Valerie Jarrett - Power Behind The Throne

Is it possible we have a stealth presidency?  Someone other than the front man is actually calling the shots?  How's that for a conspiracy theory?  Or is it?

Just who is Valerie Jarrett?  She's Michelle's best friend and Obama's closest advisor.  She is the last one to leave the oval office after meetings, all of which she is privy.  She has dinner with them in the family quarters. She vacations with them.  She is his backbone. She is his Svengali without credentials.

Early on in Chicago she was one of a group who recognized Obama's potential and maneuvered his entry into Daly's political circles while she was fighting allegations of her own corruption.  Messy.

It is said she is the one who pushed Obamacare and Solyndra, was instrumental in forcing out Larry Summers and after he balked three times in fear of his political future if it failed,  convinced Obama to take out Bin Laden.  This is one powerful woman.

When bits and pieces of stories start oozing out of Washington, it's a good bet there is something to them.  The current buzz is that she's holding some sort of talks with Iran.  It will be interesting to watch this flesh out.  It also might explain a lot about Obama's mercurial policies around the Middle East.

Ms. Jarrett shares a common ground with Obama.  The mix of Muslim/Americanism and the intellectual and societal conflicts that seem to come with it.  She was born in Iran and though was only there for five years, obviously has maintained some very close ties.  If she didn't it seems unlikely that iranian.com would have named her "Iranian of the day" as recently as August, 2008.

I'd be interested in knowing just what her role concerning Iran is if indeed she has one.  I suspect where there's smoke there's fire.  It could be a plus I suppose though there is no evidence she is guided by nor responsible to anyone other than herself. Are we merely to "trust" Obama's judgement in utilizing this woman? In any vein including domestic issues?

No wonder Israel is nervous.  They know Obama has no taste for military action to keep nuclear arms out of Iran's hands. It appears at this point nothing we've put forward has been a deterrent.  Thus Israel's position.

If there is any substance to this story I'd be very concerned that our national security may well be in the hands of an unelected, unconfirmed confidant of the President who's greatest credential is being an advisor on subjects in which she has absolutely no background nor experience.

Something I'd Like To See - Pragmatism

There are four years ahead of us in which both political parties can redefine themselves and end the polarization within.  Both have factions within that are constantly tugging against one another. That would open the door to compromise which is the pragmatic way of solving our problems.

Somewhere there has to be some common ground on how to revitalize our economy.  It's not by spending money we don't have.  The money that is spent, or invested as Obama likes to say, needs to go toward viable, market ready solutions rather than nebulous dreams not ready for prime time.

The tax code does need to be reworked.  Taxing the rich will not raise the necessary revenue to do much of anything.  As presented it's more of a token punishment for success than an answer to any problems.  Raising the rates will more likely curb ambitions rather than raise them.  Closing loopholes and capping deductions is a more reasonable and less punishing approach.

Student loans have gotten prohibitively high because the cost of education has too.  It would be okay with me if professors were actually required to teach, requiring fewer assistants, thus costing less money.  This is simplistic, I know, but you get the gist. The loans should not be forgiven.  A loan is an obligation and obligations are to be honored. We can use a refresher course in honoring obligations.

Obamacare still needs reformed but I do not disagree with those who say some parts of it are good. Take another look.  Reform is not a dirty word.

Roe versus Wade is the law of the land.  Get over it.

I have no objection to same sex marriage, if they are afforded the same rights as marriage between a man and a woman. Why get hung up on semantics?  The point is having the same rights. It's a states issue and shouldn't be a litmus test for national office.

The Republicans need to learn how to state their position on social issues so as not to offend those who may mostly agree with their point of view on other issues but are put off by their 'holier than thou' posture.  We're not bad people because we don't subscribe to your religous beliefs.

There needs to be a reshaping of the electoral college so that a mere handful of states can no longer hold elections hostage regardless of the popular vote.

We need a defined foreign policy so the rest of the world knows where we stand.  If we are no longer willing to be a player, admit it.  We'll be sorry, but that's merely my opinion.  Albeit a strong one.

