There are people who voted for Barak Obama because he was the first black president. Remember, though, he was only half black. The people who voted for him felt that history would be made; and it was once he was first elected.

I’m here to tell you, that wasn’t the reason why I voted for Obama. Yes, this Reagan’s Republican voted for Obama back in 2008 and 2012.

Let us take trip back to 2008!

My first choice back then was Rudy Giullani. I like how he handled things when he was the mayor of New York City after 9/11. He got them through that crisis. He wasn’t a career politician either. He wasn’t part of the Establishment in Washington either. Of course, I didn’t want Hillary Clinton either.

In the beginning of that election primary, it looks like Hillary Clinton would had gotten the nomination. Barak Obama was pretty new at the game of politics back then.

Remember, I didn’t wanted George W. Bush back in 2000 and even 2004. He was part of the Established Republicans. They were not the reason why I became a Republican in the first place. I became a Republican because of Ronald Reagan; who was non-establishment. I was very much upset at the way the Government was going in Washington.

Guillani wasn’t part of the establishment either and he was a way better choice than John McCain. It looks like John McCain was about to bow out of the race; when he got a second wind. Or in other words, somehow, Guillani somehow just fizzle out for some reason. He tried to put all his eggs in one basket and it didn’t pay off like he hope for.

Then I happened to catch Obama’s speech and was very much impress with what he had to say. I know that I wasn’t the only Republicans who voted for Obama either.

Like I mentioned before, the tea party movement was formed under George W. Bush, because those involved were unhappy with the Established Republicans.

Obama made such an impression on me with the promise of change. We needs changes in Washington. He was talking a good talk to the American people. He knew just what to say. He wasn’t in office for very long either.

With Guillani fizzling out during the primary, it gave Obama the boost he needed to defeated Hillary Clinton during the primary and get the nomination.

To the reason for the title, is the Obamas for real, they came across as being down-to-earth. Even though they were very rich, they seemed to be down-to-earth. They were very people oriented compared to Hillary Clinton. Hillary was so stiff.

Hillary tried to be more people oriented in 2016 against Trump; but she wasn’t able to pulled it off.

I couldn’t stand John McCain, because he was a career politician and part of the establishment as well. Whereas, Obamas were more down-to-earth compare to McCain.

I’m not going to downplay his works he did as President because he did do some good things. It may not been a lot of right things to do but that is different. He did catch Bin Laden though.

We needed better healthcare than what we had until Obamacare. Yet, there were some flaws in Obamacare as well. Under Obamacare, the price of the insurance premium went up. There was a penalty put on your taxes when you filed; that if you didn’t have insurance, you were made to pay a penalty. That was ridiculous!! There were people who still didn’t get insurance because they felt that it wasn’t worth it.

Universal healthcare isn’t all that it was set up to be. I’m not going to say anymore than that because that is a different blog, altogether.

Then in 2012, I did like Herman Cane, who was a CEO from Dominos Pizza and his 10% down on his tax plan. Taxes is way too high the way it was. If 10% is enough for the church, it sure is more than plenty for the government.

During the Primary, the Established Republicans went all out to destroy Herman Cane’s reputation and made him drop out of the race for president. If he would had gotten the nomination, I would had voted Republicans again by voting for him. He wasn’t able to stand up against them like Trump did in 2016.

So once again, the Established Republicans lost my vote when they nominated Mitt Romney to run against Obama.

It goes to show, that the American people were very much angry with our career politicians in Washington. Let us look at 2016: the established Republicans candidates couldn’t pull a win during the primary. Only the non-establishment were able to stick it out and win; candidates like Trump, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio did well.

The Republicans were not the only party to have problems though in winning over the American people. The Democrats is also facing problems themselves. There is the mainstream Democrats and there is those who are too far Left. They are Socialist; but call themselves the Progressive movements.

It goes to show that we need term limits for our Congressman and Senators. Maybe also doing away with the 2 party systems as well. We need more Independent candidate to run for President. Believe me, I would vote for anyone who is in favor of term limits for the Senate and the House. It doesn’t matter if they are Republicans or Democrats.

Since Trump took office, many of these career politicians are stepping down. There are still some that needs to do in both party. The American people are happy to see these career politicians stepping down; but yet they really hate Trump. That doesn’t make sense! He is doing what needs to be done. We needed something like this for a long time.

Obama talk a good talk when he campaigned on change. Change is coming, and it started under Obama. It was even making headway under George W. Bush. This change in Washington will even continue until the mess is cleaned up. No one president can get it all done in one or two terms.

So tell me, if you can, was the Obamas for real? Was he just talking a good talk or was he just the beginning of the change that was and is to come, with Trump and with any future candidates. Was he really down-to-earth or was it just an act? Did he knew how to play us or was he genuine?

The year 2018 had been known as the year of the woman

The “Me-too” movement had made an impact on today’s society. I have to admire those women who stood up to their abuser. It takes courage.

I do have to admit though what is the ultimate motives behind this “Me-too” movement? Is it for the right reason? Or is it for revenge? Are they doing it for healing purpose or are they doing it to be a force to be reckon with?

Even though it takes courage to speak out against their perpetrator; they have to be careful that they don’t become a victim all over again.

In the years between 1848-1920, the women suffrage started. It was during that time that women was able to vote and own property. Before that they were known as property themselves.

For a long time women was known as second-class citizen, even in the Bible time.

I’m for equal pay for equal work. I’m for women having rights as citizen as men. There are countries though that still treats women as property. In Iraq and the Middle East; especially among the Muslims countries. women are considered property. They have to wear a veils over their faces. They are not to be seen or heard.

Yet these Leftist, who supports the Muslims extremist, seems to forget that.

We still have a long way to go though.

My mother was a Feminist and an independent woman. She wanted to see a woman president. Yet, she didn’t care much for Hillary Clinton.

It has to be the right woman to be President. It can’t be just anyone.

