One of the truisms in American politics is that Republicans tend to learn the wrong lessons from their political failures.

Since Obama won reelection a week ago, the White House website has been flooded with petitions from citizens in various states wanting their states to secede from the union.  It is important to note that these are not official petitions by the state governments but rather petitions started by individual citizens.

Several newly elected U.S. Congress Members from California ran as challengers against favored incumbents. Some of these new Members stand out as evidence of California's growing independent political dynamic. In the Bay Area Eric Swalwell defeated career Democratic politician and incumbent Rep. Pete Stark while a local farmer, David G. Valadao, will represent a portion of California's agricultural heartland.

For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were reality, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.- Nicolo Machiavelli, The 8th Institute

I began writing opinion pieces in 1973. It’s now 39-years later and in something approaching 500,000 words, I have expressed many opinions about issues and people. I have neither hidden my political beliefs nor Christian faith, neither my cultural values nor love of baseball.