Ok now I’m worried.  The day after Donald Trump was elected president I thought I could give him a chance.  I even said that in a blog at that time.  One day later Mr. Trump did something that made me regret going out on a limb with that public statement.  He appointed alt-right provocateur Stephen Bannon as a presidential advisor.  It then became obvious to me that all of the soothing rhetoric of Mr. Trump’s acceptance speech about uniting the country was nothing more than another of his manipulative lies.  And by now it is obvious he is not about to release his tax returns.  For me those two things alone indicate what we observed during the campaign is pretty much what we are going to get from him as president.  That in itself is worrisome. Having Stephen Bannon as a PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR is a blatant proclamation by the president that he is a narrow-minded bigot himself.  And by concealing his tax returns he is shamelessly announcing he is a shifty, swindling  SOB and doesn’t care who knows it.  On top of that, the man has the audacity to suggest that because he was elected president it must mean he has the right to do anything he wants.

And the thing is in a way he’s right.  He is right because we tend to forget these and his other discretions and missteps for the simple reason there are so many of them.  Over time we have learned about his business misconduct, bankruptcies, despicable personal conduct, exaggerations and flat out lies, one after another, each episode glossed over by and because of the next.  It’s a shell game President Trump has played his entire adult life.  But he and his surrogates have transformed the game into a political weapon I think best described as GASLIGHTING, a state of mind that is achieved by deliberately creating  confusion so often that a person becomes vulnerable to believing an alternate reality.  It’s a common tactic of dictators.

Up till now I have resigned myself to the fact that we are stuck with Trump’s mind games and fast talking and will probably live though it all. Yes, we will have to choose our battles, like issues involving civil rights and the environment.  As we have found out during the first days of this administration, public pressure works.  But many of the outlandish statements he makes are nothing more than pathetic displays of self aggrandizement, obsessions over matters that are ridiculously petty, and boasts about things that will never get accomplished. His flurry of executive orders contain many that are all show just to make it look like he is fulfilling campaign promises.  His “wall” is a perfect example.  Mexico is never, in any way, going to pay for the stupid wall.  If it does get built, you and I will be paying for it one way or another.  Also if it is built, we can kiss any of Trumps grandiose plans for infrastructure improvement goodby.  Geezuz didn’t daddy Fred ever have that discussion with Donald about money not growing on trees?

However, something he said during the campaign, and astonishingly repeated since he assumed the presidency really bothers me.  He insists during our invasion of Iraq that we should have “Kept the oil.”  It’s one thing to say that during a blustery campaign speech, but this man is now the president of our county.  That kind of remark is an alarming indication of how ill prepared he is for the job, and should not be buried in all the gaslighting minutiae, which sadly, it is.  I know the president is a foreign policy neophyte, but I cannot believe someone in advisory capacity did not inform him of how dangerous it is to say something that volatile.  This is something that should not be treated as one of the president’s petulant, fly-off-the-handle statements. If there is no one among the president’s advisory staff that has the courage to correct him, surely Paul Ryan or any member of congress with common sense should show some gumption and do it.  Whoever it is might also suggest he actually read something that is not about himself for a change, like a high school text about modern world history for instance.

Trump’s “keep the oil” statement is not just a contradiction of international law, the sovereignty of which Mr. Trump stunningly ridiculed during his first presidential interview (#5 at very bottom of this article). I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised that someone who supports torture (#4 in same above article)  would in his mind consider pillage and rape to be normal extensions of war.  Critically important, this comment is also counterproductive to any kind of plan to destroy ISIS, one of Mr. Trump’s primary promises to us during his election campaign.  This is bulletin board material for ISIS.  There can be nothing more threatening and imperialistic sounding to the entire muslim world than saying we should keep the oil of any county in the Middle East that we imperiously invade.  The president seems totally unaware of the resentment in the region toward Western hegemony that has transpired since World War One.  It’s a remarkable lack of knowledge for someone so adamantly insistent he’s just the guy who knows how to deal with ISIS.  There is a strong argument that the catalytic spark for ISIS and the reason we invaded Iraq was Cheney’s and Rumsfeld’s unrestrained avidity for Iraqi oil.  Not that he ever would of course, but his incendiary statement can not be retracted.  Those words are forever locked in the twitter domain for ISIS to use at its discretion.  They will headline every ISIS recruiting website these terrorists utilize.

