The Letters Keep Coming

I'll be so sad when this election is over and I don't have the daily LsTTE to read. Let's start with one of my old favorites, Marjorie Bovee.

I agree with Harrison Francett’s recent letter regarding Ken Tingley’s lack of outrage over Hillary’s continuous lies, past and current email scandals, attorney general and Bill Clinton’s secret plane conversation, the FBI’s coddling and Bill’s sexual actions as president that almost caused his impeachment. No mention of these hardly at all.

It's so sad that Gropegate is so much more titillating than an e-mail scandal. I will point out that Bill Clinton's infidelities were quite well-covered at the time they occurred. Oh God, were they!

Also not mentioned are the adulterous escapades of Democrats Lyndon Johnson and John F. Kennedy. Eisenhower was said to have had a military girlfriend and Ronald Reagan was married more than once. JFK was known to have many women come forward regarding sexual matters while married to Jackie. Even with these sexual accusations, they carried on with the country’s business and made important decisions.   

It's a newspaper, not a history book. BTW, all those guys were able to competently run campaigns while carrying on their dalliances. Trump can't even do that. 

Unfair and lopsided news reporting by anyone suggests dictatorship control of the worst kind and brainwashing of the public to the reporter’s or TV news commentator’s own personal and political party’s agenda. We don’t have to worry about Russia as our minds are already being controlled by the press and mainstream media TV commentators on NBC, CBS, ABC, etc., who bombard our homes and lives with tilted information of their own choosing, not the facts from both sides of the stories. 

Hillary Clinton is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life. And you shouldn't bring up Russia since they are on the side of your candidate.

A dictator’s first line of control is the news and press, and it looks like the U.S. has been under a dictatorship for the past eight years at least. Do you really want more of the same? Actions speak louder than words (Bill Clinton, JFK, LBJ). America’s only chance for real change is finally here with Donald Trump, and we should not be afraid to give him a chance to make America great again along with us. No amount of Hillary’s lies and corrupt reporting will change my mind.

If I wasn't so amused I'd stick a fork in my eye. Thanks Margie!

A short mention of Mario Hepp because he is one of my old faves. 

Elise Stefanik is a steady breeze in a sea of corruption in New York state and this present scandal ridden administration. This woman has the right qualities to execute her position to its highest level; honesty, integrity and leadership, a quality that most politicians lack here in New York state and certainly within the Obama administration.

That was pretty much it. Points for brevity and the poetry of the steady breeze. Since Stefanik is running for Congress, I'm not sure what she's going to do about corruption in NY, tho. 

As always, the best is last. As the first shall be. I have some concern for the well-being of this man. I've been reading his letters for some time and do have some concern for his mental health. You're up, Stiling Knight. 

Although you made a mistake when you published your article in which you said “all of us are becoming less human,” at least you edit a paper that is admirably not the case of yellow journalism that is sweeping our country.

OK, I don't know what that means, but it sounds like a compliment. Always say something nice at the start. I try to do that in my letters, too. 

We may have already passed the point of no return by having accepted the Nazi condition ruled by Adolf Hitler. Everyone in the highest level of government was completely afraid of him. A mere glance at a certain person in the room with Hitler would mean that some other person in the room would not exist at some time within the next 24 hours.

Moving on quickly past the niceties. Oh yeah, wtf? I don't think he means that Hitler could kill with a glance. Not positive, tho.

That is what a dictatorship is, and a dictatorship is what I meant when you published my revelation that “Hillary Clinton directed and enforced her views on practically everything President Bill Clinton could say or do during the eight years Bill Clinton was president of the United States.”

So, she was cool with the blowjobs? And are you on the same thing John was on when he had his Revelations? Ergot maybe?

When the American Army closed in on Berlin in World War II on the west and the Russian Army closed in on the east, Hitler said “All is lost” and killed himself and his wife, but his bodyguard overheard Joseph Goebbels and his wife planning to kill their six teenage children. This greatly disturbed the bodyguard, and the Goebbels did kill their six teenage children.

I'm wondering how he knows that the bodyguard was greatly disturbed. Touching, if true. It's hard to get too weepy over the death of Goebbels and family. 

This is characteristic of a dictatorship when it ends. However, if we vote for a dictatorship on Nov. 8, there is no way it will ever end. There will be no armies approaching Washington, D.C.

On the subject of weepy. He seems a little misty that there will be no armies marching on Washington. I see that as a good thing. Also the thought of Democratic presidents from now til the end of time is kinda cool, too. 

If a phalanx of Jewish folks refuses to vote for the presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, they will have, by themselves, saved this country from a dictatorship in our country that will never end.

Yes, I'm sure the Jewish folks will be much better off with a guy endorsed by David Duke. 

More Beautiful LsTTE, And Some Not So

Not so beautiful that is, but plenty nutso. God was very active on the letters page today. First up, Carl (not Cal) Thomas. He was really  kinda boring as he outsourced most of his letter to a quote. And then this about how we're on our way back to bondage.

During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence.” 

1. From bondage to spiritual faith; 

2. From spiritual faith to great courage; 

3. From courage to liberty; 

4. From liberty to abundance; 

5. From abundance to complacency; 

6. From complacency to apathy; 

7. From apathy to dependence; 

8. From dependence back into bondage.

The dumbing down of America.

Yeah, that dumbing down is a problem. It likely explains over half his letter being the equivalent of copy and paste. Let's get to the finale. Bring on God!

We may be one vote away from dictatorship. Vote wisely.

Remember always, it is God who places rulers and kings. God has his program and this portion is nearing completion. Next phase soon to start. Look into God’s program for your well-being. The USA is not found as a player in end time events in his book (the Bible).

If God is omniscient and wrote the Bible it's kinda interesting that he would have left us out of it. That's very strange. It's almost like it was written by men who didn't know this land mass was here. 

Next up is Elizabeth Sullivan, who I don't believe achieved true humorless harpy of hate status with her letter. Keep trying, Liz. You can do it.

I think we all agree that the candidates running for the presidency are atrocious. It boggles the mind that out of 320 million people, they are the best we can do.

I'm relatively happy with HRC. 

However, this election is the most important one in over two centuries. It will determine whether the U.S. remains a free nation or becomes a Marxist Socialist nation. This election is not about the candidates or a popularity contest or party lines. It is about who to vote for who will save our country.

I'm confused. I thought Obama already turned us Marxist Socialist. 

A vote for Donald Trump is for the continuation of freedom and liberty, capitalism and the Constitution, a Supreme Court that is fair and balanced, that won't push their progressive agenda on everyone, a "free" America.    

She left out truth. justice and the American way. Why is free in scare quotes?

I truly believe he can bring back our economy, help the poor and secure our borders. People may say "Donald Trump is a time bomb." Have no fear.  If he got out of control, the Congress and Senate will impeach him in a heartbeat. That is the beauty of our government; checks and balances.

Reading this I have to question her "faith" in Trump. As a frequent letter writer, I would question the wisdom of the line saying Trump is a time bomb and then offering that he might be. And thanks for explaining how our government works. It's odd to say Congress and the Senate when the Senate is part of Congress, tho. And it's actually the part that does that impeachy thing. I'd prefer not to take a chance on the system working so well and not elect him in the first place.

Well, had to save the best for last: Patricia Harrington. She's a frequent contributor and never disappoints. Certainly not today.

We are all worked up about Mr. Trump’s past. Yet we are not concerned with the very sketchy, disgusting history that we all know for sure exists with the Clintons.

Yes, please don't mention any of that history. We'll just take that for granted. 

Before all of us were born, our ancestors were sent a savior by God to help us to change and all we had to do is to listen and follow him.

Is He on the ballot?

Our leaders at that time made us afraid to listen and follow. They told lies about him and convinced us that he was evil. We agreed to crucify that one savior.

She gets kudos for not going all anti-Semitic and pointing out who "they" were. 

I am not comparing Mr. Trump to Jesus Christ.

Then what the hell did you bring up Jesus for? Cuz I don't see any other reason.

But I am saying that here we have a man trying to save us from all the evil that has been weighing on our country. Mr. Trump has enough money to hop on his plane with all the people he cares about and just move out of this country.

Don't get my hopes up. I'm sure he can find a lovely dacha in Russia.

He is trying to help us, and we are treating him like our ancestors treated Jesus. 

See. Now, there you go comparing him to Him again. 

Have we not learned from history mistakes? Read your Bibles. Be not afraid of change.

I've read it. Trump ain't in it. And as Carl Thomas notes, the United States isn't either. 

It's a Beautiful Day in the LTTE

It is when one of the original humorless harpies of hate makes an appearance. Thank you Judy Thomas for brightening up a gray Friday.

He said, she said. Well, I don’t care what someone said a decade or more ago about anything or anyone. We all have our own regrets. Makes no difference if you’re president or ditch digger! I care about how the job gets done. Being POTUS is the most important job in the world! It affects all of us.

I'm thinking probably unless it's Bill or Hillary Clinton, but sadly she doesn't go there.

I know Trump isn’t perfect. His mouth gets him into trouble. Mostly with people so weak their skin is thinned to the point of real reason. And I like that he says just what he thinks. Boo hoo, “sticks and stones” remember that saying?

I do remember the sticks and stones thing. That part about people with skin thinned to the point of real reason is throwing me, tho.

