DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: Voting incumbents back into office is a nod toward “you get what the lobbyist pay for” during election

Do you want your vote to count in the future when it comes to the federal government?

Then – vote the incumbents out while you have a chance.

Of course, that’s my opinion, but if you do your research, you’ll see it’s also a pretty obvious fact.

And while this column appears local this week, it really does apply to every election in the US both red and blue.

Look at the madness going on in DC now with a group of lawmakers (both sides of the aisle) who are okay partially shutting down the government, yelling at each other, and doing absolutely nothing positive for their constituents.

Of course, if you’re a fan of lobbyists running the US (think AIPAC, pharmaceutical companies, defense companies touting war), well – step right into that polling location and vote for the incumbent, but remember you get what “they” pay for fooled again.

Last week, someone tried to use the words “transparency” and being unethical regarding my supporting James Buford for U.S. Representative, District 6.

Buford is running in the seat currently occupied by Jake Ellzey – however (transparency) it was not Ellzey’s team who made the comment. It was a person who publicly endorsed Buford’s other opponent, who doesn’t even live in District 6.

All that to say, if you want transparency, I’ll tell you this Ellis County race is ugly.

To be fair – according to my friends in Dallas County and other areas – all the races are ugly.

While I’m a freelancer for Ellis County Press and a number of other outlets, my decision on who to vote for in no way is an endorsement for the media outlets where I freelance. And last time I checked, I’m still an American and I still have the right to sit with, laugh with, support and vote for the candidate I know will do the best job.

Another local newspaper, who has every right to post/write any op-ed piece they choose, wrote a follow-up to three Ellis County Press news articles about Ellzey’s voting record.

The articles were Ellis County Congressman Jake Ellzey’s votes to allow kill switches on vehicles; Ellis County incumbent Jake Ellzey votes “yes” to approve billions for refugee benefits and millions to strengthen Tibetan culture; and Ellzey votes against defunding $315M on what some Republicans call a left-wing non-profit.

The op-ed was called, “Setting the Record Straight: A Conversation with Congressman Jake Ellzey.”

He and County Commissioner Lane Grayson – running for Ellis County Judge – did not respond to an Ellis County Press cover story request a few weeks ago – asking candidates from five different open seats to answer A SINGLE QUESTION.

Ellzey’s team suggested that even though he missed the deadline, we still post his answers online anyway. My thought (maybe I’m wrong), but if 11 out of 13 candidates can answer one question by deadline – so could the other two.

I never dreamed that election season was so hard core. What really stuns me from both sides of the aisle is how much more money the incumbent has to spend on their campaign (lobbyists’ money) as opposed to how little the challengers have financially, because they are not playing in the world of lobbyists yet.

Until something is done about that gaping problem and until those who don’t take voting seriously and who just go in and vote for a name they recognize, we will have incumbents who win and continue to vote at the whim of the lobbyists and not their constituents.

Let’s talk about the incumbents in office right now who are doing absolutely nothing regarding the Epstein files.

That alone should merit their being voted out NOW.

Let’s look at the Ellis County, Dallas County, or statewide politicians – looking at the Red side right now – who are sitting in DC with a partial government shutdown, and who didn’t even bother to show up to Les Wexner’s deposition last week – you know the guy accused of torturing and raping little girls?

One person wrote on Facebook, “This is an international human trafficking sex ring. The rest of the world is doing their part to investigate – while our American government officials look the other way and stay silent.”

Ellis County’s own did not show up nor any other Texas representatives – and they’re not even bothering to stand with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Rep Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) and others who refuse to let the Epstein atrocities be forgotten.

Great Britain’s “former Prince” Andrew who previously had his title stripped was arrested last week as was the former prime minister of Norway. A number of others from around the world have stepped down due to their Epstein associations, but in America – crickets.

You can determine a person’s character by what they do when no one is watching.

Now the world is watching – and they’re still doing NOTHING.

I’ll conclude with a story about the equal time rule during election season on broadcast media.

Ellzey did an interview with WFAA last week, “Texas Politics.”

I know the Democratic candidate who will by vying for the District 6 seat against the Republican candidate in November mentioned the FCC’s equal time rule regarding this interview as did I.

The Buford campaign contacted WFAA about the situation and received a list of questions for an online article with no indication if the other candidates were asked the same, and with no invitation for Buford or the other challengers (including the democratic candidate) to be on the show.

A response to this topic posted on FB by Ellzey’s team was, “I checked to confirm, as this has been a shifting legal topic, impacting the entertainment/late night news & comedy shows, as they mix partisan comedy with takes on the news. But the longstanding rule that exempts a (1) bona fide newscast, or (2) bona fide news interview, still applies to carve out appearances by an officeholder on a program or interview regarding current events germane to the officeholder from Fair Use equalization of time, per 47 U.S. Code § 315.”

I did a quick search to remind myself who owns WFAA – it’s TEGNA Inc. whose top major institutional shareholders include BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street. And Nexstar Media Group who will be acquiring TEGNA later this year also have BlackRock and Vanguard as its top shareholders.

Is anyone surprised? See how the game is played? And right in your face.

Not to leave the Democrats out, current Texas Congresswomen Jasmine Crockett, who is running in her primary for US Senate, was also snubbed (www.foxnews.com/media/jasmine-crockett-reveals-colbert-hasnt-invited-her-show-since-furor-over-talarico-interview) and still has not been asked to appear on Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show.”

The host claimed pressure from the Federal Communications Commission effectively censored an interview with her Senate primary political opponent, James Talarico.

Why shouldn’t she get equal time?

It was mentioned these politicians interviewed might not be talking about the election during their interviews.

Honey, here’s what I know – if you’re talking about politics during election season on broadcast media you’re politicking – win it fairly or go home.

Rita Cook is a freelance writer for The Ellis County Press. She can be reached at rcook13@earthlink.net.