Honestly, I was fine with any of the three top finishers of the GOP race for the White House. It was interesting, fun to watch and a lesson in human nature.

Cruz was Cruz. I actually think Kasich would be a good president; he’d bore the socks off even the most steadfast political junkie – but was solid. Then comes Donald Trump.

It’s been fun to watch the evolution of the Republican Party. It started out treating Trump like he was a pile of poo that someone accidentally stepped in. But he started winning, and winning because blue-collar Democrats and working Republicans feel the frustration of an America that is being run by an establishment party that closely guards who is allowed into the central core governing the people.

I equated Trump’s rise to that of my son’s past hatred of asparagus. That vegetable was sure to send him running from the dinner table without an adequate supply of a green veggie. 

That distaste was what the Republican Party establishment had on their faces – until Trump won some big states and began making a show that the American public actually liked him.

Then came New York and Indiana where he tromped the competition – and America showed the Republican Party that establishment was out and doing things a bit differently was what they wanted.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan continued to act in establishment ways, saying he would not back Trump who is essentially the pick of a majority of Republican voters, so far. 

So back to asparagus; Ryan might not like the veggie but he attempted to cut off a bite and eat it. He had to choke back throwing it up but he somewhat did his job.

Now Trump is sending his education advisor, Ben Carson, to visit with Ryan before next week – hopefully, in an attempt to see how Ryan likes his asparagus cooked since he’s most likely going to get a full meal of it.

I found it interesting that in Los Angeles protesters waved Mexican flags – excuse me, but that does little for their cause trying to stop Trump’s “build the wall” movement. 

I have no problem with immigrants coming into America to build a better life – but do it legally. The United States needs smooth laws that run efficiently to deal with the torrent of immigrants wishing to call our land home.

Waving a Mexican flag at the crowd equates to waving a red flag at a mad bull or placing steamed asparagus in front of my son for supper – it just doesn’t work.

You want to be Americans? Wave an American flag and protest the difficulty and cost of becoming an American citizen through the correct channels.

The Mexican protesters’ actions were anti-American and disrespectful to our country, the country they are residing in and want to be part of – holy cow!

Meanwhile, my son has learned that asparagus is great when sautéed with garlic and butter. It’ll be interesting to see if the rest of the country finds a way to accept Trump, a candidate who is not necessarily a cookie-cutter mold of other candidates we’ve seen in the past.

Jackie Taylor

Linn County News

 

jackielcn@ckt.net


OBITUARIES

Lillie Mae Jackson ~ 04-23-1928 to 10-22-2025

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  Linn County News Published October 29, 2025   Lillie Mae Jackson, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Oct. 22, 2025. Services will be held at the Pleasanton Chapel of Schneider Funeral Homes at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Visitation will be from... [More]

Monica Joy (Goebel) Mullins ~ 12-30-1965 to 10-20-2025

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Linn County News Published October 29, 2025   Monica Joy Mullins, 59, of Fort Scott died Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, at the home of her father in Mound City, Kan.  Monica was born on Dec. 30, 1965, in Kansas City, Kan., to Gary Richard and Eva May (Alumbaugh)... [More]

Kelly Renee Moore ~ 08-02-1963 to 10-13-2025

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Linn County News Published October 22, 2025   Kelly Renee Moore, age 62 Paola, Kan., passed away at her home on Oct. 13, 2025.  She was born the daughter of Ernest DeWayne and Neva Stillwagon O’Dell on Aug. 2, 1963, in La Mesa, Calif. Kelly loved... [More]

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NEWS

Former Zoning Administrator explains KORA requests

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During the weekly meeting on Monday, Oct. 20, the Linn County Commissioners heard from former county employee Darin Wilson who served previously as the Planning and Zoning Administrator. Wilson told commissioners that the KORA (Kansas Open Records Act) requests he had made were... [More]

Pleasanton Council overrides mayor veto on firefighter appointments

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The Pleasanton Council met at their regularly scheduled meeting Monday and Councilman Aaron Portmann immediately read a prepared statement concerning Ordinance 2065 that Mayor Mathew Young vetoed that tried to take appointment of firefighters from the mayor and put it on the... [More]

Snyder appointed Linn County Register of Deeds

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Following the retirement of long-time Linn County Register of Deeds Kristy Schmitz, the Linn County Republican Central Committee held a convention Sunday to appoint a new Register of Deeds. Central Committee Chair Becky Johnson held the role call of committee people and 20... [More]

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SPORTS

Prairie View football stays on top of their district with big win over Girard

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The Prairie View Buffalos are in 3A District 2 and currently hold the number one seed in that district. The Buffalos 49-20 win over Girard gave them a great chance to be District champions. This week the Buffalos travel to Iola for their final district game and will seal the... [More]

Prairie View volleyball finishes season at Girard

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The Prairie View volleyball team finished their regular season games at Iola this past week as they had a Pioneer League triangular against Iola and Osawatomie. They were in the 3A Regional quad at Girard on Oct. 20 and finished their season there going 1-2. To see the full... [More]

Jays lock in league runner up spot at Uniontown

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Just as the week before, Pleasanton turned first-half takeaways into touchdowns and won at Uniontown last Friday night, 45-12, in a Three Rivers League and Class 1-A, District 1 matchup. The win assures the Blu-Jays of at least their third consecutive second-place finish in... [More]

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