media news, national news, political news, State news

What? No mention of policy?

As many of you are experiencing the same thing that’s occurring at my home in North Texas, I want to share an observation I made after reading — from front to back — a campaign brochure sent by Donald J. Trump on behalf of GOP U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton.

In the piece, Trump offers his “complete and total endorsement” of Paxton, who is in the fight of his political life against Democratic candidate James Talarico.

The text covers four full pages. I want to share an observation of what I have determined to be an error of omission.

Not once does Trump mention a policy decision from the White House that Paxton allegedly endorses. Nothing on the tariffs that are a regressive tax on all Americans who purchase items that come to us from offshore sources. No mention of the Iran war that Trump launched; so far 20 Americans have died in this “forever war” that Trump vowed he never would start were he sent to the White House in 2024. Not a peep from POTUS on the Ukraine war that Russia launched three years ago.

Trump has experienced difficulty defending these policies all by himself. Every president since Republican Herbert Hoover has called tariffs a tax. This guy says foreign governments are paying them. That is utter crap. The wars both have gone badly for our side, although Ukraine might be on the verge of declaring victory against the marauding Russians.

The brochure is vintage Trump. It is short on substantive debate and long on invective. He and Paxton spend most of the space in the letter to voters like me denigrating Talarico, his background, even making fun of his name.

If the POTUS is going to proclaim his endorsement for a damaged candidate such as Ken Paxton, it would seem to make more sense to explain why the candidate’s apparent endorsement of Trump’s policies is a reason to vote for him.

Oh, wait! Never mind! Trump won’t go there because he knows what we all know … that his policies have stunk up the campaign trail.

Sports news

‘No’ on boys competing against girls

Of all the nuance and complexity related to this notion of transgenderism, one issue — in my humble view — doesn’t deserve a moment of debate.

Should girls who once were boys be allowed to compete against girls in athletic events? No! A thousand times no. Aww, hell, make it a million times no.

I do not object to people suffering from “non-binary” gender identity. I cannot relate to it personally. I have no particular interest in the matter, except for those who want to legislate against those who cannot come to grips with their gender identity.

But when it comes to children who were born male competing against those who’ve been female all their lives, that’s another matter.

Allow me to state a fact or two. Check every record logged in every athletic endeavor and one thing becomes obvious. Males jump higher and longer, run faster and lift greater weights than females. A male’s DNA is embedded in him. That’s why I find this discussion in some political races so maddening. Gina Hinajosa, the Democratic nominee for Texas governor, said she sees “no problem” with boys competing against girls. Well, I do have a problem with it.

I see no need to relegate female athletes to automatic runner-up finishers to those who possess ability granted to them at birth by virtue of their gender.

medical news, military news

Bloom falls from VA

I have taken up space on High Plains Blogger singing the praises of the care I had received from the Department of Veterans Affairs and to be sure I don’t regret the bouquets I have tossed at the federal agency.

In recent weeks, though, I have learned a tough lesson about the VA’s medical policy. It works well … if you don’t have an injury or a serious illness. If you need actual help from the VA, well, you’d better strap in for a long haul.

I stumbled and fell on my right arm in the wee hours of Sept. 14. When I hit the deck, I thought I heard a snap in my right arm. I thought it might have broken my arm. I went to the emergency room that morning. I got it checked out. The ER doc told me the x-ray revealed no fracture, but said I needed an MRI to provide me with a definitive diagnosis. The doc said I might have a damaged muscle or tendon or possibly a rotator cuff issue that needs attention.

I have been battling day and night with the VA and with the office of an orthopedist to secure an MRI. It’s now Oct. 2. It’s been 18 days since I hurt my arm. The pain is still there. At times it is sharp. It hurts like hell. I have limited mobility in my right arm, which by the way is my “good arm.”

I still don’t know what in the name of serving our veterans has held up the MRI. I’ve been told I needed another x-ray. I got one. I’ve been told to talk to my primary care physician. I have spoken to her nurses.

There has been delay after delay after delay.

Then the ice-jam broke. I managed to secure an MRI appointment. It will occur in a few days.

My nightmare is almost over. I hope to learn that the detailed exam reveals. I further hope to get it treated. I want to be rid of the pain.

