I WAS a Cruz supporter

Where are the men of honor from the field of candidates? Where are those whose ‘word is their bond’? I was disappointed when Jeb Bush announced he would not support Trump. I found it very revealing. I was a bit more disappointed when I learned that John Kasich didn’t even show up for the convention in his own state. Again, very revealing. My biggest disappointment came when Rubio and Cruz refused to endorse their party’s candidate. Why? Don’t they get to carry their opinion? Don’t they get to stand their ground on their principles? Of course they do! I would never suggest otherwise. But what are those principles; honor, integrity, trustworthiness, etc.? That was why I liked Cruz. Maybe I was tricked. Maybe I just didn’t look close enough. Why am I saying this?

I confess, I was a Cruz supporter. I voted for him in the Georgia primary. I was disappointed when he lost. But maybe, just maybe he was more like the rest than I had realized.

This morning I found the pledge that every candidate signed. The article which included the pledge expressed the view that the pledge was written and presented to all of the candidates by the RNC to “force Trump’s hand…”. The candidates signed it. ALL 17 OF THEM!

“I [name] affirm that if I do not win the 2016 Republican nomination for president of the United States I will endorse the 2016 Republican presidential nominee regardless of who it is,” the pledge reads. “I further pledge that I will not seek to run as an independent or write-in candidate nor will I seek or accept the nomination for president of any other party.” http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/republican-national-committee-2016-campaign-pledge-213283

 Is it no wonder that the American public is cynical when it comes to politics? They want us to trust them. They want us to believe them. One of the statements that has been repeated time after time at the Republican Convention about Donald Trump is, “He is a man of his word.” or “His word is his bond.” These words have been coming from those who have known him and done business with him. Maybe this is one of the big reasons he is where he is today as the Republican Party’s nominee. Could it be that America is willing to go with a man who tells the truth, even if he is rough around the edges? He is far from perfect, as we all are. He is not a polished politician with slick slogans and words. But if those who have done business with him and worked for him over the years say “his word is his bond”, maybe that’s what America really needs, someone we can believe.

Happy Independence Day!

It’s that time of year again. Fireworks, cookouts, gatherings, parades, speeches, watermelon…and on and on. I hope you have a safe and happy Independence Day weekend. While you are doing that, I also hope you will take a few minutes to reflect on America…on where we have come from and who we are as a nation. A good place to begin would be the Declaration. I would encourage you to pull it out and read it. 

Consider… “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”

America is so unique among nations. No one is guaranteed success, but all have the opportunity for it. It is written into our law. America began in humility before our Creator, not at the arrogant hand of a demagogue or king or dictator. Success in America was never intended to be passed from aristocrat to children through the generations. Success was recognized as a possibility for everyone. Our Founders placed God in His proper place, as the giver of those “unalienable rights”. They recognized that our freedoms don’t come from the Bill of Rights, from our Constitution, or from the subsequent laws that have been passed through the years. They recognized that our freedoms and rights as human beings come directly from our Creator. Our laws are there to protect those God given gifts.

Let us not look to Washington for our rights. Let us look to Washington to be sure they are protecting that which God has given us. There is much conflict in America right now. I suspect at its core, if we look honestly, we will find the absence of the humility of our founders, who placed our Creator in His proper place in their hearts, minds, and actions as they stood firm for human liberty. The cost was high for them and we, through the years, have reaped the benefit of their sacrifice.

I hope and pray that sacrifice will not have been lost on our, and future, generations of Americans.

Happy 4^th of July!!  Ka-Boom!