Wednesday, June 27, 2018

A Presidential Platform worth...

standing upon.

“The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and Suspicion, but at an Epoch when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly defined, than at any former period.”

George Washington 

With this quote from America’s Founding Father, I’ll ask this simple question. How did the US devolve back to a “gloomy age of Ignorance and Suspicion” in such a short time? 

The answer is, by the Leadership of an uncaring, simple minded, bigoted, heartless Man-Child. That’s how. America the Beautiful has now become America the Badass. 

In 2020, this has got to change. 

On November 16, 2016, I entered the political fray with this announcement.


Reactions were subdued. I suppose potential constituents desire more info than a hat stating, “Make America Great Again.” Well, maybe not. 




Here’s The Basics: 

My Administration will be 100% Fake News Free. (That includes “Alternative Facts”.) A Wise Man once told me, “Jeffy! If you tell the truth the first time, your story never has to change.” So True.

My Cabinet will be a Rainbow Coalition of the best and the brightest. Candidates will be chosen regardless of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. My team will be knowledgeable and passionate about the Agency they preside over. Ryan Zinke, Scott Pruitt, Betsy DeVos, Jefferson Sessions and Ben Carson need not reapply. Integrity matters.

To sum it up. This Administration will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help us God. 

As I mentioned in my last post, 


The Pillars of this platform will be Education, Environment and Enlightenment. ( Triple E for brevity ) There are subdivisions.

First E = Education: 

* The Federal Budget will reflect an increase in spending for Public Education, Arts, Humanities and Sciences. Sorry Generals the money will come from the Military. In 2015, the Department of Defense consumed 54% of the Federal Budget. Our Nation’s Priorities need a realignment. 

* Making  Higher Education available to all promising students will be a goal of this Administration. (Including Voc-Tech programs). The Federal Student Loan Program will be revamped in favor of our budding teachers, scientists, engineers, artists, doctors and mechanics. 

* I’ll sign an Executive Order requesting our Public schools begin a systematic approach to teaching US and World History. How can Future Generations learn from our past digressions when they aren’t aware of them? History must be taught in a truthful, engaging manner. We need to haul the skeletons out of our Nation’s closet. 

* As President, I’ll take a page from New York City’s legendary Mayor LaGuardia, and read to America’s Children. The program will be called “The Children’s Hour.” Instead of reading comics (per LaGuardia) I’ll read children’s books with a message of brotherhood, environmental awareness and other feel good themes. After the reading, there will be a call in question and answer period. I’ll remind the parents who are listening that learning/education doesn’t stop when the school bell rings. It’s a full-time job. I’m  sure Mr. Rogers would approve. 





Second E = Environment: 

* The EPA will regain their power and funding to monitor and protect our Nation’s Natural Resources. What good is $$$ if our future generations don’t have clean water, soils or air? Ask the folks in Flint, Michigan for an answer. 

* We will be a Worldwide Team Player.  The US will rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. No longer will climate change be considered a “Chinese Hoax.” Our Universities and research centers will be tasked to seek solutions for reducing America’s Carbon Footprint. We will lead by example. As the saying goes, There is No Planet B. 

* Grand Staircase/Escalante and Bear Ears National Monuments will go back to their original boundaries. Unless! Local communities can show this Administration a statistical boon in their economies with the rollback of acreage. Remember, this will be a fact based Administration.
This Administration will add Wilderness Areas, National Monuments and Parks. There’s never enough Wild-lands. Read why.





* The National Parks Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service and other Natural Resources Agencies will all get a healthy funding increase. 

* POTUS # 46, won’t be taking vacations on the golf courses of Florida, ( I’m too young to play the Final Sport) I’ll be hiking in our Wilderness Areas and National Parks with the Superintendents and Staff. I want to hear their reports on what’s going on at the ground level of America’s best ideas. (Wilderness Act of 1964 and Organic Law of 1916 creating the National Park Service). Ten citizens will be chosen from a lottery to join in the hike. The lucky winners will receive a T Shirt stating, “I hiked with # 46.” 

* When disasters strike (Natural or Manmade), we will utilize all of our Nation’s resources (including the Military) to put the victims lives back on track ASAP. This will be a coordinated response between all Agencies. This President will be on scene distributing handshakes, hugs, kudos, basic necessities and tunes ups if needed.  I won’t pitch paper towels at anyone. Lame excuses such as it’s “an island surrounded by water. Big water. Ocean Water.” will not be accepted or tolerated. 

Third E = Enlightenment 

* Our Nation’s Birth occurred in the Age of Reason or Enlightenment.  (From Wikipedia, a time of “advance ideals like liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity, constitutional government and separation of church and state. “) My Administration’s goal will be to go “back to the future.” We will work at becoming a kinder and gentler Nation. Here’s a few of the issues.

*  Reasonable Gun Control Measures. I alone have the solution for passing legislation on Second Amendment Rights. As President I’ll invite all the Congressmen and Women who are monetarily suckled by the NRA to the White House. As they walk toward the Oval Office, they will negotiate a gauntlet of graphic images from the killing fields of Las Vegas, Nevada, Parkland, Florida and Sutherland Springs, Texas.  Once seated, I will ask by a show of hands, “Who gets my point?” The ones who have been morally shaken will be thanked and dismissed. Those Congress people left sitting will hear from three survivors of the carnage. Their stories will relate to what it’s like to come under fire at an outdoor concert, a school or in a church. If they are still unmoved, I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing one day they will have to answer to a higher power than the POTUS. 


* A Zero Tolerance Policy on any and all Hate Crimes. Our Federal Law Enforcement Agencies will be placed on notice to pursue and prosecute individuals and groups who single out victims based upon their race, religion or sexual orientation. In other words, go after the miscreants who break the Golden Rule. 

* A workable Foreign Policy. No longer will the US alienate our Allies. We will once again treat these countries in a respectful manner. There will be no more Bullying! The US will build bridges instead of walls to further the notion of World Peace. Our Nation will cease snuggling up to countries led by despots. Russia will once again be classified as “an Evil Empire.” (Quote from President Reagan’s speech in 1983).

* We will have immigration reform without breaking families apart. Period.

*  All National Championship Teams will be invited to the White House. I don’t give a coin toss if any players exercised their First Amendment Rights to drop a knee. (I can’t wait to see the photos of me shaking hands with an NBA center!)

* Declare Kwanhanumas a National Holiday. A display of unity in a divided Land. (Kwanza, Hanukkah and Christmas)




* Tax Relief for the poor and middle class will be a National goal. “Trickle Down” economics doesn’t work. From Wikipedia: “A 2012 study by the Tax Justice Network indicates that wealth of the super-rich doesn't trickle down to improve the economy, but it instead tends to be amassed and sheltered in tax havens with a negative effect on the tax bases of the home economy.” 
Zero are the number of billionaires who withheld another Get richer scheme because they would have to pay more in taxes. Sorry, Koch Brothers, it’ll be time for you to open your wallets to fund the government instead of funding your legislative lackeys. 

In summary, America will be managed for the long term. Our style will be predominantly non-confrontational, orderly and relaxed. No longer will citizens wake up each morning and ask, “What the #@&* is going on today?” The days of chaos will be behind us. Good riddance to them. 




Finally the 800 pound gorilla in the room. As of this posting, I’m still lacking a First Lady. The American People won’t take me seriously without one. So.... my people have been talking to Melania’s people. There’s a possibility we can “flip her” to my side. However she will have to leave That Infamous Jacket behind with her Ex.

Please vote in the upcoming Midterm elections. Give my Administration a Congress who desires to Make America Civil Again. Together we can Drain the Cesspool. 

Thank You!
I’m Jeff Sambur and I approve of this platform. Feel free to share it with friends and family. 

If there’s a groundswell of support, I’ll start a GoFundMe campaign. Your donations wouldn’t  go toward legal fees or hush money to an overpriced Porn Star. Trust me on that.

Last photo: A young constituent asked me to pose with her for a selfie shot. The word is getting out. 









Saturday, June 16, 2018

Szyja Sambor was my father’s

 name when he debarked from the SS Pilsudski in NYC on November 6th, 1937. The ship’s manifest classified him a “Polish Hebrew.” My father was then 18 years young.

His traveled solo with a one way ticket. He left his family and friends behind in Byzaziny, Poland to deal with the newest wave of racism and bigotry. Upon arriving in the Big Apple, Young Szyja noticed there wasn’t a Welcome Wagon for recent immigrants. He quickly discovered the streets of America weren’t paved in gold either. He saw challenges and hard work ahead. Fortunately, he was a fast learner. 

With his talent of placing needle and thread to cloth, he scored a job. Eventually he paid off his debts, became proficient in speaking, reading and writing English and got his own pad. He was wise enough to date a recent Jewish  immigrant with a beguiling smile named Clara Zinn. 




By September 1939, WW II had officially begun. On December 8, 1941, America entered the melee. In December 1942, Dad was drafted by the Army. Uncle Sam declared him to be “White, not yet a citizen.”

Read all about my father’s Military Days: 


When my Dad was attending Bootcamp in Tennessee, he petitioned to become a naturalized US citizen. On July 30th, 1943 Szyja Sambor became the more Americanized Sidney Sambur. Apparently, Sidney thought the name change would help ease his transition in this strange New World. 




I told you he was a fast learner. 

