An Open Letter To Donald J. Trump

An open letter to Donald J. Trump.

Dear Mr. Trump,

We, a lot of us out here in America, are still baffled how we got where we are just now.

We're baffled you somehow won the nomination of the Republican Party to be their candidate for the presidency, the highest office in the nation and the most powerful office in the world.

Worst, many, many of us out here are still reeling from even the idea that you won this office in our election, let alone the fact of it.

But that is all where we are now.

So, being here, you, sir, need to understand the weight and responsibility that is soon to be on your shoulders.  You need to understand that you are there to lead us, at least for the next four years, politically and morally, at least.

You need to understand, sir, there are things we, as a nation, decided we cannot and will not accept or tolerate. Some of them that fall under this list are the following

--Racism

Unfortunately, you have shown, sir, blatant racist intentions and intent. We, as a nation, as a people, decided long ago we cannot and will not have that in our government nor in our government officials.  We are one people, on this planet, in our country, and we must live and act as such.

--Sexism

You REALLY don't seem to get this one, sir. So to clear this up, I give you the definition:

prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.
Again, we decided long ago this is intolerable. You are to be the leader of the nation soon, sir, of all of us. And over one half of us are women, in numbers, and they are worth every bit of respect as their male counterparts.

--Misogyny

Again, because you have shown a lack of awareness on this point, I give you the definition.

dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.

See just above. This cannot and will not be tolerated.

It needs to be pointed out that you are to be the President and leader of ALL Americans, sir. Rich and poor, Black, brown, white, male, female, all of us. We need to come together, as I pointed out here earlier, since you were elected. We are a nation of immigrants. We are, famously, a "melting pot."

Please, sir, conduct yourself with levity and thought and thoughtfulness and nuance and understanding. The things you say and do will resonate a great deal beyond just you and your former life and influence. You will be covered daily by the press and news media. You must be inclusive with them, as well, and not exclusive. It's not your place to say that any media outlet can't cover you.  You asked and worked for this position, sir. You must soon take on its full mantel. 

A lot of us out here are scared, sir, given what you've said and done on the campaign trail.

You will soon be President of all of us, sir. And for four years.

You will have to act like it.

Finally, please, please remember and always keep in mind that it can and usually does take more strength and character and intelligence and courage to wage and keep the peace than it does to wage war.

God help you, sir, and God help us all.

Links:  

Just two days after Trump’s election, reports of anti-Islam attacks spike

Sign the petition: End the Electoral College

MoveOn Petitions - Abolish the Electoral College

Petition · U.S. Senate: Abolish the Electoral College

Petition to eliminate the electoral college- One vote .

.--We the People

Bernie and Hillary---On the Same Side

Rockin' it out...

Bad Hombre vs The Nasty Woman, Part II

The "Silver Lining" of This Donald Trump Candidacy

With all of the ugliness and sexism and hate and ignorance and racism and misogyny, etc., that has come for and to America with Donald Trump's Republican Party candidacy for the highest office in the nation, as horrible as it has been, there is, in fact, a "silver lining" for us all.

How ironic but how wonderful, too, is it that the Republicans would end up offering the worst candidate for the presidency ever, literally, in the history of our nation, this year so that the first woman to ever get the position and support as a candidate of a major party is not just elected but elected by a huge, historic landslide?

Because wait for it, that's what's about to take place, folks.

Wait for it.

But for the love of God and all that is good, take nothing, nothing for granted. Get out there and VOTE, folks!

One More Debate?

After these two debates between Donald Trump and Hillary Cliinton, what, now, is left to say? Okay, sure, they haven't really touched on climate change or equal rights for LGBTQ citizens or voter ID laws and no doubt a long list of other subjects but what, really, will be said or revealed in the next and final debate between these two?

Unless there's yet one--two? more?--horrific revelations about Trump that comes out between now and then, don't you expect we'll get more of the same from them in this last debate?

Mrs. Clinton will be facts and details with some history thrown in and he'll be the prancing, stalking, evading, emotional disaster he always is.

My question:

What will actually be revealed?

If people can still be behind the lying, bankrupting, shallow, racist, misogynistic, sexist, immature, irresponsible 70 year old that he is, given all that's been revealed on him, what hope is there anyone will change their minds?

And how could anyone be an undecided voter at this point?

What the hell else does one need to learn?

The Teflon Candidate?

Years ago, it used to be said that President Ronald Reagan was the "teflon President." It seemed, no matter what happened, no matter what he did or didn't do, rightly or wrongly, for good or bad, nothing stuck to him. The people liked him, regardless, and his ratings stayed positive.

