Lucy - A Review

If you need an escape from the border crisis, Israel and Hamas, Russia, sanctions and the Ukraine, or Obama and his latest questionable behavior,  go to the movies and see Lucy with Scarlett Johannson and the Great Morgan Freeman. It is spell-binding, action-packed, an edge-of-your-seat movie that required that you suspend reality.

I will not tell you the story as a movie critic would. No way can you possibly consider this a chic-flick, or some silly “stretch-for-the-yuck” film. But I will tell you that you need to look at it as you did the first time you saw 2001: A Space Odyssey, A.I. – Artificial Intelligence or The Sixth Sense.

The special effects are outrageous; the computer graphics are so real. Even the music, which sets the mood for each scene, was classical in parts. And I mean Mozart-classical.

Suffice to say, the script was well-written and well-thought. You need to understand that the writers had to research the theories discussed in the film, so that modern scientists could not find fault and criticize those theories.

Ultimately, it was worth the $15 I spent to be totally entertained for ninety minutes. The last few movies I saw in the theater, as opposed to Demand, Netflix, DVD or other home cable channel movies, were dogs. I would have been more entertained if I had lit a match to a ten and a five. But this was terrific, so good that I will see it again.

I suggest that if you want to do something this weekend, go to see Lucy. It will be worth your time and your money. It is a real escape.

Enjoy!

Blowhards, Bluster and Backbone

Vladimir Putin must be shaking in his shoes. On Monday, President Barry announced that he was calling for stiffer sanctions against Russia because of its continued meddling in Ukraine. He claims that the European Union is standing with him.

Really? 

Is Vlad afraid of Angela Merkel? Or David Cameron? Nah... I don't think so.

In Monday's late online edition of the Los Angeles Times it was reported that Barry believes he was able to convince Britain, Germany, Italy and France to go against their national interests and potentially destroy their weak economies to follow him down the Primrose Path.

I realize that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with active Russian support for the rebels, is not looking too good right now for Ukraine, which has an economic affiliation with the European Union, while not actually a full member or partner. This is at the heart of Russia's interference in Ukraine's battle with alleged Russian separatists.

The bringing down of Malaysia Airlines MH17 is the reason for renewed calls by Barry for stiffer sanctions. It is a valid reason, a strong case for sanctions. But, Vlad doesn't care. He believes, based on past events, that there is no long-term resolve on the part of Barry or the European leaders.

It is all talk with no action by this group of 2014 leaders. Why? Because there is not a leader among them. They are all full of hot air, blustering like a balloon, and Vlad is cunning and smart enough to know this. He spent four years in the shadows of Russian government as Prime Minister observing each of them from a bit of a distance and figured them all out.

Now, he knows that this coalition is fragile and will break sooner than later. He also knows he will win this battle of wits with each of them because he treats them all as nit-wits.

And finally, he is patient. He believes, as the consummate geopolitical chess player that he is, he will out-strategize his opponents.  The sad part is, they are all too naive to see it.

All because they all want to be the loudest kid on the block, acting tough, but with no backbone. The only one who has one is Vlad. He knows it and will act on it when the time is right.

The "coalition of the foolish and naive" will fall apart and Vlad will again emerge victorious, with the sovereignty of Ukraine lost as a result. It is just a matter of time.

We will be witnesses.

The Bay State, Its Governor and the Latest Undocumented Fiasco

The immigration debate has raised its ugly head this weekend in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Residents of the Bay State protested the action, or inaction of the Governor, Deval Patrick.

The Governor has agreed to accept 1,000 undocumented children in facilities in the State, over the protests of the residents. He is claiming that the Federal government is paying the expense and not the State. This isn't sitting well with Bay Staters.

As reported in Sunday's online Boston Globe , the Governor agreed to house these children at either Camp Edwards, a defunct military base in Bourne, or at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, for no more than four months.

This not sitting well with the local officials nor the residents in either community.

At issue is "not "not in my backyard" but rather, they shouldn't be coming here in the first place," said Patrick Humphries, President of the Greater Boston Tea Party. And according to the Globe's own poll on this matter, 50% of Bay Staters agree with him.

So do I.

This situation has been caused by President Obama and it now out of control. He needs to address it. He needs to take responsibility for his actions. He needs to "man up" and admit this was a huge mistake. He needs to deport ALL these children back to their countries.

