A little over two weeks to go before we find out who we are as Americans.
We already know, of course, who is running for president, but are we actually paying sufficient attention to who Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are telling us they are?
Maya Angelou famously said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. People know themselves much better than you do. That’s why it’s important to stop expecting them to be something other than who they are.”
We might want to listen to her counsel before November 5, and one of the ways to do that is to accept who Kamala and Trump are showing they are by the things they are promising to do if elected president,
Here are some of the things Trump is promising to do
- invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 in order to arrest and deport all the immigrants he says are “animals,” “stone-cold killers,” “murderers”, “rapists” use the justice department to arrest and try anybody who disagrees with him or criticizes him as an enemy of the nation
- fire career non-partisan government workers and replace them with loyalists to him;
- veto any nationwide abortion rights legislation and support state legislatures determining women’s rights as they are doing now
- expand presidential power by exerting more control over independent agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (F.T.C.) and the Federal Reserve and “impounding” funds allocated by Congress for any agency he chooses
- end the war in Ukraine by cutting off military support and then favor Putin over Zelensky in a settlement
When asked what they think of these things, Trump supporters usually say they don’t believe he’ll do them, that he’s just saying them for effect.
I wonder if they realize that they are admitting that the man they want to be president is lying to the American public about what he wants to do. It’s either that or they are refusing to listen to who Trump is saying he is. Neither is good for the country.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Kamala Harris is pledging to do these things, if elected:
- she will be a president of all Americans
- she will appoint a by-partisan cabinet
- she will appoint a by-partisan commission to recommend solutions to serious problems
- she will always put country before political party and herself
- she will focus on what Americans have in common instead of what divides us
- she will look to the future rather than dragging-up old grievances
- she will help lower and middle class families get ahead rather than just getting by
- she will continue to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia
- she will support the freedom of women to make their own healthcare decisions
This is who Kamala Harris is showing us she is, a woman who wants to use her office for the benefit of others rather than herself, to put old grievances behind us, and to work together to be the nation we can be.
Personally, I find her to be a breath of fresh air to American politics.
When she walks on the stage at any campaign event or sits for an interview, she lights up the room, speaks with a steeliness leaders need, and immediately convinces you she is somebody you can trust will tell you the truth.
Her ability to respond impromptu to comments from the audience and handle “gotcha” questions from an interviewer is stunning, just as she did with Bret Baier in her Fix News interview this past week.
She did to him what she told Trump Putin would do to him – ate him for lunch.
What this campaign has revealed thus far is that Kamala Harris is everything our nation needs in a president.
She embodies the torch being passed to a new generation of American leaders today just as it was in the 1960s when John F. Kennedy was elected president.
She is a leader from my children’s generation who is ready and capable of assuming leadership and responsibility for America’s future.
I believe our country will be in very good hands when she becomes president, and I think a majority of Americans agree.
Of course, I may be wrong. After all, I’m just a guy who writes books and blogs.
But I don’t think so. That’s because Kamala and Trump have shown us exactly who they are, and a majority of Americans know that which one we vote for will also show who we are.
linnposts.com 
Amen, Amen, Amen! Jan, my friend, you have nailed it once again! Thank you!!!
Grateful for the positive response. You help me want to keep writing.
Thank you, Jan – I well remember the despair I felt when Trump won the electoral count in 2016. Felt some comfort that he did not win the popular vote. I believe Trump means every thing he says. Am so praying Kamala Harris has a decisive win and there will be absolutely no question as to who is America’s next President.
Was just thinking about you and Joe this morning, Katherine. Hope y’all are well. I remember feeling the way you did in 2016. I truly believe this time will be very different. He’s worse than ever and I cannot believe most Americans want that. Thank you for commenting.
it shouldn’t even be close. Let’s hope it’s not.
If it is close, Wilbur, or, God forbid, he wins, we are a nation far worse than I ever imagined.
To summarize you and many Republican pundits:
Trump doesn’t believe in tolerance, dissent, elections, free speech and the right of the American people to choose their president. Trump’s use of rhetoric is identical to the language used by Hitler, Goebbels, Goering, Stalin, Mussolini, and every other fascist dictator who has ever promised they alone could fix it. For the majority of Americans the focus of this race is Trump’s incoherence, incompetence and malice. The only reason to support Trump is ignorance. Ignorance of what is to come should Trump win this election. I can hear Trumper’s asking, “How did this happen?” Their only defence is Ignorance and their refusal to believe Trump is who he says he is. #nevertrump
You named it, Rollie. Ignorance is no excuse before the law, and it is no excuse in choosing the political leaders we want to lead us.
Jan,
Another piece of sound thought. The last paragraph says it all.
Thanks.
Gene
What I said at the end, Gene, is what I am counting on for sure. Thank you for the comment.
Jan, as usual, you have succintly captured on one page the distinct differences between the two choices confronting the American people. We have been debating these distinct differences ad-infinitum for months now. The choice that you summarize could not be more clear. Thank you for presenting your views to us these past years to keep us sane in these times of chaos.
And yet here we are 12 days away from the opportunity to protect our American Heritage, save our American Democracy from the current Republican/Facist tyrants led by Donald Trump, and chart a new course that benefits all of “We The People”.
I think most of us are buoyed by the excitment and effectiveness of the current Democratic party and the campaign of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. And a majority of Americans are feeling this as well. American Values and the character of the American people are own our side.
But as we speak, the media is still portraying the election as a “coin toss”. This is truly hard to imagine, yet probably true.
But I feel at this moment in time, that I, You, and Your Readers can trust in the good people of America to do the right thing, to vote with their conscience, and return our country to a “New Normalcy of Opportunity for All”.
We must prevail in this endeavor!
John Hamerski
I don’t believe it’s a toss-up, John. There are right-wings polls being included in summaries that are skewing the race toward Trump, but don’t reflect the truth about the state of the race. I think this will be the year the pollsters lose all credibility. I think the day after Harris wins they will say they detected a late surge for her that showed up too late to be counted. Maybe Trump will win because you can’t take anything for granted these days, but I will believe it only when I see it.