Saturday, October 31, 2009

THE AFGHANISTAN CONUNDRUM

Events of the past few days announcing the significantly increasing death toll of both Americans and civilians in Afghanistan has filled the airwaves of the major television networks, cable channels and newspapers across the country. At the same time the White House continues to drag its feet in making a decision in response to the Commander General’s request for 40,000 additional troops.

Recently my local newspaper ran another poll asking the question: “Should more U.S. troops be sent to Afghanistan or should our troops be brought home?” I found the response to be most interesting, because it reflected a shift in the attitudes from similar polls of just a few weeks ago. Now the poll indicates that 44% want more troops to be sent, and a majority or 56% want our troops to be brought home.

Honestly, I am glad that I do not have to make the decision, but it is troubling that should we withdraw we will be looked upon as losing the War and not having the will to complete the original mission. Additionally, I find it to be most troubling to even start to wonder if those brave men and women who have given the fullest measure did so in vain. My God, what if you had a child who died in this distant God forsaken land, and we now decide to fold up the tent and come home?

As I have stated firmly in earlier commentaries I have fully supported the War on Terrorism and held a strong desire to win that War before it comes to our shores again. But, I must admit that I am beginning to have doubt that we or any other force can change what no Army has been able to accomplish since before the birth of Christ. History has shown one failure after another in this part of the world and considering all our other problems, maybe we have no business being there. Both sides of the argument can and have made strong arguments for their position, but this is one that we better get right. For instance do we want those crazy people infiltrating our country any more than they already have?

What really concerns me is the action currently being taken by this Administration. Taking time to reach a good decision is one thing, but traveling all over the country to raise money for elections and re-elections is, in my opinion, a misuse of our President’s important time and his oath of office. Our President repeatedly says he supports our troops, but his actions do not back that pledge. How can he or we support our troops if we continue to spend printed money in a reckless and irresponsible manner?

Thus far our new leadership has talked a good game, but has little to show for the initial months of his administration. Bluster and braggadocio does not get the job done, and never has in the past. An old cowboy expression comes to mind; “Big Hat No Cattle” and it certainly applies to Barack Obama in my judgment. Chicago style politics never won a War, and it will not win the conflict in Afghanistan. Hell, Chicago politics cannot even control the gangs that are killing teenagers every day in the shadows of their public schools and in neighborhoods.

I pray that winning the Nobel Peace Prize will not lead Obama to a course of action that brings further loss of life by our brave fighting men and women. Why does the name Neville Chamberlain keep coming to mind?

The decision about our course of action in the Middle East is way beyond my pay grade, but this is one that can make or break our precious United States. We have made huge mistakes in Iraq and Afghanistan and we better get it right now before it is too late. The clock is ticking for every one of us, and the polls indicate that the American people do not like what is occurring in that hell-hole Afghanistan, and unlike the America I grew up in, our will to win seems to be quickly eroding.

Maybe the real questions we need to address are not do we want to win, but can we afford to win, or can we afford not to win due to our current economic circumstances? America cannot continue to print money forever without addressing the consequences of irresponsible behavior. Remember the inflation of the late 70’s and early 80’s?

COMMANDER GRANGER

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

When our magnificent democracy was founded way back in 1776 I thought the authors of our Constitution purposely created separation between the three segments of government: the Judiciary, Legislative, and Executive branches. The purpose of assuring clear guidelines of authority have served our government well over the years, and proved the Founding Father’s brilliant foresight.

I do not know about you, but I am tired of hearing the deceptive dialog connected with the pending legislation on Health Care Reform. Certainly there is general agreement that Health Care requires improvement, but what we are getting is an excessively expensive program that has a hidden agenda that is not supported by the majority of Americans. Just imagine what good could be rendered if we took all the special interest money being spent to push each side of Health Care just on television commercials alone?

Apparently we are going to get a liberal Health Care Bill whether the majority of voters want it or not. What really starts my heart to beat faster and my blood pressure to rise is the blatant disregard for our Constitution. Please show me where it is written in our Constitution the words that justify the inclusion of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel into the final markup of the Senate version of the Health Care legislation? That role is clearly the responsibility of the Senate, and not the Executive Branch.

The Bills should be individually drawn up by the House, and then the Senate. Once the individual Bill versions are passed, they should go to resolution in a Conference Committee represented by a group of Democrats and Republicans from each body, and voted upon up or down. Then that Bill should go to the Executive Branch for the President’s acceptance or veto.

We the American people, who will have to live with whatever Bill is passed, will live with its consequences for decades. (It will take that long to undo the financial damage to our country.) The Bill will NOT apply to our elected officials. So now we will have the three branches of government, not to mention most non-union federal employees, who do not have to live under this Health Care Reform, or Social Security for that matter, because they will retain their cushy health insurance and retirement packages.

We never elected Rahm Emanuel to office, and he has no business in closed door meetings pushing the Executive Branch’s hidden agenda which is swayed by special interests. Why such a rush for passage?

The full impact of this legislation will not take effect for several years, but we will have to pay for its impact to our economy for a long time. By then, Rahm Emanuel and his ilk will be long gone collecting their inflated government retirement checks along with their leader. We will be left holding the big financial bag, and the best of it is health care will not be improved.

We the electorate have been totally banned by our elected officials in the formation of this legislation, and it just plain stinks. Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and Independents best remember what has been rammed down their throats come Election Day.

Don’t you just love CHANGE?

COMMANDER GRANGER

Friday, October 30, 2009

EDUCATION PRIORITY LOST

As the month of October closes I was reminded of President John Adams’ birthday (October 30, 1735), and his strong support and promotion of education. In Adams’ “Dissertation on the Cannon and Feudal Law” (1765) he stated that he believed that the best way to guard the blessings of liberty is through education.

In that dissertation Adams wrote, “Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right from the frame of their nature, to knowledge, as their great Creator, who does nothing in vain, has given them understandings, and a desire to know…”

It is your Commander’s opinion that our country’s educational system has deteriorated steadily since the conclusion of World War II, and one governing administration after another has permitted this erosion to occur. Numerous forces hold the responsibility for our continuing slide downward in educational achievement, appalling drop-out rates, and lower graduation rates. Tragically, decisions impacting our children’s education have been made on the basis of political consequences, and not the best interests of the students or the country as a whole.

Year after year our elected officials have thrown vast sums of money at education, and the consequences have been considerably less than repeatedly promised. Elected officials have continually bowed to the strong teachers unions, unqualified school boards, and special interest lobbyists. Students have suffered the results of political compromises and the politician’s almighty campaign for votes at any cost.

The problems and corrective action must address numerous causal influences, but it must start in the homes of the students. Parental supervision is increasingly inadequate, but politicians are scared to address that issue for fear of losing votes. The same is true of unwarranted union influences, because the unions throw tons of money at the politician’s war chests. Citizens continue to elect unqualified individuals to school boards, which then persists to look to complicit political friends for more and more money. Money does not automatically deliver improved achievement.

No one wants to answer why private schools, home schooling, parochial schools, and charter schools students all achieve better graduation rates, have less drop-outs, and have greater percentages of college/university acceptances. Devious political decision making just maybe the root cause of our educational failures.

A few powerful voices such as Bill Cosby have spoken to education’s problems, but few actions are taken by influential Washington officials. Our failure to improve education will certainly lead to the deterioration of our standard of living, increased unsustainable entitlement financial obligations, our competitive standing in the world, and our democracy itself. Why do we continue year after year to permit this tragic situation to fester? Where is the political leadership with the courage to address this national cancer with honesty and results oriented action? Lastly, why is responsibility and accountability always absent from the education discussion?

COMMANDER GRANGER

Thursday, October 29, 2009

SALUTE TO THE FIGHTING IRISH

This is not a hats-off to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, but a salute to an important program being conducted at the University. While watching the Notre Dame/Boston College football game telecast October 24th during one of the excessive commercial breaks that I also believe disrupts the flow of the game, there was a very interesting promotional commercial for Notre Dame. It was the latest installment in the University promotion, “What Would You Fight For?”

What caught my eye were the details of “Fighting for Ethical Leadership,” which is a relatively new course being offered by the University’s Mendoza College of Business. This program is a major component of the Executive MBA, and also an open enrollment program that offers high-level business leaders an intensive week of personal and professional development.

