'Mexico is not yours to play with'

It is odd that President Peña Nieto agreed to meet with Donald Trump in a hastily prepared face-to-face event. Trump is most unwelcome in Mexico and only a few hours after the meeting he will deliver an immigration speech in Phoenix, Arizona. That timing plainly appears to be just an exploitative photo opportunity.

"Former President Vicente Fox, an outspoken Trump critic, said on Mexican television that the visit would be an opportunity for Trump to mock Peña Nieto on his home turf. Fox told Milenio TV that Trump is not welcome and that “he has offended us, he has deceived us; he has discriminated against us.” 

The Washington Post

The entire circumstance demonstrates the Donald Trump does not appreciate the magnitude of importance in meeting with a head of state. Nor does it indicate the quality thought that is essential for making American foreign policy.

Let's hear and analyze what transpires very carefully. The meeting in Mexico could be a make-it-or-break-it event for Donald Trump. A colossal failure would likely terminate his prospects.

Getty Image

Details matter, not just style and nuance

Donald Trump laid down the gauntlet on immigration with outrageous ideas and insulting policies. He attracted followers based on those policy ideas such as claims that Mexicans are criminals and that he intended to wall them out.

He alienated Latinos and African Americans too over the course of his campaign, and now he wants to change their minds. He is a witness who has lied before the court of public opinion. He can't change what he has said without being a liar.

He may have conned some people, but the majority of Americans are too smart and too compassionate for Donald Trump.

"5 things to watch for in Trump's immigration speech
By Ben Kamisar - 08/31/16 06:00 AM EDT 

Donald Trump heads to Arizona Wednesday for a pivotal immigration speech that could put to rest weeks of uncertainty.  

The GOP nominee has publicly wrestled with his signature issue for more than a week, prompting intense media and political speculation as well as concern from some of his most ardent supporters.  

What’s his tone? 

Like other major Trump speeches, the style and rhetoric could be as important as the content." 

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/293853-5-things-to-watch-for-in-trumps-immigration-speech

You can change your tone, but you can't change the tune that you have already scribed.

Trump's Gifs

How to Select an American President: Virtually nothing Hillary did is worse than Trump

How to Select an American President: Virtually nothing Hillary did is worse than Trump: The Clintons set about with a foundation to do good deeds and noble purpose work. They solicited contributions with much success, leveraging...

Virtually nothing Hillary did is worse than Trump

The Clintons set about with a foundation to do good deeds and noble purpose work. They solicited contributions with much success, leveraging their positions as former President and First Lady. The relationship between Mrs. Clinton as Secretary of State while her husband and daughter were engaged in the "foundation" created potential conflicts of interest. The operation was above board and regulated. The benefit to recipients in need far outweighed indiscretion.

Contrast that with the billionaire, Donald Trump, whose business model left communities, suppliers, and taxpayers holding the bag for his failures. Trump's business model is to game the system and win. Surely he and his family benefited from that with tiny trickling down to people who need it.

Donald Trump to this moment exclaims that his policies and actions have not been bigoted. History proves otherwise. Now, he attempts to paint Mrs. Clinton with the same brush that he uses to spread bigotry and hate through his actions and deeds.

Americans need to turn off the spigot on this hateful and unAmerican candidate. These are the times that try men's souls, and for unenlightened men, their souls will be fried by women at the polls.

Screen capture from CNN

What does it mean to broaden Trump appeal?

The news is that Donald Trump must broaden his appeal to become more competitive. He can't bank on WikeLeaks and the trickle of Hillary emails to bring her down. The essence from leakage is that politics contains a dynamic of quid pro quo, money for favors. There are slick and legal ways to do that. There are regulated lobbyists, and there are private foundations. No matter how it is accomplished, it happens because that is life?

What if Donald Trump convinced more Americans to be like him or to like him simply more and vote for his presidency?

• Americans would have to become more bigoted.
• American would have to be more resentful of immigrants.
• Americans would have to be less compassionate.
• Americans would have to surrender their allegiance to an autocrat.
• Americans would have to be less respectful of women.
• Americans would have to be less trustworthy to allied nations.
• Americans would have to break treaties.
• Americans would have to become less American.

What is the likelihood of that?

Trump America, Outsourced

How to Select an American President: American health care: profit or nonprofit?

How to Select an American President: American health care: profit or nonprofit?: A story from The Hill this morning describes how the markets are segmented in America, mostly driven by demographics, largely urban and sma...

American health care: profit or nonprofit?

A story from The Hill this morning describes how the markets are segmented in America, mostly driven by demographics, largely urban and smaller rural states and communities. Those facts reveal what Republicans might describe as market-driven dynamics. More insurers will compete for the larger markets, and fewer will address the smaller segments. That results in significant cost differences and more or less choices.

Cost disparity is why government intervenes with laws and regulations that distribute costs more evenly. We see that all of the time in the utility market, for instance.

Progressives argue that since profit-motivated capitalists will never attend social responsibility without intervention, that health care should be addressed as a public utility service instead. Conservatives will argue that creating a government bureaucracy to provide and administer healthcare is socialistic and will lead to excess and inefficiency.

The world is filled with successful examples where democratic nations have chosen to provide health care as a government service. Until or unless the American health care insurers can reach a compromise to control costs while maintaining quality, the trend to socialized medicine might pick up a head of steam that is unstoppable. That may be what progressives want.

Americans are driving the market and the outcome and will answer the question at the polls in November by delivering a President and Congress that they want to solve the problem.

"How ObamaCare is splitting in two 

Increasingly, there are two ObamaCares. 

There’s the one in coastal and northern areas, where the marketplaces include multiple insurers and plans. And there’s the one in southern and rural areas, where there is often little competition, a situation that can lead to higher premiums." 