The media needs to take a long hard look at itself.  Are they to promote their self interests or keep the public informed of all sides of issues? They are failing miserably at being objective.  Even FOX who is the singular proponent of conservatism let their candidate down by focusing more on what he wasn't doing right in their opinion than what he was doing right.  You know the saying, "With friends like that who needs enemies?"  All sides could use some pundits who have a better grasp of reality than the Sean Hannities and Ed Schultzes, to name but a couple.

We as the electorate  also need to open ourselves to more than self interests and focus more on the country as a whole.  Ditto for Congress and the Presidency.

If we learn from the election just past we can mend much of what's broken before we have to totally reinvent ourselves. If you are of the school that nothing is broken so don't fix it, I hope you're in the minority.  Because our country is broken.  We can all contribute to fixing it though, if we give a little as well as take.  It's called being pragmatic.

Bad News For Joe

I cannot help but wonder how the human mind works.  The ballots have barely been counted and the sparring between the two parties continues at full speed.  The new term is still a couple  of months away and the mess of the one finishing up is getting worse by the minute.

David Petraeus has resigned because of an affair?  The Benghazi mess is still unexplained.  Iran is taking target practice at our drones and the President is getting ready to flit off to Myanmar while political bickering in the Northeast is preventing life from getting back to some semblance of normal.

Nothing unexpected.  I do wonder if anyone will have buyer's remorse before this term is over but knowing what I now know about the intellect of the American electorate, I doubt it.

Some things, however, pay no mind and merrily go on their way.  Pollsters. Public Policy Polling is already looking at 2016.  Please!  I had a look anyway and offer my thoughts.

Leading the pack are Hillary Clinton and Chris Christie.  Sorry Joe. You'll have to get rid of Hillary!

It's way too early in the game, but if the election were being held today, which the pundits love to say, this is how I see it.  Hillary is toast because of her involvement in the Benghazi affair.  One of her own was murdered and they have yet to get a story they can agree on as to how and why it happened. She took responsibility early on and now owns it.

Chris Christie is toast not only because of his weight being a potential health issue but because of his cozying up with Obama.  When he personally congratulates the President on the phone yet commiserates with his own candidate by e-mail one could question where his loyalty lies and his judgement.

Actually this is kind of fun because it doesn't mean a thing.  2016 is a long way off.  Some  who showed well in this poll are people who've made it clear they aren't interested.  There are some surprises too, heartening to me, of those who were deemed unfavorable.  On the Republican side Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum.  Those folks are all considered 'true' conservatives which means social issues are foremost on their agendas.

On the Democratic side several want-to-be's trailed Biden including Andrew Cuomo, Elizabeth Warren and Deval Patrick.

It leaves me wondering if we're doomed before we even get to the gate!  One is already headed to Iowa for a fund raiser - Marco Rubio.  He might think twice about jumping the gun though.  I can remember candidates who practically lived in Iowa and literally failed in the first round.  Chris Dodd comes to mind.  Rick Santorum is another. Jon Huntsman tried it in New Hampshire.

Oh well, while I'm wiling away the unpredictable I might as well invest in some wishful thinking.  A Republican Party that finds itself or a totally new party for the likes of me and some new names who have not yet been contaminated by the hand of political expediency. I can dream, can't I? 

Past, Present and Future

Well, I'm back from my travels, and yes, Tommy, we did 'get out of dodge' because we couldn't take election politics anymore.

But, as you said, it's over now and I am back with a few thoughts.  I had hoped Romney could pull it out but am not surprised he didn't. Consider his history in that department.  He couldn't wrest the nomination from McCain four years ago.  Had he learned from that he may have won, but as so many do, he surrounded himself with loyalists who did not serve him well.  I think his Mormonism was the least of his problems.  More that he never learned to connect with the people and didn't define himself before the opposition did. People had no idea what he was about until it was too late and even then for whatever reason he let opportunities to get the upper hand slip through his fingers.

As for we voters, we're certainly a mixed bag.  There are those of us who tried to look at the complete range of issues.  We are a definite minority.  Too many voted on single issues but we've become, in many ways, a single issue nation.  For some it's getting something free like a cell phone.  Others forgiveness of student loans.  Free birth control. Each special interest group was wooed with some specific. We are supposedly the land of the free but I don't think this is what the founding fathers had in mind.

In many ways I think the Republicans gave the election to Obama rather than Obama winning it. They had a weak field and weak candidates.  They are a party divided and I see no sign of that changing.  what was left of the Republican Party I once believed in and belonged to died with the Romney candidacy.  Moderates are no longer welcome. If the ultra conservative wing continues to insinuate themselves into how people conducttheir private lives they will alienate me even further - if that's possible.  At this point there is no party to which I can belong.

As for the next four years I see little changing.  The Congressional Democrats are already swaggering and threatening and claiming a mandate.  I don't think so.  The election was too close for that to wash.  Everything is status quo which means a weaker and weaker economy, more people out of work and health care in chaos.

The lack of a foreign policy remains.  Our adversaries now know who will be at the helm  and that the military will be weakened by budget cuts.  Pair that with a President who sees things as he wants them to be rather than as they really are encourages those adversaries to do as they will. Our people overseas, both military and civilian, have good reason to wonder if our government has their back as well do our allies.  To ignor the implications of our foreign policy or lack thereof is done at peril.

To me there is much more to being a strong leader than having celebrity status, an adequet golf game and NBA stars to play hoops with.  It's more than bashing the opposition and pandering to special interests. It's more than photo ops with a Republican governor or seeming more like 'us'.  One should be expected to actually produce results.  It no longer matters what was 'inherited'. Under new ideas, Obama's, if they were working, things would not be barely holding steady or continuing to decline.

Whether or not I'll see things differently as Obama moves forward with his agenda depends on whether or not he and his people are willing to work with those who represent the other half of the nation - those who did not vote for him.  It would require a complete change of character for a man not known for being interested.

There Are No Super Heros, Only Flawed Mortals

This will be my last post until after the election.  My ballot has been cast and I'm headed out of the country.  I cannot leave without a few final thoughts.

If Mitt Romney should win, we really have no idea of what we'll be getting.  I am relatively sure he is for less government and regulation.  He does understand how America became great and how important the private sector, business, is to that end.  I believe he is a good man but I have no idea how strong he would be in the face of an uncooperative Congress.  Can he make good on what he's promised any more than Obama could?  It's hard to say since many of them were made for political expediency.  The same holds true for Obama.

If Obama should win I foresee a continuation of what we are currently facing.  A sluggish economy, a muddled foreign policy, bigger and bigger government and the diminished rights that come with it.  A debt that continues to grow though we're perilously close to our borrowing limit which will bring with it the slow and agonizing  process of shutting down.

I see Barack Obama as a caring husband and father.  I do not see him as a good President because of his unwillingness or inability to see beyond his own wants and beliefs, with which I mostly disagree. It has nothing to do with what he inherited.  In four years time there should be at least a modicum of progress.  Not the stalemate we have. But then I'm not really sure he wanted progress.  It curbs the need for massive government.

I voted for Obama four years ago.  I chose not to my homework but bought in to the hope and change mantra even when it was shown to be the antithesis of what I believed.  I believed he would be a better choice than McCain, Hillary or any of the others.  I wanted to believe in him and it was easy because he was an unknown.  I could create whatever I wanted and place it into that empty suit.

He has turned out not to be a super hero but merely a man.  He is flawed like all of us.  So is Mitt Romney, just a man. And flawed.

What their motivations for running happen to be is a good question.  What drives their teams to the lowest depths of deceit and decency is a good question.  If it isn't for the good of the country, is it merely for the power?  For their egos?  To complete their life's agenda? Whatever it is, I'm left feeling uncomfortable.  Because it seems more about them than us.

I wonder what manner of man allows such in their name because it does come down to the individual.  There was a time I thought America was better than this, but that was before I delved into the politics of politics.

I wonder how a country can be great when those elected come to office on promises they don't hold sacred nor, even if they did, have a reasonable chance of keeping.  I wonder how a country can be great when those elected are more interested in their own private agenda than ours.

I wonder how a country can be great when the world thinks less and less of it and its leaders won't acknowledge the truth of it and work to remedy it.

I wonder how a country can be great when its people and press turn a blind eye and deaf ear to it.

I'll be monitoring the results from afar,  reading the reactions of a foreign press.  It will be interesting to see if friends will be commiserating with us or congratulating us.  It's good, sometimes, to have a first hand look at how others perceive us.  What better time than next Wednesday?