One Week Ago

Donald J. Trump was elected to be president of The United States of America one week ago on November 8, 2016. This is history at its most unpredictable. My headline for that historic day is:

"The Constitution" Trumps Political Correctness!

November 7, 2016

November 7, 2016 -- Election Eve

My granddaughter asked for help with a generations project at school.
I showed her our trail of ancestors that led to 1620 and the Mayflower.
We studied a vein that led to those who made the trek by handcart to Utah Territory in the 1800s.
We talked about her great grandfather who was a prisoner of war in Germany during WWII.

All the while, I was thinking of our rights to life, to safety, to the fruits of our Founding Fathers who willingly offered their "lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor" in exchange for documents that have secured the freedoms citizens have enjoyed in The United States of America for 240 years.

I am only one voter,  grateful to be a beneficiary of millions of American patriots who came before.
My vote matters.
And I will.

Open Borders

Just read this article. Wow.

https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/who-we-are-as-a-people-the-syrian-refugee-question/4/#

Justice For All

To me, "justice for all" means "justice for all." I'm against dividing people into baskets by color, gender, religion, ethnicity, women, men, etc. and treating them "differently" -- realizing that everyone is subject to being defined by categories after all we can do to prevent that. I'm for the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of choice -- unless and until the demonstration of those freedoms interfere with the same rights of others. An example would be the implementation of Sharia Law in America by some Muslim sects that would put the rights and lives of others in danger.

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All includes all. Illegal means illegal for all. Justice for all means justice for all. Vetting means vetting for all. Nobody's "special," although some populations (example, disabled) need special consideration and accommodations. When applied to specific people, labels like sexist, homophobic, bigot, sinners, xenophobic, zealot, etc. are divisive and destructive, serving no other purpose than to make the "other side" or specific person feel inferior to the perceived "right" side. For example, many would label me sexist because I am opposed to abortion on demand at any time during a pregnancy. I am also opposed to women serving in combat roles in the military. It doesn't affect my beliefs to be labelled sexist, but what's the point except to try to downgrade my opinions or humiliate me? That would be like me labeling all Muslims as evil because some Muslim sects believe in killing women who commit adultery. Or like saying we should avoid vetting and setting standards for all who emigrate or come into our country for work or travel because that would be discriminatory.

Strong Opinions

I like that my children and grandchildren have strong opinions. Yes, I would rather vote for Mike Pence than Donald Trump. Any day. But he's not on the ballot. I'm sticking with the candidate who in my mind is most aligned with preservation of The Constitution, The Bill of Rights, The Declaration of Independence and the rule of law. There are enough labels to go around on both sides in this election. Do I think the millions of people in Hillary Clinton's "basket of deplorables and irredeemables" are going to tip the election to Donald Trump? Probably not. But when the history books are written about this era, it will still be important to me to have aligned my vote to "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." That is my American Dream. Unfortunately, my American Dream is not a part of the present election cycle.

Christian Principles

Facebook post from my son, Ethan, who feels I should reexamine my rhetoric:

"In my view, Christian politics means a candidate's wife publicly washes her husband's mouth out with soap as soon as he betrays his principles in order to "win." It means "political differences never justify hatred or ill will." It means respectfully disagreeing with others without inciting contention, anger, or fear. I've talked with you privately and your reasons for voting for Mr. Trump and refusing to vote for Mrs. Clinton or a third party candidate make sense to me. Given the options, I can see why you might still reluctantly vote for him. But I am surprised at you calling him God's miracle. We the American voters gave ourselves these options, and I don't think Christians should be blaming God for this mess. Abandoning Christian principles certainly isn't going to clean it up."

My response:
"I made a mistake by posting someone else's writing, and I'm sorry I did that.
I never referred to Donald Trump as 'God's miracle,' and I don't believe God is responsible in any way for the mess we now refer to as American politics.
I believe the American citizenry is fed up with; challenges to the rule of law, the economy, ever-increasing entitlements, the debt, weak military, ISIS, immigration issues, and on.
I believe Donald Trump was legitimately selected by members of the Republican party (what's left of it) and, according to the voters in this moment of history, he is the one they have chosen to act on behalf of The Constitution, which I revere as a divinely directed document. He wasn't my first choice, or even in the top ten for that matter. But he is the one of two candidates in this election who best aligns with my vision of America as it was and can be again.
We don't need four more years of corruption to learn our lesson.
I can still be true to Christian principles by speaking out for the preservation of The Constitution and The Declaration of Independence and defying the corruption and divisiveness created by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in America and around the world."

Choices

American citizens have three choices.

They can:
(a) opt out and not vote
(b) vote for an outlying candidate, or
(c) vote for Clinton or Trump.

