Guest Column

U.S oil and gas producers lead world in cutting carbon emissions

Career politicians comfortable in the land of lobbyists, back room deals, pay to play, Hollywood

They are resigning because there is proof (like pictures), they are resigning because of pressure from their party, and the are resigning preemptively. Those are the ones we know about. There is also a large number who have been accused and suit was settled by a little $15 million dollar slush fund courtesy of the taxpayers. If those politicians were also exposed to media scrutiny, how many would be left standing?

President Trump continues to reverse some of the Obama Era policies and actions

President Trump continues to reverse some of the Obama Era policies and actions. Thank goodness. In Nevada, Obama expanded just one Monument (not a park) by more than 1,000 square miles. In total, he increased federal lands by more than 1 million acres. By designating or expanding federal holdings, he removed a state's right to govern their own land.

What is clear is that a person died at the hands of another person and that there will be no consequences

We weren't in the court room so most of us will never know how the prosecution or the defense presented their cases in the Kate Steinle trial. What we do know is that a felon who was deported previously, had served time in jail for illegal entry and drug possession, had stolen the weapon which killed Steinle and was "playing" with it when it discharged, was found not guilty. The defendant, Garcia Zarate, was represented by a Public Defender. Why the prosecution didn't opt for a lesser charge is unclear. What is clear is that a person died at the hands of another person and that there will be no consequences. Obviously, mistakes were made in this case. What is troubling to me is the focus on the jury. They could only make their decision based on evidence presented and instruction given to them.There certainly could be an element of political correctness given the venue and political climate in California but that was up to the lawyers to negotiate by eliminating certain jurors or asking for a change of venue. While this case has many people up in arms, the jurors should not be on the receiving end of a witch hunt. They were good citizen doing their civic duty to the best of their ability. The jury system is too important to be tainted by one case.

Average Americans don't know the details and implications of Obamacare or the proposed rewrites

Here's the deal, most average Americans don't know the details and implications of Obamacare or of any of the proposed rewrites. Most Americans don't know or have any idea of the details or implications of the tax code changes. Most Americans don't have an understanding of the need (or not) of a Federal budget. Is it because we are stupid or lazy? Maybe we can be called lazy but the truth is that to read and comprehend hundreds, if not thousands, of pages of legislation is beyond the ability of most people-including our representatives who take the word of staffers who allegedly have digested all that legal speak. I believe this is by design. The more complicated the proposal, the less will be read and the more you can con people. In the meantime we are coping with things like school schedules, homework, job demands, holiday pressures, aging parents, not enough time, not enough money. Is it really necessary to make things so difficult?

LGBT advocates seek to scuttle a vital Constitutional right

I think Melania Trump is the right person, in the right place and the right time

Melania Trump is the girl all the other girls in Junior High hated. She is pretty, smart, talented, kind, gracious, classy. Most of us feel overshadowed by the mere thought of all that perfection. She is also unassuming, humble and shies from the spotlight. I think Melania is the right person, in the right place and the right time. Melania, obviously, had choices, and she chose Donald Trump. Think about that.

FBI changed the interpretation of "fugitive from justice"

If you are a fugitive from justice that has not crossed a state line, your name will not show up in a background check through the FBI data base. If you did cross a state line you are then a fugitive from justice and will be flagged during a background check. Theoretically, same crime but in one case you would be denied for purchasing a gun and in the other case you would not. Why is this? Because in their infinite wisdom, the FBI changed the interpretation of "fugitive from justice" last February. Since 1998 180,000 fugitives were barred from buying guns. One has to wonder how many of the newly permitted people purchased a gun since last Feb. Once again, it isn't a lack of laws it is a lack of common sense and enforcement that puts Americans in danger. The dictionary definition of a "fugitive from justice" is a criminal, crook, outlaw, felon. It says nothing about patterns of movement. The definition of fugitive is a runaway, fleer. I guess if you commit the crime and buy the gun within the same state, it's OK. But commit the same crime and go to the neighboring state, then you are a fugitive and can't buy a gun. No joke. Check it out.

Filibuster Rule

Back in 2013, in order to help then President, Barak Obama, secure his Judicial nominees, Harry Reid killed the filibuster rule. Effectively he prevented Republicans from blocking Obama judicial picks. Well, here we are in 2017, there's a new President in town and he is making nominations to fill a lot of vacancies. And, thanks to Harry Reid, the Democrats can't use the filibuster. So, the Dems are thinking (scheming) out of the box. They are trying to use an arcane rule that dates back to when communications were carried by horse and buggy. Essentially, it allows states to hold up nominees while their Senators review the qualifications. Senator Chuck Grassley, Chair. of the Judiciary Committee, has nixed the use of the blue slip rule. He feels, as do most Americans, that they are using it to replace the filibuster and he'll not allow that. Thank goodness. We need our judgeships filled in order for our country to function.

