NY Times, 12.7, EPA Sets Carbon Crackdown, John M. Broder

Steve Forbes today wrote an excellent article appearing today in the Forbes online newsletter warning investors to watch out for Government policy making. Bad government policy inhibits and short circuits free markets which always work better than a government dominated system. Government regulation like the Smoot-Haley Tariff act helped trigger the Great Depression. The Federal Reserve's unbridled printing of money has already helped to stave off recovery.

Now, in the midst of this global warming hype and the useless Copenhagen conference the Obama EPA seeks to mandate and enforce a ludicrous Carbon Dioxide rule-endangerment finding. This is being done without regard for small business, increased taxing, increased consumer costs and the fact that the large nations of the world like China and India will not abide by such nonsense. We exhale carbon dioxide, will our mouths soons been taped?

The U.S. may be responsible for 25 percent of the globe's carbon emissions. Martin Feldstein, an outstanding economist and past governmental adviser in saner days, indicates that this concept is nonsense. At best, if we adopt and follow our nation's own ridiculous mandates (Waxman-Markey) or cap and trade at best the climate might benefit by .02 Celsius. This type of reasoning by the administration and their behind the scenes planners, defies logic.

Steve Forbes, as usual has it right when he reiterates, capitalism is the way out of this economic morass. This is why this past week, while visiting with Iowans, along with myself there was utter disbelief that this government is spending time promoting this nonsense. It will further dampen the recovery and continue our slide toward a third world nation profile. I witnessed the Presiden't job summit but apparently that was merely a photo opportunity. We need jobs in this country and I want to know how additional regulations are going to assist that effort? Frankly, they will not and the administration knows that fact. Apparently, other folks than common Americans are dictating programs. Once again, here is my jobs proposal, I will repeat it, in the words of Adlai Stevenson, until "hell freezes over."

I propose finally that government remove itself from blocking the free markets and the principles of capitalism.

NY Times, 11.30 Mike Huckabee's Burden, Tim Egan

November 30, 2009
Mike Huckabee’s Burden
By TIMOTHY EGAN

SEATTLE – They were shot execution-style: four police officers starting a shift on Sunday morning at a coffee shop in a suburb of Tacoma. They were parents, each of them, community leaders, veteran officers.

Who to blame? The suspect, police say, is Maurice Clemmons, a man with a lengthy criminal record and a pattern of serious mental illness. As of this writing, he’s still on the loose.

Trying to explain how such a man could be on the streets, despite five felony convictions in Arkansas that should have kept him locked up for life, Detective Ed Troyer of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office said, “Some people have to answer to that.”

At the top of that list is Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and current host at Fox News. Huckabee granted Clemmons early release nine years ago, against the objections of prosecutors and victims.

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press
If this case does not sink the presidential aspirations of Huckabee, a leading Republican candidate, it should. By the standards that Republicans launched almost 20 years ago, Huckabee will be Willie Hortonized. But this case also shows, as with an earlier episode in Arkansas, that Huckabee’s judgment is seriously flawed.

If Huckabee were a liberal and a Democrat, he would be a punching bag for right wing blowhards an example of clueless, soft-on-crime politicians at their worst. Fox News would be stalking him, as they have others responsible for letting criminals out early.

Instead, he’s been allowed to get away with issuing a passive, blame-shifting statement. In the release, issued Sunday night, Huckabee takes no personal responsibility for letting Clemmons out early. Instead, he cites “a series of failures in the criminal justice system in both Arkansas and Washington.”

Yes, a series of failures, resulting in the worst act of violence against law enforcement in the history of this state – four officers gunned down in “a targeted, selective ambush,” in Detective Troyer’s words.

A series of failures: starting at the top, with Gov. Huckabee.

“This is the day I’ve been dreading for a long time,” Arkansas prosecutor Larry Jegley told the Seattle Times. Jegley had strenuously objected to Huckabee’s granting of clemency to Clemmons.

Clemmons was serving a 108-year sentence on at least five felony convictions. In moving to get him out early, Huckabee cited his youth – age 18 – of his first conviction. Huckabee, a Baptist minister, thought Clemmons deserved another chance. He felt the same way about Wayne Dumond, a convicted rapist whose cause had been taken up by a Christian broadcaster and friend of Huckabee’s.

After Dumond was released – Huckabee denied having a hand in it, though parole board members said otherwise – he was convicted of raping and murdering another woman.

In Washington state, Maurice Clemmons had been in jail on a warrant for rape of a child. He was released a week ago, after posting a bail bond. Relatives said he was deranged, and that he thought he was a messiah.

These failures reveal institutional and human flaws. Some are inevitable products of a strained system, with legal protections often at odds with community safety. But none stands out more than the intervention of Huckabee to put Clemmons back on the street.

