Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Blogs | Writers | Paid | My Orble | Login
 
Welcome to Outsider Views. We look forward to your comments and appreciate the support. Politics Blog Directory Progressive Bloggers Bookmark and Share
: Some Funny...Some Not So Funny....
The "Greatest Show on Earth" did not disappoint on the first day of the new Month!!!

The day began, for me, taking a look at the current edition of Newsweek Magazine headling a Jonathan Alter er piece. Newsweek, of course, will go on under its new owner, Sidney Harman--who happens to be the husband of the California Congresswoman Jane Harman. Jonathan Alter talks It shows how Obama has been characterized as a terrorist-coddling, wall street loving, godless, Foreign-Born, Muslim--when in fact none of it is true. Between the Afghan Surge, drone attacks, rejecting nationalization of banks and pushing to get monies back from GM and Chrysler, the record is one of a comitted capitalist. What is now prevalent is a testanment to the power of the Right Wing Noise Machine having been as effective as it has been. I nearly fell off my Chair when Mitch McConnel noted that he took the President at his word that he was not a Muslim. This is not as bad as Rush noting that Imam Hussein Obama is here and now!!! Does Mitch McConnell live in the same America or is it a different America? I wonder.


As this nonsense over the President continues, there is of course the true realities. Although Mr. Obama declared the end of combat operations in Iraq, the fact remains that the United States will continue to be engaged there. The Republicans wanted the President to thank President Bush for the "victory" in Iraq. The fact remains that the War was wrong, the premise was wrong and the Country is worst off because of this ill-conceived war that cost over 800 Billion Dollars. Iraq is a broken, shattered country that is under the thumb of the major regional powers. Yet, in the fantasy world that is the Republican Party today, they want the World to believe otherwise that America won.


The same amen crowd that pushed the rightenousness of the Iraq War is also behind the Mosque hysteria. If one visits the Keep America Safe website, all they talk about is the Ground Zero Mosque. It is as if they have nothing else to talk about. Liz Cheney's crusade against the Mosque seems to have been her group's raison d'etre. That's fine because that is her right to exercise her right of free speech. But, her paranoia surprises me becuase she was part of the gang that was in charge of US Foreign Policy during the Bush Years. She claims to be an expert on the Middle East, yet seems to have no clue whatsoever and seems to want to portray Muslims as animals. The only word I could possibly find to explain her action is simply this: Racist. For someone who is a lawyer, it seems as if she has no clue about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the history of this great land. She apparently needs to re-read history. That seems to be out of fashion, though, in the fantasyland of The New Republican Party today.

The Greatest Show on Earth that is the US Election Season continues to be ever more surprising, though. Joe "Wacko" Miller seems to be the gift that keeps on giving. His pronoucements about the Feds simply pulling out of Alaska is perfectly understandable. But, it seems as if he has to explain to the people of Alaska how he intends to replace all the Federal Funds. What if some of us around the country would want all the monies we sent to Alaska to come back? How would Alaska propose to pay that back as Oil begins to run out? Other candidates also seem to be on this wacko trip that seems to be never ending--but it sure is fun to watch!!! There is also the issue of the repeal of "Obamacare". I have been trying to find out what Mr. Miller's solution is counter the actions of regional hospital chains like Sutter Health in Northern California that charge 3 times the normal rate for a normal procedure and even the mightly insurance companies can't say anything about it.

Back in California, Fiorina and Boxer had their debate. It was a contentious one because the race is one that is supposedly a toss-up right now. What I found quite ironic was how Fiornia criticized how her tenure at HP was brought out and used as a political football. Someone had to remind her that politics is a high-touch contact sport where nothing is off the table--with the exception of one's family. California is a Democratic-Majority State. The fact that the polling is fairly close is a reflection of the national mode right now. But, polls are polls. I will not be paying attention to polls--just the facts Fiorina's campaign, though, had already put out a Press Release on the Campaign and Boxer's was yet to do so. So, the publicilty machine has been in full gear and will continue to be so.

There is of course the case of the birthers. Terrence Lakin, an Army Officer, has refused his deployment orders on the grounds that President Obama is foreign-born. I hope the Army will nail him to the wall and Court Martial him. Furthermore, I hope that the Air Force will call back to Active Duty General McInerney, the retired Air Force General who has apparently filed papers in support of Colonel Lakin and court marshall him too. It is one thing to have buffons like Steve King use the hallowed halls of Congress to push their twisted agends. I am sure that the Army will do what needs to be done and I'll let the course of Justice run its' course.

The big elephant in the room is the Economy. I was gratified to see the broad gains in the market yesterday. Yet, the economy continues to remain fragile. The question is whether voters will embrace the current path or give the Republicans another shot. I continue to believe that the election will be a lot closer than handicappers like Charlie Cook and others are calling it. It will be fascinating, though.
27
Vote
   


: ..and if it is true..wow!!!
I had to break my break to report and comment on this rather explosive development. According to Al Jazeera, Karzai has held talks with Haqqani, the leader of one of the most violent Taliban factions in Afghanistan. What is even more shocking is that Pakistan's Army Chief of Staff and the head of the ISI, Pakistan's Intelligence Service supposedly accompanied him to the meeting with Karzai. This is as Mike Mullin, the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff was in Afghanistan seeing the useless Karzai to assure him of the US committment.

This morning's New York Times featured a very moving story about the 1st Mountain Divison and the predicament each soldier is facing. There is growing concerns about the fact that there is no military solution. I do not want to seem to gloat, but what I have said is that the current policy is wrong and cannot simply be sustained. The stress on the troops is simply too great and the United States will pay a heavy price for it.

