“The Way I See It” is an attempt by the columnist to enlighten readers on a subject as he views it, and does not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.

Washington Returns from August Recess

The Congress has returned after their August vacation, and the Pelosi/Nadler/AOC Democrat Leadership immediately restarted their “Get Trump by any means possible” campaign while ignoring their duties to American Citizens and the Constitution, especially on solving the Border Crisis, and the Invasion by phony Asylum Seekers. The Supreme Court handed down a very important decision Wednesday 9/11/19 that will have great influence on increasing our President’s ability to control and even stop the worst of the problems. The Lib/Prog supporters of Illegal Immigration and Refugees have been able to get Injunctions from Activist Judges on the Left Coast to stop policies ordered by President Trump, even when the policies were soundly based on bilateral-passed laws that had been in effect since the 1950s. SCOTUS decided that an injunction issued by a Globalist/Socialist/Activist Judge could not take effect until it was decided by higher courts, mostly because so many previous ones had been overturned as Un-Constitutional. Many necessary policies have been put on hold for years, while the country is flooded by immigrants, both “legal” and illegal, even from hostile nations and countries supporting International Terrorism. President Trump used a law from 1952 to try and stop people from certain countries from coming here, unless for good reason, but a judge’s order can be used to stop the President and Commander-in-Chief from doing his duty? The primary duty of any government is to defend the border of that nation.

The “liberal” and “Progressive Socialist” radical leadership of the once Democrat Party have supported unlimited “migration” from poor socialist countries for several years, and now are teaching these Immigrant “Wannabes” to claim Asylum and Refugee status. Many do not qualify for “asylum” at all, and most come through other safe countries to get here. That is a violation of International Law that states asylum seekers must claim that status in the first safe country they reach.

But the Lib/Progs promise our Welfare State, free food & housing, even free medical care and free education not available to our citizens! These Progressive Socialists want and need these new bodies for their “Vote Farming”. A new “Socialismo” Identity Group, a secure voting block on “La Nueva Plantacion Democratica”, to replace the much abused and ignored Black and Hispanic-American Voters that are finding greater success with Trump’s Economy. And America First, Buy American to Hire American, rather then the Globalists programs of “Free Trade”, de-industrialization with the exporting of jobs and factories to countries with cheap labor. How can they continue to sell their products unless American buyers have good jobs and the money to spend? The Money Manipulators either can’t think that far ahead, or simply don’t care. Trump and his supporters want real integration and assimilation, financial success for all citizens, true liberty and freedom, not a “Permanent Welfare Class”, strangled by poor schools, bad neighborhoods, and crime, mostly caused by bad government policies, and bad political leadership. Political Leadership dedicated to failed Political Theories and Party loyalty rather than American citizens, their Oath to the Constitution, and working for prosperity for all Americans.

Nancy Pelosi’s House of Representatives is continuing to try to impeach President Trump, but can find no ‘crime’, or evidence of any. All the false accusations only lead back to serious crimes by people in the Radical Left-wing of the once Democrat Party. I seriously want there to be another vote for impeachment. I want all the citizen-voters of our country to see who are wasting time trying to “Get Trump!”, rather than doing their job to solve the problems we have with the border, unchecked immigration, and senseless crimes. We need solutions based on facts, not political theories and wishful thinking. We need economic assimilation, not unlimited illegal immigration. We have 4 million kids graduating (or quitting) schools every year, we need jobs for them, real jobs. We need to re-industrialize America, to repair the neglected infrastructure, to have efficient transportation, and affordable energy, not “It’s the End of The World” Hysteria. Kids need education in practical skills, not indoctrination in Marxist jealousy, hate, and fear, based on false theories instead of facts and practical experience from over the centuries. America works best, if given a chance by a Govt that tries to follow the Constitution, rather than Elitist interpretation of foreign theories and wishful thinking.

The Lawsuit against Trump for violating the “Emoluments clause” is completely false. The Anti-Trumpers claim that foreigners staying in Trump resorts and paying the normal rates is a violation?

The Emoluments Clause: US Const, Art I, Sec 9, Para 8:

“No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of Congress, accept any present, Emolument, Office or Title, of any kind what-ever from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”

How does Trump violate this because someone pays for a service at the normal rate from a company where he owns stock? It could only apply if paid at higher rates and directly to him, or some secret or separate Fund, like the Clinton’s. If this applies to Trump, why doesn’t it apply to others in government who own stocks in companies? …Often given or sold at discount for favorable legislation? Pelosi? Del Monte?

Fish Carcasses Dumped

Me and my Brother bought a home in POC 5 years ago and have come to really love this place and the people. We visit as often as we can and have found old friends from our hometown of Rosenberg and made new ones as well. Yesterday as I was driving around and sightseeing I stumbled upon a disgusting mess of fish carcasses dumped just off the road in front of the little jetty. These fish weren’t caught there. Someone had filleted at least 25 speckled trout and tossed the heads and skeletons. A very large, stinking mess. I hope whatever fisherman caught these chokes on a bone. Its too bad someone couldn’t have seen this and called the Game Warden. He needs to be drug from behind a boat for a couple of hours. I cannot believe anyone from POC would be responsible for this and whomever the tourist is stays away. We don’t need this kind of numskull in our fair community.

Walter Tappe
Rosenberg, Texas

USPS Complaint

I would like to say thank you to Nicole Beamer, Director of Constituent Services for Congressman Michael Cloud (TX 27) for assisting me in opening a Congressional inquiry into the unwarranted verbal attack launched on me and illegal locking of my mailbox by the Port O’Connor USPS Postmaster and clerk on July 16, 2019. After eavesdropping on, and misinterpreting, a conversation about my travels, I was accused of not living here and repeatedly told I was a liar in front of other customers, followed by rude comments about me (and “some of the people in this town”) to the other customer. Truly reprehensible and unprofessional behavior. Port O’Connor has been my home for the past 10 years. I am retired and enjoy traveling very much. I sign my statement of residency every year and pick my mail up on a regular basis. This is still a free country and it is none of their business where or when I travel. Rep. Cloud’s office was very helpful with regards to investigating and obtaining a satisfactory response from the USPS Consumer Affairs Department of the Rio Grande District Office and an apology from the Post Master. If anyone else is having issues with the USPS do not hesitate to contact Rep. Cloud’s office and file a complaint.

Bridget Sprague
Port O’Connor

Won’t people think of the Children?

Last week, a news story was about how an environmental activist fled to America to request asylum after his home was burnt down. His 7 year old son had a heart issue as well and he believed that the “Shining City on a Hill” would welcome him with open arms as previous Admins would have. Instead, his 7 year old son was ripped from his arms by Border Patrol, shipped 2,000 miles away, & placed in a foster home where he was repeatedly MOLESTED by the older boys.

That shattered asylum family is now suing the government, so are HUNDREDS of families whose children were RAPED in US custody.\

In June, a Trump supporter, said to CNN:

“Quit trying to make us feel teary-eyed for the children. Yes, I love children a great deal, but to me, it’s up to the parents to do things rightfully and legally.”

If you can’t think of the children, then think of the lawsuits and how this cruel inhumane policy will end up costing us billions of dollars.

Brandelyn Wiser
Port Lavaca

For the past nine weeks, I have been preaching this series of messages. This article is the last two parts. I feel this message is so important that it must be shared with a larger audience.

A black Mercedes careened out of control in a Paris underpass, leaving a trail of devastation tallied in three lives lost and another shattered. Nations mourned, families grieved, friends accused, and children cried for the Princess Diana who moved so gracefully and died so violently. All because of a loss of control!

We have all seen it before..the tangled wreckage of lives blown apart, families shattered, integrity crushed, and all for the yielding to a familiar temptation. Some are blessed enough to walk away from their episodes of out-of-control living. Others are not, and a marriage, a friendship, a testimony, and another young life die in the twisted wreckage of temptation lost.

Unintended disaster is the end of uncontrolled desires. Without daily disciplines, we leave the doorways of our soul open to suggestion. The path that leads from suggestions to intention is well traveled. Forbidden fruit ripens in the warm glow of our attentions. Though we know better, we allow ourselves to be deceived. Our values become inverted; we believe that bitter is sweet, wrong is right, down is up, and failure is free of charge. Too late, we awaken in the prodigal’s pigpen, so far from the best… So far from home!

How can we keep our hearts out of the pigpen? How can we wrest control from renegade desire? As physical fitness requires daily exercise, so spiritual fitness demands daily disciplines. When the following seven disciplines are practiced with consistency, we gain victory over our most potent temptations.

Set Absolute Boundaries. Joseph of Old Testament days was tempted with pleasure with Potiphar’s wife, but he resisted temptations because he set absolute boundaries. He could not imagine himself doing such a wicked thing to sin against God. He knew his boundaries.

Unless we establish clear boundaries and refuse to cross the line, we will fall. The poud man, in hot pursuit of power, ignores the boundaries. He is soon far from home!

Seek Accountability. A noted television evangelist boasted of his lack of accountability on Tuesdays. He fell on a Tuesday! Many Christians resist accountability because of a violated trust in a past betrayal that convinces them to go it alone. When we lock the doors and close the shutters because somebody let us down, we live in darkness, never seeing the light of forgiveness and restoration.

Choosing one with whom to share our struggles should be a prayerful, careful, and thoughtful decision. Choosing to go it alone ensures disaster.

Memorize Biblical Passages. Sin starts in the thought life, and that is where we need the weapons of God’s Word. We can defeat sin before it is grown by planting truth where deception would grow and throwing light into the dark corners of the soul. When we get the Scripture into our thought life, we uproot tiny shoots before they become giant oak trees!

Run From Evil. Sensible people do not swim with sharks, tickle grizzlies, or play with rattlesnakes. Many Christians, however, do not seem to understand the dangers of sin. Not wanting to be out of present ideologies of the world, they find themselves constantly out of step with God. Living close to the world, they are easily drawn into all kinds of evil. If it looks, smells, sounds, or feels like evil … RUN!
Pray. Fallen Christian leaders testify that, before they fell, their prayer life had withered. Temptations flourish when there is a drought of prayer. The enemy of our soul is not hindered by our talents, works, worth, or intentions, but he trembles when we pray. We tremble when we fail to pray!

