Sexual Predator on the loose, Carteret, New Jersey Part 2 As Promised

Good Morning everyone. As I promised yesterday here is part two of Mohamed Radwan’s story. I want to remind everyone this is not my story to tell and what I giving to you today, as well as yesterday, is a statement he sent to me. I have not yet met this young man face to face, but I do hope I get the chance somewhere in the future because to me he is brave to stand speak out knowing this can cause him more problems then solving them. I only wish we had spoke earlier because we may have been able to make a big difference in yesterdays election because things have not changed politically in Carteret. The reason I am putting his story out there for all to see is because he wants to be heard. I am hoping we can now get more people interested in covering his story and allowing him to speak up. Perhaps then others who have been in a similar situation with the same person will come forward and something can be done legally. Again, he is not looking for any capital gain. You will not find a Go-Fund me page for him. Mohamed’s only desire is justice.

Mohamed’s story continued:

                Mayor Reiman is a retaliatory type of person. He went after anyone who opposed him. I will give you a few examples:

1 1.      Jim Failace is a former Carteret mayor who ran against Reiman. In an effort to sabotage Jim Failace, Reiman fabricated damaging allegations against him because he felt politically threatened by Failace and resented how well he was liked in town.

2 2.       For not supporting Reiman’s political party early on Reiman falsely linked Fred Gerstler, who was the VP on the Board of Education, to another Board of Education member convicted of theft from the Carteret Board of Educaiton, Michael Jubanowski.

3 3.       Reiman threatened small businesses or anyone who did not support him or contribute to his campaign with eminent domain.

4 4.       Reiman would dissolve opposing unions by fabricating charges against them which forced them to spend large sums of money for legal counsel.

5 5.       If there was a function in Carteret that was NOT hosted by Mayor Reiman, he would use his political influence to disrupt the event, which were held at local rental halls. If his attempt was unsuccessful, Reiman would ask me, as well as others in his circle, to attend these functions and report to him who was in attendance. If there were individuals in attendance that he felt politically threatened by, he would have the police stake out nearby and harass them as they were leaving.

      When he was feuding with the PBA, he asked me to have my younger family members gather information of his political adversaries from social media avenues, such as Facebook, so he could use this information against them. I refused his request. I would never involve my family in any of his schemes for fear they, too, would be subjected to his abuse.

              Here are a few examples of Reiman’s union related antics:

1 1.       Sue Ivanitski is a retired crossing guard, a union member, who politically opposed the mayor. As a result, she has been waiting six years for her pension.

2 2.       Carteret Police Officer Jerome Mitchell, then the PBA President, was serving on the Carteret Board of Education. His ideas differed from that of Reiman’s.  Ultimately, Mitchell was arrested for domestic violence. I was told by Reiman this was a setup and he indicated to me how proud he was of it. The morning after the arrest Reiman called me and insisted that I read the story in  think the local Home News Tribune and then went on to say, and I quote: “I finally got that N****”! (racial epithet withheld) I’m sure you can all figure it out.

3 3.       Other Carteret union members who were victims of Reiman’s retaliatory behavior are TJ Kaminsky (Police Officer), John Caldwell, Andy Tarrant (Police Sergeant) and my father.

I was out of Carteret for a while because I was on a tour of duty in Iraq. When I returned to my hometown in 2007 Reiman appointed me to the Zoning Board. Since I was once again seen with Reiman and there were rumors guarding his sexual preference, people began to think he and I were romantically linked. There were people in town who approached my father, a Carteret employee, and asked him if the rumors were true. You can only imagine how this angered my father who did what any parent would do. He confronted Reiman, who only laughed at him saying, and once again I quote: “What are you going to do about it?” As a result of this confrontation my father severed all ties with Reiman. It was shortly after that my father lost his job and a series of erroneous charges followed attempting to ruin his life even more. All charges were eventually dismissed.

                When Mayor Reiman’s aide passed away, he constantly solicited sexual favors from me with the promise of hiring my fiancée as the replacement. Subsequently, Michael Sica was hired for the position and things got even more crazy from there. Now I not only had Reiman coming at me, now I had Sica taunting me with job offers in exchange for me performing sexual acts with Reiman or my fiancée with Michael Sica. I was to the point I would sleep with my phone at night for fear my fiancée would see some of the inappropriate text messages sent by Reiman via his borough cell phone. I am sure they would be easy to retrieve. The more I tried to distance myself from the Mayor, the more he would harass and proposition me in my adult years.

                I feel it is important to let you all know when I cam back from Iraq my mother noticed a change in Dan Reiman. She no longer saw him as a positive influence and felt he was leading me down the wrong path. To a degree I opened up to her, telling her of the victims Reiman sexually assaulted but I never mentioned my experiences to her. After seeing what my father went through, I did not want to risk my mother or brothers becoming his target. Eventually I moved out of Carteret to protect my son who was getting older and I was afraid he would one day become a target.

                Over the years I have observed when Reiman was in a pubic situation he acted chauvinistically towards women as a guise. Even when he started dating his girlfriend, he would constantly text me messages claiming it was him and his girlfriend engaged in sex acts. The texts and videos were of him engaged in masturbation. Coincidentally, he did not get his first girlfriend until it was time to run for re-election.

