A very good friend of mine wrote me this week to tell me how bad the news media exacerbates everything. He said he was just tired of all the complaining in general and that it weighs heavily on his mind. He felt that all the troubles of the world were being jammed down his throat. He constantly was hearing how bad the economy was, how bad the weather was, the gas prices, the health care debacle, problems in Africa, Iran, North Korea, our national debt and how China was going to own us. He said he was getting old and did not need to carry the problems of the world too. He asked whatever happened to the Grandfather who could just sit on the bench with the children and tell stories about the good old days and the children listened because the stories were interesting?
I said to him that I agreed with him in principal and wouldn't it be wonderful to sit back on the porch and tell our children and grandchildren that everything is beautiful and they do not have a care in the world. Yes, that would be nice but not reality. I told him that in fact, when we were kids, we listened to the radio and to the conversations of our Mom and Dad. The world was dangerous then and the United States was trying to deal with World War II and the likes of Adolf Hitler, a man who wanted to fly the Nazi flag over the entire world. When I sat down with my children, we were in Viet-Nam trying to stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia and the threat of the Communist Soviet Union who threatened to destroy us. Today we are dealing with Iran, North Korean, nuclear proliferation and a radical Muslim religion which wants to destroy Christianity and the Non-Muslim countries. On top of that, we have elected a President who has shown very liberal tendencies and his administration seems to have their image of what our country should be like rather than what our Constitution has created over the past two hundred years.
My point is that we will always have these threats to our nation and to the world. We can ignore them and bury our head in the ground or we can talk about them, write about them and collectively raise our voices as we did this past midterm elections. I remember many years ago when joining the military that I would support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The day that we as a nation no longer believe those words is when we forfeit our rights to exist as the United States of America.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Just My Opinion
It has been a while since I last entered some thoughts in my blog spot. I guess I just had to get through the frustration of the changing politics in our nation. I can honestly say I have been re- energized by the November 2010 elections. I cannot say with any certainty how often my thoughts will appear but I will have some observations.
As I look at the political seen since the elections, I have to wonder if the Congress in Washington is really listening to the people. I have come to the conclusion that only some were listening. For the past year, Congress has known that they needed to put together a budget for next year (FY2011) and yet they waited until the Lame Duck Session over the last two weeks to do this and also try to cram a few other questionable pieces of legislation down the throats of voters. I believe the Dems majority in both the Senate and the House purposely did this to pass as much of their agenda as possible before the new session begins in January with a Republican majority in the House and a Senate much more in balance with the loss of six Democratic seats.
There were a couple of victories during this session for the Dems but in all, perhaps a sign of better times to come. Certainly the passing of the Bush Tax Cuts Extension for everyone was huge. I congratulate the Republican Congressional Members for standing firm and refusing to pass the Omnibus Spending Bill (2000 pages) with its $1.1 Trillion price tag and $8 Billion in Earmarks ('pork"). Nothing but a blatant attempt by the Dems to dictate the budget for next year.
Before closing I want to say a few things about "ObamaCare". Obviously, many hope this takeover of our health system will be reversed by the courts as unconstitutional. There has been problems surfacing already and two of those problems I mention briefly. Yesterday the Obama Administration announced rules which are an effort to prohibit or reduce necessary rate increases by private health insurer's. Under proposed regulation, rate increases of more than 10 percent would come under scrutiny of state and federal officials. This opens the door for more oversight of private business. The feds want to give everyone health insurance (including children to age 26) but they want to prohibit health insurers from increases to cover such added expenses. Another highway to demise of the private insurer.
Last week the Food and Drug Administration revoked the approval of the drug Avastin, which as been one of the drugs of choice by thousands of Oncologists across the nation for the estimated 17,000 plus women struggling with advanced stages of Breast Cancer. The FDA states that the drug does not show "a significant benefit in slowing disease progression to outweigh the significant risk to patients." Risk!.. Not a significant benefit... Sorry to say that without this drug, these patients. short of a miracle, are going to die from Cancer, unless the drug is available and saves them for a while. Is this the first step towards "Death Panels"?
That's My Opinion...
As I look at the political seen since the elections, I have to wonder if the Congress in Washington is really listening to the people. I have come to the conclusion that only some were listening. For the past year, Congress has known that they needed to put together a budget for next year (FY2011) and yet they waited until the Lame Duck Session over the last two weeks to do this and also try to cram a few other questionable pieces of legislation down the throats of voters. I believe the Dems majority in both the Senate and the House purposely did this to pass as much of their agenda as possible before the new session begins in January with a Republican majority in the House and a Senate much more in balance with the loss of six Democratic seats.
There were a couple of victories during this session for the Dems but in all, perhaps a sign of better times to come. Certainly the passing of the Bush Tax Cuts Extension for everyone was huge. I congratulate the Republican Congressional Members for standing firm and refusing to pass the Omnibus Spending Bill (2000 pages) with its $1.1 Trillion price tag and $8 Billion in Earmarks ('pork"). Nothing but a blatant attempt by the Dems to dictate the budget for next year.
Before closing I want to say a few things about "ObamaCare". Obviously, many hope this takeover of our health system will be reversed by the courts as unconstitutional. There has been problems surfacing already and two of those problems I mention briefly. Yesterday the Obama Administration announced rules which are an effort to prohibit or reduce necessary rate increases by private health insurer's. Under proposed regulation, rate increases of more than 10 percent would come under scrutiny of state and federal officials. This opens the door for more oversight of private business. The feds want to give everyone health insurance (including children to age 26) but they want to prohibit health insurers from increases to cover such added expenses. Another highway to demise of the private insurer.
Last week the Food and Drug Administration revoked the approval of the drug Avastin, which as been one of the drugs of choice by thousands of Oncologists across the nation for the estimated 17,000 plus women struggling with advanced stages of Breast Cancer. The FDA states that the drug does not show "a significant benefit in slowing disease progression to outweigh the significant risk to patients." Risk!.. Not a significant benefit... Sorry to say that without this drug, these patients. short of a miracle, are going to die from Cancer, unless the drug is available and saves them for a while. Is this the first step towards "Death Panels"?
That's My Opinion...
Monday, June 14, 2010
Turning Back the Clock - Part Four
Alumni Weekend was over for most of the Class of 1957 and for the many other classes as far back as 1937 with a sprinkling of 1944, 1948 and many others. The class of 1960 had more alumni show up but understandably it was their 50th Anniversary.
To all my classmates, this was personally a joy for me to see you again. Tony, great to see you and your "new" bride. Orley, we just did not get much chance to talk. Ron, you really looked healthy and had not aged much. George Null, I wish I had more time to talk. To all of you my classmates, the time was too short but I am thankful we had some time to share and remember.
There was one last thing on the agenda before leaving. Ray and I arranged for a final get together at the 94th Aero Squadron for dinner on Sunday night. This is a restaurant located at Montgomery Field, in San Diego with the decor of the "dough boys" and pilots of World War One. A fitting place for a last dinner for the "brothers". The brothers were a group of cadets that kind of buddied around together and on weekends when we could have gone home, we were just as likely to be all together in another town hosted by one of the "Moms". Being in the "brotherhood" was a special kind of bond which stood the test of time. The brotherhood consisted of Fred Sweet, '58; Jim Christian , '55; Buck Buchanan, Doug Loukota and myself from the class of 1957. There were a couple of others including Bill Camp and Gordon Yaekel who were no longer with us. We gathered at the dinner table and made a toast to our group. I am thankful to call these guys my brothers and I manage to correspond with them on a regular basis after all these years. We all said goodbye with our hugs, wondering what the future would bring. I have a feeling that we will find a way to get together again.
When I started writing about this trip, I titled it Turning Back the Clock because of the obvious story to be told. There was one more event before "returning to present day". In all the planning leading up to this trip, I had several conversations with Ray about the house I was born and raised in located in Los Angeles. The house was built in 1938, the year of my birth and I lived there until graduation from Army Navy Academy and my departing for a career in the Navy. My parents sold the house in 1975. Ray graciously agreed to take me there after leaving Carlsbad for one last look at the one remaining memory of my childhood.
