Dakota Beacon

Since the last debate there has been a flurry of outraged comments about the "cages" at the border, immigration and "coyotes".  Most Americans know what is meant by the term "coyote", just as they do the term "mule".  A coyote is someone who smuggles humans across the border for profit.  They are predators.  The children in their company are victims.  The people at our border who end up receiving them have a real heart-rending dilemma as to what to do with them and for them.  Their parents, when identified, refuse to be reuinted with them.  The fault ultimately lies with governments so corrupt and crime and despair so rampant that mothers and fathers are giving their children up.  We have two options - turn the kids loose with these predators to continue trafficking them in the U.S. and lose track altogether, or hold them in temporary custody in the hope that some better solution will develop.  

Well, it's in the can.  The final Trump-Biden debate for this year is now history.  Trump went in fit and feisty, after a week of high-energy rallies, held live, coast to coast which followed a bout with COVID.  Biden went in haggard and irritable, following a week of revelations of his, his family's and his son's illicit influence peddling in Iraq, Russia, China and Ukraine (so far) - revelations which are beyond reasonable doubt what with the actual laptop containing them in the hands of the FBI, corroborating information and statements volunteered by at least two other people directly involved.  Those on the left, however, are quick to give him kudos for merely standing up for 90 minutes.  He managed to fling a lot of falsehoods out there regarding both his and the Obama administration and allegations against Trump.  None of them took very well.  It might have worked in the old whistlestop days but news travels too fast for that now, even managed news. Stuff gets out, like his lies about his position on fracking for one.  

This year has been one like no other.  We have had impeachment, surging economy brought to a sudden stop by a worldwide pandemic of epic proportions, lies and inaccurate information about just about everything.  We've had riots from coast to coast that make 1968 look like a Sunday school picnic, looting, arson, beatings, taking over of whole sections of cities and the press assuring us, against a backdrop of cities in flames that the protests were "mostly peaceful".  Their organizers have made no bones about the fact that they are, in their own words, "trained Marxists".  We've had mayors out doing the Macarena instead of stopping riots, while cracking the whip over any business that dared to open its doors because of lockdowns. We have a voiced, imminent threat of court-packing in the wake of confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett as SCOTUS Justice, should that stay on track.  It's denied, it's affirmed, it's taken off the table as far as questions from the press go.  The insanity keeps topping itself.  The last couple of weeks we have seen the falling away of the disguise of the Democrat [temporary] presidential candiate and his son as ordinary people, revealing that they are allegedly active members of an international crime family.  But the story of the year - perhaps the story of the century - is the one that has not been told because it is that the press has zero integrity and sees itself as Democrat Party operatives in sheeps' clothing and their function to try to batter Trump as relentlessly as they can with stupid and irrelevant insults and protect the alleged criminals.   One would think that if there is any story of interest to Americans on the eve of a presidential election it would be the apparent comproimising of Joe Biden and his family by the sworn enemies of America.  One would think.  Gee, was it only last February that the baseless impeachment was cancelled?  But Trump may have topped off the year with something even more extraordinary than four Nobel Peace Prize nominations.  He might have countered everything with an amazing act of theater.  Is it chess after all?  Or just instinct.  Doesn't matter.

Finally -- it’s autumn. It’s officially, deliciously autumn. Three cheers for the season! This is my time of year.

I have an ongoing love affair with autumn. Why do I love Thee? Let me count the ways. (Least of all reasons – the mosquitos are dead!)

In fact, Trump’s enemies can use his sensitivity to others’ comments and behavior against him by pushing the right buttons. He absolutely must not let this happen, and the next debate must not be a repeat performance of the first.

So here’s my message to President Trump: Don’t let Biden and the moderator goad you into grouchiness. Cultivate the campaign-rally Trump; if you have to, visualize your millions of supporters cheering and applauding in television-land. You can be aggressive, but do it with charm, wit and a twinkle in your eye. Kill them with cute cleverness.

