MARCH 25, 2026

“Lent is a journey into the desert of our own heart.”

-– St. Augustine.

I bought diesel fuel yesterday for my car, and was not pleased with the high price. But I am not complaining.

I am not complaining because the price is temporarily high. I am not complaining because the high price reflects accurately how global markets work (and the price of oil is most definitely subject to events that affect the global markets). And I am not complaining because the price of diesel is not due to the federal government doing its best to make oil unaffordable. Rather, the price of diesel, and all gasoline, is due to the uncertainty surrounding the hostilities with Iran.

I am actually grateful that the price of diesel (and gasoline) is not higher, and this is due to the Trump Administration’s efforts to expand drilling, and to ease permitting for exploration and refining. The United States is a net exporter of oil, and we are energy independent. Thank goodness we do not live in Europe, or India, where we would be subject to the whims of Russia and Iran.

And I am also mindful of the danger that Iran poses to the West. Iran has been at war with the West, particularly the United States and Israel, since 1979. It is time to end that war. And that is what President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu are working to do. There are American and Israeli servicemen risking their lives, prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, in order to make the world safer. In order to make our lives safer. The least I–and others–can do is to not complain about the price of diesel and gasoline at the pump. The very least.

Instead, we should be grateful for those brave men fighting evil. We should be grateful that the price per gallon of diesel and gasoline is not higher. And we should be grateful that we have diesel and gasoline to buy. Those of us of a certain age can remember the 1970s, when unrest in the Middle East not only raised gasoline prices, but also created shortages. There were gasoline lines, limits on purchases, and shortages. We do not face that today. We should all be very grateful.

Thank you President Trump. Thank you Prime Minister Netanyahu. And thank you especially to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces and the Israeli Defense Forces. May God Bless you all.

An MS-13 gang member, imprisoned for murdering a juvenile in Virginia, is suing the Trump Administration, demanding that he be given “gender affirming care” (i.e. genital mutilation surgery). He believes that he is a “she”, and demands that you, the taxpayer, fund his delusions.

The Senate confirmed Senator Markwayne Mullin (R. Ok.) to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security. Good luck!

“The people we care about most, the undocumented Americans.”

–Senator Chris Murphy (D. Ct.).

You already knew this to be true, didn’t you? Of course you did!

But did you know that illegal aliens were “Americans”? I did not.

“Large out-of-state companies are buying up homes and pushing Georgia homebuyers out of the market.  I’m launching this investigation to get answers for Georgia families who are struggling to afford rent and homeownership.”

–Senator Jon Ossoff (D. Ga.).

Guess who just raised the rent by $1,500.00 per month on his rental home tenants?  Hmmmm.  Affordability?

“The day the Affordable Care Act passed was one of my proudest moments as president, because it meant that millions of Americans would have access to health care, some for the first time.  The ACA also prevented insurance companies from denying people with pre-existing conditions coverage, allowed young people under the age of 26 to remain on their parents’ plan, expanded Medicaid, and so much more.  But the ACA was always meant to be a first step.  We still have to do more to expand access and make health care more affordable for everyone.”

–Former President Barack Hussein Obama.

Did you catch that penultimate line?  That Obamacare “was always meant to be a first step”?   Funny, Mr. Obama has never said that before, certainly he did not say it when pushing the legislation. 

Democrats will not rest until they impose socialized medicine on everyone.  They want complete control over your lives.  Just like the Soviets did in the Soviet Union.

“[Democrats need to] effectively make the case that even though this seems unfair in Virginia, it’s totally fair for America, for those of us who believe that taking back the House is the most significant thing we can do to stop Donald Trump.”

–Representative Donald Beyer (D. Va.).

Virginia redistricting is nothing but a Democrat power play. Representative Beyer admits the truth; this is not about Virginians, this is about the Democrat Party. In order to “stop Donald Trump”, Virginia Democrats will sacrifice Virginians. They will give Northern Virginia hold and sway over the Rest of Virginia, instituting almost total Democrat control.

And for those of you who may think that this is truly “temporary”, think again. It was just a couple of years ago that Virginia Democrats pushed and passed the bipartisan commission to handle redistricting. Now when it is inconvenient to have fair congressional districts, Virginia Democrats want to impose unfair congressional districts, which just happen to favor them. What makes you think that they will not change their minds again?

And by the way; what is so critical that the rights of approximately 1/2 of all Virginians be trampled, in favor of enlarging those of the other 1/2? Stopping Donald Trump? Oh, please! Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow Democrats have more in common with Stalin, Mao, Fidel, and Kim than the do with Jefferson, Henry, Mason, and Washington.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill (D.) donned a head scarf and visited a mosque headed by an imam convicted of funding Hamas. Why? Why, why, why?

Sheridan Gorman was an 18 year old student at Loyola University in Chicago. Last week, an illegal alien, who was let into the country by China Joe, and protected from ICE by Chicago authorities, murdered her as she and her friends strolled through a park. Tragic. Absolutely tragic. And so preventable. But what is really disgusting is the reaction of Chicago Alderman Maria Hadden (D.) who suggested that Sheridan Gorman should not have been walking through the park, and she likely “just startled” her murderer.

REALLY? It is this little girl’s fault that an illegal alien shot her in the head?!? ARE YOU *&#^! KIDDING ME?

You know who murdered Sheridan Gorman? Democrats. Democrats like China Joe and Alejandro Mayorkas who let all those illegal aliens into our country. And Democrats like Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D.) and Alderman Maria Hadden who protected those illegal aliens from ICE. And Democrat judges who do everything in their power to block the deportation of illegal aliens. Yes, I am looking at you Judges Boasberg, Murphy, and Xinas.

Muslims desecrated 9-11 memorials in New York City and Concord, California. In Concord, Muslims covered the memorial plaque with a blanket, obscuring it from viewers. In New York City, Muslims draped their prayer rugs over the memorial to firefighters who died on September 11, 2001. Disgusting. The “religion of peace”.

Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Israel. Does not appear like the mullahs want peace.

“It felt good. The car was real stable.”

–Tommy Hurley, driver of “The Martinsville Missile”.

“The Martinsville Missile”, a stock car built by Joey Arrington, and driven by Tommy Hurley, broke the land speed record, at Cape Canaveral, Florida, reaching a top speed of 253 mph. The “Missile” was a rebuilt 1969 Dodge Daytona Charger with a 1,000-horsepower, 358-cubic-inch motor. It was shifted out of first gear at 55 mph, reached third gear at 80 mph and hit fourth gear at 190 mph. The “Missile” took 34 seconds to achieve the target speed of 250 mph, topping out at 253 mph, before driver Tommy Hurley fired the twin parachutes from the rear of the car that slowed the rolling rocket. Southside Virginia does it again. WOO HOO!

GFK

MARCH 24, 2026

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

— Matthew 16:24.

I am back in Clarke County. The forsythia in our front yard is bright yellow. The red tips are beginning to bloom. The Bradford Pears lining the driveway are bursting with white flowers. And the maple tree outside my bedroom window has its bulbs sprouting, from which there will soon be green leaves. Spring is here.

Sadly, before I left Chatmoss, my Mother’s pink Azaleas had yet to bloom. I need to return soon in order to see them. When in full bloom, they are quite beautiful.

“Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democrat Party!” 

–President Donald J. Trump.

Huh. We really cannot disagree with that observation.

The Department of Homeland Security remains shut down. Critical employees are not being paid. Because . . . Democrats.

President Trump is sending ICE agents into American airports in order to assist TSA personnel. Of course, ICE agents would arrest any illegal aliens on sight. Hmmm. That will frost Democrats’ flakes. Maybe it will move them off the shutdown dime.

But probably not. Senator Richard “Da Nang Dick” Blumenthal (D. Ct.) insisted that ICE would make airports worse, “terrorizing families, shooting citizens, killing . . . .” Good grief!

Drug overdose deaths are down 20% under President Trump. WINNING!

The federal Department of Education sued Harvard University for violating the civil rights of its Jewish students. A Justice Department filing accuses Harvard of “tolerating” harassment of Jewish students.

Representative Marie Perez (D. Wa.) portrays herself as a “moderate” Democrat. Well, what does this “moderate” Democrat favor doing? How about raising the age for the purchase or possession of firearms to 21? Also, ending open carry in Washington State, a mandatory waiting period on firearms purchases, mandatory registration and licensing, a volume limit on firearms and ammunition ownership, a sweeping “assault weapons” ban, a ban on magazines with a capacity greater than 10, mandatory liability insurance for firearms owners, the criminalization of 3-D printed firearms, and ending reciprocity for concealed carry licenses for States who wouldn’t adopt these radical restrictions.

Puddin’head has not been in the news lately, and that apparently upset her, because she is now back with a vengeance. It seems that Puddin’head spent $19,000 on a psychiatrist for the administration of “ketamine therapy”. Ketamine is a horse tranquilizer, and it is what killed actor Matthew Perry. We might now have a clue that might explain Puddin’head’s bizarre behavior.

Hmmm. Since when did gutting Constitutional rights become “moderate”?

Senator John Kennedy (R. La.) asked for a bill to pass by unanimous consent, that would halt the pay of members of Congress while the federal government was shut down. Predictably, a Democrat Senator objected, thus blocking unanimous consent. But then it got strange. Normally, objecting Senators state their objections, and engage in a colloquy with the proposing Senator. But not this time. Senator Brian Shatz (D. Hi.) poked his head into the Senate chamber, objected, and then fled the chamber, and the building. What the . . . such a coward!

“Almost no illegal immigrants are voting.”

–Senator Charles Schumer (D. N.Y.).

“Almost”? How many illegal immigrants constitute “Almost”? And should not the goal be they NO illegal aliens are voting? Which would be a good reason to require photo ID and proof of citizenship as a requirement of registration, would it not?

Senate Democrats blocked legislation that would ban men from competing in women’s sports. Huh. They really do worship the “trans”, don’t they?

“Over 60% of illegal alien headed households are using at least one form of a welfare program, and usually more than one, at a cost of tens of billions of dollars to taxpayers.”

–Center for Immigration Studies Director Jessica Vaughan.

That’s not good.  That’s not good for anyone.

“Today, an administrative immigration judge ordered the deportation of Rafael Rubio, a City Council employee.  This is an affront to justice.  A dedicated public servant with legal authorization to remain in the country, Rafael showed up for a routine immigration appointment and, despite following the rules, he was detained and has now been held for months.  He should be immediately released.”

–Comrade Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D. N.Y.).

Well, that is not exactly true. Mr. Rubio overstayed his visa for 9 years. That is a crime, and he is an illegal alien. He does not have “legal authorization” to stay, and he is not authorized to work. And he was arrested just last year for criminal assault. This is who Comrade Mayor Mamdani wants to protect–a criminal illegal alien.

Comrade Mayor Mamdani lit up Eid Mubarak lights on the streets of Harlem, to mark the end of Ramadan. Sigh. In New York City. Where Muslims attacked the United States and killed more than 3,000 people.

