THE RIGHT WAY AND THE POLITICAL WAY

As the holiday season of 2009 begins, I remain concerned about the direction that our democracy is taking. Maybe I am just getting old, because as a youth I fondly remember that I thought my parents, especially my Dad, were just out of touch with reality with their very conservative positions. Suddenly I find myself getting more and more like my Dad, and I believe that life’s experiences sway one to a more conservative point of view.

Recently I read the November 27th posting of my good friend Kim Carlson’s blog titled, “How do we arrive at our political positions, anyhow?” which you can read by going to: http://coffeeharbor.blogspot.com I think you, too, will enjoy Kim’s writing and comments.

Today I received an email from a friend back east that reported some very disturbing information. The U.S. Government now accounts for about a third of the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and that in itself is creating a disturbing long-term financial obligation that in my opinion is just not realistically sustainable. Did you know that H.R. 3962 (the House Health Care Bill) creates 110 Boards, bureaucracies, commissions, and programs?

There is one very important and glaring question that is not being addressed, nor raised by responsible media sources. How are the American people and our government going to pay for the massive financial obligations being legislated under the Obama Administration? Your Commander sees no evidence of any reduction in spending, and every piece of legislation passed since Obama became President has created further zeros at the end of our national debt.

When will just one of our elected officials step forward with an agenda that calls for doing the right thing and not the politically correct thing. It appears to me that most of the decisions coming out of Washington today and for the last 20 years are purely politically motivated, assuring either a politician’s longevity in office, improving personal financial security, pays off obligations for election support, or enhances the growth of the exploding entitlement crowd’s long-term influence.

Anyone who has read anything about the founding of this great country knows that the Founding Fathers had a profound and abiding respect for the rights of individuals and held a deep respect for a higher being. Congress talks a good game with paid religious figure-head preachers in the House and Senate, but ignored are the basic theses of the Ten Commandments when they govern. They open each session of Congress with prayers, but then ignore those good words of guidance.

America desperately needs someone to tell the voting public the total truth, and have the guts to take the appropriate action to get our country back on a solid moral and financial footing. I, for one, am sick and tired of our politicians’ self-serving decision making which only leads to their self-preservation and our country’s demise. Truth has and always will be stronger than fiction, but sadly we are living in a world of total political fantasy and unless we voters do something this story can only end in tragedy.

COMMANDER GRANGER

THANKSGIVING WISHES

With all the crazy things happening in our world today it is most appropriate that we take a few minutes and give thanks for the many blessings that have ben given to each of us. While our family has had surprising sadness recently we are joined together with a bond of love and admiration that will get us all through this period.

Let us join together holding one another’s hands and pray to our respective sources of inspiration, because there are millions around this world that have much bigger problems than we do. Please take a minute to tell your family and loved ones that you love them, because tomorrow may be too late to do so.

Please give special attention to the thousands of fellow Americans serving in distant lands on this Thanksgiving Day, and thank them for their sacrifice and service in our behalf. Take a minute to look out your window and appreciate just how beautiful the day really is (no matter what your local weather might be), because each and every day is a spectacular event in our lives to be appreciated to its fullest.

Happy Thanksgiving Day to one and all who are fortunate to experience life on this wondrous place called Earth.

COMMANDER GRANGER

YOUR VOTE - A SOVEREIGN RIGHT

With our planet spinning away on its axis we appear to be confronting a growing number of very complex issues that threaten our nation’s sovereignty. I need not list the multitude of difficult challenges we are facing, because every one of us has different priorities.

In reading my American Patriot’s Almanac I was drawn to the magnificent words of President Calvin Coolidge who took to the radio back in 1924 to remind Americans of a solemn duty, “All the opportunity for self-government through the rule of the people depends upon one single factor. That is the ballot box…The people of our country are sovereign. If they do not vote they abdicate that sovereignty, and they may be entirely sure that if they relinquish it other forces will seize it, and if they fail to govern themselves some other power will rise up to govern them. The choice is always before them, whether they will be slaves or whether they will be free. The only way to be free is to exercise actively and energetically the privileges and discharge faithfully the duties which make freedom. It is not to be secured by passive resistance. It is the result of energy and action…”

“Persons who have the right to vote are trustees of the benefit of their country and their countrymen. They have no right to say they do not care. They must care! They must remember that their country and their countrymen cannot get along, cannot remain sound, cannot preserve its institutions, cannot protect its citizens, cannot maintain its place in the world unless those who have the right to vote do sustain and do guide the course of public affairs by the thoughtful exercise of that right on election day."

