Thumbs Up For Thanksgiving: Why I Love This Holiday

I was going to write a lengthier blog this week. I was going to title it A Tale of Two Brits.

I intended to write about the superb Fiona Hill, the former Brit (now U.S. citizen) and former top White House Russia adviser who testified last week in the impeachment hearing against the occupant of the Oval office.

Fiona (pictured): she of the “no-nonsense Yorkshire accent (and no-nonsense bob to match”) gave the Republicans a verbal spanking so severe that by the time she was finished with her testimony, only three Republicans were left in the hearing. And, evidently she rattled Trump’s cage badly enough that not a word or tweet escaped him about her or her testimony.

Fierce & Fearsome

In debunking their conspiracy theories as “fictional narrative propagated by Russia” she tidily marshaled all relevant facts, had times and dates at her fingertips without referring to notes, and had total recall of all relevant conversations. She presented her testimony as a comprehensive and comprehensible analysis to support her conclusion (and, incidentally the conclusion of all our intelligence agencies) that Russia not Ukraine had meddled in our election, and that Russia would do it again if we didn’t all “come together” to stop it.

Her fierce and fearsome style can be seen here. Just watch her take the Republicans to task for walking out after delivering rants instead of asking questions. As one online commentary noted: “By the time she was done, Republicans were so rattled that they’d given up asking questions.”

The Randy Andy Interview

I was also going to write about the less-superb British product, once known as Randy Andy, and still the current Duke of York and second son of the Queen of England. He embarrassed himself beyond redemption in a BBC interview  earlier this month while trying to explain away his friendship with now-dead pedophile and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

Unbelievably, he described Epstein’s pedophilia as “conduct unbecoming” — a military phrase which is applied to “officers and gentlemen.” And, which conduct, anyway, usually leads to a court martial and dismissal in disgrace.

Further, his assertions that he had no idea that the girls parading around Epstein’s various homes were under-age and being trafficked as sex slaves were plainly nonsensical. He is the father of two daughters who at the time were teens themselves.

A Right Royal Wanker

His claim that he met with a convicted pedophile in 2011 to do the “honorable” thing and break off their friendship face to face did not explain why he felt he had to conduct himself in an honorable way with a convicted pedophile — nor could he explain why after breaking off the friendship, he continued to stay as a guest in Epstein’s New York City townhouse for another FOUR days.

His claim that he was dropping off his daughter at a party at Pizza Express on one of the dates was also a less than persuasive alibi. Dropping her off still left Randy Andy with the rest of the evening and night to account for.

For anyone in any doubt as to how the interview played in his own country, businessinsider.com collated the front pages of all the British newspapers.

Hence, Fiona Hill emerged as a “hero,” as a “brilliant, tough as nails, coalminer’s daughter” and all manner of accolades were heaped on her. Meanwhile, there was only one way to describe the prince — and that was by using the very apt Britishism of “wanker.”

Turkey For Me

Thankfully, for you and me, I’ve decided to leave the more detailed commentary on the above events to others. I’m also going to be thankful that Congress is taking a holiday recess, and that Randy Andy has been suspended of his royal duties, kicked out of his Buckingham Palace office — and even had his 60th birthday party cancelled by the Queen. Ouch!

I’m going to revel in the thought of enjoying turkey, mashed potato, stuffing, brussel sprouts and green beans smothered in gravy and cranberry sauce — and then I’m looking forward to doing it all over again with leftovers the next day!

I love Thanksgiving. It’s a wonderful, secular holiday which can be enjoyed by every American whether native born or immigrant (documented or undocumented) regardless of religion.

Happy Thanksgiving to all !