1st Amendment used incorrectly?

  A woman in Indiana used the "religious freedom" to defend herself  against beating her son. Thirty-year old Kihn Par Thaing, beat her seven year old son, leaving him with 36 "deep purple bruises across his back, arm, and thigh", according to the Washington Post. He had a visible mark on his ear the shape of a hook, which the court said was from being hit with a hanger. Her son's teacher said that when she went to pat him on the back, he flinched, which led to child services being called to the school. Thaing has been charged with "battery on a person less than 14 years old and neglect of a dependent," both being felonies, and is now on probation. In July, when the case was first brought to light, Thaing asked for the case to be dismissed. Her reasoning being that Indiana's religious freedom law protects her from being prosecuted. In the year that the "religious freedom" law has been enacted, this is the first case that has dealt with the safety of a child. Her attorney Greg Bowes, said that "her Christian beliefs were the “guiding values” that influenced her behavior when she punished her son". He also cited verses from Proverbs 23:13-14:"Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol". He also argued that the Indiana law says that parents can use "reasonable punishment necessary for their children's 'proper control, training, and education'". The prosecutor said that there was no way of determining what's reasonable punishment and what's not. This raises many questions, one of mine being, "when is it ok for the government to step into the religious beliefs of US citizens?". Because the first admendment states that US citizens have the freedom to practice their religion, and that's all Thaing was doing. Given that it wasn't an ideal way of practicing, but does the government really have the power to intervene? Because if they do intervene, wouldn't that be going against the Constitution? Maybe Thaing went about this the wrong way,  I mean child abuse is definitely punishable, but using religion as your excuse may not be the best way to get out of trouble.

Kin Park Thaing

Joe Walsh

 Joe Walsh, a republican radio show host and ex-house representative, says he's tweeted that he's voting for Trump, and if he doesn't win, then he's bringing out his musket. A concerned CNN reporter, Jake Tapper, asked what he meant by "bringing out his musket", and Walsh responded with saying said, "It means protesting. Participating in acts of civil disobedience. Doing what it takes to get our country back." (Twitter). Personally I think this is very worrisome, because when people express their thoughts through media platforms, such as twitter, viewers and followers don't know what is really going inside of the head of the tweeter. And even if the tweeter clarifies, there's no way of actually knowing if he/she means it or not. Based on what Walsh is saying, it seems like he will start a literal revolution if Hillary wins. He uses the term "civil disobedience", what even is that? Is he going to up to the White House, and serenade Hillary until she agrees to step down as President? Even though he says he's going to be civil about it, I highly doubt it. In a CNN interview last night, the reporter was asking about Walsh's various concerning tweets, and Walsh got very defensive about it. If he's getting so worked up about a few tweets, what's going to be his reaction if Hillary loses?

Joe Walsh 

Senator Races

Pat Toomey Vs. Katie McGinty- According the Huffington Post, as of last week Toomey was winning by 1.8%, but as of yesterday Katie McGinty is winning by .4%. So the results could go either way, it is still very up and down.

Jason Kander Vs Roy Blunt (Missouri)

  Since the most recent release of Jason Kander's campaign ad, media attention has been focused on the, very close, Missouri senate race. Missouri, a mostly red state for the past 5-7 years, has a population of 6 million (2014), and it's top industries are health care and social assistance, retail, advanced manufacturing, financial and professional services, and agriculture and bioscience.

   Democratic Candidate, Jason Kander, received his BA in political science from American University, and got his J.D form Georgetown law school. After getting his J.D, he became a military intelligence officer (2006-2007). He also taught Political Science at the University of Missouri-Kansas State. After he began his political career, starting off on the board of directors of Coro Kansas City. Then he was part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. Then finally putting his Law degree to use, became part of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.  From 2009-2013 he was part of the Missouri state house, and during that period of time he served on the following committees: transportation and economic development, budget, downsizing state government, judiciary, homeland security, and joint committee on life science. He's a classic democrat. His campaign themes include: advocating for veterans and military families, supporting Missouri Businesses, fighting for the middle class, pushing for an open and honest government, and standing up for women. In the most recent fundraising quarter, Kander has out-raised his opponent, Roy Blunt, making it the second out of three quarters that he's raised more money than Blunt. In this 3rd quarter, Kander has received 23,000 new donors, 94% of those donations are $100 or less. In the last 20 months he's raised around 9.3 million dollars, according to news-leader. Kander has received $780,000 from the Missouri Democratic party. In addition, Ohio republican senator, Rob Portman, spent $1,4 million on behalf of Kander.

