What Trump Should Say in Tonight's Debate.

The state of our union is clear to most of us.  The economy is inching along.  Jobs are unavailable to large segments of our society, our foreign policy has lost to us nations that should be our strongest supporters.  I believe in trade, but it's got to be fair trade.  I realize that America is a country of immigrants, but immigrants require absorption into our society and into our economy.  The numbers in recent years have been enormous, and there's been no documentation.  We've had no equivalent to Ellis Island.  I do feel for the Syrians who've been subjected to genocidal treatment by ISIS and barrel bombing by Assad.

But, we've seen in Europe what happens if you expose yourself to Islamic extremists.  We've even had a taste of it here in the U.S.  That doesn't mean we can't do something for these people, but that doesn't mean the answer lies in admitting  tens of thousands to our country;  people who practice polygamy, who find "honor killings" acceptable, and who would wish to impose Islamic Sharia law on our society.  Not all Muslims fit this description, but a great many do.  We have to know what we're doing.  Germany clearly did not.  Nor did many of nations of the EU who are now facing the anger of their own citizens.  I don't want that to happen here in America and I don't think you do either.

But, what is apparent to many Americans is that I am a flawed human.  I said things 11 eleven years ago that should never be said; not by boys in the locker room, not by men who have entered entered middle age.  Women who are now coming out after 20 and 30 years present American citizenry with another problem.  There is no question that a very great number of women have experienced groping and that an unconscionable number of women have experienced rape.  I hope you would not believe I am such a person.  I still haven't been charged with rape but I have been charged with groping.  And, of that I am innocent.  The regrettable thoughts and words I used were real.  The rest of it is not.

I am an imperfect candidate and against a perfect candidate I would deserve to lose this election.  But, here is what I would never do.  I would not allow our tax department to decide what sort of nonprofits deserved to get tax breaks on the basis of whether they were viewed as friends of mine or opponents.  Regardless of the time of day or night, I would be there to act to the best of my abilities regarding impending threats to the lives or our people regardless of their rank and especially ambassadors whose travel to hazardous areas I had approved.  I would never disregard the directives of our security personnel regarding the manner in which I should be communicating.  Nor would I upon visiting foreign countries disregard the advice of security people who had planned for my arrival and had provided an especially secured vehicle to transport myself and our ambassador to his offices, in favor of traveling in a less secured vehicle with my personal secretary.

There's a lot more I wouldn't do, like painting red lines that I would then casually disregard.  Human rights are important, but if two nations, each with questionable records on human rights, are threatening one another, or feeling threatened,  I would support the nation that has been our friend for generations.  When our businesses are beleaguered by out-of-date tax codes, I would work with Congress to simplify and make more rational such codes.

I would work to improve the lives of people living in crime ridden parts of our cities.  We must do more for our people, whether black, white, yellow, or brown.  It's been my experience that all people want what's best for their kids.  We need programs and the kind of education that will help them fulfill their dreams.

There's a lot more I would do, but let me end with immigration.  I have promised to secure our borders and a wall between the U.S. and Mexico is a part of that promise.  And, where illegal immigrants have engaged in serious criminal behavior I would remove them from our nation post haste.  But, all of us must acknowledge that, by means fair or not, some immigrants have adopted our culture, have worked strenuously to support themselves and their children, and have risen to positions of responsibility in their communities.  These people, through their acts and hard work, have become de facto Americans; indeed, often outstanding Americans.  We must clean up the records, but we must do it in a way that rewards good people; not simply in a manner that we think will build our voting blocs.

Good night and God bless.

Trump: The Flawed Messenger

What America desperately wants and needs is an overhaul of how America does business.  Most know that our policies in the Middle East have been a disaster.  Most know that it's high time that we overhaul our tax code.  Obama made a move in that direction with his Bowles-Simpson commission. Regrettably, the commission's recommendations were given short shrift by Obama and the Democrats.  We have a great military, but it's been allowed to sink in its capabilities.  Our planes and ships are old.  You can give this equipment to the finest men, but it puts them at great disadvantage.  This is what you get when you have business being done as usual.

Trump promises to end business-as-usual.  Can he do it?  Who knows ?  But he seems like a person who will give it his best.  The same can not be said for Hillary.  That's clear from what she has communicated to her backers.  Proving that major donors wanted quid pro quo for their money, can be difficult to prove.  But the amount of money involved and the interests of the donors make it difficult to dismiss what's behind their generosity.  Normally, we wouldn't get to see what's been going on behind closed doors.  But, suddenly computer technology and its use by hackers has enabled us to see what actually has been going on.  It's not pretty.

If you're looking for a messenger to clean up our ship of state, Trump's your man.  But there's a problem; namely, his great flaw.  What he was caught saying about women was taped 11 years ago.   But, that's besides the point.  He should never have uttered those words.  His conversations with Howard Stern are equally disturbing.  However, women coming out, after 20 and 30 years, saying he had groped them are highly suspect.

But messengers have historically been flawed individuals.  Saul, the first king of the Jews, is one example.  David, the king who built the first Temple, was also flawed.  Napoleon, a great leader, was  deeply flawed as was Thomas Edison.  We would prefer our leaders to be free of flaws.  But, sometimes it's important to have the services of a new leader despite his flaws.

Trump / Hillary -- Between a Rock and a Hard Place

For me this presidential election leaves me with two equally unpleasant choices.  Trump or Hillary?
What are my key concerns?

The economy
I heard a Harvard prof explain that there was no shortage of jobs -- for those with an education.
Those with little or no education will continue to finds jobs scarce and the pay poor.  In other words to help more people find jobs America needs to find a way to increase the education of its people.

But the economic road also needs the right policies on fiscal and monetary matters.  Monetary matters are the responsibility of the Federal Reserve.  The problem is mainly with fiscal policy which is mainly the responsibility of Congress.  Obama called for a commission of Democrats and Republicans to draw up a fiscal plan.  That was the Simpson-Bowles Commission.  It was a workman like plan, but got no support from Obama.

Hillary wants to spend.  Trump wants to cut taxes.  Both approaches are deeply flawed.  However, once elected I believe Trump could deal with vested interests better than Hillary.

American Overseas Strategy.
I believe Hillary would be tied to Obama's policies.  Since our policies must have a strong military behind them, I would favor Trump.

Personal character
Hillary has been found to lie on numerous occasions.  Trump is being taken to task by inappropriate remarks he made 10 and 20 years ago.  Maybe he did make those remarks.  It pales in significance to the issues that concern me.  I suspect any politician who has made as much money as the Clintons have from the sale of their influence while in government.