Mr. Ryan, it's time for a little shame.

Monday night at his carefully orchestrated town hall meeting on CNN, while answering a question by a concerned parent Speaker of the House Paul Ryan admitted that President Trump is a bully.  He then went on to advise parents that they should do as he does, which is to shield their children from the Presidents tweets and speeches and teach them that the President’s actions are not the proper way for them to act.  This question, which prompted perhaps the most revealing of all Ryan’s answers, was overlooked by the media in their coverage because of all of the other “more important” topics discussed.  Yet without question this was the most important question and answer of Mr. Ryan’s entire “town meeting.”  Like most American’s I was brought up to believe that the President of the United States is a special leader and that we should all strive to use him as a Role Model.  We were taught that the true meaning of America is that anyone could aspire to be President and that achieving the Presidency is the highest honor anyone could achieve in the serving of our country. 

The questions that were not asked of Mr. Ryan at this carefully orchestrated town hall meeting were:  Just what does it say about the state of our society and country when the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a member of the President’s own party and the man third in line to the Presidency, admits to shielding his children from exposure to the President of the United States and advises all good parents to do the same?  What does it say about the state of our society and country when tens of millions of our citizens are disappointed in our congress?  And what does it say about the state of our society and country when tens of millions of our citizens are embarrassed of how we now look to the world?

But the real question that needed to be asked of Mr. Ryan is what are his personal feelings concerning our Presidency.  Does he believe telling other parents to shield their children from our President is sufficient without his taking action to stop the reason they need to be shielded?  Is he disappointed in Presiding over a dysfunctional Congress?  Is he embarrassed for our country?

Let me tell you how I feel Mr. Ryan, as a descendent non English speaking immigrants, and a son of a father who fought the Nazi’s and a nephew of two uncles who died from wounds received fighting the Nazi’s, and as a Veteran, and as someone who worked hard and spent my life being a good citizen, I am beyond shielding my children, disappointment in Congress and embarrassment for our country.  Because of you and Mr. Trump I am to the point of being ashamed I ever called myself a Republican and I, just like you should be, am ashamed of our President and how we look to the world.

Maybe, Mr. Ryan, you should stop worrying about how you are going to look to the “base” and start doing something to correct your mistakes.  In other words, Mr. Ryan, maybe a little shame is something you should bear.

Please stop trying to "Vote Shame Me"!

Now at the age of seventy after having spent over 40 years as a registered “Rockefeller Republican”, I find that neither major party represents my political beliefs and there now appears to be no place for me in either party because I believe they have become to polarized to allow for any form of compromise.  Having left the Republican Party and considering myself free and Independent I discovered that the Libertarian Party and its partner candidates of Johnson/Weld, come closest to supporting the policies I believe will benefit our country and its future most.  Their platform of being fiscally conservative and socially liberal has struck a chord with me.  To me it is this platform that will make an already great America greater so I am with them.

Our two party system is broken and needs to be fixed.  Neither major party really has a left, middle and a right any longer and each is being pulled either farther to the left or right by a small minority who are unwilling or unable to compromise.  This election has convinced me that we strongly need a third party to allow for those who want to support a position in the middle of the two warring major parties.  To achieve that we need to change how the Electoral College works or go to the popular vote.  A good showing by Johnson/Weld will put us on the road to that.

Most important I believe neither Clinton nor Trump will be able to govern after this election and that only Johnson/Weld will be able to move us successfully forward into the twenty first century.  I cannot imagine Clinton or Trump being able to work with a bitter and divisive Congress.  All I see if either is elected is four, or eight more years of government gridlock and the loss of American prestige and influence internationally.  Only Johnson/Weld can help us heal and move forward.

I am tired of my friends of both parties trying to “Vote Shame” me by insisting that if I vote for Johnson/Weld I will be putting either Clinton or Trump into the White House.  My reaction is that my vote counts. If you really want my vote next election put up somebody who actually has earned it, and not two candidates who are widely viewed as unethical, unqualified, and not capable of leading. Johnson/Weld have proven track records as Governors and have worked hard to earn my vote and they deserve to get it. Only they alone can heal the wounds of the 2016 election.

