I've been concerned for a long time that hate lies at the heart of the Republican Party. This is not a partisan attempt to smear the GOP-- there's demonstrably a lot to it. Anyone who's paying attention and is honest will know this to be true.

And it is not a recent thing. Back in 1991, when the GOP brass determined that Governor Clinton was the biggest threat to actually win, I saw the hate develop into a festering sickness among the rank and file. Constant sneering, in a very juvenile manner, was the tone toward him for the duration of his Presidency. And on the lunatic fringe, talk of black helicopters and UN Detention Camps in store for YOU!

For their part, the Party immediately started looking for something, anything to run him with; when Whitewater didn't pan out, they resorted to a cheap sex scandal they shouldn't have been poking into to begin with. But ultimately they were impeaching him merely for having a D after his name, which they'd been taught to hate. And America paid a heavy price for this foolishness. Ironically, in policy terms, Clinton was a moderate Republican, but by Eisenhower standards, I guess.

That GOP died 38 years ago, taken over by a rabble seething with resentment. When Senator Obama got nominated, the same childish hate campaign was cranked up against him. And Congressional Republicans openly announced that, more important than doing what's good for America, their number one priority would be making him a one-term President. So from the start they would not give him a chance. Toward that end, they obstructed as much as they could.

They hate Obama more than they love America. The withering grass roots are even worse, with their hate driving them insane. In a sorry effort to delegitimize him, the Birthers still insist that Obama was not born in this country. They have zero evidence-- nothing but wishful thinking. And real evidence, like the official declaration of the state of Hawaii, or the testimony of the doctor who delivered him (in Hawaii) is summarily dismissed. Yet when we have a candidate they like (Rafael Cruz) who was admittedly born in another country, where are these phonies?

Over one-half of Republicans think Obama is a Muslim! No matter how many times he says he's a Christian-- as if any real Muslim would ever deny his faith in this way. I went on social media to discuss it with them. The only "proof" they has was a vague allegation that "his actions" prove it. "You mean actions like drinking beer, eating pork, and attending church?", I rejoined. "He doesn't attend church, " one scoffed. I pointed out, factually, that he attends more often than Ronald Reagan ever did. One guy complained that "he won't destroy ISIS". I pointed out that he's bombed them over 6000 times so far. Apparently Mr. Impatient expects ISIS to be wiped out in two days. Failure to do this is proof of Islamic loyalty.

More fun facts: This year in Texas, the state government wasted time investigating an utterly imaginary plot of the Federal government to invade Texas and take it over-- when they're already in the Union. Quite a few others are warning that Obama is planning to declare martial law, suspend the Constitution and cancel the election so he can stay in power. (I'll make it another seppuku bet that this will not happen.) Then in one poll, 1/3 of Republicans blame Obama for the government's poor response to Hurricane Katrina-- in 2005! That's how stupid and eager to hate they are.

So given the recent history of the GOP, is it any surprise that Donald Trump is prospering by exploiting hate, fear and resentment (something he does skillfully)?

I've just seen the new Star Wars. I remember how Yoda said that negative emotions-- fear, hate, anger-- form the pathway to the Dark Side. The GOP has gone down this path. And "forever will it dominate your destiny".

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck

Rushville, PA

I was newly elected as township supervisor of Ararat Township. It was a hard fought campaign and many early mornings, afternoons and late night hand shakes paid off. I looked people in the eye and I listened to everyone who answered their doors. I went from house to house no matter if I knew that they were a democrat, republican or some other party. I never was a partisan person, but am a versatile, self made man.

It did not mater to me when I asked them what they need in their township. They answered me with the word "change".

Change means many things, but in Ararat Township it meant change in the people who ran it for a long time. Even if I knew they were probably right I continued to listen to them and eventually got things narrowed down to, dust, snow, ice, cinders, lost jobs. Whoa, what! Why? Because their road was not plowed and cindered and they could not get out. That was the last straw.

Now that I won the election I am asking anyone who is in need of their voice to be heard to come to the monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of every month at the township building in Ararat and tell us; there are 3 supervisors, who will be listening. I will be one of three and can't promise we can do everything, or everything is possible, however we sure will discuss it over a month and let you know the next meeting, if we can.

