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Congressman Kevin McCarthy’s father worked 24 hour shifts as Assistant Fire Chief for Bakersfield, California and moved furniture as a second job. Kevin’s parents, Democrats, fed the homeless and gave precious time to local charities. Would they say “No” to Build Back Better?Congressman Jim Jordan’s dad was a Toledo, Ohio beat patrol officer. Would he refuse an investigation into who attacked his brethren in blue on January 6? Congressman Tommy Tuberville’s father earned five Bronze stars and a Purple Heart for combat during World War II. Would he support those who plotted to de-certify a U.S. election and threaten democracy for which he fought so bravely?Congressman Matt Gaetz’ dad served in his state legislature and swore an oath on his Father’s Bible to protect and defend the Constitution. Would he support his son’s characterization of the January 6 insurgents as political prisoners?Congressman Madison Cawthorn’s father, has been a U.S. Marine and a deacon in his church. Does he abide the inflammatory remarks of his son who talks of bloodshed and rebellion and “rigged elections?”Republicans don’t’ support and will not even debate voter’s rights, women’s rights, health, education and welfare rights, an entire agenda of domestic issues to help every day Americans.Neither Congressman Paul Gosar’s siblings or Andy Biggs siblings could tolerate the conduct of their respective brothers and publicly advised voting against them, stating they were unfit for office.Republican members of Congress are failing to honor the solemn oath they take. Where are the family values?
Democrats will change lives forever. You will have cheaper prescription drugs, better health care with dental and vision coverage included, 21st century schools, broadband internet available to everyone, one year of pre-school and two years of post-high school education without cost, reduced insurance premiums and cheaper prescription drugs, and jobs, jobs, jobs The truth is that Biden has told us since 2009 that nation building was not feasible and that our efforts would not achieve results.
The truth is that politicians and military leaders engaged, for years, in equivocation, asserted progress when there was none, promised a republic where there could be none; and tied America to an Afghani government where there wasn’t one.The truth is that Trump’s negotiation with the Taliban, called by some a “surrender agreement”, released thousands of hardened Taliban soldiers at the same time that Trump removed thousands of American troops and stopped processing visas for Afghani interpreters. He left a vacuum. The Taliban filled that vacuum, connected with those hardened Taliban soldiers and organized itself for the final blows to the Afghani government and its allies. They got Trump’s message; America was finished with Afghanistan.The truth is that it wouldn’t matter when the final days of evacuation occurred, there was going to be chaos, heartbreak, and a mess left behind. The departure of any losing Army is never clean or well-organized and is usually bloody. Read history.The truth is that the Biden White House has had its own missteps but let’s not be so quick to give up and give in to the harsh critics.The truth is that Biden’s decisiveness, steadfastness and heart just may result in one of the better evacuations in history.The truth is that war is hell. Voting No means that you want Governor Gavin Newsom to remain in office as Governor. A recall which would remove Governor Newsom from office occurs if “more” people vote yes to remove him (not necessarily a majority) than vote no to keep him.You can also vote for one of the many candidates running against him so that if he is recalled, another candidate wins.Voting yes means that you do NOT support Governor Newsom and do NOT want him to remain in office and you might vote for one of the 40+ candidates running against him.
IF THAT HAPPENS THEN:The candidate running against Newsom wins who has more votes than anyone else. With so many candidates the vote will be spread across 40+ candidates. Thus, a person could win with only 5% of the vote, 10% of the vote. It depends upon how widely split the vote is.Bottom line: a person could become Governor with only a few thousand votes or even a few hundred among millions of eligible voters.Caveat: It is being asserted that some candidates listed as Democratic are actually Republican party members. See Voter Information Guide for further information about the election and its processes. Sunday, August 22nd A kid is fighting cancer, loses his hair and shaves his head. Next you see his whole class and sometimes a whole community shave their heads in support.A friend is bullied. Kids join forces and stand up for their friend. We make movies of such stories and root for those in trouble. That is who Americans are or at least they used to be.