Concerning the Despicable Trump Statue

By now I am sure most of you have seen the despicable statue of Trump that is showing up all over the country.  If you haven't I do not want to be the one to lead you to it, so just google naked Trump statue if you are interested. 

At first I was truly offended by this statue, but eventually softened my view as I began to understand that this statue is just a new low in our downward spiral of disgusting behavior. Or, as many a pundit has pointed out, a new norm for our political communications.

 I find this statue no more offensive than the latest Trump attack on Hillary Clinton’s physical being.  His attempt to build a mental image of her being unfit because she is a 68 year old woman who lacks the physical and mental stamina to be President is what is vile.  Just look at the pictures his campaign and PACs have chosen to publish of her.  Do you think she is a feeble sick old lady who is suffering from dementia?  We all need to remember that this is only the latest of Mr. Trump’s well documented lifelong attacks on women and physically impaired people.

I am offended but I accept that this statue is nothing more or less than a “would be celebrity” trying to get publicity by making an outlandish political statement.  Where have we heard that before?

What really offends me is Trump having his campaign run by Kremlin Stooge Paul Manaford and when that fails hiring the most despicable man in the media to replace him.  If you are disgusted by this statue just wait until Mr. Bannon give you a taste of what he did while running Breitbart.

Yes the statue is disgusting and really has no place in our politics.  It is, however, a very physical representation of what Mr. Trump has moved our national discourse to.  As offended by it as I am I would much rather see it then the hate filled, vile comments immediately posted by thousands of Trump supporters concerning the columns or opinions of those who do not support Mr. Trump.  As offended by it as I am I would much rather see it then then see an administration elected to office that would ban it and restrict our rights of free expression and muzzle our free press.

Herb

I AM NOT ANYONE IMPORTANT BUT THIS IS WHY I HAVE LEFT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

Last month as millions of my fellow Republicans have and will do, I decided to leave the Republican Party.  The easy explanation would have been because of Donald Trump, but he isn’t the reason at all.  Although I believe Mr. Trump does not possess the characteristics of Morality, Integrity, Compassion and Tolerance I require in my candidate, the reason I have left the party is my total disgust in the actions of our current Republican leadership.

Over the last 8 years I have watched our party become stronger and stronger through reaching out to minorities and developing a diversified bench of young leaders who could safely lead us through the 21^st Century, creating a society that I felt confident would benefit my children, grandchildren and the populations of the United States and the World.  A group of young leaders that put my mind at ease that my generation was passing our responsibilities to the best the next generation has to offer.  Unfortunately somewhere along the way we allowed the future of the Republican Party to be placed in the hands of cowards.  Their actions of not speaking out against the worst candidate any party has ever offered for the Presidency have not only brought the Republican Party to the precipice but have also endangered our country and the stability of the world.  What is worst is trying to understand their reasoning for doing this.  It’s certainly not because they support Mr. Trump?  Is it because they don’t want to offend the millions of “new Republicans” who suddenly registered to support Mr. Trump?  Is it because they want the support of the millions of “would be” voters who didn’t know they were angry or being screwed until Mr. Trump told them that?  Can’t another Republican bring out these voters without inciting them by using disgusting rhetoric and encouraging violence?

I have left the Republican Party. Not because of Donald Trump, but because the leadership of my Party appears weak and unprincipled.  I have left the Republican Party because the leadership of my Party supports a man in public, even though they do not support him in private, who does not have the character traits of Morality, Integrity, Compassion and Tolerance that I demand in the President of the United States.  I have left the Republican Party because after years of loyalty and support the LEADERSHIP OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS CHOSEN NOT TO BE LOYAL AND SUPPORTIVE OF ME.

Mr. Ryan, Mr. McConnell and Mr. Priebus there is still time.  The Presidency is probably lost but you can still save the Party.  If you stand up and speak out you may still get me, and millions more like me, back into the Party fold.  But, if you lack the courage, all is lost and we will all have to share the shame.