TRUMP

In 2017 the US SENATE passed new Russian sanctions for interfering with our 2016 election 98-2 (Veto Proof) . President Trump reluctantly signed it Aug 2, 2017 BUT NEVER IMPLEMENTED THEM. THIS is a constitutional violation. 

While diehard, uneducated, close minded Trump supporters feel Trump can't do wrong, nor do they believe he lies (despite fact check.org showing he lies 5.5x a day such as having Mexico pay for a big beautiful wall...) 

I use this constitutional example as solid proof. " The Executive Branch is defying the Constitution. Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution requires the President to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” This clause, known as the Take Care Clause, requires the President to enforce all constitutionally valid Acts of Congress, regardless of his own Administration’s view of their wisdom or policy. The clause imposes a duty on the President; it does not confer a discretionary power. The Take Care Clause is a limit on the Vesting Clause’s grant to the President of “the executive power.”

The end

Plenty of other constitutional examples such as violations of the emoluments clause

Nuclear option

Why the Senate "Nuclear Option" scheduled by Sen. Mitch McConnell is bad for all parties. 
With members of congress more polarized than ever, those in congress find solace in power and focus on campaigning for their re election , thus are constantly short sighted vs looking at what is best for our nation long term 
When our founding fathers set up our government, they oddly spent time crafting each house and intentionally making the House and Senate different. The House was designed with Representatives to be, "The will of the people". States are allocated a specific number of house seats depending on their population which is frequently updated as is the electoral college based on population.
The Senate was designed differently, more like a big brother to the House, their role was more than just to exercise the will of their constituents and as such have different standards for passing certain laws and or appointments. It is for this reason the Senate only confirms SCOTUS nominees with a 60 vote threshold to push bipartisanship, while in the House a simple majority of the votes can pass a law. (Which then goes to the Senate) 
By invoking the "nuclear option" (which has been done before by both parties) the rules of the Senate change to a simple majority 51 votes. The Senate effectively has just become a mirror of the House, the checks and balance of legislative power has vanished and with it the foundation in which our founding fathers set up the Senate.
In this case, using the "nuclear option" to confirm a SCOTUS nominee will be a first and set a precedence as the Senate has no higher duty than to confirm or reject a SCOTUS nominee. One could argue a Nominee in such a position , knowing what chaos is about to ensue would step aside for the good of the country. The only higher responsibility the Senate has would be to remove a sitting president from office after the House has voted for an impeachment.
The short sightedness of this move by republicans could come back to haunt them in just 18 months when democrats will attempt to retake the Senate. If successful, Democrats with 51 votes could stop EVERY SINGLE BILL from reaching the President making Trump not just a lame duck 2 years into his presidency but an incapacitated duck at that. 
Trump then would only have Executive Order power which as we have seen, judges are more than happy to intervene if Trump goes too far, further every order could be reversed by a new 2020 president .
Let's hope a few republicans in the Senate see the chaos that will occur and vote NO on Thursday in regards to changing the rules of The Senate.

China

I'm writing this piece as it's not gotten the news coverage it needs... It involves China , a Chinese businessman, Donald Trump, and the U.S. Constitution (sounds like intro to a joke I know, but this is real)

For over a decade Trump has been fighting and loosing every time over Trademarking his name "Trump" in China because a Chinese businessman already did.

Just as if someone here in America was smart enough to do so before NIKE or buy NIKE.COM

Trump, rather than buy the name, fought it in court for over 10 years, loosing every time. Then Trump became a candidate for President. PART of his platform was attacking China for currency manipulation. The SAME country that has denied his trademark appeal for a decade... 

Trump also stated as a candidate he wasn't sold on the "One China policy" which does not view Taiwan as independent... 

Magically just as Trump was to become president Trump supported the "One China Policy" (a reversal from his campaign)... then China with no explanation changed its constant, decade long year after year decisions, and awarded Trump a trademark to his name for buildings opening the door for Trump to use his name such as selling the rights to put his name on buildings ... a change worth over $100 MILLION in potential revenue easily.

But now this has Trump receiving compensation from a foreign country which is a violation of The Emoluments Clause of the constitution. Apparently Trump gets his own set of rules to play by... China knows this and no more tough talk regarding tariffs or currency manipulation has been spoken by Trump.

