Wednesday, March 11, 2026

What an A-hole

I wonder how many times I’ve uttered that phrase after hearing our President on some topic.  Must be hundreds.  


The latest was tonight when the news was showing him in front of a crowd at some political event bragging about how great the name “Epic Fury” sounded.


The fact that this war is costing billions, has killed American soldiers and about 130 Iranian school girls–not mentioned.  It’s like a game to him.  He has no idea what war is like.  


But wow, it has a neat name.  


What an A-hole.

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Rep. Andy Ogles: "Muslims don't belong in American society"

 Rep. Andy Ogles

151 Cannon House Office Building

Washington D.C. 20515


Dear Rep. Ogles:


I know that you would never say that “Muslims don’t belong in American society.”  I know that someone is trolling you in order to discredit you and make you look like a bigot.  You need to come out with a firm denial that you said that.  


I think it is really nasty when people use the Internet or social media to discredit our Republican politicians.  I have friends and relatives in Tennessee, and I know that people in that great state are fine and reasonable people who would never insult millions of their fellow Americans.  Speak out and explain that you are a victim of a terrible smear.


Sincerely,

Roy Christman

Monday, March 9, 2026

Goliath's Curse

That’s a book by Luke Kemp, published last year by Alfred A. Knopf.  The subtitle is The History and Future of Societal Collapse..  I asked the Palmerton Library to order a copy, and I am almost finished with it.  (It’s 445 pages long with another 100 pages of end notes and the index.).  


If you read one book this year, read it.  On the other hand, if you want to continue whistling a happy tune, betting on football games, and thinking life is good, run from this book.  It will made you very afraid. 

Sunday, March 8, 2026

Should President Bonespurs salute a soldier

In a word, no.  Although the President is Commander-in-Chief, the President is in civilian clothes.  According to armed forces regulations, the President is not required to salute.  In the past, generals who became Presidents, like Washington and Eisenhower, did not use the hand salute when meeting soldiers.  


The first President to salute troops was President Reagan, who during World War II made propaganda movies.


I will say this.  When the President is wearing a baseball cap and dead soldiers are being unloaded from the plane and passing in front of him, it might just be appropriate for him to take off his cap.  

 

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Just to remind you how a real leader speaks

     We shall not flag nor fail.  We shall go on to the end.  We shall fight in France and on the seas and oceans; we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air.


     We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be; we shall fight on beaches, landing grounds, in fields, in streets and on the hills.  We shall never surrender and even if, which I do not for the moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, will carry on the struggle until in God’s good time the New World, with all its power and might, sets forth to the liberation and rescue of the Old.

Winston Churchill June 4. 1940


And then there is this:

“And sadly, there will be more [deaths] before it ends.  That’s the way it is.”

Donald Trump, earlier this week

 

Friday, March 6, 2026

Religious exemptions for measles vaccines

Spartanburg, South Carolina, is experiencing the largest measles outbreak to hit the U.S. since 2000.  One of the reasons is that people are getting “religious exemptions” for vaccinations for their children.  I’d say this was really Darwinian natural selection at work, except that it is happening to children who have no voice in the matter.


Let’s get something straight.  You do have freedom of religion.  You also have the right to be stupid, as many voters demonstrate far too often.  On the other hand, your religion may be restricted if it harms children or other people.  


Yes, if you are an adult, you may handle poisonous snakes in church.  If God loves you, maybe the snake won’t bite, although my advice is not to carry this too far by pinching the snake’s tail.  On the other hand, if you are a believer in “spare the rod and spoil the child” and then beat your kid with a bull whip until his back is lacerated and running with blood, you will be arrested for child abuse.  And you damn well should be. 


Let’s take this to its ridiculous limit.  Child sacrifice may have been permitted, even mandated in Mayan times, but NOT TODAY.  You can be cited if your kid is not in a proper seat belt, no matter what your religious belief.  You should not have a legal right to put your kid in harm’s way by denying that kid life-saving medical treatment.  I don’t give a damn what your religion says.

Thursday, March 5, 2026

Kristi Noem and the Arrival of Spring

 Yesterday the first red-winged blackbirds of the season were feeding in our back yard.  The snow is almost melted.  A warm rain is falling tonight.

And Kristi Noem is no longer head of the Department of Homeland Security.  Now there’s a breath of fresh spring air.