Is ANYONE Running The Country?

Who in their right mind would allow nearly  two thousand military grade weapons to be illegally bought and shipped to Mexico knowing they were going to the drug cartels?

Our Department of Justice in an operation called "Fast and Furious".

The theory was to link the weapons, by tracing serial numbers, to various crime scenes in order to scope out various drug cartels and eventually lead to high-level arrests.

When ATF agents objected they were threatened with punishment and retaliation.

I've got to say that's a heck of a lot of guns to keep track of considering our ability to track where our foreign aid goes, mostly to corrupt officials.  Even worse, these guns were let go knowing they would be used in crimes where people would be killed.  They were, including  Border Patrol guard Brian Terry. 1730 guns.  38,000 deaths since 2007.  Supervisors who retorted when  asked about possible loss of life in this operation, "If you are going to make an omelet, you need to scramble some eggs," and "If you don't think this is fun, you are in the wrong line of work, period."

Other than the 38,000 deaths over time, what was accomplished?   A few arrests of small-time crooks while the rest of the weapons were in the hands of criminals leading to a huge spike in the ongoing violence.

It's hard to believe the President would have given the go ahead to such an ill conceived plan.  What?  He didn't? According to Press Secretary Jay Carney, "He did not know about or authorize this operation."

Just who is in charge when it comes to an operation of this magnitude?  It's not Who.  He's on first. It obviously isn't Obama either.  He was probably on vacation or the golf course.

Beauty And The Beasts

The Stanley Cup goes to Boston; the clean up crews go to Vancouver, B.C.  What is it about supposed adults, mostly male, that turns them into uncontrollable monsters after sporting events?

Vancouver is a beautiful city.  At least it was until last night.  It has one of the most breathtaking settings a city could have.  They got through the Olympics, a far larger venue the final game of the Stanley Cup series with no major violence nor destruction of property for that sake and that sake alone.  So why after a hockey game?

Oh, sure, the home team lost.  It would have happened had they won.  Look at the mob violence that comes after soccer games.  It's a trait  common to no particular country and yet every country and for a variety of reasons.  Look at the rioting in Greece over their economic situation.  The only work that will come out of it is overtime for jailers and clean up crews.  I really don't understand it.  It will solve nothing.

People gather in mobs for all sorts of reasons.  In Greece as I just mentioned.  All over the middle east is another example.  They, at least, with good cause and non-violent.  In return their own governments fired on them.  Not rubber bullets to quell the crowds.  Live ammunition to kill the crowds.

Canadian hockey fans should be thankful they are in Canada, known for being nice!  In other parts of the world even the losing team might have been under threat of violence from their governments.

So come on sports fans.  Grow up.  Be thankful for the good things you have rather than destroying them because your team lost.  It's so unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Who will even remember this years Stanley Cup in six months?

 The violence and destruction, however, are another thing.

Lame Stream Media, For Sure

I'm no fan of Sarah Palin, but when she refers to the media as "lame stream" she just may have a point.  She also showed a hint of wisdom for not appearing in what was laughingly called a "debate".

When Michelle Bachmann comes away the winner, one has to wonder.  And be thankful it's early in the campaign process and hope the candidates wise up and refuse to fall prey to the silliness of CNN again.

Little is left to the imagination as to where CNN's politics are, just like NBC's.  Left.  Liberal.  None the less you'd think they'd take a Republican debate with at least a modicum of seriousness.

John King set the tone with his 'assume the position' remark. He should be fired for that and what followed. And/or whoever vetted the questions to be asked.

Maybe I take politics too seriously, but when I take the time to tune in to a debate I'm not really interested  whether Bachmann prefers Elvis or Johnny Cash or whether Pawlenty is a Coke or Pepsie man. Save the levity for the White House Correspondents Dinner.  It's a slippery slope to the Clinton campaign where the iconic question was 'boxers or briefs'.  It's a good thing Anthony Weiner wasn't on stage - or for that matter, asking the questions! Must politics be demeaned any further?

