Speck

(Coming Soon)

Storming The Check Books Of Normandy

France is such an easy place to ridicule.

For starters many don't really care for us. Which is enough to deride them whenever possible. Furthermore they opposed us going into Iraq (gasp!). And have nationalized healthcare (gulp!) And what isn't there to hate about a country that runs so heartily on tax revenue (gah!).

So it's no surprise that whenever Republicans need a punching bag or insult, France is always on the tip of the toungue.
Big spending, tax increases, healthcare reform just about sum up what President Obama is authoring for this country and already conservatives are digging in for a fight.

Not to mention that Republicans throw the word "Socialist" out like panties at a Tom Jones concert. The party of opposition have become the party of "No" "No" "No". And any ideas of bank and economy recovery coming out of the right are as old and bankrupt as, well the banks and economy.

It's hard to believe that if Obama's strategies succeed, conservatives will ever give credit. If this time next year we've come out of this misunderstood and great recession it'll be the talking heads on Fox news or radio trying their best to explain away the progress on anything and everything that doesn't begin and end with Barack Obama.

Surely if the economy falters in 8 months it'll be the President's head on the Republican mantle.

I find it hilarious how quickly conservatives are trying to blame Obama for our current situation and make us forget about the ridiculousness of the past 8 years of Republican policies.

When Clinton early on employed policies for economic prosperity (which the right also tried their best to vote down) Republicans tried their best to implant the idea that Reagan's policies were finally coming to maturation.

"It takes years after a presidency to witness its true results!"

So it was during Dubya's 8 year presidency that we were assured that history would judge him favorably. That we were experiencing economic growth and that Bush's tax plan, Bush's budget, and Bush's economic policy was sound.

But not 60 days into Obama's presidency conservatives are already calling it "Obama's recession". True he owns it, but let's never forget who gave life to this beast and lets not dumb down further and forget who got us out if we indeed ever do break free of this economic disaster.

Worse comes to worse we could all just move to France.

Through The Looking Glass

The election is over.

Now the catastrophe that is American employment, education and politics is on display for the whole world to eagerly observe how we collectively deal with the problems of this age.

Barack Obama was impressively voted in to change the direction Bush & co have taken the United States in the last 8 years. While some of these problems extend past the 8 years, Americans fully expect Barack Obama to deliver substantive improvement in job growth, energy options, education reform, enviromental protection, not to mention our 2 wars, the middle east crisis, and a home mortage meltdown on top of an enormous economic meltdown.

I no longer encourage my children to dream about being the president.

Not only is Obama's job near insurmountable but by the end of the first week it is becoming obvious that many Americans want this new omlet of "Change" without breaking any eggs.

I'm tired of that word. "Change".

I'm all for leading America into a new direction but everytime Obama picks an old war horse for a position, any time a compromise has to be made to better serve the country, or a decision or a statement is not understood or distorted to serve opposition arguments the word "change" will inevitably appear for years and years to come.

"Is this the CHAAANNGE Obama promised us?"

"Where's the CHAAANGE?"

"This isn't CHAAANGE!"

So, I'll say it now, I'm sick of the damn word.

And through the looking glass of American politics arguments are more important than results. Viewpoints trump facts, and the debate holds more allure than the solution.

After all Rush Limbaugh didn't just sign a $400 million contract for festering bridges and lucid analysis. No, the big money is in the fight.

The problem is in the win-win nature of the lie. If you're called out on the manipulative nature of the press you favor the publicity, if you're left alone you garner an audience.

So Sean Hannity continues to call Michelle Obama unpatriotic because she says she's not proud of her country.

(Though that wasn't what she said at all and the entire speech was based on unprecedented voter turn out and participation not America's faults or glory.)

Rush Limbaugh continues to refer to the Obama's "slave blood" and nationally declares he wants Obama to fail.

And on the left, MSNBC continues to exert their undying devotion to Obama. He had them at "Hello".

Because the problem exists on both sides and Obama will have to upset his left supporters and decry the right's flaws while still appearing to be unpartisian.

A perfect example was this week when Obama reminded Republicans "I won" when hammering out a stimulus bill. When Bush and McCain attempted to prevent the banks from crumbling down around us they could barely pass a bill despite late night fighting, a failed attempt and a watchful country.

While Obama conceeded points towards Republican wishes he reminded them that he disagreed with their overall philosophy of governing and so does America if nationwide elections are any indicator.

"I won" was a reminder that Republicans are not and should not get everything they want anymore.

It's an obvious observation but it didn't take long for the press to incite the controversy. Across the nation newsmen told Americans what to think and how to feel about this.

And all across the country each side regurgitated what they heard and subsequently what they felt about this.

"Is this the CHAAANNGE we've been waiting for?"

Now this is as old as politics, but the real problem is when national debate devolves into a football rivalry. You begin to make as much sense as the naked paint man with the beer helmet.

Do we want this guy running the government?

Isn't the dream of every American to continually improve? To learn more than we did, to be better people than our fathers, to grow and increase our understanding?

Then lets try to put aside the old looking glass and come to the facts.

Fox News is an unabashedly Republican news station unable to deliver the truth. Compared to them everyone is liberal. So stop telling everyone that the media is liberal, it's like Nazi's calling everyone in the world pro-Israel.

So is MSNBC...but for Democrats.

Radio men lie. Both left and right commentators. They're strictly for entertainment. Not truth.

Start from here and recognize that there is big money spent everyday to lie to you, distort your intelligence and change your mind. Personally the only news I watch any more is Sunday talk with George Stephanopoulos, Meet the Press, and Anderson Cooper. (John King isn't bad) But I can also tolerate Fox's Bill Oreilly, Brit Hume and even Sean Hannity when I want to raise my blood pressure.

I don't watch MSNBC anymore lest I feel dirty.

The bible says judge a tree by its fruit. So let's judge by what comes of Obama closing Gitmo before we call it niave. Let's judge Democrat's plans to pour money into schools, infrastructure, and energy by what happens, let's judge by results and not by what ideology we suscribe to.

And for God's sake turn off Rush Limbaugh.

Hello again

I'll be blogging again. Sorry I've been gone so long. I've been wrapped up in so many things...sheesh.

See ya soon. I want to take this blog in new directions, while still focusing on President Obama, I do have two other subjects in my title I want to talk about again.

Thanks.

Ooooh! I HATE that wascally wabbit

Looney Toons is such a good cartoon series. Anytime you get a bunch of dancing trees, wide-eyed squirrels, and grumpy old men with over-sized shotguns together you know things can't be so bad.

Of course today's cartoons steer far from buck shots and cross dressing but it's not too hard to find a nostolgic glimpse of cartoon land's best rilvaries.

I wonder what John McCain would look like if he boiled up face red in full steam?

I imagine he's angry enough. How frustrating it must be for any candidate up against Barack Obama.

It seems every time he's cornered with an unfortunate flub, attacked with a scathing critique, or surprised by a scandalous acquaintance, he manages to give a big wet sopping kiss to his adversary before merrily jumping off.

Woop! Woop! Woop!

They have got to really hate this guy.

So like an Elmer Fudd, Marvin Martian, or Wile E. Coyote, the answer is simple.

Get more guns! (Or rockets I suppose)

Attack! Denounce! Seize! And barrage in a salvo of bombastic reprobations!

"Karl Rove denounces Obama as an elitest!"

"Dobson attacks Obama's religious acumen!"

"Sean Hannity seizes on Barack's speech!"

"Liberal!" "Empty Suit!" "Radical!"

And did I mention he's black?


Now whenever Daffy faced Marvin's pistol lazer he naturally broke out a bigger pistol.

And in the loony world of politics this is fair game.

A bigger gun, and then another, and then another until BOOM! You're President.

Now Bugs, he's a different bunny altogether. Shoot, blast, explode all you want, Bugs Bunny survives, he maneuvers, out thinks his rival, and he allows his enemy to win a fleeting victory, an empty assault, because Bugs plays for the finale instead of the moment. Bugs is thinking about us. You and I at the end of the show.

"Ain't I a stinker?"

It's hard not to smile when you witness the theatre.

The man with "no experience" who manages to handily subjugate his attackers.

The empty suit that weighs a ton eh?

The truth is all the attacks against Obama, that do not directly address a difference in policy, are pretty pathetic.

An elitest negro from Kansas who pulled himself from a broken family to attend Harvard?

Hell, even my blood's bluer than that.

And the more Republicans continue to repulse and find issue with every thing Obama says when he breaks the mold of typical candidate speak (On religion, cultural antipathy, and Barack's sense of political and international "savoir-faire")

The more they'll find themselves looking down the rabbit hole, wondering how they could have possibly missed when they fired so many shots?

Maybe a bigger gun?

What's amazing is that John McCain, the man conservatives seem to bash a whole lot, is the only person capable of beating Obama.

