LSJ Blogs: People's Politics

Israel/Hamas

I’ve been reading with some interest the reaction of the world press and politicians to the latest Israel-Hamas brawl.  I find the general reaction, particularly by the Europeans, appalling at the least.

For full disclosure, for years I had been a huge supporter of the Palestinian movement; I believed they got a raw deal by the European powers after WWII; clearly they never agreed to give up their land for a political statement that the Europeans wanted to make.  For years the Palestinians had been treated shabbily, not only by the Jews, but also by their fellow Arabs and Muslims.  I had thought their rhetoric of driving the Jews into the sea and destroying Israel was just that, rhetoric.

Homeland Security

In essence, George Bush and the current Administration have finally achieved some tangible homeland security, albeit in a most unusual manner, after many years of incompetence and blundering in trying to protect the USA. Plunging oil prices and world wide financial problems have significantly lessened possible terrorist activity directed at the USA because state sponsors of terrorism such as Iran, Sudan, Syria and Cuba have seen their oil revenues and/or their economies decline precipitously in the past few months.

Why the Bush Hatred?

As a retired guy, I am hit just about as hard as anyone by the economic downturn; I do not have years to go to see my savings and 401k go back up.  Thus I should be among the crowd screaming for 1/20/09 to come sooner than later.  I could cheerfully join the MSM and the masses that voted for Obama to cure the ills caused by the “imperial” Presidency and his neo-con war loving minions.  But I don’t see it that way.

Rethinking the Car Bailout

As we all know, W has gone against his party again and supported a $17.4 billion “loan” to the Detroit 3.  I was opposed to it when it was debated in Congress and was delighted the republicans blocked it; it was the first thing they’ve done to act like a party of fiscal conservatism in a while.  When I first thought about W’s bailout, I was against it, but the longer I think about it, the worse it gets.

Divine Comedy

Well, let’s see, it took 49 days (maybe less) for the honeymoon to come to an end.  During that time, in my view, Barak Obama formed a pretty good cabinet (at least for a Democrat administration).  He’s taken a pretty moderate path so far.  And, he’s taken on the challenge of having to arbitrate amongst some pretty powerful personalities.  So, far, so good, one would think.  But, now he’s off in Hawaii trying to relax a little before is given the “reins of government”, and the children back home are getting restless.

Merry Christmas, George and Dick

I am as critical of Bush and Cheney as anyone, but in the holiday spirit and upon their imminent departure I think it’s appropriate to have one post where I find nice things to say about them.

Random musings

The “outrage” expressed by Hollywood and the gay community over Obama’s selection of Rick Warren is a bit baffling to me.  The liberal left has been screaming for years they don’t want any “special” treatment; they just want the rights granted all traditional citizens.  Then Proposition 8 in California didn’t go the way they wanted and the demonstrations started; they should have protested Funk and Wagnalls rather than the Mormon Church as they clearly want to change definitions, but that is another story.  Now they are all upset about Obama selecting Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration.  It is as if they expect Obama to be President of the left and gays, but not the President of the rest of the country; Obama’s choice is acceptable to the majority of the country.  Fortunately, there are some rights that the majority still has in the country.  I don’t believe Obama is “dissing” the gay community.  Someone needs to chill a bit.

new american way?

Get an education, work hard enough, be diligent and you'll become rich...its the american way, the american dream, the carrot part of the carrot and the stick. There are many in this country that think the stick isn't big enough or isn't used enough, and the lazy are taking advantage, so there's no need to try to get that carrot...lets examine that whole mantra, now that most will agree our system has a few flaws.

I say Merry Christmas

The bogus flap that the progressives, which is a euphemism for what used to be called “liberals” until even they realized it was a dirty word and had to change, are pushing over Christmas has snapped the very last thread of my temper.

Paulson and Bernanke

I thought that Ben Bernanke was about as good of a choice as anyone to replace Alan Greenspan as the Chairman of the Fed.  I thought Greenspan, while a brilliant guy, had outlived his time.  Now, I think I was mistaken.

One of the key items, in addition to the ridiculous Washington concepts of pushing housing on low income personnel in the name of equality, that caused the price of housing to rise so dramatically was the low interest rates pushed by Greenspan to “fight recession.”  Since money was so cheap, it rapidly became plentiful, but the number of houses didn’t keep up with the demand so the prices soared.  This is about what is to be expected by anyone that has taken Economics 101.  Plentiful Money + Limited Resources = High Prices.  It is so obvious even Greenspan said he was wrong.