GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA: FOR WHO THE BELL TOLLS NEXT.

Just five people shy of Sandy Hook elementary school mass shooting incident that claimed 26 lives, the Uvalde Texas Robb elementary school mass shooting at 21 victims, now ranks among the highest grossing gun carnage in America. It is sad that such frequent blood spilling has tragically become part of our culture as a society. May the souls of the killed now rest.

25th AMENDMENT: ITS NOW ALL CRICKET.

Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi once questioned former President Donald John Trump's fitness to remain in office due to what she claimed was his declining mental capacity. Does anyone know what Madam Speaker presently thinks about the incontrovertible case which America is now saddled with? Just curious!

WHO WILL REBUILD UKRAINE?

The West should convert frozen Russian assets, both state's and oligarchs' owned, into a full seizure and set them aside for the future rebuilding of Ukraine. Like the Marshal Plan, call it the Putin Plan.

A HERO IS BORN.

I am staying put. I will not run away and abandon my people. The fight is here in Ukraine. What I need are weapons and ammunitions, not a ride out of town like former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani - President Volodymyr Zelensky.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

"There is too much hate in America because there is too much anger in America." - Trevor Noah.

WORD!

A life without challenges is not a life lived at all. A life lived is a life that has problems, confronts problems, solves problems and then learns from problems. - Tunde Fashola.

NOW, YOU KNOW.

When fishing for love, bait with your heart and not your brain, because you cannot rationalize love. - Mark Twain.

JUST THE FACT.

In our country, you can shoot and kill a nigger, but you better not hurt a gay person’s feelings - Dave Chappelle

DO YOU?.

“What you believe in can only be defined by what you’re willing to risk for it." - Stuart Scheller.

HEDGE YOUR CRISIS.

Never get in bed with a woman whose problems are worse than yours. - Chicago PD.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

'The best way to keep peace is to be ready to destroy evil. If you Pearl Harbor me, I Nagasaki you.' - Ted Nugent.

OUR SHARED HUMANITY.

Empathy is at the heart of who we are as human beings. - Cardinal Matthew Kukah.

WORDS ON MARBLE.

"Birth is agony. Life is hard. Death is cruel." - Japanese pithy.

REPENT OR PERISH - POPE.

Homosexuality is a sin. It is not ordained by God, therefore same sex marriage cannot be blessed by the church - Pope Francis.

CANCEL CULTURE IS CORROSIVE.


FOR SAKE OF COUNTRY.


MAGA LIVES ON: NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER!

TWITTER IS BORING WITHOUT HIS TWEETS. #RestorePresidentTrump'sTwitterHandle.


WORD.

"If you cannot speak the truth when it matters, then nothing else you says matters.” - Tucker Carlson.

#MeToo MOVEMENT: A BAD NEWS GONE CRAZY.

"To all the women who testified, we may have different truth, but I have a great remorse for all of you. I have great remorse for all of the men and women going through this crisis right now in our country. You know, the movement started basically with me, and I think what happened, you know, I was the first example, and now there are thousands of men who are being accused and a regeneration of things that I think none of us understood. I’m not going to say these aren’t great people. I had wonderful times with these people. I’m just genuinely confused. Men are confused about this issue. We are going through this #MeToo movement crisis right now in this country." - Harvey Weinstein.


RON DELLUMS: UNAPOLOGETICALLY RADICAL.

"If it’s radical to oppose the insanity and cruelty of the Vietnam War, if it’s radical to oppose racism and sexism and all other forms of oppression, if it’s radical to want to alleviate poverty, hunger, disease, homelessness, and other forms of human misery, then I’m proud to be called a radical.” - Ron Vernie Dellums.


WHAT REALLY MATTERS IN LIFE - STEVE JOBS

“I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others’ eyes, my life is an epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy. Non-stop pursuing of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me. God gave us the senses to let us feel the love in everyone’s heart, not the illusions brought about by wealth. Memories precipitated by love is the only true riches which will follow you, accompany you, giving you strength and light to go on. The most expensive bed in the world is the sick bed. You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone to bear sickness for you. Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost – Life. Treasure Love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends. Treat yourself well. Cherish others.” - SJ

EVIL CANNOT BE TRULY DESTROYED.

"The threat of evil is ever present. We can contain it as long as we stay vigilant, but it can never truly be destroyed. - Lorraine Warren (Annabelle, the movie)


ONLY THE POOR WISH THEY HAD STUFF?

“I’m not that interested in material things. As long as I find a good bed that I can sleep in, that’s enough.” - Nicolas Berggruem, the homeless billionaire.

Monday, August 8, 2016

ADEBOYE WAS WRONG, ADVICE VERY ARCHAIC AND CHAUVINISTIC.

Icheoku did a speed-read of the Bible, scanned through multiple religious documents to see if there is any biblical authority for the recent injunction by Redeemed Christian Church of God's Enoch Adeboye that every man should marry only a wife who is a good cook. This was in case the specific relevant verse empowering this decree was inadvertently missed during a previous academic transverse from Genesis to Revelation. But to our relief, the bible remains the same today as it was yesterday and will not change tomorrow. 

So without a heavenly support for his recent admonition, upon what authority did he make his latest pronouncement that men should marry only good cooks? In his own words, Pastor Enoch Adeboye said "Don't marry a woman who can't cook, a girl who cannot cook will not be a good wife." Icheoku says if fallacy ever has a definition, this certainly is it. Since when has good cooking become a paradigm and yardstick for determining a good wife; as to make it a prerequisite qualification and precondition to marrying somebody? Icheoku says nothing can be further from the truth than this very primitive perspective on what a good wife is. What a subjugation of the female gendered specie, now summarily consigned to the kitchen by a man still stuck in the past. 

Peradventure, Enoch Adeboye with this type of mindset, should not be leading any people in this modern day and age, not at all. Icheoku says to condemn potential spouses and women in general to such a single issue qualification is to say the least very pedestrian. How about other qualities including among overachieving women who have excelled in several other departments but were short in the kitchen department? Why do people go to culinary schools to train to be chefs and cooks except to provide for sometimes certain lack. 

Anyway, back to the Bible and its provisions on marriage and their irreconcilability with Adeboye's instruction, starting with the first known marriage ever recorded in the bible, the Adam and Eve story at Garden of Eden. 

In Genesis 2:18 God said while getting Adam a wife, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” From the provision, it is obvious that God created Eve to primarily provide companionship for Adam, not necessarily to be a good cook for him. In another very significant marital discourse in the bible, when Abraham sought a wife for his son Isaac, he instructed his servants in Genesis 24:4 to "go to my homeland, to my relative and there find a wife for my son Isaac." From this verse, it is instructive that the controlling authority to finding a wife is stork, his breed, his kind. Abraham did not make being a good cook a precondition to finding a wife for Isaac; instead he wanted a wife from an acceptable blood lineage, possibly the good gene pool wife - from one of his own people. 

When in the same Genesis 24:14, the servants of Abraham reached the land to pick a wife for Isaac, their test for a good wife was humility and kindness - 'a woman who will give them water to drink and also water their camel too.'  A woman who has the spirit of caring and giving, love and affection, but once again not one who is a good cook. Then we scramble to the Gospel of John 2:1-11, at the wedding feast in Cana, only to see that Jesus did not offer any opinion about finding a wife. He merely, at the instigation of his mother Mary, blessed the wedding couple with choice wine - a gift of some sort. Jesus could but choose not to butt in other people's private matter with regards to marriage or who they marry including the reason for marrying them. Jesus simply did not meddle into a couples purely personal affair. 

