I have such high hopes.

While we wait . . .

HOW DID WE GET INTO THIS MESS?

This Book Explains It All.

It’s called American Scoundrel: Roy Cohn’s Dark Journey from Joe McCarthy to Donald Trump, by Kai Bird with Susan Goldmark.

I met Roy only once, briefly, at a large gay party late in his life but was instantly repelled.  Yet two of my best friends — wonderful people — loved him. How could this be?! (All three died of AIDS.)  How could he have had everyone from Norman Mailer and Barbara Walters to Cardinal Spellman, William F. Buckley, S.I. Newhouse — mafia dons like Fat Tony Salerno, business titans like Lee Iacocca — and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover all singing his praises?

That would be interesting enough. But the real reason American Scoundrel is a must read is that it explains, in full, exactly who Donald Trump is — and why.

And how someone so truly awful, vulgar, spectacularly dishonest and unethical, reckless and selfish can also be funny, charming, loads of fun — and get away with practically anything.

I could go on and on; but just treat yourself to this amazing romp through American history that Cohn — deeply sad to say — had what turns out to have been an enormus role in shaping.

HOW DO WE GET OUT OF IT?

This Book Explains That.  Or at least a whole heck of a lot of it.

It’s called This Is The Plan: How to End America’s Meltdown and Save Democracy, by Ben Wikler.  I’ve suggested it before and hope it’s on your list.

It’s also a perfect holiday gift for someone — whether young or retired (or just not completely fulfilled at work) — who is casting about for purpose in his or her life.  Or perhaps consumed with purpose, but just not sure how to be effective.

[And by the way?  The goal can’t just be to put things back “the way they wuz.”  The way they wuz is what allowed a demagogue to rise to power.  If you have another 90 seconds, here’s what Oath founder Brian Derrick has to say about that.  It’s going to be an exciting primary season.]

KINKY 3

I guess we’ll find out tonight whether a guy who turned his opponent’s presumed fatal blow into a cheeky campaign slogan — “Make Politics Sexy Again” — can flip NY-1 blue.  For those who’ve been following the race, here’s Chris Gallant’s interview yesterday in Interview.

LEAVING MAGA 4

Or 14 — I’ve surely plugged this spunky little non-profit more than four times.  But I love it, because on a shoestring, it’s caught on nationwide, offering MAGAns a welcoming, non-judgmental, non-partisan (and thus tax-deductible) off-ramp.

Twelve days into their 41-day Kickstarter, they’re 59% to goal.  And it’s one of those campaigns where no credit is charged unless they reach their goal, so I hope they do.  I chipped in.

Seen in Florida:

Hoping for a good night . . .