Fact Checking Trump and Vance
The data show they are lying about crime, the economy and health insurance coverage.
Former president Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. JD Vance. Photo by Graham Kilmer.
It is no secret that Donald Trump and JD Vance have a record of lying about conditions in the United States. Surprisingly and disturbingly, a substantial number of Americans believe them.
Crime
Trump claims that crime has peaked during Joe Biden’s presidency. In fact, recently it has been declining nationally and in Milwaukee. The chart below shows year-to-date homicide and non-fatal shooting data taken from the on-line Milwaukee Police Department dashboard for the three years from 2022 to 2024. Although still disturbingly high, the counts have declined in each of the most recent years.
Milwaukee Year to Date Fatalities–October 5th
The next chart, based on data from the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission, shows full-year data over a much longer period of time. Before 2020, both homicides and non-fatal shootings were drifting downwards. In 2020, they suddenly surged upwards before peaking and starting to decline.
Fatal and nonfatal shootings and non-firearm homicides
This pattern was not unique to Milwaukee, as the next graph shows, based on data from 276 cities.
US Murder Rate Per 100k
What accounts for this pattern? As was previously noted, the surge in fatal and non-fatal shooting took place in 2020, the last year of Trump’s presidency.
The obvious culprit is the pandemic. Why would the pandemic have led to a shooting spike? One possible cause is frustration with the pandemic and the restrictions aimed at stopping its spread. Or perhaps fewer people on the streets made the streets less safe.
The economy:
A second topic that Trump consistently lies about is the economy. Here is a typical Trump claim:
I had the country going, just prior to Covid coming in, at a level that nobody had ever seen. And even if you go all four years, it was so good that even with that terrible interruption that destroyed the world, we had the greatest four years. The economy was so great. The job numbers were the best ever.
Consider the question of job growth during a president’s term. The next graph shows the annual growth of private sector jobs by president since Truman. Job growth with Democratic presidents is shown in blue; for Republican presidents it is shown in red.
One challenge in any attempt to evaluate the Trump-year economy is what to do about 2020, Trump’s fourth year in office and when Covid hit. Obviously, Trump was not the cause of the pandemic, but one can argue that he made it worse, by pushing false remedies, minimizing its seriousness and, when the vaccine did become available, refusing to prioritize its distribution.
In the end, I chose to drop 2020 from the table and go with his first three years. Including 2020 would have resulted in an annual change in jobs of -0.4%.
Annualized US Private Job Growth by President
The next graph shows Wisconsin jobs using Wisconsin private sector growth. As before, growth under Trump was calculated using his first three years. Including the fourth year converts growth from 0.6% to -0.8%.
Annualized Wisconsin Nonfarm Job Growth by President
The third of these three issues is accessibility of health insurance. In his debate with Harris, Trump claimed he “salvaged” Obamacare. This was repeated by Vance in his debate with Walz. This is a very different stance than he adopted early in his presidency.
For instance, on the first day of his term as president, Trump published the following note in the Federal Register:
It is the policy of my Administration to seek the prompt repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [“Obamacare”].
Although Trump promised to “repeal and replace” Obamacare, the repeal part quickly took precedence over the replace part. Only a vote by John McCain prevented its repeal.
What has become obvious with recent events is that Trump has no idea of what to replace Obamacare with nor any interest in developing an alternative. But as Obamacare has become more popular, he has shifted his public position by claiming that he saved Obamacare during his term as president.
As the next graph reflects, Trump’s term as president was the only time that the number of people without health insurance went up. As a report from the Wisconsin Public Forum notes, during Trump’s first three years in office, the number of Americans without health insurance increased by 4.6 million (16%).
The same report notes that rural counties in Wisconsin would be the largest beneficiary of Medicaid expansion, yet those are the places that most strongly support Trump.
Number of People Without Health Insurance
Increasingly Vance and Trump go beyond lying but defend their lies as a public service. This is perhaps best illustrated by Vance’s defense of his false claims about Haitians killing and eating pets in Springfield Ohio:
The American media totally ignored this stuff until Donald Trump and I started talking about cat memes, If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do.
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While this is an impressively astounding list of tRump lies, it is only the frost on the tip of the iceberg, unfortunately.
Independents, double-haters and moderate Republicans that comprise the undecideds of this election cycle really need to take a step back and take a hard, unfiltered look at all of the lies and misinformation claims tRump has foisted upon the American public for at least 9 years, that are now amplified and echoed by his Mini-Me, JD Vance.
