Robert John Burke
@rjbwriter.bsky.social
Struggling writer of mostly sci-fi and fantasy. Mets, Pats, Celtics fan. Grumpy Democrat from New England.
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year! :)
December 25, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year! :)
No more Alonso, Diaz, Nimmo, or McNeil. Now that we've eaten our vegetables, maybe we Mets fans could get just one non-depressing transaction, as a treat?
December 23, 2025 at 1:51 AM
No more Alonso, Diaz, Nimmo, or McNeil. Now that we've eaten our vegetables, maybe we Mets fans could get just one non-depressing transaction, as a treat?
Regarding the Trump post quoted below: There is no excuse, NONE, for supporting a man to represent the United States to the world who says such vicious, hateful, unhinged things. It's not just words, it's about who we are! Behaving decently in public is part of the job!
Trump is unworthy and unfit.
Trump is unworthy and unfit.
December 15, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Regarding the Trump post quoted below: There is no excuse, NONE, for supporting a man to represent the United States to the world who says such vicious, hateful, unhinged things. It's not just words, it's about who we are! Behaving decently in public is part of the job!
Trump is unworthy and unfit.
Trump is unworthy and unfit.
Reposted by Robert John Burke
Genuinely think our society is lost if we can’t find a way to start caring that the ostensibly most powerful man in the world acts like this.
December 15, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Genuinely think our society is lost if we can’t find a way to start caring that the ostensibly most powerful man in the world acts like this.
Jeff Kent is a fine selection, I guess, but everybody knows he was the second best player on his Giants, after Barry Bonds. The unwillingness to admit Bonds and Clemens to the Hall has become a ridiculous farce. They've been scapegoated for a problem that all of MLB deliberately ignored for years.
December 8, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Jeff Kent is a fine selection, I guess, but everybody knows he was the second best player on his Giants, after Barry Bonds. The unwillingness to admit Bonds and Clemens to the Hall has become a ridiculous farce. They've been scapegoated for a problem that all of MLB deliberately ignored for years.
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
December 8, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
Favorite religious Christmas song: O Little Town of Bethlehem.
Favorite secular or at least not explicitly religious: Someday at Christmas by Stevie Wonder. Brings tears to my eyes every time.
Favorite secular or at least not explicitly religious: Someday at Christmas by Stevie Wonder. Brings tears to my eyes every time.
What is your favorite "Christian" Christmas song and what is your favorite "Secular" Christmas song?
I will probably always adore "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" for Christian.
And "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" for secular.
I will probably always adore "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" for Christian.
And "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" for secular.
December 7, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Favorite religious Christmas song: O Little Town of Bethlehem.
Favorite secular or at least not explicitly religious: Someday at Christmas by Stevie Wonder. Brings tears to my eyes every time.
Favorite secular or at least not explicitly religious: Someday at Christmas by Stevie Wonder. Brings tears to my eyes every time.
I know most people won't agree with this, but as a lifelong huge Star Wars fan my ranking is...
1. Empire Strikes Back
2. Star Wars / ANH
3. Force Awakens
4. Return of the Jedi
5. Revenge of the Sith
6. Rogue One
7. Solo
8. Rise of Skywalker
9. Last Jedi
10. Phantom Menace
11. Attack of the Clones
1. Empire Strikes Back
2. Star Wars / ANH
3. Force Awakens
4. Return of the Jedi
5. Revenge of the Sith
6. Rogue One
7. Solo
8. Rise of Skywalker
9. Last Jedi
10. Phantom Menace
11. Attack of the Clones
November 24, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I know most people won't agree with this, but as a lifelong huge Star Wars fan my ranking is...
1. Empire Strikes Back
2. Star Wars / ANH
3. Force Awakens
4. Return of the Jedi
5. Revenge of the Sith
6. Rogue One
7. Solo
8. Rise of Skywalker
9. Last Jedi
10. Phantom Menace
11. Attack of the Clones
1. Empire Strikes Back
2. Star Wars / ANH
3. Force Awakens
4. Return of the Jedi
5. Revenge of the Sith
6. Rogue One
7. Solo
8. Rise of Skywalker
9. Last Jedi
10. Phantom Menace
11. Attack of the Clones
It's me, the stick in the mud who doesn't think Mamdani should have met with Trump because why would you give him a bipartisan photo op when he's looking vulnerable for the first time all year?
November 22, 2025 at 6:15 AM
It's me, the stick in the mud who doesn't think Mamdani should have met with Trump because why would you give him a bipartisan photo op when he's looking vulnerable for the first time all year?
I'm ending my "countdown to the midterms" gimmick as of today. It wasn't generating much interest and the character limit reduced my part to a quick blurb, anyway.
Still enthusiastic about our next chance to vote, however, and I'll still be around here commenting now and then.
