Politics is smothering good Politicians

 The bodies weren’t even cold when the MAGA crowd started politicizing yesterday’s drone attacks by Iran-backed groups that killed three U. S. military in Jordan and wounded many others.  As expected, Trump immediately blamed Biden’s “weakness and surrender.”  Senator Tom Cotton (and Trump supporter) released the following statement almost immediately following the news of the attack:

 “Joe Biden emboldened Iran for years by tolerating attacks on our troops, bribing the ayatollahs with billions of dollars, and appeasing them to no end. He left our troops as sitting ducks and now three are dead and dozens wounded, sadly as I’ve predicted would happen for months. The only answer to these attacks must be devastating military retaliation against Iran’s terrorist forces, both in Iran and across the Middle East. Anything less will confirm Joe Biden as a coward unworthy of being commander-in-chief.

 

“On behalf of Arkansans, I extend my deepest condolence to the families of our brave fallen warriors. May God comfort them as He welcomes their loved ones into His embrace. And may God quickly and completely heal their wounded comrades.” 

Nothing wrong with the second paragraph of Cotton's statement, but notice how it comes as almost an afterthought to the political rhetoric of the first paragraph, rhetoric characteristic of many MAGA supporters yesterday.  One would think that someone with Sen. Cotton’s distinguished military service would have more sense.  But no, in the ever-growing insanity of the MAGA cult, politics (i.e. electing Trump) is everything. 

As to retaliation against Iran, there must be a U.S. response, but this is really a very complex issue.  Iran denies it ordered the attack.  We need proof that it did before we respond directly against Iran for that attack.  And whatever action we take must be carefully considered in light of the already potentially explosive nature of the Middle East following the terrorist attack on Israel, Israel’s legitimate response, the prisoners held by Hamas, and the many questions about Gaza.  Just a blind return of fire could cause far worse problems than a delay in order to respond with well thought out action.

But, this inability to think beyond political posturing, rampant on all sides, actually defines the MAGA Republicans today.  Consider the bipartisan immigration bill that was on a likely path to passage until Trump urged Republicans to vote against the bill because he needs to be able to attack his rival Biden over the border crisis. The bipartisan bill would have provided money to Israel and Ukraine in return for Democrats agreeing to several Republican demands that address the border crisis and immigration laws.  As one senator put it, “[Trump] doesn’t want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it.”

Oklahoma Republican Senator Lankford, who continues to negotiate with Democrats to try to save the bill stated on a Sunday TV news interview:

“It is interesting: Republicans, four months ago, would not give funding for Ukraine, for Israel and for our southern border because we demanded changes in policy. So we actually locked arms together and said: ‘We’re not going to give money for this. We want a change in[immigration] law.  And now, it’s interesting: A few months later, when we’re finally getting to the end, they’re like, ‘Oh, just kidding, I actually don’t want a change in law because of presidential election year,'” 

And what does Sen. Lankford get for his efforts at bipartisanship to solve our country’s problems?  The Oklahoma Republican Party approved a resolution censuring the Senator and attacking him for negotiating with Democrats on a potential border deal.  Just more proof that the Republican party cares little for people affected by the issues it campaigns on but rather simply uses those issues as political talking points to achieve its own power.

This is the new MAGA Republican party, and it has frightening authoritarian tendencies.  This party is led by the presumptive (but hopefully not actual) nominee Donald Trump.  While it is true that Trump’s 2016 presidency did much to improve the day to day lives of many Americans, it also had a dark side.   There is no question that Trump’s words were often acerbic and designed to get a response.  The response, beginning immediately upon his 2016 election was a series of never-ending attacks and allegations, many false and pursued out of seemingly pure hate for the man, but some with at least nuggets of truth to them.  While racial and perhaps other divisiveness became apparent during the Obama years, it increased during Trump’s presidency and continues to this day. 

Both parties have fanned the flames of this atmosphere of anger and overwhelming divisiveness since 2020.  The parties and their supporters have become true enemies of one another rather than simply political opponents and all seem ready if not eager to sue, impeach, censure, or otherwise fully attack anyone whose views or policy decisions they do not like.  This does little for the American people but seems to satisfy some political need within our current leaders. 

