tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78579862201099640852024-03-19T01:47:52.787-07:00Spherical ModelCommentary on the interrelationships of the political, economic, and social spheres.Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.comBlogger1379125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-55904169175229090362024-03-08T14:15:00.000-08:002024-03-08T14:15:00.533-08:00Lowest Level Primary Election Campaign Debrief<p>Our Primary in Texas was on Super Tuesday, along with many
other states. All in all, it was a good day.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The race I experienced most closely was my own—for precinct
chair. It’s the lowest elected political office there is. I represent my
neighborhood at the Harris County Republican Party meetings. There are
somewhere around 600 of us in the County. My total constituency, including all
voters of any party, is around 3300 (precinct size varies; mine is probably a
bit over average size). Of those, about half are Independent voters—meaning
they have not voted in a Primary, where party is declared, so we don’t know how
they vote in a general election. Of the remaining, I think my precinct is about
54% Republican, which is solid but not stellar. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Republicans are more active here, though. Often the Dems
have trouble hiring someone to run their Primary; two years ago the County
notified us in the middle of the night that they had no one, and we’d have to
run their Primary in addition to our own. This year they had a good person—from
well beyond the precinct. And as far as I know things went smoothly. My husband
and I were not allowed to run the polling location, because I was on the
ballot.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I won! After Early Voting and Ballot by Mail (BBM) were
counted, I was leading with 70% of the vote. That decreased to 67% in the
official count. I actually did better on Election Day than Early Voting, but my
BBM percentage was 86%, so, while that number was few, it had helped my
percentage to look high. Still, 67% is a huge win. The ballot doesn’t indicate
the incumbent, and I was listed as the second choice, so random votes (no name
recognition but voting anyway) would have gone against me. I’ll need more data
to know for sure, but I also think we had a relatively good turnout in our
precinct for a Primary.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-Rd65r9pQaxJtuOhWE-CaUSId-6Mxa3BzFc_bNVHQf7AEMe1ZWPDHYZmsP5KFyAMEewTnVrep3L-yxNmRAZDIez2S_JbuvEbXpSR8uLw9jBQyUaaE6QyAE9QANhpSjkuOaZAuanIQL0wzIuKu6RrHzDp_Ltjb49FwGGbRuZen6xWo-KBgypYnSbrbn9L/s1857/Screenshot%202024-03-06%20210803%20cropped.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="1857" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-Rd65r9pQaxJtuOhWE-CaUSId-6Mxa3BzFc_bNVHQf7AEMe1ZWPDHYZmsP5KFyAMEewTnVrep3L-yxNmRAZDIez2S_JbuvEbXpSR8uLw9jBQyUaaE6QyAE9QANhpSjkuOaZAuanIQL0wzIuKu6RrHzDp_Ltjb49FwGGbRuZen6xWo-KBgypYnSbrbn9L/w597-h127/Screenshot%202024-03-06%20210803%20cropped.png" width="597" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Election results provided on <a href="https://www.harrisvotes.com/Election-Results/Republican-Primary-Election" target="_blank">HarrisVotes.com/Election-Results</a>.</span> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This was very nearly my first experience with intense block
walking and electioneering at polling places. Add to that texting every known
Republican voter who had not already voted. I also had a website, and business
cards, and flyers.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I got a lot of help from friends. In the area that comprises
our school district, there were eleven races with challengers. Most of us had worked
hard to flip the school board to conservative. Some of the challenges came
because someone didn’t like that. Two on our team were challenging incumbent precinct
chairs who had worked against us (supported a different conservative candidate
who split the vote and caused one loss out of four school board seats in
November). We teamed up to help each other block walk every Republican voter in
every precinct. And we got help building the website, designing business cards,
covering electioneering for Early Voting, and doing a few timed mass texts. I
had done only small amounts of those things until now, although I had helped
with various races in small ways. It was kind of a new experience to meet so
many voters—outside of duties as an election clerk, where you don’t talk views
at all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All eleven of us who worked together won, by the way.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m going to share a few memories of this campaign
experience, which is maybe a micro version of what any higher office campaign
goes through.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let’s get the few negative ones out of the way first, and
then enjoy the good ones, for dessert.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Block Walking Adventures<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While block walking, most people were either not home or
very gracious, and many were friendly and welcoming. But there were some
exceptions. We were aiming at houses with known Republican voters; we don’t
need to talk with Democrat voters about a Republican Primary. So, there was a
house where a man came to the door. The app on my phone told me two female
Republican voters lived there, but sometimes people move, so we make a note of
that. Anyway, I offered him my flyer, and he said, “I’d never vote for a
Republican!” I laughed. I thought he was kidding, because I believed I was
knocking on a Republican’s door. He wasn’t kidding. He said all Republicans are—the
usual list of horrid things. And then, he’s looking at me and seeing I am none
of those things, and he says, “But thank you for being involved and caring.”
And I left. It could have been worse.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFbWvsP2ZWpoGh6UJ6rShapCAoSfTQvggZXNZxdFYAwUTzbxYxSnzsla132AIedVYCn9Ziuibqy3QaqI4eQxp67-83JlueIAaYEtezK7LDquxW794YVNppApXWbbARvjVTHKV0jN1OIMdlzYirci9lkQwrmEjqzeXSwEmgjp3QwacVAF0jTXxYhfWzz8D/s2048/Block%20walking%20crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="2048" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFbWvsP2ZWpoGh6UJ6rShapCAoSfTQvggZXNZxdFYAwUTzbxYxSnzsla132AIedVYCn9Ziuibqy3QaqI4eQxp67-83JlueIAaYEtezK7LDquxW794YVNppApXWbbARvjVTHKV0jN1OIMdlzYirci9lkQwrmEjqzeXSwEmgjp3QwacVAF0jTXxYhfWzz8D/w439-h333/Block%20walking%20crew.jpg" width="439" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Some of the block walking crew; I'm so glad we could help each other.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were two houses with a similar story. In one I was block
walking with a friend in her precinct, near the end of our route. We pulled up
in her car. I got out sooner and rang the doorbell. The woman answered and I
began to offer the flyer. She said, “Tell me who won the 2020 Presidential
Primary.” OK, weird question. But I said, “Well, I think Trump won,” and began
to finish, “but here we are.” And she said. “Liar! I’m a Christian, and I won’t
tolerate any more of these lies.” OK, I didn’t lie; I am the expert on what I
believe, and I spoke the truth about what I believe, although I didn’t argue. Then
she started to rant about how women need to get abortion rights back. Um.
Christian? Calling me a liar when I didn’t? Expressing her hatred toward Trump
and Trump voters? Insisting the urgent Christian priority is killing babies in
the womb? (She wasn’t, by the way, anyone who would be facing that in her life
going forward, since her childbearing years were in the rearview mirror.) By
the time most of this happened, my friend had joined us, and quickly extracted
us. This was not a voter worth a conversation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The second similar story was in my precinct—block walking with
the same friend. Vicki had gone to this house and left a flyer when no one
answered the door. But we were walking back from further down the block when a
woman came out of the house to the mailbox. So we approached her. She said she
was a Democrat—and her husband wouldn’t be voting Republican anymore either,
because women need to get back their abortion rights. OK. Noted. Again, this is
a married woman beyond childbearing years, whose priority is getting those
babies killed before they can be born. Apparently our constitutional liberties,
our border, or economy, our First and Second Amendment rights, and just about
anything else we care about is unimportant, but we need to get those babies
killed. Hmm.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Electioneering Adventures<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were a few negative encounters while electioneering at
polling sites, but a large percentage were positive. During Early Voting I
spent time at three different polling locations. They are not set up for
electioneering (approaching voters before they go in to vote). Unless the main
parking areas are full, as when it’s really busy, then every voter is already
beyond our reach. It was frustrating and fruitless. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But when voters were available, those tended to be good
encounters. We were giving people information they weren’t getting from the
various organizations that send out their ballot recommendations. Those didn’t
include precinct chairs; that would be too granular for a mass mailer. So,
unless someone had filled out their own sample ballot, they wouldn’t even be
aware of precinct chairs. And a lot of people don’t know what such a position
does. So we were giving them information they didn’t have, and most people
seemed to appreciate that.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSNDas_6Xz4xje7V-KWQuyKxXdGRi_U1sVG1chw3dQjQlVxL4lYX8XiXszZ5WVt9X2FEMMKDjdNty7iowONfTg2iQ0GLT-CD8JDM7b4FizMlW0seERCOZ0czb6hVRn8J-vJCl5iF5EQWxYWktxOz22_n53yZB6QI79bzqh-SBFQy4Abm35bQfRX5fYHOc/s1024/Electioneering%20at%20Radack%20with%20Lacey%20Hull's%20mom%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSNDas_6Xz4xje7V-KWQuyKxXdGRi_U1sVG1chw3dQjQlVxL4lYX8XiXszZ5WVt9X2FEMMKDjdNty7iowONfTg2iQ0GLT-CD8JDM7b4FizMlW0seERCOZ0czb6hVRn8J-vJCl5iF5EQWxYWktxOz22_n53yZB6QI79bzqh-SBFQy4Abm35bQfRX5fYHOc/w412-h309/Electioneering%20at%20Radack%20with%20Lacey%20Hull's%20mom%202.jpg" width="412" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Electioneering at Radack Community Center, along with<br />House Rep. Lacey Hull's mom (right).</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I had really good, long discussions with a couple of voters
at one polling location—two different days. They were wide ranging but turned
to religion. One man was into a particular preacher, who has a YouTube following,
and I followed up and watched that. Interesting. I thought he had a few things
right, and a few things I see differently, but I like to see what other people
believe—especially about the times we’re living in. The next day, in the second of these conversations, a man gave me a book—<i>that he had written</i> about the Rapture and the Two
Witnesses, talking about end times. I’ve been reading it; again, we don’t agree
on all points. But I’m pleased to see he’s a good writer, and he lays out his
points very clearly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At my own polling place on Election Day, at the middle school, they assigned us to
the gym, instead of the usual band room. The door into the gym is a bit further
from the parking lot than the band room door, which meant the 100-foot line
past which no electioneering can be done was more advantageous to me. I could encounter almost every voter who came.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was a very hot day—our first day in the 90s. I set up a
lawn chair and attached a very large umbrella to give myself some shade. I also
brought along my mountain dulcimer and played music during slow periods (around
3:00 PM was slow). A few people asked about it. When school got out, some kids
came and thanked me for my impromptu concert.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KzxHzS5PDeCz8ij6BmkyaoLwQvIyOhHE61OqqHLvz10IqCfX4lLOjJWtQ9zHBzDmG03QpTKFSsjNM-N4SBdLZB8tAnKrEL8w1ye6R8y15iHrCKxwYjYXIpiyfs0AXMmA7zs8x9F3_XrekL56NMJNjnl_LzzkCZNIsjt7DicciVczxDCdZuDvIEUE518g/s2016/my%20electioneering%20oasis%203-5-2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KzxHzS5PDeCz8ij6BmkyaoLwQvIyOhHE61OqqHLvz10IqCfX4lLOjJWtQ9zHBzDmG03QpTKFSsjNM-N4SBdLZB8tAnKrEL8w1ye6R8y15iHrCKxwYjYXIpiyfs0AXMmA7zs8x9F3_XrekL56NMJNjnl_LzzkCZNIsjt7DicciVczxDCdZuDvIEUE518g/w422-h317/my%20electioneering%20oasis%203-5-2024.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My electioneering oasis on Primary Election Day 2024</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Later in the day, until the polls closed, I had company
campaigning for the next precinct over (people can vote at any polling
location, and ours attracts 3-4 nearby precincts). So that was good for
conversations too, and for catching all the voters.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSp2yjd_As92G6_bIczY4JFkURmHthEBWJeDITWQ8irQTI-HNIOT4SZmAb_vgsmKA2a8EJHy5OV1LhA82bszdgCFSFLKbtZ_GHZeaYHyM5FL3VI6tEB0by-NgfoCfxlowvBh1L_Z9mga3z30IwS7iS535pwzvPaaQuzyFOxcnXojSk2KG0y53GAjJo3PgJ/s1200/Election%20Day%20with%20Heather%20Palomo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSp2yjd_As92G6_bIczY4JFkURmHthEBWJeDITWQ8irQTI-HNIOT4SZmAb_vgsmKA2a8EJHy5OV1LhA82bszdgCFSFLKbtZ_GHZeaYHyM5FL3VI6tEB0by-NgfoCfxlowvBh1L_Z9mga3z30IwS7iS535pwzvPaaQuzyFOxcnXojSk2KG0y53GAjJo3PgJ/w339-h452/Election%20Day%20with%20Heather%20Palomo.jpg" width="339" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Electioneering with Heather Palomo (left), the new<br />precinct chair just west of my precinct.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There was something I noticed, anecdotally, but maybe it’s
meaningful. We’re told in various news sources that 90% of blacks vote
Democrat, but that may be going down. So I go up to any voter I can get to, because
you never know. At the Early Voting locations, sometimes Democrat voters were
rude, but very few at mine on Election Day. I would offer my information, about
precinct chairs, the last race on the ballot for anyone in a precinct with a
challenger. I let people know the people on the list I was providing were
conservative Republicans. Nevertheless, people I thought might not be
interested (if I were profiling) were polite and accepted the information, even
thanked me. If they were voting Democrat, they could have said so, or said, “No
thanks, not interested,” as some did. But a surprising number showed interest
and appreciation. They could have been just being polite, but it seemed to me
more than was needed for politeness. I had the impression that either there are
more black Republican voters than we knew of, or there are more becoming Republican
voters this year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The most gratifying thing to me was encountering voters who
are already on my email list, who thank me for providing good information. They
so appreciate it. I love hearing that. Providing them with good information—so they
will not only just vote, but have what they need to be informed voters—that is
my mission in this position.<o:p></o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-44636905259117860352024-03-01T21:13:00.000-08:002024-03-01T21:13:34.912-08:00 How to Write a Resolution<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Once the
primary election is over, then convention season is underway. At each
convention level we choose delegates for the next level up, and we put forth
resolutions for the platform. At the local level, our platform resolutions move
on up to the senatorial district level (some places move up to the county
level, but our county has many senatorial districts in it), where they are
sorted, refined, and sent on up to be considered for the state platform. (Texas
Republican Platform <a href="https://texasgop.org/platform/" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Process<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">How do those
ideas get started? If you’re new to the process, how would you go about putting
forth an idea?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">You write it
down, take it to your precinct convention (or whatever version of that you have
in your area), and present it to the other grassroots participants. They might
like it as is. Or they might reject it. Or they might suggest amendments to
make it something they could support. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">The ones that
get supported (by majority vote in your precinct convention) will get turned in
for the next level up to consider. The ones that get rejected are also
recorded, as part of the record of what took place in that precinct convention.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7SPBY4gn2gc1RFk3mgqlbsDuLHgQWhM3smLFoqHgn4ASBab0iBvlc3bCj6AraZW-7MkxlyqkKA_hutQBhgvVq0uVMMzcuoBFNcBdbwbul1bh8Dlz5Oi0xEWbDftWDFI1AUXI9gPUXyO9Sf5ySx1UcjJ-zi7LyTQajbjQH85Ms6iV63A86lsVNMajUSTq/s4032/20220305_104119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7SPBY4gn2gc1RFk3mgqlbsDuLHgQWhM3smLFoqHgn4ASBab0iBvlc3bCj6AraZW-7MkxlyqkKA_hutQBhgvVq0uVMMzcuoBFNcBdbwbul1bh8Dlz5Oi0xEWbDftWDFI1AUXI9gPUXyO9Sf5ySx1UcjJ-zi7LyTQajbjQH85Ms6iV63A86lsVNMajUSTq/w330-h440/20220305_104119.jpg" width="330" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A resolution that came out of our precinct convention in 2022.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">It used to be
that you were required to bring several copies of your resolution: one for the
precinct meeting chair, one for the secretary to turn in, one for you to read
from. That would still be helpful. But less formal versions—even handwritten
resolutions that you come up with during your meeting—are acceptable. That
would make more work for those you turn them in to, because someone is going to
have to type up what you wrote so it can be considered along with the other
resolutions. So, be considerate, but don’t be discouraged by formalities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">It also used
to be required that you write using formal resolution language. There’s a “Whereas”
section, often several paragraphs all starting with “Whereas,” that explain the
background for your resolution. The final, essential part is begun, “Therefore
be it resolved that,” followed by what you really want to state.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">The platform
planks are likely to include only that part following the “Therefore be it
resolved that.” The resolution can be accepted by your group without the
“Whereas” section. If what you’re resolved to have happen has obvious reasons, then
no “Whereas” section is needed. But if you need to convince people of the
reasons, or explain the importance of what you’re suggesting, you might want to
include that part. The platform committee will only consider the final
statement as a plank, but they can <i>and do</i> turn to the “Whereas” section
when they want greater understanding of the resolution’s intent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">If the formal
language is a barrier to you, just use plain language. You could start out,
“Because…” which is what “Whereas” means, then give your explanation. Or just
dive in and explain. Then, when you get to your final statement—the resolution—you
could say, “Therefore,” followed by your resolution statement. Or say, “So, we
should have a plank that says this:” and then give your statement. Or just give
your statement without preliminary explanation—as long as you make it clear
what statement you want to make.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jbp6noAQexz_nKwLtY9KbuCXvjlXv9z4gVkR9-KKctcDqga55NyGMXfNp7jqVE9KwXX9Nkv5AHsyupiu-mSEJ901zuIP97hYp8GVX8lHCJBpVQFrMFHOEmGjHM-YuVyxY2Q5Q5d_vv2OsGnVPjx3_qAvp3USJbVKZBSS1frhNzk2f63BL_65_exicnT3/s2016/minutes%20for%20precinct%20convention%20photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jbp6noAQexz_nKwLtY9KbuCXvjlXv9z4gVkR9-KKctcDqga55NyGMXfNp7jqVE9KwXX9Nkv5AHsyupiu-mSEJ901zuIP97hYp8GVX8lHCJBpVQFrMFHOEmGjHM-YuVyxY2Q5Q5d_vv2OsGnVPjx3_qAvp3USJbVKZBSS1frhNzk2f63BL_65_exicnT3/w314-h418/minutes%20for%20precinct%20convention%20photo.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">What the minutes will look like for your precinct convention.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Content of Your Resolution<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">What should
you write a resolution about? What matters to you. You might have concerns that
many others have, and putting ideas forth from many places in the state
emphasizes how important it is to the people. Or you might have a particular
interest, concern, or expertise that others don’t have, and you’d like it to be
brought to the attention of people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">You probably
ought to read the current state platform first. (Texas Republican Platform is
here. There’s an index to help you find ideas.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">You might
have an idea that’s already fully covered. Even so, you might want to state
that this idea is still important, and you want the legislature to know it’s
important to you and they should act on it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Or you might
find that there’s a close idea, but the current plank is missing a particular
detail or nuance that you could add. In such a case, you could even have your
resolution reference the existing plank and say you want certain wording added
to it, or changed in a way that you state in your resolution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Or you might
be looking at an idea that has come up recently, because of things that have
happened since the last platform was written. Maybe you’re the very person who
has noticed and needs to bring this idea forward. There are planks in our
platform literally brought forward by one person’s resolution out of the whole
state. Others saw it and said, “Yes, that needs to be in our platform; we need
to do something about that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My Possible Resolutions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">I’m in the
process of writing my resolutions to propose at our precinct convention on
March 9. Here’s one, in the somewhat formal language, that I plan to put
forward in my precinct. And following this one are some ideas I’ll be working
on between now and the precinct convention. (You’re willing to take these and
use them in your precinct conventions. We share ideas. The same resolution
repeated from around the state can indicate a strong grassroots idea.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Chaplains in Schools—Safety <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Whereas</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> the Texas Legislature passed SB 763, allowing
school districts to decide whether to allow chaplains in the schools for mental
health counseling purposes, and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Whereas</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> individual school districts can decide what
rules will apply in their district, and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Whereas</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> counseling in schools is beyond the scope of
authority given from parents to schools and parents have not delegated their
right and authority to the care and upbringing of their child, and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Whereas</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> parents have a right to know who and when any
adult has influence on their child in school and whether indoctrination or
influence against the parents’ will could be happening, and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Whereas</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> predators can and do set themselves up with
opportunities for access to children and may not be easily detected as a threat,
and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Whereas</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> a false accusation of abuse from a child against
an innocent adult can have dire consequences for the adult, and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Whereas</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> the safety of the child in the school is a
paramount concern,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Be it therefore resolved that:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> Any
school district choosing to bring in chaplains or other volunteers to the
schools must set up circumstances for contact between the child and the
chaplain to be only in public, or private contact with two adults present; and
the parents must be informed that contact occurred.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Ideas I’m in
the Process of Working On<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Border
security is a requirement of the federal government. Failure to protect the
Texas border entitles Texas to not only protect its own border, but to require
reimbursement from the federal government.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->After
the abject failure or fraud against the world population during the COVID pandemic
should prevent any authority being given to WHO forever. Indeed, no submission
to any international body will be tolerated by the American people.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Pornography
in school is already unlawful. Any adult involved in placing or keeping such
materials in schools—including but not limited to librarians, teachers and
principles—shall be subjected to the full force of the law, which may include
the permanent child predator label.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Here are two
we put in our senatorial district platform last year, in the Education section. Some of the intent made
its way into the final state platform, but I still like these and may submit
them again this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 22.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><u>Schools
Are Not Families</u>: Schools are hired to provide academic education, while
parents retain every right to the child’s care and upbringing. Therefore we
insist on the elimination in school of any Social Emotional Learning (SEL),
mental health evaluations, sexuality education, gender-identity ideology,
Critical Race Theory (CRT), socialism, Marxism, and other social
indoctrination. Schools must be limited to teaching the Basic Standards as
listed in the Basic Standards plank. All school districts, individual schools,
or charter schools are prohibited from contracting with or making any payment
to any third party for material concerning any of the above prohibited topics.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><u>Parental Rights Reaffirmation</u>: We insist
that schools must not usurp the rights of parents. We recommend that there be
annual training for all pre-K-12 personnel explaining and laying out the
natural and legally encoded rights of parents in the care and upbringing of
their children. We further recommend a brief printed delineation of parents’
rights to be provided to the parents at the beginning of each school year.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-27764899368898738192024-02-17T20:05:00.000-08:002024-02-22T22:32:26.380-08:00Primary Ballot Picks<p>The Texas Primary is March 5, with early voting starting
this coming Tuesday, February 20. I’m finding this primary season less
contentious, or maybe simply with fewer contested races, than in past primary seasons.
So there are fewer races to focus on.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m going to go through my Republican sample ballot below,
and share my views, in hopes of helping to inform other voters, starting at the
top of the ballot, the US and statewide races, on down to local, and finally the propositions. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I look back on this blog, started in 2011, and feel pretty
solid about what I’ve said. The few places I look back and feel like maybe I
was wrong had to do with candidates. I have always been cautious about
supporting candidates. It’s easy to trust God; it’s not so easy to trust
people. But you do have to decide who is the best candidate at the time, based
on the information available to you, added to your own feelings. Maybe even in
the times I look back with disappointment on past candidate choices, those
might have been the best at the time. Maybe they were worth trusting—until they
made trust-losing decisions. This is to say, add my comments to what you
already know, and make the best, most informed decisions you can.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I use a standard in trying to decide on candidates. I write
this in more detail <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-right-questions-to-get-right-stuff.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I don’t always get a chance to go
through these questions with a candidate—in fact, I rarely do. But I try to
discern what their answers might be from whatever else I can learn about them,
from their campaign literature, sometimes candidate forums, sometimes from
friends and other sources I trust. In the past, I’ve even had grids showing at
a glance what various sources choose. I won’t this time, simply because there
aren’t as many controversial decisions. Where I can, I’ll share the
endorsements of other sources. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I suggest <a href="https://ivoterguide.com/" target="_blank">iVoter Guide</a>. Put in your address and get the races on your ballot. If you click on “View
Candidate Profile,” you’ll get more info, including the candidate’s responses
to a questionnaire related to conservative issues.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, True Texas Project offers their choices for about 40
counties, <a href="https://truetexasproject.com/election2024/" target="_blank">here</a>, and a one-page sheet for statewide races, <a href="https://truetexasproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/True-Texas-Project-Voter-Recommendations-Primary-2024-1.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. My choices align pretty closely with
theirs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the most part, I won’t be covering races with no primary
challenger, but I will be voting for those candidates. The races I’m paying the
most attention to are Harris County Sheriff, House District 138, and Harris
County Republican Party Chair. Plus, it turns out there’s some info worth
discussing related to three Criminal Court of Appeals races.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This piece is long, so use it as a resource and scroll to
the races you’re trying to learn about. I’ve highlighted my choices. And my
sample ballot is available on my precinct chair <a href="https://lindanuttall622.com/" target="_blank">campaign website</a>; scroll
down to see it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">US RACES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">PRESIDENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is often the most contented and important race on the
primary ballot. Those tend to be open years, when the other party has many
candidates. We have many candidates on the ballot this year too, but it’s more
like a second-term presidency year. Donald Trump is far and away the favored
candidate. As far as I can tell, every other candidate except Nikki Haley has
dropped out, so a vote for those candidates will be wasted. There are two on
this list—Ryan L. Binkley and David Stuckenberg—are totally unfamiliar to me. I
didn’t watch the debates, although I paid attention to some follow-ups to them.
But Trump wasn’t there, so what was the point? I did watch his interview with
Tucker Carlson, which coincided with a debate and received a much higher
viewership. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHmDYK2oRFFl3cNw4vBvi2YC-1onAfaEBWSihE_kkX_LiBLGRGv95Yyox4GD6QEo4lbJ-NYrBw_XmPySL5jVnwjKMxk_ifNe-CFvzxvTLpqZdchUxnualqFcgxFbwLfmddKcIelORbWEvUbDYv7zyk10pK3f948rCnMjaXCur656nYZryu5Tmwpdwva7Q/s1845/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20191853%20Trump%20campaign%20cropped.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1845" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHmDYK2oRFFl3cNw4vBvi2YC-1onAfaEBWSihE_kkX_LiBLGRGv95Yyox4GD6QEo4lbJ-NYrBw_XmPySL5jVnwjKMxk_ifNe-CFvzxvTLpqZdchUxnualqFcgxFbwLfmddKcIelORbWEvUbDYv7zyk10pK3f948rCnMjaXCur656nYZryu5Tmwpdwva7Q/w477-h233/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20191853%20Trump%20campaign%20cropped.png" width="477" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">from Donald Trump <a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/?utm_soure=website" target="_blank">campaign website</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some of these people I have liked, in the past or even
still. I liked Nikki Haley as ambassador to the UN. But what I really wanted
was for us to withdraw from the UN. Since then, she seems to me to be a RINO
who never finds a war she doesn’t want to fund—at our expense. In other words,
even if Trump were not in the picture, I would not consider her.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think Ron DeSantis has been a good governor in Florida. He
didn’t run a good presidential campaign. I think we are all better served with
him continuing as governor. He seemed to grasp that too, after the Iowa
Primary, which left him in a distant second place to Trump.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To make this short: <b>I’m voting for Donald Trump for
President</b>. And the more the Democrat machine attacks him with lawfare, the
more determined I am to support him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">US
SENATOR from TEXAS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was surprised to see Ted Cruz has two challengers, Holland
“Redd” Gibson and R E (Rufus) Lopez. I haven’t heard of either of them. I’m a
precinct chair, so my contact info is easily available to any candidate, and I
wasn’t even aware of them. Nor do I recognize their names, at all, from the
decades I have participated in Republican politics in Texas. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ted Cruz has remained strong and rational. I enjoy his
podcast, Verdict, which often offers useful inside information. No need for
more discussion here. <b>I’m voting for Ted Cruz for Senator.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">US
REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 38<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wesley Hunt has no challenger this year. This is the end of
his first term—the first term in the existence of CD 38, which was created
after the 2020 census. I had supported a close friend and strong conservative
in the primary two years ago. Wesley Hunt was always a no-show at any of the
several forums where I expected to hear from him. I had met him years before,
running for a different position, and I didn’t think he was the best choice
then either. He won the primary but lost that election. He has also been
closely aligned with Dan Crenshaw—both military guys. I supported Dan Crenshaw
in 2016, but he has been one of my candidate disappointments. All that said, Hunt
hasn’t been a disappointment. His votes are typically conservative. He has
spoken up on a few key issues and appears to represent us well. My expectations
were low, but he has surprised me and some friends with how well he’s doing.
There’s no choice here, but <b>I’m glad to vote for Wesley Hunt.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">US
REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 7, and Other Congressional Districts<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is a nearby district, challenging a Democrat incumbent,
Lizzie Fletcher. Other than a candidate forum this past Tuesday (I didn’t
attend; I was out block walking), I haven’t really noticed the race. But
Ballotpedia offers links to the four Republican candidates:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Tina_Blum_Cohen" target="_blank">Tina Blum Cohen</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Carolyn_Bryant" target="_blank">Carolyn B. Bryant</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Caroline_Kane" target="_blank">Caroline Kane</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Kenneth_Omoruyi" target="_blank">Kenneth Omoruyi</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can get more information, and better detail, from <a href="https://ivoterguide.com/" target="_blank">iVoterGuide</a>. True
Texas Project has endorsed Caroline Kane.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">TEXAS
STATEWIDE RACES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">RAILROAD
COMMISSIONER<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is a strangely named position in Texas. It has mainly
to do with Oil & Gas. There are three RR Commissioners, who come up on the
ballot in different years. The incumbent on this year’s ballot is Christi
Craddick. I’m pleased with her work. iVoter Guide rates her as next to highest
level conservative. The one challenger who provided information, James Matlock,
is less conservative. <a href="https://truetexasproject.com/election2024/" target="_blank">True Texas Project</a> has unanimously endorsed Christi Craddick. <b>I’m voting for Christi Craddick.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">JUSTICE,
SUPREME COURT, PLACE 4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John Devine and Brian Walker are the two candidates. True
Texas Project has unanimously endorsed John Devine. Texas Home School Coalition
also endorses him. He was first elected to this position in 2012 and continues
to be a solid member of the court. His campaign site is <a href="https://justicedevinetx.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. <b>I am
voting for John Devine.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">PRESIDING
JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The two candidates are David J. Schenck and Sharon Keller. Keller
is the incumbent of 21 years. Keller will reach age 75 during the upcoming term
and would be replaced at that time by a governor appointee. I voted for her in
the past. However, this year there is strong support among my conservative
friends for David Schenck. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It appears the deciding factor was the <i>Texas v. Stephens</i>
case, in which there was election fraud, the county DA declined to prosecute,
and Attorney General Paxton prosecuted in an adjacent county. The Court of
Criminal Appeals voted 8-1 that he couldn’t do that, based on Article II of the
Texas Constitution, which says no member of the state’s executive, legislative,
or judicial branches of government “shall exercise any power properly attached
to either of the others, except in the instances herein expressly permitted.”
Paxton disagrees with the ruling, saying it gives power over election fraud
cases to Soros-funded DAs, and it will be devastating for Texas elections in
the future. [You can read the entire case decision <a href="https://casetext.com/case/state-v-stephens-121462/" target="_blank">here</a>; Judge Yeary’s dissent
begins on p. 22.] <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I tend to agree with Paxton on this one—and with Yeary’s
dissent (as far as a lay reader can understand it). It seems to me, Paxton,
while technically an elected official under the executive branch, is akin to
the DOJ in the federal government. It would be like saying the DOJ has no power
to prosecute, because that’s a judicial function, even though prosecuting
crimes against federal law is the express purpose of the position. AG Paxton is
called on to represent Texas in the law, including to prosecute cases against
Texas law, but these judges are saying, “You can’t do it without the permission
of the local officials complicit in the crime.” <i><a href="https://texasscorecard.com/state/a-2021-court-ruling-is-making-waves-in-2024/?fbclid=IwAR2HUV14BDdJw69RkT8m00ccURA_XoXfEG72GPZL5qoXbHw_u8khT35HxJU" target="_blank">Texas Scorecard</a></i> points out, “The ruling upended more than seven decades of precedent and has
been criticized as activism disguised as originalism.” This affects Harris
County, where we have a DA that refuses to prosecute election fraud, or illegal
immigration, and sometimes violent crime. Democrats think Kim Ogg isn’t extreme
enough for them, so she’s being challenged in the Democrat primary by someone even
much worse.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIVvFcaArg1uNtRDmiOVSJbDocCQmQgeM7PMRhZJUt6SA6coaRa-mfc61IDTUxk17AYm8Myk3aiwioFBDR5RiUBcmheNhL1W_Mx9oUch4UVbO-pifJHzvJhmdXAsSqsFHiV4NKpSJ4r6taUMfWH1HunLGkhJQx9dX-caN3iet8dkx_w-NP0HA_eEjK8DC/s1052/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20193416%20CCA%20judges%20cropped.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="1052" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIVvFcaArg1uNtRDmiOVSJbDocCQmQgeM7PMRhZJUt6SA6coaRa-mfc61IDTUxk17AYm8Myk3aiwioFBDR5RiUBcmheNhL1W_Mx9oUch4UVbO-pifJHzvJhmdXAsSqsFHiV4NKpSJ4r6taUMfWH1HunLGkhJQx9dX-caN3iet8dkx_w-NP0HA_eEjK8DC/w471-h262/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20193416%20CCA%20judges%20cropped.png" width="471" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The three incumbent Criminal Court of Appeals judges targeted for replacement <br />in the Republican Primary, from left, Presiding Judge Sharon Keller,<br />Judge Michelle Slaughter, and Judge Barbara Hervey, image from <a href="https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2024-02-15/attorney-general-ken-paxton-texas-court-of-criminal-appeals" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some are calling it political, but Paxton has targeted
specifically Presiding Judge Sharon Keller, Judge Michelle Slaughter, and Judge
Barbara Hervey, who are the three Criminal Court of Appeals justices thwarting
him who are up for re-election this year. Read more <a href="https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2024-02-15/attorney-general-ken-paxton-texas-court-of-criminal-appeals" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">True Texas Project is unanimously supporting Schenck. iVoter
Guide doesn’t include judicial races. For information about any of the statewide
or appeals district races, <i><a href="https://texasjudges.org/?fbclid=IwAR0EeUn_Tq3Pkf7Xb35BZGY1kLbCB2A60GjOD74Lb9kZpJokp04BEaD-C_A" target="_blank">Texas Judges</a></i> provides basic information here. Schenck’s campaign website is <a href="https://www.schenckfortexas.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. <b>I am voting for David Schenck.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">JUDGE,
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, PLACE 7<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The two candidates are Gina Parker and Barbara Parker
Hervey. Hervey is the incumbent. For the same reasons as above, conservatives
are supporting the challenger. Hervey also will reach age 75 during the
upcoming term and would be replaced by a governor appointee. Gina Parker has
the unanimous endorsement of True Texas Project. Her campaign website is <a href="https://ginaparkercampaign.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. <b>I
am voting for Gina Parker.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">JUDGE,
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, PLACE 8<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The two candidates are incumbent Michelle Slaughter and Lee
Finley. This is the same issue as those two criminal court races above, but
there is some disagreement on this one, I’m not sure why. When True Texas
Project first came out with their recommendations, they had selected Slaughter.
Their list was used by those handling my campaign (for precinct chair) website;
at that point I hadn’t yet done my deep study, and I couldn’t see anything to
disagree with, so I went with their picks. However, TTP has since changed to
endorse Lee Finley, and I have become aware of the issues with these judges. My
friend who did the sample ballot on my website has already changed his sample
ballot to choose Finley. For consistency with the other two criminal appeals
races, that makes sense. However, my SREC (State Republican Executive
Committee) representative is still going with Slaughter. So is Texas Right to
Life (they endorse challengers Schenck and Parker, however, in the other two
races).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Slaughter has held the office since 2018, so this completes
her first term. Lee Finley is a lawyer in Collin County (Ken Paxton’s home
county), and a former Marine (1990-1994). The link to Finley’s campaign <a href="https://finleyforjudge.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.
His <a href="https://www.facebook.com/leefinleyforcca" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> is also active. He gives a good brief explanation of the ramifications of the bad ruling in <i>Texas
v. Stephens</i>, which go far beyond election fraud, in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DiannaL.Meyer/videos/409728718296902" target="_blank">this short video</a> from
an event. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While I would have liked meeting any/all of the three
challenger candidates for Criminal Court of Appeals, I’m willing to go with
what I’ve seen. <b>I’m voting for Lee Finley</b> in this race.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNCMnM78EHaNS2WbHYN8SO0o0xTbQJQqJjgt0XMUX9NK1BSG7ea6XEVnMrhZyJzPDsmigFzVsxg-jrHc1eTnznIs5uvOITq_ozGgappU17efWD1bSMO_z0CueyS0_ZeJ_uba_RWBYe3kRruzFQZdOcG3H6rPKsb912xPurwYkc028skosw-s4Z0eXq-kn/s810/Schenck%20Parker%20Finley%20for%20CCA%202024%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="745" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNCMnM78EHaNS2WbHYN8SO0o0xTbQJQqJjgt0XMUX9NK1BSG7ea6XEVnMrhZyJzPDsmigFzVsxg-jrHc1eTnznIs5uvOITq_ozGgappU17efWD1bSMO_z0CueyS0_ZeJ_uba_RWBYe3kRruzFQZdOcG3H6rPKsb912xPurwYkc028skosw-s4Z0eXq-kn/w341-h371/Schenck%20Parker%20Finley%20for%20CCA%202024%20cropped.jpg" width="341" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">From left, David Schenck, Gina Parker, and Lee Finley,<br />candidates for Criminal Court of Appeals,<br />photo from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/leefinleyforcca/posts/pfbid02c2wf7QN5mWRX66WExE3ywGp3AM5416USt38Day73WBfLpyLTMHgNYtLjksUY3LPpl" target="_blank">Finley's Facebook</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">STATE
DISTRICT RACES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">STATE
SENATOR, DISTRICT 7<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Paul Bettencourt is the incumbent. He has no primary
challenger, which is as it should be in his case. We continue to rely on him to
help us in our cause for good limited government. I’m happy to vote for Paul
Bettencourt. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 138<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lacey Hull is the two-term incumbent. Jared Woodfill is the
challenger. I have good friends championing both. I supported Lacey Hull in her
first election. I didn’t in her primary two years ago. She had moral issues in her
personal life that conflicted with who she represented herself to be. She sides
with Dade Phelan way too often. And yet, she is part of the Freedom Caucus and can
generally be counted on for a conservative vote. She doesn’t tend to sign on to
anything as a co-author, to help move important bills along. This has brought
her an F rating from Texas Right to Life and a D rating from Texas Values
Action PAC, noting that she supports casino gambling, which typically leads to
$2 spent on social costs for every $1 of revenue brought to the state. (Sands
Casino donated $27,000 to her campaign.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That said, even after I didn’t endorse her two years ago,
she has been friendly to me and willing to meet with me. The most troubling
thing this past session was her vote to impeach AG Paxton, on 48 hours notice,
with no direct testimony or evidence presented, and no chance for defense. The
ensuing Senate impeachment hearing, in which Paxton was acquitted and we all
saw that the evidence was innuendo and hearsay, was a waste of time and
taxpayer money that could have been avoided by more House members doing their
due diligence.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is to say, I was willing to look at a primary
challenger. Jared Woodfill was the Harris County Republican Chair when I was
signing up to be a precinct chair. He lost his election as Chair at the same primary
where I was elected precinct chair. I didn’t see any particular problems with
him then. I tend to be amazed that there are people who would take on what is
essentially a full-time unpaid volunteer position. Since then, I continue to
see his name involved in lawsuits, particularly related to moral cases. He has
close ties with Dr. Steve Hotze. I get Hotze’s newsletter. He often has good,
conservative messaging. However, he puts out his slate of electors—as I do,
although his has much greater reach—and his choices are often at odds with
mine, particularly when I’m looking for a strong grassroots constitutional
conservative, and he goes with the long-time party insider or known Rino.
People say his slate is pay-to-play. In other words, the candidate makes a
donation or buys an ad, or whatever the requirement, and then they can get an
endorsement. I don’t know if that’s true; I just notice the difference of
opinion.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jared Woodfill presents himself as a solid Christian
conservative. He probably has a record long enough to verify that, although not
as a legislator. He is saying he wants to replace Dade Phelan as House Leader.
We all want to replace Phelan—but we don’t all mean we want to <i>be</i> the
replacement, especially immediately upon being elected. That gives me pause.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have been undecided far longer than I ought to be in this
important race. I have had opportunities to be campaigned to up close and
personal, as a precinct chair, but I didn’t go to the events, which would have pushed
me to commit and endorse. What I wanted was an open forum, with questions from
the audience. I had looked forward to a candidate forum at the Cypress Texas Tea
Party last month, but a late change in date because of a scheduling problem with
the venue led to both of them declining.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My SREC committeeman supports Lacey Hull. I have gone with
him to her office. She has been accommodating, as I said. One of my block
walking friends in my precinct strongly supports her. She shared with me a
negative piece of mail she got from Coalition for Good Government about
Woodfill. They mention a child sex abuse case involving a Southern Baptist
leader and Woodfill law partner, with stories dating April 2018 (Houston
Chronicle), March 2023 (Texas Tribune), and January 2024 (Click2Houston). The
negative add implies Woodfill knew and failed to report, and that he has had
shady business dealings and is surrounded by fake conservatives.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I simply don’t know how to tell what is true. I suspect we
will get some conservative work from either of them, along with some
disappointments. While I am not endorsing in this campaign, at this point <b>I
am leaning toward Lacey Hull</b>, where I kind of know what to expect.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>JUSTICE, 14<sup>TH</sup> COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT,
PLACE 3<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The candidates are Steve Rogers and Tonya McLaughlin. I
heard Rogers speak at our Cypress Texas Tea Party meeting in January. (Recording
is <a href="https://youtu.be/tV2EioRvIB8?si=OyoQ6RzzjCzmJz4C" target="_blank">here</a>.) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a chart of basic information on candidates in this
race done by Texas Judges <a href="https://texasjudges.org/2024-2/14coa4/" target="_blank">here</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>I'm voting for Steve Rogers</b> in this race.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">HARRIS
COUNTY RACES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">HARRIS
COUNTY SHERIFF<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The four candidates, as listed on the ballot, are Mike Knox,
Joe Danna, Paul Day, and Glenn Cowan. I’ve been aware of Mike Knox, former City
Councilman, and Joe Danna, who has been running essentially since the end of
the last campaign, for a long time. I’m less familiar with Paul Day. Glenn Cowan
got on my radar a few months ago. He spoke briefly at our Cypress Texas Tea
Party. And I’ve heard him and run into him a time or two since. He’s hard to
miss; he’s 6’10” tall. My husband is 6’6”, so it takes something well beyond
that to make me think, “Wow! That guy is tall!” Such is the case with Cowan. I
understand he is also the father of triplets. That could make for some fun
family basketball.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHTJCFhWix-Kt91HTPfoShCiU0xdeeTvTMwe-Uuz_fOXrXUt81MwLiO-Lx-EcKdl2jLEVIyW8rNK9KngE9W5R32FskqjPhq-P5B5zXjBSKPYOosQbC_oX99WVdtGlJOB0trHBJlJ__et8r2Hiq7sbB_Yu1ljazHtOT1ndLoVaJL_6lIT33nPYHXBf3EPa/s661/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20194703%20Glenn%20Cowan%20cropped.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="569" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHTJCFhWix-Kt91HTPfoShCiU0xdeeTvTMwe-Uuz_fOXrXUt81MwLiO-Lx-EcKdl2jLEVIyW8rNK9KngE9W5R32FskqjPhq-P5B5zXjBSKPYOosQbC_oX99WVdtGlJOB0trHBJlJ__et8r2Hiq7sbB_Yu1ljazHtOT1ndLoVaJL_6lIT33nPYHXBf3EPa/w295-h344/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20194703%20Glenn%20Cowan%20cropped.png" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Glenn Cowan, candidate for Harris County Sheriff,<br />screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/LwA9u0DTQ6A" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t have anything against any of the candidates, but I
had been leaning toward Cowan for a while. He seems very competent in the
particular skills needed for the job. And he’s a strong constitutional
conservative. But I wanted to know more, so I was pleased that Cypress Texas
Tea Party had a candidate forum for all four this past Wednesday. Each
candidate got around 15 minutes, to introduce themselves and to take some
Q&A. I was able to record the meeting. You might find these useful, in the
order that they spoke:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://youtu.be/LwA9u0DTQ6A" target="_blank">Glenn Cowan</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://youtu.be/mm6sQjqkBvA" target="_blank">Paul Day</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://youtu.be/E5U0F2jzLX4" target="_blank">Mike Knox</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://youtu.be/Ixe7TINH_Bs" target="_blank">Joe Danna</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I thought Cowan did well, although he doesn’t appear as impressive
here as I’ve seen before. Still, it was a good showing. Mike Knox probably looks
the part of a Texas sheriff, with a cowboy hat, handlebar mustache, and just
enough Texas accent. His most recent experience has been in city government,
and it has been a while since he was in law enforcement. He also lacks the hostage
negotiator experience that Cowan has. But with name recognition, he’s a
formidable opponent.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Paul Day is older and has hostage negotiator experience similar
to Cowan. He started out life as a Democrat and now calls himself a
constitutional conservative. I asked for his conversion story in that context;
he misunderstood and answered about his conversion for regular Lutheran in a
household that didn’t give him all the background he needed to realizing
abortion was wrong and some other things, and he became born again. That was
not the conversion story I had asked for. It’s easy to misunderstand things
when you’re in front of a crowd, but he didn’t win any points from me. Joe
Danna was OK.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would be willing to support any of these candidates in a
general election. They would all be better than the Democrat incumbent, who is allowing
rampant crime. (Houston is now the number 1 hub for human sex trafficking in
the nation, not a distinction this conservative Christian state and community
deserves.) My guess is the top vote getters will be Cowan and Knox. All the
conservative sources seem to be aligning behind Cowan, probably for the reasons
I am. We think he has the right stuff. <b>I am voting for Glenn Cowan.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">JUSTICE
OF THE PEACE, PRECINCT 5, PLACE 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The two candidates are James Lombardino and Arlene Hecht. This
JP district is the area south of Hwy 290 and west of the 610 Loop. Lombardino
is an experienced judge (8 years as a district court judge), one of those good
Republicans swept out in the 2018 election, which we’ve been struggling to
recover from ever since. He spoke at our Tea Party meeting in January, not on
the agenda but invited up to say something briefly. He has occasionally
attended over the years, not just when campaigning. Video <a href="https://youtu.be/ZMSah1iUqj8?si=W7m6pyV4ZiEd7J1a" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hecht is a defense attorney. She ran for a district judge
position in 2020 but didn’t win. While she also claims she is running for the
JP position to clear the backlog, she doesn’t have the track record as a judge running
a docket and lowering the backlog, which Lombardino has. There’s a Houston Chronicle
story <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/justice-of-peace-harris-county-precinct-5-place-1-18621898.php" target="_blank">here</a>. JP Precinct 5 has a large number of eviction cases, exacerbated by the
incumbent’s mishandling of 2020 COVID funds and rules. And it also has a high
number of debt default cases. While I have nothing against Hecht, she is less
experienced, so I’m going with a known quantity. <b>I’m voting for James
Lombardino in this race.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">HARRIS
COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The two candidates are incumbent Cindy Siegel and challenger
Bobby Orr. Many of us are wondering why a disrupter would come in, in a
presidential election year, to tear down and build up. Many of us wondered that
the last time it happened, when Paul Simpson was ousted. People started talking
about changing the rules so that such elections would happen in the HCRP
Executive Committee meetings where precinct chairs are comprise the committee,
who are the people working with the Chair, rather than tossing it out there to
the primary voters, who have much less contact with the chair. It caused a mess
last time, and a resignation, with lack of funds and organization just weeks
before the November election. People don’t want that to happen again. What’s
more, people are satisfied with the way Cindy runs things.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOIGpjsmOeQVOcM9YW3n8Q795jBxZgGeRoj7DfHm4Zt8fXSELQRRgngVkR6cdawDG9QAnV8MQ-B6b3q587Gr4_4qELtHxdKRPUV129ZhandvuRMD6z502kFwQfd6D_4OzqyBJZAvRvXvH8ihMe8-0MZ91SV29PjRTNIH3qA1B2h8MzGLmHX2M6OKlpY9t/s3122/20240129_193056%20Cindy%20Siegel%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3122" data-original-width="2947" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOIGpjsmOeQVOcM9YW3n8Q795jBxZgGeRoj7DfHm4Zt8fXSELQRRgngVkR6cdawDG9QAnV8MQ-B6b3q587Gr4_4qELtHxdKRPUV129ZhandvuRMD6z502kFwQfd6D_4OzqyBJZAvRvXvH8ihMe8-0MZ91SV29PjRTNIH3qA1B2h8MzGLmHX2M6OKlpY9t/w335-h355/20240129_193056%20Cindy%20Siegel%20cropped.jpg" width="335" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">HCRP Chair Cindy Siegel (on the right) gives her report at the<br />HCRP Executive Committee Meeting, January 29, 2024.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bobby Orr came to our Tea Party in January. My phone gave up
during his talk; I got most of it, but in two parts, but it didn’t seem worth
posting. My impression was that what he was proposing to do was exactly what we
already did to flip our school board: block walk and campaign like crazy to
known Republican voters. Orr said that was the model he wanted to use for all
of Harris County. What he fails to see is that we did this with Cindy Siegel as
chair. We didn’t need new leadership to do it. And we didn’t need Bobby Orr
either.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He pretty much torpedoed his campaign by being caught on a
<a href="https://youtu.be/G3IRCtXQyO4?si=iL9Kt9Va8PcJUTac" target="_blank">recording</a> saying that he hated the grassroots and didn’t want to work with an of us crazy people. So that
means, when he says he’s going to inspire the whole county to do what we did in CFISD (Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District), he’s lying to our faces.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The final nail was at the January 29 HCRP Executive
Committee meeting. There was a resolution gaining signatures ahead of the meeting in an attempt to
censure Cindy Siegel. There was a list of 8 or so items they were accusing her
of—all of which seemed to me either lies or spin. Siegel started the meeting by
going through that list, item-by-item, with charts and receipts, defending her
actions, simply as part of her Chair's report. It was very satisfying when, after other business, someone called for the meeting to adjourn
before that resolution could even be brought forward. From my viewpoint, that
was effective leadership on Cindy Siegel’s part.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some of the accusations relate to a disagreement between
Siegel and Orr about fighting voter fraud. There are multiple cases (which I<a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2022/11/election-debacle-report.html" target="_blank">’ve written</a> about). You can’t get good candidates, if they know they can’t win,
because their best efforts will be stolen from them and the party turns a blind
eye. But the accusation that funds were used that could have gone to
campaigning is also false. Funding to cover the lawsuits was a grant/donation
earmarked for that purpose, so the campaign funds were not touched.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let’s hope the voting public goes with the incumbent. We
need her to stay, especially this year. I am glad to be voting for Cindy
Siegel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">PRECINCT
CHAIR 622<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m the last race on the ballot. I think I’ve been a
hardworking, effective precinct chair. Being a precinct chair means taking time
to build relationships, both in the precinct and with the rest of the
grassroots and elected officials. I’ve been doing that for 10 years. You can
learn more at my campaign website. Those of you in my precinct, I hope
providing information like this is useful to you. <b>Vote for Linda Nuttall.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /><o:p></o:p></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5Ltu_r4j1xq75TNjWDHbOf9CXAvKivnGuhB2GeNZAPZtzr_v9hwlGNkbMeOotRsEyu_dUF9oM2krAT3_nuFTLzJwDFG9-ic7ySuSQBePslFuIpj6O-VmlFK_REvO4j9qRjpwobeTWN4BOGTb4zfq3bAUpvrT9DnSWOAd-dMjDjnQcREJqtMPUzse2pRM/s649/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20195729%20website%20bio%20photo%20of%20me.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="452" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5Ltu_r4j1xq75TNjWDHbOf9CXAvKivnGuhB2GeNZAPZtzr_v9hwlGNkbMeOotRsEyu_dUF9oM2krAT3_nuFTLzJwDFG9-ic7ySuSQBePslFuIpj6O-VmlFK_REvO4j9qRjpwobeTWN4BOGTb4zfq3bAUpvrT9DnSWOAd-dMjDjnQcREJqtMPUzse2pRM/w257-h369/Screenshot%202024-02-17%20195729%20website%20bio%20photo%20of%20me.png" width="257" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Linda Nuttall. That's me, from my<br /><a href="https://lindanuttall622.com/" target="_blank">precinct chair campaign bio</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">BALLOT
PROPOSITIONS</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsjZ9hI_ianGbNf71INuWV3CeuDi0rnQNFAJShJLvHFJPfddIaDexJn8N4VvachHTCJYXiZ2uYoytMbbYg8TrKMualePeql4gy1_dGfSe9-rIOXtbZ6lP4EYpBuN42kZttNDdDXQWpYC6aPYl_qmNsAVq-shrlUyukJ0d9_smmQ9YTBAiBPz5Holyl6kT/s1493/Primary%202024%20propositions%201%20cropped.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1493" data-original-width="989" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsjZ9hI_ianGbNf71INuWV3CeuDi0rnQNFAJShJLvHFJPfddIaDexJn8N4VvachHTCJYXiZ2uYoytMbbYg8TrKMualePeql4gy1_dGfSe9-rIOXtbZ6lP4EYpBuN42kZttNDdDXQWpYC6aPYl_qmNsAVq-shrlUyukJ0d9_smmQ9YTBAiBPz5Holyl6kT/s320/Primary%202024%20propositions%201%20cropped.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">photo of page in the <i>Link Letter</i>, <br />January 2024, Volume 32, #1</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ballot propositions on a primary ballot are different from
those on a November ballot following a legislative session. The November ones come
out of the legislature, bringing possible state constitutional amendments
before the people. The starting assumption on those is to vote NO unless you’re
convinced it would be an improvement to have that written into our state
constitution as law.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A primary ballot proposition is non-binding. It is a way for the grassroots of
the party to tell the legislature what is important to us. This is in addition
to the State Platform and the Legislative Priorities, both of which come out of
committees at the State Convention. The list is approved by the SREC (State
Republican Party Executive Committee), the two representatives from each
senatorial district in the state. That does not mean these are approved
unanimously. While the assumption is a YES vote unless you’re convinced it
would be wrong, the SREC can have individually diverse opinions. My SREC
committeeman, Tom Nobis, suggests voting no on Proposition 1 and Proposition 7.
I didn’t get his reasoning from him.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Brandon Waltens of Texas Scorecard discusses the 13 proposition <a href="https://youtu.be/yrfqV8HsWbI?si=Q_A04WmGVjL3wLXg" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Proposition 1</b> would eliminate all property taxes
without increasing Texans’ overall tax burden. That was in the <a href="https://texasgop.org/platform/" target="_blank">2022 State Platform</a>;
plank 90 calls for eliminating property tax, and 91 offers an incremental way
to reach that goal. People making the argument point out many elderly people
who have had to sell their homes, which were paid for, because they couldn’t
afford the property tax. This isn’t hypothetical; it happens to people in our
neighborhoods. This denies actual property ownership and looks more like paying
rent to the government, which will evict you if you don’t pay up. There may be
some concern about the word “all.” But this is just to get the attention of the
legislature, not to write the law itself. If there needs to be some nuance,
that could be debated on any specific bill.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Proposition 7</b> is about access to gold and silver for
use as legal tender. Plank 46, Resistance to the Great Reset, has a bullet
point related to this. So, again, there’s widespread approval among conservatives
for this concept. So I don’t know the arguments against it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I haven’t done a deep dive on the Propositions yet. <b>My
plan is to vote YES on all propositions</b>, unless I learn something between
now and voting day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s important to vote. It’s even more important to be an
informed voter. I hope this has been helpful.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-67270697784241381722024-02-09T22:21:00.000-08:002024-02-09T22:21:58.398-08:00Primaries and Conventions in Texas<p>The political world goes in cycles here in Texas. Our
legislature meets every other year, in odd years. So that half year (plus
special sessions) is a busy time. And just as you’re catching your breath,
primary season is upon us. If you think the primary election is just a day, you’d
be missing all that gets put into motion after that—the convention season. And
that’s somewhat more involved during a presidential election year, which this
one is. The information below is mostly local, down to my county and precinct.
But the conference information may be informative for others as well. Different
states have different specific procedures, but most will have levels similar to
ours.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My Campaign
Adventure<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve been a precinct chair since 2014. I never had to
campaign; no one else sought the job. I signed up to do it when my previous
precinct chair moved and have always been unopposed on the ballot. But this
year someone decided to challenge me. She doesn’t seem to have any complaints
about the job I’ve done; she just wants to do it instead of me. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuppZ6xjtm8RRiV_US8eAGlbtOwF6rF4L2TlzC_vjeL4u_K6VnkkYlLnRMODhxbcGZCJK-CBgdg1-RgAxHWI6kxbiSJCF4J8J_M9v4ixAXEO_tgu7HeZEftfc4dTsKCFCktkeCeWKqQLSBZ_qWVzSArqvkZPwWSVwtGBn5AS9Oec0LenLJ8APMqEsgltFM/s927/block%20walking%20my%20precinct%202-2-2024%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="724" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuppZ6xjtm8RRiV_US8eAGlbtOwF6rF4L2TlzC_vjeL4u_K6VnkkYlLnRMODhxbcGZCJK-CBgdg1-RgAxHWI6kxbiSJCF4J8J_M9v4ixAXEO_tgu7HeZEftfc4dTsKCFCktkeCeWKqQLSBZ_qWVzSArqvkZPwWSVwtGBn5AS9Oec0LenLJ8APMqEsgltFM/w281-h359/block%20walking%20my%20precinct%202-2-2024%20cropped.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Block walking my precinct last week, <br />just before rain and nightfall shut us down,</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Anyway, this means, because I’m on the ballot, I can’t be an
election worker for the primary. Neither can my husband, who is usually our
presiding judge. Instead, I’m campaigning.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are a number of us precinct chairs with challengers. I
don’t know how frequently active and effective precinct chairs get challengers,
but it seems to be more than usual this year. (For some, it may have to do with
our successful efforts to flip the school board, although I don’t think my
challenger has that motive, that I’m aware of.) Anyway, we’ve worked together. I’ve
got a campaign website, business cards, and flyers—all because of skills my
other precinct chair friends have. And we’ve block walked my entire precinct—every
known Republican voter. Talked with many, left info for those who weren’t home.
We’ll get back to those with phonecalls or another visit. I’ve helped block
walk some of the other precincts too. We’re not leaving any voter’s door unknocked
on.<br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It has been a lot of work to do an unpaid, volunteer,
grassroots-level position. But so far it has been a good experience.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This may not be interesting beyond my precinct, but here’s <a href="https://lindanuttall622.com/">my campaign website</a>. There’s a lot of
other information for voters there as well. My goal is always to give voters
the information you need to be an informed voter—and to get ideas from you, the
grassroots, to influence our government.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">CANDIDATE
FORUM<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve mostly made up my decisions about other campaigns. I
plan to write about my reasons soon. But I’m interested in a candidate forum of
the four Republican candidates for Sheriff, sponsored by Cypress Texas Tea
Party, next Thursday. The four candidates are Glenn Cowan, Joe Danna, Paul Day
and Mike Knox. (Personally, I am leaning toward Glenn Cowan. I have heard him
speak in person a couple of times. But I’m open to hearing from all these candidates.)
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>When: Thursday, February 15th,
7PM.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Where: Spring Creek BBQ<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Address: 25831 Northwest Fwy, Cypress, TX 77429<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">VOTING<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our <b><a href="https://www.harrisvotes.com/Voter/Whats-on-my-Ballot">Sample Ballot</a></b>
is now available.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Early Voting:</b> <b>February
20-March 1, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM</b> (every day except Sunday, February 25, with
hours Noon-7:00 PM)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Election Day: Tuesday, March 5, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can vote at any voting location for both Early Voting
and Election Day. You can find locations <a href="https://www.harrisvotes.com/Vote-Centers">here</a>; toggle between Early
Voting and Election Day locations. Our usual location at Truitt Middle School
will be available. My husband and I won’t be running the polling place, because
I am on the ballot. But you might see me outside, beyond the 100-foot line,
campaigning. Come by to say hi.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Democrats will be sharing our voting location. Because
of interpretations of law, we must share the election, which we have never
done. That means that you declare your party at the sign-in table, and you will
be assigned only the ballot you have requested, which will be available on any
machine, the way it works during Early Voting. We may set up the room to be
physically separate, but if one side has a long line, the voters can use the
other side’s line. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">CONVENTIONS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The way we get ideas from the grassroots up to the lawmakers
is through conventions. In a convention, we elect delegates to the next level
convention, and we put forth resolutions for the platform at the next level. If
you want to participate in a next-level convention, you will need to have been
chosen as a delegate at the previous level convention. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Precinct Convention<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The basic level is the Precinct Convention. We used to hold
these at the polling place after the polls closed. Because of the change to
countywide voting, and the change in machines and the time it takes to close
the polls, we have needed to change the meeting to another day. Starting in the
last biennium, we now meet the Saturday following voting day. In Harris County,
precincts will share locations with the other precincts in our Texas House
District (we are in HD 138).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Date: Saturday, March 9<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Time: Registration begins 8:00
AM; Convention begins 9:00 AM<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Our Location: </b><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Trini+Mendenhall+Community+Center/@29.79577,-95.4869845,17z/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x8640c423bf65038d:0x25764e805ba35d5!2sTrini+Mendenhall+Community+Center!8m2!3d29.7957654!4d-95.4844096!16s%2Fg%2F1tkrm5jp!3m5!1s0x8640c423bf65038d:0x25764e805ba35d5!8m2!3d29.7957654!4d-95.4844096!16s%2Fg%2F1tkrm5jp?entry=ttu"><b>Trini
Mendenhall Community Center</b></a><b>, 1414 Wirt Rd, Houston, TX 77055<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is the full list House District locations:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->HD 126 - Glorious Way Church, 11611 Champion
Forest Dr, Houston, TX 77066<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->HD 127 - Kingwood Middle School, 2407 Pine
Terrace Dr., Kingwood Area, TX 77339<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->HD 130 - Spillane Middle School, 13403
Woods-Spillane Blvd, Cypress, TX 77429<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->HD 132 - Autumn Creek Baptist Church, 6735
Barker Cypress Rd, Houston, TX, 77084<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->HD 133 - Hilton Garden Inn Energy Corridor,
12245 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->HD 135 - Autumn Creek Baptist Church, 6735
Barker Cypress Rd, Houston, TX, 77084<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->HD 138 - Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414
Wirt Rd, Houston, TX 77055<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->HD 148 - Glorious Way Church, 11611 Champion
Forest Dr, Houston, TX 77066<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->HD 149 - Hilton Garden Inn Energy Corridor,
12245 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->HD 150 - Spring First Church, 1851 Spring
Cypress Rd, Spring, TX 77388<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The convention should be over easily by noon, or as soon as
business is completed. Plan on attending this meeting. Bring written
resolutions with you, or come and simply give input on the resolutions others
have brought. We will vote on our resolutions (this includes the ability to
amend them). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And we will elect delegates for the Senatorial District
Convention. We are given a generous number of delegate slots; according to
party rule, each precinct is allowed to have 1 delegate for each 25 votes cast in
the Precinct for Governor Abbot in the 2022 November election. If you want to
be a delegate at that convention, most of the time that simply entails saying
you want to be one. (If you want to be a delegate but simply can’t make the
Precinct Convention, there is a procedure to try to make that happen. Please
contact your precinct chair.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Senatorial District Convention<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Senatorial District Conventions will be held Saturday, March
23. The SDs will meet at locations in or close to their district. We are in SD
7.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Date: Saturday, March 23<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Time: (probably) 8:00 AM
registration; 9:00 AM Convention begins<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Location for SD7: </b><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/11611+Champion+Forest+Dr,+Houston,+TX+77066/@29.9602225,-95.5069479,17.26z/data=!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x8640cc2478a42bbf:0xb002f5ba9c6896b5!2s11611+Champion+Forest+Dr,+Houston,+TX+77066!3b1!8m2!3d29.9602647!4d-95.5042064!16s%2Fg%2F11cnd8kccm!3m5!1s0x8640cc2478a42bbf:0xb002f5ba9c6896b5!8m2!3d29.9602647!4d-95.5042064!16s%2Fg%2F11cnd8kccm?entry=ttu"><b>Glorious
Way Church</b></a><b>, 11611 Champion Forest Dr, Houston, TX 77066<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is the full list of SD convention locations for Harris
County:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->SD 4:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods
Dr, Kingwood, TX, 77345<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->SD 6: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gulf Meadows Church, 8012 Fuqua St, Houston,
TX, 77075<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->SD 7: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glorious Way Church, 11611 Champion Forest Dr,
Houston, TX, 77066<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->SD 11: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gulf Meadows church, 8012 Fuqua St, Houston,
TX, 77075<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->SD 13: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Norris Conference Center, 816 Town &
Country Blvd., Houston, TX, 77024<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->SD 15: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Norris Conference Center, 816 Town &
Country Blvd., Houston, TX, 77024<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->SD 17: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church, 1100 Eldridge
Pkwy, Houston, TX 77077<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->SD 18: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glorious Way Church, 11611 Champion Forest Dr,
Houston, TX 77066<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many parts of Texas do these conventions by county, or
sometimes multiple counties together. It depends on number of voters. We do it
by SD in Harris County, because we’re such a large county. So, if you don’t
know when yours is, contact your county Republican Party Chair.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There will be a Temporary Committee (a committee invited by
our SD Chair) that works on the resolutions between the Precinct Convention and
the SD Convention. I have worked on this committee every biennium since 2014.
Many hours go into preparing our SD 7 Platform. We, as well as a few other SDs
in the state, do an entire platform. It’s based on the previous biennium’s platform,
but we address every plank, whether to keep, delete, or amend, and then add
planks based on the hundreds of resolutions that come in from the precinct
conventions. Most SD or County Conventions simply go through the resolutions
that have come up to that level, combine similar ideas for the best wording,
and then submit those resolutions for the State level convention. Any way it’s
done, this is the path up for ideas from the grassroots.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SQwv8r8Z84pOCKbBWM1HIzq5tyzhv6QkMVT6YnR1kabpGAC5f1Dwr_3zL752HJA26C-ty4yZvOqotTpKMU5Jno0SWaAw9PGNcd-VERDXBruR7OAJt2NGqETuQLLNGU2HHRsmYlnNRJujkUQZjEd9zqF3xkbZ0zIT0PCw6AlAs4vd8uKmGM46MT1sUnNM/s2268/20200613_093113%20SD%207%20convention%202020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="2268" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SQwv8r8Z84pOCKbBWM1HIzq5tyzhv6QkMVT6YnR1kabpGAC5f1Dwr_3zL752HJA26C-ty4yZvOqotTpKMU5Jno0SWaAw9PGNcd-VERDXBruR7OAJt2NGqETuQLLNGU2HHRsmYlnNRJujkUQZjEd9zqF3xkbZ0zIT0PCw6AlAs4vd8uKmGM46MT1sUnNM/w427-h386/20200613_093113%20SD%207%20convention%202020.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There are also a lot of speeches at a convention. Allen West spoke<br />at our SD 7 Convention in 2020.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the SD Convention, we elect Permanent Committee members—this
will be for Platform, Rules, Legislative Priorities, Credentials, and maybe
other committees I’m not thinking of. In Platform Committee we work on
additional resolutions that are brought in that day. Then we bring to the floor
our Committee Report—our version of the SD 7 Platform. That’s the version we
bring to the floor for amendments and final vote. And then that final platform
will be submitted to the State’s platform committee. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We will also elect delegates to attend the State Convention
(the RPT Convention). Usually we are allowed to elect 2 delegates and 2
alternates (in my experience, there is always room for alternates to be seated
as delegates at the state convention; however, that isn’t a guarantee). If you
want to be a delegate at the State Convention, you must be chosen as a delegate
(or alternate) at the SD Convention. Sometimes there are at-large positions
available, which you can apply for. Most people who want to be delegates to
State can do so. You can, of course, attend the State Convention as a guest,
but you cannot vote on anything. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Attendance is at the delegate’s own expense. This is usually
a moderate attendance fee (toward facilities, etc.), plus hotel, meals, etc.
You may also want to plan on bringing spending money; there are booths, pop-up
stores, swag sales, and such convention things. Note that the Republican Party
of Texas Convention is the largest political gathering in the nation, larger
than the National Republican Convention. More about the RPT Convention below.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The State RPT Convention<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The 2024 Texas State Republican Convention will be held in
late May, earlier in presidential election years than in midterm election years,
because it will be followed by a national convention.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Date: May 23 – 25<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Time: begins 9:00 AM Thursday,
May 23<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Location: </b><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Henry+B.+Gonz%C3%A1lez+Convention+Center/@29.420412,-98.4862476,17z/data=!3m1!5s0x865c58aa01766e23:0x664d9fb49b011f9a!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x865c58aa06483c27:0x9adbeeaa9ace85f0!2sHenry+B.+Gonz%C3%A1lez+Convention+Center!8m2!3d29.4204074!4d-98.4836727!16zL20vMDlubjdz!3m5!1s0x865c58aa06483c27:0x9adbeeaa9ace85f0!8m2!3d29.4204074!4d-98.4836727!16zL20vMDlubjdz?entry=ttu"><b>Henry
B. Gonzales Convention Center</b></a><b>, 900 E Market St, San Antonio, TX
78205. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A Temporary Committee will handle Platform and other
committee work between the SD conventions and the State Convention. These committees
are comprised of a single appointed representative from each SD. The higher the
level, the more formal the process. Plan to see Roberts Rules of Order in all
meetings, with committee members addressing the Chair rather than each other.
At precinct and SD/County levels, these conversations are likely to be much
more informal.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2B5oOUdccNOLqDhJJlEmxwGtoNspUTO2WLcnIuPxZuZssCBWTBG2MO3uqeabV9sCpnr986uJOe7STOFsyZXhs1EUvLQF2lgggyMekPpSs1_CdArIEat2WoDqIA9T0QEql8aIjjQaRbyNAsRyG9TrlQa2-RWp6GG5fI0vWkgvDPoiULHbzYja19j9jvOU/s2943/20220616_153300%20committee%20hearing%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1965" data-original-width="2943" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2B5oOUdccNOLqDhJJlEmxwGtoNspUTO2WLcnIuPxZuZssCBWTBG2MO3uqeabV9sCpnr986uJOe7STOFsyZXhs1EUvLQF2lgggyMekPpSs1_CdArIEat2WoDqIA9T0QEql8aIjjQaRbyNAsRyG9TrlQa2-RWp6GG5fI0vWkgvDPoiULHbzYja19j9jvOU/w474-h317/20220616_153300%20committee%20hearing%20cropped.jpg" width="474" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Platform Committee taking testimony, June 2022, view from the table;<br />I was managing the file, sitting next to the Chair.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These committees do a lot of work before the convention, and
will take testimony in the three days prior to the State Convention, to prepare
their Temporary Committee Report (their version of the State Platform). Then,
when the convention gets underway, Permanent Committee members are elected in
their SD Caucus; these are often the same representatives as in the Temporary
Committee, but not always. The Permanent Committee has one day to take
testimony and prepare the document for print. Their final report (their version
of the platform) is presented for the body to amend and vote on, which happens
some part of Friday or Saturday, usually near the end of business at the State
Convention.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In presidential election years, at the State Convention we
also elect delegates to the National Convention. This usually requires some
brief campaigning and speech making to convince people. I think this vote takes
place in your Congressional District Caucus at the convention. (We are in CD
38.) Travel, etc., is done at the delegate’s own expense, and is likely to be
over $1000, so you need to really want to do it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This year’s <b>National Republican Convention is scheduled
to be held July 15 to 18</b>, 2024, at the Fiserv Forum in <b>Milwaukee,
Wisconsin</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The national party platform is developed in a similar way to the
lower levels, taking input from the various states. The national platform may
be considered the official party platform. But at the state level, we keep our
full platform and use it to advise the legislature here in the state, as well
as guidance for our Senators and Congressmen.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The big purpose of the national convention is to decide on
the party’s presidential candidate. Sometimes, by the time of the convention,
this is something of a formality, because the choice is already known,
following the various state primaries. It looks like that will be the case this
year, with Donald Trump eclipsing any other candidate. I’ve seen my sample
ballot, but I didn’t even notice the names of the several other presidential
candidates.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once this decision is finalized, there’s a lot of celebrating.
Sometimes the candidate will announce a running mate. I don’t have any idea who
that will be this year, so that’s news to anticipate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After this convention, then the campaign season is fully on,
from mid-July until the first Tuesday of November.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So that’s the summary of this year’s Primary/Convention
season. The more you know about the process, the more effective you’ll be at
getting your grassroots ideas up through the ranks to the elected officials.<o:p></o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-40679881904004998372024-02-01T21:30:00.000-08:002024-02-02T17:35:08.700-08:00Border Lines<p>Here in Texas the southern border is always important to us.
But maybe more than usual lately, since the Supreme Court said, “Sure, if your
way of securing the border is to cut through and remove barriers, you can do
that,” and sort of failed to point out, “If you’re <i>actually</i> securing the
border, that is.” Anyway, here we are in the state with the biggest border—and big
in every way—and our president is kind of threatening war against us citizens
of Texas.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCybBv7anvmSyQl_Gl7Ox-Nw0t07x2HLCVnG1swM9xJCkpzZUY67mUr_znIdJXrhmZMXVt7Abf_XNtsUeyyYf2IwrTAISdhJcpHn3Ux-IJ15WXPzVxacw444zBAMiTU0c5Z7KWZf_Mhoa3aR7ZWm8i-ufm5RCzpamsdUKSZF9w63PvBvvx-GBUJO_q-lu7/s953/Screenshot%202024-02-01%20171806%20Come%20and%20Cut%20It.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="950" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCybBv7anvmSyQl_Gl7Ox-Nw0t07x2HLCVnG1swM9xJCkpzZUY67mUr_znIdJXrhmZMXVt7Abf_XNtsUeyyYf2IwrTAISdhJcpHn3Ux-IJ15WXPzVxacw444zBAMiTU0c5Z7KWZf_Mhoa3aR7ZWm8i-ufm5RCzpamsdUKSZF9w63PvBvvx-GBUJO_q-lu7/w379-h380/Screenshot%202024-02-01%20171806%20Come%20and%20Cut%20It.png" width="379" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">meme found on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=6320191941417059&set=a.101146666654982" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a demonstration of sorts going on this week.
Truckers are gathering. I think as of Thursday they're already in Texas and will be splitting up into three
convoys, one going down to Eagle Pass, the furthest going to San Ysidro, on the border in
California, and a third to Yuma, Arizona.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Glenn Beck talked with Donica Hudson, the media liaison for the <a href="https://takeourborderback.com/" target="_blank">Take Our Border Back Convoy</a> on his <a href="https://www.blazetv.com/watch/channel/series/series/2sMktR4RBaoF-the-glenn-beck-radio-program/episode/Pd3dJAjd4SrI-gbr-013124?t=0" target="_blank">Wednesday radio show</a>. After the setup that was J6, people are wary of a trap. But she assured
him they’re being careful. This is a call for prayer down near the border. And
they’re stopping 20 miles or so from the actual border, so they can’t even
accidentally get in the way of the work of border agents and national guard
troops. They are threatening to sue for defamation anyone who accuses them of
violence or criminal intent. And they are making sure everyone understands the
peaceful purpose and excludes anyone even talking about violent actions.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9fCYy9mg4Ps03V1WIIF9bKan3BDsUzRsQFxMANXUJAHZBK_sMYUUB87faYDqFXpYGOa8Z8ILkb44LfLt4a4HGkqTyoz5CHWOObPqFU3EPlaoeBbz9go8I7gmdgnXZxHOfbVHK90ZjmPsH7QRLJnaSQ-PeWtAGw8yy-kbihQwa5FFtk0mN6wnNaUbiY5U/s1566/Screenshot%202024-02-01%20225034%20trucker%20rally.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1566" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9fCYy9mg4Ps03V1WIIF9bKan3BDsUzRsQFxMANXUJAHZBK_sMYUUB87faYDqFXpYGOa8Z8ILkb44LfLt4a4HGkqTyoz5CHWOObPqFU3EPlaoeBbz9go8I7gmdgnXZxHOfbVHK90ZjmPsH7QRLJnaSQ-PeWtAGw8yy-kbihQwa5FFtk0mN6wnNaUbiY5U/w450-h228/Screenshot%202024-02-01%20225034%20trucker%20rally.png" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jason Buttrill shared footage of the convoy from Tuesday night.<br />It seemed to be mostly family vehicles, rather than tractor trailers<br />at that point. People were cheering with flags from the roadside.<br />Screenshot from <a href="https://www.blazetv.com/watch/channel/series/series/2sMktR4RBaoF-the-glenn-beck-radio-program/episode/Pd3dJAjd4SrI-gbr-013124?t=0" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Will that be enough to protect them? I hope so. We should
see within a few days whether it’s possible for patriots to still do a peaceful
demonstration in this country.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But there’s reason for concern.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Monday’s <a href="https://onward.locals.com/upost/5197088/01-29-24-livestream" target="_blank">weekly Onward podcast</a>, Catherine Engelbrecht and Gregg
Phillips, of <i>2000 Mules</i> fame, were talking about their recent visit to the
border. Engelbrecht is a native Texan (she started True the Vote here in
Houston, but lives somewhere rural now). So after all that was going on, they
decided to go see for themselves what the border looked like. They started the story with this:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">Gregg Phillips: We met people that were down there that are
deeply involved in the protection of the border. And, uh— But they were also
very candid. And, um, there was this definite feeling that there was a deal
that had been made—<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">Catherine Engelbrecht: We were told, unequivocally, we were
told that was the term that was used: “There has been a deal made.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Phillips went on to call it a “military deception. It was an
intel op.” He said they created a stage, or circumstances, to look a certain
way when they brought in celebrities, which included Lt. Governor Dan Patrick
in this case. (Catherine laughed at the idea she was considered a celebrity.)
What they didn’t see on this visit was a lot of border crossing traffic, and it
made them wonder what was going on. As you might expect, this was not normal.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He said that, later, they learned a lot of things. First he
talked about the wall. There are pieces of it, 20 feet high, that didn’t fully
keep out determined invaders. Those were built around 2008, when George W. Bush
felt pressure to do a little something about the border before the end of his presidency.
The top was such that it didn’t deter climbing, so those are no longer made.
Trump walls were 30 feet tall, with barriers atop them, and fewer gates (gates
are used by landowners to get from one side of their land to the other, when
the wall is built a mile or so inland from the border or river). But the
interesting part was about the “deal.” Here’s Gregg Phillips’ telling of the
story:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH16GJy-oAoEikHcXEhEo49wkW0fqKf1pcLt8iT3Ge9G9fmYzl_dxODUqs-QliXUNsM45jBXUW4PLGOP3Q6Hy5udlBphyphenhyphenEXmSfs3YqIK0ldoUGkcwMKW-YRH4MODy16bFS8tdTYfM0Dd9xpeEql0h1D9oQp7NAALS8JK5xorjhotr_4vb021mZiUv7XrM/s830/Screenshot%202024-02-01%20231436%20CE%20and%20GP%20Onward.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="830" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH16GJy-oAoEikHcXEhEo49wkW0fqKf1pcLt8iT3Ge9G9fmYzl_dxODUqs-QliXUNsM45jBXUW4PLGOP3Q6Hy5udlBphyphenhyphenEXmSfs3YqIK0ldoUGkcwMKW-YRH4MODy16bFS8tdTYfM0Dd9xpeEql0h1D9oQp7NAALS8JK5xorjhotr_4vb021mZiUv7XrM/w364-h190/Screenshot%202024-02-01%20231436%20CE%20and%20GP%20Onward.png" width="364" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gregg Phillips and Catherine Engelbrecht talk about their<br />trip to the Texas border. Screenshot from <a href="https://onward.locals.com/upost/5197088/01-29-24-livestream" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">GP: What happened was, a deal had been made between the Biden
administration, potentially the state of Texas, and the Mexican government to
keep the migrants back for a while, to create this photo op, to tamp down the
situation where— It was military deception, is what it was. And they’re not
supposed to do that in the United States, but they were. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He said that the soldiers and border patrol were already
working together; there isn’t a big standoff happening. And, during this visit,
there wasn’t even the usual daily expected crossings.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">GP: Well, guess what. There were 15,000 of them at the
southern border of Mexico that were released last Saturday, to come north. So,
what they’re setting up there, in our opinion—in my opinion; maybe Catherine
will want to speak for herself—what I believe they’re setting up here is, this truckers’
convoy that arrives at the border sometime this weekend, and I think there’s
some movement in the other states as well, but let’s just talk about Texas for
a minute. Many many many trucks, and many many people and patriots are going to
go to the border, a little bit like <i>we</i> did, just to see— You know, stand up for,
not just Texas, but for the United States. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">So, think about what’s happening here. While all these photo
ops are going on, there’s nothing. So, the Biden administration kind of gets a
win with that. Maybe even the Tex— I don’t know who wins, but this was
basically a fake win-win scenario. The fact that no one was there, coming
through that open gate, or swimming through the river, or anywhere else that we
could find. The reason was, the Mexican government held 15,000 of them up at
the southern border. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">Now they’re coming this way. So you can imagine how we feel,
at the confluence of events, knowing that many of our friends, people we know,
people we admire, people we support, are getting ready to pack up, get in their
trucks, and head on down to the border. And, with this idea that, well, it’s
softening a little bit; everything’s OK. They’re going to get down there and
all of a sudden 15,000.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not just 15,000 suddenly showing up, but 10,000 Chinese. Reporter
Michael Yon is their source on this:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">Up to 10,000 Chinese came through the Darien Gap in Panama in
the ten days prior to us getting down there. So, from last Friday [January 26],
the ten days prior, 10,000 fighting-age Chinese came through the Darien Gap,
and up through Columbia, up through Panama, up through the Gap—it’s a jungle
area, one of the most dangerous places in the world.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaim0s3jF23YndlNzof5EdEHVp_4Q93fPM99tnSPPf7J-2Bs4NzU2lcl8qswe4zlJ80Na3Q4F7Uka7QptQKX6wPjKjGiY1q-lwbctVdDEJpuGcCDYam104KP-nUSamkXjCX-X-HErPjHNbN9SYmdFEI5kHwz1ltJvAcYbKfxB91_BZKJ4o6G3fObCosKZ/s1689/Screenshot%202024-02-01%20224038%20Chinese%20at%20Darien%20Gap.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1689" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaim0s3jF23YndlNzof5EdEHVp_4Q93fPM99tnSPPf7J-2Bs4NzU2lcl8qswe4zlJ80Na3Q4F7Uka7QptQKX6wPjKjGiY1q-lwbctVdDEJpuGcCDYam104KP-nUSamkXjCX-X-HErPjHNbN9SYmdFEI5kHwz1ltJvAcYbKfxB91_BZKJ4o6G3fObCosKZ/w392-h235/Screenshot%202024-02-01%20224038%20Chinese%20at%20Darien%20Gap.png" width="392" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chinese emerging from the Darien Gap, December 30, 2023,<br />footage filmed by Michael Yon, screenshot from <a href="https://michaelyon.locals.com/post/5064532/happy-new-year-invasion" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Michael Yon, Catherine adds, has been “putting up maps of
what he’s seen, and explaining the movement in Panama, which will give more
context to what Gregg is saying.” They’re building camps to house them in
before they come across. Phillips goes on:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">GP: You’ve got 10,000 potential Chinese. You’ve got a total
of 15,000 people that were released at the southern Mexico border to come
north, toward the United States. They’re all going to collide at the same time
in some of these points of entry, particularly Eagle Pass. And both north and
south of there. And it just feels like, it feels like chaos at this juncture,
and that they’re trying to sow chaos. And our concern for all of our friends
heading down there is, it feels a little J6-ish to us. It feels like, you know,
Biden needed a win; Abbott needed a win; the Mexican government needed a win;
and the Chinese need to get their people up here. It just seems like a bit of a
perfect storm.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They’re concerned for national guard troops, for the border
patrol agents—both sides in the supposed conflict, but regardless of orders are both about
protecting the border.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gregg Phillips takes what seems like a tangent to talk about Secretary of DHS Mayorkas, which is actually related.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">GP: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mayorkas, before
he—we’re going to pass more information on this—but before he became Secretary
of DHS, he was on the board of an NGO. That NGO has an office building at the
Darien Gap, literally 50 yards from what’s called euphemistically “China Camp,”
where all the Chinese are coming up through the Gap and being facilitated by
this NGO. Mayorkas has been seen down there on drone footage, arriving at the
camp, going to the NGO, and then back again. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just speculation here, but it looks as though the US head of
the Department of Homeland Security is facilitating the movement of
fighting-age male Chinese to come to the US border and enter our country. That’s
what it looks like. Phillips calls him “a complete bad guy” and deserving of
impeachment, if anyone ever was. He also believes Mayorkas is the one who “concocted
this whole scheme to get the win for Biden, the win for Abbott, the win for
Mexico, and create this environment where there’s going to be a potential
conflict at Eagle Pass sometime next week, or later this week, when all the
truckers and all the patriot types get down there.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">People have been asking Gregg and Catherine what patriots can do, so they
asked their contact down at the border. His answer was one they agree with:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">GP: The only thing that’s going to stop this— It’s not going
to be razor wire on top of unused containers—although that’s pretty— I’ve
walked around that for a bit; that’s pretty effective. But the only thing that’s
going to stop this is some president—President Trump—actually deporting these
people. As soon as they start deporting the people that are somehow making
their way across, sending them back wherever they came from, back to China,
back to Nicaragua, back to wherever they’re going—Venezuela, Cuba, wherever
they’re coming from—only deportation is going to stop this. Mark my words.
Nothing else will stop this. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">They want a war. They want an internal war over this. But
even that isn’t going to stop what’s happening. The only thing that’s going to
stop it is putting these people back on a plane, and instead of flying them to
Chicago, fly them to Caracas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You have to wonder why a thinking person would want invaders
to flood in across our borders, and would hope something might spark a kinetic war.
But, then, we don’t have a thinking person in the White House. We have a power
monger there, surrounded by <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2011/03/leaders-vs-power-mongers.html" target="_blank">power mongering</a> minions.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anyone going to the border, be careful. Be on the lookout
for traps. Be nonviolent. Putting pressure on government bad guys could be a
good thing. It brought needed attention in Canada and The Netherlands. But neither
of those places ended well for the truckers or farmers, because of the tyrants
in power. We live in what is supposed to be a constitutional republic, with the
rule of law. But we have tyrant leaders right now as well. So, if you’re
bravely joining others to make your voice heard, again, just be aware and be
safe. We want to see you safely back home afterward.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">On a side note, the <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/SampleBallot/0324-Yellow-REP-ENG-SP-Sample-Ballot-with-watermark.pdf" target="_blank">Harris County sample ballot</a> is finally available. There are 13 propositions at the end of the Republican ballot. Numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, and 12 all relate to illegal immigration and border security. The people of Texas are trying to get this message across—peacefully.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Additional Resource:<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://youtu.be/wOxksFHAHRU?si=NJIxjlldiTM3s25M" target="_blank">How China and the UN are Fueling the Invasion of America</a>” Tucker Carlson interviews Bret Weinstein, February 1, 2024. </p><p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-20648413839945169172024-01-26T22:32:00.000-08:002024-01-26T22:37:10.222-08:00The Letter Read Round the World<p>You have probably heard about the friendly letter Texas
Governor Greg Abbott sent to Biden earlier this week. It’s worth a read, so I
include it here. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lUYfNRTFgZ4pEb5Cqg_McRGBxon-ERFdbWO3I5QBkIaepixsnrjZ1P-p5WPUSAm-KqDKrdHAcoIJ1Y7f8QTcGPVhiNcjuZ-bSGIzHkkjBJ3P1f2KS-XRNilJKH6wGdY0jrWJCsxBweXeIiVPnsANkJOTlQZtkIpDszMxa2_75_2Jh-DyFjofQqed5lTP/s867/Greg%20Abbott%20letter%201-24-24.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="720" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lUYfNRTFgZ4pEb5Cqg_McRGBxon-ERFdbWO3I5QBkIaepixsnrjZ1P-p5WPUSAm-KqDKrdHAcoIJ1Y7f8QTcGPVhiNcjuZ-bSGIzHkkjBJ3P1f2KS-XRNilJKH6wGdY0jrWJCsxBweXeIiVPnsANkJOTlQZtkIpDszMxa2_75_2Jh-DyFjofQqed5lTP/w427-h513/Greg%20Abbott%20letter%201-24-24.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Governor Greg Abbott's letter, found <a href="https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/Border_Statement_1.24.2024.pdf" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m in Texas, so I might be more aware of things going on in
Texas than people elsewhere. But this one is important beyond our great state.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Texas has the longest boundary with a foreign nation, Mexico,
which is generally on friendly terms with the US, since that separation by
Texas in 1835—as a result of Mexico’s tyrannical leader who stomped on their
guaranteed constitutional rights (yes, Mexico had a constitution, which their
president ignored, a pattern we may see being repeated here). And then the US
won the Mexican-American War 1846-1848. Since then the two nations have been at
peace. Mexico has not been generally as prosperous as the US. As a result,
their people have often come to the US to find work. Migrant farm workers are
among these. They can be hardworking, honest people—when they come here
legally. And there are plenty of legal immigrants with education and skills as
well, whom we welcome.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The problem has been with people who come in <i>il</i>legally.
There is a substantial difference between <i>legal</i> and <i>illegal</i>.
Law-abiding Americans welcome a manageable number of legal immigrants and legal
resident aliens. While we may agree that the process for legal immigrants could
be improved and streamlined, the problem at our southern border is mostly
unrelated to that process.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Just
Dealing with the Invasion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What we have is an invasion. It includes enemies of the
state from around the world. It includes drug traffickers—including the deadly
fentanyl. It includes human traffickers—slave traders of enforced labor slavery
and also child sex slavery. The Biden administration, nor the Obama administration of the past, will explain why they want to allow these enemies in.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here in Texas, we have been calling this an invasion for a
good long while. And we’ve been complaining about our governor taking so long
to make that declaration. We’re glad he’s done it. And we add, “What took you
so long?”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAU0o3JO7i5jIV2lqdbf2E6EHQSTMFbPHu2EuGy1ajjEKFSWrWu1dyxrMoqBYcXzj6MaRyjFPs3Sg5glv5GyRHLhAQfi3x9vv7f-6_enGuYRflJjvJa3ebNmXE1N1GQnEDA9HSP0tV6556z2if6AUfv-Jaknexa3yEwNw73iXAxHYoHeVTs3xK5xYKGGGY/s1197/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20001102%20Dan%20Patrick%20w%20GB.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1197" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAU0o3JO7i5jIV2lqdbf2E6EHQSTMFbPHu2EuGy1ajjEKFSWrWu1dyxrMoqBYcXzj6MaRyjFPs3Sg5glv5GyRHLhAQfi3x9vv7f-6_enGuYRflJjvJa3ebNmXE1N1GQnEDA9HSP0tV6556z2if6AUfv-Jaknexa3yEwNw73iXAxHYoHeVTs3xK5xYKGGGY/w483-h270/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20001102%20Dan%20Patrick%20w%20GB.png" width="483" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick speak with Glenn Beck, January 24, 2024<br />screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/eE0fUTROkhw?si=z4egiKgsLA88iFSV" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Lt. Governor <a href="https://youtu.be/eE0fUTROkhw?si=z4egiKgsLA88iFSV" target="_blank">Dan Patrick talked with Glenn Beck</a> in an interview Wednesday, and he backed up the governor. He said that a lot of
things had been going on behind the scenes. The governor’s administration wasn’t
inactive.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the things behind the scenes was legislation that
became law in December, after the latest special legislative session (I think
there were four special sessions after the regular biennial session that closed
in May, but I lost count; Lt. Gov. Patrick just called it the umpteenth special
session).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At our Cypress Texas Tea Party meeting on Wednesday, we
heard from State Rep. Tom Oliverson, giving a report on legislation passed this
year. He highlighted three bills, and shared interesting stories. Then, even
after the Q&A, he added one more thing, which happens to be the bill Lt.
Governor Patrick referred to. So this is Rep. Oliverson:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">One more
little factoid for you, because this was late breaking news. So, you know, the
border bill that we just passed—I heard some of you talking about the border
and all this kind of stuff. So, what the law says <i>now</i>, under state law,
is that, if DPS catches you crossing you over the border <i>not</i> at a port
of entry, you may be arrested on the spot, charged with a class B misdemeanor,
which means you can and will go to jail. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">However, the
judge has the ability to basically waive those charges and essentially, I
guess, whatever that process is… I don’t know. But you basically give them a
pass and say, “We’re going to wipe these charges out, but only if you agree to
go back to Mexico today.” So that’s how the law is now. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Now,
obviously, the legal process is going to play out here. But, just so you know,
if you hear on TV, well, DPS [<i>Department of Public Safety</i>] is arresting
people, that’s because the law we just passed a couple of months ago says that
they can be arrested. And the other thing is, if they do it more than once,
they can be charged with a felony, and then they can spend a lot of years in
jail…. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">So they would
get arrested; they would be charged; they would have a court date, a trial;
they would be held. And then they’ll serve their time in jail, and then we’ll turn
them over to customs. So the disincentive for somebody who’s crossing into our
state illegally is, “If I get caught by DPS, at a bare minimum, I’m going to
spend six months in jail before I even see a customs and patrol agent. And if I’ve
done it more than once, I may go away for years.” After which time we’ll turn
them over to customs. So that’s how that works.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Texas has to act. We have millions of illegal aliens flowing
into our state. Some of them get bussed or flown to elsewhere in the country—that’s
done by the US government; Texas only did that with a few busloads to get media
attention. The government is doing it quietly every day, and dumping them in
troubled US cities, even up north, all those “sanctuary cities”—Chicago, New
York, etc.—which are now complaining that they’re not equipped to handle all these
people. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Still, the feds are leaving far more than can be handled in
small border towns without resources to deal with such an influx. Meanwhile the
US government is insisting they get free housing, free transportation, free
healthcare, free public education—at taxpayer expense. (Meanwhile, <i>legal </i>immigrants
go through years of red tape and paperwork and court costs; you’d think they
were trying to <i>discourage legal</i> immigration and <i>encourage illegal</i>
immigration.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is purposeful. I can’t say definitively what the
purpose is, but it’s intentional.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrp4vEe57rYjcfHXcIzSXjxuYuhLxf26ahrlJFS5_eS9UGV673jBRJBokUJlaH93rOExjhBhOFQHUIyCMIW6dEqC7M5LdJqgSS05s2PgEXtnwYZzndGXhzsWsepT7RSnGRxwC84VfUgZb55OIIvG5QtmfYVbZgU7wfUWUtz9Qi7ME8-Dmb8Y98T1rrKV6/s1195/Screenshot%202024-01-26%20211206%20razor%20wire.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1195" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrp4vEe57rYjcfHXcIzSXjxuYuhLxf26ahrlJFS5_eS9UGV673jBRJBokUJlaH93rOExjhBhOFQHUIyCMIW6dEqC7M5LdJqgSS05s2PgEXtnwYZzndGXhzsWsepT7RSnGRxwC84VfUgZb55OIIvG5QtmfYVbZgU7wfUWUtz9Qi7ME8-Dmb8Y98T1rrKV6/w442-h249/Screenshot%202024-01-26%20211206%20razor%20wire.png" width="442" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Razor wire along the Texas/Mexico border,<br />screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/dAMTR8QZ1d8?si=hke4uxfXuwUPkCFu " target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Vacated Injunction<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The lead-up to Governor Abbott’s letter was the <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/012224zr_fd9g.pdf" target="_blank">Supreme Court 5-4 ruling</a> that vacated (removed) the injunction against the federal government to keep them from
interfering with Texas border patrol agents.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66Ne7KieHss75d3Su4dshbOhes-WqRjuRZvZdvOD4HlS1JesCFeEak-vNCUxluXe59cNFqlt2StcBQsH9sdpxPzV02hJS-1exbKvo0kNkeNyuMMMXMW1DUjy4_4DyCaQYKdSPtetO2ZDbgPQmrMfxBnhlaiO7gei5mSho-dP-fc3MCb_CQNnVtqJC3kda/s825/Screenshot%202024-01-26%20223830%20injunction%20vacated.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="825" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66Ne7KieHss75d3Su4dshbOhes-WqRjuRZvZdvOD4HlS1JesCFeEak-vNCUxluXe59cNFqlt2StcBQsH9sdpxPzV02hJS-1exbKvo0kNkeNyuMMMXMW1DUjy4_4DyCaQYKdSPtetO2ZDbgPQmrMfxBnhlaiO7gei5mSho-dP-fc3MCb_CQNnVtqJC3kda/w431-h266/Screenshot%202024-01-26%20223830%20injunction%20vacated.png" width="431" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/012224zr_fd9g.pdf" target="_blank">SCOTUS ruling</a> that the injunction is vacated.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Let’s get a little clarity on that. The Texas national guard
has been putting up razor wire, concertina wire, to prevent access on the US
side of the Rio Grande. This will force invaders to go to ports of entry. At
ports of entry, the US government is still just letting them in and sending
them out into the country, but at least there’s a process happening there. At
other places, there’s no tracking. And there’s also the risk of death for the
invaders. A number of them have drowned in the river, which would have been
totally avoided by going to a port of entry.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Biden administration’s border agents had been going in
and cutting the razor wire—to give access to invaders. Texas filed an
injunction to stop them, which was granted by Justice Alito on December 19,
2023. The federal government appealed, asking that the injunction be removed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s obvious that removing barriers to allow access is not
securing the border, which the US government is required by law to do—one of
the few enumerated powers granted to the federal government, and they go out of
their way to <i>not </i>do it, and to thwart anyone who tries to do it on their
own.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The <a href="https://ept.ms/3StKM80" target="_blank">SCOTUS ruling</a>, which is pretty wrongheaded, only removed the injunction. In other words, it
said the administration could carry out its policies at the border as it sees
fit. Let me reword that: the federal government is allowed to determine its
methods for securing the border and protecting American sovereignty. However, removing
barriers and encouraging invasion cannot be construed as securing the border.
Texas has a right to secure borders. So, in essence, the ruling allows the
federal border agents to do their actual job; it does not stop Texas from doing
that job when they fail to.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The SCOTUS ruling did not say that Texas had to allow the
federal border agents to come in and remove borders that Texas had set up.
There is not, to date, an injunction against any actions by Texas. There are
complaints from the feds that Texas ought to let them go in and remove the
barriers, without any hindrance.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But why should we? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the states grant powers to the US government, they have
to <i>have</i> those powers in order to grant them. They do not lose the right
to self-protection by “hiring” the federal government to carry out that duty. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That is what Governor Abbott has spelled out so nicely in
his letter.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JpXFrzNDtiLomVDJesFRqHa1bcGLKVBDO0L-J0D-Zr0aMpWclpO2cyufdoUZZk_SiVnv3sxN1V3E2JECO4XfEfhWHAuzEoDkDQliXUYicgW-5okcLd6bsJi7ujzl4fj0a_KLCWM8M0Qj2QBmjbPSWaLOZbbEzcZeuH4anLDqJ7IhiHnK6ld4-dSgE05j/s1092/Screenshot%202024-01-26%20205015%20states%20supporting%20TX.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1092" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JpXFrzNDtiLomVDJesFRqHa1bcGLKVBDO0L-J0D-Zr0aMpWclpO2cyufdoUZZk_SiVnv3sxN1V3E2JECO4XfEfhWHAuzEoDkDQliXUYicgW-5okcLd6bsJi7ujzl4fj0a_KLCWM8M0Qj2QBmjbPSWaLOZbbEzcZeuH4anLDqJ7IhiHnK6ld4-dSgE05j/w416-h313/Screenshot%202024-01-26%20205015%20states%20supporting%20TX.png" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">25 states stand with Texas in its right to self-protection,<br />image found <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/map-american-states-backing-texas-governor-greg-abbott-border-feud-1864363" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is the kind of standoff that the brink of war might look
like. I don’t want war to happen. I can’t even envision that happening. As of today we have a <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/map-american-states-backing-texas-governor-greg-abbott-border-feud-1864363" target="_blank">majority of states</a>, 25, standing with Texas (all the states
with Republican governors except Vermont). Really, how could a commander-in-chief rally troops to kill their fellow
citizens—so that the federal government could tear down our borders and invite
invaders in? How can they spin that? I’m sure they could find a mendacious way
to spin it, but I don’t think it will fly—any more than using SWAT teams to
arrest “dangerous domestic terrorists” who are actually peaceful, country-loving
grandmas. Good people know that is just wrong.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">President Trump suggested that the supporting governors
should send some of their own state National Guard troops to Texas to add
support. That’s probably a good idea. It has been done before, at times when there
were particular crisis points; I think at least Oklahoma and Florida had done
so.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mvgjfmvEG54uJPldcvPjHDThQ8YeVIPhThxTIqOry8Yd1Z9YkDyooqY-z1HQMtmIDAjIiLEpF9K0fNdqGOZIh6sz_pob_hhHk9SMnkVtm13R3hyffR090ukwPDYgAu1eU_ppFm4WIdjmlX0gylcsn9sieGCcfCt5O1w4VcrAiOx-T8ERzN2yZMuKzRje/s1183/Screenshot%202024-01-26%20212001%20Trump%20encourages%20TX.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1183" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mvgjfmvEG54uJPldcvPjHDThQ8YeVIPhThxTIqOry8Yd1Z9YkDyooqY-z1HQMtmIDAjIiLEpF9K0fNdqGOZIh6sz_pob_hhHk9SMnkVtm13R3hyffR090ukwPDYgAu1eU_ppFm4WIdjmlX0gylcsn9sieGCcfCt5O1w4VcrAiOx-T8ERzN2yZMuKzRje/w441-h248/Screenshot%202024-01-26%20212001%20Trump%20encourages%20TX.png" width="441" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">President Trump suggests supporting states send guard troops to Texas,<br />screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/dAMTR8QZ1d8?si=hke4uxfXuwUPkCFu " target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">National Guard troops are under the command of their various
state governors—unless and until the President calls them into action. Anti-American,
anti-Texan, Democrat “heroes” Joaquin Castro and Beto O’Rourke are of course
calling for the President to federalize the Texas National Guard. The claim is
that Governor Abbott is using the Texas National Guard to defy a Supreme Court
ruling. But, as we went through above, Texas has no requirement to defy. The
ruling only said the feds could be allowed to do their job. Governor Abbott
correctly identifies the feds as not doing their job, and so Texas will do it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Until there is a Supreme Court ruling saying Texas cannot
put up razor wire on its border or otherwise act to protect its border, Texas
can and will continue its self-protection. No such ruling is imminent. And if
it were to come, Texas—and those other supporting states—would be within their
constitutional rights to defy that order and protect themselves anyway. I think
Governor Abbott explained that pretty clearly, citing the portions of the US
Constitution at issue.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Texas has the <a href="https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Texas-revolution-Come-and-Take-It-flag-Gonzales-13275757.php" target="_blank">“Come and take it” flag</a>, from the Battle of
Gonzales, daring the enemy Santa Anna to retrieve a cannon they’d borrowed four
years earlier. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tcWUEHX7Jthz_iPRIvSVPJElyeTbsjEkqfIE9EtUVdzskXkea5s_i9BM3QfhEZYeEBz2JoIEQptygB5bjYrEBBW-VUBoMwBJpk3033AT9uipchTWWvkHWh4sB_jZHJEHZQsw2HSs_AoEdyUETJfEtP5dIiUI5nCn1NgXPw3SySsQLq8Q6S2wYlghMtr5/s918/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20001758%20come%20and%20take%20it%20flag.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="918" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tcWUEHX7Jthz_iPRIvSVPJElyeTbsjEkqfIE9EtUVdzskXkea5s_i9BM3QfhEZYeEBz2JoIEQptygB5bjYrEBBW-VUBoMwBJpk3033AT9uipchTWWvkHWh4sB_jZHJEHZQsw2HSs_AoEdyUETJfEtP5dIiUI5nCn1NgXPw3SySsQLq8Q6S2wYlghMtr5/w389-h254/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20001758%20come%20and%20take%20it%20flag.png" width="389" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A replica of the infamous "Come and Take It" flag<br />from the Battle of Gonzales hangs in the state capitol in Austin, Texas, <br />image from the <a href="https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Texas-revolution-Come-and-Take-It-flag-Gonzales-13275757.php" target="_blank">Houston Chronicle</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />There is less conflict between federal border patrol and
Texas DPS and National Guard than you might think. There is a particular park
the feds are not being allowed into, near Eagle Pass, because they were doing
harm to the border. But they can do their business everywhere else. They are
not harmed or hindered. They’re stirring up conflict. It’s just that the administration
doesn’t want Texas interfering with its plan to destroy America by erasing the
southern border and letting our enemies pour in.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Additional
Resources<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://youtu.be/nC3T6Y_rhiA?si=wfBjX0F9CA07UA5k" target="_blank">Republican governors DRAW THE LINE on Biden’s border invasion</a>” Glenn Beck, January 25, 2024.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://youtu.be/dAMTR8QZ1d8?si=hke4uxfXuwUPkCFu" target="_blank">26 States REBEL Against Biden Administration</a>,” <i>Facts
Matter</i> with Roman Balmakov, January 26, 2024. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://youtu.be/GL9fpPCt3AY?si=wizlVMwfZNNc98Ak" target="_blank">Civil War Echoes: Unpacking Governor Abbott's
Defiance in the Texas Border Clash</a>” The Patriot Nurse, January 25, 2024. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://youtu.be/eE0fUTROkhw?si=o2_C6BLDYC-bik9w" target="_blank">The Secret Network Helping Biden Fuel the Border Invasion | Ep 329</a>” Glenn Beck, January 24, 2024. (This video includes the interview with Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.)</p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://youtu.be/gfVQdNn1L0k?si=u7KqsByYqbxZ4nZV" target="_blank">Texas Declares INVASION and REJECTS Federal
Government's Border Authority</a>” Robert Gouveia, January 25, 2024. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">“<a href="https://youtu.be/_hD082NpfaU?si=RTIbcOgmf-2-P-HB" target="_blank">‘Installing MORE BARRIERS’: Texas SLAMS SCOTUS razor wire ruling</a>” Glenn Beck, January 24, 2024. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2024/01/26/biden-border-wall-bill-texas-barbed-wire-illegal-immigrants/?fbclid=IwAR2QYDknTML-PLGKwLHQ-pGVgm3qaIZT0gfCSrW08FyLBJomtNBQsZQhQ4c" target="_blank">Biden should know better than to start a fight with Texas</a>” by Don Huffines, in <i>The Telegraph</i>, January 26, 2024.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/what-happens-joe-biden-seizes-texas-national-guard-greg-abbott-1864285" target="_blank">What Happens if Joe Biden Tries to Take OverTexas National Guard?</a>” by Ewan Palmer, <i>Newsweek</i>, January 26, 2024. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-51082770074044422802024-01-18T21:37:00.000-08:002024-01-18T21:37:13.133-08:00Censor, Indict, Execute<p>Tucker Carlson, in his December 18, 2023, <a href="https://x.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1736884051984646425?s=20" target="_blank">podcast</a>, talked with Seth Dillion, head of <i>The
Babylon Bee</i>, a parody news site, with a subtitle, "Fake News You Can Trust." I love <i>The Bee</i>. They’re not only
funny; they’re also, sometimes accidentally, more accurate than the mainstream
news. It’s especially funny when they get fact checked, as though the story
were real—because reality is so bizarre, it’s hard to exaggerate enough to satirize it.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBuwSJcOKsEtYLDu0Z1mX6viua-aKBhGJCsCSO6CUDWFB15BwPkHN9JDXqKgtFnQPezVAFH0-j7-BEv-YfUznHOWLfHE3LCXjqGun5DPos3Pvf-pF2_BdLFzKne9fqUqpuGPsB2QI_WGTQXwgfs4IqhoDA19-fUISn59ky_PMW3nSONSefLtdSCQ5ktXk/s1542/Screenshot%202024-01-18%20231955%20Babylon%20Bee%20cropped.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="1542" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBuwSJcOKsEtYLDu0Z1mX6viua-aKBhGJCsCSO6CUDWFB15BwPkHN9JDXqKgtFnQPezVAFH0-j7-BEv-YfUznHOWLfHE3LCXjqGun5DPos3Pvf-pF2_BdLFzKne9fqUqpuGPsB2QI_WGTQXwgfs4IqhoDA19-fUISn59ky_PMW3nSONSefLtdSCQ5ktXk/w436-h266/Screenshot%202024-01-18%20231955%20Babylon%20Bee%20cropped.png" width="436" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The <a href="https://babylonbee.com/" target="_blank">Babylon Bee</a>'s front-page headlines online today (January 18, 2024)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><i>The Bee</i> got taken down from Twitter, shortly before
Elon Musk bought the company. They had responded to the real news of biological
male Rachel Levine being named the <i>Time Magazine</i> Woman of the Year, by
naming this biological male the “Man of the Year.” This was considered hate
speech, and a violation of community standards by Twitter. It was, in fact, an
incentive for Elon Musk to make the purchase and make an effort to restore
freedom of speech.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyUbFKN20OL6lINMkYwu2wBW-tsEO02Lw9trTjcgDJF_h9zMqBWTp38A_cwrSILe3HNVLA68caDRsr4eF87hWPJyxv4WkmNUcjB-Nkl8c2V91E5NqzhyphenhyphenkvSfNKpR_Y-pasdrL_I3CNtjNdRswKeB4fLJaElFh9CxSM3co7jhG1Br_gyx3kgva_hauY8rm/s597/Babylon%20Bee%20man%20of%20year%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="597" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyUbFKN20OL6lINMkYwu2wBW-tsEO02Lw9trTjcgDJF_h9zMqBWTp38A_cwrSILe3HNVLA68caDRsr4eF87hWPJyxv4WkmNUcjB-Nkl8c2V91E5NqzhyphenhyphenkvSfNKpR_Y-pasdrL_I3CNtjNdRswKeB4fLJaElFh9CxSM3co7jhG1Br_gyx3kgva_hauY8rm/w384-h281/Babylon%20Bee%20man%20of%20year%20cover.jpg" width="384" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Babylon Bee</i>'s tweet image, found <a href="https://elsolnewsmedia.com/twitter-rachel-levine-babylon-bee/" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">In their discussion, Dillon and Carlson were talking about
who you’re allowed to criticize or mock, and who you’re not. Dillon was mainly
talking about comedy, and then speakers on college campuses. And then Tucker
got a little more serious.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Rockwell Light",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Simplified Arabic";">SD: It has nothing to do with being offended. This whole
thing, you know, the hypersensitive, the people getting up in comedians’ faces,
or charging the stage to slap them in the face if they make a joke they don’t
like, the, you know, “Don’t bring your speaker to our campus, because we need a
safe space here, and this will offend people.” They’re not— It’s all fake
outrage. Because they’ve learned that fake outrage can be used as a tool to
bludgeon you into silence and submission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Rockwell Light",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Simplified Arabic";">TC: That’s exactly right. If they would censor you, they
would kill you. Period. You don’t censor a peer, another citizen, another human
being. You censor your slaves. You censor someone you consider less than human.
So, if censorship doesn’t work, they’d indict you. If that doesn’t work, they
would kill you. It’s just a very obvious continuum.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tucker makes a strong point here. They think of you as
lesser, not worth respecting. And if you are interfering with their agenda in
some way, they think they are justified in eliminating the interference.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’ve seen it before. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I recently reread a youth novel, <i>Echo</i>, by Pam Muñoz
Ryan (in preparation for my private book club with my grandson). The story is
divided into three distinct segments. The first takes place in pre-WWII
Germany. A boy, Friedrich, lives with his father, who is taken by the Nazis to
a hard labor camp, because he has the wrong ideas. He is a musician and has
invited longtime musician friends to form a chamber string ensemble. One is a
Jew. Another is a Nazi, it turns out. He refuses to play until the Jew is
expelled. Friedrich’s father tries to point out that music is their shared
interest; can’t they let their differences go? But the Nazi refuses, and turns
in Friedrich’s father as a Jew lover. That is enough to get one “cancelled” in
that culture.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Friedrich has an older sister, who had been away at nursing
school. During that absence, she has become totally loyal to the state. It’s
hard to determine if those are her deeply held beliefs, or beliefs she has
adapted out of expediency and necessity to advance in her career. But it becomes
impossible for the family to speak or write anything to her that might show
their former disagreement. She does take some risk later to help rescue her
father (with a bribe), so maybe she wasn’t totally brainwashed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While the book is fiction, it is based on a real time and
place. The threats of silencing, indicting (using the law to incarcerate), and
even execution were very real.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi_b7oXqk6LGIj_LEvd6BaA0CzBbxeWD2R7ZphrXKuwugIoOA7G60j8SVZEnm302C66HQkvMNeaNEmQeAInIYd2NTIYM-iCn8VwEjVwJnGkxHOxPsvC3Px92KjmCUSudqE-3rGxbxRgJlnRnWXk5oF5C_jhlrex-2aNGHiYT26xavUPrWYFZz6axqcaK0/s1920/Screenshot%202024-01-18%20154257.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi_b7oXqk6LGIj_LEvd6BaA0CzBbxeWD2R7ZphrXKuwugIoOA7G60j8SVZEnm302C66HQkvMNeaNEmQeAInIYd2NTIYM-iCn8VwEjVwJnGkxHOxPsvC3Px92KjmCUSudqE-3rGxbxRgJlnRnWXk5oF5C_jhlrex-2aNGHiYT26xavUPrWYFZz6axqcaK0/w443-h249/Screenshot%202024-01-18%20154257.png" width="443" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Seth Dillon, of The Babylon Bee, talks with Tucker Carlson<br />screenshot from <a href="https://x.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1736884051984646425?s=20" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tucker and Dillon spend some time talking about the direction
of power. The silencing of someone for hate speech is presented as someone
bullying the marginalized, or with less power. You’re only allowed to punch up.
