Category: Republicans

Friday News : Moving On

Welcome to Friday News. Every Friday I share news with you; primarily about writing and sometimes about life in general. This week it is about:Moving On.

Okay, the Verdict Is?

President Donald Trump has been declared Not Guilty of an Impeachable offense. What does that mean?

It means his actions did not rise to the high level demanded by our Founding Fathers. Whenever trying to understand the Constitution you must always go back to the Founding Fathers and find out from them their understanding. Part of the troubles in Washington D.C. comes from the fact most Representatives and Senators are lawyers and they have been taught that the Constitution is a “living Document” to be interpreted according to modern mores. This has led to confusion and contrary understandings to the original meanings.

In my opinion, maybe we should ban lawyers from running for office. Not going to happen but putting commonsense minded people in office surely would work better than the current mess.

What Now?

Well, commonsense suggests we move on and that our government Representatives and Senators do what they were elected to do.

But alas, commonsense rarely rules in the running of our government. The ink wasn’t even dry on the Acquittal document and the Democrats were already planning to continue to go after the President! Since the day Trump announced he was running for President the Democrats targeted him. It would almost seem like they were running scared!

So prepare yourselves folks. If you reelect these Democrats they intend to find or, more likely, create another controversy leading to impeachment. They don’t care how much it costs, how many lives are ruined, or how badly they trash the Constitution.

What Will President Trump Do?

I don’t pretend to read his mind or have a knowledge of his thinking, but I am observant, and I think I have an understanding of who he is. So here is my take.

I believe he will go forth confidently and pursue the following:

  • Less government intrusion into people’s economic lives
  • Greater opportunity zones in underserved areas
  • A stronger military
  • Space research and exploration
  • Better trade agreements around the world, including China
  • A MidEast agreement that protects Israel
  • …and more

In other words, he will continue to listen to the people, the citizens of the United States, and work to get his views enacted into law or at least Presidential decree.

Will Trump Always Espouse Conservative Values?

I am a conservative first, a support of Trump second. And no, he hasn’t always supported Conservative views and I don’t expect to see him change. Most people tend to think he is a Conservative. I think a better tag should be Populist. Populism can be either Left or Right. So in my view, Trump is primarily a Populist of the Right, but there are times where his views may lean left. Look at the results of his first three years. That is what you can expect from him and why I will vote for him.

Will He Be Reelected?

This is my opinion: President Donald Trump will likely be reelected in a landslide. Not only because of his accomplishments, but because of the Democrats lack of accomplishments and their total lack of regard for the Constitution, Taxpayer money, and the people they are supposed to be serving. This whole impeachment proceeding had nothing to do with the President’s actions and everything to do with their failure to deliver in 2016.

It’s going to be a long summer and a longer next four years for them.

What About the Blue Wave?

What Blue Wave? In 2018 they claimed a Blue Wave, but if you’ve been around for very long you know that Midterm Elections usually means the House, or in rare occasions the Senate, changes hands and the Opposition Party is the winner.

Did the Blue Wave change that? No. The Democrats took over the House and the move to impeach the President took over. The problem is that the Democrats have convinced themselves that they, and they alone, know what’s best for the country. And you better not get in their way!

A true Blue Wave would have turned both the House and the Senate over to the Democrats. They never came close!

Moving ON!

We the people, the taxpayers, deserve better than childish behavior on the Left. I grew up in a time when the Democrats and the Republicans had their issues with one another, but they learned to set that aside and work out compromises. That day has passed, and I don’t know if it will ever return.

However, there is hope. God has used President Trump much like He used Old Testament leaders. Then it was to discipline and protect His people the Jews. Today God is still protecting the Jews, but He is also protecting Christians. I see a glimpse here and there of a national revival coming. Perhaps it is wishful thinking, but I’m praying for it. And it will only come if we Christians submit to God, pray for revival, and walk according to His will. And it will begin within each of us!

For information on TR Writing Services (“we edit, proof, and publish the book within you”)  contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. We have a Free booklet telling you about our services. And we are upfront on our prices (all are low).

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), Task Force Hunter (Book Three), Black Death (Book Four), Rise of I.C.E.S. (Book Five),  or Battle at Proxima Centauri (Book Six). I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or Epub).

 – – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the Editor of TR Writing Services providing help to struggling and/or new authors to write and publish their books. In addition, he is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical and Speculative Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

Friday News : Impeachment & the Democrats

Welcome to Friday News. Every Friday I share news with you; primarily about writing and sometimes about life in general. This week it is about: Impeachment & the Democrats.

What’s the Future of Impeachment?

The short answer that whenever the trial begins it will be short and end in acquittal.

The long answer takes more room and time. I’ll give you my understanding.

The Democrats Made a Mistake

And it’s a big one. In 2016 Trump blew Hilary out of the water and the Democrats assumed foul play. It wasn’t true, but they hitched their future to that assumption and immediately there were calls for impeachment.

Along came the Steele Dossier. This piece of fiction, apparently funded by the Clinton campaign, was meant to be used in the election. I don’t believe they every thought it would be used in impeachment proceedings. They probably knew it was nothing but fiction, but they figured it would useful in undermining the Trump campaign. It was dirty politics with an unexpected consequence.

Surprisingly none of our liberal friends have called for an investigation into what eventually cost the American taxpayers millions, even billions of dollars. Maybe not so surprisingly since the people calling for Trump’s impeachment would not be interested in going after Hilary and her campaign.

This mistake looked like a blessing to the Democrats in Congress, especially the newly elected Representatives. It was vehicle that could possibly remove their arch enemy from office! Check the history out and you will find that Speaker Pelosi quickly realized that this was a mistake. For some reason, however, she hooked her boat to this sinking ship.

The Democrats Didn’t Get Off When They Could

The Mueller investigation provided them cover. After years of using bullying tactics and excessive taxpayer dollars, he came up with nothing. At that point Pelosi could have said something like, “We tried, but now it is time to move on.”

But she didn’t.

Instead, she let it hang around and the new, loudmouth Representatives grew more strident and, in my opinion, stronger. She started shifting her stance and moved closer probably trying to mollify them. It didn’t work. They got their hooks into her and didn’t let go.

The ship Impeachment was sinking, and she couldn’t keep it afloat. Using her power she forced the Articles of Impeachment even though they had no corroborating facts. What she called ‘facts’ amounted to hearsay and innuendo.

Then Capitulation

That’s what I call it. Although filled with misgivings, she caved. Her words changed from caution to tentative and finally to ‘Urgent’. Impeachment was urgent.

It reminds me of when Obamacare was passed in 2010, she famously said, “We [need] to pass the bill in order to find out what [is] in it.” The fact checkers admit she said it but add it must be viewed in her intentions. Then they show what the context was before and after. But they leave out a very important fact. Obamacare was not bipartisan, and the Democrats locked Republicans out of participating in discussions. That is the true context. At the time America was concerned about its contents and whether she intended her statement to be taken as we took them or not is immaterial. Basically people understood her as saying that the bill should be passed and then read. Apparently, Obama agreed, because it was shortly passed and he signed it.

Sounds a lot like her comments regarding Impeachment.

Now she was stuck. She’d stuck her neck out and couldn’t turn back. So the Articles of Impeachment were passed without a single Republican vote. The ship Impeachment was looking more and more like the Titanic!

Bucket Brigade

I wasn’t there but I imagine Pelosi waking up the next morning and crying out loud, “What have we done?”

Suddenly reality reappeared. She remembered earlier statements where she opposed impeachment. Facts hadn’t really changed; they were still hearsay. Fishing expeditions had failed. There was more not less innuendo and fabrication. What could she do?

Then a brilliant idea came. Just like in the past people used bucket brigades to throw water on a raging fire, she could ease off the pedal and call for a “fair trial.” So she leaped out of bed and joyfully went forward.

She gave a statement that basically said, “We need a fair trial where our facts can be fully explored. Otherwise, I won’t send the articles to the Senate.”

The problem is this. Imagine a prosecutor going before a judge and saying, “We believe the defendant is guilty, but we don’t have enough evidence to convict him. Order him to tell the court everything and to provide incriminating evidence.”

It won’t happen unless it’s a grand jury. Even then it might not happen.

Just like throwing a bucket of water on a raging fire won’t work unless you have a long line of buckets, so this argument goes out the window!

The Senate

The U.S. Constitution gives the Senate the sole power to conduct a trial. House Managers (prosecutors) have the duty to press the charges. Senate Managers represent the defendant. To call additional witnesses at this time requires at the very least an understanding of what evidence that witness will provide. ‘Hope for’ is not the same. The Democrats are simply going on a fishing expedition with no worm on their hook.

Furthermore, while the Speaker does not have to provide the articles in a timely fashion, the Senate is under no obligation to listen to the Speaker. The Speaker has no authority as to the construction, nature, or conduct of the trial.

My View.

Personally, I think the case should be thrown out! But that’s not likely to happen. Right now the Republicans hold the upper hand both in the Senate and in the nation. The Democrats have been caught with their pants down, are embarrassed, and are fearful. To do what I want could backfire.

But the Senate should not let the House dictate how the trial will go. In the House the investigation went forward despite opposition from the Republicans. It was clearly biased. In the Senate you currently have the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader meeting and discussing the format. They haven’t agreed on anything as far as I know and now Schumer is forced to act on Pelosi’s demands. He’s been placed in a bad situation which has resulted in the meetings now going nowhere.

 I don’t know what the final format will be, but the fact they are still talking is far better than what happened in the House. In the end, the decision rests with the Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

What’s a Fair Trial?

That’s easy. The accused gets to face his accusers and gets to present his side to a jury of his peers. I don’t believe that is what Pelosi means.

‘Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.’

Pelosi and the Democrats were forced by their own party members to conduct political suicide. If they had only stopped and read history, they would have seen what happened to the Republicans when they impeached Clinton.

