I'm Right Magazine

Voters Feeling Anger and Disenfranchised Not Alert To Reasons Why

2016-03-19T11:09:00.001-04:00

The roots of discord

The undercurrent of feeling in the U.S., one of anger and frustration, while justified and to a large extent welcome, does not necessarily funnel change in a positive direction.

In the case of Donald Trump, those individuals feeling disenfranchised do not seem to be alert to the reason for their suffering, and thus tend to support extremes in their rush to vent their anger, i.e., “Anything is better than what we have now.” Donald Trump is too much of a narcissist to carry through on his boastful promises.

Those in his party who are so surprised at how Trump could have come about even now refuse to admit what brought us to this point: the self-serving behavior of the far right, and their abandonment of any pretext of participation in the government they swore to uphold and defend. For the last seven-plus years, their emphasis has been totally focused on returning to power, and they have demonstrated a willingness to let the people suffer if the alternative was to show the opposition in a positive light. For example, since the

Republicans took over the Senate in 2012, appointments of federal judges have been blocked, even though there is a backlog of cases begging to be resolved. The Scalia replacement situation is but another example.

That things are bad is a given. That an angry mob can make things better is highly doubtful. They would need to be better organized, better able to see the big picture and work to make meaningful changes, such as term limits — remove these permanent campaigners from our government. But so far, all I see are tough guys cheering wildly at either empty platitudes or language that encourages them to feel comfortable in their bigotry.

The anger is justified, but the solution is misdirected.

By: Noel J. Munson

Why would Americans want Donald Trump as our president?

2016-03-18T17:08:00.002-04:00

He talks before he thinks. He shows his Tantrumps. He insults people. He incites violence. He belittles women.

Trump chooses his words poorly. He is turning the world against us. He's not thinking about people who invest in things like 401k's, which invest in stocks of companies around the world. We need to bring manufacturing back to America without insulting American companies the way Trump has done. After all, Trump is guilty of doing business in other countries.

He also has been profiling ethnic groups as if they all think the same. You know: all Mexicans are drug dealers and rapists and all Muslims are terrorists. He says Mexico will pay for his wall. Maybe they will but you don't embarrass a neighboring friendly country the way Trump has done in public.

He is also acting like he should be the GOP's choice even if he doesn't reach the magic delegate number to be the nominee at the convention.

Trump may have never learned how to control his feelings or his mouth. He probably has gotten his way all his life. He was born into money and went to private schools. This is not the way the average American grows up.

Trump is a dangerous choice for America.

“It's all about me!” egotism that is Donald Trump.

2016-03-16T21:34:00.000-04:00

Scary prospect

I have lived under 13 U.S. presidents, beginning with Franklin Roosevelt. I don't recall any of them, including the candidates who ran unsuccessfully for this most important office, who had the, “It's all about me!” egotism that is Donald Trump.

We have to look to Europe to find a similar egomaniac — who likewise rode a wave of populism to office — to find examples of what type of leadership may result, should his campaign be successful.

By: John V.R. King

America’s populace is very mad at both political parties

2016-03-15T12:47:00.000-04:00

Common sense tells me that America’s populace is very mad at both political parties, and tired of political wrangling.

The president cannot build a fence without approval of Congress. No other country will pay for it. No president is able to get much done without the approval of Congress.

You cannot dictate religious thoughts. You cannot dictate political beliefs.

We should be punishing the Americans who hire illegal workers. But we need some migrant laborers. It would be cheapest to control immigration through employers.

There is nothing to gain by separating families.

We should think more about “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” for everyone.

We should not believe everything we hear or read.

The absolute truth is always somewhere in the middle.

If we do not force people to prepare for the future, the rest of us will pay for it later.

Many people still hate having a black man as president.

We cannot afford to be the world’s policeman any more.

Not everyone in the world thinks the same.

That all we really have in life is friends, family and memories.

That too much greed will eventually be one’s downfall.

It is impossible not to error from time to time if you work hard.

