Another Cup Of Coffee Morning News: Republicans Beware of The “Folly” Trap

By Dannie McIntire

September 22, 2022

My wife always reviews my articles, making corrections or suggestions on my phrasing, once in a while asking if my ranting is getting carried away. Recently while she was reviewing one of my columns, she suggested, “why don’t you write something more light-hearted instead of your usual gloom and doom”. I’ve since thought quite hard about her suggestion, as I am usually key on recent political news and happenings, there just isn’t much out there in the news which I can say honestly lightens my mood.

Most of the time I spend on the current folly of our democratic leaders, both federal and states, however, ”folly” isn’t just reserved for democrats exclusory, goodness no, some Republican politicians have had me scratching my head of late as well.

Abortion continues to be a hot-button issue among voters of both parties. The recent Supreme Court decision, in essence throwing the issue back to each individual state to decide, was one I agree with. The right to abortion was not in the original “Bill of Rights”, therefore, by our federal constitution, it reverts back to each state to pass any laws to either allow or restrict the issue of abortion. 

A recent national poll conducted by Fox News found that 52% of those polled favor abortion being legal. Another poll in May by Gallup found that 

50% of Americans believe abortion should be allowed only under “certain circumstances. Abortion is clearly still a hot-button issue among the electorate.

So what brilliant move does senate republican Lindsey Graham make? Right before the upcoming mid-term election, he introduces a senate bill that would ban abortion nationally after 15 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is in danger.

The matter had been returned to the individual states to decide, it should have been left alone; even Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly was less than happy with Senator Graham’s move. 

The Republican Party is currently taking a “whipping” on the abortion issue among a large block of potential voters, so why “stir the pot” again right before an election? To me, it’s a “folly” political move.

Another ‘folly” that causes me to scratch my head is the continued “crying” among some republicans who still want to foster their belief that the past presidential election was somehow “stolen”. 

The election was not “stolen”, Biden received 51.2% of the popular vote against Trump’s 46.8%, and most importantly, Biden received 56.9% of the electoral vote. 

As a Republican, let’s stop this “folly”, it was a fair election, our party had a candidate while had many policies that a majority of voters might have agreed with, his narcissistic personality cost him potential votes. 

Need a recent example of his self-touting “self-importance”? This week he claimed he would have had a better seat than President Biden had at the Queen’s funeral, it’s all about him, he just is not capable of shutting up.  

As a Republican, I did cast my vote to re-elect him, however, I had to “hold my own nose” while doing so. My vote in this last presidential election was not so much a vote for Donald Trump as it was a vote against Joe Biden. 

“Come on man”, I’m hoping my fellow republicans come to their senses and present a candidate for the next presidential election that is more personally palatable to a majority of potential voters. 

I fear another “Trump” run will doom us to an additional four more” Biden years and at his age Vice President Kamala Harris is waiting in the wings to take his spot.

Another potential “folly” for republicans is a current congressional bill introduced by Representative Jeriod Nadler, (D-NY), referred to as the “Respect for Marriage Act”. It would repeal and replace the “Defense of Marriage Act” signed into law by President Clinton, which gave the federal definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman while allowing states to either refuse or allow same-sex marriages under laws passed by other states. 

Democrats love to set traps that their republican foes sometimes tend to walk blindly into. If this bill does make it to the floor for a vote, my advice to our republican leaders is to work to strip out any absurd amendments, however, why walk into the “folly” of objecting to “same-sex marriage” as a whole? A 2021 Gallup poll; showed that 70% of Americans now support the issue.

 My thinking is, that same-sex marriage is a reality, whether you agree with it or not, so why alienate a part of the electorate because you might not personally agree with their sexual preference? “Come on man”, same-sex couples wanting to marry should have the same right to pay divorce lawyers as heterosexual couples. 

FOOTNOTE:  The City-County Observer posted this article without opinion, bias, or editing.

