Embarrassingly, while most of my generation is consumed with the happenings of five (I think?) idiots from the Jersey Shore, others in our generation are waging a revolution for fundamental rights in Eqypt. The right to vote. The right of peaceful assembly. The right of free speech. Of course, lest we forget those in our military fighting for others’ rights in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This latest strife in the Middle East has many observers asking, “what should the United States do about this situation?” The answer is easy. Nothing! Unlike previous demonstrations throughout the Middle East during other revolutions, this is not an indirect attack on the United States. There has been no anti-Western rhetoric. There has been no burning of the American flag. This is an internal civil conflict and the United States should completely avoid comment. To mettle in this revolution would result in devastating consequences. If there has been any lesson from the War in Iraq, it is that no longer should the United States be the world police. In the same vein, if you tamper with the United States or its interests, we will find you and destroy you.
Many of us forget that the United States was born of revolution. When the sovereign takes from its citizens the only peaceful means of dissent, namely the right to choose its government, other alternatives become necessary. This is precisely the issue in Egypt. There exists no ballot box to voice concerns. There is no other means to provide change. Revolution becomes necessary. However, when the revolution becomes indistinguishable from the acts of the oppressor, its message falls on deaf ears. The Egyptian people need to walk this fine line carefully to maintain legitimacy.
There are obvious concerns for America. Hosni Mubarek is a strong ally with the United States and Israel. In such a volatile region, this relationship should be recognized and appreciated. Raising even more concern is the proposed successor of Mubarek, Mohamed El-Baradi. El-Baredi is a former Director General of the IAEA, the watchdog on nuclear weapons, and Nobel Prize laureate. El-Baredi’s tenure as Director General is marred by comments against Israel and his pro-Iranian stances. Even under these circumstances, the United States cannot, and must not, choose the leader of Egypt – only its people can.
If the United States supports Mubarek, whether diplomatically or militarily, how could we say we are a beacon of democracy? How could we justify the elections Americans died to bring to Iraq and Afghanistan? The simple answer is that we could not.
One must ask if this was meant to be the State of the Union Speech or a State of the Reelection Campaign Speech. Regardless it proved to be a lackluster speech, void of enthusiasm or passion with strained applause and even more reluctance at standing ovations. Compare this to the President’s memorial speech in Tuscon that found the audience hootin’ and hollerin’ with great exuberance.
Obama looked almost pained at having to read what was on the teleprompter and we would have to agree that there was not much good news to report. There was the usual hollow promises that begged the question as to why haven’t we seen these proposals come to fruition in the past two years or four since that is how long there has been Democratic control. What we do have is a continued high unemployment rate, a housing market that has yet to bounce back and exorbitant debt thrown in for good measure.
Now all of a sudden there is talk from the left of getting along. This prompted the theatrical “prom night” where the rush was on to find a bipartisan date. Lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle paired up and sat together during the President’s speech breaking tradition of sitting within their own party. How nice, how feel-good, how droll. There was no such talk of civility when the atrocious Obamacare was being rammed through, it was full speed ahead and damn the Republicans as well as the rest of the American majority that opposed this legislation.
What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow.
~President, State of the Union Speech 2011
After an evening of sitting together there needs to be a morning-after pill to abort the bipartisonship spectacle of last night or at least some mouthwash to remove the bad taste and have the Republican majority get down to the business of honoring the will of the people that voted them into office.
With the horrendous shooting tragedy of last Friday in Tuscon, Arizona little other news has been able to filter its way to the surface. One event worth mentioning is the passing of Richard “Dick” Winters on January 2, 2011 with private funeral this past Saturday. He was an extraordinary American in every sense of the term who fought and lived through harrowing battles in Europe during World War II.
In a world where athletes and entertainers are characterized as heroes Richard Winters was a super hero. He was the inspiration behind the book and miniseries “Band of Brothers.” Winters did not create the world that was handed to him during WWII but persevered along with the other brave men that he led into combat and helped change the outcome of it.
He and his men parachuted behind enemy lines prior to the troops landing on Omaha and Utah beaches during D-Day, June 6, 1944. Assigned to Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne, Winters led a small group of men against a German artillery position and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic action during that battle. There is an ongoing effort to have that medal upgraded to the Medal of Honor. His unit went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge and later secured the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountain retreat. Major Winters was discharged from the Army in 1946 but recalled to active duty during the Korean War.
