FAIR AND BIASED: DO WE REALLY WANT TO ELECT SOMEONE UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION? SERIOUSLY?

Monday, October 31, 2016

DO WE REALLY WANT TO ELECT SOMEONE UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION? SERIOUSLY?

Weekly Opinion Editorial

by Steve Fair

On Friday October 28^th, just ten days before the general election, Director of the FBI, James Comey sent a letter to the Chairmen and ranking members of the nine Congressional committees stating the Bureau was re-opening the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s emails. The letter read: “In previous congressional testimony, l referred to the fact that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had completed its investigation of former Secretary Clinton's personal email server. Due to recent developments, I am writing to supplement my previous testimony. In connection with an unrelated case, the FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation. I am writing to inform you that the investigative team briefed me on this yesterday, and I agreed that the FBI should take appropriate investigative steps designed to allow investigators to review these emails to determine whether they contain classified information, as well as to assess their importance to our investigation. Although the FBI cannot yet assess whether or not this material may be significant, and I cannot predict how long it will take us to complete this additional work, I believe it is important to update your Committees about our efforts in light of my previous testimony.”

The unrelated case referenced was one that involves former NY Democrat Congressman Anthony Weiner. He is accused of sending lewd texts to a 15 year old underage girl. His wife is Hillary’s top aide and evidently they both used the same unsecured computer for email. Is this an October surprise? Will it persuade voters that Clinton is not fit to be president? Three observations:

First, Comey would not have sent the letter if what the FBI found was minor. It has to be something the investigators believe is subject to prosecution. They wouldn’t have re-opened if it wasn’t. Just three months ago, Comey said there wasn’t enough evidence to charge Clinton, but testified before Congress that she had made major mistakes and used poor judgment. Rumors were the ‘career FBI leadership’ was livid that Clinton wasn’t charged. Most likely those bureaucrats put extreme pressure on the director to re-open when this new evidence was found. It has also been alleged the Department of Justice, under the leadership of Attorney General Loretta Lynch, nixed an investigation into the Clinton Foundation’s donors and their access to the State Department. Our system of government allows for the president to appoint the AG and the FBI Director, but the agencies are to operate under the premise that no one is above the law and are not to be influenced by public opinion or politics, only by statute. That appears to not have been the case with Clinton and someone should pay the price. This corruption rises to the highest level of our government and Congress should investigate and punish those who ignored the rule of law.

Second, Comey’s action is unprecedented. There has never been a presidential candidate in the final days of a campaign placed under federal investigation. Clinton released the following statement: “I’m confident whatever they are will not change the conclusion reached in July. Therefore it’s imperative that the bureau explain this issue in question, whatever it is, without any delay.” Clinton knows that is not going to happen. No federal investigation is conducted in the media. The FBI will methodically conduct their investigation, which will take months, and then release their report. Her statement is a smokescreen.

Third, Comney’s action should concern all Americans. No matter your party affiliation or political ideology, every voter should pay attention. Much has been made of the ‘fitness’ of the two candidates. One is a loud, brash, blowhard who has no filter and hurls insults like a late night comedian. The other is a career politician who has a string of scandals dating back decades and who has been so careless that she is now under her second federal investigation in a year. Trump has dubbed Clinton, “Crooked Hillary.”

Is Comey’s announcement that Clinton is again under federal investigation a game changer? It would be the death sentence to a presidential campaign in a normal political year, but 2016 is not the normal year. Many voters- in both parties- will not care because they are blinded by party loyalty, but Director Comey’s action is unprecedented. Do we really want to elect a person under federal investigation? Seriously?

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Why FAIR & BIASED?

FAIR- because that's my name and BIASED because the truth is we are all biased- either for something or against it. What's important is that our bias(opinions) are based on right- on absolute truth and not on changing values. What's right cannot change based on a change in circumstances. That is the basis for situational ethics.

