Category: magazines

Wrong math?

Thank you to the commenter who corrected my math by pointing out that we pay taxes on income so that if Senator Lautenberg increased his taxes to 55 % of income then he would still be richer year after year.  The writer also commented that I probably pay too much taxes.  I might, but I am comfortable with taxes as they are now because I actually do feel that taxes are a requirement for living in this great and wonderful USA. However, I don’t like giving the government additional powers over my life, and taxes are one way for governments to exert power.  It may not be one persons fault, Obama, because under our present understanding of government, taxes are used to employ people. These many millions in positions of government authority want job security and for them taxes on everybody so that they can be government employees may seem the right thing.  This includes pensioners and Social Security and Disability recipients. But I do not think of employment as a primary objective of taxes.  I think that we need to limit government’s control over the individual and that includes the wealthiest among us.  Specifics?  Actually, I could list mine and say that I am right.  But then, you would list the opposite position and say it is right.  So, there is an impasse.  However, at least for now, we still have a Congress and an independent judiciary and both are benevolent.  So my fears are allayed and I am secure.  But I will remain vigilant to safeguard the freedoms enjoyed in the USA.  And granted, nothing, even freedom, can be absolute.  But any curtailment should be through vibrant and even  very robust public debate with the decisions made in open meetings, (no back room politics please) and with a rule that the separation of powers be not only respected but demanded by the electorate.  A long way from wrong math?  Yes, but my stream of consciousness writing style took me there.  And such fault, if it be a fault, is not Obama’s and not George Bush’s.  It’s mine!

Sarkozy Under Investigation?

http://news.yahoo.com/sarkozy-faces-slew-probes-immunity-ends-092003356.html  As I read this news story, and it is news not commentary, I wonder about all the moral high ground and moral posturing by Sarkozy when he spearheaded the criminal aggression against Libya.  Only a few months ago it was Sarkozy the Just against Gaddafi the Vile.  Back then, it was the France of Joan of Arc, the Britain of Churchill, and the USA of George Washington against the dirty desert dictator from Tripoli.  Back then the contrasts were so stark.  It was the tent of Libya against the Versailles of Sarkozy’s France.  But reading this article one’s eyesight focuses and the distinctions turn into desert sands which constantly morph into different shapes.  This writer has been consistent and is still committed to a “Realpolitic” that holds the self-righteous to the same standards they set for others.

In the USA, which is my county, our leader and his party have denounced terror and terrorism.  President Obama was quick to criticize the CIA for “waterboarding” which he called torture.  There was constant posturing as the Democratic Congress people like Pelosi and Senator Reid smirked about the terrible George Bush.  But today we witness President Obama willingly ordering political murder.  I have lost count of the number of assassinations by aerial drone the USA has committed.  We are told that the targets of these killings deserve what we deal to them.  They are terrorists we are told.  They are suspected of terrorism we are told.  They must be executed where they are before they have a chance to send terrorists to us.  Regularly, we are reading of another pinpoint assassination of some supposed terrorist or other as though the drone kills only the single human and leaves all others unharmed.  But we know that a drone is an aerial bomb and the alleged terrorist is joined in his death by all those around him.  Are none of the associates innocent or is anyone even standing in the vicinity of the drone’s target to be considered worthy of death?

Sarkozy, Cameron and Obama need to be investigated and also the United Nations and NATO should be called to the Bar, not only for political impropriety but also international criminal aggression.

Governor Christie Survives Navy SEAL Attack

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/governor-chris-christie-idiot-student-damn-man-m-221915452.html

Governor Christie was attacked yesterday during a question and answer period at Rutgers University.  The attacker was a former US Navy “SEAL”.

Firstly, we note that Governor Christie is the elected Representative of the citizens of New Jersey.  Secondly, we note that he is at a public forum in order to appear in person to those citizens.  Thirdly, we note that governor Christie was ambushed by the Rutgers student.  The student did not have a gun but he did have a weapon, his mouth.  He did not have an intention to physically harm the governor, but he did have the intention to inflict harm upon the Governor.  His intention was to cause a shouting match in a public place between himself and the Governor of New Jersey.  His attempt to ambush Governor Christie was successful, although the Governor  survived.

Several items stand out.  The person shouting at the forum was a former US Navy SEAL.  Well, this writer served in the US Army for thirty years and I can state without any doubt that US Navy SEALS are trained to say yes SIR and no SIR or (Mad’m) as the case may be.  Not to amend all statements in such fashion is punishable as disrespect to an officer of the Navy.  So, we know straight away, that the student is acting intentionally and not from emotions, (he’s a SEAL!) and not from ignorance.  Sad that a former US Navy SEAL should think so little of the Navy that he would cause it to be embarrassed by his public conduct.

Next, we note that the person shouting over the Governor of NJ is a person who is probably on monetary support from the US Federal government through the Montgomery GI Bill, the Reserve Assistance Educational Program, (REAP) or the Post 9/11 education bill.  He is attending a NJ State sponsored school, so he is already getting lower tuition and fees because taxes levied on NJ property owners are used to subsidize students like him.  And if there are any other scholarship monies for the former US Navy SEAL then he is getting everything for free.  It is obvious from Governor Christie’s response that the Governor was exasperated with the student and was reminding him, politely, like a  good father to an unruly child, of the aforementioned facts.

Lastly, we note that the student is identified as a Democrat and active in Democrat political activities on campus.  This last factor plays well into my suspicion that this entire episode was a pre meditated political attack using ambush as the method.  Let me be quick to add that I realize that this analogy can be carried too far.  And this writer realizes that heckling is a recognized, although unworthy, political tool, (yes, I know that the Democrats also get this treatment.)  Governor Christie recognized the situation, addressed the immediate threat to his presentation, while expressing frustration concerning the non civil nature of the interchange.   A frustration which President Obama has repeatedly lamented from the stage, after which lamentation, he launches into withering political name calling, and accusations against the Congress blaming them for all the ills that plague the Nation.

One last point here.  It is coincidental that this student ambushes a Republican Governor.  We have witnessed similar ambushes by college student activists against both Democrats and Republicans.  So, the question begs to be asked about student political activism on USA campuses.

This writer applauds Governor Christie and for those who think that the statement, “..look I’m the Governor…” is petty or betrays hubris or its reverse, well, it doesn’t.  How can I say that? Simple, you say it does and I say it does not.

Obama goes Backwards

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-america-coming-back-012139891.html

The sad part of this article is President Obama himself.  He had the chance for greatness when he became President. Instead he did not trust the American people. He apologized for us before the international community which effectively renounced our efforts in WWI and WW II and under the Marshall Plan, and during the Cold War and even during Kennedy’s confrontation with the Soviet Union in Cuba.

Almost at the same time, he instigated the so-called “Arab Spring” by his inaugural speeches in North Africa and his support of CIA supported insurgencies in the countries of our ally Egypt and in Libya, a country to which we had made expansive national promises; which promises Obama quickly and brutally denied. The result was the disgraceful NATO invasion and decimation of the sovereign State of Libya under a bogus “protect the civilians” United Nations resolution 1973.  A nasty business deal between Sarkozy, Cameron and Obama which ended with the brutal, illegal and ugly murder of the legal Leader of the Revolution, Moamar Gaddafi.  Essentially, it is the same regicide that occurred under Kennedy against Diem in Vietnam.  And very sadly, regicide is a heinous crime that never leaves its perpetrators unaccountable.  As I have stated in previous articles, I believe that the NATO actions against Libya are criminal aggression, and crimes against humanity.  We should not yawn and go on our way but we should, like we did with Milosevic, require accountability from Sarkozy, Cameron, Obama and Rasmussen.

I stated at the beginning that the sad part of this article is Obama, himself.  Why?  Because, of instead of holding forth his positions in terms of health care, (really all he has) maybe even his withdrawal of troops from Iraq as instigated by President Bush, he instead attempts to blame everything, (except maybe the weather!) on his predecessor, President Bush.

Essentially, this seemingly benign speech is an indictment of the citizens of the USA.  Ultimately, it is they who are President Obama’s target and ultimately, he is blaming them.  Why?  Because in free and fair elections the people elected President Bush and the Democrat Congress and ultimately they are themselves to blame for the results.  It is remarkable that his hearers do not realize that whenever President Obama blames President Bush, he is actually blaming the people who are listening to him.

I am reminded, and I tremble to make this association, but it must be done.  I am reminded of Adolf Hitler, who at the end of his brutal and genocidal regime blamed the German people for everything that happened.  It was because they were not worthy of him.

Amazing but true. He and his generals held onto this absurdity until Hitler committed suicide in the underground bunker, rather than face the fact of a ravaged and destroyed Germany.

And before everybody goes crazy and accuses me of saying that President Obama is Hitler.  That is absolutely not true. And if the President were to ask me to the White House, I would dress in a suit and tie and call him Sir and feel very privileged that the elected President of the USA had allowed me to meet him.  None the less, the analogy stands.

So where is all of this going?  Essentially, I am a Bush and Romney man.  However, I think that President Obama has missed his “greatness” moments and the cited article reinforces the notion that he intends to run his 2012 campaign against President George W. Bush instead of against Governor George Romney.

Sad. Really!  Because, although not a Obama man, I feel that he had and perhaps still has, enormous potential for greatness.  Why do I care?  I love the USA.  Obama is the President of the USA and may be again.  Because he does not fully understand the greatness to which we the people have elected him, substituting instead accusations against us, and therefore against himself, he fails.  And his failure hurts us.  Why?  Because we need his greatness.  And his refusal to be great on our terms, deciding instead to lower himself to Democrat versus Republican partisan bickering, he has refused the greatness which may have been his destiny and was certainly the electorates intention.

Presidemt Obama needs to retire.  But he will not, And like all men who have missed their moment of greatness, he will bicker and recriminate and we will all suffer. Better to leave and build a library to your ideas.  That is the more noble path, Sir.

 

Kofi Annan and Peace

http://news.yahoo.com/annan-meet-assad-seeking-end-syria-violence-002653949.html  The question asked in this article is “Can Kofi Annan” broker a peace in Syria?”  My answer is an unequivocal yes.  However, there are conditions and they are the following:

1. Foreign elements such as the CIA and the British and French Spy agencies must stop fomenting the continued unrest in Syria.

2. Russia and especially Vladimir Putin must be consulted and approve any deal.

3. Iran must be consulted and included in all back door negotiations for a settlement.

4. The legal government of Syria under Assad must be respected and affirmed by the UN as the legal government of Syria.

5. The violent and armed insurgency must be disavowed, disarmed and dissolved by its foreign sponsors.

6. The legal government under Assad must be publicly, and I repeat the word “publicly” engaged and publicly guaranteed legal and legitimate means for resolution of the conflict under Syrian law.

7. The so-called Syrian National Council, which is a surrogate for France and Britain must be disavowed and required to dissolve.

8. China must be constantly consulted and included in the ongoing negotiations for the sovereignty of Syria.

9. USA, Britain and France must publicly affirm their recognition of the legal Assad government in Damascus.

10. NATO must publicly announce that it is not even entitled to intervene in the affairs of the sovereign State of Syria.

11. Turkey, as a member State of NATO must refuse to continue harboring enemies of the Syrian government such as recently defected Generals.

12. Tribal leaders, (for lack of a better “Western” term) must be included as integral to any internal agreement between the government of Syrian and the International community. 

13. In the event of free and internationally monitored elections, the monitors must disavow beforehand the prejudiced and inaccurate statements of election fraud which, for instance, were routinely issued after the election of Vladimir Putin.

I recognise that the 13 conditions place all of the burden on the West respecting the sovereign integrity of the Syrian government of President Assad.  But this is the only legitimate and realistic way to end the outside influenced insurgency and restore peace and tranquility to Syria.  And let me end by emphasis on the central and key role of Russia, China and Turkey.  As for England and France, they are former Imperialist Colonial powers and their hands are already bloody because of their brutal pursuit of Western Imperialism in Libya.  And the USA?  We should be foremost in favor of  national sovereignty as reflected by our own revolution against colonial Imperial England in 1776.  And we should be for non-interference as reflected by our Federal position during our own Civil War, (or War of Northern Aggression) in 1865.  The fact that we abandoned these policies in 1875 versus Mexico and in 1898 versus Spain and in 1917 versus the Axis is merely evidence of our own growth as an international imperial power.  WW II is an entirely different story.  And Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan are exceptionalism adventures, to say the least.

Yes, Kofi Annan can restore peace, to a war ravaged Syria.  However, this writer believes that the adventurism of the USA government is already undermining his efforts.  And I believe that the robust colonial imperialism displayed by France under Sarkozy and England under Cameron, is not likely to dissipate. Therefore, the goodly people of Syria, like the countries of Egypt, and Libya will be the unwitting dupes of the internationalist aspirations of USA Obama, Frances’s Sarkozy and England’s Cameron.  A very sad commentary indeed. 

The National Reviewers are not Intellectual Giants Just Opinionated People

http://www.tnr.com/blog/timothy-noah/101434/what-about-the-democrats-rush-limbaughs  I just went back to this article and read the comments of the people who cared to comment.  I didn’t comment and do not have a subscription but I suggest that my readers go there, read this prejudiced article, and read the equally petty and unreasonable comments and it testifies to my premise that this is definitely not a magazine of intellectual greatness.

The New Republic is Disappointing

http://www.tnr.com/article/101532/home-news-letter-tnr-readers-chris-hughes  Very nice letter about high ideas, and higher ideals, and the rule of civility and the need for in-depth journalism and the like.  Sadly, I then looked at the article about “Where are the Democrat Rush Limbaughs” http://www.tnr.com/blog/timothy-noah/101434/what-about-the-democrats-rush-limbaughs and immediately the phony claims of TNR were uncovered as the author excused all the Democrat people he listed, all of them saying much more offensive things than Limbaugh. The claim the TNR uses in his article is phony because the author uses a flimsy excuse that all  his cited Democrats were essentially “good” people who said very nasty things to people but the cited Democrats were not haters.  Moreover, the author makes the patently invalid claim that Rush Limbaugh and his followers are an army of hate mongers who are so filled with vitriolic hatred that they attack poor innocent and defenseless private citizen Fluke.  Then I looked at the Democrat ads, and the overwhelmingly favorable pro Democrat content.  My conclusion, TNR is just an old paper publication proclaiming the pro Democrat, so-called Progressive and so-called Liberal agenda which is pilloried by the Conservatives.  Its scholarship is not better, its investigative reporting is not better, its in-depth pro and con analysis of issues facing the national society is not better, and its prejudices and stereotypical name calling are disappointing.  When I read the letter of the new owner and I read the letter of the founders, I had hope that finally there would actually be a publication able to have an intellectual discussion according to the rules of civil discourse.  Sadly, TNR is not this.  All the writers should read The Rev. Father (deceased) Richard John Neuhaus, The Naked Public Square.  Maybe, if TNR could be renewed in that image, then it might be worth reading.  Until then, I will continue to keep searching for the real thing.