Let Him Rot!

“Death sentence in Massachusetts?” All those who think that will happen, raise your hand; wait, no one??? I didn't think so.

It was reported on Thursday, that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will be tried with three charges of murder and assorted other crimes punishable by the death penalty due to the depravity of the crimes. If anyone thinks that will happen, well, I have a bridge to sell you. No, really! I do, a REAL big one!

The Obama administration has decided to ask for the death penalty in the Boston Marathon Bombing case because they know that even in a federal court the chances of a Massachusetts jury voting to put a terrorist to death are as good as a snowball existing in hell. Wait, Global Warming? Well, we will save that for another commentary. For the purpose of full disclosure, I don't believe in the death penalty. Instead, life imprisonment in solitary confinement, with no chance for parole would be a better sentence.  Just solitude, alone with one’s thoughts, “was it really worth it?”

I discussed this at length in my commentary "Death.... or Revenge" posted on April 23, 2013. I explained my personal reasons, that cases of terrorism, putting the

Boston (Photo credits: www.roadtrafficsigns.com)

terrorist to death is a waste of effort because once the terrorist is dead; no more information can be obtained from him/her.

Certainly, this case will have a high emotional level for the victims, the victims' families and for the residents of Boston and its surrounding communities. After all, it took about four days until the authorities were sure who actually committed this heinous act. In the meantime, a high state of tension existed for all those days and nights, and ultimately during the lockdown of Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Waltham and Watertown, where he was found in a resident's boat.

There is also a possibility that the defense may petition the court to move the case to another venue because virtually all Bostonians and other southeastern Massachusetts residents feel they were victimized by this horrible attack. While they are probably right in their feelings, the defense will look at these emotions, to claim the defendant will not get an impartial jury from this jury pool. Where else could they move it to? After all, terrorism is terrorism.

Essentially, most residents of New England probably feel the same as residents from the five communities directly affected. Since it is a federal case, the trial could be moved anywhere, but it is not likely.

In the meantime, Barry and “Contemptible” Eric showcase that they are tough on terrorism, when they know full well this murderer will not see a needle or a chair.

If it were not so serious, this action by these clowns would be laughable.

Just Another Sunday?

“Drawing a blank?”

Since Wednesday afternoon, I began pouring through the news apps I have on my phone and watching the various news cable channels before their primetime commentary/opinion shows, and I could not find a story on which to comment. When I got up at 4:15 Thursday, I still was drawing a blank.

This morning I was talking to my friend, who acts as my editor, explaining my dilemma. Anyway, she suggested that I write something light-hearted, apolitical and still be interesting.

So, I continued to rack my brain, until finally, what follows just may very well fit that bill.

This Sunday is a big day for several reasons.

First, it's Super Bowl Sunday. It's the grand game which signifies the end of the football season. While the NFL wants to produce an outstanding game and halftime show, even the most diehard fans know it is not always about the game, it is the parties. This is the day that tailgating is done indoors, enjoying football speak with friends and eating the best food of the year, football munchies. Nachos, chili, burgers, ribs, dogs and other stuff we would not normally eat on any given day. Oh yeah, let’s not forget the beer, and plenty of it. By the time the game starts, we are ready to take a nap!

The second reason, at least for this year, it's Groundhog Day. Yes, it's an old legend that most of us don't take seriously, but it's fun to think that a rodent actually has the ability to predict the weather for the next six weeks. They even made a movie about it with Bill Murray, Andie McDowell and Chris Elliot in 1993. It had a lighthearted theme with some great music. Songs like,  I Got You Babe, was played over and over, with amusing effect. By the way, that was Bill Murray's brother, Brian Doyle Murray, who had the fun of holding the groundhog as the Grand Marshall.

The third reason, Sunday marks the halfway point in the calendar until the first day of spring. Coincidentally, it also marks the beginning of the final month of Meteorological Winter. For those of you who are like me, March 1 represents the return of warmer weather, less chance for snow (although it has snowed in the Northeast well into April), longer days coming and the rebirth of nature is upon us. So, February 2 is a great day.

This Sunday, when you wake up, the day will portend so many good things for all of us. I look forward to Sunday for the reasons stated and I hope Sunday is a great day for you, too.

Enjoy the game, the legend and the forthcoming of spring. And by the way, as of Sunday, it's 14 days until pitchers and catchers.

Now, how can you complain about that?!? And my editor earned her pay!

SOTU = FLUFF

“After four plus years I can say, Oops….. never mind."

Nobody actually said those words last night, but if you read the speech and didn't listen to it, that sentiment was dripping all over it. If you listened to it, you know that "The Great Orator" would be able to tug on your emotions, for it or against it. That's why I have never really listened to any President's SOTU. Reading it keeps the emotions out of it and lets one have a sober view of what the speech's contents were.

Presidents Reagan and Kennedy were able to communicate to the people in terms we could all understand. Heck, Reagan was known by all groups as the “Great Communicator” because he was able to "dumb it down" to its simplest terms, without making us feel foolish.  

I generally don't have many good things to say about this President, as you well know. Since the 2004 Democratic convention, he has shown that when the lights and camera are on, he can deliver a great speech, but at the same time, he speaks to show you how smart he is in terms that confuse you and mask the meaning of the rhetoric.

