2020 Elections: A Time to Stand

You are not alone!

Elections 2020 will be here before we know it and politicians from all major parties will be mailing flyers, doing interviews, campaigning in their areas, and promoting their agendas for the next few years after they are elected.   Politics in America has always been a wild ride, but for Republicans, it is about to get not only wild but potentially dangerous.  The fact is, as Republicans, we face an election year where Democrats really have nothing to stand on for election or reelection.  They have spent four years chasing a President with porn stars, and "Russian Collusion" only to have it all blow up in their face.  They have spent four years as virtually a "Do Nothing other than chase Trump" party.  Now it's election time, and they have nothing to run on as a platform.  Since they have nothing, they will do the next best thing they can think of to do...they will stand on and attack you.

This election season will be like none before.  Because opponents of the President have nothing, they are going to intensify their attacks on his supporters.  Let's face it, nothing phases President Trump.  They call him names, he just strikes back on Twitter.  They say he is a traitor, he just calls them out for their failures in their own districts.  They attack him and Israel, and he tells them to go home.  To be straightforward, not only is President Trump blunt, but he doesn't care what the opposition does or thinks about him.  Because President Trump is unlike any other President in the history of the United States, the Democrats simply do not know how to handle him and his supporters.  In the end, they resort to the only thing they can cling to against Trump and Republicans.  They resort to name-calling, threatening, yelling, vandalism, and even physical violence.  Democrats have decided to take their own history (racism, segregation, buying votes, etc.) and turn it against Republicans.  A necessary playbook call is to "Accuse others of that which you yourself are guilty of doing," and the Democrats have mastered this playbook.  So, this election will be like none before. 

What can you expect?  You can expect it is going to get worse before it gets better.  Do not be surprised if when you put out your Republican signs out,  bumper stickers on cars, or wear your MAGA hats if any of the following does not happen to you:
 You will be called a racist - regardless of your heritage, you are a racist according to Democrats.
 You will have your yard signs removed - they will steal them, even as you watch.
 You may have your car keyed or damaged or your stickers removed.
 You may be harassed if you wear a Trump hat, shirt, button, etc. and it will be harsh verbally.
 You may be called many other names such as "Nazi," "Fascist" "Traitor," and others.
 You may, as horrible as it is, be attacked physically for your Republican support. 
 Your headquarters may be attacked through vandalism or some other means.

The fact is, this election season the Republican voter is going to be singled out.  The Democrats and their liberal supporters are going to try to scare you, intimidate you, threaten you, and do whatever it takes to get you to shut up and hide.  That is what they want.  They want Republicans to hide away, say nothing, show no support, or they want us to not be seen.  They fear our visibility because when we are seen, others will become less afraid to stand up as well.  When Republicans stand together and say, "No, we will not go quietly.  We will not be silenced.  We will not have our right to freedom of speech destroyed by you," then Democrats become very afraid.  It not only upsets them, but it bothers their image.  They want a picture that Trump can not and will not win.  They want to discourage us, disenfranchise us, and make us feel alone.  They really do not care how we vote in the booth.  They know they will not change that secret and sacred ballot, but they want to ensure that we do not influence anyone else.  They want us silent so that those undecided voters will not hear what we have to say.  It's going to be a scary time for Republicans....it's going to be an election like none you have seen. 

As the 2020 election draws near, you have to make a choice.  You are either going to stand up and support your Republican candidate, or you are going to allow the Democrats to cause you to cower, hide, and sneak into a booth to vote.  How will you handle it?  Will you let them intimidate you into silence?  Personally, there are few things I do not like in this life, and perhaps one of the top things I do not like is being told when I can and can not speak my mind.  Trust me, the Democrats are going to single you out and try to knock you down.  But you have one advantage that they are not prepared for and it is your most substantial advantage yet-they have knocked us down before and we always get back up stronger and better prepared.  We are Republicans. We are the party that stood up to slavery when few others would, we are the party that stood up for former slaves rights to vote, we are the party that supported the women's right to vote, and we are the party that pushed to see Civil Rights become law.  We are the party that sent troops when Democrats said "No" to desegregation, and we are the party that pushed to win the cold war.  We have a long history of fighting the uphill battles, but we also have a long account of winning them. 

