Two Profiles Hitting US Elections era Headlines: Term limits Champion vs. Accused Money Launderer

Land of Anybody’s “Patriot,” Everybody's Grand “Exceptionalism” Illusion

Perhaps the Presumption of ALL being Created Equal is off the mark.

    A Ten-term Member of the US Congress—holder of Texas and Georgetown baccalaureate, law, and doctoral degrees, who has enjoyed the enthusiastic support of top-tier, super influential Members of the US Congress—has furthered the besmirchment of US public office by being indicted on several federal crimes: 

“Money laundering, conspiracy, and bribery” (“accepting money from foreign entities … in exchange for ‘influencing the Treasury Department to work around an anti-money laundering policy that threatened the interests of the (foreign entities).”

In an early May 2024 press release, the US Department of Justice reported:

“According to court documents, beginning in at least December 2014 and continuing through at least November 2021,” this US Congressman and his wife “allegedly accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities….”

    This ten-termer, Mr. ENRIQUE ROBERTO (HENRY (no doubt a member with considerable standing in the US exceptionalism club), is positioned strategically on the US House Appropriations Committee, the (ranking member) House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and the Defense Subcommittee and Subcommittee on Military Construction, and related agencies, current Congress’ Chief Deputy Whip. 

    He is a man who had dabbled in private law practice and public law enforcement the latter as Texas' Attorney General; and spent fourteen years (1987-2001) ensconced in the Texas House of Representatives, before offering his presence to the Congress of the United States of America.

    Perhaps it is long past time for this Texan to return to Texas. 

FOURTEEN HUNDRED MILES northward of Cuellar’s Texas
A candidate for public office who is championing term limits.

In her words: 

“I am a proud supporter of Congressional term limits.” “I am a supporter of term limits because our founding fathers wanted people to serve in office for a short time and then go home.… It is time to end the stranglehold of career politicians who put politics ahead of people.… This philosophy (term limits) brings people (into public service) with a wide variety of experiences.”

“Ninety percent (90%) of PAC money goes to incumbents which makes them beholden to the PACs, not to the people. The core responsibility (of elected officials) is to be the voice of the people. … [T]his is why I support term limits. By implementing term limits, we can help ensure that (elected officials) are voting for the people not their campaign accounts.”

“By implementing term limits, we will be restoring accountability to the people.” “I serve as Michigan’s Chairwoman for U.S. Term Limits.”

    In 2022 and 2024 Physician Sherry O’Donnell completed Ballotpedia’s “Candidate Connection Survey.” 

    Ballotpedia is a digital encyclopedia of American politics, a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit organization unaffiliated with campaigns, candidacies and candidates for office. “All gifts to Ballotpedia are tax deductible to the extent of the law and help to provide voters with information about their ballots.” The organization provides “unbiased information on elections, politics, and policy.” (https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia:About) (https://ballotpedia.org/Sherry_O%27Donnell)]

    This was some of O'Donnell's answer to Ballotpedia’s survey question “who are you.” This candidate for US Senate (and physician) representing Michigan is a Fellow with the American College of Osteopathic Internists, and an adjunct professor at Seton Hall and Western Michigan universities. She is a pastor, author, mission leader, speaker, and Michigan State Chair for U.S. Term Limits.” In 2008, she “launched Herbie Medical Clinic providing care to (people who were) underserved and uninsured;” and during the pandemic, she spent “weekends (in 2020) caring for patients on the front lines in New York City.” She has led medical missions and disaster relief in many countries.

    Ballotpedia and other sources report Sherrell Anne O’Donnell's (Sherry O'Donnell's) birthplace as Watertown, Minnesota, a small city situated on the outskirts of the Twin Cities Metropolitan area, population estimate 4,842.  Dr. Sherrell Anne O’Donnell is a graduate of Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (1995), Internal Medicine Osteopathic Physicians

    The Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports registration of O’DONNELL, SHERRELL ANNE: CANDIDATE FOR SENATE MICHIGAN ID: S4MI00561 REPUBLICAN PARTY. Data included from these committees: DR. SHERRY FOR SENATE (C00847657); Coverage dates: 07/01/2023 to 03/31/2024 https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S4MI00561/

    Health line lists Dr. Sherrell O’Donnell, DO, as an Internal Medicine Specialist in Saint Joseph, Michigan specializing in Internal Medicine; with experience at the time of the article 29 years. She is board certified in Internal Medicine; a graduate of University of Oklahoma / Health Sciences Center; and affiliated with Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center and Lakeland Hospital Watervliet. Patients rated Dr. O’Donnell an average 4.0-star rating. Dr. Sherrell O'Donnell, DO; Practice, 3911 STONEGATE PARK, Saint Joseph, Michigan 49085 https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-sherrell-odonnell-1699771725

Ensure choice. 

    Do not block difference or stand in the way of variety that has demonstrated work ethic, sound mental, emotional, physical, moral, intellectual wellbeing, experiential diligence; substantive and relevant qualifications: all-round fitness for purpose. 

    Once the citizenry is given real choice, stand aside and let them make independent choices about who will hold public office, who will represent them. In a March 25, 2024, article in the Michigan Advance, Kyle Davidson quotes US Senate Candidate Sherry O’Donnell saying this. 

“I believe the public needs to hear directly from the candidates, not just through 30-second sound bites and paid media. We are seeking a very important job in Michigan and the voters deserve us going through an interview process…. Let the people decide who is the best candidate to be their next senator, who has the experience, who has the right plans, and who has the courage to put people ahead of politics.” https://michiganadvance.com/2024/03/25/republican-sherry-odonnell-files-signatures-in-u-s-senate-bid/

Sources
US Department of Justice
Friday, May 3, 2024

“An indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Texas charging U.S. Congressman Enrique Roberto “Henry” Cuellar, 68, and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, 67, both of Laredo, Texas, with participating in two schemes involving bribery, unlawful foreign influence, and money laundering. Congressman Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar made their initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo in Houston.”

US Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs
Press Release: U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar Charged with Bribery and Acting as a Foreign Agent
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-congressman-henry-cuellar-and-his-wife-charged-bribery-unlawful-foreign-influence-and

“According to court documents, beginning in at least December 2014 and continuing through at least November 2021, Congressman Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar allegedly accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: An oil and gas company wholly owned and controlled by the Government of Azerbaijan, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City. The bribe payments were allegedly laundered, pursuant to sham consulting contracts, through a series of front companies and middlemen into shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar, who performed little to no legitimate work under the contracts. In exchange for the bribes paid by the Azerbaijani oil and gas company, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his office to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan. In exchange for the bribes paid by the Mexican bank, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to influence legislative activity and to advise and pressure high-ranking U.S. Executive Branch officials regarding measures beneficial to the bank.”

Other sources

https://cuellar.house.gov/biography/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Cuellar
https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C001063
https://www.docsherry2024.com/meet-dr-sherry-odonnell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watertown,_Minnesota

US Term Limits press Release January 9, 2023 “Dr. Sherry O’Donnell Tapped as Michigan State Chair for U.S. Term Limits, Sees the Need for Congressional Term Limits”: Lansing, MI – U.S. Term Limits announces that Dr. Sherry O’Donnell has accepted a position as U.S. Term Limits’ Michigan State Chair. Dr. O’Donnell brings a depth of public service to this role.” https://www.termlimits.com/sherry-odonnell-tapped-as-michigan-state-chair-for-u-s-term-limits/

https://health.usnews.com/doctors/sherrell-odonnell-1057735
https://doctor.webmd.com/doctor/sherrell-odonnell-bec84b6b-9828-4727-b41a-dd6a1532d35d-overview
https://www.healthcare6.com/physician/saint-joseph-mi/sherrell-anne-odonnell-749177.html

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Composition, Compilation Commentary excluding quoted material and individual images

Copyright © Carolyn LaDelle Bennett

Author’s links: https://www.xlibris.com/en/search?query=Carolyn+LaDelle+Bennett

https://www.xlibris.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/828689-epitaph

https://www.facebook.com/carolynladelle.bennett

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Spreading Angst, Defaming Immigrants

America's On-air Talkers are deepening the breach in US relations at home and abroad

BECK-QUINN airing via privately-owned WYSL

Avowed substance abuser and drug addict, job hopper, businessman, dabbler in broadcasting self-righteous proselytizing talker Glenn Lee Beck late mornings; former disc jockey turned foul-mouthed half-truths and slanderous falsehoods-spreading talker Jim Quinn early mornings both permitted by WYSL (founding president and owner a dabbler in US radio markets with a university law degree Robert C. Savage) marketed under the words “Radio Livingston” originating in Avon, New York, reaching Rochester metropolitan-Genesee River Valley.

BELLAVIA airing via WBEN (parent publicly traded on NY Stock Exchange through 2023)

Failed candidate for public office, dabbler in radio, wedge-issue monger, off-and-on talker David Bellavia at Audacy Inc (Buffalo, NY, Western New York broadcast area), formerly Entercom Communications Corporation founded by Joseph M. Field, current CEO/former Goldman Sachs investment banker David Field (January 2024 announced filing "for a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy")

COSBY airing via privately-owned WABC

Avowed daughter of Polish native Ryszard Kossobudzki (Richard Cosby), television personality turned radio talker Rita Cosby at New York City- New Jersey-Connecticut News Talk Radio WABC part of the Red Apple Media Group empire (owner, board chairman and CEO foreign national (nation of Greece) billionaire John A Catsimatidis) which also incorporates Oil and Gas Operations; Gristede’s Supermarkets; and sundry divisions and subsidiaries such as United Refining, Red Apple Food Marts, and Kwik Fill gas stations and convenience stores in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio)

Where we live and who visits and Serves our Shores

    Comprising the designated “Global South”: Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, Asia’s “developing countries” (including Near Eastern countries); generally including “Brazil, India and China” together with “Indonesia and Mexico” are the “largest Southern states in terms of land area and population.”

    The Global South as designated by ideologically driven United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) encompasses “Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean,” “Asia excluding Israel, Japan, and South Korea,” and “Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand.” UNCTAD is a Geneva, Switzerland, based agency having a separate membership, leadership, and budget; and offering its reports to the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.

    Comprising the Northern Hemisphere is 68 percent of Earth’s landmass (90 percent of the global population) (both approximates): Continents: North America, Europe, Asia, most of Africa.

Global South Populations on Rosters of America’s Pastime 
US Major League Baseball

Caribbean: 149

South America: 64

Mexico: 12 (North America – Global South)

Central America: 7

South Africa: 1

USA Private Household (et.al.) Industry Immigrants

    Statista estimates that of the Private Household sector’s 947,000 workers, 45 percent come from countries other than the United States of America; and “22 percent of all immigrant workers in United States households are unauthorized.”

    The textile, apparel and leather manufacturing industries come in second with 36 percent; and the agricultural industry comes in third with a 33 percent proportion of immigrants.

Quoting Pew Research studies, in “no major American industries (did) immigrants outnumber United States born workers.” (emphasis added)

    In 2023 Pew reported that although “immigrants” were still “more likely than U.S.-born workers to work in lower-skill occupations,” a significant shift had occurred.

In recent decades, “the numbers of immigrants in high-skill, non-mechanical jobs have risen,” most notably “in jobs that prioritize analytical skills such as science and math or fundamental skills such as writing and speaking;” and “in jobs in which social skills like negotiation and persuasion are important.”

As immigrant workers have transitioned into employment sectors requiring more highly skilled work, it follows that their numbers have decreased in industries “where social or fundamental skills” such as in hospitality or homemaking “are least important.”

    This month The Washington Times National Weekly is reporting large deficits in hotel income and workers. The American Hotel and Lodging Association cites a shortage of “190,000 jobs” compared with pre-pandemic levels. One analyst told the Times affirmed that “immigrants have better job options” than the usually designated housekeeping jobs. Just because immigrants are coming over the border doesn’t mean that they’re coming for these jobs, he said.

“Traditionally the hotel industry has used a lot of immigrant labor for drudgery because (immigrants) were more willing to put up with longer hours and more unpleasant working conditions.” Now, “they have more options….” 

 

Talkers on American radio should mind professionalism and their humanity. 

    These individuals and their owners and handlers and lackeys should study more carefully, become better prepared before going on air. Practice due diligence and proper oversight. Put forth far more effort than reading a teleprompter’s script or ripping and reading the day’s prepackaged points. Have some honest to goodness respect for fellow human beings.

    Remember men on a Bridge (I find them hard to forget) suffering the consequences of carelessness in high places: in the press and in the halls of elective and appointive government. Not long after midnight, early one Tuesday morning in late March six construction workers from the world’s Global South lost their lives because of public officials’ (and the news press’s) negligence. These men, ages 25 through 49, died.

Guatemala-Born Dorlian Castillo Cabrera

Guatemala- Born José Mynor López

Honduras-Born Maynor Suazo Sandoval

Mexico-Born Carlos Hernandez

Mexico-Born Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes

El Salvador-Born Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez

    US media emperors and their talkers, the news press along with officials in public office and their partnering emperors of privately private enterprises are a collective of bad influences. Despite their 24/7 pageantry of propaganda and curious utterances—these entities are practitioners and peddlers of a callous and unconscionable disregard for peaceful relations; and, more generally, a reckless disregard for all life within and beyond our borders. 

Sources

Statista. March 20, 2017. “The Industries with the Most Immigrant Workers” by Niall McCarthy, with Infographic by Niall McCarthy Data Journalist IMMIGRATION https://www.statista.com/chart/8566/the-industries-with-the-most-immigrant-workers 

Pew Research February 24, 2020, “The share of immigrant workers in high-skill jobs is rising in the U.S.” by Jesse Bennett https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/02/24/the-share-of-immigrant-workers-in-high-skill-jobs-is-rising-in-the-u-s/

Washington Times National Weekly. “More than 75% of hotels report staffing shortages despite raising wages: Half cited need for more housekeepers.” Print edition Monday June 17, 2024.

USA Facts 2023 “Which industries employ the most immigrant workers? About 5 million foreign-born workers — nearly a fifth of the immigrant workforce — work in education and health services.” USAFacts Team November 10, 2023. https://usafacts.org/articles/which-industries-employ-the-most-immigrant-workers/ 

Baltimore Sun https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/03/27/what-we-know-key-bridge-collapse/ Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Scott_Key_Bridge_collapse March 26, 2024 (1:28 a.m. Eastern Time): 

Situated in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area was the Francis Scott Key Bridge. On that morning its main spans and three nearest northeast approach spans over the Patapsco River collapsed when a container ship struck a support structure of the bridge extending into navigable waters. Six members of a maintenance crew working on the roadway lost their lives. Two more were rescued from the river.

MLB Advanced Media 2024. “Fourth-most internationally born players featured on Opening Day rosters” Michael Clair. March 29, 2024. MLB.com.

Travel Republic https://www.travelrepublic.co.uk/blog/26-countries-of-the-caribbean 

World Data https://www.worlddata.info/developing-countries.php 

Insider Radio https://www.insideradio.com/free/entercom-s-david-and-joe-field-take-giants-of-broadcasting-

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Composition, Compilation Commentary excluding quoted material and individual images

Copyright © Carolyn LaDelle Bennett

Author’s links: https://www.xlibris.com/en/search?query=Carolyn+LaDelle+Bennett

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Disruption, Destabilization, Mind Capture, Chaos

A Disturbing Pattern: US Classrooms Crossing the World

    There are reasons to be deeply concerned about the raging “DEI” or Identity Industrial Complexes just as there are good reasons to be deeply concerned about War Industrial Complexes and NGO Industrial Complexes and the victimhood-sickness-dependency Industrial Complexes, and Propaganda mills.

    Timothy P. Carney then a fellow at the American Enterprise Institutes wrote in an article posted online several years ago: In a few moments, 

“social media can create… an insatiable mob that deputizes itself to enforce the ever-shifting orthodoxy of elite identity politics. This mob brooks no dissent or nuance.…” Standard tactics of all ideological types include misrepresentation, omission, oversimplification.

    This author observed that “progressive identity politics … ignores reason, shouts down questioning, (and) requires rejection of plain facts and obvious truths.” American Enterprise Institute (AEI) “Progressive Identity Politics Can Dumb down Anyone” August 8, 2017   https://www.aei.org/articles/progressive-identity-politics-can-dumb-down-anyone/

The Carney article is interesting as far as it goes. But it does not probe deeply enough.

    The destructive complexes I refer to are created, enabled and sustained not only by insidious media entities of traditional and nontraditional varieties; but also, by a deeply ingrained, too-easily accepted preexisting condition: the tyrannical hijacking and control of language and meaning, definition of terms, concepts, and existence itself.

    Among Americans in particular (I am American and thus most familiar with Americans, and I am uninterested in excusing “us” with a torrent of blame against “them”)—and across ideological bents, preferences and penchants—there seems to be a calculated and careless abuse, misuse and misrepresentation of language. My observation is that people who self-identify as liberals and those self-identify as conservatives or variations of these often select a pattern of behavior that is similar to or identical with the pattern they criticize in others. Seeming opposites choose to abuse language as it suits their individual purposes or perceived ends.

    One particularly egregious offense is the use of “progressive.” And to some lesser extent, the curious uses of left and right, marginable and non-marginable. Such terms are dependent on the prism through which the center is perceived together with the perceived proximity to that center. But sticking with the term “progress” (and its derivatives “progressive,” “progressives”, “progressivism”), the coinage is erroneous (deliberate or not)—whether it is used as a self-description or in criticism of other persons, entities or actions. The observable image, actions, effect does not pass muster. It doesn’t ring true.

    Progress signifies forward movement, movement onward or upward; advancement, growth; betterment: becoming better, improving, adding true value, merit, goodness. However, what Americans term progress manifests breakdown, chaos, destruction. Its upshot: regress, backwardness.

    The prevailing chaos perpetrated by self-described “progressives” and critics who persist in this abuse of language collude in denying that which they claim to support: such niceties as free thought and thoughtfulness, self-reflection, open-mindedness; and the quest for the understanding of any subject, cause, culture or issue. We seem to be living not in a progressive era; but, rather, in a modernity of chaos (or chaotic modernity). But the pattern is an old one.

    The old pattern masterminded by US (and UK) powers has played out for many decades in scores of countries across the world. Name any tribe or tribal variation, and US entities will be found exploiting whatever the difference, nuance, jealousy or discontent (even disrupting longstanding good relations) — (e.g., Sunni-Shia, Yemen's Shiite Houthis North vs Sunnis South, similarly in Iraq)—to exploit, create chaos, raze and ruin nations and peoples. 

Documented Conflicts across the world today (estimated)

• · “more than 45 armed conflicts” (in the Middle East and North Africa: Cyprus, Egypt-Muslim, Iraq-Muslim, Israel, Libya-Muslim, Morocco-Muslim, Palestine, Syria, Turkey-Muslim, Yemen and Western Sahara-Muslim

• · 34 in Europe-Eurasia (Black Sea and Balkan Peninsula regions)

• · 21 in Asia (Afghanistan-Muslim, India-Hindu, Myanmar-Buddhist, Pakistan-Muslim and Federally administered areas and autonomous areas including Kashmir-Muslim) and The Philippines, Latin America

• · 35 on the African continent (excluding Libya, Egypt Morocco previously mentioned): Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia-Muslim, Mali-Muslim, Mozambique, Nigeria-Muslim, Senegal-Muslim, Somalia-Muslim, South Sudan and Sudan (Muslim).

United States and United Kingdom entities will be found among the leading instigators of chaos, conflict, crises; and generally, in the thick of unspeakable destabilization and destruction.

    Within America’s classroom and far beyond the classroom, there are reasons to be deeply concerned about the Identity Industrial Complexes, War Industrial Complexes, NGO Industrial Complexes, victimhood-sickness-dependency Industrial Complexes, and Propaganda mills.

    In an article critiquing a pseudo-academic program at the University of Arizona, Timothy K. Minella touches on harmful pattern of manipulating meaning to promote ignorance and misunderstanding, anger, chaos and conflict—backwardness and regress.

    In “The Academically Unserious DEI Mandates of University of Arizona, Minella reports that subjectivist notions inserted into the General Education curriculum are promoting “politically activist ideologies to a captive audience of students (who are required to) complete the programs in order to receive a degree.”  

The purpose of studying diverse cultures is not to understand them on their own terms, but rather to prepare (students) for action against supposed inequities. … Many of these courses … urge students to advance activist political causes while engaging in academically unserious exercises.

Anti-intellectualism insinuated into the academy and imposed on impressionable minds would

replace scientific observation … with subjective ‘identities’: … hijacking serious scientific course content; (and inserting) politically activist efforts … (copied from) dogmatically progressive institutions (reported to have lost) both membership and public confidence.… The goal (of these courses) is activism, not understanding.”

    University leaders seem to “believe it is more important for students to receive lectures in progressive activism than to gain basic knowledge of American history and civics. 

Students could graduate … without learning about the US Constitution, the Civil War, or landmark Supreme Court cases”; but “having ‘lived like a bug.’” The goal is activism, not understanding. Minella, Timothy K. 2024 “Anti-Bug Bigotry? The Academically Unserious DEI Mandates of University of Arizona.” June 4, 2024, The Goldwater Institute https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/policy-report/anti-bug-bigotry/ Timothy Minella is a senior constitutionalism fellow at the Van Sittert Center for Constitutional Advocacy

 

Check and Recheck 

Lived reality flies in the face of self-righteousness—

No matter who or what practices self-righteousness.    

 

References

National Geographic https://www.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/indias-untouchables-face-violence-discrimination

World Atlas https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/yemen-s-tribes-and-tribal-confederations.html
https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/yemen-crisis.html

Nations Online https://www.nationsonline.org/index.html

Geneva Academy https://geneva-academy.ch/galleries/today-s-armed-conflicts 

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Composition, Compilation Commentary excluding quoted material and individual images

Copyright © Carolyn LaDelle Bennett

Author’s links: https://www.xlibris.com/en/search?query=Carolyn+LaDelle+Bennett

https://www.xlibris.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/828689-epitaph

https://www.facebook.com/carolynladelle.bennett

https://insightbeyondtodaysnews.blogspot.com/

nolandanisland@hotmail.com