Peter David's Blog, page 32

Final Thoughts on the Romani

So now that the dust of the convention has settled, I’ve had a good deal of time to assess my behavior regarding the Romani and my conduct during the convention. I’ve read many of the links that were sent my way and really thought about what I witnessed two decades ago back in Bucharest. And I’ve been assessing my actions during the panel that lead to all this.

After all that, I have to conclude that I’m ashamed of myself.

I want you to understand: when the Romani rep tried to shift the focus of the panel from gays and lesbians to the Romani, suddenly I was twenty years younger and the trauma of what I saw and what I was told slammed back through me. What screamed through my mind was, “Why should I give a damn about the Romani considering that the Bucharest Romani are crippling their children?” And I unleashed that anger upon the questioner, for no reason. None. There is no excuse.

But the more I’ve read, the more convinced I’ve become that what I saw was indeed examples, not of children crippled by parents, but children suffering from a genetic disorder. The pictures are simply too identical. I cannot come to any other reasonable conclusion.

And I’ve wracked my memory, but the more I do, the more I come up empty on recalling any examples of children with busted elbows or gouged eyes, even though my guide assured me that was the case. And of course Wikipedia didn’t exist two decades ago for me to check through his claims.

Did my guide lie to me? I don’t think so. Why would he? I think he genuinely believed it. I have no doubt he asked the same questions of his parents and they told him what they believed, what they were told, going back generations, because the Romani have been biased against for centuries.

Are the children in fact unabused? No, because I know what I saw with my own eyes regarding that dad and his son. Articles I’ve read and information I’ve been recently given indicate children are taught to beg or steal to gather money for drug abusers. The “lucky” ones are dumped in orphanages. And there is little to no help from the government in Romania because of prejudices against the Romani dating back centuries.

And what did I do? I helped, in some small way, to make matters worse. I have never felt more mortified.

Of course, to some degree, horrors that I witnessed and that have weighed on me for two decades are now gone. The kids’ lives are no doubt horrible, assuming they’re even still alive, but at least it didn’t happen because of what their parents did.

So I hereby apologize to every Romani that I offended with my comments.

Of course, I could apologize to the gentleman who I attacked. Which I did. Over the course of two days. Over Thursday and Friday I spent a LOT of time at my artist alley table talking with him, hearing him out, discussing how I could improve the portrayal of Romani in the pages of the comics that I write. But after all that, he then insisted I arrange a meeting with editorial at Marvel. I told him that that was beyond my power to do. I guess what it comes down to is, when you’ve done everything you can to make it up to someone you’ve wronged and they demand the impossible, then you just have to shrug and know that you’ve done your best.

Just as I’m sure that this apology will likewise not be enough for some people. But you do what you can.

So for what it’s worth, I will continue to treat Romani characters with respect, just as I have for twenty years with Quicksilver, and I again apologize to any Romani who I have offended because of my rash actions. And I also want to thank all the family, fans and friends of mine who have stepped in to defend me, knowing that I am no racist, but simply someone who feels passionately about things and sometimes opens his mouth when it would be better to keep it shut.

PAD

Yes I will be blogging the next debate

Right here.

9:00–Citizen questioners. This is going to be a train wreck. And this debate is going to be entirely about sex. Man, we’ve come a long way from the Lincoln Douglas debate.

9:01–Of course, Hillary must be prepared for this. There is no question in my mind of that. There is no way that she’s going to be caught off guard. The thing is, how is she going to handle it. She must have SOMEthing prepared. God, I hate this…but at the same time, you can’t look away, like a jackknifed tractor trailer.

9:03–This will be a new low no matter what.

9:04–HOW IN THE HELL CAN YOU NOT HAVE COMMITTED TO A CANDIDATE AT THIS POINT?!? JESUS CHRIST!!

9:05–They did not shake hands. I’m not surprised.

9:06–I like that she immediately asked if the questioner that was a teacher.

9:07–I can’t believe I’m saying it, but..I really like her outfit.

9:08–And he goes immediately to attack talking points rather than answer the question. He’s off and running. At least she addressed what she was asked.

9:10–Locker room talk. Jesus. I’ve been in plenty of locker rooms and I’ve never heard anyone talk like that. Quick! Deflect the question! Yup…he is. Drag in ISIS which has nothing to do with the question.

