Letters to the Editor

Tested, certified

Editor, the Journal,

In response to a Sept. 29 letter to the editor ("Rebuttal to Ericson's column"), the Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS) would like to clarify how Washington's election systems are certified. Namely, the ClearVote 2.1 system used in Mason County has been tested and certified by an independent authority, as well as OSOS, for use in Washington elections.

We have seen increasing misinformation surrounding the certification and technical aspects of voting systems in Washington state and nationwide. Before a voting system is certified, it undergoes testing at the federal and state levels.

The letter correctly states the Secretary of State cannot approve a voting device unless it has been tested by an Elections Assistance Commission (EAC)-designated independent authority, under RCW 29A.12.101. But the claim that ClearVote 2.1 is "not an EAC-certified system" creates confusion about state law, which requires that systems must be "tested and certified by an independent testing authority." In the process of certifying ClearVote's systems, including ClearVote 2.1, Washington used the same testing authority, Pro V&V, that the EAC uses. Readers can learn more about Pro V&V's federal accreditation on the EAC's voting system test laboratories webpage.

We require certification to the EAC's Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) by an independent testing authority. However, we do not require direct EAC certification of every system when EAC-accredited certification is available. At times, EAC commissioner positions have remained vacant for extended periods. Without being able to rely on accredited third-party certifications, a lack of a quorum of EAC commissioners can jeopardize our ability to facilitate elections statewide.

The OSOS has authority to bring in additional independent experts under RCW 29A.12.040 to mitigate the risk of relying on a single entity to certify our voting systems for the unique requirements of voting by mail.

If a voting system has been EAC certified, we provide a link to the EAC testing reports. We don't publish independent authorities' test reports on our website, but can provide them upon request.

Additionally, OSOS and election officials in all 39 counties go to great lengths to ensure the accuracy and integrity of voter registration rolls. We partner with multiple state and federal organizations and agencies to ensure our voter rolls are as up to date as possible, including departments of Licensing, Health, Corrections, Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Service and Social Security Administration.

Registered voters play an important role in maintaining this accuracy. If you recently moved, had a name change, turned 18, became a recently naturalized citizen, or experienced other life events that could affect your voting status, please go to VoteWA.gov to update your registration.

Stuart Holmes, Acting director of elections, Office of the Secretary of State

Permanent leader

Editor, the Journal,

In response to Roderic Whittaker, well said. More information regarding ex-President Donald Trump and his agenda for the United States can be read in many books that are now on the shelves of many stores and online. In particular, Mary Trump's book, "Enough is Too Much" and Michael Cohen's book, "Disloyal," and many more books about Mr. Trump written by reputable writers. They each try to present the reasons why Donald Trump spews lies and deceit besides his narcissistic ways.

The writers tell how Mr. Trump is a bigot, racist and womanizer. They also state his thoughts on making the United States white only and desperately wants to be president, not only once again but forever, as another dictator. Power is what he wants but cares nothing for the people, not even those who support him. Power.

Money. Permanent leader of the United States is what he wants by any means he can grab it. Doesn't it mean anything to anyone that Donald Trump doesn't read, much less has yet to read and understand the Constitution he swore to uphold?

John M. Burke, Shelton

Voting intention

Editor, the Journal,

In October of 2016, I had to hold my nose when I marked my ballot for the November election. I did not consider either candidate worthy of my vote. I decided that I could not vote for the Democratic candidate, given HillaryCare in the 1990s, Benghazi, holding classified sensitive information on an unsecured server, etc.

I considered the Republican nominee a clown, a boor and an egotistical oaf. I thought to myself, "Is this all we have? Is this what America has come to?" A member of my local church body in Shelton informed me that he wasn't going to vote at all, having become so disillusioned with the whole thing. I told him I understood his reason, though I considered it disrespectful to generations that had come before me and fought, bled and died to allow me the opportunity to cast my vote. But what were my options?

