Donald Trump – Hamp's Corner of America

Incompetency in Government?

Over the last five months, I’ve watched in horror as my country’s Democracy has been attacked, twisted and so wrongfully interpreted. Terminology such as Fake News and Alternative Facts have caused us to laugh at their nerve for a short minute. Then we realize that none of the stuff is funny. During this time our nation’s White House spokesperson has issued hour by hour updates of half-truths, untruths, and verbiage meant to change the subject. So much so…I believe each and every White House spokesperson has lost their credibility with the American Public. All while our allies and nations around the world probably think they are looking at some reality TV show.

Most congressional Republicans, House, and Senate, credibility with other than their hardcore constituency has suffered heavy body blows during this time. They are trying to sell a health care plan that one may find in a Cracker Jack box and just as effective. Their visits to their town halls have given them an up to date clue as to their future prospects as a congressional representative.

This Russia thing, well at least now we have a special council that will investigate this entire sordid affair. Was there collusion with any or President Trump’s campaign personnel or not? What did the president know and when did he know it?

And where is the president in all of this you ask? Initially, he seemed as though he only wanted to please his base (34 to 39% of voters) depending upon the news cycle. You know the person that says “I voted for Trump so he could shake things up in Washington.” Can’t you see Muhamad Ali screaming “I shook up the world, I shook up the world.” All that’s needed for that phrase is to add, ‘for all the wrong reasons.’ Now even the Donald has contributed his patented Fake News and Alternative Facts to the media that at times he acts like he’s delusional. One day, he says one thing, and the next day or maybe even later on that day, he says another. I have never seen the presidency in such turmoil, and that would include Richard Nixon during Watergate. This is more than simply; I need to cover my behind from this presidency.

I believed during the campaign that the Donald had no clue as to what it took to run Pennsylvania Avenue, and serve the United States people. And I do mean the people, any of us, Republicans, Independents or Democrats. During the last five months, he has still surprised me as to how much he is outclassed in his position.

He is a man trying to run the United States Government like a small or large private business. He, like his fellow party members, want Government to get out of their way and let them do whatever they want to do. They don’t want to talk to the government unless their house and property’s flooding. Then they want to know how come it takes FEMA so long to bail them out of a place they were warned not to live because of of…wait for it…flooding. He comes from that world where the attitude is, I got mine, you don’t, and there are no free lunches in our public cafeteria. You say you’re suffering from Poverty, Racism, Minimum Wage, No Health Care, Unemployed or worst, unemployable? Tough cookie, pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get off my doorstep. I have nothing, including self-help programs for you. “Damn beggars ought to get a job” is their last word on the matter as they slam the door on your face.

Most people who are not living in the Land of Oz could have predicted startup problems by noticing who he picked to head various governmental departments. First of all, he surrounded and continues to do so, with people who had no experience of being a Government employee. Or any idea as how to run the federal departments they are assigned to direct. Some wouldn’t know the difference between a government requisition and a weekly time card. Most probably think reading the FAR (Federal Acquisition Manual) is like going through the yellow pages. And who thinks that you can pick which government regulation you want to cancel while keeping only the one’s business people like? As the youngsters use to say, “You better ask somebody…” How do you think those hard working lower-paid government workers are feeling about now? Secondly, he hasn’t filled a lot of the open slots. The result has been chaotic, to say the least.

Since at the moment, the Donald has another three years and eight months left to act as President. What can we do to save our country from being pillaged and halt the attempt to turn it into a cash cow for the rich? Become involved in any way shape of fashion. We all have a say in the direction this country takes in spite of those who think that we don’t. You don’t have to wait until the 2018 elections. Notify your elected officials today of your concerns. Join those who care and act, bypass those who like to talk and vent while sipping on their favorite drink.

Peace, yet stay vigilant for our American rights. Make it a day in which Jesus Christ would be proud of you,

Codis Hampton II

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This Country Has Elected A Trump Type Before

The candidates are rounding the half mile heading for the finish line. Who will win? The race is still up in the air. On the one hand, we had a clear favorite as much as a week ago. That is until the Republican-leaning FBI Director broke protocol and injected himself into the race. You all know what happened there as well as the differing opinions as to why he did it. It’s all crystal clear as for why he chose to in my mind. I will leave you to your opinions.

But, I want to bring up another election from another time. It is the 2000 election I am referring to when Republican George W. Bush received 271 Electoral votes to Democrat Al Gore, Jr’s 266. Let’s just say we let our country and Al Gore down during a very important election. No need to bring up the recount issues in Florida and the ultimate party line Supreme Court decision that gave G Dubya the presidency.

