LENIN WANTED TO DESTROY THE STATE…..MY GOAL, TOO

Ed Rollins was on one of the TV talk shows last night. Stephen Bannon the object of discussion. Bannon is the 63 year old Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor to President Trump.

It has been said in recent days that Bannon has increasing influence over the President and is either now or becoming the power person on the White House staff.

Bannon’s background is checkered. He was Executive Chairman of Breitbart News, a white supremacy website. David Duke and the KKK found his selection by Trump to be an excellent one. He is anti-Semitic. Democrats and Republicans alike oppose him.

As mentioned yesterday, the comment was recently made that Bannon makes Cheney look like Mother Teresa.

Rollins commented that Bannon had said Lenin wanted to destroy the state and that he (Bannon) wanted to destroy today’s establishment.

Strong words. Trump appointed as a close adviser a man who in effect wants to bring down the government.

I sought the source. Turns out to have been the New York Times. An article on 11/14/16 by Daniel Victor and Liam stack.

The Times repeated a statement made in The Legal Beast. The Legal Beast the source. No source for The Legal Beast’s statement attributed to Bannon set forth.

The purported Bannon statement: “Lenin wanted to destroy the state, and that’s my goal, too…..I want to bring everything crashing down, and destroy all of today’s establishment.”

Bannon is known to have such thought and drive most of his adult life.

When asked regarding the comment, Bannon did not deny. He said he could not recall the conversation.

My podcast show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. A quick interesting thought provoking half hour. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics will include Bannon, of course. As well as Stephen Miller, a 31 year old White House adviser. The person who wrote the immigration/refugee executive order.

Also, Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, the Trump-Putin telephone call saturday, Russia initiating further war activity in Ukraine sunday and monday, Trump’s dying relationship with Congress, police at Standing Rock equipped with missile launchers, moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, Mark Zuckerberg wanting to be President, and more.

At 8 tonight, Trump will announce his designee for the Supreme Court. I will have something to say about whoever it is. Trump is down to three choices. We know who they are and they have been vetted in the media.

A most enjoyable dinner last night. With friend Andrew who is in for a few days from his Switzerland home. Together with Jim and Donna. An evening of great conversation.

Guy Fawkes died this date in 1606. He had led a Catholic revolution against Parliament and King James. His intent was to blow up Parliament and James I at the same time. He was caught before he had the opportunity.

Fawkes was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. He was to be hung, drawn, and quartered.

Fawkes threw himself off the ladder leading to the gallows. Broke his neck and immediately died. Spoiling Parliament’s cruel death plan for him.

The English celebrate November 5 as Guy Fawkes Day. There are bonfires and fire works. Fawkes burned in effigy, also. The event celebrating Fawkes’ failure to blow up Parliament and James I.

Enjoy your day!

JENNA and ME

Last night lovely! Jenna and I enjoyed dinner together. At Azur. We celebrated my birthday. I was Jenna’s guest.

Jenna and I have been friends eight years. When she first came to Key West. Green. Wet behind the ears. No more. An experienced woman in her field. Television, advertising, modeling. She is at her best when hosting and interviewing on a TV show.

Beautiful! A knockout!

We enjoy each other’s company though 51 years separate us.

Jenna is razor then. Runs 5-7 miles a day. A cheap date. She eats nothing. Orders an appetizer. Finishes only half. Takes the other half home. Her body slim.

She has taken up racing. Recently won her first race. A 5K.

Walked yesterday. Working at good health! Read and napped during the afternoon.

Hemingway Days around the corner. July 22-26.

One of the events scheduled is a poetry reading. Sponsored by the Key West Poetry Guild. Hemingway wrote poetry in his early days. His poems will be read. Blue Heaven. Tuesday July 22 at 5.

Hemingway was familiar with Blue Heaven. A regular of sorts. He refereed local boxing matches there.

No question, I am hooked on William Hackley. His 1855 diary being run on a daily basis by the Key West Citizen.

He and his wife Kate have a new born. Kate not making enough milk. William brought in a goat from Havana. The goat not doing the job. The baby is literally starving.

Kate tried breast fed twice during the night. Not enough. The baby is in trouble.

The British Open got to me right away. The first day Scottish time was 1:30 in the morning our time thursday. I watched the whole thing. Got about two hours sleep.

I did not watch last night. Slept.

Phil Mickelson doing well. Time is passing him by. He is 46. I would like to see him win this big one.

Three years ago, I wrote a KONK Life column on the medical care jailed inmates receive. The best! Better than you and I. And we pay for it. They do not.

The issue of special food has once again arisen. Certain Jewish inmates want kosher foods. Muslims and Seventh Day Adventists whatever their religions permit.

Special dishes cost extra money. Florida, $12.3 million a year. Florida wanted to say no more. everyone eats the same. An intermediate federal court said this week that jails must provide special meals for inmates who claim the same on religious grounds. The court also went on to say that the argument it costs too much money does not fly. Find it! Such was the court order to Florida.

Special religious meals are provided in 35 state jails and throughout the entire federal system.

This week’s KONK Life column The New Prostitution was linked to my Key West Lou website this morning. It also appeared on E-Blast.

What happened in Nice horrible! Eighty plus lives. A terrorist attack by one man.

I fear the attack may decide our Presidential election. Trump claims he is going to protect us. Shouts it loudly and clearly.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

 

FREEDOM AT LAST

Early wednesday morning, six Cuban immigrants safely landed in Key West. At the Southernmost Point.The end of South Street. The place where tourists wait in line to have their picture taken.

The dive boat that took them to safety could be seen behind the Southernmost Point. A warm sight knowing the circumstances. The six could not have landed at a better place.

Now that we have some sort of relationship with Cuba, I no longer can accept returning Cuban refugees who did not land with their feet on American soil. A concept that has outlived its time.

I saw on TV this morning, a Cuban who had just arrived and his father that had been in the U.S. 36 years. Embracing. Crying. The first time in 36 years father and son saw or touched each other.

Yesterday began normally. The anti-gravity treadmill first. I have exceeded my original top speed. Now 4.0 as opposed to 3.5. Miles per hour. Time equal to back when. Gravity still at 50 percent. I need it there or a while yet.

David Wolkowsky has been absent recently. He went to New York City. Ninety six years old and takes a few days off to visit the Big Apple. What a guy!

Followed it up with Ruby at the Cuban Coffee Queen. Ruby is terrific! She remembers your order and name. Similar to a bartender knowing your drink. All the time smiling.

A stop at Walgreens to pick up another prescription. I have 11 prescriptions requiring 13 pills a day to be taken. All doctor prescribed. My heart doctor says it is what is keeping my heart and blood pressure ok. I am “pill controlled” as he puts it.

I could sense it was going to rain last night at dinner time. Decided to stay close to home. Drove over to Hogfish. Sat at the bar. Knew we were going to get hit with a heavy rain. Monsoon type. You could small, taste and feel it coming.

It did. Fortunately, the bar area protected me from getting wet.

My happy birthday with Jenna this evening. My birthday. The last day of celebration. It is dinner at Azur. I am looking forward to Jenna and Azur. Both top of the line.

I am beginning to worry about William Hackley’s baby. He, a fried and what I assume was a nun stayed up all evening with the baby. Baby appeared better at 10 in the morning.

The thought occurs…..The Republican Party holds itself out as the party of family values. So they run a Presidential candidate who has had three wives. If Newt Gingrich is the VP choice, the heads of the Republican ticket will have had six wives.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…..” The opening phrase in Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. “Let them eat cake.” Attributed to Marie Antoinette. Questioned by some whether she was the one who actually uttered the words.

They come to mind because it was on this date in 1789 that French revolutionaries stormed the Bastille. The beginning of the French revolution.

Pouring like hell at the moment. I suspect we may have slipped into the rainy season.

Enjoy your day!

 

BOBBY NESBITT BACK

It was back to the anti-gravity treadmill yesterday. Pushed myself. Got my time to within five minutes of what I used to do. Gravity level still at 50 percent though.

Spent the afternoon thinking and searching re this week’s KONK column. As usual, I came up with nothing. By 2 this afternoon, I must. Must complete research this afternoon preparatory to writing the column tomorrow.

Bobby Nesbitt has been away for a few weeks. He’s back. Knew he was going to be at Tavern ‘n Town last night. Planned on going.

Dee called me around 3. What are you doing tonight? I told her. She asked if she could join me. Of course.

Dee and I enjoyed dinner together while listening to Bobby Nesbitt last night.

I have been celebrating my birthday off and on all week. Tonight the last celebration! Jenna is taking me to dinner at Azur for my birthday. A double winner for me. Love Jenna. Always glad to be with her. Azur a fine restaurant. For some reason, I rarely go however.

The Wall Street Journal ran an article this week that indicated the price of gasoline had dropped dramatically in the last 20 days. There is a glut of gasoline.

No dramatic drop in Key West! Three cents. From $2.66 a gallon to $2.63.

The Journal article said gasoline dropped to $2.26 a gallon. Again, not in Key West!

Even better, the article stated more than 20,000 gas stations around the country are selling gasoline for less than $2 a gallon. Not in Key West!

Hemingway Days around the corner. July 19-24. Hemingway look alikes, the running of the bulls. Love it!

Mangoes. Key West not Key West without Mangoes. The restaurant is presently closed. Changed hands. Remodeling going on. I do not know the reopening date.

Everyone has had something happen to them at Mangoes. Sixteen years ago, I met Howard Livingston at the bar. We became instantaneous friends. Not today’s Howard Livingston. He was the Chicago CEO at the time.

The Beatles are coming to Key west. July 11 at 8 pm. The Key West Theater.

A group known as The Return performs a Beatles look alike, sing alike. Sounds interesting. A return to great music of yesteryear.

Enjoy your day!

 

CHAMPAGNE AND JENNA

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Jenna took me out for my birthday last night. A week late. But ok. She was in Atlanta last weekend.

Dinner at Azur. Jenna picked the place. An excellent choice. Fine food and service. A relaxing atmosphere.

We started dinner with champagne. Jenna loves champagne. We have enjoyed the bubbles several times together. The first was while watching Fourth of July fireworks some five years ago. We watched from my deck. In lounge chairs. A bottle of Dom Perignon on a small table between us..

A fine time then and a fine time last night.

Jenna has her own morning TV talk show. She interviews persons of interest. She also manages the TV studio. In between, she models in Miami and elsewhere. Her career is moving along.

I met Jenna when I started doing a TV talk show. She was my producer. I knew from nothing when I started. I learned a lot from her.

Last night, she talked to me about doing this blog once a week on video. Everything the same, except you see and hear me. I am considering trying it.

Frequently when I mention Jenna, out of towners ask that I post her pic so they could see what she looks like. Today is the day! Two Jenna photos!

A lovely lady. Inside and out.

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I spent a lot of day time yesterday researching this week’s KONK Life column. Still have more research ahead today. Will write the column later today. It is due at the publisher’s.

The topic involves Margaret Sanger. Considered the founder of what today is Planned Parenthood. An outspoken woman regarding birth control and abortion.

Some interesting things have come to light this week. Her motivations re supporting birth control and abortion. Sanger shockingly was anti-black, participated in Klu Klux Klan meetings, believed only in the survival of the fittest, espoused Hitler doctrines, and more. Deeply revealing.

The revelations resulting from news this past week.  Planned Parenthood has been selling cells/parts of aborted fetuses. A revelation in and of itself!

Anna leaves for Amorgos today. I envy her. Amorgos is my favorite place.

Uber has pulled out of Key West. I do not think it final. They will be back.

Enjoy your Sunday!

HEMINGWAY DAYS COMING

Next tuesday is the beginning of one of the Key West events I enjoy most. Hemingway Days.

There will be over 125 Hemingway look alikes hoping to be selected as Hemingway Look Alike 2015. Many of the participants have been coming 10-20 years hoping to win. Losing isn’t bad. A whole week of fun!

The other thing I like about Hemingway Days are the bulls. Especially the Running of the Bulls. Where else, except in Key West!

Some Hemingway descendants visit. Hemingway’s  daughter and grandchildren.

Key West has been home to many fine authors. Others, merely to visit. Whatever, Key West is always happy to greet them. John Updike was in Key West for Hemingway Days 1993. He was here to receive the Conch Republic Prize for writing. In introducing Updike, one of Hemingway’s grandchildren described his writing as having a sensuous style, his life’s work reflecting the freewheeling creative spirit of Key West.

I came across an Updike quote. Interesting, especially to writers and would be writers. “And then there’s that constant feeling that if you’re not writing Moby Dick, you’re just clowning around.”

My day yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. I keep increasing speed and incline. I have my nitroglycerin in my pocket just in case.

Then a manicure with Tammy. Love that girl!

The humidity has been unusually heavy this month. I asked Tammy if she was using her pool evenings to cool off. Her bright eyes looked up at me as she exclaimed….When would I have time, I work till 9 in the evening 6-7 days a week! Followed by instantaneous belly laughs from the both of us.

Keep working Tammy. It pays off in the end.

I planned on staying home last night. Don screwed up my plan. He telephoned and said he had to see me. A business matter that could not wait. I tried to beg off. To no avail. So it was shower again, shave and down to Don’s Place.

Don and I concluded the business discussion in 30 minutes. I figured I was up and about. Might as well stay out. Enjoyed some time at the bar with Don, Stan, Claire and David.

Then Don and David joined me at the Chart Room. Unusual. These guys rarely want to leave Don’s Place.

We ran into the other David at the Chart Room. Don and the other David have been friends for years. I learned that at one time Don’s wife Stephanie worked for David. David is an occasional customer at Don’s Place. He is on vacation this week. Told Don he did the breakfast club yesterday morning.

Everyone ends up in Don’s Place!

We spent 2-3 hours at the bar. A good time every minute! Very few customers other than us.

A couple came in and were standing at the corner of the bar next to where I was sitting. David and Heather from Akron. It was a David evening. David and Heather are frequent visitors to Key West. David retired. Nice people.

The British Open a mess because of the weather. Yesterday’s round cut short because of the weather. Especially the wind. The wind was moving the ball on greens before a player could even putt.

I was up in the middle of the night to watch the Open. No way. Tried at around 6 this morning. Still no golf. The weather again.

I just learned today’s golf cancelled. Weather. Especially the wind. Tomorrow they are going to get 36 holes in. Plus, those that did not finish friday will have to get those holes in also. I suspect that will be too much and it will be decided to extend the Open to include monday.

Big night tonight! I am Jenna’s guest at dinner to celebrate my birthday. She picked the restaurant. Azur. A great restaurant I seldom visit. I am looking forward to Jenna and Azur this evening.

Enjoy your day!