Why Trump Shouldn’t Win In 2016

The 2016 election scares me because the Republicans scare me.

Looking at the lineup, from front-runner Donald Trump on down, it’s horrifically clear that the GOP has lost its mind.

Never mind – taking into consideration the voting records of the Republicans, along with the utterly ridiculous legislation they introduce, it should be painfully clear that they are not acting in the best interests of this country.

There’s something very wrong when those in government lose their sense of connection to the people they represent.  Tragically, that seems to be the case in our government – not just with the Republicans.

Even before passage of Citizen’s United, corporate America has had a death grip on U.S. politics.  We have not seen the likes of this since Boss Tweed and his cronies 100 years ago.  We need to do something about this – get the money out of politics and overturn Citizen’s United.

The GOP has leaned too far to the right, embracing the whims of the Tea Party, but forgetting at the same time that they represent the citizens of this country – HUMAN BEINGS.

The current crop of Republican lawmakers and candidates also come dangerously close to slamming the door on separation of church and state, liberties and rights of (horrors!) the LGBT community. There’s the battle over women’s healthcare and the right of women to make their own decisions regarding an abortion. It’s nobody’s business whether or not a woman chooses to have an abortion, is lost on the Conservative Christians and the Republican party.

Then there’s blatant racism. The GOP has traditionally been the “old, white man’s party,” and with the likes of Donald Trump leading the polls, you’d have to be totally oblivious not to notice the  thinly veiled hatred he espouses.  Racists unite!  The Republican party is yours!

Those with such leanings are buying into his rant of collecting 11 million illegal immigrants – which, hey – by the way, folks – aren’t all Hispanics, and shipping them back home.  Trump is like Hitler with a shit-eating grin on his face.

Never mind — assuming it was even legal to do so, how in the hell is the government going to find these 11 million illegals and how is this roundup going to be paid for?

For more, read the Forbes article: “Trump’s Deportation Plan Prohibitively Expensive.” 

A presidential candidate should act with integrity and in defense of every ethnic and religious group in America.  Trump had a chance to do this but he blew it.  “We have a problem in this country, it’s called Muslims,” stated a racist supporter at a recent rally. The man went on to reiterate that tired old “birther” theory about President Obama, something that Trump has vocally embraced in the past. What bothered me was that the Donald didn’t utter one word in the defense of Muslims in this country.  That in itself tells volumes about him.

The whole lineup of GOP presidential hopefuls are pushing for more war.   Trump is no exception.  In regard to the Middle East Trump said:

“Iran is taking over Iraq 100%, just like I predicted years ago,” he said. “I say this, I didn’t want to go there in the first place. Now we take the oil.”

“We should have kept the oil,” Trump continued. “Now we go in, we knock the hell out of them, take the oil, we thereby take their wealth. They have so much money.”

“They have better internet connections than we do in the United States,” he complained. “They’re training our kids through the internet. We have to knock out their wealth.”

“We go in, we knock the hell out of them, take the oil.”  No, Donald, you just can’t go “take the oil.”  That’s an act of war.

Dangerous, very dangerous things come out of the mouth of this man running for President Of The United States.

On Trump’s website there’s an article taken from conservative right-wing Breitbart News. It states — “20 Reasons Why It Should Be Donald Trump In 2016.”  

I can think of many reasons why he shouldn’t win:

He is not your ordinary politician: No, he’s not a politician and really has no clue about the political process. He’s a bully, an egotistical, spoiled-brat businessman who is used to getting what he wants and under the impression that he can just “do” things.  That’s not how government works.

He’s also very vague on how he’s going to get things done as POTUS. On his website “Positions” page, he lists only 3 areas:  Tax reform, immigration reform and 2nd amendment rights. If you do any research at all – and have followed anything but Fox News – you’ll find that his tax reform won’t truly impact the rich (like himself) and his immigration reform including of building a wall which he says that Mexico is going to pay for. Gee, has anybody asked Mexico about this?

