Obama's Tactical Prescription for US National Security..!!

The practical minded President of the USA, Barack H. Obama Esquire, the ever confident and thoughtful leader, the gracious gift for us all, again proves himself to be well above his detractors, political adversaries both home and abroad, and executes the duties of the most powerful governmental office on this planet with distinction and valor. Bravo Mr. Obama, as I remarked in a previous blog, the gift to this country in the act of execution of required modern form of leadership, is the Citizen Obama story.

The notable detractors have obviously been the republican party elites and their uninformed but vocal pundits. It was not long ago when former Vice President Dick Cheney, after his failed prosecution of what he had preached to us all, "the war on terror", had the audacity and the gall to have incessantly decried and criticized Mr. Obama on foreign policy and national security. Mr. Cheney had been the right wing monstrous thrall who had captivated the imagination of the republicans and the discredited neo-conservative war mongers who had plunged the US into the invasion of Iraq under false pretenses and outright lies and mis-truths, and for some reason no credible experienced political conservatives with stature had questioned Cheney's credentials and tenure with the Bush administration over the years. Mr. Cheney and others had aggressively and publicly decried President Obama as being naive and inexperienced and not up to the commander in-chief status. Remember Cheney referring to the the thoughtful and deliberative approach of Mr. Obama as being indecisive and went as far as referring to Mr Obama's deliberative leadership style as 'dithering and indecisive'. It was sad to me that Gen. Colin Powell and others were somewhat slow to come to the defense of President Obama for a long while until prominent statesmen like Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff of Sec. of State Collin Powell, wrote that: "Cheney is 'evil', his fear mongering is 'assisting' al Qaeda." Remember, brain-dead operatives like Sarah Pailin kept the mantra of 'dithering' as a rallying cry for their failed political and ideological positioning.

What has been mystifying to most politically astute people in the USA over the last almost ten [10] years, has been the dexterity of the Bush-Cheney administration's political spin and communication machinery that has been able to divert attention from their colossal foreign policy and national security failures, but have been able to ride the fear of terrorism as a political strategy against a stunned and fearful nation and further exploited the sympathetic and supportive electorate through the 'us-against-the-world' mantra and imagery the administration has presented to us without blame or public admission of culpability in any form...!! Remarkable.. I say remarkable indeed!!

The reader should follow this observation:  The Bush-Cheney administration is inaugurated into office on January 20, 2001. Richard Clarke [a bonafide non-partisan republican], the counter-terrorism coordinator, a veteran member of the US National Security Council under both G. H. W. Bush and Clinton administrations, and a hold over from the Clinton [until 2003], provides detailed briefing to the new administration's national security team, and stresses the utmost importance of Usama Bin Laden's al Qaeda, the same group that the Clinton administration has had as the top of their national security action items list, and Clarke further emphasizes the intelligence about the potential and eminence of a possible al Qaeda attack on the USA mainland. Mr. Cheney and his cohorts in their classic arrogance and disdain for opposing views, essentially ignored the urgent call for utmost caution and vigilance towards the anticipated actions of al Qaeda. [Read this in a detailed account revealed under oath in Richard Clarke's book 'Against All Enemies' and this link:  Richard A. Clarke - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and the section entitled 'Early warnings about Al-Qaeda threat']. Now with an open mind, imagine the Bush-Cheney being a democrat instead of republican administration, the blaming and vilifying of the democratic administration will be merciless and vicious to put it mildly. Some people might remember that in the early days, the Bush-Cheney media punditry tried but failed to put the blame on Clinton-Gore. The timid democratic party and their operatives, as usual did not exploit to their political advantage, but deferred to the republican party explanation, thereby completely seeding the subsequent formulation of appropriate response to the despicable terrorist act, to the same people who had been negligent in their sworn duty to maintain our national security, and the subsequent adventure and misguided pursuit of the Iraq invasion underscores my disgust. It reminds me of the creation of alternate reality of existence by incompetent leaders who are always convinced they can control their own definition of reality and get away with it, oh yea, the Bush-Cheney administration showed us all how to operate a failed government and still claim victory!

The question most of us keep wrestling with is, how is it possible that the Bush-Cheney administration under whose trusted custody 9/11 attacks happened, is never held accountable for their negligence and incompetence, but are able to ride the outpouring of benevolence from the citizenry of the USA, and subsequently embarks on the extremely expensive Iraqi invasion based on the same level of incompetence perpetrated by the same people in leadership that had shown heightened levels of ineptitude, lack of prudent and thoughtful execution of their sworn solemn duties, and their flawed understanding of foreign policy and national security, prior to and during the 9/11 nightmare? That is what I call the arrogance of stupidity and the price we all pay for rewarding ignorance and incompetence in the mindless and corrupt political infrastructure we allow in the USA. Mindless because the entrenched special interest controlled political structure that dominate the political landscape is more interested in protecting and concealing their incompetence than being truthful about their limitations. This in turn exacerbates manageable national difficulties into practically intractable problem monstrosities which devour our precious national resources and in turn leave us less secure. When will we the electorate learn to discern between flamboyant proclamations of grandeur in contrast to calm, resolve and thoughtful leadership? The later is what a great nation requires and should cherish.

The redeeming value for a resilient and exceptional nation as the USA is the built-in correction for our system, which eventually allows competence to rule the day. This leads to President Barack Obama, the most competent, steely resolve and accomplished leader to date [in most of our adult political lives] by any objective measure of leadership and 'can do-ism' required by the greatest nation on earth, called USA.

On my April 18, 2011 previous blog [ http://koamac-critiquepolitics.blogspot.com/2011/04/obama-foreign-policy-doctrine.html] I theorized a possible Obama foreign policy doctrine, which I should confess was on the money. We have all marveled about the level of determination, resolve and competence President Obama has shown, the result of which is the hunting down and killing of Usama bin Laden in the prophetic delineation of the promise he [Obama] made during the presidential election campaign of 2008. Mr. Obama's campaign promise was widely and publicly mocked and ridiculed as being naive and coming from inexperience, proclaimed by Mrs. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John McCain [R-AZ]. To now know that one of the first tasks Mr. Obama undertook after his inauguration speech on January 20, 2009, was to write a top secret memorandum instructing the director of the CIA Leon Panetta to provide him [Obama] with a detailed plan to capture and/or kill Usama bin Laden as the top priority for his [Obama] administration, a true mark of a strong leader who understands his solemn oath and utmost obligation to protect and maintain the national security infrastructure required for the USA. It is remarkable the doggedness, resolve and steely determination, calm and confidence that Mr. Obama has shown all through his presidential leadership on practically every issue he has had to confront and resolve with flying colors but without fanfare and brassy bravado, compared to at least the previous administration, and not to hold back my glee and approval for his leadership, I can say President Obama is a gracious gift for us all, I surmise, the likes of which we have not experienced in the USA for many years.

Now that Mr. Obama has proven himself beyond any doubt for his domestic policy solutions' acumen, his foreign policy effectiveness and global impact [note the Arab/Middle East awakening], and his well defined and showcased credentials on national security bolstering his commander-in-chief leadership mastery, all citizens and admirers of the exceptional USA should not be shy for expressing pride in our choice of Barack Obama as the President and leader of the USA, without reservation but admiration.

I am sure many detractors and especially the right wing and republican pundits would want to deflect attention from the proven successes of President Obama, and in some cases attempt to ascribe his national security performance to the incompetent Bush-Cheney administration and their inept policies, honorable citizens will forever be indebted to President Obama's leadership in restoring the strength and credibility of USA. I whole heartedly have a renewed level of utmost respect for Senator John McCain [R-AZ] for his stalwart portrayal of class and honor in his vehement rebuttal against the Bush-Cheney misinformation and false claims of credit for Usama bin Laden's demise. The citizenry of the USA are forever proud and grateful for President Barack Obama and his Tactical Prescription for US National Security..!!

An Obama Foreign Policy Doctrine..?

From my previous blog posting: "Obama, a practical-minded politician? I believe so..!!" President Obama is living up to my perception of him as a practical minded person and definitely as a thoughtful Chief Executive of the USA. The US electorate should be rest assured that finally we have a real leader in the White House, a leader the world respects and nations states are willing to follow, which should make us all proud that the USA has finally taken its rightful leadership place on the global stage, and Mr. Obama deserves all the praise and credit for his leadership. It is ironic that critics of Mr. Obama are in complete disarray in their thoughts, proclamations and understanding of the intricacies and of the complex nature of foreign policy formulations and implementations, and the evolution of foreign conflicts and our ultimate involvement on any scale appropriate to serve our national security interests.

