No Struggle, No Progress
No Struggle, No Progress
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There are still many Trump supporters who really believe that Donald Trump will win the 2024 presidential election. And there are Trump supporters who want to believe that he will win but know deep down inside that the tide is against him realistically winning the election. But that has not stopped his supporters from beating the drums that somehow a miracle will happen. Even some conservative religious leaders who were openly prophesizing that Trump would win are strangely silent at this juncture of the campaign season even though Trump has a...
Have any of you ever wanted a job so bad but after a while, you regret taking it? Some, if not most of you would say “yes”, while the rest would find another job or “deal” with the one that you have. With that sentiment is probably how Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is feeling right now. Congress has just returned from its August recess only to stare at a looming government shutdown, that if not resolved, will affect millions of Americans. The ones that won’t be affected are the rich/wealthy and yes, members of Congress. Various f...
If anyone is wondering why Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis continues to lag so far behind Donald Trump, one only needs to look at what happened after Hurricane Idalia crossed the state causing billions of damage in her aftermath. President Joe Biden has done what he and other presidents have done countless times following major natural disasters in states where a “show of unity” between leaders starts with the governor on behalf of its citizens. That is when on too few occasions, a sense of unity is exhibited between leaders of both polit...
Mayo/Supporters Gear Up for Election Before a packed house of fired-up supporters, former mayor Jamie Mayo was met with cheers and chants of " We want Mayo back" as he officially announced his candidacy for Mayor of Monroe for the 2024 spring election on Thursday, August 24, 2023 at the Tabatorium in Monroe, LA. Mayo emphasized his three major priorities as economic development, crime, and education, in which a comprehensive plan is being finalized. The night ended with local pastors and...
Indignities. No special privileges. Everyone will be treated the same. That’s what we are told happens to someone who is suspected of and has been indicted for committing a criminal act. We saw that happen last week in Fulton County in Georgia when 18 co-defendants of former president Donald Trump turned themselves in to go through a booking/processing procedure that people who are facing a trial go through. By now, the mugshots of Donald Trump and those who are facing trial in state court are already in the history books, something that so m...
The Republican Party as a whole has a headache that just will not go away. At least just not yet. Maybe that might change after Donald Trump shows up at a Fulton County jail to be fingerprinted and have his mug shot done by the time these words are read. The spectacle of a former president’s face on a suspected criminal mug shot will go down in history as one of this nation’s most embarrassing moments. Presidents, former or otherwise are not supposed to have a photo of their mug shot next to their biography when talked about in the history cla...
Donald Trump has been indicted again by federal authorities, and there is also one more expected from the state of Georgia in a few weeks. What was once thought as unthinkable for a former president to face the kinds of legal troubles that are facing Trump should show us that everything has its limits. As they say in sports, Trump went “to the well one too many times” and it appears that he came up dry. In addition to Trump begging for money to pay his lawyers (we thought he was a billionaire), a trial is still a long way off, leaving him to...
If Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis fails to capture the Republican presidential nomination next year, we know what will be seen as one of his failings. It won’t be his lack of charm or charisma; he is about as popular as stale bread regarding likeability. When that fails among the voters, it often falls on the shoulders of the spouse to put that “human, fuzzy” side on display just from the kind of relationship that the couple might have. As it stands now, no one is even remotely closed to catching up to Donald Trump despite the legal woes fa...
When Critical Race Theory was talked about being taught in the nation’s public schools, conservative politicians and others cried that liberals were trying to “indoctrinate” young white kids into believing that they should “feel guilty” for the crimes of their ancestors. They, all of a sudden, started quoting the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. about not “judging people by the color of their skin” as if they suddenly saw the light of what Rev. King was saying. Guilt didn’t have anything to do with teaching CRT, but about teaching the tr...
America is an experiment that is failing…badly. The “melting pot” is melting. People who were once strangers in a new land are treating strangers as if they don’t belong here. The notion that God set aside this land called America for one particular race to dominate is, at its best, ludicrous. Yet, that is what we hear from political leaders to religious leaders, and none of them quote any scriptures to support those ideas. Nevertheless, that’s what the founders envisioned even, as we are told by some political leaders who talk as if they heard...
