http;//www.Californiacontrarian.com

Surely Sen. Cory Booker (D,NJ) must have been flummoxed as some new over-the-top lefties in Congress were getting all of the publicity. Rashida Tlaib (D,MI) sprinted from the starting gate using the F-bomb on her first day, and not to be outdone, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D,NY) endorsed something called the “Green New Deal,” which is some environmental-wacho scheme that would increase the top tax rate to 70%. However, the dagger to the heart for Spartacus certainly must have been that a fellow leftist Senator, Elizabeth Warren (D,MA), beat him to the potential presidential starting gate when she announced that she was running well ahead of Sen. Booker’s announcement that he is also now a candidate.  However, Sen. Booker really does not have much to fear from Pocahontas other than she has a more recognizable nickname. Even in the “I can tell a bigger whopper than you” category, Cory Booker is right up there. His “Spartacus moment” (from the 1960 movie starring Kirk Douglas) turned out to be a fake, as were his past constant referrals to T-Bone, a Newark drug pusher, who did not exist. This makes me wonder, “Is he really a vegan?” . . . “No me importa!” However, more serious and more dangerous than his lying for effect, is his 2017 statement on the safety of marijuana when he said in a speech calling for federal legalization that the states that had already legalized marijuana “are seeing a decrease in violent crime.” Gong! Gong! Not so, Cory. Facts actually do matter when you are talking about Mary Jane (not the 1978 song by Rick James). What are the facts?

The four states that initially legalized marijuana, Colorado & Washington in 2014 and Alaska & Oregon in 2015, had 450 murders and 30,300 aggravated assaults in 2013 (pre-legalization). In 2017 (post-legalization) in the same four states combined, the murders jumped to 620 – a 38% increase. Over the same period of time the aggravated assaults increased by 7,700. Coincidence?  Not likely, according to Alex Berenson in his book, “Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness and Violence.” According to studies cited by Mr. Berenson marijuana can cause psychosis in individual cases, and psychosis is a high risk factor for violence. He cites a 2012 paper in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence that found a doubling of domestic violence in adolescents using marijuana in the U.S. Likewise he cites a 2017 paper in the journal, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, that found that drug use, predominately cannabis, was linked to a fivefold increase in violence. Again to quote Mr. Berenson: “For centuries, people all over the world have understood that marijuana  causes mental illness and violence – just as they have known that opiates cause addiction and overdose.” Mental illness and violence? Really! Who says? A 2017 report from the National Academy of Medicine pointed out that there is “substantial” evidence that Mary Jane impairs judgement and driving ability, and increases the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia.Now granted Sen. Booker may not read the journals quoted by Alex Berenson, and probably is unfamiliar with the report by the National Academy of Medicine,  but perhaps he could ask T-Bone so that he might learn the street truth about Mary Jane!

Back over fifty years ago there was a radio and then a T.V. show called You Bet Your Life starring Groucho Marx. By today’s standards it was really bush league with contestants starting off with $25 and years later $100! The “secret word” part of the show was hokey, at best, even back then. If any of the contestants said the “secret word,” a bizarre duck-like Groucho Marx caricature complete with glasses and a mustache, dropped from the ceiling, and the contestants won an extra $25!It was this secret word that made me think of this old show . . . but kind of in the opposite direction. I think that if there is the secret word in any of the nationwide syndicated news articles, our local paper will not print that syndicated news article. As an aside I have written multiple letters-to-the-editor, but if my letter contains this secret word, there is no chance that it will be printed. The secret word is “illegal.”

Let me give a few recent examples to prove my point:

Recently, Wilbur Ernesto Martinez Guzman, a nineteen year old illegal from El Salvador was charged with murdering four people in Nevada during armed burglaries from 1/10 – 1/15/19. He had been in the U.S illegally for about 1 year and was living in Carson City, Nevada with his mother and his siblings. Was this story carried in my local paper? . . . No!

Border patrol stopped Jose Gomez, an illegal, on 1/28 while he was attempting to sneak back into California from Mexico. Señor Gomez  had been convicted of Felony Child Molestation in Georgia (2007), and previously had been convicted of Felony Abduction and Kidnapping  in Virginia (1999). Was this story carried in my local paper? . . . No!

