THE CASH COMMENTARY FOR OCTOBER 29, 2026

                                                                    CASH MICHAELS

                                FOR REPUBLICANS, DECENCY IS

NOT ON THE BALLOT

by Cash Michaels

Do you know how I know Republicans up for election this midterm are going to get their skin peeled off and handed to them when it’s all over? Because these hardhearted, ignorant SOBs have no common sense, no human dignity and no honor.

        The GOP just loyally follow their surely-going-to-Hell president down the primrose path without regard for what people think of them, what they do, and what they refuse to apologize for. It is some of the most ignorant behavior in or out of politics I’ve ever seen.

Take the governor’s race in Ohio, for example. By now you know the sorry story. The Democratic candidate, Amy Acton, former director of the Ohio Dept. of Health, had been slightly leading in that race against the Republican, former 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. So what does Ramaswamy do to even the score? He puts out a new one-minute television campaign ad that features Amy Acton’s long estranged mother, Donna Arthur, someone Acton hasn’t seen for at least 50 years, calling the Democrat a “liar” and disputing Acton’s claim that as a 12-year-old child, she was removed from her mother’s custody after being repeatedly sexually abused by her stepfather, and that she and her little brother were forced to live in a tent before the separation..

Let me repeat that in more blunt terms.The Republican in the Ohio governor’s race finds the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, and entices her to get on camera to call her daughter, a child rape victim, a “liar” for all the world to hear, in hopes that voters would be so disturbed by it, they would vote against her.

Weaponizing your opponent’s own mother and personal agony in a political campaign. That was low enough, until the press digs further into the story and discovers that Democrat Amy Acton is not only a child rape victim, but that her criminal stepfather was indicted by a grand jury for being her alleged rapist. He apparently skipped the state of Ohio to escape prosecution and his wife - her mother - chose to leave with him, leaving her two children - young Amy and her little brother - behind, never to be seen again until now.

Acton’s stepfather died in 2004. He was never prosecuted for the crime.

         "This is probably the worst politics you could imagine, and it's bringing a lot of attention to Amy Acton's story, her narrative," Republican CNN commentator Scott Jennings surprisingly said.

While most normal people and a few Republicans denounced Ramaswamy and his campaign for running the disgusting ad, most of the GOP kept their cowardly mouths shut, except for you-know-who.

Vice President J.D. Vance, and then later Pres. Trump gave Ramaswamy’s ad their full-throated approval however, carelessly thinking they were displaying courage under fire.

“It’s a mother speaking badly against Amy Acton, and to me it’s very easy,” Trump told reporters at the White House last week, mock thanking God for the ad. “If it were my mother speaking badly about me, you’d be making it the number one story in the news.”

Damn skippy!

And what about Vance? What demented pearl of “wisdom” did our vice president offer when asked for comment?

"I have to admit that I'm a little bit disgusted when I see Republicans across the country who are whining more about that advertisement than they are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America.” 

Goodness, what is it with this clown?

I commend the current Republican governor of Ohio, Mike Dewine, and a handful of other Republicans who had the good sense to at least condemn the Ramaswamy ad (though he still refused to yank his endorsement of Ramaswamy). It’s bad enough that Trump and the Republicans are still being tagged with trying to coverup the Epstein files situation and what Trump’s alleged role in that whole sleazy affair may be. So to behave like this towards a child rape victim who just happens to be a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, is just mind-blowing.

So where does that lower-than-low, political sewer-swamp stand now?

Well that bit of foolish Republican bluster has wildly backfired on the Ramaswamy campaign just days before the November 3rd midterm election, pushing Acton solidly in front, most likely to stay. Showing no shame, he has vowed to spend $4 million to make sure the ad is seen by more people online and on television. But the tremendous negative national press attention has countered any advantage he sought he had in the race.

This from the Washington Post about how Americans feel about this sort of thing:

Polls show that voters are disheartened by the tone of American politics, including Republicans who have backed Trump. A Gallup survey released late last year found 69 percent of Americans believe the Republican Party and Republicans have gone too far with the use of inflammatory language to attack their opponents, while 60 percent believe the same of Democrats and the Democratic Party.