But at least he’s not so power hungry that he’d eat his own young as I ponder the one child the power queen had. This ol’ gal has committed crooked land deals to treason and gotten away with murder! Literally! 

Please let Vince Foster rest in peace. I'd heard a lot of slanders against HRC. This is the first allegation of cannibalism, tho. I don't get out enough.

She used our state to be senator for a stepping stone to this point only. Her “home state” Arkansas wouldn’t allow her that! Those folks knew what she was back then!

Not to pick nits, but I believe her "home state" would be Illinois same as Obama and Lincoln. Hmmm, there must be a conspiracy theory in that somewhere. As to her Senate career in New York, she won in 2000 with 55% and in 2006 with 67%. At that rate, she was only a few terms away from 100%.

When you vote in a few weeks you need only ask yourself a few questions, and ponder a few thoughts, with common sense answers! 

Judy, I think your common sense done got up and gone. On to the quiz!

How many freedoms have you lost? 

None.

Who do you trust not to lie, deceive or be corrupt? 

The Nasty Woman. Hillary!!!!!!!!

Do you want a president who owes no one but you, or a tyrannical queen who is already bought and paid for by special interests?

I think this question is rigged and I refuse to accept the results.

Do you want the Constitution intact with the Second Amendment or ripped apart as promised by Hillary the horrible?

I didn't realize she had promised to rip up the second amendment. Oh well, one more reason to vote for her. Also, I thought she was married to Bill, not Hagar. 

Do you want to keep the items this amendment allows you?

Since I'm not a gun fetishist, I'm not worried. Strike that, I'm not worried anyway because I know how our fuckin' government works.

As for Trump’s women, immigrant, etc. comments? I think he’s just like you! And that’s what bothers those of you who are uncomfortable. Not with him, yourself!

No, Donald Trump and I are not just alike. You and Donald Trump may be alike, tho. I believe Judy is entirely missing what bothers us about Trump.

President or dictatress? Your choice!

And another false choice it is.

Response to Stefanik Supporter

Another instance of the post title saying it all:

     I'd like to join Ms. Ramant and Mr. Derrick in condemning the remarks made by a Derrick supporter about Congresswoman Stefanik. Mr. Derrick stated, "My campaign does not condone any language that disparages women." Don't know what's "weak and phony" about that. Alright, the comments were deplorable, too.

     Here's what Megyn Kelly said about Donald Trump, "You've called women you don't like fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals." On Carly Fiorina, he said, "Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that?" This is necessarily a small sample. Can you imagine what he's said about Ms. Clinton in private?

     In public he's said, "I think her bodyguards should drop all weapons. I think they should disarm. Let's see what happens to her. Take their guns away. It'll be very dangerous." And, "If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people - maybe there is."

     I've never heard words of contrition from Donald Trump over misogynistic comments, assassination fantasies or for seven and a half years of Birtherism. Ms. Stefanik is supporting him without a discouraging word. Won't Ms. Ramant and her candidate join me in denouncing the hideousness of Donald Trump?

In my new kinder and gentler mode, I'm not even going to use the Humorless Harpies of Hate label, mostly because she wasn't one. Another step toward sainthood.

UPDATED: Sainthood will have to wait. I'm going to upgrade Ms. Ramant to triple H status. Upon re-reading her letter I rediscover this line:

Should Derrick be allowed to let this slip through the cracks with his latent position of these words that were said at his own event with a weak, phony “apology?” Man up Derrick!

That is certainly adequately humorless, harpyish and hate-filled. Congratulations Kathi Ramant!

Doremus Jessup He Ain't

He probably would fit right in as Buzz Windrip's press secretary, though. Hey, at least I'm not comparing Trump to Hitler. Anyway, I've gotta put up some comments on Mark Hannity's Frost's latest screed against Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately I have no way of linking to it. The piece I'm referring to is titled "Hillary the Hateful." Do you see where it's going? And, of course, she's hateful for calling deplorable people deplorable. Trump can say anything nasty thing he wants, but she has to walk on eggshells.

So, here's the portion of the speech MHannityF prints in his paper.

(Y)ou could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right?

If you go to the link, you'll note that's a mighty small sample. so, let's start the process I like to call de-Hannitization. It's so new spell check doesn't recognize it. OK, here's what precedes that quote.

You know, to just be grossly generalistic,

OK, I'm going to admit that generalistic is not a word. I believe it's not too much of a stretch to intimate she was going for the idea that she was generalizing, which is a word. If that was included though, it would have been harder for Frost to say,

"If Trump is polling at, say, 40%, Hillary thus trashed about one in every five American voters." 

So let's put up some more of HRC's speech that didn't fit into the Chronicle. 

The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic -- you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he has lifted them up. He has given voice to their websites that used to only have 11,000 people -- now 11 million. He tweets and retweets their offensive hateful mean-spirited rhetoric. Now, some of those folks -- they are irredeemable, but thankfully they are not America."

