Dear Mr. Trump

During your campaign, you bragged that you could be "very presidential". In fact, you claimed you would be the "most presidential" president ever. The media, and your endorsers kept telling us you would "pivot" and become presidential.  Every once in a while, you would give a good speech, and all the media would claim that the pivot had finally arrived. But each time, you would screw it up by going back to your old ways.

I keep waiting, hoping, that you would be better than your party. Better than the far right politicians who refuse to compromise. Those who would rather tear down our government rather than allow anyone of the left of them get even one little concession from them. Instead, you have not only refused to compromise, but have stopped any compromises that came out of our Congress. You have enabled the severe partisanship by constantly attacking one side of the political spectrum, while defending even the most extreme on the far right.

I hoped that a businessman could "fix" the problems in our government, like you promised you would. But the problem is, government is a "not for profit" organization, and yet you and your cabinet have been doing everything you can to profit from it. You tout the economy and take full credit for it, when even an imbecile knows that the economic recovery began long before you took office. Instead of acknowledging  that fact, you denigrate the previous president who handed a healthier economy to you. Had you taken over in 2009, when things were bad, your current policies would NOT have helped. We would be in a recession right now. It's always easier to go uphill when the momentum is already moving in that direction.

Most Americans are not invested in stocks, so they don't think stock market fluctuations affect them. Higher stock prices don't buy more groceries, or pay the mortgage (or rent). You've convinced your base that higher stock prices are proof that you are helping them. But that's false, and if you actually learned anything at Wharton, you know that. The stock market is your smoke screen you are using to allow businesses to pollute our air, water, and soil. You're covering the fact you are allowing poisons to be added to our food & water, knowing that it will kill more Americans every year. Your administration has approved chemicals that were banned that will now kill the bees, with no consideration of what the repercussions will be. In the meantime, you've done NOTHING to help those forgotten Americans you promised you were working for. Their wages aren't going up. Sure, you helped get a tax cut (which benefits the rich far more than the poor), but what those people don't know is that next year, when tax time comes around, they will have no refunds, and many will actually owe the government for the first time. What will you tell them when that happens? Will you lie and tell them it's because they are supposedly making more money? What good is a few cents more an hour when gas and food prices keep going up? When appliances, cars (and repairs) keep getting more expensive? When medical costs keep rising (at higher rates than the last 8 years)

I've been waiting for that "pivot" when you would ACT like a president. But it hasn't come. You had the perfect chance this weekend to be a bigger man, but instead, you chose to be petty, vindictive, & childish. While you claim there are good people on "both sides" of protests where people carry torches, chant horrible slogans, and terrorize a town, you refuse the courtesy given EVERY sitting Congressman who dies in office to a man who is a REAL HERO. You act like a spoiled child and refuse the lowering of the flag for a man who served our country for 60 years. A man who served our country, and suffered the horrors of torture, just because he has not agreed with you 100%. You started the feud with him, but you aren't man enough to stop it, even after he's DEAD!!! How pathetic!!!  Even two year olds get over another child taking their toy from them and become friends again. Husbands and wives who divorce often still get along "for the sake of the kids". But you can't be man enough to do the right thing!!

Not only are you not "presidential" enough to do the right thing. you aren't even ADULT enough to do the right thing. You are disgusting!! The World watches as you behave like a spoiled brat, making EVERYTHING about you!  Well, I have news for you. . . .  once you are out of office, the World will have nothing to do with you. You have burned your bridges. You have turned your back on the whole world, and we will all turn our backs on you!!

Enjoy your time now, because it won't last. Rulers much mightier than you have been brought down. Your own ignorance, arrogance, and intolerance will be your end. Your own ego has already gotten the best of you, and you can't undo the  damage you've already done. The world is waiting for you to fall. They are holding their breath, knowing it won't be long. Our Constitution is stronger than you are.

The Democratic Party Needs to Change their Candidacy Rules

With the mess from last year's election still affecting our daily lives, it is time to look at how Our Party could have prevented this.

I have some suggestions I would like to see the DNC take into consideration (at least some of them, if not all):

1. Do not allow candidates to run for office unless they have been members of the party prior to the last Presidential Election.
      This will prevent people jumping from party to party just to use a party for exposure, and keeps the party from doling out time, money and info to someone who is only after party database info and financial

backing. (the only exception would be in cases where candidate only reached age to vote after the previous Presidential election or by majority vote of a DNC membership committee)

2. Candidates for Senate, House & President must pass FBI background checks before announcing their candidacy as a party member.           This would obviously protect the party from those who might end up unable to finish their term due to legal issues, or those who cannot be trusted to approve security clearances.

