Instead of Washington, DC being the center of a thriving democracy where the people’s business is done, some think DC has become a swamp of stale ideas, corruption, and career politicians doing everyone’s business but… More
Demented?
Lately, we’ve heard claims of our President’s dementia, how unfit to hold office he is. Are these claims worth the time or energy spent listening to them or writing this post about them?
I think not. If they were true, our national security, our treaties, our plans, our whole government, relations with other countries would be suspect and a shame and at risk- if our president were incapacitated. But, I also feel that there are enough checks and balances, enough people who surround our president on a daily basis who would see their futures rocket to earth like comet, that they would/could not keep demented cat in the proverbial bag for long.
It has also been said that our president isn’t the ‘sharpest tool in the shed,’ a moron, an idiot. In some circles it is said that our president is ‘as dumb as rock.’ I differ. No matter what you may think of Donald Trump politically or personally, this 71 year old works 18-20 hour days, was accepted into the Wharton School of Business, doesn’t travel with the ‘turnip truck’ crowd; rather, travels with the elites. Am I now to be convinced that this man has a mental deficiency so great that it defies the many with whom he comes into contact?
This same man has been a major success in his life. With no political background and no organization, he ran for and won the presidency of the United States when the opposition was certain in all minds, except his. to win. He kept his head when others couldn’t, has a list of accomplishments during his first year as president not the least of which is an incredible turning around in the US economy. Yet, this man who has been such an incredible success in running one of the worlds foremost reality shows, in real estate development globally, in hosting a hit reality television show and owning the network: this man is dumb?
The line from the original ‘Die Hard’ movie comes to mind when I think of the claims of non-intelligence or idiocy: “Hey, Babe, I negotiate million dollar deals for breakfast…” I believe our president is more than capable. Incompetency has been the rallying cry for years when a candidate beats to a different drummer; in this case, his.
America; a new start to an old experiment
Nearly 230 years ago, Americans were given a gift. A gift that people had already fought and died for; and what we did with that gift was for us to determine. That gift, the United States of America needed a lot of tweaking, but its skeleton was already established in the US Constitution. That gift is our inheritance. Are we going to squander it, fighting amongst ourselves, or are we going to respect that precious gift and celebrate our diversity as well as our unity?
Sure, the American experiment was a work in progress and was definitely ‘rough around the edges,’ and there was a looming question, a holdover from revolutionary days, about slavery. America’s civil war was not fought about slavery only, but it was fought about rights: does the federal government have the right to tell the states to have slaves or not?
Do the discussions, arguments, rationalizations, accusations and demonstrations accomplish anything other than to divide this country more? When I think of division, I’m reminded of the “House Divided” speech in which Lincoln admonishes us that “A House Divided against itself cannot stand”
Have we become that house divided? The US was inspired as an experiment, “Can men govern themselves through a representative system? ” Some say that the experiment which began in the ‘Bill of Rights’ and which was to govern the American people, had 2 purposes:
1. to prevent unreasonable seizure [in many instances, of land] by the government without adequate compensation
2. to prevent invasion of Americans civil liberties -without justifiable cause.
Prevention of these sounds simple enough, eh? Apparently not. Some people feel that the government is best when it provides for all the needs of all it’s citizens. Others feel that the federal government should be streamlined and not involved in our lives. Where do you fit? What do you think?
“Can a federal government of the people grow like ours has without destabilizing?” Can America truly become a ‘melting pot’ with each person bringing the strength of his experiences with him and not losing his identity.? You may have your own thoughts as to whether we can or can not, but I think we’re becoming dangerously close to what Abe Lincoln referred to in his House Divided speech.
Why do I feel this way? We are becoming divisive. More divisive than I”ve ever seen before and I’ve lived a lot of years. So, I guess it is time for Americans of all thought, to answer some basic question Do we want a large federal government which tells the states what they can and cannot do? Or do we want a small central government with more power given to the states to determine what is in the best interest of its citizen? How much should the federal government be involved in the everyday lives of it’s citizens,
What is the role of the federal government? To keep us safe from harm, provide for national security and domestic tranquility or to keep us safe from harm, provide for national security, provide domestic tranquility, and ascertain that we all attend college, are covered by health insurance, all budgetary desires are met and see that we all get a basic K-12 education, energy independence? Where and how do state and local governments bear responsibility and fit in?