By; Gary Mueller

What A Political Year For President 2016 Is

2016-03-14T12:25:00.001-04:00

A trying season

One thing for sure is that the primary season is way too long. The media circus is exhausting and ridiculous, and some of the candidates have sunk to new lows.

On the Democratic side: Hilary Clinton, as a former senator and secretary of state ,is very capable in domestic and foreign policy, but she is dogged by scandal both real and imagined; Bernie Sanders’ message resonates with voters who have seen their political and purchasing power diminished. He is also a seasoned senator.

On the Republican side we have seen the rise of Donald Trump, a bully who has tapped into the anger and frustration of the average citizen. He has made lofty promises with no plan or policy, and insulted everyone in sight. How this vulgar thrice-married casino owner is appealing to evangelicals boggles the mind.

Marco Rubio had tea party support, is a political lightweight and opportunist who used Florida Republican power-brokers to get to the statehouse in Tallahassee and the U.S. Senate. Rubio has abandoned his Florida constituency by rarely bothering to vote in the Senate.

Ted Cruz is another first term senator and tea party favorite who has made many enemies in Congress. While he purports to be anti-establishment and a rebel by shaking things up, this Ivy Leaguer (Princeton an Harvard), is married to a former Goldman-Sachs executive.

John Kasich, who has been largely ignored by the media, is another conservative. Because of his views, (fiscally conservative, socially moderate) he has been trailing among Republican primary voters. As governor of Ohio, and a former member of the House, he has both executive and legislative experience.

He seems to be the only candidate willing to work with the opposition in order to get things done. He may very well be the GOP’s last hope.

By; Stephanie Olsen

Bernie Sanders an 86 percent slam-dunk

2016-03-10T13:09:00.000-05:00

Who’s the winner?

Political myths can be fun as long as they are not taken too seriously. For example, we all “know” that Al Gore invented the Internet and that Sarah Palin could see Russia from the window of her home. Certainly these creations add some humor and color to our culture. However, there seems to be a myth floating around in this year’s presidential extravaganza that may be misleading voters. The myth: Hillary Clinton is the more “electable” Democratic candidate. You say, how can this be? Would the Clinton campaign really fabricate a myth?

You betcha! When our political scientists cleared a path through the fog of the campaign spin doctors, a more factual picture arose. Poll after poll beginning in October 2015 through March 1 of this year indicated otherwise — it is Bernie Sanders who has the edge against the Republicans in the general election. Here is an example of the head-to-head match-up poll from Quinnipiac University dated Feb. 18: Against Donald Trump, Sanders wins by six points; Clinton by only one.

And the same picture plays out against Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, where Clinton actually loses, but Sanders prevails. The Jan. 21 and March 1 CNN/WMUR polls confirm these findings. So let’s put this myth to bed. Sanders appeals to a broad electorate including progressives, independents, third-party adherents, and moderate Republicans, and most of these won’t vote for Hillary.

The people who know him best gave Bernie an 86 percent slam-dunk, landslide victory in Vermont. What does that tell us about earned trust? So forget the myths and manipulations generated by the billionaire class. Cast a vote for the betterment of all Americans — vote Bernie Sanders for president on March 15.

Stephen E. Baker

Three Stooges - Moe (Donald Trump), Larry (Ted Cruz) and Curly-Joe (Marco Rubio)

2016-03-09T06:48:00.001-05:00

Cue the stooges

As an aging baby boomer, I have been able to observe the last six decades of bizarre political behavior exhibited by our political leaders. During the Watergate hearings, all Americans were glued to their TVs listening to their president discussing his crimes and cover-ups.

William Jefferson Clinton proved beyond any doubt that having sex with a White House intern was the moral equivalent of not having sex with a White House intern.

Allegedly, President Lyndon Johnson would take his Secret Service contingent for a 100-mph drive through the back roads of the Johnson home territory in Texas. To add insult to injury, the Texan chief executive once peed on the shoes of his Secret Service bodyguard.