9:11–Yeah, he’s never done those things. And I’m positive that right now woman he has attacked/molested are grabbing their phones.

9:13–God, he looks like Alec Baldwin.

9:14–At least he’s not interrupting her.

9:15–It’s not just words. No one believes that for a second.

9:16–He knows he has zero support from blacks and Hispanics which is why he keeps mentioning them. And boy, the journalists are not backing off.

9:17–Here we go. She knew he was going to say this. She must be prepared.

9:18–He’s fighting to keep his voice flat and monotone. Hillary needs to send him off the rails.

9:20–So so far she’s not responding to his charges against Clinton and her. Interesting choice.

9:21–NO, CLINTON’S CAMPAIGN DID NOT START THE WHOLE BIRTHER THING.

9:22–So it’s gone from “Secretary Clinton” to “Hillary.” Well, she called him Bill, so it could be argued that she opened the door for that. Signing on with the devil? Seriously? So now she’s Satan? Boxes of emails? What the hell are boxes of emails? And now he says if he wins he’s going to prosecute her? Jesus Christ.

9:23–She needs to slap him down. She needs to slap him down as hard as she can.

9:24–Well, the Trump supporters must have loved the “you’d be in jail” line.

9:26–He’s shifting a lot. He can’t just stand and listen.

9:27–Why are they letting him just respond endlessly? He keeps using the word “liar” just trying to get it to stick.

9:27–Drinking game challenge warning: Do NOT drink every time he sniffs because you’ll suffer from alcohol poisoning.

9:29–He keeps trying to interrupt and they keep stopping him. Oh my God, one on three.

9:29–No, he is not a gentleman. That fools no one.

9:30–She’s handling the health care question quite well so far.

9:32–Great answer. Best so far.

9:32–The biggest expense? Bigger than the military? Can anyone check that?

9:33–Whoa, whoa. Is he nuts? Everything I’ve heard is that Canada’s medical care is the best. At least that’s what Canadians have said.

9:35–Dude, stop trying to dismiss Anderson Cooper out of hand. It’s not working and it’s just going to piss him off.

9:36–Cooper keeps trying to get him to answer questions and Trump keeps dodging or interrupting or complaining.

9:37–THAT’S A SHAME?!?! HE PROMOTES IT!!

9:38–What is he SNIFFING?!?

9:38–He’s completely off the rails. Why in the hell is everything regarding Muslims related to terrorism?

9:40–Yes. Yes. She’s nailing this one.

9:42–Oh my God. Oh my freaking God, he’s screwing himself to the floor.

9:42–They don’t interrupt her and demand she answer the question because she IS answering the question. That’s why, you jackass.

9:44–Why does he keep pacing? To upstage her?

9:48–Boy, that’s a loaded question.

9:49–Seems a reasonable explanation regarding what she said.

9:50–Kathleen may have to leave the room because her blood pressure is beginning to skyrocket.

9:52–Once again he tries to change the subject so that he doesn’t have to answer it.

9:52–Whoa whoa whoa. He pays hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes? I thought he boasted about how clever he was for NOT paying his taxes.

9:53–Okay, so…it’s Hillary Clinton’s fault that tax laws weren’t changed that he took advantage of? So his taking advantage of tax laws is HER fault? Is anyone else having trouble tracking that?

9:55–What’s the sniff count up to?

9:56–That MAYBE enabled him to avoid paying taxes. Remember, we still don’t know for sure.

9:58–So he finally flat out admits that he hasn’t paid taxes for 18 years. Outstanding.

9:58–I don’t give a shit about Hillary Clinton’s friends because THEY ARE NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

10:00–And of course he interrupts again and again and again.

10:02–Anyone know if this is 90 minutes or two hours?

10:02–My God, he will NOT SHUT UP.

10:06–He thinks nukes are the answers to everything. Yes, we’re old and tired–of listening to him.

10:07–WHOA that was a big sniff.

10:08–Someone cut his microphone.

10:08–Oooo she’s hurling Pence at him.

10:09–Wait, they HAVEN’T SPOKEN? Since THE DEBATE?! Good Christ, and some people were snarking on Clinton because she didn’t speak to Kaine until the following DAY.

10:10–Yes, she assumed he couldn’t think of it; that’s why she was citing some.

10:11–Clinton is trying not to break up.

10:11–“I’m going to go to Secretary Clinton”…for some sanity.

