~a column by Colleen O’Brien
A new US Postal Service rule, which I just discovered became effective on Christmas Eve, 2025, is cunning: it changes postmarks to regional processing centers, not my local post office. The date stamped on the outside of the envelope might be days after I actually put it in my own mailbox to be picked up, impacting deadlines for things like taxes, bills, rent, ballots.
To ensure a timely postmark for deadlines (most important to me — a mail-in ballot), if I’m mailing right before my due date, I better get a manually hand-stamped postmark or Certified/Registered Mail at my local post office counter; dropping mail in my own mailbox for a carrier to pick up, or in a blue box or kiosk may result in a late processing date.
~~
Our fear-mongering leader wants to help the citizens in Iran who are protesting against their government. He doesn’t mind any number of citizens in the US protesting their government being dragged out of cars or homes, pepper-sprayed and shot with tear-gas or just plain dealt with the easiest way — by deadly force.
~~
I understand that the Senate has to interrogate Pam Bondi, headmistress of the Department of Justice, for explanations regarding the countless illegal things going on under her supervision of that agency. I don’t know how the Senators can maintain their cool politeness as she talks over them in her condescending, eye-rolling way while perniciously blaming former President Joe Biden for everything and anything not related to the question.
~~
Our rights guaranteed by the Constitution are slight obstacles to the oligarchy (our president is one of them) taking over our country right now. They are insidious in their inconspicuous harm, treachery, craftiness, deceitfulness, corruption and cunning, including spreading falsehoods about people. They are equally invidious in their ease in arousing fright in us with their ill will, malice, and animosity.
~~
The ease with which those in charge ignore a few of the Amendments to the Constitution, intimidated by their president who does not think that Constitution he took an oath to means diddly squat:
Amendment I: Freedom of religion, speech, and the press; rights of assembly and petition.
Amendment II: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated.
Amendment VI: The right to a fair trial, speedy and public.
Amendment XIV: No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or Elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office civil or military . . . having previously taken an oath as a member of Congress or as an officer of the United States to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House remove such disability.
Amendment XV: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Amendment XXII: No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice
