Why You Should Not Use Your Electoral College Vote For Donald Trump

I wrote this letter and sent it to each red state Elector stating their responsibility to our Democracy. Contact information for them can be found here.

You, being a community leader, with intelligence, honor, and a duty to your country, hold in your hand, the very tool that our founding fathers gave to you.  They gave you this tool for a very specific reason.  They, in their great wisdom, set up the system in which we have lived for over 200 years, in order to keep our Democracy alive and well by keeping it out of the hands of populist demagogues.

Our country has not come face to face with that specific reason.....until now.  If you have not already heard this quote from Alexander Hamilton, one of the architects of the Electoral College, I present to you here:

“…the office of president will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications.”

We are now in a time in which this disaster is eminent, but for you. We need not debate the demerits of Mr. Donald J. Trump and his lack of qualifications to hold the office of President.  You, I am sure, are aware of his demeanor, his recklessness, and his lack of aptitude to hold this office. You, as an esteemed Elector, guardian of our democracy, must look deep into your soul, and know that this is a time of action.  The fact that we have never been through this before, does not relinquish your current responsibility to act now to do your part in keeping a populist demagogue out of office.

We need not worry of the riotous consequences should you not give Donald Trump enough votes, for Congress can very well maintain his selection, there-by appeasing those masses.  At the same time, this communicates to Trump, that his is not a mandate as he has stated, but puts him more at the mercy of those responsible for his election, those smarter than he.

The consequences of resistance to fulfilling your obligation as an Elector, may well be The abolishment of this one last protection, should you not prove it’s worth.

We Don't Listen Anymore; Now We Are Paying For It.

Many sit in disbelief, and remain in shock of Tuesdays results and ask how and why.  They ask themselves how can America be this stupid, this racist, this divided?

At the same time, there are many people, good people, hardworking people, people who share the same exact values as those others, who sit in relief and celebrate.  

Pisha! my liberal friends say.  Well then ask yourself this…..Do you think every Muslim is a terrorist?  No? How about a majority? No again, right? Then how can you say that every Trump supporter is a racist?  Or even a majority of them are? You can’t, because many of them are the same people who not only put our first African American in office, but re-elected him.  Many of them are of Latino descent, and many of them are black. More of those two groups voted for Trump, than did Mitt Romney. That is an indisputable  fact.

So how can this be?  As we sift through the autopsy of this election, talking heads are asking that same question over and over again.

The answer is simple really.  We don’t listen. We heard different things from each of the candidates.  We heard what we wanted, and ignored, or didn’t believe what we chose not to.  And that is the problem with our society today.  We don’t hear each other. We don’t ask questions, and all we want to do is vomit our own points, either with memes or platitudes.

Insert Platitude Here…..

I know many wonderful people who didn’t hear what Clinton supporters heard.  They didn’t hear the attacks on women, they didn’t hear the attacks on minorities, they didn’t hear the attacks on the disabled.  And Clinton supporters didn’t hear the pain and struggles people feel, they chose not to hear the lack of empathy of the Democratic Party, they chose to hear only the big philosophies. They didn't hear the anger, and they didn't hear the lack of trust in their candidate.

We are all guilty of pulling out the tidbits to make our argument.  We need to start listening and learning to use the steps of listening, which means paying attention, be interested in what the other person is saying, ask questions, and be aware of your own opinions and how that might affect how you are interpreting what that other person is saying.

All of this is difficult when the only way we communicate now, is through Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and other social media formats.  But we must.

This is the only way we can end the divisiveness, it is the only way we can rebuild, and it is the only way we can continue.

The Bright Side Of A Nightmare!

After having woken up this morning, my eyes opened to the realization that last night was not, in fact, just a nightmare, but a cold, dark reality. The reality that hits you square in the face like the sliding glass door you ran into full force thinking it was open and knocking you on your ass kind of reality.

I walked through the house in the same daze as I processed 4 of the  Kubler Ross 5 stages of grief; Denial, Anger, Bargaining, and Depression. Acceptance, the 5th stage of grief, didn’t come until I stepped into the office this morning, having listened to the news in a daze and shedding tears as I drove through the morning commute. It was raining and I told myself even God was crying.  But as I finally came into work, trying to muscle through the grind of doing what I do, attempting with all my might to smile at those I didn’t know in order not to show the disappointment and misery I felt, I came to an epiphany…. Things always seem worse at the outset, than they really are.

I will not deny that this is a disaster, and the imagination runs wild on how much of a disaster that it can actually become.  But that is the point…imaginations run wild. And in retrospect, one can also imagine what would have happened had Hillary Clinton won the election:

In my imagination, I see pitchfork and torch carriers rioting; I see the already incredible growth of militia participants increasing substantially; and I see massive gridlock for another 4 years of bi-partisan hatred and vehemence.   

