Don’t be afraid of being outnumbered. Eagles fly alone. Pigeons flock together. -Unknown

Welcome to another exciting edition of Caught My Eye (CME).

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:

• Recreational Marijuana
• New Birther Lie
• Voter Suppression
• For Shame
• One More Thing

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA:

Great news! The Associated Press is reporting that the Montana Secretary of State certified that a measure seeking to legalize recreational marijuana in the state has gathered enough signatures to appear on the November ballot.

I urge all my readers to support this measure.

The AP also reported that according to a fiscal note from the governor’s budget office, the measure could generate $3.5 million in tax revenue in Fiscal Year 2022, growing to $38.5 million in 2025.

A round of applause goes to New Approach Montana for their work in getting this on the ballot.

NEW BIRTHER LIE:

I was at the gym doing my miles on the Arc Trainer when I heard President Trump spew the old line about a candidate whose parents were immigrants possibly not being eligible to be President or Vice President.

Instead of spewing bullshit this time about Barack Obama, he was doing it about Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Trump was asked about Harris not being eligible:

So, I just heard that. I heard it today that she doesn’t meet the requirements. And, by the way, the lawyer that wrote that piece is a very highly qualified, very talented lawyer. I have no idea if that’s right. I would’ve — I would have assumed the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for Vice President. (WH Transcript)

My pulse went up about 10 points. I am so sick of the hatred and racism spewed from Trump toward minorities and women by whom he feels threatened. I think the only way someone can support him is by being a racist.

One professor called the attack on Harris “racist nonsense.” I agree.

According to FactCheck.org, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s running mate, is eligible to serve as U.S. president, contrary to the false claims of viral posts on Facebook. Her mother is from India and her father from Jamaica — but Harris was born in Oakland, California.

VOTER SUPPRESSION:

According to The Guardian and other sources, President Donald Trump admitted on Thursday he opposed additional funding for the United States Postal Service (USPS) in order to make it more difficult to deliver mail-in ballots.

Here is what Trump said:

“They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo. “If they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it.”

Trump has lied about mail-in voting being unsecure. His minions have repeated his lies. I have been voting by mail for years and never had a problem.

FOR SHAME:

The U.S. House and U.S. Senate have left Washington, D.C. for the August recess. They did not agree on a COVID-19 stimulus package.

The Republicans blame the Democrats. The Democrats blame the Republicans. I blame both sides along with the White House for not compromising to help citizens, many who are hurting.

Shame on the U.S. House.
Shame on the U.S. Senate.
Shame on the White House.

ONE MORE THING:

I wish Facebook would notify me when someone “unfriends” me, that way I could like it. – Unknown

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