The Hill

Image from opednews.com

How to Select an American President: Right-wing Radical Pence is all-Republican

How to Select an American President: Right-wing Radical Pence is all-Republican: It is most apparent to most Americans how the nation is divided between the right-wing radicalism of white American Republicans and the mid...

Right-wing Radical Pence is all-Republican

It is most apparent to many Americans how the nation is divided between the right-wing radicalism of white American Republicans and the middle-to-left wing progressive Democrats. Are most Americans progressive or regressive, that is the question?

Now, having gone cold on their leader, Donald Trump, many Republicans fear a great loss is coming and are scrambling in hope that Mike Pence, the Vice Presidential nominee will somehow take the reins.

Progressives are persons advocating or implementing social reform or new, liberal ideas. Regressives are persons wanting to return to a former or less developed state while taking a proportionally greater amount from those on lower incomes.

So who are you?

"Pence earns GOP raves in first month as Trump VP 

By Scott Wong and Jonathan Easley 

He has comforted a weeping boy, defended the Gold Star Khan family and praised New Mexico’s Hispanic-American governor who backs immigration reform.
No, it’s not Ohio Gov. John Kasich. It’s Donald Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence." 

The Hill

Birds of a feather, flock together.

How to Select an American President: One plausible lifecycle scenario for Presidents

How to Select an American President: One plausible lifecycle scenario for Presidents: The current manner by which presidential candidates emerge is by accident. The American Political System is the host operative. However, pol...

One plausible lifecycle scenario for Presidents

The current manner by which presidential candidates emerge is by accident. The American Political System is the host operative. However, political party mechanisms are woefully deficient in nurturing and vetting candidates along the way to posting their choices for national voter consideration. Yes, voters who want to be are engaged in their parties' processes. Again, their involvement is too random and misguided.

My book, How to Select an American President (c) 2106 by James A. George and James A. Rodger, All Rights Reserved addresses how to improve the process. It begins by suggesting standards for preparing and evaluating presidential candidate resumes.

Upstream from that, is considering the role of political parties in recruiting and nurturing candidates.

For prospective candidates, beginning around the 10th grade in school, one might think about the life plan before them.

Check out one scenario consideration that is Presiden Barack Obama. His is a "Fast-Track Lawyer Life Cycle" that we think was premature.

At what point did the candidate lead a very large enterprise, private sector or government? In what instance did the candidate produce extraordinary achievements as evidence of ability? in the absence of evidence, there is significant risk about prospective performance.

The following Table is (c) by James A. George, All Rights Reserved.

How to Select an American President: Trump fails at staffing

How to Select an American President: Trump fails at staffing: Staffing the campaign and preparing to staff an administration is the most important starting position for any Presidential candidate. The ...

Trump fails at staffing

Staffing the campaign and preparing to staff an administration is the most important starting position for any Presidential candidate. The ability to field a fully staffed executive branch is imperative because there is no time to wait or waste to keep the government in business. The changeover from one administration to the next must be seamless.

Therefore, voters are advised to inspect the resumes of candidates to see how well they have performed at staffing. If a candidate has a tumultuous time getting a campaign staff together, and keeping it together during the short campaign period, that does not portend well for the ability to staff the government.

In the instance of Donald Trump and his corporate experience, he staffed his business with his children. The Trump empire is a one-man band with support from his family. That does not transfer to his having the ability to staff the complex federal government enterprise. The business models are completely different in scope, scale, and diversity.

Mrs. Clinton has experience about the workings of government and has been the senior executive in charge of the Department of State. She has much government staffing experience, by contrast.

Most important is having the ability to staff positions with those who can secure government secret-level credentials. Mr. Trump's failing to vet his campaign manager, Paul Manafort, is a disastrous example. How many of Trump's prospective candidates might have trouble getting clearances? Can Trump pass the test?

While Trump has yet to release his tax records, rest assure, the FBI and other agencies are vetting him, especially given the relationship between Manafort and the Ukraine and Russians.

Some mistakes are absolutely fatal, and Trump's relationship with Manafort could be one of them.

"Report: FBI, DOJ looking at Manafort in Ukraine investigation

By Megan R. Wilson - 08/19/16 06:44 PM EDT

The Department of Justice and the FBI are looking at Paul Manafort as part of a broad investigation into alleged corruption in Ukraine, according to CNN.
Manafort, who resigned on Friday as Donald Trump's campaign manger, is not the only focus of the probe. 

The investigation is instead broadly examining whether U.S. corporations and financial institutions had been used to aid former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was driven out of office, CNN reports. 

Manafort worked for Yanukovych’s Party of Regions, though much of his activities are not publicly known. He has said the work did not trigger disclosure under the U.S. foreign lobbying law, the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). 

The Podesta Group and Mercury, two Washington lobbying and PR firms, worked for a client introduced to them by Manafort — the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine, a non-profit that had ties to Yanukovych’s political party.   

The former client — who paid the the two firms $2.2 million from 2012 to 2014 — assured them that it had no backing from foreign governments or parties.
The CNN report says that other firms that had been involved with Manafort have also been caught up in the Justice Department investigation, including the Podesta Group. However, the report does not list Mercury as being part of the probe.
CNN cites law enforcement officials saying that prosecutors “haven’t ruled anything out.”   

The Podesta Group on Friday announced that it had hired a law firm to look into whether the former client misled it about its sources of funding." 

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/292063-report-fbi-justice-department-looking-at-manafort-in

Photo from Bloomberg 

Probing the probes

Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (Utah) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (Va.) have launched a perjury probe into statements made by Mrs. Clinton during Benghazi and email investigations for which the FBI has declared, "Case Closed." Of course, this is a politically motivated investigation like so many other failed attempts by Republicans to bring down the Democratic nominee.