I had not been there since 1961 and of course there had been many changes in the growth of the community. Back then, there was no interstate just three blocks away, but here we were taking the National Blvd exit off of the "405" and two blocks later turning left on the street I remembered so well. There was no problem finding the house. How could I ever forget it. I had brought along a couple of pictures taken back when the house was built along with a photo
of my Mother, Father and I sitting on the front porch with a cake celebrating my first birthday.
As we pulled up to the curb, a young man in his late 20's or early 30's came out of the house to get in his car. He asked if we had broke down or needed help. I said no, and walked up to introduce myself. I showed him the pictures and why I was there. His first words were "Oh my God!" To have taken him by surprise would have been an understatement for sure. He offered us a look around the outside of the house and said he was just a renter. The house was obviously not in the condition of 50 years ago but the pool in the backyard and guest room beyond the pool that I had helped my Dad build was still there. We did not spend a lot of time there but enough to bring back the great memories for one last time.
To all my classmates, this was personally a joy for me to see you again. Tony, great to see you and your "new" bride. Orley, we just did not get much chance to talk. Ron, you really looked healthy and had not aged much. George Null, I wish I had more time to talk. To all of you my classmates, the time was too short but I am thankful we had some time to share and remember.
There was one last thing on the agenda before leaving. Ray and I arranged for a final get together at the 94th Aero Squadron for dinner on Sunday night. This is a restaurant located at Montgomery Field, in San Diego with the decor of the "dough boys" and pilots of World War One. A fitting place for a last dinner for the "brothers". The brothers were a group of cadets that kind of buddied around together and on weekends when we could have gone home, we were just as likely to be all together in another town hosted by one of the "Moms". Being in the "brotherhood" was a special kind of bond which stood the test of time. The brotherhood consisted of Fred Sweet, '58; Jim Christian , '55; Buck Buchanan, Doug Loukota and myself from the class of 1957. There were a couple of others including Bill Camp and Gordon Yaekel who were no longer with us. We gathered at the dinner table and made a toast to our group. I am thankful to call these guys my brothers and I manage to correspond with them on a regular basis after all these years. We all said goodbye with our hugs, wondering what the future would bring. I have a feeling that we will find a way to get together again.
When I started writing about this trip, I titled it Turning Back the Clock because of the obvious story to be told. There was one more event before "returning to present day". In all the planning leading up to this trip, I had several conversations with Ray about the house I was born and raised in located in Los Angeles. The house was built in 1938, the year of my birth and I lived there until graduation from Army Navy Academy and my departing for a career in the Navy. My parents sold the house in 1975. Ray graciously agreed to take me there after leaving Carlsbad for one last look at the one remaining memory of my childhood.
I had not been there since 1961 and of course there had been many changes in the growth of the community. Back then, there was no interstate just three blocks away, but here we were taking the National Blvd exit off of the "405" and two blocks later turning left on the street I remembered so well. There was no problem finding the house. How could I ever forget it. I had brought along a couple of pictures taken back when the house was built along with a photo
of my Mother, Father and I sitting on the front porch with a cake celebrating my first birthday.
As we pulled up to the curb, a young man in his late 20's or early 30's came out of the house to get in his car. He asked if we had broke down or needed help. I said no, and walked up to introduce myself. I showed him the pictures and why I was there. His first words were "Oh my God!" To have taken him by surprise would have been an understatement for sure. He offered us a look around the outside of the house and said he was just a renter. The house was obviously not in the condition of 50 years ago but the pool in the backyard and guest room beyond the pool that I had helped my Dad build was still there. We did not spend a lot of time there but enough to bring back the great memories for one last time.
Turning Back the Clock - Part Three
On Saturday night the Black and Gold Banquet was held at one of the larger hotels in the area.
This was an opportunity to bring together all the alumni, wives and guests in a social gathering. Cocktail hour was followed by a nice dinner and dancing. After a long day at Registration and a bit of a sunburn, I was ready to call it a night fairly early.
On Sunday we met for the morning brunch which was driven in doors by the weather. Maybe just a bit of unknown fate because many of us from our class had spent a few semesters working in the dining hall at the Academy during our cadet years to help off set the cost to our parents. So here we were one more time returning to the mess hall. However the brunch did not offer any SOS as we used to call Cream Chipped Beef on Toast. It was a pleasant surprise to see my old classmate Jack O'Brien show up. The last time I had seen him was not expected but during a deployment to Viet Nam, Jack was a Lieutenant Commander, U. S. Navy attached to a squadron on board the USS Ranger. We had a couple of nice memories to share at the time. He left the active service and maintained his reserve status retiring as a Captain. He went on to fly for Delta Airlines for 31 years. Now some forty years later, he was was sitting with us at the table having breakfast.
Shortly after the brunch came the Sunday parade of the cadets. How well we all remembered this event in our own cadet history. Cadets in full dress parading before special guests, parents and dignitaries. Only this time, we were the special guests as alumni to stand on the front line of the parade grounds as the Cadet Battalion passed in review honoring us. It was our final gathering of the weekend and we had great memories to take home.
Turning Back the Clock - Part Two
Carlsbad had definitely changed in 53 years. I remember only one main street in town and ANA was most prominent as one passed through ending south. Now, I could easily become lost. The town had grown. No longer a couple of hotels, a couple of restaurants...this had become a major tourist area with many shops and places to stay and eat. thanks in part to the influence of the game of golf, and the world famous La Costa Resort and Spa and the Four Seasons Resort. Ray and I checked into our small motel and I made a call to one of our classmates to let them know we arrived. We arranged to meet for dinner at a local restaurant in a couple of hours.
That dinner will be remembered for renewing the personal friendships that had waited so many years to come together face to face. I wondered if my "brothers" thought about me the way the same as I about them. The years had worked their magic on our bodies and weathered faces. Nevertheless, in their hearts, the energy and ethusiasm of true friendship was still there if indeed a little bit slower of a pace. It was a great start to a great weekend.
Friday morning the much anticipated Alumni Golf tournament was held. I will not dwell on this very disappointing performance. My teammates, Bill Rafferty, Byron Taylor and Jack Jackson, all from the Class of 1955 must have thought I really put one over on them in selling my golf skills. Truth of the matter was that I forgot everything I thought I knew about the game. I did realized much much later than I never kept my head down to watch the silly little ball. I will blame it on too much anticipation and being tired from a long trip. I apologize to my teammates although it would not matter. They played really well. Part of our problem as I look back was the fact that this very long playing course was tough on us. We as a team (I was the youngest at nearly 72 years of age) were required to play off the Blue Tees (all the way back) the same as the young bulls of the past three or four graduating classes who were all in the 20's. Just did not seem fair.
Friday evening a no host "Margaritas and Memories" Reception and Mexican food buffet was set up on the athletic field and for the first time, most of us were able to see all of our former classmates and other friends who had made the journey for this reunion. I was very proud that the Class of 1957 had the second highest total of returning alumni with I believe twelve former classmates by Sunday. There was even a young man from the Class of 1937...wow!! Can't even begin to tell you how great it was to see my classmates again.
Saturday morning I met with Jack Jackson in front of the Administration building where the representative from the school and alumni office were registering alumni and friends as they showed up. I had volunteered to be on hand to present and discuss the proposal for a ANA Veterans Memorial plaque to honor those alumni who had gave their lives in the service of their country during the 100 years of the Academy's existence. It was also an opportunity to meet and greet many others. One person in particular stood out. Kati Polhamus was the daughter of Captain Al Polhamus, my mentor and Band Director at the Academy during my years as a Cadet. I owed my career as a Musician in the United States Navy to the fact that "Capt Al" arranged for an audition with the Chief Musician at the Naval Training Center in San Diego in 1961 to become a Navy Musician instead of getting out after four years.
That dinner will be remembered for renewing the personal friendships that had waited so many years to come together face to face. I wondered if my "brothers" thought about me the way the same as I about them. The years had worked their magic on our bodies and weathered faces. Nevertheless, in their hearts, the energy and ethusiasm of true friendship was still there if indeed a little bit slower of a pace. It was a great start to a great weekend.
Friday morning the much anticipated Alumni Golf tournament was held. I will not dwell on this very disappointing performance. My teammates, Bill Rafferty, Byron Taylor and Jack Jackson, all from the Class of 1955 must have thought I really put one over on them in selling my golf skills. Truth of the matter was that I forgot everything I thought I knew about the game. I did realized much much later than I never kept my head down to watch the silly little ball. I will blame it on too much anticipation and being tired from a long trip. I apologize to my teammates although it would not matter. They played really well. Part of our problem as I look back was the fact that this very long playing course was tough on us. We as a team (I was the youngest at nearly 72 years of age) were required to play off the Blue Tees (all the way back) the same as the young bulls of the past three or four graduating classes who were all in the 20's. Just did not seem fair.
Friday evening a no host "Margaritas and Memories" Reception and Mexican food buffet was set up on the athletic field and for the first time, most of us were able to see all of our former classmates and other friends who had made the journey for this reunion. I was very proud that the Class of 1957 had the second highest total of returning alumni with I believe twelve former classmates by Sunday. There was even a young man from the Class of 1937...wow!! Can't even begin to tell you how great it was to see my classmates again.
Saturday morning I met with Jack Jackson in front of the Administration building where the representative from the school and alumni office were registering alumni and friends as they showed up. I had volunteered to be on hand to present and discuss the proposal for a ANA Veterans Memorial plaque to honor those alumni who had gave their lives in the service of their country during the 100 years of the Academy's existence. It was also an opportunity to meet and greet many others. One person in particular stood out. Kati Polhamus was the daughter of Captain Al Polhamus, my mentor and Band Director at the Academy during my years as a Cadet. I owed my career as a Musician in the United States Navy to the fact that "Capt Al" arranged for an audition with the Chief Musician at the Naval Training Center in San Diego in 1961 to become a Navy Musician instead of getting out after four years.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Turning Back the Clock - Part One
It is Thursday morning, May 20, 2010 and I have just took off on a flight to Los Angeles, California. A lot of things going through my mind. I am going back to the west coast and to a place that is dear to my heart. Fifty-three years ago I graduated from a private military high school, called Army Navy Academy. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and this is truly an experience that I thought I may never have again. After graduating from ANA in June of 1957 I joined the Navy and with the exception of one trip to Carlsbad after I retired in 1977 this was the first time back.
There had been an alumni gathering at our 50th anniversary in 2007 but I could not make it. I wanted to but financially could not afford the long trip. I had spent most of the past fifty odd years stationed wherever the Navy wanted me and after retirement found myself staying on the east coast because of job opportunities at the time. Now those dreams of returning one more time had finally come to pass. Anticipation was high while the trip was very long. Six hours in a modern day jet is still a bit tiring when your nearly 72 years of age. I wondered what my fellow classmates would look like after all these years. I had only my yearbook to remember back and I was bringing it with me. My classmate and roommate, Ray, was waiting for me at the terminal and even then I did not recognize him. He and I had kept in touch and I did have a group photo from the 50th reunion to help we out. Ray had volunteered to meet me at the airport and we arranged to split expenses while in Carlsbad for the weekend. I am so grateful to him for assistance because I sure would have got lost. I must confess, he was waiting at baggage pickup and I did not recognize him at first. It really was one of those double takes. I looked around, saw him, looked around some more, looked back and then thought well maybe. I walked over to him and said "excuse me, are you Ray Hymer? Of which he returned "only if your middle name is Walter". A moment I will never forget.
Driving out of LA was an experience in itself. The new interstates built in the past fifty years helped a lot. But I noticed a lot of changes. All the way down I-5 it was nothing but wall to wall buildings and homes until we reached San Clemente. It would have continued to the border if it had not been for the federal government lands which contain the very large United States Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton. The other thing which was quite apparent was the hispanic influence in the Southern California area. Every exit was marked with a sign that stated that is was Avenida this or Avenida that. This was true all the way to San Diego. It was not a long drive. We covered the distance in about 90 minutes. Back in the old days it was easily about 3 hours on the crowded city streets of Los Angeles and a two lane Coast Highway. We got off at the Oceanside exit and he drove me down to what used to be the "main drag" through town. Again, I was amazed how everything had built up. As we crossed the lagoon into Carlsbad, one thing stood out...the campus of ANA. There was the old guardhouse and the walkway up to the Administration building. The clock had turned back to June 1957.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
President Obama - "This Is What Change Looks Like"
In some respects, I am one of the most fortunate people who because of career military service has had health care provided to me and my family for most of my adult life. After retiring from the service, I was able to continue in a government sponsored health care program paying reasonable monthly premiums with the usual shared costs and availability of prescriptions through local military medical facilities. Without question, I and my family have over the years received the best medical care available anywhere in the world. It is therefore a fair question for others as well as myself to ask, "If you have been happy with your government provided medical care, why would you raise questions about the present administration attempting to provide medical care for all its citizens?
To begin with, the current population of the United States is approximately 309 million people compared with 1.5 million on active duty in the military. It is not simply throwing a couple of million more people on the government insurance program. Likewise, current costs including military retirees for medical benefits run approximately $50 billion dollars annually. Current costs for Medicare and Medicaid alone are costing the federal budget over $764 billion. Current projections show implementation of the new Health Care Reform bill at $938 billion according to the Congressional Budget Office. Bottom line..we are talking apples and oranges. No way to make reasonable arguments for comparison. The national administration of medical care for citizens is a huge weight on a bloated and out of control budget and the beginning of a new entitlement.
HealthCare reform is now the law but I think it was a bad idea at a time when our nation can least afford the costs. There is no question that there are problems with the current system but it is not the Health Insurance industry as the Administration would have you believe. The national profit margin for these companies consistently run in the 3-4% range. Very low in the scheme of things. I actually believe that the conservatives in Congress had very good ideas such as tort reform and selling health insurance across state lines which would bring premiums down through competition. Regretfully, and honestly, the conservatives where shut out of all discussions. Only the final meeting with the President brought the two parties together and then television coverage showed the meeting to be a joke with total rejection of conservative ideas.
Last Sunday night after the final vote, the President addressed the nation and stated "This is What Change Looks Like". Quite frankly I find it repugnant and a shameful exercise in what democracy should not look like. We elect representatives to act on our behalf. Not to make backroom deals, and financial concessions such as the "Louisiana Purchase and the "Cornhusker Kickback". Representatives would tell you that is the way things are done in Washington. That may be true but is it morally correct? I think not! This is change that is by any language ugly. President Obama in an interview last week with Fox News refused to discuss the "process" of this legislation but I contend that the entire argument by the people must be about the process.
The bill is law. Chances of a repeal at this time should be forgotten. There is a chance that legal challenges may triumph but I would not bet the farm. It is important to remember that this is going to be a entitlement. Nearly 43% of adults pay no federal income tax. As the aspects of this bill take effect, the acceptance of health care to all becomes entrenched. The conservatives need to remember what the argument is about. This November the ballot box must be the place where good people with high morals make a statement. It is not about rejecting health care for all. It is about rejecting partisan politics, reprehensible and ethically unacceptable methods of policy against the obvious will of the people.
To begin with, the current population of the United States is approximately 309 million people compared with 1.5 million on active duty in the military. It is not simply throwing a couple of million more people on the government insurance program. Likewise, current costs including military retirees for medical benefits run approximately $50 billion dollars annually. Current costs for Medicare and Medicaid alone are costing the federal budget over $764 billion. Current projections show implementation of the new Health Care Reform bill at $938 billion according to the Congressional Budget Office. Bottom line..we are talking apples and oranges. No way to make reasonable arguments for comparison. The national administration of medical care for citizens is a huge weight on a bloated and out of control budget and the beginning of a new entitlement.
HealthCare reform is now the law but I think it was a bad idea at a time when our nation can least afford the costs. There is no question that there are problems with the current system but it is not the Health Insurance industry as the Administration would have you believe. The national profit margin for these companies consistently run in the 3-4% range. Very low in the scheme of things. I actually believe that the conservatives in Congress had very good ideas such as tort reform and selling health insurance across state lines which would bring premiums down through competition. Regretfully, and honestly, the conservatives where shut out of all discussions. Only the final meeting with the President brought the two parties together and then television coverage showed the meeting to be a joke with total rejection of conservative ideas.
Last Sunday night after the final vote, the President addressed the nation and stated "This is What Change Looks Like". Quite frankly I find it repugnant and a shameful exercise in what democracy should not look like. We elect representatives to act on our behalf. Not to make backroom deals, and financial concessions such as the "Louisiana Purchase and the "Cornhusker Kickback". Representatives would tell you that is the way things are done in Washington. That may be true but is it morally correct? I think not! This is change that is by any language ugly. President Obama in an interview last week with Fox News refused to discuss the "process" of this legislation but I contend that the entire argument by the people must be about the process.
The bill is law. Chances of a repeal at this time should be forgotten. There is a chance that legal challenges may triumph but I would not bet the farm. It is important to remember that this is going to be a entitlement. Nearly 43% of adults pay no federal income tax. As the aspects of this bill take effect, the acceptance of health care to all becomes entrenched. The conservatives need to remember what the argument is about. This November the ballot box must be the place where good people with high morals make a statement. It is not about rejecting health care for all. It is about rejecting partisan politics, reprehensible and ethically unacceptable methods of policy against the obvious will of the people.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Our Rights Come From God
I do not believe I have ever been more offended and ashamed of my country as I am this evening. Ashamed because we the citizens of the United States have allowed our country to be hijacked by a progressive movement and a slight majority of what has aptly been called a "multitude of fools". They elected the most far left individual in the history of the United States, Barack Obama. Offended because the results we now face is the gradual transformation of our nation into at the minimum, a European style socialist government. There is an abundance of written and audio visual evidence to show that Barack Obama had every intention to change us. In October 2008 just a month before elections, he stated "We are just days from fundamentally changing America as we know it". The voters were just not really listening.
What he has done in the past fourteen months has often been noted in my previous commentaries and far to much to list here. Today, we stand at the threshold in that transformation. During an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News, Obama made it quite clear in stating, "Yes, It is one-sixth of the economy, but were not transforming one-sixth of the economy in one fell swoop". No, they will transform the economy step by step. He also as been quoted as saying, "By the way, Canada did not start off immediately with a single-payer system". As I have said in the past, Marxism changes a nation by revolution, Progressivism changes a nation step by step. Obama learned the ways of a Community Organizer through the teachings of Sol Alinsky and his book, "Rules for Radicals".
I was watching a television show today which was pointing out how the radical left was going to change our nation. They were pointing out that part of the premise for passing what has come to be known as ObamaCare, was that health care was a right. Just as they believe that you have a right to education, a home to live in and a job. It struck me that this was so wrong from what I was taught and the principals that I was raised on.
I also received an email today from my oldest son, who was expressing the anger, the frustration and the fear that we are losing the principals of the nation that I tried so hard to instill in my children. He was talking about "the good, honest and God fearing Americans like John Wayne and Ronald Reagan". He said that we had let our guard down. It really hit home and I share that feeling with him.
Our rights come from God. Not from Barack Obama, not from the progressive movement that wants to transform our nation. This is a principal that makes the United States totally different than any other nation on earth. Our founding fathers built a nation that espoused that "we are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". I was taught by my father that what I received in life is determined by my willingness to work and my efforts to be successful no matter what my chosen profession. I was taught that I should never expect something for nothing. I was taught that charity is for the less fortunate and only a means to give a hand up rather than a handout. Socialism teaches redistribution of wealth and all things come from the government. I reject that philosophy now and forever to my last breathe.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
What he has done in the past fourteen months has often been noted in my previous commentaries and far to much to list here. Today, we stand at the threshold in that transformation. During an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News, Obama made it quite clear in stating, "Yes, It is one-sixth of the economy, but were not transforming one-sixth of the economy in one fell swoop". No, they will transform the economy step by step. He also as been quoted as saying, "By the way, Canada did not start off immediately with a single-payer system". As I have said in the past, Marxism changes a nation by revolution, Progressivism changes a nation step by step. Obama learned the ways of a Community Organizer through the teachings of Sol Alinsky and his book, "Rules for Radicals".
I was watching a television show today which was pointing out how the radical left was going to change our nation. They were pointing out that part of the premise for passing what has come to be known as ObamaCare, was that health care was a right. Just as they believe that you have a right to education, a home to live in and a job. It struck me that this was so wrong from what I was taught and the principals that I was raised on.
I also received an email today from my oldest son, who was expressing the anger, the frustration and the fear that we are losing the principals of the nation that I tried so hard to instill in my children. He was talking about "the good, honest and God fearing Americans like John Wayne and Ronald Reagan". He said that we had let our guard down. It really hit home and I share that feeling with him.
Our rights come from God. Not from Barack Obama, not from the progressive movement that wants to transform our nation. This is a principal that makes the United States totally different than any other nation on earth. Our founding fathers built a nation that espoused that "we are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". I was taught by my father that what I received in life is determined by my willingness to work and my efforts to be successful no matter what my chosen profession. I was taught that I should never expect something for nothing. I was taught that charity is for the less fortunate and only a means to give a hand up rather than a handout. Socialism teaches redistribution of wealth and all things come from the government. I reject that philosophy now and forever to my last breathe.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Socialist is an Ugly Word
This week on the Fox cable news show "The O'Reilly Factor", Bill took what I consider to be a bold move by asking his viewers to answer the question of whether they thought that President Obama was a socialist. The response was decidedly in agreement with the question. It is a fair question that many citizens of our nation are beginning to ask. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Presidents ethic background but everything to do with political and economical theories.
In an article entitled "Why Do We Fear Calling Obama a Socialist?, noted author, columnist and former speech writer for Senator Bob Dole, Douglas MacKinnon presents the argument that there is nothing wrong with the identification of the Presidents political persuasion and questions why the media wants to dodge the question. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "socialism" as "Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods".
It would be in total denial not to recognize that the current administration has exhibited these traits by taking over the supervision of some of our largest banks; by completely taking over the administration of two of the three largest automobile companies in the United States by "saving them" from collapse. The administration wants to take over one fifth of our economy by passing legislation for a government-run national health care system, and certainly made it quite clear that redistribution of wealth from the "elite" to the poor levels the playing field for all.
Fortunately, our Republic allows everyone the freedom of speech and President Obama has every right to call himself a Socialist. However, the President has not been forthright with the American people and resists any attempt to be called a "socialist" or "ideologue". Most likely because of the negative labels. Stalin of the Soviet Union and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela come to mind. As Douglas MacKinnon points out, it is a matter of political survival and "the same reason the far-left duplicitously runs from the word "liberal" and now substitutes "progressive." Marxism has been characterized as the overthrow of a country through revolution whereas Progressivism is done through small incremental steps. President Obama and the progressives of this nation might very well succeed but it would be proper to call them what they are... Socialists. The American people need to know the truth.
In an article entitled "Why Do We Fear Calling Obama a Socialist?, noted author, columnist and former speech writer for Senator Bob Dole, Douglas MacKinnon presents the argument that there is nothing wrong with the identification of the Presidents political persuasion and questions why the media wants to dodge the question. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "socialism" as "Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods".