It's not really that long. It does seem to indicate why she might be referring to some of Trump's supporters as deplorable. Let's meet some of them. WhiteGenocideTM, come on down. 

The account, @WhiteGenocideTM, tweets obsessively about white women allegedly raped by various minority groups. “Africans and Muslims rape more than anyone else,” reads one of the user’s retweets. “Don’t let them in.” Many of the tweets are accompanied by the hashtag “#rapefugees,” apparently a combination of the words “rape” and “refugees.”

The account also dabbles in support for Nazi Germany. “Hitler SAVED Europe,” reads another tweet. 

Could just be one bad apple, though. Nope.

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Tuesday retweeted an apparent white supremacist, something he’s done multiple times this election.

"@keksec__org: @realDonaldTrump Your policies will make this state and country great again! #MakeAmericaGreatAgain pic.twitter.com/SWxV3YCbqb"

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2016

The user, who goes by the name Jason Bergkamp, writes for an online publication called Vanguard 14. According to its website, the publication covers issues like “white nationalism and genocide.” Bergkamp’s bio on the site says he is a “Dutch based journalist writing about European, American and South African events.”

Then there's the made up data suggesting a massive crime wave by blacks against whites. He got that from a Twitter user named "CheesedBrit" whose avatar is a swastika and who says we should have listened to "the Austrian chap with the little moustache."

Far from the last I could put up is the Star of David obtained from a white supremacist message board. 

"The image was previously featured on 8chan's /pol/ — an Internet message board for the alt-right, a digital movement of neo-Nazis, anti-Semites and white supremacists newly emboldened by the success of Trump's rhetoric — as early as June 22, over a week before Trump's team tweeted it.

Having beat the stuffing out of that horse, let's move on with the rest of the quote which Frost commented on, but did not actually provide for his readers.

"But the other basket -- and I know this because I see friends from all over America here -- I see friends from Florida and Georgia and South Carolina and Texas -- as well as, you know, New York and California -- but that other basket of people are people who feel that the government has let them down, the economy has let them down, nobody cares about them, nobody worries about what happens to their lives and their futures, and they're just desperate for change. It doesn't really even matter where it comes from. They don't buy everything he says, but he seems to hold out some hope that their lives will be different. They won't wake up and see their jobs disappear, lose a kid to heroin, feel like they're in a dead-end. Those are people we have to understand and empathize with as well."

And what does he have to say about that? 

"As for the other half of Trump's adherents, she said they deserve 'empathy and understanding.'

OK, so when did empathy become a bad thing. I suppose it helps when you gloss over her actual comments. 

Not respect, but pity.

Oh, I see. You take the word empathy which is difficult to spin in a negative way and translate it into pity which in some lights can be seen as a negative. Very clever. 

In one fell swoop, Hillary revealed both the intolerance and the condescension that so puts off so much of the electorate. 

So, he's criticizing Clinton for not being tolerant towards out and out racists. Shame on her. And I would really love to know where the condescension is found in there. For old times sake (2 years back) Mark Frost is the guy that endorsed a man who said, "We need guns to defend ourselves against tyranny. If you don't understand that, you're not paying attention." I have no problem seeing condescension there. Also over the top wingnuttery. 

Where is the mission to represent everyone, to respect us all. 

It's in the part of the speech you didn't present to your audience so they could make up their own minds. 

But, you say, what does he have to say about Trump?

But Trump is so much worse, they'll counter. 

This is me countering, yes he is!

New and Improved and Sparkly Letter

Here's the revised and, hopefully, improved letter to the Post Star:

     I agree with Mr. Collins that Trump will not be Hitler. Also, folks on the right; Obama is not Hitler. You on the left; Bush wasn't Hitler either. No word yet on Cheney as Rasputin.

     However, the subject of my letter is what a petty swindler Trump is. Of that, there's little doubt. It's astonishing to see someone who's supposedly a billionaire, crookedly misappropriating such piddling amounts. Does he just play a rich guy like Jim Backus did (much better)? Let Barbra Streisand ask it in song: "Is he that rich? Maybe he's poor? Til he reveals his returns, who can be sure."

     Recently we learned that Trump scammed the state of NY out of $150,000 meant for businesses hurt by 9/11, which his wasn't. And there was Trump U, where he conned people into spending what would be substantial sums for them, not for an alleged billionaire, on worthless "degrees." Then there was the veteran's benefit he held to duck a debate. The Donald generously pledged a million dollars. It took him four months to fulfill it, then only when shamed into it by the Washington Post.

