For about the last ten years or so we have heard that the next election is "the most important" of our lives. The last two presidential contests have certainly fallen into this category, and I can not say that I disagree, to a certain extent. But next month's mid-term elections are shaping up to be the most inconsequential of our lifetimes. No offense to those on the Right and the Left who wish to energize their respective bases to motivate them to vote, but what happens next month is not really going to change America for the better or the worse.
The Republicans have said that they "must" gain control of the United States Senate in order to "save" the country. But even they have admitted that the Harry Reid lead Senate is the least productive in history. So are we to believe that the Republican establishment is going to save us from a body that basically is doing nothing? About the only activity in the Senate these days is the storage of the 350 bills that have been sent over from the House of Representatives that Mr. Reid refuses to allow to the floor of the Senate for debate.
Some on the Right have suggested that it is imperative for Republicans to win the majority in the Senate in order to moderate the president's Supreme Court nominees, if there be any in the next two years. I am not sure where these folks have been the last six years, but there is nothing moderate about Barack Obama, especially not his nominees to any position in government. Any Supreme Court nominee from President Obama will most probably be black, Hispanic, or female, and most definitely will be radically Left. Even under the most generous predictions Republicans will have control of the Senate by 2 or 3 seats. Democrats will always be able to peel away the 3 or 4 Republican votes needed to confirm any nominee the president proffers.
Let us just speculate that the Republicans gain control of the Senate and keep their majority in the House. Any bill that is passed by both Houses of congress and lands on President Obama's desk to be signed into law, will not receive his signature if it does not comport to his agenda. Therefore, there will be no net gain for the American people if the Republicans wrestle control of the Senate away from the Democrats. Either the same "do nothing" Democrat-controlled Senate will remain or a "do something" Republican-controlled Senate will essentially be neutered by a veto-happy president.
Finally, let me address the issue of impeachment. Some slap-happy Republicans actually are holding their collective breaths thinking that if they gain control of the Senate, impeachment of Barack Obama will be a foregone conclusion. In order for that to happen the Republicans would need a gain of 21 seats, and then all vote in lock step to impeach. Furthermore, even if this little miracle happened, there is no way Chief Justice Roberts would allow the impeachment of the first black president. We have already seen how he took extraordinary and unprecedented steps to make sure the president's health care law remained law even though it was a blatant violation of the Constitution.
On November 4 I will be dutifully casting my vote and yawning the whole time. I do not expect anything to change until there is a new executive. The control of congress only matters with a president that respects the constitutional form of government that the Founders created, which Barack Obama does not. He has a pen and a phone, and unfortunately his pen and phone are not on the ballot.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Why Indigenous People's Day?
Yesterday, as the sensible and historically accurate minded celebrated Columbus Day, some of the politically correct and historically delusional made up their own holiday called "Indigenous People's Day." Beyond the fact that these misguided souls have completely missed the importance of the North American continent's first discovery by the civilized world, is the provocative nature of wanting to celebrate their day on the same day as some else's holiday. The thought would never occur to them to celebrate their holiday on a different day, because their effort is not so much about celebrating indigenous people, as it is about besmirching the peoples who brought the progress of civilization to an untamed continent.
The American Indian (or Native Americans if you prefer) is said to have inhabited the North American continent for 14,000 years. Before that point it is anyone's guess where they originated, although some recent studies in anthropology have suggested they came from the Asian continent during a period when there was a land bridge connecting the two geographies. One thing is clear, they did not exist on the North American continent prior to 14,000 years ago. So I guess indigenous all depends on one's definition of that word.
The supporters of "Indigenous People's Day" claim to want to give them credit for their contribution to mankind. Okay, fair enough. Can anyone outline for me what those contributions are? I can list chapter and verse the overwhelming contributions of the United States of America. I can even articulate contributions made by the Italians, the French, certainly the Germans and Spainards, and just about every other culture on earth all the way back to the Romans and Egyptians. But what is the great contribution to the human condition made by Native Americans?
