Donald Trump's "Locker Room Banter"

Donald Trump says that a tape of him discussing committing marital infidelity and saying that when you're a "star" you can get away with sexual assault is just "locker room banter."

I have been in a lot of locker rooms, and I've never heard anything like that.

If that's what Donald Trump says or hears in his locker rooms, then he should frequent different locker rooms and stay far away from the ones where he hears such words.

Donald Trump's Taxes

There is nothing wrong with being rich.

There is nothing wrong with legally not paying any federal taxes.

There is nothing wrong with refusing to give to charity.

There is something wrong with being rich, not paying any taxes, and not giving anything to charity.

It may mean that one is smart, but it also means that one is stingy.

A Bad Man

Vice President Joe Biden said of Donald Trump:  "He's not a bad man, but his ignorance is so profound."

With respect, I must disagree with Vice President Biden.

Donald Trump is a bad man.

He is clearly a liar.  That has been proven time and again.

He has said things which, if he believes them, make him a bigot, a misogynist, and a racist.  If he does not believe them, then he has said things he knows are not true.  That just makes him a bigger liar.

Anyone else who is a liar, a bigot, a misogynist, and a racist, or who was willing to say things that would make him a bigot, a misogynist, and a racist, would not be called "ignorant."  He would be called "bad."

And that is what Donald Trump is.  Bad.

Bill and Jack

Bill and Jack were talking one day.

Jack said to Bill, "I'm not happy about the fact that you have so much more than me."

Bill responded, "Well, I know, but that's just the way the world works.  People can't all have the same amount of things.  It will never happen.  Be happy with what you have, work hard, and someday you'll have as much as me."

Jack thought about that for a moment, then said, "But, your grandfather stole a million dollars from my grandfather."

Bill responded, "I know, but I never stole anything from your grandfather."

Again, Jack thought about Bill's response.  Then, he said, "Yes, but you never gave any of it back.  And your father never actually stole money from my father, but he kept my father from making half a million dollars by taking business opportunities of which, except for what your father did, my father would have had a chance to take.  Money he would have made if your father hadn't kept him from making it so your father could make that money."

Again, Bill responded, "Yes, but that was my father.  I never took any opportunities away from your father."

Jack, now getting a little upset, said, "Yes, but your grandfather passed that million dollars that he stole from my grandfather down to your father, and your father passed that million, plus the half million that he made which my father could have made, down to you.  So, you've gotten a million and a half dollars which you wouldn't have gotten if your grandfather hadn't stolen from my grandfather and your father hadn't kept my father from taking opportunities which he would have had, but for your father's actions.  That makes you start a million and a half dollars richer than me.  And you've never given any of it back.  Then you have the gall to tell me I should just work hard and someday I'll be as rich as you!"

Bill sighed.  He was getting a little upset himself at Jack's attitude.  "Look, Jack, I never stole anything from you.  I never took any opportunities from you.  I'm not responsible for what my grandfather and my father did to your grandfather and father.  I'm innocent!"

Now Jack was really upset.  "I never said you were culpable for what your grandfather and father did!  But, you've gotten the benefit of what they did!  That makes you responsible!  And you've never offered to share any of those benefits with me - benefits which were stolen from my grandfather and cheated from my father, benefits which I would have had and you now have because of what your grandfather and father did to my grandfather and father!  I want you to give those benefits back to me!  At least some of them!  All you've done is preach to me about how I should work hard!"

Jack took a breath, trying to calm himself, then went on.  "Look, Bill, the fact that you aren't stealing from me and aren't cheating me are passive.  They're good.  I'm glad your family has stopped stealing and cheating.  But, they're passive.  You are passively trying to right a wrong from which you have actively benefited.  I want you to be active in trying to right this wrong.  I don't want passive inaction, I want affirmative action!"

Bill looked at Jack, aghast and a little afraid.  "Affirmative action?  Affirmative action!  That would be wrong!"

Bill Clinton's Marital Cheating

If Donald Trump wants to criticize Hillary Clinton because her husband cheated her, because her husband lied about cheating her, or because Hillary Clinton's marriage survived her husband cheating her, I say, "let him."

Politically Incorrect

Being impolite and being politically incorrect are not the same thing.

Being impolite is just being impolite.

Is Hillary Clinton Dishonest?

Hillary Clinton has the reputation of being dishonest.

I submit that reputation is false.

She is not very "transparent."  She is certainly not as "transparent" as some people would like her to be.

But, there is little or no evidence that she is dishonest.

She has been investigated many, many times.  Whitewater.  Benghazi.  Her e-mail server.  There has never been any evidence that she committed a crime and scant evidence that she was not truthful.

What there has been is lots of smoke, generated mostly by the investigators.  But, they have never been able to find any fire.  Not once.

Hillary Clinton has been the subject of lots of allegations in the past three decades or so.  So many that they have left her with the reputation of being dishonest, even without evidence of that dishonesty.  The old saying that "where there's smoke, there must be fire."  But, there just isn't any more evidence of that than there would be with anyone else who had been accused of being dishonest over and over for a long period of time.

Not transparent?  Sure.  Secretive?  Yes.  Dishonest?  No.