YOU are not alone.  YOU are a Republican, and there are more of us out there than they can count.   When one of them knocks you down, one of us will step and tell them, "Why don't you try to knock me down now."  We are together, and we will stick together through it all.   This election season we are going to stand.  Our headquarters are going to open across the state and the nation, and we are going to be prepared.  Our signs are going up, and if they take them down, we will put more up in the same place.  Our flag has 50 stars, and that means there are 50 states where Republicans live, thrive, work, and vote.  You can reach out, you have the support, and we will support your right to free speech and your freedom to support the candidate of your choice.  We are Republicans...YOU ARE REPUBLICAN... and we will never back down from the fight to save this nation we love.  Always remember, you are not alone.   Perhaps Fredrick Douglass summed it all up best when he said, "I am a Republican...and I never intend to belong to any other party other than the party of freedom and progress." The fate of this nation is now your shoulders.  Will you decide that now is a time to stand?  Don't worry, there's an entire herd of us elephants out there, and if it comes to Democrats knocking us down, they are going to find there are some mighty big elephants in our herd that will be hard to knockdown. 

Just Fix It, Chuck

Chuck Schumer's cages are inhumane

At 8:18 p.m., on July 19, 2019, Chuck Schumer twitted on his official account the statement below:

"Humans being locked in cages.  To see these people, coming to America in search of a better life, treated in such inhumane conditions.  This is heart-wrenching.  This is wrong.  This is not who we are.  This has to end.  Now." 

Senator Chuck Schumer is not a new politician.  Let's keep in mind that he has been serving since 1981, in one form or fashion in Congress.  Chuck's resume reads like a man climbing the policial mountain.  He has served as the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Senate Democrat Caucus, he has served as the Chair of the Senate Rules Committee, and he has served as Chair of the Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee.  To put it bluntly, Chuck has been around a long time.  In fact, Chuck has been in Washington for 38 years.  38 years is an impressive record for Chuck.  He has served in Congress, the place where laws are made and spending are determined, for nearly 40 years now.  

Chuck is very concerned about the inhumane cages being used at the border.  Now, a basic Internet search, and a review of Congressional records, as well as presidential actions, will show that these "cages" that Chuck is concerned about were built and put into operation in 2015.  

Wait? 2015?  You mean to say that these cages were built long before President Trump took office?  Yes, these cages were built and put in place in 2015.   Now, President Obama served as President from January of 2009 to January of 2017.  President Obama was a two-term, Democrat President - you know, the same party as Chuck is a member, and President Obama actually oversaw the development of the cages in 2015 - you know, like when he was still President and Chuck was helping fund the cages.   

Now, if we consider that the cages had to be funded - that would mean Congress has to put the money out, right?  So, that would mean that Chuck had to be one of the people that approved and knew that funding was going to these cages.  Did Chuck think the cages - clearly indicated to be used for illegal immigrants - would actually be used for something different?  Was Chuck so dumb, or did Chuck just not pay attention to the fact that he was voting and allowing money to fund cages for human beings?  Maybe Chuck was missing at those meetings - I don't know, perhaps it was campaign time for him.  Or, maybe...just maybe Chuck was supporting a Democrat President as they cooperated with each other and developed the cages for human beings because they were in the same party together.  

Chuck Schumer, you're right, it's "heart-wrenching."  Sadly, you would have absolutely no concern at all for these people in "cages" until well after there is a Republican President in office trying to fix the problems you helped create.  Yes, Chuck...you not only helped create the problem, but you also funded it, approved it, and looked the other way while it benefited your party.  The minute a President tries to actually do something to fix the issues at the border, all you want to do is jump on Twitter and sound like a cheerleader for the people being held in your cages.  