Since 2020, Trump and his MAGA supporters seem to be the most eager to stir up hatred and discord against any who are not 100% with them.  Since he lost the 2020 election, Trump has a track record of attacking our Constitution and our very form of government.  His claims of a fraudulent election, his actions leading up to and on Jan. 6 (which I believe disqualify him from holding office) and his unsubstantiated and continuing assertions that Joe Biden was not elected and is not our real president are now joined by his actions setting up the same claims for 2024 as he currently asserts that the only way he will lose is if the Democrats cheat.  These assertions are all attacks on our elections, our institutions, and our rule of law, core elements of our democracy and the America and Americans which these folks claim to love.

But beyond these election related tirades, Trump regularly debases, ignores, and encourages others to violate the Constitution and laws of the United States.  In his many ongoing court cases he consistently ignores the court processes, procedures, and rule of law.  He then verbally attacks the courts, attorneys, and jurors for simply doing their jobs when he does not obtain the outcome he seeks.  Moreover, he uses these serious judicial matters as opportunities for campaigning.  The disrespect (which is  encouraged by MAGA supporters who, for example, urge the Governor of Texas to disobey an order of Stay from the United States Supreme Court), if not violation, of both Constitution and Rule of Law are direct assaults on the core of our democracy.  These disregarders of the Constitution are the same folks who assert they believe in its every word – apparently that’s only when they like what it says.

The MAGA cult wants what it wants, and its political ambitions trump (excuse the pun) any concern for the American people.  Sometimes their needs or desires may benefit, but that is nothing more than coincidence. 

While Trump’s rhetoric has always been acerbic, it has taken an extremely dark and un-American turn. When he says that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country” (spoken at a New Hampshire rally December 2023) and then doubles down on that statement when given an opportunity to offer some less repulsive explanation, one can’t help but hear the echo of Hitler asserting Jewish blood was poisoning Aryan German blood.  And when his Christmas message is a hope that his opponents rot in hell, one can see that he is not interested in working across the aisle or finding space for all Americans in this country. (Trump’s Christmas rant included the following: “World Leaders, both good and bad, but none of which are as evil and ‘sick’ as the THUGS we have inside our Country.” The message ended with, “MAY THEY (referring to Biden and Special Prosecutor Smith) ROT IN HELL. AGAIN, MERRY CHRISTMAS!”) Such rhetoric, in my opinion, does not belong in America, and certainly not in the mouth of a presidential hopeful.

Trump’s exclusive and authoritarian tendencies are apparent as he tries to push out of the Republican Party any and all who do no swear allegiance to his MAGA regime.  He asserted that all Nikki Haley supporters are now permanently barred from the Republican party which he now refers to as the “MAGA community.”  (So much for the big tent where all are welcome!).  MAGA, in true fascist fashion, does not really care about the people, but only its power and its own ideology. 

And, lest we forget the Democrats, they too are often more likely to attack their opponents as totally evil individuals out to destroy America rather than attack the positions and policies of those with whom they disagree.  President Biden himself has given some pretty dark and angry speeches and his view of opponents as enemy is often apparent.  Expect these type of attacks to become more common as we approach the November election.  

We have a changing world fraught with many crises.  These are not the fault of one person or one party.  The problems and complex and often interconnected.   We need politicians who want to solve these problems, not just use them to blame others for their existence.

The primary political responses to the drone attack simply underscore the overwhelming and devastating role that politics itself has taken in our country.  There are good and bad and mediocre politicians, and we vote in or out those whose policies we do or do not agree with, giving those we choose the opportunity to represent us, the people.  But when it is politics itself that begins governing our country – when decisions are made based not on what is good for the American people but on what effect they will have on the enemy/other party, then we are in real trouble.   This politicization of almost everything smothers the opportunity for real dialog, debate, and solution to this country’s and the world’s problems.

We the people need to begin thinking like Americans who believe in our country and all of its people and who can work together to find solutions to our problems, and we need to demand that our politicians do the same.  We must no longer tolerate a politics that is synonymous with a blood-thirst against those holding opposing views.  And we need to elect politicians who will help us to stand united as one country rather than trying to divide us until we fall.

Save the Country from What? The Democrats!