Gustavo Perez Arriaga, an illegal, was recently arrested and charged with the murder of a California police officer, Ronil Singh. This story made the national news and so my local paper was forced to print this story, buried deep on the inside of the paper. However, over the last few weeks an additional seven people have been arrested and charged with aiding-and-abetting Señor Arriaga’s potential escape to Mexico. All seven are illegals! Was the story of any of these arrests carried in my local paper? . . . No!

But perhaps the most glaring example of the “secret word” being an absolute no-no in my local newspaper is Kevin McCarthy’s (R,CA) speech last week in the House of Representatives. Now I can already hear some of you saying that speeches in the House are numerous and obviously not all of them can be commented on in the newspaper. However, what made this speech extremely unusual, and thus newsworthy, is that it was followed by a standing ovation by all of the House members that were present (both Democrats and Republicans), their staff, and those visitors in the gallery! You read that right . . . a standing O! What did the House Minority Leader do to elicit such a reaction from an albeit sparse group of legislators?  He read the names of fifty 50 Americans that have been killed by illegals. Again was this story carried by my local paper . . . No!

Perhaps newspapers not carrying stories containing the secret word should be illegal!

Sometimes as I write these pieces, I make an attempt to be a bit humorous. Most of the time I am afraid that these attempts fall flat, but thank the Lord for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), who may have missed her true calling as a comedy writer. Her most recent New Green Deal is hilarious! Initially I was going to try to avoid AOC, but after actually reading the points of her New Green Deal (NGD), I am no longer able to restrain myself as it is absurd on so many different levels. (Amazingly Senator Ed Markey (D, Mass), who was her cosponsor on the NGD, is now bellyaching because this monstrosity may actually be brought up for a vote in the Senate. At this point one must ask if there is something in the water in the greater Boston area, as AOC went to college in Boston.)  However, I asked myself is there a point at which some of these absurd points in the NGD indeed cross over to insanity? I count 14 different points in this non-binding drivel, and it is difficult to figure out which of these is the most ridiculous. For the sake of brevity I am going to try to group most of the absurdities of the GND into some general categories that each exemplify “absurdity . . . bordering on insanity.”

1. Retrofit all buildings with “green” technology. Focus on the word, “all.” Note that she is not just talking about government buildings, but all buildings. Think about the enormity of doing that in just Boston alone, or in just one state, never mind throughout the country!  Absurdity . . . bordering on insanity! Link that to the goal of 100% of the power demand in the U.S. coming from “clean, renewable, and zero emission” energy sources. AOC: you might want to rethink how you are going sell that to the people in the Midwest who have just experienced temperatures of 25 below zero. I am quite sure that there could never be enough windmills to heat the homes in Peoria, much less in Chicago where during the winter the solar panels would be dormant as the sun may not be seen there for months. Absurdity . . . bordering on insanity!

2. Ban the combustion engine, thus making all autos electric with, get this, charging stations “everywhere!” Focus on the word, “everywhere.” Think about the enormity of doing this in Los Angeles, a city that totally depends on cars. Where exactly on the 405 or the 5 freeway are these charging stations going to be located? Absurdity . . . bordering on insanity! Combine this with a severe restriction on air unnecessary travel. (Would this include the millions of miles flown by Nancy Pelosi?) I presume that AOC means air travel by airplanes, and that air travel by balloons or blimps will still be acceptable ( there is a lot of hot air already in the NGD.). I believe that high-speed rail is supposed to be the panacea here. AOC: perhaps you should get reacquainted with reality, as our governor just scrapped the high-speed rail boondoggle in California. Absurdity . . . bordering on insanity!

3. The giveaways that promise everything with no conception of who or how this is going to be paid for. Free college, free universal health care, and the pseudo-European  guaranteed medical and family leave to go along with government provided vacations. What would this actually mean to the economy? (The GNP would begin to resemble the slope of a downhill slalom course.) Absurdity . . . bordering on insanity! In addition to providing government retirement security, the government will also provide jobs for those who wish to work, and money for those who do not wish to work. Yes!! If one does not wish to work, so-be-it, he/she will get paid anyway! This is not absurdity. . . bordering on insanity, but absolute insanity! I think by now that everyone is getting the general idea . . . and I haven’t even mentioned the vague, not yet specified, plan of what to do about the farting cows! .This is absurdity . . . err, absurdity to the nth degree!!

The following are excerpts from the Charlotte Observer, a North Carolina newspaper, on 2/8/19:

The News: After North Carolina’s largest counties cut ties with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency said it’s been forced to adopt a “new normal”: one that resulted in the arrest of hundreds of immigrants, living here illegally, this week.

