My President........

In 1980 there was no one who campaigned harder for the re-election of President Jimmy Carter.  I went to DC for the summer and then to the convention on my own dime to support him.  His re-election was the only thing that mattered to me and I thought if he was not re-elected the nation would fail.  President Carter was our President, the President and he was my President.

President Carter lost

I opposed everything President Ronald Reagan stood for and opposed every one of his proposals but he was elected President and therefore he was our President and I always referred to him as The President and always called him President Reagan.

I campaigned my ass off for Walter Mondale in 1984 - He lost - President Ronald Reagan remained our President and Nancy remained our First Lady.

1988 - I supported Dukakis and Poppy Bush won - During his presidency I referred to George Herbert Walker Bush as our President, the President and President Bush.

1992 - A candidate I voted for becomes President so of course I referred to William Jefferson Clinton as our President, the President, President Clinton and My President.

Eight years later a man wins the presidency but not the popular vote.   He won because he won the Electoral College

None the less I referred to George W. Bush as President Bush, our President and the President.

Our, My, The President Barack Obama was elected in 2008.

So, given this history it would seem to be logical that I will refer to Donald Trump as our President, the President and President Trump.

I can't

And, I am bothered by this

But, I just can't

It is not because he lost the popular vote by 3 million votes (GWB lost it by less then 300, 000)
It is not because he is shallow
It is not because he is thin skinned
It is not because he is petty
It is not because he has small hands
It is not because I am opposed to everything he stands for
It is not because he is vulgar
It is not because he is violating the Constitution by gaining wealth from foreign governments

It is because he mocked a man with a physical disability, his clear history of disrespect for women
and because he led the birther movement. 

The birther movement sought to discredit and nullify the first non-white President. A black man was elected President and Donald Trump spent eight (8) years leading a movement to call this man a foreigner and an illegal President.  It was the darkest and most vile movement in American politics since the Joe McCarthy era.

My not supporting Donald Trump does not mean I want this nation to fail and it does not mean I do not love this great republic. 

I have clearly been respectful of President I thought were wrong on every issues. But, they were not racists who attempted to deny a citizen his right to the Presidency

Trump is the legally elected President of the United States so he is this country's President

I will never refer to him as the President
I will never refer to him as President Trump
I will never refer to him as our President

And, he will never ever be my President.......... A vulgar racist will never be my President


++++ NOTE:
Barack Obama won with far more popular votes and electoral votes then Donald Trump and attendance at his inaugural was bigger - much much bigger as are his hands

Throwing Money at Hillary

The Sanders supporters thought they were oh so clever throwing dollar bills at the Hillary Clinton motorcade as it drove up to George Clooney's house for a multi-million dollar fundraiser.  They did it because they assumed the fundraiser was for her campaign.

The amount people paid for that event would have been illegal under current fundraising limits for a Presidential campaign.

So, what was Hillary Clinton doing at George Clooney's house?

She was raising money for the Democratic Party general election efforts.  I am sure her campaign picked up more that a few shekels for her own campaign but the big money went to the fall campaign.

If the non-Democrat Bernie Sanders wins the Democratic Party nomination he will  benefit from the fundraiser held at George Clooney's home.

Will he ask that the money Hillary Clinton has raised for the Democratic Party not be spent to benefit his efforts?

If you say yes you are beyond stupid.

Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat but you know as well as I do he will be more than happy to let the money Hillary Clinton has raised for the party benefit his November efforts. Is he really that independent? Nothing in his political history tells me he is.

If Bernie Sanders really had any integrity he would have run for President as an Independent as a Democratic Socialist.  But, apparently Bernie Sanders really is just like any other opportunist politician.

So, throw your dollar bills at a limousine "True Liberals"  but really you should question why you are supporting just another expedient politician.

I like Bernie Sanders and I have for 30 years but let us just be honest about him.

I Have A Question For Sen. Toomey

Can you name one city in this country that was destroyed by riots since you have been a Senator from Pennsylvania?

In your most recent TV ad you claim you stood up for the police as U.S. Cities were being destroyed by riots.

The standard definition of destroy is "put an end to the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it

I am pretty attentive to the news and I can't recall any city in this country that was destroyed by riots.

Please tell us all Senator what cities were destroyed?

And, please tell us Senator Toomey who destroyed these cities because I want to organize a retaliation against them.

