Sunday, July 31, 2016
How to Select an American President: Agreed, Trump is a 'Black Soul'
How to Select an American President: Agreed, Trump is a 'Black Soul': Don't pick a "black soul." "Black soul" means an individual who lacks the capacity for empathy and compassion. Tha...
Agreed, Trump is a 'Black Soul'
Don't pick a "black soul."
"Black soul" means an individual who lacks the capacity for empathy and compassion. That seems to fit a description of Donald Trump. He has stiffed many business subcontractors as he declared bankruptcy. That demonstrates a lack of empathy and compassion. Not to mention that his failings have committed damage to host communities.
Worst still is Trump's insistence that his "personal losses" rival that of parents who have lost sons and daughters in war while defending our nation.
So it is that this "black soul" persists as the Republican Party candidate who must answer to the free press many more questions about his values and his motivations as well as his character.
"Black soul" means an individual who lacks the capacity for empathy and compassion. That seems to fit a description of Donald Trump. He has stiffed many business subcontractors as he declared bankruptcy. That demonstrates a lack of empathy and compassion. Not to mention that his failings have committed damage to host communities.
Worst still is Trump's insistence that his "personal losses" rival that of parents who have lost sons and daughters in war while defending our nation.
"Khizr Khan, Father Of Slain War Hero, Calls Donald Trump A ‘Black Soul.'
Khir Khan, the father of a slain Muslim American war hero, on Sunday, continued to speak out against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his anti-Muslim bigotry.
“He is a black soul, and this is totally unfit for the leadership of this country,” Khan said in an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union.” “The love and affection that we have received affirm that our grief ― that our experience in this country has been correct and positive. The world is receiving us like we have never seen. They have seen the blackness of his character, of his soul.”
Huffington Post
So it is that this "black soul" persists as the Republican Party candidate who must answer to the free press many more questions about his values and his motivations as well as his character.
SCRANTON, PA - JULY 27: Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump jeers the media in front a crowd of supporters on July 27, 2016 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Trump spoke at the Lackawanna College Student Union Gymnasium. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
The right and duty to scrutinize candidates
Donald Trump, you cannot get away with that?
Today's news is that Donald Trump said that the family of hero Captain Humayun Khan had no right to criticize him. Obviously, under the U.S. Constitution, it is every citizen's right to scrutinize, evaluate, appreciate or criticize presidential candidates as they see fit. The fact that Donald Trump persists with his elitist, authoritarian and dictatorial attitude about those citizens who oppose him is an affront to freedom. It demonstrates his disdain and disrespect for We the People.
Donald Trump does not deserve to be the candidate for President on the Republican ticket because the sponsoring party should not have vetted him as being qualified. His professed values and behavior are hostile to the American form of government, laws, and regulations.
Not only should voters prevent his being elected to office, but they should also insist that due process is applied as it is to audit his businesses to ensure that no laws have been violated. He has served up so many red flags that more details about his abuses inevitably lie in the heap of bankruptcies that have harmed so many people and communities.
"Trump: Muslim soldier was a hero, but his father 'has no right' to criticize me
By Evelyn Rupert
Donald Trump praised a Muslim U.S. soldier killed in Iraq but continued to criticize the man's father, who spoke out against Trump at the Democratic National Convention.
After a day of backlash about his comments regarding the family of Humayun Khan, Trump released a statement late Saturday night honoring him.
"Captain Humayun Khan was a hero to our country and we should honor all who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country safe. The real problem here are the radical Islamic terrorist who killed him, and the efforts of these radicals to enter our country and do us further harm," Trump said.
“While I feel deeply for the loss of his son, Mr. Khan who has never met me, has no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim I have never read the Constitution, (which is false) and say many other inaccurate things. If I become President, I will make America safe again.”
Khan's father Khizr, a lawyer who immigrated from Pakistan, addressed the Democratic convention this week, asking what Trump had sacrificed and whether he had ever read the Constitution.
Trump lashed out at Khan and his wife Ghazala, who stood at his side on the stage, Saturday."
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/289894-trump-praises-muslim-soldier-but-says-father-has-no-right
Pompous Donald Trump
Getty Image
Saturday, July 30, 2016
How to Select an American President: Deeply disturbing nation
How to Select an American President: Deeply disturbing nation: One by one, some individual states have attempted to block segments of the population from voting as explicit acts of discrimination. Some ...
Deeply disturbing nation
One by one, some individual states have attempted to block segments of the population from voting as explicit acts of discrimination. Some have resisted accepting the equality of gays, lesbians, bisexual, and transgender persons. Some have sought to restrict same-sex couples from having equal rights as other married couples. Some states seek to roll back civil rights legislation. In these instances, the citizens of the states must be held accountable for actions that the courts have deemed illegal and unConstitutional.
Who are the people and the political party behind these acts? They are Republicans. Somehow, Americans appear to have lost their way in many places. They have allowed Constitutional values and rights to be undermined.
America has seen these conditions before as our history has some very ugly and turbulent times in which our Constitution has exceeded the citizens' capacity to protect it.
The mere presence of Donald Trump at the head of the Republican Party is a threat to our national integrity as is his party sponsor.
Our national integrity is also threatened by the Democratic Party's handling of Bernie Sanders as indicated by leaks. The leaks themselves, having apparently come from Russian hackers is a threat as well as Donald Trump calling for more.
These are very dangerous times in my country.
"North Carolina Voter ID Law Targeted African-Americans, Appeals Court Rules
The court struck down the law, calling it “one of the largest restrictions of the franchise in modern North Carolina history.”
07/29/2016 12:56 pm ET | Updated 19 hours ago
Julia Harte & Andy Sullivan"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/north-carolina-voter-id_us_579b8862e4b08a8e8b5de534?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Politics+72916&utm_content=Politics+72916+CID_d198063e08d942e2a643bf97e8c6cc92&utm_source=Email+marketing+software
Friday, July 29, 2016
Shifty Bernie Sanders
Allegiance and loyalty matter as characteristics that are important for voters to consider in a presidential candidate. Why is that? It is because a president must form collaborative teams to get work done in a democratic republic such as the USA. Alignment with the sponsoring party is critical and in that, Bernie Sanders is shaky.
Bernie Sanders party affiliations include:
Now, Bernie the Democrat-for-convenience is once again an independent.
While people fret that the Democratic Party leadership may have treated Bernie unfairly, one might seriously ask, why would they treat him as a full-fledged Democrat in the first place?
Bernie Sanders party affiliations include:
- Liberty Union (Before 1979)
- Independent (1979–2015; 2016–present)
- Democratic (2015-2016)
Now, Bernie the Democrat-for-convenience is once again an independent.
"Bernie Sanders to Return to Senate as an Independent
Democratic runner-up says more DNC staff should leave over emails
By PETER NICHOLAS
Jul 26, 2016 12:21 pm ET
PHILADELPHIA – Bernie Sanders said he plans to return to the Senate as an independent, despite winning 13 million votes in the Democratic Party’s presidential primary contest.