Yet this Adeboye professes Jesus Christ, but would not do as Jesus Christ did? Jesus had every opportunity to wade into marriage but chose not to and even in the affairs of the stomach, admonished in Matthew 4:4 that "man does not live on bread alone" when tempted by the Satan to turn stones into bread. So why does food occupy such a very high pedestal in the eyes of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, one would ask? Why of all the reasons and factors a man decides to marry a woman, it is food that constitutes highest priority for Enoch Adeboye? If he likes food so much, does that give him the impetus to use his one cap fits all measure to now condemn every woman to the kitchen, thinking that every man cares so much about food?

Icheoku says of all the more important things Adeboye should be counseling young intending suitors on, including finding a wife who is peaceful and not quarrelsome and troublesome, he is more interested in stomach infrastructure? A man really interested in making men happy should have referenced Proverbs 21:19 wherein it was said that "it is better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious and an angry woman." So why is Pastor Adeboye not preaching against marrying an angry woman whether or not she is the best good cook ever to walk this earth or is he saying by necessarily implication that her good cooking should override her anger problem? 

Why didn't Pastor Adeboye advise men to take their request on finding a wife to God in prayers as Philippians 4:6 teaches 'not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayers and petition and thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 2 Corinthians 6:14 goes further to  admonish 'not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers; yet Pastor Adeboye is just talking about food?  Icheoku says how about a woman who does not know how to cook but fears the Lord as Proverbs 31:30 instructs that 'favor is deceitful and beauty is vain but such a woman should be praised? How about a virtuous woman as Proverbs 31:10 spoke of or is Pastor Adeboye preaching that a hotelier or a restaurateur and a drunkard should be preferred over such a noble woman in choosing a wife?  

Icheoku says if Pastor Adeboye was right, Proverb 18:22 which states that 'he who finds a good wife obtained favor from the Lord' would have read 'he who finds a wife who is a good cook' instead? So query, upon which authority does Adeboye actually preach or give this his injunction, because certainly it is not in the bible. Proverbs 19:14 speaks of 'a prudent wife coming from God' but never a good cook wife. What is wrong in a good wife later going to culinary school to brush up on her cooking 101 of she must; except that according to Adeboye no one should have married her in the first place because she is not primarily a good cook. Colossians 3:18 and Ephesians 5:22 speak of wives submit to their husband and you wonder if according to Pastor Adeboye, being a good cook now overrides this biblical  instruction for obedience? Icheoku says how about a wife being obedient as Sara obeyed Abraham calling him Lord in 1 Peter 3:6?

Icheoku hopes that Pastor Adeboye has not put wedges into many impending marriages nor has he inadvertently messed up some prospective marriage proposals by what he said, because Mark 10:9 says 'not to put asunder what God has joined together;' or better still planning to put together. There are so many more cogent and salient reasons why a man and woman come together to be joined as husband and wife; and it includes companionship, comfort, children and so many other much lovelier things, but definitely not that the woman is a good cook or would be a good cook; neither for the man to spend his time eating well cooked food. 

Cooking well or not cooking well is relative; and it is a solvable problem which hiring a cook or chef could so easily take care of if it gets to that. Also cooking is not genitalia dependent as men can also cook and cook very well too.  Most times an illustrious loving wife, who feels that her cooking is below par, will not hesitate to take some cooking lessons from her mother, sisters, friends and other relatives to brush up her cooking. But for Adeboye to so lackadaisically condemn the women folk, especially those of them he adjudged not to be good cooks, to a life without  husbands for not being wifey materialist because they cannot cook well despite other beautiful qualities they have, is condemnable and should be condemned. 

A man of God should not be preaching divisiveness but should be building up relationships; and where certain noticed deficiencies exist, find solutions to fix them; but never to so cavalierly wave off a so many women as not good to be married simply because they do not cook well. The fact that some of these women may not have been exposed to cooking in their growing up days did not even touch the heart and tongue of Adeboye; neither did he qualify his decree with a proviso that such a woman willing to learn to cook well should be given a much deserved break. But his was a total blanket condemnation. Icheoku says it is not right and the man of "God" did not seek God's face before uttering his nonsensical. May God forgive Adeboye for such mass destruction of women, whose chances of being married he jeopardized with what he said.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

CROOKED HILLARY CLINTON, UNREASONABLE - FBI

CROOKED HILLARY CLINTON, UNREASONABLE - FBI

Icheoku says thinking American people, cannot, faced with a mountain of evidence of her irascibility and irrationality and a very poor sense of judgment, as now further affirmed by the FBI, still hire this old cuckoo grandma for the presidency of this country. Go Trump, Vote Trump and help make America great again.

Saturday, August 6, 2016

OBAMA IS DOWN WITH TRUMP.

OBAMA IS DOWN WITH TRUMP.

“Mr. Trump is providing something new and something fresh. I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart. Make America Great Again is a great slogan.' - Malik Obama, President Barack Obama's half brother who is all in for Donald Trump. His motivation, his brother failed so many expectations and Donald Trump will help make America great again. Icheoku says what a testimonial.

Friday, August 5, 2016

CROOKED HILLARY, A DIRTY ROTTEN LIAR.

CROOKED HILLARY, A DIRTY ROTTEN LIAR. 

Icheoku says Americans's intelligence has never been so insulted as by this lying, untrustworthy, pay per play politician. Away with Hillary Clinton, she belongs to prison not the White House. Go Trump; Vote Trump and help make America great, Remember that Trump will give ISIS hell.

CROOKED HILLARY DISQUALIFIED HERSELF - CHRIS CHRISTIE

CROOKED HILLARY DISQUALIFIED HERSELF 

"We didn't disqualify Hillary Clinton to be President of the United States the facts of her life and career disqualifies her" - Governor Chris Christie.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

HILLARY CLINTON ACCEPTS NOMINATION, CONGRATULATIONS

HILLARY CLINTON ACCEPTS NOMINATION, CONGRATULATIONS. 

Icheoku says now let the battle for the hearts and minds of American people as to who secures the White House begin.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

TRUMP'S TRAIN TO THE WHITE HOUSE, NEEDS AN URGENT TUNE UP.

Icheoku says something is surely slowing down Donald Trump's hitherto speeding train to the White House and it is definitely not Hillary Clinton. She is not running any faster just that Donald Trump is rather having glitches and this is not good for the holder of the momentum's bragging rights. Icheoku says rather than attribute any latest development on the resurgence of candidate Hillary Clinton, it is rather the Trump's  campaign that has come under some virus attacks. The quicker and earlier they fix this bug, the better for the campaign's overall performance and the expected win in November. Luckily there is a patch for it and Donald Trump can download it today and get the train roaring again. Icheoku classifies the bugs into three, being the identified issues bogging the campaign thus far and preventing it from making an unstoppable acceleration to the White House.

First, the Trump's campaign is too personalized. Icheoku bemoans that three months since securing the Republican Party's nomination and now following the conclusion of the party's convention, formally ratifying him as the party's presidential nominee, Donald Trump has not, to all intent and purpose, pivoted to a more formal national presidential campaign; with broader coalition geared towards mounting a blistering national campaign that will realize his White House dream. The campaign so far is still being run as if it is part of the Trump Organization and this non broader inclusiveness is alienating many American potential voters. Simply put, there is too much Trump in the Donald Trump's presidential campaign. 

