As we have all watched this week, Jimmy Carter went to North Korea to secure the release of an American Citizen, who while in South Korea as a teacher and preacher, allegedly and illegally crossed over into North Korea and was impisoned by the North Korean government for such offense.  And lo and behold, today Mr. Carter did in fact leave North Korea and bring Aijalon Gomes home.  While this is quite remarkable on its face, I can't help but wonder what on earth was going on with this entire transaction.  There are too many questions and too many oddities.  Something is up.

Think about it would you.  We have an American Citizen wrongfully imprisoned in a communist, rogue nation, and the best America can do is not ask, nor endorse, a rescue envoy, but rather "approve" of an almost 86 year old, FORMER, US President, a mediocre President at that, Jimmy Carter, to go and secure the release of one of our own.  Is this the best America can do? Is Mr. Carter the expression of American might we as a country choose to display when seeking the release of one of our own citizens who is wrongly detained by a corrupt foreign govenrment?  Surely there is more to this.

Now, I can hear some of you saying, well yes, this was the best we could do, and the outcome was perfect, after all, Mr. Carter brought Aijalon Gomes home with him.  Wasn't that the desired result?   I can't argue there, but I still have to say there is more here than meets the eye.  AND, if you peel back the layers, looking a little deeper, you will see that there is obviously more here that what appears on the surface.

First, as stated above, the US Government did not ask, nor endorse Mr. Carter's trip.  Nope, Barry Obama can't even take credit for this, and you know that opportunistic little fella would if he could.  Sorry, but the best Barry can say is that the trip was made by Mr. Carter as a private humanitarian mission through the Carter Center, with the approval of the White House, whatever that means.

Now, I have to stop and ask, was Mr. Gomes not worth more effort than what was put forth by Barry Obama and his cabinet.  I mean seriously, Mr. Gomes was arrested in January and sentenced in April to 8 years hard labor and a $600,000.00 fine.  Come on folks, its not like Barry didn't know Mr. Gomes was over there in trouble.  I am sure he at least read it in the paper.  But yet nothing was done by the White House, no not even asking Slick Willy Clinton, who has a drunkening effect on the North Koreans, to go and rescue Mr. Gomes.  Isn't there anyone the White House could find with clout to go and rescue Mr. Gomes?  Maybe Mr. Gomes should ask Barry how his 3 or 4 vacations were between January and August, while Mr. Gomes was vacationing in a North Korean prison.  Apparently Mr. Gomes wasn't on the radar enough of the White House.  Or even worse, maybe there is no one in the current administration with enough swagger to go and get the job done.

So eventually, Jimmy Carter, on his own, through the Carter Center, takes the reigns and makes a private humanitarian trip to North Korea for the release effort for Mr. Gomes?  Seriously, you don't think do you.  Was this purely the idea of Mr. Carter?  Was the White House that callous that they never even asked Mr. Carter?  Well, that's what they say.  Who knows.

Well let's suppose Mr. Carter did actually go as part of some unspoken, back room deal with the White House.  If so, what a major international snub Barry and the boys received.  How so?  Well, upon arrival, Mr. Carter found that while in flight, Kim Jong Il, the supreme leader of North Korea, cranked up the old coal fired train and left town, headed to China.  Yep, left the country and left the number two in charge to great Mr. Carter.  What a shame.  I have said it a million times, and I have to say it again, American simply does not have the clout She used to have.  Never before in history have high level Americans been treated with such disdain and disrespect as they are now.  Whether this with with White House endorsement or approval, or whatever, it is an affront either way.

But I still here you protest.  Come on John, they they let Mr. Gomes go at Mr. Carter's request.  Surely they have some amount of respect for the US.  Ah, certainly, but you stopped short of the total answer.  Yes, the North Koreans have respect for the US DOLLAR.  You see, prior to Mr. Gomes' release, it was confirmed that the $600,000.00 fine was anonymously paid.  Really?  And you think Mr. Carter used his magical powers on the North Koreans?  Nope, it was the good old US Greenback that secured the release of Mr. Gomes.  Heck, they would have let Mr. Gomes go if I had showed up with $600,000.00.

So where was Kim Jong Il you ask?  He was off in China, probably begging for more money.  You see, North Korea is flat broke.  They have experienced tremendous ruin due to catastropic flooding lately and they are out of food and money.  With international sanctions, there is no one to bail them out but their communist big brother, China.  So while Mr. Carter was bringing a small graft of $600,000.00 to the table for the North Korean relief effort, Kim Jong Il was off in China securing more money for his peeps.

Now you know the real magical power behind Mr. Carter and the release of Aijalon Gomes.  So if you are ever nabbed in North Korea and wrongfully imprisoned, you better hope Barry knows somebody with deep pockets to "magically" spring you from your prison sentence.  I hate to say it, Mr. Carter may be a former US President, but he certainly is not the best we can do, nor is he a miracle worker.  It appears that in this instance, he is the money man, makin' in rain in North Korea. 

The more and more I watch the political and cultural landscape unfold in our world, the more I am shamefully convinced that America, the great land of liberty, the land of the free and the home of the brave, has lost her swagger.  Yep, I said it, Lady Liberty ain't what she used to be, and America is at most, only half the man she once was.  And yep, I said it, I used a reference to a male attribute in reference to a female object, which is America, this great country we live in.  If you don't like it, find your rhinestone studded mouse and click on to some more politically correct, middle of the road site where you'll get more emasculating of America and less true perspective on all things American.

You don't have to look far to find numerous examples of what I am speaking of.  As I have blogged several times lately, take this whole Ground Zero mosque mess, and what a ridiculous mess it is.  What in the world are we doing?  Seriously folks, first, there are actually Americans who support building a radical islamic center of celebration at this sacred site.  Secondly, we are actually having debates with the very people who supported the murderers that killed thousands of innocent Americans.  What is even more ridiculous is that we are actually listening to what these lying, misleading and deceptive "holy people" are saying about their right to build a mosque on HALLOWED AND SACRED AMERICAN GROUND.  Are you kidding me?  A leader of hamas said that muslims have the right to build at this site, and we actually listened to him.  We actually put his opinion on the airwaves in our Country.  Are you kidding me?  What does this yahoo have to say about anything American?  And we listen.  Come on America, are you kidding me?  Do you really believe building this mosque AT THIS LOCATION is the thing to do?  Or better yet, do you really believe Americans should be listening to teachers, trainers and supporters of radical islamic murderers?  Are you kidding me?

And what about the Wikileaks debacle?  An online site published thousands of classified US military documents relating to the war in Afghanistan.  This single act of idiocy is as compromising to the thousands of US men and women in the Afghan theatre as the Afghan rebels themselves.  Yet seemingly nothing was done about it.  And now, Wikileaks is threatening more releases.  So what does good ole Uncle Sam do about this further compromising act by Wikileaks, NOTHING.  Oh, wait, the Pentagon gave a stern warning to Wikileaks.  Wow, are you kidding me?  The greatest Nation, and the greatest military force in the history of the WORLD, and we can only muster up a stern warning?  Are you kidding me?

AMERICA, WHERE IS OUR SWAGGER?  I am afraid there are many out there who can hardly spell the word, much less understand what it means.  So here you go, from the Urban Dictionary, the word SWAGGER means: How one presents him or her self to the world. Swagger is shown from how the person handles a situation. It can also be shown in the person's walk. Swagger is to move with confidence, sophistication and to be cool.  Swagger is to conduct your self in a way that would automaticaly earn respect. 

Are you getting the picture?  AMERICA, WHERE IS OUR SWAGGER? 

Apparently we don't know where it is, and are hard pressed to find it.  This is a most unfortunate but apparently true circumstance.  Gone are the days of real men like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Roy Rogers and even Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf.  Even guys like Denzell Washington and Bruce Willis exist only on movie screens, and not in real life.

America no longer is exhibiting the strong, confident, competent , sophisitcation She used to.  Now, our every move is questioned, and in many instances, ignored.  It seems the world no longer takes America seriously when She speaks.  Noses all over are being thumbed at America, and there is nothing being done about it.  Internationally, and largely domestically, America has lost her swagger, her ability to present herself in a manner that commands respect.  She has lost her confident, sophisticated and cool strut.  And nothing is being done to BRING IT BACK.

Well wait, there is something being done, its called an exhibition of form without substance.  Oh sure, we'll parade Barry Obama out onto the big time, and he'll READ some CANNED speach, written by some INSINCERE staffer, and it will sound good to some.  But don't you dare expect Barry to back it up.  Neither Barry, nor anyone in his cabinet have the gall or guts to back up anything that needs to be said or done to bring back America's swagger.  Or even worse, they'll send that Robert Gibbs guy out to make up some pathetic story about how great Barry and the boys are, and how they have now again for the one millionth time changed their interpretation of everything Barry said yesterday, to suit those who disagreed last night.  Get some guts guys and stick to your conviction.  The only problem is that there is no one in that entire administration with any guts or conviction about anything AMERICAN, including Barry himself.

Ask yourself, what would the Rat Pack have done about the mosque issue, or the Wikileaks matter?  Dean, Sammy and Frank would have said there is no way on earth a mosque will be at ground zero.  Build it, but you ain't gonna build it there.  And as for Wikileaks, they'd have said bomb the joint.