As our country traverses a historically difficult economic journey, I applaud the University for its foresight in addressing the necessity of ethics being emphasized toward our current and future business leadership. It is my opinion that lack of ethical behavior is one of the significant causes of our current economic malaise. Both Dean Carolyn Y. Woo and Director Leo Burke of Notre Dame deserve our support and salutation for steering this important educational component. Hopefully, many other institutions of higher learning will or are establishing a similar course into their curriculum.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

The Editor will be out of town for a few days. There will not be any new posts until October 28th. Enjoy what the Commander has written to date.

ECONOMIC STAGNATION

Let’s start with the understanding that I do not pretend to be an authority on the cause of our economic stagnation, however I do consider myself to be a well-read, concerned citizen. I have a college degree from the University of Illinois and have done some graduate-level work at both the University of Nebraska and the Harvard Business School. Numerous individuals are better versed than I to address my question, “Who is responsible for our economic stagnation?”

It seems our political parties cannot be trusted to address this question fairly, but they are the most vocal in pointing fingers at one another that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is either good or bad. We must remember too that both parties have been deeply involved in the formation and the execution of the Trade agreement, but that gets lost in the bluster.

Clearly there has been a seismic shift in our business structure and foundation over the past twenty years, and currently I suggest that the American manufacturing understructure is currently in a dangerous predicament. Foreign manufacturing facilities have replaced American production simply because the costs of our products were no longer competitive. As a result I suggest that the American social structure is in real danger should we be called upon to address a sudden need to defend our very existence. Our ability to make steel, automobiles, tanks, ammunition, and any number of essential items are now in the hands of foreign lands and companies. For instance, America no longer has a large pool of tool and die makers, and any number of essential tradesmen, so what will we do if suddenly we require those trades?

I propose that there are many causal factors and some of them are off-springs of greed, in addition to having a strong economy for a long period of time which prevented our leadership (business-unions-government) to have a realistic view of future necessities. While there are several other examples, just consider the fact that high labor costs, unrealistic benefit and health insurance programs, and poor quality products did in our Big-Three automobile companies, and many other industries. Cheap foreign wages attracted many businesses to move off-shore. Who is really responsible?

I suggest that we consider our many University Business Schools, such as the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the Harvard Business School, and any number of equally celebrated MBA programs hold some degree of responsibility. They have been touting Globalism for many years, and now we are reaping the results of their teaching. Obviously they are not totally to blame, because our major investment houses and banks have been promoting Globalism for a long time, too. Don't forget that many of those business leaders are products of those same MBA programs.

Several important Congressional Committees have had their hands deep into this issue, and we have seen several significant officials run for cover when their actions caused huge economic consequences. Both Houses of Congress are strong on taking credit in good times and invisible when it comes to accepting responsibility, so I do not look to them to solve my concerns.

Just maybe we are not looking at the correct place to determine the positive or negative effects of NAFTA. I suggest it is well past the appropriate time to determine if we can address our production needs should we be required to defend our country should another global confrontation occur. Could we buy bombs from foreign governments at reasonable costs or steel from Japan or Europe without causing an economic collapse? These are hard questions that require both attention and solution. Tool and die makers cannot be created over-night, but we best be prepared for any eventuality. I do not hear any discussion such as I have raised going on in the Halls of Congress or any where near the White House. Have you?

Why is all the educational emphasis on getting a College or University degree, and so little promotion of trade schools? Everyone cannot be, nor should they be
Graduate’s of elite educational institutions. Somebody has to fix our cars, repair our shoes, repair our plumbing, build our homes, build our ships, operate retail business, etc. There is absolutely nothing wrong with those honorable essential trades.

Who is really thinking about these important questions? I am, and our leaders should be too, because solutions are fundamental to addressing our long-term economic security. Hopefully, someone will start an honest effort to meet these necessary challenges to our security and long-term quality of life. It is now past the time to remember what we learned in the Boy Scouts…BE PREPARED.

COMMANDER GRANGER

WALTER WILLIAMS' AMERICAN IDEA

I am back suggesting that you read the work of Walter E. Williams, the noted Professor of Economics at George Mason University. His latest article is titled “AMERICAN IDEA,” and you can read it by going to:

http://www.creators.com/opinion/walter-williams.html?columnsName=wwi

Or, you can Google listing “Walter E. Williams.” You will see the article by title.

