RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN

ADVANCING THE CONSERVATIVE CAUSE

Vol. 4 – No. 7                                                                                                     September 2020

RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY NEWS

 

Rhea County Republican Party Executive Committee

Bitsy Gryder – Chairman                            Gary Drinkard – Vice Chairman

Judy Bancroft – Secretary                          Larry Pendergrass – Treasurer

Linda Pendergrass – Vice Treasurer

 

The Rhea County Republican Party Monthly Meeting

The next meeting of the Rhea County Republican Party is scheduled for Thursday, September 3rd, at 7:00 PM, at the Rhea County Sheriff’s Training Center, located at 711 Eagle Drive, in Evensville, TN.

A meeting of the Executive Committee to discuss PAC activities will be held at 6:15 PM.  Bring a friend!

 

Minutes from the Previous Meeting

Chairman Bitsy Gryder called the August 13th meeting to order at 7:02 PM.

 

Joe Gryder offered prayer and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

The minutes from the July meeting were read by Judy Bancroft.  Motion by Donna Taylor, second by Glen Varner to accept the report as read.  Motion carried.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Treasurer & Vice-Treasurer Positions:  Bitsy Gryder announced that a letter of resignation has been received from Treasurer Larry Pendergrass and Vice-Treasurer Linda Pendergrass, effective July 31, 2020.  The Executive Committee recommends Tom Taylor to fill the position of Treasurer for the remainder of the current term.  A motion was made by Joe Gryder, second by Glen Varner, to approve that recommendation.  Motion carried.

 

A volunteer for the remainder of the term for Vice-Treasurer is also requested.  Names of those interested will be submitted to the Executive Committee.

 

The Treasurer’s Report for August, as prepared by Larry Pendergrass, was read by Bitsy Gryder.  Motion by Tom Taylor and second by Debbie Byrd to approve the report as read.  Motion carried.

 

PAC Report:  Jim Murphy is not present to give a report.  However, Bitsy Gryder stated that there have been no expenditures since the last report in July.

 

Executive Committee Meeting will be held at 6:00 PM, on September 3rd to decide on a recommendation of guidelines for future PAC donations to candidates.  The recommendations will be voted on at the general meeting on September 3rd.  Input from members and elected officials is solicited before the Committee meets.  Discussion proceeded regarding types and amounts of expenses incurred by candidates, varying sizes of bases of financial support, costs of opposed vs. unopposed election campaigns, and varying options for channeling PAC funds to candidates.

 

The Legislative Report was given by Kris Bancroft.  He also drew attention to the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, which led to the passage of the 19th Amendment.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Reagan Day Dinner:  Joe Gryder reported on expenses, revenue and profits for the Dinner.  232 tickets were sold.  There was discussion about what went well and what may need to be improved, such as getting a better handle on how much food to have prepared.  Outside feedback from some of those who attended indicated a preference for the Fairgrounds venue.  However, an earlier or later month should provide better weather.

 

Thank-you notes have been written to all those who helped with the Dinner.  Tonight, Joe Gryder particularly thanked Laura Travis for her work with ticket sales and Glen Varner for his efforts in getting the barn ready.

 

Announcements:

Bitsy Gryder has printed out a copy of the August election results, and that is available for anyone wishing to see it.

 

Bitsy Gryder read a thank-you note from Bledsoe County expressing appreciation for our support of their Reagan Day Dinner.

 

Joe & Bitsy Gryder have bought two tickets for the Van Buren County Reagan Day Dinner for August 22nd.  However, they are unable to attend, so their tickets are available.

 

Ron Travis reported on four bills that were passed just recently in a special session of the Tennessee House of Representatives regarding:

 

1)  Liability protections regarding the coronavirus

2)  Telehealth services

3)  Increased jail time for assaults on police and firemen, including spitting and throwing harmful liquids toward them

4)  Stricter law to deal with protestors

 

Ron Travis shared the Joke of the Month.

 

Glen Varner won the drawing for a cup featuring the opening of Nokian Tyres and President Trump’s support of same.  The cup was donated by Ted Doss.

 

The next meeting will be September 3rd at 7:00.  The PAC Executive Committee will meet the same evening at 6:15.  Mable Varner volunteered to bring refreshments.

 

A motion was made by Joe Gryder and seconded by Ron Travis to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.

 

EDITORIAL

The stark differences derived from watching the Democrat and Republican conventions yields the clearest reasons of all to reelect President Donald J. Trump and Mike Pence.

The Democrat’s message was shrouded in doom and gloom; they portrayed the conservative half of America as nothing short of evil.  They spoke of Americans as “victims.”  President Trump introduced us to dozens of every day heroes; many of whom had risen from the depths of poverty and/or fled communist countries only to gain the greatest of successes in this “Shining City on the Hill.”

Joe Biden touted his vision – “The Unity Plan” – that would transmogrify the United States into a fully socialist country.  Predictably, he took credit for the Trump administration’s innumerable actions – actions that have enabled the United States to realize the best economy in our country’s history.  President Trump revealed his plans to further improve upon the achievements of his first term that have positioned working Americans to acquire the greatest wealth they’ve ever known by expanding enterprise zones, low taxes, self-reliance, the creation of even more good-paying manufacturing jobs, record low unemployment levels across all demographics.

There was plenty of rhetoric about the Chinese virus (though none of the Democrats called it for what is is), and criticisms founded in untruths because President Trump has thus far failed to eradicate COVID 19.  The Democrats came just short of openly blaming President Trump for all the death and suffering caused by the Wuhan virus yet, when pressed on what his strategy might have been, Joe Biden’s “plan” turned out to be a watered-down version of what President Trump has already done!  It is interesting to recall that Joe Biden had early on accused President Trump of being a racist and xenophobe because the President suspended travel to and from China and to and from European countries where the Wuhan virus had broken out.  As it turns out, we now know President Trump’s travel bans saved untold American lives.

When President Trump placed tariffs on goods imported from China, Joe Biden was quick to accuse President Trump of “fanning the flames of war.”  One wonders whether Joe Biden’s remarks were related to the fact that Joe Biden’s son had been given millions of dollars to have his name included as a board member on a bank run by the Chinese Communist Party!  Ironically, Nancy Pelosi was correct when she told America that “China would prefer Biden” to be our next President.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnWYElZAlro

 

https://thefederalist.com/2020/08/10/nancy-pelosi-admits-china-would-prefer-joe-biden-be-elected/

 

During the Democrat convention, Joe Biden and the Democrats failed to denounce the riots occurring all across America.  Since then, having been repeatedly pressed on the matter by even their most loyal media sycophants, Joe Biden now blames President Trump for the rioting and looting and all out anarchy occurring in Democrat-run cities all across the U.S.  Biden informed the Democrats that there were no riots during the time he and 0bama were in the White House.  Perhaps Joe Biden has forgotten about Baltimore, Ferguson, Oakland and other tumultuous days when, as the New York Times reported, race relations had sunk to a new low during the 0bama administration.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/14/us/most-americans-hold-grim-view-of-race-relations-poll-finds.html

 

https://www.governing.com/topics/public-justice-safety/obama-urges-soul-searching-baltimore-riots.html

 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-no-racial-riots-claim-national-guard-ferguson-obama

 

Not once did Joe Biden and the Democrats call for peace or unity among our citizens.  In fact, a few days later Nancy Pelosi called the Republicans an “Enemy of the State.”

 

https://www.theblaze.com/news/pelosi-gop-domestic-enemies-state

 

 

THE EXTINCTION OF THE MODERATE DEMOCRAT

Along with the pterodactyl, brontosaurus and triceratops, the “moderate” Democrat is now extinct.  All doubts were again confirmed during Attorney General Barr’s appearance at the Democrat-ruled inquisition that took place at Jerold Nadler’s would-be lynch mob.

On Tuesday, 28 July 2020, Attorney General William Barr testified before the House Judiciary Committee, explaining the rationale in dispatching federal law enforcement to defend federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon, which came under attack by antifa (and other) rioters.  The day began with Jerold Nadler being almost an hour late; during that time the Attorney General sat patiently at his assigned chair in the hearing room.

