Indiana's Conservative Hardball

Changes in Milwaukee

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Jessen) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:30:00 +0000

The Mike Cameron era in center field for the Milwaukee Brewers ended Monday when the 15-year veteran filed for free agency.

Cameron's spot will be taken by Carlos Gomez, who was acquired Friday from Minnesota for shortstop J.J. Hardy.

Four other Brewers filed for free agency, including outfielders Frank Catalanotto and Corey Patterson, catcher Jason Kendall and second baseman Felipe Lopez.

In other moves, second baseman Rickie Weeks and relievers Mark DiFelice and David Riske were reinstated from the 60-day disabled list. Infielder Adam Heether was added to the 40-man roster, which now stands at 37.

Burd's no longer the word

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Jessen) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:50:00 +0000

The Indianapolis Star is reporting that well known car dealership owner Richard Burd was found dead in his dealership office Tuesday morning. Burd apparently committed suicide.

According to the Star:

Christine Burd, 40, had gone to the dealership at 10300 Pendleton Pike when Richard Burd hadn't returned home. She said she left him at the office at 10 p.m. and grew concerned when she woke up at 2 a.m. and discovered he still hadn't come home.

Burd went to the dealership, saw her husband's car in the parking lot and called police before entering, according to the report.

Burd was found on the couch and appeared to have committed suicide. The report did not indicate why detectives believe it was a suicide.

Richard and Christine Burd are well known accross the Indianapolis market for their television commericals, touting "Haven't you heard? Burd's the word."

Varitek's days are done in Beantown

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Jessen) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:09:00 +0000

As reported by ESPNBoston...

The Red Sox were busy Monday, picking up catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez's $7.1 million team option, declining catcher Jason Varitek's $5 million team option, and tearing up pitcher Tim Wakefield's team option and replacing it with a two-year agreement.

The team also confirmed it was not picking up a $6 million option on Alex Gonzalez, which had been reported Sunday.

Wakefield's deal is worth $5 million in base salary over two years: $3.5 million in 2010 and $1.5 million in 2011, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. The contract also may include incentives, with WEEI.com reporting it could be worth as much as $10 million for the two years. The deal replaces a perpetual $4 million-per-season team option the Red Sox had on the knuckleballer, and seemingly will be his final contract.

"Yes, I'm done after two more," Wakefield told the Boston Globe. "That'll put me at 45."

Wakefield, who underwent back surgery in October after an injury-riddled season, currently has 175 career victories with the Red Sox, just 17 shy of the team record of 192 shared by Cy Young and Roger Clemens.

"That's a huge factor for me," Wakefield told the Globe. "They actually came to me with a two-year. We were wondering if they were going to pick up the option again and this kind of negates that. I think this is a fair deal."

The Varitek move does not mean the captain's days in Boston are over, though his days as a starter there are. Varitek holds a $3 million player option for 2010, and has five days to decide whether to pick it up. According to a Boston Globe report, unidentifed baseball sources have indicated Varitek will accept that option. The 37-year-old catcher hit just .209 last season and saw his playing time decline in the second half after the acquisition of Martinez.

Picking up Martinez's option was no surprise, and general manager Theo Epstein told the Globe that he sees Martinez as the team's full-time catcher next season.

"We're going to really look for Victor to be the everyday catcher next year," Epstein said. "The spot we'll have available is for more of a traditional backup. We'll see what [Varitek's] decision is before we move forward. He's got five days to exercise his player option. You can always negotiate but in this case it's his decision to make."

The 30-year-old Martinez was dealt to the Red Sox from Cleveland at the trade deadline this past season, hitting .336 with eight homers and 41 RBIs in 56 games for Boston. Combined, he hit .303 with 23 homers and 108 RBIs in 2009.

Gonzalez also could be back, as the team will explore signing him at a lower salary. Gonzalez plugged a big hole at short for the Red Sox after being acquired from Cincinnati in a waiver deal this August. He made just one error in 44 games with the Sox and provided unexpected help offensively, hitting .284 with five home runs.

Epstein also told the Globe there were no significant developments on Jason Bay's situation and that he hopes to keep those negotiations as private as possible. Bay filed for free agency last week.

Malik Nadal Hasan and Jews and Blacks In World War II: Racism and Anti-Semitism

exetertraining@aol.com (The Political and Financial Markets Commentator) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:39:00 +0000

From The Political Commentator

Did They Shoot Up Their Bases And Kill Their Tormentors?

Is Hasan A Victim Or A Perpetrator?

During World War II, as well as most other times in recent history, both blacks and Jews faced a degree of torment during basic training or after being deployed.

(Forward) Jerome Minkow graduated from high school in the Bronx on January 30, 1945 and entered the army on January 31. When he reached basic training at Camp Blanding down South he couldn’t understand how he could be such an oddity for his fellow GIs. One of them even asked him to sign a piece of paper to show the folks back home what a Jew’s signature looked like. Minkow was flabbergasted, and stunned by the animus that surrounded him. He regularly found himself in fights. Eventually Minkow earned respect in the boxing ring.

(Daily Progress) When Frank C. Brown showed up to serve his country in World War II, he got beatings and an insult.

It wasn’t just the normal treatment Marine recruits get, either. It was because he was black. In 1943, Brown, who now lives in Kents Store in Fluvanna County, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in Washington.

How did these soldiers deal with the mistreatment that was based solely on who they were or what they believed? No pulling of weapons. No killings. No national apologies or attention to the problem to help the Jewish or black soldiers deal with the situation. If it was dealt with at all, it was mano y mano with fists.

Some in the news and elsewhere seem to be attempting to blame the murder committed at Fort Hood on the treatment that Major Hasan had reportedly received as it concerned his Muslin faith from some of his fellow soldiers. Is this a Columbine situation where the man was an abused outsider driven to kill? In a politically correct world where the truth is manipulated in order to make the committer of the act the victim of his own actions, that seems to be the attempt by many. On a certain level it has been made to sound as if the United States should apologize for putting Hasan in the position where he was left no choice but to commit mass murder.

I say that this position is wrong. Very wrong. As discussed before, groups through out time have been on the receiving end of taunts from their comrades due to either religious, ethnic or racial factors. That did not drive them to shoot up their base, killing or wounding many while allegedly screaming words indicating that this was a pre-planned act carried out for very specific reasons. A fight with the tormentor most likely, but not gunfire.

Prosthelytizing, Radical Mentor, Terrorist Associates, Radical Views
Not to go through all of the factors that may very well lead to the conclusion that this was in fact an act of domestic terrorism, but we as a nation need to take a step back and end the process of being apologists for ourselves when it comes to conflicts at home and around the world.

All those on the left and the ACLU groupies who seem to take pleasure in the picking apart of acts of violence, inevitably coming to the conclusion that the perpetrators had their hands forced by some wrong inflicted by the United States. Perhaps they need to understand more completely that there are in fact groups of people who hate us and our way of life in a way and to a depth that is difficult to comprehend, and that no level of appeasement or apology is going to change that.