I mean, in 2000, I voted for a woman for President, when I voted for Elizabeth Dole over George W. Bush.

In Ephesians 5:22-28, “Wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. Husbands are to love their wives just as Christ loved the church” This is only part of these verse, read it for yourself.”

I’m not saying that women are to be a doormat to their husbands and let them abuse and control them completely. They are to be equal with each other.

God created Eve to be a helper for Adam. Woman was created out of man.

A true feminist is the one who can bring home the bacon and fry it too. Their family is still their highest priority.

Like I said, I admired those who stood up against their abusers. It took courage to stand up against people like Harvey Weinstein.

I have to admit, I had a hard time to see Bill Cosby being guilty of sexual assault. First of all, he was America’s favorite TV’s dads. Second, one of his accusers, Janice Dixon, I had a hard time in believing. Her reputation succeed her.

It took courage for Christine Ford to make her statement against Brett Kavenaugh. Yet at the same time the Democrats took advantage of her.

The reason for Sen. Susan Collins vote for Kavanaugh was because she felt that the confirmation process was dysfunctional, it looks more like a caricature of gutter-level political campaign than a solemn occasion. In other words, the Democrats were just using it as a political gain.

I believe in times we will have a woman president. It just have to be the right one. They are to be strong but not abuse their authority like men sometimes do. We can’t just elect a woman just because.

Hillary Clinton lost the election because she abused her authority.

I heard someone say, that Elizabeth Warren would be good. The excuse they gave was that she isn’t corrupt. (I won’t go into that.) All I will say is this: A real good person, who isn’t corrupt will not survive being in politics. Politics is dirty business. Sometimes you have to be a little dirty to withstand the corruptness in Washington. A good person will never survive. I may say that it would be nice to run for office; but then I think, could I survive without getting my hands dirty?

No wonder being president make a person age while in office.

Women had made some accomplishment. Former Sen. Heidi Heightcamp was the first woman senator from North Dakota.

The city of Moorhead had elected their first woman mayor, Del Rae Williams was her name. If you noticed, she only served one term. She saw how dirty politics can be; and that was a small scale.

This election, Tennessee elected their first woman senator. She was a republican by the name of Marsha Blackburn. She won despite having Taylor Swift supporting her opponent instead

Margaret Thatcher was the first Prime Minister from England, and she was known as Iron Lady. She was admired by Pres. Reagan.

Golda Meir was the first Prime Minister from Israel. She was responsible for bringing the Jews back to Israel back after WW2.

I guess what I’m saying United States will eventually have a their first woman President; but she must be the right one. She must not abuse her authority.

To all those who hate Pres. Trump, I have to say, he had done a lot for the women’s movement. You may call him a sexist pig. You may call me a sexist pig. If it wasn’t for Trump in bringing about the changes in Washington, 2018 may not been a good of a year for the women.

No one likes change! Yet we all go through it from the time we’re born until we die. Change is inevitable.

We change from being babies to toddler to teenagers. When we hit the teenage years there is a bunch of changes in our body that we goes through. Young girls develop breast and young boys get to the point of needing to shave. Even our voices changed.

Once kids grow up and leaves the home, they faced a bunch of changes as well. Some may go to college, tech school, or join the military. Some will even have to get a full time job to make a living. (They can’t live off mom and dad forever.)

Then when the time comes that you meet the One that you want to spend the rest of your life with. You make changes in your personal life to adjust to that relationship. Then when you have kids of your own, more changes happened in your life and family. You can’t drive around in a fancy sports car anymore. You have to drive a Suburban because of your growing family. You even start thinking about saving money for a house, kids’ education, and even retirement. You are starting to settle down, hopefully.

In the early 1900’s people held on to their jobs. They didn’t change their jobs as often as we do now. The reasons: the employers took care of their employees and their family back then. There wasn’t as many opportunity as there is today to better yourself.

Even the Baby Boomers were more apt to stick with their jobs.

When I was born, I just missed the Baby Boomers by a year; thus I’m a Generation X. So part of me can relate to the baby boomers. My generation is the generation that started the change movement; but the Millennium is the generation that is mainly known for changing jobs the most. Some say “how can they establish a good report if they don’t stay at a job long enough.”

The Millennium is looking for a job with more money but less hours. Employers seems to like that to.

Once a person becomes an adult, they are more apt to move more times than their parents did. They are even more apt to switch jobs. Some say that they cannot be as dependable as the older generation.

I think one of the reason is that there is more opportunity to better oneself than there was years ago. Some may even have a little entitlement issues, thinking that mommy and daddy, or the government will take care of them.

When a person hit mid-life, they goes through some changes as well. First of all, what women calls that time of month, also known as PMS. Believe me that is the time that husbands are so glad to have their man-cave; just to get away from their wives at their crazy time of the month.

People will goes through mid-life crisis and make changes in their life. Some will do crazy things and some not so crazy. There will be reason for these life changes; either health, kids grown , or whatever.

Sometimes a death in the family will bring about changes. When someone close in the family dies, they start evaluating their life.

Once I hit 50, I made a health choice. I saw that I had an uncle who made 82 years old and I have an aunt who is in her 90’s. The decision I made when I turned 50 was to start eating healthier. I came to realize that I don’t have to die young. There is longevity in my family. I just needed to change my diet and start eating healthier. I made it my goal. I’m not saying I don’t cheat; but since I started eating healthier, I feel better. I don’t have the heart trouble so far. I have been slowly losing weight and people can tell.

Also around this time, I started writing my blog for the internet. The weirdest thing is, I went to college for this writing; not knowing what I really want to do with my life. So you can say, my life have went full circle. It had been 2 years and thanks to all my readers, I’m up to almost 3000 viewers from all over the world. I even have BBC news following my blog. I don’t know when I will actually start getting paid but that will happens.

This past year, first I popped a ligament in my knee and it was painful. I even walked with a cane for a couple of days. Believe me, I thought to myself I’m much too fun to feel this damn old. It brought about more changes I needed to make in my life.

I even switch job this year. Believe me, I was scared at first, being my age as well. Yet, I knew that I needed to do something before it was too late. I was working at Kmart at the time; when I saw the writing on the wall.

What I went through, was this a mid-life crisis or was it apart of life changes that we all must goes through?

Like I said earlier, no one likes changes. Even though we have to go through it in our life. Sometimes we will fight these changes.

Like for example the change that is happening in Washington. The American people is so unhappy with our government. Yet when we get someone as President who is trying clean up Washington and make a change for the better; we fight it every step away.

This is the first in a series of blogs about how the changes that is happening this year and the last few years at that. So stay tuned the next few weeks.

By the way Happy New Year!! May 2019 be a year of change for you all. May 2019 be a year of good things to come for me and for you.

I know that Jesus doesn’t need any one of us to make a case for Him. He made his own defense by not saying a word to His accusers. He did asked though in the Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The world needs Jesus now more than ever.

This Christmas, take the time to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. God came down to earth as a little baby born in a manger. Mary was a virgin; and so the conception was a miracle in itself.

Even though, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ during Christmas; the Bible scholars will tell you that his birth wasn’t actually around Christmastime.

In the manger scene, we sees Baby Jesus, His parents, Mary and Joseph, shepherds, and 3 wise men from the East. In reality, the 3 wise men wasn’t actually at the manger. They came to Jesus once Mary and Joseph was in a house. Think about it, they made the longest journey.

The reason for Jesus being born in a manger in Bethlehem, was because Mary and Joseph had to go back to their home town for a census. The inn was full at the time.

Mary was riding a donkey into Bethlehem and Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem before He was crucified.

Think about that: Jesus lowered Himself for us all. He humbled Himself. He taught us humility throughout the Bible.

In Isaiah 9:6-7, the prophet announced, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever,”

Yet, the Jewish leaders had a tough time to believe that Jesus Christ was promised Messiah. They expected Him to be born in a palace; rather than a manger. They didn’t expect Him to lower Himself like He did.

Even to this day, there are Jews who still doesn’t believe that the promised Messiah came. Yet there are Jews for Christ who do believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He was more than a prophet. He was the Son of God.

According to John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

Can you even fathom that love?

The Lord loves us so much that he willingly made the ultimate sacrifice for us all. We don’t know when Jesus will return again. He could return anytime. He is being patient in His returns because He doesn’t want anyone of us to perish.

With all the hate going on in the world today, we need Jesus now more than ever. Let us not just celebrate Jesus during Christmas; let us honor Him all year long.

It seems that Jesus Christ had been taken out of Christmas. Instead of Merry Christmas, it’s Merry Xmas.

The people behind ACLU is even getting rid of the manger scene. They don’t like the manger scene to be shown in front of a church, a school, or even someone’s home.

They wouldn’t even like that I’m mentioning Jesus in this blog.

Well I don’t care. I’d rather have Jesus in my life. He is my Lord and Savior. I celebrate His birth and His life. I’m forever grateful for all that he done for me.

I once was lost but now am found.

The Bible passage that is a part of my testimony is Luke 15, the parable of the Prodigal Son. I was baptized as a baby in a Catholic church. I went through the Catechism. I got confirmed in a Lutheran church. So I was taught the Bible and all about Jesus. Like any other teens, I doubted Jesus. With the life, I had, there was no wonder.

I won’t go into that life I had in this blog; but I will share how Jesus came into my life.

I was flipping through the channels on TV and came upon Televangelist Dwight Thompson. Now, I was never big on Televangelist. Anyway, for some reason, I couldn’t turned the channel. It was like the Holy Spirit had stopped me. Then one night Dwight Thompson preached on Luke 15, the Prodigal Son. Then during the night while I was sleeping, I heard the voice of the Lord speaking to me. He told me that he loved me and was there for me. I cried as I accepted the Lord into my life that night. I then got re-baptized, by being submerge in water like Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.

Don’t just take my words about Jesus, read the Bible.

We need Jesus Christ now more than ever. We need Him to return and save us all. Only Jesus can destroy all this hate in the world today.

I’m not going to apologize if I offended anyone. I’m making my case for Jesus Christ, who is my Lord and Savior. He had done so much for me and He is still at work in my life to this day. I love Jesus and if anyone is offended so be it.

Jesus is the best gift in my life that I ever received.

This Christmas let us put Jesus Christ back into Christmas. He is the real reason we celebrate Christmas. It is not the gifts you buy or get from someone. It is not Santa Claus.

Put a little love in your heart by putting Jesus back where He belongs. It’s time that we get back to God.

     Have you ever played the what if game?  Have you ever wondered what if this happened instead of that?  

      Let us play the what if game with President Donald Trump!  

      First of all, Donald Trump wasn’t really a true conservative Republican.  He was a Democrat.  The only reason why he ran as a Republican was because the Democrats had what they called a “Super Delegate.”  

       Super Delegate is defined as a person who is chosen to a political party’s presidential nominating convention because of his or her status as a leader or official within the party and who is free to vote in primary elections and caucuses preceding the convention.

       Super delegates were invented by the Democrats after the 1980 election in the expectation that in any future close nomination race, they would line up behind the establishment candidate and head off the possibility of a ruinous floor fight at the convention.  

       So you can say that if anything is fix in the election; it’s the Democrats nomination process.  They may blame the Russian for losing the election; in reality, they are responsible for losing the election themselves in 2016.  

       Donald Trump knew that; so that was why he chose to run as a Republican.  He knew that his chances to win the nomination and be elected as President was better as a Republican.  

        Let us look at the 2016 election.  Both Trump and Bernie Sanders had a larger crowd then Hillary Clinton and the Republican Establishment.  Even though Bernie Sanders had a larger crowd, it was already set up for Hillary to get the nomination by the Democratic party.  Don’t you think they should rethink that?  