The most embarrassing of all acts of executive madness had to be the effort the other night by the three major Republican candidates to duplicate the comedy of the Three Stooges. Moe (Donald Trump), Larry (Ted Cruz) and Curly-Joe (Marco Rubio) put on a display that was masterful in its comic simplicity and humorous stupidity.

The three boys spewed out humor that would make an eighth grader performing arm-farts proud. They made fun of each other’s physical traits and created an air of total audience confusion by having the good sense to all speak at the same time.

From a junior high perspective, they were hilarious — the only pity is that one of them will have to be chosen as the Republican nominee.

By; Glenn Hameroff

Rubio Move Out Of The Way In Florida

2016-03-08T08:36:00.002-05:00

No go, Rubio

During his run for U.S. Senate, Marco Rubio covered the state of Florida like a one-man swarm of bees. He met with FairTax supporters on a number of occasions. He promised us his top three priorities were going to be term limits, the balanced budget amendment and passing the FairTax bill. When we confronted the senator after the election as to why he did not co-sponsor H.R. 25, the Fair Tax Act, he gave us a sophomoric excuse that was obviously as deeply thought out as the thickness of our president’s skin.

Aside from the fact he has done little to nothing on the other issues, he has proven untrustworthy on the FairTax — the backers of which supported him strongly. There are at least 50,000 FairTax supporters in Central Florida with long memories waiting to express their sentiments in the Florida primary. Fool us once, senator, shame on you.

By; Ed Connor

Trump Not a Role Model for American Children

2016-03-07T15:51:00.000-05:00

It's simple why Donald Trump should not be President. He has shown himself to be a racist, bully, anti-feminine, bombastic and very insulting to others. Mr Trump brings out the worst side of people.
He in no way is of presidential stature and should take a few lessons from President Obama on how to be a class act.

Trump would be a worldwide embarrassment as president representing American values. He also is not a good role model for kids. Many schools have been pushing anti-bullying campaigns and Donald Trump acts all the time like a bully and gets away with it. Is this the man you want your children to look up too?

U.S. Barriers Add Hardships To Cuban People

2016-03-06T08:51:00.001-05:00

Tear down walls

I just returned from a visit to Cuba. The following impressions come from what I heard from the people.

The barriers that the United States has erected for more than 50 years to bring about regime change have only resulted in hardships for the Cuban people. While they have a realistic fear of the power of the totalitarian Communist Party, they have found ways of getting around some of its restrictions:

n “There are leaks in what they try to block.” The people have also found escape through their art, music, dance, and love of family.

n “Life is larger than what we are taught in school.” The people will survive even if we continue our embargo on goods, our barriers to business activity, and our restrictions on travel. There is little chance that the people will ever rise up to overthrow the government.

n “We will never shed the blood of our beautiful children.” But they continue to be people of hope. There is a hunger for American ways.

Conditions have changed over the past eight years. Entrepreneurship flourishes — some in legal, and others in less legal, ways. Some Cubans are literally counting the days until President Obama’s visit, hoping he will announce some new opening in relations.

The most effective way of improving the lives of our Cuban neighbors and gradually bring about change in their government would be to tear down the walls we have erected and continue to build bridges.

By; Len Kochendorfer

Little Trump Bad For America

2016-03-05T20:46:00.000-05:00

Trump the worst

Let Donald Trump’s claims speak for themselves:

n He used bravado and tough talk to convince everyone the U.S. Football League was wise to go up against the NFL. The owners listened, and lost. Don’t let this happen to America.

n He bought a fleet of planes and promised to have great success by converting them into luxurious planes. The promises were aplenty. Then Trump Airlines closed shop. Don’t let this happen to America.

n He proclaimed “Trump & tonic: would be widely known, and that Trump Vodka would set the standard for quality. Nope! Don’t let this happen to America.

n Donald and his son said that they know everything about financing. They claimed they would be the leading mortgage company in the country. Eight months later? Trump Mortgage was gone. Don’t let this happen to America.

n In Atlantic City, he spent a lot of time making bad deals. The end result: He got out, and left behind broken hearts. He called it a wise decision. Don’t let this happen to America.

n Lawsuits over Trump University claim fraud. He’ll face subpoenas in the coming months. Don’t let this happen to America.

n He says “deal-making,” but defends himself from his companies that filed for bankruptcy protection. Don’t let this happen to America.

