In the first letter today you came so close to a really excellent slogan for a presidential run. You could have said Make America Intelligent NOW. (Main, as in main street, as in infrastructure). Excuse the capital letters. Didn't mean to get excited.
I agree with most of that, but I didn't realize that anyone had ever voted for him - at best he is too dangerously foolish to be fit for public office. I do plan to vote for his Dad again, though. I like Joe. 😊
Probably for the same reason Billy Carter's name kept coming up when Jimmy Carter was president. I think it's unfair to saddle someone with the sins of their relatives, but I guess some people think it's fair game. It's a good thing that potential employers don't look into the backgrounds of our kin before making hiring decisions, or I suspect that very few of us would be working - there's probably at least one embarrassing member in most families.
I noticed that one of your respondents chastised comments by saying that English Law Enforcement Officers do not carry guns. Here is a little enlightenment concerning that issue. USA 2022 total law enforcement officers numbered 660,288 with 118 deaths in the line of duty or a 0.00018% death rate, while in England with the number of law enforcement officers numbered 142,145 with 217 deaths in the line of duty or a 0.00152% death rate, maybe the English should arm their officers. I believe that is statistically 9 times the death rate of English Law Enforcement Officers compared to the United States
Rapidly rising rates of violent crime in the. UK have caused their law enforcement authorities to revisit the policy of not carrying firearms, last time I read anything on the subject.
U.S. police do not to be disarmed or "defunded"! They need to be well trained, well vetted against psychological disorders before being admitted to any force, and they need public support because they have one of the, if not THE, most difficult jobs in our society.
1) As noted, the primary intention behind the term is, and always has been, to _redistribute_ the funding in more appropriate ways[*].
2) But you’re certainty correct that the name, as given, is --at least-- idiotic[**]. But, of course, it would certainly not be the first time that the left (to the extent that this is an issue of the left) has shot itself in the foot when trying to present an otherwise good idea.
[* A standard example being that when dealing with, for example, what is clearly a mental health issue, to rearrange things so that instead of sending only already overworked/over-stressed/undertrained armed police officers, there should also be more appropriately trained professionals to deal with the situation. A point virtually every police professional I’ve discussed this with has agreed.]
[** Leaving its proponents open to nonsense charges, like the one popular in my neck of the woods, that “These people are trying to get rid of your 911!!”]
Susan Liang ( in Chinese Liang means "nice!") wrote a comment that reflects some of my observations. For example, once I was driving between Michigan and Canada, in a long, slow line, waiting for the Port of Entry. At the side of the road, by the pedestrian walkway, there was a uniformed "Guardian of the Public" of some sort. On the ground was a young man with his hands cuff-linked behind his back and his feet also tied together. The "Officer" was kicking the captive in the back - I understand that "kidney punches" can be very painful, and occasionally lethal. At the rate we were inching along, probably a hundred people or more saw this example of "Police Brutality." Yes, there are dangerous folks out there - reckless drivers and such. But - if we as citizens expect to have reasonable relationships with "Our Guardians" - then we need to trust that they are reasonable and responsible people.
I agree with training and sensible gun control as part of the solution. However, I think that we need to do some psychological testing before we put stars on applicants' chests. There are people in our midst who enter police forces, simply to fulfill their desire to legitimately act aggressively on others. How I wished I had had some sort of device to record that officer's actions. I can't believe that causing potentially serious physical harm to someone with no chance of escape would be considered "Due Process of Law."
Dear Mr Keillor, Just a line to say, in my estimation, You say what you mean & you mean what you say, and that, in my opinion, speaks well of you & your character. The oft off kilter comments you often get are sometimes astounding to say the least, but yet, you, in your steadfast thought, never really take offense but respect their right to their opinion & in turn you do do not apologize for practicing the same...... thank you. ~m3b
I worry about the world but other people are so much better informed and articulate about the issues than I am, so I stick to my hoopstitching except for the occasional quiet rant. Some people in public office have adopted ignorance as a platform and I worry that they may succeed. Meanwhile, it is a gorgeous summer and a person should enjoy each day.
"I have six grandchildren." An epiphanous moment in contemporary morality, revealing as much about the teller as those slippery souls who would defend him.
Regarding pencils: in the last part of Lizzie Bernstein’s movie about her father, Robert Bernstein, and fellow author Robert Caro (“Turn Every Page”), she presents an ode to the yellow No. 7 pencil, which neither of them is ever without. She captures a hilarious search for one as they conduct their final interview. It’s a movie worth watching for many moments like this.
Embarrassing is not the issue; corruption is, and this voter will be glad when the very obvious and public corruption by Jared and Ivanka, Don Jr., Eric and who knows who else get the cold, serious scrutiny of DOJ and all other relevant authorities! Jared had unmerited security clearance and Ivanka has Daddy's special favor. Can we expect DOJ and FBI to investigate, search, subpoena those grifters?!
In the first letter today you came so close to a really excellent slogan for a presidential run. You could have said Make America Intelligent NOW. (Main, as in main street, as in infrastructure). Excuse the capital letters. Didn't mean to get excited.
So let’s all simply agree, once and for all:
1) Hunter Biden is unfit for public office
and
2) None of us will ever vote for him again.
I agree with most of that, but I didn't realize that anyone had ever voted for him - at best he is too dangerously foolish to be fit for public office. I do plan to vote for his Dad again, though. I like Joe. 😊
Well, yes, I too am not aware that anyone has ever voted for him. (Likewise, so far as I know, has he never run for office).
So, I guess we’re left to wonder why it is then that his name keeps coming up in what is so clearly meant to be electoral discussions?
Probably for the same reason Billy Carter's name kept coming up when Jimmy Carter was president. I think it's unfair to saddle someone with the sins of their relatives, but I guess some people think it's fair game. It's a good thing that potential employers don't look into the backgrounds of our kin before making hiring decisions, or I suspect that very few of us would be working - there's probably at least one embarrassing member in most families.
I noticed that one of your respondents chastised comments by saying that English Law Enforcement Officers do not carry guns. Here is a little enlightenment concerning that issue. USA 2022 total law enforcement officers numbered 660,288 with 118 deaths in the line of duty or a 0.00018% death rate, while in England with the number of law enforcement officers numbered 142,145 with 217 deaths in the line of duty or a 0.00152% death rate, maybe the English should arm their officers. I believe that is statistically 9 times the death rate of English Law Enforcement Officers compared to the United States
Rapidly rising rates of violent crime in the. UK have caused their law enforcement authorities to revisit the policy of not carrying firearms, last time I read anything on the subject.
U.S. police do not to be disarmed or "defunded"! They need to be well trained, well vetted against psychological disorders before being admitted to any force, and they need public support because they have one of the, if not THE, most difficult jobs in our society.
Good morning Garrison
Two brief points about “Defunding the Police”:
1) As noted, the primary intention behind the term is, and always has been, to _redistribute_ the funding in more appropriate ways[*].
2) But you’re certainty correct that the name, as given, is --at least-- idiotic[**]. But, of course, it would certainly not be the first time that the left (to the extent that this is an issue of the left) has shot itself in the foot when trying to present an otherwise good idea.
[* A standard example being that when dealing with, for example, what is clearly a mental health issue, to rearrange things so that instead of sending only already overworked/over-stressed/undertrained armed police officers, there should also be more appropriately trained professionals to deal with the situation. A point virtually every police professional I’ve discussed this with has agreed.]
[** Leaving its proponents open to nonsense charges, like the one popular in my neck of the woods, that “These people are trying to get rid of your 911!!”]
Susan Liang ( in Chinese Liang means "nice!") wrote a comment that reflects some of my observations. For example, once I was driving between Michigan and Canada, in a long, slow line, waiting for the Port of Entry. At the side of the road, by the pedestrian walkway, there was a uniformed "Guardian of the Public" of some sort. On the ground was a young man with his hands cuff-linked behind his back and his feet also tied together. The "Officer" was kicking the captive in the back - I understand that "kidney punches" can be very painful, and occasionally lethal. At the rate we were inching along, probably a hundred people or more saw this example of "Police Brutality." Yes, there are dangerous folks out there - reckless drivers and such. But - if we as citizens expect to have reasonable relationships with "Our Guardians" - then we need to trust that they are reasonable and responsible people.
I agree with training and sensible gun control as part of the solution. However, I think that we need to do some psychological testing before we put stars on applicants' chests. There are people in our midst who enter police forces, simply to fulfill their desire to legitimately act aggressively on others. How I wished I had had some sort of device to record that officer's actions. I can't believe that causing potentially serious physical harm to someone with no chance of escape would be considered "Due Process of Law."
Dear Mr Keillor, Just a line to say, in my estimation, You say what you mean & you mean what you say, and that, in my opinion, speaks well of you & your character. The oft off kilter comments you often get are sometimes astounding to say the least, but yet, you, in your steadfast thought, never really take offense but respect their right to their opinion & in turn you do do not apologize for practicing the same...... thank you. ~m3b
I worry about the world but other people are so much better informed and articulate about the issues than I am, so I stick to my hoopstitching except for the occasional quiet rant. Some people in public office have adopted ignorance as a platform and I worry that they may succeed. Meanwhile, it is a gorgeous summer and a person should enjoy each day.
I've heard stupid is as stupid does & and that stupid cant be fixed
Ignorance, by another perspective is merely misappropriation of knowledge and can be fixed.
Let us all hope & pray, the statement concerning the latter is true & try to bear-up under the exposure to the prior
"I have six grandchildren." An epiphanous moment in contemporary morality, revealing as much about the teller as those slippery souls who would defend him.
"Slippery souls," you write, after reading what GK had to say about it. I wonder what adjective you would apply to souls who prefer:
"Be there, will be wild!"
"Stand back and stand by!"
"You also had people that were very fine people, on both sides."
"He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured, OK?"
"I want him to show his birth certificate. There is something on that birth certificate that he doesn't like"
"There was blood coming out of her wherever."
"And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything."
Dear Garrison,
Regarding pencils: in the last part of Lizzie Bernstein’s movie about her father, Robert Bernstein, and fellow author Robert Caro (“Turn Every Page”), she presents an ode to the yellow No. 7 pencil, which neither of them is ever without. She captures a hilarious search for one as they conduct their final interview. It’s a movie worth watching for many moments like this.
Nancy Bissell
Thank you for the perspective on Biden's statement about his grandchildren.
I LOVE your response about Dick Cheney's Presidential ownership!
Embarrassing is not the issue; corruption is, and this voter will be glad when the very obvious and public corruption by Jared and Ivanka, Don Jr., Eric and who knows who else get the cold, serious scrutiny of DOJ and all other relevant authorities! Jared had unmerited security clearance and Ivanka has Daddy's special favor. Can we expect DOJ and FBI to investigate, search, subpoena those grifters?!
Speaking of screen time: when I was the age of my grandchildren, screens were used to keep bugs out!