run. And even with the recounts and everything, Biden/Harris are so far ahead, it really doesn't matter.

With all of that out of the way, I want to tell everyone about my Saturday when I heard the excellent news. I had been checking the news hourly to get updates since election day. I would go to bed each night still scared of the outcome. I would wake up and see where the count was now, and how many votes were left, and do the math in my own head. I was a mess. I woke up, picked my kid up from his friend's house around 10:00am, and sat down to watch Michigan, who started at 11. At around 1030am I got a text from my mom, my brothers were all attached, including RD, and she said, "President Biden", and added three blue hearts. I jumped off my couch, I texted back, "is it real!!!! is it true!!!!". My mom said, "that is what is being reported", and then RD said, "Yes, it is true". I responded with a "Yes!!!!!!", and my brother Seth said, "YES!!!!! Goodbye Mr Cheeto". Which prompted me to text, "Yeah!!!! Hell yeah!!!!". Then my phone started to blow up with texts from my friends who share my political ideals. We were all joyous. I didn't even care what happened in the Michigan game that day, they got blasted by Indiana by the way, because this country had finally gotten some good, decent news in 2020.

This year has been pretty rough. We all know that. So to get some good news, to feel human and normal again, that was nice. I spent the rest of Saturday just kind of floating around. I went for a run and ran one of my fastest 4k's to date. I kept up with my friends via text all day. I felt like I was finally able to breath again. I felt, for the first time in a very, very long time, proud to be an American. Democracy worked. The people made their choice. And I know it is kind of hip to say, "well, 70 million people still voted for that monster". That's true, but 75 million, and counting, voted for Biden and Harris.

That night my folks were over, and we watched the acceptance speech. It was amazing. Watching Kamala Harris speak was a thing of beauty. She is such a good speaker, and her speech was truly amazing. I had both of my kids come into the room to watch with us because this is history. This is something they will talk about forever. This will be in history books and be studied and mentioned until the end of time. And when she said, "I may be the first woman, but I won't be the last", I teared up. I told my daughter, who is only five, that this proves she can truly be whatever she wants to be. This gives me hope. Her speech made me so very, very proud and happy and joyful. It was truly wonderful.

Biden's speech was exactly what I hoped it would be. He was gracious in victory, and then he turned immediately to the issues. He profoundly said that he will be a "president for all the people". He told people that didn't vote for him to not turn away, that he wants to help them too. He made many mentions to political parties, but he always came back to, "we are all Americans". It was exceptional. I was floating all day, and after the speeches, I was on a cloud. It was the first time in weeks, hell years, that I have felt calm and comfort. I know they have a lot of work to do, and it will not be easy. It is going to be quite hard in fact. But, I believe that Biden, and maybe moreso, Harris, are more than up to the task. They have already gotten a COVID taskforce together, they have met and they have plans. They just need that monster currently in the White House to accept the results, and let them get to work.

Saturday was a good day. It was a celebration that was a long time coming. And just like I had hoped, Biden and Harris did just that, and then got to work the very next day. Good job America, we did the right thing. Now let's let them do their job.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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We All Have Something to Do Tomorrow

Tomorrow is a very, very important day. Tomorrow will tell me, and a bunch of others I'm sure, where we stand as a country. Are some people really this racist? Are some people too far gone? Do we not have morals or ethics? Do people actually care? Do people want change? Will we ever see a way out of this pandemic? There are these questions, and about a billion more that we should get some answers to. But the way to get the answers some want, that I want, is to vote.

Voting is the best way to fight the system. I know a lot of people will read this and tell me, you're a dyed in the wool Democrat, how are you fighting? I'm fighting because we are so far gone from the country we were four years ago. I look at life now and compare it to 2016, and man it is bleak. It's not so bleak for me personally, but as a country, we are in a bad, bad place. We are in the midst of a pandemic with no end in sight. We are more than broke. We are divided. We pass judgements based on people's political beliefs without even knowing them. This is all due to the current "government" we have in the White House.

The current regime does not care about anyone but themselves and their wallets. They want division. They want to stay rich, break the law and tear away so many things that made us better from 2000 to 2016. In those 16 years we made advancements. Gay marriage became legal. Healthcare became affordable. Trans people had rights. Wars weren't as prevalent. Both parties worked together. Things were, on the surface, fine. I have my problems with George W Bush, and I know people have their issues with Barack Obama, who I absolutely adore, but all in all, things weren't this bad. Since 2016 things have gotten markedly worse. Things have essentially crumbled. Businesses are filing for bankruptcy daily. Poor people are only getting poorer. Families are being torn apart because of a stupid border issue. The people in power want to rip away affordable healthcare. We are in a horrific pandemic. My kids just went back to in person learning a few weeks ago, but they have to learn a whole new set of rules. I know other places aren't allowing kids back until the new year. Sports have no fans, and some have been outright canceled for the year. I don't feel safe going to restaurants, movie theaters or playgrounds. To see friends and family, on the very rare occasion that I do, I wear a mask.

