With all due respect, the Stupor Committee has failed to come up with any compromise and you, Congress, have failed to do your  job.  The Constitution requires of you to complete appropriations each year by the October 1 deadline YOU (and your weak-kneed predecessors) imposed, after extending it from  July 1!

I find it a political farce that 535 Senators and Representatives of  The People really care less about their populace than  their chances for re-election. Perhaps you have ignored the lessons of BOTH the “Tea Parties” and the “Occupy Wall Street” movements:  their common complaint is that they believe in neither Congress nor the businesses that support it. No matter how many dollars you are given or you take, eventually the votes will add up.

It’s a little uncertain if Appropriations for  Defense, Energy, Environment and Interior have been approved. The other half of the Government seems to be in limbo. It would be nice if y’all did the jobs you are paid for by the end of the year, whether you are decorating Christmas trees or lighting Hanukkah candles.

“Get ‘Er  done,” and you’ll have almost a year to campaign.

My humble suggestion:  please pass the 2006 budget. It’s expenditures don’t much exceed the expected revenues of FY2012, and I (nor the American People) am no better off than I was five years ago.

I know y’all don’t really want to work for a living, nor read stuff (like Bills) that has been written for you by lobbyists, so just take the amounts (Total Appropriations) for each Department of the Executive  from 2006 and give the total to them for their own allocation. If they mess up, it will be their fault (and the Executive’s).

Should you get your acts together, and pass the overdue appropriations for FY 2012, your jobs should be done and you may take vacation. It does not appear that the Postal Service will need to name any new facilities next year.

You are incompetent and ineffectual. Please take the year off and devote it to your campaigns.

All over America, today is voting day. There are no Congressfolk nor Presidents to be elected, but if you do not vote you have no right to complain.

Wife and I voted on Amendments to the Texas Constitution last week, in “early voting.” We have an arcane requirement that actual People have to ratify (or not) some of the things our Legislature does.

Son will vote on Mayor, City Council, and the aforementioned Amendments.

Whatever your convictions are, whatever issues or candidates are on your ballot, today is your opportunity to make a difference.

VOTE! Or don’t complain. Even if you lose, you have registered your opinion in the only poll that counts:  the Voting Poll (and it is far greater than any sponsored by pundits, media, or politicos).

Friday was once known as Armistice Day. Grandfather and Great-Uncle (and perhaps some others) welcomed it. One spent forty years in VA hospitals; the other was awarded the Croix de Guerre and was too modest to mention why. Perhaps the 150 Americans who went into a trench and the twenty that came out had something to do with it.

For centuries, ordinary Americans have fought and sometimes died to preserve The Vote for themselves and every other American. Please do your part and VOTE!

I’ll not shed a tear for Anwar al-Awlaki, born an American in New Mexico and holding a BS from Colorado State, an MA from San Diego State, and work towards a PhD at George Washington University. Somewhere along the line, he got weird and led several people to attack his country of citizenship. Born of Yemenis and married to a Yemen, he moved to Yemen and preached against the US. A case for Treason could easily be made.

Strieff put out an excellent article, on which many have commented.

Unmentioned is the fact that another American citizen was collateral damage.

The 40-year-old al-Awlaki was killed in Yemen’s al-Jawf province along with another US citizen, Samir Khan, the co-editor of al-Qaeda’s Inspire magazine and [Saudi] Ibrahim al-Asiri, the organisation’s top bomb-maker.

Samir Khan, was born of Pakistani parents and raised in Queens New York. His family moved to North Carolina in 2004.

His worried father tried to cut off his Internet access and tried to dissuade him from running extremist Web sites, but with little effect.

Samir [age 25] was a programmer or web-page editor. Also, apparently, on the kill list.

What bothers me about all of this is the “rule of unintended consequences” and the effect these assassinations may have on the future of America.

Congress hasn’t declared a war in seventy years; this makes the identification of “enemies” difficult, and undermines any charges of  Treason.

No matter how guilty we feel perpetrators of violence are, when it comes to American Citizens, we [used to?] pride ourselves in the rule of Law and The Constitution.

When Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali and declared himself a Conscientious Objector to the [undeclared] War in Vietnam, he was persecuted and prosecuted. It took The Supreme Court to overturn his conviction, 8 to nothing. He had converted to The Nation of Islam, but never wished harm on the United States.

The CIA (which killed Alawi and Khan in Yemen) isn’t supposed to practice inside America, but they have recently been helping the New York City Police.