Republicans failed to produce a viable candidate, and in the absence of ideas, they are resorting to legislative and legal abuse not entirely unlike Donald Trump trying to wear out people suing him because he can outlast them.

First, let's probe the probes. Who are Bob Goodlatte and Jason Chaffetz?

“Bob Goodlatte
Chair of the House Judiciary Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Chair of the House Agriculture Committee
In office May 31, 2003 – January 3, 2007
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 6th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1993
Personal details
Born    September 22, 1952 (age 63)
Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party    Republican
Spouse(s)    Maryellen Flaherty
Alma mater    Bates College
Washington and Lee University
Religion    Christian Science” 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Goodlatte

Goodlatte is a lawyer who spent 7 years in private practice and all of the rest working for the government as a professional politician. He has accomplished nothing while in office.

“Jason Chaffetz
Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2015
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2009
Personal details
Born    March 26, 1967 (age 49)
Los Gatos, California, U.S.
Political party    Democratic (Before 1990)
Republican (1990–present)
Spouse(s)    Julie Marie Johnson (1991–present)
Children    3
Alma mater    Brigham Young University
Religion    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)” 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Chaffetz

Chaffetz is a most unremarkable professional politician.

In both instances, these two politicians are motivated only to keep themselves in the headlines to get reelected because they have accomplished nothing.

Chaffetz

Goodlatte

Trump is at war with the media

Why should Donald Trump not be at war with the media when he seems to be at war with everyone else. After all, Obama invented Trump. What? That's right if it weren't for Obama's brute force intellect bullying an all-Republican Congress there would be no reason for Trump at all. They could have taken care of themselves. 

When Congress did nothing while Obama wanted to do something, that gave rise to the liberal media which was frustrated by having nothing to write about except Obamacare. After years of watching Republicans drag Obamacare through the courts and getting shot down and shooed away, they elected to attack with the Benghazi disaster.

Benghazi got some traction with the liberal media because there was a real story. The media had to search for the truth about what happened. When the facts came out, aside from Mrs. Clinton's bumping her head and feeling exhausted and having to hand-off momentarily to the second string, there wasn't much there. Except, there was a bungle by introducing a caustic video that may have fanned the flames in Libya. The truth was that Al Qaeda was active there. That came out rather quickly.

Along the way, there was the disclosure about Mrs. Clinton's private email server. Congressional investigators brought that to light and beat it to death. After an FBI investigation that also enveloped the State Department and National Security Agency, there was no there, there.

So, now, a deflated GOP trounced out 16 candidates that fell flat for lack of qualifications, and Trump jumped in to pump up the party. The press enjoyed his initial bombastic behavior because it was entertaining, and that is what media is all about now.

Having won his party's nomination, Trump's party doesn't truly like him anymore, and probably never did, because Trump is no politician. Trump is in this for himself, and perhaps the Russians and some other undisclosed conflicts of interest that we will never get to until Trump shows us his IRS tax filings.

"Trump goes to war against media 

By Jonathan Easley 

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is steeling himself for a protracted battle against an increasingly hostile press, adding the media to the list of establishment institutions he intends to crush on his way to the White House.
Trump’s stunning move to make Breitbart News Executive Chairman Steve Bannon as his campaign’s CEO was a decision to shake up his faltering campaign, but was also a clear response to the complaints about the coverage of his candidacy.

Under Bannon’s leadership, Breitbart has championed Trump’s rise while adopting a provocative and combative tone towards the press, the GOP’s congressional leadership and others who have criticized or questioned the nominee.Bringing Bannon into the Trump tent will almost certainly lead to a new chapter in the fight between Trump and the media, which is already engaged in a fierce debate over how to cover the GOP nominee. 

“The press has declared Armageddon on Trump and Trump is responding with Armageddon and all-out warfare,” said Armstrong Williams, a conservative media investor and radio personality who is close friends with Bannon. 

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/291783-trump-goes-to-war-against-media

Heaven forbids, Trump is at war with me!

James George, independent journalist, and author

How to Select an American President: Pledge of Allegiance Test and Immigration

How to Select an American President: Pledge of Allegiance Test and Immigration: Donald Trump is back in the news today advocating an "extreme vetting" policy that Hillary Clinton calls a "cynical ploy.&quo...

Pledge of Allegiance Test and Immigration

Donald Trump is back in the news today advocating an "extreme vetting" policy that Hillary Clinton calls a "cynical ploy." Trump recklessly plays with a policy idea that pits Muslims against LGBTs, for instance. Under Trump rules, immigrating Muslims would have to testify that they would accept "Western liberal values."

Of course, this immature and compound bigotry-motivated idea from Trump completely misses the problems and real needs for immigration policy.

There is a need for both political parties to address the requirement for U.S. policy that targets optimal size and demographics, including the best mix of knowledge, skills, and proficiencies to satisfy the needs of a sustainable economy.

In that one sentence, the demands for comprehension might make Trump's headache. It also might make liberals and conservatives duck for political cover too. Why?

Addressing the need to put a lid on population size to optimize return on national resources is a requirement that suits a maturing America. It is no longer a period in which there exists unlimited capacity to absorb immigrants.

The existing immigration policy favors accommodating well-educated and talented immigrants whose addition will enhance the economy and increase the possibility of creating more jobs. Limiting the number of distressed people who come to escape political and ideological repression is a practical necessity.

When citizens read that Somalian immigrant radicals from Minnesota are supporting ISIL in Syria, they want to understand how immigration policy permitted them to immigrate when they had a propensity for such radicalism. That is the type of instance that Trump exploits to increase fear.

However, behind his fear-mongering are true unresolved issues that will not get addressed until we citizens staff Congress and the President with more capable representatives who can tackle complex needs.

"US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has said that he would enact "extreme vetting" of immigrants. 

In a speech in Ohio, the candidate outlined his plans to combat Islamic extremism, including a new screening test for arrivals to the US.
Applicants will be tested to determine if they share Western liberal values like LGBT and religious tolerance. 

Democratic rival Hillary Clinton poured scorn on his plan, labeling it a "cynical ploy".
"This so-called 'policy' cannot be taken seriously," said her spokesman. 

"How can Trump put this forward with a straight face when he opposed marriage equality and selected as his running mate the man [Mike Pence] who signed an anti-LGBT law in Indiana?” 

http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-37086578

Screen capture, BBC.com

How to Select an American President: Let it all hang out, Donald Trump

How to Select an American President: Let it all hang out, Donald Trump: Who have been duped by Donald? Donald Trump's campaign chair has been engaged in Russian and Ukraine politics for a long time and has ac...

Let it all hang out, Donald Trump

Who have been duped by Donald? Donald Trump's campaign chair has been engaged in Russian and Ukraine politics for a long time and has accepted off-the-books payments for his services. What were those services provided by Paul Manafort?

Clearly, Manafort is the Russian connection. Manafort backed the deposed Putin-backed Ukraine President Yanukovych. Those relationships are clearly conflicts of interest and represent part of the Ukraine government's corrupt history. Now, the Ukraine's are investigating, and that is why it is coming to light.

The question remains, does Donald Trump have any business relationships with Russian investors like his campaign chair does? Manafort's conflict of interest is sufficient to end Trump's campaign.

"The Daily 202: Can Trump chairman Paul Manafort survive new Ukraine revelations?
By James Hohmann August 15 at 8:40 AM" 

Washington Post

Manafort, Trump tied to these guys

How to Select an American President: Strategic trades require nurturing

How to Select an American President: Strategic trades require nurturing: Presidential candiates are bashing one another, when they should be addressing speicific topics like this one. For all of my working lifec...

Strategic trades require nurturing

Presidential candiates are bashing one another, when they should be addressing speicific topics like this one.

For all of my working lifecycle, I have been engaged in manufacturing industry or otherwise promoting its importance. While my enthusiasm went one way, America's industry trends went another. In part, it was a matter of global competition. On the other hand, it was an issue of strategic policy decisions.

What has happened to Manufacturing America, and what can be done about it?

First, you hear politicians speak about creating jobs and about international trade policies. Globalism is the catch word that represents a condition whereby workers in the world are gauged more equally about the value of their skill, knowledge, experience and proficiency. The trend is for the same workers performing the same effort to be appreciated and compensated similarly. That trend is complicated when introducing quality of life, safety and environmental standards that vary among host nations. Trade agreements are negotiated in part to protect workers from exploitation, as well as to ensure that consumers are afforded lower cost goods and services.

Nation-states that are not aligned with American values and standards may gain competitive advantage, especially where there is a larger population of available workers who are willing to work for less.

The popular debate today is about what kinds of jobs should be protected by American trade policy. Should America fight to bring back t-shirt manufacturing or should the nation fight for computer manufacturing is an instance debated on the August 12th McLaughlin Group television program?

A part of the argument included that a t-shirt made in China and sold at Wal-Mart help poorer Americans with cheap clothing. On the other hand, the American textile and clothing industry has vanished along with those jobs. Another argument is that American should not fight for "obsolete" work, but needs to focus on manufacturing of high-tech products.

I have been a member of the National Defense Industry Association for most of my working career.

"About the NDIA Policy Department 

The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) is the premier association representing all facets of the defense and technology industrial base and serving all military services. The mission of the Government Policy Department is to ensure the continued existence of a viable, competitive national technology and industrial base, strengthening the government-industry partnership through dialogue, and providing interaction between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Government Policy entails three primary roles: 

Policy (legislative, regulatory, and judicial) 

• Information/Education (Issue Briefs/Alerts, studies/analyses, hearing summaries, and symposia/seminars) 
• Interactive Communication/Dialogue (members network, homepage, and survey/reports). 

Mission 

Working together to ensure the continued existence of a viable, internationally competitive national technology and industrial base and strengthening the government-industry partnership through dialogue and interaction with the Congress and the Executive Branch." 

http://www.ndia.org/Policy/Pages/default.aspx

At the Pentagon, there is this special office, Manufacturing, and Industrial Based Policy (MIBP). This office supports the President and implementation of the Defense Production Act (DPA) that grants the President powers to ensure the availability and timely delivery of products, materials, and services to military and civilian agencies. It codifies a robust Presidential legal authority to enlist industry to give priority to national security production and provides for statutory review of foreign investment in U.S. companies.

The horses left the barn long ago when the nation's machine tool builders went out of business. The horses left the barn when America lost its cadre of skilled trades crafts workers who have the skill and knowledge to produce precision parts. The horses left the barn when America lost its ability to manufacture metrology instruments.

America's strategic skills still reside in the auto industry and the aerospace defense industry, however, reviving the nation's ability and capacity to manufacture consumer products is needed to re-engineer a sustainable economy.

Image from NDIA

How to Select an American President: Pathetic not prophetic, Mitch McConnell

How to Select an American President: Pathetic not prophetic, Mitch McConnell: Regular readers know that this independent journalist is no fan of Mitch McConnell. The reasons include: He is a professional politician...

Pathetic not prophetic, Mitch McConnell

Regular readers know that this independent journalist is no fan of Mitch McConnell. The reasons include:

• He is a professional politician who has worked all of his life while being paid by taxpayers while complaining all the while about the government for which he has often been responsible as a leader.
• His hypocrisy continues by his pretending to represent low Kentuckians while he is in the pocket of big lobbyists. 

McConnell enjoys being the Senate Majority Leader, but he will do just fine on K-Street.

"Mitch McConnell Issues Sternest Warning Yet That GOP Is In Danger Of Losing Senate
He said the party’s chances of keeping control of the Senate are “very dicey.”
 08/12/2016 12:21 pm ET
Daniel Marans
Reporter, Huffington Post

Huffington Post

BILL CLARK/GETTY IMAGES 

How to Select an American President: Racketeer Trump Duped the GOP?

How to Select an American President: Racketeer Trump Duped the GOP?: Today's hypothesis is the Donald Trump was motivated to run president as an elaborate scheme to defend himself against an attack by the ...

Racketeer Trump Duped the GOP?

Today's hypothesis is the Donald Trump was motivated to run for president as an elaborate scheme to defend himself against an attack by the Justice Department and IRS which are pursuing him for racketeering, among other possible violations of the law. The alleged billionaire has his fortune, and freedom at stake, as well as implications for his family-member business associates.

Questions:

1. Is his running for president a ruse?
2. Is his IRS audit more than just a routine?
3. Are there indications of racketeering among his practices?

Donald Trump's defense might be to claim that the system is rigged and that someone is out to get him for his speaking his mind. After all, look at the millions of people who enjoy his speaking and saying whatever they want to hear?

Start with the last question first.

Law Newz investigated and discovered Donald Trump is named in 169 lawsuits. When he sues, he often countersues. He can wear down his opposition by tying them up in litigation that they cannot afford.

"We Investigated, Donald Trump is Named in at Least 169 Federal Lawsuits
by Rachel Stockman | 10:40 am, February 16th, 2016." 

http://lawnewz.com/high-profile/we-investigated-donald-trump-is-named-in-at-least-169-federal-lawsuits/

Trump is currently on trial for fraud regarding Trump University. That is a big deal since he also publicly attacked the judge.

A large number of businesses and contractors engaged in trying to get Trump enterprises to pay their bills is a strong indication of the potential for racketeering and other violations one might think.

Is his IRS audit more than just a routine?

"No Ordinary Audit: Donald Trump Is Facing The IRS 'Wealth Squad.' 

IRS Watch 

We write about tax practice & procedure.   

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. 

Charles RettigCharles Rettig, Contributor 

When pressed about releasing his individual tax returns during the recent GOP debate, Donald Trump said he wouldn’t release them until the IRS finishes its audit. “You’re in the midst of negotiating and talking to the IRS,” Trump stated. “Your lawyers would never allow you to do that.” 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/irswatch/2016/02/28/no-ordinary-audit-donald-trump-is-facing-the-irs-wealth-squad/#6ac1c38b48af

Is the Trump campaign a ruse? Some have suggested that Trump is out to destroy the GOP. However, if his empire is under attack including him for his shady business practices that may be illegal, then is it possible that he is ginning up a defense that the government is out to get him? They are being fair, and the system is rigged?

Read about racketeering here: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/racketeering.asp

"Judge Curiel Rules Trump Must Face Trial for Racketeering in Trump University Suit
By FrankDiPrima
Tuesday Aug 02, 2016 · 10:34 PM EDT" 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Trump+the+racketeer&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=729&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZ2qj7mrfOAhWGRiYKHSbSBzAQ_AUICCgD#imgrc=VoUPHaBYUHyovM%3A

Is Trump a racketeer?

Ryan Solen vs Paul Ryan

Here is a perfect example of the deficiency in how voters elect representatives. The race is for representation from Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District where Paul Ryan is running for his 10th term in office. Speaker Ryan holds onto seniority that has propelled him to the Speaker of the House, whether he is qualified or not.

Now, the Democrats have an opportunity to unseat him, but who does the party advance? His name is Ryan Solen. What do the voters know about him?

There is nothing on file to show that he is qualified. It doesn't matter what his positions are on issues because there is no reason to listen to a thing that he has to say. The Democratic Party in Wisconsin has failed its constituents.

Ryan Solen is an Iraq War veteran.

"Full Name: Ryan Solen
Gender: Male
Family:
Married; 4 Children
Home City: Racine, WI
Education
No education information on file.
Political Experience
No political experience information on file.
Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees
No caucus information on file.
Professional Experience
Served, United States Army
Religious, Civic, and other Memberships
No organizational membership information on file.
Additional Information
Priority Issues:
Some of the things that I believe will help us the most:
* Balance the budget and pay-off the national debt to put the ~$260 Billion in interest payments to better use.
* Universal health care to ensure a healthy and productive population.
* Investment in our crumbling infrastructure.
* Reform university tuition and student loan regulations.
* Revise and simplify the tax code.
* Protect Social Security; raise the taxable income cap on it, and prevent any privatization of the system.
* Strict term limits on the Senate and the House of Representatives." 

http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/171733/ryan-solen#.V6sZt5MrK9Y

Democrats surrender in Wisconsin District 1

How to Select an American President: Jill Stein, most qualified to run HHS

How to Select an American President: Jill Stein, most qualified to run HHS: Presidential candidate, Jill Stein, is exceptionally well educated in social science and medicine. She is running on the Green Party ticket....

Jill Stein, most qualified to run HHS

Presidential candidate, Jill Stein, is exceptionally well educated in social science and medicine. She is running on the Green Party ticket. Hillary Clinton should consider asking her to manage the Department of Health and Human Services.