His thoughts are well worth your read, because Williams has it right when he urges that we remember the specific words of the U.S. Constitution.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

THANK YOU, NOAH WEBSTER

Nobody appreciates the advancements in our lives any more than your Commander, but as important as they are to the enhancement of our daily quality of life, I still revert to some old established habits. Recently it came to my attention that on October 16, 1758 Noah Webster was born in West Hartford, Connecticut. School children grew up with his “Blue-Backed Speller,” which was his first educational book that was a fore runner of the American Dictionary of the English Language published in 1828.

Webster was the first to establish the Americanized spelling of words as opposed to the English form, such as color instead of colour. He argued that education in the young republic should promote love of country, which I believe is still a very good idea all these years later. It is reported that Webster felt that every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. Webster said, “He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country; he should lisp the praise of liberty, and of those illustrious heroes and statesmen who have wrought a revolution in her favor.”

With the passage of time we have moved from writing with a quill pen to the printed world, typewriters, and ever advancing computers. While I love my computer, especially the spell-checker feature, I keep my precious copy of Webster’s New World Dictionary close at hand. Almost daily I find myself referring to the hard copy of the book for new words to express my thoughts and at the same time to expand my knowledge and communication skills.

Yes, I know that I can use the many expanded features of the computer, but I find myself very comfortable with the printed pages. Frequently I read a couple of pages after I have found the word I was originally pursuing. I suspect we can just write it off to the fact that it is very hard to teach an old dog a new trick. Hopefully, we will all keep our dictionaries close for a long time to come. Thanks, Noah Webster for your marvelous creation. I thank God the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was not in existence back in 1828 to stifle Webster’s creative and educational contribution to mankind.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

WHERE IS OUR MORAL CODE?

Two recent events bring me to question if some of the citizens of our country have totally lost their minds and moral codes. Not much surprises me anymore, because each day something more bizarre comes to my attention.

Unless you are residing in a dark cave without electricity you must have heard of film producer Roman Polanski’s arrest in Switzerland on a 30 some year old California warrant following his fleeing his conviction of raping a 13 year old girl, and facing a long prison sentence.

Additionally, the airwaves are flush with titillating stories of David Letterman’s announcement that he had sex with some of his employees and the arrest of a CBS employee for extortion. Letterman’s audience laughed and applauded his jokes about his actions, and the ratings for his program have surged since his mea culpa.

I ask the question…Are we losing our minds in making a big deal out of these revelations? Shouldn’t Polanski be in jail for his atrocious behavior, and shouldn’t we be looking with disfavor upon Letterman’s conduct? I suggest that the American populous has totally lost its moral compass when anyone supports such atrocious behavior.

I suggest that Polanski should be placed in that dark cave without electricity, and that Letterman is an opportunist who is seeking publicity to enhance his program’s ratings by making jokes about his indiscretions. Shame is the appropriate reaction to the misguided simpletons who support these two appalling individuals.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

KRAUTHAMMER IS A REWARDING READ

It makes little matter where you live if you have access to the columns and Washington Post Op-Ed pieces written by erudite Charles Krauthammer. I highly recommend that you read his material, because in my opinion he is one of the brighter bulbs separating fact from fiction on the numerous complex issues of the day.

Fortunately my local newspaper carries Krauthammer’s Washington Post articles and you can have access to them using the Washington Post website no matter where you reside. His recent piece titled, “Obama foreign policy not rooted in reality” hit the nail on the head and highlighted French President Nicolas Sarkosy’s stinging comment, “President Obama, I support the Americans’ outstretched hand. But what did the international community gain from those offers of dialogue? Nothing.”

It makes little difference which side of the political spectrum you’re in you can find comfort within Krauthammer words that enrich all who seek a clear understanding of the substantial issues of the day. I find that he takes on all sides with equal clarity and objectivity.

In these days of “hair on fire” rhetoric, it is quite refreshing to find a source of thoughtful dialog. Accepting the fact that the Commander can be harsh in his writing I find that he increasingly finds himself having difficulty consuming the sharp tones of the far left or right. History has proven that the middle ground has been the root of the greatest long-lasting achievements.