Then there is the matter of the safety of our military.   In the muslim world an ignorant statement like this certainly resurrects unpleasant memories of an empire carved up by Western outsiders, and could easily excite feelings that imperil our troops currently serving in Iraq.  Who in this administration has the president’s ear?  Is it Steve Bannon, the anarchist who says the “media should keep its mouth shut.”  Though the gag orders and intimidation of this administration make it burdensomely difficult to continue reporting one ridiculous comment after another, it is more important than ever that the media keep up that work.  Hopefully then someone in authority will finally have the balls to say enough is enough.  Politically President Trump is in way over his head, but I am not sure if all the gaslighting isn’t working if you listen to his defenders.  Every time the president makes one of his absurd comments, a spokesperson rationalizes it by saying its just the way the man is and it is a ‘new order’ we had better get used to.  That convoluted logic seems to be working for some people.  I know President Trump wants to drive us into isolation, but he has got to realize his words do matter to other nations and can incite hostility toward vulnerable and innocent people.  Our country might be stuck in Trumpworld,  but there are other parts of the globe not as willing to dwell there.   Someone with a spine has got to force this president to take a serious look at reality- actual reality, not his.

NOTE:  Well we are into the second day of the president’s immigration shit storm now. Geezuz I just can’t keep up with this guy.   I am not so sure my computer won’t run out of ink.  If you agree with this blog, please share.  If you don’t you can bite my shorts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From all appearances President Trump’s ongoing feud with the media is not about to subside anytime soon.  Controversy erupted this afternoon after the president released a tweet questioning the crowd size at the Pancake House where he was eating.

A film crew from local station KCON happened to be in the area and shot video of the president having breakfast.  When he watched the clip during KCON’s noon news broadcast, he apparently took exception to what he perceived as a sparse crowd in the background, and immediately sent this tweet:  “Dishonest media at it again.  Pancake House was packed!  Obvious editing hack job!!  So Sad!!!”

When asked for specifics, presidential spokesperson Keilyanne Conway stated the president was simply concerned that the media had altered things to make it appear that the crowd this morning was  much smaller than the crowd televised last week at the Jimmy’s Egg where former president Obama ate his breakfast omelet.   “The president is just sick and tired of everyone always saying his crowds and other stuff are so small.  It’s time the media started reporting accurate alternative facts,” Ms. Conway stridently suggested.

In related news, after the CEO of Pancake House promised President Trump he would hire more waitresses like Bambi, company stock gained 5 points. In anticipation of presidential retaliatory measures, Jimmy’s Egg investors unloaded corporate shares in a huge afternoon sell-off.

   Separately, there is a really good article about fake news HERE

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM ON HIGH:  our savior’s commination

HOLY SHIT!!!  What a fool I am.  Mr. Trump the Most Powerful One in the Universe, I am really, really sorry I did not vote for you.  Really.  I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking.  How did I miss the signs?.  You live way up in the heavens and descended through the clouds on a gleaming silver escalator.  That orange halo around your head. Lots of people call what you have accomplished a miracle.  Count me in there.  I am hopeful you will find it in your heart to forgive me.  Unlike all those other people with their heads up their ass, I see where I went wrong and admit it.  I realize I will be outed anyway after the Russians tap into our voting records.  Nice to have those guys on your side.  Smart move.  But if you think about it, I kind of  deserve a break.  I know you didn’t win the popular vote, but the electoral count is what matters.  We all know that.  Boy did you get that straightened out.  Like you said, that thing is a rigged piece of shit.  So many things are rigged.  The whole system as a matter of fact.  The RNC, DNC, the FBI, the media, polls, debates, endorsements, and I’m not sure but possibly cats and trees.  You name it.  And you got it all fixed.  That’s what you can do when you are the Most Powerful One in the Universe.  I see that now.  So what I am thinking is just count my vote in the part that doesn’t matter- the popular vote.  Honestly, so much voting goes on I bet I voted for you at some point.  Sometimes I drink a little too much.

