After President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on that ill-fated Friday in November 22, 1963, I sort of lost hope in politics. Especially when Vice President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in to take the place of the fatally wounded President Kennedy. To this day I never liked President Johnson. No, please, not because he was a Democrat, but I felt he was an arrogant and condescending man.

I don’t think there is a President who has done more harm to the citizens of this country than President Johnson with his Great Society Program. This program has kept more people from ever reaching their potential and enriching themselves with their God given talents. "How?" some might ask. "Simple," why try to better yourself when the government via the Great Society Program will feed you, give you housing, money, for doing absolutely nothing! There are people who have lived for decades on welfare; that lifestyle has prohibited them from ever becoming productive citizens for themselves and their families. After spending untold billions on this government giveaway program, poverty has not decreased. Proving that Welfare Programs only helps to boost more poverty.

As I ventured into the world of politics in my Hispanic neighborhood in North Fort Worth, I kept getting unanswered questions from friends and family members who were politically engaged in the game of politics. Who, by the way, were all Democrats. From the1940s until the 1980s, Fort Worth, as well as the State of Texas, was heavily represented by the Democrat Party. Obviously, during that time you didn’t have much of a choice to choose candidates of another political party, you went along with what the Democrats gave you. At least that is the way it was here in Fort Worth.

As I observed the tremendous racism and discrimination Hispanics and blacks endured as a young voter, I kept asking myself and friends why in the world we continued voting for the uncaring about minorities white Democrat politicians. "James, the Democrats are for the little man and poor folks like you and me, they’re not for the rich folks like the Republicans," was the answer I usually got. "So what?" I’d fired back, "if they care so much about us, why don’t they enact laws to give us the freedom to have access to government jobs, live where we want to, be able to enjoy a meal at a fine restaurant, and go to a dance hall where only the white folks can get it?" Folks, I never got an honest answer from my Democrat friends or family members.

After the debacle in 1968 at the Democrat National Convention in Chicago, I jumped in the bandwagon to support Vice President Richard Nixon on the Republican ticket. It was my first time to vote for a Republican presidential candidate. Sadly, after a good first term, "Tricky Dick," was caught in the Watergate scandal and resigned as President. His successor, Gerald Ford, issued a controversial pardon for any federal crimes President Nixon may have committed which inevitably caused him to lose the bid to the White House against "The Peanut Governor" Jimmy Carter.

According to presidential historians, President Carter has been tagged as one of, if not the, worst American President ever elected. Though I don’t dispute the historian’s evaluations of President Carter, I cannot thank him enough for his ineptness. Due to President Carter’s shortcomings, he set the path to help elected one of the best Presidents this country ever put in the White House ­ President Ronald Wilson Reagan. I still remember how my supposed Hispanic Democrat friends despised me because of my unwavering support for President Reagan. I remember how I proudly displayed the lone Reagan/Bush yard sign amidst all the Democrat signs that abound in my neighborhood. Sadly, many times I would find my Reagan/Bush yard sign torn and scattered on my yard.

After President George H. Bush won the Presidency for one term, I didn’t have the admiration for him like I had for President Reagan. Though I voted for him, I thought President George H. Bush was aloof of what was going on and didn’t see him winning a second term, which he didn’t. Then as all of you know, we got the "Come back Kid," "The first Black President," President Bill Clinton a Democrat. Though many were aware of this man’s shenanigans and sexual escapades, many would turn their faces the other away and let him carry on with his deviant behavior. However, within time, President Clinton was caught fooling around with a young intern which eventually led to his impeachment. Meantime, the Democrats lost the Congress and Senate credited in part to the wild sexual behavior of President Clinton.

Next, came the sweetheart of the Democrats, President George W. Bush. Oh well, enough said. His tenure is nearly over and we’ll just have to see what the heck happens next.

Much to my disappointment, I’m not thrilled with this year’s presidential candidates of either party. On the Democrats side we seem to have two socialists, and on the Republican side we have a half Republican/Democrat who professes to be a Conservative. Though I will probably vote for Senator McCain, I just don’t have a dog in the hunt in this year’s presidential election.

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