No Virginia, The D's and the media cannot elect a ham sandwich.

 TRUMP HAS LONG COATTAILS

AS CLOSE TO A MANDATE AS POSSIBLE

It looks Pennsylvania has gone big to the Republicans, winning the Senate, Attorney general, Treasurer and Auditor. Locally, it looks like Ryan Mckenzie has defeated Susan Wild in the house. The Republicans are now expected to have clear majorities in the House, Senate and the Presidency.  I expect that Donald Trump will now have a much better list of candidates for cabinet positions. In his first term he had no idea who most of the people were who he selected, many deep state operatives who believed their mission was to undermine and move him in their direction. 

No one can deny that Trump is the hardest working political candidate, no matter his age. We now have at least hope, were there was no hope. No one can remedy all the ills facing America in four years, but hopefully we can start the process of restoring this country as a place of hope and opportunity for its citizens and cool off the violence around the world.

The one dismal statistic is that Kamala Harris was able to be selected by 65 Million Americans. She was without a doubt the most unqualified candidate for president in the history of the country. The audacity of the Democrat leadership and the complicit media in believing that they could continue in the program that brought us Joe Biden, who campaigned from his basement, and even poor John Fetterman. Hopefully those days are behind us. The media's credibility has been further eroded by their blatant bias.

We hope that Trump's priority is to heal America both at hope and abroad. Move to restore America's manufacturing ability, control the borders,  encourage small business and limit government overreach. Move to restore faith in the election system, the bedrock of a democratic system. Awaken the citizens to the dangers of the woke ideology, that is an ideology of death, chaos and disaster. 

The first foreign policy objective should be to end the Ukraine war and end the policy of you are for us or you are our enemy. The end of the Ukraine war will soften many of the dangers that are brewing around the world. America needs to be that light upon the hill, not a dark perpetuator of division and violence.

A very tall order, we can only hope to make a beginning and hope the dark powers will not embark on another mission of destruction of this president or seek to lay WW3 in his lap on Jan. 20, 2025.

The evolution of political advertising.

 TEXT MESSAGES AND STREAMING ADS 

A LOT OF WASTED MONEY

I assume we have all been overwhelmed by the number of text messages during this political campaign. I finally started to reply stop to all of them, I just could not take it anymore. While momentarily they would stop, they would soon resume. I can only assume that campaign consultants are getting paid for the number of text messages they send out. While communication is always good, it has become very annoying. 

I no longer get any cable news, but do watch plenty of streaming debates, interviews and Youtube has more political ads than I have ever seen. At least you can click them off after a short time. You need to keep the controller in your hand. 

Old standby, U.S. mail was another heavy lift, with multiple mailings every day. I suspect these mailers are probably around $2.00 a piece. The consultants most assuredly will be in Florida on the beach sooner and longer after this election season. It is estimated that 2024 will be a record amount with near $15 billion spent on federal elections.

I don't get newspapers, but I suspect they are not profiting much from campaign advertising. I suspect their failure to endorse is a result of their dying revenue from being so biased.

Campaigns could have saved plenty, but when you give consultants a free reign they will show you how to spend money quickly.

A few ideas for campaigns in the future, if we will have campaigns in the future. One would be to identify super voters who are committed to your campaign early on, I suspect many were committed months before the election. Eliminate text message and mailers to these people and save the money. As for fundraising 1 regular appeal would be best, on a timed basis or a commitment for a monthly donation, then stop begging for money every day.

A weekly text message with updates would most likely be read, rather than overwhelming the recipient with dozens everyday. Maybe slightly less money would be raised, but much less would be wasted.

Well, maybe it is at least over after tomorrow, unless, we will be seeing appeals for money to contest irregularities and other possible election problems. Then of course it is time to ready for the 2026 elections.

Will new president be a wartime president?

WILL WE BE IN GLOBAL WAR BEFORE JAN. 20, 2025?

CAN THE NEW PRESIDENT AVOID THIS CATASTROPHE?

We know that in 4 days a new president will be elected. The question is can this new president avoid being drawn into the escalating conflicts in several part of the world. We see escalating conflicts in Ukraine and the middle east. We see simmering tensions in the south China sea and Taiwan. Only serious diplomacy and an acknowledgment of the realities of the situations can bring about acceptable settlements. We have a very dangerous 2 1/2 months were the new president will not have the power to engage in any change of direction.

The neocons Ukraine project is lost. In reality, Ukraine is now a smaller country than in 2014 when this project started. It is economically devastated and will be poverty stricken for decades. At present there does not seem any acceptance by the west that Ukraine will not be a NATO member. Either an acceptable future can be negotiated or this will only end with nuclear confrontation.

The middle east is far more complicated, the division and hatred is now far more deep and widespread. The reality is that Israel cannot prevail by military force alone. It is bogged down in Gaza and South Lebanon and it's latest attempt to attack Iran was an eye opening understatement. The reports circulating, claim that Israel launched 100 planes. None of them entered Iranian air space and the missles launched were mostly shot down by Iranian air defense. The majority of the planes encountered electronic defenses that rendered much of their electronics inoperative and turned back. The second and third wave of attacks were aborted.

Now it is also reported that Iran is expecting to counterattack at any time. Hopefully that can be stopped or this crisis may render Israel resorting to nuclear weapons and then who know what happens.

The world situation is much like 1914, none of the major powers wanted war, but like then, alliances, hubris and the overwhelming lust for revenge launched all out war, that in reality didn't end until after WW2.  

80 years later and many have forgotten the suffering of war, Most of those who engaged in real war are long gone. The United States have not seen real war since the 1860's. Immune from attack by vast oceans that are no longer a guarantee from serious attack. The media and political forces have engaged in the demonisation of others to encourage public support for war. Many of these conflicts have been orchestrated and encouraged by people who desire endless war, whether for financial gain or a lust for power.

The new president, will have their hands full, and may be counselled to continue on the present course. A course that is destined to end in a catastrophe, possibly the end of civilization as we know it. It seems many no longer believe that such things are possible, that life will go on indefinitely,  no matter what decisions are made. I expect we are all going to be watching history being made.

Election season, system still not good enough.

 

SADLY, THERE WILL STILL BE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTION 

WITHOUT REFORM, INTEGRITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE QUESTIONED

There have been some attempts to reform election methods that will make them more trusted, but sadly it has not gone far enough. As long as we have unlimited mail in ballots, unguarded drop boxes, machines that are connected to the internet, counting done only in large counting centers, there will be questions. We cannot trust our election results to be based on trust of political election officials and elections need to have the ability to be audited.

Here in Pennsylvania we have a Supreme court that has disregarded the constitution numerous time concerning mail in ballots. They should be impeached for not doing their constitutional duty.

Elections are critical to the success of any democratic government. Honest and clearly legitimate elections can only be conducted and accepted by the population if the elections and their results are auditable. Elections must be 100% verifiable. There cannot be a system were the results need to be accepted on faith in the process or the people in charge of the elections. It is clear this is not presently the case with our election system here in Pennsylvania or in many other states. It is time to put into  place a full proof auditable system of elections.

1. General mail in voting is to be eliminated. It allows multiple opportunities for fraud, abuse and is not verifiable. 

2. Absentee voting with cause is allowable. This would accommodate the handicapped, nursing home and hospitalized persons, the military, and persons required to work out of their voting district on the general election day. All first time applications for absentee ballot would need to be affirmed by a physician, nursing home administrator, superior military officer or work supervisor. All absentee ballots would require the identification number of the drivers license or state Identification. This would assure their place of residence.

Applications for absentee ballots would be kept for 24 months from date of the general election. Absentee ballots and applications would have an identification number coinciding with a number on their voter registration. This is necessary to have an auditable system.

Absentee ballots would be required to be received 10 days before the general election. Absentee ballots would be opened by teams of representatives of all political parties involved in the election. These representatives would be vetted and supplied by the political parties. Each team would stamp the ballots as complete and genuine and be initialed by the team, each team would have a team number. The ballots that they approve will be counted by the team and placed in a sealed container with a result of their count. A copy of their count will be placed on the outside of the container and each team member will keep a copy of their totals. On the general election day, all teams will be present to add their totals to general count and verify they are correct. All these ballots will be kept for 24 months from the general election.

3. General election ballots will also have a number placed on them coinciding with the number on the voters registration. This could be a number from the registration or coinciding with the signature record at the voting place. Ballots are to be counted by teams made up of individuals from all political parties involved in election. Ballots are counted at the precinct level and all ballots are sealed in boxes by the teams with a copy of the results inside, outside and kept by members of the team. Results are then communicated to county. All ballots will be kept for 24 months after the general election.

 Election Audit

Before any proclamation or certification of the results of an election an election audit team made up of representatives of all political parties involved in the election shall conduct a random sampling of districts for audit. These teams will be vetted and supplied by the political parties. They will begin their audits with both sides picking 6 districts or precincts in their county for spot auditing. This would be accomplished by picking 50 ballots from each selected district, identifying the voters and contacting them to verify their votes. If the results are 100 %. in all districts, no further action would be needed, if not there would need to be a more complete audit.

Registration

Registration may be performed as now, requiring Identification and also a group of auditors composed of representatives from all political parties to work together to assure addresses and voters are real. Registrations will be purged if voter does not participate in 2 consecutive presidential elections, or any other elections. Voter will be notified that his registration has lapsed with instructions as to how to re-register. 

The goal of this system of voting is to have an opportunity for representatives of both parties to work together and insure that everyone is satisfied that an honest and fair election has taken place. It should insure that the election results are recorded in a timely manner, without any doubts as to the validity of the vote. With precincts limited to 2000 voters, hand counting should be accomplished in several hours. This would eliminate the cost of electronic voting machines which have a high level of distrust by voters. This is a simple, less costly and fully auditable system that all Americans can and deserve to trust.

originally published 11/2/21

After 2022, now 2023, election integrity is still not assured. If not corrected, we will soon see a decline in voting and the real end of democracy.

