Trash the filibuster rule
I’ve stated before how much I enjoy the comics, and especially the political ones.
And so, this Sunday’s 3/21 Doonesbury nailed it on voter suppression and what the Republicans are all about.
Jimmy Crow squawks that the voters got it wrong and so the Republicans have to make sure that “those people” can’t vote. Of course, this is all under the guise of voter integrity, but is really about racism and anti-democracy.
A lot has been said this isn’t the American way, but our history makes it very clear that it is. And so you Democrats in leadership positions, if this nation is going to move forward, then the filibuster must be put in the trash can and strongly sealed.
Mark Perry, Lihu‘e
Biological males invade women’s sports
The 1972 Title IX legislation has allowed women to flourish in a male-dominated world.
Opportunities were created by mandate in areas that were limited or did not exist prior to its inception, and an uncountable number of girls and women have been able to participate in sports programs that were previously unavailable to them.
The benefits began early in schools, progressing through high school, college, the Olympic Games and on to professional sports. Examples would be eight Olympic gold medals for our basketball women, four championships in soccer in the World Cup, plus four in the Olympics. These are unmatched performances.
But all this has been accomplished by cis (antonym of transgender) women competing against their biological peers. But now biological gender has no legal rights. The rights for imagined or assumed gender are superior to the rights of natural biological gender because the full weight of the federal government is now behind the enforcement of this supremacy.
The Supreme Court in Bostock vs Clayton County has ruled that sex is any gender crated in the mind, and Congress, in the “Equality” Act, mandates that cis males can freely crossover into women’s sports and private facilities, and now President Biden’s executive order has provided punishment for those who oppose this total dismantling of cis women’s rights under Title IX. Biological gender now has no legal standing and is replaced by any gender imaginable under the LGBTQ++ banner.
All this disregards the transparently-obvious, competitive natural advantage of men over women, particularly at the elite level, and denies them their privacy.
George Brunstad, Kapa‘a
Kaua‘i ‘social contract’ alive and well
Fifty months after I moved my family to Kaua‘i, Hurricane ‘Iniki struck. The damage was severe, but the community pulled together and neighbors helped each other out. The walls blown apart by the storm opened our lives into a community of neighbors and friends.
Almost 30 years later, and one month ago, a couple of mistakes almost blew a hole in my heart. My beloved standard poodle, Louie, disappeared from a house he was visiting in a neighborhood he did not know.
As my family and friends scoured the surrounding area, I was repeatedly amazed at how people who I had never met before that Sunday afternoon took my problem seriously and offered heartfelt condolences, encouragement and ideas that might help.
I am not on Facebook, but I heard that several people posted there about Louie’s predicament. One fellow even drove his ATV around the neighborhood, following trails that Louie might have taken. There are a lot of dog-lovers in Kalaheo!
Animal lover Ally Kirk (who I know from Natural Pet) told me to call Tracy Capman, one of Kaua‘i Humane Society’s dedicated volunteers. Tracy said to leave some clothes with my scent on them nearby where Louie had disappeared. I did, and parked my truck over them to keep them dry and give Louie a dry place if he did return. It was going to be a rainy night.
Thankfully, this story has a happy ending. Tracy’s advice was excellent, and Louie was there near my truck the next morning!
Several people to whom I had given my number but neglected to get theirs called me back the next day to see if Louie had been found. I so appreciated their caring follow-up, and I got to reward them with “YES!” and thank them for their help.
I am writing this letter in part to thank again all those who were part of Louie’s big “adventure.” But, I also feel compelled to acknowledge that the social contract is still alive here. Those who have lived here long enough know that this is as special as the incredible natural beauty that nurtures and supports us. Let us never forget.
Thank you, Kaua‘i, island and her people.
Ned Dana, Lawa‘i
Morning Mark Perry, the Filibuster Rule is exactly needed for a Constitutional Republic where the Minority, no matter which Political Party, is provided a voice. In a Constitutional Republic the minority must be provided recourse to be heard. Even the U.S. Supreme Court always allows the minority a voice to present their position. A Democracy squashes the minority, where the minority must go away. And again, no matter which Political Party is in control, the minority has a critical voice. The system of Government we have must always allow the minority to have a voice. We are a Republic.
I seemed to work as intended for the first 100+ years. But now, ever increasingly, the virtual filibuster has been a tool of the tyranny of the minority. i say reset the rules and have the return of the Talking Filibuster.