Richard Winters led an exemplary life that gave meaning and honor to those fallen soldiers he served with. He chose to live a life of modesty and requested that news of his death be withheld until after his funeral.
When our days run their course and a man like Dick Winters leaves us, time and providence remind us that human beings can do giant things. Dick Winters volunteered to go to war, leading paratroopers into unknown, yet certain, dangers. He led by both command and example; his wartime philosophy was simple — “Follow me.” When the world needed heroes, he served in a company of heroes. In a historic time, he was both a humble witness and an honorable warrior. In the decades since, he cherished the peace he had earned with humility and integrity.
~Tom Hanks, Actor and co-producer,”Band of Brothers”
Richard “Dick” Winters personified the generation of Americans who selflessly fought and died for their country in World War II. Dick Winters was at the vanguard of representing ‘The Greatest Generation. He would not have wanted this credit. He would have simply asked all of us to never forget how his generation served this nation and the world in WWII.
~Steven Spielberg, co-producer,”Band of Brothers”
Every American should seek to emulate his quiet greatness and be very thankful for the world that he and his men along with the others of his generation allowed us to inherit.
A blast of global warming marched across the United States and culminated in a finale along the eastern seaboard as a blizzard extending up through the coastal New England states. The storm produced snowfall amounts and frigid temperatures below the Mason-Dixon line that have rarely if ever been seen before.
During this past week blizzards closed airports in London and Franfurt. Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris also canceled many flights. Two weeks ago heavy snow collapsed the roof of the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Once again we are in the throes of climate change. Summer heat went to autumn cooling then to winter snow and cold. That pesky cyclic global climate change is definitely upon us.
Where is the global warming outcry? Where is Al Gore? One has to assume it is rather difficult to drum up a receptive global warming audience when not capitalizing on a hot July heat wave. The audacity of Mother Nature.
Today I spent atoning for my carbon footprint sins by exerting some physical labor clearing a foot and one-half deep snow pack from the driveway. Does it count if I used a snowblower instead of a shovel?
Facing heat from the Democratic party regarding his tax-cut compromise with the Republicans and unable to stand on his own merits, Barack Obama felt it necessary to call in the support of former President Bill Clinton to address reporters in the briefing room today. There’s the sign of a real leader – Bill Clinton that is. Obama stood back while Clinton took the stage and worked the crowd of gathered press correspondents.
As if it wasn’t bad enough to have the former President bail him out, Obama then leans over and informs him that the First Lady is waiting for him and he must leave. Complete with his characteristic biting lower lip and pointing finger Clinton did not miss a beat and continued to carry on the press conference while Obama turned and left. Bill Clinton appeared quite comfortable in his new role as proxy President.
When times get tough the tough get going – home to the wife.
Threat warning is elevated. Brace yourself America, lawmakers went back to work today. There is a long list of things to do during this lame-duck session of Congress before the Republican majority moves in. One of the most contentious issues will focus on the Bush-era tax cuts that are due to expire in January.
The President is scheduled to meet with Congressional leaders on Tuesday. No doubt there will be a much more subdued Obama who is willing to compromise with Republicans thus replacing the hard-stance Obama hell-bent on ramming through legislation against the will of the American majority under the guise of he “knows what’s best for us.”
Other agenda items of interest are extended unemployment benefits that end this week. Medicare payment reduction is due to go into effect on December 1st which will result in reduced federal reimbursement to doctors who in turn have threatened to drop medicare patients. The fiscal 2011 budget is still pending and a temporary spending plan is due to expire on Friday, if not passed the federal government could shut down. A lot on the proverbial plate before the end of the year.
The one message that elected politicians should have received during this past election is that they will be closely monitored. No longer will it be acceptable for Washington legislators to ride roughshod over the majority of Americans that want nothing more than responsible legislation, accountability and the end of politicians double-talking their way out of broken campaign promises.
First it was the obvious items of interest that were confiscated when boarding a plane, pocket knives, box cutters, and other assorted sharp, pointy objects. Then came the shoe bomber and we are all required to now take off our shoes for inspection. Liquid items have joined the ranks of items removed before proceeding to the boarding gate. Let’s not forget the underwear bomber that attempted to ignite explosives in his briefs.
