An Elephant in the Room

There is an elephant in the room and it's not a Republican. It's a nation. Ukraine.

I would have thought, at one time, the United States would have been the last country in the world to not stand by the Ukrainian people. That hasn't been true for longer than I care to remember.

We seem to always be the last ones to arrive at the party if we show up at all. I won't bother going all the way back in history. Let's just go back to Chechnya when the Russians were making short order of them.

We did nothing. Or maybe more in recent memory, Syria, when Russia was dropping chemicals on civilians. We did nothing.  Or most recently in Afghanistan where hundreds if not thousands of Americans and our allies were deserted behind enemy lines. We did nothing. 

 So here we are watching the slaughter of Ukrainian civilians.  What are we doing? Little more than nothing.  Well, we are wringing our hands, fearing we might offend Putin and that might lead to an even bigger and bloodier war.  How much more bloody can it get?

Yes.  I am an angry, disgusted, old lady who has been listening to those cursed sound bites again. But there is truth to a great many of them.

About that elephant. It's said elephants never forget. I don't know if that's true or not, but let's assume for the sake of argument that it is. Our government is not the elephant, or if it is, it's the poorest excuse for one there could be. No. The ones who will never forget the U.S. wasn't there for them this time are the Ukrainians. Maybe, too, the reason why the lion of peace in Europe, NATO, hasn't been instilled with courage from the Wizard is that they have no faith we would be there for them, either, should the need arise.

They're good at hand ringing, we're good at hand wringing and we're all in the same room.  Right there with that elephant. 

Somehow I don't see our stellar Vice President going to Poland bolstering their confidence in the United States at all. I'd consider it an insult that the U.S. would send someone so feckless.

Elephants are a herd animal. They have family units that warm your heart, they're exploited by the stronger and more sinister among us - they're very much like we, the people. An awful lot of us are in that room with the Ukranians and we will not forget. At least I hope we won't. I know I won't.

The Ball and Chain of Fear

 Which of these figures best reflects the United States of America. The one on the right if you're considering the people.  The one on the left if you're considering our leadership.

I don't know how our leaders can look themselves in the mirror and feel the virtue they spout while millions are dying in Ukraine. I am so tired of hearing we can't do more for fear of starting WW III. What sort of world do we have now when political self-interest trumps doing what's right. I've been witness to too many wars since instant transmission of images has become the norm.  No tape delay.  Live-action, happening now.

Most recently was Afghanistan. Now it's Ukraine. If I hear a pundit telling a Ukrainian  that a no-fly zone can't be set up because it could lead to WWIII one more time I think I'll scream. First, it's not for a pundit to say.  Plus, I think "could" is the keyword here. Does Russia really want to deal with the aftermath of a nuclear war?  Or China? I should think no more so than we or the rest of the world.

Do we so lack confidence in our ability to prevail that we're willing to let Russia annihilate one more country on his March to the Atlantic? Why do we allow faulty policy justify continuing to buy oil from Russia as the war in Ukraine rages? Why do we insist on funding Russia's war effort?

What kind of people are these who supposedly run the free world? We know the kind who run Russia and China.  I never thought I'd equate ours with them.

I live, as do most of us, in a world of sound bites.  We hear that Ukraine is a corrupt nation. It was at one time to be sure.  Just look at Hunter Biden's dealings with them and the enrichment of the Biden family that followed. Is it still true? Perhaps to a degree.  I don't know. They do have a different president.  One who is standing with his people. To the people of Ukraine he is their rallying point and a reflection of their resolve. 

On that point, finger pointing would be like the pot calling the kettle black. There is way too much corruption in today's politics. No matter where. But it's the people who suffer through no fault of their own other than country of birth. Especially in the grasp of dictatorships where they have no say in government.

It isn't supposed to be like that here.  We do bear a great deal of responsibility for what happens because we put these people into their positions of power. 

The Ukrarian people don't have a lot of time to overcome without substantial help from the rest of the world. We do. We have elections coming up in a few short months.  We can't throw all the bums out in one fell swoop, but we sure as heck can start. Lest we find ourselves at the mercy of cruel dictators on our own soil, let's hope we do.

Hapless Measures - Are We Really Expected to be Proud?

 I don't know how much of the State of the Union I will be able to bear this evening. I do not like Joe Biden.  Not as a man nor as a politician.

He and his administration has done more to undo this country in one year than anyone I can remember - he even beats Jimmy Carter. 

Funny.  I didn't dislike Jimmy Carter. He was and is a good and decent man - though brother Billy didn't quite live up to the standard. He just wasn't a strong president.

I'm getting off-topic. What I'm hearing in advance of the big speech is a lot of mixed messaging. We cannot support a no-fly zone for Ukraine because Putin is a nuclear power.  This really bothers me.  I don't have an answer other than to give the Ukrainians some of our excess aircraft that are sitting mothballed in the middle of the desert.  They are perfectly capable of flying them. At least it would help even the odds.

