Does anyone remember the stories that circulated during the presidential campaign (2015-2016) that alleged that Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump all had mistresses. One claim asserted that Marco Rubio had at least four mistresses and a love child, while Ted Cruz had five mistresses. There was also a claim that Ted Cruz's father helped assassinate JFK! All of these allegations mysteriously vaporized when Trump became the Republican candidate. Of course, Trump then became the subject of a FusionGPS "dossier" and was also accused of "colluding" with the Russians to defeat Hillary - a charge that has been debunked, but nevertheless continues to be "investigated." Does anyone remember the charges made against Herman Cain? Even Sean Hannity was alleged to have committed sexual harassment. Hannity was smart enough to sue the accuser and the allegations stopped. Type in any of the above names in your search engine to find dozens of articles defaming those accused.

A headline in Breitbart News claims that "ABC affiliate can't find one voter who believes the WAPO (Washington Post) report about Roy Moore in Man on the Street."

Even though there are many articles on the net about the accusations and the denials of all of the aforementioned individuals, no one has connected the dots when it comes to the "swamp" and the media trying to destroy them.

Given that Luther Strange was Mitch McConnell's choice for a senate seat, and that McConnell convinced Trump to support Strange, can anyone believe the veracity of any news story about sexual crimes allegedly committed by a conservative Republican? Over the course of 40 years of public service no charges of sexual misconduct were ever made against the Judge. Charges only surfaced AFTER he became a candidate for the senate instead of Luther Strange. What's even more strange (no pun intended) is that RINO Republicans jumped on the story like wild animals for fresh meat and demanded that he withdraw from the race - without him even being given a chance to defend himself.

One can ask if tax reform legislation was the "quo" if Donald Trump provided the "quid" (endorsing Strange) so that a tax reform bill could make it through the Senate. When Strange lost to Judge Moore, the whole Senate "kumbaya" spirit left and it was back to the old stalling tactics of McConnell and company.

It's no wonder that people have no faith in the media or the government. If the good judge withdrew from the senate race, do you think the charges of sexual misconduct would just fade away, like they did for Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush and Herman Cain? What are the odds?

Judge Moore has said that he will sue the Washington Post. Let's hope he does.

Sincerely,

Edna K Paskoff, Montrose, PA

The Ficarro Family wishes it could find the precise words to describe how much your countless expressions of sympathy during our Mother Mary's illness and passing have eased our burden.

The food, letters, mass cards, phone calls and simple hand shakes in the street will not be forgotten.

We would be remiss not to mention the above-and-beyond examples of the Geisinger CMC doctors, staff, and Hospice personnel, Joe and Linda Schell, Sean and Dick Hennessey of Hennessey's Funeral home, The St. John's Church Ladies (Particularly Maria Cina) and Arika Ficarro (Who was a professional interpreter of the medical terminology surrounding comfort care of a loved one).

We seldom consider the importance of family and friends, until our chaotic lives slap us to tear. It is then, and only then we realize how “special” it was to be exposed to our rural upbringing and consider counting its blessings.

Again, thank you, one and all!

Ben & Bev, Chuck & Rita, Bob & Ann, Mike & Joni

...it might come come back to bite you.

Two months ago the establishment Republican Party unfurled its true-"Blue" colors as the Right-wing of the Democrat Party. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell and his party backed their candidate, Luther Strange, for Jeff Sessions' vacated seat in the Alabama Senate with $32 million. His GOP rival, Judge Roy Moore, raised a scant $1.4 million.

The result? The people won; the dollars lost. But Moore did not just defeat Strange; he humiliated him.

Then the Leftist organ, the Washington Post, ran a smear spread about Moore inappropriately touching a 14-year-old girl 38 years ago. The Post had to dig deep for this one. The est-Repubs, still smarting over their primary rout, weren't going to let this opportunity slip by. It was a second chance to back Strange and to give Moore his comeuppance. They lined up behind McDonnell to push Moore under the bus.

