This is the third year in a row where I find myself hosting Top Comments for winter solstice. This is the longest night of the year, and many cultures and religions, in their own way, celebrate the coming return of the light.
Winter solstice serves as a metaphor for where we are as a nation right now. Two years ago, we were on the verge of plunging into the darkness of a Trump administration. Last year, Trump and the Republicans managed to pass their odious tax cut for the rich just before the holidays, their one and only legislative initiative during the entire Congress. This year, all the purported “adults in the room” have exited, the toddler is having a tantrum over the funding for his wall that will cause a government shutdown. The toddler in chief is also ceding Syria to Russia and lifting sanctions on a key Russian oligarch, to the shock and dismay of the intelligence community, the State Department, the Defense Department, and Congressional Representatives of both parties. On the other hand, Mueller is starting to reveal his hand, and it promises to be devastating.
We are still in the darkness, though there are hints of light breaking around the edges. We just don’t know if that light is the breaking of dawn or the light of coming explosions of conflict. There is still a good chance that things will get worse before they get better. However, it’s clear we are approaching a breaking point of some sort. My hope is that Trump’s fall will be swift and bloodless, and the madhouse will be permanently closed for business.
Another sign of coming light, of course, was this year’s election. People are pissed at Trump, and they made their thoughts clear through their votes. If Trump actually survives to run for re-election in 2020, I feel confident that he will not prevail, particularly if all the people close to him end up getting subpoenaed, which now seems quite likely. We need to maintain our activism to keep the pressure up. Call you Congresscritters. March and protest. Make your voice heard, and above all, VOTE!
So maybe we are headed out of the darkness now, but we will have to see what develops.
Below the fold, I offer some solstice music (mostly retreads of previous years) as well as the comments. But first a word from our sponsor:
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Top Comments (December 21, 2018):
No submissions tonight.
Top Mojo (December 20, 2018):
Top Mojo is courtesy of mik! Click here for more on how Top Mojo works.
Top Photos (December 20, 2018):
Tonight’s picture quilt is courtesy of jotter!