Kerry Don, Kerry Don, What Ya Gonna Do???

 In the past, this was sort of like Christmas Day for the ole Govteach. But today, well, I am sure I will watch the results this evening, but not with the same excitement as in the past. 

I know I avoided the actual campaign rhetoric in class, and did so to avoid " disagreement" in class or someone misinterpreting my covering a certain campaign for fear of someone thinking I supported one candidate over the other, especially at the local level. So, we avoided local, state, and nation elections at all costs. 

I was asked yesterday if this was the worst election in the history of the United States?  

No, if you look at the election of 1800, you see where the President and Vice President turn out to be of two different political Parties, almost had a Vice Presidential candidate elected as President by the Electoral College. ( It caused the 12th Amendment to the Constitution to be passed)

The 1800 election was influenced by the French Revolution so much so that the Federalist Party said that if you voted for Thomas Jefferson there would be babies executed by the guillotine because of who the child's parent was. 

There was also stories that rape, incest would be openly taught and practiced. That school teachers would say it was okay to " Rape women." ( I don't think so) ( And....You can't make this stuff up)

I will watch the election results tonight....But to be honest, I do not look forward to watching. I feel like to be true to thine on-self, and support everything I have taught or supported, I sort of have to do so. 

I'll try and post election results by states tonight, as they come in on Facebook.

Thank You Jesus, This Shit is About Over.....

Or is it?

Tomorrow is the " Big election" or as the late radio personality Don Imus would say, the " Big Erection" showing his disdain for politics. 

After teaching government/economics/history most of my adult life, I am convinced that Imus was correct. It is nothing but bullshit. 

I seriously doubt we will know who the winner is when we go to bed tomorrow night. Or when we awake on Wednesday morning. Too many states with too many different ways to count their votes. Don't bitch about it. That's the way we've done it in this nation for 244 years. 

Then again, we might know by 10PM CT. But I doubt it. 

I am seriously looking at getting a bottle of " Good Scotch" for tomorrow's results. Hell, we may all need a drink tomorrow night.  Yes, I know, I am now an Irish Whiskey fan now, as the Irish call whiskey, the " Water of Life"( Uisce Beatha) but you know, a bottle of Scotch just seems right for the occasion. 

Tomorrow night if we know the winner of the election in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, we might know the winner very soon, if it boils down to Pennsylvania, well, because they have days to count their mountain of mail-in ballots, well, it will be days before we know the outcome of the election. If you want to know about what time all 50 states will have their votes counted, look at this link.

I don't know who is going to win, and neither do you. The polls have been right, and the polls have been wrong. 

Hell, I don't trust the exit polls from the voting sites at this point.

I worry that people will go " nuts" because their candidate did not win. The aftermath is very worrisome. If you try and change the vote because you candidate didn't win, well, we are no longer what the United States has always stood for. As I have said, when I was teaching, don't like the outcome? In 2 or 4 years, we'll have another election. Work to make sure your candidate wins the next time around. 

Don't fall for the idea " We were cheated" and you go nuts. Thinking that somehow drive through voting and mail in ballots are somehow evil. The present person in the executive office voted mail-in for years. Also, I am not a fan of the electoral college, but it is how we've decided elections again for 244 years. Don't revolt, instead, lead a convention to "do away" with the college. In the opinion of this writer, it need to be a vote decided on a popular vote, not some archaic system developed 250 years ago to keep the 13 original colonies from becoming their own nations.  

Also, don't fall for the believe that land mass and people in rural areas are more valuable than people in urban/suburban areas. I've never understood that concept unless in reality there is a fear of minority people. If you are a person of faith, how could you rationalize that thinking to you maker? 

In Texas pay attention to the voting changes. How many votes will the Democrats receive in this state? Will there be a great influx of Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives? Will the national election be closer that expected? Is Texas slowly but surely growing purple? After the census is counted, will this area lose a rep in the Texas House? Sorry, but quickly, the State of Texas is no longer a rural state. Drive from San Antonio to Dallas- Forth Worth one day. Other than the Hillsboro-Itasca area, it is a massive urban region on I-35. And is growing by the day. 

Remember, 94 million Americans have already voted. I have voted already. If you have not, get your ass off the couch and go to your polling place. Vote dammit it, vote!

Again, I would not dream of guessing who will win tomorrow. And honestly, you do not know either. 

Also again, don't lose you mind if it takes several days( Hell weeks) to "call" the election one way or another. 

