Rural Requiem

What do the 2024 Illinois primaries say about the health of our democracy? Why do so many remain so removed and ambivalent to politics? Not surprisingly, it's all connected.

Write-In Info after Links

Opening : Men I Trust, Show Me How

Closing : Vacations, Next Exit

Obama's 1996 New Years Kick Them Dems Off the Ballot Party, Chicago Tribune.

2018, Jim Meadows

2018, Effingham

In 9 of the counties of the 15th District, you can 'Fill the Oval' and write-in 'Kevin Gaither' on the Democratic Primary ballot.

511 write-in votes for Kevin Gaither are what is needed to challenge Rep. Mary Miller in the November election. She has no challengers in the Republican primary.

The 9 counties are Champaign, Christian, Coles, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, Sangamon, Shelby, and Piatt.

Early voting begins Thursday, February 8th. The last day to vote is Tuesday, March 19th.

Democracy is about having choices. If you feel the voters deserve a choice in November, pull a Democratic primary ballot and write-in Kevin Gaither for Representative in Congress in the 15th Congressional District.

Thank you!

New Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, believes the Separation of Church and State is a misnomer. Senator Marsha Blackburn chides President Joe Biden about the First Amendment, exposing how little anyone really knows about 1A. The Rural Requiem dives into the separation, history, and culture.

This may sound more like a Disney Plus mini-series than reality, but 101 More Democrats than Republicans voted to expel George Santos, becoming only the 6th member in the history of the House of Representatives to have this honor. Likely ushering in the Expulsion Era in the House as well as impeachment inquiries of President Biden.

Time to explore the big issues from a new perspective.

A former President and current candidate for the same office has been indicted on state and federal charges in multiple jurisdictions, with more likely to be filed before Labor Day.

A sober examination and indictment forecast will challenge our audience to dig beyond the headlines and declarations of innocence and guilt.

Can anyone remain objective regarding politics any longer?

Let us know what you're thinking, please follow and share as well continue to explore the intersection of culture, politics, and society.

The Rural Requiem demystifies the political, cultural, and religious dynamics that quickly placed Transgender at the center of online commentary, driving legislative and political action across the nation.

I open with my public comment against censorship at a local county board meeting.

As we face the impacts of a No Roe America, we explore historical parallels that take us back to Southern Illinois during the Civil War.

Is protecting our children at the heart of what is speeding this movement to enact legislation that limits rights and liberties involving identity and expression?

Macon County voters will decide April 4th to keep or eliminate their future voice in who audits their county offices. It begs the question, do you know who audits your local county offices? And, if you could lie about everything, everywhere, all at once, and be elected county auditor, would you? Do you even need to be a CPA in order to be the Illinois State Auditor General? The answer may surprise and shock you.

A frank and frankly fun dialogue about local politics and competency that connects directly to the larger national and state discussions about high-level indictments of former Illinois Speaker Mike Madigan and former President Donald Trump. How did a U.S. Representative lie his way to Congress? Does this expose a deeper problem in our democracy or just further proof that all politicians lie?

#PresidentTrump #MikeMadigan #Indictment

#ComptrollerMendoza

#SpeakerKevinMcCarthy

#GeorgeSantos #MaryMiller #RobinKelly #RodneyDavis

#ScottBennett

#MichaelMarron #PaulFaraci

#CarolReed

#FrankMautino #William Holland #AuditorGeneral

#MaconCounty #VermilionCounty #ChampaignCounty #KendallCounty

#ColesCounty #MoultrieCounty

#Whig #Republican #Democratic

#EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce

#CVRCHES #OVER

#FINIGANSRAINBOW #Necessity

We take a lighter approach, mostly, and make some predictions, as we travel and witness the lunar eclipse.

Get out and vote today if you haven't already cast your ballot! It's okay to not fill an oval in every race on the ballot. 

With the Election around the corner, we take a closer look at the former county clerk's statements. Why is her entire campaign centered around trusting her to smear others?

Missed the other podcasts in this series?

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Hear the entire episode of Clerks: The Divine Rural Comedy or the second installment, Commingling in Purgatory Park.

A broader narrative is drawn, describing the mindset and atmosphere of Moultrie, and many other rural counties in Illinois and America. How has the increasing lack of competitive local races in the general election led to the problems we’re experiencing today? How has zombie economics deepened our divisions and decreased the solutions for our shared problems? How has lack of Democratic Party investment in rural America fueled it all? How many mistakes did the county clerk’s office make in just the June primary?

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Hear the entire episode of Clerks: The Divine Rural Comedy or the second installment, Commingling in Purgatory Park.

More reports from inside the Moultrie County Clerk’s office are sorted through. Claims of being the best are compared to reality. Georgia England, who quit because of the toxic atmosphere in the courthouse, has actually been working in that office ever since that resignation. Why is her office upset about public document requests?

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Hear the entire episode of Clerks: The Divine Rural Comedy or the second installment, Commingling in Purgatory Park.

We finish the Barker Substitute Challenge. Who knew it would intersect so many issues? Schools, nursing homes, and my experiences as human resource director and sexual ed teacher are mentioned. What narratives do we choose to write about others? I discuss my reactions and histories with parades, politicians, punctuality and more.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Hear the entire episode of Clerks: The Divine Rural Comedy or the second installment, Commingling in Purgatory Park.