I hope you’ll go easy on this preacher that dared criticize you.  Boy what balls!  Whoever it is sounds a little old school, but you know it was your idea to send this woman to deliver your imperious decree, and sometimes that just grates on a man.  You know how that goes.  No one’s better at keeping a gal in her place than you.  Please don’t think I’m telling you what to do, but I believe Steve Bannon would have been a much more effective disciple to relay your wishes.  You sure did get your money’s worth with that fellow.  You’d be hard pressed to find another that could do a better job keeping all the inferiors feel subjugated.  People have learned the hard way that your order of things must not be trifled with.   Remember too, this cleric is all churchified, as many of us are, and there is that sticky business with the ten commandments we all get worked up about.  To be honest with you I am all for a new set of rules.  I’m on your team with that all right.  My neighbor has a pretty nice extension ladder I have been coveting for a very long time, not to mention his wife.  Hubba hubba!  She might not be what you would call a ten, but man what a set of knockers.  I know you would approve.  I’m not at all adverse to some convenient lying and cheating here and there either.  Thanks for all the great tips!

I am curious about something though.  With all the womanizing and grabbing this and that, do you ever worry that a big dose of the clap might grab onto you?  What is wrong with me.  You are the Most Powerful One in the Universe. You’re not just a smidgen powerful.  I bet you can rid yourself of  those nasty spirochetes and chancres with the wave of your tiny hand.  It’s the sort of thing Jesus used to do to help out all those lepers.  I just know there’s gotta be some more Jesus stuff in you.

What I am suspecting is those tricks might come in handy to take care of the pesky commitment you made to be the president for all Americans.  I have to admit your tax proposals and deft gathering of ex Goldman Sachs and Wall Street execs into your circle of financial advisors is just what the chosen few need to make their lives more pleasant.  You have to be proud of how you will be taking care of them.  And of course it goes without saying you should take care of yourself, the Most Powerful One in the Universe.  How your idea to create governmental  positions for family members and use political information to stuff your pockets would bother anyone is just plain ridiculous.   I can’t believe all the stink up over that.  It’s the absolute best way to remain the Most Powerful One in the Universe for Pete’s sake.  Geezuz it doesn’t take a genius to see that.

I was wondering how you plan to help out those of us who reside on the pavement below though.  People absolutely marvel at how you put all those undocumented workers to good use assembling your palace in the sky without hardly  paying them.  Of course!  It’s  the loaves and fishes deal isn’t it?  I’de throw in the water into wine thing but it kind of looks like anything  drinkable might be in short supply after you enact your environmental policies.  I know you have your eye on eliminating food stamps, so I bet your plan is to make things better all around with a universal but bare bones version of Meals on Wheels.  You might keep in mind that people will likely get tired of all the carp and bread though.

God and you know how all the pushing and shoving of this election have taken a toll.  I think it would help you immensely to get away from it all and relax.  Someplace really quiet and secluded.  I have a good friend who has a boat, and I bet he would be glad to drop you off somewhere nice.  How does the middle of Lake Superior sound?  The walk back to shore should be just what you need to reenergize.

 

Like half the country I was absolutely stunned with the election results this November.  If there is a bright side to it for me it is I can say I told you so.  No, I did not vote for Donald Trump.  As of this point in time I still consider him to be an opportunistic, egomaniacal scum bag and can’t see that opinion ever changing.  But you have to hand it to him for taking advantage of the opportunistic part of that description.  This whole thing is a reaction of the masses that has been gradually percolating inside of our socio-economic beaker, and it was Donald Trump who provided the catalyst for the explosion of revolt.

People are fed up. I mentioned that in my book “Fishing with Bobby and Mike” that i wrote three years ago.  I know you read it.  You just probably skimmed over that chapter and weren’t really paying attention.  You should get your shit together and maybe do some on-line memory improvement training.  OK I can’t take full credit for foreseeing our revolution.  My well weathered, favorite economist Robert Reich was the one who opened my eyes to what was on the horizon.  Three years ago he said unless we get big money out of politics we won’t be able to do anything that makes sense in this country.  More profoundly, he said he was absolutely confident that we will reach a tipping point, that you and I will at last have had enough and take back the power of the people that has been usurped by the wealthy one percent.  That, I am hoping, is where we are.  Undoubtedly there is that uninformed segment of this groundswell that will interpret the outcome of this election as validation of their misguided, backward prejudices.  But what I really think, and hope, is that the majority of those who voted for Donald Trump did so out of their own economic self interest, rather than any racial resentment, that it is time to make government understand we are all sick and tired of its dysfunction, and as Mr. Reich projected, the time has come for the ridiculously wealthy elite to recognize their selfish motivation.

Donald Trump has labeled his campaign a “movement.”  which, if you paid attention to what I have just expressed, seems pretty accurate.  What I can’t get my head around is how he became the leader of this movement.  An egomaniacal, racist, tax-dodging, misogynistic con-artist who cheats contractors and employees out of rightful payment,  and lives his pampered, elitist life inside of a palatial penthouse with floor to ceiling  gold decor seems like an unlikely champion of such a cause. Adding to the perplexity is the fact that the largest gains of his proposed tax plan go to, you guessed it, the wealthy 1%.   But he somehow pulled it off, and he certainly deserves to run his victory lap.

                                    

Relaxing in the Trump Living Room                                 Relaxing in My Living Room

Here’s the thing though.  The victory was so complete Mr. Trump now has a public mandate and has no excuse to disappoint since he professes to be the supreme deal maker and fixer of all things.  He has his work cut out for him.  The following is a list of the things he said he will accomplish, which judged from the number of times the topic was mentioned by Mr. Trump during the campaign, is arranged in what I believe should be a close order of importance to his most fervent supporters:

1. Build a border wall with Mexico*  2.  Make Mexico pay for that wall.  3. Deport all illegal immigrants*.  4. Dismantle Obamacare and replace it with something better**  5.  Amend or otherwise tidy up the constitution so he can ban foreign nationals who are Muslim.  6. Destroy ISIS***  7. Renegotiate or suspend ratification of all international trade agreements. 8. Dramatically increase military spending  9. Make NATO pay for U.S. assistance.  10.  Dismantle the Iranian nuclear arms deal.  11. Rebuild and improve every aspect of infrastructure.  12. Double the national GDP.  And unlucky #13.  Lock her up.****

*1 and 3 are apparently so extremely important to a small but possibly overly zealous set of Trump backers that  the group has threatened to shoot him if he does not produce results. (See my previous blog Reap What You Sow).

**To be accomplished in Mr. Trump’s first 100 days in office

*** It is not clear how long this will take Mr. Trump.  The time frame is whatever “so fast it will make your head spin” is.

**** Because this was hands down the most often repeated refrain during Trump rallies you might think it should reside in the number one spot, but in considering my personal data for this list  more weight was given to how many times Mr. Trump actually muttered the words.

There are about sixty other items Mr. Trump has promised to take care of in four years. These mere thirteen certainly represent a bold agenda, and there are a couple on this priority list I wouldn’t mind seeing addressed.  Who doesn’t want state-of-the-art infrastructure and a robust GDP.  But half the things just on this abbreviated list will require a lot of money and Mr. Trump has avoided discussion of that sticky subject.  His reverse Robin Hood tax plan is projected to create an even bigger national debt.  His only answer is when he gets things rolling, job growth will be off the charts.  However, those jobs probably will be insignificant because practically every economist consulted believes Trump’s trade policies will trigger an international trade war that will result in a national recession.  And there is the hard reality that many of the jobs Mr. Trump promised to bring back to America simply no longer exist in our 21st century world.  They will never come back.  Ever.

Mr. Trump has already pissed all over the dignity of the presidential office.  It remains to be seen if he and the people he surrounds himself with will exhibit self control and enough common sense to govern intelligently and not shit on the constitution.  Honest to God I am hopeful this man succeeds in being a good president.  To do that,  he will have to start by explaining to those supporters bent on taking his election as validation for racial insults and persecution that they are wrong and it will not be tolerated.  Most people will agree we need immigration reform.  A continuous border wall with Mexico seems impractical.  Deporting 11 million immigrants is inconceivable.  Providing sensible solutions to the problem now that he has made these irrational promises is something Mr. Trump will have to supply or not supply at his own risk.  He has been elected to be our leader.  He needs to lead us forward, not backward to the hatred of the 1950’s.

There is one aspect of going backwards which does merit attention.  It applies to the very thing that got us to this current,  precarious stage in our democratic, capitalistic experiment.  It is the avaricious shifting of income inequality in this country.  Middle class Americans shared in business profits in the 1950’s.   Corporate profits now are used to purchase stock buybacks to impress stockholders instead of investing in employees and paying them a decent wage, and typical current salaries of upper management in today’s corporations are ridiculously overvalued.  In 1955 the average top income tax rate was 63%, and the capital gains tax was 25%.  The tax rate for the highest earners was 91%.  Imagine the good we could accomplish if those in the Donald Trump tax bracket paid their 1955’s fair share.

There are so many thoughts concerning this election that are pouring through my head, but right now all I want to pour is a big glass of scotch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know. Here I go again. But just when I think Donald Trump can not possibly top his last ludicrous or offensive  statement he somehow manages to pull it off.  His constant whining about everything being rigged against him and not willing to accept the election’s outcome really takes the biscuit, for personal reasons which I will get to in a moment.  But this commentary by Justice David Souter back in 2012 is so compelling and prophetic I want to include it here in hopes that it’s already viral viewing will reach even more people.  Again, this is a discourse from 2012.

Justice Souter Interview

First of all, if you took the time to read or watch this interview,  thank you and share away.  And if you don’t want to continue reading my sentiments I can not blame you.  Come back later if you have things to do.  I don’t.  I’m retired.  What I do is waste my time blogging.  But as I have mentioned before, this guy Trump just gets under my skin.

The real tragedy of Mr. Trump’s spineless ranting is all the verbal puss he spews infects so many people, detractors as well as his supporters. I vote independently. I can not say I think Hillary Clinton is someone I am enamored with. Like a typical Trump supporter, I am tired of politics as usual, and I too believe there is a certain elitist attitude rightly associated with the Clintons. But Trump’s character problem is beyond the pale. To many, his boisterous demeanor and rude behavior are tolerable or even viewed as salubrious.  To me, he comes across as an asshole. But I could live with that.  There are assholes all over the place, and from what I have observed if a fellow like that applies himself there are positions in government  where he will fit right in.

But Donald Trump is far worse than an asshole.  His shortcomings have been covered so widely it’s pointless to keep bringing them up.  Politically though, he is dangerous, especially evidenced by  his dumbfounding statement during the last debate that there’s a chance he won’t honor the outcome of the election.  His relentless insistence that the system is rigged foments a segment of society in just the way Justice Souter describes.  Trump is molding himself into the perfect Molotov cocktail to toss into the explosive discontent of the disenfranchised. So much of Trump’s vitriol has his campaign “CEO” Stephen Bannon’s imprint all over it. There is that, and his fear of losing bothers him so much that in his egomaniacal mind he somehow is blameless for his pathetic campaign.  It is a shameless display of irresponsibility and lack of leadership.

However, this constant whining of his unnerves me in a personal way. “You fail all the time.  But you’re not a failure unless you start blaming someone else.”  Know who said that?  It was Bum Phillips, weathered professional football coach, and now deceased.  His words do not apply only to football players. They apply to everyone, but I have to admit in my mind maybe more so to men than women. Sorry ladies, I know as a group you are no less important, but I can not stand a man who constantly whines and complains.   Donald Trump is a perfect example of a failure.   Someone so full of cynicism and so devoid of the character development required to accept responsibility is just a shitty person to my way of thinking.

Ordinarily I would call him a prick, but I can’t.  You know why I can’t call him a prick?  That has to do with another  man no longer with us, and who was one of my personal mentors.  That would be my father-in-law, Al Loebig.  He was a life-long Minnesota Vikings fan, and vehemently despised a certain quarterback who played for the Vikings for many years.  Al considered him to be a blowhard and a sissy.  He called him every foul name in the book- except prick.  Al told me the reason for that was as disrespectful as the word is, in his opinion it still conveyed a certain sense of masculinity.  That simply was not acceptable to Al.  I know if Al was alive today he  would be following this very precept when it came to his assured profane description of Donald Trump.

So Donald, every time I hear you incessantly whine about a rigged system, I want you to know I take it personally.  You are an offensive politician, but more disconcerting as far as I am concerned you are an embarrassment to our male gender. Real men take responsibility.  This country has endured several contested elections in the past, one recently so close it took a Supreme Court decision to resolve it.  But that is the point.  We have a democratic system and processes in place to, as fairly as possible, adjudicate outcomes.  All presidential candidates in the past have accepted them.  We don’t need you to go around huffing and puffing, threatening to blow the whole thing down.  Show some balls you big crybaby.