A Review the David Stockman’s book “Trumped!”

David Stockman’s most recent book, “Trumped! A Nation on the Brink of Ruin...And How to Bring It Back,” illustrates how fast scenarios change as new thinking alters national issues and creates new perspectives.

Are we going to go back to no women in the workplace? Or no men?

I wish I could have a conversation with a liberal who could explain to me why, in the discussions we are having today about sexual misconduct, there is not even a nod to the passes received by so many Democrats of the past.

Government should not directly or indirectly be perceived as fostering exclusivity.

Greek life, it's called on the news. On campus they are called frats. What they are is exclusive clubs that, in some cases, practice bad behavior. Isn't there a bigger problem? Don't these group create and foster division. They are a special club for those who are deemed to be worthy. Yet in elementary schools across the country, better grades are often replaced with satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Youth sports hand out participation trophies to everyone and at younger levels they don't keep score. Some High Schools have stopped naming Valedictorians. Given the the hue and cry for equality, there can be no justification for continuing an outdated system of social clubs that by their very nature create division. Even worse is that taxpayer dollars provide about one third of the budget for universities via government tuition grants and loans. Government should not directly or indirectly be perceived as fostering exclusivity.

Hillary Clinton's campaign paid Fusion GPS for opposition research

Hillary Clinton's campaign paid Fusion GPS for opposition research. That is essentially, digging up dirt on your opponent. It's a common practice by both parties, it is not illegal. Fusion GPS turned around and hired Christopher Steele, a former British Intelligence Officer and founder of a British Intelligence Company. Again, no crime. Steele then hired Russian Sources. Why Russian sources? Probably a couple of reasons, one, Steele had once been stationed in Russia and had contacts there. Two, that's where both candidates were pointing their allegations. Steele then created the "Trump Dossier". Two things can't be disputed, the Clinton campaign funded the dossier. And, when you are hired to dig up dirt, your reputation will be shot if you come up dry. So, one way or the other, dirt would be found. The question is, how accurate is it?

Are you OK with this?

When you paid your Federal taxes to the IRS, did you know or expect or even imagine that $15 million of the money received was going to pay harassment suit settlements for the House of Representatives? No? I didn't think so. Our hard earned money, very hard earned for most of us, was used (in part) to pay off people who were victims of our Representatives behaving badly. Or were they? Or was it a great way to funnel money to people? An accuser gets a settlement rather than being forced to prove their case in court. The leaker of this story says the $15 million went out in the last 10-15 years. Hmmm. This sounds a lot like the EPA suits that were settled in favor of Obama's pet groups. All this settling is leaving me very unsettled. Settling gets the accuser and the accused off the hook. Nothing is proved or disproved, there is no publicity. All that happened was money changed hands. No behavior was modified, if it needed to be, and we are still being forced to support this despicable practice. Are you OK with that?

Trump’s failing revolution

President Trump made draining Washington’s Swamp the centerpiece of his Presidency. The swamp is winning. Its RINOgators are on the verge of destroying the Trump Presidency.

A message to my daughters, granddaughters and young women everywhere across the United States

As you are growing and learning and forming your own opinions about what it means to be a woman in 2017. I encourage, no, I beg of you, to be thoughtful and careful in choosing your role models. The Kardashians, Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren, and Hillary Clinton, to name but a few, should not be your idols. Women like Nikki Haley, Condoleezza Rice, Michelle Malkin, and Sarah Sanders, on the other hand,are wonderful examples of strength, brains and class. They represent real success for women's rights. They needed neither sex, sensationalism or public protests to get them where they are today.

Paris Climate Accord

Congressman, Vern Buchanan is urging President Trump to stay in the Paris Climate Accord. This came out almost simultaneously with the news that the pollution in India is so bad that the reduced visibility is causing traffic accidents.

Find the cure--ignore the symptoms

We have become a society steeped in the habit of identifying the symptoms of a problem and then committing our personal and fiscal resources to managing those symptoms. Only rarely do we take the time to recognize and then eliminate the origin of those problems. We often see this in the medical industry, where managing symptoms takes immediacy over seeking a problem's cure, while hoping that the original malady will not get worse and our natural healing process will fix the problem.

Our country is equally divided on most social, economic and political issues.

Our country is equally divided on most social, economic and political issues. Both sides are adamant about their positions. This doesn't create an atmosphere of solutions. It is really tough on businesses who are pressured (and sometimes legislated) to take sides. Once they do, they risk 50% of their business. Hobby Lobby, Target, the NFL come to mind.

A debt we can never repay…

I'm talking about Today - Veterans Day. The day we pay tribute to Canadian Patriots past and present, who fought and keep fighting the good fight to keep us all free. Because here's the bare-knuckled truth... the struggle for liberty never ends, and the wolves of tyranny are always at the door!