                To corroborate these facts, I took a polygraph test from a renowned Polygraph Examiner in the Tri-State area. I insisted the examiner asked more than the than the standard two questions. I answered every question truthfully and a copy of the results have been made available to the proper authorities. I suggest Mayor Reiman take a polygraph test, if he is to deny any of these claims. This predator should never be allowed around any teenager without proper supervision. I hope someday he will be punished for his sexual deviant acts.

                This is the end of Mohamed’s statement to me but not the end of his story. After talking to him for a while on messenger I realize this young man has been through so much and the harassment his family and friends have gone through and endure to this day is why he is still fighting the fight. Perhaps by getting his story out there, parents in this small community will start to talk to their children. Perhaps there will be others willing to step forward knowing Mohamed already took the first step and will be there to support them along with others who care and love them. Our children should never live in fear, be afraid to come to us for help, or feel they need to protect us from harm therefore doing what others push them into. I cannot urge all parents to keep reminding our children how important they are to us and to never let anyone, no matter what their station in life is, scare them into keeping secrets from us. 

  

                I used to think my sister and I were a bit over protective of our children. I remember using code words with them so if anyone ever tried to pick them up without us they knew to ask for that code word. We didn't use anything normal like pizza or ice cream because that would be too easy. No we took words from the different types of products used in my ex husbands business. Words no one would have ever just picked out of the sky so my children knew if someone came with that particular word they were really sent by me. My sister and I hammered it into their heads a million times, we were not afraid of anyone and if they needed to talk to us about anything just say it. I am thankful our children never had to go through this but I know there are so many out there holding in such secrets. Please pray for them so they can find their voice and come forward to ask for help. So they reach out and find the ability to trust an adult, speak to their parents, someone of authority, a police officer, a teacher, someone who will hear their cries and help them find a way to get their justice. 

May God watch over Mohamed, his family and friends and May God watch over our children.

               

Sexual Predator on the loose, Carteret, New Jersey Part 1

Late last evening I got a message from young man in need of getting his story out to the public for all to see for more than one reason although the primary person in this story would love to have you believe it is a political assault on his character. For the record the young man I am about to introduce you to is a registered Democrat. The reason I am starting off with this is because the elected official he is talking about is also Democrat and would love everyone to believe this is an attack by the GOP to keep him out of office. Trust me he isn’t that important to the GOP, but it is important for you to hear this story because this could happen to you, your child, your grandchild or someone else you love, and we cannot allow it. Peaked your curiosity then please read on. Let me introduce to you to Mohamed Radwan. This is his story to tell.

My name is Mohamed Radwan and I need you to hear what I am about to say in order to prevent this from happening to someone else. I am compelled to share my story with you today about a certain politician who holds the seat as the Mayor of Carteret, NJ, Dan Reiman.

                I am now thirty-five years old but this story dates back to when I was in high school. Going back to when I was in 10^th or 11^th grade I was sexually harassed (propositioned) time and time again by Reiman. This sexual harassment continued in my life for almost twenty years. In my wildest dreams I never thought I would be able to speak out about it. To talk outside my circle of trust in a “normal” conversation. I lived with fear, guilt, and humiliation buried deep inside of me but more importantly I lived with fear of retaliation from Mayor Reiman. I wasn’t afraid he would go after me, but I feared for my immediate family and that is why I have kept this hidden from the public eye until now. I can no longer allow this creep to get away with what he did to me and I believe, in my heart, he is still doing this to this day to other innocent victims who are just as afraid as I was to step forward. You see, I know there are others beside myself who he harassed but I cannot and will not use their names because it is their story to tell and I am hoping by getting my story out they will find the courage to step forward and realize there is support and safety in letting the public know what a monster this man really is.

                The sexual harassment by Dan Reiman took place on numerous occasions over the years and I stood quiet because he did what other sexual predators do to their victims in order to keep them quiet, he threatened my family. On several occasions Reiman said to me he would, and I quote, “destroy” anyone including their family, if they dared to challenge his position of power. What power, he is a mayor of a small town in NJ who thinks he is bigger than life itself. Carteret is a small community and I have a feeling many people know the truth but are afraid to come forward. No one wants their family to put in harm’s way, so I can understand why they have kept quiet over the years. There are people who work in this town who cannot speak up for fear either they will lose their job, or their family members would lose theirs. For the last sixteen years Mayer Daniel Reiman has been mayor of Carteret and he rules with an iron fist. Behind his professional face, the one he shows to the public, he keeps his secrets of being a sexual predator to young under aged-boys well hidden. I know this because as I have stated before I have lived it. I have lived with these memories and this fear for a good part of my life.

                I know you are probably wondering why I waited so long to come forward. Trust me it is not for capital gain. I am not looking for anything other than to get my story out there and hopefully protect others from never having to experience what I had to go through for so long. I chose to come forward at this time for several reasons. There was a time in my life I didn’t think I would ever speak out not just because I felt no one would believe me, but because I was worried about Reiman targeting my mother, father, and brothers. At the time this was going on my mother was ill and I didn’t want to put her through anymore. Fear kept me at bay, but I can no longer live with this secret. An eye opener for me, was when I learned of the Kevin Spacey story in which he was accused of seducing and sexually assaulting a fourteen-year-old boy. To me our stories are a mirrored image. My story started when I was 15 or 16 years old thanks to Mayor Reiman who began soliciting sexual favors from me through aol instant messaging, (IM). Remember those days?

                It was through these instant messages that Reiman sent me inappropriate text messages, videos, etc. He asked me for sexual favors with the promise of employment once he was elected as Mayor. When in his company he consistently tried to touch not only my private parts but also other teenagers in his company as well as expose his genitalia when others weren’t around. Alone in the car with him Reiman would demand sexual favors always with promise of employment as if that made up for what he was trying to do. There were many times when I was still a minor, he would ask about specifics concerning my sex life. He wanted me to send him photos and videos of me engaged in sex acts with my girlfriends or just of myself. I refused him every time, but it didn’t stop him. If you know anything about sexual predators, deviants you know this is known as “grooming.” I do have witnesses as to these events, but they are my closest friends and I will not put their names out there because to this day they are fearful of what would happen if they came forward. So, I feel I must protect them unless they so choose to come out into the open.

                It took time for me to come to terms with what I went through since I was a teenager. It took me going to talk to a therapist for me to come forward. I was advised to talk to an attorney for my own protection since Reiman has an arsenal of attorneys. Even at that I found it difficult to find someone I trusted. After talking with an attorney for approximately 15 minutes, he advised me all I had, at best, was a civil case and not a criminal case. I ended our visit because I am not seeking a quick pay off, I am only seeking justice.

                Since the most recent news reflecting the recent corruption in Carteret, I felt it would be safe to bring my story to certain media outlets. I met with the Middlesex count Prosecutor, Andrew Casey’s, office. I worked with his Lieutenant for several weeks and was told they were ready to go for a Grand Jury indictment but due to the Statue of Limitations, which is 15 years, I was two years to late with reporting this. However, there is still a chance if other victims come forward. The Lieutenant was appalled at how an elected official behaved this way pushing his so-called power around to get what he wanted for such a long time. His biggest concern is how many more victims are out there.

                Next step I got the media involved. I met with many reporters for several months. These reporters met with several people who corroborated my story. Another victim stepped forward, Pedro Morquillas of Carteret, who reported to the FBI in the summer of 2016 Reiman sexually assaulted him in 2007. At the time he seemed willing to publish his story when he talked to the editors. He agreed to meet with them again in 24 hours to go on record but  neither I, nor any of the reporters I spoke with have heard back from Pedro since. The only conclusion I can come to is since he did speak with the reporters, he has landed a job in Carteret with the Fire Department. You know what they say about politicians promises made, promises kept.

                I will continue with Mohamad’s story in tomorrow’s blog. Please share this and let people know as Americans we cannot and will not allow our children to be harassed by sexual predators. We will and need to stand together no matter how powerful these people seem to think they are.

May God watch over Mohamad, keep him and his family and friends safe from harms way.

New Jerseyans Do Your Homework Before Tuesday

With the time coming down to the wire for the mid-term elections I must wonder how New Jerseyans could even think about going to the polls on Tuesday and pushing the button for Democratic Candidate Bob Menendez. I know you have all heard me stand with the Republicans over the past couple of years but for good reason. You see there was a time I voted for Menendez. Yep, I believed in him and what he was doing for those communities around me that needed his help. Then he made it to Washington and guess what, he flipped! No more worries about those here in Jersey now he had his own agenda and the secrets were kept well hidden except to those who knew him, knew how hard he worked to get to Washington and little he did once he got there. When Bob Menendez ran for the Senate, I didn’t vote party I voted for what I saw and heard, I voted for the man who said all the right things and was out there helping his constituents. Boy did he put on a good face for all to see. His public face because we rarely get to see the private face, the one used with family and friends when a person is two faced. I’m not saying all our politicians are two faced but we do have those who are, and they are good at it. Good enough to fool many people into voting for them and then later we are sorry we didn’t see through it till it was too late.

Back in 1988 Menendez was the Mayor of Union City until 1992, voted as a Representative to the NJ House of Representatives from 1988 to 1990 then went on to NJ State Senate from 1990 to 1992. Yes, he had aspirations for moving up and he did. He used NJ as his stepping stone and he smiled, shook hands and did all he needed to do to climb that ladder to Washington and he made it Representing District 13 when  Menendez was elected to the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 2006. In 2006 he then made his move to Senate and has held that office since. This year, in the coming mid-terms, he is up for re-election but not without some major bruises on his record. Things the democrats hope and pray those in New Jersey have either forgotten, not heard of, or choose to overlook.

I’m one Jerseyans who can’t overlook it and I am one who once supported him for the seat he sits in to this day. It’s time for a change NJ. It’s time to shake things up and turn this state RED. Not just because I said so but because New Jersey should be sick and tired of the corruption in this state and want better for it. Democrats who pat you on the back and make promises while sticking their hands in your pockets they raise your taxes and take until it hurts you not them.

The problems with Bob Menendez didn’t just start, they weren’t put out there by the republican party to discredit him that’s why his campaign isn’t out there trying so hard to disprove them because they can’t. Menendez was indicted on bribery charges back in 2015. The prosecutors claim it was a scheme to trade political favors for luxury vacations, golf outings, expensive flights, and of course campaign donations. If he was convicted, he stood to spend 15 years in prison for each bribery charge. There were eight counts against him, yet I still see him not only walking the streets but holding office of this great land. If it were you or me, we would be behind bars. Of course, he denied all charges then and is still denying them today. Now why is that? Why is he still in office since bribery charges are among the most serious accusations that can be brought up against a public official, someone representing the federal government?

