Presidential Election Part 4

This is part four of the facts surrounding our presidential candidates who are running for that office. No personal opinion is used in these six parts on each candidate to date.

Republican:

John R Kasich: husband to Karen Waldbilling, father of twin daughters.

Special Note: wife champions for reading, drug free future, exercise, arts, and after school programs that teaches leadership. (1)

Qualifications:

Governor - State of Ohio (2011)

Priorities include the budget, common sense initiative, health transformation, faith based community initiatives, and human trafficking task force. (1)

Chair of the US Budget Committee

18 years on House of Armed Services Committee

Investment Banker (2)

Ohio State - Political Science (met with Richard Nixon in his freshman year of college)

State Senator at 26 years old

US Congressman at 30 years old

Traveled to Kuwait, Russia and Bosnia

Authored three books Courage is contagious, Stand for Something, Every other Monday.(3)

Issues:

Electability- fact that Ohio is a bellwether State in the White House (definition of bellwether -- leading sheep of a flock with a bell around its neck)

Education: wants to impose states to set standards; raise reading to be set by 3rd grade; affordable colleges

John Kasich Action Plan -- revive America

Human Life -- end funding to Planned Parenthood, ban partial birth abortions, encourage adoption, women’s health initiatives, pro-life beliefs

Lifting Up most vulnerable Americans -- Making welfare work in America, setting work pay for low income families, lifting up mental illness/drug addiction, combating infant mortality

Defend the 2nd Amendment

Fiscal responsibility and balancing the budget -- cut taxes by $5 billion  to spur job creation

National Security -- defeat ISIS, challenge regional aggression (China, Russia) Increase Military, renew alliances

Health Care-- repeal Obama Care, make a new primary care system

Create Jobs and strengthen economy -- tax cuts, eliminate red tape, innovative approach to economic development

(Use same methods to promote Ohio in Washington) (4)

Sources:

1. http://www.governor.ohio.gov/About/GovernorKasich.aspx (accessed 3.6.2016)
2. https://johnkasich.com/meet-john/ (accesed 3.6.2016)
3. Beth W and Tina T. “Biography of John Kasich” Westerfield Library Services (accessed 3.6.2016) http://www.westervillelibrary.org/kasich-bio
4. https://johnkasich.com/issues/ (accessed 3.6.2016)

Again I will hold my opinion. These are just facts.

Changing lanes… new topic.

What beautiful Sunday morning. I am up and have had my tea, breakfast and am ready to begin. My faith in God allows me to have a new path each day. I have learned to regularly put all my troubles, woes, and worries at the base of the cross in which Jesus was nailed. There is no denying He, died for our sins. God raises us up like He did Jesus through His grace. He calms our fears. He lights the path in which we are to follow.

God bless and keep you all. Peace be with you.

Presidential Election - Part 3

As promised here is part three of the Presidential Election. Since I have covered Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders (both opposing each other on the democratic ticket); now it is time to take a look at the other party’s candidates.

Republican:

Ted Cruz: husband of Heidi Nelson (1); father of two (personal note -- I know I said I wouldn’t have an opinion, but he has the cutest little girls.)  

Special Note: Heidi is on leave from her employment with Goldman Sachs. She attended Claremont McKenna College, and Harvard School of Business. She has been employed in high powered jobs in Washington DC prior to moving to Houston.

Qualifications:

Private Law Practice

Solicitor General for the State of Texas (I questioned this position because I did not know the details about it. Supervises all appellate litigation on behalf of the Attorney General)

Authored more than 80 US Supreme Court briefs; 43 oral arguments of which 9 were before the US Supreme Court.

Won the landmark sovereignty before U.N. and World Court in Medellin v Texas.

Attends 1st Baptist Church, Houston, Tx.

Junior State Senator since 2013

Advisor on former President G W Bush Campaign

BA Princeton

Harvard Law School

Clerk for U S Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist

Associate Attorney General for the Department of Justice

Director of the Office on Policy and Planning at the Federal Trade Commission

Award winning high school debater

Advocated in 2008 for death penalty in the case for a Mexican citizen convicted of raping and murdering two teenage girls.

Other:

Defender of the Constitution: especially Bill of Rights- ie: 1st and 2nd amendments particularly

Defender of the 10 Commandments Monument at the Texas State Capitol

Defender of “Under God” in the pledge of allegiance

Working to get Obama care repealed

Supported by the Tea Party

Working to repeal executive amnesty

Defends right to life and traditional marriage (opposing abortion and same sex marriage)

Help orchestrate last government shutdown (2)

Issues:

Restore the constitution of the United States especially the 2nd Amendment

Secure the border is national security: build a working wall, use biometric tracking, and increase security

Defend our nation: defeat ISIS, rip up the Iran deal, rebuild the military

Stand with Israel: No tax dollars to Palestinian authority, defund UN if it continues to be anti-Israel, defund any American university that boycotts Israel

Religious liberty: rights are from God and not from the government, will instruct Dept. of Justice, IRS, and other federal agencies that they will not persecute anyone on their religious liberties

Restore cultural of life marriage and family: investigate Planned Parenthood, reinforce that marriage is between a man and woman

Create Jobs and opportunities: create a flat tax of 10%, a family of four will have the first $36,000 tax free, boost domestic products 13.9% above current, increase wages 12.2%, create 4,861,000 jobs, regulatory reform-- energy renaissance, stabilize the dollar, internet freedom for entrepreneurs, repeal Obama care, clean power-- affordable and reliable energy

Rein in Washington-- shrink agencies and eliminate IRS, Dept. of Education, Dept of Energy, Dept of Commerce, Dept of Housing, and balance the budget, appoint a special committee to see if any programs of these agencies need to be salvaged. (3)

Sources:

1. Zezkima, Katie, “Heidi is the high powered spouse…. ”Washington Post” 1.8.2106 (Accessed 3.6.2016) https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/meet-heidi-cruz-hard-charging-career-woman-but-first-a-loyal-spouse/2016/01/07/bf822444-9dee-11e5-a3c5-c77f2cc5a43c_story.html
2. Mead, Wendy. “Ted Cruz Biography”  Biography.com website (A & E Television Network) (accessed 3.6.2016) http://www.biography.com/people/ted-cruz
3. https://www.tedcruz.org/issues/rein-in-washington/ (accessed 3.6.2016)

My opinion will not be made public until I finish with the fact pages of all the presidential candidates. There are six of them at this time.

Changing subjects...onto a new road.

Have you ever accused someone of something without knowing all the information. We are suppose to be a nation of independent thinkers. But are we really? God granted us free will. That means we have choices to be made. To make a choice we should actually think about it first. The society in which we live in runs exceedingly past the speed limits posted on the roads and that is not good. When we do not slow down, we endanger the lives of the people around us regardless if it is family or strangers.

Not slowing can also breaks the law-- minor to major infraction depending on the incident. You may wonder how? For example: speeding is a minor criminal act. The law of speed is posted on every road; if you speed then you are a minor discounted criminal--caught or not. If you speed and kill someone due to “not thinking” you become a major criminal--caught or not.

I watched a video the other day where drivers were not stopping when the school bus put up the stop arm to load and unload children. A child was almost hit by a passing motorist. It is common knowledge and the law to stop when the school bus is stopped to load or unload students, especially on a two lane road.

God has posted his laws, rules, and regulations with every turn of the page in our lives. We can think about them or we can speed through life without consideration. The choice is yours. Slow down and think.

God bless you all and keep you safe. Peace be with you.

Presidential Election - Part Two

This is part two on a series of the Presidential Election. I will put together strictly the facts on each of the candidates running for the office of president of the United States.

