Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis
Are leading the lemmings into the fire.
The two governors are throwing more
Wood onto the funeral pyre.

Each is hoping that voters will give him
Praise for his cringeworthy COVID response,
Which was never very aggressive
And always displayed more nonchalance.

Partners in carnage, they hope to score
Political points while people get sick.
And people are dying. Can't these two
Numbskulls do their arithmetic?

COVID numbers are rising again.
The delta variant is spreading fast.
And yet the two behave as though
COVID is a thing of the past.

Banning mandates for masks in schools
When numbers of cases are rising? What?
Their irresponsible, heartless, and thoughtless
Behavior is a punch in the gut.

It's all about choice, DeSantis says,
Which shows his reasoning's not so keen.
Kids don't have a choice in the matter,
For kids under twelve can't get the vaccine!

The two Republican ideologues
Do not want government "intrusion."
They are entrenched in hypocrisy
And have abandoned truth for illusion.

Patients are filling the hospitals
In both of their states--an indication
That they have a serious health crisis.
What a frightening situation!

Younger people are losing their lives
In greater numbers than before.
It makes no sense to abandon reason
And common sense as numbers soar.

DeSantis and Abbott have blood on their hands.
But, obviously, they don't care.
I'm glad they’re not my governor.
Floridians and Texans beware.

-by Bob B (8-11-21)

(The poem can be sung to the tune of "Little Brown Jug.")

"Sessions was what you would call
Someone who's not on the ball.
First of all, that little elf
Should not have recused himself.

"Now William Barr--well, he's my man.
From the start he was my fan.
He'd have all the tools--yup!--
To cover up a cover-up.

(Chorus)
"Ha, ha, ha, and he, he, he…
I have found a devotee.
William Barr as my AG
Will certainly look out for me.

"Obstructing justice is I know
For me the only way to go.
Somehow if you play with it,
You can get away with it.

"Stack the cards and you will manage
To give yourself a great advantage.
Barr sent signs that he would thwart
The full release of the Mueller Report.

(Chorus)
"Ha, ha, ha, and he, he, he…
I have found a devotee.
William Barr as my AG
Will certainly look out for me.

"He to such a great extent
Knew how to misrepresent
Mueller's findings. Barr was smarter,
For he could help me be a martyr.

"Confuse the public! Misconstrue
Facts so they don't know what's true.
That is how I made my mark.
My bite is much worse than my bark.

(Chorus)
"Ha, ha, ha, and he, he, he…
I have found a devotee.
William Barr as my AG
Will certainly look out for me.

"With Barr at the DOJ,
I can make a power play.
I'll have my lawyers sue sue sue.
I'll defy subpoenas, too.

"I will stonewall--yes, I will--
To frustrate all on Capitol Hill.
Supporters will stand by my side,
Ignoring all I have to hide.

(Chorus)
"Ha, ha, ha, and he, he, he…
I have found a devotee.
William Barr as my AG
Will certainly look out for me."

-by Bob B (5-1-19)

California--earthquake country--
Faces a threat that's true:
A massive quake we call the Big One
Is LONG overdue.

We must face the facts, and here
Is something to think about:
California's experiencing
A so-called "earthquake drought."

The southernmost stretch of the San Andreas
Fault--it appears--
Hasn't had a major rupture
For 340 years!

When it happens--man o man!--
We'll be rocking and rolling.
Even though we're better prepared,
That's not too consoling.

The ground will shake, overpasses
And bridges may collapse,
And houses can slide off their foundations
As the seconds elapse.

Walls will crack, chimneys will topple,
Dishes will crash on the floor.
We will see a mess such as
We've never seen before.

Knick-knacks will fly off the shelves.
What else? It's hard to tell,
But bookcases and curio cabinets
Will topple over as well.

Objects will fly across the room.
So, be sure to stand clear.
If the magnitude is high,
Damage will be severe.

Gas lines, sewage lines,
And water mains may break.
Widespread, destructive fires
May happen after the quake.

We may be without power
And water for many days.
Helpless, we will have to stand by
And watch the fires blaze.

The Big One could happen now,
Tomorrow, or years down the line.
To scorn its inevitability
Would be asinine.

Without warning, the quake will occur.
It's hard not to be scared.
I'm NOT looking forward to that day.
Tell me: are you prepared?

-by Bob B (3-5-19)

If your life is full of stress,
And you’re being tossed to and fro,
Two little words might help you;
Those two words are LET GO.
 
If the world is going crazy,
And wherever you look there is woe,
You’d like to fix the world’s problems;
At some point you have to LET GO.
 
Sometimes daily pressures
Can make you a mean so-and-so.
Release the steam from your cooker
With a good attempt to LET GO.
 
If you’re micromanager
And control is your M.O.,
You might increase your longevity
If you can learn to LET GO.
 
If words come back to bite you
And you end up eating crow,
Well, worse things could happen;
Just say to yourself, “LET GO!”
 
By always approaching life
With expectations in tow,
You’re bound to be disappointed;
Try to stay calm and LET GO.
 
If you’re in high gear
And haven’t learned to go slow,
Avoid wear and tear on your engine;
To do so you’ve got to LET GO.
 
If you’re still having some trouble
Getting your ducks in a row,
Delayed gratification
Will happen if you can LET GO.
 
You wake up and go to the kitchen,
And what? there’s no morning joe!
Stay calm and take a few breaths;
You’ll manage if you can LET GO.
 
Though easier said than done—
Ask sages, for they ought to know—
Your life changes forever
Once you learn how to LET GO.
 
If you’re up the creek with no paddle
And you have to go with the flow,
Relax and enjoy the adventure,
Repeating the mantra: LET GO!

- by Bob B

A massive field of energy
With quantum fluctuations:
That is how it all began,
From all indications.

And then the Big Bang came about,
Giving birth to us,
And energy became transformed
Into matter. Thus,

We are beings who go way back
Into a distant past.
Over 13 billion years--
Before the die was cast.

Within that scheme, planet Earth
Is relatively young,
And many of the scientists'
Songs remain unsung.

No one knows for certain why
It all was orchestrated.
We ALL seem quite unique, and yet
We're ALL somewhat related.

Billions of years, collapsing stars:
So difficult to grasp.
The vastness of the universe
Makes us stop and gasp.

-by Bob B (11-20-22)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring" from THE MIKADO by Gilbert and Sullivan.)

Indictments, arraignments, and all--
Tra la--
Will make Trump accountable now.
And of course we know HE has the gall--
Tra la--
To make someone else take the fall--
Tra la--
Who knows what he will avow?
Who knows what he will avow?
It seems that whatever he does casts a pall
On all of us, and we hate being in his thrall.
Tra la la la la,
Tra la la la la…
We hate to be in the man's thrall.

Tra la la la la…
Tra la la la la…
Tra la la la la la la.

Indictments, arraignments, and all--
Tra la--
Are giving us reason to hope.
What Trump does with docs in his haul--
Tra la--
Is actually not his call--
Tra la--
And we're ALL at the end of our rope.
Yes, we're ALL at the end of our rope.
Since Trump and his legal team know how to stall,
To get him convicted, the order is tall.
Tra la la la la,
Tra la la la la…
The task is not going to be small.

Tra la la la la…
Tra la la la la…
Tra la la la la la la.

-by Bob B (6-14-23)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPmBrgWpRLc&t=10s

Gods, guns, and gerrymandering.
That's the Republican Party today--
At least a large, vociferous group
That keeps progressive ideas at bay.

White evangelicals,
Tightly knit and fortified
By the perception that God hates the Dems,
Think that they have God on their side.

Claiming to know the mind of God,
They use their dogma to legislate
And ignore the fundamental idea
Of the separation of church and state.

Ah, their weapons. They love their firearms,
Of which they have collected tons.
Instead of beating their swords into plowshares,
They've beaten their plowshares into guns.

And gerrymandering has, of course,
Become their crafty survival tool.
They plan to manipulate future elections
By strengthening minority rule.

Through God, guns, and gerrymandering,
They hope to keep their momentum going
By building their power and also keeping
Their piles of ammunition growing.

-by Bob B (12-13-21)

The wounded vet marched in the town's
Memorial Day Parade
With feelings of pride along with the sense
Of having been betrayed.

He'd fought in nightmarish skirmishes
In a hellish no man's land,
Pledging allegiance to a country whose war
He didn't understand.

Though proud he was to have served his country,
He couldn't always claim
To be proud of his country at times,
Which was a rotten shame.

When signing up he knew he might
Have to pay a price--
But not the feeling of abandonment
For his sacrifice.

In some ways he felt lucky, for he'd
Returned with his duffel bag--
Unlike some of his friends who had
Come home wrapped in a flag.

The crowds cheered, the bands played,
The ceremony was formal.
Afterwards, the crowds would go home;
Their lives would go back to normal.

Normal for him was a daily struggle,
Therapy, medication,
Recurring dreams, unemployment,
Continuous frustration.

"No more empty promises;
No more tales or lies,"
He muttered softly as "Taps" was played
And tears streamed from his eyes.

- by Bob B

The president gazed out the White House window.
Squinting to see through the mist and rain,
He gasped as he made out the faint outline
Of the USS John S. McCain.

His pallid face froze in a grimace.
Turning, he said, “That just can’t be.
It has to be an apparition.
How could the ship be here in D.C.?”

Consulting his television set,
He let out a scream of utter disdain.
The image was on his TV screen:
The USS John S. McCain.

Dashing around the Oval Office
Like a madman, completely deranged,
He called his advisers, blathering madly,
"The name of that ship has to be changed!"

Off to Asia the president flew.
As he took in the view from his plane,
Down below him his eyes fell upon
The USS John S. McCain.

"Why…why…must he torment me?"
He asked his wife in a fit of despair.
He bit his lip with so much force,
The blood gushed out, causing a scare.

"Give me a towel!" he yelled. He held it
Up to his lip, which was throbbing in pain.
Moments later the blood left an image:
The USS John S. McCain.

Members of the president's team
Rushed to find places to hide.
Contradicting the angry boss
Would be political suicide.

The president, loving to bully others,
Finds his impulses hard to restrain.
May he be haunted forever and ever
By the USS John S. McCain.

-by Bob B (6-10-19)

Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa
Says that only the wealthy deserve
Major cuts in taxes. Don't
His callous comments hit a nerve?

Hard-working Americans
Deserve no breaks, for they choose
To spend their money foolishly
On--get this!--women, movies, and *****.

But rich Americans, he maintains,
Are the ones always investing
And not spending every penny.
He's dead serious and NOT jesting.

People like him are running this country
With vile contempt and tunnel vision,
Their idiocy and audacity
Affecting our lives with each decision.

-by Bob B (12-5-17)

Dear Donald Trump, my friend,
I bet your patience is wearing thin.
Because of your democracy,
Investigations are closing in.

Since I can use my magic
To make people disappear,
Such investigative threats
Are never going to happen here.

From watching your revolving-door
Administration, I can see
That you, like me, expect one thing
Above all others: loyalty.

What is all this talk about
Ties with Russian oligarchs?
Don't your people realize that
Our bites are much, much worse than our barks?

Although I appreciate
What you did during your campaign--
The helpful steps you took to soften
Your stance on giving aid to Ukraine--

We still have a ways to go.
But one thing that I have to say
Is you have been good about
Respecting our little NDA.°

Lifting sanctions would be a big help.
I thought that maybe a good incentive
Would be our many ICBMs,
For you know we're very inventive.

But, no, let's not talk about threats.
If your cards are rightly played,
You will be as strong as I.
In other words, you'll have it made.

Ah, silence is golden, no?
One thing is sure as shootin':
I'd hate to have to spill the beans
'Bout you know what. Your friend, Putin.

-by Bob B (4-2-18)

°non-disclosure agreement

We'd often see her in the neighborhood,
Taking her friendly dog for a walk.
Always affable, upbeat, and cheerful,
Pat was eager to stop and talk.

Life keeps us busy and occupies
Our days with issues, both great and small.
Suddenly, it occurred to me:
For weeks I hadn't seen Pat at all.

Deep down inside I had a bad feeling.
Always so visible, yet suddenly not there,
She had me worried because of her absence.
I wanted to ask and yet didn't dare.

A neighbor's words ended the mystery:
"Pat died eight weeks ago."
The information confirmed my fears;
The shocking news still came as a blow.

You can grieve the loss of another
Even though you weren't close friends.
Whatever you shared will be no more;
It's always sad when a life ends.

When I go out, I will still see her,
Walking Buddy with a smile on her face.
Her loving memory will be--I hope--
One that time will not efface.