Punching down is not fair, or moral. So those in power use this assumption
against people; it’s their way of wielding power. We’re supposed to think of
someone like Rachel Levine, who went through private schooling and a privileged
life, who holds one of the highest positions of power in the government as US Assistant Secretary for Health, as
someone downtrodden and marginalized. That’s hard to stomach. Such a person—with
all that power—does something that is supposed to make all the difference:
present themselves as the gender they biologically are not. And if we object,
or even laugh, that power hammers down on us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As Tucker and Dillon point out in their conversation, someone who can
have someone cancelled for making a joke about them or criticizing them in any
way is the person with the power. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is an off-the-top-of-my-head list (likely incomplete) of
the groups, people, or ideas that you’re not allowed to mock or criticize:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Trans people (people who present as a gender not
aligned with their biology)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Homosexuals<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Blacks<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Marxists (for example, Black Lives Matter)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Elites (by education, money, fame, or government authority)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Muslims<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Palestinians<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Obamas<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Bidens<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Clintons<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Feminists<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Pro-Abortionists<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Medical experts aligned with Big Pharma<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The elites deciding on this list and cancelling people for
not aligning with their agenda are not the marginalized; they are the power-mongering
tyrants.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here’s the list of people they give permission to marginalize:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Christians (particularly Catholics and Latter-day
Saints, who believe they have divine authority)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Jews<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Conservatives<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Constitutionalists<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Trump and Trump voters/supporters<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Whites<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Males<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Asians<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Large families (probably 3+ children)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Stay-at-home mothers<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Parents who speak up at school board meetings<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Pro-lifers<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->COVID skeptics<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Vaccine hesitant<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Election Integrity concerned<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You get the idea.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Back in 2015 <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2015/01/being-extreme_19.html" target="_blank">I wrote</a> about the many ways the Obama administration had labeled people like me as
domestic extremists. Apparently being a good citizen is extreme. I think the
label now is not just extremist, but domestic terrorist, thus the many <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2022/08/we-agree-we-dont-want-authoritarian-rule.html" target="_blank">SWAT raids</a> on harmless citizens. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seth Dillon admits that, truthfully, he would prefer Twitter
prison to real prison any day. But they did make a sacrifice as a company. They
could have deleted the Tweet and been reinstated. But Dillon said he didn’t think
they should have to. It was an admission that they had been hateful and in
violation—when a great many haters and evil people are allowed to stay on the
platform. It was wrong to give in. But it was, clearly, not a good business
decision. Twitter had been a source for a lot of their traffic, and that was
lost.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They have soldiered on, which I appreciate. I get them in my
inbox, and never spent much time on Twitter (pretty much only to find Tucker
Carlson), so I actually see more of them than ever. Add to that their sister
publication, <i>Not the Bee</i>, which shares news so ludicrous you can’t believe
it’s not satire.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We need to stand up and speak truth. The hope is, if enough
of us stand up to the censorious tyrants, they will not be able to silence us
all. If we can defeat them at the censoring stage—before they move on more than
they already have to the indicting/imprisoning stage—then maybe we can altogether
prevent the execution stage.<o:p></o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-68202561581640216062024-01-12T21:28:00.000-08:002024-01-12T21:28:42.319-08:00What We Know Now, Three Years Later<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">We just
passed the third anniversary of what we are told was the worst attack on our
country since Pearl Harbor, maybe since the Civil War. You know, that time
hundreds of thousands of Americans attended a peaceful rally at the Capitol,
and a few got out of hand, but they killed no one. Except, there was an unarmed
young woman shot by Capitol police. And another woman was apparently beaten to
death, but they blamed it on drugs to cover the facts. And zero officers or
anyone else was killed by the protesters, but an officer who died the next day of
unrelated natural causes was spun as a beating death by protesters. You
remember that one? That really big lie?</span></p><p><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZo7kFvXXqOcXWiJvqVPZJja9LFgxKjnNpbFInLpkdOmp24-IYF19WDpkhssaURTwvvJBRa9qVDMdtTQTBc0ogQS8Cmsm71wZ3-VQ5bhjeeQ2vTvKzXJ76v3EHhFQH82lNOS6Y4RVCdE_XVaRFf0RLdslyAtFnB26E6BM-zkI1SyB311eY0cGv0qYvHHd/s1920/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20170024.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZo7kFvXXqOcXWiJvqVPZJja9LFgxKjnNpbFInLpkdOmp24-IYF19WDpkhssaURTwvvJBRa9qVDMdtTQTBc0ogQS8Cmsm71wZ3-VQ5bhjeeQ2vTvKzXJ76v3EHhFQH82lNOS6Y4RVCdE_XVaRFf0RLdslyAtFnB26E6BM-zkI1SyB311eY0cGv0qYvHHd/w466-h262/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20170024.png" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Patriots gathered on January 6, 2021<br />screenshot from <a href="https://twitter.com/tuckercarlson/status/1743724117113602512?s57%20" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">There were
some things we knew within days, or at least a short time after that J6 2021
event. I wrote <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2021/01/what-i-think-happened.html" target="_blank">a piece on January 14</a>, 2021, which I think stands up fairly
well. Estimates of a million attendees have been reduced. I don’t know how many
there really were, but at least several hundred thousand. The officer said to
have died by being beaten was not. Officer Sicknick was fine all that day; he died the
following day of a heart attack, which medically seems unrelated. There was an
additional death of a woman in the crowd, Rosanne Boyland, that was not a medical event, but more
likely a beating by some officers (other officers and crowd members tried to
rescue her). But I wrote this conclusion to that piece, and I think it’s
basically still proving true:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Based on what
I’ve pieced together, I have what I think happened. I think the President
called patriots to Washington to encourage the legislature to protest the
electoral votes in the states known to have voting results that should not have
been certified before the evidence was considered. I think a million people
showed up to support him in doing that very thing. I think bad actors saw this
as an opportunity to do damage to Trump and to his supporters. These include
agent provocateurs, possibly Antifa and BLM, and also Pelosi and/or others who
left the Capitol vulnerable, possibly by coordinating with those APs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Several news
outlets—the independent conservative ones—put out pieces this week, on or near
the anniversary. They corroborate my assumptions from three years ago. And they
add more evidence, and show how the regime has used this event as a weapon
against their political enemies (We the People).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>It Was a Trap</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Tucker
Carlson did an <a href="https://twitter.com/tuckercarlson/status/1743724117113602512?s57 " target="_blank">interview with Rep. Clay Higgins</a> of Louisiana. You might
remember Higgins from a year ago when he questioned FBI Director Christopher Wray
about whether there were FBI assets dressed as Trump supporters inside the Capitol
building before the doors were opened to the public on January 6, 2021. It was
a direct yes-or-no question. Director Wray obfuscated. Higgins said, “It should
be no.” But the Director continued to claim he wasn’t allowed to divulge
anything about how or when the FBI uses assets (informants, undercover agents).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOSZCTrvTzF8HtCqGbAj310siL8i-99z-Cvb5H6aGk7LldVviMzILyO1_zSt3hkK-yRjfW7papf2d7IoqRpATrabi3Ad4S7FOij6DFCQuzE1U7Pe4dEww06SwPtfzYgc38Jp-zJA5HmInvfxfutdmsCKgu2rKl9PeYR-OS_vauykVnBfO-xX3vu0jvd5J/s1920/Screenshot%202024-01-12%20201735.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOSZCTrvTzF8HtCqGbAj310siL8i-99z-Cvb5H6aGk7LldVviMzILyO1_zSt3hkK-yRjfW7papf2d7IoqRpATrabi3Ad4S7FOij6DFCQuzE1U7Pe4dEww06SwPtfzYgc38Jp-zJA5HmInvfxfutdmsCKgu2rKl9PeYR-OS_vauykVnBfO-xX3vu0jvd5J/w427-h240/Screenshot%202024-01-12%20201735.png" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Louisiana, asking questions of <br />FBI Director Wray a year ago,<br />screenshot from <a href="https://twitter.com/tuckercarlson/status/1743724117113602512?s57%20" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Higgins didn’t
ask that question in ignorance. He knew they had assets <i>inside</i> the Capitol
before doors were opened—so they could guide the crowds to the areas where it
would look like they had the most nefarious intent, such as the House Chamber
or the Speaker’s office.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Here’s some
of what Rep. Higgins told Tucker:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">I’d seen
evidence, even at that time, that the FBI had embedded themselves into various
groups online, across the country, of Americans who were essentially voicing
their concerns and airing their grievances with each other about COVID
oppression. Those Americans were targeted by the FBI—almost universally
Republicans and largely Trump supporters. But the FBI worked undercover to
infiltrate those conversations and become a significant part of those
individual Americans’ communications. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">And when you
dig into the evidence that we’ve had revealed through some criminal cases that
I’ve followed, and worked with the families of J6 political detainees and
Americans that have been persecuted for their involvement in the Capitol that
day, some of that evidence shockingly reveals that the <b>FBI agents that were
operating undercover within the online groups across the country were the first
ones to plant the seeds of suggestions of a more radical occupation of the Capitol</b>.
And they were sort of testing the waters of who amongst that group would begin
acknowledging that, “You know, maybe we should do that. Maybe we should plan
for an occupation like that.” But if you look at the origins of those conversations,
they were started by the FBI undercover guy that was operating inside the group….
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">So Americans
gathered at their own Capitol to appropriately air grievances and protest at
their Capitol. But embedded amongst their number was an FBI asset that had been
working from within their group online for many months. So this was the level
of manipulative effort that the FBI invested into American citizenry and our
assembly online to exercise our rights under the First Amendment, to talk to
each other about whatever we want to talk about, including the insidious
oppressions of COVID that we were suffering across the country.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Tucker
pointed out that this is entrapment. Indeed. Later Tucker asked how many FBI
assets are we talking about: 10? 20?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Rep. Higgins says
no, and gives a much higher number:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">No. Based upon
some very conservative but, like, hard investigative effort—evaluation of the
numbers, from putting together eyewitnesses, and videos and affidavit statements,
and whistleblower statements, and court records that have been revealed through
individual criminal cases where J6 defendants have been prosecuted and smart
attorneys have forced admissions by the DOJ and the FBI. But those admissions
have been sealed within the parameter of that criminal case by protective
order, by the judge, so that I can’t share them, but I’ve seen them. So, real
hard objective and conservative estimates would put the number of FBI assets in
the crowd outside and working inside at well over 200.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5jDSPEaNjczTcdkAqoByp2c81QhrdL90LlC_Gb7c63fQP_Jv7KXxMlAsBSZo9aoxEadHykhcc6DxNATY9he5S48SH-Bg9RB70_ENlVV7nNIh4Y3Wy6D401Z9-YntCjzuClSAED4ilb92ZVDXefW3Vi5mgdgQ8VqdWM6cDrQ89neJAzkIcirPwHnWb5sT/s1920/Screenshot%202024-01-12%20201807.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5jDSPEaNjczTcdkAqoByp2c81QhrdL90LlC_Gb7c63fQP_Jv7KXxMlAsBSZo9aoxEadHykhcc6DxNATY9he5S48SH-Bg9RB70_ENlVV7nNIh4Y3Wy6D401Z9-YntCjzuClSAED4ilb92ZVDXefW3Vi5mgdgQ8VqdWM6cDrQ89neJAzkIcirPwHnWb5sT/w421-h237/Screenshot%202024-01-12%20201807.png" width="421" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rep. Clay Higgins talks with Tucker Carlson,<br />screenshot from <a href="https://twitter.com/tuckercarlson/status/1743724117113602512?s57%20" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">In that huge
crowd, there <i>was</i> violence. And I don’t mean in any way to minimize that. But
violence was the goal of the instigators. And yet, after all the persecutions
and prosecutions, they’ve come up with almost no cases of violence—and zero
cases of insurrection, <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2023/03/dont-believe-your-lying-eyes-they-tell.html" target="_blank">as of last March</a>. <a href="https://youtu.be/nffTwAswrTQ?si=QTrGy2UgysfXGqgg" target="_blank">Robert Gouveia</a> had gone through court records and put together a list. There
may still be more cases coming, as persecutions will continue “until morale improves.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Even among
those listed cases, most would be thrown out if they were held anywhere but in
a DC court, where impartial juries are about as common as unicorns. But, if I understand Gouveia's March 2023 numbers, there were a total number of 950 people </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">(in fact, I think they hit the 1,000 mark recently)</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> charged with a total of 1774 crimes,
90% of which are “entering the Capitol,” regardless of being invited in by
police, so there was no intent to do wrong, and misdemeanor trespass is the most
you could charge. Only two categories are violent, both of which could also
apply to not-actually-violent or not-seriously-violent offenses (flag poles and even water bottles were considered weapons; no guns or knives were found)</span>. But we’ll
count them. There are a total of 383 of these. That’s 21.6% of the total
charges filed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">If we use Rep. Higgins conservative 200 figure (he believes it’s much
higher), FBI assets' numbers were 21% of those 950 people charged. Not that they charged, of course. But comparing numbers, it took almost a ratio of one FBI
asset for every five people they were able to urge into the Capitol or appear to do something wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">We don't have numbers of how many were trying to prevent the provocateurs from stirring things up. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">It's a safe
assumption, I believe, that <i>no violence would have taken place without the FBI’s agent
provocateurs</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fascist Oppression Stories</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><i>The Epoch
Times</i> put out a <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/epochtv/therealstoryofjan6part2-5548012 " target="_blank">Part II of their documentary on The Real Story of January 6</a>; it
came live on the anniversary, this past Saturday. [You might want to start with <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/epochtv/the-real-story-of-jan-6-documentary-4596670?utm_source=ref_share&utm_campaign=copy" target="_blank">Part I</a> from July, and they have other coverage as well.] Reporter Joseph Hanneman covers a lot of stories.
A number of them are what we’d call typical American patriots who are being
persecuted by our government, as if we were a fascist regime. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">There’s the Munn
family, five of them, parents and teenage daughters, who went to the Capitol
that day, from their home in Texas. They had big questions about the nefarious
elections (as we all still do) and went there to hear President Trump and
voice their grievances. They were not violent. They got caught up in a crowd
moving toward and into the Capitol. They were smashed up against a window that
had already been taken out. So the dad crawled through and helped the others
through, and their plan was to find a safe place to wait out the storm of
people, and then get out. They are being labeled domestic terrorists. Their
case, at this point, is that they are on probation. They lost their jobs and have had to
drive hours away to get employment. They have received death threats. So they are moving to another state,
pending permission from probation officers at each end. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">They were raided by a
SWAT team in the early morning, and forced out without getting any belongings
or even being allowed to dress. They found later that the FBI had planted listening
devices in the home, which they discovered by accident, because the devices
were interfering with their internet.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOXZ5wHsJXuqZlolvDIoT8dZC8UO_yDr9jtIOoveM_eQMw9vnOOpg7Avx9RcRLL4Q6etRfawyjgskAiYhRFKOS4Z0GhEHzXE8utA_oUfZrn7lHBKog3Iz8E_dSAdHho289A0lbAG9vH4X52rPg8aYT8fLV_XKLgWPllpp7EfcMda-DxuISc2LVisFoSVU/s1022/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20184525%20Munn%20family%20was%20bugged.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1022" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOXZ5wHsJXuqZlolvDIoT8dZC8UO_yDr9jtIOoveM_eQMw9vnOOpg7Avx9RcRLL4Q6etRfawyjgskAiYhRFKOS4Z0GhEHzXE8utA_oUfZrn7lHBKog3Iz8E_dSAdHho289A0lbAG9vH4X52rPg8aYT8fLV_XKLgWPllpp7EfcMda-DxuISc2LVisFoSVU/w464-h232/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20184525%20Munn%20family%20was%20bugged.png" width="464" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This device was discovered by the Munn family in their home. Reporter<br />Joseph Hanneman had a former-FBI friend identify it.<br />screenshot from <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/epochtv/therealstoryofjan6part2-5548012" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Huge
resources were diverted from all other focuses of the FBI to the “domestic
terrorist threat.” There were whistleblowers, who tried to go through all the
proper channels, and were terminated for doing so, but their testimonies
nevertheless got to Congress. They have faced loss of their careers, loss of
their belongings (one was in the middle of a move, and the government confiscated
his stored belongings). They reported that, while there are appropriate times
for using a SWAT team, that should never happen with non-violent people,
particularly people who are cooperating with investigators. And yet this is what they were being
ordered to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">There was one
story of a man who was at the Capitol on J6, Ronald Colt McAbee, now held for two years, before finally getting a trial, which will be appealed. Since he was
non-violent and not a flight risk, they expected him to get out on bond, but
the judge rejected that request. His wife wasn’t allowed to see him or talk
with him, but just recently she was able to visit him for an hour. He was a
trained police officer there that day, and did what he could to prevent damage.
He was one who tried to help Rosanne Boyland when she was dying. For that he was charged
with obstruction or some such “danger” to the country.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEkuDvAFpDheYeqqsQ2oR9Fb6GKnEWe9H8GiTbPRGndUR0ubVwV18sc34WBzgCxTh3JbEn_n2s_MJ6JVoAGNfjB3Vgqtqb0gG6gWPGReYrTLd-U9zVySyf8_C5afE6ajHHUHa5WiAmXoixtU9tWBvT_dNcjQRkicXF9pz5DqpkcGObhrzOC0uJcC31xgH/s1035/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20191823%20J6%20Colt%20McAbee.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="1035" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEkuDvAFpDheYeqqsQ2oR9Fb6GKnEWe9H8GiTbPRGndUR0ubVwV18sc34WBzgCxTh3JbEn_n2s_MJ6JVoAGNfjB3Vgqtqb0gG6gWPGReYrTLd-U9zVySyf8_C5afE6ajHHUHa5WiAmXoixtU9tWBvT_dNcjQRkicXF9pz5DqpkcGObhrzOC0uJcC31xgH/w472-h242/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20191823%20J6%20Colt%20McAbee.png" width="472" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">J6 prisoner Colt McAbee with his wife,<br />screenshot from <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/epochtv/therealstoryofjan6part2-5548012" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">These cases
aren’t over. By calling them domestic terrorists, the prisoners lose their
rights as Americans. That’s why the designation is being used. This was
intended for actual terrorists, acting as nonuniformed combatants, a designation
intended for war times when enemies infiltrate as spies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Speaking of
misusing intended laws, calling this event an insurrection is a huge lie. <i>Insurrection</i>
is making war against the country—essentially instigating civil war, trying to overthrow the government. That is
what the 14<sup>th</sup> Amendment referred to, to prevent leaders of the
Confederacy from shortly afterward trying to become President of the nation
they had insurrected against. What happened on January 6<sup>th</sup>, despite the
instigated violence, was the most pitiful attempt at insurrection in the
history of nations. No weapons. No interference with official proceedings,
even, which simply concluded later the same evening. No government officials
harmed or even endangered. And even what happened seemed to have been staged—and
lied about to look worse—by the Deep State.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">When Tucker asked
Rep. Higgins who was behind it, he said this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">The
combination of several of the most extreme liberal, anti-Trump,
anti-America-First factions that were in positions of authority within our
federal law enforcement organizations and the Democrat party across the
country.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">It will be a
matter of finding these factions and rooting them out. That is the only way to
get our country back, because right now we are under their fascist dictatorship. Higgins points out that, even though they can recommend charges in Congress, they depend on the Department of Justice to carry out prosecutions. And the current DOJ is complicit in the whole mess.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Death That Fateful Day</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">There was another
video this week, updating information about Ashli Babbitt. Her estate (I
believe her husband and parents) have filed a wrongful death lawsuit. And it
has some useful information in discovery. The video is <a href="https://youtu.be/c_NsU3hpOEk?si=aEH962d5hVh1gD6r " target="_blank">Greg Kelly, for <i>Newsmax</i>, January 5</a>, 2024. Kelly has followed this case for a while, and brings out
several details from the lawsuit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8P-VIYtRr_VFrAzZSgQITIQCP0pTTUyY8NM4EaeWtqzZNP9DFJbWDUW4vQ4lZuGh98_ATFuWWWYZ6NLU8thYGb_QuWBlWGzMOkB5XiZjRC4yYm2GcHtXjPhJmRzABBYDHPVVj687uSbWzWPjZLhah7ee796YyTWWx0qwWm69_5WXviOD6YdOGSjvcrXAe/s1200/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20152737%20Babbitt%20lawsuit%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8P-VIYtRr_VFrAzZSgQITIQCP0pTTUyY8NM4EaeWtqzZNP9DFJbWDUW4vQ4lZuGh98_ATFuWWWYZ6NLU8thYGb_QuWBlWGzMOkB5XiZjRC4yYm2GcHtXjPhJmRzABBYDHPVVj687uSbWzWPjZLhah7ee796YyTWWx0qwWm69_5WXviOD6YdOGSjvcrXAe/w460-h241/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20152737%20Babbitt%20lawsuit%203.png" width="460" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ashli Babbitt was guided by police to the door where she was eventually killed,<br />screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/c_NsU3hpOEk?si=HQETWhHaxrgdG18G" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">He showed
video of Ashli, peacefully walking to the Capitol after the conclusion of the
President’s speech at the ellipse near the White House. Kelly says:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">First of all,
you saw Ashli Babbitt on January 6th. We’ve showed you this picture before.
She’s not an insurrectionist. She went to engage in well-protected First
Amendment speech and to see President Trump. She was at that ellipse rally,
which is peaceful, which was calm. And then with others. Yeah, she walked over
to the Capitol. Walked over. It wasn’t a stampede. It wasn’t a raid. She walked
peacefully to the Capitol. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">And this is new. You see, nobody knew actually how
she got in there. We still haven’t seen the videotape. But we know this: She
didn’t break in. She wasn’t part of a crew that broke windows and stormed in.
We know this: two undercover Metropolitan Police Department officers followed
close behind Ashli as she climbed the stairs to the West Terrace. Two undercover
Metropolitan Police Department officers were there. Why didn’t they stop her?
If she were a threat? You know what? She wasn’t a threat. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">And everybody was
walking in at one point on January 6th. Ashli entered the Capitol on the Senate
side long after others had done so. Once inside, according to the lawsuit,
Ashli encountered a female Capitol Police officer who directed her to walk
south towards the House side. And you know what? Everything I found in this
lawsuit corresponds to other evidence we’ve already seen. Here’s Ashli Babbitt,
walking through the rotunda, and you know what? She actually does look just
like a tourist. Yeah. Peacefully. Listening to law enforcement. Following their
instructions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">There’s an
oddity Kelly shows video of, at the door to the House chamber, where Ashli was
ultimately shot. There are three officers there, standing near the doors,
protecting the House chamber from being entered. There’s a big crowd there, seeming agitated. (We’ve seen <a href="https://youtu.be/5nvqvvsqJ_s?si=acQfJImiiTRPo0kD" target="_blank">video </a>of agent provocateurs among them before.)
These three officers, “First, Officer Kyle Yetter on the left, Sergeant Timothy
Lively in the middle, and Officer Christopher Lanciano on the right.” They have
been ordered to guard the door. But then, with the crowd there, the three
suddenly, and quite casually, leave. For a coffee break? Why?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwVQWZyddR_jipjBkkkVo7McWa12eLmV3JBmF8NfsAIQY08feu1KWgoeqsUOcFO20uOJ75A7MnhDkauBgGdnDoHjpZkcct8YvzCpD73MJfenB__mEGbNerTVhpNL-KNCezu34e2Y0-mjeqvcYuuWeXql8vBFrbeFzx_mBSGEq7rQ3mJePN30SN27OxFEP/s1198/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20152852%20Babbitt%20lawsuit%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1198" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwVQWZyddR_jipjBkkkVo7McWa12eLmV3JBmF8NfsAIQY08feu1KWgoeqsUOcFO20uOJ75A7MnhDkauBgGdnDoHjpZkcct8YvzCpD73MJfenB__mEGbNerTVhpNL-KNCezu34e2Y0-mjeqvcYuuWeXql8vBFrbeFzx_mBSGEq7rQ3mJePN30SN27OxFEP/w441-h248/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20152852%20Babbitt%20lawsuit%202.png" width="441" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Three Capitol Police officers who were guarding the door<br />left the scene just before the door window was broken.<br />screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/c_NsU3hpOEk?si=HQETWhHaxrgdG18G" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">As soon as
they leave, there is a guy who begins pounding on the window in the door, and
breaks it. This is the window Ashli Babbitt is stepping through when she is
shot and killed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">She has no
weapon. She is not dangerous looking, as a trim, 5’5” female. She’s off
balance, working her way through the window, with a backpack on. An officer on
the inside (since the officers, who were treating her and the others outside as non-threatening, had left) could have quickly flex cuffed her, held her aside to deal with
later, and dealt with anyone else who came through the window—which would have
been one unarmed person at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">That would
have been normal police procedure. But that is not what was done.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Lt. Michael
Byrd is shown in video, earlier, weapon drawn while walking through the House Chamber.
This is already against protocol. There is no reason at that point to have a
gun drawn. The doors are locked. The House members have been evacuated. Who is
he drawing his weapon to fire on? The lawsuit quotes Capitol police policy: “Firearms
may be withdrawn from their holsters only when officers are preparing for its
expected, prudent, and lawful discharge, to protect themselves or others from
imminent death or serious physical injury.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1LEtlyWrMrsCgEWvZimDJOdHk3Ej5AUEO4YbIJjGu3Wb3QbusZQ353GVWdcfcuF2D5p7yOpj1Ge5vIEc6UBw_2SJmkS8UDQnLqiffBg81DIjgSG0L_qk3Y_sbEuMO_GqvtOhJY0-4r5k5-ClWdUKCi-kUH_oe_LKC-C3Jzln9hYQEFXZ4QbWylin1gcg/s1194/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20152551%20Babbitt%20lawsuit%204.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1194" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1LEtlyWrMrsCgEWvZimDJOdHk3Ej5AUEO4YbIJjGu3Wb3QbusZQ353GVWdcfcuF2D5p7yOpj1Ge5vIEc6UBw_2SJmkS8UDQnLqiffBg81DIjgSG0L_qk3Y_sbEuMO_GqvtOhJY0-4r5k5-ClWdUKCi-kUH_oe_LKC-C3Jzln9hYQEFXZ4QbWylin1gcg/w437-h247/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20152551%20Babbitt%20lawsuit%204.png" width="437" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lt. Byrd is shown on video in the House Chamber with gun drawn,<br />screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/c_NsU3hpOEk?si=HQETWhHaxrgdG18G" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Ashli Babbitt wasn’t a threat of
imminent death to anyone. No one heard Byrd give any warning. No, “Stop or I’ll
shoot.” Nothing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Sometime
later he sat down with Lester Holt on a news program, and, as Greg Kelly points
out, probably incriminated himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Holt: “When
you fired, what could you see? Where were you aiming?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Byrd: You’re
taught to aim for center mass. The subject was sideways, and I could not see her
full motion of her hand or anything. So I guess her movement, you know, caused
the discharge to fall where it did.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">He didn’t see
her hands, so there was no mistaking something for a gun; he admits he saw no
gun. There had been no reports of guns or weapons used elsewhere that day.
There was no expectation that she would have one. And she wasn’t in a position
to use one anyway. He wasn’t in imminent danger. He didn’t give warning. He
used lethal force at close range, hitting her in the head. And he got praised and promoted for
this act of murder.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">There’s more.
Byrd told investigators that there were 80-90 people he was protecting in the
House Chamber; there were only about 6, all officers plus a couple of House
members with military experience. So he was either woefully unaware of his surroundings or he lied.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">One minute
after shooting Ashli Babbitt, at 2:45 PM, according to the lawsuit, Byrd made a radio
call saying this: “We got shots fired in the lobby. We got shots fired in the
lobby of the House chamber. Shots are being fired at us. And we’re prepared to
fire back at them. We have guns drawn. Please don’t leave that end.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz36coAGQcY4-VRvLiJVqcKUoe7MZdDbcyRnmY7_sJ-eof5dq_fNA6B7U9W1sOB5RsSFHI97tWFKbKs0PgDZhI0PY5yaBjJw0vpMfSFbltjaAZSB2u5bm4jwwYmEmNLtcl9NG8AiY634AzYY7QGKMwr7ZUKqTptFlUm2A9-rKZ9tFiGOo61AdIUv50xo1/s1192/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20153837%20Babbitt%20lawsuit%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1192" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz36coAGQcY4-VRvLiJVqcKUoe7MZdDbcyRnmY7_sJ-eof5dq_fNA6B7U9W1sOB5RsSFHI97tWFKbKs0PgDZhI0PY5yaBjJw0vpMfSFbltjaAZSB2u5bm4jwwYmEmNLtcl9NG8AiY634AzYY7QGKMwr7ZUKqTptFlUm2A9-rKZ9tFiGOo61AdIUv50xo1/w395-h222/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20153837%20Babbitt%20lawsuit%201.png" width="395" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transcript of the radio call from Lt. Byrd one minute<br />after shooting Ashli Babbitt,<br />screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/c_NsU3hpOEk?si=HQETWhHaxrgdG18G" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">This implies
that the officers were being fired upon. That is a lie. There was only one shot
fired: Byrd shot Ashli Babbitt. This call makes it appear he recognized he had
made a bad shoot and was trying to cover it up by claiming it was necessary in a wild shootout.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Byrd has a
history of misuse of his firearm</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">—</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">besides once leaving it in a public restroom. Discovery in the lawsuit reveals that he
fired while off duty. As Kelly tells it,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Well one day,
when he was off duty, his car was stolen. According to the lawsuit, Byrd just
started shooting at the car: “Lieutenant Byrd’s police powers also were revoked
for a prior off-duty shooting into a stolen moving vehicle in which the
occupants were teenagers or juveniles.” The stolen vehicle was Lieutenant
Byrd’s car. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">That’s not the
way you use deadly force. Might be tempting, certainly for— But not for a law
enforcement officer. You don’t start shooting at a car that was stolen. Not if
you’re a professional law enforcement officer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">And then
there’s this: “Lieutenant Byrd fired multiple shots at the fleeing vehicle in a
suburban area. Stray bullets from Lieutenant Byrd’s firearm struck the sides of
homes nearby. An official investigation found that Lieutenant Byrd’s use of
force was not justified.” So we had a record of this. Yet he was still employed
by the Capitol Hill police. That’s a problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">There’s more,
certainly, that could be told about J6. And eventually maybe it will be. What
we thought happened three years ago, there’s more and mounting evidence for: peaceful
Americans were set up to be blamed for violence; when not enough violence
happened, the tyrants persecuted the peaceful Americans anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">We are in a fascist tyranny. We might be able to recover our country. If so, it will take some brave standing up against the bullies. And it will have to happen this year, while we still have plenty of memory of our freedoms.</span></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-20536421862086069882024-01-05T19:00:00.000-08:002024-01-05T19:00:03.218-08:00Predicting the Future: More Bad or Good at Last<p>I am not particularly good at predicting the future. But
here we are at the beginning of a new year. So why not?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It seems to me things could go either of two ways: <i>more
bad</i>, or <i>good at last</i>. Of course I would prefer <i>good at last</i>. And
we know the good <i>will</i> come at last (read <i>Revelation</i>). But timing
isn’t up to me.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSE8t1LyeJO0hAmHA_yNQbRg6aGpMtyJ2T2L3e41OOSyFfR3VQlfR8qUFuInoFHIvp9MdtAMu5bLIqQHOErUXjZS3BS264OvuJR059E6KcpT1LcBvUypLBvJ6mZ_SaGsHq-PO5Yn-94SxWb7bHC3lAIXxmag02yB0fEU7OBxFiPxelfPWWW6oYJEMXK_Be/s1079/new%20year%20quote%20-%20Tennyson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1079" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSE8t1LyeJO0hAmHA_yNQbRg6aGpMtyJ2T2L3e41OOSyFfR3VQlfR8qUFuInoFHIvp9MdtAMu5bLIqQHOErUXjZS3BS264OvuJR059E6KcpT1LcBvUypLBvJ6mZ_SaGsHq-PO5Yn-94SxWb7bHC3lAIXxmag02yB0fEU7OBxFiPxelfPWWW6oYJEMXK_Be/w420-h280/new%20year%20quote%20-%20Tennyson.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">my favorite New Year quote</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">More Bad<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s a presidential election year, and it’s a strange one.
The leading Republican candidate—by overwhelming percentage points, such that
no one else really needs to bother—is former President Donald Trump. Maybe the
challengers are hanging on in hopes of something untoward happening to Donald
Trump, or because they think their “next in line” status might boost them to
the VP slot, which is not going to be offered to Mike Pence ever again. Or
maybe they are simply oblivious to reality, blinded by their own glaring
narcissism. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That means the upcoming primary election for the Republicans
will be fairly simple. It’s only two months away (with some variation by
state). It should go smoothly, if polling is even in the ballpark of accurate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And yet, the desperation of the Democrat (and anti-Trump
Republican) efforts to prevent the obvious and inevitable is startling. I lose
count, but I think there are five lawsuits against Trump underway right now,
timed to interfere with the primary season and the rest of the election year. (Read
more <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2023/08/yet-another-indictment-for-non-crimes.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) You would think that, in even a single unprecedented lawsuit against a former
president—who is currently a candidate—evidence would have to be so
overwhelming that no one would even question the verdict. And yet, every single
case is a ticky-tack, invented “crime.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For example, Trump supposedly committed fraud—according to New
York State—by overestimating the value of his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago, which he used to secure business loans.
The court’s estimate of that property is preposterously low. The banks who
loaned money based on Trump’s estimate were satisfied with the estimate, might
have estimated the value even higher, and regardless were willing to make the
loans—which were repaid with interest. So there is a disagreement about the
value of a property; there was no fraud. There was no one harmed or injured
monetarily or otherwise. There is no crime. And it certainly was no business of
a New York state court to invent one just so they could prosecute the former
President and current presidential candidate during the critical election year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another one, the classified documents case, is a
disagreement about whether the former President can possess his own documents,
or whether the National Archives should hold them. And they used a SWAT team at
the former President’s residence, attempting to make it look like he was in the
act of selling America’s secrets to enemy nations. (I wrote more <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2022/08/unprecedented.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vpCKrVN7BrR9iB2sCaBApIQKQ2mA66Ft9MWmwzaeoQ7pquuiHbY2GwjBt7O-DtxIOozfiQ1B4Dh1Vg-cuRnxTYrcGWzdsNEXM9haL7SLY-JlFY2AaM0p7x1VHzfzQ9msS0zCVhacCaoMFJKnELvssImnlD0EuMtkovcT1_lbMOloX5Qdr-GHN3R7_xQd/s1280/Classified_intelligence_material_found_during_search_of_Mar-a-Lago.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vpCKrVN7BrR9iB2sCaBApIQKQ2mA66Ft9MWmwzaeoQ7pquuiHbY2GwjBt7O-DtxIOozfiQ1B4Dh1Vg-cuRnxTYrcGWzdsNEXM9haL7SLY-JlFY2AaM0p7x1VHzfzQ9msS0zCVhacCaoMFJKnELvssImnlD0EuMtkovcT1_lbMOloX5Qdr-GHN3R7_xQd/w476-h317/Classified_intelligence_material_found_during_search_of_Mar-a-Lago.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The FBI spread out materials on the floor and implied President Trump<br />was mishandling classified materials, during the Mar-a-Lago raid, August 2022,<br />image from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBI_search_of_Mar-a-Lago" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, multiple stashes of classified documents were
found in the possession of Biden—from when he was VP and a US Senator—both
positions that did not entitle him to take any classified documents away from a
secure location. And there is evidence, particularly in the University of Pennsylvania
stash, that China paid for Biden to have a position there, where he never
taught a class or did anything to merit millions of dollars, but coincidentally
staffers paid for by Chinese donations just happened to get hired on by the
Biden administration. Did the Chinese get access to those documents in exchange
for their payments? Or did they just get influence?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m not an investigative reporter. If I know about these
things, then they are known by other reporters (read more <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2023/01/connecting-some-dots.html" target="_blank">here</a>; also, <a href="https://www.glennbeck.com/biden-china" target="_blank">John Sullivan</a>
did good reporting on the University of Pennsylvania/China connection), and by
government officials. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What I’m saying is, those who do the wrongdoing are
desperately trying to retain their power, and greatly fear a return of
President Trump—now that he knows their secrets, because of their conspiring so
obviously against him and against the American people.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, how far will they go? Every time they indict Trump, his
poll numbers go up. The American people—and especially conservatives—are
law-abiding. So the assumption had been, if he’s indicted, and especially if
he’s convicted of something—anything—then his base will abandon him. And that
hasn’t happened. People who care about the rule of law aren’t fooled by people
who use lawfare as a weapon against them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKGyiXZ6ObT5TWnGI8dhEI69A0bUDLzVizhWSBadYxxJ4Rw_4esnhXXexDC2YI_SjrFGoUychCZUo-7eFToa4QMC8DJD-OMhSA8L5x_UoElaYwQPsEQA3UkJnpwz0CF_MUp1wjj-cllmuDUsTze4Hvha8dEzL4I9q6y2eLXOUjzSTYLGAfKsRwOF6_KVo/s584/lawfare%20definition.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="584" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKGyiXZ6ObT5TWnGI8dhEI69A0bUDLzVizhWSBadYxxJ4Rw_4esnhXXexDC2YI_SjrFGoUychCZUo-7eFToa4QMC8DJD-OMhSA8L5x_UoElaYwQPsEQA3UkJnpwz0CF_MUp1wjj-cllmuDUsTze4Hvha8dEzL4I9q6y2eLXOUjzSTYLGAfKsRwOF6_KVo/w403-h189/lawfare%20definition.png" width="403" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If the lawsuits won’t work, there’s taking him off the
ballot. But that can’t stand, because it disenfranchises hundreds of thousands,
maybe millions, of voters in each of those states—for no legal reason. We have
had presidential candidates on the ballot when they were in prison. We have had
presidential candidates who have been accused of crimes. That is not a constitutionally
disqualifying factor. This will probably be decided by the Supreme Court.
Although it’s always worrisome when the preservation of our Constitution
depends on the opinions of nine unelected judges, at least we have more
somewhat-conservatives on the Court—because of Donald Trump. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The attempt to invoke the 14<sup>th</sup> Amendment—which
was intended to prevent leaders of the Confederacy from running for US
President right after the Civil War—requires convincing the country that
President Trump committed insurrection—while he was President (thus
insurrecting against himself), engaging in investigations into the legality of
the election, which it is his duty to protect. They have to label an event that
wasn’t an insurrection, just to stir people up, and they have to convince
people that asking for peaceful assembly—and later “go home in peace”—was
really telling people, by dog-whistle message, to attack the government and
stage a coup. Except, there isn’t even an accusation of insurrection in any of
the court cases or impeachments against him—because there wasn’t an
insurrection.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, there was <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/10/18/chaos-erupts-as-pro-palestinian-protesters-take-to-the-capitol-at-least-three-arrested/" target="_blank">this insurrection</a> in the US Capitol, which included a US Congresswoman. And <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pro-palestine-protesters-interrupt-california-assembly-force-lawmakers-to-adjourn-early/ar-AA1mrhOW" target="_blank">this one</a> in the California State
Capitol. Don’t expect to see consequences for the participants in these unlawful
acts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, if taking him off the ballot fails, what else will they
try? If they truly believe Trump is Hitler—and their rhetoric certainly
portrays him that way (despite the lack of millions of deaths, or authoritarian
rule, as they are attempting)—would they try to assassinate him? Tucker Carlson
has mentioned it. Others probably as well. But would the Deep Staters dare do
that, when it is so obvious that they are conspiring against him?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They aren’t clear, logical thinkers. So I wouldn’t put it
past them. But I hope not.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They might try stealing the election again. But usually that
only works when the margin of error is small, and when it can be turned by a
limited number of places—as in 2020. With 10-point leads, any election
tampering—especially when we’re watching, because we saw what they did before—is
going to be clumsy and obvious.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So what else will they try? Another pandemic, so serious
that they have to “call off the election for the sake of our safety”? I don’t
think we’ll buy that, after all the COVID lies. Will they come up with some
other disaster?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t know what to picture. But if <i>more bad</i>
continues, I can’t envision an election actually happening in November.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqZr0z2D1lKrldQdZyiF3htTpwfu4nlKG0dktLtBUiemsU15quvj9em0L0-URpJikPuaKA5G32yCwEOvWziC3M9ueQtEkqLDaF3zYpLrUEHf___wDsTPEA0OCPuzXV0Zwp_1ZY1yAjwvwKWebxWA-_qmh-e8whPVhyphenhyphenH1yWGvqEjvOYD1ObDgtipXE5szq/s1500/black%20swan%202024%20My%20Patriot%20Supply.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="1500" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqZr0z2D1lKrldQdZyiF3htTpwfu4nlKG0dktLtBUiemsU15quvj9em0L0-URpJikPuaKA5G32yCwEOvWziC3M9ueQtEkqLDaF3zYpLrUEHf___wDsTPEA0OCPuzXV0Zwp_1ZY1yAjwvwKWebxWA-_qmh-e8whPVhyphenhyphenH1yWGvqEjvOYD1ObDgtipXE5szq/w447-h162/black%20swan%202024%20My%20Patriot%20Supply.webp" width="447" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My Patriot Supply, among others, is predicting a "black swan event" in 2024,<br />image from <a href="https://www.mypatriotsupply.com/blogs/scout/black-swan-events-we-re-preparing-for-in-2024" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m not the only one wondering these things. People are
starting to use the term “black swan event,” meaning something unforeseen and
unpredictable will happen. (There was <a href="https://ijr.com/cbs-reporter-predicts-black-swan-event-2024-fertile-ground-adversaries/" target="_blank">this mention</a> by Catherine Herridge a
little over a week ago. <a href="https://youtu.be/6t2wjT9s0xE?si=er_QJ9rOmLJGI9de" target="_blank">This</a> came up on social media group today; the interviewee suggests it might take the form of a major cyber attack in
October.) The thing is, you shouldn’t be able to expect a black swan event, but
we’re using the term in predictions—because it’s so likely they’ll try to come
up with something, since for them another Trump presidency would end life as
they know it (they term this “ending democracy,” in hopes that will fool people).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, we need to keep calm and carry on, as the saying
goes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Good at
Last<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What if <i>good at last</i> actually happens. What might
that look like? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In our country, maybe Biden will become too nonfunctional
for them to trot out “Weekend at Bernie’s” style. This seems a likely
possibility between now and November. The other possibility is that the growing
evidence of his influence peddling as a family business will be seen for the
treason that it is, and he will be thrown out. Then what? By law, his VP would
be required to step in for the remainder of the term. But that is such a
distasteful possibility, I think those now covering for and propping Biden up are
assuming they can do that endlessly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Or maybe his failure will come right about at the time of
the Democrat convention, and they’ll just throw out all the Dem Primary votes
in the country and come out of the convention with whomever the Deep Staters
want—an absolute failure such as Gavin Newsome (note <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/11/29/opinion/theres-no-debating-that-the-desantis-vs-newsom-face-off-is-a-meltdown-in-the-making-for-the-left/" target="_blank">his debate with Ron DeSantis</a>) or the never-run-anything-in-her-life-but-is-a-perfect-shill-for-Barack,
Michelle Obama. With only two months in front of the people, maybe they could
hide how ineffectual, Marxist, and America-hating she is.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">OK, none of that looks like <i>good at last</i> yet.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What if the Deep State got completely uncovered—all the
names, all the information? And they all had to leave in disgrace? Every last
conspirator against the Constitution! Sweet justice! That would be nice.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do I picture it happening? It is happening.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This week a list of Epstein names came up. This wasn’t the “black
book”; according to Kash Patel, <i>that’s</i> being held by the FBI—for, um, security
purposes. This was just the Ghislaine Maxwell trial transcripts with names no
longer redacted (except names of victims, which are still redacted). There may
be a few new names, but so far nothing earthshaking. Headlines declared that
Trump was on the list, but that was for the ignorant. If you read, you find out
he is exonerated. He never went to the island. He expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago
years before Epstein’s first trial. Trump cooperated with investigators into
Epstein. And testimony from witnesses in the trial, after being asking repeatedly if they
had seen Trump at any of Epstein’s places, was that they had never seen him.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yBG4krzdOZK08ztYHvd2xzVcXjljEyrX01vwQX2hAwXYq3kVwS2ldsJhbhCi1WklBn2BH4jJlTUg2xNX5a2Jfs96xeI21xqsw1GYYmwItCy32ProdIUr-gRbIZdzCCmJrDBqGGeeL3uyX9BglYgykHCNwLqKH4l3QX29pkfZOePQXK84J9zZwiRwekls/s914/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20203043%20cropped.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="535" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yBG4krzdOZK08ztYHvd2xzVcXjljEyrX01vwQX2hAwXYq3kVwS2ldsJhbhCi1WklBn2BH4jJlTUg2xNX5a2Jfs96xeI21xqsw1GYYmwItCy32ProdIUr-gRbIZdzCCmJrDBqGGeeL3uyX9BglYgykHCNwLqKH4l3QX29pkfZOePQXK84J9zZwiRwekls/w287-h491/Screenshot%202024-01-05%20203043%20cropped.png" width="287" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">screenshot of <a href="https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/1742670648433090764?fbclid=IwAR3f45pv4FNqSElPWCNi42kXGYy6civ5DIhPcajmhLmeN9RMxP2j57TI0yY" target="_blank">X post</a> of summary of massive<br />election fraud in the 2020 election</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another news item today is the disclosure of election fraud
evidence—by Trump. An X account of <a href="https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/1742670648433090764?fbclid=IwAR3f45pv4FNqSElPWCNi42kXGYy6civ5DIhPcajmhLmeN9RMxP2j57TI0yY" target="_blank">KanekoaTheGreat</a> was forwarded to me. This very long thread starts with an overall summary of the import of this
information. Then it goes into a more detailed summary of problems in Georgia.
There’s so much wrong with that election that it should never have been
certified. That’s as far as I’ve read so far. But next come Wisconsin, Pennsylvania,
Arizona, and Michigan. I’ve been following election fraud details all along
(read <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2020/11/its-not-over_6.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2020/11/data-scientists-are-new-superheroes.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2021/02/three-more-updates-on-neverending.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2022/05/chain-of-custody-issues.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2022/06/two-movies-you-couldnt-make-again.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2022/07/deterrence-prevention-and-real-time.html" target="_blank">here</a>), but these include things I hadn’t been aware of.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The evidence has been there, and accumulating, all along. It
has never been allowed to be shown in court—where the American people could see
it. So it appears Trump is doing what he does: taking it directly to the
people. Expect mainstream media to ignore it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At some point, though, things have to be made right. The
description in <i>Revelation</i> is that Babylon falls in an hour (<i>Revelation
18</i>). And the Savior fights His own battles—actually, it looks like, despite
any actual battles being carried out in Armageddon, in the end, His power is so
great that the battles are simply ended. Possibly His glory “burns” the wicked
(symbolically or literally, or maybe both).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And then the survivors (the decent, upright people of the
earth) will establish order according His righteous rule.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That will happen. This year? I don’t know. But, with our
world in the mess it’s in, this would be a good time for rescue. And there are
some reasons to consider the possibility. For one, there’s a war going on in
Israel; that seems like it could escalate any moment into Armageddon.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s an eclipse coming up in April—the third in a series
over the US, the combined paths of totality forming an aleph, the first letter
of the ancient Hebrew alphabet. The first was September 2017, the second
October 2023. The April 8, 2024, eclipse falls on the eve of Nissan 1, the
beginning of the Jewish new calendar year. Maybe that’s a significant sign in
the heavens. It’s not too far into the future for us to wait and see.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7qqL81-yRQ6Ska7CUZYJ0xSWKcmTVg3Kxn7VdoH2ykGXhIAcYhtZdAXAMib1PDmK1A8vrC4_ENBQqOzjzHBGwGvKIg5rsrLsYK6F1ZmVMFX2LA2ah1hcjqjkUWQKG_mGQLopO4qg-kqOH8-AqUrSsnnDN0PokcT3sNDtGI5gnXfpf4xu0wOBbOGZOySJ/s578/Screenshot%202023-10-10%20143327%203%20eclipses.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="578" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7qqL81-yRQ6Ska7CUZYJ0xSWKcmTVg3Kxn7VdoH2ykGXhIAcYhtZdAXAMib1PDmK1A8vrC4_ENBQqOzjzHBGwGvKIg5rsrLsYK6F1ZmVMFX2LA2ah1hcjqjkUWQKG_mGQLopO4qg-kqOH8-AqUrSsnnDN0PokcT3sNDtGI5gnXfpf4xu0wOBbOGZOySJ/w402-h295/Screenshot%202023-10-10%20143327%203%20eclipses.png" width="402" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Three eclipses over the US form a Hebrew letter aleph,<br />image is a screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/Jt2ljp4h8zM?si=DPlIvidK3Sw8OgZu" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We did that for <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2023/10/apocalyptic-times.html" target="_blank">the 1290 days</a> mentioned in Daniel 12,
counting from the closing of the temples worldwide in March 2020 until October
7, the day of the Hamas attack on Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Counting the 1335 days mentioned in the
next verse of Daniel—guessing that was a concurrent count, rather than
sequential—took us to November 21, 2023, when there was a temporary ceasefire
to return many of those who had been kidnapped. Was that a big enough thing for
Daniel to have mentioned all those centuries ago? I don’t know. I’m continuing
to watch and wait.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Incidentally, five months from November 21 takes us to the
eve of Passover, April 21, 2024, which seems significant. What could happen in
five months? <i>Revelation 9</i> mentions a time of torment for five months:
“and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.”
It’s going to sting. But not to fear if you’re among the righteous, described
as “grass of the earth,” “any green thing”, or “any tree,” along with those who
have covenanted their allegiance to God, “have the seal of God in their
foreheads.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So there’s going to be something that stings the
unrighteous. They’ll want to die and be unable to. I don’t know how to picture
this. Descriptions of the “sting” include locusts shaped like horses prepared
for battle (armored swarms), with crowns (royalty or government power), hair of
women, teeth of lions. I don’t know what that all means. But these scary
stinging locust plagues, as John the Revelator saw them, “had tails like unto
scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt
men five months.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’re a month and a half into this particular five months,
since November 21<sup>st</sup>, and I don’t <i>see</i> this plague stinging the
unrighteous. But maybe it is happening in a way I don’t see or understand. Or (more
likely) maybe that five-month plague will happen some other time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Still, things are happening. There are earthquakes, floods,
lightning strikes, solar flares, volcanic eruptions. More than usual? You have
to know what’s usual. YouTuber Christian Homestead puts all kinds of things
into <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xNdVjR_n5z-8kLB7iNuLCeZvK5XCpId0d8XiTeCofGI/edit#gid=1936708412" target="_blank">a spreadsheet</a>—including various natural disasters. It’s accessible in the
description of each of his videos. It looks to me like these sorts of disasters are becoming more frequent, and
maybe more intense.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One point Jared of Christian Homestead makes is that,
however things happen, they’re likely to look natural, such that people who
don’t want to believe can ascribe some other explanation—like climate change,
for example.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Spherical Model has pointed out that, if the Second
Coming is to “come as a thief in the night,” then looking for really obvious
events that everyone can see is probably not going to work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It may be more like the wise men who looked for the Star of
Bethlehem. They knew what to look for, and approximately when to expect it.
Other people who were not looking probably shrugged and thought, “Huh, that
star is kind of bright. I don’t remember that one being there,” and then going
back to their oblivious lives instead of celebrating the Savior’s birth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What we should expect is that the Second Coming will come in
a time of great evil (check). When evil is called good and good is called evil
(check). When there are “beasts,” one representing collusions of power
spreading across the globe, supported by a second, lying beast that makes the
first beast seem powerful. I’d say the Deep State and its corollaries around
the world, supported by a combination of media and academia that lie to support
the other “beast” is about as clear as any of the symbolic descriptions in
Revelation (so, check).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That means the world not going to get better on its own.
It’s not likely to get better just because many of us are working in our
communities—and working with governments at all levels—to make things better.
We need to do those things. But it’s more to declare our allegiance to God than
it is to personally win the war against evil.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, predicting this year: either <i>more bad</i> will keep
happening—and we’ve grown accustomed to things not being made right. Or <i>good
at last</i> will happen, and all things <i>will</i> be made right, which I
think will only happen if this is the year the Savior returns. That would be
the brightest outlook for a year that otherwise looks to be both frustrating
and scary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a line from one of our <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/hymns/we-thank-thee-o-god-for-a-prophet?lang=eng" target="_blank">hymn</a>s says, “There is hope smiling
brightly before us, and we know that deliverance is nigh.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May this be the year that we witness <i>good at last</i>.<o:p></o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-1779602621989463472023-12-30T15:52:00.000-08:002023-12-30T15:52:04.464-08:00Year End; Time to Wake Up<p>It has become somewhat traditional for me to review the
Spherical Model on the last post of the year. (Also at other times, such as
early March, the anniversary of when I started the blog in 2011.) I’ll get to
that eventually. But I want to lead into that by first talking about a podcast
I was listening to the other day.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The host of<i> <a href="https://youtu.be/VcsXwnFC8sU?si=AOtrhLp5H3q3WGSt " target="_blank">Cwic Show</a></i> is Greg Matsen, and the person
being interviewed, Julie Behling, did her master's thesis on the underground
Christian churches in the Soviet Union. She is the author of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Sheeps-Clothing-Communist-Parallels/dp/0578265850?crid=MIH06P7OR8VB&keywords=beneath+sheep%27s+clothing&qid=1702678404&sprefix=beneath+sheep,aps,136&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=cwicmedia-20&linkId=a3e86186885b9f88170cbf8929aadcdd&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">Beneath Sheep's
Clothing</a></i> and has a <a href="https://www.beneathsheepsclothing.movie/" target="_blank">documentary</a> with the same name coming out in January. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7_MvZintNP2r5MnEUrdNbY9Ib4fMhxQztNMQFBqd9p6rYd6m3w48nZgxmMbP4Ryy-AD0T5iFeXHzNQKD36YIahiLFx_yxQ9BlsfE5cxEurR62R_hHHSHZZ4btDifhiEQNFpgh2IK5uKPWrD-PtNhclV061CwDWfLIjQf_ZJk1ISHqW8Xvgyzfx0XbDHx/s1200/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20164543%20cropped.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1200" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7_MvZintNP2r5MnEUrdNbY9Ib4fMhxQztNMQFBqd9p6rYd6m3w48nZgxmMbP4Ryy-AD0T5iFeXHzNQKD36YIahiLFx_yxQ9BlsfE5cxEurR62R_hHHSHZZ4btDifhiEQNFpgh2IK5uKPWrD-PtNhclV061CwDWfLIjQf_ZJk1ISHqW8Xvgyzfx0XbDHx/w487-h271/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20164543%20cropped.png" width="487" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/VcsXwnFC8sU?si=LWKEVZZHL1S2dftM" target="_blank">Cwic Show </a>December 15, 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One detail I hadn’t known about the Soviet Union was that
the KGB had infiltrated the churches. All of them. The clergy were either
cooperating with the KGB, or they were KGB agents. Behling offers details
about how they had done this, and why. But it came down to controlling what
people believe, because that is what totalitarian tyrannies must do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then she added that, in her research, she was somewhat
shocked to find that Communists had also infiltrated a solid half of American
Christian churches, more than a century ago.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She mentioned Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor, who
spent some time in the US in the 1930s (I wrote about him <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2011/05/freedom-and-resistance.html" target="_blank">here</a>), who was sad to come to the Union
Theological Seminary only to find that they scoffed at the idea of Christ’s
divinity and atonement for sin. Those were the same lapses he had found in the
German clergy as they acquiesced to Hitler.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Back when I was attending homeschool conferences, more than
a decade ago, I heard <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2011/10/ye-shall-know-them-by-their-fruits.html" target="_blank">Pastor Voddie Baucham </a>speak. He defined having a Biblical
worldview as believing in Jesus, who lived a perfect life, died for us, and
suffered for our sins as our Savior. That is what I believe, and that is
doctrine in my religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So I
was shocked when he told us that less than 10% of professed Christians have
this Biblical worldview, and only 51% of pastors have it. I think that’s
evidence of the infiltration.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I heard a talk recently—I think it was Ken Ham telling a
story from his childhood, but I could be wrong about who it was. Anyway, he recalled
the pastor had been telling the story of the feeding of the 5000 with the
loaves and fishes. The pastor had explained that, once a young boy had pulled
out his meager amount of fish and bread to share, it had incentivized everyone
else to share what they had, and then there was plenty. The storyteller’s
father went up to the pastor afterward and told him, “That’s not what happened.”
