Mountain View News Saturday, March 21, 2026 
B4B4 OPINIONOPINION Mountain View News Saturday, March 21, 2026 
B4B4 OPINIONOPINION 
STUART TOLCHIN PUT THE LIGHTS ON 

RICH JOHNSON 
CAN WE ADJUST? 


TO BE or NOT TO BE......Republican or Democrat 


We have to go back to 1860 to see as great a political divide as we are experiencing now. Back then 
Adjust to what? Well, to begin with, everything is different and un


separating the disputing folks was easier. We had an actual line. We called it the Mason-Dixon 
expected, I have been meeting a friend to play golf on Wednesday 

Line. The Mason-Dixon Line was drawn along the southern borders of Pennsylvania, Ohio, In-
Mornings for well over a year. We always meet a little after 8:30. To


diana, Illinois and stopped at Iowa. (Oregon, Texas and California were the only U.S. states to the 
day, because of the expected heat, we agreed to meet at 8: AM. played 

west of Iowa in 1860. So going further would have been trespassing lol.)
but it was ridiculously hot and not much fun, but at least we played. 
I am trying to hold on and just keep doing the same things, but it’s 

Now, for simplicities sake, if you lived north of the Mason-Dixon Line you were a northerner and 
tough. I got home a little after 11 and a friend called and invited me 

opposed to slavery. South of the line you were a southerner in favor of slavery...or at least the option of slavery. 
to lunch. I really wasn’t hungry but the idea that someone called and 
offered to come and pick me up was an opportunity I could not refuse. 

Here in California no troops were officially sent east to fight in the Civil War, but people on their own left to join 

mostly the Union Army. California did vote in 1850 to abolish slavery. So, the Californians for the most part, chose 
I have not allowed myself to drive for about the past six months ---well, actually it is my 

to sit out the Civil War and instead dig for gold and open 7/11 stores. 
wife and the insurance company which has prohibited me from driving based on my past 
driving record—so I am trying to adjust. Other than the golf course on Wednesdays and 

Speaking of the Civil War it would be a misnomer to think it was called the “Civil” War because people were fight-
meeting my daughter, son, and granddaughter on Sunday morning at Nano’s for break


ing politely. It was probably our most bloody war. The takeaways from the Civil War? Well, slavery was banned,
fast, the only place I ever need to go is to Kaiser to pick up medication and occasionally 

citizenship was granted to ALL people born in the U.S. And the women’s rights movement gained traction. 
to Costco to get adjust my hearing aids. 

Perhaps the greatest freedom we have in this country is the freedom to take humorous jabs at the political parties 

we disagree with. 
Given all of that I was very pleased to accept the offer of being driven to lunch by myfriend. This friend is someone I send my weekly articles to read, and he responds very 

Our political battles should not be viewed as metaphorically shooting at each other. Rather, a much more desired 
promptly with his reaction and often provides me with more information. To me, this 

metaphor would be engaging in a tug of war. All the Democrats on the left and the Republicans on the right pull-
kind of prompt reply is a great gift and I am very appreciative. 

ing on societies “rope” arriving at adjustments incrementally based on the movement of the “rope”. Constantly in 

action. 
So off we went to lunch at a place of his choosing. We drove down Baldwin Avenue for 
less than a mile, and I was dumbfounded to realize that the entire neighborhood had 

Our state of California’s history of electing governors is a good example of the tug of war. 
changed. Maybe, it had changed long ago, but I simply had not noticed. Along Baldwin 

• 1943-1953 Republican Earl Warren (R)
Avenue there was a multitude of Asian Markets and Asian Restaurants and Asian Shop• 
1953-1959 Goodwin Knight (R)
ping Centers, and the parking lots were filled with Asian consumers. I have been living 
• 1959-1967 Pat Brown (D)
in the same spot for 45 years and really have not noticed very much change. In fact, the 
• 1967-1975 Ronald Reagan (R)
very first morning I lived here I drove down Baldwin Avenue, yes, I could drive then and 
• 1975-1983 Jerry Brown (D)
noticed an International House of Pancakes where I then went for breakfast. I noticed 
• 1983-1991 George Deukmejian (R)
the same IHOP this morning and realized this was about all I recognized. When my wife 
• 1991-1999 Pete Wilson (R)
and I go out for a meal we generally go to the same restaurants where, now as I think of 
• 1999-2003 Gray Davis (D)
it, I have noticed that these restaurants generally have older white-haired customers who 
• 2003-2011 Arnold Schwarzenegger (R)
probably have been going there for years without noticing much change. So, what is the 
• 2011-2019 Jerry Brown (D)
point of all this? I am an old man trying to hold on and live as satisfactory a life as I can. 
• 2019-2026 Gavin Newsom (D)
I have few responsibilities, live in a beautiful place with a view of the surrounding moun-
Since 1943 California has had Republican governors for 48 years and Democrat governors for 36 years. Again, it 
tains and rise early in the morning. I do the New York Times Puzzles, feed my dog, and 