Situation Ethics is a theory that is concerned with the outcome or consequences of an action; the end, as opposed to an action being intrinsically wrong. In the case of situation ethics, the end can justify the means. There are no absolutes. Your actions are guided only by your conscience.

A person's view of right can be subjective. But there is a way mankind can definitely know what's right and that is revealed in God's Word- the Bible. As His creatures, we should be biased toward things our Creator is for and biased against those things He is against. May God grant us the grace and understanding to know the difference.

PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

How important is political party affiliation? Some people mistakenly believe only politicians need political affiliation, which they use for support to get elected. They contend the electorate or voters, do not need to be aligned with any Party. These same people often state they “support the man, not the Party.” But whether they recognize it or not, they are supporting a party when they “support the man.”
Most of the Founding Fathers had a negative view of political parties. In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington warned about political parties saying, “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” In spite of Washington's warning, political parties were formed anyway.
From 1796 to 1828 the first political parties were formed. Starting with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, two opposing factions arose. Each was concerned with how the new government was to be organized. The Federalists believed in a strong central government. Their philosophy and beliefs would closely mirror the Democrat Party today. The Anti-Federalists strongly supported the rights of the states. They would more closely align with Republicans today.
Since the mid 1800s, the Ds and Rs have been the two major political parties in our country. Political parties flourished in our government mainly for legislative organization and expediencies sake. Why is Party affiliation important for the average voter? Party affiliation is important for three very simples reasons.
First, party affiliation is the first vote a citizen casts. When a citizen registers as a Democrat, then they are aligning philosophically with the values, beliefs, tenets, and positions of the Democrats on the issues. Party affiliation “defines” you are and what you stand for. It should be taken as seriously as a vote for a specific candidate. Research what each Party stands for, their positions on issues, and then align with the Party that is closest to your values. Copies of both major Party platforms are available on-line or at the local library.
Second, legislatures organize themselves and conduct business using party affiliation. The legislative branch of government is the most powerful arm of the three branches of government. Legislative bodies hold closed meeting of party members, called a caucus to decide on questions of policy or leadership. The Republicans hold a caucus meeting and the Democrats hold a caucus meeting-both at the state and federal level. Unfortunately, conservative, moderate and liberal philosophies do not hold caucus meetings or control the legislative agendas- parties do. When someone says they vote for “the man,” not the party, they fail to understand the power and function of a caucus system in a legislative body. The Party in the majority controls appointments, Chairmanships, the agenda and countless other things through the caucus.
Third, party affiliation should be a matter of conviction, not convenience. Often, people align with a party so they can vote in primary elections or based on family tradition or geographies. Even candidates will align, file and run affiliated with a Party they have little philosophical agreement with. That decision is made out of convenience, not conviction. While no political party is perfect or has all the answers, there is a distinct difference between the two major parties and honest citizens should align with the Party that reflects their convictions.
The Democrat Party is more liberal than the Republican Party. Liberals believe in more government control of business, the environment and speech, using large bureaucratic programs to address real or perceived social ills and constant reinterpretation of the Constitution. Liberals are more inclined to trust government than the people themselves. They see the role of government as a great provider of goods and services and have little faith in the individual to solve his own problems.
Republicans are more conservative than Democrats. Conservatives believe in less government control of the environment and business. They want fewer and less comprehensive government programs to address real or perceived social ills. They believe in personal responsibility and trust individuals to make decisions for themselves. Republicans believe in a strict literal interpretation of the Constitution. A person should find out which of these philosophies best fits their view if they wish to actively participate in the political process.
Party affiliation is important. Washington’s prophecy has come to past, and political parties have been used to empower “unprincipled men,” on both sides of the aisle, but like it or not, political parties are a reality in our system of government. Each concerned citizen should evaluate the philosophy, values, beliefs and tenets of each Party and align their party affiliation accordingly.

FAIR AND BIASED

Monday, October 31, 2016

DO WE REALLY WANT TO ELECT SOMEONE UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION? SERIOUSLY?

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PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

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