Outrage

There’s no decorum or respect Within the White House walls And cameras let us witness Some behavior that appalls. Invite a foreign dignitary Then berate, insult, accuse – That’s the playbook for a bully Desperate to be in the news. Why would any other country, After seeing that display, Send a leader, knowing he or she’d Be treated in that way? Every day brings more examples Of outrageousness and shock Which, at one time, simply seemed like Acts of bluster we would mock. But the stakes have gotten higher And if all the guardrails fail, Someday writing such a poem just might Have me end up in jail.

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Kim Rodrigues

Date: 3/12/2025 5:05:00 AM

Congrats on POTD! Yes, we were shocked and how interesting to see politics out in the open. How many shocking things have happened over the years behind closed doors. Politics is not all neat and tidy.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 3/4/2025 10:20:00 AM

You have made an interesting point here: Nothing Trump does shocks people any longer. He's lost his 'shock effect!' Congrats on POTD. ~ Gershon

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 5:02:00 PM

thank you, gershon, but i think this display did shock many. usually this kind of confrontation would be behind closed doors, but it seems that our president just can't get enough publicity...

Nancy Kaufman

Date: 3/3/2025 6:09:00 AM

Dear Ilene, Congratulations on the honor of POTD and it makes me happy to see so many others speaking out. I'm sure this would have been POTW if it was posted on Friday, instead of Saturday. Your feelings echo so many. Enjoy your honor.

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 5:01:00 PM

thank you, nancy! i am honored indeed and very gratified to know that so many others share my outrage...

Daniel Henry Rodgers

Date: 3/3/2025 5:55:00 AM

Dear Ilene, Wow, your voice is powerful, your pen fearless. I felt the words strike with clarity and truth, a reflection of these turbulent times. Your thoughts carry weight, and I admire the courage behind them. POTD is so well-earned, keep speaking, keep writing, keep shining! Spring Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 5:00:00 PM

thank you very much, daniel! i'm always in awe of writers in dictatorships who continue to express their thoughts despite the consequences, but i never thought it might happen here. now i'm no longer so sure...

thriveni c mysore

Date: 3/2/2025 9:18:00 PM

Congratulations on POTD honor dear poet. There is a huge impact of this on kids too. a new order shown, a new stickleback rulebook for others to follow soon. powerful write dear poet, powerful.

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:58:00 PM

thank you very much, thrivenic! (is that right? sorry if not). i was an intermediate school teacher and would never have allowed that kind of behavior in my classroom. what an awful role model we have in the white house. appalling!

Terry Flood

Date: 3/2/2025 3:53:00 PM

That whole scene was appalling, Ilene. I sincerely believe it was choreographed. Trump and his bulldogs showed themselves to be little more than back street brawlers. Still… it gave us your depiction in rhyme, so every cloud…..

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:56:00 PM

ha! as much as i love being considered the silver lining, terry, i'd give that up to be able to erase that whole exchange from everyone's memory. what a horror show! and i totally agree that it was orchestrated with an audience in mind...

Terry Flood
Date: 3/2/2025 3:56:00 PM

Apologies, Ilene. Hadn’t seen that this is POTD. Most worthy. Big congratulations. Terry

Ken Rone

Date: 3/2/2025 1:25:00 PM

Thanks Eileen. "If I don't die crying, it because that I have got no eyes." C'mon Eileen, how do you really feel. A timely piece worthy of POTD. Best - Ken

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:54:00 PM

ha! guess i can't hide my feelings about this even a tiny bit. thanks for dropping by, ken...

Jan Allison

Date: 3/2/2025 11:07:00 AM

Dropping back with many congrats on POTD Ilene:-) hugs Jan xx

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:53:00 PM

thank you so much, jan! hugs!

Jim Slaughter

Date: 3/2/2025 10:55:00 AM

Right on, Ilene! Then maybe you can add "political dissident" to your list of lifetime achievements. I can't wait to see/hear what DT has to say during his congressional address on Tuesday night. And congrats on POTD, BTW.

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:53:00 PM

thank you, jim! i did not listen to the address - i cringe just hearing his voice - but wish there were a few more cabinet members who still had a spine. doesn't appear to be the case, though...

Zyrool Gifford

Date: 3/2/2025 10:22:00 AM

Hello Ilene, Congratulations on your POTD win, with this amazing write. The scene was shocking. Have a peaceful day, my friend.

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:51:00 PM

thank you, zyrool! i'm glad to know that so many people were truly shocked. i wish there were even more...

Robert Gorelick

Date: 3/2/2025 9:14:00 AM

Ilene, Congratulations on your POTD! You never know, surely you've heard the analogy of the frog slowly boiling in the water pot, he doesn't realize he'll soon be cooked! It's what happens in authoritarian society. All my best, Robert

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:50:00 PM

thank you, robert! i hope that turns out to be true in our country, which is becoming more authoritarian by the minute...

Gershon Wolf

Date: 3/2/2025 8:47:00 AM

Ilene, I think ICE has tons more work to do before the POTUS turns his attention to native-born poets. ... As for me, it's been a while since we've seen Presidents who treat foreign dignitaries with true respect -- as opposed to either the obsequiousness of Obama and Biden or the no-shades-of-gray attitude of Trump. ~ gw

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:49:00 PM

gershon - we do not usually get to see the interactions between leaders (and it's probably better that way!), but i doubt if any "leader" before this has ever been so disrespectful and outright nasty...