Well, Chuck, let's not mess around here with your history.  You supported these cages, and now you want to distance yourself and your party from them, but the ties are simply too deep.  The American people are not stupid, and no amount of Tweets from you will ever change that fact.  You are acting like a fake and fraud.   With 38 years of knowledge, experience, and the ability to make change happen, we deserve more from you.  Maybe it's just time for you to do your job and just fix it, Chuck. 

Protest v Disrespect

During the 1960s, there is no argument that the United States set the example of racism for the world.  African Americans were denied such fundamental rights as the use of public bathrooms, meals in restaurants, and even access to medical services.  African Americans deciding to travel and see their country, also had select hotels and motels around the country that were for "Colored Only" and guidebooks to show them where to find those hotels.  It was, no it is, a sad, pathetic, and very un-American time during our history.  It is one we should be ashamed of, learn from, and promise future generations that regardless of sex, religion, race, or sexual orientation, it will not happen again. 

In those 1960s, African Americans had little to be proud of in the United States and in fact, they had every right to protest, stand up, march, and demand equal rights and equal treatment.  While this happened, some chose to protest the country, but others decided to protest the action and not the country they so dearly loved.  George Foreman, the winner of the 1968 gold in boxing, had reasons to protest the treatment and demand equal rights.  He wanted rights, but he chose not to disrespect his country as a form of protest.  Foreman, after his victory for the gold medal, held up a small America flag as he was announced the winner.  Today, the former heavyweight champion, preacher, and salesman says that if he had it to do over again, he would have held up two flags.  Foreman wanted equal rights, but he understood something that today's protesters do not understand.  He understood that his best chance at getting those equal rights came from the country represented in that flag of stars and bars.

Yesterday the U.S. Women's Soccer Team won another Gold Cup.  Yeah for America!  It is a great triumph, a great accomplishment, and an excellent symbol for women and the nation.  Sadly, rather than take this opportunity to become representatives for making a change, some of the women on the team chose to disgrace the flag and even attempted to walk on it after throwing it to the ground.   In one writer's words, "They won the gold cup, and lost America."   Almost immediately after winning some on the team announced they were not going to the White House to celebrate the victory.  In fact, the actual words were "I'm not going to the F****** White House."

Just before making the statement about the "F****** White House" the team had thrown the flag down on the ground and attempted to step on it.  At the last second, the video shows another team member snatches the flag off the ground before her teammates could walk on it.  Perhaps she thought they accidentally dropped it, maybe she thought they did not mean to step on it, or perhaps she just had a little higher respect for the flag.

The Women's U.S. Soccer Team could learn something from George Foreman.  George Foreman wanted better treatment, he wanted equal rights, but he knew the United States was the best chance for that equal treatment and rights.  He chose to honor his nation and fight for equal rights at the same time.  He may not have liked the President, he may not have liked what was happening in government, and he may not have liked how life was on the streets, but he loved America nonetheless.  He respected the government, even when he disagreed with it.   Foreman set an example that the U.S. Women's Soccer Team could and should learn from, and that is respect and love your country, even when you're working to correct a wrong within your country.

In 1968 George Foreman wanted equal rights.  He won the gold in boxing.  Two days before, two American Athletics won the Gold and Silver in Track.  They also wanted equal rights, but when the Star-Spangled Banner played, and the flag of their country went up, they chose to give a Black Power sign instead of placing their hands over their hearts.  It is the equivalent of kneeling today or walking on the flag.

Interestingly, the man who chose to love his country and work to see changes would still be popular today in 2019.  Without doing an Internet search, I would be willing to bet that most people do not remember those two athletes who gave the Black Power sign nearly as well as they remember Forman.  It's a simple message, you have two avenues.  You can love your country and work for change, or you can hate your country and work for change.  How you approach the matter says a lot about you as an American, and it says a lot about you as a citizen.

Trump, love him or not, is President for four or eight years.  America, the White House, and the U.S. flag will be here long after the Trump administration has been written into the history books.  Change, one way or another will come, and for people like Foreman, they will become the People's Champion, but for those like the U.S. Women's Soccer Team that walks on America and walks away, they will likely be a short footnote in history.  Those teams and individuals will end up as small players when it comes to comparisons with a man like George Foreman.   Respect and love for your country does not mean you always agree with it, the leaders or the policies, but it means you love it and work to see a better day for it without disrespecting it.

Shocking Democrat Plans

Recently the Democrat leaders in Washington have started showing their plans to the public.  If you know how these things work, then you know that all groups meet, discuss, and plan out their strategies before they go public.  Once they make their plans and are ready, they gradually start showing the public what they intend to do.  The Democrats are no different in their planning actions.  However, now those plans are beginning to become apparent to the average American.  The Democrats are showing a plan that clearly not only violates your rights, but it will completely destroy the Bill of Rights and your future.  If you don't believe this, then consider just three of their leaders, but have faith there are way more than the three noted here.  Below you will see clearly what three of their Congressional leaders are planning for your America:

Nancy Pelosi-
In responding to President Trump's concerns that illegal immigration is a national emergency, Pelosi, who has long advocated strict gun laws that would continue to trounce on the 2nd Amendment, stated that a future Democrat President could declare a national emergency in gun violence.  Nobody reading her statement or hearing her heard anything except "gun confiscation."  Pelosi as Speaker has become one of the leaders in the Democrat's drive to disarm the American public and implement new laws to weaken the 2nd Amendment.  Not only are these statements directly contrary to the Bill of Rights which states that the right to bear arms "shall not be infringed," but they clearly and openly declare the leadership of the Democrat Party has an intention of future gun confiscation and that it has been discussed, planned, and plotted by the highest people in their party. 

Eric Swalwell-
Swalwell is not only a Democrat Representative in a high powered position, but he is also a current candidate for President of the United States.  Yes - President!  In a Twitter dispute with an American citizen, actually several of them, Swalwell suggested the government would confiscate guns in the future (sound familiar to Pelosi above?).  When the citizens stated that they would not stand for this type of treatment and that it might lead to protest or even war against the government for violating the 2nd Amendment, Swalwell responded that any conflict would be "a short one because the government has the nukes."  Swalwell not only threatened to confiscate guns from the American public - a violation of the 2nd Amendment - he outright stated that any protest against that confiscation might result in a nuclear strike.  Now we are not talking about a nuclear attack against on a foreign power here!  He is clearly saying he would not only fire atomic weapons against Americans, but he would shoot them at Americans on U.S. soil.  Swalwell takes the gun confiscation platform of the Democrats and ups it to a form of a dictatorship that they falsely accuse Trump of doing.    Anytime the government threatens the people with violence to gain compliance with illegal actions, then you have the makings of dictatorship and a country that looks very different from our Republic.  He is outright throwing the 1st Amendment and the right to address your government out the door!  Keep in mind also, this Swalwell wants to be President - in other words, he wants the button and the power to launch those nukes he so freely threatened to use on Americans.

Frederica Wilson-
You may remember Democrat Congresswoman Wilson of Florida and her recent threats.  If you do not remember her, think constant"Rodeo" attendee or "Macho-Man Look-Alike."  Now, in all seriousness, friends especially, please pray for me because I just made fun of Wilson's dress and hat and I know this is going on social media. If Wilson has her way, I will be prosecuted for making fun of a member of Congress.  Sorry lady, you kinda open yourself up with your 1970s Rhinestone Cowboy look there....oops, did it again!  Anway, Wilson stated that anyone making fun of Congress members should be prosecuted and put in jail.  She not only said they should be placed in prison, she outright said that they need legislation to make that a law.  So, Pelosi attacks your 2nd Amendment rights, Swalwell attacks your rights to address your grievances to the government and violates your 1st Amendment rights.  He further throws your 2nd Amendment rights out the window.   Wilson takes the Democrat platform further and attacks your 1st Amendment rights by throwing your freedom of speech out the window without the threat of military strikes on U.S. soil, but instead with laws implemented to remove your rights.