The Background: Since December, newly elected sheriffs in the state’s two most populous counties — Mecklenburg and Wake — have reversed a policy that notifies ICE about the legal status of inmates in county jails. The Durham County Sheriff’s Office also ended the practice of honoring ICE detainers.

The Practical Outcome: “This is the direct conclusion of dangerous policies of not cooperating with ICE,” said Sean Gallagher, who oversees the agency’s operation in the Carolinas and Georgia. “This forces my officers to go out onto the street to conduct more enforcement.” Of the 200 individuals arrested this week, one-quarter have criminal convictions, one-fifth have pending cases and another quarter have evaded deportation orders. Nearly one-third of those taken into custody by ICE this week are what the agency calls “collateral” arrests – immigrants who are living here illegally but lack any kind of criminal conviction or pending charges. That figure was less than 10 percent for those arrested in the most recent fiscal year. Gallagher, the ICE field director, said more of these individuals are likely to be taken into custody when ICE is restricted from accessing county jails.

Let me get this straight – Of the 200 or so individuals arrested about 70% are “bad hombres” (25% are criminals, 20% are potential criminals, and an additional 25% who have been deported, but who have not left.) This leaves the 30% who are basically “innocent bystanders” or “collateral arrests” . . . granted this group are here illegally, but are apparently otherwise  law-abiding. So these sheriffs, in return for protecting a group of “bad hombres,” already in custody, have essentially sacrificed about 60 “innocent bystanders!”  

Does anybody think that this outcome is good for the immigrant community?  “Silence!”  

I am not hearing, “Strong work, sheriffs!” Rather I hear complaints from the supposed immigrant advocates that ICE is “bullying” these “innocent bystanders” by actually doing its job. Well, sport’s fans, ICE is going to continue to do its job as long “law enforcement officers” refuse to do their job. By not cooperating with ICE, they are continuing to protect the “bad hombres,” while the “innocent bystanders” continue to be caught in a wide net, and this benefits . . . who?

My position has always been to leave the “innocent bystanders” alone as long as identify themselves and do not vote or receive any benefits. However, at the same time, get rid of the “bad hombres.” For some reason the advocates of “sanctuary policies” accept the “sacrifice of the innocents!”                                                                  

I just don’t get it!

Back when I was a soccer coach, I did not know much about soccer, but it was apparent to me that a winning strategy was to force the opposing teams to go to their left. Now granted that it was only youth soccer and at that time I had seen only about ten to fifteen soccer games in my entire life, but this philosophy worked. Keep them out of the middle and guard them so that they had no other option. Force them to go to their left, and the further to their left, the better! Back then this strategy made sense because the vast majority of youth players could not, and thus did not use their left foot. “Force them to the left” was a winning strategy.

Today, “Force them to the left” is also a winning strategy . . . in politics. If the Republicans can subtly encourage the Democrats to go to the left with their 2020 presidential candidate (the further to the left, the better), the better chance the Republicans will have to win in 2020. I say this because I do not think that the country is ready for a far-left president. Think McGovern (1972). Think Mondale (1984). Think Dukakis (1988). Think Kerry ( 2004). Obama won in 2008 because of his charisma and his skin color, not his politics. Thus far, each one of the Democrats who have thrown his/her hat into the ring for 2020 are way on the left side of the middle, and we should be rooting them on.

Cory Booker . . . “You, the man!”

Kamala Harris . . . “You go, girl!”

Elizabeth Warren . . . “Don’t give up, Kemosabe!”

Beto O’Rourke . . . “Just because you lost in Texas, doesn’t mean anything!”

Hillary Clinton . . . “The second time will be a charm!”

You get the idea. Whenever you are speaking to your liberal friends, tell them that those on the right are really afraid of these far left candidates. Write letters-to-the-editor, using fictitious names, that suggest that only a far left candidate has a chance to win. If there is enough hoopla for the far left candidates, those centrist Democrats, that may actually have a chance to win in 2020, will not get into the primary voting fracases. Hopefully, with this advice, you now be able to maximize your role in the upcoming 2020 election, and we can all go out there and win one for the Trumper!

I told my buddy, Hans, that I had a great idea for a business. “I am going to start a solar panel installation service in Montana, with the hope that I can expand over the border into Alberta, Canada.” Now Hans is a smart guy, and I figured that I could tap him for some investment capital. Hans looked very skeptical, and so I followed with, “Basically we would be the first players in the Montana solar installation business. The sky is the limit!”

