Anything Smart: August 2016

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Good Cops and Bad Cops: "Without a moment's hesitation...."

This post was originally published on my old Good Cops and Bad Cops blog on 6-June-2015. And now it's here.

(This originally appeared on another blog on 6-June-2015.)

On Sunday 6 April 2014 NYPD officers Dennis Guerra and Rosa Rodriguez responded to a 911 call about a fire at 2007 Surf Avenue, Coney Island. When they got to the 18 story building they went straight up to the 13^th floor in the elevator. They were overwhelmed by smoke and carbon monoxide almost immediately after the elevator doors opened.

The two officers barely had time to call for help on their radio before the toxic fumes knocked them out. According to newspaper accounts Guerra's last words may have been "Can't breathe! Can't breathe! Can't see!" Moments later the officers were rescued by fire fighters who found them unconscious.

Guerra and Rodriguez were both hospitalized in critical condition. Rodriguez gradually recovered but Guerra died a few days later at 6:50 AM on Wednesday 9 April 2014. Guerra was a 38 year old father of four with seven years on the NYPD Housing Bureau. Rodriguez was a single mom, also of four, with four years on the force.

These two officers, Dennis Guerra and Rosa Rodriguez, were good cops who did exactly what good cops are supposed to do – when people were in danger, they rushed to help, even at risk to their own lives.

A resident of the building where the officers were overcome said, "It hurts that two police officers came here to save our lives and they are the ones getting hurt."

Commissioner Bill Bratton said, "Police officer Guerra gave his life trying to save others and that is the ultimate selfless act."

Mayor Bill de Blasio's comments included, "We had a very brave police officer Dennis Guerra who did something that most of us wouldn't understand how to do. He went towards those in danger no matter the risk to him.... He went selflessly toward the flames... Without a heartbeat's hesitation, he and officer Rosa Rodriguez did what so many wouldn't have had the courage to do."

Thanks to Guerra and Rodriguez for showing us an example of good cops in action.

For more information click on the links below:

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

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Hillary Fights for Children

Hillary's enemies try to portray her as a caricature of evil. They have been so successful that even Hillary's supporters don't spend as much time as they should talking about the good that Hillary has done over the course of her career.

Here is an interesting clip of seven people at the Democratic National Convention talking about Hillary's decade's long efforts to help children.

They talk about her work on the Educational Standards Commission in Arkansas where she applied her Chelsea Test: if a school wasn't good enough for her daughter than it wasn't good enough for other children either, and needed to improve.

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In 1972 Hillary went undercover in Alabama and proved that certain private schools were deliberately trying to get around Supreme Court decisions and discriminate against black children.

Hillary worked with the Children's Defense Fund to get handicapped children into public schools.

She investigated the treatment of juveniles in prison and helped get new policies in place to protect them.

For over 30 years Hillary has worked to help people who had been mistreated and neglected in our society, children, minorities, and the handicapped. I don't know about you but that's exactly the kind of person I want to be President.

If you think this is information people need to consider in this election please share this post and let people watch these speakers for themselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zojIqa9ms3s

Monday, August 29, 2016

Hillary Listens to Americans

I was too busy writing a book about Trump to watch the whole Democratic National Convention when it was taking place.

Now I'm going back and looking at some of the speeches I missed.

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If you want to support "Anything Smart" just click on book links like the one below to buy your books. "Anything Smart" will receive a commission. Thanks!]

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I was not a big fan of Hillary's "listening tours" but this little clip made me think otherwise. Why NOT have Presidential candidates talk to, and learn from, ordinary Americans?

This issue of addiction does not affect me personally but a President needs to listen to people facing all kinds of issues and figure out how, if at all, the Federal Government can help.

I would rather have a President who listens to people than one who just tries to whip up their anger against the government and other people.

Hillary is a better choice than Trump for President. No doubt!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X60ojPiAghc

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

What's So Bad About the Clinton Foundation?

I'm not an expert on the Clinton Foundation but this article makes some points that I believe are true.

First, the Clintons get no salaries from the Clinton Foundation. Donations to the Clinton Foundation, including donations FROM the Clintons, do not go into Bill's or Hillary's or Chelsea's pockets.

Would people complain if the Clinton's were raising money for some other charity? Probably not. I think critics often think that Clinton Foundation money goes to the Clintons. According to this article that is NOT true.

Second, the Clinton foundation has done a lot of good in the world. According to this article, it has benefitted 430 million people in 180 countries.

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Thirdly, the Clinton Foundation is highly regarded by charity watchdog groups. Charity Watch gives it an A.

I also found out that Guidestar gives it a Platinum rating. Charity Navigator does not rate it but that is becasue of its unique business organization not becasue it is considered to be doing something wrong.

Finally, I recently bought the book "Clinton Cash." The author admits that after five years of investigation he cannot find any proof of illegal activities connected to the Clinton Foundation. Like so many attacks on the Clintons those on the Clinton Foundation seem to follow the pattern: claim there is suspicious behavior, call for investigations, investigate, find no proof, call for more investigations....

