Republican Chris Madel Ends Bid For Minnesota Governor

Minnesota Republican candidate Chris Madel drops out of gubernatorial race, saying he can't support "retribution" by Republicans. "I cannot support the national Republicans stated retribution on the citizens of our state", Madel said. "Nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so." 

Madel calls ICE effort a 'disaster'. "United States citizens, particularly those of color, live in fear," he added. "United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship. That's wrong."

“I can’t look my daughters in the eye and say I’m running as a Republican, when they’re pulling over Hispanics and Asians because of the color of their skin and what they look like,” he told The Wall Street Journal. “I did not sign up for that.”

The Right To Bear Arms

The right to bear arms has been a big Republican Party issue for decades. Minneapolis shooting victim Alex Pretti was legally carrying a firearm. But top Trump administration officials now say he did not have a right to do so.

After the killing of nurse Alex Pretti by a federal agent in Minneapolis this past Saturday, FBI Director Kash Patel claimed on FoxNews, that protesters cannot bring loaded firearms to demonstrations. It appears that the Director of the FBI is incorrect. In addition, some Republican government officials are now saying that nurse Alex Pretti deserved to be shot because he was LEGALLY carrying a gun.

Under the Second Amendment and MN Stat. 624.714, gun permit holders may legally carry firearms in public, including during protests. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that public carry is a constitutional right. Carrying a firearm does not legally constitute "inciting violence". 

During the January 6, 2021 attack to the Capitol, the police identified supporters of Donald Trump who were carrying firearms including AR-15s, rifles and Glock pistols on the National Mall on the morning of the insurrection. These same people now claiming that nurse Alex Pretti shouldn’t have been carry a weapon defended the January 6 Capitol protesters who were armed.

It appears that many members of the Republican party want only MAGAs to own and carry guns.  According to their logic, the Second amendment only applies to conservatives. In my opinion, what happened to nurse Alex Pretti was an execution carried out by our government in broad daylight.

It Doesn't Hurt To Dream

It doesn't hurt to dream, or like they say in my hometown, "soñar no cuesta nada." Last night I had a dream I was relaxing on the beach in Cabo Rojo. We've been buried under snow, rain and miserable weather this entire week in Philadelphia. 

I guess my subconscious mind is sending subliminal messages telling me that this snowstorm, at this point in my life is only temporary, to stop stressing out. Can't wait to be relaxing on the beach, definitively.

This Is Why I Cannot Leave Philly

An arctic blast is bringing wind chills that will make it feel below zero as the Philadelphia region braces for heavy snow and freezing rain. 

When I woke up this morning, temps were in the 0 digits. Snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected beginning this evening into Monday.

Americans Should Not Have To Carry A Passport To "Prove" They're A Citizen

My First Attempt At A Food Photography Selfie

Right now, there are almost 300 million food photos on Instagram. Someone asked, "why would anyone be interested in sharing photos of their food?" 

This is my first attempt at a food photography selfie. Who would have thunk it.

Throwback Thursday : 2003

Cementerio San Jose de Villa Palmeras, visitando el panteon de Ismael Rivera (el Sonero Mayor) en Santurce. Ese dia tuve el honor de ser invitado por Afrika Clivilles y Norma Salazar (QEPD) (Folklorista, Teatrera, Declamadora, Pintora, Escritora y Profesora) a participar en un homenaje con musica en el cementerio de Villa Palmeras para celebrar la vida de Ismael Rivera. 

Entre algunos de los presentes con Norma Salazar (QEPD) se encontraban, la vedette Lourdes Chacon, algunos musicos del grupo de Bomba y Plena de Norma llamado Plenibom, Afrika Clivilles, y este servidor.