From Addiction to Recovery

Mr. President you have a problem. You are a spending addict.

While reading the accounts of how you stormed out of the debt limit meetings last night, I realized you have yet to accept your addiction. The question you should be asking yourself is not "How do I get conservatives in the house to go along with raising the debt ceiling?" it should be "How can we reduce spending and LOWER the debt ceiling?" Just one more fix is all you feel you are seeking. A temporary high to continue your personal feel-good-money-give-away to your political donors. You have already had your orgy of spending with your trillion dollar stimulus spending. You promised that THAT fix would make everything better. In your spending high you promised that this one massive infusion of our tax dollars would insure unemployment would top at 8% then recede. It has been over 9% ever since. You now want to tax the working people, but are so blinded by your addiction to see that people AREN'T working. And those who are, are struggling with lower wages and higher costs. You wouldn't see that from your private golf course, presidential plane and historic number of presidential vacation trips to post resorts. For you, the party of the presidency must continue. These gilded trappings seem to make you forget that you were vehemently against raising the debt ceiling in your partial term in the senate. You forget a lot about what you claimed to stand for as a candidate for President. As with every addict, the addiction now calls the shots. Unemployment, inflation and economic growth will all get better if you can just have more to spend. Well it won't Mr. President. And until you admit and learn to control your addiction, our nation's recovery will not happen. And THAT is what will end your presidency.

Bin Laden is Dead! What Next?

Before we continue our back-slapping, flag waving and dancing in the streets over the killing of Bin Laden, we must take a deep breath and look at the long-range picture. What we do now will have implications for our future.

Recall the anger we felt when we saw the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks laughing about the success of their plan. This short footage was shown over and over to remind us who was responsible for the murders of thousands. We vowed to be vigilant in our pursuit of those responsible. And that footage gave us proof of who we were after. The people who celebrated, along with Muslim extremists in the streets of Arab countries who burned our flag and praised the terrorist acts, gave us pause to question the perception of our nation and our countrymen in foreign lands. We wondered why they hate us so.

Perception is key to our future in the war on terror. Will this be perceived as the justice it is? Or will it be seen as just another volley in "an eye for an eye"?

I was a bit dismayed at the over-jubilance of some of the network media who reported the killing of Bin Laden. Some of them could barely contain themselves over the joy of this man's death. When one of the major networks showed a retrospective of Bin Laden's life, I thought the only thing missing was the sad music and tributes from Bin Laden's family and friends. I don't know why I should expect any caution from the media these days, they always report first then verify and justify at some later date. As revelers gathered outside of the White House to chant "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!" and "Na na, hey hey, goodbye." I could only think of that post 9/11 footage of the masterminds. How will this be perceived in the Arab world? Only time will tell.

While we are relieved that the most hated enemy of the United States is dead, we must remember that he has followers. And that he has recruited members by portraying us as western oppressors of Islamic culture. Celebrating Bin Laden's killing will only add to his followers creation of his martyrdom. The legend of Bin Laden will grow if we elevate his death to that of the end of a fighting warrior. The reality that he was born to privilege and died living in the same manner will be washed over by our need to claim this as a great victory. The weakened terrorist, who saw his deputies caught and his followers dwindle, MUST NOT now be given a greater status by receiving weeks of media coverage and self congratulations by U.S. leaders. We stepped on a dying cockroach, scraped him off our shoe and tossed him in the toilet. Now back to finding his followers.

News has filtered out this morning that Bin Laden was located by using information collected from inmates at the Guantanamo prison. THIS is why we must never close GITMO; RESULTS! Let the tribunals begin.

Where are the Anti-War Protesters?

Millions of dollars are being spent on bombs dropped on a country to aid revolutionary rebels. The President of the United States has formed a coalition and is calling it a "humanitarian mission" and an effort to "protect American interests". World leaders are debating what should be done about the dictatorial leader. One thing is missing. The young people who protested outside the White House in large, orchestrated numbers with signs reading "No Blood for Oil", "Impeach!" and "De-fund This War!" when President Bush was in charge. New War, new president.

I shouldn't be surprised they are no-shows. We haven't heard a peep out of them about closing down GITMO now that Obama has reneged on that campaign promise. Similarly, we never heard from the feminists who praised then Democrat first lady Hillary Clinton for calling for the world to take a stand against the Taliban in Afghanistan for their enslavement of women, when we toppled the Taliban under Republican President Bush.

Time will tell and the truth will out. And they have. The feminist movement doesn't represent women, it represents women of the Democrat party. Bill Maher's recent sexist comment about Sarah Palin outed them yet again. It wasn't until they had egg on their silent faces that they were forced to issue a cool response. And as for the organized anti-war protests? We their community organizer is a little busy filling his campaign chest, reading teleprompters, golfing and taking vacations. He no longer has time to organize the community.

I question the President's choice of labeling this issue as "humanitarian" when the genocide in Darfur continues. Oh wait, there are no American oil interests there. Where was the humanitarian relief for the protesters who took to the streets of Tehran? I suppose when you are the President of the United States you can pick and choose which lives are more important. It's only your ethics and credibility on the line. Much like the anti-war protesters, whose credibility and legitimacy have been sold to the Obama administration and the Democrat party.

Don't get me wrong, I support this military action in Libya. Just as I supported Iraq, Afghanistan and any other nation trying to transform from a tyrannical dictatorship to a true democracy. And I believe that protecting the interests of the world economies is vital to keeping the free market flowing.

The time and truth have outed President Obama and his activist followers as the opportunists and media whores they are. Using military actions to push their agenda's and to get their man in charge of the purse strings. I can't wait until the 2012 election, which seems to have started with the Presidents campaign commercial last night. Let the campaign begin. And lets see if Obama and the left can hide their true motives again. Fool us once...

Is This His Idea of the Center??

I'm still laughing at those media lapdogs of the DNC who used their spotlights to claim that President Obama, after losing the house last November, has "moved closer to the center". I supposed his failure to stop the extension of the Bush tax cuts could, in Obama's world, be seen as a centrist move. But I haven't seen any more evidence of centrist actions since then.

While thinking back to the President's critics words during the 2008 elections, I am surprised to find that most of their extreme predictions have come true. Obama the "community agitator" is now encouraging mass sit-in's and walk-out's to block legislation by legislators who have been elected to reduce government. He is praising the Eric Cartman Democrats of Wisconsin who have told their constituents "Screw you guys, I'm going home!" These demonstrations may seem like the right thing to do when you are paid to stir up the community. But when you are elected to do a job, running away and surrendering to mob rule is just a precursor to anarchy through abdication.

Obama the socialist was predicted to drive up energy costs so high that the American people would have no choice but to fall on the alter of Al Gore and his self-financially opportunistic "global warming" business. Since he took office, President Obama has traveled the middle east with his apology tour, speaking out of both sides of his mouth by claiming to support human rights, but bowing to the Saudi king who squashes them. He ignored the Iranian's stand for Democracy, but encouraged the Egyptians. He has sent very mixed signals to Israel and their counterparts. The middle east is falling into a dangerous mass of anarchy and military regimes. Our Secretary of State is showing she is only in her position so that President Obama can keep his enemy close...and to make sure she doesn't mount a 2012 primary challenge. Oil prices are rising. Inflation is rising. And since Obama bought off two of the big three auto makers, our tax dollars are being spent to "minimize our carbon foot print". Not hard to do since nobody will have any money to consume carbon inducing products.

The latest Obama move is to encourage state workers to stage sit-ins, walk-outs and shut-downs because his policies lost control of so many state houses and governor seats. It's his way of activating the community to do his job by bringing the work of elected officials to a halt. What's next? I'm seeing a vision of a protest at our nation's capitol to try to stop the Republicans from removing bloated government and from cutting funding of stimulus funds to the pockets of Democrat campaign donors. This one is a no brainer.

The time has come for the same people who organized the tea party protests to neutralize these demonstrations and to keep the electorate focused on how Barrack Obama has transformed us into a nation of constant protests. The end result will be a diminishing of importance of these media shows. People quickly grow tired of actions producing inaction. Last November we voted for a speedy reduction in government deficit spending. These protests merely stall our wishes. So let President Obama continue to agitate the communities of the world. His actions are writing the epitaph of his failed leadership and his failed presidency. And he is proving just how far from the center he actually is.

A Higher Standard for Leadership

With the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ronald Reagan upon us, we have the opportunity to look back on what made him stand out among leaders and presidents of our great nation. His uplifting words still echo through and remind us of what we now lack. His positive attitude and determination led us out of the dark days of energy shortages, inflation and joblessness. His smile gave us hope that everything would be alright.

Contrast to the current administration and their constant need to find others to blame for their failed policies. Contrast to the constant dour look of our current President who, one can only guess, is trying to appear as he is very serious about his job yet seems to enjoy vacations and golfing more than the job he sought to be elected to.

Ronald Reagan took on big government. Barrack Obama invests in big government. I find it interesting that in this time of out of control deficits and spending, while the federal government seems addicted to bailouts and government takeovers, state, county and civic bodies are finding that Ronald Reagan was right and that minimal government gives entrepreneurial control to the people. And capitalist growth drives an increase in tax dollars. Raising taxes on a cash strapped society only increases and extends the strength and length of a recession.

Ronald Reagan gave us inspiration to defeat Jimmy Carter's desperation. While Jimmy was being burned in effigy in the middle east, cars were lining up for miles just to fill the gas tank and Jimmy was giving that lengthy and confusing 'National Malaise' speech, Ronald Reagan reminded us of our "shining city on a hill". He reminded us of our greatness and what we were capable of achieving if given the tools to do it.

Not all people are capable of being inspirational optimists. Many lack that sparkle in the eyes and perpetual smile on their face. Some, like Jimmy Carter and Barrack Obama, can be described in the same words Alice Roosevelt Longworth used to describe Calvin Coolidge. "He looks like he was weaned on a pickle." He did and so do they.

America is enduring a time of great frustration. A time when die hard followers of the President are hard up to find some inspiration in the tele-prompted speeches and off-the-cuff "uh's and um's" of a man who seems in it over his head. We need to believe in ourselves again. We need to stop electing someone because they are "Kennedy-like" or even "Reagan-like". We need a GENUINE person who is blessed with a spirit of optimism that we all wish we had. A true leader in all respects who will restore our drive and renew our faith in the greatest nation on earth.

In the Media's Cross hairs

Bryan Williams stands in the dark plaza in Tucson interviewing anybody who knows anything about the tragic shooting which killed U.S. District Judge John Roll, 9 year old Christina Taylor-Green, Dorwan Stoddard, Dorothy Morris, Phyllis Scheck and Gabe Zimmerman. Unfortunately for those victims, most of the conversation on NBC and the other news networks is about critically injured Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and speculation of the motive of the shooter, who doesn't deserve recognition. The suspected gunman is in custody and the media (along with some prominent Democrats) has already blamed Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and the Tea Party. Even while former friends of the gunman are saying he was a "Left-wing pothead".

I'm not going to argue for or against what is determined to be "hateful rhetoric". Especially after the past election and the mud slung from both sides. It's politics. I am going to condemn those who are quick to use the words of those who oppose their ideas to level blame. Not Surprising that Sarah Palin was the first to be blamed for her "cross hairs" post. And Tucson sheriff Clarence Dupnic was quick to blame the Tea Party activists. Ironically, the intended target, Representative Giffords, is a conservative Democrat, well respected by fellow members of the house on both sides of the aisle except for the far left. Remember the left of the Democratic Party? They're the ones who control the Democrat minority. Like the attempted bombing of the Discovery Channel headquarters, this points to another leftist wacko. But make your own assertion. My point here is that in the media saturation, an accused gunman is getting more than 15 minutes of fame. And the usual mouthpieces are weighing in with their attacks. The media just chooses who they point the cameras at.

While the people who are portrayed as being fair and balanced news reporters by their bosses play pick and choose with the facts they deliver, we, their audience, need to be aware that while they may point out who the target in Sarah Palin's proverbial "cross hairs" is, she has a permanent bulls eye on her back, compliments of the media. If they are going to take aim at those using "hateful rhetoric", perhaps they need to listen to their own words.