The title that went with the name, David Rothkopf, was more than enough information to clearly define the slant of the author of a lengthy newspaper article on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton [HRC]. Mr. Rothkopf is a "visiting scholar" at the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace located in Washington. The pro-Obama, pro-Hillary Rodman Clinton literary piece was at best "progressive", that is to say liberal-socialistic, and at worst blatant propaganda.
According to Rothkopf, HRC is "overseeing profound policy changes on the global front". She is rendering the policies of of the past two Presidents, who include her husband, into "mere side notes in a long transition to a meaningful post-Cold War worldview." A full reference is made to the undeniable fact that Obama has removed from HRC a meaningful role in Afghanistan and in Pakistan and in the Middle East. So what "overseeing" is HRC doing? According to Rothkopf she is part of a plan to change the international policy of America so "to fulfill Obama's vision." But that vision is not defined by Rothkopf or any other of the "progressive" journalists that almost daily add to the efforts to canonize Obama and his administration.
What has occurred in the 7 months since Obama has been President and HRC Secretary of State is an international relations program that is in unity with South and Central American Marxists on issues arising from Honduras to Cuba. An absolute mute approach has been Washington's choice of action as to Japan while a leftist party, which has already announced that it will reconsider the US-Japan relationship as it befriends Communist China, takes charge of that nation. A kowtowing to Communist China and its regional allies has appeared as part of Obama's policy so as not to aggravate the Chinese, the nation that is America's largest creditor. Further, Rothkopf points out that HRC speaking for Obama and our nation has announced "special emphasis on encouraging major and emerging global powers - China, India, Russia and Brazil as well as Turkey, Indonesia and South Africa - to be full partners in tackling the global agenda." This is the same China-India-Russia that just conferred on how to remove the dollar as the international monetary standard and Brazil who has voiced its support to such an economic action by certain trade agreements with China. By the way, just what is this "global agenda"? It has become a habit of the progressive-socialist pundits to coin fancy terms but never define any of those terms.
David Rothkopf in not defining Obama's international goals has in fact done so by not being critical of Obama's moves away from traditional American values. Hillary Rodman Clinton is painted with the same unknown global agenda as Rothkopf celebrates her "supporting and augmenting his [Obama's] agenda effectively". Obama, Clinton, Rothkopf and all the rest of these "fellow travelers" have forgotten that Americans are not "progressives"; are not Marxist-Socialists; and will not allow America to become part of such an international group reflecting what Rothkopf as labeled as Obama's "profound changes in US foreign policy in two decades."
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Be Careful of Obama Economic Stats
Washington has been quick to proclaim that there are ever increasing signs that the current recession has come to a end and the economy is recovering. Indeed there have been some positive signs that perhaps the worst days of this economic downtrend are over but there is no indication that the recovery has begun.
Unemployment is expected to increase until nationwide the percentage rate of those Americans out of work reaches at least 10%. It is currently, as of the end of July, at 9.4%. The well publicized July drop in the unemployment rate was marginalized by the real fact that 27 States actually had increases in their jobless rate during that month. Additionally, Washington admitted for the first time that the real national unemployment rate was at a level of 16% when Americans are added to the total who are part-time employees looking for full-time and those who have just given up by no longer seeking work and no longer receiving benefits. In very cavalier wording the Obama Administration has expressed that the August unemployed figure is expected to show "only" an increase of 250,000. "Only"? A quarter-of-a-million Americans join the rants of the unemployed and the official position is "only". A comment by the same government economist that it is "premature to conclude that unemployment has peaked" is obviously true and an understatement.
On a different note, Washington announced that the rate of construction of single family residences had increased but left in the fine print the fact that commercial construction and multi-family residential construction had again diminished.
Also raised by federal government mouthpieces as a sign the the economy was better was the "spectacular" increase in the projected annual sales of new automobiles. This almost falls into the classification of intentionally misleading. On its face the statement is true, but in reality no consideration was given at all to the distortion created by the "cash for clunkers" success. Further, the projected annual sales figure did not factor in the motor vehicle industry's own anticipated drop in new vehicle sales for at least September and October resulting from the same program.
The word to use while considering economic statements from Obama has to be caution. This Administration may not expressly lie to the public but its every utterance has to be closely examined before it can be taken as factual and its real impact evaluated.
Unemployment is expected to increase until nationwide the percentage rate of those Americans out of work reaches at least 10%. It is currently, as of the end of July, at 9.4%. The well publicized July drop in the unemployment rate was marginalized by the real fact that 27 States actually had increases in their jobless rate during that month. Additionally, Washington admitted for the first time that the real national unemployment rate was at a level of 16% when Americans are added to the total who are part-time employees looking for full-time and those who have just given up by no longer seeking work and no longer receiving benefits. In very cavalier wording the Obama Administration has expressed that the August unemployed figure is expected to show "only" an increase of 250,000. "Only"? A quarter-of-a-million Americans join the rants of the unemployed and the official position is "only". A comment by the same government economist that it is "premature to conclude that unemployment has peaked" is obviously true and an understatement.
On a different note, Washington announced that the rate of construction of single family residences had increased but left in the fine print the fact that commercial construction and multi-family residential construction had again diminished.
Also raised by federal government mouthpieces as a sign the the economy was better was the "spectacular" increase in the projected annual sales of new automobiles. This almost falls into the classification of intentionally misleading. On its face the statement is true, but in reality no consideration was given at all to the distortion created by the "cash for clunkers" success. Further, the projected annual sales figure did not factor in the motor vehicle industry's own anticipated drop in new vehicle sales for at least September and October resulting from the same program.
The word to use while considering economic statements from Obama has to be caution. This Administration may not expressly lie to the public but its every utterance has to be closely examined before it can be taken as factual and its real impact evaluated.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Japan - Change Ignored Or Cheered By Obama?
On the 30th of August there will be a national general election in Japan. Every political pundit with creditability in Far East matters has declared that the Democratic Party of Japan [DPJ] will be a huge winner. If these election result forecasts are in fact proven true, then in reality for the first time in over 50 years the right of center Liberal Democratic Party will no longer control Japan. The impact on the United States will be certain and disadvantageous. Two recent feature articles in Asian journals were headlined "A New Path For Japan" and "Japan On Brink Of New Era". DPJ, if you did not know, is well left of center with clearly stated governmental ideas that marginalize the American role in that section of the world.
Following a DPJ election success, Yukio Hatoyama will assume the post of Japan's Prime Minister and he has not been at all secretive about his views. It is time, he has said, for Japan to return to its "tradition of community" and for Japan's "basic sphere of being to be East Asia." Following that reasoning he has opined that "the era of United States unilateralism may have come to an end." He continues by expressing that with the "failure of the Iraq war" and the "financial crises" in which American finds itself, the era of "US led globalism is coming to an end." He has proclaimed that Japan will be involved in the "era of multipolarity". This idea of "multipolarity" becoming a globally prevalent is not a fantasy as the world has already been divided sectionally as has occurred in Europe. There can be no doubt that Hatoyama will purposefully move Japan away from America and if not joining with Communist China will at least become a member of a coalition of nations from East Asia that will be dominated by Peking.
Hatoyama is consistent in his anti-American views with his position on the dollar. The American currency is "weak" and the future Prime Minister doubts that it will continue to be the "key global currency". He further promotes the establishment of a "sectional currency" that the nations of the "increasing vitality of East Asia" can rely on and utilize in trade. Makes you think that Japan could well join Russia, Communist China and India in plans to shift away from the dollar.
Interestingly, Hatoyama believes that Japan will need American for "security purposes" for a period of time before that aspect of the relationship will no longer be of any benefit. Not a very well hidden intent of Hatoyama to use the American military to better negotiate a Japan-Communist China relationship and once done bid the US a farewell.