It took President Obama over an hour to essentially tell us nothing without actually saying it. The implication drawn from the written words, if you could read through the fluff, you know, the marshmallow goop you put on peanut butter as a kid, was that we are not really better off than what we were in 2009.

He was unclear with the methodology how he could claim that Obamacare was registering so many people in Medicaid, when many of those numbers are renewals or in the ACA just because they signed on but may not have made their first payment because that part of the program hasn't been built yet.

I recently signed up to have Medicare Part B and the supplemental. It is not effective until February 1 because I only made the payment on the 18th of January. It's not retroactive so, unless these people actually made that payment, it doesn't count. By the way, that is how all insurance plans work: you have to pay for it to be effective. When he dared the opponents of Obamacare to make sure to provide numbers that "add up" when they offer changes, he forgot to mention that his numbers don't add up.

He is not alone. While he talked in platitudes and accolades of a bunch of rehashed campaign nonsense, the Republican response was no better. There were the same old negative talking points which to me, is nothing new and different. There was no real offer of new ideas, just the same old nonsense. No wonder why people, in general, are not inspired by either party in the House, Senate and the President.

Just to be clear, here is a note to the “All Stars” in the President's office, Congress and the media. It's an Executive Order, not Executive Action that the President uses to violate the Constitution. Executive Action is the conspiracy to commit or actually commit an assassination of a President or other leader.

The President, at least, used the right term as he admitted he will be violating his oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. As for John Boehner's response, "It doesn't affect anyone now", really, that's it? The appropriate response should have been "impeachment if you try it."

So, to sum up, the State of the Union is no better today than it ever was. One thing is clear however, we can fully expect more of the same gridlock we have witnessed since 2011 until summer recess. Then, Members of Congress will be off campaigning for another term.

Where is the peanut butter? I prefer jelly…..

A Grand Grammy Disappointment

“I get by with a little help from my friends”

Where were the Beatles songs?  While I didn't watch the Grammy's on Sunday night, I found it a bit bizarre that the two surviving Beatles didn't sing or play any of their classics. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were on stage together for a rare live television appearance and no "Yellow Submarine" or "Octopus's Garden"?

It's ironic that they received their Lifetime Achievement Awards, two weeks before, the fiftieth anniversary of their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, on February 9, 1964. Yet no duets, no "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" Why?

Ringo could have sung "Act Naturally"; after all, he sang "Photograph", right?  "What Goes On" here?

What about Paul? He could have told us about "A Fool on the Hill" or "Lady Madonna”, songs he wrote. If he were afraid of copyright infringement, "Yesterday" would have been a safe choice. We all believe in "Yesterday".

We understand that Paul wanted to sing "Queenie Eye" since it is from his latest album, "New". But an old classic like "Let It Be" would have hit the mark also.

There are hundreds of songs which would have revealed why the Lifetime Achievement Awards were deserved. Instead, they sang songs from their solo careers. They didn't want to "Get Back" to their roots. That was too bad.

By doing so, they would have indirectly paid tribute to the two missing and deceased members of the band that transformed music as we knew it at the end of 1963. They probably never would have received their awards without the talent of John Lennon and the philosophy of George Harrison.

The pair is set to tape, The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles, which is scheduled to air on CBS, February 9, 2014. Perhaps they are saving it all for that performance?   

Let's hope that the special on February 9, 2014, will not be a “solo event”; that would just be a drag.

Call For Philip Morris!

Got a smoke? Filtered, flavored, pack or box?

We were told in 1964, FIFTY YEARS AGO, that smoking was bad for our health. Some of us, including me, had already been smoking for several years. As a note of full disclosure, I had my first cigarette in February, 1961 when I was nine. By 1964, I was smoking at least a half pack a day.

On Monday evening it was reported that the Marlboro Man, Eric Lawson, died from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD. He was 72. 

How many of us baby boomers were actually brainwashed by the Marlboro commercials, as well as, (I'd walk a mile for a) Camel, Kool, Winston (tastes good like a cigarette should) and the best one, (four out of five doctors recommend) Lucky Strike (for better health)? Or, watching Ricky and Lucy lighting up several times in each episode? Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore? And so many others?

In December, 1995, I smoked my last cigarette. At that point, I was smoking at least three packs a day for about 15 years. Of course, the lower the tar and nicotine content was, the more I smoked. I am sure many of you who were in my position did, and may still be doing the same.

The problem in 2014, sadly, is that so many of our children or grandchildren are smoking, even with all the evidence of its dangers. There have been no radio or TV ads since January 1971. Also, outdoor advertising was banned in 1997, including sports arenas, stadiums, billboards etc. In 2003, magazine publishers and tobacco companies ceased the placement of ads in school library editions of Time, People, Sports Illustrated, and Newsweek. 

Cigarette ads, however, are still permitted in newspapers and magazines in general circulation.

So, we have the office of the Surgeon General, a part of HHS, warning of the dangers of smoking. The Department of Agriculture is paying subsidies to tobacco farmers who grow a cash crop. What is wrong with that picture? Do you find it to be somewhat ironic and hypocritical at the same time as well as, illogical?

Our teens and young adults are attracted to this terrible, dirty and dangerous habit. Yet, the allure of doing something daring or basically, defying their parents, seems to be the allure. As a generation, baby boomers have successfully reduced our participation from over 60% to fewer than 20% of our demographic. But our kids haven't seen the light, no pun intended, yet. 

Hopefully, they will see that Eric Lawson's demise will be their fate.

The Real Power

A pen and a phone? Who is he kidding??

 Where does it say anywhere in the Constitution that a President has the right to issue executive orders as he or she sees fit? I have read the Constitution from front to back, and I could not find a single reference to the term, "Executive Orders", or anything that could be interpreted as such.

 I understand that the Congress over these many years has relinquished its Constitutional responsibility for many different reasons. Now, at this time in history, we have a President, an alleged "Constitutional Law Professor", who has decided that he is allowed to run amuck across the Bible of this country. Sadly, the Congress is too weak to stop him.

 Trust me, he knows it and uses it in his favor.

 So, now he says with impunity that he has a pen and a phone. He didn't say it once, twice, or even three times. By my count, he has said it six times. I have heard it at different photo ops  since January 6, 2014. On Sunday, I heard Dan Pfeiffer say it also.

 This White House is out of control. The media does not seem to object, unlike in 1972, 1973 and 1974, when they were all over every utterance which came out of the Nixon White House. As time goes on, Jay Carney, bearded or not, sounds and looks more like Ron Zeigler each time he shows up at the daily Press briefing. He just stands there insisting that Barry has every right to just make decisions on his own.

 Apparently, "advise and consent" means nothing to anyone in this White House. Nor, does it mean anything to the modern media, at least as it pertains to their darling. After all, they gave him credibility and cover, so if they challenge him now, they will look like lemmings to him. If they turn against him, the favors and special treatment will dry up.

 So, what can the American people, who still believe that the Constitution means something more than a suggestion list, do? Well, like me and others who believe, we all need to be assertive. Write to our Representatives and Senators, let them know we are disgusted with their collective performance and that it is time for them to do their job. We need to call our families and friends to tell them to do the same.

He has one pen and one phone. As Americans, still free and independent, together we have 300 million.

It's time for us to put it to good use instead of complaining to each other. The government can only exist with the consent of the governed. It's time for us to revoke our consent.

 A pen and a phone, indeed.

The Rude American

There are many stupid and rude people in this country......

I was on my way home from visiting a friend this past weekend and I needed to stop at the Darien rest stop on the New England Thruway for coffee and gas.

As I was slowing down to turn into the parking lanes to pull into an open spot, a young woman suddenly fell down off the curb. She lost her balance and fell into an empty spot onto her face. I stopped my car, mid-turn and jumped out to help her up.

As I stopped to assist this poor young woman, this ignorant moron was honking his horn like a nut because whatever it was he had to do was more important than life itself. I asked him what was his rush and he said I was blocking the way. I responded by telling him I was helping this young woman, and by the way, she was pregnant.

He yelled to me to move my car, so I told him to turn around if he was in such a rush. He showed his ignorance or stupidity by doing what most Americans do these days, he flipped me off. As I ignored him, he continued his rage by opening his window to scream profanities because he was just so important.

Anyway, I stood with the woman until she was steady and able to walk on her own power. She insisted she was fine. Once I determined that she would be ok, I let her go and got into my car. As I moved my car to park, the fool drove away waving his finger at me. Hope it made him feel better.

I tell you this in the hope that the fool this story is about might read it as it circulates on Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere. If you do, just know that you are an ugly, selfish American.

For the rest of us? I would hope that instead of honking your horn like this idiot did, you would get out of your car and walk over to see what you could do to help. That is the most intelligent thing you could do.

Next time, it may not be a trip and fall. It very well could be a heart attack or a stroke when seconds count. Will you be so ignorant to honk your horn and scream profanities as a life being saved?

If you do, then you had better hope if it were you lying on the ground that people will not just walk by and point or honk their horn for you to get out of the way. You may very well become a speed bump.

Please remember the old adage: treat people as you would want to be treated, with respect and kindness.

The Hypocrisy of Obama

From Thursday PM FoxNews.com:

 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/23/federal-prosecutors-subpoena-new-jersey-gov-christie-campaign-gop/ 

"Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's campaign and a state Republican Party committee, escalating their probe into allegations that his aides created traffic jams as political payback. 

Mark Sheridan, the attorney representing Christie's campaign, confirmed to Fox News that the campaign and the Republican State Committee received subpoenas relating to the closure of traffic lanes near the George Washington Bridge last year. 

"We can confirm that the Christie  for Governor re-election campaign and the New Jersey Republican State Committee received subpoenas for documents from the U.S. Attorney's office, in addition to the subpoena the campaign previously received from the state legislative committee," he said. "All three subpoenas focus on the closure of lanes on the George Washington Bridge. The campaign and the state party intend to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney's office and the state legislative committee and will respond to the subpoenas accordingly." 

The subpoenas were disclosed Thursday, the same day the Republican governor's campaign announced it had hired the Washington, D.C., law firm Patton Boggs in the case. Sheridan works for the firm and is general counsel for the state Republican committee."

All I can say is: That was pretty damned fast.

Is there something pressing on the Attorney General's desk that his representative in New Jersey needed to begin the investigation into of all things, A TRAFFIC JAM??? Yes, I know that there seems to be the appearance of some impropriety but, how are the Federal prosecutors doing with the Benghazi investigation, the NSA overreach, the IRS travesty or any of the other abuses of power by the Obama Administration. I guess those investigations will soon reveal indictments of somebody. After all, the President keeps saying he wants to get to the bottom of all these issues.

Or, is he looking to put them to the bottom of the pile? Either way, "Contempt of Congress" Holder is good at something. Uh, NOT! He is a terrible Attorney General who has shown himself to be nothing more than a "Barry Lackey". He is the front man, like John Mitchell was for Richard Nixon. He was able to use the power of his office to insulate Nixon from the crimes he most assuredly authorized. Why else would an innocent man resign his office?

As I said in my commentary of January 10, Stupidity in the Governor's Office, I am not a fan of Chris Christie. But I am however, a fan of "Equal Justice Under Law". Sadly, the Attorney General and the "Constitutional Law Professor" must have missed those couple of days of class when the Columbia University professor was teaching that material. I just realized why, Bill Ayers had something anti-American to say, and nobody wanted to miss THAT!

Until the Justice Department starts to pursue the Benghazi, IRS, NSA crimes, or any of the scandals which have befallen our country from this administration, back off and let the state legislative committee do its job. 

Hypocrisy is not an attribute.

Risk v Prudence: The Sochi Saga

In Wednesday's late WaPo:

http://wapo.st/1eBkvKc

"Half of the United States thinks it's at least somewhat likely there will be a terrorist attack at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, next month, according to a new poll.

The Quinnipiac poll shows 12 percent think it's "very likely," while 38 percent think it's "somewhat likely."

Another 45 percent say it's "somewhat unlikely" (26 percent) or "very unlikely" (19 percent).

Recent threats to some European countries' Olympics offices have largely been dismissed as hoaxes, but there continue to be concerns about an attack marring the games."

Since Munich, 1972, terrorist attacks have threatened the goodwill of the Olympic Games like clockwork. The problem for the Sochi site is that it is in Russia, a country presently experiencing turmoil in several parts of the country, caused by its Muslim population and other disenchanted groups.

The modern Olympic Games first occurred in 1896 in Athens, Greece, the home of the ancient games. Fourteen countries competed when King George I opened the games on April 6, 1896.

The event was the idea of Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France who traveled the world to gather support for his dream to have nations come together and overcome national disputes, all in the name of sport.

Now, the irony of this and other years' games, in 2012, the London Games was played under the threat of terrorism, due to the attacks which took place in July, 2005. At the Centennial Games in Atlanta in July, 1996, two people were killed, 111 were injured and one person died from a heart attack. 

Presently, there are conflicting news reports concerning the credibility of prior threats. On Wednesday evening, CNN reported that an email stating that an attack was imminent was a hoax. However, Russian police and military continue to hunt for "black widows", a group of women who are alleged to have been responsible for terrorist attacks in Volograd, Russia, a city near Sochi. 

Presidents Obama and Putin have discussed sharing technology to hopefully thwart an attack in Sochi. Details have not been made public. 

I believe in light of the fact that it is too close to the games and security issues have not been resolved, while it would appear that the world has surrendered this year's games to the terrorists, prudence dictates that common sense prevails at this time. I believe the IOC should postpone the games for the safety of the athletes and the "in-house" spectators. 

God forbid the games go forward and countless people are killed or injured, knowing tragedy could have been avoided. The evidence of unrest and danger is quite evident. In this case, fortune will not favor the foolish. 

Cancel the games for the good of us all. Is national pride in a sporting event worth the risk?

It will be too late should something tragic happen. 

A Super Bowl Like It Should Be

From Thursday's USA Today:

http://usat.ly/KJ5ThI

"EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Super Bowl Saturday? If the idea of Super Bowl XLVIII being played a day earlier than Sunday, Feb. 2, or even the next evening, seems preposterous, it could happen if a massive snow storm is forecasted for northern New Jersey that weekend.

NFL officials on Wednesday conceded that contingency plans call for the championship game to be played at any point between Friday, Jan. 31 and Monday, Feb. 3 at MetLife Stadium.

The good news is Eric Grubman, the NFL's vice president for business operations, said if the kind of storm that dumped more than a foot of snow on most of New Jersey on Tuesday is forecasted for Super Bowl Sunday, the game would likely go off at its scheduled kickoff time of 6:30 p.m.

In other words, it would take an even bigger storm to alter the kickoff time for the first cold-weather Super Bowl played at an outdoor venue.

"What goes into whether deciding to (move) it, first of all, is public safety," Grubman said Wednesday in a news conference at MetLife Stadium, where thousands of workers removed snow from the bleachers and field. 

"Unless it was a state of emergency which affected public resources in a way that made it impossible to get the resources here, or any kind of declaration by any of the authorities from the states involved that made it difficult to travel safety to and from the stadium, we would absolutely respect that.""

The economic impact to the New York and New Jersey metro area could be staggering because the revenue expected from the tourists, players and others has "phenomenal" written all over it and weather will not stop the flow of money, and instead, will boost hotel and restaurant receipts as fans could be forced to stay an additional day or two.

Having the game here is an experiment for the NFL to consider future games in open, cold weather stadium cities like Foxboro, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago and of course, the home of the famous "Ice Bowl", Green Bay. 

To the real football fan, football is supposed to be played in snow, ice, and wind generally, in challenging conditions. While playing the games in domed stadiums and warm weather sites may be good for TV and fan convenience, isn't that why the Pro Bowl is played in Honolulu?

The State of New Jersey and Met Life Stadium employees had a dress rehearsal this week and passed the test with flying colors. The field was prepared, the seats were cleared, the parking lot and roads around the stadium were plowed for easy traffic flow. 

The NFL will be giving a "goody bag" with all sorts of stuff for fan convenience and comfort. Of course, these souvenirs will be taken home by those who attended to prove they were actually there. 

So, fans, let's not get all worked up over some snow. I am sure the fans who attend will have something to talk about for years to come. For those of us who have to watch the game from the warmth of our living rooms, well, isn't that the best way to enjoy the game? 

To the media, just give it a rest. This is one time where bad weather will be good for something. The people of New York and New Jersey think so. The NFL thinks so. The players think so. No matter what, history will be made.

Have a chili dog and a cold one for me!

... and now it begins

From Newsmax:

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/target-drops-health-parttimers/2014/01/21/id/548269

"Target Corp. said it will end health insurance for part-time employees, joining Trader Joe’s Co., Home Depot Inc. and other retailers that have scaled back benefits in response to changes from Obamacare.

About 10 percent of Target’s part-time employees, defined as those working fewer than 30 hours a week, use the company’s health plans now, according to an announcement posted today on the Minneapolis-based company’s website. Target said it would pay $500 to part-timers losing coverage and a consulting firm will help workers sign up for new Obamacare plans."

Target is the latest "big box" retailer to announce changes in their treatment of part-timers under the PPACA. Late last year, Home Depot, WalMart, and privately held Trader Joe's announced similar changes. These changes for Target go into effect on April 1, 2014.

So, what does this mean? Well, for starters, the first visible sign the public will see is reduced customer service. Why? The law requires that employees who work 30 hours or more be considered full-time for the purpose of coverage by employers who employ 50 or more employees, who now must keep part-timer hours in check. The companies will have no alternative but to dramatically cut those hours, therefore, fewer employees on the floor.

The impact to the employee, less take-home pay. That will further impact the employee because he will have less disposable income to pay more for his healthcare.

Further, since part-time employees will have reduced take-home pay, what do you suppose is the impact to the economy? Right, again, less money available to buy companies' products and services.

Did the geniuses in DC realize this when they wrote this stupid law? Apparently not. It seems that none of these superstars, like Nancy, Harry or Barry took Economics 101, and if they did, they didn't pass the course, and it shows.

Maybe in order to run for public office, that class should be a prerequisite, and get at least a C+ in order to display a basic understanding of how the economy actually does work.

Remember, when leading economists suggested that in order to remain profitable, companies would be forced to reduce their full-time staffs to part-time status well, this is the first step, folks. As full-time people leave for "greener pastures" which, sadly, does not exist, companies will replace with part-timers and cut those hours. Therefore, the cycle goes on and on.

Ultimately, this law will crash and burn because it doesn't make sense. People will be hurt more than helped because some of our elected fools thought that by tinkering with what worked, the government was showing it knows better.

The law doesn't ask people already feeling the pain in their wallets how they feel about it. Oh, and as an aside, in 2013, 20% of all Americans were enrolled in and used SNAP (food stamps). This represents a 50% increase in the number of participants since 2009.

Hmmm. Is the economy getting better? Why not ask the employees of the "big boxes". Apparently for them, it will only get worse.

You can take THAT to the bank, even if you don't have the money to deposit.

Time to Come Home

From Wednesday's NY Times:

http://nyti.ms/1fatTUd

"WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has proposed to President Obama that 10,000 American troops remain in Afghanistan when the international combat mission there ends after this year, or none at all, senior government officials said Tuesday.

That figure, debated in recent days within the White House, is the midpoint of a range of 8,000 to 12,000 troops — most of them Americans — that has been contemplated for months as the United States and its NATO allies planned for the long mission’s end. Anything less than that, the officials said, would be too few to be able to protect the reduced retinue of diplomats, military and intelligence officials that remain in Afghanistan.

“The proposal is 10,000 or basically nothing, a pullout,” said one official, who has been briefed on the plan but spoke on the condition of anonymity about internal administration deliberations.

Both the intelligence agencies and the State Department, who would have personnel remaining in Afghanistan after 2014, back the Defense Department’s proposal, the officials said. But it has met resistance among some officials in the White House National Security Council, including Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who question why the choice has to be 10,000 troops or zero, and nothing in between."

My question is: Why are we still deliberating this issue, when we gave President Karzai until December 31, 2013 to agree with the terms of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)? Is this our "line in the sand" policy?
Why are we so eager to continue to put American military forces in harms' way, when the government (?) of Afghanistan vacillates? Did we not learn our lesson with Iraq? 

Also since we left, Iraq has fallen into a full-scale civil war. Prime Minister Maliki just last weekend asked us for help in quelling the tide of chaos in his country. The Obama Administration tried to explain that this would happen to al-Maliki during those negotiations, but the Prime Minister apparently knew better.

Note to Karzai: Please look to your neighbor on the other side of Iran, and then, see your future. The Obama Administration has given you your 15 minutes of overtime and the clock is ticking. Now, the two minute warning is fast approaching.

I get that we need to be careful in this process, but we do, after all, hold the upper hand. If we leave by the end of this year, does anyone think that the other coalition countries want to stay just for the scenery? I think not.

Now, President Obama has to take a stand here. He had to tell, not suggest to, Karzai that we are leaving by June 30. If Karzai doesn't sign the SOFA for Afghanistan by February 15,  that will give us enough time to remove our troops safely and destroy our assets, before the Taliban takes over. When it does, there won't be any fortifications or other prizes for it to secure itself in and enjoy at our expense.

Trust me, Russia and China won't be rushing into Afghanistan any time soon to post their flags and claim this desolate wasteland for Mother Russia or Mother China. Russia learned its lesson from the 80s and China learned its lesson watching our folly.

Karzai should learn the lesson of Iraq or that will be his legacy to his country for 13 years of war and chaos.

Resumes' and Life Stories

From Tuesday's WaPo and Dallas Morning News:

http://wapo.st/1ehDGsq

"Add Wendy Davis to the long list of politicians (and public figures more broadly) who shave a little here and add a little there, all in an effort to connect with and inspire voters by being both accessible and exceptional. It’s a version of the campaigning in poetry, governing in prose idea. And when it comes to biographical narratives, campaign verses are often written in broad strokes -- compelling Horatio Alger-like stories, full of up-from-nowhere Americana.

They are what literary types call narratives of ascent. In Davis’ retelling of her story, she was the single teenage mom who juggled low-wage jobs, then worked her way to a Harvard Law degree. It’s an inspiring story. Generally true. Yet the details -- a lawyer husband who helped her pay for school and take care of her daughters -- make it more complicated, less catchy.

And politics, where being a self-made man or woman is a selling point, is full of these types of bite-sized stories. Often that shorthand way of describing a life doesn’t quite hold up to scrutiny, as Davis is finding out.

Davis, who is running for governor in Texas, and her allies are now pushing back, blaming opponents for a story that appeared in The Dallas Morning News that questioned some of the public details about her life story. She also released an early biography that clarifies and fleshes out her early years."

As you know, she is Texas' version of a liberal, which for the rest of the country, is really a moderate, or someone just to the left of center. 

Ms Davis gained notoriety nationally last summer during the Texas State Senate's debate on abortion rules for the state. As you recall, she filibustered for several hours in order to try and prevent the tightening of the state's law, which is now in effect.

She is now running for the Democrat nomination for governor.

Essentially, the Senator took some liberties with her bio, which all public figures have done, in order to sound more appealing to the voters. Even our current President has done so, by calling himself a "Constitutional Law Professor", when clearly his actions show he knows nothing about the Constitution.  

Anyway, we all have written a resume', right? And what is a resume'? It's nothing more than a bio which we use to sell ourselves to a prospective employer. And, can anyone honestly say we never embellish it?

We highlight those attributes or accomplishments which will put us in a better light, don't we? And why not? Aren't we trying to improve ourselves? We know what the employer is looking for, based on the ad in the paper, or what the head-hunter told us. So, we write the resume' for the job. 

While I am not fan of Senator Davis, she is no more guilty of anything all of us do. So, if you want to criticize her policies, that's fine. Her bio is hers, much like our resumes' are ours. She and we have to live up to what we write about ourselves.

Get over it.

Banks, Blue Laws and Family

On Monday, I went to the Bank to make a withdrawal from my account with my ATM card. To my surprise, the Bank was open. Either I paid no attention to the sign last week when I went there, or I saw it and forgot.

Now, understand that the reason this is an issue to me nowadays is that Monday was a Federal holiday. And to me as a retired banker, it's an issue because Banks were always closed on Federal holidays. For years, the Bank where I am a customer has been open on Sunday. Conversely, when I was in banking, the Bank I worked for was closed on Sunday and on the various Federal holidays. And the reason banks generally were closed was that the Fed was also closed.

Well, the Fed is still closed on Federal holidays and Sundays (for now) and for bank customers there are so many other methods to be in touch with your money.

In the 70s, banks began the process to automate and have access online during hours that the bank was closed. As we moved through the late 70s, the 80s and 90s, more banks developed systems which today, we take for granted, like ATMs, telephone and Internet (online) banking. The purpose was to reduce the hours needed to be open, reduce staff and other means to create more productivity.

Instead, banks are now open six and seven days a week, 12 hours a day, Monday to Saturday, and five to six hours on Sunday. And only Christmas, Thanksgiving and maybe Easter are they closed.. Banks have now become like department stores, caring only for the bottom line, without regard to their staff or customers' needs. Why? Because they didn't increase staff as they extended their hours.

Retail stores have been this way since the very early 70s, when states like New York, Connecticut, and later, by the early 80s, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, etc, did away with their blue laws. A friend of mine recently told me that when she was a kid, like me, the only stores opened on Sunday in her neighborhood were the bakery, the candy store, the pharmacy and maybe a deli, and like mine, only until 2 or 3 pm. Restaurants were always open on Sunday, so that dad could take mom and the kids out to eat as a family, and give mom a break from the big meal once in a while.

And that's the penalty on this whole affair. Families are too busy to sit down once a week for the big meal. Teens and young adults, moms and dads, are working on Sundays and holidays because, after all, the goals must be met, sales numbers need to be made.

Pay no attention to my last name. In the 50s and 60s, as a member of an Italian-American family, attending church as a family was early, the  gravy for the Sunday dinner was up by 11am and we were sitting down to dinner by 2pm. Even if we went to an aunt's home, dinner as a family was still served by 2. It was just the way it was.

Company would stay until 6 or 7, because the dad had to work the next day, and Monday was a school day. But family was important.

This started as a commentary about banks, but in actuality, it really is a story for why there is a breakdown in family. The fact that banks and stores being open so many hours is certainly a major cause of that breakdown of the modern family.

Sadly, those days, like the wind, are gone forever.

MLK Day, 2014

In today's USA Today:

http://usat.ly/1e5kuLI
As a 63 year old baby boomer, I can tell you that I was deeply affected by Dr King's message of Justice and Equality for all Americans. His method of his message to obtain both of these through non-violence is a tribute to his Christian beliefs, as well as, his own upbringing.

He certainly did not prothelysize his religion, to convert us to the Southern Baptist denomination of Christianity. But, as a minister, he used his deep faith to educate us all about the injustice and inequality of the time.

The associated article to this commentary says so much more than  I could say about our perceptions today of the progress we have made since 1968, with regard to both these ideals. The article highlights interviews with African-American conservatives and their views of that progress, and what still needs to be done to achieve Dr King's vision. 

I have tried to live my life by the ideals Dr King put forward. Those of you who know me personally understand that I have championed civil rights for all segments of our society. These ideals were learned during the horrible days of our country, you know, Birmingham, Macon, Selma, Ole Miss and finally, Memphis. 

As a white man, I can only surmise the difficulties and hardships our Black brothers and sisters, and other non-whites have had to endure. I have had many conversations with those I have worked with and with those I have befriended. But, no matter how much you watch, read about, talk about or otherwise learn, it's not the same as living day to day in a segregated society as a Black man or woman.

(Note to limousine liberals: try as you might, you also have no idea what it's like to be Black, or poor, especially as you get into your limousines to return to your palaces after a civil rights rally. Hypocrisy does not become you.)

Thankfully, that society doesn't exist anymore. But there is more to do. We all need, blacks, whites, Asians and Latinos, to read that marvelous "I Have A Dream" speech to understand Dr King's message from August, 1963 to understand where we were, to see how we measure up now, and understand how much is still there to fix.

Thank you, Dr King, for your love of country and for the legacy you gave us. 

Our Screwed-Up Priorities

What is wrong with our news media and our criminal justice system? There are two stories which came to light recently, which in one case, the media made a big deal and the Obama-Holder Justice(?) Department assigned a prosecutor to explore and the other, nothing but crickets.

Can you guess which is which?

If you said "Benghazi is getting the the attention", sadly you would be mistaken. No, the media and the Justice Department want to prosecute the wrong-doing of a traffic jam, and because St Hillary is thinking of running for President, the Benghazi crime, yes I said "CRIME",  is being ignored by the media, led by the "paper of record", the New York Times, which by the way is good for wrapping fish and training puppies, but no longer deserves the stature your history earned. Members of the press: you have become a collective of ostriches.

Jeanine Pirro had a great commentary on her show on Saturday night where she reviewed the Senate report on this national disaster, and as I did in my commentary of January 16, "The Benghazi Whitewash", the Judge highlighted that St Secretary Hillary was mentioned only once, and only in the Republican addendum, at that.

Understand that I am not a big fan of Chris Christie by any means. But, can any of us justify that Hillary Clinton, the person who was in charge of the State Department in the months leading up to that horrible night and the months following that disaster, is now qualified to occupy the Office of the President? I think, instead, she, along with the current President of the United States, should be occupying a cell in Fort Leavenworth for their crimes against the United States.

Does the media really want to hang their hats on a local traffic jam? Really?

And does that "Contempt of Congress" Attorney General think that political expediency supersedes  his oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution? I guess he does.

Umm, and as an aside to the media, do you really think the fact that Michelle Obama turned 50 this past week is news? Do you think the other 100 Million-plus baby boomers really give a $#*+?

There are many of you who think this is a rant, and maybe it is. But please look in the mirror and tell yourself that our priorities are in order in this country. And then, tell yourself you are totally right and honest. You won't be able to, unless you like lying to yourself.

The fact that four Americans died and were abused by their killers is, to me, a crime which deserves life imprisonment in our federal prisons by ALL the perpetrators, including our leaders who allowed and then covered up this horrible event. Bridges and birthdays are not news.

We chased a President from office over a burglary. We allow a President  and a would-be President to continue to be free over a murder conspiracy.

Are we screwed up or what?

The News Goes to "Pot"

Heard a variant of this today...

If the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos each win their conferences and go to the Super Bowl in the New Jersey Meadowlands on February 2, would it be known as The Marijuana Bowl, more easily known as, "The Pot Bowl"?

I didn't hear this on a late night Comedy Central show or an HBO comedy special. No, this was reported on Fox and Friends at 7am on Saturday morning.

At first, I found it funny because both Washington State and Colorado permit recreational marijuana, and New Jersey permits medical marijuana. Who would advertise? Magic Paper? Bong, Inc? Or, Betty Hines Special Brownie Mix?

But then, I realized there is a serious side to all this.  The laws surrounding marijuana in this country are outdated for our time, especially as it relates to med marijuana. Even if it helps only a small or moderate number of people medically, isn't it worth it? Every drug has a benefit when used as intended.

While I'm not advocating the legalization of heroin or cocaine, their cousin morphine is a great drug for post-surgical pain. And at one time, both these drugs were used as pain-killers, too. Natural drugs are actually better for us than synthetic painkillers, like percoset, vicodin or dilaudet.

So, marijuana is proven to have some real medical benefit, as well. Twenty states have recognized this since 1996, and ten days ago, Governor Cuomo of New York called for the legalization of "pot" for medical use. And, just this week, the New Hampshire state legislature voted to legalize its usage recreationally and, I believe, medically.

If a perceived conservative cable tv channel is willing to display a sense of humor about marijuana in a news report, perhaps it's time to have a grown-up discussion on this very important subject. By continuing to keep it in the shadows, it's like the ostrich burying its head in the sand.  If we don't discuss it, either it doesn't exist, or it will go away. 

Trust me, friends, it won't. It is here to stay. Even the President and the legislature of Uruguay get it and legalized it recently. And no joke was made of that.

And, by the way, have a cup of "tea".

A Book Review: Taxifornia: Liberals' Laboratory to Bankrupt America Written by: James V Lacy

I was asked by Angela Toft, a Political and Public Relations Consultant in the Greater Los Angeles Area,  to review this book for The Minority Report. I said I was honored to be asked to perform this important responsibility. As a matter of full disclosure, I will share that this is the first time that I have publicly reviewed a book since college, lo those many years ago. I hope the review will help you buy and enjoy the book as much as I did.

Jim Lacy is a long-time figure in California politics, having worked along side Howard Jarvis during the formulation and passage of Proposition 13, the act which finally placed controls on California's escalating and increasingly unaffordable property taxes. This proposition is still in effect today and seems to work very will in controlling those taxes. He also worked in the Reagan Administration as a senior executive in the Commerce Department and as General Counsel for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, so he knows what of he speaks.

The Honorable Darrell Issa (R) Representative from California's 49th Congressional District and Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform wrote the Foreword, and gave a nice synopsis of what was to come.

Mr Lacy presents a detailed and yet, very understandable view of what is wrong today in California politics, how we got here, and as the sage expression has been stated so many times before, "As California goes, so does the Nation". He overviews in the very first chapter the problems besetting California today: High taxes, especially California's tax rate of 13.9%, the "Jock Tax", the huge disparity in the sales tax across the state, and other taxes, which are killing California's ability to grow; the continuing unemployment; widespread fleeing by business across all employer groups, including but not limited to, Banking and Finance, telecommunications, technology, manufacturing and even the military.

His statistics are both mind-boggling and easy to comprehend, because we see it in our own states and communities. For example, in 2012, 73,000 companies closed their doors in California. The next highest state with the second most business closures was Massachusetts with 5,300 companies lost. That's just astounding.

He reviews the reasons why millionaires like Phil Michelson, Tiger Woods and others are leaving the state for states with no personal state income taxes, like Florida, Texas and others. But the state which seems to benefit most is California's neighbor, Nevada. Those people who go there, especially from Southern California, don't need to travel all that far to vacation where they used to live. AND NOT PAY TAXES.

The author discusses so many other areas for the failure of California's economy, as well. Other states like New York, Texas and so forth are luring business in television spots to those states by offering middle class tax relief, tax free zones, lower corporate taxes and a better regulatory environment. In addition, he spells out how the Obama administration has actually manipulated the unemployment rate in California, and elsewhere, by changing the methodology. If the methodology were the same today as it was in 2008, the real unemployment would be over 13% in California, rather than at 8.9%, as of September, 2013.

The 2010 census revealed several important changes in the demographic, as well. Latino and white non-Hispanics are both at 39%. When you add in the next largest non-white group, the Asian population, those two groups far and away exceed all other groups combined. He explains the decline of the once-dominating African American community of south central LA and Watts, which are now 80% Latino.

The public employee unions control lobbying and election campaigns in the state. Mr Lacy reviews in detail how out of the $1 BILLION spent for the 2012 election by all groups, $212 MILLION was spent by the California Teachers Assn and $107 MILLION by the SEIU, to advance candidates which will perpetuate liberal control in the statehouse and the 10 constitutional elected officers. Liberal Democrats control 73% of the State Senate, 69% of the State Assembly, the two US Senators and 72% of all congressional seats. Obviously, the GOP is virtually powerless.

In addition, Mr Lacy reveals that the GOP does not fare well with the modern Hispanic in California, either. For example, in 1984 Ronald Reagan received 47% of the Hispanic vote, whereas Mitt Romney received only 21% of the Hispanic vote in 2012. This decline does not bode well in future elections, either, for Republican Presidential candidates.

All in all, I found Mr Lacy's book an enjoyable read, with so much detail, easily understood. It was, for me, a quick read. I found his discussion of the problems facing California to actually be much of the same problems causing America's economic decline. Basically, California is the petrie dish for America's Economic Future.

Go and buy the book. It is an enlightening review of what is yet to come. At least, you wont be surprised this time when the economy comes crashing down around us. You will thank Jim Lacy for writing this book, giving us the clues to our future and a huge heads up.

Enjoy!