As I prepared to write this last column of 2016, I looked back at the first one on January 3. Although I made no prediction on the divisive presidential race that was developing, I believe the opening paragraph hinted at the eventual outcome:

“President Obama (has pondered) the most important issues facing the country in his last year as president: stagnant wages, stagnant stock market, high unemployment rate for minorities, higher costs of health care, soaring national debt, Islamic terrorism in America, Russian aggression, Chinese cyber-attacks, and Islamic terrorism in the Middle East. After all that pondering he announced that the biggest issue is… gun control.”

Even though Hillary Clinton captured the popular vote thanks to big city Democrats who favor tighter gun control, rural voters gave the Electoral College vote to Donald Trump.

If you heard this week that the United Nations had taken a major step toward peace in the Middle East, you might assume the UN was forcing Assad in Syria to resign and Iran and Russia to pull out of Syria so the country could have peace and millions of refugees could return home. Or maybe a UN plan to wipe out ISIS. But no, they voted to punish Israel. The United States could have vetoed that action against our closest friend in the region but President Obama declined. Now, if you wonder why he waited until his final month as president to abandon Israel instead of doing it in his first year, you don’t understand politics. Mr. Obama prefers friendship with Palestinians over Israel, and most of the UN agrees with him.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays.

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

“There is very little dignity, very little sportsmanship, or very little anything in politics.” DT #1949, Nov. 2, 1932

“Politics is not the high class, marvelous thing that lots of you picture.” Nov. 10, 1932

“Well, there is lots more good cheer this Christmas than last (or the last three). It’s in the heart, in the confidence and in the renewed hope of everybody.” DT #2306, Dec. 24, 1933

 “Well, Christmas has passed. I was just thinking if there was some way to make the Christmas spirit continue during the other days of the year, why we would be the most happy and wonderful Nation on Earth. Gosh, if all of us that was able would just feed and do things for folks without waiting till Christmas. I think we mean well, but we just sorter got in our heads that about one day a year pays our obligations off, then we swell up and hide our Conscience till the next gift day comes along.” WA #628, Jan. 6, 1935