Still enthusiastic about our next chance to vote, however, and I'll still be around here commenting now and then.
November 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I'm ending my "countdown to the midterms" gimmick as of today. It wasn't generating much interest and the character limit reduced my part to a quick blurb, anyway.
Still enthusiastic about our next chance to vote, however, and I'll still be around here commenting now and then.
Still enthusiastic about our next chance to vote, however, and I'll still be around here commenting now and then.
There are 351 days to the US midterms. We've reached Delaware, which has one district, "Delaware."
Meet Caesar Augustus Rodney, who was *not* the famous Caesar Rodney, but his nephew. He spent 1803-05 and 1821-22 in the House, and was a Senator and Attorney General. Watch out for his brother Nero.
Meet Caesar Augustus Rodney, who was *not* the famous Caesar Rodney, but his nephew. He spent 1803-05 and 1821-22 in the House, and was a Senator and Attorney General. Watch out for his brother Nero.
Caesar Augustus Rodney - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 18, 2025 at 1:21 AM
There are 351 days to the US midterms. We've reached Delaware, which has one district, "Delaware."
Meet Caesar Augustus Rodney, who was *not* the famous Caesar Rodney, but his nephew. He spent 1803-05 and 1821-22 in the House, and was a Senator and Attorney General. Watch out for his brother Nero.
Meet Caesar Augustus Rodney, who was *not* the famous Caesar Rodney, but his nephew. He spent 1803-05 and 1821-22 in the House, and was a Senator and Attorney General. Watch out for his brother Nero.
There are 352 days to the US midterm elections, and we're on CT-5, represented by Jahana Hayes since 2019.
Hayes is the first Black woman elected to Congress from Connecticut and was a teacher before entering politics. You can read more about her views in this May article from the CT Mirror.
Hayes is the first Black woman elected to Congress from Connecticut and was a teacher before entering politics. You can read more about her views in this May article from the CT Mirror.
Jahana Hayes on Trump’s second term: ‘Everything seems urgent’
U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes said she has a new sense of urgency to speak out forcefully on issues she cares about, like nutrition and education.
ctmirror.org
November 16, 2025 at 11:35 PM
There are 352 days to the US midterm elections, and we're on CT-5, represented by Jahana Hayes since 2019.
Hayes is the first Black woman elected to Congress from Connecticut and was a teacher before entering politics. You can read more about her views in this May article from the CT Mirror.
Hayes is the first Black woman elected to Congress from Connecticut and was a teacher before entering politics. You can read more about her views in this May article from the CT Mirror.
There are 353 days to the US midterms. We're on CT-4, represented from 1943-47 by Claire Boothe Luce.
She was a socialite and intellectual who served as Ambassador to Italy. She also wrote the play on which the movie "The Women" was based, and the story for the movie "Come to the Stable." Classics!
She was a socialite and intellectual who served as Ambassador to Italy. She also wrote the play on which the movie "The Women" was based, and the story for the movie "Come to the Stable." Classics!
Clare Boothe Luce - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 16, 2025 at 12:37 AM
There are 353 days to the US midterms. We're on CT-4, represented from 1943-47 by Claire Boothe Luce.
She was a socialite and intellectual who served as Ambassador to Italy. She also wrote the play on which the movie "The Women" was based, and the story for the movie "Come to the Stable." Classics!
She was a socialite and intellectual who served as Ambassador to Italy. She also wrote the play on which the movie "The Women" was based, and the story for the movie "Come to the Stable." Classics!
There are 354 days to the US midterms. We're on Connecticut's 3rd District, represented from 1863-67 by Augustus Brandegee.
Wikipedia says Brandegee was the youngest member of the House during the Civil War and an anti-slavery ally of Lincoln's. He voted for the 13th Amendment banning slavery.
Wikipedia says Brandegee was the youngest member of the House during the Civil War and an anti-slavery ally of Lincoln's. He voted for the 13th Amendment banning slavery.
Augustus Brandegee - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 15, 2025 at 12:08 AM
There are 354 days to the US midterms. We're on Connecticut's 3rd District, represented from 1863-67 by Augustus Brandegee.
Wikipedia says Brandegee was the youngest member of the House during the Civil War and an anti-slavery ally of Lincoln's. He voted for the 13th Amendment banning slavery.
Wikipedia says Brandegee was the youngest member of the House during the Civil War and an anti-slavery ally of Lincoln's. He voted for the 13th Amendment banning slavery.
There are 355 days to the US midterm elections, and we're on CT-2, represented by Chase G. Woodhouse from 1945-47 and 49-51.
Wikipedia says Woodhouse was "a prominent feminist leader, suffragist, and educator" who was CT Secretary of State and wrote 3 books... including one on dentistry? Okay.
Wikipedia says Woodhouse was "a prominent feminist leader, suffragist, and educator" who was CT Secretary of State and wrote 3 books... including one on dentistry? Okay.
Chase G. Woodhouse - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 13, 2025 at 11:31 PM
There are 355 days to the US midterm elections, and we're on CT-2, represented by Chase G. Woodhouse from 1945-47 and 49-51.
Wikipedia says Woodhouse was "a prominent feminist leader, suffragist, and educator" who was CT Secretary of State and wrote 3 books... including one on dentistry? Okay.
Wikipedia says Woodhouse was "a prominent feminist leader, suffragist, and educator" who was CT Secretary of State and wrote 3 books... including one on dentistry? Okay.
There are 356 days to the US midterm elections, and we're reached Connecticut. CT-1 was represented from 1949-53 by Abraham Ribicoff.
Ribicoff was later a CT governor, 3-term senator, ally of JFK, and "Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare," which seems like a lot to put into one department.
Ribicoff was later a CT governor, 3-term senator, ally of JFK, and "Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare," which seems like a lot to put into one department.
Abraham Ribicoff - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 12, 2025 at 11:35 PM
There are 356 days to the US midterm elections, and we're reached Connecticut. CT-1 was represented from 1949-53 by Abraham Ribicoff.
Ribicoff was later a CT governor, 3-term senator, ally of JFK, and "Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare," which seems like a lot to put into one department.
Ribicoff was later a CT governor, 3-term senator, ally of JFK, and "Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare," which seems like a lot to put into one department.
There are 357 days to the US midterm elections. We're on CO-8, our final Colorado District, represented since January by Gabe Evans.
I don't spotlight many modern Republicans as I disagree with their politics, but Evans served in the Army and Colorado National Guard, appropriate for Veteran's Day.
I don't spotlight many modern Republicans as I disagree with their politics, but Evans served in the Army and Colorado National Guard, appropriate for Veteran's Day.
Gabe Evans - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 11, 2025 at 11:58 PM
There are 357 days to the US midterm elections. We're on CO-8, our final Colorado District, represented since January by Gabe Evans.
I don't spotlight many modern Republicans as I disagree with their politics, but Evans served in the Army and Colorado National Guard, appropriate for Veteran's Day.
I don't spotlight many modern Republicans as I disagree with their politics, but Evans served in the Army and Colorado National Guard, appropriate for Veteran's Day.
There are 358 days to the US midterm. We're on CO-7, represented by Brittany Pettersen since 2023.
Rep. Petterson worked with Republican Anna Paulina Luna on a bill to allow proxy voting in Congress for new parents. The link is to a Colorado Public Radio interview about cuts to important programs.
Rep. Petterson worked with Republican Anna Paulina Luna on a bill to allow proxy voting in Congress for new parents. The link is to a Colorado Public Radio interview about cuts to important programs.
Layoffs hit Colorado programs for substance abuse and mental health services
CPR talks to Rep. Pettersen about Trump’s staffing cuts to places that help Coloradans deal with mental health or drug problems.
www.cpr.org
November 11, 2025 at 1:10 AM
There are 358 days to the US midterm. We're on CO-7, represented by Brittany Pettersen since 2023.
Rep. Petterson worked with Republican Anna Paulina Luna on a bill to allow proxy voting in Congress for new parents. The link is to a Colorado Public Radio interview about cuts to important programs.
Rep. Petterson worked with Republican Anna Paulina Luna on a bill to allow proxy voting in Congress for new parents. The link is to a Colorado Public Radio interview about cuts to important programs.
There are 359 days to the US midterm elections, and we're on CO-6, represented since 2019 by Jason Crow.
Crow is a former Army Ranger who notably assisted his fellow representatives in the Capitol during the January 6th insurrection. Here's a recent interview he did with Colorado Public Radio.
Crow is a former Army Ranger who notably assisted his fellow representatives in the Capitol during the January 6th insurrection. Here's a recent interview he did with Colorado Public Radio.
Rep. Jason Crow on airport disruptions, gerrymandering, and ICE arrests
Fresh off electoral victories for his party, the Aurora Democrat spoke with Colorado Matters.
www.cpr.org
November 10, 2025 at 12:15 AM
There are 359 days to the US midterm elections, and we're on CO-6, represented since 2019 by Jason Crow.
Crow is a former Army Ranger who notably assisted his fellow representatives in the Capitol during the January 6th insurrection. Here's a recent interview he did with Colorado Public Radio.
Crow is a former Army Ranger who notably assisted his fellow representatives in the Capitol during the January 6th insurrection. Here's a recent interview he did with Colorado Public Radio.
There are 360 days to the US midterm elections, and we're on CO-5, represented from 1973-79 by future Senator William Armstrong.
According to Wikipedia, Bob Dole called Armstrong "the father of tax indexing" (...okay?) and he beat an Apollo 13 astronaut-- the Kevin Bacon guy-- for his Senate seat.
According to Wikipedia, Bob Dole called Armstrong "the father of tax indexing" (...okay?) and he beat an Apollo 13 astronaut-- the Kevin Bacon guy-- for his Senate seat.
William L. Armstrong - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 9, 2025 at 12:14 AM
There are 360 days to the US midterm elections, and we're on CO-5, represented from 1973-79 by future Senator William Armstrong.
According to Wikipedia, Bob Dole called Armstrong "the father of tax indexing" (...okay?) and he beat an Apollo 13 astronaut-- the Kevin Bacon guy-- for his Senate seat.
According to Wikipedia, Bob Dole called Armstrong "the father of tax indexing" (...okay?) and he beat an Apollo 13 astronaut-- the Kevin Bacon guy-- for his Senate seat.
There are 361 days to the US midterms, and we're on CO-4, represented from 1949-73 by Wayne Aspinall.
Aspinall was an influential Western congressman due to his position on the Interior Affairs Committee. Wikipedia says he was called The Chairman because... hold on, plot twist: He was the chairman.
Aspinall was an influential Western congressman due to his position on the Interior Affairs Committee. Wikipedia says he was called The Chairman because... hold on, plot twist: He was the chairman.
Wayne N. Aspinall - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:54 PM
There are 361 days to the US midterms, and we're on CO-4, represented from 1949-73 by Wayne Aspinall.
Aspinall was an influential Western congressman due to his position on the Interior Affairs Committee. Wikipedia says he was called The Chairman because... hold on, plot twist: He was the chairman.
Aspinall was an influential Western congressman due to his position on the Interior Affairs Committee. Wikipedia says he was called The Chairman because... hold on, plot twist: He was the chairman.
There are 362 days to the US midterms. We're on Colorado's 3rd District, represented by future Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell from 1987-93.
Via Wikipedia, he was a Democrat in the House, but spent most of his Senate career as a Republican. He was an Olympian in judo at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Via Wikipedia, he was a Democrat in the House, but spent most of his Senate career as a Republican. He was an Olympian in judo at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 7, 2025 at 12:55 AM
There are 362 days to the US midterms. We're on Colorado's 3rd District, represented by future Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell from 1987-93.
Via Wikipedia, he was a Democrat in the House, but spent most of his Senate career as a Republican. He was an Olympian in judo at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Via Wikipedia, he was a Democrat in the House, but spent most of his Senate career as a Republican. He was an Olympian in judo at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
There are 363 days to the US midterms, and things look a little brighter today. But we're on to CO-2, represented by Jared Polis from 2009-19.
Polis, of course, is now governor of Colorado. Here's an article about a recent controversy: His comments about the selection of RFK Jr. as HHS secretary.
Polis, of course, is now governor of Colorado. Here's an article about a recent controversy: His comments about the selection of RFK Jr. as HHS secretary.
Jared Polis told Redditors to ask him anything. They pounced on his statements supporting RFK Jr.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis faced questions on Reddit during an "ask my anything" session about past statements supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
coloradosun.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:23 AM
There are 363 days to the US midterms, and things look a little brighter today. But we're on to CO-2, represented by Jared Polis from 2009-19.
Polis, of course, is now governor of Colorado. Here's an article about a recent controversy: His comments about the selection of RFK Jr. as HHS secretary.
Polis, of course, is now governor of Colorado. Here's an article about a recent controversy: His comments about the selection of RFK Jr. as HHS secretary.
Congratulations to Governors-Elect Spanberger and Sherrill! I've been a fan of Spanberger since her first run for Congress. Great to see!
November 5, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Congratulations to Governors-Elect Spanberger and Sherrill! I've been a fan of Spanberger since her first run for Congress. Great to see!
There are 364 days to the US midterms, it's Election Night 2025, and welcome to Colorado! Our count has reached CO-1, a district represented by Pat Schroeder from 1973-97.
Wikipedia says Schroeder coined the term "Teflon President" for Reagan, was considered for VP in '84, and ran briefly in '88.
Wikipedia says Schroeder coined the term "Teflon President" for Reagan, was considered for VP in '84, and ran briefly in '88.
Pat Schroeder - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:06 PM
There are 364 days to the US midterms, it's Election Night 2025, and welcome to Colorado! Our count has reached CO-1, a district represented by Pat Schroeder from 1973-97.
Wikipedia says Schroeder coined the term "Teflon President" for Reagan, was considered for VP in '84, and ran briefly in '88.
Wikipedia says Schroeder coined the term "Teflon President" for Reagan, was considered for VP in '84, and ran briefly in '88.