The Political Commentator

When Reality Catches Up To Rhetoric

2010-01-05T05:59:00.001-05:00

December Deadline To Iran Has Come and Gone

Funny thing about deadlines. They eventually come and then some next step needs to be taken. Is is possible that President Obama thought that deadlines were like the rest of his empty rhetoric? Or maybe he thought that his media allies would let it go by without a mention (which they for the most part have).

In any event, we are now at January 4th, and by my thinking a plan should have been in place, ready to execute when the Iranians, as expected, laughed in our faces. But true to form, we are, at the time for plan execution, only now working on a response. Hillary Clinton is speaking with our partners for their opinions as if they have forgotten that we are the superpower who should be calling the shots. We are also leaving the door open for Iran to still comply in typical wishy-washy administration form.

Why would any sane man or woman expect the Iranians to cave to this invisible form of pressure. In fact, Iran has imposed it's own deadline for the United States to agree to an Iranian plan.

When will it finally dawn on President Obama that Iran's word doesn't matter, it's promises don't matter, it's people don't matter to the Iranian leaders, that diplomacy won't work, and that sanctions have not and will not work! That backing down on threats will only embolden them and show them how weak under this administration the United States has become. Why is all of this so obvious to everyone but the President?

What scares me the most in this national security/foreign policy charade, is that President Obama and his minions are who we are relying on for our well being. We all must hope and pray that there is actually someone in this administration who has got a clue, and the ability to have it heard and potentially implemented.

From Examiner.com

Obama Splashes and Swings While The Country Deals With Terrorism

2010-01-04T05:54:00.001-05:00

The Left Loves To Invoke George Bush: Not This Time

On Christmas Eve, a member of al-Qaeda attempted to bring down a flight with a powerful explosive in what was obvious to all at the time, except for the Obama administration, a suicide bombing operation. This attack on America, was not enough to cause the President to speak to the incident at that time, or to get back to Washington to deal with it. I suppose family time is just to precious to waste on those pesky commander-in-chief issues.

In typical Obama fashion, he finally gave a speech filled with great rhetoric and absolutely no urgency. He will meet sometime this week with his people to go over the incident and find potential scapegoats. Well, the left loves to show the pictures of President Bush after being told that terrorists had flown planes into the World Trade Center, why not pictures of Obama on the golf course or splashing in the ocean?

January 2nd, more than a week after the incident, President Obama spent the day, still in Hawaii, taking a private tour of Sea Life Park and then a day on the beach before ending with dinner at Lucy's Bar and Grill. The mainstream media continues to bemoan the fact that this was not much of a vacation due to all of the events going on around the world and particularly in this country.

Question On Reality and Perception

Question: With a gross failure of our nations intelligence, and a terrorist (al-Qaeda) attempt to bring down a plane over the United States thwarted only by sheer luck, why was the President still in Hawaii at all?

Isn't his place in Washington, if only to give the appearance of a concerned leader? Or is the picture below the image of a leader of a country dealing with a terrorist attack that he wants to portray?
Now the left will say that he was taking care of business while in Hawaii. That to fly home would have given some level of validation to al-Qaeda by showing how serious the government was reacting to it. Maybe that is exactly what is needed. To show the world that he may actually be a president not to be trifled with. That he has concerns beyond healthcare reform, such as protecting our country and making those who would do us harm pay.

President Bush was a decisive, concerned leader, like him or hate him. President Obama is anything but, with the country being set up to pay the price!

Examiner.com

Suspect in New Years Eve "van bomb" in Times Square scare arrested and arraigned

2010-01-02T06:58:00.002-05:00

Times Square Was Not The Right Place, And Definitely The Wrong Time

Days before New Years Eve, less than one week after the attempted suicide bombing of the Northwest Airlines flight into Detroit, the last place that a vendor should have thought to keep his van parked for an extended period, illegally, is at the epicenter for worldwide celebration, New York's Times Square.

George Freyre was arraigned on Friday after his van was discovered in a no parking zone, with no license plates and windows covered. He is charged with doctoring the expiration date on a temporary plate taped to the back window, and for the unlawful use of a police parking permit that was on the dashboard. If convicted, he could face up to 7 years in prison.

Beyond questioning the intelligence of the man who would leave a van parked in this location, the larger question is how it could have remained there unchecked and not towed away for as long as it did? Had it not been New Years, and had the owner had a more sinister plan, the result could have been far more tragic.

Someone, be it a tourist, or certainly a worker or store owner in the area, must have noticed this van and wondered why a suspicious looking vehicle was parked in a no parking zone for so long. This is a perfect example of the campaign of "if you see something, say something" not working at all.

It is up to us, the people, to play a role in our own protection, and not to just assume someone else will take care of it!

New York Homeland Security Examiner

Iran: Truth or consequences

2010-01-01T13:00:00.002-05:00

The Obama Deadline Has Been Reached; Time For Truth or Consequences

The Obama administration set a December 31, 2009 deadline for the Iranian government to come clean on its nuclear ambitions, and to agree to the plan of shipping uranium out of country for enrichment. Failing that, the United States has declared it stands ready to impose tough new sanctions.

Ineffectiveness Of Sanctions

It has already been proven that sanctions generate no leverage on Iran, as they are currently in the midst of violating all that are in effect now. The point though, is that should the U.S. fail to act at this point, it would be just one more indication to Iran and the world that the United States is a country that can be pushed around with little fear of any meaningful retribution. Other than a well worded speech that is.

