Community Roundtable

I’m placing most of the blame on the media, who knowing better, spent far too much time vilifying Hillary’s use of a private email server, which was NOT ILLEGAL, while largely ignoring pending lawsuits and real scandals involving Trump, who they gave unlimited, free air-time, and refused to call him out on his multitudinous LIES AND DECEITS.  A CBS bigshot summed it up declaring, “Trump may NOT be good for America, but he’s good for ratings!”  So the media got what was good for them; they can continue that circus show for years, possibly complete with indictments and an impeachment forthcoming.  The Americans, too apathetic to care about what happens outside their own door, co-mingled with the extremely ignorant — of world events, history and how our government is supposed to work,  joined by those who through hate, fear and bigotry resonated with Trump’s message formed the “populist uprising” of  protest votes, our Brexit.   Let’s acknowledge that Hillary won the majority of the popular vote, (she could still be voted in by the electors in December; check your civics book or Google the subject) and she, ever the diplomat, gave a gracious concession speech.  I say that we’re drawing our battle lines even closer in this civil war, and I like Tim Kaine’s quote from William Faulkner, “they kilt us, but they ain’t whipped us yet!”    We need to get out there and fight even harder for our vision for America!

In 1987 the FCC, under the Reagan administration, abolished the Fairness Doctrine, which eliminated the limits on what broadcast journalists could say on TV and radio, and gave birth to Fox News (GOP-TV), which I consider to be hugely responsible for the Dumbing Down of Americans.  Fox so-called “News” was banned in Canada (February 2011) because they have laws demanding truth in news.  “Fox is not welcomed in a democracy”; it is an entertainment station that broadcasts Republican-propaganda to America 24/7.  The problem with that is: many people think that it is fair and balanced “news”.  Trusted reporter, Dan Rather, asserts that there is a definite decline in investigative journalism and stated, “When journalists and news organizations feel more pressure to make money than to provide a public service (and speak truth to power) — it is dangerous in a society such as ours which is a constitutional republic based on the principles of freedom and democracy — it can be lethal”.   An example of integrity in reporting is Rachel Maddow (MSNBC); she does her homework consistently well and provides high quality coverage.  (Also very good reporting comes from: Lawrence O’Donnell and Chris Hayes).

Hillary has a plan to work toward building a stronger middle class, raising taxes on the uber-rich, investing in infrastructure, manufacturing, research, technology, clean energy and small businesses, which together with her plans for implementing comprehensive immigration reform, should create millions of good jobs.  She’s for rewarding companies that do more profit-sharing with their employees; she is strongly for fair pay, improving ACA by lowering prices for premiums and prescriptions, expanding health benefits including more accessibilityto mental-health services; streamlining access to veteran’s benefits,  investing in our inner-cities, supporting first responders, achieving true criminal justice reform, taking military weapons off our streets, strengthening civil rights, LGBT and women’s rights, human rights, enhancing voter legislation, fortifying SSA and Medicare, creating debt-free college, regulating Wall Street, making America the world’s clean energy superpower, maintaining cutting-edge military and defense, dismantling ISIS and hardening our defenses at home, including more protections against online jihadist recruitment, enforcing the Iran deal, being firm with our rivals, and maintaining strong diplomatic relations with our Allies and partners in the world.   This is what team Clinton-Kaine stand for!    Vote Blue!   We are STRONGER TOGETHER!

I view one of those candidates:  EXTREMELY  UNFAVORABLE!  Google: “Hillary Clinton admired” to see the publications that hailed her: “Most Admired woman in the ENTIRE WORLD” … 17 years out of 18; Barack Obama was rated “Most Admired man” 7 years in a row!    The opposition party saw “their need” to strongly diminish her reputation!  The “Hillary Haters” and distrusters are the direct result of concerted, sustained efforts of mainly taxpayer-funded bogus attacks and hearings by “Rethugs in Congress”, hate radio, extreme-rightwing publications, and notorious propaganda-entertainment that bills itself as a news station.  The Democrat party put forth 2 great candidates:  Senator Sanders had a “UGE” following.  Those of us FOR HILLARY are enthusiastically confident in her experience and abilities to govern and represent us on the world stage!  The Republicans ran 16 candidates, most of which I thought were poor choices, with the exception of John Kasich; sane, respectable, reasonably-truthful, why did he garner such limited support? Why did such a DEPLORABLY-UNFIT candidate appeal to so many?  He has appealed to the lowest common-denominator in our society!  That is a sad commentary on America!  Good thing — he’s plummeting in the polls!

How many of us women have experienced sexual harassment or outright sexual assaults in the workplace or elsewhere?  Far too many have had to try to keep jobs where abuse was pervasive.  And if we found the courage to speak up, his word carried more weight!  Trump’s own words, bragging about sexually assaulting women IS NOT “locker-room banter”!  It is an example of “men who view women as sexual prey”!  It is the testimony of a predator!  Now several women have come forth (the tip of the iceberg) to tell their assault stories at Trump’s (tiny, but busy) hands.  Sexual discrimination laws were passed decades ago, and we teach our daughters and our sons to not accept such treatment from anyone.  And we should not consider accepting such a Deplorable person as the leader of our nation!  Trump’s response:  “We will make Bill Clinton look like Bill Cosby”; as Trump proceeds with his “scorched-earth” strategy and declares “all out war” on everyone, including the GOP!