The reaction from the White House on this pending change in Japan - nothing. Of course not because Obama is on vacation which has been interrupted by the death of Senator Teddy Kennedy, a much more meaningful event to our President than the marginalization of America's role in the Far East. Further, Obama is himself well left of center; has allied himself with Marxist-Socialists in South and Central America; and extended his hand to other leftist groups around the globe. It is very possible that a win by a left leaning political party in Japan is exactly what our President would like to see.
Think about it.
Following a DPJ election success, Yukio Hatoyama will assume the post of Japan's Prime Minister and he has not been at all secretive about his views. It is time, he has said, for Japan to return to its "tradition of community" and for Japan's "basic sphere of being to be East Asia." Following that reasoning he has opined that "the era of United States unilateralism may have come to an end." He continues by expressing that with the "failure of the Iraq war" and the "financial crises" in which American finds itself, the era of "US led globalism is coming to an end." He has proclaimed that Japan will be involved in the "era of multipolarity". This idea of "multipolarity" becoming a globally prevalent is not a fantasy as the world has already been divided sectionally as has occurred in Europe. There can be no doubt that Hatoyama will purposefully move Japan away from America and if not joining with Communist China will at least become a member of a coalition of nations from East Asia that will be dominated by Peking.
Hatoyama is consistent in his anti-American views with his position on the dollar. The American currency is "weak" and the future Prime Minister doubts that it will continue to be the "key global currency". He further promotes the establishment of a "sectional currency" that the nations of the "increasing vitality of East Asia" can rely on and utilize in trade. Makes you think that Japan could well join Russia, Communist China and India in plans to shift away from the dollar.
Interestingly, Hatoyama believes that Japan will need American for "security purposes" for a period of time before that aspect of the relationship will no longer be of any benefit. Not a very well hidden intent of Hatoyama to use the American military to better negotiate a Japan-Communist China relationship and once done bid the US a farewell.
The reaction from the White House on this pending change in Japan - nothing. Of course not because Obama is on vacation which has been interrupted by the death of Senator Teddy Kennedy, a much more meaningful event to our President than the marginalization of America's role in the Far East. Further, Obama is himself well left of center; has allied himself with Marxist-Socialists in South and Central America; and extended his hand to other leftist groups around the globe. It is very possible that a win by a left leaning political party in Japan is exactly what our President would like to see.
Think about it.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
End Of August Random Thoughts
Is it possible that Obama will never "get the message" on Honduras? The now former President of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, was exiled, wearing his PJs, after an unsuccessful attempt to mimic Hugo Chavez in a leftist power grab. Obama has chosen to side with Zelaya and has joined the ranks of fellow Zelaya supporters such as Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega, Evo Morales and Miguel Insulza. Each of these "Latin" leaders are Marxist-Socialists and anti-American. Obama wins nothing for his Honduran stand for these Marxist-Socialists continue to attack the USA; "Latin" democratic leaders question Obama's politics; and the Liberation Newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Party For Socialism and Liberation, refers to Obama's actions on Honduras as characteristic of America's "murderous military and their masters in Washington, D.C." Chavez was right, Obama is a "poor ignoramus".
Recently some Internet articles have attributed to Warren Buffett the view that Obama has decided to "devalue the dollar". This economic action was, allegedly, "a done deal" and would be announced soon after Obama returns from his vacation. The intent of the devaluation is to marginalize the massive size of American international government debt particularly the IOUs that Communist China holds. This indeed could be a positive action by Obama [one of very few positive actions undertaken by him to date] but only if in conjunction with the devaluation he also implements a nationwide freeze on wages and prices. Without this additional financial control, the ranks of the poverty stricken would jump; the value of savings accounts and IRAs and 401Ks would be negatively impacted; and sticker prices on everything, except preestablished debts such as mortgages, car loans and credit card balances, would rise to reflect the weakened value of the dollar. It certainly would be nice to cause China some economic havoc. However, in reality our President has no desire to aggravate these Communists and it would be contrary to his already thinly veiled intention to acquiesce to a new international monetary standard and then magnanimously agree to pay America's international government debt in the new specie.
It is hard to ignore Washington's announcement that the swine flu [H1N1 in proper government lingo] could well claim the lives of 90,000 Americans during this next flu season. What is more troublesome is that America has not been able to create a vaccine; that any current vaccine being tested may be useless if the targeted virus has mutated; and that worldwide such a death rate as Washington forecasts has yet to impact any nation. The message seems more likely as the use of an urged technique from the radical practices bible of Saul Alinsky. To shift more power to the government, Saul urged, announce a crisis and publish it to the nth degree with all emphasis being that only the government can come to the rescue. The "rescue" is made and big government justifies a further step in controlling the lives of the citizens. It is once again demonstrated that you just cannot trust on face value anything that Washington emits.
September looks like another interesting month. Stay tuned.
Recently some Internet articles have attributed to Warren Buffett the view that Obama has decided to "devalue the dollar". This economic action was, allegedly, "a done deal" and would be announced soon after Obama returns from his vacation. The intent of the devaluation is to marginalize the massive size of American international government debt particularly the IOUs that Communist China holds. This indeed could be a positive action by Obama [one of very few positive actions undertaken by him to date] but only if in conjunction with the devaluation he also implements a nationwide freeze on wages and prices. Without this additional financial control, the ranks of the poverty stricken would jump; the value of savings accounts and IRAs and 401Ks would be negatively impacted; and sticker prices on everything, except preestablished debts such as mortgages, car loans and credit card balances, would rise to reflect the weakened value of the dollar. It certainly would be nice to cause China some economic havoc. However, in reality our President has no desire to aggravate these Communists and it would be contrary to his already thinly veiled intention to acquiesce to a new international monetary standard and then magnanimously agree to pay America's international government debt in the new specie.
It is hard to ignore Washington's announcement that the swine flu [H1N1 in proper government lingo] could well claim the lives of 90,000 Americans during this next flu season. What is more troublesome is that America has not been able to create a vaccine; that any current vaccine being tested may be useless if the targeted virus has mutated; and that worldwide such a death rate as Washington forecasts has yet to impact any nation. The message seems more likely as the use of an urged technique from the radical practices bible of Saul Alinsky. To shift more power to the government, Saul urged, announce a crisis and publish it to the nth degree with all emphasis being that only the government can come to the rescue. The "rescue" is made and big government justifies a further step in controlling the lives of the citizens. It is once again demonstrated that you just cannot trust on face value anything that Washington emits.
September looks like another interesting month. Stay tuned.
Monday, August 24, 2009
US Dollar - Under Attack Again
There is no doubt that several international groups as well as individual foreign governments are promoting the discontinuance of the United States dollar as the international monetary standard. These efforts have gone to such an extreme that there have been conferences among nations to address just that goal. The Obama Administration has not to date responded to these anti-dollar efforts but a most recent attack may well force Obama to express an official position.
Joseph Stiglitz, PhD, an American, possesses a golden name in the world of economics. He is well published and well respected. Stiglitz has not only served on many American economic advisory groups but has also been a director of the IMF; has been an Ivy League professor; and was a quasi-member of the cabinet during the Bill Clinton Presidency. Mentioned last only for impact, he is also the holder of the Nobel Prize in the field of economics. Such a man with such an impressive resume is someone to whom attention must be paid when he opines. Unfortunately his most recently published opinions do not favor the American dollar. The bottom line of his approach to the dollar is not if it should be retired as the international monetary standard but rather "whether to go to a new system in an orderly manner or in a disorderly manner". In other words the condition of the dollar is not only marred it is fatally marred.