Unfriended
Was I blindsided or what? There are folks who don’t feel that social media should be used as a political forum. I disagree, but they have a right to their opinion and they can ignore me if they so chose.
Me? I feel that we are social beings and we are free to show our lives-or at least a snapshot-of our lives if we want-on social media. My posts and responses aren’t loud, thoughtless or inappropriate; they are well thought-out and researched and not given to rant, rave or apoplexy.
Some friends like to post their grand-children’s photos; Me? I like to discuss and post my political views on social media; but I don’t feel that these two are mutually exclusive and I believe they both can be done responsibly. I don’t argue, I discuss and state the facts as I’ve read or researched them, I think you’d be right if you recognized me as one of the least confrontational and most respecting conservative bloggers.
However, this evening I was ‘unfriended’ by a personal friend. Shoot me now, but I think that who is at the helm of this ship which has (in my opinion) been rudderless the past 7 years, to be of import; in fact, I’ll go out on a limb here, that this election (be it local, statewide or national) to be a tad more important than those first day of school photos and toothless grin photos of children I’ll never meet. Either way, the two are not mutually exclusive.
Children are fun; they’re also our country’s future and worth the investment we make in them. I know Mom and Dad have had a hard day at work and may consider political posts as relaxing as a trip to the dentist. But, television channel-remotes are for just those situations. Oh, “you don’t like that show” Well, one wonderful thing about life in America is that if you don’t like what’s on, hit the up or down button on that remote and a different reality competes for your friendship!
I don’t get my undies in a bundle, I don’t sling mud or swear at people when I author or answer political posts. I state facts and make it known that if someone can pose other facts that cause me to change my mind, then my mind is changed.
At the risk of sounding melodramatic, is the future of our country, the obligation to our children in which we invest so much, not worth time, not worth feeling a bit uncomfortable?
Without risking the melodramatic, is the future of our country and the direction it is going, not worth time, not worth feeling a tad uncomfortable?
Why settle for a new norm? There is a difference between a tough call and a tough vote
Make yourself a cup of tea and spend 1/2 hour getting to know Carly Fiorina as New Hampshire got to know her a week ago. A political outsider and previous CEO of Hewlett-Packard, she’s been watching politics and seeing that they don’t work for us, anymore. Hers is a much-needed voice of common sense.
Having served as an advisor to John McCain’s 2008 campaign, she served on the external advisory board of the CIA holding high security clearance. She has served in policy-making positions for national and state governments.
Carly has led a number of charities and nonprofits, most recently: chair of Good 360, the non-profit charity which Forbes has ranked one of the 10 most effective worldwide charities.
In her presidential bid, she is currently running 6th in New Hampshire polls and is tied with Jeb Bush in the delegate counts, she’s running ahead of Chris Christie and Ben Carson. Give serious thought to this serious contender.
“Sit down and Be Quiet” because “We’ll Decide for You”
As controversy surrounds ABC’s decision not to allow her to debate despite doing better in recent New Hampshire’s polls than several other candidates, Carly Fiorina discusses how so many other entities/powers that be get a say in the election process, but that somehow, voters for whom the ‘system’ should work, get the short end of the ‘stick.’
It doesn’t matter what your political preference, I feel there is injustice here and were this your candidate, I know you’d like me to know that I could see injustice where it is.
Is the media picking our candidates?
She left Iowa as she promised, with the wind at her back, having equaled Jeb Bush in delegate counts, and placing ahead of Mike Huckabee, John Kasich, Chris Christie and Jim Gilmore. In New Hampshire, in a poll THIS MONTH she’s ahead of Chris Christie and Ben Carson, but still, she is not included in the ABC-hosted RNC debates this evening.
There is committment, there is perseverence, the voters of New Hampshire have a right to vote with knowledge of all the candidates. Not just the chosen few!
But, for some reason, the media feels that it must chose the candidates to expose us to and has gone into the business of picking winners and losers. Or, could it be the Repblican National Committee, which, if it didn’t back Carly, shows that it is either gender-biased or clearly afraid of her. So, they sit back and do nothing. The ‘little boy’s network…’
Merry Christmas-belated-from Carly Fiorina
It has been said that a candidate who expresses a faith, is proud of it and a personal use of that faith is a person who will “try to shove religion down your throat!”
