Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Monday, June 30, 2025
As simple as this
1. Trump announces where he will bomb in Iran to destroy its nuclear inventory. 2. Iran moves its nuclear inventory from those locations. 3. Trump bombs those locations. 4. Trump: "Yay! Our strikes were a COMPLETE success! Mission accomplished!!!" 5. Iran rolls its eyes & jacks up US gas prices.
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social) June 22, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
An existential threat to the rule of law
"This Supreme Court is an existential threat to the rule of law.'" – Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson 💯
— 💙 MaryH 💙 (@maryh58.bsky.social) June 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Gillibrand pulls a Sinema--time to replace both NY Senators
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand went on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show and amplified racist lies about Zohran Mamdani — falsely claiming he supports Hamas, targets synagogues, denies the Holocaust, and backs “global jihad.” When corrected, she doubled down.
— AIPAC Tracker (@trackaipac.bsky.social) June 27, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
House Democrats need a new leader pronto
Hakeem Jeffries, asked if he's endorsed Zohran Mamdani, says "No... We don't really know each other well. Our districts don't really overlap."
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein.bsky.social) June 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, June 29, 2025
The very definition of a cult
And just like that, the ‘No New Wars’ people are all-in on a new war. Proving yet again that they really believe in nothing other than what one man tells them to believe today. Which could be different tomorrow. The very definition of a cult.
— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) June 21, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
No longer SCOTUS, now Supreme Court of Trump
This is just fvcked! Now officially a dictator. Heaven help you all, USA. You are no longer "united states", you are A state ruled by a king. Congress is just a waste of taxpayers' money now. Donald Trump chalks up 'giant win' as Supreme Court limits judges' power to block his orders
— Robyn D (@koparafallskid.bsky.social) June 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
G-E-S-T-A-P-O
Not only are ICE bounty hunters, who look more like criminals than law enforcement, abducting people from workplaces & off the street—we’re now seeing they’re being held in private detention centers w/some of the most deplorable conditions imaginable. REPEAT: people are profiting from this cruelty.
— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline.com) June 27, 2025 at 7:23 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
The difference between a great President (Biden), and a piece of shit (Trump)
President Biden traveled to Minnesota today to pay his respect to assassinated Rep. Melissa Hortman and comfort her family. Donald Trump has remained silent. Thankful for a real President like Joe Biden 🇺🇸
— Protect Kamala Harris ✊ (@disavowtrump20.bsky.social) June 27, 2025 at 8:27 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Heroes against fascism
Michael Pham fled Vietnam at the age of 13. He was named bishop of San Diego a month ago. Today, he stood watch at a courthouse: ICE agents were “standing there covered with masks as we walked toward the courtroom. Eventually the agents scattered and went away” timesofsandiego.com/life/2025/06...
— Bill Grueskin (@bgrueskin.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 7:28 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Ya think?
Tucker Carlson says Fox is a propaganda network that manipulates their mostly elderly audience.
— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 2:09 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
A good starting point
If Democrats truly want to appeal to young men, they should probably start presenting themselves as the party that definitively *won’t* draft you into an illegal war.
— Kat Abughazaleh (@katmabu.bsky.social) June 22, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Profiles in gutlessness
UNIVERSITY of VIRGINIA CAVES 🚩 UVA president resigns due to PRESSURE from TRUMP ADMINISTRATION 🤯 👮 ☠️ 🚔 #FascismIsHere 😳 amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/06/...
— BeSeriousUSA 🐝 (@beserioususa.bsky.social) June 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Friday, June 27, 2025
Billionaires of a feather
The NYT owners, the Ochs and Sulzberger families, are billionaires and millionaires. Guess why they’ve become mere amplifiers for the Trump regime.
— amcarbone (@profwriter.bsky.social) June 19, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
They want us to work until we die
Social Security has stopped publicly reporting its processing times for benefits, the 1-800 number’s current call wait time and numerous other performance metrics, which customers and advocates have used to track the agency’s struggling customer service programs.
