Jan 11 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Study past if you would divine future
I have had time now to reflect on the recent election and have noted some interesting things. We Solano County Republicans ran 41 candidates countywide and elected 15. Locally we got good coverage for our races with little propaganda. However, where President Donald Trump and, by extension, all Republican candidates were concerned, Republicans were portrayed […Read More]
Jan 4 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Why is Earth’s climate changing?
Last week’s The Right Stuff column summarized The Paris Climate Agreement with general arguments for and against. Let us now look at historic facts related to climate change. Archaeological history confirms that Earth has forever cycled between warm and cold periods. Current causative factors have been primarily identified by Climatologist Cliff Harris and Meteorologist Randy […Read More]
Dec 28 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Paris Climate Agreement lacks accountability
Carbon is essential to all life on Earth. It is part of the fats and carbohydrates of our foods and the DNA, carbohydrates, fats and proteins of our bodies. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is in the air we breathe. Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and as part of their life cycle emit oxygen. There were […Read More]
Dec 21 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: A Christmas gift to give ones(elf)
I want to be Santa for Christmas. Plump my rump, whip me up a hoary head and white whiskers, bedeck my body in red and white and tickle my tummy for a hearty Ho Ho Ho! Give me the gift of gift giving. I know my first gift and I’d fly into it like down […Read More]
Dec 14 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Voting needs to be secure, verifiable
Voting is arguably our most precious right. Voting gives we the people the ultimate check and balance in our republic. It allows us to hold accountable those in power. Thus, reaffirming the citizens’ authority over governance. From the first recorded democratic elections in ancient Greece, people have interfered in elections to suit their interests. This […Read More]
Dec 7 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: A SENSIBLE AND COMPASSIONATE COVID STRATEGY
I am triple board certified in Hematology, Oncology and Internal medicine with significant post-doctoral training in Public Health and epidemiology (experts that deal with incidence, distribution and control of disease). I am also a Professor of Medicine Emeritus. Three epidemiologists and public health experts, Dr Guota of Oxford, Dr […Read More]
Nov 30 |
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The Right Stuff: Strange days now in America
What does that mean? America hasn’t seen an election like this since Richard M. Nixon-John F. Kennedy in 1960. For those of you not alive or old enough to remember the controversy surrounding that election, here’s a broad outline. The election was hotly contested and resulted in a large turnout. The results were very close […Read More]
Nov 23 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Founders saw wisdom of Electoral College
The 2020 election campaign is finished except for U.S. senators in Georgia. An attempt may arise to severely alter future elections. To avoid that attempt, I suggest Solano County voters consider ramifications. The subject will be the Electoral College method of determining the presidential elections as required by Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution. As[…Read More]
Nov 16 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Honor veterans and other good Americans
This was written on Nov. 10, the 245th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. I had the pleasure of calling Marine friends today to give greetings as I and they do every year. One was retired Gunnery Sgt. Lloyd Dashner, a combat veteran who is one of my personal heroes. He is a man […Read More]
Nov 9 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Let’s consider neighborhood councils
Nov 2 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: So, who am I?
I used to think I was pretty much just regular people, but I was born white, into a two-parent household along with many siblings and lived in a small A-frame house with one bathroom. Now, whether I like it or not, that makes me privileged, racist and responsible for slavery. I am a fiscal and moral […Read More]
Oct 26 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Do we vote for politicians or statesmen?
May we agree, sadly, that many politicians are not truthful? Politicians act according to personal interest with their finger in the wind of the latest poll. Statesmen act according to law and the state’s future. I have observed, with limited time in New York City, residents in the city exaggerate often in daily speech. Perhaps […Read More]
Oct 19 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Why are we, as Americans, so politically divided?
This question must be on many minds. Let’s examine it. In any investigation, regardless of purpose, you want to know the following: Who, what, when, where, why and how did something occur? The who, I believe, is the Democratic Party which, more than two years ago, I dubbed the Democrat Progressive Socialist People’s Party. The […Read More]
Oct 12 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: A watershed moment for America
A watershed moment has a momentous effect. American voters in 2016 decided it was time for significant change. Thus, in classic organizational development terms, America needed a “change agent” – Donald Trump. For four years we have watched him turn Washington, D.C., on its ear. Change agents are brought in to shake up lackluster, poorly […Read More]
Oct 5 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Deeds, not words, matter in politics
I was privileged to spend three years in the 60th Aerial Port Squadron at Travis Air Force Base. The squadron motto is “Deeds Not Words.” The airman and the civilian employees proudly honored that motto. Compare that motto to the unfulfilled political promises we are given. Should not voters in America judge their electoral candidates […Read More]
Sep 28 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: False promise of green energy: Part 2
Green energy has had some big failures. Let’s look critically at Solyndra. The plant for this expansion in solar power was right along Interstate 880. As part of the 2009 Recovery Act passed by Obama’s administration, Solyndra was given a $535 million loan by the Department of Energy. Solyndra was trying to build an expensive […Read More]
Sep 23 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: False promise of green energy
Congratulations Californians, you are currently reaping the rewards of the false promise of green energy. Every one of you who voted for and cheered the programs for renewable energy, enjoy your rolling blackouts and get ready for more. During the last round of them, most of the state was closed. Just think how it will […Read More]
Sep 14 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Is the Democratic Party truly racist?
