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Funny Papers Again Column | Part II: Will the GOP Take Its True Place? – The King City Rustler | Your Local News Source in King City, California
The fact that the United States of America has no officially sanctioned State Religion, but does in fact have a policy of separation of Church and State, means little to Mr. Trump who claims Christianity. A look at his family relations, his actions toward women, his belittling and name calling, his lies and deceit in business and political matters is appalling and in no way offers a look at a Bible believing, God loving person. He is the opposite of the Sermon on the Mount.
Yet, because of his ability to sway the lesser informed and under educated in America, many believe he is the epitome of a Christian. He is quite the opposite of a person who carries the love of Christ in his bosom, but in fact is a self-serving autocratic-minded individual who claims to love America. If he truly put his country first, if he really believes in American Democracy, he would have graciously turned over the reins of power after losing both the 2020 popular and electoral college vote, but instead he put forth the falsehood that the election was stolen.
Fox News and Tucker Carlson were the biggest proponents of this lie, even in the face of scores of failed court challenges. Failure to prove the lie regarding fixed voting machines cost Fox News $758 million in settlement and Mr. Carlson was out the door.
Given this wave of Christian Nationalism, what can we expect for the upcoming 2024 election? Unless something unforeseen arises, the contest will be between President Joe Biden and Mr. Trump. A Democratic landslide win will be the political end of the whole Trump clan and that phase of American politics is left to historians. But if a close election it will not matter who wins, as Mr. Trump will claim victory through one nefarious means or another as he has shown he is a very poor loser; and he is one of the biggest losers in American business circles.
(Take a quick look at his other losing ventures: Trump University, Trump Shuttle Inc., Trump Vodka, Trump Mortgage LLC, GoTrump.com travel service, and the famous Trump Steaks, which ceased operations after just a few months. His foray into the gaming business was spectacular in the number of failures, one of them even failed twice. Mr. Trump built Trump Taj Mahal only to file bankruptcy in 1992. Trump Plaza, Trump Castle and the Plaza Hotel, all filed for bankruptcy in 1992. And Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts Inc., filed for bankruptcy in 1995 then changed its name to Trump Entertainment Resorts but failed in 2004. Currently, his Truth Social online site’s investors want their $200 million back. Failure upon failure.)
And what if Mr. Trump once again gains the White House? He has stated he will deal with any persons or institutions he feels are a threat to his autocratic ideals with prosecutions and, with contempt for the judicial system, he has stated he will pardon all those convicted of crimes in wake of the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol. And he will do it, just as he pardoned lawyers caught lying for him and his daughter’s father-in-law after he did a two-year prison stint for being, what else, a crook. Using this same ploy, Mr. Trump will pardon a whole slew of rightfully convicted people onto the national landscape.
Let me interject here that while at this time my disappointment in the Republican Party is obvious, it was not always the case. I was raised in a Republican home; both my parents were Republicans who had come from conservative families in Iowa. From an early age I heard my father’s scorn for Franklin Roosevelt (“He was a damned Socialist!”) and John Kennedy (“Spoiled rich kid of a crooked father!”) and later his praise for Ronald Reagan, who was a friend from their old Iowa days. The Stars and Stripes we displayed on appropriate holidays had flown over the U.S. Capitol Building; a gift from President Reagan.
When it became evident President Lyndon Johnson was increasing America’s involvement in Southeast Asia, I backed Richard Nixon in 1968, and when able to vote for the first time I cast for Mr. Nixon in 1972. And though I no longer support Conservative policies, I realize that without a viable opposition party the checks and balances so necessary to keep America on a middle road would not exist, and that is unacceptable.
I believe those Republicans that truly love this country, and they are legion, can only bring the Grand Old Party back to its proper place in society with the complete rejection of Donald Trump and his separatist and divisive plan for America. If Republicans want to make American great, then they must do their part to once again be the great party they once were; and that path is clear to them.
The election of 2024, if people vote their Party line, will see Mr. Trump defeated in both Monterey County as a whole, and King City specifically, as the registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans; 110,262 to 41,250 countywide, and in town 2,096 to 776. I am one of 143 registered American Independents in King City and can choose to vote either the party ticket and stay out of the two-party dominated fray. But I won’t. It will be the most important and vital election in American history with many of the foundational stones of democracy feeling great pressure from the Far Right attack mode of Mr. Trump and minions who simply cannot accept that America and the world are far more diverse and inclusionary than their narrow interpretations of what is “traditional.”
We are a country of multiple nationalities, sexualities, languages, religions and localized cultures with varying “traditions” and that will not change back to a time when White Christians ruled the roost no matter how people clamor for such a time. America has moved on, and if the Grand Old Party wants to stay viable, it must also move on and contribute more to the landscape than vitriolic rhetoric and revenge politics, then it must move past Donald J. Trump and all he stands for.
Take care. Peace.
The search for the next general manager or president of basketball operations of the Dallas Mavericks has begun. They terminated Nico Harrison in November, which was about nine months too late, and gave any available candidates clear notice that they were open for business.