If you are a progressive voter, you may find alignment with the Green Party and Jill Stein. The trouble is that "Greens" have not been effective in garnering a share of voters with sufficient momentum and numbers in advance of elections to do any more than undermine Democrats. That is problematic because it contributes to Republicans winning that is the opposite of their "ten values."

The best way for the Green Party to make progress is to win seats in the Senate and the House. In fact, their grassroots activities should focus intensely on that objective. It is premature for them to seek higher offices until they are a force in Congress.

"We are grassroots activists, environmentalists, advocates for social justice, nonviolent resisters and regular citizens who’ve had enough of corporate-dominated politics. The government must be part of the solution, but when it’s controlled by the 1%, it’s part of the problem." 

http://www.gp.org/

The Green Party Champions 10 Key Values: 

1. Grassroots Democracy
 Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect his or her life and should not be subject to the will of another. Therefore, we will work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will also work to create new types of political organizations which expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process. 

2. Social Justice and Equal Opportunity
All persons should have the rights and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment. We must consciously confront in ourselves, our organizations, and society at large, barriers such as racism and class oppression, sexism and homophobia, ageism and disability, which act to deny fair treatment and equal justice under the law. 

3. Ecological Wisdom
Human societies must operate with the understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological and resource limits of our communities and our planet. We support a sustainable society which utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must practice agriculture which replenishes the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems. 

4. Non-Violence
It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to society's current patterns of violence. We will work to demilitarize, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, without being naive about the intentions of other governments. We recognize the need for self-defense and the defense of others who are in help- less situations. We promote non-violent methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace. 

5. Decentralization
Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization. Therefore, we support a restructuring of social, political and economic institutions away from a system which is controlled by and mostly benefits the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic system. Decision-making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens. 

6. Community Based Economics
Redesign our work structures to encourage employee ownership and workplace democracy. Develop new economic activities and institutions that will allow us to use our new technologies in ways that are humane, freeing, ecological and accountable, and responsive to communities. Establish some form of basic economic security, open to all. Move beyond the narrow "job ethic" to new definitions of "work," jobs" and "income" that reflect the changing economy. Restructure our patterns of income distribution to reflect the wealth created by those outside the formal monetary economy: those who take responsibility for parenting, housekeeping, home gardens, community volunteer work, etc. Restrict the size and concentrated power of corporations with- out discouraging superior efficiency or technological innovation. 

7. Feminism and Gender Equity
We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics. We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender. Human values such as equity between the sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience. We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want. 

8. Respect for Diversity
We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines. We believe that the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out of leadership roles. We acknowledge and encourage respect for other life forms than our own and the preservation of biodiversity. 

9. Personal and Global Responsibility
We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal well- being and, at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet. 

10. Future Focus And Sustainability
Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or "unmaking" all waste we create, while developing a sustainable economics that does not depend on continual expansion for survival. We must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit the results of our actions. Make the quality of life, rather than open-ended economic growth, the focus of future thinking." 

Green Party

Dr. Jill Stein

Evan McMullin to announce Trump challenge

According to breaking news from Joe Scarborough, Evan McMullin, Chief Policy Director at U.S. House of Representatives, Republican Conference will announce a challenge against Donald Trump soon.

Here is what we know about him from LinkedIn. He is an accomplished individual without sufficient CEO experience or elected representative experience.

U.S. House of Representatives | Republican Conference
Previous  

U.S. House of Representatives | Committee on Foreign Affairs, Goldman Sachs, Central Intelligence Agency | National Clandestine Service

Education  
University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School

Chief Policy Director

U.S. House of Representatives | Republican Conference
January 2015 – Present (1 year 8 months)Washington D.C. Metro Area
Manage the development and advancement of House Republican Conference domestic and foreign policy initiatives, while leading Conference policy team. Specific areas of focus have been foreign affairs, national security, technology, health care, finance, government reform, natural resources, and women's empowerment.

U.S. House of Representatives | Committee on Foreign Affairs
Senior Advisor
U.S. House of Representatives | Committee on Foreign Affairs
2013 – 2015 (2 years)Washington D.C. Metro Area
Advised the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and other House members on issues related to the Near East, South Asia, counterterrorism, and other national security issues.

Goldman Sachs
Investment Banking Associate
Goldman Sachs
2010 – 2013 (3 years)San Francisco Bay Area
Worked on a variety of capital raising and M&A projects and deals across several industries including technology, energy, consumer goods, biotech, industrials, and real estate.

Operations Officer
Central Intelligence Agency | National Clandestine Service
1999 – 2010 (11 years)
Managed clandestine operations related to counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, energy, political stability, and counterintelligence, while serving mostly in hostile environments.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Volunteer Refugee Resettlement Officer
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
2001 – 2001 (less than a year)
Vetted and processed UN-recognized refugees from the Middle East and Africa for resettlement to third countries.

Deckhand
The Cavalier (a commercial fishing vessel)
1997 – 1997 (less than a year)
I mostly just did my best not to fall in as we sailed the Alaskan seas.

Organizations

Brigham Young University | Kennedy Center for International Studies
International Advisory Board Member

Starting 2013
Council on Foreign Relations
Term Member

Starting 2011
Education
University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School
University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School
MBA

2009 – 2011
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
BA, International Law & Diplomacy
1997 – 2001

Evan McMullin

How to Select an American President: How much military defense is required?

How to Select an American President: How much military defense is required?: Candidates are not addressing the right topics in the correct manner. Here is an instance. Donald Trump listened to a national security br...

How to Select an American President: How much military defense is required?

How to Select an American President: How much military defense is required?: Candidates are not addressing the right topics in the correct manner. Here is an instance. Donald Trump listened to a national security br...

How much military defense is required?

Candidates are not addressing the right topics in the correct manner. Here is an instance.

Donald Trump listened to a national security briefing last week and asked a senior expert three times that since we have nuclear weapons why can't we use them? Let's say for a moment that Trump isn't completely off of his rocker. Maybe he was postulating that if we devote so much expense to maintain a stockpile that we are not going to use, then why waste the money? Or, maybe he was asking, with all of the warring actions in which we are engaged, isn't there someplace where we can't just drop a nuke and end it?

Well, ok, that's crazy talk.

More to the point of need is to address the question, how much military defense cost is essential to secure Americans from foreign attack with 100% certainty?

Some experts at the American Enterprise Institute are addressing the subject. AEI is a conservative military-defense lobby organization.

Mackenzie Eaglen wrote an article for AEI that was placed in the American Legion Magazine, published July 29, 2016.

"Our incredible shrinking military 

Defense, Foreign and Defense Policy 

Too often in Washington, the focus of partisan fights is a dollar sign, particularly when it comes to defense. Depending on who’s talking, the military budget is too high or too low (though a consensus is forming around “too low,” one that includes the Joint Chiefs, President Obama and most members of Congress).  

Instead of focusing exclusively on the size of the defense budget, policymakers should instead examine what these dollars buy in terms of safety, security, and stability. In other words: look at the complex outputs rather than simple dollar inputs. 

The United States of America is officially a one-war power, a husk of its traditional status as a two-war superpower. 

These days, defense dollars are buying less and, in a first, getting less.
Few realize this reality outside the Pentagon. Policymakers argue about defense vs. non-defense spending, the use of base vs. war spending, or which party is to blame for the Budget Control Act – a policy Frankenstein everyone seems to hate, but no one is capable of rescinding permanently.  

As a result, the nation’s armed forces face two distinct challenges that will worsen as budgets level off and the military atrophies: first, a force-planning construct that is woefully inadequate for the global and everyday demands of wartime and peacetime; and second, a board of directors (the Pentagon, White House and Congress) that cannot clarify priorities, make difficult trade-offs, redefine service roles and missions, or take any assignment off the table – even as the military’s capability, capacity and readiness decline in tandem." 

http://www.aei.org/publication/our-incredible-shrinking-military/?utm_source=paramount&utm_medium=email&utm_content=AEITHISWEEK&utm_campaign=Weekly080616

The main idea is that the notion of having the capacity to fight two major wars concurrently is now not in the budget. Having less capacity means reining in foreign policy such that the American military is not committing boots on the ground. Our approach is to provide advanced technology support to allies instead.

As such, advanced technology is a force multiplier as we see in combat against terrorists in the Middle East. State-of-the-art technology such as air power cannot be used to finish the job on the ground. In fact, that job should be done by local forces.

Therefore, the U.S. military role is one of training and sometimes requires special forces engagement to direct air power and to advise allied forces.

Concluding from this snippet of analysis is that Americans must rely more on advanced technology and less on army ground forces for national protection. Technology is a force multiplier and you cannot use old body-count metrics to compare the strength of military power.

As for the nukes, not discussed here, maintaining the stockpile is an enormous waste of resources, and that expense needs to shrink to offset the need for resources that are better applied elsewhere.

AEI Chart 1

AEI Chart 2

AEI Chart 3

How to Select an American President: 'Eliminating terrorism in not a realistic goal'

How to Select an American President: 'Eliminating terrorism in not a realistic goal': The citizens of the United States of America are approaching another presidential election and also congressional election cycle. One thing ...

'Eliminating terrorism is not a realistic goal'

The citizens of the United States of America are approaching another presidential election and also congressional election cycle. One thing that is on their minds is a set of priorities for which most people know there is a limited capacity to address. Where does"terrorism" fit, and how does it relate to other priorities?

In my pending book, How to Select an American President by James George and James Rodger (c) 2016 All Rights Reserved, there is a suggested list. Take a look and tell us if you think we have it right or wrong? How might it be adjusted?

Top 12 priorities

1. Nation secured economically 100%
2. Nation has sustainable economy 100%
3. Nation secured militarily 100%
4. Homeland secured from terrorists 100%
5. Employment opportunities for all who can work 100%
6. Upward mobility for all who are prepared commensurate with ability 100%
7. All persons provided minimum sustainment in the absence of poverty 100%
8. Social Security assured for all qualified persons 100%
9. Clean air and water 100%
10. Best education in the world #1
11. Freest nation in the world #1
12. Lowest crime rate in the world per capita #1

Terrorism is the fourth priority. First is economic security because, without that, there are insufficient funds to provide anything else. Do you realize that at the close of the Bush administration that the U.S. was on the brink of financial meltdown? We almost collapsed as a nation? We are still recovering and have a long way to go.

That is why producing a sustainable economy is the second on the list. Doing that is essential and should be what presidential candidates and prospective members of Congress are addressing.

Third is protecting our economy and nation from foreign attack, while also protecting traveling Americans wherever they are in the world. Is that realistic? Foreign policy that embodies that protection drives 43% of the military budget.

Securing the homeland from terrorists is the fourth priority. We expect to prevent all terrorist attacks. However, we know from an imperfect record that the government has failed to provide that level of protection.

"In rare Pentagon visit, Obama says ISIS is 'inevitably going to be defeated.'
Andrew Tilghman, Military Times 7:04 p.m. EDT August 4, 2016

President Obama made a rare visit to the Pentagon Thursday and said the two-year-old fight against the Islamic State will inexorably lead to victory.

But the commander in chief also warned that sporadic attacks will continue and eliminating terrorism in not a realistic goal. 

“ISIL turns out not to be invincible," Obama said as he listed key military victories of American-backed forces during the past year, including Ramadi and Fallujah. 

"They're, in fact, inevitably going to be defeated," Obama said. 

"But we do recognize, at the same time, that the situation is complex and this cannot be solved by military force alone.” 

Military Times

Also read: The GOP platform, what's in it?http://howtoselectanamericanpresident.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-gop-platform-whats-in-it_28.html

Barack Obama

(Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

How to Select an American President: Clinton wins by Trump forfeiture?

How to Select an American President: Clinton wins by Trump forfeiture?: Is it possible that Hillary Clinton could win Election 2016 by Donald Trump folding his hand and declaring a misdeal? As he tumbles in the...

Clinton wins by Trump forfeiture?

Is it possible that Hillary Clinton could win Election 2016 by Donald Trump folding his hand and declaring a misdeal?

As he tumbles in the polls, he senses losing ground that cannot be recovered by poor white males and greedy bastards alone.  Is he now asking himself if he has enough chips to play out the game? Admittedly, some of his Republican comrades are asking that question.

Rumblings in the Trump camp are that his failing to secure endorsements among his party leaders is giving him pause. He is searching for something to blame.

• The system is rigged.
• Hillary's a crook.
• Elections in America are a farce.
• If I lose, it's not my fault.

The RNC says it is already too late to replace him as the nominee. Third party bids don't fit the bill for Republicans. It's too late for Romney, so what if? What if Hillary's lead continues to hold or even build over the next few months? At what point will the Trump campaign declare bankruptcy?

"Republicans think Trump might quit — so they’re scrambling to find a replacement: 

ABC News 

03 AUG 2016 AT 08:20 ET                    

Republican officials are so angry at Donald Trump and his imploding campaign that they’re considering replacing him at the top of the ticket just two weeks after nominating him. 

The GOP nominee angered party officials by refusing to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan and Sen. John McCain in their primary races, repeatedly insulting a Gold Star family, joking about receiving a Purple Heart and removing a noisy baby from a campaign rally — all in about four hours Tuesday afternoon. 

Jon Karl, the chief White House correspondent for ABC News, reported Wednesday morning that Republican officials were scrambling to plan for the possibility that Trump might suddenly quit the presidential race." 

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/08/republicans-think-trump-might-quit-so-theyre-scrambling-to-find-a-replacement-abc-news/

"I quit!"

MSNBC/screen grab

How to Select an American President: Trump undermines democracy

How to Select an American President: Trump undermines democracy: My pending book, How to Select an American President by James A. George and James A. Rodger (c) 2016 All Rights Reserved, discusses the im...

Trump undermines democracy

My pending book, How to Select an American President by James A. George and James A. Rodger (c) 2016 All Rights Reserved, discusses the importance of allegiance that is described as devotion and commitment to the U.S. Constitution and the values embodied therein. Allegiance is also a behavioral characteristic that is essential to effective leadership. One must be loyal and allegiant to one's political party and its members. One must be loyal and respectful for the three branches of government. 

Donald Trump has trampled on numerous people and organizations, including the free press. He has shown disregard for minorities, women, and basic freedoms such as freedom of belief. His actions are described as unAmerican.

Republican leaders may be late in arriving at the conclusion that Trump is not good for them or for the nation.

“Republican splits grow over Trump 

Fresh rifts emerge within the US Republican Party over presidential candidate Donald 

Trump, as he refuses to back two senior figures in his own party. 

Trump 'psychologically unbalanced.' 

Trump: 'Get the baby out of here.' 

Is Trump undermining democracy?” 

http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-36962942

Trump and babies

How to Select an American President: What constitutes being 'unfit' for office?

How to Select an American President: What constitutes being 'unfit' for office?: I am way behind getting my book, How to Select an American President by James A. George and James A. Rodger (c) 2016 All Rights Reserved be...

What constitutes being 'unfit' for office?

I am way behind getting my book, How to Select an American President by James A. George and James A. Rodger (c) 2016 All Rights Reserved because there is too much dizzying information that needs to be included in the final chapter that summarizes Election 2016.

This evening, some Republicans agree with President Obama that Donald Trump is unfit for office. Fareed Zakaria, CNN foreign affairs correspondent, has now characterized Trump as being a "bullshit" artist.

In the instance of Donald Trump's resume, he appears to be qualified for the job based upon education and CEO experience. Issues about Donald Trump arise from his behavior and from the performance of some of his enterprises that have collapsed financially. Six bankruptcies that have harmed hundreds of businesses and thousands of employees detract from his personal financial success.

However, it is his behavior that is now in question. Some suggest that he might have a behavioral disorder such as being extremely narcissistic. Others suggest that the manner in which he has treated trading partners is sociopathic.  What the public has witnessed is his extreme insensitivity and disregard for veterans, Muslims, and now, crying babies and their mothers.

More serious is his apparently cavalier attitude about NATO agreements with allies, and his relationship with Russians that is dubious.

Having a certifiable psychological profile of presidential candidates isn't too much to ask as many corporations require such evaluations when firing executive positions.

"That tweet was published shortly after Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria’s GPS,” ridiculed Trump for saying Russian President Vladimir Putin “is not going into Ukraine, you can mark it down,” despite the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. Trump later clarified that he meant Russia would not attempt such a move if he became president. 

“There’s a pattern here,” Zakaria said. “Every time it is demonstrated that Donald Trump is plainly ignorant about some basic public policy issue, some well-known fact, he comes back with a certain bravado, and tries to explain it away with a tweet or a statement. … Usually he adds that the press hates him.” 

“This is the mode of a bulls*** artist,” Zakaria said." 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-vs-cnn-zakaria-bullshit-000000211.html

Andrew Kong Knight, artist