Some Predictions

Predictions for 2014

*The GOP will maintain control of the US House though their numbers will be smaller.
           
*My Congressman Charlie Dent will win re-election if he has an opponent.
      He made quite an name for himself during the Republican led government shut down.  You may           remember he was one of the few Republicans to speak out against it. Of course, he supported every vote that led to it but once it actually occurred he opposed it.  I had hoped that he would take that fame and become a leader but it appears he has settled once again into back bench status.  But, he is such a nice guy.

*The Democrats will maintain control of the US Senate at about the same level they have now.
     
*Kentucky senior Senator and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell will lose.
       He will survive the right wing attack during the primary but he will be bruised and bloodied.  His Democratic opponent has run and won state wide, she is from a respected political family and she is raising big bucks.  He is going to throw everything at her but he is trailing in the polls and for someone with his power trailing in polls even early polls is not a good sign (for him).

*People will bitch and moan about Artsquest, Musikfest and Jeff Parks.

*Sarah Palin will continue to make pronouncements that have no substance and show no clear understanding of the issues.

*Oprah Winfrey will try to keep in the headlines by pretending to be a victim of some perceived slight.

*Northampton County will implode under the pressure of Tea Bagger madness.  The County Council will get bogged down in such important issues as Sharia Law, Alien Invasions from Planet Claire, Border Security and getting the United States out from under the burdens of UN Regulations.

*The Governors of Florida, Maine and Pennsylvania will lose their re-election bids. Even the ever loyal Republicans can only put up with so much embarrassing incompetence.

*Donald Trump will continue to make a fool of himself on Twitter.

*A prominent and popular professional male athlete will come out as gay thus opening up the floodgates with more famous people announcing their true selves to the public.  The love that once dared not speak it's name will become the love that will not shut up.  And, that is a good thing.

*The sounds of Cher singing "If I could turn back time" will be heard almost daily in Bethlehem City Hall. Thus requiring City council to step up and become the incubator of new ideas, economic development and sensible growth.

*A convention of the Snob Voter Party will be held at the Bethlehem Brew Works, it's Elite Central Committee will caucus at Tapas on Main and it's homo influenced think tank will salon at The Hotel Bethlehem Tap Room.

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The Speaker Can't Get Coverage & Russert Shills For Him

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Luke Russert ‏@LukeRussert37m

Boehner attempts to signup for Obamacare, it didn't go well: http://www.speaker.gov/general/my-attempt-sign-health-care …

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NBC News ace super star reporter Luke Russert Tweeted a link to Speaker Boehner's web site  in which the man with tan recounts his attempt to sign up for coverage with the DC Health Care Exchange and according to the Speaker it did not go well.

The diligent Mr. Russert did not offer any independent verification that this actually happened.  It could have have been staged by the desperate Republican leader.


A number of things could have happened along the way that could have caused John Boehner some problems.

1. John Boehner is a resident of Ohio and does not qualify for Health Care with the DC Exchange.
2. Mr. Boehner's income is too high for coverage and he does not qualify.
3. Mr. Boehner gets his health care paid for by his employer and does not qualify.
4. Was Speaker Boehner sober?
5. Why was John Boehner doing private and personal business on his employers time and using his employers computer.  That is grounds for firing in the private sector.
6. The system was having one of its glitches.

Perhaps Luke Russert will offer a more full report tonight on the Evening News......or not.

Ted Cruz Lies or Thinks We are Stupid

I guess he thinks we are stupid!


Texas Senator and hate monger  Canadian born Tea Party Teddy Cruz said that he opposed the government shut down.  He blamed the President and the Democrats for not negotiating with the Republicans.  Of course to the Cuban/Canadian negotiations means the Democrats doing what the GOP wants.

I don't know who Cruz is fooling but a lot of us were watching very closely and we know who was responsible for the government shut down.

Perhaps he really is as delusional as he appears nightly on the news.

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Colorado Floods and The Homosexuals!

It was just a matter of time before a GOP leaning conservative went ahead and blames The Gays, pot and legal abortions for the flooding in Colorado.


But, I wonder if the eminent scholar Mr. Swanson is mistaken and maybe it was the gun lobby's successful recall of two Colorado Senators last week that pissed off G-D enough to cause the flooding.