Is this a fair question or just so much campaign rhetoric? As regular readers of mine know, I recently wrote a four-part series identifying both Democrat and Republican presidents and Supreme Court justices who were segregationists responsible for the rise of the terrible “Jim Crow” laws. Now, let’s move on to the “New Deal” of […Read More]
Sep 7 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Covid-19 response stronger than Dems will credit
The Democratic National Convention confirmed their primary campaign issue will be that President Donald Trump’s administration has failed completely to recognize and treat the novel coronavirus, thereby failing to protect American citizens. That decision is expected as pollsters report 70% of potential voters opposing him state their reason is the administration’s failure to appropriately combat […Read More]
Aug 31 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Police there to protect, serve community
Heretofore I have tried to keep a wrap on the infamous Ryan Rap Sheet but current events tell me it is time to come clean about the “Amazing Flying Ryanoni,” daredevil par excellence. It was a blustery New England fall morning; mighty oaks bent reluctantly to another Nor’easter. Having dreamt daring dreams, I fashioned myself […Read More]
Aug 24 | ![]() |
The Right Stuff: Why believe leaders who recite obvious lies?
Unless a storyteller is known to be truthful, why do people often accept a story from anyone else, particularly chronic liars? Sadly, that term applies to many current politicians. Political progressives today make many generic allegations. e.g. “President Trump violates laws every day.” But what laws? The special cpunsel and impeachment found none. I received […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Kudos to Victoria Lawson, the republic
Thanks to The Right Stuff for sharing today’s column with Constitution Literacy Advocates. We recently honored 2020 Armijo High School graduate Victoria Lawson, the recipient of the grand prize in Solano County’s Constitution Essay Contest for three consecutive years – a truly remarkable feat with an average of nearly 200 entries submitted each year. It […Read More]
The Right Stuff: We live in difficult times
We have seen a remarkable amount of poison rhetoric in our political discourse since President Donald Trump declared his run for the presidency in 2016, mainly from the Democrat Socialists Progressive Peoples Party (DSPPP). Now, for the past number of months, we have experienced increasing vitriol in the halls of Congress resulting in a failed […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Common sense, common courtesy no longer prevail
Two men, Englishman John Trenchard and Scotsman Thomas Gordon, wrote the original Cato’s Letters in the 1720s postulating how an open society with a republican constitution could flourish. Daniel Hannan, a British writer and politician, wrote: “They postulated how an open society with a republican constitution could flourish. And incredibly, against all odds, providentially we […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Watch the media, Solano school boards
Last week’s column reviewed the difficulty of identifying truth from lies. Experience demonstrates that a person who lies once will continue to lie. Telling a truth but not telling the whole truth to deceive is also defined as lying. A current ACLU poll provides a perfect example of the polling author determining the outcome. Here’s […Read More]
The Right Stuff: It’s critical to identify truthfulness
How do you know the person speaking to you has spoken only the truth and the whole truth? Having worked 30 years where a person’s word is his bond, I normally assume the message is truthful. However, after a speaker has lied one time about anything then the receiver must logically verify elsewhere before acting […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Facts demonstrate positive change continues
Thorough out history, slavery was and is economic. See the United Nation’s 2017 report: It takes different forms but approximately 40 million enslaved people exists around the world today. From time immemorial, it’s part of human nature to conquer and dominate. In 1833, Britain had 800,000 slaves primarily in the Caribbean sugar plantations. Their value […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Separate but not equal
By Jim McCully
In my two previous columns, I have shown a brief history of the legal basis for “Jim Crow” in the Plessy V. Ferguson 1896 Supreme Court decision (SCOTUS). The impact was devastating to blacks. However, the nation as a whole suffered as it set back race relations for another 58 years. In Plessy, one of […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Is racism systemic in humans? Part 2
Last week I referenced U.S. Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and its impacts on our nation and the legal status of the District of Columbia. As a federal entity, no state laws were legally applicable yet “Jim Crow” existed. How was that possible? From 1865 to 1913 D.C. was socially segregated but its […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Is racism systemic in humans? Part 1
Perhaps it’s a part of the human condition to have bias for one’s own tribe. People are partial toward one body type or another, skin tone, gender(s), etc. Apparently, we are biased toward or against different things. It’s seemingly learned behavior. I was born in 1946 and raised in Washington, D.C., when it was legally […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Let’s contrast precinct voting, vote-by-mail options
Why fear vote-by-mail? Hopefully, you will understand after comparing the VBM processes with precinct-voting processes developed to protect each voter’s intent. Each and every precinct ballot is accountable at all times. Inventory is taken in the beginning of the day and after voting closes to match against the ballots submitted. Voters are required to mark […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Where are truth, ethics?