Today I read that Eric Swalwell states that “Impeachment is the only way to save the country.”  We hear this sentiment coming from the mouths of most Democrats these days.  The ever-increasing mob of Democrat candidates seem to all center their campaign on the argument that in order to save us all, President Trump must be removed; if not we are all doomed.

I would like to ask just exactly what we must save ourselves from.  What are the horrible things that the President is doing for the Country?  Let me list just a few of what he has accomplished despite being under constant attack since taking office:

            -Almost 4 million jobs created since election.

-More Americans are now employed than ever recorded before in our history.  

-Manufacturing jobs growing at the fastest rate in more than three decades.  Over 400,000 manufacturing jobs since Trump’s election.

-Economic growth last quarter hit 4.2 percent.

-New unemployment claims recently hit a 49-year low.

-Median household income has hit highest level ever recorded.

-African-American unemployment has recently achieved the lowest rate ever recorded.

-Hispanic-American unemployment is at the lowest rate ever recorded.

-Asian-American unemployment recently achieved the lowest rate ever recorded.

-Women’s unemployment recently reached the lowest rate in 65 years.

-Youth unemployment has recently hit the lowest rate in nearly half a century.

-Lowest unemployment rate ever recorded for Americans without a high school diploma.

-Veterans’ unemployment recently reached its lowest rate in nearly 20 years.

-Almost 3.9 million Americans have been lifted off food stamps since the election.

-The Pledge to America’s Workers has resulted in employers committing to train more than 4 million Americans. The current Administration is committed to vocational education.

-95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future—the highest ever.

-Retail sales surged last month, up another 6 percent over last year.

-Signed package of tax cuts and reforms. After tax cuts, over $300 billion poured back in to the U.S. in the first quarter alone.

-As a result of Trump’s tax bill, small businesses will have the lowest top marginal tax rate in more than 80 years.

-Enacted regulatory relief for community banks and credit unions.

-Obamacare individual mandate penalty gone.

- Trump administration is providing more affordable healthcare options for Americans through association health plans and short-term duration plans.

-Last month, the FDA approved more affordable generic drugs than ever before in history. Many drug companies are also freezing or reversing planned price increases.

-Reformed the Medicare program to stop hospitals from overcharging low-income seniors on their drugs—saving seniors hundreds of millions of dollars this year alone.

-Signed Right-To-Try legislation.

-Secured $6 billion in NEW funding to fight the opioid epidemic.   Reduced high-dose opioid prescriptions by 16 percent during first year in office.

-Signed VA Choice Act and VA Accountability Act, expanded VA telehealth services, walk-in-clinics, and same-day urgent primary and mental health care.

-Withdrew the United States from the job-killing and otherwise ineffective Paris Climate Accord.

-Cancelled the illegal, anti-coal, so-called Clean Power Plan.

-Secured record $700 billion in military funding; $716 billion next year.

-NATO allies are spending $69 billion more on defense since 2016.

-Withdrew from the horrible, one-sided Iran Deal.

-Moved U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

-Protecting Americans from terrorists with the Travel Ban, upheld by Supreme Court.

-Concluded a historic U.S.-Mexico Trade Deal to replace NAFTA. And negotiations with Canada are underway.

-Reached a breakthrough agreement with the E.U. to increase U.S. exports.

-Imposed tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum to protect our national security.

-Imposed tariffs on China in response to China’s forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft, and their chronically abusive trade practices.

-Net exports are on track to increase by $59 billion this year.

This list could go on and on. 

The list of accomplishments looks pretty good to most Americans.  It certainly does not look like something from which we need to save the country. 

The list does not look so good to Democrats who tried for years to make America great again but failed miserably.  It probably embarrasses them that Trump, the man they love to hate, succeeded where they failed.  Perhaps that is why their colleagues in the main stream media rarely report on these and other accomplishments, but rather focus on the ways to destroy Trump and with him his powerful Administration and its many positive results for the Country. 

So from what exactly do the Democrats think the country needs saving?  Anyone who loves this Country, including Democrats, should be cheering at America’s successes.  But, instead, the Democrats tell us we need to save the Country.  “From what?” I ask.  The only possible answer that comes to mind is “from the Democrats” who would save us from our successes just for their own lust for power.  This is something that I hope every voter remembers and for which every citizen holds his or her elected officials accountable.

