Diplomacy will take the front seat next week when President Obama not only goes to the United Nations, but also to the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh as the host of the conference, and also separate and then joint meetings with the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
The fact of so many meetings with foreign leaders so close together will mark this coming week as a crucial week in foreign policy, although it may take time to analyze the effect of these conferences and summits.
President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have set an ambitious agenda for next week’s annual Fall meeting of the United Nations in New York City.
The subjects of climate change, women’s rights, nuclear non-proliferation, and dealing with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are on the agenda, and Obama himself will address the first and third issues in presentations before the international body.
The strategy of the Obama Administration is to promote a close relationship with the UN, a body often ignored by the Bush Administration, so it is a very directly opposite approach, which it will be interesting to see if any progress is made on these crucial issues.
Again, who knows how it will all play out long term, but one must certainly realize that Obama and Clinton are taking major steps to transform our foreign policy view of the world, and our relationships with other nations around the world.
Fox News Channel had the gall to advertise on Friday that it was the only station to cover last weekend’s FreedomWorks/Tea Party March on Washington, DC.
That assertion, of course, is a complete lie, as CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, and CBS all spent a lot of time and energy on the reporting of this event, even though many of the demonstrators seemed unhappy that the “evil” media was there, showing us the level of hate and craziness that represented a large portion of the gathering.
This lie comes on top of Glenn Beck’s looniness, asserting that close to two million people were at the gathering, when only about 70,000 were present. I personally witnessed on C Span the large amount of the National Mall that had green grass showing, certain proof of the low turnout.
Apparently, Fox News Channel and its anchors have no trouble telling the “Big Lie”, reminding us of Adolf Hitler, who exploited the idea that the more you repeat something, the more people will believe it. So accuracy and honesty are not needed, when a media source has an agenda, and is ultimately out to make money, and to hell with the truth! 🙁
Fox News Channel owes apologies for its lies, but if one is waiting for such a response, we will stop breathing first. 🙁
This weekend, we are seeing the Values Voters Summit in Washington, DC, a followup on the FreedomWorks/Tea Party protests of last weekend.
This group of social conservatives has welcomed various presidential possibilities to speak before their organization, but only four have done so–Tim Pawlenty, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, and Mike Pence. Each, of course, is trying to outdo the other in appealing to this group, which is having discussions on such issues as: The Global Warming Hysteria; The Pro Death Agenda; Rationing Your Life Away with Obamacare; and Fighting the Vast Left Wing Conspiracy.
It is hard to read this list of areas of discussion without guffawing like a hyena LOL 🙂 Does this group really believe that it is to be regarded as anything more than a group of right wing whackos with such titles and topics being employed, and no hint of any solutions to the many problems this nation faces?
The most interesting thing to come out of this series of meetings will be the straw poll of who is favored by this group, with the choices being the four mentioned above, plus Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and Bobby Jindal.
As one looks at this group of contenders, all nine of them, it is hard to avoid big smiles and knowing looks, that ALL of them, with again the exception of Romney, would seem to the observer to have not a chance of seriously challenging President Obama in 2012. That does not mean that Romney does not have major weaknesses, but none of the others would seem to have any strength or backing that could possibly make them competitive.
Then again, however, it could be, as many are starting to observe, that the GOP nominee for 2012 might very well not come from this group, and may be someone that nobody has been taking seriously yet or even thought of up to this point. After all, at this stage in September 2005, who was thinking about Barack Obama?
So, as always, American politics is a stimulating and exciting sport, with the impossibility this far ahead of imagining what the final game in 2012 will be like!
Probably the hottest, most controversial issue, bar none, is illegal immigration, which apparently forced Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina to shout out “You Liar!” when President Obama said that illegal immigrants would not be able to get health care coverage under the legislation being considered in Congress.
People get totally incensed whenever the subject of illegals comes up. I personally have seen gritted teeth, red faces, and the rise of tempers on this subject, not only on television and cable, but also personally.
The thought that illegals are here most likely for greater life opportunities; that ninety nine percent of them cause no problems in relation to crime; that it is business people who recruit and exploit them for their own profit; that the illegals are often the hardest, most dedicated workers there are in this country, and sacrifice daily without complaint; that these people fill millions of low wage jobs no one in this country is willing to do because of the lowered work ethic; that we as a country actually benefit from these illegal workers and don’t care how much they are victimized; that so many cases occur of them being the victims of crime themselves from citizens who seem to think they don’t even have basic human rights–somehow very few Americans are willing to face the truth and look in the mirror and realize we are guilty of horrible mistreatment of people who in almost all cases are no threat to us.
Instead, the idea is: Imagine the nerve that these people want their children to have education, but of course, if they are allowed to remain out of school and on the streets, then we will have much bigger problems long term. And do we really want to say that illegals should be allowed to bleed to death and spread disease rather than provide health care, especially emergency aid?
Do we HATE these people so much that we wish them dead? Do we wish that they be treated as slaves or animals? Actually, if you left it up to most people, they would treat animals better than human beings, as we hear about ethical treament of animals (PETA), but do not hear much about ethical treatment of people. Particularly, this is so if they LOOK different than us or speak a different language. That apparently makes them “scum”, less value than the life of an animal.
And the most venom seems to come from supposedly “religious” people who do not practice the tenets of the faith they profess. In other words, they mouth the words of religion that promote caring about one’s fellow man, but don’t practice it. This is hypocrisy at an extreme scale for those who claim to be “good” religious people.
Understand that there ARE religious people who DO practice what they preach, and they are to be commended and admired. But before we continue to promote hate and resentment, we need to look in the mirror and say: YES, no one should come in illegally, but MOST of those who do, while we should not give them favoritism over legal immigrants for citizenship, we need to realize that as long as they do not become involved in criminal activity, and as long as they meet the requirements of working and contributing and follow the rules further back in the so called “line” to achieve citizenship over time, accept the fact that they ARE contributing to America and should be treated with dignity, rather than our wrath.