- by Bob B

How much more of this can we take?
How can people stand idly by
While major atrocities are being
Committed and STILL turn a blind eye?

Parents are still being separated
From their children at our border.
The Trump administration is
Ruthlessly carrying out the order.

We hear the children cry for their mami,
Cry for their papi, and what do we do?
We put them in cages and tents, heedless
Of all of the pain they are going through.

Secretary Nielsen has tried
To justify the hard-line position,
Blaming the victims and giving excuses
As to the importance of the mission.

White nationalist Stephen
Miller must be jumping for joy
As he achieves his goal: provoking
Anybody he can annoy.

AG Sessions cites the Bible
To find support for his devilish deeds.
At the same time, authorities
Are confiscating rosary beads.

John Kelly is all for it.
He thinks being cruel is fine
When you badly need a deterrent
To keep people from crossing the line.

Spineless Republican members of Congress
Worry about offending Trump's base.
Dragging their feet on the issue, they
Don't care if they're a disgrace.

Meanwhile, the suffering
Continues. Children--traumatized--
Are innocent victims. This is what happens
When human rights are compromised.

-by Bob B (6-19-18)

Sitting on the sidewalk
With his back against the wall
Of Bank of America,
He stared. That’s all.
 
With frayed trousers,
A tattered shirt,
Worn sneakers
Covered with dirt—
 
He sat alone.
Only now and then
Did he look up...
And then stare again.
 
A striking contrast
To the passersby—
The Gucci dress,
The George Neale tie...
 
He held a sign;
“HUNGRY” it said,
Scribbled on cardboard,
Written in red.
 
His beseeching gaze
Seemed to convey
His hunger and pain.
I looked away.
 
Someone will give him
Enough for a meal,
I rationalized—
Trying not to feel.
 
I should have helped
The guy somehow;
Those imploring eyes
Still haunt me now.

- by Bob B

For nearly twenty years we've fought
A war against the Taliban,
As U.S. and allied forces have
Chased a mirage in Afghanistan.

A war that spanned four presidents
And bad policy decisions
Will soon be coming to a close,
Despite the Afghans' ongoing divisions.

To many Afghan girls and women,
Our presence there has been a relief.
Having endured years of oppression,
They had had their share of grief.

Once we leave, Taliban forces
Most likely will achieve their goal
As city after city falls
And they are able to regain control.

If only we could have said to the people,
"If you want to get out, leave now.
We will find a safe place for you
Elsewhere in the world somehow."

But, alas, that didn't happen.
The idea didn't resonate
With other countries in the world.
And so the Afghans are left to their fate.

I'm afraid to imagine what
Will happen to the women then,
As the extremist leaders cut off
Their path to education again.

And woe to all the translators
Who helped the Western forces there.
If we can't help them flee the country,
Their safety will be up in the air.

Western leaders who tried to contain
The region's volatility,
Have--with our four presidents--
A shared responsibility.

I pity the poor people who must
Be ruled by the Taliban,
But we cannot continue to fight
An endless war in Afghanistan.

-by Bob B (8-6-21)

Trump said there would be no
Conflicts of interest. No siree!
That conflicts of interest have continued
Nonstop is plain to see.

Millions of dollars keep flowing in.
The company's bank accounts keep growing.
His snow job is SO convincing that many
Don't even see how hard it's "snowing."

Since January 2017
The RNC has spent more
Than 700,000 dollars
At properties owned by Trump; therefore,

It doesn't matter how much he says
That he has cut major ties
With businesses. He really hasn't;
It's all just a pack of lies.

Since he took office, political groups
And agencies have in fact
Spent 15.1 million dollars
At TRUMP properties! Caught in the act!

No matter what you want to call it--
No matter how you want to construe it--
You can make money from politics;
There are numerous ways to do it.

It shows what can happen when
The spirit is weak but the flesh is willing.
The office of the presidency
Can help a businessman make a killing.

-by Bob B (5-5-18)

Senatorial candidate
Roy Moore has fallen deeper
Into a mess of his own making.
The climb out is growing steeper.

A fifth victim has spoken up,
Accusing him of ****** assault.
Moore said the accusations
Were lies and he was not at fault.

Following the TRUMP PLAYBOOK
FOR ****** ASSAULTS, Moore claimed
That all the charges were fake news,
And he remained unashamed.

Strategy two: discredit the accusers,
Or act as though you never knew them.
Strategy three: threaten them.
Announce that you intend to sue them.

Increasingly, politicians
Feel that Moore ought to bow out.
Defiant, the candidate
Hopes his fans remain devout.

How could anyone vote him in
And afterwards feel content?
Oh, wait: despite accusations,
They voted in our president.

A watershed moment is happening here
As people say no and start to get tough.
No more covering up of rampant
****** assault. Enough is enough!

-by Bob B (11-14-17)

"Son, Son, where are you now?
Is someone rocking you to sleep
And singing you a lullaby?
Who wipes away the tears when you weep?

"I came here not for free hand-outs.
Nor did I come to this country to steal
Jobs that most people don't even want.
It's to your mercy that I appeal

"For safety for my children and me--
Safety from living in constant fear.
Surrounded by death, we took a chance
And fled a gang that started here.

"We haven't sneaked across your border;
We're patiently standing at your gate.
Why do you see us as criminals
And look at us with distrust and hate?

"When you ripped my son from my arms,
You criticized me for crying.
Who is watching him and his sister?
Uncertainty is terrifying.

"Daughter, Daughter, where are you now?
Do not worry about your mother.
Do not fear the shadows at night.
And please watch over your little brother."

-by Bob B (6-3-18)

One day a monk near the end of a journey
Encountered a wide, rushing river.
Standing on the bank, he fretted,
"But I have messages to deliver."

For hours he stood there considering his options,
Unable to figure out a good plan.
All at once he noticed that
On the other bank there stood a man.

Elated, the monk waved and yelled,
"Oh, great teacher, good day to you!
To get to the other side of this flowing
River, tell me, what do I do?"

The teacher pondered for a few moments,
Looked up and down the river so wide,
And then yelled back to the fretful monk,
"My son, you ARE on the other side."

- by Bob B (2-27-17)

°An old tale retold here in verse

Maisha Oni Muhammad-Brinkley
In Dallas, Texas, worked her magic
As a respiratory therapist
Until, sadly, her life turned tragic.

Also known as the Breathing Lady,
Maisha became her patients' friend.
Her sweet smile and compassionate heart
Accompanied her until the end.

