Russians Spying

 I'm just wondering.

Having returned from a week on the high seas of the Caribbean, I've spent some time catching up on a report issued by this fellow Mueller.

Now, I haven't read it...and don't intend to.  I'll just do like the majority of Americans who care, and listen to talking heads on TV to keep me on the straight and narrow!

I'm assuming that the President of the United States, and the republican leaders in Congress and across the country are rising to proclaim that the Russians are coming, the Russians are coming - protect the wives and children. The Russians are coming!

I'm counting on them to get fired up because the communists are infiltrating our good land.

Oh wait?

What?

They ain't said nothin!

Didn't they get all fired up with Hillary had some e-mail problems and the security of the country was threatened because she was using an electronic device that could have been hacked - and our secrets could be stolen?

I don't think there was ever any proof of that, just some hollering. 

But, in 2016, all those Ruskies did was infiltrate and compromise the bedrock of our democracy, the election.

But, what about those Hillary e-mails?  We need to investigate what happened.

Jeez, Louise!

And now, the little guy from North Korea is meeting with Vlad.

Oh my, oh my.

The People's People

Well...well...well...

Here we are, about 18 months away from "the most important election in the history of the republic" - aren't they all - and, as Jackie Gleason said in his long ago TV series, "Away We Go"!

But a way is hard to find.

Senator Mitch McConnell, the republican from Kentucky, as a story in Politico says is:

"faced with his own reelection and defending a tough GOP map in 2020, has no incentive to work with House Democrats on their domestic agenda.

A Senate blockade will deny Democrats tangible winds to tout on the campaign trail, while keeping vulnerable Senate GOP incumbents from having to take difficult votes.  Republicans are also intent on shielding President Donald Trump from potentially awkward veto fights on legislation that polls well."

To which I say, a fine kettle of fish.

Who's looking out for the country, when the elected politicians are, first and foremost, looking out for themselves? 

The cynic in me says votes are taken, for the most part, based on what our elected folks think is best (better) for their own political future - and the folks back home, be damned.

What's happened to the people's representatives in government?  Does it still exist - or is that a bit of fiction that I read about in school?

Hey, folks - we're out here - think of what's good for the country - not your political future.  


  

Onward to 2020

Good Morning New Mexico!

It's time to get on with it and start telling the story of a presidency that is failing to fulfill the American dream for so many people. 

This, as the powers that be should continue their inquisition into his wrongdoings. 

People all across this country are hurting.  Farmers in the Midwest, those who drink water in Flint, factory and blue-collar workers throughout the rust belt – and our neighbors and extended family who must rely on Medicare, Medicaid, government cheese, and SNAP to feed their kids, all need our help.

The best way, to help, kick that miserable guy out in 2020 and begin to Make America Proud Again.   

We need it, our neighbors need it, the world needs it. 

  

Maybe, maybe the media – or what’s left of it – will spend more time telling the story of the heartache of middle America – instead of the latest poll results from some unknown college or biased polling organization. 

We need fewer live shots from a front rooms in Iowa where 5 people are eating cream corn and butterscotch pudding – listening to another candidate drone on and on. 

And, we don’t need anyone to have any more town halls -or debates.

And, some left wing, liberal, hippie pinko can’t be the nominee.   It’s going to take a middle-of-the roader - who tilts a little toward the left - to carry the day.

Hot Seats

As the New Mexico legislature reaches toward the end of the 60 day session comes this headline in The New Mexican - a Santa Fe based newspaper that does a great job of covering the news:

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New Mexico Senate nixes school bus air conditioners 

You have got to be kidding me!

There are arguments that such decisions about air conditioners on school busses should be made at the local school board level. 

I'm wondering, does New Mexico state law, or federal law  require that a school bus to have a heater?

Isn't it the same thing?

Come on people!

I can see the lawyer advertising already.  Has your child suffered from excessive heat, unable to concentrate on home work after a 1-hour to and from school?  If so, Call 1-800-HOT-KIDS. We're here to help!  

That's more than can be said about members of the New Mexico State Senate!

Start the chant: 

Cool The Kids   Cool The Kids   Cool The Kids 

Another empty

A few weeks ago I posted a picture of a near-empty shopping center at Wyoming and Montgomery.

Well, add to the mix of almost vacant retail -  Eastdale Shopping Center - Eubank and Candelaria.

A shop that sold professional football attire used to be here, as was a place that sold the fixin's for homebrew, and on the corner was our favorite pool supply place.   

There are still a few stores (behind the camera shot) - a Family Dollar, Albertson's Market, around the corner is a Starbuck's, and there's a pet food place, too, I think.  And, a dance studio and a nail salon.  And, a Whataburger in the middle of the lot. 

What's going on?  Has the population base changed so much that former bustling centers are no longer able to serve the nearby residents?  Or, are the residents going to a WalMart that's a few miles away?  Or have the landlords gotten so greedy they've hiked the lease payments and nobody can afford to stick around. 

Inquiring minds want to know!

News Expose

Have you ever noticed that nearly all of the media expose stories that appear on the telly and in publications are centered around alleged misdeeds in government organizations, or by the people who work in the public sector?

Corruption at (insert public agency here)!  See the story tonight!

How come misdeed stories are very seldom, if ever, centered around wrongdoing at stores and services from the private sector?  I'll bet there are more mistakes, and people in the private sector get away with more shenanigans, than all the public institutions. 

Just look at the car commercials - who has the time (or ability) to read the fine print or understand the disclaimers.  And, just try to get those deals we see on TV when it is negotiating time at the dealership.

Oh wait, the TV stations make thousands (if not millions) in advertising from the dealers - and the government agencies don't spend like that.

Well, now, there's that!

And, another thing -

"We'll show you tonight how your tax dollars are being spent!"

Don't the reporters pay any taxes?  Are they different that the rest of us?

Shouldn't the reporters in those promos say,

"We'll show you tonight how our tax dollars are being spent!"

Antelope Wells - Border Crossing in Isolation

Having traveled much of New Mexico in my many years on this planet, there remained the mystery of the boot heel.

That’s the little square part of New Mexico that borders the Republic of Mexico and the State of Arizona.

Antelope Wells – a notorious place these days because of border crossings, deaths and border wall discussions.

I need not say much about Antelope Wells – there’s not much there.  A US/Mexico border crossing that’s open from 10 to 4 – and not much else.

My friends, you need not believe my words, but do believe a picture.

What I have here is a picture I took of New Mexico 81, the 45 mile long road between Hachita and Antelope Wells. And this is pretty much the view for that entire stretch of road.

There are no gas stations, no water stops, no Circle K, nothing but open spaces and a ribbon of highway.

Occasionally there is someone riding a bike or on a hike.  

Antelope Wells is considered a southern terminus of the 3,100 mile long Continental Divide Trail that starts in Canada.

And, now, it is notorious for being a border crossing.

Who've ever thunk that?