We can look to alter ourselves all that we want, but it will not change the reality of the world that we are living in. Political correctness is all well and good at a prep school, but not in the real world! Not when people want to eradicate you!

Isiah Thomas starting over

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Jessen) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Hey Pacer Fans!!
Anyone remember Isiah Thomas??

Now please... stop throwing things at me and keep your boo's down.
Isiah Thomas is trying to start over... rebuild his life and more importantly, his reputation.

Check out this blog post from Dan Wetzel from Yahoo Sports:

The word came to Isiah Thomas on Saturday night. His 86-year-old mother, Mary, had suffered a heart attack back in Chicago and suddenly his unlikely reclamation project (both professional and personal) didn’t seem to matter as much.

His college coaching debut Monday night, leading humble Florida International University against the defending national champion North Carolina Tar Heels, was on hold (school officials now expect him to be on the sideline).

At the time, his mother’s health was everything. He left the team and jetted to his hometown, staying almost all of Sunday.

Mary pulled through. She’s expected to be fine.

So too, perhaps, will Isiah.

Plagued by a rut of professional failures and personal controversies, Thomas has decided to rebuild his reputation from the bottom. He’s returned to coaching not in the big-money NBA, where he once led Indiana and New York. He isn’t at the helm of a high-profile college program, such as his alma mater, Indiana.

Instead he took over one of the most anonymous programs in the country, low-major FIU, a mostly commuter school in the Miami area. The basketball team plays in the Sun Belt Conference and hasn’t produced a winning season in a decade.
It’s about the last place you’d expect to find a Hall of Fame player who last coached in Madison Square Garden.

The budgets are small. The media attention is limited. His salary would be considered low except in a gesture of goodwill and clear purpose Thomas is refusing a paycheck.

“I didn’t come here for the money,” he said.

He came here to find success, something that he once created with ease yet of late has had trouble finding.

“A lot of this is about proving himself,” one of his friends said Sunday. The friend asked for anonymity because Thomas “wouldn’t want me analyzing him.”

“He wants to prove that he can coach and that he’s a good person, a leader, a winner,” the friend continued. “He wants a new reputation. If he wins at FIU, just gets them to the NCAA tournament, what can anyone say then? That’s what’s driving him.”

What can anyone say then?

Consider what’s been said about him lately, and you can understand the motivation. There’s a laundry list of reasons why people have soured on Isiah Thomas.

Check out the rest of the post here.

Indiana roll call on HR 3962

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Jessen) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:20:00 +0000

No real surprises here...
Let's just remember how each of them voted.

Voted Yes on HR 3962
André Carson
Joe Donnelly
Brad Ellsworth
Baron Hill
Peter J. Visclosky

Voted No on HR 3962
Dan Burton
Steve Buyer
Mike Pence
Mark Souder

Congressman Buyer's response to Pelosi's late night health care vote

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Jessen) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:03:00 +0000

HOUSE DEMOCRATS PASS GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF NATION’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Republicans Offered Common Sense Alternative

Washington, D.C. — Democrat Leaders in Washington have called health care reform a national priority requiring the best minds to solve, but on Saturday the U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping, government run health care bill, H.R. 3962. The legislation allows the government to take control of one-sixth of the American economy, calling into question the true intent of the bill: an effort to reform our nation’s health care system or partisan legislation designed to expand the federal government’s presence in Americans’ everyday lives. Opposed to the Washington take over of health care, Congressman Steve Buyer’s (IN-04) supported the Republican alternative to H.R. 3962, the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute—legislation focused on lowering health care costs without adding a dime to the nation’s growing deficit.

“The President and Democrat leadership in Congress are not listening to their constituencies. The U.S. unemployment rate has surged to 10.2 percent, the highest level in 26 years. This astounding level of unemployment tells only part of the story about the struggling American families that Washington leaders continue to ignore,” stated Buyer. “It simply is not credible to ask the American people to believe we are spending over one trillion dollars on a government health care plan that is budget neutral. The question Hoosiers need to ask is, ‘Who pays?’ The simple fact is that middle class families and small businesses, which just financed an 800 billion dollar Wall Street slush fund, will be paying over one trillion dollars to fund legislation that will increase the cost of health care in America.

“We need health care reform that works for all Hoosiers and provides real help regarding access and cost. People on both sides of the aisle agree that we need to improve access and costs. However, our current government programs, Social Security and Medicare, are in financial despair. Instead of working to fix these programs and ensure that they can continue to provide for future generations of seniors, the Democrat leadership is committed to creating another entitlement program and placing trillions of dollars in debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren,” Buyer said.

Congressman Buyer said Washington traditionally has a poor history of cost containment, “It is pure fantasy to think this bill does not raise costs on small businesses and middle class families. The non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation says that 1 out of every 3 dollars raised by the surtax in H.R. 3962 will come from small businesses—the economic engines of our economy. The bill fails to reign in out-of-control health care spending and to address the concerns that families and businesses across America have with the sharply increasing costs of health insurance.”

H.R. 3962 will significantly impact seniors’ health care choices. “This bill cuts Medicare. Seniors rely upon this program and it is wrong for Washington to take hundreds of billions of dollars out of it to fund a new government program that is expected to serve less than 2 percent of the population. Those of us who represent rural areas understand the choices of benefits that seniors in Medicare Advantage enjoy, and Congress should not limit seniors access to health care programs in order to fund the more 100 new government bureaucracies and programs created in H.R. 3962.”

“Hoosiers deserve adequate health care coverage. The creation of a government-run insurance program that could cause as many as 114 million Americans to lose their current coverage, as written in H.R. 3962, lacks sound policies which ensure families can keep their current health insurance if they like it,” stated Buyer. “Congress should focus on fixing what is wrong with the nation’s health care delivery system first: providing coverage to the uninsured, protecting Americans living with preexisting conditions, encouraging preventive care, promoting wellness programs, protecting the patient-doctor relationship, and making health insurance more affordable for all Americans.”

The House Democrat plan was drafted behind closed doors with little input from the public or most Members of Congress. The bill is nearly 2000 pages and combines, provisions of H.R. 3200 approved by the Committees on Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means earlier this summer. The bulk of the bill ignited a summer of emotional town hall meetings across the country where large numbers of people rose in opposition to the government-run insurance plan.

Congressman Buyer understands that substantive reforms are needed to improve the nation’s health care system. Such reforms include lowering health care premiums, guarantying access to affordable care for those with pre-existing conditions, preventing insurance companies from unjustly cancelling policies, and allowing small businesses to pool together to offer health care at lower prices to their employees. These provisions are included in the House Republicans’ health care reform legislation, H.R. 4038, the Common Sense Healthcare Reform and Affordability Act, which was the only Republican amendment allowed consideration on the House floor. The measure failed by a vote of 176 to 258. Congressman Buyer is a cosponsor of this legislation and voted in favor of its passage on the House floor.