What worries me more is that we're allowing independent countries to be destroyed because we're afraid of one mad man with nukes. That's a legitimate fear but should it be the case? I think not. Surely he must know if he'd use such weaponry he'd be on the receiving end of exactly what he's using as a threat to alliances around the world.  He'd be the one being annihilated. It would be horrible for the Russian people, just as what he is doing, even without nukes, to the Ukrainian people.

I hate war.  I have no respect for those who wage it.  I have even less respect for those who take half measures in full throat defending a hapless effort to thwart aggression. Save the banks that process the funding of the oil we're still buying from Russia. Sanction the others. Keep your back turned on our own abilities to produce not only the energy we need but enough for a large part of the world, especially our allies.  Such as they are. At least they're not wringing their hands waiting for us to re-emerge as a leader. I applaud them.

Hapless does not make for strong alliances.  No matter who is involved. We'll see what shakes out after tonight.  In the meantime, Ukraine, stay strong.

It's Time for You to Go!

 I was surfing around late yesterday to see what was happening in Ukraine when I came across Donald Trump holding forth at CPAC.

I wish I hadn't. One thing for sure, he hasn't changed except for being a bit more overweight and having a bit more scalp showing through his hair.  Other than that, he doesn't seem to have changed a bit.  Everything that's wonderful with the country is because of him and everything that isn't is due to the stupid people who oppose him.

Do you have any idea how old this has become? He's still on the kick the election was stolen.  He's still on the kick that he 'understands' and admires Putin. Whew.  What a time to be expounding on that theme!

To my way of thinking, the dumb in the room was him! I'd like to think it would so upset the Republicans, they'd take him aside and tell him the party is over - and over him! Yet, I doubt that will happen. For some reason, people still seem to fear him. Oh sure, he can be nasty and can belittle you, but whatever happened to the old defense mechanism from when I was a kid? "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." Ha. 

He did have some policies I agreed with.  He had many I did not agree with. His management style was chaotic. So where are the pluses in him running again? I can't find one.  Not a single one.

He's old. He's boorish and divisive. Perhaps the biggest minus of all is that he would be a lame-duck from the day he takes office because he's already served a term.

I'm sure there are some good Republicans testing the waters. Hopefully, there are also some Democrats who are willing to quit the lockstep routine with their leadership and step forward.

Only time will tell.  I can only be cautiously optimistic, but I for one would sure like to see a whole lot of new faces on the political scene.  Ones who reflect a love for our country and a determination to right the wrongs we've been made to endure because of personal or party agendas.

There was a time when the goal was what's best for the country and let's work out the best way to get there.  A little from one side, a little from the other, and a huge willingness to compromise. That was way back when we were truly the leaders of the free world. Does anyone besides me remember?

War. Why?

 This is one heck of a time to return to my blog. 

Just as I was allowing myself to think things in the world were getting better, with the downward trend of Covid and the politics beginning to bite those who put those politics above our collective well-being,  we are watching a brutal and senseless war.

If there was ever a time to think new generations of leadership are called for, it should be now. Especially in this country where those who hold the most power are my age or older.  I'd like to think I'm still pretty able and that my mind is relatively intact.  That being said, I still find myself wondering why I opened the pantry or where I left my car keys. I am rash enough to know that if I had ever had the mental acuity to run a country, I no longer do.  Nor do those who are currently in power. I'm sorry, but there comes a time when one should gracefully retire from the headiness of power and go enjoy your grandkids. Of course, it's not the nature of such a beast.

Then we look at Mr. Putin.  He's 69, so he's getting up there.  It seems he's living in a different age.  War is abhorrent to most of the world. Especially a shooting war such as he has now undertaken in Ukraine.  There are so many more sophisticated ways to bend wills this day and age other than to destroy an entire population who wanted no part of it to begin with.

So where are we in this conflict?  Granted, there is a lot I don't know, but it would appear we're sitting on the sideline while the rest of the world is making an effort to stop this bloodshed before it worsens. Where once we would be leading, we're not even following.  At least not with much vigor.

There are exceptions to the youth as leadership rules of course.  Justin Trudeau is a good example of this. I see the same fault lines with the far left progressives in this country who aren't even old enough to be president dictating much of the narrative.

I don't know how much this concerns friends who are my peers.  I don't really discuss it.  I try to spend my time pursuing things that make me happy.  Slobbers and his stories.  Photography. The simple things I enjoy that make life worth living. Then I turn on the news and there is nothing but doom and gloom of one type or another. Our own border issues, rampaging drug issues, inflation, and the unnecessary causes of it. It's depressing, to say the least.

I had hoped shooting wars were pretty much a thing of the past after our dismally conducted departure from Afghanistan, but of course, I was wrong. There will always be those who think the sword is mightier than the pen. 

I for one, however, will always choose the pen. Until I'm canceled. With a bit of luck, if that should happen, I hope it's by a power mightier than social media.