What about foreign policy, Donald? Are you ready to hold American companies who’ve outsourced millions of jobs overseas accountable? How will you go about bringing jobs back to America?  What about making corporate America and the rich pay their share of taxes – not just hedge fund managers as you recently suggested, but all the 1%? Why aren’t you commenting on environmental issues, climate change and renewable energy? Any ideas on how to reign in Wall Street?  How about healthcare, overhauling the prison system? Student debt? Have you thought about the rights of workers and labor laws?  What about raising the minimum wage?  What are you going to do about rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure?

I could keep going but you see my point. He hasn’t touched on a lot of issues, only saying, “It will be great,” It will be the best,” “You’re gonna love it,” “It’s just good management and I’m a good manager,” and endless reiterating of “I, I, I, Me, me, me!”

Trump is not reliant on donors: That means he can do and say what he wants.  See below about a “filter.”

Yes, he doesn’t have much of a filter. Bravo. He says what he wants and doesn’t care who he offends.  The POTUS needs restraint along with careful wording in response to world situations, and can’t go blurting out statements just because he’s pissed off.  There can be no verbal wars on Twitter. The President needs tact and diplomacy. Donald has none of these.  We can’t have the leader of the most powerful country in the world hurling insults at the likes of the Middle East, Korea, Russia or China. He’s dangerous. He’s too reactive.

He speaks for us little people. Got news for ya — so does someone like Bernie Sanders.  Dating back to the 60’s, he began fighting in the Civil Rights Movement.  His political stance reflects his determination to serve the people and has not changed since even before he was first elected to public office in 1981.  Unlike Trump, Bernie Sanders IS giving concrete suggestions on how to carry out what he proposes.

Trump on the other hand, comes from money.  He had a privileged childhood and today is worth billions.  HOW can he possibly know what it’s like to be one of the “little people?”  He doesn’t have a clue what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck, to work 2, 3 or 4 jobs and barely get by, or to be one hospital stay away from bankruptcy.  He’s just pandering to the desperateness of the ordinary citizen with no substance to back it up.  He’s built his empire on the backs of “We the people.”

Diplomacy:  See above on “he doesn’t have a filter.”  Point taken.

His business accomplishments:  Yeah, that’s nice that he’s head of a big mega-bucks corporation – but – being the President Of The United States isn’t the same as running a company.  You can’t dictate the rules; there is a process involved.  You can’t fire someone because you don’t like them. You also can’t declare bankruptcy.

Heck, Americans idolize him:  God, I hope not!  Unfortunately there are many conservative Republicans who think he’s the best thing since sliced bread.  He’s tapped into the anger as well as the fear that Fox News has brainwashed them with.

Trump panders to Conservative Christians that his 2nd favorite book is the Bible – yet he can’t quote one verse.

He seems to have wrapped up many factions of the Republican party: the gun nuts, racists and he’s even courted the Conservative Christians. Claiming that the Bible is his second favorite book (after The Art Of The Deal which is, of course, about himself) he started toting a Bible with him to events.  Most Christians I know who fervently believe in the Bible can also quote scripture ad nauseam. Trump can’t even relate one single line. He defends this with the suggestion that “It’s personal.” Yeah, Donald – you’re full of shit! Methinks it’s more sucking up to get the vote, don’t you?

Donald, in reality you are just like those politicians you are railing against.

What amazes me about Trump and the entire Republican party is:

  HOW CAN ANYBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND VOTE FOR THESE PEOPLE?

You are voting against yourself!

Republicans consistently vote against any programs to help the struggling citizens of this country.  They’ve tried to overturn the Affordable Care Act how many times? (I’ve lost count) and have voted against benefits and treatment for veterans.  Their witch hunt on abortion led by Conservative Christians is relentless.  There’s the Planned Parenthood debacle which is still going on.  Name a program – any program – and they’ve voted against it!  Their mantra of slashing taxes comes only at the expense of the average American citizen. They want to defund Social Security because they view it as an “entitlement.”  It’s NOT the federal government’s money – it’s ours! Our infrastructure is crumbling, people are out of work and desperate, they’ve lost their homes due to Wall Street’s recklessness but all the Republicans want to do is see that corporate America and the rich keep getting richer! What boggles my mind is HOW can anyone who has half a brain who knows the trouble we’re in can continue to support their plans.

