Whatever Happened to the Trump Resistance?

I recently saw the most excellent film Star Wars: The Last Jedi in which I heard the term Resistance mentioned at least a couple of dozen times in reference to the Resistance against the New Order’s Supreme Leader Snoke.

Back to reality, back to 2017 in the galaxy of our own country, we are witnessing the conclusion of the first year of our own version of the Supreme Leader’s term—a period for a consistent solid majority of Americans whose emotions had fluctuated somewhere between disheartening to disdain.  During Star Wars: The Last Jedi I mused what happened to the Resistance against President Donald Trump that had debuted with the incredible Women’s March a mere day after the inauguration.

This majority of Americans see Trump’s election as illegitimate.  All U.S. intelligence services concluded that Russia hacked into the Democratic National Committee’s emails and found a way to strategically release the contents with the sole goal of helping Trump win the election while disparaging candidate Hillary Clinton.  That Russia, a foreign adversary, sought to meddle in our election process and most likely succeeded in installing the candidate of that government’s preference, has been accepted as fact by everyone but curiously Trump and his hard core supporters.

Whether the Trump campaign aided that effort is an open question and is the subject of investigations by House and Senate committees as well as the probe headed by Special Counsel Robert S, Mueller III.

Despite Trump’s denials, most Americans saw this election as tainted, and cries of “Resistance” were echoed throughout social media.  Following the Women’s March whereby stunningly several millions of people participated in Washington, D.C. and in any one of over 600 satellite demonstrations around the country to protest Trump’s presidency, there was unexpected momentum to the Resistance. 

To be sure, Twitter and Facebook were abuzz with #Resistance, but what actually transpired?

There were sporadic demonstrations following the ban on travel from several predominantly Muslim nations, the pullout from the Paris Climate agreement, the rescinding of protections for the children of undocumented immigrants among other actions.

Then the protests seemed to quiet down though resistance manifested itself in several special elections where opposition to Trump was apparent in the level of turnout and enthusiasm highlighted by the upset win by Doug Jones in Alabama.  The opposition to Trump at the ballot box by dint of energy and enthusiasm is a strong indicator that Democrats will experience a successful mid-term election in November 2018.

Clearly, the street demonstrations, which harness the energy of the opposition, seemed to wane a bit.  This has been surprising given the unpopularity of the president and the dispiriting actions he has taken in his first term.  I thought there would be protests nearly every weekend to, if nothing else, prove to the narcissistic president that he is not adored and worshipped as he would love everyone to believe.

However, according to a report in the Washington Post things may change if Trump derails the Mueller investigation.

Opponents of the president have been hoping upon hope that the findings from the probe will ultimately lead to the impeachment of the president. While collusion with the Russians may be a more daunting task to prove, obstruction of justice—the crime that eventually brought down President Richard M. Nixon—appears more cut and dry to the resistors.  They are banking on the Mueller investigation as means to truncate Trump’s term and rid the nation of the stain he has imposed on the country and around the globe.

The Post states that tens of thousands of protesters will be storming the streets within hours should the president fire Mueller.

Photo courtesy of The Daily Beast

More than two dozen progressive organizations, say the Post,  have spent the past several weeks lining up what they vow would be an immediate response that would be hard to ignore.

“Using an online portal that links the various groups and their contact lists, more than 140,000 people have registered to begin protesting within hours of Trump's decision, at predetermined locations in more than 600 cities.

The protests are designed to harness what organizers predict would be a wave of nationwide outrage that would follow Trump's action, which Democrats in Congress warn could trigger a constitutional crisis.”

The Los Angeles Times reported  that if Trump fires Mueller before 2 p.m., the demonstrations would begin at 5 p.m. that day. They would begin at noon the following day if Trump were to act after 2 p.m. Organizers in New York already have stockpiled bullhorns in apartments near Times Square, the would-be location of the New York City demonstration.

It is unclear if President Trump will take the political risk of stifling the investigation. Right wing media including Trump-TV (Fox News) have been cajoling him to do so citing flimsy evidence of partisanship among the Mueller team.

Regardless, activists are taking no chances and preparing to unleash the fury should Trump interfere.  It is questionable if Republican members of Congress who insisted early on that the “red line” of stopping the investigation cannot be crossed, will put country over party.  I’m taking bets.

We will wait and see what transpires.  As in the case of  the Resistance to the New Order in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the action here in the U.S. could make for an interesting sequel. 

Sweet Home Alabama: The Jones-Moore Election

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you…

Since Tuesday night, Democrats all over the country are celebrating the results in Alabama’s special election for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.  The victory by Doug Jones over Roy Moore was satisfying on so many fronts, and it’s easy to see why the Dems are giddy and emboldened at his moment in history.  Decency and dignity prevailed in the Yellowhammer State.

Democrats nabbed a crucial Senate seat in crimson red Alabama when no one ever thought it would be possible.  This result will facilitate regaining control over the Senate in 2018, but it is still a daunting task given that many Democrats have to defend their seats in states that went to Donald Trump in 2016.

The effect of the #MeToo movement was evident in the election as women, notably African-American women, put a stamp on this election and repudiated Roy Moore and his alleged sexual misconduct from earlier in his life—a point he steadfastly denies.

The Get Out the Vote (GOTV) effort by the Jones campaign in urban and suburban areas in particular was instrumental.  This should reinforce the criticality of getting the voters enthused enough to vote because no matter what district, there are always Democrats residing in it.  Democratic voters need to be motivated by a quality candidate and an articulate, persuadable message to be delivered by said candidate.

African-Americans, a vital component of the Democratic electorate, came through in this election bigly and carried Jones, a pro-choice candidate, over the finish line. This should have been a no-brainer given Moore’s racism and his nostalgia for the time that families were united when slavery existed.

Add that to the fact that Jones successfully prosecuted two of the Klansmen involved in the bombing of the 16^th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, nearly 40 years after the crime.

Nonetheless, Democratic candidates must deliver a message to African-Americans that resonate. Never take this voting bloc for granted. And they need to bolster GOTV efforts with that community.

Many Dems are also rejoicing because it brought Trump’s record in Alabama in 2017 elections to 0-2 and depriving him of a “huge win.”  Trump defied advice and got involved in this race by endorsing Moore.  By doing so, it brought back to the surface his own problems concerning sexual misconduct as several women reiterated their accusations.  It was a terrible political miscue.

The upset also smeared egg on the smearable face of Steve Bannon who thought that he is a big-shot powerbroker. He could still be a force to reckon with in 2018, but clearly his stock tanked.

However, before Democrats take their foot off the gas pedal and believe that they can glide into 2018 on a “blue wave,” there are some sobering realities as a result of this election. 

Roy Moore was beyond flawed as a candidate. Even prior to the sexual misconduct allegations including molesting a minor while he was in his 30’s, he was unpopular.  Besides the slavery comment, he had demonstrated his virulent bigotry toward LGBT people and Muslims. Yet, as his wife pointed out, we should not consider his to be anti-Semitic since one of his attorneys is “a Jew.”

Moore’s denials of the sexual misconduct allegations were so unconvincing (similar to Trump’s) that mainstream Republicans scattered to the hills including the state’s senior Senator Richard Shelby.

Moore ducked every opportunity to debate Jones and seldomly discussed specific issues facing the state and the nation without invoking God.

Yet, despite Moore’s deficiencies still nearly half the state’s voters supported him. The sun apparently doesn’t shine everywhere in Alabama as too many preferred a child molester to a Democrat.

But with the historic victory in Alabama on December 12, Democrats should feel elated and confident but should also be mindful there is much work to do.  Good candidates, effective messaging and flawed opponents who receive help from Trump-Bannon will help us take back America.

Trump’s Jerusalem Gambit: Why Now?

One would think President Donald J. Trump would have other things on his mind. From Alabama to North Korea, the president has been immersed with these developments. But he also has been preoccupied by the Mueller investigation on possible collusion with Russia to meddle and manipulate the 2016 presidential election.

If his staff had the gall to show him the data, Trump could see now that he has the lowest approval ratings than any other in modern history at this point in his term.  In addition, the sexual misconduct accusations on men across the private and public sector raises once again questions about the president’s own accusers of sexual assault and impropriety, which number at about 15 to date.

This would normally keep a president pretty much tethered to these matters when he is not playing golf or watching cable news.  However, out of left field, it seems, President Trump found still another way to spark controversy, and as has become the norm lately, anger our allies when on December 6, he formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. 

The move reversed nearly seven decades of American foreign policy and put in place a plan to move the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to the ferociously contested Holy City.  Rather than being the bargaining chip it once was as a key component of peace talks (now stalled), recognition of Jerusalem is now off the table, and this order brought no concessions from Israel in return.  The U.S. is no longer seen (if it ever were) as an impartial broker of a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.  Trump’s action confirms it.

