Has Putin Over Reached Once Too Often?

My, oh my.  We've watched this man make mince meat of Obama over the past several years.  Each time you could see the smirk broaden and the swagger get more pronounced.

He and his allies - Iran, China, Syria and North Korea were truly enjoying themselves. But as happens with a lot of bullies, they get over confident and suddenly everything around them collapses.

I'm wondering if this is the case with the downing of the Malaysian passenger jet. With the death of so may people having no part in his fun and games, it's a huge oops. You'd think he'd have taught his thugs how to properly use their new toys. Another sign of over confidence?

Maybe some good will come out of it.  Sure, our president has stated his indignation and demanded Vlad stop supplying his rebels in Ukraine with weapons.  Like every one of late, he'll ignore it.  But now the rest of the world has to stand up and let their outrage be known.  It isn't easy for them to do  without the U.S. leading the way.  We've been the leader for so long they don't  know how to do anything but follow.  That used to be the power of America and we used it for good, not entertainment or expansionist dreams.

The question that remains is whether or not they will.  Will they be smart enough to join in economic sanctions strong enough to really hurt even if it causes them some temporary pain or will they continue to waffle?  They must remember the United States won't be there to help.  If they don't learn to cope without us their demise is only a matter of time.

It isn't hopeful.  With Kerry lecturing Israel on killing Palestinian civilians while they've done everything humanly possible to forewarn them of pending attacks, the world knows this man and the policies he stands for are out of touch with reality.

It does no good to lecture about how things are done in the 21st century while the world is still mired in the 20th.  When it comes to foreign policy it would seem we're the only country in the 21st century and we certainly haven't been effective in bringing the rest along. Maybe they realize that to go along to get along isn't really a policy no matter what century.  It's appeasement.

They need leadership, not lectures.  There is a difference.

If Only It WERE The Heat!

What a day.  A passenger plane has been shot down over Ukraine uncomfortably close to the Russian border.

Hamas reneged on the humanitarian cease fire so Israel launched their ground offensive.

Children still pour across the border while Congress dithers. It's now being reported parents are giving them birth control in case they are raped during the journey.

Along that line former member of Congress, Todd Aiken, who once talked about legitimate rape and the idea that women's bodies protected them from becoming pregnant in such circumstances now seems to proudly announce that some of his staff were conceived by rape.  Whoa!  It can't be both ways can it?  You know, this guy really gives me the creeps.

And speaking of creeps there is al Assad sworn in as president of Syria for another seven years.  I'm not sure just what he's president of any more.  His population is rapidly disappearing.

Back to the plane crash where some 20+ Americans were reportedly on board.  Was the missile launched by the insurgents within Ukraine or from Russia?  Let Putin explain that one away.  When gathered, the radar tapes in the region will tell the story.

If only there was a cooler head to prevail!  Oops.  I guess there is.  Our president.  Mr. Cool. Where's he?  Out fund raising among his adoring minions.  At least he isn't on the golf course.  Yet.

Hannity's Histrionics

For a person who doesn't have much faith in the intellect of pundits, I wonder why I watch them so often.  I wonder even more why the cable outlets and networks that employ them don't take more care in who they hire.

Many of them get on crusades that bear no resemblance to reality.  Sean Hannity is one of the most prominent. The night before last  he was on his Bowe Bergdahl kick demanding to know why he was returned to active duty and incensed that none of Bergdahl's platoon members had yet been interviewed regarding his walking away from his post.

Do you suppose it's because the general in charge of the investigation hasn't gotten to that point? He ranted to the mother of a soldier who died while searching for Bergdahl wondering if she was incensed as he.

Both the platoon member he interviewed and the mother of the dead soldier hedged their answers.  Sometimes I wonder how they allow themselves to be sucked into interviews with those like Hannity.

According to retired general Robert Scales everything that has been done with Bergdahl has been according to the book.  The investigation is a totally different activity.

So why shouldn't Bergdahl be returned to duty?  He is still an active member of the military and as of now no charges have been filed.