What the hell is wrong with you people?

 Donald Trump is not the answer.

As far as I’m concerned, Bernie Sanders is leading the true revolution that this country desperately needs.

My Letter to Elected Officials on Gun Control: Don’t Let the NRA Hold This Country Hostage

Dear President Obama, Vice President Biden & Elected Officials

Regarding the issue of gun control legislation, I have one question to ask:

Why do you allow the National Rifle Association to hold this nation hostage?

The massacre of innocent little children at Sandy Hook has touched a nerve deep in me as it has for the entire country.  Although I do not have children, this unspeakable horror has not left me. Additionally, the rise in the number of mass killings, all committed with various assault-type and semiautomatic weapons makes me afraid.  People are being murdered at school, attending worship, pumping gas, shopping or doing other mundane things of modern life.  Is the possibility of being gunned down something that we must now face on a day-to-day basis?  I am afraid.

Over the past month I have read with interest, hope, repulsion, sadness, wonder and amazement, every side of the argument for and against gun regulation. For the record, I am a gun owner and I do support the current proposals being voiced by Vice President Biden and his committee.  It is clear that we have to do something.  It is going to take a lot of work.

What I am bothered about is why the NRA has decided that any provision which changes access to any firearm is not acceptable.  Before the recent shootings in Newtown, I had no idea that the NRA has such extreme and unmoving views regarding guns.  It is a bit frightening.

I don’t understand why the assault-type weapons, which closely resemble their military counterparts, have even been allowed to be marketed to the American public.   I would venture a guess that the NRA’s influence had something to do with this. Even made “legal,” these weapons are more than the average hunter or gun enthusiast should need.

It also concerns me that members of our government have been heavily influenced by the NRA’s lobbying.

• Are campaign contributions more important than the lives of our children and our citizens?

• Do you in our government fear the NRA’s influence in your chances for re-election?

If you answered “yes” to either question truthfully in your heart, then I am sadly disappointed in my elected officials.  It also means that instead of voting according to the wishes of and for the good of your constituents, you are voting for the good of the NRA and the gun manufacturers.  It tells me that you, too, are being held hostage by the NRA.

I am not a lawyer or expert on the Constitution.  What I don’t understand, however, is how the NRA can get away with its twisting of the Second Amendment.

Our country is far different today than it was when the 2^nd Amendment was written.  We were a fledgling nation taking small steps to democracy.  The weapon of choice back then was a single shot musket, not an AR-15.  Our forefathers had no way of knowing that assault-type weapons would ever be invented.  Would they have condoned their inclusion on the streets of this nation?  I’d like to think not.

Our times have drastically changed.  Weapons are glorified in movies, TV and in video games.  The method of conflict resolution seems to be that if another person slights you, as in school bullying, then show up at your school with a gun and waste them!  Is this how we are teaching our young people to deal with life?

Mr. President, Mr. Biden and members of our government:  I am sure that with input from many different sources you will come to a decision for our country.  I ask, however, that it not be a one-sided decision as a result of scare tactics and threats from the NRA or other gun organizations.  I sincerely hope that you do not back down, cowering from the NRA.  That would tell me that you are not doing what we elected you to do.

“We The People” have elected you, not the NRA.  We are the citizens of this country, not the NRA.  It is our well-being, safety in our schools, on our streets and in our daily lives that you must look out for; not the well-being of the NRA.  Our wishes, as citizens of this country, are what you need to listen to, not the NRA.  We want you to work FOR us, like you were elected to do, not for the NRA and the gun manufacturers.

We want our government back.  We want it back from the NRA and any other interest groups or corporations that hold you sway.

A very favorite quote of mine is from Frank Serpico, NYPD Detective (Retired) who took a stand against corruption on the New York City police department.  It is as follows:

“Sometimes you have to go up against the odds to do the right thing.”

May you all do the right thing for the people of this country and stand up to the NRA.