TightyRighty.net

OK – my first post by this title dealt with executive compensation, which is probably not something most people will be afraid of.  However, this post deals with national security, which should must concern all of us.

I have been home sick the last few days with the flu which is going around.  Between reading emails from work, fading in and out of consciousness since I am so worn out, running to the men’s room, etc., I have watched a fair amount of Fox News, particularly a number of the speeches at the UN by the leaders of nations.  Three things have come together to really concern me about the current state of our national security:

We live in a bad, bad world.  There is evil in the world and if we do not call it such and confront it, we will be the victims of it.  Moammar(?) Qaddafi and Mahmoud Ahmedinijad are two prime examples of very bad, bad, evil men leading bad, bad, evil countries.

We are not safe because we have not learned the lessons of 9/11.  We were supposed to have all of our law enforcement (Federal, State, City, etc) working together on terrorism matters, but it appears that is still not the case, 8 years (and 13 days later) later.  Fox News has reported:

“Police acting without the FBI’s knowledge may have inadvertently helped blow the surveillance of a terrorism suspect (Najibullah Zazi) and compromised a bomb plot investigation at a sensitive stage by questioning an imam about him, a criminal complaint suggests.

“They came to ask me about your characters,” the Muslim religious leader, Ahmad Wais Afzali, told Najibullah Zazi in a secretly recorded Sept. 11 telephone conversation. “They asked me about you guys.””

Finally, our President continues to demonstrate that he is far, far beyond naive in his understanding of foreign policy.  He has demonstrated that naivete very well is the last few weeks:

A couple of weeks ago, he threw our very strong allies, Czechoslovakia and Poland under the (Russian) bus by canceling a missile defense system the Bush administration negotiated with these countries.  Supposedly, the new defense system will be stronger, smarter and swifter, etc.  But why give in on a source of Russian irritation without getting something in return?  The Russkies have indicated some flexibility this week regarding sanctions on Iran for its nuke program, but I will believe it when I see it.  It is never better to negotiate from a position of weakness.

In his speech yesterday at the U.N.  He began with the obligatory apology, although this was generally done in a positive way – look what I have done – stopped torture, issued orders to close Gitmo, we’re ending the war in Iraq, unilaterally disarming our nukes, we have thrown the Israelis under the bus in the Palestinian conflict, etc.  He did of course remind us about “Those wealthy nations that did so much to damage the environment in the 20th century”.  (Perhaps he should compare the environment of the wealthy capitalist nations like the U.S., U.K., Germany, etc. with the wealthy communist nations like China and Russia and see that capitalism is much better for the environment).  The thing he did not do is take responsibility for American exceptionalism and the undisputed fact that our leadership position is very good for the world.  It was very much that we are just another country just like every other country and we will do our share but only for stuff we all agree on.  Far be it from us to unilaterally impose our will on any other country.

But now we get to the crux of my concern.  When General Stanley McChrystal was appointed to lead our troops in Afghanistan, he was tasked with completing a 60 day review of our strategy and tactics.  He has completed his review and he is calling for a new strategy which will require more troops.  However, the President appears to be balking at the thought of more troops and there is word on the street that General McChrystal has been told not to request more troops (denied by the White House, of course).  The Washington Post is reporting the assessment states “more forces” or “mission failure.”

It seems that the White House is considering a strategy developed by the great military strategist Joe Biden, who wants to utilize less troops and more drones to root out the Taliban.  Is the same Joe Biden who opposed the surge, called it a failure and conceived a plan to divide Iraq into 3 separate autonomous regions?  Is this the same Joe Biden who has been consistently wrong on foreign policy matters for over 30 years?  The same Joe “gaffe-o-matic” Biden who has webpage dedicated to tracking his misspoken words?  Why would we think this guy who never served in the military would know better than a 33 year veteran West Point graduate?

