Month: April 2010

Growing Concern About April 19! The Danger Of Domestic Terrorism And Anarchy!

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Monday, April 19, is a day looked to as one of growing concern about the possibility of violence.

The day marks the anniversary of two events, one inspiring, and one depressing!

April 19, 1775, marks the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the first battle of the American Revolution.

April 19, 1995, marks the horror of the terrorist and anarchistic attack on the Oklahoma City Federal Building by Timothy McVeigh, who was inspired by anti government militia groups. The worst domestic terrorist attack in US History killed 168 and wounded a thousand other citizens!

Now there is a call by militia groups and the Tea Party Movement for their followers to mass in Arlington, Virginia, right outside the city of Washington, DC, fully equipped with their guns and other weapons to reassert their rights to the Second Amendment!

There is also a planned demonstration in the government area of the US Capitol, unarmed, but making a strong assertion of the rights of the people to bear arms, and to oppose federal government action on health care and other issues that these elements claim is unconstitutional interference with personal civil liberties and states rights.

The hope is that there will be no violent confrontations, but the whole atmosphere of defiance being encouraged by many members of the Republican party and conservative talks shows could very well create an incendiary situation that might lead to the danger of some event similar to Oklahoma City!

When some irresponsible elements talk about “revolution”, it presents a terrifying scenario of possible anarchy and lawlessness. The federal government must not bend to this blackmail and threats, as these extremists represent a far greater threat to all of us than anything the US government does!

We were created as one nation, and we cannot allow any secessionists or right wing militia groups to destroy this nation that has, over time, improved and promoted equal opportunity, freedom and equality! These extremist groups do not have the welfare of the American people in mind, but rather their own aggrandizement! 🙁

Mike Huckabee, Gay Marriage And Gay Rights

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Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Fox News Channel talk show host, and former candidate for the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination, has stirred up a storm with his recent comments on gay marriage and gay rights.

Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, compared gay marriage to incest, drug addiction, and polygamy! Just because some people believe in these things, he says, does not mean society has to accept it!

Gay rights and marriage is becoming more accepted, particularly among younger people, and for a possible presidential candidate to be so blunt in his attack on this issue is bound to cause a lot of turmoil. It is not appropriate to compare gay marriage to the other issues that Huckabee mentions!

This issue is seen by its supporters as an issue of civil rights, and Huckabee now sounds like a bigot, as he also opposes gay adoptions, and has also come out in the past against civil unions. He says the gay lifestyle is outside the “ideal”. He also has said in the past that a man and his pet or multiple partners should not be considered allowable, comparing it to gay relationships. He also has been against gays serving openly in the military, and being foster parents.

Somehow, most of the European democracies, Canada, Australia, and Israel have managed to adjust to gays being part of society, and certainly have gone further on gay rights. It is tragic that this issue has to divide this nation, as while any individual certainly can hold whatever beliefs he wants to, discrimination should not be allowed just because some people have trouble accepting change!

Four Moderate Republicans And Unemployment Compensation Extension Support!

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The Republican Party has been extremely negative on anything Barack Obama wants to do, and the multiple delays in extension of unemployment compensation, held up by the infamous Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky, and now Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, is finally over!

We are in the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, and these senators, and others, who had no problem funding the two wars we are in, and the Medicare prescription Part D plan of George W. Bush, without figuring out how to pay for it, have now been overcome by cooperation of four colleagues, all of whom should have backed the Health Care reform legislation, but failed to do that!

But at least now there are signs of cooperation by these four moderates–Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, and George Voinovich of Ohio.

The extension of unemployment benefits was won by a 60-34 vote, enough to stop any further attempt at a filibuster.

It is also encouraging to see Scott Brown, who accepted Tea Party support during his campaign to fill Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat, now fail to find time to go to a Tea Party event in Boston starring Sarah Palin. It seems that Brown is trying to separate himself from any association with Palin, certainly a smart move if he hopes to win reelection in 2012 when he will likely have to face a Kennedy family member challenging him for a full Senate term.

The hope is that these four senators, and a few others in the Republican party, will now back the Obama Administration on climate change and financial reform legislation coming up for consideration soon.

The best way to get things done is to promote bipartisanship, so let us applaud these four moderates for finally acting statesmanlike, instead of just territorially staying loyal to their party when it makes no sense!

What We Should Celebrate About Thomas Jefferson On His 267th Birthday!

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Today, April 13, is the 267th Birthday of Thomas Jefferson, our most brilliant President, and one of the greatest of all the Founding Fathers!

This is the man who wrote the primary draft of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which promoted his basic principle of separation of church and state.

This is the man who helped to found a political party opposition, the Democratic Republicans, in the 1790s.

This is the man who promoted a philosophy called “liberal” at the time, but is now seen as “conservatism”–limited national government and strict interpretation of the Constitution. However, as President, he abandoned much of this concept and endorsed Alexander Hamilton’s stronger national government and broad interpretation of the Constitution!

