Third Party Voting

Are you  fed up with the two party system? Do you feel that voting for either party is essentially the same and are considering voting for a third party? According to ballotpedia.org "As of August 31, 2020, there are 1,186 candidates who filed to run, including:

• 323 Democratic candidates
• 163 Republican candidates
• 65 Libertarian candidates
• 23 Green candidates"

They layout their case that there are only four "notable" candidates and parties:

Biden (D)

Trump (R)

Jorgensen (L)

Hawkins (G)

For many people, it comes down to issues. For some, it comes down to the character of the candidate. We can debate all we want, but the reality is, a third party vote is essentially wasted.  I wish it wasn't, but it is. The third party votes by conservatives fed up with their party only subtracts from the more conservative of the two. Third party votes by moderates fed up with their party, only subtracts from the more moderate of the two.

In reality, the decision for most people is between Trump and Biden.

For me, and most Americans who don’t actually hate a candidate, we have a few months to determine for ourselves, who is the better man for the job.

On the one hand, there is the incumbent who has an ego like Nebuchadnezzar. He’s definitely not a politician but seems to care about his country.

On the other hand, the challenger is a career politician who has some genuine cognitive issues. His character flaws are as blatant as the incumbent’s but his concern for our country seems to be along party lines.

Does character matter? Absolutely! Do issues matter? You better believe it!  What about voting your conscience? Sure, if you want your vote to ensure the one you dislike the most wins. Isn't that a cop out? Not if you look at reality and know that either Biden or Trump is going to win. There is no way for a third party candidate to win, at least not in THIS election.

Reality says it’s going to be one of the characters from the two party system. Voting your conscience for a third party candidate is only good in your opinion.

One of these years, I would love to have a candidate that I truly supported rather than voting against someone. I suppose I will support Trump, but I certainly don't like everything about him. And I certainly wish he would have someone monitor his Tweets...

Nevertheless, I urge you to look back at a post I made a few years ago,  My Grandmother Was a Life-Long Democrat.  Of course, vote your conscience. But don't waste your vote!

And, no matter who is president, don't forget to pray for them and for our country!

God Bless America!

My Grandmother Was A Life-long Democrat

My maternal grandmother was a life-long Democrat.

She would always give me the party line: Republicans are for the rich; Democrats are for the common man.

In the fifteen to twenty years prior to her death, she really razzed me for ditching the Democrats. Her relatives would pull funny pranks on her like getting a picture of George Bush and having it faked autographed to his "biggest fan."

She was of, what I would call, the "old Democratic party." Back before they changed.

A few years before she passed away in 2012, after Obama had been president for a couple years, she called me and said she desperately needed to speak with me. While we didn't see eye to eye in politics, we held the same moral values.

She said that she felt the Democratic party had changed to the point that she no longer felt comfortable calling herself a Democrat. She said they no longer were for the common man, but seemed to be trying to tear America down.

She asked this question, "Without becoming a Republican, what else can I be?"

I knew this was something very serious, as for as long as I could remember, she said she would always be a Democrat.

So, we talked about her choices. We talked about becoming a Libertarian. She didn't like that so much because it sounded too much like becoming a Liberal.  We talked about her becoming an Independent. She didn't really like that because there aren't too many Independent candidates in Oklahoma and many of the local elections are settled in the primaries.

In the end, she finally asked me about the Republican party.  As I explained things the best I knew how, she exclaimed, "Well that's not what I thought they were at all!" She went on to say that they sounded more like she believed than she was led to believe.

She didn't make it to the next presidential election. As her health rapidly declined, I don't think she was ever able to register in a different party.

But I know that this life-long Democrat left the Democratic Party over values.

Let's face it; the Democratic Party today isn't the Democratic Party it was even 25 years ago. In recent DNC events, they tried to remove God from their platform and actually booed when the moderator fudged to get it back in.

In the 2016 election, they completely rigged the system against Bernie Sanders, then reportedly paid him off for his trouble.

In the past two years, they have doubled down against the traditional values in America, seemingly for the sole purpose of getting votes to remain in power.

They are willing to kill babies at the time of their birth.

They think the government should pay for sex-change operations.

They think the borders should be left wide open.

They have openly called for the confiscation of guns.

The list goes on.

