President Trump's First Congressional Address

Like him or not, President Donald Trump is showing everyone something that hasn't been seen since Ronald Reagan was President...a love of The United States and of its citizens.
His speech last night was an impassioned plea for Congress to work together, omitting partisan feuding, for the benefit of those they serve.
In all my years of watching the political landscape, I have never heard a more straightforward address by a President since Ronald Reagan's initial speech before Congress. His candor was spot on, his humility was evident, and his pleas for bettering the lives of all Americans were sincere.
In my humble opinion, he cares more for the people he leads than any president since JFK. Nearly every remark he made in this initial address to Congress was focused on bettering America. Foreign policy was a very distance second. Why? Because, as he stated, we have propped up other countries for long enough, and it is now time to look to the well-being of our citizens over those from other countries.
How can anyone argue with that point?
I know the Democratic side of the gallery last night were mute on most things President Trump talked about. They were even completely tactless--and downright insulting--when the President praised the widow of a fallen Navy SEAL, thanking her for the sacrifice she must endure. While Republicans in the Chamber, and the general public gave a minutes long standing ovation to this kind woman, Democrats remained in their seats unmoved. That kind of staunch opposition to even the thought of anything Trump--including honoring the wife of a fallen soldier--is absolutely nauseating, leaning towards downright shameful. These men and women are elected officials, meant to serve the people who placed them in the seat of power. Instead, they dwell on Party fighting, deeply ensconcing themselves on issues that do not benefit the American people. Last night's display by the Democratic caucus was completely inappropriate. and they should feel ashamed at their actions. Unfortunately, they won't.
Anyhow, I have placed a copy of the entire Presidential speech below. If you didn't watch his speech, please take the time to read through the text. Then, ask yourself if President Trump really doesn't want what's best for the American people. I know that, before his speech, I had many questions about Trump's leadership and his vision for this country. Afterwards, those doubts are [mostly] gone. Like him or not, if you aren't impressed by his vision for the future of the United States, I don't know what else could possibly move you.

Please read on...

