7-13-2018

Insight into the Faith of Donald J Trump

This writing is directed toward Christian believers to give insight into the faith of President Donald J. Trump. I have read and recommend a newly release book – The Faith of Donald J. Trump – A Spiritual Biography for those who want to know if his faith is for real? In a nutshell – Yes.

The bible tells us than none is perfect, no not one and Donald Trump is a poster boy for imperfection, as we all are simply fallen sinful men. When he answered the call to run for President, it was something he had been considering for more than 30 years, but the timing of God was not yet.

Donald Trump is a man who seemed to have everything, a family, money, power and fame. His name is recognized worldwide through his real estate dealings and his television show, “The Apprentice”. In fact one might liken him to King David in the Old Testament where he was the least likely to ascend to the throne, yet God chose him. Only God had a different plan for Donald Trump and it was not to be a king, but a wrecking ball.

“It’s a very imperfect world, and you can’t always choose your friends. That’s life. But you can never fail to recognize your enemies.” – Donald J. Trump

America was founded on biblical principles some 240 years before the 2016 presidential election cycle began, and it was in God’s timing to bring forth someone who knew of God, yet did not have a personal relationship with God, someone like Donald Trump. It was in the fall of 2015 that conservative Pentecostal Christian business man Lance Wallnau prophesied publicly and correctly that Donald Trump would be the next president. Wallnau had no reason or pre-knowledge and had never met Trump, nor was he on any campaign staff. In fact like many of us he had been inclined toward one of the other candidates.

A fellow Pentecostal named Kim Clement was scheduled to attend a meeting at Trump Tower in 2015 and believed he had a message about Trump, but had a stroke and could not attend. Wallnau wound up being asked to attend the meeting in his stead. After traveling to Trump Tower and meeting with a group of leaders and Trump he returned home again. He still wasn’t a Trump fan but received the Word of the Lord about presidential candidate Trump while standing in his office, he heard these words: ‘Donald Trump is a wrecking ball to the spirit of political correctness.’ ” Wallnau said the words went from his left ear through to his right ear. “I heard that, and I laughed. I thought, ‘Donald Trump is a wrecking ball to the spirit of political correctness.’ So I started saying that. And that was the moment that I got behind Donald Trump. I was enthusiastic for him from that moment on.”

I have read and reread several passages in this book and it is now July 2018 and from what I see in the news, on television and on the internet it is obvious that satan and the demons of hell are behind this push against Donald Trump as he battles against these forces of evil. I am absolutely sure that God chose Donald Trump because he is a man of conviction, who does not run from confrontation, nor does he beat around the bush or say things that he does not truly believe.

Many are called, but few are chosen and in this case when God chose Donald Trump he unhesitatingly said, “Here am I Lord”.

Next I’m going to include an example from the book to make my point about Donald Trump being called and appointed by God to become President (POTUS #45)

Ch. 17 – Mr. Cyrus Meets Wrecking Ball

And early on, a line in the sand seemed to be drawn by African-Americans for any of their own community who were thinking about giving support to Trump. The message was clear: Don’t!

Enter Darrell Scott, an influential African-American Pentecostal pastor from Cleveland. Scott, who had been friends with Trump for several years, thought a false narrative about Trump had emerged, that he was a racist and a bigot. Scott worked to orchestrate a meeting between Trump and black religious leaders, to help heal the divide.

Scott also called Wallnau, whom he had met at the meeting in September, and invited him to come to the meeting with the pastors.

Before the trip Wallnau had a second experience of hearing from the Lord. “But I heard the Lord say, this second time, God spoke right to my ear, and said, ‘The next President of the United States will be the forty-fifth president, and he will be an Isaiah 45 president.’ I didn’t even know who Isaiah 45 was talking about, so I opened it up—the Bible, and it says, ‘Thus says the Lord to Cyrus whom I’ve anointed.’ Right then I knew that Donald Trump corresponds to the Cyrus character in the Bible. And that he—the wrecking ball—would be the forty-fifth president.” Wallnau read further into the chapter: “And I will build for Israel my people’s sake” and “Though you have not known me.”

“That line freaked me,” Wallnau said, because “I always teach that salvation’s free but the anointing is given by God for certain tasks, and I always thought about it as a Christian currency, of being anointed or blessed. But in this case, it says God anointed a heathen ruler. And that was the moment I realized God was going to anoint someone who doesn’t know him.”

And then Wallnau said he “thought about ‘common grace’—what the late Chuck Colson taught—that common grace is the grace that God puts upon unredeemed humanity such as judges and police and governors and rulers for the restraining of evil. If it was up to only the church to restrain evil, then the whole world would be chaos like ‘Mad Max.’ But God restrains evil through strategist .  .  . and besides that, you’re a future minority. So you should show up just for that sake.”

“But God restrains evil through common grace. Saving grace is what gets a Christian saved. One aspect of common grace is that God establishes officials—even ones who are not believers—to restrain evil in society.”

Ahead of the second meeting in New York, Wallnau told Darrell Scott all these things that he had heard and thought about. “This is something two Pentecostal preachers might talk about in a phone call with enthusiasm,” Wallnau explained, “but it’s nothing you’re going to say in front of other people.”

The day of the meeting at Trump Tower arrived.

Wallnau recalled the sense of drama in the air just before the meeting. “We’re all in that room, and you can tell there were a whole bunch of people waiting to posture themselves. I mean, 90 percent of the African-American community was politically aligned against Donald Trump. The African-American community is locked up for the Democratic Party, so you’re struggling to find the objectivity. In my opinion, most of the folks who came out to Trump Tower for that meeting would be going back to deliver a report to their people on what they had done to set Trump straight. They weren’t going there to find facts or to build bridges.”

Trump came into the room holding his Bible, the one his mother gave to him. He held it out in front of him, like a shield. He paused, looked around the room, and said with a big smile, “Most of the time I bring this Bible as a prop when I’m sharing about my mother and my faith. In this case, I’m simply holding it for protection.”

Trump took his seat at the head of the table, and the dialogue began at a fast pace. Wallnau recalled the gist of it: “We can’t have this kind of insensitivity on the campaign trail. You can’t have people beating up on African-American people. There has to be more compassion.”

Wallnau remembers there being lots of back-and-forth between Trump and the pastors. Trump explained about people who were being planted at his rallies, paid to be disruptive. He said that the campaign was instructing security to be very careful about how they handle people. And that his campaign is not against anybody.

Then Trump got everyone’s attention and asked, “Let me ask you guys a question: In your church, how do you deal with this. While you’re speaking a good sermon if someone got up in the congregation and decided to storm the pulpit to get the microphone, or take over the meeting while you’re preaching, how would you deal with it?”

Wallnau said that the reaction was instantaneous. “Nobody even stopped to say, ‘Let’s be careful how we answer this’—because, in an African-American church, the very thought of you getting up and interrupting the man—no, they’ve got more respect for the man of God, like the Catholic respects their priest. In the African-American church, you’d better respect clergy. They told Trump, ‘We’d take the person out—and we may not even be pleasant on the way out the door. We wouldn’t be worried about hurting your feelings if you’re going to try to storm the pulpit when the preacher’s preaching.’ ”

Wallnau said that Trump waited until they finished, then looked at them and said: “That’s all I’m saying. The rallies are like my church service. I’m the preacher, and I’m trying to deliver my sermon.”

“They all looked at each other,” Wallnau recalled, “and there was this silence—this awkward silence as Trump had given resolution to what seemed to be an unsolvable problem. And all the racial tensions were just, like a balloon, out of the window.”

In the midst of that awkward silence, Darrell Scott—while sitting next to Trump—turned and saw Wallnau “hiding in the corner of the room.” He called out to him, “Dr. Lance, please tell Mr. Trump that word you told me.”

Wallnau said he just froze. “You know, if I was sitting next to him, I could quietly say ‘no’—but from twenty feet away, I couldn’t. So, I asked, ‘What part?’ And he said, ‘Tell him the whole thing.’ I was like, dang.”

Wallnau remembers that he pulled his Bible out of his briefcase—“one of those big King James Bibles”—and “plopped it open to Isaiah 45.” He read the passage about Cyrus and explained how this prophecy had been spoken one hundred years before Cyrus came into office.

“I told Trump that the reason God’s hand was on him was because of the grace of God—to restrain evil. And that he would be the forty-fifth president of the United States. And when it was over, Mr. Trump knew that I had prophesied over him.”

Wallnau said that after that meeting, the staff couldn’t remember his name, but people at the headquarters said just call him “the Cyrus guy.”

“The ‘Cyrus Guy’—what a stupid handle to have—but hey, listen, we take what we can get,” Wallnau joked.

When Wallnau finished, Trump came up to him privately to say something in response. Once you’ve been in Christian circles long enough, you know what to say in such a moment, something like “that really touched me” or “that ministered to me.”

“But Trump doesn’t have any of that nomenclature down,” Wallnau said. “Trump said, ‘I don’t know how to put it, but that meant a lot to me. And I’m going to think about that. It meant a lot to me.’ ”

The next example is how God used President Donald Trump to proclaim the name of the Lord into the world like no other president before him.

Ch. 29 – Riyadh, Jerusalem, and Rome

It’s not every day that you run into Ivanka Trump as you board a commercial jetliner. I was a bit blurry-eyed after covering every moment of President Trump’s “World Religion Tour” to Riyadh, Jerusalem, and Rome. I just wanted to sleep, even if I had the unlucky seat assignment in the dreaded fortieth row next to the bathroom. Yet as I made my way on board the United Airlines plane in Rome on the way back to Washington, DC, even in my near zombie-like state, it was hard to miss her.

“Ivanka?” I inquired just to make sure this wasn’t some sort of zombie dream. After all, why wasn’t she in First Class? She was with the commoners! Or better yet, why wasn’t she chartering some private plane? Surely her father could make those arrangements. But it wasn’t a dream at all.

“David, oh my goodness! How are you?” Ivanka replied with a big smile. I quickly proceeded into her row, where I noticed a man sitting next to her looking down at a newspaper wearing a baseball cap.