While the Embassy is not actually moving to Jerusalem in the next few years, the decision was condemned both at home and abroad with violent flare-ups taking place in the Palestinian territories that threaten to spread elsewhere in the Middle East.  Why would Trump do this at this time?  I have a few theories—cynical as they may be.  #hocopolitics

►To Distract.  As the Mueller probe moves closer and closer inside the White House and with former U.S. National Security Advisor Gen. Michael Flynn probably already having turned state’s evidence against the president and/or his family as part of a plea deal, things are getting pretty dicey for Mr. Trump.  When the news is not favorable, he finds things to dominate the next news cycle and Jerusalem seemed to have been pulled out of his bag of distracting tricks.

►To reinforce his call for a Muslim ban. As a candidate, Trump infamously announced a “total and complete shutdown” of the entry of Muslims to the United States “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.”  He has found a way to impugn the reputation of entire religion based on the actions of a radical fringe.  Trump was fully aware that the controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would fuel unrest in the Palestinian territories, and the footage of burning U.S. and Israeli flags promulgated by the not-so-fake news would lather up his anti-Muslim base to provide additional adrenaline to his travel ban from select predominant Muslim countries, which is still being legally challenged.

►Religious fulfillment. The recognition of Jerusalem was a campaign promise from Trump and a pledge to evangelical Christians. As a matter of fact, the White House explained that this was the motive for the announcement.  With the devout Vice President Mike Pence heading over there, there is some credence to that motive.

►Drill baby drill! This may be somewhat far-fetched but not entirely out of the question. The recognition of Jerusalem could lead to a Mideast oil embargo against the U.S. Already there is some chatter that economic sanctions be put in place against us so this is a possibility.  Should such an action occur, unlikely as it may be,, Trump could use that as an excuse to destroy even more public lands for the purpose of oil drilling.

All, any or none of these reasons may explain why this action took place at this time. But if you have other possibilities, please share them as comments on this post.

My Top 20 Local LGBT Stories of 2017

Below is a subjective ranking (in reverse order) of my top 20 Baltimore & Maryland LGBT stories for 2017.  

These stories were written for the Washington Blade and/or this blog.  The full article is linked to each headline.  

20. A Ray of Sunshine Through the Clouds  

A big win for a trans candidate in Virginia provided a spark for Baltimore’s Transgender March of Resilience.

Victorious Danica Roem

19. Baltimore Ally Surprised at Ellen Show  

Beloved East Baltimore teacher, LGBT ally and GLSEN board member was feted at The Ellen Show—much to his surprise.

Wyatt Oroke with Ellen DeGeneres

18. Feeding the Homeless Pride Event on Tap   

Baltimore activist Brian Dolbow for the second year organized a Pride-related event that helped feed the homeless.

    

17. Cumberland to Hold its First Pride  

On July 6-9 the western Maryland city of Cumberland became the latest jurisdiction to celebrate LGBTQ Pride.

16. Trans Woman Injured in BB Gun Attack in Baltimore  

Baltimore Police have not found the motorist who fired a BB gun at a trans woman in Station North.

15. Leon’s Bar in Baltimore Celebrates 60 Years   

Leon’s, Baltimore’s oldest active gay bar, celebrated its 60^th anniversary.

14. AIDS Walk Baltimore Raises $100,000   

Some 600 attendees including volunteers participated in the annual AIDS Walk & Run Baltimore on May 7 raising nearly $100,000 to support Chase Brexton Health Care’s HIV/AIDS outreach and infectious disease and case management services.

Volunteers at the 2017 AIDS Walk & Run Baltimore (Photo: Aaron Cahall)

13. Baltimore Activists Slam Trump’s Trans Ban      

A number of LGBT organizations and leaders blasted President Trump’s ban on transgender service members.

Image: TheDailyBeast.com

12. Baltimore School to be Honored by GLSEN  

Roland Park Elementary/Middle School recognized for the work being done by the diverse student-run Gay-Straight Alliance. 

11. Trans Students, Allies Fighting for Safe Schools in Frederick 

A lawsuit threatening to roll back Trans protections in the Frederick County school system was met with broad resistance.

10. Former owner of The Drinkery Dies   

Fred Allen, longtime owner of The Drinkery, died on August 7 at the age of 86.

9. Maryland LGBT Chamber of Commerce to Launch  

The Maryland LGBT Chamber of Commerce, bringing together LGBT and allied businesses, professionals and individuals throughout the state of Maryland, debuted on June 14. 