       Donald Trump was friends with the Clintons and they were even at his wedding.  He was even a big donor on their campaign.  

       Donald Trump had friends in Hollywood.  He had a huge audience with his reality show, “The Apprentice;” which was on NBC.  

       When he and Rosie O’Donnell got into a tiff while she was on the View, it was pure entertainment and comical.  The people seems to root for Trump.  

        I have to admit at first I was scared of Trump because of his big mouth.  I, at first wanted Dr. Ben Carson for President.  The reason was because he wasn’t part of the Established Republicans.  I have to admit, I like Trump more and more.  I like him because he isn’t a career politician.  I like him because he has a backbone, and is not afraid to stand up the fake news media and those in Washington.  I like that he isn’t afraid to break some rules to get the job the done.  He had done more for this country in the 2 years in office than any president since Ronald Reagan.  

       If he was a Democrat, I would probably still vote for him; because he wasn’t a career politician.  

       I heard people say that the problem is with our 2-party system.  That may be part of the problems; but the main problems is we need term limits to put a stop to these  career politicians.  

        Reagan wasn’t part of the Establishment either.  He also face opposition from both the Established Republicans and the Democrats.  He even faced opposition from the press as well.  

       We needed someone to stand up against those Leftist media and those career politicians in Washington.  

        If Trump was a Democrat, he wouldn’t faced the opposition with the fake mainstream news media and the with the Democrats.  He would be their best buddy.  

        Sure, the Fox news wouldn’t be happy with him and even the Republicans.  I don’t think they would go as far and illegally as the Democrats are going right now.  

        The difference between the Republicans and the Democrats is as simple as black and white.  The Republicans will use a more peaceful way of protesting.  They will also looks for ways that they can win the right way.   

       Whereas, the Democrats are more apt to moved to violence and spurns hate.  Remember, it was the Leftist Democrats, under the disguise of “hippies,” who violently protested the Vietnam War.  Those “hippies” had gotten older and now some of them are in Washington.  

         So you tell me if you can!  Is it Trump you hate or is it the Republican Party that you dislike?   Do you really have a ground to stand on with your hatred toward Trump?  Think about this!!

        I’m not saying that the Republicans Party is perfect, by no means.  There are some Republicans that needs to go in Washington.  

        The Democrats isn’t perfect either.  They still have Super Delegates.  That keeps any good candidates from actually running for office.  They also have some Socialist that I’m not happy with.  I’m not going to talk about them because that is a different blog.  

          So the next time you are spurting hate at President Trump, ask yourself if it’s warranted?  Where is that hatred coming from?  

        There are people who is so upset with these career politicians.  Yet when someone like Trump comes along, they turned their anger on him.  He is not a career politicians folks.  

         So put your anger where it really belong and with these career politicians, do not blame Trump.  He is only saying what the American people is angry at.  He wants to make America great again.  

         Our forefathers were afraid that our government would become too big.  That was why they put in the Constitution, that our politicians would not make a career out of being in Washington.  They will serve their terms and go back home and deals with the laws they made.  

       Too many of our politicians are bought off by these Lobbyist.  That also needs to stop.  The American people don’t have the voice they are supposed to because of these Lobbyist.  

        So once again, who do you hate more, President Trump, the Republicans, our career politicians, or  the news media?

        The news media now have a bad reputation right now.  They are as hated as our career politicians, the IRS, and telemarketer.  

        Instead of hating Trump for trying to make America great again; put that hate where it really belong.  

As you probably already know by now, George Bush Sr. had passed away.  He was the oldest living President at the time at 94 years old.  Now former President Jimmy Carter is now the oldest living President.

I won’t be as nice to him as I was to his lovely wife Barbara Bush.  Yet I won’t be as rough on him like I was with John McCain either.  You be the judge though!

First of all I want to say this.  When he was Vice-President under the greatest President, Ronald Reagan, he was in Fargo, ND.  I was outside near the NDSU campus when his limo was driving by.  I’ll never forget that he waved to me as his limo went by.

Now it’s time to set the records straight about George Bush Sr.

The only reason he was elected President in 1988 was because he was able to ride into the White House on Reagan’s coattails.  Otherwise, I don’t know if he would ever been President.  He ran for President in 1980 but couldn’t get the nomination from Reagan.  He was a former CIA director and a war hero, like Bob Dole.

When they made the comment that he ended the Cold War, I want to set the record straight on that.  He did not end the Cold War.  It was Ronald Reagan who actually did it.  It may ended during his term as President.

Just like it was Ronald Reagan who told Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall.  The wall came down in 1988-1989.

It’s just not right that the sitting President make claims to something they are not responsible for that a previous President was responsible for.  They want to claim the good but blame the bad on the past President.

Reagan was a Nationalist; whereas George Bush Sr. was the first the Globalist in a long line after Reagan, until now with Pres. Trump being a Nationalist.

A Nationalist is a person who advocates political independence for a country, or a person with strong patriotic feelings, especially one who believes in the superiority of their country over others.

A Globalist is a person who advocates the interpretation or planning of economic and foreign policy in relation to events and developments throughout the world.

So, set the records straight, I’m a Nationalist!

I do want to admit one thing, I did voted for him in 1988 and 1992.  Then again I was a young Republican, and became a Republican because Ronald Reagan.  I wasn’t really impress with him but I was still new in the political game.

One of his campaign promises that he used was, “Read my lips, no new taxes!”  He also hated broccoli.  Then again broccoli is better with cheese sauce.  Yet the cheese sauce made them unhealthy.

He did do one thing right and that was when he went after Saddam Hussein when he attacked Kuwait.  Where he failed though was how he handled it.  If he would had done it right the first time, his son, George W. Bush wouldn’t had to go after Saddam the second time while he was President.  This is not what turned me against the Bush’s family though, and not wanting to vote for George W. Bush or Jeb Bush.