I can not stress how important it is that we win in Afghanistan.  However, the great orator has also described the need to win in Afghanistan very elequently.   I could not agree with him more.  If we lose in Afghanistan, the terrorists have their old training ground back and they have a friendly government to issue them passports.  They also have unfettered access to wreak havoc on Pakistan.  While this Pakistan is no beacon of democracy in a dictator led region, they are somewhat sympathetic to our cause and, most importantly, they do have nukes.  If Pakistan’s government collapses, it doesn’t matter if  Iran develops nukes because this will make Deal of the Century actually look funny.

If you see either General McChrystal or General David Patraeus (architect of the successful surge strategy in Iraq and who has endorsed McChrystal’s assessment) resign in the next few weeks, you can be fairly sure that President Obama has selected the Biden strategy over the military’s strategy and you should be Afraid, be VERY, VERY Afraid!

A couple of statements from President Obama’s U.N. speech jumped out at me yesterday:

The changes that I have spoken about today will not be easy to make. And they will not be realized simply by leaders like us coming together in forums like this. For as in any assembly of members, real change can only come through the people we represent. That is why we must do the hard work to lay the groundwork for progress in our own capitals.

…..True leadership will not be measured by the ability to muzzle dissent, or to intimidate and harass political opponents at home.

Why then is the President doing exactly the opposite of this in the health care debate?  Why must the President convene a joint session of Congress to say the same thing (including several lies detailed here, here and here) he has said for the last 6 months?  If real change only comes through the people he represents and true leadership is not measured by the ability to muzzle dissent or intimidate or harass opponents at home, why do he and his minions demonize insurance companies and doctors and disparage millions of citizens who disagree with them on this debate and why does he need a flag@whitehouse.gov email address where you can rat out your neighbor?

Secondly, did you notice that he believes that groundwork is laid in our own capitals?  It seems to me that in this country, where President Obama hails from, most people do not live in their capital, only their representatives do.  Accordingly, laying the groundwork should start at the grassroots level with the people (like at townhalls).  But if you are an elitist like Barack Obama, you believe that your country’s ruler lives in the capital, so you could  and would make a statement like that.

In his bid to remain relevant after being one of this Country’s worst presidents ever, former President Jimmy Carter is now claiming that the opposition to Barack Obama’s policies is because the U.S. is a racist nation.  In an interview with NBC, Carter stated:

“I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he’s African American…”

Unfortunately, the left and their minions in the MSM have picked up this line and the drumbeat of racism as the basis of opposition to Obama’s policies is now being heard loud and clear.  This is a typical ploy by the left.  If they can not win their argument, they begin to attack their opponent.  They don’t usually go directly to the race trump card, but I believe the left is becoming very desperate about the health care bill.

What happened to “speaking truth to power” or “dissent is the highest form of patriotism?”  I heard Mark Steyn on Bill Bennett this morning and he said the new saying is that “dissent is the highest form of racism.”  I think he nailed it.

I would ask Mr. Carter to look back through my posts, at such topics as the socialization of our health care, the anti-life position this Administration has taken on abortion and stem cell research, reducing our national security by releasing interrogation memos, going after CIA personnel who obtained information which has saved U.S. lives, closing Gitmo, the wreckless wasting of taxpayer dollars via the Stimulus bill, the negative impact of the Cap and Trade bill on national security and its potential impact on our economy, etc., and find racism in these posts.  Just because we do not agree with President Obama’s vision of a Euro-style society with government as the solution to all our problems does not mean we are racist.  Your statement means Mr. Carter, that you are a jackass.

Has anyone else noted this disturbing trend of events which I have commented on here:

Attorney General Eric Holder’s is investigating CIA personnel who utilized enhanced interrogation techniques to obtain information which saved lives;

Scotland released the convicted murderer of 270 innocents in the Pan Am 103 bombing;

We are Mirandizing high value detainees in Afghanistan;

The Obama Administration provided a detailed guide to enhanced interrogation techniques utilized by the CIA (and thus, a road map to overcoming these techniques);

Osama bin Laden and his terrorist cohort must be laughing their buttocks off at us.

Why is it that whenever things start going badly for the Obama administration, they pull out the old “pile on Bush” tactic to obfuscate and misdirect the focus of the public?  With the proposed health care legislation meeting strong resistance from the American people, it is time to redirect our focus so Attorney General has announced he is opening an investigation into CIA interrogation abuses.  Of course this was accompanied by the obligatory statement from the President that we “look forward and not backward when it comes to issues such as these” and that “ultimately, the decisions on who is investigated and who is prosecuted are up to the attorney general.”

Interestingly enough, this announcement came on the same day that documents requested by Dick Cheney confirming the effectiveness of the enhanced interrogation techniques were released.  These documents apparently paint a picture that these techniques directly saved lives.

So help me understand.  Eric Holder wants to go after CIA personnel who used these techniques to obtain information which did save lives, yet he is willing to drop charges against some New Black Panthers who engaged in voter intimidation in the November election on camera?

Seems like a case of very misplaced priorities.

Just so readers don’t think this is a single issue, anti-Obama administration blog, I thought I’d comment on the yesterday’s release from prison in Scotland of Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, the mastermind of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.  Al Megrahi, who is suffering from terminal prostate cancer and reportedly has only 3 months to live, was released from prison and returned to a hero’s welcome in his native Libya.  Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill cited compassionate grounds for the release, saying al Megrahi was “going home to die.”

This is a travesty!!  Did the 270 people he murdered have an opportunity to “go home to die”?  Absolutely not.  Many of the victims were  college kids (from Syracuse, I believe) who were returning home for Christmas.  Did their parents have an opportunity to say good-by to them?

Did this man ever show remorse, ever admit to his crime?  NO!  Why should Scotland show compassion to this man after he show no compassion or remorse for his 270 victims?  I say he should have rotted in prison until his death whereupon he will likely rot in hell.

ps.   I was pleased to hear the President issue a statement against this release.  However, I found Atty. General Eric Holder’s statement that he was “deeply disappointed”  in the release rings a little hollow after his role in the pardon of the FALN terrorists who blew up a NYC restaurant, killing 4 people.  (I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it!)

Nothing galls me more than when this President wraps himself in the trappings of religion and tries to persuade people of faith that they should fall in with him.  That happened again today as the President held a con call with a number of faith leaders.

In his comments, the President stated “I know there’s been a lot of misinformation in this debate and there are some folks out there who are, frankly, bearing false witness,”.   No question there has been a lot of misinformation (on both sides) but to slip into Biblical jargon is really pandering.  Isn’t this the same President who claimed the question of when life begins is “above my pay grade” and who voted not once, not twice, but voted three times against the Born Alive Infant Protection act.  Where was his Bible then?

Secondly, he stated “That I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper and in the wealthiest nation on Earth right now, we are neglecting to live up to that call.”   I do not dispute that we have a responsibility to our brother and sister.  However, does the Bible ask us to go more than a TRILLION dollars FURTHER into debt in order to meet this responsibility?  I think not.

Come on Mr. President.  If you are going to rely on the Bible, don’t pick and choose the verses you like and support your deal.  It’s all in or not in.

The Democrats in Congress repeatedly paint the opposition to the proposed health care legislation (the Republicans) as “the Party of No”.

However, have the Democrats given any consideration to Representative Paul Ryan or Senator Tom Coburn’s proposed health care plans?  Have the Democrats included any tort reform in the proposed bills?  Have the Democrats considered any bills that don’t provide a public option (precursor to a single payer system)?

Who is really the Party of No??

I am bummed!  I have really enjoyed riding in the MS 150 for the last 4 years.  However, 2009 will have been my last ride in support of MS research.   I can no longer support the National MS Society.

I have come to this decision based on the position the NMSS has taken with respect to the current proposed health care legislation, in particular, H.R. 3200 – America’s Affordable Health Choices Act.