Expounding on that topic, Dr. Stiglitz states it is "hard to have a globally integrated financial system based on a single currency when there are such uncertainties about the economic fortunes of that particular country." The "single currency" is the US dollar and the "particular country" is America. The solution that is apparently being proposed by Stiglitz is yet again the "basket theory", which means that several currencies are to be "basketed" and from that mix there would be set a global financial standard. Joining the dollar in this "basket" would be at least the Euro as well as the monetary units of Communist China, Japan, India and Russia. Communist China has expressed a great interest in this new global monetary system and since we, Americans, owe Communist China over $800,000,000,000.00 meaningful opposition to the "basket" plan would be opposition to China and therefore unattractive to Washington.
This "basket" is going to happen and it will not be good for the United States.
By the way, Dr. Stiglitz is also a proponent of a "world wide increase of the tax on high earners"; the establishment of a program to "redistribute income"; and a commitment by richer nations "to give" money to the world's poorer nations, particularly the poorer nations of Africa. Stiglitz must have been reading from Obama's playbook or maybe the other way around.
Joseph Stiglitz, PhD, an American, possesses a golden name in the world of economics. He is well published and well respected. Stiglitz has not only served on many American economic advisory groups but has also been a director of the IMF; has been an Ivy League professor; and was a quasi-member of the cabinet during the Bill Clinton Presidency. Mentioned last only for impact, he is also the holder of the Nobel Prize in the field of economics. Such a man with such an impressive resume is someone to whom attention must be paid when he opines. Unfortunately his most recently published opinions do not favor the American dollar. The bottom line of his approach to the dollar is not if it should be retired as the international monetary standard but rather "whether to go to a new system in an orderly manner or in a disorderly manner". In other words the condition of the dollar is not only marred it is fatally marred.
Expounding on that topic, Dr. Stiglitz states it is "hard to have a globally integrated financial system based on a single currency when there are such uncertainties about the economic fortunes of that particular country." The "single currency" is the US dollar and the "particular country" is America. The solution that is apparently being proposed by Stiglitz is yet again the "basket theory", which means that several currencies are to be "basketed" and from that mix there would be set a global financial standard. Joining the dollar in this "basket" would be at least the Euro as well as the monetary units of Communist China, Japan, India and Russia. Communist China has expressed a great interest in this new global monetary system and since we, Americans, owe Communist China over $800,000,000,000.00 meaningful opposition to the "basket" plan would be opposition to China and therefore unattractive to Washington.
This "basket" is going to happen and it will not be good for the United States.
By the way, Dr. Stiglitz is also a proponent of a "world wide increase of the tax on high earners"; the establishment of a program to "redistribute income"; and a commitment by richer nations "to give" money to the world's poorer nations, particularly the poorer nations of Africa. Stiglitz must have been reading from Obama's playbook or maybe the other way around.
Friday, August 14, 2009
A big "WHY" on Afghanistan
Nothing makes sense about America's current role in Afghanistan particularly how our military presence in that nation factors into Obama's political goals. There is little doubt that the Obama Administration is making a concerted effort to move the United States toward being a socialist nation. Consider the efforts of Washington to control the financial industry, the automotive industry and the healthcare industry, only to mention the more widely publicized BHO endeavors, as undeniable proof. However, even with the degree of success BHO has enjoyed, it cannot be said that the clenched-fisted-power-to-the-people mantra has become the new logo of America. Not yet but remember Obama has only been in office slightly longer than 6 months.
On the international scene, our President has opted to court fellow socialists leaders and has turned his back on democratic movements in Iran and Honduras. Most telling of Obama's left leanings in the Far East has been his refusal to aggressively confront North Korea while at the same time selling America's economic future to the Communist Chinese.
So why Afghanistan?
To quote Patrick J. Buchanan, "What is so vital to us in that wilderness of a land?" Indeed, what is so important to require the death and maiming of members of our military; to require the expenditure of huge amounts of money that America can little afford; and to require American presence for a long period of time and in even greater numbers. The promotion of democracy is not a priority of BHO and in reality there is little real hope of establishing an effective democracy in "a backward tribal nation of 25,000,000". No "behave yourself" message is being sent to the Islamic world by this US military action for Obama has already declared that a partnership with Muslims is his goal . There is no "shining new democracy" in Afghanistan for Washington to display "as a model for the Islamic world". In fact Hamid Karzai, currently up for reelection, heads a partially effective, largely corrupt government and he has fluctuated greatly in his support of the role of America in his nation.
So why Afghanistan?
It would be ridiculous to consider that America is engaged in even this limited scope of a war without a real goal. The truly paranoid, but maybe not incorrect, Americans believe that Obama does not want our armed forces stateside because it could well interfere with his ultimate goal to remain in office beyond any term limit that the Constitution or the electorate dictates. The experts on personality traits could express that it is impossible for BHO to acknowledge any form of failure. The withdrawal of our military from Afghanistan would be viewed by many as an admission of failure particularly if Karzai quickly thereafter falls from power and even faster finds refuge on the French Riviera. Obama's ego would not allow the possibility of this happening even if the cost would be tallied in American lives and American wealth.
So why Afghanistan?
The American military has such sophisticated long range weaponry that any perceived threat from Afghanistan based Taliban can be neutralized by laser guided missiles placed on targets from satellites or high altitude aircraft. Remotely controlled drones can patrol sensitive areas and if needed destroy the enemy. There is no reason to have ground troops because we have no desire to control the ground. That is the responsibility of President Karzai. Yet weekly the number of our casualties increase as our number of combatants increase and there is no goal or purpose that can be attached to or defined by the leftist politics of Obama.
So why Afghanistan?
On the international scene, our President has opted to court fellow socialists leaders and has turned his back on democratic movements in Iran and Honduras. Most telling of Obama's left leanings in the Far East has been his refusal to aggressively confront North Korea while at the same time selling America's economic future to the Communist Chinese.
So why Afghanistan?
To quote Patrick J. Buchanan, "What is so vital to us in that wilderness of a land?" Indeed, what is so important to require the death and maiming of members of our military; to require the expenditure of huge amounts of money that America can little afford; and to require American presence for a long period of time and in even greater numbers. The promotion of democracy is not a priority of BHO and in reality there is little real hope of establishing an effective democracy in "a backward tribal nation of 25,000,000". No "behave yourself" message is being sent to the Islamic world by this US military action for Obama has already declared that a partnership with Muslims is his goal . There is no "shining new democracy" in Afghanistan for Washington to display "as a model for the Islamic world". In fact Hamid Karzai, currently up for reelection, heads a partially effective, largely corrupt government and he has fluctuated greatly in his support of the role of America in his nation.
So why Afghanistan?
It would be ridiculous to consider that America is engaged in even this limited scope of a war without a real goal. The truly paranoid, but maybe not incorrect, Americans believe that Obama does not want our armed forces stateside because it could well interfere with his ultimate goal to remain in office beyond any term limit that the Constitution or the electorate dictates. The experts on personality traits could express that it is impossible for BHO to acknowledge any form of failure. The withdrawal of our military from Afghanistan would be viewed by many as an admission of failure particularly if Karzai quickly thereafter falls from power and even faster finds refuge on the French Riviera. Obama's ego would not allow the possibility of this happening even if the cost would be tallied in American lives and American wealth.
So why Afghanistan?
The American military has such sophisticated long range weaponry that any perceived threat from Afghanistan based Taliban can be neutralized by laser guided missiles placed on targets from satellites or high altitude aircraft. Remotely controlled drones can patrol sensitive areas and if needed destroy the enemy. There is no reason to have ground troops because we have no desire to control the ground. That is the responsibility of President Karzai. Yet weekly the number of our casualties increase as our number of combatants increase and there is no goal or purpose that can be attached to or defined by the leftist politics of Obama.
So why Afghanistan?
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Bad News - Far East and South/Central America
While Obama's "supposed" [an adjective used in an AP story] Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton is on an extended mission to Africa, which will only be remembered by her "flash" at a poorly translated question from a local college student, America's international prestige continues to erode.