Social Justice or Actual Justice For All?

Social Justice is not actual Justice.  It should not replace actual justice and the media should not take sides in helping it to do so.

What is social justice?  It is a concept that involves fair relations between various classes of society and usually involves the distribution of wealth, opportunity, property, and privileges within that society.  Social justice causes often fall into sociological categories that easily correlate to those involved in identity politics: race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, nationality. 

Justice is that which allows for fair adjudication between competing claims.  Decisions are based on rules such as the law and the Constitution that provide for fair and equal adjudication between parties without regard to a party’s identity categorization.  Hence, the concept of “blind justice”:  justice will treat all individuals equally.

Justice cares about facts; social justice cares about causes.  Here are some examples of social justice warriors bringing their cause to a case where there are facts not supporting their cause:

• The #MeToo Warriors sought to advance their cause using the allegations of sexual misconduct against then nominee and now Justice Kavanaugh.  The facts did not support their cause.  The warriors chose to deny the facts and/or find them not important.
• The anti-Conservative/anti-Trump Warriors sought to attack and silence a group of high-school boys wearing MAGA hats by claiming that the boys had instigated a racist incident on the steps of the Lincoln memorial.  When video tapes and other information did not support their claims, they ignored those facts and continued to fault and attack the boys. 
• The Social Justice Warriors who believe that Trump is the antithesis of all their causes are supportive of any actions against him.  Thus, they support the Mueller investigation in the hopes that it will destroy the President and remove him from office.  Hence, they applaud tactics used by that investigation that at a minimum push the envelope towards denial of 4^th Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure in the repeated use of gestapo-like tactics whenever someone closely related to Trump and his campaign are arrested.
• When a Black child was shot in her car and there was a White man in a pickup known to be nearby, without more the Warriors began demonstrations and claims against the White man whom they claimed was a racist and white supremacist and whom they immediately found guilty of the murder.  When facts proved that the White man was nothing more than a by-stander and that the child had been murdered by a Black man in a case of mistaken identity, the facts were again ignored. 
• The Warriors claim that Donald Trump is not qualified to be president, seemingly making one of the qualifications that the president be someone of whom they approve.  Again, they ignore the facts of our Constitution which clearly sets forth the qualifications: “No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.”  Clearly, President Trump meets these qualifications, yet the Social Justice Warriors continue to claim he does not.

These are just of few of the more recent incidents that demonstrate that not only is social justice not the equivalent of justice, it is actually often its antithesis.  Social Justice will support lying to further its cause.  It accepts bearing false witness and accepts manufacturing facts that support its narrative and its causes.  It accepts and supports violation of our Constitution and our protected rights if those rights stand in the way of furthering the causes of the Social Justice Warriors.

This approach of the Social Justice Warriors goes hand-in-hand with identity politics that try to pit one identifiable group against another for political gain.  Identity politicians often try to pit a group that is less well-off in some way against another group with more of what the less well-off group lacks.  Socialists and Communists have long pitted the “workers” against the “bosses,” promising a better life to the workers if they will support the Socialist/Communist leaders. 

Identity politicians also pit one group against another; they convince one group that all their problems are due to another group and promise the first group that their life will be better if they support the identity politicians in their fight against the second group.   Look again at the list of social justice causes and see how they compare to identity political hatred:  race – fomenting minority anger against alleged White privilege; sexual orientation – fomenting LGBTQ anger against those whose religious beliefs, while demanding tolerance of diverse orientations do not condone such practices among their believers; nationality – fomenting anger of immigrants and especially illegal immigrants against all those who seek to contain illegal immigration regardless of their views on how broadly or narrowly the legal immigration laws should be drawn. 

Identity politics have always been with us to some extent, though I would argue that beginning with the previous administration they became a much more prevalent tactic, especially of the political Left.  But now, we have that Left using those tactics along with their claims of social justice as a way to negate a legitimate election and silence all who do not fully accept their views.  And the real victims in all of this are facts and the rule of law – the two things that are necessary for justice to prevail.