In fact, when Europeans first stepped foot on the North American continent, the "indigenous people" they found had not progressed as a society for the 14,000 years they had resided here. A thousand years ago when the peoples of Europe were building magnificent cathedrals that spired hundreds of feet into the air, Native Americans were still living in animal skin tepees. And when the Vikings and Saxons were creating intricate and detailed art and jewelry from gold, silver, iron, and bronze, the Native Americans were stringing dried berries on animal guts and hemp. And when the Romans were manufacturing high tech swords and shields, the Native Americans were affixing sharp rocks to the ends of spears as weapons.
To the casual reader it may sound like I am unfairly criticizing the Native American culture. But it is not my intent. I am a realist, and as such I am willing to change my opinion if anyone can articulate contributions by Native Americans to science, medicine, technology, or any other field of human endeavor. I know it is popular in today's politically correct world to ignore truths that are uncomfortable to admit, especially when those truths are about a favored victim class. But if we are to accept "Indigenous People's Day" on a wholesale basis in this country, there must be some compelling reason to do so. And beating the Europeans to the North American continent by 14,000 years is just not a good enough reason.
The American Indian (or Native Americans if you prefer) is said to have inhabited the North American continent for 14,000 years. Before that point it is anyone's guess where they originated, although some recent studies in anthropology have suggested they came from the Asian continent during a period when there was a land bridge connecting the two geographies. One thing is clear, they did not exist on the North American continent prior to 14,000 years ago. So I guess indigenous all depends on one's definition of that word.
The supporters of "Indigenous People's Day" claim to want to give them credit for their contribution to mankind. Okay, fair enough. Can anyone outline for me what those contributions are? I can list chapter and verse the overwhelming contributions of the United States of America. I can even articulate contributions made by the Italians, the French, certainly the Germans and Spainards, and just about every other culture on earth all the way back to the Romans and Egyptians. But what is the great contribution to the human condition made by Native Americans?
In fact, when Europeans first stepped foot on the North American continent, the "indigenous people" they found had not progressed as a society for the 14,000 years they had resided here. A thousand years ago when the peoples of Europe were building magnificent cathedrals that spired hundreds of feet into the air, Native Americans were still living in animal skin tepees. And when the Vikings and Saxons were creating intricate and detailed art and jewelry from gold, silver, iron, and bronze, the Native Americans were stringing dried berries on animal guts and hemp. And when the Romans were manufacturing high tech swords and shields, the Native Americans were affixing sharp rocks to the ends of spears as weapons.
To the casual reader it may sound like I am unfairly criticizing the Native American culture. But it is not my intent. I am a realist, and as such I am willing to change my opinion if anyone can articulate contributions by Native Americans to science, medicine, technology, or any other field of human endeavor. I know it is popular in today's politically correct world to ignore truths that are uncomfortable to admit, especially when those truths are about a favored victim class. But if we are to accept "Indigenous People's Day" on a wholesale basis in this country, there must be some compelling reason to do so. And beating the Europeans to the North American continent by 14,000 years is just not a good enough reason.
Monday, October 13, 2014
The Ebola Factor
I have tried in recent years to limit my beliefs, reactions, and analysis to logic, reason, and facts. I have not always succeeded, but I feel if one lets his emotions and fears dictate his actions and decisions in life he will forever be subject to the tyranny of ignorance. This theory has been on full display in our country as it relates to the current Ebola scare. And with two cases out of a nation of 300 million, some are calling it an epidemic, further proving the need for my disposition outlined above.
Some have suggested that the spread of Ebola is just a matter of exponential math, e.g. one case turns into two, two turns into four, four turns into eight, etc., ad infinitum until some significant portion of the population is infected and dies. But viruses do not follow the rules of mathematics and their courses are determined by thousands of variables. Besides, many of those advancing the "it is just about numbers, and numbers do not lie" theory, are the same people saying President Obama should take aggressive action against the virus. Well, if it is just a matter of numbers, and the outcome of the virus is based on invariable math, then it does not matter what anyone does.
It is the illogic of the "numbers people" that I have tried to avoid in situations like the one in which we currently find ourselves. The other group of individuals that seem to have abandon any desire for perspicacity are the Hysteria addicts. These are people who have some sick and twisted belief in end-of-the-world scenarios and will pounce on anything they think will advance that notion. So they are the first ones to jump on global cooling, global warming, AIDS, bird flu, Avian flu, swine flu, Hong Kong flu, Obama's re-election, over-population, deforestation, Ecoli, mad cow, Ebola, or anything else that they can convince others is going to kill mass numbers of human beings on the planet.
When it comes to hysteria, I tend to hold fast to an attitude I heard advanced by conservative author, commentator, and radio talk show host, Dennis Prager. Mr. Prager said if he was on an airplane that was crashing, and death was imminent, his death would not bother him as much as the hysteria of others on the plane. Hysteria is not going to right the plane, or increase one's chances for survival one iota. It only makes the last minutes on earth more horrifying than they would otherwise be.
Mr. Prager's reasonable response to the inevitable is even more relevant to situations like Ebola where the outcome is not so inevitable. It shocks the conscience how many Americans are ready to declare, "the end is near" with so little provocation. As for me, I will continue to live my life like Dennis on that plane. I will choose calm over calamity, reason over rashness, and prayer over pandemonium. Because in the end, the best tool we have to deal with anything in life is sanity, something that seems to be in short supply in the Ebola madness that has gripped our nation.
Some have suggested that the spread of Ebola is just a matter of exponential math, e.g. one case turns into two, two turns into four, four turns into eight, etc., ad infinitum until some significant portion of the population is infected and dies. But viruses do not follow the rules of mathematics and their courses are determined by thousands of variables. Besides, many of those advancing the "it is just about numbers, and numbers do not lie" theory, are the same people saying President Obama should take aggressive action against the virus. Well, if it is just a matter of numbers, and the outcome of the virus is based on invariable math, then it does not matter what anyone does.
It is the illogic of the "numbers people" that I have tried to avoid in situations like the one in which we currently find ourselves. The other group of individuals that seem to have abandon any desire for perspicacity are the Hysteria addicts. These are people who have some sick and twisted belief in end-of-the-world scenarios and will pounce on anything they think will advance that notion. So they are the first ones to jump on global cooling, global warming, AIDS, bird flu, Avian flu, swine flu, Hong Kong flu, Obama's re-election, over-population, deforestation, Ecoli, mad cow, Ebola, or anything else that they can convince others is going to kill mass numbers of human beings on the planet.
When it comes to hysteria, I tend to hold fast to an attitude I heard advanced by conservative author, commentator, and radio talk show host, Dennis Prager. Mr. Prager said if he was on an airplane that was crashing, and death was imminent, his death would not bother him as much as the hysteria of others on the plane. Hysteria is not going to right the plane, or increase one's chances for survival one iota. It only makes the last minutes on earth more horrifying than they would otherwise be.
Mr. Prager's reasonable response to the inevitable is even more relevant to situations like Ebola where the outcome is not so inevitable. It shocks the conscience how many Americans are ready to declare, "the end is near" with so little provocation. As for me, I will continue to live my life like Dennis on that plane. I will choose calm over calamity, reason over rashness, and prayer over pandemonium. Because in the end, the best tool we have to deal with anything in life is sanity, something that seems to be in short supply in the Ebola madness that has gripped our nation.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
The Lefts Quiet War On HOAs
Home Owners Associations (HOAs) are a vital representation of personal Liberty and freedom. For those who wish to live in condominiums or homes in planned communities, they allow the residents the ability to ensure domestic tranquility through rules and bylaws. And while many may find the rules protected by an HOA to be overbearing, those individuals are more than welcome to live in non-HOA communities.
In recent years there has been a quiet and almost imperceptible war on condominiums and home owners associations. A war conducted by members of the Left who wish to strip these organizations of their freedoms and rights. The war is part and parcel to the Lefts rabid desire for equality at the expense of fairness. The Lefts war on HOAs is being conducted with their usual weapons, i.e. regulations, laws, and the help of the professional whining class.
The first phase of the war was the federal government requiring states to have advocacy boards which have the authority to levy enormous fines against HOAs for the most minor infractions of anti-discrimination laws. For example, an Ohio association was fined $50,000 for having a sign in their lobby prohibiting children from playing and riding their bikes in that area of the building. A family with children that had moved in had taken over the condominium's lobby as a playroom for their children. The association's reasonable response with the signage was a violation of age discrimination laws, which in this ever increasing Orwellian society of ours, not only protect the elderly, but the "rights" of children.
The way it works is one of these professional whiners who have been emboldened by Leftist policies finds a violation and brings it to the attention of the advocacy board, who almost always succeeds in fining the association or requiring them to add some feature to their building to bring them into compliance with ridiculous and far reaching anti-discrimination regulations. Exemplary of this scam is a handicapped woman who moved into a second floor condo of a two story condominium building, then demanded that an elevator be installed for her use. The board refused and was forced to allow the woman to radically alter the exterior of the building to provide her a lift to her suite.
The Leftist in state government have pushed for laws that would make condominium board members, most of whom volunteer their time and effort for the betterment of their community, to be liable with fines and jail time for infractions against an ever increasing list of anti-discrimination regulations. This is a blatant attempt to dissuade individuals from running for their associations' boards, thereby requiring the state to assign their own people to run the association.
The Lefts war on HOAs is being conducted in order to further erode personal property rights. The tyrannical Left can not stomach HOAs because they see them as elitist and in violation of their twisted and mangled definition of "equality." It is a definition that is in violation of the tenets of Liberty and are the handmaiden of tyranny. It is a definition that cloaks itself in the robes of "fairness" while underneath lies the heart of miserable oppression. It is one more step towards a society where its members are fearful of constitutional participation, and punished for living free.
In recent years there has been a quiet and almost imperceptible war on condominiums and home owners associations. A war conducted by members of the Left who wish to strip these organizations of their freedoms and rights. The war is part and parcel to the Lefts rabid desire for equality at the expense of fairness. The Lefts war on HOAs is being conducted with their usual weapons, i.e. regulations, laws, and the help of the professional whining class.
The first phase of the war was the federal government requiring states to have advocacy boards which have the authority to levy enormous fines against HOAs for the most minor infractions of anti-discrimination laws. For example, an Ohio association was fined $50,000 for having a sign in their lobby prohibiting children from playing and riding their bikes in that area of the building. A family with children that had moved in had taken over the condominium's lobby as a playroom for their children. The association's reasonable response with the signage was a violation of age discrimination laws, which in this ever increasing Orwellian society of ours, not only protect the elderly, but the "rights" of children.
The way it works is one of these professional whiners who have been emboldened by Leftist policies finds a violation and brings it to the attention of the advocacy board, who almost always succeeds in fining the association or requiring them to add some feature to their building to bring them into compliance with ridiculous and far reaching anti-discrimination regulations. Exemplary of this scam is a handicapped woman who moved into a second floor condo of a two story condominium building, then demanded that an elevator be installed for her use. The board refused and was forced to allow the woman to radically alter the exterior of the building to provide her a lift to her suite.
The Leftist in state government have pushed for laws that would make condominium board members, most of whom volunteer their time and effort for the betterment of their community, to be liable with fines and jail time for infractions against an ever increasing list of anti-discrimination regulations. This is a blatant attempt to dissuade individuals from running for their associations' boards, thereby requiring the state to assign their own people to run the association.
The Lefts war on HOAs is being conducted in order to further erode personal property rights. The tyrannical Left can not stomach HOAs because they see them as elitist and in violation of their twisted and mangled definition of "equality." It is a definition that is in violation of the tenets of Liberty and are the handmaiden of tyranny. It is a definition that cloaks itself in the robes of "fairness" while underneath lies the heart of miserable oppression. It is one more step towards a society where its members are fearful of constitutional participation, and punished for living free.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Republicans: The Lame Horse In The Stable
Many have advanced the theory that the people of the Middle East are subject to following the strong horse. The strong horse is a leader, who even though he may be a tyrant, is nonetheless supported by his countrymen because he is seen as having conviction. He is the one who is perceived to have the power to remain in power by repelling any who would challenge him.
The strong horse theory does not only apply to the Middle East, but is in full bloom in our republic. Unfortunately the strong horse theory is understood by Democrats, but not by Republicans. It is why the former has been winning more and more elections and consolidating power in their party, and the latter has been standing in their own failure dumbfounded as to what has happened. Democrats are seen as having convictions that the Republicans do not counter as much as they try to claim as their own.
Democrats in recent years have been radicalized by Marxist ideas, and they are seen as committed to those ideas even though they are not based in values that most Americans hold dear. The Republicans, in an effort to appeal to Democrat voters, have not been as vigorous in advancing their values, therefore Democrats are seen as the strong horse and Republicans are seen as the track on which they run. One of the core tenets of being a strong horse is being passionately committed to your ideas, which the Republicans have abandon in favor of "being liked."
The dilution of the Republican message is expressed by the "Big Tent" moniker. One can hear moderates in leadership roles in the Republican Party and in talk radio advocate for the "Big Tent" almost on a daily basis. But a tent that is too big and inclusive perplexes those that enter who are not sure if inside the tent is a bible-thumping revival or a whore house. And if the "Big Tent" was the pathway to electoral victory, why is there never any mention of it on the Democrat side of the aisle.
Additionally, the Republican Party has bought into the notion of one being a fiscal conservative and a social Leftist, completely ignoring the fact that these two concepts are mutually exclusive. Fiscal conservatism leads to conservative social values, and conservative social values will likewise lead to fiscal conservatism. The two concepts are inextricably linked at the hip. For example, one who says he is fiscally conservative, but believes in gay marriage, is living in denial. The redefinition of marriage away from the traditional model that has been the cornerstone of stable society since the dawn of man, will necessarily lead to broken families and more dependence on government. And government dependence equals fiscal policy that is anything but conservative.
If Republicans are to ever have any hope of winning elections and regaining the control of the federal government, they must be seen as the strong horse. Instead of constantly being fearful of offending moderates with a passionate defense of core values, they must embrace those values and articulate why they are superior to the culture of dependence that Democrats have created. Otherwise they will forever be seen as a weaker version of Democrats, and given the choice, the American people will most likely always choose the strong horse on the track over the lame one in the stable.
The strong horse theory does not only apply to the Middle East, but is in full bloom in our republic. Unfortunately the strong horse theory is understood by Democrats, but not by Republicans. It is why the former has been winning more and more elections and consolidating power in their party, and the latter has been standing in their own failure dumbfounded as to what has happened. Democrats are seen as having convictions that the Republicans do not counter as much as they try to claim as their own.
Democrats in recent years have been radicalized by Marxist ideas, and they are seen as committed to those ideas even though they are not based in values that most Americans hold dear. The Republicans, in an effort to appeal to Democrat voters, have not been as vigorous in advancing their values, therefore Democrats are seen as the strong horse and Republicans are seen as the track on which they run. One of the core tenets of being a strong horse is being passionately committed to your ideas, which the Republicans have abandon in favor of "being liked."
The dilution of the Republican message is expressed by the "Big Tent" moniker. One can hear moderates in leadership roles in the Republican Party and in talk radio advocate for the "Big Tent" almost on a daily basis. But a tent that is too big and inclusive perplexes those that enter who are not sure if inside the tent is a bible-thumping revival or a whore house. And if the "Big Tent" was the pathway to electoral victory, why is there never any mention of it on the Democrat side of the aisle.
Additionally, the Republican Party has bought into the notion of one being a fiscal conservative and a social Leftist, completely ignoring the fact that these two concepts are mutually exclusive. Fiscal conservatism leads to conservative social values, and conservative social values will likewise lead to fiscal conservatism. The two concepts are inextricably linked at the hip. For example, one who says he is fiscally conservative, but believes in gay marriage, is living in denial. The redefinition of marriage away from the traditional model that has been the cornerstone of stable society since the dawn of man, will necessarily lead to broken families and more dependence on government. And government dependence equals fiscal policy that is anything but conservative.
If Republicans are to ever have any hope of winning elections and regaining the control of the federal government, they must be seen as the strong horse. Instead of constantly being fearful of offending moderates with a passionate defense of core values, they must embrace those values and articulate why they are superior to the culture of dependence that Democrats have created. Otherwise they will forever be seen as a weaker version of Democrats, and given the choice, the American people will most likely always choose the strong horse on the track over the lame one in the stable.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Who Is The Real Bully?
One of the biggest pet issues of the Left in recent years has been the trump card called bullying. A trump card because once they have convinced a willing populace that bullies must be eradicated by government edict, they can then classify any behavior or speech they do not like as bullying. Instead of teaching our children to be strong by standing up to bullies as Andy Griffith told his young son Opie to do, the Left has inculcated weakness in our youth and an instinct to enlist the help of government in any situation which makes them feel uncomfortable.