As unfathomable as it may be to the rational thinker, during the “hearing,” the Democrats blamed the Attorney General for inciting the violent outbreaks because he dared to dispatch federal officers to protect government-owned buildings.  The Democrats claimed the use of federal officers was nothing more than a political prop for Trump’s reelection.

“What makes me concerned for the country is, this is the first time in my memory that the leaders of one of our great two political parties – the Democratic Party – are not coming out and condemning mob violence and the attack on federal courts,” the attorney general said.  “Why can’t we just say violence against federal courts has to stop?  Could we hear something like that?”

The Attorney General’s question echoed through the room and remained unanswered – the Democrats dared not to answer it!

As the “hearing” carried on, the Democrats showed an interesting strategy; they would ask questions but as soon as the Attorney General began his response, they rudely interrupted him and asked another question.

Eventually, Ranking Member Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), challenged Chairman Nadler’s rudeness:  “I don’t think we’ve ever had a hearing where the witness wasn’t allowed to respond”

Jordan’s appeal to Jerold Nadler was ignored so he restated his remark:  “I don’t think we’ve ever had a hearing where the witness wasn’t allowed to respond to points made, questions asked, and attacks — attacks made.  Not just in this hearing, not just in this committee, but in every committee I’ve been on.  Particularly when you think about the fact that we have the attorney general of the United States here.”

Nadler responded by saying “You don’t have the time,” indicating that Rep. Jordan was speaking out of turn.

Jordan responded with:  “I don’t want the time.  I want the attorney general to be able to have enough time to respond to accusations and questions asked him.”

“What you want is irrelevant,” Chairman Nadler said. “It’s irrelevant to the rules.”

The observer might have suspected the strategy was to ask a question that Mr. Barr could not readily answer and parlay his lack of an answer into an accusation that he is either unfit for the job, or be reluctant to answer out of fear of self-incrimination.  The Democrats’ hopes were dashed as the Attorney General seemed eager to answer each question sent his way.

Another display of one-sidedness on the part of the Democrats came as Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) questioned the Attorney General about the various weapons used by against federal officers by the rioters: “rifles, explosives, knives, saws, sledgehammers, tasers, slingshots, rocks, bricks, lasers…”

“You have missed some things but that’s a good list,” Barr replied. He mentioned “powerful slingshots with ball bearings” and the use of “lasers to blind the marshals.” He also mentioned that rioters start fires at the courthouse and “when the marshals come out to try to deal with the fire, they’re assaulted.”

As William Barr responded to Rep. Chabot’s questions, several of the Democrats were engaged in loud conversations, which made the Attorney General’s testimony difficult for the listening audience to hear.

The Democrats continued their rude treatment of their captive witness throughout the day as William Barr – very composed and with his customary highly professional demeanor – made every attempt to politely provide well-reasoned and straight forward answers, but late in the day, the Attorney General’s patience seemed to wear thin.

After hours of sitting in his chair (while the Democrats periodically left the room for comfort breaks as other committee members posed questions), the Attorney General asked Jerold Nadler:

“Mr. Chairman, could we take a five-minute break?  Could we take a five-minute break, Mr. Chairman?”

“No!” Nadler responded, without explanation.

“That’s a common courtesy of every witness,” interjected Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana.

“I’ve waited 45 min—I’ve waited an hour for you this morning,” Barr explained to Nadler, who had been late to the hearing after being delayed in traffic as the result of a traffic accident.  “I haven’t had lunch.  I would like to take a five-minute break.”

“Mr. Attorney General, we are almost finished,” Nadler retorted.  “We are going to be finished in a few minutes.  We can certainly take a break but—”

“You’re a class act,” Barr said laughing.  “You’re a real class act.”

“After this, if you still want a break, we can have one,” Nadler proposed.

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio then got involved.  “He wants a break now,” he said.  “You just showed rudeness, which is now on display.  Let’s let the attorney general have a break.”

Nadler eventually relented and granted Barr a five-minute break.

If Jerold Nadler and his fellow Democrats serving on the House Judiciary Committee’s grossly disrespectful treatment of Attorney General William Barr was a one-off event, one might be inclined to soften their assessment of the Democrats, as a whole.  One might be reluctant to accept the fact that the Democrats have absolutely no intention of being fair or reasonable.  Is it their hatred and resentment of the successes brought to us by President Donald Trump?  It would be easy to assign their derangement to their jealousy of President Trump’s unique managerial skills in accomplishing what Mr. 0bama claimed was impossible – the restoration of America’s economy and its status on the world stage.  Ultimately though, it seems there’s much more to the Democrats divisiveness and when all the proper deductive reasoning and objective thought is applied, one must accept the obvious:

The Democrats want the United States of America to fail!  When Americans finally come to grips with this fact, we will join together to purge the Democrats from every elected office in our great country and take an oath to NEVER elect another Democrat!

 

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/tyler-o-neil/2020/07/28/ag-barr-since-when-is-it-okay-to-burn-down-a-federal-court-n722493?fbclid=IwAR3-fBcf3yJxeRFGhS7FglEdSZz95t4QT0fh8dWx00U5XkPV7thZ2CHpDu4

 

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/matt-margolis/2020/07/28/ag-barr-sarcastically-calls-nadler-a-real-class-act-after-being-refused-a-five-minute-break-n722908?fbclid=IwAR3nPWeLz_3QLyz-NEcauesoHQDenwxM6i0-S7EXZZDoIjLs_ImRa0GMGyQ

 

https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/craig-bannister/what-you-want-irrelevant-nadler-tells-jordan-when-he-asks-dems-stop-cutting-ag?fbclid=IwAR0J9JfH3MxPoKXKnC5SlNQQIY3yRwAh8IKy-YV1cwsKuYs5BLEgMym3aCI#utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cns&utm_campaign=b-JordanNadlerBarrTestimony

 

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

I have always supported measures and principles and not men.  I have acted fearless and independent and I never will regret my course.  I would rather be politically buried than to be hypocritically immortalized. -Davy Crockett, frontiersman, soldier, and politician (17 Aug 1786-1836)

 

 

THE NECESSITY OF A PURGE

In a recent discussion I caught a LOT of flak for voicing my opinion that there must soon be a purge in the Republican Party.  I argued that the best way to return our country to its former status – that of a Constitutional Republic, with a strong sense of fiscal responsibility and a vision of paying off a (soon to be) $30 Trillion national debt – would demand that we replace what we generally refer to as RINOs with bona fide conservatives.  Ideally, this would be done in the primaries and it would demand an enormous effort on the part of the constituents who had, unfortunately, elected RINOs to find genuinely conservative replacements.

While determining the criteria for replacing the faux conservatives would require an assessment of many of their principles (or lack thereof), certainly one litmus test would be to assess their loyalty to President Donald Trump.  For your interest, the following list of Republican have endorsed Joe Biden.

 

Senator Jeff Flake (AZ)

Senator Gordon Humphrey (NH)

Senator John Warner (VA)

Congressman Steve Bartlett (TX)

Congressman Bill Clinger (PA)

Congressman Tom Coleman (MO)

Congressman Charlie Dent (PA)

Congressman Charles Djou (HI)

Congressman Mickey Edwards (OK)

Congressman Wayne Gilchrest (MD)

Congressman Jim Greenwood (PA)

Congressman Bob Inglis (SC)

Congressman Jim Kolbe (AZ)

Congressman Steve Kuykendall (CA)

Congressman Ray LaHood (IL)

Congressman Jim Leach (IA)

Congresswoman Susan Molinari (NY)

Congresswoman Connie Morella (MD)

Congressman Mike Parker (MS)

Congressman Jack Quinn (NY)

Congresswoman Claudine Schneider (RI)

Congressman Christopher Shays (CT)

Congressman Peter Smith (VT)

Congressman Alan Steelman (TX)

Congressman Jim Walsh (NY)

Congressman Bill Whitehurst (VA)

Congressman Dick Zimmer (NJ)

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/08/24/27-prominent-republicans-including-jeff-flake-announce-theyll-endorse-joe-biden/#4365cfa96a9d

 

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Over the past four years we have heard and read the many stories of how the FBI was used to spy on candidate-then-President Trump, and his associates.

On August 14th we were informed Kevin Clinesmith, a “basement-level” attorney for the FBI, was charged with falsifying a legal document, allegedly for the purpose of advancing a FISA warrant against Carter Page, relative to the accusations made by Russia-based Democrat operatives, against President Trump and his team.