As a rider in the Dallas-Ft.Worth MS 150, I rec’d an email from the NMSS asking me to contact my representatives in Congress and request that they support health care reform.  They even provided a link with a pre-formatted letter.

After reading the proposed letter, I was concerned my representatives would interpret this letter as my support for the current legislation in Congress (no, not the Republican legislation nobody ever talks about!).  If you read this blog, you know I am deeply opposed to the legislation the left has put forward.  So I responded to the email and requested the position of the NMSS regarding the legislation currently before Congress.  Following is the response I received yesterday:

Dear Mr. Lavey –

Thank you for your feedback regarding health care reform, your email has been forwarded to me for response.

While pursing health care reform, the Society has been adamant that patient choice and access are protected.  The Society is also working to ensure that efforts to lower costs for everyone will not result in limited access for anyone.  In fact, a key component of health care reform is that pre-existing condition clauses used by insurance companies will be eliminated. This will help ensure that people with MS and other chronic diseases are not denied services because of their health status.

The Society is working closely with Members of Congress and other partners to achieve meaningful and comprehensive health care reform.  The focus is on fixing and strengthening our existing employer-sponsored health care system, while figuring out how to get health insurance coverage for those who are uninsured, better health insurance for those who are underinsured, and help those who struggle with the cost of prescription drugs or obtaining other medically necessary treatments.

The legislation emerging in Congress called the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act – HR 3200 will help provide more choice, expand coverage and access to care, limit out-of-pocket costs, and improve quality of care for people with MS.  This legislation will let you to keep your insurance if you like it.  There is a common misconception that this bill will create a government run health insurance system, which is just not the case.  Rather the legislation outlines scenarios where you can choose to stay with the coverage you have, seek other private coverage, or choose a government sponsored plan.  There will be more choice.

We encourage you to take a look at our National Health Care Reform Principles (pdf), which were developed by a broad-based group of volunteers including many living with MS.  These principles are a blueprint for our advocacy work on health care reform that ensures the needs of people with MS are being met as health care reform takes shape and becomes a reality.

Many pieces of the Society’s reform principles are being discussed in the legislation including the elimination of lifetime coverage caps, ending discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, the expansion of home and community based services, and efforts to lower out of pockets costs.

The Society has been working on these issues separately for many years.   The America’s Affordable Health Choices Act provides an opportunity to accomplish many goals in one bill.  After working to shape the bill and analysis of the legislation that emerged, the Society has joined other organizations such as the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the Epilepsy Foundation and many other doctor and patient groups in supporting the effort.

Thank you again for your email.

Best wishes,

Kim Cantor

Kimberly Cantor
Manager, Federal Government Relations
National Multiple Sclerosis Society

While I generally support the principles the NMSS espouses for health care reform, I can’t accept the transition of these principles into HR 3200 and the other legislation the left has proposed.  So next year on the first weekend in May, I will not be riding the MS150.  If anyone else can suggest a worthy cause for which I could ride my bike, I’d be glad to consider it.  I hear there is a guy in Austin who is doing some good work in the fight against cancer.  I think I’ll look into his position regarding the current proposed legislation.

Although the battle for Health Care legislation is far from over, a review of the process to date can be very instructive with respect to understanding the tactics of the left.  What began as health care reform in the spring transformed into health insurance legislation in the summer and has morphed into a PR debacle in August which has put the Obama administration in full court defense in order to stem the tide of anger rising from the American people.

This debate has highlighted a few things (we already knew) about the President, his administration, the Democrats and their compatriots in the main stream media: they don’t care about bipartisanship, seeking input, playing fair, being hypocritical, who they trash or any other thing which may stand in their way.  They have such an elitist, statist attitude that they are convinced they know what is best for the American people so don’t get in their way.  A few examples:

How may times have we heard the President call for “honest” or “full and open debate” of whatever issue was at hand?  Why then the rush to pass the health care legislation before the August recess?  Specifically so we would not have full and open debate.  The townhall meetings affirm this fact.  Once the contents of the bills were made public (open) the discussion moved from a bunch of Dems pontificating in Congress to the American people strongly sharing their opinions (full).  The Obama administration knew the American people would not want this kind of legislation rammed down their throats so they did everything they could to have this legislation passed before the August recess.  They thought (correctly) that it would be easier for congressmen visiting their districts to get forgiveness rather than permission.