                    

                                                    SOME FAMOUS BLOWHARDS

In closing let me say this.  Over the years I have developed an extensive vocabulary of profanity.            Smart People Swear More  ( Article courtesy of my college Facebook research specialist Emilee Mayer-Thank you Emilee, but shouldn’t you be studying?)    Mr. Trump, every time you mention “rigged system,” automatically one of those words spills out of my mouth.  Ever since the Billy Bush bus incident it appears to me all the late night entertainers have it just about right.  You do seem to be some kind of pussy.  One thing for sure though. You sir, are no kind of prick.

 

 

 

 

 

PRESENT LIST OF THINGS THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN TOLD TO STOP USING OR MENTIONING

SONG/MUSICIANS:  “Dream On” Steve Tyler.  “We Are the Champions” Queen.  “We’re Not Going to Take It” Twisted Sister.  “It’s the End of the World” R.E.M.  “Start Me Up” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” Rolling Stones.  “Sky Fall” and” Rolling in the Deep” Adele.  “Nissan Dorma” Pavarotti.  “Rockin’ in the Free World” Neil Young. ” Here Comes the Sun” George Harrison.  Anything by Elton John

MINTS/CANDY:  Skittles– Mars inc.  Tic Tacs– Ferrero Company

FUTURE LIST OF THINGS THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IS LIKELY TO BE TOLD TO STOP USING OR MENTIONING*

Geraldo Rivera video, Trump Tower steam room and 2nd Billy Bush tapes suddenly surface and reveal more of Donald’s “locker-room” conversation and ribald antics.  After scrutinizing bawdy content about peep holes, unconventional or unauthorized use of various commercial products, and listening to the constant sophomoric giggling that transpired on the audio portion of the tapes,  the following businesses and organizations have requested that the Trump campaign never mention, or immediately discontinue any mention of, their products and/or business or organization:

TOOLS/ IMPLEMENTS: cordless drill and bit set– Stanley Black and Decker,  Makita Inc.,  Porter-Cable Company,  screw-type C-clamp– Clamp Manufacturing Inc.  rope– Rope Manufacturers of America

DESERT TOPPINGS:   chocolate syrup– The Hershey Company.  Reddi Whip–  Conagra Foods Inc.

ANIMAL/VEGETABLE OILS: baby oil–  Johnson & Johnson.  Crisco’s Pure Corn Oil– J.M. Smucker Company.

HOME DECORE:  candles– Yankee Candle Company

CONDIMENTS/FRUIT SPREADS:  jams and jellies– Grama’s Inc.  J. M. Smucker Company.  Sara Lee Coffee and Tea Company.  mustard– H.J.Heintz Company, French’s Food Company.  mayonnaise– Hellman’s Unilever.  Kraft Foods Group Inc.

SPORTING GOODS: Louisville Slugger– Hillerich and Bradsby Company.

MEAT/POULTRY:  hot dogs– Hebrew National hot dog- Conagra Foods.  Ball Park Franks- Tyson Foods. sausage– United Sausage Makers Company,  Johnsonville Sausage LLC,  Tyson Foods,  Conagra Foods,  Hormel Foods Corp.  kielbasa– Kowalski Company.   cocktail weenies- Bryan Foods Company,  Oscar Meyer/Kraft Foods.

PRODUCE:  Anything you can grow in a garden– Vegetable Growers Association of America,  Future Farmers of America,  4-H Youth Development Program.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS: Steam Fitters and Plumbers Union.  Save the Children Foundation.  American Mother’s Inc.,  American Red Cross,  Girl Scouts of America,  Boy Scouts of America.

 

AMERICA’S BASKET OF DEPLORABLE’S

Note to all you ladies sporting “Trump Can Grab My Pussy” tees and for that matter to any of you who believe Donald Trump’s predatory  behavior is perfectly acceptable.  No doubt your children and relatives are extremely proud of the affectionate display of your wide-open availability, but I have a qualified** questions for you.  Where in the hell were you when I was in college?

*This list remains subject to amendment and additions

** qualification:  Before that first date we hypothetically would have had, from what I know about you now I assume you would not have minded if I took a gander at your personal health/immunization record.