“I was elected as an independent; I’ll stay two years more as an independent,” Mr. Sanders said."
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/07/26/bernie-sanders-to-return-to-senate-as-an-independent/
While people fret that the Democratic Party leadership may have treated Bernie unfairly, one might seriously ask, why would they treat him as a full-fledged Democrat in the first place?
Shifting Sanders
How to Select an American President: Hillary's hint about sustainable economics
How to Select an American President: Hillary's hint about sustainable economics: Last night, in her acceptance speech, Hillary Clinton addressed a priority about which most Americans are concerned. That is economic securi...
Hillary's hint about sustainable economics
Last night, in her acceptance speech, Hillary Clinton addressed a priority about which most Americans are concerned. That is economic security which includes access to sufficient opportunity with sufficient upward mobility potential. In her rough analysis, the fact that 1% control 90% of the wealth in the nation is problematic because they are not investing in job creation in America. She suggests that it is unpatriotic for them to enjoy the support of the nation and then to fail to invest properly here.
Most Americans probably agree with that. I do too.
What can be done about it?
1. Tax the rich to direct revenue to where it is needed for shared and common purposes such as infrastructure building.
2. Provide incentives for wealthy persons and corporations to invest, invent, and to create new business units in America.
Both will be required from a new Congress.
Sustainable economic engineering that creates a foundation for a good life for all Americans requires changing the rules to foster growth and development. Transforming the American economy from a fossil-fuel based economy to one that is of renewable energy will require all sorts of new technologies and new products to change and improve how we live and work.
That is a positive direction and will require that we work together to produce essential outcomes that begin with eliminating poverty in America.
There is no time to lose.
Most Americans probably agree with that. I do too.
What can be done about it?
1. Tax the rich to direct revenue to where it is needed for shared and common purposes such as infrastructure building.
2. Provide incentives for wealthy persons and corporations to invest, invent, and to create new business units in America.
Both will be required from a new Congress.
Sustainable economic engineering that creates a foundation for a good life for all Americans requires changing the rules to foster growth and development. Transforming the American economy from a fossil-fuel based economy to one that is of renewable energy will require all sorts of new technologies and new products to change and improve how we live and work.
That is a positive direction and will require that we work together to produce essential outcomes that begin with eliminating poverty in America.
"U.S. economy grew at a slow pace in spring, expanding at just 1.2 percent pace in second quarter
By Chico Harlan July 29 at 8:19 AM
The U.S. economy grew at a pace of 1.2 percent in the second quarter of 2016, worse than analysts' expectations of 2.5 percent. The slow results for the April-June period raise new warnings signs about the strength of the U.S. economic expansion.
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected that the nation’s gross domestic product would grow at a 2.5 percent pace in the second quarter, which would mark the best reading since the same period last year."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/07/29/gross-domestic-product-economic-growth-second-quarter-2016/
There is no time to lose.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton arrives on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Freedom of the press is not an option Mr. Trump
Donald Trump and his gang have impeded a member of the free press from covering a campaign event because Jose DelReal is working for the Washington Post, a publication that Trump wants to be barred.
Trump has no right to bar any member of the press from covering his activities. That is an assured freedom in the United States of America. Donald Trump doesn't get it.
Some people believe that he has never read the U.S. Constitution either. That cannot be confirmed, yet what is apparent is that Trump thinks that he is above the law and morals that are indigenous in America.
It is long past time to dig deeper into Donald Trump and his "private" enterprise because his going public means higher scrutiny and transparency.
By declaring that the Washington Post is somehow banned from covering him is an indictable offense that Trump is unAmerican.
Is Trump treasonous too? Let's continue that investigation.
"Jose DelReal is one of a small team of people who cover Donald Trump's presidential campaign for The Washington Post. On Wednesday, he was in Milwaukee to cover an appearance by Trump running mate Mike Pence. DelReal was barred from covering the event as a reporter, in keeping with Trump's six-week-old ban on The Washington Post. DelReal then tried to enter the event as a citizen. He was told he could not enter with a cell phone despite the fact that other people were not held to that same standard. He put his phone and computer in the car and again tried to enter. He was refused — again — and patted down. “I don’t want you here. You have to go,” the security official told him.
That should scare the hell out of you."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/07/28/a-washington-post-reporter-was-banned-from-a-trump-pence-rally-yesterday-that-should-frighten-you/?wpisrc=nl_most-draw6&wpmm=1
Trump has no right to bar any member of the press from covering his activities. That is an assured freedom in the United States of America. Donald Trump doesn't get it.
Some people believe that he has never read the U.S. Constitution either. That cannot be confirmed, yet what is apparent is that Trump thinks that he is above the law and morals that are indigenous in America.
It is long past time to dig deeper into Donald Trump and his "private" enterprise because his going public means higher scrutiny and transparency.
By declaring that the Washington Post is somehow banned from covering him is an indictable offense that Trump is unAmerican.
Is Trump treasonous too? Let's continue that investigation.
"Did Donald Trump Commit Treason?by PETE WILLIAMS"
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/did-donald-trump-commit-treason-n618941
Trump is walking a fine line
Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal Unacceptable
This analyst hasn't a clue about the effect of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal that has been in progress for years. In part, that is because negotiations are complex and largely behind the scenes. I have even had dinner with one of the negotiators, and all that I can tell you is that she is tough and brilliant, as well as being aligned with Democratic politics.
President Obama advocates the deal, of course, because it is part of his achievements. At this late date in his administration is it prudent to push it through or to allow the party nominee to kick the can down the road?
Would it be helpful for Clinton to address specific issues that are troublesome to Unions, or would that just open pandora's box for Trump?
"Unions want one thing from Hillary tonight: A stake in TPP’s heart
By Alexander Bolton - 07/28/16 06:00 AM EDT
PHILADELPHIA — Labor unions want Hillary Clinton to put a stake in the heart of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal once and for all on Thursday when she accepts the Democratic nomination for president at the party's national convention."
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/289568-unions-want-one-thing-from-hillary-tonight-a-stake-in-tpps-heart
Here is one big reason why Mrs. Clinton should not support TPP as it is today: it fails to support the goals for sustainable economics.
"This month’s long-awaited release of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) text was the result of years of negotiations on trade ties between nations around the Pacific Rim.
Some six weeks earlier, another set of deliberations came to an end as the United Nations unveiled its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality by addressing critical issues such as food security, health care, access to education, clean and affordable water, clean energy, and climate action.
Unfortunately, the two documents are incompatible. Several chapters of the TPP impinge upon the SDGs, potentially undermining the UN’s efforts to promote sustainable development and equality throughout the Pacific region. Moreover, many developing countries, least-developed countries, and small island states in the Pacific region are excluded from the preferential trade deal."
https://theconversation.com/the-trans-pacific-partnership-poses-a-grave-threat-to-sustainable-development-50398
theconversation.com/
Dumb it down for dummies?
If there is concern that Hillary Clinton and Democrats might be "rhetorically outmaneuvered." as suggested by Johnathan Swan at The Hill this morning, last night's speakers and content should lay that to rest. Democrats appear to have awakened and are emerging with sharp reprisals for Trump's blistering, albeit crude attacks.
Addressing the causes of terrorism, and countering threats with layers of protection is a complex task. Americans are not ignorant about the challenge. However, many needs continued enlightenment about the necessity to deal with threats while upholding the values of our democratic republic.
Many Democratic leaders are highly educated intellectuals, yet they have proven the ability to simplify messages so that they relate directly to the general public. In part, they can do that because they are the product of average Americans where they have their roots.
They connect to communities of Americans where they have been a part and of which they are a product.
Donald Trump isn't trying to educate his audience. He is rhetorically stringing them along. His many words, however, simple they may be, are catching up with him like the proverbial rope. Get the tar and feathers ready.
Addressing the causes of terrorism, and countering threats with layers of protection is a complex task. Americans are not ignorant about the challenge. However, many needs continued enlightenment about the necessity to deal with threats while upholding the values of our democratic republic.
Many Democratic leaders are highly educated intellectuals, yet they have proven the ability to simplify messages so that they relate directly to the general public. In part, they can do that because they are the product of average Americans where they have their roots.
They connect to communities of Americans where they have been a part and of which they are a product.
Donald Trump isn't trying to educate his audience. He is rhetorically stringing them along. His many words, however, simple they may be, are catching up with him like the proverbial rope. Get the tar and feathers ready.
"Dems fear Trump arguments on terrorism
By Jonathan Swan - 07/28/16 06:00 AM EDT
PHILADELPHIA — Prominent Democrats are worried their party will be painted as soft in the fight against terror.
Terrorism had hardly been discussed publicly at the Democratic convention – until Wednesday night’s series of national security speeches – but in private settings, fears about Donald Trump's use of the issue circulated among the party’s elite.
Noting polls that show Trump has a significant edge with voters on issues of national security and terrorism, Democrats worry he could defeat Hillary Clinton with the argument that she and her party have been too passive in the fight against ISIS."
http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/289565-dems-fear-trump-arguments-on-terrorism
Getty Images
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Trump says he has no business with Russians
Some U.S. officials believe that Russians are behind recent hacking and leaking that hinders Mrs. Clinton's campaign. Some have alleged that Donald Trump is cozy with the Russians and is aided by them as a result.
CBS News asked Trump and his campaign manager, and both said Trump has no business with the Russians. That would be easy to prove because the State Department, FBI, CIA, and IRS would all know, one way or the other.
New outlets might ask the official government departments if they have any information that suggests otherwise? It isn't a witch hunt, as much as getting the facts.
"For the record, I have ZERO investments in Russia.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2016
U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News Tuesday that they believe people working for the
Russian government are behind the hack of internal DNC emails.
In the interview Wednesday, however, Manafort was asked if Russia has investments in Trump and if Trump is willing to release his taxes to be transparent. Manafort said that Trump has no plan to release them because they're still under audit.
"Mr. Trump has said that his taxes are under audit, and he will not be releasing them. It has nothing to do with Russia, it has nothing to do with any country other than the United States and his normal tax auditing processes, so that issue will be dealt with when the audits are done," Manafort said."
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-denies-he-has-any-ties-to-russia/
This analyst doesn't appreciate false charges and mudslinging in any direction by either political party and their candidates because it is a distraction from essential content.
Since the "audit" process seems to be in the way of obtaining full disclosure and transparency, let's ask the IRS for a status check?
“Trump The Hypocrite: Investing Overseas Fine For Him
Stuart Anderson
I write about globalization, business, technology and immigration.
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
Donald Trump’s appeal is said to be his straight talk. But when it comes to international trade, he sounds like a hypocrite, the classic “Do what I say, not what I do” politician.
While bashing companies for investing in foreign countries, Donald Trump’s own company has shown no inclination to invest and build only in America. In fact, a significant percentage of his company’s hotels and major real estate properties are located abroad.
“Mr. Trump is either inexcusably hypocritical or inexcusably ignorant of economics,” according to Donald J. Boudreaux, a professor of economics at George Mason University. “There is zero economic difference between, say, a U.S. car company’s investments abroad in factories and Mr. Trump’s own investments abroad in hotels: both are meant to improve the bottom line of companies headquartered in the U.S. by taking advantage of profitable economic opportunities outside of the U.S.”
Yet a staple of Trump the candidate’s speeches has been to bash Ford Motor for building a plant in Mexico. “Trump has repeatedly said that if elected, he would not allow Ford to open a new plant in Mexico,” reported the Detroit News. “At his campaign announcement speech in New York in June, Trump said he would call [Ford CEO Mark] Fields to explain the ‘bad news.’”
“Let me give you the bad news: Every car, every truck and every part manufactured in this plant that comes across the border, we’re going to charge you a 35% tax,” Trump said. “They are going to take away thousands of jobs.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2015/08/17/trump-the-hypocrite-investing-overseas-fine-for-him/#4936fc0b936b
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Sinister developments
Much is happening in the American political theater, and the developments are seriously threatening to national security. Developments are not speculative theory. These facts make the danger real and present.
1. One or more hackers have said that they had hacked computer systems that include: Hillary Clinton emails, the Democratic National Committee emails.
2. Donald Trump apparently conducts business with the Russians, and it is imperative for American voters to understand his relationships thoroughly. That includes sharing his IRS filings.
3. WikiLeaks is about the business of obtaining information surreptitiously and leaking it. On one hand, it is a journalistic enterprise, on the other, it can be a partner in crimes.
Americans are at risk when foreign governments and spies become engaged in political tyranny. This is especially dangerous if politicians and their parties become engaged in the process. That is why it is imperative to call for action by the FBI and CIA to investigate what is happening.
1. One or more hackers have said that they had hacked computer systems that include: Hillary Clinton emails, the Democratic National Committee emails.
"Russian government hackers penetrated the computer network of the Democratic National Committee and gained access to the entire database of opposition research on GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, according to committee officials and security experts who responded to the breach.
The intruders so thoroughly compromised the DNC’s system that they also were able to read all email and chat traffic, said DNC officials and the security experts.
The intrusion into the DNC was one of several targeting American political organizations. The networks of presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were also targeted by Russian spies, as were the computers of some Republican political action committees, U.S. officials said. But details on those cases were not available."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/russian-government-hackers-penetrated-dnc-stole-opposition-research-on-trump/2016/06/14/cf006cb4-316e-11e6-8ff7-7b6c1998b7a0_story.html
2. Donald Trump apparently conducts business with the Russians, and it is imperative for American voters to understand his relationships thoroughly. That includes sharing his IRS filings.
"Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken favorably about Trump, who has called for better relations with Russia and expressed skepticism about NATO. But unlike Clinton, whom the Russians probably have long had in their spy sights, Trump has not been a politician for very long, so foreign agencies are playing catch-up, analysts say.
“The purpose of such intelligence gathering is to understand the target’s proclivities,” said Robert Deitz, former senior counselor to the CIA director and a former general counsel at the National Security Agency. “Trump’s foreign investments, for example, would be relevant to understanding how he would deal with countries where he has those investments” should he be elected, Deitz said. “They may provide tips for understanding his style of negotiating. In short, this sort of intelligence could be used by Russia, for example, to indicate where it can get away with foreign adventurism.”
Washington Post
3. WikiLeaks is about the business of obtaining information surreptitiously and leaking it. On one hand, it is a journalistic enterprise, on the other, it can be a partner in crimes.
"WikiLeaks has not revealed the source of the leaked emails, although in June a hacker using the name Guccifer 2.0 claimed responsibility for the hacking into the DNC’s computer network. On Sunday, however, Clinton’s campaign manager claimed the emails were leaked, quote, "by the Russians for the purpose of helping Donald Trump," unquote."
http://www.democracynow.org/2016/7/25/exclusive_wikileaks_julian_assange_on_releasing
"WikiLeaks /ˈwɪkiliːks/ is an international, non-profit,[3] journalistic[6][7][8] organization, that publishes secret information, news leaks,[9] and classified media from anonymous sources."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WikiLeaks
Americans are at risk when foreign governments and spies become engaged in political tyranny. This is especially dangerous if politicians and their parties become engaged in the process. That is why it is imperative to call for action by the FBI and CIA to investigate what is happening.
"Who wins if Vladimir Putin meddles in the U.S. election?
By Stephen Collinson, CNN
Updated 10:46 AM ET, Tue July 26, 2016"
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/26/politics/vladimir-putin-trump-clinton-dnc-hack/
Julian Assange, WikiLeaks
Trump and Putin
Is Trump an agent of Putin? Here is possible evidence.
Iraq strategy is for Iraq to figure
If I were advising Iraq about how to rebuild after the bulk of ISIS combatants have been reduced, and knowing that insurgents lurk in the shadows, here are an offering of ideas.
Theme: Community by community
The main idea is to rebuild each community by ensuring that layers of leadership know their citizens and that citizens know their leaders and one another as their own families.
Security based on knowing your neighbor.
Iraq must improve its elected representation such that the leadership is respected among both the Sunni, Shiite, and Kurd populations. Deficiencies in leadership make future U.S. engagements in Iraq at risk. The State Department needs to hammer the top leadership for change and improvement.
The subject cities need to be cordoned by micro communities such that a citizen-led system of profiling neighbors is established such that citizens have situational awareness. In the process, any remaining insurgents should be flushed into the open for active resolution by the authorities. This action isn't an ideal democratic experience, yet the risk of devastating violence 's too big for passive acceptance of ISIS members.
Establishing neighborhood police authority is essential, and that requires training and equipping police as well as establishing a secure communications network among the communities.
Theme: Community by community
The main idea is to rebuild each community by ensuring that layers of leadership know their citizens and that citizens know their leaders and one another as their own families.
Security based on knowing your neighbor.
"Democracies make for stronger and stabler partners. They trade more, innovate more, and fight less. They help divided societies to air and hopefully resolve their differences. They hold inept leaders accountable at the polls. They channel people’s energies away from extremism and toward political and civic engagement….
So for all these reasons … opening political systems, societies, and economies is not simply a matter of idealism. It is a strategic necessity."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, November 7, 2011
Iraq must improve its elected representation such that the leadership is respected among both the Sunni, Shiite, and Kurd populations. Deficiencies in leadership make future U.S. engagements in Iraq at risk. The State Department needs to hammer the top leadership for change and improvement.
The subject cities need to be cordoned by micro communities such that a citizen-led system of profiling neighbors is established such that citizens have situational awareness. In the process, any remaining insurgents should be flushed into the open for active resolution by the authorities. This action isn't an ideal democratic experience, yet the risk of devastating violence 's too big for passive acceptance of ISIS members.
Establishing neighborhood police authority is essential, and that requires training and equipping police as well as establishing a secure communications network among the communities.
"As ISIS Loosens Grip, U.S. and Iraq Prepare for Grinding Insurgency
By MICHAEL SCHMIDT and ERIC SCHMITTJULY 25, 2016"
Not much to build upon
Photo: New York Times
Monday, July 25, 2016
Impoverished Whites turn Right to Trump
There is a disturbing story in Salon that offers insight into why Donald Trump has gained traction with white males. It is because many white families and men find themselves to be impoverished.
I have written about this growing circumstance without calling attention to race. The theme is the need for a sustainable economy that affords adequate opportunity and upward mobility for all citizens. Today's economic model that is capitalism fails to do that.
Republicans may argue that capitalism is the only answer. I have argued for making capitalism sustainable by addressing systemic deficiencies.
First, there must be a balance among three dimensions: economic performance, social responsibility, and environmental responsibility.
Second, there must be an immediate transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Third, there must be investment and support for genius entrepreneurs and inventors who address the needs and challenges to accomplishing the transformation to a new economic paradigm.
Government policy that supports optimizing return on national resources is essential.
Following the baby boom, the bottom fell from opportunity beginning in the 1970s. There has been no adequate replacement. Wealthy persons succeeded leaving a vast number of poor people behind. Impoverished minorities could not awaken politicians. Now, the number of poor white people has increased to such an extent that their dissatisfaction is being leveraged by an ironic bedfellow that is Donald Trump.
Democrats under Hilliary or whomever, need to produce a plan for engineering opportunity that is a product of the public and private partnership. That is where the Clintons can apply their intellect and wealth to make a difference. They had better have an answer ready this week.
"Growth in white poverty fuels Trump’s run: Largely ignoring the trend has consequences
The GOP overlooked the poverty that's spread to white suburbs — those neglected Americans turned to Trump
ROBERT HENNELLY"
Salon
I have written about this growing circumstance without calling attention to race. The theme is the need for a sustainable economy that affords adequate opportunity and upward mobility for all citizens. Today's economic model that is capitalism fails to do that.
Republicans may argue that capitalism is the only answer. I have argued for making capitalism sustainable by addressing systemic deficiencies.
First, there must be a balance among three dimensions: economic performance, social responsibility, and environmental responsibility.
Second, there must be an immediate transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Third, there must be investment and support for genius entrepreneurs and inventors who address the needs and challenges to accomplishing the transformation to a new economic paradigm.
Government policy that supports optimizing return on national resources is essential.
"According to the Brookings Institute’s “The Growth and Spread of Concentrated Poverty” between 2008 and 2012 our urban poor population grew overall by 21 percent “while in suburbs it more than doubled, growing by 105 percent.” Almost every major metropolitan area in the country saw the number of suburban families living in high poverty and distressed neighborhoods go up.
Over the same period the percentage of white households, living in census tracts where at least 20 percent of the population is living below the poverty line, spiked from 30 percent to 37 percent. Concurrently the percentage of African-American and Latino households living in those depressed zip codes dropped by 4 percent. For foreign born families there was a 3 percent decline.
“Lower-poverty neighborhoods became somewhat more diverse, although residents of those neighborhoods remain largely white,” according to the Brookings analysis, “In contrast, higher-poverty neighborhoods became more white.”
“Although severely concentrated disadvantage remains a predominantly urban phenomenon, suburbs now have nearly as many poor residents in high-poverty neighborhoods as cities. If these communities are ignored, they could become areas of concentrated poverty over time,” concludes the Brookings report."
http://www.salon.com/2016/07/25/growth_in_white_poverty_fuels_trumps_run_largely_ignoring_the_trend_has_consequences/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
Following the baby boom, the bottom fell from opportunity beginning in the 1970s. There has been no adequate replacement. Wealthy persons succeeded leaving a vast number of poor people behind. Impoverished minorities could not awaken politicians. Now, the number of poor white people has increased to such an extent that their dissatisfaction is being leveraged by an ironic bedfellow that is Donald Trump.
Democrats under Hilliary or whomever, need to produce a plan for engineering opportunity that is a product of the public and private partnership. That is where the Clintons can apply their intellect and wealth to make a difference. They had better have an answer ready this week.
philanthropy.com
Honestly, Hillary
Soon, Hillary Clinton will become the nominee of the Democratic Party. It will come with less rancor than that of Donald Trump's convention. However, there is no less controversy as an open letter in the Huffington Post by Alexandra Scott demonstrates. There is also a threat from Wikileaks about more damaging information about the Clinton Foundation. There is also the charges of corrupt and illegal interference by Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the nominating process that put Bernie Sanders at a significant disadvantage.
Scott's letter warns Clinton that her issues will impede the Democratic Party's ability to present and debate priority topics and concerns:
What is Hillary to do?
1. Let the Democratic Party counter every ad and slam by Republicans on Benghazi with a counter punch.
2. Position Bill Clinton's peccadilloes as old news, and irrelevant. For every Republican punch, hit them with a Trump counterpunch because his life is equally or more perverse.
3. Assign a uniquely qualified lawyer and an accounting firm to address questions about The Clinton Foundation finances. Triage and compartmentalize issues and responses with due process as protection.
An example of the litany of harsh criticisms is this:
Let's put this into perspective. Having searched for information about Barbara Joanna Lucas, here is how she describes herself:
Countering this independent writer might be a job for Donna Brazile, in her spare time, of course.
Scott's letter warns Clinton that her issues will impede the Democratic Party's ability to present and debate priority topics and concerns:
- Benghazi
- Bill’s peccadilloes
- Finances of the Clinton Foundation
- General Republican antipathy towards Hillary
"Huffington Post Runs Open Letter to Hillary — What It Asks Her to Do Might Make Democrats Nervous
BY MIKE MILLER (8 DAYS AGO) | ELECTIONS."
http://ijr.com/2016/07/651449-huffington-post-runs-open-letter-to-hillary-what-it-asks-her-to-do-might-make-democrats-nervous/
What is Hillary to do?
1. Let the Democratic Party counter every ad and slam by Republicans on Benghazi with a counter punch.
2. Position Bill Clinton's peccadilloes as old news, and irrelevant. For every Republican punch, hit them with a Trump counterpunch because his life is equally or more perverse.
3. Assign a uniquely qualified lawyer and an accounting firm to address questions about The Clinton Foundation finances. Triage and compartmentalize issues and responses with due process as protection.
An example of the litany of harsh criticisms is this:
"The Clinton Foundation: A cauldron of conflicts and cronyism
MAY 12, 2015 / CRC STAFF
By Barbara Joanna Lucas, Foundation Watch, May 2015"
https://capitalresearch.org/2015/05/the-clinton-foundation-a-cauldron-of-conflicts-and-cronyism/
Let's put this into perspective. Having searched for information about Barbara Joanna Lucas, here is how she describes herself:
"About me
Gender FEMALE
Occupation Health Care Professional
Location Washington, D.C. Area, United States
Introduction I live in the Washington, D.C. area, but I'm not of the Beltway culture. As a longtime political observer and serious news consumer, I want to challenge the fiscal insanity and crony capitalism infecting our government, and I'm very interested in seeing your input.
Interests Travel, reading, spending quality time with my dog Jake, taking walks, and listening to good music.
Favorite Movies Braveheart, Fireproof, The Conspirator, Rush Hour, Big Mama and Tyler Perry movies.
Favorite Music Country music, pop music, disco.
Favorite Books I enjoy reading financial books by Dave Ramsey and inspirational books Joel Osteen."
https://www.blogger.com/profile/08393829662359703207
Countering this independent writer might be a job for Donna Brazile, in her spare time, of course.
U.S. State Department Photo
Friday, July 22, 2016
How to evaluate prospective healthcare legislation
Here is what I will yield to the Obamacare opposition:
Here is what I ask the Obamacare opponents, principally Republicans to address and consider:
As the former CBS News Affordable Care Act writer, I know something about the subject. As former program manager for the Emergency System for the Advanced Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals, I am familiar with the issues concerning the unevenness of standards for health care among the states. As a former consultant to the federal government for 25 years in the realm of systems engineering, I know something about the process involved in transforming legislation into operational systems.
A fundamental problem persists, and that is how the branches of government, principally the Executive and Legislative branches address the development of laws and regulations that attend essential needs such as ensuring all Americans with the most affordable healthcare.
What appears to be one problem in the process is that actuaries underestimated the size of the population who have significant health care requirements. They did not allow for enough cost, and therefore the premiums must be raised. That situation is debatable and must be examined by third-party auditors to understand the facts.
Implementation of all laws and regulations should be modeled and simulated in advance to understand the projected performance and cost exposure. The Congressional Budget Office and Government Accountability Office are instruments for accomplishing this. When system performance deficiencies are identified and quantified, then analysts can determine causes with implications for precise changes and improvements. That is a part of the government continuous improvement process that is implicit in our Constitutional system.
Attacking the problem without engaging the system and offering transparent solutions, including competing performance models is unacceptable because it fails to provide citizens with proper information on which to evaluate alternatives.
As co-author of Smart Data, Enterprise Performance Optimization Strategy (c) 2010, Wiley Publishing, I have offered an explicit change in how legislators and the executive branch can address our considerable needs.
- The legislation was rushed in development.
- The legislation lacked bipartisan development.
- The Affordable Care Act contains flaws.
- The Affordable Care Act implementation was bungled.
- The resulting implementation of the ACA aka Obamacare has produced mixed results.
- The Affordable Care Act theoretically appeared to produce favorable results.
Here is what I ask the Obamacare opponents, principally Republicans to address and consider:
- Republican legislators opposed addressing the problem created by 30+ million citizens being uninsured or deficiently insured with affordable healthcare.
- Republican legislators opposed addressing runaway healthcare costs that undermine American business competitiveness and quality healthcare for all Americans.
- When forced, after years of trying to retract the Affordable Healthcare Act, they finally began to consider the topic but failed to advance legislation even when they controlled both Congressional chambers.
As the former CBS News Affordable Care Act writer, I know something about the subject. As former program manager for the Emergency System for the Advanced Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals, I am familiar with the issues concerning the unevenness of standards for health care among the states. As a former consultant to the federal government for 25 years in the realm of systems engineering, I know something about the process involved in transforming legislation into operational systems.
A fundamental problem persists, and that is how the branches of government, principally the Executive and Legislative branches address the development of laws and regulations that attend essential needs such as ensuring all Americans with the most affordable healthcare.
What appears to be one problem in the process is that actuaries underestimated the size of the population who have significant health care requirements. They did not allow for enough cost, and therefore the premiums must be raised. That situation is debatable and must be examined by third-party auditors to understand the facts.
Implementation of all laws and regulations should be modeled and simulated in advance to understand the projected performance and cost exposure. The Congressional Budget Office and Government Accountability Office are instruments for accomplishing this. When system performance deficiencies are identified and quantified, then analysts can determine causes with implications for precise changes and improvements. That is a part of the government continuous improvement process that is implicit in our Constitutional system.
Attacking the problem without engaging the system and offering transparent solutions, including competing performance models is unacceptable because it fails to provide citizens with proper information on which to evaluate alternatives.
As co-author of Smart Data, Enterprise Performance Optimization Strategy (c) 2010, Wiley Publishing, I have offered an explicit change in how legislators and the executive branch can address our considerable needs.
Monday, July 18, 2016
Republican's debate degrees of conservatism
Republicans are remarkably out of step with mainstream Americans.
At a Wall Street Journal-sponsored luncheon, Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan said that he believed the Donald Trump is a conservative, just not his kind of conservative. First off, are American voters asking for a "black-belt." in conservatism as a criterion for the presidency. To this analyst, that is a distracting topic. However, it shows how far off base Republicans are from connecting with the American middle class and poor who want a functional government.
The Republican Party is clearly divided between radicalized extremist bigots and more moderate members who might truly want to gain reelection. American voters don't want radicalized extremists as much as they want a government that provides essential services in the context of a sustainable economy with protection at home and abroad.
At a Wall Street Journal-sponsored luncheon, Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan said that he believed the Donald Trump is a conservative, just not his kind of conservative. First off, are American voters asking for a "black-belt." in conservatism as a criterion for the presidency. To this analyst, that is a distracting topic. However, it shows how far off base Republicans are from connecting with the American middle class and poor who want a functional government.
"Ryan and Trump have had their differences throughout the 2016 campaign cycle. The Speaker, who was the party's vice presidential nominee in 2012, has rejected some of Trump’s more extreme statements and positions: Ryan called Trump’s proposed ban on Muslim immigration “unconstitutional,” blasted his attacks on a Mexican-American judge as “racist,” and chided the candidate for refusing to quickly disavow support from a white supremacist."
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/288195-ryan-trump-not-my-kind-of-conservative
The Republican Party is clearly divided between radicalized extremist bigots and more moderate members who might truly want to gain reelection. American voters don't want radicalized extremists as much as they want a government that provides essential services in the context of a sustainable economy with protection at home and abroad.
Image from skydancingblog.com
Trump and White-Wing Thugs
Bigots have the right to say what they want. However, citizens also have the right and responsibility to confront hate and ignorance for what it is. Somehow, we have permitted the reality television phenomenon to pervade and desensitize our values to such an extent that some of us are enamored by outrageous spewing by people who enjoy fighting in public that includes hostile language and even physical violence.
Commingled with that, we have the Republican political party trolling for votes beyond the top 5% of wealthy persons. The party knows that it cannot garner a winning number among the middle class unless they dig deep into the poorest and most ignorant rung. There, they must segregate the audience because their message is unappealing to African Americans and Latinos.
What can they do? They can appeal to people based upon race. They can position as the party for white people. They can employ fear as a tactic to divide the public such that they skim some poor white and right-wing religious persons to their side.
Meanwhile, opportunistic broadcasters, often who lack academic and professional credentials, are making a living by using hateful and bigoted ideas, packaging them as political and religious conservatism, and attempting to make their messages sound patriotic.
Now, with the help of candidate Donald Trump, they are refining their message by saying explicitly and symbolically, "We are for white men. And, we are for law and order that we intend to enforce our way."
Here is an example:
Former Rep. Joe Walsh -- under fire for a deleted tweet saying "This is now war" against President Barack Obama following the killings of Dallas police officers -- defended his rhetoric Friday.
Walsh, a former tea party congressman from Illinois and now a conservative talk radio host, tweeted in the wake of the Dallas shootings, "3 Dallas Cops killed, 7 wounded. This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out black lives matter punks. Real America is coming after you.”
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/08/politics/joe-walsh-obama-war-tweet/?wpmm=1&wpisrc=nl_wonk
"Donald Trump turns up the racially charged rhetoric with three simple words
By Max Ehrenfreund July 18 at 1:01 PM
Donald Trump is calling himself the candidate of law and order. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
Ahead of the Republican national convention in Cleveland this week, Donald Trump is doubling down on a phrase burdened by the country's history of racial strife.
"We have to bring law and order back to this country," the presumptive nominee said on Fox & Friends Monday morning.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/07/18/donald-trump-turns-up-the-racially-charged-rhetoric-with-3-simple-words/
Spewing hatred.
The 'Law and Order' Candidate
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Candidates alignment with party platforms
In my books in progress, I address the importance in considering a candidate's alignment with their political party. Loyalty, allegiance, and alignment go hand-in-hand. One cannot represent party constituents if their manifesto is misaligned with their party's platform.
A party platform is a slate of foundational ideas and values that represent a political party's brand toward supporting the US Constitution and political system.
A candidate's manifesto is a more specific instance of how the political party's platform will be made actionable and operational during a candidates prospective incumbency. A candidate's manifesto is made operational through a presidential agenda, plans, programs, schedules, and budgets.
In the American political system, the leading party's incumbent must negotiate with Congress in the implementation of the presidential agenda that is an extension of his or her party. The process requires bipartisan collaboration and consensus to the extent that voters produce a diversely populated House and Senate.
When you read that the Speaker of the House "treads carefully with Trump," that says that the relationship between the Speaker and the prospective president is tentative at best.
"Ryan treads carefully with Trump
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is the chairman of the Republican National Convention, but don’t expect him to give Donald Trump a full-throated endorsement when he steps on stage in Cleveland."
The Hill
Image: NBC News
Friday, July 15, 2016
Knock down drag out over what is America
By selecting Indiana Governor, Mike Pence as his VP running mate, Donald Trump is presenting the challenge to Americans to define itself as a nation. Are Americans economically, politically, socially, and environmentally conservative or not? It may be that American voters are witnessing the last gasp from white male well-to-do's to corral ideologically right-wing extremists to form a voting majority. Is that possible? Is it probable?
The alternative is Hillary Clinton, who is a centrist Democrat whose party has moved her to the left. Her appeal is to women and to minorities of all kinds who may feel alienated by the GOP. Democrats are arguably more compassionate, and more committed to improving economic conditions from government policy engineering.
While Trump has shored up his conservative bonafide with the addition of Mike Pence, Hillary Clinton must decide which alternative candidate can strengthen her liberal credentials while adding a critical state. That might bode well for former Virginia Governor and Senator, Tim Kaine.
When it comes to debating what America needs, this analyst hopes that the battle for ideas is centered upon sustainable economics. Which ticket has the best plan and war forward for creating upward mobile job opportunities with prosperity that is sufficient to eliminate poverty in America?
The alternative is Hillary Clinton, who is a centrist Democrat whose party has moved her to the left. Her appeal is to women and to minorities of all kinds who may feel alienated by the GOP. Democrats are arguably more compassionate, and more committed to improving economic conditions from government policy engineering.
While Trump has shored up his conservative bonafide with the addition of Mike Pence, Hillary Clinton must decide which alternative candidate can strengthen her liberal credentials while adding a critical state. That might bode well for former Virginia Governor and Senator, Tim Kaine.
When it comes to debating what America needs, this analyst hopes that the battle for ideas is centered upon sustainable economics. Which ticket has the best plan and war forward for creating upward mobile job opportunities with prosperity that is sufficient to eliminate poverty in America?
Clinton and Trump brawl for defining America
Are Americans Conservative?
American voters might be described as practical people, most of whom know how to live and manage within budget constraints. For the most part, they are economically responsible and frugal by necessity. That is particularly the case during periods of economic cycles when job opportunities are constrained as is economic mobility.
While Americans are sometimes impulsive consumers, that consumptive behavior has limits. Therefore, it is natural for them to extrapolate that behavior for application to their government. Citizens are the first to acknowledge the limited capacity of government to attend to all possible needs.
In that sense, Americans are economically conservative by necessity.
The government is the instrument used by citizens to address priority needs and requirements that help ensure that all Americans have equal opportunities in the pursuit of happiness.
"Happiness" may be defined as a "good life for all," meaning that no one should live in poverty and that everyone who is able should work to perform at their optimal capacity. Ensuring a good life for all requires optimizing individual performance while minimizing lagging and underdeveloped capacity.
While conservative advocates such as William F. Bukley, Jr. deplored the idea that government can or should engineer economic performance, more liberal populists disagree and embrace the idea.
A good life for all isn't likely to happen by laissez-faire intentions as we experience today. Intervention by the government as an instrument of We, the People, is essential to help balance between public, private and government enterprise to optimize return on national resources.
Perhaps asking about American conservatism is the wrong question. The question is, are Americans willing to support the ideals guaranteed in the nation's Constitution? Can Americans manage the government that exists in their name to ensure liberty, justice, and equality for all?
While Americans are sometimes impulsive consumers, that consumptive behavior has limits. Therefore, it is natural for them to extrapolate that behavior for application to their government. Citizens are the first to acknowledge the limited capacity of government to attend to all possible needs.
In that sense, Americans are economically conservative by necessity.
The government is the instrument used by citizens to address priority needs and requirements that help ensure that all Americans have equal opportunities in the pursuit of happiness.
"Happiness" may be defined as a "good life for all," meaning that no one should live in poverty and that everyone who is able should work to perform at their optimal capacity. Ensuring a good life for all requires optimizing individual performance while minimizing lagging and underdeveloped capacity.
While conservative advocates such as William F. Bukley, Jr. deplored the idea that government can or should engineer economic performance, more liberal populists disagree and embrace the idea.
A good life for all isn't likely to happen by laissez-faire intentions as we experience today. Intervention by the government as an instrument of We, the People, is essential to help balance between public, private and government enterprise to optimize return on national resources.
Perhaps asking about American conservatism is the wrong question. The question is, are Americans willing to support the ideals guaranteed in the nation's Constitution? Can Americans manage the government that exists in their name to ensure liberty, justice, and equality for all?
"Among our convictions:
It is the job of centralized government (in peacetime) to protect its citizens' lives, liberty and property. All other activities of government tend to diminish freedom and hamper progress. The growth of government (the dominant social feature of this century) must be fought relentlessly. In this great social conflict of the era, we are, without reservations, on the libertarian side. The profound crisis of our era is, in essence, the conflict between the Social Engineers, who seek to adjust mankind to conform with scientific utopias, and the disciples of Truth, who defend the organic moral order. We believe that truth is neither arrived at nor illuminated by monitoring election results, binding though these are for other purposes, but by other means, including a study of human experience. On this point we are, without reservations, on the conservative side."
William F. Buckley, Jr.
“In the United States there has never been a national political party called the Conservative Party.[36] All major American political parties support republicanism and the basic classical liberal ideals on which the country was founded in 1776, emphasizing liberty, the pursuit of happiness, the rule of law, the consent of the governed, opposition to aristocracy, and fear of corruption, coupled with equal rights—at first for free, White, Christian men, but gradually extended to all adult citizens.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism_in_the_United_States
William F. Buckley, Jr., National Review
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Crime in America is down, not up
Grabbing the headlines as Trump is want to do, he is exploiting the current crime disasters to make the case that crime is up, and America needs a "law and order" president. By all statistics, Barack Obama has been a law and order president because the trends are down, not up.
It is no longer about Obama as his administration is over. Hillary Clinton has long been viewed as rock solid when it comes to justice and law enforcement. Therefore, voters should be wary of Trump's attempt to pit Americans against Americans at a time when a uniter is needed and not a divider.
"Here are some highlights from Crime in the United States, 2014:
FBI Facts
https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2015/september/latest-crime-stats-released/latest-crime-stats-released
Therefore, Trump chooses to divide and not to unite.
It is no longer about Obama as his administration is over. Hillary Clinton has long been viewed as rock solid when it comes to justice and law enforcement. Therefore, voters should be wary of Trump's attempt to pit Americans against Americans at a time when a uniter is needed and not a divider.
"Here are some highlights from Crime in the United States, 2014:
FBI Facts
- There were an estimated 1,165,383 violent crimes (murder and non-negligent homicides, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults) reported by law enforcement.