     "Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States, and Citizens of America:
     Tonight, as we mark the conclusion of our celebration of Black History Month, we are reminded of our Nation's path toward civil rights and the work that still remains.  Recent threats targeting Jewish Community Centers and vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, as well as last week's shooting in Kansas City, remind us that while we may be a Nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms.
     Each American generation passes the torch of truth, liberty and justice -- in an unbroken chain all the way down to the present.
     That torch is now in our hands.  And we will use it to light up the world.  I am heretonight to deliver a message of unity and strength, and it is a message deeply delivered from my heart.
     A new chapter of American Greatness is now beginning.
     A new national pride is sweeping across our Nation.
     And a new surge of optimism is placing impossible dreams firmly within our grasp.
     What we are witnessing today is the Renewal of the American Spirit.
     Our allies will find that America is once again ready to lead.
     All the nations of the world -- friend or foe -- will find that America is strong, America is proud, and America is free.
     In 9 years, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our founding -- 250 years since the day we declared our Independence.
     It will be one of the great milestones in the history of the world.
     But what will America look like as we reach our 250th year? What kind of country will we leave for our children?
     I will not allow the mistakes of recent decades past to define the course of our future.
     For too long, we've watched our middle class shrink as we've exported our jobs and wealth to foreign countries.
     We've financed and built one global project after another, but ignored the fates of our children in the inner cities of Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit -- and so many other places throughout our land.
     We've defended the borders of other nations, while leaving our own borders wide open, for anyone to cross -- and for drugs to pour in at a now unprecedented rate.
     And we've spent trillions of dollars overseas, while our infrastructure at home has so badly crumbled.
     Then, in 2016, the earth shifted beneath our feet.  The rebellion started as a quiet protest, spoken by families of all colors and creeds -- families who just wanted a fair shot for their children, and a fair hearing for their concerns.
     But then the quiet voices became a loud chorus -- as thousands of citizens now spoke out together, from cities small and large, all across our country.
     Finally, the chorus became an earthquake - and the people turned out by the tens of millions, and they were all united by one very simple, but crucial demand, that America must put its own citizens first ... because only then, can we truly MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.
     Dying industries will come roaring back to life.  Heroic veterans will get the care they so desperately need.
     Our military will be given the resources its brave warriors so richly deserve.
     Crumbling infrastructure will be replaced with new roads, bridges, tunnels, airports and railways gleaming across our beautiful land.
     Our terrible drug epidemic will slow down and ultimately, stop.
     And our neglected inner cities will see a rebirth of hope, safety, and opportunity.
     Above all else, we will keep our promises to the American people.
     It's been a little over a month since my inauguration, and I want to take this moment to update the Nation on the progress I've made in keeping those promises.
     Since my election, Ford, Fiat-Chrysler, General Motors, Sprint, Softbank, Lockheed, Intel, Walmart, and many others, have announced that they will invest billions of dollars in the United States and will create tens of thousands of new American jobs.
     The stock market has gained almost three trillion dollars in value since the election on November 8th, a record.  We've saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars by bringing down the price of the fantastic new F-35 jet fighter, and will be saving billions more dollars on contracts all across our Government.  We have placed a hiring freeze on non-military and non-essential Federal workers.
     We have begun to drain the swamp of government corruption by imposing a 5 year ban on lobbying by executive branch officials -- and a lifetime ban on becoming lobbyists for a foreign government.
     We have undertaken a historic effort to massively reduce job crushing regulations, creating a deregulation task force inside of every Government agency; imposing a new rule which mandates that for every 1 new regulation, 2 old regulations must be eliminated; and stopping a regulation that threatens the future and livelihoods of our great coal miners.
     We have cleared the way for the construction of the Keystone and Dakota Access Pipelines -- thereby creating tens of thousands of jobs -- and I've issued a new directive that new American pipelines be made with American steel.
     We have withdrawn the United States from the job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership.
     With the help of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, we have formed a Council with our neighbors in Canada to help ensure that women entrepreneurs have access to the networks, markets and capital they need to start a business and live out their financial dreams.
     To protect our citizens, I have directed the Department of Justice to form a Task Force on Reducing Violent Crime.
     I have further ordered the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, along with the Department of State and the Director of National Intelligence, to coordinate an aggressive strategy to dismantle the criminal cartels that have spread across our Nation.
     We will stop the drugs from pouring into our country and poisoning our youth -- and we will expand treatment for those who have become so badly addicted.
     At the same time, my Administration has answered the pleas of the American people for immigration enforcement and border security.  By finally enforcing our immigration laws, we will raise wages, help the unemployed, save billions of dollars, and make our communities safer for everyone.  We want all Americans to succeed -- but that can't happen in an environment of lawless chaos.  We must restore integrity and the rule of law to our borders.
     For that reason, we will soon begin the construction of a great wall along our southern border. It will be started ahead of schedule and, when finished, it will be a very effective weapon against drugs and crime.
     As we speak, we are removing gang members, drug dealers and criminals that threaten our communities and prey on our citizens.  Bad ones are going out as I speak tonight and as I have promised.
     To any in Congress who do not believe we should enforce our laws, I would ask you this question:  what would you say to the American family that loses their jobs, their income, or a loved one, because America refused to uphold its laws and defend its borders?
     Our obligation is to serve, protect, and defend the citizens of the United States.  We are also taking strong measures to protect our Nation from Radical Islamic Terrorism.
     According to data provided by the Department of Justice, the vast majority of individuals convicted for terrorism-related offenses since 9/11 came here from outside of our country.  We have seen the attacks at home -- from Boston to San Bernardino to the Pentagon and yes, even the World Trade Center.
     We have seen the attacks in France, in Belgium, in Germany and all over the world.
     It is not compassionate, but reckless, to allow uncontrolled entry from places where proper vetting cannot occur.  Those given the high honor of admission to the United States should support this country and love its people and its values.
     We cannot allow a beachhead of terrorism to form inside America -- we cannot allow our Nation to become a sanctuary for extremists.
     That is why my Administration has been working on improved vetting procedures, and we will shortly take new steps to keep our Nation safe -- and to keep out those who would do us harm.
     As promised, I directed the Department of Defense to develop a plan to demolish and destroy ISIS -- a network of lawless savages that have slaughtered Muslims and Christians, and men, women, and children of all faiths and beliefs.  We will work with our allies, including our friends and allies in the Muslim world, to extinguish this vile enemy from our planet.
     I have also imposed new sanctions on entities and individuals who support Iran's ballistic missile program, and reaffirmed our unbreakable alliance with the State of Israel.
     Finally, I have kept my promise to appoint a Justice to the United States Supreme Court -- from my list of 20 judges -- who will defend our Constitution.  I am honored to have Maureen Scalia with us in the gallery tonight.  Her late, great husband, Antonin Scalia, will forever be a symbol of American justice.  To fill his seat, we have chosen Judge Neil Gorsuch, a man of incredible skill, and deep devotion to the law.  He was confirmed unanimously to the Court of Appeals, and I am asking the Senate to swiftly approve his nomination.
     Tonight, as I outline the next steps we must take as a country, we must honestly acknowledge the circumstances we inherited.