Democrats:

Bernie Sanders: husband to Jane O’Meara Driscoll, PhD: father of four and grandfather

Qualifications:

US Senator for 16 years

House of Representatives for state of Vermont

Brooklyn College and University of Chicago

Mayor of Burlington, Vermont

Before becoming a presidential hopeful he championed for:

Shrinking middle class

VA Affairs

Affordable housing

Environmental protection agency

Child Care

Youthful Art Programs

Progressive taxation

Issues:

Income wealth/ inequality, college tuition free/debt free, get big bucks out of politics/ restore democracy, create decent paying jobs, a living wage, climate change to save the planet, fair and humane immigration policy, racial justice, women’s rights, LGBT equality, social security, lower Rx drug prices, supporting historically black colleges/universities, improving rural economy, reforming Wall Street, real family values, war and peace/support the Iran deal- resulting war as last efforts, making wealthy, Wall St., and large corporations pay their fair share.

How does Bernie Sanders intend to pay for these programs:

Make corporations pay taxes on all profits

Tax Wall St. speculators

Lift income cap on taxable income over $250,000

Ending loopholes on the carried interest

Payroll tax of $1.61 per week

Tax large inheritances and expense inherited art work

Stop taxpayer funded give-a-ways

6.2% income based health care paid by employer and 2.2% of health care paid by households

progress income tax rates

capital gains and dividend taxes

adjust real estate taxes

end tax breaks and subsidies for fossil fuel companies

All changes will start from year one to ten years if elected president.

Special Note:

Jane Sanders, wife, holds a PhD in leadership studies in politics, is a large contributor and adviser to Bernie’s political career.

As I stated in my last blog, I will hold all opinions and just list the facts until after I have covered all the candidates. Part three will cover the Republican party candidates.

Changing lanes:

Politics just like religion is a highly emotional topic. Tonight I was engaged in a discussing over the history of the USA. The other person involved in the conversation was highly insulting toward me. I am educated and do really great research. I will brag that I do hold an AA, BA, and MA. In all honesty that doesn’t make me any smarter than anyone else.

History as well as any other subject in the academic community is not always taught correctly and or outlined in any book as being100% accurate. Which brings me to what is called truth.

It is possible for two people to be correct, two to be wrong, and/ or one to be correct and one to be wrong. It is what can be conceived as personal truth.

The Bible states in Mosaic Law and confirmed in the Christian doctrine that we should not lie. Of course that means we should tell the truth to the best of our ability. If you believe something is true in your heart as fact, and someone else believes something entirely different as being true in their heart, then it is true-- we have achieved the truth. Be respectful of other people’s truths  regardless whether you agree with it or not. It is the “right” thing to do under God’s plan. After all does anyone know if anything is true? I know for a fact that the faith I hold in my heart for God and his Son, Jesus Christ, is true. Everything else is just semantics.

God bless each and everyone. May peace be with you always.


Sources:
https://berniesanders.com/?nosplash=true (accessed 3.6.2016)

Presidential Elections - Part One

I haven’t written for a while because of illness. Today is the day that I start my blogging again.

The topic is the upcoming presidential election. This blog will be in six parts detailing the presidential candidates of the USA to this point.

I am not sure how many are aware of those people who are seeking the seat and the actual process behind the election of the president of the USA.It is the same as it was more than 200 years ago. A general election is held by popular vote but that doesn’t make the popular electee a winner. Members of the electoral college (an alleged representation of the people), which is based on the population of a state, vote on the president; they also don’t always vote the way you want them to either. When this process was set up, it was done because the average man couldn’t comprehend and or did not have the intellect to choose a president.

It is a much outdated system.