At this time, we occasionally hear rumors of how the 0bama White House were aware that the FBI, as directed by then Attorney General Loretta Lynch, were using illegal means to gather information to harm and discredit Donald Trump and persons associated with him.  How have these revelations impacted your confidence in the FBI, the DOJ?

  1. I have confidence that all those who have committed crimes will be brought to justice, up to and including former president 0bama.
  2. I believe Barack 0bama was aware of, but did not give orders to stop, the many criminal activities carried out by the FBI (and others), but he will never be charged with a crime. However, I believe all others will face justice.
  3. I believe only a few of the minor players in the effort to sabotage President Trump will be brought to justice.
  4. I don’t think any of those who have committed crimes against President Trump will ever be tried, convicted, and justly punished for their crimes. I have lost all faith in, and respect for, the FBI and our justice system.

 

[Please choose the response that most closely reflects your opinion and email to pyrope84045@mypacks.net to share your response with your fellow conservatives.  A score on each of the questions will be published in the next edition of The Rhea County Republican.  THANKS! – Editor]

 

Results for last month’s question.

What is the probability that the Republicans will gain a majority in the House of Representatives and improve their majority in the Senate?

 

0-25%                         12

26-50%                      9

51-75%                      41

76-100%                    33

 

 

A MESSAGE FROM BILL HAGERTY (R-TN) CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE

Friends,

I would like to start by expressing my deepest gratitude to the voters of Rhea County, who put their faith in me to take our shared Christian conservative values to Washington, D.C.

As we look toward November, one thing is clear to me: We must re-elect President Donald Trump for four more years. A Biden-Harris ticket would mean the end of our democracy as we know it. The Democrats’ platform now includes their most radical policies, calling to defund and dismantle our police departments, implementing universal mail-in voting, abolishing ICE, legalizing late-term abortion nationwide and allowing big tech to censor conservative voices. Even worse, they want to implement a socialized health care system which would destroy our economy and provide you with fewer health care options. Make no mistake, a win for Biden and Harris would be a win for socialism and a devastating loss of our freedoms.

That is why it is vitally important that we send strong, trustworthy conservatives to work alongside President Trump to help him Keep America Great. In the United States Senate, I vow to stand with President Trump and Senator Marsha Blackburn to hold Communist China accountable for unleashing the coronavirus pandemic on the world, stealing our valuable data, taking our jobs and undermining our infrastructure. I will also continue working to get our economy going again, protect the right to life, defend the right to bear arms, build the wall, stop sanctuary cities, stand with Israel, support our law enforcement, military and veterans and protect our Tennessee Christian conservative values.

I appreciate the opportunity to share with you again, and I humbly ask for your continued support as we work toward victory in November. God bless.

Bill Hagerty

Republican Nominee For U.S. Senate

 

[The above release was provided by Savannah Newhouse. – Editor]

 

 

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW

Have you watched the rioters in the several cities in our country and heard about the crimes they’ve committed?  If you’ve paid close attention, you have observed or read many things that should pique your curiosity.  You may have read or heard about the not-uncommon use of industrial grade lasers, devices that are capable of starting fires, burning a person’s skin, or blinding them when the beam hits their retina.  You may have seen the upscale togs worn by the rioters – many of which are all black, all new, and all virtually alike, sort of like . . . uniforms.

The personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by the rioters is also remarkable; it’s state of the art – full-face respirators are common and so is body armor.

The rioters seem to have an inexhaustible supply of industrial-grade fireworks – incendiary devices, if you will – costing several dollars per copy.  They are often aimed directly at the police, they assault the eardrums of those within a mile of the melee and can be heard night after night, throughout the evening.

Pallets of bricks have mysteriously appeared at strategic locations although the latest fad is frozen water bottles.

The power tools used by the rioters are not cheap; they tend to be battery-powered or gasoline fueled.  Trust me, I own a few of those devices and they’re not cheap!

The rioters function as though they’ve been well-trained and most of the rioters did not learn to deploy booby-trap devices and make Molotov cocktails from their parents.

The point is, all the training, all the transportation, all the food the rioters eat, and all those tools of destruction cost money.  Let me rephrase that:  MONEY!

The government (thanks to the perpetual generosity of the taxpayer), has at its disposal face highly technical devices such as “facial recognition software,” and other ingenious means of identifying and tracking people, therefore; the government must have constructed profiles of the “lieutenants” in these riots.  IF the people investigating the rioters are smart, they know who these lieutenants are and, by court-approved surveillance, they can learn who the “Generals” are – those who are funding the riots and giving the orders.

So, who exactly is funding all these riots?  Inquiring minds want to know – and we want to know now!

 

KAMALA HARRIS “THE MODERATE?”  HARDLY!

First, let us be thankful that the Republicans have held a majority in the Senate during all of Kamala Harris’ tenure.  During her time in the Senate, she has sponsored 131 bills; only four of which were enacted into law.  And what bills they were!

In 2017, a category 5 hurricane – “Maria” – struck Puerto Rico.  Sadly, 64 Puerto Ricans were killed but, Senator Harris devised a way to help the neo-socialist island government to up those numbers and, thereby, increase the handouts shipped to the island.  Her COUNT Victims Act (officially cited as the “Counting Our Unexpected Tragedies’ Victims Act,” raised the number of fatalities to 2,975!  Was someone hiding the bodies?  Hardly.  Ms. Harris’ bill enabled the Puerto Rican government to blame hurricane Maria for the deaths of Puerto Ricans (and file for Federal disaster relief), for up to five years after the event.

No, the bill did not pass under its original title but Kamala wrangled it into the 462-page FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which was signed into law, so Senator Harris was able to pay a huge favor to her political pals in P.R. (and, thus, reap paybacks for years to come!)

Speaking of that 462 page FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, Ms. Harris did some more wrangling to get her Disaster Victims Passport and ID Relief Act signed into law.

What was this bill all about?  Glad you asked.

When the floods and wildfires hit California, in 2017, some individuals had to pay to have their identification papers replaced – $110 for passports and $455 for “green cards.”  Senator Harris touted her clever little accomplishment in a press release:

“Victims of natural disasters are forced to reconstruct their lives, and too often face high levels of financial stress.  We must do what we can to ease that burden including waiving fees associated with the replacement of critical documents, and ensuring child care facilities have the funding they need so families can get back on their feet.”

So, what happened to the Federal tax dollars originally allocated for such items in the official “relief bill” that was passed and signed into law?

Other of Senator Harris’ socialist-themed bills include her:  Access to Counsel Act (I thought we already had the Miranda Act), Family Friendly Schools Act which keeps schools open until 6:00 PM (providing free childcare to children’s parents), Census Equality Act (guaranteeing equal household counts for the LGGTQ community, Rent Relief Act (which provides tax credits for anyone who spends more than 30% of their income on rent, for so long as they earn less than $125K per year), and the MORE Act (which federally legalizes marijuana and expunges all arrest records of individuals who have been arrested for marijuana-related crimes.  Oh, and let us not forget Senator Harris’ bill that would pay to commission a statue of the Communist House Member Shirley Chisolm, and have it placed in the Capitol.

Kamala Harris was recently awarded the title of our “Most Liberal Senator,” by govtrack.us.  To read more please visit the following link and PLEASE send a donation their way if you can afford to do so!

https://govtrackinsider.com/our-ideology-score-placed-kamala-harris-as-the-most-liberal-senator-in-2019-bbd25493ca72

 

THE DANGERS OF STATING SCIENTIFIC FACT

Each day it seems scientific fact is increasingly trumped by wishful thinking.  If science fails to substantiate the preferred rhetoric of the “social engineers,” the scientist who dares to speak out in favor of scientific fact is marginalized by lies and hateful rhetoric.

The same is true if anyone – regardless of their qualifications – dares to speak out against the socialist meme.

This is what we refer to as the “Cancel Culture.”

