Letter to the Editor,

Sam Peckinpah and standoffs. Sam was a prolific filmmaker whose movies were violent, character driven adventures with unsympathetic male leads. Flawed men but strongly principled who had outlived the times they understood. They were hard bitten. They were men of arms. They also understood you can avoid a gunfight if you can manage a good standoff. A good standoff is where you convince the other their win will be too costly, so best you back off with a wry comment. This cleans the slate for both and the right conclusion usually ensues. You’re really god at this if you can pull it off in the dark alleys of life. The soon to be decided presidential election is the story of our time. While the lawyers and media are telling us to get ready for a big disappointment I have an idea. Some 50,000 Americans camp out on the SCOTUS steps with food and water and resolve. Tell those fickle black robes you will decide this one way or another and soon. We’ll be out here waiting. We know you will do the right thing.

Mike Ralph, Haxtun