10:12–Next debate I’m going to keep track of the number of times he interrupts her.

10:13–Definitely, arm the Kurds. Give them whey.

10:14–For the record, no, she didn’t go over. Two minutes.

10:16–He’s running over.

10:17–I feel like she’s doing a better job connecting with the questioners in the place.

10:17–Also next time I’m actually going to time every single response to see who is going over.

10:19–But they ARE deplorables. That’s the problem. They really are. I mean, I’m sorry that they feel upset because she said that what they are makes them deplorable, but it really does.

10:20–Fast correction: She said “some” of them were irredeemable.

10:21–No, that IS what he said. Sex tape.

10:21–Cooper keeps desperately trying to get him to answer a single damned question.

10:27–No, he did NOT die recently, you idiot. It wasn’t recent at all. That’s the point.

10:27–Please, SOMEONE ask him how specifically Clinton has been attacking the 2nd Amendment.

10:28–And she flat out said she wasn’t against it. Not that his base will believe her, of course.

10:31–And then the Lollipop guild will come in to help.

10:31–By startling coincidence, he cites several of the swing states to praise.

10:32–So far this debate isn’t even close. Not only has she seemed far more presidential, but her answers were quite simply better, more detailed and more knowledgeable than his.

10:34–Ooooooo…

10:34–My God, what a BRILLIANT answer. That is the SINGLE best answer to a question I’ve heard tonight.

10:35–His response isn’t bad either.

10:37–Who would have thought this screw fest would end on a positive note.

Me and my big mouth

I should have kept my big mouth shut.

I am attending the New York Comic Con and was on a panel about gays in comic books (characters, not creators, although half of the panel was in fact gay.) Everything was going fine. We all chatted about the subject for forty five minutes and then we threw it open to the audience for questions. And that’s where it went off the rails.

The second person to speak then proceeded to do one of the things that I always tell people not to do: rather than ask a question, he began a rambling speech about the Romamni and the way they are portrayed in comics, and eventually got around to saying that he hoped we would strive to give the Romani a fair shake in our books.

Now if I had half a brain, what I would have said was:

“Well, as I recall, Quicksilver is Romani. And everyone hated him until X-Factor #87, and after that issue came out, everyone loved him. So I’m certainly doing my part.” And everyone would have applauded and we could have moved on to the next question.

But no.

Now trying to turn a discussion of LGBTQ concerns into a discussion of Romani concerns seemed dubious at best considering that the Romani law despises homosexuality. But that is a debate for another time.

The larger problem was that suddenly my mind flashed back to 1993, when I was in Romania, in Bucharest, for the filming of a movie there. I was being guided around and then I saw something. And I wrote about it back then, and I will reprint the pertinent section here:

We go into the department store, take the escalator to the third floor. As we pass the second, I can’t believe what I see.

A child, a girl, somewhere between five and eight years old, is following her mother, calling after her. Her skin is dark. She might have been beautiful, if given a chance.

She is on her knees. Walking on her knees.

Sort of.

Her legs don’t bend back. They are bent forward, at the knees.

Her body is teetering at about an 80 degree angle, like a Gumby or a collapsing marionette. She half-pulls, half-shuffles along, sliding on her calves.

My guide sees what I’ve spotted. His face is impassive.

“What the hell is wrong with her?” I whisper. Grasping at the only explanation I can, I say, “Chernobyl?”

“Gypsies,” he replies.

I don’t understand, and tell him so.

“You see a lot of gypsy children like that,” he explains. “When they’re a few months old, sometimes their parents break their knees or their elbows, or put out an eye. They figure it will help them make more money when they beg.”

I nod.

We are looking at chairs, but I’m picturing a child who looks like my eight-year-old daughter, walking on reversed knees, calves scraping along the floor making sounds like sandpaper. We are buying the chairs, but I’m picturing a baby who looks like the smiling one waiting for me at home, howling as a mallet or a sledge hammer or maybe a jagged rock shatters her joints.

We get the chairs, and go out a different exit. There’s another gypsy child, begging. A boy. His legs go the wrong way. I’m in a Stephen King novel and can’t close it. I take his picture from behind, unable to face him.

I buy a case of Coke for the cast, get back into the van, and almost break down.

I return to the set but am unable to remain. I can’t get into filming make believe. A number of off-duty cast members are going into town. I go with them.

