Republican SCoTUS Debacle

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 Welcome back, My Dear Shoevians, to The Other Shoe. Today I am going to take the opportunity to point out one of the failings of America’s Democracy. Hang on, let me be clear ‘America’s CURRENT Democracy’ because, as you will learn from this article the level of intransigence, by Senate Republicans, is a new and disturbing wrinkle in our democratic process. If you are on of my American readers, you are completely aware of the publicized intransigence of our Republican Senators. Violating the Constitution, Senate Republicans abdicated there right/responsibility of “advice and consent” of a Presidential nomination of a replacement for a open seat on the highest court of our land, the Supreme Court of the United States.

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Now, for those Shoevians that did not take civics in high school, here is the salient paragraph of the U.S Constitution:

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“He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.”[1]

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A simple read, even for all my readers that are not U.S. citizens, yes? According to Article 2 Section 2 Paragraph 2 the sitting U.S. President has the right/responsibility/honor/DUTY to “nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court…” Now, American Republicans are always harping on; “follow the Constitution…”, “honor the Constitution…” “STICK TO the Constitution…” Unless/Until doing so puts their interests are jeopardy. Right?

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MORE for my International Shoevians – America is embroiled in an era of hyper partisanship that we have not see since the Civil War[2]. I am not proud of this fact, in fact I have often written about this symptom of a social disease, and will continue to point out that it is (primarily) one party that had brought the division and intransigence to our government and our nation’s governance. This malady started with the (artificial) creation of the ‘Tea Party’. (A misnomer and disingenuous on its face because there never was a political party by that name) Now, the intransigence that has earned the House of Representatives the moniker “The Least Productive Congress in History”. Now, this social disease has infected the Republican leaders of our elder body (of our Congress) the Senate.

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According to the U.S. Constitution clearly states that a sitting President shall (for every day of his term) shall appoint nominees for vacancies on the highest court of our land, the Supreme Court of the United States. Nowhere in our defining document of our democracy does it; state, hint, imply or define that a President, in his last year of elected office shall not exercise his Constitutional responsibility and neither shall the Senate do exercise their Constitutional responsibilities. This is an unusual, but not ever rare, occurrence. So, My Dear Shoevians, there is history for us to look at. I have borrowed the research, below, to minimize my level of pain… writing and publishing this article, today.

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History of Final Year Nominations of Supreme Court Vacancies:

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• 1968: President Lyndon Johnson — who announced he would not run for re-election — nominated Associate Justice Abe Fortas as Chief Justice and Homer Thornberry to fill Fortas’ vacancy. Fortas’ nomination failed, Thornberry withdrew his nomination and Chief Justice Earl Warren remained on the bench, delaying his retirement.

• 1932, President Herbert Hoover nominated Benjamin Cardozo. Hoover lost to Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

• 1912: President William Taft successfully nominated Mahlon Pitney to the Supreme Court. Taft lost to Woodrow Wilson.

Three other presidents made successful Supreme Court nominations while running for re-election, but unlike Taft and Hoover, they won another term:  

• 1956: Dwight Eisenhower made a recess appointment of William Brennan.

• 1940: Franklin Delano Roosevelt nominated Frank Murphy.

• 1916: Woodrow Wilson nominated John Clarke and Louis Brandeis [3]

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There we have it, My Dear Shoevians. Whereas this does not happen often (a sitting Supreme Court Justice passing/retiring) it does happen enough for us to have a recorded history to review. One cannot dictate when any given person will pass away (die), and I am sure that if someone could have asked Justice Antonin Scalia, prior to his death, he would have not wanted to pass away while there was a sitting President that was/is a Democrat. However, the fact remains that Justice Antonin Scalia did pass away while there was a Democrat in office.

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Finally, for my international Shoevians, there is a hard reason for the intransigence of our Senate Republicans. The current make-up of our Supreme Court is 5/4. There are five conservative/conservative leaning Justices sitting on that bench and there are four Liberal/Liberal Leaning justices. This appointment can/will change that mix… and change it in favor of a ‘Liberal Bench’. These things happen, Americans. Maybe it is some Galactic Intervention because of rulings like; ‘Citizen’s United’[4] FYI that was a ruling, here in America, that gave corporations the same rights (as far as political contributions and influence) as a PERSON! Yes, that is completely absurd… bordering on insanity… and the why I think that reality is doing this shuffle on the bench.

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Now, as all political followers know, there is brinkmanship in all types of self-governance. Be it a Republic or other type of Representative Government there is… discord and brinkmanship, but this is different, for America. I looked and looked and found one quote that helps me define how this is different.    

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Senator James Inhofe, R-OK

Sen. Jim Inhofe (Ok.) “…we will not accept any nomination from President Obama.”

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Does that sound like it is not personal? Be sure, this is personal and it is against our TWICE elected sitting President of the United States – President Barrack Obama. Yes, Republicans are fearful that if ‘Citizens United’ is brought before a new Supreme Court of the United States that has a more left-leaning court? It will be overturned. That is there fear and that is there motivation of not ever giving a hearing to the man President Obama just nominated for the open seat on the Supreme Court of the United States.

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My Dear Shoevians, this is March of the final year of his Presidency. It is not like it is November and the American people have gone to the polls and elected the Republican nominee. This is much different. Historically, Presidents get hearing for nominations for the whole time they are elected to office!

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America’s Republicans are making the American democracy appear broken! This is very very bad, and reflects poorly on our entire nation. Not just on Senate Republicans. Not just on Republicans. It reflects poorly on our entire nation… our Republic… our Democracy!America has the longest surviving democracy in the history of mankind. That is not just an honor. That is a responsibility! A responsibility to execute the responsibilities of your elected office every/all days your have been elected to serve. A handful of Senators, belonging to one party, cannot be allowed to besmirch the (long earned) reputation of this democracy. This is historically bad!

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My Dear Shoevians, I am experiencing a lot of pain… at this point. So, I am going to cut this article short… here. I will be back to publish about this debacle… soon. I appreciate everyone that has come by to read and learn. Have a great Hump-Day and I will be back here, soon!

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Adieu!

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Thank you!

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 Danny Hanning Writer, Editor, Research Staff and Publisher at The Other Shoe
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© 2010 – 2016 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe

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[1] http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War 

[3] http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/feb/14/marco-rubio/do-presidents-stop-nominating-judges-final-year/

[4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/01/21/how-citizens-united-changed-politics-in-6-charts/

The Death of Our President

            Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today, My Dear Readers, I was confronted with the very reason that I started this blog back on March 22^nd, 2010. Since the campaign that catapulted Senator Obama to become President Obama I have been troubled by voices. Voices coming from the extreme fringe of the Republican party. Elements of this radical fringe have engaged in hyperbolic rhetoric. They have created doubt about; the citizenship of President Obama, the legitimacy of his election, elements of his past, and even his (self-described) Christian religion.

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Never before, in the history of our nation, have there been so many hyper-partisan voices. Never before has there been disingenuous claims of such a personal and insulting nature leveled at a President of the United States. In my lifetime there has never been a more determined and uninformed group of Americans, literally, Hell-Bent on public ridicule of a Presidential candidate nor sitting President. It is this terrible shrill of hate-filled and hyperbolic rhetoric that motivated me to start this blog.

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Today, I saw the ugly culmination of nearly a decade drumbeat of angry rhetoric, in the demand for blood of our sitting President! It is this of which I speak:

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        ““Obama is not president as far as I’m concerned," the woman can be heard saying in the clip. "He should be executed as an enemy combatant.”[1]

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Uninterrupted, the woman went on to say:

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        “He is shipping Muslims into our country…”

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And:

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        “he (President Obama) has no authority, NONE!”

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Now, this is happening at a ‘Town Hall’ held by Rep. Jim Bridenstine ® Oklahoma. (See video of this Town Hall here: http://youtu.be/Wxr4cEC9IXw or just below, here)

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[youtube=http://youtu.be/Wxr4cEC9IXw]

(Woman Demands Execution of President Obama)

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At no point did Rep. Bridenstine attempt to stop this woman’s call for blood. Actually he sought to build on this woman’s delusional rant by proffering (as a Congressman of The United States of America):

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        “Everybody knows of the lawlessness of this President… he picks and chooses which laws he’s going to enforce or not enforce…”

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Hang on… can we get some clarification here for everyone. The President is the head of the Executive Branch of our government. There are three branches to our Federal Government;

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1. 1.    The Legislative Branch – Charged with passing legislation and ‘holding the purse strings’ of our Federal Government. This branch works as a legislative body to pass pieces of legislation that are made into our nation’s laws.


2. 2.    Executive Branch – As the Head of the Executive Branch our nationally elected President takes Legislation passed by Both Houses of Congress and signs them into Law. The Chief Executive, President, oversees a Cabinet. The Cabinet is made up of the 14 Secretaries from the executive departments and the Attorney General.


3. 3.    The Judicial Branch -  Made up of the Courts System and in charge of ENFORCING THE LAWS.

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Now, anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of our Three Branches of government understands (as you do now) that it is the Judicial Branch that is charged with “enforce or not enforce…” laws, and not the President of the United States.

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I am flabbergasted that this elected and duly sworn Congressional Representative made no effort, whatsoever, to correct this woman or attempt to stop this woman from demanding the blood of our President. I have actively watched Presidential politics for as long as I can remember. I have distinct memories of watching speeches from President Eisenhower, and clearly remember a televised debate between Senator Kennedy and Richard Nixon.

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Never in my life have I ever witnessed such bloodlust. For the past three years, I have used this blog to warn. Warn against this type of hyperbolic and hyper-partisan rhetoric. Rhetoric  and the potential damage it does to our political dialogue and our government. Let me give you a little comparison in contrast. .

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During the Presidential campaign between Senator Obama and Senator McCain I distinctly remember a ‘Town Hall’ that Senator McCain held, in I believe Arizona. Senaotr McCain was taking questions from many of the people in attendance. He walks up to a woman, a woman clearly of an age we would refer to as a senior. The woman starts out saying:

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    “President Obama is an Muslim… and I do not think… “

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To his credit, and to make my point, Senator McCain STOPS the woman in mid-sentence and corrects her!

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    “President Obama is not an Arab, he is a decent family man that I happen to have disagreements with…”[2]

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That happened in October 10th 2008. I am deeply disturbed at how far we, as a nation, have fallen in just five years and four months. My Dear Readers, I apologize… but it is only one political party… one party that seeks to garner and hold political office… this way. It is just elements of the Republican Party that resort to these low-handed tactics to endear voters. It is just the Republican party that allows such hyperbolic rhetoric to have become the bread and butter of their party.

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When I started this blog, this was the concern that motivated by actions. I genuinely feared the day when this kind of hyperbolic and antisocial behavior be seen as the ‘politically correct’ way to register one’s discontent for a Presidency. I appeal to you, MY Dear Readers, to see this woman’s action (and the inaction of Rep. Bridenstine) as reprehensible and unacceptable. When you; speak in your community, post on Facebook, write in any social media and even in conversations with friends and family never allow hyperbolic rhetoric (like this call for bloodlust by this woman) to gain purchase. To strongly resist the infection of your; community, political circles, and/or your home by this disease. We the People must stand United against this kind of social disease, this bloodlust.

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We must, together, stand against the spread of this kind of socially reprehensible behavior in our homes and in our communities. You see, My Dear Readers, that if you remain silent… your silence will be seen as acceptance. We cannot allow our nation’s political dialogue to be so poisoned. There is no intrinsic value to this woman’s words. There can be no acceptance for these bitter and  deeply disturbing demands.

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As Senator McCain said, “we disagree on a great many policies” but we cannot allow disagreement to be so deeply warped into some kind of ignorant hatred. As Americans we owe it to our posterity to keep our national political dialogue free from such bloodlust and angry ignorance. Our nation is strong. Our nation is proud. That strength can be tapped by allowing angry bloodlust to flourish. Our pride can quickly turn to shame, if we ignore or even support such hyperbolic and hyper-partisan hate filled rhetoric.

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I am in terrible pain, My Dear Readers, and I am in real need of rest. I could not rest until I made an effort to publish… and speak strongly about this injustice to our nation, and our political dialogue. I so much love my country, that I could not find rest before I addressed this terrible injustice. You may well think “this is jus the words of one woman….” What is the big deal? Where is the real need?

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That is now it starts, My Dear Readers. It starts with us just looking away. Then while our backs are turned.. it grows… and in the darkness it grains power. Then it becomes larger than any of us ever imagined, and then it is too late to stop. I have made my stand, I have written as much as I possibly can…  I have made every effort I am capable… and I have appealed to every American’s better nature. Do not let thoughts and words like these gain a foothold in your community. Do not allow this kind of bloodlust for a President take root in your community, your family, your life and your heart.

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As always I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank YOU!

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P.S. I am still without much food in my home. I do my best, honest I really do. I am not lying about how much money I make… I do not lie about the lack of food I suffer. I sincerely apologize for even mentioning this problem. However, it was a good friend that told me… “Danny, if you don’t tell people your needs… there is no way those that want to help, know when they CAN help.” I am asking for help. I have written in many articles how to help. One way is to click the link below to my eBay Store for The Other Shoe. Please… if you can… Please do help.

