Constitution Day

On this date, after a long hot 1787 summer of deliberation in secret, the drafters of our Constitution completed their work.  It is also the date in 1862 of the bloody Battle of Antietam.


War and the Constitution are on my mind because of the threat of North Korea and the fact that we have a Trump at the helm.  I applaud Sen. Paul's attempt to repeal the authorization of 15 years ago. 
He recognizes that the Constitution drafted by the framers states that the president is the C-in-C of the armed forces "when called into action."  And the Congress is required to debate and reauthorize any war in progress every two years of an ongoing conflict. 


So let's have Congress reassert its role in committing the nations armed forces.  And tell the Congress to send a message to our sloppy president so we can deliver balance to our checks and balances.

Houston, now and future

Tragic and devastating, the massive damage to our 4th largest city requires prompt action - and money.  The initial suggestion of about $8 billion is surely a lot of money.  But I predict southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana will need 20 times that much financial support.  What a
 lack of imagination - both in scope and sympathy - comes from the mouth of our inept president.


Bold action is required.  We are a rich nation.  Houston is the home of the world's biggest industry.  12 million people are severely affected.  They are our fellow citizens.  Surely in a budget of over 3 trillion we can extend at least $100 million line of credit, with more to come as needed, in the first pass.  Katrina and Sandy cost nearly as much.


And woe to the lawmaker who tries to attach border wall funding, or some other unrelated nonsense to the bill that Congress should take up immediately.


Those affected are our fellow citizens.  We should act now with money and throw the great resources of our nation into the task of recovery in the gulf.