7/30/24. No real changes to a flawed system. We must assume intentionally. All first timer registrations should also include proof of citizenship.

Kamala would like you to think, she is the candidate of change.

 NO POLICY, NO PLATFORM, ONLY TRUMP IS BAD

EVEN BIDEN, IS MISSING IN ACTION

It is interesting that listening to Kamala Harris, she likes to give the impression that Trump is the incumbent and she is the candidate of change. No mention of her accomplishment in the last 4 years, because she has none. No mention of the victories or accomplishments of the whole Biden Harris team, because there are none. She was given the opportunity to manage the border and she was a no show, did nothing or at least nothing positive. All democrat initiatives on the border were an attempt to make the entry into the country quicker, easier and more permanent.

We have record inflation, the lowest home affordability situation, the highest rents in history. Then promises more home loans and government housing. Loans that many will not be able to service. The highest food prices in history, making some items unaffordable to many. I guess her answer will be more food stamps.

The debt is now increasing at the rate of $2 trillion a year, a disaster with no solution in sight.

In foreign affairs we are at the greatest danger of world war since 1945. Mostly because this administration has intentionally gone around the world threatening a multitude of nations with economic sanctions and military intervention. Near 30% of the worlds nations are under U.S. sanctions of some kind.

Their policies have destroyed Ukraine and rather than a prosperous European nation, it is destined to be failed state, dependent on the west for decades.

The once situation of hope and peace in the middle east has exploded into a never ending cycle of revenge and death, with no end in sight. This administration does not have 1 credible diplomat that has any credibility in world affairs, neither with allies or competitors. We are in the worst foreign policy crisis in 70 years.

I guess we should understand why Kamala would like to distance herself from her own record, she understands that it is disastrous. The reality is that she has no idea how to correct any of this mess. 

If you Americans believe that it can not get any worse, I expect, if given the opportunity, she will prove you wrong. She is without a doubt the candidate of more of the same.

I voted by mail, I do not see the point.

 MUCH EASIER TO VOTE IN PERSON

MAIL VOTING: TOO MANY POSSIBLE BAD OUTCOMES

Yesterday I voted early with a mail in ballot. I did not trust putting it through the mail, so I dropped it in a drop box in west Allentown. I will give my opinion of the experience.

I applied by mail for a ballot, my ballot arrived 8 days after I mailed in my application. I am in Lehigh county. This was ok, as I had plenty of time to get my ballot in. Filling out the ballot was the same as in person, and putting it in the yellow envelope and signing and dating the mail envelope was no problem.

I did not feel comfortable mailing in the ballot, imagine this ballot going through many hands on its way to the court house, with your signature on the outside, I suppose it would be easy to determine ones political affiliation and trash the ballot, or even worse, open the outside envelope and switch the ballot. I never stop thinking about possibilities. After all, the post office union has endorsed Harris for President. The same could be true of biased election workers in the court house. They will have the ballot in their hands for a week.

As for easier, I had to travel about 15 miles to the nearest drop box, took near 1 hour for round trip, due to lots of traffic around Allentown. Box was inside and not accessible from outside, a good thing. I did see others dropping in ballots. 

I did get an email from the state when they received my application and I understand that I will receive notification when they get the ballot. All this is extra work and cost to the state.

My opinion is the same as before, it is far too complicated and the ballots are given multiple opportunities for something bad to happen. While I understand that service people and people who need to travel may need this opportunity, it is far too costly and too open to bad outcomes to be used by everyone. I will vote in person in the future, as long as I am able.

Have the dems staked their future on abortion?

 MISINFORMATION AND LIES ARE POOR ELECTION STRATEGY

COURT DID NOT MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL

The reality is that the Supreme court took the abortion issue out of the purview of the federal government and federal legislators. It is unlikely that any federal law concerning abortion will pass supreme court scrutiny, yet the Democrats have insisted that Republicans want to ban abortion and even In Vitro fertilization, which is just dishonest. I don't believe any candidate for federal office has proposed or support any of those measures.

It is another sign of the lack of serious policy initiatives that has become the hallmark of Democrat strategy. Either proposing things that can not be enacted, like student loan forgiveness,  or even proposing to support Republican initiatives, like border security, it seems there is a vapid purpose to their campaigns other than retaining power. Say or propose anything that will garner votes is the only goal.

Removing abortion from the federal purview was a good step in attempting to unify the nation. A fine tuning of this controversial issue is best done at the state level. What is acceptable in San Francisco may not be acceptable in Alabama.  Using in vitro as a federal campaign strategy is just plain dishonest. It is a sad commentary on this election. It is just attempting to create more division in an attempt to retain power, rather than propose things in the best interest of the nation. 

With only 1 week to the election,  it seems we can only expect more outrageous claims and misinformation. Then rather than it all being over, we can expect it will just begin the next round.