Category Archives: Editorials

No Joy in Mudville

Broke Donald Trump

There is no joy in Mudville tonight.

As I watched things de-evolve in the Trump orbit, I did begin to think that perhaps there are people who are really above the law.  Nixon chimed:  Well, if the President does it, it’s not il-legal.  And yet, it was not so much the crime that brought him down; It was the cover-up.

Howard Baker asked the most important question during the Nixon probe:  What did the President know, and when did he know it?  But Trump’s own tweets made him self-impeachable.  He told us that all he had was a nice conversation with the President of the Ukraine.  When he said he would release the transcripts, I figured they would be doctored.  In fact, they were not.  They were  the smocking gun.

The Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) decision, whether we agree or dis-agree, is the premise we have all operated under since the Watergate scandal.  You can’t indict a sitting President. 

So worried were the framers of our Constitution over the abuses of the President, they gave use but one option: impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanours.  They left the language deliberately vague.  The only prescription they gave us was the nuclear one.  The I-Word.  Impeachment.

This is a road, very less traveled.  Only Johnson, Nixon, and Clinton have faced impeachment proceedings.  Now a fourth is added to the list:  Donald J. Trump.  Three of these, all within my lifetime, and yours.   At this time, there are in-sufficient votes in the US Senate, who will try Articles of Impeachment, brought by the House of Representatives.  But it behooves us to look at how quickly things disintegrated for Mr. Nixon. 

The evidence is not complete.  The court of public opinion gets their say as well.  I encourage you to write to your representatives nd voice your opinion, whether yea, or nay.  I have already done so.

This is a journey that I wish we as a nation, did not have to travel.  But we must.  The sanctity of our union, and dare I say, that of our Constitution, are at stake here. 

No.  There is no joy in Mudville.   For you, the might Trump, has struck out.

original copy
September 25, 2019
(Ironically, the same day Spiro Agnew asked to be Impeached).

Wayno Guerrini


Do Words Mean Things?

Do Words Mean things?

When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’

’The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’

’The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master — that’s all.”

Through the Looking Glass – Lewis Carroll, December, 1871

In the U.S. political arena, a word game is being played between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch. The insipid nature of politics, have suddenly sparked interest in even the most mundane corners of the citizenry.

We seem padlocked in a never ending legal battle that shackles the fundamental foundations of Democracy. No longer can we sit as a deer bathed in headlights – frozen in time. We are experiencing a paradigm shift in how all future presidencies and legislative agendas will be adjudicated by the epochs of time.

It is time. It is time to either let words having meaning, and definition, or it is time to end this democracy, and surrender it to the kakistocracy of politicians that encompass the current administration.

If words have meaning, if they have consequence in the real world, rather then the shanghai-la of political demagoguery that exists in the current political landscape…Then it is time to let those words take definition.

Congress has been entrusted with over-site of the Executive Branch. Yet I have seen cowardice, in-action, and frankly a laissez-faire attitude on the part of our elected leaders. The electorate did not put you in a place of power to sit on your hands, and thumb noses at us. We decry the complacent attitude that permeates the halls of this hallowed institution.

It is time, gentlemen (and gentlewomen) to let words once again have meaning. It is time to act. It is time to hold Mr. Barr, Mr. Mc Gahn, and Mr. Trump in contempt. It is time to let words take flight and have meaning. It is time to move words that spew forth from the Twitter feeds, into the realm of real world consequences.

Congress should immediately jail those in contempt (real world consequences), or you should step down.

Either the words penned by Theodore Roosevelt have meaning, or they fall on deaf ears, and are truly devoid, bereft, impotent.

No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man’s permission when we ask him to obey it.

The time to open a congressional inquiry into impeachment, is now.

Wayno Guerrini

May 21, 2019

An Open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada

June 11, 2018

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau:

I want to apologise to you and the Canadian citizenry at large, for the shameful disrespect and open hostility U.S. President Donald Trump has displayed to you personally, and all of Canada.

Canada has always stood by her American ally. Anyone with a modicum of education, knows that Canada did NOT burn down the Whitehouse in the War of 1812. Under Trump’s leadership, the United States has alienated all her friends. The administration policies, do NOT reflect the value and core beliefs of this once proud nation. A cloud of suspicion hangs over the President who seems unencumbered by truth, ethics, and moral character.