Do you think Romney or Guilani would have held any ground against this guy?

Obama would have crushed Mitt's plastic smile and Rudy's batty bravado with a single rally.

But whenever John tries to focus on the issues he believes in, or draw attention to his strength's of experience and service, an attack ad on Obama's wife surfaces.

And when McCain tries to tell his fellow Republicans to drop an ad or evacuate a fear campaign he's ridiculed by his own party.

They just haven't quite figured out that the game is changed a little this year.

So they publicly deride their own candidate and look to FOX News, Pat Robertson, and Karl Rove to win this election for them.


And that's truly looney.
.

Does Barack Need Hillary Clinton?

No.

And it's for the best he keep her far away from the ticket.

From the outset it was obvious the style, method, and form of these presidential competitors have been inherently at odds.

Though their voting record is nearly identical, it does little to demonstrate the divisions intrinsic in how Obama carries his campaign and how Hillary incites her message.

It's hard to believe it was just a few months ago Hillary shrugged off concerns of sexism and pridefully boasted her front runner status in democratic debates.

A concern she would all too willingly embrace when the campaign faced its darkest hour. But it is exactly in these dark hours that our greatest test awaits each one of us. A test that tries and wears on our experience, mettle, and judgment.

A test Hillary Clinton failed despite her very impressive national numbers.

Much has been made of Clinton's fighting spirit. During the campaign she has displayed her powerful emotions (and a tear or two), righteous indignation (As when she bellowed in loud protest over Obama's Nafta criticisms), and doled out a fierce opposition to Obama's experience and judgment.

But how did Obama's experience and judgment defeat Hillary on issues like a "Gas Tax" holiday, state campaign strategy, and foreign policy strategy where Obama and Clinton truly have significant differences?

And how did Obama fight his battles against Hillary and McCain on both fronts while dealing with accusations of being a racist, a secret muslim, and worse?

The answer to all these is...prodigiously.

It was much more than pretty speeches that gave Obama the forethoughtfulness, the prescience to run his campaign with a national long term agenda when Hillary bet the farm on Super Tuesday.

Obama avoided attacking Hillary when she lied about dodging sniper fire, or when she alluded to Kennedy getting shot in July. He never pounced on her verbal snafus unless it was in direct defense and it's this type of integrity that maintained a campaign on the issues, his record, and principles when the fires of Reverend Wright raged over his credibility.

Sure pundits will say this is the Obama theme, and for him to attack, maneuver, and contrive support would clash with his "style", but this marginalizes the main ingredient that carried Obama's campaign past an adversity that would have destroyed any other cadidate..

Obama's infectious constitution of commendable character.

Despite the vile of Trinity Church, the dubious connections, and the occasional verbal blunder it is nearly impossible to imagine Obama anything else than what he claims to be when he speaks to Americans. He exhorts us to examine his life and its chronicled history of insight, sensitivity, and rapport. -Not words I'd use to describe Reverend Wright.

And if anyone believes a campaign isn't a good barometer on how a politician deals with pressure, strategizes, and makes speedy and important decisions then we aren't watching the same campaign!

Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have run splendid, banner campaigns and deserve a lot of credit, it just further helps Barack's case that he doesn't need Hillary to win this election if he continues to demonstrate his ability to reach people, mend bridges, and speak honestly and powerfully to the people.

Even the disenfranchised ones.

The truth is Hillary Clinton (and Bill) bring a host of problems to the Obama ticket. And the only strength they offer is a democratic bracket of white woman and white rural voters. A bracket that will vote for Obama in 6 months. (Well 80% of them)

Make no mistake. Barack Hussein Obama will be the next President of the United States!

Hillary's drawn out attempt to float an enduringly sinking ship and then blame everyone and everything except an outmatched campaign -yes I know, if you take away Obama's caucus states, strip away Michigan and then count Florida, Hillary won the popular vote!- has left a negative blemish on the start of Barack's presidential bid.

A blemish that can not be erased by Hillary's bullying or manipulations. (I hope tonight wasn't her idea of a concession speech.)

It can only be erased by Obama doing what he does and by choosing the very best person to run with him. And that person is not a Clinton. (Maybe Chelsea)

Hillary supporters will heal. Voters will rally. And the election will move past these hard fought months of democratic battle.

In the end, the same attacks will continue. The same fears will sell, experience will be questioned, judgment challenged, suspicions will arise.