3. Candidates must submit a minimum of 5 years of tax returns with the party (authorizing release) before they can file their candidacy under that party.  

       Much of the trouble we are dealing with today would have been prevented if candidates who refused to release their taxes had never been able to run in the first place. Or, if they'd had to run on lesser known party tickets.

4. Candidates must show evidence of their backing of the party platform's main ideals.

            If the candidate has no political background, they must pledge to follow party platform. (Putting Country before Party is an acceptable exception) What good is a party platform if those who represent the party don't support it?? ( One example is the recent decision about Pro-Life members. These people should need to assure the Party that they will either vote with the Party, or abstain in such issues) In some states, it is understandable that certain ideals automatically put a candidate at a disadvantage. Let them focus on our other ideals.

5. Party candidates with investments and/or businesses must provide a plan for divestiture of their assets, blind trust (legal definition), or other manners in which conflicts will be avoided.  This plan must be in a legally binding contract, held by the Party.

          For obvious reasons, it is important that leaders of our government not profit from any decisions they make, nor be subject to compromise because of financial ties.

6. Candidates during the Primary will pledge to avoid attacking members of their own party during the primary season. Any candidate that becomes vile toward their own party candidates will lose all funding from the party, or be removed by the party.
          Primaries have become "oppo research" for the rival parties by feeding negative  (and often, unfair, or untrue) information to voters. Primaries are not a time to "cut down" members of our own party. It is a disservice to the Party to have its members destroying each other publicly.

7.  Primary debates are to stick with POLICY - not personality, not attack ads.
         This is the place to find the differences between the candidates and learn who has done their homework. Sadly, the debates became "gotcha" pieces, and failed to distinguish the candidates on actual understanding of what their party stands for. The Primary is a way for the Party to get its ideology out to the public. It is a time to differentiate between the candidates, so the voters pick the best candidate for the job. They should be considered job interviews, not mud wrestling matches.

7. The Party should provide a "standard of ethical behavior" that must be followed by candidates (and their spouses, significant others, and campaign team members)
         The best way to protect our party, and provide the best candidates is to hold our candidates to a higher standard, and fire anyone that might create an embarrassing "scandal". (This would not include GOP witch hunts attacking our candidates)

8. Instead of catering to Extremists in our party, we must work to register those who agree with our party, but don't vote.
        Extremists are called so because they won't compromise on anything. They are "my way or the highway" bullies. No party should cater to such groups because Democracy is about compromise.

9. No Party money will be spent on non-party members. Let their party pay for their exposure. We cannot support those who disparage our party publicly.

10. Any high profile Party member that disparages the Party publicly for their own person agenda will not be endorsed by the Party in future elections. Minor disagreements or other "viewpoints" are not the same as berating the Party.
        We don't need members of our own Party who denigrate the Party or its members for personal gain.

11. The Party must stop elevating those who bring us down, and start applauding the real heroes of the party - WOC, POC, Women, Minorities.

12. Until Citizen's United is overturned, it must be the Party's job to educate about this, & explain to the public the dangers of it. In the meantime, we must also educate them as to how donations are reported.
        Voters don't know that if 20,000 nurses donate $100 each, it will show up as $2,000,000 from the healthcare industry. We must combat the idea that every Democrat is "bought" because they took money for their campaign.

13. The Democratic Party must become the Positive Party.
    The GOP is painting us as the "Against" Party. We must campaign with positive phraseology. If there is one thing to learn from the GOP it is "talking points"  How to present the plan, argument, or objection with a positive viewpoint.
ex. We

are not against the ACHA, we are FOR fixing the ACA; We are not against tax cuts for the rich, we are FOR the Average American seeing a bigger paycheck.
       We seriously need a "spin machine" that keeps us focused on speaking in the positive. The GOP is the party of hate and fear. We MUST be the Party of Hope & Change.

14. If states insist on caucuses, we must find a way to make them more accessible to all voters. Caucuses tend to favor the young & unemployed. People who work, are handicapped, sick, or elderly cannot spend an entire day to determine a candidate for their party. And the negative, bullying that happened this past election was devastating to the Party and to voters who were trying to do their duty as a citizen.

If anyone has any other suggestions, let's share them with the DNC and demand they listen to "We the People".  We MUST be the Party "of the People" or the "People" have no one.


       

Dear President-Elect Trump

Congratulations on your Victory. Now, it is time for you to do what your victory speech promised:

Be EVERY American’s President.

 
I did not vote for you, so maybe if you listen to what I have to say, you might become a respected man.

To begin, you cannot be a Republican President, nor a Democrat President. You ran on a PURPLE platform, however you chose a Deep Red VP.  Do NOT let him be your major advisor.
If you really want to be a Great President, and I believe you DO, because your name is at stake, you must STOP the partisanship. You must turn our country PURPLE, and fill in that big divide that you helped make bigger with your campaign. 

It is time to be a responsible, gracious adult. You must heal the division you helped create.  I would like to give you some suggestions:

Fill your cabinet with non-partisan, non-divisive, intelligent leaders. Sorry, but that means that Chris Christie, Rudy Guiliani, Trey Gowdy, Jason Chaffetz, and Sarah Palin are out! (Don’t start with a slate of people who have legal issues already) Don't choose Congressmen that have been part of the system for too long.  They have shown their true colors, and all of them are interested in their own “glory” rather than doing what is best for our country.  Pick those who will look at both sides of every coin, and answer the question, “what is best for our country”?  Notice, I did NOT say party.

When it is time to fill the Supreme Court, do NOT choose judges who “lean” in any direction. That is NOT what the Supreme Court is about.  Judges are supposed to be objective. They are NEVER supposed to enter a court room with their mind made up. They should be knowledgeable about our Constitution, and love our country MORE than any one party. Our Supreme Court has become as divided as our country. You may have a chance to put an end to that. IF you really love America, find those judges who love the Constitution more than they love their Party. Do not seek those who want POWER, seek those who truly want JUSTICE. Throw out the list you made at the beginning and make a new one. Non-partisan, and objective.

APOLOGIZE:  I know, this is a VERY difficult thing for you, but you MUST do it if you want to become a great man.  No man is perfect, and until you admit that with humility, you will never be respected by Americans.

First, you must publicly apologize to the following people:

President Obama – for spending years trying to delegitimize his Presidency by claiming he was not a “real” American.  You spent YEARS telling people you could prove otherwise.  You hurt Black Americans by trying to demean our first Black President, and you also hurt the rest of us who love Barack Obama and the grace and dignity he brought to the White House.

Hillary Clinton – You LIED about her many times throughout the election, and you MUST apologize publicly to her for the ugly, evil things you said. THAT is what a true leader would do. You must assure her followers that you are not going to seek any retribution against her, and acknowledge that she is NOT a criminal.

Mexicans – You must apologize for generalizing them and calling them rapists and murderers. Apologize for ASSUMING that just because a person comes to this country without the proper documentation they are evil people.  Acknowledge that most of them are good, hard-working people who are just looking for a better life, just like the rest of us.

Muslims – You must apologize for threatening these people just because their religious beliefs do not coincide with yours. Yes, there are Muslim terrorists, but there are also WHITE terrorists, from our own country, and sadly, they have supported YOU.  Assure Muslims you are not going to monitor their mosques. Promise them you will protect them from the hate that so many non-Muslims feel towards them. You increased that hate, by encouraging it, and instilling fear.

Women – yes, you offended more than half the country with your misogynistic attitude toward Hillary, your accusers, and women in general.  We ARE your equal and it is time to admit that. You claimed that “no one respects women more than me” and yet you proved throughout your campaign (and in your own words in the past) that you do NOT respect them equally. Your final proof was when you disrespected your own wife by “peeking” at her secret ballot. That’s right, you were caught on camera watching her fill her ballot. You need to apologize to all women for your callous acts of superiority towards them, and promise them that you will work harder to respect them. Throw in an extra apology to Melania.

Black Americans – throughout your campaign, you have marginalized and stereotyped Blacks. I’m sorry, but they are NOT all uneducated. They are not all poor. They do not all live in slums or ghettos. In fact, by saying this, you left out that Whites and Hispanics live in these horrible conditions, too. Black Lives Matter, and you failed to acknowledge this during your campaign.  Assure them that you feel their pain and you will work on the justice they are asking for.

All Americans – Yes, you lied to all of us. You LIED more than 50% of the time. We want an honest man. Think before you talk. AND, STOP reading Brietbart, InfoWars, Drudge Report, and watching Fox. You now have access to the best intelligence in the World. Study it, learn it, and use it to make things better. Stop with the conspiracy theories, unless you want the American People to fit you with a “white jacket”.