Are you getting the picture?  America doesn't ask, or take note, from any foreign anyone when it comes to any matter American.  We are the single most expert on all things American, period, end of story.  Americans make decisions on what is best for Americans and we do it with a mind towards tolerance and understanding of others, but with a definite American bend on the outcome.  Build the mosque, exercise the religious freedom we have established in America, that so many thousands of American men and women died gaining, protecting and preserving.  But you will not exercise it on a place where islamic terrorists and murderers killed thousands of innocent Americans.  Don't like it, we don't care.  Either build it across town, or build it at home.

And as for Wikileaks, how about the Pentagon assigning 500 of the sharpest, most sophisitcated computer programmers and hackers in the world to do nothing but wreak total and unequivocal cyber-sabotage on Wikileaks.  Absolutely cripple them electronically and technologically, stopping at nothing.  And if that doesn't work, then declare that their actions are aiding and abetting foreign terrorists, compromising the safety and security of Americans at home and abroad, and take the necessary military actions to defend AMERICAN INTERESTS.  Yes, I said take military action to defend AMERICAN INTERESTS.

America has lost her swagger, and I'm not afraid of bringing it back.

As the National debate continues on whether to allow the building of a muslim mosque at Ground Zero, I am continually dismayed at the state of our American personality in this entire issue.  I have previously blogged on the building of the mosque at Ground Zero, which I am totally and unequivocally against.  However, what I am sensing is a much deeper problem that as Americans, we must wake up and conquer before it is too late.

Think back to the America of old, and in some respects, not so old, but compared to today's accournt, its the America of yesteryear.  You don't have to go too far before you begin to think of names like John Wayne, Carey Grant, Clint Eastwood, Roy Rogers, Audi Murphy, Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell and the list goes on literally for thousands more.  So you ask what does this have to do with the mosque at ground zero?  Well I tell you it has several things to do with it.  I wish I had the time and patience to tell you all of it.  But I'll share what I can below, just before I erupt in anger given the current status of things in our Great Nation.

As I said last week, Ground Zero is sacred, hallowed ground.  It is a place where thousands of innocent Americans were murdered by muslim terrorists whose sole purpose was and is to attack and bring down the American way of life as we know it.  Now, I ask you, look at the list above, and you tell me, which of these individuals in American history would say they agree with building a mulsim mosque at the very site where those same muslims killed thousands of innocent Americans?  NOT ONE.  So why is there even a debate on whether we should allow such?  I can't even fathom such a question, and neither should you.

What is most disturbing is that there is absolutely no one on the forefront in America willing to stand up and be American.  Noe one is willing to display  the American swagger that has apparently been lost over the last year or two, especially since we have elected a democrat President and since we have democrat control in government.

Our supreme leader, President Barry Obama has come out on this most meaningful and sensitive issue stating that the muslims have a right to build the mosque at Ground Zero.  What kind of American President is this?  Who would agree that it is the right thing to do, to build the mosque here?  No red blooded American would do so (except that pandering schmuck Mayor Bloomberg).  President Barry Obama's initial words, that just so happened to be spoken at a celebration of Ramadan, of all things, were apparently clear.  He supported the building of the mosque at Ground Zero.  He even went so far as to quote constitutional law and separation of church and state to support his contention (no matter how ridiculous and incorrect he was).

Oh but wait a moment, when pressed by media and mainstream Americans, President Barry sends his press spokesman (what a ridiculous job) out to try and clarify (or cover up) President Barry's words while making us think he is in touch with the majority of Americans who say building a mosque at Ground Zero is absolute sacriledge.  Rather than stick to his previously espused out of touch position, now Barry Obama says he never quite stated he was in favor of building the mosque at Ground Zero, but rather he meant that muslims have the right, under our freedom of religion concept in America, to build a mosque on privately owned property.  Hello Barry, earth to Barry Obama, we know that the privately owned property you are taling about is at Ground Zero.  Do you think we are that stupid? (the sad answer is that not only does he think Americans are that stupid, he knows they are, and they will buy his bull, hook, line and sinker.)

On that note, President Barry Obama will say anything, only to come back later and try to convince America he was not completely committed to his initial position.  At some point Americans need to wise up and no longer give in to his slick talk and shuck and jive tactics.  At some point THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SHOULD MAKE A STATEMENT AND STICK WITH IT.  Stop pandering to public opinion and stick with your conviction, if you even know what that means.

President Barry Obama, answer this:?

    Do you believe muslims should build their muslim mosque at Ground Zero, where thousands of innocent Americans were murdered by muslims in the name of their faith, religion and god?  Just answer the question, yes or no.  It really is that simple.

To sum it up, America has seemingly lost her swagger.  There is no one at the helm man enough to stand up and do and say what is right for America.  Where have all the heroes gone?  Can anyone put a stop to President Barry's nonsense?