Our Government and our Courts work on precedent because, least of all Congress and most of all The Courts, no one wants to be held responsible for an actual decision.

Once our government has the precedent that it is OK to assassinate Americans abroad without trial, it is only a small step to execute any who oppose The Government.

Bush I was President during Ruby Ridge. President Clinton was responsible for Waco where 76  men, women and children died in fire. Many Americans died at the hands of their Government because they disagreed with it. Presidential powers to kill our citizens have been extended, and Congress abets.

The People of RedState disagree with our current President. The KOS disagree with our previous President.

I’m not sad about the deaths of  Anwar Al-Awlaki, nor Samir Khan, but they were Americans subject to more consideration than they were permitted. When Hannity or Colmes are taken out by HARM missiles (obviously, a lesser caliber would suffice) because they oppose a President, those of lesser opposition can continue cheering until The Government comes for them.

I’d like to blame Obama … but the Constitutional experts around here (and “experts” all over the Media) seem regularly to forget that only Congress can raise money or spend it. By all means, “leadership” is in question  … but when push comes to shove, only the Republican House can raise taxes and “it takes a village” of Congress critters to spend far more than they can raise.  The recent agreement didn’t cut a whit of spending, but managed to further the myth that “future reductions in the rate of increase” are somehow a victory!

Like most folks, $trillions of dollars are incomprehensible to me (and Congress counts on this). So here’s the story in simpler terms:

In 2010, the average worker made $44,410 a year. I’ve seen other figures, some as high as $47,000 (and bailed-out bankers are paid$millions/yr, raising the average). Following, all figures are based on Fiscal 2010, which ended September 30, 2010 and for which ACTUAL figures are available.

SO … let’s just round that up to $50,000 per year (a third of a Congress critter’s salary) … consider yourself lucky.

If you were the Federal Government, your income was $50,000 (in fact, IRS collections were $2.3451 TRILLION!).

Proportionally, you spent $59,541 (actually, Congress spent $2.7926 Trillion) … about 20% more than you made.

And incidentally, you had $289,147 in debt (Total Federal FY2010 ending: $13.5616 Trillion)

If you stop eating and driving and buying clothes, you could pay off your debt in six years. If you take out a mortgage at 5%, that debt could be paid off in 30 years at only $1,552.20 a month!

Of course, you may already have a mortgage. And perhaps you like to eat and have to drive to work and you prefer to wear clothes. Just remember that Congress has already hocked your life (and those of your children) to the extent above … above and beyond what you already require to live.

You ARE the Federal Government and Congress.  If you spend 20% more than you make each year and are in debt that amounts to six years’ salary (it’s more, now), did you expect a better credit rating?

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. __ Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence.

… so says my wife.   Because of this article/videos found and posted by our son.

Please read the article; view the (sometimes lengthy: 11minutes) videos. If you do nothing else, check out FOX News’ Napolitano’s report. Even though NBC had a camera crew on site, only FOX has so far mentioned it among US networks.

Agree with the peaceful protestor or not (he seems to be sponsored by a Russian digital TV network), it seems that young people actually (sort of) danced at the Jefferson Memorial, and were arrested without charge. According to a recent court ruling, dancing is illegal in Memorials (perhaps, on any Federal property, but I don’t know).

Demonstrators were peaceful, police reserved (but may have engaged in “unneccessary roughness”); I think the “right to assemble” might be a good thing, but our Government (and DC Park Police) seem to have forgotten their sworn duty to protect “… the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” A week later, the event was reprised, the police stood by, but S.W.A.T. teams were on hand.

Politicians always desire to control The People.  When will the level of liberty sink to “… and then, they came for me?”

I read recent posts, and I am impressed by the deep political discourse regarding my State’s “liberal media,” many States opposition to Obamacare, and the attention paid to a coed’s weiner-pic.

I thought Redstate more serious, but perhaps I am wrong.

I spend this day remembering one of Napoleon’s troops (a relative), ancestors of Wife and I who fought together in the Revolution and against each other at Vicksburg, a Great Uncle whom France thought deserved the Croix de Guerre (from WWI), another Great Uncle who lies in Henri Chappelle (Belgium) from WWII. We also remember many others who fought and sometimes died in wars. Many ancestors have fought for what they believed.

Few in Congress have ever served, and few (if any) care about beliefs other than those that (when espoused) might win them the next election. Supporters and detractors on Redstate (and elsewhere) are oft more concerned with politics than practice.

Please take a day off, and honor the millions of simple Americans from all backgrounds and politics that have served their country in wars because they believed in America. Please think about the hundreds of thousands who have died for Freedom and Democracy.

Please ask every politician that might send us to war or surrender if they have the fortitude or belief of any common American.

Were half the power, that fills the world with terror,
Were half the wealth, bestowed on camps and courts,
Given to redeem the human mind from error,
There were no need of arsenals or forts:

The Arsenal at Springfield, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet, and the namesake of my Elementary School.

–Greycloak, an American Citizen and Voter

Back in 2000, Billy Daley prolly had to sit at the Kids’ Table Christmas, ’cause he couldn’t steal enough votes in Florida to overturn an election. The US Supreme Court had to step in and order the Florida Supreme Court to follow its own rules. Make no mistake: in Bush v. Gore, the ruling was “follow your own rules,” and THAT followed an earlier severe warning that would have allowed Florida to save face.

Eleven years later, Justice David Prosser fell 171 votes short of a sure win … and the Democrat challenger has filed suit to try to gain back over 7,000 votes in a “free” recount that will cost Wisconsin taxpayers over $500,000. Even if the recount weren’t free, the Democrat would only have to pay $34,530.

A summary of the problem can be found here. This, in a State known for buying votes with wine or cigarettes. Even KOS wonders about previous elections.

Hey, there has to be a cut off somewhere, be it 1 or 171 votes. But I hope Wisconsin will remember what one person’s (and Party’s) ambition cost the State and its taxpayers.

I am generally opposed to increasing the Federal Criminal Code, but it might help if the penalties for Election Fraud were made equivalent to those for Treason, even though convictions may take far longer than the terms of the people elected.

Last year’s college graduate sent me a note. He achieved a job, but recently sent me a link he referred to as “not news.” He follows current events and had to go to the BBC for a comment on our current fiscal status.

I sent Son this response:

You make about $50k … were you the Federal Government, you would have spent $88k for the year. Your debt would be overwhelming (oops … it is … you are “the kids” that will have to pay it off). This is why you might consider voting or writing your CongressCritter about their incompetence.

Note:  Republicans increased the National Debt (your liability) by over $500 billion a year while they controlled all branches of Government … The Democrats are twice or thrice as efficient at borrowing against the future. Neither set of politicians has a clue.

I love the fact that Democrats AND Republicans blamed Standard & Poors (S&P) in part for the recent recession/depression: because they over-rated all the mortgage securities and derivatives. Now that S&P is trying to be honest with a “negative outlook,” nobody wants to hear the bad news.

Love,
–Dad

PS:  Good luck with your “indentured servitude.” Your studies in the Chinese language should help.

I am amused that our Republicans cut $38 billion (maybe as little as $352 million [video, ad warning]) from our current budget with weeks of TV time over the argument: these same guys increased the National Debt by over $500 billion a year, every year they controlled both houses of Congress. Big deal … The Public caught on in 2006 and 2008, only to replace them with more expensive idiots.

I applaud Rep. Ryan’s attempt at a budget. From a liberal blog: Ryan would would “add $3 trillion less to the debt than Obama’s budget proposal over the next decade.

I’m sorry, but the politico-speak of “we will reduce the increase” is just so much horse-pucky! Since Congress is unimaginative, they tend to base this year’s budget on last-year’s budget. I would suggest starting with a budget that subtracts the Bush TARP and the Obama “stimulus” from the total before even thinking about a budget. Better to just re-enact the 2006 budget, because 2011/12 revenues might just cover it!  Remember, Congress has no original thoughts.

I despair for my children. Congress ought to give a dang about theirs. But with the 2012 election campaign already in force, I suppose it is too much to expect Congress to care about the future, other than their own reelection. Or for the Parties to give a dang about The Public, as long as they “win the debate” … whatever it is.

If your family were lucky enough to make $50,000 last year (about the average), in Federal terms, you spent about $88,000 and Republicans just saved you from spending about $1,033 more.

YAY, Boehner!  Not having any money to spend, a Deal has been reached to cut ~$38 Billion from $1.65 Trillion in DEFICIT spending of money that will have to be borrowed. About a two and a half percent cut.

Of the entire $3.8 Trillion requested by The President for 2011 fourteen months ago, Republicans in Congress have cut $78.5 billion … two percent!

To be sure, the Democratic Congress and President failed to do their most essential job last year:  pass a budget by September 30. Republicans in the House (and Senate), having taken office in January, completed last year’s work in only three months.

After wrapping up loose ends this week, Congress will reward itself with a two-week-vacation.

