Maggy Thatcher once famously said that America was exceptional, unique even, because it is the only country founded on an Idea. That Idea, Individual Freedom from Government Tyranny, being so precious, untold numbers of our citizens have willingly made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and defend that Idea.
Knowing that our Nation has a debt to our service men and women that can never be repaid, we still seek to honor them with both private and public acts, both small and large, which demonstrate our gratitude, appreciation and understanding of what their sacrifice means - everything to the very survival of the United States, where from the blood soaked fields of Gettysburg to the flaming night desert of Benghazi, America's men of valor ran toward the sounds of gun fire, not away.
It is for this very reason that Memorial Day historically has been characterized by parades of Veterans in thousands of towns and cities across America, placing of flags next to thousands of rows of headstones in too many filled National Cemeteries and solemn speeches at War Memorials from Sea to Shining Sea. Of course, we the grateful know that our commitment to our Nation's wounded warriors must be observed 24/7/365 to be real, and not merely, a once a year symbolic celebration of their bravery and sacrifice.
It is for this very reason that the unfolding Department of Veteran Affairs scandal is almost too terrible to contemplate and write about rationally - as with the President, "I'm madder than hell" about the gross mistreatment, neglect and abuse at literally dozens of V.A. hospitals from Sea to Shining Sea, in which our too many wounded veterans have been allowed to die for a refusal of timely medical care.
Unlike the President, however, as Commander-in-Chief my very real anger would be matched by two immediate corrective acts - I would sign an Executive Order authorizing full payment for critical care medical services provided by any non-V.A. hospital to veterans who needed these services over the next year until the wait times at these government hospitals were fully eliminated. Existing federal law provides ample Executive Branch authority to allocate funding for private sector Veteran medical care. So, President Obama "Just Do it" - should your commitment to our wounded warriors be equal to your attention given to undocumented aliens who are, by the millions, now receiving very timely federal benefits, including health care. Sir, you have the Pen and the Power - Just Use it, as our Veterans have all the documentation necessary - too many war torn, scared bodies and minds to be left alone to die needlessly.
Secondly, my new Attorney General would not be an affront to the Rule of Law. Justice for our Veterans would be achieved in their lifetime. Holder defiantly told the nation this week that no DOJ criminal investigation was warranted currently as no credible evidence of any federal crimes have been raised so far in this scandal. WRONG, WRONG AND SO VERY WRONG. Numerous documented reports have surfaced of secret waiting lists having been hidden by V.A. Administrators which documented the real time - months and in some situations years - before a veteran would be given his life saving medical care. Simultaneously, false waiting time care lists - showing across-the-board achievement of timely care requirements - were submitted by these same hospital administrators to the V.A. headquarters in Washington, D.C., thereby qualifying these same administrators for tens of thousands of dollars in "productivity bonus" payments annually.
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1001, it is a criminal offense, a felony, to make a false statement to any federal government official. To do so, for the purpose of illegally obtaining "blood" money based upon these false statements, constitutes an aggravating factor worthy of immediate and severe punishment. So, President Obama - Just Stop Lying to the American People. Prove your anger - get our Vets health care today and indictments of their cruel abusers this week. Just do your Job.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Why Nancy Pelosi will never Matter
Ronald Reagan has a lot to answer for in his eight year stewardship of the Nation's Ship of State:
(1) not finishing off Russia when he had the opportunity to do so; now don't get your panties all in a bunch, I do not mean via military conflict, I mean by untying Europe from Russian energy imports;
(2) Iran-Contra Scandal with its trade of weapons for hostages and money to anti-Santinistas was a national disgrace;
(3) the intentional undermining of the USEPA's crucial mission through the appointments of Anne Gorsuch Burford and Ms. Rita Lavelle - one married "f*%k you" money and the other one was too stupid to even spell those words;
(4) And lastly, his introduction of the purely sentimental and emotional appeal of pointing to individuals sitting with the First Lady at successive State of the Union Addresses, as recognition of their heroism, patriotism or just their down right "hugability". While this Reagan use of a single person as an applause getter in his annual speech to the nation was itself harmless enough, Mr. Reagan knew or should have known that he was establishing a precedent for political discourse in America.
We are now seeing the natural evolution of what Reagan wrought in witnessing the former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi and her exploitation of human shields seeking to deflect public acceptance of the House Select Committee on Benghazi. Minority Leader Pelosi on Friday told a Press gathering that the Demos in Congress had heard directly from two of the Benghazi victim families pleading that the House of Representatives "... not go down this path again." Simple arithmetic should have convinced Pelosi not to make this most cynical, cruel even, appeal as the Demos only got only a tie vote on going forward, not even counting the dozens of maimed and grievously wounded attack victims who might have cast positive votes in favor of ascertaining why they all had been left defenseless to die in the brutal desert war zone that was Benghazi.
Even more troubling is the craven Pelosi abdication of leadership responsibility to determine the proper federal government policies to ensure the Nation's security during wartime. No compassionate person would not consult with the families of the Benghazi victims to ascertain their feelings on how a crucial Congressional exercise of oversight duty can be implemented without causing them needless additional hurt and sorrow, but no one person or small group of families have veto power over the Constitutional responsibilities of the Legislative Branch of Government, charged with protecting the lives of 310,000,000 Americans. Nancy you are so wrong here - have you no shame?
(1) not finishing off Russia when he had the opportunity to do so; now don't get your panties all in a bunch, I do not mean via military conflict, I mean by untying Europe from Russian energy imports;
(2) Iran-Contra Scandal with its trade of weapons for hostages and money to anti-Santinistas was a national disgrace;
(3) the intentional undermining of the USEPA's crucial mission through the appointments of Anne Gorsuch Burford and Ms. Rita Lavelle - one married "f*%k you" money and the other one was too stupid to even spell those words;
(4) And lastly, his introduction of the purely sentimental and emotional appeal of pointing to individuals sitting with the First Lady at successive State of the Union Addresses, as recognition of their heroism, patriotism or just their down right "hugability". While this Reagan use of a single person as an applause getter in his annual speech to the nation was itself harmless enough, Mr. Reagan knew or should have known that he was establishing a precedent for political discourse in America.
We are now seeing the natural evolution of what Reagan wrought in witnessing the former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi and her exploitation of human shields seeking to deflect public acceptance of the House Select Committee on Benghazi. Minority Leader Pelosi on Friday told a Press gathering that the Demos in Congress had heard directly from two of the Benghazi victim families pleading that the House of Representatives "... not go down this path again." Simple arithmetic should have convinced Pelosi not to make this most cynical, cruel even, appeal as the Demos only got only a tie vote on going forward, not even counting the dozens of maimed and grievously wounded attack victims who might have cast positive votes in favor of ascertaining why they all had been left defenseless to die in the brutal desert war zone that was Benghazi.
Even more troubling is the craven Pelosi abdication of leadership responsibility to determine the proper federal government policies to ensure the Nation's security during wartime. No compassionate person would not consult with the families of the Benghazi victims to ascertain their feelings on how a crucial Congressional exercise of oversight duty can be implemented without causing them needless additional hurt and sorrow, but no one person or small group of families have veto power over the Constitutional responsibilities of the Legislative Branch of Government, charged with protecting the lives of 310,000,000 Americans. Nancy you are so wrong here - have you no shame?
Friday, May 9, 2014
Why Christopher Stevens will always Matter
The Benghazi scandal just will not die - for many reasons both obvious and obtuse. Four unavenged, brutally murdered Americans coupled with a ghost edited TV Show Talking Points Memo ensures that this debacle has legs, when our former Navy Seals killed at the CIA Compound most probably now do not. Accordingly, Benghazi demands the attention of the Nation's Commander-in-Chief, if for no other reason than as a second term President, he is focused on his place in history. Few opportunities for new, bold achievements present themselves to lame duck Presidents, so burnishing their First Term record always becomes an increasingly important preoccupation.
In this regard, however, I know precisely what President Obama knows about Benghazi:
*Now, Mr. Obama cannot provide sufficient US military security for our diplomatic stations in Country; four brave Americans are still dead, and they will remain so for the remainder of his term in Office and beyond;
*Now, Mr. Obama cannot send military assets to attempt to prevent the horrendous slaughter of our Nation's diplomatic personnel while they were under attack for more than eight hours. (He does now know that assets were positioned geographically such that they could have reached Benghazi before the attacks ended);
*Now, Mr. Obama cannot forthrightly inform the American public that Islamic terrorists killed our diplomatic personnel and not spontaneous demonstrators out for a nocturnal jaunt carrying their crew serviced mortars in tow;
*Now, Mr. Obama cannot inform the American people that the White House did not dictate the Susan Rice Sunday Talking Points word for word, thereby deceiving all 310 million of us that a video which no one in Benghazi had seen caused the murder of our diplomatic personnel;
So, Barry and I both fully understand that what's Past is Past; it cannot be changed no matter how much we hope to make it so. Accordingly, Barack's only real chance to make Benghazi go away is for the Islamic terrorists to go away - permanently. He told us that he would do it on 9/12/12; he has the Power to do it. Indeed, he has shown time and again he has the Willingness to do it - his Drone ordered anti-terrorist strikes have terminated w/o. mercy hundreds, if not many more.
So, the identities of the terror groups responsible for the Benghazi slaughter have been known since days, if not hours, of the attack's occurrence. No mystery there. Yet, straining credulity beyond the breaking point, Mr. Claire Shipman declares that since it took many years to get Osama Bin Laden, Americans must understand that the President 20 months after the attack cannot be faulted for not even naming any of the Benghazi terrorists to be brought to justice.
Now, I consider myself somewhat of an astute observer of political leadership decision making. Nonetheless, the current Obama paralysis in "pursuit" of even political closer on Benghazi leaves me as perplexed as I have ever been in my Life. Afer all, this Guy's a Natural-Born-Killer, e.g. when an intrepid reporter asked his first Press Aid about the morality/legality of launching a drone strike on a vehicle with the target and his innocent 16 year old son inside - both were vaporized - this Obama insider quipped: "He was foolish in who he picked to be his Father". I paraphrase for style only, not substance.
So, America, I am honestly and forthrightly asking what in the world is stopping our Nation's Droner-in-Chief from just pulling the trigger in Benghazi? Could it possibly be that he has a soft spot in his cold stone heart for casual demonstrators out for their nightly stroll with their crew serviced mortars?
OH HELL; WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE ANYWAY; LET'S JUST MOVE ON AS THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE HERE NOW OR IN THE PAST
In this regard, however, I know precisely what President Obama knows about Benghazi:
*Now, Mr. Obama cannot provide sufficient US military security for our diplomatic stations in Country; four brave Americans are still dead, and they will remain so for the remainder of his term in Office and beyond;
*Now, Mr. Obama cannot send military assets to attempt to prevent the horrendous slaughter of our Nation's diplomatic personnel while they were under attack for more than eight hours. (He does now know that assets were positioned geographically such that they could have reached Benghazi before the attacks ended);
*Now, Mr. Obama cannot forthrightly inform the American public that Islamic terrorists killed our diplomatic personnel and not spontaneous demonstrators out for a nocturnal jaunt carrying their crew serviced mortars in tow;
*Now, Mr. Obama cannot inform the American people that the White House did not dictate the Susan Rice Sunday Talking Points word for word, thereby deceiving all 310 million of us that a video which no one in Benghazi had seen caused the murder of our diplomatic personnel;
So, Barry and I both fully understand that what's Past is Past; it cannot be changed no matter how much we hope to make it so. Accordingly, Barack's only real chance to make Benghazi go away is for the Islamic terrorists to go away - permanently. He told us that he would do it on 9/12/12; he has the Power to do it. Indeed, he has shown time and again he has the Willingness to do it - his Drone ordered anti-terrorist strikes have terminated w/o. mercy hundreds, if not many more.
So, the identities of the terror groups responsible for the Benghazi slaughter have been known since days, if not hours, of the attack's occurrence. No mystery there. Yet, straining credulity beyond the breaking point, Mr. Claire Shipman declares that since it took many years to get Osama Bin Laden, Americans must understand that the President 20 months after the attack cannot be faulted for not even naming any of the Benghazi terrorists to be brought to justice.
Now, I consider myself somewhat of an astute observer of political leadership decision making. Nonetheless, the current Obama paralysis in "pursuit" of even political closer on Benghazi leaves me as perplexed as I have ever been in my Life. Afer all, this Guy's a Natural-Born-Killer, e.g. when an intrepid reporter asked his first Press Aid about the morality/legality of launching a drone strike on a vehicle with the target and his innocent 16 year old son inside - both were vaporized - this Obama insider quipped: "He was foolish in who he picked to be his Father". I paraphrase for style only, not substance.
So, America, I am honestly and forthrightly asking what in the world is stopping our Nation's Droner-in-Chief from just pulling the trigger in Benghazi? Could it possibly be that he has a soft spot in his cold stone heart for casual demonstrators out for their nightly stroll with their crew serviced mortars?
OH HELL; WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE ANYWAY; LET'S JUST MOVE ON AS THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE HERE NOW OR IN THE PAST
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Why Ronald Ziegler still Matters
No Dirt Bag he; in retrospect, I've concluded that Mr. Ziegler was a true patriot (and this appellation is bestowed irrespective of the Blog constitution prohibiting criticism of a deceased). Granted, Ron Z. did associate himself with a goodly number of absolute dirt bags, who shall remain nameless due to the above-cited civility mandate.