People are angry at Washington. Donald is not the answer. He has always made promises and capitalized on emotional vulnerability. Don’t let this happen to America!

By; Shaya Fogel

Republican spectacle has now become a laughingstock to the entire world

2016-03-02T17:05:00.000-05:00

After Super Tuesday, it looks as if the fight for the Republican nomination will be reduced to just two or three candidates. Since the spectacle has now become a laughingstock to the entire world, I would suggest a departure from the customary debate format to something more civilized.

In order to elevate the tone of the contest, remaining contenders should be given the choice of either mud wrestling, or competing in the arena with sword and trident. This way at least our potential future president will be spared the stigma of having arrived at the White House by excreting fewer bodily fluids than his opponents, the main talking point of the current debates.

By; Phil Hartley

I am fed up with the lies.

2016-03-01T11:17:00.001-05:00

Obama's gains

It seems most days there are letters blasting President Obama and how he has ruined our country. Well, I am fed up with the lies. How has an unemployment rate that is cut in half “ruining America”? How are millions of people on health care for the first time “ruining America”? How about the millions of jobs saved here and around the world by bailing out the auto companies?

Perhaps “made in America” means nothing to the Obama-bashers. President Obama has made every decision with the best interest of the citizens of this country. Unfortunately, he has been stonewalled by a political party whose agenda is not the country's recovery, but the “recovery” of the White House. Astonishingly, we are a working-class community, yet those who believe Obama has ruined America identify and endorse those whose allegiance is to big, private corporations, their CEOs who are billionaires, and those who are destroying our planet.

The Republicans running for president do not care at all about VolusiaCounty or any other working-class community. Why do you all continue to vote against your best interests? George W. Bush and the GOP plunged this country into recession. President Hillary Clinton or President Bernie Sanders will continue the recovery of the United States that President Barack Obama has begun. Be smart.

By: Judy Ngying

Trump U Cardboard Rip Off

2016-02-29T08:31:00.000-05:00

How would you like it if you were promised a picture of yourself with hot Kate Upton? Now how would you like it if you paid for that picture in advance and got your picture taken with a life size cardboard Kate Upton cutout?

Well it seems the California Class Action suit involving Donald Trump University used this old business practice of bait and switch.

According to the complaint before the judge Trump University students after a one year apprenticeship were promised a three day seminar and a chance to take a personal photo with Donald Trump. Turns out they only received a photo with a cardboard cutout of the real estate giant.

To add insult to the poor students who invested there money into this program, many of the instructors were bankrupt real estate investors.

(Didn't Trump say he surrounds himself with good smart people?) This is how the rich get richer...ripping people off!

Tweedle Dum and Dummer The Trump Christie Show

2016-02-28T22:26:00.001-05:00

Two rude guys full of hot air.....

Billionaire Buffett Picks Hillary For President

2016-02-28T11:12:00.000-05:00

Just in case you missed it. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett said Saturday that Americas economy is in better shape than the Republican candidates make it seem.
He also said that businesses like his still face challenges and that the negative drum beat from candidates could get voters down about the future.

Mr. Buffett has endorsed Hillary Clinton for President.

Pissed off Republicans Will Not Win The White House

2016-02-26T22:04:00.000-05:00

It seems to me that the Pissed Off Republicans are running the GOP Show now. They use to be called the far right wing of the party, then the Tea Party, but now I just call them The Pissed off Republicans. Same group of people just a new name.

If they think picking candidates like Trump or Cruz are going to get them enough votes to win the white House, they're just kidding themselves. Most Americans like leaders with class like Reagan Obama, Carter and Eisenhower to name a few. Not name calling, say what ever kind of guys, like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. Heck I'm not a a Rubio fan, but at least he wouldn't be an embarrassment for America in the eyes of the world.