Let’s hope that Congress can get its job done THIS year: after August’s four-week vacation, they’ll have four more weeks to wrap up THIS years 2012 budget negotiations.

OMB puts the 2012 Projected Deficit [at]: $1.101 trillion, 7.0 percent of GDP.

I would put a negotiating starting point at ZERO! Of course, not even the entire “discretionary spending” side of the budget could make up that figure. Somebody ought to start over, from scratch.

The Pentagon is about to pull its attack planes out of the international air campaign in Libya, hoping NATO partners can take up the slack.

–AP, 4/1/11

And in February, this

So … Republicans were FOR the war, before they were against Obama’s belated intervention (war), and are currently complaining about him pulling out of the war.

Make no mistake: it’s a war, despite many folks’ comments to the contrary. We did our thing: we stopped an invasion of Benghazi, then took out the Libyan air force. Now, it’s sorta up to Libyans.

It would be nice if Egypt sent a few arms; maybe even the Emirates, or the UAE … they have certainly bought enough from us the past few decades. It might prove they are actually for freedom, although they are conflicted.

Back home, the US is once again proving that it is a fickle ally. Either we believe what we say (some weeks), or we don’t. When politicians grow a spine, they may win elections and actually get some respect outside of America.

I think my favorite word for this decade will be “squirmish” … my favorite for the last was “strategery.”

I am sorry, but our Republicans’ advocacy of Mrs. Malaprop is only exceeded by their ability to create new words out of tattered cloth. Media will demean them, but these new words are valuable.

I do not know how Libya will turn out: we have (belatedly) “leveled the playing field,” but it is uncertain whether the rebels and their military defectors will win, or The Government will prevail. NEXT election (in the U.S.), we will have to deal with the consequences.

President Obama Monday night spoke on the issue … but he failed to describe any goals, provide a plan, or define an “exit strategy.”   He DID manage to turn over the responsibility to NATO (“not my job”), but failed to mention that much of NATO’s command structure and support is provided by the U.S.A.

Media pundits, and many Republicans, have complained that Obama didn’t consult Congress. He DID get a UN resolution … when Bush I and II were in power, the Iraq wars were supported by both the UN and Congress (and even Clinton had the consolation of PUBLIC LAW 105–338—OCT. 31, 1998
IRAQ LIBERATION ACT OF 1998). OH … I’m sorry … Clinton never invaded Iraq … he just invaded Somalia, Croatia, Haiti, and others without either UN or Congressional approval.

A few media reports (and Republican Congress-critters) have suggested that The President should have consulted Congress. I don’t know why. Congress has not declared a war since 1942. Why bother? They are still dithering over a budget that was supposed to be passed six months ago. Other than War, the most important Constitutional obligation of Congress is “to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States.” Where have they succeeded?

The Democrats had their chance: BOTH houses were Democrat throughout the Fall … faced with a budget approval by September 30 (LAST Year), THEY couldn’t do their jobs. Our Republicans entered office in January … despite two weeks vacation in the first three months of a new session, the House may have done its job, but the Senate has not. Why do we pay ANY of these guys?  For that matter, why do we keep electing them?

I hope the squirmish in Libya turns out ok … our involvement has been the ideal “push button” war desired by the American populace … no casualties other than a broken airplane and two servicemen recovered.

SOME of our voters risk their lives every day in Afghanistan, Iraq, The Mediterranean, and elsewhere. They go whereever our Presidents send them. Congress can support them or not. The rest of the armchair voters can support them or not, probably based on whatever CNN, MSNBC, or FOX says they should do.

Our Congress should represent The People, but it does not. They should make decisions, but they do not.

I have simple questions to ask of our politicians:  Do you support Democracy (anywhere, in any form), or not? Are you prepared to deal with the consequences, or not? More importantly, are you able to do your job? Which is more important: your re-election, or a balanced budget? Which is more important: your re-election, or weighing in on International affairs?

I don’t think politicians of any ilk can answer these simple questions … if they did, I might vote for them.

The squirmish in Libya is far less threatening (to U.S. politicians) than squirmishes in Korea, ‘Nam, or Iraq … our President has described our intervention as (well, I still don’t know) … but our brave Republicans have countered his terrible decisions with (well, I still don’t know).

“Squirmish” is a GREAT word! It is a great word for “wars undeclared” and totally avoids the “spineless” epithet that might be applied to the politicians that don’t declare wars, and can’t pay for them.

PS:  I just LOVE the media’s accounting: be it Bush or Obama, the “cost of war” is whatever we pay our military every day of the week, plus the cost of whatever missiles we bought years ago and expended.

is not popular, but it ought to be considered.

