DOES YOUR WORD MEAN SOMETHING?

            By giving your word you put your integrity, character, honesty and honor on the line. When you violate your word you trash all the rest. Such is the case with noted politicians.

            Early in the nomination selection for the President of the United States 17 Republican candidates took a pledge to support the nominee of the Republican Party. Of the 16 seeking the nomination—all professional politicians, they sought to have such a pledge mandated for one purpose only and that was to control Donald J. Trump.

            It was feared that Trump, being Trump, would bolt from the Republican Party and run on a third party ticket. By making such a pledge supporting the eventual nominee, it was believed that Trump would fade into the sunset and not interfere with those who have made politics their own private power source. This power controls everything else including money (and who gets it), control of peoples’ lives, laws that benefit only those who support the ideals of those who wish to maintain their personal treasure and comfort among other things. The idea of the “little people” sounds great but in reality the true idea is to keep the multitude under the thumb of government. And it is government that these professional politicians cherish.

            But lo and behold, Trump didn’t fade into the sunset. One by one he knocked off each of the 16 rivals and emerged with the big prize—the Nomination of the Republican Party for President of the United States!

            And so it came about that several of the former nominee seekers who demanded that a promise to support the eventual nominee decided that their word meant nothing.

            Governor John Kasich of Ohio made it clear that he would not support Trump even though he prided himself as a signer of the promise to support the eventual nominee. Petulantly he would not even attend the RNC convention held in his hosting state. Apparently he prefers sitting in the State Capital and suck his thumb. For many of us who once thought he would make a marvelous candidate since he excelled in leadership as both as a United States Congressman and governor in his own state, we are now disappointed that he would abdicate his word and adopt the lower ground.

            And there is Jed Bush. Again we believed him a good and truthful man worthy of nomination. Unfortunately he has shown his true colors. As a Bush he apparently believed that the nomination for the Presidency was his and his alone since his brother and father once held the office. He like the others, also decided that his world meant nothing. As a consequence he also turned his back on all the qualities that make an honest person keep their word.

            From the offshoot Senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, made no bones about his hatred of Donald Trump. His attacks were personal and cutting. He seems to forget that he never was considered an effective presidential candidate by the people. He like the others decided to pick up his marbles and leave the playing field rather than endorse his chosen enemy. As a professional politician he believes an amateur as Trump isn’t worthy to run for the nation’s highest office. Whereas Trump embraces love of country Graham centers his love on holding public office. And what has he and his professional political colleagues in the U.S. Senate delivered? It seems very little.

            And finally there is Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. His performance at the RNC Convention can only be described as hypocritical. He also signed the pledge to support the selected Republican nominee. He also, like the others above decided that his word meant nothing.

            But like Kasich he was playing a card game of his own. He, like Kasich, believed that if they could deny Trump the number of pledged delegates needed for a first ballot nomination they could sweep in and wrestle the nomination from Donald Trump. Both counted on a “brokered convention,” and both were proved wrong. To their dismay it didn’t happen. The one thing both of these men forgot was the overwhelming support of the American people who are tired of the broken promises of the professional politicians who use their own cushy offices to satisfy their own egos and lofty interests.

            So now the RNC Convention has closed and the troops are returning to their home states in preparation of a bruising showdown between Trump and Hilary Clinton, the ordained Democratic nominee.

            Next week the Democrat National Convention convenes and you can bet it will be fulfilled with unbelievable promises and attacks on Trump whether the facts are true or not.

            In comparing the candidates as objectively as possible the difference between the two couldn’t be more diametrically opposed. Trump, the amateur politician has performed incredible success in the business world. Many will cite his brutal negotiation skills as a defect. Perhaps, however, this is what is needed when talking to our enemies.

            As far as his being “bought” forget it. Not only did he personally fund much of his own campaign he faced every bigoted inquiry by television and radio interviewers without resorting to speaking in political dodge-the-question gibberish. His wealth protects him from influence from lobbyist who has taken over most of our government representatives. He is a straight talker who shoots from the hip—a quality that makes a lot of politicians nervous. But one thing for sure, he is respected as a person who gets the job done.

            Clinton’s baggage is well known. There isn’t enough room in this column to list her defects both personally and professionally. For her corruption and dishonesty both are linked as one. Like Jeb Bush she believes she is entitled to the office of the Presidency of the United States of America.

            This column once stated that there is no one more obtuse than the average American voter. Perhaps this election in November will prove this point to be right. Hopefully we will be proved wrong.