They are chaos agents, willing to say and do anything to attain power, with the goal of implementing authoritarian rule and a terrifying playbook of iron-fisted policies outlined in Project 2025.
tRump could be written off as a goof, buffoon, clown, or blowhard during his past administration, but he has elevated his game to be much more menacing now, and looking forward.
I’m sure that most undecided voters are good and conscientious people. As such, I urge them to take a deep breath and vote for a brighter future for this country, and not the dystopian one tRump claims it is now, which he will drag deeper and deeper into the abyss if he is given another chance. I believe in that defining moment when casting their vote the undecideds will ultimately be proud of not choosing chaos over the promise of hope.
By every measure Biden has benefited this country while Trump has had a negative effect.
We need to keep this progress going.
Why the hell would we want to go back(ward)?
Some thoughts on Bruce Thompson’s excellent piece. There was a time when this article would have been considered a bombshell and doomed the author of the lies. Those days are gone. As a pundit once said, “people don’t believe lies because they have to, they believe them because they want to.” Or, as George Costanza of Seinfeld said, “It’s not a lie if I believe it.” We now live in a society in which people cannot agree on basic and indisputable facts.
Trump has tapped into a set of lies that his followers want to believe. And stripped of all of the “best in history” crap, Trump’s promise is not that he is going to make the lives of his base better, but that he will make the lives of “the others” worse.
Trump is the end stage of the reactionary movement that started with “white backlash” and whose goals are to reverse the gains made by the women’s rights, civil rights, gay rights and persons with disabilities rights movements of the late 20th century. There are no examples in history of these reactionary movements not leaving social wreckage in their wake.
Liberals have often had a tendency to throw words like “racist,” “Nazi” and “fascist” around a little too loosely, ignoring the fact that the real thing could come down the road. Here is a summary of the accepted definition of fascism: “a sense of overwhelming crisis beyond the reach of any traditional solutions: “the primacy of the group, a sentiment that justifies any action, without legal or moral limits…”; “the belief that one’s group is a victim,” (in this case, white Americans); “the need for closer integration of a purer community”: “the need for authority by natural chiefs (always male), culminating in a national chieftain who alone is capable of incarnating the group’s historical destiny, and the superiority of the leader’s instincts over abstract and universal reason;” the beauty of violence…when…devoted to the group’s success”; and “the right of the chosen people to dominate others…within a Darwinian struggle.” (Source: Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism) Unfortunately, not a bad fit for our current situation.
As Mark Twain said, “The art of prophesy is a risky business, especially with respect to the future.” But without prophesying, there is a chance that Donald Trump will be the President-elect a month from now, and that a year from now the United States will have a form of fascist government, with the “reasonable” people of his first term and the “guardrails” all gone. And that government will have the active support of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation and a significant portion of its population.
Finally, that it’s likely that 10 years from now, these groups will have a hard time explaining it to their children and grandchildren, with “We just never knew” being the standard response.
As a historian once said, “We should always beware that what now lies in the past, once lay in the future.” Beware indeed.
I don’t know what to do. Look at Representative Fitzgerald, who was reelected. I have a hard time voting for Vice President Harris. Information is important. Perhaps each candidate running for essential government jobs should be required to write a book or at least fifty pages explaining what they have accomplished and their future plans, explaining why and how.
Vice President Harris should be running on her accomplishments, yet . . .
September 26, Weather Channel, Helene devastation. . . .
Military News: 6,700 National Guard from 16 states deployed across Southeast. Thank you, “Governors.” There is a cost. Activated National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have to be paid. Figure an average of $3,000 a month for 6,700 for two months, and I come up with more national debt: $40,200,000. Activation takes the Guard away from their civilian jobs and families.
October 2, 2024, Briefing Room, White House, President Biden directed the Department of Defense to deploy up to 1,000 active-duty Soldiers.
A week after the disaster, Vice President Harris’ group woke up and approved only 1,000 active-duty military. The payroll cost is nothing; the “Active” Army is already being paid. (2022 flooding in Kentucky, the Soldiers at Fort Campbell weren’t allowed to help; they had a chili cook-off contest.) Talk about slow to react.
What if Harris “September 24, Northern Command immediately assist no limits on active-duty forces . . . Commanding Generals, Fort Liberty (Bragg), Fort Moore (Benning), . . . coordination with State Government and provide any assistance requested immediately, proactive support directed to minimize suffering, . . .
