"A September Nor'easter?" (opens in separate window)

four murderers and a scapegoat

saturday, september 26th, 2026

Our society is unwell. We see this in a thousand different ways. Regular church attendance has declined significantly over three generations. Marriage rates are down; divorce rates are up. An increasing percentage of women choose not to have children; an increasing percentage of men choose not to settle down. For its part, the entertainment industry glorifies selfishness, violence, vanity, promiscuity, abortion-on-demand, immediate gratification, and overindulgence, while mocking religion, hard work, compassion, fidelity, strong marriages, committed parents, and healthy families. Leftism is a deadly disease.

Post-WWII Americans participated in clubs, amateur sports, town halls, civic organizations, and religious gatherings; today, Americans collect online “friends,” scream obscenities on social media platforms, and exercise next to strangers in the gym. As every part of our personal lives has become politicized, it has become increasingly difficult for Americans with varying political beliefs to interact. Political grievance has grown into a monster whose shadow follows us everywhere. This shadow now eclipses the invaluable relationships that we once collectively understood as “our society,” the special camaraderie among countrymen that has little to do with government or politics and everything to do with a people’s concern for, allegiance to, and cooperation with each other.

Although the ugly symptoms of society’s illness are visible everywhere, they are particularly revolting when it comes to public celebrations of and excuses for murder. Over the last year, four high-profile murders have continued to dominate the news: (1) the political assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, (2) the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, (3) the stabbing murder of high school student Austin Metcalf in Texas, and (4) a Massachusetts mother’s strangling-murder of her three young children.

Three of the four defendants accused of having committed these murders have either admitted to killing their victims or been convicted of murder. The defendant standing trial for Charlie Kirk’s murder sent a number of communications after the assassination that strongly suggest his culpability. In other words, there has been very little confusion in any of these four cases as to who committed murder.

Nevertheless, all four defendants have received an outpouring of support from parts of the American public.

After the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024, American leftists celebrated the murder as some kind of “principled” and “justified” fight against private health insurance. Thompson’s assassin had inscribed the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” on cartridge cases used in the killing, and he was apprehended with a short manifesto criticizing the American healthcare system. These facts combined with the murderer’s boyish good looks were enough to turn him into a celebrity among those Americans who wish to expand Obamacare’s government takeover of medicine and end private health insurance for good. Even though the murderer shot Thompson in the back, many Democrats blamed “capitalism” and “corporate greed” for the slaying. Hundreds of thousands of social media users mocked the murder victim, and crowdsourcing raised well over a million dollars in funds to support the murderer’s legal defense. Fashion designer Marc Jacobs called the murderer a “trendsetter” who “looks pretty good the way he dresses.”

A similarly ghoulish public reaction followed the assassination of conservative thought-leader Charlie Kirk last September. American leftists flooded social media platforms with celebratory messages. Many news pundits suggested that Kirk’s Christian faith and defense of conservative principles made him guilty of “hate speech,” a ludicrous charge that his alleged assassin had repeated in private messages. Democrat politicians mocked Kirk’s young family for defending the Second Amendment after a rifle had been used in his murder. Jimmy Kimmel used his late-night show to disseminate the lie that MAGA Americans were somehow responsible for Kirk’s assassination, even though all evidence points to a violent leftist in a relationship with someone claiming to be “transgender.”

Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah defamed Kirk as a “racist” and lectured, “Part of what keeps America so violent is the insistence that people perform care, empty goodness, and absolution for white men who espouse hatred and violence.” In defending her callous trivialization of a political assassination, she insisted, “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is…not the same as violence.” A leftist assassinated Charlie Kirk for his political beliefs, and the mainstream corporate press have conspired with American leftists to blame Kirk for his own murder.

