AT SUNRISE ON JANUARY 20, 1961, I CLIMBED INTO MY DRESS GREENS, THEN ONTO A BUS AND RODE INTO WASHINGTON TO BE PART OF THE MARINE HONOR CORDON AT PRESIDENT JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY’S INAUGURATION – A DIFFERENT MAN AT A DIFFERENT TIME.
As I stood at the parade rest for hours in the freezing cold, I never thought about the historic import of that day until, for a brief moment, the soon-to-be President and First Lady passed within a few feet of me. I’ve often reflected on that moment over the years.
Although I opposed the candidacy of Donald Trump, I can only wish him well, not for his sake, but rather for the sake of what has become a fragile Union. The new President would do well to remember the words of the old: “United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do — for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder. . . . And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
A further comment from Bill Britton dated January 29, 2017:
“Tom,
I wrote this missive shortly after the inauguration in a moment of magnanimous folly.
President Trump’s subsequent claims and executive orders have obliterated any hope that he would change into a more thoughtful representative of all the people.
In particular, his continuing obsession with voter fraud (where numerous studies have found virtually none), and his order essentially banning Muslim entry into a country that once welcomed the “tired and poor,” I find particularly disheartening.
The United States has had what amounts to “extreme vetting” of immigrants from the Mideast for years. We would do better to effect intense scrutiny of extreme right-wing groups that have provided the inspiration for most acts of terrorism on U.S. soil over the past 25 years, groups, incidentally, that the President has failed to renounce.
The ban will only inflame Muslim hatred of the West and elevate the danger of violence directed toward U.S. civilians and troops in Muslim countries.”
Bill Britton is a Vero Communiqué Contributing Editor and a freelance writer for John Hopkins University.
Vero Communiqué 
Tom,
I wrote this missive shortly after the inauguration in a moment of magnanimous folly. President Trump’s subsequent claims and executive orders have obliterated any hope that he would change into a more thoughtful representative of all the people. In particular, his continuing obsession with voter fraud (where numerous studies have found virtually none), and his order essentially banning Muslim entry into a country that once welcomed the “tired and poor,” I find particularly disheartening. The United States has had what amounts to “extreme vetting” of immigrants from the Mideast for years. We would do better to effect intense scrutiny of extreme right-wing groups that have provided the inspiration for most acts of terrorism on U.S. soil over the past 25 years, groups, incidentally, that the President has failed to renounce. The ban will only inflame Muslim hatred of the West and elevate the danger of violence directed toward U.S. civilians and troops in Muslim countries.
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I am not on facebook nor do I tweet, but I would like to get in touch with Bill Britton. I am a JHU grad.
Gail French gigifrenchcat62@gmail.com
On Sat, Jan 28, 2017 at 9:46 PM, Vero Communiqué wrote:
> hardythomast posted: ” AT SUNRISE ON JANUARY 20, 1961, I CLIMBED INTO MY > DRESS GREENS, THEN ONTO A BUS AND RODE INTO WASHINGTON TO BE PART OF THE > MARINE HONOR CORDON AT PRESIDENT JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY’S INAUGURATION – A > DIFFERENT MAN AT A DIFFERENT TIME. As I stood at the ” >
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Bill,
Unless you stop living in fantasyland, your commentary cannot be taken seriously.
You continue to deny the obvious long-standing tradition of vote fraud supporting the increasingly Leftwing Democratic Party. Vote fraud in heavily Democrat urban voter ghettos is legendary. You need look no further than Detroit, MI, for egregious examples of Democrat vote fraud in 2016. Motor voter registration fraud is encouraged by California’s licensing and registration system.
Donald Trump is delivering on his campaign promises. Why does that surprise you?
Evidently, you are accustomed to politicians saying one thing to get elected, and then betraying voters by failing to deliver on their promises. But Donald Trump is not a politician. You should understand that by now.
It would be one thing if your opposition to Trump were honest and reasonable. But it is neither.