South Carolina has more than 11,000 Active Duty Soldiers and 7,000 Marines, North Carolina has 42,000 and 39,000 Marines, Kentucky has 31,000, and Virginia has 19,000 Soldiers and 10,000 Marines. On September 26, help was needed, and on October 2, President Biden and Harris’s approval was granted for only 1,000 Active Duty Soldiers.
There is a failure in Ukraine. Harris is concerned about women – Afghanistan women are victims of her failure. (There are still US Soldiers in Iraqi. . .)
In 2022, under Harris, the country ran out of baby formula. Master Lock moves to Mexico.
Trump ended bump stocks and talked about the 2,880 people shot in Chicago in 2023. What has Harris done about
shootings or the drug problem?
You may have noticed that her title is currently “Vice-President” Her authority is constitutionally limited.
She [Vice President Harris] is one of the two at the top, and I believe she can talk to the President.
She also has the power (as we all do) to talk with members of Congress.
She is also an elected official. We vote for the Vice President, and she has a constitutional duty to do what she believes is right – in the best interest of the United States and the people.
I don’t think the Vice President is a puppet.
Did President Biden decide not to hold anyone accountable for the Department of Education’s failure in “FAFSA?”
Does she have the authority to talk to Cabinet Members?
I’m also concerned that George Clooney called for President Biden to step down, citing signs of his age (I’m assuming lack of mental acuity). Doesn’t Vice President Harris work with the President? What is her responsibility?
The waste of money and suffering caused by not allowing the active military to help and, a week later, approving only up to one thousand active duty Soldiers? (I would understand the 82nd keeping two entire brigades on base ready for deployment – but the best the Active US Army and Marine Corps (the Marines aren’t providing support) – is 1,000.
Who is responsible? Who should be impeached? Did the JCS fail by not immediately recommending that active forces be deployed? Secretary of Defense? FEMA protecting jobs and contractors? The buck stops were and why are those at the bottom that failed given a pass?
I’m not saying President Trump would have done better – but there was a FAILURE, and I could go on with hundreds, and no one is held accountable.
The people suffering while nothing happens – who should be upset with them?
“Mexican army convoys and a navy ship laden with food, supplies, and specialists traveled to the U.S. Wednesday to help in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort (From CBS News September 7, 2005).”
We absolutely DO NOT vote directly for the vice-president. That person is chosen by the person running for POTUS.
All of these statistics you claim do not include the fact that the governors of the states affected by the hurricanes all state that they have all of the things they need.
You claim to be conflicted about how to vote, yet only list things that fall on the negative side of your ledger regarding Kamala Harris. Do you have a similar list for Trump? If not, your voting choice seems clear. Enjoy authoritarian rule, and the end of democracy as this country has known it for 248 years.
You are correct (and I was wrong); the Vice President is listed when I vote for President.
However, the Vice President is still an elected official sworn in.
I can’t say what the Governors of the States are saying or are not saying. However, I can say that there is suffering, and I can say that activating the National Guard has costs. I can also say that the Active Military is paid every day. Do you really believe that during the first week of the disaster, or even now, more isn’t needed? I keep wondering why the Red Cross and other organizations are deploying people to help.
The Governors control the National Guard and can call them into active service – State Active Duty. Where does the money to pay the National Guard come from? (Doesn’t FEMA execute a full reimbursement?) I understand the governors do not want to wait for federal support, which may never come. However, again, why wasn’t the active military allowed to assist?
Was it “smart” for the Active Army to sit at Fort Campbell during the flooding in Kentucky and have the best Chaplain contest? There is only so much money. Should we borrow more money to pay the National Guard or use the Active Army that is already being paid?
Do you know that the US Army has deployed military forces (currently about 100 Soldiers (public)) to Israel? These Soldiers will be on the ground in Israel. There is a very real cost and a potential for . . .
For those states and territories approved under these criteria, FEMA will execute a fully reimbursable mission assignment to the Department of Defense, including reimbursement for pay and allowances of National Guard personnel serving in a Title 32 duty status in fulfillment of the FEMA mission assignment.
I’m not sure what rule we have now. There seems to be a great deal of apathy, and no one is following how those in Congress vote.
My Representative in Congress is Representative Fitzgerald, and I’m unsure what he believes or is voting for.
My State Senator (Rob Hutton) wrote he is for public safety. However, he is against fully funding State Crime Labs and education. He is proud of Senate Bill 517. He doesn’t explain what Senate Bill 517 does (he wrote it). It is supposed to be anti-crime (I guess). Senator Hutton’s bill:
“Under this bill, if the district attorney refused to issue the complaint because the person has a defense of self-defense, the court may not conduct a hearing or issue a complaint unless the court has new evidence that the person’s actions were not
self-defense under the law.”