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) June 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
One big HATED bill
Harry Enten on Trump's bill: "The amount of disapproval for this bill -- holy cow, my goodness gracious! We're talking about 29 points underwater ... we're talking about a negative 41 net favorability rating among independents. You rarely ever see proposed pieces of legislation as unpopular"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) June 17, 2025 at 8:54 AM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Mark my words--Mamdani's victory is a direct repudiation of Trump
Zohran Mamdani stunned former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who conceded the New York City mayoral primary race to the 33-year-old state lawmaker. trib.al/KfNebEQ
— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) June 24, 2025 at 11:45 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. DXLV--Wreckless Eric: Whole Wide World
Once again, it's too late for goodbyes....
Fuck Donald Trump
For the second straight week, I have to sheepishly admit that my introduction to this week's tune was a TV commercial, that being an Expedia commercial from 2022 featuring Ewan McGregor. There's just a snippet of the song at the end, but it was enough to catch my attention and warrant an online search. Funny thing, though--it was originally released in 1977 and is considered a punk classic. That's my era and a genre I'm very familiar with, but in the end it's just another in a long list of ways that music surprises us....
Wreckless Eric (Eric Goulden) (born 1954 in the U.K.) got his start in 1973 when he began attending Art School--he became interested in the local music scene and joined a few bands along the way. By 1977 he was one of the first to join Stiff Records--with such future musical luminaries as Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, and Devo. He also released his first album, which had a modicum of commercial success. Wreckless Eric was able to parlay that early success into a now nearly fifty-year career. He's been in four different bands, lived in France and the United States (his now home), and currently makes music with his wife, Amy Rigby. For his career, he's released nine albums as Wreckless Eric, one as Eric Goulden, six with his bands, and three with his wife. He's been a part of fourteen compilations and released fourteen singles in all of his musical incarnations. Any way you shake it, that's a pretty long and varied career.
"Whole Wide World" was originally released in 1977 on Wreckless Eric's debut album, the rather cleverly named Wreckless Eric. The single did not chart, while the album reached #46 on the U.K. Albums Chart.
Fun Fact: "Whole Wide World" was written in 1974 and was the first song he ever recorded. It was originally released on the compilation A Bunch of Stiff Records in 1977. So Wreckless Eric, who technically did not have a hit single with this week's song, built his fifty-year career on the first recording he ever made.
Opening with a guitar that mimics a ticking clock, Wreckless Eric weaves the tale of a young man looking for love--who will admittedly "go the whole wide world" to find it (though he seems to think he's going to find it on a tropical island--probably because of his Mom). The song builds from a softly played and sung intro to an absolute explosion as the narrator's urgency hits a ten. There's a couple of odd (but noticeable) bass quirks, as well as one on the drums that became something I actually waited for. In the end, Wreckless Eric's vocals (note that this is one of the few songs sung by someone British in which you can still hear the accent) seal the deal--there's a searing intensity combined with a youthful exuberance that drives the song to its greatness. If you're going to have one hit, you want it to be just like this one.
Lyric Sheet: "Why am I hangin' around in the rain out here, tryin' to pick up a girl?/Why are my eyes fillin' up with these lonely tears, when there's girls all over the world?"
Enjoy:
Peace,
emaycee
The benefits of diversity--all races hate Trump
NEW Economist/YouGov Poll Net favorability of Donald Trump [at the start of his second term | now] among... White Americans +13 | +3 Hispanic Americans -12 | -28 Black Americans -31 | -58 d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec... d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec...
— YouGov America (@today.yougov.com) June 17, 2025 at 10:24 AM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
With the Trump administration, failure is an option
Yikes. Karoline Leavitt's statement basically completely confirms CNN's reporting. This is really bad for the White House and should be a major scandal. Trump lied. Again.
— MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) June 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Mitch makes Marie Antoinette proud
www.newsweek.com/mitch-mcconn... Mitch McConnell said during a closed-door meeting with Republicans on Tuesday that people worried about cuts to Medicaid in the Senate's reconciliation bill will "get over it."
