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To the editor:

I echo the sentiment of a previous letter-writer who called out The Sun Chronicle for being more a cheerleader for progressives than a purveyor of fair and balanced journalism.

Ive seen many changes in this newspaper over the decades, a few of them good. I would like to see more changes, that I think would give your publication broader appeal.

Well, maybe it might appeal to conservatives, if we count for anything.

Try some conservative columnists. Sure, Massachusetts is a progressive commonwealth, but Id guess 20-30 percent, maybe more, of us are conservatives. Throw us the occasional bone with columns from folks like Star Parker, a black conservative woman, or Michelle Malkin, or, heaven forbid, Ann Coulter. Or how about R. Emmett Tyrrell, Charles Krauthammer, or George Will? How about a Black conservative male columnist, like Ken Blackwell?

We conservatives are a diverse bunch. The way I see it, while liberals are always preaching diversity youre not referring to a diversity of ideas that depart from the progressive agenda in any way. How about it? Is The Sun Chronicle up for the challenge?

Sincerely,

Henry V. Soldat

Norton

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Sun Chronicle is a cheerleader for progressives - The Sun Chronicle

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Cecilia Abbott (left) and her daughter Audrey listen as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (not pictured) announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Cecilia Abbott (left) and her daughter Audrey listen as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (not pictured) announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (left) hugs his mother-in-law Maria de la Luz Segura Phalen as he announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (left) hugs his mother-in-law Maria de la Luz Segura Phalen as he announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

A Texas Gov. Greg Abbott supporter listens as Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

A Texas Gov. Greg Abbott supporter listens as Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his wife Cecilia Abbott arrive for an event to announce his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his wife Cecilia Abbott arrive for an event to announce his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott arrives for an event to announce his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott arrives for an event to announce his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's daughter Audrey introduces her father at an event where he announced his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's daughter Audrey introduces her father at an event where he announced his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

A Texas Gov. Greg Abbott supporter listens as Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

A Texas Gov. Greg Abbott supporter listens as Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his wife Cecilia Abbott arrive for an event to announce his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his wife Cecilia Abbott arrive for an event to announce his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott with his wife Cecilia Abbott arrives for an event to announce his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott with his wife Cecilia Abbott arrives for an event to announce his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio under the fuselage of a C-17 aircarft to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio under the fuselage of a C-17 aircarft to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio under the fuselage of a C-17 aircarft to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio under the fuselage of a C-17 aircarft to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

A C-17 aircraft does a touch and go over the runway as Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

A C-17 aircraft does a touch and go over the runway as Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

C-17 aircraft await repair as Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

C-17 aircraft await repair as Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees gathered under a C-17 aircraft in the hangar at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees gathered under a C-17 aircraft in the hangar at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees gathered under a C-17 aircraft in the hangar at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio to talk with a few employees gathered under a C-17 aircraft in the hangar at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio under the fuselage of a C-17 aircarft to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio under the fuselage of a C-17 aircarft to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio under the fuselage of a C-17 aircarft to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stops at Port San Antonio under the fuselage of a C-17 aircarft to talk with a few employees at the Boeing Company's Global Services & Support site on July 14, 2017.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces his bid for re-election Friday July 14, 2017 at Sunset Station.

Abbott says he wants four more years to take on liberals

Gov. Greg Abbott, saying he has kept the promises he made when he launched his first campaign for governor here, returned to the Alamo City on Friday to ask voters to give him four more years so he can take on the liberals trying to make Texas inroads.

To keep Texas the very best state in the United States, Im running for reelection, Abbott told an enthusiastic crowd at The Depot in Sunset Station. Im willing to take on liberals, Im willing to take on Washington, D.C., and Im counting on you to have my back.

Vocal protesters among the crowd were led out of the hall before the governor spoke, introduced by his daughter, Audrey. One heckler briefly interrupted his speech, but was drowned out by supporters chanting Abbotts name.

Abbott said he wants to build on a first term that included tax reductions, education initiatives, an expansion of gun rights, restrictions on abortion and an emphasis on border security.

He touted the controversy-stirring sanctuary cities bill he signed into law this year, and he invoked the memory of slain San Antonio Police Officer Miguel Moreno in citing new police protections.

Abbott talked about his ties to San Antonio, where his wife grew up and where his brother, who served in the Navy, has retired.

Its great to be back in a town where I once waited on tables. Its great to be back in a town where I married my wonderful wife. And it is great to be back in a town where I launched my first campaign for governor, where we went on to win by 20 percentage points, Abbott said.

Among a small group of protesters across the street before the event started was George de la Garza, a retired architect holding a sign that said, No Sanctuary 4 Abbott.

He doesnt look out for the disenfranchised, for the minorities and the poor, said de la Garza, of San Antonio. We have to say, San Antonio is not a sanctuary for you.

Protester Rebecca Flores, 74, also referred to the sanctuary cities law, which includes a provision to ensure law officers can ask people who are detained about their immigration status.

I'm worried that the color of my skin will prompt police officers to ask me about my papers, she said, adding that the law will divide our community and it won't keep us safe. Even today, (immigrants) are staying away from clinics ... They're hiring people to go to the grocery stores just to buy groceries for them. We are creating a divided community where people are afraid to know who's living near.

Abbott supporters also were passionate.

Hes been a good leader, pointing the state in the right direction, said Ford Bible, 73, of San Antonio.

Gerardo Jerry Garcia, 45, of San Antonio, said Abbott has great ideas about making the state strong economically while serving a diverse population and said he shares the governors Catholic faith.

I will say that I invite all my fellow Hispanics and Catholics to support someone who's done great things for this state, he said.

Earlier in the day, Abbott toured the Boeing global services and support site, one of the largest military aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities in the world.

Forrest Milburn contributed to this report

pfikac@express-news.net

Twitter: @pfikac

Excerpt from:
Abbott says he wants four more years to take on 'liberals' - mySanAntonio.com

265 + 742 + 765 + 953 + 7,474 = 0.

This fuzzy math sums up Democrats orthodoxy on vote fraud: As the bulletproof evidence of fraud adds up, they still claim, Theres nothing to see here. Not even these hard numbers, based on verified vote-fraud cases, move their acceptance of this reality into the realm of positive integers.

This pathological denial is even more intense, now that President Trump has taken vote fraud seriously enough to appoint a bipartisan panel to get to the bottom of it.

While the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity is chaired by Republicans Vice President Mike Pence and co-chaired by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (whom I have known since college, thanks to the Washington Crossing Foundations scholarship program for civic-minded students), its members include two Democratic secretaries of state Maines Matthew Dunlap and New Hampshires Bill Gardner and Alabamas Alan Lamar King, a Democratic judge.

Never mind, leading Leftists insist. The issue is bogus, and the commission is evil.

Craftier liberals have inched away from the baseless Vote fraud = Loch Ness Monster argument. Now, some claim, vote fraud is not widespread.

As MSNBC host Katy Tur recently soothed her viewers: Nobody has found any widespread instances of voter fraud. Well, Katy, how widespread must vote fraud be before Democrats and their defenders agree that, at least, it should be investigated?

Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-Va.), a long-time Clinton confidante, vetoed a bill in February that would have required probes of elections in which the number of ballots cast exceeded the number of voters eligible to cast them. How could any honest person oppose such a measure?

During the 2000 Bush v. Gore disaster, Democrats shouted, Count every vote! In their more admirable moments, Democrats were among those who demanded, One man. One vote.

Today, in order to preserve the dodgy electoral system that seems to benefit them when fishy things happen, their battle cries have devolved into Count every vote, but dont worry if some of them are negated by fake ones and One man. One vote. Usually.

This is pathetic. If Democrats will tolerate non-widespread vote fraud, how many phony ballots are they willing to see neutralize genuine ones? 265? 765? 7,474?

And whose legitimate ballots should be vaporized so that, in essence, fraudulent ballots can be cast and counted in peace? Sen. Sanders, lets start with yours.

Read more here:
The vote fraud that Democrats refuse to see - New York Post

Maxine Waters, the lead Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, invoked a rarely used congressional provision that allows lawmakers to directly request information from the Trump administration.

"Unfortunately, our requests to Chairman Jeb Hensarling that he utilize the investigative powers of the committee to look into matters pertaining to Donald Trump and his financial dealings have been completely ignored," Waters told CNNMoney. "Our Republican colleagues must wake up and hold the president accountable."

Between March 10 and June 21, committee Democrats have sent four letters -- two to Deutsche Bank, one to Hensarling, and another to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin -- requesting documents and answers about Russia's influence on the Trump administration.

A spokeswoman for the Democrats on the committee said no response has been received from Hensarling or Mnuchin. Deutsche Bank's counsel has also not answered questions, she said.

A Treasury spokesman told CNNMoney that the agency "takes responsiveness to congressional requests very seriously and is committed to providing useful and appropriate responses to requests from Congressional members."