When the fake mainstream news and the like of Murphey Brown attack Dan Quale; who was George Sr. Vice-President.  What did he do?  He did nothing to support old Dan Quale as he was being bullied.  This is where Bush Sr. is no better than John McCain.  They didn’t man-up when their running mate was being bullied.

I’m not saying that Dan Quale was right when he made the comment he made against single mothers.  I’m saying he was bullied by fake news mainstream media.  I have more respect for someone who stands up to the bullies, in helping those being bullied.  Bush Sr. had lost my respect.

I think what hurt his reelection chances was that and Ross Perot, who was a thorn in his side.  The Fake mainstream news made fun of Ross Perot also.  Some of the things he said did comes true.  Yet no one believed him; and that was why Bill Clinton, the lesser of 3 evils was elected President.

It was Bush Sr. who first introduced the failed NAFTA bill that was sign under Clinton.

Since Bush Sr. didn’t man-up to the press when Dan Quale was being bullied I lost respect for him and his family.  That was why I didn’t voted for George W. Bush for President.  The Established Republicans wanted him over Elizabeth Dole.  They were afraid of her for some reason.  I voted for her over George W. Bush. I even wrote in her name on that election.

There was one good thing about having George W. Bush over Al Gore, and that was 9/11.  I believe Al Gore would had done nothing.

Another reason I didn’t voted for George W. Bush is this, I felt he was unqualified to be President.

He was a recovering alcoholic.  That’s not the reason I didn’t vote for him though.  I believe the reason he became an alcoholic was because he was starving for his father’s approval.  Those who are starving for approval searched for others means, such as alcohol.

As I said, Barbara Bush was like everyone grandmother.  The impression I get from Bush Sr. was that he was tough and demanded a lot from his kids.

This reminds me of a story I heard about my grandparents.  My grandmother was sweet and my grandfather was a drunk.  He would pay his kids and/or grandkids to give him a hug; otherwise he may not get one.  Whereas my grandmother would gets a lot of hugs.

My Uncle Frank was a chip off the old block, just like grandpa.  His kids strived for his acceptance.

Just like with my step-dad, us kids strived for his acceptance.  We got it more from our mother than him.  In the end he did comes around though.

Back to George Sr. and George W. Bush,  I believe that the bushes’ kids were starving for acceptance from their father.  I believe because of that, George W. Bush became an alcoholic.  I also believe that was why he ran for President in the first place.  Look at who George W. Bush’s Vice-President was.  I mean Dick Cheney.  A Vice-President is suppose to be there as a support.  Now Dick Cheney seems to had been running the country and George W., who was starving for acceptance seems to let him.  He was being the puppet.

It goes to show that not only does the poor people has their problems with children being starved for acceptance.  The rich kids faced the same problems as well.  That problems have nothing to do with being rich or poor.  The only difference is that the rich would throw money at the problems and nothing get resolve.

Even though, George Sr. was a Republican, he voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016.  The reason was because they were angry at Donald Trump and the way he treated Jeb Bush in the Primaries.  To me , they were just being big babies.  Another reason why I have no respect for the Bush’s family.

There is one thing I do have admit though.  When George Sr. was 80 years old, he jumped out of an airplane with a parachute.  Now that takes courage especially at that age. I mean, one thing on my bucket list before I die is to jump out of a  plane.  When I look at my situation now, I have to admit that I have reconsider that on my bucket list.  I’m not in the best of shape; especially my knees.  So when George Sr. jumped out of a plane on his 80th birthday, I gives him thumbs up for that.

That is the only things I will give him praise for.  As for being President, I had no respect for him or even his son George W. Bush.  I’m sure glad that Jeb Bush couldn’t beat Trump in 2016.  I believe that Hillary Clinton would rather took  on Jeb than Trump.  She would had won for sure.

Remember last week when I wrote how those who works retails and in the restaurant are the worst paying and least appreciated?  Not just from the customers who frequent the business; but also from the managers/owners.

In this blog I will be making reference to this book.  So in a way I’m promoting this book.  You can call it’s free advertisement.  I have read this book and found it’s very interesting.  I recommend anyone who is about to become a manager or is a manager to read this book first.  You might learn something.

First I want to say though.  Managers must learn to appreciate their workers.  We starve for the appreciation.  Don’t just say, “we appreciate you” and give them a piece of paper.  That is a joke, that is not very funny.

In a big corporation, the higher-up comes up with crazy ideas that never really works for the individual stores.  Yet they get paid the big bucks and the bonuses for an idea that will fail in the long run.  Managers who runs a local businesses, knows the business better than those in the higher-up position who makes those ideas.  They knows their employees better than these corporate heads.  At least they should!

A good manager works alongside their employees.  They don’t just sit in their ivory tower and make a list for their employees to follow.  Some managers even got bad handwritings; that is hard to decipher.  If you decipher wrong, you get yelled at.

A good manager takes the time to get to know their employees.  Yet they don’t show favoritism.  Favoritism is never good!

One of the things that will hurt a business is bad management.  Customers will know it because they will sense it in the employees.  If the employees is not happy, how can they satisfy the customers?

Don’t treat your employees like slaves!  Slavery been defeated after the Civil War around 1865.  You need to pay your help better and not take advantage of them.  Don’t assume that they are happy to do what you ask of them.

You know what assume mean?  Assume mean making an ass out of you and me both.

I have shirt that I bought while working at Kmart years ago that said, “Overwork and underpay.”  Believe me, that shirt fit Kmart.  We were overwork and underpay.  That is also with a lot of retails and restaurant workers as well.

Many companies know that the ability to find and keep talented employees is vital to sustain success, but managers don’t know how to keep their help satisfied.

Wouldn’t it be better to pay your helps and treat them better than to always be hiring for new help?  It will be cost-affected.

If you ever look at the want ads, jobs that is constantly looking for help, there must something wrong with management.  I can named a few businesses that is always looking for help; but I think you get the message.

Remember, this is why a good run business is prepared to go all out to keep their good employees.  Because every good managers knows the importance of keeping talented people on staff.  Yet all managers needs a little help to do this.

A good manager must be people oriented.  They have to be more interested in people than the bottom line.

If a company is bleeding people, they are bleeding values as well.

Let me ask you, what does a strong vibrant workplace look like?  What lies at the heart of a great workplace?  What attracts and keeps good employees?

Employees must have the proper tools to do the jobs that is required of them.  They must be recognize for the good job they do.

I actually believe if the employees has a stake in the business, they will do all they can to make it a success.  If they are not treated with respect, why bother.

If you treat your employees right, they will treat the customers right.

How do the best managers lay the foundation for a strong workplace?    Do they make the employees want to stay and give their all or do they treat them like slaves?

My Uncle Frank was tougher on his family who worked for him than with non-family members.

When I was a supervisor at Concordia, I tried to make it fun for the workers.  My goal was to get to know the workers working under me.

Managers do things right.  Leaders do the right thing.

Managers worked to teach the employees new skills.  If they don’t do that, what good are they?  Managers must also be willing to listen to suggestions from the employees as well.  Sometimes, their old ways of thinking may not work anymore.  Sometimes a workers may have a system that works best for them.

There are those in Washington and elsewhere who don’t like Trump because he doesn’t played by the rules.  They say that there are certain ways things must be done to get the job done.  I like him because he doesn’t play by the rules.  He knows that some rules are meant to be broken.  Some of the old rules in Washington doesn’t work anymore.

These career politicians are in Washington far too long that they actually forgot what the American people actually wants and needs.  They think they know, but they don’t.

It the same with managers.  The managers may think they know their employees but they are fooling themselves.

That is why it’s important to know your help better.  That is why a good manager must be willing to break some rules if a business is to succeed.  The head of the corporation don’t know; yet they make dumb rules thinking it’s for the best for the company.  Just like our career politicians make laws that is actually harmful for the country.   They think they know what is best but they actually don’t.

Don’t just take my words for it.  I asked to read the book at the top of this blog.  It’s very informative.  I only gave you small tidbits from the book.

Are you the kind of person that goes crazy on Black Friday?  Do you get up real early just to see what kinds of deals you can finds in the stores?

First, let me tell you this, you aren’t really getting a deal.  Stores first raised the prices up and then put it on sale at a lower price.  That’s a secret they don’t want the buying public to know; otherwise they cannot hook them in to shop in their stores.

Yet so many people rushed into the stores on Black Friday and even later in the day on Thanksgiving.  They hope to get the best deals for  their bucks.  They wait to then to do their Christmas shopping.

Don’t they know that the better time to Christmas shop is after Christmas for the following year.  You can finds better deals during the year for ideas for Christmas gifts than during Black Friday.

Now let us get to the real reason for this blog.

The two worst jobs with the most stress and least pay are:  those who works retails and those who works in the restaurant industry.  Also in those type of jobs, those who worked them are less appreciated for their service.

I worked in the restaurant and I worked retails. I don’t know which jobs were more stressful.

William James, an American psychologist and philosopher wrote, “In every person from the cradle to the grave, there is a deep craving to be appreciated.”

We all wants to be appreciated!!

So when you wait until the last minute and choose to  go crazy and shop on Black Friday, don’t blame those who works in these dead-end jobs of retails and restaurant.  It’s not their fault that the stores ran out of the items that you want.  It’s your fault for waiting until the last minute.

Stores owners knows that, that is why they lure you into their trap to get you to spend your hard earned money.

Those who works in the retail and restaurant industry gets very little pay and no appreciation.  Not just from irate customers; but also from the owners and/or managers.  The owners and managers doesn’t really appreciate you.  They say they do.  They are just talking out of both side of their mouth.  Their appreciation is not genuine.

If they really appreciate the help, they would pay them better and gives them decent benefits.  They would even gives bonuses.

Wal-Mart is one of the top retails now.  When Sam Walton was alive he took better care of his employees than his kids do.  Then again he didn’t expect for Wal-Mart to be as big as it is.  It was his kids who made it a global industry.

They raised the starting wage to lure workers in; but when it comes right down to it, what do you get.  You just get a swift kick in the ass and treated like slaves.  They don’t give raises, bonuses, benefits, etc.

I never worked Wal-Mart but I did worked for Kmart.  At one time they were a prominent company.  The original owner took care of his employees.  I know that the company is dying.  You can thank Eddie Lambert.  (I don’t won’t go too far into this because that is another blog.)

All I will say, the pay for working retails and restaurant is very low and there is no incentives.  The turnover is very high as well.  There are many restaurants.  People who usually works retails are those in high school and/or college.  They are working those jobs until they get their education, so they can get a better paying jobs.  Those types of jobs is a stepping stool for something better.

Don’t get me wrong though.  There are some people who do stays a long time working in retails and restaurants as well.  Somebody go to do it, I guess.  Either they like it or is afraid to move on to better paying jobs.  Some may not even get a better paying jobs; so they are stuck.

Not only is the pay low and there is no incentives; those types of jobs are more apt to be part time.  That way they don’t have to provide benefits.

It’s all about greed!!

Retail workers are not suppose to accept tips or gifts from customers.  Even when the customers do it to show their appreciation.  I can say it now, but I couldn’t while working at Kmart.  There had been some customers who gave me tips outside in the parking lot as I helped them with a carry-out.  We were not suppose to accept and if we did, we were suppose to give it to the managers.  What I been told, “what the managers don’t know won’t hurt them.”  If they don’t want to appreciate their helps, then they should allow customers to show their appreciation.

Those who works in restaurants, usually gets tips along with their pay.  These restaurants owners figured since they get tips, they don’t have to pay more in wages.

They don’t make enough in tips to make a living.  Also our government wants you to claims your tips you make as well.  That is not right!

The wait staff takes a lot of bull from customers.  They have to deal with rude and angry customers.