— Deborah Lynn (@mrsdeborahlynn.bsky.social) June 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Game show hosts don't make very good Presidents, either
Trump allowed the Israel-Iran war to begin with a single phone call to Netanyahu. Now he thinks he can end it by declaring eternal peace via a social media post, and loses his tempter when he discovers he can't. This is why game show hosts should not be granted the keys to international diplomacy.
— Adam Schwarz (@adamjschwarz.bsky.social) June 24, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Once again, Trump got played by another world leader
My personal opinion on Trump’s comments this morning is that Israel knew exactly what the fuck they were doing and if there is anyone who really doesn’t know what the fuck they are doing that person is Donald Trump.
— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) June 24, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Our idiot commander-in-chief
The problem ain't our military. It's our idiot commander-in-chief.
— Tea Pain (@teapainusa.bsky.social) June 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Here's a surprise--Trump fails again
New via NYT: A senior US official similarly acknowledged the American strike on the Fordo site did not destroy the heavily fortified facility but said the strike had severely damaged it. The person noted that even 12 bunker-busting bombs could not destroy the site www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/w...
— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell.bsky.social) June 22, 2025 at 5:35 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Trump did leave the G7 pretty quick...
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
But, baby, remember...
 |
Thanks for a great single, sir |
Bobby Sherman, a teen idol from the 1960's, passed away today at the age of eighty-one after a battle with cancer. I wrote about his song "Julie Do Ya Love Me?" (reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100--with a bullet!) in Jukebox, Vol. CCCX.
I note this not because of the significance of his passing (which certainly means something to his family, his fans, and those his EMT training helped), though it's dawned on me lately writing an obit for any artists featured on Friday Night Jukebox would be the least I could do considering all they've done for me (sure I've missed a few in the past, but it won't happen again). No, I'm writing about his death because this country is seriously fucked up right now and it's hard to find much to smile about...but when I played his song this afternoon after hearing of his passing I was positively beaming.
And in times like these, I'll take any joy I can get. Just another in a long line of reasons why devoting so much of my life to music has paid off again and again.
Thank you, Mr. Sherman.
Reprise:
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Free falling
NEW Economist/YouGov Poll Net favorability of Donald Trump [at the start of his second term | now] among U.S. adult citizens by age 18-29: +5 | -31 30-44: -6 | -11 45-64: +12 | -2 65+: -4 | -5 d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec... d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec...
— YouGov America (@today.yougov.com) June 17, 2025 at 10:24 AM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Goddamn guarantee it
Countdown to Trump Store dot com debuting a War with Iran collection…
— Zach Everson (@zacheverson.com) June 21, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
This is a major reason Trump bombed Iran
“The contrast between the protests and the military parade suggested an important shift in political culture. The momentum and the joy, as well as the American flags, were on the side of those protesting Trump’s growing authoritarianism.” — @hcrichardson.bsky.social
— Laurence H. Tribe (@tribelaw.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Political castration
SLOTKIN: Have you given the order to be able to shoot at unarmed protesters in any way? HEGSETH: What is that based on? SLOTKIN: It is based on Trump giving that order to your predecessor, who I give a lot of credit to bc he didn't accept the order. He has more guts & balls than you
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) June 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Monday, June 23, 2025
The stupidest and most classless rationale for war in our nation's history
Which US Presidents over the past 25 years is JD Vance calling “dumb”? Barack Obama? Bill Clinton? George HW Bush? George W Bush? Vance is a powerfully vacuous man.
— BWJones (@bwjones.bsky.social) June 22, 2025 at 10:51 AM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Americans don't trust Trump on the economy
CNN: "Breaking just moments ago. New data showing consumers cut back spending sharply last month ... this does appears to at least partially be driven by a hangover from tariffs."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) June 17, 2025 at 9:02 AM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Iran will be just another long boondoggle that the GOP dragged us into
For those unconditionally cheering the attacks on Iran, remember that our early strikes in Afghanistan and Iraq were “successful”. But we ended up getting dragged into costly wars that created more terrorists than we killed. The American people haven’t forgotten that.