Okay, then, Preamble in place, Mr. Ronald Ziegler is an American of honor - no, not because he had no Joseph Stalin approved art hanging on his living room walls. (Trust me here, this is no homage to Mr. Claire Shipman, recently featured in a mag "puff piece" about his communal life style). Instead, Ronald Ziegler's honorable mention has been honestly earned, when as Nixon's Press aid, he uttered these immortal words: My prior Watergate scandal statements are inoperative, as now I will be telling the American people the Truth (paraphrased).
No Bagdad Bob, Ziegler knew instinctively that the very survival of our Constitutional Republic, based upon the INFORMED CONSENT of the governed, depends upon the Fourth Estate conveying to the public-at-large an accurate accounting of the conduct of the Executive Branch of Government.
Accordingly, from the miserably failed Nixon Presidency to the deeply tainted Ronald Reagan Administration - trading arms for hostages while articulating an absolute national security policy of no concessions to terrorists - the most inviolate principle has been repeatedly reinforced into our national political wisdom - Presidents: Do not lie to the American people.
We, as a forgiving nation, will readily accept freely acknowledged presidential blunders, even massive ones, e.g. "The Bay of Pigs" fiasco by JFK. Of course, we all know, it is the Cover -up that costs a president his electoral legitimacy, as it utterly vitiates the explicit understanding between the governed and the government that honest conduct is the obligation of every President.
To be specific, Mr. Claire Shipman told the American people dozens of times prior to Tuesday this week that the White House staff had no substantive input on the Susan Rice Five Sunday Show Talking Points. Then, when a Judicial Watch obtained Court Order forced the disclosure of the White House Memo dictating Rice's Show statements word-for-word, Ms. Shipman looked squarely in the eyes of the American People and said: Get out of my face you A-Holes; move along, as there is nothing to see except crazy conspiracy theories being espoused by partisan Fox News. In response, the majority of the WH press merely texted their friends about who they were bringing to the Correspondents' Dinner Saturday Night, seeking envy of their hip/coolness.
Sure there is ample shame to go around here - the MSM has completely abdicated its Constitutional Duty to hold the Executive accountable, while the Executive has openly and intentionally voided the more than two Century old governing compact with 310 million Americans for the honest conduct of its almost unlimited powers. Some day soon, historians will ask the media moguls why they choose to ignore this Coup De'tat and willingly allowed tyranny to flourish.
Okay, then, Preamble in place, Mr. Ronald Ziegler is an American of honor - no, not because he had no Joseph Stalin approved art hanging on his living room walls. (Trust me here, this is no homage to Mr. Claire Shipman, recently featured in a mag "puff piece" about his communal life style). Instead, Ronald Ziegler's honorable mention has been honestly earned, when as Nixon's Press aid, he uttered these immortal words: My prior Watergate scandal statements are inoperative, as now I will be telling the American people the Truth (paraphrased).
No Bagdad Bob, Ziegler knew instinctively that the very survival of our Constitutional Republic, based upon the INFORMED CONSENT of the governed, depends upon the Fourth Estate conveying to the public-at-large an accurate accounting of the conduct of the Executive Branch of Government.
Accordingly, from the miserably failed Nixon Presidency to the deeply tainted Ronald Reagan Administration - trading arms for hostages while articulating an absolute national security policy of no concessions to terrorists - the most inviolate principle has been repeatedly reinforced into our national political wisdom - Presidents: Do not lie to the American people.
We, as a forgiving nation, will readily accept freely acknowledged presidential blunders, even massive ones, e.g. "The Bay of Pigs" fiasco by JFK. Of course, we all know, it is the Cover -up that costs a president his electoral legitimacy, as it utterly vitiates the explicit understanding between the governed and the government that honest conduct is the obligation of every President.
To be specific, Mr. Claire Shipman told the American people dozens of times prior to Tuesday this week that the White House staff had no substantive input on the Susan Rice Five Sunday Show Talking Points. Then, when a Judicial Watch obtained Court Order forced the disclosure of the White House Memo dictating Rice's Show statements word-for-word, Ms. Shipman looked squarely in the eyes of the American People and said: Get out of my face you A-Holes; move along, as there is nothing to see except crazy conspiracy theories being espoused by partisan Fox News. In response, the majority of the WH press merely texted their friends about who they were bringing to the Correspondents' Dinner Saturday Night, seeking envy of their hip/coolness.
Sure there is ample shame to go around here - the MSM has completely abdicated its Constitutional Duty to hold the Executive accountable, while the Executive has openly and intentionally voided the more than two Century old governing compact with 310 million Americans for the honest conduct of its almost unlimited powers. Some day soon, historians will ask the media moguls why they choose to ignore this Coup De'tat and willingly allowed tyranny to flourish.