     This is a man who can't get loans from American banks because he's such a poor credit risk. He has to go to Russian "financiers." I hope for his sake these pals of Putin's have the same forgiving policies on bankruptcy he's encountered (frequently) in the past. In any case, some voters seem to have forgiving attitudes toward crystal-clear fraud. Would you buy a used car from him?

     And Mike Pence, if you can't call the David Dukes of the world deplorable, what can you call them? Uncouth? Boorish? Indelicate? They is what they is. Use proper words in proper places. They do have meanings.

The readership of the Post Star is roughly 35,000. Would Wiki lie? The readership of my blog is roughly zero to 2 (on a good day). That's why I write letters to the editor. And for this guy:

I would prefer you leave the comments and eliminate the Letters To The Editors! I understand that writers are limited to number of words and number of submissions within a certain period of time. You continually print letters by the same people; perhaps no one else is writing or perhaps you just are printing letters that rarely call the Post Star out. There are letters that are well written and some are clever. Many are ridiculous and poorly written. However it is the letters by some of those who submit over and over which are written in a manner that indicates that they believe they are journalists submitting articles for readers who are anxiously waiting for their next essay. I would vote for you to stop printing these letters. They are not journalists and if you stopped continually printing their drivel, you might have enough space to print many of the other letters you decline.

This drivel is for you, Stuckhere (if that is your real name).

They Don't Have a Godwin for Nero References

The intelligence of the average person found in Lake George this time of year is a little suspect. Anyway, here's the letter:

This is in response to the "groans for Hillary" article in Wednesday's paper. I'm sure there were Romans saying; "Let's put this Nero fellow in charge. What harm could he do?" I'm old, white, male, hetero, Christian and relatively well-off. You know, firmly in the Trump demographic. I'll be voting enthusiastically for Ms. Clinton. There has been an industry devoted to smearing her for the last 28 years. The Republican convention continued that effort with the ongoing despicable use of the tragedy of Benghazi for their political purposes. Disgust with that would be reason enough to cast my ballot for her.

     

But, Donald Trump has said he plans to default on US debt. He figures our creditors (like many of his were forced to do) will take dimes on the dollar. He also plans to place tariffs on goods from China. You won't mind paying 45% more on everything from that country in order to "make ours great again," will you? The people asked by the Post Star don't mind. I remember what President Bush did to my investments in 2008. From the sounds, those are going to look like the good old days.

Oh, and of course, please ask Congresswoman Stefanik if the economic ideas of her party's leader jibe with hers. I'm also interested if she's comfortable with the use of the deaths of four Americans to score political points. Or would she denounce it as the revolting spectacle that it is?

Sense and Nonsense on Guns

You can't get much more nonsensical on the issue than Matt Funiciello.

Funiciello said both bills are an overreach of federal authority.

He said local gun boards should be elected in each municipality to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether residents should be allowed to buy guns.

“We elect responsible people who we feel are good with their guns,” said Funiciello, a bread company owner and political activist from Hudson Falls. 

OK, first fuck that federal authority bullshit. I'm pretty sure I heard the nuts at Malheur and the Bundy Ranch spouting the same argument. Sometimes I think one of Matt's primary  news sources is Alex Jones. Fuck it, I'll just put up my comment. Why mess with perfection?

“We elect responsible people who we feel are good with their guns,”

What does that mean? All I can think of is Annie Oakley (or Sarah Palin) shooting a silver dollar out of the air. It sounds as tho non-gunowners need not apply. Illegal to be sure. That brings up that many boards wold likely skew to everyone or no one gets a gun, tho. How many blacks in the South (or Boston, to be fair) would have gotten a gun 50 or 60 years ago? Good thing there's no prejudice anymore.

Then there's, do you want to be on a board turning down a psychopath's gun application? And betting he doesn't get one anyway? Being sued might be the least of your worries.

If the board is going to make a sound decision, they're going to have to have access to criminal and mental health records, presumably. Is that a problem?

These are questions off the top of my head. I trust there are brighter people in the Derrick and Stefanik campaigns who can come up with better inquiries. Maybe even the local media can before they make an endorsement this time around.

Yes,“We elect responsible people who we feel are good with their guns.” He really said that. I know Maury Thompson and he wouldn't lie. Anyway. Matt responded in the comments. And just let me say, he's not into that whole paragraph thing. 

Reformed (and Kevin), the actual conversation I have around gun control is this ... I am a huge supporter of the 2nd amendment. Period. It's about deer hunting, yes, but it's also about King George and protecting ourselves from tyranny and fascism. And, in my book, both reasons are entirely valid and I defend them both. That said, the FBI and other federal agencies regularly give clearance for gun licenses and permits to people who should not ever have them granted (bear in mind that the majority of them are white American males - this is not really about "terrorism" at all). This is because these agencies do not KNOW the people in question. My brother, who owns many handguns, rifles and bows, had a great idea about issuing permits (and that is what Maury and I were speaking about). His idea is that we have Citizen Advisory Boards elected from the actual communities the permits will be issued in (made up of people who actually know or have access to those who know the people looking to obtain the permits). If the FBI had questioned Omar Matteen's co-workers at G4S or even just spoken with his abused wife, I'm pretty sure he would not have so easily procured the weaponry he used to kill all the people he did. In the bigger picture, we need to stop being a culture of violence and empire. The Republican and Democratic Party bills being offered are reactionary and unconstitutional. They just add many more layers to an already bloated and entirely inappropriate surveillance state and place more people on "watch lists". What they also do is absolutely nothing to decrease our gun dealing as a nation (we are responsible for 80% of the world's weaponry). These illegal bills just allow more people to be discriminated against by officially labeling them as "terrorists" ... right along with the 4 year old children and Ted Kennedy and animal rights activists who are traditionally placed on our insipid and Orwellian "watch lists" today. 

Or actually addressing the questions I had about the loony tune "local gun board" thing in the first place. So what the fuck. Double down and ask another question, I always say. 

Thank you for the response, Matt. I was looking for more details about the local gun boards because I didn't think it sounded really practical. A web search showed they had it somewhere in Michigan and ended it. It didn't use elected officials or at least ones elected for that sole purpose.

I do believe one can support the second amendment and not be an absolutist. I have talked to gun owners in the threads who are open to reasonable controls. No one wants to deprive hunters of their guns. Why discuss it? It's a big leap between having a gun for hunting and defending against tyranny and fascism. That's not a gun policy I want to hear from my representative. If it was, I'd move to Texas. I asked someone here in the threads this question and got no response. But, I'm dogged. Who gets to decide that we are being ruled by a tyrant? I remember people saying Obama was a tyrant because of Obamacare. Was that tyranny worthy of sedition? Apparently not. Were the Bundys in the right at their ranch or at Malheur Preserve?

You speak a lot about the evil that corporations do. You seem to give the NRA/Gun Industry a pass. They control gun policy in this country. That's not conspiracy theory. It's reality. Does it not concern you?

Technically, I guess I asked two more questions there. He didn't come back and answer either of them. I believe I'm going to make a special request to Mike Derrick to ask them. My final comment.

Someday I may get an answer to that question. Charges of tyranny and fascism fly too freely for my tastes. My concern is that the shooter or shooters in Dallas may have felt justified for these reasons.

This guy is the Green Party, Progressive, Fuckin' candidate for Congress in my district. Please pardon the f-bombs, but it has been an annoyingly deadly week that calls for a few. Just to bring things down a little, here's Sharay Santora:

Videos of the attack show officers running toward the gunfire to help citizens.

Sharay Santora, who was there with her children, told CNN she overheard marchers say, “They were here for us, I’m going to be there for them.”

“My children and I are going to be there for their funerals because they lost their lives protecting me and my children,” she said. 

Bless you and thank you for that, Ms. Santora. 

Another Letter to Another Gun Nut

This is in response to Brendan Whelan's, let's ban cars and phones because they kill people too, letter.

    I'd like to respond to Ms. Whelan's letter and point out some differences between cars, phones and guns. You won't find a congressperson urging teens to text and drive. Nor will you find one urging people to drive drunk, not wear seat belts, exceed the speed limit, etc. The Kellerman study in 1996 stated, "A gun in the home is far more likely to be involved in the death of a member of the household than to be used in self-defense ... people should be strongly discouraged from keeping guns in their homes." That kind of talk doesn't sell guns. The only kind of discouraging the Congressional arm of the gun industry did was of gun studies. In 1996, they cut off funding the CDC with the Dickey Amendment.

     

     Your statistics are a bit off. Annual deaths from guns and autos are both in the range of 30,000 to 33,000. A big difference is that those from autos are declining. Another is that there is $240 million a year spent on traffic safety and next to nothing on deaths from firearms. Would more guns result in fewer deaths? Let's study it and find out. The NRA seems to feel everyone should be armed. Over 60% of fatalities are from suicide or accident. To me, that suggests more is not better. If not, let's cut out the gun industry propaganda and educate people. And educate Congress. Sensible legislation is not enacted out of ignorance and fear of reprisal from Wayne LaPierre.

     Condolences to the police of Dallas.

Link to my letter 

Crazy Letter Wednesday

This'll be a nice easy post. First, copy and paste the rantings of Andrew Dicroce.

Radicalized Islamic terrorists attack! Why don't you try those words on Ken or just like the rest of the pathetic pandering progressive lame stream media and low life politicians all you can do is blame law-abiding Americans. I don't shrug like you, I get mad at the fact that how many of these terrorists’ attacks on our soil do we have to tolerate before people like you wake up! Oh yeah it's easy to blame the gun and of course propose another wasted law that would have done nothing to stop this attack. 