There is currently no case more revealing as to the nature of science deniers than that recently experienced by Dr. Colin Wright.  You can read of his experience at the following link . . . and I sincerely hope you will take time to do so!    https://quillette.com/2020/07/30/think-cancel-culture-doesnt-exist-my-own-lived-experience-says-otherwise/?v=322b26af01d5

 

BOOK OF THE MONTH

     The Virtue of Selfishness, by Ayn Rand is a collection of 19 short but informative essays (four of which were written by Nathaniel Branden), in which she establishes and defines the moral principles of Objectivism.  In reading these essays we learn the virtues of rational self-interest and how self-interest is essential for those who desire to become self-sustaining and then grow to be able to contribute to greater good.

The essays are informative yet easy to comprehend and are thus suitable for the younger reader.

In reading “The Virtue of Selfishness” one learns to understand, and then counter, the false logic of altruism, philosophy which ultimately demands the individual’s self-immolation for the benefit of others.

In reading these classic essays, we learn why we cannot hope to benefit our family, our nation, or our planet unless we first enable ourselves to rise to a position that allows us to gather the knowledge, abilities, and resources that are essential for doing so.

 

ARE RINOS BLOCKING JUSTICE?  (AGAIN)

Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, which is comprised of eight Republicans and six Democrats.

Most recently, this committee has been debating on whether to subpoena former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, and others, in their investigation into the Democrats colluding with Russia, in their efforts to derail President Trump’s 2016 campaign.  Depending on what is revealed during the testimonies, the Committee may take a vote on whether to issue criminal referrals to Attorney General William Barr.

Unfortunately, a recently discovered problem has caused Senator Johnson to postpone the issuance of subpoenas, and subsequent hearings, on this matter.

In a recent interview, Senator Johnson implied his concern there might be one (or more) defector(s) among the Republicans.  One dissenting vote would result in a 7-7 tie among the Committee Members, and Senator Johnson’s work to bring Comey, Brennan, and others to justice would have been for naught.

There has been a lot of speculation as to who that defector might be.  The most likely candidate is “Never Trumper” Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), but Rob Portman (R-OH), James Lankford (R-OK), and Michael Enzi (R-WY) have indicated their reluctance to pursue criminal charges against Comey, Brennan, Clapper, and others in the 0bama regime.

While it is possible that Senator Lindsey Graham, Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, could subpoena Comey, Brennan (and others), his fecklessness regarding such matters compels us to believe he would not.

Lesson learned:  While it may be true that the worst Republican is better than the best Democrat, electing RINOs causes undue pain; we must do more diligence when nominating candidates to represent us!

 

THE “CHAMPIONS OF FREE SPEECH” CONTROL THE NARRATIVE . . . AGAIN!

Media organizations have just been warned by the Democratic Party machine that they better be very, very careful with how they cover Joe Biden’s vice presidential choice — just revealed to be Kamala Harris.  Any criticism will be viewed as racist and sexist, we are told.  Oh, they wrap up that threat in a word salad, but that’s the bottom line:  There should be second and even third thoughts about any criticism of Mr. Biden’s VP pick.

 

https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/aug/11/democratic-party-sets-rules-for-criticizing bidens/?fbclid=IwAR26Ud8DbMGdlqSBl9_jwpA4zQdWlA_Dbd0c89Hb1J96gMUyR0TG6T7Xfik

 

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER EPA RULE

The Environmental Protection Agency has worked with state level environmental regulators to implement the 8-hour national ambient air quality standard for ozone.  This will require natural gas users in the non-attainment areas to reduce their NOx emissions or face onerous fines.  The reason for the new more stringent regulations is to reduce ozone levels in metro areas.  Compliance will be expensive.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) combine with volatile organic compounds (VOC) to form ground-level ozone.  Yes, this is the same precious ozone in the stratosphere, which the environment alarmists wish to save.  The claim that ozone reduction has health benefits is based largely on studies that find a statistical correlation between ozone and the induction of asthma.  Yet no causal link has been established.  When critics of the proposed rules pointed out the potential beneficial health effects of increased ozone in shielding the public from ultraviolet rays, EPA said these assumptions were uncertain.  However, the uncertainty in its own assumptions did not stop EPA from pressing ahead with the harsh standard.  Many of EPA’s rules are based on such statistical gerrymandering.  When the science is especially doubtful, as it is with the danger of ground level ozone, EPA claims children are at risk.
Another problem is the relationship between VOC and NOx in producing ozone.  The reduction of VOC does seem to reduce ozone levels.   However, NOx emissions are down when diesel truck traffic is down on weekends.  EPA readily admits that ozone levels are at their highest during this time.  This curious and counter intuitive “weekend effect” is the best result that can come from forcing natural gas users to use expensive low NOx burners.  Yet, the net result is likely to increase ozone!  The vast majority of VOC in the Southeast comes from local vegetation –trees- and is called “biogenic.”  The rest is from gasoline vehicles.  About five to ten percent of VOC vehicle emitters account for about 50 percent of the tailpipe emissions.  A real reduction in VOC and related ozone production could be achieved by using remote sensing to target the gross emitters.
This could be a cheap way to get significant results; but it is very politically unpopular.  Hence, EPA and state authority’s emphasis imposing huge burdens on natural gas users in the Southern metropolitan areas with little to no positive health effect.  [Thanks to Jim Clarkson, President, RMS Energy for this update. – Editor]

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.  It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies.  The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” – C. S. Lewis

 

THE CULTURE WAR CONTINUES

The defining factor through the centuries, that source of strength which has enabled the United States to prevail against many challenges, is the strength derived through “The American Culture.”  One of the cornerstones of our unique American Culture has been – and remains today – the “Traditional Family.”

Unfortunately, since the era of the Welfare State began, the Traditional Family has become compromised; it has suffered unrelenting attacks from our enemies (both within and without the government), and the attack on what is truly a cornerstone of the American Culture is intensifying every day.  Failure to recognize this assault is to make one’s self a victim to it – to destroy the American Culture is to destroy the United States of America.

Sumantra Maitra, a Doctoral Scholar at Nottingham University (England), writing in The Post Millennial, shared a warning that seems to perfectly portray the events we are witnessing today, and to explain the strategy that will play out as the Traditional Family comes under full frontal assault.

“After the leftist progressives have tackled police and government, they will come for the family.  The idea is that having family, growing up with two parents, is privileged, and that this creates inequity.  Any inequity must be crushed.”

Mr. Sumantra is not alone in his observations.

According to an article appearing in The Family Story Project, Bethany Letiecq, professor in the Human Development and Family Science program at George Mason University has called for the abolishing of family, and this concept has been increasingly growing in academic circles.

There have been several recent articles calling for abolishing of the family, including in Open DemocracyOutline, and even The Nation.  Letiecq, the author of a paper entitled “Surfacing Family Privilege and Supremacy in Family Science: Toward Justice for All,” coined the concept of Family privilege.  These arguments are all rhetorically similar and are couched in ideas of “[social] justice.”

Letiecq argues:  “Family privilege recognizes that some families are the beneficiaries of unearned or unacknowledged advantages . . . our society values and privileges heterosexual marriages over other relationships, including couples who live together, raise children together, and choose not to marry,” Letiecq also took time to bash marriage calling it “an institution [that] is patriarchal and hegemonic at its base, designed by men to have a hold of power.”

The group Black Lives Matters acknowledges their official position stating that they intend to “disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and ‘villages’ that collectively care for one another, especially our children.”

Is it a mere coincidence that two seemingly diverse and untethered groups are seeking the same goal – to end the family unit as the defining part of our culture?  Not by a long shot!

Sophie Lewis proudly claims to be a Marxist, and wants to abolish not just family but capitalism as well.  Coming from a broken and abusive family herself (obviously) she believes that family is the root to all evil, including “discomfort, coercion, molestation, abuse, humiliation, depression, battery, murder, mutilation, loneliness, blackmail, exhaustion, psychosis, gender-straitjacketing, racial programming, and embourgeoisement.”  Others are not as out and proud, which makes them even more dangerous.

Armed with facts one comes to unmask the enemies of our country, and how they are trying to bring us down.  If you are interested in learning more, I would suggest you visit the following links to read the full story.

 

https://thepostmillennial.com/the-next-step-in-the-culture-war-is-the-assault-on-the-traditional-family?fbclid=IwAR27wxLjMLS7F0fg4Lx6qNx-0cOelQPxCCoB8FE-dz1619RbBhTO-FGarjo

 

https://quillette.com/2020/03/30/full-surrogacy-now-feminism-against-family-a-review/

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

The general misconception is that any statute passed by legislators bearing the appearance of law constitutes the “law of the land.”  This is not necessarily true!  The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land and any statute, to be valid, must be in agreement.  It is impossible for a law which violates the Constitution to be valid.  This is succinctly stated as follows:

 

“All laws which are repugnant to the Constitution are null and void.”  Marbury vs. Madison, 5 US (2 Cranch), 137, 174, 176, (1803).

 

WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE?

Parents of students who attend Rutherford County Schools (RCS) must agree not to monitor their child’s online classroom sessions.

Officials at all county schools are asking parents to sign forms agreeing not to watch these virtual classes.

     The Tennessee Star received a copy of such a form this week.

“RCS strives to present these opportunities in a secure format that protects student privacy to the greatest extent possible, however because these meetings will occur virtually RCS is limited in its ability to fully control certain factors such as non-student observers that may be present in the home of a student participating in the virtual meeting,” according to the form.

“RCS strongly discourages non student observation of online meetings due to the potential of confidential information about a student being revealed.”

The form asks parents for their signature and warns that “violation of this agreement may result in RCS removing my child from the virtual meeting.”

RCS spokesman James Evans addressed the matter in an email to The Star this week.

“We are aware of the concern that has been raised about this distance-learning letter that was sent to parents.  The intent was not to prevent parents from being involved with their children during distance learning, but it was intended to protect the academic privacy of other students in the classroom who are visible during certain virtual class sessions,” Evans said.

“We have issued new guidance to principals that parents can assist their children during virtual group lessons with permission of the instructor but should refrain from sharing or recording any information about other students in the classroom.”

Evans did not elaborate.

As reported Friday, 50 miles away, Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles said  “NO!!!” to Gov. Bill Lee’s Big Brother-style child wellbeing program that plans to send government officials to families’ homes to do welfare checks of children.

The Tennessee Department of Education says it released a toolkit on child wellbeing checks to ensure the needs of children are being met during and after extended periods away from school. It is promoted as protecting children.

The department earmarked $1 million in COVID-19 funds to set up regional overseers to work with districts, which are encouraged to apply. A grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will give funding for eight regional staff members to work across the state.

Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to chrisbutlerjournalist@gmail.com.

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Only in 2020 America can you get arrested for opening your business but not for looting one.  The Leftist mentality is killing America. – Marcin Z. Gruszecki

 

COMMENTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES

Elected Representatives from all States and all levels of government are encouraged to share their thoughts, opinions, ideas, and announcements by emailing them to pyrope84045@mypacks.net .  Your constituents want to hear from you! – Editor

 

Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-4th District)

While I’ve been waiting for the Speaker and the Majority Leader to provide some guidance for the House schedule (they determine when we’re in session), it appears that they may use the Postal Service as a call to return for hearings and possible legislation.

The Postal Service is suddenly priority number 1 now in their media driven political agenda. I want to be clear that I support the Postal Service and its operations, but l also want to be clear that the problems suddenly being trumpeted by many with an interest in the election didn’t just happen overnight and didn’t just happen because of the Trump Administration.

The USPS has been in trouble for years. Email, overnight delivery services, and new technologies have reduced the need for USPS services. In addition, reports suggest COVID issues have further cut into mail volumes by perhaps up to 30%.

The biggest issue is that the Postal Service has been unable to keep expenditures even close to the revenues. It consistently runs multi-billion dollar losses per year ($8.8 billion loss in 2019) and has underfunded employee liabilities of $130 billion.  Fortunately, Congress makes the USPS pay a substanatial amount into its pension plans to keep its promises (it’s roughly 85% funded right now), but its health care liabilities are about $70-$80 billion in the hole and getting worse.

Employees are down (800,000 20 years ago, 500,000 now), and USPS has been tasked for years to reduce expenses and overhead. Reform is needed before throwing more deficit spending at the problem. The USPS is needed and provides a vital service, but the removal of sorting machines and mailboxes in neighborhoods just didn’t start in the past month. In fact, over the past 12 years, including the previous administration, over 15,000 mailboxes have been removed. This is an issue that has existed for decades.

I stand ready to support a legitimate reform that protects mail service for our residents, but this is not a problem that can or will be fixed by simply mandating services no longer needed or by simply spending more money. That won’t work.

If you’re inclined to read about the issues facing the USPS, here’s a link to many Government Accountability Office Reports. You can click on the Key Reports tab and find a wealth of information.

 

https://www.gao.gov/key_issues/us_postal_service_financial_viability/issue_summary#t=1

 

Bruce Griffey, State Representative (R-Paris), shared the following comment:

“Well, the TN legislature goes back into special session today.  I’m 100% committed to passing legislation to provide COVID liability protection to businesses, schools, hospitals, medical providers, non-profits, churches, etc.  Unless you’re grossly negligent or intentionally engaging in harmful behavior, you shouldn’t have to be penalized by getting sued on top of everything else.  You should be protected from liability.  What is sad is that we could have resolved this issue in June if the Senate had been willing to continue to work and remain in session.”

 

COMMENTS FROM READERS

Readers are encouraged to submit their thoughts, opinions, ideas, and announcements from their city, county, state, and country.  Please share your ideas, thoughts, opinions, and announcements by emailing them to:  pyrope84045@mypacks.net .  Your fellow Conservatives want to hear from you! – Editor

 

Diane Bederman, Toronto, Canada – Chaplain and Author shared the following:

Nancy Pelosi now calls Covid 19, the virus that came to us from China, as the Trump Virus.  Well she has the right name but wrong symptoms.

The Trump virus has nothing to do with respiratory failure, or organ failure. Oh no.

This virus attacks the brain cells of left leaning people whose bodies seem to have been invaded by the body snatchers.  The virus unleashes hate.

Pelosi tells America that Federal police officers are storm troopers.  “Unidentified Storm Troopers” is what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the law enforcement agents of the Department of Homeland Security struggling to protect the federal courthouse that Portland, Ore., rioters have been firebombing.

Storm troopers? Hitler’s bullyboys?  The Brown Shirts?  The paramilitary wing of the Nazis?

     That Pelosi, a member of Congress since time immemorial, refers to federal forces as Storm Troopers, speaks to an evil and a hate that knows no bounds.

And she is joined by House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn who smears Federal Officers as Nazis.  Wonder how those officers feel when they go out to protect and defend Clyburn’s rights under the Constitution.  And according to Tom Ridge, the nation’s first Homeland Security secretary, these Federal Officers are “The president’s personal militia.”  Really?  What were they under his direction?

I have read that people compare Trump to Hitler or Trump is the worst leader since Hitler.  Really?

https://dianebederman.com/what-is-the-trump-virus/

 

Adam Laxalt, Las Vegas, NV shared Andrew McCarthy’s comments, published in National Review.

     “Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.) and the other Democrats who control the House demanded for months that Barr come to a ‘hearing’ and ‘testify.’  But of course, it wasn’t anything like an actual hearing, and they didn’t want him to testify — as in actually answer questions.  The session was a coveted election-year opportunity for Democrats to berate the Attorney General of the United States in five-minute installments, accusing Barr of corruption, perjury, violating his oath, betraying the Constitution — at one point, even of killing thousands of COVID-19 victims (apparently, by being Attorney General during a pandemic).

     “In the main, the rest of the afternoon was devoted to raging, mock-anguished perorations about how Trump is a dictator and how Barr is helping him destroy our democracy.
“These were punctuated by the occasional petulant demand that Barr answer ‘yes or no’ a question that was either loaded or incoherent.  When Barr would begin to answer, there would be foot-stomping, indignant, ‘I’m reclaiming my time’ interruptions, claims that there was no question pending (usually after a question had just been posed), and then more Democrat filibustering about how the American people could clearly see that Barr was afraid to answer their questions … that they wouldn’t let him answer.
“It was an embarrassing spectacle.  Anyone who wants power that badly shouldn’t be anywhere near it.”

Indeed, the entire episode was an embarrassment, a total charade motivated far less by a desire to ascertain any facts than an eagerness to grandstand and score partisan political points.  It got so bad that Barr finally asked, since this was ostensibly a “hearing,” “aren’t I the one who’s supposed to be heard?”
Of course, Democrats had no interest in any such thing, and after Barr easily handled what passed for their “questioning” in the early going, Democrats dropped the ruse that they were there for any reason other than to mug for the cameras.

