6-13-2024

Soulmates

When mom died on 12 January 2016 it was obvious that part of dad died too. Dad often said he didn’t understand why he was still alive. He wanted oh so much to be with mom. There were times I had to remind him that God wasn’t done with him yet. His being around had a purpose, a Godly purpose.

It seems funny saying that to a retired licensed minister, who seemed to forget.

When mom and dad married in 1948 it was for better or for worse. Raising four boys and being surrounded by family, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews and numerous grandkids meant that there were plenty of both.

It’s a sure bet that whether fishing, hunting, raising vegetables, berries or just driving around you’d never see one without the other. Over the years they had never been apart except for their independent stays in Boise area hospitals.

I must admit that I hadn’t been around much during my military career, but I looked forward to doing what I could for them and visiting with my brothers and their families. After fully retiring I began frequent trips to Boise to assist them any way that I could. Take one or the other to and from medical appointments and hospital visits or to visit the other during their stays. One time I found mom crying as she feverously searched for her marriage license. She always stored her important papers in her metal box. She said without it her and dad weren’t really married. I kidded her about that made my brothers and I illegitimate offspring without realizing it may have been an early sign of Alzheimer. I contacted the county clerk where they had been married and soon a certified copy of the marriage license came in the mail. I showed it to her and placed it in her metal box, right beside her original marriage license.

When they moved in with my younger brother and his family it was obvious they still had that spark of being madly in love with each other “Soulmates”. You saw it in their eyes, their body language and yet their health began going downhill rapidly during the 3 years after moving out of their family home.

After mom died dad went to the Idaho state veterans home in Boise for 24/7/365 care. He made new friends, had visits from family members and enjoyed activities that helped him pass the time. Dad kept reminding me that he was ready to go when his time came. I told him not so fast, God isn’t done with him yet. Near the end as he became wheelchair bound and/or bedridden and with his COPD he needed oxygen all the time, even when he slept. He was in constant pain and at the ripe old age of 91 he went to sleep on 9 February 2019 and woke up in heaven with mom and Jesus.

Dad used to answer the phone with “Praise the Lord” and was not afraid to tell everyone about “Christ inside, the hope of glory” and ask if they knew Jesus? – RTM

6-12-2024

When Momma Crossed Over

January 12^th, 2016 was both a sad and happy day when momma went to her heavenly home. Mom was being cared for by my brother, his wife and his sister-in-law and visiting home care nurses. Her health began failing her for almost 2 years before her death.

Along with my eldest daughter and youngest grandson we made it to the funeral, but to tell you the truth I was at a loss for words and could only listen as my two younger brothers and dad’s brother spoke. Dad’s brother and my younger brother were both licensed ministers.

My youngest brother told of the days leading up to her passing. He had once stopped in front of her bed and wondered out loud what was holding her back? Mom beckoned him over so she could whisper “Be Patient” to his ear. He told us how dad had been praying for God to send angels to care for her and at some point he looked towards her bedroom doorway and began to see angels going in and coming out caring for her. I’m sure she had a smile on her face as she was prepared to meet her Lord and Savior.

At age 81 mom left behind a grieving husband, three sons, two sisters and their families and lots and lots of grandkids. I wasn’t there when she passed, but my wife and I had recently visited over the 2015 Christmas holiday.

When my uncle (dad’s younger brother) got up to spoke his words brought comfort and peace to my soul. He told us that when asked to speak he didn’t know what he could possibly say that would give us strength. The night before the funeral he prayed for guidance and words of wisdom. He said that in a vision he saw that Jesus had taken mom by the hand into heaven. He saw mom seated at what appeared to be an ornate grand piano play “How Great Thou Art” for Jesus.

What you must know is that mom had a small piano at home where she would play songs for weddings and sometimes during their home church meetings on Sunday mornings. Dad was a retired minister who performed weddings for just about anybody who asked. He would tell them that Jesus loved them and pray with them in the sinner’s prayer.

Almost everyone will tell you that mom was a quiet, timid person who rarely raised her voice. She loved God, her family and those she came in contact with. She was the ultimate mother hen who watched over her brood and had a willow tree in the back yard in case the grandkids got into the berry patch or garden. – RTM

6-11-2024

Raising Questions

Legal experts pointed out major differences in the trial of Hunter Biden and the “trials” of Donald Trump. Hunter Biden’s trial was in a federal court weighing evidence against 3 federal charges. Donald Trump’s trial was a New York state court weighing accusations of wrongdoing against undeclared charges which were bumped up to a non-existent federal charge where the jury was given leeway to choose which of many undeclared charges they could find a guilty verdict.

