Rants by Mac - 2022 Columns
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The document is a column criticizing recent comments and actions made by Donald Trump and other Republican politicians. It summarizes Trump's unfounded claims at a recent rally that George H.W. Bush stole classified documents when leaving office and stored them at a bowling alley and Chinese restaurant. The column notes that Trump's claims have been debunked by the National Archives. It also criticizes similar dubious claims and pivots made recently by Republican candidates Herschel Walker and Newt Gingrich. The author expresses a desire for politicians and voters to move on from such unsubstantiated statements and focus on policies.
Rants by Mac - 2022 Columns
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- 18. Coldwater Daily Reporter - 08/06/2022 August 6, 2022 9:05 pm (GMT -4:00) Powered by TECNAVIA THEDAILYREPORTER.COM | SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022 | 5A OPINION gullible supporters, who cannot believe he is flawed, are sending money to a billionaire, who paid $750/ year in taxes. In return, they are offered a blue Official 2022 Trump Card, then a gold one, Limited Edition Trump Wine Glasses, an EXCLUSIVE Trump Rally Shirt, or a slot on the Official 2022 Trump Donor Wall. I get his emails, too. Guns? Polls show that 70+ percent of Americans advocate limits or bans on assault weapons, and even higher percentages support much-expanded back- ground checks. But Republicans in Congress know better. And last week, Republicans killed, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, which would expand health care and disability bene- fits for an estimated 3.5 million veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during their mil- itary service. Senate Republicans backed the bill a month ago, with a bi-partisan vote of 84-14, but they unexpectedly changed their opinion, after Democrats surprisingly worked out a climate-change bill. It looked a little like revenge, as newscasts showed Ted Cruz (the funniest comedian in the Senate) fist-bumping other Senators, after killing the bill. Cruz and his buddies were excited to block some- thing again, regardless of what it means for veterans. Make no mistake, this bill will pass eventually. But fist- bumps all around for now. Next, they say that they want to go after alternate lifestyles and gay marriage. While my lifestyle is about as mainstream as possible, I do wonder why rights, al- In the words of one of my favorite comedians, who spoke on Jan. 6, 2021, weve had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way. Oh my God, I hate it. All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough.Yes, Senator Lind- sey Graham ignored hypocrisy to inspire humor. But today his words, if not his actions, inspire me. Enough is enough. House and Senate Republicans, not even trying to be funny anymore, seem to be doing all they can to block democracy. The J-6 House Investigative Committee has heard from a host of loyal Republicans, confirming the events of the attempted coup that inspired Grahams comments in 2021. Yet, most Republicans are not watching. And many hear the term witch hunt and believe it, as they have for several other witch-hunts over the past six years. At the same time, a Supreme Court, stacked by Re- publicans and a lame-duck President (more hypocrisy ignored) repealed a 50-year abortion right, over the objection of 65+ percent of Americans. Regardless of my stance on abortion, American majorities should matter. A one-term President, who tried to stage a coup to retain power, has collected $121million on the pretense of helping 2022 mid-term Republicans get elected. His ready given, are so unacceptable to Republicans. Why so much hate? Have we come to the point where we just change the laws every time party majorities shift? There are so many more examples, but just not enough room. So, Graham was right. Enough is enough. I broke with my own congressperson a few years ago when I was critical of the tea-party version of the Republican party. I thought the tea-party was too far right to be right. My naivet辿 was exposed, because now we have MAGA, and memories of the tea-party seem like it was just a. tea party. I believe that I am still a conservative, but maybe not. I will not be voting MAGA. I support democracy, I believe most Americans are more centered and I think that our representatives should represent the majority. I am tired of the glee and fist-bumps I see when either party defeats the opposition. I wonder why the opposition seems to be so intense, so partisan, so vicious. In fact, why is it OP- POSITION? Arent these people colleagues? I am nervous about the future, and I wish I had con- fidence that my representatives were as concerned about that as they are about getting reelected. For me, the Republican party has been a good ride for a lot of years. It fit me for a long time. Today it em- barrasses me. I hope it comes back. All I can say now, is count me out. Curt MacRae is a resident of Coldwater and writes columns each month. Columns are tweeted (@curt- macrae). Send comments to rantsbymac@gmail.com. Enough is enough Curt MacRae Guest Columnist ColdWater Daily Reporter Its not unusual for cats and dogs to develop some form of lump or bump as they age. Some will be benign and can easily be removed, while others may be more of a concern and will require a more extensive diagno- sis and treatment plan. Some lumps and bumps may form as scar tissue af- ter an injury. If the scar tissue does not interfere with the pets use or lifestyle, the condition is generally left alone. However, if the scar tissue impedes the animals movement or duties, treatments such as laser and shock wave therapy may prove useful in reducing the size of the scar. Animals do get warts and cysts. These are benign analysis. The majority of lumps and bumps are of little con- cern. However, if they continue to grow or are in a loca- tion that restricts movement or affects the overlying skin, they can cause irritation for your pet. Even if you suspect the lump is benign, its always good to know for certain, so that serious problems can be caught early. Common types of lumps and bumps found in cats and dogs include: Lipomas which are fatty lumps that generally sit just below the skins surface and are usually soft and pliable. They vary in size, but they can grow to be fairly large and can appear anywhere on the body. They should always be checked especially if they are fast growing. Abscesses are injury sites that become a pus-filled lump. Animals can develop abscesses as the result of foreign bodies under the skin, bites, or from other forms of trauma. These areas are very painful and hot to the touch. Abscesses should be treated by your vet- erinarian so that they do not become systemic and maintain your pets hair or fur gets clogged. This blocked gland caused small swellings under the skin that can become infected. Most cysts will burst and heal on their own, but some may need to be drained or surgically removed. Adenomas of the Perianal Gland are common in dogs, male dogs being most susceptible, although females can also be affected. These lumps are usually slow growing and appear next to the skin of the anus. In males, castration and removal of the mass is the standard treatment. Skin tags and warts rarely cause problems other than cosmetic unless they are in an area where they are irritated easily such as for grooming. When neces- sary, treatment usually involves removal. Granulomas are raised red bumps that may be topped by a crusty formation. They can be found under the skin feel firm to the touch. These should always be checked as they look like aggressive tumors. Haemangiomas are benign tumors most often af- fecting dogs by interfering with the blood vessels and soft tissues. These tumors require a biopsy to rule out Benign lumps and bumps Veterinary Viewpoint Joanna Bronson Coldwater Daily Reporter RANTS by MAC
- 23. Planned for publish-date October 15, 2022 R A N T S b y M A C You cant make this stuff up.. Oh wait, maybe you can BY: Curt MacRae Last week, at a Nevada rally, Donald Trump claimed that George H.W. Bush stole classified documents when he left office in 1993. Really? Trump said, George H.W. Bush took millions of documents to a former bowling alley and a former Chinese restaurant, where they combined them. So, theyre in a bowling alley/Chinese restaurant With no security and a broken front door. Im sorry, are you Trump supporters really not yet embarrassed by this guy? I rooted for him when he became president just as I root for Joe Biden now. I know, I know. Joe Biden has not exactly evoked comparisons to George Washington, but can we move on? Trump took secret documents, for a reason no one seems to be able to discern. He would not give them back after more than a year of requests from the Department of Justice, followed by a subpoena. Finally, as a last resort, a judge authorized the search of his residence. After the search, Trump claimed the FBI planted evidence. Then, he changed his story to state that the documents had been declassified (apparently the FBI did not plant them). Then, he added that he could declassify them telepathically. Next, he claimed executive privilege, which makes no sense. And later, he claimed that the documents were not secret at all but were simply news clippings. Which is it? As he plays whack-a-mole, Trump is asking America to believe, and tens of millions do. This weeks accusation of GHW Bush taking documents, simply seems like a rehash of past wild claims from Trump that Bill Clinton took millions of documents from the White House to a former car dealership in Arkansas and that George W. Bush stored 68 million pages in a warehouse in Texas. At his rally, Trump demanded that George H.W. Bush be investigated; Bush died in 2018. For anyone who only watches Fox News, we should note that all of Trump claims on this subject have been debunked. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), without naming Trump, noted that it took possession of all records from those three former presidents. The agency also rejected a similar claim that Trump had made about his immediate predecessor, Barack Obama.
- 24. Records from those former presidents were moved to temporary facilities located near future presidential libraries. "All such temporary facilities met strict archival and security standards and have been managed and staffed exclusively by NARA employees," the agency said in a statement. "Reports that indicate or imply that those presidential records were in the possession of the former presidents or their representatives, after they left office, or that the records were housed in substandard conditions, are false and misleading," it added. Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance, now a law professor at the University of Alabama, said that Donald Trump's wild claims about other presidents classified documents are revealing. She tweeted "In my experience as a prosecutor, people say stuff like this when they're guilty & scared." Guilty or not, can we just move on? Other candidates are now taking the Trump approach. Herschel Walker, who has myriad scandals and controversies associated with his Georgia Senate campaign, claims to have not known the woman who accused him of paying for her abortion and being the father of one of her children. He stated that he gives money to lots of people. Then, he pivoted, saying that maybe he knew her, but he didnt pay for an abortion. But, if he did pay for an abortion, it was OK because people change, and hes changed. Wow!! Really? Newt Gingrich defended Walker with, You know, hes been through a long, tough period. He suffered a lot of concussions coming out of football. Policies do not matter. Talent does not matter. Only party matters. Newt, youre right. As a senator, this guy was a great football player. Yeah, I know the other candidate is not Thomas Jefferson either, but come on. A friend contacted me after a recent column to inform me I was no longer a Republican. I confirmed that and noted that even the Republican party is no longer Republican. Can we move on? Curt MacRae is a resident of Coldwater, MI, and writes multiple Saturday columns monthly. Comments to rantsbymac@gmail.com