Although each of these choices has consequences for the final outcome, I am invested in my responsibility to make my vote count by voting for one of the two candidates who has the possibility of becoming the president and the one who is most closely aligned to my own values and the values I cherish as an American citizen.

I can buck up and do this, and I will.

A Message for Christians

I didn't write this, but it's how I feel about the Nov 8, 2016 election:

A Message For Christians About Donald Trump

Here's a famous joke, about God and how he talks to us.

"A deeply faithful Christian man is stuck on his rooftop at home, with massive flooding up to the 2nd floor.  Rowboat comes; He says, "No, I'm waiting for God.  I prayed and I know he's coming."  2nd Rowboat. "No, I'm waiting for God."  3rd Rowboat.  "No, I'm waiting for God."

Water rises, the man drowns.  Now he's meeting God in heaven.  The religious man says, "Where were you God?  I prayed; I was faithful; I asked you to save me; Why would you abandon me?"

God says, "Hey, I sent you 3 rowboats!!!"

Did you ever consider Trump is our rowboat?

Maybe God is trying to tell us something important - - that now is not the time for a "nice Christian guy" or a "gentleman" or a typical Republican powder puff.  Maybe now is the time for a natural born killer, a ruthless fighter, a warrior.  Because right about now we need a miracle, or America is finished.  Maybe the rules of gentlemen don't apply here.  Maybe a gentleman and "all-around nice Christian" would lead us to slaughter.

Or do you want another Mitt Romney, Bob Dole, John McCain, Gerald Ford or Paul Ryan?  Did any of them win?  Did they lead the GOP to "the promised land?"  Did they change the direction of America?  No, because if you don't win, you have no say.

Paul Ryan couldn't even deliver his own state, Wisconsin!  And as leader of the House, Paul Ryan rolls over to Obama, like my dog rolls over for a scrap of food or a steak bone.  Nice, but obedient.  I mean Paul Ryan . . . not my dog.  My dog is actually a pretty good defender and loyal.

Maybe God is knocking on your door loudly, but you're not listening. Maybe God understands, we need a "war leader," at this moment in time.  Maybe God understands, if we don't win this election, America is dead.  It's over. The greatest nation in world history, will be gone. Finished.  Kaput.  Adios.

And with one last breath, maybe what we need to save us, at the last second, is someone different.  Someone, you haven't ever experienced before - - because you weren't raised in rough and tumble New York, where nothing good gets accomplished, unless you're combative, aggressive, outrageous, on offense at all times and maybe just a tad arrogant too.

Someone with a personality you've never seen on stage at your church. Maybe, just maybe, being a nice gentlemanly Christian would not beat Hillary and her billion dollars and her best friends in the media, who will unleash the dogs of hell upon the GOP nominee.

I guess you think God is only nice and gentlemanly.  Really?  Then you've missed the whole point of the Bible.  When necessary, God is pretty tough. When necessary, God strikes with pain, death and destruction.  When necessary, God inflicts vengeance.  Maybe you think God couldn't possibly be associated with someone like Trump.  Trump is too vicious, rude and crude. 

When we won WWII, was God "nice?"  Were we gentlemanly when,defeating Hitler?  Were we gentlemanly, when firebombing Germany? Were we gentlemanly when dropping atomic bombs on Japan?  Is God ever "nice" on the battlefield?  Or does he send us vicious SOB's like General George S. Patton, so the good guys can defeat evil?

It's pretty clear to me God sends unique people to be "war leaders." That's a different role than a pastor or church leader. God understands that.

And maybe it's time to re-define "nice."  Maybe Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan aren't nice at all - - because they led us to defeat.  And losing again, would mean the end of America.  And God can't allow that. Maybe Romney and Ryan mean well, but the road to hell, is paved with good intentions.  Or maybe they're just jealous; they had their chance and blew it.  Maybe they'd rather help elect Hillary, than allow a Trump victory, that would make them look Weak, Feckless and Incompetent.

"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall; But those who wait on the Lord, Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary; They shall walk and not faint." (Isiah 40:30-31)

God is about miracles.  We don't need a "nice guy" or a "gentleman" right now.  It's the 4th quarter and we're losing 14-0. We need a miracle.

So let me repeat my message to Christians: "YOU'RE MISSING THE BOAT."

I believe Trump is our miracle!  I believe Trump is our rowboat!  Except he's more like a battleship!

No one is saying Trump is perfect.  No one is saying Trump is a perfect conservative.  But he is a patriot.  He is a warrior.  He is a capitalist.  He is the right man, at the right time.  Yes, he's a bit rude and crude and offensive. But that may make him the perfect warrior to save America;  AmericanExceptionalism, Capitalism and Judeo-Christian values. The choice should be easy for Christians.

It's Trump . . . or it's the end of the American Dream.