A spokeswoman for Deutsche declined to comment. A spokesman for Hensarling did not respond to a request for comment.

In June, the German bank told House Democrats in a letter it wouldn't release details of its business relationship with Trump because doing so would violate federal policy laws.

Democrats have been demanding that Deutsche Bank release any internal reviews it may have conducted into loans to Trump and his family members and tied to allegations the German bank helped wealthy Russians launder billions of dollars.

In January, the bank settled charges with the government and was hit with $630 million in penalties over an alleged Russian money-laundering scheme.

Lawmakers have said the January settlement left open questions as to who may have been involved in the trading scheme, where the money was sent, and who may have benefited from the sums of money transferred out of Russia.

Friday's announcement is the latest effort by Democrats to get answers on Russia's influence on the Trump administration. It also comes days after learning the president's eldest son Donald Trump Jr. agreed to meet with someone he believed to be a "Russian government attorney" last summer after receiving an email offering him "very high level and sensitive information" that would "incriminate" Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, according to emails the younger Trump publicly released on Tuesday.

Democratic lawmakers are now trying to force GOP counterparts to say publicly whether they support investigating possible financial connections between Russian banks and Trump officials and associates.

"We will force Republicans to take votes on the record to continue from hiding facts from the American people," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Friday.

CNNMoney (Washington) First published July 14, 2017: 5:32 PM ET

The rest is here:
House Democrats press Treasury to divulge any Trump-Russia financial ties - CNNMoney

From time immemorial the government has tried to influence our behavior by rewarding or punishing us; big brother doesnt want us to smoke, so lawmakers tax the bejesus out of tobacco, they want us to drive electric cars, so we get showered with tax rebates and invitations into the cherished carpool lane if we go green at the car dealership, and they dont want us to linger too long at the curbside check-in at the airport, so the Dunkin Donuts is conveniently located beyond the TSA checkpoint inside the terminal.

Its the classic carrot and stick approach, that manipulates people into doing what the powers that be want.

The most famous plum from the tax man is probably the home mortgage deduction. The theory behind this perk is that people become stakeholders in society when they have skin in the game. Johnny lunch bucket is much more likely to care about the condition of the roads, schools and environment in his community if it directly affects the value of his property and the quality of life for him and his family.

Unfortunately, the tide has turned and mullets are now more en vogue than encouraging middle-class home ownership, at least in California.

On a 27-11 party-line vote the California Senate just approved Senate Bill 2, which would add a $75 fee to most real estate documents. This fee would apply to developers building new units, banks foreclosing, and people refinancing their homes, among others. Experts estimate that it would result in $1 billion in new revenue for Sacramento which they would use on, drum roll please ... low-income housing!

SB2s author, Democratic Sen. Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, told Capital Public Radio, This is a subsidy to help provide housing which then people will be able to remain in California our kids, our grandkids, the people who work in our fields, the people who work in grocery stores.

Uh, yea, its certainly a sweet deal for those who want the taxpayers of the state of California to be their sugar daddy, but if youre one of those suckers who pays their own bills, it makes you want to move to Nevada.

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Sacramento is literally incentivizing poverty at the expense of middle-class homeowners.

After voting no on the bill, Republican Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Temecula, predicted that it would stifle real estate investment in the state of California and further place pressure on higher, not lower, real estate prices.

Weve gone from Herbert Hoover running on the platform of a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage to California Democrats promising a tenement above every 7-11.

Maybe Im just old-fashioned, but I refuse to live that close to bullet-proof glass.

Immediately after lecturing us about the need for more low-income housing, the state Senate also passed Senate Bill 106, which would allow Marin County to bypass Californias affordable housing laws.

Marin County, if youre wondering, is a deeply blue enclave north of San Francisco that sends Democrats to represent them in the state Legislature and voted for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump by a 77-15 percent margin.

In other words, theyre fine with poor people living on the taxpayers dime, just as long as its nowhere near them.

Unfortunately, none of these hypocrisies were brought up before the vote because the legislative leadership tied the bill to the state budget, which means it never had to go through the traditional committee process.

This is what happens in a one-party state where ruling Democrats operate more like a cartel than participants in a representative democracy.

John Phillips is a CNN political commentator and can be heard weekdays at 3 p.m. on The Drive Home with Jillian Barberie and John Phillips on KABC/AM 790.

View post:
Democrats' hypocrisy on low-income housing - LA Daily News