What about Libya?

Should Barack Obama move us in the direction of military intervention in Libya? My answer at this point is no! It is now time for other countries to step up and take the lead while the United States deals with its current entanglements.

I am so happy that Obama is in charge at this point in time. You know for certain that John McCain would have jumped right into the fray because that is exactly what he has said. McCain jumps before knowing where he is going to land. At least Obama is surveying the neighborhood to find the best spot for our nation to land.

The good news is that some of our friends are finally stepping up to the plate and taking a leading role in determining the efficacy of a no-fly-zone. The United Kingdom and France are leading a United Nations effort to limit Moammar Gadhafi's ability to control the skies over Libya. Why shouldn't they play a leading role? Britain and France were active imperial powers that helped give us the Middle East that we know today. The United States is a johnny-come-lately to the region.

Regardless of what country supplies the military might, I'm relieved to see Europe step up to the plate; after all, most of the Libya's oil flows to Europe. Britain and France should damn well be concerned what happens to their own interests. Why should the United States always be fighting the world's battles? Don't forget that the Lockerbie Scotland incident was an attack on Europe as well as the United States.

United States military intervention in Libya could very well set off World War III. We are so lucky to have a thoughtful President who is willing to study the issue fully before committing more U.S. troops in foreign lands. From the "Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli" is not a reason to go to war and that is exactly where we would be if Obama followed John McCain's stupid, idiotic advise.

I don't have the exact quote, but John Kennedy said something like this when referring to Vietnam; If a country wants to be free, they must find their freedom on their own, it can't be handed to them. Of course, John Kennedy was taken from us before major decisions to escalate our involvement in Vietnam were made by subsequent administrations. Thank you Barack Obama for taking the time to think and to lead!

tomtoak

Birthers are absolute idiots!

Of all the political squabbles that surround us, the "birthers" movement is the saddest commentary on the United States of America. We all believe in free speech, but to continue to advance pure fiction in the name of truth is traitorous. That's right, all you birthers are traitors, idiots, imbeciles and morons. You don't have a point; you are just sick in the head and I'm getting tired of listening to your crap.

Barack Obama was born in Hawaii when it was a state. The newspaper announcement makes this issue perfectly clear as does his legitimate birth certificate. Even if Obama was born before Hawaii became a state; and this is not the case, Hawaii was a legitimate U.S. incorporated territory. Why is this so important? It is important because the Panama Canal Zone was only an unincorporated U.S. Territory until the "Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1979".

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in (Downes v. Bidwell) in 1901 that unincorporated territories are not the United States. In 1905, in (Rasmussen v. United States) the courts ruled that the Constitution only applies to incorporated territories of the United States. Children born in the Panama Canal Zone were subject to the Naturalization Act of 1795, which granted statutory U.S. citizenship at birth. With the ruling of 1905 however, persons born in the Canal Zone only became U.S. nationals, not citizens.

Congress moved to correct the situation and passed a law in 1937 that grants citizenship to those individuals born in the Canal Zone after February 26, 1904 that had at least one U.S. citizen parent. I have found no reference as to whether or not the law passed in 1937 has ever been constitutionally challenged. Is John McCain a natural born citizen as our Constitution requires in order to hold the highest office in the land?

Why question Obama's credentials when McCain's are far more suspect? The only thing that truly bothers me in this discussion is that I remember the time when Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut was denied a chance to run for the Presidency because he was born in Paris, France. His parents, both U.S. citizens were living at the U.S. Embassy as his father was a U.S. diplomat. The mere location of Weicker's birth made him ineligible to run for President.

Well, I'm not tyring to make a case here because I don't want to be called a birther in my own right. Hell, then I would be the traitor, idiot, imbecile and moron. Personally, I feel that McCain had every right to be President and Lowell Weicker too. Weicker would have been a great President in my estimation. There can be no question about Obama's credentials for the job!

And to the "birthers" out there - get a life. That means you, Rush Limbaugh and Lou Dobbs.

tomtoak

Who Should Republicans Listen to?

Just a few comments today on the Confusion (Republican) Party. Having been blown out of the water in the last 2 elections, what this nation does not need is to hear Dick Cheney mouth off. Personally, I think that Dick Cheney is not sound mentally. The more he spews, the stronger the Democrats get. While I am a Democrat, I still have a strong belief in the 2 party system. I want to see successful, competent Republicans; there are just so few of them.

The fight for the heart of the Republican Party is best viewed by contrasting the positions of 2 close family members to key Republican faces. Meghan McCain, daughter of John McCain and Liz Cheney, daughter of Dick Cheney have both been at work trying to capture and secure a direction for their party. If Republicans want a political future, they had better be listening to Meghan McCain.

Meghan has been out there, established her own blog and has been calling for Dick Cheney to just shut up. She has been very critical of the Republicans from the past administration like Cheney and Karl Rove, that dragged the party into the mud of history. The neo-conservative movement continues however, to appease the behavior of the Bush administration. Talking heads on the Fox Noise Channel continue to defend torture and the bankruptcy of American values foisted upon us through the leadership of George W. Bush. If Republicans want to become a political force again, they need to listen to Meghan McCain slamming Dick Cheney.

Now if the Republicans want to be the party of "nothing", then they need to keep listening to Dick Cheney and his wayward child, Liz Cheney. This women is hell bent on defending her morally bankrupt father; the man that is close to holding the world record for draft deferments (5). Cheney's approval rating when he left office was 13%. Why the hell would any sane person be defending him at this time? He did not keep us safe; remember 911, and his policies have caused the exponential growth in terrorist movements throughout the world. Makes one wonder; is Cheney a terrorist?