Now that a forgettable year for President Obama is in the books, he owes it to himself, but more importantly the world, to begin to act as if he is the Commander-in-Chief of the worlds last remaining superpower. Which he is, but seems to resist the idea.

Our "allies" Russia and China have indicated that they don't see the need for economic sanctions, and should we decide to act it could very well need to be on a unilateral basis. This would fly in the face of everything that President Obama has stood for in his first year in office, so it is now time for him to step up and prove the critics wrong. Prove that he is the right man for the job. Prove that he is about more than just rhetoric. Prove that he is tough and that he wants America to win.

Prove that he is the President of the United States!

From the New York Homeland Security Examiner

President Obama is not instilling that warm and fuzzy feeling

2009-12-31T06:33:00.004-05:00

Who is Winning the War on Terror?
Dates	US/Allies	Terrorists
Dec 29	36%	30%
Dec 6-7	42%	28%
Oct 28-29	34%	29%
Sep 30-Oct 1	43%	25%
Aug 29-30	42%	25%
Aug 1-2	48%	21%
Jul 1	48%	19%
Jun 11-12	49%	22%
May 24-25	52%	18%
May 9 & 11	46%	25%
Apr 25-26	42%	28%
Apr 11-12	50%	22%
Mar 28-29	46%	19%
Mar 12-13	51%	21%
Feb 20-21	47%	23%
Feb 4-5	62%	14%
Jan 21-22	55%	18%
Jan 13-14	53%	17%
Jan 5-6, 2009	47%	23%
Dec 15-16	46%	24%
Dec 3-4	47%	27%
Nov 18-19	52%	20%
Nov 11	60%	15%
Nov 4	52%	19%
Oct 6	52%	19%
Sep 29	55%	21%
Sept 8	54%	20%
Sept 1	47%	20%
Aug 25	54%	19%
Aug 18	50%	19%
Aug 11	51%	20%
Aug 4	48%	21%
Jul 28	50%	21%
Jul 21	51%	16%
Jul 14	48%	20%
Jul 7	46%	23%
Jun 30	42%	26%
Jun 9	43	24
Jun 2	42	24
May 9-10	39	27
Apr 16-17	45	24
Mar 24-25	47	20
Feb 29-Mar 2	46	22
Feb 1-3	49	23
Jan 2-3, 2008	43	25
Jan 3-4, 2007	33	36
For history prior to January 2007, click here.

One Year In, The Overwhelming Focus On Matters Other Than National Security Leaves Us Less Safe Than Under President Bush

More popular as a country under this "leader" maybe, less feared perhaps and certainly not more safe. Viewed as weaker, as a caterer to all things left and an appeaser par excel lance. A great speechmaker, but not a great mover of world leaders to his point of view.

The direction and fate of the country is his now. No more of the crap about the country that he inherited. No more being able to place the failings of his administration at the door of the Bush administration. The intelligence gathering operation that led to a near tragedy over the skies of Detroit are courtesy of Mr. Obama, and his weak, inept, soft, misguided domesticentric (newly coined) administration.

While great speech early on helped to sway an American public more than willing to be swayed, that game is over. As the numbers below clearly show, after an early bump after inauguration due to popular belief that being more popular in the world would translate into being more secure, the American public feels less safe now than during the Bush administration. The statement made by Obama regarding the attempted plane bombing illustrates that he has no clear idea as to how to make the country a more secure place, and that as many knew during the campaign, he is in way over his head. And the United States will pay the price:

(NY Times) “...A systemic failure has occurred, and I consider that totally unacceptable,” Mr. Obama said.
He said he had ordered government agencies to give him a preliminary report on Thursday about what happened and added that he would “insist on accountability at every level,” although he did not elaborate..."

The accountability Mr. President, begins and ends with you. Not with government appointed scapegoats!

Who is Winning the War on Terror?
Dates
US/Allies
Terrorists
Dec 29
36%
30%
Dec 6-7
42%
28%
Oct 28-29
34%
29%
Sep 30-Oct 1
43%
25%
Aug 29-30
42%
25%
Aug 1-2
48%
21%
Jul 1
48%
19%
Jun 11-12
49%
22%
May 24-25
52%
18%
May 9 & 11
46%
25%
Apr 25-26
42%
28%
Apr 11-12
50%
22%
Mar 28-29
46%
19%
Mar 12-13
51%
21%
Feb 20-21
47%
23%
Feb 4-5
62%
14%
Jan 21-22
55%
18%
Jan 13-14
53%
17%
Jan 5-6, 2009
47%
23%
Dec 15-16
46%
24%
Dec 3-4
47%
27%
Nov 18-19
52%
20%
Nov 11
60%
15%
Nov 4
52%
19%
Oct 6
52%
19%
Sep 29
55%
21%
Sept 8
54%
20%
Sept 1
47%
20%
Aug 25
54%
19%
Aug 18
50%
19%
Aug 11
51%
20%
Aug 4
48%
21%
Jul 28
50%
21%
Jul 21
51%
16%
Jul 14
48%
20%
Jul 7
46%
23%
Jun 30
42%
26%
Jun 9
43
24
Jun 2
42
24
May 9-10
39
27
Apr 16-17
45
24
Mar 24-25
47
20
Feb 29-Mar 2
46
22
Feb 1-3
49
23
Jan 2-3, 2008
43
25
Jan 3-4, 2007
33
36
For history prior to January 2007, click here.

Article from New York Homeland Security at Examiner.com

Terrorism Can't Happen In My Backyard, Right?

2009-12-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

Can't Happen In The United States Anymore Because The War on Terror Has Been Won

At least that was the opinion of 61% of Americans who were polled just a couple of weeks before the botched Christmas attack on a Northwest Airlines flight into Detroit. Short memories, or out of sight out of mind is the American rule of thumb for crisis management. At least that is what the bad guys count on.

September 11 occurred a very short time ago, particularly in the timeframe utilized by our patient enemy. While we view a year or two of no incidents as "proof" that the war on terror has been won, this is merely hibernation by an enemy for whom time has no meaning.

Reading the papers or watching the news from around the world and seeing the bombings or planned bombings that were fortunately thwarted, the average American views it as if it was all happening in another galaxy. As if by some divine right we will be immune to the irrational hatred that the jihadist holds for anyone who does not share their beliefs or way of life.

Unfortunately the outlet for this hatred is the senseless killing and mutilation of innocent men, women and children whose only crime was to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, anywhere in the world.

It's Not Just Afghanistan We Need To Worry About

While Afghanistan and countries in the Gulf have been the source for much of the army of terrorists, there are unfortunately other sources as well. There are countries like Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen that open up new fronts in the war on terror. Poor countries that are prime incubators for the young men who are radicalized by their religious leaders and taught the ways of jihad. The internet is another conduit through which those out of physical range can still be indoctrinated. Then we have what may pose one of the greatest threats of all, the homegrown terrorists from the United States and Britain who are radicalized within their own countries, perhaps trained somewhere else, but who face none of the border restrictions that one from some of the afore mentioned countries might face when trying to re-enter their countries.

The Actual Greatest Threat

Perhaps though, what was mentioned before may not be the greatest threat of all, at least here in the United States. We have a two-headed threat, neither of which is a direct creator of violence. But both very dangerous.

First, is the perceived, though in reality real, weakness that is portrayed by Barack Obama. Countries and groups feel as if they can act with impunity, because all indications to this point seem to say that they are right. George Bush was not liked around the world, and not liked by many at home because he was viewed as somewhat of a loose cannon. In other words, the potential for his threats being carried out were real and feared. He spoke what was on his mind, and that included a strong United States, and a safe United States. He did the job key to a President. Protection of our country and our people.

George Bush was certainly not the best orator, but for some reason he was able to make his point crystal clear. Screw with the United States, and you will pay. Barack Obama on the other hand, is a fantastic speaker. The problem is that no one can be certain what it is that he is actually saying, or what his intentions are. He is not a strong leader, and the world knows this all too well from situations like his procrastination for weeks and weeks on a troops decision in Afghanistan.

The second threat comes from inside the United States, and it comes from some individual citizens, some legislators as well as from groups like the ACLU. The entire populace needs to gain the mentality that it is us against them, and that the them does not play by any rules.

President Obama, in one of his speeches, said that if we fight on the level of the enemy, then we are no better than the enemy. The actual point is that if we fight along the lines of the Geneva Convention, while our enemy follows no rules, we will be destined to lose! The aversion to things like racial profiling, body scanning at the airports, wire taps or any surveillance techniques that may push the envelope needs to be replaced by the understanding that this is for our survival against an enemy that will not quit until they reach their goal. Our destruction.

Amazing photo of the couple that was able to sneak into the White House

2009-12-29T09:16:00.001-05:00

Photo of the couple able to sneak into the White House with absolutely no credentials.

How did this happen?

The Airline Security System Worked In The Near Tragedy Over Detroit?

2009-12-28T07:17:00.001-05:00

So Goes The Thinking Of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

(AP) — WASHINGTON - "Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says investigators did not have enough information to keep a terror suspect from boarding a flight bound for Detroit and that the system worked as it should have..."

Only if by the system working she means that we were lucky that the trigger to the bomb malfunctioned. Beyond that not much had worked. Let's take a look at some of the red flags you might assume would have kept this man not only off of a flight bound for the United States, but any flights period.

The suicide bomber was on the terror watch list but not on the no-fly list
His father had warned the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria of the potential danger of his radicalized son
Intelligence determined the would be bomber had ties to al-Qaeda
The U.K. allegedly turned him down for a visa and the U.S. granted him one
He had no reservation
Paid cash for the ticket
He purchased a one-way ticket
He had no luggage

If this was a test of the system by the bad guys to see how inept and porous the system is, the world failed with flying colors!

You make the call.

President Obama: What A Difference A Year Makes

2009-12-28T04:00:00.003-05:00

A Look Back At The Year That Was

As I opined during the presidential elections and after, now President Obama was as they say in Lotto speak, elected on a dollar and a dream. The dollar was the record amount raised through an internet campaign for donations that worked to a T. The dream was experienced by all of the citizens that voted for him hoping that the allegations from the right were just that. The hope was that he was not just an inexperienced liberal senator who ran as the not-Bush candidate. All of his nicks and cuts, some rather large, were for the most part ignored by an electorate taken in by rhetoric and the smoothly spoken word.

Here we are, almost one year later, and this President is experiencing low approval from the country. A little buyers remorse you might say as the dissatisfaction with his performance comes from both the right and the left. As the polling data below shows, it has been a slippery slope down from the euphoria of inauguration time to where we sit today.

The lesson to be learned is that people need to be careful what they wish for, because CHAGE for CHANGE sake without really knowing what it is you are getting yourself into, can sometimes be as bad as the status quo.

It is now time for President Obama to set his agenda and priorities on what the country really needs at this point. True economic stimulus and jobs creation for all of the federal money that is being spent, as well as the strong national security that the country needs to have. As the cherry on top, perhaps a return to our standing as the worlds superpower.

Pakistani Christmas Reminiscent Of Kristallnacht

2009-12-25T08:03:00.002-05:00

A Key Ally In The War On Terror

In a country that is predominantly Muslim, what is the level of tolerance this Christmas season for the less than five percent of the population that is Catholic or Protestant. In the city of Gojra, Christians are now living in tent camps due to the rampaging mobs that in August rioted in the streets, looted their homes and burned those homes to the ground. Eight died, seven from one family.

This display of ethnic and religious hatred is reminiscent of the two days in November 1938, when in Germany Kristallnacht occurred, marking the beginning of Hitler's attempt to eradicate the Jewish population. Not only in Germany, but the Jewish faith period!

What is the government of Pakistan, one of our key allies in the war on terror going to do, or be willing to do, to stem the rising tide of extremist attacks on the non-Muslim citizens throughout the country? Not much, no doubt, as the governments hold on power is tenuous and slipping in this nuclear armed country. This, plus the fact that throughout the Pakistani government there are countless officials in agreement with the tactics that are being used.

Meanwhile, the celebration of Christmas in Pakistan will go on, but with the talk of "a special Christmas present" threatened by the same people that torched the homes in Gojra before hanging over it. While the police promise protection, this is not particularly comforting to the people as they say that the police stood by and did nothing during the first attack. In Islamabad, there is a muted celebration of Christmas in the Christian neighborhoods, with the authorities asking that any processions in other areas of the city be kept to a minimum.

Fear of attack and of being killed based on religious preference. Fear of having homes burned to the ground due to religious affiliation. Isolated by religion in a designated part of town. Police and possibly government complicit in the violence. Intolerance and hatred for the religious minority.

Nazi Germany circa 1938, or Pakistan today? As always, if we forget the lessons of history, we will be destined to repeat them. Remember that the treatment of the Christians in Pakistan is merely a microcosm of a much greater world problem.

(Photo courtesy of Samaa T.V.)

Video Thanks To Our Soldiers On Christmas Eve

2009-12-24T07:36:00.001-05:00

Music and Lyrics by Matty Kaspak

Particularly at this time of year, we have to take a step back to remember and thank those risking their lives every day for the freedoms we enjoy, those who have served in the past and those who have been wounded or who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Iran: More Tail Wagging The Dog News

2009-12-23T06:55:00.002-05:00

The Problem

Ahmadinejad in a speech Tuesday Says Imposed Deadlines Don't Matter Referring To The Year End
Says United States Must Change It's Attitude
Balks At IAEA Plan To Deal With Enriching Uranium
Dismissed Written Reports That They Are Working On A Nuclear Trigger
These statements are just more of the same from this country that also was found to have secret nuclear facilities.

The Problem

Robert Gibbs, mouthpiece for the administration, threatened on Tuesday that the end of this month is "a very real deadline for Iran".
Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that while we need to have a military option ready, a military response to Iranian nukes would have limited success, and that a diplomatic solution is the best option.
President Obama says that he will review current diplomatic efforts with Iran with an eye towards going back to the United Nations for new sanctions.

The Solution

As in many self help programs, you can't begin to adequately deal with a problem before you can admit to yourself that a problem truly exists. The Iranian government is playing the world, utilizing the age old technique of the reverse carrot and the stick. They will bring us to the edge of what some consider to be punitive actions in the form of U.N. sanctions. The Iranians on the other hand, consider the threat of sanctions when dealing with its attempt to become nuclear ballistic missile ready as a joke and a sign of weakness that they have no fear of, or respect for. They will play along with it though, because it is in its own best interests.

They will no doubt resume diplomatic efforts to placate the world, drag them out for a little while, "consider" them, and possibly even agree to them. This will buy both sides of the argument time. The Iranians to continue along its nuclear way, and the world community to profess that it is dealing with the problem. The reality, however, is that this is a win-win for Iran. They will violate whatever agreement is made, and the discussion of diplomacy and sanctions will begin all over again as the clock continues to tick.

While military force is not an ideal solution on many levels, when will the world draw a line in the sand that it will adhere to. While this option may not be desired, a situation even less so is a nuclear ready Iran. President Obama needs to be the the leader that he was hired to be, and not just another face in the leadership crowd. While healthcare remains his number one priority, it is national security that is supposed to be.

We have unwilling "allies" in this fight, so it is time for the President to realize that more than just his beautiful speechmaking and rhetoric is ultimately going to be required. As we all know, the results of inaction could be explosive! While protests and unrest in Iran seem to be growing, they will most likely be beaten back. Even if government change was achieved in some form, who is to say that the new public face of this theocratic dictatorship would be any different.

Inaction is not an option!

The Iranian Take On The Trigger: They Are Innocent Of Course

The Art Of Buying Votes

2009-12-22T09:57:00.002-05:00

The pre-vote wrangling appears to be over, and Harry Reid looks like he has the 60 votes in the Senate to move the healthcare bill forward. I suppose it is typical Washington, but those Democrats who held the bill hostage got the payday that they wanted in order to swing their votes over to the yay column.

In the meantime, only about 36% of Americans are behind this bill that will change the way healthcare is managed in the country. I believe that the cartoon below by Bob Lang depicts well the story behind the voting.

Who Are We Fighting Against?

2009-12-21T04:00:00.003-05:00

Children's Story Time

We are all familiar with story time in school. This is when the children gather round the teacher, and a book or short story is read that entertains them, and that sometimes offers a moral in such a way that the young minds can take it in and understand. Children are like sponges so that the message will typically be absorbed to some extent. Some children will get it totally, while others to a lesser degree.

The following video clip is story time of a different type. It was posted on Memri TV, and has a man telling a tale that has the children mesmerized. It is about a young woman, Wafa Idris, whose desire is to become a suicide bomber and of how she is permitted to do just that. The children are mesmerized by the story, and have many questions. The questions are not, however, asking why she would want to do this. The fact that she does seems to be accepted as a good thing.

Are these children going to grow up tolerant of those with different ideas or way of life? Or will they want to follow in the footsteps of Wafa Idris? Watch the video.

Copenhagen: Obama's Waterloo At Home And Abroad?

2009-12-19T09:13:00.001-05:00

Obama Pulling "Victory" From The Jaws Of Defeat

Question: If The Concern On The Left Is Truly Climate Catastrophe, Why Would Obama Compromise The Ultimate Safety Of The World With This Farce Of An Agreement Which Holds Nobody's Feet To The Fire?

Answer: Political Expediency, A Term Used Frequently In Washington. This Phrase Seemingly Makes It Acceptable To Forfeit Any Core Beliefs Or Values, All In The Name Of Remaining In Office. That Or When Trying To Get Signature Legislation Passed When Non-Passage Could Sound A Political Death Knell!

It was billed as a global summit that would result in a binding resolution to control and reduce emissions from countries around the world. Ultimately though, President Obama was forced to run from leader to leader in an effort to attempt to salvage some political face, lest this go down as one more failure for the administration.

With the healthcare bill gutted and on some form of life support, one more policy and diplomatic failure was the last thing that this President, or his party, needed.

Loss of "Face", Loss of Global Standing

At the end of the day, after attempting to use whatever political clout he has left, President Obama walked away with a "non-binding" agreement from only five countries that asks them only for an explanation as to how they will go about reducing emissions. The countries are the United States, India, China, South Africa and Brazil. The other 100+ countries at the Summit refused to sign.

Aware of the strength that even a "binding" agreement would have, this is a transparent political attempt by the President to salvage what is his quickly dwindling popularity and political capital in the U.S. and around the world. This at a time when passage of the unpopular healthcare reform bill needs all that he has got.

Impact At Home On The Obama Domestic Agenda

While the left is predictably calling this a great diplomatic success, nobody is fooled. The need for spin of the Summit debacle is that much greater as the healthcare bill at home faces a self-imposed Christmas deadline for passage. The weaker and less popular that President Obama becomes within the U.S., the greater the chance of voting defections in the Senate where there is no margin for error. As it is, the bill has not completely seen the light of day as the Democrats have cobbled it together behind closed doors. Even in the dysfunctional Senate, there will be holdouts that will refuse to allow a bill whose contents are not fully known to go to a vote. For a bill whose size and impact on the economy and populace would be immense, reading and understanding the content is the least that these Senator's can do for us.

The loss of the clout of the President not withstanding, all polling data shows that the American public does not want this legislation to be enacted. Had the President maintained his 70% approval ratings, the members of his party would be willing to blindly follow him and vote for healthcare reform. As he has slipped below 50% approval, and his leaders in the House and Senate much lower than that, the leverage to force a yes vote has slipped, although still strong.

While most will still go along, particularly given the full-court press being applied by Reid and Pelosi, these are still politicians after all whose main concern is not necessarily legislation and the good of the people, but merely being allowed the privilege to remain in office through the next election cycle.

At least in the case of this healthcare bill, let's hope that political expediency will win out, as it typically does.

(Picture courtesy of the NY Post)

Drunk 4 Year Old, and If You Are Very Quiet, You Can Hear The Healthcare Debate Begin To Wither Away

2009-12-18T13:30:00.003-05:00

First, Could This Happen In Your Town?

There are not too many places this could happen. Whatever happened to good old fashioned parental supervision and responsibility? This kid not only got at the beer, but got into the neighbors house to steal a dress as well.

In The Senate The Public Option Is Out, Medicare Buy-In Is Out, What's Left?

As the chart below shows, the majority of the American people do not want this healthcare bill, the majority of people in Washington have not read this healthcare bill, and as we move closer to the self-imposed Christmas break deadline it appears that a vote on this bill will not occur. So what remains in this bill that would be the size of 1/6th of the U.S. economy? Is it worth rushing it through, or should our representatives in Washington go back to square one?

This is not the place, in this economy, with the amount of debt the Obama administration is racking up, to attempt to save political face by pushing through bad and unwanted legislation. You can view a discussion on the topic by David Mark of Politico below.

ate	Favor	Oppose
Dec 12-13	40%	56%
Dec 4-5	41%	51%
Nov 29	41%	53%
Nov 21-22	38%	56%
Nov 13-14	47%	49%
Nov 7-8	45%	52%
Oct 30-31	42%	54%
Oct 24-25	45%	51%
Oct 16-17	42%	54%
Oct 10-11	44%	50%
Oct 2-3	46%	50%
Sep 24-25	41%	56%
Sep 16-17	43%	56%
Sep 15-16	44%	53%
Sep 14-15	42%	55%
Sep 13-14	45%	52%
Sep 12-13	51%	46%
Sep 11-12	48%	48%
Sep 10-11	47%	49%
Sep 9-10	46%	51%
Sept 8-9	44%	53%
Aug 25-26	43%	53%
Aug 9-10	42%	53%
Jul 26-27	47%	49%
Jul 20-21	44%	53%
Jul 10-11	46%	49%
Jun 27-28	50%	45%

Iranian Missile Launch: Video From The Dark Side!