— Chris Murphy (@chrismurphyct.bsky.social) June 18, 2025 at 11:51 AM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Mission...not accomplished!
“U.S. Officials Concede They Don’t Know Whereabouts of Iran’s Uranium Stockpile” Mission accomplished! 🤦🏽♂️
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan.bsky.social) June 22, 2025 at 7:42 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Time for our Democratic leaders to stand tall
I am looking for congressional leaders to come out quickly and forcefully against this. We need unequivocal opposition. We need theatric demonstrations of defiance. We need to see leadership. Trump will steamroll us all if we display weakness. Where are our leaders?
— Ezra Levin ❌👑 (@ezralevin.bsky.social) June 21, 2025 at 8:15 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Never forget--we had a nuclear agreement with Iran, and Trump threw it out
@meetthepress.com when you discuss Israel attacking Iran & how Trump threatens Iran, why don't you or any other journalists EVER mention that he tossed out a nuclear agreement that was working between Iran & US? You all treat him as if he were a rational man & POTUS, which he proves he isn't.
— Deborah Lawrence Hale (@deborahlawrenchale.bsky.social) June 15, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Remember, when Iran attacks us, it's Trump's fault completely
Everyone feeling safe? As you listen to threats from Iran that they plan on attacking any country who supports or helps Israel's attack on Iran or defensive of Israel, remember that Trump gutted our Anti-terrorism Department.
— MantaHunk 🌎🏳️🌈☮️🟧 (@mantahunk.bsky.social) June 13, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
We're at war with Iran, and we have an idiot in the White House--what could go wrong?
We have a President that announces military action on fucking social media and ends it with "Thank you for your attention to this matter". Seriously, fuck all the way off. This is serious stuff that requires an announcement from the Oval Office - oh yeah, and maybe Congressional approval too.
— Joel on Politics (@joelonpolitics.bsky.social) June 21, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Saturday, June 21, 2025
We need justice
The tragedy in Minnesota today is a prime example of the radicalization of politics in this country. The deaths of Rep. Hortman and her husband are heartbreaking and senseless. The violence against Democrats over the past week is vile. We need justice against these political attacks.
— Naotoshi Maeda (@naotoshimaeda.bsky.social) June 14, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
It ain't immigrants--Trump and the GOP are giving our money to billionaires
Immigrants aren't stealing your money and giving it to billionaires. Republicans and Trump are with their budget bill. They want you to blame immigrants so you won't blame them.
— Melanie D’Arrigo (@darrigomelanie.bsky.social) June 12, 2025 at 3:21 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Vice President Piece of Shit
JD Vance keeping it classy in California. www.nbcnews.com/politics/jd-...
— Jennifer Bennon (@jennobenno.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 9:28 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Two weeks notice
White House: “Trump to make an Iran decision in two weeks.” “Two weeks” is Trump’s go-to stall tactic when he’s got nothing. Watch…
— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline.com) June 20, 2025 at 9:37 AM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Friday, June 20, 2025
Messaging is everything
I cannot stress enough how much the anti-ICE protests are an overwhelming win for Democrats on social media. I’m seeing Instagram influencers who stayed silent on politics for the past year loudly sharing support for immigrants. I’m seeing podcasters who interviewed Trump talk about how wrong ICE is
— Kat Tenbarge (@kattenbarge.bsky.social) June 11, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Corporate greed fucking us over once again
Private prisons for-hire. Shameful greed
— Currentideas@bsky.social (@currentideas.bsky.social) June 11, 2025 at 3:44 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
More pathetic grifting from Donnie
In normal America, Trump selling US citizenship for $5 million and calling it the Trump Card would be a scandal. In fascist America, we call it Thursday. #ProudBlue #TrumpIsUnfitForOffice #TrumpCard #TrumpIsANationalDisgrace #TrumpIsTheWorstPresidentInUSHistory
— LA Blue Dot in GA (@namwella1961.bsky.social) June 12, 2025 at 1:52 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
The only thing Trump is good at: racism
Juneteenth went uncelebrated by the White House. That alone says everything you need to know about this regime.
— Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) June 19, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. DXLIV--Eddie Cochran: C'mon Everybody
Somehow, almost a week late seems a lot better than almost two weeks late....
Somewhat sheepishly, I have to admit that, to the best of my knowledge, my introduction to this week's tune was a Hershey's commercial released in 2021. It would have upped my coolness quotient (well, probably not) a bit if I'd said I'd heard Springsteen talk about it and checked it out from his thoughts on the song. Alas, I heard it in the background as I was working at this computer, and thought, "That song sounds great. Wonder who did it?" Thanks to a quick check online I found it...and after numerous listens fell in love with it....
I wrote about Eddie Cochran in Jukebox, Vol. CXLIII, and as he's, sadly, been dead for sixty-five years now, there really isn't anything I can add to that previous bio paragraph. I will say, though, that after hearing this week's tune in addition to the song from the earlier post, the world really lost a great talent, and it would have been interesting to see what his musical future would have held.
"C'mon Everybody" was released as a single in 1958, and it went to #35 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached #6 in the U.K. (where Cochran had a great deal of success). After his death, it was included on The Eddie Cochran Memorial Album .
Fun Fact: Cochran has never had an album chart in the United States. That means he's probably the only member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame without an album that hit the charts in America.
I have no idea who was the first guitarist to play a jangly guitar riff, but Eddie Cochran had to have been one of the first. His guitar playing on this one fills in all the holes and perfectly captures the groove of the song. The bass drum (I think--not exactly a drum aficionado) is also incredible--it sounds as if it's echoing (it might mimic the rhythm of the guitar?) and it plays well with the jangly guitar. Cochran's vocals capture perfectly the joy of the song's story--his folks are out of town, and he wants to have a party for everybody at his house. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the "Hooo!" before he sings "C'mon everybody"--it's one of those small moments that make a song that much better. For whatever reason, over the past few months I've been listening to a lot of music from this era--it's incredible how much great music came from the late fifties, and "C'mon Everybody" is just one more stellar single from a stellar era.
Lyric Sheet: "Well, when you hear that music you can't sit still/ If your brother won't rock then your sister will/Hooo! C'mon everybody!"
Enjoy:
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
This is how you do it--tell Trump to fuck all the way off
The NAACP is not inviting Trump to their convention, breaking a 100+-year tradition. The civil rights organization criticized Trump for a “fascist playbook” that it said pushes “radical” and “un-American” initiatives. It also is not inviting JD Vance. share.newsbreak.com/dlzwup1r?s=i16
— Liz (or Lizzie) Kim 김혜성 💫 (@zen4ever2us.bsky.social) June 17, 2025 at 11:44 AM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
The most important lesson from Ukraine
Apparently letting a country that gave up nukes be invaded will lead other countries to decide they better have nukes cos they won't believe your promises that they don't need nukes. Who could ever have guessed?
— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) June 13, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace.
emaycee
Make America White Again
These people don’t want to make housing or health care more affordable, they don’t want to raise wages, they want to never again see kendrick lamar at the superbowl, ibram kendi on the bestseller list, ryan coogler at the oscars or ketanji brown jackson on the supreme court bsky.app/profile/kati...
— Adam Serwer (@adamserwer.bsky.social) June 10, 2025 at 7:35 AM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
All talk, no action
For decades the NRA and other gun nuts told us that their guns were to protect us all from a tyrannical government. So a tyrannical government is here, they are all sitting on their asses, and the people who want gun control have taken to the streets to defy the tyrannical government instead.
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. DXLIII--John Mellencamp: Scarecrow (Album)
In real danger of having not one, not two, but three late Friday Night Jukebox posts. Jeez-louise...