Last September, Maisha grew sick,
Having contracted COVID-19
Just a few months before
She'd have access to a vaccine.

The forty-three-year-old mother of four
Needed to be hospitalized
And placed on a ventilator.
The seriousness couldn't be minimized.

Commitment to excellence had always been
Her motivation. Now she depended
On help from others to fight the virus,
Since her life had been upended.

November 18 arrived--the day
The loving wife and mother died.
Her husband of twenty-four years was able
To be there sitting by her side.

So when you're feeling tired of the virus
And let down your guard, you will find
That YOUR life AND the lives of OTHERS
Could be at risk. Bear that in mind.

-by Bob B (1-29-21)

For years Trump has wanted us
All to believe that he is the great
Businessman par excellence,
When actually, he's second-rate.

By lying and cheating his way to the top,
He fooled many. But let's not forget
That Trump's successful empire was
A fiction created by Mark Burnett.°

Trump's REAL empire is
A castle built on shifting sand.
For many years he has relied
On fraud to help promote his brand.

"Fraud" is such an ugly word,
But maybe for Trump it's really not.
To him it seems that all is fair--
Just as long as you don't get caught.

As he gaslights Americans,
It's hard to know what he really believes.
The hypocrite cannot escape
The fantasies to which he cleaves.

How sad it is that he has led
Americans down the rabbit hole!
How can they trust someone who couldn't
Tell the truth to save his soul?

-by Bob B (9-27-23)

°Producer of the TV series "The Apprentice"

In Cedar Glen, California,
A woman owned a clothing store.
The woman, Lauri Carleton, flew
A rainbow flag outside the door.

Someone took exception to that--
A hate-filled man, a dunderhead--
Who after making disparaging
Remarks, shot the woman dead.

Always valuing justice and love,
She welcomed the opportunity
To share that love with all and was
A pillar of the community.

She wanted a place that was safe for folks.
That was her dream; that was her plan.
Sadly, her hopes were cut short by
A vile, loathsome excuse for a man.

In an encounter with deputies,
The suspect was shot and killed. But why
Did such a lovely person as Lauri--
A mom with nine children--have to die?

Her husband and children now are grieving.
My heart goes out to each of them.
Certainly, they'll remember her as
A loving soul, a precious gem.

-by Bob B (8-20-23)

D.T.

If you have some classified docs,
Whatever you do, don't ignore them.
Put them in your bathroom, for it's
The perfect place for you to store them.

Therefore, when your guests come to visit,
They'll be fully guaranteed
To have--while they are on the ***--
Something interesting to read.

And if the toilet paper dispenser
Is empty, and they are in a rut,
They can always use the docs
To…well, you know…to wipe their ****.

It gives me such a feeling of power
Just to know the docs are there.
If you fear that you'll run out
Of reading material, don't despair.

I have box after box after box.
That should keep you occupied
For many hours. Top secret?
Bah! I've got nothing to hide.

There's one that I've been looking for--
The one that has the nuclear codes.
If you find it, let me have it,
Or I'll have one of my episodes.

I maintain that presidents--
Current or former--can do what they want.
Thumbing my nose at everyone else:
That is something I like to flaunt.

Now that I have been indicted,
Up my sleeve I have an ace.
I'm sure that a judge that I appointed
Is going to help me win my case.

-by Bob B (6-24-23)

During a future trip to England,
Trump plans to visit the Queen.
Whether that encounter will happen
Still, however, remains to be seen.

Trump chooses not to see
Prince Charles. Want to know why?
There's an issue about which the two
Do not see eye to eye:

Prince Charles supports the views
Of most of the experts, who agree
That climate change is worthy of being
Discussed over a cup of tea.

Whether Trump could comprehend
Healthy discussion is pure conjecture,
But Trump's team has made it clear
That he won't listen to a lecture.

Trump has said that climate change
Is a hoax created by the Chinese
"To make U.S. manufacturing
Non-competitive." Really? Please!

It isn't common for a president
To be so obtuse and thin-skinned, is it?
I'd love to hear the Queen tell Trump
Where he could stick his visit!

- by Bob B (1-30-17)

“That surely wasn’t meant to be,”
The grieving wife cried.
“How could one so young and strong
Like him have upped and died?”
 
In vain the woman’s family and friends
Again and again pursued
Ways to mitigate her grief—
To elevate her mood.
 
“You’ll get through this,” some friends said.
“In no time you’ll regain
Your stamina and strength,” they said.
“Time will ease your pain.”
 
She could not grasp the intricacy
Of causes and conditions,
Or halt the endless chain of events
Through wishes or petitions.
 
If she could probe beneath the surface
Of all that she could see,
She’d realize that all that happens
Is REALLY meant to be.

- by Bob B

The president appointed a man
To help support his nefarious plan--
Something that's so common in these times.
The man became the president's pal
And pushed a bogus rationale
To try to cover up his boss's crimes.

The president's shining star:
The man known as Bootlicker Barr.

An office that should really be
An independent agency
Is one that we call the D-O-J.
But since the president's henchman's there,
The agency's the worse for wear
And grows less independent every day.

Thanks to our leader's shining star:
The man known as Bootlicker Barr.

To bolster a right-wing conspiracy theory,
Barr has started a new inquiry
To investigate the Russia investigation.
Of course, he knows he'll get Fox News
To help support his spurious views
For it’s a peddler of misinformation.

To help the president's shining star:
The man known as Bootlicker Barr.

To try to prove that the Mueller probe
Was a crime, he roams the globe
To find someone to help him prove his case.
He merely shows that he's got gall
And NO integrity at all.
How can he look us in the face?

The president's shining star:
The man known as Bootlicker Barr.

What a stunt--a big distraction,
A sly and furtive counteraction--
As they try to manufacture dirt.
Distractions from impeachment chatter
Is for them an easy matter.
To them it doesn't matter whom they hurt.

Watch the president's shining star:
The man known as Bootlicker Barr.

-by Bob B (10-25-19)

Chapter Seven of the D.T. Playbook:
Do not worry if you besmirch
Your country's honor by suddenly leaving
Trusted allies--the Kurds--in the lurch.

Although they worked together with you
To fight a common enemy, ISIS,
Their abandonment will force them
To face an even greater crisis.

Provide them with weapons while they assist you.
Then merely say, "Thank you. Good-bye!"
Leaving them to fend for themselves,
To flee their homeland, to suffer, to die.

