The Race to Disgrace!

How did we get to where we are? We can say all sorts of things to give reason for our state of affairs, but there is really only one answer. Donald J. Trump won the 2016 Presidential Election because enough people voted for him to win the Electoral vote he needed. Even though he clearly did not win the popular vote, in our democracy, the rules are the rules, and we follow them. Until proven otherwise, Trump is here to stay.

Think about why and who you voted for. Every signal was given to shun you away from voting for Trump. His past business history revealed many self-orchestrated bankruptcies which left working people in the lurch, as well as his unsavory views on women, immigration, and healthcare. His negative rhetoric during a contentious campaign filled with lies and ignorance leaning on the edge of racism. The blame, in my opinion, is on you, the voter. Did you really believe that everyone was wrong? Tony Schwartz, author of the Art of the Deal, warned you that he was a narcissist having the temperament of an eight-year-old. Credible people from all over came out with factual information showing his inadequacies. Many women from his past came forward and claimed his behavior towards them was in the category of sexual harassment. His very words told it all. The negative ads against him, during the campaign, were actually starring Trump. What more did you need? The last, almost, 100 days have proven that voting someone into any office, much less the President of the United States might have repercussions unlike we have ever seen before. So far, he has managed to insult our allies, lie about almost anything, probably because of his lack of knowledge and understanding or just disinterest in learning. Just the other day I heard what I thought was Alec Baldwin making fun of Donald Trump, but when I entered the room, it was actually Trump being interviewed. I cringed, thinking this is my President! His instability and buffoon behavior is clearly the sign of someone you don’t want making important decisions, especially those pertaining to world affairs and the safety of our nation and those allies around us.

I don’t quite understand when someone says to me, “Don’t you wish the President success?” I find it hard to answer, especially when I know the “Cow is not going to jump over the Moon” because that would be a fairytale. I hope and pray that those who voted for Trump can look in the mirror and say, “I made a mistake.” That is all I can ask for. Everyone is entitled to make a mistake as long as they don’t perpetuate this disaster. Know how much damage has been done because this is only going to be 100 days. It is not about Republican or Democrat; it is about our lives, all of our lives, for a long road ahead. Our Democracy goes beyond Politics. Our President has to be held accountable for everything he does, as is everyone else. His Taxes should be released and the Nepotism stopped in its tracks. We are living in dangerous times, not just from outside, but from within. I can wish and hope for the best, but it is not good enough. Trump people have to understand that they are playing with a fire they may not be able to put out. This race to disgrace must be recognized and dealt with in our best democratic ways. Recognizing failure and accountability is a good start!

Sometimes “Less is better” is not!

When designing a room, I always tend to use the statement, “Less is better.”  However, in our government, we need the checks and balances that are required so that many different opinions are heard in order to come to conclusions or decisions that affect our entire country. Filling cabinet positions are needed for our government to perform correctly, especially in these tenuous times. Why are they not filled as of yet? Believe it or not, the number is about 2,000. For some people, keeping a tight rein on decision making can only come from having fewer people to contend with. Control instead of delegating is definitely the road that the Trump Administration seems to be taking. It is disconcerting to me, especially being that his closest advisors in the loop are his family depicting nepotism as well as being unqualified for these positions.  

Looking for Jared Kushner…or… A Monarchy in the Making…or… A Family Affair!

Have you heard Jared Kushner speak? I have not and I suppose most people haven’t as well. We hear his name mentioned in numerous times being the son in law of President Donald J Trump as well as the husband of Ivanka Trump, Trump’s daughter. Both son-in-law and daughter have become the most well known unpaid, unofficial members of the White House staff, having positions that are far beyond their expertise. Nepotism is clearly at its highest level in this untraditional administration. A Monarchy in the making!'

We know Ivanka as Trump’s beautiful, successful business woman daughter, who he frequently said he would date if she were not his daughter. I do find that a little weird or a lot weird! She is married to Jared Kushner, Harvard graduate and also successful in his own right. A real estate tycoon, as they say in the press. Both are from controversial families, Jared’s father, Charles having served a jail sentence for admitting to submit false campaign finance reports and tax returns. We have yet to see Jared’s father in law’s tax returns, that being our President, Donald J Trump.

Jared Kushner is now spending much of his time as a “psychiatrist” and advisor to Trump, the most powerful person in the world! He has so much on his agenda that he is literally “speechless” because he hasn’t spoken, at least in a public setting. Has anyone out there besides those within the doors of the White House, actually heard his voice? Is it a high pitch, or a low pitch? Is Jared Kushner allowed to speak in public? I am sure he is one of the most sought after personalities for TV news commentators to interview. Why isn’t he out there? Maybe he can’t put two words together; after all, it is said even with Kushner’s low grades, he got into Harvard with a huge $2.5 million donation by his father to the university. Author, Daniel Golden wrote that in his book, The Price of Admissions: How America’s Ruling Class Buys Its Way Into Elite Colleges. With or without Harvard, Kushner could be brilliant, but right now he is only a “Poster Child”. I, and probably millions more, are looking for Jared Kushner to come out of hiding!

Who done it?

 It’s really amazing that during the last few days there has been no focus on the investigation of Trump and his administration with regards to their possible involvement with Russia during the 2016 presidential election, or at least very little. The news shifted to another major world event. What a tragedy that happened in Syria, with photos and videos of civilians, adults and innocent children, being assaulted with chemical warfare from their villainous leader, Assad. The question is why suddenly now? Things are bad enough, but somehow the need for a sudden jolt to divert attention once again was an instant success for those who might be complicit and responsible for such a heinous crime. Certainly not to say that Trump is responsible, but someone or some leaders, perhaps Putin himself, might have encouraged this to happen in order to get a cause and effect with our new unknowledgeable and unpredictable administration. If they wanted to push Trump’s buttons, which does not take much to do, they succeeded. Trump, the man who said never to go into Syria, who is also against allowing Syrian refugees to come to our shores, suddenly, without Congress, decides to perform air strikes in Syria. Bravado he needed dearly.

There are many thoughts about this decision to act unilaterally. First reactions are usually followed by more thoughtful rhetoric as to whether it was, and still going on, the right thing to do, especially without a strategic plan. It is scary to think that another Government might be pulling the strings and luring us into something that has no real good ending. Almost like the old Budd Abbot and Lou Costello joke of “Who’s on first?”  In this case, it is a “Who done it?”