Most recently released economic date from India has confirmed that Communist China has become the Number 2 trade partner of India. In fact if the single category of "informational technology products" was ignored, Communist China would surpass the United States and be India's Number 1 trade partner. There is no question that these two huge Far East nations have slowly but steadily normalized relations. The tone of the Indian government approach to Peking was evidenced by The Times of India with published articles that "now was the time" for these countries to "set ties between them on an irreversible footing". How can this statement of "irreversible footing" be interpreted in any manner other than the foundation must now be firmed to allow India and Communist China to ally in more and further reaching programs?.
In conjunction with India/Communist China relationship, the economic message from Communist China toward America has continued to be harsh. Chinese political economists continue to criticize the massive investment made by China in "inflation sensitive" US Treasury securities. "Why," asks Wenram Jiang, a noted political science professor "would we want to keep subsidizing irresponsible U.S. behavior that will inflate the dollar and hurt us?" The answer may well be that no further "subsidizing" will occur in that Communist China already has a death grip on the American economy. This retreat was well evidenced by the "stop" that the Peking government placed on a Chinese company [all Chinese companies are government owned] negotiating to purchase from GM the Hummer brand.
India, like maybe Japan in two weeks, sees China not American in its future and is moving more towards Peking.
South/Central America is no better on American prestige with the Honduras situation festering away. Obama, instead of recognizing that interim Honduran President Roberto Micheletti is defending democracy [albeit a Latin American form of democracy] and aiding him, has instead unified even more with Venezuela's Socialist anti-American President Hugo Chavez and with Nicaraguan Marxist anti-American President Daniel Ortega and with Marxist OAS General Secretary Jose Miguel Insulza for the return of Socialist, Chavez ally Miguel Zelaya to the Honduran Presidency. This Obama support continues even in light of Zelaya promising a future of "generalized violence" in Honduras if he is not restored to power. Obama's reaction was to challenge the diplomatic visas of the Micheletti's representatives in America as he prepares to enter a deportation order.
As the music lyrics express, "It keeps slip sliding away". But this time it is American international prestige that is the "It".
Most recently released economic date from India has confirmed that Communist China has become the Number 2 trade partner of India. In fact if the single category of "informational technology products" was ignored, Communist China would surpass the United States and be India's Number 1 trade partner. There is no question that these two huge Far East nations have slowly but steadily normalized relations. The tone of the Indian government approach to Peking was evidenced by The Times of India with published articles that "now was the time" for these countries to "set ties between them on an irreversible footing". How can this statement of "irreversible footing" be interpreted in any manner other than the foundation must now be firmed to allow India and Communist China to ally in more and further reaching programs?.
In conjunction with India/Communist China relationship, the economic message from Communist China toward America has continued to be harsh. Chinese political economists continue to criticize the massive investment made by China in "inflation sensitive" US Treasury securities. "Why," asks Wenram Jiang, a noted political science professor "would we want to keep subsidizing irresponsible U.S. behavior that will inflate the dollar and hurt us?" The answer may well be that no further "subsidizing" will occur in that Communist China already has a death grip on the American economy. This retreat was well evidenced by the "stop" that the Peking government placed on a Chinese company [all Chinese companies are government owned] negotiating to purchase from GM the Hummer brand.
India, like maybe Japan in two weeks, sees China not American in its future and is moving more towards Peking.
South/Central America is no better on American prestige with the Honduras situation festering away. Obama, instead of recognizing that interim Honduran President Roberto Micheletti is defending democracy [albeit a Latin American form of democracy] and aiding him, has instead unified even more with Venezuela's Socialist anti-American President Hugo Chavez and with Nicaraguan Marxist anti-American President Daniel Ortega and with Marxist OAS General Secretary Jose Miguel Insulza for the return of Socialist, Chavez ally Miguel Zelaya to the Honduran Presidency. This Obama support continues even in light of Zelaya promising a future of "generalized violence" in Honduras if he is not restored to power. Obama's reaction was to challenge the diplomatic visas of the Micheletti's representatives in America as he prepares to enter a deportation order.
As the music lyrics express, "It keeps slip sliding away". But this time it is American international prestige that is the "It".
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Asian Shift
Past opinions expressed by Political Urgency have spoken of the desire of Communist China to place all of the Far East within its sphere of influence and in the process reduce the role of America in that part of the world. The B. H. Obama Administration has assisted, hopefully by ignorance or naivete and not intentionally, this goal of Peking. Without being redundant consider the multiple displays of American weakness involving North Korea; the Obama lack of response on the conference in India aimed at marginalizing the dollar; and the truly negative impact in not only the Far East but also the entire world of the American government's debt to Communist China in an amount that exceeds $800 billion. This shift of influence may have its first manifestation of reality in Japan in just two (2) weeks.
On August 30th there will be general elections in Japan and the political pundits of that nation are forecasting that the Democratic Party of Japan [DPJ] will win and win big. If this election victory comes to pass, the group that has controlled Japan for 52 of the past 53 years will be ousted. The reality of this potential change of power in Japan is that the DPJ is a left of center political party who has openly questioned the extent of America influence in its nation. The DPJ has pledged to reconsider the need of having 50,000 members of the American armed forces based in Japan; has pledged to better relations with Communist China; and to reevaluate Japan's economic ties to America. The economy of Japan lists the United States as its number one export destination but Communist China is a strong second. Not missed by the Japanese is the fact that by the end of this year they will no longer be the second largest economy in the world being surpassed by China.
The number 2 man in the DPJ, Katsuya Okada, is quoted as saying, "If Japan just follows what the US says then I think as a sovereign nation that is very pathetic." The hand writing is on the wall. Japan, if the DPJ wins, will step back from America and begin to lean more and more towards Communist China. The role of the American military will be lessened but not eliminated and the economic focus will shift gently away from the United States.
As has become common for the Obama White House, there has been no reaction as to this possible move in Japan away from America influence except to have Joseph Nye, Harvard professor, announce that it made no difference who was in power in Japan as far as the American-Japanese relationship was concerned. Tokyo and Washington would just continue to grow closer. Nye has either shown his lack of insight to this matter or he has correctly expressed that a left of center, pro-Communist China government in Japan would be warmly greeted by our President.
On August 30th there will be general elections in Japan and the political pundits of that nation are forecasting that the Democratic Party of Japan [DPJ] will win and win big. If this election victory comes to pass, the group that has controlled Japan for 52 of the past 53 years will be ousted. The reality of this potential change of power in Japan is that the DPJ is a left of center political party who has openly questioned the extent of America influence in its nation. The DPJ has pledged to reconsider the need of having 50,000 members of the American armed forces based in Japan; has pledged to better relations with Communist China; and to reevaluate Japan's economic ties to America. The economy of Japan lists the United States as its number one export destination but Communist China is a strong second. Not missed by the Japanese is the fact that by the end of this year they will no longer be the second largest economy in the world being surpassed by China.
The number 2 man in the DPJ, Katsuya Okada, is quoted as saying, "If Japan just follows what the US says then I think as a sovereign nation that is very pathetic." The hand writing is on the wall. Japan, if the DPJ wins, will step back from America and begin to lean more and more towards Communist China. The role of the American military will be lessened but not eliminated and the economic focus will shift gently away from the United States.
As has become common for the Obama White House, there has been no reaction as to this possible move in Japan away from America influence except to have Joseph Nye, Harvard professor, announce that it made no difference who was in power in Japan as far as the American-Japanese relationship was concerned. Tokyo and Washington would just continue to grow closer. Nye has either shown his lack of insight to this matter or he has correctly expressed that a left of center, pro-Communist China government in Japan would be warmly greeted by our President.
Monday, August 10, 2009
THEY ARE AFRAID
Racists! Bigots! Nazis!
These are all terms that the followers of B. H. Obama have hurdled at the American citizens who have openly expressed their feelings at recent Tea Party functions and at recent town hall healthcare protests. The use of this hate language is not attributable to the usual Acorn "volunteers" but rather to Democratic Senators and Democratic Congressman. They are afraid and see no path to socialist safety so they implement these foul verbal attacks.
In a recent column, Andrew Brietbart, explained that the Americans participating in these political events which so intimidate the progressives "represent something close to what used to be considered normative in this country". This "anti-big-government movement is pure" and has "legitimate fears felt by millions of Americans" of "greater governmental dependency, higher taxes and the financial ruin of our nation", to again quote Brietbart.
No matter how the Obama followers try to hide their socialist goals in the "progressive" language buried in legislation that number in the 1000s of pages, the communication technology that so assisted Obama in securing first the nomination for and then the election to the Presidency is now being used to disseminate to the American people what is actually going on in Washington. In response more Americans are voicing their displeasure in a manner that is hard for the news media to ignore and impossible for "progressive" office holders to comprehend. The result will be that in 2010 the Democrats will suffer at the election polls and a restriction on Obama policy will immediately be exercised.
My sympathy is already building for those Americans who succeed in challenging Obama loyalists at the polls and then must try to govern our nation. These true patriots will have to face burdens already in place and work to disengage America from socialist programs, government controls, increased taxes and a crippling national debt of which over $800 billion is in the hands of Communist China. Even with this very difficult task at hand, the alternative - continued Obama rule - is so much more depressing.
These are all terms that the followers of B. H. Obama have hurdled at the American citizens who have openly expressed their feelings at recent Tea Party functions and at recent town hall healthcare protests. The use of this hate language is not attributable to the usual Acorn "volunteers" but rather to Democratic Senators and Democratic Congressman. They are afraid and see no path to socialist safety so they implement these foul verbal attacks.
In a recent column, Andrew Brietbart, explained that the Americans participating in these political events which so intimidate the progressives "represent something close to what used to be considered normative in this country". This "anti-big-government movement is pure" and has "legitimate fears felt by millions of Americans" of "greater governmental dependency, higher taxes and the financial ruin of our nation", to again quote Brietbart.
No matter how the Obama followers try to hide their socialist goals in the "progressive" language buried in legislation that number in the 1000s of pages, the communication technology that so assisted Obama in securing first the nomination for and then the election to the Presidency is now being used to disseminate to the American people what is actually going on in Washington. In response more Americans are voicing their displeasure in a manner that is hard for the news media to ignore and impossible for "progressive" office holders to comprehend. The result will be that in 2010 the Democrats will suffer at the election polls and a restriction on Obama policy will immediately be exercised.
My sympathy is already building for those Americans who succeed in challenging Obama loyalists at the polls and then must try to govern our nation. These true patriots will have to face burdens already in place and work to disengage America from socialist programs, government controls, increased taxes and a crippling national debt of which over $800 billion is in the hands of Communist China. Even with this very difficult task at hand, the alternative - continued Obama rule - is so much more depressing.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
ALL THE MONEY IS GONE
It is now official. A new federal fiscal year begins October 1 and before the end of that month, America will be out of money. This is not the rant of some anti-Obama, Tea Party radical but rather the actual prognostication of Obama's own US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in a letter he had delivered to US Senator Harry Reid on this past Friday. Geithner expressed to the Senator that it was most important for Congress to raise the level of indebtedness that the United States can incur to an amount greater than the current ceiling of $12.1 trillion. That is $12,100,000,000,000.00. All that money is gone and Geither stated that an increase in the authorized debt was needed so that investors in America including foreign nations "can remain confident that the United States will always meet its obligations". Too late. The IMF already expressed that concern in June and received an advance of $5,000,000,000.00 on the total pledge amount made by America.
Geithner is not a political novice and he anticipated an outcry of opposition from the GOP and Blue Dog Democrats to his request, the amount of which has not been disclosed. Very correctly he opined that "both parties have long recognized the need to keep politics away from this issue". However, he has intentionally misstated the point. This is not a question of politics but rather a question of fundamental political and economic theory. America is a capitalist nation and has never been a country that promoted or practiced the idea of socialism. All the efforts of the Obama Administration, and that would include the massive amounts of deficit spending, are directed at pushing our nation into the ranks of the world's socialist nations. Politics, as it was not applied to the multiple times in the past that this debt ceiling was raised by Congress, has never included the notion of funding a switch from capitalism to socialism.
This huge financial chaos into which Obama has placed our nation has to come to an end. Such a termination can be gained by stopping the ever growing out-flow of American dollars since this out-flow is substantially funded by borrowing money from foreign nations, particularly Communist China. If the debt ceiling is maintained a partial success is immediately gained.
By the way, Obama is currently at a conference in Mexico which is scheduled to address issues of concern to America, Canada and Mexico. One of these issues is the Obama promise to expedite the funding of a Mexican government plan to fight crime and its illegal drug industry. The cost to America - $1,400,000,000.00. Will it never end?
Geithner is not a political novice and he anticipated an outcry of opposition from the GOP and Blue Dog Democrats to his request, the amount of which has not been disclosed. Very correctly he opined that "both parties have long recognized the need to keep politics away from this issue". However, he has intentionally misstated the point. This is not a question of politics but rather a question of fundamental political and economic theory. America is a capitalist nation and has never been a country that promoted or practiced the idea of socialism. All the efforts of the Obama Administration, and that would include the massive amounts of deficit spending, are directed at pushing our nation into the ranks of the world's socialist nations. Politics, as it was not applied to the multiple times in the past that this debt ceiling was raised by Congress, has never included the notion of funding a switch from capitalism to socialism.
This huge financial chaos into which Obama has placed our nation has to come to an end. Such a termination can be gained by stopping the ever growing out-flow of American dollars since this out-flow is substantially funded by borrowing money from foreign nations, particularly Communist China. If the debt ceiling is maintained a partial success is immediately gained.
By the way, Obama is currently at a conference in Mexico which is scheduled to address issues of concern to America, Canada and Mexico. One of these issues is the Obama promise to expedite the funding of a Mexican government plan to fight crime and its illegal drug industry. The cost to America - $1,400,000,000.00. Will it never end?
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Media Bias
The article was headlined with "STRONG JOB DATA MAY SIGNAL TURNING POINT". The reaction was that there must have been economic information released in addition to the now well published July unemployment drop of 9.5% to 9.4% . However, this initial reaction was absolutely wrong and the headline was nothing more than a very poor attempt to give praise to Obama's economic efforts rather than report the truth.
The cold hard fact is that 247,000 more Americans lost their jobs and, as several economists stated, the unemployment figure has gone down "not because employment rose but because the labor force fell." In July fewer people were in the federally defined unemployed work force so the data reflects a mathematical drop in unemployment and not an increase in jobs. Obama supporters found themselves in a "Catch 22" because "the most comprehensive measure of underemployment" also showed an improvement by dropping from 16.5% to 16.3% but to acknowledge this more accurate approach [lumping together the unemployed and the part-time employed looking for a full-time job and those who are no longer making any effort to find employment] the Obama Administration would have to agree to a significantly higher calculation of the un/underemployment. This would make him look worst and further drop his support numbers. That just is not going to happen.
The White House itself has again cautioned that even with the July figures and its method of calculating unemployment, that figure could soon reach 10% and may continue to rise until it peaks at 10.6%. If all goes well, it continues, not be until 2013 will unemployment drop to 5%, which is a level consistent with the concept of a strong economy.
The news media, in addition to being exceptionally pro-Obama, also believes that the American general public is lazy, uninformed and stupid. If any effort is going to be exerted by their fellow Americans to stay informed on national economic affairs, these journalists think, then that act will be limited to scanning the headlines. So the media plants a bogus headline totally misstating the truth hoping that a false seed of hope has been planted which will blossom into support for Obama.
