1. Stop lying to the American People.
2. Make sure, before he speaks, that the things he is about to say are true.
3. Stop lying to the American people.
4. Discontinue the practice of prevericating to avoid unpleasant realities.
5. Stop lying to the American People.
When addressing the events and apparent malfeasance in Bengazi, it's important to clarify on which phase of those events you focus: the before; the during; or the after. Why? Because each is a travesty in it's own right.
Before: Why wasn't security tightened when it was so often asked for; and when everyone knew that 9-11 was approaching?
During: Why were the fearsome resources of the mightiest nation on earth kept at bay while helpless Americans died? Was Nero fiddling, or where the heck was he? Who ordered the stand-down?
After: Why is a poor schmuck that made a video the only one who has paid? Why was the video even a factor? Why was the yarn that was spun so different than the facts on the ground? Questions abound.
It's not enough to address the Bengazi scandal. Clear thinking and communication requires that one clarify: Bengazi before; Bengazi during; and Bengazi after. Each it's own scandal–demanding it's own separate resolution.
We hear a lot about ‘right-wing media’–referring, of course, to the Levins and the Hannitys of the airwaves, Fox news–and to a lesser degree some of the conservative websites. But, opposing that, we hear about the ‘Mainstream Media’. The assumption seems to be that there is one centered, factual, middle-of-the-road wing of the media, and then those waaaay over on the right.
That denies reality.
What we have is a right-wing media that readily admits it’s political leaning and a left-wing media that poses as the reasoned, centered spokesperson for the country–yet supports, champions, obfuscates for, censors for, and lionizes everything left wing. Consider just one micro-cosmic example: the Candy Crowley moment. A debate moderated by a ‘neutral third-party’ with no interest in who wins the debate or the election. Right? This neutral third-party took off the moderator hat and waded fully into the debate–correcting candidate Romney with a fact that actually turned out to be false. But the moment had its effect–dampening his momentum and assisting the left-wing candidate.
Over 90% of the mainstream media own up to voting for democrat candidates. Their leg ‘tingles’ when one speaks. They see them as ‘messianic’. Major blunders are quietly buried–while years old speeches about 47% get weeks of airtime. The evidences are endless–as pointed out daily by the website ‘newsbusters.com.’
The only point of this is to say, let’s call it what it is. A country that’s divided left and right–and a media that’s similarly bifurcated. There is no ‘mainstream media.’ There is right-wing media and left-wing media.
Let’s drop the ‘Mainstream’ charade and call it what it is.
Dear progressives,
We mean no disrespect with this. We love you like brothers and sisters, but there are a few things we need you to know. Please hear us out.
We know most of you don’t see yourself as a religious people. But stop for a minute to think about it. Religious people enjoy the security, the protection and providence of their higher power. We see this in you. It seems to us that your higher power–your central authority–your provider and protector is the state. In state you trust. And its a trusting that seems to blind. We see you accepting whatever the state oriented media feeds you and refusing to look beyond it. Blindly loyal to an ideal, you narrow your vision to that which is comfortable: that which reinforces your trust in state.
This is a frustration to us because we see things that you could see–and need to see–but won’t see.
The state, using the media, parades a vast array of victims before you and makes great display of caring for each. This plays to your highest motives and we don’t blame you at all for giving them your compassionate support. But there’s a part you won’t see. The state’s ‘other hand’ is busily working to take more from the producers to pass out more candy to more people of voting age to ensure their hold on the power levers. It drives the country deeper into debt, (16 tr. going on 22 tr.– that was Trillion!). It weakens the military, (huge budget cuts). The population is disarmed, (gun control all the rage). The president signs a series of executive orders that let him suspend constitutional rights any time he deems there to be a crisis, (chilling possibilities). Various agencies, including homeland security, purchase–in the last year–more than a billion hollow point bullets; oh, and 7,000 fully automatic rifles. (True story. look it up. If you’re bad at math that’s 130 fully automatic assault rifles and 20 million bullets for each state in the Union. This is not the army. It’s homeland ‘security’.) Radio stations are forced to install a box that lets the state take instant control of every station across the nation any time they like (true story. look it up.) And the private capital which creates the nation’s wealth is taxed away in the name of fairness, weakening the economic engine; leading us, at best, to centrally controlled stagnation (which we are seeing more and more of every day) or worse, a catastrophic collapse followed by iron fisted tyranny.
Of course, our independent-minded populace would fiercely resist iron fisted tyranny, wouldn’t we? How inconvenient, at that point, that homeland security is fully armed, we are disarmed, our rights and protections are legally suspended and we have no control of our communications…
With all the soaring debt–which even the CBO says is unsustainable and will lead eventually to a catastrophic collapse–the president said recently that we don’t have a spending problem. Nancy Pelosi concurs.
You tell us we need to wake up to a more enlightened way of thinking. You can see very clearly that we are throwbacks to an earlier day. But through the same lens, we can see just as clearly that you are so willingly, hopelessly duped. We understand that all you want is goodness and fairness for all. But they’re using that noble motive to use you! The leaders you trust, use those wonderfully pure motives to capture your loyalty and undying support. They tell you how much more evolved you are (playing to your pride) and how progressive and forward thinking this all is (who wouldn’t want to be forward thinking). Meanwhile, that ‘other hand’ is doing all of the above and much more. (It’s all in the ‘manifesto’ if you care to read it.)