Actually Menendez is the first senator to face federal bribery charges since the 1980’s when NJ Democrat Harrison A. Williams Jr. was indicted as being part of a federal corruption investigation known as Abscam. Yep, you just can’t make this stuff up. So how is it he is still in office? https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/04/01/nyregion/document-indictment-of-senator-robert-menendez.html

Back in 2005 Chris Christie who was the United States attorney in Newark opened an investigation into a nonprofit group that paid Menendez more than $ 300,000 in rent. This happened at the same time Menendez helped them win federal grants. Of course, this case is another one that went no where and was brushed off as being politically motivated and slash out against poor Menendez who just wanted to help his constituents and was in no way interested in his own gain. Yeah, right! You see a pattern here because I do.

So, I keep asking myself why is he still able to run for office? Why would people in this state still vote for him? I did my homework and fast forward to 2018 when a federal judge dismissed all charges against him following the request from prosecutors. It took the U.S. District Court Judge Jose Linares all a few hours to dismiss the indictment against Menendez. Another crooked politician allowed to continue on with his lies and deceitfulness, but Jersians hold his future in their hands by pushing the button on Tuesday for his opponent Bob Hugin.

Dr. Salomon Melgen was the political donator to Menendez who was also on trial. He was the man prosecutors said Menendez took gifts from. A Florida eye doctor who gifted Menendez with gifts of luxury hotel stays, private jet flights, and campaign donations in exchange for Menendez helping him try to get U.S. visas for his girlfriends as well as intervening in the eye doctors $ 8.9 million-dollar billing dispute with Medicare and let’s not forget assisting with a port security contract of Melgen’s in the Dominican Republic. Amazing all this against him and he walks, case dismissed! You think that would have happened for you, your son, your daughter? No, it wouldn’t you would have been spending the rest of your life behind bars.

The first trial against these two ended in a mistrial. The good doctor was convicted earlier in Florida on a separate charge for Medicare billing. He has denied ever giving anything to Menendez with an expectation of getting something in return. Sounds a bit off color to me. In my opinion he didn’t say he never gave anything to Menendez like trips and luxury stays at hotels or visits to the Dominican Republic he just doesn’t admit to getting anything in return. Would you admit to that if you were already facing charges on something else? Would you admit to more wrong doing and more time behind bars? I think not.

So now the voters of New Jersey need to do their homework. Not listen to the others but do their own homework and come to an educated decision. When you go to the polls on Tuesday if you honestly feel Menendez did nothing wrong, nothing you wouldn’t have done and gotten away with then press that button and allow yet another crook to continue to play with your tax dollars. I, for one, will no longer allow anyone to stay in office more than two terms because they get too comfortable and forget they are not the reason they are in office, we are. The American people. New Jerseyans can’t afford to live here now, how many more politicians are going to be allowed to stay in office forever and bleed this state and our great nation dry before the people stand up and say enough is enough.

I urge you New Jersey to think before you push on Tuesday and instead of once again going blue and heading no where take a chance and go RED for a change. I, for one, am going RED.

Migrant Caravan, Mid-Term Chaos, Dems Out of Control

With the midterm elections just, days away the Democrats would rather we keep our focus on the chaos of the caravan of migrant immigrants heading towards our borders as opposed to the issues at hand in this election. Why? The answer is easy. If the average voter took the time to research the candidates in the Democratic party this nation would go RED from one side to the other. You see the truth can’t be hidden forever and sooner or later the lies start to trip people up. They forget the time they have been in office or decided to run for office they made speeches concerning the same issues facing this nation today. Speeches that have been recorded for all to refer to whenever we had the need. Speeches that can be used to teach our children the faults of our government and the way they don’t always, rarely, do as they say. Speeches in which they have said the same things our President is saying today in reference to employment, minimum wage, our military, securing our borders, stopping illegal immigration, I’m sure you get the picture. A candidate usually says what he thinks the public wants to hear in order to get him or herself voted into office then once in, their constituents are left to wonder whatever happened to those amazing promises that were made. Where are the jobs, the security, the promise of a better tomorrow, the stopping of illegal immigration, fixing our military, etc.?

I know a lot of people won’t agree with me but oh well, the truth hurts. President Trump is the first President to ever tick off his campaign promises one at a time and show the people he can be trusted, at least in my lifetime. Yet the left will have you believe all the accomplishments of the past two years were put forth by the previous administration and President Trump just happened to step in and fill their shoes. Yeah, right! If you believe that I have a bridge I want to sell you.

The funny thing about all this hate against President Trump is all these democrats who are against him and love calling him names, attacking his family, calling for his administration to be abused as well as any of his supporters, they benefited from Donald J. Trump businessman making donations to their campaigns over the years. They didn’t see anything wrong with him or the way he did business if he was making the donations to their campaigns. These people are so two faced it’s a sin.