There is no "strong job data" and no "turning point" has been signaled. The only message is the oft repeated refrain that you just cannot trust anything the news media reports.
The cold hard fact is that 247,000 more Americans lost their jobs and, as several economists stated, the unemployment figure has gone down "not because employment rose but because the labor force fell." In July fewer people were in the federally defined unemployed work force so the data reflects a mathematical drop in unemployment and not an increase in jobs. Obama supporters found themselves in a "Catch 22" because "the most comprehensive measure of underemployment" also showed an improvement by dropping from 16.5% to 16.3% but to acknowledge this more accurate approach [lumping together the unemployed and the part-time employed looking for a full-time job and those who are no longer making any effort to find employment] the Obama Administration would have to agree to a significantly higher calculation of the un/underemployment. This would make him look worst and further drop his support numbers. That just is not going to happen.
The White House itself has again cautioned that even with the July figures and its method of calculating unemployment, that figure could soon reach 10% and may continue to rise until it peaks at 10.6%. If all goes well, it continues, not be until 2013 will unemployment drop to 5%, which is a level consistent with the concept of a strong economy.
The news media, in addition to being exceptionally pro-Obama, also believes that the American general public is lazy, uninformed and stupid. If any effort is going to be exerted by their fellow Americans to stay informed on national economic affairs, these journalists think, then that act will be limited to scanning the headlines. So the media plants a bogus headline totally misstating the truth hoping that a false seed of hope has been planted which will blossom into support for Obama.
There is no "strong job data" and no "turning point" has been signaled. The only message is the oft repeated refrain that you just cannot trust anything the news media reports.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Obama Gets Mixed Stats
There is no loyal American who is not anxious for this economy to bottom-out, stabilize and begin to move forward toward prosperity. Liberals want national economic success for all the same reasons conservatives do except for their unshared desire that a good or at least better economy gives Obama a better shot at reelection. Unfortunately for our President the ugly face of economic reality is already nose to nose with him. With his popularity slipping and his programs floundering, the last thing Obama needed was more bad news and particularly bad news that carried no stigma of political partisanship or governmental bias. Before discussing the bad news it is appropriate to acknowledge what could be good news.
The Obama Administration released a statistic indicating that "only" an additional 250,000 American lost their jobs in July. The resulting national unemployment figure actually dropped to 9.4%. Three facts must be considered before this data can be truly classified as "good" news. First, it is a government release and is therefore immediately suspect. Second, the calculation of unemployment rates are complicated and subject to government "balancing" factors. Third, we know that citizens who have exhausted their unemployment benefits fall off the list of the unemployed regardless of their real work status and that also in this unreported sector are part-time workers looking for full-time jobs and those who have simply stopped all employment seeking efforts. It is a strange that the loss of 250,000 jobs in a month could ever be "good" news but it could be just that and the White House will promote that interpretation.
The bad news. The Deutsche Bank released a most pessimistic outlook for the American housing market. The end result of this analysis was that the economic image of the American home has "morphed from piggy bank to albatross". The figures disclosed that a full 48% of all United States home owners would by January of 2011 possess a house that was worth less than the principal amount due on the outstanding mortgage lien. A further breakdown projected that this "albatross" would apply to 46% of all prime jumbo loan homes; 69% of all sub-prime loan homes; and 89% of all adjusted rate option homes. These bank number-crunchers also reported that 90% of all homes in Florida, California and Las Vegas would fall into this negative asset valuation by 2011. The implications are vast and not attractive.
The ability to market a home to a value that would cover the lien, the closing costs and put a profit in the pocket of the seller would fall drastically. Refinancing would be impossible without the owner contributing cash to the transaction. The concept of "buying" a home would in reality become an exercise in "renting" a house. New home construction would again grind to a halt as the inventory of available pre-owned properties, title now held by the mortgage lender, become increasingly available. Foreigners with Euros, Yen or Yuan to invest expand their economic influence in America. Obama, who will still be in office in 2011, will invent a federally funded [that means paid for with higher taxes] primary home bailout by which houses are reappraised and the shortfall between mortgage debt and appraised value paid by Washington with appropriate reductions by the mortgage company and a complicated potential homeowner repayment program.
That albatross just became a noose.
The Obama Administration released a statistic indicating that "only" an additional 250,000 American lost their jobs in July. The resulting national unemployment figure actually dropped to 9.4%. Three facts must be considered before this data can be truly classified as "good" news. First, it is a government release and is therefore immediately suspect. Second, the calculation of unemployment rates are complicated and subject to government "balancing" factors. Third, we know that citizens who have exhausted their unemployment benefits fall off the list of the unemployed regardless of their real work status and that also in this unreported sector are part-time workers looking for full-time jobs and those who have simply stopped all employment seeking efforts. It is a strange that the loss of 250,000 jobs in a month could ever be "good" news but it could be just that and the White House will promote that interpretation.
The bad news. The Deutsche Bank released a most pessimistic outlook for the American housing market. The end result of this analysis was that the economic image of the American home has "morphed from piggy bank to albatross". The figures disclosed that a full 48% of all United States home owners would by January of 2011 possess a house that was worth less than the principal amount due on the outstanding mortgage lien. A further breakdown projected that this "albatross" would apply to 46% of all prime jumbo loan homes; 69% of all sub-prime loan homes; and 89% of all adjusted rate option homes. These bank number-crunchers also reported that 90% of all homes in Florida, California and Las Vegas would fall into this negative asset valuation by 2011. The implications are vast and not attractive.
The ability to market a home to a value that would cover the lien, the closing costs and put a profit in the pocket of the seller would fall drastically. Refinancing would be impossible without the owner contributing cash to the transaction. The concept of "buying" a home would in reality become an exercise in "renting" a house. New home construction would again grind to a halt as the inventory of available pre-owned properties, title now held by the mortgage lender, become increasingly available. Foreigners with Euros, Yen or Yuan to invest expand their economic influence in America. Obama, who will still be in office in 2011, will invent a federally funded [that means paid for with higher taxes] primary home bailout by which houses are reappraised and the shortfall between mortgage debt and appraised value paid by Washington with appropriate reductions by the mortgage company and a complicated potential homeowner repayment program.
That albatross just became a noose.
That poor ignoramus - Obama
The actions of our President as they pertain to international affairs continue to be unbelievably naive. He has demonstrated that he wishes his administration to have a policy of reconciliation and detente with foreign leaders and foreign nations that have been hostile to American interests. He has extended his hand to Iran with no preconditions and this act was labeled by Ahmadinejad as a signal that the United States has surrendered. He has extended his hand to Cuba's Castro brothers and received a rebuke only to be later altered once Obama ordered an electric news marque in Havana to be extinguished. He has extended his hand to North Korea with a requested of the renewal of 6-party talks only to be scoffed at.
Following this same behavioral trait, yesterday Hugo Chavez marginalized Obama's friendship overtures to Venezuela by again threatening severe actions against America. This time it has to do with a Pentagon program to assist Colombia with additional military advisers to maximise Colombian government efforts in combat attacks on it by Marxist rebels. Chavez is in the mix because Colombian and Venezuelan relations have at best been tense with claims by Colombia that it has evidence weaponry being used by these anti-government forces was supplied or sold or sourced by Venezuela. If American forces are added to Colombia it will be considered an "act of war" declaims Chavez.
This is the same Venezuela with whom, almost secretly, Obama decided to renew the exchange of ambassadors and the same Venezuela with whom Obama very quickly aligned himself in a protest against the Honduran exiling of its socialist leaning, Chavez mimicking President Zelaya. For some reason Obama believes that he can trust Venezuela and others like it and that they will treat him and America with great respect. Obama does not yet realize that his personality and his extended hand and his openly socialistic traits will not alter the desire of various nations to do America harm. The Obama behavior will only be used to America's disadvantage.
