~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL
UPDATE: Instead of hijacking Memorial Day, Trump has succeeded in hijacking the 4th of July, 2019. This post seems very appropriate now.
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In a supremely patriotic gesture, Donald J. Trump has decided America needs a military parade.
Notwithstanding the fact that the government is pretty much broke and now has a burgeoning deficit thanks to Trump and the GOP and that many critical government departments are withering away along with critical programs needed for the health and safety of the country, the parade is being carefully planned to celebrate America’s might.
Critics suggest that this extravaganza to feed Trump’s infantile love of a military that he never served in is a waste of money. That being said, the Pentagon has always been very good at wasting money on its own. Now, the Pentagon and Trump are teaming up for the mother of all examples of wasteful spending.
Who can forget the famous Reagan-era scandal about wasteful spending by our military? President Reagan put on his “outrage” performance at the time, as reported by the New York Times:
Dept. of Hundred-Dollar Toilet Seats
Special to the New York Times Published: February 18, 1986
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17— Disclosures about the Defense Department paying hundreds of dollars for a hammer and hundreds more for a toilet seat have infuriated President Reagan, who has called the reports a ”constant drumbeat of propaganda” and not typical of the way the Government operates.
But that ”propaganda,” the President apparently forgot or did not know, originated with a commission on governmental efficiency for which he has been full of praise, the Grace Commission. (more)
By January, 1987 the story was so big that cartoonist Herblock produced a cartoon commentary about military spending that included a depiction of Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger with a toilet seat (tagged at $640) hanging around his neck. This cartoon, along with others, was featured in a Library of Congress exhibit in 2000 entitled “Herblock’s History – Political Cartoons from the Crash to the Millennium–
Invasion of the corporate body snatchers.” Herblock’s History
“Our bags are packed” — Weinberger on Star Wars program
Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger was a strong advocate of increased arms spending, including the proposed anti-missile missile program, known as “Star Wars.” The $640 toilet seat collar on Weinberger became a Herb Block fixture after disclosures of Pentagon purchases of $435 hammers, $466 socket wrenches, $600 ashtrays and $2,043 wing nuts.
“Our bags are packed”–Weinberger on Star Wars program, January 25, 1987. Ink, crayon, porous point pen, opaque white, and overlays over blue pencil underdrawing on paper. Published in the Washington Post (101) LC-USZ62-126882
So, it is apparent that Trump is paying homage to that great era of military history by planning his own military parade. And, of course, not only is it being done to please him, it will be ABOUT him.
So, in addition to trotting out a full display of our military armaments and troops by the thousands, a very special addition will be a contingent of toilet seats, harkening back to the great toilet seat scandal of 1986. And, as a special touch, some of the seats will be designed to reflect the current President’s personal playground, Mar-a-Lago.
Official Commemorative Mar-a-Lago Toilet Seat
A separate contingent of marchers will pay homage to the environment and will feature dolphins, who, along with whales and other sea life, are being harmed by U.S. Navy sonar.
Sea Life Affected by U.S. Navy Sonar
But, there WILL be toilet seats that convey the history of our military, specifically the burnished-wood rifle musket and gun stocks that our brave soldiers used during the American Revolution well and into the 20th century. This tasteful display of respect to all our heroes will be represented by wooden seats in rich, cherry tones.
Cherry-toned Toilet Seats Will Honor Soldiers of the Past
So, as the parade marches by, keep your eyes peeled for the very special marchers with toilet seats. Some might be carrying them, some may be wearing them around their necks so they can swing their arms in good march time. And, somewhere, President Reagan and Caspar Weinberger will cheering them on…along with Trump.
Filed under: Current Politics | Tagged: $640 toilet seats, 1986 toilet seat scandal, American military might, cherrywood toilet seat, Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, dolphins and whales affected by U.S. Navy sonar, GOP deficits, Herb Block, Herblock, Herblock's History-Political Cartoons from the Crash to the Millennium--Invasion of the corporate body snatchers, Library of Congress Herblock exhitbit 2000, Mar-a-Lago toilet seat, military spending, patriotism, Pennsylvania Avenue Washington D.C., Pentagon, President Donald J. Trump, President Ronald Reagan, tanks, The American Revolution, Trump military parade, U.S. Navy Sonar, U.S. soldiers, wood gun stocks, wood muskets | Leave a comment »
InsightAnalytical -- Watching Our World 
