Random Thoughts

I got sidetracked as I was beginning to prepare for this post.  I could not find a group photo of the expected Republican candidates that included Carly Fiorina! That irked me to a degree.

Wow, look at all those people. For the Democrats, there is of course only one no matter how tarnished.  Wishful thinkers, however, are hoping at least one or two of the others get in the race.  There is one I would actually consider voting for.  Strongly.  Jim Webb.  No one else thinks he would have much of a chance but I am never sure the pundits who make such pronouncements are really all that savvy.

The Republicans are getting the most attention at the moment if you discount the Clinton scandals.  The talk seems to be mostly about their coming out parties.  Bashes.  Lots of supporters and cheering in a filled hall of appropriate dimensions.  Except for the only woman, Ms. Florina, who plans a low key on line announcement much like Hillary's though she's made it perfectly clear she's in.

The major thing lacking in all of the hoopla is talk of positions and policy.  I'm uncomfortable with broad strokes of the brush.  Always a lot of words with little actually being said.

One thing Carly Fiorina has said is that she'd reinstitute the missile defense system in eastern Europe that Obama killed and that she would rebuild the 6th fleet. Both strong defensive moves meant to forewarn the likes of Putin that someone new and strong is in charge.

One of the criticisms about her is she's never held elective office.  My thought on that is the ones who have aren't doing such a great job themselves. She'll be interesting to watch.

True, it's early.  Very early. But since everyone is throwing their hat in early I'd like to see them defining their positions rather than their campaign strategies. We all know their all going to be dirty at some point in time anyway.

Well, Carly and Ben Carson are due in May 4th and the rest will straggle in as time and money raising potential proves appropriate.

In the meantime, if we get bored, we can pay attention to the nuclear talks with Iran or the nuclear meltdown of the Clinton empire.

What If?

Boy oh boy.  We've sent an aircraft carrier and accompanying ships to Yemen.  First it was announced that they would prevent Iranian ships from unloading weapons for the Houthi rebels.  No sooner had the ink dried on that one it was announced that no, we were just there to keep the shipping channels open.

Now the Iranians have sent a fleet of their own war ships to the area while announcing that the U.S. is a threat to them.  To say the least things are getting a bit tense.

This is what happens when someone who thinks he is all knowing tries to play all sides against one another. So what will happen if the Americans make a perceived misstep and the Iranians take umbrage to it? Will they fire on the American vessels? Would Obama allow the Americans to fire back?

What a dilemma.  All for the sake of reaching a non-agreement over Iran getting a nuclear bomb. Non-agreement?  Well, since we don't know what's in it or even what's supposed to be in it, how can it be called an agreement? They call it a frame work but it isn't even that.  The last word from Iran was the sanctions had to be lifted immediately.  Obama seems to have no problem with that and is rumored to have promised them a $50 billion bonus if they'll just sign the damn agreement!  Yep.  $50 billion.  The State Department won't deny it.

And it's still not an agreement because we get absolutely nothing in return for allowing Iran to continue enriching uranium and handsomely enhancing their economy to boot!  Does Obama really think this is going to cement his legacy as the great mediator between Iran and the rest of the world?

Personally, since I'm becoming a conspiracy theorist, I think Iran already has all it needs to put together their bomb.  I also suspect that John Kerry is doing this in hopes of getting it signed sealed and delivered so he can run against Hillary claiming he did what she couldn't.  Not that even she would want to.

I can figure no other reason why a man who has been in government as long as Kerry would go along with this debacle of a foreign policy summoned up by a delusional president.  Its a huge gamble on his part for if it fails so will he.  It isn't how he envisions going down in history, I guarantee.

I'm almost afraid to wrap this up to go tune on tonight's news. What will we have given away today? Other than what's left of our sanity.

Hanging Out To Dry

Every time I've read the headlines over the past several weeks, I've left so saddened that I haven't been able to put it to post.

I'm well aware the country is undergoing great change.  It happens when you're a couple of generations beyond the current one.  Some of the change is good.  Too much, from my perspective, is not.

I'm ambivalent about gay marriage and really gays in general until they want one protection too many and it hurts those who have a right to their own staunch beliefs.

I used to be ambivalent about pot.  I had no problem with it being used for medicinal purposes but this push for national legalization worries me.  Just look at some the pot heads being interviewed by the media.  Do we really want them to become the norm?

Right to life is a tough one.  I believe there are good reasons for abortions as well as too many using it to end a mistake.  It needs to be more than all or nothing. And it is the law of the land.  Since the law hasn't been changed your Congress hasn't gotten your message.  Could not enough be sending said message? It should not be a litmus test for politicians for that reason alone.  It is the law.

War.  I've made no bones about the fact I hate it.  Yet at times it's necessary.  It is now with the entire middle east and more going up in flames. This brings me to what troubles me most and I don't think it has a thing to do with my generation.

