August has been a very busy month for me personally and professionally. I wanted to write a few more blog entries but simply did not have time.
President Obama is drumming for war in Syria. Of course he won't use the term 'war'. But his plans for military action in response to the use of chemical weapons is problematic at best, and dangerous at worst. :Let's consider the following:
1. Claiming to want to hamper Al Asaad's chemical weapons capability, Obama claims there will be no boots on the ground. This is a reference to no need for an invasion force such as in Iraq. However, the advance notice he gave to Al Asaad have provided the Syrians ample time to relocate the stockpile, move human shields into harm's way, and take other evasive measures.
2. Secretary of State John Kerry has informed the Syrians it would be a "very small" military action. Whoa now. That has some scary consequences implied, no?
3. Members of both the administration and the Pentagon have leaked specific target details. When was the last time a military was successful in telling the enemy which targets they were working against?
4. Politically speaking, this action is problematic for Obama at home. The citizens are not interested in another military action. They've seen long, protracted military actions which end up being very costly, both in human terms and and financial.
5. After having his Secretary of State called a liar by Russian President Putin, Obama goes to Russia for already planned meetings, and poses for photos with Putin, shaking his hand and smiling. There's supporting the chain of command for you.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Hey Mayor Mallory, Watch and Learn
Detroit's Death by Democracy
This column should titled "Detroit's Death by Democrats". Or perhaps "Detroit's Death by Unions".
George hits the nail on the head here, and the proof is in other municipalities and states being run, or run into the ground, by democrats and unions. Mayor Mark Mallory of Cincinnati should pay attention, as he might learn something.
Cincinnati's mayor and a majority of council are building a $140+ million dollar street car that has less than 2 miles of track. The end points of that track are a stadium and a marketplace. Just how many people will drive downtown, park their cars, get on the street car to go to either location, then get back on the trolley to their cars, and drive home? None I say, but maybe you get lucky with a few.
The proponents admit the fares will not cover the operating costs and intend to take tax revenues form the local casino to pay for the street car. The problem is they have already planned to spend that money on other projects, violating the economic law that says you cannot spend the same dollar twice, much less more times.
Meanwhile the city has failed to fully fund the city employee unions pension funds as required by law. That fund is approximately 50% funded as of the last report published.
Will democrats and their union allies ever understand what they are doing? Rank and file union members should stand up and be heard.
This column should titled "Detroit's Death by Democrats". Or perhaps "Detroit's Death by Unions".
George hits the nail on the head here, and the proof is in other municipalities and states being run, or run into the ground, by democrats and unions. Mayor Mark Mallory of Cincinnati should pay attention, as he might learn something.
Cincinnati's mayor and a majority of council are building a $140+ million dollar street car that has less than 2 miles of track. The end points of that track are a stadium and a marketplace. Just how many people will drive downtown, park their cars, get on the street car to go to either location, then get back on the trolley to their cars, and drive home? None I say, but maybe you get lucky with a few.
The proponents admit the fares will not cover the operating costs and intend to take tax revenues form the local casino to pay for the street car. The problem is they have already planned to spend that money on other projects, violating the economic law that says you cannot spend the same dollar twice, much less more times.
Meanwhile the city has failed to fully fund the city employee unions pension funds as required by law. That fund is approximately 50% funded as of the last report published.
Will democrats and their union allies ever understand what they are doing? Rank and file union members should stand up and be heard.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Never Mind
A Never Mind Presidency - George Will
Does anyone find it at least a little bit troubling that this president can simply say never mind with regards to various laws. The PPACA (Obamacare) mandates employers with more than 50 employees must provide health care coverage to those employees by October 2013 for the 2014 calendar year. Now President Obama has delayed a legally passed and signed law for 12 more year, to 2015, conveniently after mid term elections.
The president has done similar legal evasions by choosing not to enforce other laws, such a various immigration laws, creating his own non- congressional "dream act". This was a proposed, but never passed, piece of legislation that would have legalized countless children of illegal immigrants who had no choice in coming to America with their parents.
He also had his AG Eric Holder dismiss charges for which member of the Black Panthers intimidated voters in a polling place in Philadelphia. I guess voter intimidation is okay when blacks impose on non-blacks, but not the other way around.
Let's also not forget that Obama chose not to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and has often times proposed executive orders which have the effect of laws, especially regarding the EPA and Department of Labor.
This country has many founding principles including that we all follow the rule of law. Laws are passed by legislative bodies and signed into law by executives who enforce the laws. Courts determine whether laws are being followed or broken, and in some cases whehter said lass violate state or federal constitutions. Presidents do not get to make law and choose whether or not to enforce this or the other law.
George Will nailed it on this one.
Does anyone find it at least a little bit troubling that this president can simply say never mind with regards to various laws. The PPACA (Obamacare) mandates employers with more than 50 employees must provide health care coverage to those employees by October 2013 for the 2014 calendar year. Now President Obama has delayed a legally passed and signed law for 12 more year, to 2015, conveniently after mid term elections.
The president has done similar legal evasions by choosing not to enforce other laws, such a various immigration laws, creating his own non- congressional "dream act". This was a proposed, but never passed, piece of legislation that would have legalized countless children of illegal immigrants who had no choice in coming to America with their parents.
He also had his AG Eric Holder dismiss charges for which member of the Black Panthers intimidated voters in a polling place in Philadelphia. I guess voter intimidation is okay when blacks impose on non-blacks, but not the other way around.
Let's also not forget that Obama chose not to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and has often times proposed executive orders which have the effect of laws, especially regarding the EPA and Department of Labor.
This country has many founding principles including that we all follow the rule of law. Laws are passed by legislative bodies and signed into law by executives who enforce the laws. Courts determine whether laws are being followed or broken, and in some cases whehter said lass violate state or federal constitutions. Presidents do not get to make law and choose whether or not to enforce this or the other law.