     

Republican Lawmakers Invite Local College Students To Apply For Paid Statehouse Internship

STATEHOUSE (Sept. 20, 2022) – Vanderburgh County legislators invite local college students and recent graduates of all majors to apply for a paid internship with Indiana House Republicans.

State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) said House interns will be paid $800 bi-weekly as they work at the Indiana Statehouse in downtown Indianapolis during the 2023 legislative session, which kicks off in January and concludes at the end of April. She said internships are available in several departments and are open to college sophomores, juniors and seniors, graduate students, and recent graduates.

“As a former intern at the Indiana Statehouse, I can tell you this is an awesome opportunity to learn about government and kick start your career,” McNamara said.  “I encourage college graduates and soon-to-be graduates to apply for this hands-on experience.”

Paid, spring-semester intern positions are full-time, Monday through Friday, and include free parking, career and professional development assistance, enrollment access to an Indiana government class, and opportunities to earn academic credits through the student’s college or university. Interns are also eligible to apply for a competitive $3,000 scholarship to use toward undergraduate and graduate expenses.

According to State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka), students can apply for internships in a variety of departments related to their field of study, including legislative operations, policy, and communications and media relations.

“Many hardworking, successful people began their careers as an intern with the Indiana House of Representatives,” Hostettler said. “Whether you’re looking to go into the private sector or public service, this internship can help you build the foundation for your future.”

“Statehouse interns contribute to our success in so many ways during the legislative session,” said State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville). “Interns are an invaluable part of the team, helping with constituent communications, policy research, and press release writing.

FOOTNOTE: We are puzzled why Warrick County State Repersentivate Cindy Ledbetter (R) was not included in this article.

“Hoosier Promise Tour” Stops in Evansville This Coming Saturday

INDIANAPOLIS – On Saturday in Evansville and Columbus, Destiny Wells (Candidate for Secretary of State), ZeNai Brooks (Candidate for State Auditor), Jessica McClellan (Candidate for State Treasurer), and Jason Salstrom (Candidate for Indiana House District 78) will continue the “Hoosier Promise Tour”, a statewide effort by the Indiana Democratic Party and its candidates to highlight the brighter future Democrats will create for the Hoosier State once elected to office on Election Day.

WHO:

Destiny Wells (Candidate for Secretary of State)

ZeNai Brooks (Candidate for State Auditor)

Jessica McClellan (Candidate for State Treasurer)

Jason Salstrom (Candidate for Indiana House District 78)

WHAT:

The INDems’ “Hoosier Promise Tour” Stop

WHEN:

9:00 AM CT, Saturday, September 24, 2022

WHERE:

UA Local 136 Plumbers & Steamfitters at 2300 St Joseph Industrial Park Dr, Evansville, IN 47720

“Indiana has brighter days ahead, and it’s because Democrats are working to solve the kitchen-table issues most important to Hoosier families in all 92 counties. From creating good-paying jobs, expanding broadband, lowering prescription drug costs, repealing the diaper tax, expanding health care for veterans, implementing new gun safety measures, and making the largest investment to fight climate change in our nation’s history, Democrats are delivering a better future for Indiana – and we’re just getting started,” said Mike Schmuhl, Chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party. “Democrats want to restore a woman’s right to choose and protect birth control, eliminate textbook fees for students, repeal the tampon tax, and legalize cannabis. We’re ready to get to work, but it’ll take electing more Democrats up and down the ticket to get this done.”

From securing pandemic relief (via the American Rescue Plan) and providing a once-in-a-generation infrastructure investment (via The Jobs Act) to delivering life-saving health care to Indiana’s veterans (via the PACT Act) and passing measures to help combat global inflation and climate change (via the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act), Democrats have been hard at work putting issues important to Hoosiers first, and extreme partisanship second.

As for the Indiana Republican Party, they have made abortion against the law, passed reckless permitless carry, put politics at the center of Indiana’s once-prized education system, and nominated candidates unfit for public office. Under the Indiana GOP, the state is in a rac