A state of hostility exists between our nations. Economies are global. There is no reason to punish Canada, Mexico or any nation with tariffs. The economics of tariffs as you know, are a tax on consumers. The U.S. Government is filled with Crony Capitalism. As one journalist said, Crapitalism. The government now determines supply and cost.

My interests in Canada are personal.

Your priorities are distilled into protecting Canada, and its citizens from harm, whether that be physical, or economic. I believe Canada and Mexico have been diligent partners in negotiating a new NAFTA accord. I would not blame you (or Mexico) from walking away. I have always found Canada to be polite and reasonable. That can not be said of the current political landscape that exists in these former United States.

I am neither Democrat, or Republican. I am an Independent, whose dissent is quashed by current political underpinning. I wrote to you, to let you know Canada still has friends in America.

Rex Murphy said it best: “Twitter is NOT a conduit of enlightenment.” Q.E.D.

Respectfully,

Wayne Guerrini

The Paradigm must shift in the United States on Gun Control


This was an email I received from a friend, after he read my article on gun control entitled, A Blast to the Past. He is: Pro Gun, Pro NRA, Pro Trump.

He said:

You list a few places where criminal acts were committed with guns. What is conspicuously not listed is the countless years and hundreds of thousands, if not millions of gun owners who do not commit crimes. The complicit media also suppress the many times mass murders were prevented by private persons intervening with the guns on their persons. The statistics of occasions and persons who properly use weapons compared with those who do not render the anti gun argument worthless. Inanimate things do not sin or commit crimes. Fallen men do.

Part of this in a summation from David Pakman.

Let’s recognise that we have some informational incongruities.

1. For example. Abortion should be safe vs it should be illegal.

2. The importance of an issue. Gay marriage is an important issue vs it is not important.

3. People are unaware of the issue all together. For example: Oh climate change? I have never heard of that.

We are at level 3. The most dangerous.

The end of my article stated clearly:

—–

Current Gun Laws

Two things seem to fuel gun violence in Arizona. One was the Assault Weapons Ban sunset which occurred in 2004. [22] The expiration of this ban, provided Jared Lee Loughner with legal means to purchase a high capacity 30 round clip for his 9 mm Glock. Secondly, the Arizona legislature is considering allowing concealed weapons on Arizona’s college’s and campuses. [23]

These two items can only foster security and safety issues. What prevents any of these events from occurring again? Guns do NOT kill people. People do. But we need better screening and training, to prevent future tragedies such as these from happening. Perhaps just like in the movies of the Old West, the bad guy will help us out, by wearing a Black Hat.

“I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government.”
— Henry David Thoreau — Civil Disobedience

Yes I agree that guns do not kill people. People kill people.

Laws, as we have seen, do influence the culture. (Positively or negatively). Take marijuana for example. it was once illegal. (Pakman) Now it isn’t. We have seen a plethora of states legalising marijuana. California being the latest.

We have a unique problem that does not exist in other cultures. A gun fetish. dictionary.com defines a fetish as:

any object, idea, etc., eliciting unquestioning reverence, respect, or devotion:
to make a fetish of high grades.

Eliciting unquestioning reverence, respect or devotion. That inculcates, permeates and uniquely identifies the American Culture and its love affair with guns. That was conspicuously absent from your article.

We need at a minimum, the following changes to laws (my opinion):

  • Access to mental health must be easier. This was a central issue for the cause of the Tucson Shootings. (See my article on Loughner here: Dominoes to Descent). Reporting must be mandatory. No fly = no buy.
  • Universal background checks must become mandatory. We should close the gun show loophole as well.
  • Re-instate the assault weapons ban, by defining what an assault weapon is. The ban’s sunset in 2004, (see previously cited article on Loughner) allowed him to legally purchase the high capacity magazine that he used.

 

And Wayne LaPierre’s statement: The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun.

LAME! Where was the good guy with a gun when Loughner killed 6 people? Why is La Pierre’s statement lame? It took Loughner only 15 seconds to fire those fatal and mortally wounding rounds. Not enough time for the good guy with a gun to react, and shoot the bad guy with a gun.

