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  • Never Write When You Are Angry

    Robert Tate|Apr 1, 2020
    1

    There is an idea out there that when you write a column of any kind, one should not be angry when writing. Although I adhere to this most of the time, I am going to violate this rule. Having already submitted my Robservation, “Never a Wrong Time,” the Gazette was gracious enough to let me write another column since this edition is going to focused as a digital version. I felt the need to get this off my chest instead of waiting for next month although certain aspects will be continued lat...

  • Michael Who?

    Robert Tate|Mar 1, 2020

    Before I get started, I would like to express my condolences to the Ed Jones family on his passing this past week. I got to meet him when I first started writing for the Gazette and he was always kind, encouraging and respectful to me. A true gentleman and I for one will miss reading his column. Okay, for starters let me get this out in the open. I do not like the idea of Michael Bloomberg as POTUS. I know he is a billionaire and probably could not care less what I think and to be honest, I...

  • Wars and Rumors of Wars

    Robert Tate|Feb 1, 2020

    In War: Resolution In Defeat: Defiance In Victory: Magnanimity In Peace: Good Will The time is quickly approaching in the war on terror where the stakes will increase exponentially. There are dozens of rogue nations and terrorist entities attempting to acquire nuclear weapons as a way of gaining political legitimacy or as a method of pushing their radical agendas throughout the world. When I read the powerful words of the 20th Century’s greatest statesman, Winston Churchill, I truly feel my inad...

  • Honoring Our Heros

    Martha Poole Simmons|Feb 1, 2020

    Adrian Jack Lively ~ 79 Adrian Jack Lively served 20 years in the U. S. Air Force as a radar technician and as an air-traffic controller. During 11.5 years of that service, he served four overseas tours including three remote, two in combat zones and one accompanying tour which allowed his family to go with him. Lively’s conclusions about his service to his country via the U. S. Air Force are, “It was this to me. I grew up in a military family. My dad was discharged from the U. S. Army aft...

  • Out of the Mouths of Babes

    Robert Tate|Jan 1, 2020

    The other day, I was sitting in a mall food court reading a magazine I just bought while my bride was shopping. I like to sit, read and of course watch the world pass by. I have to admit, I am a people watcher. Some are obviously more pleasant to watch than others, but regardless, people are interesting to watch. While sitting there, I was watching this young girl writing furiously on pieces of paper. She would write something, scribble it out, write some more and then wrinkle up the paper and...

  • Bits and Pieces #9

    Robert Tate|Dec 1, 2019

    After a trying weekend of watching Alabama Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa getting his hip dislocated, I am following up with yet another edition of “Bits and Pieces.” Here we go. 1. MIDWAY: In the past, I have at times rendered several movie reviews but I definitely do not want to make it a habit. But the wife and I went to see “Midway” the other day and I felt compelled to write something about it. Overall, I do recommend seeing it. It was enjoyable and yes, the CGI effects were pretty good. N...

  • A TRIBUTE TO: NINE-O-NINE

    Robert Tate|Nov 1, 2019

    On 2 October of this year, I was in the Orange Theory Fitness facility getting ready to start a noon workout. Sitting there waiting for class to begin, I was reading through some of the current news feeds and something tragic caught my eye. As a pilot and former safety officer, anytime I see where an airplane has crashed, it gets my undivided attention. Then I saw that it was not just an ordinary airplane but a World War II era B-17G Flying Fortress, operated by the Collings Foundation out of St...

  • ONE TRICK PONY

    Robert Tate|Oct 1, 2019

    I am sure most of us are familiar with this term. It means that someone has only one thing they are either good at or one issue that they feel strongly about. I don't want to be that person. Many pro-death abortionists are exactly that. No matter what happens in the world, no matter what crazy laws the government tries to pass or how good or bad the economy is doing, they will fight for their right to kill babies by the millions. No other issue on planet Earth galvanizes them like abortion and...