Up until the general election, we have primaries voting to choose a candidate for each political party -- generally established as Republican and Democrat. Of course there are independents who can make the general election ballot but very seldom do they get more than a very small percentage of votes in the long run. As a result the people do and do not actual vote for the President. My concern(s) have been if the people actually do not vote for the president, how can the president uphold the Constitution of the United States. After all, he is in the employ of the people and the constitution was written up as “We the people…” 

Now for the introduction of the Presidential hopefuls:
Democratic Party: 
Hillary Clinton - wife of former President Bill Clinton, mother, and grandmother. 
Qualifications:
Former Secretary of State under President Obama
former US Senator for the state of New York
practicing lawyer and law professor
graduated from Wellesley College Yale Law School

Prior to running for presidency, she championed for children’s healthcare, human rights, women’s rights, and education.

Issues:
Alzheimer’s disease, campaign finance reform, campus sexual assault, change and energy, college education costs, criminal justice reform, disability rights, economy, gun violence prevention, health care, immigration reform, infrastructure, k-12 education, labor, LGBT equality, national security, paid leave, racial justice, small businesses, social security/medicare, substance use disorder and addiction, veterans, armed forces and their families, voting rights, Wall Street and corporate America, women’s rights, workforce and skills, and rural communities. (1)

The only real question that I had was under campaign finance reform. What is Citizens United? It is a political action committee of what seems like the “filthy rich” ultra conservatives.(2)

”In the 2008 election season, Citizens United the PAC sought to broadcast TV ads for a video-on-demand film criticizing presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, but doing so would violate the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (known also as the McCain–Feingold Act), which barred corporations and unions from paying for media that mentioned any candidate in periods immediately preceding elections. Citizens United challenged the law, suing the Federal Election Commission (which sets campaign finance laws and election rules), and the case made its way through lower courts until an appeal was granted by the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 5-4 ruling, the Justices declared unconstitutional the government restriction on “independent” political spending by corporations and unions, and determined the anti-Clinton broadcast should have been allowed. The decision overturned century-old precedent allowing the government to regulate such spending. As a result, Citizens United has greatly affected the way corporations and unions can spend on elections (more on that below).” (3)

I have sort of already made up my mind as to who I will vote for. I am a mid-line conservative but will hold my opinion until I finish detailing all the presidential candidates.

At this time I want to change lanes to something interesting: GOD.

God made different languages for a reason. With those languages come different cultures. It was for our own good and to save humanity. Too many of the same anything can promote gluttony and it does bring out the worse in the human behavior. Too much of anything can lesson the good of humanity, increase the possibility of criminal behavior, social ills, and tragedy. We need to preserve patience and work on our humility as well as self worth. Different languages promotes diversity and increases learning. It also increases humanitarianism for all people. Since the population of the earth is vastly growing, we all can use the comprehension of other cultures to realize that not everyone is like the American people, but the basic needs (food, clothing, shelter) are the same.

Peace be with all. God bless each and everyone.

Footnotes: (1) https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/ (accessed 3.5.2016)
(2) http://www.cupvf.org/ (accessed 3.5.2016)
(3) Bently, Nick Reclaim Democracy. (accessed 3.5.2016) http://reclaimdemocracy.org/who-are-citizens-united/

The Light Brigade

The Light Brigade, I must confess is a poem I had never heard of until I watched the movie The Blind Side. If Tim McGraw was my high school English teacher, I would have not only sat up straight, heard it and memorized; but done a somersault, landed and licked my eyebrows clean in one breath with an incredible smile on my face. I had to read this poem. Since I enjoy history and facts, straight to “GOOGLE” I went to look up everything I could find on it.

 

Wow! Blow me away. Courage! Honor! We do not often hear words like that used in our society today. In the positions of Mike Oher and the Tuohy family took courage and honor applied it to a  giving and receiving type relationship. This type of blind faith is how we help God meet the needs of the people that walk the face this earth

 

LSU Tiger Stadium is nicknamed the “Valley of Death”; though The Light Brigade is not about the football team. It packs in over 100,000 guest. That would be scary knowing that many eyes were watching you.

 

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me..." (Psalms 23:4) In your lifetime, how many people will be watching you? What examples are you setting for them?