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="234"] The Other Shoe eBay Store[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_2296" align="aligncenter" width="630"] The Other Shoe's Daniel Hanning[/caption]

 

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[1]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/08/jim-bridenstine-town-hall_n_4752337.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000037

[2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRq6Y4NmB6U

Avarice in America

                      Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today President Obama is to make a Presidential address about inequality in America. I heard about this from the Facebook feed to Professor Robert Reich (once Labor Secretary under President Clinton). In the statement the Professor says this:

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“Today the President will be giving a major address on inequality. He can be expected to say it’s the central domestic challenge of our time, that equal opportunity is the keystone of our social compact, that widening inequality threatens our economy and corrodes our democracy, and that he’ll be devoting the rest of his presidency to this fundamental challenge.”[1]

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Another voice, in a growing chorus, seeking to make everyone (yet, mostly Americans) of the severe damage an era of greed has wrought upon our great nation. If you are a frequent reader of this blog, then you will know that America’s Avarice is often a topic of my writing. I have, also, made everyone aware that our newest Pontiff, Pope Francis, has frequently made avarice and inequality topics of his dictums, speeches and press releases. Seriously, one would have to be burying their head in the sand most days, and deaf the rest, not to hear the growing cries against avarice and for equality.

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“The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience.”[2] (Also found here: ‘Pope Francis Strikes, Again’ http://theothershoe.blog.com/2013/11/pope-francis-strikes-again/)

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Fact of the matter is that for the handful of Americans get that did get reap the financial benefit of our recent economic upturn, life is quite good and I am sure this is the last thing in the world they want anyone talking about. However, for the rest of the 310 million Americans that saw no benefit, this is a topic that is not getting enough ink. My Dear Readers this is a topic there will always be space for here at The Other Shoe. I am not against my fellow man making a good living or, if they are fortunate enough, amassing a fortune.

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My problem lies with my fellow man’s avarice. Avarice. Now there is a very old word, a very old word indeed. King Midas had dreams of avarice. King Solomon is what most would see is the epitome of avarice. What follows is the dictionary definition of avarice;

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“extreme greed for wealth or material gain”

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“Extreme greed” is the textbook definition for avarice. Aye, there’s the rub! For it is in that one word… That one adjective that I see the frailty and disease of mankind. Extreme, as if there isn’t enough of that already today. Extreme poverty. Extreme religion. Extreme governance. You see it is in fact, where mankind so often falls, that goes before the fall. As a young boy my father, God rest his soul, warned me of extremism… Of steel and zealotry. You still me it was a good thing to be diligent, it was a good thing to persevere, and it was great to Excel . however, he warned that extremism field and zealotry always came before the fall . So I say to you today it is with America. So I say it is today with the extreme right wing of our Republican Party; the tea party. Today’s tea party is the group most responsible for the intransigence of the last two sessions of Congress. Most tea party members will freely admit that they are extreme and that they are selling. You see, that’s when they lost me. And, My Dear Readers, that is where they should have lost you, too. Extremism demands so much from its followers, takes from everyone else and leaves the world behind it in shambles. All too often, in this life, I and I know you to as well have seen the evidence. The zealotry and religion of the Spanish Inquisition that fell a tree of the third Reich needing to the second world war. In the extreme bigotry and racism of the Ku Klux Klan and the John Birch society’s.

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One simply cannot trust seal… Extremism… Zealotry… Or fanaticism. For when you give up all that is you to become your believe? One news is one’s self. Today America is gripped in the throes of extreme capitalism. We hear the cries of the devout

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“too much regulation will strangle growth…”

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Yet, when asked to provide proof that what they’re saying is true? None is forthcoming. As a matter of fact time magazine, just last year, ran a very short article about the regulatory practices of all the industrialized nations in the world. I found it most enlightening to see that the greatest growth in commerce was in India, at the time of this article. However, most ironic India was also the nation with the largest growth and regulations. Looking back just on the history of our nation. One can quite easily see a very recent parallel. The 60s saw this single largest expansion of the middle class, and our national economy, and the history of our nation. Not surprisingly, the 60s were also the time of the greatest growth of regulations and regulatory agencies in the history of our nation. It was the 60s when”tree huggers”started their campaign to save our national ecology. It was the beginning of the environmental protection agency. I apologize that I don’t have the time nor in my of the strength to fully document the expansion of regulation we saw in the 60s and the 70s in America. I know that most of you, My Dear Readers know that what I say is true and I ask for your understanding. So I see it is no coincidence that one time magazine, and 2013, looks to find the single largest growing economy on the face of the earth they find it that very nation is also the single largest growth and regulations. I dare any of you to go and find me proof that the opposite is true.

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I have not written in the past three days. Not only is my body wracked with an unusual level of pain I just keep getting these fevers. Thankfully Allen is working nearly every day. When his paychecks catch up with the hours might actually be able to eat better, again. However, I am afraid that I have to bring this article to a premature close. I am getting quite dizzy and have a growing extreme headache. I apologize I was just beginning to gain some wind in my argument. You all know this won’t be the last time I come here to speak to you of the disease like state of avarice in our nation. I use the word disease most accurately. For avarice has infected our nation. Greed has infected the minds the hearts and souls of too many good people that I knew and grew up with I pray every night for the strength and the lack of pain so that I might complete my novel. One day soon regardless of my condition I will finish this novel. And it is my prayers that my novel is quite popular. And that that popularity I through the the strength of my will and the sharpness of my wit translate into a good deal of wealth of my own. And then I can stop talking about avarice and I can show you… I can show you all what should the done with any wealth. More children go to bed every day right now today in America than any time in our nation’s history. Children, not adults… Not crack whores are welfare moms but children! What ever did children do to deserve to live in poverty and sleep in the hunger?

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Avarice

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As always I am very flattered that you come here and read my work. I hope and pray that in the coming days I will feel better so you get back to writing on more daily basis. I apologize for my absence and I just hope and pray that I feel better soon because I have so very much to say to you all.

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Thank you!

P.S. Please excuse any typos or errors. In my current... condition... I apologize, I jst didn't have the strenthto prof prior to publication. I will check, tomorrow... when I feel 'better'... o less, depending on the malidy.

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[1]https://www.facebook.com/#!/RBReich

[2]http://www.scribd.com/doc/187329248/Pope-Francis-s-Nov-24-2013-Evangelii-Gaudium

My Problem With President Obama

            Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. First I’d like to extend my apologies to all of you, My Dear Readers in that my primary blog is still having severe technical problems. I have written the technical support team at blog.com four times expressing my concern that I am unable to post or edit articles at my primary blog. Yet they have neither contacted me nor addressed the problem. Having said, and until further notice this blog, at word press.com, will be the only location for current and updated articles forThe Other Shoe.

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Next, I would like to express my my deep and unequivocal concern for the hour-long press conference, I just witnessed, with Pres. Obama. Now, I know that his popularity numbers are the lowest they’ve ever been… But what I witnessed today, I don’t feel, is going to improve his numbers. First, the way I was raised your actions are either right or wrong, there is no place for back-peddling in leadership positions. Two things; the plans… The health insurance plans that were outlawed, under the Affordable Care Act, were bad plans. I’ve read the articles by Consumer Reports[1] about these ‘MiniMed’[2] health insurance plans. It was my understanding that these plans, that were outlawed, took advantage of unknowing, uninformed and uneducated consumers.

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Second, I personally know of a handful of people that have had their poor health care plans canceled, because of the Affordable Care Act. Some of these individuals have even been forced to put down large deposits for new health plans that were approved by the Affordable Care Act. So, what happens to these Americans? What happens to the Americans that have already received a cancellation notices, gone to their insurance providers, found new health insurance plans and then asked to put down large deposits prior to enrollment into ‘ approved’ healthcare plans.

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As I said above, I view these mini med health plans as either; bad for consumers (and therefore should be outlawed) or they’re ’okay’. Americans are putting their paychecks into these health plans, as well as their health and the health of their children and other relatives. This is not a game, Americans. And we certainly don’t deserve to be played according to some politicians poll numbers. Nothing raises my ire or more than a politician pandering to improve poll numbers.

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I have been a supporter of Pres. Obama since he gave the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic national convention. However, his actions of late, and especially today, are not the actions of a man I can believe in. Frankly, I don’t give a hoot and a holler about poll numbers. You see, My Dear Readers, I already put my two cents into the pot on the subject. Right here atThe Other Shoe I have made my position clear, I have documented my position with facts, and I know that my position is correct. These mini med health plans are nothing more than bad medicine.

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To allow these trash health plans to continue to be sold to the American people is nothing short of a betrayal of leadership. How can the American people place their confidence and a leader that undermines himself? That reverses course  because  of political pressure? These are not the attributes of a leader that most Americans respect. In my humble opinion, to allow these mini med plans to continue is to allow the American people to continue to be lied to, deceived, and stolen from. If any president is going to take action via Executive Order, that action should only be to preserve and protect the American people. To take action against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them.

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This is not the actions of a president that I will respect. Now My Dear Readers I am not saying that I no longer respect Pres. Obama. As a patriotic American I will always do my best to treat what ever man or woman who occupies the office of President of the United States with of the up most respect so long as they occupied the office. For me, to show disrespect to a sitting president is to show disrespect for the Office of President of the United States. However, this action does much to my opinion of Pres. Obama.

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My Dear Readers I meant to be completely upfront and honest with you, as I always try to do, in telling you that I anticipated the pressure Pres. Obama would get over outlawing these mini med health plans. I am one of the few Americans that has read a majority of the 3,000 page Affordable Care Act of 2010. In reading, I realized there were many pitfalls in the legislation and that these pitfalls, as time passed, would have to be addressed legislatively. Honestly I think I may have given this president more credit than he’s due.

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You see, My Dear Readers, I honestly thought (in reading the Affordable Care Act) that Pres. Obama (and Democratic legislators to a lesser degree) were working to force America’s private insurance industry and to direct competition with Medicare. I honestly believed that was in their intention, their desire, and that these foibles in the Affordable Care Act were intentionally placed their to undermine the stranglehold privately owned for-profit health insurance corporations have on the health of America and Americans.

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My Dear Readers I honestly believe that the time has come for the end of profiteering off the pain and suffering of our fellow citizens. I do not believe that, in good conscience, any nation can seek to make a profit from the pain, suffering, and death of its citizenry. I equate that action to be on the level of the tobacco companies making profit off of cancer deaths of literally hundreds of millions of Americans for more than 100 years. How can a great nation like America hold its head high in an international community when our fellow nations know that we are making bank off of death?

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My Dear Readers I am saddened to say that I do not believe my nation is actually headed, with regards to its nation’s health care system, in the correct direction for the betterment of its citizens. It is my firm belief that if  Democratic legislators and our Democratic president had properly use this opportunity they could’ve put our health insurance companies in direct competition with Medicare. That by placing these health insurance companies in direct competition with Medicare they would’ve brought about the crippling the end of privately held (for-profit) health insurance corporations. I honestly thought that was their intention. I honestly thought they had that much foresight… That much ambition… That much concern for the American people that they used the political clout of a Democrat held Senate, a Democrat held House of Representatives and a Democrat Presidency to foster the type of health care system America has needed for the past 100 years.

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My Dear Readers America is the very last big boy and industrialized nation without a single payer health care system. America is the last big boy nation that seeks to make a profit from the pain, suffering, and death of its citizens. Having said, it is the only logical and sane course of action for our nation is to join our brethren nations in freeing the American citizen from this sick stranglehold that is profit-making off of health. It is long past time that America stood up for Americans. It is long past time that the American people be given the birthright that good health is for every other industrialized nation on our planet. My Dear Readers it is my humble opinion that, with every passing session of Congress, we bring shame to our nation and ourselves by not empowering our citizens with nationalized healthcare.

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Not only, My Dear Readers, is it sick to think you should make a profit off your neighbors cancer, and it is sick. Did you know that American car manufacturers cannot play on a level intermational playing field with car manufacturers from; Germany, England, France, Italy and Japan merely because 20% of the cost of a car made in America is associated with health care costs. What that means is that we cannot sell American-made cars for competitive competitively based prices, in international markets, just because of the associated healthcare cost of our privately held for-profit health care system. And it’s not just cars, My Dear Readers, it’s every single item we make in America and export to international markets. America can not be competitive in international markets when all the other nations have given their citizens the birthright of healthcare.

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Today America took a step backwards. Today Pres. Obama made America take a step backwards. Today is a shameful day for Pres. Obama and for the American people.

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As always I am deeply honored that you come here to read my work.

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Thank you!

 

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[1]http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/05/hazardous-health-plans/index.htm

[2]http://abcnews.go.com/Health/mini-med-health-plans-useless-consumers/story?id=15522939

Weekday Wisdom - The Lie About Your 'Cheap' Health Plan

Welcome back My Dear Readers, to The Other Shoe. I know this is supposed to be “WeekEND Wisdom’ but my hand was being pushed. I have been reading… some posts on Facebook… and comments from others on posts on Facebook. The complaint that I am hearing, and the retort for many still supporting the Affordable Care Act (law) is a simple (minded) one.

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“I wasn’t allowed to keep my old health plan… and now I have to pay more…”

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On the face of it, this seems to be a genuine complaint, often aired by (what appears to be) intelligent and ‘informed’ people. Nothing could be further from the truth, unfortunately. The proof is coming out, all over the place, that these claims are ‘junk’. Just as the plans these unfortunate (and often grossly uninformed) Americans had been paying for, often for many years.

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See, what happened was that unscrupulous insurance agents had found a way of taking advantage of Americans in good health, and unfortunately poor legal & reading skills. If one can read outside of one network, and one radio station, they will soon be forced to hear or read and articles, like this one;

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“An example from CR: A plan costing $65 a month held by Judith Goss, 48, a Michigan department store employee. When Goss was diagnosed with breast cancer, she discovered the drawbacks of the policy's coverage limits of $1,000 a year for outpatient treatment and $2,000 for hospitalization -- barely enough to cover a day and half a Tylenol in the hospital. She delayed treatment, so her cancer got much worse before she finally opted for surgery. Those sorts of coverage limits are illegal come Jan. 1.”[1]

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Many Americans (without understanding… knowing) had unwittingly been hornswaggeled (by crafty/devious and cunning… if not ill reputable)insurance agents into purchasing very low premium health insurance plans. These plans (as outlined in the report by Consumer Reports[2] ) were crafted for low-information consumers in good-to-great­ health. Only to have, these poor unfortunate consumers, faced with huge medical bills if they were misfortunate enough to get sick, or have an accident.

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“Many people who believe they have adequate health insurance actually have coverage so riddled with loopholes, limits, exclusions, and gotchas that it won't come close to covering their expenses if they fall seriously ill, a Consumer Reports investigation has found.

At issue are so-called individual plans that consumers get on their own when, say, they've been laid off from a job but are too young for Medicare or too "affluent" for Medicaid. An estimated 14,000 Americans a day lose their job-based coverage, and many might be considering individual insurance for the first time in their lives.”[3]

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Further, many thousands of Americans had no idea that they possessed one of these ‘Junk Health Plans’ until this year when they went to their agent and were told “we are no longer offering your health plan… because of Obamacare…”. When the real truth of the matter is that the plans were no longer being sold… BECAUSE? These junk plans were now illegal under Federal Laws to protect consumers!

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“We talked to insurance experts and regulators to learn more. Here is what we found:

• Heath insurance policies with gaping holes are offered by insurers ranging from small companies to brand-name carriers such as Aetna and United Healthcare. And in most states, regulators are not tasked with evaluating overall coverage.


• Disclosure requirements about coverage gaps are weak or nonexistent. So it's difficult for consumers to figure out in advance what a policy does or doesn't cover, compare plans, or estimate their out-of-pocket liability for a medical catastrophe. It doesn't help that many people who have never been seriously ill might have no idea how expensive medical care can be.


• People of modest means in many states might have no good options for individual coverage. Plans with affordable premiums can leave them with crushing medical debt if they fall seriously ill, and plans with adequate coverage may have huge premiums.


• There are some clues to a bad policy that consumers can spot. We tell you what they are, and how to avoid them if possible.


• Even as policymakers debate a major overhaul of the health-care system, government officials can take steps now to improve the current market.”[4]

Many Americans, often low information consumers, were being used and defrauded by, what they often thought were, honest and reputable insurance agents. Either due to financial constraints, continuing to use the same agent my father used, or living under the misnomer (based on low information) that “if you just look hard enough…”.

“"There is this persistent dream of consumers that, if they only look hard enough, they'll find really good insurance that costs a lot less," said Metcalf. "It's not going to happen. There's no such thing as a bargain on health insurance. If it's cheap, it's cheap for a reason."[5]

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Now, do not get me wrong, I am not placing the entire blame on these consumers. The industry certainly shares much of the burden of blame.

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“Major insurance companies, including Cigna and Aetna, offer mini-med plans that allow for minimum and capped benefits. Robert Zirkelbach, press secretary for America's Health Insurance Plans, the national trade association representing the health insurance industry, said many states use these types of plans to expand coverage for uninsured Americans.”[6]

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Whereas I do not ‘blame’ these consumers for the years and (often) decades of paying for a plan that did an injustice to them and their families. I do, however, blame them for their actions to spin their ignorance into a slam on the Affordable Care Act. In all reality these individuals, and families, should be thanking President Obama, and the Democratic Congressmen and Senators that made this bill law, and set about protecting consumers from themselves.

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These mini-med plans are no illegal to sell, as they should be, and now Americans will not be faced with crippling debt due to their lack of due diligence (when it came to becoming informed about the health care coverage). Here is the real rub for me, as an American and as a writer. These mini-med health plans? They were costing the average tax payer hundreds of millions a year!

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They cost the taxpayer by shifting the cost of care from the ‘insured’ American consumer to the public sector once these consumers fell through the cracks. Once their plans paid out, the cost of their care (Americans making $50,000 - $500,000 a year) was shifted to the public sector plans. Having their savings gutted by irreputable agents and a chronic or catastrophic health concern, high wage hard working Americans ended up on the public services. Whereas, if they had done their due diligence and not looked for something for nothing they would have manageable bills and not ended a burden to society.

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So, here in the ‘No Spin Zone’ of my “Weekday & Weekend Wisdom’ articles I am shifting the paradigm and blame back to these Americans that honestly thought “I had a find with my pervious health plan… now Obamacare has ruined…”. When the reality is that, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, a law they hold in public disdain has protected these very Americans. Can we say IRONY?

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As always I am honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank you!

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="234"] The Other Shoe eBay Store[/caption]

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[1]http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-healthplans-20131030,0,5590179.story#axzz2jFin59GP

[2]http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/05/hazardous-health-plans/index.htm

[3]http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/05/hazardous-health-plans/index.htm

[4]http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/05/hazardous-health-plans/index.htm

[5]http://abcnews.go.com/Health/mini-med-health-plans-useless-consumers/story?id=15522939

[6]http://abcnews.go.com/Health/mini-med-health-plans-useless-consumers/story?id=15522939 ibid

The ‘Dud’ Cruz Missile…

           Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. As well, welcome to the very first article of a political nature… I have written (and published) in ‘a month of Sundays’. I must admit that I have willingly silenced my political voice… for potential personal gain. My Dear Readers, you all know that I am suffering under immense financial distress. I do my best, with the tools I have… with the education that I have… and greatly limited by my physical and neurological…. deficits.

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I cannot walk… without a cane… without a limp… and for greatly limited distance. I cannot stand… nor can I lift or carry… without dropping. I do my best to sit behind a keyboard and write. Out of a deep love for you, My Dear Readers. I know that in the coming years, once I have my works published… and my writing is helping to put a roof over my head. I will look back on this time with a certain amount of shame. Shame that I had yet to figure out how to turn my words into cash… without Indiegogo.

