To the Editor:
The quest of the Republican Party for ideological purity has produced the likes of Gym Jordan, the Ham-and-Cheesy twins (Margie Greene, Lauren Boebert), Matt Gaetz, Ron DeSantis, George Santos, and Paul Gosar. All of them emulating the chaos-master, Donald Trump.
Pin-the-tail on the Speaker remains a favorite pastime of the Republican House Freedom Caucus, to punish his debt-ceiling negotiations in May, and revel in their non-governing, retaliatory disfunction.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is using a “senatorial hold” on the issue of abortion travel reimbursements for military personnel stationed in non-choice states, halting all military promotions and nominations including General Eric Smith’s to lead the Marine Corps. Tuberville refused a phone call from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to discuss the matter, explaining that he “has no time to speak to the Secretary today, and will not have time over the weekend.”
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) admitted that he doesn’t care if the “Biden crime family” information is true or not. He just wants a public spectacle. Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) basically admitted that the Biden investigations are payback for Trump’s impeachments, and House Repos proposed “expunging” the record. As is often done for flaky child offenders.
The Freedom Caucus declared that anyone fact-checking them and calling out their mendacities infringe their First Amendment Right (to lie). However, they are entitled under the same Rights to spout the latest Q-phantasms about Democrats. Apparently, only Republicans have First Amendment Rights.
In a House Oversight Committee hearing, trying to prove that Hunter Biden got a “sweetheart” deal with the FBI/DOJ (it was in line with others with the same accusations), Margie Greene triumphantly announced that the DOJ had failed to prosecute Hunter for criminal violation of the Mann Act as a sex trafficker.
She solemnly warned the audience to exercise “parental control,” and proceeded to show naked pictures of a man, who is not and never was a public servant, and listed some of his dubious choices. Because he had bought a plane ticket for a partner for a DC rendezvous, Margie insisted he thereby created a prostitute and crossed state lines for the purposes of sex.
However, the Mann Act, originally passed in 1910, was amended in the 1970’s-2000’s, in part to distinguish forced sex travel across state lines from consensual adult assignations. She claimed the “biased” DOJ failed to prosecute under a 1910 criminal statute that had been amended, consequently nullifying her argument.
Such are the deep concerns that Republicans prioritize over the interests of American families.
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
In a reversal of his customary strategy to prolong legal processes against him, last week Trump’s lawyers filed a motion with the Georgia Supreme Court to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from pursuing indictments for alleged interference with GA’s 2020 election results, to suppress the sealed report of the special purpose grand jury, and dismiss any evidence contained in that report. “Leapfrogging” over the lower court and petitioning the GA Supreme Court is a disfavored Hail Mary legal maneuver. It is also an indication of how desperate Trump is to avoid a GA grand jury indictment. For once, he wants the court to move swiftly.
Currently, DA Wallis is in the process of two grand jury selections, one of which is expected to be asked to hand down indictments for alleged criminal interference in GA’s 2020 presidential election. With all the charges pending in federal court as a result of special prosecutor Jack Smith’s intrepid investigations, why is this state case so worrisome to Trump?
If Trump is indicted in GA, it is potentially damaging to him in the general election. Also, federal charges can be subject to a presidential pardon. A presidential pardon will have no effect on state charges. DA Wallis is expected to bring indictments sometime in August 2023.
While many court observers note that federal prosecutors, such as special counsel Jack Smith, often prefer to go first, as in the Mar-a-Lago document indictment, in this case it may be important to allow the GA election interference case to precede the federal case.
In startling Republican news, Margie Greene basically endorsed President Biden last weekend at the Talking Point Act conference. Performing her trademark rant to the far-right group, she warned that “Joe Biden is trying to finish what FDR started” by legislating programs to assist Americans, such as “education, medical care, urban problems, rural poverty, transportation, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps and welfare.”
“How will Dark Brandon ever recover from this?” mocked “Did Nothing Wrong” podcaster Jay McKenzie. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) ridiculed her for saying Democrats and Biden want to “finish what FDR started.” “Yes,” he agreed. “Guilty as charged.”
“Did not have Marjorie Taylor Greene doing campaign ads for Biden on my election bingo card but here we are,” scoffed influencer Shauna W.
The WH reaction was to tweet her comments, and admit, *You caught us! President Biden is working to better the life of Americans.”
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
I am a concerned resident of Fillmore. I’m writing this letter to state my opposition to the drag queen performance on Friday June 16, 2023 at One Step A La Vez. I denounce FUSD’s and any council member support for this behavior in front of our youth. These are the children of Fillmore and I am committed to protecting them from sexualized and harmful behavior and teachings. I am also writing to say that I have a voice and a vote and I will use both to shield our kids and keep them safe.