We see no more Roger Corman-esque children. But there is one boy, begging, who is being yanked to his feet by his father, yelling at the boy and clearly prepared to cuff him because however much money he might have taken in to that point, it obviously wasn’t enough.

Clabe Hartley, who portrays our main villain, is watching. Clabe has a stone-cold dangerous stare. Clearly he’s considering whether or not to make a move. Clabe’s in terrific shape, versed in various fighting techniques; he could take the guy apart. The problem is that Clabe would wind up in jail, and the child would wind up in traction or on a slab when his father got through taking out his humiliation on the boy.

I’m not sure whether the father is aware Clabe is observing him. Perhaps he is, because abruptly he settles for yanking the boy to his feet and dragging him away. Clabe paces him for half a block, moving like a panther, still weighing options, before slowing and turning away.

There’s nothing he can do.

Nothing anyone can do.

All of that went through my brain and cold anger ripped through my head. I growled, “You really want to do this?” and suddenly the crowd got very quiet.

I related what I had seen twenty-plus years ago. As I spoke I became more and more furious, remembering it so vividly.

The guy tried to talk back, and I didn’t want to hear it. I said we were done talking about it. He kept trying to pursue it. And I blew my stack. Twenty years of remembering what I had seen bubbled over and I shouted at him that we were moving on to the next question.

People were visibly stunned. I had never gone off on a fan in thirty years of being a professional, and believe me, plenty had tried to provoke me. The panel then moved on and at the end I apologized to the audience for losing my temper.

It wasn’t enough, of course. The internet erupted. “Peter David goes off on racist rant!” Everyone expressed disapproval, scowled because I’d been upset.

I guess my question is:

Why are people angry that I got upset about the crippling of children?

Was I right to shout at the guy? Of course not. I don’t believe for a moment that he endorses the behavior. That’s why I apologized.

But am I sorry that the thought of what poor Romani are doing in Bucharest still upsets me to this day? Causes me to have such an angry, visceral reaction? Not for a second. The question shouldn’t be, Why did I get angry? The question should be, Why didn’t others get angry?

Do I believe Romani should be persecuted? Of course not. The way I’ve written Romani characters should make that obvious.

But this is the 21st century, and in the 21st century, you’re not allowed to form an opinion based upon things you’ve been told by people who live there, and things you’ve seen with your own eyes, and photographs you’ve taken. Apparently the only thing that matters is the sensitivities of activists, and if you take issue with actions that the people they represent have taken, then clearly there is something wrong with you.

Screw it. If people want to declare that I hate the Romani, fine. I’ll log that right in with Peter David hates Catholics (even though my wife and youngest daughter are Catholic, the latter about to celebrate her confirmation) and Peter David is anti-Semitic (even though I’m Jewish) and Peter David hates gays (that one’s my favorite because it broke during the exact same month that I got a GLAAD Media Award.)

And maybe in this case it might have some positive effect. Maybe it will prompt people to actually do some research and get into Bucharest and save these children from abusive parents who see them solely as a means of begging. Maybe something positive will come from it.

You tell me.

PAD

The VP Debate: Here we go.

9:01–Welcome to the VP debate, being held at a university I’ve never heard of, being fought between two guys whose names I keep forgetting.

9:02–And I’m watching on ABC where they just reported that more than 40% of Americans can’t remember the VP candidates’ names, so apparently I have company.

9:04–And I have never heard of the moderator, so at least I’m being consistent.

9:05–Crap. I’m not sure which one is which.

9:06–Aaaaand he’s not answering the question. Why can’t they EVER ANSWER THE DAMNED QUESTION?!

9:07–Just once I’d love to hear an opponent say, “He didn’t answer the question.” Ah, okay. Finally, he kind of responded. Sort of.

9:08–Didn’t need to launch an attack on Trump so early.

9:08–Aw, his grandfather immigrated here. And since we all know how much Trump loves immigrants, I’m sure he’d have been welcome by a Trump administration.

9:10–Believe me, if he gets elected, we’ll all be praying.

9:10–Why don’t people trust her? Because the GOP has been attacking her nonstop for a quarter of a century, that’s why. Pretty easy question.

9:11–Don’t bother attacking Trump. It’s not going to have any impact. His supporters adore him blindly.

9:12–Yes, the Middle East is spinning out of control, largely because of Bush’s actions that destabilized it. And the first interruptions go flying.

