Party of values

Dear Editor,

Warren County Democrats filled Russell’s Larimer Park to capacity last week. The gathering had a family feel as children of various ages were in attendance. The park’s playground equipment, ample parking, three large pavilions, green expanse along the Conewango Creek, plus pleasant temperature, made an ideal setting for the gathering.

It was a fundraiser, meet the candidates, and rally the troops event. Democratic candidates spoke briefly, answered questions, and made themselves available for face to face discussions. Circulating among the attendees is one of my favorite things, listening to their concerns and comments. Among the “official dias” remarks from Commissioner Dan Glotz was his update on Warren Courthouse activities.Glotz said. “Warren’s two Republican Commissioners and I early on agreed we would put politics aside and focus on policies and problems and we have.”

Glotz’s comment was reassuring and many attendees expressed hope more cooperation would prevail in Harrisburg and in Washington D. C.. One man cited “Trump’s killing of Oklahoma’s conservative Republican Senator Lankford’s Border Bill to ensure immigration would remain a hot political issue.”

Statewide candidates, in particular, emphasized the importance of voting and thinking of the statewide importance of one’s vote.

I was occasionally disappointed when it was difficult to hear some speakers. I also had anticipated more references to the Heritage Foundation/MAGA’s play book – Project 2025, though the candidates in discussions appeared well versed and concerned.

Central to Project 2025 is “unitary executive theory:” that Article II vests the entire executive power solely in the President, “if authority is not forbidden, it is a Presidential power.” Forget precedent, forget norms. No independent Attorney General, etc. with executive positions being filled with political allies loyal only to the President. Nixon used this theory. The Attorney General and other executive officers committed crimes for political gain — Watergate rocked our nation.

The “unitary executive theory” would replace the 1883 merit-based Civil Service Act under President Arthur, which ended the “spoils system.” This is a very scary autocratic idea, completely contrary to our founding values. The idea of any person having this kind of authority wasn’t good in the past, nor now, or in the future. It rips the heart out of democracy.

Democracy is on the line come November. The food was plentiful and very tasty — kudos to the Democratic Committee. Photos and more are available on warrendems.com

Don Scott,

North Warren

Some shady ways

Dear Editor,

It’s a sad state of affairs in the Democrat party. Apparently the party leaders thought they could keep Joe Biden’s problems at bay long enough to “elect” him and guide him through his term as president.

He was going to be a one-term president, so hopefully he would be able to do whatever was expected of him for that length of time. Then when Biden decided to run again we learned how this country has been scammed with deceit for four years.

The “powers that be” tried to hide his frailties from the American public. All these lies have been pushed by the Democratic party, so will we ever know who really has been running this administration?

Vice President Kamala Harris has, more than likely, been aware of Biden’s illness, but never indicated there was a medical issue. Until recently no one in the media or administration admitted to the cover-up of Biden’s inability to properly lead the country.

Why would we believe Harris, the media, and other government officials for anything after this debacle that they hid from the American people? Could these lies have “elected” a Biden-Harris administration?

With the concealment of the Hunter Biden laptop and Biden’s illness, could Joe Biden be considered a so-called “illegimate” president? If they condemn Trump as a convicted felon, one only needs to know why the prosecutions occurred, and who determined the outcome. It’s just another case of more deception to “do what you can to your opponent to stop the course of an election.” It seems the left will say or do anything to elect their choice, even if it is hiding and/or omitting pertinent facts to get the result they want or defaming their opponent unjustly.

Now the Dems are looking to Kamala Harris to replace Biden on the ballot this fall. In 2020 she was not a popular choice in the presidential primary. When Biden, or whoever made the choice, tapped Harris, it appeared that being a black woman got her the nod. Since Biden withdrew from the ticket, what happened to the votes he garnered? It looks like someone, or a preferred group, decided that Harris would take over. Democracy for those voters’ choice?

Any task Harris has been given has fallen by the wayside. Border Czar is the best example, a complete failure which she has never acknowledged. She is good at giggling, but that only stalls the inevitable answer she must give when questioned.

So far, it hasn’t worked, and it looks like it will never buy enough time to discuss the real issues confronting this nation. Her untruths, like Biden’s, have proved that they have provided a lethal combination of “leadership” in this country. By supporting Hamas, a terrorist group, and vilifying Israel she will lower our prestige and friendship with Israel, an ally that we need in the Middle East. Will these kinds of policies continue with her in the lead position? Americans shouldn’t be surprised, if they do. Her radical thinking and actions are certain to continue taking this country down the slippery slope to destruction.

In reality this country has muddled through 3½ years of this chaos, but can we continue in another democratic-socialist term? I don’t believe so. We are ready for normalcy: in our borders, lower inflation, respect overseas, energy independence, fiscal responsibility, schools that teach core subjects which are imperative for students to learn in order to succeed, no indoctrination of students to radical ways of thinking, fair elections with proof of citizenship, criminals that are not released immediately upon arrest and are punished to the fullest extent of the law, states’ rights concerning abortion, and leadership that cares about this country, ready to lead us into prosperity once more.

I don’t believe our citizens want socialism as its form of government, but that is what the left is pushing us into. We are a Constitutional Republic, and to stay that way we need to elect leaders that will follow the Constitution, not overlook or reject its decisions as Biden has done with the student loan program. Trump’s first term, even with the constant lies against him, produced a country that served everyone; we were better off then than now during the Biden years as president. The only way we will recover and turn around the debacle of the last 3-plus years, is to vote for the Trump-JD Vance ticket, putting Conservatives who value God, family, and country into office.

We don’t need or want a federal government that has its thumb on everything that is done; states have rights that are being usurped, a sure sign of authoritarianism. Nov. 5 is the day to begin taking this country back… to be “the land of the free” once more.

Norma Bankoske,

Warren