reminds me of a teeter-totter or what some call a see-saw. That seems to make sense. Most civilizations change powalk 
him around our canyon circle. My wife, for reasons she alone understands, takes 

litical leanings through wars. We should be proud of the fact we manage change political shifts in voting. 
care of just about everything else. I wish I could do more. 

Despite what many people think and say when their party is out of power, our system works. Each side keeps the

other side honest…or at least exposes the flaws in each other’s philosophies and actions. 
This morning I learned from the news that Cesar Chavez, a hero of mine, was a rapist 

In conclusion I go back to the master politician, Winston Churchill, who said, “Political ability is the ability to 
and a sexual predator. I also learned that the Attorney General of the United States was 

foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to 

refusing to answer questions from Congress and that much of what we have always taken 

explain why it didn’t happen. Winston Churchill”. 
for granted has completely fallen apart. So; how do we adjust, I am asking you. 

NOW FOR IMPORTANT STUFF! This upcoming Saturday night my band, JJ Jukebox is performing at the Nano 
Well, I have sent this article to the editor as I have been doing since before Barak was 

Café here in Sierra Madre following the Wisteria Festival which closes at 5:00. Our concert begins at 6:30. 322 W. 
elected. I hope that we do not learn anything bad about him. No matter what we learn, 

Sierra Madre Blvd. Dress casually, prepare to dance, drink adult beverages and have a delightfully delicious meal. 
we should try to adjust and note what is still positive. Speaking of hope, I wish that this 

And enjoy and dance to the music of the Doobie Brothers, Creedence, Beatles, assorted one-hit wonders. All fun 
heat wave would end, and that the comfort we have all taken for granted for so long so 

rock songs with no 20 minute guitar solos lol. (626) 325-3334 after 5:00pm Wednesday through Saturday for more 
long would return. I am glad to have reached the end of this article. Perhaps you feel the 

information. 
same; but thanks for sticking with me, as it is a positive feeling we can now share. 


HOWARD Hays As I See It 

“Sorry to be so controversial, but I just think our country should be led 
by a good person” – melissdaw posting on Threads 

I want to share more favorite posts from recent weeks, while they’re still 
relatively timely. 

Another from Threads, posted by jeffisrael: “let me get this straight . 
. . a team will not be playing in the FIFA World Cup because they are 
currently being bombed by the FIFA Peace Prize winner”. 

Responding to Rep. Al Green (D-TX) being forcibly removed from President Trump’s 
State of the Union address, Covie posts, “Imagine being more upset at a Black man for 
holding a sign saying ‘Black people aren’t apes’ than at the President of the United States 
for posting a video showing the first Black president and first lady as apes.” 

At that address, President Trump said, “I’m officially announcing the war on fraud to be 

led by our great vice president, J.D. Vance.” Conor posts, “my money’s on fraud”. 

Erika Kirk, at the Arkansas governor’s mansion, advised students: “Don’t let anyone disenfranchise 
you because you’re a young man – especially a young, white, male man.” 
From Dwayne: “When have white men ever been victims in this country? Y’all are literally 
blowing the world up as I type. I’m so confused by this fake white male oppression.” 
From another: “As a white guy, people like this grifting racist fraud make me want to crawl 
out of my own skin.” And The Sage: “Not even a dog whistle for White Supremacy . . . This 
country is toast.” 