After a black high school student stabbed Austin Metcalf in the heart with a knife at a Texas track meet, every race huckster in America came to the murderer’s defense. James Talarico, the Texas Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, has argued that, because “there were no black members of the jury” that convicted Metcalf’s murderer, the “system is not working for black Texans.” The New Black Panther Party has spent months demanding that the murderer be released in the name of “black power.” Many of the murderer’s apologists claim that he acted in self-defense.

These absurd and racist claims have persisted despite the convicted murderer having admitted to police that he committed the murder. Hours before killing Metcalf, the murderer texted, “When I stab somebody I’m gonna lick their blood off the blade.” The murderer’s girlfriend reported him for stalking just one hour before he stabbed Metcalf to death. In another text, the murderer admitted being “on the verge” of committing violence. Nevertheless, the murderer has legions of supporters who blame “white supremacy” for his conviction.

Finally, mobs of pink-clad, leftist women are defending a Massachusetts mother on trial for murder, even though she confessed to strangling her three children to death. The murderer and her army of supporters blame “postpartum psychosis” for the triple-murder. Women across the country have chosen to give the child murderer “the peaceful support she deserved.” There are thousands of online videos in which women express sympathy for the murderer because of how difficult it is to take care of young children. If the thought of millions of leftist women across the country empathizing with a mother who strangled her own babies were not startling enough, it is worth noting that over 50 percent of white, leftist women under the age of thirty have been diagnosed with a mental health condition and nearly 30 percent of women have an antidepressant prescription.

On the flip side, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is serving decades in prison for subduing — in a manner consistent with his training — George Floyd, a non-compliant suspect under arrest who had a lengthy criminal record and both fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system. Because Floyd subsequently struggled to breathe and died while in custody, leftists demanded that Chauvin be tried and convicted of murder. Seeking vengeance, not justice, Black Lives Matter and Antifa burned down neighborhoods across the country and left dozens of unsolved homicides in their wake.

The threat of continued violence secured Chauvin’s conviction. As Elon Musk recently wrote, “Derek Chauvin was unjustly convicted of murder, therefore he should be freed. The facts show that he was not the cause of death, nor did he at any time intend for death to occur.…That is the truth.” But Chauvin is white, and the man who died in his custody was black. In America, “black lives matter” is a sacred mantra; “all lives matter” is considered “hate speech.”

When murderers are celebrated and scapegoats go to prison to satisfy the mob, it is clear that American society suffers from a devastating illness. We have communists who cheer the murder of businessmen. We have delusional people struggling with identity issues who believe Christians should be killed. We have race hucksters who excuse violence, while condemning police officers’ best efforts to enforce the law. And we have a lot of women who embrace and excuse madness.

Leftism is a deadly disease. Those suffering should seek immediate help.

© 8.27.2026 by J.B. Shurk, "American Thinker".

A Day In The Life.

Up at 8:00a on Saturday, a cool 63°F, overcast sky, still, slightly humid morning, I upped the AC briefly, made coffee, fired-up the Win-7 Pentium HP Desktop to let its 32 million lines of code load, had breakfast, had a couple smokes in the garage and checked the leftover errands list. Zero. Mmmmmm, good coffee. Pain's not too bad, this morning. I scanned the weather and the breaking news websites, tuned into a "CP Show" Podcast 9-12 on local WSBA-910, and relaxed for the morning. Sherry woukd be here between 1-1:30p Nice

I was carrying a small box down to the basement, with 6 jars of condiments from Stonewall Kitchens, and slipped on the uncarpeted steps, bouncing down 2 more steps on my ass. Now, I had pain, called Sherry to reschedule our afternoon together, and headed to the couch and heating pad. CRash! Bang! Boom! PAIN! I slept much of the day and evening, and stayed on the couch all night. Too much pain to get up the stairs.

Awake at 8a on Sunday, a rainy, cool 62°, I finally got up from the couch, made coffee, and limped around while trying the stairs several times. Sucks to be me. I got ready for the day, did 2 loads of laundry, had lunch and headed to the LR for a short nap. After 3hrs, I was back up, called Sherry and we set a midweek day to make-up for the rescheduled Saturday visit.

