Guest MINDSETTER™ Rep. Costa: Post Election Suggestions for Disgruntled Americans

Thursday, November 17, 2016

 

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Rep. Doreen Costa

During this exciting time in our nation’s history, more than ever, I am proud to be an American, because on November 8 2016, registered voters in our great country turned out in record numbers to decidedly elect Donald J Trump, the 45th President of the United States.

The hardworking taxpayers of all fifty states have spoken with a loud and resounding voice, telling all elected leaders in Washington, D.C. that their decision for change will be honored. That they in fact, want America to be great again. 

Following this year’s Presidential election, what I see in response to President-elect Trump’s win is beyond troublesome. To witness protesters burn our beautiful American flag on live television, block traffic, break storefront glass on business owners, burn and flip cars, because their candidate lost, is disgusting and is certainly NOT the American way.

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President Obama won his bid for the Presidency twice, but I never voted for him. When my vote fell short of carrying his opponent to the White House, I did not cry, ask for a hug, wear a safety pin or burn the American flag. What I did do, was peacefully accept that my candidate lost, and wished our new President, his family and our country the very best, as should any self-respecting American.

I would like to ask why?  What will this accomplish?  Protestors are hurting small business owners and the livelihood of hardworking families by destroying public and private property. Students are not going to class because they say they are too upset. I hope the professors are giving them a zero for skipping classes that day. Governor Gina M. Raimondo was seen hugging her staff because her and their choice of President was defeated. I believe, if you have to hug your staff because you or they didn’t get their way, then I suggest you replace them with more emotionally stable personnel.  Even Providence’s Mayor Jorge Elorza has hinted at breaking the law, should the President set forth a mandate he doesn’t personally agree with. If the Mayor of our capitol city refuses to honor the federal or state law, I believe he should be arrested. I beg anyone engaging in such destructive and immoral behavior to STOP! 

The election is over.  We all woke up the next day, went to work, attended school and it was business as usual.  Here is my suggestion to anyone disgruntled by the election results. Do something that invites goodness, kindness, compassion and gratitude into your or another’s personal experience.  Thank a Veteran today and every day, hold the door open for the person behind you, pay it forward at your favorite coffee house by buying someone you don’t know a cup of coffee.  There is so much we can do as a nation to bring our country and its citizens together, for one common good, to make our country great again.  So let’s do it! 

One last suggestion to my fellow Americans. Replace your safety pin with a U.S. flag pin to show respect for your country, its leaders and its citizens, rather than add to the demoralization of the greatest nation in the world.

 

Related Slideshow: Winners and Losers - 2016 Election

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Winner

Joe Trillo and John DePetro

While most Republicans in Rhode Island were hiding in the bushes, Trillo (the former GOP lawmaker) and DePetro (the WPRO talk show host) were loyal advocates for Donald Trump from the beginning and through the rough spots.

Both could be big winners and could score slots with the administration -- want to go to the White House? You now know the rings you need to kiss.

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Winner

Donald Trump, President of the United States

The most unlikely candidate pulled off the biggest victory in Presidential history. The billionaire developer was underestimated which set forth much of his success during the primaries and in the election. The next four years will never be dull.   

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Winner

General Michael Flynn

The Rhode Island native and URI grad will have a major roll in the Trump Administration and America's foreign policy. As top GOP consultant Ian Prior wrote in GoLocal in July about Flynn when he was on the VP shortlist:

Of course, there are any number of national security experts that can prosecute the case against Hillary Clinton, but Flynn is unique. He is a registered Democrat that was appointed by President Obama in 2012 to serve as Director of the DIA. Even more importantly, he resigned two years later over what he believed to be a misguided approach by the administration as it concerned ISIS.

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Loser

Nellie Gorbea, Secretary of State

This year's election was one of the the most mismanaged in modern Rhode Island history. First, the Chief-of Staff of the Secretary of State's office gets into a battle with talk show host John DePetro on social media. The action seemed inappropriate at best for the head of the office administering the election.

Then, the state's Presidential election hit a number of rough spots with faulty equipment and a failed repair and triage system that lead to long lines and frustration in a number of communities across the state.

The job of Secretary of State has three major components:

1) Take care of the State's achieves

2) Maintain a database of businesses

3) Run the state's elections

She needs to assure voters that she understands the problems and correct the mistakes.

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Loser

Brandon Bell, GOP Chair

Both Democratic Congressional candidates won big. The GOP had a net loss in the legislature.

Bell went all in on taking out Speaker Nick Mattiello -- a pro-business legislator, instead of recruiting a large number of competitive candidates. If Mattiello delivers of paper ballots like his campaign claims - Bell will have wildly miscalculated at every level and will have left the GOP a weaker party.

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Losers

Cicilline and Langevin

A Trump win greatly increases the likelihood that Rhode Island will lose a Congressional seat in the next federal redistricting. Rhode Island will be more like Vermont and Delaware -- two Senators and just one House member. This will mean a big loss for Rhode Island's clout in D.C.

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Winner

Allan Fung, Republican Mayor of Cranston

Fung had just the kind of night he wanted to have. He ran up big numbers against Democrat Mike Sepe and put parkinggate in his proverbial rear window.

The margin of victory is impressive -- Fung ran up 68% of the vote and has established himself as one of the top Republicans in Rhode Island.

Now, the personable Fung is the GOP frontrunner to challenge Raimondo as it does not look like she is going to Washington, D.C. now.

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Loser

RI's Broken Technology Infrastructure 

No money, no car, and no vote.

Lets see if we got this right. You have to wait in line to vote in some locations for as much as two hours because not enough scanners were deployed. Some days you can't register your car because the Hewlett-Packard system is not deployed and the state is now suing the company. And, tens of thousands of folks most in need have not been able to get their most critical benefits (or the from benefits) because the UHIP technology was flawed despite hundreds of millions being spent. 

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Winner

Speaker of the House, Nick Mattiello

If Mattiello does hold on to his House seat, he will be a stronger Speaker than ever before. He has added more Democrats to his majority and was the architect to many of the Democrats victories. 

The simmering stress between Mattiello and Raimondo will turn into a vibrant boil over during the next two years. Raimondo was no help to Mattiello or House members -- they had to clean up for her truck tolls and absorb her unwillingness to release 38 Studios documents.

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Loser

Gina Raimondo, Governor

Raimondo's options and national political network just took a major blow. No longer can Raimondo jump to the Clinton Administration to avoid a difficult reelection. Moreover, national Democratic connections are now in Siberia as the Presidency, the House and the Senate are all in Republican hands.

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Loser

Peter F. Neronha United States Attorney District of Rhode Island 

In a short period, it is highly likely the Neronha and a few other high profile political appointees will be replaced by the Trump White House. 

The impact of Ray Gallison and others is an unknown.

 
 

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