Miscellaneous Issues

Former President Bill Clinton has joined former President Jimmy Carter to explain the resistance to President Obama's agenda. He agrees that part of the problem is the American public who voted Obama into office is now racist but he went back to an old Clinton tried and true explanation, the same reason he had "sexual relations" with Monica Lewinsky's mouth, the "vast right-wing conspiracy." Do all these democrats forget the last eight years and the abuse and resistance President Bush faced throughout his presidency? I am sure they can explain that as just a ground swell of public opinion against everything he did while opposition to a democratic policy must be a conspiracy.

The Middle East continues to be the most volatile place on the globe and with the "re-election" of Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad it will continue to be unstable. Here is my take on Iran's nuclear program. Ahmadinejad has made it abundantly clear that he wants to eliminate Israel but if he is to go it alone and launch nuclear missiles into Tel Aviv or some other Israeli city the wrath of the world will come down upon Iran and even with the help of neighboring Muslim states they will face extremely tough times or even world military actions. But, by testing the long range missiles and keeping the world discreetly aware of his nuclear capabilities he hopes to provoke Israel to make the first move. Israel is unwilling to accept a nuclear Iran. They cannot afford to wait until Iran makes the first move, the results could be devastating. So they will eventually launch a preemptive strike of Iran's nuclear facilities which will give Iran permission do launch a missile into Israel and the world will be split on how to react and with this indecisiveness nothing will be done. Ahmadinejad is betting his psychotic ass on it.

The President took time off from his busy schedule to go Copenhagen and make a last minute pitch to get the Olympic Games in Chicago in 2016. This is nothing more than an attempt to put another feather in his cap and claim he brought the Olympics to the U.S.A. I feel confident that he already knows the results and is making the trip for a photo op. Even the Today Show thought this sounded a little fishy. Merdith Vierra made the comment that "Don't you think they already made their decision". If we do not get the Olympics I will retract this statement.

Sen. John Kerry has joined with Sen. Barbara Boxer on a new Climate Bill that will help curb the global warming the globe used to experience. I think this goes under the category of "You can put lipstick on a pig and its still a pig." First, unilateral global warming initiatives by the U.S. will produce minimal if any change. Second, let's get a true consensus that man made global warming is real. The list of skeptics is rising much faster than the surface temperature of the earth. I have done my research and I am convinced there is nothing to it. All the other nations of the G20 Summit are strongly pushing the U.S. to get on the ball and pass some legislation but any legislation can only weaken the U.S. economy and allow these other nations a competitive advantage. Meanwhile the man behind one of the largest carbon footprints, Al Gore, has backed a company and received over half a billion dollars of the government money to makes hybrid sports cars. This global warming gig has "truth"fully been very profitable for Al Gore and "inconvenient" for the American tax payers.

What Happened?

As we get further and further into this health care debate the democrats seem to be losing the battle. At least by objectively looking at the poll numbers, support for what has been nicknamed "Obamacare" has dwindled to under 50%. From the right it is obvious why this is happening but the left is baffled. The right understands that the American people are just sick and tired of the government intrusion into our lives. They see a government who has taken over the banking industry, the auto industry and is now trying to take over the health care industry. The right sees an administration that has accumulated more debt than the sum every other preceding administration. The left is at a loss to explain how their message of helping the American people has gotten lost in the translation.

Former President Jimmy Carter has been able to rationally explain the opposition's position. It's racism. The people who oppose what President Obama has proposed do so because the color of his skin. It cannot be the plan so it must be whitey's way of holding the man down. Let's ignore the fact that just 10 months ago the same American public who now oppose him were the very same people who elected him to the office. Apparently, Americans elected him just so they could cut him down. I personally believe this goes under the heading of. "If you can't win the argument, change the argument." The debate over how to fix health care is not going well so let's change the debate to racism. This same argument has empowered so-called black leaders and has actually resulted in suppression of afro-Americans by giving them an excuse for failure.

I think the democrats response to the American people's rejection of the plan shows an arrogance among the leadership. How can people oppose such a plan meant only to help these same people? Its like the old Benny Hill Show where he is trying to help the old lady across the road who doesn't want to be helped and she hits him the whole time with her purse. Most Americans realize the health insurance system needs some help but do not believe that a government take over is the answer. Even White House senior advisor David Axelrod is ignoring the polls and states that the protesters do not represent the mood of the country.

In light of the protests and falling polls over the summer the president decided to hold a press conference and rumor had it he was going to work for a compromise. Although he stated he wanted to work with republicans to solve the problem, the rest of his words did nothing less than draw a line in the sand. He reaffirmed his position and implied that the only reason he is getting opposition is for political reasons. I guess this sounds better than racism but the end result is the same, arrogance that his vision for America is correct and disagreement must be rooted in some evil. So instead of a compromise, we now get to see him on every talk show peddling his goods. In addition, the president is pressuring the Massachusetts legislation to pass a bill allowing the governor to appoint Sen. Kennedy's successor when they just passed in 2004 the law preventing then governor, R-Mitt Romney, from appointing a successor to presidential hopeful John Kerry's.

I recently wrote a letter to the pastor of my church in disagreement with his apparent position on the health care issue. Although he has never officially stated his position, the words form the pulpit and references from his news letter made it quite obvious (to me) where he stood on the issue yet I did not feel he understood the other side. I expressed my concerns and did my best to explain the opposition to the proposed plan. I don't believe most would argue we need health insurance reform we just object to his plan. His homily the following Sunday seemed to me to contain his response. I took two things from the homily in which I think he directed towards me. 1) We need to look to solve the issue with "doing God's will" in mind. Fair enough but that same mindset is what drove the 9/11 hijackers into the World Trade Center. So that is a double edged sword. 2) If you go to the table thinking you know the answer, you may be the problem. This got me thinking a bit. What am I willing to concede? Where am I willing to compromise? After very much contemplation, I have been unable to come up with an idea that comprises components of both plans that are workable for both sides. The reason is simple. The debate is a fundamental difference in theology, not differences in implementation. The political landscape in America has become so divisive that it is very hard to find common ground. I have put a call into a liberal friend of mind to see if he will sit down to discuss the issue. I will let you know if any light shines.