You-Tube of Nov. 10, 2016, Marine Corps Birthday speech in Manchester, N.H.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pplwwv-ajaQ&feature=em-share_video_user
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pplwwv-ajaQ
Non-fiction books (FAHIM SPEAKS), sports columns (SPORT-THOUGHTS), and legislative matters, as a N.H. State Representative and a member of the Education Committee.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Thursday, November 17, 2016
BILL BELICHICK—KINGMAKER?
BILL BELICHICK—KINGMAKER?
A friend from California came visiting the
first weekend in November and was struck by New Hampshire’s political energy.
“Signs everywhere,” he remarked. “We don’t
see anything like this in California. And the big-time candidates never visit
us.”
I explained that unlike California, New
Hampshire was a battleground state, and that politics are our state sport.
That’s why Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Barack Obama were making election
eve visits to the Granite State.
“Can we go see them?” asked my friend.
“Would it cost much?”
I replied that we could see them for free,
if he didn’t mind waiting in line.
So at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday night we stood
with at least a couple thousand people outside the Center of New Hampshire in
Manchester to get into a Hillary Clinton rally. It was cold but we eventually
snaked our way inside and into the main event room, where the candidate would
appear after 8:30 p.m.
Right after we finally went through the metal
detectors organizers began redirecting those behind us to alternate areas,
where they’d have to watch on big screen TVs. I was sad for them, as they’d
been waiting for hours in the cold and then didn’t get to see the candidate.
Local Democrat candidates gave warm-up speeches,
James Taylor sang songs and eventually Mrs. Clinton appeared to give her
speech. My friend excitedly got lots of photos and video of the person most
pundits predicted would be our next president.
The next night we returned to Manchester
and again stood in line for a couple hours to get into the SNHU Arena to see
Donald Trump. The larger venue eventually filled with around 10,000 fired-up
spectators. After some warm-up speeches the candidate appeared and the crowd
exploded.
Trump clearly reveled in the bedlam and he
quickly shared a bombshell announcement. He claimed to have the endorsements of
two New England Patriot icons, quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill
Belichick. Trump then read a letter from Belichick, which stated
“Congratulations on a tremendous campaign. You have dealt with an unbelievable
slanted and negative media, and have come out beautifully – beautifully. You’ve
proved to be the ultimate competitor and fighter. Your leadership is amazing. I
have always had tremendous respect for you, but the toughness and perseverance
you have displayed over the past year is remarkable.”
The crowd roared and my friend asked me if
I thought the endorsements from the football folks were significant.
“Yes,” I replied. And I pointed out that
Trump would soon be leaving for a final post-midnight rally in Michigan, where
Brady played college football, and where Trump would surely mention the
quarterback’s endorsement.
Michigan would eventually go to Trump by
the narrowest of margins, less than .3%. The midnight flight with the Patriot
endorsements arguably won the state—and the election—for Trump.
So Trump now owes Belichick and
Brady—bigly! As both are likely to retire during a Trump presidency, I can see
ambassadorships on the horizon. Brady would be a perfect ambassador to Brazil,
the native land of his wife Gisele.
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