 

It takes courage to stand up and be noticed. God has commanded us to be courageous and not to fear that courage. (Joshua 1:9)

 

Maya Angelou wrote:  “Courage is one of our most important virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage."

 

Tennyson wrote it to memorialize men during an impossible battle that would be considered “a suicidal charge.” Their leader commanded them and they followed without question.

 

You know Jesus’s Father? So, if God knocks on your door, who are you to question whether or not you are home, ready, willing and able? God’s business ain't no Cheech and Chong movie where they say:

 

“Who is it? Nobody’s home come back later I am washing the dishes!” (Or was that Animal House?)

 

We can honor by at least trying. We aren’t perfect, we are just human. Tennyson agreed with God as courage is commanded of us from God. Angelou states the actual importance of courage is the most important characteristics.

 

Regardless of how we are raised, courage is the ability to stand up and try. Honor is the ability to learn and give back for trying. Ask yourself if there is any courage and honor in killing another child, in killing for sport another creature, in being mean and having the lack of humanitarianism for one’s self worth, or life in a community? We should do the correct thing that God wants us to do and that is between God and our self.

 

Did it ever occur to anyone that the reason God judged Adam was that he lack courage to stand up to his wife and he chose not to. He then turned his back on God which was dishonorable.

 

 

God bless each and everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Complexities of men

Man is a complex piece of very fine instrumentation. There are inner and outer components. I am not going to be philosophical and use words like a poly-nominalist or the like in from the world of distinguished gentlemen the ancient classical. I would look stupid if I did.

There two sides to everything which is the age old argument in the big arena of life. This is just a simple rendition of the separation of traits or characterization of that individual--a simple understanding that many Christians seem to forget. Simplify there is an in and an out; seen and unseen. What is the driving force? Once a motion has been set into play it continues in motion. Well guess what that answer isn’t good enough. A motion just doesn’t continue without a driving force and that is the Son. I did not say Sun; I wrote SON.

The very existence is due because his Father, my FATHER, created that SON. What is the first thing we feel when we go to the beach? Strip off our street clothes for sand and water fun? Now close your eyes. Feel the warmth deep down to the bone. The toes are tingling in the sand. We are totally relaxed and refreshed.

Now we open our eyes and everything seems new. We can face another day. The brightness has added to a lives an energy. We have accepted the sun. In essence, the principle is the same only this time we have accepted the SON of GOD as that saving grace to be the center of our universe because he is the ultimate creator, the challenger. The once earth/heavily spirit that has provided us with the renewal that we so richly needed. Our internal nature is then healed with power that we cannot even imagine how to replicate it or dream of where it came from. It doesn’t matter what science does. We cannot fashion what we do not understand.

Now man is very complex. We know there is an inner and outer shell to man. Just because we don’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

If it did and we could see it many would be speaking:
“Well how is your rotator today doing?”
“As you can see it is stopping here on this bone spur. When it rubs against this tissue mass it is very painful.”

Being a Christian is not rocket science. It is living life to the fullness as God and Jesus would want us to live it. It is humanity toward all men. It is the love of a child. It is the comfort to the sick. It is the patience to yearn for hope. It is faith, a belief, and follow actions of helping GOD meet the needs of others. It doesn’t stop because the power only belongs to him.

God bless everyone.

Student walks up to minister and states:

“Oh Brother Bob, I am sorry I missed church last Sunday. Some friends and I want to get into some water and last minute rays as the beach before school started.”

“Well, looks like you were worshiping the wrong sun. Looks like you got burned!! I will keep you in prayer for a speedy recovery.”

Do not getting burned.

Roller Coaster

UP DATE:   

I do apologize for not being able to write for some time. My final semester of graduate school approached with a vengeance. I took a logic class. For someone like me logic is like algebra or reading through a mirror upside down, backwards while hanging from a cliff. Do not try to understand it. Just try to memorize it. Now it is two semesters later and I get it some of it. My light bulbs may come on in the elevator of life in which I ride to get or the concept at a later date.
 

