November 2018

The unfolding constitutional crises is being perpetrated by Donald Trump & cohorts.  We can see now that recused Jeff Sessions was fired, Matt Whitaker (outspoken critic of Russia probe) put in place to garner information from Manafort’s lawyers on what he told Special Counsel Mueller regarding issues like Wikileaks & Trump Tower meeting; enabling Trump’s answers.  Obstructing Justice.   Manafort breached the plea deal with Mueller by cooperating with Trump’s legal team, the silver lining of which …. could instigate Mueller providing a very detailed public indictment, and introducing grand jury testimony to produce the evidence thereof, the result residing with the sentencing judge, out of Whitaker’s hands, with the information being disclosed to the American people.  No one is telling witnesses to lie; liars lie.   Robert Mueller is a Republican war-hero with integrity, whom I’m guessing is skillful at chess; some say that Trump is adept at ‘whack a mole’.

Trish Forsyth Voss

I’m grateful for the good people of our area community and the multifarious good deeds, endeavors and activities they involve themselves in.  I especially appreciate the learning institutions and educators, the houses of worship that appeal to our better angels, our law enforcement officials that serve to protect us, veteran services that assist and honor those who have already served to protect us, health service workers that help us from pre-natal to geriatrics, all the structures that form the basis of a responsive community.   I’m grateful for the Civic Art center, theatrical and musical productions, and our shared community activities.  Grateful for the variety of restaurants, businesses, and expanding shopping areas we’re gaining, for the new overpasses and underpasses, beautifying and streamlining our town.  Grateful for our Register-Mail newspaper, keeping us abreast of local and national news; and I shout out to Charlie Gruner for congratulating John Hunigan and for kind words he expressed for our sheriff David Clague.

Trish Forsyth Voss

Peter Schwartzman, Knox professor on Environmental Studies, a smart, scientific guy says, “many cities around the world have committed themselves to many goals necessary to avoid calamitous outcomes” from the impacts of global warming.  Cities shifting from fossil fuels to wind and solar energies are great steps toward endeavoring to affect climate control.  Increasing public transportation might reduce the number of vehicles on our roadways.   Weatherizing our homes and using less energy are steps most of us can attempt.  “Trees absorb carbon dioxide and excess rainwater.”  Planting trees, supporting farmers markets, local growers, restaurants and businesses, “enhancing our downtown areas, making it more pedestrian-friendly” helps keep more people shopping and entertained in our burg.  Dozens of trees surround my home, built in 1860, heated downstairs by radiator heat, no heat upstairs, our thermostat set at 62 degrees in winter; we grow a garden, have six hens and a rooster, and I own a Prius hybrid.

Trish Forsyth Voss

The midterms were a “tremendous success”, said Donald Trump; I agree!  He remarked, “a Dem House could be a beautiful bipartisan” thing; he felt he “could very successfully pass legislation with Dems”, over Repubs, who “often wouldn’t work together”.  He said he “respects that Dems stick together”, he “respects Nancy Pelosi,  and very much feels she deserves the job of speakership”.  He tried to minimize losses and extol GOP gains, but his nasty mood was belied by his snarky comments for Republicans who eschewed his support, but lost their races.   Trump came out fighting on Day 1 of a split Congress, with a tweet declaring that if Dems want to “waste time and taxpayer money on investigations”, he can “play that game better than anyone”, then held a press conference, picking a fight with the media, calling them “rude, horrible and racist”; he then fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions.   The next two years are going to be difficult for The Donald.

Trish Forsyth Voss

The “Trump Effect” is like a virus sweeping across our nation, the symptoms presenting as a vastly increased incidence of harassment and violence against racial and religious minorities and women; most of us experience an overwhelming sense of malaise.   Thousands of hate-incidents have been reported since Trump became president.  The number of hate-groups have increased, the growth directly attributable to Trump’s incendiary rhetoric; the extent to which we have all witnessed the  horrifying results.   A hero of mine, Steve Schmidt retorted, “Donald Trump did not mail the bombs, but he created an atmosphere where a sick person would look at those individuals and see an enemy.  His rallies brim with malice; he scapegoats minority populations, alleges conspiracies, calling his opponents the enemy of the people.   He creates a sense of shared and virtuous victimhood, positioning himself as the avenger.  Trump acts like a tribal chieftain, declaring war on half of the country.”   The self-proclaimed white-nationalist president endangers our democracy and our world!

Trish Forsyth Voss