Day: January 13, 2011

John Boehner: Poor Judgment!

Ronald 1 Comment

Speaker of the House John Boehner has shown terrible judgment in the past few days since the Tucson, Arizona tragedy.

While he expressed the proper statements in the wake of the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and promoted an appropriate resolution through the House of Representatives on the matter, he showed very poor judgment in two other ways.

First, he failed to attend the memorial service on Wednesday evening in Tucson, which many politicians attended, and where Barack Obama gave what might be his best speech in office. The reason given is that he had a previous commitment that prevented him from attending–a Republican fund raising event! 🙁

Is a party fund raising event more important than the memorial service? Under NO circumstances is it an acceptable reason for the leader of the House of Representatives, second in line to the Presidency, to choose to play politics at such a delicate and significant moment! 🙁

The other example of terribly poor judgment is Boehner’s rejection of New York Republican Congressman Peter King’s proposal that a bill be considered to ban any weapon within 1,000 feet of any government official and any government event. Such a bill would make it a crime to do so, and lower the chances of such a horrific event as occurred last weekend, and it would also protect the ordinary citizen attending any public event hosted by a politician.

With the tragic event fresh in our minds, it is extremely disturbing that Boehner continues to play politics and to be unwilling to take leadership on an important suggestion that could save lives and make public events safer.

Boehner’s lack of principle so quickly just as he became Speaker a week ago is a bad sign of the future with him as a leader, and already makes one wish for the return of the accomplished leadership of Nancy Pelosi, hopefully in 2013!

The Tucson Speech Of Barack Obama

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President Barack Obama came through like the champion he is last night in Tucson.

He said all the right things and soothed the audience and the nation as they mourned the deaths of six people, and the wounding of fourteen others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords last Saturday.

His call for civility was appropriate, but to believe it will last is, unfortunately, to believe in the tooth fairy! 🙁

Nothing will stop the hate mongers who love to exploit the situation and earn millions of dollars from gullible people who hang on their every word, and do not care about the harm they promote! 🙁

It was inspirational that 20 year old Daniel Hernandez, an intern for Giffords who saved her life until ambulances arrived, was recognized by Obama and others as a hero. The young man, himself Hispanic in a state that has been hostile and antagonistic toward people from Mexico, and have passed discriminatory immigration laws now being challenged in the courts, came across as a very articulate and humble person, who amazed everyone as he spoke without notes, and was truly professional in his presentation. This young man represents the best of the younger generation, and gives us hope for the future of this nation! 🙂

It was also truly moving when Obama informed us that Giffords opened her eyes and acknowledged close Congressional friends who were visiting her bedside, along with her husband. It seems like a miraculous recovery may be in the offing! 🙂

As time passes, the belief of many is that Obama’s speech will rank among his greatest moments in the Presidency, and his call for reconciliation will match the Second Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln, and the call for unity of President Bill Clinton after the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995.

A whole group of prominent public figures were there, and to show Obama’s grace, he allowed new Congressman Ben Quayle, son of former Vice President Dan Quayle, to travel on Air Force One, despite the Congressman’s statement during his Congressional campaign that Obama was the absolutely worst President in American history. That shows true class, and makes Quayle look quite petty. Hopefully, Quayle will consider what he says in the future before he says it, rather than copying his own dad and Sarah Palin, who both have problems with expressing themselves in a proper fashion! 🙁