I wonder if big Kevin ever thought of that?

Crackpots come and go.

Medical Examiner Makes Stunning Trayvon Claim

This is a stunning development if it is true.

The medical examiner  in charge of the autopsy is now claiming that he reported that Trayvon was shot from behind and was not on top of George Zimmerman.


Dr. Shiping Bao is claiming in his wrongful firing lawsuit that he was forced to not disclose all his evidence, the prosecution did not ask him the right questions because they knew it would convict Zimmerman and that they went for murder instead of manslaughter because they knew it would not result in a conviction.

Hopefully the Justice Department will pay attention to this lawsuit.

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Crazy talk: A lot from Bachman & A little from Dawkins

The crazy that is Michele Bachman  says "if we cry out to God" Hillary Clinton can be stopped from becoming President.


Michele Bachman is 9 months away from an indictment and 24 months away from prison.  So if she is going to cry out to to God maybe she should do it on behalf of her own ridiculous ass.

And 

Noted biologist and author Richard Dawkins "a little mild Pedophilia  does not cause lasting harm". This is a perfect example of smart people thinking that everything that comes out of their mouth is a pearl of wisdom.  Word of advice to Mr. Dawkins - use a filter - Think before speaking. 

Another Weak Argument From a Darling of The Right

Trying to tell a narrative not based on the facts or the truth is something Dana Perino is really good at.  You may remember Ms. Perino as one of the best story tellers George W. Bush had on his staff.

For the record the words "Under God" were not part of the original pledge and I would think that Ms. Perino would know this . If she does not then what does that say about her knowledge of this nation's history? It is more likely she does know it and since the facts do not matter to her employer why should they matter to her.

And, really how lame, childish and tired is "They can go live somewhere else".  It is the great fall back line for conservatives when they really don't have a strong argument and they know it.  I mean really Dana; is that the best you could come up with?

Typical Republicans

This did not take long, two GOP Congressmen from South Carolina accuse the President of using Syria to hide/mask/cover up other things.  You know those "scandals" that are not scandals Benghazi, IRS and Obamcare.  Not sure when Obamacare became a scandal but then these are Republicans after all.

One of these pillars of Congress is Joe "You Lie" Wilson.


It's the same old song from the same old pathetic Republicans

Many of the same people who whined and complained about the President not including Congress in his Syria decision making are now complaining that he is including Congress.  None louder that the dumbest member of the Senate; Rand Paul.  His complaint is that by coming to Congress for a vote the President is reducing the role of Congress.



This may even surpass Sarah Palin and her stunning fits of brilliance.

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If Only Hell Existed I Would Wish Pat Robertson There

“You know what they do in San Francisco? Some in the gay community there, they want to get people. So if they got the stuff they’ll have a ring, you shake hands and the ring’s got a little thing where you cut your finger,” he said. “Really. It’s that kind of vicious stuff, which would be the equivalent of murder.”

I was going to ignore this pronouncement  from "Leading" "Christian" "Intellectual" Rev. Pat Robertson but it is too disgusting, too stupid, too idiotic not to share.  

This web site  reports that the people who run Robertson's web site did not post the entire segment but rather a heavily edited version.

Sometimes I wished I believed in Hell just so I can wish Pat Robertson and his co-host Miss America 1973 Terry Meeuwsen would end up there.

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Show Me The Facts Liz Cheney...you can't

Despicable Liz Cheney  has announced that:

“I do think that we know that recruitment goes on through mosques,”  

Liz was pandering to Teabaggers about where terrorists come from.  

She of course is supported in her opinion by no facts.

Do you think Liz is able to show me actual data to support her statement?

Of course not she is a Cheney.

But wait, she is a Cheney so she could find a way to prove it - even if it's a lie. 

And, we all know that they are above the law and beneath the truth.



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Apparently Gore Vidal Had Sex

I adored Gore Vidal!..........

I know I know it may be an over the top kind of statement but I did.

I think I read every novel (I could be wrong) his essays about the world in which he lived were at times out there but I rarely disagreed with his premise and his television appearances were legendary.

I grew up on Gore Vidal.

I read "The City and the Pillar" during my coming out process and even though it was written in 1947 it was startling in is frankness and oddly I found it comforting.  I knew it was not going to be easy but I had to be me.

