Here are my observations and opinions on selected news of the day.

OH, WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE, when first we practice to deceive. Of course, we know that this is a reference to what happens when people start lying.

I was reminded of that quote from a play by Sir Walter Scott when the subject of lying to the FBI was behind the charges in connection with people connected with the President – Flynn, Manafort, Cohen, Gates, and Papadopoulos.

But does the average man or woman on the street understand that Special Counsel Mueller’s convictions have all been for lying to the FBI or corrupt business practices unrelated to the 2016 Trump campaign, with none showing any connection with Russia? What about Carter Page? His career damaged with no charges brought against him.

Corrupt business practices on the part of Manafort date back to 2012 when he was lobbying on behalf of the Ukrainian government. Caught in the same net was lobbyist Tony Podesta, bother of John Podesta, who was Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager, and Greg Craig, former Obama White House counsel. Failure to register as a foreign agent is among charges anticipated.

So far, Mueller has spent some $20 million over the 16 months of his investigation and I am wondering – without any evidence of Russian collusion – how is he going to save face when all he has been able to surface are Republicans and Democrats who lied and may be guilty of corrupt business practices? Seriously, does Manafort’s illegal business practice warrant the 30 plus years in prison? And, how does Mueller avoid a double standard?

While I have wanted to believe that Mueller would fairly handle his investigation, his inability to wrap it up prior to the midterms, allowing doubt to hang over an election that could change the make-up in Congress, is more than a disappointment. It’s disgraceful.

MAKING THE TAX CUT PERMANENT – A measure to lock-in last year’s tax cuts for individuals beyond the scheduled expiration date at the end of 2025 passed in the Ways and Means Committee 21-15 along party lines. Of course, the Democrats oppose tax cuts.

But the Republican-controlled Senate doesn’t seem too interested in taking up the bill because of the requirement to garner 60 votes. Wouldn’t an aggressive effort to pass it enhance the reputation of Republicans while proving that Democrats aren’t serious about helping the middle class?

AHHH SOCIALISM – Did you hear that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro decided that the best way to deal with the country’s hyperinflation was to raise the minimum wage?

The problem is that inflation in Venezuela is currently running at about 2400 percent a year; 200 percent in August alone, according to Rick Moran at PJ Media. Maduro increased the minimum wage 3,500 percent while forbidding store owners from raising prices.

As a result, 40 percent of the country’s retail owners closed their doors.

A NEW LOW FOR PETTINESS – In Washington State, Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee informed groups participating in a law enforcement officer marksmanship competition that he will not longer sign the certificates or support the program because it is affiliated with the National Rifle Association.

The competition dates back to 1903 and was once conducted under the auspices of the Department of Defense. The Washington State Rifle and Pistol Association and the Washington State Police Pistol Association compete and are recognized at annual banquet where the certificates are awarded.

FOND MEMORIES of the Volkswagen Beetle came to mind this week when I learned that Volkswagen will cease production of the Beetle with roots dating back to 1938.

We owned several of the iconic Beetles over the years, but my favorite was a 1972 Robin’s-egg-blue convertible with a white rag top. I recall piling the family in to drive up north to view the 4^th of July fireworks over Phoenix.

The day my wife lost the tip of her right index finger to the generator belt while the engine was running wasn’t one of the fond memories, but it’s something she recalls every day.

                  May God bless the United States of America.