This is a nightmare. We are living in the darkest timeline. And for those who think it can't get worse, it can get much, much worse. The best way to combat that, in my opinion, is to vote. There has been an enormous amount of early voters, which is great. Personally, I'm going to my polling place when it opens tomorrow at 6am. I prefer to vote in person. But now is the time. If you have a mail in ballot, and you haven't mailed it, go drop it off in person at your polling place. If you go to vote in person, and there is a line, wait. They cannot kick you out of line, even if it gets past closing time. If you are there before, you get to vote. It is your duty, and the law. Don't let people bully or harass you in the lines. Some may want to try intimidation, ignore them. They are not the law, and they cannot stop you from voting. There will be obstacles, and it may get frustrating, especially if you have to wait, but just think how good it will feel when you cast your ballot. Go out tomorrow and exercise your right to vote. Don't sit this election out. Make sure your voice is heard. Also, look into the local people and amendments in your town. Those issues are just as important to vote for.

I will not be writing tomorrow because I want everyone to go out and vote. I don't want someone to read a sports story of mine tomorrow and forget to vote. This is too important a moment to not speak your mind and vote. Go vote. Ignore any and all of the early polls and numbers. We were all duped in 2016, so make sure you vote no matter what you read or hear. This is it. This is the time. Please vote. Please.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Things Are Not Good Right Now

I don't know what to do anymore.

You think it may not get worse, that something positive may happen, that things may turn a corner, but we, the United States that is, just continue to take steps backwards. We are drowning in so many different ways as a country. COVID has become not only one of the deadliest viruses in the world, but somehow political. People fight over simple tasks, simple asks and suggestions by scientists and doctors, such as social distancing, staying home if sick, not gathering in big crowds and wearing a mask. These are easy and effective, and seemingly, at least at the moment, the only way to slow down the spread of this virus. But what may be even worse, scratch that, is worse, is the systemic, never ending racism and murder by police that seems to happen daily now in America.

I knew that Breonna Taylor wouldn't get just due. She lost her life over nothing more than the color of her skin. She should still be with us today. So should Philado Castille, Tamir Rice, George Floyd and so many, many more. But the police, and the current majority of the "government" are allowing these people to be murdered with no consequence. I was crushed yesterday when I saw that only one of the three police officers, all white middle aged men, was indicted for their actions. What made this news even worse, he was only charged, essentially, with property damage. No charges for entering without a warrant, for attacking a defenseless person and for murder of a defenseless person. I was crushed, but not surprised, and that is the problem. I had a sliver of hope that some kind of justice would be served, but of course, since 2016, nothing happened to an over eager, egotistical, power and gun hungry police officer who got away with murdering another black person.

This is happening way, way, way too much, and the fact that nothing is being done is horrifying. It is wrong. It is racist. It is systemic. There needs to be change. Something big needs to happen. And I know that some will say, "you cannot blame a few bad apples". Well, it seems like the mass majority of police officers are the "bad apples" that people are referring to. There are far less "good apples". I am a 37 year old white man that lives in the suburbs of Saint Louis, but I get the jitters now more than ever when I am on a night time jog with my dog. When we walk by the police, when my kids and I go for my daily walk, I make them walk briskly. It has become a point where I am more afraid of what a police officer may do to me or my kids. I don't feel protected by them anymore, especially when I have on a BLM shirt or a RTJ shirt or a shirt with a basketball player on it. They have the opposite effect now. I don't trust the police. And as I said, I am a 37 year old white suburban dad. I cannot even imagine how any person of color deals with the police, or talking about the police to their kids. It has to be awful.

These conversations shouldn't be needed, but they are now more than ever. The police have become the villain, except this is real life. It is no wonder that athletes and people of power that are African American, or just not white, are speaking out. People will listen to them. Kids will listen to LeBron James when he speaks about police brutality in post game interviews. And I love that James, and so many other athletes are doing this now, when it is more important than ever. But we still need to change so many things. The US is a total dumpster fire. I am not proud to be an American. I am embarrassed and disgusted to be an American. This is all so messed up, and I want to leave you today with this, please, please, please vote. Vote like your life, and the future of our country depends on it, because it does. We can get people into power who will enforce change. We need to get the monsters in office out now, because if we don't, our future is dire, at least for four more years. I can't deal with that, and I would like to think that most normal, smart people feel the same way. There are far, far too many problems plaguing our country, but we can change that. Vote, defund the police and let's find some kind of justice for, not only Breonna Taylor, but every other person of color that has been shot and killed, or shot and hurt, or beaten and brutally hurt by racist police.