2009-12-17T04:00:00.005-05:00

Sejil-2 Missile Launch On Wednesday - 1200 Mile Range

You do the math in terms of where this surface to surface missile could strike if launched with a nuclear warhead. You know the warhead that Iran is not attempting to develop? Fired under the premise that this missile is for deterrence and not for offensive purposes?

Pardon the use of colorful language, but when will the collective political leaders around the world take their heads out of their collective asses, and approach this impending, if not immediate threat the way that it needs to be approached.

This regime, and regimes like it, do not respond, understand or respect the diplomatic approach to crisis resolution. They understand one thing, and one thing only. Military force. This is the cold reality, and the games we are playing now are just a prelude to that inevitability. Why don't we cut out the dancing while there is still time to prevent a catastrophic event.

Hey B of A, Can You Spare A Dime?

2009-12-16T06:55:00.000-05:00

As an involuntary current owner of residential real estate that I am trying to sell, I know only to well how shaky the market is, as well as how reluctant the banks are to lend the money that they have in their coffers. We all know about the bottom basement level of mortgage rates, as well as all of the so-called bargains that are available in the marketplace. But, unless the banks loosen the purse strings and allow buyers and sellers to meet on a price with the full expectation that qualified buyers will be able to obtain a mortgage, the real estate will continue to sit unsold.

At the peak of the market, the term of qualified buyer was for the most part a misnomer. No doc mortgages were prevalent, meaning that with a wink and a nod the mortgage applicant told whatever story was required to qualify for the desired mortgage. Typically these were no income check, so many of these sub-prime mortgages were made to people who had no real way of paying it back. Given that the mortgages made were in many cases adjustable, after the initial teaser rate the homeowner ran the potential of not being able to make the payments. Because the market was going in one direction, up, the plan would be to then flip the house for a profit, pay the lender back and pocket the difference. This was a great plan, until a new direction for prices, down, was discovered.

Now that those days are over, underwriting has moved to the opposite end of the spectrum, with banks instituting onerous requirements that even the most qualified of buyers have trouble meeting. While it is understandable that the banks are bit gun shy, many are TARP recipients, sitting on money provided by the government at little cost intended to loosen up the incredibly tight credit markets. Instead, the taxpayers are providing this money so that the banks can earn the spread instead, some making record profits.

This reluctance to lend goes for refinancing as well, a transaction that could save current homeowners hundreds of dollars a month, money that could be used to help stoke the rest of the economy. While approximately 60% of the homeowners in the United States have mortgages at rates above the current 4.8% average rate, refinancing applications have declined, with many borrowers unable to qualify.

Bottom line, while nobody is looking for the rampant excess of the past few years, some happy medium for lending needs to be found or the economy will remain in limbo.

Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick...

2009-12-15T04:00:00.005-05:00

We Are Entrusting The Safety Of The World To A Comedy Show Masquerading As Something Else!

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me the third, fourth and fifth times and I am either a complete moron, oblivious to the impending or existing danger, or a politician. The fact that leaders of the free and sane world are doing the United Nations sanctions dance is a joke, but the punch line of the joke could very well be a mushroom cloud. The fact that some of these nations, China and Russia specifically, are not even sure they want to impose new sanctions is an indication of how the worlds countries are sticking their collective heads in the sand.

Second Set Of Sanctions Ready For North Korea, And A Fourth Set For Iran

As we look back and review the year that was, Iran and North Korea have continued to move ahead on their nuclear programs. North Korea has not been "negotiating", threw the IAEA out of the country, restarted nuclear facilities, tested ballistic missiles and conducted a nuclear test. Iran is moving along on its merry way to the development of a nuclear capability, purely for peaceful purposes of course, thumbing its nose at the world community that pretends that this country, which has professed its desire to wipe Israel off of the face of earth and that works hand in hand with terrorist groups, is capable of negotiating in good faith.

What else is Iran up to? What are the events that leave the world comfortable playing charades with this country? Sanctions or diplomacy? Neither! Iran does not comply and uses the discussion as a tactic to stall, which the West seems more than okay to go along with. How about this story out of Britain. Does this add any urgency to the equation? The population of the world is having it's future existence managed by certain countries that care little about the citizens and much about their own political and financial well being, and other countries, the United States included that are run by those whose political futures trump the need to make obvious choices on national security.

Read this story, and you make the call regarding whether we continue to have the luxury to sit on our hands and let the United Nations run the show, or if some more direct action is required.

(Times Online) "Confidential intelligence documents obtained by The Times show that Iran is working on testing a key final component of a nuclear bomb.

The notes, from Iran’s most sensitive military nuclear project, describe a four-year plan to test a neutron initiator, the component of a nuclear bomb that triggers an explosion. Foreign intelligence agencies date them to early 2007, four years after Iran was thought to have suspended its weapons programme.

An Asian intelligence source last week confirmed to The Timesthat his country also believed that weapons work was being carried out as recently as 2007 — specifically, work on a neutron initiator..."

How Safe Are We?

2009-12-14T04:00:00.004-05:00

Are We Proactive Or Still Reactive?

Two incidents on Thursday, the memory of one that occurred on December 7, 1993 and another earlier this week got me thinking about how secure, in a free and democratic society, that we can really ever be.

This is not a commentary on freedom, because that is what makes this country and our society great. It is more a commentary on the fact that no matter how much better security is today than it was on 9/11, it can really never be good enough to make us safe from one maniac, or a group of maniacs, who have an agenda that they want to fulfill. It can be due to insanity or based on ideology, or both, but unfortunately where there is a will there is a way. Specific acts can be thwarted, but as the saying goes we have to be right 100% of the time, and the terrorists only once. We have to stay vigilant 24/7, while the terrorists can knock off for a while as they did between the first World Trade Center attack and the second.

Earlier this week five U.S. students were arrested in Pakistan, charged with attempting to join al-Qaeda. At least four of the five are U.S. citizens. The scenario of homegrown terrorists is particularly frightening, as one major problem in the puzzle would have already been solved. That of getting into the country. These five apparently showed no outward signs of radicalism, which creates a nightmare for those charged with homeland security and for tracking jihadist's.

Sixteen years ago a man, Colin Ferguson, in a racially motivated attack killed 6 and wounded nineteen on a Long Island railroad train. He had waited until the eastbound train had gone through the Jamaica station, because he thought all black passengers would get off there. Clearly he was and is insane, but was there a way to prevent this man with an agenda in his mind from committing this act?

Thursday, as I left a meeting and was walking towards Times Square, a man trying to con tourists was approached by an undercover cop. He squeezed off 2 rounds from his semi-automatic weapon until it jammed, leaving 20+ more rounds in the gun. He was then shot and killed. The fact remained, however, that there was really no way to stop him from either possessing this gun in a crowded street, or from using it. Luckily it ended well with only the shooter being killed.

Finally, this is what got me thinking in this direction in the first place. Taking the train into Manhattan, I watched the myriad of people getting on and off of the train. Some had backpacks, others had briefcases and some were carrying bags. No security. No monitors. Just free access as it should be. Because 99.999999999999999% of the people have no agenda other than going to or from work, shopping or seeing a play, there is really nothing to worry about.

The worry comes from the miniscule percentage of people whose agenda includes a wanton disregard for human life, and in some cases the desire to perpetrate an act that will claim as many as possible while inflecting devastating wounds on the rest. In New York, we all go over the bridges and through the tunnels that have "security" around them. The two cops at the entrance who pull over a suspicious looking truck every now and then while thousands of others go through. How can someone with an insane desire practically be stopped. I fear the answer is that it is very difficult. As an example, the picture above is a map of the New York City subway system. How can a network this vast possible be monitored 100% of the time.

Law enforcement does a great job with the resources that they have. The bottom line, as cliche as it sounds, is that we as citizens are also responsible for our own well being. The Kitty Genovese mentality where someone else will take care of it is not sufficient. This doesn't mean that we are all to become Rambo taking care of business ourselves. But as trite as the saying "If you see something, say something" sounds, it is the new fact of life. We have to stay vigilant, aware and involved.

Our lives just may depend on it!

Protect Us From The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

2009-12-10T04:00:00.004-05:00

Screening Management: Standard Operating Procedures for the TSA

The Transportation Security Administration posted it's SOP Manual for airport screeners on the Fed Biz Ops website for all to see, although on every page of the document there was the following warning:

SENSITIVE SECURITY INFORMATION

WARNING: THIS RECORD CONTAINS SENSITIVE SECURITY INFORMATION THAT IS CONTROLLED UNDER 49 C.F.R. PARTS 15 AND 1520. NO PART OF

THIS RECORD MAY BE DISCLOSED TO PERSONS WITHOUT A "NEED TO KNOW," AS DEFINED IN 49 C.F.R. PARTS 15 AND 1520, EXCEPT WITH THE

WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OR THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION.

UNAUTHORIZED RELEASE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL PENALTIES OR OTHER ACTION. FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

GOVERNED BY 5 U.S.C. 552 AND 49 C.F.R. PARTS 15 AND 1520

How Does This Happen?

Although the TSA has said that this document has been updated many times since the release of the one that was leaked, does it contain any items that could be of use to a terrorist? The TSA says no. Of course. But can we believe this from an agency that would allow sensitive material to get out in the first place? That is questionable.

Investigations have been called for to see how this leak could have happened and how to stop it in the future, but 8+ years after 9/11 this type of breach is unacceptable.

The irony is that yesterday the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing on stopping terrorist travel. Perhaps a good place to start would be in the internal operations of the TSA.

Iran: A Video Look At The Future?

2009-12-09T06:33:00.002-05:00

The Violent Crackdown In Tehran Serves To Help Unite The Protestors

Is this the sign of change in Iran? As the crackdowns continue, and as the resolve of protestors increases, will the desire for a new way of government gain traction, or be beaten down?

To View the video of the demonstrations, please visit this link.

Cruel and Unusual Punishment For The Victims!

2009-12-08T05:29:00.003-05:00

The Controversy Over What Constitutes Cruel and Unusual Punishment

While the crimes subject to the death penalty varies slightly by state, rest assured that those who are ultimately convicted have committed a heinous crime, some of which may have left the victim scarred for life while inflicting lasting physical and psychological damage. Either that or dead.

These men and women put onto death row are provided full access to due process, while their victims were certainly not afforded that same luxury. At the point in time that they are denied the last minute appeal from the governor of the state and they walk the "Green Mile", they have most likely spent years on death row, enjoying the benefits of life if not freedom. For the family of the victim that they murdered or of the child that they raped, this is the justice that they had waited years to receive.

The Biros Case In Ohio
(AP) "Biros, 51, killed 22-year-old Tami Engstrom near Warren in 1991 after offering to drive her home from a bar, then scattered her body parts in Ohio and Pennsylvania."