Huckabee says this “horrible and tragic event” should not be politicized. But it is his party that has honed such attacks into a dark art. This is a prison of their making, and they wasted little time getting back to it, even when the offender is one of their own . Michelle Malkin’s Web site Monday showed a picture of Clemmons, with a tag line: “Huckabee’s Willie Horton II.”

Back in 1988, when it came to light that Willie Horton committed fresh crimes while out on a weekend furlough program backed by then-Gov. Mike Dukakis of Massachusetts, Republicans used it to help destroy Dukakis the presidential candidate. It may even have cost him the election.

“The only question is whether we depict Willie Horton with a knife in his hand or without it,” said a gleeful Roger Ailes, then a media consultant to Republicans.

Ailes now runs Fox News. If they decide to hold the politician accountable for early release of a violent felon linked now to a death of four police officers, they know where to find him – in studio, as a Fox News host.

Dr. Alan Phillips response also in the NY Times 11.30

The words of Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley “This is the day I’ve been dreading for a long time” echo across the nation today in the deaths of four of our finest law enforcement officers, murdered near Seattle Washington. This terror should and could have been prevented with strong leadership.

I am disappointed and disgusted when those sworn to uphold the law are shown to be derelict in their duty and fail to protect the people. There was absolutely no rationale for commuting the sentence of Maurcie Clemmons for his criminal behavior and crimes. Sentenced to 60 years in prison on the strong recommendation of prosecutors his sentence was commuted by a sitting governor granting him clemency. Mike Huckabee has called this crime a “horrible tragic event.” In my opinion, it was more than a tragic event, it was a horrible ambush and murder of four policemen by someone who should still be confined in an Arkansas prison. Mike Huckabee also indicated that if Clemmons is found to be responsible, It will be “the result of failures in the criminal justice system in both Arkansas and Washington state”. I disagree strongly with Mike, there would have been no incidents in Washington state if the Arkansas governor had not granted clemency to a predator in the first place.

I had dismissed earlier rumors of the Governor’s past criminal justice leniencies as mere political jabs from the past. As a result of the deaths of these front line defenders of our freedoms, I am unimpressed with Huckabee’s comments. A matter this harmful and serious cannot be spun by an incompetent former public official. Frankly, the Governor failed miserably and as a result families that should be sharing a marvelous Christmas-Holiday season together will now embark on decades of grief. No book, television show, guitar solo, or public relations effort will remove the devastation wrought by this hardened criminal who should have been left imprisoned.

Mike my message to you, “You have failed to follow the most basic guarantee of the constitution, our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. You should have been in this instance a protector of the security guaranteed to all Americans through leadership which defends the dispensation of criminal justice. Parole boards, appointed by officials, are most mindful of an executive’s preference, the chief executive cannot hide behind their actions espousing non involvement.

I am a Republican with many friends from both parties, I love my country and our people. Your precipitous action has violated much of the nation’s trust, you failed to protect the people. Mike, I will not vote for you as a candidate for higher office.”

Today's Drudge Report, Pelosi, Buy a 15,000 Policy or Go to Jail, for up to Five Years

Today’s Drudge Report boldly states that the Pelosi healthcare reform plan could penalize non buyers of her bill’s health care policy for up to five years in prison. The media has a responsibility to research and either confirm or deny these provisions.

Should the Drudge article’s assertion be correct, not only should the bill be defeated, impeachment proceedings of Speaker Pelosi should be considered immediately. If Drudge’s assertion and the documentation of the charge is factual it would indicate that there is something radically wrong with a Speaker that would propose, consider, advocate, in this House bill, the jailing of grandmothers, mothers, grandfathers, fathers, veterans, special needs individuals, young couples, single adults, regardless of marital, or economic status.

This proposal if true would be cause apriori to proceed with a full and complete investigation of any and all who have proposed this devastating idea. The press and the public needs to be thoroughly and analytically informed on this, and if true Speaker Pelosi must either resign or be impeached.

This is still America with individual freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness cannot be denied by mandate. This assertion must be investigated by all in the Congress and the media. If the article is not true the nation needs to know that fact. If it is true then the authors of this horrible provision must be held accountable and removed (if elected officials) from office, and the bill defeated.