I Am Anaya

Date: 3/2/2025 8:01:00 AM

Congratulations on POTD!! Ukraine was corrupt and not on the fast trac to join NATO, but in '94 giving up their nuclear arsenal in exchange for a guaranteed protection against Russia. ~Have a nice day!

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:46:00 PM

thank you, anaya! i appreciate you reaching out...

I Am Anaya

Date: 3/2/2025 7:47:00 AM

I am relieved that Zelensky did NOT sign the deal.The time it takes to dig for minerals can take decades to extract, by then it’s Putin’s the way this is going, (Trump handing Ukraine over to him). Appalling display dictated for “Great T.V.” no sympathy for a desperate leader in war, on a death list, and pleading an American idgit Pres. for security who treated him like a thug, and slammed for wearing war attire. "They just don't want to see crazy stuff"—Obama. <--concerning the left. Works for the right as well.

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:48:00 PM

yes, i think the fact that it was televised (not zelensky's choice, i'm sure!) made it so much worse. it seemed like such a set-up that saturday night live did a wonderful spoof of it...

Evelyn Judy Buehler

Date: 3/2/2025 7:46:00 AM

Heartfelt congratulations on POTD, with this powerful poem, Ilene. Such bullying behavior is unworthy of anyone, politician or not. Very best wishes, Evelyn

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:45:00 PM

thank you, evelyn! all bullies deserve to be taken down, but it seems that some just keep getting away with it...

Lin Lane

Date: 3/2/2025 7:16:00 AM

It’s great to see so many in agreement with your correct assessment of the current political debacle in America. Trump wanted to drain the swamp in his first ill-fated term. In this one he’s drowning our country in it and making enemies of the entire world. Congratulations on potd, Ilene.

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:44:00 PM

thanks, lin! yes, it feels very good to know there are many of us who can see how awful the situation is. as far as what we can do about it, well, that's another story...

Benjamin Bartley

Date: 3/2/2025 6:33:00 AM

No Jailing poets! Free the Poets! Certainly, something to think about. Congrats on your POTD. Thanks for sharing!

Benjamin Bartley
Date: 3/10/2025 10:52:00 AM

We'll be neighbors behind bars more likely.

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:43:00 PM

thank you, benjamin! i hope you'll stand outside and protest when i'm locked up (which isn't as far-fetched as it sounds)...

Janice Canerdy

Date: 3/2/2025 5:45:00 AM

YES, POTD!!! Ilene, you have SO well expressed what's going on. I suppose Zelensky hasn't kissed Trump's_____ enough to suit our megalomaniac leader! I could go on and on . . . ! Janice

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:42:00 PM

thank you, janice! i couldn't even watch the whole thing, but saw enough of it to feel furious, ashamed, scared and sad all rolled into one...

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib

Date: 3/2/2025 5:34:00 AM

Outrageous indeed. Such single and short minded bullies. How deliberately forgotten that Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal in the name of world peace and USA’s commitment to maintaining it. They are Putin’s boys now, Zelenskyy the only man in attendance. A1 POTD xomo!

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:40:00 PM

much appreciated, maureen! it was an embarrassment for all decent human beings, no matter where they live...

Tania Kitchin

Date: 3/2/2025 5:23:00 AM

Ilene, a powerful poem, I was outraged by the whole scene with Trump and Vance. Congratulations on POTD.

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:39:00 PM

thank you, tania! it should never have been televised. i think that just gave those two a platform they couldn't resist...

Unseeking Seeker

Date: 3/2/2025 2:57:00 AM

Well said, it is disgraceful

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:38:00 PM

thank you, seeker! it's hard to imagine that anyone would think otherwise, but that seems to be the case in our country...

Karen Jones

Date: 3/2/2025 2:35:00 AM

Poignant poem and on point! Love your view and agree wholeheartedly! Times like these it is important to write despite danger! History will remember us well! Congratulations on potd! A fav for me!

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:37:00 PM

much appreciated, karen! it's heartening to know that there are many soupers who agree...

Keith D Trestrail

Date: 3/2/2025 2:06:00 AM

Lol! I don’t know where to start but I wonder why he flew all the way to Washington to sign a deal that all parties had agreed to days before and refused to sign? It was just a minerals agreement, not a guarantee of security or terms for a peace deal. If Europe and Biden weren’t so weak Trump wouldn’t have to fix this mess. Congrats on your POTD.

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:36:00 PM

thank you for your congrats, keith...

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 3/2/2025 1:52:00 AM

- Congratulations on your p.o.t.d., Ilene :) - hugs

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:36:00 PM

thank you, anne-lise! hugs back to you...

Tom Cunningham

Date: 3/2/2025 1:01:00 AM

Back with big congratulations to you Ilene, a well deserved honour of POTD. Tom

Ilene Bauer
Date: 3/9/2025 4:35:00 PM

thanks, tom! i was pretty surprised, but am glad to be able to express some of what i've been feeling and have it acknowledged...