But, you and I know he won't.  Why? It is not in his DNA to take responsibility. Instead, he will blame Bush, blame the Republicans, blame the DHS, blame anyone, anything, other than the man in the mirror.

Meanwhile, communities throughout Massachusetts and the rest of the country will be saddled with greater expenses to house and care for these children. And by the way, to me a child is one who is under the age of ten, not sixteen and seventeen year old adolescents.

As far as the communities these children are being sent?  They are broke. They cannot afford the additional burden to house, educate, provide health care and other expenses when their budgets are already busting into deficit zones.

And the Federal government? Uh, in case Barry, Nancy, Harry or Deval forgot, we are already $17 TRILLION in the hole. What will it do to cover this expense as it has "promised" to do? Print more money?  We are already approaching "Germany before Hitler" status with our devalued currency. Will printing more make it better? I think not.

So, the wisest thing to do now is to deport all these people back to Mother Country. It may seem heartless and uncharitable, but we can't afford to keep them, either.

Barry needs to step up and do what is right FOR THE UNITED STATES and its people. Enough with the selling out of American taxpayers in favor of undocumented children. 

This is Carter and the Marielitos all over again. Won't we ever learn? 

Power to the People, Right On!

In a little known story of Management/Employee relations, there is something unique happening in Tewksbury,  Danvers, Bellingham and other locations throughout Massachusetts and other parts of New England: Non-Union Employeees have walked off their jobs and set up picket lines in support of their CEO who was fired by the company board because he stood up for his workers.

In a report by WCVB in its online edition, Arthur T Demoulas, CEO of Market Basket, was fired by his board, in what can only be described as a real family fight. Artie T, as he is fondly known by his loyal employees, wants better working conditions and benefits for all employees and because he supports his workers, other family members decided he was not loyal to his company. So, he was shown the door.

His employees walked off the job this week as a show of support for Artie T, as he has presented a fair offer to buy the 50.5% of the company he doesn't control. In addition, customers of the store have shown their support for him and have respected the picket lines set up by the employees, by refusing to cross them to shop inside.

As many of you know, I am not a fan of unions. Never have been and never will be. But this is a story where non-union employees and their CEO are united in what can only be understood as an old-fashioned "us against them" standoff.

These employees understand that some in management and ownership understand fairness in the workplace and that it really has nothing to do with class warfare. There are those in management who can recognize injustice when we see it and like Artie T, are willing to stand up for his or her principles, at the risk of losing his own job.

These employees also understand that ownership is not always extremely rich, and instead, wants to put the profits back into the most important asset it has: its employees.  This is what Artie T fought for, and for that, he is out.

I talked with some friends of mine who live in Massachusetts and in each case, they have decided they will not cross the lines. They will, however, stop to give water, snacks and good old moral support to these workers who have sacrificed their jobs for the man who sacrificed his for them.

This is what seems to be missing in America today, at least how the LSM reports the news. The LSM has towed the party line of class warfare, the worker against the boss,  the poor against the rich.

Well, not today, friends. This is a real George Bailey moment, being played out all across New England, in its small towns by the real people who believe that America is still great because its people are.

It is heartwarming to see and more so to tell. We are only missing Clarence, but only because the story is still being told. Hopefully, if the story plays out as I wish it does, another bell will ring and an Angel WILL get his wings.

And the support Artie T's workers have for him will help Artie T recoup what is his so he can continue to do right by his workers.  That will be real justice in this story.

Then, once again, at least in New England, it could be a modern-day It's A Wonderful Life story to be told for the ages.

The Hypocrisy of Elijah Cummings

I have one question regarding the current IRS investigation by Chairman Darryl Issa and the House Oversight Committee. If the Democrats ran this Committee with the Ranking Member Elijah Cummings in charge, and the IRS had targeted Liberal Democrats like George Soros' group MoveOn.org as they did to Libertarian and Tea Party groups, would Rep Cummings and his fellow hypocritical Democrats find that acceptable? No? Then, Mr Cummings, shut the hell up!

You and your band of Obama Administration kiss ups would instead be all over the IRS for their stonewalling and blatantly illegal activity if your favorite groups were harassed and treated in such a partisan manner.  And the perjury committed by IRS Commissioner John Koskinen each time he appeared before the committee would have resulted in an arrest and a prosecution for lying to the Congress not once, but three separate appearances.

