Is Donald Trump Presidential Material?

My friends, your troubled Peasant is seeing
more and more conservatives, both in the
Republican Party and not, flocking to
Donald Trump. Although I understand why,
I want to state my case here and now for
reconsidering supporting his presidential
campaign.

I realize that the billionaire candidate
says many things that sound quite refreshing
in contrast to the noncommittal, passionless,
politically correct statements on the issues
most on the minds of Americans and conserva-
tives in particular. Trump has said things that
people have longed to hear from the other
presidential candidates from both parties but
have not and are not likely to (especially from
the Democrats). Trump has called for action
regarding securing our borders and expelling
immigrants who have engaged in criminal
behavior after illegally arriving in our country.
He has spoken out against bad trade pacts,
especially the Trans-Pacific Partnership
agreement which President Obama is trying
to have passed and enacted with alacrity.
And Trump has blasted the nuclear arms
pact with Iran, which would only delay
for a very short time Iran's ability to arm
itself with nuclear weaponry, which it would
LOVE to use against our only true ally
in the Middle East, Israel, as well as to threaten
doing so along with other atrocities if the West
doesn't cave in to Iranian demands on other
issues. But Donald Trump's conservatism is
only quite new, and is about a mile wide while
only an inch deep.

All you have to do is examine Trump's political
history, and you needn't go back many years.
Trump has openly supported and given money
to many Democrat candidates for public office,
including the presidency. He not only donated
money to Hillary Clinton's successful Senate
campaign but hosted a fundraising party for her,
at which he mugged for photographs with her and
her ex-president hubby Bill. Trump had been quite
complimentary to President Obama upon his winning
the presidency and in his governance during his
first term. Trump also took the liberal side on many
social issues including abortion. And Trump supported
increasing taxes on businesses and business owners
and investors (now here's an old ploy used by many
wealthy business tycoons and investors that they
make to stifle rival businesses in their industries while
either paying the higher taxes without even a wince,
as they have the cash and the income to afford to do so
with little if any hardship, while other businesses would
be rendered unable to innovate, expand, or in some
cases, simply maintain their positions and remain
operational) to shore up the nation's deficit and debt
levels.

But now that he has declared himself a republican and a
candidate for that party's presidential nomination Trump
has done an about face on all of the aforementioned,
including engaging in a limited war of words and potshots
with Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton. And to some
in the GOP and their voters, as well as to conservative
independents, it all rings hollow. Your detail-minded
Peasant has commented here not long ago about Trump's
past presidential campaigns which he quickly launched
and even more quickly ended when it got to the point where
he would have to get serious about the issues and begin
staking out his positions and starting his campaign in earnest.
Well, this time he has stuck with it for more than a few weeks,
but along the way he has shown bombast, braggadocio,
petulance, and made childish verbal attacks on detractors and
debate moderators, as well as on a disabled reporter for the
New York Times, whom Trump had mimicked by
imitating his stature and movements affected by the man's
disability. All this following his suggesting that Megyn
Kelly, moderator of the first Republican candidates' debate,
was behaving aggressively toward Trump because it was
her womanly "time of the month". Yes, he really did say that.

And as for how he'd handle our economic difficulties and how
he'd manage our national budget, Trump has had four businesses
in his holdings go bankrupt with Trump pocketing millions
of dollars while leaving investors, creditors, vendors, and
employees holding empty bags.

In summation, Donald Trump has not been behaving in a
manner appropriate for a presidential candidate --- or a
president. And with his opportunistic 180s on some key
issues, along with his self-congratulatory musings on
his business activities and his handling of the biggest
political issues of the day, Donald Trump is fit not for
the highest elected office in the land, but rather for another
TV show, one in which he is the star, the main or only
act, and his biggest fan. As for his enthusiastic supporters,
some of whom are prominent, nationally known conservatives
(including some radio talk show hosts), please, please, PLEASE
do your homework on Trump and any other candidate that may
appeal to you before giving them your allegiance and support!
Research a candidate like you would a political issue; get all
the background, marshal all the facts, weigh everything on
your inner scale and then make your selection. One must be
thorough and methodical in choosing a presidential candidate,
for so much is at stake when you're helping to elect our nation's
top governmental official, as he or she will also be the face of
our government to the nation and to the world.