     Ninety-four million Americans are out of the labor force.
     Over 43 million people are now living in poverty, and over 43 million Americans are on food stamps.
     More than 1 in 5 people in their prime working years are not working.
     We have the worst financial recovery in 65 years.
     In the last 8 years, the past Administration has put on more new debt than nearly all other Presidents combined.
     We've lost more than one-fourth of our manufacturing jobs since NAFTA was approved, and we've lost 60,000 factories since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001.
     Our trade deficit in goods with the world last year was nearly $800 billion dollars.
     And overseas, we have inherited a series of tragic foreign policy disasters.
     Solving these, and so many other pressing problems, will require us to work past the differences of party.  It will require us to tap into the American spirit that has overcome every challenge throughout our long and storied history.
     But to accomplish our goals at home and abroad, we must restart the engine of the American economy -- making it easier for companies to do business in the United States, and much harder for companies to leave.
     Right now, American companies are taxed at one of the highest rates anywhere in the world.
     My economic team is developing historic tax reform that will reduce the tax rate on our companies so they can compete and thrive anywhere and with anyone.  At the same time, we will provide massive tax relief for the middle class.
     We must create a level playing field for American companies and workers.
     Currently, when we ship products out of America, many other countries make us pay very high tariffs and taxes -- but when foreign companies ship their products into America, we charge them almost nothing.
     I just met with officials and workers from a great American company, Harley-Davidson.  In fact, they proudly displayed five of their magnificent motorcycles, made in the USA, on the front lawn of the White House.
     At our meeting, I asked them, how are you doing, how is business?  They said that it's good.  I asked them further how they are doing with other countries, mainly international sales.  They told me -- without even complaining because they have been mistreated for so long that they have become used to it -- that it is very hard to do business with other countries because they tax our goods at such a high rate.  They said that in one case another country taxed their motorcycles at 100 percent.
     They weren't even asking for change.  But I am.
     I believe strongly in free trade but it also has to be FAIR TRADE.
     The first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, warned that the "abandonment of the protective policy by the American Government [will] produce want and ruin among our people."
     Lincoln was right -- and it is time we heeded his words. I am not going to let America and its great companies and workers, be taken advantage of anymore.
     I am going to bring back millions of jobs.  Protecting our workers also means reforming our system of legal immigration.  The current, outdated system depresses wages for our poorest workers, and puts great pressure on taxpayers.
     Nations around the world, like Canada, Australia and many others -- have a merit-based immigration system.  It is a basic principle that those seeking to enter a country ought to be able to support themselves financially.  Yet, in America, we do not enforce this rule, straining the very public resources that our poorest citizens rely upon.  According to the National Academy of Sciences, our current immigration system costs America's taxpayers many billions of dollars a year.
     Switching away from this current system of lower-skilled immigration, and instead adopting a merit-based system, will have many benefits:  it will save countless dollars, raise workers' wages, and help struggling families -- including immigrant families -- enter the middle class.
I believe that real and positive immigration reform is possible, as long as we focus on the following goals: to improve jobs and wages for Americans, to strengthen our nation's security, and to restore respect for our laws.
If we are guided by the well-being of American citizens then I believe Republicans and Democrats can work together to achieve an outcome that has eluded our country for decades.
     Another Republican President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, initiated the last truly great national infrastructure program -- the building of the interstate highway system.  The time has come for a new program of national rebuilding.
     America has spent approximately six trillion dollars in the Middle East, all this while our infrastructure at home is crumbling.  With this six trillion dollars we could have rebuilt our country -- twice.  And maybe even three times if we had people who had the ability to negotiate.
     To launch our national rebuilding, I will be asking the Congress to approve legislation that produces a $1 trillion investment in the infrastructure of the United States -- financed through both public and private capital -- creating millions of new jobs.
     This effort will be guided by two core principles:  Buy American, and Hire American.
     Tonight, I am also calling on this Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare with reforms that expand choice, increase access, lower costs, and at the same time, provide better Healthcare.
     Mandating every American to buy government-approved health insurance was never the right solution for America.  The way to make health insurance available to everyone is to lower the cost of health insurance, and that is what we will do.
     Obamacare premiums nationwide have increased by double and triple digits.  As an example, Arizona went up 116 percent last year alone.  Governor Matt Bevin of Kentucky just said Obamacare is failing in his State -- it is unsustainable and collapsing.
     One third of counties have only one insurer on the exchanges -- leaving many Americans with no choice at all.
     Remember when you were told that you could keep your doctor, and keep your plan?
     We now know that all of those promises have been broken.
     Obamacare is collapsing -- and we must act decisively to protect all Americans.  Action is not a choice -- it is a necessity.
     So I am calling on all Democrats and Republicans in the Congress to work with us to save Americans from this imploding Obamacare disaster.
     Here are the principles that should guide the Congress as we move to create a better healthcare system for all Americans:
     First, we should ensure that Americans with pre-existing conditions have access to coverage, and that we have a stable transition for Americans currently enrolled in the healthcare exchanges.
     Secondly, we should help Americans purchase their own coverage, through the use of tax credits and expanded Health Savings Accounts -- but it must be the plan they want, not the plan forced on them by the Government.
     Thirdly, we should give our great State Governors the resources and flexibility they need with Medicaid to make sure no one is left out.
     Fourthly, we should implement legal reforms that protect patients and doctors from unnecessary costs that drive up the price of insurance - and work to bring down the artificially high price of drugs and bring them down immediately.
     Finally, the time has come to give Americans the freedom to purchase health insurance across State lines -- creating a truly competitive national marketplace that will bring cost way down and provide far better care.
     Everything that is broken in our country can be fixed.  Every problem can be solved.  And every hurting family can find healing, and hope.
     Our citizens deserve this, and so much more -- so why not join forces to finally get it done?  On this and so many other things, Democrats and Republicans should get together and unite for the good of our country, and for the good of the American people.
     My administration wants to work with members in both parties to make childcare accessible and affordable, to help ensure new parents have paid family leave, to invest in women's health, and to promote clean air and clear water, and to rebuild our military and our infrastructure.
     True love for our people requires us to find common ground, to advance the common good, and to cooperate on behalf of every American child who deserves a brighter future.
     An incredible young woman is with us this evening who should serve as an inspiration to us all.
     Today is Rare Disease day, and joining us in the gallery is a Rare Disease Survivor, Megan Crowley.  Megan was diagnosed with Pompe Disease, a rare and serious illness, when she was 15 months old.  She was not expected to live past 5.
     On receiving this news, Megan's dad, John, fought with everything he had to save the life of his precious child.  He founded a company to look for a cure, and helped develop the drug that saved Megan's life.  Today she is 20 years old -- and a sophomore at Notre Dame.
     Megan's story is about the unbounded power of a father's love for a daughter.
     But our slow and burdensome approval process at the Food and Drug Administration keeps too many advances, like the one that saved Megan's life, from reaching those in need.
     If we slash the restraints, not just at the FDA but across our Government, then we will be blessed with far more miracles like Megan.
     In fact, our children will grow up in a Nation of miracles.