In Wednesday evening's online feed from CNN Commissioner Koskinen tried to turn the accusations back onto the committee with quite a bit of assistance from Obama Lackey Cummings. Both these men, sadly, will not be held in Contempt of Congress, in spite of the fact that they are both contemptible.

There is a placard circulating on Facebook these days, as shown below:

Essentially, as simple as this might be, this is the essence of what is at the heart of this investigation. It really doesn't matter which party controls the House, does it? Isn't supposed to be about discovering the TRUTH, Rep Cummings?

Or is your loyalty to your party and its titular head more important? Too bad Nixon didn't have you in his corner during the Watergate hearings.

Two liars and two hypocrites. You are his bedfellow, Sir. You are no better than the Unindicted Co-conspirator.

You are as corrupt.

Israel Stands Up To Hate

On Tuesday, due to rocket fire about a mile away from Ben Gurion outside Tel Aviv, the US FAA prohibited all American planes from landing in Israel for at least the following twenty four hours. Israeli-owned El Al continued to land unabated.

It was reported by the LA Times,  New York TV Station Channel 7 Eyewitness News and other news media that Hamas fired its rockets across the border between Israel and Gaza, flying within the flight path of the airport. The US State Department announced that the landing prohibition may last longer if the situation does not improve.

The situation in Israel is, at best, tenuous. Thank God Bibi Netanyahu isn't relying on the United States or its weak- kneed leaders, Secretary of Spite (thank you Steve Foley) John Kerry or its Fundraiser-in-Chief, Barry Soetoro Hussein Obama for support or assistance at this time. He really would be up the creek without a paddle.

And the United Nations? This entity has been useless in the Middle East since 1948. It has been filled with Anti-Semitic members from its inception. If you say I am wrong about this, you are not being honest with yourself.

In every case, Israel has been castigated as the aggressor, when in fact, it always was in self-defense. Pick a time: 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, and every other time right up to the present day, Israel was on the defense.

I have written several commentaries on this, most recently, The Hamas Gambit on July 17 and Hamas and  Hezzbollah = Nazi on July 9 where I review many of the same reasons over again.

I have mentioned this before and I will repeat it now: my good friend, former NYC Mayor Ed Koch would have written several commentaries taking back his endorsement of this President and would be cursing him to Hell for how he has treated Israel. Since he can't because he died not long after Barry began his second term, I will do it for him: go to Hell for your backstabbing, sell-out of our only ally in the Middle East, you anti-Semitic SOB. And take your damned Administration with you.

God Save Israel and God Bless the United States of America.

Lesson Learned? Not Today!

Here it comes, driving down the street. Getting the scariest looks from everyone it meets. Hey, hey it's a repo, and people say it's taking us down. But we're too busy crying, as every car is repo'ed in town. (With apologies to Mickey, Davy, Peter and Mike)

It is coming, folks. The next big bubble bursting is the new and used car market. Why? Let's just say not everyone can really qualify for car loan, no matter what the dealers say. (Like the mortgage broker or banker from the late 90s and up to 2008, there are dealers and salespeople who have integrity and won’t slam the buyer for the sake of a sale.)

Just because you have a job and a license, doesn't mean you can afford the car loan. Consider that if your credit score is under 640, technically in the new world of lending, you are "sub-prime". Now where have we heard that term before?

Oh, yeah! The housing market, uh, disaster which resulted in the wonderful economy we still enjoy, remember?

In Sunday's late online edition of the New York Times there is an interesting article of the flim-flam which exists, especially in the used car industry. People are "qualified" to buy a car by the dealer/salesperson because they may have a paystub, some money toward a down payment and a few trade lines on a credit report. 

But, then, something goes awry. The salesperson puts an income on the application, nowhere near the actual amount what the buyer truly earns, and the lender approves him for a rate nowhere near an affordable, long-term payment. Soon enough, the payments stop being made; and the nightmare begins.

One night, the tow truck pulls up and takes the car away. When the borrower wakes up, he knows what happened. The lender will sell the car for whatever it can get. The borrower will still be obligated for the difference. Generally, it will be for a huge chunk since the lender won't get nearly enough to pay down the loan. Now, he still owes on a loan and doesn’t have the car. What a deal!

This is still ongoing in the housing market. The mortgagor isn't able to make the payment, and eventually, foreclosure proceedings begin. The home is auctioned, and the amount is applied to the outstanding mortgage. The lender doesn't care about any down payment which may have originally secured the loan.

So, as we continue through this morbid economy, watch to see more cars become repossessed. It is horrible already and will only get worse.

Soon enough, student loans will suffer the same fate. If graduates default on these loans, essentially, their credit is in the tank forever. Then, no matter what, there will be no car loan, or mortgage for that matter, for them to default on. 

For now, the auto industry will cause heartache for today's borrower, much like the real estate and mortgage industries did ten years ago, by putting people into cars they have no business owning. 

No lesson from ten or fifteen years ago is learned yet. And that's the shame!

The Hamas Gambit

or the last couple of weeks, Hamas and Israel have been trading rockets across the Gaza border. It started as it usually does, with Hamas instigating the hostilities.

It was reported late Wednesday by Fox News and other news entities that Israel an Hamas agreed to a temporary ceasefire for UN "humanitarian" issues. The UN wants to be able to deliver water, food and medical supplies into the strip.

If anyone truly looks at this with a discerning eye, why do you think at this time, Hamas instigated these attacks in the first place? That's right, friends.  That pesky Iran.

Hamas, as well as Hezzbollah and Syria, are client states of Iran. Oh, and so is Iraq. Hamas doesn't do anything without Iran's tacit approval.

So, why now?

The attack on Israel is a distraction, friends. Iran needs this distraction because the world is watching the negotiations in Vienna and is not paying too much attention to the reason the Vienna negotiations are happening in the first place.

By having the Israeli-Hamas distraction, Iran can continue with its nuclear weapons program unabated. And since the theocracy had the sanctions lifted on January, it is able to trade with other countries who care more about money in its coffers than the potential for a disaster in the making.

On June 14, I wrote a commentary called The Iraqi-Afghani-Iranian Empire Connection  where I discuss the emergence of a modern Persian Empire with a theocratic bent. This subversion Hamas is exercising against Israel is part of the Iranian plan for regional domination.

By the time the world wakes up to the result of the Iranian plan, the dynamic in that region of a theocratic Persian Empire will be overwhelming.  Oh, and don't think Iran isn't playing both sides against the middle in Iraq either. The nonsense that Iran supports the al-Maliki government because of the Shiite-Sunni split is a myth. Iran is probably backing The Islamic State in the Civil War in Iraq so that at the eleventh hour, Iran can ride in and save the day, and put Iraq in its orbit.

Israel is but a pawn in the scheme of Iran's Grand Plan. It reacts as it does because it must protect its citizens and by doing nothing the Netanyahu government would be gone in a week. What would be in its place? Chaos, I am sure.

So, please open your eyes and understand the greater destiny which will befall the Greater Middle East because of Iran's meddling in Gaza. The day is coming when the nuclear genie will be out of the bottle in the plains of Tel Megiddo, the ancient name of the fields where the Battle of Armageddon will be fought.

The region is bubbling over and Iran is that tempest. Israel is being blamed for it because it is protecting itself against Hamas, Iran's agent.

Wake up before it's too late, friends.

A Traitor and Loyal Americans

It was reported in the late online edition of the Washington Post that Bowe Berrgdahl was reactivated into the Army on Monday, as he finished his reintegration process. He will be assigned to Joint Base San Antonio - Fort Sam Houston.

Isn't this nice?!?

A guy walks off his base in a war zone, jeopardizes his comrades by his action, six GIs were killed scouting for him, traded for five of the most violent prisoners we had in GITMO. And because we don't want to leave anyone behind, the Obama Administration played "Let's Make A Deal" with the Taliban.

So, we could accept that practice by the government, EXCEPT that Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi is still in a jail in Mexico because he got lost. Where is the President on this? Or the Secretary of State? Why aren't they doing anything? Is it because he is no longer active military? And doing nothing, even after knowing he is being abused by Mexican prison guards?

What about Pastor Abedini? He is an American. Are we leaving him behind to rot in an Iranian prison? Beaten and chained by HIS captors? Why? Is it because he NEVER served in the military? He is an American, just like Andrew Tahmooressi. Both men are being abandoned by our government.