When Leftists scream “separation between church and state”, what they really mean is “separation between Christianity and state”. The Islamization of America is just fine with them.

“They’re living in this silo, this evangelical, conservative silo that, ultimately, is just pulling us back as a country to a time and a place where we don’t deserve to be, and we’re not going to be.  Because honestly, young women and fathers of daughters are awake now, and they’re woke, and they’re not going to let us go back.”

–Jennifer Newsom, wife of Governor Hair Gel (D. Ca.).

What is she babbling about? Other than hating Christians?

Five (5) Mexican nationals were indicted on federal drug trafficking and weapons charges this week after authorities discovered a clandestine methamphetamine lab in Northern California, leading to the seizure of nearly 3,000 pounds of the drug.  That is illegal in so many ways.

Oh, and the Mexican meth manufacturers were armed to the teeth.  That is also very illegal. Illegal aliens are not permitted to possess firearms.

Daryl Collins was a convicted double murderer, who was serving a 50 year sentence in prison. The California Parole Board took pity on the former youthful offender, and gave him a 2nd chance, releasing him after only 25 years. Daryl Collins celebrated his new found freedom by murdering a single mother with young children.

Way to go Leftists! You are abolishing the death penalty, expanding parole, releasing violent criminals early, and innocent people are dying. Darryl Collins got his 2nd chance. Who is going to give that young mother, or her now orphaned children, a 2nd chance?

Governor J.B. Pritzker (D. Il.) put down his bag of donuts long enough to announce his “Project 2029”, which is to criminally prosecute, and civilly pursue, every Trump Administration official for their official actions, including, but not limited to, the President. Because . . . Orange Man Bad.

Chicago, Illinois is drowning in debt. Its bond ratings are plummeting. And Mayor Brandon Johnson (D.) is assigning blame. It’s Donald Trump’s fault! OF COURSE!

“Before I was a politician, I was a public school teacher in San Antonio, Texas, on the west side of the city, and I taught a lot of undocumented students, and those students tended to be my most patriotic students.  They understood something about this country that a lot of us who are native born forget, that this is supposed to be the land of opportunity, that this is supposed to be the place where dreams come true.  The fact that we have the most powerful politicians in the country terrorizing my former students and their families — people who work hard every day to contribute to this economy and to this country — to me, is immoral.  It’s unconscionable. It’s unacceptable, and it has to end.”

–U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico (D. Tx.).

Yes, yes, yes. Illegal aliens are more patriotic than U.S. citizens. Atheists are more Christian than Christians. Up is down. War is peace. Blah, blah, blah, blah!

Mr. Talarico also doubled down on his previous comments that God was “non-binary”, claiming that Scripture absolutely backed him up on this claim. Sigh. When you find yourself in a deep hole, it is usually best to stop digging.

Federal judge Paula Xinis, a China Joe appointee, is blocking Abrego Garcia’s deportation of Liberia, citing his preference to be deported to Costa Rica. Oh, really? Would he like a hot towel, perhaps some nuts, and a cocktail, too?

University of Maryland students are demanding that the school’s campus be declared a “sanctuary” campus. They do not want ICE agents to disrupt illegal aliens’ studies during exams.

Wisconsin socialists (aka Democrats) want to spend $100 million to open a “affordable” government owned, government run, grocery store. Do they not have grocery stores in Wisconsin? And what is so affordable about spending $100 million of taxpayer dollars?

Connecticut requires people with large recyclable amounts to provide photo ID before the recycling centers will accept the refuse. Hmmm. But Connecticut does not require photo ID to vote. And its 2 Senators–Richard “Da Nang Dick” Blumenthal (D.) and Chris Murphy (D.) oppose requiring photo ID to vote. Is that not interesting?

Five Guys hamburger restaurants have ditched their fry cups for bags. Instead of serving their handcut fries in a styrofoam cup, Five Guys is using a thin bag, made of recyclable materials, which permits the grease to soak through and make a mess in your car. Customers are less than pleased.

Ruth’s Chris steak house recently made news reminding patrons of its dress code, and in the process, irritated the perpetually immature. Now Chili’s entered the fray, advertising the fact that it has no dress code. Huh. Well . . . ? Chili’s is no Ruth’s Chris, either.

Benjamin’s Steakhouse in midtown Manhattan is serving a hot chocolate cocktail. The drink, which is garnished with gold leaf and is composed of Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlúa, fresh espresso, steamed milk and orange bitters, plus delicately heated Grand Marnier Quintessence and Hennessy Richard cognac. The price for this “interesting” drink is $1,000.00. Sigh. Pass.

An Air Canada jet collided with a fire engine truck upon landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Tragically, both pilots died in the collision.

Klevis Disha, an Albanian, illegally entered Great Britain, and then applied for asylum. It was discovered that Mr. Disha lied about the facts underlying his asylum claim. Then Mr. Disha committed a violent crime, and was imprisoned. But when Great Britain moved to deport this criminal illegal alien back to Albania, a judge halted the deportation. It appears that the judge was moved by Mr. Disha’s claim that his young son hated Albanian food, and really, really wanted to remain in Great Britain. So the judge relented, and now Klevis Disha, a criminal illegal alien, and his spoiled brat of an illegal alien son, get to remain in Great Britain.

Also in formerly “great” Britain, the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero is considering using meters that can measure heat radiating from buildings. The purpose of the experiment is to monitor homeowners’ dwellings, so as to measure how warm (or cold) they are keeping the interior temperature. If your home is too warm, measures will be taken to discourage such behavior. Stated differently, the British government is working to ensure that you do not have the liberty to decide a comfortable temperature in your own home.

This is just tyranny. Look for Democrats to try and adopt a similar scheme here in America.

Australian Prime Minister Albanese recently traveled to a mosque to condemn “Islamophobia” and to kowtow to the Muslims. It did not work. The Muslims inside the mosque heckled the Prime Minister, and shouted “Allahu Akbar” at him. The heckling and menacing chants continued outside the mosque as the Prime Minister left.

Appeasement doesn’t work.  Islam is not a religion; it’s a sociopolitical movement with a theological veneer that seeks to dominate the entire world.  It is wholly incompatible with Western values. Indeed, it is a deadly threat to Western Civilization.

Iran fired 2 ballistic missiles at a joint U.S./U.K. air base in Diego Garcia, some 2,500 miles from Iran. The 1st missile failed, and a U.S. naval ship shot down the 2nd missile. But so much for the silly claim that Iran posed no threat to U.S. or allied assets and interests.

Fr. Jakob Rolland is a Catholic priest in Iceland. He is a fervent defender of the Faith and of Scripture. So when asked if those engaged in homosexual conduct could receive communion, Fr. Rolland responded:

“If a person has a tendency or inclination toward homosexuality, that’s not a sin.  It becomes a sin when such an inclination is lived out in a sinful manner.  First, one must undergo conversion, go to confession, and truly consider the possibility of changing one’s life and living in chastity in order to receive Communion.”

Pretty straightforward, right? That is what the Catholic Church teaches. So why in the world the ensuing uproar? LGBTQ++ groups are howling in outrage, demanding that Fr. Rolland be arrested and criminally prosecuted for breaking a law banning “conversion” of homosexuals. Wow.

The reigning NBA champions Oklahoma Thunder declined an invitation to visit the President in The White House. That is just plain rude. Unless you are attending your funeral, you do not refuse an invitation to The White House.

There was horrible and vicious fall out concerning actor Chuck Norris’s death. Leftists took to social media to slam the deceased. Two (2) examples are emblematic of the hateful reaction:

“Chuck Norris was a shit person.  He was MAGA, Zionist, went on a homophobic rant about the Boy Scouts because they were no longer excluding gay scouts, and ascribed to the racist birther conspiracy theory about Obama.  Great martial artist.  Shit person.  Rest in piss.

Before posting about Chuck Norris we need to remember that he was a huge Israel advocate, supported banning gay marriage, endorsed the sexual predator Roy Moore and, in all honesty, was not that great of a human being.  He’s a reminder that actors are not always their characters.

Notice that these Leftists HATE Chuck Norris because of his ideas. Not because Chuck Norris committed evil acts, but because he was a traditional, conservative American. The Left hates. The Left tolerates no dissent. The Left is truly evil.

Disgraced former FBI Director and Special Counsel Robert Mueller has died at age 81. R. I. P.

Famed California winemaker Michel Rolland has died at age 78. R. I. P.

Former Major League Baseball player Larry Stahl, who is most famous for spoiling a perfect game by Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas, drawing a walk, has died at age 84. R. I. P.

GFK

MARCH 23, 2026

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

— Hebrews 4:16.

Today I drive the long, sad slog back to Northern Virginia from Chatmoss. Kitchen renovations completed. Some golf played. Relaxed, and reinvigorated. Back to work.

“. . . Why do so many criminals believe they can enter the U.S. illegally and get away with murder?

Is it because they feel contempt for any nation that opens its borders, requires no background checks, destroys its own immigration laws, and weaponizes its criminal justice system to make the criminal the victim and the state his victimizer?

Why do so many burn the U.S. flag while waving the flag of Mexico, a country they have no intention of returning to?

Is it because they sense they might be praised for “celebrating diversity,” as the popular culture would term such abject cultural schizophrenia?

Why would the Tsarnaev brothers repay the country that took them in by killing innocent Americans?

Would it be because, in their formative years in American schools, their teachers and texts emphasized what was wrong with a supposedly exploitative U.S.?

Why, in the middle of a near-existential war with Iran to stop its efforts to obtain nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles pointed at the U.S. and its allies, would naturalized citizens feel so free to slaughter Americans for the cause of Islam?

Would it be because they sense from left-wing universities and popular culture that it is a virtual open season on Jews?

Or that any time an Islamic terrorist commits an act, a Democratic operative will warn America of “Islamophobia” – as if, say, mowing down soldiers at Fort Hood is the lesser crime?

Why would a rich, privileged Eileen Gu feel no discomfort competing for a murderous regime whose agenda is to displace her country from its global preeminence in favor of a communist dictatorship?

Is it because in our relativist modern America, Gu’s “truth” is just as meaningful as any other? And who, after all, is qualified to judge anything or anyone?

Who created our current Frankensteinian monstrosities?

We did.

We are the Dr. Frankensteins who asked nothing of immigrants, in a complete break from our nation’s past.

And we got our wish for a new, quite different class of immigrants, who treated the U.S. the very way they were taught to do by the Left: as an evil entity that deserved what it got.

And we sure have gotten it.”

–Victor Davis Hanson.

Below are 2 articles examining the brouhaha surrounding the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez. It makes one wonder how it is that so many of the Left’s icons are so evil (assuming the truth of the allegations against Mr. Chavez). It cannot all be a series of coincidences. Frankly, I do not believe in coincidences.

Cesar Chavez, Rapist, Pedophile, Progressive Icon

The progressive media’s carefully cultivated myth has been debunked, and the rot exposed is obscene.

BY:          Daniel Flynn, The American Spectator (March 19, 2026).

Cesar Chavez took the “g” out of grape.

