Excellent turn out today for Highway 87 protest.

 About 80 people showed up to support democratic principles. It was a good turnout, and the police made sure no MAGA smoke dogs came near. Across the highway a MAGA dog has a car dealership. The MAGA dog made one of the horns on his cars go continuously. A young woman who worked for the MAGA car dealer came out with a MAGA sign. One MAGA across the street from 80 normal people told the story very well. A big thanks to the Payson police. No doubt the MAGA dogs will have some sort of show. It seems the MAGA crowd is embarrassed about the sexual predator they support. Even some MAGAs are turning against Trump. He called his own supporters stupid and said he didn't need them. Wow.

Water fell from the sky

The nectar of the gods fell last night and our holding pond is full of water. The desert pops when rain hits. Many years ago we were in the Baja and it rained as hard as it had in 100 years. The desert popped and the plants bloomed instantly. Old Kadizzle will never forget the experience. Walking in the desert felt like another planet. Unusual plants that looked like something on Mars were everywhere.  

Secretary of State

Adrian Fontes Electrifies Donuts with Democrats

Adrian Fontes delivered a powerful and inspiring speech at the Donuts with Democrats gathering, packing the Democratic Headquarters to capacity. When Kadizzle arrived early, he had his doubts. Jeff was already there, dutifully setting up rows of chairs. Kadizzle figured Jeff was being overly optimistic — but he was wrong. The room quickly filled, and by the time Fontes took the stage, it was standing room only.

Arizona’s Secretary of State proved to be a dynamic and engaging speaker, with the kind of presence that makes you believe he could very well be governor one day. His message was simple but compelling, built around ten two-letter words: “If it is to be, it is up to me.” Fontes had the audience repeat the phrase, driving home the urgent need for action.

The takeaway? Democracy doesn’t defend itself. If we want to stop the slide into authoritarianism, we all need to get off the sidelines — and off our asses — and stand up to the creeping Trump dictatorship.

The Childish MAGA mind.

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What Is the Mind of a MAGA Like?

It’s a question many thoughtful people find themselves asking: What is going on in the mind of someone deep in the MAGA world? The answer isn’t hard to find—just look at the comments they leave on Facebook posts, particularly those that challenge their worldview. The patterns are remarkably consistent and, frankly, revealing.

First, there’s the humor—or rather, the lack of it. Much of the content relies on juvenile jokes, name-calling, or tired memes that might have gotten a chuckle in a middle school locker room. It’s not that humor itself is a problem—it's that their jokes often aim down, mock the vulnerable, and rely on crude sexual innuendo or cartoonishly exaggerated caricatures. These aren’t efforts to persuade or even engage; they’re just attempts to ridicule and dominate.

Second, the comments are rarely grounded in fact or curiosity. Instead of asking questions or offering well-reasoned counterpoints, many MAGA followers jump straight to deflection, conspiracy, or ad hominem attacks. It's easier, apparently, to call someone a “libtard” or post a Photoshopped image of Joe Biden falling off a bike than to discuss climate change, healthcare, or democracy with any seriousness.

Third, there’s an emotional immaturity that runs through much of the MAGA commentary. You’ll notice a visceral need to “win” arguments—not through logic, but through volume and insult. Any disagreement is treated as an attack. Every discussion is a battlefield. There’s little room for self-reflection, nuance, or empathy. Instead, the world is split into heroes and villains, patriots and traitors.

Lastly, there is an eerie devotion to authoritarianism disguised as patriotism. Many MAGA followers celebrate strength, but only when it comes from “their side.” They claim to defend freedom while cheering for censorship of opposing views. They wrap themselves in the flag, but seem to forget what the Constitution is actually about.

So what is the mind of a MAGA like? It’s angry, tribal, and frequently unmoored from reality. It finds comfort in simplistic narratives and black-and-white thinking. It’s addicted to grievance, dismissive of complexity, and quick to lash out. It doesn't want a conversation—it wants control.

And while not everyone in that movement is the same, the loudest voices often paint the clearest picture. We should pay attention to what they say—not just to criticize, but to understand the deeper forces at work in our country.

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Back in the Arizona Mountains

The plane landed on the frying pan at Mesa. 118 degrees greeted the Kadizzles as we got off the plane. Reaching Payson the temperature dropped to 102.  That 16 degree difference is why we live in Payson. It rained while we were gone and the desert plants popped. The shade of dessert green is much more dull than Dakota green. Our good friends in North Dakota served us well. No hotel bills for 12 days was wonderful. 

Dina is pulling up stakes in North Dakota and heading to Seattle. North Dakota will lose the best liberal it ever had. North Dakota Republican greed is insane. The state has 14 billion in the bank it refuses to spend. The money's sole purpose is to protect the rich. North Dakota could have the very best of everything, but sharing is not part of the greed dogs mantra. North Dakota should have the best paid teachers, free health care and no homeless, but the Trump rats will not share. The Trump rats all claim to be direct descendants of Jesus. The Republican Jesus is one mean bastard. 

Crumbling

Today the Kadizzles return from North Dakota where we visited a lot of old good friends. Age is taking its toll. The old timers are crumbling. People are moving awkwardly, slowly and painfully. Like all old people the discussion is what happened to old Willy or what is the latest doctors visit about. Adjustments come with crumbling. Steps have a whole new meaning when they have become Mount Everest. Oh, and replacements. Yes, new knees, borrowed eyes, shots of lubrication. What fun. Now kids get ready we are moving back to be close to you. Yup, you get to take care of us. We will be your new set of kids. Then the mind goes.  Do I know you? Where am I? Driving, look out. Pills, doctors appointments. What did I do to deserved this? First you let yourself get fat, then you drank too much, and of course lack of exercise. 

Old friend Dave delivers pills to nursing homes. Dave took Kadizzle on his route from the airport to Stanton. It occurred to Kadizzle nursing homes are just well appointed jail cells where the last stages of crumbling occur.  Hope this has all been uplifting. 

Another Day in North Dakota

 Our trail crew friends spent the night with us in Stanton, ND.  We toured the Knife River Indian Village.  Cissie helped build the replica Earth Lodge there. North Dakota is so isolated and peaceful. The nights are dark and quiet. Wildlife is abundant, and the Missouri river is nearby. In the old days we sailed here and often floated the Missouri. North Dakota has many charms, you just have to discover them.