As we look at the Republicans who are vying to take Donald Trump’s place in the White House, as of right now, it is no contest. There are big names thrown in the hat, names that are easily recognizable in conservative politics. But alas, none of the last names are spelled T-R-U-M-P. And that to our conservative friends is gold in Republican circles. How else can one explain the tight grip that Trump wields over the Republican Party in Washington and across America, even as he is in the legal fight of his life his base is firmly supportive of wh...
It is indeed a Juneteenth reason to celebrate. An American military installation just west of Alexandria has bestowed an honor on a Black soldier who was much more than a hero. For decades, Fort Polk has served as a military installation that has sent thousands, if not millions of Americans to distant lands to fight for freedom. It is home to the Joint Readiness Training Center and the Third Brigade Combat Team of the Tenth Mountain Division. Now the installation has a new name that opens a new chapter telling the world what this nation can do...
Former Vice President of America Mike Pence is running to be president. That might have been breaking news at one time, something out of the ordinary, but it’s only Mike Pence. And it comes as no surprise that Pence finally decided to put his hat in the ring, as it would have been more of a surprise if he hadn’t. When one looks at the announced candidates already running, Pence, a former vice president, has the credentials to govern as a president. That doesn’t mean he would be a great president, as he didn’t have the “best example...
So we have a deal. At least in principle. After what seems like an eternity, every time the issue of what is to be done concerning the nation’s debt ceiling grabs the attention, a deal gets done. That’s the word from the White House and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as both entities seemed to have played a game of chicken, taking the deadline down to the wire. Perhaps what angers the majority of voters is why it takes Democrats and particularly Republicans to want to take hardline stances, the old my-way-or-the-highway attitude every time the d...
President Joe Biden must be an even bigger threat to Republican presidential contenders than conservatives are letting on, as the latest strategy seems to anoint killers as heroes. Remember when Kyle Rittenhouse killed two people during a Black Lives Matter protest against police brutality? Notice how right-wing media and leading conservative voices came out in support of Rittenhouse calling him a “hero” for killing two people while carrying a weapon in the middle of a protest? Rittenhouse was portrayed as the “victim” even though he was arm...
Declaring that he is “ready” for another one, presidential contender Donald Trump, in the words of the hood, came out “like a fat rat” while appearing on CNN last week. Many thought that Trump was making a big costly mistake appearing on the network, but to Trump with the setup in place with friendly faces in the audience, Trump felt right at home. It didn’t matter who the moderator was at CNN asking the questions, as Trump in his usual style, did things his way. And what did you expect? By now, we(I do)should know that when Trump has the s...
When will it happen again? The clock is ticking. The grief experienced by a Houston area family stemming from five of their loved ones being killed by the next-door neighbor has to be overbearing after hearing about the latest Texas mass shooting in the Dallas area. The latest mass shooting in Allen, TX, again underscores that the nation must somehow come together and do something constructive regulating guns. Some will say that this is “a Second Amendment” issue, while others can rightfully say that this is a “right to live” issue. Eight p...
The manhunt (as of press time) continues for the alleged killer who authorities say shot and killed five people execution-style. Simply because they asked him to stop the shooting. Media reports indicate that a family member asked the alleged suspect to stop shooting because a child was trying to sleep. Instead of being a good neighbor, the suspect named Francisco Oropeza, simply walked next door and proceeded to kill the family one-by-one, allegedly saying that “he had a right” to do whatever he wanted on his own property. A few minutes later,...
That cheering you have been hearing since Monday is coming from the millions of Americans who are delighted and happy, knowing that Tucker Carlson is gone. Yes, that Tucker Carlson. There may be another individual with a name like Carlson, but without the notoriety, but only one worked at Fox News. Now, that Carlson is no more and to the millions of viewers that listened to Carlson every night, there is no joy in Mudville because their right-wing hero is out, gone, bye, “see you later alligator”, gone. However, to his viewers and supporters, Ca...
Who do some in America turn their attention to when it comes to not wanting to tackle the problems/issues that continue to divide this nation? They turn their attention to those in the LGBTQ community as their scapegoat. By now, most of us have heard about Kid Rock shooting up cases of Bud Light beer because he is unhappy over how some companies are including people in their support for those in the LGBTQ community. Kid Rock is not alone, as some others have done the same thing, all in the name of “liberal wokeness”. Wokeness is a term tha...