The New York Times reports allegations from his closest aide, Dorothy Huerta, that the late United Farm Workers head pressured her into sex in 1960 and then raped her in a Delano, California, grape field in 1966.

These two encounters resulted in pregnancies and then adoptions. In addition to the eight kids his wife bore him, Chavez, genealogy tests showed, fathered four kids with three additional women.

“Unfortunately, he used some of his great leadership to abuse women and children,” she explained to the Times. “It’s really awful.”

Children?

Two 66-year-old women, daughters of union activists, told the newspaper that Chavez molested them during the 1970s.

Debra Rojas told the Times that Chavez first messed around with her when she was 12. The union boss told her that they would someday move to Mexico together and that The Flamingos’ “I Only Have Eyes for You” was their song. At 15, he put her up in a motel room where they had sex.

“I had love for him,” Rojas divulged to the newspaper. “He did his grooming very well. He should get an Academy Award for all he did.”

His molestation of Ann Murguia began after she turned 13. The sexual encounters, which never involved intercourse, occurred dozens of times.

“He used the privacy of his California office to frequently molest Murguia, she said,” the Times reports. “He had known her since she was 8 years old. She became so traumatized that she attempted to end her life multiple times by the age of 15.”

The same American Left that removed statues of Theodore Roosevelt, Christopher Columbus, and Robert E. Lee has spent the last six decades elevating Chavez to sainthood status.

Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin celebrate official holidays in his honor.

When investigative reporters and historians admire your politics, they generally protect your crimes and misbehavior.

Bill Clinton awarded Chavez a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom. Barack Obama named a Navy vessel after Chavez, declared the bulk of his United Farm Workers headquarters a national monument, and pushed to turn his birthday into a federal holiday.

Joe Biden displayed a bust of Chavez in the Oval Office.

Like Margaret Sanger, Harvey Milk, Jim Jones, Harvey Weinstein, and others once held in high esteem by fellow progressives, Chavez operated with a cloak of invincibility for himself and a cloak of invisibility for his deeds. When investigative reporters and historians admire your politics, they generally protect your crimes and misbehavior. Thus, through ideological affinity, do naturally curious people become unnaturally indifferent.

This, of course, emboldens other sociopathic types who hold anointed views to imagine that they, too, can engage in crimes and misbehavior without consequence. A get-out-of-jail-free card exists for those who mouth the right words but do the wrong things. Power corrupts, Lord Acton reminded. So did Tolkien. So did the Founding Fathers. Yet so many wish to concentrate power in fewer hands. In extreme cases, they would yield it all to a charismatic leader.

Chavez demonstratively fasted for weeks at a time but compulsively touched underage girls. What would a psychiatrist say about all that?

Clearly, this public persona helped obscure secret behavior from the view of not just his progressive admirers but many others, too. Many people regarded him as noble. His followers worshipped a false god. That exalted status likely helps explain why so many stayed quiet for so long.

Even though Chavez’s Catholicism and cautious stance on race-obsessed rhetoric did not mesh with the emerging left’s extreme ideology, fanatics nevertheless turned him into a sort of Mexican Martin Luther King. They insisted that we imagine an organizer of grape workers who never really improved their material condition as a figure worthy of a national holiday, just like Jesus Christ, Christopher Columbus, and George Washington.

No statues for Ulysses Grant, but a day off for Cesar Chavez, they insisted. Why, then, should we ever let them act as the arbiters of who American society honors?

Understandably, this hero-takes-a-fall moment, however many decades too late, comes as a devastating blow to progressives who turned this man into a secular saint.

Liberals heeded Chavez’s call to boycott California grapes. Couldn’t he at least have paid them back by boycotting California rapes?

__________________________________________________________________

After Cesar Chavez, the left lionizes Dolores Huerta

Despite being close for decades, Dolores was a lot more left-wing than Cesar ever was. Maybe that’s why she’s being feted.

BY:          Monica Showalter, The American Thinker (March 20, 2026).

It’s got to be weird to be Dolores Huerta right now. 

The truth came out about the Jim Jones-like cult style of her partner and co-founder of the United Farmworkers Union, Cesar Chavez, who, according to the New York Times, was a molestor of young girls, and up until then had been hailed as a kind of civil rights god.

With Chavez now being swiftly cancelled  — in record time, no less (where is Tom Wolfe when we need him?) — now all the public holidays, street names, parks, libraries, schools, scholarships, naval ships, and biographies, have got to be changed, too. And they have to be changed to something, so sure enough, they’re redounding to Dolores Huerta. In San Francisco, it will be the Dolores Huerta parade, not the Cesar Chavez parade. And the Mission District mural bearing Chavez’s visage will now be painted over with Huerta’s image. In Los Angeles, Cesar Chavez Avenue will now be Dolores Huerta Avenue.

It’s kind of queasy-making to be to be named the new civic hero of the left, but only by default, given that none of these places and holidays and honors had been named for her or would have been named for her except for Chavez getting cancelled and a quick substitute being necessary. It’s a booby prize.

What’s more, it’s bound to draw more scrutiny to Huerta’s now-told story to the Times about bearing two of Chavez’s kids, as a result of two rapes back in 1960 and 1966. 

According to the original Times report:

His most prominent female ally in the movement, Dolores Huerta, said in an interview that he sexually assaulted her, a disclosure she has never before made publicly.

… and …

The Times spoke at length with Ms. Huerta, the renowned Latina activist who helped run the farmworkers’ union with Mr. Chavez and coined the social-justice rallying cry, “Sí, se puede,” loosely translated as “Yes, we can.”

She said she has held on to a dark secret for nearly 60 years.

One night during the winter of 1966 in Delano, Calif., she said, Mr. Chavez drove her out to a secluded grape field, parked and raped her inside the vehicle. Ms. Huerta, who was 36 at the time, said she chose not to report the assault to the police because of their hostility toward the movement, and she feared that no one within the union would believe her. She also described an earlier encounter in August 1960, when she said she felt pressured to have sex with him in a hotel room during a work trip in San Juan Capistrano in Southern California.

Ms. Huerta later began a long-term domestic partnership with Mr. Chavez’s brother Richard, with whom she had four children. He died in 2011.

Ms. Huerta turns 96 on April 10. Her memories of the details of the assault that night in Delano are at times hazy. But she speaks of the attack in a startlingly matter-of-fact manner.

After the Times story came out, she issued a statement explaining that she didn’t want to hurt “the movement.”

As a young mother in the 1960s, I experienced two separate sexual encounters with Cesar. The first time I was manipulated and pressured into having sex with him, and I didn’t feel I could say no because he was someone that I admired, my boss and the leader of the movement I had already devoted years of my life to. The second time I was forced, against my will, and in an environment where I felt trapped.

I had experienced abuse and sexual violence before, and I convinced myself these were incidents that I had to endure alone and in secret. Both sexual encounters with Cesar led to pregnancies. I chose to keep my pregnancies secret and, after the children were born, I arranged for them to be raised by other families that could give them stable lives.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to develop a deep relationship with these children, who are now close to my other children, their siblings. But even then, no one knew the full truth about how they were conceived until just a few weeks ago.

So if it all happened as she says it happened, not hurting the movement ended up hurting young girls, who didn’t have much to do with their parents’ movement. One became a drug addict and tried to warn others, only to be stomped down as a traitor online, while the other said Chavez hung over her entire life like a shadow.

More to the point, is what she’s describing what really happened? Or is she just trying to distance herself from him as a victim in order to preserve her own parades and holidays? 

Because up until last year, Huerta had been a pretty fierce defender of Chavez, the man she claims as her rapist who got her pregnant and forced her to ship the kids to be “raised by other families that could give them stable lives.” She had five kids by husband number two in a marriage that ended in 1963; two more with Cesar in 1960 and 1966; and then by the early 1970s, moved in with Cesar’s brother Richard in a live-in arrangement that never ended up as a marriage, yielding four more kids.

Does it all sound really believable? Grok says the odds of a two random rapes producing a kid on just two occasions is 0.25%. 

Was it really a consensual relationship, one premised on her own ambitions to sleep her way to the top on Cesar’s coattails?

Is she trying to tell us she was not really not attracted to him, given that by the 1960s, the Times reported that he had the aura of a movie star. It’s very likely young women were throwing themselves at him as he walked about drawing the flashbulbs and cameras. He had such a god complex he experimented with weird cult activity of the time, notably Synanon. And like any self-respecting cult leader, he had his own hideaway compound, out in rural Kern County, a two hours’ drive north of Los Angeles, which came in handy for getting young girls in with him alone. Jim Jones had one of those, Marshall Applewhite had one of those.  Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh had one of those. Both Jones and Chavez had a heavy left-wing political emphasis that often shielded them from scrutiny and criticism.

If she were raped by him, why did she stick with him for so many years? Why did she move in with him, as Wikipedia notes, and why did she effectively marry his brother? She must have been around him all the time, not by his choice, but by her own.

Her story may be true on certain levels, but it was the 1960s, she had 1960s values, and anything went on the ‘sexual revolution’ front, particularly then. ‘Why don’t we do it in the road,’ as the Beatles sang. It’s just as likely that she was as liberated as any of them, given her anti-establishment cred and choice of associates. Was she really just holding a secret for 60 years, or did she catch wind of the Times story, origin unknown, and decide to try to cover for her own legacy, separating herself from the role of ‘enabler’ with this story?

Given how close she stayed to him, did she really know nothing about Chavez’s other trysts with kids?

It’s unknown, but precisely because it’s unknown is why the establishment shouldn’t act so quickly to rename every street in her honor. Not that the left really cares, of course, about the bad sexual behavior of its heroes — something so common among so many of them it’s worth writing a book on — Harvey Milk, Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others have appalling pasts, but none ever got the full cancellation Chavez did. 

Dolores and Cesar were different in one regard, though: Cesar was against illegal immigration, which is a classic old-line union stance which all the unions used to have, given that illegal foreign labor depresses wages.

Dolores was a left-wing ’60s movement type, growing more stridently leftwing as the years went by. She was named honorary co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. She campaigned for Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, George McGovern, and Kamala Harris. Now she’s into anti-ICE activism and social justice warrioring, particularly after she left the farm workers’ movement to start her own foundation, whose mission reads:

The Dolores Huerta Foundation passionately advocates for social justice, focusing on empowering marginalized communities through grassroots organizing, civic engagement, and education initiatives. By championing the rights of underrepresented populations, we strive to create a more equitable and inclusive society for all.

Based on a look at their website, they seem to be big on milking the anti-ICE protest movement, which has seen a lot of billionaire cash shelled out, meaning, she may be part of the NGO industrial establishment.

Maybe that’s why the Times seeks to protect her, while throwing old Cesar, who died in 1993 and can’t defend himself, under the bus.

Being leftwing has its special privileges and Dolores understood this, perhaps even accelerated her leftwingery for it as if coerced there, too. Leftyism offers protections. Cesar, though, wasn’t leftwing enough and is too dead to change his views.

GFK

MARCH 22, 2026

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

— James 4:8.

