The President's Weekly Address

Hurricane Harvey: Prepare and Plan Ahead
As Hurricane Harvey intensifies, it's important to plan ahead and follow evacuation orders from local officials. Below are resources with more information on how to prepare:
- Hurricanes.gov
- Ready.gov
- FEMA.gov

Praise for President Trump signing the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017
Veteran organizations and elected leaders praised the signing of the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017. This legislation will streamline the lengthy process that veterans undergo when appealing their claims for disability benefits with the Veterans Administration. More than 470,000 veterans are still waiting for decisions regarding their appeals.
Read more

New York Post op-ed: “Trump is not backing down on trade”
"Trump dared to question the gospel of free trade and changed the national discussion. Over three-quarters of Trump voters, including lifelong Democrats, believed the pacts were hurting America, and they’ve given Trump a mandate to act.” - New York Post Editorial
Read more

Photo of the Day

President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence | August 22, 2017 (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

 White House Spring Internship

The application for the Spring 2018 White House Internship Program is open! Apply here

Chaos or Strategery?

Pres. Trump speaking at the US Coast Guard

Academy, in Groton, CT.  Photo by Anna Arpin

Submitted by Joe Milardo; author unknown.

 

Editor's note:  While unable to take any credit for this piece, the author manages to express what many of us have felt and suspected for some time.  While fools like James Clapper wonder about the sort of people who would attend a Trump rally and question his fitness to hold office, there is little doubt about Trump being a two term president among those of us who put him in the White  House.

 

This may explains a lot of things going on at The White House:

 

"Apparently, liberals and never-Trumpers are so isolated in their political circles that they have no concept how things work in the real world of business and corporate America. For example, they completely fail to grasp the concept of the "hatchet man".  Allow me to explain:

Say you are a business tycoon. You just successfully completed a large-scale acquisition and merger, bringing together multiple smaller companies into one conglomerate. After the merger, you want to put your own people in charge of everything. However, all those smaller companies had their own executives - and, at least for the short term - you need to keep many of them around the keep things running. So, you keep many of those executives around, and let them retain their own senior staff. You even appoint one of them - the head of the largest of the companies you acquired - to be the CEO of the conglomerate, and he pledges to get all the departments working together harmoniously.

After a transition period, some of them are doing fine in the new conglomerate - but others are clearly causing trouble. In fact, the one you appointed CEO is clearly a disaster. The newly merged departments are working against each other.

Furthermore, you have good suspicion he is dealing in insider trading - nothing you can take to a prosecutor, but there is a lot of circumstantial evidence building up. Worse, he is not only doing his own dirty dealing, but it appears he may even be leaking intellectual property to your competitors, helping them take market share from you.

Clearly, he has to go - and go now.

 

Problem is, many of the senior employees in your conglomerate are loyal to him. If you just fire him and put in your own chosen CEO, you know you could get a lot of backlash from disgruntled employees. And in your business, there is such a small profit-margin that you really can't afford anything at all that threatens performance. So what do you do?

In comes the hatchet man.

 

The Old Farmer's Almanac - More hurricanes expected, herb lore, houseplant tips

His labor is a chant,
His idleness a tune;
Oh, for a bee's experience
Of clovers and of noon!
–Emily Dickinson (1830–86)

August 25, 2017

WEATHER ASTRONOMY GARDENING CALENDAR FOOD ADVICE STORE

 

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Hurricane Forecast Raised Extremely Active 2017 Hurricane Season Predicted The 2017 hurricane forecast just got updated—and NOAA predicts “an extremely active storm season,” which could be the most active since 2010. See the forecast and how you are affected—and start preparing BEFORE you experience power outages. Read more

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SPONSORED Remember when the power went out… …and you wished you had a generator? Not everyone knows how much power they use, and even fewer are aware of their emergency power needs. We found this easy-to-use calculator to help you get an idea of what you’ll need. Learn more

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Potato Blight 5 Ways to Control Potato Blight Potato blight first shows itself as brownish-black spots on leaves, but before long the potato foliage can completely collapse and the potatoes themselves will rot. Read more

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Peterson Applauds Local Districts Receiving $1.6 Million For Academic Enrichment Programs

Senator Peterson

August 18, 2017

COLUMBUS—State Senator Bob Peterson (R-Washington Court House) recently applauded local school districts recently chosen to receive a combined $1.6 million in grants for academic enrichment programs for students offered outside of the regular class schedule.

