Ernest's Speech at the June 2025 No Kings Protest

WELCOME!!!        All are welcome!                                  June 6, 2025

Thank you for coming! 

Thank you to our hosts for setting this up and for allowing me to speak.

Why are we here!

I’m here because I see our government providing fewer care givers and less benefits for my fellow veterans.

To that, I say, “No, That’s not right”.  Say it with me.

No, That’s not right!

I’m Ernest Lineberger.  I’m a Democratic Candidate for a seat in the US House of Representatives.  I’m a Denton County resident.  I’m an employee at Texas instruments.  I’m a person of faith who believes in Love your neighbor.  I’m a person who wants the best for the people of our community.  Those are all great reasons to be here, but I am also a retired naval officer, specialized in nuclear power, served tours on multiple warships, responsible for the sailors in my department, their living conditions, their health, and their morale.

Those were years of service, long periods away from friends, family, community, hours of hard work requiring dedication and alertness to reality, readiness to jump in to action to neutralize a threat or other source of imminent danger.  Ready to jump into action myself and also expecting the same from others, taking on the problems as a team.

I did it for my country and also as a career choice.  A choice made as a decision, weighing factors like the importance of national security, against the potential for serious injury or death, verses the opportunity of a steady paycheck, the chance for retirement, the promise of medical care.

For those of us who lived to tell the tale, who made I home, we are ready to serve here too.  But some of us need services.  Some of us need care.  Some need special support.  We need to make sure that we honor our promise to all who served.

About 7 months ago, we held an election.

About 5 months ago, we installed a new government.

Ever since, too many things have been going downhill.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that things were perfect.

We did have a lot that was working, with need to be made better.

Now, we have less, and a promise of even less to come.

Fewer government workers to serve a growing population

Fewer government dollars to support a growing demand

Less concern at the top for the consequences of not meeting the needs of those who served.

And why?  So, we can provide tax breaks to billionaires.

So I say: No. That’s not right.

These veterans already gave their service.  They held up their end of the deal.  They served with honor and should be supported with honor.  Not treated as a waste of money.  A cost no longer worth it. 

So I say: No.  That’s not right.

I think the caregivers want to give good care.  The doctors, the nurses, the counselors, the physical therapists.  But they need the infrastructure, the staffing, the locations, and that is what Trump 2.0 is cutting.

So I say: No.  That’s not right.

Veterans are due more from us than “Thank you for your service”.

Even that is big step up from the greeting that many veterans received upon their return.  But I know that most veterans want their contribution to count for something.  To be meaningful.  I know that it hurts my heart to watch the turmoil over in the middle East.  History tells us of the crusades and people fighting in the middle East long ago.  When my dad was a navy chaplain, part of his time was spent on navy ships off Lebanon trying to establish peace.  Later, in my own navy career, I found myself in the same position, similar mission.  And now retired, where do I hear about some of the worst fighting, unrest, and evil circumstances.  Veterans truly want peace.  We want our service and sacrifice to have a lasting positive effect.  So, promise me that you will work for peace.  That you will work for understanding and compromise to help solve long held differences to heal, not just far away, but here at home too..  For neighbors to work with their neighbors and not against them.  For civil justice to settle disputes rather than airstrikes and shooting that brings more loss, hate and ill will.  To my fellow veterans, I say “In honor of your service, I dedicate myself to peace”.  In honor of your service, I dedicate myself to peace.

And I expect no less of my government.  While honoring your governmental commitment to our veterans, work to heal the wounds of the world and bring peace and prosperity, even where it was not thought possible.

From my perspective, it looks like the Trump 2.0 administration doesn’t care.  Not about Veterans.  Not about the sick.  Not about those in need.  Not about those caught up in awful wartime hopeless situations.  What they seem to care about is spending less money so they can share it with their friends at the top.

So I say: No.  That’s not right.

Listen.  They aren’t here.  They aren’t listening.  They likely wouldn’t change if they were.  My words are not in vain.  I’m talking to you.  I’m talking through you to your friends, family and neighbors.  Our voters need to wake up and shake it off.  Change the channel from Fox News, from Truth Social, from whatever right-wing podcast, or other hate filled conspiracy spew you have been listening to.  Leave the club of mindless voting.  Open your eyes and look at the reality. 

If they say that we don’t have the money help those in need.

I say: No. that’s not right.

If they say that we need to close down or reduce staff at some veterans services, or Social Security Offices.

I say: No, That’s not right.

If they say that the important thing is that we cut the budget to give tax breaks to billionaires.

I say: No, that’s not right.

Our voters need to open their eyes and see that we are in the middle of a hostile takeover.  They want to stop government from working for you and cash in.

And I say:  No.  That’s not right.

Had I won the 2024 election, I would have been one more seat for the people and one less seat for the billionaire takers.  Why did I lose?  Because they convinced more voters than I did.  And now, unlike Trump, who never takes responsibility, we have to pay the consequences. 

That is your motivation.  These consequences.  These losses.  These obvious derelictions.  The greed.  The taking with no concern for the average person.  These legitimate complaints are our ammunition to share with voters.  To explain the urgency.  To make real the fact that we need to pull together.

There is a World War two story of a navy chaplain on a ship at sea under attack.  The crew at general quarters doing all they can to sustain the fight in spite of losses inflicted by incoming rounds.  As sailors were wounded, some kept fighting, passing ammunition to the guns for the sake of their ship and others.  Some looked to the chaplain for guidance.  He quickly jumped in to help and encouraged them all with a cry of “Praise God and Pass the ammunition!”.  And that is what I am telling you.  We have our ammunition.  We have our cause.  We have our neighbors to love and support equally.  We can see what is happening.  Grab that ammunition (and by ammunition, I mean the stories of the necessary government services being reduced and dismantled) and pass it on to your fellow voters.  Give good encouragement.  Have honest conversations.  Share the importance and encourage all to be more aware and vote with good purpose.

By the time the 2026 elections come, there is no telling what condition things will be in, but it will be up to us to win the day, to right the ship, and to begin salvaging what we can.  Restoring hope and services to those in need.

Mr. Trump has said, “If you don’t fight, you won’t have a country anymore”.  On this I agree.  We need to fight.  Fight for our veterans.  Fight for our seniors.  Fight for the young people.  Fight for workers.  Fight for the retired.  We need to fight to strengthen the social safety net for all Americans.  The Economy.  Health Services.  Education. The hand up where it is needed to help all people achieve their full potential, and enjoy a good quality of life regardless where they are in age or career.  Putting People’s Needs First!

To that I say: Yes, and I am up to the fight.  Leading you and your neighbors to make a real difference.

I’m Ernest Lineberger, a retired naval officer, your neighbor, and Democratic Candidate for a seat in the US House of Representatives.

Thank you.