Let us imagine, if you will, that a multimillionaire businessman comes out of the political blue to be elected President of the United States in 2020.
Suppose he and his supporters guarantee the public he will start no nation-building wars, keep inflation in check, maintain low oil prices, create more jobs — especially among minorities — than ever before, and oversee unemployment at its lowest ever levels since records have been kept.
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Consider that after his initial four-year term, the 2020 winner delivered on his promises. No wars, low inflation, lowest ever unemployment, highest number of employed.
That same President, who steadfastly followed his promises and delivered on them, ran for another term.
Not only did he remind voters that he kept his word to them. He told 2020 voters what to expect if they elected his opponent in 2024. Wars and rumors of wars, out of sight inflation … low stock earnings.
And the public howls that they can’t afford Biden gasoline — or much of anything else. Inflation is out of control.
There may be no point pounding the self-evident truths of Trump versus Biden. IF Biden somehow defeated Trump in November 2020, voters are dumber than any of us ever imagined. For the sake of living on the planet with at least reasonably intelligent beings, let’s hope the 2020 election was stolen.
Surely reasonably intelligent voters could not have assessed Trump’s four years, considered Biden’s 50-year record and rhetoric and voted for the former Vice President.
What other conclusion can one reach?
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I am trying my best to temper all I say on the subject of guns with a calm and reasonable voice. I KNOW I am far from perfect. Many who are pro-gun are many moral strides ahead of me.
Otherwise “good Christians” somehow lose all sense of reason when it comes to guns.
This weekend, we have a deceased Nicholas County Deputy and an injured one because of guns being freely in the hands of criminals. It may be a setup crime. It was definitely cold-blooded murder.
Public officials — such Governor Jim Justice and former U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart heaped praise on all law enforcement while absolutely refusing to say, “get the damn guns out of the criminals’ hands.”
I’ve written that 90% of first responders are good, sincere people. I praise them as well.
What has that to do with a police officer getting gunned down at Big Otter and other shot in the leg? Did being good people protect them from harm? Clearly not.
Justice talked vaguely about how we owe a debt of thanks to first responders. They are first on the line of protection for us all, he said.
That is, of course, right. And no doubt Stuart is sincere even if he’s trying to parlay tragedies into votes for his State Senate race.
The fact is there’s nothing positive to say about what happened except that we are a nation of laws and the evil will presumably be punished.
My gun-friendly readers still mystify me.
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But nothing I say or do is meant to reflect negatively overall on gun proponents. Most are better folks than I. I respect your opinions.
They just make no sense to me. One lay minister took the time to tell me last week how a state woman thwarted a shooting since she was “legally carrying,”
He grew passionate when he said, “you’ll never read or hear about THAT.” Actually I did and the lady’s actions seemed pretty heroic.
But heroism in one situation does not negate fostering dangerous situations in another. The criminals shouldn’t be toting guns but I’m surely glad she was.
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Outlaws love their firearms and typically law-abiding decent folks support them. Mystified? Yes I am.
As I often point out, normally kind, church-going people not only want every criminal to have ONE gun, they want them to have an arsenal. But don’t get me wrong … one is too many.
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Democrat Senate Minority Leader Stephen Baldwin is the target for defeat in District 10.
Baldwin is a major enemy since he’s smart, articulate and can put two thoughts together at a time without getting confused.
He is in an underdog position in the Greenbrier County-based district although he could hardly ask for more name recognition. Greenbrier Republicans are proud to have “painted the county red.”
Opposing Baldwin is Republican Vince Deeds, who will be formidable indeed.
In what could be labeled the “Year of Preacher/Politicians,” in the Mountain State, Deeds is a Bible thumping fundamentalist. His district includes portions of other conservative counties along with Greebrier, making him the clear favorite.
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Republican incumbent Bill Hamilton is unopposed in the 11th, assuring a GOP “hold” there.
Ron Gregory is a regular political columnist and reporter for LOOTPRESS. Contact him at 304-533-5185; ronjgregory@gmail.com; or PO Box 20297, Charleston, WV 25362. Confidentiality is assured.