Street Smart

I read Jim Elliott’s last column with great interest. He was using his platform to explain his thoughts on Republican versus Democrat methodology in securing votes. The first sentence in the second paragraph stopped me in my tracks and had to be re-read three times to make sure I had understood its meaning. That sentence states, “Republicans try to get results by using emotion and Democrats by using logic;” I thought that was a, shall we say “interesting,” statement considering what we have seen from the Biden administration in just nine short months. However, I’m not a politician and never have been. Mr. Elliott was, so he probably has a different understanding of all of this than I do.

Mr. Elliott went on to explain that his thoughts dealt with how the two parties use logic (Democrats) or emotion (Republican) to appeal to voters. However, doesn’t that assessment presuppose that the Democrats would/should then act logically? That’s absolutely not what we’ve seen. I’d like someone to explain how the following is a logical or common sense policy.

I have to start in 2014 because it’s pertinent to what we’re seeing now. Was it logical to trade five high level Taliban fighters for one Army deserter? Obama did that and those five Taliban fighters are now involved with Taliban leadership in Kabul. We will be hearing from them again and quite probably on our own soil! Obama/Biden gave us that situation.

Would it be considered logical to abandon a secure Air Force base (Bagram) in Afghanistan just before beginning a mass evacuation at an unsecure civil airport in Kabul? As a result, 13 American service members were killed. Biden/Harris did that. They are directly responsible, and the blood of those soldiers is on their hands.

Would it be considered logical to establish a hard date for abandoning Kabul, regardless of the inability to save all Americans and Afghan allies? Hundreds of Americans and Afghan allies remain in Afghanistan. What about all the women and girls in Afghanistan? We can comfortably predict their fate. Biden/Harris did that.

Would it be considered logical to ignore military leaders who recommended maintaining a military presence in Afghanistan? Biden/Harris did that.

If Biden felt good about his policies, would it be logical to hold a press conference and then only answer questions from a list of pre-approved journalists? Even more glaring in my opinion, if he felt good about his policies, would Biden walk away from a podium without answering a single question? In my experience, a person who is confident in his/her actions, is able (even anxious) to answer questions. Biden is not!

Would it be considered logical to undo policies that were working to control the southern border area? Biden/Harris continue to do that. As I write this, Del Rio Texas is being swarmed with record numbers of migrants, many of whom are fleeing Haiti. There are countless reports of COVID infected migrants moving unimpeded into U.S. cities. Someone please tell me how that makes sense. Yet, that is exactly what is happening.

Regarding COVID, someone tell me how Biden/Harris policies regarding this disease are logical. How is it sensible that the migrants are entering and being released into our country with COVID, while mask mandates are being re-instituted for citizens? While I personally support the vaccine, how does it make sense to encourage people to get the shot while still requiring them to wear masks? Is it any wonder that there is a great deal of confusion regarding the COVID virus and the administration’s response to it. If Biden/Harris policies were logical, we’d understand where this was all going.

Regarding crime spikes in Democrat run cities; Does it seem logical to push forward a “defund the police” agenda? Does it make sense to shape bail reform so that violent criminals are more easily released from custody? That’s what’s happening.

Does it make sense that Biden/Harris policy regarding the oil industry has made us once again dependent of foreign producers? We are now but we weren’t just a year ago!

The bullet points above are just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more that could be said to prove that Biden/Harris policies are simply not logical! I agree with Mr. Elliott that voters (from both parties) should be more informed.

Mr. Elliott mentioned fear as one of the emotions Republicans use to motivate voters. I disagree that fear is used to motivate, but I certainly see fear as a factor! I know I’m scared of the direction this Democrat administration is taking the country. Look around. Research current events using a variety of sources, not just those pandering to one political ideology. Seek the facts and I feel my points will be validated. In my opinion, anyone who doesn’t take the time to get the facts and feels this country is headed in the right direction is one of three things: uninformed, misinformed or delusional.

Blaine Blackstone is a retired Los Angeles Police Sergeant who enjoys the simpler life in Thompson Falls.