I remember one big mouth celebrity who was out there this weekend campaigning for the democratic candidate for Governor of the great state of Georgia, Stacy Abrams. Of course, I’m talking about Oprah who seems to think we have forgotten how she gushed over a younger Donald J. Trump when he appeared on her show. She even suggested he run for the office but at the time he refused and said the only time he would even consider it would be if this country was really in need of help. Guess what, he kept his promise to her and now she is pushing not only the race card but the gender card. Give me a break! I listened to Stacy Abrams on a news cast last evening and let me tell you not only did she not answer the questions put to her all she did was bash the President and talk about him being a racist. I don’t even think she understands what the word means. President Trump is working for all American citizens, all of America and refuses to take a salary. Hmmm, let me see if anyone in Congress will refuse their salary or anyone holding any political office that pays even the smallest of salaries. No, I don’t think you will find someone who is willing to do that. Heck they are complaining they can’t even live on the $ 174,000.00 a year they are getting from the taxpayers now as their salary not to mention the fact they retire with this same income. You don’t, your pension doesn’t match your monthly income. Nope the average Joe struggles when it’s time to retire but not our Congress. Put in one term or ten terms you still leave collecting your entire pay for the rest of your life. Freaking amazing. That goes for our Presidents as well.

This past few months the Dems have thrown one curve ball or another to try and turn this blue wave that they believe is coming into reality but to be honest I don’t see it happening. They bring drama before the news to side track the voter but if you haven’t already made up your mind as to whom you are voting for come Tuesday you better sit down and do some homework. Don’t follow just because it’s easier or you don’t agree with everything President Trump says. This soft shell everyone seems to be wearing lately is not what this country was made from. Americans have always been tough and willing to fight for their freedom and their rights. We have always been ready, willing and able to protect our country at all costs and now we are faced with our borders being invaded, yes, I said it, invaded by this caravan of migrants because they want a better life. Well, I’m sorry but that’s not a legal reason to ask for asylum to the USA. Their lives are not in danger they need work. Before we let them in, we need to work with Americans who are still homeless and see to it we fix our problems before we keep giving in to every one else.

You know last night I was listening to a news program my husband had on. I wasn’t watching it but could hear it from the kitchen. I had to stop as one speaker made a comment and wanted to know how we, Americans, can see this caravan of migrants fleeing their countries for better opportunities any different then we see the so-called invasion of the Pilgrims when they invaded this land hundreds of years ago. I had to stop and shake my head. Seriously, where do these moronic people come from.

Back in the day of the landing of the Pilgrims there were no laws for a country not developed yet. No one was coming here for better jobs because there were no jobs. There was only hope and determination of being able to live a life not full of tyranny. A life where they could farm their land, practice the religion they so choose without fear of persecution. They saw a different life for themselves but not one owed to them or handed to them but one they had to fight for and work long hard days to achieve. No one gave anyone things for free or just allowed them to do as they pleased.

Yes, we fought with Native Americans for the land and we hear how horrible that time was, and I do agree. I imagine it was a horrible time for all involved but was it any different then the Romans invading the countries they wanted in their possession or the Germans, Russia Spain, etc. There is war associated with history of countries around the world so why always point the finger at America? How is it the way Americans settled this country is wrong according to the critics but other countries who ran over those who lived there prior were right? War is not pretty and sometimes there are no easy solutions. At the time this country was formed it was the way of the world not just the colonies. It is what they knew and what the Native Americans knew in order to protect themselves and the land on both sides of the fence.

As time went on, we grew up. We realized we were tired of fighting wars on our land. We didn’t want to shed anymore blood on our soil. After the civil war we strived for a better life but still had a lot to learn. Over the years people became more educated and for the most part people began to understand there was no place for racism in this country. We saw improvements in baby steps, but the democratic party played on racism in this country. They fought to keep it alive and well. Instead of working to help their constituents improve their lives they strived to keep them in poverty with welfare and food stamps. No family could live on the money the government gives them a month but if they so much as earned a few dollars they lived in fear of losing the help they received in order to keep a roof over their family’s heads and barely food on the table. While those making the laws lived in beautiful homes and enjoyed gourmet meals their constituents lived with the bare necessities hoping and praying for a better tomorrow. Yet we have a caravan of migrants who want to come here in order to get all they could for free and the democrats want them here to get their votes.

In my opinion this isn’t about politics or race. Heck it’s not even about the migrants trying so hard to enter this country illegally. It’s about those who are behind the scenes pulling the strings and paying for these people to push forward and wreak havoc on this great nation in order to make President Trump look bad before the mid-term elections because then they can push their agenda and their blue wave. What’s their agenda? To destroy this nation from within.

It’s amazing President Lincoln once said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” He was a very wise man to be able to see even then the fighting across the aisle, the propaganda spread even then, was and is to this day a disease this country needs to rid itself of. We can no longer allow politicians to push all the buttons and instill fear in Americans. We need to start thinking for ourselves and we, the American people, need to stand together, get behind our President, protect our country and secure our borders. We need to insist our government democrat or republican put America first and foremost.

I stand with President Donald J. Trump, his administration, our police officers, border patrol, and military in securing our borders and seeing to it if anyone wants to enter this country, they do it the right way for this day and age according to our laws or they are turned away. I hope and pray it does not turn into a battle, but we cannot allow people to walk all over this great nation. It’s time to take a stand.