The debate over voting by mail has reached a high crescendo thanks to Present Donald Trump’s tweet and Twitter’s “Fact Checked” response. President Trump: “There is no way that mail-in-ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent. Mailboxes will be robbed, ballots . . . forged . . . and fraudulently signed... […Read More]
The Right Stuff: ‘By any means necessary’
I am sure most people have heard the term “by any means necessary,” but may not know where it comes from or what it really means to those who use it. The term is often referring to the concept of political power. From antiquity’s chieftains to kings to our modern political states, humans have engaged […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Republic form of government: Defend it or lose it
Special to the Daily Republic Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended, Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or monarchy?” With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.” January 2020, China announced a new disease […Read More]
The Right Stuff: The difficult decision: Lives or livelihood
Some people are reluctant to make decisions, some make hasty decisions and some wait for facts before unhesitatingly making sound decisions. Today, Americans are awaiting controversial decisions for restoring normal life to America. Unfortunately, there are many unanswered questions. Facts we have: • Dec. 31: China advised the World Health Organization of “strange pneumonia” in […Read More]
The Right Stuff: US wanders from Founders’ plans
This column is a continuation of our discussion of the intent of our Founding Fathers and how we have wandered from that intent. Form of Government: The republican form of representative democracy has been weakened by two actions. The 17th Amendment, as explained last week, was a significant progressive victory to convert our republican government […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Is this America today? What happened?
Last week we reviewed the primary concepts that America’s Founders developed in writing the Constitution. This week we’ll review changed concepts and resulting effects made since the Constitution was ratified. 13th Amendment-Slavery Abolition: The first change was good. Some yet condemn the Founders for not abolishing slavery. The Founders took pragmatically available action toward limiting […Read More]
The Right Stuff: What are America’s constitutional rights?
As we witness America’s most divisive political environment in our lifetimes, including those living in the Great Depression, let us review America’s founding principles. When America in 1795 appropriated funds for the first Navy warships that eventually led to the termination of the Barbary Pirates in 1830, it set the example for leadership to the […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Citizenship in a republic requires action
I recently read another letter against President Donald Trump written, in the Daily Republic (DR), by a frequent chronic complainer. Again, storming over Trump’s handling of the real Covid-19 crisis the nation is in. This is just the latest made-up nonsense inflicted upon us for more than three years by the omnipresent Democrat Socialists Progressive […Read More]
The Right Stuff: There is a sucker born every minute
I worked years ago in Bridgeport Connecticut. For those who don’t know, the city is the home of the P.T. Barnum Museum. Mr. Barnum is credited with being the greatest showman in circus history and coined the phrase “The Greatest Show on Earth.” He was the city’s mayor for several years in the 1800s and […Read More]
The Right Stuff: ‘Resistance’ response the wrong one
The Right stuff column of last week examined the lack of principles in Democratic Party leadership. Since the Democratic Party declared their “Resistance” in November 2016, a massive change has occurred. Two offenses primarily generate a “Resistance” response – any position in opposition to a progressive objective or every action planned by President Donald Trump. […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Does your political representative have principles?
The Right Stuff columns are written almost exclusively with facts. Of the 300 published columns, only one erroneous statement was made because I accepted a city staff employee’s legal interpretation; a correction was printed the next week. This column will deviate from policy by presenting questions with the hope of receiving truthful answers. Everyone is […Read More]
The Right Stuff: Socialism a seductive, dangerous, big lie
By Kevin Ryan Socialism is a fundamental issue in the coming presidential election. In socialism, the means of production are owned and managed by the state. Private ownership is not allowed and social gains are primary with little regard for personal interest. All of the fabric and foundations of society are owned and maintained by […Read More]
The Right Stuff: It’s silly season, election time in America
Here we are in the midst of the silly season, or election time. So, because it’s that time, I’m reminded of some quotes by H.L. Mencken (1880-1956), the so-called Sage of Baltimore, who wrote a political column in the Old Baltimore Sun along with 30 books on various subjects from art to music to politics.