It’s appalling to me that my little town and school district that I grew up in would have people and a district that would support something so ugly and disturbing for our children. I have heard some say that there is hate regarding this opposition but let me be clear I don’t hate the people I hate what those people are trying to do to our children and I won’t stand for it!!
I hope and pray that these protests will not go on deaf ears and that we can work together to keep our children safe and give parents the rights they have to keep their children safe and free from this kind of ugliness. Our children are worth fighting for!!
Thank You,
A concerned citizen and Aunt of Fillmore, Ca.
To the City of Fillmore:
Every day, I run into people who haven’t heard yet about the drag show for kids that took place last month. When I run into someone who’s hearing about it for the first time, the two words I hear every time are, “WHAT!?” and “Livid.”
This scandalous “Pride” Month event which took place at One Step a La Vez seems to have been a flash point that has enraged many people in Fillmore. Everyone wants to DO something about it.
A lot of people have asked me what they should do. Some concerned parents met recently to talk about it and decided there’s a lot that needs to happen but, right now, there are three things you can do.
· Spread the word. There are still parents and community members who don’t know about it. Make sure everyone knows this group, that reaches out to kids between the ages of 13 – 19, hosted a drag show for kids while their parents were at work.
· Email each school board member and superintendent of the Fillmore USD. Although the school district was not directly involved, they do work with this youth organization. Tell the school board that One Step a La Vez should be nowhere near children. The district must cut all ties. (Board members can be Emailed here:
https://www.fillmoreusd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=3 69855&typ e=d&pREC_ID=831736)
· Finally, show up at the next school board meeting, scheduled Tuesday, July 18th. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the district office. The address is 627 Sespe Ave. Every parent/community member should be at the school board meeting to let the board members know they need to cut all ties with One Step a La Vez.
Tim Holmgren,
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
The political Far-Right, in its efforts to secure the Christian evangelical vote, has extolled Christianity to the point where they claim that America was “founded as a Christian nation.” It wasn’t.
The purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to explain and justify a rebellion to secure “God-given rights.” In each case, reference to a higher power served to validate the assertion of independence and equality with other nations of the world. Even the least religious Founders saw the political advantage to invoking divine favor on the question of independence.
However, the Constitution adopted by Congress in 1787 is secular, making no mention of divine power except references dating the document “In the year of our Lord.” The rebellion having been accomplished under the protection of the Deity, the purpose of the Constitution is a “blueprint for stable and effective republican government in a free country,” establishing basic rights of citizens which the government cannot deny. Religion was viewed as a matter of voluntary individual choice and the Constitution secured that religious neutrality.
Christian Founders, present at the birth of America, including Jefferson and Adams, denied that the new country was established as a Christian nation. John Adams wrote, “The government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion.” Thomas Jefferson was a bitter ideological rival to Adams, but agreed. He wrote, “Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law,” and saying the First Amendment establishes “a wall of separation between church and state.”
The Christian Founders, educated in the philosophers of The Age of Reason, such as John Locke, Isaac Newton, and Rene Descartes found their religious beliefs generally compatible with “theistic rationalism,” a belief system for the educated elite rather than a religion, wherein a powerful, rational, and benevolent Creator established laws of the universe and can intervene in human creation.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) recently said that, “Christianity is the faith and America is the place slavery came to die,” ignoring that it cost hundreds of thousands of lives to force the end of slavery, and certain Christian sects, like the Southern Baptist Convention, were founded explicitly for the preservation of slavery, “a God-ordained institution.”
Hawley recently tweeted bogus Christian theocratic propaganda stating that the country was founded on the “Gospel of Jesus Christ.” He falsely argued that the US was founded as a Christian nation but allows other faiths to practice here.
Many Christians today have forgotten that America was sought first as a place where people could practice their chosen religion as a God-given right, not by permission of a generous Christian state. The history of joint Church/State government power has a lurid past, never to the advantage of the ordinary citizen. Our Founders wanted to ensure that it would never happen here.
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
In a motion for a new trial in the successful E. Jean Carroll civil defamation suit, Trump’s lawyer argued that, “the Jury’s $2 million [sexual assault] award was clearly motivated by sympathy rather than by evidence of harm, and the Court should grant a new trial as to compensatory damages for the battery claim, or grant a remittitur of such award to an amount no more than $400,000.” Mulligan!
Trump’s attorney conceded that Trump may have groped Carroll. “The purported sexual abuse found by the Jury could have only included alleged groping of Plaintiff’s intimate parts through clothing, which is clearly not rape.”
Oddly, NY law requires penile penetration to constitute rape; digital or object penetration is sexual assault. The jury’s verdict finding Trump civilly liable for a lesser criminal offense of sexual battery is not the “exoneration” of which Trump so proudly boasts. Trump believes his self-interest is the best arbiter of what the compensation for the abuse of Ms. Carroll should be, not the victim, not the jury.
Trump’s argument is that he should not have to pay premium prices when he didn’t even get to use his male member in the sexual assault. He had repeatedly said that he didn’t know her, never met her, said she “isn’t my type,” though he mistakenly identified a picture of Ms. Carroll as his ex-wife, Marla Maples. Now, “he may have groped Carroll…” He conjures whatever truth will serve his cause. How can anyone respect someone like that?
Pathetically, Trump contended that Carroll’s lawsuit was, “a Hoax and a lie, just like all the other Hoaxes that have been played on me for the past seven years.” That’s a lot of hoaxing unless you are paranoid, a professional victim, or a malignant narcissist, though they are not mutually exclusive. When the jury had to decide who the liar was, it chose Trump.
Trump’s whole focus is Trump. Everything and everyone else are collateral. Truth is transactional, and Trump has no respect for the courts, constitution, or the non-compliant female population of the country. This is the guy that MAGA respects, will “ride or die” for, and wants re-presidented.
PS: Martin, name one thing I said in last week’s LTTE about Trump that isn’t true. Rittenhouse was acquitted of legal responsibility for the two killings, not the fact that he was the killer. Too bad you weren’t acquainted with more Black kids in your youth.
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
I have never understood how some of our fellow citizens are convinced that a racist man who has never needed to ask anyone for forgiveness, questions the merit of dead and captured soldiers, ridicules Gold Star families and disabled persons, thinks some Neo-Nazis are “good people,” extols dictators, gropes women, incites insurrection, and never tells the truth, was sent by God to lead the nation. When he trashes law enforcement, is found liable for sexual assault, or indicted for a violation of the Espionage Act, their endorsement only strengthens.
I also never thought I would commend Fox for shining a light into the dark corners of DJT. Brett Baier’s interview last week with Trump was exceptionally informative. Baier was respectful, but challenged Trump’s many untruthful assertions. What distinguished Baier’s interview from CNN’s Kaitlin Collins’ was that Trump did not talk over and belittle him. He saves that for women.
Enamored of the sound of his own voice he ignored, again, the advice of his lawyers to exercise his right to remain silent - and zip it. He pulverized his own defenses, and embraced the criminal offenses cited in the indictment.
Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to pay taxes (since remediated) and entered into a pretrial diversion agreement for lying on a gun application that he was not addicted to any drug. He won't be prosecuted on the gun charge unless he breaks the conditions of the agreement. Republicans were aghast.
The NRA, which rejects any limitation on gun ownership thought that, in just this one case, Hunter should have been jailed on gun charges. Remember that they treated Kyle Rittenhouse, a two-time killer, as a hero. The prosecutor was Trump-appointed US Attorney David Weiss. There was outrage that President and Mrs. Biden publicly expressed love for their troubled son.
Meanwhile, House Republicans: squabbled over who would lead a bogus Biden impeachment vote, culminating in Margie calling Boebert a “little bitch” on the House floor, conducted a fruitless Durham hearing, proposed to expunge the House record on Trump’s impeachments, revenge-censured Adam Schiff for doing his job, and proposed no legislation. Though McCarthy did propose impeaching anyone who makes decisions with which he does not agree, including David Weiss and Merrick Garland.
PS: Cinco de Mayo, a day celebrating Mexican pride, deservedly does not offend you, Martin, but Juneteenth! FYI, Black citizens in this country also celebrate July 4.
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
I just became aware, this past week, of a Letter to the Editor regarding my call for a Traditional American Family proclamation. For reference, my call for the proclamation can be found here.
http://www.fillmoregazette.com/front-page/proclamation-suggested-traditi...
I appreciate that Tess Allen, the Executive Director of the “Diversity Collective Ventura County,” felt my call for a Traditional American Family proclamation required such an exigent response. After all, the community Tess represents is threatened by the concept of the traditional American family. I’m not sure why our traditional American values and the idea of a traditional family is such a threat to their beliefs and ideology but, apparently, they are.
In reading Tess’ letter, I’m reminded that some political ideologies will distract from a point they don’t like by trying to redirect and refocus the reader’s attention like some slight-of-hand magician and that’s what was attempted here. This tactic is part of the Alinsky method of engagement, which is as worn out as the arguments themselves; they used to work but Americans have become wise to the tactic and, like the bullying they use, the tactic is no longer effective.
So, reading her letter and sensing the urgency in her tone, I’m left wondering a few things. How would a proclamation regarding traditional families have any effect whatsoever of what the Diversity Collective is doing? Why does the concept of a traditional family threaten you and make the need for your response such an urgent matter? After all, you’re free to push the idea of untraditional family. The rest of the Fillmore community will continue to value the traditional family.
And, on the topic of traditional American family values, are the moms of young children here in Fillmore aware of the drag show that was hosted by One Step a La Vez for your children while you were at work? If not, check out this letter to the editor.
http://www.fillmoregazette.com/letters/june-22-2023
This group (One Step) is in your school district, working with your kids while they’re at school. Moms…are you OK with your kids’ exposure to adult entertainment or do you still hold traditional family values? I call on moms in Fillmore to join with Safeguard Fillmore to ensure your kids are taught what school is supposed to teach, leaving moms and dads to raise their own kids. Show up at Fillmore school district meetings and demand that One Step be removed from your kids’ schools.
Tim Holmgren,
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
A response to a letter from Tess Allen (see letter June 15,2023). In reading your letter I wanted to say to you that I'm very proud and honored to be "positioned" and brought up in a "traditional Family". And yes, I'm white, Republican, and very much "likely" a member of a Christian Faith. Yes, I realize there are problems in families, but there is always a cure. Marriage is between a man and a woman and is ordained of God and, marriage is essential to God's plan. Success and happiness in the home is most likely to be achieved when the family is founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These include faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and of course wholesome recreational activities that allow just being together. A great religious leader has said no other success can compensate for failure in the home. And another has said the home is a place to save society. You're right about the declining percentages etc. but the answer to your question is that many foster a variety of personal lifestyles, often driven by fun, freedom, and self-fulfillment, "As long it doesn't interfere with my career and personal interests then I'll marry and even have kids." This shows a focus on interests outside the home and family. The attributes that build successful marriages and families are sacrifice, love, consideration commitment, service, patience, endurance, and fidelity. They are often not found in declining relationships. Another leader has said, small storms, which everyone has to face in life, cause families to fall apart quickly in today's world, where almost everybody thinks they should be able to get everything they want without consideration of consequences. People get more and more selfish and less and less content. Not only do we need to rebuild trust in the value of marriage and family, but also faith in God.
Now your subject on LGBTQ+ and pride month. All this week I have been hearing about pride month, this LGBTQ organization, etc. Well perhaps, maybe the reason why you are seeing a rise in anti-LGBTQ is that it's getting pushed on a lot of people. If you want to live your life that way, great, but keep it to yourself and don't feel you have to flash it around. By flashing around I mean the deal with the nun sisters at Dodger stadium. That was a blatant disrespect of a person's faith and religion, and especially our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The pushing of rainbow colors for children's clothing, drag queens dancing here in town in front of our children who have not yet the ability to clearly discern this subject matter. Then there are the transgender pictures on Bud-Lite containers; why does everything have to portray LGBTQ+? Why can't we just enjoy Bud-Lite because it's a beer. And one more thing, why bring outsiders in from out of town? If you have a problem with the mayor and his decision on pride month, bring it to the council and then respect his office as mayor and his decision with the sustaining vote of the council. Sometimes the answer is just no because it does not uphold everyone's viewpoint. Go ahead, have your party, pay your fees for a group area at the park or wherever and enjoy being with others who are your equal. Or, if you really want to be noticed, give service in town or something. So in regard to your statement why we celebrate pride? If we lived in a world where all people regardless of intersecting identities were accepted, celebrated, and treated with equity and respect we would not need a month of pride. And you're right it just agitates; we should all be able to work together to find compassion and peace. So, with that, it could be a 2-way street. 2 wrongs don't make a right. If you want respect, give it. Don't push your lifestyle on others especially on the little kids and youth and not degrading religion. Parents have the right to teach their own children what they believe without society interfering. When a parent no longer has the right to teach, the whole family structure is wasted.
Anonymous,
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
The world’s oldest satirical publication, The Harvard Lampoon, founded in 1876, has ceased publication. Per editor-in-chief Dinsdale Piranha, “We give up. We just can’t compete with the Fillmore Gazette.”
The little known Fillmore Gazette, long rumored to be a mouthpiece for George “Spiny Norman” Soros, published an editorial on June 15, 2023 that Piranha cited as the last straw. The piece read, in part, “There are several trustworthy Republican presidential candidates today, but only Donald Trump can save the country right now.”
Lampoon publisher Doug Dinsdale also lamented the demise of his magazine. “The irony is dead. Long live the irony.”
Art Sandford,
Fillmore, CA
To the Editor:
It’s Juneteenth as I write this. It is my birthday. I remember lamenting to my father that nothing of any historical importance happened on the date, and he told me about Juneteenth. It was a fascinating event in 1865 when TX finally discovered the 13th Amendment had freed the slaves. When I later bragged to others about the links of June 19, no one had ever heard of it. Things have changed and it is a federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery. Oddly, it is an affront to some people.
Far-right podcaster Charlie Kirk declared the holiday as a “nationalized race hustle, proclaiming, “Now we have a full day to be able to smear and slander White America,” he proclaimed. He apparently is unaware that Black Americans can celebrate the freedom of their ancestors and not give a darn whether White America approves. Relating historically accurate observations is neither smear nor slander.
Kirk declared that Juneteenth was “a middle finger to the promise of 1776,” and Black Americans “have to choose.” He questions why Black Americans need to have “their own national independence day.” Because their Declaration of Independence did not occur on July 4, 1776, Charlie. They were not free. The last slave freed was a Texan on June 19, 1865.
Kirk lamented, “”We used to have a red, white, and blue independence day on July 4th. Now, we have one based on the melanin content of your skin…These people will not be stopped unless you say ‘no more’” he warned. Appeasement does not work.” Talk about “white privilege.”
I am not familiar with Charlie Kirk. Maybe he’s not very bright, he certainly never took a class in logic and likely not in American history, either. He blames Black Lives Matter on Juneteenth, ignoring that it is a term referring to police brutality against Black communities. He does not know that the system of slavery in America, one of the last countries to discard it, was exactly based upon the melanin content of a person’s skin.
If someone is offended by the celebration of this holiday you might consider picking up a book on what slavery was like to understand the great joy and wish for celebration in learning that you and your people are free. Don’t want to read, treat it as a celebration of my birthday. You will feel much better.
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
On Friday, June 16, 2023 One Step A La Vez held a Pride Party between the hours of 1-4pm, where a Drag Queen Performance was performed for the kids.
I wanted to alert the Fillmorians about this as I feel like most would not agree with the sexualization of our “at risk” kids. I also feel that holding such an event when most parents work is unacceptable.
This is what I posted to several groups on Facebook and Next Door:
“Are you okay with a program meant to help “at risk” youth, celebrating pride month, with a Drag Queen show?? Because a local program here in Fillmore did just that!
This agenda is being pushed hard here in Fillmore and I wanted to share some stats:
Per UCLA 2022 study:
Only .5 of our entire countries 334 million populous identifies as LGBTQ
Daily Science shared a study showing 2% of youth are in gangs
CDC published a study proving 1 in 36 8 year olds have an autism spectrum diagnosis, in CA 44% of 8 year olds have a diagnosis
I share these numbers because gangs are a way bigger issue with youth than those identifying as LGBTQ. Why isn’t an after school program designed to help troubled youth, placing their focus where it’s really needed??
Having a child on the spectrum, I can tell you that the majority of spectrum disorder kids don’t feel right in their bodies… that doesn’t make them trans, but does make them a target for this trans agenda!
On a personal note, my son is on the spectrum and was lead to believe he was bisexual in high school. He is now in his mid-twenties and is definitely NOT bisexual. The sad truth is he would have done anything to “fit in” somewhere in high school.
We are sexualizing our kids and I think it’s time we stop and start allowing our kids to just be kids.
What say you??
**before you “hate” on my post, please know that I don’t care what you identify as, you do you and I’ll do me. I’m not homophobic and was supportive of my son when he thought he was bi. This post is NOT an attack on people who are LBGT but rather an attack on those who are SEXUALIZING OUR CHILDREN. I would be equally against female strippers performing for youth.”
The next thing I know I’m getting messages from people via Facebook Messenger who wanted me to send them my post as it had been removed from the Facebook Group: Fillmore Community News
Sadly, I’ve come to realize that City Council Member Albert Medez, who was present at the event at One Step, is also one of the moderators of the Fillmore Community News Group.
I feel a city council member should not be allowed to be part of censorship, harming our number one right, Freedom of Speech!
Dawn Marone,
Active Clean & Green Recommendations Link Private Wellness Community
To the Editor:
The tragedy that is Donald Trump is almost Shakespearean. A man who has avoided responsibility for his many personal, business, and constitutional transgressions, is also such a “stable genius” that the indictment evidence is largely his own words. Many of the witnesses are former Trump advisors and allies sworn to tell the truth.
The 49-page indictment, available on-line, contains 37 counts against Trump and co-conspirator Walt Nauta, and is stunning in its specificity and includes quotes, not just allegations.
Trump involved his attorney, Evan Corcoran, in unwitting, possible criminal liability himself, thereby piercing the attorney/client privilege and increasing his own vulnerability. Hardly King Lear, but his inability to recognize and honor any truth beyond his own self-interest will conjure disaster.
The indictment does not cite unknowing or accidental possession of classified documents as criminal, but concludes that Trump’s retention and refusal to return all the documents after repeated assurances and a warrant, moving boxes to avoid discovery, and lying to the FBI about it, constituted “obstruction of justice.” Violation of the Espionage Act occurred in willful retention of national defense information which was found at Mar-a-Lago. And there are tapes.
According to a report from the Washington Post, Trump’s allies were stunned when the indictment was much more detailed and damning than expected, and clearly showed that there would have been no significant issue if Trump had simply listened to his lawyers.
Trump, ever the victim, predictably whined that he is being “persecuted like the world has never seen.” He attacked law enforcement and claimed political conspiracy and oppression, and “election interference.”