Everyday the news services bring us another story of how this Chinese virus is messing up our world.  Today was no exception.  There were numerous stories out today revealing different ways in which we are being damaged - ruined - as human beings by this virus attack courtesy of China, either through its sloppy research or outright malice.  Doesn't matter.  The virus is with us now and it is up to us to prevent it as much as possible from damaging our people.  In this our government agencies have been woefully off the mark.  Some nations have done better than others with this.  We are all watching to see corelation between public policy and public health outcomes.  But this virus can do far more than make us physically sick.  It can destroy our very character.

GET OUT OF THEIR WAY; CAN’T GET A LID ON IT; REGIONAL POWER; NEW ALTRU DEBT; NOTABLE IRONY; “DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY”; AG BOUNCING BACK; A FLOOD OF MISSIONARIES; GOEHNER MARRIES GACKLE; BOBCAT; TARGET; DAKTOIDS

It didn’t surprise the informed, and understandably a bit cynical, to hear that the FBI sat on Hunter Biden’s laptop instead of seeking justice. The bureau was previously involved in an illegal plot to take down Donald Trump, after all, and its Deep State elements would assuredly love to see Joe Biden succeed him in January. So why would they reveal damning information on their establishment hope?

Last week, as everyone knows, two important things happened - the two presidential candidate town halls (a study in contrasts for sure) and the release of some damning documents revealing the criminal enterprises of the Biden family.  I watched mostly the Trump grilling by the obnoxious and obviously partisan Savannah Guthrie, but we all saw some of both - most notably a question to Biden from a plant in the audience with a scripted question for him about a supposed "transgender daughter" (meaning a little boy), eight years of age and where Biden stood on transgendering children.  Biden's answer was both sickening and shocking.  And what was even more shocking is that everyone seemed to just take it in stride.  There was no right-wing version there of Savannah Guthrie to hone in on the latest Biden scandal - he got a free pass there.  But the whole atmosphere of this town hall speaks volumes about the corruption and the sorry state of our culture.

The 20th Century produced some really great American songs . . . or rather our songwriters did!  I thought, since I am looking for escape from 2020, that the music of a reall American genius might be appropriate to the occasion.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I have.  When my grandmother died, two pieces of music were played at her funeral - my kids singing the Welsh hymn, "All Through the Night" and Irving Berlin's "Alexander's Ragtime Band".  She was a great fan of this "fine man".  So partly for her and partly for myself, I thought I'd give it all another good listen.  Here is a brief sketch of Irving Berlin's life and just a tiny sample of his music.  I hope it inspires you to look for some more.

In lieu of a normal debate, last Thursday we had to settle for a couple of rival town halls - not only rival in terms of candidates, but also in terms of being in the same time slot on two different networks - Trump on NBC and Biden on ABC.  The cotrasts between the two could not be more stark.  Biden's came off as though it were a couple of old friends having a drink together in their easy chairs by the fireplace.  Trump's was crackling with tension.  Instead of the corporate boardroom white leather chairs, the Trump event was on high stools the interrogator not leaning over an armchair like Edward R. Murrow, but more like a shreiking parrot on a tree branch.  Dressed in blinding hot pink, the look suited the atmosphere.  If you saw these two - or even either one of them - please share your impression.

I just watched this man's message.  I think you should see it too

Senator John N. Kennedy (R-LA) has summed it up nicely.  The message sent to foreign governments around the world when they see the machinations of Joe and Hunter Biden't operation, is that "American oreign policy can be bought like a sack of potatoes."  He is absolutely right.  And what is more, if American voters are willing to tolerate this in their highest office, they, too, can be bought like a sack of potatoes.  You won't find the truth via Facebook or Twitter.  I would call upon honest people to shun these "services".  You are just being manipulated by them.