George Will nailed it on this one.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Latest “Deal” from the Senate: Pass Amnesty First, Read the Bill Later | RedState
Latest “Deal” from the Senate: Pass Amnesty First, Read the Bill Later | RedState
This latest installment of "pass it to know it" legislation deals with immigration reforms. Pretty serious stuff, no? Like Obamacare(Affordable Care Act), the legislators we all elected will vote on whether to pass the bill without reading or understanding it.
In todays' Congress, laws are written by who know who, possibly by staffers, but more likely by lobbyists. Hundreds or thousands of pages of legalese which would take weeks to read and understand, if even possible. And our elected representatives are expected to read a summary, provided by some who supposedly knows, and vote to pass or not.
You may or may not like the current bill being pushed through the halls. You may or may not like the next one. Are you willing to trust anyone with bills that will have far reaching impact on the lives of our citizens? Would you like the bill behind Door #1, Door #2 or Door #3? Would you let someone else pick the door on your behalf?
That is what's happening in Washington DC in recent years. What are you going to do about it?
This latest installment of "pass it to know it" legislation deals with immigration reforms. Pretty serious stuff, no? Like Obamacare(Affordable Care Act), the legislators we all elected will vote on whether to pass the bill without reading or understanding it.
In todays' Congress, laws are written by who know who, possibly by staffers, but more likely by lobbyists. Hundreds or thousands of pages of legalese which would take weeks to read and understand, if even possible. And our elected representatives are expected to read a summary, provided by some who supposedly knows, and vote to pass or not.
You may or may not like the current bill being pushed through the halls. You may or may not like the next one. Are you willing to trust anyone with bills that will have far reaching impact on the lives of our citizens? Would you like the bill behind Door #1, Door #2 or Door #3? Would you let someone else pick the door on your behalf?
That is what's happening in Washington DC in recent years. What are you going to do about it?
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Affirmative Action
Justices Take Pass on Texas Affirmative-Action Case .
Affirmative Action : When legislators believe people to be incapable of deciding who to accept or hire without considering race, they pass a law forcing them to consider race.
Affirmative Action : When legislators believe people to be incapable of deciding who to accept or hire without considering race, they pass a law forcing them to consider race.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Restoring Trust in Government
Thomas Sowell wrote this article about trust and government. Read it Here
"But we the voters are not blameless. Having chosen an untested man to be president, on the basis of rhetoric, style and symbolism, we have ourselves to blame if we now have only a choice between two potentially tragic fates -- the loss of American lives to terrorism or a further dismantling of our freedoms that has already led many people to ask: "Is this still America?""
We elected Barack Obama, who came with little to no experience in government, and even less running any kind of organization as an executive. During the campaign for the 2008 election there were no fewer than 18 books written about or by this man we elected. He then won a Nobel Peace Prize for accomplishing exactly nothing.
This man spoke of fundamentally changing America, and now we see it happening before our eyes.
His administration claims transparency, which would in theory, allow us to see everything we need to see about what and how he operates. I scoff at that claim.
His Attorney General lies about investigations.
His trophy legislation is a 2400 page bill voted on before it was read.
He chooses which laws to enforce regarding immigration and marriage.
His DOJ dropped charges of voter intimidation against those who were already convicted of it.
The NSA is spying on Americans while his appointed claim they do not.
He claims to cut a budget that is ever bigger year after year.
He has travelled more away from DC than any president in history, and that is just election campaigning, fund raising and vacationing.
Fundamentally change America. You bet he did. What do you think?
"But we the voters are not blameless. Having chosen an untested man to be president, on the basis of rhetoric, style and symbolism, we have ourselves to blame if we now have only a choice between two potentially tragic fates -- the loss of American lives to terrorism or a further dismantling of our freedoms that has already led many people to ask: "Is this still America?""
We elected Barack Obama, who came with little to no experience in government, and even less running any kind of organization as an executive. During the campaign for the 2008 election there were no fewer than 18 books written about or by this man we elected. He then won a Nobel Peace Prize for accomplishing exactly nothing.
This man spoke of fundamentally changing America, and now we see it happening before our eyes.
His administration claims transparency, which would in theory, allow us to see everything we need to see about what and how he operates. I scoff at that claim.
His Attorney General lies about investigations.
His trophy legislation is a 2400 page bill voted on before it was read.
He chooses which laws to enforce regarding immigration and marriage.
His DOJ dropped charges of voter intimidation against those who were already convicted of it.
The NSA is spying on Americans while his appointed claim they do not.
He claims to cut a budget that is ever bigger year after year.
He has travelled more away from DC than any president in history, and that is just election campaigning, fund raising and vacationing.
Fundamentally change America. You bet he did. What do you think?
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Sex and the Military - Thomas Sowell PhD
Sex and the Military - Thomas Sowell, PhD
Two very telling quotes from this column are below.
There seems to be something liberating about ignorance and inexperience. You are free to believe whatever you want to, unencumbered by hard facts and, if you have political power, to impose your headstrong ignorance on those with first-hand knowledge.
A more insidious consequence of having ignorant civilians micro-managing the military is that the caliber of a nation's military leaders can be affected when generals have to pass through filters for political correctness to reach the top.
Two very telling quotes from this column are below.
There seems to be something liberating about ignorance and inexperience. You are free to believe whatever you want to, unencumbered by hard facts and, if you have political power, to impose your headstrong ignorance on those with first-hand knowledge.
A more insidious consequence of having ignorant civilians micro-managing the military is that the caliber of a nation's military leaders can be affected when generals have to pass through filters for political correctness to reach the top.
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