That's exactly what Smith's Report should have said. And he should have kept many copies.

+1. Good time to start focusing on state legislators. For example, the quickest way to preserve

a woman’s right to choose appears to lie at state level, unless the next few elections result in a Democratic President and huge majorities in Congress. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is now.

Read an article today in the Atlanta Journal about Jimmy Carter and Neil Boortz. Boortz was a white wing hate radio jock

in the 1970s and 1980s who broadcasted from Atlanta. Boortz was a local version of Limbaugh, but too ugly to be on TV, though he tried. I despise racist/bigoted Boortz to this day, but this is a great story.

The article describes an encounter with President Carter and Boortz in 1987 when Boortz took the Carters for a hotair balloon ride.

Here's a few paragraphs--

"After loading the balloon with government-issued radio equipment, the [secret service] agent in charge told Boortz they brought the region’s smallest agent to ride in the balloon, a 100-something pound woman. “I told them this is a standard hot air balloon and it holds three adults, including me — and we need me,” Boortz said.

"The agent insisted, so Boortz said, “Well then, Mrs. Carter can’t fly.” The former president then pulled rank. “Rosalynn is flying,” he said. So the slight agent remained on terra firma in a chase car with Donna Boortz.

"Carter, ever the hands-on fellow, insisted on helping with the inflation (something he knew about from the economy during his time in office). Carter held the balloon’s “throat,” the narrow opening at the bottom, as Boortz fired up the burner. “I told him, ‘I’m gonna send 20 million BTUs of heat past your head,’” Boortz said. “That was shooting five feet from Jimmy Carter’s face. I don’t know how I’m getting away with this.” The former president stayed on task and heeded directions."

https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/torpy-up-up-and-away-high-times-for-jimmy-carter-and-neal-boortz/LHVEJNIVNZDONNA5FDXUMXRHUY/

There is more worth reading at link above.

Other than delaying trump's trials as judges figured out "immunity" ruling, it's been over hyped and

gives trump very little — if any — extra powers, same for Biden.

I suppose Biden could kidnap trump and claim it’s part of his official duties to preserve democracy. But he’d have to convince courts of that, and would probably fail even in lower courts, even with his own appointees.

Jimmy Carter and I shook elbows when I graduated from college in 1971. He was not President yet, but he

was 6 months into his governorship.

It was a big stage with hundred of graduates.

I -- suffering from severe anxiety -- limped across the stage reached out for Carter's extended hand, but I missed it and got his elbow. He just grinned that big watermelon eating grin and shook my elbow too.

Not sure that is what it says. All they have to do is fill out a form. That form is required in California, NY, Illinois

Maryland, and even some rube red states. Apparently, 12 states have similar laws.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertfarrington/2024/11/29/12-states-now-require-fafsa-for-high-school-graduation-what-to-know/
________________________

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — There’s a new law in Oklahoma that requires high school graduates at public high schools to submit a free FAFSA application and learn about federal funding for college. While there is an option to opt out, students must file one or the other before graduating.

“I could see how hard students in Oklahoma were working to get qualified to go to college and to get accepted to college. But a lot of times their families didn’t know how to pay for it,” said Senator Mary Boren (D-Norman). The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education explains each school district will have a school employee in charge of collecting information regarding student compliance before graduation.

“I could also see that a lot of families just didn’t know how to navigate the financing of it. And they weren’t aware that how important the FAFSA was to opening up those doors of funding for college,” said Senator Boren.

While it is a requirement to graduate, there’s still an option if you don’t want to apply with specific guidelines as to who can fill out the form.

_____________________

How OK graduates can skip the FAFSA

The law, which was adopted in 2023, includes several ways for seniors to graduate without submitting a FAFSA form:
--The student's parent or legal guardian can sign a form to opt-out participation in the requirement.
--An 18-year-old student can sign the opt-out form themselves.
--A school counselor can authorize a student's graduation without submitting a FAFSA.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/education/2024/11/15/oklahoma-fafsa-rule-for-graduation-what-to-know/76297457007/

Annexing Canada (if they'd have us), buying Greenland, etc., are examples of trump BS. Don't think trump has

said anything about "invading" them, though annex/buy is about as stupid as drinking bleach and shining a bright light up your rear for Covid.

This does bring up an interesting question-- Would we oppose universal healthcare if it included

private insurers, recognizing that every major change in healthcare in the past 30 years includes private health in insurers-- Part C (enacted under Clinton, and now called Medicare Advantage); Part D drugs; and the ACA?

Ideally, universal healthcare would include a Public Option and insurers would be audited to ensure services are not improperly denied.

Personally, I think insuring everyone is the goal. If it requires a compromise such as allowing private insurance plans to operate under government oversight, I'd be for it pending details, especially if people had a choice of a Public Option. I'd even agree to calling it "trumpcare" if it were otherwise a good plan to insure everyone.

Well, then, you won't like MFA because any government plan is likely going to do

the same thing.

Medicare would have questioned a claim like that after an earlier one and the need for general anesthesia. Although under Medicare might have been denied after the fact, leaving the lady to pay.

Admittedly I don’t know, but you are speculating too- My guess is doc didn’t fight for it because he wasn’t really sure it was necessary, but he had an open slot. Again, I don’t know that for sure, but I’d want whatever company I’m paying my premiums to look at medical records to see if doc followed Medicare/Medicaid Guidelines before just writing a big check.

And I told you I'm not. I do work with doctors, and yes many cheat. Shouldn't be surprising

at least half of them are Republicans.