The key to protecting fair and free elections. What works.

 We all have our political priorities, and mine is fundamental. As a former election official myself, number one on my list is the preservation of free and fair elections, and Donald Trump is enemy number one with an attempt to "federalize elections" and to keep his enemies from voting by putting up all kinds of barriers. Those include banning mail-in balloting and "show me your papers" citizenship requirements. Not everyone can afford a passport or can produce a birth certificate, given the cost, ability, and time required. We do not have a national ID card. This is a movement Trump is promoting nationwide, and it is all based on the premise that the reason he lost the election is that illegals voted. FYI. There has never been any proof produced of the extent of such fraud that would change any outcome, and there is a trail of court cases wth judges that came to the same conclusion. Trump has fooled his faithful followers into willfully believing him. Now, using the same pretext, Trump is attempting to grab election registration details from states, such as Georgia and now Arizona, in an attempt to find a shred of evidence or, worse, to justify an attempt to selectively disqualify voters whom he objects. He is currently engaged in getting "election deniers" in every critical election official position he can so he can perpetuate his deception of the "steal" and control outcomes.

Trump's claim that widespread fraud in mail-in balloting so it needs to be curtailed is also based on BS. There is evidence that there is so little fraud that election resiults were not impacted.. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/mail-voting-in-the-us-data-points-to-very-low-fraud-and-significant-benefits-to-voters/

MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: How Trump plans to subvert the midterms: it is no secret

Trump says he won't sign any bills until SAVE America Act passes

MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: Trump wants to GOP nationalize elections and control the vote count: that's what dictators do

MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: SAVE us from the SAVE act

In Colorado, where mail-in voting is the overwhelmingly popular method of voting even when polling places are available, we are a testament to how well mail-in voting works in modern tech society. With computerization, illegal voting is virtually nonexistent because it is possible to cross-check various databases to determine eligibility for registration, as well as being a legitimate voter. There are two critical positions in Colorado government firmly supported and ably protected that keep our voting systems fair and free: the Secretary of State and the Attorney General. Both are ably and dedicated and deserve our recognition for their work: Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Attorney General Phil Weiser. It is key that whoever fills those positions is the most knowledgeable, experienced, and able to continue their priorities with the same knowledge, technical ability, and dedication.

Iran: Hegseth's holy war? Updated 4/5/2026

Update 4/5/2026: I must say I am appalled by Trump's tweet 48 hours before his formal Easter greeting....after threatening the Iranian people, he will bomb them into dust, and then this morning caps this off by "Glory to God". https://www.instagram.com/p/DWtunfJEZUE/The result if he succeeds or follows through reminds me of a warning about false prophets...and there are in MAGA who consider Trump the second coming/ But..you can know them by the fruits they deliver. The Pope warned the Trumpets, they who advocate violence in the name of God, will have blood on their hands. Bless the Pope

.https://www.reuters.com/.../pope-leo-says-god-rejects.../

.

This reminds me of

Matthew 7:15-20

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. ":

Committing war crimes is rotten fruit: https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2026/03/hegseth-and-trump-threaten-war-crimes.html

Trump must have had Hegseth whispering in his ear or he is responding to the Pope's condemnation of him.  

Continuing with the original post:

 Is the US being led into a war with Iran by a religious radical who sees this as a holy war?  In a scary vein is Pete Hegseth head of the Department of "War".  His view of Christianity is of the crusades and he sees life in terms of this. If he sees Iran as a holy war, we should be more than concerned.. Rationality is out the window

Update 3/30/2026: Hegseth's prayer to inflict violence on enemies got a rebuke from Pope Leo: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/29/pope-rebuke-trump-leaders-with-hands-full-of-blood

Continuing with original post:

 It's Pete Hegseth's theology that ought to concern us – Baptist News Global

From the Guardian: "US military commanders have been invoking extremist Christian rhetoric about biblical “end times” to justify involvement in the Iran war, to troops.....The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) says it has received more than 200 complaints from service members across all branches of the armed forces."

https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2026/02/white-christian-nationalism-has-taken.htmlWhat 

to know about the archconservative church Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attends | PBS News

Chasing the story, CNN: Analysis: Pete Hegseth wanted an ‘American Crusade.’ Now he’s leading a war in the Middle East |

Update: 3/17/2026

 CNN Politicshttps://www.cnn.com/2026/03/17/politics/joe-kent-resigns-iran-war

Do two lies work? Why not, DJT? I am listening to Trump claiming Iran was an imminent nuclear threat to the US. No one I can find other than perhaps Israel or the Saudis, thinks so. But he can use the lie to make another lie and pull out with mission accomplished. The lie he can use, we wiped out their navy, their army, their air force, no radar, no anti-aircraft, their nuclear sites..(and we keep killing their head guys. That is what regime change means????). Is that what he is trying to claim.. If true...then quit. The imminent threat is ended. Right?.. But whatever lies he makes to end this war he started with a lie are tools he can use..Lies are his stock in trade and his loyal MAGA will just say Amen.

Timing is everything: when his own base splits over isolation and affordability so much he looks weak,, then watch him declare victory, and quit. Then...if Iran keeps Hormuz closed and keeps lobbing drones at the Arab gulf states, what then?

Trump is not even a good checkers player...he only understands one move at a time, and ignores his opponents' future retaliatory moves.. Even two-dimensional checkers are beyond him.

James Talarico's victory in the Texas primary may signal the rising of moral outrage

Talarico speaks the language of many Texans, which may puzzle those not from the South, as I see the media dominated and housed on the East Coast try to explain why he won. For those who were raised inthe "bible belt" or came of age in the evangelical Christian movements that dominate the culture of the South, it is not hard to understand. (I am a native of Eastern Oklahoma) 

Talarico speaks their language, a language that comes naturally to him as the grandson of a Baptist preacher and now a Presbyterian pastor/seminarian. He cites the words of Jesus freely: to love God with all his heart and love his neighbors as he would love himself. He shares much with the theology of Pope Leo.   He also puts his economic populist message into theological references, caring for the least of these or Jesus overturning the money changers' tables in the Temple.

 Talarico is the antidote to a political movement based on fear and loathing of neighbors who are not like them, in race, sometimes in religion, and in culture,  and/or who worship wealth as the sign of success as persons.  He simply quietly incorporates his political beliefs without raising his voice or delivering a proselytizing, fiery sermon. In subtle ways, he preaches without being preachy. 

 Democrats can hope there are enough in Texas in the general election in November who are troubled by the immorality of the president and his staff and administrators seeking more political power by inhumane treatment of anyone brown speaking Spanish, snatched and warehoused until they can prove their legality, in an attempt to purge this country of as many brown people as they can. They have convinced so many who claim to be Christian by the righteousness of racial hatred that I wonder how many are left in the South who are uncomfortable with that approach and are indeed swayed by a view of Christianity of Talarico's that is the polar opposite of the tone of others in the White House.

This may also show a meeting of minds of both Christians and northern liberals when morality and human rights, and economic populism, find common cause. It is where disgust with the immorality of  Epstein and his clients and affordability meet in a common purpose.

MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: White Christian Nationalism has taken over the White House

From last July, MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: Messaging again: a new messenger who speaks to many in red states: James Talarico

MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: Moral indignation rises as a major imperative of anti-ICE protests

In 25-Country Survey, Americans Especially Likely To View Fellow Citizens as Morally Bad | Pew Research Center

An interesting poll:

David Brooks posed the question and gave a thoughtful answer in the Atlantic. He did it without mentioning the role of organized religion, diminished but still strong in mostly the South. Religion used to set the standards for what was moral or not.  Religion has become a powerful political tool, particularly for the political right. However, Talarico has turned that on its head by showing that Christianity is in harmony with the political left. Texas may be a special case where Hispanics are a very large population; social liberals but religious conservatives, and Pope Leo and Talarico have been on the same page on ICE issues. It may still resonate in other southern states, even those without large Hispanic minorities. Stay tuned.

Why Do So Many People Think Trump Is Good? - The Atlantic

  

For the record: fact checked Trump's State of the Union address 2/24/26

 Fact-checking Trump 2026 State of the Union address on jobs, inflation, crime, immigration and more