True Justice, true Fairness, requires that all be treated equally and that the rights of all, not just those of this or that favored group, be protected.  For rights to be protected, facts must be heard, verified, and accepted.  Partisans can argue over what the facts mean and what is their significance, but they cannot deny or make up facts to suit their purposes. 

The problem currently is that the partisans, with the help of the 24-hour news cycle and a partisan press, rile up their appropriate identity groups first.  Then, when facts are revealed, those facts no longer matter as the mobs scream for their latest social justice cause.  Worked into a frenzy, rationality is lost.  That is just the state that the Social Justice Warriors need their supporters to be in – a state where feelings can be used and manipulated, a state where specific identity groups can be characterized as enemies not entitled to basic rights, or to fair treatment under law, a state where the chosen identity group will believe the promises that they will have all their wants as well as needs fulfilled if they only support their social justice warriors. 

The problem with social justice and its identity political practices today is that it is by its very nature unfair.  The Social Justice Warriors believe that their chosen groups should have all that they demand while at the same time believing that it is appropriate and acceptable to silence and deny even basic rights to the groups they have designated as enemies and those not in line with their “social justice” positions.  Thus, for example, the Left assert their free speech rights, while seeking to deny free speech to those supporting the opposition – it is acceptable to silence and destroy those wearing MAGA hats, while supporting threats and attacks (both verbal and physical) by those on the Left against those on the Right.

Blacks Law Dictionary, defining law in jurisprudence, states that justice is “The constant and perpetual disposition to render every man his due.”  This is very different from rendering every person, or every person on your side only, their every desire.  Justice is fairness – to all, not just to one favored group over another.  It takes into account the actions of the individual as a person, not as a mere identity caricature.  And, it requires a respect for the facts and the law. 

Social Justice may be based on high ideals; it can be simply a partisan political tactic.  In either event, it is not a synonym for Justice.    And while Justice allows for Social Justice to push its causes, Social Justice as currently practiced does not allow Justice for all.

Fighting Words, MAGA Hats, and the First Amendment

             “Wearing MAGA hats provokes and insults people of color.”

“Aligning oneself openly with Trump’s movement sends an aggressive political message.”

“Anyone who wears a MAGA hat is racist.”

These and similar statements can be heard from the Left regularly; they have intensified in the wake of the attacks on the Covington boys.   

These and similar statements are a frightening trend that threatens one of the very cores of our Democracy – the First Amendment right to free speech.

The First Amendment protects speech, including symbolic speech.  The wearing of a MAGA hat or other politically identifying apparel (a campaign pin or T-shirt for example) are symbolic speech which is defined as a non-verbal communication that conveys a message or statement to those viewing it.  

While our free speech rights are not absolute, any restrictions must be as narrow as possible so as not to interfere any more than is absolutely necessary with the fundamental right of free expression.  The government can, in appropriate instances, put reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on speech.  “Fighting words,” words intended to incite an immediate breach of the peace, are not protected.  However, the government cannot restrict speech so as to force one to only speak or hold a particular opinion.  Even hate speech is protected by the First Amendment.

Freedom of speech goes hand in hand with freedom of thought, both of which are essential to democracy.  Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in part that “everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.” 

Yet, the Left, in their repeated attacks on the MAGA hat, come frighteningly close to attempts to deny free speech and the free thought behind it.  Their behavior, not only toward the Covington boys, but to many other wearers of MAGA apparel, has a chilling effect on others who might desire to make a similar symbolic political statement but fear the attacks that doing so would bring.  Laura Ingraham has suggested that this is a form of voter suppression.  I would agree. 

Further, I fear that the Left is on the verge of using their attacks of the symbolic MAGA speech as a way to restrict that speech as some sort of “fighting word” exception to the First Amendment freedoms.  That would be a slippery slope indeed, for to restrict an opposing political view simply because it is upsetting to those who do not hold that view would put us well on the way to a country in which any and all opposing speech and its underlying ideas could be banned.  Such a country is not a democracy but a dictatorship.

