I would like to respond to the letter “We Need to Start Talking About The Emotional Impact of Election Day” (October 14-20, 2020). Just to clarify, Trump did not win the election - Hillary lost the election! It started long before 2016 with her entitlement mentality and risking the lives of those serving overseas with her callous behavior towards what one should consider normal and good for the country. I was in intelligence for 30+ years and at any time during my career if I handled classified information the way she and her staff did (personal unsecured server as a starting point) I would have lost my Top Secret clearance, my job and probably ended up in jail. The entitlement mentality of the self appointed ruling class seems to have no shame or limits.
I spent 18 of those 30+ years serving oversea from Africa, Asia, Europe to the Middle East often in quite dangerous situations. To quote some in politics; "no one is above the law." However, in Hillary's case the same laws that everyone in the intelligence community abides by when handling and dealing with classified traffic did not apply to her. Handling classified information the way Hillary did was not "driven to govern for the good of the country." She put in danger my life while serving in the Middle East along with the lives of my fellow diplomats. Comey then gave her a pass which did unimaginable damage to the credibility of the FBI. James Clapper lied to congress (metadata) when he appeared under oath during congressional hearings with no repercussions for lying under oath to congress on TV. Bill Clinton met with Loretta Lynch on the tarmac in Phoenix to talk about family and children during the Hillary Clinton email investigation (if you believe that I have a bridge for sale). Lois Lerner denied and targeted 501C's that did not meet the standards of the Obama administration (she retired with full pension).
Eric Holder's rogue operation (Fast and Furious) cost at least one known border agent his life (how many Mexican civilians lost their lives with the guns provided under the fast and furious operation is unknown to this day).
So as one looks back as to why Hillary lost, one only has to look at the abuse of the self appointed "ruling class" which continued until the American people said, "enough" in 2016. Donald Trump was elected and Hillary lost primarily because this entitlement mentality of the self appointed ruling class that became so entrenched in Washington.
"No one is above the law" unless you are part of that special class. So what is picked to run against Donald Trump in 2020 but part of the Washington corrupt establishment instead of someone with honest integrity such as former senator Jim Webb of Virginia or Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. No, instead the democratic party picks one who has been in the Washington entitlement class for almost 50 years with little or no accomplishment other than to enrich himself and his family. If Donald Trump gets a second term there is no one to blame other than the entitlement mentality of the self appointed ruling class.
In conclusion, regardless of who wins one can only hope that one party or the other wins big and for the good of America so we avoid the rioting, looting to protest the outcome of a close election will bring.
Dudley Losselyong
Great Falls