- Aggravated assaults accounted for 63.6 percent of the violent crimes reported, while robberies accounted for 28.0 percent, rape 7.2 percent, and murders 1.2 percent.
- There were an estimated 8,277,829 property crimes (burglaries, larceny-thefts, and motor vehicle thefts) reported by law enforcement. Financial losses suffered by victims of these crimes were calculated at approximately $14.3 billion.
- Larceny-theft accounted for 70.8 percent of all property crimes reported, burglary for 20.9 percent, and motor vehicle theft for 8.3 percent
- Police made an estimated 11,205,833 arrests during 2014—498,666 for violent crimes, and 1,553,980 for property crimes. More than 73 percent of those arrested during 2014 were male.
- The highest number of arrests was for drug abuse violations (1,561,231), followed by larceny-theft (1,238,190) and driving under the influence (1,117,852)."
https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2015/september/latest-crime-stats-released/latest-crime-stats-released
“The Shaky Basis for Trump's 'Law and Order' Campaign
The presumptive Republican nominee is delivering racially tinged warnings that “crime is out of control,” but the numbers suggest otherwise.
Jim Bourg / Reuters
DAVID A. GRAHAM”
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/trump-law-and-order/490940/
“With that in mind, some political experts suggested Trump's "law-and-order" push is another indication that the billionaire businessman sees the surest route to the White House in energizing the white, male, working-class voters who largely constitute his base, rather than shifting his general-election message to appeal to minorities and women.”
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/287635-trumps-law-and-order-gamble
Therefore, Trump chooses to divide and not to unite.
Monday, July 11, 2016
Scoring Mike Pence as VP nominee
Donald Trump is considering Mike Pence as his running mate. If Trump asks, Pence must decide whether or not to give up his governorship of Indiana to become the VP nominee.
Since the credentials for Vice President should be the same as for President, how does Pence score using a system advocated by this analyst?
First, consider his resume.
Go to Wiki to see his resume.
“Mike Pence
50th Governor of IndianaIncumbentAssumed office January 14, 2013
Chair of the House Republican Conference
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 6th district
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 2nd district
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Personal details
Born Michael Richard PenceJune 7, 1959 (age 57) Columbus, Indiana,
U.S.Political party Republican
Residence Governor's Residence
Alma mater Hanover College
Indiana University, Indianapolis
Religion Evangelicalism
After graduating from Hanover, Pence worked as an admissions counselor at the college from 1981 to 1983.[8] After graduating from law school in 1986, Pence worked as an attorney in private practice.[9] He continued to practice law following his second unsuccessful run for Congress. In 1991, he became the president of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation, a self-described free-market think tank and a member of the State Policy Network.[10]
Pence left the Indiana Policy Review Foundation in 1994, when he began a career in talk radio. He hosted The Mike Pence Show, which was based in WRCR-FM in Rushville. The show was syndicated by Network Indiana and aired weekdays 9 a.m. to noon (ET) on 18 stations throughout the state, including WIBC in Indianapolis.[11] From 1995 to 1999, Pence also hosted a weekend political talk show out of Indianapolis.[12][13]”
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/287035-buzz-builds-around-pence-for-trumps-vp
In summary, Mike Pence is a lawyer politician who had a stint as a successful radio host. He leveraged his abilities to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and then to become governor of the State of Indiana.
Beyond having commercial business CEO experience, Pence credentials are strong.
Evaluation Criterion/Score/Value
Qualifications Required by Law
1
Home state or location from which the candidate is from
1
IQ: H-3, M-2, L-0
3
College Graduate BS/BA
2
GPA: H-3, M-2, L-0
3
Academic Honors and Distinctions
0
Post Graduate – Masters
2
PhD
0
Certifications: Bar, CPA, Cert. Engineer, MD
2
Occupation/Vocation: Law/CPA/Professional, 2
CEO, 2
Other, 1
2
Health: Excellent, 2; Good, 1; Poor, 0
2
Affected Class
0
Character
3
Leadership
3
Continuing Education and Training
1
Knowledge
3
Skill
3
Life History
0
Platform/Agenda
2
Relationships +1, -1, 0
1
Political Party
2
Values
3
Military Experience: Veteran, 3; Officer, 2; None, 0
0
Public Office: Vice President
0
Public Office: Judge
0
Department Secretary
0
Governor
2
U. S. Senator
0
U. S. Representative
2
Mayor
0
State Legislator
0
Other Public Office
1
Private Sector CEO/President
0
Private Sector VP
0
Private Sector Director
0
Manager
2
Entrepreneur
2
Inventor
0
Memberships
1
Religion: Matters, Irrelevant, Private
1
Incumbency: Acceptable-10, Unacceptable, 0
0
Pre-Presidential Score
51/83
Image from ABC News
Friday, July 8, 2016
Bully Americans
Violence in America is happening born from the hate of all kinds. Our propensity to solve problems with aggressive force instead of reason is insidious. How did I arrive at the conclusion?
One way was to consider how other nations deal with guns. Nations in which law enforcement officers do not routinely carry guns are significantly less violent. While some nations are gun-toting like the U.S., their culture is more homogenous, and they tend to be simpler societies. That is not like in the U.S.
The problem with our culture begins with the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. That amendment happened at a particular moment in history when conditions warranted that language. The nation has vastly matured since then.
There is a notion that government (which is by the people) is somehow our enemy. That is convoluted thinking. The government in the U.S. democratic republic is not now nor has it ever been the enemy of the people.
At different periods in history, citizens more or less lost control of its government by electing people to office who have no clue about the Constitution and their responsibilities to the electorate. They are deficiently qualified for office.
Our standards for electing them lack, as they are for what to expect from political parties. I digress.
Changing our culture from being bullies to being compassionate is a long-term proposition because America has a very violent history.
Dallas's leaders may be the ones who lead us through this horror
on July 08, 2016 at 3:10 PM, updated July 08, 2016 at 3:17 PM
You're going to remember where you were.
You're going to remember where you were when you first heard or saw "shots fired" in Dallas, when you later learned four, then five officers were dead—that 12, in all, were shot.
You're also going to remember where you were when you first watched Philando Castile take his last breath as his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds went live and share the horrific experience she and her four-year-old daughter will live over and over and over for the rest for their lives.
And where you were when you first saw Alton Sterling twitching on the ground twitching as his own life slipped away, minutes after he was selling CDs on the street.
Some of you may be old enough, like me, to remember where you were when you heard that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, or when Rev. Martin Luther King or
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy were gunned down.
Or when 9/11 happened.
You'll remember because, like each of those national tragedies, the events of this week will forever change us.
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2016/07/dallass_leaders_may_be_the_one.html
Dallas Police Chief David Brown collects himself while talking about Thursday night's shooting during a news conference, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas. Snipers opened fire on police officers in the heart of Dallas Thursday night, during protests over two recent fatal police shootings of black men. (Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via AP) (Mark Mulligan)
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