It is a proven fact that citizens of our country consistently register low voting percentages compared to other countries who share the cherished right to vote. Apparently our fellow Americans are just too complacent, smug, or apathetic and that just may be the principal causal factor for the perilous condition of our democracy. Millions have given their lives for the privilege to vote, so why would anyone want to ignore the opportunity to participate in our governance. Sometimes I just scratch my head, because I cannot understand the actions of my fellow Americans when it comes to the ballot box.

Please remember these words in next November, whatever your party affiliation.

COMMANDER GRANGER

EXTORTION RULES

I thought my most recent rant about the pending Health Care Bill would be the last one for a while, but after viewing this morning’s CBS “Face the Nation” program, I must comment further. I was shocked to learn that in the effort to bring forward the Senate’s proposed bill, the great all-knowing devious Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-NV), has agreed to insert a provision into the bill that would grant $300 million for Senator Mary Landrieu’s (D-LA) home state of Louisiana just to get her vote.

When I heard this on the program my blood pressure jumped sky-high and I even uttered some colorful language. I know full well that this kind of horse-trading goes on in the Halls of Congress all the time, but these people are getting out of control throwing our money around just to buy votes. If Landrieu wants money for her state, it should be a separately discussed piece of legislation. After all, $300 million is not chump change!

Clearly there are sufficient accurate polls that indicate that a clear majority of Americans want health care legislation, but a similar majority does not want the bills being proposed, plus voters want Washington to immediately start showing some financial responsibility.

My old ticker took another shock when that sanctimonious, deceptive, supercilious, smug Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) sat on the same program, and dismissed the action taken by Leader Reid as “just the way things work in Washington,” and this type of action is done all the time. That is just the problem that has got us near financial do-do, but those corrupt idiots in Congress continue to run amok with our money and jam self-serving legislation down our throats.

I am telling you there is a day of reckoning coming and it is coming soon. The actions of our Senate and House are nothing but pure unadulterated EXTORTION! What is the difference between Reid’s offer to Landrieu and “pay to play?”

The inmates are running the institution and we better do something about it damn soon. I, for one, am sick and tired of these self-serving politicians ramming legislation through that threatens the American way of life and directly serves their self-interests. We are experiencing pure and simple insanity before our eyes, and the American public is sitting on the sidelines letting Congress run wild with our present and future (no doubt rising) tax dollars. I think we have all lost our minds. Is our only salvation joining the entitlement crowd…not if I have one breath left in my body.

COMMANDER GRANGER

BYE, BYE NEWSWEEK

Not being a subscriber to Newsweek I happened to read the recent copy with Sarah Palin on the cover while visiting my son in Texas. Additionally I have been reading John Meacham’s best selling book about President Andrew Jackson, Meacham is the top dog at Newsweek.

What first struck me was the fact that Newsweek has changed its format and content significantly since I last read an issue. What used to be a magazine covering very current news, it is now a magazine that contains essentially essays about topics of the day with very liberal vent. Right off the bat Meacham does a smear job of Palin in his “Top of the Week” column, and then the cover article on Palin is a similar liberal “over the top” analysis. I guess Meacham is taking the magazine to the far left, so he is losing me as a possible subscriber.

I think it is important to state that I am not a particular fan of Sarah Palin, but she does appeal to a large number of people who are very conservative, and many who are seriously concerned about the direction President Obama is steering the country. Palin is expressing words that appeal to a growing number, because they so dislike the drivel we are getting out of the Washington talking heads. Palin talks sense, and Washington talks double-speak. Personally I do not think Palin is qualified to be our President, but she does have a following. It is highly unlikely that she is a viable candidate, but she will sell one hell of a lot of books along the way.