The American presidency does not belong to any one  particular family, the reason American people rejected Jeb Bush and are also signaling their disaffection to Hillary Clinton, just not another Clinton in the White House. America is not a monarchy not a hereditary government by family members only; it is still a democracy and it needs to revolve and be generally very inclusive. In as much as it is good that the Trump's children are helping their dad's effort, but they should not be seen as occupying pivotal positions and having so much influence and say in the campaign. This matter came to the limelight with the Corey Lewandowski firing, when Donald Trump Junior told Americans that he was instrumental to letting Lewandowski go. This left many Americans wondering how much influence the children would wield in their father's presidency and whether American presidency will become absolutely a family affairs of the Trumps. 

A more discreet family would have stayed somewhat behind the scene but not to so obtrusively become the front and center of the campaign. This makes it impossible for anyone to give the campaign his or her honest best opinion, afraid of running afoul of the Trump's children, many of who have so much ego.  It therefore becomes a walking of the proverbial very fine line, not giving their full opinions and simply tagging along in a very measured and censored manner. What if there are certain things or opinion one of the children will not like and others like? If it is brought to their father and he decides to accept it and the child who did not get his or her way decides to take it out on the person whose idea it was; where lies the safety net in such a situation? 

The manner in which Lewandowski's firing took place was not good for politics as it throws Donald Ttump in a bad light; especially after Lewandowski admitted that he did not see it coming. It tells a lot about the personality of Donald Trump, suggesting that he will summarily and on the spur of the moment, act on certain things because his children persuaded him. If he could let go a man who worked so tirelessly for his primaries campaign because his children made him do it; and whom he once recalled, following an earlier ouster, what will he not do just to please his children, the argument would be? 

So one wonders, if Donald Trump could go against his manager Paul Manafort by recalling a man he had earlier fired, but could not go against his children when they insisted that he fire the same man, on whose mercy shall the American people be during his presidency? Would his children be the defacto presidents of America, each calling the shots as they see fit and a President Donald Trump being unable to go against them or say no to them? Icheoku says a Donald Trump's campaign needing to regain its momentum, pick up speed and smother Hillary Clinton, must relegate his children to the background and let Americans run their American presidential campaign with Donald Trump as their candidate. Their primary role of introducing their father to the American people is over and they did a very good job at Cleveland. Now is time for them to recede behind the curtain and stay there until November and let masters of the game assume their well earned front seats.

Icheoku warns that failure to do this and in a timely fashion too, will continue to make some people very reluctant to wholeheartedly embrace the campaign and work their hearts out for victory in November. America's presidency is not a family business neither is presidential elections left in the hands of family members and it will not start with the Trumps. Whatever additional role they want to play, they should wait until after the election is won and then they can move into the White House and help their father govern and in whatever role they are considered suitable. They can wield whatever power and influence they want in their father's presidency; but first the presidency has to be won to secure the grounds on which the authority will be exercised. 

Secondly, the campaign has not fully unified a somewhat still divided Republican Party house. Icheoku says it is rather very unfortunate that a man reputed for being the master of negotiation and deal making, has not successfully closed the deal with the Republican Party establishment, especially  his fellow contenders in the last Republican presidential primaries. It is without doubt that the Republican Party is still in divided and need not be so going into the general election because a house divided is bound to fall. Hillary Clinton's campaign is cashing in on this disunity and they are praying that the Republican Party never unites behind Donald Trump going into the fall campaign and election. 

Icheoku says a united Republican Party which is standing firmly behind Donald Trump is the booster Donald Trump needs to easily win the coming presidential election. So far, Donald Trump is not performing badly, going it practically all alone against  the Clinton's machined Democratic Party, so imagine what is possible with a totally fired up and ready to go Republican Party fully lined up behind him. He is very close in the polls and a little push by the Republican Party will enable him open a wide lead against Hillary Clinton.  Donald Trump needs to get the Republican Party fully on board and now backing him as they really mean it. There is no do-overs or next time in presidential politics, so it should be now or never and whatever egos he has should be suspended until the elections are won.

As a man who wrote the Art of the Deal, and whom deal making should not be a problem with, Donald Trump should start making offers they cannot refuse to all his fellow contestants in the last election primaries to win them on board the Trump train. He should offer and give them whatever it is they want, including rain checks, pay and purchase their support pronto if that is what it will take to win the election. If it is appointments that they want or they need help to defray cost of their primary campaign, he should make that deal and get their support and now. As for the Republican National Committee, whatever they say, Trump should just say yes and sign them up. Later, a variation can always be renegotiated, moreso from inside the White House sitting inside the Oval office with the power of the presidency on his side. 

Icheoku says at this stage it should be an all systems go affair, with every player on board and firing on all cylinders. Like a good general who leads his battalion into war, all the lieutenants and captains needed to prosecute a successful war should be wholly mobilized and ready to do their part to win the war. Jeb Bush has his followers, ditto does Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich etc and that Ohio usually swings the election is a fact of consequence too. The time of ego tripping should be over now for Donald Trump as politicians do not necessarily have uncheckable ego. He can always resurrect it after the election is won but must now do whatever the butt leaking that is required to line up the ducks. 

A united Republican Party would have been responding more forcefully to attacks from the Clinton side. Donald Trump campaign needs additional messengers to spout out the message of 'make America great again' campaign or movement. Donald Trump cannot do it all alone and by himself and needs every available assistance he could muster  and urgently too. 

Thirdly, the campaign must fight off the stigma of being dangerous. Icheoku says the Hillary campaign is trying to paint, pin on and pigeonhole Donald Trump as being too dangerous for America and the world as president. If they successfully execute this narrative, Donald Trump might as well bid his presidential ambition farewell as no American wants to elect a dangerous man to their White House, the nuclear codes considered. When people are scared, they run for safety and it does not matter who owns the safe house, they will albeit grudgingly take shelter therein. Donald Trump's campaign must fight off this threatening stigma with every fiber in its being and avoid being dead on arrival. The Clintons cannot battle on policy issues and state of the union; so they are seriously trying to change the subject of the campaign and make it a personality issue.

To successful do this, Donald Tump must cease henceforth his battle of 'war of words' of 'you said this and you said that', with Hillary Clinton or any of her surrogates and concentrate on issues affecting American people and not all these personal tits for tats. This distraction is the Democrats strongest suit as they have a very damaged and flawed candidate in Hillary Clinton and will try to bait and hook Donald Trump and drag him into the sewer of needless and avoidable blabbing of frivolities. Donald must pivot the campaign strictly to the real issues concerning economy, national security. and ISIS. Icheoku says these are the tripod on which victory rests and Donald Trump must seize the gifts with both hands and not allow Hillary Clinton to throw a curve ball of nonsensical at him and veer him off focus. 

Fortunately he has commanding presence on the three issues, the reason the Clinton's campaign does not want to go there with him; instead they are dragging him away from his strongest base through needless distractions. It is the economy, stupid; and American people feels it and agrees that the economy is not what the government portrays it to be and wants a c-change. Two, is the national security question and who will best protect American people from Islamists threats which have breached the boarders and are here now inside the homeland. Donald Trump shows strength on this issue too. Last is what to do with ISIS and other international threats including Islamist terrorists running amok and looking for people to shoot and behead. Donald Trump has talked tough on building the wall and giving ISIS hell and American people are with him on both issues. Donald Trump has a winning pathway to the White House but he needs to mount a winning operation to do it and he must do it now. 