That’s a good start. But, before you apologize, you must learn HOW to apologize, because you don’t seem to understand the concept. 
1. You state what you did wrong: example – claimed President Obama’s presidency was illegitimate because he was not a naturalized citizen.
2. State why it was wrong: ex. It was a LIE
3. Name the person you offended: President Obama
4. Say “I am sorry, I hope you can forgive me”  And say it with humility
5. NO EXCUSES (unless you wish to acknowledge your own  ignorance

NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS is an acceptable apology. DO NOT try to minimize it.

Some things you will want to consider, IF you REALLY want to be a good President:
Remember that the country is hurting right now, and then consider who has been in control in Congress for the past 6 years. Do not let the People blame President Obama for their pain – it was the doing of Congress.

1. Obamacare: Hold Congress accountable – don’t let them repeal without a replacement. Sorry,   vouchers, and promises are not enough. Vouchers never keep up with inflation, and                    promises are too easily broken, and none of that will stop the rising costs of healthcare.           The ONLY way to reduce the cost of healthcare is to make Americans Healthy Again.              Only medical care can do that.
2. Immigration:  More than half our country wants some form of Comprehensive Immigration Reform.  Please, do NOT overturn President Obama’s DACA and DAPA without new legislation from Congress, first. Assure hardworking young people they can finish their education and not lose their families. Protect the children who are being tormented in schools, and are having nightmares that they will be deported. Show some humanity.  And about that wall. You are aware that there is already fencing, right?  And what good does a wall do? They are tunneling under (and THOSE are the drug dealers, murders, and rapists) Have you looked at the border? There is a LOT of water between us and Mexico. You can’t build walls in the        middle of rivers and lakes. And remember, many undocumented people came here legally,         and then overstayed. They aren’t all Mexicans.
3. Environment: Stop denying science. Again, you now have access to the best information, use it. The WORLD acknowledges that MAN is destroying our planet. As the World’s most powerful man, you can either become a Hero or the enemy of the World. Denying climate change will make you the enemy. Our country is a beautiful landscape, but it has been marred in many places by industry. IF you LOVE the American People, do NOT let Congress sell off our parks. Those are the playgrounds that Americans have earned, where they can escape ugliness and feel the peace and serenity of nature. Do NOT sell off America’s playgrounds to those people who wish to cut the trees down, blast the mountains, and drill the land. If you do, you will be despised by the average American citizen
4. Foreign policy: Don’t go off half-cocked and destroy all the promises the United States has made with other countries in the world. We need them. They are our neighbors. Right now, we are the Greatest Nation in the World, and you are a World Leader. If you make the wrong moves, terrorism gets worse.  And if it does, we need our neighbors to help us. Don’t break old treaties. You will make us a country who breaks it’s promises.  When you leave office, we will be one of two things: Still the Greatest Country in the World, or a country that is despised and has alienated the rest of the world. Remember, we need them for trade, for cooperation, and as allies in case of war. Don’t be a Bully. Don’t act like the Mafia. Don’t Blow it!!!
5. The Constitution: Your lack of knowledge of the Constitution was quite clear during the election. Sadly, many Americans are as ignorant about it, too. For that reason, I beg you to read it, and understand it. Many of the promises you made are expressly forbidden by the Constitution. You MUST surround yourself with good people who KNOW the Constitution. AND you must respect them enough to let them tell you NO!!! That may be hard, but remember, your name is at stake.
6. The People:  You have promised to be a President for ALL people. Think about that. That means you cannot be selfish. You MUST put THE PEOPLE ahead of your own needs, and I believe this is going to be very hard for you. If you want to go down in the history books as a good man, you must overcome your own ego, and do the right thing. As President, you can’t skirt the laws. You cannot “cross the line”. Remember, you are now a role model. Teach children Love, Respect for all, Tolerance for those who are different, Compassion, and Understanding.
7. Social Security/ Medicare: All of our lives, we have been guaranteed by the government that in our twilight years, we would be cared for, to an extent. The idea was that no person, in their declining years, should be homeless and in poverty. This is a promise made long ago, a contract made with the People, which should NEVER be allowed to be stopped, Vouchers won't do it! A nation that turns it's back on it's citizens at their most vulnerable time is a nation that does not respect it's citizens, period. Do NOT let Congress take our sense of security away from those of us who have supported our country all our lives. 
8. Religion: KEEP IT OUT OF POLITICS!!  If Congress tries to write laws pertaining to religion. VETO IT!  Unless it is about religious tolerance, and freedom from discrimination, VETO IT.  Our government cannot be “For the People” when one religion overpowers all others.
9. Twitter:  If you MUST be on Twitter, please use this media for good, not harm. Ask the American People what they think. Survey them. Ask for input. Don’t bully, unless it is Congress and you are holding their feet to the fire.
10. The Mighty Pen:  Keep Congress accountable. Please, focus on bills presented to you. Have good, honest advisers discuss them with you. DO NOT listen to Congress about these bills. Listen to THE PEOPLE.  IF you love the people, you will veto every bill that comes across that is NOT in the best interests of The People.  I know you are a business man, and have personal goals, but you cannot let greed overcome what is best for over 350,000,000 Americans.