Please read the following from the Committee on Ways and Means Republican Ranking Member Dave Camp, and the JCT letter, Joint Committee on Taxation. Press Release Nov 06, 2009, “If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from wilful behavoir, the following penalties could apply…”(Page2) As Cited in Today’s November 7, Drudge Report,

Criminal penalties

Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:
• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.
• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.” [page 3]

— Dr. Phillips, response in NY Times 11.7.09

NY Times, Relax Democrats, Dr. Phillip's response

In today's New York Times Op-Ed entitled "Relax Democrats" we again have an amorphous organization's author quoted as saying long term Republicans have baggage they will have to deal with-in essence they are still Republicans. NY Times, Why not identify for serious readers that the head of the organization cited is none other than John Podesta. That would give all readers a concept as to what is molding the opinion presented.

NY Times 10.18 Paul Krugman, The Banks Are Not Allright

I am most impressed by Dr. Paul Krugman's most recent article "The Banks Are Not Alright," in today's, October 18, New York Times. In my opinion, it's a must read for Americans wanting a serious analysis of the "recovery."

Most definitions of a bank are similar to the following," An establishment authorized by a government to accept deposits, pay interest, clear checks, make loans, act as an intermediary in financial transactions, and provide other financial services to its customers." Making loans to individual consumers, small businesses, corporations, is a vital component of the role and function of any bank. Perhaps the nexus of consumer, small business and economic recovery is the open lending role of banking.

Dr. Krugman is giving the nation an alert, that many of the nation's banks are not in great functional health. In highlighting the measured approach to Wall Street lenders by Lawrence Summers resulting in little if any meaningful reform to stimulate lending, Krugman is correct in challenging any current economic recovery. Simply stated the author makes the observation that banks remain reluctant to lend. Individual consumers, small businesses, in short even main street itself is not on the receiving end of loans needed to help reconstitute the American economy.

Tight credit, is identified by Krugman as an unfortunate roadblock to the needed strong recovery. The part of banking that really matters most-lending, is not being reset. Obviously, in spite of federal government subsidies to banks, the lending portion of the bank's role is practically non existent.

During the Great Depression, President Hoover often emphasized the growth in U.S. production, resulting in more goods and consumer products. Production was at an all time high, yet employment remained at an all time low--does that sound familiar?. A plethora of goods, a miniscule amount of dollars available to the average consumer for making a purchase. Reluctant banks, unwilling to take a chance on consumers and small businesses which might harm their bottom line.

At a time when job creation in this nation is basically proceeding at a snail's pace, when job restoration is practically non existent failing to show up on the administration's radar screen, most banks are yet to free up their lending. Some lending institutions are buying other financial firms, investing once again in risky products, apparently feeling a comfort level with the administration and Lawrence Summer's detachment. The strategy currently in place at the White House and the Treasury must be changed if recovery is to take root.

As Abraham Lincoln so vividly stated, when the real threat comes to the nation it will come from within not from foreign shores. A house divided against itself can no longer survive. Healthcare reform, climate bills, even the appointment of Czars, which have fostered division, will not stimulate the recovery America needs. Unemployment, home foreclosures, homelessness, hopelessness, and poverty are all growing in epidemic proportions, reported daily in our newspapers and media.

The banks must lend now, for in so doing they will help lead a national economic recovery and receive gratitude from the voters. For banks to continue the present perilous course, will lengthen and further complicate national recovery from this current depression.

WSJ 10.17 Op-Ed by Rush Limbaugh

False comments, innuendo, all hiding behind a phony charge of racism is apparently the political capital of the day. This nation has long been a republic based upon constitutional law and human rights. "Life. liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are inherent rights due Rush Limbaugh, sadly they have been abrogated, trampled and dismissed by those miscreants who do not believe in free speech for conservatives and small business owners.

One does not have to accept the speech of Art Rooney or for that matter any past or present owner in the NFL to acknowledge their administrative expertise and love of the game. As the old Sunday School chorus still proclaims, "Red and yellow black and white they are precious in his site." Rush Limbaugh is as precious in his existence as is Joe Biden.

True, free speech allows critics to criticize and enunciate lies that have no basis in fact, yet NFL officials. media outlets, individuals, who succumb to this type of pressure, and adopt double standards, are at best midgets of principle, or at worst dishonest and unfit for executive level administrative leadership. Rush Limbaugh, has the right to speak, be evaluated by sports fans in terms of honesty and integrity. He also has the right to be protected from scurrilous lies and attacks especially from dishonest people who merely exercise ulterior motives at the bidding of national power elites.

The NFL should have spoken to power, instead they caved and crumbled to it in quick order. This miscarriage of basic justice is a serious matter for an administration and professional league that touts diversity. Apparently their definition of diversity does include conservatives, Missourians, talk show hosts, in fact all types of principled Americans. Mr. Limbaugh, is owed and should be the beneficiary of an apology from the, NFL, the perpetrators of this personal scandalous attack, social misfits and radical bigots who spread lies and vermin all over the nation in an attempt to eliminate his rights. We are Americans, this is America, and a major abridgement of free enterprise and free speech has occurred, a dangerous combination.