Can any objective person explain away the hatred for a president that has accomplished what ordinary citizens have sought for so long? President Trump has upended the establishment’s march toward a one-world organization governed by an unelected elite. He has rearranged the way Washington conducts business through the revolving door and the Good-ol’ Boy (and Gal) network. Strange that a man, an outsider, with unbounded energy working tirelessly to preserve the goodness and greatness of America should be shunned.

Some people just don’t like President Trump. Fine. But what is it exactly that is not acceptable? What has he done in public office to generate such irrational hatred for him?

Drill down with a few pointed questions.

Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett is certain to face many questions about her prior rulings as a judge. In this article, Constitutional scholar Dr. John Sparks examines one of those decisions: Doe v. Purdue University. Sparks argues that despite the opinion being methodically reasoned this case could be one that “senators opposing Judge Barrett will try to draw misleading conclusions from it, twist its meaning, and portray her addition to the Supreme Court as sinister.”

Jason Lewis is the endorsed Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, opposed by Tina Smith.  His election is important to not only Minnesota but to the nation.  We need more people who take a clear view of China and what is happening to American industry, freedoms, our dependence on a hostile foreign power for vital necessities such as medicines.  What the Democrats and crony capitalists who call themselves "Republican" as well as "Democrat" have done to our country is shameful.  Lewis has an insightful article on Breitbart today - well worth the two or three minutes to read it!

Well, the much-awaited hearings are underway in the U.S. Senate.  The Senate is in the process of hearings to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.  It is truly an illuminating experience, but not, perhaps, in the way the Democrat members of the Senate had hoped.  We have actually learned quite a bit about them, in fact.  What have we learned about Barrett?  Well, she knows her stuff - she is not using any notes.  That is impressive to most of us.  She has revealed that she cannot be badgered into something against her principles and professionalism as a judge.  She seems very clear about the role of the courts - especially of the Supreme Court under our Constitution.  She is not afraid to speak her unbiased understanding of the law.  We should find this affirming and positive.  But we are also learning a lot about people such as Senators Klobuchar and Hirono and the low level of their intellectual prowess and their total lack of  . . .  for lack of a better word . . . "class".

The leftist community is all abuzz about a fly landing on Vice President Mike Pence’s head, and remaining there for a few minutes, during Wednesday’s debate with Senator Kamala Harris. Dubbed #flygate on the Internet, the uninvited debate attendee inspired quips and comments, and not just because he was unmasked and uninterested in social distancing. And of all the reactions, perhaps the most striking is the claim that the fly’s treating Pence like a bowl of molasses doesn’t mean the vice president is sweet — but, rather, Devil-influenced.

This is good to know, because none other than Barack Obama seemed to attract flies as Joe Biden does Russian money.

FRIGHTENING; PROBLEM ENTERS RURAL COUNTIES; UNENVIABLE RANKING; GERALD VANDEWALLE (87);  THESE GOOD SAMARITANS ARE THE REAL THING; THE AMTRAK EMPIRE BUILDER; COAL CREEK STATION; PROTECT YOUR GRAIN; PICKY, PICKY; SOUTH DAKOTA VIRUS; DAKTOIDS

Tomorrow is COLUMBUS DAY.  Most people my age and older actually learned something of Columbus and his huge importance in world history.  Today, however,, the left is demanding that we turn our back on the great navigator.  Instead, they insist on a somewhat second-hand, consolation  prize - a sort of "participation award" as it were.  It honors no one at all.  They might at least have honored some individual among the indigenous peoples.  Instead they seem to see them as a native grass or something general.  THey seem to have a problem with immigrants.  In any case, we are celebrating Columbus nevertheless.  

Well, in the wake of the uber calm debate of last Wednesday the Presidential Debate Commission has decreed that there will be no more presidential debates and put themselves out of business apparently.  I have a better idea.  Trump and Biden both need to convince the American people that they are up to the job of being our President.  This would seem to be the way.  It should, in fact, have been obvious.

It would be nice if the American people could learn this, which brings me to maddening Republican stupidity: Why does the GOP continually agree to have leftist debate moderators? In the least, there should be two moderators, one Republican and one Democrat, with each choosing 50 percent of the questions.

As for Page, people can argue about the degree to which her bias is conscious (she is, after all, operating above her pay grade, lacking the necessary self-knowledge and wisdom to do her job). Regardless, the result is the same: Biden and Harris are allowed to retain their masks and hide their true faces from Americans.

The bottom line of all government is compulsion. Unless a whole nation could be unanimous, this must always mean the imposition of some people's views on others who do not accept them. Yet the project of American politics has always been to keep compulsion at a minimum, and to keep before us the ideal of government by persuasion. This requires an ethos of fair and civil discussion. The sad fact is that American liberals, normally eloquent champions of free speech, have in this case, by countenancing and encouraging the defaming of anti-abortion forces and the misrepresenting of their goals, done much to corrupt that ethos.

We have come to expect a lot of lying.  Supposedly there was going to be some fact-checking, but, as usual, the Democrats largely get a pass.  Herewith is my own initial opinion.  Pence seemed to look more at home at a cotillion than at a debate.  Most conservative opinion is that he did a great job.  I don't necessarily agree.  Let's hope that people are becoming jaded enough to do their own fact-checking.  

A different autumn arrives in due time – the autumn of our life. By then many have reached their zenith and have retired or contemplate doing so. Such an occasion offers a period to reminisce on decades past including the good, the bad, and the mediocre. Photo albums, diaries, and chats with adult children bring back memories long forgotten.

Over the past month we sorted through and organized a few book-boxes of letters. Letters from parents, letters to parents, letters between us when we first met, letters pre-dating our friendship, letters after marriage, letters between us from Korea and Vietnam – on and on.

We have a very real sickness in the United States - a mental illness which has people ghoulishly looking for bad news in the COVID fight, people who would rather see President Trump weak, perhaps dying in some ICU, who openly and admittedly resent his ongoing and impressive recovery.  It is true that not everyone is affected the same way by the virus.  Some have had slight illness, some are asymptomatic and others suffer more severe illness and even death.  We normally don't go around blaming those who don't die of the illness.  Except if the patient is Donald Trump.  Does this sound even remotely "normal"?  No - not to me either.

TAKE BACK BROADWAY; RUSTING HOSPITAL; WHY NOT US?; SPIKING; STILL IN TROUBLE; THE PLAINS ART MUSEUM; THE BANK OF ND; CARSON WENTZ; IMMERSION; FRAUDSTERS; DON’T COME HERE!; CONCORDIA RESTRUCTURES

I'm indulging myself today!  It's Sunday!  I am going to share some great dancing on some classic vintage film by one of my own all-time favorite actors and dancers.  George Raft came up the hard way.   Born in Hell's Kitchen, his boyhood friends were future mobsters.  He quit school at age 12, pursued a motley career, everything from prize fighter to taxi dancer.  He was undisputed King of the Charleston but he could do a lot more than that on the dance floor.  His persona as a tough guy limited his casting unfortunately.  He really didn't want to play "bad guys", but as with his friend Jimmy Cagney, this is what the industry demanded.  

Independent journalist James O'Keefe has undertaken to expose the massive voter fraud going on in Minneapolis.  Of course, it isn't just happening there, but he got the goods on Ilhan Omar's operation in that beleaguered city, so we can start there.  Obviously something is seriously amiss in a city where a woman who has been involved in so many scandals can be elected to high office.  We basically knew, but O'Keefe reveals some nuts and bolts in the works.  The Democrat-controlled press was quick to try to control the damage, throwing stones at one of his chief witnesses, Omar Jamal.  The Project Veritas video is linked in this story, so please watch it in view of the attack upon it and come to your own conclusion.  I would say that O'Keefe has some very convincing footage here.  

Publisher's Note: Joe Sobran's depiction of the perpetual rage of anti-Catholicism is as apt today as it was when he penned this column in 2002. Today marks the 10th anniversary of his passing. May he rest in peace.