In as much as America has become the greatest democracy in the history of mankind to date, you would think there would be some sanctity in our national election process. Nothing could be further from the truth as we are a few days away from electing the most powerful political figure in the world.

Our presidential election has turned into a cesspool. Our press, media, journalism, whatever you want to call it, has become the armpit of this presidential election. What is happening is beyond the pale and despicable. I refer to it as mainstream media or MSM.

It’s worse than dirty politics.

The first thing I will probably do following my submission of this writing to the editor is take a shower and stay there for an hour. That’s how bad politics has become as I see it. I feel like I’m down in the mud, maybe a sewer, writing about what is taking place right before our eyes.

Whose side is mainstream media on? Don’t vote if you don’t know the answer because chances are, you are totally uninformed or misinformed. You are not getting the straight scoop unless you tune in to alternative media. You are being sold a bill of goods by MSM. Call it propaganda and indoctrination.

MSM is in the tank for Hillary. Correction. It is always in the tank for a Democrat no matter who it is, and obsessed in taking out a Republican no matter who it is. Why? Media is liberal, progressive, secular, big government, socialist, etc. They are ideological, maybe we should say illogical when it comes to their blatant biased news reporting. Media plans to pick our next president, not you and me as voters.

Who do journalists give their campaign donations to? 95% goes to Democrats, that in itself should prove bias.

The playbook for lamestream media every election cycle is to dig up dirt on Republicans and ignore any misgivings by their chosen Democrat candidate. Forget the real issues. They always get down in the gutter, demonize, and destroy the Republican.

News reporting has become nothing but a tabloid totally obsessed with sexual innuendos, except when it comes to Bill Clinton. Mums the word when it comes to the most popular political Democrat figure in American history who is a sexual predator.

Bill gets a pass and Trump is crucified, even for something he said many moons ago.

Media Research Center found that the TV network evening newscasts were 91% negative when mentioning Trump.

National media is so very immoral and corrupt they would support Lucifer and try to destroy Jesus Christ, as America’s top radio host said the other day.

May I suggest readers do some research on Saul Alinsky. His book “Rules for Radicals” is dedicated to Lucifer and it’s used as a playbook by Obama, Hillary, and others.

It’s a known fact both Obama and Hillary thought Alinsky was the greatest. Those two were and still are disciples of Alinsky.

No, Trump is not a saint, nor is he the Devil, but the Devil’s work is sure taking place in our politics as we speak.

Would you believe! When Trump uttered some horrible lewd sexual remarks eleven years ago media spent over four hours on what he said. The bombshell WikiLeaks leaked emails got 30 minutes.

Those leaked emails are massive and are one bombshell after another. There are thousands upon thousands of emails (and thousands more to come) ignored by MSM that completely and totally exposes the corruption in the Democrat Party and collaboration with media to get Hillary in the White House. MSM is part of the Hillary campaign.

The emails are like a medical procedure where the doctors open up a patient and find a body totally consumed by cancer from side to side, and top to bottom – a nightmare.

The bombshells show schemes by Democrats to carry out voter fraud and even gimmick polls to show Trump is losing so voters stay home.

A Dem operative by the name of Creamer visited Obama at the White House over 40 times and his job is to pay thugs from Dem coffers to create chaos at Trump rallies and the emails show Hillary is part of the whole thing and obviously Obama is also part of the corruption.

One of the worst emails for Democrats exposes the scheme by Democrats, including Hillary, to change the Catholic Church by infiltrating it with far left radical groups with the word “Catholic” in the name of the organizations. In other words, let’s get the Church to change its stance on abortion, same sex marriage, and all of its other conservative beliefs. It’s a call to “revolutionize’ the Church.

It’s clear from the emails Hillary plans to infiltrate this country with Muslim refugees, a scheme to change the face of America, along with open borders by illegals who will get amnesty and vote Democrat. If that happens, the GOP might as well close up shop. We will forever be governed by one party.

It is clear from the emails that there was corruption galore in the Clinton Foundation and how the Clinton’s lined their pockets to the tune of $130 million when she was Secretary of State. Since when does a public servant get to become filthy rich as a public servant?

If Trump did one twentieth of the corruption occurring on the Democrat side, game over for Republican president and that’s no exaggeration. Media would take him out.

Hillary is for the little guy? That’s an insult to any informed voter. She gets a quarter of a million dollars to tell Wall Street in private what she will do for them as president but has a whole different agenda when she speaks publicly. The leaked emails prove it.

There is even more than the leaked emails that prove corruption. There are videos by Project Veritas, even FBI released documents. It is nothing short of insanity to put the most corrupt candidate to ever run for U.S. president back in the White House.

Let’s not forget, in spite of what media wants us to believe, most Americans believe we are headed in the wrong direction, that America is in decline, that Washington is broken, that most politicians are corrupt. That’s why Trump has millions of supporters and even many reputable and famous people that want him as our next president. Hillary wants the status quo.

If Hillary is rewarded by being our next president, after 40 years of a litany of scandals, corruption, criminal activity, and lies it is my opinion this country will never be the same when it comes to equality under the law. Common sense alone tells all of us it will only get worse since she knows she can get away with anything and everything.

I pray voters cast their ballots using their heads not the sensationalism of sex. We need to get back to the issues Americans care about. When you look at what Hillary wants for this country versus Trump it’s insanity to vote for her.

Mainstream media is tabloid and only belongs in the news stands of all grocery stores throughout the country where shoppers stand in line to be checked out.

Les Knoll lives in Victoria and Gilbert, Ariz.

If you’ve never heard of pulses you are not alone. The United Nations declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses as a way to increase public awareness of the nutrition benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production.

So what is a pulse?

Pulses are part of the legume family– nitrogen-fixing plants like peas and beans, soybeans, peanuts, alfalfa and clover. The term “pulse” refers only to the edible dried seeds of some legume plants. Dried peas, edible beans, lentils, and chickpeas are some of the most common varieties of pulses.

Every serving of pulses packs a surprising array of nutrients, including antioxidants, folate, iron and potassium. They are naturally low in fat and sodium. And they are an especially good source of protein and both soluble and insoluble fiber. These attributes not only help boost fullness and satiety which can enhance weight loss, but higher pulse consumption has also been linked to better blood sugar regulation, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

In addition to being nutritious, pulses are an easily sustainable crop to feed populations worldwide. They serve as a natural fertilizer by enriching the soil where they’re grown and can withstand drought and frost. They are an inexpensive protein option which can be stored and transported easily.

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend consuming 1.5 cups of dried beans, peas and lentils (pulses) per week for a 2,000-calorie eating pattern. This includes cooked-from-dry or canned items such as kidney beans, white beans, black beans, red beans, lentils, chickpeas, split peas, edamame (green soybeans), and pinto beans. It does not include green beans or green peas.

Ways to increase dried beans and peas in everyday eating:

• Add dried beans to soup. Think beyond the traditional bean soup and chili and add to vegetable- and tomato-based soups. Try new soup recipes that include dried beans.
• Experiment with beans you have never eaten and learn more about cooking dried beans. They can easily be cooked in a pressure cooker, slow cooker or on the stovetop, and some varieties don’t need presoaking.
• Add beans to salads. They are delicious added to any vegetable-based salad such as a tossed salads and pasta salads.
• Add to any taco/Mexican dishes, casseroles, and even egg dishes.
• Be adventurous. Check out the recipe section of the International Year of Pulses website from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization at www.fao.org/pulses-2016/recipes/en/. It includes a variety of interesting and exotic bean recipes from around the world.