“If Medicare is the model for government-health care, how can the White House and House Democrats tell us that their health care plan will not increase our deficit in the long-run? In 1965, the government promised that Medicare Part A would cost $9 billion by 1990. The actual cost was $66 billion, over seven times the projected cost. The Democrats’ health care plan is deceptive. It begins raising taxes and cutting Medicare immediately, while the majority of benefits don’t begin until 2016, and their true cost is not realized until 2019. The Democrats’ plan is to tax first and pay later.” When the bill is fully implemented, the cost will amount to $2.4 trillion over ten years.

Speaker Pelosi’s bill, H.R. 3962 will cut $500 billion from the Medicare program and impose $135 billion in taxes on employers and $33 billion in taxes on individuals. $162 billion are raised from cuts to the Medicare Advantage programs which serve 126,000 Hoosiers and nearly 11 million Americans Since 2004, enrollment in these programs in rural areas has grown significantly—since 2004 over one million beneficiaries in rural areas joined the MA program (a 507 percent increase).

“There are improvements that can be made to Medicare Advantage, but I believe it is an important private market innovation within the Medicare program—providing important health coverage options to seniors,” Buyer added. “If these cuts are enacted, tens of thousands of seniors in Indiana would stand to lose their Medicare Advantage coverage.”

Additionally, as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Congressman Buyer worked to ensure that veterans’ and servicemembers’ health care choices and benefits were not harmed by H.R. 3962. Previous amendments to protect veterans were incorporated in the bill; however not all concerns were addressed. The Congressman offered three amendments relating to veterans and servicemembers. The first would ensure that veterans and servicemembers have the choice to obtain health insurance in the insurance exchange created by H.R. 3962. The second would preserve the authorities of the Secretaries of Veterans’ Affairs and the Department of Defense over their respective health care systems. The third amendment would allow veterans and servicemembers, just like all Americans, to receive tax credits to purchase insurance if they live below 400% of the federal poverty level. All three of these amendments were rejected by the Committee on Rules and were not considered on the House Floor.

Congressman Buyer also continued his efforts to expand employer sponsored wellness programs by offering an amendment to provide employers with greater flexibility to increase incentives for employees to participate in wellness programs. Such programs have been successful in lowering health care costs for employers and employees alike while encouraging healthy behaviors. Amendments similar to Congressman Buyer’s have received strong bipartisan support in the Senate. Unfortunately, the Committee on Rules denied Congressman Buyer the chance to bring his amendment to the House Floor. “If we are serious about bending our nation’s health care cost curve, we should be employing commonsense proposals like wellness programs which have successfully saved companies millions of dollars in health care costs.

Only two amendments were accepted by the Committee on Rules for consideration on the House floor: the Pitts/Stupak amendment to prohibit taxpayer-funded abortion and the Republican health care reform proposal. Congressman Buyer voted in favor of both amendments.

Congressman Buyer voted against H.R. 3962 which passed the House by a vote 220 to 215 and continues to oppose a government takeover of our nation’s health care system.

Mike Sodrel’s Big Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Fluhr) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:10:00 +0000

I blogged late last week about an email that was sent out by Dee Dee Benkie, Indiana’s national committeewoman on the Republican National Committee, and Larry Shickles, the former 9th District chairman, for a lunch for Congressman Mike Sodrel.

First of all, to put an end to the many inquiring emails I have received since I made that post, Mike Sodrel made no announcements this weekend at any of the three events he attended.

And, yes, Sodrel attended three events this weekend. At least, he attended three events where I personally saw him. He may have been at others, too. He attended a social event on Friday put on by the Floyd County GOP. He attended the aforementioned lunch on Saturday in Harrison County. And he attended, and spoke, at the Tea Party in Corydon later Saturday afternoon.

The lunch on Saturday a successful event, particularly given the very short notice (less than 48 hours) given with the timing of the invitation email. The event lasted for about two hours and had a pretty steady flow of people through. Folks came from even the far corners of the district, and there were even attendees from Monroe County, Bartholomew County, Dearborn County, and Ripley County.

Your humble correspondent left before the event was over (I had a Tea Party to get to, and I knew that parking in downtown Corydon was going to be awful so I wanted to get there early; everyone else at the event that followed me to the Tea Party said that they wished that they had left early too), but I am told that some more people came after I left.

If the point of the event was for Mike Sodrel to stick a proverbial toe in to “test the waters” for a potential campaign, he probably found the waters comfortable and to his liking. He made no announcements, but found a lot of encouragement. Sodrel spoke about the state of the country and the state of the Republican Party. With regard to the former, he talked about the dangers presented by the current Congress and the Obama administration. With regard to the latter, he talked about the victories in New Jersey and Virginia and (of particular interest) the race in NY-23.

The night before, Friday night, Sodrel showed up unexpectedly at a social event held by the Floyd County GOP. Interestingly, he showed up about ten minutes (if that) after Todd Young left. The two quite literally could have passed each other, with one coming into the building and the other leaving. The contrast between the reception the two got was quite interesting to see.

Mike Sodrel and his wife Keta were soon surrounded by people wanting to know whether he was going to run and frequently encouraging him to do so. One person, quite seriously and sincerely, asked Keta Sodrel whether they should be praying for Mike (not to run, but for wisdom in the decision). Keta didn’t tell this person not to pray, and she certainly didn’t indicate that she had any problem with Mike running. I was surprised that she appeared to have no issues with Mike running.

At the Tea Party, the next afternoon, Sodrel got a standing ovation from the crowd when he got up to speak about cap-and-trade, and again when he finished. Some people even shouted, “We like Mike!” and others shouted for him to run against Baron Hill.
Before and after the event, Sodrel was surrounded by people asking him whether he was going to run, with many encouraging him to do so. Again, to use the tired old “testing the waters” cliche, Sodrel probably found the waters at the Tea Party also to his liking.

Of particular interest to me was the reaction that Sodrel got from the crowd at large. The Tea Party was not a partisan event, and the organizers went to great lengths to avoid making it so (as I noted in passing, here). They were particularly concerned that Sodrel (and State Treasurer Richard Mourdock) would be seen as too partisan and might offend conservative Democrats that attended the event.

I spoke with a couple of conservative Democrats that were present afterward (one of whom told me last year that he couldn’t bring himself to ever vote for a Republican, despite his huge dislike for Obama). None were offended, though several didn’t like the handing out of campaign literature. Another said that he had changed his mind about Sodrel now but had always voted for Hill in the past (this same Democrat, a union member, grumbled to me about Mourdock stopping the Chrysler bailout).

If this past weekend was Mike Sodrel’s way of testing the waters, he certainly found nothing to dissuade him from running, and plenty to encourage him. His reception from conservatives of all political stripes at the Tea Party in Corydon was particularly noteworthy.

This post is also available at Hoosierpundit.

Major Nidal Malik Hasan: Unlikely Terrorist?

exetertraining@aol.com (The Political and Financial Markets Commentator) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:52:00 +0000

From The Political Commentator

Problem For Society

Educated psychiatrist. Articulate and vocal defender of his religion. Protester of the United States participation in the war in Iraq as a war on his religion and not on the people. Disgruntled soldier who wanted out. Internet author of radical views. Finally a murderer of his fellow American soldiers.