As part of a highly competitive application process, the Ohio Department of Education awarded funds to districts for establishing and/or continuing 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which provide academic enrichment opportunities for students in rural communities during non-school hours.

"Community learning centers are valuable resources for our local communities," said Peterson. "These programs offer additional support to ensure students have the best opportunity for success in the classroom and in meeting state academic standards."

Local learning centers help students meet state and local standards in core subjects, such as reading and math. They also offer students a broad array of activities complementing their regular academic programs; and provide educational services to the families of participating students.

In Ohio, the grants awarded to schools and community-based organizations are on five-year grant cycles. Continuing grantees are required to submit information each year to continue their grants through the five-year cycle. Remaining funds allow for new grantees to be awarded.

REP. TURNER on Afghanistan

Rep. Turner

Aug 21, 2017

 

Chairman Mike Turner (OH-10) of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces released the following statement after President Trump’s announcement on Afghanistan:

“President Trump’s announcement this evening makes it even more clear that Congress must act as soon as possible to repeal the sequestration of defense in order to appropriately fund our military. Maintaining a budgetary fiction at odds with the realities of the missions our men and women in uniform are asked to perform is irresponsible. The majority of Republicans in Congress want to repeal defense sequestration. Now is the time to do it.”

In May, Congressman Turner gained the support of 140 colleagues pledging to vote to repeal sequestration of national defense.

Columbus - Senate Majority Blog: Job Creation in Southern Ohio

Senator Uecker

Uecker Appointed To Foundation For Promoting Job Creation In Southern Ohio Farming Communities

August 08, 2017

 

COLUMBUS—On Friday, Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) announced the appointment of State Senator Joe Uecker (R-Miami Township) to the Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation.

State lawmakers established the foundation in 1999 in an effort to promote economic revitalization in southern Ohio's tobacco-producing counties.

"I'm honored to join this distinguished group of community leaders as we promote opportunities that help spur job creation here in southern Ohio," said Uecker. "Programs supported by the foundation also play an important role in improving quality of life for families across the region."

The Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation is charged with developing and carrying out programs to help replace the production of tobacco with other agricultural products and to mitigate the adverse economic impact of reduced tobacco production in the 22 burley tobacco growing counties in southern Ohio.

A 12-member Board of Trustees governs the Foundation, while day-to-day operations are overseen by an executive director and two other employees.

Ohio Could Become Third State to Ban Abortions on Babies With Down Syndrome

The state of Ohio could become the third state in the nation to ban abortions on babies with Down Syndrome. An Ohio legislative committee held a hearing on a bill today that has strong support from pro-life advocates.

The hearing on the legislation is vitally important as it follows on the heels of massive international debate following a CBS News report indicating that the nation of Iceland has almost eliminated people with Down Syndrome because of its specific targeting of babies with the condition in abortions.

Understanding that babies with Down Syndrome are being targeted by abortion, pro-life organizations across the United States are working to ban abortions when genetic testing specifically reveals an unborn baby has the condition. Two States have already banned such eugenic abortions.
The Ohio Senate Health, Human Services, and Medicaid Committee heard proponent testimony for the Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act (S.B. 164) today.

Parent advocates, medical professionals and others joined Ohio Right to Life with supporting testimony in favor of this important legislation in front of the Senate Health, Human Services, and Medicaid Committee.

"The Spirit of the US Mail"

The Spirit of the US Mail - dennygibson.com

While dwarfed by the State Capitol Building in Columbus, this structure is no less magnificent in its architecture and artwork; nor in its history, any less rich.

Built in 1885, the walls of the Fayette County Courthouse are adorned with the artwork of Archibald Willard.  Willard is described by *Scott Markel as "the least famous painter who created the most famous painting in the world."  He is best known, or unknown, for his work, The Spirit of '76.  As you will hear in the video linked below, it was not until the 1950's that is was discovered that Willard was the artist responsible for the frescos and paintings.

