As recently as October the US government formally accused Russia of hacking
the Democratic party’s computer networks stating Moscow was attempting to
“interfere” with the US presidential election.
Now, with the election over the clamor about Russia attempting
to undermine
our election system has raised to paranoid level!
It also got me to remember a 1966 movie, a comical farce which this may be
as well, "The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming!"
Really? The accusations are flying, without evidence! Even FBI director had
more evidence against Hillary Clinton than has been presented by the CIA or
other agencies citing Russia hacking.
Putin responded with a single word answer, "rubbish".
The Russian foreign ministry said Washington lacked any evidence for
its accusations, an attempt to fan “unprecedented
anti-Russian hysteria”.
It added, “Every day Putin’s website gets attacked by several thousand
of
hackers. A lot of these attacks are traced to the territory of the
USA, but
we do not blame the White House or Langley each time.”
The media and politicians are eager to demand action on unsubstantiated
claims but risk further damaging our relationship with Russia that Trump
wants to ally with to destroy terrorism.
I can't help but thinking this "hacking" charge will once again unleash our investigative arm to 'chase its tails' as the FBI did for two years investigating
Hillary Clinton classified emails until its director Comey realized the private
server was used to advance a 'pay to play' scheme of the Clinton Foundation
hidden within the State Dept.
If this is really true, an important question also needs to be asked of
President Obama, the same one asked by Howard Baker during the
Watergate investigation,
"What did the president know and when did he know it?"
And, further,
what did HE do about it?
Please add feedback in comments section
below, or email ajbruno14@gmail.com
"Point of View" blog
http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Saturday, December 10, 2016
The caliber to serve our nation
Since Donald Trump was elected the conversation has centered
around the people he would appoint to his cabinet and add to
his Administration.
We have heard familiar and unfamiliar names, listened to
accolades and criticism, usually from partisan leanings.
And, not unexpected.
Most of us have no idea the merits or concerns about the men
and women Donald Trump wants to bring to Washington.
and women Donald Trump wants to bring to Washington.
One thing we have heard from some critics is that Donald
Trump is bringing millionaires and billionaires to Washington.
Is this really a problem, measuring a person on wealth not
ability or success.
For those of you who think this way, would you be equally
dismayed if your favorite sports team 'hired' the best player,
earning the most money?
But, before we do a Wikipedia search on who these people
are and their credentials we need to understand the daunting
task each of them will face.
I doubt most of them have ever been in charge of multi-billion
dollar enterprises with thousands of employees, but all will
do now.
Nor, have they ever been the person asked to run a bureaucracy,
by its very meaning, it will not be easy.
And, besides the personalities coming to Washington will be the
challenge of fixing deep seated problems that have 'aged" for
several decades.
The question, how can one person make the necessary changes
to provide the quality of services the American people deserve?
Each of us should understand the problems these men and women
will face whether we like them or not. Everyone of them will have
will face whether we like them or not. Everyone of them will have
to make federal agencies better, or leave, for some future appointee.
Please add feedback in comments section below, or email
ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/
One Billion doesn't go as far as it used to...
This was the unreported message that we learned
from the election.
The signal came early, in the two primaries.
It was reported Jeb Bush had a $150 million campaign
war chest and it meant nothing.
Hillary Clinton had everything; the party, millions,
the media, rigged primary and Bernie Sanders was
still able to get to the convention.
Once the finalists were chosen, we learned Hillary
Clinton could have $2 billion to spend in the general
election, a huge advantage over Donald Trump.
But, in order for Hillary to accumulate this record
amount of money meant she would need to hold more
fund raisers, even more fund raisers that rallies.
Trump, ever the marketeer, knew it was the message
that would overcome the money advantage Hillary had.
Week and week Trump would average ten rallies going
to the key states required to overcome the advantage
Democrats have in heavily populated states.
I lost count how many times he came to NC, could have
exceeded ten, and equal to the number of rallies held
in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin and
New Hampshire.
Flying "Trump Force One" he circled the Midwest
holding rallies the size never seen before with
an average crowd of over 15,000.
Trump did this as a "solo act". He did not need
Hollywood 'groupies' to draw in a crowd. HE was
the reason people came! And it worked.
Nor, did Trump rely on political consultants. He knew
the problems and he believed he had the solutions.
He did not have to pay tens of thousands of dollars
for advise on what is obvious to most of the people
attending the rallies.
Trump's supporters knew what had worked in the
past no longer did. And Trump knew it too!
That was the objective, fix what is broken. It was
also Trump's promise, enough to win the election.
If only Hillary had a few more fund raisers.....
Sorry, with no message, no amount of money would
have changed the results!
Please add feedback in comments section below, or email ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/
from the election.
The signal came early, in the two primaries.
It was reported Jeb Bush had a $150 million campaign
war chest and it meant nothing.
Hillary Clinton had everything; the party, millions,
the media, rigged primary and Bernie Sanders was
still able to get to the convention.
Once the finalists were chosen, we learned Hillary
Clinton could have $2 billion to spend in the general
election, a huge advantage over Donald Trump.
But, in order for Hillary to accumulate this record
amount of money meant she would need to hold more
fund raisers, even more fund raisers that rallies.
Trump, ever the marketeer, knew it was the message
that would overcome the money advantage Hillary had.
Week and week Trump would average ten rallies going
to the key states required to overcome the advantage
Democrats have in heavily populated states.
I lost count how many times he came to NC, could have
exceeded ten, and equal to the number of rallies held
in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin and
New Hampshire.
Flying "Trump Force One" he circled the Midwest
holding rallies the size never seen before with
an average crowd of over 15,000.
Trump did this as a "solo act". He did not need
Hollywood 'groupies' to draw in a crowd. HE was
the reason people came! And it worked.
Nor, did Trump rely on political consultants. He knew
the problems and he believed he had the solutions.
He did not have to pay tens of thousands of dollars
for advise on what is obvious to most of the people
attending the rallies.
Trump's supporters knew what had worked in the
past no longer did. And Trump knew it too!
That was the objective, fix what is broken. It was
also Trump's promise, enough to win the election.
If only Hillary had a few more fund raisers.....
Sorry, with no message, no amount of money would
have changed the results!
Please add feedback in comments section below, or email ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/
Thursday, December 8, 2016
"Build with American steel"
With all the media attention Donald Trump received
during his campaign I don't recall many references to
the "content", the points he mentioned time and again.
the "content", the points he mentioned time and again.
Yes, we may remember "build the wall", "lower corporate
tax rate" and even "get rid of Common Core". But how
many of us tied these topics with why Trump did this?
It was as simple as any salesman telling us over and over
what is music to our ears. Maybe not the media's ears
or those threatened by such bold pronouncements, but
Trump was not speaking to them, he was speaking to us.
This brings me to the one comment which I find capsulized
Trump's entire campaign, "build with American steel"!
When was the last time a presidential candidate said this?
No need to tax your memory, the only person
I recall is now our president-elect, Donald Trump.
No need to tax your memory, the only person
I recall is now our president-elect, Donald Trump.
Trump said what most would not, for they believed it
would be too costly to re-energize our "Rust Belt" of
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia with
steel mills!
To some Trump exposed himself to failure by even
suggesting our country would once again do what the
experts told us we could not do!
It was a little over a generation ago similar criticism
was hurled at Ronald Reagan for daring to say the
Soviet Union was an "evil empire" and communism
would "be left on the ash bin of history".
Soviet Union was an "evil empire" and communism
would "be left on the ash bin of history".
We know the "experts" were wrong as today there
are more than100 million people in Eastern Europe
are now living free in independent countries!
are more than100 million people in Eastern Europe
are now living free in independent countries!
But, today the promise of "built with American steel"
advanced one step, minor though it may appear.
The CEO of US Steel, Mario Longhi, announced his
company will like to accelerate its investments and
hire back laid-off employees.
Donald Trump sees in America what Ronald Reagan
did, bringing further evidence those with so little faith
in our country will forever be blind to what the American
people can achieve!
As an aside, there was another report that Foxconn Industries
is considering coming to the US.
If you are not familiar with Foxconn, think Apple. Foxconn
is the manufacturer of the Iphone and other Apple products.
The story: http://on.wsj.com/2gocfG1
did, bringing further evidence those with so little faith
in our country will forever be blind to what the American
people can achieve!
As an aside, there was another report that Foxconn Industries
is considering coming to the US.
If you are not familiar with Foxconn, think Apple. Foxconn
is the manufacturer of the Iphone and other Apple products.
The story: http://on.wsj.com/2gocfG1
The Trump presidency could be the beginning of another
American revolution that strengthens all sectors of our
economy.
American revolution that strengthens all sectors of our
economy.
Please add feedback in comments section below, or email ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
By the numbers and why we have an Electoral College!
I received an email
which puts the election in a perspective
This should help them everyone needs to understand. (Kudos to Val)
This is my 'rewrite".
Those pleased with the election results call the criticism of the Electoral
College "sour grapes".
We need to remember most of those displeased may not know the reason
our Founders created the "Electoral College" that gave each state a
proportional number of 'electors'. It was done to prevent the three largest
ones, NY, PA and VA could not collude to 'silence' the smaller ones and
allow the "tyranny of the majority".