Former president Donald John Trump is expected or will be indicted in a Manhattan courtroom this/past Tuesday, April 4, 2023. There were so many people in this nation and perhaps around the world probably thinking that Trump would never be indicted. After all, how many individuals do you know of who can tie up the legal system as well as Trump has done? Trump has had many legal issues that he has dealt with over his life, having many high-paid lawyers cut deals that could otherwise have him facing some jail time. As we have seen so often, prose...
One has to wonder what Republicans in Congress and red states are going to do about trying to prevent school shooting after school shooting. The latest tragic event occurred in Nashville TN, Monday, March 27 at Covenant School, a private Christian school. What we are seeing is that it doesn’t matter if it is a public or private institution, school shootings seem to have gotten past a “normal thing” in America. The “thoughts and prayer” phase will come, as leaders, including those who are against any kind of sensible gun legislation, will bemoan...
Everyone at some time in their lives runs from the truth. That is a fact. When one faces the choice of telling the truth, circumstances may dictate whether one will be truthful. There is a story in the scriptures where Abraham lied that Sarah wasn’t his wife, but his sister. It didn’t turn out well for him once the king learned the truth. Abraham was apologetic as he confessed, and from then we learn that he was truthful in what he said. We all pay a price, whether small or large when we fib (snuck that one in) but it pays even more in the eye...
It is still almost two years before the next presidential election, but one would think after hearing from the so-called presidential contenders, the election is next week and that they need your vote. The current field of announced or those who may run include Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott(only Black candidate), and Mike Pence. But, no matter who decides to run, will have to face the biggest elephant in the room, that being Donald Trump. Despite the fact that Trump may be facing an indictment stemming from his legal issues with NY DA Letitia...
The nation has gone bonkers. It is about to go off of its rocker. Not only that, but the guys who started all of this by writing the Constitutional must be turning in their graves, as this nation may be set to show that lawsuits and so-called rights go hand-in-hand. Even when there appears no reason to do so. Case in point. Remember the 2020 presidential election where Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden BIGLY? We all thought that the issue of who won the presidency was settled, as the court had spoken, and Biden was implementing his policies to...
President Joe Biden has been flexing his political muscles lately despite the criticism that comes from Republicans no matter what the president does. The so-called scandal following the Chinese balloon and other objects shot down by the military has only given the president a little more pep in his political step because the sightings are now relegated to the “old news” department. Republicans who now control the House have not exactly gotten off to the start that they were bragging about how varying investigations would “expose” the truth a...
No, I don’t think E.T. is trying to pay us a visit. Nor are we about to experience a “War of the Worlds” moment as in being attacked by “little green men” from Mars. Until this nation lands more people on the moon first, any inhabitants on the planet Mars have nothing to worry about. Over a two-week period, there has been an increased interest in what is going on over our heads and not in a “sky is falling” ruse. To some of our political leaders and media pundits, we may soon see pictures of “Chicken Little” in some media circles, all in a...
By the time these words are read by Dispatch readers, “Balloon-Gate” will still be with us because some Republicans in Washington will try to milk the issue as much as they possibly can. It was the balloon seen ‘round America either in person or through round-the-clock news coverage, as a Chinese balloon somehow found its way into American airspace. How it got here, the Chinese blamed the balloon’s presence on Mother Nature, saying that wind currents pushed it thousands of miles across the globe until it just happened to show up over Alaska,...
By now most of you may have heard of the passing of Ineitha Lynette “Diamond” Hardaway, one-half of the Black sister duo, who rose to fame with Herneitha Rochelle “Silk” Richardson, as ardent and fervent supporters of ex-president Donald Trump. “Diamond” as she was called, along with “Silk” became a 1-2 political punch for Trump during his first campaign and become a familiar face in conservative media, appearing at rallies among conservatives. Hardaway passed away a week ago and was funeralized Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023 with Donald Trump be...
If most Americans think that Republicans in Washington D.C. are going to bring a wave of prosperity to the nation because they are in charge of the House, they are sadly mistaken. As long as the nation is divided along every line that one can think, that being racial, political, cultural, or economic, don’t expect anything of substance to be done. I would love to be wrong, but this nation “crossed the line of separation” a long time ago, as there are those who are making sure that this nation never becomes “united” if it ever was. Democrats...
