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.