 Hans, who is known for not beating around the bush, replied in one word, “Dummkopf!” He continued, “Edmonton, Alberta has winter basically six months of the year and during it’s three warmest months it rains on about 25% of the days. In Great Falls, Montana there is winter six months of the year, and summer for only three months. Neither of these places has enough sun to provide anything but a bare minimum of solar power. Why in God’s name would you think that solar power could be successful in these areas?” And for emphasis, “Dummkopf!”

Now was my chance to show off. “For your information, Hans, Great Falls, Montana is at the same latitude as Munich, Germany and Edmonton, Alberta is at the same latitude as Berlin, Germany, and the Germans have made the decision to stake both its present and its future electrical needs in renewable energy, including solar.” 

At this point it appeared that Hans was slowly counting to himself, and when he reached “ten,” he slowly but firmly said, “They are dummkopfs! They have been on this ‘Energiewende’ (energy transition) kick now for about 20 years, and thus far have spent close to $200 billion. What do they have to show for all of that money? . . . they have some of the highest energy (electricity) prices in the world!! More than half of its energy is imported, and, meanwhile, Germany is still spending 20 billion euros per year subsidizing renewable energy. Dummkopfs, 20 billion euros!!”

He wasn’t done. “Now Germany gets about 27% of its total energy from renewables which includes wind, hydro-power, biomass, and solar. In 2016 solar power accounted for 6.2-6.9%. Solar panels in Berlin? Dummkopfs! To make this energiewende even more ridiculous, 40% of Germany’s electricity is still coming from coal, which is not exactly a “green” source of power. At the same time Germany is now getting 22.6% of its energy from natural gas, 60% of which is coming from Russia. What if Russia decides to turn off its gas supply spigot? Dummkopfs!”

Hans continued on for another ten minutes, and finally finished laughing at Germany’s vow to be completely free of nuclear power by 2022. Again, “Dummkopfs!”Being of German ancestry I guess that it was okay for Hans to collectively call the Germans, ‘Dummkopfs,’ just as it is okay for me to call the Democratic  California politicians, ‘Dummkopfs’ for following Germany’s master energy plan.

It was Tuesday night. I was busy doing something, and had turned on the T.V. for a little background noise. Could it be that the channel was showing a high school basketball game – as the girls in the stands were all dressed similarly. It soon became apparent that this cadre was probably at their first game, as they kept looking at each other to see if they should clap or sit on their hands. God forbid that a novice might inadvertently stand and cheer because of something she thought was a good thing. Could it be that some in the group were the designated clappers, as the others would initially look around for guidance, and if those designated ones did not applaud or stand, then the rest would not stand or applaud. The one thing that was totally befuddling to me was the dour expressions on the majority of their faces. If they were in pain, why were they at a basketball game? Only once did they all rise up and show spirit – standing, clapping, and giving each other high-fives. I thought, “How typical of freshmen!”

After I turned up the volume on the T.V., I realized that this was not a meaningless sporting event, but rather the State of the Union address by our President. However, as I watched and paid attention, I continued to be confused by the behavior of those dressed in white, as they did not appear to understand or applaud when President Trump would say things that all Americans should be enthused about:

“American greatness” . . . sullen and silently sitting on their hands!

“Low unemployment rates among minorities, the disabled, and women.” . . . bored,   with disinterested facial expressions!“

Taking care of veterans” . . . surely this would generate an enthusiastic response, as  don’t all patriotic Americans stand behind our veterans? . . . still sitting, with even  more scowling!

An introduction of an ICE agent who had saved hundreds of women and girls from sex-traffickers. Certainly, I expected him to receive a standing O from all, but instead the “non-cheerleaders in white” gave him a sitting-non-O! I was flabbergasted . . . could it be that they are pro-sex-trafficking?

I could go on . . . “Angel families, deescalating tensions with No. Korea, five million people now off food stamps, increased child tax credit, increased middle class prosperity, increasing wages for blue-collar workers . . . nada, nada, and more nada from the ladies in white!

 I was baffled, and I am sure that a lot of those watching were as dumbfounded as I was. What was the reason for their non-patriotic behavior? 

-Could it be that they didn’t understand the game of basketball?

-Could it be that they all suffer from a significant loss of hearing?

-Could it be that they only speak Spanish? 

-Could it be that they basically do not like America and Americans?

Take your pick.

Let me start out by saying unequivocally that I do not like the statements that Gov. Ralph Northam (D,VA) has made with reference to what amounts to infanticide. Disgusting! We are all aware that most liberals will not contest his position on this issue as it is in step with the far left, and that promoting something as morose as infanticide will not have any consequences for Mr. Northam, and that is disgusting! But wait, he has apparently done something far more offensive – he may have, and probably did dress up either in blackface or as a KKK member in a white uniform! Disgusting! Yes, certainly if it is him in one of the alleged costumes and the picture was taken while or just prior to his being elected governor. But wait . . . if it is him, the photo from his med-school yearbook must have been taken at least 35 years ago. Still disgusting? To some of his political opponents, “yes,” and now to his fellow Democrats, “YES!” This is insanity!

Does what is going on with Gov, Northam sound familiar? Recently, we first saw a similar thing with Judge Roy Moore and the accusations about something that supposedly happened 35 years ago. These accusations, although unproven, torpedoed his bid for the Senate. Insanity, politically motivated insanity! Since it worked once, why not try it again? So they did – during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh, but this time sanity and clear thinking won out over unproven innuendo.

What about Sen. Al Franken in 2017? A completely different story. To start with, in my opinion, he was, and probably still is, an idiot. There was no innuendo, as his gross actions were caught on tape. There were no unproven allegations. His actions did not occur 30+ years ago, but rather within the recent past. Was his forced retirement insanity? No, merely a consequence of stupid actions by a comedian masquerading as a senator.

Back to Gov. Northam’s situation. Let’s assume that it is indeed him in the yearbook photo. Is it right to force someone out of office today for something that actually occurred over 30 years ago?  If the answer is: “Yes, it is right to hold someone accountable for something that happened a very long time ago,” then it means that there is no statute of limitations on one’s actions. How far back is okay? Should we be making judgements about one’s present character and qualifications based on something he/she did in college or high school? What about grade school? What about . . .  on the playground at pre-school ?? Insanity!

Mr. Northam’s yearbook page with the aforementioned photo was first posted by Big League Politics, a site “backed by Republican operatives.” I guess the thinking follows the “eye for an eye” philosophy – if it worked for them to slander someone on our side, Judge Moore, then why not give them some of their own medicine?  And if it works in this case, why not try it again . . and again . . . and again, etc. in the future?

Again, I have no respect for Ralph Northam and his policies, but forcing him out of office because of a very old photograph, that may or may not be him . . . is insanity!

Stop the madness!

In  Part I, I reviewed four categories of President Trump’s  accomplishments that should be viewed positively by all Americans – after all who could be against a booming economy,  giving veterans what is due to them, rolling back unnecessary regulations and fighting the opioid crisis? Jeopardy answer: “Who are the Democrats?”

In this part, I am going to summarize some of Donald Trump’s accomplishments that, while scoring positively with a lot Americans, will definitely put points on the board for conservatives. Again a lot of what follows comes from 1600 Daily.

5. President Trump is rebuilding our military and defending America’s interests across the world.

-He reversed the devastating defense cuts of the past administration and  has secured historic investments to rebuild our military.

-President Trump empowered our military commanders with broad authority in order to take the fight to ISIS, and ISIS has lost nearly all of its territory, more than half of which has been liberated since President Trump took office.

-President Trump took decisive military action to respond to the barbaric use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime. ( He drew a red line and that line did not turn yellow!)

-The President announced that the Department of Defense will work to create a Space Force to serve as an independent branch of the United States military.

-President Trump signed legislation providing $700 billion for defense in FY 2018 and $716 billion in FY 2019.

-President Trump is supporting America’s men and women in uniform, securing the largest military pay raise in nearly a decade.

6.  President Trump has made clear that his first responsibility is to protect the safety and security of Americans.

-Federal Bureau of Investigation data shows violent crime decreased under President Trump’s watch in 2017, following two consecutive years of increases.

-United States Attorneys indicted the most violent criminals on record last year.

-President Trump is cracking down on the vile MS-13 gang that has brought violence to communities across the country. In 2017, the DOJ worked with international partners to arrest and charge approximately 4,000 MS-13 members. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations arrested nearly 800 MS-13 members and associates in FY 2017, an 83 percent increase from the prior year.

