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.... 



 

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/

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/

"Why so fearful, O ye of little faith?" Let Trump be Trump!

Trump Supporters,
Matthew 8:26 comes to mind "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?"
when I read emails from several friends who are already discouraged with
some of the people President-elect Trump is considering for key positions
or what is being incorrectly reported that he said.

Soon after the election I wrote an "Open letter to Trump supporters" to
warn what was coming. I suggested we tune out media on Donald Trump
and the transition, there would not be one positive report or even a
"complement" that was not meant to undermine our confidence he would

be true to his word.

I urged you to let Trump be Trump, remain confident, even when we
disagree with his appointments.  Don't allow someone we disapprove of
taint our opinion of Trump. 

If you must check in what is occurring, seek direct communications

from Trump or Kelly Ann Conway. With more than twenty million
Twitter and Facebook followers he 'speaks' directly and unfiltered
with YouTube videos.

We voted for him on the solutions he offered, not what the media

reports he says. 

Watch his responses as the daily attacks keep coming at him.

'Racist' Jeff Session, Steve Bannon!  Trump stood behind both men.

'Nazi, Fascist about him', ignore it as he does.

'Connected with Alt-right', label to taint Trump. Disavowed no matter
how many times asked.

'Wide range of candidates for positions' Should we expect less?

You already know why you voted for him, but have you've given
thought of why Donald Trump ran? He did for the same reason
Ronald Reagan did.

Both men did not have to be reassured by Matthew 8.26, "Why so
fearful, O ye of little faith."

Neither man was fearful of the challenge, both had faith in the American
people!

If Trump fumbles after he takes office than criticism is warranted
but for now, 'Let Trump be Trump'.

Gotta run....
its getting hot here in NC, think I'll go out and buy a CARRIER air conditioner!

Please add feedback in comments section below, or email ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/

A long awaited day for Cuban Americans to celebrate

I was fortunate enough to grow up in Hudson County, NJ,
a thriving community that benefited from being in the
shadow of New York City, across the Hudson River. The
ability to work in “the city” allowed many residents
to move to the suburbs, purchase homes with yards and
garages, a premium for many in Hudson County.

We are the generation whose parents and grandparents of
European heritage came at the beginning of the twentieth
century.

Unlike many towns and cities which lost their vitality when
people moved to the suburbs, not so Hudson County. Towns
such as Union City and West New York would soon be blessed
with a "second helping" of what every yearning people desired.

As Fidel Castro took control of Cuba the United States opened
its arms to the Cuban people who desired to come here, many
moving to Hudson County.

There would be no ghost towns in Hudson County, but there would
be signs, "se habla espanol". And there would also be storefronts
with Cuban migrants rolling cigars as passerbys watched in wonder.
We would hear music from the island sharing the airwaves with the
Beatles and Beach Boys.

For those of us who only knew of the immigration from our parents
stories, we now saw it first hand. This was the America we read
about and now could see for ourselves.

Over the past sixty years Cuban migrants did as others before them
did. They started businesses, insisted their children get the
education they did not, entered politics at every level serving the
country as immigrants have done since our founding.

With the death of Fidel Castro millions of Cuban Americans are cheering
in the streets of Hudson County and other areas they live.

It should not take decades for the Cuban people who could not leave the
country to live as free as Cuban Americans do. Maybe Castro's death will
be the end of the tyranny.

Please add feedback in comments section below, or email ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/

Eliminate the Congressional "aisle"

"Reaching across the aisle" is a time worn phrase used
persuade anyone who will listen the importance of both
parties working together.

The origin of the phrase, "across the aisle" comes from
the formality of opening each session of Congress where
members of each party sit together, separated by the
center aisle of their respective chambers, the House or
the Senate; Democrats on one side and Republicans on
the other.

Reaching "across the aisle" is a reminder to work with the
opposition party.

The unspoken message is this; party takes precedence over
state delegation, which I find troubling.

Is this really what the people who elect members of Congress
want? Is it really better for a member from NC to sit and
mingle with members from OH, NJ, or TX than with the
other twelve members of their delegation?

Wouldn't the people of NC be better served if their thirteen
member delegation sat together, no matter which party they
are in?  Isn't their single objective to serve the state, not
their party?

At a time when party loyalties have become toxic it would
be wise for their leadership to do what is best for the people
who elected them, assign seats by delegation, not party. 


Please add feedback in comments section below, or email ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/

Special Blessing on this Thanksgiving Day

In my seventy years I have not seen what I have seen the past
few. It is the unreported story of the year, like none we have
ever seen before.

I hope the new year bring returns sanity to those who believe
that law enforcement is an enemy.

We can no longer allow cretins assassinate cops or politicians
undermine the only defense the public has against crime.

So, this Thanksgiving Day, add the cops you see as a Blessing
you are thankful for.