My major reason for posting this diary is to share with you my recommitment and strengthened enthusiasm for voting for Hillary Rodham Clinton for President. My excitement comes from the event I attended yesterday. She held a discussion yesterday in Hampton, Virginia on the subject of the military and military families. It was a small group of invited supporters, no more than 100 or so, listening to a panel comprised of the Secretary, a retired naval admiral, an activist for military families, and two former servicemen. The panel was introduced by the wife of Virginia’s governor. It was very low-key, as she continues to avoid rah-rah rallies out of respect for the victims of the Orlando tragedy.
Our local Clinton organizer got me in (thank you thank you!) and here are some of my take-always from the event:
- The most arresting point was made by the Admiral. Can you imagine, he said, what the world have been like if Trump had been president in 1962. As soon as he said this, it was like a gut punch. For those of you who don’t immediately recognize this reference, it’s the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis. President John Kennedy managed the crisis with cool competence, and achieved a great result by working simultaneously for a political and military win. The result was we gave up some missiles in Turkey we didn’t need, and Russia pulled its nuclear missiles out of Cuba.
When the Admiral inserted Donald Trump into this scenario, it made me almost want to throw up. We must do everything we can to make sure Trump is not at the head of table, ever.
I used to think the SCOTUS appointments were the most important reason to vote for Clinton; but although that’s still critical, when I think of Trump being the final yes or no to launching a missile strike, it makes my blood run cold.
- As part of her response to the Admiral’s remarks, Clinton referred to the wrongheadedness of building a wall as a strategy to secure our borders. With the shadow of Orlando over us she said, How can you build a wall to keep out the Internet?
- Clinton mentioned that President Eisenhower sold the interstate highway system as a security program, a way to efficiently move troops and materiel. She said we cannot allow the continued deterioration of America’s infrastructure. We need to ensure that our country’s physical systems meet our needs — it’s a security issue.
- Clinton said we are now living off the investments our parents and grandparents made in infrastructure, education, amd the other areas so important to a healthy society. But we need to contribute in the same way by investing in the future of our children and grandchildren.
HRC was phenomenal. There is no way in God’s green earth that Trump could equal her ability to listen to — and I mean truly hear - the speakers and the audience members who posed questions. Her focus never wavered. To be honest, my attention drifted on occasion when someone was setting the stage for their question. Not her. She picked up on everyone’s points, responded to them, then was able to refer to their points and even get their ranks right 3 questions later.
Her ability to understand, process, then take the next mental leap gave me comfort that she will be a great president. She’ll do things I disagree with, but it will not be because she failed to listen and learn (Bush) or because she thought more about herself than the topic at hand (Trump).
A Hillary Clinton presidency will not be a two for the price of one, the way Bill Clinton tried to sell his own presidency. It will be more like “two in a row”! Obama, followed by Clinton, will be the two in a row.