     But to achieve this future, we must enrich the mind -- and the souls -- of every American child.
     Education is the civil rights issue of our time.
     I am calling upon Members of both parties to pass an education bill that funds school choice for disadvantaged youth, including millions of African-American and Latino children.  These families should be free to choose the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or home school that is right for them.
     Joining us tonight in the gallery is a remarkable woman, Denisha Merriweather.  As a young girl, Denisha struggled in school and failed third grade twice.  But then she was able to enroll in a private center for learning, with the help of a tax credit scholarship program.  Today, she is the first in her family to graduate, not just from high school, but from college.  Later this year she will get her masters degree in social work.
     We want all children to be able to break the cycle of poverty just like Denisha.
     But to break the cycle of poverty, we must also break the cycle of violence.
     The murder rate in 2015 experienced its largest single-year increase in nearly half a century.
     In Chicago, more than 4,000 people were shot last year alone -- and the murder rate so far this year has been even higher.
     This is not acceptable in our society.
     Every American child should be able to grow up in a safe community, to attend a great school, and to have access to a high-paying job.
     But to create this future, we must work with -- not against -- the men and women of law enforcement.
     We must build bridges of cooperation and trust -- not drive the wedge of disunity and division.
     Police and sheriffs are members of our community.  They are friends and neighbors, they are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters - and they leave behind loved ones every day who worry whether or not they'll come home safe and sound.
     We must support the incredible men and women of law enforcement.
     And we must support the victims of crime.
     I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an office to serve American Victims.  The office is called VOICE -- Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement.  We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests.
     Joining us in the audience tonight are four very brave Americans whose government failed them.
     Their names are Jamiel Shaw, Susan Oliver, Jenna Oliver, and Jessica Davis.
     Jamiel's 17-year-old son was viciously murdered by an illegal immigrant gang member, who had just been released from prison.  Jamiel Shaw Jr. was an incredible young man, with unlimited potential who was getting ready to go to college where he would have excelled as a great quarterback.  But he never got the chance.  His father, who is in the audiencetonight, has become a good friend of mine.
     Also with us are Susan Oliver and Jessica Davis.  Their husbands -- Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver and Detective Michael Davis -- were slain in the line of duty in California.  They were pillars of their community.  These brave men were viciously gunned down by an illegal immigrant with a criminal record and two prior deportations.
     Sitting with Susan is her daughter, Jenna.  Jenna:  I want you to know that your father was a hero, and that tonight you have the love of an entire country supporting you and praying for you.
     To Jamiel, Jenna, Susan and Jessica:  I want you to know -- we will never stop fighting for justice.  Your loved ones will never be forgotten, we will always honor their memory.
     Finally, to keep America Safe we must provide the men and women of the United States military with the tools they need to prevent war and -- if they must -- to fight and to win.
     I am sending the Congress a budget that rebuilds the military, eliminates the Defense sequester, and calls for one of the largest increases in national defense spending in American history.
     My budget will also increase funding for our veterans.
     Our veterans have delivered for this Nation -- and now we must deliver for them.
     The challenges we face as a Nation are great.  But our people are even greater.
     And none are greater or braver than those who fight for America in uniform.
     We are blessed to be joined tonight by Carryn Owens, the widow of a U.S. Navy Special Operator, Senior Chief William "Ryan" Owens.  Ryan died as he lived:  a warrior, and a hero -- battling against terrorism and securing our Nation.
     I just spoke to General Mattis, who reconfirmed that, and I quote, "Ryan was a part of a highly successful raid that generated large amounts of vital intelligence that will lead to many more victories in the future against our enemies."  Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity.  For as the Bible teaches us, there is no greater act of love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.  Ryan laid down his life for his friends, for his country, and for our freedom -- we will never forget him.
     To those allies who wonder what kind of friend America will be, look no further than the heroes who wear our uniform.
     Our foreign policy calls for a direct, robust and meaningful engagement with the world.  It is American leadership based on vital security interests that we share with our allies across the globe.
     We strongly support NATO, an alliance forged through the bonds of two World Wars that dethroned fascism, and a Cold War that defeated communism.
     But our partners must meet their financial obligations.
     And now, based on our very strong and frank discussions, they are beginning to do just that.
     We expect our partners, whether in NATO, in the Middle East, or the Pacific -- to take a direct and meaningful role in both strategic and military operations, and pay their fair share of the cost.
     We will respect historic institutions, but we will also respect the sovereign rights of nations.
     Free nations are the best vehicle for expressing the will of the people -- and America respects the right of all nations to chart their own path.  My job is not to represent the world.  My job is to represent the United States of America. But we know that America is better off, when there is less conflict -- not more.
     We must learn from the mistakes of the past -- we have seen the war and destruction that have raged across our world.
     The only long-term solution for these humanitarian disasters is to create the conditions where displaced persons can safely return home and begin the long process of rebuilding.
     America is willing to find new friends, and to forge new partnerships, where shared interests align.  We want harmony and stability, not war and conflict.
     We want peace, wherever peace can be found.  America is friends today with former enemies.  Some of our closest allies, decades ago, fought on the opposite side of these World Wars.  This history should give us all faith in the possibilities for a better world.
     Hopefully, the 250th year for America will see a world that is more peaceful, more just and more free.
     On our 100th anniversary, in 1876, citizens from across our Nation came to Philadelphia to celebrate America's centennial.  At that celebration, the country's builders and artists and inventors showed off their creations.
     Alexander Graham Bell displayed his telephone for the first time.
     Remington unveiled the first typewriter.  An early attempt was made at electric light.
     Thomas Edison showed an automatic telegraph and an electric pen.
     Imagine the wonders our country could know in America's 250th year.
     Think of the marvels we can achieve if we simply set free the dreams of our people.
     Cures to illnesses that have always plagued us are not too much to hope.
     American footprints on distant worlds are not too big a dream.
     Millions lifted from welfare to work is not too much to expect.
     And streets where mothers are safe from fear -- schools where children learn in peace -- and jobs where Americans prosper and grow -- are not too much to ask.
     When we have all of this, we will have made America greater than ever before. For all Americans.
     This is our vision. This is our mission.
     But we can only get there together.
     We are one people, with one destiny.
     We all bleed the same blood.
     We all salute the same flag.
     And we are all made by the same God.
     And when we fulfill this vision; when we celebrate our 250 years of glorious freedom, we will look back on tonight as when this new chapter of American Greatness began.
     The time for small thinking is over.  The time for trivial fights is behind us.
     We just need the courage to share the dreams that fill our hearts.
     The bravery to express the hopes that stir our souls.
     And the confidence to turn those hopes and dreams to action.
     From now on, America will be empowered by our aspirations, not burdened by our fears --
     inspired by the future, not bound by the failures of the past --
     and guided by our vision, not blinded by our doubts.
     I am asking all citizens to embrace this Renewal of the American Spirit.  I am asking all members of Congress to join me in dreaming big, and bold and daring things for our country.  And I am asking everyone watching tonight to seize this moment and --
     Believe in yourselves.
     Believe in your future.
     And believe, once more, in America.
     Thank you, God bless you, and God Bless these United States."