Following Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) at the Munich Security Conference,
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) commented, “The congresswoman is kind of like Vice President 
Kamala Harris, but with more bartending experience.” Ocasio-Cortez then posted: 
“My having been a waitress makes me 1000x more qualified to govern on behalf of working 
people than whatever lifelong politician nonsense you’ve swung from your whole career. 
Why should working people vote for you if this is what you think of them?” 

Nicki Minaj posts a picture of her personally autographed copy of the Trump edition 

Bible, “One of the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever received in my entire life.” Posted in 

response, “Wow, same signature that’s on those letters to Epstein”. 

Trump warns: “The lives of American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties – 
that often happens in war.” Politics Girl says: “No. This man must be told no. The time 
has come.” Keith Edwards reposted a two-year-old tweet from Stephen Miller: “Kamala 
will send your sons to war”. 

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) notes, “In the last five decades, Iran has killed nearly 1,000 Ameri


cans”. Melanie D’Arrigo reminds: “68,000 Americans die each year because they can’t 

access healthcare”. 

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) says, “It’s ironic to me the protect Palestine crowd is mad that 

we’re freeing Iranian women right now.” Evan loves worf responds: “We are quite literally 

raining carcinogens into the lungs of Iranian women.” 

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, asked about Trump’s assertion Iran would’ve 
attacked us in three days had we not acted first, explained it was based on “a feeling the 
president had based on facts”. From Sam K.: “Imagine starting a war based on feelings?
And they said Kamala was too emotional.” Oliver imagines “Facts you wouldn’t even 
know because they’re so important only presidents can see them . . .” WUTangKids observe: 
“Trump started the war based on vibes”. 

From Dr. Rehana Parveen: “World has literally been set on fire, children murdered, civil


ians murdered, thousands displaced and all on the basis of ‘feelings’. I’ve never heard of 

anything more moronic.” 

Asked about efforts to drag other countries into the war, Trump remarks, “you could 
make the case that maybe we shouldn’t be there at all”. Camille MacKenzie responds,
“This is rich coming from him. Why would these other countries lift a finger to help him 
clean up the mess he made after he’s threatened more than half the world with insults, 
tariffs, and demand for other countries to give themselves over to the US? You don’t spit 
on others and then think they’re going to forgive and forget while putting themselves at 
risk. He’s terrible at negotiations.” 

To Switzerland calling US-Israel attacks on Iran “a violation of international law”, Philip

Proudfoot sees it as: “When your crimes are so bad, even Switzerland stops being neutral”. 

From Tom Cook: “crazy we chose ww3 over arresting rich pedophiles – we are cooked”. 

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatens broadcast licenses of those reporting news – like 
about the war – that the administration would rather not have reported. From Sen. Chris 
Murphy (D-CT): “A truly extraordinary moment. We aren’t on the verge of a totalitarian 
takeover. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. Act like it.” And Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA):
“Take your fascist sh*t and shove it." 

I spent time reflecting on this one: responding to a White House post showing an ex


ploding target with the caption, “No pause. No hesitation.”, Harry Eccles posts -“If you 

paused, if you hesitated, 160 schoolgirls might still be alive.” 

This one was pretty special: “I feel like maga women hate trans women because our plastic 

surgeries end up looking better than theirs.” 

And finally, probably on a lot of our minds: “Is Trump still taking over Greenland or does 
he just operate like a cat chasing a laser pointer?” 

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: 
ANDREW HOK MING LEE 
CASE NO. 26STPB02560 
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the 
WILL or estate, or both of 
ANDREW HOK MING LEE. 
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by STEVEN T L LEE in the Superior Court of California, County 
of LOS ANGELES. 
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that STEVEN T L LEE be appointed as personal representative to 
administer the estate of the decedent. 
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates 
Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court ap-
proval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required 
to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) Theindependent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the 
petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. 
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 04/10/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 79 located at 
111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections 
or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your 
attorney. 
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court 
and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four 
months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 
58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a 
notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. 
Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult 
with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. 
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with 
the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate 
assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice 
form is available from the court clerk. 
Attorney for PetitionerPAUL HORN, ESQ. - SBN 243227PAUL HORN LAW GROUP, PC11404 SOUTH STREET 
CERRITOS CA 90703 
Telephone(800) 380-7076BSC 228179 
3/21, 3/28, 4/4/26CNS-4022677# 
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