I had dinner, watched the evening news and switched to History's "History's Greatest Picks" until 11:30p, and bagged it for the night.

Up at 7:45a on Monday, a cloudy, cool 64°, not-so-bad morning (81%), I brewed Kona Coffee, scanned the news and weather sites, and tuned into the "CP Show', hosted by a sub-host. Damn. I had 2 errands today, finished listening to th "CP Show", and left at 12:30p. Traffic was light, and except for 5 construction-related chokepoints, I made good time, and was back by 1:45. The rain started mid-afternoon, and continued well after 3a.

The older I get,
The more I think,
You only get a minute,
Better live while you're in it,
Because it's gone in a blink.

Up at 6:30a on Tuesday -- the trus astronomical beginning of Fall -- a cloudy, rainy very cool 54° morning, I made coffee, scanned the usual news and weather sites, and hit the LR couch for a 3hr continuation of the night's sleep. Back up around 9, I tuned into the "CP Show", took aspirin and Tramadol for the R/S painful bruise from my Saturday stairs fall, got ready for the day and went out to get a few local errands done.

Back around 12:30p, I had a small lunch, walked slowly to the CHCA Community Mailboxes, and enjoyed the Fall weather. My GI (pancreas problem in 2017 & 2018) Dr's PA called from PSU-Hershey, but neither my Opera or Chrome browsers would support the call. The only 2 options I have are teleconference call w/ video or an in-person office visit, 1 hour east. Screw them both, so we rescheduled to February 2027. Back to sleep.

I watched the 6p evening news, had dinner, and switched to Discovery's "Deadline To Disaster" and History's "The Proof Is Out There" until 11p. Lights out.

Up at 6:30a on Wednesday, a heavily overcast, very cool 51°, I fired-up the furnace to 75°, made coffee, checked the news and weather sites on the HP Desktop, and laid down on the LR couch for an hour's snooze. After more coffee, I did a couple condo chores, re-scanned the news and weather, and got ready for the day.

Sherry arrived around 1p, we decided to do her weekly food shopping, and drove to Flinchbaugh's Orchard & Farm Market, in nearby Hallam, and next to Saubel's Market, and got 95% of it done. The huge shopping, which I pushed w/ 2 recalcitrant front wheels, and I got a few bags, too. Back at my place after 2+hrs, we offloaded her groceries, talked for a short while, and she left. I had dinner, watched the 6p evening news, and switched to Discovery's "How To Catch A Dirtbag" until 12midnight, and unplugged.

Up at 9:15a on Thursday, a sunny, very windy and cool 49° -- thanks to the new Nor'easter off the Mid-Atlantic coast -- w/ lawnmowers-weed whackers-leaf blowers singing their tunes all morning, I fired-up the furnace, made coffee and tuned into the ongoing "CP Show". I had 'leftover' back pain from yesterday afternoon's shopping trip with Sherry. i took a 250mg Bayer Aspirin and two 50mg Tramadol, and those helped. The Weis Market deliver thru Amazon, arrived at 1:30p, and after get that stuff put away, I hit the LR couch for lmost 3hrs.

I had lab work (blood draws) and 2 small errands which needed completion, but I was in a kittke toio much pain, and had taken 4 Tramadol, soI didn't want to drive, with thatn 'jenky' foot/leg operating the accelerator and brake. I'll gp next week. I took a 2hr nap, got up to the last of tghe coffee, evening news, and switched to History's "Ancient Aliens" and "The unXplained" until 1a., and bagged it for the night.

Awake and up at (:45a on Friday, a sunny, very cool 53°, bumped the heat to 75° to take the chill of the condo, made frresh Kona Coffee, scanned the news and weather, and tuned into the ongoing "CP Show" (last day for sub-host). The R/S pain was back, and aspirin only helped for a vwey short while. I slipped breakfast, had lunch after the "CP Show" concluded, and listened to the "Vince Show", on the same WMAL (DC) station.

