This is an article by Mychal Massie on January 19, 2016 in “Daily Rant, Race & Politics.” Agree or disagree, it is a good, worth while read; regardless of which side of the aisle you sit on; or even if you live under a rock. I may be showing more and more bias as this ridiculous, comical, and absolutely distasteful election cycle goes forward, but I can not help it. The more the candidates talk, the more they show their ignorance and their owners. Cruz reminds me of a used car salesman working out of trailer that remains hooked up to his truck. I wouldn’t trust that fellow with my dirty underwear —  I love my country too much. Enjoy or delete — your choice.

We recently enjoyed a belated holiday dinner with friends at the home of other friends. The dinner conversation was jocund, ranging from discussions about antique glass and china to theology and politics. At one point reference was made to Donald Trump being a conservative to which I responded that Trump is not a conservative.

I said that I neither view nor do I believe Trump views himself as a conservative.I stated it was my opinion that Trump is a pragmatist. He sees a problem and understands it must be fixed. He doesn’t see the problem as liberal or conservative, he sees it only as a problem. That is a quality that should be admired and applauded, not condemned. But I get ahead of myself. 

Viewing problems from a liberal perspective has resulted in the creation of more problems, more entitlement programs, more victims, more government, more political correctness, and more attacks on the working class in all economic strata.

Viewing things according to the so-called Republican conservative perspective has brought continued spending, globalism to the detriment of American interests and well being, denial of what the real problems are, weak, ineffective, milquetoast, leadership that amounts to Barney Fife Deputy Sheriff, appeasement oriented and afraid of its own shadow. In brief, it has brought liberal ideology with a pachyderm as a mascot juxtaposed to the ass of the Democrat Party.

Immigration isn’t a Republican problem – it isn’t a liberal problem – it is a problem that threatens the very fabric and infrastructure of America. It demands a pragmatic approach not an approach that is intended to appease one group or another. 

The impending collapse of the economy isn’t a liberal or conservative problem, it is an American problem. That said, until it is viewed as a problem that demands a common sense approach to resolution, it will never be fixed because the Democrats and Republicans know only one way to fix things and the longevity of their impracticality has proven to have no lasting effect. Successful businessmen like Donald Trump find ways to make things work, they do not promise to accommodate. 

Trump uniquely understands that China’s manipulation of currency is not a Republican problem or a Democrat problem. It is a problem that threatens our financial stability and he understands the proper balance needed to fix it. Here again successful businessmen like Trump who have weathered the changing tides of economic reality understand what is necessary to make business work and they, unlike both sides of the political aisle, know that if something doesn’t work, you don’t continue trying to make it work hoping that at some point it will.

As a pragmatist Donald Trump hasn’t made wild pie-in-the-sky promises of a cell phone in every pocket, free college tuition, and a $15 hour minimum wage for working the drive-through at a Carl’s Hamburgers.

I argue that America needs pragmatists because pragmatists see a problem and find ways to fix them. They do not see a problem and compound it by creating more problems.

You may not like Donald Trump, but I suspect that the reason people do not like him is because: 

(1) He is antithetical to the “good old boy” method of brokering backroom deals that fatten the coffers of politicians; 

(2) They are unaccustomed to hearing a candidate speak who is unencumbered by the financial shackles of those who own them vis-a`-vis donations;

(3) He is someone who is free of idiomatic political ideology; and

(4) he is someone who understands that it takes more than hollow promises and political correctness to make America great again.

Listening to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders talk about fixing America is like listening to two lunatics trying to “out crazy” one another. Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio are owned lock, stock, and barrel by the bankers, corporations, and big dollar donors funding their campaigns. Bush can deny it, but common sense tells anyone willing to face facts is that people don’t give tens of millions without expecting something in return.

We have had Democrats and Republican ideologues and what has it brought us? Are we better off today or worse off? Has it happened overnight or has it been a steady decline brought on by both parties?

I submit that a pragmatist might be just what America needs right now. And as I said earlier, a pragmatist sees a problem and understands that the solution to fix same is not about a party, but a willingness and boldness to get it done.

People are quick to confuse and despise confidence as arrogance, but that is common amongst those who have never accomplished anything in their lives, and who have always played it safe not willing to risk failure.

Originally posted 2016-03-23 11:36:04.