Kevin McCarthy is finally the “king of the hill”. That’s Capitol Hill. After going through 15 agonizing votes to become Speaker of The House, and years of waiting in the wings, McCarthy has ascended to the mountain top of D.C. politics. It wasn’t an easy climb, as McCarthy “haters” pulled out all of the stops to deny McCarthy the speakership, when in most cases it is only a formality of who becomes the next speaker, as Democrats and Republicans both know ahead of time who they want. Take the example of Democrats, it was no contest that Hakeem...
The year 2022 is rapidly coming to a close, closing a chapter in time of a nation many are saying is no better than it was in 2021. Yes, this is the time that talk “of peace and goodwill” is exchanged, but in reality, when one actually takes the blinders off their eyes, everything is basically still the same. As long as this nation remains as divisive as it has become, that peace and goodwill, goes out of the window. The bible is true when it teaches us, “a house divided against itself will not stand”, is something that one doesn’t hear from th...
We have heard so much in the last year or so about how “being woke” is detrimental to the nation, as it is being used to divide people. You hear that kind of rhetoric from those who really don’t want to address the ills of the nation unless it is from their point of view. You hear from many conservatives how being “woke” turning the races against each other, trying to make one “guilty” for the sins of others in another time. It is a politically charged word that is used often in right wing media and by conservative leaders to label them as...
Donald Trump must feel like a man going down for the third time. First of all, the 2020 presidential election didn’t turn out the way he wanted it to. All throughout the campaign season, Trump had long planted the seed of doubt that would propel his numerous attempts to try to turn the results of the election in his favor, which failed. An attempted coup to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power that he has been faulted with by his followers failed, leading to numerous injuries and several deaths that ensued. The dozens of legal challenges t...
Donald Trump loves to entertain at his residence in Florida. The rich and famous are people with whom the ex-president loves to rub shoulders and let’s not forget, play golf. Normally, someone in Trump’s position know beforehand who he will be associating with before he hosts his guests at his Florida home. I think we all do that. The “old folks” used to tell us that one shouldn’t “have just anybody” showing up at our homes. The same is equally true in today’s climate. So, imagine Mr. Trump allowing rapper Kanye West to have dinner with him...
There is a new “Jaws” movie that is on the horizon. No, not that Jaws. If one would take a look at what is going on in the Republican Party, it is clear to see, that they are not a bunch of happy campers. What was joy and euphoria before the midterm elections quickly turned to gloom as election night wore on. Republicans weren’t able to ride the big wave that they thought was coming, which would have sent Democrats running for the hills. When the wave ended up being only a ripple, it didn’t take long for the finger pointing to start. Now, a...
Don’t Call God By Eddie D. Gillis t’s sems that when election time rolls around, two things voters are sure to hear, “send money so we can win this fight”, even though that candidate might be leading by fifty points, and God “is on our side” as you send the money. We know that there is never enough money to spend on ads even though practically everyone knows who is running and most minds are made up before votes will be cast. Nonetheless, there has long been a tendency for many candidates to invoke God because just by mentioning God, a cert...
By Eddie D. Gillis In last week’s column, this reporter wrote of how things, despite what some will say, are going from bad to worse in this nation and the world. For those of us who read The Dispatch on a regular basis, you know that I end my editorials with the phrase, “Remember, the world is watching. So is God”. The ending to my editorials came to me “in a thought”, as there are not many editorials that end in a phrase reminding us that no matter what we do, He is watching. The singer, Bette Midler also did the same in a song called “F...
In reading Act 246 from the 2022 Legislative Session, there are concerns about Amendment No. 7 on the November 8 ballot. It proposes changes to Article I, Sec. 3 of the Constitution of Louisiana----prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude. The Amendment proposes to delete “except in the latter case as punishment for a crime” from §3(B)(1). It proposes the enactment of a new subpart, (B)(2), to indicate that the prohibition against slavery and involuntary servitude does not apply to the “otherwise lawful administration of criminal justic...
This writer is convinced that most of us like to see the glass half full rather than half empty. When the glass is half full, there is room to add more. By contrast, when one sees the glass as half empty, there is the possibility of losing more of what is already in the glass. If one takes an honest look at what is happening in this nation and quite frankly the world, the glass is half empty. As we get ready to go through another election season, we can see the usual attacks coming from both sides of the political system, with each side...
