STRANGER THAN FICTION

Every week I sit down to write this column. I try to find interesting items in the news to report and comment on. A friend recently suggested that I should write a novel. As I view the current situation I am convinced that fiction would fade by comparison to the actual events happening in the world today. Truth is definitely stranger than  fiction in our world today.

We all are aware that many of our colleges are offering “safe spaces” for their students so they will have a place to hide from the ugliness of truth and any opposing view. Those who choose to live in complete denial of the facts of life and the true politics of today can go to these spaces and hug their stuffed animals and read a bedtime story. Some even offer therapy dogs to help these students deal with reality. Do you really think a fiction writer could come up with anything more dramatic than what these so-called institutes of higher learning are providing to the next generation of Americans?

Southern Illinois University has decided to go one better for their students. They are offering a new therapy for disenchanted students who are having trouble dealing with events of the day. It is called “nap time.” Students are encouraged to go to the library and take a nap. But, they should dream during these naps, and not just any dream that a young pre-adult might have. No, they must have dreams of diversity. By controlling what these dreams are all about, it is believed that a new more diversity loving person will emerge from their nap. And everybody will live happily ever after. Do you wonder, as do I, what the parents who are shelling out thousands for their kids’ education might think about this bit of nonsense?

Not to be outdone, a high school in Valley, Iowa has decided to terminate a long- standing tradition of allowing students to wear patriotic clothing with the colors of our flag during basketball games. In their wisdom they decided that to show any patriotism for America might be offensive to teams who come there to play because they might have players and parents who are immigrants from other countries.

Well guess what? I am offended. I am offended that any community would allow such egregious behavior from their school board. These morons are responsible for turning out the next generation and some of these students may well have to don those colors to fight for the freedom that we enjoy. Whoever is responsible for this new violation of American rights should be fired immediately and replaced by true patriots who understand what it means to be an American. I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised by these actions because these school administrators are products of the very universities we spoke about earlier in the piece.

I have often thought about writing the “great American novel” Barb, but I don’t think my imagination could compete with the reality of today. We have a national media hell bent on self-destruction by editing the news with their leftist agenda and trying at every opportunity to make our duly elected President look bad. The American people told us and them in no uncertain terms that they were dissatisfied with the direction of this country and voted to change it. The national media just doesn’t get it. Their denial is at their own peril.

One day soon we may well have to once again take up arms to defend this country. We may well have to look to these young people to fight for our freedom as did their parents and grandparents. I wonder what it would be like to share a foxhole with one of these spoiled children? God help us.

I think for now I will just stay with reporting facts and leave the fiction to Dr. Seuss.

Ron Scarbro

DISRESPECT AT A NEW LOW

Like most of you I watched President Trump’s address to the joint session of Congress. I witnessed the overwhelming adoration shown to Carryn Owens, widow of slain Navy Seal Ryan Owens. I was moved by the applause and the respect afforded to her and her fallen husband. It was what I would expect for our heroes and their families. Apparently not everyone though felt the need to honor the Owens. I wondered as I watched the Democrats sitting on their hands, how could these people, or for that matter anyone, not be affected positively by this show of respect.

I guess I have just misjudged the new Democrats and their regard for what being an American is all about. Right after the speech the left began offering their pitiful opinions. First, we heard from a Clinton operative named Dan Grilo. He thought Mrs. Owens looked like an idiot standing up and clapping for her dead husband. Then we saw that bastion of virtue, Michael Moore, make fun of this dead hero and his widow. This, apparently is the new face of the Democrat Party.

And so, I ask you Democrats, are you proud today of your new spokespeople? Do they reflect your views? Are you happy to see this young widow defamed and made fun of all in your name?

Here is a fact. Michael Moore couldn’t shine the boots of a Navy Seal like Ryan Owens or anyone in the military for that matter. Moore and his ilk are the most disgusting examples of smug self-righteous morons inhabiting our planet today. I remember as a child, I used to have to feed the hogs at my home farm. We called it “slopping the hogs.” What always amazed me was that no matter what was in the bucket of feed, or “slop” as we called it, it always smelled the same. As I look at Moore, a human bucket of slop, I am reminded that no matter what the issue, there is no level to which this bunch will not stoop to show their ignorance and their disrespect for our country and her values. They all inhabit the same bucket and it always smells the same.

To my Democrat friends and any who would read this column, do you share the views of the Michael Moores and the Dan Grilos? Going forward are these the people who will speak for you and your values? Chuck Schumer, Al Franken, Nancy Pelosi, and other assorted misfits, are these your champions? When this great country faces the tough issues of security, economy, health care, etc., are these the people you want to be in charge of coming up with solutions? If so, you  have some serious problems.