Many legal experts state not only is this a clear and direct violation of the Emoluments Clause, but a PAY FOR PLAY by China as they will clearly be expecting something in return from Trump... That is, unless you think China randomly did this...

Trump

Some food for thought take it or leave it your call... when you review anything you must put yourself in the situation itself ... example
a police shooting you must put yourself in the position of the officer when he decided to shoot and if it was reasonable (this is the legal standard) you CAN NOT Monday morning quarterback it and critique it w the ability to hit pause, rewind and take an hour to review what's really 8 seconds.. you must put yourself in those 8 seconds

with that as a background I bring you back to a discussion from Nov. the ELECTORAL COLLEGE.my points as to why it's not relative in 2017

1. Put yourself (as in police shooting example as to when it was implemented). So let's journey back to 1787... a system a brilliant system was created to ensure people, no matter where you lived, were courted for their votes... but wait in 1787 Women could not vote and blacks were not "people" thus could not vote... so those rural voters needing to be courted were wealthy land and slave owners and white.. on that alone I would argue it has no place in our society today

2. It CAN be manipulated.. if a hack was to manipulate votes (not saying they did) it's far easier to swing a few votes here and there vs the popular vote... it's said 80,000 votes gave Trump the states he needed despite loosing by 3 million votes (no 3 million illegal votes never were cast)

SO here is how you LEGALLY manipulate the electoral college (in this example for democrats) to win the White House EVERY ELECTION LEGALLY... you take 5 Million democrats from Cali and 5 Million voters from NY (leaving enough for Cali and NY to remain BLUE.. you move these 10 Million democrats to Texas in the time frame to legally register to vote as a Texas resident and Tx becomes a blue state... democrats win the White House each time.. after the election these 10 million ppl move back to the respective states...you now have just legally manipulated the electoral college...

its far harder to manipulate the popular vote ...this would take illegal tampering...

take it for what it's worth .. just a different view from someone bored waiting for "Vikings" to come on ...

point is if you are a woman or black, this system was not made to represent you and circumvents one person one vote, and is able to be manipulated... it worked back in the day for what it was designed for.. but don't be fooled that it serves the same purpose today...

today it underminds the one vote per person, all votes are equal notion... yes it really does not even make candidates campaign all over they merely know the swing states, republicans don't waste time and money in Tx as it's in the bag nor in Cali as it's a loss and the opposite is true for democrats

Additionally it's the only position (president) we DONT use the popular vote... the popular vote is the gold standard inside states from state reps to US reps and senators and governors ..

again just a totally different perspective .. this post is so long few will read it but if the President wins the popular vote, they are a president for , of , and by the people... when they loose by 3 million votes but still win... well you see millions marching, protesting ect ...

ok VIKINGS is just about on..

Jordan Letschert surrogacy blog PART 3

Jordan Letschert and Robby Price surrogacy blog on www.gayswithkids.com part 3 with new updated content! 

https://gayswithkids.com/jordan-and-robbys-surrogacy-journey-to-fatherhood-part-3/

Jordan Letschert blog on gayswithkids.com

Here is part 1 , together with our video clip has over 60,000 views... Check it out 

https://gayswithkids.com/jordan-and-robbys-surrogacy-journey-to-fatherhood-part-1/

A Baby Boy

It's crazy to think it's been 1 month today since our son Kellan Joseph was born.... Many parents say they would go to the ends of the earth for their child.. The earth is 24,901 miles around... Due to legal restrictions attempting to block us from having a family, we traveled more than 30,000 miles just to have our son. 

That's 1.2 times around the globe just before he was even born! And it took us 21 months...

Now we have an amazing son .... 

Don't ever let someone say you can't do something or accomplish something 

Look at me.. At 17 I came out.. At that time, you had to accept no marriage, no equal rights, no kids, no family

What did I do ?

I became a cop in Tx

I became 1 of 200 current and former first responders who took on Pam Bondi in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals for the right to marry in Florida

I got married in Florida before it was legal nation wide

I along with 199 other current and former police filed an Amicus Brief with SCOTUS in the historic marriage equality ruling

I took 21 months... Navigated the law and now have perfect son...