Instead, I want to remind everyone of the aftermath of that historic election and Supreme Court decision. The US became involved in an ‘all war all the time’ in some remote region of the world. Terrorists attacked us. We bonded as a nation only to find our country in a senseless war by G Dubya and the Chaney administration. They had some people cowering in their homes listening for various levels (see picture) Homeland Security Warnings. Maybe we should use these kinds of warnings when we have candidates who are unqualified to hold any political office much less president of the United States. But then I’m getting ahead of myself.

By the time President Obama took office the surplus left by outgoing President Bill Clinton was now a large deficit. The best way I can point out how it was at the time? You have to google the media political cartoons that were printing which framed the new president’s task. All warned in some form or fashion the need to fix the Economy, Iraq War, and Global Warning, War on Terror, Bin Laden still alive, Energy, Afghanistan, Russia, and Inflation. And let’s not forget the Mortgage Housing crises which threaten to lower the United States credit level around the world. Some in the Republican Party were yelling let the US default on its debts.

Over the last eight years, President Obama has slowly pulled ourselves and the country from the brink of failed financial policies. Policies I might add that the current Republican Candidate wants to recreate and adapt. Jesus Christ…please protect this country from itself. It was a job in which he’s had to work around Republican obstructionist.

And now, history seems to be repeating itself by providing Americans with a choice between a well-known faulty individual. A woman who’ve been investigated almost as much as President Obama. Are we poised to elect the next George W Bush like president again?

The difference I see is that G Dubya is not so outward impulsive, innately vengeful, or deviously calculating or tied so closely to improving his personal fortune as the Donald. I think G Dubya cared for this country and there lies the big difference in my mind. The Donald cares for the Donald and only the Donald. He has proven that time and time again during this campaign. There are scores of Americans who have bought into this farce of a man. The question on everybody else’s mind is why?

Let’s get past his legitimization of right wing extremist, i.e. Klu Klux Klan, Alt-Right and every Tom, Dick, and Harriet on the fringe of a white revolution in this country. We will group them in the…oh, I don’t know, let’s call them Deplorable. Why don’t we also skip the anti-Hillary Rodham Clinton voters along with the hate any and everything Clinton group? Who’s left? Not that many people in my mind.

Because in reality, the only people that are left are those who genuinely think Mrs. Clinton will make a horrible president. My question to those folks is will she screw up America’s standing in the world, undermine our democracy, feed her personal coffers while not giving a hoot about this country as much as the Donald? I don’t think so.

Now you know where I am going with this article. You think G Dubya screwed up our country. This country, in fact, the world will not be the same during a Donald Trump’s presidency. The Republicans don’t care as long as they get ideologues on the Supreme Court. As long as they get re-elected, they think the Donald will be manageable in the White House. Based upon what, I have no idea.

All those people who will vote for him think they are going to be better off. Once again, better off than whom? Of course, the real extremists think they are going to have a free hand to push their agenda against people of color. I got news for you. That is not going to work. People are not going back in some hole to hide from people of authority. People of Color are not going back to the 1950’s. We still deal with racists on a daily basis. You think we have forgotten the struggles of the Civil Rights era.

The Donald has not proposed a program that will improve any industry or governmental entity in the United States. Why? Because he doesn’t have a plan or program that will ‘Make America Great Again.’ How is he going to bring jobs to this economy? His entire policy is Washington DC, and Hillary is crooked, elect me to fix it. Based on what we’ve seen from him during this campaign, he is not qualified to be in charge of my life or America lives in general. Based on what we know about his business practices; qualifications for our president? I don’t think so. Is he morally and spiritually qualified to be the United States of America’s president? No, would be the summary answer.

We have already seen eight years of what would be a mild administration compared to a Trump presidency. All one has to do is remember or google the highlights of the G Dubya and Chaney administration. Remember, our world allies are watching to see how this plays out. So is Russia.

Peace, make it a day in which Jesus Christ would be proud of you,

Codis Hampton II

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“In my latest book, Remember Moz, Gracie & John Hampton’s First-Born, I wanted to tell the world about a unique individual. Not because he happened to be my father but to explain who he was, where he came from, and how he evolved into the man he became up until his death. In doing so, I wrote of his ancestor’s roots back to and through the Civil War. The inclusion of his birth and upbringing in the heart of Arkansas, or Jim Crow country, add southern reluctance to learn why our country involved itself in a bloodthirsty four-year exercise in the first place? Then you begin to understand why our parents behaved the way that they did. See if I captured the essence of this paragraph.” Get the book via the Authors Page at http://outskirtspress.com/webPage/isbn/9781478766056

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Will The Donald’s Rebranding Work?

