Justice Gorsuch, Nominee

The nomination of 10th circuit court judge, Gorshuch came as a surprise to nobody. He was approved at the circuit court level by acclimation.

The issue of Constitutional Constructionists vs. going with the flow as progressives have favored bring up an important issue. Has society evolved and they want to go with them, or did starting with the Warren Court, push them into this evolution.

As was president Trump's remarks reflect, many voted for him solely on the basis of keeping the supreme court to the original job of following the U.S. Constitution. This is a heavy mandate. One that will bite democrats on the butt if they fail to realize why they lost and why he won.

Some in the progressive wing will commit political suicide if they ignore this. My hope is that the Senate does not have to use the nuclear option to shut down the negative voters. If they do, it will be on the heads of the recalcitrant Democrats.

Obamacare Replacement

In the world of trite phrases, one stands out today. "You can't have your cake and eat it too." Two proposed changes in government controlled health care are impossible to make together.

One is to continue to cover people with pre-existing conditions, the other is to eliminate fines for not staying in the program. The key here is adverse selection. If fines are eliminated, you will see a mass defection by young healthy people that cannot afford the insurance to begin with.

Throw in the ones who stay, most of which would be sick people without any options and you have a failed program.

One truth is we can't after creating a health plan for already sick people, throw them out on the street.Backing out of this flagrant attempt at socialization of medicine is going to be more complicated than most think.

While I'm not famous for supporting welfare programs, I see only one solution.

Go back to qualifying health and age wise as always was the previous criteria, and expand Medicaid to include those who cannot qualify for health insurance. Radical, yes, but how else can health insurance return to sane costs.

We must also reform prescription costs to match what other countries like Canada has or allow importation from other areas.

Misogynistic Behavior

Misogynistic behavior seems to be wildly bandied  about regarding the Trump victory. What is missing is those examples of really bad examples.

What should be leading the discussion would pretty much include the entire middle east, excepting Israel. Where a rape victim can be stoned to death by her family and many other outrages.

Let's look at our own examples in the presidencies:

Prior to the end  of WW11, then General Eisenhower commissioned a buxom English woman  in the U.S. Army. She was his driver... and more. (Non-citizens may not be commissioned officers in our military.)

President Kennedy routinely played with young ladies in the White House Swimming pool and of course the bedrooms as well. He even shared with his brother, Bobbie, the sexual favors of Marilyn Monroe.

Then we have Bill Clinton, who left only one child from his marriage, apparently due to his unavailability to the marriage bed.

Now, A Republican is being chastised for having an active sex life. Well, if he wants to shed Melania,  come to me, sweet thang.        

Inauguration Day

Inauguration Day has arrived. Regardless of one's political leanings, this is an historic day in our country's history. We have one of the few countries that consistently change governmentspeacefully with ceremonious atmosphere.

In a poll featured on Huckleberries on line, the Spokesman-Review's North Idaho Blog, which asked who would watch the inauguration. 36.02% said yes, 56.52% said no. I can only hope that the majority have to work and cannot watch. On the other hand, it may represent the political left, filled to the brim with Snowflakes. People that refuse to accept any other outcome than the one they prefer.

Answering strongly against representations that Trump is a racist, several black performers have stepped up to appear. In Talladaga, an all black college band will play in the parade. They weren't asked, they asked the transition peoplefor permission ot play.

These acts of patriotism suggest that plain spoken people like Trump and many of his supporters are being regularly wrongly accused of being racists by black and liberal leaders as knee jerk accusations against anyone they disagree with.

For me, I'll watch hoping tht the 50 or so congresspersons will enroll in a citizenship class soon.  If disruptive groups use violence to break up the inauguration it would be helpful for them to contemplate the act not as free speech, but as a criminal act of subversion. Sedition is the name of that game. Until authorities treat these acts of inciting to riot seriously, they will continue as unpunished crimes with no serious consequences.

Talladega Integrity

Last night, the president of Talladaga College rewrote the book on integrity, as they petitioned the Trump Inaugeration Committee to march in the Inauguration parade. Talladega is a black school, fighting back against undeserved race baiting by the left.

The following article from "The Root," pretty much says it all.

Want to know how you know you’re on the wrong side of history if you’re an HBCU president?
First, you agree for your school, Talladega College, to play at the incoming president’s inauguration—a gig so despised the lineup includes a 16-year-old second-place reality-show contestant, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (because nothing says hotness like a tabernacle choir), and the Rockettes (and rumor has some of them don’t even want to perform).

