Chris Christie Interests Me

He's one of the new breed of politician we've all been waiting for. One not afraid of taking on the old school pols or the unions. Both need doing. How successful he'll be remains to be seen, but I'm seeing more newly elected governors following his lead. We all ought to be watching them evolve.

I don't know much about him yet. The biggest negative is his switch from pro-choice to pro-life.  Not the stand particularly, but whether or not it's purely for political expedience from a man who seems not to care.

He's being touted as a Presidential candidate for 2012. He has said no again and again. We've heard it all before from so many we tend to question the sincerity. After all, he is a politician.

What interests me about his denial is how he said it,

There are people who will run just because they see the opportunity. And I'm not stupid. I see the opportunity. That's not a reason to run for President.

You have to believe in your heart and your soul that you're ready to be President. And I don't believe that about myself right now."

Thinking of all the potential candidates readying themselves, including our current President, I wonder if any of them ever looked at running quite that way. Here is a first term governor, a mover, both liked and disliked depending on what is basically your level of greed. He is fighting for the financial survival of his state. He is tenacious and tough. Just what we need in the Presidency. Yet he sees himself as not ready. How refreshingly honest.

My tendency these days is to be suspect yet I don't want to be. I want to believe in that honesty and the strength behind it. Yes, Chris Christie interests me. I'm going to keep an eye on him.

The Mid-East As A Golden Opportunity

The continued uprisings against middle eastern depots is a tremendous opportunity for the U.S. and it's democratic allies.  The question is if we'll take it or lay an egg!

I'm not sure we even recognize the possibilities.  That's because I see no leadership coming from the U.S. that can be interpreted as support for the people.  It's more like lip service.

Warning the leaders to get ahead of the actions of their people is fruitless. They're not afraid of us because we never spell out consequences and even if we did we'd probably not carry through.

Just look at the countries in play! We've been actively engaged with some for years yet they remain the same.  It worries me that a government as weak as the one ruling Pakistan can still manipulate us.  Consider our state department employee currently under arrest.  Getting him released should have been a slam dunk yet he still remains in custody.

Afghanistan speaks for itself.  A weak, corrupt government is running roughshod over us.

When was the last time you heard of any U.S. involvement with Mauritania or Libya? Yet all are undergoing a degree of political upheaval.

We, nor our allies, can or will send in troops to protect the people.  What we can do, however, is ramp up the sanctions so they really hurt.   We've seen what a few days of protesting did to Egypt's productivity.  It ground to a halt.  If it ground to a halt in all the countries and sanctions prevented the corrupt officials from doing an end around, it would soon begin to show an effect.

Of course it would be hard on the protesters.  But then life already is.  That's why they are protesting.  Somehow I expect we could rally them to help squeeze the life from their leadership.

We found a way to back Iraq in the Iraq/Iran war.  In this day and age can we not find a way to aid civilians against their military and governments?  I don't know.  There was a time I think we could and would have.  Now I'm not so sure we have the will and talk is cheap.  It comes from a weakened CIA and lack of feet on the ground.  NBC has more for heavens sake!

We're not trusted by those very civilians because we've supported the governments for so long.  Yet, if we want to regain their respect, and future cooperation, we've got to do something meaningful.  We can't fight their wars for them, but we can we not supply them and help them organize as we're supposedly doing in Afghanistan?

Perhaps I'm over simplifying.  There is always a price to be paid.  If I were writing the equation it would be simple.  People minus corrupt governments equal peace plus stability.

It's too bad America is weak in math.  Or maybe it's me.

CPAC - The Republicans' Comedy Central

If the just finished CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) conference in Washington D.C. is any indicator of what's ahead for Republicans in 2012, they've got problems! The winner of the straw poll, indicating favorites, was Ron Paul, the 75 year old doctor/politician from the great state of Texas. He's not going to win the nomination.

Mitt and Newt, along with a slew of other wannabes were  there. Even "the Donald" was there telling everyone what he would do if he decides to run. He won't make the decision until the current TV season and his show The Apprentice wraps. One wouldn't want politics to "trump" profit.

Perhaps the most frightening thing to emerge  was speculation on running mates for Sarah Palin.  She didn't even attend!  One was Representative Paul.  He'd balance her youth and exuberance they speculate.  She'd not have to worry about him waiting in the wings.  He'd be 80 by the time her first term was over.  If she stuck around that long!

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) is another one.  He's as mouthy as she is.  I'd see between them having everyone angry all the time.

The other two to be suggested for the potential kiss of political death are Representative Eric Cantor (R VA), the current house majority leader and one of the bright young hopes for the party.  I can't see him wanting to take the number two spot with a candidate that would be weaker than him.

The same for number four, Senator Marco Rubio (R FL).  He's another party comer but a newcomer lacking experience.