But for the last two descriptors, this profile could describe millions of Americans. Educated. Passionate. Anti-war. Staunch believers in their faith. The difference may be the radical direction that some such as Hasan are being led (unconfirmed reports are that Hasan attended the same mosque as two of the 9/11 terrorists, which at the time was led by radical Imam Anwar al-Awlaki) , and what it is that in their minds represents an acceptable resolution for differences. Tolerance of ideas different than ones own, or total intolerance. Vocal protest or the murder of those with beliefs different than your own.

In hindsight, those now looking into the past of Hasan see the clues and the warning signs, but will anyone put those clues together proactively next time first in order to prevent a tragedy? As I said before, these traits are not that different from anyone else with an opinion that is willing to articulate them. And will putting these facts together be decried as racial profiling and therefore not to be allowed to be pursued?

There is little question that intolerance of one kind or another is being incubated in portions of various religions and groups around the country and the world. Religious, ethnic and other types as well. Look at some examples. India versus Pakistan. The ethnic cleansing in the old Yugoslavia. The genocide in Africa. Uigurs versus Han in China. Not one in particular, but many.

Some are focused on peaceful demonstration to promote ideas and ideological differences, while others take it to the next level, and some to the ultimate level.

Here is an open question. How do we as a society deal with the unpredictable nature of this problem that has the potential to bubble over into deadly violence at any time? In a politically correct world, what is the solution? If we know that a certain Imam is preaching hatred and supporting the idea of Jihad, do we use surveillance techniques or would that be an ACLU violation?

If you have an idea to deal with this problem, pass it along.

Fallen Soldiers Take Second Fiddle To A Department of the Interior Conference

exetertraining@aol.com (The Political and Financial Markets Commentator) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:16:00 +0000

From The Political Commentator

12 Murdered, 31 Injured, Not The Presidents Priority

If you thought that President Obama was negligent in his lack of attention to national security issues due to his overwhelming concentration on jamming healthcare reform down our throats, his first response to the tragedy that occurred at Fort Hood is equally telling. Stepping out to the podium, the crowd expecting to hear solemn words, heartfelt sympathy and potentially even anger at the seemingly religiously motivated shootings resulting in military deaths and wounded on our very own soil, they heard the statement below instead.

What are the priorities of this President? Does he know the seriousness of what happened at Fort Hood? Does he care? Does he truly sympathize with the soldiers, civilians and their families or is this just more rhetoric that he was fed to say? Judging by the priorities of his speech I would say that like most everything else coming out of this White House it is merely the rhetoric they think people want to hear. Only this time they screwed up the order of his delivery.

The left can say what they will about our former President, but he had and still has a deep feeling for our men and women in combat and sincere sorrow for any who make the ultimate sacrifice. President Obama making the very public move of going to Dover Air Force Base to see soldiers being returned from overseas was great P.R. However, his priorities in his speech and ability to inject levity when he spoke may tell you all that you need to know.

Instead of eloquence, Obama offers a "shout-out"

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Jessen) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Many of you know, my wife Ronna, is a US Army vet. I know how high she holds her time of service in the Army.

Because of her connection, we both are staying up to date with the details of yesterday's shootings at Fort Hood, Texas. It's a grave time for the Army and our prayers are with all the soliders at the base.

Word got out that President Obama would be speaking about the shootings later in the afternoon. Now I didn't see it live, but caught it online afterwards.

Obama's words and actions during his remarks seem to me like he just doesn't get it. More and more, Obama seems out of touch with America and last night's comments proved it again.

After news broke out of the shootingsthe White House sent word out that the President would speak about the incident prior to a previously scheduled appearance. At about 5 p.m., cable stations broke in and went to the president. America watched to see what Obama would say.

The situation called eloquence, grace and perspective.
But that didn't come from our President.

But instead of a somber Commander in Chief offering reassuring words, sympathy and compassion, America saw a wildly disconnected and inappropriately light President making introductory remarks.

At the event, a Tribal Nations Conference hosted by the Department of Interior's Bureau of Indian affairs, the president thanked various staffers and offered a "shout-out" to Dr. Joe Medicine Crow -- that Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

Excuse me? A "shout-out"? Mr. President, Thursday's shooting was the worst in the Amry's history at a Base and you offer a "shout-out"?

Three minutes in, the President spoke about the shooting, in measured and appropriate terms. America waited three minutes for the President to address this horrible event.

The President NEEDS apologize for the tone of his remarks, explain what has happened, express sympathy for those slain and appeal for calm and patience until all the facts are in. That's the least that should occur.

In this blogger's opinion, the White House should have canceled the Indian event, out of respect for people having been murdered at an Army post a few hours before.

Did the White House not realize what sort of image they were presenting to the country at this moment?

America, wake up. If you needed one more example of how this President does not connect with middle America, this should be the one.

Obama Interim Grade: F

exetertraining@aol.com (The Political and Financial Markets Commentator) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:31:00 +0000

Unemployment, Domestic Policy, Foreign Policy, International Stature All Rate A Failing Grade

The employment report released this morning inspired a look at exactly what it is that President Obama has accomplished, or not accomplished over the course of almost one year in office. Although the Democrats will say that whatever has occurred is due to the fact that he "inherited" the problems, it is time to own it. As the shooting yesterday at Fort Hood shows, we live in an extremely dangerous world and healthcare reform is not going to solve our national security issues.

Teacher Comments: While Barack plays well with his international friends and has had no trouble becoming well liked, he demonstrates no urgency regarding any of the real problems facing the country. While outgoing, he does not seem to be taken seriously by his peers. Further, his political considerations seem to usurp national security considerations which could lead to a very bad result down the road. Overall, his failures trump his congeniality successes, and forces the interim grade of F. With renewed focus on dealing with those situations that truly matter to the country, there is definite room for improvement.

Stimulus Package: Unemployment reaches 10.2% with the actual rate factoring in part time workers who want full time work and those who have given up at over 17%.

Foreign Policy: Iran is apparently testing an advanced nuclear warhead design while we give oversight to the IAEA. The deal for Iran to ship fuel out of the country is going nowhere, and as it seems to be off of the front pages it is being ignored by the Administration. Violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan is surging while the decision to provide additional troops has been put off for months with no decision pending in the near future.

Domestic Policy: Total focus on passing a government takeover of healthcare that the American public does not want, at least concerning the Democrat bill. This move towards socialism will further hurt an already hurting economy, and few if any programs run by the government end up being run well. The President is presiding over an environment of partisan politics not seen for a very long time if ever.

Political: Recent losses by Democrats in New Jersey and Virginia governors races indicate a national dissatisfaction with the direction that things are moving.

World Stature: As mentioned before, although President Obama is well liked by his leader friends around the world, he seems to be considered as a President light given the way that his policies are treated. Examples include the giving up of missile defense in Eastern Europe to appease the Russians and receiving nothing promised in return. The Iranians in negotiations seem to consider him to be the second coming of Jimmy Carter, and by not going to the anniversary ceremony of the fall of the Berlin Wall, what message is he sending?