He looked up. “Hi David,” he exclaimed in a jovial manner.

“Jared, how are you?” It was Jared Kushner, Ivanka’s husband, or put another way: a pretty powerful player in the West Wing. Don’t let the baseball cap fool you. He’s not just the President’s son-in-law. He’s successful in his own right and has the President’s ear in all matters, big and small.

In short, I had just had an encounter with “Javanka.”

“David, what do you think of the trip so far?” Kushner said inquisitively, genuinely wanting to know my answer. On that plane that day, I gave him the thirty-second version, essentially explaining how it couldn’t have gone any better for the President. But as the legendary radio icon Paul Harvey might interject: “Now, for the rest of the story.”

The rest of this chapter of Donald Trump’s story takes place on location: from the desert plateau of Riyadh, through the holy (and toxic) city of Jerusalem, and concluding amid the one hundred ten acres of sacred Vatican ground. You could say, in many ways, the faith of Donald Trump broke new ground here, in word and in deed. He was about to proclaim the name of God in public like no other modern American president before him, and he was about to experience a spiritual awakening in the Holy Land in front of a controversial wall, perfectly appropriate for Trump!

The fact that this President chose Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as his first international stop came as a surprise to many in the media. They thought Trump would go the traditional route (why in the world would they think that?) by heading to Canada like President Obama before him or maybe Mexico like George W. Bush did in 2001. But in typical “Trumpian” fashion, he chose to go big.

God works in mysterious ways, and on that first overseas trip it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that God was up to something. Sure, he came to Riyadh to get the Saudis on board in the fight against terrorism and fortify strategic partnerships. Sure, he came to Jerusalem to begin “The Art of the Middle East Peace Deal.” And yes, going to Rome to meet the Pope was an attempt to endear himself to the influential leader of Catholics worldwide. But spiritually speaking, it was hard to miss God during Trump’s travels.

The moment President Trump landed in Riyadh, he was greeted by sweltering one-hundred-ten-degree-plus temperatures and a salute fit for a king. The red carpet was fully rolled out on the runway at King Khalid Airport, with seven attendants literally sweeping any lingering dust before the eagle (aka Air Force One) landed.

An official Saudi military salute ensued, complete with a red, white, and blue flyover and cannon fire. (They may want to rethink the cannon fire in any sort of Mideast fanfare. It can frighten a few Westerners who witness the festivities.) President Trump arrived to positive local headlines from the Saudis, honored to be host to this unconventional president and smitten with his reputation for boldness and fearlessness.

Driving through the streets of Riyadh, we saw immense signs over bridges proclaiming “Together We Prevail,” with Trump’s mug alongside that of Saudi King Salman. The only thing more striking may have been seeing a good old-fashioned American restaurant, Buffalo Wild Wings, on the way to the hotel from the airport arrival ceremony. But unlike the calorie-laden Buffalo Wild Wings, what Trump would offer would be low in calories yet high in spiritual wisdom.

One thing we know about Donald Trump is that the man will refuse to say anything he doesn’t truly believe. It’s well established that Trump is not your typical politician, so when Trump delivers a speech, he’s going to lay it all on the table. Nobody—and I mean nobody—is going to put words in his mouth or tell him what to say. If he doesn’t truly believe it, he won’t say it. Or if he does, he’ll qualify it if he must.

In that context, consider the following: On this five-day “World Religion Tour,” Donald J. Trump would utter or invoke the name of God more than thirty times! We’re not counting pithy ending lines in a speech like “God bless America.” No, we’re talking hardcore God speech. It was fire and brimstone language. Goodness gracious, when was the last time a president of the United States invoked the name of God in public remarks as often as Donald Trump did during that one week alone? Reagan? No. The evangelical George W. Bush? No. Trump stands alone. Just the way he likes it.

It seemed fitting that President Trump would give his signature speech to Gulf nations at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre. The center is stunning from an architectural standpoint, a truly regal setting fit for a big moment like this, situated in the upscale diplomatic zone. Locals understand it is here where major worldwide political and business leaders meet to do business and strike deals.

For Trump, it was an opportunity to shoot straight, not mince words, and throw God squarely in the center of all things. Try these statements on for size: “Terrorists do not worship God, they worship death,” Trump exclaimed. “Every time a terrorist murders an innocent person, and falsely invokes the name of God, it should be an insult to every person of faith.” And his warning to would-be terrorists had a bold message centered on the afterlife. “If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned!”

The mainstream media paid no attention to his faithful, evangelical-sounding words. But make no mistake: Evangelicals were paying attention. They remember President Obama’s 2009 speech in Cairo, Egypt, where he labeled murderous terrorists as part of a “violent extremism” movement. Trump took that rhetoric to another, more realistic level, calling it “Islamist extremism.”

Evangelicals also remember how President Obama glowingly gushed about the Quran multiple times during that 2009 speech. In the Age of Trump that was not going to happen—and it didn’t. He had no words at all devoted to the Quran. That isn’t surprising considering that during our first interview at Trump Tower back in 2011 he questioned what was being taught from the Quran, remarking, “There’s something there that teaches some very negative vibe.”

Speaking of negative vibes, what waited next for Trump was a land full of them, better known as Israel.

Fireworks lit up the night sky over the Old City in Jerusalem, a beautiful sight to behold indeed as our CBN crew watched nearby from a local rooftop. Those explosives in the sky were nothing compared to the emotionally explosive atmosphere that has gripped this ancient, holy city for, well, forever and a day. Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital city. We’ll leave that discussion for another time along with a seventeen-volume set of encyclopedias. The fireworks set off on this night in Jerusalem were to welcome Donald Trump to town, and for a man who creates plenty of fireworks himself, it seemed an appropriate welcome for him and for the volatile situation he came here to solve.

When Donald Trump took office in January 2017, there was great anticipation and excitement that he would move the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It would be a provocative move to clearly show the world that Jerusalem is indeed the capital of Israel, not Palestine. A year before this trip, on the campaign trail at Liberty University, Candidate Trump said to me that he was “for that one hundred percent.” But during his first visit here to the Holy Land, he made no historic announcement. He would leave the embassy where it is .  .  . for now.

There’s a different calculation as commander in chief when you’re trying to negotiate the art of the deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The media was quick to call it a broken campaign promise but evangelicals knew better: They understood Trump wasn’t betraying Israel or them. He was simply doing what he does best: negotiating. They didn’t lose too much sleep over it, knowing full well that Trump will play that card when he has to.

It must be clearly understood that, from a public policy perspective, Trump’s relationship with evangelicals hinges on top-tier issues like religious liberty, abortion, and, yes, a staunch protection and defense of Israel. Evangelicals stand with Israel, and they want to make sure Trump does too. They understand the biblical truth put forth in Genesis when God established the Abrahamic Covenant, saying to Abraham and all his descendants (read: the Jews), “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). Nobody is claiming Trump understands the theology and significance of all of this, but evangelicals believe fervently that this president authentically has Israel’s back, the exact opposite of what they believed about President Obama before him.

Furthermore, it was here in the holiest of cities where Trump’s spiritual walk seemed to take an upward turn. He felt something. It’s not something you measure in a test tube, but God was moving. At Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, Trump took it all in: a concrete building shaped like a triangular prism, the nearly seven-hundred-foot-long skylight, and most notably the exhibition halls dedicated to the emotionally gripping stories of the millions of Jews who were brutally murdered. “It was the most savage crime against God and his children,” Trump told the assembled crowd at the site. As he continued, he also felt something else here. “This is a land filled with beauty, wonder, and the spirit of God.”

The spirit of God stayed with him at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the historical and holy site where Jews and millions around the world from other faiths come to pray. President Trump made history by becoming the first sitting president of the United States to visit it. The others stayed away for fear of the controversy that would follow, considering the Palestinians see that area as the future site of their capital city. Regardless, Trump barreled forward, and evangelicals applaud him for it. He’s fearless.

Placing his hand gently on the wall with a traditional kippah adorning his head, Trump reflected. It was a solemn moment between Trump and God. Something transpired because, after all, it’s hard to approach the imposing sixty-two-foot hallowed wall and not feel something. Indeed, a spiritual transaction occurred. “I was deeply moved by my visit today to the Western Wall,” Trump said afterward. “Words fail to capture the experience. It will leave an impression on me forever.” You can’t quantify a moment like that. It just stays with you.

The spiritual hangover seemed to continue into the next day. His speech at the Israel Museum continued to hammer home this continual God-based theme that we had seen play out throughout this trip. He played to a packed house, so crammed, in fact, that reporters in the back of the room were standing on any chair they could find to get a clear view. What they witnessed, along with engrossed television-watching evangelicals back home, was an American president who didn’t bring up the toxic issues of Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution. In this setting, Israelis didn’t want to hear talk like that .  .  . and Trump delivered. Instead, what they got were consistent shout-outs to the Almighty.

Among the gems included a spiritual tribute to Jerusalem: “This city, like no other place in the world, reveals the longing of the human heart—to know and worship God,” Trump exclaimed.

Even in Bethlehem, one of his other stops where he met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Trump brought the godly message into the West Bank, a territory controlled by the Palestinians. “In this spirit of hope, we come to Bethlehem, asking God for a more peaceful, safe, and far more tolerant world for all of us.” It should be noted that evangelicals didn’t miss the fact that Trump and Abbas didn’t shake hands in their traditional photo-op in front of the press. Moreover, sharp-eyed, faith-filled Christians noticed Trump’s direct language when he spoke these words in front of Abbas: “Peace can never take root in an environment where violence is tolerated, funded, and even rewarded.” Clearly, that was a strongly worded verbal jab at the Palestinian government’s policy of providing payments for would-be terrorists who attack the state of Israel.

With his mission, for the time being at least, complete in Israel, it was time to turn his attention to a vastly different situation: mending fences with Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Candidate Trump and the Pontiff had a bit of a spat during the presidential campaign when Francis questioned Trump’s Christianity because of his fondness for building border walls around America. Trump didn’t like the Pope’s verbiage one bit and let him have it. Eventually, the controversy dissipated, but getting on the Pope’s good side would have plenty of political upsides, considering the last time we checked this guy wields quite a bit of power with his Catholic flock. And plus, he has a cool car. Honestly, if Trump is ever going to hitch a ride in the Popemobile, he’s got to play nice. And that’s exactly what happened.

As our CBN crew ventured into the bright sunlight of the Vatican Courtyard in the early-morning hours, we waited with anticipation for President Trump’s arrival. We looked around for a huge motorcade, but all we saw was an Uber-like old Ford Focus pull up. Surely, President Trump wasn’t coming to the Vatican in a car like that! Yes, it’s American, but that’s not how he rolls. I was right. It wasn’t Trump. “Oh my goodness,” I said as I looked on in bewilderment. “That’s the Pope.” He arrived in humble fashion, but after looking at the car, the only thought running through my mind was “Does that thing even have air-conditioning?” Trump eventually made his way into the courtyard, greeted by a dozen or so dignitaries. The Pope was already inside getting ready for the historic meeting.

By all accounts, the meeting went very well. No major dust-ups, and in Trump Land that’s always a good day. But something else happened that had nothing to do with such agenda items as climate change or immigration. Trump received a gift. A book called Evangelii Gaudium—“The Joy of the Gospel”—an exhortation written by the Pope about how the church needs to evangelize around the world. It contains plenty of social justice talking points, but more crucially it presents the gospel message in a compelling, personal way. Trump told the Pope he would be reading it. Take note of how the book starts out:

The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew.

The salvation which God offers us is the work of his mercy. No human efforts, however good they may be, can enable us to merit so great a gift.

The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace.” How good it feels to come back to him whenever we are lost! Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.

God definitely works in mysterious ways, but many times it’s pretty obvious. This is one of those times. It’s not happenstance that Donald Trump became president. The Apostle Paul wrote, “The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1). It’s not a coincidence that Pope Francis is where he is at today. And it’s not just simple “chance” that the two men intertwined on this day so Donald Trump could receive this specific book at this specific time in his life. Just like all of us, our spiritual walk is a journey: highs and lows; times of confidence; times of doubt; stretches of wandering and periods of profound closeness with the Almighty. Donald Trump’s faith journey is no different. On this day, in this religious city, Trump received “The Joy of the Gospel.” But after reading it and digesting it thoroughly, maybe he’ll experience the joy too and receive the fullness of the gift that the Spirit intended.

In a way, in one week’s time, Donald Trump’s “World Religion Tour” morphed into “God’s Holy Tour.” Leave it to God to use Donald Trump, warts and all, and the bully pulpit of the American presidency to shout His name abundantly in three of the holiest cities around the globe. Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi summed it up nicely when he told President Trump that “you have a unique personality that is capable of doing the impossible.” That’s true. But what’s even more impressive is God doing the impossible. And Donald Trump’s election to the highest office in the land is exhibit A.

I want to include some excerpts of President Trumps Commencement Speech at Liberty University May 2017

Ch. 30 – Give Me Liberty

Trump: ”It’s been a little over a year since I’ve spoken on your beautiful campus and so much has changed. Right here, the class of 2017, dressed in cap and gown, graduating to a totally brilliant future. And here I am standing before you as president of the United States. So I’m guessing there are some people here today who thought that either one of those things, either one, would really require major help from God. Do we agree? And we got it.  .  .  . “

“Remember this, nothing worth doing ever, ever, ever came easy. Following your convictions means you must be willing to face criticism from those who lack the same courage to do what is right. And they know what is right, but they don’t have the courage or the guts or the stamina to take it and to do it. It’s called the road less traveled.”

Trump: “In just two days we will mark the tenth anniversary of Reverend Falwell’s passing. And I used to love watching him on television, hearing him preach. He was a very special man.”

Trump: “America has always been the land of dreams because America is a nation of true believers. When the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, they prayed. When the Founders wrote the Declaration of Independence, they invoked our creator four times, because in America we don’t worship government, we worship God. That is why our elected officials put their hands on the Bible and say “so help me God” as they take the oath of office. It is why our currency proudly declares “in God we trust.” And it’s why we proudly proclaim that we are one nation under God, every time we say the Pledge of Allegiance.”

Trump: “America is better when people put their faith into action. As long as I am your president, no one is ever going to stop you from practicing your faith or from preaching what’s in your heart. We will always stand up for the right of all Americans to pray to God and to follow his teachings.”

It is ever so clear that the battle for the very soul of America and Americans who claim to be followers of Jesus is a battle that can only be won through prayer and supplication and by the power of Almighty God with whom nothing is impossible. – I am the Real Truckmaster!

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7-12-2018

The Unlikely Presidency of Donald J Trump

What seemed to be a decision based on impulse and staged for a movie production, was in truth a carefully orchestrated event. Donald Trump ascended the staircase in Trump Tower on June 16, 2015 accompanied by his wife Melania and announced on live television he was running for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.

According to Roger Stone’s book, “The Making of the President 2016”, Donald Trump had considered the presidency as far back as in 1986. Trump toyed with the idea in 2000 and again in 2012 but would not commit to running until he was confident it would be a race to be won. Trump is playing chess while everyone else is playing Chinese checkers.

Like many who watched the announcement on television I too had my doubts. I thought it was a publicity stunt designed to capitalize on increasing the ratings for Trump’s show “The Apprentice”. As I watched the names of the seventeen Republican Party presidential hopefuls I had my choices narrowed down to a couple of names and Donald Trump was not one of them.

The Debates

What I expected during the debates was each candidate to sell me on why I should vote to send them to the White House. I have strong opinions on freedom of speech; the right to bear arms; freedom of religion; protecting the United States Constitution; securing our borders; supporting our military and other issues. I wanted to know how they stood on these issues which I considered important to me personally and to the country.

GOP Debates

What stands out for me from the very first GOP debate was how polite and cordial the candidates were toward each other. When asked by the moderator if Donald Trump could stand up against the Democratic Party candidate, Governor Mike Huckabee answered, “On his worst day Trump and every GOP candidate would be better than Hillary Clinton on her best day” (not verbatim), and everyone laughed.

For me the laughing ended when Donald Trump became the first GOP candidate to attack virtually every other GOP candidate, with the exception of Doctor Ben Carson, who at one point asked for “someone to attack me, please”.

When I saw the ferociousness of the attacks by Donald Trump I became personally disgusted at his tactics and was sure that one of my two candidates HAD to be the GOP winner and was I wrong.

There were more GOP debates and while candidates went on the offensive they began dropping out one by one until there was but one left – Donald Trump.

Presidential Candidates Face Off

The debates between Republican candidate Donald J. Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary R. Clinton were a mixed bag. Hillary chided Trump over having no political or foreign policy experience, while she was full of it (political and foreign policy experience). What was tragic was when Hillary was given answers to questions both candidates were to be asked, and Trump was left to answer on the spot and held his ground.

The Campaign Trail

During the 2015 – 2016 campaigns Trump began his “Make America Great Again” speeches calling out “Crooked Hillary” for her deceitful campaigning and media strategy to discredit Trump supporters by calling them “a Basket of Deplorables”.  Soon the “Fly Over Country” grassroots movement began to take hold across middle America which held little importance to the DNC coastal bases in New York and California.

The media attempted to influence public support in favor of Hillary Clinton by downplaying the massive crowd sizes of Trump rallies as compared to the crowd sizes of Clinton rallies which were protested by a defensive Donald Trump and the overflowing crowds of the MAGA crowd showing up hours before stadiums opened.

Election Day

November 9, 2016 was the day of reckoning as American’s headed to the polls to elect a new president well into the night until the last polling place closed. The counting of ballots and reporting of results which led to the forming of Electoral College delegates and super-delegates aligning themselves with the candidate chosen by their respective states.

Election Night

There were celebrations in each campaign headquarters as the results came flowing in way into the early morning hours of November 10, 2016. In the Republican campaign headquarters Team Trump was excited as the numbers became clear and the magic figure of 270 electoral votes became surpassed and exceeded at 300+. In the Democratic campaign headquarters Team Clinton went from celebrating into a deep state of shock and depression. It was unbelievable that in the history of the United States the first woman candidate for the presidency would not be Hillary Clinton. This became the agony of defeat and the realization that America had spoken, loud and clear.

Inauguration #45

On January 20, 2017 Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45^th President of the United States, replacing Barack H. Obama.

The Resistance Movement

January 20, 2017 would be a day that would go down in infamy as organized and funded public demonstrations and political rioting began “sweeping” America in an attempt to delegitimize a duly elected President and cause widespread discord between the liberal left and the conservative right. Congressional Democrats boycotted the Presidential Inauguration demonstrating their disgust and hatred of the man who “stole” the election from Hillary Clinton. But to quote former President Barack Obama, “Elections have Consequences”.  At the end of the day Donald J. Trump was President.

Russian Collusion

One of the first “scandals” to be unleashed on the American people was the unfounded claim of Russian Collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia in order to interfere with the U.S. election and influence voters in favor of Donald Trump. This has led to the DOJ to compile a Special Counsel led by Robert Mueller and his infamous 13 angry Democrats. This has been an ongoing investigation that seems to have no boundaries or explicit focus, except as an exploration of a Trump-Russia connection, while excluding an obvious Obama-Hillary-Russia connection of cash and Uranium One and the former Secretary of State Clinton email disaster of 33,000 “lost” emails and unauthorized private internet servers used to transmit highly classified documents. This special counsel investigation has been going on for almost 2 years with no sustainable evidence of wrong doing by the Trump campaign team.

Gun Control

Next a series of school shootings around the country where students targeted and shot other students and teaching staff and in one case a school resource officer (a sheriff’s deputy) stood by until the shooting stopped. Other shootings show school resource officer’s response neutralized the shooter by return fire or placing the shooter in custody. All of this so that organized marches and demonstrations would sway public sentiment toward gun confiscation from lawful gun owners and ultimately stripping away the 2^nd Amendment right to bear arms. President Trump suggested a national concealed carry permit be issued that would be valid in all 50 states. His suggestion was met with fierce resistance.

Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

President Trump and others have been steeped in allegations of sexual misconduct going back to the 1980’s in a political stunt leading back to leftist groups paying women to come forward accusing the president  and other political candidates of sexual misconduct. Although it is a federal crime to falsely report a crime, very few of the women or their paid sponsors have been held accountable and virtually all allegations have proven to be false claims.

There have been so called “women’s marches” across the nation’s television broadcast networks and the internet where some of the most vile and hateful women have shown their true ignorance and total hatred of the president, while ridiculing the very women they claim to represent.

Foreign Affairs

President Trump has been cited by the Democratic leftists for having no foreign policy experience, yet seem to forget (or simply not know) that Donald J. Trump Enterprises has conducted what amounts to foreign policy each instance of negotiation of building and properties with foreign governmental leaders. So when the President tweeted a veiled threat to “Rocket Man” of North Korea, it caused an epidemic of hysteria over World War III with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. What actually transpired was the first of its kind ever sit down, face-to-face meeting between Supreme Leader Kim Jung Un and President Donald J. Trump culminating in a signed denuclearization agreement of total, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula within the next 2 years. Prior to this meeting the first of its kind meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea at the DMZ, after which it was suggested that President Trump be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  The Democrats scoffed and said Trump says he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.

President Trump has met with international leaders one-on-one in their countries and in international leadership forums, such as the recent NATO Summit where his chastisement over unfair NATO funding by other nations will no longer be tolerated by the United States. The leadership of the president in this matter has brought immediate and renewed pledges of increased support from several other nations.

Border Security and “The Wall”

One of President Trump’s campaign promises was to build the wall along our southern border with Mexico in his “Mexico will pay for it” speeches he reemphasized that for a nation to be sovereign it must have border security and a wall which he has called for Congress to allocate funding so building could commence. What has happened is that the Republican controlled Congress has allowed the Democratic minority to prevent the adequate funding of the wall, yet construction is underway.

DACA

The “dreamers” of President Obama’s executive order Delayed Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was an unconstitutional exercise of executive privilege when it was signed into law in 2012.  Congress did not challenge it at the time and after taking office President Trump gathered congressional leaders together and gave them a challenge to fix DACA, as well as conduct Comprehensive Immigration Reform and he would sign it into law. Nothing happened, except congress attempted to bring a “bill” which they knew did not meet the president’s mandate which was promptly rejected.

The Caravan

Next a caravan of immigrants was traveling from Africa, North, South and Central America all culminating in Mexico near the San Diego border crossing where they were set on unlawful entrance into the United States. They were met on the Mexican side by U.S. attorneys who coached these immigrants on filing for asylum and how to respond to U.S. immigration officials. Soon there was public sentiment built up on the side of these immigrants who crossed over unlawfully and as a consequence became separated from their minor children in the process. The cry went up from Democrats and lawmakers alike on the side of the immigrants berating President Trump and his administration for upholding U.S. immigration laws. The cry rang out to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and for the impeachment of the president for doing exactly what they are supposed to do.

The Flag and National Anthem

It started with Colin Kapernick at an NFL game where he decided to kneel in protest during the National Anthem. When President Trump accused him of being unpatriotic and should be fired for his actions it spurred a wide range of protests and marches across the nation against the president’s remarks citing freedom of speech. Then this movement picked up when American’s began showing their displeasure over the obvious disrespect shown by these NFL protestors. Soon coaching staff, team owners and even the NFL commissioner sided with the protestors, while many Americans simply stopped watching.

Entertainers and Politics

It seems that somehow Hollywood entertainers feel they are smarter than the president, other Americans who support the president and feel the need to publicly declare their hatred of the president and beret anyone who disagrees. There are quite a number of celebrities who have become political experts but don’t remember their pledge to move somewhere else if Trump becomes president. WAKE UP! Elections have consequences and Trump is President.

Why Trump is So Popular with the Right and Hated by the Left

American’s under Obama wanted so much to see Hillary Clinton become the first woman president in the history of our nation. They forgot that Hillary’s chance at the presidency was taken from her by Barack Obama during the election of 2008. As a consolation prize Hillary was given a prestigious cabinet position of Secretary of State which she could have made her mark in the foreign policy arena, but chose instead to dabble in an unsecure and unauthorized use of internet devices and computer servers and even communicated directly with POTUS #44 under a pseudo name.

When President Donald J. Trump was elected his direct and in your face approach to politics as usual in Washington with his “Drain the Swamp” mantra provided a fresh shot of energy to Fly Over Country and Tea Party Americans, but brought out the very worst in the Democratic left.

America Wanted A Leader

America wanted a leader who was a warrior, not a politician. We wanted someone who would cross the Potomac like George Washington, storm the hill like Teddy Roosevelt and meet the enemy head on like George S. Patton. Americans were tired of pansy politicians and what they got was a fighter in Donald J. Trump, a man who knows what he wants, sets out to achieve it and doesn’t let petty politics get in the way. Trump is someone who doesn’t just rock the boat; he turns the boat upside down.

What many Americans don’t know is that governments are established and kings appointed by Almighty God who himself is the King of Kings and Lord of Lord. God set up his plan before the foundation of the world and nothing can upset, startle or change God’s plan, nothing! Throughout biblical times we read of God taking man, placing his anointing upon him and when man is obedient God’s purpose is accomplished. God who put the drive inside Donald J. Trump and it was that drive that brought the Presidency to Trump or vice versa. It was God who gave that first interest in the presidency to Trump so many years ago and it was God who brought it to pass.

Donald Trump is a man who displays Godly wisdom and manly folly at the same time. He is a man who knew of God, but had never truly known God. But like in days of old, God knew Donald Trump, even before the foundation of the world. Each of us has a desire to be loved, to be wanted and a wanting to be used by God. What hinders us is our inability or unwillingness to submit to God and surrender to his will for our life. I’m not saying that Donald Trump is a godly man; he is but a man, who humbled himself before God and said “Here am I Lord!”

As I said in the beginning I was not a fan of Donald J. Trump, in fact I had never sat down to watch “The Apprentice” and didn’t know what Trump Towers was or where it was located, it just never interested me. However during the campaign and since the inauguration I have watched President Donald J. Trump make some outstanding decisions, as well as some things I consider blunders, yet he always seems to pull it off and come out smelling like a rose. So I must consider that as long as Trump is faithful and obedient to God and his purpose and places others before himself, he and America will continue to be blessed in these – Last Days. – I am the Real Truckmaster!

 

7/10/2018

Appointed to the Supreme Court

It is appropriate to discuss President Trump’s latest appointment to the SCOTUS. Everyone has a vested interest in who sits on the Supreme Court. What we all should be able to agree on is that the Supreme Court must be a court of neutrality without bias or prejudice weighing evidence and arguments in accordance to the Constitution of the United States.

 

I pay no attention to the rhetoric spewed from the left or from the right and it does not matter whether I “like” or “dislike” a particular nominee, nor do I care about his political affiliation.

 

What I care about is this, is the nominee knowledgeable of U.S. Law and of the U.S. Constitution?

Will he/she make his focus and interpret according to the constitutionality of all arguments made before the SCOTUS?

Will he allow himself/herself to be swayed pro/con when a case comes before the SCOTUS?

 

Since we all have our own opinions and our own ideas about whoever the president nominates, we should look at why President Trump selected this particular candidate and what was the “Trump Standard” for this nomination? We must look to what President Trump said about Justice Kavanaugh during his televised press conference:

 

President Trump nominates Judge Brett Kavanaugh to Supreme Court

http://www.fox5dc.com/news/trump-supreme-court-pick-announcement

 

“He is a brilliant jurist, with a clear and effective writing style, universally regarded as one of the finest and sharpest legal minds of our time,” Trump said in his prime-time televised White House announcement. He added: “There is no one in America more qualified for this position, and no one more deserving.”

 

The Judicial Background of U.S. Circuit Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh who currently serves on the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

 

He is a former law clerk for retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy.

 

Speaking at the White House, Kavanaugh pledged to preserve the Constitution and said that “a judge must be independent and must interpret the law, not make the law. A judge must interpret the Constitution as written.”

 

A senior White House official said Trump decided on Kavanaugh because of his large body of jurisprudence cited by other courts, describing him as a judge that other judges read.

 

 

About the Court

https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/faq_general.aspx

 

How are Supreme Court Justices selected?

 

The President nominates someone for a vacancy on the Court and the Senate votes to confirm the nominee, which requires a simple majority. In this way, both the Executive and Legislative Branches of the federal government have a voice in the composition of the Supreme Court.

 

Are there qualifications to be a Justice? Do you have to be a lawyer or attend law school to be a Supreme Court Justice?

 

The Constitution does not specify qualifications for Justices such as age, education, profession, or native-born citizenship. A Justice does not have to be a lawyer or a law school graduate, but all Justices have been trained in the law. Many of the 18th and 19th century Justices studied law under a mentor because there were few law schools in the country.

 

The last Justice to be appointed who did not attend any law school was James F. Byrnes (1941-1942). He did not graduate from high school and taught himself law, passing the bar at the age of 23.

 

Robert H. Jackson (1941-1954). While Jackson did not attend an undergraduate college, he did study law at Albany Law School in New York. At the time of his graduation, Jackson was only twenty years old and one of the requirements for a law degree was that students must be twenty-one years old. Thus rather than a law degree, Jackson was awarded with a “diploma of graduation.” Twenty-nine years later, Albany Law School belatedly presented Jackson with a law degree noting his original graduating class of 1912.

 

 

“7 things you might not know about the U.S. Supreme Court”

By Elizabeth Nix dated October 08, 2013

 

This article gives us a glimpse of the tradition and history of the United States Supreme Court.