My Sister-in-law, who is always that calming voice in the raging tempest pointed out, that if Hillary were elected, she would have been faced with the same obstructionist strategy from a Republican Congress in both houses, that Obama has faced for so many years.  In addition to that, she would have faced, and been embattled with, a partisan politik calling for more hearings and investigations.  It would have been never-ending, and our country would have seen more conflict and turmoil.

She also mentioned the same scenario that my wild imagination had envisioned and mentioned above. Had Hillary won, there would have been the uproar of all those constituents who vowed to raise pitchforks and torches.  Already through the Obama administration, we have seen a massive increase in militia groups from just 149 such groups in 2008, to over 1,400 in 2014.  She reminded me that at least with the win of Donald Trump, the pitchforks and torches crowd, along with the  militias, may now calm down, no longer in fear that their guns will be taken away. There are two ways to quash riotous crowds; smash them with the force of superior forces, or let them settle.  Muddy water does not clear up by shaking the bucket, but by putting the bucket down.  Yesterday, as much as many of us hate it, we put the bucket down, and now pray the waters clear.

As we contemplate the nightmare the majority of us woke up to, let us also remember that Donald Trump had been a Democrat far longer than he was a Republican.   What his actual policies will be, is left to be seen.  Even he said years ago, a leopard doesn’t change its stripes.  That is good and bad with President-Elect Trump, but let’s just remember that he has been liberal on some issues in his past and we can only hope that much of the rhetoric he spewed during the campaign, was simply to raise the pitchfork and torch carrying masses in his favor.

One issue that we can all agree with President-Elect Trump is that this country needs to rebuild the infrastructure.  That has been one of his actual policy issues that was coherent and straightforward.  The previous roadblock to that has been congress and its resistance to allocate the 500 Billion Dollars needed  to do that.  Mr. Trump has said he is the king of debt, and possibly he can convince congress into buying into that plan of allocating those monies to get it done.

So as many of us go through the 5 stages of grief, let this stage, the stage of acceptance, bring us to an optimistic light, and have faith in our country; a country that has been through so much, and far worse (hopefully) in its history, that there may be some bright sides to the election of Donald J. Trump. Otto Von Bismark was right, We can fuck things up pretty bad here in the United States, and yet, we will still be ok. thank God for providence......Optimism is the only way to survive tragedy.

Why People Like Me Aren't Standing On the Roof Shouting I'm Voting For Hillary, And Why She Will Win!

I am voting for Hillary Rodham Clinton, and I am proud to do so.  I do it with enthusiasm. I have even volunteered on the phones, calling to make sure others are for her as well.  But you won't see a sign in my yard, a sticker on my car, a t-shirt, or any indication in my life that I support Hillary.  Why is that?  Why do I not walk around proudly touting the principles of my candidate?

I will admit that some of it is that as a man, wearing an “I’m with her” t-shirt, just doesn’t seem like something a man would wear.  I know! That is so f’ng sexist, it is pitiful.  I am sorry, and I know it is something I need to work on.

Being a white man, I am told by the polls that I am a minority. I do know, however, that  there are plenty of white men out there, both college educated and non-college educated, that feel the same as I do.  Rather than the shy Trump supporter, I contend that the true shy voter, is the white male for Hillary.  I have not seen one shy Trump supporter…..ever. They are proud to plaster themselves all over TV with t-shirts and hats that are frankly….yes, I will say it…..deplorable.

I am brave enough though, to debate people at work, rest or play, on the merits of voting for Hillary, and how I feel that Donald J. Trump is not a candidate that is even remotely qualified to be president.  Fortunately, through the skills of debate I have learned over the years, I have been able to avoid heated arguments with just about everybody...except my mother. That one is tough.  But most people I know don’t really want to talk about it for fear of retribution, belittlement, or losing someone who would otherwise be a decent co-worker or neighbor.  It’s not worth it and we all simply don’t want to get into it.

I am sure that the disdain I have for Trump supporters is the same disdain they have for me. So, unless I know our friendship can handle this disagreement, I simply avoid the conversation. I think there are numerous friendships that have been lost this political season.  I have even boycotted my personal Facebook page for the last 6 months, to avoid those horrendous online battles and the outrage I feel when I see someone I had liked, an avid Trump supporter.

There are plenty of us who realize that 30 years of attacks from the right, and political hitmen hired by the right wing has led to a mindset and paradigm that the media has perpetuated over the years.  ( A side note here...One of those political hitmen against Hillary for years, now not only supports her, but also works for her) The hatred for Hillary that right wing talk shows and media have promoted is detestable. It has infiltrated a large portion of the populace. So we who have done our homework and realize it is all political rhetoric...Benghazi, emails, whitewater, many other conspiracies, including the murder of Vince Foster. We know we simply can’t overcome that vehemence, and don’t have the patience to deal with the idiocy. Each one of us knows the complete fallacy of the bullshit. None of us likes the fact that she has a reflexive tendency for secrecy, and how it helps perpetuate the rumors, but in light of what she has been through, we don’t blame her for it either.