Ed Shultz, on MSNBC, did a great segment on Dick Cheney yesterday. It seems clear to anyone watching that Dick Cheney actually wants this country to be hit again. Why do you think he is still out there fear-mongering? He wants the country to be hit so he can say, "I told you so." How scary is that? A former Vice President of this great country that took away some of our freedoms, that dismantled our long-held American values, that approved and promoted torture, that refuses to testify under oath, that shot a lawyer in the face and that wants this country to be hit again by terrorists; still can't keep his mouth shut.

Mr. Cheney; I think Eric Holder needs to read you your rights; "everything that you say can and will be used against you in a court of law". I suppose everyone in this country is innocent until proven guilty and that includes you; Mr. Vice President. Without question, an investigation needs to go forward and criminal decisions from your administration should be prosecuted. Dick Cheney and Liz Cheney; you both need to take a clue from George W. Bush, shut up for the good of the nation and your Republican Party.

Maybe that's what your doing - preparing an insanity defense?

tomtoak

Wisdom from the Woods III

Wisdom from the Woods is an occasional column that outlines complex issues.

Welcome to spring. This picture was taken the day before the vernal equinox. Yesterday's sunrise was shrouded in clouds. I can only imagine what was going on at this ledge 500 years ago.

Before I get to today's comment, I want to just call to every one's attention some of the links on the left side of the blog. I've added a number of links that I think are worthwhile checking out. The Sarah Palin, Katie Couric interview is well worth the half hour it takes to watch. I know a lot of people probably saw the Tina Fey version, but the original is just as funny or sad or scary or troubling or all these things rolled into one.

Additionally, the link to the "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" masterpiece, "Kingdom Come" is available to view. The song is a gut wrenching story of the aftermath of 911; so be prepared, most people cry when they hear it for the first time. Notice the Republican in the audience that refuses to clap at the end. What the hell was up with that guy? The Sarah Palin turkey pardon was added when a friend requested it. The Barack Obama speech on Lincoln's birthday is quite historic and worth watching. Keith Olbermann's special comment on divisive politics being anti-American is worth the time. Finally, the Bill Maher video just reinforces a lot of points I make in this blog.

On the ledge today, I just happened to be thinking about where this country would be if John McCain had been elected. I don't think that Sarah Palin would be the greatest concern. I know, that's hard to accept, but she would only become the greatest concern if McCain became ill. The greatest fear that I have would be the access to the President of Phil Gramm, former Republican Senator from Texas. Phil Gramm's legacy may very well approach the infamy of Herbert Hoover's. I don't think I could point to another person still living that has done more to screw up this nation and hurt so many people along the way.

Phil Gramm was a top economic advisor to John McCain and would have played a huge role in a McCain presidency. That man would most likely be Treasury Secretary today. Talk about economic meltdown. Remember what Gramm was saying during the election? How about this quote; "You've heard about mental depression, this is a mental recession"? Who could forget this classic; "We sort of become a nation of whiners. You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline?" What the hell would have become of the country if this troll was calling the shots?

Phil Gramm led the charge for deregulating Wall Street. Mother Jones magazine refers to him as "Foreclosure Phil". Bank deregulation is front and center in today's financial meltdown and Gramm was holding all of the best seats. I suppose to be fair, Washington is not one person, but Gramm has to be first in line. Let's not forget that it's a family affair with this troubling personality. Gramm's wife, Wendy Gramm was front and center for the fall of Enron and the Gramm's both profited mightily from the Enron disaster. Wendy sat on the Board of Directors for Enron and served as the board's treasurer. She was a great deregulator in her own right. Heck, Enron was just an exhibition game for Phil Gramm. He was getting ready for the really big meltdown. When it came, he couldn't see it. He could never see beyond ideology which is his greatest fault.

Just a scary thought from the ledge today. Thank God the American people are smart enough to turn this nation in a new direction. I hope that Phil Gramm will now fade into the sagebrush of Texas. I don't think he could do much harm there.

tomtoak

Who Are The Real Thieves?

Who do you think are the real thieves in this economy? The House of Representatives just passed the Stimulus bill following the Conference Committee settlement. The Senate is expected to pass the bill later today. If you are to believe John McCain, he thinks that Barack Obama is the real thief. Thank God you're not President, Mr McCain!

Today, John McCain offered this bit of wisdom when talking about the Stimulus package; "and is nothing short - nothing short - of generational theft." How to go John. You Republicans almost bankrupt the Country by fighting unnecessary war in Iraq, squandering a budget in surplus from the Clinton Administration, refusing to put safeguards to our economy in place and cutting taxes for all of your friends that own 7 houses. You see John, the real thieves have been members of the Republican Party. Through lies and incompetence you have all stolen from our generation.

It's the people my age, the baby boomers that have everything to loose. The rug has been pulled out from many of them. Barack Obama is trying to fix the problem. It was your problem and George Bush's problem. Republicans can't muster one vote in the House even after they watered down key provisions that may well be necessary for the correct stimulative effect? OK voters, remember that. Haven't you Republicans seen the writing on the wall during the last 2 elections?

What do you want to bet that the all white man's banking club that marched before Congress this week are all Republicans? Anyone willing to take that bet?

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