CenterlineRight: July 2026

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Election Integrity Requires that Every Vote Should Count

I am tired of hearing about the 2020 presidential election. There is no doubt in my mind that the combination of Democrat Party election trickery combined with the COVID election bullshit provisions resulted in some abnormalities and incorrect tallies. Were the erroneous vote totals sufficient to change the outcome of the race? Not likely…but possibly. In any case, that ship has sailed and history has been written. We should all (looking at you, Donald) get over it. It is pointless to rehash the outcome; but it is beneficial to analyze the mistakes that were made.

For all of their differences, Democrats and Republicans alike (with a few glaring exceptions on each side) typically accept election results and move on to their sausage making. This is how it should be. A Representative serves for two years, a President for four, and Senator for six. In the sands of time, that is not a long period and every moment counts. Especially when you consider the unique collateral coalitions and majorities that each individual contest contributes to. The harsh reality is that much like the Genie escaping from the bottle, it is nigh on impossible to rerun an election. And that, my friends, is the best argument available to do all within our power to make damn certain that election integrity is as good as we can get it.

Every invalid vote that ends up getting counted cancels out a valid vote. It might be my vote, it might be your vote…it is undeniably somebody’s vote. This fact should anger Americans even more than the common focus that is placed on the perverted outcomes. Our democracy is based on “for the people” election participation and that participation must be robust, efficient, and recognized as honest by all those involved. Without these assurances, we get the low voter turnout that we have been experiencing and our nation ends up being governed by the opinions of the minority, rather than the will of the majority. So the question is: How can we best insure election integrity?

Common sense is taking a beating these days. There is a lot of bizarre thinking present in our culture and society and rather than confront it openly and honestly, most folks simply frown at it in disgust and refrain from thinking about it or dealing with it. They think it will not impact them or their families. They think it will eventually go away. WRONG! There is an old saying about the three kinds of people in this world: Those who watch things happen; those who make things happen; and those who wonder what the hell is happening. In today’s America, most of our people fall in the first and third categories and leave the important decisions to the minority that falls in the second category. The trouble with that philosophy is that a bunch of those folks in the second category are scoundrels.

In order for our Constitution to be honored and executed properly, election turnout must increase. In order for election turnout to increase, people must be convinced that their vote matters. In order for people to be convinced of that, changes need to be made in our election process. Pretty…damn…simple, ain’t it?

A good start to this restoration of election integrity is the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, otherwise known as the SAVE Act. This piece of legislation has been passed by the House and is now waiting for action in the Senate. It is not a long and complex document. It is not written in a foreign language or legalize. It is fairly brief, to the point, and easily understandable by any regular American. It represents a reasonable and common sense approach to this critical issue and should be passed by the Senate and then signed by our President so this process can begin. Read it for yourself and decide: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22/text

Can there be any doubt that our election process is in need of reform? With fifty states across our great nation running their own election games, you best believe that if there are problems in one place…there are problems in lots of other places as well.

https://newsbusters.org/blogs/cnsnews/craig-bannister/2026/07/21/6600-non-citizens-registered-vote-nj-due-software-error

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/new-jersey-refuses-to-cooperate-with-doj-investigation-into-noncitizen-voting/

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/who-let-the-non-citizens-onto-new-jerseys-voter-rolls/

https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/24/10-states-checked-their-voter-rolls-with-a-dhs-database-to-find-startling-info/

The international debate surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) is running wide open…as it should be. No doubt, this area of innovation and evolution will have a hugely significant impact on our future, and the future of generations to come. Like so many innovative breakthroughs in our past, this one comes with such mind-blowing potential that the actual application of it is outrunning the good judgment of how to apply it. We must never lose sight of the fact that regardless of how wondrous and amazing AI can be…it is nothing more than a tool in the hands of those who wield it. Simplistically stated, AI is no more or less a device to be utilized than is a crescent wrench, a gun, a computer, or a pencil.

One thing is for certain: America cannot stand by and allow AI technology to be commandeered by other nations on this planet. Just as the high ground is essential in combat, the importance of dominating space exploration is critical to our future, and the ability to feed ourselves must be preserved and maintained….we cannot simply stand by and let other nations lead the charge into this new AI era.

And if, as many say, AI potential rests largely on AI Data Centers…then we had best put our emotions to the side and exercise some clear, practical, and rational thinking when we debate how these Data Centers will fit into our culture, society, and local neighborhoods.

https://amgreatness.com/2026/07/22/washington-cant-afford-to-let-the-us-lose-the-open-source-ai-war/

https://www.grumpy-economist.com/p/ai-regulation

https://reason.com/2026/07/22/where-can-the-data-centers-go/

https://reason.com/2026/07/24/nashville-considers-using-eminent-domain-to-stop-a-planned-data-center-from-irritating-zoo-animals/

Education…Education…Education

https://amgreatness.com/2026/07/21/nea-same-ol-same-ol/

https://thefederalist.com/videos/hemingway-the-teachers-unions-are-one-of-the-most-damaging-institutions-in-america/

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/colleges-and-universities-adrift-in-administrative-bloat/

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-academic-world-is-like-medieval-feudalism/

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/why-not-combine-liberal-arts-and-occupational-education/

Can “Critical Mass” be far off in the Iran conflict?

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/07/senator-sheehy-has-a-few-thoughts.php

https://freebeacon.com/editorial/37-5-billion-well-spent-to-off-the-ayatollah/

https://freebeacon.com/columns/to-win-the-peace-we-must-fund-the-war/

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22728/trump-iran-confusion

Our Justice System continues to evolve and is struggling to find its way back to conformance with our Constitution. Just as Election Integrity is essential to our government, so is Law and Order essential to our personal and community safety and well-being.

https://lawliberty.org/the-umpires-limits/

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/07/23/boasbergs-law-chief-district-court-judge-under-renewed-scrutiny-over-pattern-of-unilateral-actions/#more-247414

https://reason.com/2026/07/24/did-decriminalizing-drugs-lead-to-more-deaths-in-washington-and-oregon/

https://amgreatness.com/2026/07/24/italy-names-the-problem-america-renames-it/

If you are concerned about the destructive impact that Diversity/Equity/ and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have had on our nation, do not delude yourself by recent anti-DEI victories and think that the tide has turned. DEI continues to exist and flourish throughout our culture and society, in particular in our government and education system. Be aware and ever-vigilant of this radical thinking and call it out when it shows up in your life.

https://nypost.com/2026/07/22/opinion/miranda-devine-the-smithsonian-reeks-of-communist-ideologies-that-our-founding-fathers-would-be-ashamed-of/

https://thefederalist.com/2026/07/23/congress-spotlights-american-bar-associations-dance-with-the-dei-devil/

The mid-term elections are rapidly approaching and the next presidential election is not far behind it. The dynamics are swirling about…

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/07/the-democrats-most-loyal-voters.php#google_vignette

https://freebeacon.com/democrats/jon-ossoff-spends-thousands-on-makeup-services-from-artist-who-worked-on-hollywood-blockbusters-like-the-notebook/

https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/07/countering-left-wing-terrorism/

Four quick hits on the way out…

Has the United Nations entity outlived its usefulness in today’s world?

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22692/united-nations-alibis

For all of the torment and chaos that we see across our planet, there is always some good news out there. We just have to look for it…

https://reason.com/2026/07/22/global-hunger-falls-from-35-percent-in-1970-to-7-8-percent/

Congress…must…address…National Immigration Reform…

https://americanmind.org/salvo/battle-over-the-demos/

We are so prone to manipulation by the media that surrounds us that we sometimes lose sight of the truths that our own realities might reveal to us. I had such a moment a few weeks back. I live on a farm and my driveway and farm roads are gravel. Periodically, I have to get fresh rock spread in order to keep the surfaces in good shape. After having four loads of rock spread the other day, I was discussing the bill with the hauler, who happened to be a friend and old schoolmate. I looked over the sizeable bill and asked him “does anyone ever complain about the price of rock?” He hesitated and looked down at his shoes, realizing that the cost of rock had indeed gone up and it was a large expense for folks. I quickly added “No…I’m not complaining. I realize your costs have gone up too and you have to pay the bills.” I then made the point to him that it was not that many years ago that it would have taken the sale proceeds of four calves to pay this bill. Today, the sale of one calf will more than cover it.

That reality goes to illustrate the difficult challenges faced by American agriculture, which is the only business I know of where your inputs are purchased at retail prices, but your products are sold at wholesale prices. Sure, cattle farmers are doing well these days with high-priced calves. But not long ago, it was difficult to sell a calf and get back the money you had in it. Over time, any type of business enterprise hopes that the good times can somehow offset the bad times and create some type of long-term profit and stability. It also goes to show that the price we pay in stores for products is not an arbitrary figure simply snatched out the air; it is based on the hard costs of what it takes to put that product before us.

We all get caught up in certain items that increase in price dramatically and tend to forget those other items that are remarkably affordable. The price of beef in the store comes straight back to the price I get for my calves when they go off to market. The price I pay for gravel goes straight back to the cost of excavating and delivering that gravel to my farm. Everything else we consume adheres to the same rule of cost and benefit. Our economy is a complex and layered system, but is…at its heart…not really that hard to understand. The costs to obtain a product, be it food or fiber, raw or finished…is directly attributable to the cost involved in creating that product.

Our government oftentimes fools itself into thinking that it can control macro/micro economics (they simply are not that smart and powerful). Additionally we, as citizens, oftentimes forget that not only do businesses have to price their products at a level that permits them to survive financially, but we also have the individual options to choose what we buy and who we buy it from.

We in America are truly blessed to have the choices that are available to us as consumers, the depth and breadth of those choices, and the system of American capitalism that creates those choices for us. In this day when so many are looking affectionately at socialism…we should carefully consider what we stand to lose if we ever go in that direction.

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/07/whats-affordable-what-isnt.php#google_vignette

Monday, July 20, 2026

As the World Turns………..

In my part of Kentucky, summertime is hitting its stride. The temps are climbing into the mid-to-upper 90’s, the humidity is thick, and the storms come in fits and starts. All that being said….the springtime drought that we experienced has been all but forgotten with the wealth of moisture that has fallen since. The fall hay cuttings will offset the spring cutting shortfalls, cattle prices remain high, and crops/pasture continue to ripen and flourish. God is good.

I am not a fan of soccer. To me, it is the ultimate participatory sport. However, just like many of the things I write about on this blog, I am clearly in the minority here. The world came to America for the FIFA World Cup and much to their surprise…they found an open, welcoming, and vibrant people and nation. The America they discovered was not the America they had been told about. Once again...God is good. We are all so very blessed to live in such a country.

The Iran conflict drags on and Iran’s violations on the MOU have hopefully used up the last ounce of tolerance from the Trump Administration. As I have stated before…turn the military loose to hit the remaining strategic and military targets and come back home. Turn this boiling pot of turmoil over to the Middle Eastern nations and NATO. It is in THEIR backyard and it is about THEIR strategic interests.

The mid-terms are rapidly approaching and the volume surrounding them is increasing on a daily basis. The stakes are enormously high for our nation. In my humble opinion, you can throw the historical results from past mid-terms out the window, you can ignore the talking bubbleheads of the mainstream media, and you can either stay home and complain…or get out and vote for a candidate that has some semblance of common sense and competence. Folks…we had better get this one right. The consequences are heavy.

The DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) are enjoying what I hope turns out to be their 15 minutes of fame on the national political stage. Unlike Bernie, AOC, and many other liberal-progressive Democrats, the prominent DSA figures don’t make much of an effort to hide their agenda. Here is their website: https://www.dsausa.org/ . Read it and be advised. Just as the Republicans have learned to deal with their fringe elements of radical MAGA and Tea Party fanatics, so too will the Democrats figure out some way to manage their radical elements. I truly believe that the media coverage of the DSA far outweighs any substantive influence they will have on national policy.

Now local policy is a different animal altogether. Blue states and blue cities that have elected progressive Democrats are paying a serious price for their misjudgments. Some of these irresponsible voters are realizing their errors and will return to more reasonable candidates. Like most radical endeavors do, the DSA is overreaching and we are starting to see the beginnings of significant pushback to their idiotic agenda. Even Bernie and AOC are showing some reticence in their DSA enthusiasm. Their non-constitutional ideals will remain in the Democrat Party, but I fervently hope that they will be tamped down to a murmur, rather than a shout. Time will tell.

I truly believe that our nation is continuing in the throes of transitioning to a new reality following the COVID epidemic. That event changed our country, culture, and society in ways that will remain with us for generations. That effect, combined with the roiling political environment we now live in, is taking us through a period of change that is entirely unpredictable and tumultuous. I remain confident that if we as a people will continue to adhere to our Constitution and its principles, we will come through these perilous times intact and stronger than ever. The Constitution is a marvelous document and it remains the salvation of our nation and government…in a civic sense. Our ultimate salvation remains in the hands of our Lord.

What the Democrat progressives and DSA elements offer…

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/07/20/democrats-dismiss-our-constitutional-traditions-as-nostalgia/

https://newsbusters.org/blogs/cnsnews/craig-bannister/2026/07/17/trans-liberatory-and-socialist-feminist-agenda-announced

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/07/19/the-dsa-and-the-myth-of-scandinavian-socialism/#more-247326

https://freebeacon.com/california/jennifer-siebel-newsoms-radical-gender-documentaries-force-student-viewers-to-reveal-if-theyre-gay-and-id-fags-films-are-funded-and-promoted-by-newsom-donors-appointees/

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/yes-tim-walz-deporting-child-rapists-makes-us-safer/

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/07/on-left-wing-terrorism-2.php

What gives me hope for the future…

https://amgreatness.com/2026/07/14/the-world-made-anew/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtkMmdd-I8g

A little over 5 years ago, I posted this piece about socialism. It is interesting to see how things have developed since that date. Socialism is a poisonous fruit that grows on the vine and can look so enticing. If we pick it and consume it, it will destroy us. If we simply ignore it…it will die on the vine and wither.

https://centerlineright.blogspot.com/2021/02/socialism-vs-capitalism.html

As I have repeatedly written before…wrap it up and bring our soldiers back home…

https://freebeacon.com/columns/how-trump-can-avoid-the-vietnam-trap/

There is a lifetime between now and the next presidential election; but things will heat up significantly once the mid-term elections are concluded. At this point in time, I must say that J.D. Vance is not ready for prime time. He has served in his VP role respectfully; but to me…he shows no indication of maturing sufficiently to assume the top job.

https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/opinion/michael-goodwin-vances-statements-on-israel-consipiracy-theories-should-bar-him-from-being-gop-nominee-in-2028/

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-jd-vance-experience/

As he is oftentimes wont to do…Trump has desensitized the public to the critical issue of election integrity. He talks too much about it, he personalizes it, and he fails to seriously approach it in substantial and legislative fashion. The SAVE Act is a good start, but put 2020 in the closet. Donald…stop looking backwards and start looking forward! I am no fan of the mainstream media, but I do not fault them for not covering the President’s recent prime-time address regarding election integrity.

https://reason.com/2026/07/17/election-vulnerability/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-china-u-s-voter-registration-files-state-by-state/

https://thefederalist.com/2026/07/17/after-birthplace-citizenship-ruling-china-wont-need-hackers-to-meddle-in-us-elections/

Our Congress is in a bad place. There is an ocean of separation between our two national parties and it is filled with venom, spite, and a total lack of ethics or statesmanship. We can only hope that with no incumbency element in the next presidential election, perhaps we will soon see new leadership in both parties that will begin to return us to some sense of normalcy and competence in our Legislative Branch of government.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/whats-wrong-with-congress/

Monday, July 13, 2026

Mandatory Retirement plus Term Limits plus Government equals “?”