I'm really glad Bachmann has fostered 23 kids and is a mother of an additional five.  I'm glad Santorum fathered seven kids.  And the happy the other candidates also have their progeny to brag about, but I could care less when I've tuned in to listen to ideas, policies, possible soilutions.

Somehow when a reporter crows that the evening produced a cadidate that truly belonged there, Michelle Bachmann, and that she will drive the debate, I would at least like to hear a debate.

Like what would she do about the situation in Pakistan where the men who helped our CIA in the pursuit of bin Laden have been arrested.  Or what would any of them do differently than Obama and more importantly how they expect to succeed.

Maybe one network should host one night of chit chat with the candidates, answer all the nonsense, then get on with real debate.  Or has that already happened?

Not China Too! There's A Lesson Here

One has to wonder about a country that builds a wall like the Great Wall of China.  Was it to keep the people in or the enemy out?  By today's standards, it would definitely be to keep the people in.

A story in this morning's  Wall Street Journal tells of a great wave of unrest that is spreading across the country.  The public unrest is stemming from economic and government grievances.  Sound familiar?

Consider the Arab Spring ranging from Syria to Egypt.  Both are huge hunks of real estate with inhabitants in turmoil.

Like the Arab countries, we've been harping at the Chinese about their human rights record for what seems like forever.  And for just as long they tell us "don't go there" - so we don't.  Well, the people have finally taken it upon themselves to deal with it.  The interesting thing in China is that the unrest does not seem to be organized, it's just happening and spreading.

With campaign season already upon us in this country, politicians take note.  Right now especially Obama and the Democrats who want as much government control over us as is possible.  When we rebel, someone gets punished.  Like Boeing trying to move a plant to South Carolina, a right to work state which the unions do not like one little bit and are doing everything possible to block.  Oh, if all those potential hires wanted to join unions there would be no problem. Unions.  Obama's favorite support group.  Financial support that is.  For his campaign.

When James Carville, one of the Democrats own, warns that civil unrest is imminently possible if our economic situation doesn't improve, one has to wonder. I think we've learned since the last two years of Bush's term having both houses of Congress held by one party and the presidency the other, negates progress and civil debate.  With Obama in office and the same party in the same place for the past two years has seen any semblance of balance - and civil debate disappear.  The ideologues worked the system against the will of the people.

If that doesn't change and there are more things like Obamamobiles and Obamacare shoved down our throats while jobs and opportunity remain in a drought, there may well be civil unrest.

We need balance.  Enough of both parties in both houses to make debate and compromise not only possible but mandatory.  And we need a President who wants to reinstate this country into the leadership role it has always held.  Not content to go along to get along, just be one of the boys.

Unrest in China.  If you think the Mid East unrest is ugly, wait until China unleashes its army against its own people.  The thought that it could happen here for the same reasons is about as sobering as it gets.

Through The Eye Of The Beholder

Do you ever wonder how the rest of the world views our government?  We  know many of the world leaders consider our President a lightweight; weak.  It isn't widely known what they think of Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton.  The photo ops are always programmed to show everyone smiling and shaking hands.

The only member of the Cabinet that really says it like it is seems to be Bob Gates and unfortunately he's leaving the end of the month.

Then we drop down a tier.  To Congress.  They often go off on junkets to learn first hand about various situations around the world.  I wonder how they're viewed.  Do they give men like men like Anthony Weiner a pass because they too are a little loose when it comes to proper behavior with women?  I really don't know.

The bigger question is how we feel about such men.  Everyone and his pet dog has suggested Weiner resign but somehow he thinks going into therapy is going to solve all his problems.  And continue to draw his salary while he's away.  That's all fine and dandy.  What bothers me is this man is one of the faces of the United States government.  Is he acceptable to us in that role?  Will therapy erase the image we have of him? Is it sincere or merely diversionary tactic?  Who's to know?

During the time we were agonizing about how we extract information from enemies, it was often said, "That's not us, we're better than that."

Not that I expect everyone to be perfect, but I expect more from our Representatives than what we're getting from too many of them.  What ever happened to respect and common decency, be it toward a spouse or a constituent?  I'd like to think, "That's not us, we're better than that."

But what does the rest of the world think?  Does it apply at all any more?