Icheoku says this election is for Donald Trump to lose; especially when Americans are tired of Obama and will not want his third term as represented by Hillary Clinton. Further,  Donald Trump should explore other media short of FOX as those FOX voters are already in the bag. It is time to reach out and poach voters from other pools, including independents and Sanders dejected voters, as well as blue dog democrats. However Donald Trump must not try to become a liberal democrat trying to unnecessarily pander to these voters because they already have a wild eyed liberal candidate in Hillary Clinton and the nation wants something different and someone not a Hillary Clinton. American people want an option and a total pivot from what they currently have and to win, Donald Trump must convince them he is THE ONE. So Donald lets win this election, do the needful and rejig your campaign and refocus it. Go Tump; Vote Trump and together help make America great again. 

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

KHAN FAMILY CONTROVERSY, AN AVOIDABLE DISTRACTION.

Icheoku says regrettably Captain Humayun Sadiq Muazzam Khan's heroic exploits and sacrifices was brought to the nation's as well as the world's attention by a needless but otherwise avoidable feud. A matter generated in part by the father of the fallen hero, Mr Khizr Khan, who inadvertently or otherwise purposefully interjected himself into the presidential election of the United States of America. Fronting for Hillary Clinton, he frontally inserted himself and as a voice of Crooked Hillary Clinton, and without provocation by the other side, attacked Donald Trump. 

As is usually the case with the masses, they are now only seeing what Donald Trump did in response, as the only wrong here, but without adverting their minds to what triggered his response. They are glossing over the fact that Mr Khizr Khan stoked the fire by finding Donald trump's trouble. Icheoku says had Mr Khizr Khan minded his own business and not dragged Donald Trump into the matter, Donald Trump would have similarly minded his own business and never butt in. But no, as a surrogate of Hillary Clinton or someone paid for the job or someone who had an objective, he brazenly faced the nation and the world to insert himself and family into an already frenzy United States of American election, calling out Donald Trump and making unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations.

Icheoku makes bold to say that Mr Khizr Khan is not the only Muslim or Pakistani American to have ever lost someone in a war, fighting for the United States of America. So many other Muslims have died wearing the uniform, begging the question, what makes his own loss so peculiar that he has to take the rostrum to attack a presidential candidate in this manner? It is either he was paid for the hatchet job or he is a Hillary Clinton's voter who wanted but failed to topple the Donald. What did he want to achieve by attacking Donald Trump for his views on how to solve the existing militant Muslim and Islamist terrorism, currently scorching the world and which is gradually creeping into America? So his son died and that now makes it okay for every muslims including the bad ones to be forgiven of their sins? Like Jesus, did his son's blood now purchase a pass for every person who is a muslim, including those who beheaded a 85 year priest inside his church while celebrating mass? 

Who is this Khizr Khan to question Donald Trump's patriotism or even ask what sacrifice anyone has made including Donald Trump? Icheoku says before his son died in Afghanistan, hundreds of thousands of Americans died fighting for this land; then followed by another hundreds of thousands who perished fighting for independence and to build America into the one United States of America where Mr Khan migrated to some 36 years years ago? Query, if all these heroes past did not die to secure America's independence and build it into an attractive United States of America, where would Mr Khizr Khan have ran to from his native Pakistan? So who has ever called him out because their own child died fighting for America and now this man reserves the right to mouth off about sacrificing when millions have similarly sacrificed in the past to get us here. 

Icheoku is not unmindful of the great sacrifice his son made, but that does not give Mr Khan the license to attack or question anyone's sacrifice. The only attempt to get into his mind concerning the sacrifice question, shows that Mr Khan had only blood sacrifice in mind when he questioned if Donald Trump ever sacrificed for America. If Mr Khizr Khan must know, sacrifice connotes a whole lot of other things short of laying down one's life; and simply put is the real cost in every opportunity cost situation. So when a builder instead of stashing his money in the bank, creates more jobs to employ his country men and women, that sounds like sacrifice to Icheoku. When a man helps pay peoples bills that is also sacrifice and so many other things which amount to sacrifice short of laying down one's life on a battle field.

Mr Khan's very narrow understanding of that word or its implication should not be tolerated by any American or be allowed to elicit unnecessary sympathy to the extent of Americans being intimidated into allowing militant muslims here on that account. Every country has a division of labor and everyone cannot become a soldier in order to contribute their quota towards making a great country out of America. Icheoku agrees that his son Humayun is a hero but says that there are hundreds of thousands of other heroes, born to husbands and wives, man and woman, and therefore Mr Khan should not hold anyone hostage because his son was also so immortalized. 

Finally if Mr Khan is so passionate about constitution and building a viable democracy, why don't he take that back to his native country of Pakistan, which could definitely use more of that his gospel than an already functioning and viable America? May be he should return to Lahore or Punjab and help Pakistanis build a country they could proudly own and call their own; and where women are not stoned to death in honor killing and where women could actually live and thrive in peace and without fear of offending ancient traditions that result in their automatic death by stoning. 

Anyway, hope the issue is now resolved and that the candidates can be allowed to go on with their campaign without people like Mr Khizr Khan meddling and putting himself in the middle of their effort to find lasting solutions to America's problems. Icheoku does not think that the fallen Captain Humayun Sadiq Muazzam Khan would like to be remembered this way; and hopefully the Khans, including Mrs Ghazala Khan, can move on with their lives and let politicians be politicians. Icheoku queries what did Mr Khan actually expect a disparaged presidential candidate Donald John Trump to do regarding an unprovoked attack on his person and patriotism to country; including lack of ever sacrificing for the country accusation? Did he expect DT not to respond, especially with millions of his followers expecting a commensurate response in kind? What a phony.

