national news

Sen. Graham is gone, but damage is done

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I wish I could speak well of Sen. Lindsey Graham now that he’s dead … but the hard truth is that I cannot in good conscience speak of him without tossing out a qualifier or two.

Graham was a South Carolina Republican who became one of Donald Trump’s fiercest allies in the Senate. And this was after he portrayed himself as one of Trump’s most ferocious critics. It makes me wonder: Which Lindsey Graham is the real thing and which one is the phony baloney fraud.

I will say this about Graham: He bucked Trump by becoming a close friend of Ukraine President Volodymr Zellensky, who had drawn Trump’s wrath because he had the temerity to stand up to Russian strongman/goon/thug Vladimir Putin’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. OK, that’s one positive thing.

Graham, though, became a shill for Trump, even after declaring “I’m out” when it came to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the capital.

Graham also maintained close friendships with politicians on the other side. He was dear friends with former President Joe Biden and the late Sen. Joseph Lieberman. Graham once declared that Biden was the finest man ever knew in politics. Then he would remain silent as Trump trashed Biden repeatedly. What gives with that?

So, Lindsey Graham is gone. History will record that he was a complicated man driven by complex motives.

Still, I will wish him a peaceful rest in eternity.

military news

Redefining ‘winning’ and ‘losing’

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It seems safe to say that Donald J. Trump has reinforced something I have believed for the past 50 years or so, which is that we have redefined winning and losing wars.

I took part briefly in the Vietnam War, which is generally considered to be a conflict that the United States lost to a determined enemy. We won virtually every major engagement on the battlefield. We inflicted far more casualties on the enemy than they inflicted on us.

But we ended the war because we ran out of patience. We ran out of time. Vietnam was fighting to preserve its existence against a foreign power. I now accept the idea that we actually lost the Vietnam War. I am no less proud that I spent some time there doing my duty as ordered by my government.

Trump launched a war with Iran a few months ago. He decided to bomb the crap out of the place. Our aviators along with those from Israel sent bombs crashing into military facilities. Trump declared the war essentially to be over a few weeks after he started it. He kinda/sorta declared victory as well.

Then we entered talks to end the war. The sides emerged with a “memorandum of understanding” that they would stop the fighting. Iran wouldn’t obtain nuclear weapons, according to the MOU. Iran also would be able to sell its oil on the open market. The United States would lift the sanctions it imposed on Iran during the Barack Obama administration.

I have to ask: Is that winning?

Trump’s strategy looks more like that of a loser than a winner.

Now we’re back to bombing Iran. The Iranians have shut down the Strait of Hormuz — again! The price of oil is inching back up. We might lose more American lives; to date, 14 Americans service personnel have died.

To make matters even more maddening to American patriots … such as me: We don’t yet have a detailed explanation from the commander in chief as to our strategy for going to war, nor do we know of an exit strategy that Trump has cooked up in his feeble brain.

national news

Come clean, old timer

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Mitch McConnell has a few million “bosses” in Kentucky who have every right to know whether he’s able to represent their interests in the U.S. Senate.

McConnell, who is more than 80 years of age, is hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. He’s been out of action for several weeks. His family isn’t talking about his condition. There actually has been some discussion that he might have died. I don’t think that’s the case.

But this matter brings to mind the issue of elderly men and women in public office and whether they are able to serve the public they were elected to represent. McConnell, the former Republican leader of the Senate, once was a formidable political figure who controlled legislative flow.

This matter spreads across party lines. You’ll recall how the late Diane Feinstein, a California Democrat, missed many months of votes in the Senate. She died from her ailments. Then we have the case of President Biden, who was running for re-election in 2024 when he stumbled badly during a debate with Donald Trump. Questions arose about the president’s mental acuity. Biden said he had all the snap he needed to govern, but he pulled out of his re-election effort.

McConnell’s condition needs to be dealt with openly by the senator. If he is incapable of speaking for himself, his bosses in Kentucky need to know. He is drawing a healthy six-figure salary to make decisions on behalf of the people of his state.

This matter won’t go away … until Mitch McConnell comes clean.

local news

Waiting for my ‘home town’ to mature

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You know already that I love living in North Texas, particularly this city that is under construction.

I refer, of course, to Princeton. The construction to which I refer is the highway work along the length of the city’s main drag … U.S. Highway 380. My family is nearby. I enjoy living so close to them that I don’t have to make a day out of traveling to visit.

When my wife and I moved into our home, we had no real idea that we would be on the front end of a building boom that continues to this day. Therein lies the crux of this blog.

Princeton’s population has exploded since we closed on our home. It stands at 40,000-plus. I don’t have an exact figure because I don’t think anyone really knows how many folks live here from week to week. The number keeps growing. As a result, the number of residences in Princeton have turned this into a classic “bedroom community.” Lots of new residents have a place to call “home,” where they sleep at night and from which they go to work.

However, the city’s path to full maturity has yet to be traveled. I refer to development of commercial businesses that serve this growing city’s needs. We lack any sort of fine-dining establishments. Virtually nowhere to purchase major appliances. Almost all the home-repair outfits in this area operate out of neighboring communities.

I keep hearing about plans to build something called the Princeton Town Center. I see signs identifying where they want to turn the dirt over. The Town Center will solve a lot of the issues that face residents daily. It will contain a plethora of commercial developments and give the 40,000-plus residents plenty of places to shop locally.

When will this occur? Beats the bejabbers out of me, man. Texas transportation crews have to finish their highway and street work. They haven’t broken ground on the Princeton Town Center. Yes, some small businesses are cropping up along U.S. 380.

I am a patient man. I am waiting for my new home town to grow into the city I know it can become.

local news

Good news to report … yes, really!

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As a general rule I am not inclined to use this blog to bemoan personal matters or bitch out loud about small things that annoy me.

Yes, I know I have shared with you my journey through my grief over losing my bride, Kathy Anne, to cancer. That was important for me to share as I know it resonated with others who have made similar treks through the darkness.

Today I have some good news to share. So, here goes.

I had piled on a lot of extra weight in recent months. I struggled for the longest time to get rid of it. To no avail. That’s changed. I’ve lost almost 15 pounds. I have much more to lose. I’m doing it through a severe lifestyle change.

I’ve long known about the theory “calories in, calories out.” I have reduced my caloric intake. I am no longer eating pastry. I am down to two slices of bread daily. I am consuming my share of veggies and protein in the form of grilled meat. It’s working!

The other thing that I’ve been struggling with has been the aches and pains associated mainly with old age. You know already that I am long in the tooth. I turn 77 in December and I figure that seven years into my 70s means I am officially pushing 80. The main pain source has been my left knee, which I learned recently has a torn meniscus tendon. I wrecked my knee when I took a tumble while exiting my truck. I landed squarely on the pavement in my garage with my knee taking the brunt of it.

My primary care physician referred me to an orthopedist. I went to the doc’s office. He took pictures of my knee and then gave me a shot in the knee to curb the pain. The relief was instantaneous! I know it’s not permanent, but I will deal with its return when it becomes necessary.

One more worrisome ailment also is being targeted. Sleep deprivation. I haven’t slept well for many years. It has caught up with me. But I’ve decided to go to bed the same time each night. I take some deep-breatbing exercises to relax me. That, too, is beginning to help.

I do not intend to keep you posted on my progress. Just know that I have zero intention of returning to the old way of living that caused me so much grief in the first place.

local news

Why not probe turnover at City Hall?

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Carolyn David-Graves might, indeed, be onto something worthwhile in calling for an investigation into the embarrassing turnover at the top of the city’s municipal chain of command.

David-Graves serves on the Princeton City Council and she made the call for a probe at a recent council meeting. As a spectator to what has been going on at City Hall, I was left with one question to which I cannot find answer: Who is going to conduct such a probe, one that is thorough and gets to the truth behind the turnover?

I now shall review what we know.

City Manager Mike Mashburn resigned at the beginning of the year after spending less than two years on the job. Then the interim manager walked off the job suddenly. The fire chief resigned at about the same time. Then the city let its legal counsel go, citing a need to change law firms to represent the city’s interests. The public works director quit. Before he decided to quit, the city manager had fired several key personnel.

David-Graves must believe there is reason to investigate. Given that I am just a taxpaying resident who doesn’t know more than enough to make me dangerous, I am inclined to think she might have reason to seek some answers.

Back to the question: Who would conduct such a probe? The city attorney’s office couldn’t possibly do it. The office likely wouldn’t dare expose any wrongdoing among council members, if there’s any wrongdoing to expose. Princeton doesn’t appear to have an extensive legal community that has built enough distance between a legal team and the city. What about the Texas attorney general’s office? That’s a thought, yes? The current AG is running for another office, so he would be distracted, but he does have a staff of legal eagles capable of handling it.

The single issue that any investigative team would need to identify would be a common denominator. All those resignations must be related somehow to someone or a set of concerns that one could identify.

David-Graves reeled off the list of resignations, which also include three chief financial officers, two deputy city managers and the assistant city manager. “That’s a lot of turnover,” she said. Yeah, no kiddin’. The city might do well to look deeply into what’s wrong at City Hall.

national news

Still waiting for that ‘atta boy!’ moment

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I believe I once wrote on my blog that I would welcome the opportunity to offer praise to Donald Trump when the moment presented itself.

It might have been during his first term as POTUS. I’m still waiting for that moment.

Believe me when I say this, even though many of you might doubt my sincerity, but I truly want Trump to succeed at something, anything that advances the nation’s cause. However, the longer it goes without such an occurrence, the more difficult it becomes.

We’re now fairly deep into this individual’s second term in the White House. He promised it would be worse for many Americans than his first go-round. He vowed to be take revenge against those who have wronged him, that he would be the nation’s “retribution.” You remember that? Sure you do. Because he has delivered on that pledge. The way I figure it, that is about the only promise he made that he’s kept. The rest of ’em? Fuhgetaboutit!

Dude promised to end wars. He said he would end the Ukraine war on the first day of his second term. He said prices would come down immediately. He vowed to cure all our nation’s ills by executive fiat. During his first inaugural, he said the “the American carnage” on our streets ends “right here, right now.”

The guy is zero for whatever on his agenda.

Meanwhile, critics like me are waiting to offer him praise. Dang it, but it’s getting harder each week that goes by.

I’m a patient old man. However, everything has its limits.

national news

Miller takes the cake

I once rated FBI Director Kash Patel as the worst pick among Donald Trump’s inner circle of advisers … but I’ve changed my mind.

The new “leader” that category happens to be an individual who wasn’t confirmed by the Senate, but he sure has Trump’s ear. He is senior White House adviser Steven Miller. And the more I hear from this moron, the more likely he seems to be cementing his place among the infamous cabal of folks who are advising the POTUS.

Miller is reportedly working policies that demonize immigrants. Not just those who are here without documentation. But all of them. Every single person who is born in another country, but who comes to the United States voluntarily to build a life for themselves and those whom they love.

I take such policy bastardization seriously. I am the grandson of immigrants. All four of my grandparents settled in the United States not knowing a word of English. My maternal grandfather might be the lone exception, as he had been a merchant sailor and traveled the world. I am going to suppose he picked up a bit of English on his worldwide voyage. The rest of them? Not a word.

They didn’t make a fortune once they got settled in. My grandmothers didn’t work outside the home. They had their hands full keeping the families in order. Mom’s father ended up running a bakery in Portland, Ore. Dad’s father ran a shoeshine stand also in Portland. But they paid their taxes. They played by the rules and between both sets of grandparents, they produced 10 children, all of whom contributed greatly to this nation.

So, for dipshits like Steven Miller to want to shut the door on future immigrants who want to settle in this land is to deny this great country the opportunity to expand on its greatness. Every president prior to the Numbnuts in Chief has recognized the value of the diversity that immigration brings to the United States of America. He is being fed a line of BS from Stephen Miller who insists wrongly that immigrants are to be shunned and not welcomed.

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Happy birthday, America!

Today we wish our country a happy birthday. 250 of them have come and gone since the wise men who founded the nation gathered to sign the Declaration of Independence from the English Crown.

The declaration in fact was a long list of grievances the Colonies had against the Crown. Thus, the nation was formed by an act of dissent from the edicts of another nation that governed us. And yet … we now hear from the current American government that dissent is an act of treason, that it’s not right to disagree with the pronouncements from the nation’s capital. Such a belief is totally counter to what the founders believed. Indeed, they produced a government with a tenet that declares that dissent is the most democratic and patriotic thing we can do as Americans.

The folks in DC have it wrong. The founders 250 years ago had it right when they declared that we were “endowed by our Creator” with rights that could not be abridged and trifled with. They included the rights to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Well, I am one American patriot has lived a good life, I am liberated to the max and I am still pursuing happiness.

But I continue that pursuit against the current of rhetoric that comes from D.C. It comes from our current president, a man I happen to detest even though I accept with no sense of pleasure that he was elected duly in the latest presidential election.

I don’t want to make this brief salute to our nation about our current troubles. They’re going to work themselves out in fairly short order when vote for the next Congress in two years after that when we vote for president and yet another Congress.

The founders got it right when they built a governmental framework around a Constitution that was built to withstand the challenges if faces. They didn’t get it right. Indeed, the founders knew that perfection was impossible, as they wrote they were seeking a “more perfect Union.” We’ll continue that struggle through all the troubles we encounter.

They ended up with a pretty damn good piece of work. Happy birthday, America.

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How should I react to the Reflecting Pool?

You might know that I will be traveling to Washington, D.C., for an overnight stay as part of an Honor Flight celebration that pays tribute to veterans for their service.

The trip is set for Sept. 11; we’ll return to North Texas the evening of the following day.

Part of the trip will be to tour the various memorials and monuments along the DC Mall that, as you might have heard, features the Reflecting Pool that Donald Trump sought to turn American Flag Blue to honor the nation’s 250th birthday. It didn’t work out.

The pool turned green because of algae — or so I understand.

The question I am facing is how do I react when I lay my eyes on the Reflecting Pool. Do I do nothing? Do I make a loud, agonizing groan of disgust? Do I fake being thrilled to see it?

I am likely to offer a four-letter word or two to whomever is nearby when I utter it. I find the whole thing to be just one more hideous example of Trump’s unfitness to hold the office he will occupy for another two years. He didn’t need to spend taxpayer money to gussy up the pool. It was a no-bid deal went to a friend of his. And the idiot blew it!

I damn sure am not going to let the sight of that monstrosity ruin what I believe should be a wonderful experience for myself and the other veterans with whom I will travel to the nation’s capital.

The Honor Flight intends to shower us with love and respect. I intend fully to accept all of it with humility and pride.

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