Every resident of Louisiana should be concerned after reading Act 246 from the 2022 Louisiana Legislative session. There are concerns about Amendment No. 7 on this year's November 8 ballot. Amendment No. 7 proposes changes to Article I, Sec. 3 of the Constitution of Louisiana, prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude. The Amendment proposes to delete “except in the latter case as punishment for a crime” from §3(B)(1). It proposes the enactment of a new subpart, (B)(2), to indicate that the prohibition against slavery and involuntary serv...
The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus (LLBC) invited the public to what is being called a “road show” which stopped in northeast Louisiana on Monday, October 17, 2022. Topics on the discussion menu included healthcare, education, and redistricting, among other topics, such as the upcoming 2022 midterms elections. Many Democratic leaders are fighting against numerous laws that they say are aimed at keeping Blacks and other minorities from voting in large numbers. The LLBC has been in exi...
The cheering that you heard last week came from those who want to see ex-president Donald Trump face a congressional committee where he will have to swear an oath to tell the truth. Speaking of telling the truth, Trump being a former television reality show host, would have been an outstanding contestant on that old time classic show, “To Tell the Truth”. On that show, many Dispatch readers around my age (past 70) would remember that the show’s panel had to guess which of three contestants was telling the truth. They would answer quest...
Another devastating hurricane has struck the U.S., leading to dozens of deaths and a cleanup/repair bill that is in the billions of dollars range. The state of Florida has a long way to go to get past the life changing effects that people go through when they have to rebuild after a hurricane turns their lives upside down. Everyone in the state of Louisiana remembers Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the efforts and resources that it took to rebuild New Orleans and the Lake Charles/Lafayette area, as the memories will never go away. The same...
I'm Luke Mixon, a Naval academy and TOPGUN graduate who served as a fighter pilot for 20 years. Now, I'm running against Senator John N. Kennedy because we need real leaders in the U.S. Senate who are willing to put politics aside and work for the people of Louisiana. People have lost faith in Washington's ability to solve our problems. Why? Because they don't see Washington solving our problems. Instead, they see a bloodsport where everyone blames the other side and nothing gets done. It's all...
By Eddie D. Gillis Former president Donald Trump should be happy( no doubt that he is) that he is a rich man and that he is “living” the American dream. He’s been in the company of kings, a queen, dictators and even a porn star. He has properties worth billions and even lived in one of the world’s most famous buildings, that being the White House. But, one might ask, how can a man who has lived the kind of life many dream about, yet always seems to find himself in some kind of legal quandary. For some reason, the former president and current...
Jackson Parish NAACP Invites You to Meet Your Candiates for Jackson Parish Mayor Town of Jonesboro; Chief of Police Town of Jonesboro; Member of School Board Districts 5 & 7; Alderman at Large Town of Jonesboro & Alderman Districts C & D Town of Jonesboro LA Saturday, October 1, 2022-Come at 12:30 p.m. to meet the candidates Forum 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Boyer-Bell Memorial Building 763 Beech Spring Hwy – Jonesboro, LA 71251 “YOUR VOICE MATTERS” This event is being held to encourage citizens to become more involved in local government, by learn...
The number of voters expected to go to the polls in November should be aware that their votes may not count. Or matter. There appears to be a concerted effort by Republican candidates running for office in the midterms, to openly declare that if they should happen to lose the races that they are in, they plan on not accepting the results. In other words, 2016 will be front and center in 2022 over some Republicans candidates not willing to accept defeat at the polls. There have not been moments in history where a candidate from either party...
It is amazing how one man has been able to turn the rule of law upside down on its face. There are serious conversations being held by people with influential voices over whether Donald Trump should be tried for his alleged crimes of taking government documents that are vital to national security. The line in the sand was drawn a long time ago when Donald Trump became president and with that newfound power, Mr. Trump appeared to show how power absolute can rule. Mr. Trump came into office demanding loyalty to him first and not the nation, nor t...
Donald Trump was back in his element this past weekend. He was getting the kind of attention that he so desperately needs. If there is one thing that Trump loves, it is to be in front of an adoring crowd that loves every word that comes out of his mouth. It doesn’t matter if everything that he says is the truth or how “vicious” the tone of his words may sound. Mr. Trump appeared at a campaign-style rally over the weekend in Pennsylvania to stomp for GOP senatorial candidate Mehmet (Dr.) Oz and gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, both of wh...