The bullying issue is just one more way in which the Left has limited free speech on issues that they do not wish to debate in the arena of ideas. It is why they created the destructive and oppressive practice of political correctness. Those who can not defend their beliefs must work to outlaw the beliefs of others. The Left has convinced many that bullying is worthy of government action, then they characterize many forms of free speech with which they disagree as bullying.
A case in point is the posture of the rioters and looters in Ferguson, Missouri. They have emphatically stated that if officer Darren Wilson is not indicted by the grand jury for shooting and killing the thug Michael Brown, they will engage in rioting that will make the Rodney King riots look like a Girl Scout meeting. If this is not bullying, I do not know what is. And this bullying by rioters and looters has been encouraged by no less a symbol of law and order than the Attorney General of the United States. This is what happens when the destructive force of the Left infests the timbers that support the edifice of Liberty.
Additionally, the bullying in Ferguson can also be classified as mob rule. They intend to visit upon officer Wilson the same kind of lynching in which Democrats engaged shortly after the Civil War against black voters. It is the same kind of mod rule that created an acquittal for O.J. Simpson after he brutally murdered his ex-wife and her friend.
It is not only in Ferguson, Missouri where the Lefts bullying tactics are evident, but in Washington D.C. for the last six years as well. This country has suffered at the hands of Barack Obama and his fellow bullies in the United States Congress on every issue from health care reform to the budget. A corollary to the Lefts bullying is a devolution of the culture and a corruption of the virtues of honest public debate. Thanks to the Left, gone are the days of disagreements of good will. There is only the Leftist position and there is the position that is racist, sexist, homophobic, and generally bigoted. It is this bullying through labeling that is a favorite pastime of the Left.
Not only is the Lefts entire persona built upon bullying, but without the practice their ideology would be exposed for the fraud that it is and fall into the ash heap of history. From global warming to political correctness, the only way for the Left to advance their agenda is through the practice of bullying. Any opposition to their oppression is silenced through some of the same kinds of bullying tactics that they say they deplore in others. But then I am sure just like the playground bully shaking down the other kids for their lunch money, those on the Left do not see themselves as bullies, but as somehow superior. And this feeling of superiority masks the weakness of a belief system that can only destroy everything it touches.
The bullying issue is just one more way in which the Left has limited free speech on issues that they do not wish to debate in the arena of ideas. It is why they created the destructive and oppressive practice of political correctness. Those who can not defend their beliefs must work to outlaw the beliefs of others. The Left has convinced many that bullying is worthy of government action, then they characterize many forms of free speech with which they disagree as bullying.
A case in point is the posture of the rioters and looters in Ferguson, Missouri. They have emphatically stated that if officer Darren Wilson is not indicted by the grand jury for shooting and killing the thug Michael Brown, they will engage in rioting that will make the Rodney King riots look like a Girl Scout meeting. If this is not bullying, I do not know what is. And this bullying by rioters and looters has been encouraged by no less a symbol of law and order than the Attorney General of the United States. This is what happens when the destructive force of the Left infests the timbers that support the edifice of Liberty.
Additionally, the bullying in Ferguson can also be classified as mob rule. They intend to visit upon officer Wilson the same kind of lynching in which Democrats engaged shortly after the Civil War against black voters. It is the same kind of mod rule that created an acquittal for O.J. Simpson after he brutally murdered his ex-wife and her friend.
It is not only in Ferguson, Missouri where the Lefts bullying tactics are evident, but in Washington D.C. for the last six years as well. This country has suffered at the hands of Barack Obama and his fellow bullies in the United States Congress on every issue from health care reform to the budget. A corollary to the Lefts bullying is a devolution of the culture and a corruption of the virtues of honest public debate. Thanks to the Left, gone are the days of disagreements of good will. There is only the Leftist position and there is the position that is racist, sexist, homophobic, and generally bigoted. It is this bullying through labeling that is a favorite pastime of the Left.
