COULD THIS REALLY HAPPEN?

Hillary Clinton gets a healthy "bump" from the Democratic Convention and begins her path back to dominance over Donald in the fall presidential election race.  It seems that with her wide, respected selection of surrogates telling her story, Hillary becomes the much more likely candidate to win.  Polls show the general population more in agreement with her values and will likely vote for her.

Donald Trump, on the other hand, keeps tripping over himself but nevertheless continues his habit of creating shock, dismay, and disbelief.  On each such occasion, very little time allows people to absorb the shock and to react in any other way than "Ain't it awful!"

In the meantime, investigative reporters and national security agencies are continuing their search for evidence concerning hostile governments' actions (like Russia) that interfere with the U.S. political process.  Much of that investigative work is focused on Donald and his sidekick, Paul Manifort, and their business dealings with Russia.  Will reporters and agencies be able to locate and communicate their findings to the American public before the election in November?

"October Surprise" brings about a major breach in our country's security (could it be something planned by Donald, Manifort, with Putin?).  All along, political pundits have been voicing the fear that Donald could overcome the polls' autumn majority for Hillary if a Putin-inspired disaster were to happen too close to the election.  Our population would be so afraid, they say, that it would change their vote from Hillary to Donald, giving Donald the presidency.

What are some facts that would seem to support this scenario?

1.  Over and over again, Donald has voiced admiration for Vladamir Putin. 
2.  Paul Manifort has had past (and current) business dealings with Russia through Ukraine.  (Has one reporter who has been investigating Manifort's business dealings in Ukraine also been hacked?)
3.  Donald's refusal to show his tax returns.  They may show any business dealings he has had with Russia.
4.  Donald has invited Russia to hack into Hillary's emails.  Considered espionage?
5.  Donald had the opportunity to turn down any items on the Republican Party Platform at the Republican Convention.  Although there were several with which he disagreed, he chose only one -- that of dealings with Ukraine.  Donald demanded removal of "references arming Ukraine in its fight against pro-Russia rebels, who have received material support from the Kremlin".  [The Guardian, 7/30/16]
6.  Vladamir Putin has made it a habit to interfere with western democracies through cyberattacks on French, Greek, Italian, Latvian targets during elections [The Guardian, 7/30/16].  Hacking the Democratic National Committee would follow in that tradition, something alleged to have been done by Russia.

All this is the kind of stuff of which movies have been made.  That may be the end result this November -- that nothing disastrous comes from it, that it all ends only in a movie script.  I can only hope.  In the meantime, however, my resolve is to make sure I vote, that others are encouraged to vote as well, and that our votes are for the only logical choice:  Hillary Rodham Clinton.

 
 

 

Running Blue in a Red State: KICKING ASS!"I'm too old for this.""Are you su...

Running Blue in a Red State: KICKING ASS!

"I'm too old for this."

"Are you su...: KICKING ASS! " I'm too old for this." "Are you sure?" Right brain argues with my left brain. Daughter buys m...

KICKING ASS!

"I'm too old for this."

"Are you sure?"

Right brain argues with my left brain.

Daughter buys my house in a small Montana town.  I move into the city 50 miles away and live totally alone for the first time ever.  I'm short six months of celebrating my 75th birthday.

This is, in fact, an experiment, an adventure of sorts.  I sign a six-month lease on a small apartment.  Although I'm acquainted with a few people and can find my way around, the territory is essentially new.  Am I really too old for this?  Can I begin a new life in a city alone?  Why would I even want to?

As a four-year resident of a small town, I find limited opportunities to stretch myself.  Running for political office as a Democrat bucks the local trend.  It leaves me feeling unrewarded and on the outs with many colleagues.  Serving on a local Board as well as trying to re-capture use of a skill from my distant past means that I expend all my energies, burn out, and look for other ways to succeed.  How can I widen my horizons, increase my knowledge, grow?

First step:  Create a vision.  How do I see myself in the latter third of my life?  As a grandparent?  Not yet anyway.  A perpetual volunteer?  Maybe.  A person who has skills, talents, and dreams yet to be realized?  Yes, that's who I am.  What are my dreams?  Live life to its fullest.  Possibly reside in another country that has a different culture, traditions, food, and language.  (Research cannot say for sure but learning a new skill like another language may help build brainpower that helps hold off memory loss - WebMD.)  How can I bring that to pass?

Second step:  Embrace change.  Change happens anyway.  Why not meet it head-on?  I want adventure; I want to experience as much life as possible.  To do that, I must live independently.  Floating lazily down a stream while other family members make decisions about my life doesn't really cut it.  I research possibilities, choose options.  Sell my house, move into the city.

Third step:  Observe self through upcoming changes.  How do I plan my days in the city?  In which organizations do I have interest and want to participate?  How do I connect with others who may have similar interests?  Do I feel my goal of living life to its fullest is coming to fruition?  Will it be enough?  Or do I want to push myself even more?  If I do well in this transition of six months, does that mean I have found my goal or is there a next step?

Possible fourth step:  Assess my life within six months.  Is this a city where I continue to expand horizons, increase my knowledge, grow within a community?  Or does living overseas sound like a more interesting option?  If that's true, developing how-to skills is a part of that process and is already starting.

Life happens, right?  To the extent, however, that one can control anything at all, I want to make challenging choices.  I live to the best of my ability in this third "third".  It is as I wish -- a kick-ass life!