 

https://www.history.com/news/7-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-u-s-supreme-court

 

1. The court was around for 145 years before it got a permanent home of its own.

 

The court convened for the first time in February 1790 in New York City, then the nation’s capital. From 1791 to 1800, it assembled in Philadelphia, which served as the capital while Washington, D.C., was under construction. Starting in February 1801, the court began meeting in Washington, where it occupied various sites in the Capitol building for more than a century. (After the British burned the Capitol in 1814, the court even temporarily met in a private home.) In 1929, at the urging of Chief Justice William Taft, Congress authorized some $9.74 million to erect a building the court could call its own. The marble structure, in use since 1935, was designed by architect Cass Gilbert Sr., whose projects included New York City’s Woolworth Building (the world’s tallest skyscraper from 1913 to 1930), along with several state capitols and other public works. Today, the building features its own police force as well as a top-floor gym, with a basketball court nicknamed “the highest court in the land.” Shooting hoops and lifting weights are banned while court is in session, however.

 

2. There haven’t always been nine justices on the court.

 

The U.S. Constitution established the Supreme Court but left it to Congress to decide how many justices should make up the court. The Judiciary Act of 1789 set the number at six: a chief justice and five associate justices. In 1807, Congress increased the number of justices to seven; in 1837, the number was bumped up to nine; and in 1863, it rose to 10. In 1866, Congress passed the Judicial Circuits Act, which shrank the number of justices back down to seven and prevented President Andrew Johnson from appointing anyone new to the court. Three years later, in 1869, Congress raised the number of justices to nine, where it has stood ever since. In 1937, in an effort to create a court more friendly to his New Deal programs, President Franklin Roosevelt attempted to convince Congress to pass legislation that would allow a new justice to be added to the court—for a total of up to 15 members—for every justice over 70 who opted not to retire. Congress didn’t go for FDR’s plan.

 

3. There are no official qualifications for becoming a Supreme Court justice.

 

The Constitution spells out age, citizenship and residency requirements for becoming president of the United States or a member of Congress but mentions no rules for joining the nation’s highest court. To date, six justices have been foreign born; the most recent, Felix Frankfurter, who served on the court from 1939 to 1962, was a native of Vienna, Austria. The youngest associate justice ever appointed was Joseph Story, who was 32 years old when he joined the bench in 1811. Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., who served from 1902 to 1932, retired at age 90, making him the oldest person ever to sit on the court. One thing every justice who’s served shares in common is that all were lawyers prior to joining the court. During the 18th and 19th centuries, before attending law school was standard practice, many future justices got their legal training by studying under a mentor. James Byrnes, who served on the court from 1941 to 1942, was the last justice who didn’t attend law school (Byrnes, who also didn’t graduate from high school, worked as a law clerk and later passed the bar exam.) Harvard has produced more members of the court than any other law school; to date, 20 justices have attended or graduated from the venerable institution, which was established in 1817 and is America’s oldest continually operating law school.

 

4. Justices are appointed for life but can be impeached.

 

Associate Justice William O. Douglas put in 36 years and 7 months on the bench, from April 1939 to November 1975, the longest tenure of any justice in the court’s history. Douglas’ successor, John Paul Stevens, was part of the court from December 1975 to June 2010, making him the third-longest serving justice. (Steven Johnson Field, who served from 1863 to 1897, comes in second.) Although they are appointed for life, more than 50 have chosen to retire or resign; that number has included the likes of John Jay, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Charles Evan Hughes, Earl Warren, Thurgood Marshall, and, more recently, William Rehnquist and Sandra Day O’Connor. Only one justice ever has been impeached: Samuel Chase, in 1804. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach Chase, an outspoken figure accused of acting in a partisan way during various court proceedings; however, the U.S. Senate acquitted him in 1805 and he remained on the bench, where he had served since 1796, until his death in 1811.

 

5. William Howard Taft is the only person to have served as U.S. president and on the court.

 

Taft served as America’s 27th president, from 1909 to 1913, during which time he appointed five associate justices and one chief justice. After losing his bid for re-election, Taft, a graduate of Yale University and Cincinnati Law School, and a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals prior to his presidency, went on to teach law at Yale and serve as head of the American Bar Association, among other activities. In 1921, following the death of Chief Justice Edward Douglass White, whom Taft had appointed when he was in the White House, President Warren Harding nominated Taft as White’s replacement. As the court’s 10th chief justice, Taft successfully advocated for passage of the Judiciary Act of 1925, which enabled the justices to choose which cases they wanted to hear (today, the court follows the so-called rule of four, by which at least four justices must vote to grant a petition to review a case before it can be heard by the court). Taft served as chief justice until February 1930, when he resigned due to poor health; he died the following month.

 

6. George Washington appointed the most justices to the court.

 

The president of the United States has the sole power to nominate Supreme Court justices whenever there are openings on the court, and each nomination must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. George Washington made 11 appointments to the court, while Franklin Roosevelt made the second highest number of appointments, nine. Only three presidents besides Andrew Johnson did not make appointments: William Henry Harrison (who died in 1841, a month after his inauguration), Zachary Taylor (who passed away in 1850, 16 months after taking office) and Jimmy Carter. To date, presidents have submitted 160 nominations, including nominations for chief justice. Of that total, 124 were confirmed, with seven of them opting not to take the job. America’s 10th president, John Tyler, who assumed office after the death of William Henry Harrison, made nine nominations while in office from 1841 to 1845, but the politically unpopular Tyler managed to get just one of those nominations confirmed by the Senate.

 

7. In recent years, the court has received some 10,000 annual requests to review cases, but hears only about 80.

 

The justices usually only take on cases involving significant legal principles or cases in which lower courts have disagreed about the interpretation of federal laws. Most of the court’s cases come to it on appeal from lower federal courts and state courts; however, the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction (the right to hear a case for the first time, before any appellate review) in a few instances, such as cases involving ambassadors or disputes between two or more states. Because the justices primarily hear cases on appeal, it’s uncommon for witnesses or evidence to be presented in court. Instead, attorneys submit written legal arguments (briefs) in advance and justices typically listen to oral arguments, in which each side has 30 minutes to make a presentation, during which the justices can ask questions. (The courtroom is open to the public during oral arguments, which are not allowed to be televised or photographed; since 1955, the court has made audio recordings of oral arguments, which are released after the arguments are over.) The justices later meet in private to discuss and vote on each case. In the event of a tie vote, the decision of the lower court is upheld.

 

I suggest that whether you are liberal or conservative take the time to become educated on the matter you are about to cover, particularly on social media. There is enough undocumented and unsubstantiated misinformation floating around that put the term “fake news” to shame.

The day and time we live is history in the making and we are each part of it. Don’t be swayed by the right or the left, but educate yourself so you can make a more informed decision on matters that concern Americans and the United States of America. – I am the Real Truckmaster!

 

Realtruckmaster.blog

7-10-2018

History Repeats Itself – Federalists vs Republicans

It’s ironic that on this day in 1798 the country was so divided politically that a Senate-backed bill, signed by an unpopular President John Adams made it a crime for anyone deemed a threat or publishing “false, scandalous, or malicious writing” against the government of the United States. It was called The Sedition Act of 1798 and was signed into law on July 10, 1798 and lasted until it expired on March 3, 1801.

Were such a law in effect today the prisons would be vastly overcrowded and many of us would in fact be using pen and paper (if we could get it) to pen our memoirs which we would not be allowed to send anywhere or to anyone from our cells.

I thought with all the political hype pitting man against man today it would be good to take a look back at how it all began, then relook at where we are today. You’re welcome to come along or you can go directly to the study.com website link below and maybe enroll yourself in an online course of American History.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson

This lesson really shows us the origins of the two-party political system. It all begins with Alexander Hamilton at the lead of the Federalists and Thomas Jefferson leading the Democratic-Republicans – from here out, we’ll say ‘Republicans’ for short.

The Federalists

Hamilton’s group was made up of merchants, bankers and manufacturers, with some wealthy farmers and Southern plantation owners. They were mostly well-educated and owned property. Most of them were in New England and along the coast.

The Republicans

Jefferson’s cohorts were mostly artisans, shopkeepers, frontier settlers, backcountry farmers and poor farmers. They were mostly ill-educated and illiterate. The majority of them were settled in the interior regions. Obviously, Jefferson himself was a plantation owner who was well-educated, but in time you will learn that Jefferson was sort of a paradox.

Can you imagine what it must have been like for President Washington at cabinet meetings? With his Secretary of State, Jefferson, and Hamilton, his Secretary of the Treasury – talk about getting polar advice! Let’s look at the basics of these groups’ beliefs on a few topics: The central government, the direction of the U.S. economy, the French Revolution, the national bank and paying the war debt from the revolution.

Positions on the Issues

Central Government

Hamilton favored a strong central government – a large republic that would control factions. He considered ‘common people’ to be ignorant and incapable of self-government. He believed that the elite should rule, so there should be high voting qualifications.

Jefferson favored states’ rights. He believed democratic principles were right. He believed the ‘common man’ is capable of self-government, and he believed in lowering voting qualifications.

Direction of the U.S. Economy

Hamilton and the Federalists stressed manufacturing, commerce, finance and overseas trade. They wanted tariffs and business protections.

Jefferson and the Republicans wanted a simple agrarian economy (that basically means a farming economy). They favored the yeoman farmer – that means the small farmers of the South, not the big plantation owners. They wanted the government to support the interests of the ‘common man.’

Hamilton favored a strong central government, while Jefferson favored the rights of the states.				Although President Washington warned against the nation falling into political factions, the different views of the Constitution held by Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists and Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans set the path for the two-party system that the U.S. has today.

https://study.com/academy/lesson/hamilton-and-the-federalists-vs-jefferson-and-the-republicans.html

As you can see from the brief history lesson, not much has changed politically since then as we still have those who think that the government is the answer and seek to ensure total dependency of the people by a Democratic Party government. It is up to the government to provide free stuff (health insurance, medical treatment, education, food stamps, housing, cell phones and more). Democrats are modern day Federalists.

We still have those who think the common man, the working man is able to think and provide for themselves and their families. They are the backbone of the country and feel that the government should not become involved in the business of everyday life and nothing is ever free and must be earned by men and women of the republic. Thus the modern day Republican Party is the party of a representative government for the working man where everyone should become involved in helping each other achieve the American Dream. Republicans are for the most part Constitutionalists and see themselves as standing up to defend the Constitution and Liberty.