9:13–Seriously, dude? He’s accusing the Clinton campaign of insults, considering all the crap that Trump typically does.

9:15–Kaine seems to be getting the upper hand, listing Clinton’s positive accomplishments.

9:15–Oh thank God, she took charge.

9:16–So far this is insane. Two guys who keep interrupting each other, hurling talking points that we’ve already heard done to death.

9:17–But Obamacare IS a good start, you moron. Not that Trump has suggested any kind of improvement. He just says he’ll get rid of it immediately and substitute “something great” without any specifics.

9:19–“Do you want a you’re hired or you’re fired President.” Yeah, he just came up with that quip off the top of his head.

9:20–I wish Pence would stop shaking his head. He looks like a damned bobblehead.

9:21–No, Trump never actually promised to release his income taxes.

9:21–Crap, Pence pointed out what I just pointed out. Not sure how to feel about. And yes, it IS all working. Economy is up and there are more jobs.

9:22–Yes, he can roll out the numbers, because the numbers are relevant.

9:22–She’s keeping on him. I’m starting to like her. She’s acting like a reporter.

9:23–He’s continuing to avoid answering the question. Which really answers the question.

9:24–Oooo, Kaine is driving it home.

9:25–Yes, thank you, moderator, telling them to stop talking over each other.

9:27–I love it. Pence is trying to dodge his voting record and things that were in a book.

9:31–Marc Yturralde on his Facebook page says that Pence looks like a constipated Race Bannon. My God, he’s right. That should become a meme.

9:32–Wow, they actually agree on something. Ooop, no, now Pence is screwing up the moment of agreement and using it to attack Clinton. Seriously?

9:34–So much for her asking them not to interrupt each other.

9:35–Ah, so Pence has one black friend. How nice.

9:36–Boy, Pence is not only not answering her questions, he’s ignoring her repeated attempts to get him to respond.

9:37–Yes, Trump said all this, and his supporters still adore him. Which implies that they agree with him, which is even more frightening.

9:38–What in hell do those policies have to do with jobs? Oh, horrors, immigrants are coming into the United States and taking jobs Americans don’t want. And the problem with that is…?

9:39–Wait, the things that Kaine said were all quotes from Trump, you moron! And yes, half of his supporters ARE deplorable! I thought that was obvious!

9:41–No, Trump never apologizes. Another aspect of his campaign that the deplorables adore about him.

9:42–It’s not nonsense! They’ve said it!

9:45–Immigrants are criminals? Really? How about this: “5. Illegal immigrants bring crime.

Nationally, since 1994, the violent crime rate has declined 34% and the property crime rate has fallen 26%, even as the number of undocumented immigrants has doubled. According to the conservative Americas Majority Foundation, crime rates during the period 1999–2006 were lowest in states with the highest immigration growth rates. During that period the total crime rate fell 14% in the 19 top immigration states, compared to only 7% in the other 31. Truth is, foreign-born people in America — whether they are naturalized citizens, permanent residents, or undocumented — are incarcerated at a much lower rate than native-born Americans, according to the National Institute of Corrections.

You can find more at this website: Check it.

9:47–Why the hell does Kaine KEEP SHAKING HIS HEAD whenever Trump is quoted?!?

9:48–“See if you can defend any of it.” Yes, let’s hear it.

9:49–America is less safe? Really?

9:49–Really. See, I seem to recall that Isis rose up because Bush destabilized the region by killing Saddam Hussein. Meanwhile the GOP demanded that our troops be brought home. But Pence condemns Hillary Clinton for NOT keeping troops there.

9:51–It seems to me that the moderator is targeting Pence more than Kaine. Which I’m fine with, honestly. I think he has the bigger problems to be defended. Or maybe she’s just pissed that he keeps not answering her questions.

9:53–Seriously? He’s trying to keep Syrians out because of things that happened in other countries by a handful of assholes?

9:54–Pence keeps trying to defend the notion of bias by someone based on their country.

9:55–Boy, Kaine’s eyebrows are weird. It looks like they were drawn on by a drunk Bugs Bunny.

9:56–“Asymmetrical enemies?” What the hell are those? Have we only have symmetrical enemies until now?

9:57–I wish she’d reach over and slap him. She should have an airhorn that she could blast at them when they keep interrupting her.