Joe Biden, the Democrats and their short memory.
Senator Joe Biden was a stalwart defender of the filibuster, when Republicans had the majority. President Trump hold the record on filibusters against his nominees, laid down by Democrats, and that was just in the past two years.
The filibuster dates back to 1806, not the racist Jim Crow laws (Democrat creation) era as Joe Biden recalls
That’s right, the Democratic Party was full of racism back then. An amazing thing happened in the 1960s, though, and they left the Democrats and were welcomed heartily into the Republican party where they remain to this day.
The filibuster was primarily used as a tool of racism and obstruction to equality – and that abuse is accelerated in today’s Senate.
No that we have gone through (not completely) the COVID pandemic, it’s time to look at another major health issue – Liberalism. Here are the symptoms:
1) You’re a self made victim of your failures and absence of logic.
2) You blame everyone else for your failures.
3) Logic and common sense are toxic to you.
4) You swallow the political party pill without even questioning the contents (see #3).
5) You want everyone else to pay for your ongoing poor decisions.
6) A lie is the truth, and the truth is a lie.
7) Bad is good, goo is bad.
8) You believe that there is no God.
9) Killing unborn babies is good.
10) You agree that there is more than two genders.
11) You blame Republicans for everything even though undeniable facts state otherwise.
If you have any of these symptoms, seek professional help immediately. You can be made normal.
On a side note, I would like to thank Biden for his speech yesterday. In preparation for his crib notes using, predetermined selective acceptance of who had questions, and brain dead gaze at times, I placed audio speakers around my garden. After he spoke, my garden was lush like never before! Nothing like liberal fertilizer and other animal waste products to promote garden growth.
“goo is bad”? I like goo. How dare you!
YuCalJoe-
Obviously our education system (most recently decimated even further by Betsy “let the rich prevail” DeVos) failed you. Even your handle is suspect.
How about:
It’s “Now, not No”.
“Goo is bad”
It’s “there are’, not “there is”.
As for content:
We are not failures, We are successful. We won the election. Trump lost. He was fired.
We embrace logic, common sense and critical thinking.
We question all authority.
A lie is a lie. Trump and his minions revel in unadulterated BS.
We recognize that there are virtually hundreds, if not thousands, of religions, most with their version of “God”. Is there a God? Many Gods? No Gods? Show me the proof. Until I see it, I view Judeo-Christian religions as having their basis in old Hebrew fairy tales. Am I afraid of burning in He.l? He.l no.
Killing unplanned, unwanted embryos keeps the population in check and saves us from a whole lot of mental anguish, mental health problems and dysfunctional human beings.
We believe there are two genders but many gender and sexual attraction identities. We do not believe in boxing every identity into a corner and making them live their lives in confusion and misery.
The Republican party has gone by the wayside. There are some normal folks on that side, Liz Cheney, Mitt Romney, and a few others. Trump and his minions have destroyed what was a viable party.
If none of this makes sense to you, I suggest that you seek professional help immediately. You can be made normal. Or not.
Perry, It’s RACIST! It’s the RUSSIANS! It’s GLOBAL WARMING! It’s the REPUBLICANS! IT’s ALL THEIR FAULT! PLEASE, Take your meds. Oh, and Thank you Mr. Kuroiwa for a intelligent response….. I just had to add a lil bit of humor!
Oh, and all hail His Fraudulency, Xi Hiden, Commander in Cheat! Peace, out.
Hey Kimo, or is it James Rosen?
You possess an odd sense of humor, bordering on stupidity.
Racism is real.
The Russians and the Chinese are both dangerous adversaries.
The Republican party is in the trash heap with (fired, thankfully) liar-in-chief tRump.
And are you still singing the Big Lie, that the election was stolen?
Get a life, fella, and a grip, before you follow tRump off the edge.
Trashing the filibuster will bring short term satisfaction and long term pain. It is naive to think your party (either one) will hold a majority power for more than a few years… the cycle of politics
YuCaljo is my new hero. Thanks Bud. For a second there I was feeling a little lonely.
Cool off KauaiBoy.
You sound like a bot planted to insult and offend conservatives who are entitled to voice their opinion on this platform. I find their words more logical than yours. Take a nap and come back later when you’ve calmed down.
In 2018, senior Democrat dick Durban said the filibuster was critical for the senate. Now that democrats are the majority he wants dump it.