TheWiseOldFart

In August of 1619 the first slaves stepped onto the New Land. This vile and inhuman act began what has become pervasive racism in the United States for more than 248 years. Republicans, with assistance from their propaganda machine, FOX News, continue to confirm that their party is composed of racists, bigots, homophobes, religious bigots, and sexists. This tells us that about one-half of all 340 million people are prejudiced without reason. One event which I never read in history class, and only learned about later in life, is demonstrative of how destructive racism has been for our nation’s future. The Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, had a very successful business district in 1921. However, on March 31 and June 1 st , an angry crowd of about 10,000 angry white men stormed into the Black part of Tulsa on March 31 and began attacking Black men and women while setting fire to their stores and shops. At the end of a well-planned attack on June 1 st , more than 300 Black men and women...

The beginning of the end happened on October 7, 1996. This is the day “fake news” began. The creation of billionaire Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes began broadcasting on this sad day in American history. They called it “FOX News,” although its real business was not informing the public about the facts. The events happening around the world were of no interest to these two con men. Their philosophy was based on money: “sensationalism increases viewership, and increasing the number of viewers increases advertising revenue.” The truth and facts were far down their list of priorities, or not at all. FOX quickly morphed into the right-wing propaganda machine it is today. It continues to support white supremacy, and the division of 340 million American people. In just months, FOX became the number one television “news” network. This translated into lower ratings for all legitimate news services: ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and all the others. Billionaires are involved in all television and print new...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart I knew the truth, but Fox viewers ignored the facts. Bill O’Reilly never was a legitimate journalist and his highly rated show was a disgrace to real newspersons everywhere. His one tactic was to talk over his guests if he did not like the answers they were about to give. Recently, Kamala Harris had the class and the courage to accept an interview on the biggest fake news broadcast in history: Fox News’. Bret Baier was given the honor of interviewing our future president, but he failed miserably. He used O’Reilly’s tactic. He would ask a question and as Vice-President Harris began her response, he began talking, attempting to make an effort in support of the worst president in history 38 times. He embarrassed himself and lost all the respect I once had for him. What was Baier’s excuse? (I paraphrase). “If I let her answer the questions, there wouldn’t have been enough time in the interview.” Really? Fox IS the original “FAKE NEWS.” Op-ed by James Turnage Find my...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart Pete Buttigieg has never been shy about appearing on Fox. He was on the right-wing’s propaganda tool Sunday, and he didn’t play nice; he told the truth. As the right-wing begins its baseless attacks on Kamala Harris, Democrats have found the courage to do the right thing and tell it like it is. This time he told the truth directly to Fox’ viewers. "The idea that somebody hasn't been tested or vetted when they have been vice president of the United States for nearly four years just doesn't make any sense. [Harris] is in obviously one of the most visible leadership roles in the country and she’s demonstrated both her effectiveness in that job and a vision for the country that Americans agree with. And that’s the real reason I think she’s going to win." HILLARY WAS THE MOST QUALIFIED PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN HISTORY In 2016, the greatest contrast between the two presidential candidates was simple: Hillary Clinton was the most qualified candidate ...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart Beginning with Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, I followed presidential elections: not in an objective way when I was 10-years-old. However, after graduating from high school in 1964, I began to look more closely at the political process. In just three years I would be able to vote, and I took both the privilege and responsibility seriously. I enlisted in the USAF in September of 1964, and it was shortly after that when the Vietnam war escalated. Soon the number of body bags began to grow. I asked questions like why, who, and how long. There were no answers, and none remain to this day, with the exception of how long. I was one of the lucky ones. The military draft would not end until 1973, and I was not forced into an illegal and controversial war. TIME AND OBSERVATION ARE GOOD TEACHERS I was motivated. I had been a freshman in high school when President John F. Kennedy was elected, and a senior when he was murdered. This led to my becoming a political junkie. I b...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart If you have ever read more than one of my rants, you know that I consider the mainstream media the enemy of the people. The “Fourth Estate” is protected by the First Amendment. However, today it no longer exists. The press was protected because its purpose was to expose government corruption. Today’s fake journalists are in collusion with Washington politicians. Several years ago, I had a source who asked to remain anonymous. He told me that the former free press was now under the control of Washington politicians. In the 21 st century, if a journalist wants the full story about any situation, he or she must omit certain facts harmful to the careers of elected officials. If he or she refuses to comply, all of their sources will cease to exist. ALL CRIMINALS MUST BE PUNISHED, WITHOUT EXCEPTION Here is the headline from Newsweek today. [Donald Trump's Conviction Was Expected to Sink Him in the Polls. It Hasn't] This title is extremely misleading. It gives...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   The relationship between music superstar, Taylor Swift, and Kansas City Chief star tight end, Travis Kelce, is very upsetting for the fake journalists at FOX “News.” The primary reason is simple: Ms. Swift is more popular and more important than anyone and everyone who is associated with the right-wing propaganda machine.   Some of the paid liars at FOX are incensed and display extreme dislike for Ms. Swift. Why, I don’t understand. These are two people who happen to be celebrities. Everyone should be happy for anyone who finds another person in this world. Jealousy springs to mind, and jealousy is an unfortunate attribute of humans with weak minds.   Speaking of our minds, FOX is a great danger to our nation’s people who have less than average intelligence or simply choose to be ignorant. They have brainwashed this group of people since 1996. In collusion with right-wing politicians, they constantly undermine the credibility of their liberal co...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   If you believe that Fox News is legitimate, bringing their audience facts about current events from around the world, you are making a choice, allowing yourself to be brainwashed. The truth is, Fox was created by Rupert Murdoch in 1996 for two purposes: increase advertising revenue by any means possible, and to become a propaganda machine for right-wing extremists. Their original primetime personalities included one man and one woman who apparently had credentials offering them an opportunity to claim the title of “journalist.” However, after the Roger Ailes scandal, related to sexual harassment and assault, Megyn Kelly resigned. Later it was discovered that their most successful host, Bill O’Reilly, has falsified the contents of his books, and also engaged in actions making him a sexual predator, he was forced to resign his lucrative position. Today, there is only one legitimate journalist on Fox. Bre Baier will never be allowed to report in primetime. Th...

  Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   Let me begin with the end. Religious extremists are the reason for the issue of abortion becoming political. They are clearly more concerned about a one-inch fetus than the life of a full-grown woman. Placing that fact aside, let’s take a short look at reality. The human brain begins to develop in the uterus within the sixth or seventh week. However, it is not fully developed until the end of the second trimester. Why is this important? Christian extremists claim that life begins at conception, and seek to ban all abortions, regardless of how the pregnancy originated. Pro-lifers are also involved in the termination of life for those who are terminally ill and the prognosis of regaining normal life is minimal at best. Their argument is founded on the fact that the patient’s brain remains “alive,” not alive as we might consider it, but alive according to science. They oppose any form of “mercy killing.” Let me make this clear. Anti-abortion ...

  Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   Fox began to back away from supporting Donald Trump after the January 6 insurrection and the indictments for his felonious actions. However, as ratings continue to drop, and fear and desperation replaced the fake news network’s arrogance, the right-wing propaganda machine is once again focusing their attention on the greatest traitor in American history. It is no secret that the extremists on the right side of the aisle seek repeal of the first amendment, unless it is beneficial for their obscene and anti-American agenda. Fox is claiming that Trump had a right to attempt the overthrow of our government, based on the first amendment in the Bill of Rights. Fox claims that Trump had a right to say “some bad things.” What the f**k is happening in this nation? We are devolving into the dark ages when a small group of very rich men controlled our government and the future of our country. If Franklin D. Roosevelt had not become our president, the e...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   From FBI Director Christopher Wray: “Domestic terrorism is the greatest threat to the American people.” Everyone remembers the name Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995 where 168 innocents were murdered, 19 of them small children. The media reported stories about Ted Kaczynski, dubbed “The Unabomber,” for 17 years, beginning in 1978. However, domestic terrorism is much more common in our country than reported by the media. Large events receive the headlines, but mass shootings continue to happen more frequently than the number of days on the calendar. After the cowardly attacks on 9/11, Republican politicians misdirected the facts related to domestic terrorism and focused their attacks on all Muslims, insinuating that they were all enemies of the United States. The truth is that the greatest danger lies within our own people, and it is related to uncontrolled gun violence and the greed of those involved in their manufacture and s...

  Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   In 1951 I was five years old. My family was living in Lewiston, Idaho, where I was born. My memories of family gatherings are clear. My mother’s family was large. My maternal grandparents had twelve children. The first two died when they were young, the other ten grew into adulthood. Attending these family gatherings were nine of the ten, my Uncle Leonard lost his life in WWII. Three of my uncles served and survived. I enjoyed listening to them. I’m sure my family was no different than any other, the conversation often turned to politics. Their opinions were seldom favorable. They believed that our government failed to do enough for our nation’s people. President Truman was about to enter his final year in office, and many of the men in both parties were scrambling for reelection. Move ahead to 1956. Former WWII General, Dwight D. Eisenhower had been elected as our President in 1952, one of last two legitimate Republican Presidents, and I ...

  Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   The polls claim that Trump and DeSantis remain the favorites to win the “Republican” Party’s presidential nomination in 2024. That may have been the saddest sentence I have ever written. Not only are neither of them qualified to hold any public office, they share some the same “qualities,” none of them offering a positive outcome for the United States. Trump and DeSantis are hell bent on self-destruction. By their own words and actions they have proven themselves to be incompetent, in possession of low levels of intelligence, and are focused on ending democracy in America, replacing it with a fascist regime. The truth is clear. President Biden has accomplished more in his first two-and-one-half years than the previous four Republicans in their 24 years in the White House. Another fact is that the candidates for 2024 are some of the worst politicians in history, and woefully unfit to lead our nation. It is clear that they are all Trump wann...

  Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   I try to be professional. Although I occasionally use profanity, I don’t like or enjoy it. However, the truth is it’s time for all Americans to face reality and the truth and save their country from the villains among us. As a young man, I listened to a speech by an animatronic Abraham Lincoln at Disneyland in a long-forgotten attraction named, “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” This speech impressed me and although it has often been misquoted, Its meaning is more important today than ever. "At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." The former were his exact words and If he were alive today, he would know that he was not only a great President, but also a great prophet. Over the last 42...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart The TEA Party, created in 2010 was not far enough to the right for some men and women who call themselves “Republicans.” Therefore in 2015, a group of fascist-leaning right wing politicians created what is known as “the Freedom Caucus.”  Some of the men who created this radical group include Ron DeSantis, Jim Jordan, and Mark Meadows. Marjorie Taylor Greene seemed a perfect fit for these fascists. By her words and actions she proved herself a despicable human being and an enemy of the United States of America. So, why was she forced out of the Freedom Caucus? About two weeks ago she had another altercation with fellow extremist, Lauren Boebert. We have learned that a vote was taken in support of Boebert, defending her against the expletive issued by Greene. Don’t you hate it when...