May God Bless our military, boarder patrol, and police officers as they stand together to secure our borders, God Bless President Trump and guide him, and may God Bless this great nation.

The Supreme Court Appointment and Me Too Movement

Let me start off tonight talking about The Me Too movement #MeToo because I think there are way too many people using this movement to take revenge on people and not for what it was intended to do. So what is the Me Too Movement? Why was it even started and when? Well back in October of 2017 #MeToo went viral on social media because of the widespread abuse, sexual harassment, going on especially in the work place. It didn’t start because one morning a group of women woke up and decided they wanted to make a lot of noise and start yet another commotion in this country. No, it started following sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein. This movement was started to help women come forward, to encourage them not to hide and to stand up and tell their story so others who have faced such harassment or assault would know they are not alone.

The history of Me too goes back before 2017, as far back as 2006 when social activist Tarana Burke started using the phrase on, you ready for this, Myspace social media network. That’s how long ago this started. She didn’t start using this phrase because of all these stars that have adopted her famous quote, but she did start to use it because she was inspired by a 13-year-old girl she was unable to respond to. This young girl needed someone to talk to and she found Tarana whom she confided she was sexually assaulted. Later, after she had time to think about it, Tarana has said she wished she had told this young girl, “me too.”

Fast forward to 2017 when actress Alyssa Milano started encouraging women to use the #MeToo to draw attention to sexual assault and harassment. We all must admit this is a good cause because no one should feel as if they are alone, but you know it’s not just women who are assault and sexually harassed. Since this movement started a year ago we have had more actresses come out with their stories about what happened to them some 25 years ago or more while they were working their way up the ladder of success. I am not saying it is right under any circumstances, but I am saying, why wait this long and for many of these women coming out, till their careers were on a spiral down. It brings in the question did this really happen or are they just looking for fifteen minutes of fame.

Ok, so now everyone is pissed off at me, a woman who can think this way. Well I’ll tell you why I feel this way because waiting all this time to come out and approach or accuse this person who allegedly attacked, harassed, or abused these women does not give the men or women accused of such actions the ability to prove their innocents but it does cast a shadow on their character. One they cannot clear because the evidence is long gone. I know it is not easy for someone to come forward and say they have been abused. Some step up immediately, others find the need to hide, they change the way they do things, they adjust their lives and keep it buried. Some find it necessary to talk about to keep sane and be able to live in the world around them while others find the only way they can live in this world is to keep it hidden for fear of what others may think. Yes, even in this day and age when we should be more open and understanding of those who have been bullied, harassed, abused, and assaulted, there are still those small-minded people who look down their nose at people in these situations.

This #MeToo movement is for anyone who has truly been assaulted, harassed, bullied, abused in any way shape or form. We have children, women, and men of all walks of life who have been put through this hell and are ashamed because to them, they allowed this to happen. This is how society has made them feel and it’s time we stop and start offering a helping hand to someone we think could use a shoulder to cry on or just someone to confide in. Someone who could help them understand they are not alone.

Now, you can see I do understand the Me-Too Movement. What I don’t like is the BS that is going on in this country today. Women are being allowed to come forward 25, 35, 40 years after a so-called assault and accuse someone of sexual assault, drag their names all through social media and the news and ruin a person’s life with no physical evidence to speak of.

Let’s look at the craziness surrounding the appointment of Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Yep, that’s right, nod your head because you knew this is where I was headed from the beginning.  What a career the Judge has had. We know he graduated from Yale College cum laude, with a degree in American History. From there he went on to Yale Law School. He started his career as a law clerk and then went on to postgraduate fellow working under Judge Starr. When Starr moved on from D.C. Circuit to the Office of Independent Counsel, Kavanaugh followed him. Now, here’s a kicker and probably one of the many reasons the Democrats don’t like him, Kavanaugh assisted Starr in his investigations concerning President Bill Clinton. He even played a lead role in drafting the Starr Report.  If you think back to Clinton’s time as President you will remember this report urged the impeachment of none other than President Bill Clinton, who did assault and sexually harass women in the Oval Office!!!!!

When George W. Bush was elected President Judge Kavanaugh joined the administration as White House Staff Secretary. He was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit by President Bush in 2003. He has been investigated by the F.B.I. six times in his career as he moved up from one position to another. During the 2003 to 2018 time period he was found to have perhaps the most conservative voting record on the D.C. Court in every policy area.

He built a career for himself in the political arena and at any time over the years Dr. Ford could have stepped forward and made her accusations however, she chose to wait till he was nominated for Supreme Court Justice. Why? Why wait when you could have stopped him from moving forward years ago? Why wait and go to Senator Feinstein with a letter and ask her not to make it public? Why not have her talk to the committee in private and have them investigate this before it got to the point it is today?

The waiting, the timing, the inability to remember what happened, when, and where makes this hard to accept at face value. We are at a place in this country today where people are all for Dr. Ford and against Judge Kavanaugh or all for Judge Kavanaugh and all against Dr. Ford. My God even on this we cannot have an in between. At first, I was upset the Republicans have put voting on hold again and again to give her a chance to speak but then I thought about it. Let her talk, let her say her peace and have her time to be questioned but I implore the Committee to not handle this with kid gloves when she takes the stand because I know you will not handle Judge Kavanaugh with kid gloves and she should be put through the same harsh questioning. No holds barred in order to get to the truth on both sides.

Judge Kavanaugh could end this tonight if he so chose to but he is holding his ground. He is standing on his merit, his record, his reputation as a good man, a family man, and a man who loves his country and our Constitution. He is not hiding away trying to make negotiations with the Committee. He wants the truth to be told. He is willing to come forward and speak to them and he has not laid blame on anyone even though we all know this is the work of the left.

Dr. Ford has put off testifying time and again. Now she is to come forward on Thursday. I hope she does but if she doesn’t I hope the Committee puts and end to this farce and steps up to take a vote. It is time to stop playing political games. Did anyone ever think the Dr. is afraid to come forward and testify, not because of Judge Kavanaugh, but because she would or could be lying under oath. I do not disbelieve this happened to her, but I do question who she chose to point the finger at 40 years later.

The nomination committee has been more than understanding of Dr. Ford’s feelings and situation, but you must admit all the stalling, all the demands, only make you question more if she has total recall of what happened, if she is laying blame on the wrong person, or if she is just looking for her 15 minutes. I don’t know what she could bring to the hearings as proof this took place, but I do know he has an impeccable record to stand on and she had more than enough time over the years to step up and stop him in his tracks. If she really and honestly felt this man did such a thing to her then why wait?

Again, we need to hear both sides or rather the Committee does because in the end the vote is theirs to make. As for the craziness following this circus it hurts the #MeTooMovement. People who have been abused, assaulted, bullied, sexually assaulted, humiliated in the work place are less likely to come forward because of the fear they will not be believed. Unfortunately, in today’s society, women can come out and make these accusations some 40 years later and the men are automatically doomed. They are found guilty in public opinion and not given a chance to be heard. This is why I feel both parties need to be heard. It’s easy to say I was sexually assault by so and so 25, 35, 40 years ago but not easy to prove it, yet these women get to wave that magic wand, and ruin the lives of people who have no evidence in their defense because this is now a he said she said BS story that the news media loves.

So the next time someone uses #MeToo, instead of jumping on the band wagon, why not ask them if they understand why this was started. Why not ask them if they know about that 13-year-old girl who confided in Tarana Burke. If they say they don’t know anything about it then they don’t understand the #MeTooMovement. They don’t understand what so many are going through in this world and they don’t understand you can’t just cry wolf and ruin someone’s life because you need to have your 15 minutes of fame. Let’s stand together for the truth, for justice, for good old fashioned American values and morals and let’s not pass judgement on someone because someone else knows how to weave a story.

May God Bless America and may Lady Liberty hold strong!

Disgracing Their Memories

This week this county saw the live funerals of two Americans, Aretha Franklin and John McCain. Now I won't lie and tell you I watched either one but I did see and hear the rhetoric of both on the news and the internet. Actually I heard some things on facebook and I thought to myself, "No, that can't be right. No one in their right mind would use a funeral, a time to remember a loved one, as a political platform." Now I have to ask, "What the hell were they thinking?" Better yet, were they thinking?

I have never been to a funeral where the Pastors preferred to take a pot shot at the President or any public figure instead of talking about the accomplishments of the person lying in wake. I don't understand how being a man or woman of God they can have such hate in their hearts and then wonder what is wrong with this world today.  I do get how the politicians who spoke could do such a thing, after all, they would use anything as a platform to get their point across.

I have always loved the study of religions since I was a child. When I got older I started to understand the politics of this great nation. I was upset when prayer was removed from school and I was only a child at the time. Our teachers taught us about the separation of church and state. Today there is no separation except certain people cannot say prayer in school while others are allowed to say prayer in school, work, or where ever they are at.

Priests, Pastors, Reverends today seem to have lost their way. They are not in a battle with evil but in a battle with politics. They all want to stand up and be heard about this political topic or that when all the people really need from them is some understanding and peaceful guidance. The churches of today are not what they used to be and then they wonder why people are not attending as they used to.

I was born and raised Catholic. I love my church, Saint Anthony's in Silver Lake are of Belleville, NJ.  As a young girl I felt the love of God when I walked through the doors but over the years it has changed. Although now they have an amazing Priest there, Father Dave, who brings laughter and the human side of religion back to his sermons. Still when I walk in the church today I don't feel the love there once was. I don't feel the hug of the angels as I enter that door. How could you when so many people walk through the doors of any given church, not just mine, with hate and disgust in their souls.

Just reading what these people had to say in these two funerals, Senator McCain's daughter even took her shot. It was her father's funeral and it was her final chance to tell wonderful stories of her life growing up with her dad, of all the things they did together, and she chooses to tarnish that with a pot shot at the Presidents slogan by saying her father's America was always great! Well let me tell you all this that is a bunch of  poppycock.

I grew up in John McCains America. I was a teenager during the Viet Nam war and I watched our soldiers come home and the hate that was encouraged and thrown at them. I watched this great nation over the years go from a time of loving the flag and all it represents to destroying it in order to make a statement. The only statement they made was they don't respect or care about the flag and the men and women who fought for it. I watched this country go from a generation of hard working people fighting to improve things for their children and grandchildren to a bunch of pansies who are afraid to stand up for what they believe in for fear of offending someone. Give me a break.