After the War, Sid and Clara married. In a six year span three healthy (but short) boys emerged. Expectations were subtlety placed upon us. We were all going to attend college. Period. 

While growing up, we were taught to admire and respect learned people. “Jeffy! That man’s a Doctor!” Instant awe. My parents saw education as a tool to advancement in our adopted country. All this from folks whose education was interrupted by World events. Dad’s formal schooling was done by the 9th grade. Mom finished 11th grade.

We boys did better. My oldest brother earned a Masters in Education. Mike has two degrees. I was the slacker with a Bachelor of Sciences. However, my education didn’t end in 1976 with that diploma. 

I’m an avid reader of non-fiction. I yearn to learn. Since Black Tuesday, (AKA Election Day, 2016), I began digesting US History books. I’ve done this for two reasons.





One)  I knew history would provide an answer on how a mean-spirited, uncaring,  unethical, incurious, racist low-life could attain the highest office in our Land. Yes. The answers are in our Nation’s history. 

Two) I’m still reading. I want to better prepare myself for what lies ahead.  I want to be an educated World Leader. On November 16, 2016, I tossed my Death Valley National Park baseball cap into the Presidential ring.


 I know. It wasn’t a major media event. Maybe I should have sent out a Tweet. 

So...what’s my point in going ad nauseam about Education (including Vocational Technology)? 

Education will be one pillar of my “Triple E” platform for my Presidential run. If you want to find out what the other two are....Drumroll. You will need to read the July 4th Blog. This Administration will be the start of a new Independence Day.

Sid and Clara Sambur would have been pleased to know their little baby boy became the 46th President of the US. It’s not as impressive as becoming a Medical Doctor, but it’s a close second.

Thanks Dad for the gift of education.

Special Thanks to Big Al (AKA Badger Boy) for his in depth research on Sambur family history. 

Cheers to all Dads, past, present and future.

PS. For those who might enjoy a BIGLY list of my favorite non-fiction reads, I can forward you a copy. Just ask!








Saturday, May 12, 2018

My Mother Never Spoke...

about the Holocaust.

While growing up, my brothers and I weren’t  privy to the “How”my Mom and her family escaped Nazi held Austria. The few details we had were murky at best. 

In 1939, Clara Zinn emigrated from Vienna. She might or might not had been with her two siblings or her parents on the NYC bound ship. The European country she debarked from was also part of the mystery. 




What we knew was this. The Zinn family settled in New York. Young Clara met Sid Sambur on a blind date. After the War, they married and got down to business of raising three sons. I’m the youngest.

When it came to those tumultuous WW II years, the unofficial Sambur policy was “Don’t ask. Don’t tell.”  Clara nurtured, hugged and loved her Boys. We were blessed by the best Mom in the World. When life is good, why ask questions? So we didn’t. 

In 1972, God recalled an Angel back to Heaven. Mom was 52. 



I was 17. 


Years went by. I emigrated to Colorado. One day, Sid (My Dad) phoned me. 

“Jeffy! I have bad news. Grandma Zinn passed away.”

“ Oh! That’s so sad! She was such a sweet woman. I loved her.” 

Sid never minced words, “Don’t feel so bad. She wasn’t your real Grandma. Clara’s Mom was killed in the Holocaust.” 

Who knew?

Now we live in times where it’s in vogue to speak your mind, to tell it like it is. “Alternative Facts” are fine as long as you say them in a convincing manner. America now has a Racist Mentor occupying the White House. The Commander in Tweet believes American Immigrants should be predominantly White Christians from Norway. (But only if they are not handicapped). In Trump’s geopolitical world other countries are “shit holes.” 




Presently, there is no such thing as a politically correct pause button. Wannabe candidates reckon if the President can get away with trash talk, so can they. 

In this political climate change, is it any wonder Patrick Little is currently ahead of all other Republicans in California’s Primary race for Senate? Mr. Little (minded), is running under a platform of unabashed Anti-Semitism. The State Republican Party disavows his strong beliefs. Yet, this SS Stormtrooper in a suit could be on November’s ticket. 

Other States have similar like minded losers under the guise of being Republicans as well. Are these true American values? 

Back in 1974, then Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz, made a joke about the Pope. Catholics rose up en mass to condemn his low brow comedy routine. He kept his job after a half hearted apology. Two years later, Mr Secretary verbalized an off-color jibe about Blacks. A wave of outrage forced him out of office. 

Where is the outrage in 2018? 

A recent survey of American millenniums (18-34 of age) reported  22% were unaware of the Holocaust. Education is the key to combat racism. If the human race aspires to evolve, it’s imperative we learn from our sordid past. 

My Mother never spoke about the Holocaust, but “We the People” need to.

RIP Mom. I still miss you. 

Last photo: it’s a shame my wonderful nephews never met their wonderful Grandma.