       "Our politics is a reflection of us, and I think that is where we are at as a country, and so our campaigns are reflecting that," said Jason Savage, a longtime Republican operative in Maine who used to run the Maine Republican Party. He argued that too many Republican candidates try "to replicate something they saw before."

I pray when this midterm election is over, Ramaswamy will have learned his lesson about dirty ads in political campaigns, and that he loses very hard and fast. Such an unprincipled character does not deserve to win a public office anywhere I can think of.

To say the least, there have been plenty of recent incidents proving that when it comes to Republican candidates, decency and truth are nowhere on the ballot. Michael Whatley’s Senate campaign’s false claims that former Governor Roy Cooper was responsible for releasing criminals from prison who then went on to kill people. Whatley’s campaign couldn’t find any actual cases in North Carolina to prove that nonsense true, so they went to South Carolina.

What a baldface liar!

The clearly derogatory terms used to refer to Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to stoke a unjustified fear of Muslim-Americans, with Trump calling him “a jihadist” and “terrorist.”

Trump’s Dept. of Justice raiding Minnesota Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s home three weeks before her re-election and openly questioning her naturalized citizenship and patriotism.

So why are Republican candidates like Whatley trying to mimic Trump and Vance?

This from CNN:

         The most obvious explanation for this ominous turn in the campaign, beyond Trump’s propensity for such dark arts, is that the Republicans lack a better story to tell. 

In other words, these people are not capable of offering good government, and don’t even try.

No, my friend. Look hard at the ballot. You won’t find honesty or decency anywhere a Republican candidate’s name is printed. They’re all too enamored thinking they can duplicate Trump’s negative success despite what the polls say.

  You have just a few days left to make it clear that you’re tired of their dishonesty, tired of their corruption, tired of their lies. You’re a taxpayer, and you deserve honesty and truth in government. That’s what you’re voting for. And you should make that very clear to any Democrats you vote for. Trump has shown all of us that we, as a citizenry, deserve better than what they have been giving us.

And when I say “they” I mean all Republicans, especially those who have thrown in with a crooked power-hungry maniac who is twisting our beloved country into a pretzel just to serve his legacy.

You’re doing well at the early voting booth so far, America and North Carolina. Keep voting to take back our nation from the corrupt forces of evil.

Vote for decency if you haven’t already! Do it because it is the only way Americans deserve how to truly live!

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THE CASH STUFF FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2026

CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG POLICE CHIEF ESTELLA PATTERSON

SIX OF SEVEN CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG 

POLICE OFFICERS RESIGN AFTER 

INTERNAL PROBE OF RACIST TEXTS

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson, an African-American woman, expressed “disgust, anger and frustration” after an internal CMPD investigation revealed seven CMPD officers engaged in racist and sexist text messages targeting Black residents. Six of those disgraced officers have now resigned from the force. Chief Patterson told reporters that she hopes to soon call them all “former employees.”

The seven CMPD officers are:

          Seth Elliott (resigned on Aug. 4)

        Mateo Juarez (resigned on Oct. 15)

          Joseph Kelly (resigned on Oct. 11)

          Alexander Larsen (resigned on Oct. 19)

          Tredan Maronic (resigned on Oct. 13)

          Matthew Osborn (resigned on Oct. 12)

         Jeremiah Todman (remains suspended without pay pending Civil Service Board review)

"The allegations against them are serious, they're deeply troubling, and frankly, I'm disappointed that we're even having to talk about this," Patterson, who formerly served as chief of the Raleigh Police Dept., told reporters during a briefing Oct. 15th. "As a Black woman who began my career here in this very department, it's especially painful and disheartening to hear concerns from our community about racism coming from within the ranks of this organization."

Three of the officers accused were hired before Chief Patterson’s tenure, although all of them were hired within the last three years, according to WCNC-TV. Still, she expressed her commitment to ensure citizens that racist and sexist attitudes among CMPD officers would not become a “systemic problem.”

"I have not read all the messages," she continued. "I can share with you that the biases show racial [and] sexual [prejudices]. They also show religious biases... My personal reaction is one of disgust, anger, frustration."

Legally, Chief Patterson said she is not allowed to reveal any specific information about the internal investigation, including the text messages. The case is considered a personnel matter, and the officers involved can only be officially terminated by the Civil Service Board. Patterson assured that all traffic stops, data from those traffic stops, along with body-worn video and arrest records were reviewed, along with any public complaints.

Even though there were no public complaints, or evidence of racial or sexual bias beyond the text messages, Chief Patterson said she is asking for a federal investigation into possible civil rights violations by the officers. In the meantime, she is seeking to revoke the law enforcement certifications of the six officers so that they cannot be hired by any other police agency in North Carolina.

"I hope they will not be an officer anywhere in this country," Patterson added.

Even though the CMPD cannot release specific information about the racist/sexist text messages in question, local television outlets in Charlotte have reported at least one of the accused officers sent a message earlier this year saying that “ their "texts sound like a clan rally”, and that one of the text threads "included a contest over who could pull over the most Black drivers,” repeatedly used the N-word while discussing “"using force and firing on Black residents."

Reportedly, the allegations grew out of the probe of CMPD Officer Seth Flock for alleged misuse of the Flock license plate surveillance network, for which he’s now facing criminal charges for. It was his phone that was downloaded by investigators that revealed the the racist/sexist text thread involving other other officers.

The text message case has attracted the attention of several in the civil rights community, including civil rights attorney and North Carolina native Benjamin Crump.

"A badge should NEVER be a license for discrimination!" Crump wrote on X. "These allegations call into question traffic stops and use-of-force incidents involving these officers!"

Other attorneys are suggesting that any cases where the accused officers are involved should be “frozen” until the internal investigation is completed.

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EARLY VOTING IN NORTH CAROLINA

BEGINS WITH A ROAR, AS VOTERS 

EAGER TO CAST BALLOTS SHOW UP

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

After several days, early voting in North Carolina for the 2026 midterm elections is breaking records as citizens are lining up across the state to cast their ballots either for or against candidates in local, state and federal offices.

On Oct. 15th, the first day of One Stop Early Voting across the state, a record 237,541 ballots total were cast (which included 201,609 in-person votes; 29,631 civilian mail-in votes; 753 military mail-in votes; and 5,548 overseas votes), comprising 3.01% of the total eligible voters registered in North Carolina. 

That 201,609 in-person total ballots on the first day of early voting for the 2026 midterms in North Carolina also surpassed the previous first day in-person early voting record of 137,387 in 2022, an increase of 46.7% over four years ago.

In terms of voting by race on the first day of early midterm voting, while white turnout statewide on the first day of early voting was 156,552 or 66% of the vote Oct. 15th, Black voters comprised 56, 057, or 24% of the first day early vote.

Those numbers are significant taking into account North Carolina’s voter registration statistics by race. Whites comprise 63%, and Black voters are registered at 19%, while voters who describe themselves as “other” are 18%.

In that same vein, the first day of early midterm voting saw Democrats lead the way with 111,484 for 47% of the total turnout, Republicans with 46,341 for 20% of turnout, and unaffiliated at 79,256 for 33% of turnout.

In North Carolina, unaffiliated voters lead all with over 40% of voters registered, followed Republicans with 30% registered, and then Democrats with over 29%.

Michael Bitzer with the Center for NC Politics & Public Service at Catawba College further analyzed who came out to vote on the first day of 2026 midterm early voting in North Carolina, and offered the following:

“One final data point to watch over the next two-plus weeks: are these early voters ‘high propensity’ voters, meaning they voted in the four past elections, and if so, what is their party breakdowns and are they using the same vote methods as they cast a ballot in the past?”

2026 midterm early voting will last from Oct. 15th to Oct. 31st. The total number of voters who participated in the 2022 midterm early voting in North Carolina was a record 3,786,904. 

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THE CASH COMMENTARY FOR OCT. 22, 2026

                                                                 CASH MICHAELS
              

                                                    MIKE AND MARTHA

by Cash Michaels

You know how when we see someone who is in a military uniform out in public, we  instinctively, as Americans, thank them for their service? We tell them that because we think we understand the tremendous risks and sacrifices that service members endure to be in uniform to defend this nation. To answer the call when needed, despite family or other personal interests, willing to give even their very lives to protect the homeland.

There is no question that we owe these people our highest respect and honor.

But I’ve always believed that in addition to our military, historically there have been other Americans who have given their last measure to also serve this nation for unselfish reasons we rarely recognize as intrinsic to our national character and legacy. 

         For instance, the brave American citizens of all colors, nationalities and faiths who served us well during the civil rights movement. These were brave and defiant people who decided America was headed in the wrong direction when it came to living up to the true meaning of its creed that all men and women were created equal, and with nothing more than love in their hearts for their fellow man and courage of character, these brave souls, again of all colors, openly challenged the power structure of this nation to become a more inclusive society.

These are people who in my opinion, had every bit as much courage as our military, to stand up without weapons, and face down the agents of racial hatred and inequality on our very shores, and I forever thank them for their service as well.

And then there are dedicated citizens like Mike and Martha, two extraordinary souls I met on October 15th - the first day of early voting in North Carolina - at the Herbert C.Young Community Center in Cary. Mike and Martha are election officials, or more commonly known as “poll workers.”

The North Carolina Board of Elections has another moniker for Mike, Martha, and the thousands of other dedicated poll workers who man our precincts during early voting and Election Day - they’re called “Democracy Heroes.”

According to the NCSBE website, Democracy Heroes are, “Election officials [who] operate the polls during early voting and on Election Day by providing services such as setting up the voting equipment, checking in voters, processing ballots, assisting voters with special needs, and closing and securing the voting site at the end of the day.”

“To qualify to work as an election official, the applicant must be a registered voter who resides in the precinct where they wish to serve. To serve as an election worker on Election Day, you must be a registered voter or be a high school student who is at least 17 years old and in good academic standing.”

During my many years of voting, most of the poll workers I’ve had the pleasure to meet during either early voting or on Election Day have either been older, retired citizens or younger college students - all extremely helpful. And since I’ve been physically handicapped since the end of the pandemic and have had to use curbside voting regularly since, I’ve really come to appreciate the devotion to duty and detail these Democracy Heroes display when they assist those of us who cannot physically wait on long lines to cast a ballot.

On October 15th at the Herbert C. Young Center in Cary, Mike and Martha were just two of the many dedicated poll workers there making sure that the rules were being followed, and every voter who came to cast a ballot, was properly processed to do so. 

Think about it. We just couldn’t run elections in this state or nation without dedicated citizens like Mike or Martha. And it is truly a damn shame when hard working poll workers like these have been unduly accused of  “rigging elections” when certain candidates of a certain political party lose and need someone else to blame for their lackluster showing.

I, for one, am extremely thankful for these Democracy Heroes because in my experience, I’ve learned to trust them having closely watched how hard they’ve worked to make sure our elections are fair, honest and orderly. I would certainly trust any “Mike” or “Martha” election poll worker before I would a lying partisan hack who’s ready at a drop of a hat to yell “rigged election” without any evidence.

In fact, with just a few precious days left to go for early voting before the November 3rd midterm Election Day, better brace yourself for any and all election tricks coming from the Trump Administration in an attempt to screw up the results so they won’t look as bad as projected to be for Republicans. 

It’s shame that in what’s supposed to be a free nation, we are all expecting armed troops to show up at various polling places, with some actually seizing ballots after the vote. We can also expect Republican officials to play games with election results after changing the rules so that any crazy challenge will carry some weight.

When all is said and done, good, honest, trusted people like Mike and Martha are the rock solid foundation our voting system needs and counts on to get it right more times the not.

And that’s why every time I vote, I make sure I thank any and every election poll worker who has helped me fulfill my civic duty. Without a “Mike” or “Martha,” neither I, nor millions of other voters, could get it done.

There’s just a few more days of One Stop Early Voting/Same Day Registration left, ending on Saturday, October 31st at 3 p.m.. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd with polls opening at 6:30 a.m., closing at 7:30 p.m. that day.

Nothing really gets decided without your vote, so make sure you cast it!

And before I go, please allow me to tip my hat to the record turnout of early voters across the state (237,541), and particularly the hundreds of students who took to the streets of Greensboro from NC A&T University, Bennett College for Women and UNC-Greensboro to march a mile to the polls on Oct.15th, the first day in North Carolina for One Stop Early Voting. It was a sight to see, and sent a strong message to the Republican-led Guilford County Board of Elections - go ahead and shut down our campus polling place, but you will NEVER shutdown our right to vote! Amen!

I’m proud of those students! We all should be. This is their country too!

                                                                    -30-