by Kyle K Mann
Gonzo Today Publisher and Contributing Editor
August 23, 2024: on the day after the Democratic National Convention, the U.S. news cycle is dominated by independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy’s suspension of his campaign and endorsement of Trump.
It’s stunning news, all right. The name Kennedy has been synonymous with the Democratic Party since the 50s and 60s.
Right now I’m watching a Trump political rally. RFK Jr. is standing with Trump at the podium, as Trump announces his intention to create an assassination investigation committee, and to release the remaining JFK assassination records… and Trump has now invited him to speak. I’m viewing it with amazement. I’ll have to stop writing. …
Well, that was an interesting speech that reflects the depth of regret RFK Jr. has for having literally been driven into Trump’s arms.
But the Democrats deserve this. They gamed the ballot process so that RFK Jr. was not allowed to be on the ballot in New York State. That ain’t democracy.
No I’m not voting for Trump, for a whole lotta reasons. Both candidates, all four actually if we include the Vice Presidential candidates, sicken me more deeply than I can write. It’s disgust beyond description. It’s horror, nausea, the emotion of revulsion magnified to unspeakability.
Now keep in mind, I’m pro-women’s rights when it comes to a spectrum of items including abortion. Fracking? No way I support that. “Drill baby drill?” Ugh! Endless support of Israel in Gaza? Argh! Guns? Never owned one or even shot one, so I have no issue with banning assault weapons and tightening requirements for “normal” guns. Extrajudicial killing, as in Trump’s first term? That’s murder, dude.
But the Democrats scare the shit outta me.
*****
At that point I got in the car and drove to the nearby market for chocolate. Back home, I wolfed down a big bar of Tony’s Chocolonely. As I feared, it didn’t help. My tolerance is too high, and the phenethylamine wasn’t enough to elevate my deep dark mood. Grrr!
The sight of Trump and RFK Jr. hugging onstage in front of a packed auditorium of screaming fans had given me a strong jolt. And him referring to Trump as “President Trump,” which is a technically correct way to refer to an ex-President… but still, it reminded me of Bill Paxton in Aliens saying “Game over, man, game over!” (This being after the aliens had destroyed the humans dropship, their only way off the planet.)
It wasn’t too long ago that my online publication Gonzo Today had written, via Editor-in-Chief Kidman J. Williams, an article suggesting the RFK Jr. was the most logical choice for President. Admittedly, it was before Bumbling Biden was forced out, but, nevertheless…
Agitated, and knowing this was a Gonzo Moment, I put on my boots and walked two blocks to the Clinton Street Pub and ordered a Kettle One Bloody Mary. So, here I am, having unsuccessfully pitched management to put in a small stage for music, about two thirds done with this beverage. Alcohol works, doesn’t it?
Headlines on my iPhone as of 10:15 PM, Friday, August 23:
CBS News: RFK Jr. endorses Trump and suspends presidential campaign
CNN: RFK Jr. suspends presidential campaign and endorses Trump
BBC: Robert F Kennedy suspends campaign and backs Trump
Fox News: Independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy, Jr. suspends campaign
The Hill: Kennedy siblings rip RFK Jr. for endorsing Trump: ‘A betrayal’ of family values
… and to me the most interesting –
The Guardian: Trump accepts RFK Jr. endorsement and vows to release JFK assassination file
…to which I say, woah! Yeah, I mentioned it earlier. But the JFK assassination in a headline!
This is undoubtedly the most Gonzo aspect of all. JFK.
*****
At that point I became engaged in conversation with an interesting couple, and stopped writing, which was really a relief. I mean, who am I writing this to? And why? For what? It’s not for money. It’s not for love. It’s from some bizarre sense of “mission” – haha, an “emission” – it’s arguably mania. Mania.
Here I am, it’s my 73rd birthday, and I’m in a bar in Portland writing to you, a reader. Well, thanks. You got this far, didn’t ya. So, I’m listening to “Minute by Minute” by the Doobie Brothers. Quite a tune, actually. Michael McDonald, a seriously grand singer/songwriter. I’ve got my work cut out for me.
Because that’s my real identity. Singer/Songwriter. Yeah, I play guitar and harmonica. I can fake keys with recording equipment. Ok a case can be made I’m just a harp player. There are better, technically. But for feel, I’m as good on blues harp as it gets, as far as I’ve heard to date.
Rambling off topic, eh whot? “Love Will Keep Us Together” on the bar speakers. Captain and Tennile I believe. That was our song in 1975 before you stabbed me in the back you bitch. Wow, really digging up old hurts. Way off topic. Somehow seems more important than current politics. Booze will do that to ya. “Rosebud” – get the reference?
Feel like lashing out.
It’s the booze, a dubious substance that I still don’t understand. It’s like Red Kryptonite in Superman comics. It was unpredictable, wouldn’t kill him, just couldn’t tell what would happen next. Just like now.
I’m old. 73, it’s old. Yet here I am, still feeling like I just saw the Doors or just took acid. I mean, what the fuck. Here I am, three drinks in, writing with tears streaming down my cheeks. Pathetic but very real.
Which brings us back to RFK Jr. – Dude strikes me as real. The issue of censorship, which he mentioned… The Dems embrace censorship. To me, a publisher, the censorship is the ultimate red line.
But I hope that phony bitch Harris, who put thousands of pot users in California in jail… in jail! …loses.
Ugh. “Mornin’ ” by Al Jarreau. Makes me think of you, your rejection of me, my whole life. Fuck you Catherine. I reject you, everything you stand for. I was an idiot to fall for you. Look at the goons you went for. Ugh ugh ugh.
I’m damaged. I need a new life. I need a sane land. I need meaning.
Yet here I am, typing in an insane land.
It’s August 24, 2024. Here I am, feeling inane and insane. Useless. Hopeless.
And yet… not. No there’s something important happening here. Like booze, I don’t know what it is. RFK Jr. – Sir, you got hurt, and I relate. The Dems suck. They sink of rotten fish. Take that anyway you want. Trump is evil, but I don’t wanna hear The Kackkala for four years.
And there you go. You want Gonzo? That’s as Gonzo as I go. Unless I have that 4th drink.
But not tonight. I say again: Nobody for President, because Nobody represents me.
Kyle K. Mann
Portland OR
August 24, 2024