While Kenneth Biros awaits death for the crime described above, the controversy does not revolve around his victim, it revolves around what it is that constitutes cruel and unusual punishment for his death.

Romell Broom, a convicted rapist and murderer had 18 attempts made to put the needle into his arm, all unsuccessful until finally the execution had to be called off. They hit muscle and bone and they still could not find a vein. It apparently got so "painful" for this man being put to death for unspeakable acts that the Governor of Ohio said no mas (Broom is appealing to stop the State from trying again).

Ohio is now going to go to the one shot method instead of three, because it lessens the chance of pain and suffering for the dying man, although it may take 15 minutes of a peaceful deeper and deeper sleep before death, rather than the 7 minutes when using the current process.

The lawyer for Biros is looking to get the execution stayed because Ohio would be the first state to use this method, it has never been used before in any "civilized" country and would amount to human experimentation. The United States Supreme Court said that the three shot method should only be changed if a new method lessened the potential for pain to the dying man.

Seven minutes or fifteen minutes makes little difference to the victims or victims families of the people who through years of appeal and the presence of DNA testing have made it to this final step. Who protected the victims from cruel and inhuman punishment. How painful was the death of Tami Engstrom, and what steps did Biros make to ensure that his mutilated murder victim did not suffer? For the past 18 years this man lived and fought for his life, while callously taking that of a woman who today would be a 40 year old, possibly married and possibly with children.

Seven minutes or fifteen minutes? Some potential pain or discomfort? Is this a discussion that needs to be in our courts? Is this a debate that serves the victims families or in the case of rape the victims themselves? Who is protecting them?

Photo courtesy of NowPublic.net

September 11, 2001 - December 7,1941: Dates That Will Live In Infamy

2009-12-06T08:18:00.003-05:00

Dates That Serve To Define The World

Tomorrow, December 7, marks the anniversary of "a date that will live in infamy", the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This was the event that brought the United States into WW II, ultimately leading to the defeat of what was then a overwhelming threat to the security of the world. Had the Japanese not committed this act, and had the United States not entered the war, who is to know the state of the world today.

That hypothetical gives way to the actual reality of the day, that of the global threat of both terrorism through "conventional" means, as well as through nuclear weapons that could bring global devastation in seconds. Let us never forget that those who wish to control and dictate through the belief that all in the world should be a certain way, whether ethnically, religiously or both, can only be defeated in one way.

As seen with Hitler, and as we are trying to accomplish through appeasement today, a negotiated promise through a signature on a piece of paper is meaningless. The totalitarian desires of these factions know no level of compromise. It is win at all costs and those who wish to attempt to pacify through third parties such as the U.N. or through diplomacy and the threat of sanctions are merely playing into the hands of those who seek to destroy us.

Our enemies believe that the world does not have the stomach or the will to stop them, much as Hitler knew as he marched into country's and made therm his.

As the philosopher George Santayana wrote, and which rings as true today as at any point in history, 'Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it." Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea are merely symptoms of a much greater problem. But as any doctor will tell you, these symptoms need to be treated, or like a cancer they will continue to flourish and will eventually take over the body.

Photos courtesy of Britannica and Write On New Jersey

Jobs: Did The Obama Summit Find A Solution? and Public Opinion On Afghanistan

2009-12-04T04:00:00.006-05:00

By The Time You Read This, The Mother Of All Numbers Will Most Likely Have Been Released
At 8:30 this morning the employment numbers will be released, and the expectations are for 125,000 jobs to have been cut and for the headline unemployment rate to hold at 10.2%. Any surprises to the downside will send shivers through the markets and throw water on what may already be a dour holiday season. The key to the whole shooting match is jobs, as people who are unemployed, underemployed, have given up or who are in fear of losing their jobs do not make for motivated consumers. The ripple effect through the economy and government coffers will be crippling in quite a number of ways.

There's No Need To Fear, Underdog Is Here!
In what can hopefully generate worthwhile ideas, but is more likely a political exercise, President Obama held a job summit looking for ideas on how exactly to create them. If it sounds a little like pie in the sky it is, but hey, you never know. As if to acknowledge the desperation that holding this event would seem to indicate, Obama said the following:

"I don't mind skepticism...If I listened to the skeptics I wouldn't be here." How lucky would that have been if the President had only been a better listener.

"I am open to every demonstrably good idea, and I want to take every responsible step to accelerate job creation." I suppose that the secretary at the meeting taking the minutes will form a working committee to ferret through the list, decide on the keepers and implement them. This meeting which will generate "ideas" that the best minds in government couldn't come up with.

Here is a thought from a neophyte whose invitation to the summit must have been lost in the mail. Stop raising taxes on the engine of jobs creation, the small business owner. Take the stimulus money that is left and direct it squarely into job creating projects. Mandate that the institutions who received the billions in TARP money actually lend it out, rather than looking for reasons not to lend it out. All the while taking these extremely low cost funds and recording record profits. And finally, limit the intrusion of government into the day to day operations of business so that they can focus on the things that they should be focusing on...the bottom line.

Lastly, take the domestic agenda that has been laid out and put it on the back burner for now, and quite possibly forever. The problems facing the country and the world are not about one man and his legacy, but about the people. Worry less about your face time, and more about the real problems at hand.

In any event, they came, they met, they discussed and they went home. And tomorrow while those in the Ivory Tower digest the numbers when they are released, the pain felt by rank and file citizens will be palpable.

Gallup Poll

The question is: