Key West Lou / HELLO DOLLY!

The Beatles hit the charts and dominated the #1 spot it seemed forever. Actually, not.

I Wanna Hold Your Hand became #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Held the #1 spot for 3.5 months. The Beatles so good it seemed like forever, however.

Few recall the song and performer who knocked the Beatles out of first place. Hello Dolly! as performed by Louis Armstrong. He was 63 at the time.

Dolly ran like forever on Broadway. Came back in several revivals. Various stars brought in to perform the title row.

I was fortunate to view Dolly twice on Broadway. Further lucky in that I watched Carol Channing and Bette Midler in the lead role.

I also was fortunate to catch Dolly one time in Key West. Carol Channing. Not in the Dolly role, though she did sing the song.

A long time ago. I was staying at the Sheraton Suites across from Smathers Beach. It had been a hot day on the beach for me. I was a glutton for the sun back then.

I decided to stay in and get to bed early.

Went downstairs for a drink first. The bar was an outside one. The area next to it was where people lay and sun bathed by day. The lounges had been removed and tables set up. Many tables, many people. Candle lights on each table.

Some sort of convention meeting.

The microphone to address the group was all of 5 feet away from me. The master of ceremonies addressed the group a bit. And then introduced the entertainment for the evening. Carol Channing!

I was close enough that if I took a step or two I could touch her.

The evening was magic. She sang everything. Chatted in between songs. Closed with Hello Dolly!

The Republican Party has many faces this year. Most bad. An embarrassment to what Republicans used to be, an embarrassment to good people.

Four examples.

The new duet apparently intending to tour the U.S. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Both Congresspersons. One waiting to be charged for having sex with a 17 year old and some other matters. The other ostracized and removed from all House seats.

Both whacks.

They are on a tour described as “America First.” Its first appearance this past week at the Villages in Florida. The Villages is referred to as the Disney World for Retirees. All senior citizens. Ninety five percent Trump Republicans.

The Gaetz/Greene rally has been described as a Trump rally without Trump.

Gaetz and Greene’s statements were as expected: “Incendiary and violent.”

Now comes Steve Bannon and Roger Stone. Whores/horrors in their own right.

Back when, Bannon said he “believed Trump was suffering from early stage dementia and he should be removed from office.”

Roger Stone in an interview this past weekend retaliated on Trump’s behalf. The retaliation coming several years after Bannon accused Trump of having alzheimers.

Recall Stone was ether pardoned or had his sentenced commuted immediately before Trump left office. Stone’s golden words: He called Bannon a “fat disheveled load of shit and an informant for Robert Mueller.”

These four shamefully are the face of the republicans Party today. There are many more similar in composition and nature. Most crazies and liars. The real conservative Republican of yesteryear are few. Replaced by Trump stalwarts.

A disappointing work report this past week.

Why? I suspect three reasons.

Many have been out of work a year or more. Learned they can live on less. They have become accustomed to not working. Playing golf, laying around the house, etc. the better life.

Then there are the stimulus checks. Especially those that will continue providing checks for one year to those who have children. Better to stay home and make babies than going to work. More fun, also.

Finally there are those that are just plain lazy. They who avoid work for any reason.

The battle between Germany and Russia in World War II was extremely destructive. It was based on philosophical viewpoints. It had its beginnings even before World War II.

Russia defeated Germany in World War II.. On May 9, Russia celebrated the victory on the 76th universality of the end of World War II in Europe.

The day significant to the Russian people. It is celebrated every May 9 with a military parade in Moscow’s Red Square.

Putin spoke. He said Nazi ideas persist. We must “remain strong.”

It confuses me that Putin points the finger at Germany. Why not the U.S. or Britain or France? I fail to understand.

Enjoy your day!

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