  • PRISON VIOLENCE NOT ACCEPTABLE

    Robert Tate|Sep 1, 2019

    Since I have been out of flying for a while trying to get this shoulder of mine back into working order so I can climb back into the cockpit, I have thankfully had the opportunity to do a lot of writing (book #3 underway) and perhaps unfortunately, watch a lot of television. I have gotten hooked on channels like Investigation Discovery (ID) and some other crime type shows. There is no escaping the sick people we share this planet with. But these shows are like a train wreck, you just can’t l...

  • The Squad

    Robert Tate|Aug 1, 2019

    This is almost too sad to write. By now all of us have read or heard of the exploits of the fearsome-foursome; the freshmen Congresswomen also known as “the Squad.” These four women, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (the Occasional Cortex) D- New York; Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan; Ayanna Pressley, D-Massachussetts; and Ilan Omar, D-Minnesota are quite the treat. Almost a day no longer goes by without one of these women making some kind of news. The latest, free press courtesy of our POTUS who simply can...

  • BITS AND PIECES, #8

    Robert Tate|Jul 1, 2019

    As I write this Robservation, I am admittedly saddened by what fate possibly awaits me. I am not sure what to do actually since this is quite a new arena for me. You see, the other day I got this rather distressing phone call. The robot on the other side of the line said that because I have been using my social security number for a lot of fraudulent activities, not only was the IRS after me but the FBI, DEA and CIA. I guess I must be the El Chapo of Montgomery. The other four robocalls I got...

  • Don't Hate Me Because I'm Right

    Robert Tate|Jun 1, 2019

    Do you guys remember the 1980s-ish, super-sexy Pantene shampoo commercials featuring actress Kelly LeBrock? She stared into the camera, fluffed up her hair and said, “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.” I’m sure 99% of all red-blooded American guys liked that commercial. But unfortunately, today I am not writing about shampoo, nice hair, pretty women or anything of the sort. Today I am writing about something concerning our military. The topic for sure is a hot-button issue and I am sure many...

  • THE "C" WORD

    Robert Tate|May 1, 2019

    Easter morning, I woke up to celebrate the most amazing miracle in the history of the universe. The resurrection of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We talked about this at length last Friday night out at Red Eagle where three guys from my church go out twice per month for prison ministry. After listening to Brother Cedrick speak, I was pumped up for Easter. Sunday morning, I got up, had a little breakfast making sure I left ample space for lunch a little after church, get semi-dolled up, turne...

  • ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE JUST THAT: ILLEGAL

    Robert Tate|Apr 1, 2019
    2

    Amazingly, I wrote this column for another newspaper back in 2006. Here we are 13 years later and we are still fighting this stupid battle that nobody really seems to want to fix. Since then, we have had the migrant caravans, a host of highly publicized and documented cases of illegals committing crimes as heinous as murder and rape, the killings of border patrol agents and an entire segment of our society bereft of any feelings or desires to tackle the situation and effect any positive change t...

  • BITS AND PIECES – EVIL ON DISPLAY

    Robert Tate|Mar 1, 2019

    It never ceases to amaze me the amount of evil on display here in the good ole’ US of A. Here goes a small sample of what I have seen over the past month. 1. Martha Plimpton: https://www.foxnews.com/entertainmen /goonies-star-martha-plimpton-says-she-had-her-best-abortion-in-seattle. Who? Yeah, exactly. She was one of the child actors in the 1980s movie, The Goonies. She is now a washed up nobody who was being interviewed recently by former Planned Parenthood medical director Willie Parker. W...

  • DEFINE YOUR MOMENT

    Robert Tate|Feb 1, 2019

    As I sat in my interview some 21 years ago, I watched as two senior Delta Airline Captains leafed through my logbook. Luckily for me, it was something that I had kept up with since my first day in pilot training. At the time as part of the interview process, in addition to a physical, psych-eval and lots of testing, there was a sit-down interview one v. three with an HR rep and in my case two Captains. They wanted to see your logbook to help verify hours flown. I sat quietly watching my logbook...

  • REALLY?

    Robert Tate|Jan 1, 2019

    Back on 6 December, a Marine F-18 Hornet collided with a Marine KC-130 aerial refueling tanker about 200 miles off the coast of Japan. Of course, my prayers go out to the all the families impacted. Almost immediately, the Marines identified one of the two F-18 crewmembers. One survived and the other’s body was recovered the next day. It took close to a week before they identified the 5 crewmembers on the KC-130 but as no surprise, each of those men died that night. What we know for sure is t...