Not only is the Lefts entire persona built upon bullying, but without the practice their ideology would be exposed for the fraud that it is and fall into the ash heap of history. From global warming to political correctness, the only way for the Left to advance their agenda is through the practice of bullying. Any opposition to their oppression is silenced through some of the same kinds of bullying tactics that they say they deplore in others. But then I am sure just like the playground bully shaking down the other kids for their lunch money, those on the Left do not see themselves as bullies, but as somehow superior. And this feeling of superiority masks the weakness of a belief system that can only destroy everything it touches.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
The President Phones It In
In this time of national malaise there have been two recent stories that seem to be incongruous with each other. One was the FBI Director's comments about Americans who fight along side ISIS and return to this country. The Director said that they could not keep these fighters from re-entering the United States. The other story was about an Illinois 19 year old who was stopped and arrested before leaving the country with the intent to travel to Syria and fight along side ISIS.
Does any other normal intelligent person think that these two postures by the U.S. authorities is 180 degrees out of phase? To me it is like arresting a bank robber on his way to the bank, but a robber who actually commits the crime and is heading away from the bank is given immunity by the police. And maybe the Director of the FBI has not been paying attention, but the government has been able to restrict the sale of certain types of light bulbs, compel citizens to by health insurance, and force those opposed to gay marriage to participate in such ceremonies by taking photographs or baking cakes. But are we to believe that same government can not prevent those who have fought along side our enemy from repatriating?
The Obama administration's action against ISIS to secure the safety of the United States and our allies has been analogous to a professional golfer trying to win a tournament using only his putter. The bombing missions that the administration has crowed about being so successful have been waged against the rear of the fighting, and not the front lines where the majority of ISIS fighters could be eliminated. So far we have taken out a few armored personnel carriers and a tank or two, but not much else.
God forbid we bomb too close to the Turkish border and risk upsetting that weakest of all allies. The Turks are trying to stack the deck in their favor by giving lip service to the U.S. airstrikes against ISIS, while turning a blind eye to the terrorist group. Recently, Turkish authorities ignored ISIS fighters selling their group's memorabilia in the public spaces of Istanbul. But it will only be a matter of time before the group that the Turks hate somewhat less than the Kurds, turns their wrath on them.
Meanwhile, everyone who has even an inkling of honest intellectualism can surmise that President Obama is doing the absolute minimum he can to satisfy his duty to protect the security of the United States, while keeping the lid on his radical anti-war base by "phoning it in." Problem is that with more and more American ISIS fighters returning to the United States from their terrorist education abroad, and who knows how many ISIS members taking advantage of the Obama open border policy in the South, the president's feckless and lackluster defense of this country will create a security risk long after his tenure in office expires.
Does any other normal intelligent person think that these two postures by the U.S. authorities is 180 degrees out of phase? To me it is like arresting a bank robber on his way to the bank, but a robber who actually commits the crime and is heading away from the bank is given immunity by the police. And maybe the Director of the FBI has not been paying attention, but the government has been able to restrict the sale of certain types of light bulbs, compel citizens to by health insurance, and force those opposed to gay marriage to participate in such ceremonies by taking photographs or baking cakes. But are we to believe that same government can not prevent those who have fought along side our enemy from repatriating?
The Obama administration's action against ISIS to secure the safety of the United States and our allies has been analogous to a professional golfer trying to win a tournament using only his putter. The bombing missions that the administration has crowed about being so successful have been waged against the rear of the fighting, and not the front lines where the majority of ISIS fighters could be eliminated. So far we have taken out a few armored personnel carriers and a tank or two, but not much else.
God forbid we bomb too close to the Turkish border and risk upsetting that weakest of all allies. The Turks are trying to stack the deck in their favor by giving lip service to the U.S. airstrikes against ISIS, while turning a blind eye to the terrorist group. Recently, Turkish authorities ignored ISIS fighters selling their group's memorabilia in the public spaces of Istanbul. But it will only be a matter of time before the group that the Turks hate somewhat less than the Kurds, turns their wrath on them.
Meanwhile, everyone who has even an inkling of honest intellectualism can surmise that President Obama is doing the absolute minimum he can to satisfy his duty to protect the security of the United States, while keeping the lid on his radical anti-war base by "phoning it in." Problem is that with more and more American ISIS fighters returning to the United States from their terrorist education abroad, and who knows how many ISIS members taking advantage of the Obama open border policy in the South, the president's feckless and lackluster defense of this country will create a security risk long after his tenure in office expires.
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