Trump is just a loud mouth who spits outs lots of one liners like Win Win or I'll make Mexico pay for that wall and he's just stupid. Mr. Cruz well he just hates the way politics are done in America, and maybe he should just return to his birth country of Canada.

If Republicans want to win the White House again maybe they better start by getting ex-republicans back into the party. I left the Republicans, and I know many others like me who think this party is just full of hate anymore, headed in the wrong direction, no one left to reason with. (Strong word hate but thats how I feel about my old party now.)

Today even Lindsey Graham called his own party "batshit crazy".

If the Republicans want to get back on track they need to pick someone more to the center. I don't think it will happen for them this election. The pissed off clowns seem to be firring up the crazies. They lost level headed Jeb Bush. I'm sure Ohio Governor John Kasich won't be around much longer either.

Yes Lindsey the Republican Party is batshit crazy...

Scalia Many Times Favored Right Wing Republicans Not The Interest Of American People

2016-02-26T09:08:00.000-05:00

Scalia vs. USA

The death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia provides a great opportunity for America. Many of his decisions have been in favor of the right-wing Republicans and against the best interest of the American people, democracy, and more recently, the planet.

Begin with the decision to appoint George W. Bush president by stopping the recount in Florida when thousands of votes were never even counted and 500,000 more people voted for Gore. That is not democracy.

The Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision to allow corporations and individuals to buy elections and candidates is contrary to any democratic principle. The Koch brothers are planning to spend more than $300 million in support of their Republican candidates. That is not democracy.

The Supreme Court vote to restrict voting rights, allowing many states to implement their own version of voter ID laws and restrict voting hours, is hardly democratic. Do you think that there might be something wrong with the Republican ideas when their chances of being elected are better when fewer people vote?

Scalia was also opposed to Obamacare, but was thankfully outvoted by Chief Justice John Roberts.

Recently he voted to halt our commitment to the clean air program that was agreed to by 119 nations in Paris, which not only adversely affects the United States but the planet’s effort to combat climate change.

Yes, Scalia has had a significant impact on our nation — to the detriment of our country.

Of course the Republicans will attempt to block the president’s nomination for a replacement for Scalia, just as they have with every other proposal from Obama. We can only hope that they are not successful and democracy, the will of the people, will return to America.

By; Larry Wright

U.S. Supreme Court justices No more brawling

2016-02-25T17:15:00.000-05:00

Antonin Scalia will be remembered as a “giant” among U.S. Supreme Court justices. What kind of giant remains to be seen. I believe history will, by a preponderance of the evidence, show Scalia was not just a pugnacious, combative jurist, but one who enjoyed brawling. He seemed to enjoy beating on others, whether by intellect or simple in-your-face verbal bullying.

Did he have the intelligence to carry out the duties of Supreme Court justice? No doubt. Only time will allow a thorough and more accurate judgment of the man as a Supreme Court justice. We are far too close, and the arguments surrounding his legal opinions are much too strident and vitriolic, to be clearly dissected by either the left or right wings of American politics.

On one thing and one thing only, I dearly hope both the reader and the political parties can agree. This United States does not need a new Supreme Court justice who will engage in intellectual brawls for the sake of the fight and personal enjoyment. The rancor and open mutual distrust, disrespect and outright name-calling between those to whom we have entrusted our and our children’s fate must cease. For those who believe nationwide political violence can’t happen here, break out the history books.

Mired in a pit of political self indulgence, we, like adolescents in a school yard, seem to be hurling ever more nasty insults at our rivals. How long before the first stone is cast? Stones are everywhere, and ours have names like “Armalite,” “Browning,” “Smith & Wesson” and many, many others. Think, people, think!

By: Joseph M. Burgess

Charles Grassley and Mitch McConnell Do A Disservice To Americans

2016-02-25T08:53:00.000-05:00

Swelled Head Mitch McConnell

Tossup needed

I read with both dismay and disgust that both Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Judiciary Committee leader Charles Grassley have both decided that they will not hold hearings on any Supreme Court nominee put forth by President Obama.