So what is with our government? How can the Obama regime, uhh, Administration, act in such contradictory terms in all these cases?

If  Barry and the boys are willing to violate American law by negotiating with terrorists to free Sergeant, really PRIVATE, Bergdahl, why are they not demanding that Pastor Abedini be released as a condition for sanctions being lifted, if he isn’t released within a week, reapply the sanctions already lifted? Or, demand of Mexico that Sergeant Tahmooressi be released as a condition to continue trading with Mexico under the terms of NAFTA?

This President is now in violation of his oath of office by not protecting American citizens and also for negotiating with terrorists. These are impeachable offenses just in case anyone needs a primer on the Constitution or cares to explore 5 USC 3331, the law which is better known as "Oath of Office for Federal Officials", This President is certainly in violation of the law and the Constitution. Please see my commentary of July 2, Impeach, Arrest, Imprison for a deeper discussion of the law.

What about the Pentagon? Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno indicated he was not consulted when the transfer of Bergdahl for the five Taliban prisoners, He also said that  as with any other serviceman or servicewoman, the recovery of Bergdahl was a "moral imperative". Really?

The Marine Commandant, General James Amos further obfuscates the issue by claiming that he was "confident that the exigency of Sergeant Bergdahl's release was balanced against an assessment of the dangers posed by the release of the Taliban detainees." What nonsense! And then to cop a plea by claiming he was "simply not in a position to provide an informed response" is preposterous. Do these men not talk to the Commander In Chief?

Finally, it appears that senior members of the military want to undo the results of a hearing from 2009 when Sergeant, no, PRIVATE Bergdahl was initially found guilty of desertion. Well, boys, you can't. It is a matter of public record now.

As you know, I am not a proponent of the death penalty under any circumstances. I believe solitary confinement with no yard privileges is more than fair as punishment for capital crimes. Under the Military Code of Conduct, desertion in wartime is punishable by death. I would rather see Bergdahl in solitary confinement for this crime, no chance of parole and no yard privileges. For the REST OF HIS LIFE.

As an aside to all this, it has been reported that Bergdahl will be eligible for $350,000 should he now not be found guilty of desertion. This includes $200K for back-pay and $150K for being a prisoner of war. How much did the families of the men who were killed searching for him receive? Less than $100K.

As for Andrew Tahmorressi and Pastor Abedini? These men must be freed NOW. Our government must do its job. Or, what confidence will the people have in the government protecting us in a real emergency should the government fail at such a simple task?

This scandal, then, will be added to all the other Crimes Against Americans as part of the Obama Legacy.

The Passion of a Mets Fan - Summer Edition

As you well know, I am a die-hard Mets fan, Orange and Blue Since '62 and all that. I wrote a commentary after Opening Day this year, addressing the hopes and the promises that this year would be different than years past.

Well, it's the All Star Break and in the last few years, the season was done by now and I would be counting the days to my New York Jets' football preseason. I know, my teams are not the big winners like the Yankees or Giants. But that makes me a real fan, rooting for also-rand, not being on the winner's bandwagon. Yes, I am long-suffering.

But I digress.

As I said, it is the Break and where are we? We are five games under .500 at 45-50. But unlike other years, there is a sense of promise that there is some good to come.

Lately, the kids who are here now, who were not here on Opening Day, seem to be playing with a sense of abandon, as if they have nothing to lose. The pitching seems better, with a couple of rookies, a few veterans and a surprising closer.

The veterans, led by Captain David Wright, All-Star Daniel Murphy and outfielder-turned-first baseman Lucas Duda, are more motivated, playing harder and others are following along. The bench seems to be filled with miracle men, every day a new hero.

So, while this is the traditional half-way point of the season, there are only sixty-seven more games. That's ok by me. I think the momentum of the last few weeks can carry my Boys of Summer to a great second half. It just might be a hot summer on this side of the City That Never Sleeps.

The following is the commentary after my boys' great Opening Day victory. Sometimes, the promise of Spring really can give hope for Summer. Enjoy the read and of course, as any Mets fan knows their cheer: Let's Go Mets!!!