The Gospel for Passion Sunday ends: Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. The first thing we notice when we come into church on Passion Sunday is the veiling. All the statues and crosses are covered over with purple cloth. The Church asks us to shroud what I call “visual aids” so that we can more deeply engage our imagination as we recall these last days of Our Lord’s earthly ministry.

We don’t talk much about the use of imagination in our worship of God. But God has given us imagination to enable us to grow in spiritual maturity. Deprived of the visual image of the crucifix above the altar, we must take hold of it in our mind’s eye. Through the imagination, we place ourselves at the foot of the cross. We are present to observe the conversation between Our Lord, John the Beloved and the Blessed Mother. We envision Our Lord giving His Mother to us. We observe the two thieves, one on each side of our dying Lord. We witness the last breath of Our Lord and the soldier piercing His side. In short, our imagination allows us to enter more deeply into the mystery of Our Lord’s passion and death.

The Epistle appointed for Passion Sunday is from Hebrews: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? With these words, we begin our meditation on the passion of Christ and its effect on and for us.

Many scholars believe that the Epistle to the Hebrews was written to a very special group of recent converts from Judaism: Levites who ministered in the Temple. We read of such a conversion in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6.7). The intent of the Epistle is several-fold; the writer seeks to remind the converts that the New Covenant in Christ is infinitely superior to that established at Mt Sinai as well as to explain how the sacrifice of Christ fulfills perfectly the precepts of the Law and ritual worship given to Moses.

The appointed passage speaks of the Day of Atonement, the only day of the year in which the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies (the holiest part of the temple) and atone for the people’s sins as well as his own, with the blood of a bull for his own sins and the blood of a goat for that of the people. One extraordinary detail might escape our attention. Normally when exercising his priestly duties, the High Priest dressed in vestments that made him look kingly. (The origin of this is to be found in Exodus chapter 28.) As mediator between the people and God, these elaborate vestments were befitting. On the Day of Atonement, however, he was to dress in plain white linen, setting aside his kingly vestments. On this day he looked more like a slave than a priest.

In the normal course of his duties, the High Priest reflected the splendor of God as he ministered among the people. But when he entered into the presence of God, he came in humility and simplicity.

In Holy Week, we will witness more closely the passion of Christ. We will watch as He prepares to enter into the true Holy of Holies by way of the Cross; stripped completely of his garments. The divine Son of the Father set aside his glory, [and] made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant [slave], and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2.7-8).

As the Gospel states, Our Lord will hide Himself, but this time as our High Priest. He will be taken down from the altar of the cross and placed in a sepulcher, a cave made into a tomb. Through our imagination, we will be able to follow Him as He enters the heavenly Holy of Holies to atone, not for His sins, but for ours. Not with the blood of bulls and of goats, but with His own most precious blood, will he purge [our] conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 

He will remain hidden until the third day, when He rises victorious over our ancient enemies of sin and death. May we faithfully accompany Our Lord throughout this Passion-tide, so that on Easter Day we may more fully enter into the joy of His eternal victory.

___________________________________________________________________

The Rise of ‘Me Christianity’ on the Left

BY:          Brandon Morse

Jesus is not a prop. He’s not an accessory. He’s not your puppet. 

But that’s exactly what the left wants him to be. I’ve seen so many instances of “churches” and “men of God” spouting abject nonsense into the ether in an attempt to lead people astray, not as a mistake or a misreading, but with the intention of driving them to a political conclusion that God had no intention of people ever reaching. 

You’ve likely most recently seen this from Texas senatorial candidate James Talarico, a Presbyterian pastor turned Democrat politician who is the manifestation of the wolf in sheep’s clothing. 

A recap of what James Talarico believes:

– Jesus Christ was a “radical feminist”
– White men are the “greatest” terror threat
– There are “six” biological sexes
– The border should be a “front porch”
– Atheists are “more Christ-like” than Christians

Talarico is hardly the only person doing this. It’s happening all over the United States. 

Not long ago, I wrote on the growing issue of LGBTQ+ churches that weren’t just pushing agendas on their parishioners; they were doing it to children right there in the church. 

This is an attempt to redefine Christianity. Mainstream culture will embrace it. Your resolve is about to be tested.

This kind of “Christianity” isn’t at all Christianity. It is, underneath, an issue that humans have been grappling with since Eve bit the forbidden fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and that’s attempting to replace God with the individual. 

It boils down to becoming the way, the truth, and the life, thereby replacing Christ while, ironically, using Christ as the authority by which your beliefs are legitimized. 

It’s “Me Christianity.” It’s the latter person C.S. Lewis described in “The Great Divorce“ when he wrote, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.'” 

And if you were to ask me, I think these people pose more of a threat to Christians than other religions, including Islam. 

Islam is a defined enemy, and those who follow it declare themselves proudly. They make their intentions of conquest and death known to you and aren’t shy to tell you they’re coming for you. 

Anti-theists, likewise, can’t often hold their resentment back when discussing God or Christianity. They make it clear they’re not on your side at all when it comes to the worship of God, and will often take action directly against Christian interests, usually on a legal level. 

But these people who bastardize the word of God are attempting to deceive Christians directly. Their hope isn’t just to mislead themselves; they want to bring everyone they can along. They want to slap Jesus’s face on their lies in hopes that you won’t just agree with their politics, but that you’ll hold them up as some moral authority that is ultimately above Christ. 

For seasoned Christians, this obviously isn’t a problem, but for the youth who are mostly ignorant of the Bible’s teachings and rely on guidance from more learned people, this can be particularly disastrous. Even if they aren’t fully misled, they can still get the wrong idea about parts of the Bible and develop expectations that will be destroyed at some point and may cause their walk with God to become wobbly. 

I think there’s a reason warnings against false prophets are mentioned over 100 times in the Bible. The damage they do is ultimately far worse than anything anyone can do with a blade or a pen. 

People like Talarico cannot be given power, not just because he’s a lunatic of a Democrat who has all the values of a San Francisco hippie while he wears the skinsuit of a southern preacher, but because he will turn his office into a pulpit for a “god” whose real name is James Talarico. Christians of every variety should be coming down on this false teacher like a hammer, not just because of his politics, but because of his heresy. 

I don’t expect every Christian in the world to know everything there is to know about God, the ins and outs of the Bible, and every context there is to know. The Bible is widely debated even among Christians, and ultimately, we can’t know the mind of God. 

But I think we can all agree that there are hard lines in the sand, and these “Me Christians” are crossing every one of them and declaring “Jesus said it was cool.” 

We have to make it clear that they’re wrong for the sake of Christians everywhere, including the young ones. 

____________________________________________________________________

The ‘LGBT Church’ Issue Seems to Be Getting Worse

BY:          Brandon Morse

If you can’t beat ’em’, join ’em’. 

The LGBT community has been in a long war with Christianity, and in the socio-political way it exists in the U.S., it seems to only hold a hatred for Christianity above all other religions, including Islam, which actively promotes the murder of LGBT individuals. 

But despite years of attempting to destroy Christianity and plague Christians, the activists in that community seem to have hit a wall. They can’t seem to overcome Christians, even if they do win legally. It only motivates Christians to fight harder and buckle down on their faith. So if you can’t destroy them from without, the next logical move is to try to destroy them from within. 

And that’s the new trend. The rise of the LGBT churches. 

I’ve touched on this before, and called for Christians to begin paying attention to this rising problem. These “churches” teach a skewed and perverted form of the gospel and morph God’s word into something that suits their lifestyle in an attempt to infiltrate and corrupt the church: 

This is the LGBT activist community infiltrating, corrupting, and destroying the Christian community from within. They’re putting forth the idea that America, the body of Christ, and the children within it are guilty of some original sin that oppresses groups and that these oppressive systems must be destroyed. 

The “oppressive system” they’re speaking of is the word of God. That’s what they’re trying to corrupt the Christian Church into turning its back on, Christ and His teachings. 

And I want to reiterate something. While you are your church might be safe, others are not. These concepts and opinions are weaseling their way into every corner that they can, and that includes the children within the Church. Last year, I reported on this very thing, and gave a great example as you see a pastor attempting to normalize the concept of drag queens to children during a service.

The sad fact is that this isn’t a wholly unsuccessful venture, despite the fact that we may think they’re stepping into a highly protected realm. The goal of the LGBT community is never outright assault, it’s subversion. It’s working themselves in slowly, usually through the youth, and once they’ve influenced them, they can begin the work of dismantling any institution from within. 

According to Pew, openly gay and lesbian members in leadership roles increased from 18 percent to 26 percent . . . and that was from 2006 to 2012. By 2015, acceptance of homosexuality has grown in major denominations, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church, United Methodist Church, Episcopal Church, and Presbyterian Church. 

The United Church of Christ brags it’s the “world’s fastest-growing LGBTQ+ affirming church movement,” with over 1,700 participating churches.

You can even see these “groups” popping up on social media feeds. Here’s one that I was served by Instagram one night out of the blue. Notice that most of the people here are teens and young adults, and they’re all listening to a man in a dress talking about how the more he heals, the more he realizes he’s “f***ed up.” 

When I see things like this, I can only conclude that there are two kinds of people in that room. 

Firstly, there are those who were raised to believe that they should love everyone, but that they can’t square their Christian faith with its supposed hatred of LGBT people. To be clear, we are commanded to love, but we are also commanded not to sin, or allow sin to corrupt the church. Homosexuality is a sin. Period, however, due to the machinations of activists, this nuance is lost on young believers, or potential converts. In lieu of actually receiving the word as it is, they attend sermons like the one you see above, or ones in corrupted churches, and receive messaging that is more propagandistic than it is salvational. 

These are the sheep led astray, and God has some very harsh warnings for those who would lead his children away from him while posing as his shepherds. 

Which brings me to the other people in the room, the ones willfully subverting the will of God and attempting to mislead people for their own gain. 

Some of these people may don robes and look official, but in the end, they hate God. Their purpose isn’t to teach His word, or lead people to salvation, but to get them to join in on a political movement that will eliminate Christianity through corruption. The Bible is clear about their beliefs, and so they want to subtract from God’s word while claiming His authority. 

It’s also funny that they do all of this in the name of “inclusion,” but really it’s about exclusion of the very foundation of what they’re supposedly basing their teachings on. 

Christians should start speaking out about this churches in large degree. While we don’t want hate of LGBT people to infect the church, we don’t want the influence it might bring.

It’s important to understand that gay and lesbian people are welcome to attend, but in hopes that they turn from their sin, not embrace it. 

No one dreams of opening a church where drug use is considered permissible, or even advocated by God. Vice is discouraged by God and quite a bit of it is considered sinful, yet of all the vices, sexual degeneracy seems to be the only sin people want to put on God’s okay list. 

Why?

Because it’s the easiest thing to rope people in with. It’s easy to paint something as inclusive and loving because it involves intimacy and closeness, which we all crave.

However, this is a perversion of what God intended, and we can see in the many verses in the Bible what he intends intimacy to look like. Anyone who says differently is trying to lie to themselves, or worse, fool others. As Christians, we can’t let that happen silently. 