The Last Debate

Tonight is "the last debate" between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump before the presidential election of November 8, 2016.

As my children and grandchildren refer to the outcome of this election through the lens of history, I want them to know that when this ancestor cast her vote, her heart was fixed on the preservation of three founding documents; The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights.

Yesterday, while searching for peace of mind, I silenced my cell phone, nestled between a couple of pillows, and read those three documents. It took two hours and a heavy dose of concentration. And guess what. The peace of mind came!

Now I know again what my heart and the hearts of my own ancestors have known all along. The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights are worth fighting for, living for, praying for, even dying for.

Whatever happens in this election, I will continue to exercise my rights as a free citizen.
My beliefs will not be shredded by a biased media, compromised by oh-so-tired and tedious "politics as usual," or mowed down by a stacked Supreme Court.
If America falls, it will not be because I sat silent, shriveled and small in a corner.
I will never forget America's motto or discontinue my attempt to keep living it: In God We Trust.
I will think, speak and live with deep love for my country and what is in my heart.

The Constituion vs. Sharia Law

The scriptures teach us to "love our neighbors as ourselves" and to reach out as The Good Samaritan did to the beaten man who was left to die.

Loving others as ourselves does not mean we sacrifice our own welfare and safety to others without hesitation.

What about the kidnapping and subsequent horrors experienced by the young girl, Elizabeth Smart? It would be informative to get her take on how she protects and teaches her own children as they interact with strangers.

Several of my own immigrant ancestors left Missouri after the "Extermination Order" was ordered by Governor Boggs, and some are buried at Winter Quarters in Nebraska as a result. They were not welcome in the United States. I'm not bitter about that because it all turned out in the end.

I am opposed to allowing those who believe in or practice Sharia Law to emigrate to the United States because Sharia Law is a direct assault to The US Constitution and is not compatible with the laws of our nation. People who want to emigrate to the United States need to be vetted. This is common sense that isn't so common.

So there you go. History will surely reveal an answer to the question, "Will the US Constitution survive with or without Sharia Law?"

Preserve The Constitution

Here's a reminder from a dear friend of mine:

"I am voting to preserve the Constitution, not to verify anyone's righteousness." 
                                           -- Carol Erekson -- 

The Equality of Women

Hillary Clinton is for the equality of women:

• unless it is her husband who is the sexual predator,
• unless millions of dollars are accepted by her family foundation from countries who stone women for their "sins" and deny them the right to show their faces in public,
• unless "deplorable, irredeemable"members of her gender refuse to embrace her character,
• unless her political ambition interferes with the lives of millions of female fetuses who have no voice or vote,
• unless her shady record in government "service" and tedious trail of lies are challenged by an inconsequential woman like me.

If They Shall Serve God

Ether 2:7 "And the Lord would not suffer that they (Jared and his brother, and their families, and also the friends of Jared and his brother and their families) should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise (the American continent), which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people.
8. And he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared, that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them.
9. And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity.
10. For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off.
11. And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God--that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done.
12. Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written."

How many ways are there to say it, and how many times do we have to be told?

*below is an excerpt from THE FAMILY: A Proclamation to the World 
by The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and presented by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society meeting September 23, 1995 in Salt Lake City, Utah

"We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God.
Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."

Step Aside for Mike Pence

Dear Mr. Trump,

Thank you for starting the "Make America Great Again" movement.
I believe that behind all your bluster lies the heart of a man who loves his country.
But you no longer have a chance to win the presidency.
Only one American is poised to make the sacrifice for his country that is needed now.
Only one, and that is you.
Please show the character behind the "Make America Great Again" movement by
stepping aside and allowing Mike Pence to take us home.

Renee Hawkley Pecora

Can America Be Great Again?

Dear American Voter,
I am 70 years old.
Some of my friends say America can never be great again;
That the American Dream we knew and cherished is dead.
They believe the mainstream media, and say it's SO.
Please tell me the truth.
Can America really be great again?

Renee Hawkley Pecora

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes,_Virginia,_there_is_a_Santa_Claus#Legacy

Tend the Garden of Freedom

Let's get something straight.
The 2016 presidential election isn't about choosing between two candidates. Not really.
Forget about the who-done-its, the who-didn't-do-its, the who's-gonna-do-its and all the theatrics.

The 2016 presidential  election is really a choice between;

• rescuing our indivisible, Constitutional, beacon-of-the-free-world America OR 
• wrapping the broken Obama "legacy" with an Ace bandage and limping on, to include more;  
• class warfare
• imploding entitlements
• secrecy and deception
• unmanaged immigration
• refusal to label and eradicate Islamic terrorism
• jobs relocated overseas
• crippling debt
• devastating foreign policies
• erosion of the military
• and much more talk from a woman who has spent 30+ years amassing a fortune at it.