As the terrorists become more “ingenious” with their methods of explosive techniques one has to contemplate what will be next. Will there be an IED concealed in the rectum? If so, how do we remedy that, mandatory cavity searches? It gives a whole new meaning to flying the friendly skies? Seems our enemies are always one step ahead of us with uncanny, twisted attempts at disguising their handy work. We then must bend and sway to their whim.
In a politically correct attempt at appeasing the few all must be subjected to intense scrutiny. Shoes off, scanning, groping the young, old, all ethnicities except of course if you are a Muslim woman who wears the hijab, the head and neck covering garment. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has issued a travel notice to Muslim airline passengers, warning them that new regulations from the Transportation Security Administration violate certain religious rules. Women wearing the hajib should be limited to searching the head and shoulders only.
Israel has no problems. Every passenger is interviewed prior to boarding a flight. It must be working, there has not been a breach of security in 8 years. This procedure would be politically incorrect in the United States, therefore we will continue with the scanning and groping.
With today’s available technology airport officials are now able to scan passengers with low dose radiology thus exposing the naked body and revealing any potential contraband as well as the physical attributes of the individual. Refuse the scan and you will be unceremoniously groped. Refuse the grope and your vacation trip ends there without a single shot fired or bomb exploding.
The bottom line: Muslim extremists have already won.
Former President George W. Bush has emerged from a self-imposed seclusion to promote the publication of his new memoir “Decision Points”. In each and every interview Mr. Bush purposely avoids criticizing the current White House administration. This is a man with scruples, a man that understands the stress and strain of holding this nation’s highest office. Mr. Bush realizes that a former President denigrating the current President’s policies only serves to demean and has no honorable purpose.
On the other hand we now have a President that in lieu of providing solutions to our nation’s problems finds it appallingly necessary to continually blame the previous administration in order to take the focus off of his inadequacies of leadership. A great leader accepts inherited problems and sets about the task of rendering solutions to resolve those problems. Obama grasps the philosophy of the new American mantra of passing the blame while conveniently ignoring the fact that the Democratic party held the majority in Congress for two years prior to him taking office.
George W. Bush takes the high road whenever asked to offer an opinion on Barack Obama’s policies during his book promotion interviews. He refuses, a demonstration of a real class act.
Soon to be replaced House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continues her departure from reality. She now plans to run for the post of minority leader in the new Congress much to the chagrin of many Democrats in the House of Representatives. This is a woman that just doesn’t get it. Pelosi represented the voice of the Democratic party that was soundly defeated in last week’s elections.
Right up to the last hours of political campaigning Pelosi was in a state of denial with her predictions of a Democratic majority prevailing in the House. But unlike passing the unpopular health care reform and bailout bills against the will of the American majority this time the voters had a say. They sent an overwhelming message of disapproval to Pelosi and her Democratic cohorts.
It is time for Nancy Pelosi to fade from the spotlight into obscurity. The nation no longer needs or wants her “services”. On the other hand, as the minority leader, she could be beneficial to the Republican party as a constant bombastic reminder as to why the Democrats no longer reign supreme.
Elections are over, the people have spoken with their votes, results are in and it was an overwhelming Republican victory. The political pendulum has swung in the other direction. While the Republicans gained seats in the Senate it was not quite enough to gain a majority. The House was a different story and the Republicans will now take control. We have no choice but to be satisfied with this balance of power.
This is not the time for Republican gloating, back-slapping, high-fives or fist-bumps. There is much work to be done and difficult legislation lies ahead. A clear message has been sent to Washington and the nation. No longer will it be acceptable to ignore the American majority and push personal agendas through Congress. When you thwart the will of the people your political career and aspirations will be cut short. The political “norm” will no longer be tolerated. Out-of-control spending, pork-laden bills, and government restrictions on freedoms will be quickly rebuked by the people.
When the new Congress convenes in January all politicians will be expected to immediately start taking action on the myriad of problems that confront this country, not February or March or when they get around to it. All representatives are expected to be present and accounted for on all legislative votes. We will be watching and taking notes, legislators can no longer shirk their responsibilites.
Should this current crop of politicians veer off the path of fiscal responsibility and common sense legislation and not follow the will of the people there will be no need for term limits, the people will ensure they only have one. It’s a short two years until the next election.
