Saturday, April 24, 2021

Oregonian Resident Speaks Out About Never-Ending Protests in Portland

I love living in Oregon, but I wouldn't even consider moving to Portland.

Portland in recent years resembles a third world country with nightly protests over everything you can imagine.

My son and his girlfriend moved up to Portland last year. They're leaving the city in another week with no regrets. 

I'm sick of turning on the local and national news and seeing rioters looting and burning in the streets. All I see is anarchy. 

It's not that I don't think Americans should protest inequalities in the treatment of African-Americans.

But there's a big difference in the George Floyd protestors, and anarchists. Portland has become the home of anarchists and extremists on both sides of the political spectrum.

Sadly, the city hasn't been able to get a handle on the nightly attacks. I can't understand why. What other city in the nation has the bad reputation that Portland has for regular nightly riots?

I'm all for protesting against police brutality and human rights. As long as the protests are peaceful. 

Portland officials appear to have no answers to the problem so local residents have to deal with a never-ending series of protests.

Like I said, Oregon is a great state. Portland however is a text-book example of everything that can go wrong in our society.

Friday, April 23, 2021

New Oklahoma Law Makes Protestors Fair Targets For Motorists

In the aftermath of the George Floyd protests nationally, Republicans across the country are making it more difficult for Americans to assemble in protests.

After Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a controversial "anti-riot" bill which increases penalties for protestors two days ago, Oklahoma followed with their own bill to hinder protestors.

Oklahoma Republican Governor Kevin Stitt signed (HB) 1674, designed to discourage protestors, yesterday.

The one thing that really stands out is the tacit okay for motorists to plow through crowds of protestors if they feel threatened in order to "protect themselves."

The new law says as long as the driver is exercising "due care" they can plow through a crowd of protestors without worry of being arrested and punished.

I wonder what the bill's definition of "due care" is? The devil lies in the details.

Democratic state officials believe the bills are designed to curb the right to protest, as well as an offset accountability for violence against protestors and people of color.

It's readily apparent that Republicans are bad losers. They made up a Big Lie about voter fraud when Trump lost the election, and now they're taking measures to curtail protestors rights. 

Republicans have become the "enemy within" with tactics like this. Denying reality and the will of the majority has become the GOP's 21st Century mission. 

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Back In The Public Eye: Ben Carson Pushes Hydroxychloroquine

The man who once said the Pyramids were built to store grain is back in the limelight with another ridiculous claim: Hydroxychloroquine should be used to treat COVID-19 patients.

Ben Carson's hold on reality has always been tentative but when he took his clown show to Neil Cavuto the other night, his claim was bluntly rebuffed by the Fox News host.

That in itself was amazing. Truth seldom comes from the mouths of Fox hosts. It goes to show just how crazy the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is.

Carson, like his idol Trump, has trouble with telling the truth and believing in science.

His frail argument is the public should be allowed to choose if they want to shoot bleach into their veins. 

Carson doesn't seem to understand the CDC is about saving lives, not taking them.

Denying reality comes far too easy for the former neurosurgeon who caught Trump's attention and was put into a position to wreck havoc with his lies.

The bottom line is that vaccines are working. Period. End of argument. There's no need to committee suicide because of a conspiracy theorist who needs to brush up on his history.

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Trump's Walk of Shame Exposed: DHS IG Blocked Probe on Lafayette Sq. Protest

When Trump decided to walk from the White House to stage a photo op at St. John's Episcopal church last June he set the stage for his own electoral defeat in November.

His walk of shame across Lafayette Square, accompanied by top cabinet members, fanned the flames of protestors nationwide.

And now we know Trump blocked an investigation into the role of the Secret Service in clearing Black Lives Matter from the square.

The coward who blocked the investigation, DHS IG Joseph Cuffari, refused to investigate the Secret Service's involvement because he didn't want to anger Trump.

Cuffari also blocked an investigation into whether the Secret Service had violated federal protocols aimed at stemming the spread of the coronavirus among employees.

