I am quite sure that each generation believes that those following them are not as strong in their beliefs, not as diligent in their work ethic, and not as serious as needed to keep our country strong. I can remember my elders thinking my generation was headed for hell when the twist came in. Probably the truth is that it depends on where you look. When I watch the March for Life in Washington - in usually bitter cold - and the thousands and thousands of beautiful elderly determined fighters for life and the always increasing numbers of young adults, coming in buses from High Schools and Universities all over America - children and babies with their parents - my heart sours with pride in our great nation. When I look at the loud, insulting massive demonstrators who refuse to accept the election and are determined to destroy our new President I have to wonder what happened to the reality of sedition. They say on YouTube that most of them are paid big money to take part. Paid by those who are determined to destroy our way of life and the Constitution we have always cherished. When I see our rights to free speech destroyed, our priests and ministers threatened with punishment for telling their people the truth - bakers and restaurants losing their livelihood for refusing to go against their religious beliefs my heart is sick. We must all begin to speak out. We must all give our new President a chance, whether we like him or not. But most of all we must all pray. Our greatest problem is we are too busy for God. When you walk away from your God you are entering hell.

Annette Corrigan

Jackson Borough

For the Republicans, the five-month stop-gap budget deal was like putting lipstick on a pig. For the Democrats, it was winning a gold metal. The Dems lost the House, lost the Senate, and lost the presidency; nevertheless, they scored a victory on the budget. Proving that toughness triumphs over timidity every time.

As usual, the rabbit-hearted Rep.'s caved and compromised in the face of a government shutdown over the budget. They called it bipartisanship.

“We now have an agreement that both sides should support, “said Senate Majority Mitch McConnell, “bipartisan and bicameral every step of the way.” Why, it was like a '60's love fest.

Well, not exactly, Mitch. There was enough GOP opposition to many of Trump's initiatives in the 2017 budget deal to land the Trump-led party on the canvas for a count of ten.

The Republican's took a drubbing. Rush Limbaugh wondered, “What is the point of voting Republican if the Democrats are gonna continue to win practically 95 percent of their objectives, such as in this last budget deal?”

A look at some of the salient skirmishes underscores Limbaugh's question. We'll start with what the GOP wanted and what the Democrats got. The border wall. Not a dime was allocated for it. A $30 billion increase in defense spending, the Dems cut that in half. Reduce funding for sanctuary cities, that was scrubbed. Cut funding for Planned Parenthood, nope, it stays fully funded. Money to hire more border agents, sorry not a penny. Replace Obamacare, stamp it, “Paid In Full.” Defund the National Institute of Health, fuhgeddaboudit, increase it $2 billion. Shave $2 billion from EPA budget. Let's sweeten the pot with $8 billion.

How, then, could the party with a congressional majority suffer such a lope-sided defeat?

The problem with the Republican Party is the Republican Party. For example, twenty representatives voted against their own party's health plan. Couple that with squabbling about funding, and it's enough to cripple the Party. These divisions force the GOP to work with the opposition Party and in effect put the Blues in the driver's seat.

But there is a way for the Reds to get back behind the wheel. They hold a 52-48 majority in the Senate. If the GOP can pick up eight Senate seats in the 2018 midterm election, that would give them a winning, filibuster-proof majority of 60-40 and leave the Dems powerless.

However, winning eight seats in the Senate is a long shot. Go to Plan B.

Trump wants a rule change in the Senate for a 51-vote majority, as it is in the House, instead of the current 60 votes to bring a bill up for a vote. Plan B has precedent.

In 2013, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid eliminated the 60-vote requirement for a simple 51-vote rule to pass Obama's appointees. That came back to haunt him.

This year Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell followed Reid's lead. He changed the 60-vote requirement to 51 votes to confirm Trump's pick for the Supreme Court.

If the GOP goes nuclear in the Senate for a 51-vote majority, that will enable the Reds to pass the Trump agenda, for which he was elected, without Democrat obstruction.

For the Republicans, it will be no more next time we'll do better. No, Mr. President, we're not “tired of winning,” as you said. We're tired of losing and fed up with “We'll do better next time”. We have run out of next times. This time it's now or never.

For the Democrats, a Plan B Republican success will give them unlimited time to pursue their favorite fantasies of why they lost the election.

Here's a list of the Democrats top five excuses for their election night flop: the Trump/Russia collusion, Comey's reopening Hillary's e-mail investigation, misogamy, Trump's appeal to white supremacy, and Fox News (Way to go, Fox).

Or might it be that the donkey party fielded the worst standard bearer in history, a true, to use Hillary's word, deplorable?

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA