My cat and I watched the 2nd GOP debate the other night. I would love to comment about the debates; but that isn’t what today’s article is about. I want to talk about two things:
- 1. Who, among the current 15 Republicans and 3 Democrats I feel would be best. I will narrow it down to my top 5, in no particular order.
2. Who, exactly, is to blame for the current economic & international quagmires we, as a country, find ourselves entangled in.
First, since I like the political season; are my top 5, and why I like them. While it is still way to early for any firm decision, I have my favorites. For the record, I am a registered independent; which you should be able to figure out by my top five (in no particular order).
- Jim Webb: If the election were today – I would vote for Jim Webb. As it stands though, he gets very little press, if any. My cat likes Jim, although he only likes him for two reasons: He is from Virginia and he was Secretary of the Navy. I happen to like him for several reasons – he is a veteran Marine, who was medically retired due to wounds received in Vietnam. He was… under Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, committee counsel in Congress, and finally – a senator representing Virginia. He is well versed in national defense, foreign policy, domestic affairs and economic fairness. The deal clincher for me is he has stated time and time again that he would not misuse America’s greatest asset – it’s military. Why, because his son is in the Military. His website.
- Bobby Jindal: Didn’t know much about him until this debate. I like him though, and will strive to learn more about him. His website.
- Jeb Bush: Although he brings the baggage of the Bush name and his brother’s administration. He is very doable. His website.
- Carly Fiorina: She is sharp! She is running 2 for 2 in the debates so far. Her knowledge of current events (and her solutions) are striking a chord with conservatives. She can stand toe to toe with any of the candidates.
- Joe Biden: While officially not in the running, I like “old Joe.” I find him to be authentic, a person that says what he means- and does what he says. He has a reputation for getting the job done, and his personality appeals to both parties – he has admiration and respect. Contrary to most VPs; Biden has been busy and a productive member of the Obama administration. I think Obama would like to see Biden as his successor to finish the jobs he was unable or unwilling to finish. There is a good article written by Tim Stanley on why Biden should run.
Second. Bobby Jindal made some pretty good comments about how both parties have screwed the pooch. I think there is more than enough blame to go around. The final column by conservative columnist Charley Reese, published by the Orlando Sentinelon Feb. 3, 1984 says it best (this is from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, published in print on Monday, Feb 18, 2013) :
“Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don’t have the constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don’t write the tax code. The Congress does. You and I don’t set fiscal policy. The Congress does. You and I don’t control monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices — 545 human beings out of 238 million [321 Million as of Jul 4, 2015] — are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Bank because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.
I exclude all of the special interest and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t care if they offer a politician $1 million in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine how he votes.
Don’t you see how the con game is played on the people by the politicians?
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of Tip O’Neill, who stood up and criticized Ronald Reagan for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept. it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating appropriations and taxes. O’Neill is speaker of the House. He is the leader of the majority party. He and his fellow Democrats, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto. [Currently the Republicans are in charge of both houses; both parties are equally at fault]
Just 545 Americans have fouled up this great nation.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 235 million [now 321 Million] cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted – by present facts – of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can’t think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to defense overruns, that is not traceable directly to those people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise complete power over the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red.
If the Marines are in Lebanon, it’s because they want them in Lebanon.
There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take it.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist disembodied mystical force like “the economy,” “inflation” or “politics” that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people and they alone are responsible. They and they alone have the power. they and they alone should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses – provided they have the gumption to manage their own employees.”
– Charley Reese, circa 1984.
What say you? Agree with Charley’s letter, or not? Why?
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/16/politics/republican-debate-fact-check/index.html
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