It is the sincere hope of the nation and the world that President Obama renews his focus on the things that truly matter to the country, national security first and foremost, and that his grade drastically improves.

An Inglorious 30th Anniversary In Iran

exetertraining@aol.com (The Political and Financial Markets Commentator) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:51:00 +0000

From The Political Commentator

The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same: Where Were You When...

Where were you when the Iranian hostage crisis began? I was a junior in college, and in the '70's the mind was on things other than international affairs. But this story hit home. Americans, on American "soil", attacked and captured by "students", police and the Revolutionary Guard who overran our Iranian Embassy under the direction of the Ayatollah Khomeni.

The Iran Crisis - America Held Hostage: Day 1 - 444

Night after night at 11:30, people would gather to watch that days events unfold surrounding these 52 hostages. As a college student I didn't realize the world view of Jimmy Carter, his weakness, indecisiveness and lack of resolve. His inability to make a move to free these American citizens, captured on American territory and held for weeks and then years made a mockery of our stature as a world power. It was an embarrassment on a grand scale, as our own citizens and leaders around the world came to realize the level of incompetence emanating from the White House.

To top off this sad episode, Carter launched a failed rescue attempt, due in no small part to his meddling in the planning and execution. He also had attempted the diplomacy route by offering concessions to the very kidnappers that invaded our country and took our citizens hostage, which of course failed miserably as well.

History Repeating Itself

On the anniversary of this event, the current leadership in Washington bears a striking resemblance to the Carter administration. This similarity I am sure does not go unnoticed around the world. As much as the world has changed, Iran has remained much the same. Have we?

Huh? Pelosi adds her own spin

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Jessen) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:09:00 +0000

"From our standpoint, we picked up votes last night," a cheerful Pelosi said, "one in California and one in New York."

Ok, I could see how you'd get that opinion.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi spoke with POLITICO this afternoon to give her own spin to last night's Election results.
"From our perspective, we won last night," the California Democrat told reporters during a Wednesday photo op. "We had one race that we were engaged in, it was in northern New York, it was a race where a Republican has held the seat since the Civil War. And we won that seat. So, from our standpoint, no, a candidate was victorious who supports health care reform, and his remarks last night said this was a victory for health care reform and other initiatives for the American people."

So she brushed aside questions about how the Democratic gubernatorial losses in Virginia and New Jersey would impact her final tally and instead trumpeted the two special election House wins.

News flash Madam Speaker... you already have enough votes in the House. This should be a wake up call at what's coming.

New York did not have a "real Republican" running. A Tea Party candidate is a third party candidate. And California... e'nuff said.

When will this woman wake up?

GOP sweep: Big governor victories in Virginia, NJ

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Jessen) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:34:00 +0000

News story reprinted.

By LIZ SIDOTI,
AP National Political Writer

WASHINGTON – Independents who swept Barack Obama to a historic 2008 victory broke big for Republicans on Tuesday as the GOP wrested political control from Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey, a troubling sign for the president and his party heading into an important midterm election year.

Conservative Republican Bob McDonnell's victory in the Virginia governor's race over Democrat R. Creigh Deeds and moderate Republican Chris Christie's ouster of unpopular New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine was a double-barreled triumph for a party looking to rebuild after being booted from power in national elections in 2006 and 2008.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Maine voters rejected a state law that would allow same-sex couples to wed. If supporters had prevailed, it would have marked the first time that the electorate in any state endorsed gay marriage.

And Democrat Bill Owens captured a GOP-held vacant 23rd Congressional District seat in New York in a race that highlighted fissures in the Republican Party and illustrated hurdles the GOP could face in capitalizing on any voter discontent with Obama and Democrats next fall.

California Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, also a Democrat, won a special election to a vacant congressional seat, Ohio voters approved casinos and a slew of cities selected mayors, including New York, which gave Michael Bloomberg a third term.

The outcomes of Virginia and New Jersey were sure to feed discussion about the state of the electorate, the status of the diverse coalition that sent Obama to the White House and the limits of the president's influence — on the party's base of support and on moderate current lawmakers he needs to advance his legislative priorities.

His signature issue of health care reform was dealt a blow hours before polls closed when Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid signaled that Congress may not complete health care legislation this year, missing Obama's deadline and pushing debate into a congressional election year. Democrats in swing-voting states and moderate-to-conservative districts may be less willing to back Obama on issues like health care after Virginia and New Jersey showed there are limits to how much he can protect his rank and file from fallout back home.

The president had personally campaigned for Deeds and Corzine, seeking to ensure that independents and base voters alike turned out even if he wasn't on the ballot — and voters still rejected them. Thus, the losses were blots on Obama's political standing to a certain degree and suggested potential problems ahead as he seeks to achieve his policy goals, protect Democratic majorities in Congress and expand his party's grip on governors' seats next fall.

Interviews with voters leaving polling stations in both states were filled with reasons for Democrats to be concerned and for Republicans to be optimistic, particularly about independents — the crown jewel of elections because they often determine outcomes.

Independents were a critical part Obama's victory in Virginia, New Jersey and across the country. But after more than a year of recession, they fled from Democrats in the two states, where the economy trumped all.

The Associated Press exit polls showed that nearly a third of voters in Virginia described themselves as independents, and nearly as many in New Jersey did. They preferred McDonnell by almost a 2-1 margin over Deeds in Virginia, and Christie over Corzine by a similar margin.

Last year, independents split between Obama and Republican John McCain in both states.

In Virginia, McDonnell won by big margins in rapidly growing, far-flung Washington, D.C., suburbs — places like Loudoun and Prince William counties — that Republicans historically have won but where Obama prevailed last fall by winning over independents and swing voters. Republicans swept all three statewide Virginia offices up for election: governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

"Bob McDonnell's victory gives Republicans tremendous momentum heading into 2010," declared Haley Barbour, chairman of the Republican Governors Association. "His focus on ideas and pocketbook issues will serve as a model for Republicans running next year."

Said Tim Kaine, the Democratic National Committee chairman and the term-limited Virginia governor: "We are disappointed."

In both states, the surveys also suggested the Democrats had difficulty turning out their base, including the large numbers of first-time minority and youth voters whom Obama attracted. The Virginia electorate was whiter in 2009 than it was in 2008, when blacks and Hispanics voted in droves to elect the country's first black president.

Democratic victories in both Virginia, a new swing state, and New Jersey, a Democratic stronghold, in 2005 preceded big Democratic years nationally in 2006 and 2008.

Tuesday's impact on Obama's popularity and on the 2010 elections could easily be overstated. Voters are often focused on local issues and local personalities.

Yet, national issues, like the recession, were clearly a factor, with voter attitudes shaped to some degree by how people feel about the state of their nation — and their place in it.

And, voter attitudes — particularly among independents — could bode ill for Democrats in moderate districts and in swing states like Ohio, Colorado and Nevada, should they remain unchanged when the party seeks to defend its turf next fall. In 2010, most governors, a third of the Senate and all members in the House will be on ballots.