Why is this change in the law so important to Senator Hutton, and how does it make the world safer?
I heard that the Democratic Party was placing ads against the Green Party. Can’t they just explain how the drug overdoes are at less than a hundred, why we spend Trillions on national defense, why 488 people were killed in Chicago last year, or, as of July 7, 2024, there have been almost 1,200 reported shootings in Chicago? I would be interested in understanding why Master Lock moved to Mexico. I want to know how those Navy Officers involved in the Fat Leonard Scandal were allowed to retire with full retirement pay.
How are those of both parties failing us? And why aren’t we demanding better? Representative Fitzgerald doesn’t even bother to debate. We should expect better from those in government. How large is the national debt?
I appreciate you taking the time to care enough to write something. However, do you believe authoritarian rule? Those in office should worry that their failures will keep them from being reelected. But, . . .
Thank you for carrying. What are the good things I should be considering?
October 02, 2024
FACT SHEET: UPDATE: Biden-Harris Continues Life-Saving Response Efforts in Response to Hurricane Helene
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Today, President Biden is announcing 1,000 active-duty troops will be immediately deployed to assist with response and recovery efforts
President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to mobilize an intensive Federal response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The Administration is prioritizing life-saving and life-sustaining response efforts in impacted communities, as well as ensuring people displaced from the storm have prompt access to Federal resources that will enable them to both purchase essential items and begin their road to recovery and rebuilding.
As part of this coordinated response, today, President Biden is announcing he has directed the Department of Defense to deploy up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to support the delivery of food, water, and other critical commodities to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. The announcement is effective immediately, and these forces will be available for deployment starting today. This action will provide additional manpower and logistics capabilities, enabling FEMA and other interagency partners to reach the hardest hit areas as quickly as possible.
This comes as the President is traveling to North Carolina and South Carolina. He will take an aerial tour of areas impacted by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, receive operational briefings, and meet with first responders and local officials. He will also engage with first responders and officials in South Carolina. The President will also visit Florida and Georgia in the coming days. The Vice President will travel to Georgia today. She will receive operational briefings, meet with residents impacted by the storm, and provide updates to local officials on actions that are being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts in Georgia. She will also travel to North Carolina in the coming days.
Yesterday, President Biden received a briefing from his Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall and leaders across his Administration, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, Department of Defense Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks, Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves, Department of Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer LTG William H. (Butch) Graham Jr., Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Dilawar Syed, Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Robert Bonnie, and Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Dawn O’Connell.
Additional updates on the Administration’s response efforts include:
Mobilizing Defense Department Resources to Support Prompt and Effective Hurricane Response
Today, the President is announcing he has directed the Department of Defense to deploy up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to support response efforts. These soldiers are part of an Infantry Battalion Task Force, based out of Fort Liberty, North Carolina, which includes a Forward Support Company with the necessary support structure (fuel, water, mechanics, etc.) to conduct operations.
These soldiers are in addition to the support the Department of Defense is already providing to FEMA for the response to Hurricane Helene including:
US Army and US Navy helicopters, soldiers, and sailors to provide critical capability to move personnel and supplies in areas where access via roads is not available or viable.
US Air Force aircraft, helicopters, and airmen to provide search-and-rescue capabilities.
US Army soldiers and high wheeled vehicles to move personnel and supplies over roads and terrain damaged or impassable to normal vehicles.
The Army Corps of Engineers is supporting with response efforts with Temporary Power Teams and subject matter experts to support for debris removal, water and wastewater management, and bridge inspections.
At the President’s direction, the Department of Defense has activated 22 helicopters to aid in search and rescue operations and provided dozens of high-water vehicles. The National Guard, in its state capacity, is also aiding these efforts. 700 National Guard from North Carolina are supporting debris removal, air lifts, and search and rescue. They are accompanied by National Guard from eight additional states under Emergency Mutual Assistance Compacts, with helicopters and rescue vehicles to further assist with road clearance, commodities, transport, and search and rescue.
Although not operating under Department of Defense authority, over 6,000 National Guard personnel from 12 states are spearheading the response effort across the impacted region in support of their Governors, providing critical life-saving and life-sustaining support to the victims of this unprecedented natural disaster.
Supporting On-The-Ground Response and Emergency Efforts
More than 4,800 personnel from across the Federal workforce are deployed and supporting state-led response efforts across the region. FEMA and other agencies have more than 1,200 personnel in North Carolina, with more resources and staff arriving daily.