GFK

MARCH 21, 2026

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

— Matthew 5:6.

Under former President Obama, a naval ship was named after Cesar Chavez. When will the ship’s name be changed, given the recent accusations made against the former “civil rights icon”?

“All immigration to the United States shall serve the economic, cultural, and security interests of the United States as determined by Congress.”

–draft legislation sponsored by Representative Andy Ogles (R. Tn.). 

Representative Andy Ogles wants to repeal the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Representative Ogles wants to end “chain migration”, enabling family members to flood the United States. Representative Ogles wants to prioritize immigration by individuals who serve our country’s “priorities and national interests”.

“This horrific pattern of naturalized citizens committing acts of terrorism against the American people must end.  I will introduce a bill to denaturalize and deport any naturalized citizen who:

– commits an act of terrorism

– plots to commit an act of terrorism

– joins a terrorist organization

– or otherwise aides and abets terrorism against the American people.”

–Representative Riley Moore (R. W.V.).

The Austin, Texas shooter, the Old Dominion University shooter, and the New York City would be bombers, were all naturalized citizens. They and their ilk should be gone.

Benito Torres gained access to ICE detention facilities on 11 occasions, posing as a lawyer (he is not) for illegal aliens. On those occasions, Mr. Torres smuggled cell phones into the detention facilities (that is not allowed). Who is Benito Torres? A staffer for Representative Veronica Escobar (D. Tx.). When asked about Mr. Torres’s actions, Representative Escobar defended him as a “dedicated public servant” who “did nothing wrong”. Apparently Veronica Escobar represents, not her constituents, but illegal aliens.

“Once we take power, whoever the president is, we’re going to break up your companies.  So, all the investment you did to create these mergers are going to be for naught.  Your investors are going to be pissed at you, and you’re likely going to end up getting fired as the CEO because you wasted so much money and corrupted yourself in the process.

–Senator Ruben Gallego (D. Az.).

“Paramount should enjoy its growing news monopoly while they have it, because when Democrats win back power we are going to break up these anti-democratic information conglomerates.  All of them.”

–Senator Chris Murphy (D. Ct.).

Please remember Susan Rice’s threat that The Observations reported earlier this week. The Democrats mean it. They will punish everyone who even offered a kind word for the President and his Administration.

“The reality is aliens are voting in American elections.”

–J. Christian Adams, president of the Public Interest Legal Foundation.

Minnesota Director of Elections Paul Linnell, under questioning by State legislators, admitted that aliens, legal and illegal, vote in elections. Because they have Minnesota drivers licenses. Because no one checks, or cares, whether they are eligible to vote. They have a drivers license and they vote.

The California State government told El Cajon police that conducting a welfare check on an unaccompanied child could violate State law — because it might lead to sharing information with federal authorities. Think about that. A child who may have been trafficked or abandoned. And the state says checking on them is the problem.

For more than 4 years, the State of California has been building a wildlife crossing bridge across the 101 freeway in Southern California. The bridge’s purpose is exactly what it sounds like; a means for wildlife to cross the freeway safely. Originally, the bridge was projected to cost less than $50 million. Now the price tag is north of $115 million, and is still years from completion. Meanwhile, the State budget deficit sits at $2.9 billion, and future deficits are projected to rise to $35 billion. Californians cannot afford to build bridges for animals to cross its freeways.

In Washington State, the Olympus Spa, a business owned by Korean Christians, refused to let biological men and “trans women” use its services, because their clients — actual women — didn’t want to be exposed to males.  Olympus Spa is a traditional Korean spa, where clients are nude, so that’s understandable.

Except to the powers that be in Washington State, who have decided mentally ill men have a right to expose themselves to women and girls, some as young as 13-years-old.  The Ninth Circuit agreed with those denizens of equality, and ruled against the spa.  A disgraceful decision.

But when Judge Lawrence VanDyke dissented, the court’s disgrace grew, and outrage ensued.  Judge VanDyke responded with pointed criticism as the majority opinion’s ridiculous conclusion, and described in graphic detail what the court was sanctioning.  Well, the majority judges were quite put out, accusing Judge VanDyke of being undignified, uncivil, and crude.  The majority claimed that the dissent offended them because it made them look juvenile, and that Judge VanDyke’s dissent demeaned them. 

Well.  Let us hope so.  Because if you think that government can mandate that men are women, and that men should be able to expose themselves to women when such exposure is unwanted and offensive, then you deserve to be demeaned.  You are juvenile.  And you are just plain stupid.

Virginia General Assembly Democrats passed, and Governor Spanberger (D.) signed, legislation mandating a 42 percent quota for minority participation in government contracting. It is racist. It is immoral. It is bigoted. It is illegal. It is unconstitutional. And the Democrats know this. But they do not care. Because the Democrat Party is the party of race. Because the Democrat Party is the party of we will do whatever we want, the law be damned.

Archaeologists have found the lost city of Alexandria on the Tigris, a once great trading city founded by Alexander the Great, in what is now Southern Iraq, near the Persian Gulf. It seems that the lost city’s structures are remarkably well preserved, and will offer archaeologists years of study. Wow.

The Los Angeles Dodgers concession stands are again expanding their offerings with 3 new entrees. The first is the “Cochinita Pibil Bone Marrow Taco,” a pork dish that comes with bone marrow, blue corn tortillas and pickled onions. The second is a char siu pork french fry bowl that’s topped with furikake spice and sriracha mayo. And the third food offering is a “Loco Moco Bowl” that comes with a beef patty, rice, gravy and an egg. All of these dishes can be washed down with a spicy Watermelon Habanero Margarita. Wow! Still, what ever happened to a Dodger dog with mustard, and an ice cold Miller Lite beer?

Actor Chuck Norris has died at age 86. R. I. P.

GFK

MARCH 20, 2026

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

— 2 Corinthians 5:17.

President Trump asked other nations to assist with clearing the Straits of Hormuz, to permit passage of oil tankers, unmolested by Iran. Predictably, Germany, France, and Great Britain took a hard pass. What a great bunch of “allies”.

So President Trump replied fine, your help is not needed. But understand, the United States gets virtually no oil from the Persian Gulf, through the Straits of Hormuz. So if the Straits are closed, who loses . . . ?

European nations have no problem demanding that the United States support the Ukrainian/Russia war, where we have no interests. Yet they will not assist in the Straits of Hormuz, where they do have an interest. Is that not interesting?

The Observations believes in the free flow of oil around the globe. Lower energy prices everywhere benefits all countries. What a shame that the socialists and surrender monkeys in Europe do not understand basic economics.

Oh! And by the way; Iranian missiles are not yet capable of reaching the United States. But they are, or were, capable of reaching all of Europe. You are welcome.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte realizes how important that the Straits of Hormuz is to worldwide energy resources. After some cajoling, coupled with pressure from President Trump, Great Britain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands have agreed to assist with keeping the Straits of Hormuz open. Japan has also agreed to assist. WINNING!

The United States House of Representatives voted to make the fraudulent attainment of public services and monies a deportable offense for non-citizens. More than 185 Democrats voted against the legislation. Sigh.

Former Obama National Security Advisor Susan Rice offers a taste of what’s coming should the Left retake power — promises Democrats will punish corporations and other institutions who have “taken a knee to Trump.”

“It’s not going to end well for them.  If these corporations think that the Democrats, when they come back in power, are going to play by the old rules . . . they’ve got another thing coming.  There will be an accountability agenda.  This is not going to be an instance of forgive and forget.”

Senator John Kennedy (R. La.), never one to shy away from a challenge, or to be without a quip, responded:

“Political payback like that happens in countries whose Powerball jackpot is 287 chickens and a goat.  It’s not supposed to happen in America.”

During a Congressional committee hearing, Representative Jaimie Raskin (D. Md.) referred to Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson as “undocumented immigrants” (aka illegal aliens). What a moron! Thomas Jefferson was born in Virginia. Thomas Paine lived in England, but relocated to the American colonies, a part of England. His relocation was akin to moving from Maryland to South Carolina.

“There’s a reason we’re over in Iran right now, trying to free a country that has been taken hostage for the last 47 years.  President Trump’s doing the world a favor.  Not just doing our country a favor.

. . . the enemy is inside our gates.  We got them here.  Joe Biden and Barack Obama brought them here by the thousands. It’s a disgrace.

If you preach or teach Sharia law, you need to go home.  You don’t fit in the United States of America.  

The Muslims are the voters of the future for the Democratic Party.  I’m gonna tell it like it is . . .  and I’ve done that since I’ve been here and I’m not backing off now.”

–Senator Tommy Tuberville (R. Al.).

Federal Judge Brian Murphy is at it again. Having been rebuked now 3 times over blocking President Trump’s deportation of illegal aliens, Judge Murphy has now turned to micromanaging the Department of Health & Human Services. He does not care for the Department’s reworking of its vaccine recommendations, and is now blocking those recommendations. Apparently Judge Murphy thinks he is in charge of the Executive Branch. Judge Murphy wants to set policy. But that is not the function of the Judicial Branch. Hmmm.

March 31 marks what would have been farm workers labor organizer’s Cesar Chavez’s 99th birthday. Large celebrations were planned, but have now been cancelled. The National Farm Workers Association (a union) is renouncing its association with its founder. Why? Because a UFU official now claims that Cesar Chavez sexually molested her, 60 years ago. That would be in 1966 that this supposedly happened.

Cesar Chavez has long been a Leftist icon. President Bill Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. President China Joe kept a bust of Cesar Chavez in the oval office. There are statues of him in many cities in several Western States. Avenues are name after him. His office and home are national landmarks.

Cesar Chavez was not my cup of tea. He was a rabble rouser. But still; why make this unsupported accusation now, when Mr. Chavez cannot respond? I mean, 60 years?

I am not willing to assume that the accusations are true. But I am not willing to state that the accusations are not true. How would I know? But I do find it amusing that another Leftist hero is falling apart, in public. Statues are being covered, celebrations are being cancelled, and city councils are discussing renaming streets.

By the way, the farm workers union has announced that instead of Cesar Chavez, it will celebrate the “contributions” of illegal aliens. Which is interesting, because Cesar Chavez was virulently anti-illegal alien. He hated them because the illegal aliens drove down the wages for farm work. A celebration of illegal aliens is a repudiation of everything Cesar Chavez stood for in his life.

Scranton, Pennsylvania Mayor Paige Cognetti (D.) cracked down hard on church attendance during the former Current Unpleasantness. Even though Pennsylvania exempted religious services from any lockdown requirements, Mayor Cognetti still discouraged church attendance, and invited citizens to “snitch” on churches who held services so that she could bring pressure to bear. Mayor Cognetti is a tyrant. She thinks she knows better than her constituents. And she is now running for Congress. If elected, she’ll fit in fine.

“We have, I think, heard more and more of issues of animal welfare.  I think not just because it’s the right thing to do and the moral thing to do, but it’s also—as all of you know—necessary to fight climate change.

