Thursday, January 18, 2018

Is Trump Good or Evil?

Last week, the news exploded with a report that President Trump referred to certain third world nations by a very vulgar term. According to an account by Senator Dick Durbin, during a meeting on immigration, the President asked, "Why are all these s**thole countries trying to come here?"

Supposedly, they were discussing the temporary asylum policy for refugees from Hati and El Salvador at the time.

It took about 15 hours for the White House to respond and deny this report, with a number of Republican Senators claiming they didn't hear anything like that at the meeting. Later, the story changed slightly, with witness claiming that nearly everyone was using similar language at the meeting.

Now, to be fair and honest, I don't know if the President actually said it, or not. The evidence is shakey and could go either way, frankly.

Everyone knows that our President isn't exactly above using colorful language, and has been very passionate about the entire immigration issue.

On the other hand, neither the media, nor the Democrats in office, has been exactly honest and trustworthy as of late. They are so anti-Trump, and emotional about his election, they would literally say or do anything  (short of actual assassination) to discredit him, and possibly drop him out of office.

The problem is,  even if Trump is as awful as they claim, they've done so much shady and crooked dealing, no one will ever be able to prove it. You'll never be able to wade through all the fake stuff to get to anything real.

And that's why all that's left is to judge the man on his actions (not the allegations against him). All we can do, is look at the results of his policies, and make our decisions based upon what he's done.

So far, he's lowered taxes and illegal border crossings. He's increased the stock returns and 401ks of a majority of middle class Americans, and brought unemployment numbers down (to record numbers among the African-American and Hispanic communities). He's deregulated several industries that were being strangled and stifled by previous administrations, and is making American businesses viable on the global market again. He's stood up to our enemies (rather than apologize, bribe and capitulate to them). Then, there's the appointment of Justice Neil Gorsuch...

Given this list, I can only assume that President Trump, although admittedly arrogant and crass, is also a patriot and decidedly not as racist as his opponents would love for us to believe (seriously, check out the current unemployment numbers for minorities).

After all, I was always raised to believe that actions speak louder than words.

The Truth About the Budget Debate

Well, if there was ever any doubt in my mind, it's now officially gone...

Regressive Democrats are officially traitors to their own country, and need to be removed from any office they may hold.

Sound a bit harsh? Let's look at the facts...

For two years now, they have been accusing and "investigating" the President, his family and campaign workers of colluding with the Russians to rig our election. Not only has there been no legitimate evidence to convict Donald Trump, or anyone connected to him; we're now learning Hillary Clinton, the DNC, and the Obama run FBI/DOJ themselves colluded. New evidence is surfacing weekly that points to Clinton and the Dems not only working (through a British spy) with the Russians to create a false dossier, but actually paying millions for it! Yet, still they are pushing Mueller's Witch Hunt, knowing it's not only fake, but damaging to our country.

Then, there's the looming government shutdown... Yes, the Republicans have a slim majority in the Senate. But, nowhere near the numbers they need to pass a budget (When you factor in two Senators abstaining for health reasons, and the Never-Trump RINOs). This is an issue where both parties should be able to work together for the good of the nation. Instead, the Regressive Democrats are holding the resolution hostage over immigration and DACA. This means, they are actually putting the needs of illegal aliens over actual, LEGAL U.S. citizens. That, in my humble opinion, is not only stupid, but the very definition of treason.

You don't put your own political and personal views ahead of the well-being of the nation (especially if you're an elected official). And you don't hurt the law-abiding citizens who vote for you, to benefit criminals that sneak into this country without proper documentation.

The simple truth of the matter is, the Liberals and Democrats have no moral high ground to stand on here. The only reason they support illegal aliens and DACA is for more votes and political power. Any other reason given, is a blatant lie.

My grandmother used to say, "you don't give your neighbor's kids a steak dinner, when you're feeding your own peanut butter and jelly."

It's time to help Trump fulfill another campaign promise. It's time to drain the swamp, and get rid of the lot of them.

Saturday, January 13, 2018

A Simple Parable

When I was younger, I heard a parable that was both funny, and extremely enlightening. Given the times we live in now, I feel it's very appropriate to share it with you here...

Once, there was a little bird that hatched from his egg in the late summer. He barely had time to learn to fly, before the autumn winds came, and the other birds started preparing to migrate South for the winter.

Finally, the big day arrived, and all the birds took off for the flight southward. But, the little bird wasn't strong enough, or skilled enough to keep up with them. No matter how hard he tried, he kept falling behind the flock, until one day he dropped from the sky in pure exhaustion. He landed in a cow pasture, and sadly watched the other birds leave him far behind.

Cold, and alone, the little bird thought this was the end. He would surely freeze or starve to death out there in the field. And, just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, a cow suddenly came along, and crapped all over him.

It took a moment for the bird to realize that he was now warm, instead of freezing. But, once he did, he popped his head out of the cow pile, and began to sing. He was so happy.

Then, an old tomcat heard his happy little song, and quickly pounced, pulling the bird from the steaming pile and eating him whole.

The lessons of this story are...

1. Not everyone who craps on you is an enemy.

2. Not everyone who gets you out of crap is a friend.

3. If you're neck-deep in crap, it's best to keep your mouth shut.

Funny how you can relate this silly little joke to what's going on in our country now days. The American people are obviously the little bird, just struggling to survive. The Trump era Republicans would be the cow, helping the bird, but in an unappealing and seemingly distasteful way. And the Regressives (Democrats, RINOs, and the media) are definitely the cat, claiming to offer help, but ultimately doing more harm than good.

Later, I'll write more on why catering to everyone doesn't benefit anyone.

Monday, January 8, 2018

The Real Story Behind "Fake News"

Everyone knows about President Trump's ongoing love affair with the mainstream media (and vice-versa). By now (unless you've been living under a rock in Antarctica somewhere), we've all heard the phrase "fake news" being hurled about repeatedly. And, we have all heard such bastions of truth (smell that? Pure sarcasm!) as CNN and MSNBC complain that the President is picking on them.

The truth is, the whole damned mess has gone too far, on both sides.

Just this morning, I caught an interview in which a reporter was commenting on Trump's "apparent mental issues". She was claiming that the President is secretly suffering from a form of dementia, and hinting that this could be grounds to remove him from office. (And, this is what passes for "real news" now days?)

The last I checked, only the President's doctor (the one who actually examines him) can make such a diagnosis, and he isn't talking.

The reporter then went on to claim that the press wouldn't be so hard on him, if the President didn't attack them so often. This is a false argument, since it's a two-way street. The mainstream media is far from an innocent victim in all of this.

First of all, in the past year, there have been more retraction, corrections and all-out debunked news stories surrounding Trump than I have ever seen in my entire life. It is the duty of the news media to present the verified facts of a story without partisanship, bias, opinion or spin. They're not supposed to allow their own personal views, feelings or agendas to enter the story in any way. And, they certainly not allowed to invent or exaggerate details, or insert themselves into the story.

Recent studies show that, in the first year of his Presidency, Trump has only received 5% positive press over all the stories reported by the media. Compare this to Obama's  first year, where he only received 20% negative coverage. Can you honestly call that "fair and unbiased"?

Trump has accomplished quite a bit of positive things during his first year (a Supreme Court nominee appointed, the cutting of several restrictive regulations for businesses, record breaking tax cuts... to name a few, and I could go on). He hasn't exactly been perfect, but he's far from the incompetent monster the media tries to make him out to be.

The press also loves to point out that the President's poll numbers have remained in the mid-to-high thirties. Granted, this is bad, but let's look at the whole picture here...

First of all, the President's poll numbers are low, true enough, but nowhere near as low as those for Congress (currently 22%), or even the media's (16%). This means, as mistrustful as the American people may be of Donald Trump, they are even more so of their congressmen and news media. So, they really have no room to talk.

Secondly, of course Trump's numbers are going to be low! If I am the only one you listen to, and all I tell you everyday is that Bob is a thief and liar who beats his wife and kids... are you going to have a very high opinion of Bob? Most (but not all) of the coverage on the President has been very negative personal attacks. I rarely hear any negative, factual attacks on his policies themselves.

People watch, read and listen to the mainstream media because they have no choice, if they want any clue as to what's going on in the world. But, that doesn't mean that they're stupid, and unaware they're being lied to regularly.

The ones I truly feel sorry for, are the older generations like my mother. She's old enough that she feels she has no use for the internet, or even cable T.V. This means, she's completely at the mercy of Liberal run network television and newspapers, with almost no hope of getting the other side of the story, or even the whole picture. It's people like these, that the media is deliberately doing a gross disservice to, and constantly misleading. It's pathetic and disturbing at best.

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Another Clinton "Investigation"

Earlier this week, the Little Rock, Arkansas branch of the FBI announced that it's conducting an investigation into both Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation, over "pay-to-play" accusations.

The allegations stem from numerous instances of large donations being funneled through the Foundation while Hillary was Secretary of State. Each time this happened, favors were suddenly granted to the donor (for instance, the infamous "Uranium One deal" with the Russians, after Putin donated $450 million to the Foundation).

As with several other Clinton scandals in the past, there is a clear, poorly hidden paper trail, and evidence to support a Grand Jury. And, as it's always been before, Conservatives and Republicans are eagerly waiting with baited breath for the indictment.

Stop. Just stop.

There's nothing new here. We've known for a few years that the Clinton's were doing this and more. We've known that it's all shady and illegal for quite some time. There's never really been any shortage of proof.

Yet, Bill and Hillary remain free, and even have certain members of the government openly covering for them. They are untouchable and above the law.

I'm not saying I don't want them prosecuted (believe me, they need to be). I'm saying there's no point.

The FBI and the DOJ have had enough dirt on them to put them away a hundred times over. They've been collecting it since Willy was governor of Arkansas, and it's been steadily growing each year. Yet, they do nothing (or make a very weak show of investigating when they are forced to do something).

We need to just drop all pretense, and get real for once. You are never going to seriously indict the Clinton's on anything, no matter what crime they commit, or what evidence you gather.

So, it's time to publicly declare them as beyond all laws, and stop wasting the tax payers time and money with bogus investigations you know will go nowhere.

While your at it, just go ahead and impeach/arrest Trump for not being a Clinton. Because, apparently, that's how America works now.

On Immigration

A hypothetical question: A man successfully robs a bank for a couple million dollars. He then takes most of that money and puts it in a trust for his children to go to college, start a business or just live comfortably for the rest of their lives. However, he's soon caught by the police and the trust funds are discovered. Should his kids be allowed to keep the money?

Legally and morally, the answer is a resounding "no". 

According to American federal laws, no one is supposed to profit from the commission of a crime. Not the suspect, nor anyone connected to them.

Makes sense, right?

Then, tell me how it's "fair" that someone violates our immigration laws, sneaks their kids across our borders, and we're supposed to reward the kids with an illegally obtained visa/citizenship?

I can understand, and sympathize, that the underage kids had no choice in coming here. But, neither did the American people. They didn't sneak the children in, so why should they be responsible for them staying?

The law is the law, as cold and cruel as it may seem sometimes. It's in place for a reason, and can't be ignored just because we don't like when it goes against our views. 

The so-called "Dreamer Act" (DACA), is unconstitutional, dangerous and disastrous for the American economy. It's also a sneaky, backsided way for politicians to earn more voters for their party.

The Regressives love painting a picture of some poor, young illegal child going to college, or serving in the military to better themselves and the country. But, this is seldom true, statistically. In fact, a majority of "Dreamers" work low-skill jobs (with stolen Id's and social security numbers), have higher reported incidents of drug addiction and violent crime convictions, and are more likely to join gangs. (Don't believe me? Check the Federal Department of Sentencing.)

I'm sick of hearing how deporting illegal aliens (including "Dreamers") is cruel and tears apart families. Arresting the bank robber in my earlier example, would tear apart his family, but he broke the law. So, the cruelty is on the violater, not the people enforcing the law. The children wouldn't be submitted to the evils of deportation, if mommy and daddy had done things legally.

Of course, the Regressives and Democrats fully support DACA (and even open borders). But, don't be fooled... it has nothing to do with the "plight of the poor immigrants", and everything to do with political power. By "championing" illegal aliens, you earn votes from their family members who are here legally, by at least looking like you care. And who knows? Maybe, if you can succeed in getting them to stay, one day you can give them voting rights as well.  (I wonder who they would vote for then? The person who fought to keep them here, or the one who tried to kick them out?)

One last thing to think about... illegal aliens take jobs, and do so at unfair (and illegal) wages. Why pay an American minimum wage (or better) to pick oranges, when you can hire an alien to do it for ten dollars a day? As long as we're allowing them to hire aliens, they don't have to pay fair salaries, whick keeps prices low, but also hurts the economy. 

The argument that Americans won't do the jobs aliens typically do, is false. They won't do those jobs for the wages aliens make (which is fair).

In short, wanting to ban DACA, build a wall and strengthen our immigration system isn't racist. It's patriotic and American. It's the same right every other nation on Earth has, and uses without excuse or apology.

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Drawing the Lines

A little over three years ago, Radio Host and Media Mogul, Glenn Beck made yet another of his insightful (yet often ridiculed or ignored) predictions.

For those of you who may not know, Glenn has a long and documented history of using historical insight and observation to predict where we may be headed next. ("He who forgets the past..." sort of thing.) He also has an equally long history of being mocked, ridiculed or just ignored for his warnings, only to usually be proven right later on. Not that anyone who mocked him ever remembers that he called it, they're typically too busy mocking him on something else to recall how wrong they were the first time.

Anyway, on this particular occasion, Glenn was saying that America was becoming so divided and polarized (this was during Obama's administration, and we'll before Trump even announced he was running) that the lines are being drawn. He warned that the time was quickly approaching when everyone will have to decide, once and for all, which side they were on, and make a stand. He also stated repeatedly, that no matter which side you're on, you'd better have all your affairs in order, and get yourself right. If not, he predicted, "they" will own you, and use your failures against you.

Now, I don't care which side of the political spectrum you fall on, no one can deny (given our current events) that this is happening now.

Half of our nation is so opposed to President Trump's agenda, they're determined to destroy him and his supporters at any and all cost (even at the expense of the nation). The other half is so in lock-step with him, they're absolutely convinced he can do no wrong. Any sort of middle-ground there may have been, is rapidly shrinking, and it's getting harder and harder to remain neutral.

The truth is, this divide didn't begin with Trump, and Glenn Beck isn't some sort of psychic or prophet. It's been coming for quite some time. The current incarnation actually began under George W. Bush's watch with his handling of both wars (Iraq and Afghanistan) and his response to hurricane Katrina. It then festered and grew infinitely worse under President Obama, with his racial divide/police targeting, and his failed foreign/domestic policies. Unfortunately, Trump hasn't exactly bridged very many gaps, and both sides have used the growing divided to further their own agendas and keep the split going.

Misinformation is everywhere, and it's getting harder and harder to know what's true, and what's "fake news" anymore. The most noble of causes now have insidious and corrupt reasons behind them. While truly virtuous and helpful agendas are demonized and suspect. (Up is down, white is black and short is long.) The world has truly gone crazy, and seems to be getting worse.

I'm not sure what the solution is, other than to heed the words of Glenn Beck, and know exactly what it is you believe in and where you stand. Get yourself right, hold onto the things you value and believe, and don't allow anything to make you waver. If he's right (and he has been about so many things before), this isn't about Liberal or Conservative, it's not about Democrat or Republican, or even "pro-Trump" vs. "never-Trump", it's about something so much more... The fate of more than just our nation, or even the world, may be hanging in the balance here. It could very well be the fate of each and everyone of our souls.