Politicos, You Are Not My Boss 🖕

Political divide? Angry Americans need to check themselves ✔️

I'm writing this because I am fed up with messages similar to this:

If you think there's anything subtle in what I write, you are reading it into my stories. Subtle is not a word to describe me. Oh, and I'm not impressed by big words, dude. Size matters but not when it comes to words.

If you cannot handle a political joke or a funny meme about the current candidates running for office, I hope you don't watch late night TV. Go ahead and tuck yourself into a warm blanket and hide in your red or blue bubble.

Our News of the Weird is just what it is. Weird stuff. You may see more Republicans in it only because Arkansas is dominated by Republicans. Elect some Democrats and I will make fun of them, too. I don't care who is in power. I don't worship at the altar of any politician, donkey or elephant.

For more than 35 years, I've covered politics for tons of national and international news outlets. I'm not bragging. Just my lot in life to be a political journalist.

I was the first reporter to write that Bill Clinton's presidential library in Little Rock looked like a double-wide mobile home. He even quoted my story in a speech while I was standing in the room with him covering him. Talk about thinking wtf?

I covered Sarah Palin for a year when she was Senator John McCain's veep running mate. I met her in Oklahoma and even had my picture made with her. No idea where that picture is now. A lot of what I wrote wasn't always favorable to Palin. Some stories were. Just the way political journalism goes if you don't lean one way or the other.

Those are only two politicians that I've hit hard in print. There are many others.

Unlike many reporters, I don't care what party you favor. I'm not going to be the reporter who you can mark as the favorite liberals run to with scoop. In turn, I'm not going to be that reporter who covers up GOP controversies. When it comes to politicians, I'm an equal opportunist truth seeker.

That's exactly why I am no longer in mainstream, or legacy as some people call it, media anymore. That's why I started South Arkansas Reckoning with Richard. I was sick of editors telling me to slant a story this way or that way or omit unfavorable facts that made whoever they liked look better. Or, worse, completely ignore a news story because higher ups had an agenda to black out coverage.

I admit that here at the Reckoning I can dig up dirt on your favorite politician, and publish it, but when I do it will be the truth. You may not like it.

And I will continue to post political memes in News of the Weird. Don't get your panties, boxers, or briefs all in a wad. If you go commando, please don't send a message telling me either. If you do, rest assured, I will bust you out publicly. This is your only warning.

Speaking of memes, did you know the majority of them are created by political operatives? Yes, it's true. They even make negative memes about their candidate to test the political waters.

Over the years I've written positive and negative stories about governors, presidents and their wives, U.S. senators and representatives along with every other political office there is.

As a journalist I'm not for any political candidate. I'm not pro any party. Do you know how dirty party politics really can be? Both sides. Democrats and Republicans. Somewhere right now a Democrat is stabbing another Democrat in the back and the same goes for Republicans. I know because I have friends in both parties who have done some very dirty things to gain power and money.

Think the Reckoning is for Trump just because Richard recently wrote that Trump did some good things while president? Think again.

Trump did do some good things. Guess what? So has Joe Biden. But hell, Biden’s own party pushed him aside for a chance at victory. All about a power grab to energize the Democratic base, which was greatly needed but the manner in which it occured was brutal and crass. But it worked. Harris has set the Democratic Party on a winning trajectory. For now.

Every president does good things and all of them do bad things. They make bad decisions. They make good decisions. Bad. Good. That's pretty easy to understand even if you are a first grader on the playground.

In fact, good and bad go for every single elected official. Your mayor. Your county judge. Whoever you voted for in the last election.

People are way too invested in politicians — Republican or Democrat — who barely gives two shits about them. Think Trump and Vance care? No. Think Harris and Walz do? No.

Even your local politicians don't care about you like you think. Can you reach your county judge? Does your mayor return calls? Do they really want to know your concerns? If they do, consider yourself lucky.

Back to the Oval Office

Presidents have a lot of power including executive orders. They can orchestrate change immediately. Then the next president who comes along can undo that change with the stroke of a pen. If either party really wanted to solve problems for Americans, they would work together. They don't. They want to keep us in chaos amid confusion until the next election cycle.

Presidential candidates are like Godzilla, visiting cities, holding rallies, devouring enough admiration and media coverage to move to the next city only to gobble up more attention to feed their egos, line their bank accounts and woo voters.

These monsters, I mean candidates, more times than not, only visit cities in states where the electoral college has an impact on Election Day. You don't see them in Arkansas to try and win our measly six electoral college votes, do you? If Democrats or Republican presidential candidates truly cared about all of us, they would visit all 50 states. Both sides certainly have enough money to do that.

Politics is a big money machine — both sides. That's why grassroot efforts — conservatives and progressives — are critical to keeping everyday people involved and elected officials in check.

Will the politicians you are so adamant about defending to people like me help you when you need it? Likely no. Not unless you know someone who works in the White House or can get you through the red tape to talk to a senator, congressman, governor, even a mayor.

Good luck.