Leading the pile on was...

• Senator Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader in the Senate. “If the allegation of misconduct are [sic] true he should step aside.” His aide echoed, “The Republican Party doesn't have any place for pedophiles.” True enough. But neither should it have room for those who reflexively jump to conclusions.

• Rep. Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House. “Anyone who would do this to a child has no place in public office, let alone the United States Senate.” Whatever happened to that dusty concept of innocent until proven guilty?

• Senator John McCain. “The allegation against Roy Moore are [sic] deeply disturbing and disqualifying. He should immediately step aside and allow the people of Alabama to elect a candidate they can be proud of.” Which is to say that (1) You're guilty because someone said you are, and (2) The rubes in Alabama made a lousy choice.

• Rep. Peter King. “Ordinarily, the person is entitled to a presumption of innocence. But in this case, it's so serious, and the fact that it's backed up by other women [it definitely is not], and it's so hideous, I would say unless he can prove his innocence, the burden is on him within the next day [not much time, only hours] he should step down.” A wordy way of saying, guilty.

• Rep. Adam Kinzinger. “I think Roy Moore needs to step aside now. These allegations are disgusting, and I believe them, against him.” To Kinzinger, believing makes it true.

But what about the Republican congressmen who urged waiting for the facts rather than letting emotion rule reason? There weren't any. Among the no-showers was the president who again was more involved in international affairs than the domestic agenda for which he was elected.

Jerry Falwell, president of Evangelical Liberty University, stood alone and took Moore's word over that of his accuser. “It comes down to a question who is more credible in the eyes of the voters, the candidate or the accuser,” said Falwell. He, unlike the politicians, chose Moore.

The fact that Moore has been in the public eye and scrutinized for forty years with not a whisper of impropriety should have given the naysayers pause for thought. It didn't. Neither was the fact that he was married to the same woman for 33 years given any consideration.

Moore vigorously defended himself against Leigh Corfman, the woman who accused him of sexual misconduct in the 1970s when she was 14 years old.

“I don't know Ms. Corfman from anybody,” said Moore. “I have never talked to her. I've never had any contact with her. The allegations of sexual misconduct with her are completely false. I believe they are politically motivated. I believe they are brought on me to stop a very successful campaign.”

Moore has been investigated eight times including five statewide campaigns in which opposition research was done. Nothing unfavorable was ever discovered. Now, just one month before the election, Corfman comes forward 38 years after the imagined incident? It fails the smell test as badly as a rotting fish.

There you have it. The est-Repubs got what they wished for, a second shot to back their man, Luther Strange. On the coattails of that came what they didn't wish for: (1) a Roy Moore with a wider and deeper base, and (2) the outing of a few blue-dog Republicans ever ready to undermine, obstruct, or sabotage the President's program.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins, New Milford, PA

A small foretaste for the comeuppance yet to come. On the Democratic side, a very diverse (oh no!) array of candidates won, and in ironic ways.

In Virginia, they elected a transgender candidate who beat the guy who wrote the anti-trans "Bathroom Bill". Looks like she'll use the bathroom of her choice-- the one in his old office.

In New Jersey, Hoboken elected a Sikh mayor, despite an ugly and stupid opposition ad urging voters not to let "terrorists" win. (Note to Rightists: Sikhs are neither Arab nor Muslim-- they're from India. They've never attacked us. But if you keep attacking them, like the idiots you are, maybe they will. They're not Muslim's but they're not Quakers, either.)

In Maine, voters voted to expand Medicaid, as a provision of Obamacare.  Governor Paul LePage, a nasty and small man who is only a haystack pompadour short of being a Bobbsey twin of the guy in the White House, had vetoed it five times.

Also in new Jersey, a state legislator who'd mocked the Women's March got beat by a woman who ran against him for that reason. Now he can get dinner on the table.

Only four stories, only three states. There's so many more states to be accounted for, so many more clods deserving a comeuppance. At last, hope for the future.

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck, Lawton, PA