After a large lunch, I got tired and hit the LR couch for 3hrs. Nice, but after doing a few small condo chores, I quickly tired out again, and climbed back onto the couch for another 2hrs. I watched the 6p evening news, had a small dinner and switched to History's "Hazardous History" and TWC's "Weather Gone Viral" until 11:30p, and bagged it for the night.

Tomorrow starts a new week, here in the "Journal", and Sherry and I already have an early week day scheduled. Otherwise, a clear week ahead for me.

Islam, Marxism, and insanity advancing apace in Canada and the U.S.

Apparently, women must now be accompanied by a male guardian to enter at least one retail outlet in Ontario, Canada. If Canadian women want to enter that shop, they must act like they are living under Sharia Law.

If you must act like you’re living under Sharia law, you are effectively living under Sharia law.

One would think this would send women’s libbers into paroxysms of anger, but this is not the case, because, you know, “Islamophobia.” Gotta be tolerant! Unless you are a Muslim. If you must act like you’re living under Sharia Law, you are effectively living under Sharia Law.

Also in The Great White North, anything that you say, post, blog, or infer, can — and quite possibly will — be used against you via its ludicrous hate crime laws (“319, sub 2, ‘Willful Promotion of Hate.’”).

And some Muslims are using this to harass the natives.

Make no mistake, Canada is now a police state. No wonder it wants to join the likes of the U.K. as an Associate Member of the Europeon European Union.

What’s more, opinions and jokes can now be considered threats and hate speech in the Deranged Dominion.

An Ottawan, an Albertan, and a Muslim walk into a bar. The bartender says, “How can I help you boys?” The Ottawan says, “Hey, don’t assume our gender identity! I’ll have a Shirley Temple.” The Albertan says, “I’ll have a whiskey, straight-up, pardner.” The Muslim says, “Alcohol is not halal! Mohamed forbids this!” And shoots the bartender dead. At which point the Ottawan, clearly extremely disturbed, warns the bar’s patrons against “Islamophobia.”

(Please don’t send this post — or joke — to Canadian authorities. Or to the Democrat-Socialists of America, for that matter.)

In other news, not one, not two, but three Mohammeds have been charged with day care fraud in San Diego. There’s a shock. (Minneapolis says, “Hold my [non-alcoholic!} beer, I’ve got this.”)

I am beginning to wonder if there is a single legitimate Muslim-owned business in the United States. And, an overwhelming percentage of illegal immigrants receive government support.

And yet, ignorant, pseudo-tolerant, virtue-signaling clowns like Democrat Hallie Shoffner, running to unseat Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), just told an Arkansas-based podcast that illegal alien field hands are so valuable she’d swap five U.S. workers for a single one of them. She’d deport five American citizens to keep one illegal alien? And there are those who claim that Democrats do not favor illegals/immigrants over American citizens! Perhaps she is fond of her gardener and pool boy. And what has any American employee of Costco, Buc-ees, Amazon, Ford, or Netflix ever done for her? Or any that toil at her local restaurants, salons, pubs, schools, hospitals, or waste management companies?

Attention all non-communist, non-insane Americans: Democrats and their pathetic remoras in the mainstream media really do disdain you. Marxists really are on the march. Muslims, whether passively or aggressively, really are attempting a long-term takeover of this nation. Suicidal empathy really will destroy us if we let it.

I am utterly gob-smacked when I see how tolerant of evil a great many Americans have become. How O.K. so-called “feminists” and “liberals” and assorted other whackos and deviants are with the rise of Islam. And how relatively sanguine even many Republicans are with the rapid metastasis of Marxism.

We cannot be “tolerant” of ideologies that are trying to see to our demise, to put it politely, if we wish to survive. That should be obvious on its face. A society that welcomes, fetes, and rewards those who want to convert, enslave, or kill it, is obviously condemned to extinction.

© 9.21.2026 by Weik Utter, "American Thinker".