Hello. From a Washington Post story by Maura Judkis, we get a new account of what appears to be the real reason why Donald Trump is hellbent on replacing Kim Sajet, director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery. It turns out that eight years ago she didn’t like, and rejected as too political and “no good”, the cloying portrait of Trump created by the evangelical conservative, knockoff schlockmeister and ardent Trump enthusiast Julian Raven. The art is pictured above. Its title is “Unafraid and Unashamed.”

Let us be fair and give this some artistically critical thought. Please consider the portrait in a dignified, professional manner. Step back a bit. Sit on well-padded couch we have provided in this online museum, for restful contemplative assessment. If needed, puke into the bucket we have provided as well.

In rejecting the art, Ms. Sajet pointed out to Raven that it was both overly politically advocative, essentially every bit as sophisticated as a velvet Elvis or crying clowns or those dogs playing Texas Hold ‘Em — if not as expertly rendered.

As we approach the revolting spectacle of Trump spending wads of taxpayer money to ostentatiously celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary and, um, his own birthday, with a multi-million dollar shithole-country-style military parade featuring unscalable fences and hundreds of magnetometers, it would be prudent to discuss this issue.

Actually, no. All you have to do is look at some other similar ass-sucking works from the past by ardent political enthusiasts. Here’s one of Hitler, by Hubert Lanzinger, from 1932:

Here’s another of Mussolini, by Gerardo Dottori, circa 1933:

You get the idea.

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Speaking of appalling things, I was on a walk with Lexi the other day when she suddenly alerted and started her hound dog roo-ing at something she saw that was approaching us.

Dogs are suspicious of things that do not seem to conform to the way things are supposed to be. People wearing hats, or delivery people carrying big boxes, for example. My previous dog, Murphy, got freaked out if she saw people kissing.

This thing was even more outrageous to Lexi, though. And I agreed.

It was a guy on a one-wheel Segway, roaring down the street at maybe 25 miles an hour, which in itself is disturbing. But what really got to Lexi, and to me, is that he was simultaneously pushing a stroller with a baby in it.

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Today’s Gene Pool Gene Poll is going to require difficult intellectual triage:

Good. See you on Thursday in the Invitational. Or before. You never know.

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