Both Hunter Biden and Donald Trump were convicted and sentencing for each will come prior to the upcoming election. Hunter Biden had been offered a plea bargain agreement which he declined and Donald Trump was not.

However some of the testimony from Hunter Biden’s trial hinged on what he wrote in his book about his addiction to cocaine and his drug use on a daily basis over the years. I’m thinking about while his father was vice president and they traveled together on Air Force Two a number of times and with secret service agents present was there some sort of dispensation or “discretion” given to Hunter while he had to have been using cocaine during those flights? What about international transportation of drugs when traveling between the US and other countries? Was he simply overlooked or ignored because of his father’s official position? I remember Joe Biden (D) saying his son Hunter is the smartest guy he knows. Doesn’t sound very smart to me……

And then going back to other presidents and their administrations I can’t help but think about John F. Kennedy (D) having a discrete “bedroom” above his brother’s Attorney General’s office for privacy. How was that possible?

Even Lyndon Johnson (D) had to have a bell system installed to warn him of Lady Bird’s presence near the Oval Office while he was having a “liaison de affair” on the couch.

And Bill Clinton’s (D) conduct with an intern in the red dress gave new meaning to meeting with the president. Don’t forget Jeffrey Epstein and his island, by now its common knowledge that Bill Clinton supposedly ditched his secret service detail and flew to the island and back without raising any questions or concerns. How did that happen?

Don’t forget Michelle Obama (D) claiming to go under cover at a Walmart store after midnight and nobody recognized her? How could they not miss the vehicles or the secret service detail escorting the first lady on her quest for ……. Ice cream or whatever she had to have that was not available in the White House?

When the special counsel prosecutor wanted to have a gag order on Donald Trump, I’m sure he thought if the judge can do it, so can he. What happened with that?

And when AG Merrit Garland (D) complained about those unwarranted attacks on the DOJ surely he didn’t mean unwarranted attacks BY the DOJ?

So may questions and so little time……… America Wake Up! – RTM

6-11-2024

Unwarranted vs Warranted attacks

A recent plea from US Attorney General Merrick Garland in part says “the unwarranted attacks on the DO[I]J must stop because they are dangerous.”

I wonder which unwarranted attacks he is referring to? Suing border states who uphold immigration and abortion laws the DOJ chooses not to enforce? Or the war on American citizens who hold differing political views than those of the Democratic Party? Or maybe standing by as illegal undocumented migrants invade our country specifically “authorized” and encouraged by the president and democratic legislators?

I didn’t hear this “unwarranted” argument championed or even voiced when ceaseless attacks on President Trump began in 2017 or since.

There was no uproar as senior citizens were rousted out of their homes because of their affiliation or contact with Trump or January 6^th 2021.

There was no thought of the implications of impropriety when using unmarked officers with lethal force (if necessary) to secure secret documents from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.

I guess it is only unwarranted when it happens to you sir or under your watch? No wonder you received no SCOTUS nomination by Trump. (I call that you being a sore loser). Oh but that has no bearing here. – RTM

6-5-2024

Why can’t we get it right?

Hollywood is notorious for taking real life events and embellishing them to the point that many movies and television shows are so far from reality that they become unbelievable.  It’s especially evident in war movies like Stripes (1981) and Platoon (1986) portray soldiers in a very bad light with drugs, disrespect of authority and the basic disrespect for life, making it almost impossible for anyone to see military service as patriotic.

The West Wing television series (1999 – 2006) gave a glimpse into the goings on of a Democratic White House while actually performing more like Republicans.

Well in the world we live in today it’s apparent that real life is far from Hollywood portrayals when it comes to New York City’s Police Department and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office as portrayed in the Blue Bloods television series where even the perception of impropriority is not to be tolerated, as we’ve watched the real life Trump Trials, episode one – NY vs Trump. Maybe real life should pay closer attention to the Hollywood script writers?

What I’ve seen or heard and read a few really bad apples have put a bad taste into the mouths of real life people because political power overcomes common sense.

