Category: Politics

The State of the Union – 2013

Sorry Mr. President.  Very few of your ideas will become law.

President Obama told us of his dreams to enhance American life.  For the most part they are dreams that are unlikely to become reality.  He offered ideas that “will not cost government a dime.”  How does he propose to provide early childhood education for every child that is four years old?  Where will the money come from to provide high school tech training?

His answer is take the money out of defense spending, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.  Tell that to AARP and the defense contractors.

We are in for four very difficult years in Washington.

Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Weapons Ban Legislation

Dianne Feinstein & assault weapons

This proposed law may never be passed by Congress but Senator Dianne Feinstein has nothing to lose and everything to gain.  If passed, this legislation will help reduce the homicide rates in our nation.

It has been reported that the Administration is focusing on high-capacity magazines because they are the real issue and it is believed that there can be agreement on that issue. 

Assault Weapons Ban of 2013

The legislation bans the sale, transfer, manufacturing and importation of:

1. All semiautomatic rifles that can accept a detachable magazine and have at least one military feature: pistol grip; forward grip; folding, telescoping, or detachable stock; grenade launcher or rocket launcher; barrel shroud; or threaded barrel.

2. All semiautomatic pistols that can accept a detachable magazine and have at least one military feature: threaded barrel; second pistol grip; barrel shroud; capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip; or semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm.

3. All semiautomatic rifles and handguns that have a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

4. All semiautomatic shotguns that have a folding, telescoping, or detachable stock; pistol grip; fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 5 rounds; ability to accept a detachable magazine; forward grip; grenade launcher or rocket launcher; or shotgun with a revolving cylinder.

5. All ammunition feeding devices (magazines, strips, and drums) capable of accepting more than 10 rounds.

6. 157 specifically-named firearms (listed at the end of this document).

The legislation excludes the following weapons from the bill:

a. Any weapon that is lawfully possessed at the date of the bill’s enactment;

b. Any firearm manually operated by a bolt, pump, lever or slide action;

c. Assault weapons used by military, law enforcement, and retired law enforcement; and

d. Antique weapons.

The legislation protects hunting and sporting firearms:

i. The bill excludes 2,258 legitimate hunting and sporting rifles and shotguns by specific make and model.

The legislation strengthens the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban and state bans by:

ii. Moving from a 2-characteristic test to a 1-characteristic test.

The bill also makes the ban harder to evade by eliminating the easy-to-remove bayonet mounts and flash suppressors from the characteristics test.

iii. Banning dangerous aftermarket modifications and workarounds.

iv. Bump or slide fire stocks, which are modified stocks that enable semi-automatic weapons to fire at rates similar to fully automatic machine guns.

v. So-called “bullet buttons” that allow the rapid replacement of ammunition magazines, frequently used as a workaround to prohibitions on detachable magazines.

vi. Thumbhole stocks, a type of stock that was created as a workaround to avoid prohibitions on pistol grips.

vii. Adding a ban on the importation of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.

viii. Eliminating the 10-year sunset that allowed the original federal ban to expire.

The legislation addresses the millions of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines currently in existence by:

i. Requiring a background check on all sales or transfers of a grandfathered assault weapon.

ii. This background check can be run through the FBI or, if a state chooses, initiated with a state agency, as with the existing background check system.

iii. Prohibiting the sale or transfer of large-capacity ammunition feeding devices lawfully possessed on the date of enactment of the bill.

iv. Allowing states and localities to use federal Byrne JAG grant funds to conduct a voluntary buy-back program for grandfathered assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices.

v. Imposing a safe storage requirement for grandfathered firearms, to keep them away from prohibited persons.

vi. Requiring that assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices manufactured after the date of the bill’s enactment be engraved with the serial number and date of manufacture of the weapon.

List of Firearms Prohibited by Name

Rifles:
Pistols:
Shotguns:
Belt-fed semiautomatic firearms:

Inauguration Day 2013

  Inauguration Day 2013

President Barack Obama offered an inaugural speech calling for unification of purpose regardless of political party.  This is the sort of speech we all expect in an inaugural presentation.  Sadly political divisions in the nation are more like chasms.  He knows that there are major differences between the political parties and other groups in the country.  Listen to Bill O’Reilly or Sean Hannity and there is affirmation of the split between the political parties.

Thus he tried to put the best face on a country that is seriously broken by geographic, religious, and racial disagreements.  Never mind the breach between rich and poor or the labor unions battling the employers.  When state leaders voice intentions to nullify or just plain ignore federal law and many who voice desires to succeed from the union, the president’s job will be about holding the nation together.

This may seem as all too negative.  The president’s speech about one purpose was an “A” effort towards healing our differences.

Gun Control Legislation in the United States

  Meager and mild legislation is the best we can hope for.

First we all need to understand that our constitution’s second amendment states we all have the right to keep a bear arms.  That is the core reason that gun owners offer to justify their ownership of all the weapons in their possession.

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was almost killed by an assassin, and her husband retired astronaut, Mark Kelly, wrote an op-ed in USA Today that their Americans for Responsible Solutions initiative would help raise money to support greater gun control efforts and take on the powerful gun lobby.

President Obama has appointed Vice President Joe Biden to head a committee that will develop proposed legislation that might reduce gun violence.

Jim and Sarah Brady formed the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Brady, then-President Ronald Reagan’s press secretary, was wounded in the 1981 presidential assassination attempt by a mentally ill gunman.

In January, Calfornia Senator Feinstein will introduce a bill to stop the sale, transfer, importation and manufacturing of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition feeding devices.

The NRA spent at least $24 million in the 2012 election cycle, including $16.8 million through its political action committee and $7.5 million through its affiliated Institute for Legislative Action. By comparison, the Brady Campaign spent around $5,800.

And when it comes to direct lobbying of lawmakers, the NRA was also dominant. Through July 1, the NRA spent $4.4 million to lobby Congress, compared with the Brady Campaign’s $60,000.

It is estimated that there are 300 million weapons of various kinds in the hand of the American public.

I would support the idea of confiscating all guns that can hold magazines of more than ten bullets.

It won’t happen.  The owners of guns are everywhere.  The mere thought of gun controls results in higher gun sales. Gun organizations are too strong to be contained.

Fiscal Cliff – The Soap Opera Continues

McConnell, Reid point to fiscal stalemate
McConnell, Reid point to fiscal stalemate

Tune in to the political programs on television and radio and all you hear is talk about the Fiscal Cliff.  It’s been a continuing story where missing one or two episodes really means nothing.

My question is what fiscal cliff?

The U.S. government spent $3.563 Trillion in 2012.  The total revenue was $2.435 Trillion.  It does not take a mathematical genius to understand that the revenues will have to increase and the spending will have to decrease. Brooking Institute figures are similar to those provided by the Heritage Foundation.

 The automatic spending cuts amount to $1.2 Billion in one year.  That leaves spending at $3.443 Trillion assuming the budget does not increase one cent in 2013.  Why the whining?  That is hardly a cut.

From The Center for Public Integrity

http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/12/05/11891/fact-check-facing-facts-fiscal-cliff

Some facts to consider:

  • The scheduled tax increases, if allowed to      take effect, would net an additional $536 billion in fiscal year 2013,      according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, raising more than $5      trillion in 10 years. Nearly 90 percent of Americans would pay more in      taxes, TPC says, with the average increase being nearly $3,500.
  • The automatic spending cuts scheduled to      take effect would cut $1.2 Trillion over 10 years, split roughly in half      between domestic and military spending.       That works out to $1.2 Billion a year.
  • A temporary      payroll tax cut enacted for 2011 was extended      through 2012, but is now set to expire at the end of this year.
  • Tax increases contained in the Affordable      Care Act on upper-income taxpayers will go into effect: a 3.8 percent tax      on unearned income, 0.9 percent increase in Medicare payroll taxes and a      higher income threshold for deducting medical expenses.
  • The Alternative Minimum Tax, which was      designed to make sure wealthy Americans pay a minimum tax, was never      indexed to inflation on a permanent basis.

If all that happened, taxes would increase an average of $3,466 per household, according to the TPC. Middle-income households — those earning nearly $40,000 to about $64,500 a year — would see an average increase of $1,984.  Is this going to stop all spending?  NO!

Once again it’s the whining.  It is the result of this thinking.  You can cut anywhere you want just don’t impact me.

Consider these four likely impacts listed by The Week magazine.

– Higher cost of lattes because a dairy subsidy will lapse.  It appears we have had a dairy subsidy for about 30 years.  Starbuck’s will suffer (maybe). Who knew?

 – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be laying off thousands of screeners at the airports.  That will result in less screening.  It is a wasteful program that has never caught a single terrorist.

– If a deal isn’t reached, and the economy creeps back toward recession, demand for fuel will fall (because presumably, Americans won’t have money to go anywhere), slashing gas prices.  That is a good thing!

– According to Money Morning, during the debt-ceiling crisis last year, there was a 30 percent increase in the price of gold — a cost-climb we are likely to see again should the latest negotiations fail.  Another good thing for all of us that bought gold!

Tough choices are part of life.

Democrats Have the Upper Hand

Tonight John Boehner, Speaker of the House, was unable to obtain a vote in favor of his “Plan B” to avoid the fiscal cliff.  This is surprising to me as the only people who would experience a raise in their marginal tax rates would be those with annual taxable incomes of over $1 million.

So Mr. Boehner confirmed to everyone that he does not speak for the Republican Party caucus when it comes to tax and budget legislation.  This leaves one slim chance for the Democrats to prevent falling of the cliff.  To accomplish this will require some Republican congressmen along with some Democratic congressmen that would result in a majority.  It is the opportunity for the President to push through legislation that would be more favorable to him with some compromise.

This can only happen with GOP participation.  That is the big “IF.”  The consequence of failure will be some sad days in January.

There is one thing we know.  This entire situation was caused by our broken political system.  Not just American but the rest of the world is wondering, what has happened to the United States?

December 7, 1941 Changed the United States Forever

December 7, 1941

In this Dec. 7, 1941 photo provided by the U.S. Navy, sailors on a small boat rescue a USS West Virginia crew member from the water after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (AP Photo – U.S. Navy)

—————————————————————————————————

Yes, every year there are commemorations of the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. We honor those who are still alive from that historic day. Ceremonies occur in many parts of the United States.

The real impact was not just America’s entry into WWII. The bombing of Pearl Harbor changed America’s attitude about the rest of the world and its place in the world. The United States surrendered its non-intervention policy (isolationism) that had survived since its inception to a position of leadership in world affairs that exists to this day.

President George Washington, in his farewell address, advised the nation to have “little political connection as possible.” This recommendation was followed up in 1823 with the Monroe Doctrine and reaffirmed in the Polk Doctrine, announced on 2 December 1845.  http://www.answers.com/topic/nonintervention-policy#ixzz2ER92HSBw

 William Seward, Secretary of State under President Lincoln wrote a letter to one William Dayton in 1863 defining The American Doctrine of Non-intervention in which I quote, “Our policy of non-intervention, straight, absolute, and peculiar as it may seem to other nations, has thus become a traditional one, which could not be abandoned without the most urgent occasion, amounting to a manifest necessity.”

 Even after WWI the United States returned to its non-intervention policy when it refused to join the League of Nations (an organization similar to the United Nations).

Since WWII there has been the Korean War, Vietnam War, America’s total support for Israel, America’s intervention in Lebanon (241 marines killed), Kuwait (first Gulf War), Iraq War, Afghanistan.

The U.S. has 737 bases around the world, of which 295 are considered “major military bases,” and has military personnel in 153 countries. Since the middle of the twentieth century the American State has intervened hundreds of times in the affairs of other countries, overthrowing elected leaders and invading sovereign countries. http://tfboyle.hubpages.com/hub/Non-Intervention-A-Foreign-Policy-for-the-American-Citizen

Here we go again! Today the United States is considering involvement in Syria because there is an indication that their government may be planning to use sarin gas. “What you should know about sarin gas, the chemical weapon believed to be in the Syrian regime’s possession.” This is part of an article in the Global Post.

 Is it Manifest Destiny or are we Americans just too sympathetic to not aid and abet our fellow man?

Gloat

Why are Democratic pundits gloating over the election results?  Barack Obama did not win by an overwhelming majority.

The final results from the presidential election are impressive when looking at the Electoral College (332 to 206) but not so impressive when looking at the popular vote (65,258,278 or 50.9% to 60,658,920 or 47.3%).  Thus .9% gave the president a win.  Hardly a landslide.

Despite that narrow victory Democratic pundits are gleefully hashing out the mistakes made by Mitt Romney and his campaign election team as if they were utterly incompetent.

Wikipedia lists these landslide victories among the popular vote.  These were wins worth gloating over.

So while I disagreed with Mitt Romney’s opinions on women’s rights (from pay to abortion and contraception), his lack of concern for 47% of the population, his solution to illegal immigration (self deport), and his confrontational views in foreign policy; almost half of all Americans gave him their vote.

Mr. President stop gloating.  You do not have a mandate.

Romney the Pathetic

A pathetic phone call from Mitt Romney to his donors was reported tonight by the Los Angeles Times. The Republicans decried class warfare but they know that it is a fight between the rich and poor. Mr. Romney didn’t consider some other factors like women’s rights, the snuffing of the middle class, and his constant calls for armed confrontation with every foreign adversary.  There were many other issues that put both Romney and Ryan on the side of a minority group.

 “The Obama campaign was following the old playbook of giving a lot of stuff to groups that they hoped they could get to vote for them and be motivated to go out to the polls, specifically the African American community, the Hispanic community and young people,” Romney told hundreds of donors during a telephone town hall Wednesday. “In each case they were very generous in what they gave to those groups.”

Romney’s frank analysis echoed his secretly taped comments at a May fundraiser, where he told a small group of donors that 47% of the electorate was unlikely to vote for him because they paid no income taxes and were dependent on government. It followed his running mate Paul D. Ryan‘s assertion that Obama’s win stemmed from turnout among “urban” voters.

 “With regards to African American voters, ‘Obamacare‘ was a huge plus — and was highly motivational to African American voters. You can imagine for somebody making $25—, or $30—, or $35,000 a year, being told you’re now going to get free healthcare — particularly if you don’t have it, getting free healthcare worth, what, $10,000 a family, in perpetuity, I mean this is huge. Likewise with Hispanic voters, free healthcare was a big plus.”

Happpily other Republicans quickly denounced the comments, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who were in Las Vegas for a meeting of the Republican Governors Association.

“We have got to stop dividing American voters,” Jindal said. “I absolutely reject that notion, that description. … We’re fighting for 100 percent of the vote.”

Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza says: “This won’t help the GOP’s efforts to win over minority voters, especially given Romney’s past “47 percent” comments. And the fact that Jindal and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) so quickly denounced Romney suggests party heavyweights are ready for the Romney chapter to be over.”

Soap Opera Government

What a wonderful way to distract the public from the issues that really matter.  Most likely a series of worthless congressional hearings followed by more new regulations.

 If ever there was a real soap opera it’s the events now surrounding David Petraeus.  Now involved is General John Allen, Congressman Eric Cantor, Paula Broadwell, Jill Kelly, unnamed FBI agent, Holly Petraeus, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and President Barack Obama.

The sequence of events as reported by blaze.com.  This really could be made into a soap opera.

Spring 2012:

  • FBI starts investigation, intercepting Petraeus’ emails and      reviewing older emails going back to his time in Afghanistan, where he was commander of U.S. Forces from      July 2010 to July 2011 (Newsmax, Nov. 9).

Week of October 21:

Oct. 26:

  •  Broadwell delivers speech at University of Denver, discussing      details about how Petraeus handled the attack on the U.S. consulate in      Benghazi and revealing possibly classified information about alleged      Libyan militia members being held prisoner at that consulate and that      situation may have been a potential catalyst for the attack (Fox News, Nov. 12).
  • Glenn Beck predicts that David      Petraeus would take the blame on Libya: “Who have they tried to sell down the river      every step of the way? The intelligence,” Glenn said. “You watch. Petraeus      is going to be the fall guy. They’re going to have him step down. They’re      going to point all fingers to him.” (TheBlaze TV, Oct. 26)

Week of October 28:

  • Federal investigators interview Petraeus. Prosecutors conclude      afterward they likely will not bring criminal charges. (Reuters, Nov. 11)

Oct. 31:

  •  House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s office contacts FBI to inform them about information from an FBI whistle blower who told Cantor (R-Va.)      in late October that Petraeus had been involved in an extramarital affair      and was potentially putting national security at risk (New York Times, Nov. 10, 2012).

Nov. 6 (Election Day):

  • At about 5 p.m.: the FBI notifies Director of National Intelligence James Clapper,      who oversees the CIA and other intelligence agencies, about      Petraeus. Clapper speaks to Petraeus that evening and again Wednesday and      advises him to step down (Reuters, Nov. 11).

Nov. 7:

  • Clapper informs White House National Security Council official that      Petraeus may resign and President Barack Obama should be informed. The president      is told about it later that day (Reuters, Nov. 11).

Nov. 8:

  • At 11 a.m. A Petraeus meeting with foreign dignitaries scheduled for 2:30 p.m. is canceled and his visitors are informed he      has to go to the White House to meet with Obama. Petraeus meets with Obama  at the White House and offers his resignation, explaining the circumstances behind it. Obama did not immediately accept the resignation      (Reuters, Nov. 11).

Nov. 9:

  • In a statement to CIA    employees Friday, Petraeus said he submitted his resignation to President    Barack Obama on Thursday and Obama accepted it Friday afternoon (CIA).
  • Fox News reported the affair was with his biographer and      was discovered during the course of an FBI investigation on an “unrelated      and much broader case.” According to Fox, journalist and biographer Paula      Broadwell’s name came up during the investigation, which led to uncovering      the affair (Fox News, Nov. 9).
  • Fox News analyst Ralph Peters, a retired Army lieutenant colonel,      speculates that Obama administration knew of the affair and waited for the      right moment to “play the card” (Fox News, Nov. 9)

Nov. 11:

  •  A senior U.S. military official says Broadwell sent harassing      emails to a woman who was the State Department’s liaison to the military’s      Joint Special Operations Command. The official, who asked to remain      anonymous, says 37-year-old Jill Kelley in Tampa, Fla., received the emails from Petraeus biographer      Paula Broadwell that triggered an FBI investigation. (TheBlaze/AP).

Nov. 13:

  • To be continued.  Tune into to your local newspaper, favorite web site, or television station for the latest episode.