My mother was very ill during my final semester in graduate school, had a massive stroke three days before graduation. The car broke down and I almost didn’t make it. For those of you who do not know me, my mother and I were not friends; love? I took good care of her in her elderly years as did my eldest brother. I needed a break and just until the last semester started slowly moving her and my brother back to my daily routine of a questionable life. It surely wasn’t a life enjoyed or expected it was hard and my children made it wonderful for me.  After mother’s stroke she tried to recover, but it was her time to go home. She died in the nursing home peacefully in February. She just went to sleep and never woke. I finally let everyone know that mom had an aneurysm in her brain and that I had promised her not to say anything about it when I found out about it last October 2014.

 

Many things went downhill--my middle brother (the continual drug/alcohol recovery) moved back with us after a 15 year hiatus. Well actually after trying to get his act together in the Alabama Department of Corrections.  His act is ready for a road show. He is very good too. Knows exactly what to do and how to fool the best until the liquor and crack totally takes over. Then Beware! Everything that anyone has or owns must be locked up and secured. He is very consuming of one’s time and energy. He is someone where on the streets of Houston as I write this post. I do not like his actions and will not have it around me.

          Many things went uphill as well. A terminal chronic illness that was stressed upon my eldest brother is not nor never has been an issue with his health because he didn’t have it. Thank you for North Carolina Doctor who stated otherwise. He was so very relieved as we all were since he had stopped living for the past 13 years. He then met his “soul mate.” Over the internet of all places. He left to be with her in Florida. I am very happy for him.  There were issues over money between he and I in which we will just have to iron out. My children told me I lost it a long time ago with the financial aspect of living. I have had to turn over to them to handle especially when I ended up in the hospital.

The first diagnoses was low oxygen possibly COPD, possibly enlarged Aorta, congestive heart failure or possibly pneumonia. Well it wasn’t any of those things, just a really bad case of upper respiratory infection from a sinus infection like I thought. In all the process.

I had forgotten to take care of me.

While trying to diet, I had forgotten to eat and hydrate properly. Meanwhile I am on my deathbed according to the medical community assigned the hospital’s “Doctor from Hell!” (That is a physician -- a little manicured mini-god-- who knows everything about you without even looking at one’s chart, assessing their medical history,  or asking their name.) He is the type of person, and not his profession, that one would love to empty fecal projectile on his "perfectionism" or pummel his face with my food tray. Regardless of the urge I didn’t! I did scream bloody murder, recovered all my oxygen, heaved the last of the mucus (landing on the window dead center target) that was strangulating my vocal cords and felt 100% better. Carol Burnett would have given that scream in the House of Loud Screams" a TEN on the rector scale for earthly movements. All my daughter did was raise her eyebrow and ask,

    “Do you feel better you big baby after pitching that temper tantrum?” Meanwhile she continued to read me the daughters riot act about me wanting to checkout on life after I had made the decisions that my mother was moving back into the house with me. I didn’t want that to happen and I was trying to get out of it. Time to “shit or get off the pot!” I swear the things we teach our children.

Well God exists.  He places a little of those sharp edged “Jobial” trials and tribulations in our paths. No one is exempt like we think they are. I am still here and have a purpose for living. Great news in all of this. My daughter married a very wonder man and had a baby one week later. I am his Gammy. My son and I have a little flat where I am learning to take care of me. He is not stupid. When I say I can’t he says,

    “I am not calling 911. Get your own ass up!” What do you think I do? Angrily I get up.If he thought I was in need of help beyond his control he would call 911.

God does exists. Whether or not we want to admit it, we loan credence to His wonderful existence in just thinking about him on a daily basis. But it is not my time to meet him.  I am sure he will let me know when.

God bless each and all.