Off to crack the next supposed ceiling 

#cantstopme #equality #love #family #jordanletschert @jordanletschert 

Jordan Letschert Suncoast View

Our segment on the news starts at 31:20

http://cdn.field59.com/WWSB/1466213181-0dedd89af86ab11ccc92bc0d864ee8b9b9541e5a_fl9-720p.mp4

ORLANDO SHOOTING

Let's put this ORLANDO SHOOTING in perspective. It is now THE WORST mass shooting in AMERICAN HISTORY.... The Chief said he used an AR 15. That's a 30 round clip... To KILL 50 and injure 54 ... Guessing he missed some and shot others multiple times... This means he easily RELOADED his assault weapon 10x ... He came for the purpose to slaughter gay ppl during Gay Pride.. So far I know one shot... hopefully it won't go up.... The Hatred in this world has me sick to my stomach today...

Chaos on House Floor

This is how our political system really works ... No "real rules" despite Speaker Ryan promising to return the House to order and follow "rules" such as the 2 min voting time... The GOP would have LOST this vote at 2 min so they kept voting open for over 7 minutes ...3X LONGER than the rules provide until they were able to strong arm casted votes to change... Traditionally AFTER you cast a vote and you desire to change said vote, you must walk to the front to the "well" to change so you are seen changing your vote...not today ..they just strong armed ppl. Left the electronic voting on till they got their way... Then ended voting. If you watch the clip, you will hear the chamber start chanting "SHAME".  #realpolitics ...

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/280542-dems-cry-foul-after-house-gop-votes-down-lgbt-measure

Jordan Letschert 

American Politics summed up

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/5/16/1527124/-Conservative-congressional-candidate-shares-screenshot-forgets-to-close-porn-windows?detail=facebook

Too funny.. 

Trans Gender Rights

There are times, in the course of history, that a speech changes a nation's trajectory. Whether it's a prepared speech, an off the cuff remark, or a formal address, these moments have the ability to create a movement. As in 1963 and 2012, today, a movement began, a movement for transgender rights across the country. 

This afternoon, from a podium within the Department of Justice, Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced a counter lawsuit against the North Carolina Governor, the State Department of Safety, and the University of North Carolina, along with the stripping of federal funding to the State over the implementation of House Bill 2 (the Bathroom Bill). 

The statements made today by AG Loretta Lynch were calculated and poignant. In speaking against the bill, Lynch alluded to an era of Jim Crow laws, stating "It was not so very long ago that states, including North Carolina, had signs above restrooms, water fountains and on public accommodations keeping people out based upon a distinction without a difference.”

Not to be outdone, the head of DOJ Civil Rights Division, Vanita Gupta, was equally as unambiguous and uncompromising. Gupta stated, near the end of the conference, "It speaks to all of us who have ever been made to feel inferior – like somehow we just don’t belong in our community, like somehow we just don’t fit in. Let me reassure every transgender individual, right here in America, that you belong just as you are."

I'm rarely marveled by anything spoken at a government press conference, but today was an exception. Watching two minority women of color take a stand, with the full backing of the U.S. government, against a discriminatory bill was something to be witnessed, and not soon forgot. 

If you didn't see it live, I suggest you take a look.

NC HB 2 ABOUT TO GO BYE BYE

http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/breaking_gov_mccrory_will_meet_with_attorneys_to_determine_4th_circuit_ruling_s_impact_on_hb2