The only message being sent by Obama on the world stage is that America is weak and that there is truth in the "poor ignoramus" label assigned to him by the very same Hugo Chavez.
Following this same behavioral trait, yesterday Hugo Chavez marginalized Obama's friendship overtures to Venezuela by again threatening severe actions against America. This time it has to do with a Pentagon program to assist Colombia with additional military advisers to maximise Colombian government efforts in combat attacks on it by Marxist rebels. Chavez is in the mix because Colombian and Venezuelan relations have at best been tense with claims by Colombia that it has evidence weaponry being used by these anti-government forces was supplied or sold or sourced by Venezuela. If American forces are added to Colombia it will be considered an "act of war" declaims Chavez.
This is the same Venezuela with whom, almost secretly, Obama decided to renew the exchange of ambassadors and the same Venezuela with whom Obama very quickly aligned himself in a protest against the Honduran exiling of its socialist leaning, Chavez mimicking President Zelaya. For some reason Obama believes that he can trust Venezuela and others like it and that they will treat him and America with great respect. Obama does not yet realize that his personality and his extended hand and his openly socialistic traits will not alter the desire of various nations to do America harm. The Obama behavior will only be used to America's disadvantage.
The only message being sent by Obama on the world stage is that America is weak and that there is truth in the "poor ignoramus" label assigned to him by the very same Hugo Chavez.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Cost of Clinton's North Korean Miracle
The liberal, pro-Obama media will soon have massive coverage of the "miracle" that was just accomplished by Bill Clinton, in this case an Obama surrogate. There will be an abundance of films and interviews and political insight all centered on the glorious return to the USA of the so recently imprisoned American journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling. It will all be a fraud and devoid of any concept of reality.
There is no question that all America is pleased with the criminal pardon given by Kim Jing-il and the homecoming of two American citizens. However, the facts need to be examined. These two young ladies were employees of an entity owned by former Vice President Al Gore. They were on assignment to a very volatile region of the Far East. While on assignment they violated the national confines of North Korea, an enemy of America, and were caught, charged, tried, sentenced and began a 12 year term at hard labor. North Korean law and justice is not American law and justice nor is the violated border any way the same as the hourly, no minute by minute, violation of the US-Mexican border. As much as we may disapprove, there is little upon which to base a complaint other than on mercy and humanistic empathy.
Clinton pulled it off but the to date cost is high and the future cost, soon to be disclosed, will be even higher.
The prestige of the United States suffered yet another degradation. The Asia culture, even as stifled by Communism, gives great honor to the elderly and particularly elderly, former world recognized leaders such as Bill Clinton. The first insult occurred when our former President deplaned from his jet and was greeted by a senior member of the North Korean nuclear arms negotiation team and a cute little North Korean girl bearing flowers. North Korea intentionally by passed its Premier; the Premier's son; the Vice Premier; the Chairman of the Communist Party; all senior government officials; and all military leaders as official greeters for the Former American President. No one in Asia missed the slight. Clinton, who claimed he carried a personal message from Obama to Kim Jing-il [a claim strictly denied by the White House], was then subjected to an agenda solely dictated by the North Koreans. After hearing the Communist leader and sitting for a number of photo-ops [note the obvious contrast in the facial expressions of Bill and Kim], it was announced that North Korea would demonstrate its "humanitarian and peace loving policy" by granting the convicted Americans a pardon and allowing them to immediately return with Clinton to America.
The US media has already claimed that North Korea blinked. That the choice of the official greeter was a sign that North Korea was willing to return to nuclear negotiations and that the release of the two American women signaled a desire by Kim Jing-il to better relations with America. The news media is a fool. There is no way that this incident was not prearranged in all details from those involved to the ultimate cost to America. Only last week China and America had high level government conferences as part of the semi-annual US-China S&ED Agreement. Any astute student of international affairs would clearly see that this spontaneous release to Bill Clinton of the two American criminals was a result of discussions and concessions put in place by China on behalf of North Korea during the S&ED conference.
We know the concessions made by North Korea and we know that it was agreed that Obama would be distanced from the transaction. What America has to pay, our concessions, I can only hope are not too ridiculously great.
There is no question that all America is pleased with the criminal pardon given by Kim Jing-il and the homecoming of two American citizens. However, the facts need to be examined. These two young ladies were employees of an entity owned by former Vice President Al Gore. They were on assignment to a very volatile region of the Far East. While on assignment they violated the national confines of North Korea, an enemy of America, and were caught, charged, tried, sentenced and began a 12 year term at hard labor. North Korean law and justice is not American law and justice nor is the violated border any way the same as the hourly, no minute by minute, violation of the US-Mexican border. As much as we may disapprove, there is little upon which to base a complaint other than on mercy and humanistic empathy.
Clinton pulled it off but the to date cost is high and the future cost, soon to be disclosed, will be even higher.
The prestige of the United States suffered yet another degradation. The Asia culture, even as stifled by Communism, gives great honor to the elderly and particularly elderly, former world recognized leaders such as Bill Clinton. The first insult occurred when our former President deplaned from his jet and was greeted by a senior member of the North Korean nuclear arms negotiation team and a cute little North Korean girl bearing flowers. North Korea intentionally by passed its Premier; the Premier's son; the Vice Premier; the Chairman of the Communist Party; all senior government officials; and all military leaders as official greeters for the Former American President. No one in Asia missed the slight. Clinton, who claimed he carried a personal message from Obama to Kim Jing-il [a claim strictly denied by the White House], was then subjected to an agenda solely dictated by the North Koreans. After hearing the Communist leader and sitting for a number of photo-ops [note the obvious contrast in the facial expressions of Bill and Kim], it was announced that North Korea would demonstrate its "humanitarian and peace loving policy" by granting the convicted Americans a pardon and allowing them to immediately return with Clinton to America.
The US media has already claimed that North Korea blinked. That the choice of the official greeter was a sign that North Korea was willing to return to nuclear negotiations and that the release of the two American women signaled a desire by Kim Jing-il to better relations with America. The news media is a fool. There is no way that this incident was not prearranged in all details from those involved to the ultimate cost to America. Only last week China and America had high level government conferences as part of the semi-annual US-China S&ED Agreement. Any astute student of international affairs would clearly see that this spontaneous release to Bill Clinton of the two American criminals was a result of discussions and concessions put in place by China on behalf of North Korea during the S&ED conference.
We know the concessions made by North Korea and we know that it was agreed that Obama would be distanced from the transaction. What America has to pay, our concessions, I can only hope are not too ridiculously great.
One Link In The Chain Of Destiny
In all reality, the course of the future of the United States of America begins Friday, August 7, 2009 with the scheduled recess of both Houses of Congress. This summer hiatus from the official acts of governing our nation signal the beginning of the 2010 Congressional/Senatorial election campaigns. Unless their seats are considered "safe", every Representative and all Senators up for reelection in 2010 will be racing back to their home state or legislative district to initiate a reelection bid. [The rest of these national leaders will be on "fact finding missions", of course funded by American taxpayers, to various exotic global locales] All political sights will now focus on November 9, 2010 when the supporters of Obama will seek to extend his power and continue the race of America towards socialism, huge spending deficits, onerous taxation levels and increasing federal government control over our lives. More rational Americans will be seeking every opportunity to unseat those Washington legislators who have either supported Obama or, just as bad, done nothing to stay Obama policy.
The GOP well recognizes this 2010 task and has identified 70 House seats that are deemed ripe for successful challenges from Republican candidates. The GOP is looking for an increase of 40 in the total number of Republicans who will be sworn into office as Congressmen in January of 2011. By gaining this number, the GOP with occasional assistance from Blue Dog Democrats will be able to stop, but not yet reverse, Obama's socialist agenda. In order to have any real chance to accomplish this restructuring of Congress, Republicans have to offer to the voters candidates who are new faces and who are not encumbered by old political scandals. The gal who barely lost last time or the fellow who has been a long time party fixture must be passed over for others who are intelligent, successful and openly candid about who they are, what they believe and their personal history.
