Paying off blackmailers is now considered a campaign contribution.

THE DEFINITION OF A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION HAS NOW BEEN EXPANDED BEYOND COMPREHENSION

IF THIS IS CORRECT THEN MANY CONGRESSMEN WHO HAVE PAID OFF WOMEN OUT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SLUSH FUND ARE ALSO GUILTY

We now hear a litany of pundits and would be lawyers spouting the talking point that Trump has violated campaign laws by agreeing to pay women for a non-disclosure agreement in 2016. Their reasoning is that Trump deprived the voters of the knowledge of unsavory incidents in the past. They believe this could have effected the election results and thereby it is a campaign contribution.

There are quite a few problems with this theory. First, Trump could argue that he has paid many non-disclosure agreement for many years and this is just another one to avoid bad publicity and embarrassment for his family. The argument is that this has nothing to do with his campaign and is a personal matter. I don't know if anyone has ever been charged for a campaign violation that was to stop bad publicity.

It is mentioned many times that this was an illegal payment, since when have such payments become illegal?

It is also claimed by democrats that this is an impeachable offense. I am not sure that any crime committed before one is in office is an impeachable offense.

The Trump administration should declassify the $15.2 million of payments by the Congressional office of compliance. There were over 250 such payments made. These are payments made to women who have accused members of Congress of abusive behavior. These payments are non-disclosure agreements paid from taxpayer money since 1997. This is an arrangement approved by congress as part of the Congressional Accountability Act. These payments were made concerning non-consenting acts. This act was passed 98-1 in the senate and 390-0 in the house.

Sort of an oxymoron.

Maybe congress should make it illegal to ask someone to pay to not disclose embarrassing facts. Oh!,sorry that is already illegal in all states, it is defined as extortion or blackmail.

I personally hope Democrats pursue this with an attempt at impeachment. It will prove that they cannot be trusted with power.

Electoral college made union possible.

WITHOUT ELECTORAL COLLEGE COUNTRY COULD DISINTEGRATE

WISDOM OF FOUNDERS IS AGAIN EVIDENT

When the country was founded, when the union was formed, the founders and the representatives from the various states where concerned about the preservation of state and individual right. They addressed those concerns with the bill of rights.

They also were concerned that the large population centers of Philadelphia, New York and Boston would be able to have the populations to control the direction of the country. In their wisdom they devised the electoral college. This system  gave states a electoral vote for each representative from their state. The more population, the more votes, but only to match their representatives. The candidate who won the majority of the votes in each state would win all the electoral votes assigned to that state. They also balanced the influence in congress by allowing each state to have 2 Senators. While not perfect this is probably the most fair way of electing presidents that we could have.

A look at the map above shows the red counties that voted for Trump  and the blue areas for Clinton.

There are 3,141 counties in the United States. Trump won 3.084 counties Clinton won 57.

There are 62 counties in New York, Trump won 46, Clinton 16.

Clinton won the popular vote by 1.5 million.

Clinton won over 2 million more votes than Trump in just the 5 boroughs New York city.

These 5 counties comprise 319 square miles, The United States comprises 3,797,000 square miles.

If we elected according to the popular vote, the large cities of America would control the whole of the country. 

I suspect the union would have been impossible and would now not last a decade if such a policy would be adopted.

Have no fear, To change from the electoral college to the popular vote would require the vote of  34 states. The states are unlikely to give this up.

Political war moves to stage two.

POLITICAL  ROPE  A  DOPE  STRATEGY BEGINS

HIGH STAKES STRATEGY WILL INCREASE VOLATILITY

The Kavanaugh hearings were a  glimpse into the Democratic party exercising their power. Whether this alone or the fact that it was unlikely that Republicans could retain control of the house seems to be the impetus for the strategy for the midterm elections.

It was clear that the President had decided his priority was to keep control of the senate. He went all out with this strategy and has come up with his plan for the next two years.

It is estimated that $6 billion dollars was spent on this election. It may very well be double if you can calculate all the third party and in kind contributions.

The 2020 election will probably cost $4 billion for just the presidential race. For all contests it could be near $16 billion.

Both Nancy Polosi and Trump have voiced their hope of working to pass some important legislation in the next 2 years. It is doubtful that Polosi will be able to keep her party under control. They have made it clear that they expect to use their power to investigate the president, wall street and anyone who they view as an enemy. 

I believe Trump is counting on this. He will bait them continually to attack, attack and attack some more.

Maxine Waters, as head of the Finance committee has vowed to investigate and punish wall street. Gerald Nadler has pledged to impeach not only Trump but Brett Kavanaugh.  This will give the Republicans the Billions in contributions they will need for the next election.

As far as impeachment, they most likely will not be able to control themselves and Trump will provoke them continually. They really will never be able to get the 67% of the senate needed to remove the president. Trump will not resign, this will be greatest contest of his life and he will enjoy the fight.

While the Democrats are burning rubber up and down Pennsylvania avenue, creating a lot of smoke and noise, Trump will be able to nominate and confirm a record number of judges and possibly another Supreme court Justice. 

He will no longer be limited by Flake, Murkowski and Collins, as he most likely has enough votes to bypass them.

He will now be able to fire and replace many of those who have attempted to sabotage his administration. 

All this, while the Democrats will have dozens of candidates hoping to win their nomination for president. It will cost them Billions in contributions. It may very well create a real war over the direction of  their party.

It may very well make the last two years look like a walk in the park.

VOTE, OR PREPARE FOR CHAOS

OK VOTERS, NOW IT'S YOUR TURN

THIS IS YOUR ONLY CHANCE TO TELL THEM HOW YOU REALLY FEEL

Are you confident in our economic direction?

Do you remember this national disgrace?

Do want to see more of this behavior?

Do you believe you have benefited from unfair advantage?

Is this in the best interest of our country?

VOTE  VOTE  VOTE

League of women voters, Just another left wing activist group.

NOTHSTEIN, WILD DEBATE SHELVED

LIKELY TO BE LAST DEBATE ATTENDED BY REPUBLICANS

The Lehigh Valley league of women voters held a debate on October 25. in Northampton county. The debate was attended by around 200 supporters of both candidates. The League told those interested that there was no need to tape the debate as they would make it available for viewing on their website. I personally did not attend the debate, expecting to view it on local TV as has been the custom in the past.

It seems that the democratic candidate Susan Wild did not have a very good night. I have been told by several parties that Wild had a Freudian slip, not once but twice, on the question of immigration. It is reported she answered,"I am for open bor...", oops  and then went on to say she was for enforcing the law. Whether this was an accident or trying to impress both camps in the crowd we will not know, especially since the League has decided they will not put out the video for viewing. Some have said, they will put out parts of the debate, those that were favorable to Wild.

The league has always portrayed itself as a non partisan group, but it seems it has succumbed to the growing practice of becoming not a facilitator of information for the community, but a player on the side of the democratic party. I viewed their website, it is a 100% left leaning partisan agenda. That is OK, every organization has a right to reflect the views of their members. 

Hey, Lehigh Valley League of Women Voters, just be honest with voters, you are just one more left wing activist group. You will able to host all the Democratic primary debates of the future.

Unarmed invasion is underway.

WILL UNLIMITED IMMIGRATION CREATE MORE AMERICANS OR WILL AMERICA DESCEND INTO A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY

CAN OUR POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM SURVIVE

With thousands  massing on our southern border, the bickering and debate continues about if we  want to continue to be an independent nation. 

We are being told we need to be compassionate and let anyone who wants to come into this country be welcomed. Does anyone really believe our country will be able to withstand millions of unskilled, non English speaking people into the country. 

Many voice concern about Health insurance and health care. Who do these compassionate people think will be paying for the health care of these immigrants. It has already put a strain on the hospitals in the border areas. Health care costs will rise and the quality of care will decline.

School taxes will increase to provide education for all those new students, without much of increase of new parents to tax. More funding will be required for special education, language teachers etc. I am sure the education establishment is excited about the prospect of more teachers, more funding etc. but it is likely to result in declining results for all students.

Many are women with dependent children, they will most likely be dependent on the state and federal government for decades, all funded by our taxes.

It will also continue to depress wages for Americans, just at a time when wages are beginning to rise after years of stagnation.

We have just begun to lower the amount of people on food stamps and other benefits, this onslaught of illegal immigration will reverse that trend overnight.

We need a heightened program of job-training for the present 36% of the population that is not part of the workforce. Less dependent people, less costs, more workers, more taxes to keep costs down for everyone. 

If these present thousands are successful at entering this country, the dikes will break and this country will be literally overrun with millions from all around the world. There will be a breaking point that we will not be able to reverse.

Rather than spend billions on supporting the rest of the world, it may be time for action. Time to root out the corruption in the countries south of us. If they cannot provide an economic and social structure for their citizens then they are failed nations.Time to bring home the troops from around the world and put them to work from the isthmus of Panama to our southern border. Maybe they need a new form of government that will provide opportunity for their citizens so they do not feel compelled to escape to the United States.

Are Turkey accusations a political scheme?

MANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING MISSING JOURNALIST

ARE ACCUSATIONS NOW ENOUGH TO DEMAND RETALIATION?

The disappearance of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has the possibility of disrupting mid east policy. While the accusation that Saudi Arabia has assassinated Khashoggi may be true, it could also be a hoax. There are many questions concerning this incident.

It is reported that he went to Turkey to the Saudi consulate to obtain paperwork that would allow him to marry his fiance. Could he not do the same at the Saudi Consulate in the U.S. He was a resident of the United States.

The Turks claim they have video and recordings of his death, but have not produced anything . 

The Turks claim that the Saudi's sent 15 Assassins to the consulate to perform the murder. Khashoggi does not appear to be that formidable of a foe.

Was this journalist such a threat to the Saudis that they would engage in a murder with approximately 2 dozen witnesses?

The Turks may have had more of a motive and the ability to cause Khashoggi's disappearance.

The Saudis have never been considered to be stupid.

What about the motive for a hoax.

Since the Trump summit in Saudi Arabia there has been a serious effort on the part of the government in stopping the support of terrorism by Saudi citizens and even some in the royal family. 

There has been an effort to reform their policies at home. 

There has been great progress in healing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The Saudis are building up their military, with arms purchased from the United States, in an effort to be a restraint against Iran.

Saudi Arabia is a huge piece of the equation for any possibility of peace in the middle east. There are many who oppose the new rule of the Saudi government, Iran, Turkey, fundamentalist Muslims in Saudi Arabia and you can be sure political opponents of the new leader.

Politicians and media are pressuring Trump to take punitive action against the Saudis now, without real evidence, other than the accusations of Turkey. While this may all be true, there are many players who have a motive to disrupt the present  relationship with Saudi Arabia. Patience and undeniable proof is what is needed before any action should be taken.