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I am getting closer, every day, to that turn of the worm. I know that you, My Dear readers, will still be with me. Still reading this blog, and my words. That fact is about the only thing that gets me out of bed, each and every morning. Honestly, with the pain that I endure, each and every day, that I am working with/through this very moment? I am very much surprised that I still number among the living.

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[caption id="attachment_1717" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Proof that no matter 'where' Dan 'is'? Dan is Always a PROUD TEXAN![/caption]

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Now, for the ‘Good Stuff’. Be yea FAIR Warned. For those of a weak constitution… for those of a weak mind… for those SO enamored by the anger and hatred of the ‘Far right’? Be fair warned, the following is T R U T H. Unequivocal… Unabashed… Undeniable, TRUTH. I will take no hostages. I will not ‘bandy ’my words. What you read, here today, from this point forward is the reality of our political world… here.. in America.. today.  I have no time for the weak minded. I have no tolerance for the un/ill informed. I have held my tongue (against my better judgment… and with harm to my very soul) for far too long. That ends… T O D A Y! If, because of what I write, you decide to; ‘Unfriend’ me on Facebook… withhold kindness and/or support. So be it. Honestly, if you choose that course of action? You are only doing yourself harm.

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[The following is written out of a sense of responsibility… loyalty… sincerity and not to gloat. I gain no pleasure sharing what I am about to share… writing what you are about to read. Please... bear this in mind... and in your heart, as you read my words. This is/was a labor of love.]

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I voted for Ronald Reagan for President. I was proud as I watched President Reagan work with the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tip O’Neal. I was proud to be an American. Today, not so much… not so much at all. Right now, as I write these words sitting on my bed, the United States Senate is voting to end (what I call) ‘The Cruz Debacle’.

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It is an unfortunate fact, and now a historical fact that Republican leaders have been lying to their supporters. They have been lying about the core of their run(s) for office since 2010.

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            “Senate Republicans were being disingenuous in their claim to support defunding (Obamacare)… “ [1]

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They lied about the very vote(s) they took, on legislation to “defund Obamacare”.

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            “The heat has been turned on for Lindsey Graham, and he is feeling it. The embattled republican senator from South Carolina is relying on misleading semantics to deceive voters into reelecting him over his two serious challengers, state senator Lee Bright (R) and businesswoman Nancy Mace… Graham voted in favor of cloture… for cloture allowed debate to end and the final vote to take place.”[2] .

They have lied about a simple reality. The reality that the United States Senate would never vote to pass a bill to “defund Obamacare” and that the President Of the United States, President Barack Obama would never sign legislation to “defund Obamacare”. For the past three years Republican Congressmen and Senators have been flat-out lying just to get elected/reelected.  What to know what is worse than all those lies? That all too many Republican voters… believed those lies.

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Like sheep to the slaughter, Republicans all over our great nation have been lead by lies and liars. Every single Representative, from both Houses of Congress, knew full well that they had zero chance of “defunding Obamacare”. Yet they sold this false bill of goods, time and again. Election after election, much to the dismay of people like you.

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The people of “The Great State of Texas’ should feel the most betrayed of all the Republican voters in all of the fifty states. Here is the reason, why:

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            “In January of 2011, Houston attorney Ted Cruz announced he would seek the United States Senate seat being vacated by Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson.

When asked why he wanted to become a member of the Senate and represent the people of his state in that role, Cruz said, “The reason I’m running for Senate: That’s where the real battle is.”

Further…

            “Because if Ted Cruz really meant what he said, he must go down as possibly the greatest failure in the annals of United States Senate history, taking his home state of Texas down with him.” [3]

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“The greatest failure in the annals of the United States history, taking his home state of TEXAS down with him.”

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I am a proud TEXAN. No, right now I do not live in the great state of my birth… I awake each and every day knowing two things; I am in pain… and I am not HOME. Just because I am not there with you all… and that pains me more than I can put into words. Just because I am not there in Texas… does not mean I do not feel you pain. This man… this Senator Cruz has brought great shame to the state of my birth.

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You see, as I said earlier, all Congressmen and Senators (Republican) knew  they would not be able to “Defund Obamacare…” from 2010. They knew, when they lost seats; in the House of Representatives and the Senate, that they could not keep their word… with you the voter.  However, they also knew… or at least were told… and lead to believe, that if they did not run on “Defunding Obamacare…” they would likely be primaried. This fear left them weakened and easily used and led.

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[Just now, this minute the Senate has passed legislation (81-18) to END the shutdown and avoid default on our national debt. I am proud of the elder body of Congress.].

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It is with great joy that I report that the government shutdown has ended and that the debt ceiling is raised.

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Not today, but soon, I will write an article outlining my thoughts, many that I sahre with Warren Buffet, on the ‘Debt Ceiling’and how it is nothing more than a political device and nothing less than a fuse for an economic bomb equal to the atomic device dropped on Hiroshima. Not today, but soon.

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Again, My Dear Readers, I do not write this article as a means of gloating. Nor do I write it as an insult to my fellow Texans, or any Republicans. I write this article as words of warning. Warning that, if Republicans do not move more to the center. If that if Republicans do not give up this govern by gun… this Govern by Disaster’? That soon, and for the rest of time, the Republican party will delegate itself to being (merely) a regional political party.

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Republicans need to take heed of the fate of the Whig party of the late nineteenth century. If you have never heard, or read, about the Whig party and you are a Republican? You simply must take the time to Google the Whig party and objectively read of the fate of said party. The Democratic party was founded in 1792 and is the single oldest political party in America. For me, there is a good reason that the Democratic party has outlived the Whig party, and several others.

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Again, I will not write about the end of the Whig party, today. Soon, My Dear Readers, but not today. Today I want to focus on the warning I have shared. You see, Senator Cruz’s actions have greatly weakened the Republican party. Right now, the Republican party’s poll numbers are upside down. That means that your negatives are higher than your positives. Worse still, recent CNN, Reuters’s, Gallup and PPP polling indicates that the Republican party has the single lowest Congressional approval rating in our nation’s history. That, if the election was today, Democrats would take control of the House Of Representatives by a historic margin.

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Honestly, this does our nation… neither party… and the American people a grave disservice. The single fact that; a freshman Senator had more political pull, within his party, than the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives is so very backwards that it has destabilized the balance of powers within on Congress. This is not just my opinion, this opinion is shared by; Senator John McCain and ex-Senator Bob Dole. This is not the way things work in a Republic. We are witness to a gravely destabilized Republic and it is reeking havoc on our economy and standing in the world. This cannot stand, this should not stand.