The ultimate goal is to make Obama a one-term President. As much as conservative and now even middle-of-the-road voters long for this result, it is far in the future and cannot be in 2009 or 2010 dwelt upon. The focus that must now be maintained was well defined by Winston Churchill after the 1945 Yalta Conference. When closely questioned by the House of Commons as to the future of the war and the future of post-war Europe he replied, "It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time."
The "link" that must now be handled is removing the House of Representatives as an ally of Obama. If successfully done then our "destiny" will be clearer to see and much more attractive. Should this goal be missed, then we should all begin rehearsing the use of the term, Comrade.
The GOP well recognizes this 2010 task and has identified 70 House seats that are deemed ripe for successful challenges from Republican candidates. The GOP is looking for an increase of 40 in the total number of Republicans who will be sworn into office as Congressmen in January of 2011. By gaining this number, the GOP with occasional assistance from Blue Dog Democrats will be able to stop, but not yet reverse, Obama's socialist agenda. In order to have any real chance to accomplish this restructuring of Congress, Republicans have to offer to the voters candidates who are new faces and who are not encumbered by old political scandals. The gal who barely lost last time or the fellow who has been a long time party fixture must be passed over for others who are intelligent, successful and openly candid about who they are, what they believe and their personal history.
The ultimate goal is to make Obama a one-term President. As much as conservative and now even middle-of-the-road voters long for this result, it is far in the future and cannot be in 2009 or 2010 dwelt upon. The focus that must now be maintained was well defined by Winston Churchill after the 1945 Yalta Conference. When closely questioned by the House of Commons as to the future of the war and the future of post-war Europe he replied, "It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time."
The "link" that must now be handled is removing the House of Representatives as an ally of Obama. If successfully done then our "destiny" will be clearer to see and much more attractive. Should this goal be missed, then we should all begin rehearsing the use of the term, Comrade.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
The Socialist Connection
The Obama Administration continues to demonstrate its political affinity.
The records of the Organization of American States [OAS] show that President B. H. Obama and OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza have had some open and some secret telephone conversations. Obviously the fact that there were "secret" communications is not a secret but the content of these conversations is completely and intentionally bared from public view. This would normally be a non-story except that Jose Miguel Insulza, a citizen of Chili, is a member of the political left, a Marxist/socialist. The history of Insulza shows that he was a high ranking member of the openly Marxist Allende government. That he survived the Pinochet revolution by fleeing to Mexico where he stayed in exile until Pinochet's government fell and another group of socialists took power. Insulza then returned to the new socialist government in Chili to a leadership role and subsequently was elected Secretary General of the OAS.
Insulza has since 2006 openly urged the closing of Guantanamo; has promoted Communist Cuba and Socialist Venezuela in economic and political matters; and has led the OAS support of the recently deposed, socialist leaning, Hugo Chavez in-the-making President of Honduras. All of these acts mimic Obama or maybe the other way around. Since the conversation contents are secret [yet another violation of then Candidate Obama's pledge for an "open" government] the conclusion has to be that Americans would not have approved of the verbal exchanges or what happened as a consequence.
Now consider the International Monetary Fund [IMF]. In June its Managing Director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, not a German but rather a French citizen, contacts Obama and announces that the IMF is concerned about the credit worthiness of America. He would like another $5,000,000,000.00 of the US pledged $108,000,000,000.00 to be paid to the IMF and quickly. Obama does nothing to refute this insult or to keep this American money in America for relief of American economic turmoil. [This 5 billion could have easily covered all the expenses of the Cash for Clunkers program rather than add to the huge money burden on this and many future American generations] The $5,000,000,000.00 was paid within weeks by an Obama initiated act of congress. By the way, Dominique Strauss-Kahn is an avowed socialist who was the unsuccessful French Socialist Party's candidate in the 2006 French general election for the position of President. One socialist helping another socialist with America the loser.
Finally lets look at Cuba and radical Communist Castro brothers. America has for the past 5-6 years maintained an electric news marque flashing from one of the top floors of the US Interest Section Building in Havana. This "news media" gave a western, democratic, capitalist slant on events transpiring in the world. Raul Castro hated it but by international law could do nothing without offending the Swiss through whose embassy the said US Interest Section is attached. Obama, without any explanation or publicity, turned off that beacon last week and by mere coincidence [yeah, right] Raul announced that Cuba would reverse its prior rejection of Obama's offer to sit down and talk. Raul also added that he was pleased with the Washington "change in attitude" toward Cuba being led by Obama. Clearly a socialist doing a favor for a communist and getting not only a pat on the back but a slight concession.
Obama, by these and many other incidents, continues to show either his lack of ability to stand up to foreign leaders, particularly communists and socialists, or rather his affinity for the political ideals promoted by those socialist and communist leaders.
The records of the Organization of American States [OAS] show that President B. H. Obama and OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza have had some open and some secret telephone conversations. Obviously the fact that there were "secret" communications is not a secret but the content of these conversations is completely and intentionally bared from public view. This would normally be a non-story except that Jose Miguel Insulza, a citizen of Chili, is a member of the political left, a Marxist/socialist. The history of Insulza shows that he was a high ranking member of the openly Marxist Allende government. That he survived the Pinochet revolution by fleeing to Mexico where he stayed in exile until Pinochet's government fell and another group of socialists took power. Insulza then returned to the new socialist government in Chili to a leadership role and subsequently was elected Secretary General of the OAS.
Insulza has since 2006 openly urged the closing of Guantanamo; has promoted Communist Cuba and Socialist Venezuela in economic and political matters; and has led the OAS support of the recently deposed, socialist leaning, Hugo Chavez in-the-making President of Honduras. All of these acts mimic Obama or maybe the other way around. Since the conversation contents are secret [yet another violation of then Candidate Obama's pledge for an "open" government] the conclusion has to be that Americans would not have approved of the verbal exchanges or what happened as a consequence.
Now consider the International Monetary Fund [IMF]. In June its Managing Director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, not a German but rather a French citizen, contacts Obama and announces that the IMF is concerned about the credit worthiness of America. He would like another $5,000,000,000.00 of the US pledged $108,000,000,000.00 to be paid to the IMF and quickly. Obama does nothing to refute this insult or to keep this American money in America for relief of American economic turmoil. [This 5 billion could have easily covered all the expenses of the Cash for Clunkers program rather than add to the huge money burden on this and many future American generations] The $5,000,000,000.00 was paid within weeks by an Obama initiated act of congress. By the way, Dominique Strauss-Kahn is an avowed socialist who was the unsuccessful French Socialist Party's candidate in the 2006 French general election for the position of President. One socialist helping another socialist with America the loser.
Finally lets look at Cuba and radical Communist Castro brothers. America has for the past 5-6 years maintained an electric news marque flashing from one of the top floors of the US Interest Section Building in Havana. This "news media" gave a western, democratic, capitalist slant on events transpiring in the world. Raul Castro hated it but by international law could do nothing without offending the Swiss through whose embassy the said US Interest Section is attached. Obama, without any explanation or publicity, turned off that beacon last week and by mere coincidence [yeah, right] Raul announced that Cuba would reverse its prior rejection of Obama's offer to sit down and talk. Raul also added that he was pleased with the Washington "change in attitude" toward Cuba being led by Obama. Clearly a socialist doing a favor for a communist and getting not only a pat on the back but a slight concession.
Obama, by these and many other incidents, continues to show either his lack of ability to stand up to foreign leaders, particularly communists and socialists, or rather his affinity for the political ideals promoted by those socialist and communist leaders.
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