[00:00:00] Welcome to Strung Out, the podcast that looks at life through the lens of an artist. Your host is the artist, writer, and musician, Martin Lawrence McCormack. Now here's Marty. Hey, great to have you with us and welcome to Strung Out, the world roundup from the backyard and, uh, I'm going solo this week, but there's a lot to talk about and, uh, First of all, we just had some incredible storms this week in Chicago.
[00:00:35] Uh, I believe they reported about 25 different tornadoes that came through, um, cell touching down, uh, one in the city proper. Uh, this is something that's now starting to happen a little more with climate change. And, uh, it was exceptionally, uh, severe. amazing to look at the radar and see how intense that line of thunderstorms and tornadoes were that were coming through.
[00:01:06] Uh, we ended up having to sleep in the basement on Monday night. Uh, just, just, uh, uh, an amazing menacing sort of storm. Uh, but something that I'm afraid, uh, we're going to be getting to see more and more of. Uh, torrential downpours, uh, the city infrastructure is, is doing everything, uh, the city itself is doing everything they can to cope, uh, with upgrading the infrastructure to reflect this new change in the environment.
[00:01:44] And um, it's a sad state of affairs because we're just trying to cope with it as humans in, uh, ours. Weird world that we live in, uh, as, as best as we can. But one of the big problems that you have is you have to deal with, uh, uh, the fact that we live with government and, uh, we live with big business and we live with a lot of interests and, uh, money.
[00:02:22] At the end of the day, rules of the day. So it's a cynical take, but eventually I think we will get there as far as being able to, uh, help cut back on the, uh, global warming.
[00:02:47] So, um,
[00:02:52] Mr. Train Go By,
[00:02:56] let's talk. Let's talk about what's going on, uh, Uh, in the last three weeks or so, uh, starting with, uh, the June 27th debate, that seems to be, uh, a tipping point, if you will, as far as the tumultuousness of the campaign. Up to that point, it was kind of, uh, you know, Trump was having his rallies, Biden was having his rallies.
[00:03:31] People are squarely behind Biden. People are squarely behind Trump. And you have this one debate, this one debate in which Biden comes out of it looking very, uh, weak, old. And, uh, the upshot of that is then you start getting this kind of rumbling from inside. The, uh, Democratic party as far as, uh, wanting to replace President Biden.
[00:04:05] Now, one of the things about Biden is historically, he was kind of like a Jerry Ford in the sense that he had his foibles and has his foibles. And one of them is his gaffes, um, mispronouncing people's names and things like that. And, uh, Um, in the past, those were things that kind of kept him from getting the nomination for president, um, uh, against other, uh, uh, nominees.
[00:04:40] And uh, now that he's an older man, it's a little more pronounced, uh, this has come back to bite him. And, uh, it's all in perception, right? What it comes down to is you do have an 81 year old man that, um, with that particular debate, even though he was giving facts and figures and everything made sense, it just was not vigorous enough, uh, for the, uh, people who watched it, myself included, to feel like, wow, he's, he's really, uh, Really knocking the ball out of the park.
[00:05:27] On the other hand, you had Donald Trump who, uh, didn't make any sense whatsoever. He was just kind of, uh, giving his, his very, very basic talking points that, uh, we have heard over and over and over again. Nothing really new coming from him and nothing honest as well. A lot of it is just kind of stream of consciousness fact making, which is just an odd deal.
[00:06:04] Kind of delivered with a fire hose approach of, of just rhetoric in the hopes that it sounds like something significant, but once the slow process of dissecting the facts and figures takes place. You realize this guy is spewing a lot of nonsense. So that's what we had there. We have one guy that looked weak, but he was correctly giving the figures.
[00:06:36] We have another guy that looked less weak, who was not being honest and giving his figures. Or should we just say his figures weren't factual? I guess would be the best way of putting it. Uh, so that started this cycle of chaos, I guess you could call it, uh, that has been going on for a little over three weeks.
[00:07:10] What is amazing about it is, is that right after that debate by Biden, all of a sudden you start getting, um, calls for him to step aside. And, uh, basically have somebody a little younger and a little more invigorating step into the circle against Donald Trump. And, um, now this is where it gets interesting for me.
[00:07:43] Uh, I have to ask myself, you know, uh, among my friends, among people that I talk to, I think people aren't that vested in the idea that of either candidate being these, uh, Uber candidates, right? I think there's a little more, uh, obviously there's a lot more cult of personality with Donald Trump than there is with Joe Biden.
