21 Days to Go...

    A few weeks and we will be voting and hopefully know who our new POTUS is. Has anyone really changed their mind on whom they're voting for? I highly doubt it. Here is what I predict. If Kamala Harris loses it will be a combination of different factors like she did not have to go through a blitz primary to become the democrat's candidate, she hid behind the curtain doing easy interviews on Colbert, the View, a podcast called Call Her Daddy (about sex), and Stern. Some will blame misogyny on her loss, some will say racism, some will say not choosing Josh Shapiro as her running mate, or foreign policy. But I think the main reasons are her messaging and her inability to connect with real people. She is just not likeable.

     Let's start with her campaign messaging. She wants us to vote for her for a clear path forward. Okay but the problem there is she is part of the current administration and has been for three and a half years. The Biden/Harris administration has "told" the American people how great things are currently, so why do we need a message that says we need to move forward? Can't we stay in the lane if things are so dandy? Why do we need change and hope if things are going well? Oh, and there is that little thing called the border. The messaging is contradictory. 

     Part two and maybe the biggest hurdle to overcome is likeability and relatability. It reminds me of Hilary Clinton back in 2016 when she was claiming that she carried hot sauce in her purse to appeal to Southern African Americans. She even added a Southern accent while whipping out the hot sauce on one interview. It was ridiculous and insulting. Instead of connecting with a body of people she turned them off and seemed disingenuous. Some will argue that Trump is not likeable and while that is true for some, half the country thinks he is funny. He is consistent with his messaging. With Trump what you see is what you get and admittedly cringeworthy sometimes. But if you catch him on a roll and really listen, he connects with everyday Americans because he is shooting from the hip. I get it if you hate that about him, but it has worked because he is not trying to be someone he is not.  He is not going on ridiculous shows to talk about nothing.  He knows his lane. He is not a politician in the traditional sense. 

     Back to Kamala. She has not given any interviews of substance. She is trying to appeal to anyone and everyone by going on these soft interviews and while it can be fun, she is running for President. The first woman and first African American. It is a big deal, and it is time for our country to most definitely have a woman. The problem is she seems insincere when whipping into Southern accents or worse Jamaican accents when she has spent a great deal of her life in California. She drinks a beer with Colbert, but she probably drinks wine or champagne, definitely doesn't seem like a Miller High Life kind of girl. Her laugh seems phony. She talks in circles when asked tough questions and our msm gives her a pass. Some of these things should not matter but somehow, they do. Be yourself and let the American public get to know you and your policies. We get nervous laughs and word salads instead.

     But back to policies. Kamala hasn't clearly defined how she is going to do all the things listed now on her website, which by the way took months to get up. She hasn't had a hard-hitting interview and when they tried on 60 Minutes it was so bad that they edited it to try to make her look better. Another big problem for many Americans when Trump has been scrutinized every day for years, has gone to interviews on hostile networks and been subject to the democrats rules during the last debates. He has done what he is supposed to do. But she should too. She owes it to the American people if she wants to be the Commander-in-Chief.

     The only thing we know for sure is that we don't know, and won't know until November 6th, and even then, there is a chance that totals won't be all the way in. Pennsylvania waits until the day of the election to count mail in votes, so I predict a delay in that state, although I hope I am wrong on that account. Vote early and in person if you can and say a prayer for our country because we could see a shift that will fundamentally change our country forever. 

I am Weird

 

   Kamala Harris has now coined the Republican party "weird" especially those supporting Donald Trump along with the support of the mainstream media. What happened to the Dems mantra. "We go high when they go low?" According to Webster's Dictionary the word weird is of strange or extraordinary character, or can mean of, relating to, or characterized by witchcraft or the supernatural: magical. According to Dictionary.com it is an adjective that means strange, odd, or bizarre. I also want to define the word "they" according to Merriam-Webster dictionary-the word is a pronoun that means: those ones, those people, animals, or things. "They" can also mean a way to define people in general or to a group of people who are not specified. 

    Number one: I am weird or bizarre because I know that in order to refer to myself, I am she, a woman, I have a vagina and can have children or at least try to have children.  I actually have proof of my body, have two sons to prove I am in fact a woman and the scars to show it. I know what I am and don't need to refer to myself as "they." I am weird. 

    Number two: I am weird because I believe politically that I would like secure borders currently in the United States because there are literally thousands of illegals coming into our country. Many of these illegals are criminals and have killed a Houston 12-year-old named Jocelyn Nungaray as well as the Georgia nursing student Laken Riley just to name a couple. I believe that immigrants should be able to come to the United States, but legally and with a pathway to citizenship. Isn't that weird?

    Number three: I am weird because I support Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu and they're right to fight for their freedom and to defend their country. I mourn the lives of those lost due to war but unfortunately that is the cost of war as we have seen in our own American history.  I am weird because I do not support Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Houthis that are radical extreme groups that want to eliminate Israel with the hopes of then eliminating America.