Don't believe the attacks of Hillary's enemies. Demand proof. In this case, there doesn't seem to be any.

http://washingtonmonthly.com/2016/08/22/some-facts-about-the-clinton-foundation/

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Trump Calls the United States a "Hellhole"

CNN host Fareed Zakaria argues against Trump's claim that the United States is a "hellhole" and "going down fast."

There are many things to improve in the United States but we are NOT a "hellhole" and we are NOT "going down fast."

As this article shows, by many measures, the US still leads the world and will continue to do so for a long time to come.

Let's vote for someone who wants to improve an already great country, not someone who calls us a "hellhole." Let's dump Trump!

https://fareedzakaria.com/2016/05/27/america-is-still-great-but-it-needs-to-stay-strong/

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

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Take a look at my book "Top 25 Reasons to Dump Trump." If you find it useful in persuading other people to reject Trump please leave a review.

If you want to support "Anything Smart" just click on book links like the one below to buy your books. "Anything Smart" will receive a commission. Thanks!

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Trump Can't Say What He Means

The biggest reasons Trump should not be President are,

1. His contempt for the Constitution - he wants to sue newspapers who criticize him

2. His contempt for life - he wants to kill the families of terrorists

3. His contempt for knowledge - during the debates he was not aware what the nuclear triad is

4. His contempt for our allies - he says we might not protect NATO allies if they are attacked

But then there are all the OTHER reasons. Like his inability to communicate a simple message.

Over the last several days Trump said many times that Obama was the FOUNDER of ISIS. People gave him a chance to explain that he meant this figuratively but he just kept saying no, Obama is the founder.

Then, suddenly he lurched away from this position and tweeted that he was just being sarcastic.

When he said in a speech that he was just being sarcastic he added "but not that sarcastic."

This man who wants to be President either does not have a clear thought in his head or he cannot express his thoughts clearly. He starts with one point, then abandons it, then starts moving back to it again.

If you can't say what you mean and stick with it then you are not qualified to be President.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-backs-off-claims-obama-152300808.html

Friday, August 12, 2016

Hillary Really Does Fight for Children and Families

I have heard people ask, "Why should anyone vote for Hillary? What GOOD has she ever done?" So I decided to find out.

Here is one thing I found: Back in 1977 Hillary was one of the co-founders of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. Hillary has been talking about helping children and families a lot in the 2016 campaign. This is not a new theme for her. In fact she's been talking about children, and working for children, for most of her life.

All the way back in 1977, when she was only 29 years old, Hillary drew up the articles of incorporation for this organization. Another founder, named Jim Miles, said Hillary was a "very forceful advocate." (1)

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families still exists, and still works to make lives better. It's mission statement is: The mission of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families is to ensure that all children and their families have the resources and opportunities to lead healthy and productive lives and to realize their full potential. (2)

As recently as February of 2016 Arkansas Advocates was fighting for paid family leave in Arkansas - fighting to make life better for families and children. (3)

Hillary helped to create this institution that has been working to help people for 39 years now. I think that's something good that Hillary did. I think that's a reason some people might want to vote for her.

1) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/11/hillary-clinton-arkansas_n_7258956.html
2) http://www.aradvocates.org/about-us/mission-annual-report/
3) http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/02/04/the-need-for-family-paid-leave-in-arkansas

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

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Take a look at my book "Top 25 Reasons to Dump Trump." If you find it useful in persuading other people to reject Trump please leave a review.

If you want to support "Anything Smart" just click on book links like the one below to buy your books. "Anything Smart" will receive a commission. Thanks!

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Trump Wants to Kill Civilians in War

Here is one very big reason I can NEVER support Trump.

In this video (at time 1:40) he calls for killing the families of terrorists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWiaYQUV2oM

In my opinion it is immoral to deliberately target non-combatants. What Trump is calling for is evil.

It is terrible when civilians are killed by accident. To go after them on purpose is absolutely beyond the pale of civilized behavior. You don't combat evil by becoming evil yourself.

Let's all work together to DUMP TRUMP!

Joe Scarborough says Dump Trump!

Here is Republican Joe Scarborough's opinion piece calling for the GOP to "dump Trump."

Scarborough has no doubt that Trump's recent comment about "second amendment people" doing something to stop Hillary was a reference to assassination.

He calls on every Republican leader to reject Trump and find a replacement.

One of the clearest signs that Trump is unfit to be President is that more and more leaders of his own party are abandoning him. If you can't persuade your own party you should be President then you don't deserve to be President.

As Trump trails in the polls it seems clear he is not persuading the American people of his fitness for office either.

This short essay by Joe Scarborough might have some influence on moderate Republicans who still want to save their party and OUR country from disaster.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2016/08/09/the-gop-must-dump-trump/?postshare=4321470831323462&tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.a666a1719249