It is now existential that we try to reduce our meat consumption and that we try to respect animals in all aspects of society.  I am proud to say that our campaign has officially become a non-meat campaign . . . we are only buying vegan products from our local vegan businesses.”

–State Representative and U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico (D. Tx.).

Vegan?  Does he want to lose Texas?  Hey, soy boy!  From the Rio Grande to the Red River, BEEF!  It’s what’s for dinner!

The Connecticut legislature is seeking to ban the use of styrofoam containers for take out food. The bill would also ban restaurants for offering or providing utensils and napkins to customers unless they affirmatively request them.

Los Angeles, California hiked the minimum wage to $30.00 per hour, and hotels eliminated 650 jobs immediately upon the ordinance’s passage. More job losses are expected. So naturally, New York City Comrade Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D.) is hell bent on raising the minimum wage to $30.00 per hour. Expect the unemployment line to grow longer.

How did Comrade Mayor Mamdani “celebrate” St. Patrick’s Day? By giving a speech deploring the Israel “genocide” of the “Palestinian” people. Good grief.

“I need people who are high net worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state.  There are some patriotic millionaires who stepped up.  Okay.  Cut me the checks. I f you want to be supportive, but maybe the first step should be go down to Palm Beach and see who you can bring back home, because our tax base has been eroded.”

–New York Governor Kathy Hochul, pleading for the “rich” to quit fleeing New York State’s high taxes.

It is unpatriotic to move from New York to Florida? Since when? Last I checked, Florida was a part of the United States.

The owner of The Croissanterie, a restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas, ordered Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R.) to leave because her presence made the staff feel “threatened and uncomfortable” due to her political beliefs.  Sigh.

Can you imagine the reaction if a Republican had refused to serve, and threw out a Democrat?  The screams of “intolerance”, “bigotry”, et al. would have been heard across the nation.

The Swedish government seized children from a family, and refuses to return them to the family. Are the parents physically or emotionally abusive? Do they neglect their children? No. But the parents do attend church 3 times per week, and the government claims that this makes them “religious extremists”, and thus unfit to be parents for young children.

GFK

MARCH 19, 2026

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”

 — 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Yesterday I enjoyed a pleasant drive from NOVA (Northern Virginia) to ROV (the Rest of Virginia). English packed me a picnic lunch, which gave me reason to stop and relax, as opposed to driving straight through without stopping. Gosh, she makes the best sandwiches!

I plan on odds and ends this morning, as I have a contractor coming by this afternoon to accomplish some work in the kitchen. Hopefully it will be a short and sweet project.

Below is an article by Lou Aguilar on the decline of British society. And it does hold a warning for our country. Enjoy.

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The Fall of Britain — and the Warning for America

Britain’s retreat from its history and identity offers a cautionary tale for an America approaching its 250th birthday.

BY:          Lou Aguilar, The American Spectator (March 15, 2026).

For reasons too dull to disclose, I didn’t become an American citizen till age 26, 20 years after arriving in the U.S. from Cuba. I had to drive from Washington to Baltimore with a good friend, Tom, who would testify that I was worthy of the honor. The two of us sat outside the immigration office waiting for Tom to be called in first. I was already a rock-solid conservative by then, more so than my buddy, and we got into a deep political argument.

When the immigration officer popped her head out and called for Tom, he looked at me and said, “I don’t know now.” Of course he endorsed me. But that’s how challenging it was back then to become a U.S. citizen. Today, you probably don’t even have to speak English.

Fortunately for America, Donald Trump is President, so the Democratic open door to unvetted immigrants is now exit only. While the Administration prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our wonderful country, and restore her heroes to the pantheon from which shrieking liberals sought to remove them.

Maybe Britain can be saved, but time is running out, at ludicrous speed.

“All of you [Republicans] sit silently, even though you know what that means,” whined California congressman Jared Huffman at a House hearing last month. “You let him hijack the country’s 250th anniversary to sell access, hide his donors, and rewrite history.” Huffman and his fellow party leaders’ screams about white male slaveowners and stolen land are falling on patriotic deaf ears.

The situation is far more dire across the Pond in once great Britain, tragic in fact. For it signals the end of a magnificent 2,000-year history, betrayed from within at Mel Brooks -level “ludicrous speed.” Last week the Bank of England announced it would be removing Winston Churchill from the five-pound note, and replacing him with some form of British wildlife. You read right. The greatest British leader of the 20th century must give way to a fox or a hedgehog.

The man who foresaw the Nazi menace and did his best to prepare England for it:

“Germany is arming fast, and no one is going to stop her.”

The man who kept the nation united and defiant in the heart of darkness: “We shall fight on the seas and oceans. We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches.

We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.” Only Britain has surrendered, or at least her leaders have, to a different yet no less hostile invasion by Islamists.

For 16 years, an Indian restaurant in London, Rangrez, proclaimed it served non-halal meat. Halal is the ritualistic animal slow-bleed process mandated by Islam for the meat of observant Muslims. Rangrez owner Harman Singh Kapoor used jhatka, the more humane Sikh quick slaughter method. With Muslims now dominant in London, and exalted by Mayor Sadiq Khan and apparently the Metropolitan Police force, the Rangrez came under attack last week by a crowd of angry Muslims. The police responded to the trouble — by arresting Kapoor.

The displacement of traditional British values, including Law, proved too much for some classic liberals, such as comedy legend John Cleese of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame. Once an acerbic critic of anything remotely conservative, Cleese has become outspoken in his disgust for the rapid Islamization of his island. Remarking on the Kapoor arrest, he tweeted, “Can this really be happening in England. If it is, my next thought is ‘Where am I going to live.’”

But it was the eminent scholar Jordan Peterson who best expressed the tragedy of Britain one year ago on Piers Morgan Uncensored.

“I don’t know if you guys in the UK understand how sad it is for us in Canada, and in the United States, to watch what you’re doing to yourselves. We owe the UK such an immense debt. And to watch you guys spiral yourselves into the ground for this weak political correctness that has gone so far… and gaslight people who are telling the truth. It’s so sickening, it’s so demoralizing. It’s almost unspeakable. We all hope and pray that you get your act together, and grow some spine again and put your country back together, and stand up to these bloody psychopathic bullies and the woke green mob, because it would be a dreadful shame to lose you.”

Peterson definitely spoke for me. Much of what I am today, culturally and intellectually — and I think for the better — came from the English Literature I devoured. As a kid, I learned about things I hadn’t experienced — resilience from Robinson Crusoe, justice from Sherlock Holmes, honor from Rudolf Rassendyl (The Prisoner of Zenda), romance from Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice), sexuality from James Bond, and everything else from Charles Dickens and Shakespeare. And all of them inspired me to write for a living, if only in their shadow.

So when I see a fat male cop yank a Union Jack flag away from a 16-year-old girl at an anti-Muslim protest, it personally disgusts me. That there are no Knights of the Round Table or Robin Hood or Simon Templar to teach that contemptible bully a lesson in manners — along with the pathetic Prime Minister and the Labour government that created him. I call it Operation Mordred, after the villain who brought down Camelot in Arthurian lore.

Maybe Britain can be saved, but time is running out, at ludicrous speed. All we Americans can do is make sure it never happens here, beginning this November 3rd, midterm Election Day.

GFK

MARCH 18, 2026

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

 — Psalm 51:10.

Hi ho, hi ho, it’s back to Southside I go. Did I just not drive up from there? Sigh. I am tired already.

“After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today.  I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”

–Joseph Kent.

Mr. Kent is not required to work for the federal government.  But he should not be subverting the chain of command.  He should not be undermining the United States military at this time.  And he should not lie.  Because Iran did pose an imminent threat to the United States.  We have been at war with Iran since 1979.  And hostilities did not begin because of Israel.  How insulting.  How anti-Semitic. 

Food stamp recipients have sued the federal Department of Agriculture over regulations that prevent them from purchasing soft drinks, candy, and energy drinks with their food stamps. Oh my gosh, you actually have to purchase food with your food stamps! How oppressive!

Michigan State Representative Karen Whitsett (D.) is declining to run for reelection. She cited the Democrats’ support for abortion, LGBTQ++ issues, and transgenderism, citing those issues as being in direct conflict with her Christian faith.

In Minnesota, legislation championed by Tampon Tim took effect, mandating that employers give employees paid time off to care for loved ones, and paid time leave off to recover from illness, 12 weeks in each instance. If both are used in a calendar year, the cap is 20 weeks total. So guess what the effect has been? Yep. An amazing number of employees are caring for sick loved ones, and are sick themselves. And for the maximum number of weeks. Not only that, but many of these people taking advantage of the State’s mandate upon employers are using that time for vacation and other leisure activities. Sigh. And no one in State government anticipated this abuse? Or did they just not care.

Virginia’s ruling Democrat Party is implementing similar legislative mandates for employers. But no one will take advantage of this, will they? OF COURSE THEY WILL! And Virginia Democrats will not care.

How did the Old Dominion University enroll at that school, thus gaining access to the campus where he murdered Lt. Colonel Shah? Governor Spanberger (D. Va.) vowed to get to the bottom of it. But she need not look far. Her fellow Democrats, under Governor Coonman (D. Va.), passed a law forbidding public universities and colleges from inquiring about an applicant’s criminal history, or from denying admission to the school based upon an applicant’s criminal history. So how did the ODU shooter hide in plain sight? DEMOCRATS!

Virginia General Assembly Democrats passed new gun laws punishing Virginia’s law abiding gun owners. But they did exempt a class of citizen–Virginia General Assembly members are not subject to the laws.

In Fairfax County, Virginia, an illegal alien–known to be an illegal alien–is enrolled as a junior in a public high school. The illegal alien, a male, was recently arrested for sexually molesting and groping female students. The Democrat Commonwealth’s Attorney wanted to release the illegal alien on bond, allowing him to return to the public school, but a judge declined the request. ICE presented a detainer to the Democrat Sheriff, but the Sheriff refused to honor the detainer absent a promise by ICE not to deport the illegal alien.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH NORTHERN VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS? There are more than a dozen female students who have been assaulted by this man. The illegal alien is 19 years old; he is an adult. He is a criminal. And yet, the school administration, the prosecutor, and the Sheriff are all acting in concert to protect the criminal, the victims be damned!

“. . . But I will also say, you know, even my Democrat governor colleagues, they’re not trying to get illegals here to turn them into voters.  I don’t believe that’s what Democrat, you know, politicians are trying to do.  And just like Republicans get a bad rap that people think that Republicans don’t like immigrants.  That’s not true.  But politics drives you to your corners.”

–Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R. Ok.).

A leading member of The Stupid Party.  Because he is stupid. 

Governor Gavin Newsom (D. Ca.) claimed that California’s State taxes were lower than those in Florida or Texas. HA! Talk about “stupid”!

Governor Hair Gel is livid that the federal Energy Secretary directed Sable Offshore Corp. to restart operations at 2 locations in California in order to aid the U.S. in its military operations against Iran. Governor Hair Gel is threatening legal action. Because . . . Orange Man Bad.