If you get all upset tomorrow night or in the days to come, stop watching the news. Watch something on Hulu, Netflix, or Prime. Find a show to marathon. Take a walk. Pet the dog. Hell, don't watch the results as they come in. They'll keep until later. 

I for one am glad the political ads for candidates will leave TV. Bring back  good old fashion ads for insurance, soap, and cars....

All the above and let me reiterate......I seriously wonder about the aftermath....How will the nation, especially  certain people react? 

 

Mom, Grandma, Memaw, Spinster Aunt, Crazy Uncle

 So, in the last few days since I wrote a couple of blogs on the " Going On's" at Buna ISD, I have had a number of people request friendship on Facebook. 

I am about to just let " everyone" onboard for the next few weeks who request it. 

I am going to start back writing the blog regularly, well, in the next 24 hours and will discuss Tuesday's election. 

And of course, will start calling states online( Facebook) as soon as the election numbers justify the election being called for one candidate or the other. 

Of the people, I have had a number of the request for friendship on Facebook that are....Well, I see them as perhaps a bit naive or a little bit overly religious, and they will see the blog or my posts on Facebook as " offensive." 

As many of you know, I have a religious background, but my views of worship are pretty varied, and I still arise fairly early in the morning to pray, and as many of you know, many of you are included in my prayers. 

I also am so varied in my theological views, one day I may one day come close to speaking in " Unknown languages" as Paul referred to them in 1 Corinthians 13( Perhaps I have in the past? You'll have to guess there, and don't guess in the comments.) , and the next day, light a candle and say 25 " Hail Mary's." 

I also have no problem with hanging out with people who are of non-religious beliefs, as well, as religions of a non-Judaeo-Christian background. As well as Christian denominations that many of you don't see as Christian. 

As I have said for years, I doubt Jesus would be hanging around most Christian organizations today. 

I get rough from time to time, in language and blogs.  Even though I am ordained by a denomination. Again, pull that plank out of your own eye. 

The reason for this  particular blog?

If you know your Mother, or Memaw, or Grandma, or Spinster Aunt, or Crazy Uncle has asked me for "Facebook Friendship." You may need to warn them I might de-rail like a Kansas City Southern Freight Train in Mauriceville-Lemonville.

Buna ISD Aftermath

 I am wondering this morning how this will turn out. 

I wonder who will be fired? If at all? 

Let me remind you ladies and gentlemen, if you work in a tax supported field. Schools, county government, etc, you don't need to be making political statements in support of one political party or another. Or supporting or not supporting any president. 

You have to remember even though you think so, not everyone in your community supports the political party you support. 

That at one time was instilled upon new and old hires within school districts. I know I was asked three times when Buna ISD hired me if I would actively support ANY candidates in my class. And I think I did a pretty good job of keeping that part of my life secret. 

And once you express your political feelings as school or any other government entity, you have lost your neutrality, and perhaps the school business is not where you should work. Again, not everyone in your community feels the way you do politically.  People will wonder if you support someone else, will you subconsciously hold it against them. 

The school business is supposed to be about being fair. You don't want to do anything to make people think otherwise. 

If you can't keep your political feelings known in a school setting, perhaps this is not the work for you.

So, the Other Side of the Story from a Buna ISD Officer

"I've been called a lot of things in my life. Some bad, some good, some true, some not. I take exception to the untruths, addressing some and ignoring others. It comes with the job. When it comes to my integrity and my reputation, I draw the line there.

Regarding the situation at Buna Elementary this morning, there are a number of outright lies being circulated. Since some who were involved won't do the right thing, I'm more than happy to. The chips will fall where they may, but truth is truth and I while I can abide a great many things, having my reputation tarnished by those seeking to shield themselves from the fallout is something I can't abide. Not one dang bit.

1. This was a PLANNED EVENT. I was notified by a school administrator LAST WEEK that it would be taking place some time THIS WEEK. I wasn't aware of the date or time, only that I was asked by this administrator to "show up in plain clothes" and check the exterior doors of the Elementary and High Schools. If you have an understanding of school security and basic common sense you'll also understand that in order to test the effectiveness of any system, you need natural reactions. In other words, don't warn people ahead of time. So, this wasn't spontaneous. We did NOT "Take it upon ourselves" to conduct the drill. This was a SCHOOL SANCTIONED AND REQUIRED EVENT and I was TOLD to do it by ADMINISTRATION. I have good reason to believe that I know why these lies were told and it's unfortunate. However, regardless of their source or intent, they are still outright LIES. Given the nature of the "exercise" and the response it could potentially generate, once at the Elementary School I removed my duty weapon and magazines and left them in my patrol car. Which, I might add, was parked prominently in the FRONT of the Elementary AND High Schools. Additionally, I waited as long as possible for as many little kids to be inside so as not to scare them from any possible response from staff.

