Ah, Herman, Don't Change

The political pundits are beginning to take their toll on you.  It makes me sad.  You've been a breath of fresh air in an otherwise same-o, same-o campaign.

Herman, understand that not all voters are as tunnel visioned on abortion as the Christian conservatives.  Your gut instinct was to give your opinion as to how you saw the issue.  For heavens sake, it was the truth!  And a whole lot of us out here agreed with you.  To change your stance to enhance yourself in their eyes diminishes you in the eyes of others.  It's not the issue to lose on.

Consider, at this point in time, Roe vs. Wade is the law of the land.  End of discussion.  We have far more pressing issues  that affect all of us that need to be addressed.

As for your comment on the border fence, it was funny.  Put an electrified wire on top, a moat with alligators on our side and a sign on theirs saying they'll  be dead.  It's what most of us are thinking when we sit around bandying about ideas on how to fix the problem!  It's a shame we don't recognize a good jab when we hear one.

That's a large part of our problem these days.  We have too many people analyzing and spinning everything said to fit their own view, be it narrow or not.  It doesn't serve us well.

Yep.  It's obvious you're not a practiced politician.  That's your appeal! You tell it as you see it.  When you start bending to the will of the bullying pundits you'll lose every time because they spin better than you do.  That's the point isn't it?  You don't spin.

Just continue being yourself.  You might be pleasantly surprised where the chips fall. The axe men might be surprised too.  Maybe not so pleasantly.

By the way, I love your 'Yellow Flowers' campaign ad! It, gasp, made me laugh!

Just Who Are The Racists?

I'm getting tired of other people telling me why I think the way I do.  Especially when it comes to Presidential candidates who interest me.  Especially if it's Democrats making assumptions about Republicans.

Okay, I'm an Independent but in order to be able to take part in the process I have to declare a party and when Independent is not a choice I choose Republican.  So to have a cable network analyst suggest it's because he's a black man who knows his place infuriates me.  That I feel like I'm not racist because I like the guy.

That they can make such statements astounds me.  It sounds like racism is surely percolating away just below the surface of those who think that.  Can they be serious?

I do like the man.  Would I vote for him?  Should he win the nomination you bet I would.  Would I vote for him in the primary?  I don't know enough about him to say 'yes' for sure.  I'm looking seriously at several.  But if I don't it will have nothing to do with race.

This is already the most silly of silly seasons I've been witness to. The President out there putting out executive orders faster than you can say Halloween. He ought to slow down or he'll have run out of material long before next November.  Then what will he do to buy votes?

The question always comes back to what's he been waiting for?  I won't even start on Congress.

Let's go back to our President.  You know what?  I voted for him and he is anything but a black man who knows his place.  A lot of other Republicans and Independents also voted for him or he wouldn't have won.

Perhaps it's because he was barely in office before I began my criticisms.  I'm sure it's assumed it's because I closeted my racism during his phenomenal run for the Presidency then could no longer contain it.

It couldn't possibly be because I disagree with almost everything he has, or mostly has not, done since taking office.  Now that we have one of our own my conscience is being eased.

Yep.  I like Herman Cain.  He makes me laugh.  I listen to what he has to say, agree with him on some issues and disagree on others.  Plus there's always the question of how he'll get things done if he has a hostile Congress.  That, of course, applies to all the candidates no matter their race.

Do I think Obama was ineffective when he had both houses because he was black? Or now that he has only the Senate? Not at all.  I think it's because he's in over his head and doesn't know how to lead nor govern.  He'd had no experience what-so-ever prior to being elected.

So don't try to accuse the Republican party as a whole of being patronizing in order to soothe our inner racism.  In fact I think the party couldn't be happier than to have a man of Mr. Cain's accomplishments and experience suggesting the Democratic party isn't necessarily the best one for any ethnic group.

I guess 'one nation, (with or without under God) indivisible, with liberty and justice for all' doesn't resonate any more.  Neither should the assumptions of closed minded 'analysts'.

What Is It We Want?

With primary season just around the corner I've been doing a lot of wondering just what it is Americans, as a whole, want.

When a movement like Occupy Wall Street overstays it's welcome, they lose the impact of their message.  The problem is they didn't have one in the first place.  At least not a cohesive one.  They want equalization of the wealth.  That isn't going to happen.  What will happen if things go their way, those who have the wealth and the ability to create it will be brought down.  The occupiers will not be elevated to their level.

I remember a time, long ago, when a neighbor who had been widowed for a time was bemoaning the fact she couldn't find a respectable, successful three piece suit like Hub. I suggested that she should have something to bring to the table and I didn't mean food.  I think the same holds true for the occupiers who want, want, want but what do they have to offer?  Of course some of the involved do, and a great deal, but it's hard to separate them from the image of the masses. In the end, their point is lost.  They become a law stretching, if not breaking, irritant.

The politicians on all levels are going to have their hands full.  First I'd like to see them all present their ideas and defend them rather than tearing down their opponents.  The reason why both Cain and Paul are as popular as they are is they keep it simple and they passionately believe what they say.  Newt is great at explaining where the government has gone wrong and why but fixing it is another thing.

Eliminate those three and we're left with candidates pandering to every cause out there and convincing no one of their abilities or sincerity. The unopposed President is doing exactly the same thing with his executive orders.  Had he led with these ideas months ago his ratings would be a lot higher.  Now they seem exactly what they are - stabs in the dark of desparation.

Everyone is struggling with the facts.  We, who are out here suffering with no end in sight, have to realize there is no quick fix.  We didn't sink this low over night and it isn't going to be fixed by political posturing nor cutting expenditures all in one fell swoop nor just raising taxes.  We're in for a slog.

That's what we want!  A plan.  Laid out in simple terms we can understand. With steps to be taken and a time table.  It's not that there aren't any already out there but special interests and ideaology have swept them under the rug.

We really need moderates on both sides of the aisle.  They are out there too but they're not getting the press they should.  So far the internet and third party efforts aren't making headlines either.

So what do we do?  Well, as fruitless as it is, I'll keep blogging.  I know, I hear the collective groan.  The rest of you malcontents, and I mean that as a compliment, need to step up to the plate and demand answers that aren't being given to questions that aren't being asked.  While you're at it, look over the candidates and figure out who cares more about the country than party or power.  And vote for them!

Beating A Dead Horse

Gadhafi was a monster, pure and simple.  He was responsible for untold atrocities against his own people.  Some say he was stark raving mad.  Could be.  It could also be a lame attempt to lay blame on illness rather than character.

Now he's dead.  Good riddance though who knows what sort of government will take his place.  For the sake of the people of Libya I hope it's a fair and just one.  I doubt it will be what we would like, but the choice belongs to the people of Libya.

Just as did the uprising that deposed him.  The people began it with a citizen protest.  NATO entered the frey reluctantly and the U.S. even more so.  Others stayed away all together.

So why are we bothering to posture at this point as to how he died and if it was "legal".  Legal?  Was what he did to his people legal?

Putin, that champion of human rights, has entered his protest as to the means of his demise.  Now Hillary Clinton  says she supports a UN proposal to investigate Gadhafi's death so a "democratic Libya" can begin with the rule of law and accountability.  Please.

You've seen the video of his last moments, right?  His captors were a band of rag tag citizen soldiers who upon finding him unleashed their rage.  Was he caught in cross fire or assassinated?  It will never be known for certain and the hand that dealt the final blow will never be identified.  So be it.

I do not agree with Clinton that investigating his death is part of the process of unity and reconciliation.  What's to investigate?

Unity and reconciliation will be no more easy for the Libyans than it is for the Egyptians and the Tunisians.  Should the people of Syria prevail, they too will face the same unrest in the aftermath.  Such is the way in countries where religion and politics are co-mingled with all fighting for dominance.

He's dead.  That chapter has been closed.  Let it be.  Don't try to take any more credit where credit is not due.  Move on to matters that are really pressing.  Our national security for one and Iran for another.

If the administration tries to ride to re-election on the back of a posturing donkey they may end up looking like it's tail end.

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.