This is the man who served as Governor of Virginia, Ambassador to France, Secretary of State, Vice President, and President (1801-1809), and doubled our land via the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 from Napoleon’s France.

This is the man who kept us at peace when he realized that we could not defeat the nation he had long despised, Great Britain. I am referring to the Chesapeake Affair.

This is also the man who owned slaves, and was always a maze of contradictions, which has made interpreting him extremely difficult. One can both agree and disagree with what he said and did.

But what one cannot do, legitimately, is decide to write Thomas Jefferson out of the textbooks of history, or to knock him down to a minor role in American history, which unfortunately, is what the Texas Board of Education has been doing in its once a decade review of what should be taught and emphasized in the publication of new textbooks for students. It is a disgraceful distortion of history, and really promoting lies and myths, to deny the greatness of our third President!

We must continue to honor the man whose memorial stands proudly on the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC! While not perfect by any means, there is no debate that Thomas Jefferson was a GREAT man who deserves our respect and consideration as a major factor in American history!

Associate Justice Al Gore? An Exciting Thought For The Progressive Base!

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Ed Schultz suggested tonight on his MSNBC talk show that former Vice President Al Gore is part of the speculation as a possible choice for the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, to replace Justice John Paul Stevens.

The selection of Gore certainly would fire up the progressive base, but at the same time, it would anger conservatives, Republicans, talk radio, and Fox News Channel, and therefore it would be a major challenge to these groups, who would, assuredly fight “tooth and nail” to prevent his confirmation.

However, the argument is that President Obama would have a better chance this year to make a bold choice for the Supreme Court, since it is certainly expected that he will not have 59 Democrats (including two independents) in the Senate after the midterm elections this fall.

Gore would bring a distinguished record as a Congressman, Senator, Vice President, and the winner of the popular vote for President in the 2000 election. He has become the center of the environmental crusade in the past decade, but has become a lightning rod for his critics, including Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma and others in Congress who deny what he has said and written about global warming and climate change.

Gore would be an exciting and dynamic choice, and could be expected to serve for 15-20 years at the least, considering his age of 62. Were he to serve on the Court, he could become a real leader of the liberal bloc and have a greater impact long term than if he had been President.

That certainly is what can be said about others who served on the Supreme Court and were involved in Presidential politics. Former President William Howard Taft served as Chief Justice from 1921-1930, and Charles Evans Hughes served as an Associate Justice before he ran for and lost the Presidency in 1916, and then he served as Chief Justice from 1930-1941.

Certainly, there is an argument for a “politician” to serve on the Court, and if one is looking for that description, the list is long of possible candidates–Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (now Homeland Security Secretary), Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, former NY Senator Hillary Clinton (now Secretary of State), Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

The impact of Governor Earl Warren of California (Chief Justice from 1953-1969) and Senator Hugo Black of Alabama (Associate Justice from 1937-1971) make a good argument for a “politician” as the list above suggests, but the most intriguing of all is the thought of Al Gore on the Supreme Court, sitting on a body that includes five members who were involved in Bush V. Gore (Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Anthony Kennedy backing Bush, and Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Stephen Breyer backing Gore).

What a dramatic moment it would be if Chief Justice John Roberts were to swear in Associate Justice Al Gore! 🙂

Man In Space: 49th Anniversary Commemoration!

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Today marks 49 years since the first man went into space–Yuri Gagarin of the Soviet Union.

In less than a month, Alan Shepard was the first American in space, although it took until February 20, 1962 before John Glenn matched what Yuri Gagarin had done on this day–orbit in a space capsule.

The space race was on, and it was a glorious time, promoted by Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, and leading to Americans walking on the moon between 1969 and 1972!

The space program has gone through different phases since, but the dream of man in space and exploring the moon and Mars seems a distant dream, and President Obama is moving in the direction of cutbacks on the Space Coast in Florida. 🙁

This is highly regrettable, and it is hoped that the Obama Administration will revisit the issue of space travel, and will see the virtues and benefits of pursuing further exploration in space after the space shuttle finishes its missions later this year!

Anniversary Of The Beginning Of The Civil War: What Should Be Celebrated And Commemorated!

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Today marks the 149th Anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, the most significant single event in American history!

As we enter the 150th year since the Civil War began, Virginia’s Governor Bob McDonnell has created a controversy by declaring April as Confederate History Month in his state, and originally failing to mention the role of slavery in bringing about the war.

Virginia was indeed the center of much of the Civil War action, as it was also significant in the American Revolution, particularly the decisive Battle of Yorktown that ended the Revolution in October, 1781.

It is also the home of seven Presidents–Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, W. H. Harrison, Tyler, and Wilson. It is a state worthy of many tourist visits, since it has played such a major role in our history, and is now a rapidly growing state that is quickly changing its image nationally, no longer just a “Rebel” state, but a cosmopolitan state which has gained a lot from the growth of its suburbs which border on Washington, DC!

Again, as stated in an earlier entry on this blog, visiting the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond is well worth anyone’s time to see the Confederate side of the Civil War. There is nothing wrong with honoring those who fought for Virginia, including Robert E. Lee and, even, President Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy. It is important to know the whole story, but there is no reason this long after the Civil War to “glorify” the Rebel cause. In other words, teach about it, read about it, and encourage all Virginians and all Americans to visit museums around the country and see the whole story of the war, where two thirds of a million men perished in the name of what they believed in!

But emphasizing the Confederate flag is counterproductive, because it represents to African Americans and many other Americans a “Lost Cause” that was illegitimate–that the nation established by the Founding Fathers, many of them Southern, should rightfully be destroyed by slave owners, whose goal was to preserve an evil institution, and in the process, not only exploit African Americans, but also keep the vast majority of whites, who were poor, as a laboring class just a step above the slaves!

We should celebrate that this nation endured because of the principled fight of those who believed in nationalism, unity, and liberty–not glorify those who were out to promote the continuation of slavery and the degradation of poor whites!

Former Politicians As Talk Show Hosts: A Growing Trend

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A developing trend on cable news seems to be that former politicians are substituting for talk show hosts, and one wonders if this is a move to employ these political figures as future hosts of regularly scheduled shows.

Fox News Channel, of course, already employs former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on its network on regular shows.

But now, MSNBC has had former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer substitute for Dylan Ratigan, and CNN has had former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura replace Larry King for one evening.

It must be said that all of these former governors have a certain manner about them that makes them effective as talk show hosts, and it could be that politicians who have left office voluntarily, been forced out of office, or been defeated for office may very well be the media stars of the future!

Is Sean Hannity Crazy? Suggestion Of A Palin-Bachmann Presidential Ticket In 2012!

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Sean Hannity of Fox News Channel is famous, or infamous, for making ridiculous statements, but one particular assertion this past week goes beyond the pale! 🙁

He suggested that Sarah Palin was as bright and intelligent as President Barack Obama, and thought an excellent GOP ticket for 2012 would be Sarah Palin for President and Michele Bachmann, notorious Congresswoman from Minnesota, as Vice President! 🙁

Is there anyone sane out there who agrees with Sean Hannity? How could anyone in their right mind make such a statement? 🙁

The thought of such a ticket would be enough for many to say goodbye to the United States! This is the most preposterous ticket ever conceived by anyone!

One thought though–while both are scary, at least Michele Bachmann has been a practicing attorney and is obviously intelligent and competent! Sarah Palin has no qualifications at all, and went through multiple colleges before finally gaining a bachelor’s degree in communication.

The problem is that while Michele Bachmann is qualified intellectually, her views are so terrifying that it is enough to promote a nightmare! LOL

No matter how one looks at it, the “dream ticket” of Sean Hannity is an absolute “no brainer”! 🙁

The 65th Anniversary Of FDR’s Death: Its Meaning!

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Today, April 12, marks the 65th anniversary of the death of our greatest 20th century President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In most polls of scholars and experts, FDR ranks only second to Abraham Lincoln among all 43 Presidents of the United States!

The effects of FDR and his “New Deal”, and his World War II efforts, still reverberate on our lives two thirds of a century after he left the scene!

A lot of the same rhetoric being used against President Barack Obama today was employed against FDR in the 1930s and early 1940s. He was called a “Communist”, “Fascist”, “Socialist”, “radical”, “Nazi”, “Marxist”, and as against capitalism and democracy.

We are hearing ridiculous accusations such as this from talk radio, Fox News Channel, Republican party leaders, and even from people in the entertainment industry, who have shown that sometimes aging makes the mind go awry, and makes these individuals look foolish and nutty!

I am referring to such former luminaries in entertainment as actor Jon Voight, and singers Andy Williams and Pat Boone, who have made former fans alienated by their outrageous statements that make one wonder about their mental stability! 🙁

The fact is that FDR and the New Deal saved capitalism, saved democracy, gave hope and faith and confidence in the future, and became an important lifeline to many millions of desperate Americans. The New Deal created a large national government, became involved in deficit spending out of necessity, and the Presidency grew in authority and responsibility as the only way to sustain the country through difficult times.

FDR also had to deal, not only with extremists on his left and right, many of whom were indeed scary and threatening, but also with a very conservative Supreme Court, which stood often in the way of necessary actions and progress.

So FDR faced very similar circumstances as Barack Obama has to deal with every day!

Let us hope that as we recognize the long range impact of FDR, that we will eventually see the New Deal traditions that he pursued, and that are being followed and updated by the man who, in many ways, represents the modern manifestation of FDR, Barack Obama, be accepted as following the proper instincts!

Also, it is hoped that we will come to appreciate Barack Obama, and not see him as the enemy, the devil, or anti-American, as Michele Bachmann has labeled him! What a disgrace that anyone would call an American President as unpatriotic and unAmerican! Shame on Michele Bachmann and all of Obama’s other critics who employ such character assassination! 🙁