Monday, August 1, 2016

LETTER TO MR KHIZR KHAN - RAY STARMANN

Dear Mr. Khan,
I, like millions of Americans saw your speech at the DNC on Thursday night.
I wish to offer my sympathy for the death of your son, Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in action in Iraq.
As a former US Army officer, and a veteran of the Gulf War, I can certainly understand the pain and anguish that you and your wife endure every day.
Your son died saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. As Jesus told his disciples, according to the Gospel of JohnGreater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 
Captain Khan is a hero. I am sure the soldiers he served with regard him as one. I know you and your wife do. Rest assured that millions of veterans regard your son as a hero as well.
To paraphrase from the Book of Ecclesiasticus, your son’s name liveth for evermore.
Your son made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, a country that was new to you and your family and one which you openly embraced and certainly love.
When you and your family arrived to America from Pakistan, you assimilated into our country. You adopted American ways, learned our history and apparently you even acquired a pocket Constitution along the way. Good for you sir.
But, there are many Muslims in America who not only have no desire to assimilate, but wish to live under Sharia Law.
That is unacceptable to Americans. There is only one law of the land. That is the U.S. Constitution.
As you well know, Mr. Khan, we live in violent times, dangerous times. Muslim madmen from ISIS and other radical Jihadi groups are on a murder and terror spree across the globe.
Your religion of peace, Islam, is anything but that in 2016. That is a fact that is confirmed every time a Muslim shoots, bombs, beheads and tortures innocent men, women and children. This does not mean that every Muslim is a terrorist, but most terrorists, sir, are indeed Muslims.
A Muslim terrorist attack has become the sign of the times.
Regardless of what the feckless, naïve, leftist ideologue Barack Obama and his dimwitted colleagues John Kerry, Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel state, the United States and the West are at war with Radical Islam. It is the job of the president of the United States to protect his nation from all enemies; foreign and domestic. Unfortunately, Mr. Obama romanticizes Islam and refuses to accept reality, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent people across the world.
Groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda have one goal, the complete destruction of the Judeo-Christian culture, our religions and our way of life.
Many Americans have families that have been here for decades, even centuries. Many families like mine have relatives who fought in the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm. Some families have relatives who fought in the American Revolution.
We don’t plan on letting our country be devoured by Muslim maniacs. We are Americans sir, and not unarmed, socialist European zombies. We will do what is necessary to protect the United States. While many Democrats and liberals see the world through rose colored glasses, conservatives understand that there is good and evil in this world. Evil must be destroyed before it destroys us.
Strong measures, wartime measures, must be taken to protect this country from those that wish to annihilate us and our way of life.
Mr. Trump’s plan to temporarily halt immigration from Muslim countries that are known to either support terrorism or harbor terrorist groups is not only pragmatic, but indeed it is constitutional. It is the constitutional duty of the president of the United States to protect this nation.
There is simply no way to vet hundreds of thousands of Muslim refugees from war zones like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Europe is being destroyed because reckless leaders like Angela Merkel have opened the continent’s doors to a flood of over one million undocumented Muslims arriving with nothing more than a bad attitude and a haversack of Jihad.
Do you think Americans are stupid? While the left lives in a dream world, the right does not. Mr. Trump understands the threat to his nation and the threat, sir, is not from Swedish Lutherans named Anna and Lars. The threat, sir, is from radical Islam.
How in God’s name are U.S. immigration authorities supposed to know the true intentions of a 22-year-old Syrian man? It is impossible. You know it is impossible.
How in God’s name are U.S. immigration authorities supposed to know the true intentions of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees and thousands of other sundry Muslims who wish to arrive on our shores?
It is impossible. You know it is impossible.
Whether you, your wife, the Muslim world and millions of Democrats are offended by Mr. Trump’s realistic view of the world is irrelevant.
Whether you, your wife and son would have been prohibited from emigrating from Pakistan to America under Mr. Trump’s wartime plan is irrelevant. The security of this great land supersedes your desires and the desires of others who wish to come here now. The United States of America has no obligation to open its doors in order to placate foreigners and liberals in our government.
To adopt any other course but Mr. Trump’s would be a cause for further endangering the lives of Americans every day. That, sir, is unacceptable.
You attacked Mr. Trump in front of a worldwide audience, yet you can’t understand the fact that he defends himself against attacks from you, Hillary Clinton and the left. What else is one to do sir?
We must live in a world of reality, not a world of denial, delusion and fantasy the Democrats inhabit every waking day of their lives.
Radical Islam is the enemy of everyone on this planet who believes in freedom and justice. Until it is destroyed, this nation must protect itself from enemies both foreign and domestic.
Sincerely,
Ray Starmann

Sunday, July 31, 2016

TRUMP V. CLINTON BATTLE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, OFFICIALLY BEGINS.

Icheoku says it will be bloody and it will be groundhog dirty and Americans will be thrilled. With the DNC convention now concluded, and a presidential candidate nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton now officially the challenger of Donald John Trump, who formally secured his own party's nomination last week in Cleveland, the battle royal has been fixed and it is down and dirty from now till November 8 when Americans will decide who convinced them most. Icheoku cannot wait as the smackdown begins and lets see how much of the Donald, "The Girl" can absorb and whether she can punch back as given, whether she is tough enough. 

Hillary Clinton spoke of how her mother taught her to be brave, bold and brash; and to never backdown but to always rough and tumble with the boys.  That what boys can do, girls can even do better; and since boys don't cry it means girls shouldn't either. The question however is whether this girl can survive this particular boy, what went down in the Republican primaries considered. Can Hillary Clinton walk where JEB and fifteen others trembled; can Hillary take what the Donald will and is prepared to throw her way? Can Hillary Clinton stand where others crumbled? Can Hillary Clinton face the barrage of punches and counter-punches that the Donald will definitely offload on her? 

These and many more will actually tell Americans if indeed the girl is as tough as she mouths off and only if she survives and is still standing up will Icheoku know the stuff Hillary Clinton is indeed really made of, whether TEFLON or Leather or khaki or potato chips. With that being said, Icheoku says congratulations Donald John Trump and Hillary Rodham Clinton for respectively securing your party's nomination as presidential candidate in this election. American people look forward to listening to your campaign promises and policy direction and on November 8, will decide who made them a believer with their votes. Now, let the campaign begin and begin with all feistiness as Icheoku believes that Donald John Trump will emerge victorious and will be elected and sworn in as the 45th president of the United States of America. Good luck Trump and all the best Clinton.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

NIGERIANS EXECUTED IN INDONESIA, ZERO TOLERANCE ON DRUGS POLICY.

Icheoku says provided the punishment is applied evenly across the board, among all those that breaks any local law against any specifically named crimes or acts, and provided too the laws are publicly known and precedes the commission of the alleged offense and due process of fair trial led to a conviction, Icheoku has no qualms in enforcing the law,  including as in this case through levying of death. 

Many societies pass laws that will help it solve certain peculiar problems facing them or which is militating against their society wholesomeness. There is no one cap fits all law and enforcement which is universally suitable for every society; hence pressuring any society to stop certain punishments or law enforcement is to say the least too patronizing. The better approach would be to encourage every society to be open about what they frown at, as well as the prescribed punishment for breaking them and to properly put the information to the public so that any would be risk taker who still wants to proceed with committing the crime thereafter would not lament that he or she did not know or was not aware of it. 

Icheoku is particularly against drugs use or their availability and by extension frowns at people who engage in it in whatever form, whether as couriers or manufacturers or street level retailing hustlers. The one thing that bind all these people is greed and the urge to make quick fast money without the heavy lifting usually associated with earning a buck. They know the harm they are causing to any society they are plying their trade in and are fully aware of the high risk they are taking to make such high returns. They should not seek sympathy of either the society or the law enforcement since they should have advised themselves properly before embarking on their illicit death trade. So many societies are being destroyed by drug use and criminals who facilitate this should be treated as enemies of the state and dealt with in similar fashion. 

To this therefore, Icheoku agrees with Indonesia Deputy Attorney General Noor Rachmad that "executions of convicted drug dealers is not done just to take lives but to stop their evil intentions and the evil act of drug trafficking." May the souls of those Nigerian three executed rest in peace and hopefully they forgave themselves before those volleys of hot leads pierced their bodies. 

Icheoku also hopes they were guilty of the offense and not just innocent victims who were railroaded and killed for nothing. Icheoku once again uses this opportunity to plead to Nigerians and every one engaging in fast money pursuit including drug crimes to please be advised that greed is not a good companion of anyone who wants to live a meaningful, well fulfilled life. Whatever money one made or which one wants to make does not necessarily make the person a better person. Rather such money will eventually lead one to very undeserving bottom pits of hell of misery. Therefore please curb your enthusiasm and crave for quick riches and live within your means as no one is overtly impressed by your excessive exhibitionism. 

Friday, July 29, 2016

DNC PHILADELPHIA 2016 DAY 4, HILLARY CLINTON "THE GIRL" ACCEPTS NOMINATION.