These leaders of the Democrat Party have clearly stated their objectives.  They want to throw out the 1st Amendment and the 2nd Amendment and virtually walk all over your freedom!  If they are successful, how long do you think it will be before the freedom of religion, the freedom of the press, and the rest of your freedoms come under attack?  If they genuinely want to confiscate guns, stop you from talking negatively about them, then do you really think that is all they want?  If they are publically saying this stuff now, you can bet they have planned, plotted, and calculated the correct time and place to start their attack.  You can also be assured that they have a lot more in their plans than what has been told so far.  The America they want is not the America of the Republic, but it is an America of a new rule and new order that will not resemble anything our Constitution and Bill of Rights has promised.  It is apparent that Democrats want your voice, the voice of freedom, gone from the United States.  Perhaps Washington summed it up best when he said, "If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the slaughter."

The Republic

In the 1960 movie "The Alamo" John Wayne, who plays David Crockett, has a scene where he is talking to Travis and about what a new Republic and he says:

"Republic.  I like the sound of the word.  It means people can live free, talk free, go or come, buy or sell, be drunk or sober, however they choose.  Some words give you a feeling.  Republic is one of those words that makes me tight in the throat; the same tightness a man gets when his baby takes his first step or his first baby shaves and makes his first sound like a man.  Some words give you a feeling that makes your heart warm.  Republic is one of those words." 

Today we are at the threshold of the celebration of the Fourth of July, the day that independence was declared by the thirteen colonies.  Much like Wayne's words above, the colonists desired to "live free, talk free, go or come" and many other things as free men.  They wanted a government that would represent them and their interest and not that of a king halfway around the world.  When the dust settled from those sparks of revolution on that Fourth of July, the United States would be born.  The United States would become the Constitutional Republic. 

Our Republic has certainly had its challenges and its ups and downs.  There have been times when the idea of the Republic have been challenged, pushed to the limit, and even pushed aside for a mob rule mentality.  There have certainly been times when the majority or the guy with the biggest stick got his way.  We can walk through our history and see glaring examples of it from the Trail of Tears to the lynchings without trials.  We can see the Republic stomped on in these moments when laws meant to protect were simply brushed aside by those in charge because they had the majority. 

Despite the times our Republic has been brushed aside, in the end, it has prevailed.   It has prevailed because there have been men and women of this great Republic who have stepped forward and said, "No.  This is not what our Republic represents."  The Republican Party built its foundation on the idea that all men should be free in the United States.  The party was known as the Abolitionist, and their primary goal was to bring the laws and benefits of the Republic to all those living in the United States.  To bring these benefits to all people would mean that slavery had to end.  It had to stop not just in the new states added to the United States as it grew, but it had to end in all slave states in the country.  The Republic was being challenged, as it had been before and as it would again.  As always, men and women were willing to stand up and say, "No.  This is not what our Republic represents."

There are those today who would distort, and change history simply because it is not always a pretty picture.  But we do not need to change our past or distort it, but instead, we need to embrace it.  We need to look at our history of slavery, lynchings, the mistreatment of our Native American friends, and the mistreatment of any group of people.  We need to study, learn, and be prepared because no Republic has ever stood without challenges.  There will always be a group of people larger than another group willing to embrace a world where the republic no longer protects the individual.  We must stand ready today and tomorrow and remember that the Fourth of July is a celebration of an idea that we can be different, that we can be better, that we can have the freedom and that freedom can be found in the strong protections offered by the Republic. 

As you prepare for the celebrations and the Fourth of July holiday, take a moment to reflect on what you have in this Republic.  Be thankful for the changes that have come about to protect your rights and freedoms, study the history of when that Republic has been challenged.  Know that no group, no matter how large, can take away your individual protections under the Republic.  If you stop and take a moment to look at the Republic of the United States in that way, you may just find that what Wayne said back in 1960 on the silver screen is just as accurate today as it was then.  "Some words give you a feeling that makes your heart warm.  Republic is one of those words."