[00:08:15] And, uh, that's Kind of where I want to take this podcast today is, is to, to really kind of, um, get to the, the nitty gritty as far as what are we doing here? So with the Democrats, they're of the opinion, listening to their own pollsters, listening to, uh, donors that, Hey, you know, wouldn't it be great if we got somebody else in there besides Joe?
[00:08:47] So that way, you know, we would have this. You know, invigorated person, you know, and it would be a clean slate. It would be our vision, our platform. And, uh, this is kind of taken root. Yeah. I think again, talking to my friends, talking to people that, uh, uh, like to talk politics, there's a lot of head scratching here because ultimately what you should be voting for is not the person, but the platform.
[00:09:24] What is it? That the Republican party wants to do. What is it that the Democratic party wants to do for the next four years? And, uh, that has to take precedent over the person because person, uh, is, uh, fallible, human, mortal. Uh, that's, that's where we're at. We saw it, uh, last Saturday where this, uh, uh, Obviously unwell kid, uh, wanted to, uh, assassinate Donald Trump.
[00:10:08] He had pictures of Biden as well in his phone. So it's not, it looks like now is, is more and more of, uh, the studies of what went down happened, uh, that this guy was just looking for an opportunity to, um, kill one or the other or both to, uh, uh, immortalize himself, I think. Uh, Uh, to paraphrase him, I think he said, watch, uh, watch this, uh, watch me with my, uh, debut or something like that, uh, almost made it sound like, uh, it was the, uh, a start of a TV show or something.
[00:10:49] Um, but, uh, his, his little, um, quip to his social media before he went, uh, out there And was able to get the shot off that, uh, Trump, uh,
[00:11:10] the fallibility of a person means then you have to rely upon what the party wants to do. So that's kind of where things are, are at. We, uh, we just finished the, um, Republican national convention. Uh, Trump got up and, uh, For about, uh, maybe 10 minutes, he sounded very, um, uh, humble. And then became this same kind of, uh, orator that he is delivering, um, a lot of information without, uh, truth and facts attached to it.
[00:12:07] Uh, and that's where it's at in the, uh, Republican camp. I think they're certainly beholden by the man and this is where I'm finding it interesting with the Democratic camp and their sudden, uh, panic about Biden. But let's take a little break. And when we come back, I'll, I'll pick up on that. You are watching and you're listening to, Strung out.
[00:12:44] Hey, want to show your support of Martin's artist endeavors? Buy Me a Coffee is an online site that makes supporting Marty easy. In just a few taps, you can make a payment of any amount, and no account is needed. You can also decide to become an ongoing supporter. Go to martinmcormack. com and click on the words Support Martin.
[00:13:07] Let's help Martin keep it all caffeinated.
[00:13:38] It's a hard scrub of life for a prospect of man Searching high and low for a little bumble load of joy A lane to deliver Barely stripping by
[00:14:05] All I need is a clean and rum string and at the, just maybe the dream.
[00:15:00] And.
[00:15:29] Yeah.
[00:16:22] Okay, we're back with the World Roundup from the Backyard and as you can hear O'Hare's flight plan is right over my head and that's a good thing because earlier today we had Huge IT crash worldwide. And so, uh, the sound of, uh, the world functioning, I guess, uh, these planes landing over my head, um, just an amazing thing in and of itself that one little program can change the world.
[00:16:58] Just as one mentally unstable kid could very well change the whole trajectory of this, uh, world. Uh, political landscape. Let us get back to what is so weird about the, uh, Democrats, um, all of a sudden now losing their spine, um, backing Joe Biden. Joe Biden's an old man. He admits that, right? And, um, he. He feels, I think, with all intensity that, uh, he really does think he is the best person suited for, uh, defeating Donald Trump.
[00:17:49] His party has gone along with it until that one, uh, debate. And after that debate, they got all kind of weak kneed.
[00:18:03] The difference between the Republicans and the Democrats is that the Republicans Are vested in the personality of Donald Trump, who this man is and what does he represent of them? Not so much with Joe Biden, but what the Democrats have is a platform and they have four years of pretty good progress to show for the work that Joe Biden has done.
[00:18:36] So I find it kind of fascinating that they have decided to get weak need. About backing Biden, when really what it is, is the platform that has the power. And to remind the, uh, undecided voters of what it was like when Donald Trump was president and the Republicans were in charge. So that is their power point, if you will.
[00:19:15] Not so much the personality of Biden.
[00:19:26] Um, I kind of joked that you could put a wooden stick and say, I'm going to vote for this wooden stick than I would for who Donald Trump is and what he represents as a person, that's kind of what the, you know, the Democrats need to do, I feel, but yet here we have this guy that, um, Historically, He was known for his gaffes, kind of like Jerry Ford was known for, you know, falling and everybody made fun of that.
[00:20:02] I remember as a kid. So, you know, you have this kind of guy, but he's, he's got his, uh, uh, fallibilities, but yet what he has accomplished and what, uh, what his progress report has been up to date has been pretty good. And that's. The thing that I feel the Democratic Party should be running on is not so much, um, their concern about Biden not looking strong or presidential, but the fact that they have a very solid platform and whoever is leading the Democratic Party, um, is going to see that platform through.
[00:20:58] You get the sense with the Republican Party. That if Donald Trump, uh, wasn't there, they would be floundering a little bit as far as trying to figure out who or what they are, um, you know, with J. D. Vance being the vice presidential nominee, you might speculate that some of the tenants of MAGA are now crystallizing.
[00:21:33] I think there's some truth to that. I think that, uh, Probably more than likely what you're witnessing is, is the transition of, uh, the old Republican base, if you will, uh, to, uh, this new radicalized sort of group of people and, um, be that as it may, the, the tenants of it are based on the personality and not so much platform.
[00:22:13] Um, so what the democratic. Leadership looks upon as a weakness in many ways can be viewed upon as a strength that, uh, we know our president's old, but we also know that he is a, a good person, uh, that he has, uh, done good things. Simple as that. And we stand with him. Had they had just stood united with him, I think the debate storm would have by now, but they have kind of brought this upon themselves and it remains to be seen what's going to happen.
[00:23:05] So these are very trying times right now because, uh, you have a person that, uh, in the form of Donald Trump, that is basically telling you more of the same and even more than we did before. And then you have, uh, the. Stability that has come in the last four years under Joe Biden remains to be seen what happens.
[00:23:38] But, uh, let's take a little break here. And when we come back, we'll be wrapping things up with the, just a quick look at what's going on in the outside world. You are watching and listening to strong. Hello, I'm Polly Chase, here with artwork by Marty McCormick. This is titled Dream. It's an 8x10 pen and ink drawing.
[00:24:04] Be lovely in an office or child's room. Anywhere you need inspiration to let go and see where your dreams can take you. To inquire about pricing and to view other pieces of Marty's artwork, go to martin mccormick.com. Thank you.
[00:24:40] Is it just a joke? It.
[00:24:49] Whistlin in the dark
[00:24:53] What is the purpose, should I even care? Do I make a difference, anybody there Whistlin in the dark All I want is to leave a mark Be the race I swear I'll run, or will I be
[00:25:29] constantly whistling in the dark?
[00:25:45] Can you tell me, do you have a clue? Are you just as lost, don't know what to do? Whistling in the dark If I was a lighthouse, I wouldn't have a light Wrecking ships on the rocks while I spend the night Whistling in the dark All I want is to feel love All I need is joy Or will I be constantly Whistling in the dark?
[00:26:56] When I'm dead, who remembers? What will I leave behind? Or will there just be Whistling in the dark? Who am I kidding? Is it just a joke? Can it be All I've made was made to be broke? What is the purpose? Should I even care? Do I make a difference? Anybody there? Can you tell me? Do you have a clue? Alright,
[00:28:01] we're in our final little section here, and, uh,
[00:28:08] the repercussions of the American election, uh, of course, are felt around the world. The enemies, like Putin, and Xi, and Kim, Ayatollah, and all their little vassals watch with keen interest to see what we're going to do, how this is going to play out. And we have an indication of maybe some hope regarding where we're going to go in this world, uh, world.
[00:28:45] Are we going to be more autocratic or are we going to be more democratic? That's the question. Uh, France gave us a pretty good lead right there when, uh, the far right got defeated in these elections. And it took some pretty interesting, um, bedfellows to make it happen, but they did it and, uh, what that means is, is that the general populace wants stability.
[00:29:18] And when you get the French doing it, then you know something significant is taking place. So for myself, I gleaned some hope from that. I, uh, look at what's going on with Ukraine with, uh, concern. Um, I just think again that you have, uh, a situation in which if there isn't a strong United States, uh, you're going to have a dire situation there.
[00:29:59] Uh, Europe, the European leadership, uh, as of late seems to be, uh, a little bit weakened, especially Germany. Schultz is not, uh, really taking the leadership mantle. Now, the, the big thing there is, is just that, uh, there is this fine dancing that they don't want to, um, they don't want to come into direct confrontation with Russia.
[00:30:32] Yet it's everything but direct confrontation, right? It just seems to me that this sort of thing is the kind of thing that could be resolved with a little more resolve. And the problem with democracies is that they're messy and it takes time to solve these things. So in the case of Ukraine, uh, the big problem there is just that, uh, They're, they're low on manpower.
[00:31:08] Their resources are there right now militarily. They could certainly use more. Um, thank God there's been some, uh, allowance for them to use their weapons in Russia. That's making a difference. Um, it's just all this, again, weak kneed ness about what to do with Russia that somehow Uh, you know, the Russians, uh, will embrace some sort of thermonuclear, uh, attack.
[00:31:41] They know, you know, it's suicidal. So I just don't think that somebody like Putin, um, does not value his life. If anything, he has indicated that he wants to continue living by the way, he bumps off his enemies. So I think the Western powers need to show a little more resolve with Ukraine.
[00:32:08] Shifting over to Israel and the situation in Gaza, um, what a mess. Uh, just, it's kind of whack a mole right now in Gaza. They're, they're going around trying to root out Hamas. And in doing so, they're, they're trying to, you know, whack a mole with the, you know, 500 pound sledge. And it's killing people. It's, uh.
[00:32:37] They now have Hezbollah. Uh, that looks like that's getting a little more heated. Um, just as of today, the Houthis, uh, were able to do a drone attack on Tel Aviv. This is a situation that clearly is not ending. And it's, it's getting a little more, uh, frightening as we look at it. So that's something to be concerned about.
[00:33:08] Um,
[00:33:12] whether, I don't know what Israel is going to do in this case, because they're committed to Gaza, but to shift and fight Hezbollah would be a significant that the Houthis, uh, even though they did this drone attack on, uh, Tel Aviv are still, I think, uh, more of a nuisance than anything else, but, uh, the Western powers like the United States and the UK, I think need to just kind of give them a sharp lesson.
[00:33:53] Of course, the main agitator in this theater is, uh, Iran and, uh, you know, the Iranians still, the clerical led, uh, National Guard and all that stuff in Iran. Um, they, they are clearly hell bent on just causing as much disruption as possible with the state of Israel. And so that's where that is. Just, we're in a wait and see kind of situation with both Ukraine and with Israel.
[00:34:37] Two of the main hotspots, though there are plenty more hotspots, such as Sudan, that are just not being reported on as much, but equally as, as catastrophic, if not more. So, um, where are we at the end of this, uh, wrap up? For it being high summer and nice weather, there seems to be a cloud. over everything right now.
[00:35:08] And that's a cloud of uncertainty that's taking place because things are, are all connected. And as I pointed out, it can take just one individual to weapon the world these days, just as it can take one bad, uh, uh, code to bring the whole IT of the world to its knees. And that's where we're at. We live in a very odd world because of that.
[00:35:46] Where the hope is, is that we need to try to stick to what is good. What, uh, at least here in the United States, what our country was founded upon. Read the Constitution, understand the necessity of the separation of church and state. And I encourage you to look at what Project 2025 is trying to promote.
[00:36:21] And uh, also though, look at the platform of the Democratic Party when they go to Chicago next month. Um,
[00:36:36] You don't have to agree with everything either party says, but you have to at some point say, I want to see my children live in a world under this or that. So that's where we're at. I hear a train is coming. So, I'm going to leave you with that and we'll talk next week. And I wish you a better week.
[00:37:04] Bye bye.
[00:37:12] Thank you for listening. For more information about this show or a transcript, visit martinmccormack. com. While there, visit our website. Sign up for our newsletter. See you next time on Strung Out
[00:37:29] So Wrong, Spain we feel makes no sense at all. The Swan song was a part of the deal was no good call Giving out choice, giving us that.