Once again we get your left wing propaganda sources that are full of …. ; here is one for yougunfacts.info. Yeah Ken that is a site that backs up their claims with actual facts, something that is sorely missing from your diatribes.

Hey Mr. Credible news source, why don't you own up or admit to using Salon.com for one of your gun control diatribes? What's the matter Ken no guts to own up to it?

One thing all your propaganda can't seem to explain away is the fact that as more Americans own guns, including the evil AR-15, somehow crime has gone down, now how can that be! It's a shame you and your ilk are more upset with law-abiding Americans than with terrorists! 

And since I've already honed my response:

Mr. Dicroce's recent letter has driven me to write. I just wish I could match his peerless rhetoric. Mr. Tingley must still be smarting from the stern dressing down he received. Ouch!

     

Just to comment on the subject he broaches, I'd like to bring folks attention to a recent initiative. A group of veterans that includes Generals David Petraeus and Stanley McChrystal have formed the Veterans Coalition for Common Sense. Their aim is to push for sensible gun policies and to reduce firearm suicides. They're a welcome entry, since we've just seen that the Senate cannot even do the least thing possible. That is, preventing those on the no-fly list from obtaining weapons.

     

I'd urge the Derrick campaign to take a look at this effort. Congresswoman Stefanik has opposed stronger background checks and recently cashed a check from the NRA. Some checks are good ones. All I know of Mr. Funiciello's views is from a February 2014 interview. In that, he stated “we need guns to defend ourselves against tyranny." I prefer we work to strengthen democracy. You're our only hope, Mike. Let's show everyone that the Democratic Party is the one that aligns with common sense. Mr. Dicroce is not going to cast his vote for you.

     

Hillary: "Fuck The Guns"

No, she didn't really say it. Too Trumpian. Close enough for me, though.

“Hillary Clinton passes [our] test with flying colors,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, in a statement, “pushing back against the NRA’s extreme ‘guns for everyone, everywhere’ agenda, and ushering in a new political calculus that saving lives from gun violence is a winning issue.” 

No, that wasn't it. That was John Feinblatt, president of Everytown Says Fuck The Guns Everytown for Gun Safety. Here's Hillary saying Fuck The Guns:

“The gun lobby may be the most powerful lobby in Washington, but I believe that the American people are more powerful still,” said Clinton in a statement responding to Everytown’s endorsement. “We are stronger together. We will not be intimidated. We will not back down.”

I believe there was also a quote from her about shoving Wayne LaPierre up Trump's fat, orange ass, too. Couldn't find it in the article, tho. Feel free to use it, Hill. You too, Mike Derrick. 

What's the label? Yeah, you know. 

Indeed, it is a bold position to take, as Democrats have sometimes shied away from promoting gun control with too much vigor on the campaign trail, worried that the NRA machine will lumber into action and persuade gun rights advocates to make their voice heard at the ballot box.

Oh, Nuts With Guns felt left out. Fuck them, too.

In total seriousness, here's President Obama discussing the issue of gun control as it should be addressed and not the way yahoos like myself.

“First of all, the notion that I or Hillary or Democrats or whoever you want to choose are hell-bent on taking away folks’ guns is just not true,” Obama said. “And I don’t care how many times the NRA says it.”

And:

“So, sir, I just have to say, respectfully, that there is a way for us to have common sense gun laws,” Obama said. “… but the only way we’re going to do that is if we don’t have a situation in which anything that is proposed is viewed as some tyrannical destruction of the Second Amendment.”

We can have nice things. Elect Democrats. 

Today in Humorless Harpies of Hate

One of my fave triple H's made an appearance in the PS today. This is the first draft of a reply.

     I’d like to respond to Ms. Thomas’ letter supporting Donald Trump. I am also supporting him all the way to the end of the convention in July. There are a few nits I need to pick, though. To say that socialism is one step away from communism is the equivalent of saying capitalism is one step away from fascism. There are a number of European countries that could be considered socialist, but are not bordering on Stalinism or Maoism.

     

     Hillary Clinton was absolved of guilt in Whitewater in September 2000. I presume “aiding four of our own to die on foreign soil” refers to Benghazi. It sounds as if you have information House Republicans could use. They’ve held hearings on it 21 times and investigated 8 times. Compare that to 22 and 2 for the 9/11 attacks. I’ll let Kevin McCarthy say it. “Everybody thought Hillary Clinton was unbeatable, right? But we put together a Benghazi special committee, a select committee. What are her numbers today? Her numbers are dropping.”