I look at Morning Joe, and other shows where the host/hostess is clearly Republican voters are almost begging Donald Trump to take a vacation. Don’t say anything, they advise. Stop putting your foot in your mouth. Just shut up and let Hillary Clinton unfavorable ratings drag her down. They hate their nominee but are all for beating Hillary. Yes, I think Morning Joe is Fox TV light. They keep looking for good news stories (bad news for the US economy) that will pump up the Donald’s candidacy. My comment to all this anxiety is the same question asked by President Obama.

What about having a competent POTUS? Who do you want to answer the White House Phone in case of an issue in which the President of the United States has to make a clear head and informed decision? In other words, what or who is best for the United States? Do they really care or are the primary and only goal a winning Republican ticket?

Once again we are faced with a clear statement of intent one day followed by clarifying the same statement the following day. I won’t repeat here, but you’ve heard of the “inciting violence” statement with his 2^nd amendment remark. In fact, I think that Chris Mathews, of MSNBC Hardball, provided a quote on his show that speaks directly to the point. It was a quote that stated the following; keeping in mind, John Pastore, the Keynote speaker, was referring to Barry Goldwater who supposedly misspoke as well. “What does the Republican Candidate choose to have anything mean at any given moment? This world cannot wait until Saturday to learn what he meant when he spoke on Monday. The man in the White House doesn’t have the luxury of a second choice. He has to be right the first time,” Mr. Pastore eloquently stated.

For me, I remember a tweet from the Donald in talking about the plagiarized statements from Mrs. Obama in his wife Melania’s speech. He said, ”Especially if you believe that all press is good press.” That’s a pretty good quantifying statement that would explain all his so-called misquotes or douse any clarification of what he really meant. Meaning he says what he means and means what he actually says.

You got that…former New York Mayor and the Donald’s current Statements Corrector-in-Chief, Rudy Giuliani? By the way, the nerve of this individual to state the Donald went to Milwaukee last Tuesday. He was actually in West Bend, WI, over forty miles away. West Bend is a suburb comprised of ninety-five percent white folks. Giuliani, the liar, actually stated how dangerous that was for the Donald given the recent upheaval and violence over a suspect-with-a-gun shooting. Oh yes, the suspect was shot by a black police officer for the record. And they say Hillary Clinton is a liar.

The sad part for Milwaukeeans and other points in this country is that every traffic stop by a police officer is a potential flash point or reaction from onlookers. People are on edge. The crooks are getting more desperate and dangerous. The police are getting more nervous while dealing with a suspect. And the innocent bystanders are getting in the way of stray bullets. Both politicians have a plan although what that plan is not clear from the Donald. All we get is more code words like “Law and Order will be maintained” on the day he takes office. As if he is going wave a magic wand and create a miracle while solving the nation’s crime wave before lunch time that day. Really Trump?

And now we have a campaign shakeup by the Donald. In short, I like Hillary’s answer to it; nothing really has changed in his campaign. We all know Donald Trump.

Having said that here, we go. It’s the rebranding of the Donald. Are you buying this? Will the voting public buy it? Can the Republicans and the Trump operatives fool the American public one more time? Is the change in tone in time for the November election given Hilary Clinton negatives? The real question is; are we as stupid as these people think we are? Will we vote in a person who should not be President of the United States just because the Donald says he might have hurt a few feelings with his words?

Their obvious inference to the voting public is for us to look at the failed policies of the Obama-Clinton administration. How about Benghazi, her e-mail fiasco, her and husband Bill Clintons pay as you go world foundation? Remember, she never tells the truth. Of course, they use a very narrow narrative to talk about these Clinton issues. You can’t trust her either, they say. Look, our man appointed a woman as his campaign manager. That proves he likes women. Whether he likes women causes might be a different issue. She (Kellyanne Conway) and newly named, Steve Bannon’s main role is to let Trump be Trump. So why not try something new, like Donald Trump? Never mind what he said in the past, listen to what he is saying now and in the future up through the November election. Trump gets things done, they say.

Frankly, you might want to read the New York Times Report (Saturday, Aug 20) entitled, Trump’s Empire: A Maze of Debts and Hidden Ties. Then there are his unreleased taxes. How about his cozy relationship and admiration for Russia’s Putin? The full details of that relationship are still coming to light.

Roseanne Barr, Don King, Chris Christie, Ted Nugent, Herschel Walker, Mike Tyson, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, Terrell Owens, Denis Rodman, Stephen Baldwin, Tom Brady, Mike Ditka, Ann Coulter, and Sarah Palin, are all people who back the Donald. Maybe you ought to read that list of names again. They’ve backed him from the very start through today. You have probably seen a few of them on the Donald’s reality TV Show, “The Apprentice.” One thing is for sure; you will not find these names on any list that involves having great insight on matters of life or country.

The new campaign managers and surrogates want us to believe that Trump gets things done. Never mind his unreleased taxes and business bankruptcies. The fact that he doesn’t realize that this is a democracy, and he can’t be a dictator doesn’t matter. Again, he will get things done. His diplomacy skills and how he goes about trying to get things done is the real question

Here is a suggestion. Check out Nate Silver’s http://fivethirtyeight.com/ if you want fair and accurate reporting on the latest polls. And don’t miss MSNBC’s Joy Reid’s show (AM Joy), at 7:00 am PST on Saturday mornings. It is a great way to put the week’s news in perspective. She doesn’t let the Republican surrogates and the Donald friends take over the dialog and questions of the show.

So…as we noted in the beginning, do you think the Donald would make a good or even adequate Commander in Chief? Could he be diplomatic enough to represent this country in meetings with foreign dignitaries of all nationalities and ethnic groups? Will he inspire more hatred against the US by splinter terrorist groups around the world? There are so many questions involving his temperament, real personality, and motivations actually to do the job. It didn’t take you long to come up with an answer, huh? We have all meet the real Donald, up close and personal. I rest my case.

Peace, make it a day in which Jesus Christ would be proud of you,

Codis Hampton II

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Don’t Drink the GOP’s Brand of Government Kool-Aid

Every time there is a natural disaster who do we call for help? What about if some terrorist drop a bomb in New York City, other US land, or US presence via ship or whatever anywhere in the world? What happens if you need to regulate an industry from taking advantage of the common man and woman in the US Street? The point is that we look to our United States Government to solve those problems.

No one calls up Donald Trump, The Koch Brothers, Russ Limbaugh, or California’s Silicon Valley tech billionaires. In those instances, the only entity that can take on, address or solve those issues. And that is the United States Government. By the way, that is the same organization that wrote the rules of commerce those billionaires used to become wealthy.

As we enter this political election sphere leading up to the nomination and eventual election of a new president and members of Congress, we are confronted with the same concoction. I call it The GOP’s brand of Government Kool-Aid. You will probably recognize parts of the formula. The indigents are as follows,

Start with the base flavoring, one small package of ultra-conservative Sugar Substitute.

Add two tablespoons each of Super PAC Cash, Various Right-Wing Media, Erroneous Polls, Right-Wing Christians, Tea Party Rhetoric and Fox News. Make sure they are all lemon-lime flavored to give it that tangy taste.

Slice up a Secession Orange, only found in states like Texas, etc. to give it that States Rights wholesome flavoring.

Pour in two gallons of plain water, top it off with a few ice cubes to make it a cool drink and serve at Media parties, election campaign offices, and to attendees at all political gatherings.

There should be a warning on the packaging of this concoction, but there isn’t. The warning would state; Beware of drinking this type Kool-Aid as it will destroy your compassion toward your neighbor, fellow US & world citizens and lead you to vote against your best interest.

Whatever speech uttered by one of their candidates always includes the two mantras of the Republican Party political platform, Govt. should not be in any private business affairs and States Rights overrule the US Govt. Rights. It’s a concoction they serve that works well all the time. A word of caution, avoid mixing any socialist ingredients otherwise you will ruin the batch.

I am saying this because in a little over fourteen months we are going to select another President, Vice President, members of the House of Representative, and Senators. Who we choose will have a definite impact on our country’s priorities. Will it be more governmental involvement where it should have oversight or no government involvement at all except to protect corporate interest? Will our president be a man or woman of the people or a corporate puppet? It’s just that simple.

Here is one very, very important note that you must remember. Whichever party is the majority in the House of Representatives and Senate runs that congressional body. That means they will run the agenda that their members vote on or bring up for a vote.

And the final piece of this important political process reviews to remember. The next president will have his pick of who will be the head of government agencies, i.e. The IRS, Social Security Department, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), etc. Those agencies act as the watchdog to protect you, the average citizen in the street. The question, which candidate do you think will serve your needs, or which one will serve corporate needs? Those are the issues in the next election.