The Left seems to have little regard for the First Amendment and its protection of speech when that speech is something they disagree with or do not want to hear.  They seem to have no problem with shouting down, intimidating, silencing any thought or expression that is not their own.  This says volumes about their respect for democracy itself.  For it is the sharing of diverse ideas in a marketplace of open and free speech that is an absolute necessity for a democracy that is a government of, by, and for the people.  To care about democracy is to defend free speech, even when it says something that you find offensive. 

Only by sharing diverse ideas, by having tolerance for diverse views and openly presenting and discussing varying ways to address an issue can we grow and evolve as a country.  Symbolic speech has been a powerful movant at difficult times in our history; that speech is frequently political and almost always offensive to someone.  Yet, we need that speech if we are to continue to be the free country that stands as a beacon of free thought to the world.  If only the Left would remember that and defend rather than try to extinguish free and diverse speech along with the thought behind it.

Quietly Delete

This morning I read that Democrat Representative Omar had quietly deleted proven lies that she had spewed at the Covington boys even after the full facts from the full video became public. 

How often do we hear this?  After dragging someone, along with their family and others associated with them through the mud, after issuing any number of threats, after bullying and name calling, all designed to silence and destroy both the individual along with anyone else holding views similar to that individual, after all that, when it is proven that there was a jump to judgement without factual support, the attackers silently delete their vitriol.  No apology.  No remorse for the pain, suffering, emotional and sometimes physical harm caused, not concern for a life and reputation damaged and destroyed.  Just quietly delete and then move on to the next victim.

And what does this do for those who are not yet victims of the hate?  It silences them.  The Covington boys were wearing MAGA hats.  That was their crime in the eyes of the hateful Left, and for that the Left made sure they were punished.  How many parents will let their children wear MAGA hats to a rally next time (or even allow them to attend a rally).  The hat is a form of protected symbolic speech under our Constitution.  The intolerant Left would deny such speech; indeed, they would deny any speech that holds a view contrary to their own.  That is not the America laid out in our Constitution.  That is not the America that not only allows but encourages diverse viewpoints.

The Left’s pattern of intimidation is becoming worse as it tries to capture everyone in its net.  It may be one thing to try to silence an opponent who has chosen to take on the ugliness of political office.  But bullying children to prove a political point is simply not OK.  The Covington boys, their families and their school have been put through an undeserved hell that will affect the rest of their lives.  Quietly deleting proof of the attacks is not a sufficient response.

The Left seems to believe that lying about facts or ignoring them completely is acceptable if those facts are in any way contrary to the narrative that the Left would have everyone believe.  They have even made statements to the effect that facts don’t matter if they hold the “correct” moral view.  Yet, who are they to set themselves up as the moral authority in this land that believes in tolerance of diverse views and values? 

Hating Trump because he beat your candidate does not make your views morally superior.  Those who applaud Trump’s policies such as those that improve the economy and bring unemployment of minorities to the lowest rates ever are not morally inferior.  And, attempting to silence any and all who hold a view that differs from yours is completely un-American.

The Left’s quiet deletion without apology or remorse after wrongfully destroying lives of those holding differing views should not be tolerated.  I would look to the once objective media to call them out, but that is pointless since the media for the most part serves as partner in this behavior and then finds ways to justify it. 

The Left tells us they care about everyone, yet their actions demonstrate a level of hatred I have not seen before in my nearly three quarters of a century on this earth.   They seem driven and blinded by that one ugly passion and it is getting worse.  They seemingly will not be content until they have subjected the entire populace to their views and then have been returned to a position where they can officially exert their tyranny over us all.

I, for one, will not be silenced and I will speak out for all whom the Left attacks and tries to destroy.  I will not let their hate filled actions intimidate me and I will hope that those who have been brainwashed by the lies of the Left will awake and stand strong for the values that have always made America great, beginning with a tolerance for diversity, including diversity of thought.  We simply cannot let our great country be quietly deleted.

One Year

"What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people."-Donald J. Trump, 1/20/2017

Despite the Democrats’ wishes to the contrary, Donald Trump has now been our President for one year.  He has indeed made great strides in returning the government of this country to its people, continually fighting desperate attempts by the Democrats and other deeply entrenched establishment types to retain control for themselves.

