YOUR OPINION

Early this month, President Trump fired the chief of the U.S. Forest Service and replaced him with an ex-vice-president of a large sawmill in Idaho. Trump’s executive order calls for an “immediate expansion of timber production on USFS and USBLM lands.” At the same time Trump is firing at least 2,000 USFS employees. One more example of Trump throwing the entire bowl of spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks.

Since at least the 1970’s the USFS has been sandwiched between sawmill owners screaming for more trees and the American people wanting clean water, recreation and hunting and protection for all kinds of wildlife. All the demands for more trees ignores the reality on the ground. All of the original old-growth trees were logged off of private lands before 1950. After that, the sawmills wanted the old trees on public land. By the 1980’s, that was completed. Since then all the logging volumes had to be smaller simply because trees can never grow fast enough to meet politicians expectations. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Clean Water Act and others are in place because all kinds of Americans, regardless of politics want our forests (and everywhere else as well) to provide these qualities. Part of Trump’s order is for the USFS to log lots more and ignore all the regulations, which includes the above list. It is another opportunity for Trump to see how many new lawsuits he can attract. Time to let your voices be heard, folks.

-John Stuart Newport

What’s with the transgender

obsession?

I loved the transgender comments by some conservative letter writers last week. Our economy is tanking, markets are crashing, and they went right to the issue that likely got Trump elected. Republicans went home to their anti-transgender mommy. I can’t understand the Republican obsession with transgenderism or sexual orientation. It’s like political porn to them. They can’t stop writing about it.

The letters focused on the unfairness of having transgendered men destroying the chance for women to successfully compete in sports. This ignores that there are almost no college age trans people participating in women’s sports. “NCAA President Charlie Baker testified in December 2024 that he knows of fewer than 10 transgender college student-athletes among 510,000 athletes total.”

This level of hysteria could have Idaho passing laws that require school children’s genitals to be physically checked by a restroom monitor. Since the Republicans started this nonsense, I have tried to imagine why anyone would want to see females sitting on a toilet in a restroom stall. Nothing about restroom waste elimination is sexually stimulating yet that is the main worry of most Republicans.

I have never written a letter promoting transgenderism. Democrats traditionally oppose sexual discriminatory actions like telling girls that they can’t be scientists or making fun of a boy who likes to cook. I am not a fan of tattoos but shaming people with tattoos is not an interest of mine. Likewise, I am also not a fan of body piercings including Glen’s piercing transgender sports objections. What about addressing the male sport of wife beating?

Banning men in women’s sports is a political poison pill law. My response would be a poison pill law for Republicans banning youth ministers from using their religious office as a means to abuse children. Then dare Republicans to vote against it.

Pete Scobby Newport

Thanks SPOFR

On Tuesday, Feb. 18, I slipped and fell off an icy ramp and broke my arm.

The swift arrival and professional demeanor of the South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue EMTS (made up of Shane, Kelsey, Myra, Don and some others) handled everything perfectly, from beginning to my ending at Holy Family Hospital.

Last time I wrote anything to the editor was when SPOFR saved my life from a wasp sting I received several years ago.

Once again, I do not take for granted the services we are provided here in the county. Good, caring people like these folks make our county a great place to live. Plwease accept my heartfelt thanks; I’ll see you at the pancake breakfast.

Jim Pletsch Newport

Got popcorn?

Activist Judges are popping up all over trying to shut DOGE/ Trump down. It’s judicial overreach. There is only one person in America that the entire country votes for, and 76M voted for Trump. As long as Trump stays between the Constitutions guardrails, he is good to go. Article II. As for DOGE, they are simply auditing organizations that receive large sums of Federal money. Much of this money appears to go missing. As for these judges, congress is already drawing up articles of impeachment on four of them. It seems that judges are putting their hands up saying, pick me next? Impeachment is how you remove activist judges. Trump will win many if not all of these cases.

As for downsizing the bloated government, Trump can fire anybody that he wants. Imagine taking over a corrupt company as CEO. If you find that two people are doing one job, get rid of one of them. The media wants you to think DOGE is cutting vital services such as Medicare. Propaganda. Those services are being protected. Trump is doing this for America’s benefit, not to hurt Americans. Taxpayers are funding all of this.

ActBlue is under investigation. It’s a Democrat fundraising platform. Rep James Comer says it’s the largest money laundering operation in US history. Recently the top seven officials at ActBlue jumped ship. There must be some truth to what Comer is saying.

Ever hear of the autopen? It was Biden’s official electronic signature. The autopen has to stay in DC and Biden has to be present when it’s used. They are finding many documents throughout his four years that this was used. Six pardons were signed in DC while Biden was in St. Croix. Hmmm. Would the pardons be valid?

Grab some popcorn, enjoy the show.

Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick

Trumponomics

Today President Trump attacked the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) over its criticism of his trade actions. The Journal called Trump’s trade war with Canada “the dumbest in history.” The editor-in-chief also criticized Trump on Fox Business News. On Feb 12th the WSJ editorial board wrote an opinion piece titled “Trumponomics and Rising Inflation?” and the first sentence was “Does President Trump understand money?” I think that’s a fair question.

Trump is not happy about this criticism and today he posted a reply: “The Globalist Wall Street Journal has no idea what they are doing or saying. They are owned by the polluted thinking of the European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of ‘screwing’ the United States of America.”

Actually, the Wall Street Journal is owned by Dow Jones & Company, which is a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. The Rupert family also owns a 39.6% share of Fox News.

I’ve read the Journal my entire adult life, not because I agree with their perspective but rather because they frequently demonstrate solid conservative thinking. They believe in small government, fiscal restraint and trickle down economics. I believe the government should work for the benefit of the common man, not just for the wealthiest amongst us.