COMMANDER GRANGER

MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE A SUGGESTION

As a frequent truculent critic of President Barack Obama I have a suggestion to improve his falling poll numbers. It is highly unlikely he will listen to me or take my suggestion seriously, because I suspect he considers himself to be above any mortal’s criticism or suggestions. He appears to know all or more than anyone else with his supercilious pronouncements. Having said that, I feel compelled to assist my president improve his faltering poll numbers.

Now only nine months into his first term, our president is experiencing dramatic declines in his approval ratings due to his incubus statements. When he was a candidate he pledged that he would eliminate or at least reduce earmarks, but he has repeatedly permitted them to be included in all legislation since his inauguration. If you want to restore your acceptance, Mr. President, you must muster the political courage to veto all or at least a substantial portion of future legislation containing earmarks.

It is appropriate that your Commander remind his president of what he said during his campaign, “Absolutely, we need earmark reform. And when I’m president, I will go line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely.” Were you lying when you said that, Sir?

If you veto earmark legislation, Mr. President, you will impress your constituents, and you will begin to fulfill campaign promises. Your polls will increase immediately. If you do not take this action your approval numbers will continue to fall, because your fellow Americans will know that you are no different from all the other double-speaking politicians. It is also time to stop lying when you repeatedly say that your opposition never makes any suggestions to improve legislation, because they do, and continue to do so.

And, what happened, once elected, to your promise to have your economic advisors go through the entire budget, line by line, to see where waste could be cut. Did that happen? Was there nothing that could be cut?

Additionally, I suggest it is time to consider getting some new advisors who will tell you the truth, and stop playing up to your desires and personal approval. Yes men are doing you little or no good, but are you willing to consider, and act on that proven fact? You took an Oath to serve the people Mr. President not your self-interests. Or are you just a puppet of behind the scenes advisors?

Now that President Obama has been announced as the Nobel Peace Prize recipient this year, I have one further suggestion for his consideration. As an old farmer once said, “Don’t ever take a fence down until you know the reason it was put up.” Again I urge our leader to slow things down, and consider all sides of the issues beyond pure political paybacks.

Thus far Mr. President, Congressman Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), while out of order to speak out during your recent speech on Capitol Hill, he spoke the truth in calling you a liar. Sometimes the truth hurts, but he was accurate. You have gotten away telling several falsehoods far too long, but your past is catching up with you, and you best change your ways or you will destroy your presidency. With all due respect, if the truth hurts, so be it, Mr. President. The truth always wins out in the long run.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Sunday, October 11, 2009

OBAMA VANITY

Editor's Note: Written October 10th

My dear departed Irish Mother used to tell me when I bragged about something that “self pride stinks.” That old expression applies to me when I wallow in a glow when I read that others share my previously stated opinions. Your Commander is guilty as charged.

For months I have been harping about our President Obama’s frequent reference to “I, me, mine” in his almost daily appearances in one form of the media or another. This reference is supported in the October 10th Washington Post column of George F. Will. Will specifically noted that the president used the personal pronouns "I" or "me" 26 times in 48 sentences in his speech to the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen in his failed pitch for Chicago to be the site of the 2016 Olympics. He also noted that at the same IOC meeting, Michelle Obama used some form of the personal pronouns “I” or “me” an amazing 44 times.

On this brisk autumn morning the airwaves are full of the talking heads expressing their left and right opinions regarding the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to President Barack Obama. My local newspaper ran a poll, and the early results indicate that 66% of their readers feel he does not deserve the award at this time. While I do not consider this to be a scientific study, it is certainly an indication of one local community’s feelings.

Personally, I feel the Nobel Peace Prize will be a huge burden on Obama’s presidency. The entire world will expect Obama to accomplish goals that in reality are beyond the scope of any politician’s influence. While he considers himself far superior to anyone else in stature and ability, he may well suffer greatly as a result of the Eurocentric Nobel Peace Prize Committee’s judgment. I suggest that they have placed a monkey on Obama’s back. I hope and pray for our sake that I am wrong, but only time will tell.