I do not believe Harry Truman would be a Democrat today. I don’t even think Kennedy would be either. They were warriors and true patriots. Even though they served this nation from “the other side,” they always put our country first. I cannot say that of today’s Democrats.

This I promise you. America will not be fooled. Just as this past election proved, America will regain her identity. America will return to her traditional values. America will be great again. These disrespectful lowlifes will be cast into the dungheap of bad history. America did not become the country it is today with people like that running things.

We are fortunate that Donald Trump decided to give up his cushy life as a billionaire real estate developer to take on the mantle of leader of the free world. His intelligence and natural leadership will take us to the next level of greatness and it will be with or without the help of the Democrats.

Ron Scarbro

THE LOYAL OPPOSITION

As always elections bring about governmental changes. The Republicans would be in power for a while then we would have a change and the Democrats would win. That has been the pattern for my entire lifetime. The party in power would run the show for a time and the party out of power would be known as the “loyal opposition.” Both parties had the best interest of the country at heart. Republicans and Democrats would go after our problems from different angles but both wanted nothing but the best for our country. That all seems to have changed and in a big way.

In the many elections that I have witnessed in my lifetime I haven’t always liked the winner. In fact, as a Republican, that has happened more often than not. But, I always remained loyal to my government even when I thought they were wrong. I tried to work within the system to make things better. It would never have occurred to me to riot in the street and pitch a fit because I didn’t get my way. To me that’s just “SBS,” spoiled brat syndrome. I was often a member of the “loyal opposition.”

So, what in the world is going on now? What ever happened to the idea of loyal opposition? Why are we so divided?

I won’t speak for the other side but I can offer some thoughts about how my side feels right now. I believe many of the more liberal Democrats want to fundamentally change our country from a free enterprise small government system with individuals responsible for their own lives to a government-centered socialist state where the government is responsible for everything and everyone. They want  to live like Europeans. They want birth to death governmental care and financial support. It doesn’t take a mental giant to realize that socialism doesn’t work for anyone, Europeans or Americans. As Margaret Thatcher pointed out years ago, “The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.” With the rise in prominence of people like Elizabeth Warren and Keith Ellison as well as Bernie Sanders, many in the Democrat party have their path clearly set toward dead end socialism.

Now there is a big split in the Democrat party. The ultra progressives versus the middle of the road, loyal to the country, normal Dems. As a Republican I couldn’t be happier. The schism in the Dems is going to hurt their chances of ever winning again. Some have even opined that this could well pronounce the end of the Democrat party. Personally I don’t believe that. I think the smarter ones will get the message and turn their ship around but probably after they lose a few more elections.

The fact is that America is a right-of-center republic. We have always favored hard work, self-reliance, and individual responsibility. We love and support the Constitution as written. We are law abiding, patriotic, and industrious. From time to time we have fallen for the promises of “pie in the sky” only to see those promises dashed by politics as usual. We are, as President Ronald Reagan once called us, “The shining city on the hill.”

This last election was a rejection of European style socialism. It was a demand that we return to traditional America. There is nothing progressive about dead end socialism.

It is okay to be opposed to the party in power. It is even okay to demonstrate and act out. But it is never okay to be disloyal. If you don’t like the way things are, the door swings both ways and that is especially important for those mouthy Hollywood elites to understand. Find a new country. Maybe they will put up with your nonsense. We are tired of it. You won’t be missed.

Ron Scarbro

IS AMERICA BECOMING TWO SEPARATE COUNTRIES?

Are we really becoming two separate countries? I’ve been hearing that a lot lately. Here are some irrefutable facts. We just elected a Republican President who soundly defeated an extremist liberal Democrat. Some in this country just cannot seem to accept this so they are going to do everything they can do to undermine Trump’s Presidency. They are going to riot, burn, loot, lie, and create havoc at every turn in an effort to get rid of Trump. The morons in the streets who are actually doing the rioting are just pawns in this battle. They are being directed and even paid by some very rich, very powerful people who believe they should be the ones in charge. These people are using the very liberal higher education system to further their cause. They have also enlisted the aid of the media and the Hollywood “elite.” Oh, and here’s some news for Hollywood. Nobody really gives a tinker’s damn what Meryl Streep or Ashley Judd or Madonna think and even less about what they have to say. They are paid to entertain and they come with an off/on switch. I, like so many others, have already turned them off.

As a nation, we could be on the verge of a real battle for our very existence. A lot like the Civil War except it won’t be the north vs the south. No, this will be a fight of traditional America against socialist America. Let’s examine this.

We’ll call traditional America, America One and socialist America, America Two. Here are some realities. America One is where the guns are, and America Two thinks guns are scary and evil. One produces most of the food we all eat. One produces the fuel we use to travel and to heat our homes. Two produces most of the welfare recipients and users of government. America One manufactures and America Two consumes. America One earns and America Two spends. America One is self-reliant whereas Two is dependent on government and social programs to get through life. America One has a mighty military staffed by like-minded individuals and America Two doesn’t even have people who qualify for military service. Etc., etc., etc. Are you seeing a pattern here?

The socialists who want to destroy America could not exist on their own. They are like the little dog chasing a car. What would they do with it if they caught it? I am sure these would-be emperors who are at the root of this unrest think that eventually they will prevail and then they will be in charge of all the little peons who will do their bidding.

Guess again, idiots. I and people who think like me will never allow you to be successful. The food you need to live on only happens if America One allows it. The military will always be in the corner of traditional America. The great midsection of this country will always be armed and ready to defend their homeland. The socialists have already lost and just don’t have enough intelligence to realize it.

As we watch the antics of the left and their flailing temper tantrums, I sincerely believe we will all grow tired of it and very soon tune it out. As we watch Trump’s policies continue to be successful, the left will look sillier and sillier. And finally, as we watch Democrats lose even more elections and even more power in Washington, they will have to work hard to even survive as a party.

America, however, will survive and prosper. The left will lose. That outcome is already known to all who are smart enough to see it.

Ron Scarbro

IS IT REALLY IMMIGRATION?

America is a sovereign country. We have borders and those borders are there for a reason. We have the right to decide who comes into our country and who does not. No one on earth has a right to enter our country without our express permission. We have the right to allow visitation and we have the right to allow for immigration. We also have the right to refuse anyone.

Over the years of our history we have been more than lenient about letting people in. We are truly  a nation of immigrants, but this nation of immigrants decided long ago to create borders and allow just so many in and to vet them before they come. We can house and support just so many people. I believe if given the choice, millions and millions of people around the globe would immigrate to America at the drop of a hat. We are the land of milk and honey. Most probably believe that money falls off the trees and the streets are paved with gold. They want in on the action.

Some decide to enter this country without our permission. They call themselves “undocumented immigrants.” What they are is trespassers. What they are is lawbreakers. Are street level drug dealers “undocumented pharmacists?” Those illegal immigrants who have jobs do so with stolen identification. They buy phony social security cards on the streets. Some enter so their children can be born here thereby making a case for them to stay. Billions and billions of dollars are sent back to their home countries. Many of those countries depend on this infusion of cash just to survive. Is it any wonder that they would be less than helpful in stemming the flow of this illegal activity?

So, Donald Trump was elected with the promise that he would build a wall to help curb illegal trespassing and that Mexico would pay for it. That wall will be built and Mexico will pay for it through border taxes and reduced cash from illegals already here. Deportation will be increased and the Border Patrol will be allowed to do their jobs.  

That process of deportation has begun and already the liberal media is up in arms. How dare President Trump arrest and deport mothers and maids. Trump is ripping families apart. It goes on ad nauseam. The truth is that so far only criminals and felons have been picked up and sent back to their own countries. I believe and hope that the deportation will continue until we are left with only legitimate citizens. Then people who want to become Americans can apply legally and do what is necessary to become citizens.

Just last week a lady was arrested who was in fact an illegal alien but who had registered and voted in at least three elections. She was incidentally registered in several counties. She was sentenced to eight years in prison and to be deported on her release. Why did it take so long to arrest her? She was being protected by the Obama Administration and their refusal to enforce the laws regarding illegal immigration.

Some very smart computer whizzes have extrapolated illegal alien voting to come up with a number somewhere north of 800,000 illegal voters in the last election. One is too many, 800,000 is ridiculous. I wonder which of the political parties favors this activity? One also wonders how actual election results are affected by this criminal activity.

Truly one of the main reasons this country chose Trump as President was to get a handle on this kind of crap and bring it to an end. The liberal media can just keep on crying and moaning. We are going to return to law and order regardless of what they say or print.

You want to be an American? Great. Apply, follow the rules, get in line. Do it the right way and you will be welcome. Do it illegally, and you will be kicked out.

Ron Scarbro

I'M TIRED OF RED LINES

As a veteran of many elections, I thought I had seen it all. Even with the understanding that this was one of the most contentious, ugly, hateful campaigns in history, still I thought when it was over that it would be over. How wrong I was. We have moved from a completely fair and honest election to a series of “hissy fits” by the losers. They just don’t get it. They ran a poor candidate who was flawed beyond belief. She lied and she cheated and she, of course, lost. All the King’s horses and all the King’s men can’t put Hillary back together again. She is yesterday’s news and yesterday’s business and is no longer a player in American politics. She will be fortunate to stay out of prison.

Here is a fact. Donald J. Trump is the President of the United States for at least the next four years and probably the next eight. After that we will again get to choose who will be our President. If the Democrats want to be a part of that process, they had best get a clue. The American voters made their choice in this election based on their desire to change the direction of the country. All politicians who want to be involved had best understand that little fact.