Search and rescue efforts by state, local, and Federal partners are ongoing, and nearly 600 additional personnel are arriving in the region in the coming days, increasing the total number of Urban Search and Rescue personnel to over 1,250.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra declared Public Health Emergencies for South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. These declarations give the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ health care providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. HHS has established a National Disaster Medical System medical treatment site at the Mission Hospital campus in Asheville and Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pines, North Carolina. HHS Health and Medical Task Force Teams are supporting state medical needs shelters in Hickory and Mills Springs, North Carolina. An HHS Incident Management Team is working closely with state officials to identify health care needs including in rural communities and areas which may be cut off from transportation systems. HHS has also deployed two Disaster Mortuary Assistance Team (DMORT) to assist state mortuary services in mortuary care of victim identification. HHS has made 9 DMORT teams available nationwide. Additionally, 200 Federal ambulances have been provided to North Carolina.
In total, FEMA has shipped over 8.5 million meals, more than 7 million liters of water, 150 generators and over 220,000 tarps to aid response efforts for this historic storm.
Restoring Power and Communications to Impacted Communities
Power outage numbers are improving as restoration teams from across the nation gain access to communities and debris is removed, although much more work remains to bring power back to badly impacted areas across the region. As of this morning, approximately 1.6 million customers are still without power, which is a reduction of more than 65% from the region-wide peak of 4.6 million on September 27.
In addition to intensive efforts to restore power, crews are working around the clock to restore cell service and communications to impacted communities. FEMA, the FCC, and private telecommunications providers are working together to help restore temporary communications as quickly as possible by establishing temporary cell sites and allowing for roaming where possible, where a resident can connect to any network available, even if they aren’t subscribed to that network.
FEMA has provided 50 Starlink satellite systems to help with responder communications and 65 satellite phones have been shipped to assist with communications.
Restoring Road Access
The Department of Transportation activated its 24-hour toll-free Routing Assistance Hotline to provide routing assistance for first responders conducting relief missions. The Hotline supports the movement of Federal, state, local, Tribal, and Territorial response personnel and contractors, equipment, and goods by providing recommended safe routes using a variety of data sources. To reach the Hotline, responders can call 511 from their mobile phones or 833–99-ROADS (833-997-6237). The Department of Transportation also announced that with the President’s approval of Emergency Disaster Declarations it has initiated a 14-day period of emergency regulatory relief from Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations, including maximum driving time for property- and passenger-carrying vehicles from the date of declaration. This allows truck drivers to get essential supplies to affected areas.
Extending Housing Aid to Impacted Families
Following President Biden’s approval of a Major Disaster declaration in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) began implementing supplemental assistance, which includes a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of FHA-insured mortgages and mortgages guaranteed under the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program, as well as an automatic 90-day extension for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages.
Anyone whose home has been destroyed or severely damaged is also eligible to apply for HUD mortgage insurance. HUD is also enabling homeowners to finance rehabilitation and repairs for damaged homes.
To support households and communities through disaster recovery, HUD will provide Housing Counseling assistance and offer waivers and additional flexibilities to Public Housing Agencies, Tribes, and recipients of designated federal funding to allow communities to use existing resources to aid in response and recovery efforts. Additionally, HUD offered a suite of waivers and alternative requirements to allow impacted communities to use existing community development and homelessness assistance funds to aid in response and recovery efforts.
Approving Additional Emergency Assistance
President Biden has now also approved Major Disaster Declarations for Georgia and Virginia, allowing individuals in 41 counties in Georgia and 6 in Virginia to apply for FEMA assistance. Administration officials are in touch with Georgia emergency management officials, and based on their ongoing assessments of impacts on the ground, FEMA is in the process of approving federal assistance for additional counties. This is in addition to approving Major Disaster declarations for Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina earlier in the weekend.
To date, more than $10 million in Individual Assistance has been provided to survivors who have been affected by Hurricane Helene, and we expect that number to increase over the coming days. In North Carolina, through the expedited Serious Needs Assistance program, FEMA has paid out more than $1 million to over 1,400 households in less than 24 hours.
FEMA assistance in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia can include a one-time $750 payment to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. After registering for disaster assistance, individuals may also qualify to receive disaster-related financial assistance to repair storm-related damage to homes and replace personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Hurricane Helene.