Here are just a few of the accomplishments of President Trump and his administration:  Jobs are up, unemployment is down, dramatically so for minorities; real weekly earnings are up; the economic growth rate is up; illegal border crossings are down; home prices and home ownership are up; corporate profits are up; manufacturing jobs are up; tax bill already showing benefits to individuals and corporations; carbon dioxide emissions are down; support for troops and veterans; foreign policy successes.

Sadly, we hear little about any of the positives of Trump’s presidency from the main stream media who, like the Democrats whose ideology it speaks, have such a hatred for Donald Trump that they are blinded to anything that does not support that hatred.

When I started writing this blog a year ago it was in large part in response to the vitriolic hatred being spewed against the new President.  Naively I thought that the Democrats and other Trump-haters would get over it in a few weeks.  I understood that they were shocked that someone so unlike them could be elected and that so many people held views contrary to their own.  They were hurt and angry, and I assumed it would take a little time, but that they would come to accept that everyone in the country was not like them and that while they did not particularly like Donald Trump or his policies that they would accept that he was indeed their President and would respect and support him as holder of that office, even if they did not particularly like the man himself.

But, how wrong I was; I assumed these were rational people, people who would get over it and accept their loss, people who respected the process and the office of the president, people who would work to further issues of their concern for the good of the country.  That has not happened; instead, their hatred simply grows.  It is not rational. The Democrats and other anti-Trumpers seem to be living in a world where, before Trump they were totally in charge and could do as they pleased, making decisions for the people as they wished rather than letting the people be in charge.  Now they are faced with someone who understands how our democracy works and who indeed believes that the country belongs to the people, not to an elite few.  This is a threat to them: the anti-Trump brigade wants to run not only their own lives, but those of everyone, and the loss of their power to do so seems to have, in their eyes, threatened their entire existence. Thus, they hate Trump on a very personal level.

Hating Trump seems to be the only issue left to the Democrats.  It begins with their hatred of the man.  He is not like them.  He understands those who are not like him.  He believes that America belongs to all the people and not just an elite few.  He is less concerned with his own power than he is with the power of the country and its people.   And, he is indeed making strides in making America great again.  This is disrupting the comfortable world of the Democrats and their power.

I have come to believe that the current Democrat power structure does not care a wit for this country or its people.  They care only about their own power and their ability to create a country and a world that they envision, regardless of whether that is what the people would choose.  I think they truly believe that anyone who is not in lock step with them is indeed a stupid deplorable.

The fact that the Democrats don’t care one bit for the people they pretend to support, or for the country itself, is evident from their latest game that resulted in shutting down the government.  This seems to turn on DACA and immigration.  Let’s go back a bit:  the legislature was well on its way to a bipartisan agreement on these issues.  But, if the issues are resolved, the Democrats lose that method of fomenting hate against Trump as well as that alleged compassion of their own used as a method to garner support and votes from minorities.  So, instead they return to their narrative of Trump being racist and use that not only as a method for killing the bipartisan solution to immigration, but to shutting down the government as well.  That does not serve the people of this country well.  It may however, give the Democrats talking points, for their shut down will hurt much of Trumps positive effects on the economy, it will hurt our troops and the progress made in foreign policy.  Talking points to garner support for their own power: that is what the Democrats care about, not the country or its people.

Not being a psychologist, I cannot understand how hatred can so overtake a person or a group of people that they would destroy their own country in order to sustain their hatred. I do believe, however, that if the Democrats do not find an issue other than “hate Trump” that they will eventually only succeed in destroying themselves.   If not so filled with and blinded by hatred perhaps these people could actually address and discuss varying views on actual issues. But, their hatred is being used only for their own power and purposes and eventually that can only lead to their demise. 

So, on this anniversary of President Trump’s inauguration I applaud the President for his many successes.  I am in awe of his ability to stand strong in the face of unending and vitriolic hatred.  I accept that he is not perfect, that he is not as refined or as eloquent as some might envision a leader to be, but I also see in him a man who holds the beliefs for our country that our founders envisioned and who is doing everything in his power to uphold and further that vision that is embodied in our Constitution and our history.  We live in a great country; it has lost some of its greatness during the past few years as the power of the people has been usurped by the power of a self-interested ruling class.  President Trump is working to reverse that and make America not only great again, but even greater than it has ever been.  Go Trump!