Then, you appear on Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor and mention that the band hasn’t raised the funds needed to participate in the inauguration event. And, shortly after that appearance on Fox News, whose demographic doesn’t look anything like the students who attend your school, your GoFundMe page runneth over. Before the appearance, you barely had the $75,000 to make the trip, now you’re swimming in $500,000 and counting.

Such is life for Talladega College President Billy Hawkins, who not only wants his band to play for a demagogue’s celebration, but also believes it will be a learning experience.
“As many of those who chose to participate in the parade have said, we feel the inauguration of a new president is not a political event but a civil ceremony celebrating the transfer of power,” he said in a statement, according to Fox News.
It’s worth noting that two former slaves started the Alabama college in 1865.

So much for the so called racist, bigots and other undesirables.

Pump Overload

Continuing the story of the Sewer District pumps being overloaded, we now find out that the float homes that are tilting are exposing their discharge pumps, causing alarms to go off.

My source believes that it is not the dribbling of faucets that is overloading the system, but these pumps that are operating under duress, are pumping huge amounts of lake water into the sewer system.

While Trump is planning to drain the swamp, it appears that Bayview Water & Sewer may be draining Lake Pend Oreille. This may not be the case, but an investigation is in order, as alarms have been going off for days.

This post is available for other journalistic use, but attribution must be honored, unlike the first go around by the CDA Press.

What is needed now is transparency and action to either repair the pumps or to disconnect these float homes from their power source. I called the Sewer District phone earlier today getting a message that the office would be closed for several days.

Someone from the Sewer District needs to do more than tell people to stop dripping their faucets while hundreds of gallons of lake water may be using up the capacity. We need action to correct the problem and better communication as well.

The Sewer district in no way has the authority to order people to stop using the system as some have suggested to me.   

Float Home Roofs

I received an e-mail this morning from a friend who said, "my float home is slowly sinking from the snow on my roof. Do you know anyone who does roofs?"

Well, yes I do. If you e-mail me at bayviewherb@gmail.com or call me at 683-9107 I will refer you to someone that can help.

Roofs on float homes do not usually collapse. They just add weight which can sink the house if not removed. If you own a float home in Bayview, I strongly urge you to inspect the roofs or get someone to remove the snow. 

Since I wrote this earlier, I have identified at least two float homes that hav capsized. One in Scenic Bay Marina and one in J.D.'s Marina

Third Icy Plunge

When I said the other day that two Arctic outbreaks in one Winter is unusual, I didn't dream of a third.

But here it is. After the snow quits, if and when, Tuesday through Saturday is predicted to be: 25-5, 17-3, 16-5, and finally 20-11 for Saturday.

That is just Bayview. It will be at or below zero in other locations. While it won't be as long, we will still find it prudent to drip faucets as single digit temps can freeze everything up in a hurry.

Stay warm out there. If you are old and feeble like me or have a heart condition, or overweight, please get someone else to shovel you out.

Bayview Sewer District

I ran across a flyer put out by Neil Peck, manager of the Water and sewer department. In it, it asked all members to desist from dripping their faucets during this cold weather emergency.

What we have here is a classic case of differing perspectives. He claimed that the additional waster water was overloading the capacity of the system to handle the volume, due to multiple households dribbling water throughout the below zero temperatures.

There are two issues here. First, in the design and maintenance of the sewer system, there should have been an additional capacity planned for  in the case of extreme weather.

The other, is the duty of all homeowners and renters to safeguard their domiciles from serious damage due to frozen pipes that eventually thaw, causing  severe damage to these homes.

The bottom line with me is until the sewer district indemnifies all members from frozen pipe damage, this citizen is going to protect his property. Poor planing does not put the onus on the users.

Lake Effect Snow

It is 08:45 am here in Bayview. Not a cloud in the sky and the temperature is minus 4. But it is snowing briskly.

During the cold night, the lake steams. The collective moisture then condenses, ergo snow. We don't get a lot of lake effect snow here, like around the great lakes, but we sure do now.

By the time of the spring thaw, this winter may rank with some of our legendary winters from the past. I can't remember any winter having two arctic blasts as is the case this year.

Batten down the hatches, folks, we have yet to get through next week's snow.

Tourism seems to be at a standstill at the moment, but look at the bright side. If you come to Bayview, don't bother calling ahead. You won't need a reservation.