What a splendid week we have had, so far, close to the shores of the majestic gray-and-brown Potomac as the tropical storm with the unpronounceable name swept up the coast. We were just far enough that only the rains came to us, though millions bore a more difficult brunt of the storm. We had no damage at the Refuge Farm, and can go back to modified panic about a plague that appear to be dying. Or killing us. I will have to leave that to the medical professionals, or the fact checkers at Twitter who presume to be equal experts on all sorts of stuff.

I told you I was not going to go crazy with the complexities of an election season conducted differently in fifty states. I am going to shake up some more popcorn and watch the fun. My favorite jolt this morning was the grim news that if the mail-in confusion on votes is the train wreck I expect, there is the real possibility that there will be no elected President come inauguration day in January of 2021. There is some muttering that such a turn of events will leave us with Madam Pelosi, Speaker of the House and number three in the succession to the highest office, will become (at least) an interim Chief Executive.

Did I tell you this was going to be fun, or what?

All the rest of the stuff on my postcard is happening in real life. But of course, that is only what they tell us. To fill it in a bit, there is more on the agenda that could tip our chaotic national landscape. Naturally, as an avid post card sender, I am on high alert for real new news that provides context to the stories a few days old- and of course to tie events, seen and unseen, into what might reflected in new opportunities to compete for Federal money.

The massive blast in Beirut apparently was caused by careless welding near an abandoned shipload of ammonium nitrate, the action agent that destroyed the Federal Courthouse in Oklahoma City suggests port loading and security needs a massive fix.

Compared to public posturing, China may be facing food shortage, and worse, the impending collapse of the Three Gorges dam which could flood much of the newly constructed manufacturing capability.

Russia is relying on petro-exports to survive and demand is in the tank. A new submarine added to the inventory to carry a new gee-whiz cruise missile is actually 28 years old. Military posturing in the sky with bold fighter jets is deception masquerading as might.

Iran may have crippled port operations in Bandar Abbas with the sinking of an aircraft carrier-sized target. It wasn’t where it was supposed to be and it is unknown if the Iranians can do much about it.

Our own nation has tossed three trillion bucks at a public health emergency that benefits the Kennedy Center, among other eligible recipients of relief, and our Congress swears it will only need a few more trillion to solve all our problems. Hahaha!

The only way to take all this is in the spirit of good fun. Having a wonderful time in The Swamp. There is nothing like it! Wish you were here!

Copyright 2020 Vic Socotra
http://www.vicsocotra.com