It's also difficult to separate Obama from the outcomes after he devoted a significant chunk of time working to persuade voters to elect Deeds in Virginia and re-elect Corzine in New Jersey.

More than four in 10 voters in Virginia said their view of Obama factored into their choice on Tuesday, and those voters roughly split between expressing support and opposition for the president. People who said they disapprove of Obama's job performance voted overwhelmingly Republican, and those who approve of the president favored Deeds, the Democrat.

The Obama factor was similar in New Jersey, though there were slightly more voters who said the president did not factor into their choice.

Iran: Tail Wagging The Dog

exetertraining@aol.com (The Political and Financial Markets Commentator) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

So What Is Going On?

The IAEA is looking for a response while nations take a rhetorical hard line regarding the fact that the proposed deal on the table is the only deal and not open to negotiation. It is a rock and a hard place scenario, but not for Iran. For the boys who cried wolf in the form of the United States and other interested parties.

Remember the good old days of mutually assured destruction. You know, you lob one at us and we lob 3 at you. True, those were scary times because who really knew the pain threshold of the other side. Nuclear weapons were relatively new and unknown. Today they are no longer new and are totally known and understood. The nuclear club that had been the USSR and United States, two relatively sane nations, is now comprised of a multitude of countries, and God forbid organizations with no borders or a truly organized government infrastructure who have the clearly stated goal of destroying the west.

Is Mutually Assured Destruction A Concern, And Is The Survival Of The Citizenry A Consideration?

Let us assume for a second that Iran acquires the bomb. Will the Obama government, indecisive and incredibly weak on national security, pose an impediment to Iran in firing off a missile. Will Iran fear immediate and lethal retribution? Will they consider the decision making process that has gone into a troop surge in Afghanistan and feel that they have no real immediate concern. Will they look at the lack of support the United States exhibited for Poland and Czechoslovakia in terms of pulling missile defense for no real purpose or quid pro quo? Does the United States scare anyone anymore? It is great to have friends, but a superpower needs to be feared as well.

The only ones with fear now are those of us with the ability to look at the predicament that the current administration has placed us in.

Would Iran be concerned with the ramifications of trying to take out Israel, Spain or Ireland? Are they saying to themselves that the Obama administration will vaporize them if they do? Or will the United States apologize for forcing Iran to use the nukes and instead work towards a diplomatic solution. Mutually assured destruction. This is the only real deterrent. But does anyone think that President Obama has it in him. Swift, forceful and decisive action. I don't believe the international community does.

Good guy to have a beer with if you are a Boston cop. But the worlds policeman? I don't think so.

Finally, is a government concerned with the well being and safety of its people? That is typically the most basic of jobs. The leadership in a country like Iran is not, and further some may think that to die in this fashion would be a ticket to a better life in the next one. Any way you look at it, it is a rock and a hard place scenario. But not for Iran.

LET'S DO THIS FOR THE GIPPER!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (maryann626) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:10:00 +0000

The new Conservative chant and motto ought to be “We are sick and tired of change and we’re not going to take it anymore”!! Only the “change” I am referring to is not the New Obama “change” that is wreaking havoc on America as we speak, it is the change that has overtaken the Republican Party for quite some time now.

The recent actions of those in the GOP and of the Republican party Leaders have given a new kind of resolve to Conservatives, it has opened the eyes of those already fed up with the direction this Country is taking wider and now we clearly see that we need to start within our own political organization if we are going to turn this mess around and get back to what a REAL REPUBLICAN stood for in years past.

When your own party leaders and the GOP support and endorse a candidate that by all standards is more liberal then her Democrat opponent then it’s time to take a long hard look at what’s going on and time to take a stand. Dede Scozzafava is more on board with liberal ideology yet she was endorsed by Newt Gingrich, Michael Steele and the House GOP leadership (with the exception being Mike Pence). The RNC also gave over $900,000 to her campaign.

Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman is a real Republican with a true Republican ideology yet the GOP denounced him and stated that by running he is hurting the Republican Party. This is where it gets confusing, “fuzzy” so to speak yet at the same time; this is what is opening the eyes of every concerned Conservative Republican in America.

What has become of the GOP since the Reagan era? Why are so many inside the Republican Party hell bent on turning it into a group of Moderates? Why are so many so called Republicans willing to give up basic conservative values and beliefs? Why are so many who are liberals at heart labeling themselves as Republicans? It’s obvious there has been a huge shift in the thinking of the Republican Party and we Conservatives are fed up with it and are not going to stand for it any longer.

With today’s elections in Virginia, New Jersey and the special election of NY, we will show the GOP what they have forgotten. We will show them that Conservatism is NOT DEAD that we are alive and THRIVING. We won’t roll over and play dead so that they can remake the Republican Party into nothing more then a mirror image of the Democratic Party. We are taking a stand, we won’t be ignored any longer...we are here and we are HERE TO STAY!!!

Today is the REAWAKENING OF THE OLD REPUBLICAN PARTY, The Party that stood for morals, decent values and true conservative thinking. Today the Nation will see that we value the opinions of those like Fred Thomas, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann and many others who so rightly and so proudly gave their endorsement for a true Conservative candidate, Doug Hoffman. This is what America needs; this is what America deservers as its leaders...Those who truly believe in working for the American people toward the good of all.

I can’t help but feel that Ronald Reagan is looking down on each and every conservative and is lighting a fire inside our hearts to bring back what he started and to never let it die again. Let’s do this for the Gipper…BRING BACK TRUE AMERICAN VALUES…CONSERVATIVE VALUES

For all Indiana Conservatives, who want to join the valiant fight to re-gain our Conservative Republican Party, please join the Indiana Republican Assembly where we can take real actions toward making sure we elect candidates that fit this mold and will never waiver!

Join the INRA today, lets start building the foundation to endorse and support Conservative candidates only as we move forward to take back our great state of Indiana. Let us take this momentum and get the Indiana Republican Assembly in a position not only to elect Conservatives to public office, but to send a message to both the Democrat and Republican Parties that Conservatism is and will be strong force for years to come!

A loss Packer fans didn't deserve

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Jessen) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:55:00 +0000

Ok, so the world knows I am a Packers fan... and I am abit upset at being swept by the Vikes. Upset too with Packer Mgt about the whole Favre fiasco.

Here's a great blog about the game Sunday...
By MJD
I didn't include the Green Bay Packers in yesterday's Cry, Whine and Moan feature, because I felt like it was a special kind of loss that deserved its own post.

Not that it was the most painful loss of all-time or anything, but it was certainly unique in how it was painful. Most of us will never see our hero, arguably the best player in the history of our franchise, come back in the colors of our arch-rival and then destroy us, cementing the fact that his new football team is now clearly better than his old one.

That just doesn't happen. Not on this level, with a player of that magnitude, between rivals so bitter.

I feel bad for Packers fans. Not because of who I blame for anything that's happened -- blame doesn't really matter anymore. Blame Brett Favre, Ted Thompson, global warming or Emmanual Lewis if you really want to. No matter who's at fault, Packers fans just suffered a loss that packed some serious sting. Forty-five% say it's the toughest loss Packers fans have ever had to deal with.

Karma failed us. After everything that's happened, all the breathless media reports, all the spin, all the lies, all the hurt feelings ... Brett Favre gets to come out on top, both times? This time, in your own front yard? That is not right. That is not just.

Packers fans deserved to win at least one of those games, and it seems cruel that they didn't get to. All they got was to see Favre leaving their field, with his hands raised high in victory.
I guess "deserve" is a concept that doesn't apply here, though. Things happened the way they did because Minnesota has a better football team. They have a better defense and a better running attack. In this case, that means they win. It sucks, but that's how it works.
The reaction in Green Bay today seems surprisingly pragmatic, though. The Packers blogs are worried about things like their head coach, Aaron Rodgers, Johnny Jolly, and Dom Capers (naughty language alert for that last one). Like pretty much every other team out there. The newspapers are a little more
Favre-y, but there's just as much focus on things like Cullen Jenkins roasting Dom Capers, and the differences in the rest of the Green Bay and Minnesota rosters.

I'm sure there's a lot of frustration and anger behind all that, too. You have my sympathies, Packer fans. No group of fans should have to go through that, and then get denied satisfaction twice.

Light up the comments... I am sure they are forthcoming...

The Afghan Election Is A Fait Accompli: Make A Damn Decision

exetertraining@aol.com (The Political and Financial Markets Commentator) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:02:00 +0000

From The Political Commentator

What Will Be The Next Reason To Avoid A Decision?

(TheHill.com) "Gibbs said Monday that the election was only one factor in Obama's decision making process. "This decision was not dependent upon when a leader was determined," Gibbs said. Obama, who has held a series of meetings with his national security team to devise a new strategy for the region, had hinted that he would not announce a decision until after the Nov. 7 runoff between Karzai and his challenger, Abdullah. Gibbs said he does not know if Obama will make or announce a decision before the president leaves for a 10-day trip to Asia on Nov. 11."

Decision Time?

President Obama is now running out of excuses for not making a decision one way or the other on the question of whether or not to add additional troops to Afghanistan. He has spent a great deal of time and effort traveling to stump for politicians in danger of losing on election day in what must be the Obama administration definition of a productive use of the Commander in Chiefs time. Forget about foreign policy, war policy or national security. Work to make sure John Corzine can continue doing what he has been doing. Whatever that is.

I have sent much time and ink writing about Afghanistan and Iran, and the topic to some may be getting a little bit stale. Make no mistake. Our policies and position around the world are central to the future of the country. Domestic policy is important as well, but nothing is more important than securing our borders and citizens, and the President and his people seem to be stuck on politics, and partisan politics at that. I would like to see a breakdown of presidential time spent on a daily basis on domestic versus international issues. Of time spent on television or the radio broken down by topic. Would it be healthcare 100%, national security 0%?

If someone could explain to me why 7 meetings with his military advisors have been spread out over months and not days I would appreciate it. The President can summon whoever he wants, whenever he wants armed with as much information as he wants. Could it be that he doesn't want? That for all of the rhetoric about the importance of the military his actions tell a much different story? The result of the Afghan election, the most recent delaying tactic by the Administration is a fait accompli with Abdullah Abdullah pulling out. Ironically President Obama told Karzai that it are his actions and not his rhetoric that will be telling. Right back at you President Obama.

Seven meetings with the military are done, months have passed, violence, deaths and wounded are on the rise and General McCrystal has provided his expert opinion.

Mr. President: Make A Decision!!!

Sandusky Border Patrol removes passengers from Elyria bus Brad Dicken

noreply@blogger.com (Gary Karlin) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:22:00 +0000

http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2009/10/31/sandusky-border-patrol-removes-passengers-from-elyria-bus/

ELYRIA — Two suspected illegal aliens were taken off a Chicago-bound Greyhound bus at the bus stop on Third Street in Elyria.

Although one of those arrested eventually was released after a paperwork review determined she was in the country legally, the other was a Mexican national who said he had been in the country for three years and was living in Richmond, Va.

The check of every passenger on the bus was the first of its kind in Elyria by U.S. Border Patrol agents stationed at an office in Sandusky that opened in February, said Chris Grogan, public information officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“We’re just trying to get a tighter grip on border security,” Grogan said.

Random checks like the one in Elyria are part of how the agents will be enforcing immigration and other laws. Buses are one way illegal immigrants move around and have drawn closer scrutiny in recent years, Grogan said.

“You don’t see too much up here, but you never know,” he said.

Agents checking the bus Friday declined to comment, but the Mexican, who said his name was Hugo Leon, said he had been arrested once before for sneaking into the country illegally.
The woman who was released said she came to the United States from the African nation of Benin about eight years ago.

She said she was returning to her Chicago home from a shopping trip in New York but didn’t have her green card with her.

Lorain County Sheriff’s Capt. Dennis Cavanaugh, who commands the county’s Drug Task Force and Terrorism Task Force, said local law enforcement welcomed the addition of the Border Patrol office in Sandusky.

“It certainly helps. There’s a lot of open area and a lot of shared intel, which is vital,” he said.

Already the Border Patrol has worked closely with local officers on operations, including the Northern Border Initiative, Cavanaugh said.

Crogan said the Detroit border district that supervises the Sandusky office is the largest in the United States and covers 863 miles of international border and 3,000 miles of shoreline that run from the tip of Lake Superior into Lake Erie.

Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.

Obama Afghanistan Meeting Seven Is In The Books

exetertraining@aol.com (The Political and Financial Markets Commentator) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:23:00 +0000

From The Political Commentator

And Still No Decision: President Obama Is No John Kennedy

Since the McCrystal report asking for additional troops was made public quite some time ago, the President has had seven meetings totaling about 20 hours, and spent about 25 minutes on a tarmac with the General. During that time, the President has spent much more of his time on issues having nothing to do with national security. Now no one begrudges some of the public relations work that the President has done, but we are in a WAR. Soldiers are dying and being critically injured. His one job right now is not to stretch this decision over months, but to meet every day for hours a day in order to make this decision.

The Presidency is not a job by consensus. It is the loneliest job in which critically important decisions need to be made, particularly on the safety of troops and the security of the country. If you cannot make a decision, be it to send troops or to pull out, then you should not be in the job. Is the next person he consults with the cleaner of the White House bathrooms, because it seems he has sought out the opinion of just about everyone else. And he has taken months to do it, meeting with the various consultants only once a week or so.

My suggestion would be to make this decision a slightly higher priority than healthcare, as it is an outrage that his attention is not glued to this problem. He made a great publicity trip to view the return of fallen soldiers, yet his actions show that his only priority is his political constituency. What are some of the things his time has been spent on, rather than being holed up in the Situation Room making a decision on national security?

• Sept. 1: hosted a Ramadan dinner at the White House.

• Sept. 2-6: took a family vacation trip to Camp David.

• Sept. 8: met with Professional Golf Association of America champions.

• Sept. 10: met with NHL champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Also on that day, sent letters to several International Olympic Committee members to lobby for Chicago getting the 2016 games.

• Sept. 15: traveled to Pennsylvania for campaign fundraiser for Democrat Senator Arlen Specter.

• Sept. 17: hosted a screening of a portion of the Ken Burns documentary The National Parks.

• Sept. 21: appeared as the sole guest on the Late Show with David Letterman.

• Oct. 2: traveled to Copenhagen to lobby for Chicago 2016 Olympics. Didn’t get them.

• Oct. 5: met with doctors assembled in Rose Garden; doctors were provided white coats to create appearance of united support for president’s health care reform.

• Oct. 7: played basketball with assorted Cabinet members.

• Oct. 9th: spoke to nation upon winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

• Oct. 10: spoke at dinner for gay rights organization.

• Oct. 13: attended “Fiesta Latina” concert on White House lawn.

• Oct. 14: spoke at event celebrating establishment of the Edward Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate, which is reportedly being funded with $20 million diverted from defense spending.

• Oct. 15: spoke at San Francisco fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee.

• Oct. 20: spoke at New York City Democrat fundraiser; made headlines by opining that Republicans “….just kinda, sometimes, do what they’re told.”

• Oct. 21: traveled to New Jersey to attend fundraiser for Democrat Governor Jon Corzine.

• Oct. 23: traveled to Boston to attend fundraiser for Democrat Governor Patrick, and to Connecticut for fundraiser for ethically challenged Democrat Senator Chris Dodd.

• Oct. 25: golfed at Fort Belvoir.

• Oct. 26: shortened White House meeting with Afghanistan advisors to attend two Democrat fundraisers in Florida.

Memo From Middle America (Formerly Known As Memo From Mexico)

noreply@blogger.com (Gary Karlin) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:37:00 +0000

(Gary's comments - Shocked to find that there's corruption at the Mexican Consulate? And the Mexican Government is investigating an official at their Consulate in Dallas? Wow, isn't that the Kettle calling the Pot black, LOL.I thought I'd never see the day).

http://vdare.com/awall/091028_memo.htm

By Allan Wall

Shocked - Shocked To Find Corruption At A Mexican Consulate!

Have you heard the news?

The Mexican consulate in Dallas is currently undergoing a change of leadership. Enrique Hubbard, the former consul general, is being replaced by Juan Carlos Cue. The new chief Mexican in Dallas has formerly served as consul general in El Paso, and comes to Dallas from his post as Mexican ambassador to Kenya. Maybe that means he’ll get along well with Obama! [Mexico Appoints New Head of Mexican Consulate for Dallas Diane Solis, Dallas Morning News, October 13, 2009]

Is this change at the consulate just a routine shuffling of diplomatic personnel? It’s true that Mexican diplomats usually serve in a post for two to four years, and Hubbard has just finished three years.

But it’s quite likely that Hubbard is being moved out because the Dallas consulate is the scene of a major scandal still under investigation by the Mexican government.

Congressman Pence Once Again is RIGHT

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Republican Assembly) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Looks like another high profile Conservative who stands on principal and no doubt is one of us!

WAY TO GO CONGRESSMAN PENCE!!!!

"Perhaps the best example of the struggle between the Republican Establishment and resurgent conservatives is the othe...rwise obscure special election next month in New York’s 23rd congressional district. Most of the House Republican leadership is backing the hyperliberal “Republican” candidate Dede Scozzafava against conservative Doug Hoffman (Indiana conservative Mike Pence being the notable exception).

Prominent conservatives across the nation -- former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson and former House Minority Leader Dick Army, among many others -- have come out strongly for Hoffman. The Republican establishment is content with Scozzafava, who will -- if she’s elected -- make former Republican Arlen Specter look like a staunch party loyalist.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=34120

Iran, Uranium and FlimFlam Florio

exetertraining@aol.com (The Political and Financial Markets Commentator) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:09:00 +0000

From The Political Commentator

Keep Giving Iran More Time, The Only Result Will Be More Time Lost

As could have been expected and predicted, Iran, given and apparently accepting the structure of a deal by the United Nations to ship its enriched uranium to France and Russia, is once again making a mockery out of the international community.

This past Friday they missed the deadline to respond to the draft proposal drawn up by the IAEA, and today was quoted by a news source as saying that while they agree in principle to the framework, they want very "important" changes made to it. Iran says that they will let the world know what the changes are within 48 hours.

Like a parent who gives warning after warning and threat after threat to the disobedient child, Iran puts little if any credence in the resolve of the countries involved to actually back up any tough rhetoric with substantive action. As the perfect example, this was what the Foreign Minster of France had to say regarding these new stall tactics:

"We have been waiting for light at the end of the tunnel for almost three years. We will wait until we decide that enough is enough and that the process is exhausted," ... "One day it will be too late."

That is a very open ended statement, and one which would lead anyone reading, particularly the leaders of Iran, to think that there is time plenty of time for more games and deceptions. The only action, unfortunately, that will hold any weight is that of military action. Anything else is merely a killer of time leading up to the inevitable, all the while Iran goes on about it's merry way. Sanctions and diplomacy are merely a way of giving this country more time to do what it is that it wants to do. For starters, as articulated by its leader, Iran would like to blow Israel out of existence.

The enablers around the world, posing as leaders, need to take a stand.

Foreign Policy In A War Zone Is Not A Soap Opera

exetertraining@aol.com (The Political and Financial Markets Commentator) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:03:00 +0000

From The Political Commentator

Episode Number Six On “To Surge Or Not To Surge”

Not The Time, Place or Situation For A Soap Opera

On Monday, for the sixth time, the President met in the White House Situation Room to discuss whether or not to agree to the addition of troops requested by General McCrystal. General McCrystal, at the time of the request, painted a dire picture of how things would develop if the troops were not provided. He also said that speed in the decision making process was critical. The word being provided is that the meeting Monday should not be construed to mean that a decision is imminent. The President wants to get it right and not fast.

Getting it right is certainly the correct strategy, one that might have worked a little bit better with the stimulus package that was rushed through or with the government run healthcare, but it seems to me that the President has had all of the time and input from those around him to make a decision. It is lonely at the top, and the American public was under the impression that they were electing a decision maker to be the Chief Executive of the country. By the sixth meeting, is there other information to decipher or people to consult who have not been consulted already? If so, why is that the case?

It is obvious based on the increased violence in the region that the enemy is emboldened by the fact that there is apparent weakness and glaring lack of resolve emanating from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. National security is a different animal than that of trying to ram a healthcare bill through the Congress. Military decisions take bold and confident leadership, as much for the troops on the ground as for the terrorists we are fighting.

Like a shark that smells the blood in the water, the Taliban and al-Qaeda, observing six meetings with more on the way in search of consensus for a plan, must get the feeling that the inmates are in control of the asylum. The world is waiting, so please live up to the job that you were so eager to obtain.