You are a wealthy man. You have always been wealthy. You don’t know what it is like to live in areas where the only water you can access has been poisoned. You can afford bottled water, but many Americans can’t. Have you ever showered in water that gave you rashes?  Probably not, but there are people suffering this right now. This is why you, a man who has been brought up privileged, and never experienced middle class, let alone poverty, you must think about the PEOPLE FIRST – sorry, businesses are useless if there are no workers, or consumers. As a business man, you surely understand that. But also, as a business man, you don’t understand how government works. Government is NOT supposed to make a profit. It is supposed to take care of the people.  That means PEOPLE FIRST.

If you follow this guide, you could truly be a President FOR the People.  You will anger your own party, but they did not support you during your campaign, and that was one of the appealing things about you. Getting re-elected should not be your concern. If you do a great job, the people WILL re-elect you. If you do a bad job, you will be remembered, ALWAYS, as a bad President, and will fade into obscurity. 

You could go down in History as the PURPLE President, by considering what the people want. DO IT!!

I pray that the humanitarian that I believe Is inside you comes out. I hope that I have not underestimated your abilities. Please know that I am unhappy you were elected, but I hope to make the best of it. Remember, Hillary got MORE votes than you. You need to listen to US, too. We are not demanding OUR way, we want The American Way, which means, We The People count more than business, Congress, etc.   If you ever want my advice, I would be happy to give it, but I hope you surround yourself with good, honest, compassionate, knowledgeable people who will advise you well, and that you will LISTEN. 

If you become the Purple President you promised to be, you will have my full support, and respect.

Good Luck, Sir

Why FBI Comey's Actions Should Concern You

The FBI, like it's name implies, is basically an investigation team.  Their job is to investigate people and operations that might be a threat to the United States, civil rights violations, banking and cyber violations, and terrorism.
  Usually, they do this "behind the scenes" and quietly. We rarely know an investigation is going on until arrests are made. If an investigation does not end in an arrest, the public rarely knows there was an investigation. And that's how it SHOULD be.

Many investigations can be compromised if what they are doing becomes public knowledge. Example:  The FBI is trying to find a kidnapped child. The FBI gets a tip to the location of the child. The FBI is working on a plan to get to the child and rescue them. However, a local news team learns of the tip and announces that the FBI has located the child and is planning a rescue.  The kidnapper hears this news, and moves the child to another location, or kills the child so they can escape and no one can identify him. When time is of the essence, this is fatal to the Bureau's rescue plan.

So, you say, what does that have to do with Comey sending a letter to Congress, (where it was promptly "leaked: by Representative Jason Chaffetzz)?  It is NOT the FBI's job to announce their investigation, and the damage done is irreparable.  You can't take back what that letter said, and "implies" guilt of a person who may be completely innocent.

Our Justice system is supposed to be based on the premise that all citizens are "innocent until proven guilty".   Sadly, today, many people assume the worst of a person until they prove their innocence, and then spend the rest of their life with a shadow hanging over their head.

Which brings us to why YOU should be concerned.

Imagine that your next door neighbor contacts the FBI and reports that they suspect that you are a terrorist. They claim that they heard you threaten the President of the United States, and you have been seen buying pipes and guns and the neighbor suspects you plan to build a bomb.  The say that you told them that you have an AK-47,and a sniper rifle. They also tell them that you bragged that you were a sniper in the military and that you could shoot someone from a long distance. They claim they heard you saying negative, violent things about POTUS and since the President is coming to your town in a week, they are concerned you have planned an assassination.

Let's assume you are a normal, law-biding citizen, and though you have been known to disagree with the President about things, you have no intention of killing him, or anyone.  The FBI starts quietly investigating you, and find out that you WERE a sniper with the military, and that you have explosives experience. How would you feel if the FBI sent letters to your neighbors asking them to report any suspicious activities they have seen you involved in. One of your neighbor's happens to be one of your co-workers, and they become worried. So, your co-worker goes to your boss, and shows him the letter they got. They also tell all your other co-workers that you are suspected of planning to kill the President.

Let's face it, once this gets out, you can't stop the spread. Your friends start ignoring you, even avoiding you. Your kids start getting into fights at school because the other kids are calling you a terrorist. Your reputation is destroyed!!   Even IF the FBI were to announce that it was all a mistake, and your neighbor mistook a comment you had made as a threat, there would still be people who would NEVER look at you the same way again.

Comey was appointed as head of the FBI because he was known for his integrity. It was known that he was Republican, but due to his reputation, a Democrat President appointed him. As promised, bipartisanship was going to be what this administration stood for.

 The FBI: is supposed to be separate from Congress, but Congress (specifically Rep. Trey Gowdy and the 8th Benghazi Congressional investigation) got involved with the FBI investigation, making it a public spectacle. Because of the "announcement" that there was an investigation into a private server, and the constant media coverage and Congressional discourse about it, it became necessary for the FBI to announce the end of their investigation.   Comey should  have simply announced that they were NOT recommending charges be brought because there was no evidence that a crime had been committed. Period. That SHOULD have been the end of it.

But, instead, Comey went on to personally announce his personal feelings and expose some of the evidence that was discovered (persecuting a person who was NOT guilty according to his own words)

 At this point, he had tarnished the reputation of the FBI and a public figure even though he said she had committed NO CRIME. Her reputation was TARNISHED, and Trey Gowdy was ecstatic. But Congress intervened again, because they did not get the results they wanted, so they investigated Comey and the FBI. This is HIGHLY improper and an abuse of power of Congress. But the media, and Congress kept this going and it became the #1 topic by the media for MONTHS during an election, in which this person was NOT indicted, essentially "not guilty" who now has this hanging over her forever because the Media and certain Congressional members would not let go.  This was personal, and vindictive on the part of Rep. Trey Gowdy and Rep. Jason Chaffetzz. This was done to improve their standings with their party. This whole thing was a political witch hunt, and the Media and Congress are BOTH guilty of tarnishing a citizen of our country, who should have the same rights as the rest of us. "Innocent until Proven Guilty"  Nope, not in this case. She was tried in the Media and Public Opinion.

But Comey wasn't finished. It appears this became personal. So, when he was told some "possible" evidence "might" have been discovered, instead of simply letting the FBI do their job, he felt it was necessary to write a cryptic message to Congress, KNOWING it would be "leaked" by rep. Jason Chaffetzz, just 11 days before the end of our election. He allowed it to create speculation, and once again, become center focus because the Media once again got involved and jumped on this information, even when the actual details were unknown. Comey essentially announced that he had "more evidence" when he did NOT know what he had. He had NO IDEA if it even was connected to this same public figure, but he CHOSE to interfere in our national election by divulging information in a very unethical, and unprecedented  manner. Was this revenge? Was it an attempt to manipulate an election? What we DO know is that he was advised by those ABOVE HIM, not to do it, and he did it anyway. In the meantime, he is protecting the other candidate by NOT divulging that there are investigations that involve the candidate. So, tell me, is this biased? Is it right? Is it what we want from our government?

Our government is supposed to protect us from foreign and domestic threats. They are not supposed to be destroying the reputations of honest citizens. Once they start, you could be next. This could set a precedent of destroying lives of innocent people in the process of "doing their job".   We already have innocent people in jail. But this kind of conduct can destroy lives, cost jobs, and threaten the safety of our country. If you want to create home-grown terrorists, violate their civil rights.
People today say that our government is broken. Not completely, but yes, parts are. Obviously, the FBI has become part of that broken machine. Congress, especially the House is a MAJOR culprit of the dysfunction. When OUR Representatives abuse their power for personal vendettas and "witch hunts", they are not serving The People. When they obstruct Congress from getting anything done, because it is Party before Country, they are not serving We the People. When they seek to destroy another citizen for political reasons, they have become despots

Waving a flag and wearing a flag pin does NOT make  

you Patriotic or a Hero.

A  REAL Hero in today's government is the person who believes in "Country before Party". They will depart from their own party's stance to do what is right for the country. A Hero in Congress is one who says, "I am doing what the country needs, and if that means I don't get re-elected, I am fine with that." When Congress sabotages our country's credit rating, or our safety from terrorism because of personal, or religious beliefs, they have failed the people When a Party chooses one topic (ex. abortion) to get people to vote for them, when our infrastructure falls apart around us, they should be fired. When a Party refuses to compromise with other parties in order to solve our country's problems, they are traitors to us all.