Yes, there have been many accusations, differing opinions on what charges might be as well as appropriate punishment.  As far as I know even soldiers are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Alarmists like Hannity would do well to keep their mouths shut until the facts are known.  Speculation is a disservice to everyone, especially those who listen to such and take it as gospel. Trying to influence opinion out of ignorance is worse.

FOX moved his time slot once.  They might consider doing it again.  Like maybe off the air!

Do Actions Speak Louder Than Words?

If the President could run away from the border mess any faster I'm sure he would. It's being said it's because being seen in the setting of kids crammed into confined spaces with their scabies and lice would reflect badly on him.  It could even be his Katrina.  Well, maybe.  But who's fault is that?

It goes to show his handlers aren't as smart as they think they are.  For one, drinking beer and shooting pool in Colorado, a state where pot is legal by state law even though it's not according to Federal law, is bad optics while his people (we citizens) are up in arms over the invasion of carpet crawlers just a few hundred miles away.

So is it when he turns up where there are natural disasters like super storm Sandy or the massive land slides in Washington.  Another state where pot is now legal by state law by the way.  All he does is hold up search and rescue efforts for the sake of a photo op. His handlers must think it shows him as caring and compassionate.  No.  It's just a photo opt.  He'd much rather be downing a few brews or shooting hoops or playing golf.  

Maybe he won't go to the border to see first hand the plight of the communities as well as the children because he's heard one should never do scenes with dogs or kids.  They'll upstage you every time. We couldn't have that.

Or it could be he really doesn't care all that much other than that it has become a political inconvenience.  There's only so much one can do to put it out of sight and mind.  I guess having  a few brews while shooting pool is as good a way as any.

The Kids Always Went Home

Watching the immigration mess going full bore brought to mind a lot of things that have involved children from other nations.  The first thing that comes to mind is the Disney song It's a Small World After All that speaks to all we have in common. Hopes, dreams, all the warm fuzzy stuff.

We've had exchange student programs where a student from another country lives with a local family to learn not only academics but what life in American and Americans themselves are all about.  We've had situations where children from war torn countries have come for a summer as a respite or have come for medical help they can't get in their own country. But always, the youngsters have returned home.

Now we're being inundated with children from and crime ridden countries who are told they'll not have to return.  But it's a horrible picture, really.  Not full of hope and dreams but survival. Survival of a journey conducted by criminals wrought with criminal activity including rape.  I'd like to see documentation of the conditions endured during the journey from central America through Mexico where their entry is supposedly criminal from the get go.

Then we're told they'll be dispersed to live with relatives already here.  Really?  Why aren't they required to prove their identity and pick up their relatives in person?  Could it be they are also in this country illegally? If at all.  Remember we're talking about tens of thousands of children here!

It makes me think there may be some legitimacy to the idea our President is systematically trying to destroy our country. He's doing a pretty good job of it.  No one holds us in esteem any more.  Our economy is still shaky at best.  He won't secure our defined borders.  He pits segments of the population against one another.  You read the headlines and they're filled with hate.  Really.  Hate.

There has long been a hue and cry about how we should not be the world's policemen.  Those who feel that way have gotten their wish and look at the results.  Now we're becoming the world's baby sitter.  Sure it's starting in a regionalized manner, but that's easily changed.  People from other countries can simply come through Central America.  It's thought, if not verified, that it is already happening.

In a perverse way of thinking, if this continues we'll slowly slide into a true third world country.  The president wants billions to fix a problem that is becoming a drain on the very economy that is to finance it.

We're not opening our doors to the best and the brightest.  We're opening it to the defenseless, sick and uneducated and are expected to care for them.

The Statue of Liberty welcomes immigrants to our shores with this ~ “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” It was for people who dreamed of a better life willing to come legally, willing to work for that life.  It wasn't meant for thugs to dump kids who know no better into a strange land and life without any survival skills what-so-ever.

What is the government thinking with their pussy footing around the issue?  What possibly good end can come from the current situation? It's a travesty of monumental proportions!