I loathe arrogance. I loathe people who feel they are so far above your station, that if you fail to genuflect properly about them, or fail to respect their projected infallibility, then you are wrong. I loathe people who have never been told ‘NO’ in their lives, who were constantly coddled by Mommy and Daddy, who never wanted their kids to feel any pain in their lives, people who had their meat cut by nannies until they were in high school, people who have never really bled or faced any real hardship in their lives. Worse yet, parental expectations were non-existent, and if that happens to a me-me-me kid, who was exposed to back room deals of the father, they will turn into me-me-me adult who leads the smoke filled rooms of today. And when their carefully concocted World’s Fair facade, a foundation built on sand begins to fade and crumble, the paint begins to crack, and that hidden picture, aged and hideous, disfigured representation of a lost soul is exposed. It is a painful sight for all to see. I write for the truth, and if that offends you, it’s not my fault. And this is not me attacking silver spoons or anything like that; in fact elitism happens at all levels of society, from the left and right, upstairs and downstairs.
I have embraced humility. I love giving money, gifts, to parents of newborns, to show my appreciation to them for taking on the task of parenthood. It’s a reflex that automatically happens without me thinking about it, and it shows that someone out there cares for them and for their newfound parental duties. It’s my way of giving hope to them, and I would encourage other People of Means in Montgomery County to take on the task. I know approaching people can be awkward, but with practice it becomes second fiddle, and the fulfillment of giving without expecting anything in return is so heart-warming and rewarding. I cannot tell you how much joy that I’ve received from grateful people who really need the assistance.
A lifetime ago as a young soldier, cursing every third word, debauched to no end with six-pack abs and a cute face, having a greed that could have caused an Iron Curtain incident if the missions were not successful, not to mention being vindictive to the point of almost being murderous. I was headed to a point of rendition that would have ended me. My war saved me, and started me on a path to humility. I know it sounds crazy, but being removed from a dangerous European environment was a salvation for me, and even being exposed to Iraq’s Scud Missiles, or Saddam Hussein’s chemical weapon became beneficial. I did have a flair up with my frustration in Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield, the famous episode with the Syrian bus driver, who wanted to go to Damascus while I needed to get back to Dammam on the Persian Gulf. In the past, I had projected it as a funnier incident, but in all honesty I had the mindset of Saul/Paul at the time on his trip to Damascus, and after pulling my service weapon with a seriously malicious intent, making the poor driver color his robe with yellow and brown stains, I thankfully pulled myself back from the brink with my first realization of my Actions having Consequences. Had I killed that guy, and I certainly could have, miles from the main road in a desert with moveable sand that have easily concealed the drivers existence as he rotted, no one would have known. And on my way back to the coast, in a different vehicle with a new driver, and with the shaken Syrian bus driver heading back to Damascus and his family, a little worse for wear. I experienced a life-altering moment. I wasn’t temporarily blinded or anything like Saul, but I felt a turning point, and I began to weep for the self-admission of my sins against God. I admit, I’m a big time sinner. And despite having the past blood of popes, saints, kings and queens, it didn’t help in having a good standing with God. Soon after being on the road proper heading east, I was crying, balled up on a seat like a fetus in my Mother’s womb. I also asked for forgiveness for my teenage sins, and taking possession of that cursed brown van with cool rims, that my father sent me off in starting on that dangerous road. The crying lasted for 6-8 hours, and when I arrived back at the port and briefed my commander on my sand adventure; nothing much to report. I slept for a long time, and my healing began. I tell this story to warn parents about the potential risks to their kids, so they won’t have to go to dangerous outlets. I had my run ins with drugs and alcohol too, and Thank Good I’m long done with self-harming, leaving my body to remind me of my sins with my ‘well deserved cancer,’ coupled with Desert Storm complications, and going on 75-80 bowel obstructions over the past 28 years.
Just after early voting started in February, I presented to the ER with a bowel obstruction, of which I recovered after a few days in the hospital. I was able to go home, then the following morning, I had a terrible case of acid reflux, and when I couldn’t resolve it, I had to get back to the hospital. It was one of those, “Oh God, please help me,” moments in the ER, with no relief in sight, and diabetic ketoacidosis that had me eventually urinating 8-10 pounds of fluid per day, all the while shivering like I was standing outside my sister’s home in Anchorage at -6 fahrenheit in my underwear with a heavy wind. I hadn’t had the shakes that bad since 1999, but this time the episode was thankfully less traumatic. I was very weak, and didn’t even start to really recover until February 28th, when I had my first taste of real food in nearly 10 days. Don’t expect a food review on that. Yuk, comes to mind. I recovered enough to be discharged late on March 2nd, but not before writing a column on Iran. I re-read it on the 4th in print, and I impressed myself; a rare feat. Not bad work, for someone being barely able to walk, arms bruised to no end with enough needle marks that made me look like a heroin junkie, and my mind power only at 87-90%.