 Democracy MEANS compromise. 

Do We Need a Change???

  

Yes, we need a change. However, not the kind you think.

There is an easier way to resolve a lot of this without drastic, ill-conceived, impossible "revolutions".

     First of all, women are better politicians than men. Look around the world where woman are the leaders. Women spend their lives thinking of others, rather than themselves

     Not only do we need a female President, we need more women in Congress. Of course, we have to be careful who. (Oklahoma's governor comes to mind) Whatever you have heard and believe about Hillary does not make for reality. Has she flip-flopped? Heck yeah!!! Everyone with a brain does. It is called maturing, learning, evolving.

Hillary is a compassionate woman who has fought for children and women from day one.

Why is this important?? Because if we do what is right for our children, we will make the country and the world a better place. 

    Did you know that Hillary  went undercover to expose people who were violating federal laws??? She was young, but took on the corrupt to put a stop to civil rights violations.

      How can you not admire a woman who went through the embarrassment and gossip of learning at the same time as the rest of the world that her husband had cheated on her?? She held her head up. Sure, she cried in private, and life with Bill was rough for a while. But in public, she maintained her composure. She didn't stop doing what she was doing. She kept right on fighting for children and women. Can you not think about that for a moment and realize what that took???

     She salvaged her marriage (it isn't easy, I have been there) I really recommend you read or listen to Bill's autobiography 'My Life' He talks about what they went through. He admits his faults. Her forgiveness of her husband was the epitome of the Christian way. She could have left him and NO ONE would have blamed her. But her commitment was more important than her blemished dignity. THAT tells you what a promise means to this woman.

     She lost her campaign in 2008, and yet, instead of being mad for the man that took her dream away, she went to work for him. We would not have Iran less capable of nuclear weapons if it had not been her opening the door. She has negotiated peace in Israel, and many other hot spots. She understands the cultural as well as political conflicts around the world. She has been voted the most admired woman in the world 20 year in a row!!!!!! Why is it ONLY Americans do not see her as a great leader??? Because the GOP saw very early on that she was dangerous to their party.

     Hillary is not stupid. In fact, she is very, very smart. She also has the respect of both Democrats and Republicans. She can get things done. She showed us that in the Senate.

She's a thinker. She doesn't just come up with a "destination" she figures out how to get there.

She wants universal healthcare, but she knows

1. How you word things can make a difference in how it is accepted

2. It is not an overnight issue - it will take time

3. We have the ACA - it will be easier and faster, to keep plugging the holes in it with

             improvements that will lead to universal healthcare.

4. She knows that this will not happen with only 1 term, and that she won't make promises she

              can't keep.

5. She has extra obstacles because she is a woman.

6. It takes Congress on her side to get things done.

     Hillary has a better chance of making the changes Bernie promises, while at the same time, destroy the GOP. Misogyny is their mantra. When a woman becomes President, they will lose the women in their own base and they will have nothing.   

Men have had over 200 years to get things right, and they are messing it up daily. Let the omen have a chance!!!!

Are You Trying to be Perfect?

Many people worry about what others think of them, and behave how they think others expect them to. However, women seem to have the idea that they must be Super Woman. Times have changed, and many women have jobs outside the home, and yet they still cling to the “standards” of the full-time housewives of the 1950s.  Women have a “code of conduct” that would wear out a dozen men.

Women think they have to be great housewives, perfect mothers, fantastic chefs, and the perfect partner. Without holding the same standards for the rest of their family, or even friends, they set themselves up for failure by expecting too much of themselves. Everyone wants a beautiful home, perfect children, and the happiest of spouses, and think it is their responsibility to make all of this happen.

We can make restaurant worthy meals, chauffeur our kids to every event, have a spotless house, and look fantastic for our spouses. We can spend every waking moment “making things perfect,” but at what cost? Are you too grouchy to have fun with your children? Are you mad at our husband because you cannot keep up with the messes? Are your kids afraid to play with something for fear of making a mess? If everyone is mad or afraid, or hurt, are you really doing such a perfect job?

Our biggest critic is ourselves. Why is it OK for the kids to get a B, or our husband to forget a birthday, but we cannot forgive ourselves if everything isn’t perfect? Why are our standards for ourselves so much higher than those around us? Why must we be perfect, when those around us are allowed to be imperfect?

