I really don’t mind getting older but my body is taking it badly. – Unknown
Welcome to the big column to end the week, “Caught My Eye” (CME)!
If you are a first-time visitor, welcome! CME is the once a week column that is posted here every Friday morning. This is when I take a look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week. There may be some sarcasm and pointed independent commentary so be warned!
Here are the topics that “Caught My Eye” this week:
- Christianity Today
- Mitch McConnell
- Wakanda
- Fake News
- Go Bobcats Go
- One More Thing
CHRISTIANITY TODAY:
I first saw a report from Axios about an editorial published Thursday by Christianity Today, a magazine founded by the late Rev. Billy Graham. The editorial called for President Trump’s removal from office in the wake of his impeachment, deeming him “grossly immoral.”
The editorial also had this to say about Trump:
His Twitter feed alone—with its habitual string of mischaracterizations, lies, and slanders—is a near perfect example of a human being who is morally lost and confused.
The son of the late Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, told the New York Times, “My father would be embarrassed. It is not going to change anybody’s mind about Trump. There’s a liberal element within the evangelical movement. Christianity Today represents that.”
I think the late Rev. Billy Graham would be embarrassed that his son is supporting Donald Trump. The magazine got it right – Trump is “grossly immoral.” For some reason, Franklin Graham refuses to see that.
MITCH MCCONNELL:
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) started our Thursday morning with a speech from the senate floor about the impeachment of President Trump and how it was mishandled by the House Democrats.
Mishandled? The House accomplished their goal. I’ve said from the beginning that the House would impeach Trump, but the Senate would not convict.
The House Democrats brought two articles of impeachment to the House floor and passed them both. That seems pretty successful.
From here until history ends, Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States, will have the word “Impeached” tied to his name. I’d go as far as to say that the first or maybe the second line of his obituary will say he was impeached.
Anytime McConnell speaks there are three things people need to consider when listening:
- His wife is Elaine Chao who is Trump’s Secretary of Transportation.
- He voted guilty on two articles of impeachment against Democrat Bill Clinton.
- McConnell is up for reelection in 2020.
No wonder McConnell said he was coordinating with the White House about the impeachment trial. He needs Trump.
WAKANDA:
The BBC reported Thursday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture listed Wakanda as a free-trade partner – despite it being a fictional country. In the Marvel universe, Wakanda is the fictional East African home country of superhero Black Panther.
Lord help us…
FAKE NEWS:
Some rightwing lunatics will believe anything – I saw the following Fake News in my Facebook timeline two or three times recently:
Want to blow a snowflakes mind? Remind them if Trump is impeached in the house & not senate, he can run 2 more times. The U.S. Constitution states that if a president is impeached by the House but not convicted by the Senate, that person’s first term is nullified and they are eligible to run for two more times.
The fact-checking site PolitiFact rated that claim “Pants on Fire.” You can read their story about the fake news story HERE.
Trump will probably last out this term. As for a second term, I would not bet on it.
GO BOBCATS GO:
The 2019 FCS Football Championship semifinal matchups play this weekend (Saturday, Dec. 21).
The #5 Montana State University Bobcats are in the semifinals. They play at #1 North Dakota State Bison at noon (Montana time) on ESPN 2.
#2 James Madison hosts #3 Weber State at 4:30 p.m. (Montana time) on ESPNU.
My key to the game: The Bobcats can beat the Bison if they keep it close into the second half.
More info can be found HERE.
ONE MORE THING:
There are some really funny cartoons and memes going around since the impeachment of President Donald Trump by the U.S. House. You can see many of them on The Western Word Facebook Page by clicking HERE.
My favorite one shows a photo of the late U.S. Senator John McCain. The caption reads, “I like Presidents who didn’t get impeached.”
Readers may remember that during the campaign Donald Trump said of McCain, a former POW: “He was a war hero because he was captured,” Trump said. “I like people who weren’t captured.”
You can see the McCain meme and several others by clicking HERE.
Have a great weekend!
The Western Word 