And let’s not forget, in the case of a vacancy the president will make a recommendation as to who will sit on the Supreme Court. A reminder should be the 5-4 split on most decisions now favors the Republican Party. A show of hands…or think about it, who do you think the Republican Party represent? Don’t say what you heard on Fox News, CNN, or MSNBC. Who do you really think the Republican Party represent, given the actions they have taken in the House of Representatives over the last few years? How about the present Senate? Do you think they care about Black Lives Matter, Climate Control, Minimum Wage, Women’s or Equal Rights, or the Voting Rights Act? Look at what they have done, not what you hear on the news or your buddy tells you. How many of their sons and daughters have served in the military or fought in a war? They’ve had one theme going on over the last six years, Damn President Obama, the Antichrist and repeal Obama Care. Of which they have spent a lot of money telling you it’s a stupid law. They have no plan to replace it. And immigration, should I go on? Now do you see why I am asking you not to drink their brand of Government Kool-Aid?

For added measure, I am going to solicit help in articulating the following,

**RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP

Citizens of the United States, it is clear, have a great many rights that give them freedoms all peoples hold dear: the freedom to think what they like; to voice those opinions, individually to their elected representatives or collectively in small or large assemblies; to worship as they choose or not to worship at all; to be safe from unreasonable searches of their persons, their homes, or their private papers. However, the theory of democratic government holds that along with these rights come responsibilities: to obey the laws; to pay legally imposed taxes; to serve on juries when called to do so; to be informed about issues and candidates; and to exercise the right to vote that has been won for so many through the toil and tears of their predecessors.

The responsibility that can make the most lasting difference, however, is getting involved in the political process. “Proponents of participatory democracy argue that increased citizen participation in community and workplace decision-making is important if people are to recognize their roles and responsibilities as citizens within the larger community,” says Craig Rimmerman, professor of political science, in his book The New Citizenship: Unconventional Politics, Activism, and Service. “Community meetings, for example, afford citizens knowledge regarding other citizens’ needs. In a true participatory setting, citizens do not merely act as autonomous individuals pursuing their own interests, but instead, through a process of decision, debate, and compromise, they ultimately link their concerns with the needs of the community.”

Tom Harkin, U.S. Senator from Iowa, says that the kind of activists who fueled the earlier civil rights, anti-Vietnam War, and environmental movements are now focusing their energies “closer to home, organizing their neighbors to fight for such issues as better housing, fair taxation, lower utility rates, and the cleanup of toxic wastes…. Cutting across racial and class and geographical boundaries, these actions have shown millions of people that their common interests far outweigh their differences. [For all of them], the message of citizen action is the same: ‘Don’t get mad, don’t get frustrated, don’t give up. Organize and fight back.”

**VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES

Some concerned American voters have chosen to stay involved by being in touch with their elected officials, in particular, the president and their senators and representatives. They have written letters, sent telegrams, made telephone calls, and gone in person to the official’s office, whether in Washington or in the home state or district. During the past few years, however, a new medium of communication has burst upon the scene and given voters extraordinary power — the power to learn what is going on in their world, to comment on those events, and to work to change the things they don’t like. This medium is the Internet, the World Wide Web, the Information Superhighway. Whatever it is called, it is changing politics in America, rapidly and irrevocably.

** Source: U.S. Department of State, entitled ‘Government of the People: The Role of the Citizen.’

So the next time, you are having a debate with your family, neighbor, or friends, realize who is responsible for the individuals that represent us in Washington today. Indirectly, we are the Government. They represent us, so it is up to us to determine if this is the type of Government we want.

I am not advocating overthrowing the US Government. In fact just the opposite; I am saying more of us need to get involved with Government. Voting, Community organizing with the help of the Internet, demonstrating, letter writing, and phone calls to our personal and other US districts representatives always lead to action by the same. No matter what you might hear from uninformed or self-promoting political analyst, these tactics do work. It is the number of people that are advocating a particular idea that implement change for the better and all involved.

For the record, I’m not a fan of people storming the stage of an event, interrupting the speaker and shouting “What are you doing about our people getting shot by the various policemen around the country.” Yes, they should be confronted wherever feasible but not at a major speaking engagement. All you are doing is giving the other side ammunition to say…”I told you those people are crazy and violent.” Let’s be smart and efficient about our protest. And yes target Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. We need to hear more than a thirty second TV ad. And by all means, once they are elected, hold them accountable for their promises. We should press for fair-minded actions, not political party-speak that favors who donated to their campaign. The Constitution begins by stating “We the People, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, Insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, etc. etc.” You think they were trying to tell us something, give us a hint on how we as a society should behave?

Peace, make it a day in which Jesus Christ would be proud of you,

Codis Hampton II

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