Thanks for your dedication, Denise! We must remain confident that we'll elect a president who will lift people up - and not one who will beat people down!
Thank you Denise for this article which you've also published in the Atlantic News Telegraph. I am always impressed at the level balance you strike while suggesting views that may not be well received in our home town. I remember Nixon's visit, too, but I made the decision at the tender age of nine to be a Republican. Here's my recollection:
The Man Who Would Be President
One fine day in September 1960 parents surprised me with a last minute decision to take me out of Lewis Elementary School 4th grade for the day to go see the Vice-president who was stopping for lunch in Atlantic. I was already in class when the call came from the school office. My parents must have assumed that Nixon would be the next leader of the free world.
It was too late or inopportune to see him in Atlantic, so we journeyed with my uncle and aunt to Guthrie Center where Nixon was to speak at the Fall Plowing Contest.
Afterward I was in the crowd around his car as Nixon pulled slowly away, still shaking hands out the windows. My Aunt Eva Lawton shook Pat Nixon's hand, our closest contact with political celebrity, proudly announced to our respect and some envy.
My parents were remarkably circumspect about any political beliefs, and I cannot remember ever hearing them expressed, but It was certain then that I would be a Republican! My views were repeatedly confirmed over the following years by one of the few periodicals that reached our house, The Reader's Digest. The magazine even reprinted a condensed version of Nixon's autobiography "Six Crises" wherein I learned, if memory serves me correctly, that South Americans once spit on our Vice-president's car--maybe even the same car we followed so devotedly when Aunt Eva had her brush with fame. What was the matter with those people? They must be Communists!
So as I continued to grow up in and around Atlantic it was Republicanism for me until I grew older and got a wider appreciation and understanding of issues.
Thank you Denise! And to those who say they will leave the country, I say “think again”! That would solve nothing and would only strengthen the authoritarians around the world. It’s just what Putin and Xi and a host of oligarchs and the billionaires lining up for Trump-Vance and assorted other traitors want....
Agree fully. A strong environmentalist friend of mine could go anywhere in the world and has chosen to stay in Iowa. His philosophy is “this is where the work needs to be done.”
In your article I love how you attempt to compare Trump to Hitler with no basis other than that’s what people are saying!
The part that kills me about democrats and their/her claim to democracy is, THERE WAS NONE! (don’t remember seeing her or anyone on a democratic primary ballot) only a nomination at the convention. A week before Biden withdrew there was not one and I mean one democratic leader (the last to succumb was Obama) that was in favor of Kamala being the candidate for president until they figured out they had to follow the money (campaign donations)! Then she turned out to be the best thing since sliced bread. Speaking of bread one of her ads claims she is going to “control” prices at the grocery store (if anyone believe’s that I have some ocean front property for sale to them in the middle of Oklahoma) impossible, anyone with even half a brain should know that she can’t control that!
As I’m sure you know I could go on and on about why not to vote democrat in this election but I’ll save everyone my rant!
In closing there is one thing I will agree with is, this election we don’t have the best of choices for president but Trump is definitely the better of the two, hands down bar none!
Thank you for expressing your opinion Mark. That’s what freedom of speech is all about and I totally respect that freedom. I have done my research and feel comfortable with what I have learned from people who experienced the reign of terror in Germany and from reputable historians.
You're quite right that the Democrats have not been democratic. I can't say much more for the Republicans though, either, but at least they went through a nominating process.
Our executive and legislative branches have been lost to the largest donors--they have the "free speech" of their money, a right granted to them by the judicial branch a few years ago.
As for Trump as Hitler, maybe I should take those claims seriously, but I don't. I'd say that I still have enough faith in the functioning of our constitutional government to prevent a successful putsch by Don, but he does like to make extravagant and wildly unconstitutional claims. He may be the next president in line to be shoved aside in favor of his vice-president, and for the same reasons, although that wouldn't happen until after he was successfully elected.
Thanks for your dedication, Denise! We must remain confident that we'll elect a president who will lift people up - and not one who will beat people down!
I remain hopeful and optimistic Larry.
Thank you, Denise. Well-written and my feelings exactly.
Spot-on, Denise. Well said to all topics. God, hover and deliver.
Thank you Denise for this article which you've also published in the Atlantic News Telegraph. I am always impressed at the level balance you strike while suggesting views that may not be well received in our home town. I remember Nixon's visit, too, but I made the decision at the tender age of nine to be a Republican. Here's my recollection:
The Man Who Would Be President
One fine day in September 1960 parents surprised me with a last minute decision to take me out of Lewis Elementary School 4th grade for the day to go see the Vice-president who was stopping for lunch in Atlantic. I was already in class when the call came from the school office. My parents must have assumed that Nixon would be the next leader of the free world.
It was too late or inopportune to see him in Atlantic, so we journeyed with my uncle and aunt to Guthrie Center where Nixon was to speak at the Fall Plowing Contest.
Afterward I was in the crowd around his car as Nixon pulled slowly away, still shaking hands out the windows. My Aunt Eva Lawton shook Pat Nixon's hand, our closest contact with political celebrity, proudly announced to our respect and some envy.
My parents were remarkably circumspect about any political beliefs, and I cannot remember ever hearing them expressed, but It was certain then that I would be a Republican! My views were repeatedly confirmed over the following years by one of the few periodicals that reached our house, The Reader's Digest. The magazine even reprinted a condensed version of Nixon's autobiography "Six Crises" wherein I learned, if memory serves me correctly, that South Americans once spit on our Vice-president's car--maybe even the same car we followed so devotedly when Aunt Eva had her brush with fame. What was the matter with those people? They must be Communists!
So as I continued to grow up in and around Atlantic it was Republicanism for me until I grew older and got a wider appreciation and understanding of issues.
Thanks Scott. You made me smile this morning with childhood memories.
Thank you Denise! And to those who say they will leave the country, I say “think again”! That would solve nothing and would only strengthen the authoritarians around the world. It’s just what Putin and Xi and a host of oligarchs and the billionaires lining up for Trump-Vance and assorted other traitors want....
Agree fully. A strong environmentalist friend of mine could go anywhere in the world and has chosen to stay in Iowa. His philosophy is “this is where the work needs to be done.”
You are my hero Denise! Thank you for working to make America a better place every day!
Thank you Bob. I have a great team of women who keep me going. I’ve never been so apprehensive about an election ever.
In your article I love how you attempt to compare Trump to Hitler with no basis other than that’s what people are saying!
The part that kills me about democrats and their/her claim to democracy is, THERE WAS NONE! (don’t remember seeing her or anyone on a democratic primary ballot) only a nomination at the convention. A week before Biden withdrew there was not one and I mean one democratic leader (the last to succumb was Obama) that was in favor of Kamala being the candidate for president until they figured out they had to follow the money (campaign donations)! Then she turned out to be the best thing since sliced bread. Speaking of bread one of her ads claims she is going to “control” prices at the grocery store (if anyone believe’s that I have some ocean front property for sale to them in the middle of Oklahoma) impossible, anyone with even half a brain should know that she can’t control that!
As I’m sure you know I could go on and on about why not to vote democrat in this election but I’ll save everyone my rant!
In closing there is one thing I will agree with is, this election we don’t have the best of choices for president but Trump is definitely the better of the two, hands down bar none!
Sincerely,
Your Brother
Thank you for expressing your opinion Mark. That’s what freedom of speech is all about and I totally respect that freedom. I have done my research and feel comfortable with what I have learned from people who experienced the reign of terror in Germany and from reputable historians.
Mark,
I'd kinda like to hear your "rant."
You're quite right that the Democrats have not been democratic. I can't say much more for the Republicans though, either, but at least they went through a nominating process.
Our executive and legislative branches have been lost to the largest donors--they have the "free speech" of their money, a right granted to them by the judicial branch a few years ago.
As for Trump as Hitler, maybe I should take those claims seriously, but I don't. I'd say that I still have enough faith in the functioning of our constitutional government to prevent a successful putsch by Don, but he does like to make extravagant and wildly unconstitutional claims. He may be the next president in line to be shoved aside in favor of his vice-president, and for the same reasons, although that wouldn't happen until after he was successfully elected.
Let the show begin!