I never in my life thought I'd see one man completely change the wonder that is America to being something totally disrespected by the world. Without the complicity of the people. A man who has stretched the rules to the breaking point and beyond for a vision he himself harbors with the aid of underlings who feel their momentary hold on power is worth it. I haven't lost respect for our country but I certainly have for our President and his administration.  Congress doesn't get off either. They are too busy dithering about their own self interests to have any inclination of reining him in.

That brings me to wonder, with all that's happening, how a woman like Hillary Clinton can muster so much loyalty.  It certainly must be blind loyalty because if those supporters could see they'd see she is not Presidential material. It's not about her experience though I don't think her tenure in any pursuit was enough to give her bona fides. It's about her character and that of those with whom she'd surround herself.

Should she be elected I fear we would see an administration far more corrupt and incompetent than this one if that's possible.  In the Clinton's lust for power and money it is the country that will pay the price.

Could the country stand four or eight more years of such dysfunction? Of course it would survive, but as what? Now it is generational.  It wouldn't even remotely resemble the country in which I grew up and cherished for the better part of my life.  The last decade has altered it completely.  And yes.  It began with George W. Bush and the very bad advice he chose to follow.

I wish sad covered it.  Try discouraged, dismayed and distraught.

Marco

I watched Marco Rubio's announcement yesterday and found it to be somewhat more inspiring that Hillary Clinton's on Sunday.  He at least said something.

I noticed two things about him, other than he's a bit hyper when speaking. He didn't get into social issues and he seemed to know his subject matter.

It's said his youthful looks will be a deterrent.  They shouldn't be any more than Hillary's looks should be when she needs a botox fix. What matters is the candidates view of the issues and even what those issues are. Rubio seemed on track with my views.

You know what I really liked?  He has a sense of sincerity about him that seems authentic.  When he talks of his modest upbringing and the tremendous opportunities he's had in his life he sounds somewhat awed that what he's been able to achieve is really true.  Rather like Jordan Spieth getting used to having won the Masters on Sunday at the tender age of 21.  Was he too young to win?  Were his clean cut good looks a detriment to him?

Of course not.  He worked hard to develop the skills and the nerves of steel to accomplish the feat.  Why not the same for Marco Rubio?

It's said we've tried a one term Senator before and look how that's turned out. I don't think it's the time as Senator that matters nearly as much as what he's done before and how well.  Has he done his homework?  Does he understand the gravity of what the country is facing?  Does he have solutions?

He was truthful in saying not much is going to change until Obama is out of office. He repeated it time and again and I hope those listening understand just that. What will change after that depends on who we put into office.

Watching the candidates at their kickoffs is fun.  Everyone is hyped. Everything is rosy and they have the world at their feet.  It will for most of them be the best day of their campaigns.

I look forward to watching all of them as they take this step. Do they actually start off saying something of substance or is it all political puffery.  I want to watch them, listen to them, hear the inflection in their voices.  I like campaigning the old fashioned way.

I don't give a tweet about having social media fill the gaps on You Tube or Facebook. I want the candidates to flesh out themselves. After all I'll be voting for flesh and blood, not a 140 word sound bite.

Hillary

So we're now supposed to address Mrs. Clinton as Madam Secretary or Senator when referring to her.  No more Hillary.

Personally I would think she'd like Hillary.  After all it puts her in league with Oprah, Madonna or Cher.  Personalities so famous in their own right no last name is needed.

What?  It isn't respectful enough? After all she's running for President, not just a show biz personality.  Huh.  Hillary it is for me and always will be.

How can you take seriously a person who is going to announce her candidacy by Twitter?  Please.  What are we devolving to?  Is she going to be a stealth campaigner just as she has been a stealth pre-campaigner tease?

Is she going to make all her views on policy in tweets?  140 words?  Boy, that would really be laying out well defined positions.

Okay.  Whatever.  I don't want to see Hillary Clinton as President. Period. Because she doesn't deserve it and being a woman isn't enough.  We gave one inexperienced candidate the benefit of huge doubts and look at what we have.  I don't want to see a trend of overlooking doubts as the way we choose our candidates.  I want their positions to be clear, truthful and what the candidate actually believes, not what a cast of 200 or more tells  them. Whether you agree or not at least there would be no doubt where they stand.

We've also spent the last 6+ years with a President who is loose with the truth.  Do we want that again? I don't and I see no proof  from Mrs. Clinton that her truthfulness scale is any higher than Obama's.  Truth as expedience should not be a position.

C'mon O'Malley, Webb, Cuomo and the rest of you who think you should bow to Hillary's mandate that you not run against her. She deserves the challenge you would give her and so does your country.  I'd like to rely on the Republicans to know how to play the hand given them but so far I don't see evidence of that as a possibility.  Sad but true.  Maybe they'll surprise me.

Would I like to see a woman President?  Why not?  But there are far more important things necessary to be Presidential material.  Being a woman isn't one any more than being black was for Obama.  It worked for him in his community.  I hope woman aren't as biased and realize that this is not the time for a woman if it isn't the right woman.

Hillary isn't.  Trust me on that.  You sure can't trust her.