It would be in total denial not to recognize that the current administration has exhibited these traits by taking over the supervision of some of our largest banks; by completely taking over the administration of two of the three largest automobile companies in the United States by "saving them" from collapse. The administration wants to take over one fifth of our economy by passing legislation for a government-run national health care system, and certainly made it quite clear that redistribution of wealth from the "elite" to the poor levels the playing field for all.
Fortunately, our Republic allows everyone the freedom of speech and President Obama has every right to call himself a Socialist. However, the President has not been forthright with the American people and resists any attempt to be called a "socialist" or "ideologue". Most likely because of the negative labels. Stalin of the Soviet Union and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela come to mind. As Douglas MacKinnon points out, it is a matter of political survival and "the same reason the far-left duplicitously runs from the word "liberal" and now substitutes "progressive." Marxism has been characterized as the overthrow of a country through revolution whereas Progressivism is done through small incremental steps. President Obama and the progressives of this nation might very well succeed but it would be proper to call them what they are... Socialists. The American people need to know the truth.
Friday, February 19, 2010
If You Can't Dazzle them with Brillance, Baffle them with BS
When you are the President of the United States with a first rate intelligence and oratorical skills unseen in years, but your leadership decisions continue to fail you at every turn, what do you do? You fall back on the one thing you know will change the hearts and minds of your constituents at most, and at the least, buy you time to get your agenda implemented. At a time when the nation was in near panic over impending doom of the economic crisis, Obama saw
an opportunity to bring about his socialist agenda. However, these plans were so radical, that even with a lack of "transparency", the American people have seen right through him.
So now the President wants you to believe that he has seen the light. He now wants us to believe that the nation is overwhelmed in fiscal debt, the likes of which we have never seen and he must take action to save us. By Executive Order, he has created a bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. He noted at the signing that "Without action, the accumulated weight of that structural deficit of ever-increasing debt will hobble our economy, it will cloud our future, and it will saddle every child in America with an intolerable burden." Well, I don't know about you, but I am as a citizen of this great nation, offended at the attitude and actions of this President.
I ask you where was this caution with his new budget for fiscal year 2010 that called for a freeze on discretionary spending that only effects 16% of the federal budget. A freeze that would by most experts produce only a 3% drop in debt over the next ten years as proposed. Mr. Obama stated yesterday that the "federal debt has exploded." Let me put this all in perspective:
When the Democrats took control of Congress in 2007 the deficit was $160 billion.
Under the Pelosi-Reid Congress it "exploded" to $458 billion in 2008.
When Obama took office in 2009 it hit $1.4 trillion. For 2010 projected at $1.6 trillion.
An even more shocking fact is that the interest on the national debt this year alone is 18.75% of the total budget and amounts to $389 billion dollars. It is estimated that the largest item in he federal budget within 12 years will be the interest on the national debt. Try to imagine if the largest item in your family budget was the interest on all the money you borrowed. You should feel like an idiot and that is what we have collectively become.
I will not for a moment try to paint the picture that Republicans do not share blame for the exploding deficit. I just pointed out that in 2007 it was already $160 billion. Unfortunately, the mentality for decades has been that the federal government could exist with on-going deficits. It was wrong 30 years ago and wrong today as we approach a debt of 87% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
There is only a few steps to correct the situation. Wasting more taxpayer money on a commission that by the "Executive Order" has no authority is nothing but putting on a show. If President Obama is really serious there are honest common sense steps that the White House and Congress can do immediately. First and foremost is acknowledging there is a problem without the smoke and mirrors mentality. Secondly, freeze all spending and rescind unspent stimulus funds. Do not move forward the proposed Stimulus 2 (renamed "Jobs Bill") and stop the "pass anyway possible" health reform bill sitting in limbo between the House and Senate. Lastly, all proposed tax hikes should be set aside until unemployment falls below 7 percent.
Long term deficit issues and cuts in mandatory spending for entitlement programs must be put on the table. We can no longer sustain a "nanny state" mentality without surrendering to a European style government. Remember that Ben Franklin said we have a Republic..."as long as we can keep it".
an opportunity to bring about his socialist agenda. However, these plans were so radical, that even with a lack of "transparency", the American people have seen right through him.
So now the President wants you to believe that he has seen the light. He now wants us to believe that the nation is overwhelmed in fiscal debt, the likes of which we have never seen and he must take action to save us. By Executive Order, he has created a bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. He noted at the signing that "Without action, the accumulated weight of that structural deficit of ever-increasing debt will hobble our economy, it will cloud our future, and it will saddle every child in America with an intolerable burden." Well, I don't know about you, but I am as a citizen of this great nation, offended at the attitude and actions of this President.
I ask you where was this caution with his new budget for fiscal year 2010 that called for a freeze on discretionary spending that only effects 16% of the federal budget. A freeze that would by most experts produce only a 3% drop in debt over the next ten years as proposed. Mr. Obama stated yesterday that the "federal debt has exploded." Let me put this all in perspective:
When the Democrats took control of Congress in 2007 the deficit was $160 billion.
Under the Pelosi-Reid Congress it "exploded" to $458 billion in 2008.
When Obama took office in 2009 it hit $1.4 trillion. For 2010 projected at $1.6 trillion.
An even more shocking fact is that the interest on the national debt this year alone is 18.75% of the total budget and amounts to $389 billion dollars. It is estimated that the largest item in he federal budget within 12 years will be the interest on the national debt. Try to imagine if the largest item in your family budget was the interest on all the money you borrowed. You should feel like an idiot and that is what we have collectively become.
I will not for a moment try to paint the picture that Republicans do not share blame for the exploding deficit. I just pointed out that in 2007 it was already $160 billion. Unfortunately, the mentality for decades has been that the federal government could exist with on-going deficits. It was wrong 30 years ago and wrong today as we approach a debt of 87% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
There is only a few steps to correct the situation. Wasting more taxpayer money on a commission that by the "Executive Order" has no authority is nothing but putting on a show. If President Obama is really serious there are honest common sense steps that the White House and Congress can do immediately. First and foremost is acknowledging there is a problem without the smoke and mirrors mentality. Secondly, freeze all spending and rescind unspent stimulus funds. Do not move forward the proposed Stimulus 2 (renamed "Jobs Bill") and stop the "pass anyway possible" health reform bill sitting in limbo between the House and Senate. Lastly, all proposed tax hikes should be set aside until unemployment falls below 7 percent.
Long term deficit issues and cuts in mandatory spending for entitlement programs must be put on the table. We can no longer sustain a "nanny state" mentality without surrendering to a European style government. Remember that Ben Franklin said we have a Republic..."as long as we can keep it".
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Who Is Running the Asylum?
It has been over a month since I last discussed terrorism from the viewpoint of the Obama Administration and the failure of the intelligence community to take appropriate action in the case of the Christmas Day bomber, often referred to as the Underwear Bomber. In this past month we have learned so much more which has the citizens of this great nation wondering who is really in charge and why we get the impression that the crazies are running the asylum.
The administration because of political and media pressure has revealed that after the Christmas Day bomber was taken into custody in Detroit, he was questioned by the FBI for a period of fifty (50) minutes. Keep in mind that surely, Mr. Abdulmutallab had to be in extreme pain as a result of the failed attempt and that brings into question the efforts and validity of anything learned during those minutes. We also know that after that short questioning, Mr. Abdulmutallab was advised of his Miranda rights and immediately clammed up. He has been under security watch at a hospital ever since.
When I question who is in charge, too much cow manure has been thrown around to let the issue go without commentary. On Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, one week ago, Robert Gibbs, the Press Secretary for the White House appeared to dance around the question (TWICE) if the President knew about the decision to read the "CrotchBomber" his rights. Finally, after weeks of questioning by various media sources, the Attorney General Eric Holder
made the statement "I made the decision to charge Mr. Abdulmutallab with federal crimes, and to seek his detention in connection with those charges, with the knowledge of, and with no objection from, all other relevant departments of the government." But wait a second, that idea of "no objection and other relevant departments just doesn't ring true.
On January 20th, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Senator Jeff Sessions asked who in the "upper echelons" were involved in the Mirandizing decision?
* FBI Director Mueller testified he was not consulted.
* Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair testified that he was not consulted.
* Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano testified that she was not consulted.
* National Counterterrorism Center Director Michael Leiter testified that he was not consulted.
If none of these people were consulted, there is only one other person. As important as Erik Holder may think he is, he would not have done this on his own. The AG may be the fall guy in this decision but I am inclined to believe the President made the call.
This past Wednesday, Mr. Holder in a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he took full responsibility for the decision and stated that "the wide-spread experience of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI is that many defendents will talk and cooperate once they have been advised of their right to remain silent".
We now have been told as if by magic that in fact, Mr. Abdulmutallab is telling all he knows and cooperating fully. In my opinion, this will give the White House justification for not turning him over to military authorities and I would make a further prediction that his "cooperation" will lead to a deal (a plea bargain) that will save him from the death penalty and perhaps even a
life sentence.
The administration because of political and media pressure has revealed that after the Christmas Day bomber was taken into custody in Detroit, he was questioned by the FBI for a period of fifty (50) minutes. Keep in mind that surely, Mr. Abdulmutallab had to be in extreme pain as a result of the failed attempt and that brings into question the efforts and validity of anything learned during those minutes. We also know that after that short questioning, Mr. Abdulmutallab was advised of his Miranda rights and immediately clammed up. He has been under security watch at a hospital ever since.
When I question who is in charge, too much cow manure has been thrown around to let the issue go without commentary. On Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, one week ago, Robert Gibbs, the Press Secretary for the White House appeared to dance around the question (TWICE) if the President knew about the decision to read the "CrotchBomber" his rights. Finally, after weeks of questioning by various media sources, the Attorney General Eric Holder
made the statement "I made the decision to charge Mr. Abdulmutallab with federal crimes, and to seek his detention in connection with those charges, with the knowledge of, and with no objection from, all other relevant departments of the government." But wait a second, that idea of "no objection and other relevant departments just doesn't ring true.
On January 20th, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Senator Jeff Sessions asked who in the "upper echelons" were involved in the Mirandizing decision?
* FBI Director Mueller testified he was not consulted.
* Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair testified that he was not consulted.
* Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano testified that she was not consulted.
* National Counterterrorism Center Director Michael Leiter testified that he was not consulted.
If none of these people were consulted, there is only one other person. As important as Erik Holder may think he is, he would not have done this on his own. The AG may be the fall guy in this decision but I am inclined to believe the President made the call.
This past Wednesday, Mr. Holder in a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he took full responsibility for the decision and stated that "the wide-spread experience of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI is that many defendents will talk and cooperate once they have been advised of their right to remain silent".
We now have been told as if by magic that in fact, Mr. Abdulmutallab is telling all he knows and cooperating fully. In my opinion, this will give the White House justification for not turning him over to military authorities and I would make a further prediction that his "cooperation" will lead to a deal (a plea bargain) that will save him from the death penalty and perhaps even a
life sentence.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Where Do We Go From Here?
You may have thought that I was not going to comment on the State of the Union Address by President Obama. Not the case at all. His address to the people and the Congress last Wednesday was in my opinion quite predicable. I purposely waited until all the political pundits in the media had their opportunity to evaluate and I was waiting a few days to evaluate the meeting on Friday between the President and the representatives of the Republican party. My evaluation of the Presidents first year in office was offered in my commentary last Friday, entitled "A Year of Broken Promises". I want to focus only on the reaction to his address and on areas where he had little or nothing to say.
To begin with, he stated "I think we lost some of that sense of speaking directly to the American people about what their core values are and why we have to make sure those institutions are matching up with those values." Are you kidding? This president gave during his first year 411 speeches or remarks on various topics, including 29 speeches on the Health Care reform still pending in Congress. And yet, he suggested the public didn't understand the
health care bill. The outcomes of Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts clearly rejected the health care legislation and other actions of this Presidency. During his speech he mentioned that "People are angry and they are frustrated...Not just because of what's happened in the past year or two years, but what's happened over the last eight years." In other words, "I'll blame Bush. That always works!" Sorry Mr. President, it is time to take ownership of your Presidency.
I found his remarks un-presidential when he chided the Supreme Court for their recent decision in defense of the 1st Amendment. There in front of him sat the members of the Court while he castigated them to the extent that the liberal side of the aisle stood and applauded. He accused the Court of opening the door for foreign corporations' campaign contributions when in fact all legal rulings expressively forbid this.
The President tried very hard to defend his Jobs Stimulus by pointing out that 300,000 Americans are working as teachers and other education workers, tens of thousands are police officers, firefighters, correctional officers and first responders. In reality, these jobs are either government (federal, state and local) or connected in such a way that they would not exist but for government.
Meanwhile, barely a paragraph was given to the war in Afghanistan and no recognition to the sacrifices made by Great Britain and other NATO allies. The global war against Al-Qaeda was hardly mentioned and the top issue of voters in the United States -Terrorism received little attention. I found it rather convenient for him to fail to mention the mistakes at Fort Hood and most recently, the prosecution of the Christmas Day bomber in which we now have come to find out was only questioned for 50 minutes and then given his Miranda rights.
The President met with Republican leaders on Friday which was televised. I think it was a good start but served only as an opportunity for each side to point out failures. I believe the President did act somewhat like a stern father admonishing his children as he spoke to them in his well known arrogant and condescending fashion. Today on the Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, the political guests of two democrats and two republicans continued to blame each other in very partisan manner for the failures of the present administration. The Republicans continued to hammer broken promises and lack of transparency while the democrats wanted to call the Republicans the "party of no" and blame Bush for the economic condition of the country, including the Medicare Prescription Program under Bush. As to transparency, I believe the public is beginning to see right through President Obama.
There has been much speculation this week over the results of the three state elections and whether President Obama would move at least to center left. Last Friday night after the address, the Fox panel did an early evaluation of the speech. What stuck out for me was the opinion of Charles Krauthammer, himself an MD in Psychiatry and degrees in Economics and Political Science. He stated that he believed that President Obama was in a state of "Clinical Denial". This afternoon on Fox News Sunday the regular panel evaluated again and three of the four where optimistic that President Obama would start to adjust his strategy towards the center. Dr. Krauthammer maintained his position in saying that the President would continue his left wing agenda. I agree with him but for the sake of our nation, I sincerely hope that I am wrong.
To begin with, he stated "I think we lost some of that sense of speaking directly to the American people about what their core values are and why we have to make sure those institutions are matching up with those values." Are you kidding? This president gave during his first year 411 speeches or remarks on various topics, including 29 speeches on the Health Care reform still pending in Congress. And yet, he suggested the public didn't understand the
health care bill. The outcomes of Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts clearly rejected the health care legislation and other actions of this Presidency. During his speech he mentioned that "People are angry and they are frustrated...Not just because of what's happened in the past year or two years, but what's happened over the last eight years." In other words, "I'll blame Bush. That always works!" Sorry Mr. President, it is time to take ownership of your Presidency.
I found his remarks un-presidential when he chided the Supreme Court for their recent decision in defense of the 1st Amendment. There in front of him sat the members of the Court while he castigated them to the extent that the liberal side of the aisle stood and applauded. He accused the Court of opening the door for foreign corporations' campaign contributions when in fact all legal rulings expressively forbid this.
The President tried very hard to defend his Jobs Stimulus by pointing out that 300,000 Americans are working as teachers and other education workers, tens of thousands are police officers, firefighters, correctional officers and first responders. In reality, these jobs are either government (federal, state and local) or connected in such a way that they would not exist but for government.
Meanwhile, barely a paragraph was given to the war in Afghanistan and no recognition to the sacrifices made by Great Britain and other NATO allies. The global war against Al-Qaeda was hardly mentioned and the top issue of voters in the United States -Terrorism received little attention. I found it rather convenient for him to fail to mention the mistakes at Fort Hood and most recently, the prosecution of the Christmas Day bomber in which we now have come to find out was only questioned for 50 minutes and then given his Miranda rights.
The President met with Republican leaders on Friday which was televised. I think it was a good start but served only as an opportunity for each side to point out failures. I believe the President did act somewhat like a stern father admonishing his children as he spoke to them in his well known arrogant and condescending fashion. Today on the Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, the political guests of two democrats and two republicans continued to blame each other in very partisan manner for the failures of the present administration. The Republicans continued to hammer broken promises and lack of transparency while the democrats wanted to call the Republicans the "party of no" and blame Bush for the economic condition of the country, including the Medicare Prescription Program under Bush. As to transparency, I believe the public is beginning to see right through President Obama.
There has been much speculation this week over the results of the three state elections and whether President Obama would move at least to center left. Last Friday night after the address, the Fox panel did an early evaluation of the speech. What stuck out for me was the opinion of Charles Krauthammer, himself an MD in Psychiatry and degrees in Economics and Political Science. He stated that he believed that President Obama was in a state of "Clinical Denial". This afternoon on Fox News Sunday the regular panel evaluated again and three of the four where optimistic that President Obama would start to adjust his strategy towards the center. Dr. Krauthammer maintained his position in saying that the President would continue his left wing agenda. I agree with him but for the sake of our nation, I sincerely hope that I am wrong.
Friday, January 22, 2010
A Year of Broken Promises
President Obama completed his first year in office this week and certainly the celebration was totally muted by a resounding roar from the voters in Massachusetts, the most liberal state, who unequivocally said "no more" to the socialist leanings of this administration. Just over a month ago, President Obama was eager to give himself a B+ for his first year. He even went so far as to leave the door open for an "A" if he got ObamaCare signed into law.
As we look back at his first year, there is an overwhelming feeling of broken promises and in my opinion an abandonment of common sense. The most obvious reflection is that he campaigned on the promise of total transparency, an end to entitlements and back room politics. Instead, we were deluged with czars like the radical socialist Sunstein and the pedophile loving Kevin Jennings. The appointment of a Treasury Secretary who admittedly failed to pay his taxes and a President who went on an apology tour of Europe telling of American arrogance.
When we look at the Obama Doctrine in dealing with terrorism we come away with the feeling that the President wanted to completely disarm our strategy by denying that terrorists are even at war with us and treating them like criminals. We were appalled by the idea that CIA agents would be open to prosecution by his attack dog, Attorney General Eric Holder. Amazingly, this week in testimony before Congress, the Director of National Intelligence and the Director of Homeland Security both testified they had no idea that the so called "Underwear Bomber" would be turned over to civil authorities.
There is no question that the President inherited an economy in distress. However, his policy has been a complete failure. His $787 billion stimulus bill promised to keep unemployment below 8% and create tens of thousands of jobs in the private sector. In contrast, basically no jobs were created and unemployment rates have gone to over 10%. Through bank bailouts, and the takeover of General Motors and Chrysler coupled with "Cash for Clunkers" the national debt has skyrocketed to catastrophic heights placing our children and grandchildren in debt for decades. It has also placed the economy of the United States near collapse as we watch China begin to replace us as the largest economy in the world, the rest of the world holds our debt, and the dollar is in jeopardy of being replaced on the world market.
Until this past week in Massachusetts, President Obama was ready to ram ObamaCare down the throats of a nation which clearly was against the policy and would force people to buy health insurance backed by fines for individuals and penalties for businesses. His liberal led Congress enticed representatives to vote yes by offering "sweetheart" deals in places like Louisiana and Nebraska and all this done behind closed doors without input from the right side of the aisle. Now, President Obama says he has heard the people speak. His State of the Union address will be filled with more promises that jobs will be created and the national debt will be brought under control. Will these be more broken promises? He failed the people in the first year and deserves an D.
I offer this thought and my opinion. President Obama is a Progressive, an anti-capitalist to his core. I do not believe he has ever liked free enterprise. I believe he wants to take down our free market economy...to be replaced by a government-controlled economy. We have an opportunity that started in Virginia, New Jersey and now Massachusetts. The future lies in the hands of the voters and the people of this great nation. At the end of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 a woman of Philadelphia came up to Benjamin Franklin and asked, "well Doctor, what have we got, a Republic or a Monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "a republic, if you can keep it."
As we look back at his first year, there is an overwhelming feeling of broken promises and in my opinion an abandonment of common sense. The most obvious reflection is that he campaigned on the promise of total transparency, an end to entitlements and back room politics. Instead, we were deluged with czars like the radical socialist Sunstein and the pedophile loving Kevin Jennings. The appointment of a Treasury Secretary who admittedly failed to pay his taxes and a President who went on an apology tour of Europe telling of American arrogance.
When we look at the Obama Doctrine in dealing with terrorism we come away with the feeling that the President wanted to completely disarm our strategy by denying that terrorists are even at war with us and treating them like criminals. We were appalled by the idea that CIA agents would be open to prosecution by his attack dog, Attorney General Eric Holder. Amazingly, this week in testimony before Congress, the Director of National Intelligence and the Director of Homeland Security both testified they had no idea that the so called "Underwear Bomber" would be turned over to civil authorities.
There is no question that the President inherited an economy in distress. However, his policy has been a complete failure. His $787 billion stimulus bill promised to keep unemployment below 8% and create tens of thousands of jobs in the private sector. In contrast, basically no jobs were created and unemployment rates have gone to over 10%. Through bank bailouts, and the takeover of General Motors and Chrysler coupled with "Cash for Clunkers" the national debt has skyrocketed to catastrophic heights placing our children and grandchildren in debt for decades. It has also placed the economy of the United States near collapse as we watch China begin to replace us as the largest economy in the world, the rest of the world holds our debt, and the dollar is in jeopardy of being replaced on the world market.
Until this past week in Massachusetts, President Obama was ready to ram ObamaCare down the throats of a nation which clearly was against the policy and would force people to buy health insurance backed by fines for individuals and penalties for businesses. His liberal led Congress enticed representatives to vote yes by offering "sweetheart" deals in places like Louisiana and Nebraska and all this done behind closed doors without input from the right side of the aisle. Now, President Obama says he has heard the people speak. His State of the Union address will be filled with more promises that jobs will be created and the national debt will be brought under control. Will these be more broken promises? He failed the people in the first year and deserves an D.
I offer this thought and my opinion. President Obama is a Progressive, an anti-capitalist to his core. I do not believe he has ever liked free enterprise. I believe he wants to take down our free market economy...to be replaced by a government-controlled economy. We have an opportunity that started in Virginia, New Jersey and now Massachusetts. The future lies in the hands of the voters and the people of this great nation. At the end of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 a woman of Philadelphia came up to Benjamin Franklin and asked, "well Doctor, what have we got, a Republic or a Monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "a republic, if you can keep it."
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
BOHICA - Scammed Again!
The Christmas/New Years holidays are over with and certainly it can be said that the Congress is back in Washington and it is again, "politics as usual". I could never speak for everyone but I am fed up with a federal government that is hell bent on their liberal agenda and the public be damned. I know it sounds like a broken record but I have never seen leadership so willing to throw transparency out the window along with Robert's Rules of Order. I am talking about the determination of the liberal Congress to pass Health Care Reform at any cost, and believe me it is going to cost.
Back in August of 2008 Candidate Barack Obama spoke to a town hall meeting in Chester, Virginia about the desire to reform health care. He stated "I'm going to have all the negotiations around a big table. We'll have doctors and nurses and hospital administrators. Insurance companies, drug companies...what we will do is, we'll have the negotiations televised on C-Span, so that people can see who is making arguments on behalf of their constituents...And so, that approach, I think is what is going to allow people to stay involved in this process."