    Number four: I am weird because I support Title Nine and women's athletics. As an amateur triathlete, I realize the time and training it takes to perform in sports. I am weird because I do not support trans-athletes in the Olympics or any other sanctioned sport. I am weird because I think that transgenders should have their own sports. I am weird because as a swimmer I do not want to change in a locker room with a man transitioning. I am so weird!  

    Number five: I am weird because I think people should show an ID when they vote to verify who they are. I am weird because I think paper ballots in person should be how we as Americans vote with the exception of those in our military that are allowed absentee ballots. I am really weird. 

    Number six: I am weird because I think schools should teach reading, writing, math, science, and history. Sex Education should be age appropriate and left to the parents to decide if they would like their children to participate. 

    Number seven: I am weird because I think that gender reassignment or any kind of hormone therapy to change sex that you need to be an adult or at least eighteen years of age. 

    Number eight: I am weird because the American flag means something to me. The flag represents the hard work and bloodshed that our founding fathers and soldiers sacrificed for our freedoms. I am weird because the flag flies at my home not only on certain holidays but always. 

    Number nine: I am weird because I question how the msm does not show all sides of arguments politically and how some news outlets only support left leaning news. 

    Number ten: I am weird because I support families- in all shapes and sizes as well as blended families.

    I could list ten more reasons that I am "weird." If all those reasons are offensive, I am weird, but really, I am just a girl/woman with an opinion that things in this country are upside down. What I believe is live and let live. I do not want anyone telling me how to live, how to be, or what I am. And I promise not to tell anyone how they should live or what they should be. But don't cancel me and persecute me because I may see things or have a different viewpoint than yours.  I believe in the Constitution of the United States and the blood, sweat and tears of servicemen and women that have fought and continue to fight for my ability to speak freely and live freely. 

    I am weird!

 

Did Anyone Really Win the Debate?

 

     The Presidential debate proved one thing. That one thing is that the American people did not gain any more knowledge in so far as policy or issues. Did the debate change any minds? The tricky part of the population are the undecided voters. Did the undecideds or Independents change their minds from watching the debate or did they say to themselves yes, I am voting for that person... that is unknown, but my hunch is that they are saying to themselves that Biden is in such decline that I cannot vote for him.

     Are the Democrats asking themselves if Biden is still really their guy? I think they are worried but still I think the votes and the partisanship is so baked in that they are making excuses and still in denial over Biden and his ability to lead. Democrats may be secretly questioning Biden, but will they admit it? And will Democrats change their vote from D to R in November? They should be in panic mode but the D's in my orbit say they will vote Democrat. Jill Biden spoke after the debate saying that Joe did a great job and, "answered every question." The Bidens stopped at a local Atlanta Waffle House where Joe said he thought the debate, " went well." Kamala Harris also commented afterwards saying he had a, "strong finish." Really? Denial is a river in Egypt.

     My belief is that the Biden administration called for this debate to see what and how Biden would do. A litmus test. They prepped him, dressed him up and propped him at the podium hoping for a magical fountain of youth to be bestowed on their leader. Their plan failed. You can't fool mother nature. It wasn't fun to see and in his defense his stutter comes out with nerves, I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. It was sad to see the most powerful man in the land struggle over issues and polices and confuse and combine things that made no sense. 

     But if the Democrats don't fix this, he will surely lose in November. The mainstream media is actually admitting something is wrong and they have flipped their script. But is this part of the Democrats plan? As quickly as they have boosted Biden, they are quick to take him down. One of CNN's political headlines today, "CNN-Flash Poll: Majority of debate watchers say Trump outperformed Biden."

     So, what will the Biden's administration next move be? Media outlets like CNN are reporting today that he has committed to the next debate in September. Yikes, are they hoping for a different result? The debate was orchestrated by the Biden administration and all their rules not traditional debating guidelines. How would another debate done by real debating rules serve Biden better? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.

    Sadly, the biggest losers last night were neither Biden nor Trump, but the American people. We the people are currently the biggest losers due to lack of leadership. We need to show the world that we are still the superpower. The world is looking to us. This alone should bring the country together. We can do better, and we must do better. The best outcome would be for Biden to resign. Give Harris another position other than VP and move forward. 

    Ironically, perhaps the best thing that the debate brought was unity. We can all agree that Biden is in decline and there is nothing that can help him. We are at risk as a nation. If Biden really cares about, "Democracy," then he should resign for the sake of our republic. 

     The only thing for certain is that we don't know what the outcome of the election will be. We do know that it has been a crazy ride, and it will most likely continue to the bitter end. Stay tuned...

Let's Agree to Disagree

    Last week we heard in the news about the commencement speech by the kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs named Harrison Butker. He gave the address at Benedictine College a Catholic school so let's at least acknowledge the context. He has been criticized by many groups including not getting support from the NFL which stated that, “Butker’s  views are not the views of the NFL as an Organization.”

    The speech was appropriate as far as a Catholic organization would support. As a Catholic, I myself am aware of the values and the importance of family to the church and those that are members of the faith. Personally, speaking I agree with Butker as far as what is most important to me in my life. Family in general and my own family have been first and foremost what I have focused on in my life. That being said I think those feeling outraged over what he said should stop and think for a second, put the speech in context and realize that was his right to speak about the topic that he saw fit.  

    Do I think it was appropriate for a commencement speech? I do in that context, but I can certainly understand the controversy it may have caused. Maybe instead of focusing on family life it may have been more appropriate to prioritize the speech to the hard work and dedication it took for all the students to get to graduation. I think that is where he fell short. Prioritizing that the women there will only be happy if and when they bear children is a tall order for any woman especially a young woman just beginning their life. While he did mention that the women would be dreaming and thinking about their jobs and promotions the controversy arises when he said that the only true happy path would be to marry and have a family. While that may be true for some it is not true for all. 

    So where do we go from here? Take it with a grain of salt. Realize it was a Catholic school and move along. I think especially in lieu of many colleges cancelling their commencements due to the radical ideas and speech brought by those speaking against Jewish people, Americans and the American flag we can stomach or at least appreciate a man who loves his wife and family life and is promoting something that is good. Is it good for everyone? No, but I think it beats the pure hatred that has been brought by radical groups protesting on college campuses what is happening to our allies in Israel. It beats blocking a Jewish student from attending a class. It beats saying death to America, death to Jewish people. 

    The fact that the NFL has literal rapists on some of their teams is apparently part of their value system, but being a father and supporting a family is extremely offensive to the NFL. That is very interesting. But the NFL can say whatever they want and support whatever they want. This is still America and we as a people of the United States need to get over the fact that just because we don't agree with someone doesn't give anyone the right to cancel another person-unless there is inciteful violence in the speech which there was not in this case. We still have freedom of speech the last time I looked, although it is being tested every day in this country.

    My younger self as an eighteen-year-old may have found that speech to be offensive, but now I can appreciate the value that my family has given me and that I have dedicated to them. It was a long road for me to get there and it certainly did not happen at my college graduation or even years after. But that is me and that was my choice. Maybe if Butker had spun his speech about different paths and choices that the grads would take in the course of their lives the speech would have been more received. But he did not. So what? We hear things all the time that we agree with or disagree with and that is absolutely fine. We need to get over ourselves and realize that each person has their own views and own experiences, and it doesn't dictate who each of us are as individuals.   

    So instead of being outraged over a college commencement speech that you may not agree with move along and remember that we live in a country that we can speak our own truths. When we can't do that, we are not in our country any longer.  

See attached link to hear Butker’s address

https://youtu.be/-JS7RIKSaCc?si=XSdkH2BReKufhkKB

Could a Strategy be to Vote Third Party?

                            

        The election of 2024 is seven months away.  Do you know who you are voting for?  When I listen to the news and talk radio the general consensus is that about 70% of Americans are dissatisfied with the choices we have in Trump and Biden. The third-party choices of RFK Jr., Jill Stein, and Cornel West are alternative choices but are they better than the two party "favorites?"

     I have a few Independents in my circle. Being an Independent is an easy thing to say you affiliate with because it requires little to no commitment. And let's face it these days no one really wants to have a political conversation with someone that they don't agree with. Gone are the days of sitting around your living room and talking politics with those that are not on the same page. The division Trump has brought has been like nothing I have seen in the thirty plus years I have been following politics. I've seen family and friends both disassociate with myself and others over political affiliation the last few presidential cycles.

      What is your strategy going to be this election? Hold your nose and vote for the lesser of two evils or go for an alternative third party? Maybe if you are one of the people in this country that are Independent it is time to put your money where your mouth is and vote Independent? Maybe you are a Democrat but just can't see how Joe Biden is going to physically survive another presidency, or maybe you're a Republican that is tired of the chaos, you're thinking of voting Independent? According to a national NBC News poll (1,000 registered voters nationwide were polled) finds 26% of registered voters say they could vote for a different candidate than the one they are currently supporting. Basically, one in four voters could change their minds on the presidential race. It is not that voters are sold completely on RFK Jr. or Jill Stein, it is that they are capturing the dissatisfaction that voters have toward the two current options. 

     I don't believe that a third-party candidate will be able to win because of the electoral college piece needed. But by voting third party it could send a message to the people in Washington that the American people are fed up. Maybe a third-party vote would not be such a bad strategy this presidential election.  I don't look at this as a spoiler vote but possibly a chance to change things for the better and send a message to the mainstream candidates about what is important to the American people. Maybe it is time?...