Let us take a closer look at that one piece of legislation from 1798:

The Sedition Act of 1798

July 10, 1798

In one of the first tests of freedom of speech, the House passed the Sedition Act, permitting the deportation, fine, or imprisonment of anyone deemed a threat or publishing “false, scandalous, or malicious writing” against the government of the United States. The 5th Congress (1797–1799), narrowly divided between the majority Federalists and minority Jeffersonian Republicans, voted 44 to 41 in favor of the Senate-passed bill. Federalists championed the legislation fearing impending war with France and out of the desire to hold the majority in Congress and to retain the White House, then occupied by Federalist John Adams. In an era when newspapers served as political parties’ chief organs, the Republican press was particularly vicious in its attacks on Federalists and the Adams administration. “Liberty of the press and of opinion is calculated to destroy all confidence between man and man,” noted one of the bill’s supporters, John Allen of Connecticut. “It leads to the dissolution of every bond of union.” Republicans defended the First Amendment protecting free speech and press. “What will be the situation of the people?” James Madison of Virginia demanded. “Not free: because they will be compelled to make their election between competitors whose pretensions they are not permitted by act equally to examine, to discuss and to ascertain.” Signed into law by Adams on July 14, the law proved immensely unpopular with the public and the President lost re-election to Thomas Jefferson in 1800. Under the incoming Republican administration, the Sedition Act eventually expired on March 3, 1801; however, arguments made for and against it shaped subsequent debate about constitutional protections of free speech.

An unpopular President, John Adams faced increased scrutiny over the signing of the Sedition Act.

The 115^th Congress of today seems greatly divided over the issue of freedom of speech as are the American people. With the information age, internet technology, mass media and things like Facebook and Twitter our freedom to speak seems unlimited.

As our mind thinks so we speak (write or tweet). The old Will Rogers saying comes to mind when he said not to argue with an idiot because he will beat you with experience and those watching will soon be unable to tell the difference of who is the idiot (very loosely paraphrased).

So whether you call yourself a Democrat or a Republican or any of the other political off shoots we all should measure our decisions and our responses against what is written in scripture as God alone will judge each person by the very words they have spoken.

So make your choice wisely? – I am the Real Truckmaster!

Realtruckmaster.blog

 

7-9-2018

Birds Squirrels People and Politics

While watching birds and squirrels going after the same peanuts I noticed at first they’d go after the biggest one. A few weeks later I noticed that a few squirrels would be putting two peanuts in their mouths and head back to their nest or den or whatever you call their “home”. I noticed that even birds began picking up two peanuts and trying to fly to their nests without dropping any. One day I saw a young squirrel saw bits and pieces of peanuts that had no shells and would seem to like each one up as he spotted it. Animals can be fun to watch and funny in their own way. At our house we have around ten squirrels and quite a number of blackbirds, bluejays, sparrows, robins and finches that come out first for the peanuts, then for the scraps and crumbs. God knows them all by name and takes care of their every need, like he does for people.

However with people they tend to overlook the morsels and fight over scraps and crumbs. Take a happy meal at McDonalds, put it in front of grandchildren and they will fight and bicker over the fries or chicken nuggets but leave the burger until last, if at all. Grownups are not much better. It never ceases to amaze me how many people grab hold of a crumb while ignoring the entire morsel.

There are issues of national and international importance, like global thermonuclear war (remember the movie War Games?); hunger and homelessness in America; Veterans are ignored by the VA over service connected chemical exposure; rioting, demonstrations, mass murder in our streets; children being murdered in abortion clinics and oh so much more going on around us. Internationally we see lawlessness; genocides; sexual trafficking of humans; and wars on every front; religion is under attack and outlawed if not “sanctioned” by regional fanatics.

The information age has besought cybercrime and cyber criminals are hacking into secure financial computer systems and attempting to hack top secret military computer networks and identity theft affects a great many people in so many ways. All too often when cyber hackers are caught are they prosecuted and put away for life? No, many are given six figure incomes with some of the very corporations they have hacked into, so they can stop future hacking attempts.

Meanwhile back in American politics the democrats are still looking for Donald Trump’s tax returns, Hillary is still wondering “What Happened” and republicans are stuck on Benghazi. Sounds about right don’t it?

Around 242 years ago the Constitution of the United States was written utilizing biblical principles and would be eventually adopted by all of the original 13 states to become the Rule of Law in America, making it a Constitutional Republic, the only one of its kind in the world, even today. It consists of Amendments and the Bill of Rights and defines how our government is one of the people, by the people and for the people. It contains provisions for self-government, a system of checks and balances in government, even establishes protocol for lawful entry and punishment for unlawful entry.

We are at a point in time where lawmakers and lawbreakers have joined forces in an attempt to shred the Rule of Law, discredit and smear people and their ideas should they be different. We have gone through a period of more than 20 years where the government has become the know all, fix all for national and international affairs and there are many in government who have a firm grasp on political power and have become financially secure at the expense of the American taxpayer.

Some would tend to boil America down into two pots of politically red and politically blue, which totally ignores the intent of our founding fathers who created a melting pot of people from all nations and cultures leaving their homelands and coming to America to become part of the American Dream. They are not “dreamers” as our liberal politicians and media would have us to believe. One must become more than just a dreamer because dreamers are not doers. Just as wanting to be rich and have all the benefits does not make you a skilled worker without doing a lot of hard work.

I don’t believe that red and blue define us today anymore that blue and gray defined us more than 150 years ago under President Abraham Lincoln. Ideology and patriotism doesn’t define us either because it comes down to action or inaction. Either you are in action moving forward working to achieve your American Dream, or you are simply caught up in inaction, unable to achieve anything of significance.

So while America is moving forward to once again become once again a major dominant force in world affairs, there is a need for ALL Americans to unite under one flag, the Stars and Stripes, and support one leader and whether you love him or hate him that leader is President Donald J. Trump.

Let me give you some alternatives. 1) – Move outside the USA, where you are free to express yourself, but not without consequences. 2) – Support and engage in subversive activities and insurrection against the U.S. government, with consequences. 3) – Sit back and do nothing! The consequences will take care of themselves and you right along with them.

It has been said many times that “a man who stands for nothing will fall for anything”! – I am the Real Truckmaster!

Realtruckmaster.blog

7-7-2018

Choosing to Divide

Since when does the Constitution give anyone the right to divide? Name an Amendment? Give me precedence or something that clearly states, “You have the God-given right to divide the United States of America for political purposes?” Our country is not the Divided States of America, at least not constitutionally. As a nation we have more in common than we have differences. Yet it is the differences which divide us and anyone who does not feel, act or say as we think becomes the enemy, right? Wrong!

Over the past 242 years our nation has had the peaceful change of 45 administrations and with each new president we have quarreled over what person is best suited to hold the highest office of the land, with one exception – General George Washington! He is the only one to receive ALL the votes and become our first President of the United States. I’ll let you in on a little known secret (none have been perfect) ok?

Our forefathers came to the new world to start over, raise their families and expand their own horizons. They did not come for war, but in peace. They did not want to infringe upon anyone else’s right to live freely. Men and women came seeking new adventures. They did not bring slaves.

I’ve written on slavery before and America does not have a slavery problem, unless you count the slavery imposed by a government who gives away free stuff in exchange for total dependency and domination.

Slavery has been around for quite some time and it will never truly go away until the demand stops. What is ludicrous is when a small group of Americans try to extort a government or a people by using guilt to achieve ill-gotten financial gain or to exercise a certain power over other people, even of their own race or heritage.

Shortly after the election of Barack Obama I had a young black man ask me who is the best and who was the worst president?  Now this tends to be a loaded question and the expected answer may not always please the one asking. Without hesitating I told him that every president falls into both categories. He didn’t understand, so I explained that new presidents tend to be looked at as the best president and the outgoing president is seen as the worst, depending on who’s asking and who’s answering.

Wartime presidents are looked at as good presidents when we are winning, but bad presidents because of the loss of American lives or the destruction waged upon the enemy. Scandals occurring during their administration tend to pull every president down.

When America is attacked the president must respond with appropriate and decisive action and constitutionally the congress must declare war. As we have seen often a president who wages war is seen as a tyrant and without the backing of congress AND the American people it can go badly real fast.

This brings me back to the real question, by what authority does one choose to divide the nation up for political purposes? In the case of elected and appointed government officials AND members of the U.S. military services we must CHOOSE to take the oath of office where we pledge with our sacred honor to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against ALL ENEMIES both foreign and domestic and there is no expiration date on that oath. So it baffles the mind and makes me a bit angry when I see or hear of people taking the oath but not honoring it. Take for example our president, our legislative and judicial officials, even those appointed into public service. For the most part our oaths are the same.

During the Obama administration it was rumored that newly “minted” citizens did not have to pledge their allegiance to the flag, or the nation when reciting the oath of citizenship. I don’t know if that was true, but just hearing about it was disturbing.

So when it was heard that the Trump administration was requiring West Wing staff and Cabinet officials to pledge or give their allegiance to the president the media led congress went berserk, over what – nothing! Yet those who groaned the loudest did the same thing before they assumed office and I’m sure they required their staff to be loyal to them and back their efforts.

America under President Trump is charting a new course in world affairs and it scares those who want America to be that safe little place on this side of the world, but with no restrictions of any kind, EXCEPT when it comes to the president’s agenda or what he says or does.

Rather than backing this president and telling the world we are of one body, our public officials go out of their way to insure that they are on record as opposing anything this president does. By doing this they undermine national security and US foreign policy as defined by the president. The media amplifies this opposition and broadcasts to the world that America is divided, sending a clear signal to our friends and enemies alike that we are ripe for the picking.

It is important that the nation project to the world that we stand with our president and have our nation’s back because peace through strength is the deterrent that defines us as a strong alley and a profound adversary.

When campaigning on the stump Abraham Lincoln repeated a biblical verse that a house divided cannot stand. He understood that principle even though he was self-educated during a time when public education meant walking miles to sit in a one room classroom, unless you were the bread winner for the family. Abraham Lincoln stayed true to his convictions that a united America was essential and that we had more in common than we had in division. He staked his life on it.