Some of my fellow citizens would point out that nothing ever changes, the political establishment is only focused on keeping the status quo and therefore all this is a waste of time. I get it. My friend had objected that the Republican candidate was profane, driven by ego, boorish and hardly what one might consider "presidential quality." I basically agreed with him. But what, I asked myself, was it that I was voting for? Was I voting for him to be my pastor? To give me moral leadership? Someone that I could hold up to my children and grandchildren as someone to emulate? Hardly that. That is a really unsustainable position, given our fallible, imperfect, corruptible human nature.

Human history should disabuse us of that notion. I believe it was our second president John Adams who expressed the opinion that our nation should prefer Christians in public office. That might have held true at one period in our country, but since Christians are now considered "ignorant, uninformed, unscientific dimwits" and anyone can claim that label and actually be quite ignorant of the origins and what it originally meant, it's not very helpful. We had a Sunday school teacher for a president in the 1970s and that was one of the most ineffective administrations ever. So if giving "moral leadership" and being a "paragon of virtue" to the nation isn't the purpose of the office, what is the elected executive and commander-in-chief supposed to be and do? More to the point, what is the purpose of a representative republican form of government such as ours? Also, what is it that we should expect from any duly elected public official, whether a senator, a legislator or appointee to the judicial bench? What are their legitimate functions? What are they supposed to be doing?

I believe I found that purpose in our nation's founding documents, in particular, the Declaration of Independence. Upon rereading that document, (I had an opportunity in 1977 to view the original) it occurred to me that I had perhaps been misunderstanding or confusing the purpose of elections. I noticed that the purpose of government is explicitly stated in the second paragraph of the Declaration where it says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

So, apparently the Founders expected legitimate government, chosen by the people through their elected representatives, to protect their citizens' inalienable, fundamental rights. Not some other people in some other nation, not noncitizens. The citizens of the United States. Each one's individual, inalienable rights. Toward the conclusion of that document there is the statement, "We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States ..."

They considered themselves a nation of free and independent states. They had a fear of large governments and of having no voice in public policy. It seems that we have come full circle. Isn't that the ongoing complaint about government today? If we go back in our history, big government really began with the Wilson administration in the early 1900s, the start of the Progressive Movement and relying on scientific experts to guide our nation. And now we have experts telling us we need to mask up, maintain social distance, not gather in public, etc., and changing the scientific evidence of experts every day.

I had to ask myself, "Is a boor who is also an ego-driven, loudmouth businessman, capable of protecting my inalienable rights to life, liberty and my private property?" I would have to say "absolutely yes." And considering Build Back Better has decimated our economy, encouraged people not to work, and present

policy has given the OK to burning down Democratic-led cities, given us spiraling out-of-control inflation, and has encouraged people to take out student loans that they won't have to pay for, I now have to conclude that we had a pretty good thing going with the previous administration.

True, he was not the best spokesperson for the nation, but what exactly have the professional politicians and the status quo bureaucracy given us for longer than I've been living? I'm 73 now. I haven't seen much change. It seems to me that we should also be asking of every piece of proposed legislation, "Does it encourage or discourage individual responsibility? Does it expand the size of government or limit its reach into our private affairs?" A heathen who may not be a refined, polished politician, but who will protect my rights will do just fine.

Geary Barber, Shelton

Constituent support

Editor, the Journal,

I would like to offer my support for state Rep. Drew MacEwen as he looks to move into the Senate. In his 10 years in the House representing the 35th District, Rep. MacEwen has proven he has a vested interest to support the constituents of this great district. This can be seen in the numerous projects that he has been able to secure millions of dollars in funding for. Whether it is for projects such as Turning Pointe Survivor Advocacy Center or Crossroads Housing, he has been a huge advocate to provide our at-risk residents with a hand-up. In addition to programs mentioned, the level of support he has provided for infrastructure projects such as road, telecommunications, sewer and water should be commended as they have benefitted every area of the 35th.

I would also like to mention Rep. MacEwen has developed and continues to develop relationships that cross both sides of the aisle. In today's environment where political divides have created an atmosphere of false accusations and childish name-calling, you will never hear or see him stoop to this level. Regardless of party preference Rep. MacEwen clearly understands the job he has been elected to do is support the priorities and needs of his constituents throughout the 35th. His track record clearly indicates this is how he works, and I would ask for others' support as he moves to the Senate. We need solid common-sense representation, and this is exactly what Rep. MacEwen has and will continue to do.

Margaret Craft, Shelton

Our trust lands

Editor, the Journal,

Last week's Journal featured a Q&A between candidates Drew MacEwen and Julianne Gale. Part of that exchange was Gale's response to a question related to the Department of Natural Resources' forest land management in which she made several observations that were misleading or incorrect.

Gale referred to DNR's lands as "public lands." These are not public lands in the common context but trust lands granted to the state at statehood in 1889. These lands are managed within a strict, court-tested trust mandate to provide revenue to several trust beneficiaries, including common schools, our universities and state colleges.

There is an additional group of trust lands with a similar mandate to produce revenue; these lands were logged and abandoned in the early 1900s and returned to the counties. The affected counties ceded these lands to the state of Washington and the Legislature created a multicounty trust under which these lands currently are managed by DNR.

Collectively, these lands returned over $200 million of nontax revenue to the state and affected counties in fiscal year 2021 and hundreds of millions of dollars in nontax revenue over time. This information comes from DNR's FY 2021 annual report readily available on the internet. These figures are just trust-land revenues; they don't include jobs provided by growing and harvesting the products and the recreation opportunities provided for all of us. Watch the log trucks rolling through Mason County. Each one with logs that have a red dot is from a DNR timber sale. Each one provides jobs and forest products for all of us.

DNR lands are managed under several plans, which are designed to protect and enhance the environment as well as produce revenue. The most encompassing plan is the Habitat Conservation Plan, which is a multiyear, multidiscipline plan developed in conjunction with – and under approval of – the federal government. This 100-year plan is DNR's guiding document and is a state-of-the-art management tool. Numerous other plans and guidance deal with fisheries and wildlife protection and enhancement. Most DNR lands are open to the public and are heavily used by the general public.

Finally, Ms. Gale suggests that an influential group of people want to turn all the trust lands into parks. There is a segment of the public that will not be satisfied until they achieve that goal and have attacked trust-land management for several decades. The courts have been steadfast in saying, "Whoa, hoss, these lands are for the benefit of all the people, not just a few with a narrow agenda."

I strongly encourage anyone interested in trust-land management to read DNR's annual report. It's heavy slogging through the numbers but you will be impressed that this is no fly-by-night operation. The trust lands are exceptionally well-managed and here to stay for a long time to come. Everyone in Mason County should be thankful for that.

Bob Dick, Lake Nahwatzel

Editor's note: Steve Duenkel is a candidate for Mason County auditor. This letter is being published as a rebuttal to a previous letter. Letters by candidates for public office in Mason County will generally not be published except in response to previous letters.

Auditor rebuttal

Editor, the Journal,

Rather than have a debate on the merits of an argument, my opponent chose to disparage. So, I would like to set the record straight on a couple points.

First of all, Douglas Frank is a scientist and mathematician. His work teaching students how to analyze large sets of data is masterful. It is through this work that Frank modeled algorithms (unique for each state) for counties that used voting system machines in the 2020 General Election. With those models, Frank made highly correlated predictions on the number of registered voters and votes cast in the election compared to the actual numbers recorded in each county. Frank's work shows that something was not "natural" about the election from a purely statistical perspective. It's what led many people to take a closer look at voter rolls. I would encourage readers to look into Frank's actual work and draw their own conclusions.

Secondly, through my work in the field of election integrity at the Washington state level and Mason County level, I have had the opportunity to learn from talented researchers and skilled analysts about the vulnerabilities in our election system. Much of this is public information obtained through public records requests and Freedom of Information Act requests, and it is a big part of what I plan to share with all voters in Mason County as auditor. I believe this is an important part of what any county auditor should do for the constituents they serve, rather than continually repeat the narrative that our elections are the "most secure ever." There is a lot of room for improvement in our election system, and it's those improvements I will pursue as we work together to return the elections to the people.