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I appeal to my fellow Texas, and to all republicans reading these words. ‘Take back your party from the fringe.’ Take your vote seriously, and stop allowing the loudest and most angry voice to occupy space between your ears. We simply must become a nation of logic, knowledge and compromise again. The fate of our very Republic hangs in the balance. If, right now, you limit your news to just one network. Stop. Even I do not just listen to one network. Start listening to; P.B.S., B.B.C. and even ABC or CBS. I am not asking for Republicans to swtich over to MSNBC or NBC. That, I know, is a bridge too far.

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However, I ask that you temper your input. Broaden your width of your news sources and the depth of their content. Lessen the rhetoric and increase the information. Challenge yourself by opening and broadening the avenues of information. Make yourself… force yourself to become an more informed… better informed citizen and voter. This will not be easy for many Americans. But, let me share a little knowledge tid-bit.

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NBC has been broadcasting news for the past Seventy-Five years. ABC and CBS for the past Sixty-Five years. Fox news has only been reporting since 1996, only seventeen years. Why limit yourself to the single most junior news reporting agency in existence? Shouldn’t your source of news at least be as old as you are?   

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Americans must exercise greater/netter discretion (discretion is the better part of valor) when voting. Take more time to develop your own opinions, and less time merely parroting rhetoric from the; loudest, angriest and most simplistic source of news. Again, I am not writing this to insult anyone. I am not writing this out of any desire to gloat.. or harm. I do write these words out of a sense of journalistic responsibility. As well, I write it out of a sense of friendship. Please, take me at face value. Trust that I am writing this with love in my heart… and a deep desire to help and guide.

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As always, I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank YOU!

 

 

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[1]http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/359434/senate-gop-gamesmanship-obamacare-defunding-not-honorable-andrew-c-mccarthy#!

[2]: http://benswann.com/lindsey-graham-lies-to-voters-about-his-vote-to-defund-obamacare/#ixzz2hvxfqOC6

[3]http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2013/10/04/ted-cruzs-shameful-betrayal-of-texas/

The 'Hollowing-Out' of the United States Government

What do you (a Republican) do if the majority of Americans are against your policies to harm governance? You gain a majority in the Lower House and 'Hollow-Out' government from the inside, like termites.
It is time to get the termites out of governance. Time to make America 'Exceptional' again.
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[youtube=http://youtu.be/8flADdPMMeQ]

The Syrian Conflict

IMHO before anyone begins the journey of understanding this conflict, the Syrian war/Syrian Civil War/Free Syrian Army, they should take a quick trip back down memory lane. We should remember “massing weapons of mass destruction…” and ”Iraq is buying yellow cake…” my personal favorite and certain historic quotation, “a smoking gun in the form of a mushroom cloud…” .America’s intelligence gathering in the Middle East is ‘hit & miss’ on the best day and when super powers act on faulty intelligence…; it costs thousands of lives, trillions of dollars and leaves America in the trash bin of history.

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(A Map of Syria)

 

There are no two ways about it, this time we simply must get it right, least our children and grandchildren pay the price. Now is not the time for shotgun diplomacy or testosterone induced rants of national pride or the superiority of our cause. American troops are fighting hard in Afghanistan (with the deadly summer season right around the corner) and Iraq is still not ‘buttoned up’. The last thing we (America) needs is another ‘open-ended’ involvement in the Middle East. IMHO The sooner we can, peacefully get our troops out of this hotbed, the better.

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The crux of the Syrian conflict is that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (Son of father and previous Syrian President for Life Hafez al-Assad) is a bloodthirsty tyrant. Ok, that was editorial… I’ll cop to that… OK I remember reading about Hafez as a boy (yes, I read about the Middle East back @ PHS) he was a man that could be talked to, reasoned with. Maybe not with his people, but Henry Kissinger seemed to be able to reach Hafez al-Assad.

 

To be completely honest to my perspective on this situation I am going to share a little back-story. Hafez al-Assad  “transform(ed) a Middle East backwater into an introverted regional power that endured as the center of unbending Arab hostility toward Israel”[1]

His people did not love Hafez. He was ‘The Butcher of Hama’ for his eradication of thousands of residents of Hama in February 1982 (just five years after we graduated). For the other side of the coin? Hafez was stopping an Islamic Fundamentalist insurgency (it was Islamic Fundementalists that attacked on 9/11). Least that is what his news agencies reported and what it looked like from the outside.

 

Here are thoughts, of Hafez, from Henry Kissinger;

      "His tactic was to open with a statement of the most extreme position to test what the traffic would bear," Mr. Kissinger wrote in "Years of Upheaval," the volume of his memoirs published in 1982. "He might then allow himself to be driven back to the attainable, fighting a dogged rearguard action that made clear that concessions could be exacted only at a heavy price and that discouraged excessive expectations of them. (His negotiating style was in this respect not so different from the Israelis', much as both of them would hate the comparison.)"[2]

 

He could be negotiated with, reasoned with, talked to and progress could be made. If only that were true of his son, Bashar al-Assad we (America and the International Community) would not be boxed into the corner we are today.

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I do not envy President Obama, today. If Romney had been elected, I would not envy a President Romney one bit less. This is a bramble bush wrapped in barbed wire, nothing less. Just by trying to help you are going to get hurt. We wouldn’t be America if we didn’t help a people oppressed by their leader. Though, on a personal note it would be nice to live in a world where America didn’t have to be spending trillions of dollars every year for military ‘assistance’ to one people or another. So long as we are in debt, Republicans will keep gutting programs for the least advantaged while cutting taxes for the wealthy… and buying lottery tickets every week. It is a vicious cycle, I know.

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(Flag of the National Ba Athist Party Syria)

Now, I was going to bring you a chart of the different ‘factions’ fighting in Syrian currently. Well, that just wasn’t going to get done today (5/4/13). So I am going to do my best to outline the major players, in Syria, so that you can get a better understanding of who is behind what. The first party were going to talk about, and one currently in power in Syria, is the Ba Athist party (Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party). The Ba 'Athist this party is “is an Arab nationalist ideology that promotes the development and creation of an Arab nation through the leadership of a vanguard party over a progressive revolutionary state. The ideology is officially based on the theories of Zaki al-Arsuzi (according to the pro-Syrian Ba'ath movement), Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Din al-Bitar.” [3]

 

Now, just so you have a really clear picture of the political environment currently in Syrian, here is a listing to the ‘Authorized’ political parties; Political parties and organizations

• National Progressive Front:




• Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party (governing party)


• Arab Socialist Movement


• Arab Socialist Union Party of Syria


• Syrian Communist Party (Khalid Bakdash faction)


• Syrian Communist Party (Yusuf Faisal faction)


• Social Democratic Unionists


• Socialist Unionists


• Democratic Socialist Unionist Party


• Arabic Democratic Unionist Party


• National Vow Movement

• Popular Front for Change and Liberation




• Syrian Social Nationalist Party


• People’s Will Party

• Other Licenced parties (As 19 June 2012 ): ^[1]