Dr. Alan Phillips
Bloomington, IL

The Washington Post, Richard Cohen on Obama

Bob Herbert wrote a, great article in the NY Times,in which he asked the question, "Does Obama Get it?" Richard Cohen's piece in USA Today, although directed more toward Afghanistan asks "Does Obama Have the Backbone?" I hope the President reads both these articles and finally makes in particular the unemployment problem his top priority, and not just an object for further image rhetoric. The President needs to handle far more on his plate than just Kobi burgers.

Obviously, President Roosevelt not only understood job losses he verbalized his commitment and went into action, he got it. We are often reminded in the media about Obama's plate, the fact that its covered with so many problems to handle at once. What about Roosevelt's plate? It was filled with more problems than Obama’s platter. In addition to jobs, in the kitchen of world conflict, (like Afghanistan), Roosevelt had WWII waiting in the cupboard.

These questions lead me to a second one which must be asked, namely, if Obama doesn't get it why not? Several suggestions emerge which must be examined. The following is a partial list; is he naive, inexperienced, enamored with the office, distracted, planning to destroy American capitalism, or simply too busy enjoying perks and recognition?

Americans are still waiting for an action plan to come out of the White House to deal with the continued job losses and under employment in the nation. In spite of stimulus funds, embellished rhetoric and many photo ops, nothing seems to be in the works or the oven, choose your own metaphor to describe his inaction.

In addition to Obama, many politicians in Washington D.C. do not seem to get it. Many in the congress are too busy posturing and spinning their plight preparing for the elections of 2010 and beyond. Today most Americans are looking for a man or woman to represent them by solving these problems. Future voters have noticed that lobbyists are doing well under the leadership or lack thereof of this administration, but not main street. It's time the leadership of Presidents like Roosevelt, Reagan and others come to the front.

An effective President wanting to stop this economic disaster should go into action immediately with a consensus based strategic plan,filled with sacrificial effort and personal resolve to make a difference. If the President and elected congressional representatives continue failing to make a serious effort to restore jobs to the voters, they will ultimately discover that these writer's questions can quickly become a statement. Come election time, I know the President and lethargic congressional members will get it. "It" being an early retirement from office.
Dr. Alan Phillips
Bloomington, IL

NY Times, 10.3, Obama's Anzio, by Paul Krugman

Paul, I totally agree that the stimulus may be Obama’s Anzio. Yet, as I posted earlier, I feel that an action plan for job creation-restoration, implemented by the administration needs to be created and brought forward soon.

Touting entrepreneurship as a party, although noble and historical will not let potential Republican presidential candidates off the hook either. For example, the governor from Minnesota can hire and appoint the very best in staff, advisors, and campaign chairs, but he, nor other potential candidate, will be immunized from the need to introduce a well designed workable jobs plan to the nation.

The Times editorial today, appealing for leadership on the jobs-employment question must be addressed. This country is presently void of a payroll program for most Americans, and the needed leadership to aide its restoration. Extending unemployment benefits will become predictable and cyclical, if leaders refuse to get serious about jobs. History has taught us that production means little if consumers do not have income to pay bills and buy products, if this trend continues there will be no recovery.

Investing in the Olympics, green technology, painting roofs white, cap and trade, may well distract our thinking and make us less concerned if not complacent, but in the final analysis the jobs front must be addressed. American leadership historically has always sought out the best minds, appointed a task force and spent the time needed to devise a plan and strategy which often worked in solving a major problem.

If the administration and leaders of both parties fail to grasp the need for a serious program to create-restore jobs, then D-Day is probably a more appropriate description than Anzio of what might happen to many presently filling national offices.

— Dr. Phillips

NY Times, 10,2,2009 Mission Not Accomplished, Paul Krugman

Dear Dr. Krugman,

A great truthful article, superb job. Thanks for pulling the cover off such buzz phrases as "many shoots." Shoots and sprouts with 52 percent unemployment, among youth, Fresno California farm owners and workers facing unemployment at the 40 percent level do not make a recovery and fail to support a mission accomplished, and irrational braggadocio that is incomprehensible to understand.

The data summaries you presented is the true reality. It contrasts with the various spins being placed upon a dying national economic performance. Two trillion in lost production, employment and growth may be just the beginning. The soothsayers remind me of President Hoover's comment in 1932 that "hobos are eating well, in fact one had ten meals in a single day, or people are giving up their jobs preferring to make more selling apples."

The complacency you refer to can be found everywhere. I recently read about a Republican potential candidate for the presidency in 2012. The thrust of the article included his assembly of a strong team of technology, major players and big party officials. I searched this candidate's profile for a simple action statement to address the under and unemployed without income in this nation. He could have at least thought out of the box and made a few suggestions like;

* Elimination or reduction of state corporate taxes through increase of jobs in states, thus providing payroll tax growth, which has been unavailable this past year, through new jobs,

* Establishment of a strong jobs now, task force composed of corporate CEO''s, economists, bankers, workers, state officials and other designated individuals, which exists solely for the express purpose of job creation-restoration,

* Establishment of a strategic plan for growth in American jobs, including recent high school/college graduates, over the next three years, with measurable targets and objectives.

* Development of a reporting system to the American people listing the number of jobs created, their location, their occupational emphasis, and a list of companies hiring. on a monthly basis.

The time is long overdue for this administration, the congress, and the nation to focus on the main problem, the true elephant in the room. We need jobs in America now, the nation's economy is at risk of being destroyed, let us make this priority one ahead of, Olympics, cap and trade, healthcare reform. let's fix this dying economy with its massive job losses. It still is the economy, we need these jobs now more than ever but a complacency which has promoted a lack of rationality is preventing a solution. The Mission is not accomplished.

Dr. Phillips
Bloomington, IL

WSJ, 9.29 U.S., Allies Seek New Ways to Sanction Iran

Alan Phillips wrote: (your comment)
. These sanctions being discussed, novel or traditional will simply not work. There is an incredible reluctance on the part of the United Nations to do much of anything to confront Iran. This organization has a long history of ineffectiveness. Iran continues to stall for time to build and complete its nuclear capability which in addition to bombs will also employ weaponized short, medium and long range missiles. If not eliminated, most all of these weapons being built by Iran will be used against Israel and other nations.

We face today another holocaust purveyor in the Iranian dictator and his fundamentalist Islamic regime. His goal is both proclaimed before the world and very clear, the destruction of Israel from the face of the earth. He is not the first lunatic to proclaim this horrific goal, and yet he must be taken literally at his word. The United States and much of the world must stand strongly against this threat. Sanctions have been tried before, they will not work! After Dunkerque, Winston Churchill used the expression," If necessary for years, if necessary alone." At a moment in history when the holocaust is being preplanned by yet another madman and his regime, whether or not the U.N. joins us and Israel, in eliminating this real threat, may it be said of the American people, "if necessary alone."

Dr. Phillips

NY Times Iran conducts new mid range missle tests, Alan Cowell

President Clinton, Bush and Obama are all to be commended for their past diplomatic efforts with an increasingly devious Iran. It is a virtue of the American people that they are first and foremost lovers of peace and seek to minimize destruction at every possible opportunity. Winston Churchill's words from history however deserve further careful study as we approach this current threat to civilization. I have placed within quotation marks the words of the British Prime Minister, a strong tower in the midst of the first major challenge to civilization.

"Virtuous motives, trammeled by inertia, are no match for armed and resolute wickedness. A sincere love of peace is no excuse for muddling hundreds of millions of humble folk into total war. The cheers of weak, well meaning assemblies soon cease to echo, and their votes soon cease to count. Doom marches on." President Bush correctly referred to the Iranian regime as part of the axis of evil. The present Iranian president and administration, from day one, have been obsessed with development of nuclear weapons for export, intimidation and ultimate use against the state of Israel and other nations.

In discussing the Tragedy of Munich, Churchill enumerated the milestones to tragedy. " Here is a catalogue of surrenders, at first when all was easy and later when things were harder, to the ever-growing German power. But now at last was the end of British and French submission. Here was decision at last, taken at the worst possible moment and on the least satisfactory ground, which must surely lead to the slaughter of tens of millions of people. Here was the righteous cause committed to mortal battle after its assets and advantages had been so improvidently squandered…

The Sermon on the Mount is the last word in Christian ethics. Everyone respects the Quakers. Still, it is not on these terms that Ministers assume their responsibilities of guiding states. Their duty is first so to deal with other nations as to avoid strife and war and to eschew aggression in all its forms, whether for nationalistic or ideological objects. But the safety of the State, and the lives and freedom of their fellow countrymen, to whom they owe their position, make it right and imperative in the last resort, or when a final and definite conviction has been reached, that the use of force should not be excluded. If the circumstances are such as to warrant it, force may be used. And if this be so, should be used under the conditions which are most favorable. There is no merit putting off a war for a year if, when it comes, it is a far worse war or much harder to win…

Still, if you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed, if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than live as slaves."