Needless to say I was out of the loop for early voting and primary day. I got a call from The Austin Insider early on the morning of March 4th, which I missed; sleeping. They texted to say that he had a Montgomery County individual who wanted to talk to me, with an interesting story of their poll working episodes during the EV run, so I met with him for lunch. Several Thursdays ago, I had an early breakfast with a former Veteran colleague concerning the Veterans Treatment Court, then I hobbled over to County HR for an FOIA request, then over to the District Attorney Mike Holley’s office for a quick interview. I mean I was busy, still walking slowly, taking breaks every 50 feet so, rebuilding lost muscle.
During lunch, arriving 30 minutes late, I met the Montgomery County Insider, at an undisclosed location, Oscar’s Bistro in Montgomery. lol. And what I heard about the polling locations in Willis and Montgomery, during early voting, should have boiled my blood, but I couldn’t stop laughing. If I weren’t in the hospital at the time, I would have loved to watch it myself, and I kept thinking of Republican Establishment rabid dogs, viperous, spewing venom, with one candidate’s blond sister, threatening to spit on the MC Insider. Then I couldn’t help but think of the 1992 Seinfeld skit of Newman and Kramer’s spitting incident with then New York Met, Keith Hernandez on a flashback to June 14, 1987, which reenacted the JFK assasination in spit, obviously done as a result of the JFK film with Kevin Costner done the year before. “That is one magic loogie,” said Seinfeld, his take on the magic bullet theory, and his deduction that the spit couldn’t have come from behind, but involved a second spitter essentially on the knoll at Shea Stadium, who turned out to be Hernandez’s team mate Roger McDowell. Remember. Back and to the left. Back and to the left.
Alright, now that you’ve recovered your breath from the laughter, there are some serious alleged concerns here that need to be addressed. I trust the Austin Insider, I mean when you hear the Governor’s voice conversing with others in the background of a call, that clinches it, so his trust of the MC Insider made me want to meet for lunch. Now as far as the allegations of harassment of selective MAGA poll volunteers by constables, stolen signs, and a fire truck blocking MAGA tables. It is disturbing, and shows a level of concern for the potential loss of power by a certain segment of the Republican Establishment. The MC Insider says that the constables allegedly harassed him when he entered the parking lot, way back from the precinct judges authority line, which is at 100 feet or so; and it was alleged that the precinct judges went beyond that distance. I could go on about alleged felons, alleged paid protesters, who outnumbered MAGA many times to 1.
I was also informed of the lack of Abbott signs at the events in Montgomery and Willis, and how the Governor’s endorsements of RE candidates were not reciprocated by those he endorsed. Then there are the candidates’ voting pages on Montgomery County Election’s machines themselves, in which voters allegedly reported to MAGA non-paid volunteers that voters had to go searching under ‘See Additional Candidates’ for Governor Greg Abbott’s name on the ballot. What? The draw couldn’t have been that bad. I’d like to see a picture of that. Heck send me pics and videos. I won’t doxx you, since I’m all about the truth. I’m just sorry I was in the hospital for all of this. For me it’s highly disturbing, and to play along with the impropriety, alleged from Montgomery County Elections on down to officials we are supposed to trust with their integrity and our safety, it speaks to desperation in some campaigns, especially those with large coffers willing to allegedly grease palms for help. It’s behavior I would expect from Democrats, not allegedly from Republicans. And I couldn’t help but think of Jeffrey Epstein’s private island along with Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, etc. Individuals thinking they are so high above their station that they would never be held accountable for their actions. None of them accounted for Elon Musk, nor Donald Trump. I don’t believe, nor imply, there is anything sexual involved here, but rather the same mentality that Epstein and Clinton displayed at the time. I mean, it’s pretty darn close behavior, allegedly, that some GOP candidates, the perception that they are untouchable to the law or public criticism.
My conscience is clear in reference to my accountability. I’ve confessed my sins, and the sins of a family member who went to jail for embezzlement of my grandfather’s funds, which reinforced my will for financial accountability forever. And as the year goes along, I’ll be explaining how people who go to Austin, working for a pittance of a salary, come back home with vital information that enriches their personal coffers. It may unalive me, but I got insurance, remember those manila folders, and besides – no more bowel obstructions if it happens. Yippie!
It goes back to that idea of greed that I spoke on earlier. I overcame my addiction, but for those that have not faced consequences to their actions in their life, the needed fix is too overwhelming to resist. I pray for them to change their habits, because some allegedly have no qualms in approaching land-rich cash-poor honest folks, buying their property, then turning right around selling it to retailers for twice the price and pocketing the profit. Of course all of the intelligence was allegedly learned in Austin. I urge you please, take the high road, and if you see someone in need, drop a Grant or a Franklin for the sake of a newborn, homeless Veteran, down and out families, your church or a charity, the benefits are so much soothing to your heart. As Republicans, we should honor teamwork over individuality for the betterment of the party, and disregard coalitions that go against GOP Values.
Ruben can be reached at: ruben@montgomerycountynews.net