We went from standing in the light of day and spreading our wings to soar, to walking down a dark tunnel trying to find our way out with little to no light. Why, because business after business was leaving this country and one by one people were losing their jobs, their homes, families were splitting up because they could no longer take the stress of being together and not being able to support each other. Sadness showed on many faces and the homeless numbers grew. The light we used to walk through this tunnel was getting weaker and weaker by the moment. No America was not what it once was.

We had Presidents who thought they were doing the right thing for this nation but things just weren't working out so the country voted in our first black President. I won't lie to you, he ran two times and I voted against him both times but when he was in office I respected him because he was my President regardless. Still he had a chance to do what was right for the minority in this great nation and instead things got progressively worse. Tensions between blacks and whites went back to the 1960's. My God there were riots in the streets just like 1968 and the only ones that get hurt at such acts are the people, not those in public office. People were burned out of their houses and business but guess what folks the politicians still got to go to work the next day and collect that check your taxes paid them. Our wonderful  President at the time, his administration, and Congress still made the big bucks even though you couldn't afford to feed your family and companies were leaving this country in droves. Crime and violence was on the rise and our police were put under microscopes while our so called leaders turned the people against them putting a target on their backs and making it harder for them to do their jobs. Criminals were their hero's.

Then we vote in President Trump. Granted many democrats are upset and aren't happy with the vote but if others in the past had to suck it up when their candidate lost why is it so different now. I'll tell you why. I'll tell you why these pastors and politicians chose these two funerals to take a stand and knock President Trump in the oh so subtle way because he is getting the job done they only talk about. Pastors and politicians talk about bringing the community together, making improvements, helping the people but they aren't. Instead they are dividing the people, they are fighting to keep the hate alive in this great nation. To them President Trump is a threat!

You don't believe me then look at the facts, American companies are coming back to America, tariffs have been put in place for fair trade, unemployment rate is down, blacks and Hispanics unemployment numbers are at an all time low as are, unemployment numbers for women. President Trump gave us a list of his goals when he was Candidate Trump and one by one he is keeping his promises and ticking them off his to-do list. There have even been summits with Russia and Korea. Korea no one has been able to get two steps ahead of until now. At least the lines of communications are opened and there is hope for putting an end to the craziness of the past.

The only thing that has ever stood in his way these past two years is our very own Congress. Those "wonderful" men and women we voted into office to do what was best for this country not their pockets yet they find it better to spend their days bad mouthing the President and this great nation. We now have a Democratic party that looks and feels like a communist regime. This is not what America is supposed to be. Listen to their words of hate, racism, disgust, and their rhetoric to keep this country torn apart. Rhetoric this week, that followed them to funeral services of two public figures which brings me back to the beginning of this blog.

America needs to wake up and see the propaganda for what it is. It's time to tell any political figure if they do not do what is best for the United States of America and all it's citizens they will not be in office. America is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We cannot allow those nay sayer's to keep stepping on our rights, to keep dragging this country down, to pull us back into the dark and put the lights of Ms. Liberty out for good. It's time to stand together and unite. It's time to realize this country needed fixing and it did need to be made great again, as it needs to be made safe again. So let's stand together with our President and see to it no one stands in the way of our progress.

In closing I would like to say to the families and friends of Aretha Franklin and Senator John McCain, I am truly sorry for your loss. May they R.I.P. in the arms of the Lord.

May God Bless and keep this great nation safe and united.

The Men and Women of Yesteryear

The Men and Women of Yesteryear

By Toni Gamarro

The men and women of yesteryear,

in my heart I hold dear.

They were cut from a different mold,

strong, determined and bold.

Their love for this country was burned in their soul,

even as war after war took its toll.

These men and women were a strong breed,

determination was their creed.

I often listened to the stories they told,

hearing them never grew old.

They talked of when this country went to war,

and the men were called to serve the corps,

which they did with pride in their heart,

hugging their families, saying good bye to their sweetheart.

Off they marched to protect the red, white and blue,

while most women stayed here to do what they had to,

serving their country in a different way.

Today they would shake their heads in dismay,

at the way the people of this great land

are afraid to take a stand,

allowing us to be divided again,

by nasty, hate filled women and men.

It’s sad when you think of all they went through

to protect the freedoms of the red, white, and blue.

Freedoms many take for granted today.

What’s the big deal they say!

Perhaps you should open a book and read,

learn about this strong breed,

 of men and women who carved the way,

so you could have a future today.

A reason to hold your head high and proud,

to be able to speak and be heard above the crowd.

To be free to do as you so choose,

each of us able to have our own views.

Amazing how they carved out the land

and a constitution on which we could stand.

Yes, some stories I heard with my own two ears

and others were read in books through the years.

We have so many to thank for the freedoms we are blessed.

Why do we put it to the test?

Stand together united and true,

protect the freedoms of the red, white, and blue.

No fighting from within

because that is how evil will win.

The men and women of yesteryear

knew how to overcome their fear.

If they were here to speak today

I think I know what they would say.

Protect your freedoms and stand united,

don’t become shortsighted.

Do not let their work be tossed aside,

hold your head high with American Pride,

for they believed in the task at hand.

They fought hard for this great land,

and it’s our job to see it through,

we must always protect the red, white and blue.