Icheoku says the Democratic Party Convention in Philadelphia has come to a close with Hillary Rodham Clinton, formally accepting her party's nomination as candidate to run for the presidency of the United States of America. With "I Hillary Clinton do accept my party's nomination as presidential candidate nominee", Hillary Clinton became the first woman to ever win a major political party's presidential nomination since America came into being. 

A historical first, admitted Icheoku would rather another more likable and trustworthy woman of America had the privilege and honor of setting the record; and not the one who has rightly earned her sobriquet Crooked Hillary. 

Regardless, her performance delivering her acceptance speech was relatively an improvement from her usually, notoriously boring speeches, marked by high pitched shrieking, hiccups and spasm of dry coughs. Her tone, posture, body language and speak mannerism was acceptable. It however did not match the very stellar speech of First Lady Michelle Obama, who as far as Icheoku is concerned, won the first place speaker among all who  spoke at Philadelphia. Based on her level, the speech was as good as it got and Icheoku is satisfied. Icheoku says congratulations to Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party's presidential nominee and wishes her well going forward. 

Now, let the final stretch of dueling for the White House begin and begin in all seriousness. Icheoku supports Donald Trump, convinced on his can do attitude, his winning attitude and the fact that he is an apparent outsider, with capacity and ability to affect much needed change in Washington and by extension the world. His shortcomings notwithstanding,  he will definitely brush up as he walks the long tedious walk to the presidency. As rightly pointed out by President Obama, no one actually knows anything about being president until he or she becomes president; sitting in the Oval Office and challenged with rapid fire decisions. Icheoku strongly believes that Donald John Trump, a CEO,  will learn and learn very fast and will be the best president anyone can be and will rebuild America and make America great again. Overall, the DNC convention was a success and well put together, the razzmatazz considered.  

DEMOCRATS HONOR THEIR CANDIDATE IN PHILADELPHIA


Thursday, July 28, 2016

DNC PHILADELPHIA 2016 DAY 3, TIM KAINE FAILED TO IMPRESS.

Icheoku says again a battery of political veterans and tacticians tried but failed to sell a repackaged old sauce which tastes stale. Crooked Hillary Clinton was not better and more accepted today by the American people than yesterday; as the question of her being trustworthy was again not successfully made nor established by the team lined up to polish her otherwise very unappealing soiled character. 

From her chosen vice presidential running mate, the grumpy looking Tim Kaine who did not dress appropriately for the event and also failed to capture American people with any special zinger or memorable one liner down the list. His hair and mannerism also suggests a man not ready nor meant for primetime national politics and might as well just keep his day job, representing his Southern Virginia in the Senate. He is unappealing, not electrifying and lacks needed charisma that attract Americans to their leaders. He is not tall enough nor charming nor captivating nor inviting and his dentition is somewhat suspect. He also lacks oratorial prowess. He can trust Hillary all he wants but American people reject that narrative because the Hillary they know and who has repeatedly shown that she cannot be trusted is the same Hillary that Tim Kaine tried but in vain to resell as new product. 

Other speakers including President Barack Obama, who tried but did not match his wife's performance on Monday, also could not sell Hillary Clinton character for truth and trustworthiness to the American people. As far as American people are concerned, the difference between Obama and Clinton is that between six and a half dozen and a vote for Hillary will only spell a third term for Obama. The question therefore remains which American wants to continue the current road being traveled since the last seven plus years? This question was however resolutely answered in a poll which found 73% Americans do not like the trajectory of the country and will like to see a change in direction. 

But unfortunately, either due to naiveté or bullish boldness, the president appears to underestimate a man whose destiny it is to lead America at this time of great discomfiture and friction. A man who has stoked a core of American people with his exactitude of intentions and the direction to which he wants to take the country. Like Obama underestimated ISIS as a JBV team leading to today's ISIS that is cutting priests head inside a church and spreading their terror like wild fire, the president is once again setting himself up for a shocker when on November 9, Donald John Trump will be president-elect of the United States of America. 

Donald Trump is a winner and his fellow Republican contenders similarly underestimated him only for them to be gnashing their teeth in jealousy. To their chagrin, he accelerated to the finish line in the primaries and is today the Republican Party presidential nominee. It will happen again and it is going to happen come November. 

The voting blocs Democrats are banking on to pull the election off has been mortally wounded and they will not forget nor forgive. Bernie Sanders camp were not given the vice presidential slot, so nothing will excite them to flock to the polls. Spanish bloc were also slighted by choosing a white man who speaks Spanish as vice presidential candidate, instead of a full blooded Spanish and as if that is good enough for them. Finally black voting bloc has no dog in the fight and feels so betrayed that one of them was rejected for the ticket. So the motivation is not there for blacks to mobilize for the election. As far as they are concerned, white people have taken their power back, so let white people vote as they deem fit. 

Unlike the two terms of Barack Obama when black people  felt they had something at stake, the chance of electing a black man to the presidency; and mobilized to push him into the White House, Crooked Hillary will not get any such love. Moreso her disparaging remarks of "Super Predators' as well as her husband's skewed Crime Bill is still very raw among African American communities throughout the country, whose families have been decimated by the signed crime law. That will leave Hillary Clinton struggling to secure some white peoples sympathy vote, most of who have already sworn NEVER HILLARY with Donald Trump, whose appeal is nearing feverish. 

Anyway, come November 8, Donald John Trump will be elected president of the United States of America, leaving Crooked Hillary holding the plate. Like the Biblical Jewish Moses, she would have come so very close to the promised land, but again was denied entry visa. Hillary Clinton is a damaged and mortally flawed candidate for the presidency and no amount of rehabilitation will change the opinion of the American people of a woman they have seen and watched for nearly forty years. Go Trump; Vote Trump/Pence and help America pivot to something new and more inspirational. Make America great again is a task for every American; so lets help the Donald, a man with the midas touch,  do what he does best and knows how to do, make America great again.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

DNC PHILADELPHIA 2016 DAY 2, BILL CLINTON TRIED TO REHABILITATE HILLARY?

Icheoku says the nation as well as the tuned in world watched as former President Bill Clinton tried to vouch for his wife Hillary, as to her character for trustworthiness as well as fortitude. But Icheoku as well as millions of other none Clinton's cooled drinkers, surmised that Bill tried but failed to reinvent the Hillary which everyone knows as being crooked and untrustworthy. Bill Clinton would rather Americans had just woken up to a different Hillary, rather than the one they know. The one who has been a permanent fixture of American politics for nearly forty years now; and whose character is already known to millions of Americans and their verdict is not flattering to say the least. 

The former president went to a great length and in his usual characteristics, labored to sell ice to Eskimos, telling American people that the Hillary they know is different from the Hillary running for president. In his very own words, the president made allusion to 'Hillary the real' and 'Hillary the caricature', which according to him was the picture of the Hillary painted at Cleveland's Republican National Convention. Icheoku in rebut, says if any artist ever painted Hillary the caricature, it is the former president who tried to input character of trustworthiness to his wife who possesses none. A former president who had selective amnesia in painting only the rosy picture of his wife Hillary, while cleverly deleting, in their usual Clintons pattern, those he considered unflattery. 

