To the Editor:

October 8, 2024

When one of the most famous things that a candidate for public office has said is that she “loves a yellow school bus,” we should believe her. Sadly, I fear I am too cynical when I struggle to do this. I do understand that we all say things we don’t mean. There are, of course, enough people who won’t vote for Donald Trump because he said he is going to be “a dictator on day one” – but what wannabe would let that slip? So, if 45 hopes to become 47, Trump’s supporters must understand what hyperbole is.

If Kamala Harris had said that yellow school buses are important, that would simplify the matter. However, if she had said that their drivers need to be worthy of our trust getting our children where they need to go, how many of us would actually trust her to get them there? Our Veep’s biggest achievement should not be that President Biden is still alive.

We the People need to understand that words and actions must be related. Also important: foreign leaders need to believe our leaders’ words. When Joe Biden has said, “Don’t!” how many leaders shook in their boots? Ever?

You may or may not like Donald Trump, but other countries’ presidents, etc. didn’t risk doubting him. When he said, “If you do X, I will place high tariffs on you,” they didn’t do X. We need a powerful negotiator to have our backs and our kids’ backs too.

When Kamala Harris was nominated to be Vice President, I saw that it wasn’t just the Biden family who needed to know that “de Nile ain’t just a river in Egypt” and that trouble was brewing. For many years, when the CA Secretary of State’s election booklet was delivered, whenever Ms. Harris had happened to sign her name to a proposition indicating that she was in favor of or opposed to it, she showed us who she was – even if she didn’t write those statements herself. Californians who read those arguments had a head start knowing her before the rest of the nation did. Now that the V.P. is recognized by all, many fail to remember what she said before she tried to move towards the right during this election. It should be obvious that this lady couldn’t win the Fillmore Rotary Club’s annual speech competition for high school students on her best day unless the goal of such a competition became to honor those who best obfuscate their message.

When our leaders say they want to “save democracy,” the people need to understand that we have a constitutional republic - not a democracy. Our leaders must be also be able to clearly state their plans – and not just “hide in a basement” or be willing to move unless so directed by a puppet-master.

If there is one subject most all of us can agree on, it is that Donald Trump is not controlled by anyone’s strings. He knows the direction he intends to go. He communicates his goals consistently. He is also surrounded by people of high character to keep him on the right path. The former President’s record for keeping his promises is also unsurpassed. Let that inform you when you vote! Donald J. Trump for President!

Respectfully,

Stephenie Thomas
Fillmore, CA