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

The Passion of a Mets Fan

As many of you know, I am a long-suffering, devoted New York Mets fan. I have been a fan since before the first game was played on April 11, 1962. For years, my mantra has been "Orange and Blue Since 62."

I am proud of it.

The history of my Amazing Mets is rich, probably more so than that of the team which plays across the Whitestone Bridge in another part of the City. Yeah, their fans can brag about all their pennants and the 27 World Series wins they possess. But other than 2009, they all occurred in the last Century, in another Millennium.

What makes our history rich is this: The Mets were born of a combined franchise, as attested by the colors of the team. After 1957, when the Giants and Dodgers left for the Coast, the National League had no representative in the "Greatest City In The World". The colors are Giant Orange and Dodger Blue, in tribute to those great franchises. No other team can make that claim.

The first seven years were losers for our heroes, but we loved them anyway. Right from the start, the cheer, the rant "Lets Go Mets" could be heard loud and clear in the canyons of the old Polo Grounds, the home of the Giants for years and for our guys for two. Then in 1964, Shea Stadium opened, which for the time was considered a modern day wonder. It was baptized with the waters from both the Harlem River and the Gowanus Canal, which were the bodies of water next to the Dodgers and  Giants homes. After it was closed after the 2008 season, it was the third oldest non-updated ballpark in the US, after Wrigley and Fenway. Oh, and the rant went with them.

To this day, that rant can be heard loudly in Queens County, in Cirifield on game day, whether the boys are winning or not.

In 1969, the totally unexpected happened. The Mets, the perennial basement dwellers, our beloved losers, won it all. The Miracle Mets consumed the City the entire summer, like nothing ever did before. Namath guaranteed a win and delivered. Men walked on the moon. The greatest music festival ever was held near Woodstock, NY. Nothing at all compared to what the Mets did.

We have won just one more World Series since then, in 1986. We won pennants in 1973, 1988, 2000, a dramatic Wild Card playoff in 1999 and the Eastern Division Championship in 2006.When you can name them all, just know they each are treasured. Especially when you have witnessed them all.

In 1970, we finally won our first Opening Day game and since then we have won 34 of the next 44 openers. Yes, we lost on Monday, but I feel it’s a glitch in a season that will be filled mostly with happiness and excitement.

We have retired just three numbers in our 53 year history, two managers and a pitcher, Stengel, Hodges and The Franchise, Tom Seaver.  With all the great players who have passed through our portals, I can think of several others deserving of their numbers affixed permanently on the Left Field wall: 7 - Kranepool, who played his entire career here, 8 - Carter and 17 - Hernandez, both of whom lead the great teams of the 84-89 era, 15 - Grote and 31 - Piazza, two of the three greatest catchers, along with Carter, in the team's history, and 45 - McGraw/Franco, our greatest relievers. I am sure there are others, but this would be a good start. In 10 years or so, 5 just might be retired after David Wright hangs up the spikes.

Yes, these great players are recognized in the Met Hall of Fame, but greatness in our history should be displayed while we are sitting in the stands, too. With the unveiling of the Ralph Kiner Memorial, this could be the start of a new tradition. Leave Ralph there at the end of the season. Then, next year, add a memorial for Bob Murphy and retire the players I listed above. That would be great!

As I said, the Mets have a rich history and I have but scratched the surface. When you really look deeply, there is so much more that exists, which a true Met fan could bring out for many more commentaries.

I love my team, always have, always will, win or lose. Deep within my heart, the Mets will always reign supreme. So, as we begin a new season, yell with all your might, until your voice is shot, letting those around you know where your baseball passion is. Join me as we all cheer:

"LETS GO METS!!!!!"

Downsizing and Change for the Worst

In the late online edition of Thursday's New York Post it was reported that thousands of presently deployed servicemen, including more than 1,100 Captains will soon be getting pink slips. Their service is no longer desired or required.

This has created a whole bunch of uncertainty for both the servicewoman and serviceman who fully expected to stay in the military until a full time job was found, and for family members  who worry daily while their loved one is still in harms' way and worry about their future income at the same time. 

This is a warped version of how to defend, or actually not to defend, the United States in a 21st Century world filled with hatred by so many for our country.

During the Cold War, we were looked upon with a love/hate view; we were loved because we represented all the things people wanted, eg, freedom, wealth, strength, and protection from Soviet aggression; we were hated for the jealousy of those who lacked the same.

After the Cold War ended, in reality in 1989 with the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and the symbol of that collapse with the destruction of the Berlin Wall, the world looked upon the United States as a stabilizing force and as the world's policeman. American power was expected to be used in the First Iraq War, Kosovo, and elsewhere, as needed and requested.

The world understood in 2001 why we needed to invade Afghanistan and if you recall, the world intelligence agencies all believed Saddam had WMDs; therefore,  the UN authorized our involvement in Iraq and so did both Houses of the Congress,  with bi-partisan support.

So what happened?

First and foremost, Americans became war-weary fighting two futile wars at the same time. We did not find the WMDs, which seemed to vanish just before we deployed our "shock and awe" in March, 2003.  If you recall, initially it was announced that WMDs were found, including SCUDs. But then, poof! talking points took over and suddenly they were "unfound”.

As we guessed back in 2003 and 2004, the bulk of them went somewhere, and that somewhere was Syria. And now, the Islamic State claims it possesses them. Great.

Then, Americans elected a man who promised to end the wars and that's all we heard in 2008. Sadly, we elected, and then re-elected a man who had no real plan, and chose to listen to academics rather than to military men and experienced diplomats.  Oh, and made everything about "us v them", no matter what the issue or circumstance.

He also did this on the world stage, pitting all sorts of groups, whether in Africa, the Middle East, Europe or Asia. The world figured him out before we did.

Now, because of his lack of backbone and misguided decisions, the United States is now a laughingstock; disrespected by Russia, Europe, the Muslim World, Japan and China. Good job, Barry. You did something no other President has ever done. You united the world in its contempt and disdain for us.

This, then, is the world in which he wants to downsize our military. It is foolhardy to think we are protected with a military size at levels not seen since before World War II. It is frightening to think what means we will employ should the circumstances dictate a significant need for troops and we are not prepared to deploy them.

It took months to get men up to speed after Pearl Harbor, and the world was much bigger then. Now, instead of weeks by ship for an enemy to be posited to attack, it would be just a few hours, if not minutes, for a first strike by a motivated enemy.

So, perhaps we need to make some noise and demand that the drawdown be stopped. I get the point about bringing our troops home from lands which want us gone and I agree that if they don’t want us, why do we stay? For some seventy-year-old treaty no one abides by anymore except the United States? Instead, these experienced and trained men and women could be redeployed along our borders, to finally stop the influx of people who are entering illegally.

Finally, the thought that we would deactivate American servicemen and instead, allow foreign-born people enlist in their place, is the most absurd idea I ever heard since the Romans allowed foreigners to become legionnaires almost 2,000 years ago. Does anyone remember what happened?

The Germans, who replaced the Romans on the northern border of the Roman Empire, proved their loyalties were to the German tribes rather than to the Empire. Soon, the Vandals, Goths, Huns and others overtook the western part of the Roman Empire and Rome was no more.

That will soon be our fate, probably within less than twenty years at the pace we are forgoing our liberties now. All because we downsized and changed the requirements to be a good, strong, fearless AMERICAN soldier.

The President and His Camera

Photo-ops. We all love them. Today, with our digital phones, we are all Cecil B DeMilles and Francis Ford Coppolas. We direct our friends and families to pose or to act like they have no idea we are recording or snapping away.

And, selfies. Everybody does it, including me. And Jimmy and Suzie and Phil and Monica.

And, do you know who else loves photo-ops and selfies? That's right, friends. Your and my good pal, the "Daddy of us all", according to Chris Rock, the one, the only... Barry Soetoro Hussein Obama!

If you recall, at Nelson Mandela's funeral service, Barry O whipped out his camera to take selfies with his good bud man David Cameron and his fantasy girl Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Wow! Looking good!

In Wednesday's late online edition of the Washington Post it was reported that after Barry had pizza and beer, and then shot some pool in Denver, when he went to Texas,  he said he wasn't going to go to the border, because he wasn't a fan of photo-ops.

Whaaaaaat?????

In almost six years, that is what he is best known for. There isn't a circumstance or situation where Barry has ever said, "Please, no cameras. We ask that you respect my (our) privacy." No, folks, will you EVER hear Barry make that plea.

There isn't a backdrop or an opportunity that Barry won't stop to have his picture taken. We have had some very vain, camera-crazy Presidents in our history, FDR and JFK come to mind. But Barry, by far, is the most camera-ready, vainglorious President we have ever had.

I guess, with all the negative things I have to say about Barry, his policies, and his actions, I must say SOMETHING positive about him, right? So, he is positively the most camera-ready President ever. Even when he took that selfie that Michelle didn't like for some reason, there were other cameras and recorders vrooming like crazy.

And he knew it.

Just like when he was in Denver, eating pizza, drinking beer and shooting pool, or last month when he was working out in Poland, he ALWAYS knew there was a camera in the vicinity.

Ready. Aim. Snap away!

RINOs? Again!!

Last year, I wrote a commentary called RINOs?, where I criticized Republicans generally, and conservative Republicans specifically, for using this term when discussing party members more than them. Republicans In Name Only are Republicans, folks. They certainly are not Democrats, are they? Or radical leftists? Certainly not Obamanuts.

Even moderate and liberal Republicans are not as liberal as most Democats. With the exception of Joe Manchin, and perhaps a couple of other truly moderate Dems, all the other Democrats are as liberal and left as the day is long.

So please, friends. STOP with the name calling. It isn't becoming. We need to unify with those who may be more liberal, or moderate than we think we are. Or soon, there will be no Republican Party of Lincoln, TR, or Reagan which will save the nation from the attempt to fundamentally change us.

Is that not the whole point? Let us put our efforts to win as a united party rather than divided one.

I present RINOs?, a chastisement to those who forgot Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment, "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." Let's remember this the next time you want to use that four letter word.

Monday, July 22, 2013

RINOs?

Why do conservatives castigate Republicans who are more moderate, more centrist or even more liberal than they are? People like Chris Christie, John McCain, Lindsay Graham and Paul Ryan are as Republican as Rick Santorum, Rand Paul, Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich, yet are criticized for working with liberal Democrats in the House or Senate. Even Marco Rubio was slammed by conservatives as a "traitor" to his conservative ideals because he worked with Democrats on the immigration bill.

Now, for the sake of full disclosure, I am a registered Republican, but I have libertarian and socially moderate leanings. I am a fiscal conservative and I admit, I have voted for Democrats many times over the years. Does that make me a traitor? Absolutely not! Instead, it makes me a free-thinking and high-information American. If we want to think monolithically, perhaps we would prefer to be Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy or Red China, the best examples of monolithic governments from the 20th century.

Do we? I don't think so.

Instead, we are a nation of diversity, exemplified by our ancestry, race, color, creed and even sexual orientation. So why wouldn't we be diverse in our politics? I mean, isn't that what being American is all about?

Other than, perhaps, Canada, there is no other country on earth like the USA. And even Canada is mostly English-based, except for French Quebec. So, Canada is not nearly as diverse as we are. Nor are its politics.

We need to understand that it is our fault as Republicans that Barack Obama is serving a second term. Why? Because as a party, we couldn't get behind a winner early in the primary season and we allowed the MSM to define our candidates, rather than defining them ourselves. By the time Mitt Romney finally won enough delegates to secure the nomination, he was so bloodied by the battle and was so short of money, he struggled, and ultimately, lost the election.

2012 Republican Candidates

I agree that Mitt could have been more forceful and challenging during the debates and the campaign. And as the honest man he is, Mitt would admit to that, as well. But the problem also was that during the campaign, he was still trying to win over the conservatives, who by and large, stayed home on Election Day, like a bunch of spoiled children who didn't get what they wanted.

He won over the independents, and he won over many Reagan Democrats. But he was largely unable to win over his own party's base. And guess what, folks? Whoever becomes the Republican standard-bearer for 2016, will have the same difficulties, if this attitude continues. The result will be another four years of the nonsense we have suffered through since 2009. Hillary or Joe, or whoever else is nominated by the Democrats, will be elected due to our own discord.

So, if we want to continue identifying people as Republicans In Name Only, or RINOs, soon enough we will be the 21st century version of the Whigs or the Federalists. It will be our own damn fault. And Barry will thank you all very much for completing his transformation of the USA for him.

And we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

Originally Posted by Frank McHale  on July 22, 2013 in Frankmchalesviews.blogspot.com