8. A Successful Baltimore ‘Pride Unleashed’    

Baltimore Pride’s longest parade marched into Station North where the block party took place for the first time.

YouTube

7. G•A•Y Lounge to Close

Less than 6 months after it opened G•A•Y Lounge closed its doors due to a problem with the contract from the previous owner of the building but the current owners vowed to return at a different venue.

6. FreeState Justice Names New Leadership 

Mark A. Procopio became the executive director of FreeState Justice and Jennifer L. Kent was appointed managing attorney replacing the departing Patrick Paschall and Jer Welter, respectively.

New FreeState Justice Executive Director
Mark A. Procopio

5. Suspect Acquitted in Murder of Baltimore Trans Woman    Shawn Oliver, 46, was acquitted of all charges on Jan. 12 in the murder of Mia Henderson that took place in 2014.

Shawn Oliver was acquitted of all charges in the murder of Mia Henderson.

4. Baltimore School Board Pledges to Support Trans Students   

Following a meeting between transgender rights advocates and Baltimore’s Board of School Commissioners on Feb. 28, a statement pledging support for transgender students was issued in response to Trump administration’s rescinding guidelines issued by the Obama administration in 2016 that prohibited discrimination against transgender students.  

Demonstrators outside Board of Education headquarters.
(Photo by Evan Lori Mahone)

3. Grand Central in Baltimore is Up for Sale

 Grand Central nightclub, a fixture in Mount Vernon for over a quarter century has been put on the market by owner Don Davis.

2. Baltimore Eagle Set to Take Flight    

After a 4-year hiatus, the reconstructed Baltimore Eagle opened.

Photo: JoeMyGod.com

1. Trans Woman Murdered in Baltimore   

Police are still searching for the suspect in connection with the murder of trans woman Alphonza Watson, 38, who died of a gunshot wound on March 22.  

Alphonza Watson

Toby’s Brings Back a Delightful ‘Miracle’

Photo: Jeri Tidwell Photography

Forget the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, turkey leftovers, and Black Friday. The holiday season doesn’t officially kick off locally until Toby’s the Dinner Theatre of Columbia presents a Christmas musical to put theatre-goers in the right frame of mind.  Believing in miracles doesn’t hurt either.

In Miracle on 34^th Street: The Musical, their current dose of holiday cheer, Toby’s brings back the successful show from four years ago with most of the talented cast (except for the children) reprising their original roles, not to mention the fact that Director Shawn Kettering and the technical crew return as well. Therefore, they should all be well-rehearsed, and they are. 
  #

Miracle on 34^th Street—not the black and white classic Christmas movie from 1947 presented every December on television but a live musical adaptation—plays nicely on Toby’s in-the-round stage.  The book, music and lyrics were penned by Meredith Willson of The Music Man and The Unsinkable Molly Brown fame, debuted on Broadway in 1963 under the title Here’s Love. #hocoarts

No one will compare the music in Miracle on 34^th Street with the rich score of The Music Man or many other successful Broadway musicals as few of the numbers in this one are memorable, save for the popular 1951 tune “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”  Moreover, the first act contains a few dull moments and some quirky songs like “Plastic Alligator.” Fortunately, the drama, tempo and pacing pick up noticeably in the second act with the courtroom scene as most enjoyable.

The strength of Miracle on 34^th Street and the reason people should buy tickets the sooner the better rests with its charming and tender family-oriented storyline and the outstanding performances by the cast as well as the work of creative team under the deft guidance of Mr. Kettering, the imaginative choreography of Helen Hayes Award winner Mark Minnick, and musical direction of Douglas Lawler.

Holiday atmospherics are in place but I prefer to have seen more festive decorations to add to the Christmas flavor. Scenic Designer David A. Hopkins constructed the set, which features a few street lamps on the stage, the entrance to an apartment on a balcony, and views of the New York City skyline shown on panels surrounding the walls of the theater.  

However, what makes the visuals appealing is the seemingly limitless number of set pieces and props employed throughout the show, which add texture to the scenery.  The sleigh on wheels that Santa occupies, for example, is gorgeous, and it wouldn’t be a Christmas show without a little snow.  Lynn Joslin’s spot-on lighting design is critical in the myriad seamless scene changes.

Lawrence B. Munsey designed the authentic 1940’s suits and dresses as well as Santa outfits and other novelty garb thereby lending a realistic feel to this enchanting production.