Imagine this scenario for a moment. One bad guy with guns vs 20 good guys with guns. The Swat team shows up. Chaos ensues. Whose the bad guy? Maybe he will help us out and by wearing a black hat. Just like in the movies. If we arm teachers, then death my teacher will become a thing.

Why does John Q. Citizen need an assault style weapon? They are a weapon of war unitasker: their singular purpose is to kill the maximum amount of people in the least amount of time. I don’t know about you, but I have never heard of anyone going hunting (for other than humans) with an AR-15.

Your list was an ad hominem. There were no sources cited. I cited sources. It is one man’s opinion. I have written op-ed pieces without citing sources. Op-ed’s by definition, are an ad hominem.

As a journalist, I MUST cite sources….It is essential and morally reprehensible to NOT do so. If I am unwilling to cite sources and so ordered, rather than compromise, I must be willing to suffer the consequences of my actions; That would mean jail.

Let’s agree to discuss politics offline. For the most part, politics and religion should probably not mix — except when it compromises what the Word clearly states. Abortion for example.

Finally….These are my ad hominems for the night:

Personally, I see Trump as one of God’s instrument of judgment to America. Others hail him as a Saviour. Both of us can’t be right. Ir-regardless, God commands us in 1 Timothy 2, to pray for those in authority over us. It is tough, but my prayer is that God would make known His Salvation in the halls of our government. Can you name a politician who isn’t morally bankrupt? Neither can I.

We are moving towards an economic singularity. The TBTF Banks will fail. The economy will be in shambles, and people will wrongfully blame the President. It is pure Central Banking (The Federal Reserve). IMO, the second greatest evil ever unleashed upon mankind.

The talking heads I follow (non-Keynesian: Peter Schiff and Chris Martenson for example) are rightly convinced thst the burgeoning debt load, rising bond rates, tanking US Dollar, and rising oil prices, will usher in a depression, mostly likely within 18 months. Some are saying this year. I would not be surprised if we see oil priced in another currency, like the Chinese Yuan.

Will Rogers was absolutely spot on when he said: We have the best politicians that money can buy.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Rev 6:9-10 NIV

Wayno

Refocusing Priorities in a Post Christian Era. Why I abandoned Facebook’s vitriolic political debates.

Okay.. This is going to trend toward being a {rant/rave}.

I spoke with my friend Chris last night. And I think our priorities are askew. We tend to forget we are servants of the King. We do HIS will; not ours. (Matt 6:9-13)

Don’t ask the question: What Would Jesus do? That to me is heretical. It puts God in situations that are not biblically based. Instead the question should be: Sola Gloria Deo. How does what I purpose to do, bring Glory to God alone?

Stop for a moment (and I am preaching to myself here). How does making snide comments about politics on my Facebook Wall, bring Glory to God? I am reminded of these words from Proverbs:

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19 NASB)

Unless you are talking about praying for leaders (as we are commanded in 1 Tim 2:2) my opinions do not bring God the Glory. It’s all about Him. NOT me. That’s one of the reasons why I nuked 100 vitriolic contacts from Facebook last night. So I can focus my attention on God, and not the world.

I have done something that I don’t normally do. I put my phone into airplane mode. No internet. No messages. No charming bells or whistles. I can begin focusing my attention on serving God and his people, not divisive politics. Life is again, wonderful.

And while there is debate as to the origin of this quote, I will continue to attribute it to Philip Melanchthon. Without Melanchthon, there probably would have been no Martin Luther.

He said: “In essentials, unity; In non-essentials, liberty; In all things, charity.”

Let’s focus on what unites us. Our common belief that there is salvation through Christ alone.

Our second priority should be, “How may I pray for you this week?”

{end rant/rave}

Wayno

A look at Arizona’s SB 1070 and National Sovereignty

Originally Published August 28, 2011

Judge Susan Bolton’s recent decision regarding Arizona’s SB-1070, brings to mind the question of National Sovereignty.