A New Supreme Court Justice?

President Donald Trump recently nominated Judge Neal Gorsuch (Tenth U.S. Circuit Court) to replace the now-deceased Antonin Scalia on the United States Supreme Court. Judge Gorsuch was unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate for his position to the Tenth Circuit Court, and his Constitutionalist approach to his legal findings and opinions --in other words, if something is not explicitly addressed in the Constitution, then it must be referred back to a lower Court and never "interpreted" as to the intent of the Constitution, as many lawyers and judges do today--make him the perfect nominee to sit on the highest court in the land.
Utah Senator Mike Lee wrote the following in his support of Judge Gorsuch:

Chairman's Note: A Judge's Judge

Perhaps no other issue played a bigger role in the 2016 presidential election than filling the vacancy of Justice Antonin Scalia’s Supreme Court seat. “Millions of voters said this was the single most important issue to them when they voted for me for president,” President Trump said Tuesday night.

And President Trump then went on to make one of the best choices of his young administration. Judge Neil Gorsuch of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit is a tremendous pick for the Supreme Court.

First, Judge Gorsuch is unquestionably qualified. He graduated with honors from Harvard Law School and received a doctorate in Jurisprudence from Oxford. He clerked for three brilliant and well-respected jurists: Judge David Sentelle on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, Justice Byron White, and Justice Anthony Kennedy. In 2005, he joined the Department of Justice as Principal Deputy Attorney General, and he became a judge on the Tenth Circuit in 2006 – thanks to a 100-0 confirmation vote by the Senate – where he has sat for the last decade. You could not ask for a better legal education or a stronger record of accomplishment.

Second, and most importantly, Judge Gorsuch has the correct approach to the law. He is a judge’s judge. He is the type of judge who believes that the law has right answers and that the law is not simply a tool to achieve political goals. He decides cases based on what the law says, not what he may want the law to say. As Judge Gorsuch observed in his remarks accepting President Trump’s nomination, “A judge who likes every outcome he reaches is very likely a bad judge, stretching for results he prefers rather than those the law demands.”

This is the central insight of the conservative legal movement that Justice Scalia helped shape. Judges do not have a roving commission to address the big policy questions we debate in Congress and the public square. The judge’s role is to apply the law to the facts of the case before it and, in the case of the Supreme Court, provide guidance to the lower courts so that they can resolve difficult and consequential legal questions. Judge Gorsuch understands the difference between the judge, the legislator, and the citizen, and that’s reflected in his work on the bench.

Third, Judge Gorsuch’s written opinions are simply brilliant. They are digestible to lawyers and non-lawyers alike—and this is crucial because the judiciary belongs to everyone in the country, not just attorneys. Two cases in particular stand out.

"He is a judge's judge. He is the type of judge who believes that the law has right answers and that the law is not simply a tool to achieve political goals."

In 1984, when the Court decided Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., they did not know they were issuing what would become one of the most cited cases in Court history. Chevron held that courts must defer to an agency interpretation of a statute if the statute is ambiguous. The problem with Chevron, as Judge Gorsuch pointed out in his dissent in Gutierrez-Brizuela v. Lynch, is that Chevron divests the courts of their obligation to “say what the law is,” as former Chief Justice John Marshall wrote in the seminal case Marbury v. Madison. It has led to a system in which executive agencies not only make the law and enforce the law but also interpret it. This is an egregious violation of the separation of powers at the heart of our constitutional republic.

Another notable case, in which Gorsuch was the lone dissenter, involved an 11-year old student who was arrested for generating fake burps in class. Gorsuch concluded that clearly established law prevented the arrest and that the child’s parents should prevail in a lawsuit against the school officials who called the police. This common-sense reasoning is far too rare in our justice system these days.