Strief has an excellent post, and many comments follow it. I considered adding my own, but thought they might be lost in the fray.

I have to wonder why The President is in Rio while another airstrike is going on, but I remember that President Reagan had to be woken up to be informed that we had put a bomb through Gaddafi’s bedroom window on his orders.

The post remembers Clinton’s expedition in the Balkans, and makes some very good points as to what might happen after an intervention. Unfortunately, the results predicted more accurately describe what resulted after Gulf War I, when the Bush I administration abandoned Iraq’s Kurds in the North and Shia in the South. Both, for re-election political expediency that resulted in disaster for all concerned: the Kurds, the Shia, and Republican President George H.W. Bush.

Many of the comments demean President Obama, and I cannot but agree with some. But he is the President, the Commander-in-Chief, and no matter how long it takes him to make a decision, our Armed Forces are pledged to support him. In international measures, we should support The President, as well.

It would help if he outlined some goals: we are only there to take out Gaddafi’s air defenses and ground his airplanes. The French (who made the first strike) can blow up his tanks outside of Benghazi (they did); the Brits can launch almost as many cruise missile as we (they did), and French and British aircraft can bomb the heck out of installations, with help from B-2s out of Missouri (we all did).

The Qataris are sending aircraft, as are the UAE … the Saudis and Egyptians are preoccupied, although the Egyptians “cleaned Gaddafi’s clock” in 1977, and could easily do so again.

With a level playing field, perhaps Libya’s rebels could win … they certainly have the spirit. But the US and Europe will have to live with the result, and have perhaps taken too long to become involved.

The end-options are simple: deal with a leader who has been less than rational for forty years and now hates the West, or deal with rebels of varying backgrounds who may or may not appreciate “foreign” assistance.

In the meantime … no matter internal US politics, it is important to support The President of the United States of America, our country’ interests, and our military in foreign affairs.

As our President diddles and Europe dithers, Muammar Qaddafi is proving that the only thing a dictator needs to do to keep power is to slaughter his own people. It is a sad thing for the Arab peoples, who in the past months have been successful in imposing their own form of Democracy in Tunisia and Egypt.

When it’s over (and it will be, soon), the rest of the world will have to continue to deal with Qaddafi and his sons. They have the leverage: their oil and their gas … we will have none because we have frozen his assets and demeaned his regime. It may take years, but the assets will be returned. The insult will not be forgiven.

It is too late. Qaddafi pays $2,000/day to mercenaries … up front, $60,000 for thirty days. Enough for each to build a new “Hotel Rwanda.” Combined with the well-paid soldiers of his sons’ military brigades and overwhelming air and sea support, the disorganized rebels are doomed.

After Libya slaughtered over a dozen US servicemen in a bar in Germany, Ronald Reagan bypassed European recalcitrance and put a bomb through Qaddafi’s bedroom window. This helped for a few years, and tempered Qaddafi’s ambitions. THIS administration is incapable of making such a decision. So is Congress.

It is too late to establish a ‘no-fly” zone … folks have forgotten that the Cuban Air Force once launched a handful of jets and defeated a Bay of Pigs invasion. Without reference to Victory Through Airpower [Seversky, 1942], rebels do not stand a chance against bombs from the sky or landings from the sea, even when assisted by defecting Libyan Army ground units.

Neither America nor Europe have the fortitude to take real action against Qaddafi, and he knows this. After he executes the rebels and the military that defected, after asylum has been offered by Europe to the many Ministers who defected, this rebellion will be suppressed and many Arabs who aspired to Democracy will once again know that The West doesn’t care.

Thank you, media. You are forcing the immediate shutdown of 7 of Germany’s 17 nuclear plants (41%), two of them permanently within a year or two. You’ve stopped two new Swiss power plants in their tracks. New plants within the US (none have been built in thirty years) will also likely be put on hold, despite perhaps being one thing that Obama has done right.

While Libya’s people are being slaughtered, Yemen is in revolt, and Bahrain has its own riots, all I hear about are the gloom and doom of nuclear catastrophe.

Japan’s Fukushima power plants are in deep trouble, no doubt. I commend the brave workers who are trying to contain the disaster there (and, yes, it is a disaster). But there have not been and won’t be any nuclear explosions. When the talking heads mention “1,000 times normal radiation,” they don’t mention that it has been brief and only within the confines of the plant. Nor do they mention that “normal” is what anybody would be exposed to naturally any day of the week. Nor are they quite explicit that the explosions that have happened at the plant are due to build-up of flammable gas (admittedly, produced by the situation), not any actual nuclear explosion.

To put things in perspective, the USGS puts the equivalent of Japan’s 9.0 (Richter scale) earthquake at the power of 25,000 nuclear bombs. THAT was natural. Earth’s work, not Man’s.

Japan has experience: Nagasaki’s atomic bomb would have rated a 5.0 (474 tons of TNT). The 1906 San Francisco quake would have rated 8.0 (15 megatons). 9.0 is equivalent to 474 megatons of TNT.

What the media SHOULD be commenting on is that despite the greatest natural disaster in 250 years (Lisbon earthquake, 1755), and resulting failures of perhaps three backup systems, this nuclear plant may be in dire straits but has not contributed a whit to the devastation of nature.

I like simple things. And the simplest, most comprehensive article on this year’s budget appeared today in The Motley Fool.

“It’s only mandatory until Congress says it’s not mandatory.” If rules are preventing vital change, why not change the rules?”

I don’t always agree with The Fools’ financial advice: When they weigh in on politics (rarely, if ever), I have to pay MAJOR attention.

The Fools’ article is devoid of partisan rhetoric. It is “Just the Facts.” Please read it. Oh, that our Congress could deal with facts instead of partisan posturing. Perhaps We People can understand; every re-elected incumbent is unable to do the same.

“In the end, the most honest thing one can say about Obama’s spending proposal is not how radical it is — but how ordinary it is. Today’s federal spending is simply following a track it’s been on for the past decade. And that’s the problem.”

When Congress was barely doing its job, I suggested that 2006 expenditures would be covered by actual 2008 or projected 2011 income. Today, I have to ask according to an old meme: “Are you better off in 2011 than you were in 2000? Have Government expenditures of Taxpayers’ payments IMPROVED life over the past decade? I would say NO: and our Congress (avaricious tho they may be) ought to take a holiday from the whims of lobbyists who write their legislation and the corporations and organizations who fund their campaigns, and actually represent The People who elected them.

The “government” of Iraq recently requested another $billion in damages from the US! Of course, the Iraqi Parliament couldn’t even get it’s act together to MEET for about a year (and OUR Congress thinks it has the corner on “vacation time”). But now, they’ve got their hands out.

There is no end to the greed of politicians. But they only follow our own lead.

$billions in aid to Iraq have “gone missing” and the Iraqi people still don’t have the electrical power or water resources that we once promised them, after eliminating Saddam.

Media to the contrary, it took but 26 days to end Saddam’s reign. It est.  Years of subsequent “occupation” have yielded few results, and we are officially “outa there!” Much as we retain some military presence.

For those who understand, there is an Economic Analysis philosophy promoted by the Federal Government about “projects:” the crux is that “sunk costs” are irrelevant to future cost/benefits analysis. We have given the politicians and lackies of Iraq $billions of dollars; they have not spent them wisely; we have no need to continue spending American taxpayers’ dollars to fund another corrupt (if sorta democratic) regime. Cut them loose: as once proposed, they can fund their own danged government with oil revenues!

An attempt at extortion should be replied with by cutting off ALL funds. We have needs, as well.

Sunday’s CNN and BBC and FOX are all reporting on the revolution in Egypt. It is just that, and so far pretty peaceful.

Early on, police reacted violently. For that matter, so did a few pockets of dissidents, burning some police stations. It is uncertain how prisoners took over and escaped from prison, but the fact that they raided the prison armory and started a battle is as unsettling to the Egyptian populace as it is to the authorities.

Media will try to blow it all out of proportion, but the handful of folks that raided the Cairo Museum were caught by citizens (and three police who remained on duty) … no “antiquities” were stolen, but the gift shop was pretty well cleaned out. Students and Citizens formed lines around the museum to prevent further incursions.

The thing to understand is that Egyptians really do NOT trust their own corrupt police. Never have. And they have been Mubarak’s primary tool in suppressing freedoms. On the other hand, the Army rolled in, were greeted by general protests (because they represent the Government), but rocks weren’t being thrown at tanks; neither army nor citizens escalated any tensions; and one officer (who probably agreed with his people) was actually carried around on the shoulders of protestors. Many folks have relatives in the army … many have already (or will) serve.

When I watch media videos, I watch what is happening in the background. The answer is, not much. Folks are walking not running, marching not rioting, and just PROTESTING! And yes, in any such situation, a few idiots will raid a store or throw rocks, but I do not see much of this happening in a variety of civilian and media videos that have made it through the Net or the airwaves.

A few weeks ago, the word on the street in Morocco (The U.S.’ oldest ally) was that “Mubarak is an ***hole.” Their Government supports the US, but with regard to Mubarak, even people on the other side of Africa said Mubarak has to go.

Over the weekend, the Egyptian leadership was shaken up (and changed) … with caution, Mubarak may step down and Baradei take over as an interim leader. Elections will be called (although this may take a year or two). The Muslim Brotherhood is not all that popular, but they will pick up a minority of seats in Parliament.  The Egyptian People will continue to hate Israel (being defeated in a few wars still sticks in their craw), but they’ll still get along with Jews and Christians. The Government will retain its Peace Treaty, but will object more often when things go awry.

If their were a time for laissez faire, this would be it. When Fatah won a democratic election, the US intervened and still denies it ever happened. Had we applauded, we might have avoided on-going conflict. Support for democracy includes supporting its results and The People that create it.

I have many disagreements with our President, but he was elected. In International Relations, he deserves support. As long as he stays out of Other Peoples’ elections.

So, our Republicans are once again attacking entitlements … but this is a good thing.

House GOP considers privatizing Medicare

I’m not sure how this works, but I might be eligible in a few years, and my “private medical insurance” is reaching $20,000/year (for the family) … I’d like to get some relief from Medicare; I’ve paid into it long enough.

Obama’s “Health Care” Bill had nothing to do with health care, but everything to do with Insurance … despite the promises, my insurance bill went up another 10% this year … and would have been more, had I not long since adopted a “healthy life style.”

Conservatives now have a number of Doctors in Congress … only one retains his Practice, and Congressional “ethics” (as if they had any) are now challenging his right to deliver babies.

Here are the Docs who think Congress is a better place to practice medicine than their offices:

Senate Incumbents

1. Tom Coburn (R, Republican), Oklahoma, family physician and ob-gyn
2. John Barasso (R, Wyoming), orthopedic surgeon New Senator
3. Rand Paul, (R, Kentucky), ophthalmologist

House Incumbents

1. John Boustany ( R, Louisiana), cardiovascular surgeon
2. John Fleming (R, Louisiana), family physician
3. Bill Cassidy (R, Louisiana), gastroenterologist
4. Tom Price, (R, Georgia), orthopedic surgeon
5. Paul Brown (R, Georgia), family physician
6. Phil Gingrey(R,Georgia), Ob-Gyn
7. Ron Paul (R, Texas), Ob-Gyn
8. Michael Burgess(R, Texas), Ob-Gyn
9. David “Phil” Roe (R, Tennessee), Ob-Gyn
10. Jim McDermott (D, Washington), psychiatrist

New House members

1. Larry Bucshon (R, Indiana), thoracic surgeon
2. Andy Harris (R, Maryland), anesthesiologist
3. Dan Benishek (R, Michigan), general surgeon
4. Nan Hayworth (R, New York), ophthalmologist
5. Scott DesJaris (R, Tennessee), family physician
6. Joe Heck (R., Nevada). emergency room physician

I helped elect Michael Burgess for his first term , but have since been redistricted. Prior to election, he had delivered more than 4,000 kids. Not a bad record. I also credit a Democrat Heart Surgeon (since retired) … he’d go to Africa for free surgeries during Recesses, but was never “ethically” challenged.

On the other hand, ever since LBJ (D, TX) invented Medicare and Medicaide, the Federal Government (not the public) has dictated what fees could be paid for medicine. With “insurance,” (be it from the Feds or Company insurance), individuals no longer challenge fees … they don’t have to pay them!

The key is what the docs and hospitals (many owned by Docs) can get away with. Some of my Docs hire “consultants” … I was one once, in a different industry … I agree with the consultants: raise your rates 10% per year, and no one will notice … despite the fact that Inflation has been below 3% per year for a decade. None of the Docs I have asked have increased their staff salaries anywhere near what they have increased their fees.

This all results in $455 for a litre of distilled water (actual charge) from a hospital, when Walmart charges 88 CENTS A GALLON for the same stuff.

It varies year-to-year, but the big money to Congress comes from Lawyers, Financiers, and Doctors … after all, that’s where the money is! People don’t count, because they don’t so much contribute.

By all means, cut Medicare reimbursements (but make them prompt) back to the levels of 2000. Maybe increase them by “inflation” (the CPI) since then. Just to be fair, require all doctors and hospitals to accept Medicare patients and Medicare rates.

“Privatizing” Medicare just introduces ANOTHER opportunity for insurance companies (another BIG contributor to campaigns) to add their 30% or more overhead to the costs of providing medical care.

I’m sure it is in Partisan best interests to investigate other political Parties … but if Congress really gave a darn about The People it represents, they would investigate the SOURCES (ie, Doctors, Hospitals, Clinics, and even the Public employees who can’t resist committing fraud) of high costs, and reduce some of their contributors’ income.

My sympathies go out to the families of those wounded or killed in Arizona by a mad man.

Investigations are already attempting to tie the murderer (Jared Loughner) to “right-wing” politics, but everybody misses the point:

A federal judge, a congressional aide and a young girl were among the six people killed, while Giffords and 13 others were injured in the bursts of gunfire outside a Tucson supermarket …

The six killed included U.S. District Judge John Roll, 63, and 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green, who was born on Sept. 11, 2001, …

Others killed were Giffords aide Gabe Zimmerman, 30; Dorothy Morris, 76; Dorwin Stoddard, 76; and Phyllis Scheck, 79.

These are the acts of a mad man.

Sunday’s (January 9, 2011) “Meet the Depressed” offered up the most egregious theory:

MR. GREGORY:  Lester, any questions about anti-Semitism as a motive? Apparently one of his favorite books, “Mein Kampf” by Hitler.  We know Congresswoman Giffords is Jewish.  Is that a factor at all that investigators are looking at?

Only a passing reference to Republican Judge John Roll, a Bush I appointee who had gone to the meeting to thank the Congresswoman:

REP. GRIJALVA [D-AZ]:  Yeah.  John, the, the chief justice there of the district court, fair man, great reputation, been a litigator and a prosecutor for 30-plus years in our community, was appointed by first George Bush to that bench, has nothing but a good reputation.  And for, for him to show up to thank Gabby for her work in terms of getting additional resources for that overburdened court and to find himself, and his family to find him, now dead is, is the same commentary that Debbie just made.  I mean, how, how do you explain this?

And danged little for The People that showed up for a Representative’s public meeting:

[NBC's Reporter Lester] HOLT:  Well, of course there was a federal judge, John Roll, U.S. District Court, a judge who was killed here.  There were there elderly people, constituents.  It was a small crowd that had actually gathered for this event. Also, a 30-year-old aide of the congressman–congresswoman among those killed. There were at least–including Congresswoman Giffords–at least 13 people, or perhaps more, who were wounded.  Five of those, we’re told, are critical condition.  Some were treated and released.

Please read the transcript:  most of it appropriately applauds Representative Giffords; the rest is devoted to political animosity.

NOTHING mentions further the Citizens who were murdered, or SEIU’s portrayal of Bush II and other Republicans as Nazis, or the general Democrat populace who advocate killing off Republicans.

Congress (who in their campaigns often breach rules of polite public discourse) and the Media (who amplify every disagreement or protest) are driving America Insane.

I commented on this almost a year ago.

In all fairness, I would encourage the Media to devote as much time to Christina Green, Dorothy Morris, Dorwin Stoddard, and Phyllis Scheck as they are devoting to the severely wounded Representative Gifford. When did CongressCritters begin to matter more than The People?

PS:

You know, whether it is a young nephew killed by a drug dealer, or elderly relatives dying of natural causes, I can take up to three days of leave to attend to Final Resolution.  Our Republican House thinks different:

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH):  An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serves.  No act, no matter how heinous, must be allowed to stop us from our duty.

But The House won’t do ANYthing this week, and the Senate decided to take another break before this all happened. Some “duty.”

PPS: A Google search on the phrase “kill republicans” yields approximately 8 million results. The similar phrase “kill democrats” yields but 5.4 million. To be fair, the phrase “dump congress” yields 7.78 million entries.

Here it is.

Consider the words of Gov. Bobby Jindal writing on political leadership: “All people — regardless of their job or role in society — have the responsibility to notice when they are viewed as a role model and live up to that responsibility. No excuses. That admiring kid of today could be a political leader, athlete, parent or teacher of tomorrow.”

Many thanks to the A&M student who found this … I have hope for our youngsters.

I have dropped a drunken DNC member off at a DC whorehouse, after he “hit on” my wife. I have had my Republican Congressman go down in flames after “diddling” male pages. Our politicians of all political affiliations are not all “paragons of virtue.” Let us hope that all the “newbies” elected on promises of virtue and “listening to the people” vote their consciouses and the promises they have made. And that they serve as models of personal behaviour.