With our second elderly president in a row, the death of one older U.S. Senator, and the critically-ill condition of yet another elderly U.S. Senator…should we as a nation be considering some way to insure that our government is populated by individuals who are at the top of their game age-wise? And if so…precisely what does that mean?

We all know older folks who are sharp and physically fit, and we all know older folks who are mentally limited and out of shape. For that matter, we all know younger folks who are in the same conditions. While granting the fact that the mental and physical capacity of the average 72-year old American varies widely, there is little doubt that in most cases…our mental and physical abilities diminish as we age.

If we as a country chose to age-limit our federal elected officials, there are many questions to be considered. “Which” officials will be affected? Presidents…Senators…Representatives…SCOTUS Justices…Cabinet Appointees…Federal employees…??? Exactly “what age” would be the limit? 68…72…75…??? Would the limit come into play at the “time” of election/appointment or “during the term” of election/appointment? Is this age issue in any way related to the idea of term limits?

Although a Venn diagram might show a significant overlap between the principles of age limits and term limits, they are really two separate issues with two distinctly different goals. Age limits would be an effort to insure competent mental/physical condition while term limits would be an effort to eliminate career politicians. While it is true that age limits might preclude an exceptional individual who happened to be above the age limit from serving in public office, the clear goal of the rule would be to exclude the more common occurrence of the age-impaired individual who is somewhat limited in their ability to perform their duties.

Term limits would be an effort to prevent the isolating effect the WDC environment has on those elected officials who lose connections with their constituents over the life of their elected careers. As Congressional terms stack up for an individual…it is clear that their power, influence, and wealth quotients increase dramatically. Term limits would also likely deter the myopic and institutional thinking that has become so prevalent in our government. It perhaps offers a better supply of new thinking and fresh approaches to America’s civic challenges.

One of the detrimental effects of term limits would be the inability of extraordinary leaders to serve beyond the period of their term limits. Once again, just as in the age limit calculation, the cost must be weighed against the benefits….with sharp attention being paid to the likelihood and frequency of each.

There is a legitimate argument to be made that free and fair elections negate the need for either mandatory retirement age limits or the imposition of term limits. However, the historically overwhelming success of incumbency in our Congressional Branch of government and the lifetime-appointment status that oftentimes occurs in our Judicial Branch might somewhat mitigate that notion. Do we have complete and total faith that our elections are free and fair? Does the power of incumbency provided by our current system unfairly tilt the balance to those who hold the office rather than those who seek the office?

All things considered, it strikes me that in both cases…a discussion about the thoughtful, deliberate, and equitable establishment of both federal government mandatory retirement and term limits would be time well spent. When we consider the mental and physical demands placed upon our presidents and then view the before-office and after-office images of them, it is clear that the presidency takes a heavy toll on its occupants. A disjointed and divided Congress as we now have is not well served by members who are either lost or limited in the performance of their duties due to age considerations. The damage to our legal system that has been realized by aged rogue judges has severely tarnished the reputation and credibility of the courts.

Once again, age affects us all in different ways and some are far less impacted by it than others. It is also undeniably true that intellect, character, physical durability, and competency are not necessarily commensurate with one’s age. There are likely as many young fools as there are old fools.

But age is the ultimate warrior and remains undefeated. The harsh reality is that the human condition, in all of its aspects, wears down with advanced age. There is no shame or dishonor in acknowledging this fact. A life well lived is a monumental achievement and a blessed gift; but the simple truth is that in this world, there are various jobs and responsibilities that are age-appropriate. When we consider the vital role of our government…we should carefully consider that truth.

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