For information on TR Writing Services (“we edit, proof, and publish the book within you”)  contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. We have a Free booklet telling you about our services. And we are upfront on our prices (all are low).

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), Task Force Hunter (Book Three), Black Death (Book Four), Rise of I.C.E.S. (Book Five),  or Battle at Proxima Centauri (Book Six). I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or Epub).

 – – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the Editor of TR Writing Services providing help to struggling and/or new authors to write and publish their books. In addition, he is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical and Speculative Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

Friday News : Impeachment

Welcome to Friday News. Every Friday I share news with you; primarily about writing and sometimes about life in general. This week it is about:Impeachment.

The news media is all excited about the recent vote by the House of Representatives to formalize the Impeachment Inquiry, but is it worth all the print? Well, anytime you have any action regarding a public official, especially the President of the United States, it is important. But the real question is its validity.

What is impeachment?

According to Wikipedia it is “Articles of impeachment are the set of charges drafted against a public official to initiate the impeachment process. The articles of impeachment do not result in the removal of the official, but instead require the enacting body to take further action, such as bringing the articles to a vote before the full body.

In the United States, the articles of impeachment are drafted by the House of Representatives for cases involving federal officials. Once drafted, a supermajority of the United States Senate is required to convict based on the articles.”

Although the media knows better their reporting tends to make people think that impeachment means conviction. It is only a set of charges. The way the House is doing it is more like a Grand Jury, although I don’t believe that was our founders intent. So far, it has been innuendo, third party, and unknown people making charges.

When you read the statements of people involved you don’t get much in the way of facts, but statements that are generalized and lacking in substance.

Why is the President being Impeached?

That is the question of the century. When you look at recent history you see that presidents have done similar things such as the President is accused of doing. Basically the charge narrows down to he used economic power to try to get a foreign government to accede to a goal or action he desired.

The Democrats charge, with no proof, that the President did this out of fear of Joe Biden’s candidacy for President. While no proof has been found to bolster this opinion, the truth is that this whole episode hurts Biden more than the President. There are serious questions about Biden and his son. While the media claims that there is no proof of any misdeeds, the fact remains that the reason nothing was found was that Biden used the U.S. economic power to get rid of a prosecuting attorney who was investigating Hunter Biden and the company he was part of. Joe Biden even publicly bragged about his successful effort.

And then the investigation and its documentation seemingly disappeared and is now said not to have taken place. I couldn’t write a better whodunit.

Hunter may be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the investigation should be pursued.

Why aren’t the Republican’s involved in the inquiry?

Because the Democrats don’t want the Republicans messing up their plans. It is the only explanation that makes any sense.

What happens if the House Impeaches Trump?

That is a good question. The Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has options. He could dismiss the impeachment, set rules for the trial and/or have a full-scale trial.

If there is a trial, what will be the outcome?

I don’t have a crystal ball, but I doubt that you could get enough Senators to vote for Impeachment. Not all Democrats and certainly not many Republicans would vote guilty, especially since there is no evidence of wrongdoing. Which brings up why the vote for Impeachment Inquiry.

The Democrats have nothing more than a he said/he said portfolio. Although they passed the Impeachment Inquiry, passing Impeachment is not necessarily a given. Many Democrats don’t believe an impeachable offense has been committed. This means they need facts, so the inquiry is nothing but a fishing expedition.

Will They Succeed?

Doubtful. As said earlier, President Trump used his power the same way Democratic and Republican Presidents have used it in the past. You may not like that display of power, but it is acceptable in today’s world.

What Impact will this have on the Election?

Whether the President is impeached or not by the House I believe it will blow up in the faces of the Democrats (much like it did for Republicans trying to impeach Clinton). The American public is tired of the constant turmoil stirred up by Democrats unhappy over Trump’s election. Despite the news media’s cooperation with the Democrats, the American people have resources for getting the truth and they don’t like the smell coming out of the House.

It’s just my opinion, but I think the Republicans will retake the House.

For information on TR Writing Services (“we edit, proof, and publish the book within you”)  contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. We have a Free booklet telling you about our services. And we are upfront on our prices (all are low).

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), Task Force Hunter (Book Three), Black Death (Book Four), or Rise of I.C.E.S. (Book Five), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or Epub).

 – – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the Editor of TR Writing Services providing help to struggling and/or new authors to write and publish their books. In addition, he is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical and Speculative Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

A Last Minute Recount Controversial if Dishonest

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Monday’s I try to focus on issues. This week I am taking a look at A last minute recount controversial if dishonest.
First, a word about Veterans Day. I am a veteran (1964-68 Vietnam War), so I definitely appreciate veterans of any service that served their country. Yesterday was the official anniversary of the end of WWI. During the celebration of this event the French President made the statement that nationalism and patriotism are opposites thereby suggesting that globalism and patriotism are kindred spirits.
That is far from the truth. Nationalism and patriotism are two sides of the same coin. In both cases you are loyal to your country, putting your country first. Globalism is actually a route to the One World Government that many people favor these days. It will be a sad day when that happens and it will nullify the bloodshed on countless battlefields to protect and guard our nation.
While we  have an independent nation let’s honor our veterans no matter what war they fought in. But not just in holding celebrations, etc. but in taking care of them. Previous administrations have left our warriors sick, dying, and homeless. That is tragic and unacceptable!
Now for the Recount.
Here in Florida we are looking at the possibility of another recount of up to three elections. These elections affect who will be our next Governor, who will represent us in the Senate, and who will be the AG Commissioner.
Currently at least one recount is going forward, the senate race between Senator Bill Nelson and Governor Rick Scott. The recount seems centered in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. But it could expand to the entire state.
Now I understand that the law says that if the difference is less than .5% of the electorate a recount is mandatory. This law came into existence as a result of the 2000 Election that had a major impact not only on the state but upon the United States.
Problem #1 – why set such a high percentage? A half a percent may seem low but when you translate that into votes you discover that it is in the tens of thousands of ballots. But while I question the reasoning, it is the law. And while I question the wisdom, I accept it. The truth is I can’t do much else. But looking forward I think that percent should be lowered since we live in a divided state. If they don’t do something now we can expect recounts every major election or at least every four years.
Problem #2 – I see the same counties involved that have messed up in previous elections. They have had the opportunity to get their houses in order, but obviously have failed to do so. In this modern age of computers and high tech such mess ups are inexcusable. And I am not the only one to notice. Even the liberal media has noticed!
And why is Broward County refusing to even say how many votes remain uncounted. I think that in itself smells. Rightly or wrongly it is perceived as a cover-up. This needs to be addressed perhaps with a new law.
I’m glad that Governor Scott is stepping into this mess. While Gillium says to count every vote that is not what is at issue. We want only legitimate votes counted. Not dead people, not illegal immigrants, only registered voters who went to the polls (or mailed it in). We the people of the State of Florida have a right to expect the State to vigorously defend the vote and insist on clean procedures. It appears that the State needs to look over the shoulder of all counties and guarantee fair and accurate counting.
On Thursday of last week Scott was victorious in court and the counties were ordered to turn over all relevant records to the State. Hopefully, this order will shortcut the entire recount process and make the best of a very messy situation.
I lived in Michigan when the 2000 election took place. Then as now Broward and Palm Beach counties couldn’t do their job. The election of a new President was held hostage until the result was finalized by the Supreme Court.

  • Forty Nine other states were able to have accurate voting. But Florida couldn’t. Was it because Florida had a large immigrant community? Other states have similar communities and they didn’t experience these problems.
  • Could it be that the ballots were too confusing? That’s an argument for standardized ballots.
  • Could it be fraud? That’s always a possibility.

Florida became the laughingstock of the country and deservedly so for the way it handled the votes in 2000. Countless jokes were passed around with Florida the butt of them. It ended up going to the Supreme Court. But while they settled the matter, it created widespread discontent.
Supposedly the problems have been fixed since then and the election was supposed to go smoothly.
Well, you sure fooled me!
Problem #3 – who’s guarding the hen house? We have the same people recounting the ballots that did the initial counting. In fact, it has been stated in the media, liberal media at that, the counters are partisans. In a Democratic county that means they are Democrats making judgments about signatures and other issues that affect the legitimacy of ballots.
In addition they will be hiring more counters that have to be trained. This is like having the fox guard the hen house! It certainly doesn’t give one a sense that this is honest and aboveboard. Rather it tickles your nose and you begin to smell something funny. A smell that alarms you.
The perception is going to be that they have been dishonest no matter who wins! Once again the state of Florida will be the laughingstock of the nation.
I can hear the joke now: Who’s going to go to the cemetery to verify who voted or not? The answer: The undertaker and he’s a Democrat.
That admittedly is not very funny, but then again neither is the recount. But it shows the reputation that Democrats have earned over the years. Is it a correct reputation? No one knows, but it is a perception.
Problem #4 – What’s this about the military and absentee ballots not being counted? History shows that the military tends to vote strongly conservative and the absentee ballots lean Democratic. Now we’re hearing that both may not have been counted. However the recount goes, they need to fix this, especially on the military side of things. People who serve our country overseas should not be robbed of their right to vote even as they continue to serve.
But that is exactly what happens when you don’t count their vote or count it incorrectly. Neither the military nor absentee ballots should be treated so shamelessly. This is a right that cost many Americans their lives! We live in the best country in the world where everyone, including the poor, has a right to vote and participate in the election of representatives who will hopefully rule the country like we want.
How did this happen?
Well, there are plenty of theories. Here is a partial list:

  • Voter mistakes. Somehow thousands of Floridians voted in the wrong precinct or didn’t write their name correctly or whatever. Thousands of voters? That’s hard to believe.
  • Machine foul-ups. But how could the machines mess up thousands of ballots and not be discovered? Are we to believe that the workers are incompetent? The sheer size suggests it’s more than that.
  • This can be done regarding thousands of votes. So far no evidence has been discovered proving such a crime. But the magnitude of this problem at least suggests the possibility.