The time is now. Let's make changes. Vote. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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We Need New Leadership

It would feel odd if I didn't finish out this week with some kind of political and social piece. I will get back to the more pop culture stuff next week, but this week has been a historic one. I talked about the boycott, I talked about the shooting of another unarmed black man and I have talked about how this seems to be a moment, or at least the beginning of a moment, in the US.

There is something, hopefully, happening right now. People are fed up. People are sick and tired. People want change. Everyone wants equal rights. The time has come for an uprising, and a removal of racist assholes in positions of power. There has been so much civil unrest since the goblin that resides in the White House took office almost four years ago. It has all been bad. He has emboldened racists and fascists and, quite frankly, mentally unstable people. We are in the midst of a seemingly never ending pandemic. People have seemed to just push that aside. We have unemployment rates as bad as they have ever been. There are so many more problems where we sit today than there were five years ago on the exact same day. The US is a mess. The country is divided. Things are just awful. There are days I do not want to get out of bed because I am fearful for what the day will hold. My kids are currently learning virtually. This is all messed up.

We need to change. We need to get out and vote these monsters out of power. We need to be proactive and tell these monsters that enough is enough. Look, Joe Biden wasn't my first choice either. I am a dyed in the wool Democrat. I will always vote blue. But I was on the Beto train at first, then I jumped on the Warren train and then I was all in for Bernie. They didn't get the nomination, and I know that frustrates a lot of people who don't follow one particular political party. And, as I said, Biden wasn't even in my top five of choices. But then he picked Kamala Harris as his running mate, and I have watched him and her speak, and I am ready to run through the wall to vote for them. Change takes time. The country is going to be a two party system no matter what we do at the moment. So, I implore people to vote for Biden and Harris, even if they weren't your tenth choice. As my wife said the other day, "this is truly an election where we pick the lesser of two evils". I couldn't agree more. Go out and vote to get Biden and Harris in the White House. They will, at the very least, level things out. And during their time in office, the people who want there to be more than two political parties, go out and pound the pavement and do all you can to make this more than a two party system. But now, or in November at least, we need to do the right thing. We need Biden and Harris to win. We need them in the office.

I cannot imagine how much worse the next four years could be if the people currently in office stay there. They have shown no signs that they believe in science, that they care about anyone other than themselves, that they care about people that don't look like them, that they have a soul, it is all very, very frightening. I am truly scared what the US will look like if we get four more years of this nonsense. I don't know that it will ever be the same, but Biden and Harris have shown that they listen to scientists. They have talked about mandating masks throughout the country. They both clearly have empathy and souls and are willing to talk and, more importantly, listen to people of other races. We need to go out in record numbers and vote these monsters out. We need to show them that they cannot, will not, steal another election from the people. I'm sick of them acting like the CoronaVirus is gone. I'm sick of them claiming that people are safe. We are as far from safe as we have ever been, at least in my lifetime. And I'm sick of all the other lies and hatred and rhetoric and fear mongering that these scumbags have perpetuated over these last four years.

It is time to lead. Let's keep with this momentum. Let's continue to stick with one another and demand change. Let's get all the criminals out of the White House that are there right now. Please, I implore and beg you, vote in November. And if you are on the fence, or upset that it wasn't your pick, just take a look at where we are as a country right now and think about if you want four more years of this. Your vote is your vote, I just hope it is used for the right reasons this time. Please, please let's make some changes. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Some Thoughts on Vice Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris

Joe Biden selected Kamala Harris to be his running mate in the 2020 presidential election. I have a few brief thoughts.

Thought #1 - This is awesome. I love the history making of the pick, the first women of color to be at the top of the ticket. I love the competency of the pick, Kamala Harris has the record and skill set to be the Vice President. I love the bravery of the pick, Trump and his minions were already planning on using Harris’s statements against Joe Biden during the Democratic Party primary debates, now she can directly answer their attacks.

Thought #2 - Who cares what Fox News and the right wing media machine thinks. The fact is no matter who Biden picked, they were going to attack. Trump is in the running for being the worst President in US history. He is a conspiracy theory peddling, angry, mean old man. There is no joy to Trump. The only thing his GOP media enablers have in their arsenal is the ability to attack people personally. I love that Kamala Harris will bring out the worst in the Trump backers. America can see the hate this group has for others.

Thought #3 - This only matters if you get out and vote. Trump is not popular, but he is powerful. He is also craven. It is obvious that the GOP is doing everything they can to delegitimize the 2020 election. Losers can only win through cheating, and the GOP is led by losers. Trump and his backers are not patriots, they do not believe in the Constitution. Like Trump, the GOP is filled with con-men and con-women. They will do everything. including a bunch of illegal stuff, to stay in power. Take their power away and make damn well sure you vote on, or before, November 3rd.

It is now time to get to work.

Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States. I like the sound of that.

RD

RD is the founder and Head Editor of SeedSing

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