Trumpziism is domestic terrorism

An echo opinion letter published in the independent online newspaper, The Daily Bulldog in Farmington, Maine.

January 6 will exist in infamy:

The violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, was overwhelmingly made up of longtime Trump supporters.

There are still people running around with MAGA hats and Trump flags. This letter is not for them, because they have become cult members and are past reasoning.

Let us put some of our past history in perspective. 

Osama bin Laden organized an attack on the United States of America in 2001. Two aircraft struck the Twin Towers causing massive civilian loss of life, but the aircrafts sent to strike the heart of our government, the Pentagon and the White House, failed to make their target.

In 2021, twenty years later, Donald J Trump organized an attack on the heart of our government. He succeeded where Osama bin Laden failed. Trump’s cult of fanatics assaulted the Capitol of the United States while Congress and Senate were in session. They violently attacked, and overran the Capitol police, destroying property – including defecating and urinating in the Capitol rotunda. They ran through the halls of Congress breaking into offices. A noose was hung from scaffolding and the mob was chanting ‘Hang Mike Pence’. They were searching to capture the Speaker of the House. They were armed with collapsible weapons, stun guns, bear spray and zip tie handcuffs. It is unclear what outcome they were seeking: the violent overthrow of our Constitutional government and the installation of their Glorious Leader… President for life?

#FormerGuy tRumpf lost the election! 

In fact, Trump lost the popular vote by almost eight million. Every Governor and Secretary of State in all the contested states certified the election counts as fair, accurate and unassailable. There were numerous recounts, each affirming the results of President Biden’s win. Sixty-four judges, many Republican judges that were appointed by Trump, threw out Trump’s lawsuits as having no merit. Trump’s total argument was that thousands showed up at his rallies so he couldn’t have lost the election; and even now he continues the Big Lie.

The major threat to United States of America is no longer foreign terrorist, but radicalized American terrorist motivated by the ex-President of the United States – Donald J. Trump.

From William Gilliland in Farmington, Maine
Vietnam veteran, U.S. Navy retired (USN-Ret)

Republicans with health insurance vote others out of coverage

This original letter to the editor was originally published in Daily Bulldog published in Franklin County, Maine. In my opinion, it makes no sense for the Congress, that covers every member with government paid health insurance for themselves and for their families, to impose lack of coverage for their constituents.

Police Remove Disabled Protesters Outside Mitch McConnell’s Office

NEW SHARON, Me- The Republican controlled Senate led by Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, released their draft of the American Health Care Act, (aka "BCRA) which is intended to replace the the existing Affordable Care Act (aka the popular "Obamacare"). 

Polls show that a majority of Americans are in opposition to the Republican controlled House version of this legislation, and with good reason. There is no guarantee of coverage for preexisting conditions- even the "high risk pool" is inadequately funded with no assurance of how it will be reimbursed; Medicaid would be cut by over $800 billion; programs like Planned Parenthood would be defunded; and insurance premiums are expected to go up, not down. All of these cuts are deemed (by Republicans) as necessary to fund an enormous tax break for some of our wealthier citizens. In fact, President Barack Obama calls the Republican plan a major shift in economic wealth, a cut in taxes for the rich while the middle class and poor take on the expense of paying for their own health care.

People in both political parities are justifiably outraged at the secret process by which the Senate came up with these cuts to healthcare.

What are you going to do about it? 

We could take a lesson from the courageous activists with disabilities, who staged a peaceful demonstration outside Senator McConnell's office today in Washington DC. 

Capitol police removed the demonstrators, handcuffing some people in wheelchairs and carrying others out by force. These demonstrators are some of the American citizens who stand to lose the most from the proposed Medicaid reductions, and they were willing to face injury and arrest to make their point. 

We should all be humbled and inspired by their leadership.

Henry Washburn
New Sharon- Maine