She admitted in her opening remarks during a recent press conference…

Against a backdrop or rampant illegal immigration, escalating drug and human trafficking crimes, and serious public safety concerns, the Arizona Legislature enacted a set of statutes and statutory amendments in the form of Senate Bill 1070… U.S.A. v. State of Arizona.

She openly acknowledged the problems, but through her ponderance over these laws, issued an injunction against the bill anyway. While Judge Bolton is in Phoenix, she is far removed from the scene here in Tucson, which is the single most active sector in the U.S. for il-legal border crossings. She does not see what the residents of Tucson see. Did Judge Bolton just give the Feds a get of our jail free card? The issue is National Sovereignty. Do we, or do we not, have any control over our borders? She seems to have paid lip service, anyway, in acknowledging the problems.

Through her in-action, she has given control to Foreign Governments and their Citizens, the power to come and go as they please. Is our border now a turnstile? If il-legal’s can freely cross, what about Terrorists? The Bush and Obama Administration’s have both long ignored the problems faced everyday. The crime waves. The murders. The cost imposed on the states: Education, Housing, Food, Medical Care, for these Citizens.

Do we control our destiny, or is that power now vested in Foreign Governments, that have managed to re-locate their Citizens? Things look very stark here. Arizona’s attempt in SB-1070 said: If you won’t do the job of enforcing the Federal Statutes already in place, then we’ll do it for you. Can one blame a state for trying to protect it’s citizens when the Federal Government steadfastly, ineptly, and impotently refuses to do their job? Mr. Obama had time to be on The View but doesn’t have time to visit the border. What are his priorities?

Our borders are no more secure today, then they were on September 11, 2001. Where are those in charge of our safety and security?  History proves to be incredibly pragmatic. If we don’t learn the lessons offered by history, we are pre-destined to repeat the mistakes of the past. Will Durant offers this insight: A great civilisation is not conquered from without, until it has destroyed itself from within.

Judge Bolton, should be criticized for her ruling helps dismantle this great nation, one law at a time. It is indeed unfortunate, she can’t be voted out of office. Frank Zappa was right on when he said: The United States is a nation of laws, badly written and randomly enforced.

QE2: A ship that never should have sailed

Originally Published September 8, 2011

When most people hear the term QE2, they think of the ship: The Queen Elizabeth 2.  But to economists and those who follow the economy, QE2  sails far deeper then any ocean liner. Quantitative Easing is far more treacherous then anyone ever imagined.

What is Quantitative Easing?  It is the government running the printing presses to print money, and then using the money just printed, to buy back its own debt.  It’s like using one credit card to pay off another. This gives the illusion that all the bills are being payed, and everything can continue as normal. But what really happens, is that the Federal Government, is increasing the money supply.  Why is it called QE2?  Because the Fed has done this before!  Unchecked expansion of the money supply leads us to our next economic stopping point:  Inflation.

How We Got Here

Brooksley Born, unknown outside economic circles, predicted the economic collapse in 1998.  As head of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from 1996 – 1999, her astute observation led her to conclude that the unregulated over-the-counter credit default swaps market, would lead only to disaster. She was adamantly opposed by then Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, and Treasury Secretaries Robert Rubin and Larry Summers.  They squashed her like a bug!  She resigned.

History proves to be patient, if not pragmatic.  Ten years later, the U.S. suffered one of the worst economic collapses since The Great Depression.  The unregulated market in these swaps led to where we are today.  She was right all along.

Missed Golden Opportunity

The Bush Administration had a golden opportunity to cleanse the toxic assets of the housing debacle, To Big to Fail (TBTF), General Motors, Chrysler and so on, but instead followed a path of fiscal irresponsibility, by creating TARP, (Troubled Asset Relief program.)  This program transferred billions of dollars, to some of the most poorly managed companies in the United States.  The Bush administration turned a $140+  Billion SURPLUS into a  a whopping $1.2 TRILLION DEFICIT due to the unfunded liabilities:  The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, TARP/Stimulus, Tax Cuts, and Medicare Part D (The donut hole prescription drug plan seniors on Medicare live with daily.)

The Obama Administration had a golden opportunity to cleanse the toxic assets.  Instead it proffered  an ever ballooning National Debt, and Cars — Car Allowance Rebate System.  More affectionately called: Cash for Clunkers. Another unfunded liability.  While the goal was to stimulate the sale of new auto-mobiles, in reality what this did is remove the supply of good used cars out of reach of working class citizens.  Total cost to taxpayers:  $3 BILLION!

The Future?

The U.S. economy is fragile. It may face what’s known as a Liquidity Trap.  No matter how much money is created, no matter how low interest rates go, the economy can not be sustain-fully expanded.

What’s ahead for the United States?  The toxic assets MUST be cleansed.  There could be a gradual decline over the next few years, and then suddenly the balloon will pop and deflation (contraction of money supply and available credit) could ensue.  TBTF banks will fail, the housing market will collapse, and the toxic assets will finally be cleansed.  But remember all that money the government is printing? The Quantitative Easing?  Deflation is the handmaiden of inflation. That is, one follows the other, as if joined hand-in-had.  Once the assets are cleansed, hyper-inflation is just around the corner.

Oil Prices

Oil prices will continue an upward price acceleration, as the dollar declines in value.  We could see oil prices pegged to another currency: Yuan or Gold. Perhaps G20 (finance ministers from the 20 most industrialized nations in the world) may move to stabilize the world economies, by fixing exchange rates, creating a de-facto:  One World Economy.

A great civilisation is not conquered from without, until it has destroyed itself from within. – Will Durant

Tucson Remembers: The Road Ahead after the Tucson Shooting

Originally Published:  January 6, 2012

The Road Ahead: Tucson Remembers

Externally, every facet appears normal. It’s like nothing ever happened. January 8, 2011, at 10:11 am, is a date indelibly woven into the history of the Old Pueblo. At that hour, the worst mass shooting in Tucson history occurred at a supermarket just a few miles from my home.

Tucson Shooting site - 1 year after

Tucson Shooting site – 1 year after

How does a community and a nation come together to honour the 6 slain and 19 wounded? What has changed in a year? As a community, the shock and disbelief of residents are common threads of any tragedy that rattle the foundation and core of our world. No one who attended the Congress on your Corner that day, knew that such a terrifying and life changing event would ever take place in our city.

We are reminded of images of accused mass murderer Jared Lee Loughner, flashed on the screen with that sadistic and twisted smile. We saw heartfelt images of the slain and wounded. President Barack Obama came to our corner of the world, to remind us we are not forgotten. We are not lost. That although the road ahead is long and hard, we would NOT make that voyage alone. Together we Thrive became our credo. He affirmed us at every level. He infused hope when we were utterly shattered.

Tucson Shooting Site - January 12, 2011

Tucson Shooting Site – January 12, 2011

Perhaps the greatest inspiration of all: U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Her Story of Courage and Hope continue to amaze us all. When Dianne Sawyer of ABC News interviewed Gabby and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, we hung on every word.

Permanent memorials have sprung up all over town, replacing the ad-hoc ones a year ago. We are beginning to leave the pain, strife and grief from a year ago and starting to put that behind us. As a community, we still have grievous wounds that remain. Time will heal the wounds but they will be scarred. Reminders of the past tragedy, but signposts of healing that has already occurred.

– U.S. District Judge John Roll, 63.
– Gabe Zimmerman, 30, Giffords’ director of community outreach.
– Dorwin Stoddard, 76, a pastor at Mountain Ave. Church of Christ.
– Dorthy Murray, 76.
– Phyllis Scheck, 79.
– Christina Greene, 9, a student at Mesa Verde Elementary.

Dominoes to Descent: A look at the Tucson Shooter, Jared Loughner

Originally Published September 10, 2011

The tragic events of January 8, 2011 are firmly woven into the fabric of Tucson, Arizona. Gone are the days of innocence, that slowed to let young children grow and prosper. Instead many are left wondering what caused the fatal shootings that left 6 dead and 13 injured, including incumbent U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (Democrat) from the 8th Congressional District? Let’s examine the sequence of events that led to this tragedy.

