The Militia Is Coming, The Militia Is Coming!

That's all we need! News has it a call has gone out for militia, both unarmed and armed, to gather along the border to help private land owners protect their property in something called Operation Save Our Borders.  Terrific!

Remember how well it went when militia turned out to help to  help Cliven Bundy in his fight over Federal grazing rights in Nevada?  It came within a hair's breadth of turning violent.

I really feel for the border towns who are the first line of defense in this skirmish against illegals.  They're literally out manned by sheer numbers not to mention problems involving crime and disease. It has gotten to the point where the government has sent buses to pick them up as they cross because Border Patrol vehicles can no longer manage the overload.

Interior towns where the government is trying to board them are also feeling the onslaught.  Now understand, no one wants any more harm to befall the kids than what they've already been through, but when it gets to the point of affecting our towns, their budgets and their citizens it's time to take swift and decisive action.

I have two suggestions.  Congress is dragging its feet on immigration reform.  The one thing they would appear to agree on is we must have a secure border.  Pass legislation so stating, send it to the Senate and let Harry Reid sit on it if he will, but pass it. Make it simple and doable within a specified time frame.  It won't solve the immediate problem but at least no one can then accuse the Republican House of doing nothing.

Suggestion number two is another Dogwalk solution.  It's so simple, it's legal and imminently doable.  Since the buses are already at the border, load them up by country of origin, bus them to Washington D.C. and let them out on the Embassy grounds of their respective countries.  Let them figure out how to clothe them, feed them, cure their ills ~ and send them home.

Will Cheney Help Or Hurt The Republicans In The Mid-Terms?

Will the re-emergence of Dick Cheney help or hurt the Republicans in the mid-terms?  There is so much going on about which voters are rightfully incensed my guess he will have little impact.

I think it depends, however, on what happens in the middle east over the next couple of months. Those who believe it wouldn't be in the mess it is if it weren't for the Bush/Cheney policies and rush to war will be reminded of just that - the Bush/Cheney rush to war.

On the other hand, there is nothing this country did or could have done to quell the unrest between the Shiia and Sunnie and the minority religions that try to exist in the region.  It has been festering for centuries.

One argument is that had Saddam remained in power he would have kept his iron fist on the unrest.  By toppling him and putting in place a "democracy" was the regions undoing.  It has proven true across the region, not just Iraq.  Imposing what we think is the best way to govern on those who have never experienced it nor have a clue how to accomplish it is doomed to fail.

We can hardly lead by example today where we have a president seemingly intent to rule on his own without regard for the democratically elected representatives of the people.  This administration seems to mimic those in the mid-east rather than the other way around.  Who's learning from whom?

I admire Mr. Cheney's realistic grasp of what makes that part of the world tick.  But not unlike our current president, he also sees no gray in the way he feels others should think. His only advantage is clarity in his understanding, not necessarily the solution he championed at the time. That time has passed and all the backward looking will not change it. This President lacks the initial and all important understanding. Why?  Naivete.  Lack of interest. Inexperience. Plus the firm belief that he knows better than all the experts combined.  Not a combination of traits to encourage trust.

The accusations of war on women, minorities, the environment, etc. are all politically motivated means of distraction.  The real war is the one that threatens not only our security but that of the entire world is the one Mr. Cheney discusses. Right or wrong for having been part of our getting into it, he has a lot to say about where we are and where we should consider going.  We'd be foolish to let the past and political rhetoric dissuade us from listening.

So Sue Me

I often wonder these days how our country is going to survive the remainder of Obama's term.  Whether or not you agree with the Supreme Court decisions, they have been made never-the-less and the President has been slapped down on many occasions.  Sometimes unanimously.

So why, I wonder, has the President decided to continue his mantra of it's my way or the highway.  He complains endlessly about the Republicans refusal to work with him.  House Speaker Boehner explains one reason is they have no reason to trust that the President will enforce the laws they may pass. There is good reason for this. He doesn't enforce much of what is already on the books. Just look at immigration which is his latest rant.  Look at how he has changed the laws to suit his purposes, whatever they may be.  How in the world is allowing illegals to swarm our borders, taxing the border states as well as the Federal government going to help anyone?  Will it enhance the Hispanic vote?  I'm willing to bet not. What it will do is breed resentment.  It's already begun with demonstrators meeting bus loads of these people.  We'll be luck if violence doesn't ensue.

I'm thinking the Court's slap downs are too subtle.  This man needs to be hit over the head.  But then, deep inside I know he is doing what he does because he wants to.  Not because the Republicans won't cooperate.  It's because they would like to tweak some of his ideas and he won't allow it.  So who isn't cooperating?

I have never seen a man so ill suited for the presidency as this man.  I've never seen a man so invested in himself above all else, especially his country.  It's chilling.  Now he stands before his hand picked audience and challenges the Republicans, "So sue me!"

Well, Mr.  Boehner, why don't you? While you're at it  can you make it a class action suit? Does it make you wonder that the Constitution has no measures for recourse against a President's dereliction of duty?  Consider the idea that they never thought the people would elect such a person.

The Supremes Join The Rest Of The Government In Baffling Me

There was a time when I thought the Supreme Court was to decide on the Constitutionality of an issue. It was always a mixed bag of opinions hammered out in private to reach a consensus.  They had nothing to fear because their appointments to the Court were for life.

Maybe it's the new think of younger generations that have me baffled.  For instance I don't see how they can reason that a corporation, no matter the size, equates with a person.  Corporations  are run by people to be sure, but as an entity have no life, no ability to think or reason, no feeling or any of the other senses, in a nutshell no life.  But I'm told they are the same.

It seems to me Obamacare has caused the problem on the pill issue but not for the reasons given.  When I was working, the company and indeed the insurance companies had a variety of policies from which I could choose.  There was actually a time when I didn't have to pay for child birth coverage after a hysterectomy or Viagra.  No more.  State insurance commissioners made such nonsense mandatory.  ACA regulators have carried on a bad practice.

The reporting on the Hobby Lobby issue is wrongly reported as being about contraception.  It's about abortion and the pills that cause it if in fact something actually happened! So it's really about abortion.  I understand the religion based feelings of the company owners but I see the need for definition and separation of personal beliefs and corporate necessity.

Having said that, what exactly does the SC decision mean?  Does it apply to only the abortion pills or contraceptives across the board should other 'closely' held corporations ask?  Maybe it was made clear but I haven't seen it.

As for the Illinois case on home care workers suddenly being considered a public sector dues paying employee when forced into caring for a family member who is aided by public funds shows the greediness of the public sector unions.  I'd rather they get rid of all unions.  But then I'm not a union fan on any level.  They are a perfect example of over reach.

Did the SC solve the problem of those who want to opt out of union membership in all cases or does it apply only to those specific home health workers?  Again, I'm confused.  I don't see a clear cut answer.  Perhaps if I dug deeper I'd find it but basing a blog on information readily available in the main stream media I find such information lacking.

The only thing that seems clear is when the President tries to do something on his own and suddenly everyone in Congress is calling foul. Where were they beforehand?  Worrying about re-election so they can do more of nothing and collect fat salaries to boot. I don't always agree with his decisions and feel his problems stem from his attitude but I understand where he's coming from.

No wonder the country is in such haphazard condition.  It follows the trickle down theory doesn't it?  It seeps down from the top until the entire country is saturated with confusion. Why is the country seemingly frozen in its tracks?  Could this be why?

Immigration

Obama is on the verge of stealing the march on the Republicans on immigration.  The argument has been whether it should be one immense overhaul or done in increments.

We know the administration's track record on immense overhauls isn't very good.  We also know that the administration has quit enforcing laws already on the books which is partially responsible for the influx of children on our southern border. In other words a problem of Obama's own making.

You have to admit the President can be crafty.  In a fit of pique which is pretty normal for him, he's warned Congress he's going to make changes by executive order.  Take people posted inland and move them to the border to spiff up enforcement. Why he hasn't done this a long time ago begs to be questioned.

No matter.  He's saying he's going to do it now.  He might actually get away with it and emerge the hero if he doesn't overstep as he is wont to do.

So where are the Republicans?  They haven't passed one bill on immigration reform.  Boehner won't bring one to the floor.  Shades of Harry Reid in the Senate.  If he's worried about the Tea Party he can move on now.  The primaries are over.  But nary a word.  Of course between now and the election the House won't be in session long enough to do much of anything for which we can be grateful.

The don't have to do much though.  Pass one bill, say strengthening the southern border as Obama intends.  Send it to the Senate and see what happens.  Then they've at least done something.

Now that the primaries are over and the Tea Party threat has subsided to a degree, it would be nice to see the Republicans begin to form a cohesive unit.  The President is going to do what he wants  regardless, but they would do a lot to convince me they are worth fighting for if they gave me an option. On a whole slew of issues, not just immigration, but so far I have nothing but a blank slate.

As of now they're no more than empty suits earning substantial salaries with cushy benefits for doing little more than cowering behind empty rhetoric. They are nearly as impotent on domestic issues as Obama is on foreign ones.  That's no compliment for either side.