  • BITS AND PIECES; YET AGAIN

    Robert Tate|Dec 1, 2018

    Hey, folks. Here we go again with another edition of "Bits and Pieces." There is so much going on right now that I would like to address just a few of them now and then perhaps expand upon some of them at a later date. Here we go! 1. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ: The woman is living, breathing proof that one can make it into politics with absolutely ZERO common sense. Before anyone goes Democrat on me, NO I am not slamming all politicians. Not even close. All I am saying is that she continually...

  • ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

    Robert Tate|Nov 1, 2018

    Commentaries printed in the Alabama Gazette are never presented to offend American Citizens and Legal Residents who originally hail from outside of the United States, as all legal immigrants are a vital part of this country's continued prosperity. Their talents are much needed and appreciated. It is only illegal immigration which poses a threat to American prosperity and is of serious concern to all Americans who value fairness and the rule of law for both their country and fellow citizens. Los...

  • Tigers & Monkeys & Blue Tick Hounds – Oh My!!

    Robert Tate|Oct 1, 2018

    Once again, we find ourselves inundated with progressive, non-sensical idiocy that defies all rational belief. Everyday it seems as though the progressive, oh heck, let's just call them what they are, socialists hell-bent on becoming communist, never fail to come up with new ways of demonstrating their brain decay. I honestly believe a lot of these people are crazy. I cannot necessarily say stupid, but certainly crazy. And I do not mean it in any kind of nice way. Perfect example of the...

  • THE LIE...do you know Elihu YALE?

    Robert Tate|Oct 1, 2018

    According to a 19th century legend, the Truth and the Lie met one sunny summer day. The Lie told the Truth, “It surely is a very beautiful day today, is it not?” Truth looked around suspiciously and raised her eyes to heaven for the day was indeed really beautiful. “Indeed, it is,” she said. So the two spent all day playing together until they happened upon a swimming hole. The Lie said, “Hey, Truth, it is so hot right now and the water appears to be very nice, let’s go swimming together!...

  • A SPECIAL KIND OF STUPID

    Robert Tate|Sep 1, 2018

    Ah, yes. In the immortal words of Yoda, well not really Yoda but. . . , “The stupid is strong with this one.” And yes, it is on display in full regalia these days. Just a couple of examples for you today. 1. Bettie Scott Cook: Have any of you ever heard of this political hack? I had not. This Democrat (imagine that) happens to be a Black woman running for a state seat in Michigan when she recently referred to her Asian rival as a “Ching Chong.” No, you really cannot make this stuff up. Accordi...

  • MORE LEFTIST TWADDLE – PART 2

    Robert Tate|Aug 1, 2018

    Beginning on a sad note, I wanted to pay tribute to my wife's mother, Maria Guadeloupe (Lupe) Paredes, who died on 7 July of an aortic dissection. I could not have asked for a better mother-in-law. In 33 years of marriage, we never once had a crossed word or disagreement. I loved her greatly. Now to it. There seems to be a never-ending cacophony insanity that emanates from the left. When I say never ending, I truly mean never-ending. Everyday there seems to be another story that makes my head...

  • TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome)

    Robert Tate|Jul 1, 2018

    I had a professor while I was working on my Masters who once told me to never write when I was angry. Through the years, I have generally heeded this advice. Once in print, those words are never going to disappear. This week has been one of those angry political weeks and I have intentionally stayed away from my computer wanting to calm down before putting thoughts on paper. But a deadline is a deadline. I wanted to write but my anger was at such a fever pitch that I had to put this...

  • A TIME TO HEAL

    Robert Tate|Jun 1, 2018

    When I first walked through the "hanging garden" of six-foot steel tablets, I was taken aback at the sheer number of "in-your-face" structures there were. The Equal Justice Initiative's, EJI, National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery reflects the 4,400 documented lynchings of black Americans between 1877 and 1950. There are 800 of these hanging metal structures within the 6-acre site, one for each county identified as to where a lynching took place. As the EJI states on its website,...

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