Despite the very hot days this Summer, Bunco is still in play. The next meeting will be August 4th and two very efficient and charming hostesses will be there to welcome you at this party at the ending of our Summer. Bunco meets the first Tuesday evening of each month in the back room of the Community Center at 7 pm; contact Shirley Gordon our Librarian at 983-4765 for more information.

The beginning of our very warm months means the start of the many fishing tournaments held in our community week after week. And the biggest of all and the most famous and longest running one in Texas is Poco Bueno which is scheduled this year during the third week of July; beginning the 15th and ending on Saturday the 18th. Poco Bueno is very loosely translated to mean “It’s Ok”, and it really is. It is always only one of the very few “Invitation Only” tournaments, and at one time it was also the most monied throughout the world. Begun in 1969 by Walter Fondren III with 13 teams of his fishing buddies, the tournament now boasts entries from various areas throughout the United States.

With it being scheduled this weekend, we’ll all be watching from our varied vantage spots as these very large fishing boats arrive to be moored at Caracol. And a tour of Caracol on a golf cart gives the opportunity to see these beautiful boats and often renew acquaintance with them from previous years. My favorite of all these boats is a black hulled one named “Bandit”, and have watched her for several years, luckily taking her picture as she arrives and then leaves much earlier for the tournament. If you have the opportunity to view these beautiful boats in their docking spaces from your own small boat, one really understands the vast importance of this event. And a book detailing one man’s dream of fishing in POCO, is available at the Library for all you Fishermen!

Hurricane Junction is open once again following remodeling. I understand that lunch is served there daily along with other items on their bar menu.

The last program of the Summer Reading Program at the Library will be Tuesday, July 21st and will be honoring “Heroes of our Imagination”. Reading logs are due on Saturday, the 18th and the Awards Ceremony with its corresponding Party will be Tuesday, July 28th. Hope you all have had fun this Summer with the varied innovative and imaginative programs, and we at the Library look forward to seeing each participant during the coming year.

Saturday marked once again the 4th of July in our area, and many, many families from other areas came to celebrate it with us, and enjoy the annual BBQ from the VFD and ending with a stunning display of fireworks from the Front Beach. But earlier years in POC were even more interesting; following the ending of the Second World War, one family who resided on the Front Beach gave money for the purchase of firecrackers by some of the local men. Other families would get together and fix dinner for all participants. That went on until the Chamber was formed in the mid-60’s and took over the activities at a later date. There were street dances at that time with music being provided by local musicians; bbq with the meat being purchased from the local grocery and cooked under the direction of Teddy Hawes; salads and other dishes and desserts (watermelons too?) prepared by local women; and fireworks set off on the Front Beach with Johnny Hawes being in charge from the 70’s.

Has anyone seen the new “little house” on Commerce? I’m taking bets as to its inhabitants!

Hooper’s Bar and Grille located on West Maple Street is scheduled for opening soon with many innovative dishes for a great meal. The kitchen is under the direction of Dalene S. Caffey, and her talent with food is unbelievable. A glance at the proposed menu features several appetizers, shrimp and chicken salads for some of the female (watching their weight) diners, hamburgers, hot dogs and, of course, tempting pizzas. However the view is definitely worth the price of any dish as all chairs are directed to the water, and seeing the Intracoastal and watching the many boats, barges and shrimpers all parading up and down on the water is an unbelievable sight. But watching the host in action is a joy in itself as Hoop always seems to be having fun, no matter what he is doing, and that attitude always brings a corresponding smile to everyone’s face!

MUSINGS

As I sit in a chair on our deck in the early morning with the requisite cup of coffee, I have an incredible view of the Intracoastal Canal. Sometimes its surface is like glass; others it is whipping with white caps; Spotting the many fishermen leaving port and heading for their favorite spots with hopes for a limit of trout or reds; Seeing the local crabber go by with his truck laden with crab traps and knowing that in the evening, crab meat will be available to make Mrs. Raby’s favorite dish; Watching several shrimp boats heading towards their trawling spots and then seeing them return in the evening with the many gulls following and creating a black cloud; Observing the Pelican Air Force heading towards the Fishing Center, one by one in flight, while knowing that their dinner is waiting; Seeing the Sun making its appearance from the East with its spreading rays of light to promise a delightful day and watching it set in the West while knowing that that day has been perfect.

This is Port O’Connor, and despite its growth, will never change.

kubeckasue@yahoo.com
361 798-0560

Once again VEC said YES to a request for a much needed community service project in Port O’Connor. Under the direction of VEC’s Right of Way Superintendent, Sam Neill, a large crew from Nelson Tree Service descended on King Fisher Park for a much needed trim-up and pruning of the trees and shrubs surrounding the public restrooms. Although June 17 was a rainy, windy day right on the heals of Tropical Storm Bill, Leon Caceres, general foreman of Nelson Tree Service led his crew in a skillful and conscientious manner, finishing up the job in just a few hours. Most of the crew participated in this cleanup last year and seemed happy to be helping again to get the area ready for the 4th of July crowds
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Additional thank-yous go out to County Commissioner Kenny Finster who coordinated the work and sent a crew both days to assist.

-Vera Wiatt

Restrooms Before

Restrooms After

SCOTUS and the Constitution

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is supposed to be the last bastion of defense of Constitutional Law. They are sworn to “uphold and protect” and to rule on the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress and signed by the President.

From a historical standpoint, the Constitution was a contract written by We, the People between the citizens, the States, and the Federal Government that created that Federal Government and gave it strictly delimited powers. After the tyranny of the British crown, the horrors of the Revolutionary War, and the failure of the Articles of Confederation, the Citizens of the 13 colony/states were very reluctant to give much power to a Central Government so the Citizens demanded the First Ten Amendments, called the Bill of Rights, before they would vote to ratify it and create and empower the Federal Government. These Amendments are core to the Constitution and the establishment of the Federal Government.

I am amazed and appalled at recent Supreme Court decisions. They have twisted “law” and tortured the meaning of words in the English language in an attempt to “interpret what Congress really meant” and actually re-write “Law” in their support of ObamaCare and overturn 4,000 years of Judeo-Christian law on the definition of “Marriage”. Incredible!

The Tenth Amendment clearly states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the People.” Maybe SCOTUS forgot about that part; they have ignored it for over a hundred years. BUT, We, the People remember that it was a core value of the Constitution that created the Federal Government and SCOTUS.

The militant homosexual lobby has used the 14th Amendment: Sec 1, para 1, second sentence: “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of the United States; …” to demand that ALL States must allow ‘gay marriage’.

Texas did not say that people “married” in those States that allow it were not allowed in Texas, or would be arrested, only that Texas would not approve of “gay marriage’ and issue licenses for homosexuals to allow them to pervert the religious ceremony of “Marriage” in Texas.

I don’t think there would be much resistance to a legal “Civil Union” in Texas with all the legal rights of ‘marriage’, or in the other states. The contention was the perversion of “Holy Matrimony”, not the right to own property in common, inheritance, or hospital visits.

SCOTUS not only ruled that no State can deny married homosexual couples their legal rights, but all States must allow homosexuals to marry and issue them the license.

Why then, doesn’t SCOTUS forbid every State from violating my rights under the 2nd and 14th Amendments? If I wanted to visit my brother in Virginia and travel to Maine to hunt moose and bear with my legal weapons in my Texas licensed pick-up, even with a valid Texas CHL, I would be subject to arrest, trial, and imprisonment in Washington DC, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts simply for having my pistol and my .308 DPMS AR-10 type sporting rifle in my truck.

It seems to me that those who are “politically preferred” are given cover and protection by “activist judges” and Political Correctness.

Which brings us to the facts of how SCOTUS got to ignore the Constitution and core Law:

Ruth Bader Ginsberg was an ACLU lawyer appointed by Jimmy Carter in 1980 to the Federal District Court of D.C. She was a known “political activist” and should have been disqualified. She had no previous judicial experience. She was appointed to SCOTUS by Bill Clinton in 1993. She is now 82 years old.

Sonia Sotomayor was nominated to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York by President George H. W. Bush in 1991. In 1997, she was nominated by President Bill Clinton to the US Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit. She was nominated to SCOTUS by Obama in 2009. She was a known ‘liberal political activist’, and bragged that she would be an activist for liberal causes before her confirmation. (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ODnaFRc_mM ) This should have been an automatic disqualification. She also stated in her Confirmation Hearings that the Right to bear Arms was ‘settled law’ but her record is anti-gun.

Elana Kagan was appointed as Solicitor General by Obama in 2009 though she had no previous court experience. She alleged worked on legal aspects of ObamaCare. She was nominated by Obama and confirmed to SCOTUS in 2010, even though she had no judicial experience. She was a ‘liberal political activist’, best remembered for her actions as Dean of Law School at Harvard for stopping US Military recruitment on campus for their refusal to enlist known or admitted homosexuals. She lied in her Confirmation Hearings that she would defend the The Defense of Marriage Act, and stated “there is no federal constitutional right to same-sex marriage”. She is an avid supporter of the militant homosexual agenda, and lied to get confirmed.

Steven G. Breyer is another liberal activist appointed to US Court of Appeals, First Circuit, in 1980 by Jimmy Carter. He was later appointed to SCOTUS in 1994 by Bill Clinton. Breyer is noted for his vigorous “attacks on ‘originalism’”, this is Lib/Prog NewSpeak for not enforcing the Constitution as written, but finding excuses to fit decisions that better suit the Liberal Agenda. This should be an impeachable offense, as should lying in Senate Confirmation Hearings, and publicly speaking out supporting the Liberal/Left side in cases likely to come before the Court.

Anthony M. Kennedy was appointed to the US Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit in 1975, and to SCOTUS in 1988 by Ronald Reagan. He was thought to be somewhat moderate Conservative, but proved to be increasingly Liberal/Progressive as the power shifted to the Left.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts seems to more interested running SCOTUS in a Media Popularity Contest than supporting the Constitution as written, even though he was reputed to be a moderate conservative. He was appointed by George W Bush in 2005.

Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Anthony Alito are the only ones that consistently read and understand the Constitution as it was originally written.

Why doesn’t SCOTUS force the Executive Branch to enforce the Laws that were Constitutionally passed like DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act)? Why don’t they make them enforce Immigration Law instead of allowing “Sanctuary Cities” that protect illegal alien criminals, allow them to steal guns from the police, rob and kill our citizens, rape women and children, steal jobs from poor workers, send our money out of the country, and while the Government tries to put ‘chips’ into our citizens to have total identity control, they refuse to let the States require proof of citizenship to register to vote? Insane!

The greatest threat to the United States is the Radical Left. They despise Constitutional government because they cannot get their “Agenda” passed into law, so they use the Federal Courts to overturn Law and “make policy” as Ms. Sotomayor said in 2005 in the video referenced above. This is a direct violation of the Constitution.

If this ‘Contract’ by We the People, the States, and the Federal Government created thereby, is routinely violated by the Federal Government and there is no enforcement and redress by SCOTUS, the ‘Contract’ becomes “NULL and VOID” and the other parties are released.

We must face that fact.

The “United States” is no longer a Constitutional Republic because the current administration refuses to abide by the Constitution; the Democrats in Congress are loyal to their Socialist/Democrat party leaders, not the Constitution; and SCOTUS refuses to enforce the Constitution but chooses to “interpret” it to suit the Radical Left.