For those familiar (all three of you), every year during my birthday week (first week of June--sixty-six years young if anybody cares) I feature one of my favorite albums of all-time. This year it's John Mellencamp and his seminal, career changing LP, Scarecrow. This week's post (technically the post from two weeks ago--but I quibble) will be the fourth time I've featured Mellencamp (first, second, and third), and as these albums posts can get quite long and I've written a bio paragraph before, I'll dispense with any career intro. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and spawned three singles which hit the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.
Just a quick note about Scarecrow: it's impossible to overstate its importance to me and how stunned I was to find Mellencamp in such musical sociopolitical company as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Petty. It turned me into a lifetime Mellencamp fan (I was warming to his music, but not yet a full-fledged fan when this album was released), and while it may seem as if the album came out of left field, if you listen to Mellencamp's prior output, virtually all of it was leading to this album. It really isn't much of a stretch to say that from the mid-eighties to the mid-nineties Mellencamp was the premier male vocalist when it came to delineating American values, and all that it did and didn't stand for. It is an incredible portrait of America, a sociopolitical masterpiece, a much needed clapback at the Reagan, devolution, and as catchy of a serious album as you're likely to ever hear.
And away we go...
Rain on the Scarecrow--From the exploding drums to the ominous guitar, Mellencamp announces with authority that this isn't going to be just another pop album. A scathing indictment of Ronald Reagan and the damage his economic policies did to American farms--and every other American, too. One of the best songs Mellencamp has ever written--and with anger and angst, one of his best vocals. One of the best opening songs on any album ever as well. Favorite Line: "He said John it's just my job and I hope you understand/Hey calling it your job ol' hoss sure don't make it right..."
Grandma's Theme--A nice piece of Americana, a traditional song sung by Mellencamp's Grandma. Another proclamation that this isn't just another pop record. The lyrics to the entire song (it's called "The Baggage Coach Ahead") are included at the link, and it tells another sad American tale. Favorite Line: "All the passengers had gone to bed/Except a young man with a baby in his arms/Who sat there with a bowed-down head..."
Small Town--While a few big city folks took exception to this song (listen to the lyrics, folks!), I've always thought it was just a song about home and the creature comforts therein. One of the things Mellencamp has always done well is write a top forty song, and he nailed this one. Catchy, joyous, rollicking--could have been released in any decade of the rock and roll era and been a hit. Favorite Line--"Got nothing against a big town/Still hayseed enough to say/'Look who's in the big town...'
Minutes to Memories--This one is just a stunning song, a piece about advice, aging, and making the most of what life has to offer. Chances are good you're not going to be one of the world's winners, but you can still have a good life just being the best you can be. Thoughtful, and delivered with a steady vocal, and a lovely melody. I'll sound like a broken record, but another of the best he's ever written. Favorite Line: "My family and friends are the best thing I've known/Through the eye of the needle I'll carry them home..."
Lonely Ol' Night--A friend in need is a friend indeed--or so the saying goes. All about being lonely and having someone--anyone--to share that loneliness with. A nice single (it went top ten) that tells us there's a big difference between the romance of loneliness and the romance of love. Almost an antithesis to "Jack and Diane." Favorite Line--"Nobody told us it was gonna work out this way/No, no, no, no, no/I guess they knew we'd work it out in our own way..."
The Face of the Nation--A stripped down and bare song (a mix of jazz and blues) that decries the coldness the nation was adopting in the face of the Me Decade and Reagan's dagger to the heart of middle America. Short and bittersweet--another sign this isn't just another pop record. Favorite Line: "Some got it worse than me/Some got it worse than you/You see the people starvin' underneath the tree/And you wonder what happened to the golden rule..."
Justice and Independence '85--A parable of sorts about what America had become under Reagan's leadership. Yes, indeed, there was plenty to cry about, and Mellencamp lets his symbol flag fly pointing out the damage Reagan had done. But he leaves us with a little hope at the end--just by singing this song.... Favorite Line: "Roll a rock across the Country/Everybody come along/When you're feelin' down yeah yeah/Just sing this song yeah yeah..."