As we crunch the numbers we see the power our largest cities would have
over the most sparely populated states if not for the vote of designated electors!
The election results are eye opening and demonstrate the wisdom of our Founders:
In the United States there are 3141 counties. Donald Trump won 3084 counties
and Hillary Clinton won 57, less than two percent!
As we look at New York state which has 62 counties and Trump won 46 and
Clinton won 16, less that one-third!
Finally, look at New York City which is comprised of five counties, Bronx,
Brooklyn, Manhattan Queens and Richmond (also known as Staten Island).
Of these five counties Hillary Clinton won four counties, amassing two million
more votes than Donald Trump who won Richmond.
In a country of four million square miles, 3000 counties in fifty states it would
only take five counties comprised of 320 square miles (.008%), in one city to
determine which candidate would have been elected if not for our Founders who
understood it was a republic which served the nation best, not a democracy so
the "tyranny of the majority" would never occur.
So much wisdom and foresight so every citizen and state is "counted".
However, for many, statistics alone will never provide the evidence to persuade
them, it often takes a picture, one that is worth "one thousand words"
This should help them....
This should help them everyone needs to understand. (Kudos to Val)
This is my 'rewrite".
Those pleased with the election results call the criticism of the Electoral
College "sour grapes".
We need to remember most of those displeased may not know the reason
our Founders created the "Electoral College" that gave each state a
proportional number of 'electors'. It was done to prevent the three largest
ones, NY, PA and VA could not collude to 'silence' the smaller ones and
allow the "tyranny of the majority".
As we crunch the numbers we see the power our largest cities would have
over the most sparely populated states if not for the vote of designated electors!
The election results are eye opening and demonstrate the wisdom of our Founders:
In the United States there are 3141 counties. Donald Trump won 3084 counties
and Hillary Clinton won 57, less than two percent!
As we look at New York state which has 62 counties and Trump won 46 and
Clinton won 16, less that one-third!
Finally, look at New York City which is comprised of five counties, Bronx,
Brooklyn, Manhattan Queens and Richmond (also known as Staten Island).
Of these five counties Hillary Clinton won four counties, amassing two million
more votes than Donald Trump who won Richmond.
In a country of four million square miles, 3000 counties in fifty states it would
only take five counties comprised of 320 square miles (.008%), in one city to
determine which candidate would have been elected if not for our Founders who
understood it was a republic which served the nation best, not a democracy so
the "tyranny of the majority" would never occur.
So much wisdom and foresight so every citizen and state is "counted".
However, for many, statistics alone will never provide the evidence to persuade
them, it often takes a picture, one that is worth "one thousand words"
This should help them....
Saturday, December 3, 2016
The political parties going forward and not moving at all
The dust has settled and Trump has won the presidency as the
Republican Party destroyed the Democrat Party, winning more
than 2000 counties and now control 70 of the 99 state legislature
chambers and dozens of governor-ships across the country.
Yes, Hillary received more votes thanks to Democrat strongholds
on the West coast and Northeast. But, the popular vote does
not determine who wins the presidency, its the electoral votes
tallied within the states!
Now the Republican and Democrat parties are preparing for the
new year, first by selecting their leadership.
The Republicans are doing what worked in 2016 while the
Democrats are doing again what may be the reason it failed.
If you are a Republican this is music to your ears.
There is little doubt the Republican Party will continue to have
problems in Democrat strongholds where its message fails to
resonate as it does throughout the heartland.
In these major population areas the Democrats are able
to convince the electorate it is the best choice, even as it
governs with little regard for those who believe other then
its litmus test dictates, written in the 1930s and continuing
to this day. For those who try, they will be shunned or
worse, ridiculed!
Anyone who does not observe 'group identify', expanse
of governance with control over the states, or believes
in traditional values, they can still join the Democrat
Party but dare not speak against the required orthodoxy!
Just ask any conservative Black minister who is a Democrat!
Republicans on the other hand refuse to campaign on 'group
identity' as the party platform speaks of members as individuals,
with respect for differing views on social issues and the belief
in responsible, limited federal governance over the states.
But its how the parties are structured which sets them apart
even further.
Democrat leadership for 2017 will be members of Congress,
elected officials. This may not seem a problem until you
consider what a political party is, a "private" organization!
Public officials should not have authority within a private
organization.
This is more than a problem of "appearance", its been proven
as an elected party leader corrupted the 2016 primary battle!
Democrats will also continue its 'Super delegate' primary process
so the "preferred" politician has an advantage in campaign battles,
which embarrassed the party even further this year.
The Republicans will also be replacing its chair. Again, a non
public official will be named to ensure the party is not influenced
by political desires at the expense of members seeking a fair contest
in campaign battles.
Does this make a difference? If the Republican Party used a 'Super
delegate' system, Donald Trump may not have won its primary!
The people decided, as they should!
Continuing to operate the parties in 2017 as they did this year
prospects should be the same, thankfully!
Please add feedback in comments section below, or email ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/
Republican Party destroyed the Democrat Party, winning more
than 2000 counties and now control 70 of the 99 state legislature
chambers and dozens of governor-ships across the country.
Yes, Hillary received more votes thanks to Democrat strongholds
on the West coast and Northeast. But, the popular vote does
not determine who wins the presidency, its the electoral votes
tallied within the states!
Now the Republican and Democrat parties are preparing for the
new year, first by selecting their leadership.
The Republicans are doing what worked in 2016 while the
Democrats are doing again what may be the reason it failed.
If you are a Republican this is music to your ears.
There is little doubt the Republican Party will continue to have
problems in Democrat strongholds where its message fails to
resonate as it does throughout the heartland.
In these major population areas the Democrats are able
to convince the electorate it is the best choice, even as it
governs with little regard for those who believe other then
its litmus test dictates, written in the 1930s and continuing
to this day. For those who try, they will be shunned or
worse, ridiculed!
Anyone who does not observe 'group identify', expanse
of governance with control over the states, or believes
in traditional values, they can still join the Democrat
Party but dare not speak against the required orthodoxy!
Just ask any conservative Black minister who is a Democrat!
Republicans on the other hand refuse to campaign on 'group
identity' as the party platform speaks of members as individuals,
with respect for differing views on social issues and the belief
in responsible, limited federal governance over the states.
But its how the parties are structured which sets them apart
even further.
Democrat leadership for 2017 will be members of Congress,
elected officials. This may not seem a problem until you
consider what a political party is, a "private" organization!
Public officials should not have authority within a private
organization.
This is more than a problem of "appearance", its been proven
as an elected party leader corrupted the 2016 primary battle!
Democrats will also continue its 'Super delegate' primary process
so the "preferred" politician has an advantage in campaign battles,
which embarrassed the party even further this year.
The Republicans will also be replacing its chair. Again, a non
public official will be named to ensure the party is not influenced
by political desires at the expense of members seeking a fair contest
in campaign battles.
Does this make a difference? If the Republican Party used a 'Super
delegate' system, Donald Trump may not have won its primary!
The people decided, as they should!
Continuing to operate the parties in 2017 as they did this year
prospects should be the same, thankfully!
Please add feedback in comments section below, or email ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/
Thursday, December 1, 2016
There is still a long way to go......
Republicans are dancing in the streets after Donald Trump's
surprising victory.
The party has a lot to pleased about, primarily the results
in state elections across the country allowing the GOP to
dominate how states are governed.
But, the Republican Party needs a sobering reflection on
the "numbers", even in victory. It should not dismiss the
power the Democrats have along the Western coast and
states in the northeast.
To shrug off the strength of the Democrat Party in these
regions sidesteps the problem, the Republican message
does not resonate among these groups. But, shrug them off
the party does.
The GOP message should resonate across the country, but it
does not. Democrat candidates are competitive across the
country; and even when they lose range is 55%-45% at most!
But, when we look at Republican prospects in strong Democrat
run states, the deficit is often greater than 15%!
So, why does the Republican message fail? Are Americans really
that much different than elsewhere?
I find the only difference is the political 'health' of the
party in these regions.
Only when the Republican Party strengthen its operations
in states along the Pacific and Northeast can it expect
to be competitive.
I appreciate any feedback, suggestions you might have.
Please add feedback in comments section below, or email ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/
surprising victory.
The party has a lot to pleased about, primarily the results
in state elections across the country allowing the GOP to
dominate how states are governed.
But, the Republican Party needs a sobering reflection on
the "numbers", even in victory. It should not dismiss the
power the Democrats have along the Western coast and
states in the northeast.
To shrug off the strength of the Democrat Party in these
regions sidesteps the problem, the Republican message
does not resonate among these groups. But, shrug them off
the party does.
The GOP message should resonate across the country, but it
does not. Democrat candidates are competitive across the
country; and even when they lose range is 55%-45% at most!
But, when we look at Republican prospects in strong Democrat
run states, the deficit is often greater than 15%!
So, why does the Republican message fail? Are Americans really
that much different than elsewhere?
I find the only difference is the political 'health' of the
party in these regions.
Only when the Republican Party strengthen its operations
in states along the Pacific and Northeast can it expect
to be competitive.
I appreciate any feedback, suggestions you might have.
Please add feedback in comments section below, or email ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/
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