I am leaving the U.S. for Israel at the beginning of October and will not be back until mid-February. It just occurred to me that when I return to the U.S. there will still be about eight-and-a-half months left in the presidential campaign.
There has got to be a better, and less painful way.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
WHY THINK?
California Governor Jerry Brown this last week expressed his frustration with the failure to get Republican votes for his reform bill that would have resulted in higher taxes on corporations based outside of California while providing some breaks for small businesses. The Governor asserted that California's Republican legislators had unconstitutionally delegated their authority to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
While pithy, it is doubtful that the Governor's assertion would hold up under the constitutional prohibition on delegating powers. Still, he makes a point.
While pithy, it is doubtful that the Governor's assertion would hold up under the constitutional prohibition on delegating powers. Still, he makes a point.
Friday, September 16, 2011
A HEALTHY DISCUSSION
A number of readers comment on my posts directly to me or on Facebook. Some have admitted to being technically challenged when it comes to responding on the blog, a condition with which I can identify. Whatever their reasons, I think their views are worth sharing. Therefore, I am going to post some of their comments. Unless told that their names can be used, I will keep them anonymous.
Here are a few:
Two on my post on Rick Perry's less than stellar academic career:
No. 1:
At least he has executive experience, having governed the fastest growing state in the country. Why is college so important? We still haven't seen the transcripts from the brightest president and chosen one? Do you know why the left is always searching for a leader who can lower the sea levels & essentially be a "messiah"? The left doesn't believe in g-d.
Here are a few:
Two on my post on Rick Perry's less than stellar academic career:
No. 1:
At least he has executive experience, having governed the fastest growing state in the country. Why is college so important? We still haven't seen the transcripts from the brightest president and chosen one? Do you know why the left is always searching for a leader who can lower the sea levels & essentially be a "messiah"? The left doesn't believe in g-d.
No. 2: A genius On Turkey's hypocritical turn against Israel and what Israel should do about it: Alan - your words are so appropriate and true! Bravo And two on my lament that the national Republican Party seems to be following going down the same path as California's party: No. 1: Let's see, card check, no fossil fuels, Obamacare, stimulus II, forget Israel. What is the compromise Rep.s should make with Barry, Nancy or Harry? CA is limiting medicare recipients to 7 dr. visits. Rep.s should agree to 9 as a compromise? Comparing today to CA in the 70s to 80s is apples and oranges. Solyndra would never have happened then. The US is no help in this situation as long as we compromise with Barry: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904265504576566431045060822.html? mod=ITP_opinion_0 No. 2: So your position is to keep spending and through increasing taxes drive productive californians out of the state. Worked well in caliland! I hope others will let their thoughts be known, directly on the blog if you can. Otherwise, I will be happy to transfer the comments for you. |
Saturday, September 10, 2011
THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST? HELP!
The Huffington Post has posted Texas Governor and leading Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry's grades from Texas A&M. C's and D's dominate. To be fair, there are a few B's, an F or two, including at least one in his major, and two A's. One of the A's is in one semester of World Military Systems. Comforting.
The Huffington Post quotes one classmate as saying "A&M wasn't exactly Harvard on the Brazos River. This was not the brightest guy around. We always kind of laughed. He was always kind of a joke."
The Post also reports that a spokesperson for Governor Perry told the Texas Tribune that the university "helped shape who he is today."
And what might that shape be?
The Huffington Post quotes one classmate as saying "A&M wasn't exactly Harvard on the Brazos River. This was not the brightest guy around. We always kind of laughed. He was always kind of a joke."
The Post also reports that a spokesperson for Governor Perry told the Texas Tribune that the university "helped shape who he is today."
And what might that shape be?
WHAT A TURKEY--DRESSED WITH CHUTZPA
Rebuffed in its efforts to join the European Union, Turkey under President Erdegon decided to turn toward the Arab and Moslem world. Among Erdogan's first moves in credentialing himself as a Moslem leader was a very public verbal assault on Israeli President Shimon Peres at the annual gathering of big shots and wanna-be big shots at Davos, Switzerland, a few years ago.
It is noteworty that this attack occurred several years before the incident on the Mavi Marmara, where Israeli Navy personnel enforcing the Israeli blockade on Gaza were attacked and killed nine blockade-busters in self-defense.
Erdegon's next major move was to cozy up in a big-time/big brother way to Syria. We know how that worked out. President Assad, every bit his father's son, has proven to be a ruthless, murderous tyrant, and a total embarrassment to President Erdogan.
It is noteworty that this attack occurred several years before the incident on the Mavi Marmara, where Israeli Navy personnel enforcing the Israeli blockade on Gaza were attacked and killed nine blockade-busters in self-defense.
Erdegon's next major move was to cozy up in a big-time/big brother way to Syria. We know how that worked out. President Assad, every bit his father's son, has proven to be a ruthless, murderous tyrant, and a total embarrassment to President Erdogan.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The Republicans--Saw This Movie Before
It's tempting to say it's deja vu all over again, except that everyone says that again and again. But it does seem that the Republicans in Congress, as illustrated in the recent debt limit "debate," are doing a re-make of what California Republicans have done in the State Legislature in the last 10 to 15 years.
The state legislators have made a striking transition from a reasonable, responsible opposition party with an impact on governance to an often strident, uncompromising, increasingly marginalized party that can occasionally throw a huge wrench into the process but does not share in governing on an ongoing, consistent basis.
When I first got involved in California politics in the late 70's, and pretty consistently for the next 20 years, the California Legislature was controlled by Democrats but included a solid, effective, constructive Republican minority. It consisted of conservatives and moderates, and even an occasional liberal by the standards of the day.
The Republican legislators advocated and largely stood by their principles, and they did just vote "no" on many occasions. However, on a good number of other occasions they criticized and argued, often strenuously. But, then, after obtaining some, but often not all, of the changes they wanted, they voted "yes."
The state legislators have made a striking transition from a reasonable, responsible opposition party with an impact on governance to an often strident, uncompromising, increasingly marginalized party that can occasionally throw a huge wrench into the process but does not share in governing on an ongoing, consistent basis.
When I first got involved in California politics in the late 70's, and pretty consistently for the next 20 years, the California Legislature was controlled by Democrats but included a solid, effective, constructive Republican minority. It consisted of conservatives and moderates, and even an occasional liberal by the standards of the day.
The Republican legislators advocated and largely stood by their principles, and they did just vote "no" on many occasions. However, on a good number of other occasions they criticized and argued, often strenuously. But, then, after obtaining some, but often not all, of the changes they wanted, they voted "yes."
Monday, August 22, 2011
Silence Is Not Always Golden
In an effort to convince the military junta that now runs Egypt not to withdraw its ambassador, and to otherwise maintain diplomatic relations with this key Arab nation, Israel expressed its regret for accidentally killing three Egyptian soldiers in its response to the terrorist attack that killed eight Israelis, including civilians. This is an entirely appropriate and decent gesture to make in light of the unfortunate unintentional deaths of the Egyptian soldiers.
One wonders if it will occur to the Egyptian leadership to express its regret for not fulfilling its reponsibility for keeping order in the Sinai and for preventing the breaching of its border with Israel that allowed the terrorists to commit the murder of innocent Israelis. One wonders if it will express regret for virtually abandoning control of the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, thereby allowing terrorists to more easily obtain the types of arms used in such murders.
We know the reason why the U.N. Security Council did not condemn the murders: the Lebanese government, dominated by Hezbollah, would not allow it to do so. However, one wonders why the Egyptian military junta, who so adamantly demanded an expression of regret for the unintentional deaths of its three soldiers, has not issued a condemnation of the murders of Israelis that its security failures helped cause. For that matter, one wonders why Palestinian President Abbas has not condemned murders.
The silence is deafening. Unfortunately, it is not surprising.
One wonders if it will occur to the Egyptian leadership to express its regret for not fulfilling its reponsibility for keeping order in the Sinai and for preventing the breaching of its border with Israel that allowed the terrorists to commit the murder of innocent Israelis. One wonders if it will express regret for virtually abandoning control of the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, thereby allowing terrorists to more easily obtain the types of arms used in such murders.
We know the reason why the U.N. Security Council did not condemn the murders: the Lebanese government, dominated by Hezbollah, would not allow it to do so. However, one wonders why the Egyptian military junta, who so adamantly demanded an expression of regret for the unintentional deaths of its three soldiers, has not issued a condemnation of the murders of Israelis that its security failures helped cause. For that matter, one wonders why Palestinian President Abbas has not condemned murders.
The silence is deafening. Unfortunately, it is not surprising.
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