We face today another holocaust purveyor in the Iranian dictator. His goal is both proclaimed and clear, the destruction of Israel from the face of the earth. He is not the first lunatic to proclaim this horrific plan, and yet he should be taken literally at his word. The United States and much of the world must stand strongly against this threat. Sanctions have been tried before but to no avail. After Dunkerque, Winston Churchill used the expression," If necessary for years, if necessary alone." At a moment in history when holocaust has been resurfaced by yet another madman and his regime, whether or not the U.N. joins us with Israel, in eliminating this threat, may it be said of the American people, "if necessary alone."

Dr. Phillips
Bloomington, IL

USA Today 9.27 Iran Test Fires Short Range Missiles

This is merely further empirical evidence that this rogue, fanatical Iranian regime continues with its obsession to develop, export and eventually use nuclear weapons. The current challenge to the United States, Israel, and the entire United Nations is no longer beyond question or doubt. We do not need another Neville Chamberlain to negotiate away the lives of millions. The United States desperately requires the emergence of a Harry Truman or Winston Churchill type of individual with the determination to stop Iran with force and do so with all deliberate speed. The entire world is watching the firmness or lack of toughness on the part of the present administration in Washington, D.C. The time for U.N. sanctions and words is long past and the need for concrete military action is rapidly approaching. Gordon Brown of Great Britain recently stated that the leaders had drawn a line in the sand. That was an obviously strong statement made by the Prime Minister, however it's quite another thing to enforce it. The time has come to destroy Iran's obsession with development of nuclear weapons and their fixation on the destruction of Israel. At the moment the United States and its allies have the power to eliminate this threat while it is small and incubating. This current challenge from Iran must be met with strength and substance, rhetoric will only appease these fanatical leaders.

Financial Times, 9.26, Gideon Rachman on Iran

21. The obsession driving Iran's leadership has never been the development of peaceful nuclear energy for their consuming public. In spite of strategically designed stalling tactics on their part, the immediate goal is the development of nuclear weapons, export of nuclear technology and ultimately destruction of the state of Israel. The Iranians are rank amateurs at deception as this latest fiasco of the extra nuclear facility so vividly demonstrates.

In spite of president Obama's reminder to the U.N. General Assembly that America can no longer act unilaterally in solving international problems, this latest Iranian example demands a U.S. response that exceeds weak sanctions. Israel will not remain idle, ignore the threat and allow its own destruction. Most Americans, when asked, support the Jewish state in defending its nation. Obama's healthcare, cap and trade, and other minor program priorities have now been placed on the back burner. He will either forgo diplomatic fantasy or the Israeli's will destroy Iran's nuclear facilities, hopefully with U.S. support and assistance. The problem of Israeli settlements is at best a distraction from the real threat to middle east peace.

The American presidency has always been a powerful position of public representation, strong informed decision making, and use of force in the defense of vital national security interests. This ongoing nuclear challenge from Iran threatens the peace of the region and holds the entire world hostage to their whims.

Dr. Phillips
Bloomington, IL

NYT 9.25 In Poll Public Wary of Obama on War and Health

An article written by Adam Nagourney and Dalia Sussman

Overexposure in the media and under sensitivity to the opinions and suggestions of the American people is a certain formula for public weariness and disinterest. One of President Clinton's strengths in the midst of his weaknesses was an ability to listen to voters and when necessary recycle a plan and reposition an idea in the mainstream. His advisors remained sensitive to the desires of a majority. This nation is still based upon traditional values and constitutional freedoms and consequently is not fertile ground for unproven proposals.

Also, missing from the administration's proposals are recycling provisions which actively elicit contrasting points of view. Right or wrong there exists in the current political ethos the notion that it's the administration's proposal or the proverbial highway. The concept of take it or leave it, if the administration's ideas are opposed, will result in great numbers of disaffected voters. To be successful and govern effectively a president needs supporters not disgruntled citizens. He and his advisors need a plan for success which features listening, assessment and benchmarking., that's the key to effectiveness in leadership.

.

USA Today 9.23 Terrorist held without bail, alert issued

DrPhillips
Najibullah Zazi, is being held, in Denver, under the new guidelines of the present administration. This could be the worst case scenario unfolding before our eyes. Assuming he has planned this terrorist event and knows the players and details, he will not be questioned under duress and possibly water boarded to get information which could save thousands of lives. Viewing a war on killers as a legal exercise with neat little rules being applied to safe guard their rights, is unbelievable. The last administration lived in reality. This one has yet to understand the war on "terrorism," and those of our fellows Americans at risk!!! They are incompetent.

WSJ, 8.21 Steven Chu: Americans are like Teenagers When it Comes to Energy

Dr,Alan Phillips wrote:

This gentleman is the wrong choice for any important leadership position in a presidential cabinet. His prior idea of painting things “white” to reflect the sun is an incredibly banal and simpleton suggestion, is this the best he can suggest on energy? It might well come as a surprise to him that we are not teenagers, our fellow citizens are extremely literate and understand that painting houses, streets, rooftops, ocean liners, aircraft, black, white and red human faces “white” are just silly loose floating particles of flakes in a world fraught with real and serious challenges, the least of which is having to tolerate another misfit in the presidential cabinet.

Mr. Chu should resign his position immediately and create an opening for a real energy secretary. I would be willing and enthusiastic about wishing him Bon Voyage or good riddance. His ideas and appointment would be laughable if we didn’t as a nation face ongoing serious energy challenges now and the immediate future. The world’s scientific and political communities must be laughing behind our backs! What a joke! He is a clunker, I thought we had a program for this type of vehicle.

NYT 9.20, For Edwards,Drama Builds Toward A Denouement, Neil A Lewis

Perhaps the real lesson to be learned from this article about John Edwards is that we need to look at future potential nominees for national office outside the ranks of former office holders. Politics is the fine art of compromise and negotiation but principles of ethics, commitment, responsibility, honesty, integrity, sacrifice and personal discipline are also part of the paradigm for office seekers and holders. Our nation and its voters are too often confronted by office holders, like Edwards, Sanford, and others, whose indiscretions damage the credibility of the candidate selection process.

Yet, in fairness, there are many who serve the nation having come from the professional political jobholder classification who remain honorable and embrace the values cited in this article. However, in our time the visual parade of deceptive, dishonest, office holders and candidates covered in the media is not encouraging.

Jim Crawford's fine article on the Occupations of our Founders is worth your study and is taken from National Archive's materials on the initial 55 framers of the Constitution. Our founders came from a varied pool of citizens including farmers, shippers, retirees, scientists, school administrators, ministers, students of theology, lawyers and business owners, all known patriots. Although, these dedicated men did not profess or exhibit perfection, their maintenance of basic moral and ethical principles were strongly exhibited.

We need in 2010-2012, to look actively in our great nation for those men and women who are known for their committed work and are under girded with strong moral and ethical principles. At a time of massive job losses, home foreclosures, plant closings, loss of income, intrusive government, increasing taxes, widespread crime, violation of our borders, challenges from dangerous oppressive regimes around the world, energy demands, small businesses facing stress and interference, we must find serious people to address these issues. In the film The American President, Andrew Shepherd, the fictional president, holds a press conference to challenge his ludicrous opponent Bob Rumson. He basically observes that we as a democracy face serious problems and we need serious people to solve them. This is the crux of our challenge today, we need to identify, nominate and elect to office those serious servants.

In 1630 while on the deck of his tiny ship laying off the Massachusetts coast, John Winthrop told those settlers in the boat with him, WE SHALL BE A CITY UPON A HILL-THE EYES OF ALL PEOPLE ARE UPON US, SO THAT IF WE SHALL DEAL FALSELY WITH OUR GOD IN THIS WORK, WE SHALL UNDERTAKE, AND SO CAUSE HIM TO WITHDRAW HIS PRESENT HELP FROM US, WE SHALL BE MADE A STORY AND A BYWORD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

A young military man offered himself for public office in 1946. He gave an Independence Day address and eventually campaigned for the 11th Congressional District seat in his state. He was not perfect, but he was committed to his nation and fellow citizens. His speech is paraphrased as follows: OUR GOVERNMENT WAS FOUNDED ON THE ESSENTIAL RELIGIOUS ELEMENT OF INTEGRITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL, AND THE IDEALISTIC ELEMENT, A FIXED REGARD FOR PRINCIPLE-THE CONVICTION THAT OUR EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE LORD-THAT RIGHT IS RIGHT AND WRONG IS WRONG. REMEMBERING THE PATRIOTIC ELEMENT, LOVE OF COUNTRY AND WHEREVER FREEDOM HAS BEEN IN DANGER, AMERICANS WITH A DEEP SENSE OF PATRIOTISM HAVE BEEN WILLING TO STAND AT ARMAGEDDON AND STRIKE A BLOW FOR LIBERTY AND THE LORD...MAY GOD GRANT, AT SOME DISTANT DATE, ON THIS DAY...THE SPEAKER MAY BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THESE ARE STILL THE GREAT QUALITIES OF THE AMERICAN CHARACTER AND THEY HAVE PREVAILED. These words were spoken in 1946 by young John Kennedy.

Another great American expressed his dream when he said, AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH, Abraham Lincoln from The Gettysburg address.

The ancient scripture reminds us THAT NO GREATER LOVE HAS ANY MAN THAT HE WOULD LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR A FRIEND.

Let us look for these servants; certainly they can be found in America.

Dr. Phillips
Bloomington, IL

LA Times, 9.19 Dr. Phillips Commentary on Jimmy Carter

Opposition to Obama: It's not all black and white

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Our former president when he was running for governor of Georgia is reported to have invited the head of the KKK to ride with him to an evening commitment when he was visiting a Georgia city. After the ride the KKK official let it be known that Carter would be the best pick in that particular gubernatorial election. Obviously, Carter's inaugural speech as the incoming governor was pro civil rights, confirming his time with the racist leader nothing more than simply a deception to garner votes. Yet, in view of that deceitful exercise and his comments in recent months containing favorable stances toward the Palestinians and Hamas, makes one wonder about his true feelings toward the nation of Israel. The current President as well as his administration are wise to steer clear of Carter's unfortunate and divisive remarks on racism. Approaching age 85 it is time for Jimmy Carter to retire. Retirement would truly be for him a personal recognition that his comments in recent months have become irrelevant, nonsensical and at times embarrassing.

NationalDirection.BlogSpot.com (9/19/2009)

WSJ 9.16 The left should reclaim Freedom, Thomas Frank

Phillips wrote:
The left should Reclaim Freedom an article by Thomas Frank in the Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2009
If this isn't an oxy-moronic title then few words will ever qualify for such a designation. How can the left reclaim something they are against in most any form? In the opinion of the left, government needs more not less control and supervision of all in society. Most on the left feel we need large bureaucracies to tell, our farmers what to plant, teachers what to teach, builders what to build, farmers what to plant, industries what to manufacture, banks what they can loan, news organizations which stories they may report, buyers what colors to choose, consumers what foods they can eat, doctors whom they may treat, the public, which prayer can be prayed, and on the restrictions proceed infinitum. How can the left possibly convince any voter they stand for freedom? Who among us would entrust this most precious commodity to these people?

Freedom is not a gift from government or the left. Freedom comes from limiting the power of government. Freedom to speak, pursue happiness, start a business, defend yourself, come from the clearly stipulated constitutional values our founders placed in a document for all generations of Americans. Today, we are confronted by many in Washington who are demonstrating their expertise in developing new ways of destroying individual freedoms. Place a tax on a soft drinks, grade people as obese or non obese, limit the carbon dioxide being consumed in keeping one's house warm through cap and trade policies. Restrict our military's ability to defend the nation by defining terrorism as a legal problem rather than war against the nation.

The paramount issue of today is far more important than healthcare reform. The most important task before the nation has become the preservation of liberty. Patrick Henry knew the stakes well when he spoke to present and future generations years ago, GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH. Voters are beginning to realize the importance of protecting our constitution and the American way of life. I predict that voters will stream in overwhelming numbers to the polling places in 2012 to preserve and reclaim freedom's permanence, Americans know better than to wait until the left reclaims freedom, that will never happen, they are too busily engaged in trying to destroy it.

USA Today, 9.16 Response to Jimmy Carter's Remarks on Racism by Dr. Phillips

As an American, a conservative and former administrator, I object to Jimmy Carter's divisive comments and generalization on racism. I strongly differ in political philosophy with the former president and resent his generalization and pathetic analysis of President Obama’s erosion of popularity.

My mother was a phenomenal woman, born in the south she was one of the most caring and accepting people I have ever known. While in her late years, teaching elementary school in Illinois, she taught a fourth grader who would eventually play basketball in the NBA and set many records. She loved this young man, his parents and family very much. She lived in a community which was overwhelmingly white and middle class, yet she often had this young African American’s parents to her home for dinner in spite of personal threats and anonymous objections. One night, someone knocked down her side door and broke windows in an attempt to intimidate her. None of this mattered, up until the time she passed away she viewed her many friends of color as wonderful people and great Americans. As a conservative, I will not be lectured by a former president who chose to ride with a KKK leader to a meeting in Georgia, perhaps for a political endorsement.

It's my understanding that the former president in commenting on representative Wilson's comment in the house supposedly said "I think it's based on racism...There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president...Those kinds of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national program on health care...It's deeper than that!"

Yes, it is deeper than that Mr. Carter but not racism. So many liberal voices have tried to characterize concerned Americans with serious reservations about healthcare reforms as simply mobs, even Nazis. These Americans are not mobs and the town hall meetings simply reveal the deeper problem you have erroneously attempted to identify. One of the problems appears to be lack of credibility resulting from administrative incompetency and a lack of transparency. The second issue seems to be one of concern on the part of many Americans that our constitutional principles, in fact the American way of life, including entrepreneurship and individualism are in danger of destruction.

Please Mr. Carter, prior to speaking in the future; give some thought to what you are trying to say.