Religious Freedom

Here is my short rant regarding my disgust with these so called "Religious Freedom" bills. Which are bills of discrimination cloaked in Religion which should infuriate every person of faith especially Christians... Freedom of Religion is already protected by our Constitution... Even in last years SCOTUS ruling of marriage equality , Justice Kennedy, in his opinion specifically stated clergy ect were exempt from performing ceremonies... On a real note, who wants to force someone to marry them on their special day, they want someone who shares in their joy... I pay a lot of taxes... So why should I get less rights?? I certainly don't get a gay tax credit... My father who is great is a permanent resident of the U.S. But NOT a citizen yet he was able to legally get married decades before me, a gay American citizen... You can not fire him (a non U.S. Citizen) from his job for being Dutch, but you CAN fire me (an American Citizen ) from my job in 27 states for just being gay.... Stop me when you feel we are falling out of the American culture where we are all equal... You can't deny him housing or someone black housing but you CAN deny me housing ... Govts who HAPPILY take tax dollars of their gay citizens in NC turn around and use that money to hold a special session at $42,000 to strip LGBT protections and prevent cities from passing ordinances to protect their own citizens .. So can police and fire (just as state govt are) pick and choose who to serve... If so watch out its a slippery slope .... Most of these laws have no basis in fact, it's political posturing... FlorIda's law passed... Yet ZERO yes ZERO clergy were sued.. Thus no need for the law... So another un needed law by conservatives who believe in smaller govt... NC law will be overturned as it already violates 3 Supreme Cour cases.. But until it is, real ppl will be hurt.. I had the honor of being 1 of 200 first responders to file an Amicus Brief to both the 11th Circuit of appeals where Fl AG Pam Bondi contested marriage equality ..(she is on her 3rd or 4th marriage) as well as an Amicus brief to SCOTUS... Hate and intolerance is taught , it is not natural... Be better than this America...

The Galleon Resort

Proud to see our Key West Resort "The Galleon Resort and Marina" made the TOP 25 TimeShare Resorts by RedWeek.com which is an International company with over 2 MILLION subscribers!

http://www.redweek.com/top-25-timeshare-rental-resorts?utm_content=nl_welcome1&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=february&utm_term=cs#n1

Clinton vs Sanders 2016

My take on the Sanders Surge : he has huge support from the young vote, and clearly has been getting less attention than Clinton ... Others view him as a phenomenon that would never gain enough support to actually win so they throw their support behind Clinton as a "sure bet"

But as Sanders continues to climb with no help from the media, lots of Clinton supporters are jumping ship because they believe Sanders now can indeed win.... They don't want to "waste" their vote so until Sanders is proven, their support stays with Clinton...

That being said look for more and more to jump behind Sanders as he becomes a truly viable candidate and alternative to Clinton.. His supporters are less likely to back Clinton as most are very progressive and young . If Clinton is the nominee, they may not back her and show up to vote..

Alternatively the Clinton supporters who jump ship will turn out to vote for Sanders come Election Day because their demographics vote more in general.

 

HRC 2015 Year in Review Video

Check it out ! Robby and Jordan Letschert made the HRC 2015 video at 1:21-1:22 in the video. A picture from our wedding was used! @HRC @equalityflorida #HRC 

JORDAN LETSCHERT

The Truth About The Arrest of Kim Davis

THE FACTS ABOUT KIM DAVIS ARREST

With everyone making the arrest of Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis political, let's break it down. Davis is in jail for one reason only, not complying with a Federal Judges order. Thus putting her in contempt of court.

To be clear (because opinions out there are providing false information) the Judge is a Republican Conservative Catholic Appointed Judge. He stated in short he does not even agree with SCOTUS decision on Marriage Equality. But people can NOT pick and choose what laws or court orders they choose to follow.

In 2006 SCOTUS stated that indeed government officials 1st amendment rights are indeed knowingly restricted and that is clear upon taking your oath of office.

Keep in mind Davis oath swore to God she would preform her oath of office despite her personal objection to anything . She makes $80,000

To make a FAIR comparison for Christians who object, if a Muslim County Clerk refused to issue marriage licenses due to their religious  objections in issuing a license to someone who believes in a different God. How would you react? 

If a Mormon DMV Clerk refused to register a vehicle because it is against their beliefs?

If a police officer or fire fighter refused to render aid or respond properly to a call because of their religious beliefs ect.... Where should it end???

This is why the 2006 SCOTUS decision was made for those who hold govt jobs.....in fact the jailing of Kim Davis will protect religious freedom as it asserts the above possibilities won't occur...

Where did this all come from? False information given to society that if you site religious objections, you can discriminate without penalty... This is not at all true... AT BEST it means it's a POSSIBLE defense , in Davis case the judge stated in her case it is not a viable legal defense for her to violate her oath of office and not preform her duties in which she swore she would and in which she gets paid to do so.

Jordan Letschert

Kentucky Clerk Davis Jailed

BREAKING: As expected, Davis refused to go back to the Courthouse. She communicated through her lawyers and told Judge Bunning that she would not allow her Deputy Clerks to issue marriage licenses.
Davis will remain in jail. Judge Bunning has told the Deputy Clerks to begin issuing licenses tomorrow, otherwise they will be held in contempt. 5 of the 6 agree, the hold out was Davis's son.
Davis makes $80,000 dollars paid in part by those she denied their right as defined by SCOTUS under the 13th Amendment.... 

Here is the oath of office that all Kentucky clerks and deputies including Davis takes before assuming their duties:
"I, -----, do swear that I will well and truly discharge the duties of the office of ----- County Circuit Court clerk, according to the best of my skill and judgment, making the due entries and records of all orders, judgments, decrees, opinions and proceedings of the court, and carefully filing and preserving in my office all books and papers which come to my possession by virtue of my office; and that I will not knowingly or willingly commit any malfeasance of office, and will faithfully execute the duties of my office without favor, affection or partiality, so help me God."
All hearings have ended.

Justice Kennedy noted that the Supreme Court has made it clear in previous rulings "that public employees do not surrender all their First Amendment rights by reason of their employment." On the other hand, he wrote, "When a citizen enters government service, the citizen by necessity must accept certain limitations on his or her freedom."

Marriage is the Law of the Land

Great Facebook post on Legal Vs religious argument

"I say this with sincere love to my many friends who are passionate fundamentalist Christians who believe that the SCOTUS’s decision yesterday on marriage equality is an abomination to themselves and to God: As a lawyer, I need to attempt to set the record straight. 

Our country was created by our founding fathers very deliberately to prevent the establishment of a national religion from our governance. The Church - Catholic or Anglican - was central to almost every other country in the world historically, especially England from which our founding fathers separated. It was critical to our founding fathers that one central religion NOT be declared and NOT be incorporated into our Constitution or governance. They understood that an establishment of a national religion would ultimately abridge the very rights they believed were fundamental and were meant to be recognized and protected by the Bill of Rights and ultimately the Constitution. 

Religion-based loss of basic rights had been their experience in England and they wanted to prevent that here.

The fact is that this decision yesterday was a LEGAL decision about the scope of our Constitutional rights as humans and US citizens. It was not about religion, religious beliefs or religious freedom. It is about equal rights, just as the decision in this country to give women the vote and the decision to abolish slavery were about equal rights. Any decision regarding the scope of a constitutional right (whether passed by Congress or interpreted by the SCOTUS) is a legal decision, not one based in religion or morality.

Rights are not and should not be up for a popular vote or up to the states to determine. Rights are absolute and cannot be dependent upon anything other than the fact that the person is a human being and is a citizen of the US. If those two conditions are met, YOUR belief system about what is MORALLY or spiritually right or wrong does not matter and should not. You should be glad that is the case, because it would be just as easy for another religion to take over and curtail your rights as a Christian (something that has happened throughout history).

In fact, one religious party believing they know the truth for all humans is how terrible oppression starts - that is how Naziism started, the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Salem Witch Trials, the Klu Klux Klan, Al-Qaeda and now ISIS - the most destructive, hateful, murderous periods of human history have arisen directly out of one religious group (ironically, most of these examples were lead by Christians) believing their religion and religious beliefs were THE truth, and therefore they had the right to take away the rights (and lives) of those who lived or believed differently than them. 

Our founding fathers wanted to prevent that outcome. So does our current Supreme Court. THAT is the law of the land and I could not be more grateful to be an American than when human rights are protected. I don’t have to agree with you to believe with all my heart and soul that YOUR rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should be protected against oppression or prejudice. LGBT US citizens deserve exactly the same treatment. God Bless America.

p.s. Those railing against the decision of marriage equality as a basic constitutional right are confusing the idea of constitutional (i.e human) rights with certain types of behavior (the stuff they call "sin"). But human rights are inherent in all human beings and US citizens - not doled out based on who is behaving "well" and who isn't. All US citizens should have the equal right to pursue life, liberty and happiness, regardless of the "sins" they commit. The only behavior that should curtail your constitutional rights is if you commit a crime (a felony) and are convicted. But even then, criminals can still marry, have kids, own property, work and live in our communities. The only things they can't do is vote and carry firearms. If committing a sin was a barrier to receiving basic constitutional rights in this country, we would all be in big trouble, not just the LGBT community."