Set in New York City before and after Thanksgiving in the late 1940s, the story focuses on a white-bearded man named Kris Kringle (played convincingly by Robert Biedermann 125) who claims to be the real Santa Claus.  He brings about a genuine “Miracle on 34^th Street,” spreading good cheer and good will among men throughout New York City; encouraging camaraderie between the arch-rival department stores Macy’s and Gimbel’s; and convincing a divorced, cynical single mother, Doris Walker (Heather Marie Beck), her daughter Susan Walker (played on the night the show was reviewed by young Camden Lippert) that Santa Claus is no myth.

"Strong performances plus a delightful feel-good story (and a scrumptious buffet) make this a seasonal must-see..."

Skeptics saw otherwise, and poor Kris Kringle had to appear before a stern Judge (very well played by David Bosley-Reynolds) at a hearing in New York State Supreme Court to determine if he should be committed to Bellevue Hospital.

As these events unfold, Doris finds her neighbor Fred Gaily (Jeffrey Shankle) an ex-Marine and inexperienced lawyer who develops a father-daughter bond with Susan, falls for Doris and eventually represents Kris Kringle at the hearing, leading to a lovely conclusion.

Mr. Minnick’s choreography is most effective especially when there is a large group on the stage as in such numbers as “Plastic Alligator,” “Toy Ballet,” “My State, My Kansas,” and “That Man Over There” whereby he makes full use of the limited space by devising clever dance steps, plenty of motion and ensuring the dancers are in sync rhythmically.

Jeffrey Shankle, as he often does, delivers a polished, near-flawless performance.  In tuneful voice, he sings “My Wish,” with Ms. Beck and is simply stellar in his solo “Look, Little Girl.” 

Camden Lippert, as Susan, alternates with Lillianna Robinson during the run.  Never missing a line, never missing a cue, never missing a note or a step, Camden demonstrates strong potential in musical theatre. She already has experience under her belt having appeared in Toby’s presentation of Ragtime among other credits.

Russell Sunday plays R.H. Macy, the strict owner of the department store bearing his name. Commanding on stage and with his strong baritone, Mr. Sunday excels in “That Man Over There”—a highlight number during the courtroom scene, which in itself, is a highlight in the show. 

Photo: Jeri Tidwell Photography

As Doris, Heather Marie Beck was well cast and delivers a solid performance.  The part requires proficient acting skills, and Ms. Beck delivers on that front particularly in her confrontations with the characters Susan and Fred.  She exhibits strong vocals in such numbers as “You Don’t Know” and “Love, Come Take Me Again” and the warm duet with Camden, “Arm in Arm.”

Veteran performer Robert John Biedermann excels as Kris Kringle.  He adroitly conveys the sweetness and kindness that all children believe Santa to be.  Everybody roots for him. 

David Bosley-Reynolds hits the mark as Judge Martin Group, delivering well-timed comedic lines. Other notable cast members are Tommy Malek as Marvin Shellhammer whose facial expressions and comedic rejoinders are golden; David Jennings as Mr. Sawyer who also showcases his comedic skills; and Justin Calhoun is particularly strong as the prosecutor Thomas Mara. 

A number of the other performers are called on to play one or more roles as well as being part of the ensemble and do so splendidly.  They include David James, AJ Whittenberger, DeCarlo Raspberry, Tina Marie DeSimone, MaryKate Brouillet, Santina Maiolatesi, Coby Kay Callahan, and Amanda Jillian Kaplan.

The Young Actor Ensemble for this reviewed performance includes: Lily Ulman, Jackson Smith, Hannah Dash, and Jonah Hale.  They all chip in with sturdy singing, dancing and acting.   

          

It is notable that many of the elements from costumes to props are true to the time period.  On the other hand, there is no attempt to scrub the sexist language in the dialogue and song lyrics, such as the term “little girl” as conveyed to an adult woman. 

As I mentioned earlier, the music does not leave one humming exiting the theater.  But the vocalists who performed the songs and Pamela Wilt’s six-piece orchestra backing them up (Ms. Wilt rotates with Douglas Lawler) does justice to the rather bland melodies.

Strong performances plus a delightful feel-good story (and a scrumptious buffet) make this a seasonal must-see, which will be enjoyed by the young and the young at heart, especially if you believe in miracles.

Running time: Two hours and 30 minutes with an intermission.

Miracle on 34^th Street runs through January 7, 2018 at Toby’s the Dinner Theatre of Columbia, 4900 Symphony Woods Rd., Columbia, MD 21044.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at 410-730-8311 or visiting online. 

