New Poem: SPEAK WITHOUT BEING SILENCED OR KILLED

Don’t want to have a gag in my mouth placed by the Donald Trump administration dur to dissenting speech.  I believe in expressing opinions whether it's left or right, and nobody should die for dissenting speech. Nobody should die for thoughtless, hate-stoking or overheated speech. I believe that people should be able to debate thoughtfully and not be treated like pariahs.  I believe in speech that doesn't have ball gags over the mouth and passports and visas taken away. I believe people should take very deep breaths and tell themselves: Well, it's that person being that person, and there's no reason to maim or kill that person over what that person says.

Analyzing Mitt Romney and opening act Clint Eastwood..

If you're Clint Eastwood, you're used to running things and getting your own way.  This probably explains why Clint's Thursday night GOP convention speech (demonstrating a willingness to try for improv comedy; i.e. the Empty Chair prop) had the air of something that might be seen in a luxury restaurant/penthouse at a Republican candidates fundraising dinner with millionaires/billionaires (and no ordinary people) in attendance.  I can easily imagine the Mitt Romney entourage giving Clint a prepared speech--and Clint throwing it aside saying "I'M NOT GONNA READ THIS CRAP!"  Ergo, the rambling ruminations which sounded a lot like Clint's character putting down all in sight during the early reels of GRAN TORINO.

As for Mitt Romney: There was a lot of rose-colored Remembrances of Simple Loving Times Past rhetoric which gave me the impression that both Peggy Noonan and Karen Hughes may have contributed to his speech.  There was the inevitable attempt to link Barack Obama to Jimmy Carter.  And, most sickening, the primal Dog Whistle to the conventioneers and TV/online audiences: "THE HELL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE!  I'LL MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELVES JUST LIKE REAGAN DID!"