9:58–Wait, hold on. Pence is criticizing Putin? Trump’s best pal? Holy Hell, I’m astounded. I wonder if he’s gonna be called on that.

10:00–If Hillary Clinton attacked Putin in this way, Trump would launch another Twitter war.

10:01–There we go. Took him thirty seconds to bring up Trump’s endorsing of Putin. And Pence apparently said Putin was a better leader than Obama.

10:02–And she points out that Kaine is likewise not responding.

10:03–Stop bringing up the taxes; the point’s been made. Trump doesn’t pay taxes and says he’s smart not to do so; we get it.

10:04–If one of them answers a question I may have a heart attack.

10:05–No, it was not a low shot at all. Every sane person is terrified that Trump might start a nuclear war. Military experts say he’s not authorized to have his finger on the nuclear weapons. It’s a perfectly reasonable concern to voice.

10:07–I feel like there is 45 minutes of material that we’re now seeing repeated.

10:08–Trump has never praised Putin. Except yes, he has. Like here.

10:10–Enough with the tax returns!

10:11–Seriously? The running mate of the guy who kisses Putin’s ass is trying to attack Clinton on Russia?

10:13–So now he’s trying to roll back Trump’s praising Putin.

10:14–Ah yes, the Clinton Foundation, which gets four star rated for its charitable efforts, as opposed to the Trump Foundation which is being attacked by the New York Attorney General.

10:19–PENCE KEEPS SHAKING HIS HEAD AND KAINE KEEPS GOING BACK TO THE TAX RETURNS. I’M STARTING TO GET SICK OF BOTH OF THEM.

10:20–Yeah, we never got back to North Korea.

10:21–And Elaine has to ask her question again. Jesus.

10:23–Oy. Faith. This is going to end well.

10:26–Please don’t turn this into a pro/anti-choice debate.

10:26–Can gay people adopt?

10:27–God damnnit. Pence takes a softball question about faith and turns it into an attack on Clinton about abortion. What a freaking asshole.

10:28–STOP SHAKING YOUR HEAD! TRUMP SAID THAT! HE SAID WOMEN SHOULD BE PUNISHED!

10:29–Wait, weren’t women sending Pence menstrual pads because of his attitudes? Or am I misremembering?

10:31–Yes. He is. Right here.

10:31–Wow, I’m fact checking.

10:33–Considering Trump’s entire campaign is about divisiveness, I’m really interested in his answer.

10:34–And he’s not answering it.

10:35–It’s over. Thank God.

Yes, I’ll be live blogging the VP debate

God knows why.

PAD

Trek Against Trump

So Glenn Hauman, the administrator of this website, called and asked if I was interested in being a part of a new movement, Trek Against Trump. Apparently an assortment of Trek-related individuals were signing onto a letter that urged voters to turn away from Donald Trump and vote for Clinton. Was I interested in signing on as a supporter. I said, “Sure.” What could be the harm?

Boy, did word get out. Every major (and a lot of minor) media outlets covered it. And a goodly number of high-profile individuals lent their name to the undertaking, including J.J. Abrams, Wil Wheaton, George Takei, Chris Pine and something like seventy others. You can read more about it here

There are well over a thousand comments in the reply section and many of them are exactly what you would expect from Trump supporters. Condemnations of Hollywood-type daring to voice an opinion, declarations that they were going to stop supporting Trek, and–my personal favorite–the shouts of “How dare you bring politics into Star Trek.” Right, because Star Trek never reflected politics. Except for “Omega Glory” which featured the Constitution. And “Patterns of Force” with Nazis. Or “Private Little War” which was a Vietnam metaphor. Or “Bread and Circuses” which features a government at odds with worshipers of the Sun (except no, it’s “the Son,” i.e., Jesus. So politics AND religion.) Or “The Way to Eden” with hippies seeking to leave civilization behind. Or “Conscience of the King” which was a metaphor about hunting Nazis. Or the entirety of “Star Trek VI” which was inspired by the end of the Cold War and the USSR’s collapse. And that’s not even getting into the pre-Vietnam/post Vietnam mindset that governed the way the ships operated in Original Trek vs. Next Gen: the former aggressively interfering despite the Prime Directive because the Enterprise was America and we knew best; the latter hewing tightly to the Prime Directive, hesitant and insanely reluctant to mix in because we didn’t have the right.