Jim Clarkson, Columbia, SC www.rmsenergy.com shares another bit of satire.

“Hey, Charlie, we have a polar bear hunker-down alert for this sector tomorrow between noon and 2 pm.”
“What’s going on, Moe?  Why do we have to hide?”
“I have an email from World Hysterics and Alarmists on Climate Organization that they are having a fly-over survey tomorrow and they need to report the polar bear population is down.”
“But, Moe, actually the polar bear population is up.  Doesn’t WHACO know that?”
“Sure, they know that.  That’s why we are being tipped off ahead of time.  They already have a press release ready that says the polar bear count is lower in this sector, and they extrapolate for the whole world concluding that we’ll be extinct in a few more years unless drastic action is taken.”
“Oh.  What kind of drastic action do the greenies see as a remedy?”
“They are demanding that humans quit using plastic drinking straws.”

 

Jeffrey McCormack, Cerrito, CA has produced another excellent video, here is a link to his newest work:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=570zcrV9e6A&t=90s I hope you’ll give it a look, share it with others, and follow Mac on Facebook.  He wanted me to share these thoughts with you:

My name is Jeffrey McCormack and my partner and I are trying to bring awareness of a crisis occurring in California.  California is on the verge of becoming a hemorrhaging state and the state has lost a lot of residents and businesses to other low-tax states.

What happens in California does have a nationwide effect because it is the most populous state, has the most registered voters and electoral seats, and is the 6th largest economy in the world.

There are great qualities that people like in California, such as the weather, a large tech industry in Silicon [Valley], a large labor market, access to resources, and its entertainment industry.  The problem is the Dems are ruining the state with their radical policy decisions pushing for higher taxes and increased regulations.  The Democrats’ radical socialist policies are pushing residents and good businesses out of the state and those fleeing people and businesses end up moving to pro-business states like Idaho, Texas, and Tennessee, where their states economies are booming and surpassing California’s growth rate.

In 2018, Carl’s JR, which was founded here in California, moved their headquarters to Tennessee, and Charles Schwab will soon be moving their headquarters from San Francisco, to Texas.

Even now, the Dems in our state are pushing for a “Wealth Tax,” which was something AOC, along with other Dems, proposed in Congress, as part of the “Green New Deal.”

The Democrats need to be held accountable for their failures.  California, along with New York and Illinois, are examples of what happens when you let them control your government.  So, my partner and I want to produce a documentary about this.  We are both residents of California, and we love our state.  The Democrats and Governor Newsom are responsible for the horrible public policies, high taxes, and rising homelessness that have led so many people and businesses to exit the state

Please help us fund this documentary project of ours so we can get this ready for the 2022 midterm elections.  The aim for this film will be to change voter behavior so we can elect people who will lead California in the right direction.  New leadership may not be sufficient enough to fix everything, but it is damned well necessary in order to get real change.

 

     [Here’s a link to another video showing how California has crumbled through the years.  I hope you’ll give it a look and follow “Mac J Jeffrey” on Facebook https://vimeo.com/435192718/7dbdfaeef9 . .  If you would like to support Jeffrey’s work by sending him a check (instead of using the “Go Fund Me” method), get in touch with me and I’ll provide a mailing address for you. – Editor] 

 

Bob Rodi of Naples, FL offered this remark about Biden’s VP pick:

The “Bernie Bros” are not happy with Biden’s VP pic but it was the only logical choice.  Other than Karen Bass, who could have claimed to be the descendants of slaves?

In a year where Americans have come to understand the meaning of “Quid Pro Quo,” the term should definitely come up in discussion about Kamala’s background.

I lived in the Bay area when Kamala appeared on the scene.  She was a young prosecutor, off of 28, and Willie Brown was the king, or queen, maker for California politicians.

Her affair with Willie, married for 40 years and in his mid- to late 60s, was very public.  They didn’t even try to hide it.  Willie bought her nice cars and gave her sweet, high-paid patronage jobs for sitting on his staff . . . I don’t think anybody is going to be clutching their pearls over the fact that she had an affair with a powerful, old, married man, but the Quid Pro Quo did occur in the way she paid Willie for his patronage.

Kamala was the kingmaker’s concubine for many years, until Willie became Mayor of San Francisco.  There were [always] a lot of rumors about Kamala’s being willing to do anything to keep climbing that ladder, and I’m pretty sure we will hear those stories.  A few days ago, Willie Brown, now 85, urged Kamala to refuse the VEEP job if Biden offered it.  I think Willie might be worried that somebody might have some compromising pics somewhere.

All of that before we even get to the part about her record as a prosecutor:  throwing the book at minor marijuana offenders, her “tough on crime” attitude, the fact that black people do not like the fact that her husband, Doug Emhoff, is a white man.

I think after Joe backed himself into a corner with the “woman of color” promise, Kamala Harris was his best choice.

 

Cathy Hinners, Founder of the Daily Roll Call (dailyrollcall.com) offered the following for your consideration:

Refugee resettlement. Child wellness visits.  Take your pick, Lee is neither a conservative nor a student of the U.S. or Tennessee Constitution.

First it was Lee’s failure to uphold Tennessee’s Tenth Amendment rights against the federal government forcing the state to pay for the refugee program even after the state had withdrawn.

Instead, Lee said he was committed to bringing more refugees to the state.

Even though he admitted he wasn’t a politician, he never disclosed during the campaign that he knows almost nothing about the U.S. and Tennessee Constitution. This only became known after he took office.

Lee’s proclamation to continue refugee resettlement violates the separation of powers since Lee can’t appropriate state dollars that are being used to pay for the federal program.  Only the state legislature has the authority to do that.

Now Lee wants a “Child Wellbeing Task Force” to be put in place.  And he’s having Penny Schwinn, TN Commissioner of Education to get guidelines written about how local school districts can come to your home and make sure your kids are okay.

“Goal:  ALL Tennessee children will receive a wellbeing check.  Purpose:  Connect with each child to verify wellbeing and identify need.  Expectation:  It is encouraged that all children, birth to age 18, receive a wellbeing check.”

Get that ALL children.

And because school districts are already too busy trying to educate remotely, Lee’s “guidance” will allow for “third-parties (non-district employees)” to come to your home and evaluate whether your kids are okay.

And notice that well-being check caseloads are to be “equitably” distributed among well- being checkers.  Just what you’d expect from California-bred Schwinn.

How much will this cost?  What about interpreters?  Will illegal aliens cooperate with the well-checkers for fear of being discovered?  What about that little thing called government overreach?

Anyone else had enough of Bill Lee?

 

Jimmy Massengill, Mayor of Graysville, TN shared the following:

When I wear a mask in public, or decline an invitation to a party or to come inside, I want you to know that:

  • I am educated enough to know that I could be asymptomatic and still give you the virus.
  • No, I don’t “live in fear” of the virus; I just want to be part of the solution, not the problem.
  • I don’t feel like the “government is controlling me;” I feel like I’m being a contributing adult to society.
  • The world doesn’t revolve around me. It’s not all about me and my comfort.
  • If we all could live with other people’s consideration in mind, this whole world would be a much better place.
  • Wearing a mask doesn’t make me weak, scared, stupid, or even “controlled.” It makes me considerate.

When you think about how you look, how uncomfortable it is, or what others think of you, just imagine someone close to you – a child, a father, a mother, grandparent, aunt, or uncle – choking on a respirator, alone without you or any family member allowed at the bedside.

Ask yourself if it was worth the risk?

Wearing a mask is not political.  It’s a public health choice.

 

LEGISLATIVE REPORT                                                                              

The Legislative Report provides information on some of the more remarkable bills that have been introduced in Congress.  Its purpose is to provide the reader with information about pending legislation that may prompt the reader to contact their representatives to express their views.

