retrograde

Brett's confirmation in the dark of night
comes with a somber robe, fresh off the rack.
But this one has no hood, like his dear white;
he thinks he's incognito, swathed in black.
An undistinguished judge, but for his youth,
may linger thirty years on that high bench
habitually plays games with the truth
and trusts that no one harkens to a wench.
Hard-drinking Southern boy in the grand style--
McKinley might have chosen such a one.
This snarling, unenlightened font of bile
now serves for life, regardless what he's done.
November's midterms loom, but come too late;
our daughters watch us gaming with their fate.

privileged loser

Trump countermands McGahn, says there're no bounds
on what the FBI investigates.
The Senate gets to hear what can be found
before Brett Kavanaugh can learn his fate.
Anita Hill strode forth, and said aloud
the man Bush nominated was obscene.
She got ignored, but held her head up, proud
of speaking truth to the OldMan machine.
Four women, this time 'round, cannot forget
the beer-slick frat floors and the way he stunk.
They risk opprobrium confronting Brett
to spare our High Court from this snarling drunk.
McConnell draws his head back in the mud
one more Trump nominee looks like a dud.

without representation

McMorris Rodgers lives in Washington
but not the state--she only knows D.C.
and how the yucky sausage-making's done
but not what citizens believe, and need.
Three independent branches was the plan
but Congress shirked its rightful given role.
This government's in orbit of one man
a tyrant wielding absolute control.
She stokes Trump's politics of baseless rage
at immigrants, contemptuous of facts.
But votes against our cries or living wage,
deluded by the Norquist war on tax.
A woman bought and paid by Management
contemptuously scorns constituents.

plutocracy

Jeff Bezos bought WholeFoods, and raised the wage
'though prices there remain way out of whack.
He's not insensitive to shoppers' rage;
this billionaire, at least, gives something back.
Melinda Gates convinced her loving nerd
to join with Warren Buffet, doing good.
Inheriting such wealth would be absurd
if they're to raise a son, and not a pig.
But Murdochs, Mercers, Adelsons...adore
pursuit of Lucre like it's its own end.
Like Jonny Rocco, so intent on "more"
they'll leave a legacy, but not a friend.
Democracy, or Mammon's ours to choose.
as Madison's republic's ours to lose.

uninformed consent

The FBI pretends to ask around
to reassure the Senate Kavanaugh
won't trip on other corpses no one's found;
he only needs to clear the bar they saw.
His schoolmates volunteer to testify
but agents don't return their urgent calls.
They've got their orders; only a blind eye
regards this evidence, although it galls.
"Consent's" a farce if it's not based on facts
this FBI's been ordered not to see.
Trump's DoJ talks big, but then it acts
indifferent to arrant perjury.
'Til patriots take arms, and seize the streets
McConnell's proud to go on stealing seats.

Blue wall

Progressives claimed Wisconsin for their base
the lab of Franklin Roosevelt's NewDeal,
'til Kochs backed Walker in the StateHouse race;
what can't be bought, they're not too proud to steal.
Norwegian farmers built a welfare state
where abolitionists formed ranks for war
to keep the Union whole, and free, and great
where none'd go hungry while the Few grabbed more.
Since CitizensUnited, donors rule
dictating how the rest of us should live.
This governor's the capitalists' tool
returns are thousand-fold on what they give.
When Hillary's campaign gave it a pass,
the Badger State was handed to the Ass.

impartiality

The Powell memo advocating war
between the Classes came to light too late.
Had senators known what he thought before,
the Right's agenda might have had to wait.
Collective rights of Labor to be heard
when Management possesses all the tools
depend on how courts understand each word;
their special pow'r's interpreting our rules.
Now, Kavanaugh's proposed for Powell's bench
his writing have been hidden from our sight.
He snarls to think some academic wench
should drag his sordid past into the light.
Who vets Trump's nominees? Roy Moore's own clerks??
They seem--consistently--to go for jerks.