A Way Out for Trump

Image: Daily Kos

Let’s stipulate that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into President Donald Trump and/or his campaign successfully confirms that they cooperated with Russian officials to influence the 2016 election. A complex labyrinth of contacts with the Russians, documents, witnesses, emails, plea bargaining by key Trump campaign operatives, and other evidence make it an air-tight case that could lead to indictments for criminal wrongdoing.

This is not limited to colluding and conspiring with the Russians.  Trump’s past business dealings and possible money laundering with shady players including Russian oligarchs and Mafia-connected characters could bring criminal charges.  #hocopolitics

The powerful Mueller team is slowly tightening the screws on Trump and his family as key witnesses, such as Gen. Michael Flynn and George Papadopoulos are ready to flip in the investigation if they haven’t already. It is not looking good for President Trump, Donald, Jr., Jared Kushner, and others close to the top.

As the day of reckoning approaches (and that can be over a year away given the complexity of the investigation), Trump must move out of his state of denial and face reality.  Of course, he can have the acting Attorney General fire Mueller and consequently end the investigation before the findings are revealed.  The backlash from the country’s citizens would be so fierce and potent that even a Republican-led Congress would move to impeach the President for obstruction of justice, which such a firing would certainly be.

Image: Salon.com

If the findings by Mueller are damning as I expect them to be, articles of impeachments will be filed and should the Democrats re-take the House in 2018 as is quite possible given today’s political environment, Congress will almost certainly proceed.

There is a way out for Trump, though unlikely, given his ego, propensity for lying, and pride, and that is a mea culpa prior to Mueller’s release of the investigation’s findings.  What Trump values most is not his presidency but his brand, his business, and his family.  Clearly all would take a hit should he come clean and admit wrongdoing, but he and/or family members and top associates could avoid prison time.  It’s a long shot, but here goes.

Trump addresses the nation from whichever White House he calls home (where the TV ratings would be huuuge—another incentive for him) and could say the following:

My Fellow Americans,

As you know I have been the subject of a long, tedious and expensive investigation. This is contrary to what I’ve been told all along that I was not under investigation.  I come before you to announce that my attorneys have been in negotiations with Special Counsel Robert Mueller for some time in an attempt to spare the country from this distraction, which prevents us from moving forward with our agenda to make America great again for which the people elected me to implement. Accordingly, we have made a deal.

Before I discuss that, I want to admit that members of my campaign staff and with my approval indeed cooperated with Russian representatives to obtain information on Hillary Clinton to damage her during the election.  This was accomplished by hacking into various emails to get compromising information. 

In addition, I was aware that Russia was using social media to spread damaging fake news about her in the hope that Democrats already bitter from the primaries would either stay home or vote for me.  Several states that voted for Barack Obama wound up voting for me and that gave me the Electoral College victory.  They included Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Here’s the thing:  I didn’t expect the Russian involvement to turn into such a big deal.  Early on, members of my campaign were approached by Russian officials to play mischief with Hillary.  No one expected me to win. 

I shouldn’t have won the Republican nomination against a field of experienced politicians but I did so.  There was no way I should have defeated Hillary with the big Democratic machine behind her with money and organization and everything else in her favor. 

So we accepted the Russian help as a lark, figuring, what the hell; I’m not going to win anyway and would have some fun trying.  Once we got involved with them, it grew out of control.  I eventually won and it surprised me.  I kept denying the collusion and I apologize for my misleading statements.

As a result of the agreement with Mr. Mueller and his team, I will step down as President of the United States effective tomorrow and plead guilty to an array of charges including obstruction of justice that I will not go into at this time.  Mr. Mueller agreed to drop any further legal action against me and my family.

I am sorry for any inconvenience and your loss of trust in me from this activity but it is best for the country that I take this action now. Please give Vice President Mike Pence your fullest support when he assumes the presidency.

God bless you and the United States of America.

This is not a likely scenario to say the least given Trump’s aversion to admitting anything but it does give him a way out.  Democrats would be ecstatic.  Republicans would be relieved. The world would rejoice.  And Trump can go back to the thing he loves more than anything—his never ending quest to make lots of money. 

