Constitutional Xer

Ok, I'm apparently not good at writing parables, because nearly everyone interpreted it wrong. I used a parable because I want to respect others' service records, especially when not all the facts are out yet. So let's pivot to a much more direct analogy. In 2016, career intelligence professionals, people who had genuinely spent their lives fighting America's enemies, became convinced that a foreign power had compromised the incoming president. They had data points. Real ones. Trump had business dealings in Moscow. He said nice things about Putin on camera. People in his orbit had meetings with Russian nationals. A dossier appeared with salacious claims. Each data point individually was... a data point. But they were looking for Russia. So they found Russia. Everywhere. They were so certain they were right that they leaked to the press. They used classification authority to spy on American citizens. They presented unverified opposition research to a FISA court as intelligence. Peter Strzok texted about "insurance policies." Andrew McCabe authorized leaks. They were experienced professionals who genuinely believed the republic was in danger. Their service records were real. Their concern was sincere. And they were wrong.

I'm a Smurf. I've been hired to run counter-intelligence operations at Smurf Village. My role is political; I've personally gone up against the evil wizard Gargamel. But once I'm on the inside, I discover that Smurf Village has a relationship with a goat-riding human boy called Peewit. Peewit isn't a Smurf. He's caused a lot of damage with his antics over the years. Why is he even here? I start digging. I pull up Papa Smurf's history with Peewit. Papa Smurf has been collaborating with this kid for years. Protecting him. Making excuses for him. Why? Peewit is reckless. Peewit makes messes. But Papa Smurf keeps letting him back in. The more I dig, the more Peewit I find. He's everywhere. In every file, behind every favor, connected to every mess. A picture forms in my head: if I'm looking for Peewit everywhere and I keep finding Peewit, the only logical conclusion is that Peewit is the one controlling Papa Smurf. Then a prominent Smurf gets assassinated. They say Gargamel's people did it. Case closed, move along. But I get access to the dead Smurf's private messages. And there's Peewit. Right there in the chats. The same Peewit I've been laser-focused on all year. Pressuring him. Making demands. I bring this to Papa Smurf and his inner circle. I bring it with alarm. Papa Smurf looks at me funny. And then — just like that — I'm kicked out of the investigation. No explanation. Just... out. This is the final proof that Peewit is controlling the Smurf Village. I know what I saw. I have to get the truth out there. So I do the unthinkable. I leak the information.

CBS News Poll: Do you favor or oppose requiring people to show valid photo ID before they are permitted to vote? 🟢 Favor: 80% 🟤 Oppose: 20% —— • Dem: 65-35 (+30) • GOP: 95-5 (+90) • Indie: 79-21 (+58) • White: 80-20 (+60) • Black: 80-20 (+60) • Hispanic: 77-23 (+55) YouGov | 3/16-19 | 2,496 A

IT’S OFFICIAL! I am officially on the ballot for State Committee for the Republican Committee of Beaver County. If you’re a registered voter in Beaver County — PA — I humbly ask you to switch to Republican, so you can vote in the May 19th primary. Hope to earn your vote!