Becoming a supervisor has made me think just how our local government works. Being a dairy farmer in the township, I seemed to assume things just got done and every thing was great, I was wrong.

I have since opened my eyes and ears to you the people who elected me to help, so please come to the meetings and express freely, your gripes or your pleasures. In my heart, Ararat township is one of the prettiest areas in Northeastern, Pa.

Sincerely,

Peter A. Seman

Thompson, Pa.

Is there a shadow government in Washington, a government more influential than the entire electorate, a government that has overridden the will of the people decade after decade? Is there a fourth branch that is more powerful than the executive, judicial, or legislative branches? The answer to both questions is, yes.

That fourth branch is called the lobbyists. There are 11,166 lobbyists, or 21 for each of the 535 members of Congress. The lobbyists have at their disposal an annual $3.3 billion. Dividing that out exceeds $800 million/Congressman.

To get a better picture of the enormity of $3.3 billion, compare it to the salaries of the entire Congress. Now add all the expenses of their staff limit of 18 (that's 535 times 18 = 9,630 staffers) and include all the benefits and all the perks. The lobbyists' could bankroll all of this and have $800 million leftover. That's for openers.

When money is involved, the shortest distance between two points is as crooked as a snake. To circumvent the laws and regulations that govern lobbyists, much of it has gone underground. Experts estimate that the real number of lobbyists is closer to 100,000 and their piggy-bank bulges with a yearly average of $9 billion.

Why, then, do the top three donors---Big Pharma $180 million, insurance companies $119 million, and Big Oil $97 million, and dozens of other corporations---spend tens of millions to hire lobbyists? Is it because they are acting in the best interests of the country, or of their companies? Of course, it's the companies' interest that are at the heart and what they're buying is legislation favorable to those interests.

It's said that everything has a price and Congressmen, with few exceptions, are exceptionally vulnerable.

The first problem that a newly elected member of Congress has is how to get re-elected. For that he needs cash for his future war-chest. No problem. There are lobbyists in his waiting room, each with an Aladdin lamp to fulfill his every wish. Sometimes it's a simple under-the-table transaction. One Congressman was caught with his kitchen freezer stuffed with cash. But there are safer ways to get cold cash. For example . . . .

How about an all-expense-paid trip to Scotland at a five-star hotel near a prestigious golf course for a two-week speaking engagement with a generous honorarium? A scholarship for your daughter? Name the college. A donation to your foundation headed by your spouse who receives a six or seven figure salary? Or maybe a promise of a cushy do-nothing job after you retire?

What this amounts to is government by the corporations, and for the corporations. The politicians, Republicans or Democrats, say what must be said to get the votes and do what must be done to get the money.

Lincoln said, “you can't fool all the people all the time,” but, this time, it came close. Finally, after decades, there were signs of populous discontent manifested in the Tea Party. Then the ballot-box rejection of Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. Following this was John Boehner's embarrassing ouster by a coalition of conservative representatives, and the furor over Boehner's appointed successor the forgettable, Kevin McCarthy.

Now it's a full-blown voter revolt. Look at the leading candidates in the race for the GOP's president's nomination, all newcomers, not a professional politician among them. Dr. Ben Carson, who never held an elective office, Senator Ted Cruz, who won a smashing upset victory in his first ever American political contest, (he's Canadian), and a dark horse neophyte, Donald Trump.

Here's where things get interesting.

Go back to 1973. We're at the Belmont Stakes watching to see if Secretariat can win the Triple Crown. The bell sounds. The field of five explodes out of the gate. Secretariat starts slowly in fourth place. But he accelerates steadily. Soon he is in a neck-to-neck battle for the lead. Then Big Red pulls away eventually winning by an impossible 31 lengths.

You see where this is going. Trump is Secretariat. He started low in the polls. Hardly a serious candidate; just the celebrity TV host in The Apprentice. But his poll numbers consistently climb. Today he ranks No. 1 according to all the national polls. Real Clear Politics shows him winning 39 percent of the Republican voters, that's greater than the sum of the next three.

But this race is far from over. Will he fade in the primaries? Will he self-destruct with one brash remark or personal insult too many? Will poll numbers translate into votes? Will the GOP torpedo his nomination by backing an opposing candidate? Or will Trump win by 31 lengths?

Why, this horse race is beginning to look a lot like Belmont all over again.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA