It may seem that I am picking on Barack Obama a lot lately, but he is the magnet for this type of activity.
Let me go back and remind folks that I was pretty easy on him for a LONG time. I even praised him from time to time. But now, the more he opens his mouth, the more ridiculous he sounds.
First, his continued insistance on drawing a parallel between the Soviet Union and Iran.
HUH?
One was a super power, the other a major state sponsor of terror. One had nuclear weapons aimed at us, the other uses people with no regard to their continued existance on THIS planet as weapons. One was once an ally that became an enemy over ideological and political differences. The other was a forced ally, led initially by the grandson of a former President, that turned against us following the words of support to their leader from our President.
Both held Americans against their will at one time or another.
When did the United States engage the USSR in discussions? Depends on your perspective. Sure, Eisenhower and Khrushchev had meetings, and had meetings cancelled, remember Gary Powers? Khrushchev thought Kennedy was a joke and put missiles in Cuba, then Kennedy showed that he wasn't to be trifled with. LBJ sort of kept the focus on a little patch of land called Vietnam. Nixon engaged the Soviets and opened the first real discussion of nuclear arms limiting by the two superpowers. Ronald Reagan uped the ante a bit by increasing military spending and pointing Pershing missiles at the USSR before sitting down with the Soviets. Then he really waited until he had a man in Mikhail Gorbachev that he knew he had an advantage over, both in national position and in respect of the world.
So, what would we gain engaging Iran today? There is no parallel in situations.
Maybe China is a better comparison. We ignored China as not existing until Kissinger engaged in "Ping-Pong diplomacy" and got Nixon to visit Beijing in 1972. But again, the nation of 800 million (at the time) had a position of power via their population alone. Iran does not have that. And while the Peoples Republic of China helped North Korea and North Vietnam, they were not really a state supporter of terror. I know you can argue about the Viet Cong, but they were not being directly supported by the PRC, but rather by the NVA.
So, that corrolation doesn't corrolate. Sorry Senator, go back for a history refresher. Apples and Oranges here.
Let me offer this up...IF, big IF, you see the parallel, please try to explain it to me.
Next up, "Lay off my wife." Yesterday on Good Morning America, that was the statement issued by the senator. Normally, I would say that he is right. But when Michelle Obama interjected herself in the campaign by her statement about being proud, for the first time in her adult life, of her country, that is a fair criticism because she did not back down nor clarify the statement. Beyond that statement, Senator Obama is absolutely right. Leave her alone. But that is the only thing she is being criticized about in campaign ads.
Let me go a step further, I think going after Michelle Obama is a BAD idea and a LOSING proposition. But I think it is fair to criticize the comment, however I wouldn't do it in a campaign. Personally, I think letting the statement stand on its own does enough damage.
Senator Obama coming out and saying "Lay off my wife" in a political campaign shows that he may be a bit thin skinned. But, I cannot say that I would be any different. Often times Kathleen is worried about what I will say and how it will reflect on her. She shouldn't even think about that. She has little control over me, Barack Obama does not have control over Michelle Obama. He should do what I tell Kathy to do. If someone says anything to her about something I said, tell them that it doesn't mean it is what she thinks. Period.
Again, to simplify things, I think the statement exposed more than it covered up. Probably shouldn't have been said. Let the OTHER guys look bad, don't play their game. You just gave them what THEY wanted.
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The Kansas City Royals were no-hit for just the SECOND time in franchise history. John Lester joins the name NOLAN RYAN as the only pitchers who have ever no-hit the Blue.
Just one game. Hurts, but it is just one game.
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Oh, and here is what also struck me as funny. Senator Robert Byrd has endorsed Senator Barack Obama. Klansman has changed?
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Since I seem to be piling on Senator Obama this morning, let me add this one. Now he is doing the old elitist bit of telling us to watch our thermostats. Duh, I watch it because I don't want to give too much money to Ameren UE. I don't watch it because some poltician is trying to GUILT everyone about America being prosperous and therefore using energy as we see fit.
Don't guilt us, that is about as bad as using fear.
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Speaking of guilt, now Prince Charles is warning us that we have just eighteen months to get things right with the environment...global warming alarmists come from everywhere. I would have expected more from an archaeology major.
If his wife said it, then you'd have it from the horse's mouth.
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What else is on YOUR mind these days? Let me know and maybe I will post on that topic.
Oh, and thank you to Dr. Roger Thompson for offering his insight on the happenings in Portland. As a native Oregonian, he explained things that this midwestern boy did not have the insight on. Thanks Roger, I think I get it a little bit now.
Comment as you like and have a great Tuesday.