This is the first time that I knew the strength of Carly Fiorina’s convictions and as much as I don’t have the faith that she has, I know that there is a place for all of us citizens of heaven!
Rand Paul- your thoughts?
Do you remember the libertarian candidate for president, Ron Paul? His son, Rand, decided that the party for him was the GOP. Often for isolationism, Rand, feels that not all problems ‘go away’ with isolationism and that sometimes intervention is called for.
” Rand Paul tries to reach Republicans where they are and gently nudge them in a less interventionist direction by emphasizing areas of possible agreement between the GOP mainstream and libertarianism.”¹
Rand Paul, runs on the Republican ticket and is often favored by the Tea Party.
¹ retrieved from the web 10/31/2015 http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/why-rand-paul-is-different/ “Why Rand Paul is Different”
Social media’s place in campaigning
Another year of campaigning often means that we turn off the television and unplug the phone. In 2008 and 2012, with voter apathy reaching new highs; Barack Obama was able to make brilliant use of social media, come from nowhere to become the first black President of the United States. His successful candidacy dared other tech and media-savvy candidates to follow in his footsteps as they saw the boost that social media and television gave his campaign.
Never tiring of things political and of current events, I do tire of people butting heads, defending positions, going on offense whenever a position is disturbed and seeing those negative campaign ads. The old, ‘my-belief-is-better-than-yours-‘buzz-feeds. Isn’t it about time that we toss aside the boxing gloves and concentrate on solutions to our nations’ problems?
We can still be serious about problem-solving without taking ourselves too seriously. I’ve sparred before, but I announce now that commentary will be my schtick; I’ll leave the sparring to the media and candidates who have a ‘dog in this fight.’ Personal attacks aren’t necessary to prove a point.
Still having fun without being mean-spirited, Jimmy Fallon can still be funny and his guests can still air a lighter side, while still enjoying (?) a different style of campaigning; all the while indulging in a well-earned bit of levity in what has got to be an otherwise gruelling schedule.
Fiorina ‘Prepared to Lead America’s Resurgence;’ ‘I can Win this job and I can do this job.’
Women’s issues? What is a woman’s issue? Aha! It is an issue specific to women because they have ovaries? That must be it! Truth be told, women make up more than 50 % of the vote and every issue is a women’s issue.
Jobs, economy, woman’s health and reproductive choices. foreign affairs, and national security; all are issues which affect women and about which they care. But, shouldn’t women have the final say-so about their reproductive choices? No one is attempting to take that right (to choose abortion or to choose life for their child) away from them.
But, a majority of Americans feel that abortion after 5 months is wrong. Fiorina would take that decision one step further and prohibit taxpayer dollars from funding Planned Parenthood. After all, adolescents need their parent’s permission to get a tattoo or go to a tanning salon; but following that same logic, shouldn’t they need permission to get an abortion? Planned Parenthood doesn’t always require it.
Also see, in the Washington Post, “For Planned Parenthood abortion stats, ‘3 percent’ and ’94 percent’ are both misleading”
Marco Rubio: “the Iran deal is a bad deal”
Prior to a vote by Senate Democrats on the Obama Administration’s nuclear deal with Iran, Republican U.S. Senator, Marco Rubio spoke on the Senate floor about why it letting the deal go through wouldn’t be in our best interests or of the threat it poses to American’s now and its future generations.
“I’M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN”
Yesterday was the 14th ‘anniversary’ of 9/11 when the mainland of the United States was attacked at the World Trade Center by terrorists. What a more fitting tribute to the first responders of 9/11 and the servicemen and women who protect us from enemies, foreign and domestic, than the song that made Lee Greenwood famous. After years, the 2 main masterminds behind the attack are no longer a threat, but the United States will never be the same!
Some 2996 people were killed, including the 19 attack perpetrators, in what changed the security and the innocence of the United States forever. But for a time shortly following the attacks, most Americans were brothers and sisters who walked hand in hand. What happened?
ANNIES ANALYSIS OF POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES 
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