Now there are kids in trouble. They and their teachers are vulnerable to a virus as they walk into a classroom.There are few tools to keep people safe. One is a mask. Objectors say it is an infringement of their liberty. If is as well an infringement of children’s safety. The “more perfect union” was advanced by “we, the people.” Have we lost the we? Are we, now, just “me?”Or is it “you are not the boss of me” attitude?” Consider that we require vaccinations before a child can enter school. We require helmets on bicycle riders. We require driver’s licenses and auto insurance and seat belts.We’ve never had freedom to do whatever. That would mean we could speed through a red light or drive drunk or refuse to pay our taxes. We are free to engage in words and deeds until they bring harm to others or impinge upon their freedoms. We began as we the people, working for the common good. Do we end as “me first?” “Me” only? Critical Race Theory, the Republicans claim, teaches public school students to hate themselves and America. Facts First: K-12 students are NOT being taught Critical Race Theory. If studied, it is at an advanced upper division or graduate level. I am a retired public-school teacher who has taught American history and politics for forty years. California curriculum requires a study of the U.S. Constitution and the inventory of laws enacted by Congress and the states.Our Constitution began with a clause that valued slaves as 3/5 of a white man. While we may have amended the Constitution to provide for an equal protection of the laws, we did not amend people’s hearts. Critical Race Theory, explores the laws and institutions that promulgated and perpetuated the racial divide.Critical Republican Theory postulates that such curriculum is anti-democratic and should be banned in American schools. Public school teachers must push back. Disparate treatment is a part of America’s history. We cannot ignore it. It is incumbent upon educators to discuss America’s full history, good deeds and misdeeds, slavery AND the underground railroad, for example. A responsible teacher covers all. A well-educated student needs all.
Fear challenges all of us. We can fall prey to its power or we can dig deep into ourselves and find the courage to repel it.Republicans are acting out of fear. They fear their base. They fear their reelection. They fear Trump. They fear McConnell. They fear violence. As a result, they are acting cowardly.We need “profiles in courage” not cowardice from Congress; we need them to be true to the oath to which every Congressperson and Senator swore allegiance."I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."To serve in Congress is a privilege bestowed upon a very few by the many. We expect our representatives of this grand experiment in government to be brave, honest, to tell the truth and to govern. They must use the awesome power of their office to serve the people and to defend the values of our democracy. Our country is in peril. We need Congress to rise to the occasion. Country First. Courage, not cowardice.
The Republican Party has always been good at messaging with catchy slogans that, in a phrase, relay their positions on issues.
Democrats are poor at messaging. This must change. How would you, in a simple phrase, send a message to the 2022 voters? How About CHANGE Systemic Racism TO Race Realities. ( what is now- quit scolding for the past) Voter Integrity TO right to vote laws. (expand voting rights) America First TO America Forward. (Not what America was, what she can be) Police Reform TO Police Fidelity (honor your badge; we honor you) Lower taxes for me and not for thee. Tax only wealthy corps and individuals. GOP is not the Grand Old Party; it is The Grand Old Racist Party. Here is the GORP on issues: No to George Floyd Policing Reform Act. Black Lives Do Not Matter. No to HR1. Suppress minority vote. No to immigration reform. Keep refugees out. No to 2020 election outcome. Continue the big lie. No to Kristen Clarke confirmation. She’s qualified BUT she’s black. No to Chiquita Brooks LaSure confirmation. She’s qualified but she’s black.. No go Vanita Gupta for Justice Department. She’s qualified but she’s black. No to 1619 Project. Pulitzer Prize curriculum on black american experience. No to Critical Race Theory. The interaction of law and race in America. Yes to overturning 2020 elections. Yes to voter suppression in minority districts. Yes to white supremacists storming the Capitol. Yes to Marjorie Taylor Greene assertions that BLM are domestic terrorists. Yes to Trump and the Proud Boys Remember the pigs in Animal Farm? They start out as the party of the people but end of the party of the powerful. Among their famous quotes: “All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.”Seems that is the current thinking of the GOP in regard to voting. They call it “voter quality.” Republican John Kavanagh and others purport that not everyone should vote. Quantity is important but so is quality, they contend, sounding much like the pigs in power who claim “we would be happy to let you make decisions for yourselves but you may make the wrong decisions and then where would we be?” To assure voter quality, a GOP ballot registration form might assess a voter not just with name, address, etc. but include:
· Occupation; · Organizations of which you are a member; · Education; · Citizenship Status, attach documents; · Who you voted for in last election; · Reading Level.Are we doomed to end as Animal Farm with a belief that there is innate corruption in government and no hope for equality? NO. Fight voter suppression. Restore “one person one vote” as a fundamental right. Restore democracy. |
