Let's Go To Church

I am not talking about that nice white building on the town square with a tall steeple. Going there or not going there is your choice. I admit that I have spent many pleasant hours in churches. I loved lifting my voice singing hymns learned in my child hood. 

But today I refer to another Church. Frank Church was a Democrat Senator from Idaho from 1957 to 1981. Church chaired the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in 1975. This committee was charged with investigating the activities of the CIA and the FBI.

It was suspected that the American spy community had overstepped the limits that were applied to them by law. Previous to this time humintel was the gold standard of spying, to learn the methods, means, and targets of the opposition. Basically, James Bond without the dinner jacket. It was about people on the ground, risking all to obtain information to advance our cause. 

Meetings in low places with money changing hands in trade for information, dead drops, mini cameras taking pictures of secret documents, basic spy stuff, was the heart of human intelligence. It is dirty and dangerous but it is remarkably effective. There are times, to get the job done, rules were stretched. Sometimes to the breaking point. 

There are two reasons that human intel was effective. Patriotism and money. Americans that worked the street were mostly patriots. But I suspect many that did that job would scoff at that description of it. But their strongest tool was, undoubtedly, money. They would find people with information access, that had a need or a character weakness, and buy them. Ugly, but it worked.

Senator Church hated the Viet Nam war. That was a popular opinion among many people of that era. It was a dirty corrupt war that was micro-managed by politicians. It was a failed effort from the beginning. Senator Church saw human intelligence as part and parcel of the corruption. He and his committee gutted the human side of intelligence in favor of the electronic side.

So while the human side of spying was trimmed back radically, the electronic capabilities were greatly expanded. The NSA got bigger. Money was spent on new technology. The National Reconnaissance Office put up more satellites with capabilities the were almost magical. Some of this electronic data went to the CIA and some went to the FBI.

But there was a major fly in the ointment. A young Deputy Attorney General by the name of Jamie Gorelick built a legal wall between the two agencies that did not allow them to share information. Since the responsibility of the CIA was foreign intelligence and the FBI's responsibility was domestic, this created a problem. If the CIA discovered something coming this way, they were not allowed to tell the FBI. I give you 9/11/2001.

The point is that intelligence gathering is a two sided coin. And at it's very heart it is astonishingly complex. But we need to get it right if we are to keep our nation safe. The meddling and grandstanding of tinker-toy politicians is intolerable. The Department of Homeland Security was formed to solve these problems, but that just increased the bureaucracy and provided jobs for more hack politicians.

Our government gets evermore bloated and slow. Someday I fear the price will be paid. Politicians take irresponsible actions without serious thought and planning. A business run like our government would not survive. We can do better and we must. 

Taxation Without Representation

Back in 1773 in the little city of Boston in Massachusetts Colony the Tea Act was enacted by King George III. The citizens took umbrage at a tax they thought unfair saying that "taxation without representation is tyranny". Then came the Boston Tea Party, the Revolutionary War, and freedom for the thirteen colonies.

As is said, that was then, this is now. The tea tax was a mere ten percent on one product. Imported tea. That small tax got them, literally, up in arms for the injustice of it because they were unrepresented and had no say in the process.

I hope those circumstances sound familiar to everyone that reads this column. The only difference between then and now is one of scope. We are much more badly treated today than the colonists were back then.

If you are under the illusion that you are represented in Washington because you vote in an election, you simply do not read enough news or you get it from poor sources. You, the American people, are not represented. Special interests are represented. The Sierra Club, green energy, the global warming fanatics, unions, CAIR, and more, all have the ear of politicians because they have money to buy that attention. 

That is why most politicians hate and denigrate the modern Tea Party. It represents ordinary people organizing for political power. But it is the power of numbers not dollars. These are people that are fed up with the abuse and profligate spending that Washington so loves. We need to do more. This is not a country in the twenty-first century that is inclined to take up arms. Although, I know some would be willing. But we do not need to throw up our hands.

Continue to organize. Small groups or large groups. Join together in coalitions. Make your presence known to the politicians as a unified bloc with targets. Visit them. Form goals and policies. Publish a mission statement.  Issue press releases. Be professional. Be passionate, but keep it sane. Do not give the opposition fodder to minimize you. They will do that without your assistance. Do good by doing it well.

Three Hundred Thousand Criminals

To put an end to violent crime in Connecticut, the genius political class ignored those that actually perform heinous acts and instead turned three hundred thousand good honest citizens into criminals. They did this by criminalizing the ownership of something that was bought and possessed legally until that law was signed. 

As one might expect in a liberal state, they have decided to make AR15s illegal, referring to them as "assault rifles". Of course they are not assault rifles at all. A true assault rifle is capable of fully automatic operation. These civilian models are not so capable. One pull of the trigger gets you one shot just like every other civilian model rifle on the market. 

