ASK THE BIRD: Is there any way to get through to Republicans' minds short of an exorcism?
Got a question about life, the universe or current events? Ask Miss Mingo. She's got answers. She writes every Saturday for Tropic Press.
Editor’s Note: We take a break from hard news every Saturday morning to let Hermina Hermelinda Obregon, a.k.a. Miss Mingo, share her insights with readers. She’s a recovering newspaper reporter living in a bungalow off Duval Street in Key West. At least that’s what her official biography says, if you can believe that. She answers the pressing questions of the day about life, the news, and the best happy hour prices.
DEAR MISS MINGO:
You appear to be the Miss Manners expert on how to approach our MAGA legislators. Please advise me regarding if I should abandon trying to shame mine into any sense of decency. It appears all those serious Republicans with an intact conscience have already left the building.
While my local U.S. Representative appears “decent” (well, we are the district that spawned Randy Fine), he is utterly spineless as evidenced by his refusal to give any sort of pushback against the current administration’s massive grifting and corruption. The last straw was the former history professor’s letter to constituents, along with some twisted historical justification, in full support of Trump’s taxpayer-funded billion-dollar ballroom.
Should I just stop banging my head against the seawall?
Miffed in Merritt Island
Dear Miffed:
You are not alone. I, myself, have tried various strategies to get through the thick skulls of several Republicans I know. When reason failed, I turned to less traditional methods.
First, I tried wearing strings of garlic around my neck and advancing upon them with outstretched silver crosses. No joy. In fact, one of them snatched it out of my hands and now refuses to return it. This has cost me a friendship since, not being particularly religious myself, I had borrowed it.
It occurred to me that there had to be more than stubbornness at play here, so I wondered about demon possession. I consulted a Wiccan friend of mine to see if she could perform an exorcism but, it turns out, she doesn’t believe in devils or such. My next step is to consult a priest. I will report back.
You can’t fix stupid. And you can’t cause someone to grow a conscience. People who have decided to put their own selfish interests above their oaths of office are the very definition of what it means to be dishonorable.
If exorcisms fail, the only thing left is to vote them out.
DEAR MISS MINGO:
What’s up with Congress? Shouldn’t they be called back if they are not in session to vote on this war out in the Middle East?
Mary Anne
Dear Mary Anne:
Events in the news move swiftly these days, and while this is my first chance to reply to your letter, Congress has, indeed, reconvened, but your concern remains because they have yet to do anything to rein in Trump’s reign of terror.
Worse, House Republicans are pushing a bill to give Trump $73 billion to re-stockpile his depleted weapons supply to continue his war. But that could face a rocky road in the Senate, especially as the midterm election nears and voting to extend war funding could backfire on Republicans fighting to save their phony-baloney jobs.
Stay tuned.
DEAR MISS MINGO:
Are your attorneys allowing you to reveal your part in the Flamingo Revolution, the largest protests in Albania for decades? Jared Kushner‘s company paid $110 million for land that Miami “businessman” claims was owned by his family since the days of the Ottoman Empire. Albanian protesters are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama due to concerns about the environment and about corruption.
So, Miss Mingo, can you disclose your part in organizing this Flamingo Revolution? And how much of the $110 million have you received for your role in brokering the deal?
Greg in Austria
Dear Greg:
Bob Brecha, whose correspondence from Europe frequently graces Tropic Press reports, has written extensively about this issue, and I would direct you to his latest post, which you can find on our website.
As he notes:
Albanians have been more bold than US citizens in taking to the streets in an uprising up against politicians involved in questionable real estate deals. It seems that Albanians are upset that a sensitive nature reserve (flamingoes and other creatures) is being eyed as the next private luxury development by the Trump/Kushner Clan. Although the project proposal has been around for a couple of years, matters rose to a head after Ivanka Trump told a podcaster that, “We were on a friend’s boat, and we stopped for a swim, effectively, that’s how we found it. We swam to the islands, we went on a hike barefoot all the way up to the top, and we were just captivated,”(CNN) How Christopher Columbus of them.
To your question, I have no direct involvement in this matter. I did not broker the deal. I did not lead the protest following the deal. That’s the sort of thing arms dealers do, right? Stir up conflict then sell guns to both sides? Good business model, I suppose, but that’s not me. But I do love the idea of a “Flamingo Revolution.”
Maybe we can get one started here in Florida. I would be happy to carry the banner for that.
Got a question for Miss Mingo? About life, the news, or multi-dimensional realities? Write to her at MissMingo@Tropic.Press
Want to know more about Miss Mingo? How she got her start? And whether she really lives with two cats—Deadline and Dateline—and a pet iguana named Skippy? You can find her official biography, such as it is, here. If you’re bar hopping on Duval Street in Key West and spot an intriguing woman in a pink hat that you suspect might be Miss Mingo, you can always offer to buy her a Cuba Libre. Will it actually be her? Is there an actual her? Life’s a mystery.
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