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Laws, not the whims of men

I have no blood connection with John Adams, one of our nation’s founding fathers and the second president of the United States. But I’ve read enough of his letters to find a real kinship with the underappreciated man. One of his famous quotes is often paraphrased, but below is a direct quote from an Adams letter to fellow Continental Congress delegate John Penn. “…The true Idea of a Republic, is ‘An Empire of Laws and not of Men’: and therefore as a Republic is the best of Governments so, that particular Combination of Power, which is best contrived for a faithfull ...

Is the investigation about revenge or justice?

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard just released a trove of apparently once-classified documents — with promises of much more to follow. The new material describes the role of the Obama administration’s intelligence and investigatory directors — purportedly along with former President Barack Obama himself — in undermining the 2016 Trump presidential campaign. In addition, their efforts extended to sabotaging the 2016-2017 presidential transition and, by extension, the first three years of the Trump presidency. The released documents add some new details to what ...

Grade after six months

Over the course of four years’ banishment to America’s political wilderness while subjected to both a would-be assassin’s bullets and the humiliating and unprecedented spectacle of criminal prosecution by his political opponents, Donald Trump seems to have intuited a key life lesson: Time is of the essence. Carpe diem, seize the day. And so it has been. Like a thoroughbred bursting out of the Kentucky Derby starting gate, the second Trump administration has been racing full speed ahead ever since Trump was inaugurated once again as president of the United States. If the Derby is ...

Barbour County preparing for Lurch Fest excitement

Hello from Barbour County! I hope that you are all having a good summer! On Wednesday, July 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at 17 North Event Center, there will be music by The Derailers and Son of Lurch. Rod’s Burgers will be serving up some creepy, kooky, delicious Lurch-inspired burgers for a weird and wonderful night. Don’t miss out. Lurch Fest will be celebrating it’s fifth year soon! On Aug. 1, Ted Cassidy’s son, Sean, will be at 17 North for a special proclamation and answering session meet and greet. While there, have dinner at Ted’s Taco Stand and spend the evening ...

Take time to replenish yourself, and others who make a difference

Self-replenishment matters. Today it is understood how important it is to keep ourselves hydrated with water. If we do not do so, there can be serious health consequences. I feel the same is true of replenishing oneself with good thoughts and messages. I recently coauthored a book with my good friend Dr. Janet Pilcher. The book is called “The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers.”  The idea for the book came from a previous book of mine titled “The Calling: Why Healthcare Is So Special.” The idea is that people are called to the role they have, from work to community to ...

History of scandals

Beware of sharp historical parallels, especially when it comes to current affairs. The Jeffrey Epstein situation is an example in that it represents a potential minor problem becoming a major event, comparable to the Watergate break-in. However, that is where the comparison stops with the scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon in August 1974. Democrats were far stronger in 1973 than they are now. Despite George McGovern’s landslide loss to Nixon, Democrats controlled both Houses of Congress. Moreover, the Supreme Court was far more liberal than it is today. Remember, the ...