So yes, Star Trek is about politics and always has been, and this latest movement by dozens of its most ardent supporters and workers is consistent with that philosophy.

Vote for Clinton.

PAD

Why should moderators be impartial?

I really don’t get it. People are already accusing the moderator of last night’s debate as being partial toward Clinton.

I’m sorry: this isn’t a high school debate where the moderators must remain impartial. This is basically, as I’ve said, a glorified press conference with journalists sitting there conducting it.

Furthermore, and this is a major point: FACTS ARE NOT IMPARTIAL. FACTS ARE FACTS. When Trump (and to a much lesser degree, Clinton) said something demonstrably wrong, I don’t want the journalist to sit there and say nothing. Screw that: when Trump says, “I never said that,” I want his damned Tweet in which he said exactly that to be projected on the wall behind him. These people are fighting for the hardest job in the world, and if they cannot be counted on to be consistent with things they themselves have said in the past, how can any sane person count on what they say in the future? And how can any journalist just let them go?

I want the reporters to take off the kid gloves and grill these people. It’s their damned job and it’s about time they started doing it, because I’m sorry, Walter Cronkite wouldn’t let them pull this crap.

PAD

Okay…the Debate: Here we go.

8:56: We will be watching on the Bloomberg Channel because they are supposed to be doing live fact checking.

9:02: It remains amazing how the bar skews toward Trump. Clinton has to go out there and convince America to trust her. All Trump has to do is not lose his temper. She has to accomplish things and he simply has to not have a breakdown. Not sure if this is gender related or simply standard GOP/Democrat.

9:04: By the way, feel free to comment along the way so I know someone is reading this. Wonder if they’ll shake hands and smile.

9:05: Yes, they did.

9:06: Because I’ve never declared bankruptcy, that’s why.

9:06: Why the HELL don’t they ever answer the questions? I mean, EVER? Don’t make an opening statement: tell why we should support YOU, for God’s sake.

9:08: Why can’t she say, “Because I’m sane and he’s not.”

9:10: But is any of this true? Is anyone checking whether what he’s saying is factual?

9:11: Hillary launches the first attack. She has to keep on it. She has to underscore how his plans make no sense and won’t work.

9:12: Good. Let’s see if he answers. And no, $1 million is NOT a small loan, you dip shit.

9:14: Nope. He’s not answering the question either. Jesus. Good: Lester is staying on him.

9:15: TRUMP is talking about special interests? Everything about him is special interests.

9:17: Good, keep interrupting her so that she can keep ignoring you when you do that.

9:19: I love that she tried to interrupt him and he immediately said, “Excuse me” and wouldn’t let her talk. She, on the other hand, just ignores him and talks over him.

9:22: They’re really just going at it. The moderator isn’t interrupting.

9:24: He’s being insanely aggressive, which I’m sure his fans are loving. It doesn’t matter that what he’s saying isn’t true.

9:26: He’s blowing his stack and we’re only half an hour in.

9:28: Leadership STARTS with the secretary? Why not blame her for everything?

9:29: She is perpetually semi-smiling and he is perpetually scowling. And he KEEPS INTERRUPTING or trying to. He can’t keep his cool.

9:30: The “worst revival?” What the HELL does that mean?

9:31: Of course it’s doing political things. It’s a political office.

9:31: NO. THE IRS HAS SAID THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO RELEASE HIS RETURNS. NONE. ANOTHER LIE.

9:32: SOMEONE CALL HIM ON IT.

9:32: YES!!!! THE AUDIT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH NOT RELEASING YOUR RETURNS, YOU JACKASS.

9:33: And the Trumpites start shouting.

9:34 YES! Take him down, Clinton!

9:35: No, that doesn’t make you smart, you idiot.

9:37: Yes, you do learn a lot from financial disclosure. Which is why you don’t want to release the tax returns; because you don’t want anyone to learn anything from that disclosure.

9:38: “Braggadocious”” Is that a word?

9:39: So he doesn’t DENY that he hasn’t paid taxes. And yes, let’s talk about business. Go for it.

9:40: Oh, come ON! He’s going to claim that everyone he hasn’t paid was because they all sucked at their work?

9:41: There’s nowhere for him to hide. She’s filleting him.

9:41: No, it’s not words and sound bites. It’s FACTS. The FACTS are that he is a lousy businessman. That his businesses fail.