The lesson? The VA is OK, as long as it’s all routine. If you suffer an injury or get sick, then it’s every man for himself.

environmental news, local news

Oh, what glorious rain

Coming of age as I did in the Pacific Northwest, one rarely noticed any rainfall until it had fallen for a couple of days. The rain in Portland was part of one’s life.

I have lived now for most of my life away from where I was born and grew up, which means I have developed a new and better appreciation for rainfall when it arrives. We moved from Portland to Beaumont, Texas in 1984. We moved from Beaumont to Amarillo in 1995. My wife and then relocated to the D/FW area in 2018. I have called Texas home for 46 of my 76 years on this Earth.

Which is my way of telling you that the rain that arrived last night and then continued through the day today has been a Godsend. I have enjoyed watching every drop splash from the sky. It had been 60-something days since the last measurable rain fell.

I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as a teenager growing up in rain-soaked Portland. I would complain to my parents about the constant drizzle. Dad would respond, “Go talk to God. He’s the only one who can help you there.”

I just feel the need to express how my own outlook on such mundane matters has changed. The mundane can at times become the magnificent.

 

 

local news, political news

Not a partisan office, man

Ken Seligman is running for a spot on the Princeton City Council and he’s posted lawn signs around the city telling us of his desire.

They include his desire to bring a good Republican to the council.

And that, dear friends, stopped me in my tracks when I saw it.

Seligman is not seeking a partisan political job. Which makes me wonder what the hell is this guy thinking? Service on a local council, or school board, or college board of regents is devoid of partisan consideration.

I am reminded of a woman who once challenged then Amarillo Mayor Kel Seliger. Mary Alice Brittain called on “good Republicans” to vote against Seliger. I was editor of the opinion pages of the Amarillo Globe-News and I reminded Brittain of her error in conflating her race with that of county commissioner or state legislator. She lost to Seliger.

Seligman has long been involved in Princeton city government. I applaud his desire to seek improvements in the way City Hall does its business. But dammit, a candidate’s party affiliation has nothing to do with providing police protection, setting municipal taxes or fixing potholes.

national news

Now comes the wait … for the midterm blowout

Elections, they say, have consequences and on Nov. 3 Americans are going to find out whether the 2026 midterm election produces the kind of consequence that many of us desire.

Accordingly, I am going to keep my powder dry with regard to the expected outcome.

Damn near every political pundit this side of Sam Rayburn thinks Democrats are going to regain control of the U.S. House. Getting control of the Senate today looks more hopeful than ever.

Texas has an upstart who has been making a good bit of noise as he campaigns for the seat held by GOP Sen. John Cornyn … who, by the way, lost his GOP primary race to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. State Rep. James Talarico could defeat Paxton in 30-something days. If Paxton pulls this one out and becomes the senator from Texas, well … we’re in deeper trouble than any of us are thinking at this moment.

Donald Trump has made a hash out of our representative democracy. His “handiwork” has trickled down many states’ ballots. For reasons that boggle my noggin, Trump continues to draw support from the MAGA cabal who keep endorsing his cockamamie notion that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. I have heard more than one MAGA nitwit blame President Obama for the 9/11 terrorist attack. Hmm. You and I know that Obama was still eight years away from being elected president when 9/11 occurred. So … how do you reason with idiots such as that?

I am likely to lapse into relative solitude prior to the midterm election. I remain hopeful we can get the electoral result our nation deserves. This MAGA madness has flat worn me out!

national news, political news

Hoping my wish list comes true

My wish list for the end of Donald Trump’s time in office is short, not terribly pretentious and I hope it is achievable.

I am wishing for a few things to occur once the Trumps vacate he White House on Jan. 20, 2029.

My first wish is that we get a president who understands the Constitution he or she will take the oath to “defend and protect.” Trump refuses to read the damn thing. And by the way, even though my preference would be for a Democrat to succeed Trump, a doctrinaire Republican would be acceptable over a MAGA moron.

I want whoever takes over to order the immediate removal of the gold doo-dads that Trump has plastered over the Oval Office, as well as the rest of the West Wing. That can be done quietly, without much fanfare.

A return to regular legislative order would be most appropriate. The late GOP Sen. John McCain used to call regularly for regular order. He hated all the partisan sniping that froze any legislative accomplishment.

I want the restoration of collegiality. Of comity among the congressional and executive branch ranks. This might not seem like much of a request. There are many of us who are old enough to remember the legendary friendships that formed between leaders of both major parties. Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill come immediately to mind. In an odd way, so do Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich. These four political titans worked together on key legislation.