That being said, all we have to do, is listen to Donald J. Trump to determine that he is a complete imbecile, and a constant and consistent liar. All we have to do is see that he is a fraud, is check on the facts of his life through verifiable and reputable sources. If the world could see his taxes, it would be proven to the world once again.

But I like my car, and I don’t want it keyed, or to promote road rage, because some yahoo thinks, since we don’t agree politically, he or she can cut me off, brake in front of me on purpose, or flip me off while on the road.  I have seen it happen too often during my commute. So no bumper sticker that says, “I’m with her” even though I am so in full force.

So I am that “shy” Hillary supporter, and there are millions out there like me. And come Tuesday, November 8, we will rise up in mass, and cast the ballot that will save this country from an oligarchic, misogynistic, populist totalitarian.

An In Depth Look At Each Candidate's Flaws

With the election next week, I thought I would look at the election season and do an in-depth analysis of the flaws that have been exposed this year. At the end of this analysis is a summary of the transgressions and what they mean.

Clinton emails.

Trump admitting sexual assault.

Clinton emails.

Trump Charity Fraud.

Clinton emails.

Trump calls for nuclear proliferation.

Clinton emails.

Trump calls for national stop and frisk.

Clinton emails.

Trump violates trade embargo with Cuba.

Clinton emails.

Trump sued for  Trump U fraud.

Clinton emails.

Trump refuses to acknowledge a loss in the Presidential race, and threatens our democracy.

Clinton emails.

Trump rates women on a scale of 1 to 10.

Clinton emails.

Trump issues a call to arms at a rally against his political opponent.

Clinton emails.

Trump bribes Florida DA.

Clinton emails.

Trump pays no taxes for 20 years.

Clinton emails.

Trump illegally uses others financial loss as a deduction on taxes.

Clinton emails.

Trump employs campaign manager involved in illegal corruption with Russia.

Clinton emails.

Trump has server connected with Russian bank.

Clinton emails.

Trump calls for ban of an entire religion from entering U.S.

Clinton emails.

Trump lied about support for Iraq War over and over in debates.

Clinton emails.

Trump in court for rape of a minor.

Clinton emails.

Trump unaware of Russia’s Crimea occupation.

Clinton emails.

Trump unaware of situation in Syria.

Clinton emails,

Trump sued and penalized for racist housing discrimination.

Clinton emails.

Trump files for bankruptcy 6 times.

Clinton emails.

Trump slams POW hero.

Clinton emails.

Trump calls Mexicans rapists.

Clinton emails.

Trump questions judge's integrity because of parent’s heritage.

Clinton emails.

Trump deletes emails involved in casino scandal against court order to produce documents.

Clinton emails.

Trump commits insurance fraud after Florida hurricane.

Clinton emails.

Trump has dozens of assault victims with allegations of abuse.

Clinton emails.

Trump attacks former Ms. America for being overweight.

Clinton emails.

Trump tweets about non-existent sex tapes at 3 am.

Clinton emails.

Trump calls for U.S. citizens to be sent to Gitmo.

Clinton emails

Trump calls for more extreme forms of torture to be used.

Clinton emails.

Trumps asks why we can’t use our nukes if we have them.

Clinton emails

Trump calls to start a war with Iran because someone gave us the middle finger.

Clinton emails.

Trump calls to kill women and children of suspected terrorists.

Clinton emails.

Trump says women should be jailed for having an abortion.

Clinton emails.

Trump makes fun of disabled journalist.

Clinton emails.

Trump calls for the end of freedom of the press.

Clinton emails.

Trump calls global warming a Chinese hoax.

Clinton emails.

Trump praises Putin and Kim Jong Un’s strong leadership.

Clinton emails.

Trump calls President Obama an illegitimate noncitizen hundreds of times over 7 years.

Clinton emails.

Trump uses campaign donations to enrich his own businesses.

Clinton emails.

Trump buys personal goods,( Portrait of himself) and pays legal fees with money from his foundation.

Clinton emails.

Trump disparages Gold Star Families.

Clinton emails.

Trump accuses Ted Cruz’s father of being involved in JFK assassination.

Clinton emails.

Trump says laziness in an inherent trait of black people.

Clinton emails.

Trump refuses to denounce racist followers and members at rallies yelling racist epitaphs.

One can certainly state the Hillary Clinton has the flaw of paranoia and secrecy.  Some may say that is understandable after 30 years of being a target. Some would also say, secrecy has no place in today’s Presidency.

What we can factually state about Donald J. Trump, is that he is a habitual liar, a scheister, a schemer, a sexual assaulter who lusts after his own daughter, a conspiracy theorist, a racist, and a man of extremely low moral character.