Sane, capable, compassionate, intelligent leadership is the main issue!   Real criminal justice reform, civil rights, women’s rights, human rights are important NOW and ongoing.  We should not be arguing  about unarmed black people being shot down on our streets or strung up in jail cells!  This shouldn’t be happening in 21st century America!  One who says that the greatest fighting force in the world is a disaster,  that he knows more than all the generals, that a captured POW is not a hero, those with PTSD are weak, or who disparages a Gold Star Family because they are Muslim is NOT a voice for our military, not fit to be Commander in Chief!  One who measures women only by a super model beauty standard, who mocks fat, sick, or disabled persons in our society is not a voice for America!  One who has starred in a “soft-core porn flick” and who’s wife has nude pics with another nude woman, one who is a serial cheater, philanderer, liar and swindler is not a moral authority ; he is NOT the voice for evangelicals or persons of any faith in our country.  Trump is simply unfit for the presidency!  VOTE FOR HILLARY / KAINE!   STRONGER TOGETHER!!   VOTE BLUE!!!

It was better than I expected, only because Trump fell apart and started babbling so quickly!  Hillary, as usual, knew her facts and spoke well of her proposals and plans, and her opponent, as usual, displayed his total disregard for facts and rambled like the crazy person he is!  Hillary called him out on his failure to release his tax returns, speculating on what he was trying to hide, possibly that he’d paid NO taxes?  To which he responded, “that makes me smart!”   Hillary talked of his “Trumped-up trickle-down” economic tax plan that would hurt the middle class and his playing to the worst fears and prejudices of many to the detriment of this nation.   She spoke of his threats to blow up ships in international waters over hand gestures made to our sailors.  He continually interrupted Hillary as she spoke, heckling her ….even about the fact that she had prepared her comments for debate!  To which she replied, “Yes, I did, and I prepared to be president, and I think that’s a good thing!”   Hillary has the temperament, experience and judgment to be president of our country; Donald DOES NOT!!

Can the media and the deplorables get any more ridiculous?!  Hillary has pneumonia, not cancer!  She has provided real medical records previously, recently, and again just this week.  She is the most transparent candidate — probably EVER!  The Clinton’s have provided tax returns for the last forty years.  Trump has NOT provided one tax return, even though an IRS official stated through the media that even someone under audit most definitely can release their tax return. The only medical “information” he provided was that crazy letter from a highly eccentric doctor (who looked like he’d undergone plenty of LSD experiments “back in the day”).  Dr Bornstein said in an interview that he had five minutes to produce a requested letter while someone sat in his driveway waiting for it, and no doubt dictating it.  Now we’re told that Dr. Bornstein conducted a physical on Trump last week, the results of which are supposedly coming out soon, but one item leaked on Wednesday stated that Trump has an annual checkup for cancer, which must mean he’s had cancer previously.  I’d be more worried about that, and his mental state, than about Hillary overcoming pneumonia.

Unions are essential to the creation of and holding of a middle class in our country, and the middle class is essential to the spending and growing of our economy.  Incomes have grown in the past 35 years, and one reason for a shrinkage of workers in the middle class income bracket is that lots of those folks moved up into the upper-middle class income bracket.  Another factor at play in the decrease of the middle class is that less skilled and experienced workers, women and immigrants have joined the workforce and earn lower wages.  Women still earn less money than men for doing the same jobs; how is that possible in 21st century America?!  That needs to change NOW!  Inflation plays a huge part in the total scheme of our  GDP and how our economy works.   I am grateful to have been a union employee most of my adult life.   We can thank unions for having weekends off, vacation, sick-time and paid leave, medical benefits, pensions, safe working conditions and fair bargaining status!  Count me as a union gal!

A  June 2016 Washington Post study displayed this income bracket:  Poor: $0 – $29,999; Lower Middle Class: $30,000 – $49,999; Middle Class: $50,000 – $99,000; Upper Middle Class: $100,000 – $349,000; and Rich: $350,000 and up.

Trump’s base is angered; softening, hardening, flip-flop.  What’s today’s point — have you heard?  It’s just another photo-Op!

Maybe he’ll work with the immigrants?  Possibly it’ll be a virtual wall?  Who has deported MOST — from the presidents?  Obama has deported more than all!

Nothing’s changed, his surrogates boldly say.  Except his confusing economic plan; who’s to benefit, who’s to pay?  Wages too high or to increase — depression is the predicted end!

Trumpism:  “Keep the jobs and wealth in America, and ban all Muslims entry!”  Trump’s imported apparel lines from Mexico and China; it’d be different laws for you and me!

The shifting sands of Trumpville; circus fun-house — Trumpocalyptic!  What has he said, that’s real?  It’s all so incredibly, fantastically cryptic!

He said:  “Hillary should be shot!”  And attacked the Khans, McCain and The Pope!  He seems to be in meltdown mode — Clinton has him on the ropes!

He’s “afraid the election will be rigged?!”  Even though HE’s buddies with Putin!   Of voter rolls — Russian hackers have been pegged.  For Sanity and Hillary — we’re Rootin!

Trish Forsyth Voss