Granted the bad apples (sorry New Yorkers) are far and few compared to the hardworking, honest and patriotic men and women who serve in law enforcement or the district attorney offices across the nation must have cringed while those who misused their elected offices just to get their names in the history books as the ones who “got Trump”.

There are more but if you’ve experiences anything like what has been launched against Donald Trump over the past 8 years, you have to sympathize as he “Stands in the Gap” for Freedom and his belief that America is worth saving – from itself and the Progressive Democratic Party ideology.

Watch carefully as the prosecution of Hunter Biden over some very serious felony charges meander through the legal system, which favors slapping him on the wrist with “Go forth young man and error no more – because your dad is president”.

Just remember nobody is above the law. – RTM

6-4-2024

Profiling is it Acceptable?

Have you ever been pulled over by police because of the car you drive, the clothes you wear, the color of your skin or racial ethnicity? How did it make you feel to just take it on the chin and offer no defense?

What if the armed IRS agents came after you because you owed back taxes? What if they took your finances; your home; your car and left your family on the street and locked you up – indefinitely?

A number of you may have faced those circumstances and continue to relive those horrific events that placed you in a state of virtual panic every time you see law enforcement officers doing their jobs, even doing the right thing – keeping the peace.

Would you feel comfortable going to them when trouble arises?

What about mistaken identity? It could happen you know.

What if they came after you because of where you were (reportedly or otherwise)? Maybe you’re in a bank waiting in line to do a normal transaction and people came in and committed a robbery. The surveillance cameras show you in the bank, but you looked like you were there for nefarious reasons.

Weeks or days later in the middle of the night you hear a banging on the front door and before you can react to what’s happening you awake to find yourself face down on the floor, in handcuffs wearing only your underwear, as are your wife, kids and entire family? You are placed in confinement in a dingy, unused portion of an unknown prison with no access to anything or anyone. If you’re lucky they tell you that you are charged with participating in an insurrection to prevent the change of presidents. Believe it or not there are people in this situation since January 6^th, 2021.

Now take it to another level – what if they went after you because of your name? Some people have a Middle Eastern sounding name or one that strikes fear just by saying it or because your name is Donald J. Trump the 45^th POTUS. You face unrelenting personal and professional attacks against your credibility, your family, your business and your Administration because you won the 2020 election. Now they have conspired to charge you with hindering the lawful change of power and have done everything imaginable and unimaginable to protect that power.

If you watched the two presidential impeachment trials, the January 6^th Special Prosecutor’s investigation or any number of state run trials aimed to ruin Trump politically and prevent him from becoming reelected you will begin to understand the lengths politicians will go to while breaching their lawful authority because it’s okay to target Trump and his MAGA supporters.

Now if you don’t think there was anything wrong with the way the New York City Manhattan Hush Money Trial was conducted, I ask what if they came after YOU with the full power of the DOJ.

Remember they are still looking for January 6^th “conspirators”.

Democratic politicians have determined early on that Trump was an illegitimate president because he won over Hillary Clinton. The people have spoken.

Since January 20^th, 2017 many have conspired to terminate the presidency of #45 and by any means necessary, including physical, emotional, private and public threats, yet very few (if any) have been held accountable or punished for their actions.

A great many Americans have no backbone for confrontation even when they know it is wrong.

I’m pleasantly surprised of the number of patriotic Americans who are stepping up politically to challenge the “status quo” of their city, county, state or federal elected officials. My hat is off to those who stand in the gap for ME and for YOU and more importantly for our COUNTRY.

To quote Merritt Garland, “I will not be intimidated” as he faced testifying before a House committee.

I too am not going to be intimidated. I will speak out at the top of my written voice that wrong is wrong and right is right – according to the Word of God.

President Trump had it right when he said “In this country we worship God, not government”.

GOD BLESS THE USA – RTM

6-4-2024

Lawfare in America

You may remember the old saying “all’s fair in love and war”?

Today it has morphed into “all on the line” or simply “Lawfare”.

We’ve seen it mostly in politics where the democratically controlled congress simply ignores constitutional law or make things up as they go, after all congress has the power to create their own rules and to create law constitutionally.

During the Obama years, congress created Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, universal healthcare “Obamacare”, car company bailouts, and a host of things which Obama signed into law without any guarantee that law makers had previously read or understood what was written down. We live with that fallout today. House Speaker Pelosi firmed her grip on congress and ruled with an iron fist while both democrat and republican members feared to confront.