We wouldn’t mind so much that you throw the door open to certain tyranny–but you drag us along for the ride. That we mind.
And before you say this is just conspiracy theory, know this. .
It’s only ‘theory’ if it isn’t actually happening.
Sincerely,
One of the 65 million conservatives that voted against our current president.
The administration's response to joblessness is somewhere between comical and tragic.
We gotta get those numbers down. Should we focus on jobs? Work to strengthen the private sector? No wait. Don't need any of that. If you count right, those numbers bring themselves down.
Unemployment as we know it is the number of people getting benefits. Right? Well, when their benefits run out, we'll simply stop counting them. They 'left the job market.'
So as benefits run out… presto! The nation's unemployment numbers are better because millions of people have 'left the job market.'
Which is that? Comical or tragic?
Rand’s stand was noble. Surely he brought attention to a touchy and ominous subject. Beyond that though, not much was accomplished. The huge question out there is ‘can the government use drones here against us?’ The answer is not as clear as Holder’s letter would make it.
So. No drones unless that individual is in combat with the United States. Sounds clear enough. But let’s play with it.
We now know that Obama’s much vaunted ‘transformation’ of America means a radical shift–from capitalist powerhouse to collectivist soft (for now) tyranny. Fully half of america is totally disgusted with that. They see their constitution being shredded and their long-held values being mercilessly trampled. But they are expected to sit quietly and watch it happen. Should they deign to resist. Should they lift the slightest finger in opposition to this trend, they are now ‘in combat with the United States’ and the president has reserved to himself the ‘constitutional’ right to reign hellfire down on them.
By these definitions, the British would have had every right to use drones against the American revolutionaries. Abe Lincoln would have had every right to use drones against the rebs. And the left has now reserved itself the right to use taxpayer-funded drones against the ‘radical’ right should they in any way feel threatened. Who can forget that our president referred to that half of our populace as ‘the enemy’.
The political differences we are experiencing in this country just got infinitely more a-symmetrical.
For myself, I would be much more comfortable if our senate were working to absolutely banish armed drones from the skies over America.
The president for weeks has–loudly and endlessly–prophesied draconian consequences from the sequester cuts.
Most of us, subliminally at least, knew this was posturing. But now it’s confirmed.
Department of Agriculture memos reveal underlings wanting to minimize the damage–cutting where it hurts the least; but are told to make sure their actions track with the administration’s rhetoric. Translation. Sure you could find innocuous places to cut, but that won’t meet the goals of the administration. So mind yourself. Do as we say.
This bears repeating. It is a badly kept secret that politicians–when their money supply is threatened–will pick and choose consequences that most hurt the public.
Now it’s in writing.
And it’s still not ok.
Not even close to ok.
So the Whitehouse has cancelled tours–leaving sixth-graders and everyone else looking in from outside the gates. This is a cost-cutting move of course, which will save up to EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS a week!
Hmm… At that rate the last Hawaii vacation would have kept the White House open for about 8 years.
Ok… I’m going to say it. This is mean, petty and manipulative.
It’s a badly kept secret that politicians–when their money supply is threatened–will pick and choose consequences to make the public feel pain. Could there be a clearer example than this?
It’s not ok.
Not even close to ok.
I just read that Robert Reich claims the Tea Party is working to undermine the government. A first reaction is, ‘WHAT????”. But upon further thought, I see what he means. In fact, if you squint your eyes a little, there is a way to make that a true statement.
Stay with me.
Everyone from our founding fathers up to the middle of the 20th century or so, knew America to be a free-wheeling, free-market, capitalist enterprise. The most successful one ever, by the way. But more and more, collectivist central-authority folks have worked their way into the seats of power. With the last election, they would claim that their ‘transformation’ is–if not complete–at least a stone’s throw away. So. If you believe this, then the US Government is now a collectivist central-authority enterprise. And anyone–be it Ted Cruz or George Washington–who disagrees with their newly minted reality is working to undermine the government.
Note to Mr. Reich: It might be more accurate to claim that the tea party is working to undermine your undermining of the government. I guess we could agree with that.
The left has never been as rabid about gun control as they are today. Hyperventilating. Likes sharks smelling blood. They will offer many pure, altruistic and ‘for-the-children’ reasons this must be done and done now.
There’s one reason you’ll never hear them utter. But they salivate over it just the same.
If their wildest gun-control dreams come true, every gun owner will be forced–by law–to meekly register thier guns and dutifully turn in, first this type of gun, then that type, until most of them are gone. Right?
So let me just ask a couple questions and you’ll see where this is going.
Q. Are most gun owners on the left or the right of the political spectrum? A. Not all, but most are on the right. Q. Are most gun owners meek? A. Law abiding, yes. Up to a point. But meek, no. Q Would all gun owners dutifully register and/or turn in all their weapons. A. Absolutely. Well, maybe. Well–a few, maybe not. Q. What will be the penalty for non-compliance? A. A stiff fine and a felony on your record. Q. Do felons vote? A. There’s the dirty little secret.
The left knows that if they back gun owners into a tight enough corner, a certain percentage will not comply. If the penalty for that non-compliance includes a felony record, that’s thousands–possibly millions of right-wing voters who will never be allowed to vote–ever again.
Just one more reason to stop this in it’s tracks, folks.
C