Choosing to divide is certainly an option which many entertain just because they can. Choosing to unite is a better option. Contrary to what the media and various entertainers tell us, America is stronger when we stand together. I stand behind President Trump and will do my part to resist the resisters in order to Make America Strong Again, to Make America Safe Again, and to Make America Great Again.

Will you? – I am the Real Truckmaster!

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7-7-2018

Waving Goodbye to the Blue Wave

Nine years after Barack Obama #44 assumed the presidency Americans have awakened to the reality of the effect of bad politics which have assaulted the American way of life and torn away the very fabric of the Constitution. Nothing has been better at uncovered the level of conditioning of Americans than the election of Donald Trump #45 which resulted in overt attempts to subvert his presidency.

Leading the charge and openly calling for stalking and harassment of members of the current administration is lifetime politician Maxine Waters (D-CA) who is one to call out the president over issues which she and her democratic colleagues in the Congress refuse to address legislatively.

Another vocal opponent of the president is another lifetime congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) who point fingers at the President’s administration for refusing to allow unlawful entry to aliens into our nation. Pelosi’s own district in Northern California has become a lawless slum of homelessness, filth and garbage which has overtaken the sanctuary city of San Francisco and others. She too refuses to compile or promote legislation to address the lawlessness in the city or the immigration issues which plague the nation.

Let us not forget our Senatorial resisters such as Chuck Schumer (D-NY) who is another lifetime politician who would rather openly oppose the president over language, than to conduct legislation that would address immigration law or fund border wall construction simply because he has power over Senate Democrats and a number of RINO’s who cower along with the crowd.

Even Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) who is a lifetime politician would rather become a road bump for President Trump than a pillar of hope in restoring America as a safe place to live and raise families. As California has turned the corner politically becoming a tyranny and an oppressive state that treats its citizens as taxable cash cows, while piling on the free range and open grazing for unlawful immigrants, she has not voiced her concern for even the people who voted for her time after time.

I won’t go into detail over congressional RINO’s like John McCain (R-AZ) and others who would rather go out in flames as one who stood in the way of American safety and security because their feelings were hurt by the president.

Each example above have claimed to be God fearing men and women who love America and are standing up to President Trump as voices for the American people, yet in reality nothing could be further from the truth. It would appear that the god they fear is the god of power and they just won’t let go. American voters sent each of them to Washington D.C. to govern our nation and ensure that our people are safe from harm. What we see are simply politicians who have seemingly unlimited power over America because they have made politics a lifetime commitment.

With each passing day and each ridiculous and outrageous statement of “fictional news” stories America can see that new political ideas are needed in order for America to survive. World events are constantly changing and America must be proactive in order to stay ahead of those changes. Politicians do not want change, especially when it requires them to give up power over people.

The Democratic Party of yesteryear is no longer viable, but has been replaced by a socialistic-communistic-fascistic agenda which enables the government to control every facet of life. The blue wave has turned into a goodbye wave as the party is doing unto the people before they realize what’s been done.

This enables a differing approach to politics by a new breed of American voters who are passionate about restoring American values that allow the nation and its people to prosper. Our nation was founded by visionaries who committed themselves to an idea so new and so radical that their very lives depended upon it. This new idea is called Liberty. Nathan Hale’s “Give me liberty or give me death!” cries out even today. – I am the Real Truckmaster!

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7-6-2018

America’s Space Force

Once again the pundits have quickly miscalculated President Donald J. Trump when he announced he was directing the Department of Defense to explore how to create another branch of the military – the Space Force.

How quickly people forget that back in 2015 a real estate developer announced he was running for the presidency? Didn’t that evoke the same silly responses? Well how well did that work out for you?

I must admit I had a chuckle or two as I thought about the Jetson’s cartoon and all the Star Wars movies. Yes it caused me a bit of silliness and then I realized that it must have been seen the same way when airplanes began being used in World War I and World War II by the U.S. Army as a means of waging war on the enemy. It wasn’t long before Congress created the U.S. Air Force using assets of the Army Air Corps in the early 1950s. I could hear it now, “The president wants to create an Air Force, now isn’t that cute?” “What are they going to do zoom around in the sky and make the enemy afraid? Ha! Ha! Ha!”

And what about NASA? Lots of laughs over that too!

So you see it’s not as far-fetched as you might think. In fact there are differing schools of thought about a Space Corps, which Congress tried unsuccessfully to pass in 2000. Yet we have the Space Command of the USAF in action in satellite monitoring and control technology with the nucleus coming from all branches of the DOD. It’s currently headquartered at Peterson AFB in Colorado.

Oh but you knew that already, of course you did?

Did you also know that the U.S. Army has a Space Force already? Career Field FA40. This is a small force of space operators and enablers, building a Space Cadre of soldiers who understand how to work in space and integrate it into land operations.

In 2000 the Rumsfeld Space Commission report prompted the Army to start looking at expanding its space force over fears of a “space Pearl Harbor”. The Army Space Personnel Development Office has had a concerted effort to grow the cadre which began in 1999 with 23 members to over several hundred today that make up less than 1 percent of the Army’s total active force. The Army even has a Space Training and Integration branch and has deployed “The Kestrel” a small low-cost imaging satellite to the International Space Station recently. The U.S. military services rely on space and will continue to need personnel who are trained to use space in support of national security.

Read more in this article by Caroline Houck – August 23, 2017 on the Defense One website – https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2017/08/armys-space-force-has-doubled-six-years-and-demand-still-going/140467/

Just remember this – Donald J. Trump doesn’t start something he’s not determined to accomplish. So all of you naysayers just keep it up and very soon you may be eating crow and saying “Beam Me Up, Scottie”! – I am the Real Truckmaster!

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7-3-2018

Beyond Unhinged

The antics of the liberal left know no bounds. What a man thinks in his heart, so he is. Recently I wrote a blog on how Trump became president and the reason I came to that conclusion. Our society has been actively ousting God from every endeavor and facet of life in America. We have removed him from our schools, our public square and even our hearts. We have relegated God to the sidelines only to be noticed when the chips are down. Then we blow our whistle we expect God to come running. You know something God has a great sense of humor and tolerates mankind way more than I can. I personally don’t tolerate stupid people very well.

Even though we chose to live a godless life without bounds, we are never satisfied. The same is true in politics we want a godless president, one who is not influenced by biblical standards. A president who makes up feel good, but allows us to do as we please. The same standard we place on God.

America is like a ship, a “ship of state” and while navigating through the waters of a troubled world it often needs a course correction. Many times we don’t want correction we want freedom to continue living as we wish, even though the end goal is destruction.

Because God is our creator he knows what lies ahead for us and our country. His course correction often comes as catastrophic events which man calls “An Act of God” which God has tolerated from us. Other events are possibly changes in presidential administrations through tragedy or the normal election process of American politics. In America history has recorded wars, earthquakes and hurricanes, floods and fires, yet God is still in control and knows what lies ahead in the future of the nation.

Over the years course correction has come through civil unrest, assignations and wars of aggression and worldwide calamity. With each event it took a special kind of person at America’s helm. World War II & Korea were Presidents Roosevelt and Truman; Vietnam were Presidents Johnson through Ford; Iraq and Afghanistan Presidents G.H.W. Bush then Clinton; 9/11 and War on Terror it was President G.W. Bush; next came the policy decisions of Obama and the consequences of unchecked mass immigration leading to organized civil rebellion and disobedience.

The plans of God are perfect and his timing is righteous, but alas that time was not yet so God did not call forth any known politician because politics had become business as usual and America needed a coarse correction. American politics received a knockout punch when a political unknown answered God’s call to arms and Donald Trump became president. God chose a man familiar with coarse corrections in his personal life and in the business world, which would be invaluable on the political and world stage.

God did not choose a man without scars and baggage, but a man of courage, determination and persistence who would not back down when things got tough. Many a politician would have folded and went back home at the first sign of pressure.

As God placed G.W. Bush at the helm for 9/11, so God placed D.J. Trump at the helm for the rising political unrest and God has a plan for good and not evil this “shining city on a hill “- America.

Do you not see? God has a plan and everything happens for a reason and for the glory of Almighty God. The world as we knew forever changed on 9/11/2001 as America lost her innocence when the Twin Towers fell and evil called out.

The unthinkable happened on 11/2/2016 and the world stood still as Donald J. Trump stood to become President. A man so steeped in his persona that there seemed to be no room for anyone else, yet God had a different plan for America.

Those who knew Trump knew that he was not presidential material. He was rich, conceited and so full of himself that there was no way he would become president, but God’s plan would turn America back to Godly principles, but not without a fight. In the months after the election it has become crystal clear why Donald Trump is the man whom God entrusted with the Presidency.

You can always tell when God is involved because man thinks he knows it all. In fact man thinks he knows more than God about what is good. Remember what I said about God having a great sense of humor? Well BINGO! Where God had given America what they kept asking for, a black president to lead us to the Promised Land yet Obama was simply an overrated pussycat, a real paper tiger.

When Christians prayed for God to deliver America from the forces of evil, God heard and answered our prayers. We wanted a mighty president, a Christian leader someone who would put America back on the right path, yet God in his wisdom gave us Donald Trump (that sense of humor thing). God knew America needed a strong leader someone who would not cave in to pressure but would remain focused and obedient to what God called him to do. God gave us a sword wielding, forward thinking, builder leader to take America (with God’s guidance) from the valley to a new plateau.

As the mantra of this new president “Make America Great Again” evil forces have taken notice. We know this because attacks become more frequent and more urgent as the Trump agenda moves forward there is resistance like never before. What comes out of the mouths of the liberal left and their leadership every day make it perfect timing to abandon the liberal left and the Democrat Party? The left has become totally unhinged as Trump drains the swamp and the alligators are not happy.

America is at a crossroads, do we want safety and security for our families or do we want total anarchy for our nation? The 2020 election will determine the future of America. Until that time we must stay strong and stand for an America that is the light for liberty, justice and the American way. May God Bless President Trump and May God Bless America! – I am the Real Truckmaster!

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7-2-2018

 10 Things You Might Not Know About America’s Independence

How much do you know about early American history? If you were like me going to school in the 50s – 60s history was among the school subjects which I didn’t absorb too well. In fact I consider myself lucky just to make it through in the 12 years required to graduate. Our family moved around and I went to various schools in Southwestern Idaho and Eastern Oregon. After graduating from Kuna High School in Kuna, Idaho with the class of 1967 I probably forgot most of what I was taught particularly American History.

In September 1967 I enlisted in the Army and became a truck driver where I went to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Over the next 22 years I had little opportunity to continue my secondary education, except on a part-time basis. That’s why it only took me 17 years to obtain my 2-year Associates Degree in General Studies. WooHoo!

It wasn’t until I was at the end of my Army career that was able to take courses in American History to complete my Associates Degree requirements. As fate would have it I was in a land far, far away, geographically separated from my family in Colorado that another Idahoan crossed paths with me.

As my mind fails me once in a while and I can’t remember his name (I may have to come back and edit this article to give proper credit to him), I will refer to him as “Professor Fonzie”. He was from Boise, Idaho and was a year older than I and a graduate from Boise High School class of 1966. I remember he said in school his dress was like that of Henry Winkler on Happy Days, leather jacket, slicked back hair and he rode a motorcycle. He was the guy the teachers said would never amount to anything. After graduating (said they really didn’t want to put up with him any longer), he joined the Army and served one enlistment before getting out and using the GI Bill to get his PHD.

He represented the University of Maryland’s Far East campus at Camp Zama, Japan and I was nearby at Yokohama, Japan and commuted to the weekly classes. All I remember about his classes on Early American History, the industrial revolution and up to recent history at the time was that he seldom opened the textbook. He gave out assignments, pop quizzes and lectured in such a way as to bring history alive.

So back to 2018 and the upcoming July 4^th celebration, I thought it was be interesting to find out whether what I thought I knew and what I actually didn’t know were one in the same? I came across this article published on Fox News on July 4^th, 2011 and there really is a lot of history that I (let’s not say I didn’t know) misremembered as shown in these 10 things you might not know about our independence celebration. – I am the Real Truckmaster!

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Published July 4^th, 2011 on Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/07/04/10-things-might-not-know-about-our-independence.html

On July Fourth, Americans eat hot dogs and apple pie, watch fireworks, and go swimming.

But what are we really celebrating?

Standard answers to this question are that we are celebrating our independence or the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Well, yes and no.

Here are 10 things you might not know about our America’s Independence Celebration

1.) Independence Was Not Declared on July Fourth: The second Continental Congress actually voted for independence on July 2. In fact, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, predicting that future generations would celebrate July 2 as Independence Day, saying, “The second day of July, 1776, will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illumination, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.” July 4, 1776 is significant because that is the day that Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence document, but contrary to what many people believe it was not signed on the July 4. The official signing ceremony occurred on August 2, which is when most of the signers affixed their names to the document, but other representatives signed the document throughout the summer of 1776. Finally, there is no historical record of John Hancock saying that his signature is that big so that King George could read it. It has been suggested that Hancock’s is by far the largest signature simply because he was the president of Congress.

2.) New York Was Late: When the Continental Congress declared independence from Britain the official vote was 12 in favor, 0 against. But wait, you may ask, weren’t there 13 colonies? Where is that last one? The answer: The colony of New York abstained from the original vote on July 2. New York did not decide to join until July 19.

3.) It Was a States Thing First: Independence was not something that was confined to Congress. It started out as a state and local thing. In fact, the very first Declaration of Independence came on Oct. 4, 1774 (21 months before the Continental Congress declared independence) from the town of Worcester, Mass. During the next 21 months a total of 90 state and local declarations of independence would be made. When Virginia declared its independence in May 1776, they sent Rep. Richard Henry Lee to the Continental Congress with specific instructions to put forth a resolution of independence for Congress to vote on, thus allying all the colonies — soon to become states — against the British Empire in the War for Independence.

4.) American Troops Did Not fight Under the American Flag During the Revolution: The Fourth of July is always accompanied by a lot of flag waving, but the soldiers of the American Revolution did not actually fight under the American flag. In fact, our Founders did not really consider the flag to be all that important and the design of the flag varied both in the number of stripes and in the formation of the stars. The reason a uniform flag was adopted was so that our navy ships could be easily identified when arriving in foreign ports, but the boys in the Continental Army did not fight under this flag. In fact, the United States flag was considered so irrelevant that in 1794 when someone introduced a bill in Congress to add two stars to the flag in representation of the entrance of Vermont and Kentucky into the Union many members of the House considered it to be too trivial to pay any attention to. One representative is on record saying that this matter was “a trifling business which ought not to engross the attention of the House, when it was it was their duty to discuss matters of infinitely greater importance.” In the end, the bill was passed simply to be rid of it. The Continental Army did still fight under flags, but these flags were all different depending on the regiment.

5.) Our Founding Fathers Were Not Radicals: As Americans, we like to think that what we did in the American Revolution was original and that our ideas of freedom and rights were new and progressive. But the truth is our Founding Fathers were not radical new thinkers — all of their ideas and philosophies were rooted deeply in history. Ideas of people’s rights, liberty, and social contracts can be traced all the way back through our colonial history, most famously with the Mayflower Compact, and even further through British history and English common law. These ideas can even be seen at work in the medieval era with Magna Carta first established 1215. Our Founding Fathers sought independence in order to preserve their “natural-born rights as Englishmen.”  Though it is true no colony had ever succeeded from the mother country before and the British were quick to call it treason, everything our Founders did was, in fact, legal. Jefferson himself explains that the Declaration was not meant to express anything new. He said it was “not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before, but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject.”

6.) We Are Not a Democracy: People often associate democracy with freedom. We hear this word used all the time by our politicians, by our neighbors, even sometimes by our educators. But the fact is we are not a democracy. We are a republic. Our Founding Fathers deemed this an important distinction to make and discussed the matter quite a bit. In the end, our Founding Fathers claimed that a democracy was both extreme and dangerous for a country as it would most assuredly result in the oppression of the minority by the majority. Take this one example from Founding Father, Elbridge Gerry: “The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy.” And Thomas Jefferson said that democracy should never be practiced outside the limits of a town. Our Founders were very wary of power no matter who had it and thus limited it as much as possible — this is why we have such a unique system of checks and balances.

7.) Jefferson-Hemings Scandal–Not So Scandalous After All? With Independence Day comes a lot of talk about the Declaration of Independence and with that talk comes references to Thomas Jefferson, which these days will inevitably end with the Sally Hemings scandal. The claim that Jefferson fathered children with Hemings started by Jefferson’s political rival Alexander Hamilton as an attempt to smear and discredit him. In the past several years these claims got a lot of media attention when a DNA test was done on the descendants of Sally Hemings, which led people to claim that Thomas Jefferson was definitively the father of her children. However, the matter is far from settled and there are still historians on both sides of the aisle in this debate. The DNA test actually proves that a male from the Jefferson family fathered Sally Hemings’ children –that’s a number of possibilities. At this point, science cannot actually provide us with a definitive answer on the subject.

8.) Our Founding Fathers Would Not Have Recited the Pledge: Another patriotic tradition that gets a lot of attention, particularly around this time of the year, is the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge did not exist during our Founders’ lifetimes — something that is very clear when looking at its text. The Pledge was written over a century after America’s founding in 1892. It was also written by a socialist — Francis Bellamy, whose original text was: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” According to our Founders, the states are not indivisible, but very much the opposite. In fact, when ratifying the U.S. Constitution, some states, such as Virginia among others, specifically declared the right to secede from the Union should they feel it necessary just as an extra precaution to make sure that that state right was understood. Our Founders took their states rights very seriously and considered the U.S. Constitution to be a compact amongst the sovereign states so that any state could secede if it felt the federal government had become oppressive. So, if not with a pledge, how would our Founding Fathers begin meetings and celebrations? The answer: most likely with a prayer. In fact, the very first resolution brought before the First Continental Congress, and immediately passed, was the declaration that they would open every meeting with a prayer.

9.) The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere . . . and 40 others? The mythology of Paul Revere’s midnight ride can be traced back to the year 1860 with the writing of that famous poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride.” Here’s what really happened: On April 18, 1775, British troops were ordered to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams, both of whom were in Lexington at the time and to seize arms and provisions at Concord. Upon hearing this, Paul Revere and William Dawes set out on horseback — taking two different routes to Lexington in order to warn Hancock and Adams. Along the way, they warned the towns they passed through of the British invasion. By the morning of April 19 roughly 40 men were out on horseback spreading the news. Revere arrived at Lexington first, followed by Dawes. The two men then headed toward Concord, but were intercepted by British troops. Dawes, though injured, managed to escape, but Revere was captured. He was rescued by American militiamen a short while later. It was during this confrontation between British troops and American militiamen at Concord that the famous shot heard ’round the world was fired.

10.) The British Soldiers of the Boston Massacre Were Defended by John Adams in Court: The Boston Massacre, on March 5, 1770, began with a riot and ended with British troops killing five men. The incident help spark the greater rebellion, which led to the Revolutionary War, but tensions had been rising in Boston since British troops had occupied the city in 1768. But you may be surprised to know that one of the Founding Fathers actually defended the British soldiers that were charged of killing the civilians. John Adams, like many of our Founding Fathers, was a lawyer, and though he was a Patriot, he firmly believed in the right to a fair trial and agreed to represent the British troops in court. Adams succeeded in getting Capt. Thomas Preston acquitted as most others. And the two soldiers who were convicted were spared the death penalty.

So this July Fourth, research what you’re celebrating and talk about it with your family. Benjamin Franklin said that we have Republic, if we can keep it. Former Congressman and author of the book “In Tune with America: our History in Song,” George Nethercutt Jr. put it this way: “The foundation of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans is the U.S. Constitution, the longest surviving constitution of any nation in history. To be civically unaware is to diminish our freedom, but knowing our history makes us all better Americans. Read our nation’s Founding documents and they will inspire you.”