I don't see anyone, frankly, wanting to be Sarah Palin's running mate.  There are those, of course, who think not only will she get the nomination, but will win.  I'm not one of them.  Even though she now has a better speech writer and political guru somewhere behind the scenes coaching her,  she's anything but a proven entity! We're dealing with one of those now. I don't want another.

It's said she has more experience going in than Obama had.  His lack has been apparent but he hasn't left a tough job to follow the big bucks nor do I expect it of him.  With Palin, I'd never be sure.

I haven't a clue where my sentiments are going to be as 2012 draws near.  I don't like Obama's degree of liberalism nor his grasp, or lack thereof, of foreign policy.  The problem is I don't see anyone on the Republican side with whome I'm comfortable.  The ideal candidate should have a grasp of our internal problems, of which there are many, but not to the exclusion of the tenor of the world.

I fell for the hope and change mantra hook, line and sinker.  Mostly because I really wanted to  vote for someone at least once in my life.  Well, I did, along with enough others to elect Obama.  Right now it looks like I'll be returning to voting for the lesser of two evils.

If there is a bright side to any of it, it's that, as an American, at least I'll be able to vote.  And I will.  Even if it's for "none of the above".

OMG, They're Everywhere!

I've been in my loft working. Hub has the radio on in the shop just for noise. Monica Crowley is on.

According to her and Hannity and Glenn Beck, among others, the Muslim Brotherhood is everywhere. Here in this country. Behind every corner and under every rock. Just waiting to pounce. Man, I'd better get that carry permit and the weapon to go with it!

Why is it this group is just becoming known to us if they are here and such a threat? Where has Homeland Security been? They sure haven't been taking care of our southern border!

Here I thought Secretary Napolitano's switch from "our border has never been safer" to "we've never been at more risk" was because hearings to fund her department are underway and she has to justify it.

I don't know. I'm beginning to look at things in a more abstract mode these days. If these intenders of evil are already here, lurking, why are we still mugging grandmothers and babies in airports? They obviously aren't the enemy and such tactics didn't work anyway!

It makes about as much sense to me as the suggestion planted this morning that the Democrats run Gabrielle Giffords for retiring Senator John Kyl's (R-AZ) seat in 2012! Please!

I live here in my little corner of the world where the only thing that crawls out from under the rocks with any regularity are the skinheads and the militias. I guarantee there isn't a Muslim among them. I also don't see them joining forces with the communists and socialists, of which there are also many they'd have us believe.

Since we haven't a clue how events in the mid-east are going to take shape, it seems to me these diatribes by the right wing media are nothing more than fear mongering. If that's what they consider substance, well, that's their choice. And their right.

If such a conspiracy does exist, they should know one thing. If anyone loves their freedom more than the Egyptians, it's Americans. Those who dare to challenge it will find out that we are a land of laws and elections.

We also know how to fight. The challengers should know that. We've been doing enough of it in their home countries!

Inflation And Dueling Headlines

I had to laugh this morning when one headline read Bernanke downplays risk of higher inflation and right next to it was one that read Expect food prices to increase this year!


There is no appreciable inflation.  I know it to be true because the government told us so and because of it we seniors have received no cost of living increases in our social security checks for the second year in a row.

It's because they don't count food or energy.  Is it my imagination that the cost of food and energy are sky rocketing?  No, the Consumer Price Index bears me out. Both food and energy have increased.

We seniors aren't a real needy bunch except for a few necessities.  One is a roof over our heads.  The second is heat to keep what's under that roof warm.  Third is fuel, whether it be for our own cars or public transportation, to get us back and forth to our doctor appointments - and food to sustain us between visits.  These are the items rising the most!

That leads me to wonder why we continue to subsidise corn producers so their crops can go to basically useless ethanol.  Ask anyone who knows cars and you'll find that it depletes gas mileage and does harm to the inner workings of engines.  Yet we not only continue to produce it, we want to raise the amount mixed into the gas.  Corn farmers are the only ones getting rich. And maybe those Obamamotor dealers who will be selling them their Caddies.

Forget about corn as a food for us.  I've been told humans don't digest it, but it sure tastes good.  Other critters do digest it, however, and the lack for them will raise our cost of consumption even more.  Think beef, chicken and pork.

Other food stuffs are also in short supply thanks to Mother Nature unleashing  everything known to man around the world.  Prices are indeed soaring.

It strikes me as mildly amusing when the Fed chairman says he's confident the Fed has the "political will" to stop inflationary forces before they take hold.

I doubt ole Ma Nature gives a fig about political will.  If I'm wrong and she does, then I know what will happen.  More years will pass without our seeing that increase to keep ourselves in essentials.  That being the case, the fact that seniors won't have doctors to treat them after Obamacare is in place, won't matter.

We'll just fade away to mere nothings.  Some might call it starving.  Never-the-less, out of sight, out of mind!