  Roy Blunt, the incumbent of this race, is the republican candidate. He received his bachelor's from Southwest Baptist University, and his master's from Missouri State University. From 1972 to 1984, he was a clerk for Greene County, Missouri, then from 1985 to 1992, he was Missouri's secretary of state. In 1992 he ran for governor, but lost to John Ashcroft. In 1993 he took a break from politics for a while. and became the president of Southwest Baptist Church from 1993 to 1996. In 1996 he returned to politics and became part of the US House of Representatives for the next 14 years. And finally from 2011 to present he's been the US Senator of Missouri, and is running again against Jason Kander. Based on his resume, Blunt would definitely be considered as a career politician. He's also the most Republican candidate you can imagine. He wants the government to stay out of running schools, and he wants absolute gun ownership, and private social security. He also wants to keep God in the public sphere, no "rights" to clean and water, stricter punishment to  reduce crime, maintain US sovereignty from UN, expand the military and never legalize marijuana. He doesn't want to legalize require hiring women and minorities, or expand Obamacare, or higher taxes on the wealthy, or prioritize green energy. He's Pro-Life, anti LGBTQ, anti-immigration, and for the war in Iraq. He raised a lot money in fundraising, about $14.4 million from 2011-2016, he's spent $10.4 million, and has $4 million on hand. His main contributors are the Crawford Group ($93,500), Goldman Sachs ($87,150), Monsanto Co ($72,550), Capital One Financial ($65,800), and Blackstone Group ($62,800). He's held fundraising events with George W. Bush and many dinners.

As of right October 25, Blunt is winning with 44.9% of the voted and Kander is behind with 40.5%. Hopefully Kander will pull through and win this election.

  

 The Grinch  

(aka Roy Blunt)

 Jason Kander 

                 
Fundraising/ Donations and education/career information found from Ballotpedia 

Russia be acting Sketchy

   Russia has asked if they can observe the US polling elections on Election Day, in at least 3 different states. If you ask me, this sounds hecka sketchy. What will they do with this information? It's Russia! Who knows what's going on in Putin's head. Thankfully America is smart(ish), and we have, so far, denied their request. However there have been other visitors from other countries observing the polls before, but you know, they weren't Russia. According to the Washington Post, US officials have been examining the efforts of the Kremlin interfering with the 2016 election. But Russia really wants this, in fact each state received letters from Alexander K. Kazharov,asking them "to let an officer of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Houston “be present (for a short period of time, when convenient)” at a voting station “with the goal of studying the US experience in organization of voting process” during the presidential election." (Washington Post). Who knows, this may be an innocent act, but also its RUSSIA, and I believe that they aren't to be trusted.

The Face of Someone Who Cannot be Trusted

(Vladimir Putin)

(Russia)

Rigged Debate?

  After last nights debate, Trump accused Hillary of having seen the debate questions prior to the debate. He provided no evidence but, according CNBC, he tweeted "Why didn't Hillary Clinton announce that she was inappropriately given the debate questions - she secretly used them! Crooked Hillary". Even though the moderator, Chris Wallace, said that he had chosen the topics himself, and had not shared them with any of the candidates. So maybe she didn't feel that the questions were inappropriate, because she was respecting the moderator and his questions. Which is something that doesn't come easily to Trump. He just needs to stop complaining and deal with the fact that he's not doing well.

Last Night's Presidential Debate 

Rigged or Not Rigged?