Just a guess but I suspect that local political powers manipulate the vote. Perhaps by submitting votes by people lying in the grave (there were reports of traffic being held up by zombies walking to the voting center), or perhaps votes by non-citizens or perhaps messing with the machines themselves. However they do it, it is hard to believe it is incompetence. Rather it is like voter fraud.
So what is going to be the result?
That’s a good question. The Democrats are hoping that the recount will result in flipping the original results tabulated on Election Day. That would be an acceptable outcome if only real votes are counted. But I for one am not sure that will happen.
I was watching the news and some of the ballots they showed on screen showed only one person receiving a vote on the entire ballot! That raises a question: who goes to the polls and only votes for one person? I have never heard of such a thing and I’ve been voting a long time. It smells like fraud. Is it possible that they only voted for one person? Yes. But would thousands of people do it? I really doubt that.
As mentioned earlier it looks now like the race to become governor is no longer over. The ongoing recounts are narrowing that lead. It looked like DeSantis won fair and square, but now the recount is also impacting that race.
And then there is the AG Commissioner race. This was a race hardly visible until the last few days of the election. And now it is also up in the air.
It’s a Total Mess!
Because these counties failed to do their jobs right all of us in Florida are losers! Why?
Because once the recount is completed we still won’t know who actually won. We’ll know who the recounts said won, but not necessarily the true vote.
And that means we will never have complete confidence in whoever is chosen. It means we will be suspicious of the winner whoever eventually wins. We will doubt the person’s honesty. But more serious than that we will doubt the whole election process.
And if we doubt the election process, how long will we trust our elected officials? It is the kind of situation that leads to unrest and could lead to rebellion. We must guard our nation’s credibility not only with other nations but with ourselves!
What happens after the recount?
Well, if history is any indication the recount could go to a machine recount. Now this may mean that recounting by selected counties could go to the State level and require all counties to do a recount. This could also require more hours and overtime, as well as add additional millions of dollars to the cost. But if that doesn’t settle the matter it could end up going to the U.S. Supreme Court!
What can be done to prevent future mess ups?
How about standardizing the ballots? I realize each county has its own offices and issues to be voted on, but why not have a standardized ballot so that the Broward ballot regarding State offices and Amendments appears exactly in the same place as in Lee County or any other county.
This is a simple change that at least creates a uniform ballot.
Another change would be videotaping of the equipment while being operated. During early voting and Election Day voting have the machines videotaped. Not just at the voting places but they would videotape every step of the election process.
In Michigan, where I grew up, we would go to the voting place and they would have a list of registered voters. They would match our name to the record and then we were allowed to vote. Here in Charlotte County I believe a similar practice was followed, but was it followed in Broward and Palm Beach? I don’t know. That’s a simple practice that should reduce fraudulent votes.
But the use of partisan workers (there is no such thing as non-partisan) makes the process suspicious and susceptible to fraud or other issues. Considering the magnitude of the votes I think making the process as automatic as possible is a great idea. But as long as we have people to contend with there will always be opportunities for corruption.
In Conclusion.
You can never eliminate partisanship entirely. It is part of human nature. But a long drawn-out recount serves no one. I hope that the recounts will be quick, honest, and transparent. If not you can’t blame people for suspecting the worst!
VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.
ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.
If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

Blue Wave?

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Monday’s I try to focus on issues. This week I am taking a look at the Blue Wave?
First a word of transparency: While I have strong opinions on this subject those opinions are based on the expertise of others. I’m not a prognosticator. That said, here goes.
Will There Be a Blue Wave?
The short answer to this is NO. But let me give you the longer answer.
Historically midterms usually go against the sitting president. The president has only been in office for two years and the people have usually not seen the full benefit of his policies. That would predict a blue wave.
Another factor suggesting a blue wave is the many polls out that are predicting such an event. Most polls are based on the opinions of ‘people living in the United States,’ ‘citizens of the United States,’ and ‘registered voters.’ A fourth group are those people who get up out of their coffins and vote (the Mummy vote?).
But let’s take a look at all this. First of all, Americans have already benefited from President Trump’s policies. Former President Obama can claim credit for the current boom only to the extent that it began the day after the election while we were still living under his presidency. But the fact is that within hours (I believe) of Trump’s victory business leaders were making plans. In fact, I think they may have had contingency plans in case he won and then pulled them out to use when he did. All of a sudden they began talking about hiring more people, expanding, etc.
Why?
Because they believed Trump. They may have known him and knew he kept his promises. But, in any case, they started changing course because they believed he would remove the government red tape blocking them (which he did). He not only removed these obstacles upon assuming the presidency, but moved to cut taxes which we all have benefited from.
Then There are the Polls
I already mentioned the polls that are predicting the “Blue Wave.” These are the same polls that predicted Hillary Clinton’s election. That should give all of us reason enough to doubt. The only polls that count are those reflecting Likely Voters, defined as those who are not only registered but have a history of voting. Most polls do not do this.
But the Table is Tilting
While most polls still have the “Blue Wave” coming there is increasing doubt. The whole Kavanaugh travesty by the Democrats is already affecting the polls. Now we are hearing reports that Democratic seats once thought invincible are now vulnerable.
Why?
Because the mask worn by the Democrats which depicted them as the “nice” people was taken off. We in America from sea to shining sea watched aghast as the Democrats used every dirty tactic they could to derail the nomination. As for the charges against the nominee they lacked credibility. (See my blog on Allegations.)
The whole episode exposed the dishonesty and cruelty of the Democrats and the leftists in general. The anger expressed by mobs was not the righteous anger they tried to paint themselves with but the anger of people who didn’t care about the facts. They simply didn’t want Trump’s pick to win no matter who it was.
It was Un-American to say the least! It was the worst display of partisan bias I have ever seen! It is true that both parties have engaged in bitter fights before but this one hit an all-time low! And it was clearly the Left’s doing.
And it might be noted that long-time Democratic voters are switching to the Republican  ballot. A one-time phenomenon or long term?
Then There is the Feinstein Effect.
While it is unclear whether Ford was lying or suffering from False Memory (see Allegations) it is clear that Feinstein first released the report without Ford’s permission and secondly she sat on it instead of having it investigated. Her manipulations of the charge were strictly political and lacked responsible behavior.
The American people are not deplorables nor are they ignorant. They watched the display and didn’t like what they saw.
Then There Was and Is Mob Rule
Most Americans do not like mob rule, no matter who is doing it. It is contrary to everything America stands for. But just recently Hillary Clinton once again opened her mouth and said she wouldn’t be “civil” to Trump and/or Trump supporters. Her ability to antagonize American voters goes back a long way (think of when she was First Lady). Her comments only serve to continue to support the inane actions of her supporters and sympathizers.
(And don’t believe the media or others who blame Trump for the animosity. It started before he ever announced he was running for President. Both parties have contributed to our current dysfunction, but the Democrats have a masters degree in it.)
Conclusion
I really doubt this “Blue Wave.” It might happen, but the President’s popularity is now up around 50%, people are seeing him keep his promises, and they are benefiting from his policies. All of that suggests a “Red Wave.” Which when you think about it, if the “Red Wave” actually occurs then the Republicans should first thank God, then President Trump, and finally the Democrats.
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ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.
If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

Columbus Day

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Monday’s I try to focus on issues. This week I am taking a look at Columbus Day.
Today is Columbus Day in which we honor not the man but the event. Columbus was not the first man to discover America; that was Leif Erikson in 1000 A.D. And it was Amerigo Vespucci who figured out that the New World was actually a continent. America was named after him.
Rather than celebrating a man whose moral character didn’t always measure up to our standards of today, Columbus Day is more of a celebration of his arrival here in the Americas.
Why?
The reason isn’t that complex. While Columbus wasn’t the first to discover America his discovery had worldwide impact. It opened the New World up to further exploration and colonization. After 1492 Europeans began exploring the Americas with great interest. With increased interest came increased discoveries. One of the discoveries was the natives living here. Another was the discovery of gold.
It was a discovery that transformed the world that then existed. At the time Europe was the center of civilization. But since then America has risen to the forefront. Europe is no longer the bastion of knowledge, in fact today it is beset by ignorance and anti-Semitism. The same forces that brought World Wars I and II seem to be rising again.
America also has its problems.
We have politicians who look to Europe for their ideas which if followed will destroy the American Dream. That is why you see me write about our need for a spiritual revival. We need to both individually and nationally restore God to His rightful place on the throne. Whether you like it or not He sits on the Throne today, we might as well worship Him now!
When I was a child we had two major parties, Democrats and Republicans. Both parties were patriotic and were able to find a way to meet halfway and actually solve problems. But that is no longer true.
The Democratic Party has moved far to the Left. In the current election cycle you hear them promoting socialistic ideas that if enacted would reduce us to a Third World country. If you didn’t like the Obama era you’ll absolutely hate Democratic rule.
On the other hand, you have a Republican Party that all too often looks and acts like they are afraid of having power. You might not personally like President Trump but he is getting things done and has undone many of Obama’s policies. (By the way, our present economic boom did start under the last days of Obama’s Presidency but that was because businesses saw Trump as a savior and they trusted him to keep his promises, which he has). The Republican Party needs more of Trump, not less.
But what does America Need?
As mentioned earlier we need a spiritual revival. But let me make that clearer: we need a Bible based revival that is centered in Christ! As Alexis de Tocqueville said in his book Democracy in America, “America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”
Alexis was impressed by our churches. It is there that he found the power that made America great not America’s colleges, industries, or farms. It was the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The same thundering from the pulpits that characterized our country’s birth and the same thundering that has grown quiet in all too many churches today!
So what does America need? America needs her churches to once again thunder from the pulpits the Word of God; to go on the offensive and take back the moral high ground!
ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.
If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

America’s Birthday

Today’s Issue: America’s Birthday
Monday’s I try to focus on issues. This week we celebrate the 4th of July, our country’s birthday!
What do you think about when you hear the words, 4th of July?

  • Parades?
  • Speeches?
  • Fireworks?
  • Picnics?

All of these are great. But what about the sacrifices our ancestors made. Many lost their lives, while others lost their wealth and health. Much blood was spilled. For what?

  • Independence?
  • Freedom to worship God?
  • Freedom of Speech?
  • Freedom from taxation without representation?
  • Right to bear arms?
  • All of the above?

I favor the last, All of the above. All of these and much more are what these people made sacrifices for. Today we live in a world where much of this is taken for granted, abused, and often dismissed.
What about the Right to Bear Arms?
I’ve never belonged to the NRA nor do I plan on joining. But I believe strongly in the right to bear arms. I am also in favor of reasonable laws governing the ownership of guns. The key word there is reasonable. But reasonable seems to take a back seat as far as the anti-gun crowd is concerned. Their answer is for all of us to love one another. This coming from teens, most of whom have yet to learn what real love is. Hint: it is not the love that Hollywood peddles. And who will obey these laws? Not the criminals nor those bent on doing harm. Only law abiding citizens will. Which means the criminals will have an unarmed citizenry to prey upon.
What about Freedom to Worship God?
This country was founded by Christians, our Constitution is based on Biblical principles, the Preamble references Him, and the practice of our pioneers was to worship God. But today Christianity is becoming an abused child. While religions like Islam, which worship another god, have many rights and protections, Christianity is undergoing attacks. And unless we turn back to God it will only get worse.
What about Freedom of Speech?
Nowadays we live in a world governed by people who want to take away our right to disagree and express our own opinion. While the Liberal meltdown over the Trump election is a classic example of hatred and the effort to suppress those who support Trump, it is by far not the only one. Colleges and universities are now increasingly becoming institutions where freedom of speech is fast disappearing. Right now it is centering on conservative political stances and upon Bible believing Christians. But if not corrected it will get worse. Eventually we will have a dictatorship of thought.
What about Freedom from taxation without representation?
With a Congress that endlessly debates and does nothing, we are in effect experiencing taxation without representation. It is the home of the ‘swamp.’ There are too many Republicans and Democrats more interested in their own political agenda than they are in solving national problems. So are problems fester and become worse. It is a miracle that the Trump Administration has gotten so much done while dealing with a do-nothing Congress. And yet he has accomplished much.
(A little side note here: Some liberals have the audacity to say that the rebounding economy is a result of Obama’s tenure. His eight years in office did little for our economy which was inching along not on strong industrial growth, but on low paying jobs. You want to see when the economy took off look at the day after Trump’s election and since!)
Ladies and gentlemen, if you want to see America get back on track and “be great again,” you need to support Trump. You don’t have to like him, but right now his administration is the strongest thing going?
What about the Church?
The church is under attack from without and within. The Bible has been diluted, the message lost, and the people weakened. Don’t get me wrong! There are churches that stand for the Word of God, that preach salvation by no other name but Jesus, and that worship God faithfully. But they are disappearing. But the question is legitimate. Our real need is for revival!
ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship to the Stars I value your reviews.
If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

Immigration Compromise

Today’s Issue: Immigration Compromise

Monday’s I try to focus on issues. Today we are taking a look at the GOP House bill that represents a compromise on immigration. To be honest, the details of this compromise have not been fully revealed or explained at the writing of this blog. However, I am a man who hearkens back to the days when conservatives and liberals could get together, be civil, and come up with a workable compromise.

Is this compromise one that is workable?

Because we don’t know all the details, we can only make guesses. On the surface at least it appears workable. To continue to not solve the problems of immigration and the so-called Dreamers is like two or more doctors agreeing you have a serious infection in your leg. But because they cannot agree on your treatment they do nothing. So the infection gets worse with the passage of time and becomes cancerous ultimately leading to amputation or worse.

You say that would never happen. But it happens all too often! We elect men and women to serve us. Yes, we lean toward certain ideals. But over and above those ideals we expect our congressmen/women to actually do something!

So, at the moment, I think this compromise is a good starting point. I particularly like the shift from family to skills emphasis. The family emphasis used to work well, but no longer meets the needs of America. On the other hand getting people into our country who can contribute to it immediately or soon should be a sought after result.

I also think a compromise on the Dreamers is desirable. There are millions of people out there hanging in limbo because nothing has been done about them. Amnesty is sometimes treated as a dirty word. The argument goes like this, to allow amnesty for these Dreamers is like rewarding them for doing wrong. The problem is they are called Dreamers because they came with their parent(s). On the other hand, we need to put a stop to future Dreamers, otherwise parents will continue to bring their children across the border and create an unending burden on our economy.

So take care of the Dreamers now within our borders but stop future Dreamers. That seems like a compassionate and responsible compromise.

Will it pass?

These days you never know. But this is an election year and voters will be watching. And both democrats and republicans better be taking notice that the American people (at least a very large minority or possibly majority) have bought into Trump’s America First. And those politicians who continue to buck or defy the President could lose their jobs.

Every day the media continues to bash President Trump and every day President Trump gets high marks from the American people. I think many of those in power, including the media, fear Trump. Not that he’ll bring disaster to America as they suggest, but that he’ll truly drain the swamp of which they are a part.

Such people will try to stop the compromise. They will make righteous speeches, thunderous accusations against Trump and his administration, and vote against any bill that attempts to cross the divide. True patriotic politicians will seek a place where they can meet and find common ground. But the problem is do we have enough true patriots?

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

The Trump Phenomenon

Normally I write about Christian service particularly as it impacts a writer. However today I want to address something that is obvious to me but apparently not so obvious to those with a liberal slant on life.

Once again we are being treated with “evidence” of wrong doing by President Trump. And once again the evidence smells. But here is what they are saying: According to a document submitted by Trump or others on his behalf (most likely) Trump reimbursed his former lawyer Cohen something like $250,000. This is cited as evidence that Trump withheld information that should have been revealed during the campaign. It is also implied that paying Stormy Daniels to keep silent about her allegations proves her allegations are true.

If you have been around for very long you understand that such payments often happen and have little to do with the truth or untruth of allegations, etc. The fact is that false allegations happen, but though later proved false they can have a devastating effect upon a person’s reputation.

I started out by saying this whole thing smells. Why do I say that? I have no inside information about the allegations, but I have observed that during the campaign and after the election the media and many others have slurred Trump, lied about Trump, and after the election have tried to force him out of office.

But why?

Again, I don’t have inside information as to their thinking, but it appears that they are still in denial over his election. They don’t understand how their “perfect” (yet very flawed) candidate Hillary Clinton lost. It must have been a conspiracy or collusion.

They still hold to this idea although every new piece of “evidence” is either debunked or shown to be unreliable at best. So instead of recognizing that Trump won fair and square they go back to the drawing boards and look for new evidence.

Again, I ask why?

Is it because they hate Trump? I don’t think so. Prior to his running and being elected Trump was respected by both parties. He was even at one time considered a friend of the Clinton’s. But when he announced his candidacy it all changed. Having observed the man I have come up with three reasons, maybe four reasons, for their scorn and perhaps hatred.

  1. They don’t understand or appreciate Social Media. By this I mean that although the Democratic Party has used Social Media effectively they don’t understand it in relation to political spin. In the past they could spin things very successfully and fool enough voters to make a difference. But the internet has changed things. Now spin can be countered quickly and the fact it is spin revealed. But the Democrats continue their old habits anyway (some in the GOP have same problem).
  2. They don’t understand a major shift in national politics. People are tired of the do-nothing politicians of both parties. They want action and they want the government to solve problems. More and more people are looking outside the traditional parties and are not interested in “pure” political themes, policies, etc. The people have become more conservative and the nation is considered right of center.
  3. They don’t understand Trump. This is true of both parties. Trump is neither a liberal nor a conservative. He is what is called a populist, which the dictionary identifies as a person who represents or identifies with ordinary people. This suggests some of Trump’s decisions will be in the conservative realm while others may be in the liberal realm. Looking over his first year in office I would say his decisions have been definitely more conservative.
  4. They have lost their way. The Democrats used to talk about having the big tent. By that they meant they included people of a wide variety. But that appears not to be true anymore if it ever was true. Now the party is safely in the hands of the far left and Reagan or centrist Democrats are left out in the cold. (Meanwhile the GOP is battling between old set-in-their ways centrist Republicans and the bold, medium to far right newcomers.)

Trump didn’t have to do any collusion because he early on identified with the ordinary people. His “America First” rang a bell across the nation with people tired of politics as usual and a undermining of the American Dream. Eight years of Obama proved the Democrats didn’t have the solution, and many people weren’t sure about the Republicans. But along came a man who could articulate their thoughts, fears, and hopes. And, on top of it all, Trump is a ‘take no prisoners’ type of guy. Whether in business, politics, or government he is bold, aggressive, and a winner.

Will allegations of past sins thwart Trump? I doubt it. As Christians we deplore such behavior (if true) but most Americans only give lip service to Christianity. And they have reason to doubt the honesty and accuracy of the allegations. But they also see that Trump keeps his promises (he’s either kept them or tried to keep them), that he still emphasizes the America First theme in both national and international relations, and that he has surrounded himself with men and women who are passionate about their jobs.

Trump’s numbers are climbing, a fact the news media would like to ignore. But both democratic and republican congressmen better be careful. Old line Republicans may find themselves replaced by men and women supporting the Trump Administration, and Democrats could be swept from office. If I was a Democrat I’d be worried.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.