Here's the deal. I'm not advocating anyone necessarily becoming a Republican, but please, for the love of God and country, walk away from the Democrats. Wake up and see what they are doing to our country.

No political party is perfect, for it is man's institution. And good grief, the Republicans have their own problems! To be honest, I wish we had something called the Patriot's Party that was the real deal alternative to the the big 2.

Most of the local elections where I live seldom have any third party candidates, and often, they only have Republican candidates, so, I'll stay put where I am for a while. I'd almost become a Libertarian, except for their views on abortion and marijuana.

But it says a lot to me, when a woman in her 90's, is seeking to find something different because in good conscience, she could not longer be a Democrat.

Serendipitous Ruminations

There have been several thoughts banging around in this empty head of mine; I need to get them in print. Here they are in no particular order:

• Any attempt to gain revenue by normalizing or legalizing a vice has proved counter-productive in the State of Oklahoma. First it was "Liquor by the drink", then para-mutual horse racing, then Indian casinos, then the lottery. They are looking at legalizing marijuana. What's next legalized prostitution?
• I visited the Jewish Art Museum in Tulsa yesterday. In their holocaust exhibition, they noted that Henry Ford was antisemitic and for a time, place antisemitic literature in the glove box of each new car he sold.
• The birth certificate that the White House presented as Obama's ORIGINAL birth certificate doesn't look anything like my original birth certificate. (He was born two years before me) It does, however, look like a copy of my birth certificate that I got back in the 1980's. We are being lied to.
• I am appalled at the attempt to normalize homosexuality.  Anyone who stands against this abomination is labeled as a homophobe or a bigot.  I have felt more hate directed at me for my views on homosexuality (which are in line with the Bible) than for any of my other opinions. For those who tout tolerance, they aren't very tolerant of me.
• The gun control issue isn't about guns; it's about control. The cities with the highest homicide rates are those with the strictest gun control. I really think they are afraid that they might lose their tyrannical power by allowing us to maintain our 2nd Amendment right. Wait a minute! Isn't that what the 2nd Amendment is all about?
• If it wasn't so pitiful and sad, I would find it hysterically amusing that homosexual "couples", especially lesbian couples, must have one partner who assumes the male role and one who assumes the female role. I've seen numerous "wedding" pictures where one of the women is dressed as a man and the other in a bridal dress. 
• Islam is NOT a religion of peace. It is a religion of hate and violence. Allah is not the same as the One true God of the Bible. It embodies the spirit of the antichrist. 
• I find it interesting that Hollywood's portrayal of lesbians is very very different from reality. Hollywood shows two slim, hot women who are extremely feminine and sensual; Walmart and the news show two obese decidedly butch and unattractive women. Then again, Hollywood has never been good at portraying reality.
• National Democratic politicians scream "racism" at every opportunity, but their own policies and programs are extremely racist, especially against African Americans. Their support of Planned Parenthood has killed more African Americans than the KKK could have ever imagined.
• I don't trust anyone in the current administration. Something is afoot.
• GENERALLY, churches with the words Liberty, Grace, Free, or Abundant are filled with anything but grace. It OFTEN denotes extreme legalism.
• I'll bet that the missing Malaysian Airlines plane is in Pakistan.
• One of the things that irk me most is church people who do something wrong, get caught, then lie about it, usually implicating someone else (often the preacher). Pride is so evil.
• Smokers are generally, some of the most selfish people you will ever meet. There is nothing worse than an angry militant smoker who demands their right to smoke, no matter the place or present company. They don't recognize that their addiction truly makes a slave of them to nicotine. And there is no way to hide it. You can't smoke at home or in the car and then cover it up with perfume; that doesn't work.
• I believe the Return of Jesus is eminent. Possibly by the end of next year.  Are you ready?

Gabby Giffords Is a Hypocrite

I feel bad for Gabby Giffords being shot in the head. I don't wish violence on anyone.

But yesterday's emotional demonstration for the Senate only highlighted how much of a hypocrite Gabby Giffords is.

She said, in regard to supporting more gun control, "Too many children are dying. Too many children!"

Evidently, she is supports more gun control because it has directly effected her, but ignores the FACT that more children are killed by abortion EACH DAY than are killed in America in an ENTIRE YEAR.

If Gabby Giffords truly had the welfare of children in mind, she wouldn't be wasting her time testifying against guns, she would be testifying against abortion!