We have all heard from prominent critics like Mr. Newton Gingrich and the loose-mouthed right wing media pundits, and I am not surprised that they offer the confused and incoherent proposals for situations they have no understanding of, and are not prepared to spend the time and effort to do some research and educate themselves on the issues before offering un-workable and sometimes inept solution mantras that border on political lunacy. Most right wing pundits and some of their liberal counterparts seem to profess how smart Mr. Gingrich is, but he has been so thoughtless lately, I think his psyche and probably his fantasies, must be evaluated. It seems the media tries to equate loose tough political talk with being smart and having strong conviction, and denote thoughtful, cautious conviction and quiet but firm resolve as being weak and indecisive, a pattern that has historical not resulted in good outcomes when it comes to foreign policy and USA's involvement in foreign conflicts.

Mr. Obama is a highly educated individual who actually took his Ivy education in subjects like world history, social change, US and international politics, US and international law, specializing in US Constitutional Law, very seriously, unlike some of the privileged few who attended schools of higher learning just for social branding but paid no attention to the content and value of what they were taught. It is well known that our President is a great student of history, and judiciously considers the lessons of history in his decision making, especially when it comes to our military involvement in the Middle East. I was therefore not surprised that after days of criticism from apparently uninformed but loud-mouthed republicans and their mindless pundits, we all learned that Mr. Obama [The President] had already engaged the CIA into their rightful role in the Libyan crisis, weeks before any military action was ever taken, underscoring the thoughtfulness of our President and his fact based decision making approach to leadership, which is expected from a practical minded leader! We should all be thankful that, finally we have someone in the white house who thinks through unfolding events in relation to our historical involvement in foreign conflicts, before plunging our beloved military into unnecessary and evolving conflicts especially in the Middle East [Iraq rings the bell].

Most political analysts in the media are accustomed to pigeonholing US Presidents into simplistic and uncomplicated foreign policy positions and pronouncements they call 'policy doctrines' and sometimes succeed in coaxing some Presidents into untenable policy positions when complex foreign conflicts erupt and thereby limit themselves into impractical but seemingly decisive military commitments, which have historically been detrimental to this nation. The military invasion and further occupation of Iraq by President G. W. Bush, is the classic example where the neo-conservatives of the republican party and the unabashed war mongers, if I may be permitted to be blunt, were able to steer Mr. Bush, remember the self proclaimed compassionate conservative and the evangelist of freedom and liberty, into pursuing one of the worst foreign policy blunders in US history, costing us the lives and serious permanent injuries to thousands of US soldiers and their support diplomats, and many more thousands of Iraqi civilians, in addition to the trillions of dollars in war spending and associated expenditures, which is directly responsible for a large portion of the exploding US debt and deficits, that helped to plunge the US economy into the deepest recession [almost depression] ever! I hereby offer a facetious gratitude and a thank you to the thoughtless and non-deliberative neo-conservative foreign policy doctrine [unilateralism] that was whole-heartedly embraced by President G.W. Bush!!

I would love the opportunity to describe my perception of an 'Obama foreign policy doctrine', which I intend to attempt. My suggested rendition of 'Obama Foreign Policy Doctrine' would simply go something like this:

• "My fellow Americans, I believe my beloved USA, under my watch and leadership, will continue to be the beacon for unrivaled hope and the ultimate fulfiller of human aspirations. We the USA will be the leader of the world but will also consider ourselves as part of a world that strives towards the ideals and values consistent with those we cherish, thus looking for cooperation as our first instinct, but utilizing all means necessary to achieve the desired end result. Potential foreign conflicts and primary encroachments on our national security will be dealt with swiftly, effectively and decisively as humanly possible, with no ambiguity and/or second guessing. The rest of the world will be vigorously courted to adopt our noble ideals, ideas and approaches, and where deemed appropriate, a well thought out and forceful coercion will be applied, wherever the USA's interest can be shown to be affected. Unilateralism, as a sanctioned policy of the USA, will not be our first instinct when our national security is NOT directly affected by prevailing conditions of foreign conflicts. If a foreign conflict shows the potential for immense humanitarian disaster, a concerted effort of coalition building among all civilized nation states of the world will be engaged in, embarked upon and seriously pursued as the preferred cause of action, and a consensus remedy will be formulated and promulgated, respecting the required contributions from all nations involved in order to minimize the overall comprehensive cost to the USA. In short, my foreign policy doctrine will be deliberative and well thought out; it will be rational and measured in its application; consensus and coalition building with our allies will be a major component in its formulation and promulgation, and very strong and decisive in its implementation, to completely ascertain to ourselves and the rest of the world that, USA is and will remain the most powerful nation on this planet, and will forever be enduring and strong."

This preceding paragraph will be a relatively effective but modest description of what I believe could be the Obama foreign policy doctrine. The cerebral and deliberative nature of President Obama should come as no surprise to the American people, and his calm demeanor coupled with his thoughtful approach to leading the US in times of foreign conflicts should be greatly admired, because the most powerful nation on this planet deserves such leadership. I am reminded of the helplessness the American people have felt since the invasion of Iraq, which most believe is the root cause of why the murderer Osama Bin Ladin and his fellow criminals, who were responsible for 9/11 have not been captured to date, and another 'brain-dead' and thoughtless foreign military escapade on our part, will not be welcome!  Let me hear what you think of this thesis....

The 'Run Government as a Family' Absurdity..!

I hear politicians, especially the republicans, always saying this: paraphrase: 'The American people want their Government to operate they way their families ran their economic lives; the government has to learn to live within its means just as ordinary families in the USA do everyday...', and shockingly I do not hear the democrats and sensible independents respond appropriately at all, as usual allowing the exaggerated myth and absurdity impregnated in the statement stand as factual and reasonable, and imply glorious applicability of purported equivalence. I say ridiculous, ignorant and childish statements, the ones I think Ms. Sarah H. Pailin and Ms. Michele Bachmann will perceive as being perfectly logical and sensible. To be fair, I have heard this from notable republicans: Speaker John Boehner, Rep. Paul Ryan, Sen. Mitch McConnel, Rep. Ron Paul, Sen. Rand Paul, Newton Gignrich, Mitt Romney, Bill Kristol, Jon Cornyn, and tea party republicans: Rep. Allan West, David Webb, Dick Armey, Donna Loech and the like.

I hope the democrats and political independents recognize the absurdity contained in the subject matter coming from the right wing and tea party republicans. The question is, how many families plan their economic lives and also are required to maintain the budget and the responsibility for any or all of the following critical aspects of our civilized society?

1. Department of Defense [DoD] to defend our freedom and security. People should not confuse having guns in the home to be equivalent with maintaining a military or a militia. The government of US is required to maintain the DoD, the US Constitution specifically delineates, and I am sure the right wing republicans who profess their love for national defense and constantly encourage unilateral military interventions in foreign conflicts and wars, will be happy to know the financial requirements for such constitutional obligations is not left to their individual families, but the government retains this critical function, no matter the misguided rhetoric from the right wing politicians and their surrogates. Individual families do not have direct responsibility for responding to situations that affect our national security, and with that comes the complex budget item called defense expenditures, which is probably the most difficult financial and economic responsibility that the government is least able to predict, because a lot of the activities of the DoD is dependent on our foreign policy and external foreign forces mostly beyond the sovereign borders of the USA. I am grateful, this task is not left to individual family's whims and caprices. Remember this humble rendition on defense budget allocation and spending!!
2. Department of Transportation [DoT] to construct the streets, highways, railways, waterways, bridges, airports and all associated transportation infrastructure, and by the way the budget should include costs for continuous improvements and maintenance. This should be a very important economic factor for our families, since our modes of transportation in these modern times, primarily determines most of our livelihood endeavors, because we need this transportation infrastructure to get to work so we can provide for our family needs. The benefits for the functions of the department of transportation are numerous and become more so in times of tragedies and transportation related incidents. For example, funding cuts in the state of Minnesota DoT became important in August 1, 2007 when the devastating bridge collapse over the Mississippi River occurred, and the world was shocked and devastated. National Transportation Safety Board [NTSB] is one of the obscured but important government agencies associated with transportation that becomes empaneled to investigate auto accidents, airplane crashes and other transportation infrastructure emergencies caused by natural events as earthquakes, hurricanes and floods, a government agency function that help identify measures needed to mitigate such mishaps. These emergencies are handled by government, and I am grateful, this task is not left to individual family's whims and caprices. Remember this humble rendition on department of transportation budget allocation and spending!!
3. The US Treasury Department [US DT] to manage our monetary policy and currency to assure international trade and commerce required for the definition and functioning of our overall economy. We should remember the US Treasury exists to formulate and manage measures that allow for economic growth through government policies that support economic activities for job creation, private and public investment, and therefore, economic stability. US Treasury department is also responsible for the disbursement of payments to the public, revenue/tax collection, thus funds to run the federal government. I am sure, you would agree, this task should not be left to individual family's whims and caprices. Remember this humble rendition on department of treasury budget allocation and spending!! 
4. The US Department of Justice [DOJ] to maintain the legal system, the courts and law enforcement. It would be foolhardy to attempt to delve into all the workings of the US justice system, and further would be naive enough to believe the governmental functions for an effective justice system could be likened to any part of our individual family pursuit of justice in an advanced society as the USA. I am sure, the reader would agree, this task should not be left to individual family's whims and caprices. Remember this humble rendition on department of justice budget allocation and spending!
5. The US Department Health and Human Services, is the principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans [HHS - NIH, CDC ] and therefore the management of health care, and do not forget the associated hospitals and medical research centers required for our well being and therefore, the protection and maintenance of our overall lives. The NIH/CDC medical research and studies have and continue to provide us all with many remedies, treatments and therapies for many deadly diseases and ailments. This responsibility, I think the reader will agree, should be fully funded and continued since it is a primary component of our basic human survival and ultimate security, and the thought of managing this function like an individual family's approach to health security, should be frightening to all practical thinkers.
6. The other government functions: Immigration and Border enforcement to assure territorial integrity and national sovereignty; Department of State for foreign policy and inter-national relations; Homeland Security, FEMA and emergency management; and the many functions only the government is able to undertake, to assure our security and preserve our liberty.

These preceding examples should be enough to help make it clear to the US electorate the absurdity cloaked in the overly simplified political slogans and meaningless mantras from republicans especially the tea party republicans, about operating the government like they run their families. It is distressing that the democrats and rational political independents, do not seem to know how to formulate simple counter message to expose the truth and the realities presented here to the US electorate. I truly believe the electorate is already aware of marked differences, but need concise message articulation to make clear, and discredit the concerted republican panic tantrums that seem to dominate the public political mis-information. Where is Congressman Anthony Weiner [D-NY], when you need him? [I intend to send this link to Mr. Weiner and possibly Fmr. Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)].

This blog posting is not to whole-heartedly endorse all aspects of governmental approaches to managing our daily societal problems and well being, but the alternative being proclaimed and sold to the US electorate is sickeningly ridiculous, utterly absurd and should be unacceptable to thinking human beings, unless these human beings subscribe, with warm embrace, to the empty headedness and lack of the application of intelligence permeating the republican party darlings led by the likes of Ms. Sarah Pailin and Ms. Michele Bachmann, where facts are considered a nuisance and knowledge and the application of the intellect is frowned upon as heresy, and the race to the bottom on the achievement ladder seems to be a cherished aspiration and prescription for the USA.

I can guarantee the reader of this blog hopefully does not subscribe to the race to the bottom mentality of the tea party republicans, but if they do, I will apologize later when appropriate, but the seriousness of the state of affairs in the USA, requires discussion on these topics which are mostly ignored by the media because it does not enhance their revenue stream which they successfully achieved through presentation of mindless tabloid based stories. As I write this blog, the report of a congressional budget deal is on the regular constant media loop of reporting, but no media outlet is embarking on the true details contained in the deals, and I will bet the rest of the population will be given the impression that one side or the order gained the upper hand or won the so called fight. No one believes the fraudulent and phony outrage of fiscal policy as claimed by the tea party republicans, because now we know their zeal is to deprive women of their health maintenance and reproductive rights [defunding Planned Parenthood]! It is mystifying to me why republican party and their women do not believe in the protection of the health and reproductive rights of women in general!

To end this blog, I call attention to a couple of facts:

• A great portion of the national debt [~$14.3 Trillion] is actually owed to the Social Security Trust Fund which is used to meet social security payments to our seniors, constituted from direct contribution from these seniors while they worked. The US congress in its infinite wisdom overtime has borrowed from the Social Security Trust Fund [Some estimates are approx. $2.0 Trillion per budget cycle], and now all we hear from the right wing and tea party republicans is the call for reduction of social security benefits as a means to defray the accumulated debt. I hope fair minded Americans will resist such blatant unfairness towards our seniors. I think the government, not acting like a normal family unit, should honor its obligations.
• The normal families in the USA who are lucky enough to own their own homes, should not allow the right wing republicans to help them ignore the fact that these families all carry large debts called their Mortgages which in most cases persist for years. Furthermore, surprisingly they do not believe they should be forced to pay off their large mortgages at the time the obligations are incurred. Why will these same families, not withstanding their own debt loads, join the right wing republican refrain against the government carrying debt obligations necessary to maintain our US DOD, US DOT, US Treasury, US DOJ, US DHHS and the other worthwhile governmental functions?

I truly believe the refrain 'Run Government as a Family' is absurd and we all should be mindful not to be confused with ignorance contained in the misguided mantra! Let me hear your comments...

Self Destructive Messaging of Liberal Punditry..?

The so termed Liberal media pundits, have to learn about the well practiced clarity and simplicity of messaging, the art that seems well mastered by so termed Conservative media pundits. It is not enough to describe the problems simply and clearly, but leave the desired punch-lines and the key points of the message in the ether of rationalization, vicious and sometimes comedic satire, and employing partial agreement to opposing views coupled with a muddled articulation of the facts. I do not believe the right wing messaging machine can be that much more inspired and sophisticated than their left wing counterparts. The conservative pundits, however, seem to pontificate the 'matter of fact' gesture with indignant pomposity and self assured justification for their points of view with no self censorship, no self doubt and definitely no messaging restraint.

Why do the liberals and progressive media pundits seem to do the work for their right wing counterparts. The liberals in their quest to be measured and fair to 'both sides', end up digging up skeletons of their own side and handing the opposition, irrefutable evidence to nullify their own messaging. Message discipline is not a virtue for progressives but is a cherished creed of conservatives, republicans and their media pundits.

I recently saw an MSNBC progressive commentators replay, at infinitum, a video clip showing Presidential candidate Obama exalting his base with the following: paraphrase: "I would put on my comfortable shoes and join the Unions on the picket line, to peacefully demonstrate with them for their collective bargaining rights". Well the right wing pundits used this video revelation to deride President Obama for not following through with his campaign promise, making it look important to them. This is an example where the liberal pundits and the associated movement voices did not evaluate the impact of up-staging the very deliberative and thoughtful, constitutional lawyer, President, who understands the timing required to be effective when private enterprise operatives attempt to usurp the labor rights of the citizenry, through the coercive utilization of the political power of money, to compel elected government representatives, in this case, the Governor of Wisconsin, to use the pretext of economic crisis and legal responsibility, to deprive the working middle class, and especially organized labor unions, of their legal and long established rights to collective bargaining by public employees. To deprive workers the right for collective bargaining is practically equivalent to depriving a community of having legal counsel in product liability or environmental health violations. We are all now familiar with the name Mr. Kenneth Feinberg, Esq., imagine after 9/11 the families of the victims had to fight individually for their rights without a collective bargaining representation during arbitration. Mr. Kenneth Feinberg, who has served as the Court-Appointed Special Settlement Master in cases like Agent Orange Product Liability, Asbestos Personal Injury Litigation, and arbitration of the Holocaust Slave Labor Litigation, remind us all of the perception of fairness in the situation of human rights and survival. Why is the liberal and progressive messaging machine not able to formulate simple and effective populous messages that are not self destructive?

Liberal pundits and their supporters should not forget their own inflexible posture during the debates leading to the 2010 Health Care Bill, and in particular the adamant stance on the so called Public Option provision, which made it impossible to become a ratified provision, which could have garnered the desired 60-vote threshold in the US Senate. The liberal and progressives coalitions, in concert with their media pundits went as far as threatening some of the Senators with re-election challenges. The negative effect was manifested when the left wing pundits publicized threats from the liberal and progressive wings of the democratic party towards Senator Joe Lieberman [ID-CT] on his flip-flop on the provision for expanding Medicaid for the un-insured, as the more viable alternative to the then contentious Public Option provision. The intransigence of Sen. Lieberman, a very proud conservative democrat, was a direct reaction and repudiation of the left wings' impractical and sometimes irrational demands against reality, and essentially almost helped to defeat the Health Bill, but by the strength of President Obama's persuasive and political acuity. Sometimes the rhetoric of  'all or nothing because we are right' approach in representative political government is not likely to ever succeed. After what seemed the most successful legislative achievement, the passage of a comprehensive Health Care Bill in the US ever, the left wing activists and their pundit allies set out on a vicious collision course with their own democratic party senators and congress members, who they labeled as not 'fighting hard enough' for the more radical left wing health bill, the Single Payer System and the modified compromise, the Public Option. Through these contentious in-fighting and un-disciplined negative public pronouncements, the self destructive liberal messaging was incessant and dominated the media, thus the negative components of the Health Care Bill, as was claimed by the opposing republicans, overtook the laudable provisions that were actually contained in the health care legislation, and became the message that permeated the country and ended up becoming the destructive message albatross around the necks of the congressional democrats and the President, which falsely portrayed them as the the bearers of bad and over bearing government, the negative perception that has ultimately come to define the historic health legislation to a good portion of the electorate. Most of these democratic Senators and Congress members were defeated in the November 2010 congressional elections, resulting in the minority status of the democratic party, and therefore, making sure almost all the agenda and policies the liberals had worked hard for, rendered useless at best, and certainly standing on the verge of roll-back of the gains championed by Nancy Pelosi and Mr. Obama. Senator Blanche Lincoln [D-AR] was defeated by the liberal and progressive campaigns against her in non-liberal state of Arkansas, thus shrinking the conservative democratic base in the US congress, is a sad example of the Self Destructive Messaging of the Liberal Punditry.

The liberal activists who mobilized for the democrats and Mr. Obama in 2006 and 2008, self destructed in the 2010 congressional elections, strictly based on their 'my way or the highway' posture. I believe they de-mobilized because they did not get their Public Option in the health care bill. One would have thought these liberals were the intelligent class of the citizenry, and would have calculated that their own unilateral ideological movement demobilization, would create the space for opposing political ideology to exploit. This is the space the igneous republicans and their activist pundits acquired, and ushered in the tea party republicans, as a movement for the demise of the liberal agenda. When liberals forget to follow their leader, in this case the practical minded, Mr. Obama, the President, and further decided to 'eat their young', helping to defeat their own allies, the outcome is what we are all experiencing today. Political malpractice is the charge I levy on the liberals and progressives, who seem not to understand the political system in operation in the USA. Our constitutionally framed political system requires constant vigilance and well reasoned strategies on the part of the ideological purist, the liberals form of weak non-committed teenage-like intermittent activism and panicky call to action, is non-sustainable in a dynamic political system like ours. I detest ideological purism, but I admire ideological consistency when it is carefully mitigated by thoughtful consideration of the dynamism of the prevailing natural evolution of our society and political existence. In short, politics in US requires a clear understanding of the workings of what a representative constitutional government entails.

Liberals are very fervent in their believe in political ideology as do conservative political operatives, but the messaging for their respective political ideologies is where the similarities end. The right wing conservatives excel far and away above the left wing liberals, in the art of message composition and message discipline. Liberals seem very uncomfortable and woefully convoluted in their logic for the passionate expression of their inherent patriotic nature of inclusion and universal acceptance of differences between people in general, a trait not easily claimed or cherished by the conservatives, and can be captured in a simple but effective message campaign, in contrast to the unnecessarily laborious modes of liberal self expression; furthermore, liberals seem not to exude the prerequisite of desired intensity of conviction of their ideas that merit public admiration, and therefore, seem to convey very timid and inarticulate ideas. Liberal ideas, I should confess, are mostly better for the society at large due to their expansive and inclusiveness of scope, compared to the limiting scope and marked rigidity of most conservative ideas. What is holding back the liberals from such simple but effective and believable messaging of self expression? As a friendly caveat, I want the reader to be reminded that the United States of America is the most Prized Product of liberalism and liberal ideas, noting that, if conservatism and conservative ideas of government and governing had prevailed in the exceptional evolution of the origins of USA within this contest, the USA would have remained a colony of the British Empire!! We should all be mindful of that fact! Why are the liberals, their progressive coalitions and media pundits, not able to craft a simple message to remind the electorate of this fact?

Liberal pundits and activists are very 'liberal' with their messaging, or I should say, very careless and undisciplined in their message presentation. They mostly love to threaten the politicians and political operatives that agree with them even to the tune of more than 80+% of the time, and forget that they actually make the job for their common opposition easier, because the right wing media and opposing pundits just capture the vicious criticisms from the liberals and progressives of their own political allies, and highlight the negative implications, thereby, the liberals end up consuming all their valuable political capital to their own detriment, and the liberal focusing on the points of disagreement of their own caucuses, prolong the perceived negative connotation, which then translate to acute loss of message discipline within the political context. I contend that, the emergence of Tea Party Republicans, was made easier by the apathetic liberals and their weak but self-destructive messaging. Instead of the liberals and progressive coalitions banding strongly together to support their own political agenda and immense political and ideological gains as a result of the 2006 and 2008 elections, which at the time, were being successfully championed and exceptionally executed with precision by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Executive Branch, they instead, turned their attention to minor divisions within their own ranks based on what they perceived as 'not getting everything' they wanted in the many legislative bills passed by congress, and thus reverting to what I call the 'Liberal Winners Mind Set'.

The 'Liberal Winners Mind Set', is the condition where previously dis-enfranchised liberals and progressives find themselves in power with responsibility to lead and solve problems, but after a few seeming successes, begin what I call, 'the self congratulatory leg of the leadership marathon', the mode where they truly need to employ leadership and message discipline, but instead, they start working hard to knowingly or unknowingly, breakdown the alliances, bonds and coalitions that had helped them ascend to power, in the first place. When this happened in 2009 and 2010, the message gab was quickly filled with coalitions made up of the right wing republicans and tea party republicans, who were well disguised and carefully cloaked in fictitious outrage about the economic state of the country, the near demise of the US economy, which had been created by these same republicans. The dawning of the tea party republicans seems to have come as a surprise to the liberals and progressives, and they were not prepared with a counter movement or message, which at a minimum could have challenged the key operatives like Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey [R-TX] and other prominent opportunistic republicans, who could have been made the poster children of the economic state of the US, instead, the 'liberal winners mind set' crowd, just sat back and hoped the tea party republicans would be discredited based on their past performance in leadership, burn themselves out and go away! The subsequent out come of this colossal miscalculation on the part of the liberals and progressives, is now not in dispute! The simplistic reason or explanation is the self destructive messaging of the liberals and their media pundits, but that will be a fallacy that clearly underestimates the strengths of the coalition of the right wing republicans and their supportive media pundits.

Whilst I write this blog, the political melodrama of Wisconsin is playing out in the media, and the classic seat-of-the-pants tutorial of political education of the US electorate, the ultimate crash course for political maneuvering, is jarring the minds of the usually absent minded general public, liberals, conservatives and independents. The elected politicians who believe in corporatism and are working on behalf of private enterprises are being exposed as they work hard to usurp the public sector concept of fairness for the US middle class, and the social liberals are rapidly cultivating cast iron backbones necessary to withstand the onslaught from their own elected leaders, who they just found out, are beholding to and completely controlled by the power of money in politics. The message bearers from the liberals side of the ideological spectrum, are tightening up their loose talk, and their playground dares are favorably and fairly being vetted. Denoting the self destructive nature of the liberal messaging is an observation that seem to pan out regularly when political ideological debates and conflicts arise, because the self congratulatory liberals never fail to celebrate their perceived successes, prematurely! The the left wing, liberal and progressive strategists and their media pundits, profusely are complementary and conciliatory in their messaging, which does not help advance their conviction and believes to the society at large, but tend to impress and/or satisfy people who already believe in their argument, but carefully and meticulously ignore the true intended target of their message, which should be the right wing ideologues, the ones the liberal message should be intended to forcefully persuade, in an attempt to win some of them to the liberal side, or at a minimum, give the organized opposition, significant amount of work in formulating their non-plausible counter message. In other words, the liberal messaging machine has to learn not to destroy their own ideological campaigns before they have had a chance to take hold.

I am very sure a lot of liberals and ideological progressives will disagree with my characterization of the lack of effectiveness of their messaging, and may point to the not so distant but recent political successes, the democratic controlled Congress of Nancy Pelosi, but should not forget the non-sustainability of those memorable political gains, which I am attributing to their muddled messaging and ineffectual presentation of ideas, and therefore, highlight the Self Destructive Messaging of Liberal Punditry and their political operatives...

'Hatred Mantra', Tactic of Right Wing Republicans?

I chose this topic after watching [NFL] Super Bowl pre-show interview of the US President, conducted by Bill O'Reilly of FOX News. In his usual disrespectful, pushy and tabloid interviewing style, Mr. O'Reilly persistently asked the President to acknowledge that some people, who mostly watch Fox News' O'Reilly show, Hate Mr. Obama. Shockingly amazing, I thought, shockingly a classic right wing republican engaging in the usual self absorbed and over inflated egotistical expression of self importance!

The use of Hate as a political pejorative, and as political strategy to perpetuate political ideology, is now very prevalent in the US. I am sure the nasty tone in political discourse has possible historical corollaries and simplified historical equivalences, but these contentious and downright hostile muscular political confrontations, are becoming increasingly difficult to accept as the new criteria for civil political discourse. It is very disgraceful and scary to see and sometimes hear elected members of US congress engage in this hate culture, but becomes frighteningly worst, when these same US congress persons publicly condone actions and implied threatening actions of deranged lunatics in their constituency. What follows is a description of what I term the 'Hatred Mantra' prevalent in our current political climate.

The origins are quite simple for anyone paying attention to the political dynamics in the US. Simply described, the brain trust of the right wing republican operatives, concoct a value system, which they use to classify the electorate [voters] into conforming and non-conforming political ideological blocks. The value system of the right wing conforming ideological block is then expanded to include many of the prevailing dogmatic believe systems, such as, social class distinctions, race and ethnicity demarcations, perceived cultural identity claims, and the most potent classification of all, dogmatic religious believes. The believe system becomes a pseudo-crusade with emotionally charged deity proclamations, which then serve to inflame passions among the electorate. Social issues as Women's Reproductive Rights [Abortion Rights] is a prominent example, because of the connotation attributable to its interpretations firmly rooted in religious fervor. It is frightening to me, to think that the self-proclaimed political conservatives [right wing republicans], willingly accept the imposition of government on these social issues, at same time they profess to not believe in the power of an over bearing government. What a glaring hypocritical contradiction in their value system! Why are the right wing republicans so enthralled by government control of the Civil Liberties of Women in our society? Remember, the moral majority movement of the 1980s, led by Jerry Falwell, and the Christian Fundamentalist, and the present day Evangelicals, the Nationalist proclaimers, the Patriotic and Flag Waving impostors, the ones that claim to love veterans of our wars, but want to deprive same of their earned benefits. These are some of the tenets of the value system of right wing republicans, which is full of dishonest practitioners parading through our political culture, and firmly interspersed within our political infrastructure, sadly to the detriment of the un-informed electorate [voters] and the nation at large.

Out of the right wing republicans' value system, evolves the de-valuation system [demonization and delegitimization] used to characterize people whose believes and opinions are contrary to right wing intolerance and inflexibility. In particular, people who do not ascribe to the right wing value system, are labelled as not being main-stream, and most times, called Un-American and/or 'different', and are targeted with incessant mantras of Hate and Moral [but religiously acceptable] De-Humanization. The de-valued opposition are further characterized with derogatory labels as: 'Baby Killers' for those who believe in abortion and reproductive rights for women; 'Atheist and anti-Religious' for skeptics of political ideology cloaked in religious dogma; 'Socialists and Communists' connotation for thoughtful democrats and independents who advocate for economic and social fairness. As a classic example, remember in 2009 President Obama reluctantly but correctly bailed-out Wall Street Bankers and the Financial Industry, and managed to avert total depression and collapse of the US economy, but when he [Mr. Obama] introduced prudent financial reforms to mitigate future economic collapse, the right wing republicans labelled Mr. Obama a Socialist and a Wealth Re-Distributer!! Can anyone imagine a socialist intent on bailing out a collapsing capitalist system? A true thoughtless picture to consider.  .... incredible!!

Once the de-legitimization [demonization] processes take hold, either by the constant repetition by right wing republican media advocates and pundits, and further picked up and propagated by the non-critical but trend-following main stream media, then any proposals and/or ridiculous claims made to fit the right wing value system, become acceptable to the loud right wing republican minority and their media pundits. Furthermore, the lack of concerted, organized and credible opposition from timid liberals and sensible but apathetic independents and libertarians, allow the right wing republicans' hatred mantras to take hold, and appear as the prevailing doctoring for perpetual social debate and conflict. In so doing, the cherished tradition of healthy political debates descend into colorful expression of moral superiority and the dubious justifiable expression of hatred towards opponents. Why is this phenomenon not obvious to the electorate [voters]?

I am fascinated by these same right wing republicans coming up with excuses to exempt their own closeted hypocrites when such actions they purport to hate, tend to be what their private lives have long been defined by. The morally professed evangelicals, claim to hate homosexuals, [and homosexual life-style, whatever that means] as the curse for the demise of our moral and religiously righteous society, and vehemently utilize inhumane treatment and campaigns to persecute such persons, until, lo and behold, the popular and charismatic evangelicals like Ted Haggard and Eddie Long; and prominent politicians, like Former Sen. Larry Craig and Congressman Mark Foley, get exposed for who they really are, then hating these self-righteous hypocrites, as would have been expected from the inflexible right wing value system, become turned into a religious experience, cloaked in the flexible concept of forgiveness and redemption for sinners, and the loud-mouthed pundits become muted. Remember, the right wing republicans never seem to have such religious compassion for their opponents!!

Why do the right wing republicans and their supportive media pundits resort to inciting the passions of the electorate with the Hatred Mantra? Because it is simple and targeted messaging, which allows the accepting and conforming electorate:

1. To hang their disappointments, personal failures, unfulfilled aspirations and diminished expectations. 
2. To doggedly and contemptuously assign blame to others for their own miserable conditions;
3. To effortlessly and without thought, discover the perceived culprits of their own current state of perceived demise.
4. To embolden the first time un-employed to be convinced ethnic minorities and new immigrants, the easy targets of hate, are the reason for their joblessness, without acknowledging their own short comings. 
5. To embolden families losing their homes, in blaming ethnic minorities who, although are also losing their homes, are labelled as the 'dead-beats' responsible for the foreclosure crisis.
6. To treat other citizens with opposing political views as un-american and not worthy of respect and support.

The reader, should not forget the caricature the right wing republicans have been allowed to create to represent the US President, Mr. Barack Obama. In my humble opinion, Mr. Obama is what I consider, the true realization and personal embodiment of what makes United States of America, exceptional!!

Based on 2010 congressional election results, it seems the 'Hatred Mantra' as a political tactic succeeded for the Right Wing and Tea Party Republicans. Arguably, the apathy and complacency of the liberals, progressives, democrats and young voters deserve most of credit, but that will be a topic for a subsequent blog. My question is, what will be the new political and/or social mantric tactic from the progressive political movements, as a counter perspective to compete with the hatred mantra of the right wing republicans? May be: 'Hope Mantra', 'Unity Mantra', 'Inclusion Mantra', 'Service Mantra', 'Aspiration Mantra', 'Bright Future Mantra', 'Achievement Mantra'... What is the shelf life of the 'Hatred Mantra', I ask the political progressives..?

My food for thought: The use of political ideology and perceived moral and religious believe contrasts as tools for the de-valuation and demonization of human life, constitute some of the pre-requisites and/or principal components in the formulation [operational planning], justification and subsequent perpetration of deadly conflicts [wars] between seemingly not dissimilar factions of society [most times, nations], and some of the instruments of justification for such conflicts, are firmly rooted in political ideology cloaked in religious fervor and apocalyptic imagery of the economic state of affairs, perceived as thrusted upon us by the targeted 'others' usually termed the non-believers and different, and fit perfectly in a 'Hatred Mantra' tuxedo!!  ... Never forget that....!!!

The Arrogance of Ignorance and Stupidity.. Tea Party Republicans?

All throughout the Fall of 2009 through to November 2010, the Tea Party Republications staged a well organized deceptive campaign under the pretext of reminding and educating the USA electorate on the virtues and contents of the US Constitution, the basis for the US Government, and further to teach us all the history of the foundation of our government. These notable names come to mind: Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, David Webb, Dana Loesch, Amy Kremer, Dick Armey, Allen West, etc.


These self appointed constitutionalists have a lot to answer for when we review the depths of their proclamations. It is interesting that most of these politicians seem to give reverence to Mr. Ronal Reagan, and hold their version of President Ronald Reagan's political life his and presidency as the ultimate benchmark. I say their version of Mr. Reagan, because the accounts and corollaries they profess most times, contradict Mr. Ron Reagan Jr's understanding of his own father. Yesterday, I read a publication entitled "Five myths about Ronald Reagan's legacy" by Will Bunch [see link: Five myths about Ronald Reagan's legacy ] which I consider very informative. I wish some of the notables, I give honorable mention above, get to read this article. It should not be surprising that these Tea Party Republicans and their leadership, in their own ignorance, make up [re-write] history to conveniently fit their agenda not to propagate the truth, but to exploit the laziness we all have, when it comes to history of the US, the US Constitution, and prominent actors of such history, notable of all, Mr. Ronald Reagan. A lot of us, the US electorate, fail to check the validity of made-up professions, and sometimes act as if we were not alive when most of these events actually occurred. In a subsequent blog, I will tackle the glaring inconsistencies in the economic policies and associated political ideologies, that somehow escape most of us, in the glory-filled nostalgia of yesteryears' rewrite of history. I remember Mr. G. H. W. Bush, during the 1979 presidential elections, when he described the Reagan Economic Policies as 'Voodo Economics'. A connotation and labeling, that in hindsight, correctly predicted the guaranteed disastrous economic outcome of excessive debts and deficits, of the policies Mr. Ronald Reagan put forward, and subsequently implemented in his US administration, Mr. Bush being the Vice President. I recall Mr. David Stockman, Mr. Reagan's Budget Director, famously quibbled: para-phrase "We know that Trickle Down Economics never works ...and will not work..", and subsequently left the Reagan administration. It is only through the Arrogance of Ignorance and Stupidity' coupled with deliberate amnesia that the Reagan Economic Policy worshipers and missionaries, can feel empowered to re-write the truth out of history.


Next, I ask myself, why will US Rep. Michele Bachmann even believe that, her conjured-up account of the history of the Founding Fathers being responsible for ending slavery in the US, is a plausibly fact to offer in her address and/or presentation to Republicans and Tea Party Republicans in the State of Iowa? The short answer is, she is exceedingly arrogant in her own ignorance to unfortunately, attempt to count on her perceived ignorance of her audience, the concept I term, 'the Arrogance of Ignorance and Stupidity'; because the limits of her own understanding is woefully and incredibly naive and parochial, as well as being frighteningly absurd. The question is, what is US Rep. Michele Bachmann's level of education either formal and/or informal on the subject matter, the US Constitution, which she had publicly claimed to have exceptional competence? Do not forget the public proclamations during congressional elections, last November 2010. Well, she says, she has law degree(s) from Oral Roberts University [J.D.] and College of William & Mary Law School [L.L.M], but the graduation dates are not indicated in her own published biography. I am not sure about a J.D. from Oral Roberts University Law School being accredited; but with an L.L.M from the reputable College of William & Mary Law School, I am sure the course work had to include some readings of the US Constitution, Articles of Confederation [and Perpetual Union], some discussions of the Federalist Papers, and definitely, discussions on Slavery and the Bill of Rights, etc,.. absolutely!!. Hmm..!! Lest I forget, the Associate Justice of US Supreme Court, Honorable Antonin Scalia, in my opinion, a truly brilliant jurist but too openly a republican political operative, gave a closed-door [closed-chamber] presentation on the US Constitution, to the US House Tea Party Republican Caucus, under the leadership and invitation of Ms. Bachmann, just days before her presentation in Iowa. [ See her speech here: YouTube - Michele Bachmann Iowa Speech Bachmann Founders Ended Slavery Mediaite ]. I am not sure whether the two colleges Ms. Bachmann claims to have obtained law degrees, deserve any credit for her lack of basic knowledge. After watching the YouTube clip, you would came to realize, and hopefully, be more aware of the cadre of leaders, the Republicans and Tea Party Republicans are offering, and what they represent to the US electorate and Political infrastructure. Remember, for these Republican operatives, Actual Facts and Truths are a matter of their own SANITIZED RE-WRITE of relevant history, and thus see what I term 'The Arrogance of Ignorance and Stupidity'. 

Hypocrisy of Republicans and Tea Party Republicans.. Oh Yes!

Tea Party Republicans, constitute the true creativity of using political symbolism, labels, imagery, phony expression of outrage and exploitation in US political arena.


I just saw a report on MSNBC [@1:00 PM EST, Jan 27, 2011] about Senators: Marco Rubio [FL], Ron Johnson [WI], Pat Tomey [PA] and other republicans, who courted the enthusiasm of the Tea Party Republicans, are now disavowing their demands, and 'revising and extending their positions' to claim a Republican Tea Party Caucus is not necessary. By the way, did I say, they are the newly elected US Senators, and have their 6-yr. guaranteed tenure!!. Well, 6-yr. tenure to the Exclusive 100 Member Club of the most powerful political operatives in USA, and the real power component of the Legislative Branch, very consequential in the daily and future lives of USA citizenry!! There is no simple process to re-call/remove any of these deceitful and downright dishonest politicians. But I hope the apathetic electorate, that bought into staged fictitious outrage by these politicians, will not fall for this hypocrisy the next time around, but until the next cycle, guess what we are left with?


Furthermore, has anyone noticed that, the so-called anti-government Republicans and Tea Party Republicans, all have most of their lives, depended on the government to get where they are now. Most of these politicians had their parents on the government's dime, serving in the military, using the G.I. Bill and associated funding mechanisms for themselves and their families, public school teachers, government employees and politicians at local, state and federal government level. I was impressed with Mr. Christopher Matthews of MSNBC [Hardball Program] and some of his analysts and contributors acknowledging this fact for their own up-bringing, through government sponsored educational opportunities and subsequent professional achievement. For this blog, I choose a couple of Republicans and Tea Party Republicans to point out this hypocritical and selfishness cloaked with political outrage and self-righteousness.


As good example, consider Congressman Allen West of Florida, a self avowed anti-government Tea Party Republican, and a vocal critic of government programs, and the imbecile who on the campaign trail denigrated Mr. Obama, our President. Mr. West boasts of the long military service of his family. From his grandfather, his father to himself. The military, our cherished institution of the highest service and honor, is the Ultimate government  employment, I hope Mr. West does not fail to see that fact. The educational opportunities, health care coverage for the entire family and other governmental service benefits, all paid for by the government. Mr. West, in addition to military service said, he was a public school teacher, another government job. All my research about Mr. West shows he NEVER worked in the Private Sector, so all his life he has been supported, and employed by the government. This is the mark of intellectual dishonesty, the manifestation the heightened hypocrisy, and the downright fraud the Tea Party Republicans have successfully perpetrated on the electorate. Congressman Allen West, is the same man that proclaimed that he wanted the US government to restore the country back to the original letter and intent of the US Constitution, the sacred document, that sanctioned him, being treated as 3/5-th of a person, since he is an African American. What a hypocrite with impunity and a person with excessive claim of self importance.!! Read more about Mr. West at [ Allen West (politician) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ]


Senator Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr [R-KY], the minority leader in the US Senate, has a biography that again supports my point. Mr. Mitch McConnell, the loudest government bashing Republican, has never in his life worked a day in the Private sector, working for the government has been his only job. "Mitch" the crusader for private sector, as the only enterprise for creating jobs for the US unemployed, and strong advocate for the elimination of government jobs, happens to have always depended on the government for his own employment. What an irony for the uninformed electorate? I hope one o these days the numerous TV/Media hosts and reporters might ask, Mr. McConnell about his complete dependence on the government for his livelihood in the face of his anti-government crusade. Read more [ Mitch McConnell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ].

Senator John McCain, our unquestionably bona fide hero. Another basher of US government, who has never known anything other than the support from government in his entire life, from his grandfather through his father and himself. He has benefited from government and worked for government for almost his entire life!! How credible is his incessant bashing of Democrats for their dependency on Government? I am surprised the Democrats were not forceful enough to highlight Mr. McCain's dependence on government, especially when he introduced the fake 'Joe the Plumber' as symbol of anti-government job creation. Read more at [ John McCain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ].
These examples are but a few of the glaring hypocrisy on the part of anti-government Republicans,.. Oh Yes!

There are many other Republicans in Public and Private professions that are true beneficiaries of government programs from their parents up through their current status, I wish the media/press reminds these people and call them to account instead of buying into their distorted narratives which are full of hypocrisy. Remember Tea Party Republicans telling their congressmen and congresswomen to: "Take their hands off their medicare and medicaid" during the health care legislation debates, during the contentious town hall meetings. Remember, Senator John Barrasso [R-WY], was vehemently opposed to the Health Care Bill, that made it possible for people with pre-existing conditions, gain access to health insurance. Mr. Barrasso's wife, Ms. Bobbi Brown is a breast cancer survivor, who I believe gets coverage from the government provided health insurance program for the US congress. Why were there no Democratic operatives, who could publicize that level of callous hypocrisy, I bet, if the tables were turned, the Republicans would have made Mr. Barrasso the 'Poster-Child' for callous hypocrisy and unfairness in the health care debate, and trust me, the electorate would have appreciated the exposure and would have responded positively to the democratic health care bill, instead of the ongoing mis-information, still being perpetrated by the crafty Republicans... Oh Yes!


Over the weekend [end of January 2011], the Republican Party leaders kept on telling the media, they cannot be specific on their debt and deficit management agenda for the US, at this stage of the discussion, until the President first initiates his plan. The disturbing irony was that, the Republicans further, claimed the problem needs to be fully explained to the American People before they come out with their solution. What..? Are these not the same Republicans who were publicly praying for the President's policies to fail, who refused to participate in solving the country's economic difficulties, and further told the electorate to vote them into power for their better, yet undisclosed policy agenda? Why is it plausible for the media to let these same Republicans parade their trickery and hypocrisy without question? Are the Democrats not intelligent enough to formulate simple succinct messages to confront and expose the incessant Republican hypocrisy and down right deceitful rhetoric, if the press would not do their job? How are the Republicans able to craft  'simple mantras' and simple 'message slogans'  that are clear and concise, while the Democrats get tongue tied into using long superfluous detail language to describe their agenda for the electorate? Where is the simple message, democrats? Do you remember, "Yes We Can"..? .. Oh Yes!

Conservatives traditionally are supposed to support investments in Educational Opportunities to enable people to be self-reliant and more productive citizens. As the President, Mr. Obama has correctly said: para phrase "The country that out educates will out compete". I am waiting to see the education policy of Republicans, considering President Obama's education-intensive direction for the future of the US. It seems the Republicans have endorsed and promoted mediocrity, lack of intellectual curiosity and under achievement, and have elevated certain people that can be characterized as intellectually bankrupt, and close to the edge of lunacy, as leaders. Some of the notables are: Ms. Sarah Palin, Rep. Michele Bachmann [R-MN], Rep. Louie Gohmert [R-TX]. I hope the Republicans get some Devine revelation about the blessings of education, and therefore, dismount their proverbial high horses and join the rest of us who want USA to remain atop the educational achievement infrastructure of the world. 


The sad conclusion is that, most of these anti-government Republicans could not have amounted to much in their own lives, but by the help of the Government they profess to abhor..! Hypocrisy at its worst, disguised as virtuous concern for our government.. Oh Yes,... Oh Yes !!

No Panic: China Economic Model not for USA.... Precisely!!

There is the classic panic reaction, some pundits in the media and other seemingly well meaning prominent and media-visible Americans, to issues that do not lend themselves to simplistic analyses based on scanty data; and most times seem incredibly naive and parochial in their presentation A lot of issues come to mind, but with the visit of the President of China to the USA, I must at this time consider the so-called economic status decline of the US in relation to that of China. What is the basis for this baseless panic?

I surmise the same question applies to other instances of recent political events. Remember the November 2010 congressional elections, where the Republicans posing as Tea Party activists were successful in creating panic, overstated fear and despair in the electorate, to the extent of inventing baseless but effective enthusiasm for the Republican party, and acute dissatisfaction and heightened paralyses and inaction, on the Democratic party. I call that situation brilliant in the political realm, but very destructive for the progress of our Constitutionally Framed Government, which demands a good outcome for the welfare of the US society at large. How is that relevant to the subject matter?

Is anyone involved and/or interested in the subject matter, but embarking on China bashing and raising the Panic Alarm volume of Disdain, Finger Pointing, and Blame Assigning, paying attention to the fact that China is a large Developing Country compared to our USA, the most Developed Country on this Planet [Earth]! It is important for a level of self introspection and a heavy dose of reality check.

US as the most developed country is the leader and trend setter for other countries to follow especially the developing countries, China being one of the largest developing nations. To underscore this claim I make, the President of China Hu Jintau himself made that statement during the joint news conference with our President Obama on January 19, 2011 [Check the Joint New Conference communique / transcripts]. Furthermore, developing countries [China] have the luxury of acquiring and adopting the benefits of the achievements of developed countries, including but not limited to advanced technology development and deployment.

In other words, developing nations, notably China, have had and continue to have the unmitigated advantage of: Imitation, Adoption and Adaptation, and No or Low Risk implementation and deployment of the Benefits of already developed infrastructure of well developed economies, USA leading the pack.

We should all be aware of the developed nature of USA in relation to other countries, and appreciate the collective connotation of the term of developed Economic and Political Infrastructure. Our technological advancement and production capacity permeating our entire economic infrastructure, is still legendary and continues to lead the world, and our Constitutionally Framed Government, the basis of our envied political system, is still fascinating for its effectiveness, malleability, organic nature, forward looking in concept, and structured-in complexities of implementation, that is truly USA! Enough already with the Panic mongering and baseless 'doomsday' mantra of US decline, that shakes my calm demeanor into controlled disgust with the faithless prognosticators! USA is NOT in decline, and I will bet my life USA will NEVER be in decline!!

To the Panicking pundits, the seemingly slowness for change and progress in the US economic and political infrastructure, the observed inertia, is a critical component of the representative government, a deliberately engineered feature for our constitutionally framed government. The rest of us, forward looking optimists, the introspection I call for, should consider these tenets of a developing country, in this writing, I use China, because of the obvious current economic focus.

I have already mentioned the benefits of the almost risk free and low investment cost for late adopter Countries, now lets look at the reason China, in the eyes and minds of the panic pundits, seems to be moving a head of US. The major reason, I assert, is the current prevailing Chinese Governmental and/or Political System, as a Blend of: Authoritarian, Dictatorial, Pseudo-Free Enterprise, and Pseudo-Representative Parliamentary System. Note that, I did not add the flavor of Constitutionally Framed Government [our cherished Free Enterprise/Capitalist Democracy] like the USA system, as one of the listed. There lies the difference, in addition to the markedly non-mature nature of the current Chinese political system.

Within the context of an evolving but firmly rooted one party Chinese government, consider these observations:

1. There is practically No Opposition [No Limitation, No Required Referendum, No Required Political Concurrence] on the Economic Policies and Direction the Chinese government chooses for their country. In other words, economic activity deemed necessary by the Chinese government will be [is] undertaken without fanfare and opposition. Thus, in China, Progressive Economic Policies and Investments, deemed necessary, will have unfettered support and unconstrained implementation. Unlike the USA which, in the current configuration of the government, has the Congress [the Legislative Branch] led by Speaker John Boehner and his Tea Party Republicans, opposed to any policy proposals from the President [the Executive Branch], irrespective of the positive impact or value to the nation [USA] at large. Most of the opposition in the USA are mere political grandstanding and score keeping. For example, the Republican Party and the Tea Party Republicans stood on the political sidelines in opposition to President Obama's policies for two (2) years, in order to gain political power, at the expense of any benefits for the nation's future. The seeming rapid and/or timely development activity of China, in certain sectors of economic activity can thus be partly explained. Think about it.
2. The critical foundation for economic emancipation, progressive economic development and guaranteed sustainability as such, require targeted investment in the Education Policy of government. The government of China, as has been well documented, has embarked on higher education as a required fortification for economic sustainability for its people. China has not adopted [or adapted] the You-Are-On-Your-Own Education Policy Model, that seems to be proposed and practiced in the USA, mostly advocated The Republicans and the Tea Party Republicans, who even go as far as wanting to leave the financing of education to the Free Market. Is it a wonder when we [USA] see our global education index decline? I read that in the last few years, China has invested in, and built more than fifteen [15+] M.I.T. type university equivalents to ensure that their educational investment output be among the leaders in the world. Remember this observation today, for future results. 
3. The solid foundations of economic activity and sustainability requires modernized Physical Infrastructure to support commerce, locally and globally. Physical Infrastructure includes: Highways, Water Ways, Aviation, Communication Networks, Internet, Broadband and Wireless Networks, etc. For example China is reportedly building super highways, bullet trains [200+ mph], expanded broadband network into rural population areas. Investment in physical infrastructure has not been a priority in the USA, and with vehement opposition from the Republicans and Tea Party Republicans a change in this policy is doubtful. Food for thought!

These observations encapsulate my early postmortem of what pundits, economists and social scientists may conclude in future analyses, but not to subscribe to the panic. Current economic data estimates the net asset value [total assets less total liabilities] of the US as being approximately three [3] times that of China. The USA, as should be expected, is still the leader for economic activity and throughput. I surmise that, with judicious management of resources, coupled with future leaning inspired leadership and well crafted governmental policies, added to efficient execution of private business activities and ingenuity, USA will continue to lead. No need to Panic, the China Economic Model is not suitable for the USA.... Precisely!!

Private Sector vs Government? .. Economic Growth Argument!

Republican pundits and other so called conservatives in the media, claim a sacred and rigid demarcation between Private Corporate Investments and Government Investments, when they postulate that private business activity is the only means to economic growth and prosperity. I am sure private corporation business activity is the preferred model for a Capitalist Democracy. But is it purely true, or a more idealized expectation? I am a small business man and a true corporatist, and all things being equal, the private corporation model is practical and long term, although, I have a couple of general questions and misgivings.


The misgivings I have against the republican dogma of the role of government arises when it seems blindly political and irrational. Take the issue of required spending on our National Defense. Republicans applaud what they term a strong defense, and are mostly in favor of increased defense spending. Most Americans, Liberal, Conservative, and/or Independent, agree with the reasonable and necessary spending levels, billions of dollars, for our National Defense. Now let us examine the expenditures and the impact on our economy. First and foremost, who benefits directly from the expenditures? The many private corporations who are collectively classified as Defense Contractors: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, General Electric, Halliburton, Sierra Nevada Corporation, to name a few; and the hundreds of supporting professional services companies. For example, defense contractor Lockheed Martin, a private corporation, also provides business services for the US Departments of Commerce, Education, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, IRS, U.S. Postal Service etc.


Do republicans believe these defense contractors, these private corporations, are an extension of the Executive Branch of our Government, or the other two [2] Branches of our Government? Why do the Republicans pretend that No Real business activity of significant economic value and benefit occurs, when our Government invests in required obligations, in this case, our National Defense? When private sector firms perform these business activities for our Government, do the mindless media pundits ever consider the positive impact on the economic activity and employment status of the country? Why are the Democrats so dormant on such issues and slow to clarify such obvious facts? 


The republicans have no difficulty in manufacturing fictitious outrage as well as blatantly distorting facts. Remember the last congressional elections [November, 2010], the Democrats allowed the Tea Party Republicans [Note: There were no Tea Party Democratic candidates, an interesting fact] to upstage the whole electorate, by presenting themselves as a new political constituency outraged with the direction of the country, and the dormant and docile Democrats never provided a counter movement or even attempted to clarify to the electorate, that these were mere reconfigured 'same old' crafty Republicans. Case in point, imagine former House Majority Leader Richard [Dick] Arney [The Godfather of No-Regulations] and former Senator Philip "Phil" Gramm [The Bishop of financial services deregulated] both Texas Republicans, two among the many republicans who had just run the US economy into the ground, virtually decimating our way of life, evolve as Tea Party activists, and the electorate accepting them as the bearers of new ideas and believable alternative to the new administration, who are still trying to solve problem they had just inherited!!


Within the context of 'Private Sector vs Government? .. Economic Growth Argument', take a note of these questions: Which Private Sector Corporations and their Investments can be credited for the creation of:

1. Our Advanced Technological Infrastructure:  Internet, Wireless Communication Network, GPS, etc, that we all take for granted?
2. Our Physical Infrastructure: Inter-State Highway System, and other Transportation Systems, in general, the foundation of Commerce and Economic activity?
3. And the Maintenance of Required Components for Our National Defense, the basis of our cherished Freedom and Liberty?

I hope genuine answers to these question reveal the true inter-connectedness of the subject of this blog posting. The simplistic claims by so-called conservative pundits and operatives, for the sole reliance on Private Sector, for all the economic activity and growth in our capitalist democracy, boarders on delusion in some cases and outright dishonest proclamations, as well as political grandstanding. As this short excerpt delineates, the Synergy between Government and Private sector is the practical truth, and the obvious tenets that have always been clear, because all of us participate in the public-private partnerships. 


I am tempted to end this posting, with this observation: I have never heard of Microsoft Corporation buying an M2 Bradley Tank for their executive commuting, and/or buying a B-2 Spirit Stealth Airplane [Bomber] for just-in-time shipping of their software products and services. The M2 Bradley Tank order will go to BAE Systems Land and Armaments Corporation, and Northrop Grumman will be delighted for B-2 Spirit Stealth Airplane order. Both fictitious but illustrative purchases will be very profitable to the private corporations and will go a long way to contribute to economic growth! There you have it, we do not need the government,.. private sector to the rescue,..wow.... really!!  How ridiculous is the observation? One might surmise, but remember for our national defense, these are some of the procurement required to be made by our Government!


Let us all be intelligent enough to ignore the simplistic slogans from the uninformed Republican ideologues and hysterical pundits in the media; but remember to cherish Our Exceptional Country, Our Constitutionally Framed Government, and lets keep that in mind.....!!

Republicans Got Their Country Back... From Whom?

Republicans have been saying they want their country back, and as a fiscal conservative I keep wondering country back from Whom? With Mr. Boehner as speaker of the house, is the question answered? Did the republicans wrestle their country back from some outer-beings may be from the Moon or planet Mars? I had hoped the media had asked that question prior to November 2010.

Republicans rave against government and my question is they hate government so much why do they run for political office? Mr. John Boehner has been in congress for over eighteen years [18 yrs], Mr. Mitch McConnell about the same. Oh wait, they do not like government when the other party is in-charge, but they love the government when their party is in-charge, that is simple, why did the media not ask these questions, may be voters would be a little more informed about who they are selecting to represent them in congress.

The people who claim the sanctity of the US Constitution have either not read with understanding or they are just disingenuous about their understanding what is actually contained in the precious document. I will take the preamble to the constitution and Section 2 of Article 1: that delineates the Legislative Branch. The following quotes of parts of the US Constitution are taken from http://www.usconstitution.net/const.pdf and is used as basis for my arguments for this Blog.


"
Preamble  to the Constitution

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the
general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

Article. I. - The Legislative Branch

Section 1 - The Legislature
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States,
which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section 2 - The House

The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year
by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the
Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State
Legislature.

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five
Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when
elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

(Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which
may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be
determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to
Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other 
Persons.) (The previous sentence in parentheses was modified by the 14th 
Amendment, section 2.)
....

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall
have the sole Power of Impeachment.
”
For those who seem to claim love for the constitution but proclaim a dislike for government, I point you to the Preamble, the clearest statement of the establishment of self  Government of United States. It, therefore, is contradictory for the so-claimed haters of US government to publicly proclaim themselves as loving the Constitution as our sacred document, but these same people are always running to gain political control of the government they so profess to abhor. I call these people, who are mostly republicans, hypocrites running scams on unsuspecting supporters, true political connivers selling the US electorate short every chance they get.

The text excerpted from the constitution in bold face font above, is intentionally included to highlight what the constitution established for 'Free persons ... and three fifths of all other Persons', specifically persons of African descent [the enslaved]. Why is this important? The past election cycle we all witnessed a few African Americans in the forefront of the Tea Party movement, the likes of David Webb, Congressmen-elect Allen West, Tim Scott, and others, who professed to be strict constructionists, when it comes to the US Constitution, probably never read this section or did not understand its implications. Would they, being considered three-fifths of a person, really think the strict constructionists view of the Constitution, afforded them the rights, we take for granted today, because of subsequent amendments to the constitution? It is important to note that Mr. David Webb, on television used an expression that made me cringe and then made me laugh!


I para-phrase here: He [Mr. David Webb] said, we [USA government] should go back [restore] to the original interpretation, the original intent and text of the US Constitution, as was created by 'Our Fore-Fathers' [.. remember: 3/5-th of person for blacks, no vote for women,.. etc]! Wow !! This came from Tea Party leader David Webb, a black American [American of African descent]. Which of the fore-fathers was he referring to? Are they the ones who came to the USA in shackles and on slave ships? Or some other fore-fathers who live in the mind of Mr. Webb, obviously inaccessible to the rest of us? I wish the host of the television program had asked Mr. Webb these simple questions. By the way, Messrs. David Webb, Allen West, Tim Scott and Tea Party had their familiar chant, "We want our country back". I hope not back into slavery and 3/5-th of a person, since USA has come a long way with remarkable potential going forward, and some of us chant, "We want to keep our country going forward towards Liberty For All", with absolutely no pretenses!!

Furthermore, it is fascinating to me, how the same prominent republicans like, former congressman Richard "Dick" Armey, Tea Party organizer and major funder, who help run the USA into debts, deficits and economic despair, can turn around and create a fictitious outrage, and invent the pretext of concern for the direction of the country, and in turn proclaim their adherence to the US constitution, wait, the same Constitution that existed, when these impostors of truth, run the country. Whoa ..wow!! Well I have more to add in subsequent blogs, and I hope you the reader will chime in with comments....