During the Trump years, the congress who vowed not to put Pelosi back in power as House Speaker buckled under direct pressure from Pelosi and peer pressure from fellow legislators and she got the gavel, while American’s got the shaft.

Honing his community organizing skills, Obama organized a number of “grass roots” organizations which incorporated various government agencies and civilian groups for the first ever nationwide boycotts, public demonstrations, rioting and looting that led up to civil unrest and the silent insurrection (resistance movement) against all things Trump.

How else can one rationalize the “Free Zones” in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington where police were forbidden to enter and where police stations were firebombed as lawlessness abound.

Then Minneapolis, Minnesota after the George Floyd incident where mostly peaceful Black Lives Matter group was infiltrated by domestic terrorists who turned to looting, attacking and loss of life as their efforts picked up steam. Innocent people died, those who resisted were attacked and those who survived were prosecuted.

Public demonstrations irrupted across several state lines, into huge metropolitan urban centers as “defund the police” gained traction.

Just as with BLM and Minneapolis another target were Trump’s massive MAGA rallies and January 6^th, 2021 was icing on the cake as domestic terrorists disguised as MAGA supporters gained entry into the Capital Building and caused turmoil which interrupted the Electoral College Certification Process of the 2020 Election, to the point that Ashley Babbitt was killed by a Capitol Police officer inside the Capital Building. As blame was placed on President Trump, the police officer was called a hero.

What has befallen the nation is today called Lawfare – the weaponizaton of government against Americans for political purposes.

It is time for American’s of all backgrounds and political parties who love our country to take a stand against the abuse of power by government officials (elected or appointed). Not only hurt them at the ballot box by taking a stand running against them for election/re-election.

Elected officials must use all the tools of the trade of their elected office to insure the Constitutional-Republic survives this ultimate power grab and survives another 240 years or longer.

Christian believers must stand by the Word of God, praying diligently for the safety and protection of our nation, its leaders and for our families and for common sense to return to the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

What separates the United States of America from every third world country?

FREEDOM – RTM  

6-2-2024

No Uhauls at Graveside

Have you thought about the stuff you collect over your lifetime? I mean documents, tools, – stuff.

The past few days I have had the privilege of shredding documents from someone who’s passed on and left a mess for his wife to contend with. Oh there were photo albums of her family which she was grateful to receive.

On the other hand I came across medical records, military pay documents, social security statements and all manner of digitized notes organizing much of the things important to him. At times a handwritten note would catch my eye, I’d scan over it to determine if it should be saved or shredded and then I’d move on to the next batch.

Last week I went with his widow to the storage shed where lawn products, snow thrower, bicycle and lots of things which did not interest her. She indicated that some were worth selling, while others were soon going to Goodwill.

I mentioned the day’s goings on to my wife and her response “I sure hope that doesn’t happen to me” got me to thinking about the boxes of “Stuff” I have in my own storage shed.

It may be time to take stock and then clear out all the clutter?

I don’t have a closet full of shoes, purses or clothes with price tags still attached, but maybe that old fishing gear, gas powered lawn trimmer and other projects awaiting their time in the spotlight might need new homes?

The old adage “the one with the most stuff wins” isn’t so important after all?  I don’t consider myself a hoarder, but I do have some things for “Justin Case” I get a round tuit. – RTM

6-1-2024

So the 2020 Election was not Stolen?

I know this is going to get someone hot and bothered and that’s okay. Immediately after the 2020 presidential election I was talking with a friend about how could former VP Joe Biden doing most of his campaigning from his basement and seriously expect to win. Especially when as each precinct closed across the country the tally was substantially in President Trump’s favor.

I made this remark about someone ought to create his own “Oval Office” in his basement and tell him he won the election. Little did I know that sooner than I expected an online picture emerged with Biden standing under his “Office of the President-Elect” sign. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, and the fact that Biden was trying to get Trump to concede the election and it was only November 8^th.

I remarked to my friend that there is no president-elect until the Electoral College cast their ballots and present them physically before a joint session of congress to be certified on January 6^th and most certainly Biden is not the president-elect any way, shape or form. I have written about this in previous blog posts, yet nobody seemed to catch on or even pay attention.

Just a few minutes ago I did an online search about Biden displaying the president-elect sign after the election in 2020. Guess what one of the results that showed up was a Wikipedia Commons webpage that even today shows the Office of the President-Elect png file is registered to the Obama-Biden Transition Project as of 8 November 2020. Does that not ring a bell anyone?

However it appears that Joe Biden’s campaign decided to use the same “title” used by President-Elect Barack Obama back in 2009? The only difference is that January 6^th, 2020 had not occurred yet!

Going back to Biden demanding Trump concede the election, that wasn’t going to happen as Trump was already going through the protocol for contesting the election. Why would he contest and concede at the same time, and particularly before he had exhausted all legal avenues available to him?

I’m reminded of when President Obama and President-Elect Trump met after the 2016 election and Obama wished him success. Did Obama have his fingers crossed?

I think (not a conspiracy theorist) that setting the ongoing campaign to resist all things Trump began in the Oval Office with Obama. Remember Obama came out of the Senate, as did Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, John Carey and a host of others we see in the Biden administration.

All things considered and taking into account the manner in which Democrats championed “All Votes Count” while Republicans said “All Legal Votes Count” as ballot boxes were being stuffed with unverified ballots well after the 8:00 PM deadline for receiving ballots in all 50 states and US territories, or the fact that Dominion software and voting machines had been breached by someone on the inside who even bragged about fixing it so that Trump would not be president.

It is entirely plausible that a soft-insurrection which began in D.C. has morphed into this concerted attack to prevent former President Trump from achieving the Oval Office a second time? After all we’ve seen some pretty strange things over the past 8 years……RTM

5-31-2024

You Be The Judge

Arguably the bedrock of our nation is that a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and not muddied by the court of public opinion and/or for political purpose against a political opponent. It is also a fact that nobody is above the law, regardless of wealth, reputation or political power or influence.

What American’s saw over the past 5 weeks was a political witch hunt carried out with openly political bias and implications against former President Donald J. Trump. The public spectacle was orchestrated to influence public opinion during the 2024 presidential election’s campaign season branding Trump as a  “former president turned felon” and a “Convicted Felon” in order to humiliate Trump as a “Disgraced President” and prevent his being elected on November 5^th.

In order to facilitate another hoax on America, the following factors had to come into play:

• A democratic attorney general consolidating the efforts of his office staff to dig through and assemble a number of allegations and attach them to an alleged federal statute (which by the way this legal action openly violated).
• A democratic state justice willing and able to try the case based on the alleged evidence presented, even though this case warranted his recusal due to personal and professional conflicts.
• A high ranking member of the Biden Attorney General’s office to leave his position in order to assist in the prosecution of former President Trump.
• Selection from a pool of impartial residents of NYC’s Manhattan borough to form 12 jurors and alternates.
• The presiding judge had to issue a gag order against Trump, also require Trump’s presence each day of the trial, while not disclosing the exact charges against Trump until issuing a 55 pages of jury instructions that gave the jurors the option of selecting any number of differing charges which would ensure a guilty verdict is rendered for all 34 felony charges.

It is the manner in which this entire matter was leaked to the press, circulated over media and social media that guaranteed a biased jury and insured more than sufficient grounds for appeal by Trump’s legal defense team.

The sentencing hearing is set for the day BEFORE as the Republican National Committees convention prepares to nominate their presidential candidate (Donald Trump).

Let us review Bill of Rights amendment violations:

The Fifth Amendment provides that citizens not be subject to criminal prosecution and punishment without due process. Citizens may not be tried on the same set of facts twice, and are protected from self-incrimination (the right to remain silent). The amendment also establishes the power of eminent domain, ensuring that private property is not seized for public use without just compensation.

The Sixth Amendment assures the right to a speedy trial by a jury of one’s peers, to be informed of the crimes with which they are charged, and to confront the witnesses brought by the government. The amendment also provides the accused the right to compel testimony from witnesses, and to legal representation.

The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.

When the government “of the people, for the people and by the people” become so brazen and callous in targeting the sitting head of state it is called “Insurrection”, and when they continue to target a former president, who is actively seeking re-election it is purely “Criminal” and warrants immediate justice being implemented against the offenders. – RTM

“Who will govern the governors? There is only one force in the nation that can be depended upon to keep the government pure and the governors honest, and that is the people themselves. They alone, if well informed, are capable of preventing the corruption of power, and of restoring the nation to its rightful course if it should go astray. They alone are the safest depository of the ultimate powers of government.” ~ Thomas Jefferson