-President Trump signed the First Step Act, which includes bipartisan reforms to make our Federal justice system fairer and our communities safer.

7.  The President is committed to defending the right to life and religious liberty.

–President Trump defunded a United Nations (UN) agency for colluding with China’s brutal program of forced abortion and sterilization.

-The Trump Administration issued regulations establishing new or expanded exemptions from the Obamacare contraceptive mandate based on religious beliefs or moral convictions.

-The Administration withdrew guidance that constrained State’s ability to exclude family-planning providers that provide abortion services from the Medicaid program.

8. President Trump has followed through on his pledge to transform the Federal Government and increase accountability and transparency.

–The President implemented a five-year ban on lobbying for White House employees and a lifetime ban on lobbying for foreign countries.

-Each quarter since taking office, President Trump has donated his salary, fulfilling a promise he made to the American people.

-President Trump is reshaping our Federal judiciary, appointing judges who will follow the Constitution as written. The President has appointed Circuit Court judges at a record pace, and has appointed two Supreme Court justices, Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

This list of President Trump’s accomplishments in his first two years is not meant to be all inclusive and as most of you are aware, many of his other accomplishments have been left out, mainly for the sake of brevity!

Okay, he lost a battle with Pelosi/Schumer on funding for the wall. Has he lost the war? Hardly! Let’s look at all of the data . . . all of President Trump’s accomplishments in the two years since he has been in office. What has he accomplished other than driving Democrats into a state that is approaching apoplexy? Does he have anything to show for his first two years in office? Because the Democrats will pooh-pooh just about all of positive things that he has done thus far, I have decided to detail what has been accomplished – first from the perspective of the American people in general (Part I), and then second, from the viewpoint of conservatives (Part II). A lot of what follows comes from 1600 Daily. From my perspective the following accomplishments can only be viewed positively by just about everyone.

1. President Trump’s pro-growth policies are unleashing economic growth and providing opportunities to workers across the country.

Who can possibly be against any of the following: 

-GDP over 3% for the last four quarters

-More than 5 million jobs have been created

-Unemployment rate continues below 4%

-Unemployment Rate for African Americans is the lowest on record at 5.9%

-4.6 million people have been lifted off food stamps

-The women’s unemployment rate recently reached its lowest rate in 65 years, and his administration helped launch the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, which could leverage more than $1 billion to support women entrepreneurs.

2.  President Trump mobilized his entire Administration to combat the opioid crisis that has devastated communities across the country.

Who can possibly be against combatting the opioid crisis in this country? All Americans are on the side of the President in this battle.

-The President helped secure a record $6 billion in funding to fight the opioid epidemic.

-President Trump launched an Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand.

-The Administration pursued scientific solutions to prevent and treat addiction through the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative.

-The Administration secured first-ever indictments against Chinese nationals for fentanyl trafficking

3. President Trump is rolling back costly regulations that have burdened hardworking Americans and stifled innovation. 

Certainly the majority of Americans would agree to get rid of unnecessary and burdensome regulations:

-President Trump has followed through on and exceeded his promise to roll back two regulations for every new one created. In 2017 this ratio was 22/1, and in 2018 it was 12/1. Spectacular!

-Since taking office, President Trump’s deregulation efforts have achieved $33 billion in regulatory savings. In 2018, these efforts alone delivered $23 billion in benefits to American families and business owners.

-President Trump signed an executive order to streamline the permitting process for infrastructure projects with a goal of cutting approval time from up to 10 years to an average of 2 years.

4. President Trump is honoring America’s commitment to our veterans by ensuring they receive the quality care they have earned.

We as a country have promised certain things to our veterans, and Americans believe that we should honor these commitments.

-President Trump secured a record $73.1 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide quality medical care for our veterans. This funding included $8.6 billion for mental health services, $400 million for opioid abuse prevention, $206 million for suicide prevention, and more

-The President signed the VA MISSION Act, revolutionizing the VA healthcare system and reforming numerous services for our veterans

-President Trump signed the Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, making it easier to fire failing employees and protect whistleblowers. Under President Trump, the VA has removed, demoted, or suspended more than 4,300 employees for poor performance.

You may be hearing about a number of these numerous accomplishments for the first time as the Main-Stream Media has not and will not speak about them, because touting them goes against its anti-Trump agenda. In Part II I will elaborate on President Trump’s accomplishments that are viewed positively primarily by conservatives. Stay tuned!