But Icheoku and millions of Americans are not buying it, did not buy it and will not buy it. Rather, come November 8, Americans will go to the polls to say no to a recycled candidate; no to an old wine poured in a new wineskin; no to an establishment candidate paid for by entrenched special interests and no to politics as usual of all motion and no movement. Americans would rather question why should they trust their fate and country to a candidate who cannot trust American people enough with full disclosure. Americans would say no to a candidate who would give speeches but would rather American people not see those speeches to determine whose side she was actually on - whether special interest Wall Street or the American people? American people would rather not hire a candidate for president who rerouted official emails to a private servers holed up down in her basement? 

American people would rather not hire someone who failed Americans in Benghazi because if she could not answer the red phone then, there is no guarantee she will be able to answer it now? American people, particularly black males of America, will reject a candidate who branded them Super Predators and championed the Crime Bills which decimated their families and communities?' American people would rather not hire for the highest office in the land, a candidate who turns tricks depending on who is paying for her services; a very chameleonic individual. American people would rather not hire a candidate whose reset button with Russia led to the loss of Crimea by Ukraine? American people would rather not hire a candidate for president who merely killed an already repented Moummer Gaddafi just to prove a point that she came, she saw and he died. American people would rather not hire a candidate for president whose judgment is very bad and suspect at best. 

Some of these lingering doubts in the minds of the American people, plus more, are what Icheoku had expected to hear Bill Clinton, the Obama explainer in chief, try to explain concerning his wife; but he neither touched them and merely skirted through them. Bill Clinton cherry-picked those issues that will glamorize Hillary's records and that was the gist of Bill Clinton's character witness speech to the Democratic National Convention today in Philadelphia. The former president likely borrowed a page from the First Lady Michelle Obama who yesterday during her own flowery address, told of how her two daughters can joyfully play in the White House lawn; but meticulously avoided mentioning that thousands of less fortunate black Chicago kids cannot similarly, safely play in front of their own yards and lawns or parks without fear of being killed in drive by shootings? 

A more convincing character witness would have gone there, to the prohibited dark areas; and bravely taken on those thorny issues which millions of Americans are desiring well deserved answers to. Bill Clinton would have told of Hillary's cool temperament by telling Americans what happened behind closed doors when he went home, when cameras and lights were turned off, after he told the nation "I did not have sex with that woman Ms Lewinsky" which turned out to be untrue? How did an incensed Hillary react, did she blow her gasket or was she as cool as cucumber? Such an insightful personal touchy story would have helped immensely in rehabilitating her impeached character for easily flying off the handle. But he chickened out and did not go there.

A more convincing Bill Clinton would have told of how and when he found out about those private servers hidden in their home basement in Chapaqua; and whether he got mad at such her irrational indiscretion by his wife or supported what she did; and further, whether such act is a permitted practice and whether his wife committed espionage? He would have touched how he saw the decision by FBI director Comy James not to recommend prosecution of his wife Hillary despite the marshaled out evidence of her complicity? A more contrite Bill Clinton would have mentioned his meeting with Attorney General Lauretta Lynch and whether or not the issue of Hillary emailgate came up during their meeting and why he met her anyway? 

An honest character witness in Bill Clinton's shoes would have explained how they left the White House broke and are today among America's richest couple and what role Hillary played in that miracle wroughting wealth enterprise. This would have also helped vouch for her ability and capacity to turn dirt into gold - the proverbial midas touch experience which will help Americans decide whether to trust her with revamping the economy?  

Bill Clinton would have also once and for all laid to rest the questioned paternity of their daughter Chelsea and if true that Hubble fathered her, whether Hillary's infidelity drove him off the reservation, resulting to the litany of women he philandered with? American people want to know more about the lives of this couple, who many think and still believe are living a lie of an arranged marital facade just for political gains. American people wanted a real peep into the lives of Bill and Hillary Clinton, but majority came out from listening to his speech about his wife and himself, not satisfied that the former president indeed leveled with the American people and convinced them to changed their impression about his wife Hillary Clinton. 

Overall, Icheoku's needle was not moved by the performance delivered by the former president. Hillary Clinton is part of the problem this election is trying to solve and being part of the old establishment order, the wind of change blowing in this election ought to and should have advised her to curb her enthusiasm and let Bernie carry the Democratic touch. A Hillary Clinton who wants American people to begin to trust her again, should have since released those Bernie Sanders's demanded Wall Street speeches. A Hillary Clinton who wants American people to give her a second look would have accepted that she willfully rerouted those emails to her private servers, confess as to her reasons for doing so, come clean with American people, apologize and ask for forgiveness. 

But none of this happened; instead Bill Clinton was bullshitting American people rehashing what they already know and some which were apparently manufactured just to hoodwink some brainless folks. Icheoku says no reasonable person likes to be taken for a sucker and when lies are repeatedly told to a people, the teller is doing what he or she is doing believing that those being lied to are imbeciles and incapable of knowing that they are being lied to. As a result therefore, the no love lost existing between Hillary Clinton and the American people still remained and was not reset by Bill Clinton's speech. Bill Clinton did not humanize Hillary and make her more likable and someone to relate to. Therefore no home runs were indeed scored with the speech and it is back to square one, Crooked Hillary.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

DNC PHILADELPHIA 2016 DAY 1, IF ONLY ANOTHER PARTY WAS IN POWER?

Icheoku says listening to all the speakers today in Philadelphia at the Democratic Party National Convention 2016, one would think that Icheoku and/or Trump has been at the helm of affairs these past eight years. No one would have the slightest inkling that the same people asking Americans to once again trust them with their destiny for yet another four more years and/or eight, are the same people running this country and by extension a world on bended knees by reason of Islamist terrorism, this past eight years. 

Icheoku says if they had solutions to the myriad of problems facing the country, was eight years not a long enough period of time for them to have solved these problems? If eight years is not enough for them to figure out what is wrong, would another four or may be even eight more years make any difference? 

Icheoku warns that doing the same thing, the same way, all over and over again and expecting a different result is insanity defined. The time has now come to try a different approach to problem solving in America, devoid of whatever worked or did not work this past eight years. A Trump solution is what is needed now; at least, let Americans take him up on his promise to make America great again and peradventure if he fails, then he can be voted out; otherwise he would be commended and recommended for another four more years and that way America can begin to facedown its problems the only way America knows best - take it to it.

Cory Booker analogized how America is great and does not need being made great again? Icheoku says Senator Cory Booker should take that his message to the City of Newark where he used to be the Mayor and preach same gospel. If after reeling it out to the hundreds of thousands left holding the bag, he receives a standing ovation, then Icheoku would advise Donald Trump to endorse Hillary Clinton and forget about helping make America great again.   But unfortunately, the situation in Newark, New Jersey, as in so many other American cities, particularly inner cities, tell a different story all together from the one painted by Senator Cory Booker. This is in addition to the over 7 million homeless Americans living on the streets, who are excitedly giddy with expectation that at last a Donald Trump is coming to improve their lots. 

Among these gospellers is Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States of America, who of course enjoys the greatness that America has provided her. But how many Americans have over 75 personal assistants ministering to their every second needs? Therefore, any American as fortunately situated as the First Lady, would of course not have any problem in saying that America is great already and ask Donald Trump not to bother with bringing his Midas touch to touch America and make America great again. Icheoku would not delve into the much waters that sources said passed under the bridge before the First Lady agreed to come and give her testimonial for Crooked Hillary. As many Americans know, there has been no love lost between the two women since the very contentious 2008 Democratic primaries between Barack and Hillary. 