Whether you love or hate the president, it is not only his right, but his constitutional duty to name a successor to Justice Scalia. Their refusals carry about as much merit as Sen. Charles Schumer’s did when he proposed the same thing at the end of President Bush’s term. To refuse a hearing — based not on a lack of judicial qualifications, legal experience or Bar Association recommendation, but only on who makes the recommendation — only further politicizes an institution which is already far too political. There are bad rulings on both sides, conservative and liberal alike, and we would be far better off if we had no idea of the politics of a nominee. Before Scalia’s death, we had three conservative votes that would not waver, and also three liberal votes that were also completely predictable, with Kennedy and occasionally Roberts as toss-ups. We need more toss-ups.

And I wonder how happy Sens. McConnell and Grassley will be if they have to hold hearings for the nominee of newly elected President Bernie Sanders! Just do your jobs, and leave the politics out of it.

By: Michael Buchanan

How Can A Bully Trump Win?

2016-02-24T22:21:00.002-05:00

It seems odd to me that Donald Trump can keep getting people to vote for him. This Guy acts like the school yard bully. He calls Romney a fool! He calls Mexicans immigrants rapist, thugs and drug dealers. He wanted to ban Muslims from entering the United States.

Do American's have this much hate simmering inside them? Have we gotten to a point in life where we will lock out immigrants from entering the USA?

I hope Republicans wake up from there rush to put this say anything guy in the White House!

The Great Wall Of Trump Built By Mexico

2016-02-24T15:31:00.000-05:00

Trump The Great Divider

Originalist approach of Justice Antonin Scalia

2016-02-24T07:04:00.001-05:00

Judicial intent

Although Justice Antonin Scalia was widely considered an individual of great intellect, character and charm, his originalist approach was a point of contention. The concept of originalism is an approach to interpreting the U.S. Constitution based on the perceived original intent of its framers.

But English words and terms are often open to various interpretations — including constitutional terms like “general welfare,” “natural born citizen,” “take care” and “cruel and unusual punishments.” Even the framers had their differences about the meaning of certain terms.

The “equal protection” clause of the 14th Amendment, in the beginning, was not interpreted as providing equal rights to all citizens: Blacks could not vote until the 15th Amendment; women could not vote until the 19th Amendment; segregation was legal until the Brown vs. the Board and Education decision, and the 1964 Civil Rights law; and same-sex marriage was not legal in all states until 2015. Strangely, Scalia has stated that he would have sided with the majority in the Brown decision, and that it was consistent with a historical reinterpretation of the equal protection clause — not exactly an originalist view. Also, in a 2000 decision (FDA vs. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp), Justice Scalia seemed to again betray his originalism with the statement, “the words of a statute must be read in their context and with a view to their place in the overall statutory scheme.”

If strict originalism is not possible or appropriate, what is the proper philosophy for interpreting the Constitution? Most justices seem to use an evolutionary approach, using the Constitution and past decisions as a guide, with context provided by a peripheral view of our changing society.

I certainly hope the president and the Senate can agree on a justice who will preserve and support the best in our law, and assure justice and fairness for all.

By; Tom Hilburn

Trump Everyone Loves Me Except

2016-02-23T23:27:00.000-05:00

Just what America needs...A president that will screw our neighbor to the south...

And Undo All the fence mending President Obama did around the world...

We don't need this Ego driven 1% Guy selling out America to the highest bidder...

Why The Long Race For President?

2016-02-23T09:23:00.001-05:00

Why do we have a national election campaign that last over 350 days? In Canada a campaign lasts less than 50 days.Why do we need so much extra time to pick a leader than our neighbor to the north?

Is America just a country set up to make money for big business no matter what? Canada has cheaper prescription drugs, less expensive health care for ALL and cheaper cost of running for national office. Do we do anything in America besides Walmart at a reasonable cost anymore?

If we shorten the time we allow for campaigns. Our elected incumbent politicians would have to spend more time doing the job they were elected to do. Shorter campaigns also lessen the time for Super PACs to influence voters.

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