If I have to hear Barry Obama cry one more time how George Bush is responsible for all the ills of Barry's current administration I think I will literally rip my ears off my head.  Can someone please tell me when Barry Obama will grow up and become a man?  His continual whining and blaming of Bush is such a picture of the "man" Barry Obama truly is, or should I say, is not.

I agree that each administration is saddled with the impact of the prior adminstration, positive or negative as that may be.  But hey, that is the nature of the job.  But at some point, the person elected has to rise to the top and take control, and RESPONSIBILITY for the direction of their own administration.  If you can't handle it, don't run for the job.  For crying out loud Barry, you are the President of The United States of America, can't you do more for the direction of our Nation than to whine?  Grow up and be a man, take responsibility and quit taking the liberal way out, which is to blame everyone but yourself.

You know, its precisely the reason cars have a 3 foot by  6 foot windshield and a 3 inch by 6 inch rear view mirror.  You can't successfully drive forward by looking backwards.  Barry Obama, if you would spend more time looking forward than you do looking backwards, then your job, and our Country, would be in much better shape.  No one can walk with their head turned around backwards, lest they fall.  And trust me Barry, you are falling.

Take a lesson from successful college or professional football coaches.  Often times if not always, a new coach inherits a disaster, a team left in shambles or distress due to the prior coaching staff.  But rather than even mention the prior coach or coaching staff, the new coach almost always talks about his plan for success, how he will take what he has inherited, how he plans to add to it, thereby making the team better, more productive and a more successful.  Nothing like how Barry Obama has handled his Presidency.  I guess Barry Obama never played football, and by looking at him, and how he has handled the direction of his administration, I am pretty sure I am correct.

Many are saying that America used to be the greatest nation on earth, primarily given our status as of late.  If that doesn't worry Barry Obama, I surely don't know what will.  Barry, take it from me, you need to step up the the plate, quit the whining and be a man.  You tricked a majority of people to elect you as President of what I consider to be the greatest nation on earth, now act like you deserve to be there.

America, if Barry can't rise to the occasion, then let's find the person who will.  We have fallen far enough.  Let's stop the slide and get America back to where we were, and to where this world needs us to be.

I keep watching all the media coverage over the proposed mosque at Ground Zero and am really disturbed at the absolute lack of Americanism, or Nationalism, portrayed by what seems to be a majority of those involved.  Since when did our American Society become so naive and blinded by truth that so many actually believe allowing this mosque to be built at Ground Zero is the right thing to do?  You have go to be kidding me.

First and foremost, let us not forget what happened at Ground Zero, or have we already? Thousands of Americans, innocent Americans, fathers, mothers, children, brothers, sisters, friends, AMERICANS were callously and calculatedly murdered by muslim terrorists.  Sorry for you politically correct minded folks, but there's no other way to put it.  Mulsim terrorists flew a jet into each of the Twin Towers, killing thousands of innocent Americans.  And you mean to tell me there are actually people in this Country who believe that building a mosque on this site is even mildly appropriate?  What a farce.

Oh, I get it, it will be an islamic holy place where they will teach tolerance and acceptance.  They will teach peace, love, acceptance and understanding of all the world's people and religions.  They will tell the world that they condemn the actions of those muslim terrrorists, the jihadists, who killed so many thousand innocent Americans.  Yeah, right, and if you believe that, I have some proverbial ocean front property in Arizona I will sell you.  Wake up you silly Americans and look at what is happening around you and right before your eyes.

What most Americans don't understand is that the muslim faith goes to great lengths to symbolize significant aspects and significant accomplishments in their faith.  So, hmmmm, what would be the best way to symbolize their single most significant victory over the American Infidels, their single most significant accomplishment against Americans and Christianity in over 100 years?  I know,  let's build a mosque, a muslim holy temple, right at the very sight where muslim warriors killed thousands of their most hated enemies.  Let's build a massive, 16 story stucture to celebrate this most significant accomplishment by these celebrated muslim heroes.

And this mosque, this mosque will be a place where jihadists from all over the world can come and celebrate the death of thousands of their enemies.  Then they can teach their own brand of Islam, the one that celebrates the deaths of thousands of Americans that occurred right across the street.  They will recruit more terrorists to go to their holy lands and learn their art of warfare and jihad, only to return and exact more damage to our American way of life.

America, when will you wake up?  These people do not like us, they do not like our way of life, they do not like our Christain Faith, and yes I said OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH (which is another blog all in and of itself) and they certainly are not interested in promoting tolerance of us, our faith and our way of life.  What they want is to recruit more people to their faith, their way of life and to eventually seek to establish a majority state in America where they can impose islamic rule over our nation.

I know, I know, you are all saying how this sounds crazy.  But you know what, on September 10, 2001 you also said how crazy it sounded that muslim jihadidists would fly a jet into the twin towers and kill thousands of Americans as well.  Just look at what is happening in the middle east.  Muslim factions seek to overtake national governments and impose their own take on islam as the rule of law.  What on earth makes you think they want anything less for our country.

And what disturbs me most is that people in this Country have absolutely no backbone or resolve to stop this indignation.  Do you believe that in 1955, Dwight Eisenhower, as President of The United States of America would have allowed a group of japanese citizens to build a Buddhist shrine in the middle of Pearl Harbor.  Absolutely not.  That would have been the highest form of sacrilege.  President Eisenhower would never have allowed such an act of treason or desecration, even the mere though of it is absolutely ridiculous.  I dare you to find anyone in this Country who was of legal age in 1955 who would have even given a second thought to such an idea.

So fast forward 50 years or so and look what a difference a few decades make.  Americans have become fat and naive, drunk on the hollow and slick sounding words of crafty muslim imams who charm the pants off the idiots in this Country who are too smitten with poltical correctness to see the truth.  Well I am one who isn't smitten what anything jihadist and I certainly will not be silent and watch this indignation be played out on US soil.

And what about the Supreme Leader of our great Nation, Barry Obama?  Is he half the man Dwight Eisenhower was? Will he defend the thousands of murdered Americans by prohibiting the building of the mosque? Or will he fall right in line with that yahoo smuck Mayor Bloomberg who is sickeningly pandering to the muslims terrorists, begging for the desecration of this sacred ground?  If I were a betting man I would have to say that Barry will be on the side of the pandering yahoos.  Well, after all, he did bow to the Saudi King, and yes, it was a butt kissing bow.  And let us not forget that Barry grew up a muslim, and Barry said that America was no longer a Christian Nation.

And I am not interested in any of the freedom speeches either.  Don't tell me that if the terrorists can buy the property they can build whatever they want.  I, more than you, understand freedoms, constitutional issues and property laws.  But more than that, I apparently understand that America is America, and that before it is too late, we need to begin acting like America again.  We don't tolerate those who don't tolerate us.  And we certianly don't promote or otherwise celebrate those who hate and injure us.

This is America and if America doesn't want terrorists to build a mosque on Ground Zero, then terrorists don't build a mosque on Ground Zero, period, end of story.  If you agree with anything in this entry, I encourage you to stand up and be heard, however you can, in your own way, before we lose so much that we'll never get it back.

As much as possible I will always try to curb my sarcasm and disrespectful and pithy comments when making entries.  In some instances I find it more difficult to do than in others.  I truly hope I do not  offend anyone with anything I say in this post.  It is truly meant in the most sincere way not to be sarcastic, although my wife has assured me some of it is.  Nevertheless, I have to say what I have to say.

In a day where US Citizens are being called on more and more to pay for the greed and reckless irresponsibility of a select and small few, I find it almost unthinkable that these ignorant and selfish thugs are being given so much latitude in the continuing shunning of principles of decency and fiscal soundness.  Immediately after the news of an almost 100 billion dollar investment loan to keep AIG afloat, in light of its complete incompetence in corporate management, it was learned of the lavish retreat costing $440,000.00 paid for with taxpayer money and enjoyed by the same jug head executives at AIG that have ripped off countless thousands of consumers, and now taxpayers.

This act has to be the absolute most in your face expression of disrespect for the millions of hardworking Americans who paid the tax money that went to bail AIG out.  Most of us will never see such a resort as the St. Regis Resort visited by the AIG Executives.  That is of course unless we are hired there to work and wait on these wealthy abusers of public trust and decency.  And I certainly have no problem with the rich and famous enjoying the spoils of THEIR own labor.  However, to have these people, who were on the brink of bankruptcy, complete financial ruin, and possibly ushering in the complete destruction of the American financial underpinning, take US tax payers' money, funds collected from us hard working Americans, and throw it in the wind in such a callous manner is completely unconscionable. 

And the hits keep coming.  As shocked as I am about this behavior, I am even more shocked at the complete lack of governmental rage that this most audacious act has invoked, or not invoked, in our elected officials.  In a debate with John McCain, Barack Obama said the AIG officials that went on the retreat should be fired and have to pay the money back.  Gee, ya think.  He said it and no one did anything to see that it happened.  I'm afraid, and hope I am wrong, but this appears to be a lack of being in touch with reality.  I have the utmost respect for Mr. Barack Obama given that he is a US Senator and now President Elect.  However, I must admit I am concerned that Mr. President Elect Obama exhibited an amount of ignorance of how things work in the real world, and such a glaring insight into how things work in his world, Washington, DC.  I only hope and pray that in the 8 weeks or so since he made this statement on his feelings on the matter, he has placed his feet more solidly on the ground where I walk, along with hundreds of millions of other middle class Americans.  And that's not all, where was John McCain, and numerous other US politicians, both Democrat and Rebublican, who we believe in to safeguard our hard earned tax dollars.  It seems that for the most part they all have gone silent, exhibiting what appears to be Washington, DC's complete lack of touch with the real world.

You see, in our world, the real world, if we hard working Americans took this kind of money from the US Government, say in the form of a grant we applied for, and completely misappropriated the use of it as AIG Officials did, then we, in the real world, would most likely be publicly humiliated, arrested and prosecuted, imprisoned, and would most definitely lose the grant and be required to repay the money without further waste and delay.  I can assure you the governmental outcry would go far beyond just talk, like what was exhibited in Washington, DC.  I am completely dumbfounded and confused at the government's lack of concern for this.

And now we hear of millions of dollars reserved for bonuses to be paid to the same jug heads that completely and openly bankrupted AIG.  This is completely in line and step with the absolute waste of the $5,000,000.00 bonus and $15,000,000.00 "golden parachute" paid to Martin Sullivan, the former CEO of AIG who was at the wheel during the time the corporate execs ripped of the US public and ran the company in the ground.  Would you pay this money to anyone in this organization?  Should we expect such? Has America lost its mind?  Has our government completely lost its senses?  There is absolutely no way you can justify paying a bonus to any one individual inside AIG for anything they have done in the last several years.  You don't reward complete and utter incompetence and reckless regard for fiscal responsibility and you certainly don't reward corporate theft and greed.

In the real world, when you perform poorly, even to the point of losing billions of dollars in real money (I say real money because you know on Wallstreet and in Washington DC its all play, they just print it as they need it) you don't get a reward, you get escorted to the door and asked for your key to the office.  How on earth can these people expect a bonus for what has to be considered one of the largest, if not the largest, failure in US corporate history, to the point of ushering in a colossal downturn in the US economy?  I guess when you have fraudulently bilked billions of dollars out of trusting, hard working Americans, and then taken another $85,000,000.00 from them with the help of the US Government, to use as irresponsibly as you possibly can without retribution, you actually believe you are entitled to get away with anything.  What a gig, and what a country.

Oh, I know what we can do.  I tell you what, let's hold countless hours of House and Senate hearings to discuss how and why these people who ran this financial giant into the ground, so recklessly and carelessly would spend almost a half a million tax payer dollars on their own self indulgence.  We can assemble dozens of lawmakers, staffers and a whole host of others to the sum of tens of millions more tax payer dollars just to give these AIG thiefs a public stage to cry about how the stress of their situation necessitated their retreat.  I don't think so.

The bottom line is that these people have exhibited the most careless lack of regard for public trust and by giving them another $85,000,000.00 without more oversight and expectation we have opened up the possibility that they will just waste more money at the expense of hard working Americans like you and me.  We need more representatives that will actually do something about bringing the change to this situation than talk about it.  We need to demand it and I am afraid the current slate of officials are not the ones to get it done.

I recently responded to a post by Stuart Rojstaczer on his Forty Questions posting site.  I thought it was enough on content that I would include it here.  It read as follows:

I want to begin by stating that I enjoyed reading your post “My New Republican Party”.  While you and I certainly share many different opinions on issues, which is not all bad, and we probably differ vastly on our personal views about life and many aspects of life, I am in agreement with you on the current state of the Republican Party.

If nothing else, the Republican Party allowed youth, ingenuity and vitality to win the White House.  It wasn't so much that Barack Obama was such a better candidate from the point of his experience or ideas, or more qualified, Lord knows he wasn't.  The simple fact is that the Republicans lulled America to sleep by running on the same old tired agenda, with the same old tired leaders, advisers, and programs of the past and it finally caught up with them.  Another way to say it is that the Democrats out youthed the Republicans.

What absolutely amazed me was the McCain Camp’s inability to grasp onto the youth movement.  And no, I’m not necessarily talking about MTV or college kids, although they are certainly a part of the mix and a very important part of the future of our country.  But in this vain, I’m talking more about the majority of middle class Americans like me and all my contemporaries who are out here slugging it out every day trying to make a living.  Yes, there is a large number of Americans from 25 to 55 who are completely disenfranchised with a Republican Party that holds onto ideas and tactics developed and implemented by people 60 and up for  campaigns that were run over 20 years ago.  And no, this is not a knock on older Americans.  They are a wealth of wisdom and knowledge we need to tap more into.  I am on the record now saying there is absolutely nothing wrong with the older Americans and what they offer our Country.  In fact, we should find better ways to utilize their wisdom, resolve and resourcefulness.  But in this election, it was apparent early on the same “old” political campaign activities and strategies were not going to work.

In an exercise in futility, I tried to offer assistance, as was promised the McCain Camp wanted.  I tried to tell them that I was the future of the Republican Party.  I sent emails to the McCain Camp with no response, begging them to listen to me and countless others like me but they obviously knew better.  Well, we all know now that they didn’t.

I know,  I'm sure you, much like them, wonder who I am and why can I make such a claim that I am the future of the Republican Party.  The bottom line on that issue is that I am.  I am the exact person the Party needed to help identify with the ones they lost.  In fact, the truth of the matter is that the Republicans have completely lost touch with Americans that actually care and until they can reconnect, they can forget it.  I have that ability.

People are tired of Politicians talking at them, or about them.  People want Politicians who will talk to them, with plain talk and certain actions.  People want less talk of principles and more acting out of them.  They’re not wanting less principles, but less talk about them.  People want representatives that do the right thing for the people, not for themselves. 

People are looking for representatives like them, who live like they do, where they do and how they do.  People are not looking for perfection, but practical realism.  We are aware that no one is perfect, and not all of the population grew up in Mayberry.  Gone are the days where a candidate can truly be Mr. Rogers in the neighborhood.  Whether that is good, bad, or sad, it is the truth and that’s all there is to it.

Politicians that espouse perfection and ooze piety, acting above the general populous and better than most seal their own fate when it becomes discovered that they are just like the common, middle class American that commits personal indiscretions in their own lives.  It’s not so much that the Politician made the mistake, it’s that they have for so long professed their perfection and their existence above reproach that makes their fall that much harder and more enjoyable for everyday Americans like me who know we are all flawed and subject to failures in almost every area of life at any given moment.

People want representatives that will admit failures and mistakes, learn from them, correct conduct and move on.  People are looking for representatives who will do whatever is best for the constituents they represent, not for themselves.  Even though a politician may have some personal issues, or indiscretions that are not what most believe are best, or acceptable, they can overlook some conduct if you are doing the right thing in governing for those who put you in office.  This is not a license to act out, but certainly helps when it is discovered you have done what countless of everyday Americans have done.  We want politicians who put their own personal desires in the back seat and govern by principles greater than their own selfish, woeful desires.  When personal calamity comes, and it will, people are more willing to forgive you if you are running our government in the responsible, stewardly and appropriate manner in which we put you there for.

Truth is, we need more common folks in political office but the fact seems to be that if you don't have millions in your personal portfolio, it's just not in the cards for you.  Very few of these Washington politicians can truly identify with the mainstream American family.  Who are they to talk about mortgages and foreclosures.  Do you think McCain, Biden, Obama, or any of the like ever worry about making house payments or buying food, paying tuition, putting gas in their car, and the like?  Absolutely not.  To have them try and tell me they are representing the middle class American is a joke when they wouldn't know where to find a middle class American without some aid pointing them in the right direction.  The only connection that most of them have with “us” is that they employ us to take care of their many personal interests and resort homes.

Truthfully the entire political system, which primarily includes both the Republican and Democrat parties, is ripe for an overhaul.  It just seems the Democrats have jumped ahead of the curve and pulled ahead.  The fact that so many were willing to overlook so much regarding Barack Obama just to have someone different in the White House is a sad commentary on our selection process for President.  I certainly have nothing personal against Barack Obama, don't know the fellow, but would like to ask him some pointed questions in private.  That's how I prefer to do things.  And I can assure you, he would answer me, or let me say, I would get an answer out of him.  I would continue to insist on a direct and absolute response to the question and would not quit until he provided it.  He would not get a free pass like he did from John McCain and countless others who have absolutely no idea how to pin someone down and extract an answer to a difficult question.  I'm sorry, that's far afoot from our original subject.

The bottom line for me is that I identify myself as a Republican based on the principles the Republican Party claims drives its membership.  I do believe the vast majority of Republican politicians have lost their way and in doing so, cost us common folk our voice in forging the direction of our Country.  Maybe someone will actually listen and come find me and get the goods on how to turn this tired old bag around.

I am not going to say much about this but I could not let it pass.  In a day and time when we are facing one of the most dangerous, and possibly devastating financial matters in US history, the mortgage and banking crisis, if we ever needed unity of all political parties for the good of The United States of America, it is now.  But rather than see this need for unity, and adhere to it, House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, could not help but blow here liberal horn and completely and almost single handedly wreck the "bail out" bill offered in congress.  Rather than say nothing, rather than stump for bi-partisanship, rather than do what is absolutely good for the Order, Pelosi and her rabid and irresponsible liberal slant could not help but continue the liberal banter that has come to mark the democratic party that is involved in US politics as of late.  Pelosi had to take her time in the well and make reckless and irresponsible comments directed at President Bush and his adminstration as the cause of the current financial crisis relating to the mortgage and financial industries in the US.  Let's forget who has been in control of Congress for the last several years (the democrats) during which reckless and fraudulent practices were the norm in our nations leading mortgage and real estate institutions and let's forget who has ignored requests by Republican lawmakers (ie. Richard Shelby) for more oversight and regulation of Fannie and Freddie (the democrats) over the last several years, and let's look at what could have and should have been done to help put a band-aid on the situation.  Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, really didn't have to say anything.  But knowing that a liberal and a microphone only means self aggrandizing speach, Pelosi could have stated how we all needed to pull together to solve a crisis that has been years in the making.  But no, she could not keep it true and simple.  Nancy Pelosi blamed the current crisis on President Bush and his budget deficit.  I am not sure how the budget has anything to do with the mortgage industry (maybe all the Californians who elect this less than bright bulb can tell me) but it was not only a ridiculous comment in that it was incorrect, it was also wrong for the timing given the gravity of the situation our Country is facing.  In fact, Pelosi's attempt to lay blame on the Bush adminstration backfired in that immediately upon espousing this inflammatory speech, numerous Republican House Members changed their vote, opposing the bail out plan.  As we all now know, the plan failed and we are no better off than when we started the day.  While I can't be sure all the blame should be on Pelosi for the failure of the vote, I can say she was insturmental in demonstrating a complete lack of common sense, leadership and discretion during a time of national crisis.  Come on California, get your head in the game and get rid of this loose cannon.

Where oh where has Joe Biden gone, where oh where could he be.  Truth is, who cares.  Since John McCain wisely chose a Washington DC outsider and a moderately conservative reformist as his Vice Presidential running mate, Joe Biden has slipped off into the world of political obscurity.  How amazing it is that Sarah Palin has silenced Joe Biden and any media attention he brought to the campaign trail.

With Barack Obama having only 6 months of actual experience in the US Senate, he apparently believed he needed some senior backing to legitamize his candidacy.  It is quite shameful he couldn't legitimize it himself, but that is another topic for another night.  I guess Obama thought he could fool the American Public by selling them on the idea that change coming to Washington was going to be from a senior member of the US Senate with almost as many years in DC service as there are in Obama's birthday cake candles.  Joe Biden is one of the most entrenched liberal members of the US Senate and is a poster boy for everything wrong in US Government.  Now don't get me wrong, there are members of the House and Senate on both sides of the party lines that fit this description, but only one running for President.  But what has happened to Pappy Biden since he was announced the VP candidate?  Apparently he is ailin' from Palin.

Since being named the Republican VP candidate, there has been a media fervor surrounding Sarah Palin unlike most others.  Liberal media outlets (oh yes I did, I said the "L" word) have constantly made every effort to discredit and defeat the person of Sarah Palin.  If you look through headlines in print and on the internet, it is amazing at the number of "controversial" or accusatory pieces written about Palin.  What is even more amazing is that upon a close look, it is apparent the vast majority of these pieces are either purely false, suggestively false or in many respects false.  In fact, there have also been several of these same media outlets that have had to back pedal and change their angle and story when they were exposed for the fraud of a journalism source they were.

All of this attention, both positive and negative, has all but rendered Joe Biden a virtual no one in the race for the White House.  If Barack Obama looks tired, he is.  It's because he made a poor decision in a running mate and now he is carrying the ticket himself.  And fortunately for the Republicans, Obama is tall, but I believe he lacks a great deal in the heft department.  He simply can't carry the party, can't carry the ticket, and can't continue to carry Joe Biden.

If you watched the Democratic Convention, it is fairly obviousl that Barack can deliver an eloquent speech.  He can say things with force and can use his voice to make his point.  However, as you continue to watch him completely, you realize that any speaking Barack does must be well prepared and well rehearsed, otherwise he loses a great deal of his appeal.

The more Barack speaks publicly, his weakness as an impromptu public speaker, and weakness as a solid responder, and his weakness in handling issues are exposed over and over.  He makes a great deal of mistakes in his public speeches when he gets away from the podium and tries to be "down home".  I have seen many appearances lately where he has had to stop, go back and correct his speech, and even where he has given the punch line away in some jokes and jabs because when you get right down to it, he just really isn't that good when unrehearsed.

When dealing with significant issues, Barack often stammers for the right answer when attempting to respond.  To me, this shows a lack of solid understanding of the issues in that the answers should come much easier then they do.  And when he finally does respond, the shallow, superficial answer that he manages to get out seems hollow.

I am afraid that from what I have seen to this point, Barack Obama simply is not what this country needs as a president.