But every time Barack Obama opens his mouth he helps to dispell these panics of doubt. Every time he showcases his plans he makes more and more sense. And America will begin to believe that this unique man will be a capable and remarkable president.

The kind we get only far too seldom.

Now on to the summer debates!

A soldier's lesson

It's amusing for me now to reflect on my time in service.

After my first 4 years in the military I was genuinely surprised just how exhausted I really was. Though I'd stay in a couple more I could barely believe how easily I adjusted to 80-100 hour work weeks and a steady distance from the ones I love the most.

There were bright moments. My time in Europe, my friends, and different commands, but it was the work that I remember most. Good work that fortifies you, tasks you, and firm's the integrity of your effort.

I take pride in my ship(s). If there were a fire, I was the lead hoseman. If there were an emergency, I was on team. If there were a combat situation I was engaged. It was not too long ago I remember Somali men firing their machine guns in my direction hoping to kill a nameless soldier. It was not too long ago I remember the cries and agony of fire and men intwined.

And I remember that in the great chain of men and woman in my command, my Navy, my American military, that we all pour our blood and souls into every day of service. We have to, just to wear the uniform. It's inherent the moment we first salute the flag to the moment taps plays in our racks.

I met my wife in service. An extremely hard working woman who, like me, invested in the American GI Bill. This fine program takes fine people around the world, in our military, and allows them to fulfill their life's purpose through college.

It's this program that gives the young people (and older) the opportunity to become tomorrow's doctors, teachers, and scientists. My wife is using hers to become a social worker for the elderly, I am now an electrician building the biggest trucks in the world for Liebherr. We've been very blessed, but the truth of the matter is many of my old friends and hundreds of thousands of soldiers I'll never meet are struggling to exist outside the military.

The jobs they served aren't transferring over to American jobs, the training they have isn't opening opportunities. And the GI bill is severely under funded.

Without a strong family and friend support system (Like my wife and I have) young men and woman of the military are finding their benefits useless without the benefits of shelter, food, and (!) gas.

So we have 2 new bills to consider.

On one hand we have McCain's supported bill that offers limited 3 year benefits to those who leave, and a slightly better 12 year benefit plan to those that stay 12 years. (Which, by default, is an almost guarantee of 20 year service)

Let me tell you something you won't hear on the news. Once in the military you have a lot of doors open to you. Credit sky rockets. New cars, homes, and loans come easy and before you know it you got a good debt to pay for.

And then comes family. Military love is world famous and for good reason, within a year or two in service, marriages are frequent and many, and families begin in earnest. The military has always known this time honored routine and has in fact counted on it. After all, a committed family man -in debt- is a committed soldier for life. (well at least 20 years)

So the McCain idea that 12 years (don't let them fool you with this "sliding scale" talk -it's 3 or 12 years no middle) is good enough service for an extra $500 a month of college money, is an intentional misdirection of the truth.

But is Obama's preferred plan (Webb-Hagel bill) too generous? What does it accomplish? What does it mean for military retention?

This original bill (the Republican plan is playing catch-up) gives every young soldier the opportunity to pay their perspective college(s) about $24,000 dollars a year, for 4 years, after only 3 years of service. The total price for Americans is about 4 months in Iraq and the pay off is hundreds of thousands of college educated troops.

It is generous!

But is it too generous?

The left's argument is there are already 75% of returning soldiers faced with an insignificant college fund
Military.com Features May 22 2008

This is the usual number and the results are the struggling troops today who thought they could go to school but find that the GI bill they paid into barely helps them through the first year.

I don't have to remind anyone how high military suicide rates, divorce rates, and depression rates are. The argument is we owe these young soldiers an American education for their American service. The argument is this the least we can do.

But the right wing has some valid concerns as well.

Young soldiers faced with the prospect of military service and significant college money will simply leave when their time is up. Go to school. And that's not good.

But is it accurate? It seems greater college benefits (Long the greatest incentive for enlistment) would actually increase enlistment across the country. Those in service may leave in greater numbers or they may make a fine career in the military.

Is hanging education over soldier's heads to only way to ensure they'll stay?

If that's the case then there are bigger problems the military needs to address to keep people employed. In fact this new GI bill may be the best thing to ever happen to the military, ensuring our troops's renumeration spreads across an entire career instead of at the end.

The bottom line is our troop's futures and the future of their families should not be manipulated to force military retention. There are better ways to ensure retention and the promise of education should always and forever be the prerogative and preserved right of anyone who gives of their life for the service of America and her armed forces.