The Warning Signs

It was obvious to many that accused shooter Jared Lee Loughner, is a young man in trouble. He began showing erratic behaviour to his [1] friends and family about 4 years ago. Loughner had turned from a quiet shy kid who played jazz music on his saxophone, into someone that was disconnected from reality, and later whose thoughts became nihilistic and garbled over the course of time. Family and friends were not the only ones to see this disconnect.  When Lounger tried to enlist for military service [2], he was declined because of drug use.

Perhaps the most culpable and capable, failed Jared Lee Lougner. His college. Loughner had disrupted classes at Pima Community College on five separate occasions, from February – September, 2010. After the last incident, Pima CC told Loughner he needed a mental health evaluation in order to return, and proceeded instead, to suspended him. Pima CC did NOT seek mental health assistance for Loughner, simply because he was NOT a threat to himself or to others. Therefore, he was never flagged as a mental health risk.

The first domino is now tipping.

Mental Health Issues

While it was obvious to Pima CC that Loughner had mental health issues, they did not seek any aid for him. They could have invoked Arizona’s Title 36 / Chapter 5 Statue [3], which would have permitted a 3 day involuntary mental health commitment. Parents could have done this. Friends could have done this. But all seemed to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear on Loughner’s deteriorating state of reality.

The Mental Health Care System in Arizona must be scrutinized as well. Facing a looming $1.3 BILLION budget deficit, the State of Arizona, gutted its Mental Health Care System. Thousands [4] in Pima County were dropped. One methodology employed by the State of Arizona, was to require proof of U.S. Citizenship to continue to receive mental health services.

Gone are case management and therapy. NO follow-ups are provided. Group therapy which used to be free, now require a $15 per session co-pay. For people living on Social Security, that is a budget buster. Medication and follow-ups, which were provided by CPSA (Co-operative Partnership of Southern Arizona. CPSA is the umbrella organisation overseeing mental health care in Southern Arizona), are now taken from Medicare for those who are eligible. Medicare is now tasked with paying for Medicare-eligible seniors and the disabled. It’s still free to the patient, but shrinks the prescription drug coverage, and pushes some ever closer to the edge of the Medicare Donut Hole Prescription challenges. Arizona seemingly has un-encumbered itself from providing adequate mental health care coverage. Loughner nor any of his family, friends or associates, sought aid from this crippled and failing mental health care system.

The second domino, has flipped.

Arizona Gun Laws

Arizona has the most lax gun laws [5], in the nation. One is permitted to carry a concealed weapon without a permit virtually anywhere in the state, and without any training. Requiring only a simple background check. Disregarding, the shootings one week after the tragedy, a long planned gun show was held at the Pima County Fair grounds. What was the true agenda? There was no deference shown to those killed, maimed, or distraught from this event.

Was Loughner’s ability to purchase a weapon a failure of the system? Simply stated: No. Since there were no flags in his background, and the gun was legally purchased from a local Sportsman’s Warehouse in Tucson. How could Loughner afford to purchase a handgun (about $500), since he had no job?

I visited the store where the gun was purchased. Most anyone from Tucson, is acquainted with the store location. I asked personnel at the store if I could take photos inside and was courteously declined.

The store is typical of a sporting goods store. Nothing really stands out. Walking towards the centre of the store, you see large glassed in display cases filled with knives. Very long to very short. ALL in a LOCKED case.

Rounding the corner to left…took my breath away. The scene was surreal. Ahead were about 75 different hand guns, pegged on a wall, 5 or 6 deep. In other words about 400 handguns hanging on a wall, with absolutely no security, except for store personnel. To the left of the handguns, were about 50 different rifles on pedestal stands. Nothing securing them except for the fact, they were bolted in place. Wandering a bit more: box upon box of ammunition (bullets) neatly stacked on the floor, for anyone to grab. Is this what America has become?

The failure was not in the sale of the gun. The failure was in letting the Assault Weapons Ban expire in 2004 [7], and permitting the sale of such weapons. [6] This included the high capacity clip (30 rounds) sold to Loughner with the gun, all legally obtained. Loughner had indeed exercised his 2nd Ammendment rights.

The second amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. [8]

A well regulated Militia. We already have one. It’s called: The National Guard.

Why does driving a car, require training and insurance? It seems a mystery, that you can purchase a gun easier then cold medication. If you try to buy too much cold medication containing pseudo-ephedrine, you are stopped. Is this the right priority?