Obviously, it is far too early to draw realistic conclusions on this subject, but I find it most interesting to hear fervent supporters of Obama already suggesting that the prize may be ill-advised at this early stage of his reign. The one thing that Obama does not want or need at this time is for overly critical eyes being directed to his agenda and policies. It sure would be fun to be a mouse in the corner of the Oval Office to hear the bravado being espoused by David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel, and even Obama the Great himself. Some caution a slowing of Obama’s frantic pace, and instead seeking some real accomplishments could be sound advice. This award may become a crisis for Obama, and one his Chicago henchmen cannot manipulate to their advantage.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Saturday, October 3, 2009

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

I will be out of town October 4-10th. The Commander will no doubt be writing next week, but nothing will be posted until I return. Enjoy what he has written to date.

The Editor

THOMAS JEFFERSON HAD GREAT VISION

I know that I keep harping back to the words of our Founding Fathers time and time again, but without a doubt their words have proven to have lasting significance and value to our successful democracy.

Thomas Jefferson was truly a legendary figure within his own time, and we will benefit if we remember just this one utterance:

“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labours of the people under the pretence of taking care of them.”

When will we voters learn, then do something about our government’s actions?

COMMANDER GRANGER

TWO GUYS YOU NEED TO KNOW BETTER

I know that some of my readers think I tend to be like a dog with a bone when I continue to expound on some given subjects, especially political matters. I make no apologies, because I know that accusation is true.

Whenever a discussion surrounds President Barack Obama it is frequently appropriate and necessary to include his two most influential and closest consultants, advisors, policy wonks, hatchet men or what ever you want to call them. Obviously I am referring to Senior Presidential Advisor David M. Axelrod, and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Although neither men were elected to their present offices, they are unquestionably two of the most influential and powerful men in the United States and the world today. Thus, I believe we should know as much as we can about who they are, and their record.

I took the time to investigate some interesting background regarding both men, and, to say the least, I found it to be most revealing and extremely interesting. Let me suggest that you, too, take a few minutes from your valuable day to review the contents of the wikipedia reports on these influential political operatives.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Axelrod

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahm_Emanuel

Obviously each of you will draw your own conclusions based upon your political persuasions etc, but I am certain that you will agree that we have two very experienced political insiders who have over a relatively short period of time become extremely wealthy in their own right as part of the Chicago Political Machine. Their financial riches obviously have come from taxpayer or political contribution funds…other peoples’ money. I will leave it to you if you believe they earned their wealth ethically. It goes without saying that many of the individuals directly connected with each man are people with checkered reputations, and credentials.

Their ties to the Jewish State of Israel to me present a difficult path for effective honest negotiations in the settling of the emotional Israel/Palestine issue. Throughout, the resumes of each are troubling to me, because here are two individuals who are calling the shots and advising our President in an effort to improve our current problems, and to me they individually and collectively are from the ilk that created many of the economic problems confronting us all today.

Again, draw your own conclusions, but I for one am gravely concerned because I smell smoke and where there is smoke there is fire. I will not even lower myself to address the stench surrounding this holier than thou attitude exuding from the White House when the players have already been plodding through the slime. I fear that it is too kind to suggest these cats are just opportunists, manipulators, hatchet men, smear propagators or gentle misunderstood servants of the people. Once one’s hands are dirty it is extremely difficult to ever really clean them before anyone’s objective honest eyes.

I bet you get the idea that I do not trust these individuals and I certainly do not believe they are operating in the best interest of all the American people. They only answer to one man, and they have agendas that serve themselves before they serve you and me.

COMMANDER GRANGER

NEVER FORGET HISTORICAL EVENTS

As another summer came to a close and the month of September ended, two very important historical events were recognized. Both were very different in their implications for the future, but their significance must never be forgotten.

As our President continues to apologize for the ill behaviors of the United States, we all must remember an important event where our country stood up to the forces of tyranny and evil. September 30lth marked the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift.

On that date back in 1949 we completed a fifteen month successful response to overcome the Soviet Union’s blockade of West Berlin. American and British airmen flew 277,000 dangerous missions into besieged Berlin supplying essential life supporting supplies at the cost of 100 brave airmen who flew in all kinds of weather day and night. At the height of the blockade planes landed every four minutes, and in the end they delivered 2.3 million tons of vitally needed supplies.

As has been the case on so many occasions, American’s stepped forward to assure freedom, in this instance to the encircled Berliner’s. Today few remember that stellar action and our response to what was right for the betterment of mankind. Regretfully, I bet that if I were to ask the first ten young people I met on the street what the Berlin Airlift was, most, if not all, would not know or might think it was the name of a rock band.

Buried deep into the pages of USA Today (9/30/09) was a story dateline Kiev, Ukraine. Some 68 years ago, one of the most horrific massacres of World War ll took place along a ravine near Babi Yar when the Nazi occupation Army rounded up 33,771 Jews and executed them over a two day period. The details of this horrific atrocity must never be forgotten, and it only heightens the arrogance and stupidity of the likes of Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmaddinejad when he claims that the Holocaust never occurred.

A full knowledge of history is essential for mankind to avoid the mistakes and evil deeds of the past or they are bound to be replicated. Collectively we must stand firmly in lock-step with our Constitution and Bill of Rights for the continued protection of not only our precious country, but all human life on our magnificent planet.

COMMANDER GRANGER

RACE - THE FORBIDDEN WORD

Tragically, the use of the word RACE is similar to the explosion of an atomic bomb in civilized discussion today. Recently ex-President Jimmy Carter suggested that President Obama’s sagging poll numbers and the Tea Party crowd are the result of racism. Like Vice-President Joe Biden, our former President Carter has gone over the edge again, but we are finally getting used to his absurd utterances. It makes one wonder.

While scanning my email today I came across an article by George Mason University Economics Professor Dr. Walter E. Williams, who I happen to highly respect. Williams has a very articulate article addressing the subject of race that I found to be one of the most reasoned explanations of the current status of that emotionally charged subject that I have read to date. Let me suggest that you take a few minutes and read it at:

http://townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/2009/09/30/is_disagreement_with_obama_racism

While you’re at it you may be interested to read Williams biography too, because it is quite impressive.

http://economics.gmu.edu/wew/vita.html

In my opinion Williams is one of the top minds in the field of economics, and a true leader expounding a clear, articulate, thought process on many subjects.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Friday, October 2, 2009

HERE'S A GREAT READ FOR ALL AGES

Having just finished reading Mildred Armstrong Kalish’s "LITTLE HEATHENS," I can whole heartedly recommend this charming book to readers of all ages. While it is not a word I use frequently, I believe this is a precious book that will warm your heart and bring back many fond memories, especially if you’re in your 70’s or 80’s.

Mildred was raised on a family farm in Benton County, Iowa beginning about age five back in the early days of the Great Depression when there was no indoor plumbing or electricity. Life was very different from that our children have experienced and I was so impressed with the book I intend to send copies to my grandchildren.

If you are taking a trip in the near future I recommend you put a copy of "LITTLE HEATHENS" in your carry-on luggage for a wonderful, easy, and relaxed reading experience. You will love it too if you just enjoy a good read at home. It’s a great change of pace with no discussion of politics, corruption, or violence. I hope you enjoy the journey back in time. The read rekindled wonderful memories of my childhood when my parents and I would visit the family farms in Kankakee, Illinois. Yes, it was a kinder, gentler and simpler period in our history.

COMMANDER GRANGER

AN UNSOLICITED THANK YOU

This morning I had a very pleasant experience that brought tears to my old eyes. When my door bell rang this morning I found our mailman standing there with a small package, and he asked me to sign for its receipt.

Immediately, I recognized the package as medicine from the Veterans Administration and this particular prescription requires a signed receipt. I told the young mailman that it was my medicine from the VA and I thanked him for bringing the rest of our mail to the door with it.

Much to my surprise the mailman put out his hand and said “Thanks for your service to our country.” Wow! I have been home from Korea 55 years and that is the very first time anyone ever said that to me. Please do not get me wrong. I have never expected, nor have I looked for anyone to say that to me. Those very kind words were so surprising to me that I immediately became quite emotional and tears gathered in my eyes.

After all these years, I continue to be most proud of the years I volunteered to served in the regular United States Air Force, and I would do it all over again if I had the chance. I’ll tell you my postman’s words made me feel so good that I intend to repeat them whenever I get a chance to thank a veteran for service to our country. I am certain when I do the words will provide a similar reaction to the recipient.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Thursday, October 1, 2009

PURPOSEFUL CHAOS

After experiencing a week filled with meetings of world leaders at the United Nations in New York City, immediately followed by the G-20 gathering in Pittsburg, the world continues to spin in chaos. Beyond the prominent news making meetings, our lives continue to be in a state of chaos with long pending major decisions unresolved on the War in Afghanistan, Health Care, Cap and Trade, growing budget deficits, and Card Check. One could easily be a candidate for a position on a psychiatrist’s couch.

