Jasper Journal

Unilateral disarmament:  The President recently announced that he would begin accepting campaign contributions from super political action committees (PACs) because the Republicans are doing it.  His explanation (through his campaign manager) was that he would not engage in unilateral disarmament.  How very interesting.  This morning, there was a news story stating that President Obama is contemplating a reduction in the US strategic nuclear arsenal from 1,500 weapons (the new START limit) to perhaps as few as 300-400 weapons.  While the AP reported that the cuts would most likely be made after negotiations with the Russians, it did not rule out the possibility of unilateral reductions.   (Does the term “trial balloon” come to mind?)   If the administration goes down to 300-400 weapons, it would be the lowest number of weapons since 1950.  Meanwhile, North Korea continues to build nuclear weapons, Iran is pursuing them, Russia still has 3,200 strategic weapons, and China is developing additional weapons and delivery systems.   Despite the moves of our adversaries, it appears that unilateral disarmament may be anathema only in campaign contributions, not in national defense.

The Shadow War:  The press is reporting a “shadow war” being conducted by Iran and Israel as they strike each other’s personnel.  The fact that the war is being conducted on the streets of world capitals might give the press pause in using the term “shadow.”   Nevertheless, it does appear that wet work (to use a Cold War term) is underway between the two powers.  While Mossad is not infallible (witness the assassination in Dubai two years ago), the Iranians seem to be behind the power curve.  First, despite a closed society and a ubiquitous security apparatus, Tehran has not been able to protect its scientists at home.  Second, Iranian training appears to be somewhat deficient.  In Bangkok, an Iranian bomb maker detonated explosives in his house (oops!).  While fleeing, he was confronted by the police.  He tried to throw a grenade at them, but it detonated prematurely, blowing the bomb maker’s legs off (tsk tsk!).  I guess he was not paying attention in Explosives 101, when the students were told, “When the pin is pulled, Mister Grenade is no longer your friend.”  If indeed there is a fight akin to the Mossad-KGB wet war of the 1960s, my money is on Mossad.

The Latest Budget:  Whenever I think the Obama Administration has hit rock bottom in terms of crass political machinations, it always comes up with a new nadir.  The latest is the President’s budget.  It calls for hundreds of billions in new spending and continued high deficits.  Even the President’s cheerleaders cannot put lipstick on this pig.  One Washington Post columnist (who normally writes paeans to the President) called it “…Evading anything resembling a serious budget.”  The New York Times called the White House response to criticism of the budget “divorced from reality.”  The budget is such a sham that Senator Reid has stated he will not bring it up for a vote in the Democratically controlled Senate (he knows most Democrats would vote against it).  So once again, the President has done it: put his reelection bid above the good of the nation.  It amazes me that given such Machiavellian politics, about 50% of the American electorate approves of the President’s performance.  I guess when you pander to enough people (take your pick: Greens, Hispanics, college students, union members, Occupy Wall Street protestors) you can get enough people on your bandwagon.

Like many, I was saddened on Saturday night to hear of the death of singer Whitney Houston.  It is tragic when someone so talented is gone so soon. Having said that, I am beside myself with the wall to wall coverage of the life, death, friends, lifestyle, and career of Whitney Houston.

Our country is facing unbelievable difficulties and every network, including FOX , has made this the non stop story of the day. I could not watch any network without hearing some aspect of Ms Houston’s life or death.  And just when it looked like it might be temporarily over, we have breaking news from the coroner, or the police , each saying that they could say nothing.  But that didn’t stop the frenzied pack of reporters from asking questions that the people said they wouldn’t answer. It is a circus . Speaking of which, the family are considering the Newark arena that seats 18,000 for the memorial service.  Could this be any more out of control.

When I see this I think of the young men and women of the US Military  who give their lives in virtual anonymity in Afghanistan, Iraq, and many other outposts of America around the world.  Where is even a small tribute to their lives and their futures?  I believe we have misplaced our priorities. Those servicemen and women in my mind are the hero’s of today. They put their lives at risk daily for other people, and if they should die, they die without fanfare.

On a final note, did you see  the assembled throngs of show business luminaries pray, and bow their heads for Whitney Houston at the Grammy’s? I thought there was a separation of church and show business?  Liberal elites rail at religion in the military; religion at the Air Force Academy; religion in schools; religion in our courts; yet there is no problem with religion at the Grammy’s? Wow! And I didn’t see anyone object to praying did you ?

The hypocricy of the left is so self evident. From the feigned religiosity of the president, to the concern for religious freedom by democrat politicians.  Sadly I think Ms Houston’s death will also become a sideshow for liberal politicians.  Mark my words if we don’t have the Reverend Al, The Reverend Jackson, and maybe even the President himself at her memorial. No opportunity for self aggrandizement will go unexploited. Just saying.

The last three days have revealed a lot about Rick Santorum and Barack Obama. In the case of Obama, I wasn’t surprised; In the case of Santorum, I was.

On Friday, the president stood before his podium and told us what a great compromise he had just created to protect religious institutions from doing what they considered immoral. In his lecturing, condescending manner, he announced that everything was fixed, and  religious institution’s consciences were spared.  Just one thing,  their insurance companies would have to provide the services at the heart of the matter at no cost.

Wow, what a genius! How could anyone possibly object to such a Solomon-like solution. And of course,  many in the mainstream media fell in line and declared the issue settled. It’s just those pesky bishops that demurred. They ultimately stated this was still unacceptable.

Of course it is. What right thinking person  would think that the administration’s sleight of hand in any way addresses the main issue: Government interference in private health care issues. His grand executive compromise, that only he created,  further exacerbates the situation, and now has the government telling private businesses what they have to do.

What right does the president of the United States have to tell private companies what they have to provide? And to demand that they do it for free?  Rich Galen, a political analyst and writer of the Mullings Report,  put it this way:” The Obama Administration has, by executive fiat, determined that a private company must give away its services to a class of people it (“The Administration”) has determined should get these services.”  This is absolutely preposterous!.

Perhaps it is good that this issue is raised again prior to the general election. This is just the beginning of a government bureaucracy controlling our health care needs among other things. I for one do not want the government involved with my provider or telling me what I must cover for other people; do you ?

Having said that, I come to my next issue this weekend. Coming off his recent surprising  victories in three republican primaries, Rick Santorum said something at CPAC on Saturday, that disturbed me.  He asked the audience if they wanted someone elected in November that was a principled conservative “OR  if they just wanted to achieve  a “Hollow victory.”  Whoaa… I raise my hand for a hollow victory if it means no more Obama, and I hope others do to. Clearly this was a shot at Mitt Romney,  but it says a lot about Mr Santorum. Would he rather we all go down in flames supporting him than  defeat Obama?  It really sounds that way, and gives me yet another reason to question Mr Santorum’s qualifications to be the republican nominee.

Last week we had a number of people weigh in on the Santorum rise in the polls and how that would effect their support for the republican candidate. I find it worrying that solid republicans and thoughtful independents have such unease about Santorum.  This is not a good sign. We cannot afford four more years of Obama, and the President’s tactics last week are just a sample of what he will try if he gets another term.