What I am concerned about it is the push by a five year plan for withdrawal. Making the rounds of the U.S. Network Public Affairs shows, I am getting a sense of the fact that the committment has to be open-ended. That was epitomized by Senator McCain's concern about the June 2011 timeline. At least there is some agreement that the War is not going well. It is about time that everyone at least understands that:

27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0">

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


I wonder how long can soldiers (and the Country) endure such images:

Sgt. Brian Keith with his wife, Sara, and their son, Stephen, 6 months, just before Sergeant Keith deployed to Afghanistan with other troops from Fort Drum, N.Y. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com, 6/27/2010


75
Vote
   


Worrisome Developments.....

October 25th 2008 12:46
: Can anyone do anything about it?
I can't help but be worried. As I continue to write about our world, I want to remain hopeful. But, the bad news continues coming in. The Dow lost over 300 points on Friday. As America continues to be in the midst of a Presidential Campaign, the world seems to be falling apart. BBC is reporting on a very disturbing development in Colombia threatens to undermine all that seems to have been achieved in the so-called war on drugs. A number of Army colonels have been sacked because they apparently kidnapped homeless men and then killed them to secure body counts and in turn promotions. Colombia was the same country, of course, that pulled off the release of Ingrid Betancourt and others using the emblems of the International commitee for the Red Cross. I view it as a bothersome development because it will undermine the very perilous nature of achievements made in the war on drugs that the world seems to be losing. Look at what is going on in Mexico. I regard Uribe as the ultimate teflon, though. I think he would muddle through as he has through other crisis.

The more worrisome development, though, is the killing of foreigners in the center of the Afghan capital, Kabul. Afghanistan is on fire. Karzai is useless and is a lost case. I am heartened by Joe Klein's comments on Time.com about Barack Obama's views. According to Klein, Barack Obama (and General Petreaus) are in favor of negotiations with the Taliban. I would be interested in any alternative anyone could offer. Right now, I see none


[ Click here to read more ]
25
Vote
   


General Powell is now on the record

October 19th 2008 16:51
: Quite an indicement of the Republican Party
General Powell went on the record earlier on U.S. National Television. He has endorsed Barack Obama for President. I found his near repudiation of the right-wing shift of the Republican Party especially pointed. Senator McCain's judgement was the key question, as I saw it. As I listened to General Powell, what especially drove me was how General Powell addressed the question on Muslims on in America:


[ Click here to read more ]
49
Vote
   


: What else is there?
The polls are starting to show that Governor Palin's star is fading. The Gallup Daily Poll taken on September 19 shows a 5 point lead by Senator Obama. He has continued to gain as the U.S. and the World has undergone an economic implosion that has been unprecedented and is probably indeed the biggest challenge since the Great Depression. The markets were up when Hank Paulson annouced the basics of the plan taking on all "bad debt" off the balance sheets. The markets liked it and they rallied worldwide.

But, the politics of the day still played itself out. There was a story in the September 18, 2008 edition of the Los Angeles Times. The report was on Governor Palin saying "yes to a road to nowhere". She changed her mind on the bridge to no where that has been the central tenant of her stump speeches. But, as folks have continued to investigate her record, the truth is starting to come out. So, the fiction that somehow she is "clean" is starting to unravel. Of course, the McCain-Palin campaign's standard line has been that it is the "elite media" that has been digging things under the guise of democratic operatives. Governor Palin pushed this "fiction" when she noted that organizers of an anti-Iran rally in New York pulled an invite from her under pressure from Democratic Operatives. Interestingly enough, Fox News also reported that Governor Palin will be at a Monday Reception hosted by President Bush. My assumption is that all candidates will be there to be "introduced" to other world leaders as well


[ Click here to read more ]
36
Vote
   


Andrew McCain & Silver State Bank

September 8th 2008 18:27
: Maybe it is much ado about nothing.....
The story on Andrew McCain's resignation and subject failure of the bank he was a Director in is intriguing. Supposedly, it was first reported in Wall Street Journal's Online Edition (a Fox-owned newspaper). The younger McCain was on the board of a Arizona Bank that was bought out by Silverstreak. Now, why he all of a sudden resigned for personal reasons and the Feds subsequently seized it is interesting. I am sure there is nothing there. But, he is the CFO of his step-mom's company. He was a member of the audit committee. Is it a coincidence? I am not sure.

36
Vote
   


: An Interesting Discourse
The wide ranging discussions Pastor Warren and Senator McCain had continued on. One of the questions I felt was poignant. Pastor Warren noted that leaders are not stubborn and do change their minds. He then asked Senator McCain about a decision he had made and then changed his mind. He was quick to respond: Off Shore Drilling. He went on to note that we must attack the problem of energy on all fronts now. He reminded all of us that the United States is sending out 700 billion dollars a year to folks who are not at times that friendly and cooperative. Senator McCain's plan is dubbed the "Lexington Plan" and is available on his website. Leaders should be flexible and change their mind, while not forgetting their principles. George W. Bush seems to have understood that during the last months of his Presidency.

His response to the question of Abortion was to the point and without any reservations. His view is that abortion begins at the moment of conception. He told the world that he was going to be a Pro-Life President. As for marriage, Senator McCain was also adamant that it was a union between a man and a woman. Although an avowed Federalist, Senator McCain noted that he would back a marriage amendment if the States moved to force other states to accept their marriages. Evil must be defeated and the Senator brought up Osama Bin Laden. He committed to hunting him down. Osama is evil and evil indeed must be eradicated. I think his commitment is a bit over the top due to the realities on the ground in Pakistan and Afghanistan


[ Click here to read more ]
28
Vote
   


Mike Pouraryan's Blogs

26440 Vote(s)
361 Comment(s)
506 Post(s)
16223 Vote(s)
129 Comment(s)
319 Post(s)
Moderated by Mike Pouraryan
Copyright © 2006 2007 2008 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]