This Supreme Court vacancy was a central issue in the 2016 election and the people have now spoken. I plan to honor the election results by working as hard as I can to ensure that the Senate confirms Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, and I urge Americans of all political stripes to do the same.

Inauguration Day 2017

No matter your political affiliation; No matter your personal beliefs on many issues; Today is a great day in American history.
Today, January 20th, 2017, is Inauguration Day. The day our new 45th President, Donald Trump, took the Oath of Office of President of the United States.

His speech was focused on normal, everyday Americans who work hard to provide a living for millions of households across the country. He desires to bring back stability to American jobs, a greater military presence, greater domestic product output and a greater focus on healing the country from many disparate ills.

Some television commenters called his speech "isolationist." I can see their point. However, isn't that what this country needs? We need to focus on actually improving our educational system, honoring our veterans healthcare needs, providing jobs for Americans to fill (rather than foreign nationals), return factories of US goods to US shores, expand the middle class once again and focus on truly making the country great once more by actually focusing on US.

I realize that many people are afraid of Trump as President. However, they have zero proof for that fear; only assumptions, suppositions and unfounded alarm.

While the Inauguration Day protesters have every right to protest, they too are protesting nothing. They are going on fear alone. Fear of what, exactly? Fear of tamping down on Illegal immigration? Fear of putting the domestic self interests of the United States ahead of that of foreign nations? Fear of a President who actually works FOR the people?

Until President Trump has actually screwed up, their protests are in vain.

As the new era of the United States begins, we should all give President Trump the benefit of doubt as he begins leading this country forward. We have a new opportunity to grow stronger as a whole; to rise above the internal conflict of the Obama years and become one people once more. To that end...

May God Bless the United States and guide us all towards a peaceful, prosperous future.

And, may God Bless our new President, Donald J Trump, that he may lead us with temperance and foresight, and help restore this great country to respected prominence in the world; a shining beacon to other nations. And may he lead with the Lord as his counselor through fervent prayer and humble heart.

This is my hope for our new President.

David Barton, One Nation Under God

This folks, is REAL and TRUE American history; the actual tenents that the United States is founded upon. Now, there will be some who watch this and shout that this is not real, but fabricated to appease the movement behind a Christian heritage. You can do that. But ultimately, this history shows the inspired men who founded our great country, and why we are the most prosperous nation on the earth.
Like it or not, this is each citizen's history.

Please take the time to watch this incredible and enlightening presentation!

Guilty By Association: The LGBT Community Sinks to a New Low

Today, the HGTV network had to issue a statement that they support the LGBT community and do not tolerate any homophobic actions by anyone in their employ, blah, blah, blah. This in response to a report that network stars Chip and Joanna Gaines (Fixer Upper) happen attend the church of a pastor (Jimmy Seibert) who has dared openly oppose homosexuality and the LGBT movement in general. (Gasp! How dare he!) Someone looking for an excuse to attack the Gaines has basically made them guilty by association, without any proof whatsoever other than knowing the church they attend.

Chip and Joanna Gaines, to their credit, have not responded to the allegation instead, allowing the network to issue a response. This whole thing smacks of intolerant hatred.
Here is my response...

"Let me get this right...

The Gaines attend a church service whose pastor is anti gay....so they are guilty by association.

They have done nothing--so far as we know--against anyone....but are guilty by association.

They treat everyone on their show with dignity and respect...but are guilty by association.

As far as we know, they have never said a word about their stance on the LGBT thing, so they are still... guilty by association.

Now, the HGTV Network must defend their employees who are nothing more than...guilty by association.

This is ludicrous! The LGBT folks need to just leave people alone. In their quest for "Equality," they are damaging lives, the income of families, the business reputations of many, and for what? To salve their hurt feelings that someone may not agree with their chosen personal lifestyle? Seriously?!

This country is, and always has been, a melting pot of cultures and thoughts. What these LGBT groups just don't get is that it takes everyone in this great melting pot to respect their fellow citizens even when opinions run contrary to their own.

With Chip and Joanna Gaines, someone seems to be looking for a way to bring pain to this good couple simply because of the church they attend. Where is the respect in that? Without a shred of proof, they declare the Gaines guilty by association and expect everyone to jump on their band wagon of hate...which is exactly what they wanting.

"Oh no, this person is homophobic so we're going to go out and destroy their income just so we can feel better about ourselves!"  That line of thinking is all about HATE. Plain and simple hate. The very groups that worked against hate for so many years, are resorting to using hate against anyone they deem 'hateful, bigoted, homophobic, whatever.' How they can sleep at night with a clear conscience is beyond me.

The term "Live and let live" is aptly applied here. The LGBT groups just need to leave people alone. They need to stop looking for offences and go about bettering their own lives. Instead of any real and substantial fact, they are now seeming to go on insinuation and guilt by association. Again, they just need to stop. If not, their antics could be seen as that of hate groups whose only goal is to punish those who fail to support their line of thinking. Sound like any real hate groups in our history?"

Another Athiest Attack on Religion

A story today from the Washington Post ("A Court’s Cross to Bear: Memorial Monument or Religious Endorsement?" by Ann E Marimow)  highlights the fight of an atheist group to declare a WWI war memorial in Maryland an endorsement of a single religion by the government. Though I won't go into the specifics of the case, the whole thing just seems to be a whine-fest by a few atheists who are demanding they get their way rather than accommodating a memorial display that has been in public view for nearly a century.