Do not worry if thousands of Kurds
Had lost their lives to help fight your foe.
Turn your head, pretending you can't
Hear the people's cries of woe.

Placate a Turkish autocrat
With ethnic cleansing as one of his goals.
Do not fret if experts tell you
That your thoughtless plan has holes.

Do not let your people know
Your REAL motives, for you have the knack
Of taking full advantage of others
Before stabbing them in the back.

Do not fear if enemy captives
Escape from their prison cells and flee,
Putting more people there and here
In danger as ISIS soldiers run free.

Tell everyone how smart you are;
Pat yourself on the back, and then
Do not care that the rest of your allies
Will never be able to trust you again.

-by Bob B (10-21-19)

A day after the midterms, Trump
Showed that he was true to form,
Once again reminding us that
Effrontery is becoming the norm.

In a brazen act of utter defiance,
Trump fired Jeff Sessions,
The attorney general, which adds one more
Deed to the list of Trump's transgressions.

Ignoring the normal line of succession,
Trump installed as acting chief
A loyalist, since loyalty is
The current admin's leitmotif.

Matt Whitiker is the man--
Known as the West Wing's "eyes and ears."
Another case of obstruction of justice?
At least that's how the move appears.

Whitiker has a paper trail
A mile long, criticizing
The Mueller probe, so Trump wants him
In charge of the case. How NOT surprising!

The DOJ is supposed to be
Fair and impartial. Not anymore.
If Whitiker doesn't recuse himself,
We all know what's in store.

It's frightening how the DOJ
Is tied to the president's apron strings.
Innocent people have nothing to fear;
Desperate people do desperate things.

-by Bob B (11-8-18)

"Dear Vladimir Putin, my friend,
Thank you for your ongoing support.
You know I'm really going to need it
If I somehow land in 'court.'

"Keep bombarding social media;
Expand the use of all those bots.
But definitely cover your tracks,
For people will try to connect the dots.

"You know how I--one of your fans--
Highly respect your strongman appeal.
You've perfected your talents there,
As I the art of making a deal.

"I like the way you ******* dissent;
You've got the people under control.
I'm NOT there yet, but give me time.
It remains my overall goal.

"Poisoning my opponents? Well,
Maybe I wouldn't go that far.
But you and I together can think of
Other techniques, tzar to tzar.

"Right now the investigation
Here is really driving me mad.
I want to fire Mueller but need
Grounds completely ironclad.

"Maybe you can help me there.
I'm sure for you it's worth a try:
Help my kiss-*** Republicans
Vilify the FBI.

"I'm trying to follow your media playbook
On how you limit opposing views.
I'm able to spread a lot of untruths
On MY station called Fox News.

"My efforts to trick the religious right
Have been clever and not at all shoddy.
Even though we both know there's
Not a religious bone in my body.

"By the way, you don't have
Tapes of me when I was there
In Russia, do you? You know the kind:
Tapes of me in my underwear.

"Remember the word sanctions, my friend.
We can lift them--buh-lieve you me--
If all the tapes of me disappear.
Your friend, Donald T."

-by Bob B (1-31-18)

As National Security Adviser
H.R. McMaster walks out the door,
A hungry hawk circles the White House.
Watch it dive; watch it soar.

The hawk has a name: John Bolton,
Conspiracy theorist of long standing;
Reckless, far-right ideologue.
In April the hawk will be landing.

Bolton, who's openly advocated
Preemptive nuclear war with two
Countries--Iran and North Korea--
Will glide in and land on cue.

Once a leading cheerleader
Of the war in Iraq, Bolton, whose theory
Is war first, diplomacy second,
Should cause the rest of us to be leery.

Pushing military involvement
And advocating change of regime
Would only encourage the president
To set in motion a dangerous scheme.

In 2013, Bolton uttered
Words that show where his loyalties lie
As he hailed the new era of freedom
In PUTIN's Russia! What a guy!

So Bolton nested near the president--
A man whose ego couldn't be bigger,
Who doesn't follow judicious advice
And has his finger on the trigger--

Makes the whole world feel uneasy.
How scary could things get?
Prepare yourself for turbulent times
Because you ain't seen nothin' yet.

-by Bob B (3-23-18)

(The following poem could be sung to the melody of Kander and Ebbs' "Meeskite," from the stage production of CABARET. If you don't know the melody, go to YouTube and search for "Meeskite Cabaret" and you can listen to it.)

Mug shot, mug shot…
Trump seems proud that now he has a
Mug shot, mug shot.
I would not be proud if I were he;
But that's so like him.
Will there be damage?
The chance is slim.
Mug shot, mug shot…
Look at it; you'll see it's quite a
Mug shot, mug shot--
Such a scowl and such a look of
Evil and sheer disdain.
He hopes it helps his campaign.

He has four indictments.
Surely, he knows his plate is full,
And when people mention it, he will reply,
"It's BULL!"
He just doesn't get it.
He feels he should be above the law.
His corrupt acts have caught up with him.
Now watch him squirm. Hurrah!

Mug shot, mug shot…
I have seldom seen a viler
Mug shot, mug shot.
He knows that his base will love it.
He thinks it is deluxe,
For he will rake in the MAGAbucks!

Mug shot, mug shot…
Former presidents who have a
Mug shot, mug shot,
Simply don't exist, for Trump
Has turned out to be the first.
For vengeance Trump now has thirst.

Some of us wonder:
In all his trials how will he fare?
His major worry is who's going to do…
His hair!
Still he's complaining,
Trying to turn his base against
The prosecutors and judges, too,
Pretending he's incensed.

Mug shot, mug shot…
Trump has an unprecedented
Mug shot, mug shot.
What will happen if he
Is convicted on many counts?
We'll have to watch as the pressure mounts.
Mug shot, mug shot…
I hope that I never have a
Mug shot, mug shot.
Who would want one that would make you
Look like an evil grump?
Only someone like Trump!

