The Morality of Voting for Trump. Really

What a conundrum! Hillary - fuggeddaboudit. But Trump? I am alternately resigned and choking on this. Wayne Gruden has written a long piece worth reading for my fellow Christians who have not gotten past the choking stage. He examines why supporting a clearly flawed candidate is nevertheless the moral choice in this election. See if it gets you past the guttural stage for November.

townhall.com/columnists/waynegrudem/2016/07/28/why-voting-for-donald-trump-is-a-morally-good-choice-n2199564

Definitions are Everything

Pope Francis said yesterday that "every religion wants peace." Well, maybe but it sort of depends on how the term is defined. For example, hypothetically of course, for a religion that requires killing any all infidels that believe differently than they do, it is very peaceful if everyone else is dead. Perhaps the Pope may want to have a discussion with leaders of other major world religions to further define the term "peace." Just saying.  

www.breitbart.com/london/2016/07/27/pope-francis-every-religion-wants-peace/

Losing Streak

Marilyn Mosby, the Maryland state prosecuting attorney in the Freddy Gray case in Baltimore, is 0 for Baltimore Police Department. All officers have either been acquitted or had charges dropped relating to his death after arrest during riots in Baltimore but not until the city had paid Freddy Gray's relatives $3.4 M for absolutely nothing. Is there no limit to what Democrats will do to stay in power? I guess we know the answer to that question. 

www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/07/27/report-prosecutors-drop-all-charges-in-heroin-trafficker-freddie-gray-case/

Pillars of International Law

Earlier this month an international tribunal ruled that China's claim to its islands in the South China Sea was bogus and China has been hopping up and down mad since then. Ever eager to show its respect for international law, the Russians have joined the Chinese in a joint military exercise to emphasize that China has no intention of giving up its made-from-scratch territories. Obviously, in view of their civilized response, the U.S. can continue blithely cutting its military budget in full assurance of compliance with international norms by these two model citizens.  

townhall.com/tipsheet/justinholcomb/2016/07/28/russia-disrespects-obama-once-again-joins-chinese-navy-in-south-china-sea-for-joint-training-n2199123

Signs of Life

A new poll shows Bud Pierce in pretty much a dead heat with current Governor Kate Brown. Amazing. This is the time for Pierce to get a leg up in the race instead of waiting for the traditional Labor Day campaign start. It would be nice to have some momemtum going into the debate with Brown, who is not particularly good on her feet. Pierce is a decent guy and would make a good first Republican Governor since 1985.

www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/07/new_poll_shows_oregon_governor.html#incart_river_home

A Heartbeat from the Presidency

Here is a backgrounder on Mike Pence from someone who knows him personally. Rebecca Hagelin's writes regularly in Townhall and is a conservative Christian. She knows him from his work in Congress about which she says:

"But I am clear about the the Mike Pence that I came to know personally from my work in Washington, DC. As a Congressman, he stood firm for the rights of the preborn, small business, and the biblical definition of marriage. He fought against government healthcare and federal control of education. He was a champion of economic freedom, limited government and a strong national defense. He was, and is, inspirational and visionary, and incredibly skillful at fighting the liberal machine and bureaucracy."

And she knows him personally by living in his neighborhood:

"I often saw Mike and his wonderful wife, Karen, strolling hand-in-hand as they went for evening walks through our neighborhood. He was a "regular guy," who always made time to strengthen his family amidst the busyness of life. His was, and is, a calling to fight for the policies that will strengthen all families. And fight he does. His record is sterling, both as a national leader, a neighbor, and a family man."

Hagelin was a Cruz supporter and sorely disappointed when he lost. She has criticized Trump on numerous occasions but the selection of Mike Pence has changed her mind, especially considering the alternative, and she now supports the ticket. In closing she notes:

"Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and the Democratic Party seek to destroy the very freedoms and rich Judeo Christian principles upon which our nation thrives. Now that Donald Trump has chosen Mike Pence, we have a ticket that offers hope for the restoration of this precious gift from God called, "America". For me, the choice is now clear."

Amen. 

townhall.com/columnists/rebeccahagelin/2016/07/16/pence-choice-offers-hope-for-america-n2193726

Talking Mules

I have major differences with Donald Trump. I have even bigger issues with Hillary Clinton. Donald Rumsfeld, W's Defense Secretary, had this to say about the choice: 

"The stakes are enormous. The choices are you can not vote, which as I say if you believe in Democracy is clearly the wrong choice, you can vote for a third party and known you’re going to lose which is kind of like not voting but it’s worse because you end up helping or hurting somebody when you don’t even know who it’s going to be—it’s like three quarters billiards and the balls are going to bounce around and you’re going to be surprised and affect things in a way that is adverse to your interests, or one of the two of them [Trump or Clinton]. And anyone who expects to agree 100 percent—I mean, look, everyone has a right to vote however they want. It’s a secret ballot and they can do what they want. A lot of the people who have spoken out against Mr. Trump are friends of mine, people I’ve worked with, people I respect—and it’s their perfect right to do that. For me, it’s not complicated. I put on a scale ‘who do I agree with most,’ ‘who do I disagree with most,’ and ‘who do I think would be the most damaging to our country’ and there’s no question that four more years of the Obama-Clinton approach to government—and the corruption we’ve seen—and the kinds of people who would be put in government or on the Supreme Court make it not a close call for me, despite any differences I may have with Mr. Trump. I expect differences."

That about says it for me as well. I'm not happy with the choice but you do the best you can under the circumstances. And pray. If God can use a talking ass for His purposes, He can use Donald Trump. 

www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/07/15/exclusive-donald-endorses-donald-rumsfeld-says-not-even-tough-call-support-trump-president/