I had an aunt, who had money; but when it came to leaving tips, she was cheap.  She would makes these wait staff runs constantly.  It was embarrassing going out eating with her.  I felt sorry the waitress.  The excuse she used was, “I need the quarters to do my laundry.”  So she will makes them do all these running for her thinking they are doing her a service; and all she would leaves them is pennies/or lose change.  If you don’t want to leaves quarters, you can leave dollars.

Sometimes even cooks, busboys, and dishwasher would gets tips as well.  Usually the wait staff have to split it with them though.

I do remember one time though, while working at the Viking Room, there was a customer; who happened to be an old boss, gave me a tip for cooking what she ordered.

Like I said, I worked retails and I worked restaurants; I don’t know which is more stressful.  Believe me, I don’t miss it!

All I will say is this, working retails when it slows down in January, there is really no slow down.  You are constantly putting out freight or helping customers.  Unless the stores is struggling, that is a different story.  Then they cut hours.

In restaurants, they cut hours to.  Sometimes, you have to looks for ways to get your hours by finding things to do, like special cleaning for example.

That stress working in retails and restaurants is hard on a person body.  You feels it all over.  The aches and pains!  There is a different between stress tired and a good honest tired.  I won’t go into that because that is a different blog.

This year either during Black Friday or the Christmas season, shows some appreciation for those who works retails and restaurants.  Don’t get mad at them because you couldn’t get the item you wanted to buy.  It’s not their fault that you waited so long.  They do a lot of to make sure that  the customers gets the service they expect.  They are not truly appreciated by their employers or even paid decent.  They have no benefits and no incentives.  Sure, the manager may say, “we appreciate you,”  but then all they give is a piece of paper.  That’s a joke!!

Thus the title of this blog, in honor of Black Friday, show some appreciation.  As Tim McGraw sang, “Be humble and kind.”  They are humbling themselves to serve you.  The least thing you can do for them is show them a little appreciation.

Stay tuned for next week when I will discuss how managers can be better managers by breaking some rules and even treat their employees better.

Last week I mentioned the Plaza that is being built in downtown Fargo, and how I felt that there is better things that Fargo can spend their money on then that.

This week, I will be discussing the Keystone pipeline being built in North Dakota.

I’m going to let you know right away that I am against it.  I feel that it will hurt our farmlands with pollutions.  It will make it difficult for the farmers to make an honest day living providing food to feed the whole world.  I will give other reasons too.

About 2 years ago, give or take, there was a protest against the Keystone pipeline being built over the Native Americans sacred burial grounds.  To the Native Americans, their burial ground is sacred.  They believe in the spirit of their love ones and ancestors.  I was taught growing up that you don’t go trampling through the cemetery.  It’s like you are dishonoring the dead.  I also know that their bodies may be there, but their spirits is all around us watching over us.  I believe that wholeheartedly.

The older generations believe that we must honor the dead by decorating their graves for Memorial Day weekends.  Stores even profit on that.

I don’t want to dwell on this though; besides, I already talked about this in my blog “Gone but not Forgotten.”

I was for the peaceful demonstration that the Native Americans did against the Keystone pipeline.  When it had turned nasty was when the people from Hollywood (Hollyweird) got involved.  They turned a peaceful march into a drag out battle.  It likes anything, when the Leftist gets involve.

Not only are they building the Keystone pipeline, the oil company wants to build another pipeline going from North Dakota to Texas.  You wouldn’t believe where they want to start building it?

They wants to start building it at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.  It will be not far from Medora, ND.

That’s a historical National Park.  Our former Governor, Ed Shaffer’s parents were proud supporters of the Medora Musicals.  They wouldn’t approve of the pipeline going through Medora.

Do you also know who wouldn’t approve of both pipelines?

One of the great Republican President, Teddy Roosevelt.  I know that this may sound likes an oxy-moron, but even though he was a Republican, he was also one of the first Environmentalist.

North Dakota is proud of Teddy Roosevelt but the way they treat North Dakota, he wouldn’t be so proud of them.

Even though Teddy Roosevelt was born and raised in New York; he fell in love with North Dakota while on a hunting trip.

You may wonder, what’s to love about North Dakota?  It’s just a fly-over state.  The state is flat and not as much beauty as Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Maybe during Teddy Roosevelt’s time, the state of North Dakota was very beautiful.

I believe that he wouldn’t approve of both pipelines.  He would be very angry.  Teddy Roosevelt was like a bull; and you do not wants a bull to charge you.  His motto was “Walk softly and carry a big stick.”

Another great Republican President was Ronald Reagan, and he too wouldn’t approve of both of the pipelines being built.  Reagan was also an Environmentalist.  He loved the great outdoors, just like Teddy Roosevelt.

When God created Earth and man; he intended for man to be caretakers of our planet.  Ever since sin entered mankind, we have been doing a lousy job at taking care of our planet.

Do you remember the old commercial, where a Native American was standing beside a polluted stream that had garbage all over the place and he had a tear that fell from his eyes onto his cheek?

I remember years ago, in one of my story that I wrote.  In that story, Planet Earth was destroyed and the UFO’s came down to see the destruction.  One of the alien spoke, “Earthlings, with all their technology, to make things better, and all they do is destroy it.”

I’ll never forget when I took the train to Seattle, Washington.  The first year I did that, there was a fire North of Montana, in Canada.  People are being careless.  They are slowly burning up our planet.

I was taught not only in Cub Scout but also by my folks.  When you make a campfire, you keep an eye on it; so that it doesn’t burn out of control.  When you are done with the campfire, you make sure that it’s completely burned out.  Smoky the bear wouldn’t be happy.

Anyway, going through Glacier National Park on the train; I fell in love with that area.  It was just so beautiful.

I can imagine how Teddy Roosevelt felt when he was in North Dakota on a hunting trip.  I love the great outdoors.  I love being one with nature.  I would rather be in a mountainous, wooded area than on a beach in the Caribbean.  Just traveling through Minnesota and Wisconsin, you can see the beauty that God created.

When I hear that the oil company wants to build another pipeline, like the Keystone pipeline.  It makes me want to cry.  They are destroying our planet.  They are destroying the farmer’s livelihood as well.

Go ahead, call me a bleeding Liberal if you want!

North Dakota didn’t need the Keystone pipeline; anymore than they need another pipeline going down to Texas.  They should rather consider taking care of the people of this state instead.  There is a lot of poor people in this state.  It’s hard for a person to live on minimum wage.  It’s hard to for those who wants to retire to be able to retire.  Some people may not be able to retire.

It’s downright greed that allows the oil company to win out over the North Dakota’s people. They don’t care about the people and they truly don’t care about the beauty that is all around us.

I bet you that God is looking down at us and crying; while shaking his head saying, “What did I do?  I created man and this is the thanks I get.”

I also believe that Teddy Roosevelt is probably looking down and he too is crying at what the oil company is destroying.

First of all, I have to admit that the city of Fargo had finally done the right thing by fixing up these old historical buildings.  They owe it all to Gov. Doug Burgum before he became Governor.

I would say that Burgum is the Donald Trump of North Dakota.  The similarities are: They both were not career politicians.  They both are businessmen.  They both worked at restoring buildings.

I have to admit these old historical buildings that were finally restored looks very impressive.

Doug Burgum isn’t the only one responsible for restoring old historical buildings.  North Dakota State University also gets some credit as well.

Years ago, any old buildings were either torn down or burned.

I remember going to Indianapolis back in 2001 for a Work & Witness trip in the inner city.  Now Indianapolis has some old historical building that were fixed up very nice.  A group of us stayed in an old historical building turned into a hotel.  It was very beautiful.  Even downtown, Indianapolis had some very nice historical buildings.

Now back to Fargo, ND.  Some of these historical building looks very nice.  Hodo; which was a dive when I was a kid, now looks very impressive.  NDSU had fixed up 3 buildings downtown and made them into classrooms.  One was the old Northern School Supply building, now it’s a school for architecture.  The old insurance/investment building is now a school for business.  There is an old warehouse that was being renovated.  Prairie Roots Co-op was an old historical building on University and NP.  That building is very much needed and looks impressive.  Even the old horse barn was renovated instead of torn down.  Sure, it was made into a bar though.

Even though fixing up these old historical buildings looks very nice, it came with a costly price tag for anyone living, working and spending downtown.  The everyday people cannot afford to live downtown.  I mean, if I could, I would love to live in one of those lofts that is downtown; but I can’t.

There is also new buildings going up as well.  These buildings is taking away parking spaces that is very much needed downtown.

Before West Acres was built, Broadway was hopping.  Once it was built, downtown Fargo, became the inner city and falling apart.  There was nothing to attract people.  Businesses went south and west.

Now, thanks to Doug Burgum, Broadway is a happening place.  You just can’t find a parking space.

Years ago there was a lot of bars on NP Ave.  Those bars were dives.

There is still a lot of bars downtown Fargo; but they are becoming more higher class.

Fargo is in middle of building another tall multipurpose building on Broadway.  It’s also going to be a plaza; where people can ice skate outside during the winter and sit outside during the summer.  This will be one of the tallest building in Fargo. It will be in front of the Radisson and Prairie Public Television.

Prairie Public doesn’t approve of this building because it will block their satellite.  Who can blame them?

Why do we need that building?

I can think of better things for Fargo to spend their money on instead.

If the city planners is trying to improve downtown to attract people, they should think about parking spaces instead.  With all these buildings , where are people to park?

Shouldn’t they think about not only parking spaces, but building a diversion to protect the city from another major flood like in the Spring of ’97?

Shouldn’t they think about the homeless problems that is rapidly growing?

To the 1% crowd, the homeless problems is an eyesore.  They don’t want to look at it or even think about it.  If they had their ways, they would moved them outside the city limits and bus them in for work and back home again; so they wouldn’t have to look at them.  The 1% don’t even likes trailer courts.

The 1% group wants Fargo to be like bigger city, like New York City and Chicago.  They feels that it will attracts better class of people.

Don’t they realize it will also attracts more crimes as well?

You can keep Chicago!  I’ve been through it on the way to Indianapolis; and believe I didn’t much care for it.  It scared me!

Sure, I would love to see New York City, just to say I’ve seen it; but that is as far  as I go with that.

The city of Seattle had gotten way too big.  The train depot is right downtown.  To get there, the traffic is very unbearable.  My cousins only goes to Seattle when they have to.  Otherwise, they go out of their ways to avoid it.

Even though North Dakota is a red state, the city of Fargo is slowly become a blue city.  People in Fargo is more likely to vote Democrats than the whole state of North Dakota.

This also makes me thinks when they built the new Metro-dome down in Minneapolis.  They really didn’t need it.  The Minnesota Vikings doesn’t deserve it.  Every time they comes to a bowl, they choke.  Why should the Minnesota’s taxpayers pays for a losing team’s new stadium?

Anymore, then Fargo needing  this Block 9 multi-purpose building.

My step-dad always taught us, if you don’t need something, you don’t need to buy it.  If you don’t have the money for something, you either don’t buy it or you save up for it.  He never had a credit card the 87 years of his life.

When I go shopping, stores must really hate me.  I usually try to stick to my list and only buy what I need.  I don’t diddle-daddle around.  I go into the store to get what I want and get the hell out.

Businesses would rather have someone in the store who they can manipulate to overspend than someone  like me, who only goes in to get what they want and get the hell out.

I could go on,  but you will have to wait until next week for part 2.  In part 2, I will be mentioning the Keystone pipeline.

So you tell me this, does Fargo really needs the  Block 9 Plaza?  Isn’t there a better ways to spend the taxpayers money?  How about helping the people?  How about creating parking spaces downtown; so that the people will have a place to park while downtown?