The pastor had taken the miracle out of the story, along with Jesus’ divine
power. And he’d made the story pointless. If enough people had brought food and
to spare, there was never anyone in need of being fed, so why would the story
even show up in scriptures? More likely, it was remarkably miraculous, and
that’s why it got recorded. Church leadership that doesn’t believe in the
divinity of Christ means they are not Christian, and they are leading the flock toward something else that is not good.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What Behling said had taken place in the infiltrated
churches was a replacement of the divine doctrine with the “Marxist construct
of oppressed versus oppressor”; in other words, social justice—even though it
took until recent decades for them to start using that term.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Matsen and Behling got into a section where they were
discussing some various flavors of authoritarian tyranny. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ll share some of the transcript here, so you can see the attempts
to define various forms of authoritarian tyranny. [GB is Greg Matsen, and JB is
Julie Behling.]<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">GM: I’ve noticed in reading your book—obviously I don’t know
about the documentary yet—but in the book you use the term Communism quite a
bit. That’s kind of a term that isn’t used as much. It’s Marxist, maybe, or,
moving on to 2.0 here with <i>woke</i>, etc. You have a background in studying Communism,
right? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He asks her about the terms, so she begins with some
definitions:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Socialism is when the government owns the means
of production and is in charge. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Communism is when the government owns the means
of production, and this government is instituted through a violent overthrow of
the previous regime. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Marxism is the oppressed versus oppressor
construct that's the playbook for preparing a society to fall to Communism.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">JB: So if you can identify a group of people who either are
oppressed or who can be made to feel oppressed, you can rile them up to anger
and stoke the grievance and say, “Hey there's your oppressor. Tear down that
system of power.” The systems of power are torn down and weakened, and now the
Communists can come in and assume authority. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This caught my attention, because I have this in my basic
article about the Spherical Model:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">People tend to be afraid of the chaos of anarchy. Lenin saw
this. One way to gain totalitarian power is to create chaos and then promise to
solve the problems of chaos (crime, poverty, lack of safety on all levels) by
offering government solutions, until the revolutionaries have managed to get
themselves installed as dictators. This was the purpose of Trotsky’s idea of
perpetual revolution: Place power in our hands, and we will see that you are
fed and housed and protected—that is, if the dictator was so minded once the
power was achieved. Everywhere that Communism has been tried, it took hold
because people gave in to this desire for government to provide protection and
food and shelter. It works on a people who do not trust their own ability to
provide, and it works especially well when chaos reigns to make it difficult
for people to provide for themselves. Revolutionaries therefore cause anarchy
so that they can implement their own totalitarian tyranny.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think Behling is right when she is saying that the
oppressed versus oppressor tactic is to create chaos that will allow the
tyrants to step in and take control. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Behling says, “What we have brewing here, it's not exactly
like the type of Communism that the Soviets had. It's worse.” Matsen asks her why
it’s worse.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">JB: Because it's more crafty. And it's more like the
Communist Chinese system, where it's this weird marriage of Communism and
Fascism and then, honestly, a little bit of Monopolistic Capitalism thrown in
for good measure. It's the most abusive forms of government fused together with
this—what they're hoping for—Global Leadership with all the technocratic
controls that they— we now have with being in the 21st century, and it's truly
frightening.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Spherical Model allows us to see the relative badness or
goodness of a philosophy graphically. You can determine how close the ideas
bring society to freedom, prosperity, and civilization, or alternatively how
close they bring society to tyranny, poverty, and savagery. For a fuller
discussion see <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-political-sphere-is-round.html" target="_blank">this summary</a>. Or, for more detail, see all the articles on <a href="http://sphericalmodel.com/home.html" target="_blank">the website</a>, starting with "<a href="http://sphericalmodel.com/thepoliticalworld.html" target="_blank">The Political World Is Round</a>."</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScg6CHaXZekkDEMivm2TZn9Cd7IHoLLlZhrgAtytlAR8AdNXAB8mx6f6bd8-s7ts1ZfmYNgUrb415oRPC4_rijNMRtnyF3xB_0plNJuUPgA_naksTfMM9HqHiUrJquFTjTFd-l1a9a3i-HTvFR8oMiqr2FHWXpGb8yuxgLKZUq-Vy8_uQOOolNAlXP5M1/s1235/3%20spheres%20side%20by%20side%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="1235" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScg6CHaXZekkDEMivm2TZn9Cd7IHoLLlZhrgAtytlAR8AdNXAB8mx6f6bd8-s7ts1ZfmYNgUrb415oRPC4_rijNMRtnyF3xB_0plNJuUPgA_naksTfMM9HqHiUrJquFTjTFd-l1a9a3i-HTvFR8oMiqr2FHWXpGb8yuxgLKZUq-Vy8_uQOOolNAlXP5M1/w605-h195/3%20spheres%20side%20by%20side%20cropped.jpg" width="605" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The political, economic, and social spheres of the Spherical Model</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are slight flavor differences between Communism,
Socialism, Fascism, the overarching philosophy of Marxism, as well as what
Behling calls Monopolistic Capitalism—another way of saying Oligarchy or rule
by businesses and controllers of money. These are all southern hemisphere on
the Spherical Model, mostly on the statist side, or controlled by the
government, although some (oligarchs and organized crime possibly) on the chaos
or anarchic side of tyranny. But they’re all bunched together, down toward the
bad pole of tyranny.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6qPZgk3Zffgs2g1-RWtoOf5VeFARcC1ZQC93w-sfYRipuR_CXpv2TRuJ48svbENNj4G9XG7vhOVS89ongVgppmWfNK95G9dBG4epw0w5favaowbAh8wBVUIXBG7j2jV4HboKMHexgTbguxLhuC0DYRdECtLqw333vspgM2X-x4GMqIHKfS5otutqLfcv/s1200/DSCN3582edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1052" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6qPZgk3Zffgs2g1-RWtoOf5VeFARcC1ZQC93w-sfYRipuR_CXpv2TRuJ48svbENNj4G9XG7vhOVS89ongVgppmWfNK95G9dBG4epw0w5favaowbAh8wBVUIXBG7j2jV4HboKMHexgTbguxLhuC0DYRdECtLqw333vspgM2X-x4GMqIHKfS5otutqLfcv/w347-h395/DSCN3582edited.jpg" width="347" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fascism, Socialism, and Communism are all statist tyrannies,<br />and thus they take up approximately the same location<br />on the Spherical Model.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">There’s discussion about the way tyranny—Marxism, Communism—is
being presented here in the West, particularly in the US. It’s like a virus, or
a cancer, that spreads. But, because the West was healthy (not a lot of abject
poverty), it was hard to convince a poor class to rise up in rebellion,
allowing for the tyrannical takeover.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">JB: Communism—you can see it as a virus, or as a cancer, and
it spreads to various parts of the—different organs and different systems, and
eats it up, and takes it over. And, you know, Antonio Gramsci, his whole plot,
you know, he was back there in Italy as a Marxist, and very stressed out that
the West was not falling to Communism, in the 1930s. And so he’s the one who
came up with cultural Marxism, and said, “OK, we’ve got to infiltrate these
cultures—the West has this cultural hegemony that is resistant to Communism;
we’ve got to go in and take those things over.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">I mean, before the businesses could be taken over, our
culture was already taken over to a good enough extent that that was possible.
So, yeah. We’re in a very late stage, because it’s far beyond the culture at
this point.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a part of the book of <i>Revelation</i> that I’ve been
looking at, in <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rev/13?lang=eng" target="_blank">chapter 13</a>, about the beast that rises up out of the sea. This
beast has multiple heads and crowns. Symbolically, it seems to be the various
powers reigning around the world, and interconnected together as one “beast.”
One of the heads is mortally wounded—but then comes back to life. I have looked
at this and wondered if this is Communism, or one of the other words we’ve
listed and defined above. We fought a World War to wipe out this attempt at
controlling all the peoples of the earth. We said, “Never again!” And yet, here
we are, with our college campuses preaching the Gramsci version, cultural
Marxism, where everyone is either oppressed or oppressor. There’s an attempt to
control our ability to make a living, or to buy and sell, based on whether we
have bought into this party line. It’s as ugly as it ever was. “We’re in a very
late stage,” Behling says.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVtp6ZfMkW6azwLrBCm9Qzp4lfGuXrwINhvZJZHqUUAAd0uzuI3X1ulgfF3PcR4QvZ6xlKD65kW9nzMyuVVXVcOKNYDDhJcSPOd2BsChyphenhyphenzcnQZ6F6APmg5ou7hFR8oILwymYBth_PEFaBY5Wk5zreVoGHuWizM3rf0AtUXFau4RwAs2mc8RwXWEyqlYhn/s1161/2023-03-03%20La%20bete%20de%20la%20mer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1161" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVtp6ZfMkW6azwLrBCm9Qzp4lfGuXrwINhvZJZHqUUAAd0uzuI3X1ulgfF3PcR4QvZ6xlKD65kW9nzMyuVVXVcOKNYDDhJcSPOd2BsChyphenhyphenzcnQZ6F6APmg5ou7hFR8oILwymYBth_PEFaBY5Wk5zreVoGHuWizM3rf0AtUXFau4RwAs2mc8RwXWEyqlYhn/w421-h284/2023-03-03%20La%20bete%20de%20la%20mer.png" width="421" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"La Bete de la Mer," a French tapestry showing<br />John the Revelator, Satan the dragon, and the sea beast<br />of Revelation 13. Image from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation_13" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Matsen, at one point, adds this:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">GM: I really like that you said that they’re using Fascism,
because that’s 100% true. It’s so funny, because they call anyone who leans
right of them, which is almost everyone, a Fascist. What a Fascist really
means, they’re using business; they’re using the current institutions, right,
that are not owned by the state. And that is Fascism. And they’re using it
better than any Fascist has ever used it before. And so, again, that’s the idea
of adapting to the West and using their system, where now they are the Fascists
that are, again, infecting and using and coercing the free enterprises to—and
free organizations and institutions in the West—to tow the party line.<o:p></o:p></p>So, again, it isn't what you call it; it's how far into tyranny the idea is. If people used the Spherical Model, they couldn't be fooled into thinking anything "right" of cultural Marxism is Fascist; cultural Marxism is just a way of being Fascist—or totalitarian tyranny. <br /><p class="MsoNormal">Behling tries to give us some hope. I mean, why point out
these things if there isn’t any hope of recovery?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">JB: And I really do have hope—I mean, I’m a little bit doom
and gloom here—but I do have hope that there are so many good people, so many
good Christians, so many good people who love freedom that, if we can wake up
enough people, we have this window of time right now—if we can wake up enough
people—that these agendas will not be able to come to full fruition. That is my
hope. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There <i>is</i> some reason to hope. I know so many good people, as
she does, so many good Christians and also good people of other faiths, who
love freedom, and truth, and want to preserve our God-given rights. Governments
are instituted to protect those God-given rights, but government is fire, and
it seems to fuel itself and grasp power unto itself that it hasn’t been given
by the people.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One purpose of the Spherical Model is to clarify. It isn’t
necessary to understand all the nuances and differences among the various words
we use for tyranny. It’s only necessary to know whether something leads to
Freedom, Prosperity, and Civilization, or whether it instead leads to Tyranny,
Poverty, and Savagery. Those things are ascertainable with <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2013/09/candidate-q.html" target="_blank">a few basic questions</a>—and a lot of truth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May this coming year be a year where we bring more people to
an awakening, with truth—offered with love and caring, but always by giving and
sharing truth.<o:p></o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-55020683006965471262023-12-23T16:56:00.000-08:002023-12-23T16:56:39.329-08:00A Tree, a House, and Why There Is No Peace<p>It’s almost Christmas Eve. <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2023/12/great-expectations.html" target="_blank">I wrote</a> a bit about Christmas a
couple of weeks ago. This piece isn’t as joyful. But it is also about that
little part of the world we think about this time of year, because it is where
our Savior was born.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is something of a book review. A friend recommended the
book <i>T<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lemon-Tree-Young-Readers-Middle/dp/B08MQR7D6F/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3RCOAQGVNTWUV&keywords=the+lemon+tree+book+by+sandy+tolan&qid=1703368158&sprefix=The+Lemon+%2Caps%2C281&sr=8-4" target="_blank">he Lemon Tree, An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East</a></i>,
by Sandy Tolan. There’s a house, with a lemon tree, that has a complicated
history. It is a real place. The version I read was a young reader’s edition of
an award-winning adult book. This one was 228 pages, so I didn’t realize it
qualified as a “children’s book,” until well into it. Or maybe during the
afterword. But this one will do.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEllmo2aVEVGdw5Smke7Za5paLxDw9_mwBaKelzVhH9JKWZ8Ry9Xuyvy_vI0d41fBc5IJDJIMQQSw_5kCzXFBF1g1KB6rZSJrbFGlKyRQP-AQzeschuZv5sqTP5m1kARv6eTuZZCUIxJSVjfyY141tYDViIpddZZga6OVdOjj771K6Np2q61afEoWsu5b6/s500/Lemon%20Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEllmo2aVEVGdw5Smke7Za5paLxDw9_mwBaKelzVhH9JKWZ8Ry9Xuyvy_vI0d41fBc5IJDJIMQQSw_5kCzXFBF1g1KB6rZSJrbFGlKyRQP-AQzeschuZv5sqTP5m1kARv6eTuZZCUIxJSVjfyY141tYDViIpddZZga6OVdOjj771K6Np2q61afEoWsu5b6/s320/Lemon%20Tree.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">book cover from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lemon-Tree-Young-Readers-Middle/dp/B08MQR7D6F/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3RCOAQGVNTWUV&keywords=the+lemon+tree+book+by+sandy+tolan&qid=1703368158&sprefix=The+Lemon+%2Caps%2C281&sr=8-4" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The original book was published in 2006, which started out
in the form of a 43-minute radio documentary on NPR’s <i>Fresh Air</i>, in
1998, at the occasion of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The afterword of this
version shows events up through 2013, and it was published in 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The purpose of the story, I think, is intended to show that
a friendship can exist between two natural enemies, when the people are willing
to really listen to one another.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That’s the first impression of the story. But there were
several niggling details that didn’t seem right. And an ending that didn’t
coincide with that message. So I’d like to take a look at this story,
particularly in light of what is happening in that place now.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The house was originally owned by the Khairi family,
Palestinian Arabs. Their son Bashir is one of the two main people in the story.
The house is later inhabited by the Eshkenazis, a Jewish family relocated from
Bulgaria. Their daughter Dalia is the other main person in the story.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a fair amount of history told at the beginning of
the book. The book claims to be nonfiction in every way. Well-researched, we
are told. There are maps at the beginning, showing various plans.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyw_NzBbcXZ9JYS0qjBBokPEW8na9S4N1YoSaqFucNyACeIUR6n8A_x_z2WDViNhc3nQLhhi4eYNHC8JsX-Bfpx-c4i5UMf-9hF7KpFrRWMS0Q12MRGEM7EjX6fMF1Y8po1Vn8e3jT69RnAMdLQkyEdcB6NWKtYbOCi-ahaRj30FNyjik0a0AErSFRPnx/s855/Israel%20-%20map%20comparisons%2012-22-2023%20map%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="855" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyw_NzBbcXZ9JYS0qjBBokPEW8na9S4N1YoSaqFucNyACeIUR6n8A_x_z2WDViNhc3nQLhhi4eYNHC8JsX-Bfpx-c4i5UMf-9hF7KpFrRWMS0Q12MRGEM7EjX6fMF1Y8po1Vn8e3jT69RnAMdLQkyEdcB6NWKtYbOCi-ahaRj30FNyjik0a0AErSFRPnx/w485-h338/Israel%20-%20map%20comparisons%2012-22-2023%20map%201.jpg" width="485" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left map is from the book. Upper right is from <a href="https://youtu.be/XGYxLWUKwWo?si=2po3rVSBxOvx_xpw" target="_blank">this Danny Ayalon video</a>, and<br />lower right is from <a href="https://youtu.be/76NytvQAIs0?si=vItHMZGsPJxgBTom" target="_blank">this Prager U video</a>. These both show that the original<br />protectorate welcoming Jews to Israel was considerably larger than any later boundaries.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The maps match the history, but some details do not coincide
with the history I know of this region. It’s a difficult thing to understand
one another and come to some sort of agreement when we are dealing with “facts”
that simply don’t match.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to the book, the Israelis—the Jews—are always the
aggressors. They are brutal and unfeeling, and aim for civilians. That is the
story people tell when they want you to hate the Jews. In reality, it is hard
to find a people anywhere in history who have gone more out of their way to
avoid civilian casualties in their wars. And the wars on their part have always
been defensive—including the one that started October 7, 2023.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Whenever you have someone referring to Israel as “occupying”
the land, you know you are reading a biased, anti-Jewish source. No amount of
pretending to be thoughtful passes the smell test.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, what is the story of this house with the lemon tree?
According to the family story, this is 1948, the war Israel had to fight one
year into its existence following its creation by the United Nations, following
the end of WWII and the holocaust. Jews, who were already living in Israel
(some Jews had lived there throughout the centuries, but in growing numbers in
the 20<sup>th</sup> Century), were joined by refugees from many parts of
Europe, where it was no longer safe for them to live.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQAp8udF4PTxC1ctZcD07URHH5uudwfhD77dC0y7rze2vXqUK-Wxx4OIhKkCeOwSFa_GB1g4AgaC3oke-RhWHOgEwmvYzOAZ9lvnOgnlCy4K0qdygdGwJKPR6oTe_jLxC5C7htMbKbxr2mB0XMzWHCADWZXPDwqENukY1UoNbPZz3Xbi8g2Shlle52bHY/s923/Israel%20-%20map%20comparisons%2012-22-2023%20map%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="923" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQAp8udF4PTxC1ctZcD07URHH5uudwfhD77dC0y7rze2vXqUK-Wxx4OIhKkCeOwSFa_GB1g4AgaC3oke-RhWHOgEwmvYzOAZ9lvnOgnlCy4K0qdygdGwJKPR6oTe_jLxC5C7htMbKbxr2mB0XMzWHCADWZXPDwqENukY1UoNbPZz3Xbi8g2Shlle52bHY/w470-h316/Israel%20-%20map%20comparisons%2012-22-2023%20map%202.jpg" width="470" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left map from the book. Upper right from <a href="https://youtu.be/XGYxLWUKwWo?si=s6oTsR3wPM08Tdof" target="_blank">Danny Ayalon video</a>. <br />Lower right from <a href="https://youtu.be/76NytvQAIs0?si=vItHMZGsPJxgBTom" target="_blank">PragerU video</a>. While the maps are essentially the same,<br />the book fails to note that these boundaries, while greatly shrinking<br />Israeli land, were accepted by Israel but rejected by the Arabs,<br />who went to war within the year to wipe out Israel. Israel won, but<br />the Arabs never accepted these nor any other boundaries.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They did not come to a nation called Palestine; they came to
an area, given that name anciently by the Romans. After the defeat of the
Ottoman Empire, this area was a protectorate of Great Britain. Much, but not
all, was uninhabited. The Jews, coming from the diaspora, did not oust any
current residents. They came and settled, building their own communities—buying
land whenever it had an owner. The Arabs living among them started protesting
their presence with terrorist attacks at least as early as the 1920s. But there
wasn’t always animosity. Jews and Arabs mainly did business together, as they
have done in other Mediterranean areas over the centuries.</p><p class="MsoNormal">But when Israel was made a state, with worldwide agreement
and treaty, in 1947, the Arabs surrounding the newly birthed tiny nation
rebelled. And started a war. Which Israel miraculously won.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During this war—as with others since then—the Arabs call for
the Jews to be removed from the nation that has been their homeland for more
than three millennia. Every time Israel has been willing to negotiate a
partition—always with Israel giving up land—the Arabs have refused, insisting
instead on Jewish annihilation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So our story with Bashir’s family begins during this 1948
war. In the book, a Jewish neighbor rides into their fields and warns them the
army is coming, and they need to get out or be killed. They grab what they can,
as do their neighbors, and they flee. While they are concerned, they are
certain the Palestinian Arabs will quickly win the war, and then they can
return to their homes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have read about this before. I can’t verify that a
neighboring Jew didn’t call out to them. But in general the Arab aggressors
were the ones calling for the people to clear out, so they could go through the
streets without having to separate out the enemy; they could just
indiscriminately kill. The Jews were telling people, “You don’t have to leave.
If you want to live peacefully with us, we will not harm you.” They kept their
word to those who stayed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But those who left—think about what they have done; and this
includes Bashir and family. They have declared allegiance to the enemies of the
nation. They have declared their desire for the annihilation of the people
granted nationhood. Their side loses. And they have not changed their designs,
but they think their enemies should let them back in, to fight them from within
another day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Refugees went several directions. They continued terrorist
attacks from wherever they were. The neighboring nations that took them in
could tolerate them only so long, and then they ousted them. So there are
pockets of Palestinian Arabs, mainly in Gaza, west and south of the rest of
Israel, and another portion to the north. You might notice that there were
Jewish refugees at that time as well—who fled <i>into</i> Israel from
neighboring countries. They aren’t still refugees, of course; they are Israeli
citizens. I don’t know of another incidence in history where refugees have been
kept in refugee settlements—temporary, subsistence level—without being allowed
to become permanent anywhere, for decades on end. They are not held in these
settlements by the Israelis; the Israelis only police their own borders, not
the rest of the world, which is keeping those people trapped in poverty.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This point is important, because it’s what the story turns
on.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After 20 years, Bashir, now in his mid-twenties, returns,
along with his cousins, to visit their former homes. At Bashir’s home Dalia
Eshkenazi decides to overcome her fear and open the door to them. They note
that the lemon tree Bashir’s family had planted is still surviving. Something
of a friendship ensues. Dalia believes the way Bashir tells it—that the
Israelis forced his people out and then wouldn’t let them return after the war.
Dalia is horror struck. She had always understood that the people had simply
abandoned their houses, although she couldn’t understand why. This changes many
things, she believes. Her people were in the wrong, although after all these
years, what is there to do? She in fact does many things. After inheriting the
house in adulthood, she turns it into a school for Arab children. And she
continues a long correspondence with Bashir, and later with his family.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIqZVeG3xHReSjnnRHkNdggyyeulzo_nlHRGc9i8Txc7ibxPHNH23S8vW6plNSkFjlLU00outEUz_GIlSKHHyZOINLEKRPaJgG42kgN2J_SrmuUe8dwnzeEOSy4AC8UiZDZ3GpXxyWcAqk4cxxnYOAqqYMLM3mCTkrXcNzWlKXGlz_WAprWR6VTRTMfbC/s984/Israel%20-%20map%20comparisons%2012-22-2023%20map%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="984" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIqZVeG3xHReSjnnRHkNdggyyeulzo_nlHRGc9i8Txc7ibxPHNH23S8vW6plNSkFjlLU00outEUz_GIlSKHHyZOINLEKRPaJgG42kgN2J_SrmuUe8dwnzeEOSy4AC8UiZDZ3GpXxyWcAqk4cxxnYOAqqYMLM3mCTkrXcNzWlKXGlz_WAprWR6VTRTMfbC/w501-h332/Israel%20-%20map%20comparisons%2012-22-2023%20map%203.jpg" width="501" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Left map from the book. Upper right from </span><a href="https://youtu.be/XGYxLWUKwWo?si=s6oTsR3wPM08Tdof" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">Danny Ayalon video</a><span style="font-size: small;">. </span><br style="font-size: small;" /><span style="font-size: small;">Lower right from </span><a href="https://youtu.be/76NytvQAIs0?si=vItHMZGsPJxgBTom" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">PragerU video</a><span style="font-size: small;">. The story of Bashir's first visit to Dalia's family<br />is about a year after the 1967 war, during which all the surrounding Arab nations<br />attacked, but Israel miraculously won. The Arabs continued to refuse to accept any borders<br />that acknowledged Israel as a nation.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bashir, for his part, while supposedly trying to deeply
understand, also tells Dalia that the Jews should all return to where they came
from. He simply doesn’t hear, or understand, that there is nowhere but Israel
for the Jews to return to. He thinks he is being generous to exempt those Jews
who were born in Israel prior to 1947. But, of course, they shouldn’t have any
right to rule in the land the Palestinians now claim to own—and accuse the
Israelis of “occupying.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Despite this peacemaking friendship, Bashir is a member of
the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, or PFLP—a terrorist group
intent on ousting the Israelis and “returning” all the land to the Palestinian
Arabs. Over the years he is arrested multiple times. I forget how long he spent
in prison, but I think the longest stint was 15 years. In the afterword, in
2011, he is arrested and interrogated for several days, at age 69, following an
attack a few weeks earlier in which an Israeli family was brutally murdered,
and which had been linked to PFLP members in the vicinity. Up through this
time, he answers as he always has: “I am a Palestinian who believes in the
Palestinian cause. And I despise the occupation. The crux of the Palestinian
cause is the right of return. Otherwise there will be endless bloodshed.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By this time he has stopped his correspondence with Dalia,
because she did not follow through with his demand—that she “petition the city
of Ramla to return the old Arab houses to their original Palestinian owners.”
This was not something she had either the power or ability to do. So he has shunned
her.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As I look at the story, Dalia is the peacemaker. The Jewish
peacemaker. Bashir is the violent, angry, demanding Arab, who never does
understand either what really happened, or what is reality after all the
decades. There can be no peace, because people like him do not want peace; they
want the Jews disposed of.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The book doesn’t tell the story the author intended. It is,
rather, a metaphor for the larger conflict. A Jew opens the door to peace; a
Palestinian Arab makes unreasonable and irrational demands that cannot and
should not be met.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the afterword, the book gives this account of casualties:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;">Since
Dalia and Bashir last saw each other, in 2005, multiple wars have devastated
Gaza, killing more than 3,200 Palestinian civilians, including more than one
thousand children, mostly killed by Israeli air strikes. During that same time,
twenty-nine Israeli civilians died from Hamas rocket attacks launched from
Gaza. None of those were children. Yet, despite the dramatic disparity in
casualties, throughout Israel, and in the media, Palestinians are often
portrayed as the aggressors, and Israelis, the victims.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The author fails to note that it was Palestinians who began
every war, every attack. Every Israeli air strike was in defense, not offense.
And Jewish leaders went to great lengths to warn civilians to get safely away
from where the air strikes were targeted to land. Meanwhile, Palestinian
leaders placed civilians in harm’s way, on purpose, to be able to blame
Israelis. And their attacks have always aimed at civilians. The disparity in
deaths is attributable almost entirely to Israeli military strength, including
the Iron Dome defenses—not attributable to some gentle kindness by the
Palestinian attackers.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2gAmPgZ7Y1nCpTlCDVFc6HE9v82UXTw2jiuL3IXG6ApB_C1Ivr4QYEMjleU7D6Uvdq1P6eN76cXiLvp5nclLcRNJW7sPc5Mnqb2XxLAL0jtKYfGgjuJ11dV7T6QGEw7lyhBR_tsdWaY9Cp_42CONfmMK3wUgTQJ-jap3-Wnln56mQ66Vn4Ujgv85TgyT/s929/Israel%20-%20map%20comparisons%2012-22-2023%20map%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="929" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2gAmPgZ7Y1nCpTlCDVFc6HE9v82UXTw2jiuL3IXG6ApB_C1Ivr4QYEMjleU7D6Uvdq1P6eN76cXiLvp5nclLcRNJW7sPc5Mnqb2XxLAL0jtKYfGgjuJ11dV7T6QGEw7lyhBR_tsdWaY9Cp_42CONfmMK3wUgTQJ-jap3-Wnln56mQ66Vn4Ujgv85TgyT/w432-h309/Israel%20-%20map%20comparisons%2012-22-2023%20map%205.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The left map is from the book. The right is from a presentation by Victor Ludlow<br />that I attended in 2011. The point Ludlow made here was that this area has<br />numerous small pockets of the different ethnicities. Dividing lines to partition<br />Palestinians from Jews aren't really possible. This land is actually Judea and <br />Samaria, part of Israel since the beginning. But this is where Palestinians cry out<br />that no Jews should be allowed to live in this disputed territory.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In a follow-up to the last time <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2023/11/brief-history-of-gaza.html" target="_blank">I talked about the war</a>, I
wondered what the casualty count is at this point. Oddly, it isn’t that easy
to ascertain. There are a number of articles detailing casualties in Gaza.
Getting an updated count of casualties in Israel, which has been under
continual rocket attacks—except for a brief cease fire around November 21, in
which there were negotiations for prisoner exchanges—has not been easy. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the attack first happened, horrifying the world, we learned,
“On 7 October 2023, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 764
civilians, were killed, and 248 persons taken hostage during the initial attack
on Israel from the Gaza Strip.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/56b0398bfe6b68f6/Documents/Organize%20These/Blog%20post%2012-22-2023%20A%20Tree%5eJ%20a%20House%5eJ%20and%20Why%20There%20Is%20No%20Peace.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Note that the Israeli casualties on that day equal a third of the Palestinian count
recounted in the book that stretched over a couple of decades.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It took until about the first weekend of the war before the
concern turned from the savagery of the terrorist Palestinians to concern that
Israel might use its military might to stop their enemies—which might, as it
turns out, cause casualties, including civilian casualties, despite Israel’s
efforts to avoid them. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let’s use an analogy, something like that house in the story,
but here in Texas. Suppose there’s a house that is broken into; the intruders intend
to take whatever they can get hold of, and they have no compunctions about
killing any residents who might stand in their way. But, while they should be
aware that homeowners are well-armed in Texas, they seem shocked, Shocked! that
the homeowner pulls out a gun and shoots at them. One of the intruders is
killed; another is wounded. The wounded thief calls on the media to condemn the
homeowner who protected himself, his family, and his home. He had greater
firepower—a hunting rifle, as it turned out—which overpowered the mere handguns
carried by the intruders. Not fair! The homeowner valued his own life
and property as more valuable than the thieves', who were only breaking into his
home and threatening him, and hadn’t yet succeeded in killing him and his
family.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That kind of argument might work in California or New
York—places where people aren’t allowed to own guns to protect themselves. But
it doesn’t make sense in Texas. We have what is called the Castle Doctrine,
meaning a person has the right to protect himself—with lethal force if
necessary—on his own property when under threat.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do we feel bad for the intruders? One was killed. Another
wounded. We would rather that hadn’t happened—but it was entirely preventable
by the thieves; all they had to do was not to break into the home to rob and
plunder.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We can feel bad for Palestinians, many of whom are trapped
in poverty and bad circumstances—and yet are not terrorist aggressors. But they
live among such aggressors. They vote them into power. And they continue to
claim the Israelis have no right to live in their own country and to protect
themselves.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There might be two points of view. But it might be that one
side is completely in the wrong—and they are the ones who have the power to
cause peace in the Middle East. If only they were willing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/56b0398bfe6b68f6/Documents/Organize%20These/Blog%20post%2012-22-2023%20A%20Tree%5eJ%20a%20House%5eJ%20and%20Why%20There%20Is%20No%20Peace.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> "<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231217222630/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231215-israel-social-security-data-reveals-true-picture-of-oct-7-deaths" target="_blank">Israel social security data reveals true picture of Oct 7 deaths</a>." France 24. 15 December
2023. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December
2023. The quote and citation were found on Wikipedia December 22, 2023.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-60636934766880453772023-12-07T20:10:00.000-08:002023-12-07T20:10:03.653-08:00Great Expectations<p>There’s a tune I play with other musicians, called “Hyfrydol,”
which in my religion is sung with the words, “In Humility, Our Savior.” There are
Christmas lyrics I like, with a lot of Alleluias. But the most common version
is probably “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” which can also be sung as a
Christmas hymn.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the time of the Savior’s birth, people had been waiting already
for a very long time. Every Old Testament prophet prophesied of the coming
Messiah. So I’m trying to imagine what people like the shepherds thought, in
their rejoicing at the wondrous news from the angels. And there were Simeon and
Anna at the temple, when the infant Jesus was brought there, who were aging but
had faithfully held on until they could see their Lord in the flesh.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMXOaawz6iIOFlwGcyu1AlJTRppW8NWL619FsfUlIo9CpFjVHCyURj5G_aNBGLYvsvz2xT_s7fa-V4lUm-nCP3FEa_tZ8FwkkGA1ngCcVNRjW723MJWnHpqSR_HHBiAASGtE3PT3zyI86JFPZcbgmy14Pmrp52DSMBtuZmw0XMN0VtrqvBWWh5ULhTlK4/s2083/20220709_183508%20Ken%20Turner%20nativity%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1843" data-original-width="2083" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMXOaawz6iIOFlwGcyu1AlJTRppW8NWL619FsfUlIo9CpFjVHCyURj5G_aNBGLYvsvz2xT_s7fa-V4lUm-nCP3FEa_tZ8FwkkGA1ngCcVNRjW723MJWnHpqSR_HHBiAASGtE3PT3zyI86JFPZcbgmy14Pmrp52DSMBtuZmw0XMN0VtrqvBWWh5ULhTlK4/w453-h401/20220709_183508%20Ken%20Turner%20nativity%20cropped.jpg" width="453" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ken Turner's "The Nativity," from a gallery show in Columbus, TX, in 2022</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the book of 3 Nephi, in the Book of Mormon, the people on
that continent are also awaiting the Savior’s birth. There had been a prophecy
that in five years the sign would be given—a day and a night and a day with no
darkness. The believers are waiting, aware that the time is ripe. The
non-believers are persecuting them, and have made an ultimatum: deny your
beliefs or die, with a set date after which come the executions. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here's the scriptural telling of the story, starting in <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng" target="_blank">3 Nephi 1:4</a>:</p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">for there began to be <a data-scroll-id="note4a" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng#note4a" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40));"><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span></sup></i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">greater</span></a> signs
and greater miracles wrought among the people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" data-aid="128345652" id="p5" style="--height: 98.0999984741211px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span class="verse-number"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">5 </span></b></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">But there were some who began to say that the time was past for
the words to be fulfilled, which were <a data-scroll-id="note5a" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng#note5a" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40));"><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span></sup></i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">spoken</span></a> by
Samuel, the Lamanite.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" data-aid="128345653" id="p6" style="--height: 126.9000015258789px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span class="verse-number"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">6 </span></b></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">And they began to <a data-scroll-id="note6a" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng#note6a" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40));"><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span></sup></i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">rejoice</span></a> over
their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are
not fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath
been vain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" data-aid="128345654" id="p7" style="--height: 126.9000015258789px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span class="verse-number"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">7 </span></b></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">And it came to pass that they did make a great uproar throughout
the land; and <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><mark class="Mark-sc-1l3tppr-0 gOvPkR" color="brown" data-active-mark="false" startoffset="18" style="background: rgba(205, 125, 90, 0.24); border: 0px; box-shadow: unset; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">the people who believed began to be very
sorrowful, lest by any means those things which had been spoken might not come
to pass.</span></mark></span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="verse" data-aid="128345655" id="p8" style="--height: 126.9000015258789px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span class="verse-number"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">8 </span></b></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">But <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><mark class="Mark-sc-1l3tppr-0 jiwNzi" color="green" data-active-mark="false" startoffset="3" style="background: rgba(169, 213, 39, 0.27); border: 0px; box-shadow: unset; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">behold, they did watch steadfastly</span></mark></span></span> for <a data-scroll-id="note8a" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng#note8a" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40));"><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span></sup></i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">that day</span></a> and
that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night,
that they might know that their faith had not been vain.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="verse" data-aid="128345656" id="p9" style="--height: 126.9000015258789px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span class="verse-number"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">9 </span></b></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the <a data-scroll-id="note9a" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng#note9a" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40));"><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span></sup></i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">unbelievers</span></a>, that
all those who believed in those traditions should be <a data-scroll-id="note9b" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng#note9b" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40));"><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">b</span></sup></i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">put to death</span></a> except
the <a data-scroll-id="note9c" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng#note9c" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40));"><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">c</span></sup></i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">sign</span></a> should
come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The prophet, Nephi (one of many generations of prophets with
that name in the Book of Mormon), is earnestly praying, that his people might
not be killed:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="verse-number"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">12 </span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord <a data-scroll-id="note12a" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng#note12a" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40));"><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">a</span></sup></i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">all</span></a> that
day; and behold, the <a data-scroll-id="note12b" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng#note12b" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40));"><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">b</span></sup></i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">voice</span></a> of
the Lord came unto him, saying:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" data-aid="128345660" id="p13" style="--height: 155.6999969482422px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span class="verse-number"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">13 </span></b></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><mark class="Mark-sc-1l3tppr-0 dVtYfe" color="orange" data-active-mark="false" startoffset="2" style="background: rgba(254, 152, 41, 0.27); border: 0px; box-shadow: unset; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Lift up your head and be of
good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the <a data-scroll-id="note13a" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng#note13a" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40));"><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">a</span></sup></i><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">sign</span></a> be given,
and on the <a data-scroll-id="note13b" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng#note13b" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40));"><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">b</span></sup></i><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">morrow</span></a> come I
into the world.<o:p></o:p></span></mark></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">What a relief it must have been—in the nick of time! Some people
say God likes to work in those last moments, when His people know they have no
chance of rescuing themselves, and so any rescue must be attributed to God. Imagine
the relief those early followers of Christ must have felt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">I’ve been thinking about expectations and waiting. One story that
fascinates me is the story of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Abraham too, but I’m
looking at her perspective. Abraham has been promised a posterity—as numerous
as the sands of the seashore, or as the dust particles of the earth (Genesis 13:16),
or as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">But Abraham and Sarah are aging. He is 99 going on 100, and Sarah
is 89 going on 90. In those days, people lived longer than today—not as old as
before the flood, when 900 years wasn’t unheard of—but still, they are old
enough that Sarah is well beyond her childbearing years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">So I think about Sarah. They had had this promise—from God, who
does not lie. And yet, she knew enough of biological reality to know women her
age, well past menopause, did not bear children. What must she have thought? Maybe
asking, “Are my blessings really meant for this life, or are those blessings I’ll
see in the next life?” She had wondered if, perhaps she could fulfill God’s
word by having her handmaid, Hagar, marry her husband and provide a son. Thus
Ishmael had been born and was now 13. But God came to Abraham and said that <i>Sarah</i>
would bear him a son, and the covenant would go through that son—who would be
named Isaac. And he would be born within the year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">A couple of chapters later (Genesis 18), three holy messengers come
and verify that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, will bear a son. She laughs when she
hears of it. With skepticism? With joy? I’m not sure what she thought at that
point. But she did, in due time, bear a son, Isaac, who became the father of
Jacob—renamed Israel, meaning <i>God prevails</i>. And Jacob/Israel bore twelve
sons, the descendants of whom fill the earth.</span></p><p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2COGPRH3TEZeUuQ3yK6dGVuXvQeWNjKT_gto8lxksZsuorNTbjndU5-0Yn2imEutcFGLw4holZx29UG4GPrt1FrPaalQf6O3K5IU0S5shyuHCKsUAMb1dJOdxMbokstIfi-sK4I5f9okNVnVTQPD6zbsr6a9JxOY6uFFU8nTZ1oujnlcnw4cDhv5vKzd/s750/John-Baptist-born.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="750" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2COGPRH3TEZeUuQ3yK6dGVuXvQeWNjKT_gto8lxksZsuorNTbjndU5-0Yn2imEutcFGLw4holZx29UG4GPrt1FrPaalQf6O3K5IU0S5shyuHCKsUAMb1dJOdxMbokstIfi-sK4I5f9okNVnVTQPD6zbsr6a9JxOY6uFFU8nTZ1oujnlcnw4cDhv5vKzd/w532-h399/John-Baptist-born.jpg" width="532" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Abraham and Sarah are blessed with a son in their old age.<br />I wasn't able to identify the source of this art. It was used in dozen of places,<br />without attribution. One place even used it to illustrate John the Baptist's parents,<br />which was the clearest image, found <a href="http://here.">here.</a> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">It happened, just as God said it would happen. Even though it was later than could be expected. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Even though it was impossible.</span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">Waiting is hard. I, of course, prefer the time after fulfillment,
when the waiting is over. But that choice isn't up to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">I wasn’t particularly old when I got married, 23. But I was a year
and a half out of college—at a church college where many many of my roommates
and friends got married during our college years. So I was seen as late. There
were times when it didn’t seem likely I would ever find someone. Looking back
now, worrying about that at 23 seems silly. But that was the feeling I had at
the time: maybe it would come someday, but it just didn’t seem possible that
such a time would ever arrive. And then it did. Quite suddenly. We are coming
up on 42 years married, this month. I still remember being surprised that
marriage had come so soon—after all the waiting.</span></p><p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyXtxNM1skSbS4P78b-ceQdWS8ecOsaWRkWzXRsc6nePDUhgfV4JnQWuahbih304LtV7K2katPDfX66bkOX4PaTz26KsbD2fJdeQS8SViUnyzOLMG0cyajuOr7CMq6XseScArm0C_CxC9C593SvpnMRMGGH935hTqewLBiIRZC9rZ3O6XxDP7OBEYXbap/s960/married%2012-18-1981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyXtxNM1skSbS4P78b-ceQdWS8ecOsaWRkWzXRsc6nePDUhgfV4JnQWuahbih304LtV7K2katPDfX66bkOX4PaTz26KsbD2fJdeQS8SViUnyzOLMG0cyajuOr7CMq6XseScArm0C_CxC9C593SvpnMRMGGH935hTqewLBiIRZC9rZ3O6XxDP7OBEYXbap/w407-h407/married%2012-18-1981.jpg" width="407" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">That's us in December 1981. I guess we've changed a little.<br />That olive tree behind us was taken out by a rare downtown tornado <br />a couple of decades ago.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">Then there was the desire for children. Our first child was born
very premature and only lived a few hours. And then I found it hard to get
pregnant again. And then I required bedrest to prevent another early delivery.
My children were hard to get. And there were times I wasn’t sure they would
come. Looking back, my waiting was short. My trials were something I can’t see
myself volunteering for, but they were worth it. I was able to raise three
beautiful, brilliant children. And suddenly I’m a grandmother, which I love.</span></p><p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaf1yA3l-c-nohYF0N81SW1FhCvHmUgdJJTLH0VWmFRZrFAbMTGax9s4-Es0sc5QlMqquanZMIbuzWb3fNqBJO2XwoCW18VogQmAReH7fe8N4vYuSESWBDl-vEHJN3XoMRQnwI8vURLOEoAu2urGCz2at1T7T7n8tHyHX77ahZg_0D23Q5oGT6q9KMM8_/s1131/me%20w%20Lucas%20newborn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="840" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaf1yA3l-c-nohYF0N81SW1FhCvHmUgdJJTLH0VWmFRZrFAbMTGax9s4-Es0sc5QlMqquanZMIbuzWb3fNqBJO2XwoCW18VogQmAReH7fe8N4vYuSESWBDl-vEHJN3XoMRQnwI8vURLOEoAu2urGCz2at1T7T7n8tHyHX77ahZg_0D23Q5oGT6q9KMM8_/w326-h438/me%20w%20Lucas%20newborn.jpg" width="326" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Me with one of my grandsons; this one is 11 now.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">There was waiting, and a sense that the anticipated end would
never come. And then it came.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">Christmas is a glimpse of that for children every year. It feels
like it will never get here—even while parents are frantically trying to cram
in all the required activities in the limited time between Thanksgiving and
Christmas. But it comes. It always really comes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">We do well to remember the birth of our Savior, to honor Him for
his supernal gift of atonement. We do well also to anticipate His coming again.
For most people who have lived since His first coming, this has required going
through death to return to Him. But the prophets all foretell a time when He
will come again, and reign in glory on the earth. And it could be in our
lifetime. It could be soon. This year, next year, this decade at the outside.
(I prefer sooner.) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">The lesson from His first coming is that, after all the long
expectation, He came. So, after long expectation, He will come again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">The lights, the music, the celebration of His birth can also be a
joyous anticipation. Because, one thing we know is, God keeps His promises. While
we don’t know when, it will be in the nick of time to rescue this fallen world.
That is worth thinking about in every expression of Merry Christmas!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">A few days ago our Church did a beautiful presentation on the
electronic billboards in Times Square. This video is an early Christmas treat. (Or view on YouTube <a href="https://youtu.be/INse1lhgZGA?si=DHzWTdCVV_7u3eAG" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span></p><p class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="321" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/INse1lhgZGA" width="387" youtube-src-id="INse1lhgZGA"></iframe></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-86427675924484623222023-11-30T21:36:00.000-08:002023-11-30T21:36:29.866-08:00Yes, Thanksgiving Dinner Did Cost More<p>Biden claims this year’s Thanksgiving dinner was the 4<sup>th</sup>
cheapest ever. (It <i>is</i> maybe the 4<sup>th</sup> cheapest of his 3-year
presidency). But facts are hard things to deny, and we’re all facing facts
every time we go to a grocery store.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_ehI_NydtYzeHq29zT0lcSMqV7bDvj4Xi3SswIx0wdgkHE9agR77vTJ9ci0kIMLwtZFZ9Y7s5i9jHU9W6uWDgfC-7kggf5ccSyip2GAPr0rg84hsw8JZtNooO9qfXiAlQVeTrPKi6rkaY5QQ-vFifpCn3hQDrNDX2PBgV7HffJWasBaZ-k_ztGZXEs7i/s2016/Thanksgiving%20dinner%202023%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="2016" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_ehI_NydtYzeHq29zT0lcSMqV7bDvj4Xi3SswIx0wdgkHE9agR77vTJ9ci0kIMLwtZFZ9Y7s5i9jHU9W6uWDgfC-7kggf5ccSyip2GAPr0rg84hsw8JZtNooO9qfXiAlQVeTrPKi6rkaY5QQ-vFifpCn3hQDrNDX2PBgV7HffJWasBaZ-k_ztGZXEs7i/w436-h276/Thanksgiving%20dinner%202023%20cropped.jpg" width="436" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanksgiving dinner tasted great, whatever it cost this year.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On his <a href="https://www.blazetv.com/watch/featured/uZqD3zOP3DWP-debunked-bidens-economy-is-doing-great--ep-320" target="_blank">Wednesday night program</a>, Glenn Beck said, “No matter how hard the government tries to gaslight, these
things we know. We experience them every day.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Beck listed a number of items, and the percentages or amounts they have
risen during the Biden presidency:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Airfare <span style="color: red;">up 25%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->House purchase price <span style="color: red;">up
42%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Mortgage rates <span style="color: red;">up 4%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Rent <span style="color: red;">up 24%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Water <span style="color: red;">up 16%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Electricity <span style="color: red;">up 25%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Electricity in California <span style="color: red;">up 51%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Major appliances <span style="color: red;">up 12%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Natural gas <span style="color: red;">up 29%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Used cars <span style="color: red;">up 35%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Car insurance <span style="color: red;">up 33%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Gasoline up from $1.80/gal to $3.00/gal<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Big Mac combo meal $10.00<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Restaurant food <span style="color: red;">up 24%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Ground beef up $2.00<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Coffee up $2.00<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Fruits and Vegetables <span style="color: red;">up
14%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Dog and cat food <span style="color: red;">up 17%</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He compared the weekly grocery bills:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->2020 $238/week on groceries<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->2023 $315/week on groceries<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So groceries overall are <span style="color: red;">up</span> <span style="color: red;">25%</span>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJvfsT2dGstRgB0rbaCvdk-tEmqzsSyZ570nLqB8JgfeJTyXpMm24vaKFMbSjpxeTOoRFYbBXZrnwbI6FNk_Qo9er5FMqyVH7IX3y0_gFkdbxV79fxe1Wkj_vPWat-Wp1bjEa7X2PQbUyJ0dJ5u6nfXnUBvi4TlaBdRrKzW0cafprQUgLCfAdwVhr8Clj/s1614/Screenshot%202023-11-30%20230436%20prices%20up%20GB.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="1614" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJvfsT2dGstRgB0rbaCvdk-tEmqzsSyZ570nLqB8JgfeJTyXpMm24vaKFMbSjpxeTOoRFYbBXZrnwbI6FNk_Qo9er5FMqyVH7IX3y0_gFkdbxV79fxe1Wkj_vPWat-Wp1bjEa7X2PQbUyJ0dJ5u6nfXnUBvi4TlaBdRrKzW0cafprQUgLCfAdwVhr8Clj/w450-h259/Screenshot%202023-11-30%20230436%20prices%20up%20GB.png" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Glenn Beck went over some rising prices on his chalkboard,<br />November 29, 2023, screenshot from <a href="https://www.blazetv.com/watch/featured/uZqD3zOP3DWP-debunked-bidens-economy-is-doing-great--ep-320" target="_blank">here</a><br />(also on YouTube <a href="https://youtu.be/CUdYnokc8Jc?si=SxJBWscYZnlZmNnt" target="_blank">here</a>)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That seems to be about what I’m experiencing, but I wondered
whether there was data beyond my gut feeling.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It so happened that last week, during the three days before
Thanksgiving, without my usual assignments, I cleaned and cooked like crazy. I
even took care of the jar where I stuff my grocery receipts (in case I need the
receipts later). I hadn’t cleared that out in quite a while—it turned out, more
than a year. I had thrown away some from time to time, but there were quite a
few there. Since some of our trips to Sam’s Club this year surpassed $400, I
wondered if I might see what really happened. So I organized the receipts by
store and date and put them in a bag, to look at later.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When Glenn Beck talked about grocery prices rising on his
Wednesday night show, I thought, what better time than now to go through those
receipts. So I spent some time putting them on a chart and doing some math.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The way I shop is pretty regular—so regular that I have
printed up grocery lists, arranged by how I walk through Kroger (weekly) and
Sam’s Club (every other week), so I just have to highlight what I want that
week, and check them off as I go through the store. In other words, I buy the
same stuff over and over. I don’t buy vegetables that I let die in the fridge
(except sometimes cilantro, which doesn’t last long, if I don’t get around to
making pico de gallo). I eat vegetables regularly. We have a routine, and not a
lot of waste. Our pantry is pretty well stocked, and so is our freezer.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The point is, I can compare many of the same items over
time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It also happened that I came across a couple of receipts,
stuck behind some cookbooks, from February and March of 2020—just before the
shutdown that so badly messed with a thriving economy. Those were shorter trips
to Sam’s Club, with only a few items. But I can compare those to the same items
today.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A few items have stayed essentially the same: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Almond milk up 0% from 2020<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Canadian bacon up 0% from 2022<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sweet potatoes up 0% from 2022<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Toilet paper up 0% from 2022<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Mixed nuts up 2% from 2022<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Romaine lettuce up 3% from 2022 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Tomatoes down 2% from 2022<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vanilla went down, by 45% from 2020. We were, back then,
dealing with a sharp rise in vanilla prices (related to a shortage I’m assuming)
that has since subsided.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But many items went up significantly:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Avocadoes <span style="color: red;">up 39%</span>
from 2020 (45 months: .87%/month)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Baby carrots <span style="color: red;">up 46% </span>from
2022 (12 months: 3.83%/month)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Frozen chicken tenderloins <span style="color: red;">up 36% </span>from early 2023 (10 months: 3.6%/month)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Clementines (small easy peel oranges) <span style="color: red;">up 43% </span>from 2020 (45 months: .96%/month)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Navel oranges <span style="color: red;">up 35% </span>from
2020 (45 months: .78%/month)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->M&M peanuts <span style="color: red;">up 46% </span>from
2020 (45 months: 1.02%/month)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Raisins <span style="color: red;">up 9%</span>
from 2020 (45 months: .2%/month)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Strawberries <span style="color: red;">up 26% </span>from
2020 (45 months: .58%/month)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was trying to find a way to measure general prices. So I
looked at the number of items and divided that into the cost for that shopping
trip for an average price per item. I then divided these into manageable time
periods and averaged the cost per item for those periods.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sam’s Club cost per item:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sam’s Club 2020: $7.32<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sam’s Club 2022: $9.03<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sam’s Club 2023 first half: $10.21<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sam’s Club 2023 second half: $10.59<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sam’s Club cost per item is <span style="color: red;">up 45%</span>
from early 2020 (45 months: 1%/month).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kroger cost per item:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Kroger 2023 first quarter: $3.98<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Kroger 2023 second quarter: $4.31<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Kroger 2023 third quarter: $4.63<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Kroger 2023 fourth quarter: $4.61<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kroger cost per item is <span style="color: red;">up 16%</span>
from the first quarter this year (8 months: 2%/month).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, I’m convinced I haven’t been imagining it; prices are
rising (while our income is not). I don’t know what Biden is imagining, but it isn’t
related to hard reality.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-6776825796747726052023-11-16T21:47:00.000-08:002023-11-16T21:47:30.116-08:00A Thanksgiving, Covenant People<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-_u1I4xs9b3TfTzLLyxgtClHMGSgc4lxJVCnK84IcXYJP95L3REZURlGiCK_4Y3Fshi-vlFidpmE-S-EjoFel1rxLmoKubR1YlnO5YaTmVjT61uPrg6VyTRbhCQnau8mCE4lwVVrOBCuCKgLL_uSOPDShCiZcU3Oo34LU7xPGakcHz_EcT7dK5neM_hI/s1280/covenant%20definitions%201%20and%206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="1280" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-_u1I4xs9b3TfTzLLyxgtClHMGSgc4lxJVCnK84IcXYJP95L3REZURlGiCK_4Y3Fshi-vlFidpmE-S-EjoFel1rxLmoKubR1YlnO5YaTmVjT61uPrg6VyTRbhCQnau8mCE4lwVVrOBCuCKgLL_uSOPDShCiZcU3Oo34LU7xPGakcHz_EcT7dK5neM_hI/w540-h194/covenant%20definitions%201%20and%206.jpg" width="540" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the first and sixth definitions of covenant </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I got out my 1982 dictionary to see what covenant has meant all
my life. The pertinent definitions are the first and the last:</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">A
binding and solemn agreement made by two or more individuals, parties, etc., to
do or keep from doing a specified thing; compact.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Theo</span></i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">. The promises made by God to
man, as recorded in the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The other definitions were legalistic and/or related to
specific places. So these will do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s an ancient covenant, the <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/gen/17?lang=eng#study_summary1" target="_blank">Abrahamic covenant</a>, in
which Abraham promises to worship and obey the One True God, our Father and
Creator, and God promises Abraham three things: posterity, priesthood (the
authority to use God’s power and to preach God’s word), and property—a promised
land.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In that posterity blessing, Abraham is promised that all the
peoples of the world will be blessed by his seed, which will be as numerous as the
sands of the sea. That must have seemed impossible when he was a nonagenarian—and
his wife was nearly so—and they still hadn’t had a child. Abraham remained
faithful nonetheless. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As <i>covenant</i> is phrased in more recent scripture,
Doctrine and Covenants 82:10: “I, the Lord, am abound when ye do what I say;
but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” So, if you want to bind the
creator of the universe to do something for you, you make a covenant with Him—and
then you keep your part. If you don’t keep your part, the covenant is broken.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the Lord does not easily give up on a covenant. The
whole book of Hosea is an allegory for how the Lord keeps his covenants. In that
book, the chosen people are metaphorically an unfaithful wife, who leaves her
husband, but he waits faithfully, and eventually she comes back. And rather
than punish her, he accepts her and continues to love her, despite the lost
years.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He wants to be in covenant with us. But that is up to us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This nation—as we should remember in this season of
Thanksgiving, started with a covenant: the Mayflower Compact. It was signed by
the people on the Mayflower on November 21, 1620 (or November 11, if you use
the “old style” Julian calendar, which they were using at the time).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here’s what they signed:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our
dread Sovereign Lord King <i>James</i>, by the Grace of God, of <i>Great
Britain</i>, <i>France</i>, and <i>Ireland</i>, King, <i>Defender
of the Faith</i>, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and
Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a
Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of <i>Virginia</i>;
Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one
another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick,
for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends
aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and
equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time,
as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the
Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. </span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB6t99eUQK9BRArTaJ9vaPw8Jfe5HGJjSEz31SwDBR-Uf57bW1ic6N9j1zsRWTh0_DAgUsOWhuzIJMUuwbeyZW-apscXfYnIt21YZ559A1sp5y9pjh2c7sEHRbsxboCZQ-recvB8tRKjGrAsX-9Fy3D-44TNTwF-fZXWkXu-9KIY6lzOyMSwJP43zZNg4/s640/Mayflower%20Compact.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="452" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB6t99eUQK9BRArTaJ9vaPw8Jfe5HGJjSEz31SwDBR-Uf57bW1ic6N9j1zsRWTh0_DAgUsOWhuzIJMUuwbeyZW-apscXfYnIt21YZ559A1sp5y9pjh2c7sEHRbsxboCZQ-recvB8tRKjGrAsX-9Fy3D-44TNTwF-fZXWkXu-9KIY6lzOyMSwJP43zZNg4/w332-h471/Mayflower%20Compact.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mayflower Compact manuscript, image from <a href="https://www.mayflowercompact.org/" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />They formed a new “body politick” by covenant, with God as
their witness.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the 13 colonies were founded, that was by covenant. And
the new nation under the Constitution was likewise formed by covenant.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">George Washington renewed the covenant with the fledgling
nation’s first Thanksgiving declaration in 1789:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It
is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God. Both
Houses of Congress requested me to recommend a day of public thanksgiving and
prayer. Now therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of
November to be devoted to the service of that great and glorious Being. That we
may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the
great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and
other transgressions. To enable us all to perform our several duties. To render
our national government a blessing to all people by being a Government of wise,
just, and constitutional laws. To protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations.
To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the
increase of science among them and us. And generally to grant unto all mankind
such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>And Abraham Lincoln renewed it, twice, during the Civil War,
in separate Thanksgiving declarations:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">1863</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In
the midst of a Civil War of unequaled magnitude and severity, population has
steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the battlefield.
The country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is
permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No
human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great
things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing
with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. I do,
therefore, invite my fellow citizens to set apart and observe the last Thursday
of November, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise for such singular deliverances
and blessings, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to
heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it to the full enjoyment of peace,
harmony, tranquility and Union.<br />
<br />
<b>1864</b></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It
has pleased Almighty God to prolong our national life another year. It has also
pleased our Heavenly Father to favor our citizens in their homes as our
soldiers in their camps. Moreover, He has been pleased to inspire our minds and
hearts with fortitude, courage, and resolution sufficient for the great trial
of Civil War into which we have been brought by our adherence to the cause of
freedom and humanity. Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, do hereby appoint and
set apart the last Thursday in November as a day to be observed by all my
fellow-citizens as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God. And I do
further recommend to my fellow-citizens that they do reverently humble
themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers
and supplications to the Great Disposer of Events for a return of the
inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land which it
has pleased Him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our
posterity throughout all generations.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>We remained a covenant nation—until the year we took prayer
out of schools. Schools were instituted in the first place to teach the
upcoming generations to understand their religious social obligations—the covenant.
To remove God from the covenant was a mistake. See more details about this in
Jonathan Cahn’s <i>Return of the Gods</i>, which I talk about <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-separation.html" target="_blank">here</a>. As Cahn
explains, once you break the covenant—you open the door to the pagan gods of
old, which will return with more power than when they were originally expelled.
And it has gotten ugly.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Glenn Beck explained today on radio about his Renew the
Covenant project, which has included a 40-day Bible covenant study, as well as
a 15-day American covenant study. (He included the Washington and Lincoln
quotes above, <a href="https://www.glennbeck.com/blog/glenn-committing-himself-this-covenant" target="_blank">here</a>, where you can access all the materials.) He says that when he was baptized (into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints), he told God that he would do whatever the Lord asked of him in
exchange for the forgiveness he was getting. The challenge has been figuring
out what the Lord wants him to do. But he has felt a need, since around 2010,
to do an event to renew America’s covenant. He tried several times, but the
timing wasn’t right. He had an event planned in 2020, with a lot of resources
already going toward it, that got cancelled because of the pandemic, which was
frustrating.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then this summer he started feeling a strong push to do
something to make it happen. He was thinking, how can I bring together a large enough group?
And, as he told it one day, when he was announcing this project, the Lord said
to him, “I don’t know. Where could you come up with, say, 12 million people willing to listen
to you?” which was the number of listeners he has on radio daily. So there it
was. Nothing like this had been done on radio before. But he—and a team—put together
the materials for the forty days of preparation. And today he presented the
covenant, written for us to print out, sign our names to, and keep or frame or
whatever. It might be something you'll want to go over and sign with your families on Thanksgiving Day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But he warns—as Cahn has—don’t make a covenant with God
unless you plan to keep it. God will not be mocked. You’ll make the country
worse off, if you sign it and don’t mean to keep it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What happens if there aren’t enough of us that Renew the
Covenant? I don’t know. I assume we personally will be better off than if we
didn’t do it. And maybe enough will do it. Glenn’s listeners have done
remarkable things before, in humanitarian aid and rescue, and just in doing our
civic duty. The Lord would have saved Sodom and Gomorrah if Abraham had been
able to find only 50, or 40, or 30, or 20, or even 10 righteous people. (See <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/gen/18?lang=eng">Genesis
18:26-33</a>.) I don’t know what percentage of the two cities 10 people were,
but it had to be just a comparative handful. The Lord is generous.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As I read through the wording of the renewal covenant (see below), I could see that I am already
a covenant keeper. I have been, as well as I have known how, all of my life,
and I made the baptismal covenant at age 8 (also into The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints). While I didn’t do Glenn’s daily reading for 40
days, I did several catch up days. But I was reading quite a lot of scripture
daily in addition—as I have done for many decades. And prayer is already part
of my daily life—I can’t remember a single day when it wasn’t. And I have
shared my faith with my family. As Joshua says (Joshua 24:15) the people should
choose whom they will serve, “but as for me and my house, we will serve the
Lord.” Later in the chapter (verses 24-25) the people promise to serve the true
and living God, “So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day.” Then he
set up the laws of the land based on that covenant.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">People are blessed when they live in a covenant relationship
with the Most High God.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So here is the covenant that Glenn Beck has drafted for us—in
what I hope will be a worthwhile effort to renew the covenant upon which
America was founded. (You can get a pdf. version <a href="https://roar-assets-auto.rbl.ms/files/58106/AMERICA'S%20COVENANT.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Covenant</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I, STATE YOUR
NAME, alongside my fellow countrymen, and as a witness to my nation and the
Almighty, now come forward in humility to covenant that the Lord is my God. I
further covenant to remember to regularly commune with Him through prayer; to
turn away from sin and error; to rear my family in righteousness, in patience,
love, and kindness; to discern and sustain the law; and to perform my several
duties properly, punctually, and to the utmost.<br />
<br />
Now, if the Lord shall please to hear us, and inasmuch as we honor this
covenant, then shall His bounty be poured down upon us as has never been seen.<br />
<br />
We humbly implore and beg His protection and favor; that we may experience His
everlasting peace and concord; that our own sins, those of our family, those of
our nation may be pardoned; that the disunity in our country and suffering may
be healed, that once again our family shall delight in each other, and we shall
rejoice together, mourn together, and increase together. The Lord will be our
God and delight to dwell among our families, so that we partake of His wisdom,
power, goodness, and truth. Love and solidarity shall reign within our
households.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">May our nation unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks
for His kind care, for His protection, that He may promote the knowledge and
practice of true religion and virtue. He shall grant unto this nation temporal
prosperity as He alone knows to be best. No human counsel hath devised, nor
hath any mortal hand created this great nation. It is the gracious gift of the
Most High God. Only his tender care shall heal this nation's wounds. He will
raise it to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, union, and
plenty.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "utopia-std",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">He has made us a city upon a hill. The eyes of all
people are upon us. We enlist His almighty hand that we may once again choose
life, that we and our seed may live by obeying His voice and cleaving to Him.
He is our life and our prosperity. May my family and this country ever stand in
solemn testimony of the most High.</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Amen.</span></span></span></i><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-47352874451228760222023-11-09T21:30:00.000-08:002023-11-09T21:30:40.419-08:00What We Can Do with a Majority<p>In this week’s election our school board went from a 4-3
conservative minority to a 6-1 conservative majority. That’s a great win!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It could have been better. It could have been a clean sweep.
I’ll talk a bit about that, for future reference and strategy. Then I’d like to
be looking at what this new board can get to work doing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My husband and I worked the election on Tuesday. It’s an off-off-year
election (non-presidential and non-congressional year). The only things on our
ballot were the school board races and propositions. I estimated we’d get maybe
150 voters for the day; we got 392. We were steadily busy all day. I think that
means people were more interested in voting than in a usual low-turnout
election. It was still low turnout, but much better than I expected. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Things went surprisingly smoothly, compared to the last
several elections. No paper jams or failed scans. No running out of ballot
paper. We had plenty (more than enough) election clerks, and we didn’t encounter
any provisional ballots or ballot-by-mail surrenders (people who get a ballot
by mail but change their minds and decide to vote in person must surrender
their unused mail-in ballot, which is set aside to make sure it isn’t counted). We had no drive-up voters (which is a service for people
who have mobility issues, but the process is a pain for election clerks because of
frequent equipment failure, and it's time consuming), so that is a win. And the
weather was beautiful.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkYf7pV1DIRM8zbKtP07bv-aWwh3nuX_dSJIhkMR71PRiqH_0P7vt_LUPzkn_pCVFjCNXrEmgyzU1Nngq8yjnXZXoFz4uTrGto-orW6xVKhLGyjd3xu-JhDbqiSN03DM6p8iZJqAW5BvZIY5CmI1qNP4uY9GJbk0w9laMMSq7QqjKNMDftJJteqo_rDyN/s843/CFISD%20candidates%202023%20at%20event.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="843" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkYf7pV1DIRM8zbKtP07bv-aWwh3nuX_dSJIhkMR71PRiqH_0P7vt_LUPzkn_pCVFjCNXrEmgyzU1Nngq8yjnXZXoFz4uTrGto-orW6xVKhLGyjd3xu-JhDbqiSN03DM6p8iZJqAW5BvZIY5CmI1qNP4uY9GJbk0w9laMMSq7QqjKNMDftJJteqo_rDyN/w449-h402/CFISD%20candidates%202023%20at%20event.jpg" width="449" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our Cy-Fair ISD school board candidates,<br />from left, Todd LeCompte, Justin Ray, Christine Kalmbach, and George Edwards<br />image from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christine4cfisd/posts/pfbid02woV1kAtbu3KyHQYcM5XS2jYymK137eWxhz5bDzE6yhcEdxUJLcNk4jzVC1KkE7AGl" target="_blank">Christine Kalmbach's Facebook</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What
Happened in the Election<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were four school board trustee positions on the
ballot. These are supposedly non-partisan positions. No political parties are
on the ballot. It ought to be that people of differing political parties can
come together to think through what is best for our kids in our schools. That
may have been the case in some bygone decade, but it is clearly not the case
now.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two years ago, we had seven anti-parent board members. Three
races were on the ballot. We, the precinct chairs within the school district
who were willing to put in the effort, vetted candidates and came up with our top
three, who then chose which position they would run for. The purpose was to
coalesce all conservative voters around those three. The opposition had never faced
that kind of organization. We surprised them. And we won all three seats. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This was in spite of another quite conservative candidate
who refused to step out of the race, despite it causing a split in the
conservative vote, risking a loss in that position. But, because the opposition
(in that case, the 20-year incumbents) weren’t prepared for us, we were able to
get out the votes for our side.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This time they weren’t surprised. However, three of the four
incumbents decided to retire. Two retired for age and health reasons, perfectly
reasonable. The other had served long enough, but was somewhat younger and
could have served longer. I don’t know his reasons for not doing so. That
left one incumbent. But, after the worst of the worst was ousted in 2021, this
incumbent was the ringleader of opposition to parents and the champion of LGBTQ
and SEL agendas. We really wanted her gone.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That was the race where we had the vote split, unfortunately,
and we lost.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s not that either of our conservative candidates in that
race was either incapable or not conservative enough. We had a process, and we
had expected—because it was made clear in every forum—that whoever the group
chose as the top four, we would all support. The one who split the vote never
got into the top four, in any straw poll at any time. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We would have won all four seats if she had stepped down. Our
group of four candidates got the endorsement of Harris County Republican Party,
the Republican Party of Texas, and an additional endorsement from Senator Ted
Cruz. I don’t think that any school board candidates in the state have ever
gotten the endorsement of a US senator before. The group worked together,
campaigned together, had forums together.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ5qRG9hWI3OoplPQ2hg7loGKxgjLwMp3wcve8nX7Cq5jR0_CTcxju69wrWLYEONVIcqCxx0Kd__VeqvamrHCJnMz8E9Am5Tagwls9FOeA4WGaDOozxZF0d6Wy0p4-TJqKh-rE-_ujq6vbzg7xWanmaFUyQKm0JEtOUKpvmtT3-Ei9PXJ1hXcwioFVIiL/s843/CFISD%20candidates%202023%20Ted%20Cruz%20endorsement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ5qRG9hWI3OoplPQ2hg7loGKxgjLwMp3wcve8nX7Cq5jR0_CTcxju69wrWLYEONVIcqCxx0Kd__VeqvamrHCJnMz8E9Am5Tagwls9FOeA4WGaDOozxZF0d6Wy0p4-TJqKh-rE-_ujq6vbzg7xWanmaFUyQKm0JEtOUKpvmtT3-Ei9PXJ1hXcwioFVIiL/w373-h373/CFISD%20candidates%202023%20Ted%20Cruz%20endorsement.jpg" width="373" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ted Cruz endorsement of our candidates,<br />image from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficialToddLeCompte/posts/pfbid02KFw8Gnze6n3pkLuVoa8dsN4a6wqkBornJkSEDXHVSaBa2fYwhEEnRc7edrjEgFekl" target="_blank">Todd LeCompte's Facebook</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile this fifth candidate went about her campaign. I
thought she campaigned well. Her message got clearer and less confrontational.
And it’s obvious she knew much about the goings on in the school district—which
we knew from her many testimonies at school board meetings. But she knew she
was going to split the vote and did it anyway. And she had a number of
supporters, who abandoned their commitment to the precinct chairs’ process,
because they wanted her on the ticket.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 2021, Todd LeCompte ran, not knowing about our process.
But when he recognized that his campaign would split the conservative vote, he
stepped down. And he improved his message and viability so that this time he
got elected. I wish our fifth candidate this year had done the same.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With that said, I hope she realizes that the ultimate goal
was not for her to be on the board, but for our community to get a board that
would be responsive to parents and taxpayers in the district, to get the
results we want for our kids—and the protection from the woke agenda. If she
continues to work as she has done, we all benefit. And there may come a future time when she will
be the right person to run for a board position. That is, if people can set
aside hurt feelings on both sides. She says she will continue to maintain <a href="https://www.texasmessengers.com/harmful-teachings-practices " target="_blank">her website</a> detailing many of the problem practices in our district.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have not heard a word from George Edwards, our candidate
who should have won but didn’t, because of the split vote. He is a personal
friend. He is a gentleman—and a gentle man. He was consummately prepared to be
a board member—on par I think with Natalie Blasingame, who won in 2021, being the
most qualified school board candidate I had ever seen. (She had run two times
previous, before finally winning—because we coalesced and worked together.) I
thank George for his effort. I wish I’d be seeing him on the board, instead of the
incumbent we worked so hard to oust.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Data<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here's the voting data. My source is <a href="https://www.harrisvotes.com/Election-Results/Live-Results" target="_blank">Harris County</a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="height: 6.6pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: solid windowtext 2.25pt; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="_Hlk150439649"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Position
1</span><o:p></o:p></b></a></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 2.25pt; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Affiliation</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 2.25pt; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Votes</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 2.25pt; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Δ</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 6.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">(diff
between us and them)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 2.25pt; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">%</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="3" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: solid windowtext 2.25pt; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.15pt;" valign="top" width="176">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">My Precinct</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 6.6pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">votes</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Δ</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">%</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Todd LeCompte</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Our 4</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">24,149</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">43.69</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">289</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">47.3</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Tonia Jaeggi</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Woke 4</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">21,062</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">3,087</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">38.11</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">170</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">119</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">27.82</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Cleveland Lane, Jr.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Other D</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">10,062</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">14,087</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">18.20</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">152</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">137</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">24.88</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Total Votes</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.45in;" valign="top" width="139">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">55,273</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">611</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Total Conservative</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.45in;" valign="top" width="139">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">24,149</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">-6,975</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Total Democrat</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.45in;" valign="top" width="139">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">31,124</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150439649;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 6.6pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="_Hlk150440743"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Position
2</span><o:p></o:p></b></a></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Affiliation</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Votes</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Δ</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 6.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">(diff
between us and them)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">%</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="3" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.15pt;" valign="top" width="176">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">My Precinct</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 6.6pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">votes</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Δ</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">%</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Julie Hinaman</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Woke 4 </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">(i)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">25,078</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">-1,433</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">45.57</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">246</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">46</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">40.59</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Ayse Indemaio</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Other R</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">6,311</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">17,334</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">11.47</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">68</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">224</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">11.22</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">George Edwards, Jr.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Our 4</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">23,645</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">42.96</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">292</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">48.18</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Total Votes</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.45in;" valign="top" width="139">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">55,034</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">606</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Total Conservative</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.45in;" valign="top" width="139">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">29.956</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">+4,878</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Total Democrat</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.45in;" valign="top" width="139">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">25,078</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150440743;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 6.6pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Position 3</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Affiliation</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Votes</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Δ</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 6.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">(diff between us and them)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">%</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td colspan="3" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.15pt;" valign="top" width="176">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">My
Precinct</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 6.6pt; mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">votes</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Δ</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">%</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Leslie
Martone</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Woke 4</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">21,339</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">2,374</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">39.15</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">194</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">83</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">32.34</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Michelle
Fennick</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Other
D</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">9,458</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">14,255</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">17.35</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">129</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">148</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">21.50</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Justin
Ray</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Our 4</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">23,713</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">43.50</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">277</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">46.17</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Total Votes</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.45in;" valign="top" width="139">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">54,510</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">600</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Total Conservative</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.45in;" valign="top" width="139">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">23,713</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">-7,084</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Total Democrat</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.45in;" valign="top" width="139">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">30,797</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 6.6pt; mso-yfti-irow: 24;">
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Position 4</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Affiliation</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Votes</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Δ</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 6.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">(diff between us and them)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">%</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td colspan="3" style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.15pt;" valign="top" width="176">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">My
Precinct</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 6.6pt; mso-yfti-irow: 25;">
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">votes</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Δ</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; height: 6.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">%</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 26;">
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Frances
Ramirez Romero</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Woke 4</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">26,829</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">1,177</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">48.93</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">283</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">42</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #DEEAF6; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">46.55</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 27;">
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Christine
Kalmbach</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.4pt;" valign="top" width="79">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Our 4</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.0pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">28,006</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">51.07</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">385</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">53.32</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 28;">
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Total Votes</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.45in;" valign="top" width="139">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">54,835</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">608</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 29;">
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Total Conservative</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.45in;" valign="top" width="139">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">28,006</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">+1,177</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 30; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 97.85pt;" valign="top" width="130">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Total Democrat</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: #EDEDED; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.45in;" valign="top" width="139">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">26,829</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.45pt;" valign="top" width="55">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 44.05pt;" valign="top" width="59">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I added my precinct data, mainly for my personal record. There
are parts of the district targeted for GOTV more than mine—because they are
more solid red. I’m not an ideal precinct chair; I do not do a lot of block
walking, which is essential for GOTV. But I do keep in touch with a pretty sizable
number by email and text. I write here and share my views (it looks like that
was a valuable tool, by the numbers in my stats for <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2023/09/this-years-school-board-races.html " target="_blank">that piece</a>). And I did spend an afternoon electioneering at an early voting location, which
was actually kind of fun. So, anyway, I’m pleased that my precinct contributed
to the winning margins. Our candidates all won in my precinct, including
position 2, and with a higher percentage than the district overall. But I also want to recognize those who put in a lot of time, treasure, and heart beyond what I was capable of doing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8kTRrgK9pjCvZWiDgqoNi82kP6-D25ZQDPzneVRXHxMgcqLpJ5GsKn808IA7ms48xEVp3xYUnKGAxSoGALDz26I9J0IXq8NcBbal2yS2Tnv7bGUNmQUJcsmWxXxIVJcuCBnpLvuh-3n4NzgrkXxP1EbURc4hptGXW9rjozs_84ddzNqFHUhYcPN8qXps/s1124/CFISD%20candidates%202023%20w%20team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="843" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8kTRrgK9pjCvZWiDgqoNi82kP6-D25ZQDPzneVRXHxMgcqLpJ5GsKn808IA7ms48xEVp3xYUnKGAxSoGALDz26I9J0IXq8NcBbal2yS2Tnv7bGUNmQUJcsmWxXxIVJcuCBnpLvuh-3n4NzgrkXxP1EbURc4hptGXW9rjozs_84ddzNqFHUhYcPN8qXps/w353-h471/CFISD%20candidates%202023%20w%20team.jpg" width="353" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the candidates and the team leaders, from left, George Edward, Justin Ray, <br />Terry Wheeler, Christine Kalmbach, Clark Denson, Bill Ely, and Todd LeCompte<br />image from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ckalmbach1/posts/pfbid0zqXkrrnN2BMS1p5MT6nkZj6wDkhw3YW2JfEk8Rjd2VH3H7M4QS8j3yKzAyUeuGgrl" target="_blank">Christine Kalmbach's Facebook</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal">Note that, in every race with a third candidate, it split
the vote for that party’s candidates. Without extra candidates in positions 1
and 3, we likely would have lost those races. Let’s hope the woke coalition
doesn’t catch on next time and eliminate their vote splitters.</p><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We did, however, win solidly in the race with only 2 candidates;
that means it’s a matter of messaging, and Christine Kalmbach got it right. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One more detail. Although I thought our vote splitter, Ayse
(pronounced I-shay), was running a strong campaign, she garnered the fewest
votes and lowest percentage of any non-coalition candidate. So it is unlikely
she would have won if our candidate, George, had not been in the race. But it <i>is
</i>highly likely George would have won without her in the race.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What Now<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now I’d like to get to what we want this new school board to
do. I’m sure there are others with more to add to this list. I hope they do.
And I hope they share their lists with our new board. There are so many things
we were frustrated about, because of being a minority on the previous board. With
a solid majority, now is the time to show real improvement. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These are not necessarily in order of priority; they’re in
the order I thought of them, and are grouped into administration,
indoctrination, academics, and teacher care. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Administration<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Rename the Mark Henry Administration Building.
How about something like the building it replaced: the Cy-Fair ISD
Administration Building?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Suspend the newly chosen replacement to
Superintendent Henry, so that the superintendent will be one in alignment with
the new board, and who will carry out their will.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Reconsider every employee filling that new
administration building and keep only essential ones; their salaries mean less
pay for teachers in the classroom. No school district should have enough
employees <i>who do not work in schools</i> to require a building of that size.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Consider renting out the unused administration building
space to lessen the cost to taxpayers for this extravagant building.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Put parental input up front in board meetings.
No more 6-hour meetings that seem designed to get parents to go home, rather
than wait to speak for a brief minute or two near midnight—after the board has made
decisions (often in closed meetings) before even hearing the people. Make it
clear you want to hear from the community, and that you value their ideas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Indoctrination<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Get rid of the pornographic and sexualizing
books in the school libraries. No need to wait until courts decide whether the
legislation requiring this is to be allowed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Reconsider the contracts of each and every
librarian and principal who insisted the pornographic and sexualizing books
were educationally appropriate—after parents brought them to their attention
and they saw the inappropriate materials and then defended them. These people
are groomers—normalizing sexual perversion and abuse, and sexualizing younger
and younger children, all of which can traumatize children and psychologically
damage them. Such people should not be allowed near children.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Get rid of <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2022/04/schools-are-not-families.html" target="_blank">SEL</a>. Schools are not families. If a
child has an emotional problem, the school can suggest to parents that the
child needs help, and could even point the parents toward possible resources,
but should otherwise get out of the way of parents. This includes getting rid
of therapy counseling in the schools, as well as medical care—other than first aid. No prescribing and dispensing of abortion drugs, ADHD meds, vaccines, or
anything else schools have no business doing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Academics<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Teach reading in the way that works for the vast
majority of learners: phonics. Occasionally there is a child with a brain
problem that may need an alternate strategy, but that is no reason to deprive
what works best for all the other students. And for those few—find the brain
exercises that will help the child overcome the issue, not just get a label to
excuse lowered expectations for life.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Teach math in a way that works. Memorize math
facts. Practice basics. Don’t have a child move on until the child has mastered
the skill. This may require adapting to have students working at their own
pace—rather than what is either too fast or too slow for most students.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Get shop classes back into schools. Maybe add
some certifications for various skills. Not every student is meant for college.
And colleges are less and less capable of educating instead of indoctrinating.
So let’s give our students plenty of alternatives.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->One candidate assured me that special ed and
gifted classes are much improved over when we pulled our kids out two decades
ago. I hope that is so. Over the years I have seen too many candidates who want
to concentrate efforts on children without a lot of family support. OK, but if
you are announcing you’re going to ignore <i>my</i> child—or any gifted child—I’ve
got a big problem with you. You might also note that the best methods for
teaching gifted children are often the best methods for teaching <i>all</i>
children.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Let’s see some innovation. The factory method of
sitting bodies in chairs until a bell rings—like a factory—is stultifying.
There are better ways. Families use better ways all the time. Kids are
different ages, learning at different rates; that’s OK. And it can be <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2013/04/homestyle-education-part-i.html" target="_blank">done in a classroom</a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Teacher Care and Keeping<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A teacher ought to have a life outside of the
job. If you’re burdening them with re-certifications, improvement classes, paperwork,
and requirements galore, you’re going to keep losing teachers. You can’t pay
teachers enough to tolerate the abuse.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->And, speaking of teacher abuse, that includes
all the rules you have about not disciplining students that are disrupting the
learning environment for all students. This includes students who harm and
threaten one another and the teacher. Teachers deserve protection from a
hostile work environment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Teachers should be set free to teach, creatively.
We have to exempt from that any attempt to indoctrinate our kids with LGBTQ,
SEL, and any other flavor of woke agenda. Maybe you should only hire teachers you
can trust. But once you have a good teacher, let them do what they love to do:
teach. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-76938094329994480302023-11-03T22:11:00.000-07:002023-11-03T22:11:36.767-07:00Brief History of Gaza<p>Earlier this week a friend, who has been learning Hebrew in
an online class with an Israeli man named Netanel Y. Barak, invited me, among
others, to join in on a call from her teacher. He would be talking about the
history of Gaza, mainly. So I tuned in at the appointed time on Tuesday. It
turned out we were an hour off; Israel had a time change last weekend, which
hadn’t been calculated in. I tuned in a couple of times during the hour. Some
participants stayed on the whole time. Eventually, I tuned back in, about 7
minutes before top of the next hour, and Netanel had already given a bit of
update on the situation there, which I missed. But I heard all the presentation
part.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryljlK0hiMoVpDTBiLJgRSykGsL7iG0z2xHyK0Bhx9yfTiMfG3GOeO508poqYXJoxhihLEcGH8R__macQmgfPMgt7abUsempYbyAKoGI1nUeYBkjXdF1PhRaAAYwj6FDHH6QmKBWlJ42Qh6iTehi3YfontqftUjGHX82E88aUvi9Cr8KSGXq5CRzwmVnS/s1522/Screenshot%202023-10-31%20140155%20Netanel%20on%20Zoom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="1522" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryljlK0hiMoVpDTBiLJgRSykGsL7iG0z2xHyK0Bhx9yfTiMfG3GOeO508poqYXJoxhihLEcGH8R__macQmgfPMgt7abUsempYbyAKoGI1nUeYBkjXdF1PhRaAAYwj6FDHH6QmKBWlJ42Qh6iTehi3YfontqftUjGHX82E88aUvi9Cr8KSGXq5CRzwmVnS/w453-h259/Screenshot%202023-10-31%20140155%20Netanel%20on%20Zoom.png" width="453" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Netanel Y Barak, a Hebrew teacher, and now soldier in Israel,<br />giving a presentation on the history of Gaza,<br />screenshot from his presentation</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Netanel is in the reserves and has been called up, as of
October 7. He feels pretty safe, personally. He’s old enough that, as he put
it, “I’m not Rambo.” He’s doing things from a command center. His home, I
believe he said, is within the 40 km perimeter of Gaza, but they haven’t had
rocket attacks there for two weeks now. He gets to go home to his family fairly
often, which helps. The family has been worried, and locking themselves in a
safe room at night, so things are not what you’d call normal. But they have
housing and food, for which they are grateful. And he says they’ve all gained
weight, because caring people have showered them with baked goods and snacks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most political questions he would brush away. He is a
teacher, and the purpose was to talk about the history of Gaza. So we’ll cover
what he shared, plus a bit more about the current situation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">First, to review, back in 2011 I wrote a 6-part series on
Israel, summarizing the history and situation. I think they hold up pretty
well, although I do not focus there on Gaza. After the Gaza discussion, I may
add some more about Hamas and other parties.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Israel, <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2011/08/israel-part-i-ancient-history.html" target="_blank">Part I: Ancient History</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Israel, <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2011/08/israel-part-ii-zionism-and-migration.html" target="_blank">Part II: Zionism and Migration</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Israel, <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2011/08/israel-part-iii-conflict-and-violence.html" target="_blank">Part III: Conflict and Violence</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Israel, <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2011/08/israel-part-iv-holocaust-and-statehood.html" target="_blank">Part IV: Holocaust and Statehood</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Israel, <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2011/08/israel-part-v-refugees-and-1967-war.html" target="_blank">Part V: Refugees and 1967 War</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Israel, <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2011/08/israel-part-vi-continued-unrest.html" target="_blank">Part VI: Continued Unrest </a><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Gaza
History<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Netanel starts his discussion talking about the word Gaza.
It’s a Greek sounding work. The Hebrew sounds like Azzah (ah-zah). Arabic he
describes as sounding something like Raza, with a guttural rolled r or h in the
throat, not a sound we do in English.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Zvvx19-mcGrSLYddvhNoakpB1xGypW-Ke6BV-BsWwH2W6r-NmJ_CyHk1ZGE3aEX1TvOgomS-oKy7FPwf6ykDxNnUSTimkph6G9blTGJGrOl_KTAhdjOKo4aPMYjkHf0mK9osNnPjX2ybCd-gtQRaVX1__x_QxrZJ5sNZ92PEeWXnXjLac_R97EAEyXeE/s1402/Screenshot%202023-10-31%20140245%20Netanel%20Gaza%20meaning.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1402" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Zvvx19-mcGrSLYddvhNoakpB1xGypW-Ke6BV-BsWwH2W6r-NmJ_CyHk1ZGE3aEX1TvOgomS-oKy7FPwf6ykDxNnUSTimkph6G9blTGJGrOl_KTAhdjOKo4aPMYjkHf0mK9osNnPjX2ybCd-gtQRaVX1__x_QxrZJ5sNZ92PEeWXnXjLac_R97EAEyXeE/w408-h302/Screenshot%202023-10-31%20140245%20Netanel%20Gaza%20meaning.png" width="408" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Screenshot from Netanel Y. Barak's presentation,<br />showing various versions and a possible meaning;<br />the banner at the top is from his military division.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some say the gauze
that we use comes from the city of Gaza, where they used to make that kind of
weaving.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first book of the Bible, Genesis, mentions Gaza. It
comes up in part of chapter 10, which is known as the Tablet of Nations, portraying
the people that have come forth from the three sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
One of the sons of Ham is Canaan. Genesis 10:19 describes the territory of
Canaan, which runs from Sidon in the north to Gaza in the south. So Gaza is the
southernmost part of the Canaanite territory.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was an important city, being on the edge. The Egyptians
referred to that city as The Canaan. It was important, because, if you notice
on a map, the Egyptians couldn’t get to the rest of what we call the Middle
East, but was then termed Asia, without passing through Israel, and there are
limited ways you can go. There’s this area called the Sea Road, the Path of the
Sea, and Gaza is on that path. It was the gateway city.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But it’s more than just a gateway to Canaan. It’s also the
gateway to a larger area, with a Hebrew name I couldn’t understand or spell,
but it means “the other side of the river.” There’s a broader meaning here,
concerning Abraham. All the world was on one side of the river, theologically
speaking, and Abraham was on the other. All the world was polytheistic, and
Abraham was monotheistic, worshipping the One True God.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The geographic river intended here is the Euphrates. The
Nile dwellers didn’t have what the people on the other side of the Euphrates
had, so they had to pass through this Gaza gateway city and through Abraham’s
land to get to the rest of the world, as they viewed it. Abraham’s land
included what we would now call Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and more.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many centuries later, in 1 Kings 4:24-25, King Solomon is
describing the greatness of his lands, “from Tiphsah even to Azzah” [Gaza],
essentially everything trans-Euphrates, or west of the Euphrates, with Azzah,
or Gaza, being more or less the southern boundary. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So Gaza was the entrance point to the original inhabitants
of the larger unit of Abraham’s land.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The original inhabitants of the area of Gaza were the Avim.
We don’t know much about them. The people later were called Caphtorim, the people from Caphtor. In modern Hebrew it means button, which Netanel tells
us is humorous to them. There’s an assumption that these people were driven out
by the Dorians into other parts of the Aegean and Egypt—basically Greek tribes
who came through Crete. We know this from the Bible and from Egyptian texts.
This was around the 13<sup>th</sup> Century BC.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiCux84qr6H29k5pBUEofdVyvMaPMDJs1vSlrqjbnJXTh5uD0YUpkN7vAhCYU99VB3E42cfenRgwQEb2p9pBf8U1U09JFWbmnSvH2sX1ow9AdGiCPZXQnLlj2WxveGMIQ5zTelH1Q3-qgcj59G96H_gy_yb8L4M7bEKAcbaoWyjfvte7sZScaKrqgQZTl/s1375/Screenshot%202023-10-31%20141723%20Netanel%20Deuteronomy%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="1375" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiCux84qr6H29k5pBUEofdVyvMaPMDJs1vSlrqjbnJXTh5uD0YUpkN7vAhCYU99VB3E42cfenRgwQEb2p9pBf8U1U09JFWbmnSvH2sX1ow9AdGiCPZXQnLlj2WxveGMIQ5zTelH1Q3-qgcj59G96H_gy_yb8L4M7bEKAcbaoWyjfvte7sZScaKrqgQZTl/w474-h324/Screenshot%202023-10-31%20141723%20Netanel%20Deuteronomy%202.png" width="474" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Deuteronomy 2:23, screenshot from Netanel's presentation</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were many skirmishes with these people, known later as
the Philistines.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s more detail, but basically these people were the invading
colonizers that Abraham’s descendants dealt with fairly regularly. These were
the enemy the Israelites were fighting off in the story of David and Goliath. (Goliath,
specifically, was from Gath, south on the map near Gaza.) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Note: There is no connection between these Philistines and
the modern-day Palestinians. The ancient Greek-descended Philistines, or Caphtorim,
were wiped out of existence by the Assyrian invaders some seven centuries BC. No such people existed when
the Romans took over the area. But the Roman ruler Hadrian had a difficult time
with the Jews, who revolted against him, so he wanted to wipe out anything
Jewish. He renamed the area Palestine (or the ancient Latin version of that name).
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The modern Palestinians definitely did not exist a hundred
years ago. They started with the national Arabic movement of the last century, in response to the Jews in Israel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Netanel gave several biblical examples of the ancient Hebrews/Israelis
dealing with Gaza. Some of the time they conquered and settled that land; other
times the invaders, the Philistines, conquered and held it. It would be hard to
draw borders, because they were less precise about borders back then.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a mention of Joshua. Remember, Joshua led the people
of Israel back into the promised land after the 40 years in the wilderness. The
land had been theirs during Israel’s time, but then the famine had led the
family to Egypt, where they reconnected with Joseph, and they stayed there with
his protection. But later Pharaohs enslaved them until Moses led them out.
Anyway, Joshua was the leader who led them in reconquering the land given to
Abraham by covenant. One of the last places to conquer was Gaza, mentioned
briefly. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The most famous Bible story involves Samson, with several
mentions. There is a time the Philistines plot to capture Samson, lying in wait
for him to arise in the morning. But, as Netanel puts it, Samson was not your
everyday Israelite. During the night he takes the city gates off their hinges,
posts and all, and carries the gates all the way to Hebron. He has gone all the
way into Philistine territory to mess with them. And he doesn’t carry the gates
just up a hill, or even to a nearby Philistine city. He carries them all the
way to Hebron, miles away and higher in elevation; the capital center of
Israelite power at the time.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYuxZtW7D2k4XIQXIJ60x4-QAeOXcHjJM6au0NOQ28WdrgeaCHbkATC1NQmnBQUqCtWeuLu6Vf1hkga11Efusz-KYBjg3q26dcTUEh4ArnJ5N32JFwcYUFSw0Q1mcPo0GJozFjj_A24qvAaoVVgEBuS9rp0rKi49lmC3rzCZdsHG-SVyTa0gU9-0OeQCg/s1280/Maps-Israel%20w%20Gaza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYuxZtW7D2k4XIQXIJ60x4-QAeOXcHjJM6au0NOQ28WdrgeaCHbkATC1NQmnBQUqCtWeuLu6Vf1hkga11Efusz-KYBjg3q26dcTUEh4ArnJ5N32JFwcYUFSw0Q1mcPo0GJozFjj_A24qvAaoVVgEBuS9rp0rKi49lmC3rzCZdsHG-SVyTa0gU9-0OeQCg/w519-h292/Maps-Israel%20w%20Gaza.jpg" width="519" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">close and larger view of Gaza, southern Mediterranean portion of Israel,<br />maps from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bible-maps?lang=eng" target="_blank">Bible maps</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Samson would also meet his fate in the city of Gaza, when the
Philistines are eventually able to capture Samson, after the ordeal with
Delilah. Whether Delilah is Philistine is in question. She may be Canaanite., People
guess she was Philistine, because the other women, Samson’s first wife and the harlot
he went to, were. Delilah could even be Israelite. She had to be bribed with a
lot of money to work with the Philistines. Anyway, when they were able to
incarcerate Samson, they have blinded him (one of the gory Bible stories; they
have gouged out his eyes) they took him to Gaza, where he met his fate. Granted
great strength once again, he pushes the pillars and collapses the place,
taking his captors down with him. With this event, Samsom kills more
Philistines as he dies than he did in his life, which had been quite a body
count.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another Gaza story involves the Assyrian siege that would
come upon Judean King Hezekiah. During the Assyrian siege, the governor of Gaza
was not willing to play ball with rebellion against Assyrians, which included
the people of Israel. So Hezekiah conquered the Gaza region. Later on Assyrian
king gave Gaza back to Israel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We could tell more stories about the people of Israel—which,
after 720 BC entailed mainly the Jews—from the Bible, and from the Second
Temple Period, which is Herod’s Temple, rebuilt close to the time of Christ,
and then destroyed in 70 AD. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, even after the dispersion around 600 BC by the Babylonians,
there were Jews living in the land of Israel. Many returned, and rebuilt and rededicated the temple, 70 years later, with prophets Ezra and Nehemiah. Then
after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, there were still
Jews living there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They maintained a presence there throughout the centuries. Netanel
tells of a favorite poet of his, a rabbi, who lived in Gaza about 400 years
ago. He is buried in Gaza. There was a Jewish community in Gaza until around 1929.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Jews from the diaspora (wherever they were dispersed
around the world) began moving to the ancient land of Judea by the late 1800s.
They never fought and ousted anyone. They bought any land that was owned, and
settled it and turned it from swamp or desert into productive farms and
orchards. But as they gained numbers, and success, there was concern by the
Arabs living in and around the area that the Jews could become a majority, so
they began terrorist attacks on them, even in the 1910s and 1920s. Britain, a major world
power at the time, after control of the area fell from the Ottoman Empire, offered protection with the Balfour Declaration, which they
didn't completely adhere to. The Jews still got pelted.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After the holocaust in World War II, there was sympathy for the Jews, and the United Nations set
up the nation of Israel in their homeland. Their Arab neighbors protested. Within the year, the Jews faced war—and
won. Again in 1967 they faced all their Arab neighbors trying to take them over—and
won. Miracles were involved.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At this point there are a couple of details to repeat, because
they are seldom repeated. This is from my Part V: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">One thing you might not be aware of is that, in surrounding
countries Jews were forced to flee to Israel, many of them in poverty. Israel
solved the issue by training the refugees and putting them to work. If the Arab
nations that pressed the Palestinian people to become refugees had behaved
similarly, these refugees would have been a short-term problem that would have
disappeared about 60 years ago. [add another decade to that now].</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghtw1zdZh9T4-ng0qb52buFmUbdkJmjC4Q9FKAm-7HhDqjgfnodppl2xd5svz0Aa9_-Ic4uH-kelxu0C0yr3niu7iyn38DG4jYvmTL_qvHHSGogeSvbcvZ14aAoUgWEJQ7HOE4iYOPxVsEyJ9Aep5JwbfmkidM_lqj3PTu9OChC_Hpv4COr0CbfvLHe_X/s661/Screenshot%202023-10-21%20230022%20Israel%20surrounded%20map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="661" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghtw1zdZh9T4-ng0qb52buFmUbdkJmjC4Q9FKAm-7HhDqjgfnodppl2xd5svz0Aa9_-Ic4uH-kelxu0C0yr3niu7iyn38DG4jYvmTL_qvHHSGogeSvbcvZ14aAoUgWEJQ7HOE4iYOPxVsEyJ9Aep5JwbfmkidM_lqj3PTu9OChC_Hpv4COr0CbfvLHe_X/w436-h318/Screenshot%202023-10-21%20230022%20Israel%20surrounded%20map.png" width="436" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Meme found on Facebook, attached was a useful timeline, but when<br />I tried to save it, it saved <a href="https://youtu.be/UczKwsNRnww?si=QJmZtg4Wy8ghZYg_" target="_blank">a video</a>, which I gather this came from.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Israelis aren’t the oppressors. They are the indigenous
people, being attacked by the world. I wouldn’t say they are perfect, but they
have a right to their sovereign state, and they have a right to defend
themselves. They have a record of defending themselves by avoiding innocent
casualties probably more than any warring nation in history. But the enemy uses
its innocents as shields, placing their strategic equipment in or beneath
schools and hospitals. When Israel has warned people to evacuate Gaza in these
recent weeks, Hamas—the elected government in Gaza—has forced the people to
stay put, even threatening their lives if they try to flee.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yet the world sees Israel as the aggressor. This is also
from my Part V:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Since the UN continued ineffectual, Israel began to
retaliate—hard. Jewish planes and tanks struck in the Golan Heights, north of
the Sea of Galilee, both causing and suffering heavy casualties. Now, at last,
the UN acted—by immediately condemning Israel. This became the pattern in and
around Israel: Palestinian refugees and others attack Israel; Israel suffers in
patience and then strikes back; and international condemnation of Israel
ensues.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That pattern has continued pretty consistently since 1967.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There was a podcast I heard, informative, and fairly positive
toward Israel. But the guest also said he understood the position of the
Palestinians. He told of one Palestinian who had been a child refugee in 1967.
Their house is still standing, still visible to them, just over the border, but
they are forced to live as refugees, without their home—because of Israel, so
the hatred runs deep. Yes, it does. Especially when you don’t know what really
happened to you and your people. I feel sorry for this Palestinian as well, but Israel is only protecting it's borders; the imprisonment in refugee camps for 60 years is being done by the Arab World and a complicit UN.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is from Part VI: Continued Unrest<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">[In Part V] we covered some of the Palestinian refugees—the
Arabs in Israel who fled their homes when surrounding Arabs refused to
recognize the newly created state of Israel and went to war to eliminate Israel
and the Jews. I need to add a detail about this. After the brief war that
failed to eliminate Israel, the Israeli government set up a trust to handle the
property of the refugees, to hold it for them. All they asked was recognition
of their statehood and a permanent peace treaty. These requests were never met.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Eventually the land was purchased using a price structure set
up by the UN. Israel never simply went in and took over private property; they
lawfully acquired the land. Meanwhile, however, it does not appear the refugees
were personally paid for their properties. If that is so, it was not because of
any evil attributable to Israel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I wonder about a duplicitous UN, which invited the Jews to create
their sovereign nation of Israel and then, almost from the first year, sided
with its enemies. Israel has been sanctioned more than any other nation—by several
orders of magnitude—in the United Nations. Usually only the US and sometimes
Britain or another single nation will side with Israel. And, except during
Trump’s administration, US support has often been less than reliable. Oddly, those
who attack Israel—including Hamas, which shared video of its murderous spree proudly
online—is not sanctioned. Instead Israel is told not to overreact.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hamas didn’t exist until 1988. In <a href="https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas.asp" target="_blank">its charter</a>, as other similar groups, it calls for jihad against Zionism. The goal to
destroy Israel, to wipe it into the sea. The current phrase “from the river to
the sea” refers to the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea—all of Israel to
be wiped out. That means genocide. They don’t mean to conquer the people and
rule over them; they mean to annihilate them. They are, by the way, Marxist
tyrants; that seems to echo the last century, which we proclaimed we would
never forget.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Netanel avoided politics generally in this discussion. But
near the end, when asked what we could do, he suggested that we pass along what
we know—we who would sit through an hour discussing Gaza when we could be doing
many other things.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Again your support and you talking with your communities,
talking with the youngsters, guys, with the youth, talking with the youths,
explaining to the youth this information.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Sometimes people lose track, even if their world of values,
try to talk to them and in in their own way, you know. If people are supporting
the—I'll take something that is not my go to like regular activity—people who
are talking about LGBTQ rights and support the Palestinian cause. I
don't know if you've seen it; it's like chickens for KFC.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">You should explain to these people that there are no rights
for anyone who is not, like, a Muslim of that type, and definitely not for gays
or women's right or anything like that. So you should talk with them. You
should educate them. Because sometimes the knowledge is not there. And
sometimes what they see, it's like, 20-second TikTok videos…. I don't know if
they have the patience to sit for more than an hour by now and listen to a
discussion about Gaza in the Bible and—okay, so you should educate them in the
way, you know, they may listen to you.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QaHYd3tGbs2Q5d_RSoPEFpBa2x36D8IXCTpflQw7noyHjRUQqwInxtJGDIEsORWkmosrCHwITaTHSRNb9cP2EPc1jCn8t2swOhnOX4hO9Vaw_IFmb9sgi3NGvUzjk5k_Hdfc7xubTWg97JNlCjViKb55SO0Li54H9hw3wkMP1TKNpkSJojOBe_IVtuEv/s646/Screenshot%202023-10-26%20164709%20billboard%20cropped.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="646" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QaHYd3tGbs2Q5d_RSoPEFpBa2x36D8IXCTpflQw7noyHjRUQqwInxtJGDIEsORWkmosrCHwITaTHSRNb9cP2EPc1jCn8t2swOhnOX4hO9Vaw_IFmb9sgi3NGvUzjk5k_Hdfc7xubTWg97JNlCjViKb55SO0Li54H9hw3wkMP1TKNpkSJojOBe_IVtuEv/w363-h268/Screenshot%202023-10-26%20164709%20billboard%20cropped.png" width="363" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A billboard seen in New Jersey, since taken down,<br />found on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pendraggon/posts/pfbid02nWXagtWuqPA4GJSAoAL3aGP9uWTadCDZn9HPzptxUgD6QAT9QLtbXMxB51Xp2gKQl" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in;">I rather doubt such short attention span people are reading
this blog. But it is my attempt to help educate. Education may lead to
understanding, and understanding may lead to peace.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At one point Netanel said, quoting an old saying I am supposing,
“It's really hard to prophesy, especially about the future.” I don’t know how
this current siege will turn out. If it turns into the final battle, I know the
ending of that story. But in the meantime, I’m praying for Israel and all the
suffering people.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKetwXiw_TSI6aeNzWAk7PgEwshHTjpZM9ivAaFe6oKVVI36c94sqcSliqXp5g0d-se3sabUUhPqi5UZcj_hnqU3W73N2GA26hqk26UFmzFxaXUkV8tpktjA_fi8RJavjxhe2aUx0JhGC8aDm845J7uBDeNs4fLu8TstXnIG46mer_mlaVE_sPXU8pQc24/s1193/Screenshot%202023-11-02%20013411%20GB%20map%20of%20Gaza.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1193" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKetwXiw_TSI6aeNzWAk7PgEwshHTjpZM9ivAaFe6oKVVI36c94sqcSliqXp5g0d-se3sabUUhPqi5UZcj_hnqU3W73N2GA26hqk26UFmzFxaXUkV8tpktjA_fi8RJavjxhe2aUx0JhGC8aDm845J7uBDeNs4fLu8TstXnIG46mer_mlaVE_sPXU8pQc24/w433-h245/Screenshot%202023-11-02%20013411%20GB%20map%20of%20Gaza.png" width="433" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blazetv.com/watch/channel/series/series/6h9e60TbKWdu-glenn-tv/episode/n70W36mveAo8-exposing-irans-trap-to-trigger-global-war--ep-316?t=0" target="_blank">Glenn Beck</a> updates current status in Israel, Wednesday, November 1, 2023.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here are
a few additional resources:</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://youtu.be/iQzCsJY7BeQ?si=TzLtCeqWjSUawI_t" target="_blank">Israel, Palestine, and the Latter-day Saints</a>,”
CWIC Media, November 3, 2023, with guest Jason Olson, a Jewish and Ancient Near
East scholar and a Naval Officer and diplomat with numerous Jewish and Israeli
relationships. It’s an interesting conversation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://youtu.be/XGYxLWUKwWo?si=myJ3eROoKsZvjUeQ" target="_blank">Israel Palestinian Conflict: The Truth About the West Bank</a>” Danny Ayalon, July 12, 2011. I cited this video in my Part VI in August 2011. It still holds true, yet
another 12 years later.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://youtu.be/76NytvQAIs0?si=OUmZTzigDqT5pLYD" target="_blank">Why Isn't There a Palestinian State?</a>” David
Brog for PragerU, March 27, 2017. This goes through the 5 times (up until 2017) that the two-state solution was rejected
by the Arabs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://www.blazetv.com/watch/channel/series/series/6h9e60TbKWdu-glenn-tv/episode/n70W36mveAo8-exposing-irans-trap-to-trigger-global-war--ep-316?t=0" target="_blank">Exposing Iran's Trap to Trigger Global War | EP
316</a>” Glenn Beck, November 1, 2023. On BlazeTV or on <a href="https://youtu.be/3RG2-f07QE8?si=SfSoIuABinSGOA0w · " target="_blank">YouTube</a>. </p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-66454882297081480892023-10-26T21:20:00.000-07:002023-10-26T21:20:17.497-07:00Small Things Are Bigger Than They Appear<p>There are so many big things going on in the world, it’s
hard to focus on a small-ish issue. But because of all that it means, I think
this is something to pay attention to.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a German family, the Romeike family, that I’ve
written about several times. They came here seeking asylum 15 years ago, based
on persecution in Germany. They were not allowed to homeschool there. This was
based on a law from the late 1930s, during which time the Nazi regime did not
tolerate any child being out of the control of their indoctrination. The law
continues for reasons the German people will have to answer to. But the
Romeikes report that the schools were changing their children in ways they didn’t
like. The schools, by the way, while not still pro-Nazi, are atheist, and the
family is evangelical Christian. They considered private schools, but those
schools are required to use the same curriculum, and they found the environment
there even worse. So the parents pulled the children out of school for their
safety and best interests. But the state had other ideas. They threatened fines
and imprisonment. Ultimately they would threaten to take the children from the
parents. It was untenable, so the family sought asylum here, in 2008.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjwvDnXR94g2aFE_nXgt424FSgY7hS0h6dSJDWUSxFlShLGdP9kDZEVBcJYb92Y9yVl-isHF3pLDdzAsOczjzL_FZr4qx3rGiockE3Hka2do6aEgyGOOmv9EuHWmgvQ00aFnqUNOgxtfYlUdTq8MjJBrb8p_HXQpHQET0H9eZXs7FjcFknzdhZGgDLWhW/s600/Romeike%20family%20NYT%20photo%202010.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjwvDnXR94g2aFE_nXgt424FSgY7hS0h6dSJDWUSxFlShLGdP9kDZEVBcJYb92Y9yVl-isHF3pLDdzAsOczjzL_FZr4qx3rGiockE3Hka2do6aEgyGOOmv9EuHWmgvQ00aFnqUNOgxtfYlUdTq8MjJBrb8p_HXQpHQET0H9eZXs7FjcFknzdhZGgDLWhW/w487-h260/Romeike%20family%20NYT%20photo%202010.png" width="487" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Romeike family, homeschooling in Tennessee in 2010<br />photo from </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/us/01homeschool.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">NY Times article March 1, 2010</span><br /></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 2010 a US circuit judge granted their asylum, along with
a strong statement about parents having a right to make decisions regarding
education and religion for their own children. This was during the Obama
administration. Out of the blue (no apparent request from Germany), the DOJ insisted
on overturning the ruling and kicking this law-abiding family out of the
country.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I wrote about the family in 2011, and updated a couple of
times in 2013. The links are below. I hadn’t heard much in a long time. The
family was staying as long as appeals were making their way through the courts.
HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association), their legal counsel, show on
their <a href="https://hslda.org/post/romeike-fact-sheet" target="_blank">timeline</a> that, in 2013, the 6<sup>th</sup> Circuit heard oral arguments and then didn’t
grant a rehearing. So there was an appeal to the US Supreme Court. Again, the
Court didn’t grant a rehearing. That final word came down March 2014. The very
next day DHS, under public pressure, decided to let Romeikes stay under order
of supervision and "indefinite deferred action status."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although nothing changed on the Romeike’s part, the Biden
administration—the very ones determined to let anyone, criminal or not, flood
in at the southern border—now use their ICE discretion to pluck out this
family. In September the Romeikes were given four weeks to vacate the country, but
October 11 they were given a delay of one year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why target this family? They have been in no trouble during
the 15 years they have lived here. They have supported themselves (i.e., no
government aide; some of their court costs, I believe, have been helped with
donations). They have been contributing community members. They have not
violated any agreements. They aren’t terrorists or drug dealers. So, again, it
is out of the blue that the administration decides to target this family—and the
family has not been told the reason.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRU0hg5BP9ilyMgJxMSXnh91SqDycIkJMKS08qx4pwkdBn4E2cXsJ4YtHhncImeTk2cZfV-argPWdlYPS6Vti4SECHyHdnCF9fKTNOpsuJuaavFW85H5vKptPlH2MnjNoHnGwriv331Qi5U3HvVY-oj42YEwwRma_oxylxZx2TpttNDAidtSRjN4ITCWwp/s1280/Romeike%20family%20then%20and%20now%20Oct%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRU0hg5BP9ilyMgJxMSXnh91SqDycIkJMKS08qx4pwkdBn4E2cXsJ4YtHhncImeTk2cZfV-argPWdlYPS6Vti4SECHyHdnCF9fKTNOpsuJuaavFW85H5vKptPlH2MnjNoHnGwriv331Qi5U3HvVY-oj42YEwwRma_oxylxZx2TpttNDAidtSRjN4ITCWwp/w567-h319/Romeike%20family%20then%20and%20now%20Oct%202023.jpg" width="567" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Romeike family in 2008 when they came here, and a recent family photo.<br />Photos are screenshots from their interview on the <a href="https://www.blazetv.com/watch/channel/series/series/6h9e60TbKWdu-glenn-tv/episode/94dZ0Ym3jX6a-meet-the-one-family-biden-wants-to-deport--ep-309?t=0 " target="_blank">Glenn Beck program</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What happens with a family over 15 years? They have two more
children—born here as Americans, according to current law. (I believe they had
five when they came here.) Their children have grown up. Two are married to
American citizens, and one has an American-born citizen baby, just a month old.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The administration nevertheless wants the Romeike parents to
return to Germany, where they face both hefty fines and imprisonment. They have
no home there and no means to make a living—which means they will be imprisoned,
and the state will take custody of the minor children. The American-born
children can stay in the US, but without parents or family or means of support,
so that’s not going to happen. The married adults are expected to return to
Germany without spouses and children (or they can all immigrate and subject
themselves to German laws), and that’s not going to happen either. The minor
children, except the American-born ones, are expected to return to Germany and
submit themselves to state custody. Some of them may not even remember the language
or recall ever living in Germany.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In an <a href="https://www.blazetv.com/watch/channel/series/series/6h9e60TbKWdu-glenn-tv/episode/94dZ0Ym3jX6a-meet-the-one-family-biden-wants-to-deport--ep-309?t=0 " target="_blank">interview with Glenn Beck</a>, the parents aren’t sure
what to do. As law-abiding people, they are willing to leave the US if ordered.
But they are not willing to return to Germany and lose their freedom and their
family. They may be searching for another place to land, but at this point they
say they don’t know where to go.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why is this a bigger issue than it appears? It is a
travesty. It is wrong. But it also shows the risk to all of us. The ruling
power goes out of its way to wield power against regular people—like us. This
appears to be persecution because of religious belief, possibly also simply the
assertion that we the people—not government—have certain inalienable rights,
which include the parental right and responsibility to direct the care and
upbringing of our own children.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As Lenin said, “Give me four years to teach the children and
the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.” Tyrants want control over the
ideas being taught to children, to perpetuate their control over the next generations. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a point I remember Jordan Peterson making (I don’t
have the reference right now) where he talks about a question people ask him, about
what a person should say to a Nazi official who asks if you’re hiding Jews in
your home. Do you lie, when telling the truth would lead to their death? He
says a better question is, how many times did you—and the rest of the community—fail
to tell the truth or speak up prior to the Nazis coming to your door to find
the Jews you have to hide? Why did you let it get to this point?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, with this one family’s case, is there something we can
do? Yes, some small things:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Contact your representative to support <a href="https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hr5423/BILLS-118hr5423ih.pdf">H.R.
5423</a>, a bill proposed in September to give relief to the Romeike family.
(Info about the bill <a href="https://www.votervoice.net/HSLDA/1/campaigns/107920/respond">here</a>.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We’re past an October 11 deadline, but still,
there is <a href="https://hslda.org/donate/romeike">a petition</a> at HSLDA where
you can sign your name in support of the Romeike family. (Pressure from the
public is what led the Obama administration to give them “indefinitely deferred
action status” back in 2014.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Donate, if you’re able, to the <a href="https://hslda.org/donate/romeike">defense fund</a> for the Romeike family
at HSLDA. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Let your friends know about this family. Let it
be part of your conversation about school board races and parental rights.
While there are people of both parties who don’t care much about homeschooling,
only one side's administration is persecuting them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maybe, if we do whatever we feel capable of doing in a small
issue like this—along with a whole lot of other people stepping up and speaking
up—maybe the bigger issues will also get solved. Whether that outcome happens or
not, at least we will have placed ourselves on the side of good and right.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Where I’ve
Written about the Romeike Family<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2011/10/parental-rights.html" target="_blank">Parental Rights</a>, October 26, 2011 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-parental-right-to-educate.html" target="_blank">The Parental Right to Educate</a>, March 22, 2013 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2013/05/you-might-be-living-under-tyranny-if_17.html" target="_blank">You Might Be Living Under Tyranny If... Part II</a>,
May 17, 2013 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Other Resources<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/us/01homeschool.html" target="_blank">Judge Grants Asylum to German Home Schoolers</a>,”
<i>New York Times</i>, March 1, 2010. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://www.blazetv.com/watch/channel/series/series/6h9e60TbKWdu-glenn-tv/episode/94dZ0Ym3jX6a-meet-the-one-family-biden-wants-to-deport--ep-309?t=0" target="_blank">Meet One Family Biden Wants to Deport</a>,” <i>Glenn
Beck Special</i>, episode 309, October 4, 2023. (This may be behind a paywall; I wasn't able to also find it on YouTube.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://hslda.org/post/romeike-fact-sheet" target="_blank">Romeike Case: History and Timeline</a>,” HSLDA,
September 18, 2023. <o:p></o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-64361240289558902602023-10-20T18:36:00.000-07:002023-10-20T18:36:37.579-07:00The Fourteen Texas Constitutional Amendments on the Ballot<p>The Texas State Constitution is, like the US Constitution,
the foundational law. However, unlike the US Constitution, it is not brief and
difficult to amend. It is relatively lengthy and tends to have amendments added
(and pretty much always added, never deleted) following every bi-annual
legislative session. So, in odd numbered years—off-year for all but some local
elections—we have these possibly life-altering decisions to make when most
people are not paying attention.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I try to pay attention, to make decisions as wise as I can.
And I pass along my thoughts to help others be more informed as they vote as
well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On my ballot, there are four school board races (which I
wrote about here), one county proposition (which I haven’t studied yet), and
these 14 constitutional amendments. I’ve been gathering thoughts on these from
friends, which I’ll summarize here. And I’ll be making my
decisions/recommendations as I go through them. Fourteen is a lot, more than I
remember here in Texas. Which means this will be an extraordinarily long blog
post. Feel free to skim. There’s a chart of recommendations at the end.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I put out word that I needed input, I got help from
Mark Ramsey (former SREC committeeman, former congressional candidate, and
former chair of the RPT Platform Committee, and long-time friend). Mark put
together a spreadsheet showing his choices along with True Texas Project (TTP),
Don Huffines Liberty Foundation, and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFFR). I
also got input from Mark Goloby (precinct chair next to mine, former protest
candidate for governor, and expert on Chapter 330 legislation), who sent me his
input as well as a 10-page discussion by Judge Michael Landrum, whom I respect
as one of the good guys. (Judge Landrum’s offers explanation and background
only, beyond the Secretary of State’s explanatory note, but he does not give
his recommendations, so I don’t include him on any charts, just in discussion.)
I also got my son, Political Sphere, to find time to write up his
recommendations. And I got a brief list of which amendments he’s voting for,
from Tom Nobis, my current SREC committeeman (on the chart, I’ve assigned No to
any he isn’t voting For, but it’s possible he would be neutral on some of
these). So I’m laying these all out before me and going through them, as I
write this, to make my decisions and recommendations.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let me start by saying, the default position should always
be NO—unless and until there is a good case made for the proposition. We
shouldn’t be changing the foundational law at a whim or for special interests.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here we go.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Each one starts with the Secretary of State’s explanatory
statement (including the legislative bill number it came from), and the wording
on the ballot. Mark Ramsey has a short title for each, which I’ll use—which admittedly
reveals his calling out how much spending is involved.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 1 (HJR 126) RIGHT TO FARM</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3DJjuVxxa4oo4JE46y_AaASQJ5i1jP5VAK32D9eRhMeRhJ7apQz2TFcxpVMk_JaS50flDSXMNYEAkORw9f2hC4Kv44aJEUb2vlf-Mej8HPeAiZ8Vwy0_JmNFUZlG99OtA_1TSzHvvOoI0yRQyqwIdfyogjxYyWOv7ACjtWLSI_mqpWrkcmcPG6zv1Gnr/s681/14%20amendments%201%20farming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="681" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3DJjuVxxa4oo4JE46y_AaASQJ5i1jP5VAK32D9eRhMeRhJ7apQz2TFcxpVMk_JaS50flDSXMNYEAkORw9f2hC4Kv44aJEUb2vlf-Mej8HPeAiZ8Vwy0_JmNFUZlG99OtA_1TSzHvvOoI0yRQyqwIdfyogjxYyWOv7ACjtWLSI_mqpWrkcmcPG6zv1Gnr/w293-h195/14%20amendments%201%20farming.jpg" width="293" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS</b>:
HJR 126 proposes a constitutional amendment to protect a person’s right to
engage in generally accepted farm, ranch, timber production, horticulture, or
wildlife management practices on real property that the person owns or leases.
The proposed amendment would not affect the authority of the legislature to
authorize the regulation of these practices by: (1) a state agency or political
subdivision as necessary to protect the public health and safety from imminent
danger; (2) a state agency to prevent a danger to animal health or crop
production; or (3) a state agency or political subdivision to preserve or
conserve the natural resources of the state under the Texas Constitution.
Additionally, the proposed amendment would not affect the legislature’s
authority to authorize the use or acquisition of property for a public use,
including the development of natural resources under the Texas Constitution. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording:</b> <i>“The constitutional amendment
protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production,
horticulture, and wildlife management.”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="7" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 467.5pt;" valign="top" width="623">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk148625884"><b>Proposition 1: RIGHT TO FARM<o:p></o:p></b></a></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"><b>Huffines
Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"><b>Tom <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"><b>Political
Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;">?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;">N<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148625884;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is a general thought that people have a constitutional
right to farm on their property, which should not be infringed. Cities
sometimes place restrictions on property owners. This is to prevent that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mark Ramsey says this amendment “raises the legal threshold
for regulations on farming,” and it “prevents cities from restricting farming.”
Mark Landrum quotes the bill’s author as saying, “Farmers and ranchers who
engage in production agriculture within municipal boundaries are being
subjected to broad overregulation….” And Landrum adds, “The proposed amendment
would not affect the authority of the legislature to authorize the regulation
of these practices if necessary to protect the public health and safety; to
prevent a danger to animal health or crop production; or to preserve or
conserve the natural resources of the state. The amendment will not eliminate
or diminish the power of eminent domain.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the other hand, Mark Goloby says, “Seems innocuous at
first, but this is covered in ‘pursuit of happiness.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are they up to?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Political Sphere adds more skepticism, while not being
against the concept. He says, “This session they passed legislation with
essentially the same wording limiting municipal authority to regulate
agriculture, etc., covered in this amendment. While I think it may ultimately
be beneficial, that depends entirely on how it is applied by the courts as they
interpret it. I would like to see it go through at least a decade of case law
so we can determine any corrections we need before we pass this as a
constitutional amendment.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, the question for me is, am I convinced the amendment is
necessary to protect our property rights? I am in favor of protecting our
property rights. That should be a given. And in general property rights are
protected in the state and federal constitutions; we just can’t trust
bureaucrats and petty tyrants from infringing on them. An explicit
constitutional amendment is a bit harder to ignore than just a law.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I may think about this and change my mind, but <b>I’m going
to go with Yes</b> <b>on Proposition 1</b>, unless more red flags come up about
it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 2 (SJR 64) CHILDCARE CARVEOUT</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvIV5GuQ7mjKIyzRoaDWgoXyeUbxdIGFwCgzvUXAmE3TbpMfPSGJkuIgU-HFpeKUVNmB6lU1uLy-kscnsJ3Ag9kXkIMgnVkK6cqf2x7rEXKyS7F9A56Advh69Mm22Qp8N4y9BbCAN4uezyx8oVyNvOOpLgzJptTbDXaSpXZ1Pce7Mu-edGTH2o7_Oqy3z/s695/14%20amendments%202%20childcare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="695" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvIV5GuQ7mjKIyzRoaDWgoXyeUbxdIGFwCgzvUXAmE3TbpMfPSGJkuIgU-HFpeKUVNmB6lU1uLy-kscnsJ3Ag9kXkIMgnVkK6cqf2x7rEXKyS7F9A56Advh69Mm22Qp8N4y9BbCAN4uezyx8oVyNvOOpLgzJptTbDXaSpXZ1Pce7Mu-edGTH2o7_Oqy3z/s320/14%20amendments%202%20childcare.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS</b>:
SJR 64 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the governing body of a
county or municipality to exempt from property taxation all or part of the
appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility. The
proposed amendment would authorize the governing body to adopt the exemption as
a percentage of the appraised value of the property, but that percentage could
not be less than 50% of the appraised value of the property. The proposed
amendment also would allow the legislature to define the term “child-care
facility” and to establish additional eligibility requirements to receive the
property tax exemption. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording</b>: <i>“The constitutional amendment
authorizing a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a county or
municipality of all or part of the appraised value of real property used to
operate a child-care facility.”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="7" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 467.5pt;" valign="top" width="623">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk148626503"><b>Proposition 2: CHILDCARE
CARVEOUT<o:p></o:p></b></a></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"><b>Huffines
Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"><b>Tom <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"><b>Political
Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;">N<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;">N<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;">N<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;">N<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;">N<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;">N<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;">N<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148626503;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal">The near consensus seems to be that childcare isn’t
inherently different or special enough, compared to other properties, that it
requires a special exception.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Michael Landrum’s explanation, which seems more simply
explanatory than endorsing, is this: “This proposition and its enabling
legislation (signed by the Governor) would provide licensed child care
providers some relief from higher taxes regardless of whether they own the
facilities or rent the property in which their childcare centers are located.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mark Ramsey points out that it was a Democrat bill, written
and pressed by lobbyists. It “raises your property tax to let someone else get
theirs lowered.” He adds that it’s subject to abuse and offers little
oversight.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I’m voting NO on Proposition 2</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 3 (HJR 132) NO WEALTH TAXES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS:</b>
HJR 132 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit the legislature from
imposing a tax based on the wealth or net worth of an individual or family. The
proposed amendment also would prohibit the legislature from imposing a tax
based on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or
family. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording:</b> <i>“The constitutional amendment
prohibiting the imposition of an individual wealth or net worth tax, including
a tax on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or
family.”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="7" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 467.5pt;" valign="top" width="623">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk148627172"><b>Proposition 3: NO WEALTH TAXES<o:p></o:p></b></a></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"><b>Huffines
Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"><b>Tom<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"><b>Political
Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148627172;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone that has weighed in on this says Yes. There has
been a movement among various states and possibly federal lawmakers to
confiscate wealth—that has already been taxed—and redistribute it, calling it a
“wealth tax.” It’s bad in every way governments can be bad. Michael Landrum
explains, “Texas does not currently impose a state tax on the wealth or net
worth of an individual or family. However, a tax on an individual’s or family’s
wealth or net worth, such as a property tax on an individual’s stock holdings
or bank accounts is not strictly prohibited by the Texas Constitution, which
currently requires or authorizes, under certain circumstances, the taxation of
both tangible and intangible property.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“If adopted, this amendment will prohibit the legislature
from imposing a tax based on the wealth or net worth of an individual or family
and will also prohibit the legislature from imposing a tax based on the
difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Political Sphere is concerned that the ballot wording may be
a bit confusing. People might not understand that we’re preventing a wealth tax
here. But still, he’s voting Yes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do we need it spelled out in our state constitution that we
shouldn’t ever have a “wealth tax” to confiscate and redistribute wealth?
Apparently we do. <b>I’m voting Yes on Proposition 3</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 4 (HJR 2 – Second Special Session) PROPERTY TAX BUYDOWN<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS:</b> HJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to
modify certain provisions of the Texas Constitution related to property taxes.
The proposed amendment would authorize the legislature to temporarily limit the
maximum appraised value of real property for property tax purposes in a tax
year. The proposed amendment also would increase the mandatory homestead
exemption for school district property taxation from $40,000 to $100,000. The
proposed amendment would require the legislature to provide for a reduction in
the amount of the limitation on school district property taxes imposed on the
residence homestead of the elderly or disabled. Additionally, the amendment
would exempt appropriations not dedicated by the Texas Constitution and used
for property tax relief from being considered as appropriations when
determining whether the rate of growth of appropriations in a biennium has
exceeded the constitutional tax spending limit. The proposed amendment would
further authorize the legislature to provide that members serving on an
appraisal board in a county with a population of at least 75,000 serve terms
not to exceed four years. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording:</b> <i>“The constitutional amendment to
authorize the legislature to establish a temporary limit on the maximum
appraised value of real property other than a residence homestead for ad
valorem tax purposes; to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem
taxation by a school district applicable to residence homesteads from $40,000
to $100,000; to adjust the amount of the limitation on school district ad
valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to
reflect increases in certain exemption amounts; to except certain
appropriations to pay for ad valorem tax relief from the constitutional
limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations; and to authorize the
legislature to provide for a four-year term of office for a member of the board
of directors of certain appraisal districts.”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="7" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 467.5pt;" valign="top" width="623">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Proposition 4: PROPERTY TAX BUYDOWN<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Huffines Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Tom <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Political Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">There seems to be agreement that there should be property
tax relief. Mark Ramsey points out that this is a compromise; “We still need to
ABOLISH immoral property taxes.” There was enabling legislation that does not
go into effect unless this amendment passes. According to Michael Landrum, the
amendment does several things:<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->While homestead values can only be increased by
10% per year for taxing purposes, other non-homestead values weren’t capped.
This will cap those other types of property to 20% per year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The mandatory homestead exemption for schools is
raised from $40,000 to $100,000.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->There must be a reduction in the amount of the
limitation on school district property taxes imposed on the residence homestead
of the elderly or disabled. This assures that homestead owners whose school
district taxes are frozen will benefit from the increase in the state exemption.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Additional money is allocated to school
districts to “buy down” their tax rates, thus further reducing school taxes.
The reduction in tax rates will be 10.7 cents per $100 valuation.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Political Sphere adds, “I cannot remember when the general
homestead exemption was last increased, despite massive increases on the
general value of a homestead. This is much more preferential to treating
certain people and properties as somehow special.” I think he’s referring to
proposition 2’s method here. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, we didn’t get property taxes abolished—and replaced with
a consumer or other type of tax that cannot be an income tax. But we got this
homestead exemption increase—in a way that school districts don’t complain too
loudly. <b>I’m voting Yes on Proposition 4.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition Number 5 (HJR 3) SHOVEL
$$$ TO ACADEMIA</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ml-Q2HrROycsmMqDfGxal4aD5ojUyfCrvXlFvdytGVxKxx1pjqUojwOPAav0jesEAjK0ASaZaFuFnCmdwGGn12yKCvy5XFVa4RNQNbbhpCVVBhp1Iagd5stMpSJcHcubWIfVFr1Jpp1-O8hbUZnYtfcCymlquoPpCvQdBscEWouhWW0cvsOoRu8lJyHj/s671/14%20amendments%205%20academia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="671" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ml-Q2HrROycsmMqDfGxal4aD5ojUyfCrvXlFvdytGVxKxx1pjqUojwOPAav0jesEAjK0ASaZaFuFnCmdwGGn12yKCvy5XFVa4RNQNbbhpCVVBhp1Iagd5stMpSJcHcubWIfVFr1Jpp1-O8hbUZnYtfcCymlquoPpCvQdBscEWouhWW0cvsOoRu8lJyHj/w306-h172/14%20amendments%205%20academia.jpg" width="306" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS:</b> HJR 3 proposes a constitutional amendment to
redesignate the national research university fund as the Texas University Fund
(TUF), and to appropriate funds from the economic stabilization fund to the
TUF. The proposed amendment would appropriate to the TUF an amount equal to the
interest income, dividends, and investment earnings attributable to the
economic stabilization fund for the preceding state fiscal year. The
appropriation amount could not exceed $100 million for the state fiscal year
beginning September 1, 2023, or an amount adjusted for the increase in the
general price index, not to exceed two percent, in subsequent state fiscal
years. The proposed amendment also would prohibit any state university that is
entitled to participate in dedicated funding provided by Article VII, Section
18 of the Texas Constitution from receiving money from the TUF. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ballot Wording: <i>“The constitutional amendment relating to
the Texas University Fund, which provides funding to certain institutions of
higher education to achieve national prominence as major research universities
and drive the state economy.”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="7" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 467.5pt;" valign="top" width="623">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Proposition 5: SHOVEL $$$ TO ACADEMIA<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Huffines Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Tom <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Political Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">Political Sphere comments on the ballot wording, which
sounds to me like an ad in favor than a statement of the constitutional change.
He says, “The language on the ballot appears to be intentionally vague, and I
had to go to the authorizing legislation to determine what was actually going
on. While education is a laudable goal, I do not feel that creating an annual
tapping of the rainy day fund’s interest is acceptable.” So, yes, the bill is
taking money from the Rainy Day Fund and allocating it, year after year in
perpetuity, to a newly named Texas University Fund. There was already an
existing national research university fund; it just gets a new name and a new
funding source.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mark Ramsey also says that it breaks the constitutional
“spending caps.” Plus, it’s vague and bureaucratic. And did we mention that it
siphons money from the Rainy Day Fund? And they can keep siphoning every year
from now on? And this is such a priority that they make it a constitutional
amendment?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, <b>I’m voting No on Proposition 5</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 6 (SJR 75) SHOVEL $$$ TO WATER PROJECTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS:</b> SJR 75 proposes a constitutional amendment to
create the Texas water fund. The Texas water fund would be a special fund in
the state treasury outside the general revenue fund, administered by the Texas
Water Development Board (TWDB) or its successor to assist in financing water
projects in the state. The proposed amendment would direct the Texas water fund
administrator to use the fund only to transfer money to other TWDB funds or
accounts. The proposed amendment would authorize the legislature to appropriate
money for deposit to the water fund to be available for permitted transfers. No
further legislative appropriation would be required for the water fund
administrator to transfer money from or restore money to the fund, including
the transfer of money to or the restoration of money from certain designated
TWDB funds and accounts. The water fund would consist of: (1) money transferred
or deposited to the fund by general law; (2) other revenue that the legislature
by statute dedicates for deposit to the fund; (3) investment earnings and
interest earned on amounts credited to the fund; (4) money from gifts, grants,
and donations to the fund; and (5) money returned from any authorized transfer.
The proposed amendment would require the legislature, by general law, to provide
for the manner in which money from the Texas water fund may be used. The
proposed amendment also would require that at least 25% of the money initially
appropriated to the Texas water fund be transferred to the New Water Supply for
Texas Fund. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording:</b> <i>“The constitutional amendment
creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this
state.”</i></p>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Proposition 6: SHOVEL $$$ TO WATER PROJECTS<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Huffines Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Tom<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Political Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">Again for this one, Mark Ramsey says it breaks the
constitutional “spending caps.” Also, it adds bureaucracy.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, there isn’t full agreement on this. Political
Sphere, who has dealt with water projects at the rural level, where unfunded
state mandates take every bit of extra revenue that ought to be going to
infrastructure replacement, for example, says this: “This will create an
interest bearing fund to help finance water projects throughout the state, at a
time when we need large-scale water projects to ensure that we have sufficient
water for our communities.” Also, TFFR, always aware of increased government
spending, sees the need for water projects, and therefore remains neutral on
this one: “While clean water is a very important resource, this amendment
nonetheless will expand government and the spending of taxpayer dollars. We
remain neutral.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My sense is that providing water infrastructure is an actual
proper role of government. While I’m concerned about any increase in
bureaucracy, this seems to me a more efficient way to fund actual needed water
supply projects—primarily infrastructure related. So, I’m persuaded by
Political Sphere’s experience here, breaking with friends, and <b>voting Yes on
Proposition 6</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 7 (SJR 93) SHOVEL MONEY TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbJUM68M9iR5S68EFDgj7yeN2BkRmM5WG5g-tjfbNdVyH0ibbtbChyphenhyphenRHeQ3iKDvelueo8YuvnUMBYdbkn1kaqaBXz43J56xHOWcDc-8wsQxTgCZE2cSjzQFKQUvbVL1pHuRf5JBboj5J0vrcvZqcmAwbQ4OrkiJcdlaSX9sAXW-4mQd0Nf7r0TwE8Rw4R/s705/14%20amendments%206%20electricity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="705" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbJUM68M9iR5S68EFDgj7yeN2BkRmM5WG5g-tjfbNdVyH0ibbtbChyphenhyphenRHeQ3iKDvelueo8YuvnUMBYdbkn1kaqaBXz43J56xHOWcDc-8wsQxTgCZE2cSjzQFKQUvbVL1pHuRf5JBboj5J0vrcvZqcmAwbQ4OrkiJcdlaSX9sAXW-4mQd0Nf7r0TwE8Rw4R/s320/14%20amendments%206%20electricity.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS:</b>
SJR 93 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish the Texas energy fund.
The Texas energy fund would be a special fund in the state treasury outside the
general revenue fund, administered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas
(PUC) or its successor. Money in the Texas energy fund could be used, without
further appropriation, only by PUC or its successor to provide loans and grants
to finance or incentivize the construction, maintenance, modernization, and
operation of electric generating facilities necessary to ensure the reliability
or adequacy of an electric power grid in the state. The proposed amendment
would require PUC to allocate money from the fund for loans and grants to
eligible projects for electric generating facilities that serve as backup power
sources and in each region of the state that is part of an electric power grid
in proportion to that region’s load share. The Texas energy fund would consist
of: (1) money credited, appropriated, or transferred to the fund by or as
authorized by the legislature; (2) revenue that the legislature dedicates for
deposit to the fund; (3) the returns received from the investment of the money
in the fund; and (4) gifts, grants, and donations contributed to the fund. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording:</b> <i>“The constitutional amendment
providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the
construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating
facilities.”</i> </p>
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<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Proposition 7: SHOVEL $$$ TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Huffines Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Tom <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Political Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">I wish I knew more. I have been hoping the state would get
serious about fortifying our electric grid for a long time (read <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2016/05/hardening-grid.html" target="_blank">here</a>). We have
our own grid in Texas, which is good, because we can protect it ourselves, without
having to wait for some larger entity to do it. It’s also painful when it fails
(read <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2021/02/surviving-snowpocalypse-in-texas.html" target="_blank">here</a>). It’s hard to get people to prioritize hardening the electric grid
when so many other problems seem more certain. What I don’t know is whether
this really addresses hardening the electric grid, or something else.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">TFFR and Political Sphere both say it helps strengthen the
electric grid, which we know we need; and they are both sources that are
cognizant of bureaucracy and our need for fiscal responsibility. TFFR says
this: “We believe this is a necessary interim step to attempt to avoid
blackouts that might have been made inevitable by previous poor policy
decisions. There was a major effort this past legislative session to make our
grid reliable. Legislation was passed that authorized the PUC to fix many
problems with the grid, specifically the addition of a new reliability
standard. Those laws in conjunction with this amendment provide a possible
solution to rescue our destabilized Texas electric grid.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Michael Landrum’s explanation says the fund will provide “loans
and grants to finance or incentivize the construction, maintenance,
modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities necessary to
ensure the reliability or adequacy of an electric power grid in the state—”
Then there’s this: “primarily for electric generating facilities that serve as
back-up power sources.” Does that mean alternatives, such as wind and solar.
Those are the ones that have been unreliable. If backup means more and better
power sources for when those fail us, then that’s a good thing. If there’s any
intention to prioritize these alternative sources that we can’t rely on, that’s
not a good thing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I can’t tell from the limited research I’ve done. I know
that we need to harden our grid. I think this might help, and we may never get
it before the people again. So, again I’m splitting with friends and getting
persuaded by my son; <b>I’m voting Yes on proposition 7</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 8 (HJR 125) SHOVEL $$$ TO TELECOM UTILITIES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS:</b> HJR 125 proposes a constitutional amendment to
create the broadband infrastructure fund. The broadband infrastructure fund
would be a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund,
administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (Comptroller). Money
from the fund could be used, without further appropriation, only for the
expansion of access to and adoption of broadband and telecommunications
services. The broadband infrastructure fund would consist of: (1) money
transferred or deposited to the fund by the Texas Constitution, general law, or
the General Appropriations Act; (2) revenue that the legislature by general law
dedicates for deposit to the fund; (3) investment earnings and interest earned
on money in the fund; and (4) gifts, grants, and donations to the fund. The
proposed amendment would authorize the Comptroller to transfer money from the
broadband infrastructure fund to another fund as provided by general law, and
the state agency that administers the fund to which any money is transferred
could use the money without further appropriation only for the expansion of
access to and adoption of broadband and telecommunications services. The
broadband infrastructure fund would expire on September 1, 2035, unless
extended by adoption of a joint resolution of the legislature. Immediately
before the expiration of the fund, the Comptroller would be required to
transfer any unexpended and unobligated balance remaining in the broadband
infrastructure fund to the general revenue fund. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording:</b> <i>“The constitutional amendment
creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband
access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects.”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Proposition 8: SHOVEL $$$ TO TELECOM UTILITIES<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Huffines Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Tom <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Political Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
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</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">This looks like it ought to be obvious: we don’t favor
particular market segments with taxpayer money. There is the problem, however,
of a lack of high-speed internet in many rural parts of the state. Michael Landrum’s
explanation included this from the bill’s author: “almost 2.8 million Texas
households, or roughly seven million Texans, lack broadband Internet access.
This means that nearly a quarter of Texans do not have the quality of Internet
access necessary to attend online classes, see a healthcare provider from their
living room, complete an online job application, start a business online, or
access digital marketplaces from their kitchen table. These barriers negatively
affect Texans' quality of life and limit economic opportunities for the people
of Texas and the state overall.” That is a problem. And it’s one Political
Sphere has experienced in his small town. However, without this fund, there is
a current project underway to bring them access.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ladrum’s explanation also added this: “Neither the
resolution nor the enabling legislation mention the approximately $3.3 billion
allocated to Texas for broadband infrastructure under the federal 2021 infrastructure
law.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, while I would like to see high-speed internet go to all
parts of Texas, a constitutional amendment might not be the way to accomplish
that. And then there are the concerns Mark Ramsey shares: It breaks the
constitutional “spending caps,” it grows government, and it uses technology
that is rapidly becoming obsolete. So, sorry to split with my son, but <b>I’m
voting No on Proposition 8</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 9 (HJR 2) MORE $$$ TO TRS</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstpTkRiOCTRyOZ8h2dheEgDFl0DGcArm2iqz40jxKtQsWQWhOCC0waGstCNZMwJy6JNM9iRQ_nJKN0JNucb77p0hvpkVmZUufVLbC-4Ft1oMKWMuxW0_rzNDJjnWIvkK8uUFbMRiKS1qiqX4QIYKRI6B727yRXcVRkvpA-wrR29JeODVkXpHd-grDk51B/s653/14%20amendments%209%20teacher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="653" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstpTkRiOCTRyOZ8h2dheEgDFl0DGcArm2iqz40jxKtQsWQWhOCC0waGstCNZMwJy6JNM9iRQ_nJKN0JNucb77p0hvpkVmZUufVLbC-4Ft1oMKWMuxW0_rzNDJjnWIvkK8uUFbMRiKS1qiqX4QIYKRI6B727yRXcVRkvpA-wrR29JeODVkXpHd-grDk51B/w278-h193/14%20amendments%209%20teacher.jpg" width="278" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS:</b>
HJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to
provide a cost-of- living adjustment to eligible annuitants of the Teacher
Retirement System of Texas (TRS). The proposed amendment also would authorize
the legislature to appropriate money from the general revenue fund to the Texas
Comptroller of Public Accounts to pay the cost-of-living adjustment. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording:</b> <i>“The constitutional amendment
authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to
certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk148648265"><b>Proposition 9: MORE $$$ TO TRS<o:p></o:p></b></a></p>
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<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"><b>Huffines
Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"><b>Tom <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"><b>Political
Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;">N<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk148648265;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal">This seems close on both sides, and some are simply not
weighing it. The fact is that the retired teachers haven’t had a cost-of-living
increase in many years. Mark Ramsey says, however, “This TEMPORARY stopgap
provision does not fix the structural problem and still breaks the constitutional
“spending caps.” He adds, “Bad compromise amendments rarely work out well for
anyone.” In comments on Facebook, when challenged on this, Mark Ramsey said, “I
rechecked my already extensive research and this could have been done without a
Constitutional Amendment (and has been done in the past without one). It is ‘breaking
the spending caps’ that makes this a Constitutional Amendment.” He’s probably
right; it could have been done without the need for a constitutional amendment.
Breaking the spending cap—that’s growing government spending bound by the
combination of population and inflation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s still that problem of the needed cost-of-living
increases, in this time of high inflation, for people on fixed income. A decent
cost-of-living increase along the way would have prevented this current need to
exceed spending caps. So, while I see Mark’s reasoning, <b>I’m still going to
vote Yes on Proposition 9</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 10 (SJR 87) MEDICAL INVENTORY CARVE-OUT FROM PROPERTY TAXES</span> <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS:</b> SJR 87 proposes a constitutional amendment to
allow the legislature to exempt from property taxation tangible personal
property held by a medical or biomedical manufacturer as a finished good or
used in the manufacturing or processing of medical or biomedical products. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording:</b> <i>“The constitutional amendment to
authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation equipment or
inventory held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products to protect
the Texas healthcare network and strengthen our medical supply chain.”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="7" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 467.5pt;" valign="top" width="623">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Proposition 10: </b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">MEDICAL
INVENTORY CARVE-OUT FROM PROPERTY TAXES</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Huffines Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Tom <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Political Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">It looks like there’s consensus against this proposition.
Mark Ramsey calls it a lobbyist bill. Like the childcare proposition, it takes
your tax money to benefit someone else. According to Michael Landrum’s
explanation, its purpose is to encourage medical products companies to maintain
inventory. It doesn’t include an exemption for real estate property. We found
during COVID that our nation was too dependent on other nations, including our
enemies, for essential medical products. However, if that were found to be
essential, it could be addressed through regular legislation, without creating
a special sector in the state constitution. <b>I’m voting No on Proposition 10</b>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 11 (SJR 32) EL PASO BOND DEBT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS:</b> SJR 32 proposes a constitutional amendment to
expand the authority of the legislature with regard to conservation and
reclamation districts in El Paso County. The Texas Constitution permits
conservation and reclamation districts in certain counties across the state to
issue bonds to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational
facilities but does not currently provide this authority to El Paso County. The
proposed amendment would add conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso
County to those districts currently allowed, if authorized by general law, to
issue bonds supported by property taxes to fund the development and maintenance
of parks and recreational facilities. The proposed amendment would not limit
the powers of the legislature or of a conservation and reclamation district
with respect to parks and recreational facilities as those powers currently
exist. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording:</b> <i>“The constitutional amendment
authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in
El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the
development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="7" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 467.5pt;" valign="top" width="623">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Proposition 11: </b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">EL
PASO PARK BOND DEBT</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Huffines Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Tom <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Political Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">This appears to be a local issue. According to Michael
Landrum, the history is that in 2003 certain counties were granted, through
state constitutional amendment, the ability to issue bonds for development and maintenance
of parks and recreation facilities. El Paso County was left out of that list.
They attempted to get the ability through amendment in 2011 but failed. Some of
my sources are not weighing in, because it’s local. Mark Ramsey adds, “Not a
statewide issue. Taking on debt is not good for El Paso either.” Mark Goloby
wasn’t a full Yes; he said, “If El Paso wants to float bonds for parks, OK?”
Political Sphere points out that this issue is one that has to go through the
constitutional amendment process, but he says, ultimately it’s a local issue
for El Paso, so he’d rather not weigh in. Rather than leave my ballot blank, <b>I’m
voting No on Proposition 11</b>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 12 (HJR 134) ABOLISH GALVESTON COUNTY ELECTED TREASURER</span> <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS:</b> HJR 134 proposes a constitutional amendment to
abolish the office of County Treasurer in Galveston County. The amendment would
authorize the Galveston County Commissioners Court to employ or contract with a
qualified person or designate another county officer to perform any functions
that would have been performed by the County Treasurer. The proposed amendment
would take effect only if a majority of the voters of Galveston County voting
on the proposition favor the amendment. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording:</b> <i>“The constitutional amendment
providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston
County.”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="7" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 467.5pt;" valign="top" width="623">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Proposition 12: ABOLISH GALVESTON COUNTY ELECTED
TREASURER<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Huffines Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Tom <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Political Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Y<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is essentially another local issue, but it probably
merits our attention. In larger counties, many of the traditional duties of the
county treasurer’s office are taken on by other departments, making the office
somewhat redundant. But the alternative is to make the position appointed, in
which case the commissioners court doesn’t have independent oversight. Michael
Landrum’s explanation notes this: “Even if a majority of Texas voters approve
it, the proposed amendment would take effect only if a majority of the voters
of Galveston County voting on the proposition favor the amendment.” And the
amendment would allow the county (the commissioners court) to hire a treasurer
or assign the duties to another county officer.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Political Sphere says, “While this is another one where it
would be reasonable to abstain as a local issue, because the current Galveston
County Treasurer ran on a promise that they would abolish the position, I am going
to vote against, and hope it gets voted down just to see what the Treasurer
does.” He adds that he has experienced the debate in his county. He adds, I
think it is generally better to have a separate Treasurer department and
Auditor department to act as checks on each other.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mark Ramsey notes that, while it is not a statewide issue, “Making
an elected position appointed (and hence concentrating power more) is rarely a
good move. Treasurers can be an effective check on Commissioners Court.” In
fact, in our last county treasurer race, the conservative candidate ran on his
ability to check our liberal Commissioners Court by holding the purse strings.
So, while it’s a local issue, <b>I’m voting No on Proposition 12</b> to favor
elected oversight of county commissioners court spending of taxpayer dollars.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 13 (HJR 107) OLDER AND OLDER JUDGES</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0bnuCOrci0lBVYZHCwVrgxF8X2j8gWpjxOraL_FTU-eanIUfBidZsGshyphenhyphenFWUAU9BBVk9713m5-l7fnbpEBKAfv8f8-m4S7MDdrROxb7GQzTbNYUiEufGm84-1DyOgfgeajxqy6hAqPlm3U3BOW6D_jcfDCSo_s5QEe65nfaWp_OcCsQix2aoP5U2xHTj/s682/14%20amendments%2013%20judge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="682" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0bnuCOrci0lBVYZHCwVrgxF8X2j8gWpjxOraL_FTU-eanIUfBidZsGshyphenhyphenFWUAU9BBVk9713m5-l7fnbpEBKAfv8f8-m4S7MDdrROxb7GQzTbNYUiEufGm84-1DyOgfgeajxqy6hAqPlm3U3BOW6D_jcfDCSo_s5QEe65nfaWp_OcCsQix2aoP5U2xHTj/w291-h194/14%20amendments%2013%20judge.jpg" width="291" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS:</b>
HJR 107 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory
retirement age for state justices and judges. Currently, the Texas Constitution
establishes that justices and judges of the appellate courts, district courts,
and criminal district courts must retire on the expiration of the term during
which they reach the age of 75 years or an earlier age, not less than 70 years,
as the legislature may prescribe. The proposed amendment would change the
mandatory retirement age for justices and judges of the appellate courts,
district courts, and criminal district courts to 79 years or an earlier age,
not less than 75 years, as the legislature may prescribe. The proposed
amendment also would remove the provision stating that justices and judges may
only serve until December 31 of their fourth year in office if they reach the
age of 75 years in the first four years of a six-year term. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording:</b> <i>“The constitutional amendment to
increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges.”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="7" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 467.5pt;" valign="top" width="623">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Proposition 13: OLDER AND OLDER JUDGES<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Huffines Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Tom <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Political Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">Currently the state constitution requires judges to retire
at the end of their term following their turning 75 (with some variation
depending on type of court). Let’s trust that that provision was put into the
constitution for good reason—and we’re not seeing any good arguments for
lifting this retirement age. Mark Ramsey says it’s a Democrat bill. He says, “As
a long term ‘term limits’ advocate, longer terms are not a good idea. Let them
retire as the Constitution specifies.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Political Sphere adds this perspective: “While there are
good judges that could reasonably judge ast the current mandatory retirement age,
the mandatory retirement age also force retirement of others who are losing their
justness in their old age. Further, I do not believe the mandatory retirement
age does anything to prevent the good judges from retiring and continuing to
act as a visiting judge as the need arises.” <b>I’m voting No on Proposition 13</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proposition
Number 14 (SJR 74) SHOVEL $$$ TO STATE PARKS</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8UhlakgRBJUpcSFRQHS_e83uRt5_mZ81LnjScwFnSsLIctdzMgZwmlF58vTKmDOa7jDt4Z9NjvRsF9l-KwZrlWXRXIuic2KMnm5vyKb5vae_sPZ-6jz3-RYZ3NKs1BPRAmHSOIduIXz8ISqx9O5fEq9iM0A-sIPcZ4-zK6t8pitW7dY5tUyiZz_BhAK3/s647/14%20amendments%2014%20parks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="647" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8UhlakgRBJUpcSFRQHS_e83uRt5_mZ81LnjScwFnSsLIctdzMgZwmlF58vTKmDOa7jDt4Z9NjvRsF9l-KwZrlWXRXIuic2KMnm5vyKb5vae_sPZ-6jz3-RYZ3NKs1BPRAmHSOIduIXz8ISqx9O5fEq9iM0A-sIPcZ4-zK6t8pitW7dY5tUyiZz_BhAK3/w273-h182/14%20amendments%2014%20parks.jpg" width="273" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>SOS:</b>
SJR 74 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish the centennial parks
conservation fund as a trust fund outside the state treasury. The fund could be
used, in accordance with general law, only for the creation and improvement of
state parks. The centennial parks conservation fund would consist of: (1) money
appropriated, credited, or transferred to the fund by the legislature; (2)
gifts, grants, and donations received by the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department (TPWD) or its successor for a purpose for which money in the fund
may be used; and (3) investment earnings and interest earned on amounts
credited to the fund. The proposed amendment would authorize the legislature to
appropriate money from the centennial parks conservation fund to TPWD or its successor
for the creation and improvement of state parks. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ballot Wording:</b> <i>“The constitutional amendment
providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used
for the creation and improvement of state parks.”</i></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="7" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 467.5pt;" valign="top" width="623">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Proposition 14: SHOVEL $$$ TO STATE PARKS<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Ramsey<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TTP<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Huffines Liberty<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TFFR<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Tom <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Nobis<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Goloby<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Political Sphere<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.8pt;" valign="top" width="89">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">N<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s pretty much a consensus on this one too. As Mark
Ramsey has pointed out on several of these proposed amendments, making it a
constitutional amendment is a way of going beyond the constitutional spending
caps. He also adds here, “Grows government. Murky—piles money into the hands of
bureaucrats.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Political Sphere says, “While funding of state parks is a
good idea, I think the creation of this separate fund will potentially hinder
future budgets by locking in funds set aside for state parks, while at the same
time hindering funding for state parks by allowing legislators to avoid sending
any general funds to state parks by justifying that it has a separate fund set
to take care of it.” Unintended consequences, in other words.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Parks are currently funded by user fees, entrance fees, and
legislative appropriations. If you remember back to 2019, we voted to have a
portion of sales tax on sporting goods to be dedicated to state parks. Nothing
ever seems to be enough for people who want to spend tax money. Setting up a
new bureaucracy as a dedicated fund is probably not an improvement over current
funding sources. <b>I’m voting No on Proposition 14</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here's a full grid of recommendations, including mine. Blanks
mean either no comment or neutral.<o:p></o:p></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="9" style="background: #FFF2CC; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 467.5pt;" valign="top" width="623">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">TEXAS
2023 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT RECOMMENDATIONS</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Mark
Ramsey</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">TTP</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Huffines
Liberty</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">TFFR</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Tom </span></b><b>Nobis</b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Mark
Goloby</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Political
Sphere</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #FBE4D5; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Linda </span></b><b>Nuttall</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
1: Right to Farm</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">?</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
2: Childcare</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
3: No Wealth Tax</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
4: Property Taxes</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
5: $$ to Academia</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
6: $$ to Water</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
7: $$ to Utilities</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
8: $$ to Telecoms</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
9: $$ to TRS</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
10: $$ to Med Suppliers</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
11: El Paso bonds</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
12: Galveston Tr.</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Y</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
13: Older Judges</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9E2F3; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.35pt;" valign="top" width="107">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Prop
14: $$ to State Parks</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 46.45pt;" valign="top" width="62">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.85pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.9pt;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.95pt;" valign="top" width="48">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.4pt;" valign="top" width="66">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
<td style="background: #E2EFD9; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.55pt;" valign="top" width="71">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">N</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table><br /><br /><div><b>Resources:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Mark Ramsey's <a href="file:///C:/Users/klnut/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/LVO35YU3/Texas%20Article%202023%20Constitutional%20Amendments.pdf" target="_blank">2023 Amendment Recommendations</a><div>TFFR Recommendations <a href="https://www.texastaxpayers.com/need-to-know-a-look-at-the-texas-constitution-amendment-propositions-on-the-ballot/" target="_blank">article</a></div><div>Michael Landrum's <a href="file:///C:/Users/klnut/OneDrive/Documents/Explanation%20-%202023%20Ballot%20Propositions%20-%20Landrum.pdf" target="_blank">explanations</a></div><div>Secretary of State <a href="file:///C:/Users/klnut/OneDrive/Documents/2023%20TX%20Legislature/2023-explanatory-statements-14-final%20Constitutional%20Amendments.pdf" target="_blank">explanatory statements</a></div><div>Huffines Liberty Foundation <a href="https://huffinesliberty.com/news/more-corporate-welfare-in-the-texas-constitution-six-propositions-on-the-november-7-ballot" target="_blank">statement on 6 amendments</a></div><div>Texas Legislative Council <a href="https://tlc.texas.gov/docs/amendments/analyses23.pdf" target="_blank">analysis</a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-73983431110321478762023-10-12T22:25:00.002-07:002023-10-12T22:25:45.858-07:00Apocalyptic Times<p>Last spring we were reading and trying to understand Daniel,
of the Old Testament, an ongoing challenge. Much of Daniel is prophetic. Some is
of times near his day, some is of times in centuries near his day or around the
time of Christ. Some is of our day. And it’s not always clear which is which.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s this verse in chapter 12 that we might be seeing in
our day:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="verse-number"><b><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">11 </span></b></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">And from the time </span><span class="clarity-word"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">that</span></span></i></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> the daily </span><span class="clarity-word"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><a data-scroll-id="note11a" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/dan/12?lang=eng#note11a" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40));"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">a</span></sup>sacrifice</span></a></span></i></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> shall be taken away, and the </span><a data-scroll-id="note11b" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/dan/12?lang=eng#note11b" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--text-link, var(--info40)); font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variation-settings: inherit;"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">b</span></sup></i><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">abomination</span></a><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> that maketh desolate set up, </span><span class="clarity-word"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">there shall be</span></span></i></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> a thousand two hundred and ninety days.</span>—<i>Daniel
12:11</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; line-height: 107%;"><i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 13.5pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pmaEEM8AoMIiSJNZXNI0otTugW-17G95ywWr135Vj0rS3LemJjPpBXMYEZNFElofbMU4fZrIEOtloeLeTt1AQiSbM2RVjSKBrKLHAc-c-N-bg3uiL1OmcvvM8IYhyZeW7AHS09SMrsgg0guJA-LNevNd2Imdoocxj2dbnaVQ7txasedpTWEzl4a7yYWf/s1280/Daniel%2012-11%20Israel%20at%20war%20w%20Hamas%2010-7-2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pmaEEM8AoMIiSJNZXNI0otTugW-17G95ywWr135Vj0rS3LemJjPpBXMYEZNFElofbMU4fZrIEOtloeLeTt1AQiSbM2RVjSKBrKLHAc-c-N-bg3uiL1OmcvvM8IYhyZeW7AHS09SMrsgg0guJA-LNevNd2Imdoocxj2dbnaVQ7txasedpTWEzl4a7yYWf/w507-h285/Daniel%2012-11%20Israel%20at%20war%20w%20Hamas%2010-7-2023.jpg" width="507" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;">photo used from <i>New York Times</i>, found <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/100000007759875/israel-hamas-gaza-rocket-airstrike.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There was a day, back in 2020, just
as the pandemic shutdown got underway, that might be meaningful here. I am
talking from a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint perspective (opinions are mine, however; I do not represent the Church). We have temples, where we do ordinances
(rites, practices, covenants) daily—except Sundays, when we hold our regular
worship in church buildings. Temples are opt-in places. Meetings aren’t called
for you to attend; you schedule yourself to go when you want to do temple
worship. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We don’t do animal/blood sacrifice,
as in ancient temples, although there are some other similarities to the
temples from Moses’s day and Christ’s day. We do commit to sacrifice, but after
Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, we are required to offer up a “broken heart and a
contrite spirit.” We are asked to be humble and submissive to our Lord and
Savior. So, it looks different, but we do offer up sacrifice daily in our temples.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On March 25, 2020, our prophet
announced the closing of temples worldwide for a time, because of the pandemic.
This was a week or two after church services were shut down (we were authorized
to hold services in our homes), and a few days after missionaries serving all
over the world were called home—either cutting their missions short, or
changing to online missionary work, sometimes with hope of returning to their
mission place later. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, earlier this year we were looking
at that verse in Daniel and thinking, what if it referred to that day—the day
the temples were closed? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Almost since that day in 2020 we’d
heard speculation about it, but back then the speculation went something like, “Well,
if the temples stay closed for 3 ½ years [1290 days is a bit over 3 ½ years],
then we’ll know that’s what it meant.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But the temples opened back up. In
some places within a couple of months. By August in our area. Only for what we
call “live endowments,” not proxy work for the dead. We believe certain
ordinances must be done for the living; if a person doesn’t get the opportunity
in this life, then we living members can do that work as proxies for them. This
provides them the opportunity to accept or reject it in the next life; we don’t
start calling people members of the Church just because they have passed away
but have had their work done in temples. Proxy work is a fairly unique practice
in our religion, but it was understood by the early saints: read <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-cor/15?lang=eng" target="_blank">1 Corinthians15:29</a>, which talks of doing proxy baptisms for the dead. Anyway, back in 2020 we had
limited use of our temples, adding a little more in phases, until we reopened
with caution in June 2021, and we’ve remained open since.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, it took us longer than maybe it
needed to, but this past April, 2023, we were looking at this again and
thinking, what if the verse wasn’t saying the temples would stay closed for 1290
days, but if it was just pointing to a starting point for that countdown? When
would 1290 days later be? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We calculated, the long hard way,
going month-by-month until we got to 1290 days. It turns out there’s an <a href="https://www.calculator.net/date-calculator.html " target="_blank">online calculator</a> for such calculations.</span> <span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But we were right. It put us at October 6,
2023. Just days later I came across a video on the <a href="https://youtu.be/NLq9shUX2cY?si=hf13K63U64ehsx5N" target="_blank">Christian Fire Poppy</a> channel
where she talked about this very thing. She calculated to October 7, 2023. The
difference of a day was, we had calculated from the day of the announcement of
the closing of temples, but, as she noted, the first day they were actually
closed was the following day. So we made that adjustment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The other part of the verse, “the
abomination that maketh desolate set up,” adds meaning to the 1290 countdown. The
temple shutdown happened because of the worldwide pandemic—a plague. As apocalyptic
plagues go, it was actually rather mild, causing many deaths but not a third of
the planet as such predictions make us envision. But our lives changed,
literally and permanently, in March of 2020, because of a desolating sickness type
of plague.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are people who look at the
words “abomination” and “desolation” and picture something specific that I am
not persuaded is accurate. They picture a person—the anti-Christ—going into a
temple, preferably a third temple in Jerusalem, and desecrating it. But when I
read those words, I almost always see something more like the bad stuff to be
poured out on the wicked world in the last days. If I’m right, then COVID-19 was
one of the early plagues, and it was the cause of the temples being shut down in
March 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So what was going to happen on
October 7, 2023? We didn’t know. There were a lot of other portentous things
around that time. It was at the end of Sukkot, the Jewish feast of tabernacles,
and a lot of things seem to line up on feast days. It was after the feast of
trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) and the day of atonement (Yom Kippur). For our Church,
it was week after our semi-annual worldwide General Conference (20 new temples
were announced, to be built as soon as land is purchased and plans are drawn up).
It would be a week before an eclipse crosses over the US, ending at Corpus
Christi (meaning “body of Christ) in Texas. And there’s more about that
eclipse, which happens this Saturday, being part of three eclipses that form
the letter A, or aleph in Hebrew.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe85wpw1-cmYGm_MnGaDp5Xt3-zpSAQ_Jc_vtJgt2p4lsvjMMi4_mwdSOiaZQGa1dwe9zdDc5-AFJDmiAG-wUswakwH5Ro34nrxhd7SmppHtKFnryMwGXsmSPKtonKslzE3-YdEHbwem9NKqp8fcesA4yaTuiuKZmlitX3gb5SwxXFIUljP2ejvB_qLzJQ/s578/Screenshot%202023-10-10%20143327%203%20eclipses.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="578" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe85wpw1-cmYGm_MnGaDp5Xt3-zpSAQ_Jc_vtJgt2p4lsvjMMi4_mwdSOiaZQGa1dwe9zdDc5-AFJDmiAG-wUswakwH5Ro34nrxhd7SmppHtKFnryMwGXsmSPKtonKslzE3-YdEHbwem9NKqp8fcesA4yaTuiuKZmlitX3gb5SwxXFIUljP2ejvB_qLzJQ/w418-h307/Screenshot%202023-10-10%20143327%203%20eclipses.png" width="418" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">three eclipses over the US,<br />screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/Jt2ljp4h8zM?si=1vsa1PadfaGpHomO" target="_blank">this Christian Fire Poppy video</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Also, there was a sign in the heavens—significantly
full of imagery found in Revelation 12—in September 2017 right after the first
of the three eclipses, and notably for us right after the <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-rains-came-down-and-floods-came-up.html" target="_blank">Hurricane Harvey flood</a>. Jupiter was in the “womb” area of the constellation Virgo, where it had been in
retrograde for 42 weeks (a gestation period), and then was “birthed” from the
virgin. Anyway, a similar woman-in-the-sky sign reappeared this September,
2023, with various named asteroids playing a significant role. [You can see for
yourself on <a href="http://stellarium.org/" target="_blank">Stellarium</a>. I have tried, but I have needed the guidance of
<a href="https://youtu.be/NenVAio_URQ?si=wkh67grYLTdp0XH-" target="_blank">Christian Fire Poppy</a>,</span> <span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who did additional videos on this in the
last couple of months.]</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxRn7l6dATBZ2ltzK6XvBPPJ9HAsMShu278fbMZCY7NtDhMkIQy3nIks7xl3Fg28ZCn5Pt9FjrCFk5zEx6Sy1Hm_IzTOTwEblkoq60U2npt28Fn_CAnrLOGu8Uy5_XN-1UEHOQ3oeL3YafcHhRrXKLBOCkLJYHRZ2exz7KM1hv8QkFbr3Nxxtl0rvkj_Z/s800/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20235206%20woman-in-sky%20Sept%2018%202023.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="800" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxRn7l6dATBZ2ltzK6XvBPPJ9HAsMShu278fbMZCY7NtDhMkIQy3nIks7xl3Fg28ZCn5Pt9FjrCFk5zEx6Sy1Hm_IzTOTwEblkoq60U2npt28Fn_CAnrLOGu8Uy5_XN-1UEHOQ3oeL3YafcHhRrXKLBOCkLJYHRZ2exz7KM1hv8QkFbr3Nxxtl0rvkj_Z/w480-h336/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20235206%20woman-in-sky%20Sept%2018%202023.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">woman-in-the-sky sign constellation, as shown by Christian Fire Poppy,<br />screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/NenVAio_URQ?si=GZKFOwHupv_aK2-M" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, things were looking portentous,
but we didn’t know what to expect—anything from The Savior Appears to maybe an
unnoticed hinge point that we would look back on later and see its importance.
But we were watching, and curious.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I woke up Saturday, and my husband
said Israel had been attacked by Hamas. I asked about the seriousness, because
it seems that attacks are happening there all the time. This was different, he
said. Much bigger. And later in the day Netanyahu announced that they were at
war—the first time since the Yom Kippur War of 1973, October 6-25 of that year.
Coincidentally.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHOYtLdx4e73RQ7a2-53trOde2U95tnq5d2xJUWlaY8zfRWIT_UAkYH5i7Ik-JDjYcDmr-_nRazzCInECbkur_oDFeDoQxxB54DqXZRF3Ms0-KIDnStdZgoPhUnaMkTAlADnr9f3u2Oh80C22hrQzlAAe5IDok4kn1M5hUwKyc1nMRN8dNpnrMXd_eaao/s362/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20180907%20Israel%20map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="362" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHOYtLdx4e73RQ7a2-53trOde2U95tnq5d2xJUWlaY8zfRWIT_UAkYH5i7Ik-JDjYcDmr-_nRazzCInECbkur_oDFeDoQxxB54DqXZRF3Ms0-KIDnStdZgoPhUnaMkTAlADnr9f3u2Oh80C22hrQzlAAe5IDok4kn1M5hUwKyc1nMRN8dNpnrMXd_eaao/s320/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20180907%20Israel%20map.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Google Earth image of Israel,<br />screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/vTfmaaEI8ng?si=xy4ViEkFBjryJNnA" target="_blank">this Christian Homestead video</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don’t know what we’re seeing—in the
apocalyptic sense. Is this the beginning of Armageddon? I don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know it is horrible. The current
count is around 1200 dead Israelis, which include a couple dozen American
citizens. I’m praying for the people of Israel, and I support their right to
self-defense. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">People are wondering at the intelligence
failures both of Israel and the United States; so am I. People are horrified at
the brutality and savagery. Hamas has aimed at civilians, going house to house
and kidnapping, raping, and murdering innocent people. The brutality has
included beheading babies. The pagan god Moloch, the destroyer, reigns among
the terrorists; although that is not the name they use, that is the character
of their behavior. (See Jonathan Cahn’s <i>Return of the Gods</i>, mentioned
<a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-separation.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span> <span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Also <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2022/05/abomination-in-our-nation.html" target="_blank">this</a>.</span><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">) Horrifying images abound online. I have mostly avoided seeing them. I avoid
violence even in movies—where you know it’s only make believe. Seeing real
murder is traumatizing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZz3xAvRtJGKcWSWy3ZCTem9UcDkLSp1QUhHTjy1_yqwHEDdkUrSFf50d7FH6OQoIeXULgz5SqwR001AudeTZ6xeBgIc5HuI-kUWtDDqnhzJBmo2P2hyphenhyphenew4eQnj9J_XwkdIZJcPggoK5JMjmGFTylCaHDoHqwTvzZzTgZ5S2_YQaozF79Fmw6qY3SW8xz/s901/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20010449%20Shapiro%20on%20Hamas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="901" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZz3xAvRtJGKcWSWy3ZCTem9UcDkLSp1QUhHTjy1_yqwHEDdkUrSFf50d7FH6OQoIeXULgz5SqwR001AudeTZ6xeBgIc5HuI-kUWtDDqnhzJBmo2P2hyphenhyphenew4eQnj9J_XwkdIZJcPggoK5JMjmGFTylCaHDoHqwTvzZzTgZ5S2_YQaozF79Fmw6qY3SW8xz/w456-h290/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20010449%20Shapiro%20on%20Hamas.png" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ben Shapiro talks about the war against Israel,<br />clip on a Glenn Beck video, screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/R0tA2WePlDM?si=rK9-dVJ8R0G_PoR6">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ben Shapiro makes a case for viewing
the images, so you will <i>know</i> and not forget. He says,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt;"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "NeueHaasGroteskText55Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Here’s the point. </span><i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; transition: all var(--default__transition);"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; transition: all var(--default__transition);">Nothing
anyone has ever done to you or could ever do to you would cause you to do these
things.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; margin: 1.5rem; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; transition: all var(--default__transition); widows: 2; word-break: break-word; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; transition: all var(--default__transition);"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "NeueHaasGroteskText55Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">No
territorial dispute would cause you to butcher babies. No squabble over
territory would cause you to rape and abduct women. No so-called “occupation”
would cause you to kidnap entire families or burn them alive in their homes.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I listened (but did not watch up
close to my computer) his video Monday, October 9, “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1824-the-face-of-absolute-evil3" target="_blank">The Face of Absolute Evil</a>,”
which I recommend, as well as his written statement, which I quoted from above:
“<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-i-show-the-horrific-images-of-hamas-atrocities" target="_blank">Why I Show The Horrific Images Of Hamas’ Atrocities</a>.” [These may be behind a paywall, but you might search for the titles and find
them elsewhere.]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are plenty of sources to get
news. I’ve also turned to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheWatchmanwithErickStakelbeck" target="_blank">Erick Stakelbeck</a>,</span> <span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who gives news of Israel all the time,
but particularly now. And several YouTubers are passing along what they’ve
found on X (formerly Twitter) and elsewhere. Troy Abels on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastDispensation/videos" target="_blank">The Last Dispensation</a> channel has been passing along a lot of raw, up-to-the-minute information since
La Haina. And for more professional opinions, I go to <i>The Epoch Times</i>,
including <i>EpochTV</i>, and <i>The Blaze</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even mainstream sources are covering
it—although they can’t seem to help but try to make a moral equivalency between
these savage terrorists and Israel defending its right to exist. Note that
Hamas is located in Gaza, southwest of Israel, along the coast. Since Israel
turned that area over to Hamas in 2005 there are no Jewish settlements—indeed,
no Jewish people—living there. They elect their own failed leaders, who keep
the people ground down in poverty with the purpose, it seems to me, of keeping
the people frustrated and angry so they can blame Israel for their hardships
and inspire their people to hate and fight them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is no moral equivalency.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ben Shapiro added that, while there
is never a reason to praise the German Nazis, who murdered six million Jews in
the last century, at least the Germans had the sense of shame about what they
had done to try to hide it. These savages are recording their atrocities and
posting them online, bragging to the world to see. They are proud of beheading
babies and murdering families in front of each other, shooting them, beheading
them, or dragging them behind vehicles. It is unspeakably evil.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Meanwhile, there are enclaves of
supporters, in Europe, even in the US, who support these beasts for no other
reason than they hate the Jews. Black Lives Matter in Chicago danced with joy
in the streets. Similar celebrations took place in New York. Representative
Ilhan Omar supports them. Representative AOC can’t bring herself to condemn the
atrocities; she’d rather not give a statement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Biden administration has given
lip service to support Israel. And it has moved ships in and around Israel—for support,
for warning against Iran and others. Possibly also to warn Israel against too
harsh a response. Note: there cannot be too harsh a response. But Israel has
warned citizens of Gaza to evacuate, and have given specific 10-minute warnings
to evacuate buildings used by Hamas officials. Hamas locates itself near
hospitals, schools, and other innocents—and pressures its people to stay and
get killed—so that the more civilized Israel can be painted as wicked killers
of innocents. This has always been part of their fight against Israel. This is
only an escalation now. But Netanyahu has vowed to wipe out Hamas entirely.