And finally, let’s realize another thing: Are you personally sure that all your ancestors who came to this country were “legal” from the beginning? Oops, you MIGHT be VERY surprised if you investigated! 🙂
Is there such a thing as ‘Miracles”?
Apparently, there might be, based on the shocking news that conservative talk show host and FOX News Channel star Bill O’Reilly came out in support of a public option availability for those who wish to have it.
He made clear that he did not want it for himself, but then again, what wealthy talk show host who makes in the top one tenth of one percent salary in this nation would want that or need that?
Still, it is a big surprise, and while I am no fan of Bill O’Reilly, I must say that he has always been a bit of a “populist”, in the sense that his common struggling middle class boyhood seems to have left some effect on him at times, although he usually gives in to his greed and materialist side.
In any case, for at least one time (so don’t count on many more accolades LOL), Bill O’Reilly came out for the correct (not Right) stand! 🙂 Congratulations!
A controversial decision has been made by President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton, but also Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a carryover from the Bush Administration, to abandon the Bush Administration idea of setting up a missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic to protect against any Iranian missile program and nuclear weapons development, in favor of cooperation with Russia on the Iranian issue.
This, of course, pleases Vladamir Putin, the Prime Minister and past President of Russia, who was antagonistic toward such a missile defense, as presenting a threat to his nation. It has, at the same time, alarmed Republicans and conservatives who feel that the administration is undermining the defense of these Eastern European nations and caving in to Russian demands, particularly after the intervention in Georgia in 2008.
On this subject, I admit to some confusion as to what is best. My gut instinct is to worry about this decision, but it is also true that a better relationship between Russia and the United States is essential if there is to be any linking of policy toward Iran and North Korea, as they pursue nuclear weapons.
In many ways, Iran is the greater issue right now, although certainly one cannot be naive about Russia, based on its past and the fact that Vladamir Putin seems not a leader to trust, based on his behavior as Russian leader in the past, and his continued dominance in Russian affairs although he is no longer the President, but rather the Prime Minister of his nation.
Certainly, Obama’s decision to reverse the Bush policy is a bold gamble, for which he may some day be seen as a visionary, or as a total failure. Hopefully, the former, rather than the latter, will be the result when we look back on the Obama Presidency when he leaves office.
This weekend, President Obama is going on the offensive, appearing on a total of five news shows on Sunday, as well as on David Letterman on Monday evening, to promote health care reform. This is a followup on his nationally televised speech to a joint session of Congress, and his public appearances at several rallies around the country.
To top it off, First Lady Michelle Obama, who has direct experience in the field of health care in Chicago, is also entering the fray, and in her own inimitable style, is greatly assisting her husband as he seeks to give America what every other democracy in the world has–a public commitment to provide health care to everyone. She is very effective in discussing the personal side of health care, reminding us of her own father’s health issues, and how fortunate her family was to have health care protection, unlike many other people who often do not have their health conditions covered even if they pay health care premiums, along with millions who cannot afford to have health care protection and often face death as a result.
The fight for a proper health care program is not only important for providing everyone with the opportunity to receive necessary medical attention and promote a longer life, but also it is a MORAL cause. It is the RIGHT thing to do, and for anyone who professes religiosity to deny that their savior, Jesus Christ, advocated that all people are their “brother’s keeper”, makes a mockery of the true doctrines of their faith!
The nation’s premier daily newspaper, The New York Times, celebrates its 158th birthday today!
While there is much to be proud of about this fact, it is also reality that this great newspaper and so many others are in danger of facing bankrutpcy, or at the least, massive cutbacks, which will only harm the field of journalism and the profession of news gathering, at a time when more than ever, it is essential to have quality print journalism.
We know that at times The New York Times has performed poorly and has had fake journalism perpetrated on it by crooked staff members and writers. But that does not take away from the fact that it has been the best paper in America for the past century, an essential tool for any historian or researcher of numerous other fields of study, and the true paper of record, with the best, most complete index of any newspaper.
Basically, without the New York Times continuing its excellence and mission to be “All The News That’s Fit To Print”, the world of knowledge and scholarship would dry up, and the nation at large would be the ultimate loser.
The only solution is efforts by all those educated and interested people to spread the word of the essential nature of keeping the Times alive and thriving into the long term future!
America is in the midst of a crisis–the tragic loss of civility!
It is well known that in society at large, there is road rage much too often, and lack of manners and civility in relations among people in retail establishments, college campuses, sports and entertainment venues, and everywhere else where people mix and congregate.
But when one sees a Joe Wilson displaying rudeness in the halls of the House of Representatives; Serena Williams conducting herself in a terrible manner during a tennis match; and Kanye West interrupting a triumphant moment for a young musical talent who has just won an entertainment award–then we have the right to condemn and deplore such awful behavior, as these people, whether well known or not, are still, by being involved in public affairs of different types, burdened by a higher standard than the average person who does not make the news headlines.
There is absolutely no excuse for displays of this type of behavior by anyone, but particularly for those who are public figures and often are seen as role models for the rest of us. Therefore, it is proper that Joe Wilson was reprimanded by the House of Representatives, and every single Republican should have joined in that condemnation, not just the handful who had the courage and decency to do so. It is also right to fine and suspend Serena Williams, and to condemn and ostracize Kanye West for his atrocious behavior.
This issue of civility is something all of us need to work on, and we must teach our children the importance of having respect for others, whether people of authority or just our fellow human beings. There is absolutely NO excuse for such outrageous behavior as we have seen too much of recently.