In the Legislative Report, you will see markers + and + on certain bills.  The red icon is placed to encourage the reader to contact their representatives and ask them to vote against the legislation.  On bills marked with the green icon, the reader is encouraged to contact their elected representatives and encourage them to support the legislation.  The reader is always encouraged to keep informed about all legislation so they may be aware of bills that effect our lives.  Decide today that you will make your voice heard.  If you remain silent, your representatives will never know your thoughts! – Editor

 

Tennessee

Sam Medley, a journalist at The Tennessee Star wrote an article on the reaction to a bill introduced by State Representative Bruce Griffey (R-Paris), providing for the chemical castration of certain sexual predators.

A group that called a political candidate “literally Hitler” in a flyer won its case challenging a law that criminalizes the use of “false language” in campaign literature. The judge presiding over the case, which was heard Thursday, called the law “incompatible with the First Amendment.”

Tennesseans for Sensible Elections Laws (TSEL), an organization that describes itself as “a nonpartisan group of concerned citizens who care about protecting Tennessee’s democratic process,” claims it was subject to criminal penalties for a political flier claiming that State Rep. Bruce Griffey (R-Paris) was “literally Hitler.” Another piece targeted State Rep. Rick Staples (D-Knoxville).

The flier likened a bill introduced by Griffey, which would require those convicted of a sexual offense involving victims under the age of 13 to be chemically castrated, to “the kind of thing you would see in Nazi Germany, not in Tennessee.”

In a statement about the suit, the group explained:

     TSEL designed direct mail pieces and digital advertisements about Tennessee House Representative Bruce Griffey, saying that he was “literally Hitler” for introducing legislation that would provide for the chemical castration of certain criminal defendants, and Tennessee House Representative Rick Staples, accusing him of spending campaign funds on everything from snorkeling trips to exotic açaì bowls.  TSEL knew these statements were false, but they did not send the mailers or run the digital ads for fear of prosecution.

Section 2-19-142 of Tennessee Code Annotated classifies the publication or distribution of “any campaign literature in opposition to any candidate in any election” that contains claims that are known to be false as a Class C misdemeanor. Offenders are subject to up to a $50 fine and up to 30 days in jail.

TSEL filed suit, alleging that the law violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution as “viewpoint discrimination, content-bases and identity-based discrimination, freedom of speech, and overbreadth.”

TSEL argued that the specific wording of the law “punishes only false political speech in opposition to candidates for elected office, while permitting false speech in support of such candidate.”

The group similarly argued that the law would not apply to the use of false speech in campaigning for a “non-candidate” and “prohibits a substantial amount of constitutionally protected speech.”

Presiding over the case, Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle ruled in favor of TSEL. Lyle’s judgment declared Section 2-19-142 of Tennessee Code Annotated unconstitutional, stating it violated not only the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution but also Article I, Section 19 of the Tennessee Constitution.

Lyle stated that enforcement of the law is “a credible threat to the Plaintiff’s exercise of the speech in issue,” referring to the mailer.

The Court also ruled that TSEL could recuperate its legal fees and costs.

You can read the Court’s opinion here.

 

Washington, D.C.

+ HR 7724 No Funds for Apportionment Exclusion Act (Meng, D-NY).  This bill would block President Trump’s Executive Order to not count illegal aliens and other non-citizens in the 2020 census.  If non-citizens are counted, California, Florida, and Texas will gain seats in the House of Representatives while Alabama, Minnesota, and Ohio will lose seats.  But, there’s more:  Federal subsidies and other taxpayer-supported programs (e.g. education, healthcare, enterprise zones, etc.), are allocated by population.  This bill is a boon to sanctuary states!  It is sure to pass in the House of Representatives so it is CRUCIAL that we let our Senators know we expect them to vote AGAINST it.

 

+ S 4322 Safely Back to School and Back to Work Act (Alexander R-TN, 84 pages).  The stated purpose of this bill is to “Help Americans safely get back to school and work, and for other purposes.”

After several decades in the Senate, Lamar Alexander is calling it quits when his current term expires.  I’ve always thought Senator Alexander was a decent human being and, back in the day, I was a member of “Alexander’s Band.”  I still have that bumper sticker on one of my guitar cases!

Through the decades though, Lamar Alexander (who was never what one might call a rock-ribbed conservative), drifted toward leftward to the point where one might have some difficulty determining whether he was a Democrat or a Republican.  Knowing Senator Alexander was calling it quits, I was hoping this bill would leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was a bona fide Republican.  Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out that way.

The bill is comprised of two “Titles.”

Title I, entitled “Healthcare provisions” presents in Sections 101 through 110:  Improving earlier access to diagnostic tests; Sustained on-shore manufacturing capacity for public health emergencies; Improving and sustaining State medical stockpiles;

Strengthening the Strategic National Stockpile; Guidance for States and Indian Tribes on accessing the Strategic National Stockpile; Modernizing infectious disease data collection; Centers for Public of human genetic information; Supporting the Reagan-Udall Foundation and Health Preparedness; Telehealth plans; Protection Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, respectively.

Title II, entitled “Education provisions.”  Title II covers the “and for other purposes” part of the bill.  Sections 201 through 209 seems not to have a lot to do with getting people back to work, but getting them back to school by opening new opportunities for people to get loans and subsistence payments from the taxpayers, to wit:  Simplifying student loan repayment; Emergency education freedom grants; Back to Work Child Care grants; National emergency educational waivers; Waivers for career, technical, and adult education; Additional workforce activities; Workforce recovery and training services; Impact Aid provisions, and; Amendments to education provisions of [The] CARES [Act].  So, Title II of the bill has nothing to do with making schools safer.

Sorry Senator, you’ve disappointed us again.

 

+ S 2233 (Shatz, D-HI) and HR 7291 (Horsford, D-NV) have introduced bills that would overturn President Trump’s Executive Order requiring federal agencies to share citizenship data.

My initial response to these bills was to recall the days before the 9/11 attacks when crucial data was “stove piped” (not shared among agencies) that might have prevented the terrorist attack that killed nearly 3,000 Americans.  Since then, cross-transmittal of crucial data has prevented numerous terrorist attacks but Shatz and Horsford seem not to care that sharing data is a good thing that yields positive results and conserves vital resources.  They’re Democrats, and as such, they only care about blocking any action by the President or his administration, regardless of what harm it may cause to the American people!

These bills, if passed, would prevent a requirement that people filling out census papers from having to declare their citizenship.  So, what’s the big deal?  Simple:

Those places – let’s call them “Sanctuary Cities (or States)” – where large numbers of illegal aliens reside, to have non-citizens – illegal aliens – counted in the census would increase the number of Representatives and the number of Electors in the Electoral College.  Counting illegal aliens would also increase taxpayer funding for programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, block grants for public housing, schools, and other welfare benefits to those Sanctuary Cities and States.

At this point, the House bill has 25 cosponsors (all Democrat), and the Senate bill has 28 cosponsors (27 Democrat and 1 Socialist).

 

+ S 3599 Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (Purdue, R-GA, 6 pages).  This bill would increase the number of “employment-based visas” as defined under Section 203(b), in the Immigration and Nationality Act (Title 8 US Code 1153(b), as calculated in paragraph (3).

Using the national emergency for their rationale, the bill would give out an additional 40,000 green cards that wouldn’t otherwise be used to import unneeded foreign doctors and nurses.

     According to data provided by Chris Chmielenski, Deputy Director of Numbers USA, there is no shortage of doctors and nurses in the United States.  While some hospitals in hot spots may have experienced a staffing shortage during the most severe times, doctors and nurses in areas less affected by the pandemic were forced into furlough or saw a reduction in hours.

Furthermore, there are thousands of medical school graduates who are unable to practice due to a shortage of residencies across the country.  Instead of importing more foreign doctors and nurses, Congress should instead ensure that there are enough residencies at U.S. hospitals for all medical school graduates.

While we should seek out immigrants who can contribute to America by providing needed services, we should look after our own citizens first!

 

S 4212 Civil Justice for Victims of COVID Act (McSally, R-AZ, 7 pages).  The stated purpose of this bill is “to amend Title 28, U.S. Code, to strip foreign sovereign immunity of certain foreign states to secure justice for victims of novel coronavirus in the United States.”

When news broke that this bill would soon be introduced, the general reaction was it was nothing more than a publicity stunt.  After all, an attempt to compel the Chinese government to respond to a subpoena and appear in a U.S. court to defend their reckless or, in the opinion of some, criminal behavior would cause raucous laughter all over Beijing and Wuhan.  Those who scoffed such lawsuit forgot that China is heavily invested in the United States – the Chines government owns vast quantities of real estate and varying degrees of interest in numerous American-based corporations.

