One of the things I most enjoy about doing this blog is all the fascinating feedback I get from readers and subscribers. The other thing I especially like is that this blog is, for the most part, a politics-free zone. And in today’s hyper-partisan world that last bit is not something to be taken lightly. When I do come across something of political interest in my daily wanderings, I’ll often send it out in an email to my Super Secret Special Sauce list. Maybe you got an email from me recently with this very thing in the title line? If so, you already know what I’m about to say. Everyone else, read on… if you dare.
The policy here at dewconsulting.net/blog is simple: No politics. It’s not open for debate. However, sometimes I come across stuff that is either interesting or funny (or both) that has some political overtones sprinkled in. And in those cases, sometimes I waver. That’s what happened to me this week when I read Gail Collins op-ed, titled “Donald Trump, King of the Losers.” With a title like that you might think at first it’s just a cheap-shot Left-wing partisan hit-piece in the failing NY Times. And for the most part, you’d be right.
However…
There are a few redeeming qualities to Collins’ writing. First and foremost, she is wicked funny. Also, in this case, the “loser” reference was aimed at the “loss” shown on the POTUS’ decades-old tax returns, not his moral failings or suspect leadership qualities. So it wasn’t only an ad hominem attack. <Her “thousandaire” crack? Now that was ad hominem.> But if you’ve read my stuff before (see: here), you’ll know that that tax policy, if not tax evasion, is a particular interest of mine. So that made the one from Collins this week especially tempting.
Also, did I mention? She’s wicked funny. But I digress.
Below is what I sent out to my SSSS list:
If I did politics on the blog… this is what I’d write about.Gail Collins is sort of like Andy Borowitz, only with two X chromosomes. She’s sort of like Maureen Dowd, except with her claws retracted. She’s sort of like David Brooks… wait a minute. Nope, that can’t be right: She’s nothing like David Brooks. Which is to say, I like her a lot. And I’d be willing to break my moratorium on blog politics if I could just find a way to slip it in without offending too many people on the Far Right Fringe. Maybe I could call it “Economic Theory 101” or “Satire For Dummies,” instead of what it really is: A mildly amusing, thinly veiled shot across the Orange One’s bow.But I’d have to be careful. Lord knows, when I did the piece on Melania’s ghastly red Christmas trees and called it “Fashion Sense” there were people who were ready to bite my head off. Hell, there were friendships almost ended over that one. One person, I kid you not, wrote back and said “F**k you, a**hole!” Anyway, extreme discretion’s warranted, apparently. Also, I always try never to make the same mistake twice.
********
President Trump is right about one thing: Anyone who doesn’t treat taxes like a big game of Monopoly is a sucker. And if you don’t believe me, just ask my friend who works for the IRS’s enforcement division in Southern California. He’s 65 and nearing retirement – can’t wait for it, in fact. He used to manage a team of 16, but now he manages a team of just 2 – and that includes himself. So after he retires next January there will just be 1 lonely guy in Westlake Village doing the auditing work previously done by 16 federal employees. Talk about doing more with less! I rest my case.Also, I rest The Donald’s case too I guess. One thing, though: He called tax evasion a “sport,” and maybe that’s right if you consider chess or golf or wine-tasting “sports” – which I don’t. But please, please, PLEASE: Don’t read my blog post on golf, called “Links.” Because if you’re a wine-loving Monopoly-playing tax-cheating thousandaire, then that one will probably be enough to send you right over the edge. And Lord knows, we all need to keep our feet firmly planted on Terra Firma here – politics or no politics.
Now as I said before…
The most interesting thing in all of this is the feedback. One SSSS respondent said she liked my “acid tone” far better even than the cartoons that seem be my blog’s most popular offerings. One guy calling himself “a bleeding-heart libtard” said he saw no problem with my commentary and encouraged me to post, post-haste. A family member who I consider to be an excellent judge of character replied with a non sequitur series of vignettes from a recent family dinner (which I did not attend) that was so funny – and so acid – that I nearly peed myself while reading. Unfortunately it’s not really suitable for a G-rated blog, so you’ll just have to use your imagination.
One avid golfer took exception to my repeated salvos against the game he loves, saying this:
Darn you bad-butted person! You stink eye’d golf again! Post <this> at your discretion, as you KNOW what will come back at you… It’s like releasing a gang snitch from prison into territory of said gang: You KNOW what’s going to happen… Where’s my bomb shelter?
Bad-butted? Stink eye’d? Gang snitch? Hoo boy! I’m not sure exactly where this guy’s Bomb Shelter lies. But with feedback like this, how could I NOT publish? Politics or no politics.
********
Thank you all for your ongoing readership, comments, and support. Without you, this would just be me talking into thin air while hiking dusty trails alone.
Speaking of which, the sun just came out. Guess I better lace ’em up and go get cracking. Golf or no golf.