Welcome back to the Watercooler, your daily open thread diary. So what is Obama’s #1 priority? For the first time ever, he used the words “top priority”  response to a question at a presser in Argentina:

“You’ve resisted calls to alter your strategy for fighting the Islamic State and you said that your critics aren’t offering any better ideas. But the attacks keep happening. Did Brussels change anything for you?” a reporter asked. “I think it is important to recognize that this is my number one priority. I’ve got a lot of things on my plate, but my top priority is to defeat ISIL,” Obama said.

But as the Free Beacon pointed out, “Obama’s answer was a departure from past statements about his priorities.”

Obama has used the phrase “my top priority” 29 times in his second-term public addresses, according to the American Presidency Project database. Of those 29 instances, 28 occurred in addresses that had nothing to do with terrorism. Twenty-five instances, or 86 percent of the total, referred to the economy and domestic policy concerns like paid family leave and jobs training programs. Only one instance out of 29 mentioned terrorism, and even that instance contained considerable ambiguity. [snip] A very charitable observer could conclude from this anomaly that a recent string of deadly terrorist attacks led the president to change his priorities. A different observer could conclude that the president’s real priorities lie elsewhere.

Immigration is Obama’s #1 Priority

While polls show that immigration doesn’t top the list of issues for many Americans, I contend that is Obama’s top priority in order to fundamentally transform America. In October 2014, Obama said “the security of our nation is my top priority” when he signed a proclamation about hardening American infrastructure.

Guided by our Cybersecurity Framework, we are working to protect our critical infrastructure from cyber threats, while promoting an open and reliable cyberspace. In the face of a diverse set of physical risks to our infrastructure—from extreme weather and the impacts of climate change to health pandemics, accidents, and acts of terrorism—we are taking steps to reduce our vulnerabilities.

Health pandemics? Then why did his HHS and NIH decide to open our borders to STD’s? In 2009, Obama lifted an entry ban on foreigners with HIV even though a clause specifically designed to reduce the spread HIV/AIDS into the United States was added to the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1993. Prior to 2009, HHS listed eight diseases as “communicable diseases of public health significance” (click here for the full list). Fast forward seven years, and now there are just four left on the list due to recent changes made by HHS. No need to mention, DACA, DAPA, the release of 68,000+ dangerous felons and an abject failure to secure our border, and it’s clear to see “immigration reform” is and has been his real #1 priority.

Buying Made in the USA is Hard

We all like to buy Made in the USA when possible but it’s getting harder and harder, especially when you think you are but you’re not. Case in point, China Buys U.S. Firms at Record Rate :

From January 2000 to the end of 2015 China closed 1,200 merger and acquisition deals in the United States worth a combined total of $63.3 billion. Already this year, announcements have been made of Chinese intentions to purchase Hollywood’s Legendary Entertainment Group for $3.5 billion, large construction equipment manufacturer Terex Corporation for $5.4 billion, General Electric’s appliance division Haier for $5.4 billion, Fortune 500 company Ingram Micro for $6.3 billion, and what would be the largest acquisition of a U.S. firm by a Chinese company to date, Starwood Hotels & Resorts for $14.3 billion.

That list doesn’t include the Chicago Stock exchange:

… which values the Exchange at slightly less than $100 million — it signifies China’s goal of inserting itself into every aspect of American business, and will give even greater influence to Chinese intentions.

Or these other previous acquisitions. As the article notes, “It would seem that the way to overtake a country may not be with planes, guns, and bombs, but rather with the almighty dollar”:

• Waldorf Astoria Hotel — last year China’s Anbang Insurance Group bought the famous New York City landmark for $1.95 billion from Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

• Smithfield Foods — In September 2013, Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd completed its $4.72 billion purchase of Virginia-based Smithfield Foods,the world’s biggest pork producer and processor, whose brands include Armour, Farmland, and Smithfield.

• AMC Entertainment — The $2.6 billion takeover of AMC, the U.S. theater group, in 2012 by China’s Dalian Wanda Group, made China the world’s largest cinema chain owner, and gave it thousands of new American employees.

• Morgan Stanley — In 2010, the U.S. Federal Reserve approved the purchase of a 10-percent voting stake in the Wall Street investment bank Morgan Stanley by China Investment Corp (CIC).

• Chesapeake Energy Corp. — Sinopec Group, China’s huge energy SOE, has taken a $1 billion stake in Chesapeake’s Mississippi Lime shale formation.

Meanwhile, Mexico has been busy buying up many of our American bakeries via it’s Bimbo Bakeries. Companies and brands you know like:

• La Hacienda, a California-based tortilla company
• Pacific Pride Bakeries of San Diego
• Mrs Baird’s Bakeries in Texas
• Oroweat
• Entenmann’
• Thomas
• Boboli
• Arnold
• Brownberry

And to top it off, who doesn’t love Sara Lee’s? Gives a whole new meaning to you are what you eat and that Mexico and China are taking advantage of us!

Kerry Doesn’t Dance

Thank goodness for that since I can’t picture him doing the Tango, but as the top diplomat, he has zero tact. While in Brussels paying his respect to the victims of ISIS, he said:

“Its territory is shrinking every day,” Kerry said. “Its leaders are being decimated, its revenue sources are dwindling, and its fighters are fleeing.”

Then he goes delusional when he touted that 66 nations, including Belgium, have joined a coalition dedicated to eradicating ISIS.

It’s going to take some time and patience and persistence. It will require resources and commitment and cooperation across many cultures and beliefs, and the recognition that this is in fact a global challenge, but I am absolutely confident that we’ll be successful.

With the horror of all the victims, some still not identified and so many others wounded, telling the injured country it will take time seems very callous to me.

Immigration, food and politics…that’s all I’ve got for you today. Here at the Watercooler, feel free to opine on what’s on your mind. Drop in your own thoughts and stories you heard on the grapevine since it’s always an open thread. May you have a blessed Good Friday.