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…

EPL Predictions 2009

It’s time for the annual Premiership (BPL) football predictions. As most know, predictions are truly a hit-n-miss proposition, especially concerning English football. Except for the Top Four, of course…

Last year, I had Chelsea over Man Utd (wrong) and missed fourth place (had Aston Villa over Arsenal). In the relegation battle, I lost the plot completely, with my second fav team, Newcastle Utd, being relegated… Oh the pain!! But with their abhorrent yellow away kits this year, I’m glad I don’t have to witness the yellow mess.

And away we go…

1. Chelsea – solid foundation hasn’t changed
2. Man Utd – Rindaldo and Tevez’s absence must be felt
3. Liverpool – hated but respected with Gerrard and Torres (both on my fan. team)
4. Arsenal - talented but too young, need toughness in the back
5. Everton – haven’t made moves but a solid team
6. Aston Villa – thin squad, tire towards the end of the season
7. Manchester City – the new deep pockets, spent tons!! But little cohesion and no defense.
8. Tottenham – offense but injury-prone on the back four
9. Fulham – decent team, no movement this year. Play for draws away.
10. West Ham Utd – Zola did a good job last yr. Financial uncertainty.
11. Blackburn – defensive, ugly but effective
12. Bolton – dependably mid-table
13. Sunderland –Bruce taking the helm with some new blood should help
14. Stoke City – scrappy team that showed they could hang, tough at home.
15. Wigan – new mgr may inject some life
16. Wolves – don’t know much about them
17. Birmingham City – relegation three of the last five years, may make it four of six!
18. Burnley – gave up a ton of goals last year in Champ league doesn’t bode well
19. Portsmouth – team in disarray, selling left and right
20. Hull City – early darlings last year, but Phil Brown lost the plot. Hope Josie does well!!

Let the games begin!! Go Chelsea!!