The far-right media exploded with calls for violent retaliation and abandonment of the rule of law. I am not going to repeat here the anti-democratic expressions of hate and threats of terrorist brutality I read. We will see what happens at the arraignment on Tuesday in Miami.
Clay Higgins (R-LA) tweeted, referencing military-grade maps and alluded to taking over “bridges” before the arraignment. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) tweeted, “We have now reached a war phase. Eye for an eye.” His Republican colleagues remained predictably silent.
Trump will have his day in court as does any defendant, unless he takes a plea deal to avoid incarceration. But that would require admitting crimes, something someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder cannot do.
Except for blame, everything else is his: women, crowd size, storm projections, elections, classified documents, legal expertise, reality.
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca
To the Editor:
Upon reading a published submission to the Fillmore Gazette, I feel it is exigent that I write this letter.
In the submission, the author referred to a “traditional family” - I wonder what that means? One can assume this person is positioning a traditional family with a mother, father, and their biological children, not to exceed a certain number, most likely white, most likely Christian.
According to a 2020 study by the Pew Research Center, family structure is changing dramatically. The age of first-time mothers has increased as more families are waiting to conceive for a variety of reasons. The number of children per household has declined from 3-4 children in the 1970’s to an average of 2 children in 2020, and the instance for single-parent households has risen to 23%. For those ages 18-49, 44% have stated (also in a Pew Study) that they are not looking to have children at all.
Census Bureau data show a decline in two parents of opposite gender families raising biological children. Children may be raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster parents or stepparents. They may be married or unmarried, straight or gay.
So, we have older mothers, less children, a higher instance of single parents, a greater number of people not having children, as well as non-parents raising children.
From there, how can we conclude what a “traditional family” is?
It is obvious in their timing that the author is speaking directly to June as LGBTQ+ Pride month. LGBTQ+ Pride is celebrated in June as remembrance, honoring the Stonewall riots that started a movement for LGBTQ+ equality. Tragically, we are seeing a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment throughout Ventura County and our nation in general.
Proclaiming June as Pride Month for the LGBTQ+ community in Fillmore is a way to show support for the human rights work that this population has accomplished so far. Raising a Rainbow Flag is a way of showing solidarity with this marginalized community of your city that so desperately needs it.
Some question why we celebrate Pride. If we lived in a world where all people, regardless of intersecting identities were accepted, celebrated, and treated with equity and respect, we wouldn’t need a month of Pride. But we are still in a society that judges a person not by the actions they may take but by who they love, where they worship, and clearly what their family structure looks like.
To wit: Pride is important because someone in your city still feels it is better to be dead than to be gay.
With Gratitude,
Tess Allen, Executive Director, Diversity Collective Ventura County
To the Editor:
Martin, it was curious to read last week’s Editorial wherein you proved my satirical point while you declared it a waste of time. First, I did not suggest banning all guns. I addressed the use of military-style weaponry, specifically the AK-15. Second, when a state, as did TX, legislates “permitless gun ownership” it is in fact endorsing universal ownership of the favorite civilian weapon of mass death, the AK-15, as well as other gun styles.
You align with several elected MAGA Republicans who have noted that the “regrettable” slaughters are “collateral damage” to the “freedom” of gun ownership. Schoolchildren and people in public places lose the right to their peaceful freedoms and assume the risk of being killed or enduring ubiquitous armed guards, like a police state. Anything but assign blame to the obvious underlying issue of unstable, violent, or entitled people with military-style rifles, no background checks or license required. And you defend this inequity as essential to America. God help us.
Another subject. Republicans distressed by the “woke” cancel culture of the left see no irony in their own hypocritical efforts in that regard. First, there was the successful boycott of Bud Light, then Target, for their product wokeness. Then far-right wailings resounded when it discovered that Chick-fil-A has hired a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion director.
Morgonn McMichael, who writes for Turning Point USA, a far-right student organization, is grieving. Reworking a far-right slogan, “Cancel culture is toxic and needs to be canceled,” she nevertheless called for a boycott of the conservative faith-based fast-food restaurant. She identified Chick-fil-A’s diversity officer as, “one of the most pressing issues concerning young conservatives today.”
She has taken her lust for fried chicken to a rival establishment, because Chick-fil-A is, “no longer the Lord’s chicken. [It’s] actually the woke chicken and I’m really upset about it as a Christian woman. All we wanted was some good fried chicken so now we’re gonna go to Cane’s...”
Between guffaws and savage delight, some social media users pointed out that Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers was named one of the best places to work for LGBTQ equality by the Human Rights Campaign and was one of the first companies to offer domestic partner benefits to its employees.
Which leaves Morgonn with a big clucking problem.
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
The State of TX has found a solution to the issue of rampant school shootings and the bloody deaths of little kids and their teachers. As the adults are unable to address and solve the problem, TX has decided to place the burden of saving children on the children themselves.
In Dallas, TX, pre-school and elementary students were sent home with a book explaining how to survive school shootings. Produced for law enforcement, the book is titled “Stay Safe,” with the subtitle, “If there is danger, let Winnie-the-Pooh and his Crew show you what to do: Run Hide Fight.”
The book features characters from the AA Milne classic located in the Hundred Acre Wood who warn: “If it is safe to get away, we should RUN like Rabbit instead of stay. If danger is near, do not fear, HIDE like Pooh does until the police appear. If danger finds us, don’t stay, run away. If we can’t get away, we have to FIGHT with all our might,” accompanied by an illustration of Kanga and Roo wearing boxing gloves.
Kids, you may notice that no mention is made of any obligations of the adults of TX to secure your protection because they are committed to universal ownership of military-grade weaponry. So, you will have to fend for yourselves, because “freedom.” But you can forget about the boxing gloves.
Video of police officers at Uvalde who finally confronted the AR-15-armed shooter and entered the classrooms to witness the slaughter, rushed out to vomit and sob at the scene. So, let Winnie-the-Pooh help you save yourselves, children, otherwise you could become broken, dismembered, ground meat, or live your life forever crippled by the memory of the slaughter. And your parents would be very upset and demand gun control action.
While you are studying how to survive a massacre, the TX legislature is considering increasing school security features, including armed guards patrolling your school hallways. Don’t let it bother you, just pretend they, too, are from the Hundred Acre Wood.
Unfortunately, little ones, debate over real gun reforms, like mandated universal background checks, restrictions on military-style semiautomatic rifles, or a reversal of the state's recently enacted permitless carry law, will not be of legislative concern. But you do have a free book.
And kids, thoughts and prayers in advance.
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
“The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.” Section 4 of Amendment XIV to the U.S. Constitution.
Instead of going onto Australia, Biden has decided to return home after the G7 meeting in Japan to deal with the budget crisis. A wise move as Treasury Secretary Yellen has indicated the U.S. may run out of money on the first of June, or maybe sooner.
The budget passed by the Congress allows for the debt ceiling to be raised by $1.5 trillion to $34.4 trillion, and remain at $34.4 trillion, until March 2024. This is one portion of the budget that is a no-go for Biden and the democrats. The democrats have indicated they want an increase of $6.8 trillion.
Republicans want to push discretionary spending (this doesn’t include Social Security or Medicare) to 2022 levels and only increase it one percent a year for ten years. Biden wants to increase discretionary spending 9.4% plus add the one percent for ten years.
Republicans want to reduce the deficit over ten years by $4.8 trillion and Biden wants to reduce deficits by $2.8 trillion in that same period of time.
As talks, which Biden refused to hold until recently, breakdown, Biden, Yellen, and many democrats are pushing for the use of the 14th Amendment to allow the Treasury to borrow above the debt ceiling.
The 14th Amendment doesn’t say the U.S. should borrow more to pay its existing debts, but to pay from existing revenue. Currently the revenue the government takes in is much greater than its debts so this is doable. Only Congress has the power to raise the debt ceiling, not Biden. The Amendment also doesn’t say Congress must raise the limit to pay on current or future debt.
I hope all parties come together to create a budget that is fiscally responsible, will protect future generations and allow for the economy to sustainably grow.
Patti Walker
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
I wrote a LTTE mocking Martin’s apoplectic musings on what he imagined is in the Durham Report (DR). The DR revealed plenty of reasons for the FBI to reasonably suspect that the connections of Trump, and his circle with Russia indicated that illegalities were occurring. The DR investigation produced two acquittals, and his final observation was that the investigative process could be improved. What he did not find were voodoo political conspiracies with which Martin is so obsessed.
House Republicans are holding hostage the American economy to slash assistance for low-income citizens and protect the permanent adoption in 2025 of Trump Tax Cuts for the “yacht and private plane” wealthiest among us, without cost offsets. This will add approximately 3.5 million dollars to the deficit over 10 years, when a future Democratic president can deal with it.
You may recall that not once did Republicans contest Trump’s massive increase in the national debt, let alone hold the country captive for it.
Usually, when more money is needed, another stream of income is the logical solution. But for Congressional Republicans, additional taxes on the wealthy are “off the table,” so the rest of us will pay. They are scouring “domestic discretionary spending,” or programs that help those in need, such as food assistance, childcare, housing, and project Head Start. House Republicans endorse deep cuts to services desperately needed by their own constituencies (e.g., Medicaid) and still retain their vote. Suicide by politics.
The Covid emergency protections have expired. The proposed Agricultural Appropriations bill reduces support for fruits and vegetables under WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program, affecting 1.5 million pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding women and 3.5 million children aged 1-4. The government owns your pregnant uterus but has no obligation towards the forced gestation.
McCarthy’s shameful defense of “work requirements” for various government assistance programs ignores that most people in those programs are already working, taking care of elders or children, or physically unable to perform significant work. In his posturing as a “work is good” salesman, his eyes were dark and dead. The point is not “Work.” It is to increase bureaucratic red tape and discourage applications of people qualified for assistance.
Aside from the cruelty, why are the poor getting poorer, the homeless population increasing, people in multiple jobs just to live? Because the wealthy are not paying proportionally to receive the benefit they get from the tax dollars of ordinary people. And that is fine with the GOP and the faithful Republican vote.
Kelly Scoles
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
Last week, May 17, I read an article online on the Dailywire that may be of interest to you. At their June 16 home game, the Los Angeles Dodgers plan to present a "Community Hero Award" to a drag queen group called "The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence." As their name suggests, the group mocks Roman Catholic nuns. The group's slogan is, "Go forth and sin some more!," and members of the group go by names such as Sister T'aint A Virgin, Sister Risque of the Sissytine Chapel, and Sister Edith Myflesh. The Dodgers, in cooperation with LA Pride, plan to present The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence with their Hero Award during the team's "Pride Night" celebration prior to the June 16 game.
As I've said before, just about the time that you think you've heard everything, something like this comes up. This is what happens when the truth of God's word is replaced by the perverse inclinations of the world. (Romans 1:18-27) But what else can one expect when people leave God? What else can one expect when the US Navy uses a drag queen sailor to promote recruitment? What else can one expect when the President of the United States, who professes to be a good Roman Catholic, not only uses his office to promote the murder of the unborn, but invites a drag queen to the White House?
Hopefully, Christians and Dodger fans will make their displeasure known to the Dodgers. It would be fitting if at their June 16 game no one showed up. Also, when the next election rolls around hopefully people will elect candidates who don't make a mockery of Christianity, defend the right to life of the unborn, and who won't promote perverseness.
UPDATE: Under pressure from Christian groups, last week the Dodgers canceled the invitation and the award presentation to The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. This week, under pressure from LGBTQIA+... groups, the Dodgers reconsidered and re-extended the invitation. The Dodgers not only canceled the cancelation but they also issued an apology to The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for canceling them in the first place. Hopefully, the Dodgers will reap the same results from their actions as Bud Light has - loss of customers and loss of money.
In case you're not totally familiar with the acronym LGBTQIA+, L = lesbian; G = gay; B = bisexual; T = Transgender/transsexual; Q = queer/questioning; I = intersexual; A = asexual (i.e., no sex at all); and the + stands for allies of the movement or any other sexual deviation that may crop up, such as agender (no gender at all), genderfluid, gray sexual, spiosexual, and two-spirit.
What does God say? "God created man in His own image; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27)
Rev. Leslie R. Lanier, Pastor, Wayfarer's Chapel Lutheran Church
Fillmore, Ca.
To the Editor:
The CNN Townhall event last Wednesday evening was witness to the personality disorder of a man who would be president. This came one day after Trump was found liable to the tune of 5 million dollars for sexual abuse and defamation of writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump’s deposition in the case was so thuggish and damning that even a juror, whose sole news source is a rightwing podcaster, voted for Carroll’s petition against Trump.
Trump defamed Carroll once again, (to enthusiastic applause and laughter from many men in the audience). He repeated his stale and debunked “stolen election” lies. He wouldn’t say if he backs Russia or Ukraine in that war. He claimed that Democrats endorse infanticide (they don’t). He insisted that the Archives documents are his, that Obama took documents (he didn’t), and Biden “didn’t comply” (he did). Every sentence was a churlish, pouty, self-congratulatory lie.
The most significant immediate issue is the Republican House plan to refuse to pay the national debt, funds already borrowed and spent. Should the US default, the government’s costs of borrowing will go up, the interest rates will explode, the stock market will fall significantly, our credit rating will plunge again, and Social Security payments could halt.
Most of us recognize that the appropriate time to discuss what we intend to spend, and on what, is when we prepare the budget. When the bills are already due, we pay, or become a deadbeat nation.
In 1939, a statutory general limit was placed on federal debt requiring Congressional action to raise the limit. This is President Biden’s dilemma:
His oath of office states, “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
The 14th Amendment Section 4 of the Constitution states, “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law … shall not be questioned.”
The Republican majority in the House, in its current disarray and self-serving demand to “own the libs,” appears poised to bring this country down on June 1. This would leave President Biden with the option to allow the disaster that will follow an unconstitutional default, or bypass Congress to save the economy. The latter has some potentially negative consequences, but they are not in the same disaster range as the former option. President Biden’s highest duty is to his constitutional obligations over a statutory regulation.
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.