Now, we seem to have a candidate for the presidency in one Donald Trump, who is impervious to negative downturns, to an extent. Things he's said or done that, in the past, if said or done by any other candidate, wouldn't have kept them in the political race.

Presently, we're at a moment when Mr. Trump is recorded as saying horrendous, ugly, sexist, actually exploitative things about a woman and about women, yet there are plenty of people still supporting him. Heck, even Evangelical ministers and leaders have announced in the last 24 hours, since this news story broke, that they're still behind him.

Newsman Dan Rather, today on Facebook, said it well, I think.

What does it take to knock Donald Trump out? You would think that the latest obscene, vile, repulsive audio leak would be an electoral haymaker that has him on the canvas for good. In any other election, with any other candidate, this might well have been the equivalent of a spontaneous combustion. And it might be for Donald Trump, but I have thought that many times before.

Calling Mexicans rapists and murderers? Trump went there and it set him on the path to the GOP nomination. Running over John McCain's war record? Barely a speed bump for the Trump campaign bus. Mocking the disabled? Check that off the list and Trump bounces back. Disrespecting the parents of a fallen American soldier? It seems like in the end it was merely a flesh wound for the Donald. And there were so many more instances that likely would have proven fatal to any other candidate in any other election.

Clearly Trump has a floor of support that would condone almost anything. But perhaps this is different and we will see a chipping away at his numbers. Perhaps we will see more of a free fall, although I doubt it. And yet it is also clear that his floor is not enough for Trump to capture the White House. I can't see this adding any voters to his totals, except maybe the villains of the movies from the 1980s.

If you want to see how this plays out, listen to Republicans running for election this fall. Every one of them is going to be asked this weekend to defend Trump's comments. What will they do? Will the knives come out for the party's nominee from his fellow Republicans? Will they begin to run from him, rather than with him? Will this final wave finally sink the Trump campaign?

I must add that while the severity of the latest audio is particularly disgusting, any elected official who expresses surprise must surely be feigning it. Look at Trump's Twitter feed. Listen to his statements from the past. Did you really think this kind of language was beyond him?

This election is not only about the presidency, but about who will lead in Congress and the state houses. How toxic does Trump become? Can he bounce back yet again, even if the polls seem to be moving against him? Will this doom the GOP in 2016, or even beyond? Will it realign our political system?

So many questions, but we will get answers. And we will be the ones who will give them when we go to the polls. There are few times in my career when I have been more at a loss for what I could expect for the future of my country.

Regardless, at this point, as I wrote and posted yesterday, there is no possible way Mr. Trump is winning this thing. It's just stunning he's still considered a viable candidate.

Donald vs Hillary?

NPR had a story this week that, no surprise, had a great deal of truth in it, simple truth and excellent, important points.

Newspaper Endorsements Matter Most When They're Unexpected

In its first Democratic endorsement in a century, The Cincinnati Enquirer endorsed Clinton on Friday. The last Democrat the board supported was Woodrow Wilson in 1916.

"Hillary Clinton has her faults, certainly, but she has spent a lifetime working to improve the lives of Americans both inside and outside of Washington," the board wrote. "It's time to elect the first female U.S. president – not because she's a woman, but because she's hands-down the most qualified choice."

The Dallas Morning News also endorsed Clinton in early September.

"This newspaper has not recommended a Democrat for the nation's highest office since before World War II — if you're counting, that's more than 75 years and nearly 20 elections," the board wrote.

Also in Texas, The Houston Chronicle endorsed Clinton in late July, saying that to choose Donald Trump "is to repudiate the most basic notions of competence and capability." Although the newspaper's board endorsed President Obama in 2008, it traditionally has endorsed Republican presidential candidates.

And finally, importantly and in sharp contrast:

Trump has yet to receive an endorsement from any major daily newspaper editorial board...

How or why any intelligent, informed, mature, discriminating adult in our nation could support this uninformed, irrational, emotional, immature simpleton for the highest office in the nation and the most powerful position in the world is beyond me.

Missouri In the News

Yes sir, Missouri is in the news today. These are both from The New York Times.

First this, on our own Senator Claire McCaskill's in put on Hillary Clinton and her race for the White House.

Did Hillary Clinton Have to Be First?

Senator Claire McCaskill and the Times columnist Gail Collins talk about gender, politics and the presidency in our latest podcast.

Then this, on Missouri's Miss America pageant entry presently.

Missouri Woman Is Miss America Pageant's First Openly Lesbian Contestant

I would never have seen that coming. I would have thought this would be out of New York or Florida or California or nearly any other state but not us, not here.

Enjoy your weekend, y'all.

Donald Trump: Truth Bender

Articles from across media in the last 24 hours.

I saw this one yesterday, with video, showing as much.

Tim Tebow Reveals Trump LIED About 

Him Speaking At GOP Convention

Then there's this one from the head of the IRS. I only saw it today but it's from last March.

IRS Chief: “Trump Is A Liar, 

We Audited Him

Finally, this one from today's New York Times

Donald Trump's Deals Rely on Being Creative With the Truth

Anyone see a pattern here, folks?

And people think Hillary's a liar?

Additional link:

161 Silicon Valley Leaders Warn America

Senator Sanders Was---Is---Correct

"There is no justice when so few have so much and so many have so little."

A Simple But Fairly Accurate Description of This Presidential Election

Let's choose wisely, folks.

Quote of the Day -- Senator Bernie Sanders

From last evening.

A Statement I'd Like Every Left Wing, Liberal, Progressive, Democratic Candidate for President to be Able to Say and Commt To

From the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his "Second New Deal", October 31, 1936..

For nearly four years you have had an Administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves rolled up.

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace--business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me--and I welcome their hatred.

_________________________

It's that last line I'd really enjoy hearing.

On Hillary Rodham Clinton and Her Likely Juggernaut

Suddenly, all of a sudden, the foregone conclusion that Hillary Rodham Clinton is going to run for the presidency of the United States is here and done and the game is in play.

And even though it was a foregone conclusion, suddenly, I have to say, I am excited.

Hillary Clinton Laid a Clever Trap For Republicans

Also foregone is that the Republicans are going nuts and they are going to continue to do so.

And here's the big fact on Hillary's run for the presidency--and what the Republicans are going to do until November, 2016:

"Instead of coming back with their own positive vision for America and actually arguing issues, Republicans will come back with attacks."

And sure, Hillary is no Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders but she's smart, she's tested and she's electable.

She's also not one of these guys:

And then, to make it better, you see some headlines like this:

Bill Kristol floats Dick Cheney as “the most promising” of possible 2016 GOP candidates

And then there's beauties like this:

Mike Huckabee: ‘God’s blessing’ will make me president

It just keeps getting better and better.

A breakdown of tonight's presidential debate

From MAD Magazine:

(Click on picture for bigger, easier viewing)

Mitt Romney: Repeated flip-flopper...and liar

He seems to have done it--lied--again and again, along with changing his official stances on issues.

This is one "straw man" for the highest office in the land. I hope this is the cake walk it looks like it may well be.

However, that said, if very much voter suppression takes place--and it looks very will like it will, from Florida to Ohio to here in Missouri and all over--the flip-flopping and lies may not matter.

This presidential campaign has been fascinating, sure. It's been nothing but fascinating.

I don't mind if the coming election is fascinating.

I just hope it's fair. And honest. And legal.

Link: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/04/1116592/-Rachel-Maddow-Mitt-Romney-has-a-tell

Happy Easter

Mitt Romney's campaign strategy

"What do you want me to say? I'll say it. What do you want me to be? I'll be it." --Willard "Mitt" Romney. (Not literally but darned near). Links: http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/romneys-positions-increasingly-impossible-to-nail-down-1.php; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/12/mitt-romney-catfish-flip-flop_n_1340079.html

Kansas' Caucus Tomorrow in the News Today

Kansas' big political caucuses tomorrow are in the news right now and the thoughts are that it could be big, good news for Rick Santorum. From The New York Times "Five Thirty Eight" blog today: Kansas Offers Santorum Chance for Big Delegate Grab It discusses, in some detail, the politics of the state, by Congressional District, as to how it may well shake out. At stake are Kansas' 40 delegates to the Republican National Convention this Summer. If Santorum wins big tomorrow, that will change the race significantly enough, making it that much tougher on Mitt Romney and that much better for Santorum, if even for only a little while. Link: http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/kansas-offers-santorum-chance-for-big-delegate-grab/

This 2012 Election: The Election of Inevitabilities?

Think about it. Is this presidential election the election of inevitabilities? First, there is the seemed inevitability, to a lot of people's dislike and/or distaste, of Mitt "Willard" Romney, aka "Mittens", as the Republican Party's assumed best chance of defeating a sitting, incumbent president. Second, is the seeming inevitability, if indeed, that's what happens, of course--nothing, nothing is certain--of President Obama defeating Mr. Romney or, in fact, any of the candidates that party put up, precisely because they were so bad or extreme or whatever. Obviously, we'll find out come the first week in November. (I wrote this last evening but found this link today: http://www.npr.org/2012/03/08/148197575/romney-aides-claim-his-nomination-is-inevitable).