The plan was always to wait until after the season to start the search. While names popped up as the season reached an end, they didn’t begin turning over the staff until the Monday after the season ended. However, Dallas Mavericks fans are not going to like how the team is going about the search.
Patrick Dumont Leading Search for General Manager
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Mavericks are not hiring a search firm in their hunt for a new lead executive. Instead, team governor Patrick Dumont is “acting as his own point person.”
This is an… interesting decision, to say the least. Dumont is not a basketball person whatsoever, and most organizations usually hire a search firm. The Chicago Bulls hired one as they look for their replacement for Arturas Karnisovas. Just because a firm is hired doesn’t mean a team will listen, though.
The Mavericks hired a firm in their last search for a GM. They let Donnie Nelson go in 2021 after a long tenure with the Mavs. Instead of listening to the firm, though, Mark Cuban ignored it to hire Nico Harrison, who had no previous NBA front office experience. Harrison had been an executive with Nike, which gave him connections with players like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and plenty of others.
For a while, that seemed to be working out okay. While he still had some questionable transactions, such as trading for Christian Wood and letting Jalen Brunson walk in free agency, they were still able to make a run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Then, he blew it all up, trading away Luka Doncic for an older and injured Anthony Davis, and the team hasn’t been the same since.
It’s imperative that the Mavericks get this hire correct. The interim Co-GM setup with Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley has performed admirably, but the 2026 NBA Draft is important for the Mavs to get right. It’s their best chance to pair Cooper Flagg with another young star, as they don’t own their first-round pick again until 2031 after this.
Hiring the right GM could help bring in more draft capital by bringing in bad contracts or flipping veterans into picks.
Dumont was able to convince Rick Welts, a Hall of Famer, to come out of retirement to be the CEO and lead the charge for a new arena. Maybe Dumont pulls another rabbit out of his hat for the GM.
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After more than three months removed from a devastating national championship loss, over 5,000 fans gathered at Cobb Stadium on Saturday morning for a first look at Miami football’s 2026 squad.
The annual spring game offered exactly that: a mix of evaluation and entertainment. Miami structured the day differently this year, using the first half for position drills, including passing, red zone and agility work, before transitioning into a live scrimmage in the second half.
Much of the attention centered on new quarterback Darian Mensah, a transfer from Duke. While he started slow, Mensah quickly settled in and showed why he’s expected to lead the Hurricanes this fall.
Mensah connected multiple times with familiar target Cooper Barkate, his former teammate at Duke. The duo picked up right where they left off, highlighted by a 29-yard touchdown to the back corner of the end zone. Mensah added a 33-yard touchdown pass to Daylyn Upshaw and a five-yard score to Cam Vaughn, another transfer addition.
Calm in the pocket and effective under pressure, Mensah extended plays and delivered accurate throws, flashing the kind of playmaking ability Miami fans have been eager to see.
With several returning starters such as wide receiver Malachi Toney and running back Mark Fletcher seeing limited action, opportunities opened for younger players to contribute. RB Jordan Lyle capitalized, breaking off multiple strong runs and showing quick footwork in the open field.
Behind Mensah, Miami showcased its quarterback depth. Judd Anderson, Luke Nickel and early enrollee Dereon Coleman all saw snaps, with Nickel making a strong case for the backup role. Coleman flashed potential but remains a longer-term development piece.
Defensively, Miami may have delivered the most impressive performance of the day.
Despite losing key contributors such as Ruben Bain and Akheem Mesidor to the NFL, the Hurricanes controlled the line of scrimmage and limited offensive production. Defensive lineman Damon Wilson, a transfer from Missouri, along with tackles Justin Scott and Jarquez Carter, consistently disrupted plays. Scott’s quickness stood out against the run, while Wilson applied steady pressure off the edge.
In the secondary, Boston College transfer Omar Thornton, along with JJ Dunnigan and Xavier Lucas, contributed to multiple stops with tight coverage and physical tackling.
The offensive line, featuring several new faces and only one returning starter, showed flashes but remains a work in progress. Freshman Jackson Cantwell has big shoes to fill with Sisi Mauigoa declaring for the NFL draft. At 6-foot-8, 330 pounds, Cantwell acted as a brick wall protecting his QB and winning the battle at the line. However, the second team offensive line had some struggles, with two bad snaps in a row.
For many in attendance, however, the spring game was about more than just performance. It served as a rare opportunity for families and fans to connect with the program in a more personal setting, celebrating players beyond what they show on the field.
“It’s him fulfilling his dream and doing what he wants to do,” said the grandmother of wide receiver Milan Parris. “He’s my oldest grandson, and I’m just over the moon. I’m extremely proud of him.”
While the defense may have controlled much of the action, the day ultimately served as an early glimpse into a team balancing new talent, developing depth and high expectations.
With nearly five months until the season opener against Stanford on Sept. 4, Miami leaves the spring with promise and plenty to still refine.
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