Many have asked me if I support the republican party? Sorry, but I do not. In fact, I do not call myself a republican (small case). I have to state I am one to get the right primary ballot, but that’s the extent of me being one of them. Many people have wondered how Trump rose to such popularity so quickly, and why has the RNC did not endorse him. Well, I think I know, but  I will not go there just yet.  I received the following from several fellow non-republicans via email and although somewhat crude English-wise, it sure spells it out; even those living under a rock these days should be able to comprehend its message.I don’t know who wrote it, but  I think it is great!  Let’s call it, Why Trump has such a following. Enjoy
You’ve been on vacation for two weeks, you come home, and your basement is infested with raccoons. Hundreds of rabid, messy, mean raccoons have overtaken your basement. You want them gone immediately! You call the city—four different exterminators—nobody could handle the job. However, there is this one guy who says he guarantees  to get rid of them—so you hire him. You don’t care if the guy smells, you don’t care if the guy swears, you don’t care if he’s an alcoholic, you don’t care how many times he’s been married, you don’t care if he voted for Obama, you don’t care if he has plumber’s crack—you simply want those raccoons gone! You want your problem fixed! He’s the guy! He’s the best! Period!

So, here’s why we want Trump, yes he’s a bit of an ass, yes he’s an egomaniac, but we don’t care. The country is a mess because politicians suck, the Republican Party is two-faced & gut-less, and illegals are everywhere. We just want it all fixed! We don’t care that Trump is crude, we don’t care that he insults people, we don’t care that he had been friendly with Hillary, we don’t care that he has changed positions, we don’t care that he’s been married three times, we don’t care that he fights with Megan Kelly and Rosie O’Donnell, we don’t care that he doesn’t know the names of some Muslin terrorists. This country is weak and bankrupt, our enemies are making fun of us, we are being invaded by illegals from all over the world. We are becoming a nation of victims where every Tom, Ricardo and Hasid is a special group with special rights to a point where we don’t even recognize the country where we were born and raised. “WE JUST WANT IT FIXED,” and Trump is the only guy who seems to understand what the people want.  We’re sick of politicians, sick of the Democratic Party, Republican Party, and sick of illegals. We just want this thing fixed. Trump may not be a saint, but doesn’t have lobbyist money holding him, he doesn’t have political correctness restraining him, all we know is that he has been very successful, a good negotiator, has built a lot of things, created a lot of jobs, AND he’s not a cowardly politician. And, he says he’ll fix it. And, we believe him because he is too much of an egotist to be proven wrong or called a liar.

Also, we don’t care if the guy has bad hair.

We just want those damn raccoons gone. Out of my house—NOW!

Originally posted 2016-03-15 16:22:33.

From MOAA’s Website. This organization accomplishes more for our military service men and women than any other. It used to be called TROA (The Retired Officer’s Association), but changed their name to include all officers not just retired. I have been a life member since I retired and I use their site to contact my representatives almost weekly. Lindsey Graham has always been a champion of our military men and women; one of the few I would not classify as a RINO. As you read this, ask yourself, just whose side are the service chiefs on? I really can’t answer that myself. They must be drinking Attorney General Lynch’s brew — ya think?

March 11, 2016

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday, Personnel Subcommittee chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told service chiefs he’s not happy DoD is proposing yet another reduced military pay raise for 2017.

“For the last three years, this administration has failed to allow service members’ pay to keep up with the private sector wage growth,” said Graham. “This is the fourth year in a row where the department is short-changing service members.”

The proposed 1.6 percent pay raise is being touted by DoD as the largest raise in the last four years. However, it is still below the average American’s 2.1 percent raise, as measured by the Employment Cost Index (ECI). If Congress doesn’t reject the Pentagon proposal, the cumulative four-year pay gap will increase to 3.1 percent.

Graham also took issue with the Pentagon’s proposal to make changes to the new blended retirement system scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2018 for new entrants.

Under current law, the new system cuts military retired pay by 20 percent, but provides up to a 5 percent government match to service members’ deposits in federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts. Government matching begins when a service member reaches three years of service. DoD’s budget proposes delaying government matching until the fifth year of service.

This proposal directly counters one of the main reasons why Congress originally approved the change to retirement: to provide a retirement benefit to more service members, especially the majority who do not stay for twenty years.

“Let me be clear. It is our commitment to the many service members who go out on deployment before reaching their fifth year of service that they, too, have earned some retirement,” said Graham.

MOAA agrees with Sen. Graham’s concern on both the pay raise and TSP matching issues.

– See more at: http://www.moaa.org/Content/Take-Action/Top-Issues/Currently-Serving/Lawmaker-Blasts-Plan-to-Cap-Military-Pay-Raise.aspx#sthash.H6OaWGTn.dpuf

Originally posted 2016-03-12 11:18:45.