-by Bob B (8-27-23)

Tired of worn-out platitudes
("Guns don't **** people. No way.");
Tired, too, of empty excuses
("We can't talk about guns today.");

Tired of worthless thoughts and prayers--
("We feel for you in your pain.");
Tired of losing family and friends
As daily reports list the slain;

Tired of collusion: the stranglehold
Of the NRA on politicians
("You'll get the funds as soon as we
Coordinate our positions.");

Tired of the greedy gun industry
Whose sales of weapons leave a trail
Of blood and carnage and death and grief
As they promote a fairy tale;

Tired of ceaseless justifications
Proclaiming 2nd Amendment rights
And caustic attacks from the gun lobby
Whose acrimony has reached new heights;

Tired of spineless lawmakers
("You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.");
Tired of easy access to weapons
Normally used for fighting wars;

Tired of shootings to a degree
Unprecedented worldwide;
Tired of constant hopelessness
With news of every homicide;

Tired of always being afraid;
Tired even of being tired,
Hundreds of thousands of students marched,
Ready to act and feeling inspired.

They breathed fresh life into
Our revolutionary spirit,
Assertively sending a message
To all Americans willing to hear it.

"No more!" "Never again!
That was their message, loud and clear.
"Enough is enough!" "I call BS!"
"End this senseless violence here!"

May the movement gather momentum!
May this be a watershed
Moment in modern times to help
Protect the living and honor the dead!

The March for Our Lives! They have a dream.
But much more work remains to be done.
Efforts to bring about major changes
In commonsense gun laws have barely begun.

-by Bob B (3-25-18)

Back in the 1950s my cousin
Met a guy, and later they wed.
For sixty-four years they were together,
Until her death parted Shirley and Ed.

They moved to gorgeous New Mexico--
The state where their three kids were bred.
The mountains, mesas, and desert splendor
All were captivating to Ed.

He worked for Sandia Laboratories
And therefore wasn't a knucklehead.
But we never knew what he really did.
A top-secret kind of guy was Ed.

When people didn't use their brains,
He likened them to the living dead.
Critical thinking was high on the list
Of priorities for wise ol' Ed.

A die-hard atheist he was.
One thing that made the man see red
Was forcing religious beliefs on others.
That was anathema to Ed.

No, he was a man of science and reason,
Astute and knowledgeable. He said
That all religions are based on myths,
And myths are myths, according to Ed.

Some say that without religion you can't
Be ethical, but there's no shred
Of evidence to prove that theory.
A perfect example was honest Ed.

He wasn't what you’d call a big spender.
Wasting money was something he'd dread.
Thus, he lived quite frugally,
Though comfortably, if you'd asked Ed.

But he loved friends and family
And welcomed them with arms outspread.
Though he could be a curmudgeon at times,
You couldn't help but like dear Ed.

Until recent years, it was
Quite an active life that he led.
When he was still in his 80s, you could
Play a match of tennis with Ed.

There are people who'd benefit
From following the path he tread.
An active life and an active mind
Were key facets of life for Ed.

Now that he's left us, I can no longer
Chat with him on the phone; instead,
I will rely on my memories--
My memories of dear ol' Ed.

-by Bob B (12-24-22)

When ideology joins brutality
And deadly fire rains down from above--
When plaintive human cries punctuate the skies
And the hawk devours the gentle dove--
Then we should all assess what our hearts express
And wonder if we've done all that we can.
But who can mitigate vicious, cruel hate
And suffering in poor Afghanistan?

When uncertainty belies stability
While the Taliban are on the move,
Insurgents will demand to have the upper hand,
Although other countries disapprove.
Twenty years of knowing how the winds were blowing,
Twenty years of guessing from afar…
Our underestimations and gross miscalculations
Had optimists all wishing on a star.

As hopes begin to ebb, the spider spins its web
And patiently awaits its helpless prey.
Extremist factions gain the power to remain.
How sad for the poor souls who must stay!
The day has turned to night; the Taliban will fight,
Determined to pursue their cruel quest.
They'll erase the past as they remain steadfast.
The Bamiyan Buddhas can attest.

People will cry "Shame!" and try to pass the blame.
At this point that is meaningless to do.
For years plans were unveiled, and many of them failed.
Here we go again: déjà vu.
So what happens now? Does anyone know how
The Afghans can withstand the cruel regime?
Sympathies fall flat. Just remember that
Things are often much worse than they seem.

What was bound to occur is not what we'd prefer
For the people's sake to see unroll.
The Taliban has more money than before,
And that has helped the rebels gain control.
It's hard not to obsess about the ghastly mess
Created by the brutal Taliban.
One can't overstate the sadness of the fate
Of all who suffer in Afghanistan.

-by Bob B (8-15-21)

FIRE

What stands out as your element?
Do you shine and inspire?
Do you radiate confidence?
If so, you're probably FIRE.

Then you'll show initiative,
Enthusiasm, and strength.
You'll be fearless, blunt, and outgoing,
Encouraging others at length.

You might be impatient at times,
And maybe you like to lead.
Others might find it difficult
To keep up with your speed.

AIR

Or maybe AIR is more your thing,
In which case you will find
A rational objectivity
Brings order to your mind.

Curious about the world,
You'll crave for understanding.
Being allowed to express yourself
Will never be too demanding.

Relationships are important to you,
And so is sociability.
Loving concepts and principles, you'll
Demonstrate mental agility.

WATER

Perhaps WATER defines you more.
Reflection will be the balm
Protecting you from outer chaos
And giving you inner calm.

You'll tend to trust your intuition,
And empathy will guide you.
Your sensitive nature will like the comfort
That secrecy can provide you.

Being involved emotionally
With others is a must.
Your compassionate heart will give you
Advice on whom to trust.

EARTH

And then there's EARTH. If that's you,
Your patience will be key.
Caution makes you always want
To seek a guarantee.

Extremely practical in nature,
Stable and dependable,
You might sometimes go too far
And then become unbendable.

Attuned to much of the physical world
With heightened physical senses,
Your self-discipline and grit
Have fruitful consequences.

AND SO…

What is your dominant element,
Which you should make your friend--
FIRE, AIR, WATER, OR EARTH--
Or are you a marvelous blend?

-by Bob B (2-3-22)

Once there was a mischievous dog
That thought it was so fun
To bark at and snap at people--in short,
To torment everyone.

He was such a nuisance that
His master had had enough.
"I am going to fix him," he said.
"If HE doesn't like it, tough!"

And so he fastened a bell around
His dog's neck that morning
So people who were near would hear it,
And it would serve as a warning.

The dog was oh so proud of his bell
And had an odd reaction.
To hear it jingle, he strutted around
With utmost satisfaction.

An old dog approached and said,
"Please don't put on airs.
I see this situation has
Caught you unawares.