The third domino is falling.

Pre-staging and Preparation

Loughner had previously met Congresswoman Giffords [9] at a Congress at your Corner meeting in 2007. He asked Giffords: “What is government if words have no meaning?” Giffords did not respond. Amongst the items seized during a warrant search of the Lougner home, were a letter received from Giffords’ office, thanking him for attending. The words “Die Bitch” were inscribed on the envelope.

An event such as this, requires some forethought and pre-planning. Loughner had to go to 2 Walmarts [10] to buy ammunition for his 9mm Glock. The first store he went to, refused. Evidence on his home computer [11] indicate Loughner had researched topics which included lethal injections and solitary confinement. He took the time to leave a voice mail message: “Hey Bryce, it’s Jared. We had some good times together. Peace out.” [12]

Loughner took a one way cab ride [13] to the Safeway that morning. He entered the Safeway, where he changed a $20 bill, to pay for a $14 cab ride [13]. Why do that? These steps would suggest that Loughner was cognizant of actions. A jury will be tasked to determine if Loughner’s actions were indeed pre-mediated, the act of someone mentally incompetent, or somewhere in-between?

If the gun laws in Arizona are permissive, why did no one come forward that day to stop Jared Lee Loughner? The answer is simple. It was all over in about 15 seconds and one gun clip of 30 rounds [14]. Who knows what would have happened if he was able to reload?

The final domino has toppled.

Wayno Guerrini

One Man’s Opinion: The Removal of Donald J. Trump

I have put the unity of the people first. I have put it ahead of any divisive partnership…It is true that a house divided against itself by the spirit of faction, a party of region, religion, race, is a house that cannot stand. There is division in the American House now. There is divisiveness amongst us all tonight. So I would ask all Americans whatever their personal interests are concerned, to guard against divisiveness and all its ugly consequences.”

Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the United States March 31, 1968

This is an excerpt from LBJ’s now infamous, “I will not run” speech. It’s message is poignant today. In my 65 plus years on this planet, I have never seen our country so divided so completely torn asunder, as I have in these last few months of the current presidency.

Rather than trying to unite a divided country, Mr. Trump seems Hell-bent on destroying any modicum of reconciliation or unity. We have become a nation focused on differences. What divides us. Not what unites us. We have always been a nation of independence. Now we are a nation that has become increasingly and alarmingly, isolationist.

Mr. Trump singlehandedly, is the “Divider-in-Chief” as the Washington Post so aptly reminds us.

Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker said:It’s a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.” Yet the Whitehouse staff remained inquisitively silent. The silence deafens the ears with a resounding crescendo. Yet its absence gives pulse to introspection. Introspection that causes sickness, and a disquieting of the soul.

I have stared into the face of dementia. I know what it looks like. I know what it does. How it robs. How it descends into crazy ramblings. Finally a silence as the voice and power to speak are taken. Nancy Reagan pegged it as “The long goodbye.” It was heart-wrenching as my father went through this process. It is NOT an evil to be wished upon anyone. It was a time for my family to come together, and honour the man whose hands ensured there was a roof over our head, and food on the table. It was a time to unite. Not shun.

This is the greatest fallacy of America. We are distrustful, divisive, and dismissive of those that are different.  Subjects become objects.  Racism 101.   Instead of welcoming dissent, some want to quash it. NOW!

I can no longer remain silent. I have seen the descent of dementia. I recognize those symptoms in Donald J. Trump.

This is a clarion call to the members of the current administration’s cabinet, and members of our Congress, to remove Mr. Trump from office. If you refuse to act, this nation will become severely isolationist. Severely divided. Severely dismissive.

When is the right time to have this conversation? We must move forward as a nation. That means removing the cloud of suspicion and allegations, and bring respect back to the Whitehouse. That gentlemen…is your domain. You must swallow hard, and remove the current President, through either the impeachment process, or invocation of the 25th Amendment.

How many rants, raves, and embarrassing tweets, must this nation endure? Canadian Journalist Rex Murphy was spot on when he said: “Twitter is not a conduit of enlightenment.”

Original Copy by,

Wayne Guerrini

October 13, 2017