Then comes the speech of grandpa Bernie Sanders, whose supporters and Bern Feelers were disappointed that he surrendered to the Clinton's scorch earth machine politics. Icheoku is indeed actually amazed at the strength of Bernie, who despite his very advanced age, was able to get as far as he got, going after the Clinton's entrenched Democratic Party politics. Like Donald Trump appositely articulated, Bernie was burnt out, spent and exhausted and wanted to call it quits in order to enable him get a well deserved rest. Icheoku says it is okay, but if only Bernie got at least one out of the many things his supporters expected they would get, considering what they put s much into the campaign to travel as far as they did. 

Hillary Clinton's Wall Street speeches were not released? Hillary Clinton did not choose one of Bernie's preferred candidate for her vice presidential running mate? Hillary Clinton again slapped Bernie and his supporters on the face by immediately rehiring Debbie Wassermann Shultz, who had earlier been fired for sabotaging Bernie Sanders' campaign run? Icheoku says Bernie was completely shafted and left holding the plate and if he did not get anything now, when?  It is as good as lost and you wonder what became of all the wasted effort, manpower and resources that was thrown his way to compel a change in the manner of doing business inside the Democratic Party. 

Overall, it was an okay opening for the Democrats, admitted the email scandal that forced the exit of the erstwhile chairwoman Debbie Wassermann Shultz almost eclipsed the convention. Icheoku will reserve the judgment for the American people who will in November pass their verdict whether to continue on the current path or pivot an try new things. It does not hurt to try something novel and Donald Trump. a man with can do attitude might be what America needs at this time. Donald Trump has been right severally, calling affairs and issues including the Belgium terror strike, immigration problem and now rigged system which the latest email scandal has proved he was right. But, hey, the people feeling the Bern will speak last and they will not be heard until November, so until then the jury remains out. 

Monday, July 25, 2016

DEMOCRATS EMAIL SCANDAL, SANDERS SHOULD RALPH NADER HILLARY.

Icheoku says in 2000, principled Ralph Nader, tired of the usual fall in line, wait your turn, while the good party people do as they please, decided to take another way out. To show his disaffection and dissatisfaction with the way things are and has been with the Democratic Party, maintaining a hindering status-quo, ran a third party race, which resulted in the loss of that presidential election by Al Gore to George Walker Bush. Icheoku says such a situation has once again arisen and only such vehement rejection of the ingrained undemocratic practices of the Democratic Party, as Ralph Nader did in 2000, will indeed actually establish Bernie Sanders as standing with the people. Anything short of decisively rejecting the now apparent gang up against him, as revealed by the Wikileaks leaked emails, will be interpreted as weakness and lack of core.

Icheoku therefore calls on silver-haired, frail-looking, hippie grandpa Bernie Sanders, to follow in the footsteps of Ralph Nader and run a third party candidate against Hillary Clinton. By doing so, he will fully establish himself as a man of his own, a complete outsider; and thus help reject the coronation of Queen Hillary by the Democratic Party honchos. There are so many reasons why this should be the only honorable way out for Bernie Sanders; as any other thing or action will amount to a wasted time for an unprincipled Bernie, only in it for the ride and not with any conviction whatsoever. If Bernie fails to stand up against the entrenched way of doing things, the good ole way of party owners interests first, then it is finished for real democracy in America's other party, the Democratic Party. How else would anyone explain what was witnessed so far in the Democratic Party; from their skewed primaries to the now leaked emails, which only showed how undemocratic the supposed Democratic Party really is.

First, Bernie Sanders ran a good campaign based primarily on Hillary Clinton's lack of honesty and full disclosure of her sly practices, culminating in the demand that she released her Wall Street speeches. Throughout the primaries and till date, Hillary Clinton has refused to release those speeches, despite repeated requests by Bernie Sanders. Icheoku queries, if those speeches are innocuous and does not contain things inimical to the American people's interest, why has Hillary Clinton not released them? It would appear that Bernie Sanders has moved on from his request that  those speeches be released as he endorsed Hillary Clinton without having those Wall Street speeches released. This left so many people wondering why Bernie did what Bernie did and whether those Wall Street speeches are no longer important for Bernie and once again leaving American people shafted?

Following the loss of that demand by Bernie Sanders for Hillary Clinton to release her Wall Street speeches, Icheoku expected that Bernie Sanders should at least get the privilege of nominating the Vice Presidential candidate for Hillary Clinton. But again, his preferred choice of Pocahontas Elizabeth Warren was snubbed by Hillary Clinton, in preference for someone to the far right of an already too far right Hillary Clinton in the eyes of Bernie supporters; and one wonders what all these are about? It forces one to conclude that Hillary Clinton does not care a hoot about how Bernie feels, what Bernie thinks about, neither does she factor Bernie in reaching her decisions; yet Hillary wants Bernie Bun-feelers to tag along with their support for her candidacy. Icheoku queries, what is in it for Bernie and his people or are they marooned in a loathsome island and have no other choice but to lick their wounds while standing holding the plate? 

Then as if the Bernie Sanders wing of the Democratic Party has not had enough bricks heaped on their heads already, the just Wikileaks leaked emails of the Democratic Party honchos now left them running crazier about how the party helped sabotage and deny their candidate, a presidential nomination which he would have easily won. The email scandal revealed among many other things, how the party officials ganged up against Bernie Sanders because he is Jewish and not a real member of their Democratic Party?  Icheoku wonders how indeed democratic is this Democratic Party when they would not allow the proverbial "outsider" in their party? At least the Republican Party did and today an allowed outsider won their presidential nomination and is their presidential nominee. But unlike the supposed Democratic Party, which for all intent and purpose is democratic in name only which will not tolerate an outsider. Why decree that Bernie Sanders can never be their presidential nominee; yet he has been voting alongside the party for so long. 

The fallout of the emails scandal has lead to the resignation of the Democratic Party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz; a good first step and in the right direction. However, the tone-deaf Hillary Clinton, unable to decipher what the forced resignation actually meant, went ahead to rehire the disgraced Debbie Wasserman Shultz as her campaign's vice chair person. Icheoku queries, which side is this Hilalry Clinton on anyway - the people of America or her few protected special interests? What message was Hillary Clinton telegraphing to Bernie Sanders with her rehire of Debbie Wasserman Shultz? That Sanders can, like Dick Cheney once told Patrick Leheay, to go fuck himself? 

Ichoeku says Bernie Sanders has shown enough tolerance and willingness to work with Hillary Clinton by steps he has taken so far. But unfortunately, Hillary Clinton is now the person not willing to budge, nor want to meet Bernie halfway. She has remained obstinate all the way - not releasing those Wall Street speeches; not choosing Bernie preferred candidate for vice presidential slot and now rehiring a woman that was forced to resign because she stacked the deck against Bernie from ever securing the party's presidential ticket. 

Icheoku says Bernie Sanders's option here is highly limited but he must act like he got it and that Hillary Clinton does not really care about him nor his supporters or what they have to say or how they feel. Bernie must therefore respond in kind to Hillary's nauseating annoyances and go rogue on the party and run a third party candidacy. Bernie cannot continue to be the one taking it through the rear and only a revolt will actually confirm to Americans, especially his teeming supporters, that his resolve was deep and that he was not in it to tag along just to get along. Simply put, any other thing is unacceptable and Bernie Sanders should not lose everything just like that and because Hillary Clinton does not give a damn. Bernie, Icheoku says, show your resolve, Ralp Nader Hillary now.