"I think you need to know the truth,
And so I'll cut to the chase.
The bell is not a reward, my friend;
It's a badge of disgrace."

The moral: sometimes we wrongly feel
Pride instead of shame
When it's notoriety
That we mistake for fame.

-by Bob B (8-10-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

"I read it on the Internet
So it must be true.
There it was in black and white,
With colored photos, too.

"Question what I read? Why?
That's customary?
It was on the Internet!
That's not necessary.

"No, the writer doesn't matter.
What credibility?
The article was written with
Impeccable facility.

"Of course it confirms what I think.
Thus, it was worth reading.
Words to the contrary
Wouldn't be worth heeding.

"Did it open up my mind?
Please, don't make me laugh.
'Open minds are dangerous!'
Should be my epitaph.

"A challenge? Ah, who needs that.
I would rather be
Nestled in my notions
And my complacency."

- by Bob B

Rick Perry° has joined the cult
That calls Trump the Chosen One.
Sorry, but that's a game that should be
One with no trumps. Pardon the pun.

To give Trump such an undeserved
Title can only underscore
How much a person has to question
Perry's sanity all the more.

I can think of better titles:
Wannabe Strongman, Liar in Chief,
Security Threat, Hypocrite,
King of Corruption, or Causer of Grief.

But Chosen One? Let's be serious.
Could God really be so daft
To let the Chosen One be Trump?
If so, we've been given the shaft.

-by Bob B (11-25-19)

°Secretary of Energy for Donald Trump

K.J.U.
Notice my long-range ballistic missiles--
Grand and statuesque.
And I have my own nuclear button
Sitting on my desk.

D.J.T.
I don't mess around with upstarts
And incompetent jerks.
MY nuclear arsenal is bigger,
And MY button works!

Plus, MY people like me.
What do you think about that?
Your people have no choice,
And you are short and fat.

K.J.U.
You live in an alternate world.
Why doesn't it click?
Most didn't vote for you,
You old lunatic.

THE REST OF US
Back and forth the children bicker
With verbal attacks and blame,
While we with mounting fear look on,
As pawns in their dangerous game.

-by Bob B (1-3-18)

Fifty-nine victims have died so far--
Children, lovers, husbands, wives,
Parents, siblings, cousins, friends….
Fifty-nine have lost their lives

To senseless violence: a mass shooting
In Las Vegas--a night of hell.
And nearly five hundred people
Attending the concert were wounded as well.

Read their names; read their stories.
They're the innocent; they're the ones
Who faced unspeakable horrors that
Occur when madmen have access to guns.

No, not merely access to guns,
But access to bump fire stock devices.
Does the "right" to such contraptions
Justify human sacrifices?

Are we surprised at the reaction?
In many a weapons showcase room
Or online site there has been
A bump stock sales boom!

At one time many people thought
That Sandy Hook would be the last straw.
Then came Orlando, and now Las Vegas.
Somewhere there's a serious flaw.

Donors grease the politicians'
Palms; lobbyists state their demands.
I would NOT want to be
A politician with blood on my hands.

-by Bob B (10-7-17)

This is a tale of a killer,
Though not in the usual sense.
Although he's not killing people,
The scale of his crime is immense.

This particular killer
Is one who is out to destroy
The U.S. Postal Service.
His name is Louis DeJoy.

Appointed by Donald J. Trump
As a postmaster general ****,
DeJoy is wrecking a system
So that he could pull the plug.

When you are one of Trump's donors,
Competency doesn't matter
As much as loyalty does,
For Trump prefers the latter.

Despite his conflicts of interest,
DeJoy got this postal position.
The man has invested millions
In post office competition.

He has disassembled
Mail-sorting machines.
His goal: slow down the service
By any available means.

If his efforts continue,
You will find greater success
Having a letter delivered
Faster by pony express.

Morale among workers is low.
Of course, that's no surprise,
As working conditions grow worse
And workplace injuries rise.

Having this killer run loose
Is something that we can't afford.
Unfortunately, his removal
Is up to a postal board.

Now DeJoy is under
Investigation. Why?
An alleged straw donor scheme.
Good luck to the FBI!

Perhaps that's what it will take
To give the guy the hook.
In the meantime, it seems
As though we'll be stuck with the crook.

When his removal will happen,
So far we can't tell.
Let's just hope for the day
That we can bid him farewell.
Oh, what a glorious day
When we can bid him farewell!

-by Bob B (10-29-21)

Wisconsin senator Ron Johnson--
An anti-vaxxer who's super odd--
Thinks that scientists pretend
To know what's correct--more than God--

About vaccines for fighting pandemics.
Could God be so anti-chem?
Has Johnson considered that scientists
Are right 'cause God is working through them?

The senator is quite presumptuous
To think he has a link to God's mind,
When in actuality,
There's something else with which he's aligned.

-by Bob B (1-10-22)

Perverting the presidential power
Of pardon isn't hard to do
When you're Trump and the FBI
Happens to be your bugaboo.

Corner a rat, and it will attack.
Corner Trump, and he'll lash out.
Take your pick of how many
Institutions he will flout.

It's easy to see that when you have
So many crooks and thugs in your nook,
Observers will start to conclude that you--
Surprise!--also look like a crook.

Trump: the great manipulator.
Watch how he begs, steals, and barters.
Watch how proud he is at how
He can create victims and martyrs.

Arpaio, Libby, D'Souza and others--
Some convicted of the same
Crimes that people surrounding Trump
Might be charged with. What's his aim?

If Trump's people maintain their silence
And keep investigators guessing,
After they've served their master well,
The dangling pardon will be their blessing.

Another attack on our judicial
System is Trump's current M.O.
A pardon a day keeps trouble away
In Trump's daily reality show.

-by Bob B (6-1-18)

When we last visited Santa,
A sign on which was written "For Sale"
Hung from a post on his property.
It's hanging there still from a rusty nail.

Santa shuffled out to greet us.
Conditions have been taking a toll
On Santa, for it is obvious that
Things aren't going so well at the Pole.

"Welcome back," said Santa, wiping
A little tear from the edge of his eye.
"I wish I could say that things were improving.
Alas, they're not," he said with a sigh.

"The Arctic is warming at such a fast rate!
Believe you me, it's very alarming.
Don't people care about
The habitats that humans are harming?

"Upsetting the balance of nature is having
Disastrous consequences, for now
We are at a tipping point.
How much more will we allow?