    
     I’d normally be supporting Comrade Sanders more fervently. Because people of the right have attacked Hillary like rapid dogs for the last 28 years, I have grown sympathetic toward her. Why is it the right can’t be satisfied with attacking a Democratic president? They have to attack the whole family. I realize she started running for office in 2000. Michelle Obama has never run for office, though. And yes, I still remember Rush Limbaugh calling Chelsea the White House dog.    

I actually saw the show where Limbaugh pulled that. It was on his short-lived (rightfully) TV show. I did a search for whatever reason and came across this load of shit.

I kind of like this idea of first and last draft. So here we are with the babies killed. No actual babies were harmed in the production of this letter.

   I'd like to respond to Ms. Thomas' letter supporting Donald Trump. I am also supporting him, all the way to the end of the convention in July. There are a few nits I need to pick, though. To say that socialism is one step away from communism is the same as saying capitalism is one step from fascism. There are a number of European countries considered socialist, none of which are bordering on Stalinism.

     For the record, Hillary Clinton was absolved of guilt in Whitewater in September 2000. I presume "aiding four of our own to die on foreign soil" refers to Benghazi. It sounds as if you have information House Republicans could use. They've held hearings 21 times and investigated 8 times. Compare to 22 and 2 for the 9/11 attacks. Why would you have 4 times the number of investigations for Benghazi? Let's let Kevin McCarthy take that one. "Everybody thought Hillary Clinton was unbeatable, right? But we put together a Benghazi committee, a select committee. What are her numbers today? Her numbers are dropping." No sense in letting a tragedy go to waste.

     And so we move to the "scandal" du jour. E-mails. Is she guilty of anything beyond poor judgment? Who knows? The accusations come from ilk similar to Representative McCarthy. Wolf! Normally I'd be fervently supporting Comrade Sanders. Besides being jaded by it, the 28 years of slurs against Hillary have left me somewhat sympathetic towards her. If she puts Michelle Obama on the ticket, I'm totally sold.

Beacon Investigation of Mike Derrick

Whoops! Investigation probably would have been better in quotation marks. Before I forget, here's a hat tip to Maury Thompson at the Post Star. Thanks Maury. So, Morgan Chalfant at the Washington Free (because who would pay for it?) Beacon, reports that Derrick has property in Colorado and only moved to our area a year ago. Who knows what the truth of any of that is? I'm dearly hoping we're not going to go through the "who's the most legitimate resident of the district" thing again this year.

A Democratic congressional candidate in New York state (sic) has criticized his Republican opponent for not being a native of the district, despite having moved from another state to launch his own campaign.

Were you curious about the value of the Derricks' property in Colorado? Yeah, me neither. 

Derrick and his wife, Katherine, also own at least six properties in Colorado. The market values of the properties total more than $1.3 million.

Yes, Derrick was career Army which would likely be a bonus if he was a Republican. 

Derrick, a retired Army colonel who spent some of his early years living in Peru, N.Y., has seized on Stefanik’s roots in Albany as evidence that she has weak ties to the district that she represents in Congress.

The criticism of Stefanik which Chalfant never bothers to try to refute:

“Her family has a summer home in Willsboro, New York. She grew up in Albany, New York. Her working life, ten years, has been entirely in Washington. To say that she is of and from the North Country is false,” Derrick said in a recent interview with the local North County Public Radio.

Oh, and apparently Mike Derrick is a former Republican. My God believes in redemption. 

William Michael Derrick was registered to vote unaffiliated in El Paso County, Colo., in September 2006 and changed his voter registration to Republican in May 2012, according to the El Paso County Clerk & Recorder’s Office. He only updated his registration to Democrat in March 2015. One month later, he cancelled his registration in El Paso County. He voted in no elections in Colorado last year, meaning he never voted as a Democrat in the state.

I don't doubt that he may be a Blue Dog. OTOH, he did come out and say he supported the Iran nuclear deal when he didn't really have to. That beats Aaron Woolf's waffling on ACA. Matt Funiciello never came out with an opinion one way or another. Speaking of MF, one of the reasons I put this up was to keep it in mind. I wouldn't be at all shocked if he parroted a lot of this bullshit at some point during the campaign. I want to remember where it came from. 

I also want to leave a link to this story by Morgan Chalfant. 

Abby Wambach, a retired U.S. women’s soccer player and prominent Hillary Clinton supporter, was arrested over the weekend and charged with driving under the influence.

Wambach, who campaigned for Clinton just three months ago, was arrested around 2 a.m. Sunday by authorities in Portland, Oregon, and was charged with misdemeanor DUII (driving under the influence of intoxicants), booking information from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office indicated. 

No word on whether her car had an "I'm Ready for Hillary" bumpersticker. If this woman can be considered a journalist writing for the Beacon, I'm pretty sure my stupid posts here make me one. Look at me, I'm a journalmalist!

Just want to add this link to Right Web that discusses the Beacon.