The Spirit of '76, from Wikipedia

In 1894, a mob gathered outside the courthouse, bent on lynching convicted rapist, William Dolby.  Then-governor, William McKinley called out the Ohio National Guard to quell the riot.

Troops held the prisoner inside the courthouse.  When rioters tried to break through the door, they were warned that troops would open fire if they tried to do so, again.

They tried again.

Troops opened fire from within, shooting through the door, killing five and wounding others.  The bullet holes are there today, unrepaired; a reminder of what happened 133 years ago.  As a boy, I put my finger in those holes.

In just a few minutes, this video presents a brief but fascinating account of the history of the courthouse, located in **Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio.  Enjoy!
The Ohio Channel, Seats of Justice

EDITOR'S NOTE:  (16Oct21)  When this went to publication four years ago, I had no idea that circumstance and fate would lead me to The Spirit of '76 Museum and The Southern Lorain County Historical Society.

This past Thursday, (10/14/21), the historical society held a fundraising dinner at the Eagles Lodge, in Wellington, Ohio.  Friend Dan LaMacchia, (he and his father, Ray, have been instrumental in supporting the museum and historical society), invited me to attend.  Dan could not make the dinner but asked me to deliver a package for him.

Dan put me in contact with meet Becky Norton, VP of The Board of Trustees, and we arranged to meet at the museum.  There, I met her and historical society member, Barb Leiby.  Both were excited to see the contents of Dan's box.  It contained three old maps of the county, two videos and most exciting of all, three glass negatives; two were portraits of Willard and one of "The Spirit of '76", standing on an easel!

Becky gave me a tour of the museum.  The museum's contents are fascinating and her knowledge of the history of  Lorain County and it's citizens is impressive.  (Video was taken of the tour and, once I learn how to edit an hour down to 15-20 minutes, it will be posted, here.)

Later, we met at the dinner where I was introduced to, and sat with, Scott Markel, quoted above.  Markel is also a board of trustees member and portrays Willard in historic reenactments.

At the dinner, I met several other people, including Al Leiby, Barb's husband.  Al is owner of Lazlographics.com and is a digital photography, enhancement and restoration specialist, as well as a US Army veteran.  In no more than 90 minutes, Al scanned and printed the photos Dan had sent and had them on display at dinner!

For information on touring The Spirit of '76 Museum, click on the link, above.  They are open Saturday and Sunday from April thru October.  Off season tours can be arranged by contacting the museum.  There is never a charge for tours, but they graciously accept donations.

*Markel is a board of trustees member of The Spirit of '76 Museum in Wellington, Ohio.

**Washington Court House was settled by Virginia veterans of the Revolutionary War.  Unable to pay many veterans, they were given land by the newly-formed United States government.  It was customary that Virginians attached "Court House" to the name of the county seat.

Russia Bigger Threat Than ISIS?

Trump - Week 30: Rebuilding America

TRUMP PENCE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
8.19.17

CONDEMNING HATE

President Trump’s heart goes out to all those affected by the events in Charlottesville last weekend. The President condemns in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence. It has no place in America. No matter the color of our skin, we all live under the same laws, we all salute the same great flag, and we are all made by the same almighty God. We must love each other, show affection for each other, and unite together in condemnation of hatred, bigotry and violence. We must rediscover the bonds of love and loyalty that bring us together as Americans. Racism is evil. And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.

EXPANDING APPRENTICESHIP AND WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS

President Trump held a workforce and apprenticeship discussion in New Jersey. Under this President, we began a historic initiative to expand apprenticeship and workforce training programs in all industries. But that was just the start, the administration is taking additional steps to expand apprenticeship programs, especially for women and minorities in STEM fields where these groups have been truly under-represented. In the past seven months, we've made enormous gains in getting Americans back to work. The stock market is at record highs. Unemployment is at a 16-year low, and manufacturers have never expressed more optimism about the future.


IMPROVING HEALTHCARE FOR OUR VETERANS