They are not a super powered military caliber capable of stopping a tank either. They shoot a common .223 caliber bullet that is often used by hunters for small game. I don't believe that that caliber is even legal to hunt deer in Connecticut. I know it is not in most states.

The politicians have two problems with the AR15. It looks scary to them because it is black and it has the same shape as the military version. Cosmetic appearance not withstanding, it is the same as any auto-loader with a nice pretty walnut stock that would seem to be OK with the powers that be.

The other problem is that magazines are available that hold ten or more rounds. Apparently politicians cannot fathom any reason for a person to need a weapon that can handle more than five shots. If questioned, the typical response is "if you can't hit a deer with five shots, you shouldn't be hunting". As pompous as that response is, I can't argue the logic. However, most weapons bought today are for home defense not hunting. If five people break into your house in a home invasion, I suspect that you would take great comfort in a thirty round magazine.

Guns are an easy target. Dealing with crazies and gang bangers is way more difficult. Most politicians don't like to do difficult. So turn your citizens into criminals with an ex post facto and probably unconstitutional law. Force them to rid themselves of expensive weapons that they have owned legally, leaving them less able to defend their families. I'm sure the public will thank you for it.

A Modest Suggestion

In all humility, I have a modest suggestion to the Congress of the United States. Go home! Send all your aides over to K St. to find work with the lobbyists. Lock your offices and go home. You are useless. Individually and collectively bloody useless. Even Truman's do-nothing Congress was better than the entirely unesteemed 113th Congress.

The insane rantings of the Democrat leadership, Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Reid, are becoming a bit frightening. I hope someone is keeping sharp objects away from them. I'm sure a vacation, maybe two or three years would be very helpful,

All I hear from the Republican leadership, Mr. Boehner and Mr. McConnell, is the sound of silence. Their brains appear to be stuck in the Reagan era and in a love affair with the status quo. It is time for the old guard to find someplace else to guard.

All of you of both parties should be ashamed. You have an out of control President that is stealing the rights, power, and privilege of Congress and the lot of you stand by and let it happen. That is not exactly protecting and defending the Constitution as you all have sworn to do. Could not you senior Democrats have had a quiet conversation with Mr. Obama early on, when this started. If he was intractable you could have reached across the aisle for some help. That may have prevented the series of messes that we look back on with great derision.

Even though, five years ago, the obvious problems were jobs and the economy, you wouldn't focus. Like kindergartners in the sandbox, you had to play with every toy there. Well we still need jobs. The economy is still scraping bottom. The health care system is a mess. We are spending ourselves into oblivion. So what is the cure? Harry Reid standing at a podium, blaming everything on the Republicans. While Nancy Pelosi feels that the most important issue is that we call it "the Affordable Health Care Act" rather than Obamacare. Grab the deck chairs the Titanic is sinking.

Meanwhile on foreign shores, our well traveled first family are very busy saying inconsequential things the will cause neutral parties to laugh, our friends to slap their forehead, and our enemies to scoff as we become less and less important by the day.

You in Congress created the monster. You turned it loose. You can't restrain it. You don't earn your pay, so why should we pay you. Resign, go home, play golf or grow roses. Do something that amuses you. But stop screwing up my country.

I'm Sorry

I'm sorry. Yes, here I go again. I said in my last blog that I am tired of writing about the Obamas. But the news forces my hand. I was lacking in ambition today. My bio-rhythms are down or something. But I started reading some of the afternoon news and........

It is bad enough, that the President is giving away the internet. It's worse that he spent more time studying college basketball than the international situation. Did he really think it was cute or funny that he's filling out March Madness brackets on TV while Putin is taking the Crimea? Now  ithas been announced that he is terminating the Tomahawk and Hellfire missile programs. These are two of the military's strongest tools for protecting our country.

The President swears to"preserve, protect, and defend" the Constitution. He and his able assistants in the Congress have done more to shred the Constitution then preserve it. The protect and defend seem to be a lost cause too. I know the man is a globalist, but he is still President of the United States, not president of the world. I am sure he would prefer that title. But I am here to say, that it will never happen. It appears that Putin is up for that job.

The Vatican is coming down on our misguided President. The Vatican's Chief Justice, Cardinal Raymond Burke, feels that Mr. Obama is hostile to Christian civilization. He has often gone against the celebration of Judeo-Christian traditions in this country and abroad while he is much more supportive of the Muslim faith, to the point where he welcomes representatives of the CAIR into the White House to offer him council. 

Even Jimmy Carter is coming down on Barrack. He is bemoaning the fact that Barack never calls him for advice. Truth be told, I wouldn't either. But Obama seeks advice from no one. Remember, this is the President the feels no strong need for daily security briefings. He probably uses that time to plan his daily instructive lecture to the American people.

Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan is backing President Putin in his venture into the Ukraine. This is a real slap to President Obama. The United States has given Karzai billions of dollars and way too many American lives keeping him afloat. But he turns around and supports the Russia that spent ten years blowing his country to pieces. Why? Because in that part of the world, strength is everything. You don't partner with a paper tiger.

The future is coming and we need to change our outlook on the management of our country. We can no longer afford an ideological or a feel good President. If you wouldn't want the candidate running your business, they should never be given a chance to run your country.

King Obama XVI and Michelle Antoinette

We humble peasants must grovel in the grandeur of our Emperor and his Lady.  Royalty has privilege and we are but to serve. If you do not believe me ask those that reside and have title to property on Martha's Vineyard.  They may have title to this property but real ownership resides with the Royal Family.

If a person has ownership they would be allowed free access to their land and the surrounding rights of way. On the Vineyard in August, all such rights revert to the Royal Family, practically shutting down the island for those two weeks when they arrive in summer.

I, honestly, get tired of writing about the Obamas. I comb the news to find other items of interest that I can opine upon. But it seems every time I watch the news on TV or read a newspaper on-line, something involving one of the Obamas catches my attention. And not in a good way.

Presidents deserve vacations. It is tough being penned up in the White House with all those amenities like butlers, aides, and chefs and a swimming pool besides. Michelle once likened it to being in prison. Wow, what a prison. But there is a hint of Louis XVI their means, methods, and attitude. 

Michelle's grand tour to China with mom and the girls at taxpayer expense is a little over the top. Did she list her daughters as senior advisers again, so that we covered their costs also. Stating that she seldom gets a chance to travel outside the United States made me think, poor little rich girl. Remember that big deal trip to Spain a short time ago. I'm just so sad for her.

Previous Presidents went on vacation. FDR had a family compound at Campo Bello, off the coast of Maine. Ike had Newport. JFK had the Cape and Newport. Reagan and W both had ranches. The point being, that a presidential vacation spot has to have extensive security and communications upgrades. Other Presidents returned for vacations to the same place with the expense occurring one time. Bush's ranch was often used as a quiet place to meet with other heads of state. 

The Obamas seem to enjoy luxury and variety too much to restrain themselves. The huge soirees at the White House are loaded with as many of the glitterati as they can squeeze in. While they are preaching to us to eat our vegetables, they are serving meals richer than all but the finest five star restaurants, along with wines that you will not find in your corner package store. 

Fewer Americans are employed than in the past four decades. Not years, decades! More Americans are receiving welfare than ever. More Americans are on food stamps than ever. Middle class salaries are decreasing. And our, would be, royal family shows no sign of tasteful restraint. "They can't afford bread? Let them eat cake". A phrase re-echoing through the halls of history.

The un-President

Barack Obama has become the un-President. He won the Presidency with people chanting, "Yes we can". Now people just mumble, "no he can't". In fact, the only thing he seems to be able to do is to restrict the freedom of the American people in glorification of his liberal ideals.

Obamacare was passed through a unilateral power grab and a series of lies. I can think of no statement that was made in the initial stages of building Obamacare that was true. I do not even think that Obamacare was the ultimate end to this ugly lesson in the economics of health care. Obamacare was made to fail. The ultimate target was single payer. The whole country on medicaid.

Why? Why would the Democrats go through all this to get single payer? While they will tell you it is because they think health care is a right and it is the duty of the government to supply it, that is not the answer. Just think of the amount of money that goes into the healthcare system each year. Now think of that money in the hands of politicians. They will think they hit the glory hole.

The money will be spent. But where? Green projects. Crony capitalism. Picking favorites on the road to success. But spending on medical care will go down. Payments to doctors and hospitals will go down. The quality of health care will go down. How un-Presidential.

When Benghazi was being attacked the President raced out of town on Air Force One, heading for a fund raiser on the west coast. It was a problem, but, hey, he has staff for that. First things first you know. While Putin is taking over the Crimea our President is doing his NCAA March Madness brackets. Priorities, priorities. How un-Presidential

Obama's first promise, even before he was elected, was that he would raise esteem for the United States around the world. And how has he attempted to do that? After he was elected he made the rounds of world leaders and bowed as deep as he could before them. Then he began irritating our strongest allies. He reneged on the anti-missile system agreement with Poland and the Czech Republic looking for a reset, whatever that might be with Russia. Remember how well that went! He lectured Germany. He insulted Great Britain. He explained to Israel how they should run their country. He kept moving the line in the sand for Iran. He did nothing about Syria. He handed Egypt over to the Muslim Brotherhood. And he stood back and watched Lybia with little interest. Quite a record. How un-Presidential.

His claimed transparency is a wall thicker than the old Iron curtain. He uses the IRS as a political weapon. He has written Presidential orders that are frightening. He will unilaterally use drones to kill. Just how bloody un-Presidential.