2. Mark McKinley did not participate, other than to monitor my actions on video. Contrary to what was reported on the apparent fake news website, KJAS, and what was also reported by a member of Jasper County Sheriff's Department administration, there were NOT camouflaged "officers". There was just ONE officer and that was me. I wasn't even "camouflaged", I had been wearing a camo jacket which was over my district-issued blue polo shirt which says, in large letters on the back, "POLICE" and has a small BUNA ISD POLICE logo on the left front breast. Once I made my way back to the front of the school it was removed. KJAS also contradicted itself in its biased and misleading article, as it states one time there were camouflaged officers then another time states that I was the only one dressed in camo. Let's not let the facts stand in the way of a good story though.

3. I was NOT trying to "break in through doors and windows". I was tasked with checking to see if the exterior doors were locked or not. Nothing was mentioned to me about windows, I did not touch any windows. I did not even attempt to "break in" period, merely check to see if the doors were locked.

4. To those saying I should have notified someone, that's not how things work. I'm not running or in charge of anything and it's my job, especially as low man on the totem pole, to do as I'm asked and not question if the proper plans or steps have been taken. My assumption was that since this was a SCHOOL SANCTIONED EVENT, those steps had been taken prior to me being involved in this. My fault lies in believing that had been done.

5. To those who have chosen to believe the lies being perpetuated by some on KJAS and other sites, I'm curious to know how you view CNN, MSNBC, and other mainstream media sources in their treatment of our President. I'd be willing to bet a very large percentage of you call them for what they are-fake news-yet here you all are, shoveling in more lies without even stopping to think that there is ALWAYS more to the story.

6. Some have called for Mark and I to be fired. I say if you can do this better, feel free. Come on out, lend your expertise. With all the law enforcement experts there should be no shortage of willing volunteers. Just don't try your hand at investigations because based on what I've seen just from this one incident, most would do a piss poor job at gathering facts before pronouncing guilt.

7. To those who know me (and those who don't) and have offered words of encouragement, it is more appreciated than you know. To those who don't know me yet still feel somehow qualified to weigh in on something you didn't witness nor have reliable information about, your opinion and 99 cents will get you a cup of coffee anywhere in town. God knows the truth and that's all I'm concerned with."

 

Again, I have to ask, What in the Cornbread Fuck is Going ?  ( And I tend to believe this story....But why was 911 called? What was the circumstances behind this?)

What the Cornbread Fuck is Going on at Buna ISD?

 This is from KJAS radio. 

"A school security test in Buna on Tuesday morning went horribly wrong. Buna Independent School District Superintendent Donny Lee said that without notifying administration or staff, School Resource Officers Mark McKinley and Mike Henderson took it upon themselves to conduct the drill, with Henderson dressed in camouflage with his face covered, running around Buna Elementary School trying to break in through doors and windows."

Jasper County Sheriff Mitchel Newman and Chief Deputy Scotty Duncan said that their department wasn’t notified of this happening either, so when terrified teachers began calling 911, every law enforcement officer in the county began running wide-open to Buna.

Duncan said officers arrived and with guns drawn began looking for the mock intruders on the campus, and finally learned that it was a drill when they encountered the camouflaged officers.

Duncan said “They could have easily been shot and killed by one of our guys, and that’s after we risked our lives driving as fast as these patrol cars can go just to get there. If it’s a real situation, yeah we’ll risk killing ourselves wrapping a patrol car around a pine tree to protect a child, but doing this without notifying anyone that it was just a drill, that don’t work.” "

Here is the entire story from KJAS 

What the Cornbread Fuck?????

 

Again Buna People

I am coming out of my blog sabbatical to write this. 

I had a phone call this morning from a couple wanting me to marry them.  Was given my name by someone from South Jasper County. 

Let me remind you, I am going to charge a fee unless you are an ex- student of mine or you are somehow friends or family. 

And of course, the ex-student, friends, family rate is free.

I do this fee business, because I generally only like to marry people I know. 

The couple was upset that there would be a fee. They thought it would be free for them too. ( One was from Orange County, the other from Louisiana. ) I do not know what the person from South Jasper County told them. I am debating whether to contact that person and " Say something" to them or not. 

Okay, back to the sabbatical.