An interesting combination of authors caught my eyes as I was re-shelving books the other day.  And the combo being that of Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke; Ms. Clark is the author of over 34 suspense novels, mainly those featuring very interesting characters, and Ms. Burke is the daughter of famed mystery writer, James Lee Burke; she is also a graduate of the prestigious Reed College in Portland Oregon, and served as a prosecuting attorney in that city.  She has written a number of novels, some featuring an attorney and some living the life of a homicide detective in NYC.

Reading both books: the first being THE CINDERELLA MURDER and the second ALL DRESSED IN WHITE, I was struck with the problem of trying to delineate which author wrote which: characters or plot.  I finally came to the conclusion that Ms. Clark had handled the characters as that seems to be her strong point, leaving Ms. Burke to handle the plot.  But the overriding question was: who thought of the story?

I hope the reader enjoys the books and will be interested in learning of any conclusions reached regarding the foregoing.

ALL DAY AND A NIGHT by Alafair Burke is the fifth book in the series featuring NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher and her partner J.J. Rogan.  A plot concerning a convicted serial killer and a young ambitious defense attorney suddenly involves Detectives Hatcher and Rogan as part of a “fresh look” team to re-investigate the facts and evidence attributed in the previous conviction.  However, further investigation in not only NYC but also Syracuse, NY reveals additional facts not previously known.

Ms. Burke’s books are very strong and powerful; the characters, both good and bad, are so skillfully drawn by the author that the reader cannot hesitate in believing their existence.  I look forward to many more books by this intriguing author.

Another female writer, this time Lisa Gardner with her book CATCH ME gives the reader not only an excellent character, but an outstanding description of life in various areas of Boston.  Ms. Gardner is a very powerful and descriptive writer; she uses short and semi-short sentences to set her plot, and with these skills draws in the reader in total involvement.  Her heroine this time features Detective D.D. Warren in a terrifying plot that begins when the main character visits her with the news that she is going to be killed on a certain date.

Launching an immediate investigation, Detective Warren then learns of others’ involvement in the life of the character; some of whom had not made an appearance in her life earlier.  Ms. Gardner has written other books, some involving D.D. Warren and some strictly a stand-alone novel.  But her books are the type that will keep you up at night once you start a chapter; I recommend lots of coffee the next morning.

“When an old person dies, a Library burns down.”
Karin Gillespie

“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.

The Stupid Party

Samuel T. Francis, a ‘paleoconservative’ columnist that recognized the Lib/Progressive Culture War against Middle America many years ago, was the first to label the GOP, “The Stupid Party”. They will ignore and even criticize their Christian Conservative Constitutionalist base to make points with the Media and avoid any argument with the Leftist Democrats that might call them “mean”, “unfeeling”, or even “Racist!”, and do so on TV! Horrors! Now the Radical Leftists of the 90s are the Dem-Socialist leaders today and managed to elect a Constitutionally ineligible candidate as Prez, twice. They did this by keeping his records sealed, and keeping all legal challenges from ever being heard in court. That is why there is still no detailed Legal Definition to “natural born Citizen”! Many Low Information Voters now believe anything the Media tells them on this because The Stupid Party in now in cahoots with the Obamunists to make the Constitutional requirement meaningless. Why?

People tell me that Obama, Rubio, and Cruz “must be qualified” because ‘Judges’ are “dismissing” suits against Cruz in several states, but “dismissing” these cases are simply the Judges saying they don’t want to hear the case! They may not have real ‘jurisdiction’, or don’t have the means to ‘enforce a remedy’, or just don’t want the hassle, so they usually say “the complainant lacks ‘standing’”. The Stupid Party is allowing 2 ineligible candidates to run for Prez, and the “leadership’ is supporting Rubio now that their Crown Prince Jeb quit.

The GOP has talked endlessly for decades of bringing blacks, Hispanics, and working-class whites, even union workers, into the Party, but the RINO leadership wants to destroy the candidate that has succeeded in doing just that. Is their loyalty to their cushy jobs & the Washington Cartel greater than their loyalty to their constituents, the Constitution, and America? They want Ted Cruz destroyed, and if Trump doesn’t do it, they know the Dem Socialists will, and can by a simple challenge to his eligibility. Many are even saying they would rather have Hillary than Trump. WHY? Is Trump’s promise to cut out the waste and fraud such a threat to them? Or his promise to have an Administration that can and will solve the problems that keep getting worse?