Between a Laugh and a Tear--Just another brilliant effort--musically, lyrically, and vocally. Featuring emaycee fave Rickie Lee Jones on backing vocals, this one is an ode to the travails of youth with a promise that the future is unwritten. Most of us live our lives between a laugh and a tear, and the best advice is to keep on keeping on. Favorite Line: "Just try to live each and every precious moment/Don't be discouraged by the future forget the past/That's old advice but it'll be good to you..."
Rumbleseat--Sometimes when an album has so many great songs, you forget about one of the really good ones--and that would be this song. As I listened while doing my half-assed research, I remembered how good this song was--story of a guy who thinks he's a loser and wakes up one day to say "Fuck that!" and start making his life better. Another excellent pop tune, with a real fifties vibe. (For those wondering, description of a rumbleseat here.) Favorite Line: "Still got some dreams left/Tomorrow is a new day/Gonna make these dreams come true..."
You've Got to Stand for Somethin'--This one's got a real bluesy seventies feel to it and gives a short history and pop culture lesson on its way to telling us that all isn't what it seems. Stand for something or they'll take you for a ride--good advice even forty years later. Favorite Line: "We've got to start respectin' this world/Or it's gonna turn around and bite off our face..."
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60's Rock)--And a balls out rocker to end it--Mellencamp had some trepidation about ending such a serious album with a fun ode to sixties rock, but in the end figured it was a high energy song and went with it. It worked--it was the highest charting single from the album, and for the millionth time in this post, shows what a great pop hit writer Mellencamp is. It shows the love of not just the players but also the fans. Favorite Line: "Some are black and some are white/Ain't too proud to sleep on the floor tonight/With the blind faith of Jesus you know that they just might..."
The Kind of Fella I Am [Bonus Track]--This one was a bonus track on the cassette and CD...and wouldn't you know it, I bought the LP. No matter--I got it as the B-side to "Lonely Ol' Night." Lyrics here.
Forgot how truly great this album was--and is just as relevant in the age of (fucking idiot) Trump as it was in the age of (fucking idiot) Reagan. A stellar effort.
Enjoy:
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Something is very wrong with this picture
@pelosi.house.gov: "On January 6th...we begged the president of the United States to send in the National Guard. He would not do it...And yet, in a contra-constitutional way, he has sent the National Guard into California. Something is very wrong with this picture."
— George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 (@gtconway.bsky.social) June 10, 2025 at 10:31 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Immigrants are more American than anyone in the Trump administration by far
Thank you Trump and Stephen Miller for saving us from this
— The Tennessee Holler (@thetnholler.bsky.social) June 11, 2025 at 11:15 AM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
More bullshit from Hypocrites 'R Us
Hypocrisy (n): the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform
— Biggie (@biggienotsmalls.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
So much fucking up in so little time
Goldman: "The idea of focusing on President Biden is a way of distracting from Donald Trump's efforts to completely undermine our democracy, to grift and engage in corruption, and to help out his billionaire buddies by cutting their taxes while taking Medicaid away from the American people."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) June 4, 2025 at 9:44 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
The real terrorists are in the GOP
This is a United States Senator mocking the assassination of a Minnesota legislator and her husband. He pretends to be a good Mormon. He’s a sick fuck.
— Fred Wellman (@fpwellman.bsky.social) June 15, 2025 at 5:10 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Trump leaves G7 as a laughingstock
Chaos follows Trump around like dirt follows Pig Pen. Trump leaves G7 due to Middle East. No trade deals. No talks. No interaction with G7 partners. No talk with Zelensky. No talk with Putin. At least the G7 is happy. They were rolling their eyes at him on camera this morning. A world-class fool.
— MantaHunk 🌎🏳️🌈☮️🟧 (@mantahunk.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 9:45 PM
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Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
Carney bitch slaps Trump
Trump HUMILIATED: When Donald Trump started lying at a G7 press conference, Canadian PM Mark Carney cut him off. When Trump tried to continue, Carney simply ENDED the press conference, and the press left. ☺️ THANK YOU for showing America how to handle a bully. 💪
— Monica Beckett (@moniemouse.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
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