One day, a very wise woman shared with several younger women the problem with these higher standards held only for women. She explained it like this:    

Imagine a large pitcher sitting on the counter, and several glasses all around it. You, the woman, are the pitcher, and the glasses are your husband, your kids, your friends, and everyone you have commitments with.  The pitcher’s job is to fill the glasses. So, when you are full, you can fill them up quickly. However, as you fill them, you are giving up yourself, to fill others. 

 Eventually, you, the pitcher, is empty.  Now what?  Those who you gave to cannot fill you up. They needed that for themselves. So now what? You can’t fill yourself up.  If you try to refill yourself, you can only do this by being demanding, grumpy, angry, or mean. That doesn’t help anyone, because there’s nothing there. 

This is where women need other women . . .  friends, family, and even strangers.   We need other women to refill us, so that we can continue to fill those who are counting on us. We need these women to support us. To tell us we are doing a good job. Confirm that our feelings are normal. Those who will make us laugh again. Those who will confirm our worth.

We need others to help us refill. But, there is a way to make the need for refills less frequent.  Ask for help before you are empty. Lower your expectations. Do the kid’s T-shirts really need to be ironed? Could the kids just put all their toys in a box, instead of on shelves?  Sandwiches once in a while for dinner won’t kill anyone. Could we eat on paper plates some days? Does everything HAVE to be 

perfect?

If the house is healthy, and happy, maybe we are expecting too much.  If you are concerned that someone might show up and you’d be embarrassed, ask for help. Get the kids to help (even little ones can play a game of picking things up and putting them into a box). But most of all, don’t set higher standards for yourself than you have for those around you. And don’t set them so high that those around you are unhappy. The world won’t fall apart if everything isn’t perfect.

The most important thing is: Don’t let your own vessel run dry! If you do, you cannot nurture your family!!  So, ask that friend out to lunch to vent, or just laugh.   Go get a manicure. If you can afford it, hire someone to clean the house once in a while – there are teens out there looking for work! And many lonely people who would love to earn a little, and help you while you spend time with them. Find those who can help you refill. Find things you can do to refill. Don’t neglect yourself and then blame others.
Get those refills every chance you can. You never know when there might be a drought.

So, Pitchers (Women) of the world, band together to keep each other full. That way, when we need a refill, there will be someone available for us!! 

Water Off a Duck's Back

Have you ever noticed that ducks dive under the water for small fish, and come back up
to the surface, and the water runs off their back?
The reason for this is because their feathers have oils that waterproof their wings.
Without this oil, the wings would become waterlogged, and the ducks would sink, and
drown.
Compare the water making the wings soggy with troubles in your life. If you allow them
to "build up" on your wings, they will weigh you down. In order to keep from drowning in
your troubles, you need to learn how to get them to roll right off your back.
I worked with juvenile delinquent teenage girls. I always told the new girls about how
ducks made the water roll off their backs, and that, in life, we, too, must learn how to
allow things that weigh us down to roll off our backs.
"Water off a duck's back" was my cue to a girl that she was letting too much drag her
down, and she needed to let go.
Often, in the home, when a girl was really upset, you would hear her quietly telling
herself, "Water off a duck's back, water off a duck's back"



One day, two girls were arguing, and I was afraid that things were going to get ugly. I
could see the one girl trying hard to let it go, and not succeeding. I said, "Water off a
duck's back!"
The girl came over to me, and said, "I tried that, but it isn't working!!!"
I looked at her, and said, "Start quacking!!!"
She looked at me like I was nuts!
I said, "Start quacking!!! Flap those wings, and start quacking!!"
The girl still thought I was crazy, but the other girl was approaching her, obviously, still mad. The girl turned to her, started 'flapping her arms' and saying "quack, quack" . . . .
"quack, quack" . . . . after about five of these, both of the girls started laughing. The other
girl joined in, and finally, we had 14 girls flapping their wings, and quacking.

The first girl came up to me, and asked why I had told her to do this. I replied,
"I figured either she would think you are nuts, or you would both start laughing. People
usually won't fight someone that appears crazy, and it is impossible to laugh and be mad
at the same time."
Both girls smiled, thanked me, and went back to being friends.
So, if life has made your wings soggy, and you are about to drown. Tell yourself . . .
"Water off a duck's back". If that doesn't work, flap those wings and start quacking!! It is
impossible to feel overwhelmed when you are laughing. EVERYONE NEEDS TO OIL
THOSE WINGS so you don't drown.