House Homeland Security Chairman, Bennie Thompson, called on Cuffari to testify at a Congressional hearing today.

He has a lot to answer for, and not just the two investigations under way. Cuffari's reputation as a Trump enabler has been well documented.

Today's hearing will hopefully bring some accountability to the DHS IG office.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Memo To Republicans: Don't Assume Kissing Trump's Ring Will Get You Elected, or Re-Elected

It's a mystery to me how you Republicans still show fealty to a traitor and enemy of democracy.

Apparently most of you who are running for the first-time, or up for re-election in 2022, feel that by licking Trump's shoes you have a winning campaign strategy. 

I think you're all wrong.

Consider. 

By next year Trump could be behind bars. With serious court cases pending in New York and Georgia, Trump may find himself wearing his favorite color - orange. (It does match his face. Give him that.)

I just can't see your candidates holding virtual rallies from a prison. It defies the imagination. Trust me. It's a bad look.

What if he doesn't go to prison?

In the first place, he's going to be busy trying to stay out of jail well past 2022. It might be 2023-24 before Trump begins his tour of duty in the federal penal system.

In the second place, there's going to be a shit storm and you're going to panic as Trump is drug through the courts like a bad habit. His endorsement will be MORE TOXIC than every before.

Think how the press is going to play up the drama of a sociopath finally facing justice? It might not look good holding his tiny hands. 

What You Republicans need to do is to gather together your warring factions and count how many of your collogues - and other conservatives - have been tossed under the bus by the mercurial Trump in the last four years?

Once you evaluate the facts you might feel foolish enough to continue worshiping his Orangeness, or you may have an epiphany and deny his deity. In which case, you could turn to taking care of your constituents, and not a hate monger.

This gentle warning comes with the hope that there is still some sanity in what use to be the Party of Lincoln. 

Monday, April 19, 2021

Mystery Solved: Republican Book-Buying Scheme Boosts Bestseller Lists

When I read that Ted Cruz's latest book was a on the way to becoming a bestseller, I knew something wasn't right.

How many times have we heard Cruz say anything that makes sense or is noteworthy in his infamous career?

A government watchdog organization, the Campaign Legal Center, filed complaints last week with the Federal Election Commission and the Senate Ethics Committee about the manner in which Cruz's campaign aides went about bulk buying and promoting his book, "One Vote Away: How a Single Supreme Court Can Change History."

The group said Cruz's campaign committee effectively converted campaign contributions to Cruz's personal enrichment, an illegal practice.

It turns out that Republican lawmakers have made a habit of bulk buying their own books as a way to earn outside income. This has been going on for years.

Apparently these lawmakers believe they aren't being paid enough and need to make more money by abusing their positions.

Members of Congress are forbidden from earning more than $29,595 in income beyond their federal salaries.

How are they getting away with this abuse?

Simple. Book advances and royalties are specifically exempted from these limits.

Obviously, this deceitful practice needs to change.

Sunday, April 18, 2021

My Sunday Epiphany Revealed

Today I'm sharing a conclusion I came to after 70-years of rambling around this planet like a junkyard dog seeking deliverance.

No matter what all of the great religions claim there is one irrefutable fact - there is no evidence we go to heaven or hell. Or anywhere for that matter after the lights go out permanently.

I know. I know. Every religion claims there is a heaven and hell, but - and this is a big but - you have to have faith and believe. 

Our mortal lifespan is spent seeking heaven and other delights even as we live in hells of our own making. This is it folks.

The here and now is either a miserable life or a glorious one depending upon our environments. 

There are gray areas, but when it comes right down to it there is no proof of life after we exit this one.

It's a one-time ride that all passengers don't always take advantage of. Live, and let live. This tour is too short to waste time hating each other.

It's Time to Pay Up Donnie!

It's looks like there will be some prime real estate going on the market soon in New York City. Convicted rapist and former president ...