MEM

Maureen O'Hara, R.I.P.

A great Irish lady, a beloved film actress in her native
land and here in the United States as well as all around
the world, a fine singer of the songs of land of her birth,
and a gleaming icon, Maureen O'Hara, passed away on
October 24 at the age of 95. She had blazed an indelible
trail from Dublin to Hollywood, leaving a grand legacy
as an entertainer, a businesswoman, and as a person who
gave back to the arts which made her a star.

Your ever-lovin' Peasant being a big film fan, Maureen
O'Hara was my very favorite actress, having made cinematic
magic with my very favorite actor, John Wayne, giving me
as they did millions of other movie lovers adventurous and
romantic thrills to last many lifetimes; ever since I first
saw this gorgeous red-haired spitfire in a movie during
my boyhood I had a huge crush on her! Before Diana
Rigg, Lynda Carter, Elizabeth Hurley and Lucy Lawless,
Maureen O'Hara was the gold standard for stunningly
gorgeous actresses! Even in her final years she still
commanded attention for her exquisite features!

Born Maureen FitzSimons on August 17, 1920, she caught
the acting bug early in life; her mother was a noted stage
actress and had been a great influence. After taking acting
lessons, O'Hara went for a screen test. Although it was not
successful, famed British actor Charles Laughton saw some-
thing in the fiery red-head and arranged for her to appear
with him in the 1939 film Jamaica Inn, directed by Alfred
Hitchcock. O'Hara would later join her benefactor in
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which was released that same
year. From there, O'Hara would receive many film offers, and
went on to build her incredible career.

Having been in movies with the other greats of the day, such
as Tyrone Power, Henry Fonda, James Stewart, Douglas
Fairbanks, Jr., and a very young Natalie Wood (appearing
together in the charming Christmas story A Miracle on 34th Street),
O'Hara is most closely associated with iconic American
actor John Wayne, having co-starred in Irish classic
The Quiet Man (1952) as well as several fine westerns,
many made by legendary Irish-American director John Ford
(who also directed The Quiet Man). O'Hara loved her adopted
country as much as her native one, and she especially loved
appearing in movies with Wayne, the actor who most closely
represented American strength, determination, decency, and
promise.

O'Hara would also receive an honorary Oscar in 2014, only the
second actress (after Myrna Loy) to receive one having never
been nominated for an Oscar. A slight beautifully rectified by
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences!

Married three times, her third marriage was her happiest, her
husband being retired Air Force General Charles F. Blair Jr.
who was a noted pioneer of transatlantic aviation and CEO of
the U.S. Virgin islands-based airline Antilles Air Boats.
Upon his death in a plane crash due to engine failure, O'Hara
was elected to succeed her husband as the CEO and President
of the airline, making her the first woman to be the president of
a scheduled airline in the U.S.


When her long-time colleague and close friend John Wayne died
in 1979, O'Hara addressed Congress urging them to honor Wayne
with a Congressional medal awarded to American civilians for
their endeavors in a field which benefit the country and her people.
Wayne's movies exemplified the American spirit which helped make
our country and our way of life, and O'Hara pointed this out with
great pride and love. The medal was soon after cast.

In her eighties O'Hara wrote her autobiography, " 'Tis Herself",
in which she shared events and other tidbits about herself that
even her most die-hard fans (like your favorite Peasant) never
had an inkling of. A wonderful book for fans, both of Maureen
O'Hara and of movies!

A remarkable actress, a remarkable woman with fiery passions both
on and off the silver screen, Maureen O'Hara made her native Ireland
and her adopted country the United States proud to claim her as their
own. This dual citizen of these great countries, this queen of the
big screen, this unforgettable lady is now reunited with her husband,
with her old friend John Wayne, and with many other relations,
friends, and colleagues in perfect peace. Rest in peace, lovely
Irish rose, in the Land of Peace Unending.


MEM

Thanksgiving Thoughts

My fantastic readers, let us give thanks and praise
here at Thanksgiving but also throughout the year,
for our countless blessings.