I responded to the article with the following post:

"No one is making the atheists look at memorials; no one is making anyone pray; no one is forcing anyone to believe in anything. A cross is a cross and does NOT endorse a single religion. If one checked, I'm positive that all the men that memorial represents are NOT from a single religion.

The First Amendment has been twisted from its original mean of Freedom OF Religion to Freedom FROM Religion. The intent was to allow all people to worship freely--if they choose, and to allow others to not worship. However, for those that DO worship, they should be allowed to practice their faith without restraint, or fear of retribution or intimidation.

For those who scream 'Separation of Church and State,' I remind everyone that this phrase is NOT FOUND ANYWHERE in the Constitution, Bill of Rights of the Declaration of Independence. In Fact, God is mentioned no less than five times in the Declaration. While God is not reference in the Constitution (aside from the inference in the First Amendment), EVERY State Constitution DOES reference God in some manner. (Look it up for yourself.)

Christianity itself is NOT a single religion, as these groups claim. There are many religions here in the US, as there always have been. The government does in no way endorse a single religion. Therefore, the cross cannot be an endorsement of a single religion, as is forbidden by law; just as the Ten Commandments is NOT an endorsement of a single religion. The Commandments are embraced by most religions as they are a moral compass that makes us all good and decent people. After all, who can argue that murder is bad, that lying is unethical, that adultery can have dire consequences, that treating your fellow man with dignity and respect is a good thing, etc?

I have never told an atheist that they are foolish, or bad or unworthy of friendship or in any way less than anyone else. Can the atheists say the same about those they attack?

Freedom of Religion is not just about those who worship. It is a give and take between those who do, and those who do not. Respecting the "inalienable rights" is vital to both sides; yet the atheists seem intent on destroying the opposing side even though the freedom to worship is guaranteed by law. How is their (the atheists) goal of limiting religion just so they can feel comfortable NOT an impingement of the rights of those who choose TO worship? They demand their "Rights" yet give no leeway so others can enjoy theirs. How is this a fair and equal treatment under the law? If these various atheist groups have their way, Freedom of Religion would be nonexistent  just so they could go about life without having to be subjected to thoughts, ideas, sights and sounds that make them "feel less," or like supposed "second class citizens."

If atheists feel like that, then just maybe they place too much importance on the opinions of others rather than taking it upon themselves to accept the responsibility of respecting the rights and beliefs of others and accordingly, accommodate the Rights of every other citizen.  After all, no one is forcing anyone to believe in religion, no one is forcing them to read the Ten Commandments, step foot in a church, evoke God in any way, to pray or any other invocation, recitation or involvement in or of religion or personal belief.

Both sides of the argument have a point. However, by seeking to restrict Freedom of Religion, the balance is lost and the power of the First Amendment is diminished, and the will of our Founding Fathers is trampled upon. The specifics of the First Amendment were written for a reason. The history behind their inclusion is well documented. All you need to do is read legitimate historical [non-secular revisionist] sources to understand the reasons our Founders placed such importance on "Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Religion, Freedom to Petition the Government, Freedom of Assembly and the Freedom of Speech" (Article III of the First Amendment--NOT in order).

I completely agree that atheist have their rights. However, when they trample of the rights of fellow citizens, then their position is tenuous and the legitimacy of their claims is lessened.

Unfortunately, the Courts will decide the outcome of the argument rather than simply referencing our Founding Documents and allowing the foresight of the Founding Fathers to guide us all."

The Newly Elected President of the United States

Wednesday, 09 November, 2016.

The latest U.S. General Election is finally over. All those months of political bickering and grandstanding are finished. All the lies coming out of Hillary Clinton's mouth are silenced...for now. All the mud smearing television ads are suddenly off the air. America can finally get back to what's most important...
...our families and day to day living.

In the end, the President-Elect turned out to be Donald Trump, the businessman with zero political experience candidate who was unbelievably elected by voters who are sick and tired of the lala land so many D.C. politicians live in that they no longer seem to represent "the people," instead serving up their best legislative efforts for Special Interests, Big Business and just about everything else that works against the best interest of the American people.

As for Hillary Clinton, her loss came at her own hands. All the lies, scandals, selective memory lapses, attacking the Constitution and Bill of Rights, serious healthy questions and so much more; these all came back to haunt the former First Lady, denying her the chance to become the first woman elected as President. In the end, she has innumerable character flaws that voters just could not ignore. While Trump may not have been a good alternative to Clinton, the issues broiling around the Democratic nominee were just too questionable to pass off as the rumors or innuendo of political activists intent of destroying "Killary," as she is called in various political videos produced to deny her the presidency.

In Congress, the Republican party is enjoying dominating both Houses for the first time in years. Along with a Republican in the White House, it will be quite interesting to see the cooperation between the two on partisan legislation and possibly getting this country back on the right track following the disastrous eight years of King Obama's reign.

While the Republican Majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate may not be a huge number, the fact that a single Party controls Congress is great for the American people who have seen nothing but bipartisan bickering on every issue since Obama was first elected.

This election cycle will also have a very long-lasting impact on the US Supreme Court. With one judge already missing, and six more who are over the age of 80, the next President will shape the future of the United States by their selections of Supreme Court Nominee's and their political leanings. With an Obama nominee already selection awaiting possible confirmation hearings, the likelihood of the Senate even convening for the Hearings is minuscule, at best.

President-elect Trump must make a selection as soon as he is sworn in, as the Confirmation Hearings can take months to complete.