And speaking of clueless Democrats, California has an interesting dilemma. There is a large group who wants to secede from the Union. I’m with them. I hope they pull it off. It might be a bit difficult, however, trying to raise an army to defend her borders. With marijuana legal and freely available, it could be very tough finding anyone who can even hold a rifle let alone shoot it.

And more on California. Did you hear about Senator Kevin DeLeon, D, Los Angeles? He is President Pro-Tem of the California Senate.  He announced that most of his family are in this country illegally and are surviving and prospering by the use of phony Social Security cards and phony green cards as well as phony driver’s licenses. What a moron. He ratted out his whole family. I wonder what would happen to an American citizen who used a phony Social Security number or a phony driver’s license. Do you suppose that might be considered identity theft? Do you suppose they might get arrested and put in jail? And is it possible that any of these individuals who possess this stolen identification used that documentation to vote in the last election? It’s a fair question, don’t you think? We should round up every last one of them, charge them with identity theft and fraud and send them to prison. The only way this crap ends is if we end it.

To our Republican Congress. We, the people, expect you to do your jobs. We expect you to enforce the very laws you have enacted. Any law is only as good as its enforcement. Like most of the American people, I am tired of “red lines.” We are told there are some eleven million illegal aliens in this country. I believe the number is much higher. These people have crossed the red line. Round them up and send them home. It is as simple as requiring all employers and welfare agencies as well as schools to “e-verify” all Social Security numbers and criminally prosecuting any employer or agency who refuses. When those illegal aliens are found, either send them home or put them in prison.

We would then establish a visitor’s work visa program and that visa would have an entry date and a departure date. Persons who choose could then, with their work visas in hand, work here, pay taxes here, and upon completion of an established period of time, and with a clean criminal record, apply for citizenship. I think it would work. What do you think?

Ron Scarbro

APOPLECTIC, WHAT A GREAT WORD

The left, which would include the media, Hollywood, and academia are apoplectic. What a great word. It has its origins in the word apocalypse which refers to the end of the world. So, what we have here are apoplectic individuals who are “end of the world crazy.” They all seem to be taken by surprise by the actions of our new President. “How dare he do what he said he would in the campaign.” Well they better get used to it because this is just the beginning of an eight-year period of growth in our economy, pipe lines being built, and borders being protected.

Another thing the left needs to understand is that since we are a country of law and order, laws will be enforced. That is especially true for the various Mayors who are currently defying immigration law regarding their cities. Sanctuary cities are illegal, period and any Mayor or city official who refuses to obey and enforce the law may soon be arrested and jailed. This is not a new law. It has been on the books for decades. Persons who enter our country illegally will and should be arrested and deported. To those who think this is unfair or mean spirited, try entering any other country illegally like Mexico or Canada for example, and see what happens.

The Border Patrol will once again do the job they are paid to do. Our military and our police departments will once again have the respect they are entitled to. In other words, we are returning to a place of normalcy.

Smart Democrats will soon recognize all this and get on board. Others will fight a losing battle until they are ruled irrelevant by the voters. There are ten Democrat US Senators up for re-election in the next election and Trump carried each of those states, “bigly.” That doesn’t bode too well for “business as usual.”

After Trump cancels more of the Obama Presidential edicts and replaces them with workable Executive orders, we should start seeing new legislation and some old that will be reintroduced like “Kate’s Law.” You may remember this bill which would require a mandatory five-year prison sentence for deported individuals who return to this country.  Harry Reid refused to allow this bill to be heard by the Senate. That is about to change. What kind of a moron could oppose this law?

Just last weekend our President issued an order refusing some individuals from certain hot spots in the world from entering America. These are not American citizens and for the most part we know very little about them because we cannot vet them. Extreme vetting is now under way.

Elizabeth Warren is on her high horse about the “unconstitutionality” of Trump’s order. Sorry, Pocahontas but his order is completely Constitutional. And by the way, Elizabeth, you can have your own opinion, but you can’t have your own Constitution. Try reading ours. You might learn something. A new day has dawned and a new sheriff is in town. It is no longer business as usual.

For me and many other conservative types, this action couldn’t have come much sooner. We are a sovereign nation with borders and we will protect those borders. No non-citizen in the world has a “Constitutional” right to enter this country. They do so only with our specific permission and they can be here only for as long as we allow.

And on that point, I have another question. How does anyone who illegally enters this country or even the children of those illegals without legal birth certificates, now known as “dreamers,”  get a job without a legitimate Social Security number? How do we legally collect their taxes? How do we report their income to the IRS? Just wondering.

Thinking about all this makes me apoplectic. But I’ll get over it. Will the left?

Ron Scarbro