The main thrust of the amendments to Title 28 U.S. Code are in Chapter 97, Section 1605C(a), which strips foreign governments of their immunity to civil action brought by the United States and its citizens, specifically:

“A foreign state shall not be immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States in any case in which money damages are sought against a foreign state for death or physical or economic injury to person, property, or business occurring in the United States following any reckless action or omission (including a conscious disregard of the need to report information promptly or deliberately hiding relevant information) of a foreign state, or of any official, employee, or agent of that foreign state while acting within the scope of his or her office, employment, or agency, that caused or substantially contributed to the COVID–19 global pandemic in the United States, regardless of where the action or omission occurred.”

The language of the bill goes on to add Section 2(d), which provides:

“Any citizen or resident of the United States injured in his or her person, property, or business by reason of any reckless action or omission (including a conscious disregard of the need to report information promptly or deliberately hiding relevant information) of a foreign state, or of any official, employee, or agent of that foreign state while acting within the scope of his or her office, employment, or agency, that caused or substantially contributed to the COVID–19 global pandemic in the United States, regardless of where the action or omission occurred, may sue therefor in any appropriate district court of the United States and shall recover threefold the damages he or she sustains and the cost of the suit, including attorney’s fees.”

It will be interesting to watch the vote on this bill in the Senate; it will identify those Senators who favor China more than the People of the United States.  To wit: https://freebeacon.com/democrats/feinstein-china-is-growing-into-a-respectable-nation/?fbclid=IwAR3ARRIy2zXvEvMyymsTIpNNO1UtBtcuB_wHizrkKuKfxXbwqdYbqsiZ-Ms

 

The Senate Committee on Veteran’s Affairs have ordered reported thirteen bills prior to the upcoming recess.  All the bills are seemingly straightforward and necessary.  One bill was taken up by the Senate and passed on voice vote, indicating it was both necessary and bipartisan.

 

S 332 Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act of 2019 (Blumenthal, D-CT, 2 pages)

S 514 Deborah Sampson Act (Tester, D-MT, 19 pages)

S 629 Accountability in Department of Veterans Affairs Scheduling and Consult Management Act (Tester, D-MT, 16 pages)

S 711 CARE for Reservists Act of 2019 (Tester, D-MT, 11 pages)

S 805 Veteran Debt Fairness Act of 2019 (Tester, D-MT, 16 pages)

S 785 Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Healthcare Improvement Act of 2019 (Tester, D-MT, 144 pages).  This bill passed in the Senate by voice vote.

S 2216 TEAM Veterans Caregivers Act (Peters, D-MI, 4 pages).

S 2558 Nursing Home Care for Native American Veterans Act (Sinema, D-AZ, 4 pages).

S 2950 Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2019 (Sullivan, R-AK, 10 pages).

S 3235 Veterans Posttraumatic Growth Act (McSally, R-AZ, 4 pages).

S 3282 Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act (Cassidy, R-LA, 5 pages).

S 3643 VA Mission Telehealth Clarification Act (Loeffler, R-GA, 3 pages).

S 4384 A Bill to Require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Address Exposure by Members of the Armed Forces to Toxic Substances at Karshi-Kanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, and for Other Purposes (Sullivan, R-AK, text not yet available.)

 

+ HR 2650 & S 4145 Payment Choice Act (Payne, D-NJ and Menendez D-NJ, respectively).  This bill would mandate all retail stores to accept cash as a valid form of payment.  Supporters argue the legislation helps groups who are less likely to have credit cards or cashless technology, including older people and the less well-off. Opponents counter that going cashless has advantages for both large and small businesses alike, and that a law banning the possibility would run increasingly counter to a consumer- and market-driven trend.  It’s interesting that such a bill would be necessary given that on every piece of script issued by the Department of the Treasury there is printed “This note is legal tender for all debts public and private.”

 

S 2299 PIPES Act of 2020 (Fischer, R-NE, 76 pages).  A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to enhance the safety and reliability of pipeline transportation, and for other purposes.  This Act may be cited as the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 or the PIPES Act of 2020, it is designed to improve safety in both the pipeline systems and their support infrastructure.  A key component is the implementation of the Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act, which covers emergency response, creates operations and maintenance manuals, and training in best practices.

 

S 3455 No TikTok on Government Devices Act (Hawley, R-MO, 6 pages).  TikTok, like Huawei, both are Chinese software products that have been found to have spyware installed that makes the devices on which they are installed accessible to the Chinese.  Having this software installed on government-owned devices enables the Chinese to spy on the user and anyone who communicates with the user.

 

S 4461 A bill to provide for a period of continuing appropriations in the event of a lapse in appropriations under the normal appropriations process, and establish procedures and consequences in the event of a failure to enact appropriations (Lankford, R-OK, 16 pages).  The title of the bill explains its purpose and will likely be necessary since the Democrats hold a majority in the House and are willing to sacrifice doing the right thing to advance their political agenda.

 

+ HR 8015 Delivering for America Act (Maloney, D-NY).  The stated purpose of this bill is to “maintain prompt and reliable service during [the Wuhan virus] pandemic, and for other purposes.”  The actual purpose of this bill is to throw money into the perpetually mismanaged black hole that is the United States Postal Service so they will be allegedly able to distribute and receive mail in ballots in the upcoming presidential election.  Given the history of mail-in ballots and the recent events identifying fraudulent use of same it can be nothing less than glaringly apparent that the Democrats, with the aid of their useful idiots receiving checks via the postal service, have designs to defraud the American People in the upcoming election.

On August 22nd, just as she did with the “Affordable” Care Act (0bamacare), in what can only be described as another act in the “Hate Trump Saga,” the Speaker of the House compelled Representatives to vote on this bill prior to having it read into the congressional record.  The bill passed in the House but will (hopefully) be defeated in the Senate.

 

 

LAGNIAPPETHE DESCENT INTO ANARCHY

It’s difficult to determine at this point whether the capitulation of law enforcement is a planned process or a commentary illustrating that law enforcement is incapable of enforcing our laws but, regardless, the anarchy on display in cities all across America is blatant proof that the anarchist are winning.  Of the many reminders defining this trend, perhaps none were more glaring than a decree recently released by the Minneapolis Police Department.

 

In other words, WE GIVE UP!  YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN!  But don’t you dare try to defend yourself!

 

https://newspunch.com/seattle-police-chief-sends-letters-to-residents-we-cannot-enforce-the-law-you-are-on-your-own/?fbclid=IwAR2p7Cz9wHYAW_lj70qdZcIKWwzxNjivHtWEMnocb9QJhF8qtuW_y9k1Qfc

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

It’s easy to blame “the government” for the things we don’t like but difficult to take the responsibility for implementing change.

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES

President Donald Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington D.C. 20500

Phone:  (202) 456-1414

Fax:  (202) 456-2461

e-mail

http://www.whitehouse.gov

president@whitehouse.gov

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

455 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Room 40 – Suite 2

Washington D.C. 20510

Phone:  (202) 244-4944

Fax:  (202) 228-3398

e-mail

https://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email

http://www.alexander.senate.gov

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn

357 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Phone:  (202) 224-3344

Fax:  (202) 228-0566

To contact visit website:

www.blackburn.senate.gov

U.S Representative Dr. Scott DesJarlais

2301 Rayburn HOB

Washington, DC 20515

Phone:  (202) 225-6831

Fax:  (202) 226-5172

e-mail

http://desjarlais.house.gov

Governor Bill Lee

Tennessee State Capitol

Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Phone:  (615) 741-2001

Fax:  (615) 532-9711

e-mail

http://www.state.tn.us/governor

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House

https://www.speaker.gov/contact

Link above provides all methods of contact.

 

Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader

https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=contact

 

State Representative Ron Travis

301 Sixth Avenue North

Suite G-3

War Memorial Building

Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Phone:  (615) 741-1450

Rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov

 

State Senator Ken Yager

301 Sixth Avenue North

Suite G-19

War Memorial Building

Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Phone:  (615) 741-1449

Fax:  (615) 253-0237

sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.gov