Steve Duenkel, Candidate for Mason County auditor, Shelton

Some questions

Editor, the Journal,

Thank you, Jay Hupp, for the week before last week's definition of nationalism. I hope it educated a few people who need to know about it.

Regarding two-weeks-ago letters, I believe Eric Valley needs some enlightenment toward his comments of Charles Rhodes. Reference to Charles as a failed candidate for auditor in 2018, one must remember that Charles was a last-minute write-in candidate. Write-in candidates rarely, if ever, win and Charles did not, although we must remember he received more write-in votes than anyone has ever accomplished in Mason County. He is now seeking the position of county clerk, a position he is well-qualified for. As a licensed, private investigator, he is hoping to be able to recover part of the over $4 million in unpaid fines. His honesty, integrity and work ethic cannot be denied.

Questions remain in the auditor's race. How was it that KING 5 TV was alerted and obtained information on the Voter Integrity Group project? The information this group gathered was given to Paddy McGuire with the intent to show problems in the system. Why after the initial broadcast that appeared on KING 5 News? This is continuing to be rerun and of course, a short interview with none other than Mr. McGuire. Is this to be considered a paid ad?

Did Mr. McGuire accept Derek Kilmer's invitation to a Seattle gathering that may have added money to his election war chest? My understanding is that out-of-state funding was quite helpful in his last election. Then there were the Zuckerbucks that flowed into the county. How was that money used?

Steve Duenkel got into this race out of genuine concern for election integrity. There certainly is concern and his top priority is for true and fair elections. Any danger or threat to our democracy is being seen throughout our nation, and the people like Steve Duenkel, who are willing, able, and qualified to stand up to the challenges ahead, can make the difference.

Irene Goldsby, Shelton

Five questions

Editor, the Journal,

Questions for Donald Trump supporters:

1. Ex-President Donald Trump continuously brags about how high his intelligence is and that he graduated first in his class with honors. However, he is not listed on the honor roll of any school he attended and college professors say he was a poor student. So, would you hire an individual who brazenly lied about their abilities?

2. During the Vietnam War, Trump received five draft deferments. Four for education while in college and the fifth for bone spurs. He cannot remember which foot the spurs were on and he continued to participate in his usual sports. Also, he says any veteran hurt or killed in action was a sucker and a loser. Plus the doctor who provided the bone spur diagnosis had close personal contact with his father. Do you really think he had bone spurs?

3. Three men Trump vastly admires are Kim Jong-un, Putin and Hitler. According to Ivanka Trump, Trump keeps a book of Hitler's quotations by his bedside. One of Hitler's quotations he continuously uses is "Tell a lie often enough and long enough and people will believe it." So, who do you think Trump models his life after? The principles of America or three would-be dictators?

4. Trump apparently knows more about climate change and man's effect on it than any environmental scientist. He has called climate change a hoax and as president removed many safeguards to help reduce greenhouse gas effects. Such effects as many rural homes going up in flames or farmers who cannot pay their bills because of crop failure due to bad weather conditions. So, do you Trump supporters really believe that worsening weather conditions are a hoax or, if they do exist, they are caused by China's windmills as reported by Trump?

5. Finally, Trump's total disrespect for the American flag and what it represents. During Trump rallies his supporters wipe their feet on the flag. On Jan. 6th, his supporters dragged the flag on the ground and used it as a weapon. Trump has said nothing about the abuse of the American flag while praising those who were abusing it. But Trump's greatest display of total respect for the American flag was having his picture taken of him hugging the flag. The American flag is considered a living identity superior to all other living identities in America. Only God is superior to the flag. Does Trump really believe he is equal to God?

Norman Hamilton, Shelton

Pro tax relief

Editor, the Journal,

I endorse state Rep. Drew MacEwen for Senate. Drew supports empowering parents to help their children succeed, advocates for our public safety professionals and is a strong proponent of tax relief. With record-high inflation, increased energy costs and housing insecurity, we need legislators with a thorough understanding of the

economy, the housing affordability crisis and the state budget to help working families and those on a fixed income. Drew understands the unsettling nature of current economic times, particularly the impact on the less fortunate. Last session, Drew noted a budget surplus in the billions could help provide tax relief. Sadly, even with the large surplus, Democrats declined to provide meaningful tax relief. With the recent spike in property values and resulting assessments, it's imperative that our Legislature help working families and seniors to stay in their homes.

Drew also advocates for emergency powers reform, which - as COVID demonstrated - is critical so that no one branch of government holds unchecked power in any circumstance, particularly in an emergency.

Drew MacEwen is a smart, diplomatic, and dedicated public servant who works tirelessly to better the lives of all of us who call Washington home. Please join me in voting Drew MacEwan for Senate, 35th District.

Annaliese Harksen, Shelton

Socialism is destructive

Editor, the Journal,

Andrew Makar said my reference to Venezuela was a straw man argument. It was not. But then he rebutted a list of arguments that I never made at all. His eventual conclusion was that evil, greedy corporations have caused our inflation by raising prices. Another writer wondered what Mr. Makar's degree is in. It clearly is not in economics.

Our government since 2008 has been publicly stating that it's engaging in massive spending in order to cause inflation. To paraphrase the great American economist Walter Williams, anyone who denies that capitalism has pulled more people out of poverty and created the highest standard of living for the most people of any system ever devised is either ignorant or just plain lying.

The pilgrims almost starved under collective farming. Out of sheer desperation, each family and single person was assigned their own ground to farm and told they could do whatever they want with the surplus. They had a surplus the very first year. Socialism is destructive; it helps no one.

Bruce Finlay, Shelton

Restoring trust

Editor, the Journal,

My husband and I are pleased to endorse Steve Duenkel for Mason County auditor, because we believe that he will help restore trust in our elections. Please read on:

We have known Steve for a little over a year and have had the pleasure of getting to know him. He is a "people person," and we have especially enjoyed watching his many positive interactions with attendees of the various "meet and greets" in Mason County where he eagerly answered questions and shared his perspective.

I was disappointed that I did not see Mr. Paddy McGuire at any of those events, because I still have questions for him. We are convinced that Steve will do his utmost to follow the law by making sure that any equipment that may be used in future elections is properly certified, will provide adequate space for in-person observers from both parties to observe ballot counting and will preserve all records as required by current law. We also believe he will clean up the voter rolls that are clearly in abject disrepair and provide transparency to the voters. Because we saw things that didn't add up after the November 2020 election, my husband and I joined the Washington State Election Integrity Project, a nonpartisan collective of volunteers. It was during this journey that we first met Steve Duenkel.

We devoted many hours of personal time to canvass neighborhoods to verify that the vote tabulations were based on valid voter registrations. We knocked on countless doors, and in nearly every case (where there actually was a door), we were received warmly and with appreciation when we introduced ourselves and explained why we had come. For those of us who actually went door-to-door, it has been a painful experience, because we cannot unsee what we have personally witnessed, and anyone who doesn't believe there is a possibility of fraud in the system is simply not grounded in reality.

Most of those we encountered were surprised to learn that ballots had been cast from their residences by people whose names they did not recognize or people who had long since moved away. Among an assortment of anomalies, we found votes tied to empty fields and to addresses that did not exist. After we gathered and documented the evidence, we concluded that the election system we had once trusted was not only vulnerable to interference but also fraught with errors and executed without a scintilla of accountability to our community. We signed our names to affidavits supporting our direct observations under penalty of perjury, and this information was reported to our current auditor in the summer of 2021.

To this day, many of these anomalies remain uncorrected and our efforts have been dismissed with weak excuses for why nothing has been, or can be, done in order to follow the law as it is currently written. Instead, a partisan response was issued on the auditor's behalf, publicly maligning us as "conspiracy theorists."

In closing I would like to say that we appreciate the kindness, character and restraint we have observed, not only in Steve, but in the people who support his candidacy. I can honestly say that I have never heard Steve label his opponent as "crazy," nor have I ever heard him assert that his opponent was a "fraud" or other derogatory characterization. I have always believed that we are judged by the company we keep, and from what I have witnessed from Steve's opposition, I have to ask, "What does that say about the person they are apparently supporting?" It's very disappointing to see people resort to lies, distortions and politics of personal destruction, along with theft or destruction of campaign materials. What happened to morals, scruples, ethics?

For the better part of 50 years, my husband and I have watched the erosion of our values and liberties. Our demise began subtly, and we, like most, looked past it for a long while, but now, this tsunami cannot be ignored any longer if our country is to survive. Lack of election integrity and accountability has spread like a malignant cancer from the larger cities into small towns like Shelton and other small towns all over our country. We hope you will join us in electing Steve Duenkel next month.

Michael and Elizabeth Hill, Shelton

The view from two wheels

Editor, the Journal,

"My best insights have occurred whilst riding a bicycle" – Albert Einstein "It's not what you know that hurts you, it's what you know that just ain't so" – Anonymous

The traffic rotary at the intersection of First Street and Alder, Shelton has become a classroom for me regarding the nonbicycle-riding population's ignorance:"Get on the sidewalk" "If you can't go the speed limit - get off the road" And: "Ride against the traffic" All of which are contrary to the Washington State Revised Traffic Code; mostly because they are either simply stupid, ill-advised or dangerous. In the United States, you're entitled to your opinion, yet with a modicum of experience you can avoid the appearance and reality of being a fool. For 55 years my preferred method of wheeled transport has been the bicycle: quiet, efficient and somewhat physically addictive. It's not uncommon for normal, but otherwise adventuresome, people to have cycled around the world now that the pneumatic tire was invented. My last adventure was to the North Carolina's Outer Banks, prioritized flat terrain; naively neglecting prevailing wind conditions, which are from the south.

After two full days bucking strong headwinds in the lowest gears, I came to the epiphany that Wilbur and Orville Wright traveled from flat Dayton, Ohio, to flat Kitty Hawk to test their airplane under the best conditions: the prevailing winds are strong and consistently from the south and the launch pad (sand bank) is angled to supply a bit of gravitational boost. As evidence of the perpetual prevailing winds, the hill they used as their launch pad has moved northward by some 40 feet since their memorable flight.

Admitting my ignorance, I turned around and covered the two days distance bucking the headwinds in half a day with the wind at my back. Later that trip I "hit the wall" exhausted, and lay down next to the road for a brief rest. "There's chiggers out there," I was advised by a neighbor. Of course! I'd forgotten the South has a plethora of biting insects not found in Yankee Land. Exhibiting Southern hospitality, this stranger, now new friend, helped me up to his porch, procured a pitcher of water, placed a couple fans to blow air across blocks of ice, and then carried my bicycle and me down the road to a campground where he knew the owner. I rested for two days, then continued my adventures continually meeting the very best and most helpful of people. Southern hospitality? Perhaps, yet I've discovered the South doesn't have a monopoly on this most charming characteristic. It's been my experience that the truly knowledgeable and good people are the strong, silent, competent type. Character tells. And good character is composed of people with an active, rather than passive experience in life: the doers, not the watchers.

James Poirson, Shelton

Take your party back

Editor, the Journal,

Calling all conservatives. The real ones. Not the phonies. Ones whose cornerstone values are the Constitution, the rule of law, and institutions that make those possible. When are you going to take your party back?

Yes, you who used to call yourselves Republican before your brothers and sisters swallowed the Kool-Aid of Putin's puppet. And you, who still hold onto the Republican label, just because you have no place else to go. A political party without a moral core grounded in reality, not self-delusion, eventually self-destructs.

I am no fan of President Joe Biden. But he did identify Vladimir Putin as a war criminal. Donald Trump called him a "genius." What do you think? The big lie that ex-President Donald Trump won the election worked well. Now it's a litmus test for "real" Republicans. It didn't matter that when it came time to produce evidence in open court, there was none. Believing mattered more than evidence. Intelligence has nothing to do with it. Why was selling the fraud so easy? Because the lie was aimed at minds who want to be lied to. Even Donald Trump was booed when he told people to get vaccinated. When you invite people like that into your party, the lunatics eventually take over the asylum. The ones who know better, but are in the game to get power, have no choice but to bobble their heads along with loonies.

Courage only makes you a target. Just ask Congresswoman Liz Cheney. That is why the Republican Party today has so few moral leaders. Who's following them? The joke is anyone who challenges the delusion is called a "RINO." The fact is: many real Republicans have already left. 

James Tweed, Ocean City, New Jersey

Jumping ship

Editor, the Journal,

The Trump-led armed MAGA rioters were screaming as they stormed the Capitol "Hang Mike Pence!" "Hang Mike Pence!" "Hang Mike Pence!" The deadly Republican coup started with that chant. The fascist Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys (wannabe men) had set up a gallows and noose in front of "our Capitol" on Treason Day, Jan. 6, 2021. Vice President Pence refused to commit treason for ex-President Donald Trump to overthrow the Constitution and make him a dictator.

How does Trump pay back years of loyalty? With a stab in the back, and a noose around your neck! He will do the same to all of them eventually. Trump said this: "Pence deserved it." Nothing is too low, and it will absolutely get worse in the next few weeks. One of the leaders of the Oath Keepers just pled guilty to seditious conspiracy to overthrow the government. It has finally started - the rats are jumping ship. There is no U.S. naval ship coming over the horizon to save them from drowning.

Remember "Klaus Story" the Nazi Hermann Goring's testimony, Pastor Martin Niemoller's statement at the Holocaust Museum. Now 80 years later, it is our turn. In America, even in Shelton, as you read this in in 2022, compliments of Trump and his conspirators. "Hang Mike Pence." Trump's tweet of a "death wish" against U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.

"They came for me and there was no one left to speak for me." Not one of the cowards will speak out to defend Pence or McConnell because they too are afraid of dear leader and the "death wish." Draft-dodger Trump, the leader of Republicans, attacking Republicans. No one to speak up to defend themselves against themselves.

Their silence is a thunderclap of implied consent. The bottom line is that there is no bottom line. He constantly threatens political violence and needs to be held accountable for his crimes - seditious conspiracy, stealing government secrets for Putin, tax evasion, business fraud, voter fraud, fake charities fraud, fake university fraud. Is that patriotism or nationalism?

Twenty-seven psychiatrists in a book titled, "The Most Dangerous Case of Donald Trump," diagnosed that Trump is totally insane. End of story. What does that say about his supporters, the base, the one-third that Republican President Abraham Lincoln said, "Can be fooled all the time?" The Republican base can indeed be fooled all the time. Trump is proof, and "Q" is too! We see it daily; just read their letters as proof. Please keep writing.

Not one of these Republican candidates has publicly denounced Trump's conspiracy and failed deadly seditious coup. They pretend it did not happen. I trust the Democrats, but not the Republicans. Their silence is implied consent that they condone the coup. They all say that the oath-breaker defendant Trump is the leader of the Republicans. All these candidates need to explicitly state their allegiance to the oath and the Constitution in writing to the Journal. Declare If they are for Trump's deadly failed insurrection. If they do not denounce the insurrection, they cannot honor the oath of office to protect us from foreign and domestic enemies.

Defendant Trump broke his oath. His word is worthless.

He intended to and conspired to lead a failed violent coup to overthrow our government. To seize power while Congress was in session doing its constitutional duty to certify a free and fair election for a peaceful transfer of power. All Republicans own this rebellious insurrection. It doesn't get any worse than this seditious act. Declare your allegiance to the Constitution or shut up. Next week, let's take a good hard look at these Republican candidates. Surprise: I am an independent and will say some good things about some of the Republican candidates too. Let us meet in the middle for the good of all.

Roderic Whittaker, Shelton