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I can’t wait to see how the supporters of Drowsy Don put their spin on the Grifter-in-Chief’s latest scam, the so called “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” This one stinks to high heaven. And to top it off the addendum that allows the family of con artists carte blanche immunization from IRS scrutiny.
One more in a long line of scams dragging this country through the mud at taxpayers expense. It would drive me to drink but the cost of gas precludes that.
-Steve Bennett Newport
Constitutional Republic vs Democracy
Sandy Nichols was wondering (letters May 13) “why conservatives like to state that we are not a democracy.” I was wondering about this as well, so I did some research. Thomas Jefferson explained: “Democracy is nothing more than mob rule where 51% of the people may take away the rights of the other 49%.” Our Constitution, unlike other countries, guarantees our rights as granted to us by God, not subject to the whims of government. Our Republic has checks and balances, like the electoral college counterbalancing the popular democratic vote.
A pure democracy makes a nation vulnerable to manipulation by its enemies using strategic propaganda to sway the voters according to their dictates. Our Constitution serves as the last word for what additional laws can be passed, which protects us from deviating from our founding values, principles and structures.
Unfortunately, that protection isn’t fail-safe.
I believe we have been infiltrated at all levels by enemies who strive to undermine our constitutional republic in order to replace it with centralized socialism. Over the past 50 years plus, they have managed to pass unconstitutional laws that were not challenged, and therefore not adjudicated by our Supreme Court to determine constitutionality.
-Kamori Cattadoris Newport
Baumgartner stands silent
On May 12 Trump was asked if he was concerned about the economic hardships Americans are suffering due to his war of choice with Iran, and he stated, “Not even a little bit, I don’t think about Americans’ “financial situation.”
Pretty breathtaking admission from someone who famously won the presidency the first time with the slogan “I’m with YOU”.
He’s not concerned about the cost of food, gas, healthcare, rent, electricity or vacation travel. What are his concerns?
Well, he wants taxpayers to buy him a ballroom, pay to remodel the reflecting pool, build an arch to himself, slap his name on currency, passports, park passes and airports. Apparently, he’s standing with “YOU”? The latest theft is him suing himself for $1.8B for a personal slush fund to provide money to those that were mishandled by the DOJ. Meanwhile our own sycophant Representative Michael Baumgartner stands silent. Baumgartner who bloviates at how dangerous it is to raise the national debt and then votes to raise it anyway.
I wonder why I, or any of us, must pay taxes for his graft and egotistical whims? He is the only one benefiting and it is illegal.
Why is Congress letting this happen? -Julie Everson Arden
Bajun is with us
Congressman Baumgartner came to Newport as part of his trumpeted “listening tour.” He met with the county commissioners and presumably “listened” to the three of them. He held no public, advertised events in Pend Oreille County that I am aware of.
Bajun Mavalwalla who is running for Baumgartner’s position, has been in Newport and the surrounding area four times in the last six weeks. He has talked to people on the street, at rallies, at a Democratic candidate’s forum and at a solo speaking engagement.
That would only be noteworthy if he had something to say. And he does. And it shows that he IS listening to us.
Bajun won’t make promises he can’t keep. He will fight VA cutbacks. He will work to return funding to healthcare. He knows that tariffs hurt our farmers financially. He says the Iran war is a war of choice and not legal and if anyone is ever held accountable it will be the foot soldier, not Hegseth or Trump. He knows that Baumgartner is trying to gain status in the Republican party by listening to Mike Johnson and never crossing Trump.
That’s not Bajun’s definition of listening to your constituents.
-Martha Nichols Newport
No more IRS auditing
In the future I think we may see a wave of billionaires running for President of the US. The ability to save hundreds of millions of dollars by nullifying IRS audits will be an almost irresistible temptation.
It was bad enough that DOGE eliminated one-third of the IRS branch that goes after tax cheats; after all, as the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal pointed out - would those of us that are businessmen start cutbacks in our accounts receivables department? That DOGE initiative, spearheaded by the world’s richest man, cost us taxpayers an estimated $1T in lost revenue over the next decade.
This latest trick by Trump is estimated to save him and his companies at least $100M.
However, Trump is also drawing attention to the question: What is Trump trying to hide in his tax returns? Just how much does he owe in back taxes?
-Sandy Nichols Newport
Lots of investigations going on
The DOJ is finding massive fraud in Minnesota (MN). A ringleader Aimee Bock was found guilty of a 250M scam and sentenced to 41 years in prison. She led a network that was taking money from ‘Feeding Our Future’ program during covid and beyond. Money for children’s meals that were never served. Apparently there were no kids. Fifteen more are accused of a 90M scam across seven Medicaid programs in MN. The investigations are getting broad and going deeper.
May 20th was Primary day in several states. Conservatives went RINO hunting. Trump went 37-0 on candidates that he endorsed. Trump also signed an EO that targets financial system abuse by immigration, cartels and lending that’s turned into money laundering.
Trump dropped his 10B suit against the IRS for leaking his taxes and then defaming him. They settled for a 1.776B fund for those people that the weaponized justice system went after under the Biden Administration. Gen. Mike Flynn is one case that comes to mind. There are many others.
On May 18th the DOJ made a statement that evidence shows that Trump won more states in 2020 than he was given credit for. They are investigating deeper.
-Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick
We are a strong community, regardless of differences
The Miner continues to provide insight into our community with articles and stories about interesting local people. I enjoy reading about the hobbies and activities of people who are passionate about living a meaningful life. We have a good community despite our social, political and religious differences. There is plenty of room for everyone to live a free and prosperous life. The idea isn’t to condemn others over their thoughts or beliefs.
I could say I don’t like the color red and that’s fine, but I shouldn’t say that people who like red are evil. That’s something that divides us, but we still have many other things we all like and accept. I admire happy and thriving children.
Stories about young people doing sports and other activities are heartwarming.
Within our community we help each other without qualification.
We volunteer and participate. We are renewed by public service and belonging to organizations that help others. If asked, we would do anything to help others. Yet, our narrative is often dividing and judgmental. People are who they are, and we don’t need to force them into our views or beliefs. We can introduce our thoughts and invite others to join in fellowship.
-Pete Scobby Newport
Not impressed with Baumgartner
Can you call it a constituent tour if you don’t invite the constituents? Apparently Baumgartner thinks so. He made his first sweep through since Feb 25, and several stops were just to collect money. One Colville resident RSVP’d for the local event only to be informed days later that after a review of their social media they were not welcome!
And what did he say when he was asked real questions? Regarding the price of gas, he conveniently (purposefully?) blacked out on the illegal Iran war and blamed prices on the “stupid” Climate Commitment Act – the one that Washingtonians voted last year to keep. He neglected to address the over $1.50/ gallon increase in gas prices since Trump took our children and neighbors into his illegal war February 28. He thinks the war is ok since Iran shouldn’t have a nuclear weapon, but he’s said nothing in opposition to Trump ripping up the Obama deal in 2017 that did just that, diplomatically.
When asked about creating affordable housing, you know – something that would help constituents, Mike trotted out the $39 trillion national debt, forgetting to mention that it’s increased $3 trillion since Trump took office, and that Trump is responsible for $11 trillion of it. We have money for war and billionaire tax cuts, but not for housing you and me. Or healthcare, or food assistance, or education, etc.
-Dianna Michaels Colville