The evidence of failures from Obama's "lead from behind" crew could not be more clear.
We preview seeds of division, anarchy and terror as they germinate daily on tv and social media.
Those seeds are now sprouting everywhere in our land, maybe in your neighborhood or mine.
We've had Quite Enough of Obama's "fundamental transformation of America."

Now is the time to replace talk with action. Now is the time to tend the garden of freedom. 

*"insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

As an English Italian German White LDS Female Republican Heterosexual American

I am continually frustrated as American citizens are divided into "baskets" by skin color, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual preference . . . you name it!
Can't we just STOP THIS!!!
Why can't we all just be Americans?

Vote for Liberty

November 8, 2016, I will vote for The Constitution and for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

• The Constitution, where politically incorrect phrases like "Islamic terrorists" can be spoken;
• Life, where human body parts will never be marketed in the name of women's rights;
• Liberty, where "the content of one's character"* can be measured as race and religion cannot;
• The pursuit of happiness, where jobs, safety, and education flourish "of the people, by the people, and for the people" rather than "of Washington, by Washington, and for Washington."

*I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Martin Luther King, Jr.

Memo to Hillary

Memo to Hillary in response to her "basket of deplorables"* speech:

Dear Hillary,

Please refer to The Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (women and children) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

People are "created equal" and are not deplorable.
Only ideas, words and actions can be deplorable.

Ideas like selling human body parts while labelling those who are against this practice as sexist.

Words like "at this point, what difference does it make?" when responding to the deaths of four American patriots in Benghazi and then labelling those who question these words as Islamaphobes.

Actions like accepting millions of dollars from countries who are proven enemies of freedom and labelling those who question the motives of this action as xenophobes.

Hillary, 'to just be grossly generalistic,' the foundation of lies that your political dynasty totters on is inexhaustible.

You may be the First Lady for which some Americans cast their presidential vote.
But you are not my first lady and never will be.

*"You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic -- you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that . . . Now, some of those folks -- they are irredeemable, but thankfully they are not America." Hillary Clinton, Sept, 2016

As a Former Military Wife

I recognize how important it is for the United States to "provide for the common defense" as stated in the Preamble to the Constitution.*

A strong military is critical to America and to world stability. We must rebuild our military. 

Obama's self-styled "leading from behind" policies have proven disastrous. 
Hillary Clinton plans to continue them. 

Donald Trump will rebuild the military and work with its seasoned leaders toward stability and peace.

*Preamble to the Constitution:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

As a Patriot

I will vote for a patriot who will keep the oath of office to defend and uphold The Constitution of the United States, which includes;

•  freedom of religion
•  freedom of speech, and 
•  freedom to bear arms.

Hillary Clinton's record documents that she is invested in destroying all three . . . other than preserving them to protect herself and her "friends," that is.

Donald Trump has challenged the mask of religion when used as a shield to commit atrocities, the double standard of political correctness, and the voodoo that inanimate objects are killers.

The Constitution of the United States must prevail . . November 8, 2016.

*Patriot: a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.

As a Law-Abiding Citizen

I am a law-abiding citizen and expect all those who come to America for any purpose to be law-abiding as well, including immigrants.

Donald Trump outlined yesterday  a 10-point plan for lawful immigration.
Hillary Clinton wants to put a bandaid on the heart failure called illegal immigration and call it healed.

As a Retired Teacher

I object to the federal government making education decisions that should be made by states, local school districts and citizens whose children are most impacted by them.

Donald Trump is determined to return these decisions to the people who are most invested in them.
Hillary Clinton -- not so much.

As a Respecter of Life

"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are three "unalienable rights" endowed to human beings by their Creator. (US Declaration of Independence).

Hillary Clinton's statement with respect to abortion,
"Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will. And deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed."
I will not vote for a candidate who has little if any regard for life from its beginning to its end. 

As a Taxpayer

I strongly disagree with the continual escalation of taxes, particularly those that are used to pay interest on the  national debt, which we shouldn't have in the first place. What a waste!!

Hillary Clinton envisions raising taxes for continuing Obama's social engineering experiments.
Donald Trump plans responsible tax reform, tax relief, and the efficient use of the taxes we pay.

As a Senior Citizen

Career politicians are not able or willing to make changes in Social Security so that all who put money in can be assured their benefit will be available to them as promised.

Hillary Clinton is a career politician, invested in a Social Security status quo that is unsustainable.
Donald Trump is a successful financier. He is willing and able to restore a viable Social Security.

As a Woman

I want to vote for a woman to be president of the United States.
And when I do, it will be for a woman who is trustworthy.
That day will not be November 8, 2016.