A Timeless and Timely Optimistic 'Annie' Comes to Olney

Noelle Robinson as Annie and Kevin McAllister as Oliver Warbucks
Photo: Stan Barouh

As we edge into the holiday season, a heartwarming production of Annie has made its way to the Olney Theatre Center, and the timing is perfect.  Many people aren’t too optimistic this year on several levels, but Annie brings what the doctor ordered: a dose of much needed sanguinity and a two and a half hour escape from the real world.     #hocoarts

To his credit, Director Jason King Jones’ iteration on Olney’s Main Stage stays mainly true to the beloved musical—considered one of the all-time most popular Broadway productions internationally and in the U.S.  Mr. Jones, who helmed Mary Poppins last year at Olney, skillfully guides a wonderfully talented cast and crew in this joyful, smoothly presented production.

The forty year-old, seven-time Tony Award winning classic is based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and book by Thomas Meehan. The story centers on a plucky, adorable 11 year-old girl, Annie, brimming with contagious optimism, whose parents dropped her off at an orphanage in New York City. 

From that venue during the depths of  the Depression, Annie's shining personality and upbeat demeanor ticks off the orphanage’s matron, the cruel Miss Hannigan, and ultimately wins over the heart of billionaire factory mogul Oliver Warbucks (and just about everyone else including President Franklin D. Roosevelt) while trying to find her parents whom she believes are still alive.

A terrific score highlights the musical with the iconic “Tomorrow” leading the way.  Other songs, such as “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “N.Y.C.,” “Easy Street,” “Maybe” and “Something Was Missing” are also solid.  Led by Musical Director Jay Crowder, Christopher Youstra’s nine-piece orchestra proficiently supports the vocals.

Photo: Stan Barouh

Rachel Leigh Dolan choreographed with precision, and such numbers as “Little Girls,” “I Think I’m Gonna Like it Here,” “N.Y.C.” “Easy Street” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” are meticulously executed by the talented leads and ensemble.

Young Noelle Robinson, whom local theatre-goers may remember as endearing Lil Inez in Hairspray at Toby’s Dinner Theatre earning her a Helen Hayes Award nomination, hits it out of the park in the title role.  At a young age, her already skilled acting prowess and dancing skills are clearly on display. 

Yet, it is Ms. Robinson’s vocals that amaze.  Her powerful rendition of “Tomorrow” brings goose bumps as she flawlessly hits each note dead on.  She also soars in the moving ballad “Maybe.”

As billionaire Oliver Warbucks, who is so powerful that he can casually drop in on the President and summon the FBI to find Annie’s parents, Kevin McAllister couldn’t be better.  Using his potent acting abilities, Mr. McAllister, a 2016 Helen Hayes Award winner in Ford Theatre’s Ragtime, perfectly plays the stiff, cold, demanding tycoon in need of adopting Annie to soften his thick-skinned image.

Mr. McAllister’s opera-quality baritone is simply magnificent and shines particularly in the tear-inducing “Something Was Missing” where he tells Annie how much he loves her.

Rachel Zampelli, a seasoned performer who is well-known in DC-area theatre from portraying Eva in Evita at Olney, romps through her role as the villainous Miss Hannigan.  When the matron of the orphanage is not berating the children and forces them to tell her they love her, she is hitting the bottle and hits on just about any male who comes to the door.  She teases the children by telling them “no hot mush today” to which they cheer and celebrate only to find out she will be serving cold mush instead.  You get the picture.

Ms. Zampelli’s comedic skills are showcased with impeccable timing, facial expressions and body language throughout.  Her clear soprano voice also scores high marks in “Little Girls” and a reprise of “Easy Street” with Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Rooster, Miss Hannigan’s brother, and Dani Stoller as Lily, Rooster’s “hen” you can say.

Dani Stoller, Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Rachel Zampelli
Photo: Stan Barouh

Mr. Heredia, a 1996 Tony Award winner as well as the recipient of other honors for his role as Angel in Rent, is effective as the conniving Rooster, a small-time crook and ex-con. He along with Lily devises a plan to swindle Warbucks’ $50,000 reward by impersonating Annie’s parents, but to no avail.  The trio’s work in the number “Easy Street” is sterling.

Lovely Patricia Hurley does a fine job as Grace Farrell, Warbucks’ devoted secretary who had taken an immediate liking to Annie. Her vocals shine in “Annie” and in the group number “I Don’t Need Anything But You.”

Other standouts in the large cast include Karl Kippola as Warbucks’ butler Drake; Rob McQuay as FDR; Alan Naylor as Bert Healy, a radio announcer who broadcast Annie’s search for her parents; and Emily Madden, Julia Lancione and Ashleigh King as the Boylan Sisters who appear on Healy’s radio show.