Your Commander suggests that President Barack Obama’s daily activities are dictated by the extensively aggressive partisan influences of political advisor David Axelrod and ballet trained Sarah Lawrence College graduate, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Together they purposefully promote the state of chaos as a carefully crafted plan to push the President’s hidden agenda quickly forward. It is my opinion that this well publicized effort to take advantage of chaos is most destructive to the long-term interests of both the country and the electorate. These operatives want their opposition to be kept off-balance, with a minimum of disclosed specific information.

First of all, most of the press releases from the G-20 in Pittsburg were the result of decisions reached behind closed doors days and even weeks before the actual United Nations meetings. When the leaders of the member nations met for only two brief days there was insufficient time to thrash out those pronouncements, so the bulk of the work was done by staff members and the meeting was only window dressing. I believe Obama gave up some important sovereign interests when he agreed to join European governments in setting far-reaching economic policies.

Most insulting was the fact that this group of bozos had the gall to tell the world to conserve and clean up the planet, then they flew 185 big jet airplanes around the world polluting the skies to have a bogus meeting so they can posture to us lesser beings. Apparently policies that are good for us do not apply to them.

Shamefully, the United Nations was totally embarrassed by the rude speeches of Libya’s Col. Moammar Khadafy, Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez. What a pathetic waste of both time and our money the United Nations has become. Tragically, the United Nations has evolved into a costly, corrupt house of hypocrites and opportunists. Our President Obama continued his “World Apology Tour” at this session with further utterances that diminished our standing in the world. Obama is not sorry…he is manipulative.

As the war of words continues on the mutually agreed much needed Health Care Bill, where is our President? After appearing on every Sunday Morning News program, except Fox, he is planning another trip on Air Force One, this time to Copenhagen to pitch for the selection of Chicago as the site for the Olympics in 2016. Is that an effective or appropriate use of his time? I think not. Here we go again as the American taxpayer is paying for Air Force One travel to pay-off a political debt for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s support. Obama has many more important fish to fry than promote Chicago’s Olympic bid.

As the administration tries to skirt the ACORN scandal, Rome is burning. Axelrod and Emanuel are continuing to paint the opposition to the Health Care Bill as un-American and a mob, but they ignore the fact that the electorate is lacking honest information, because the specific facts of the various House and Senate Bills are not being disclosed. The administration promised full disclosure of all legislation and without earmarks, but it has not and is not happening, so the uproar by the people are more than justified.

Obama is pushing an agenda that the rank and file of the country is obviously concerned about, and the loud opposition is an appropriate First Amendment right and reaction. For a man who claims to have been a Constitutional Lecturer, Obama repeatedly ignores or chooses to forget the contents of our precious Constitution when it is to his advantage or convenience. This administration is making a huge mistake in playing the race card too, because this country has long ago moved beyond that except for a very small minority of the population. Obama and his supporters also totally ignore racism within the black community.

It is time to slow down, as I have repeatedly urged in the past, and resolve one issue at a time. The potential impacts of pending legislation beyond Health Care are far too important to sneak into passage. Cap and Trade, and the Card Check have huge consequences that the American pubic does not want or support, but the administration is trying to get their political obligations paid off before the election in 2010.

We are in for a very rough ride with significant turmoil in the months ahead. In the meantime our administration is stalling from making vital decisions on the War in Afghanistan, on North Korea, Iraq, and Iran. One veteran CIA retiree recently said that Obama was demonstrating youthful adolescence in Foreign Affairs. Obama just might get his way on health care, but if he loses the War in Afghanistan his political career will be marked with blemishes in history books for generations to come. Currently our President is giving more support to ACORN than he is giving to our Troops in the distant lands.

Keeping the American voters off balance and in a state of chaos will work only so long. An old expression is most appropriate Mr. President…"You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time." Your olive branch soaked talk does not cut it, Mr. President…Action supported by the electorate does.

COMMANDER GRANGER