Consequential Choices

"Elections have consequences."

~ President Barack Obama, 2010

Image from FITSNews

Oh yes, President Obama was right about that. Elections certainly do have consequences. Obama went on to crow, "I won." Well, winning tables have a way of turning.

The Supreme Court was the driving force behind untold numbers of American voters deciding in favor of Donald Trump. With the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, who in his three decades on the high court was an unpredictable and often upsetting swing vote, the appointment of the next justice assumes momentous import. As Marc Theissen wrote today, Trump voters "have just been vindicated."

Here's a link to President Donald Trump's list of 25 potential nominees for the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump first compiled the list as a presidential candidate in 2016, has added a few names since, and has stated that he will choose the next justice from among them. Speaking as one of 2016's innumerable "Supreme Court voters," I can say that I'm supremely content.

Had Enough

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty much done with television news. Aside from natural disasters, I find the content of all the alphabet network news programs completely unwatchable. I may watch my local news on odd nights to check weather and sports, but other than that, you can tune me out.

I don't read newspapers anymore, either. For a long time now, the internet is my primary source for news, especially the website Real Clear Politics. It's got a ton of content from all sides, plus an increasing number of video clips from various news outlets. (It has too many pop-up ads now, but that's the world we live in). I also have my favorite talk radio commentators. Both internet and radio have been favorite go-to news sources for years, but now they are my two connections to current events.

The television coverage of President Trump is too hateful, dishonest, emotional, even profane. The past week in particular has been fraught with incoherent, hysterical hand-wringing over illegal immigration. Where did the media's sudden, touching concern for "the children" come from? It came from many facts quite disconcerting to progressives, some of which are:

1. Trump's rising approval ratings
2. A successful summit with North Korea
3. Plummeting unemployment statistics / Rising job numbers 
4. An economic boom unseen for decades
5. The contents of the IG report showing the rampant corruption in government entities prior to Trump's election.

Positive news of anything Trump must be squashed, hence the liberal caterwauling over illegal immigration. But I don't think the president is worried; the more he is attacked, the better he does his job. And he is learning fast. If I may address the mighty MSM: Did it ever occur to you that he might be jacking with you? How about that enthusiastic rally he held in Minnesota the other night?

Melania Trump

Oh, and news flash on Melania Trump: she wore that "don't care" jacket deliberately, fools. She knew you'd run off in that direction immediately, like the pack of salivating jackals you are. You are now too busy criticizing her choice of wardrobe to realize the message was meant for you. Who are the ones acting stupid now?

Continuing our conversation, Mr. & Ms. Media: there are three memes you really need to work on if you, by some random stretch of the imagination, want to get them accurate:

The president's job is to enforce the law.
On Inauguration Day, the president swears an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution. You can look it up. That's what President Trump is doing on illegal immigration. Just because you have a constitutional right to speak any idiot phrase that pops into your pea-brain does not remove his responsibility. Try dealing with that fact.

It's like the days of slavery, children being separated from parents.
Was it like slavery when it happened under Barack Obama? Of course not. And by the way, the U.S. did not invent slavery. As evil as it is, it has been practiced throughout the annals of human history right up to today. Let's ask this question--how many countries besides ours have fought a long and bloody war to end slavery? Go do your research on that one, media bright lights. I'll wait...

"Nazi Germany"
You've jumped the shark with this one. I hardly know where to start, but let's begin with what a dishonor this is to the murdered millions who tried desperately to leave Germany but couldn't. So tell me, how many of the thousands breaking the law trying to enter the US have been shot, hanged, starved to death, mutilated, tortured, gassed, and incinerated? If we are so similar to Nazi Germany, if we are that cruel and monstrous, so evil and wrong, why are countless illegal immigrants rushing our borders trying to get IN? Does that question make too much sense for you to answer? Apparently so.

I know the liberals are in frantic need of the illegitimate votes such an unfettered influx of unknown aliens would bring to the United States, but please stop lying about it. The photo of the crying tot was a nice try, but it's been totally discredited. The 2016 election proved that Americans are paying close attention to our borders, and while we are sympathetic to the plight of those beating down our nation's doors, we don't want the lawlessness to continue. We know by your nonsensical "news" coverage that you're not having it. You won't accept our decision. And that's why people like me have had enough and no longer pay the slightest bit of attention to you.

Father's Day

Only a Dad

After 31 years, I still miss my Dad. Always will.

By Edgar Albert Guest

Only a dad, with a tired face,

Coming home from the daily race,

Bringing little of gold or fame,

To show how well he has played the game,

But glad in his heart that his own rejoice

To see him come, and to hear his voice.

Only a dad, with a brood of four,

One of ten million men or more.

Plodding along in the daily strife,

Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,

With never a whimper of pain or hate,

For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,

Merely one of the surging crowd

Toiling, striving from day to day,

Facing whatever may come his way,

Silent, whenever the harsh condemn,

And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a dad, but he gives his all

To smooth the way for his children small,

Doing, with courage stern and grim,

The deeds that his father did for him.

This is the line that for him I pen,

Only a dad, but the best of men.

Inaccessible Communication

Leaving aside all the global drama for a moment, I thought I'd share this link from an editing website. Apparently there are now "Accessibility Terms" to use in writing and editing to avoid offending anyone.

Descriptions are becoming quite verbose, it seems. For example, you shouldn't say "blind person." It needs to be "person with visual impairment." Rather than the succinct word "mute," now the term is "person who is unable to speak."

My favorite accessibility term is "person without disabilities." It's terribly gauche to say "normal" or "able-bodied" nowadays. So in going to great lengths to avoid defining people by their disability, the politically correct powers-that-be have seen fit to define "healthy" people as "people without disabilities." While "a person with a hearing impairment" cannot be termed "deaf," we hale and hearty folks are defined by our lack of disabilities. Makes perfect sense, yes?

Words exist for a reason--to communicate. Words like "blind" and "deaf," which relay vivid meaning and instantaneous comprehension in a one-syllable sound, are now considered unacceptable. Or perhaps I should say, "word no longer used to communicate reality due to the possibility of offending delicate sensibilities." Yes, that's better. Clear as mud.