This highlights a continuing trend of the Obama administration – why the rush?  Why must the stimulus be done in a couple of weeks with minimal debate?  Why the rush to complete the Cap and Trade bill?  Why must health care legislation be enacted before the August recess?  We are told it is because the need is so urgent.  If that is the case, why is most of the stimulus $ spent after 2009?  Why has the Cap and Trade bill sat languishing in the Senate (thankfully!) for several weeks now?  (How much has the global temp gone up since that bill was passed?  Oh, it has been trending down for most of the decade.)  Why don’t we want our representatives to have the input of the American people before they vote to turn over 15% of the US economy to the control of the government?  Because we are stupid peasants and we don’t know what is good for us.  The left knows that government control of our lives is necessary for us, even if we don’t like it.  Andrea Mitchell of MSNBC stated this very eloquently when she said that American people opposed to health care reform “may not know what is good for them.”  What an arrogant attitude!

Why would an administration continually claiming its “transparency” create an email address (flag@whitehouse.gov) where you can snitch on your neighbor for being against the health care legislation?  I thought that “enemies lists” went out with Nixon, but perhaps not.  What happens to the information collected from this email address?  Can you say “big brother”?

How is it that the Speaker of the House, the 2nd in line to the President, can call American citizens who speak out at townhalls “un-American” after this same Speaker of the House told anti-war demonstrators that “your advocacy is very American”?  This is the height of hypocrisy.  To say that speech she agrees with is patriotic and that speech she disagrees with is unpatriotic is unbelievably elitist.  Who made her the patriot meter?

How many enemies have been demonized in this process?  First it was the insurance companies.  The Speaker of the House called these companies “immoral” and “villainous”.  Then it was the doctors.  The President himself implied that doctors would amputate diabetics feet rather than continue to treat them because there is much more financial return.  Finally, it was the aforementioned “un-American” citizens who protested this plan to their representatives in the public square.  This is right out of Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals rule #12:  “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”

Have you noticed the one group NOT demonized by the left in this process?  Clearly it is the Trial Lawyers.  The only discussion of tort reform related to this bill was when the President addressed the AMA and told them it was not going to happen – end of discussion.  Everyone knows that the cost of defensive medicine is a huge drag on the health care system, but there is no way the left is going to gore the ox that pulls its cart.

Finally, how many times has the President claimed this will not create a single payer system.  The public option is just to keep the insurance companies honest.  Is this the same Barack Obama who stated “I happen to be a proponent of the single payer universal health care plan”.  Unless he has had a major epiphany, he still favors a government control of health care and your life.  But he is willing to wait 10, 15, 20 years in order to obtain this goal.  But he needs the camel’s nose under the tent so the government can incrementally take over control of health care.  So when you hear the President say its about competition and you can keep your current insurance and doctor, know that he is not telling you the full story.  These things are true, FOR NOW, but are not in the long term plan – long term defined as no more than 5 years, the duration of “grandfathered plans” in H.B. 3200.

In summary, the left has gone deep into its toolkit on this battle.  However, the stakes are very high – 15-20% of the American economy.  I could claim they are liars, slanderers, hypocrites, elitist, statists and I don’t think that I would be overstating the facts.  But to the left, the ends justify the means and these ends are very, very important to them so telling a few (many) half truths, outright lies, obfuscating their mis-deeds by claiming the high ground, denigrating whole industries or professions, etc. is not a problem.

Let’s learn from this and recognize these tactics as this battle and many more continue to play out over the next few years.