The clock continues to tick off time during Trump’s administration. The sooner it all expires the better. My patience is getting a bit of a second wind, however. I’ll wait for the end of this madness and hope for all I’m worth that a new day will restore our nation’s greatness.

business news, economic news, local news

What happened to the budget deficit?

I want to discuss briefly on this blog an issue that once stood as the hallmark of conservative Republicans’ policy, but which has been buried under an enormous mountain of rhetoric … and money.

Republicans used to proclaim themselves to be “deficit hawks,” meaning that they detested the idea of spending more money than the Treasury had in hand for the government to operate. I’m sitting in my North Texas home at this moment thinking of the 1980 presidential campaign between President Carter and former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. Carter was saddled with a $43 billion shortfall in the budget, giving Reagan, the GOP nominee for president, ample ammunition to use against the incumbent.

That issue, along with the Iranian hostage crisis, paved the way for Reagan to score a massive landslide victory over Carter.

The $43 billion figure today seems quaint. Why? Because the deficit being run up by the current GOP POTUS tops — oh, hell, I don’t know — something in excess of $2 trillion. And that number is growing because of demands by the Pentagon to add another $1.5 trillion to fight a war with Iran that Trump says we’ve already won!

What the f***?

This quote has been ignored in recent years, but Trump once described himself during his run for office as “king of debt.” Well, His Majesty the Debt King has demonstrated that he doesn’t give a damn about predictions from earlier Republicans about what these deficits — and the spiraling national debt — will do to our nation’s long economic future. They said during the Obama years in the White House that the debt will destroy our economy.

The GOP thought today? BFD, man.

Therefore that makes Donald Trump the RINO in chief. He’s no real Republican … but just talks a good and fraudulent game.

Donald Trump, education news

First Amendment … in full

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

That is what the nation’s founders wrote when they established has become known as the Bill of Rights.

Every head of our government understood that language, dating back to our nation’s first president, a national hero, George Washington, who took office in 1789; President Washington served two terms, left in 1797 … and died two year later.

The First Amendment makes it as clear as the deep blue sky that government should have no role in any of those things mentioned. Along came Donald J. Trump. He has sought to maneuver himself into an ability to govern all of the items mentioned in the First Amendment. He has endorsed Bible study in public schools, sought to ban Muslims from entering this country … and sought infamously to ban three news organizations from obtaining access to news sources within the White House or any other government building.

Now he is demanding that ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel, the late-night TV comic for making jokes about Trump. Let me be clear: Jimmy Kimmel hasn’t broken a single law, he hasn’t violated a single proposition noted in the First Amendment, hasn’t said a word that would put Trump in any form of danger.

He’s made jokes about the POTUS. He gets a lot of laughs. He’s funny, man.

Trump, who possesses the thinnest skin of any politician in human history, wants none of any of it. Humor not allowed. You wanna laugh … go to a circus and giggle at the clowns.

Trump’s ongoing battle over the First Amendment only illustrates in living color why I and many millions of other patriotic Americans want him far away from the center of political power.

economic news, local news

Airport set to make neighbors angry

The news that McKinney National Airport is about to start commercial air service fills me with terribly mixed emotions.

Voters rejected a big bond issue a few years ago to expand the airport into a commercial terminal. About 58% of voters said “no!” to the idea of expanding the terminal into a commercial enterprise. Had I been given the opportunity to vote on it, I would have voted “yes.” I like the idea of a third commercial terminal serving air travelers in North Texas. It’s very convenient for me in Princeton to drive about three miles west on US 380 instead of driving to hell and gone to Love Field or D/FW airport to catch a plane.

Voters nixed the idea. Many of them voted no on the basis of environmental impact. Noise levels would be intolerable, they said. And traffic could make driving even worse than it is in Collin County.

The city would have none of that. They cobbled together another package. It’s smaller. It also will be funded through certificates of obligation, which do not require a vote.

I heard today that the first flight out of McKinney will be on Veterans Day. Avelo Airlines is the only carrier that has signed on so far to fly out of McKinney. I’ve seen the construction of the airport as I drive by on Airport Drive. It’s impressive.

It also stands as a testament to a local government’s stubbornness in proceeding with a project that residents stated clearly they don’t want.

Commentary on politics, current events and life experience