Why I am still voting for Trump…and you should, as well. October 10, 2016
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Benghazi, clinton, email, GOP, Hillary, HRC, ISIS, Satisficing, travelgate, Trump
16 comments
The last 48 hours has been tough for me. I have waffled in my already reluctant support of Trump and I have even gone so far as to claim I will “not vote for either idiot”! This is only half true. I want to thank those Recondos and Snipers, and numerous others who passionately debated with me on the topic over the past day. In particular JJ Brown of the Recon and Sniper Foundation who had particularly insightful comments.
Let me be clear. I do not like Trump. I am quite sure I would not like him as a person. I was initially angered by his latest comments. In reflection, I was angered by the fact that he allowed yet another comment to get out of control. Have I said vulgar things in private? Of course. Name a Marine who hasn’t and I would say you have not met a Marine. As Eleanor Roosevelt said: “The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!”. So why am I still voting for Trump? Easy. It is all about what economist and Nobel Prize recipient Herbert Simon called Satisficing. In this election we only have 2 real choices. Granted I feel like the options are akin to being ask whether you prefer stepping on a Lego in the middle of the night or hitting your little toe on a table as you walk to the bathroom at night…but those are our options. We have to select the best of the two available options.
I have been reminded (often in no so polite terms) Hillary Clinton is simply an untrustworthy person who has allowed Americans to die under her watch in Benghazi and has supported groups by selling them weapons that have killed Americans. This was further supported in recently disclosed documentation around her support of Libyan and Syrian rebels. In addition to TravelGate, her laughingly defending a child rapist, her compromise of national security, and numerous other transgressions, I simply cannot and will not ever vote for her. As I have said before, I would vote for my Rottweiller Bo before I would vote for Hillary Clinton. She represents the worst of politics.
Is Donald Trump a perfect human? No. Is he likable? Probably not to a lot of people. Is he crass and vulgar? Yes. Has he said stupid things? Of course. All of these things describe me and my own friends. Putting emotion aside, I am willing to overlook personal flaws but cannot overlook calculated actions that result in the destruction of Constitutional rights, the compromise of national security, and the death of Americans. This particular election has greater implications than simply bragging rights. The next president will get to nominate at least 1 Supreme Court Justice. This Justice is going to likely be the ‘tie breaker’ on numerous Constitutional issues to include the 2nd Amendment. For these reasons, I must put aside my personal feelings and vote for the party that represents the platform I support as opposed to not supporting a person that I do not like.
This election will likely be one of the most important in our lifetimes. We have two intensely flawed candidates. One is personally flawed, the other is personally and professionally flawed. One has said rude and crass things while the other has allowed Americans to die under her watch and compromised national security for her own purposes. To me, the answer is now clear. While I do not ‘support Trump’, I support the Republican party platform and I will NEVER support Hillary Clinton who has allowed my own brothers to die on her watch. Thanks for reading!
A Challenge to Colin Kaepernick- by a Marine Combat Veteran August 31, 2016
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: BLM, Colin, Kaepernick, National Anthem, Recon, Scout Sniper, Travis Cox, USMC
6 comments
Recently, professional football player Colin Kaepernick made a political statement by refusing to stand for the National Anthem. Former (I know..you are never a “former Marine”) Marine Sgt. (Recon Marine, and Scout/Sniper) Travis Cox recorded a video explaining to Mr. Kaepernick challenging him to ‘do more’ than just ‘sit’. I agree with Travis and want to add that respect is fundamentally different than ‘pride’. I believe that Kaepernick’s actions were simply disrespectful. Please share.
Help Louisiana Flood Victims! August 17, 2016
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: charity, childrens relief, convoy of hope, Donation, flood, flooding, gulf coast, louisiana, operation blessing, salvation army, second harvest
add a comment
As everyone is aware, Louisiana is dealing with devastating floods. An estimated 50,000 people have been displaced and a dozen have died. Please consider donating to help those flood victims. My open letters go viral…how about we try to make this go viral and get some needed help to those in Louisiana!?
Here are some ways you can help (thanks CNN!)
- Salvation Army Gulf Coast Floods
- Text LAFLOODS to 90999 to make a $10 donation!
- Operation Blessing International
- Second Harvest Food Bank
- Children’s Relief Fund for Gulf Coast
- Convoy of Hope
Every little bit helps! Consider helping. Thanks!
An Apology to Mr. Khan, Mrs. Smith & Gold Star Families August 3, 2016
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Army, captain, DNC, gold star, Khan, rnc, Trump, USMC
comments closed
Recently, I wrote an ‘Open Letter’ to Mr. Khizr Khan that generated quite a bit of controversy. I had referenced that Captain Khan’s sacrifice was his own. In reading numerous Gold Star family comments from both sides of the isle, I believe an apology to the Khan family, Mrs. Smith and all Gold Star Families is in line. I was hopeful that I would have had the opportunity to make this last night in a more public forum but I was unable.
While I personally do believe Captain Khan’s sacrifice was his own, I have learned that my own position on this issue does not reflect the views of many Gold Star Families. I should have been more circumspect in my comments and taken more time to understand the feelings of those families before opining. There is no other way to say it: I am sorry and I have learned.
I want to thank those who took the time to comment directly and professionally to allow me to see both sides of this very sensitive position.
Respectfully,
Chris Mark
Scarlet Letters, Stereotypes and Tolerance August 2, 2016
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: clinton, Democrat, DNC, Hillary, Khan, Open Letter, racist, Republican, Terrorists, Tolerance, Trump
comments closed
Two days ago I wrote a blog post related to the DNC. The post has since gone viral and over 4,000 people have commented. While the vast majority of comments have been positive, and supportive there are people who disagree with my position. That is expected and part of our great nation. Some of these people have made valid arguments and have been polite and professional. While this post was intended to make a point to a small audience it has created a social experiment.
I have truly been taken aback however by sheer number of vulgar, vitriolic comments stereotyping me and all Republicans and, in particular, Trump supporters. Let me be clear. There were some nasty comments by Trump supporters but not at the level of the other side. Even when I wrote my post on Mrs. Palin the vast majority of ‘right wing’ comments simply accused me of being a ‘closet democrat’ but did not launch attacks like these. I want to share some of the comments from Hillary Clinton supporters:
- The Republican Party is a terrorist group
- Go F%%K Yourself
- You are a F%%king racist
- You are a F%ggot
- You are Uneducated
- You believe Gays shouldn’t have any rights and everyone should carry an AR 15 to work
- Do I really have to guess what you look like you inbred sister f%%king hillbilly
- You piece of garbage, trash, facist, racist, zenophobe
- When did we become a nation of redneck hillbillies?
- Trump and his supporters, the fact that they are a bunch of racist and bigots
- You would not have made that comment if the Khans had been White and Christians
- You all need to stop clinging to your God and guns
- Please tell me where to meet you so I can spit in your face
- I want to slap you
- You are a traitor
- You are retarded
The list goes on and on…these (including the physical threats) are from the ‘Tolerant left’ in response to the fact that I said I would vote for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. With regard to the White and Christian comment I pointed out that I had written a blistering piece on Sarah Palin who is both White and Christian. This did not seem to matter. The coup de grace however is this gem:
- “You are a f%%cking racist Chris.”
- I responded politely asking the reader to query everything I have written and find where I was racist. Her reply?
- “Just because your posts and other comments are not racist does not excuse you from being a racist.” (emphasis added)
So simply by virtue of supporting someone that this person does not agree with paints one as a racist. In short you are guilty of racism with zero evidence until they “excuse you” from that label? This is the height of intolerance from the tolerant Hillary Supporters.
I think Hillary Clinton’s campaign should consider adopting the 1980’s Rush song SubDivisions. One of the lyrics says:
“Conform or be cast out!”
This is the divisiveness and intolerance in our country today. If you do not agree with the other and conform, then you should be cast out or denigrated. So, why am I voting for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton? Simple the same reason everyone chooses one candidate over another. Satisficing. Satisficing is simply prioritizing your criteria and choosing from the best available options. Some people value social issues more, others may value economic issues. It is these points on which we actually vote.
Has Donald Trump said things with which I don’t agree? Absolutely. That being said, he has not compromised national security nor lied to congress about his actions. He has not allowed the death of 4 Americans (my view). These are the primary criteria on which I am voting. End of story. This doe not make me a racist, bigot, or anything else other than a voter who values one option over the other.
Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management 