Of all the many blessings which we enjoy, let us be
especially thankful for living in the most free, the most
prosperous, the most righteous nation in this big wide
world: The United States of America. A place where
we can be whatever we want to be; do whatever we
want to do; go wherever we want to go, within or
outside of our borders; worship when, where, and
how we want to; have whatever we want to have;
and speak freely and unreservedly on whatever
topic we feel so moved to speak out on. Let us hold
these thoughts in our minds while we prepare to tuck
into our Thanksgiving turkeys and geese, the potatoes,
the green beans, the carrots, the dinner rolls and butter,
and the rich desserts (and let us be thankful for being
able to enjoy so much good food as well!). We have
so much and therefore so much to be thankful for!

God bless you all, my beautiful readers!
And God bless America!


MEM

A Terrible Redux

Paris has been attacked again, and by radical Islamists
as last time. ISIS claimed credit for this, their latest
attack outside of their core territory of Syria and Iraq,
in which they took hostages in a concert hall and killed
some of them. They also attacked other sites in the
City of Lights, and the death toll is still climbing as I type
this piece. All this took place on Friday, November 13,
a day which proved all too frighteningly well to be unlucky
for the beautiful capital city of France.

This comes ten months after the attack on Paris-based
magazine Charlie Hebdo in which the editor of the
publication and ten other staff members were shot
and killed while eleven others were wounded by two
Islamic extremists who took issue with CH's satirical
missives against their faith and a likeness of the prophet
Mohammed displayed on the cover of an issue in which
the magazine's stinging takes on both had appeared.
Your outraged Peasant shall have more to say regarding
this latest tragedy in due course but for now wants to ask
you, my grand readers, to keep Paris and her people in your
prayers; please pray for comfort for the afflicted and justice
to be meted out to the savage perpetrators of this latest
atrocity.

Merci.


MEM

A Prayer for Our Veterans

My friends, I want to do something different
for this Veterans Day to honor our brave veterans,
past and present. So I shall share with you this
beautiful prayer for our brave fellow Americans.
This lovely prayer outdoes everything that your
appreciative Peasant has said on past Veterans
Days, as well as anything further that I could
say this Veterans Day. I know not its author,
but this prayer is a heartfelt tribute to all our
selfless, patriotic veterans who have helped us
to be and to remain a free country which bows to
no one but our Heavenly Father.


Almighty God,

You are our Creator and Sustainer.

You are our Light and our Fortress.

You are our Wisdom and our Strength.

Lord, you moved upon men to establish this great
nation. You stirred men to hope and to dream for a
land of freedom. We praise for this great nation.

Lord, you have inspired many of our best and brightest
to volunteer to proudly stand and defend our beloved
country. You have given us brave and loyal men and
women who have steadfastly served in their chosen
branch of our military.

We gather today to remember our military personnel.
We acknowledge that their service enables us to walk
as free men and women in this great land.

Lord, today we seek to honor your sons and daughters
who have served or are serving our country. We are
reminded that because of their service we can live in
safety.

We ask that you abundantly bless those who have
previously served. May their service time be rewarded
in every way. May they gain earthly and heavenly
blessings from their unselfish love of country.

Lord, we stop now and remember those who are currently
serving. We ask that you provide them with your protection,
your strength, and your peace. We ask that you would
abundantly provide for all their needs. We ask that you
would enable them to overcome every personal and
professional obstacle. We ask that you would protect
their families from hurt and harm.

May each of our veterans feel honored not just today but
every day.

Father, we also give special recognition to our wounded
warriors. We realize that many of our heroes are dealing
with physical and emotional wounds that occurred as a
result of their time of service to our country.

We ask that they would be given the best treatments
available and that you would add your supernatural
blessings to all the efforts given to them to help them.
We ask that you, Lord, would show them miracles as
they seek to gain health, stability, and wholeness.

We pray these things in Jesus' name,

Amen.


MEM

Halloween Greetings and Cheer!

Friends, Halloween is almost here.
Time to buy your pumpkins if you
have not already done so. Get your
carving knives ready to make some
wonderful Jack O'Lanterns, as well
as some wonderful pumpkin pies!
Put up your scarecrows, your witches,
your black cats, your ghosts, and your
other figures and figurines for decor!
Then settle back with some lovely
pumpkin latte', turn on your radio or
TV, and catch the Benghazi hearings taking
place in Congress! See the horrifying witch
Hillary Clinton lie about her part in the
tragedy, then lie to cover her lies!

