Biden drives inflation

Dear Editor,

President Joe Biden has blamed Russia’s Vladimir Putin for the soaring inflation. He doesn’t acknowledge himself as the prime culprit.

Once in office, he blocked the Keystone XL pipeline, drilling and fracking on federal lands and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. These actions, among others, undermined the energy independence we had under President Donald Trump, as well as our role as a net exporter of liquefied natural gas. So fuel prices rose. Since most goods are shipped by truck or train, most consumer goods became more costly.

We have the worst inflation in more than 40 years. This was underway before Putin attacked Ukraine, though that worsened the problem. One can assume Putin was emboldened by the reckless weakening of America’s energy production. This made Europe more dependent on Russian energy.

Biden speaks of 9,000 land-based oil leases that could give relief if fully used. Easier said than done.

Jennifer Pett, Independent Petroleum Association of America, explains. Before drilling, leaseholders need federal permits. Once sufficient permits are obtained, to make drilling profitable, a drilling plan is required along with “right of way” agreements with public and private landowners.

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, American Action Forum, emphasizes that oil yielded must make time and investment worth it, Such is not always the case.

Title 42 expulsions remove migrants who have recently been in a country with communicable disease issues.It was sensibly implemented under Trump. It is opposed by the ACLU and the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.The latter seems to view all migrants as harmless “sojourners.” Both groups ignore reality. Some are “bad actors” and numbers must be responsibly regulated.

Fentanyl trafficking has become especially frightening. Border patrol reported 1.7 million encounters with illegals in 2021. In a recent six-month period, an estimated 300,000 “gotaways” made it in.

Putin’s evil action has ruined Ukrainian lives and property. Americans are rendering aid. It would be easier without inflation and weak borders. Putin likely “sized up” his opening since early 2021.

Our current national masochism is a dangerous disgrace.

Terry D. Hallock,

Warren

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The real steal

Dear Editor,

Joe Biden won the 2020 Presidential Election.

The Jan. 6 Capitol “disruption” was designed to prevent the Constitutional transfer of Presidential authority from Trump to Biden.

The Vice President’s official obligation is to merely declare the winner of the Electoral College vote. Had Mike Pence sided with those “disrupting,” and their backers, and refused to honor the Electoral College vote count, despite the lack of valid reasons to do so and the legality to do so, the House of Representatives, directed by the state legislatures, would conceivably have selected our next President, not the American voters. Voting would be one vote per state. The “Plan” favored the Republican Party as it controls the majority of State Legislatures.

The “disruption” was not “like Portland.” It was not “ANTIFA.” It was not “a normal tourist day.” It was not a peaceful protest outside public and private buildings. It was not “nothing to be excited about” according to high-profile Fox network personalities though all texted the President Donald Trump on Jan. 6 to “call off the attack.” It was not a “mere footnote” as Tucker Carlson characterized Jan. 6, 2021.

Section 1752(a)(2) outlaws the intentional disruption of government business.

This criminal conspiracy involved more than the Jan. 6 “disruption.” The conspiracy was not a spontaneous event. It was planned over months. It required money, planning, and approval from high places.

The Jan. 6 pre-“disruption” insurrection rally in front of the White House featured many individuals in “high places,” including the president of the United States.

In addition, before Jan. 6th, Trump called Georgia’s Secretary of State, who oversees the state elections, bullying and cajoling him to swing the state’s vote his way. Pennsylvania state senator, Doug Mastriano, without basis, challenged his state’s mail in ballots and tried to raise doubt about the results; he attended the Jan. 6 “disruption.”

In Arizona, Trump people challenged their state’s election mail in ballots and ordered an audit; Ginnie Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, called Arizona legislators and encouraged them to over turn the election; all to no avail. Trump, Fox News pundits, and various states claimed Dominion Voting machines had been tampered with and thus those states’ votes were invalid. All claims were false according to court rulings but the “claims” were the basis for Trump’s Big Lie, The Steal.

All of the above and more are coming to our television sets starting June 9 during prime time and the ensuing days. The Jan. 6 House Select Committee will make public what it has uncovered about this abhorrent affront to our democracy.

The Select Committee Report findings will have been verified under oath, multiple times, based on fact not on repeated rumor and opinion.

Trump’s behavior is again displaying his sociopathic, narcissistic disorder. He cannot accept being a loser. Trump must appear strong, be in charge, be a person to be feared — much like Vladimir Putin and other autocrats he admires. He insists his followers heed his lead and repeat his LIE, the Big Steal.

Russians believe Putin’s Big Lie of “defensive action against Ukraine.” They do not want to acknowledge what they do not want to believe. In Russia, Putin controls the information; here access to opposing information is self imposed.

Hopefully the MAGA people and the “silent enablers” can handle the truth even if it is not what they want to believe, assuming they allow themselves to watch the Select Committee Report.

This fantasy resulted in 10 deaths, 140 injured, and 130 resignations among the United States Capitol officers. People have been convicted and are serving in federal penitentiaries.

Official governmental business was delayed. It has widen and deepen the division among the American people. It was a punch in the nose to our democratic institutions and mores. The world, including Third World Countries, thought it all shameful and Putin smiled.

The 2020 Big Lie Steal Fantasy and the other various sized lies have been going on way too long.

Don Scott,

North Warren