And Governor Newsom has the gall to complain about high gasoline prices. And to blame Republicans.

Did Democrats complain about high gasoline prices under China Joe? No. No they did not!

Of course, California Democrats have the power to lower prices in their State. Lower the taxes, ease the regulations, make it easier to operate oil wells and refineries in California. But there is no way California Democrats will do any of those things. Indeed, the California legislature is poised to impose more taxes and regulations that will raise the price of gasoline more than $1.00 per gallon.

“On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict.  Cease fire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened.  Violence can never lead to the justice, stability, and peace that the people are waiting for.”

–Pope Leo XIV.

Of course he is wrong.  Sometimes violence absolutely leads to justice, stability, and peace.  For example, World War II.  Once the violence ended, there was justice, stability, and peace in much of the world.

Archbishop of Washington, D.C. Robert McElroy jumped on the bandwagon, calling the U.S./Israeli actions as “morally unjustifiable”. What a nimrod. The mullahs murdered more than 30,000 of its own citizens in the month leading up to the attacks. Was that morally justified? How about the use of proxies to attack Israel (i.e. the Yemeni Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah). What about the pursuit of nuclear weapons to destroy Israel, and other targets? What about bombings throughout the world, murdering innocents? What about taking 53 Americans hostage for more than 1 year? Tell us, Archbishop McElroy, what is morally justifiable about the current Iranian regime? Please.

“Prime Minister Starmer wants to give President Trump advice about our fight with Iran.  That’s like taking advice from a nun about sex.”

–Senator John Kennedy (R. La.).

The Iranian people have been calling in tips to the U.S. military on military targets hidden amongst the civilian population. GOOD FOR THEM!

Iran’s foreign minister claimed that the U.S. only attacked Iran “for fun”. Uh, huh.

Iran’s foreign minister also stated that any nation other than the United States and Israel can pass through the Straits of Hormuz unmolested. Huge cave on the mullahs’ part.

Iran has some “conditions” for the end of hostilities with the United States and Israel. “Conditions”? Don’t make me laugh!

Iran’s conditions include the United States promising to never attack Iran again, withdraw all of its military forces from the Middle East forever, and the payment of “reparations” to Iran for the damage resulting from the hostilities. HA, HA, HA, HA!

In Australia, the Iranian women’s soccer team refused to sing the Iranian national anthem before a game, which lead to the mullahs denouncing and threatening them as “traitors”. Some of the women then defected, seeking asylum in Australia, at which point the Iranian regime “disappeared” their families, threatening harm if the girls did not return home to Iran. Most of the defectors caved, and agreed to return, in order to spare their families.

IS THIS BEHAVIOR MORALLY JUSTIFIED, ARCHBISHOP MCELROY? IS IT?

GFK

MARCH 17, 2026

“Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again: for forgiveness has risen from the grave!”

— St. John Chrysostom.

GOOD MORNING MARY HAZEN!  I hope you are well in SW Mississippi.

Today is St. Patrick’s Day.  St. Patrick is popularly known as the “Apostle of Ireland” and Ireland’s patron saint, though technically, he was never formally canonized as a saint.  He also was not Irish, but English.  Nevertheless, he served as a Catholic priest and Bishop during his lifetime, in northern and western Ireland.

There are many legends concerning St. Patrick.  One is that he used the shamrock to illustrate the Biblical trinity.  Another is that he drove the snakes from Ireland. 

St. Patrick is honored with a feast day on the Episcopal Church’s liturgical calendar.  He is also remembered in the Lutheran and Orthodox Churches.

In modern times, St. Patrick’s Day is an excuse to eat, drink, and be merry.  People wear green, attend celebrations in their local watering holes, and everyone considers themselves Irish for the day.  For all the gaiety that St. Patrick brings to Winter’s last gasp before Spring, he is worthy of being remembered, even if he did not really drive the snakes from Ireland.

I left Southside Virginia in a hurry, and rushed back to Northern Virginia, so that this morning I could keep one of my clients company as he was arraigned in Jefferson County, West Virginia. He might have a chance. Unlike the fellow I left behind in Danville, Virginia.

Tonight, English and I will enjoy some version of traditional Irish food. Since there are only 2 of us (for these purposes, I am not counting Dudley), a corned beef roast with vegetables is just too much. So English is going to make Reuben sandwiches (corned beef, slaw, Russian dressing, Swiss cheese on rye bread). English is a most excellent sandwich maker. So tonight we will have a celebration of St. Patrick visits Katz’s Delicatessen. I am looking forward to it.

“Democrats are at it again, providing conservatives with more material with which to identify them with certainty.

*If you believe that most workers should be paid more … and also believe that many things should be free, you just might be a Democrat.

*If you think that women are oppressed in America … and are also strongly against the deportation of convicted illegal alien rapists and Muslim men, as well as President Trump’s mission to liberate Iran, you just might be a Democrat. (Or a RINO.)

*If you would — literally — stand up for criminals but not for American citizens, you just might be a Democrat.

 *If you actually did kneel in the name of George Floyd and BLM but refused to stand for the parents of a young female Ukrainian refugee who was senselessly murdered on a train by a black repeat offender, you just might be a Democrat.

*If you are greatly troubled by the plight of the spotted owl but are a fanatical proponent of unfettered abortion, you just might be a Democrat.

*If you performatively “celebrate diversity” but cannot tolerate conservative political opinions, you just might be a Democrat.

*If you talk of “how bad” something is “in this country,” but have no idea of the historical horrors in most others, you just might be a Democrat.

*If you purport to be a feminist, own a dog, and enjoy a glass of wine now and then … and are an avid supporter of Islam — and Muslim men immigrating to the U.S. — you just might be a Democrat.

*If you think that abortion is “women’s health care” and that lopping off the body parts of young children is “gender affirming care,” you just might be a Democrat.

*If you are adamantly for Ukraine in the fourth year of war, but are disgusted with the United States entering the third week of its war with Iran, you just might be a Democrat.

*If you think words can be “violence,” but rioters looting and burning down stores are “mostly peaceful,” you just might be a Democrat.

*If you believe white people are inherently racist because of the color of their skin, and also believe that it is impossible for people of color to be racist, you just might be a Democrat.

*If you think “Christian nationalism” is an existential danger to society, and that Islamophobia is too, you very well may be a Democrat.

*If you think that MAGA and ICE are Nazis, and also that Antifa and BLM are fighting for “our democracy,” you just might be a Democrat.”

–Eric Utter, The American Thinker (March 12, 2026).

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Below is an article by Scott Powell and Ann McLean bashing Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D.). Since I thoroughly despise our Governor, I never get tired of criticizing her. So today I will rest and allow these 2 fine writers take over that task for me. Enjoy.

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If Virginia is for Lovers, There is no Place for Tyrants

Since inauguration, Abigail Spanberger has shown derision for the customs, culture, and ideas cherished by Virginians. 

BY:          Scott S. Powell and Ann H. McLean, The American Thinker (March 12, 2026).

Virginia, the cradle of American liberty, easily recognized by its place and role in American history, also has more historic sites (130 in all) than any other state. This historic prominence is why this “founding” state is targeted for total transformation. This appears to be the mission of the newly elected Virginia governor, Abigail Spanberger, who campaigned as a moderate but revealed within 24 hours of being inaugurated that she is a radical wolf in sheep’s clothing.

In the 5,500-odd years of recorded human history, there was never true freedom in any nation-state until the United States was founded. The great Virginian Patrick Henry, known for his proclamation, “Give me liberty or give me death,” was extraordinarily sanguine about what it takes to maintain a free nation. In 1788, after the Constitution was drafted but not yet ratified by the 13 states, Patrick Henry said, “Guard with jealous attention the public liberty [and] suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up force, you are inevitably ruined.”

Four of the first five U.S. presidents came from Virginia. George Washington, who led the Continental Army to victory in the War of Independence, would become the first president. At the outset of that war, Thomas Jefferson, who drafted the Declaration of Independence, became the third president. James Madison, who drafted the Constitution, was elected the fourth president. James Monroe, the fifth and last president among the Founding Fathers, was the brave 18-year-old volunteer soldier holding the American flag behind Washington in Emanuel Leutze’s famous 1850 painting, “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” James Monroe is remembered for the Monroe Doctrine, a policy that established the United States with a unique position of warding off meddlesome interference in the Western Hemisphere — a foreign policy position Trump has resurrected as the basis for taking back control of the Panama Canal from communist China (CCP), and also driving the CCP out of Cuba and Venezuela.

There is a tendency for free things to be taken for granted. Liberty — an unalienable right from God first realized politically by Americans — is too easily assumed to be an entitlement and subsequently taken for granted and lost. And so it may be that God wanted to reveal His presence and blessing on the first country in human history founded on His ideals by way of miracles associated with the sacred idea of freedom and the Constitution designed to codify and protect freedom that came from the Founders who made it all happen.

Not only were four of the first five U.S. presidents from the state of Virginia, but two presidents, Jefferson and Adams, died on July 4, 1826, the day of the 50th anniversary of the United States, a happenstance with odds of one in 133,000. And consider a third president from Virginia, James Monroe, who also died on July 4, five years later in 1831. The odds of three of our first five U.S. presidents all dying on July 4, Independence Day, are impossibly low. With odds of one in 4.87 million, it must be a miraculous arrangement by God.

The first U.S. president, George Washington, was extraordinarily prescient when he warned in his Farewell Address that factionalism would divide the nation, provoke riots, and invite foreign influence, and even destroy the republic by fostering a “spirit of revenge,” enabling “cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men” to seize power. All of which is an apt description of the current political dysfunction on display in our government because of hyperpartisanship and extreme division between the Republican and Democrat parties.

Heightened division and factionalism in the U.S. became more pronounced in the 1960s, coming after prayer, the Bible, and devotional reading were taken out of schools (in the 1962 Supreme Court decision Engel v. Vitale and the 1963 Supreme Court decision Abington School District v. Schempp). Then there were Supreme Court rulings (the 1971 decision of Lemon v. Kurtzman and the 1980 decision of Stone v. Graham) that ended public funding for religious education and banned the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools.

In the 1980s, during the surge of Central American refugees into the U.S., the American Marxist Left implemented a new strategic plan, the “sanctuary city and sanctuary state movement.” The sanctuary movement was a long-term strategy, obfuscating the radical nature of the changes that would ensue. The sanctuary movement was also calculated to get the support and cover from Americans predisposed to help the poor, while the sanctuary organizers knew it would facilitate illegal immigration while also radicalizing state and local government, even leading to defunding the police and blocking the enforcement of federal immigration laws. More frightening is that sanctuary states and cities would provide protection for sleeper cells and hardened terrorists — all part of the plan to take down America from within.

Spanberger’s anti-American radicalism has been clearly revealed in her de facto actions to make Virginia a sanctuary state by signing an executive order on her first day in office to prevent law enforcement from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Now, when liberal judges turn loose criminals who are also illegal aliens in Virginia, they will be released onto the streets instead of being returned to their home countries through the Department of Homeland Security.

