Climate Change anyone?

The latest forecast for Hurricane Florence is predicting the monster storm will stall over the coast of North Carolina and dump up to 35 inches of rain in some areas.  After dropping this Biblical total the latest track shows it meandering down the coast of South Carolina and possibly making landfall at Savannah, Ga.   Of course, it's still early and the storm won't even approach the coast until tomorrow evening, but it sounds devastating.  Florence could potentially strengthen to a Category 5 storm before landfall, making it the first such storm in recorded history to strike the |US mainland this far north.  I think there are millions of climate change deniers in Florence's path who are about to have a change of heart regarding anthropomorphic driven changes in our weather patterns. 

The only thing tRump has to fear

Just kidding.  The Donald has lots of things to fear; flipping associates, the Russia investigation, money laundering charges, etc.  But the immediate threat to his popularity is the devastating investigation of the White House by Bob Woodward.  The reporter of Watergate fame is out there plugging his book on every media platform and is calling for America to wake up to the threat represented by Cheeto Jesus and the out of control executive branch.  The excerpts which have been published so far show an executive branch in panic mode.   Coupled with the anonymous op-ed in the NYT last week, it's a one-two punch which would probably lead to the resignation of anyone more self aware than the present occupant of the Oval Office.  One thing you can say about the *president;  he has elevated farce to an art form few could match.  Inspector Clouseau  would doff his cap in homage.

Homestretches

It's that time of the season.  The leaves are turning colors, the summer vegetables are starting to wane, the Yankees are competing for the pennant and the Giants look like they want another high draft pick again this year.  Despite knowing better, I made one last planting of spinach on Saturday.  Hopefully it gets big enough to winter over and provide an early spring green.  The weather was dry over the weekend, but rain is promised later today through tonight so the fall veggies should get a boost.   Although the temps were in the low to mid 40s the past couple of nights, warmer weather is in the forecast, so even the late August plantings of spinach should mature in time for the farmers' market ends on Columbus Day weekend.   Asked about the gardening season by friends at the Battle of Plattsburgh festivities I said it was mostly positive, although on the dry side.  As with all things related to farming and gardening things could always be better! 

Old Dogs, old tricks

With the twin spectacles of the Kavanaugh hearings and the snipe hunt in the White House, the pundit class has plenty of fodder on which to chew.  As usual, it is all sound and fury, signifying nothing.   Despite Democrats' best efforts Kavanaugh is likely to be confirmed by the herd of sheep also known as the Senate republican caucus.  Rachel Maddow holds out some hope that Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins may bolt after the latest revelation that partisan hack Kavanaugh lied through his teeth to them by saying he believed Roe vs. Wade is settled law.  He forgot to mention he doesn't believe that when it comes to the Supreme Court deciding it!  Collins got rolled during the tax cut debate and will probably again express her belief that the nominee will do the right thing.  In this case it means thwarting or delaying progressive legislation for the next 30-40 years.  Meanwhile, at Camp Runamuck, the counselors are hiding under the furniture as the *president rants at their perfidy.  The comparison of The Donald to King Lear also comes to mind, but this administration leans more toward farce than tragedy at this point.   Also, their has to be some sympathy for the main character. 

More of the same

As if things couldn't get any worse for tRump and the GOP, now comes an "essay" from a probable appointee of the*president who was granted anonymity by the NYT to basically announce he was part of a babysitting cabal dedicated to curbing the worst excesses of The Donald.  This, of course, let to an extended rant by the *president and handwringing by the usual republican suspects.  The latest polls, which haven't even taken this latest fiasco into account show tRump's approval percentage in the mid 30s.  The Blue Wave is starting to look like a tsunami at this point, although it remains to be seen how much damage can still be done before some restraints are placed on this heedless, lawless mountebank.

Obsessing

"Fear", the new Bob Woodward book about the tRump *presidency is out and naturally, the left wing media is all over it.   It turns out Woodward mostly corroborates Michael Wolff's and Omarosa's tell all books about a White House in turmoil trying to restrain a chief executive most of his staff calls an idiot behind his back.   Woodward puts a sheen of respectability on these hot takes and despite denials from an obviously embarrassed staff, this latest reportage pretty much puts to rest any claims The Donald may make concerning his performance in office.  Being compared unfavorably to a fifth or sixth grader is probably an insult to 10 and 11 year olds.  The scary thing is this dolt inherited a good economy and decent relations with most countries and so far has done his best to screw the pooch.   The one crisis which could have benefitted from executive branch management, Hurricane Maria and it's devastation of Puerto Rico, was bungled from the get go and pretty much proves that tRump is very much not ready for prime time.  We can only hope we get through the next two years without anything else going wrong.

Same old

Laboring in the garden yesterday in 90 degree weather was curiously refreshing.   I sprayed for cabbage worm (organically) uprooted weeds, then watched as a thunderstorm undid most of that work without easing the chronic dryness which is stressing the later plantings of cole crops and spinach.  Altogether we received about .2 inch of rain which was almost worse than nothing.  The Divine Mrs. M believes farmers in general and myself in particular are inveterate complainers who would be unhappy no matter what weather conditions obtain.  I have to agree with her in most respects.  However, as I said, despite the hot weather and inadequate rainfall it was a good day overall.