According to the website http://www.ontheissues.org/house/gabby_giffords.htm  here is Former Representative Giffords stand on abortion:

• Abortions should always be legally available. (Nov 2000)
• Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
• Provide emergency contraception at military facilities. (Apr 2007)
• Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)
• Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception. (Jan 2009)
• Endorsed by EMILY's list for pro-choice Democratic women. (Sep 2010)

There is really no other explanation for this disparity than to conclude that Gabby Giffords is a hypocrite when it comes to protecting children.

Perhaps she has been duped into testifying in favor of gun control. Perhaps the liberal left has convinced her that people don't have the right to "bear arms" but do have the right to kill unborn children.

Her plea in front of the Senate Hearing yesterday was a pathetic publicity stunt by those who wish to strip Americans of their Second Amendment rights.

Remember, the gun control debate isn't about protecting children or reducing crime; it's about control. You must ask yourself why Congress keeps exempting themselves from any new gun legislation; why do they want an unarmed citizenry?

Pulling Out the "Hate" Card (and the "Victim Mentality"

I think the "Hate Card" has become the new "Race Card." You know, conveniently declaring everything else someone says is "Hate Speech" because you disagree with them and can't come up with any other good answer.

I've had the "Hate Card" pulled out twice on me in the past 24 hours on Facebook.

Interestingly, it had to do with religion and politics.

People who run out of things to say and end up saying, "You're just so full of hate" have essentially given up. They've fallen into a "Victim Mentality" that they aren't able to argue so they'll just insult the person instead.

How very sad.

Just because I disagree with you doesn't mean I hate you!

Just the same, just because I lose an argument to you doesn't mean that I'm gonna hate you or say that you are full of hate speech or insult you!

I find it so interesting that simply standing up for God's word brings so much ire from people who say they follow Jesus.

Let's face it: abortion is anti-biblical, anti-God, and anti-Jesus; homosexuality is anti-biblical, anti-God, and anti-Jesus.

How can it be hate to declare what God says???

God loves us SO MUCH that He sent Jesus to deliver us from abortion, homosexuality, immorality, porn, gossip, murder, hatred, divorce, gluttony, addiction, promiscuity, gambling, drunkenness, grudges, (and a host of other sins).

Does God love the person who has an abortion, practices homosexuality, practices immorality, watches porn, engages in gossip, commits murder, harbors hatred, gets a divorce, etc?  Of course He does! He does not discriminate in His love for the sinner.

HOWEVER, He detests the sin! He abhors it. He cannot and will not tolerate it. In fact, He calls EVERY PERSON to repentance.

Ahhhh... repentance.  Therein lies the rub.

Everyone wants to be forgiven and go to Heaven, but no one wants to do what God wants you to do.

I remember when I was 10 or 12 years old and put my hand down on a sand bur. (It's a thorny bur with barbs that is painful going in and horrific coming out).   It was right in the palm of my hand and was very deep.  I cried out in pain and my mother came to my aide. She told me to show her the bur, but I didn't want to because I knew that she would want to pull it out.  I didn't want her to. She did anyway and it HURT!!!  I called her "mean."  If she hadn't done it, it would probably still be in my hand all these years later.

Was my mother mean? No. She did it out of love. Did I want her to do it? No. Am I glad she did?  Of course.

Now, it's obvious that I'm not your mother. And I don't want to be. You're most likely an adult, if you are reading this post. Or at least an adolescent.  You should have the skills to extrapolate the meaning of this post and use it in your own life.

It doesn't give me a feeling of superior morality to think "I'm right and you're wrong."  I'll be the very first one to admit I'm not even CLOSE to perfect.

Some have even called me "judgmental." I've mentioned that I'm like a speed limit sign. I don't make the laws or write the tickets; I just tell you what the speed limit is so that you DON'T get a ticket....

Truth should NOT BE the new "Hate Speech."

Abortion vs Guns

Something very strange is happening in America. People are simply ignoring a crisis of biblical proportions.

Each and every day, an average of 3700 people are MURDERED by doctors; robbed right out of their mother's wombs.

Yet, the public outcry is not against abortion; it is about gun control.

Each day, on average, there are 37 homicides related to firearms.

Looks like we're looking for murder in all the wrong places...