For some odd reason my work email address received an unsolicited request to donate to the Democrat Party. The email had Congressman Adam Schiff’s name on it and it contained some twisted statements and I’ll go through them in a second.
I say it’s odd because anyone who has read my columns knows that Schiff rates high on my list of politicians who don’t deserve to hold the public’s trust in office. That list also includes Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters, Jerry Nadler, Liz Cheney and AOC. Schiff deceived us for years about the Trump-Russia collusion claim which independent investigator Robert Muller later would said didn’t exist.
Schiff’s email read: “Hi friend, Adam Schiff here. I’ll be direct. I’m asking you to chip in today to elect Democrats across California. I promise there is a reason that this is so important, but I’ll need a second to explain.
He goes on to say “Folks – our democracy is facing its greatest threat in generations:
“A reactionary and partisan Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade.”
(No, the highest court actually said states should determine if they wish to allow abortion and that abortion is not a constitutional right).
“Republicans in Congress are trying to rewrite history and do anything to help protect Donald Trump. No matter the cost to our national security or democracy.”
(No, the Democrats are trying to rewrite history by altering traditionally held values at every turn, including redefining marriage. And yes Donald Trump needs protection from the continued harassment of trumped up charges designed to keep him from running again as they are scared he will disrupt their agenda.
“And with the help of their mega-donors and fringe base, the GOP is shattering fundraising records.”
(Shattering fundraising records because Americans know what you guys are up to and want it to stop! Raiding a president’s home for reasons that haven’t been explained? Why didn’t the FBI raid Hillary Clinton’s home once it became known she had classified secrets stored on her server at home?)
“With democracy, reproductive rights, health care, and so much more on the line, we must fight back and defend our Democratic majority.”
(Democrats love using the term “reproductive rights.” Everyone has the right to reproduce; it’s just that conservatives don’t believe in the right to kill babies, i.e., future voters. Talk about voter suppression!)
Sorry Mr. Schiff, your party has been slowly destroying the America many of us love and appreciate, and you won’t get one dime from this Republican.
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Remember the name T.J. Cox? He was the guy who ran for Congress in the 19th Congressional District in 2006, losing to George Radanovich. In 2017 he ran for the 10th Congress District seat (which Josh Harder ultimately won) and then pulled out to go run down south in the 21st District, a district which he had a better chance of winning. We call that carpetbagging. He won the seat in 2018, flipping a red district blue by a razor-thin margin of last-minute votes, unseating Republican David Valadao by a mere 862 votes. Two years later, Cox was then unseated by Valadao.
Why do I bring up Cox? Because he was just busted was by federal agents on wire fraud, money laundering, and campaign contribution fraud charges stemming from multiple fraud schemes, say federal prosecutors. The Democrat was charged with 15 counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of money laundering, one count of financial institution fraud, and one count of campaign contribution fraud.
Between 2013 and 2018, Cox allegedly obtained $1.7 million from funds he solicited from clients and loans he got for his companies and then stole by diverting the money to “off-the-book bank accounts.”
He also pulled a series of deceptions to get a $1.5 million construction loan to develop Granite Park, a recreation facility in Fresno, according to the complaint. The loan later went into default, causing a loss of more than $1.28 million.
Cox allegedly reimbursed relatives and friends for donations to his 2017 campaign.
This is why I say many voters don’t do their homework and evaluate positions and character. And to think we all could have had this Democrat representing us in Congress.
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We sure live in a different world today.
The Stanislaus County Fairgrounds has agreed to allow a “Dazed on the Green” concert Sept. 17-18 where you can get high on pot and listen to the 44 musical acts scheduled to perform.
Call me an uptight boomer but I’m not cool with this kind of event. Does not anyone see some big problems with assembling 10,000 persons, most of them stoned for hours?
While there was this thing called Woodstock when I was a kid, it wasn’t billed as a place to smoke weed. Look at it this way: Can you imagine someone organizing an alcohol-centered concert event named “Crocked at the Concert” or “Soused on the Sounds?” No, because folks realized that being a drunk was a moral failing. How many families were destroyed because mom or dad got drunk and stayed drunk? The drunk of the family was to be pitied and was an embarrassment. But here in 2022 we have a concert that promotes being stoned! Why is being stoned celebrated?
While society is more tolerant of marijuana today than 20 to 30 years ago, cannabis is a serious addiction for lots of young people. Marijuana use is associated with a range of health issues, particularly related to heart and lung problems and mental health conditions. Marijuana abuse has also been associated with other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, personality disturbances, lack of motivation and suicidal thoughts among adolescents.
A healthier society would embrace getting high on life, not needing substances to feel good all the time.
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It really doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Donald Trump really irritated the Swamp by getting elected in 2016 and now they are trying like hell to destroy his chances once again. It’s been the biggest and most alarming thing to watch the hatred and lying at work. However, seeing Rep. Liz Cheney get slaughtered at the polls gives me hope that the American people see it for what this has always been: an attempt to take down a populist who has resonated with the American people and defied the standard bearer politicians who, while addicted to power, haven’t improved the lives of Americans.
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On a personal note, the death of a 10-year-old Waterford girl impacted my daughter’s family last week. Nevaeh (Heaven spelled backward) was at cheerleading practice in Waterford on Monday afternoon and said she didn’t feel well. She was told to sit down and relax when she was stricken. It’s suspected that a brain aneurism burst and without oxygen for a long time, she became brain dead. Her organs were harvested on Saturday after a solemn ceremony at a Sacramento hospital.
Nevaeh’s parents are best friends are my daughter and son-in-law in Hughson. Nevaeh was good friends with my grandson Connor and were the same age. Nevaeh was at my daughter’s house often. In fact, my daughter posted: “She has become like family. It’s been a true joy to get to know Nevaeh!! She was a light in the room, rarely was she ever in a bad mood. She clearly loved life and loved to live it to the fullest. I’m so thankful for the time that I’ve had with her.”
I saw her at my grandson’s birthday parties. I didn’t know her but her death brought about a grief I didn’t suspect. Last June I had camped with her mom and stepdad – really good Christian people – and I felt much grief for their loss. No parent should ever face what they are facing.
A young girl’s future was stolen in the malfunction of a vessel, leaving a community pondering a fate that is highly selective about who it takes and when without regard to age.
None of us know the hour when our lives will end. Nobody is guaranteed a tomorrow. But I know Nevaeh’s parents have an understanding of where their daughter has gone and that they will see her again one day. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 tells us “where O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This column is the opinion of Jeff Benziger, and does not necessarily represent the opinion of The Ceres Courier or 209 Multimedia Corporation. How do you feel about this? Let Jeff know at jeffb@cerescourier.com