• National Democratic Solidarity Party (Al Tadamon National Democratic Party)


• Syrian Democratic Party (Al Tadamon Arab Democratic Party)


• National Development Party


• Al-Ansar Party


• Democratic Al-Taliyeh Party (Al Talia'a Democratic Party)


• Al-Shabab Reform Party (National Youth for Justice and Development)


• Syrian Al-Shabab Reform Party (Syrian National Youth Party)


• Syrian Reform and Justice Party


• Syria Home (Souriya Al-Watan)

(Courtsey Wikipedia)

Yeah, right. As many parties as colors in the rainbow. But doesn’t this signal something? Doesn’t this signal a underlying problem with governance in Syria and the Syrian people? Happily, look at America, we have a two-party system. There are tertiary and and anciliary parties. We have; the tea party, the Libertarian party, the Green party and we also have the Independent party. Out of these, say, six partiesThe Independent party is the only one that made any real inroads in government governance at the federal level. Now compare those two major parties and one secondary party, and you still only have three.

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This clearly shows a very divided people in Syria. Now ,literally. for the past hundred years very intelligent men have been able to turn this divided people into an advantage for them politically. However, my money’s on the fact that time is coming into a quick end. And nation so bitterly divided and fragmented can be easily controlled via money and strong arm tactics. Now you understand the past hundred years of the nation of Syria.

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(A Map of Syria)

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For me, this is the mistake we made going into Iraq in the first place, we didn’t not understand the political environment we were injecting ourselves into. Let us at least, this time, go and with eyes wide open. In future articles I’m going to do my best to break down the most influential of the parties you see above, I will share that with you this next week. The Baathist party has been controlling Syria, and its people, since 1963. Prior to the 1960s bigotry will Syria rotated through 3 to 4 parties, which I will not really get into in these articles. It suffice to say that in the early 60s the back-office took control of the Syrian government and the Syrian people and they have had an iron like grip on this country and its people since.

 

There is a very old paradigm at play here, My Dear Readers, the Russians openly spoke of it… A fragmented people must be controlled by the heel of the boot. The only way you can make a people stop fighting each other is give them something to be more afraid of than their neighbor. Something I hope they never learn here in America. This tactic has been extremely successful for the Baathists in Syria for three generations. Honestly, if it were not for the Internet unlimited, and limited news sources, bloggers like myself, and a 20 4/7 365 new cycle. I’m not sure any of us would be talking or reading about the problem in Syria today.

 

It is coming clearly into focus, as of Friday, that the son of Hafez has made the ultimate mistake of not altering his tactics according to the times. Since the weekday new cycle stopped, and the weekend new cycle started; Pres. Obama has stated clearly American troops will not intervene in Syria, Israel has made select airstrikes on troops and ammunition leaving Syria for Hamas controlled Palestine.

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(Photo Courtesy of Foriegn Affairs.com)

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Let’s chew on that for just a moment. I have not turned on Fox news since Friday… But I’ll bet you a dollar to a nickel doughnut they are saying things to the effect of "President Obama has Israel doing his dirty work" or "Pres. Obama’s weakness is depending on Israel to do his job for him". Hogwash. Israel has made it clear, since probably 1980, anytime they see troops or munitions moving into the controlled areas they will destroy them. This is nothing new. This really isn’t news, but coming on the heels of serious civil war and that the arms were coming from Hamas Syria to Hamas’s Palestine that was all the Israeli government needed. Personally, I applaud Israel’s action.

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Earlier I referred to Syria as a bramble bush wrapped in bar wire. My Dear Readers, America's bound to get cut dealing with Syria. The only real question, My Dear Readers, is how bad America will get hurt. I hate to say this, I really do! .IMHO the least amount we can do to protect the Syrian people from their dictator is what to do. The threat of this conflict spreading out side their borders is greatly limited. Iraq is the largest bordering state to Syria to its east. Iraq is the most stable it’s been in a generation. We still have a strong presence in Iraq. The CIA is still very active in Iraq.

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Directly below Syria we have the great nation of Jordan. Sure it is not without its problems, but right now Jordan is quiet. The chances of the Ba 'Ahtist moving south into Jordan and flaming the fires of discontent there are slim-to-none. Below Syria to the southwest we have Israel. I think Friday’s action by Israel proves we have no real concern the Syrian conflict moving south to Israel.

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(Map courtsey BBC Showing Today's Flash With Isreal)

I feel for the people of Syria deeply, as we all should. Do I feel for the people of Syria to the tune of $1 trillion? Hell no! In the real estate game this would be called a money pit. There is no way America wants to get ankle or knee deep in this bloodbath. I stand behind Pres. Obama in exercising caution. Let’s face the fact we will never fully know what happened in Syria in the past two weeks. There will be many conflicting reports, coming from many many sources. The loudest voice, I fear, will be the darkest tale. My Dear Readers a chill runs up my spine when I sit here and try and imagine what these people are going through. But a chill also runs up my spine when I think of the 19 million Americans with less food this summer. 19 million Americans will be one step closer to starvation in the greatest nation on this planet. I am one of them.

 

Priorities, people! (In my best Dennis Hopper voice)

 

Thank you so much for coming by today. I hope you enjoyed this article today. I very much enjoyed bringing it to you. Look back later this week for more on the parties of Syria (like a root canal). And I look forward to seeing you here later this week.

UPDATE: As of 8PM Pacific time. 

"Hundreds of Syrians have fled coastal areas where activists accuse government forces of carrying out massacres in a campaign of sectarian cleansing.

Footage of mutilated and burned bodies, allegedly from the town of Baniyas, have been posted online.

Activists said at least 77 people - 20 from the same family - were killed, a day after 72 died in nearby al-Bayda."

Thanks to BBC news web site.

The genocide continues in the coastal towns and cities. I will keep you informed. Thanks for coming by.

{ Be VERY careful 'Googling' the 'Free Syrian Army'... PLEASE! Reason; I have strong antivirus protection, a hardware firewall and a software firewall and run 256 bit encrypted browsers to view any sites. As well, I create a 'Virtual Machine' ANYTIME I start searching for news and information outside mainstream media. You MUST be so vigilant, too. There is a supposed 'Free Syrian Army' web site. I clicked on the link and within one second my alarms were going off like mad. Thankfully my CMOS machine speaker did not "Beep"... CMOS viruses can brick a tablet or computer faster than you can say "Oh, shit!" Stick to CNN, MSNBC (for open minded individuals).  There is a really  god source I LOVE to use: http://www.bbc.com/news/}

ENJOY!

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[1] http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/asadd3.htm)

[2] http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/asadd3.htm)

[3]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ba'athism