There is no living with enemies who do such atrocities as part of their vow to
wipe you off the face of the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Biden administration gave $6
billion to Iran a month or so ago, with a warning, “Now, don’t go using that
for anything but humanitarian purposes, OK?” This is part of resurrecting the
Obama deal, which was, let us give you money, and then you postpone your
nuclear weapons pursuits for a decade. Trump reversed the deal; Biden is
reinstating it. Meanwhile, most of that decade of postponement is already past,
not that Iran was actually postponing anything. But this $6 billion appears to
have made its way to Hamas. There have been reports of Farsi being spoken among
the invaders; Farsi is spoken in Iran, while a Palestinian Arabic dialect is
spoken in Gaza.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another odd detail: the Taliban, in
Afghanistan, have been requesting passage through various Muslim countries, to
get where they could support Hamas. Meanwhile, also on Saturday, October 7, there
was an <a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-10-11/new-earthquake-shakes-western-afghanistan-2000-dead-earlier-quake" target="_blank">earthquake in Afghanistan, killing 2000</a> people, with additional aftershock quakes since then. Coincidentally.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What happens next? I don’t know. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The next verse in Daniel says this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="verse-number"><b><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">12 </span></b></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Blessed </span><span class="clarity-word"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">is</span></span></i></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand
three hundred and five and thirty days.</span>—<i>Daniel 12:12</i></span><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is that starting after the 1290 days, or counting from the
same starting place? Many people consider them consecutive. But if they have
the same starting date, then it’s just 45 days longer than the 1290 days, which
takes us to November 21, 2023. What might we see then? I don’t know. Maybe the
end of this war, this siege. Maybe an escalation. Maybe we’ll recognize the two
witnesses, from Revelation 11:3-11, prophesied to protect Jerusalem for 3 ½ years.
I don’t know.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I only know that, when I saw war in Israel on the 50-year
anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, 1290 days after the closing of the temples
because of a plague of sickness, things that were unclear and scary are now
very real. And still scary. But we know the end of the story—and it’s a
glorious happy day for those who turn to God. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Today is the day to do any turning back to God that you need
to do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We should pray for the suffering in Israel, and wherever
there is suffering, but particularly there right now. We should pray for peace,
but do not expect it to come until the end of the Biblical story that we’re
living in.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPunIrSBR-fuVpm8QXr_PLCQUzK3ozUUyRQU2wzWiKn64c3bYBi_fZkQxHxzI8qYnt6gAIDfey0djdcazyhax9c7LgfkUc4WOpEsdufag6sNQGTspPfjfRlmJB6ifXOYhRcyZnQrVkZ9TUAcHEeJic_3NUJFfwvPf7zp40IddjlSWLGeM58BN0gGYOpfht/s878/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20205422%20pray%20for%20Israel%20meme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="725" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPunIrSBR-fuVpm8QXr_PLCQUzK3ozUUyRQU2wzWiKn64c3bYBi_fZkQxHxzI8qYnt6gAIDfey0djdcazyhax9c7LgfkUc4WOpEsdufag6sNQGTspPfjfRlmJB6ifXOYhRcyZnQrVkZ9TUAcHEeJic_3NUJFfwvPf7zp40IddjlSWLGeM58BN0gGYOpfht/w286-h346/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20205422%20pray%20for%20Israel%20meme.png" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">meme found on Facebook, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10231514316897949&set=a.3289793720582" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-57475765284595375762023-10-05T21:40:00.019-07:002023-10-05T22:39:16.434-07:00Acting Locally Against Worldwide Evil<p>We live in troubled times. If you read <i>Revelation</i>
(which I do), you might think, you haven’t seen anything yet. Just wait. But,
while we face a mostly non-kinetic war, it is a war nevertheless. It is raging in
our country and worldwide. We know how it turns out in the long run; that’s the
point of <i>Revelation</i>. But it’s how to live now, and what to expend our
energy doing, that is the question—or at least the question I’m looking at
today.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This isn’t really a post about election integrity; that is
just the story behind the point. So, here we go.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Monday nights I frequently listen to <a href="https://truethevote.locals.com/upost/4657540/how-to-start" target="_blank">Catherine Engelbrecht’s podcast</a> on Locals.com (also found a couple of other places). Election integrity has been a big issue
of mine since at least 2010. That was when her organization True the Vote
started—locally, here in Houston, Texas. This week she told her story of how
they got started.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLbXAJSae8pBnenUw5s18VXzggKSJgkZEfP8ZGvKrlAYFzH1kjjfrlN2aPfGhqipdEVpRsMX3pHnAz7AreGJ-MxiVRBmfZuzDcX1J08JFDC1-ZQ289kdYa-va-gLqa7Ryh0ekG_YbvjcSsZ2Ms4zV23-qz8vjOmoMqIkYLiLsyo2p_JYuegCn2i2LRN1M/s1484/Screenshot%202023-10-05%20224516%20Engelbrecht.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1484" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLbXAJSae8pBnenUw5s18VXzggKSJgkZEfP8ZGvKrlAYFzH1kjjfrlN2aPfGhqipdEVpRsMX3pHnAz7AreGJ-MxiVRBmfZuzDcX1J08JFDC1-ZQ289kdYa-va-gLqa7Ryh0ekG_YbvjcSsZ2Ms4zV23-qz8vjOmoMqIkYLiLsyo2p_JYuegCn2i2LRN1M/w412-h300/Screenshot%202023-10-05%20224516%20Engelbrecht.png" width="412" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Catherine Engelbrecht on her weekly podcast.<br />screenshot from <a href="https://truethevote.locals.com/upost/4657540/how-to-start" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She and a handful of friends (I don’t know all the names,
but I have gotten to know some of them) met at a pub and talked about what they could do
to make things better in the community. This was around 2008. One of the first
things they decided to do was work an election, something she and others hadn’t
done before. Then they got back together and talked about their experiences.
Some of them had had a good experience, doing their civic duty, in and around
people of different political beliefs, but all trying to do a good job. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But others had a different experience. This was a primary
election (so I’m assuming around March 2008, a presidential election year). Our
friends were working the Republican polls right next to the Democrat polls. Often
such places are separated, placed in different rooms, or maybe different hallways
of a school. But sometimes circumstances put them in the same room; I’ve
experienced both. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were a number of people who came in and confided to
their Democrat clerk or judge, “I don’t remember who I’m supposed to vote for,”
and the Democrat poll worker would tell them. In the open. Clearly illegal.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This would affect the Democrat voters, but not the
Republicans, so why worry? Because, if that is what they were doing while they
were being watched, who knows what they were doing where they <i>weren’t</i> being
watched. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anyway, by 2010 Engelbrecht and friends had formed True the
Vote, a 501(c)3, to recruit and train poll watchers—not workers, but observers.
I think it was within their first year, 2010, the first time <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2011/09/free-and-fair-elections.html" target="_blank">I was a poll watcher</a>, trained by True the Vote. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrB-xH3tNpDkC-nQualalPZeIzWI-G4Ul7K_vjbebtdO5lpPwLiIPwa76zCuuITTsSkOBqnrLSUbRP2EO5oTnvhUVcrMLoDBNCSH4I2lITrdij3z1r26qiGyG4zz58aJLbSkvrUtktLYSBSpY98imAwPzf5HUQRq7RFOJpjmxe5ZEJxLP9VZyvHOXaOg2/s630/True%20the%20Vote.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="630" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrB-xH3tNpDkC-nQualalPZeIzWI-G4Ul7K_vjbebtdO5lpPwLiIPwa76zCuuITTsSkOBqnrLSUbRP2EO5oTnvhUVcrMLoDBNCSH4I2lITrdij3z1r26qiGyG4zz58aJLbSkvrUtktLYSBSpY98imAwPzf5HUQRq7RFOJpjmxe5ZEJxLP9VZyvHOXaOg2/w375-h358/True%20the%20Vote.JPG" width="375" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">True the Vote flyer, from 2011. Image first used <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2011/09/free-and-fair-elections.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I had previously worked as a clerk at the polls a couple of
times. I had also been a delegate to the district and state conventions
multiple times by then—in multiple states I had lived in. I had taken my
homeschooled kids to the state capitol to do citizen lobbying many times. I had
been an active citizen. But clearly the election integrity problems needed to
be addressed. They were serious. So I stepped up, with an army of volunteers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was a poll watcher for several elections. Then, in 2014 I
became a precinct chair and have worked the polls ever since. Typically I have
someone else (lately it has been my husband) be the Presiding Judge, and I am a
clerk, because I can’t handle the 17-hour day arriving at 5:30 AM to get the
polls open at 7:00, so I come in later and stay through take-down and return of
equipment and ballots.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since the Democrats took over Harris County elections in 2018, we
have had one disastrous election after another. After their elected county
clerk stepped down in 2020 (worries about COVID, she claimed, but there was a
lot of suspicion of fraud), the county commissioners court (democrat majority) took
elections out of the hands of the elected county clerk and gave it to an
appointed elections administrator. The ones they chose were disastrously awful—incompetent
to the point of it looking deliberate. As Alan Vera used to say, “Incompetence
is the perfect camouflage for malfeasance.” In our 2022 election they f<a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2022/11/election-debacle-report.html" target="_blank">ailed to provide ballot paper</a> to a number of polling locations—coincidentally in high
Republican areas. Ours would have run out of paper along
with the many others, but our tech support happened to have an extra couple of
boxes in his vehicle, and he gave us one. Without it, we would have run out
long before the county elections people delivered another box just an hour
before closing. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJiZQh0N-47rRjFiNAfYMVr_oovIhgKUq6CTr5CbP8CS5WvhXs932rrD_Adjrj-uG7_pYOYMAFj8yla5Q9eyWQMjuj7Lpf61IlFya3HPYgQvhc3qnkDYcqb48oGgnGc4lHu1WwVHqLMDYfx5qKZElKv_VAQAJtoF8MYqpRNpRxvlRE3esQrx9EbeRaltI/s1095/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20003316%20polls%20without%20paper.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="1095" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJiZQh0N-47rRjFiNAfYMVr_oovIhgKUq6CTr5CbP8CS5WvhXs932rrD_Adjrj-uG7_pYOYMAFj8yla5Q9eyWQMjuj7Lpf61IlFya3HPYgQvhc3qnkDYcqb48oGgnGc4lHu1WwVHqLMDYfx5qKZElKv_VAQAJtoF8MYqpRNpRxvlRE3esQrx9EbeRaltI/w422-h248/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20003316%20polls%20without%20paper.png" width="422" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The map, built by Russ Long, showing that polls without <br />enough paper coincided with Republican voting locations. <br />Screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/tYBq-whPtkY?si=l4qLxyntmSfmZ7Hp" target="_blank">here</a>.</span> </td></tr></tbody></table></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelLxQsgJeP-YPzDmstvS3XGFfU_uAjYnXS3cCn7YZ-WZIsVUSjLzxQlEvJBDyf2WzlTETbrfVjATYwlUUpflduQxFscMH5IMkCg6JTyWdhE5bA7SUMd8wYZITaaignVKOuJAHuRzMIlMBLU6Vdvo92wmvvrxuYnhB9bCxr_aNpsE_LVUsYfKoZGEdaiuL/s1492/HCRP%20polls%20turned%20away%20voters%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1492" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelLxQsgJeP-YPzDmstvS3XGFfU_uAjYnXS3cCn7YZ-WZIsVUSjLzxQlEvJBDyf2WzlTETbrfVjATYwlUUpflduQxFscMH5IMkCg6JTyWdhE5bA7SUMd8wYZITaaignVKOuJAHuRzMIlMBLU6Vdvo92wmvvrxuYnhB9bCxr_aNpsE_LVUsYfKoZGEdaiuL/w424-h248/HCRP%20polls%20turned%20away%20voters%20cropped.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">from an HCRP meeting February 13, 2023, showing where voters were<br />turned away from polling places for lack of ballot paper<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">The state legislature got rid of the elections administrator for counties of our size (specifically, really, just our county) and returned our elections to the county
clerk this year. The clerk is still a Democrat, because we haven’t won a
county-wide election since they took over the elections, coincidentally. For this
November’s election, we got notified that my husband is assigned as the AJ
(alternate judge) at our usual polling location. We have always been the PJ
(presiding judge). This privilege is based on who the precinct voted for as
governor; my precinct voted for Governor Abbott, the Republican, so we are entitled to be the
PJ, which means running the polling location and hiring the workers. The AJ is there to provide oversight from the opposing party, and typically gets to bring along a clerk if we are allowed to hire enough people. This privilege is
according to state law, so the County is breaking the law. By depriving us of our entitled
PJ status, it means I and the others who regularly run our polls—and we do it
better than most, because of our experience—will not get hired. I gather we’re
not the only precinct they’ve done this to.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s an HCRP (Harris County Republican Party) meeting on
Monday; I’m hoping they’re going to deal with this problem, which I and others
have reported. Who knows what other fires need to be put out, a mere month before election day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is a long way of saying—after a couple of decades of
doing my civic duty—and more than a decade of doing a whole lot more than most—our
situation is still dire, probably worse than when we started. This is even
though we, as the public, are more aware than we have ever been. We can be
censored and labeled as domestic terrorists for saying so, however. The Biden
administration is pushing for even more censorship of messages they do not
approve of.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Engelbrecht was telling her story Monday to get people to
see that they don’t need to set out to create a national organization or
movement. They just need to act locally. That is what she did. And the Lord led
her and others, one step after another, to do more—until they <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2013/05/coordinated-targeting.html" target="_blank">became a target on the national stage</a> in this fight for free and fair elections.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yes, act locally. Do what you can.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But we are in the midst of the book of <i>Revelation</i>. Do
not expect that your efforts will be what it takes to bring back our
constitutional republic, as much as we want that.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZDD-JOrjIIMFmkUzzgjRNnUpgHxbKBDE8ednQraumo1vvM97fJc7ePVK2ETVkh_Lv5zN58Bl1JvjDVNWMg_tRWVDy5Cmaf7Yu8Q52myWxju0yUuugWZZXY5VBVGGUdstReKuBnjTyX87UkwwLVd1lbIlqaUVv3J56_Ih2gLWjtR38GKJd-m-8WzEa_05/s1161/2023-03-03%20La%20bete%20de%20la%20mer.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1161" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZDD-JOrjIIMFmkUzzgjRNnUpgHxbKBDE8ednQraumo1vvM97fJc7ePVK2ETVkh_Lv5zN58Bl1JvjDVNWMg_tRWVDy5Cmaf7Yu8Q52myWxju0yUuugWZZXY5VBVGGUdstReKuBnjTyX87UkwwLVd1lbIlqaUVv3J56_Ih2gLWjtR38GKJd-m-8WzEa_05/w402-h271/2023-03-03%20La%20bete%20de%20la%20mer.png" width="402" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation_13#/media/File:La_B%C3%AAte_de_la_Mer.jpg" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">La Bête de la Mer</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;">, a medieval tapestry depicting John the Revelator</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;" /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;">seeing the dragon and the sea beast from Rev. 13,<br />used previously in <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2023/03/a-little-last-days-speculation.html" target="_blank">this post</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My purpose in this post today is to encourage—myself and
others—to do what we can, regardless. We’re not living in times that allow us
to be comfortable. But we also do not live in times where our all-out effort
will win the day. The Savior alone will win the day. Our part is to make sure
we are fighting the war on His side. We do not want to be on the wrong side, nor
can we be on the sidelines, as though we don’t care which side wins.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’re not talking about political sides here. We are talking
about choosing good over evil.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Election illegalities are a small part—with sometimes a
large outcome, as we saw in the 2020 presidential election—of the overall war
against evil. We’re seeing unprecedented things: the indictment on specious
charges of a former president/current presidential candidate. The current
office holder shows obvious signs of dementia but is insisting he’s running
again, while an impeachment inquiry is open—because of the obvious, large,
tangled web of influence peddling, which I would term treason, if I had a say.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The UN just met this past month, attempting to give large
and sweeping powers—giving up our sovereignty—to the very World Health Organization
that lied and failed us (purposely?) during the COVID pandemic. Who in their
right might would think it’s a good idea to give more power to a worldwide
entity that has already proven themselves untrustworthy? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These issues are all national or global. We can give our
opinions to lawmakers, but that’s about the limit of our power on that level.
So, locally is where we can have the biggest impact. And there’s plenty to deal
with at the state and local level. Besides election integrity, there’s:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Education<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Parental rights<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Child trafficking<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Drug trafficking<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Border security (in a border state where the
federal government has purposely failed us)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Crime and punishment<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s plenty more. Very locally, there’s the school board
and the HOA board. I talked about our school board race in my <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2023/09/this-years-school-board-races.html" target="_blank">last post</a>. Tonight was a work session of the school
board, ahead of Monday’s official public meeting. I tuned into the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/H-ULV9BNqxQ?si=G2kk3IoZ4MYAQ7l0" target="_blank">livestream</a>
for a while, but my attention wandered. (This post wasn’t done, for one thing.)
Paying the needed attention to school issues could be a full-time endeavor.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Today, while I was walking my dog, I had a conversation with
an HOA board member, about the two board races up for election this year. She’s
a nice, retired lady, a year into being on the board, willing to hear what
neighbors have to say, but also a bit frustrated that more people don’t step up
to make things better in our very local community. I live in a “newer” section
of the neighborhood, where we’ve been for 24 years. She is in an older section,
been there 32 years. While I feel safe walking our streets, even in the dark,
she no longer feels that way at her end of the subdivision. There’s a house on her street where they’re pretty sure drug deals are going on. People are wondering if not
just drug trafficking, but also human trafficking is happening there. We’ve
heard about a lot of catalytic converter thefts in the neighborhood, as well as
tire thefts. As the neighborhood ages, more of it turns into rentals, with less
upkeep of the property and, unfortunately, more propensity for crime.
Homeownership doesn’t always prevent crime, but it’s a signal of more care for
the property, and a lot of good goes along with that (which is just one reason the idea that by 2030 you will own nothing is disturbing). There are discussions between
the HOA and the MUD (municipal utilities district) about whose money should be
used for what projects. Money is involved—our very local money.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But there is only so much a person can give their attention
to. The more local, the more it is likely to affect your daily life, so you might
want to focus there. But, as Catherine Engelbrecht was suggesting, you probably
do need to look around and ask God, “What would you have me do?” Then take a
step, connect with others, inform others, work together for the good of the
community. If you accomplish something good in your community, it might stave
off the influx of evil from a less local source.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the community circles where I’ve served, I’ve met a lot
of really good, committed Christians, giving tirelessly to make things better.
They are an example and inspiration to me. I am “not weary in well doing” (<i>Galatians</i>
6:9), but I am often physically weary, facing limitations of age and health. So
I have to ask more judiciously what the Lord would have me do. Writing and
sharing information here is just one thing, and it’s very small. I’m continuing
to participate in various ways when I can, within my limits. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I trust that, while what I do will never be enough to change
the world, it makes <i>me</i> a little better. And all of us making
ourselves a little better—that will sustain enough good in the world to help us
survive until Babylon falls and our Savior reigns. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our tools of defense during that great fall will be faith,
patience, and courage<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/56b0398bfe6b68f6/Documents/Organize%20These/Civilization%20Primer/my%20writings/Blog/Blog%20post%2010-5-2023%20Acting%20Locally%20Against%20Worldwide%20Evil.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>.
That is what we are strengthening in ourselves during this time when doing our
little part is never enough to bring Babylon down. That will happen. What we’re
doing is protecting ourselves from falling with those evil forces.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Simply, look around you and do daily the good the Lord leads
you to do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/56b0398bfe6b68f6/Documents/Organize%20These/Civilization%20Primer/my%20writings/Blog/Blog%20post%2010-5-2023%20Acting%20Locally%20Against%20Worldwide%20Evil.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Richard
Draper and Michael D. Rhodes, <i>The Revelation of John the Apostle</i>, © 2016,
p. 941. This is an excellent commentary on Revelation, carefully explaining
translation from the Greek, done by Brigham Young University professors, with
added insight from other Latter-day Saint scriptures and writings. It is
nevertheless their opinion and not necessarily the views of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. The book is long and detailed, and I do not
understand the Greek, but the commentary is enjoyable to read, and I would appreciate
such a commentary on a great many other books of the Bible.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-78230469781478013112023-09-29T21:08:00.004-07:002023-10-01T23:49:54.686-07:00This Year’s School Board Races<p>It used to be that school board races were not that
significant. But the enemy of civilization has found schools to be a prime
place for indoctrination and control of the populous. I’m not really talking about
a conspiracy theory, more of an alignment.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you’re a would-be tyrant, what you need is a people that
are relatively easy to rule. You want them to be compliant and to not be deep,
independent thinkers. The best place to create such a people is the schools.
You do it with the cloak of good intentions. You convince people you care so
very much about the children—and therefore the people should trust you. And
then they leave you alone to do whatever it is you’re planning.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This has been a long-term plan, starting in the 1800s. The
frog has been brought to a boil slowly. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But lately things have gotten so obviously out of line with
what sensible people want, we are realizing that anything related to educating
our next generation is serious and requires our attention.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">School board races in our district are theoretically non-partisan. There’s
no primary, in which parties choose their candidates. There are just people who
sign up to run and then try to convince people to vote for them. Multiple
candidates can run for any given race, and the one getting the most votes wins.
No runoff.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHp9xx0BTaq7aCihks8P_qhAkWgdw_dOPwoWFv44Bn8eiKX_yw7DPFzJddJxL3-5lQqkDt7CcdyBQez_0NBp3dTK5A0d-aQ5JBxZ2LsztIshgrZNSiYYhymcNqP40enxSTEWOopkS73DCT79YXCTBPz-5lVrTOleKo0xgCplM_fUjpm0jeDoRm4NCqLcM/s2048/CFISD%20candidates%209-28-2023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHp9xx0BTaq7aCihks8P_qhAkWgdw_dOPwoWFv44Bn8eiKX_yw7DPFzJddJxL3-5lQqkDt7CcdyBQez_0NBp3dTK5A0d-aQ5JBxZ2LsztIshgrZNSiYYhymcNqP40enxSTEWOopkS73DCT79YXCTBPz-5lVrTOleKo0xgCplM_fUjpm0jeDoRm4NCqLcM/w461-h347/CFISD%20candidates%209-28-2023.jpg" width="461" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">These are the four school board candidates I'm endorsing:<br />from left, Todd LeCompte, George Edwards, Justin Ray, and Christine Kalmbach.<br />Image from a candidate meet and greet in Jersey Village this week, <br />found <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=154610417713166&set=pcb.154611021046439" target="_blank">here</a> on Christine Kalmbach's Facebook page</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That doesn’t mean that the candidates don’t align with one
party or the other—even if they say they don’t. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this northwest corner of Harris County, outside Houston,
Texas, we have a generally conservative, Republican-voting population. But a
few years ago we found our school district run by all non-conservatives (not
necessarily registered Democrats, but aligning that way). Of the seven trustees
on the board, not a one could be considered more aligned with parents and the
community than a center-left-voting Democrat. And the schools were suffering in
ways that showed. Lower academic abilities, higher debt, unhappy teachers, and
very unsatisfied parents. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Add to the academic dissatisfaction, a quick look under the
surface revealed an agenda—being pushed by teachers’ unions, international
NGOs, and others “wretched hive of scum and villainy” types you might not have
expected to find in a public school—carrying out an agenda of critical race
theory, pro-LGBTQ, pro-transgenderism, and anti-parental responsibility.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two years ago, as Republican precinct chairs in the
district, we identified three candidates we could get behind for the three open
seats that year. We won all three. They’ve been excellent. But they’re still a
minority. So, to make the changes we need, we need a majority. We need to win
at least one—preferably all four—of the races this year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You’ll note that this is an off-year election. That means
low voter turnout. That means, for someone in a position of control, if they
can target certain demographics, such as teachers, whom they have cheap and
easy access to, then they can win. Unless—like last time—precinct chairs,
candidates, and volunteers knock on tens of thousands of doors and talk to
voters personally about what’s happening in our schools and what these
candidates can do about it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So this year we started our efforts back in January, and
went through a process to identify the best conservative candidates. We
actually had eight applicants go through our vetting process, which consisted
of several candidate forums, of varying formats, where they could introduce
themselves and answer our questions. Of the eight, I thought seven were both
conservative and capable of doing the job. So it came down to who we precinct
chairs thought would be most electable.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7eKjp9CnIKiUhHj3mQqZfNzMQxXmROCOVIZoyQEwnPSaSs7Yh9toMnbigAgw1sh56evbXN4kscn9Js0TTGk1gSM818pm4YloyS9pVCm0HTCdIK1eFMrX305N206VVfqYm03S6vz6aNgbu-qIPv79ouUSwdlH2RZ2FTUmWi8rbIEpVtU1ByLkus6-7gfe/s1024/CFISD%20candidates%202023%20flyer%202%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="1024" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7eKjp9CnIKiUhHj3mQqZfNzMQxXmROCOVIZoyQEwnPSaSs7Yh9toMnbigAgw1sh56evbXN4kscn9Js0TTGk1gSM818pm4YloyS9pVCm0HTCdIK1eFMrX305N206VVfqYm03S6vz6aNgbu-qIPv79ouUSwdlH2RZ2FTUmWi8rbIEpVtU1ByLkus6-7gfe/w415-h392/CFISD%20candidates%202023%20flyer%202%20cropped.jpg" width="415" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">fFyer for the four endorsed candidates for Cy-Fair school district board. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those four candidates—one for each of the seats—have since gotten
the endorsement of the Harris County Republican Party and the Republican Party
of Texas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I attended a conservative candidate forum last Friday, which
included these four, plus the one who came in fifth place in our process but
decided to run anyway. So I’m going to share a bit of what they offered. The
order is the order in which they gave their opening statement. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Who Are
the Candidates<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Justin Ray</b> is running for <b>position 3</b>. He has
maybe the best name recognition. He spent four years as mayor of Jersey Village
(a suburb of Houston, toward the east end of the district, where Jersey Village
High School is). After that he ran for state rep, challenging the very leftist
Rep. Rosenthal of HD 135, and lost to the incumbent by only 300 votes, the
closest race in the state. (We could insert an entire post here about Harris
County election problems, but that’s a post for another day.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He grew up there and has three kids in the district. In his
intro he talked about the Teas economic miracle—and how that depends on our
educating the next generation. He would push the basics, which are building blocks
for other learning. He talked about school safety (a common thread among
candidates) and pointed out that safety is not just about some angry guy with a
gun; it’s also about discipline in the classroom. He said, since we’re all
taxpayers, we need to make sure Cy-Fair ISD gives us a return on our
investment. He would work with parents, not against them. He would get teachers
and parents together, with an open conversation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Todd LeCompte</b> is running for <b>position 1</b>. He ran
two years ago, and then stepped down from a race where there was already a good
conservative candidate, to avoid taking votes from her. He has been preparing
to run now ever since. His message and everything about him is more refined
now. He has kids in the district, and he volunteers in the mentorship program.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Big issues for him are academics—getting back to basics;
school safety (he talked a bit about HB 13, which would train, test, and vet
teachers who would like to concealed carry firearms in schools); giving power
back to parents; and supporting teachers. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Christine Kalmbach</b> is running for <b>position 4</b>.
She worked with me on the Education Committee for our District Platform in 2022.
She grew up in this district (graduated 1985), and so did her kids. She has
volunteered here for 26 years. She says she feels called to make a difference
in Cy-Fair ISD.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She also talked about improving basic academics in the
district. Our scores have been going down recently. When 55% of third graders are
reading at expected level for their grade (third grade is a critical point in
testing for the districts, because it’s a critical point by which kids need to
learn how to read), that means 45% are not reading at grade level. The district
has utterly failed 45% of students. And stats show that, if a kid read and do
basic math by third grade, they’re on a pipeline to prison.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She quoted the current (retiring) board chair as saying
things are OK in Cy-Fair. But they’re not OK. Three classes in a CFISD high
school have no teacher—no adult, not even a substitute in the room. That’s not
acceptable. We have a teacher shortage. We also need bus drivers, but she knows
several people who have applied and can’t get so much as a response saying
their application was received. She is a real estate agent, and had more to say
about changing demographics in the district (later, in answer to a question
about school boundaries), which she is very clear on. She does say we have a
great opportunity here, to make important changes, if we have seven of seven
school board positions held by people like we had in that room, representing
the community.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ayse Indemaio</b> is running for <b>position 2</b>. (You
pronounce her name I-shay In-de-mayo.) She’s been a fixture at school board
meetings for several years now—essentially since the COVID shutdown. She has
called our attention to a lot of the problems in the district. She has three
kids in the district. And she says she’s determined to put parents in charge.
She has done FOIA requests, and helped get <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HB18">HB
18</a> passed in the 2023 legislative regular session, which, if I understand
correctly, is intended to keep people (schools, tech companies, anyone) from using
and storing data on students based on the use of their school-issued devices.
She called to the school board’s attention the possibility of accessing the
dark web from the chrome books the students were issued—which were then changed
to be unable to access the internet.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She has done a lot of verifiable good. That said, you might
note she is not one of the four endorsed candidates. As you’ll recall, we had
more than enough candidates who had the right beliefs and skills to do the job,
so the precinct chairs were making decisions about electability. She has
created a fair amount of opposition from, well, the opposition. They label her,
and apply whatever labels to everyone else who is among us. Personally, I found
that, as the process went along, her message was less about angrily attacking
the school district and more about what she has successfully done. As that
happened, she moved from a lower tier of candidates up closer to the top tier.
She never quite got there. But she had worked to put together $25,000 of her
own money to put into a campaign and decided to run anyway. There had been an
understanding (an agreement going in) that any candidate who wasn’t among the
top four choices of the precinct chairs would drop out—so that we did not split
the conservative vote, giving an advantage to the “liberal/progressive”
candidate. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this case, the “liberal/progressive” candidate is the
only incumbent. Julie Hinaman is deceptively harmless looking. She’s small,
cute, claims to be conservative (came to our Tea Party some years ago to claim
that), but has been pro-LGBTQ and pro-transgenderism, and pro-porn in the
libraries, and pro-social engineering without telling the parents. She has been
very aligned with the now-outgoing superintendent, whom they’re trying to
replace before the new board can be elected. She has been terse and unkind to
community that speaks out about issues at meetings, while appearing to be sympathetic,
especially to teachers and kids. She is going to be a formidable opponent.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were a handful of precinct chairs who insisted on
supporting Ayse in running, despite her failure to reach the top four in any of
multiple polls. She’s a force to be reckoned with. But the fact is, we have
another conservative candidate in that race, so she is indeed going to split
the conservative vote.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>George Edwards</b> is also running for <b>position 2</b>.
George has been one of our Cypress Texas Tea Party board members, so I’ve known
him a while. [Note: I recently stepped down from the board, and stopped writing
the weekly newsletter, but I still attend and support the group.] He has an
impressive resume. He was a CFISD school board member from 1995-1998. A couple
of his accomplishments during that time were getting rid of year-round school
and writing the document Portrait of a Cy-Fair Graduate. He spoke at a school
board meeting on this last spring, because the current school board has been
rewriting it—watering it down, he would say. Instead of emphasizing academic
excellence, they think all graduates should show “curiosity.” Whatever they
mean by that, it’s no replacement for actual standards.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbS3AQD8gUO0jLday2ZL-GspvXt83_hNTDib8IkSVADmR8j2_tMwyYgCVQ-tTpizi-EFKIYsbbL_ZA4Y_4a75kCBJUYsi7E8T-1HMgbDgeAuexIhu6j5rr5gG7hk7sxMwTgYyGBVhyphenhyphenUDdIHL6jxfFq89dP-akNIRyEj6K3jAt7-krQ9XqDpuAxyaa0XIO/s1276/portrait%20of%20CFISD%20graduate%20original%20cropped.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="997" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbS3AQD8gUO0jLday2ZL-GspvXt83_hNTDib8IkSVADmR8j2_tMwyYgCVQ-tTpizi-EFKIYsbbL_ZA4Y_4a75kCBJUYsi7E8T-1HMgbDgeAuexIhu6j5rr5gG7hk7sxMwTgYyGBVhyphenhyphenUDdIHL6jxfFq89dP-akNIRyEj6K3jAt7-krQ9XqDpuAxyaa0XIO/s320/portrait%20of%20CFISD%20graduate%20original%20cropped.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The original Portrait of a CFISD Graduate,<br />from George's 1990s time on the board.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>If you’ve read here much, then you know we had our three
kids in Cy-Fair schools from 1998-2000; then we pulled them out to homeschool.
This district failed us academically and otherwise. There were a lot of
improvements that needed to be made, in my opinion, even back then. But the
scores were high. We moved to this district because all the reports showed it
to be the best district around. Twenty-some years later, it’s not a matter of
failing my gifted students; it’s a matter of massive failures to a near
majority of students and force-feeding them propaganda—in classrooms without
discipline, and with frustrated teachers who aren’t free to just teach. I’ve
compared the two “Portrait of a Cy-Fair Graduate” documents, and I was quite
impressed with the original (which aligns surprisingly well with what I wrote
about <a href="https://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2017/06/start-with-end-in-mind.html" target="_blank">here</a> on the mission of schools). George recently retired and feels like he has
the time to try to bring back some success to this district.<br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He has a number of other boards on his resume. Besides
Cy-Fair ISD’s board, he has chaired the board of Energy Capital Credit Union, been
a board member and Investment Committee Chair of the Texas Bar Foundation, and
was given the Patron Award by the Texas Bar Foundation. He has also received a
Leadership Houston Award. And he was given an Exxon Mobile national leadership
award. He is a CPA, which means he also has the financial skills the board
needs. He’s soft-spoken and unassuming, but his experience shows he’s pretty
high-powered and certainly knows how to get a school board on the right track.<br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What Would They Do on Issues<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Q&A was taking a few questions from the audience and
letting any or all of the candidates answer. My guess is, if these are issues
here in Texas, chances are there are similar issues in your school district.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first was, acknowledging that teaching <b>CRT (critical
race theory)</b> in Texas is against the law, what is the plan for making sure
it doesn’t get taught? And similar questions would apply to the <b>LGBTQ agenda</b>
as well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All candidates acknowledge that it exists in our schools. They
all would emphasize teaching basics, instead of those things. But there’s also
setting the standard and agenda for a board-led district, in which the superintendent
follows their direction. And they would have accountability checks to make sure
that was happening. George was especially emphatic about this; if they don’t
like the newly hired superintendent, they don’t have to keep him. There would
also be plenty of transparency and conversation with parents and community
members. Ayse asserted that shedding light on the problems is the right thing
to do—as a parent, and as a school board member.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another question related to the <b>closing of schools, the
masks, and the vaccine mandates</b>. What guarantees do we have that those
things will never happen again?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All agree that we definitely know better now. Justin called
the damage done to our kids almost insurmountable. That’s why we have to
emphasize teaching the basics to catch kids up. Todd mentioned that, one of his
sons couldn’t breathe in the masks, so Todd went to the superintendent to ask for
an exemption, which he was denied—even though it was only a couple of months
before a scheduled removal of the masking policy. What difference would it make
to wear masks in April but not in June? So much nonsense from this district.
Todd pulled his sons out for that time period, because doing what’s right for
your child is the priority.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In a follow-up question, someone mentioned that County Judge
Hidalgo is trying to bring vaccines into school clinics. Justin pointed out
that, anything Hidalgo recommends, he’s probably going to do the opposite.
There was strong agreement that health and mental health clinics do not belong
in schools. And they acknowledged this has been a way of getting to children
behind their parents’ backs. George added that absolutely anything that tries
to keep information from parents will be against policy in this district.
Christine and Ayse both mentioned that they have signed the Texans for Vaccine
Choice pledge.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One questioner brought up the need for <b>more trade classes</b>.
And the candidates agree. Christine gave herself as an example of benefiting
from those classes. The questioner told his story that it was in shop class
that he came to understand fractions. He’d been failing math, but he totally
understood it once he had to physically measure things. Those classes put the
basics to use. We need them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One issue in our district has been contentious this year: <b>rezoning</b>.
The western part of the district is growing, although Christine points out that
the rate of growth even in that area has slowed. The eastern end of the
district is shrinking. We actually have schools not being fully utilized, while
we’re building new schools elsewhere in the district—based on outdated
assumptions of a growing tax base. That can’t continue. What especially bothers
families is changing schools, sometimes multiple times. One family complained
about having had six school changes imposed on them. That sounds like the
result of bad planning. Christine suggests a better demographic study, keeping
in mind that we have $4 billion in bonds outstanding. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One suggestion got huge cheers and applause: <b>renaming the
Mark Henry Administration Building</b>. Mark Henry (no relation to board member
Scott Henry, one of our three elected last time) is the retiring
superintendent, who has pushed so many of the bad policies in the district. The
new administration building must have been budgeted several board cycles ago,
so we can’t blame the current board—just those who have been there too long. It’s
a huge, extravagant place, with a big electronic sign along the freeway for
everyone to notice. We were told that Mark Henry (I don’t know if it’s his
fault) had the wrong kind of glass installed, which had to all be removed and
replaced—at our expense, of course, not his.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The huge building can hold more employees—that do not work
in schools—than I can imagine any district ever needing. And the very month
they opened up this building, they worked on the budget, with the same old
complaint that they don’t have enough money for decent teacher raises.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQq_fRlT2rZvUSrjIMm0bAlTSzHCm35ewuHge5CozXDUutFYxy6TXwjYqVtn5E081OLY-AHZ_N6gfGfZ2ZxsBxI0McyL3M0TxpKXs6E4LI9vhp-PuS37r8hZpU_bthXaEpTMJxFL-zEgMWdPqDgjKrUzSLtM-HkQlv47iM8oY6zRvVBSPvf7nESiVYrXg/s556/CFISD%20candidates%202023%20yard%20sign%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="472" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQq_fRlT2rZvUSrjIMm0bAlTSzHCm35ewuHge5CozXDUutFYxy6TXwjYqVtn5E081OLY-AHZ_N6gfGfZ2ZxsBxI0McyL3M0TxpKXs6E4LI9vhp-PuS37r8hZpU_bthXaEpTMJxFL-zEgMWdPqDgjKrUzSLtM-HkQlv47iM8oY6zRvVBSPvf7nESiVYrXg/w359-h422/CFISD%20candidates%202023%20yard%20sign%20cropped.jpg" width="359" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yard signs are showing up,<br />image found <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=150206504820224&set=pcb.150207804820094" target="_blank">here</a> on Christine Kalmbach's Facebook page.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The four candidates chosen by the precinct chairs get my
endorsement. That is not to say Ayse couldn’t do the job. But she is young, and
is likely to have a future opportunity. I really hope she keeps doing the work
she’s been doing, finding out what needs to change in the district. The
difficulty right now is that we are likely to get more conservative votes for
position 2 than the incumbent we most want to remove (and yes, I would say Hinaman
needs to be gone even more than the 3 who are retiring), and could still lose,
since the conservative vote will be split. The purpose of going through the
process was to prevent this very scenario. George, by the way, was well up in
the top 3; the candidates then chose which race to run in.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I haven’t said anything here about the non-conservatives in
the race, other than the one incumbent. I only know that, if they aligned with
our pro-parent, pro-family conservatism, we would know that. They’ll say they’re
for the teachers, and the children. And they’ll say our side is some extremist
group of religious bigots (Christian nationalists I think is the term one
candidate has labeled us). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So the school board races are the most important thing on
the ballot this November, here and all over the country. We have an actual
opportunity to improve our schools, or to allow them to sink further into the
mire. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After hearing our candidates, I felt hopeful for the first
time in a very long time that there might be actual, real improvement in our
schools. But it will take the votes of every good community member we know.
Spread the word. (Use the QR code in the image below to get more information about these candidates and how you can help.)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFlNf9NbpgOyi7YW86P-fx8LmwVERPSwMeR5B7hvjdVP1C_AezWvN8pdZGOe7-BEoh-CxfwQz5Pf-Hkgt-RbOIXXsP7_udriJvHKzMQ9_VnughtzBx2SO2f-CJ0CWu5rUtFLvEWGrVASRaxWU0ciPHjr_qBhf87wERSJBqBVWfDWGojlPqObV3XvUz9Gi/s2048/CFISD%20candidates%202023%20flyer.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFlNf9NbpgOyi7YW86P-fx8LmwVERPSwMeR5B7hvjdVP1C_AezWvN8pdZGOe7-BEoh-CxfwQz5Pf-Hkgt-RbOIXXsP7_udriJvHKzMQ9_VnughtzBx2SO2f-CJ0CWu5rUtFLvEWGrVASRaxWU0ciPHjr_qBhf87wERSJBqBVWfDWGojlPqObV3XvUz9Gi/w501-h376/CFISD%20candidates%202023%20flyer.jpg" width="501" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10167808225480705&set=a.10151060570530705" target="_blank">here</a> on Christine Kalmbach's Facebook page,<br />use the QR code to get more information and learn how you can help.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-66705003077420226572023-09-15T22:19:00.000-07:002023-09-15T22:19:21.193-07:00Not Exactly a Jury of Peers<p>I’ve spent the last two weeks listening in on the Texas
Senate impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2023/06/it-depends-on-who-you-trust.html" target="_blank">review</a>, at the tail end of the legislative session in May 2023, the House suddenly,
without warning, held a four-hour hearing in which they heard allegations and
then voted to impeach on 20 counts. No witnesses were heard. No hard evidence was
presented. No interviews leading up to that point had been under oath. We were
told this was like a grand jury; they just have to decide whether there is
enough there to hold a trial. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So that is what the Texas House did; they passed off any
actual trial work to the Senate, where all the evidence would be presented.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvakZsVyNI0HfJ8Jv_rfv1ZXgBvDJLzQOXQzjsrcwLEYxZ7F3pxh9JNOzXRbtNyS8WTwW2hOsJEZwFeukhyDYN3JrXyWMc8rbHnlWxI1W8KgOyI5QB_lL0EnmQHAB0DaoESdveVmcNvSJWIMvIvXSG2VZCH_fSMcWG77V1MXLfCiCg4eJuxVUca8-Qj8OD/s920/Screenshot%202023-09-15%20235613%20Patrick%20Paxton%20impeachment.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="920" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvakZsVyNI0HfJ8Jv_rfv1ZXgBvDJLzQOXQzjsrcwLEYxZ7F3pxh9JNOzXRbtNyS8WTwW2hOsJEZwFeukhyDYN3JrXyWMc8rbHnlWxI1W8KgOyI5QB_lL0EnmQHAB0DaoESdveVmcNvSJWIMvIvXSG2VZCH_fSMcWG77V1MXLfCiCg4eJuxVUca8-Qj8OD/w501-h373/Screenshot%202023-09-15%20235613%20Patrick%20Paxton%20impeachment.png" width="501" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lt. Governor Dan Patrick presides as judge in the Paxton Impeachment Trial.<br />screenshot from <a href="https://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=53&clip_id=18273" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Senate
Impeachment Trial Process<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is similar to a court trial, but with significant
differences. The jurors are the Senate members. They do not have to reach
consensus, but must have 21 of 31 voting members vote to remove the Attorney
General from his duly elected position. In this case, it will be 21 of 30,
because one of the state senators is Angela Paxton, wife of the attorney
general, who has been attending all the sessions but is recused from voting. We
should note that one of the charges, bribery, reflects on her as well. The
accusers claimed the Paxtons had received home renovations as a bribe to do
political favors.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Earlier in the week a friend of mine commented on social
media that what he’s observing is, whatever anyone believed going into this trial,
they still believe. That’s probably accurate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are plenty of sources for information and commentary.
I’ll list some of those below. But for this piece, I’m just giving my impressions—having
listened to almost every part of the two weeks, including closing arguments
this morning. This isn’t intended to persuade either side. There’s no time to
do that. The Senate is now deliberating, and they could come up with a decision
by tonight—likely before you could read this—or in a few days, depending on how
long they take.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I won’t go through each of the 20 charges. But I’ll note,
the case offered somewhere around 15 hours per side to present their case. That
is less than an hour per charge. Cross-examination of the other side’s
witnesses counted as time on the countdown clock. [Note that, as of today they
are dealing only with 16 of the charges. The four related to securities fraud
are pending in courts, I believe. They can deal with those later, depending on
other outcomes. If they remove Paxton permanently from office, those charges won’t
need to be dealt with. If they do not remove him, they could either dismiss
those charges or deal with them separately.]<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Impressions
on the Various Counts<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA9Di0v8oMeQ89b_eNG71Ydb-n1p7O0nB_heJTIlHJ-l95VDe6tM7gvYVRhuE8bMaU4xu6ixIcU-oxCNvkJldqmps-Ohz9MNmdVV3lLIQ7mKSQR_il1plcXXQifVsdP9_Lk5p-FThbhER_G-LfRoS5Cn4UfA76wdh1e51wwyvYVAjUGXrxtWz7xzrpQLS/s1307/Paxton%20impeachment%20push%20text%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1307" data-original-width="945" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA9Di0v8oMeQ89b_eNG71Ydb-n1p7O0nB_heJTIlHJ-l95VDe6tM7gvYVRhuE8bMaU4xu6ixIcU-oxCNvkJldqmps-Ohz9MNmdVV3lLIQ7mKSQR_il1plcXXQifVsdP9_Lk5p-FThbhER_G-LfRoS5Cn4UfA76wdh1e51wwyvYVAjUGXrxtWz7xzrpQLS/w208-h288/Paxton%20impeachment%20push%20text%20cropped.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">one of a series of texts pushing <br />the anti-Paxton agenda</span></td></tr></tbody></table>As long as the trial was, some of the issues were barely
touched on. For example, as per the texts I keep getting from some entity unknown to me,
they’re pushing two main things: an affair Ken Paxton has admitted to, but they
claim he got the woman a job at Paxton’s friend Nate Paul’s company as a
political favor; and the renovation of Ken Paxton’s house after water damage,
which had upgrades they claim were provided by Nate Paul in exchange for
favors.<br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We learned that the investigative team presenting the case
to the House back in May made these allegations based on suspicions of the
so-called whistleblowers. They did not interview Nate Paul, nor the woman who
was hired by his company, nor the contractor who did work on the Paxtons’ home.
In the intervening months they still didn’t do those things. There was nearly
an opportunity to hear from “the other woman,” but, rather than subpoena her
and schedule her testimony, the prosecution noticed her presence and thought
they could call her, but couldn’t give the 24-hour notice that was required,
before their time was running out. Seems kind of too little too late. They
couldn’t have deposed her in June, July, or August?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here’s what they missed, which was provided to us by the Paxton
defense team: the woman in question applied and was hired according to normal
process, continues to work there, pays for her own apartment in Austin, has not
continued a relationship with Paxton, nor is there any evidence of this hiring
being a cover for a favor to Paxton in exchange for—something unnamed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Paxtons had a general contractor to do the remediation
work. He wasn’t contacted. The only connection made to Nate Paul was the
mention of the name Nate during a discussion about possible upgrades, overheard
by Paxton’s aide, who was concerned about it but was relieved, visibly, on the
stand, to be convinced his concerns were unfounded. There is no evidence Nate
Paul paid for anything; the receipts and bank records are in hand, showing
Paxton paid for the renovation work. And the defense provided photo evidence
(it was in the news weeks ago, so the prosecution could have verified at any
time) showing that the Paxtons never upgraded to granite countertops and new cabinets
as alleged. They still have the same kitchen witnesses recognized from before
the repairs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What the prosecution did was to bring in the people who
reported the claims initially. They laid out their suspicions—and they did this
well. What they saw, if you make assumptions about motive, looked like possible
favoritism toward a particular client.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But repeatedly their claims fell apart on the stand. Under
oath, one after another, the first few days admitted that, when they went to
the FBI to report their boss, Attorney General Ken Paxton, they brought no
evidence with them. By the second week they thought they had remedied this.
Their reports, they claimed, <i>were</i> evidence. They brought their observations
and beliefs and interpretations. So there!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their stories might have been <i>corroborating evidence</i>,
had there been any material evidence. There wasn’t. There was only these persons’
interpretation of Paxton’s motivations, missing quite often a fuller picture
that they hadn’t sought. And neither had any other investigators.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another oddity was that, when they went together, as a
group, to the FBI on October 1, 2020, they sat around a table, together,
recounting their observations. Had the FBI assumed their testimony validated any
actual crime, the witnesses would have been interviewed separately, so that
they did not know what the others were saying, thus coloring each others’
stories. Also note that the FBI, with all the “evidence” these five brought to
them, in the ensuing three years have brought no charges.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is not to say the FBI is spotless—although they may be
in relation to this case. But it was suspicion about the FBI that led to some
of the allegations. Nate Paul had had his home and storage unit searched. He
believed that the original search warrant, of his home, was for drugs and guns,
I think was the story. But when they of course didn’t find anything, they
changed the search warrant to look for some kind of white collar crime, which
entailed going through the storage unit for records. Nate Paul and his counsel,
Wynne, believed they had metadata evidence showing that had happened. Note: eventual
forensic work showed this to be inconclusive—not disproven.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The whistleblowers and others involved thought this was
baseless, because the FBI and other federal officials <i>never</i> do anything
wrong. Ken Paxton, however, asked for a fuller investigation. There’s more to
recognize here. Paxton had been hounded and, he believed, badly dealt with by
federal investigators, so he didn’t have blanket trust of them. Add to that,
there were, at the time (and more since) multiple instances of federal officials
playing fast and loose with citizen rights.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39DdjdbQZ6gpeiqvyCRfySZdyWrB76yLn_7PHSZIHLPa2CO4M74YMu2Dsg0jtJ5dENCFgAzNA8IYyOgudJc6ai-a8EMla4BRzYCSezDmJPReZF2hhoJNIjKfpCRDdChZMy9O_P-r4wuCOIkIcItXCe12aCxgpKCyxCQo_7h5I-eTM_DTLOnaGVDQpCwyD/s923/Screenshot%202023-09-15%20225124%20DA%20Moore%20in%20Paxton%20trial.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="923" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39DdjdbQZ6gpeiqvyCRfySZdyWrB76yLn_7PHSZIHLPa2CO4M74YMu2Dsg0jtJ5dENCFgAzNA8IYyOgudJc6ai-a8EMla4BRzYCSezDmJPReZF2hhoJNIjKfpCRDdChZMy9O_P-r4wuCOIkIcItXCe12aCxgpKCyxCQo_7h5I-eTM_DTLOnaGVDQpCwyD/w405-h246/Screenshot%202023-09-15%20225124%20DA%20Moore%20in%20Paxton%20trial.png" width="405" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Former Travis County DA Margaret Moore testifies Monday.<br />screenshot from <a href="https://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=53&clip_id=18318" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was a rather satisfying moment in the trial when the
defense Tony Buzbee was cross-examining the former Travis County District Attorney Margaret
Moore, who claimed the state could never so much as suspect a federal investigator.
The defense listed one after another of FBI crimes. Here’s some of that
exchange:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Buzbee: I mean, there’s a lot of them. But, did you hear
about the FBI admitted fraud forensic testimony in 32 death penalty cases?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Moore: No.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Buzbee: How about when the FBI conducted improper searches of
US officials using a foreign database?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Moore: I don’t know about that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Buzbee: How about when the FBI improperly spied on activists?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Moore: I don’t recall reading about that either.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Buzbee: How about when the FBI misused an intelligence
database and performed 278,000 searches?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Moore: I didn’t hear about that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Buzbee: And the reason I keep asking you about these repeated
alleged FBI abuses is because, when you first heard about this alleged FBI abuse,
the first thing you thought was, “Ridiculous.” Correct?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Moore: No. That’s not correct. That’s not what I said.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Buzbee: You knew that a federal judge had ruled that FBI
agents had conducted illegal searches of businesses?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Moore: I don’t know what you’re alluding to.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Buzbee: How the FBI violated the privacy rights of tens of
thousands of Americans?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Moore: Mr. Buzbee, I’m not aware of that article.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This lifetime law enforcement expert had never heard of any
of them. Her claim to know the Nate Paul claim was false, without investigating
it, rang hollow. My personal suspicion is that she didn’t want to investigate
federal agencies she had to maintain a good working relationship with. That
does not bode well for the people subject to the violations, though.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A similar line of questioning happened with the former Texas
Ranger near-superhero David Maxwell, in the OAG, who was handed that case by Moore.
He did a quick Google search on Nate Paul, concluded that he was a crook. So when
he heard out Nate Paul and his counsel, with this suspicion they had about the
search warrant, he thought it was ludicrous. He didn’t say so to them, but he
never intended to do any investigation whatsoever.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Whistleblowers<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Paxton’s difficulty was that, despite his assignment to his
subordinates to do an investigation, they admitted they “slow-walked” it, and
in essence refused to do the investigation. When he followed up, they said they
would get on it, but they didn’t. They didn’t so much as open a file on it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, Paxton hired outside counsel. He signed a contract
with a young lawyer named Cammack, who was interested and willing in doing the
investigation. Cammack said Paxton instructed him to just find out the truth.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUywF42G-o0C5_bc1UBa_Z7EGAQ6bzZkm3LN538bZy13m3GmgTUmbtPy9v8rPjIxQ25paC8MV1YtxcDy7GQ1wXd9KH_YIAYcrEZn_qLZ2cMZAkca_oduYNG952aZnCJnv4l4jbs4gr1vCCRzAztMGxWLJB_nZfCPfOmcjUjIseJE8Kvsg67ad0PHXd4XcC/s911/Screenshot%202023-09-15%20233906%20Cammack%20Paxton%20trial.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="911" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUywF42G-o0C5_bc1UBa_Z7EGAQ6bzZkm3LN538bZy13m3GmgTUmbtPy9v8rPjIxQ25paC8MV1YtxcDy7GQ1wXd9KH_YIAYcrEZn_qLZ2cMZAkca_oduYNG952aZnCJnv4l4jbs4gr1vCCRzAztMGxWLJB_nZfCPfOmcjUjIseJE8Kvsg67ad0PHXd4XcC/w463-h288/Screenshot%202023-09-15%20233906%20Cammack%20Paxton%20trial.png" width="463" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cammack was derisively dubbed "the kid" by the whistleblowers.<br />screenshot from <a href="https://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=53&clip_id=18322" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cammack started that investigation, and he also started
another referral given to him, which the prosecutors had been unaware of and
had assumed he was issuing grand jury subpoenas related to the Paul case, which
he was not doing. He was thwarted at every turn by the “whistleblowers.” They
derisively called him “the kid” in their conversations and correspondence. And
they took it upon themselves to deny his contract, give him a cease and desist
letter, and left him unpaid—claiming the Attorney General didn’t have the
rights of the office given to him by the voters, which he could delegate to
them but still held. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And these whistleblowers did worse. They got or made (it was
disputed) official OAG stationery without the Attorney General’s name on it,
and they hired, without permission, outside counsel for $50,000 to
investigate/prosecute/persecute Attorney General Paxton. And then they claimed
the AG was out of line in firing them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It may be hard to know exactly what was in AG Paxton’s mind
at every turn. But his communications show interest in the people of the state
in general, not the single friend they insisted he was working for. He had
worked hard to stop foreclosures from going through—before the first Tuesday of
the month, during this time of COVID when a stay on foreclosures was about to
end. This ended up having no affect on Nate Paul, as they insisted it did. But
what AG Paxton had expressed to his team was that they may have kept some
elderly grandmother from losing her home. And his policy became national policy
by executive order a couple of weeks later.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a question about whether the whistleblower laws
affected these high-level appointees in the Office of Attorney General. Courts
have ruled that it does, but that is pending appeal. What we might be seeing is
something of a mutiny—and then, because of bad feelings, jumping to conclusions
and accusations to convince themselves and others that their failure to do the
work assigned to them was not what led to the loss of their jobs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of them, Brickman, I think it was, insisted that he was not interested and would never take the settlement—the $3 million
that was brought to the legislature, which supposedly triggered the
investigation during the legislative session last March. Except, when the
settlement was finally agreed upon, he took it. He testified that he required
the AG to apologize to them for calling them rogue employees (which, obviously,
they were). He didn’t get that. So far the money hasn’t been appropriated to
pay them, but when it does, it’s because he signed on to receive it. Hmm.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In closing arguments, the prosecutors urged the jury (the
Senate) to believe that they didn’t have to remove all doubt. They just needed
to do what they thought was right. Isn’t that convenient—when the rules and the
law say they must acquit if the evidence hasn’t taken them beyond a reasonable
doubt standard.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The biggest difference between this and a regular case is
that it is political. Sad to say, it is highly unlikely that any of the eleven Democrats
in the Senate will vote to acquit. It’s a team sport. They’re not really on
either team in this one; they’re the handicap. The two teams are: the ones
trying to oust the duly elected Republican official and the ones trying to
restore him to his office to do the people’s work. There are 18 total
Republicans allowed to vote (excluding Senator Angela Paxton).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;">We can identify the ones very
likely to acquit. These are the ones who voted to dismiss before the trial: Bettencourt
(my state senator), Campbell, Creighton, Hall, Kolkhorst, Parker, Perry, Schwertner,
and Sparks. However, Sparks, Schwertner, and Perry did not vote to dismiss on
all counts. So there are a solid six. If as many as ten senators vote to acquit
after hearing the case, then Paxton is acquitted and returns to work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;">There are six identified as
pushing to convict: Huffman, Hughes, Hancock, Middleton, Birdwell, Nichols.
With the eleven Democrats, that puts their count at 17. They would need four
more to convict.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;">There are several considered “swing”
voters on this issue: besides possibly Perry, Schwertner, and Sparks, who were
willing to dismiss on several counts, there are unknowns Springer, Flores, and
King. So the question is, where will four of them go?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Senate Trial Players<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;">Unlike other Senate votes, Lt.
Governor Dan Patrick does not cast a tiebreaking vote. He was the judge. And I
have to say, I appreciated his work. It was done with humility, good humor, and
professional respect. I do not know what his opinion is. There were times when
the defense seemed to be saying “Objection. Hearsay” every other sentence. I
didn’t keep track, but as the umpire I couldn’t see that he gave more to one
team than another. He had some expertise on hand to help him answer questions
he had about it. And generally he seemed fair.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;">I had definite responses to the
two legal teams. There’s a particular style of Texas lawyer, where he talks with
a slow drawl and doesn’t appear too bright—but that is an act that surprises
the opposition when the bite happens. The slow Texas drawl and fumbling
described the prosecution team, particularly their lead lawyer. But there was
no bite. It was fumbling to the end—including when Rusty Hardin rested his case
before cross-examine and redirect of the last witness. Not knowing page numbers
was a problem. Not putting exhibits into evidence was another.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;">The defense, on the other hand,
was quick, organized, strategic. Tony Buzbee is probably an acquired taste, but
he was passionate and capable, as were the others on his team.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;">As my friend said, you probably
saw what you expected from the trial. I had been appalled at the lack of
evidence presented at the House hearing, and the last-minute push to do that
dirty deed. But people kept saying the evidence would come with the real trial
in the Senate. I was open to that. I’ve been disappointed by way too many
politicians in the past. I’m disappointed that Ken Paxton was guilty of the
affair. Where can public virtue be found where there is not private virtue? Or,
as John Adams put it: "Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without
private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics.” I am willing
to accept that he is repentant; his wife has accepted that. And, as they quipped
during trial, if we impeached for infidelity in Austin, we’d be holding
impeachments for a long long time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;">I was willing to see the evidence.
Each time the prosecution laid out the things that looked bad, I could see why
a person might have thought that. But then, each time, the defense got up and
displayed how flimsy that was. Innuendo. Suspicion. Hearsay. Assumption. No
proof. Not any.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;">I believe I know what should
happen. Whether I am right or not, I pray that the Lord, who knows all, will
grant our state what is right for the people of Texas, that justice may be done.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.6pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Resources<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://senate.texas.gov/av-live.php" target="_blank">Texas Senate</a> provided livestreaming and <a href="https://senate.texas.gov/av-archive.php" target="_blank">archived recordings</a>. The archived segments were not always up the same day, but I believe there are
all up now. When the Senate convenes to vote, that should be livestreamed as
well. (If you search YouTube you will also find some livestreaming by various
local news outlets, which was helpful when the Senate website delayed posting
after livestreaming ended.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://texasscorecard.com/" target="_blank">Texas Scorecard</a></i> has several resources, in addition to daily news coverage.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Luke Macias, daily emails up through day five
and <a href="https://texasscorecard.com/series/the-luke-macias-show/" target="_blank">weekly podcast</a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Brandon Waltens, <a href="https://texasscorecard.com/series/dailyheadlines/" target="_blank">daily headlines</a>. You can also look for Brandon Waltens on X (Twitter).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://youtu.be/yhvxRnYOg5Q?si=zKRluAFOP26HJ8nX" target="_blank">The Texas Heist</a> documentary <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Houston Conservative Forum</i>—Don Hooper. This source
was new to me. As with Texas Scorecard, there is a bias toward defending AG
Paxton. Know that going in, but the coverage is good, and squares with what I
saw in the hearings, but adding some inside baseball I didn’t know. Video clips
are sourced from Brandon Waltens.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://houstonconservativeforum.com/the-prior-election-doctrine-2/" target="_blank">Day 1</a> Prior Election Doctrine (vote on whether
to dismiss each count) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://houstonconservativeforum.com/paxton-impeachment-trial/" target="_blank">Day 2</a>—Beginning of Trial <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://houstonconservativeforum.com/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-day-3/" target="_blank">Day 3</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://houstonconservativeforum.com/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-day-4/#comment-84989" target="_blank">Day 4</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://houstonconservativeforum.com/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-day-5/#comment-84988" target="_blank">Day 5</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://houstonconservativeforum.com/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-day-6/#comment-84987" target="_blank">Day 6</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://houstonconservativeforum.com/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-day7/" target="_blank">Day 7</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://houstonconservativeforum.com/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-day-8/" target="_blank">Day 8</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://houstonconservativeforum.com/elements-of-articles/" target="_blank">Elements of Articles </a>of Impeachment<o:p></o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-55687978716724365622023-09-07T21:34:00.000-07:002023-09-07T21:34:59.981-07:00Democracy—It Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means<p>Control of words is control of a whole lot more—thought,
communication, and often action as well.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk76387848"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"How
strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!" <o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk76387848;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">~ Samuel Adams</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are plenty of examples of the tyrants among us
controlling us with words. One technique is to change the meaning of words
while allowing the masses of us to keep the old definition in our heads,
because that is to the tyrants’ advantage. A recent example is the word <i>vaccine</i>.
[Don’t worry; that’s not today’s topic, just this paragraph’s example.] Originally,
it was a preparation, a medical intervention, that would create immunity by
exposing the body to a milder form of the pathogen. It was intended to be a “safe”
way of experiencing the disease with the intent that the person receiving the
intervention would develop antibodies without having to suffer the actual
disease, and this would also prevent contracting the disease in the future—typically
for many years. What was imposed upon us in late 2020 did not prevent
contracting the disease. It’s hard to say those who got it suffered a milder
version than they would have—because it’s not possible to compare current life
to a hypothetical alternate life. Additionally, it turned out that it was
neither safe, effective, nor in actuality a vaccine. But they used the word <i>vaccine</i> so that you would respond as if it were the traditional definition.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">OK, that’s an example of the change-the-definition-without-telling-anyone
technique. Now, the word being controlled by the tyrants that I’d like to look
at today is democracy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It comes from Greek. <i>Demos </i>means municipality, or the
populous. The <i>-cracy</i> part of the word means government. So, it’s
government by the people.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The online dictionary translates the Greek for <i>democracy</i>
as <i>republic</i>. In other words, the idea of a democracy is a state or
entity ruled by the people, either directly or through elected representatives,
according to my 1982 dictionary.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DIvaFnMNzetFOB9XJXTZgWrcvV5egLj93CeA9z9ihhABCMc2xxok_QBNj4D3ZcytA7GoauykvlcjsglL685-Ia91JdwLgY8eduk0WN_n2Kff_VO4sZmgtCZqDMuCS6DyKUYhkWuWZSFjWvJW55WCdOYCgtbQMCvQFfv9iwHBlyG5N4fr0IVvg8IKOJBi/s1944/Democracy%20definition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="1944" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DIvaFnMNzetFOB9XJXTZgWrcvV5egLj93CeA9z9ihhABCMc2xxok_QBNj4D3ZcytA7GoauykvlcjsglL685-Ia91JdwLgY8eduk0WN_n2Kff_VO4sZmgtCZqDMuCS6DyKUYhkWuWZSFjWvJW55WCdOYCgtbQMCvQFfv9iwHBlyG5N4fr0IVvg8IKOJBi/w539-h192/Democracy%20definition.jpg" width="539" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">from Webster's New World Dictionary, Second College Edition, (c) 1982</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>During most of my life, I personally thought of the words <i>republic</i>
and <i>democracy</i> as essentially interchangeable, although the Republican
and Democrat Parties were always clearly different. But historians, particularly
conservative ones, are more vocal today in pointing out the differences between
the two types of government. A democracy, meaning direct vote of the people and
the majority rules, is quite different from a republic, in which the people
vote for representatives, who theoretically do the necessary deep dive into
issues to determine how to vote on behalf of their constituents.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The thing that sets a republic apart is the rule of law.
Particularly in the United States, neither representatives nor people directly
can vote for government to do something that has not been granted as a power to
the government. The law is a limit.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In a pure democracy, whatever the majority decides is what government
does. There are various metaphors to explain the folly of this. One is that
democracy is when you have two wolves and a sheep voting on what’s for lunch.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUYZHTsToviwiJo8Xwae8kKSC402C7NCgVbjM2wmwz6u0QKYMPy3xak3sMmGv9XsxZqLP5kDBMXNds2vXZDz01URdXsMSxbaywlDoqTKrnm-om2-w9oW6E0d0M1B7LE9SXLQVY02GgH6qu5NmhdS6TaUCFIoPgItQXfteKr4dxSN0XA6l2Z6H52kLU1wn/s386/democracy%202%20wolves%20and%201%20sheep.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="386" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUYZHTsToviwiJo8Xwae8kKSC402C7NCgVbjM2wmwz6u0QKYMPy3xak3sMmGv9XsxZqLP5kDBMXNds2vXZDz01URdXsMSxbaywlDoqTKrnm-om2-w9oW6E0d0M1B7LE9SXLQVY02GgH6qu5NmhdS6TaUCFIoPgItQXfteKr4dxSN0XA6l2Z6H52kLU1wn/w371-h300/democracy%202%20wolves%20and%201%20sheep.png" width="371" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">image found <a href="https://imgflip.com/i/2jlqfj" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here’s a quote from my files: </p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">“Democracy
cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the
voters discover they can vote themselves largesse out of the public treasure.
From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the
most benefit from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always
collapses over a loose fiscal policy, always to be followed by a dictatorship,
and then a monarchy.”—Alexander Fraser Tytler<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>So, there’s a difference between a republic—particularly a
constitutional republic—and a democracy.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, here is what has been happening to the word <i>democracy</i>.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The
public has the idea that <i>democracy</i> is interchangeable with <i>republic</i>;
it just means the power comes from the people, who express their views by
voting, mainly, and also by contacting their representatives.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The
ruling elites—who happen to be associated with the Democrat Party, mostly, but
not fully limited to them—use the term to mean <i>our system of government</i>,
or <i>our country as we know it</i>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The
ruling elites separate <i>our system of government</i> from the Constitution
and the rule of law, and have it mean <i>the way things are done by us</i>. But
they do not yet explicitly change the definition for the people.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The
ruling elites start using the term <i>our democracy</i> to mean <i>our regime</i>.
They are counting on the public retaining the definition as <i>our system of
government</i>, but <i>they</i> do not mean that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It would be concerning enough if this is where they stopped.
But the way we—and everybody else in the world, practically speaking—have a
people voice their will to government is through voting. This has always been
to the advantage of the <i>democracy</i> advocates. Think of them as the wolves,
rather than the sheep in the metaphor. If they can control the message that
gets to the voters, then they control the outcome. That is why controlling the
message has been so important to them—through censorship and the other many
ways we’ve seen, particularly in the last half decade.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the ruling elites have been facing difficulty in totally
controlling the message they want the voters to hear—because of pesky
alternative platforms and means of communicating with one another. They censor
more vigorously. And they deride all those alternative voices as “extremists”
and “conspiracy theorists.” But still, they can’t control the message well
enough to determine the outcome of an election. Voters who have found their way
to alternative opinions are not controllable in the way “sheeple” are.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And let’s just add here that the ruling elites have tried
controlling the outcome of elections by disregarding the actual will of the
people—through fraud in varied forms and myriad locations. That’s a topic for
another day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But they cannot count on a people who would not vote them
out of their positions of power—no matter how often they cry out that any
disturbance to their power means “the end of our democracy.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So the next step is to discount voting as the means to maintaining
“our democracy.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Coincidentally (and there are likely no coincidences in
these things) two major publications had opinion pieces on the same day, August
21, saying that voting isn’t all it’s cracked up to be; maybe we ought to find
another way. [In case you’re blocked by paywalls, both pieces are summarized
<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/headline-for-ny-times-guest-essay-changed-after-originally-claiming-elections-are-bad-for-democracy/ar-AA1fF9bu" target="_blank">here</a>.] <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The <i>New York Times</i> piece, by Adam Grant, was
originally titled, “Elections Are Bad for Democracy.” After much online scorn, it was changed to “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/21/opinion/elections-democracy.html" target="_blank">The Worst People Run for Office. It’s Time for a Better Way</a>.” But the first title is really what was intended,
especially if <i>democracy</i> means <i>our regime</i>. He suggests that choosing
random leaders would give us better results than choosing from among the
multiple bad choices of those who run for office. So let’s come up with a
better way. He suggests maybe a lottery.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are times, I admit, when I’ve thought selecting out of
the phonebook (assuming there still is such a thing somewhere) would yield
better leaders than we get through elections. But the solution isn’t less
voting; it’s more informed voting. We need less censorship and more open
debate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a clue in the wording of the end of the piece: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">"As we prepare for America to turn 250 years old, it may
be time to rethink and renew our approach to choosing officials. The lifeblood
of a democracy is the active participation of the people. There is nothing more
democratic than offering each and every citizen an equal opportunity to
lead."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our way of doing things is archaic, he implies. But offering
every citizen an <i>equal opportunity to lead</i> is democracy; not everyone
having an <i>equal vote</i>. Hmm.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUB_Yn8NNQLZB50dNA_k1eUOnQ3ttADNR3x9tCTWn2DmRt7cC3eTmV3ou2GM5dt4_PvbftIq6NQHzTgocgRrMO4hIhREyzBHnVyaYDjmOmmPOdR519pudZjGaLlkUVQOoK0y3tVIeXFRY86CjHltoY7cpo6j_dQ3TKNpKzvCBMB3-xdjC4DiaqwHL4ddlh/s976/Americans%20vote%20too%20much.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUB_Yn8NNQLZB50dNA_k1eUOnQ3ttADNR3x9tCTWn2DmRt7cC3eTmV3ou2GM5dt4_PvbftIq6NQHzTgocgRrMO4hIhREyzBHnVyaYDjmOmmPOdR519pudZjGaLlkUVQOoK0y3tVIeXFRY86CjHltoY7cpo6j_dQ3TKNpKzvCBMB3-xdjC4DiaqwHL4ddlh/w412-h232/Americans%20vote%20too%20much.webp" width="412" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">illustration found with <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/08/american-election-frequency-voter-turnout/675054/" target="_blank"><i>The Atlantic</i> piece</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The other piece, “<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/08/american-election-frequency-voter-turnout/675054/" target="_blank">Americans Vote Too Much</a>,” by Jerusalem
Demsas, for <i>The Atlantic</i>, tells us that all those pesky local jurisdiction elections are low turnout
anyway. People just can’t be bothered. In fact, our form of government expects
too much of us. It’s a full-time job to stay informed, and most people do the
sensible thing and tune out.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I do agree that there are too many separate elections.
Sometimes the ruling elites (even the local ones) insist on off years and odd
dates—so that they can control the outcome more easily, because fewer people
are paying attention. But I think putting the elections on normal voting days
makes sense. We already have a long ballot here in Harris County—the biggest in
the country, I think. But we do tune in and try to get information, fill out
our sample ballot and all, before we go to vote. Many people just don’t notice
when there’s some special early May election at some odd place.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Demsas ends his piece with this:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">"Giving power to the people is sometimes conflated with
giving people more access to government decision making through, say, community
meetings or ballot measures. But if only a small, unrepresentative group of
people are willing to be full-time democrats, then that extra ballot measure,
election, or public meeting isn’t more democracy; it’s less."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ok, so his assertion is that more is less, and less is more.
“Giving power to the people” isn’t something government has the right to do;
the people inherently <i>have</i> the power, which they delegate in limited
ways to government. In that phrase, who is giving the power? <i>Democracy</i>—or
the <i>ruling elite</i>, as we would do well to define it? I don’t see that as
a better option. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t have a solution. I try to do my part, educating
myself, and then sharing what I’ve learned so others will be better informed
after reading my research. I guess that makes me part of “a small,
unrepresentative group of people willing to be full-time <s>democrats</s>/republicans.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When Demsas argues that more participation by people willing
to be vigilant “isn’t more democracy; it’s less,” what does he mean there by <i>democracy</i>?
It’s not really the will of the people. He may want you to think that, but what
I think he means is the <i>ruling elite</i>. I think there’s a subtext saying, “You
plebians ought to get out of the way of the ruling elite. It’s too much for
you. Let us make all your decisions for you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It's not your grandmother’s <i>democracy</i> anymore.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Watch the words. That’s the tyrants’ means of attack.<o:p></o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-37376689732473475192023-09-01T18:59:00.001-07:002023-09-01T18:59:32.721-07:00Fascism Isn’t Right or Left; It’s South<p>Earlier this week Ben Shapiro wrote a piece called “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fascism-isnt-right-wing" target="_blank">Fascism Isn’t Right-Wing</a>.” It's in response to a typical question from media, this one from Jake Tapper to Chris Christie, asking whether support of Trump is a sign of authoritarianism. Shapiro explains a few things rather clearly, which I’ll share.
But, as with many attempts to explain fascism and other ideologies, I think, “This
is clearer on the Spherical Model.” Every now and then it’s worth re-sharing
that model—after all, it’s what the blog is about—so I’ll do some of that
today, after what Shapiro brings up in his piece:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Authoritarianism is not what people in the media think it is.
They think authoritarianism is Donald Trump tweeting. But there are many forms
of authoritarianism. In fact, fascism is an element of <i>both</i> Left and
Right. It is not merely a Right-wing action. Authoritarianism can just as
easily be implemented by a series of executive orders that go outside the
Constitution, that radically re-shift the balance between people in the
government, something Joe Biden does with alacrity.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bFTjX9Zf4LcJoET5my-koPEDH-5JXfEv6mZqGAMy9-JA0v54aVi9b_-ZGMwVFgHheKxv7xEL6pARiI9EJDVidjkCUbuqQ86HXNhiAUUTE3jtjE6TtnulYJiEMh5QdFaCXbOVEGm_lNwMhfwk1lM7zDQYYDCocOvCMG1jqWwLK69zrxIn4XQLLEjEJA-K/s1317/Screenshot%202023-09-01%20202824%20Churchill%20fascism%20quote.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1317" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bFTjX9Zf4LcJoET5my-koPEDH-5JXfEv6mZqGAMy9-JA0v54aVi9b_-ZGMwVFgHheKxv7xEL6pARiI9EJDVidjkCUbuqQ86HXNhiAUUTE3jtjE6TtnulYJiEMh5QdFaCXbOVEGm_lNwMhfwk1lM7zDQYYDCocOvCMG1jqWwLK69zrxIn4XQLLEjEJA-K/w411-h275/Screenshot%202023-09-01%20202824%20Churchill%20fascism%20quote.png" width="411" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It's likely Churchill didn't actually say this, but the<br />quote will do for today's post. Found <a href="https://edwardcline.blogspot.com/2017/02/western-fascism-vs-islamofascism.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, fascism = authoritarianism. The error is in assuming
it’s always right-wing authoritarianism and that the left wing could never be
that. Later in the piece, he says this:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">The truth is that fascism as an ideology is closer to the
American Left than it is to the American Right. Fascism is an ideology that was
generalized in response to communism, but it drew from Marxism, Hegelian
politics, and progressive-era ideas, which is why many of the early supporters
of Mussolini were members of the Left, including people who had worked in
Woodrow Wilson’s administration who went on to work in the FDR administration.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So we know that fascism means authoritarianism. And it’s
related to Marxism, which spawned communism and socialism, also progressivism
and probably a few more -isms as well—each one authoritarian, meaning coercion
and top-down control.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But what do we mean by Right and Left?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Common belief says that fascism is right. Far right. So, to
stay as far away from that as you can, you go left. Maybe all the way to
communism.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is communism as far as you can get from fascism? Because
communism <i>is</i> authoritarian. And, didn’t we say earlier, fascism =
authoritarianism? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On August 29 <a href="https://www.blazetv.com/watch/channel/series/series/2sMktR4RBaoF-the-glenn-beck-radio-program/episode/LC32fsnGPPv5-gbr-082923?t=0" target="_blank">Glenn Beck was talking about authoritarianism</a> as well. First he quoted the entirety of a piece
by Emma-Jo Morris, the political editor for Breitbart: “<a href="https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/08/28/morris-2024-election-going-vote-defiance/" target="_blank">Morris: The 2024 Election Is Going to Be a Vote of Defiance</a>.” Here’s the first paragraph of that piece:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Leading up to the 2024 election, there are a number of
pressing issues Americans will consider—rampant illegal immigration,
skyrocketing inflation and price of living, violent crime marring cities—but
those issues are now against the backdrop of a palpable shift toward
authoritarianism. And a vote for Trump in 2024 will be a vote of defiance.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Her assertion is that people will be voting <i>against</i>
the authoritarian regime that has been imposed on them. And she offers plenty
of examples of that authoritarianism—that tyranny that we’ve been tolerating,
hoping it was just something that would pass, but that we can no longer tolerate.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then Glenn Beck responds, with a warning about an
overreaction.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Now, I think that there are real ways that can be done
constitutionally. But I warn you, there is going to come a time where, even on
our side, many will say, “Screw the Constitution. There are things we <i>have</i>
to do.” That is always trouble. Always a sign you don’t want to be in that
group.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">Please, be aware of this. There are forces, on many fronts:
on the left, who wants to destroy the Constitution; and those now posing as the
right, but they’re not the right. They’re the fascistic left. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">In America the choice is not right or left. It is either
anarchy or complete control.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve heard him use that last line before, changing the left/right
model from communism to fascism, and instead labeling the far extremes as
either anarchy or complete control. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m not saying he’s wrong. And neither is Ben Shapiro. I’m
saying the Spherical Model can clarify. It offers more perspective on the
relative closeness or distance of various political ideas, or ways of
governing. I’ll just review it quickly (repeated from <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-political-sphere-is-round.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and from <a href="http://sphericalmodel.com/thepoliticalworld.html" target="_blank">the website</a>).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Political
conversations tend to describe the far ends as extreme, assuming there’s some
virtue in being balanced in the middle. And we refer to our nation as center
right—just a little more conservative than exactly center.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla2JYX05yOcHT9xy_5_uDW0xMNTBzvheep9IQpTURp2yoJ5VpRXn19Su9S6A2tXIL6T2lW21a5wE_L0U9MA_p2FUPtGu9tkIRTFKgrGj_xJcL2X7xN0XsUyV7Yg5gO7lTAezpQITtYAlyzEI95hovDMrFd83E2SCGjiwuhm5gzXZQXpXdMEfekHxPW2yj/s763/vis-aid_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="763" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla2JYX05yOcHT9xy_5_uDW0xMNTBzvheep9IQpTURp2yoJ5VpRXn19Su9S6A2tXIL6T2lW21a5wE_L0U9MA_p2FUPtGu9tkIRTFKgrGj_xJcL2X7xN0XsUyV7Yg5gO7lTAezpQITtYAlyzEI95hovDMrFd83E2SCGjiwuhm5gzXZQXpXdMEfekHxPW2yj/w522-h155/vis-aid_1.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">But
what are the extremes? Do we assume communism or socialism at the extreme left,
and fascism at the extreme right?</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyPUTDpF4o2kXStkhvlW804fQ2oVrTkGOG6OzU7HQicoo_0YThst8Fr22OBIVvtuy1Hwg_oROHDOeGBbXcC5mG1d-vwC3GxBdjdtGt_ceQeCUUnHPpeRPOHEEZkqpZDUHY8oRipRnPluuNAXrA1QkqaaFte2fWzbSGYth19nsricn6bSkPp32MsLP7DAK/s822/vis-aid_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="822" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyPUTDpF4o2kXStkhvlW804fQ2oVrTkGOG6OzU7HQicoo_0YThst8Fr22OBIVvtuy1Hwg_oROHDOeGBbXcC5mG1d-vwC3GxBdjdtGt_ceQeCUUnHPpeRPOHEEZkqpZDUHY8oRipRnPluuNAXrA1QkqaaFte2fWzbSGYth19nsricn6bSkPp32MsLP7DAK/w545-h160/vis-aid_2.jpg" width="545" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">That
can’t be right, because communism and fascism are both totalitarian statist
tyrannies, just slightly different flavors. Nazi means “national socialist
party” and the communist Soviet Union’s name was Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics.</span></p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">So if
Nazism and communism aren’t diametric opposites, then what are the logical
extremes?</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How
about total government control, or tyranny, versus total lack of government
control, or anarchy?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYakibYKcp6wp4OWLwXRjxag9MJwLT_AHwRfDrzAnpvy28CBQ8M4TZ5Kd-14JANVkqkZ_FkUtfEV7xuvfkhCTDWKrHX0i-Mm8eM8ouObPcIBm08dz2fn5w6IwO05F-dZGJXUSiPi2-7svh_npDW2vIwhArjPnO0O6UXgX_OBQpnjklq85Gqpl22W2QVuY/s758/vis-aid_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="758" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYakibYKcp6wp4OWLwXRjxag9MJwLT_AHwRfDrzAnpvy28CBQ8M4TZ5Kd-14JANVkqkZ_FkUtfEV7xuvfkhCTDWKrHX0i-Mm8eM8ouObPcIBm08dz2fn5w6IwO05F-dZGJXUSiPi2-7svh_npDW2vIwhArjPnO0O6UXgX_OBQpnjklq85Gqpl22W2QVuY/w556-h172/vis-aid_3.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">That’s
better. Then freedom is that perfect balance in the middle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">But
wait; there’s a problem with this model too: It’s common in history for people
suffering in anarchy to turn for relief to total government control—anything
for security. But in this model, as a people move to the left, they have to
pass through that balanced freedom section. You’d think that it would be very
common for someone to stop and say, “Hey, this freedom is good. Let’s stop
going leftward and stay here.” Yet that pretty much never happens. But going
directly from chaos to state control <i>is</i> historically common.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Plus,
notice that there’s not that much difference between the tyranny of the state
and the tyranny of anarchy. Total government control means the state has all
the power—the police, the military. The state can do what it wants, and the
mere citizen is without any rights except what the state decides to grant.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Anarchy,
on the other hand, means that power belongs to whoever is stronger and meaner
than the next guy. If you threaten to beat people up (or kill them) if they
don’t give you all their belongings, and you’re strong enough to mean it, then
you have power. If someone else is stronger or better armed than you are, then
you have to yield power to them.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In
other words, anarchy, while less organized, is power in the hands of the
strongest and best armed—just like a tyrannical government.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">So
maybe government tyranny and anarchic tyranny are pretty close to the same
thing. When I show this, I use a ribbon, labeled at the ends, and fold it in
half, so it looks something like this:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHJW4Tp1K8MiW8-VzM3BsK8vIyXMT-UR1ZLv7WzQ9j8jrcogV_BcDIvyW63X0inm09eF-7gfMU22M4RmhYgkJFFd139rG-RDSZg7PVzCRQ747k6Sggf1JMynCTYVGekcYKoauL1NTF17daVuFJWPmoF5mp6EpNp9pOEPBV62ZdSsWniTTI9uhnTdBBlCK/s855/vis-aid_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="855" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHJW4Tp1K8MiW8-VzM3BsK8vIyXMT-UR1ZLv7WzQ9j8jrcogV_BcDIvyW63X0inm09eF-7gfMU22M4RmhYgkJFFd139rG-RDSZg7PVzCRQ747k6Sggf1JMynCTYVGekcYKoauL1NTF17daVuFJWPmoF5mp6EpNp9pOEPBV62ZdSsWniTTI9uhnTdBBlCK/w525-h156/vis-aid_4.jpg" width="525" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Tyranny
and freedom are really the opposite extremes.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Not
bad. But it puts all those different kinds of tyrannies in the same location,
and maybe there are differences.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A
simple line doesn’t give us the dimensions we need.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.8pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">So,
how about if we use three dimensions—a sphere? If we draw a line at the
equator, we can separate freedom (northern hemisphere) from tyranny (southern
hemisphere). And then we can draw a longitudinal dividing line, with more local
interests in the western hemisphere and larger interests—from state to nation,
to international, in the eastern hemisphere.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I call
this the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="http://sphericalmodel.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2288bb; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Spherical Model</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.8pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOitZrkXihMAB3WQe501Xxku2IivxzQA4QglHFdtgjuLzdSX_l3GMitmCCL_lVDWDoECOxkPxY-zqAKLVtw_DjgsMaeCWXhY3GBBIY2YYfua7HyhNGFjsBx0rWEfKG7WDkLOtlN_MPl5fwq3d1fnsCYXLBSwdTlLrd9bLEOBbABRD-q_8oBEBJWgq6n4dF/s716/Political%20Sphere%20cropped.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="716" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOitZrkXihMAB3WQe501Xxku2IivxzQA4QglHFdtgjuLzdSX_l3GMitmCCL_lVDWDoECOxkPxY-zqAKLVtw_DjgsMaeCWXhY3GBBIY2YYfua7HyhNGFjsBx0rWEfKG7WDkLOtlN_MPl5fwq3d1fnsCYXLBSwdTlLrd9bLEOBbABRD-q_8oBEBJWgq6n4dF/w388-h372/Political%20Sphere%20cropped.png" width="388" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Political Sphere</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.8pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Down
in the south, you can see that one side of tyranny is the chaos of anarchy, and
the other side is the totalitarian control of government tyranny. It’s easy to
get from one to the other—which is what much of world history has shown us. You
can have communism, socialism, and Nazism as separate patches in their
quartersphere, based on how much control they exert on their people (southern
direction), or how far they plan to expand (toward the eastward extreme of
world domination).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Up
north in the freedom zone, location is mostly a matter of <i>whose</i>
interest. Free people don’t yield power to a governing authority beyond the
appropriate interest. Families make their own decisions about the care,
upbringing, and education of their children. Communities on up to cities and
counties decide on local law enforcement and protection needs. States (or
provinces) deal with their particular infrastructure and laws. Only very
limited powers are granted to a nation—as are enumerated in the US
Constitution. And that sovereignty would never yield to an international power,
but would cooperate with other free sovereignties concerning international
issues.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">OK, so, you find Nazism/fascism, communism, and socialism
all in the south—toward tyranny and away from freedom. And they’re all in the
bottom section we call statist tyranny, because the tyrants are the government,
rather than simply mob bosses, as you’d see in chaotic tyranny. Either way, you
have coercion of people by those in charge—and they’re in charge because they
have the power to force their will on others.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJCKS3_dyLpEQnhW8YFJXO9T0j31RcaqANYTbyuRWXN3JSxR2OkMC_9JtZYuGXUW2fN8rJJExSV1-t82nvquSe_xXus7e3QxI6b_RqjJ-JI8ZSgrwfvg7hmi-tE8crSuUje8-bqX-LCNorJHr8oiJjl1sBTULNkOhb4E_1QNarEl8aed_2cknqy_8ZuQ-/s1200/DSCN3582edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1052" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJCKS3_dyLpEQnhW8YFJXO9T0j31RcaqANYTbyuRWXN3JSxR2OkMC_9JtZYuGXUW2fN8rJJExSV1-t82nvquSe_xXus7e3QxI6b_RqjJ-JI8ZSgrwfvg7hmi-tE8crSuUje8-bqX-LCNorJHr8oiJjl1sBTULNkOhb4E_1QNarEl8aed_2cknqy_8ZuQ-/w369-h420/DSCN3582edited.jpg" width="369" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fascism, Socialism, and Communism are all statist tyrannies.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why does this matter today? Because authoritarianism—that
is, tyranny—is <i>not</i> Donald Trump tweets (or Xs, or Truths, depending on
what you call the platform he uses). A tweet doesn’t coerce anyone to do
anything against their will. It’s just an expression of a few words. They may
or may not represent an idea that you like. But, unless they come from a person
in power with commanding force behind them, they’re just words.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But there’s been a consistent mislabeling of Trump as a
fascist—because he’s “a right-wing extremist”; i.e., a Republican. And we know
the worst fascist was Hitler; ergo, Trump = Hitler. And, they think, we have to do <i>anything</i>
to stop today’s Hitler from getting power.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What do they mean by <i>anything</i>? Keeping your vote
for him from counting. Stopping you from expressing your opinions in the
marketplace of ideas. Using lawfare. Suing him—and anyone supporting him. Lying
about him. Covering up crimes of those he opposes. Instigating powers over the
people, particularly over the people supporting him. In fact, <i>anything</i>
includes any fascist and/or corrupt anti-Constitutional thing you can think of.
(See examples <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2022/08/we-agree-we-dont-want-authoritarian-rule.html" target="_blank">here</a>, from a couple of years ago, before we were seeing this year’s
attacks.) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, if you put the opponents of Trump on the sphere, they’re
definitely in the southern hemisphere of tyranny. And they’re mainly on the
statist side of the tyranny hemisphere.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, the one they call the authoritarian: in reality, his
ideas, and his followers resemble a lot of ideas you find in the northern
hemisphere—the freedom hemisphere.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How do you know? You ask questions about the ideas, rather
than throw out epithets about the person. You find out if those ideas coincide
with freedom. And a good gauge is whether they adhere to the US Constitution.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was surprised as anyone to find Trump’s presidency mainly
up in the freedom zone. His stated positions during his campaign said he would
be, but I hadn’t believed him. Not everything got fixed. But, as you’d expect
in a freedom society, economic security went up—for all demographics. That was
after a decade of statist tyranny had tried to convince us America was in
decline and all we could do was manage the decline.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was never sure—I’m still not—that Trump fully understands
and embraces the US Constitution, which is based on God-given rights. But I
know the Constitution is up in the freedom zone. And he adhered to it better
than we’d seen, at least since Reagan. The contrast between Trump and the
current White House resident is stark—as different as north from south.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So what are the questions? What are the principles of
freedom? I’ve provided a few lists over the years, depending on purpose. Here’s
a list <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2016/10/what-freedom-looks-like.html" target="_blank">I quoted in 2016</a>, from <a href="https://www.libertarianism.org/publications/essays/liberty-ancients-compared-moderns" target="_blank">Benjamin Constant in 1816</a>. I used only Benjamin Constant’s words, but I turned it into a
bullet-point list to make it easier to grasp:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">First ask yourselves,
Gentlemen, what an Englishman, a French-man, and a citizen of the United States
of America understand today by the word “liberty.” For each of them<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 117.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">·</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">it is
the right to be subjected only to the laws,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 117.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">·</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">and to
be neither arrested, detained, put to death or maltreated in any way by the
arbitrary will of one or more individuals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 117.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">·</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It is
the right of everyone to express their opinion,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 117.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">·</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">choose
a profession and practice it,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 117.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">·</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">to
dispose of property, and even to abuse it;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 117.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">·</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">to
come and go without permission, and without having to account for their motives
or undertakings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 117.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">·</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It is
everyone’s right to associate with other individuals, either to discuss their
interests, or to profess the religion which they and their associates prefer,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 117.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">·</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">or
even simply to occupy their days or hours in a way which is most compatible
with their inclinations or whims.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 117.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">·</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Finally
it is everyone’s right to exercise some influence on the administration of the
government, either by electing all or particular officials, or through
representations, petitions, demands to which the authorities are more or less
compelled to pay heed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That’s what it looks like to have freedom. If you’re
considering policy—or the policies supported by a candidate that you’re
vetting—then you might find this list useful:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Is the policy being debated something
that an individual has the right to do, and therefore has the right to delegate
to his/her government?</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> For example, a person has the
right to protect his own life and property. He can, therefore, combine
resources with his neighbors and hire a government entity, such as a sheriff,
to do that job for him. Similarly, the several states can combine to delegate
the power of defending the nation to a national government entity. Conversely,
a person does not have the right to take his neighbor’s excess grain
production, for example, and bestow it on himself, because his neighbor was
more prosperous in a particular season. He can, of course, ask his neighbor for
charity, but he cannot coerce the neighbor to give. That would rightfully be
considered theft. Therefore the person cannot delegate the redistribution of
wealth to the government to do for him—that would place him too far south on
the sphere.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Does the policy infringe in any way on
God-given natural rights, such as those enumerated in the Bill of Rights?</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> Does
the policy infringe on the free exercise of religion or try to establish a
particular sect as a state religion? Is political speech hindered? Does the
policy infringe on the right of citizens to bear arms? Does the policy
constitute an illegal search or seizure? Does the policy deprive a person of
life, liberty, or property when the person has not committed a crime for which
that deprivation is the just sentence? Does the policy try to claim for
government a power that was not specifically granted in the Constitution? etc.
If the policy infringes on the God-given rights, then government cannot take
that power without usurping power from the people—which is too far south on the
sphere.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Is the idea being debated a proper
role of government: some aspect of protection (including national defense,
protection from interstate crime, enabling international and interstate
commerce, standardized weights and measures and currency to protect the value
of wealth, the judiciary that guarantees the protective laws), as enumerated in
the Constitution?</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> If not, then accepting the idea is outside the
Constitution—and is too far south on the sphere.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Is the perspective appropriately
local?</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> It is important that any issue be handled at
the <i>most</i> local level possible. Parents should decide the
means, methods, and curriculum for educating their children, for example. An
issue that affects a state should be handled at the state level, not the
national level. National decisions should not be ceded to some international
body. An inappropriate interest level is too far south on the sphere.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’ve only talked here today about the Political Sphere.
There are two other spheres that overlie the political sphere: the Economic
Sphere and the Social Sphere. For the Economic Sphere, the polar opposites are north/prosperity
and south/poverty, with the same east/west lines. For the Social Sphere, north
is civilization and south is savagery, again with the same east/west lines. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hw5KjIfkntyY5y8_Vcfl9WtfSElqBbBgxQPXk0DhxLuF74PDBSK_QKbMaiptNwtTAKivFg1KkyzZBmW5O7ii8JqSOh3Vm9vJC2Rs1lTQLLatvATbGKvD9Ut32q7qFSu5_I9HTVY01_tarwuRP9hM1HEu_fNoENdonsBb3QIaBZPU3ga90kaQP6q5FSrh/s1280/econ%20and%20social%20spheres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hw5KjIfkntyY5y8_Vcfl9WtfSElqBbBgxQPXk0DhxLuF74PDBSK_QKbMaiptNwtTAKivFg1KkyzZBmW5O7ii8JqSOh3Vm9vJC2Rs1lTQLLatvATbGKvD9Ut32q7qFSu5_I9HTVY01_tarwuRP9hM1HEu_fNoENdonsBb3QIaBZPU3ga90kaQP6q5FSrh/w589-h331/econ%20and%20social%20spheres.jpg" width="589" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">There are additional questions for these. You can read them <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-right-questions-to-get-right-stuff.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Pending a theoretical book someday, the largest explanation of the Spherical
Model is the website: <a href="http://sphericalmodel.com/home.html" target="_blank">SphericalModel.com</a>. While I don’t have the illusion that
this obscure website and blog will change people from thinking with the right/left
model, I nevertheless think it would be a better way for people to understand abstract ideas
that they only think they understand.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p><br />Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857986220109964085.post-60076258425516315082023-08-26T14:55:00.001-07:002023-08-26T14:55:41.815-07:00The Upcoming Sequel<p class="MsoNormal">The pandemic is <a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2022/12/its-over.html" target="_blank">long over</a>. The virus itself has gone into the endemic phase, continuing to mutate into
ever more variants—occasionally more contagious, but never more virulent than
what it mutated from.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Therefore, the existence of more “variants of interest”
ought not to be news; it just <i>is</i>. So when we see a rather large uptick
in—not symptoms of the illness, but stories about it—that ought to gain our
attention. Something’s going on that may not be a threat to your health, but is
likely a threat to your well-being.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixywDfQIbQf9k6ITz0Syg324cBAvORt9CLXERTj5xYGnxNuyZ_9yY0SN9ejE_PLIiaWNleqliRFWOFtqfzfytegfUgqrvvKC1dA3CCY50cchHHWMrLJDnhMfuQiXLIggPuDbR0QtOWc513Y7XesuUeuVRQtfxBZ66EOAIYBlejSlHW-0Db23yXzMt5LuuS/s1094/Screenshot%202023-08-26%20161523%20Facts%20Matter%20Covid.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="1094" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixywDfQIbQf9k6ITz0Syg324cBAvORt9CLXERTj5xYGnxNuyZ_9yY0SN9ejE_PLIiaWNleqliRFWOFtqfzfytegfUgqrvvKC1dA3CCY50cchHHWMrLJDnhMfuQiXLIggPuDbR0QtOWc513Y7XesuUeuVRQtfxBZ66EOAIYBlejSlHW-0Db23yXzMt5LuuS/w451-h252/Screenshot%202023-08-26%20161523%20Facts%20Matter%20Covid.png" width="451" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Roman Balmakov, on <i>Facts Matter</i>, reports on return of Covid-related mandates.<br />screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/weIyQmdhgQA?si=nT-Cp5L-F3u7EX69" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The first item on my radar was the weekly county update. The
total county death toll has sat at 8,680 since June 15, but last Thursday it
jumped to 8,797 (and remained there yesterday as well). Does that mean we suddenly had 117 new deaths
in a week? Probably not. We haven’t had reliable death counts from day one. This might be a cumulative change since mid-June, or related to nothing actually real. This might mean they wanted to attribute some deaths to the count, so they
updated a number that hadn’t on its own changed in a long time.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xpop8gGocEPybzzKyKBwmePijqenEfyeDLZEkEWq8eZAhWVUOcxQIUn60mhW0_Wxl2f0SifRQ2R7VAmEWsY5P-Ha8c4JKGVh3_N4Thw1-OW9sokJGuIA-zyUaSq4Foa8dAzpVx9HvAJZEKoej4yIX-IkjdmUT8wxSUtMqG0PEg9nZX0Aa45wOsiNXwcO/s1470/Screenshot%202023-08-24%20233623%20county%20death%20toll.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1470" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xpop8gGocEPybzzKyKBwmePijqenEfyeDLZEkEWq8eZAhWVUOcxQIUn60mhW0_Wxl2f0SifRQ2R7VAmEWsY5P-Ha8c4JKGVh3_N4Thw1-OW9sokJGuIA-zyUaSq4Foa8dAzpVx9HvAJZEKoej4yIX-IkjdmUT8wxSUtMqG0PEg9nZX0Aa45wOsiNXwcO/w436-h227/Screenshot%202023-08-24%20233623%20county%20death%20toll.png" width="436" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The <a href="https://covid-harriscounty.hub.arcgis.com/pages/cumulative-data" target="_blank">Harris County COVID-19 death toll</a> had a sudden rise<br />after two months of no change</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The first news piece that got my attention was this one from
InfoWars. I’m not a regular viewer; it was passed along to me. I don’t like the
alarmist tone of Infowars and Alex Jones, but that doesn’t mean he’s always
wrong. In fact, he probably has a much better track record for accuracy than
the MSM. Still, one story from there isn’t going to get me worked up.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Alex Jones speculated about the reason being related to next
year’s presidential election—which is only “winnable” by the cabal if they
cheat, which they were able to do last time because of main-in ballots, which
they were able to institute in places where main-in ballots hadn’t been widely
used previously, because of fear of COVID-19. So, to repeat that “success,”
they need to gin up the fear again.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Alex Jones says to spread the word so enough of us are onto
their game, so we won’t comply; we won’t let them get away with it. First link
below is the video, and then the link to the written story:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://www.infowars.com/posts/exclusive-intel-federal-officials-blow-the-whistle-on-bidens-plan-for-new-covid-lockdowns/" target="_blank">EXCLUSIVE INTEL: Federal Officials Blow the Whistle on Biden’s Plan for New COVID Lockdowns</a>” <i>The Alex Jones Show</i>,
August 18, 2023 (6:00 PM) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://www.infowars.com/posts/exclusive-biden-admin-preparing-to-bring-back-full-covid-restrictions-rollout-to-begin-mid-september/" target="_blank">EXCLUSIVE: Biden Admin Preparing to Bring Back FULL Covid Restrictions, Rollout to Begin Mid-September</a>” Infowars.com August 18, 2023. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in;">Here’s the beginning of that
story:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Whistleblowers
from the TSA and Border Patrol have raised the alarm to Infowars that the Biden
administration is setting the stage for full Covid lockdowns that will begin
with incremental restrictions like masking TSA employees and other government
employees in mid-September.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">The first
source, a high-level TSA official confirmed and known to Infowars, reached out
to Infowars and cited a Tuesday meeting in which TSA managers were told new
memorandums & policies were being completed that would reimplement masking,
starting with TSA & airport employees as early as mid-September.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">The TSA
official also said next week they will receive new guidelines on how the policy
will escalate: by mid-October, mask-wearing will be required by pilots, flight
staff, passengers, and airport patrons.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in;">The story links to two stories
about the “new Covid variant hysteria”:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->About the Eris variant: “<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/15/covid-eris-new-variant-spreads-across-world-heres-what-we-know-so-far.html" target="_blank">As the new Eris Covid variant spreads across the world, here’s what we know so far</a>” by Jenni Reid for
<i>CNBC</i>, August 15, 2023. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->About variant BA.2.86: “<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/health/who-cdc-tracking-new-lineage-virus-causes-covid" target="_blank">WHO, CDC tracking new lineage of virus that causes COVID</a>” by Timothy H. J. Nerozzi for <i>Fox News</i>,
August 18, 2023. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in;">So that was the first story that
got my attention. But then the next day, I start hearing about cases increasing
in Canada, and a variant they’re looking at in Israel. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/5CQG7M7gjmQ?si=Fmu_FjaIBxlrBgNG" target="_blank">Joshua Philipp on <i>Crossroads</i>
talked about that one</a>: there were six cases worldwide. No one is saying these
cases are severe or deadly, only that they are variants of COVID-19 and should
be watched.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Z6CqxlsmWksbnAtefRQPy7tmWMXv34WbI8LlL0qca6dRPHjpFrWnV2d-XVDwDnfMK9vxP2feaa4BZH2HX9ZZe7PxKC_c8pwXe-cnj4v7AdpxFT1qhESIqbPtmh8GdoZlpjP7q2pBSk_Nz83G3eVm4B2S07wqPcesG05ivQrL5JZJpc4t2W_RJzCdhZCr/s1070/Screenshot%202023-08-21%20225327%20Eris%20variant%20warning.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1070" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Z6CqxlsmWksbnAtefRQPy7tmWMXv34WbI8LlL0qca6dRPHjpFrWnV2d-XVDwDnfMK9vxP2feaa4BZH2HX9ZZe7PxKC_c8pwXe-cnj4v7AdpxFT1qhESIqbPtmh8GdoZlpjP7q2pBSk_Nz83G3eVm4B2S07wqPcesG05ivQrL5JZJpc4t2W_RJzCdhZCr/w455-h236/Screenshot%202023-08-21%20225327%20Eris%20variant%20warning.png" width="455" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Joshua Philipp on Crossroads reports about the increased concern <br />over COVID-19 variants, screenshot from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/5CQG7M7gjmQ?si=Fmu_FjaIBxlrBgNG" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">This one, below, is from Wednesday, August 23, with a bit
more updated info (behind a paywall, but may be available on YouTube or Rumble).
Add another from EpochTV’s </span><i style="text-align: left;">Facts Matter</i><span style="text-align: left;">, also from Wednesday:</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/epochtv/push-for-new-vaccines-mask-mandates-conservatives-call-for-civil-disobedience-5479394" target="_blank">Push for New Vaccines, Mask Mandates: Conservatives Call for Civil Disobedience</a>” Joshua Philipps, <i>Crossroads</i>,
EpochTV, August 23, 2023. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://youtu.be/weIyQmdhgQA?si=lNLEQYrsNKQJBKRc" target="_blank">It's Really Happening: Vaccine and Mask
Mandates, Contact-Tracing RETURN</a>” Roman Balmakov, <i>Facts Matter</i>, EpochTV,
August 23, 2023. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">As I looked at my viewing history, I came across an EpochTV <i>Facts
Matter</i> piece from June, which gave the alert to this new attention on a
variant or two, which was causing alarm for no apparent reason. It didn’t catch
my attention then like the news buildup now is. He mentions that the new
variant of concern is essentially the same as Omicron and other variants—like a
mild cold—but with the additional symptom of pinkeye. For this, the WHO is
pushing vaccine passports. He links information in the description, so I’ll
include those below:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwFMehcWNd-7aovmopTKqlWJCZBWIAN9VvM9oirbdIDLP3p1GEyTRVcWAHhPAwMztVioJM7mddyAM6BQDSdnwErQZbhylxzAyjfkQvWyL3dR3jAIwxIshtsL1N0i1mcrduw2QQ7EuhGb1PPhlXSydWSh03aVBUuE6auLST-A2U5EXH9on4tjmIGRZMp6C/s1034/Screenshot%202023-08-24%20220725%20pinkeye%20w%20covid.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="1034" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwFMehcWNd-7aovmopTKqlWJCZBWIAN9VvM9oirbdIDLP3p1GEyTRVcWAHhPAwMztVioJM7mddyAM6BQDSdnwErQZbhylxzAyjfkQvWyL3dR3jAIwxIshtsL1N0i1mcrduw2QQ7EuhGb1PPhlXSydWSh03aVBUuE6auLST-A2U5EXH9on4tjmIGRZMp6C/w263-h155/Screenshot%202023-08-24%20220725%20pinkeye%20w%20covid.png" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">screenshot from <a href="https://youtu.be/SpZYXamIDY8?si=Tx050QrWGLnSMRor" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“<a href="https://youtu.be/SpZYXamIDY8?si=iaSHCFAQWA1fuY7B" target="_blank">New COVID Variant Has Unusual Symptom; WHO Launches Global Vax Passports</a>” <i>Facts Matter</i>, Roman Balmakov, June 26,
2023. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #131313; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; padding: 0in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #131313; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Info about pink eye <a href="https://ept.ms/3Jxm9lW" target="_blank">here</a> </span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #131313; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and <a href="https://ept.ms/46qmksS" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></p><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #131313; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; padding: 0in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #131313; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">CDC numbers <a href="https://ept.ms/46ltCOL" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #131313; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; padding: 0in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #131313; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">WHO passports <a href="https://ept.ms/3PwN2KE" target="_blank">here</a> </span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #131313; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">and
<a href="https://ept.ms/3JA4Hx3" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">And I came across this story about ongoing panic in schools,
which never had any danger from the disease among children. In Runge, Texas, in
Karnes County, not too far from San Antonio, the district had 10 cases across
the district, so they shut down for the week. Imagine if you didn’t call it
COVID; imagine that there are 10 cases of a mild cold in the district, so they
shut down for the week. It sounds crazy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>“<a href="https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2023/08/23/school-district-in-south-texas-temporarily-closes-due-to-uptick-in-covid-19-cases/" target="_blank">School district in South Texas temporarily closes due to uptick in COVID-19 cases</a>” <i>KSAT.com News</i>, August 23, 2023. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">So there is growing concern. But not that there’s an illness
about to wipe us out if we aren’t sufficiently panicked.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The concern, specifically, is that the US ruling regime
(what they refer to as Democracy, but it doesn’t mean that) is getting
desperate, so this is their attempt to repeat what they did in 2020. This likely ties in with the worldwide ruling elite. I should
note that, as I look at these stories, nearly a year post-pandemic, they are
still erroneously labeled with a warning about COVID-19 misinformation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Tom Woods, however, believes we already have enough people
awake and aware that there’s no way they could get away with it again. Who
would comply after all the lying these “experts” have done? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Woods has passed along a fair amount throughout the pandemic
and beyond. (<a href="https://tomwoods.com/covid/" target="_blank">This page</a> has a lot of resources.) But it all
adds to the surety of what we know. Nothing supports going back to mask
wearing. Here are two of his emails from this week. The first has some charts
showing the lack of evidence that mask wearing made a difference. The second is
his response to someone advocating giving in on mask wearing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Tom Woods <a href="https://mailchi.mp/tomwoods/scandin?e=1d8f042fdf" target="_blank">email</a> (with charts): <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Tom Woods <a href="https://mailchi.mp/tomwoods/nobigdeal?e=1d8f042fdf" target="_blank">email</a> (response to masking being no
big deal): <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">All this means that, if authorities go back to mask mandates,
it has nothing to do with maintaining public health. It has everything to do
with asserting control over the people. The antidote, the cure, for what they
afflict on us is <i>to not comply</i>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZKSMheyZVvX-f5RYg6lRANI2dzUWlB66a7VyyvsvifdUWaO2W262hwNd0Mgtmsdvii2iQ6ynRq7pmDfu5ELZGggnuoS_7zzdO41Ry66SqFsRn6crtSFjlFp-_MT7_84V7Tbj6UKAVn0NmK-1Eeoij9orIxF_XKcER5orFMVyv7mQD1nEzyPG8mecgrit/s710/Screenshot%202023-08-22%20135409%20do%20not%20comply%20meme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="710" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZKSMheyZVvX-f5RYg6lRANI2dzUWlB66a7VyyvsvifdUWaO2W262hwNd0Mgtmsdvii2iQ6ynRq7pmDfu5ELZGggnuoS_7zzdO41Ry66SqFsRn6crtSFjlFp-_MT7_84V7Tbj6UKAVn0NmK-1Eeoij9orIxF_XKcER5orFMVyv7mQD1nEzyPG8mecgrit/w391-h274/Screenshot%202023-08-22%20135409%20do%20not%20comply%20meme.png" width="391" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=743552687579712&set=a.385703090031342" target="_blank">Meme found on Facebook</a>, shows opposition to what is coming.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Some states put forth legislation to block authorities from
mandating such things as mask mandates, lockdowns, or vaccine mandates. The
states who didn’t should have. But individuals can have a big influence. People
have stopped shopping at Target, buying Bud Light, attending woke Disney films
or even going to their theme parks. We can simply live our lives without
regarding those so-called authorities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Whether the cabal can get away with it or not depends on our
willingness to give in to them. So I thought this might be a good time to
remind us of what we know—most of which we knew early on but were censored for
saying, but which is now widely accepted as fact.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Masks don’t work. (Links to data below.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Lockdowns don’t work, but they cause a great
deal of misery; quarantines are for the sick, not the well. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Contract tracing doesn’t work. It has no purpose
beyond the first, earliest days of a disease outbreak in order to prevent
spread; once an illness is widespread, it is pointless.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->More people have died from the “vaccines” than
from the disease, which was not a vaccine, not safe, and not effective.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The people who lied to us about vaccine safety
and efficacy also lied about the lack of safety and efficacy of low-cost easily
available well-known generic drugs, plus supplements. Doctors were fired for
prescribing these remedies, and pharmacies refused to fill prescriptions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Recommendations from “experts” were the exact
opposite of what would have been recommended by doctors left to their own
devices, and was exactly opposite of what was found to be effective.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The disease itself was not as deadly as the
fearmongers insisted; allowing it to go through the healthy population while
protecting the most vulnerable would have gotten us through the pandemic and on
to endemic quickly, providing us a population with natural immunity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->It is hard to know motivations, but it appears those
who wanted money from pharmaceuticals and/or power over the population
manipulated the situation—causing millions of deaths, the vast majority of
which could have been prevented.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->If there is any use for a vaccine in such an
easily treatable illness, it would be with the most vulnerable; no young
healthy person should risk taking the vaccine, which is more likely to harm
them than to prevent harm.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">As Mark Twain is often quoted these days, <o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">“It is easier to fool people than to
convince them that they have been fooled.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Or, to quote his actual words:<o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">“How easy it is to make people believe
a lie, and how hard it is to undo that work again!"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">So, providing the data, the studies, the evidence of truth
might not overcome the “<a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2021/10/so-this-is-why-people-have-ears-that-do.html" target="_blank">mass formation</a>” we witnessed during the past few years, it still might solidify us against this attempt at a sequel.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Just Facts</i> put together a definitive collection of
the studies and conclusions regarding masking—which were mostly obvious from
the beginning and known by the “experts”—or should have been, if they were
actual experts—from early on. This compilation is from September 2021. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>“<a href="https://www.justfacts.com/news_face_masks_deadly_falsehoods" target="_blank">Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Masks, and the Deadly Falsehoods Surrounding Them</a>” by James D. Agresti for <i>Just
Facts</i>, September 13, 2021. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I’ve seen more data come in since then. <i>Just Facts</i>
has this one from February 2022:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>“<a href="https://www.justfactsdaily.com/coming-to-grips-with-the-facts-about-masks?ss360SearchTerm=masks" target="_blank">Coming To Grips With the Facts About Masks</a>” by
James D. Agresti for <i>Just Facts</i>, February 1, 2022. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Just to make sure you have this, the protocol for prevention
and treatment of COVID-19 and associated variants is <a href="https://covid19criticalcare.com/treatment-protocols/" target="_blank">here</a>. (For even more, see "<a href="http://sphericalmodel.blogspot.com/2021/08/have-plan.html" target="_blank">Have a Plan</a>," from 2021.)<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Keep the data someplace handy. But know, it’s mainly for
yourself and like-minded friends and family. Anyone who isn’t yet aware of the
overwhelming, killing lies of the “experts” intends to keep their mind closed.
But, you never know. Pray for them anyway. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>Spherical Modelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075073544063199778noreply@blogger.com0