The “Ted Cruz” problem is he was born in Canada, His father was a Cuban that became a Naturalized Canadian citizen in 1968; by Canadian law, Ted’s mother became a Naturalized Canadian as his spouse after residing in Canada for a year. Ted was born in 1970, a “natural born Citizen” of Canada. Researchers have found that she was registered to vote. Canadian law did not allow ‘Dual Citizenship’ at that time, so did she ‘acquiesce’ to renouncing her US citizenship? Also US immigration law ( https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/abroad/events-and-records/birth.html ) states:

“A child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents may acquire U.S. citizenship at birth if certain statutory requirements are met. The child’s parents should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (CRBA) to document that the child is a U.S. citizen. If the U.S. embassy or consulate determines that the child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth, a consular officer will approve the CRBA application and the Department of State will issue a CRBA, also called a Form FS-240, in the child’s name.”

Note : “may acquire…..if…statutory requirements are met.” However, no CRBA has been offered to the public to show that Ted has any LEGAL claim to US citizenship. I think this is because a CRBA is a document of “citizenship by law” or Naturalization, obviously NOT “natural born citizen”. Does The Stupid Party really think the Dems will let this slide? All the evidence against Cruz is freely available while all the evidence against Obama is still sealed. Plus, The Stupid Party has “acquiesced” to Obama by running their own “ineligible” candidates.

This is a serious legal conundrum that must be decided in Court, before the convention. The GOP should DEMAND that Federal Courts rule on this and give a legal definition. On deciding this, all persons with interest in the outcome should be represented, historians, Constitutional scholars, and citizen groups, not just the “bought and paid for” lawyers for the Parties and ‘ineligible’ candidates.

Also we are seeing Trump being attacked by ‘Assassination by Innuendo’. Just like Harry Reid did to Mitt Romney in 2012 by suggesting tax fraud, now “Mittens” does it to Trump. Cruz says the Media has stories to publish that are negative to Trump, but his legal citizenship, not just “natural born citizen” is in doubt, now. And the Delayed Adolescent Rubio makes cracks about Trump’s fingers? (This is why I sometimes imagine we have all died and gone to Hell, and this is just some “Alternate Universe” designed by an insane & cruel Satan. Or is it just the Beltway Buffoonatorium?) If ‘Mittens’ and the GOP went after Obama in 2012 half as hard as they are going after Trump, we would be campaigning for his second term, and Trump would still just be writing checks. But they DIDN”T! And now “WE the PEOPLE” are demanding someone that will “Change it Back!”. Ted Cruz’s “TrusTed” meme may actually beat out Obama’s “Hope & Change” as the most ridiculous political lie in Modern History.

Ted Cruz is a very smart lawyer, even a genius litigator, and he has to know that basing his claim to “natural born Citizen” on a badly written 1790 law that was replaced in 1795 is no real lawful claim. He has the same problem Obama did: keep it out of any court, prevent any evidence being presented and any judicial decision, and trust P. T. Barnum’s adage, “Nobody ever went broke overestimating the gullibility of the American people.” And Barnum didn’t have ‘Faux Snooze’ and the rest of the Lap-Dog Media on his side. But the Dem Socialist lawyers are just waiting for the best moment to challenge him. They have the evidence, and they will certainly win in the ‘Ted Cruz’ case.

I welcome any questions or arguments on the website, there are far too many details to discuss here,

Photos from the Seadrift PTA and Snider Family displays have been missing from the Seadrift Centennial Celebration held in 2012. The two boards, with photos, were on display at the Seadrift City Hall during the 2012 Seadrift Centennial Celebration. The Snider Family has been inquiring about these photos since then. The two photo boards were probably stacked with the other board displays from that event.

We are asking each participant to check their display boards from the event to try and find the missing boards. The Snider family photos are very precious to the family and we are desperately trying to find these historic photos. Please help us as we make every effort to locate the photos for the Snider family! Any ideas as to the whereabouts of these precious photos would greatly be appreciated. Please contact Janie Waghorne at 361-649-6812.

Port O’Connor first graders learn about Dental Hygiene.

Seadrift Masonic Lodge Number 1098 presented the Port O’Connor First Grade students with Dental Hygiene Kits as part of the Annual Masonic Home and School Fantastic Teeth Program. Fourteen students were given the kits. The School Nurse, Jill Goode and First Grade Teacher Mrs. Anderson continued the Dental Hygiene program with additional instruction to the students.

At Seadrift Elementary, Bro. Joe Beaver and Bro. Raul Gutierrez, along with Nurse Jill Goode, presented the program and kits to Collin Anderson’s first grade class. A similar presentation was made at Tivoli Elementary School.

Seadrift First Graders