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are deployed to Florida and North Carolina to help survivors register for disaster assistance, visiting shelters and going door to door to help people get Federal assistance where they need it as quickly as feasible.
Whereas tRump has claimed the following in multiple venues on multiple days, and blasted it out on “Truth” Social as well:
In his continued attack on the federal response to Hurricane Helene, former President Donald Trump falsely said that no helicopters and no help were sent to the affected areas for days, blaming Vice President Kamala Harris. There’s plenty of evidence that helicopters have been used and that federal, state and local disaster recovery teams have responded to help victims of the storm.
On Sept. 29, for example, the Army National Guard said that thousands of Guard members had rescued hundreds of people, including with helicopters, and cleared roads in the several states impacted by the hurricane.
Trump, who is making hurricane response misinformation part of his pitch to voters in the last weeks of the presidential campaign, said at an Oct. 9 rally in Reading, Pennsylvania: “While families desperately tried to escape the rising floodwaters and they climbed onto roofs, they did anything they can to live, but Kamala didn’t send any helicopters to rescue them. And when people sent helicopters, they turned them back. … . So she didn’t send anything or anyone at all. Days passed, no help, as men, women and children drowned.”
It was a more colorful version of what he said in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 5. “Kamala wined and dined in San Francisco,” he said, referring to a Sept. 28 campaign fundraiser Harris attended in the city, “and all of the people in North Carolina — no helicopters, no rescue.”
He went on to falsely suggest, as we wrote, that people whose homes were destroyed would only get $750.
So…..who do YOU want to vote for, or against, in this election? The people that do what they say they are going to do and make whatever resources are necessary available to those that need them when the federal government is asked?
Or…..the guy how is going out of his way to lie (AGAIN) about what is really happening, resulting in victims of these horrible storms choosing to believe him and NOT the state and federal government agents doing all they can to help bring some normalcy back to their lives?
Neither candidate is perfect. But I would much rather vote for the person whose campaign offers hope to people than the one that has spent the past 4 years doing his best to convince the American public that our country sucks, and who plays upon the fears of people, while trying to keep the country as divided as possible.
For me the choice is crystal clear.
I don’t know how many helicopters the South Carolina National Guard has. The 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (from one source) has only 48 UH-60 Helicopters and 12 CH-47 Helicopters. The 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade – would have been nice if the President had authorized them to help.
How many helicopters does the South Carolina National Guard have? Is it possible that support may not have been provided where needed with the limited number of helicopters available? Some needing help may not have seen a helicopter.
You could airlift several US Army Engineer Battalions with their engineering equipment, dump trucks, bridging, etc., but that didn’t happen. C-17s could have landed at local airports, near where roads needed to be cleared.
US Army Soldiers could also help. They could help clear, clean, and . . . . or they could sit at Fort Bragg and go for morning runs.
How does Harris offer hope for the people? Does she talk about the gun violence in Chicago, or does she pretend we don’t have a problem? There was the failure in Afghanistan – how did that promote a feeling of hope? And, then, no one in the military or anywhere else was held accountable? How does it help make people feel good about the country when we spend Trillions on the military and can’t seem to stop drug shipments into the United States or figure out where drugs come from?
How does The PACT Act help, more money given to bonuses to those that work at the senior level of the Vetrains Administration. Why not use the funds to increase the size of the Uniformed Services University of Health Science? Direct the US Army to increase the License Practical Nurse Program size and then station active duty medical personnel at Veteran Hospitals. And what about the Generals that allowed military personnel to be exposed to burn pits? So, when your grandmother can’t get medical care – medicare doesn’t pay, and the Veterans Hospital does. Her doctor has gone over to the Vetrains Hospital.
How do you think the US looks to the rest of the world? What is happening between Israel – Benjamin Netanyahu and Gaza? How many people have been killed, and why did it happen? We can’t afford health care for older people in the United States – including dental care. But we can spend billions for what? We’re now sending US Soldiers on the ground in Israel.
What is the hope? Will she help with education? Vice President for four years. What has happened? Will she reduce military waste? She will hold officers who accepted bribes while on active duty and after retiring are coinfected in federal court accountable and reduce their retirement. What is her new plan – something that she couldn’t already do?
I’m not worried about war with China—we buy almost everything from China. What happened to Master Lock? The federal government “gives” not a loan but money to Harley Davidson to create a battery-powered motorcycle, and then Harley-Davidson moves part of its production to Thailand. The Ford Rangers given to the Afghan Army and paid for by US Taxpayers were also produced in Thailand. How are those decisions creating hope?
She could have and should be doing a lot.
When do we fire an elected official? Do we even know what our Representatives and Senators are doing?
The newspaper used to provide accurate reporting. But, . . . Someone wrote that the Governors said they had everything they needed. Do you believe that is a true statement?
How does Harris bring the country together? What is she doing about shooting? Why did it take years to start addressing lead pipes? We keep increasing the pay of active-duty Soldiers, and we can’t pay for medical care or increase the number of doctors. Congress has a responsibility – but so does the President and Vice President – what has Harris done that we should be proud of?
“You can take Trump supporters and put them in two big baskets. They are what I would call the deplorables — you know, the racists and the haters, and the people who are drawn because they think somehow he’s going to restore an America that no longer exists.”
Hillary Clinton, September 2016
Couldn’t we, as a people, start voting for better?
Nothing stopped President Biden or Vice President Harrison from directing the US Active Duty military to deploy and help the people. Yet, it didn’t happen.
There is nothing that requires people to vote for Representative Fitzgerald.
Why can’t the US be better? What is keeping us from improving education? What is keeping us from demanding better from those in Government?
When someone does something wrong – and this is only one example, “Colonel [Normert] Vergez placed his own financial ambitions and personal loyalties above his duties as a member of the armed forces.” In doing so, he betrayed the US Army values of honesty, integrity, and selfless service, which are hallmarks of military service.” In federal court, he was convicted (US District Judge L. Scott Coogler) for accepting bribes. Should he receive his full retirement pay? Should something be done?
Former President Trump acknowledges problems, but things are going well. There is unemployment; people don’t have good jobs; people are being killed; there are shootings and drug overdoses; we don’t produce as much, and there are problems with education.
I’m only sure that Vice President Harris believes women should decide if they want an abortion. Yet, she isn’t doing anything. There is no effort to amend the US Constitution. There is no effort to change the laws in the states. (And, I’m not sure if this is a federal issue. Are some issues dealt with at the state level?) She is for legalizing marijuana; wouldn’t that increase cancer?
I don’t know – we should expect better.
Thank you for caring enough to write.
While I agree that we all deserve better than the oligarchy we currently suffer from, Harris is not responsible for that.
The republicans are.
From everything I have read and heard, the response to the awful weather events of the last few weeks has been massive and stretched our overall resources to the limits.
States have called out the national guard, the feds have mobilized some troops, the emergency volunteer agencies (i.e. Red Cross) are fully in action and public utilities in many states have sent crews down to the affected areas to assist in getting the power grid back up.
The damage in North Carolina is so severe and wide spread that it will take some time to achieve a sense of normalcy.
Meanwhile every agency at the local, state and federal level that can help is in fact helping.
Except of course congress. FEMA is running out of money, but the republican led house doesn’t think it is important enough to call members back from their 2 month vacation to deal with the issues.
Considering immigration, back in the spring/early summer a bipartisan bill was ready to be brought to the floor of the house for a vote and Trump ordered the House leadership (republicans ) to table it. The republicans did not want to help fix the problem or even discuss it.
I am not aware that marijuana causes cancer. I have not seen any studies to back that up. I do know that 33 yrs ago when I was undergoing chemo treatment, I used marijuana to ease the side effects of the chemo as no legal drugs were helping.
Amending the constitution is a profoundly long process. There are many efforts to amend the abortion ban in individual states. That is basically outside the purview of the federal gov’t. Those efforts have been successful so far.
The lack of common sense regulations around gun licensing and ownership in this country is a disgrace. Thanks to the NRA apparently owning the republican party and some other legislators as well, nothing resembling decency and common sense have a chance. I DO NOT advocate making gun ownership illegal. I want licensing, training, verified home security, etc. Also the complete banning of public ownership of military style weapons.
I respect your right to vote for whom you please, but please have verified information to help you make that choice.
First, your assertion that the federal government could and should be doing more in the hurricane stricken areas of the country are mistaken. These efforts are controlled by the governors of each state, who look to the feds when they feel they need to. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are not forcing their way into the picture. They are waiting to hear from the governors of each state about the services and supplies they need.
“Former President Trump acknowledges problems, but things are going well. There is unemployment; people don’t have good jobs; people are being killed; there are shootings and drug overdoses; we don’t produce as much, and there are problems with education.”
Trump paints this doomsday picture of our country, constantly insisting that we are a failing nation.
Trump also wants his supporters to believe that these things DID NOT EXIST WHEN HE WAS IN OFFICE. He wants them to believe that he, and ONLY he can fix all of this. He claimed the same things in 2016 and 2020. His script has not changed, with the exception of Project 2025 – his version of Mein Kampf. He is a liar. He is a snake oil salesman. He is a cancelled reality TV show host, shilling products to the public to line his own pockets. He is completely and utterly untrustworthy. And those that support him, including, but not limited to evangelical Christians CHOOSE to ignore all of his shortcomings, because they want to believe his lies.
Lies do not change anything. They do not provide real hope.
I believe that Kamala Harris will lead our country to a better place economically and socially, without the ridiculous chaos that follows Trump like a black cloud wherever he goes.
It’s no longer Fort Bragg, named after a slaveholder who committed treason against the United States. It is now Fort Liberty.
As for “How does Harris bring the country together? What is she doing about shooting? Why did it take years to start addressing lead pipes? We keep increasing the pay of active-duty Soldiers, and we can’t pay for medical care or increase the number of doctors. Congress has a responsibility – but so does the President and Vice President – what has Harris done that we should be proud of?”
Democrats have been fighting like hell to make all those things happen; the GOP has been fighting for those things not to happen.
Fighting and not winning doesn’t make you a bad person, but opposing what someone like Harris tries to do makes them bad people.
kaygeeret,
The US Active Military is not doing all that they could or perhaps should be doing. Look at the capability of the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force (also Space Force).
Are there real-time updates to Google Maps showing the situation on the ground? Data link – digital imagery from a U-2, and then pass to Google? Is the updated Google data available to all users?
A US Army Combat Heavy Engineer Battalion can do a lot (any US Army Engineer Battalion) to clear roads. There are military units that could help restore power and help with water. The US Army has medical. . . . No, the US Government and the DoD are not doing all that they can do.
If there is enough help, why was the National Guard activated? If money is being spent on National Guard salaries when the Active Army (being paid) isn’t involved, is that smart? There is a cost in activating the National Guard – part of that is salaries. Figure 6,500 at $3,000 a month for two months equals $19,500,000. Do we have an extra $19,500,000 to spend? Could that money be used for road repairs? And, the National Guard doesn’t have many Combat Heavy Engineer Battalions. . . I don’t think there are any bridge companies in the National Guard.
Mayo Clinic Health System: “It [marijuana] contains a mixture of compounds and chemicals including tar, ammonia, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, cyanide, benzene and many others. Some of these chemicals and compounds have been linked to various types of lung diseases, including cancer.
No, the US Army isn’t doing all that it could. I would like to know why? Why not let the US Army help the people? Why wasn’t the US Army leaving their bases on day one or even position equipment and people before the . . .
Perhaps ask your congressperson.
fightingbobfan,
I agree with the change of name to Fort Liberty.
Why doesn’t Harris talk about the voting record of people like Representative Fitzgerald? If you are trying to fix something, point out what you are trying to do. We are trying to pass this law, and this is who voted against that law. But, then, didn’t the Vice President and President tell us how great the PACT Act was?
Look at the budget the President submits to Congress. (It may change, but the budget should reflect the priorities when sent to Congress.) Why are there so many Generals, and why do Generals receive full pay even after they retire? There are things that the President/Vice President do control.
The President / Vice President could hold those who fail in the Executive Branch (including the military) accountable.
I have to get some work done. But, there is a problem. Reading helps:
Crisis of Command by Stuart Scheller
Dereliction of Duty by H.R. McMaster
The Right Way to Lose a War by Dominic Tierney
Fat Leonard by Craig Whitlock
The Generals: American Military by Thomas E. Ricks (Any book by Thomas E. Ricks is good.)
I agree we should ask our representatives in Congress, but then the vice president could also talk to the people in Congress. The vice president could report to the people how our representatives vote.
She could do a lot to change what is happening. She spends millions and millions on political ads. What if those millions were spent on a few videos explaining who is voting on what and why?
The vice president has been out talking to people for the last few months. Why did she wait until the last few months?
Looking at Google (not sure if it is accurate), 5,856 people in George are homeless, 1,426,880 people in Georgia face hunger, and 15.6% lived below the poverty line in 2022. These numbers are not related to the hurricane. How many people have been shot in Chicago? Washington, DC 2023 4,215 Violent Crimes, 5,544 Motor Vehicle Theft, 22,456 Property Crimes.
Sad – what happened to people like President Eisenhower? Aren’t there better? Why aren’t we holding those in Congress accountable? There is so much talk about the President that we forget who makes the laws and approves money.