Then, sometime in the next four years, President Trump will be called upon to nominate up to six more men a/o women to fill the vacated seats. If these nominees were all liberals, we could expect a High Court that regards the Constitution as a so-called "Living Document" that changes with the times and takes in the societal mores that most citizens rebuke, but a few of whom would push their personal agendas on the whole Country via what I term, "Legislation through Litigation."

By nominating Conservative-leaning judges to fill any seat of the US Supreme Court, President Trump will be returning to the days when the rule of law actually meant something, and the Supreme Court upheld the principles the United States was Founded upon, laying aside agendas and Legislation through Litigation.

This election, once thought to be historic with the possible election of a female President, is still historic in nature...it's just not how most everyone assumed it would be; instead potentially historic in cooperation and legislation between the White House and the Capitol building, and in the legal landscape decades from now through careful nomination and selection of Supreme Court Justices.

Now, more than ever, we need the blessings of Almighty God to rain down upon us to straighten our course, reaffirm our national priorities and set us once again firmly atop the pillar above the world upon which the Government "of the people, by the people and for the people" will continue to thrive, and the Republic which was founded so long ago, will regain its strength and purpose and elevate all men in ways we cannot comprehend. 

Excuses for Baseball Pitcher's Jose Fernandez's Death

Last month Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed when his speed boat impacted a jetty in a waterway somewhere in the Miami area. Along with Fernandez, two friends also lost their lives. It was called a tragedy, baseball fans and players alike mourned his death as this young man had just begun to see the potential that lied within him.

Today, we get the autopsy results that showed Fernandez was legally drunk (twice the legal limit!), and had cocaine in his system, as well. So instead of being a mere tragedy, we see that this was a totally preventable incident. However, instead of people addressing the cause of the accident, they are making excuses for Fernandez, summing up his actions as 'youthful indiscretion' and other such ridiculous excuses.

In an article this morning on MSN Sports entitled, "Autopsy Can't Alter Grief in Jose Fernandez Death," the writer of the article, Bob Nightengale from USA Today Sports, asserts with an attitude that can only be described as sensational excuse-making writes,

"Still, no matter what comes out of all of the investigations, one thing will never change: It won’t bring back Fernandez, 24, or his two friends.

   It also should not change our feelings, the excruciating heartbreak, the outpouring of grief we all felt when the moment we found out he was killed.
   Sure, Fernandez and his buddies never should have been on that boat that night, stopping first at a bar, and then getting back into his boat at 2:30 in the morning, speeding along Miami Beach, until hitting that jetty at full speed, instantly killing all three.

  Still, haven’t we all done something stupid in life? Haven’t we all been careless?

  It was no different two years ago when St. Louis Cardinals prized prospect Oscar Taveras was killed in a car accident in the Dominican Republic during the World Series. We grieved, and several weeks later, the autopsy report revealed that he was drunk when he crashed, killing himself and his girlfriend.
  “People make mistakes,’’ St. Louis Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said. “But when you’re dead, you’re dead.
   “The worst part about Oscar’s death, is that another person died.’’
...That Fernandez had cocaine and enough alcohol to significantly impair his decision-making shouldn’t take away our pain.
...Sure, we can be mad. We can scream to the heavens, asking why no one bothered to stop these three young men from getting into that boat? We can direct anger towards Fernandez for being so careless, particularly as a soon-to-be father with a girlfriend five months pregnant.

   But, please, don’t let the results of an autopsy alter your grieving process.
   When Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock was killed in a one-person car accident on Interstate 64 in St. Louis in 2007, the Cardinals were devastated. When it turned out that his blood-alcohol level was 0.157, nearly twice the legal limit, with 8.55 grams of marijuana found in his SUV, nothing changed.
  “Everybody makes mistakes,’’ said Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, who was arrested for drunk driving a month before Hancock’s death. “Most times, you don’t pay that kind of price.’’

  Cardinals scouting director Randy Flores, one of Hancock’s closest friends, who spoke at his funeral, called it one of the most difficult, challenging times of his life. When the autopsy report came out, it didn’t change a thing.
  The tears didn’t dry up. The heart didn’t hurt less. The pain remained the same.
   “All you knew was that your friend, who we all loved,’’ Flores says, “was gone.
   “That’s all that mattered.’’

    It’s no different now.
   All that matters is that Fernandez, Macias and Rivero are gone.
   And no amount of autopsy reports, lawsuits, or blame, can ever bring them back.
   That’s the tragedy."

The tragedy here, unlike the assertion that Nightengale makes, is that the death of Fernandez and friends was 100% preventable. Making excuses for bad choices only exacerbates the problem of drugs and alcohol.

I made the following comment on the story:

"Excuses, excuses, excuses.
With this revelation we now know that Fernandez made an obvious series of choices that led to his death, along with two others.
I hope this is a wake up call to people who believe themselves above the consequences of poor decision-making. It may not catch up to them now; but it WILL catch up to them, leaving families to grieve, and/or be impacted financially for decades with hefty medical bills in order to care for a son or daughter, husband or wife left paralyzed and unable to breath on their own, move or speak.
Excuses for Fernandez's behavior will only encourage similar choices in others.
This needs to be talked about frankly, openly, truthfully and in no uncertain terms...directly and bluntly. Maybe, if talks about this happen in that fashion, a few teens/young adults/everyone else will make better choices when it comes to using drugs, alcohol and anything else they use to "have fun."
Let's hope so."