Where was your concern over the egregious shenanigans of the Obama Administration?
Never once did you complain about Obama’s self-imposed isolation from working with Congress.
Never once did you complain about the inordinate time Obama spent on the golf course.
You never complained about the unethical means by which Obamacare was shoved down the throats of the American public, who have always opposed it. You never complained about the blatant lies (“you can keep your doctor”, “you can keep your plan”, “this will save an average $2500 per family”) used to “sell” the program to the people.
You never complained about how Democrats in the Senate stripped an unrelated bill passed by the House of its ENTIRE CONTENTS, then pasted in the massive and misnamed “Affordable Care Act”, thus claiming it originated in the House and used a reconciliation process to avoid the bill ever having come before the entire House.
Never once did you complain about the obscene waste of tax dollars by the First Lady and her entourage, traveling the world, NOT for official business, but for pleasure.
Only two First Ladies in the past 65 years have had more than ONE staff member. Hillary Clinton had seven. Michelle Obama had 22. Where were your complaints about those excesses at taxpayer expense?
To your recent pointless “point”:
You wrote: “his order essentially banning Muslim entry”.
There is NO MUSLIM BAN. Read the order.
Donald Trump lawfully and constitutionally for justs 90 days banned immigrants from the seven nations the Obama Administration identified as those most involved with supporting terrorist activities. He did that so a proper and thorough vetting process could be developed. That is his obligation to the safety of US citizens.
You claim the “United States has had what amounts to ‘extreme vetting’ of immigrants from the Mideast for years.” Yet, you blithely ignore the reality that such “vetting” doesn’t work and cannot work when we have no reliable information available with which we can “vet” immigrants and refugees.
The vetting you claim is working has kept Iraqis who helped the US military from leaving their country for 3-5 years (some are still waiting). Obviously, something is not working and it’s likely at the cesspool known as our State Department that is responsible for processing applications for refugees and immigrants.
You have the audacity to claim the “extreme right-wing groups … have provided the inspiration for most acts of terrorism on U.S. soil over the past 25 years, groups, incidentally, that the President has failed to renounce.”
So San Bernadino, Ft. Hood, Orlando, The Pentagon, The World Trade Center attacks were the responsibility of “extreme right-wing groups”? Are you insane?
You have zero credibility when you fabricate self-delusional statements and present them as truth.
All you want to do is bash Trump based on the complete rubbish being spewed by the Democratic Party’s Ministry of Propaganda (DPMP), formerly known as the Mainstream News Media (e.g., CNN, USA Today, AP, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, NY Times, Wash Post, etc., etc…. “the usual suspects”).
Pssst, I’ve got a headline for you: “THE PEOPLE AREN’T BUYING THIS GARBAGE ANYMORE!”
When those who have key positions at “the usual suspects” propaganda operations donate 96% to Leftwing Democratic Party operatives & politicians, it is pretty clear that an enormous bias exists.
And, by the way, where is your outrage over George Soros’ funding of rioters and the divisive efforts of the many organizations in this country he is funding?
It is a testimony to the intelligence of the American People that they were able to distinguish between “the usual suspects” false narratives and the truth in sufficient states to elect Donald Trump as our President.
The continuing barrage of false narratives, sometimes based on snippets of truth taken out of context, other times on complete fabrications, will have little effect other than to further discredit Leftwing Democrats and the DPMP as they continue to become more shrill, unglued, and irrelevant with their attacks on a President who is fulfilling his campaign promises to Make America Safe Again and Make America Great Again.
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As the media (both left and right) would say, “It’s all about optics.” The ban was horribly executed, and the perception (optics) is that it is a Muslim ban (Even some of your guys agree, including Rudi Giuliani pre-ban, which is why “Muslim” was removed from the original version). I don’t have time to respond to your other assertions, but I must say you sure enjoy piling on. That’s 15 yards and a first down for my side.
Best . . .
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