Since President Obama feels the need to hold a press conference to congratulate himself on lasting 100 days in office (thus moving Scrubs from tonight AND most likely causing Lost to start late) I figure I should pitch in and compile my own list of the presidents fine achievements in these first 100 days.
1. He spent more money in his first 100 days than some presidents spent in their entire terms.
2. He has signed an order to close the military prison at Guantanimo Bay, releasing hundreds of terrorists onto US streets and streets of any country who is stupid enough to accept them.
3. He has given al Queda our interrogation playbook and manipulated Americans to think that a caterpillar constitutes torture.
4. He has become more attached to a TelePrompTer than I am to my own appendages.
5. He broke all codes of behavior upon meeting the Queen of England
5a. He gave the Queen of England an iPod...full of his own speeches.
6. He gave the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom dvds...that were region 1 and would not play on Gordon Brown's region 2 DVD player.
7.He bowed to the leader of Saudi Arabia.
8. He is now BFFs with Hugo Chavez
9. He has repeatedly ruined my television watching schedule with his horribly-timed press conferences and addresses to the nation. Yes, I am bitter.
Those are the most important achievements, I think. 100 days down, 1360 to go. But, you know, I'm not counting or eagerly anticipating it or anything.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Quick Question
If there is a war against swine flu, will the Obama Administration call it the "Global Struggle Against Infectious and Violent Diseases" instead of the "War on Swine Flu"?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
How Far Can We Go?
The Obama administration has made the massive mistake of releasing documents outlining US interrogation techniques since September 11, 2001. Oddly enough, they have forgotten to release the accompanying documents that show the success of these interrogations. Former Vice-President Dick Cheny has been giving interviews, discrediting the administration's claims that these techniques did not work, and calling for them to own up to the memos showing the success of these techniques.
While it is an immense National Security threat to allow al Queda and others the ability to see step-by-step guides to US interrogation techniques, it is an even graver thing for the President of the United States to say that he is "open" to the idea of going after former President Bush and others in his administration for the "torture" of enemy combatants. He will not go after the people who actually did the torturing, however, because they "were just following orders."
Hmmm...we didn't fall for that trick with Nazis, but I guess it's ok when the president just wants to seek some sort of revenge on the previous administration.
I'm going to come right out and say it: sometimes, torture is necessary. It is not good, but it is necessary. Do you think that al Queda or other terror groups would think twice about using techniques far worse than the US has ever used on an American soldier they capture? No, they wouldn't even think about not using it.
And no, using torture does not make the US less of a leader or just like other countries and organizations. It merely evens the playing field. I do not believe that risking the lives of thousands, if not millions of people is worth not using every option to gain intelligence from a terror suspect. These people are not protected under the Geneva Convention. They are not fighting in an organized military, or for a country. They are rogue, evil, terrorists.
President Obama, however, does not seem to feel the same. And if something tragic does happen, I will have to begrudgingly say I told you so.
But really, the point of this is not to go after the Bush Administration (hrm...I seem to remember Candidate Obama talking about how he was looking to the future, not dealing with the past...). This is an attempt to change the focus. President Obama failed to get anything done at the G20, he is failing to fully address the economic crisis, and, most importantly, Rahm Immanuel, his Chief of Staff, is playing damage control by distracting America from the Presidents MASSIVE snafu at the Conference of the Americas and his becoming BFF's with socialist leader and human rights violator Hugo Chavez. Immanuel is killing two birds with one stone, he is getting the Bush Administration, and making President Obama look like the good guy.
America seems to be wising up though. The president's approval rating has dropped from 70% on inauguration day to 54%. 50% of Americans view the tea parties favorably, and a whopping 54% of moderate democrats view the tea parties favorably. Maybe there is hope, after all.
While it is an immense National Security threat to allow al Queda and others the ability to see step-by-step guides to US interrogation techniques, it is an even graver thing for the President of the United States to say that he is "open" to the idea of going after former President Bush and others in his administration for the "torture" of enemy combatants. He will not go after the people who actually did the torturing, however, because they "were just following orders."
Hmmm...we didn't fall for that trick with Nazis, but I guess it's ok when the president just wants to seek some sort of revenge on the previous administration.
I'm going to come right out and say it: sometimes, torture is necessary. It is not good, but it is necessary. Do you think that al Queda or other terror groups would think twice about using techniques far worse than the US has ever used on an American soldier they capture? No, they wouldn't even think about not using it.
And no, using torture does not make the US less of a leader or just like other countries and organizations. It merely evens the playing field. I do not believe that risking the lives of thousands, if not millions of people is worth not using every option to gain intelligence from a terror suspect. These people are not protected under the Geneva Convention. They are not fighting in an organized military, or for a country. They are rogue, evil, terrorists.
President Obama, however, does not seem to feel the same. And if something tragic does happen, I will have to begrudgingly say I told you so.
But really, the point of this is not to go after the Bush Administration (hrm...I seem to remember Candidate Obama talking about how he was looking to the future, not dealing with the past...). This is an attempt to change the focus. President Obama failed to get anything done at the G20, he is failing to fully address the economic crisis, and, most importantly, Rahm Immanuel, his Chief of Staff, is playing damage control by distracting America from the Presidents MASSIVE snafu at the Conference of the Americas and his becoming BFF's with socialist leader and human rights violator Hugo Chavez. Immanuel is killing two birds with one stone, he is getting the Bush Administration, and making President Obama look like the good guy.
America seems to be wising up though. The president's approval rating has dropped from 70% on inauguration day to 54%. 50% of Americans view the tea parties favorably, and a whopping 54% of moderate democrats view the tea parties favorably. Maybe there is hope, after all.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tea Time
Today, thousands if not millions of Americans expressed their displeasure with the government with Tax Day Tea Parties. In my hometown of Lafayette, IN, protesters threw hundreds of teabags into the Wabash River. In my current residence of Bloomington, people gathered outside of Representative Baron Hill's office. All over the nation, people gathered, chanted, and raised signs together.
It is important to realize that these parties are not political. Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals. All stand together at these rallies to express their anger and outrage. They feel government has grown too large, that taxes have risen too high, and that we have spent enough money helping out companies that refuse to help themselves.
We have not seen something of this scale since the protests against the Vietnam War. People claim that the participants should not claim they are having tea parties, as the Boston Tea Party was held over the principle of no taxation without representation. To those participating in these parties, they feel that they are not being represented in government. And for the most part, I have to agree with them. Congress is going unchecked, as they and the president are of the same political party, so there is nothing to stop any far-left agendas from going through. I believe that while many people voted for change, they did not know that they were voting for people who were for such large expansion of government and spending.
I do have one qualm. While people complain about having high taxes, they offer no alternatives. They offer no list of government programs to cut funding for, or eliminate all together. They don't want to continue funding government bailouts, but they may not necessarily want companies to go bankrupt either.
It remains to be seen if these parties will have a lasting affect on government. ABC News reported that President Obama was unaware of the parties, so I doubt he will change any policy because of them. The parties will only have a lasting impact if the people behind them continue them. Parties, marches, anything. If they truly feel that they are being disenfranchised, then they must continue to have their voices heard, even if the mainstream media chooses to ignore them.
It is important to realize that these parties are not political. Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals. All stand together at these rallies to express their anger and outrage. They feel government has grown too large, that taxes have risen too high, and that we have spent enough money helping out companies that refuse to help themselves.
We have not seen something of this scale since the protests against the Vietnam War. People claim that the participants should not claim they are having tea parties, as the Boston Tea Party was held over the principle of no taxation without representation. To those participating in these parties, they feel that they are not being represented in government. And for the most part, I have to agree with them. Congress is going unchecked, as they and the president are of the same political party, so there is nothing to stop any far-left agendas from going through. I believe that while many people voted for change, they did not know that they were voting for people who were for such large expansion of government and spending.
I do have one qualm. While people complain about having high taxes, they offer no alternatives. They offer no list of government programs to cut funding for, or eliminate all together. They don't want to continue funding government bailouts, but they may not necessarily want companies to go bankrupt either.
It remains to be seen if these parties will have a lasting affect on government. ABC News reported that President Obama was unaware of the parties, so I doubt he will change any policy because of them. The parties will only have a lasting impact if the people behind them continue them. Parties, marches, anything. If they truly feel that they are being disenfranchised, then they must continue to have their voices heard, even if the mainstream media chooses to ignore them.
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