Shame on you, UN

This week was a circus of madness with Gadhafi and Ahmadinejad. I didn't catch Gadhafi's 90 mins of rambling nonsense but did manage to catch Ahmad's vitriol. He rambled on about Israel and the US. what crap!

I also watched Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the UN. My stance on support for Israel is clear and his call out to the UN, "Will you stand with Israel or will you stand for terrorists?" is plainly spoken and unambivalent.

Support for Israel is so important. It can't be minimized. Their very existence depends upon our support.



Part 2

Part 3

Part 4


May Peace be finally come to Israel.

h/t LGF

Pres. Carter Jumping the Shark

Up front, I'll admit I have NO love for Pres. Carter. It's not his effort with Habitat for Humanity, which I admire nor is it his work on fair elections around the world that cause my disdain. It's his anti-Semitic words and actions toward Israel and his blind faith in Palestinian causes. But that's not the purpose of this blog...

Has Pres. Carter jumped the shark? The phrase comes from an old Happy Days episode where all who watched knew the moment Fonzi jumped a shark while water skiing that the show was over. Is this Carter's moment? I sure hope so.

Carter went on NBC Nightly News and proudly proclaimed that those who currently oppose Pres. Obama are racist. This does not take into consideration the merit of his proposals nor plans, but only supposes opponents are automatically racist. Can you believe it? Almost 53% of America voted for Obama. He enjoyed a 70% approval rating six months ago. Yet, if you oppose him you are branded a racist...

Granted, there are probably at least 10% of America who are out and out racist. This can't be helped. Some people are just plain stupid and nothing you can say or do will change that; probably another 15% are 'uncomfortable' with certain aspect of race issues. I don't know this for a fact, but in my life I've met some fine people who occasionally were a bit squeamish in certain environments or circumstances. However, this does not make them automatically racist, just outside of their comfort zone.

But, Carter goes well beyond comfort zone issues. He paints a broad brush saying:

"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American," Carter told "NBC Nightly News." "I live in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shares the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African-Americans."

Now, I'm not naive enough to think some people oppose Obama because he's African-American. Bigot abound. But please, there of us who oppose the man for his political beliefs and not for the color of his skin.

My issue is massive, unsustainable spending and increasingly engorged government. The moment you have a populous that is a majority working for the government (national, state or local) is the moment we lose our true republic. It will be a government-employer for life...And this doesn't even begin to talk about the healthcare issue!!

I just wish Carter would retire on his porch in "his" racist South and fade away...

Peace

Freedom Towers?

Today marks the 8th year since the disaster of Sept 11th. I can't call it an 'anniversary' since that connotates a celebration. I remember turning on the TV getting ready for work that historic day. Being on the west coast, it was around 10:00a ET when I saw what was going on. What a shock! A day I will truly never forget.

Watching Glenn Beck tonight brought forth something I've had in the back of my mind but never really thought too much about. Why after 8 years do we NOT have something built on the Twin Towers site?? Are you telling me that we can't either build this 'Freedom Tower' or some special memorial monument?

Why? How can we NOT have done SOMETHING to honor those who perished on that tragic day? Didn't the politicians 'promise' to rebuild something called the Freedom Towers? What happened? Was it the political correctness calling for "Freedom" Towers to be changed since it might offend the Chinese, the primary renter of the previous Twin Towers? Or is it just ineptness?

I can't believe it's really ineptness, can you? If the Empire State building could be built in 400 days, why would it take over 2,000 days (and counting) to even start something on this national treasure site??

I really do think this is an example of the our entire system, be it political or economical. Our ineptness is palpable. It's in the air. It's something we can feel everyday! 'Normal' people question daily what our elected 'leaders' are doing, but unfortunately we find that while we question what 'other' US Representatives are doing (Pelosi, Frank, Rangel et.al.), we feel 'our guy is OK'. Pathetic.

If the politicians can't agree on what to build on the site, then just pave it and make it a memorial park. Just put something to honor the fallen and stop all the game playing/power tripping.

We owe the fallen more than this...

Peace

AP photo of mortally wounded soldier

I'm torn on what AP published today of a mortally wounded soldier, Lance Cpl. Joshua "Bernie" Bernard, 21, who died in a grenade ambush in Afghanistan on Aug 14th. They published a photo of Bernard as he lay dying while being triaged by fellow soldiers. AP had a reporter and photographer embedded with his unit.

While I don't hold the media today to the stature they once held, I feel they need to be free to delve into areas that make us think. Unfortunately, they have not done so for several years, especially in recent years. I'm not overly concerned when they buck the government since that's their job (although they can't seem to do that today!). However, when a family first 'request' them not to publish their dying son, then later, in 'stronger terms' ask the photos not to be used, I'm torn and tend to lean towards the family.

While the story was being written, an AP reporter visited the home of John and Sharon Bernard to learn more about their son. The couple was shown Jacobson's pictures, and requested that they not be used. In a later fact-checking phone call, John Bernard asked in stronger terms that the photos not be used, Daniszewski said.

We're not talking about a flag covered casket, but an action photo of their son dying.

Secretary Gates contacted AP to express his disappointment, too:

Gates wrote a strongly worded letter to AP President and CEO Tom Curley on Thursday, saying it was a matter of "judgment and common decency" not to use the photo. A Pentagon spokesman said Gates followed up with a phone call "begging" Curley not to use it.

It seems some of the newspapers have picked this time to express their views:

The Newark, N.J., Star-Ledger ran a picture of Bernard's memorial service on its front page and the ambush picture inside. Editor Jim Willse said it was "not a difficult decision for us," and said it would have run the ambush picture out front "if the story had been presented differently."

The Wheeling, W.Va., Intelligencer ran the photo inside and an editorial explaining why it did "after hours of debate."

"Too often, we fear, some Americans see only the statistics, the casualty counts released by the Department of Defense," the newspaper wrote. "We believe it is important for all of us to understand that behind the numbers are real men and women, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice, for us."

At least the Portland (ME) Press-Herald showed some courtesy:

The Portland (Me.) Press-Herald ran an editor's note with the story saying it had received the photo but believed it would be in "poor taste" to publish it. Bernard was raised in New Portland, Me.

Ultimately, AP tried to balance the family vs. what they felt was news:

Although the family was shown the pictures ahead of time as a courtesy, "we did not ask permission" to use them, Daniszewski said.

"There was no question that the photo had news value," he said. "But we also were very aware the family wished for the picture not to be seen. That created a difficult choice between our job to document the war and our respect for the suffering of the corporal's family."

During lengthy internal discussions, the family issue was the most difficult, he said. Ultimately, the AP concluded that "the photo itself is a part of the war we needed to cover and convey."

While I've never disagreed with going into Afghanistan, I think 'nation building' in that country is doomed to failure. Believe it or not, not every country/civilization is ready for democracy. Our mission was/should of been to destroy the AQ/Taliban infrastructure with the idea of keeping an eye of their future developments.

Once again, I'm torn on how to report Lance Cpl. Bernard's tragic death. While it is relevant, the family's wishes should be respected. I live within five miles of Ft. Lewis, a major departure Army base, and just this last week, 10 soldiers stationed here will not return home to their families. I see their photos in the paper along with their mourning family members. The anguish is tough to view. I cannot imagine them having to see a photo of their son as he lay dying.

Peace, Lance Cpl. Bernard. Thank you for your service and ultimate sacrifice

No Peace without Syria

Michael J. Totten has once again written an excellent article in Commentary on the realistic chances of peace in the Middle East. Needless to say, it's not a very optimistic view given the Assad regime's tenuous hold over the Sunni majority.

Syria’s fundamentalist Sunnis have long detested his Baath party regime, not only because it’s secular and oppressive but also because its leaders are considered heretics. The Assads and most of the Baathist elites belong to the Alawite religious minority, descendants of the followers of Muhammad ibn Nusayr, who took them out of mainstream Twelver Shiite Islam in the 10th century. Their religion has as much in common with Christianity and Gnosticism as it does with Islam, and most Syrians find it both bizarre and offensive that the Alawites are in charge of the country instead of the majority Sunnis.

The greatest Assad fear would be the Sunni charge of treason if peace between Syria and Israel ever came to fruition. So there will be no peace between Syria and Israel as long as Assad is in power, but then...there would probably be no peace with a Sunni fundamentalist government, either.

Media Bias

James Taranto at WSJ blog has an excellent example of the media bias that drives sane people crazy. The bashing of Bush even at the beginning is reflected in a NY Times piece in the summer of 2001, yet Obama rightfully is allowed his Martha' Vineyard vacation with little questioning.

Can't Seem to Get My Mind Off of You
Back Here at Home With Nothing to Do
Here's a blast from the past. The New York Times, July 9, 2001, reports on George W. Bush's first summer vacation as president:

On Friday, as new unemployment figures painted a newly troubling portrait of the American economy, Mr. Bush placed himself in the same scenes--golfing and fishing in a New England paradise--that once caused his father electoral grief.

Simply amazing.

Here's the Bureau of Labor Statistics report, dated July 6, that "painted a newly troubling portrait of the American economy":

The unemployment rate was little changed at 4.5 percent, five-tenths of a percentage point higher than the average for 2000.

As Barack Obama embarked on his first summer vacation as president last week--also in a "New England paradise," Martha's Vineyard--the most recent unemployment rate was 9.4%, more than double the summer 2001 figure. Covering the Obama jaunt, the Times offers no hint that there's anything wrong with a president taking a vacation during a time of genuine crisis. Indeed, it offers this justification:

Mr. Obama, whom aides described as being amused by all of the gloom-and-doom prognosticating over his health care agenda, did not even consider skipping his vacation. Last year, he talked about the importance of taking a break to avoid "making mistakes."

That makes sense--and in any case, it's not as if the president actually escapes his responsibilities when he goes on "vacation." But the Times's coverage of Obama is a useful contrast to the paper's petty partisan sniping against Bush.

World Soccer Daily - RIP

It was an amazing shock yesterday, when I went to listen to my favorite podcast and web cast, and found it off the air!! I was so disappointed. These folks, Stephen Cohen and Kenny Hassan, were like best buds. I would say like 'best mates' but that would sound too Anglophile.

We can thank the rat-bastards that support Liverpool FC for this loss of the only daily soccer show in America. It's always been known that Steven despises Liverpool fans for their historical hooliganism and he has never been shy about voicing his opinions on his show. But when he expressed his opinion on the Hillsborough tragedy (as factually incorrect as it may have been), all the Liverpool FC fan base went nuclear. They began a massive boycott effort against Fox Soccer Channel and against WSD. They succeeded in removing Cohen from Fox Football Fhone-in (FFF), but since WSD was co-owned by Cohen, it was more difficult.

When they couldn't get all the sponsors to stop supporting WSD, many of the 'fans' turned personal, attacking Cohen directly with anti-Semitic vitriol as well as attacking his family. It was these attacks on his family that became the last straw, so he pulled the show from the air.

While I didn't agree with Cohen's view of Hillsborough (in which 96 people died in a stampede caused by local officials), the thought that free speech has been gagged due to a few thugs is chilling. If you don't like a program on radio, TV or podcasts, then TURN IT OFF. What they have done is throw such a tantrum that ruined an otherwise excellent soccer program.

Here is an excellent post from Mark Sawyer who tried to mitigate a resolution btwn Stephen Cohen and Mel Abshier, the main drive behind the witchhunt. Even as a veteran of conflict resolution, he was disappointed with Abshier's actions.

I am truly sad about this loss...

Here is WSD's final show:

Healthcare

I am so f’ing tired of all the BS about the town halls currently taking place around the country. Does the media really think we have such a short term memory that we can’t even remember the 2008 election with Obama’s ‘grassroots’ movement? How about the `90s with Medicare reform?? It’s amazing how the US Reps are running or hiding from the meetings. Oh, and news flash, yes the little folks are a wee bit upset and don’t need to be ‘organized into mobs’.