Do Not Turn Off the Alarm System. The alarm system of the soul is the conscience. At times, all that is needed is a quiet prompting. At other times, we need bells, sirens, horns, gates, and flashing lights. The conscience can offer us a full range of warning. But if warnings are repeatedly ignored, conscience soon loses its power like a discharged battery. When God seems far away, the conscience has been depleted. It must be charged by prayer and God’s Word every day.

Celebrate Each Victory. When we have derailed a besetting sin before it has gathered steam…when we have uprooted lust in the thought life…when we have beaten pride through prayer – REJOICE! Giving praise to God only increases our awareness of His presence and his power!

Alexander the Great instilled confidence in the hearts of his soldiers. With each victory celebration, the troops’ faith in Alexander increased. As kingdom after kingdom was trampled underfoot, the troops believed Alexander could do anything, and they fought with supreme confidence.
Our God truly can do anything, and we can have unshakable confidence in Him. As each temptation is trampled, take time to give God glory! Each victory will diminish the power of our particular reoccurring temptation!

With consistent application, these seven disciples can lead us to victory over temptation. We can have mastery instead of maintenance, triumph in the place of tragedy, growth instead of guilt, and abundant life instead of eternal death!

Have you been living on a fault line, flirting with disaster? Have you been running all the red lights on the road to ruin? Trade those good intentions for daily disciplines. It is time we put out-of-control, out-of-commission! Break the Sin Cycle and win the war!

For the 77th consecutive year, millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country will celebrate National 4-H Week from October 6-12. This year’s theme, Inspire Kids to Do, is a campaign that will give kids more opportunities to do, empowering them with the skills they need to succeed in life and career.

National 4-H Week will showcase the many ways 4-H inspires kids to do through hands-on learning experiences as well as highlight the remarkable 4-H youth in our community who work each day to make a positive impact on those around them.

4-H was founded on the belief that when kids are empowered to pursue their passions and chart their own course, their unique skills grow and take shape, helping them to become true leaders in their lives, careers and communities.

4-H alumni around the country are always the first to acknowledge the significant positive impact that 4-H had on them as young people. In fact, research has shown that young people in 4-H are nearly four times as likely to contribute to their communities and are twice as likely to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs during after school time.

About 4-H:

4-H, the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization, cultivates confident kids who tackle the issues that matter most in their communities right now. In the United States, 4-H programs empower six million young people through the 110 land-grant universities and Cooperative Extensions in more than 3,000 local offices serving every county and parish in the country. Outside the United States, independent, country-led 4-H organizations empower one million young people in more than 50 countries. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/4H

They are starting to show up, a few at a time. They are staking out their favorite flowers and feeders. Their buzzy wing beats can be heard in gardens all up and down the Upper Texas Coast. They are fast and feisty. And they love sugar water! Yup, they are back!

Well, they are back for a short time, to rest and bulk up for the remainder of their long journey way down south. The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will soon be coming though in massive numbers, funneling down the coast and eventually heading out over the Gulf of Mexico towards the Yucatan in Mexico and beyond. Their yearly migration south for the winter is an astounding feat for such a tiny creature. They will need all the energy they can get while here, so they feed on nectar and small insects to build up a storehouse of fat.

While their main diet is nectar from mostly red tubal shaped flowers, they also glean tiny spiders and aphids in trees and shrubs. This gives them the extra protein they need. Of course, they also love to fight over the hummer feeders we offer them as a source for additional “nectar”. Just make sure that it is clean! Mix 4 parts of water and 1 part regular sugar. No food coloring as it is bad for them. And change and clean it also once a week so mold will not grow. Of course native flowers are the best source of all. One of their favorite here is the Drummond’s Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus drummondii) with its upright small red tubal flower and large heart shaped leaves. If you want to plant only one plant, this is the one!

The height of their fall migration is mid to late September, and there will be tens of thousands of little ruby-throats buzzing through. There might be one or two other species mixed in but very few if any. This is the ruby-throats route. And to celebrate their annual journey, several locations offer community nature days and festivals. At the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory in Lake Jackson, TX, there has been a long standing event offered to young and old for 20 years now. The Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza was held on Saturday Sep. 14th and will also be on Saturday Sep. 21st, from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon.

It features hummers being captured, then weighed, measured, studied, and a tiny aluminum band placed on their legs. It’s all part of a long term hummer migration study, and the public is invited to come view the banding. Hopefully dozens, maybe hundreds, of hummers will be banded. The event also offers booths with live animals and educational activities, snack and shaved ice booths, symbolic adoption of a hummer with a certificate, native plant sales, nature store, and hummer talks. And Sir Archie will be on the grounds! More info can be found at www.gcbo.org.

So, keep those feeders clean, full and enjoy these little marvels for a while!

Martin Hagne is the Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. The GCBO is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the birds and their habitats along the entire Gulf Coast, and beyond into their Central and South America wintering grounds.