Do yourself a favor and watch "The Best Man" he wrote the screen play based on his play.

I could write for days about the impact Gore Vidal had on our culture, our art, our movies, our theater and my life, and I may at another time.

In November "In Bed With Gore Vidal - Hustlers, Hollywood and the Private Life of an American Master" will be published. Apparently the book details Mr. Vidal's sex life; something he refused to discuss.

Do we really need to know?

Will I buy the book?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/07/31/how-gay-was-gore-vidal.html

I may.

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Santorum & Cuccinelli - Joined at the Hip (or somewhere)

Like his butt buddy.... I mean political compatriot Rick Santorum, Virginia Attorney General and GOP Governor nominee  Ken Cuccinelli is obsessed with sex.  But, not just any sex he is obsessed with oral and anal sex.

He is so obsessed that he is encouraging judicial activism in order to control giving head and booty banging.

One has to wonder why Santorum and Cuccinelli are so obsessed with this.  What happened in their lives?   Why are they so concerned?

What trauma could have caused this drama?

And, why isn't the National Inquirer doing an investigation into this?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/08/ken_cuccinelli_s_sodomy_obsession_the_frightening_legal_implications_of.html

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Older = Better Mayor

I am more mature!

What exactly does that mean? 

Does being older ensure you are going to make the best decisions?

What evidence is there to support the argument that older means wiser? 

Does a lot of experience guarantee that you will make the best choices?

The answer is of course no.

*I could end this here because I have made my point but I will continue.

Have you learned from your mistakes or do you still insist you were right and just misunderstood?

Do you live with your past glories or do await new opportunities?

Are your best days behind you or have they just prepared you for this moment?

Will you embrace change with open arms or hold it back because that is not the way we did it?

If you are in the last third of your life span are you as concerned about the future as you would be if you were in the first third?

Some would say that the more mature you are the less likely you are to be open to new ideas, that you are set in your ways and that change is more difficult for you.

Does a more mature person have the same level of energy and stamina as a younger person?

*I know I am asking a lot of questions here but my point is coming.

In my various jobs throughout the years my best bosses the ones I learned the most from have been younger than me.  There was often a trade off of learning.  I would be a calming influence on them and my age and experience was a good sounding board for them to bump ideas against. But, what I learned from them about technology, how to survive and thrive in a corporate setting and some basic people management and time management skills helped me to grow as a person and they opened my eyes to new ways of thinking to new ideas.  I was constantly shifting my paradigm.

In 2008 John McCain claimed his age and experience to be an advantage over the younger and untested Barack Obama.  Mr. McCain chose Sarah Palin to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency and Barack Obama chose Joe Biden.  I will leave up to you to decide whether the older more experienced man made the better choice. 

It is true that Obama did choose an older and more experienced man to be VP and he chose him for those very reasons.  But, the younger Barack Obama is the one in charge.

Bethlehem Mayoral candidate Bob Donchez is claiming to be more qualified to hold public office because he is more mature than the other candidate in the race.

Older = Better Mayor

Being Mayor of Bethlehem is not a retirement job.  Maybe in the past you would have had your career and now that you have the time and a pension you can give your full attention to the city and serve as Mayor.  The office of Mayor has changed since Mr. Donchez’s self professed role model for the office left in 1987.

Mr. Donchez and his benefactors have run a negative and disgraceful campaign and one they should not be very proud of.

I want a Mayor who will work hard to unite this city; Mr. Donchez is running a campaign that is trying to divide us.  If this is an example of how Mr. Donchez’s mature leadership will lead this city I say bring on the youthful J. William Reynolds.

I Knew We'd Get Caught

The First Debate - Keep Calm and Carry On

Keep Calm and Carry On

In 1939 the British Government plastered this slogan on posters all over London to help keep the spirits of the British people high during some of the darkest days of WWII.

Attention liberals and other supporters of our President; to you I say "Keep Calm and Carry On"  "Stay Fired Up!"

There is no question that our President was clearly not the winner of the first debate and I suspect some money poured into the Romney campaign as a result and the Democrats are going to have focus a little harder on some of the swing states.  But, one debate is not a game changer especially since there was no smack down by Romney.  

The former Governor was simply more on his game than was the President.

Romney may have won the night but Barack Obama won the day after.

• The fact checkers were out in full force yesterday and to a person they debunked much of what Romney said
• Even conservatives noted that Romney positions Wednesday differed greatly from his positions he has taken over the last 18 months
• Romney was called rude, a bully and overbearing by many in the chattering class
• There was almost as much post debate discussion about the moderator as there was the debate itself 
• Romney was roundly mocked for wanting to fire Big Bird as an example of how he will solve our nation's massive debt problems.  For the record PBS receives no direct funding from the federal government.  The money goes directly to the local stations and the amount of the budget that will be saved by cutting this subsidy is 0.012%.  Not much of an impact is it?  Of all the things Romney could think of to cut spending the best he could do was PBS?
• The President was greeted by 30,000 people at his rally in Madison yesterday
• There are two more debates to come and this President is famous for his 4th quarter come back skills

If the President stood there Wednesday and just responded to Romney misstatements and lies would he have looked defensive?   Would he have looked angry?  Barack Obama has spent his entire political career trying not to be "the angry black man" because he knows that "the angry black man" will never be elected President  in this country.  So, his handlers chose to coach him to look calm, reserved and Presidential but, they over coached him and he looked bored, unfocused and ill prepared.

Keep Calm and Carry On people one debate will not win this race for Romney and one debate will not lose this race for Obama and one debate will not lose this race for the future of this country.

Responding To A Facebook Screed

So let me get this straight;

If you cross the North Korean border illegally, you get 12 years of hard labor.  If you cross the Afghanistan border illegally, you will get shot.  Two Americans just got eight years for crossing the Iranian border.  If you cross the U.S. border Illegally, who get a job, a driver's license, food stamps, a place to live, health care benefits, child benefits, education, and a tax free business for 7 years.  No wonder we are a country in debt.

Like and Share if you agree!!!

I came across this gem on Facebook a few times.  Not surprisingly I did not share nor did I agree.

Does the person who posted this think it is better to live in Afghanistan, North Korea or Iran?

I didn’t agree with this post because I believe we are a better country a better people than what this screed implies.  We are a kind and we are decent.  We are compassionate and we are generous.  We are the first to offer support when disaster strikes no matter where in the world it happens. We have gone to war to save humanity.  We have sacrificed our young men and women and our treasure to help people across the planet who are crying out for the freedoms we often take for granted.

People have always come here yearning for a better life, seeking protection from war and violence, seeking a way to protect their daughters from barbaric practices, fleeing a life impoverished because they are members of the wrong tribe or religion.  We profess to be the beacon of freedom; we have a statue in New York Harbor that defines us as a people.  What this Facebook post implies is that the Statue of Liberty is meaningless.

Let me point out that we are a nation of immigrants and many of our ancestors came here illegally. 

Also, the person who posted this and persons who re-posted it have their facts wrong, illegal immigrants receive none of these benefits automatically.

Who are you going to believe? Sarah Palin or John Adams

Sarah Palin recently said this: “Go back to what our founders and our founding documents meant-they’re quite clear-that we would create law based on the God of the bible and the Ten Commandments”

John Adams wrote this; “The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”

So, who are you going to believe?

Thomas Jefferson called John Adams the “colossus of the revolution”

John Adams so believed in justice that he served as the defense attorney for British soldiers involved in the wrong end of the Boston Tea Party.

John Adams served on the committee to write the Declaration of Independence.

John Adams along with Jefferson brought France to the American side during the American Revolution.

John Adams helped negotiate the peace treaty with Great Britain

John Adams was the first Vice President of the United States

John Adams was the second President of the United States

Sarah Palin served a half a term as Governor of Alaska; she resigned because being famous was much more lucrative than fulfilling her commitment to the people who elected her to high office

Sarah Palin had a reality show that so few people watched it was cancelled

Sarah Palin thought that the Queen actually ruled Great Britain

Sarah Palin was unable to name a newspaper she read

Sarah Palin promoted her daughter as a teenage celibacy advocate after she had a child out of wedlock and they both profited from a national tour that the great journalist Matt Lauer helped to promote

Sarah Palin’s husband is on a reality show that cheapens and mocks the brave men and women who serve in our military. (More on that later)

Sarah Palin’s husband once complained that it took her all morning to write a Facebook post.

John Adams vs. Sarah Palin – I’ll take my chances with a man who died on July 4, 1826.