Is the survival of our constitutional republic in jeopardy? On July 30, your newspaper reported that, after a meeting with President Trump, New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger warned Trump that his rhetoric was “undermining democratic ideals of our nation” and eroding a commitment to free speech and a free press. The publisher claimed (incorrectly) that Trump labeled all news media “fake news” and journalists “enemies of the people.” Just The New York Times and several other specific news media organizations were named by the president. Related Headlines Pressure Maine delegation to maintain foreign aid budgetCareful use of fertilizer helps protect ocean from harmful runoffStory of the Holy Family undercuts Jeff Sessions on refugeesChildren should be taught about mental health issues, wellness Mr. Sulzberger also failed to correctly identify the primary threats to our constitutional republic. As early as the late 18th century, presidents … [Read more...] about Letter to the editor: Political party structure, biased media endangering our democracy
Politics
His Name is Not “Toby”: John Wiley Price Withstands the Heat of Dallas’ Fiery Political Furnace
By: Darwin Campbell, African-American News&Issues Dallas – There was a time in history when a man walked up to another man in a garden and kissed him. It was that kiss that set off an arrest, false accusations and a firestorm of controversy. His work, lessons and examples were misunderstood by many. Much of his work created gossip, allegations, seeded distaste and revolt among the masses against an oppressive government. That made officials feel uneasy, so they despised him. It causes such a stir that he was taken, mocked and tried in a public forum by government officials and that sent his fearful followers underground and scattering in every direction. Like a lamb being led to slaughter, the man himself was left standing all alone open to ridicule and persecution. It is the plight of any outspoken leader who champions the cause of the people, freedom, equality, heritage and history. It is the fallout of turning over Black history and attacking the filthy truths and … [Read more...] about His Name is Not “Toby”: John Wiley Price Withstands the Heat of Dallas’ Fiery Political Furnace
Dereliction of political duty in a tweet
It’s been policy hereabout to ignore presidential tweets of no national consequence. Whether Donald Trump likes Roseanne or dislikes Rosie matters not. But Trump’s tweets about the catastrophic California fires do. They demonstrated remarkable ignorance and cowardice. And in the words that weren’t there, they showed a collapse of the leadership needed to defend this country from the onrushing disaster of climate change. “Bad environmental laws,” he tweeted, have diverted needed water “into the Pacific Ocean,” making the wildfires “so much worse.” That’s the ignorance part. The claim that firefighters don’t have enough water is not true, and to a moronic degree. “We’re having no problems as far as access to water supply,” said Scott McClean, deputy chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Rob Stutzman, a prominent Republican strategist in California, called that tweet … [Read more...] about Dereliction of political duty in a tweet
Citing ugly politics, Steve Smith tells GOP rival Wendy Rogers to quit Arizona’s CD1 race
Ronald J. Hansen Arizona Republic Published 3:03 p.m. UTC Aug 10, 2018 Republican congressional candidate Steve Smith called on Wendy Rogers, one of his GOP primary rivals, to drop out of the rural Arizona race Thursday after she suggested in ads and on a website that he worked with a modeling agency linked to sex trafficking. Rogers swiftly refused to quit the 1st Congressional District race and doubled down on her attacks that Smith is insufficiently loyal to President Donald Trump and personally ill-suited to run as a conservative. "For 10 years, Wendy Rogers has been trying unsuccessfully to get into political office. Today she's so desperate to win that she's abandoned truth, decency and the values of the Republican Party," Smith said as he was surrounded by members of law enforcement who continue to back his campaign. "She's not disagreeing with me on policy. She's coming after a well-respected business and their employees just to try to score political points in … [Read more...] about Citing ugly politics, Steve Smith tells GOP rival Wendy Rogers to quit Arizona’s CD1 race
Bribery case part of cancerous trend in political prosecutions
There is a rot spreading through the nation’s criminal justice system, and federal investigators and prosecutors in Arizona are showing symptoms of the disease. Prosecutors nationwide are bringing extraordinarily aggressive cases against Americans engaged in the political process, and federal prosecutors in Phoenix have recently concluded — and lost, due to a hung jury followed by a dismissal — a trial in which they accused four American citizens of a conspiracy to bribe a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission. When judges and neutral jurors review the criminal charges presented by prosecutors in political cases across this country, they very often give prosecutors a failing grade. Consider the following examples: Kory Langhofer Thomas Basile After former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens was prosecuted on corruption charges, an independent investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice found the case was “permeated by the [government’s] systematic … [Read more...] about Bribery case part of cancerous trend in political prosecutions