Yesterday, after meeting behind closed doors, democratic representatives were asked about the transparency of the reconciliation meetings and the fact that Candidate Obama had promised transparency in his administration. Speaker of the House Pelosi replied "well the President made a lot of promises on the campaign trail." The public was advised in a news release two days ago that the compromise between the House and Senate versions of the health care bill would be a three-way negotiation involving top Democrats in the House and Senate and the White House. It was announced there would be no plans to appoint a formal House-Senate conference committee, the method Congress most often uses to reconcile differing bills. The conservative side of the aisle has been totally shut out of the process. So the plan is to reach a quick agreement and on the desk of the President for signing.
It has become quite obvious of the administrations plans on this bill. Obama broke his promise on transparency many months ago with backroom deals cut with drug companies, hospitals and the AARP. I previously reported this in my commentary "Scamming Our Citizens" on November 10, 2008. The old scout motto of "Be Prepared" could not ring more true than in this situation. The American people will see more federal debt, their health care costs will increase, their taxes will go up and their quality of care will go down. There is absolutely no way on this earth that you can provide coverage to 15 million more people and cut the Medicare costs by a half billion dollars with out the resulting costs to taxpayers. Just one question left...have you removed that Obama for President sticker from your car yet?
Back in August of 2008 Candidate Barack Obama spoke to a town hall meeting in Chester, Virginia about the desire to reform health care. He stated "I'm going to have all the negotiations around a big table. We'll have doctors and nurses and hospital administrators. Insurance companies, drug companies...what we will do is, we'll have the negotiations televised on C-Span, so that people can see who is making arguments on behalf of their constituents...And so, that approach, I think is what is going to allow people to stay involved in this process."
Yesterday, after meeting behind closed doors, democratic representatives were asked about the transparency of the reconciliation meetings and the fact that Candidate Obama had promised transparency in his administration. Speaker of the House Pelosi replied "well the President made a lot of promises on the campaign trail." The public was advised in a news release two days ago that the compromise between the House and Senate versions of the health care bill would be a three-way negotiation involving top Democrats in the House and Senate and the White House. It was announced there would be no plans to appoint a formal House-Senate conference committee, the method Congress most often uses to reconcile differing bills. The conservative side of the aisle has been totally shut out of the process. So the plan is to reach a quick agreement and on the desk of the President for signing.
It has become quite obvious of the administrations plans on this bill. Obama broke his promise on transparency many months ago with backroom deals cut with drug companies, hospitals and the AARP. I previously reported this in my commentary "Scamming Our Citizens" on November 10, 2008. The old scout motto of "Be Prepared" could not ring more true than in this situation. The American people will see more federal debt, their health care costs will increase, their taxes will go up and their quality of care will go down. There is absolutely no way on this earth that you can provide coverage to 15 million more people and cut the Medicare costs by a half billion dollars with out the resulting costs to taxpayers. Just one question left...have you removed that Obama for President sticker from your car yet?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Airport Security - Knee Jerk Reactions
After the news release of the Christmas terrorist attack on the Northwest Airlines flight into Detroit, the brain trust of the Airport Security and the Transportation Security Authority when into high gear with idiotic actions. We immediately were informed that effective immediately that all flights coming into the United States from overseas would initiate rules that would not
allow passengers to use the bathroom during the last hour of flight before arrival. Furthermore, there would be no issue of blankets or pillows during the last hour of flight.
There have already been several incidents of airport closures because of unusual or unexplained incidents. One comes to mind yesterday of the airport that was closed, passengers who had already boarded flights waiting to take off were required to go thru the security screening for the second time. All because an alert went out stating that someone had entered and exited a baggage screening area by the wrong direction.
Eight years ago the Shoe Bomber, Richard Reid attempted to blow up a plane. For the past eight years we as passengers have been required to remove our shoes when going through Airport Security. Now we have the Nigerian terrorist who has quickly been labeled by the media as the Underwear Bomber. Whats next? Will we be required to remove our.....oh wait a minute. I don't want to go there! I am just asking that common sense prevail.
allow passengers to use the bathroom during the last hour of flight before arrival. Furthermore, there would be no issue of blankets or pillows during the last hour of flight.
There have already been several incidents of airport closures because of unusual or unexplained incidents. One comes to mind yesterday of the airport that was closed, passengers who had already boarded flights waiting to take off were required to go thru the security screening for the second time. All because an alert went out stating that someone had entered and exited a baggage screening area by the wrong direction.
Eight years ago the Shoe Bomber, Richard Reid attempted to blow up a plane. For the past eight years we as passengers have been required to remove our shoes when going through Airport Security. Now we have the Nigerian terrorist who has quickly been labeled by the media as the Underwear Bomber. Whats next? Will we be required to remove our.....oh wait a minute. I don't want to go there! I am just asking that common sense prevail.
War on Terrorism - Struggling for Committment
I was listening to President Obama addressing the nation last evening after meeting with his top security advisors over the Christmas Day terrorist attack. I should have know better than to expect something different. He was for sure in his usual polished speaker mode. He told you what he had learned and told the American people how important this was to him and how he promised that he would do everything in his power to protect us in the future. Gosh, I feel so much better now. Fact is, the Community Organizer did not tell you anything that I had not told you in my commentary on December 30th. In fact, he told you less and only acknowledged that the CIA had been following the trail of a person who came to be known as Farouk Abdulmutallab - the Nigerian.
He went through the usual discussion of "how we failed to connect the dots". Excuse me Mr. President but I believe the same discussion took place after 9-11. I will give him credit for not faulting the Bush Administration this time, and he confirmed that the transfer of Yemini detainees from Guantanamo Bay back to their homeland would be delayed. After a year in office it is time to stop the nonsense and take responsibility.
On March 8, 2008, Candidate Obama told an audience of military officers that "....because I believe that any candidate for President must present the American people with a clear vision of how we will lead. There are real differences between the candidates, and important issues to debate - from ending the war in Iraq, to combating terrorism, to devising hew strategies and new capabilities to confront 21st century threats". In my opinion, he has failed to express a clear vision on how to lead in the battle against terrorism. This past year alone there has been terrorist activities in Little Rock, Arkansas when a Yemen terrorist gunned down army recruiters. In July an Afghan-American was arrested after going into a Denver, Colorado beauty supply store to purchase supplies for building a bomb. In Fort Hood, Texas, Major Hassan gunned down his fellow soldiers, and now the attempted blowing up of a Northwest Airlines flight over Detroit.
I would like to think that finally something will be done. We need to quit treating citizens as terrorists and quit treating terrorists as citizens. I said before that if we had the resolve to combat Al Qaeda jihadists as much as they have the resolve to destroy America, we could get the job done. The resolve must come from leadership and sadly, it has been absent to this point.
He went through the usual discussion of "how we failed to connect the dots". Excuse me Mr. President but I believe the same discussion took place after 9-11. I will give him credit for not faulting the Bush Administration this time, and he confirmed that the transfer of Yemini detainees from Guantanamo Bay back to their homeland would be delayed. After a year in office it is time to stop the nonsense and take responsibility.
On March 8, 2008, Candidate Obama told an audience of military officers that "....because I believe that any candidate for President must present the American people with a clear vision of how we will lead. There are real differences between the candidates, and important issues to debate - from ending the war in Iraq, to combating terrorism, to devising hew strategies and new capabilities to confront 21st century threats". In my opinion, he has failed to express a clear vision on how to lead in the battle against terrorism. This past year alone there has been terrorist activities in Little Rock, Arkansas when a Yemen terrorist gunned down army recruiters. In July an Afghan-American was arrested after going into a Denver, Colorado beauty supply store to purchase supplies for building a bomb. In Fort Hood, Texas, Major Hassan gunned down his fellow soldiers, and now the attempted blowing up of a Northwest Airlines flight over Detroit.
I would like to think that finally something will be done. We need to quit treating citizens as terrorists and quit treating terrorists as citizens. I said before that if we had the resolve to combat Al Qaeda jihadists as much as they have the resolve to destroy America, we could get the job done. The resolve must come from leadership and sadly, it has been absent to this point.
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