9:42: But he’s SCREWING OVER his employees. That’s what she’s saying.

9:45: Good. Good answer. Talk about police training.

9:46: She didn’t use the words “law and order” because they’re not relevant to the question. The question he’s not answering.

9:48: And here we go: the trouble is illegal immigrants going around shooting people, and so we all need to be armed to prevent it. Christ.

9:49: So I’m lost. He wants to…take away guns? What about the Second Amendment? He wants to restore stop and frisk? What the hell is he talking about? How does this relate to the question about harmless blacks being gunned down by cops?

9:51: Blacks currently support him by 0%. I wonder if he can drop to negative numbers?

9:52: She sounds SO SENSIBLE. He sounds hysterical.

9:53: Caroline suggests they should make it as hard to get a gun as it is to get an abortion.

9:55: Of course, the problem with watch lists is that they’re not dependable. Kathleen wound up on a watch list for a year because her name was similar to some one else.

9:58: Trump is wrong. Murders are down. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/n...

9:58: She decided to STAY HOME?! Christ, what an asshole!

9:59: She just won. That’s the quote that everyone is going to go with. She prepared for the debate and she is preparing to be president.

10:00: What in HELL is he talking about?!?

10:01: No, he was NOT the one who got him to produce the birth certificate. It’s true because he says it’s true? It’s true because he had a dream about it?

10:01: Hillary looks like she’s trying not to laugh.

10:03: YES. Bring up his history of racism. Excellent.

10:05: He didn’t like the way she treated Obama during a DEBATE? Jesus.

10:09: Yes, her time has expired, but since he keeps talking over time, it seems fair.

10:09: He was endorsed by Ice? Who the hell is that?

10:10: No, they knew for sure it was Russia. And that’s not the point: he ENCOURAGED Russia to hack into America. THAT is what should be addressed.

10:14: Except BUSH was the one who was responsible for the creation of ISIS, you idiot. Not Obama, not Clinton.

10:14: It doesn’t matter that you say “wrong,” Trump. Everyone KNOWS you endorsed the invasion.

10:19: Lester, stop letting him ramble over stuff that was already answered.

10:20: THERE IS VIDEO OF HIM ENDORSING THE WAR! IDIOT!

10:22: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMgQA...

10:22: Kathleen is ready to throw up. He has a better temperament?! Is he INSANE?!?!

10:24: She’s destroying him. With his own words.

10:25: It’s old because it remains accurate.

10:29: What in God’s name is he talking about? I mean, is it me? I literally cannot follow what he’s talking about.

10:31: That’s no secret. We know he has no plan.

10:32: SHE has no business ability? Multiple bankruptcies and SHE has no business ability?

10:33: No, he said “look.” And Lester just called him on it. This is nuts. Over and over he gets called on his lies and he just ignores them.

10:34: Kath just said “Game, set and match to Hillary.”

10:35: I see Lester is no longer trying to rein in the audience cheers.

10:36: OH, BULLSHIT! Now he is taking the high road?! About her ads, which are wholly accurate? Trump claims that Mexicans are criminals and rapists and SHE is the one who is not nice?

10:37: Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes it rains.

10:37: ANSWER THE QUESTION YOU NITWIT!

10:38: Christ, I can’t believe there are two more of these things.

I will be live blogging the debate tonight

So be sure to swing on by. You can safely assume that I will be pulling for Hillary, but will still endeavor to be evenhanded during the course of the mutual press conference that passes for debates in this country.

PAD

I honestly can’t believe I’m still here

Nearly four years ago, Kathleen was being told by a doctor that she might “have to make some tough choices” while I lay in a hospital bed drifting in and out of consciousness. (I spent ten days in the hospital and only really remember about several hours of it.) I should have packed it in at age 56.

Instead today I turn sixty.

I cannot fathom why I’m still here. I’ve had friends much younger and in much better shape than I am drop dead with no warning. I can’t understand why I’m still sucking oxygen.

Maybe it was to welcome a new generation of children into the world, with the birth of my two grandsons, A.J. and Orson. Maybe it’s to see Caroline through to her goal of becoming president. Maybe it’s to provide company for my beloved Kathleen. Maybe it’s to finish the third “Hidden Earth” novel. Maybe it’s to see the next “Star Wars” movies.

Whatever it is: I’m still standing.

PAD