    Tonight during the debate, Trump's multiple accusations that the election is rigged was brought up, and Clinton took this as an advantage. She responded by mentioning the many times that Trump accused an organization to be rigged for example: The FBI, The Iowa Caucus, The Supreme Court, and my personal favorite the Emmy's.  Saying each of these organizations are rigged is like saying, my GPA is rigged, or the College Board is rigged because I'm not getting the ACT scores I want. The system isn't rigged... I'm just not doing the right work for the system to work in my favor. It's my fault. Just like it's Trump's fault that he didn't win an Emmy for his show, Celebrity Apprentice, or win the Iowa Caucus. How are you going to win if you're constantly yelling at people, or being rude to people. Hillary won tonight's debate... But obviously for Trump, it was rigged. 

American Horror Story

   During the last debate, Trump was asked if he would support the outcome of this election. He responded with, "I will tell you at the time"..."I will keep you in suspense", despite the fact that his running mate, Mike Pence, and daughter, Ivanka Trump said that he would accept the outcome of this election. CNN News reporters have said that this was Trump's biggest mistake during the debate, and that no presidential candidate has refused to accept the outcome. Which isn't a first for Donald, he is also the first candidate to withhold his tax returns from the public. Another mistake that Trump made is when he called Hillary a "nasty woman", only a few minutes after saying "no one respects woman more than I do"... Goes to show that he really is a hypocrite and the only way he can defend himself is by criticizing others, and saying that they're incorrect. Imagine him as president, sitting down with foreign officials, and every time he disagrees with someone he just yells "wrong". How presidential.

Clinton v Trump on Abortion

    During the most recent Presidential Debate, the candidates were asked about abortion. Clinton says she is pro life and supports Roe V Wade, even though in the past she said she didn't. She defended herself by saying that she didn't know that the organization looked at women's health in the later end of a pregnancy before following with the abortion. Trump replied with saying something along the lines of how they can just "rip the baby out" on the last day of a women's pregnancy, and how that was terrible. But what Hillary meant was that, the organization would go through abortions if the mother is at risk, and/or there is an issue with the fetus itself. After hearing Trumps comment, Clinton said that the "rhetoric" he used was unacceptable, and I would have to agree with her.

Oh Trump part 39050094891

   This election has taken a turn for the crazy. Footage of Trump saying derogatory things about women has been released. The election is apparently "rigged". Debates have seemed more like children arguing rather than sophisticated and professional. It's absolutely absurd, and it seems completely unreal.  I feel like Hillary doesn't even know how to talk to Trump anymore, because every time she does, he brings up the emails and how she and Obama created the war in Iraq and ISIS. Trump doesn't know how to have a respectful conversation, let alone how to be sophisticated. When he talks at his rallies, he demeans several races and people. Early in his campaign he insulted Chinese people, and in the recent video he talks about women in a truly disgusting way. Yet when asked about his words in the most recent debate, he says "No one respects women more than me". I don't understand how he can stand in front of the entire country and say things like that when there is clear evidence counteracting his statements. Another example is the Iraq war, he said he supported it on a TV interview with millions of viewers, yet he still denies it. And how does he defend himself? "Oh in a private conversation with someone, I told them I think the war is a bad idea." Wow Donald, you really convinced us. More recently, a participant of one of Trump's beauty pageants, came out to the public and exposed how Trump would just walk behind stage, with no regard to whether or not the girls back stage were dressed or not. His response to that was that the girl was lying and that she has no proof. Ok Trump but tbt to when you were i CNN and said "Before a show, I’ll go backstage and everyone’s getting dressed, and everything else, and you know, no men are anywhere, and I’m allowed to go in because I’m the owner of the pageant and therefore I’m inspecting it"..."You know, I’m inspecting because I want to make sure that everything is good"..."And you see these incredible looking women, and so, I sort of get away with things like that" First of all why would you brag about that on LIVE television?!? And second of all how can he deny that when there is direct proof? This man just befuddles me, and I have no way of sympathizing with his supporters, because he's just plain crazy

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