Trump’s notion of tariffs, tax breaks, interest rates and causes of inflation are a muddled mess. It has been no surprise to me that 4 of his businesses have gone bankrupt and Trump Sr had to bail out junior with millions of dollars in loans.

Until recently the WSJ has been very pro-Trump. But hats off to them for sticking to their journalistic standards and calling out a fiscal buffoon when it is appropriate. -Sandy Nichols Newport

Trump speech full of lies

He said lots of good things if they weren’t all lies. There isn’t anyone 360 years old getting Social Security and there aren’t 1,000s older than 100 getting it either, anyone over 115 wouldn’t get a check from Social Security even though it sounded good for the two presidents but it was a lie.

People were upset with the Democrats for sitting but nothing was said about the Republicans standing up when they knew it was a lie.

I don’t understand why there isn’t anyone that will stand up for what is going on.

Judy Malby Newport

Trump facts

May I share some facts? I found this and thought decent people would find this interesting.

64 Times Mentioned In Epstein Report.

97 Times Pleaded The Fifth.

34 Felony Convictions. 91 Criminal Charges. 26 Sexual Assault Allegations.

6 Bankruptcies.

5 Draft Deferments. 4 Indictments. 2 Impeachments. 2 Convicted Companies. 1 Fake University Shut Down.

1 Fake Charity Shut Down.

$25 Million Fraud Settlement.

$5 Million Sexual Abuse Verdict.

$2 Million Fake Charity Abuse Judgment.

$93 Million Sexual Abuse Judgements.

$400+ Million Fraud Judgment.

First President in history to serve a full term increase the deficit every year he was in office.

First President in history to maintain a debt to GDP ratio over 100% for his entire term.

Highest annual budget deficit.

Most added to the national debt in a single term.

Most new unemployment claims.

Largest single day point drop in the history of the Dow.

First major party candidate in half a century to lose the popular vote twice.

Longest government shutdown in history (and he did that while his own party controlled both chambers of Congress).

First President in the history of approval ratings to maintain a net negative approval rating for his entire term.

First President to be impeached twice.

First President to have bipartisan support for his conviction after impeachment (which happened both times).

Most indictments, guilty pleas, and criminal convictions of members of an administration.

First president to have a mug shot.

I must also add that yes, my hair was on fire. Thank you, KC Hunt for bringing back the memory of the propane explosion back and all the pain that went with that for months. Maybe choose words better next time.

-Jeannie Hutchins Newport

It’s our moral obligation to support veterans

As the daughter of a career military officer, I’m deeply troubled to learn of the actual and proposed cuts being made to the Veterans Administration by DOGE. Like my father who served in Guadalcanal during WWII and in Germany immediately following the war, millions of veterans have put their lives on the line around the world to secure our democracy. They deserve the utmost respect and have earned every benefit they were promised.

My Dad refused to admit whether he was a Republican or Democrat, saying that he served the Commander and Chief, who according to the Constitution, is the President . In today’s political atmosphere, he would not respect and likely be unable to serve under any leader who would describe John McCain, “He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured”. Nor would my father be able to comprehend a leader who considered those killed in battle as “losers or suckers”.

The disrespect of this administration is also evidenced by Doug Collins, the newly appointed Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who has admitted that approximately 80,000 employees will be cut from the VA. When describing the reduction in his staff, Collins stated: “We’ll be making major changes — so get used to it.”

Neither of the two men, Elon Musk or the President, have served one day in a US military uniform, yet they are summarily and without prudent investigation leading the charge to fire those most involved in guaranteeing that veterans receive their earned benefits.

The VA not only provides medical care, it is involved with home loans, job training, research for injuries sustained while on the battlefield, and importantly caring for military cemeteries.

This cannot go unchecked. It’s our moral obligation to support our Veterans.

-Andrea Forster Newport

Outrage politics

Nowadays, we no longer have intelligent debates, neither between parties nor members of the same party. Instead, it appears the leaders set the ideological talking points and pressure the rank-and-file to regurgitate them wordfor- word. Techniques are employed by “thought police” to force the poor souls who express an independent thought back into conformity – no exceptions! – or else face character assassination.

One such technique is “Imputed motive,” heavily used in social media, but also by mainstream media passing off smear propaganda as “news.” A great example of it was employed recently against Governor Newsom, who started his own podcast, perhaps as a runup to a future presidential campaign. During an episode with Charlie Kirk, Newsom more or less admitted that the Democrats are losing the “culture war.” When Kirk opined that biological boys shouldn’t compete in girls’ sports, Newsom replied, “I agree with that. It’s deeply unfair.” I saw him demonstrating his awareness that the majority of Americans also agree.

However, his party leadership were triggered, so the “cancel machine” quickly fired up against him. Politico’s headline stated, “Newsom’s move on trans athletes jolts 2028 campaign.” Lori Lightfoot shouted, “There are kids waking up today in California with this news thinking that their governor hates them, and rightly so.” News? He hates them? Note the assignment of a vile, malignant motive to Newsom’s simple statement. The poor guy likely just wants to appear somewhat “moderate” to future voters on this controversial issue, but the vicious DNC turned on him with all their fury to force him back into line – or be “cancelled.”

The long-term result of these psyop tactics is typically a color revolution: turning every conceivable group of people against one another in a polarizing frenzy of outrage. I believe such politics are antithetical to a legitimate democracy.

Kamori Cattadoris Newport

Explain to me

Where exactly in the Constitution of the United States is one person, elected or unelected, delegated the power to usurp the powers vested to Congress or the Judiciary, to dismantle Congressionally created agencies or fire government workers by fiat?

Steve Bennett Newport