In fact, within weeks of taking office, Spanberger got her first test on this matter of non-cooperation with federal DHS law enforcement. Illegal immigrant Abdul Jalloh, who had a rap sheet of more than 30 prior arrests, murdered Stephanie Minter in Fairfax, Virginia, on February 23. Spanberger showed more concern about protecting a repeat violent criminal than she did to her own constituents. Her response was not to turn over Jalloh to ICE, but to require ICE to obtain an unnecessary and time-consuming judicial warrant to make the transfer of the murderer to DHS for adjudication and deportation.

Since her inauguration, Spanberger has shown derision for the customs, culture, and ideas cherished by Virginians. She supports transgenders in female sports and made hyperpartisan attacks on Virginia’s educational institutions, notably the storied 187-year old Virginia Military Institute (VMI) — considered the West Point of the South — with an attempt to eliminate the autonomy of VMI by putting it under the control of Virginia State University — a move that would demoralize students and undermine the integrity of VMI.

With assurance of Spanberger’s support, Virginia Democrats have rolled out a dizzying array of some 50 bills that penalize Virginia residents for everyday activities in the form of sales taxes and levies on Amazon deliveries, Uber Eats, storage facilities, gas-powered leaf-blowers, concert tickets and hotels, fairs, sports events, festivals, home improvements, house painting, gun ownership, and gymnasium memberships. Spanberger has proposed taxes on dog walking and grooming, dry cleaning, barber shops, package deliveries, and electric landscaping equipment. She even proposed a per-mile driving tax.

In conclusion, despite the strong leadership of the Trump presidency, it’s the observation of many that a sweeping, red-green color revolution continues apace in many states and cities. What stands in the way of the completion of this domestic revolution are the Biblical truths and Judeo-Christian values that still reside in our culture, as well as the written word of documents conceived by Virginians: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights.

America’s enemies know they cannot win on the battlefield of ideas because truth triumphs over falsehood. The subversives’ method of operation is to use deception and elite capture to take power in select cities and states, and then transform America piecemeal, through a largely dumbed-down culture, using Marxist tools of demoralization and division. Historic Virginia needs to be protected and preserved lest it become the kingpin of the strike that can take down other states and the country.

“Virginia is for Lovers” has been an iconic and endearing tourism slogan for the last 50 years, but it is time for Virginians to rediscover their original state motto, conceived in 1776, “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” a Latin phrase meaning “Thus Always to Tyrants.”

GFK

MARCH 16, 2026

“Behold, Jesus Christ crucified, who is the only foundation of our hope; He is our mediator and advocate; the victim and sacrifice for our sins. He is goodness and patience itself; His mercy is moved by the tears of sinners, and He never refuses pardon and grace to those who ask it with a truly contrite and humbled heart.”
— St. Charles Borromeo.

I am in Southside Virginia. My drive down yesterday was pleasant and uneventful. I am meeting with a client this afternoon who is facing his last few days of freedom. Maybe this will be the time he learns his lesson. Because this is not his first rodeo.

Holland Koontz is enjoying her last Spring Break in the Dominican Republic. She is enjoying Sun, sand, tropical drinks, seafood, and 100% leisure. English and I hope she enjoys it. The real world beckons in just a couple of months.

The inflation rate fell to 2.5%, the lowest since the Spring of 2021. WINNING!

Senator John Thune (R. S.D.) has got to go. Yesterday.

“[Democrats] are very serene with what is going on.”

–Senator Brian Shatz (D. Hi.).

Iranian sleeper cells are active in the United States. Warnings have been issued to California concerning possible drone attacks by Iran (California has the largest Iranian population in the United States). Airport security lines are hours long. But still the Democrats continue to keep the Department of Homeland Security closed, refusing to fund it so that TSA agents, Secret Service agents, and Coast Guard employees can be paid. Because Democrats do not care. They are “serene” about the situation.

“Paperwork doesn’t magically make you American.  Muslims are unable to assimilate; they all have to go back.”

–Representative Andy Ogles (R. Tn.).

I am really starting to like this guy.

The China Joe judge in Massachusetts who keeps trying to prevent the deportation of illegal aliens? He got slapped down again, for the 3rd time, this time by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. The First Circuit is dominated by Leftist Democrats. How bad must the district court judge be, that other Democrats are telling him “no”?

The View’s Whoopi Goldberg compared living in the United States to living in Iran. Particularly if you are black. Sigh.

The Chicago Teachers Union organized a “Hands Off Iran And Lebanon” rally, to demonstrate against the United States and Israel. Chicago public school students cannot read, but their teachers sure know how to hate against their country.

A federal judge in Maryland–a China Joe appointee–halted ICE’s conversion of a warehouse it owns into a detention center. Because State officials object to the facility. Wow. Where is that law in the Constitution or the U.S. Code?

We will soon have a new tax in Virginia–a statewide mattress tax. How petty can you be?

At Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Virginia, a gunman opened fire at students. WHOA! Just one minute here; guns are forbidden on ODU’s campus! ODU is a “gun free zone”. Can you believe that the shooter just broke that rule? Now he’s going to get it!

Authorities identified the shooter as Mohamed Jollah. Until recently, Mohamed Jollah was an inmate at a federal prison, having been convicted of providing assistance to ISIS while serving in the National Guard. He would still be in federal prison but for the fact that one of China Joe’s last acts as President was to commute Mr. Jollah’s sentence. So rather than being in prison, Mohamed Jollah was on the streets of Norfolk, Virginia, and on ODU’s campuses, where he threatened students, and murdered ROTC instructor, Lt. Colonel Brandon Shah, a highly decorated U.S. combat veteran. Gee thanks, China Joe!

Norfolk’s Commonwealth Attorney Ramin Fatehi (D.) blamed legislators and judges who honored the Constitution’s Second Amendment. Yes, that is exactly what killed Colonel Shah. The Second Amendment.

Governor Spanberger (D.) acknowledged Colonel Shah’s death, but could not bring herself to state that he was murdered by an Islamic terrorist. No, no, no. It was the gun.

Dorothy McAuliffe (D.) announced that she will run for Congress in a newly drawn district in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Mrs. McAuliffe, a onetime State Department official and wife of former Democrat Governor Terry McAuliffe, is seeking the seat for the new 7th Congressional District, which was redrawn to stretch from Arlington to western Augusta County. 

Great.  Just what Virginia needs.  Another bubble headed socialist in elected office.

In Oakland County, Michigan, outside Detroit, a Muslim immigrant from Lebanon drove an automobile into a Synagogue, at the entrance to the Jewish school contained therein, with 140 students in attendance. The automobile was loaded with explosives, guns, and ammunition. Security shot the man dead. No students were harmed.

The Michigan incident is horrific. Thank goodness for the responding security guards. But how sad that children must be guarded as they attend school at their house of worship. What is happening in this country?

Nearby Dearborn, Michigan’s mayor–a Muslim–seemed to excuse the terrorist who rammed the Jewish Synagogue, explaining the “poor man’s grief” over relatives who died in Lebanon at the hands of the Israeli military. Disgusting. Despicable. Even more disgusting and despicable is what Dearborn, Michigan’s mayor did not disclose; the Michigan terrorist’s dead relatives were all Hezbollah terrorists.

Islam is not compatible with American values and laws. It just is not.

Washington State’s Constitution bars the enactment of an income tax. That does not matter, and will not stand in the way of greedy Democrat politicians. The legislature (controlled by Democrats) passed a 9.9% tax on incomes over $1 million, and the Governor (a Democrat) has promised to sign the measure.

Some folks are not waiting for the law to take effect, or be struck down by the courts. Starbuck’s founder Howard Shultz moved to Miami. Starbucks is moving its corporate headquarters to Tennessee. And there will be more to flee before it is over.

Down in the heart of Texas, little Jimmy Talarico (D.) has scrubbed his official U.S. Senate candidate website of all the endorsements he received from far Left groups. Too late. Nobody’s fooled.

Actress Rachel Ziegler (she of the failed Snow White remake) spoke at length about how she did not wish to assimilate into America, because she was so proud of, and comfortable with, her Colombian heritage. Fine. That’s good. Go home to Colombia. We don’t need you.

After 50 years, Yamaha is moving its headquarters out of California, relocating to Georgia. Because . . . taxes.

Little Debbie is now releasing 3 new snack flavored peanut butters. The peanut butter flavors are Nutty Buddy, Honeybun, and Oatmeal Creme Pie.

Earlier in the hostilities with Iran, we wrote about the death of the Ayatollah’s successor, Mojtaba Khamenei. Last week The Observations questioned the Iranian government’s announcement of the succession, while displaying a portrait of the man. Israeli intelligence has now confirmed that Mojtaba Khamenei is dead, and has been since before he was chosen as the new Iranian leader.

The United States “obliterated” all military installations on Iran’s Kharg Island, which sits just off the Straits of Hormuz. WINNING!

The United States spared Kharg Island’s oil refining and loading facilities, but President Trump warned that if Iran mined the Straits of Hormuz, those facilities would also be “obliterated”. And we are more than capable of doing so. Choose wisely, Iran.

The British Labour government has voted to abolish hereditary positions in The House of Lords. Centuries of tradition will be abolished, so as to allow the radical Left members of the House of Commons to virtue signal their fealty to “equality”. Balderdash!

For years, the British 5 pound note has carried a portrait of the great Winston Churchill, along with his famous statement “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” Winston Churchill rallied the Brits, and the world, to resist Nazi Germany, and eventually to victory over the evil Axis Powers. He is among the greatest Englishmen of all time. And now, the Bank of England wants to replace Mr. Churchill’s face on the note with an engraving of . . . beavers. Yes, the Bank of England thinks that nature scenes are better representations on the once great nation’s currency, than the people who actually built the country.

The Observations has been writing for some time that Great Britain is doomed. When beavers replace Winston Churchill on its money, the country’s collapse is complete. Turn it over to the Muslims.

Great Britain’s Labour Party is “encouraging” (i.e. mandating) that all schools, councils, and workplaces keep records of any instance of anti-Muslim behavior, real or perceived, no matter how slight.

Canada’s Liberal government has signed a security agreement with Red China. Moreover, the Canadians have permitted Red China to operate secret “police stations” within the country. Sigh. Canada is a full-fledged vassal of Xi and Red China.

Congratulations to Duke on winning the ACC Championship.

Congratulations to Arkansas on winning the Southeastern Conference Championship.

Congratulations to VCU on winning the Atlantic 10 Championship.

Congratulations to Purdue on winning the Big 10 Championship.

Congratulations to the University of Pennsylvania on winning the Ivy League Championship.

Congratulations to Utah State on winning the Mountain West Championship.

Congratulations to Gonzaga on winning the West Coast Conference Championship.

Congratulations to Arizona on winning the Big 12 Championship.

Congratulations to Cameron Young on winning The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. The biggest win of his career. Well done.

President Richard Nixon aide Alexander Butterfield, who revealed to Congress the existence of The White House taping system, has died at age 99. R. I. P.

GFK