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I read recently that Whiskey Pete has decided that he will decide which religions will be recognized by the Defense Department and which will be ignored.  How does this decision comply with the First Amendment?  I remember when I was drafted in 1963 and was prohibited from having “atheist” stamped on my ID tags because of an unconstitutional Army regulation.  This discrepancy was corrected in later years and soldiers were given their Constitutional right to correct religious information on ID tags.  People with a wide range of religious beliefs are enlisted and drafted into our military services.  I note that Pete changed the designation for Latter Day Saints (LDS) to accommodate a Utah senator.  Give us atheists a break!

With the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard, the President has the chance to replace a questionable choice with a person possessing genuine credentials.  Instead, he has chosen to continue the “clown show” by installing Bill Poulte as acting director. Mr. Poulte’s only qualification for the position is the tried-and-true Trump standard, i.e. the odoriferous brown tinge on his nostrils.

I first learned of IP28 when reading a news report this morning. Being a life-long hunter, I was interested enough to research the background.  I was surprised to learn that more than 100,000 signatures have been secured.  Where do these things come from? We live in a ranching and recreational community and the restrictions of the proposed rules would decimate our way of life and, quite possibly prevent me from enjoying a beef, venison or elk steak.  If this ridiculous initiative makes the ballot, I hope the good sense of the voters will result in a resounding defeat.

I have just read Mr. Trump’s reaction to the judge’s decision that the law establishing the Kennedy Center was violated when the Trump name was added and the closure for remodeling was not approved by Congress.  The Trump reaction is to belittle the judge and insult his spouse. His reaction supports fully the reality that Trump feels his second term should be dedicated to self-aggrandizement and personal wealth accumulation rather than service to the nation. This is the reaction of a spoiled three-year-old not a statesman nearing eighty.  Some past presidents have grown with the job.  Not so with this manchild.

The Department of Justice has just agreed to the most outrageous graft in the history of our Republic.  The “anti-weaponization” slush fund is an abomination but the “get-out-of-jail” scheme for Mr. Trump, his sons and their companies is the final straw.  Congress must act to reverse this decision.  Pre-sanctioning illegal acts is the stuff of dictatorships not democratic republics.  When will this nonsense stop?

The Trump administration has weaponized the Department of Justice to prosecute former FBI Director Comey for the “86” post.  The term was used frequently when I was in the Army some sixty years ago and meant getting rid of something like a stale pizza or the trash, not killing someone.  It should be obvious to all thinking persons that it is time to get rid of the demented narcissist who now occupies the White House.  Every day there is something more to cause one to say “GEE” that is graft, grift, golf, gentrification of D.C., gilding and greed. Mr. Comey should be in line for a large payout from the Trump Weaponization Fund.

How do you feel about payments to the rioters who were responsible for the assault on our capitol and convicted by juries or confessed to their crimes?  I am still appalled by the pardons liberally given by Mr. Trump but this waste of taxpayer dollars is unbelievable.  This administration which emphasizes law and order has become the poster child for hypocrisy by these actions.  If you agree with me, contact your Congressional Representative or your senator.

The best holiday of the year because it recognizes the most important persons in society. I have been blessed with a great mom, two great grandmothers, a wonderful wife and mother, a great mother-in-law and a great grandmother-in-law.  Additionally, three of my sisters are great moms. My wife and two sisters are still living and will be celebrated.  The others will be remembered for their love and understanding. May it be a great day for all!

With the latest Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act, we will once again see Jim Crow fly over the South and spread his droppings on the non-white population. The Governor of Louisiana is the first with Alabama and the remainder poised to follow.  I first visited Alabama on the late 1960’s when the effects of segregation and the “separate but equal” façade were beginning to change and real opportunities for minorities seemed possible.  The segregationists can now begin the reversal.

Since the day the East Wing of the White House was demolished, The Donald has promised a palatial addition with an estimated cost of $400 million or more all from donated funds with no cost to the taxpayer.  I read this morning that some of his supporters in Congress are now suggesting that tax money be used to ensure the project is completed. This country does not need, nor can we afford, a palace addition.  We need a White House occupant who shares our values and needs not an empire builder. As with the promise of lower gas prices, lower grocery prices and no wars, the ballroom brag has proved as empty as the space between the Donald’s ears.