And remember everything that you see and hear
from the hearings if she wins the Democrat Party's
nomination! Come Election Day you can pass
your own judgement on her and her party!
Send her off on her broom!


MEM

A Story That Should Be in the Funnies!

Om Thursday, October 15, your amused Peasant
read an article in the Wall Street Journal's Opinion
section, "Democrats Say The Economy Stinks".
This piece looked like it could have appeared in
The Onion, an online satirical publication which
makes up wonderful fall-down funny headlines
and stories which poke fun at real-life people,
places and events, but it in fact appeared in the
WSJ!

It discussed the recent Democrats' presidential
candidates' debate which had ex-First Lady (and
a few other ex-things) Hillary Clinton, U.S. Sen.
Bernie (the Socialist) Sanders, ex-U.S. Sen. Jim
Webb, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, and
ex-Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley duking it out
in what seemed to be more of "more-liberal-than-
thou" contest. As I myself listened to the event on the
radio, I can tell you that while it had many moments
where one would think, "typical of them!", there were
some genuinely funny moments to enjoy, one being
where the candidates actually admitted(!) that our
nation's economy is in crisis mode. Sen. Sanders
thundered about the American middle class
disappearing over the past 40 years with American
workers working longer hours for less wages, with
almost all of the newly created wealth accruing to
the "top 1%". Ah, yes, those dastardly one-per centers
who the lefties love to hold responsible for the
rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer,
while the middle-class slowly slips away down the
drain. And the funny bit here is the fact that not only
did the other candidates not contest Sanders' remarks,
but they each agreed with him, each saying so in so
many words!

Memo to the 2016 Democrat hopefuls: who has been in
the White house since January 2009 and is still there,
finishing his final term? Whose economic policies
have we had all this while? Hint: they bear his name
--- "Obamanomics"! What are you jerks trying to pull?
Not ALL of the country's electorate are "low information
voters"! You really believe that we are all, or are nearly
all a bunch of single-digit IQ peasants, bumpkins, and
nincompoops! If our national economy is in such sad
shape, then that is on your leader, and on YOU!

Now we have heard of candidates for public office,
having been nominated by their political party to
succeed the departing incumbents from same party,
running against their record while in office. But an
entire lineup of candidates from one party, each seeking
to succeed their incumbent, trashing his record (even
though not mentioning him by name) as if he were from
the opposition party? Really? Moreover, Gov. O'Malley
declared that the president shouldn't be held responsible
for the economy we presently have because he's not a
"magician". Really! Furthermore, the Dem candidates
all took pokes at the Republican-held Congress, blaming
them for the state of the economy, even blaming the last
GOP president, George W. Bush and his tax cuts, which
were enacted 12 years ago and have since been done
away with by the current Democrat president! Priceless!
Robert Ripley, call your office! Check out the Democrat
presidential pack who, to an individual, are using the
sickly economy which THEIR party's outgoing incumbent
president made sickly, as a talking point! A million laughs!
It would be even funnier if it were not reality! Thanks
ever so much to the Wall Street Journal for mentioning
this spectacle in its editorial section.

But the message from the Democrat presidential candidates
is no laughing matter: In the six years we so far have had of
this misbegotten president from their own party, American
workers and their families are suffering greatly in an economy
with the snares of disappearing decent-paying jobs, stagnant
paychecks (for those that still receive them), growing
income inequality, along with a system which has been rigged
to pump even more cash into the accounts of billionaires
(many of them supporters of the current president and his party!)
while bypassing ever-toiling Working Joes and Janes.
The exact same charges that the Democrats constantly hurl at
the Republicans, even when the Dems are in power. And those
horrible one-per centers? They are, as a matter of fact, overwhelm-
ingly DEMOCRATS! Gee, my fabulous readers, wouldn't
you LOVE to hear the Dem White House chasers explain why
this is so?

When it comes to sheer disingenuousness, arrogant elitism,
raping the truth, breathtaking hypocrisy, and a complete
divorce from shame (not to mention absolute ignorance of the
word), the Democrats are the undisputed champions! And if we
don't break their hold on the presidency in 2016 We the People
will be the undisputed chumpions, and our prize will be the
very government and governance we will deserve.


MEM