Does She Have The Right?

"A bill can be bipartisan without bipartisan votes." So stated Nancy Pelosi on State of the Union Sunday morning.

One thing I have to say for the woman, she appears to truly believe we should have a socialistic medical system under the thumb of the government. When I said in a recent post we should be looking for candidates who have convictions and the courage to stick with them, Nancy Pelosi is certainly one such. My question is, because she has the top leadership position in the House, does she have the right to force her personal conviction, with coercion and bribes, on other members of the body in order to secure their votes? To my way of thinking, that's an abuse of power.

She went on to say, "Republicans have left their imprint." Yes, they have, or at least they've tried. From my perspective their views, as put forth at the summit, were met with disdain, contradiction and condescension. For Pelosi to continually harp on how the Republicans have been misrepresenting the contents of the bill because "that's what they do" is beginning to ring hollow. The other guy is always the bad guy even if they're correct.

The reality is that people have begun to pay attention to what the government is doing and they're not happy.

While Pelosi has proven effective at "muscling out votes", it seems to me she is lacking in true leadership skills. Had she been willing to include the Republicans in planning sessions at the beginning of the process, been willing to incorporate their ideas along with the Democrats, we may have been able to avoid this cat fight and already have legislation passed. As it is now, if it passes she will have sacrificed the more moderate members of her own party and thoroughly alienated a large segment of the voting public.

She may win one for Obama and herself but at what price? Back to my point on choosing good candidates regardless of party, those already elected have a responsibility in choosing their own leadership. Those who wear blinders to all but their own ideology should not be placed in leadership positions any more than Charlie Rangel should be given a pass on his tax dodging when he chairs the Ways and Means Committee that is responsible for taxation issues! "It was a staff error," is so lame he should have been embarrassed to utter it. But then these people are beyond being embarrassed over anything. They are also beyonf taking responsibility for their own actions and will always find someone else to blame. It's a disgusting state of affairs!

Oh, yes. All the above critique also applies to Harry Reid. Along with every Republican who may aspire to these heights when their turn comes.

The Personal Face Of Technology

When it comes to modern day technology I'm a bit of a dinosaur. I still watch the news on TV, not streaming video on my computer. I do not text nor tweet. My cell phone is no more than a Tracfone to which I add the minimum number of minutes to keep it active and never do use all of them.

We have, however, invested in a magic jack so we can talk to those out of town friends, especially overseas, who we can't chat with via computer. I do blog. I am on Facebook.

I was just ready to shower this morning when the news of the 8.8 quake just south of Santiago, Chile penetrated my morning fog. My heart beat soared and I felt a quake of my own in the pit of my stomach. I have a young friend who attends University in Santiago.

I raced to my computer and opened her Facebook page and there they were, comforting messages going out to her friends that nearly all seemed well with family though she was still checking with friends. Whew! I sent her a quick note and went back to my shower.

I became acquainted with this young lady after she had heard a story on CNN a few years back. It was about seniors who blog and I was included. She dropped me an e-mail telling me how neat she thought it was. We started exchanging correspondence and do to this day.

I've watched her mature into a lovely young woman. I've seen her go from pre-law to veterinary medicine. I've listened through romances; we've discussed the world politic. The correspondence waxed and waned but remained. When we found one another on Facebook, she chided me for taking so long. Today it was a saving grace.

We've all sat mesmerized by the information that flowed from Iran during the election uprisings down to the death of a young woman who became their rallying cry. We watched the devastation in Haiti in real time and today we're seeing blanket coverage of the Chilean quake while waiting to see if a massive Tsunami hits Hawaii. The bulk of this is coming from cell phone video and Twitter.

I watch coverage of such events marveling at the technology that brings it to us no matter how hard oppressive governments try to squelch it. Usually with a degree of detachment.

Not today. It hit me personally. I realized how much I've come to care for a young woman I've never met and most likely never will. Yet I consider her friend. We even have an American city in common. Her mother resides in the Pittsburgh area where I grew up.

It is indeed a small world. Technology makes it more and more accessible. Today, there is nothing but good about that.

Majority Rules? What Does Majority Mean?

The curtain has fallen on the umteenth act of "Health Care Reform - The Drama". It was interesting to watch even if somewhat tedious. The outcome was not unexpected.

There are a couple of points made by the President with which I take exception. "Baby steps" won't do the job regarding the Republicans desire to take things incrementally. With due respect, sir, neither does cramming the whole thing down our throats. As the pediatricians want hot dogs redesigned to eliminate the choking hazard, so should this bill be for the same reason.

It's not that the people don't want health care reform. They do. Just not this bill. Just take a look at the polls regarding the Democrats plan on Real Clear Politics.

"Most Americans think a majority vote makes sense." A simple majority or a coerced majority? When the Democrats are at such odds with one another over this bill, how can they continue to insist it's their way or the highway? I won't go into all the arm twisting and behind closed doors deal making. It existed and we all know it. It makes less than a clean piece of legislation under any circumstance. I'd be no where nearly as disgusted if a fair number of Republicans and Democrats were both for and against it. That would indicate to me there was more involved than partisanism.

