Letters to the editor Nov. 30
Presidential power
If you’re not concerned yet you are not paying attention. We have a president in power who has made it his position to rule without restraints. The courts, Congress and seemingly anyone who has the authority to hold him to account have all turned a blind eye.
He has stated that he could send the Navy, Air Force and Marines to “do whatever I want” and the courts would not stop him.
The PosseComitatus Act prohibits the use of federal military force to enforce domestic laws.
He has bypassed the Congress to persecute political opponents, used the military for domestic control, defies the courts and declares national emergencies on false premises, marginalizes people, treats news sources as enemies. He uses his position for personal profit.
The Pentagon has outlined a plan to develop a domestic civil disturbance quick reaction force. This is in addition to the National Guard reaction force that is on standby for emergencies in their own states. These troops would be available to cover unrest, over the objections of local leaders.
While SNAP benefits were halted, the president announced the do-over of the Lincoln bathroom in full marble and, of course gold fixtures. No food for the hungry, but another vanity project done without the knowledge of the American people. By the way, the dirt from the demolition of the East Wing is being taken to a Trump golf course.
While the White House may have needed a bigger state room to hold events, a ballroom that measures two football fields, while benefits are taken away from the hungry, is appalling at best and disgusting at worst. If you think that those donating to the cost are not getting kickbacks in return, I have a bridge for sale. Pay attention!
— Roseanne (Rocky) Feckete, Bigfork
Fraud and abuse
The almost vice-president of our country, Gov. Tim “happy-hands” Walz of Minnesota, is now part of perhaps the biggest perpetration of alleged fraud yet discovered by the Trump administration.
Seventy-seven people, many from the Somali community have been indicted so far in alleged Covid-funded schemes to defraud the government. The purpose of the funds was to help feed children, help children with autism and help disabled and elderly obtain housing in Minnesota. Instead, these individuals allegedly stole the money and reportedly sent some to fund the Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
Only 3% of $250 million in federal Covid assistance to feed children was actually used for that purpose, the rest allegedly stolen.
The housing assistance fund begun in 2020 was supposed to cost $2.6 million, but it increased each year and in 2025 is on track to cost $120 million — nearly 50 times the estimate. Seven Somalis have been indicted for allegedly stealing from the fund.
Fraud also allegedly affected the state’s Medicaid fund for children with special needs. Medicaid autism claims reportedly went from $3 million in 2018 to $400 million in 2023 during which the number of autism treatment centers and providers went from 41 to 328, many being newly established centers in the Somali community. The rate of so-called “autism” in the Somali community was three times the state average.
I wonder whether Ilhan Omar, the Somali congressional representative from Minnesota, has anything to say about her fellow countrymen’s alleged theft of millions of taxpayer dollars from multiple social welfare programs, some of which apparently funded a terrorist group that wants to destroy America. Other than the “few bad apples” metaphor she seems to have resorted to her usual racism claim.
As liberals oft proclaim, the waste, fraud and abuse discovered by DOGE is overblown. Tip of the iceberg.
— David Myerowitz, Columbia Falls