The remainder of the cast is outstanding and in particular, the young girls who play Annie’s orphan friends on a rotating basis.  And let’s not forget the trained pooch which plays Sandy, also alternately.

The entire ensemble is attired in exceptional period costumes designed by Seth M. Gilbert. Daniel Ettinger’s scenic design is well constructed with drop-down scenery and moveable set pieces seamlessly transforming the multitude of scene changes to include a dingy, Depression-produced “Hoovertown” locale, to Warbucks’ great room in his mansion, to the Oval Office in the White House. 

Sarah Tundermann’s lighting design and Roc Lee’s sound design cap off a terrific effort by the technical crew.

Annie hasn’t lost her magic over the past 40 years.  The timeless feel-good story with memorable music and choreography couldn’t come at a better time.  Under Jason King Jones’ direction, the exceptional cast and crew at Olney did justice to the classic Broadway smash.  Annie should not be missed.  

Get your tickets—tomorrow.  Bet your bottom dollar you’ll enjoy it.

Running time. Two hours and 30 minutes with an intermission.

Annie runs through December 31 at the Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832. Tickets may be purchased by calling 301-924-3400 or by visiting online .

Hold off on Impeachment

The latest attempt is ill-timed and ill-advised.

Six Democrats on November 15 signed a resolution to introduce five articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. According to Politico, They “charge that Trump obstructed justice when he fired FBI Director James Comey; that he has violated the Constitution’s emoluments clause by continuing to frequent and profit from his businesses; and that he has undermined the federal judiciary and freedom of the press.”  #hocopolitics

A Republican House Judiciary Committee aide said in response, “Under the Constitution, impeachment is an extraordinary remedy to remove certain elected officials from office who have committed high crimes and misdemeanors. It’s the policy of the committee to consider impeachment articles if and when the constitutional criteria for impeachment exist.”

For those Democrats, this may have been a cathartic move for their constituents or the 40 percent of the country that would want to see the president impeached. 

Moreover, California billionaire and Democratic mega-donor Tom Steyer has launched an impeachment drive and is demanding that every Democratic candidate make impeachment the centerpiece of their 2018 campaign.

Trump “is a threat to the American people,” Steyer said last week in an interview with ABC News. “Why aren’t people willing to stand up and say that? I don't understand it.”

Democratic leadership has put the kibosh on that. “I’m not making [impeachment] a priority,” Pelosi told LA Times columnist Doyle McManus last week. “If you're going to go down the impeachment path, you have to know you can do it not in a partisan way.”

Democrats may want an impeachment effort to go forward but independents aren’t on board yet.  A Politico/Morning Consult Poll this month found that although 40 percent of voters believe the House should begin impeachment proceedings, 49 percent disagree.

While many in the country see Trump as unfit for office and a national embarrassment—his mental instability, incessant lying, lack of intellectual grasp of policy, unqualified appointments to the cabinet and judiciary, the nepotism in the administration, his affection for world despots especially Russian president Putin, his unhinged obsessions with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and, of course, his childish and his reckless tweets—the impeachment process must meet a high standard, and proponents of impeachment should systematically try to gain bi-partisan support for it to work. Pelosi is correct.

Democrats do not control either body of Congress, and while most Democrats and a good number of Republicans would prefer that Trump not remain in office, nothing will come of an impeachment effort now.  To be sure, Republicans are terrified of ticking off Trump’s base and would like nothing more than to avoid a Bannon-led primary to unseat them. Therefore, you can’t count on them.

If Democrats make impeachment the focus of their 2018 campaigns without offering a positive rationale for voters to support their own candidacies, all they will accomplish is bringing out the Trumpsters to the polls in droves as their loyalty to him though faltering slightly is still strong. It would accurately appear as a politically partisan effort.  This would compromise the Dems’ efforts to regain control of the House, if not the Senate.

The dilemma of whether to impeach or not to impeach should find a solution with the Robert Mueller probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, possible collusion with the Trump campaign to aid that effort, and obstruction of justice among other criminal charges to Trump’s associates and even his family members if not the president himself.

Mr. Mueller, one of the most highly respected (and feared) prosecutors in the country, is methodically building a case so strong that it will shake the world.  When the findings are revealed—and they will be damning—only then will bi-partisan impeachment and conviction by two-thirds of the Senate be probable because the country will demand it. 

Of course, if Trump finds a way to fire Mueller beforehand, that is an impeachable offense in its own right.