"Melting sea ice is making it hard
For animals who need it to thrive.
Polar bears and walruses
Are finding it hard to stay alive.

"A lot of snow and ice up here
Is badly needed to reflect
The sun's energy back into space.
Now we have the albedo effect:

"Water and rock both absorb
Heat from the rays of the sun, which will
Cause even more ice to melt,
Making the earth warmer still!

"Many animals face starvation,
Animals such as reindeer that graze.
As we observe the Greenland ice
Sheet melt, expect bleaker days.

"With the thawing of more terrestrial
Permafrost, methane's released
Into our earth's atmosphere.
Our problems once again are increased.

"I hate to be a buzz ****," he added.
"But my cheerful '**, **, **!'
Is turning into a dire warning--
Now it's more of a 'Whoa, whoa, whoa!'

"No one wants this property,
Other than polluters and drillers.
But I refuse to sell to climate
Change deniers or habitat killers."

Mrs. Santa called from the house.
"The missus needs me," he said. "So long.
Tell everyone that Santa needs
A climate change Christmas song."

With that, he turned and left us standing,
Baffled, bewildered, sad, distraught.
Some folks might be fooled by deniers,
But one thing's for certain: Santa's not.

-by Bob B (12-10-19)

The crowd saw him, the president,
With his sycophants clapping their hands;
Their images filled the stadium screen
High above the spectator stands.

Suddenly, one could hear,
Amidst the cheers and jeers of the crowd,
Familiar words: "Lock him up!"
One would think that Trump would be proud.

How he loves to hear those words
At his political rallies! Plus,
When he wants to encourage his fans
To blast his opponents, they do it thus.

Wait! Ah, but now it's different.
Someone who always behaves by whim
Can now experience how it feels
To have the words directed at HIM.

Considering all the damage he's caused,
Let's give credit where credit is due:
Whether it's right, the man deserves
Every heckle, every boo.

Impeachment looms, but his removal
From office is not so likely, they say.
Still, Congress has the duty
To go through the process anyway.

In the meantime, while he watches
His reputation go up in flames,
Maybe the man seriously
Ought to avoid attending games.

-by Bob B (10-30-19)

Down on our southern border a family
Has found itself in a scary position.
Three kids have a decision to make--
The youngest with a heart condition:

Will they stay here with their mom
While she pleads their asylum case
Or leave the country with Dad? What
A horrible choice for a kid to face!

The youngest--Sofi--just three-years old--
Clutched onto her mother but had
A crying fit when the agents
Separated them from their dad.

Forced to leave Honduras because
Of death threats, the family came
Here seeking asylum and got
Caught up in a political game.

Apparently, certain border agents
And heartless lawmakers entertain
The notion that it's quite all right
To be cruel and inhumane.

Family separation continues.
Wouldn't it be hard to rejoice
If YOU came here seeking refuge
And had to make Sofi's choice?

-by Bob B (7-18-19)

Some people call it karma;
Others just cause and effect.
One might also call it comeuppance:
What we sow, we will collect.

While many towering figures attended
The funeral of John McCain,
Trump was forced to watch from a distance.
A TV screen was safe terrain.

Without even hearing the president's
Name mentioned, anyone
Could hear in eulogies and speeches
The great damage that he has done.

We will rise above this, we hope.
We will survive direct assaults
On freedom and democracy.
We can grow and learn from our faults.

Don't worry, Mr. Trump.
One day you'll be invited
To something most don't want you to miss:
That's when you get indicted.

-by Bob B (9-3-18)

This past Halloween week
In Washington was eerie.
For some in particular
The atmosphere was dreary.

Dressed up in their holiday best--
Though feeling somewhat slighted--
Manafort and protégé Gates
Both were indicted.

George Papadopoulos caused
Jitters and frustration
As proactive collaborator
In Mueller's investigation.

John Kelly's reputation
Has really started to slump
Since he's donned the costume of
A puppet of Donald Trump.

Kelly said--and this caused people
To gasp and roll their eyes--
The Civil War was caused by
A failure to compromise.

Compromise on slavery?
Tell me how that's done?
Instead of having forty-two slaves,
You get twenty-one?

Jeff Sessions’ costume made
The beholder have to guess
Whether it was perjury
Or handy forgetfulness.

Trump presented himself as a man
Whose memory is the best--
At least until reporters put
His memory to a test.

He laments that he can't do
What he wants, and that
Means not being president but
A powerful autocrat.

Republicans in Congress, dressed
As scary goblins and ghouls,
Put forth a tax plan, which
Changes many rules.

If you carefully look at their draft
And see through their pitch,
You will see their plan basically
Favors the very rich.

Halloween was far from being
Bland or ordinary.
One could argue that this year
It was downright scary.

-by Bob B (11-4-17)

So you trust that the Wizard
Will get you home again?
When you're left behind,
What will you do then?

Many see the Wizard
In different manifestations
And fail to recognize
The charlatan's limitations.

Is he a giant head,
Full of fury and ire?
Is he a heartless monster
Or a raging fire?

Don't you realize
You've made a huge mistake
By putting all your trust in
A flimflam man, a fake?

The show fools many
Who don't see past the façade--
Who scorn others who try
To open their eyes to fraud.

He doesn't want the people
To see what he really is--
To see how he has managed
To acquire all that's his.

He will try to convince you
That what he sells you is fair.
Then one day your find
He's nothing but hot air.

Just be grateful when--
And it couldn't happen too soon--
The sly, slippery Wizard
Sails off in his hot air balloon.

-by Bob B (8-12-17)

(This poem can be sung to the tune of the 1922 song "Toot…Toot…Tootsie, Good-bye.")

Good-bye, Santos,° good-bye!
Wipe that tear from your eye.
The fraud you have committed
And other crimes from which you clearly benefited
Have caught up with you now.
That's why Congress said, "Ciao!"
Which means "so long."
I could be wrong,
But you won't find much favor if you sing your sad song.
Just you try to deny
What you did. So good-bye!

Good-bye, Santos, good-bye!
You think you're quite a guy!
How could your fans give you a nod
With all your lies and money laundering and fraud.
Are you really for real?
You have lost your appeal.
What will you do
Now that you're through?
Prosecutors probably are looking for you.
Will you eat humble pie?
Hope so, Santos. Good-bye!

-by Bob B (12-1-23)

°George Santos: former U.S. representative from New York's 3rd congressional district