Perhaps the old "throw the bums out" isn't the way to look at candidates any more. We elected Obama on the strength of his personality and empty rhetoric because we were war weary and wanted something uplifting. As a result able Congressmen and Senators lost their seats by others riding on those soaring coat tails. I do not favor coat tails.

This year brings the mid-terms. I no more want to see Democrats driven from office then I did Republicans last time around. We only have two parties. We're witnessing what happens when there is a tidal surge of discontent.

I don't know how the health care debate will turn out. I do know that during the upcoming campaigns I'll be looking a lot more closely at what the candidates bring to the table. Talking points and buzz words will no longer cut it. I'll be looking for candidates that actually have some core beliefs and the courage of their convictions. Regardless of party.

Never again will I be sucked in by personality over substance. Had I to do over again who would I have supported? Neither.

Watching And Waiting...

I spent some time this morning watching the health care summit. A few things struck me. Nancy Pelosi did not look happy. I think she was bored and wanting to get back to passing the massive legislation that awaits us.

President Obama interrupted John McCain who was trying to make a valid point and scolded him by telling him the campaign was over. How would Obama know? He hasn't stopped yet himself!

The Democrats have been busy telling the Republicans how many times they used reconciliation when they were in power. This is pay back time. Now isn't this a fine way to pass legislation that they don't have to abide by but we will?

Friends, we are being governed by a group of children more interested in furthering their personal ideology than sorting out a complex issue for the good of the country. Let's face it, the Democratic leadership wants a socialist America. The people do not. It's really pretty simple. They have the power. We do not. It's really pretty simple.

The Republicans suggestion of starting over and passing issues on which they can agree, or at least compromise, is not at all unreasonable. Yet the Democrats, including and especially the President, are the ones saying no.

I see the ball being squarely in the President's court. If he doesn't go back and amend his outline to include some of what the Republicans want we'll know there was no good faith in this meeting. It indeed will be nothing more then theater.

Actually, he has to do a bit more. He has to take Pelosi and Reid to the woodshed if necessary to get them to cooperate. I doubt that he will nor that they would.

If there is no move toward the Republicans I will have lost the final wisp of respect I have for the President and his party.

It's sad, really. I'm moving more and more toward the likelihood of no longer participating in national elections. No matter who wins, once the newly elected are settled in it's right back to business as usual.

We talk of how abhorrent dictatorships are. They essentially have one in both Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. True ones exist in many African nations and of course North Korea. Well, you know, we're not so far from it here. The name? The Democratic congress for now. That, of course, is subject to change to the Republican congress in due time.

We need the old war horses of Congress, those who respect it's rules and procedures for how they were meant to work. We need them to hold those who will thwart the rules that made it one of the great institutions of the world accountable. We're not getting through from the outside; if they will perhaps they can.

One thing of which they might take note. The people will only be pushed so far. All they need do is look at Iran. They're already threatening us with fines and jail time for not buying their product. What's next? Troops in our own streets? Just what is America becoming?

Perhaps election time will let those in power know we do not consider it a game nor a toy for them to break beyond repair.

Can A War Be Won By Appeasement?

While we await tomorrow's latest act of political theater, we should not forget about the rest of the world. Like Afghanistan.

President Obama started what is becoming a trend in the way we address the rest of the world. Other than showing how dysfunctional we are for all to see, we also are making a habit of apologizing.

It has long been the habit of Afghanistan's President Karzai to wag his finger under our nose and scold us for incurring civilian casualties. He seems to be taking great glee in this even though he knows full well there are two facts about war that will never change. People die. Civilians die.

We are now in the midst of a surge to take Marjah, a longtime Taliban Stronghold, where they use civilians as cover. We all know this. It has been going on since day one. Yet he goes before his Parliament waving a picture of a dead young child with his usual tsk, tsk. What happens? General McCrystal goes on Afghan TV and apologizes. What a way to fight a war.

The rules of engagement have changed to the point of making us far less effective than we could be. If an enemy combatant takes out three men then drops his rifle we cannot fire at him. We cannot call in air strikes until there is confirmation of a legitimate threat and collateral damage can be minimized. It is insanity.

We are propping up Karzai's government for some unclear reason. He literally has no army so why are we afraid of him? We allowed him to take office after a badly flawed election on the promise that he would clean up corruption. Why would we ever believe that he actually would?

He is throwing it in our face yet again. A commission was set up after the runoff election which put Karzai back in office to prevent another 1 million vote fraud. Three foreign members were appointed by the UN. Karzai has now signed a decree allowing himself the sole power in appointing commission members, relegating the UN experts to the sidelines.

He has also delayed anti-graft legislation which was to be completed by the end of February.

We can try to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people all we want. We may actually succeed here and there, but to what end? To provide them with a functioning, democratic government out from under the thumb of the Taliban but under the thumb of Karzai and his thugs? Some choice. I would guess the people will side with whichever entity is most likely to just leave them alone.

As we keep the Taliban at bay Karzai has the time to strengthen his hold. When we leave, just as in Iraq, everything will be up for grabs. Some choice. Taliban rule or a dictatorship under Karzai.

Will we ever "cowboy up" and do what needs to be done and let the chips fall where they may? We have to stop worrying about what rogue governments think about how we conduct a war. Or we shouldn't fight them.