October surprise?  We thought the video of Trump admitting to committing sexual assault along with the duds he laid during the debates was enough to end any realistic chance of securing the presidency was "the" surprise! But no, here comes FBI Director James Comey, 11 days before the election to save Trump's ass with an unprecedented letter to Congress that actually says nothing about anything.  When the news broke that Comey was expanding his investigation into Clinton's emails over her private server, the media went ape and cast the election into a whole new tail spin of innuendo, speculation and outright anger.  All of which was readily embraced by the Trump campaign and the GOP leaderships as proof of Clinton's untrustworthiness and criminal mindset.  Except, the letter said nothing about criminality.  (See: lawfare.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/staging/2016/Comey%20Letter.JPG). 
         More importantly, the letter says nothing about actual additional findings about Clinton.  It simply appears to be a "CYA" for Comey because he promised to keep the Congressional GOP Leadership aware if anything related to Clinton comes up.  So he wrote his letter.  How many of you have heard the same thing I have?  "He (Comey) wouldn't have written the letter unless something damaging was found!"  But now it is revealed that he was advised not to send such a letter so close to the election, as it could mislead the electorate and feed into the narrative that Trump has been correct all along about Clinton being a criminal and should be immediately "locked up" and the system in which Comey plays a part in is "Rigged!"                                                                                    Now Comey has further explained in a memo to his staff that there might not be anything to be found that they have not already reviewed earlier.  The emails allegedly captured are not from Clinton or her server, but are from Huma Abedin and still may not involve Clinton at all.  What?  Comey threw the entire election into hysteria focused on destroying Clinton based upon alleged evidence he ADMITS he has not seen? In fact, it has been revealed, that not only has Comey not seen any such evidence, but the FBI may not have seen any either.  So why publish such a letter 11 days before the election?  So Comey can prove he is "independent" and should no longer be blamed for concluding Clinton was innocent of criminal wrongdoing in July?  Without any evidence, Comey allows the media and political partisans to convict her in the public square instead?  
         According to Comey's own letter to the FBI explaining his action, he wrote:
               "I also think it would be misleading to the American people were we not to supplement the record. At the same time, however, given that we don’t know the significance of this newly discovered collection of emails, I don’t want to create a misleading impression. In trying to strike that balance, in a brief letter and in the middle of an election season, there is significant risk of being misunderstood, but I wanted you to hear directly from me about it."  Emphasis added. (See: ijr.com/2016/10/723805-read-the-letter-james-comey-sent-to-fbi-employees-explaining-clinton-email-decision).   But Mr. Comey, we are NOT in the middle of an election season.  We are in the days!  Folks are VOTING already.  And an effort to avoid being misunderstood is laughable in the context of this election.  What the hell were you thinking?
        But the best responses seem to be coming from Trump supporters.  1.  Lock Her Up! But there is still no evidence warranting a criminal prosecution.  2.  You liked Comey in July but now you hate him (sort of a  childish "nah, nah, got you back!").  Except it was the Republicans that HATED Comey in July and now they love him. Hypocrisy?  3. Perhaps the worst yet? I sat with some Trump supporters yesterday and one of them actually told me the following; "Clinton has caused so much damage with her emails, she exposed our national secrets - just look at WikiLeaks.  I bet there is even more to destroy her!"   Whoa now, let's think about this a bit.  Comey didn't want anyone to speculate and interject innuendo into his letter to Congress, but that is exactly what the Trump campaign and the susceptible media have done, and their followers have jumped all over it.  Many GOP surrogates for Trump have been trying for weeks to conflate the WikiLieak hack of the DNC and Clinton's campaign manager's (Podesta) emails as somehow tied to Clinton's private server. Somehow they've convinced the American public that the emails hacked by WikiLeaks originated in Clinton's server.  The answer I received when I asked one of those agreeing with this fallacy where they got the idea they are interrelated with WikiLeaks?  "I saw it on Fox News!"  But the WikiLeak emails are UNRELATED to Clinton. In fact, NONE of the hacked emails disclosed were ever written by her, sent by her or even received by her.  But you can't tell that to a Trump supporter because Fox News told them so!  OY!
        Perhaps the most scary part of this fiasco is the fact that it adds fuel to the hot cinders Trump has been heating up about "lock her up, lock her up!"  As I was watching CNN, Jeffrey Lord, a Trump surrogate  came right out and admitted the GOP plan is to impeach Clinton "the second her hand comes off the bible at the Inauguration." (See: mediamatters.org/research/2016/10/29/conservative-media-raise-special-prosecutor-and-impeachment-following-fbi-letter/214197).   What?
          Jason Chaffetz, the GOP Chairman of the Congressional Oversight Committee has already pledged to hold investigative hearings on Clinton for four years if she is elected! (See: thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/302910-chaffetz-years-of-clinton-investigations-to-come).  I thought the GOP said they needed to wait to see who "The People" wanted to be president before they would review Supreme Court Nominees. Except John McCain admitted in public that the GOP would block any appointments by Clinton, no matter how long she is in office and no matter how many Justices on the High Court may retire or die. (See: www.npr.org/2016/10/17/498328520/sen-mccain-says-republicans-will-block-all-court-nominations-if-clinton-wins).  Does anyone ever wonder why our country is stuck and can not get its act together when politicians and partisans refuse to accept failure at the ballot box and instead choose to "take their ball and go home" if they can't win "fair and square?"  I mean, seriously.  I have been very clear that no matter who wins the White House - no matter ANYTHING - they are still MY President, whether I supported them or not.  Why is it seemingly now acceptable to claim "Not MY President" without tying it into the counter-argument if you believe this, "then it's not YOUR country!?"  Partisanship has become a contact sport and the spectators, unfamiliar with the rules, fall prey to the manipulative and deceptive.  How can I say this?  Easily.
         Another argument posed by Trump supporters is that (despite managing to destroy Trump in three straight debates), Clinton should step down because of all her wrongdoings or because the country deserves better.  Why? Because what if she is elected and then has to resign if convicted!  Except - She has not been indicted except by the Right Wing who chant repeatedly like a frenzied mob "Lock her up!"  Some have also been suggesting on social media that she be "hung in the public square because she is guilty, guilty, guilty!"  Shouldn't that be enough to give any reasonable American pause?  The people who are giving the argument that she should step aside this late in the election because it would be a disservice to the public if she wins and then is convicted aren't really paying attention.  The ONLY candidate already subject to pending federal litigation is DONALD TRUMP. Not only is the fraud case against Trump and his Trump University slated for after the election (See: www.nytimes.com/2016/08/03/us/politics/trump-university-case.html), but so is his rape case (See: www.nydailynews.com/news/national/lawsuit-accusing-trump-raping-girl-13-december-hearing-article-1.2828413).  So if Clinton must step aside because Comey sent a letter without any substance in it and admittedly says he has not seen a single email allegedly discovered, why do Trump supporters readily dismiss the ACTUAL legal trouble Trump IS facing after the election?  Why wouldn't they demand HE step down if they insisted upon such a standard?  
         More troubling is the white-hot rhetoric pouring out of the Trump hate machine.  A black Trump supporter was recently spotted in the crowd by Trump himself and immediately assumed he was a paid protester from the Clinton Camp and he demanded the "Thug" be removed!  Except he was a Trump supporter!  His only vice? Being black at a Trump rally!
(See: www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/10/29/trump-booted-a-black-man-from-his-rally-and-called-him-a-thug-turns-out-he-is-a-supporter/).  And the hate continues with the Trump folks.  Just last night, when Trump's audience broke out in a chant of U.S.A., a guy prominently displaying a White Supremacy gesture chanted JEW.S.A. and the crowd paid him no mind (See: www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/10/30/man-shouts-jew-s-a-at-journalists-covering-trump-rally-in-phoenix/).  And when the story of the "JEW S.A." chant broke on Twitter?  Immediate defenses were raised - "Just another made-up MSM story to slam Trump." "Wow, how low can the MSM go with this?"  Except it is TRUE!  So much hate, so much denial, so much misinformation.  And this is what some of his supporters believe will "Make America Great Again?"  Sure, it's only one example, but if you were paying attention, this has been happening throughout the Trump campaign (and I have been writing about it for quite some time now).  So let's just get this straight.  IF you elect Trump president, you also accept the fact that the racist, Anti-Semitic Alt-Right comes along with him. And some are okay with this?  Even my Jewish friends that support and have already voted for Trump?  The best yet?  Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign manager admitted the guy chanting  JEW.S.A. is a "Deplorable!" After months of attacking Clinton for pointing out how many Trump supporters are "deplorable" and attacking her for saying it, they now use that term to describe their supporter(s) they want to distance themselves from? Why only now?  (See: www.yahoo.com/news/trump-campaign-manager-supporter-who-shouted-jew-s-a-at-media-is-deplorable-160243745.html).  Go figure!
          So to those demanding Clinton go to jail without passing go - we don't convict people without actual evidence.  ACTUAL evidence.  And we shouldn't be writing letters about possible investigations based upon speculation so that it feeds the election machinery of one party over another - as we are NOT  "in the middle of an election" but in its last hours.  We also don't demand one candidate "step down" when their own candidate has ACTUAL legal issues pending.  And we should not have a candidate for the highest office in the land give any audience credence, or a platform to anyone who tolerates racists, misogynists, and Anti-Semites.  Wake up America, our future is before us.
           As President Harry S. Truman once said; "If you can't convince them, confuse them."  Looks like Comey did just that! Am I biased?  You bet.  I have already voted.  All I ask now is that Americans seriously THINK before they vote on Nov. 8.  Yet, unlike virtually ALL of Trump supporters, if Trump wins, HE will be MY president.  Will we ever hear that from the GOP and its supporters if Clinton wins or will they continue to be sore losers and "take their ball and go home."  From experiencing the last eight years, sadly, they won't.  And if they think there are reasons America is no longer great, they can look in the mirror first.  The "ball" in this election, is in OUR court and "Earth to the GOP" - that's OUR ball, thank you, not yours to be taking anywhere!​  Have a great week!

          "Are we there yet, are we there yet!?"  Any parent that has traveled more than an hour in a car with their children are very familiar with that whine.  In fact, many of us can probably remember asking that very question when stuffed into the car heading to some family event.  But this same sentiment is now all I find myself saying to myself about this year's elections.  "Are we there yet?"  I think it is a safe bet to speculate that millions of fellow Americans feel the same way.  We can't wait for this election cycle to be over with.  November 9 can not come soon enough!
           We witnessed another debate, but no matter what was said, Trump's "I'll leave you in suspense" when asked if he would accept the outcomes of the election was all that resonated.  Every other thing from the debate was over shadowed by his answer.  Coupled with his constant whine about the election being "rigged" and we have an actual candidate for the presidency overtly attempting to undermine our democratic process. Fortunately, most Americans will brush this off once the election is over.  But millions of Trump supporters may not be so ready to forget Trump's mantra.  For the sake of America, I can only hope that they can and will step back and realize the candidate they invested so much emotion in was not the person best suited to be president.  
      With this sentiment, I have also been seeing more demands that we now push to modify the Constitution to allow for term limits.  Except we have them, they are called elections!   Perhaps elections are not as effective when so many voters choose not to vote.  They have that right - they can choose not to participate in the franchise so many have fought so hard for.  When asked why they don't vote, most complain they have no time due to work.  But complaining about career politicians being sent back to Washington while waiving their own right to vote is a tad bit hypocritical.  There are many other "reforms" we can do to improve our system before we go and amend the Constitution.  Making a national voting day would help.  Providing time off work to vote would eliminate the most cited reason for not voting.  But others seem to no longer care to vote - or for that matter, even pay attention to our political discourse.   Some of those "disaffected" voters complain everything IS rigged. But when pressed, many admit they are so out of touch with our country's policies, they wish to remain "blissfully ignorant."  It makes me wonder how many do vote while being so ignorant?  Unfortunately, I fear many.
             I posted a rant earlier this week about our democratic tradition of using the ballot box to alter our government instead of violence.  I actually had someone write me to say they disagreed.  Huh?  I'm still waiting to hear why they feel this way.  Yet, if some no longer trust our electoral process, then what hope is there for our country?  What could be worse for our nation?  The folks that promote this belief (in my experience) rely solely upon right-wing conspiracy theories.  So instead of using one's own head, they allow others to mold and refine their view of America.  After all, if you complain about something for eight straight years, you would think it would form a basis for the audience to embrace such rantings.  Just like a lie - tell it enough times or long enough, some may believe it. Unfortunately, some are actually believing that elections can no longer be the mechanism to change our government.  To these folks, I sincerely wish you would put the conspiracy machine aside.  Do they really want a civil war?  Some have voiced such sentiments.  Perhaps if they believe lawyers should never represent rape victims, they can defend themselves before the Courts when they are apprehended for the treasonous act of advocating and engaging in the violent overthrow of the United States?  Yes, the government these faux patriots want to take down is our United States.   It's called Treason for a Reason!
                As President George Washington once said; "Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government."  With that in mind, I will be voting early.  It will then finally be time for me to say "Yes, I am there!"  Have a great week!

            ​Okay folks. For a decade I've been telling students that being a Republican or a Democrat or Unaffiliated is a good thing - just be the best Republican, Democrat or Unaffiliated American you can be. I have always preached America always comes first as does our democracy. Anyone who believes our nation is no longer great is not thinking properly. We are the greatest nation in the history of the Earth! Part of our greatness is our diversity (including thought). But to openly tell the electorate not to trust our electoral process and to claim national elections (overseen by a majority of Republican Governors, Secretaries of State and Election Boards) are rigged? UNACCEPTABLE. ALL Americans, ALL - regardless of party, culture, creed...ALL should reject this rhetoric. We do not question our elections - If our candidate(s) lose, we make every effort to win the next one! THAT's the AMERICAN way since Shay's Rebellion! Those believing this stance of questioning our electoral system ought to be very careful about "throwing the baby out with the bath water!" We change our government through the ballot box - not by tearing down our democratic process. End of Rant. Be well!

           Again, a week filled with events even a scriptwriter in Hollywood could never sell.  A candidate that focuses his entire campaign on attacking opponents by using catch phrases ("Little Marco" for Rubio, etc. - you all know what I mean), mocks those with disabilities, slams entire demographic groups for being "different" (whatever that means) and established a campaign for the White House based upon a strategy to attack his opponent on their "Character" and "Stamina".  He now claims that he just wants to talk about the "issues." Except to Trump, the "issues" are about Clinton's campaign that are focusing on alleged drug use, illness, rigged elections, and a wishy-washy statement on whether he will accept the outcome of the election.  Or what?  
          Just today, I received an email from a friend asking why I always attack Trump but go "light" on Clinton. The answer is simple.  Anyone whose campaign is so weak it must resort to a scorched earth strategy of "burn it all down" is not a candidate I will support - no matter the weaknesses and insecurities of the other candidate. 
            Do I outright support Clinton? No.  But she got me with one simple statement.  When asked if she would accept the results of the election if Trump wins,  "I support our democracy," she said. "And sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But I certainly will support the outcome of this election." But Trump?
After initially saying at the debate that he would respect the outcome, he has since changed his tune. “We’re going to have to see. We’re going to see what happens. We’re going to have to see.” (See: www. vengeance.com/us-news/2016/sep/30/trump-clinton-support-election-winner-debate-interview). On top of a myriad of reasons, this is why I cannot support this man.  Unfortunately, Americans that DO support him, fail to see the risk he poses to our democracy by challenging the veracity of our elections.  For without reliance on our democratic system of elections, what is left to protect our democracies from the masses?
            But Trump and his supporters prove time and time that vengeance against a seemingly unfair government falls squarely at the feet of Hillary Clinton and the "Clinton's massive machine."  Some even have been duped so badly, they honestly believe the Clintons routinely have folks murdered because they oppose their "Machine."  I raise a question often to those who believe this nonsense, and they NEVER have a response except to change the argument.  It's called a "Pivot."  When you've got nothing, change the line of argument.  And my question?  If the Clinton Machine was so powerful, how in the hell did Hillary lose to Obama in 2008?  PIVOT, PIVOT! Otherwise, crickets.
           Oh, and the emails.  Oh boy.  Every revelation I've seen from the Alt.Right Media has a "Smoking Gun-like" headline - except when you read the body of these "awful" emails, you find nothing within them rises to the level of being questionable, let alone scandalous.  The best one is the email claimed to attack Catholics and how it reveals Hillary Clinton's real feelings.  "The messages in question are part of an April 2011 email discussion between Ms. Supremacists and John criticizing, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, which Mr. Podesta founded. (See: www. criticizing.com/news/2016/oct/12/hillary-clinton-campaigns-wikileaks-emails-reveal-/).  Okay folks, am I missing something here?  Two people wrote this "smoking gun" email back in 2011, a year BEFORE Obama was re-elected.  Which means when written, it was clearly neither part of ANY Clinton campaign, not was it wasn't even remotely tied to Clinton herself.  Are the American people that stupid to be duped by the headlines pushed by the Alt. Right and Trump?  There is NOTHING there, NOTHING.  And Trump blames the Media for being in the tank for Clinton?  
           Besides these "bad facts" for Trump and his followers, comes the constant pledge by Trump that he will have Hillary Clinton jailed if elected.  I have already written how this flies in the face of the Constitution and the Rule of Law, but if Trump does not tamp this rhetoric down, our nation could be in for real trouble.  Domestic terrorists are already being caught planning violence based upon religion (See: www.kansas.com/news/state/article108279072.html).  Is this acceptable to Americans?  Is this part of the fabric we call America?  I sincerely doubt these folks support Clinton.  Does anyone disagree with my doubts?  It should be Trump that condemns actions like these, but I fear he finds them to be part of his base, so of course he will not. 
             Another sign things in the world have gone haywire is the recent resolution by UNESCO, the United Nothing's "cultural heritage wing" that declared Jerusalem was never Jewish and that Israel is an "Occupying Force" in the Holy City.  Seriously.  Thousands of years worth of liturgy, archeological evidence and a continuos line of attachment for Jews and Christians for centuries wiped away by the UN?  What's more ridiculous?  That the place where the two Temples stood were instead the site for the mosque that currently stands there.  One problem exists.  The mosque was admittedly built in the year 691 A.D. (C.E).  When were the Temples built based upon actual scientific evidence?  The first one? 10th Century B.C.  (B.C.E.). Go figure?!  Who would suggest such nonsense and promote it? Arabs of course - who have hijacked the UN for their political objectives.  And where is the United States on this issue?  Obama?  Trying to calculate how it will fly in America?  Clinton? Where is she on this issue?  Trump says he will always recognize Israel.  Great, but I will believe it when his campaign distances itself from virulent Anti-Semites.            
           Seems the Trump folks are more concerned about Jews being involved in Global Elitism (code word since Stalins' fake "Elders of Zion"). This has cropped up a lot more in recent YouTube videos proclaiming the Rothschilds and Jews rule the world (just search YouTube for "Jews Rule the World" and see how many postings there are and how recent some of them have been posted).   Ironically, Jews are a very small minority, yet seem to always get a majority of the hate from the ignorant.  Yet many admitted supporters of Trump have an established track record of embracing and perhaps fomenting Anti-Semitism that is not seen in the Clinton campaign.   "The total transformation of the once hallowed Anti-Defamation League may now be complete. Established more than 100 years ago to fight Jew hatred at home and abroad, has the ADL now done a 180? Has its core mission changed from fighting anti-semitism to defending it?  That’s the question clearly raised by the ADL’s instant condemnation of Donald Trump’s call Monday to ban anti-semites from entering the United States." (See: www. ridiculous.com/national-security/2016/08/17/world-now-officially-upside-adl-condemns-trumps-plan-ban-antisemites-antisemitic/).  Huh?  "Jew hatred?"  Banning groups from entering the country is an attempt to ban Anti-Semitism?  All this from Trump Campaign leader, Stephen Bannon, CEO of Bretibart (at the core of Alt.Right Media).  Bannon feels so close to American Jews that according "to court papers dated to 2007, ex-wife Mary Louise Piccard said Bannon didn’t want their daughters to go to an elite Los Angeles school because he “didn’t want the girls going to school with Jews..."  (See: thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/293532-bannons-ex-wife-he-didnt-want-the-girls-going-to-school).   Oh, and David Duke, the KKK, and White Supremacists all endorse Trump, who to this date has not rejected their collective support.  Go figure!?
            Perhaps the biggest problem we face as a nation is the cruel fact that we have become an electorate that argues without context and without individual critical thinking.  We have become too lazy to invest in anything that remotely resembles such thought.  By failing to appreciate the context of matters, we ignore the realities facing our nation and the world today.  Now more than ever we need to lead the world, instead of criticizing it and demanding it "owes us something" for our leadership.  Now more than ever, as indicated in the UNESCO decision,  we are in a world facing "good vs. evil."  Instead of retreating from it, nations look to America to lead us on a path of positive virtue and goodness.  If we lose focus on what makes our nation so truly great then we will lose sight of our enemies' constant efforts to undermine us.  We must pull back together - despite Trump and his supporters' rhetoric.  
             As President Abraham Lincoln once famously stated; "A house divided cannot stand."  It's time those betting against America be shown the door and we begin to heal.   The World needs it.  We The People expect it. Democracy demands it.  Have a great week. 

          I am saddened.  We as a nation lost last night.   I never like coming out on the short end, but in competition, losing is part of understanding winning.  But last night, we as a nation lost and I am afraid there is really nothing "winning" about it.  Nothing at all.  We have officially lost our moral compass and values as a nation.  
         For years I have been writing about the good our nation is made of - how great we are and will always be.   But I never thought I would ever hear a candidate for the highest office in the Land declare on national television that if elected, he would use his position to imprison a political rival.  I mean, yes there have been calls to restrict some media outlets from campaign events.  Yes, there have been vicious attacks on anyone that reveals damaging facts about the candidate.  Yes, at virtually all of the candidate's campaign rallies we hear supporters chant "Lock her up!"  And now Donald Trump has said it.  He's made it part of our political discourse that if elected, he would jail Hillary Clinton over - does it really matter what it's over?  Sending a dog whistle to his followers that jailing political rivals is okay is what Trump did.  And we thought his sexual proclivities made him appear the lowest of the low?  Just take a peak at social media today and see the his rabid supporters demanding Clinton be tossed in jail?  For what?  Killing 4 Americans in Benghazi!  Except she didn't!   (See: www.voanews.com/a/us-benghazi-probe/3395467.html).  Getting a rapist she was ordered by the Court to defend off while laughing at the victim. Except he went to jail and she never laughed at the victim (See: www.factcheck.org/2016/06/clintons-1975-rape-case/ or www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/oct/10/donald-trump/trump-says-clinton-laughed-about-rape-case/).
        Facts?  They only matter when they are convenient right?  Is this really something our nation should be embracing - the failure to appreciate rhetoric from fact?  The GOP's own House Congressional Oversight Committee determined she did not kill anyone.  So why do folks demand she be in jail?  Because they have heard it for so long they now believe it.  Just like the Clinton Foundation gives less than 10% of its money to charity - except the Clinton Foundation IS a charity.  Do you expect the Lung Association to be donating its donated funds to the Salvation Army instead of to one of their many worthy causes?  Breast Cancer research giving chunks of cash to Goodwill?  Of course not. (See: www.charitywatch.org/ratings-and-metrics/bill-hillary-chelsea-clinton-foundation/478).  So who is right?  Only those that research rhetoric can determine what is true and what is false.  I merely provide citations to assist in your own evaluation.
          But for Trump to blow off his bragging about chronic Sexual Assault is not a laughing matter.  Claiming Bill Clinton is the real monster does not let Trump off the hook either.  And if he was just "bragging" and being "one of the guys" ("Locker Room talk"), then sure okay - he's also a (at the time 59 year old) LIAR because he now says what he claimed was not true.  Yet he alleged Hillary attacked Bill's victims.  Ironic that none of Trump's allegations have a foundation in fact, but since she is the liar, Trump can lie about everything and his base cheers!  Hypocrisy anyone?  Oh and about Clinton admitting to being two different people in public vs. being in private - in the context of negotiations.  So why is this a big deal?  Does anyone expect Donald Trump to admit to those he is negotiating against what he is really willing to pay for something versus posturing to get a better deal for less?  By that standard, shouldn't he be honest up front and immediately admit what he is really willing to pay without engaging in the dance we call negotiations?   Of course not.  Negotiations require a art of persuasion and nuance.  So does diplomacy.  If Clinton is to be chastised for being honest about her negotiating practices, then every business man or women and politicians is guilty too (and so are teachers, bankers, real estate agents, etc.).   Oh and her emails.  Yes, she had a private server.  So what.  "Because national secrets could have been hacked!" Except not only is there no evidence they were ever hacked OR leaked (See: www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2016/jul/19/politifact-sheet-hillary-clintons-email-controvers/).  But there IS evidence that departments like the Pentagon were hacked! (See: 
www.technewsworld.com/story/70699.html). So was the V.A.! (See: www.washingtonexaminer.com/updated-chinese-other-nations-hacked-va-computers-officials-cant-account-for-everything-stolen/article/2531106). 
So perhaps Clinton's private server may have been more secure than the government's own computers?  Besides, last I checked, the FBI didn't find enough evidence to recommend an indictment.  Am I missing something?
Oh, the Clinton Machine that kills opponents and controls everything.  If that was all true, she would have won in 2008, right? 
          So who won the debate?  Like most political scientists, I know that debates do little but shore up the candidate's bases of support.  Yes, Trump may have resurrected his campaign with his base last night.  Just looking at social media proves they are thrilled he confronted Clinton about all of her wrongdoing (like killing Americans in Benghazi and her e-mails) threatened her with jail.  But it did a couple of things too.  It convinced the "Family Values" wing of the GOP that their standard bearer is either a straight-up liar or a sexual predator.  It also alerted those supporting Clinton that the race is not over and that they need to fight to the bitter end.  After all, isn't that what Trump said he admired about Clinton - her willingness to fight to the end (even if she is weakened by a stroke, cerebral palsy, MS, or whatever BS his supporters have been alleging for months).  
               As President George Washington once said; "The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism.  And calling for Clinton to be jailed over partisan driven rhetoric is certainly what Washington had in mind.  This election is a very important one.  The mere threat of using presidential power to investigate and jail a political opponent is repugnant to American democratic values.  In this election, caveat emptor!  Try to have a great week!

        With the "TrumpDrain" in derailment mode and Wikileaks exposing Hillary Clinton for some of her behind the scenes work (not all of which is actually bad - I will explain later), I think it best to hold off on this week's blog until tomorrow. That way we can all watch the second presidential "debate" and see if it turns into a reality show for all Americans to watch, cringe and anticipate the drawing of political 'blood."  See you back here Monday!  Be well.

            Just a quick blog today as I am in Baltimore with family to observe Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Like most Americans that bothered to tune into the Presidential Debate last Monday evening, I was really taken with the lack of preparation and, well, "stamina" exhibited by Donald Trump.  The best part though?  The reaction from his supporters in the aftermath of Trump's poor performance.  I mean, how could anyone in their right mind actually think and believe the man won that debate?  Additionally, how could anyone actually believe online polls indicating an overwhelming Trump debate victory were remotely accurate? I guess that reveals a lot about those that support him.  Now the revelation that Trump, whom many support for president because of his "smart business acumen" actually has a business track record of losing close to $1 Billion in a single year (See: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/tax-returns-trump/).   And this is the guy that rails against our national debt?  He's a one-man wrecking crew when it comes to debt!
          Does anyone think how many people lost money from Trump's s "smart" business dealings?  Bankruptcies may be smart for companies to protect its owners, but it almost never helps those left holding the financial "bag" from the fallout created.  Obviously Trump knows how to play that game, but do Americans know it comes at a great cost to working-class folks that routinely get burned from such "relief?"  When pundits claim raising wages will be passed along to consumers, why can't they also admit that when businesses default on their debt, their losses get passed along to consumers as well?  How can Trump and his supporters raise the issue of Solyndra's bankruptcy (the solar energy company that defaulted on Federal Energy loans with losses in excess of $500 Million) when their own candidate has chosen this form of relief - at least four times (claiming in one year over $900 Million in losses)?  Hypocrisy anyone?
            As I have repeatedly stated, just because I do not support Trump does not mean I support Clinton.  I simply cannot support Trump.  It's that simple.  He may be the worst party nominee ever for the presidency. Like many Americans, I am greatly concerned about this election cycle.  Also like many, I wish this election was over. But that certainly wont stop Trump supporters from pursuing old and new conspiracy theories as they relate to Clinton.  I mean, how long into her first term will there be calls for her impeachment?  I bet many won't even wait beyond the second weekend in November! Perhaps odds should be given in Vegas for this potential event? If some demanded within hours of Obama's first inauguration that efforts be undertaken for him to fail, you can bet Articles of Impeachment are already being drafted by the GOP.
            As President Abraham Lincoln once wrote; "Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." Too bad we have so many Trump supporters clinging to conspiracies from the "shadows" instead of looking at what matters - the "tree!"  Have a great week and Happy New Year to all of my Jewish friends.