With Friends Like These...

I was somewhat amused to watch as the President portrayed himself as a strong leader in foreign policy, claiming one war over and a dictator dead because of our help.

Not exactly, in either case.  The Iraq war is far from over, it's just being internalized with our imminent departure.  We could withdraw even more of the troops being left behind if our embassy were something other than a small city unto itself.

Iran will have a free hand to step in now that Iraq has essentially thrown us out.  I can't blame them for wanting our people to be under their jurisdiction but I also give credit to the President for refusing.  That it couldn't be negotiated to everyones satisfaction shows a weakness on our part in that area plus the fact that those left behind will still be at risk.

As far as the demise of Gaddafi is concerned, remember that Obama was literally dragged into the conflict, which was in NATO's hands, kicking and screaming.  His 'leading from behind' was not exactly bold leadership.

I will give him credit, too, for the kill order on Osama bin Laden.  Seeing these monsters, including bin Laden on a different level, fall one after another,  has more to do with the discontent of their people than with us.  As it should be.  The question remains as to whether what comes next is better, the same or worse than what has been.  We can do no more than hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

We still have adversaries in the area.  Afghanistan's Karzai is certainly one though we seem to think otherwise.  He has told Pakistan, most definitely adversarial, in a recent TV interview that should Pakistan be attacked by the U.S., Afghanistan would take Pakistan's side.

It's wise not to forget that these are tribal countries historically and those loyalties run deep.  Truces will hold for expedience and little else.  All our intentions toward democratization will fall short until the peoples of those countries come into the 21st century.  Something the power mongers are resisting.  After all, they've witnessed Tunisia, Egypt and now Libya fall to those who have been able to get their causes headlined due to their embrace of modern technology.

While it is no contest when it comes to the use of technology from iPads to drones, where we lack is understanding how to combat those who've never had it and still fight the old way.  With stealth and ferocity.  With all the modern weaponry in the world at our disposal,  it seems like we've forgotten that very basic tenent.

Our Broken Primary System

I see where Michele Bachmann's entire staff in New Hampshire has resigned en masse.  The reason was her lack of commitment to the state.  Instead her main focus was on Iowa.

The need to lead the primary season by Iowa and New Hampshire does not serve the country nor the candidates well. Neither is representative of states outside of their region making a good case for a one day cross country primary.  Let the candidates cover all the states beforehand then let us vote.  And structure it so the media has to cover campaigns in all the states, not just a chosen few.

As it stands now New Hampshire is in a snit over a purported attitude by Bachmann.  In actuality I think she thinks she has a better chance of winning Iowa and has limited resources to boot.  So who wins?  She's banking on a big win in Iowa to propel her through New Hampshire.  If she loses Iowa she's done.  It's a pretty flimsy way to run for President.  Since she obviously hasn't caught on,  should she pack it in now?  If Iowa is her only chance then I think she's too weak to go further.

The same with Jon Huntsman, who in my humble opinion, is the best, most experienced man running and I don't give a fig about him being Mormon.  But again, with finances tight, he's putting all his eggs in New Hampshire's basket.  The result has been lack of visibility in the rest of the country.  Suicide for an unknown.  He'll have to win big in New Hampshire.  People will still be asking who is Jon Huntsman?

Less likely for the job but highly visible are Cain and Paul.  Why?  Because they're out there! I don't think they have more money though admittedly I haven't checked.  They're being prudent with it but spreading it around.

This leap frogging of primary dates isn't helping matters any.  I really wouldn't want to attend a caucus right after the first of the year.  I wouldn't attend one before Christmas!  What's the rush?  Tradition, in this case having to be first, should be ended!  A lot can happen between the end of this year and the general election next and I don't want to make my choice too far ahead.  I also don't want early states having undue influence.  Perhaps they won't.  Perhaps by the time later states hold theirs,  the results of the rush to judgement by the early ones may fade as the candidates are more current as the election nears.

As with everything else going on in government these days, the whole process is a mess.  But then we have a President who spent his career as a Senator campaigning for President and hasn't stopped in between campaigns to bother governing.  Most incumbents stay in the White House and do their job.  Times have changed.

The challengers have a tough time because we take their time away with early primaries and the President never stops.  What will we have next November?  I don't have a clue now and doubt I will even after the fact.

Beauty And The Bleak

Ah, yes, we've been away.  Our usual fall trip was shorter this year both in duration and distance.  It's the economy you know.

When we really want to shut out the world we often head to Yellowstone.  It's a great place, especially this time of year, to just absorb the beauty and decompress.  It's what we did.  View the wildlife and do the galleries in Jackson.

The photo made me laugh.  I was waiting for the bison to lift his head from grazing and when he did he lifted his tail too; it just happened to be what I caught.  I love those big lumbering creatures.  There's something serene about them.  Maybe it's because they're so big no one in their right mind is going to mess with them.  Even when they're plodding down the middle of the road, right down the yellow line.

It was interesting to observe the dynamics of life away from our usual routine.  There were more people out and about than I had expected.  Spending money.  Shops were open and relatively busy.  Restaurants were buzzing.  Maybe people are doing what we are.  Scaling back but still doing.  We're eating fancy fewer evenings.  We're not buying in the galleries unless a piece really, really calls out to us. But we're still having fun.  No newspapers, no evening news nor talking heads.

There is always a high point I think.  This trip it came in Red Lodge, MT.  We were about to enter a gallery as two young boys on bikes were approaching.  One stopped in front of the window and said, "Can I tell you something?" "Sure."  "These paintings are my Granddad's." He was so proud.  If you know but one name in the world of Indian art, you probably know of his Grandfather - Kevin Redstar.  "He's got a studio just up the road in Roberts," the lad continued. "Go knock on his door and he'll show you all his paintings!"

I loved it.  The youngster was just bursting with pride.  We told him we just may do that as we all parted company. Just a small happening but I was taken with it.  I haven't been enjoying the small stuff enough lately.

But then we come back to the real world and read of a financially strapped man letting his wild animals loose before commiting suicide.  Maybe there is no fish and wildlife personnel in the Ohio town where it occurred but the last I heard every last animal, 50 of them, were killed.  I was sick.

If only animals could have places like Yellowstone where they can roam free as intended and let nature take it's course.   As for the suicide victim, who knows.  He had a wildlife park.  People are scaling back on their spending and businesses fail.  As unpleasant as it is, maybe it's good to be reminded that it's not just we humans who suffer the consequences of a bad economy.

Armageddon American Style

I cannot recall ever seeing the people of our country as angry as they are now.  Everyone is on edge if not at each other's throat.

It' uncomfortable.  The reason?  The almighty dollar and what it does and does not buy.  Can the people defeat what and who it owns?  Let's look at it.

The politicians, bought and paid for.  Their misguided solutions to  problems.  Like Dodds/Frank which is in essence telling banks to go ahead and be stupid because they won't be allowed to fail.

Then there are those financial institutions.  So tarred with regulation they won't lend money which could fix the mortgage mess though they sit on more than adequate reserves.  Yet they are so tone deaf, they use that money - ours - to award themselves once again with large salaries and larger bonuses.  Meanwhile we sit homeless, jobless and hungry.

Back to the politicians.  Even though we keep trying to change the dynamic through elections, it's a blip that lasts only as long as it takes to get them sworn in.  The Democrats still hate the Republicans and vice versa.  The Progressives hate the President.  The President hates Congress.  The Conservatives hate everyone who doesn't agree with them.

Okay.  Maybe hate is too strong a word but the emotion is fast approaching it.  The candidates are mistrusted by the electorate.  They're too far right, not far enough right, the wrong religion, their policies are weak or too convoluted.  Whew.  It's exhausting trying to keep up with it.

It is all, however, tied back to that almighty dollar. The Tea Party started out with people demanding fiscal responsibility until they were hijacked by the extremes who have skewed the intent.  That group was for the most part middle class working people.

Now we have the Occupy Wall Street movement. There is even one being organized by college students for Coeur d'Alene.  This movement, not unlike the Tea Party, started out protesting inequity.  And not unlike the Tea Party it is already being compromised by special interests.

What is clear is the people have had it and then some.  It is palpable.  I've been blogging long enough to notice the edge that has been creeping into those who comment. It's okay.  I ramble at times, just letting whatever I'm looking at be put out there for thought.  What at one time would have been taken as silly is no longer.  People aren't seeing 'silly'.  They're seeing loss and frustration and anger because those who should be able to change things either don't have the ability to or won't.  Angry because we put them in positions of power and feel betrayed by them and because we weren't smart enough to see it beforehand.

How is it all going to end?  Crime is up.  Anxiety is high.  Money is tight. I feel like I'm in the midst of an F5 tornado.  I'd not like to be the storm chaser following this one.  I'd fear there'd not be enough with which to rebuild after it passes.  When it passes.  If it passes.

So Joe's Going To Run!

Joe the Plumber, also known as Sam Wurzelbacher, has filed a statement of candicacy with the FEC.  I'm not sure I'm happy about it but not for the reason you may be thinking.

I'm afraid if he wins he might change like so many others in Congress.  The institution does something to members.  It makes them forget they were elected to run the country as we want it run, not the way they think it should be run. For their own, personal ends.

Joe has had a checkered career since first we met.  In some ventures he was sorely out of his league, but he was enough of a 'personality' that he was afforded opportunities others of us would love to have had.

To run for Congress, however, is not out of his league.  He's not slick. I have no idea what his formal education may have been but I wager it does not include a law degree from Harvard.  I bet too he'd probably tell you what his grades were.  That, however, is strictly conjecture on my part.

What he does have is savvy.  Had hot shots like myself only listened to him when he asked Obama if he bought a company that made $250,000 or better a year would his taxes go up.  Right then and there was the answer we've been grappling with ever since.  Now it's being called class warfare - pitting Americans against Americans.  What did Obama say?

"I think when you spread the wealth around it's, it's good for everybody."

Perhaps this is why Herman Cain is so popular.  He has spelled out a plan, while maybe not perfect, where everyone has some skin in the game.  In other words, everyone would have to pony up.  The rich wouldn't have to carry the poor.

Where Obama runs into problems is he has yet to provide  an equitable plan for taxing the rich.  How much is enough?  How much is too much?  Fault will be found with any number put forward.  But then I don't think he cares.  Just tax them.  Mightily.

So what would happen to Joe?   He's about as much the everyman that there is.  He didn't like the politics behind the campaigning when McCain embraced him and made no bones about it. Now he's going to give it a try on his own.

If he's able to handle the flack that will be aimed at him, perhaps he can win.  He'd be interesting. He saw right through the tax the rich rhetoric during the 2008 campaign.  He knew that a company making $250,000 isn't going to be rich after expenses this day and age.  Heck, by no measure is $250,000 rich this day and age.  He didn't buy the company.  He didn't create any jobs.  It's one small business that didn't become part of the backbone of the American economy.

He understands because he's been there.  I'd almost rather have him on the outside looking in with a platform to let us know what he's seeing.  Sometimes it's the better place to be.