On healthcare, since I work in the biz I naturally have an opinion!

Since healthcare was employer mandated during the `30s, it’s moved from personal responsibility to ‘someone else supplying it’. This takes the personal ownership away from the primary responsible individual to one of a view of becoming a ‘right’. While healthcare is not really a right, I do believe it can/should be classified as something of a sub-right, where responsible folks should not be penalized for things like pre-conditions or transportability.

First…this should concentrate on functionality currently able to be fixed such as fore mentioned pre-existing conditions and transportability, but also tort reform. I see doctors having to order a whole menu of tests just to cover themselves. Yes, I know some folks may think this is only ‘talking points’ but I’ve seen it in action… Blanket tests covers a shotgun approach for diagnosis.

Second, tort reform. How to handle this?? If a doctor, screws up an operation leaving a loved one as a vegetable, how do you compensate for this? Who takes care of this person for 30-40 yrs? Is the family penalized by sacrificing everything for care? Who pays? I don’t have the perfect answer to this very complex answer. I do know that doctors are brought before peer review boards and are slapped on the wrist for offenses you and I would be thrown in jail for. I would be in favor of a cap of ‘personal suffering’ with life time medical care by Social Security as long as the provider lost their license in ALL states. It’s not much but a start in the conversation.

Third. No one seems to talk about the MASSIVE influx of patients if a public coverage is instituted. Right now the ratio of patient to doctor is 1 to 400+. If you add 40 million, PLUS the 20+ million illegals currently the leading drain on hospital care, that ratio will sky rocket. Talk about a decrease in care!!! If Medicare dictates the reimbursements to providers, this will truly scare away some of our brightest. (believe it or not, not ALL doctors do it for the love of their patients…) Obama has already said part of the cost control was reimbursement. Contrary to what Obama said, if a doctor know he's going to be paid $.50 cents on the dollar, he's more likely to NOT order the procedure if it takes more effort to fill out the paper work than to pass the patient on to another provider...

Finally, I happen to work for a major healthcare institution, so I don’t have to worry about them ‘canceling’ my healthcare. But think about this ‘public option’, if the govt is in direct competition with private coverage, we already KNOW they compensate providers at a lower rate than what should be paid to doctors (see Medicare). So…a company of 100 has to pay out thousands of dollars for healthcare. BUT since there is a ‘public option’ they can discontinue their coverage and pay an eight percent ‘tax’ to have their employees be cover by the govt. Right now, we know by the metrics that a person earning $50,000 is REALLY earning about $60,000 with healthcare and matching IRA. So, WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY WILL DO?? They are going to drop the healthcare upon the govt!!!!!

This, with the massive influx of 'new’ patients (IE uninsured and illegals) will overwhelm our current system!!! It's doomed to failure. This with Medicare, and the monetized debt, will bring us down just like a lion brings down a gazelle on the Serengeti. While we may not suffer, know that I children will...


Side notes:

Obama said during the primary campaign, he was in favor of single pay. Now he says he’s not….

He also said he’d ‘suggest’ giving the elderly patient a ‘pill’ to alleviate the pain instead of an operation. But when asked about his own grandmother, he said ‘he would pay’ for the hip replacement. Who would pay for your grandmother, if you couldn’t afford it?

His czars for health care and regulation (as well as Rahm’s brother) have advocated RASH ideas (aka eugenic). Deny this ALL you may, but it’s published and scary. As Obama said during the primaries, judge him by who he surrounds himself with…

If government dictates what you do and if they own major industries (auto, financial, energy), what form of government would you call it??? Is it Progressive? How about National Socialist? No matter how loud the Liberals cried out during the Bush II administration, what he had was not fascist. They just cried out about government intervention without knowing the true meaning of fascism. But with government control of major industry (auto, financial, energy), this will truly lead us down that path. God help us when the government institutes an emergency…