While I am knocking Newsweek for their diversion to opinion pieces and an essay style of content I do not fail to recognize the fact that it is very similar to the type of writing that is presented in FrobertTWorld commentaries. So be it, because I do not charge one thin dime, and my readers can take it or leave it at anytime without spending their hard earned money. I just do not like a magazine to tell me they are a “news" entity when they are something else.

COMMANDER GRANGER

HEALTH BILL...AGAIN

I need not get into all the details of the government’s recent announcement by the U.S. Preventive Task Force recommending that women 40-49 forgo annual mammograms unless they have certain risk factors. I am the husband of a cancer survivor (not breast cancer) who had no symptoms, but the malignant tumor was found in a routine colonoscopy. I must tell you that I think this is the first clear indication that the pending Health Care Legislation is moving in a direction that will be most unpleasant to most Americans.

Your Commander suggests that our government, despite their initial announcements, is in reality going to ration health care, which will lead to the unnecessary death of some of our fellow citizens. We are on another slippery slope, and I do not feel we are being told the whole truth before this legislation will come up for a vote, jamming something through that satisfies the special interests that got the Obama Administration elected.

This is pure Rahm Emanuel taking advantage of the electorate’s desire for health care reform. What little I have been able to read and understand indicates that the House and Senate are operating strictly to get themselves re-elected, while retaining their own special unique classification of health care.

It is now obvious that Senator Harry Reid’s (D-NV) proposal carries an estimated cost of $848 billion, and it will be funded by cuts to Medicare and increased taxes from you and me. We all agree that reform is necessary, but at what cost? Just when is someone going to get the guts to standup in the Halls of Congress and demand to be told how we can continue to spend money we do not have. The day of financial reckoning is coming quickly. Wake-up America before it is too late, because we are sliding down the hill faster every passing day into financial insolvency.

COMMANDER GRANGER

GREAT READ: POWER AMBITION GLORY

Recently I reported the fact that I was reading “POWER AMBITION GLORY – The stunning parallels between great leaders of the ancient world and today…and the lessons you can learn” by Steve Forbes and John Prevas. Well I have finished after re-reading several passages because I was so moved by the historical facts that are intertwined throughout the book with well known business leaders. Let me provide you with some tidbits in hopes that I will wet your whistle for a rewarding read.

“Rem tene veba sequentur” (Get hold of the matter and the words will follow) –Cato.

“In life a man must resign himself to expect anything, and never count on anyone but himself” –Xenophon.

Meg Whitman, the former eBay CEO, is one of the business comparisons in the Xenophon chapter.

“I set no limits to what a man of ability can accomplish” – Alexander the Great.

In the chapter about Alexander the Great the authors write, “Ambition and the desire for immortality destroyed Alexander the Great. His story is the tragedy of what happens when a leader achieves power and wealth equal to his passion, something the Greek historian Plutarch warned about when he wrote, ‘No beast is more savage than man when he is possessed of power equal to his passion’. Alexander failed because he came to believe his own propaganda, and he lacked the self-control to keep his success within a sane perspective. He was weak within and not strong enough to carry the weight of his success.” (Page #140)

One of the business comparisons to Alexander the Great in the book is Dennis Kozlowski, the former CEO of TYCO.

“What do you think the Alps are? They are nothing more than high mountains. Their heights are not insurmountable to men of determination. We came to conquer Rome, now steel your hearts and climb” – Hannibal.

In a chapter about Julius Caesar Forbes and Prevas say, “Caesar projected a sense of sovereign self-assurance. There was no question that he was the boss and considered himself the only man for the job. Of course, Caesar was not the first person to live with the delusion that he alone could handle the top job. But in his case, that sense of self-worth turned out to be a double-edged sword. It mesmerized his followers and galvanized his enemies. Throughout his career, Caesar gave the impression that he always knew where he was going and what he was going to do when he got there. That impression eventually proved to be his undoing as it mutated into an imperious arrogance that cost him his life.” (Page #214)

The authors have a sub chapter on Caesar titled “If you are going to cross the Rubicon, make sure you know what you’re doing and where you’re going”. (Page #216) On page 217 they say, “The phrase ‘crossing the Rubicon’ has come to mean willingness to undertake a major and risky course of action from which there is no turning back." Alea iacta est translated means – the dice have been thrown.

When Caesar defeated a defiant Pharnaces in 47 B.C. he uttered the famous words…”Venim Vidi, Vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered) at the battle of Zela in northern Asia Minor, which was classic Caesar – quick, thorough, and decisive.

In the section about Augustus, he is quoted as saying, “May it be my privilege to establish the state firm and secure…so that I might be called the author of the best government and when I die the foundation which I have laid will remain.”

Hopefully that is more than enough to draw your interest without completing the parallels the authors draw to modern business leaders with the dominant leaders of the ancient world. I would hope that business schools across our country would make this book required reading, especially for their MBA programs. Even if one’s active business career is now history the book is a most rewarding read.

COMMANDER GRANGER

CONSTITUTIONAL CONTEMPT

On October 29th a Washington reporter asked Speaker Nancy Pelosi a simple question; “Madam Speaker, where specifically does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to enact an individual health insurance mandate?” Speaker Pelosi responded, “Are you serious?”

Later one of Pelosi’s press spokesmen was asked about the original question and responded, “You can put this on the record. That is not a serious question. That is not a serious question.” This is a further example of the arrogance flowing through the Halls Congress.

It has been reported that Congress proceeds on numerous pieces of legislation using a broad interpretation of the Constitutional clause covering Interstate Commerce Transaction. Recently retired Federal Judge Andrew Napalatano spoke to this very issue and indicated that should the matter come before an honest Judge that the health care bill action would be ruled as unconstitutional.

Supporting Pelosi’s constitutional contempt and arrogance is the fact that her fellow members of the House support her disregard for our precious Constitution. In each session of Congress since 1995, Congressman John Shadegg (R-AZ) has introduced the Enumerated Powers Act “To require Congress to specify the source of authority under the United States Constitution for the enactment of Laws, and for other purposes.” Tragically his actions have failed repeatedly to draw little or no support from his fellow members of the House and Senate.

Thus it is obvious that our elected officials are taking our government toward greater control of our lives. It has been stated that after all, mankind’s standard fare throughout history is arbitrary control and abuse by government. Just what are we doing to ourselves permitting these devious politicians, which we elect, to take our lives in directions that serve them and not us?

COMMANDER GRANGER

JUST ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

Just like many of you I religiously view the network and cable Sunday morning talk programs. After many years of growing frustration I ask the question, “Why do the guests not answer direct questions?

Having been in the television business for over forty years I know the answer, but it does not solve the problem. The guests do not answer the questions, because they probably would lose their jobs if they responded honestly. Politics is a shady business, and honesty does not provide career longevity.

Just once I would love to see a moderator have the guts to stop the interview, and just walk off the set after announcing that due to the guest’s repeated failure to answer the questions, the remainder of the interview was cancelled. After all, guests, particularly Hollywood types, do this all the time when being interviewed. It would be most refreshing if we could see the political interviewer do the same.

Were that to happen the host would probably be terminated, because the network or station would lose significant revenue, and few if any politicians or political operatives would ever appear on future programs. Maybe we all would be better off if someone would fire a shot over the bow of all the guests to answer the questions with one word answers or start telling the truth without spin.

Frankly, I am not sure I can continue to watch the drivel we are subjected to every Sunday and on most week day interview programs. Maybe this is the real reason for falling ratings.

Recently I received an email from a friend suggesting we all go to the polls in November 2010 to vote every member of the House of Representatives, and the 33 Senators up for re-election out of office. Then, as the next two-thirds of the Senate come up for re-election, we vote them out too. Within the following four years we could be dealing with an entirely new Congress.

This would surely send a strong message that the electorate will no longer put up with the greedy, disingenuous, deceitful, behavior of our 20th century politicians. This is the opportunity to lay down the gauntlet and show the people have awakened to the 21st century.

Were our leaders and their so-called advisors to give honest answers, we may not like what we hear, but they might just earn our long absent respect and admiration. While I don’t think it has never been tried, I believe a program requiring honest and direct questions and answers would be welcome.

Remember, we voted these clowns into office. We can vote into office women and men of impeccable character who deserve our support. Individually we fail, but collectively we win. This can be accomplished if we join forces for a secure, rewarding, honest future.

COMMANDER GRANGER

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?

Recently details about Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi’s, arrogant behavior in spending the people’s hard-earned money came to my attention. I know that Speaker Pelosi exerted her power in securing the use of an Air Force 757 aircraft for her frequent non-stop flights from Washington to San Francisco as opposed to her previous use of a smaller jet that required a refueling stop.

I have now learned that the cost to the American taxpayer is $60,000.00 for each flight or $120,000.00 for each round-trip, which occurs almost every weekend. It is reported that the flight crew must always be on standby, and the flight departs whenever Speaker Pelosi decides. Do you not wonder who is tagging along on the flights, and are they paying the government for the ride? It is reported that Pelosi’s family is frequently included, and I suspect that fellow Democrats from California are also frequent flyers.

Let us just assume that Pelosi and company make round-trips 40 weeks per year that would represent an expenditure of at least $4,800,000.00 of our money. While we have been told that she flies on government aircraft for security reasons, I see no legitimate reason for her to not have a couple of security agents and fly a non-stop commercial aircraft at significantly less expense. And, yes, I understand that she is third in line to the office of president. If security is so important, a smaller Air Force jet aircraft should be sufficient. Pelosi’s actions are nothing less than total arrogance, and an insult to the American taxpayers.

While I am in this ranting posture let me address another concern I have with our representative governance. It is now apparent that our House of Representatives and Senate now usually meet only three days or less per week when in session. The total number of days that they formally meet in Washington is getting fewer and fewer, but whenever they do adjourn, is it necessary for them to fly home at taxpayer expense every single weekend? I suppose with a few simple calculations I could come up with a financial number as to what that is costing us, but you and I know it is a devastatingly high amount of our money.

With the above in mind would it not be a better use of our money if our elected officials stayed in Washington, and conducted the peoples business? When our Representatives and Senators get home, they are essentially passing out earmark dollars, and raising money for their re-election campaigns. With our economy in disarray would it not be logical to cut the travel expense and work an increased number of days per week accomplishing the work they were sent to Washington to conduct?

There is another looming expense, and that is the need to replace Air Force One in the near future considering the fact that our new President is utilizing it with an unprecedented number of flights. Can you just imagine the cost of each of his ventures considering the expense of fuel, secret service, pre-positioning automobiles and personnel? I am certain no President has flown as much as Obama and I think he should stay in Washington more often, too.

Let me suggest a few more questions. Why doesn’t our president of ten months suggest that Congress reduce its expenditures and travel, and increase the number of days worked in Washington, since he promised CHANGE and TRANSPARENCY? How about this question…If you only worked three days per week would your employer continue to pay you your full salary and all of your benefits? Would you expect your employer to pay all your travel and miscellaneous expenses for trips to exotic locations when you were not officially in session too? Do you suspect in your wildest dreams that Speaker Pelosi or Senate Majority Leader Reid would suggest economic and efficient improvements in their individual domains?

If you believe that any of these questions should be answered in the affirmative, I have a bridge to nowhere I want to sell you. While these situations are sad, disgusting, criminal, corrupt, and will surely continue unabated, there is no one to blame but us. More shockingly I do not hold out much hope that we will do anything about it either. Our complacency will continue until our personal pocketbooks are empty, and I fear that time is coming very soon. Have we totally lost our minds or have we been bought-off by our duplicitous political leadership? Using the word again, I think we have become equally duplicitous in creating this economical debacle.

In my 78 years on this earth I do not remember living under a federal administration that exudes such pomposity.

COMMANDER GRANGER

HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION, LIKE IT OR NOT

As America slept last evening our House of Representatives, under the direction of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, strong-armed the passage of her version of the House Health legislation. One must wonder just what promises and how much money was committed in the last hours before its passage by a razor thin margin?

Now we must await the actions of the Senate under the leadership of Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), who is facing a difficult re-election by his Nevada constituents. It appears that passage in the Senate may be more problematical, but back-room deals will probably again take place assuring President Obama his pledged payback to special interest contributors.

Retired Judge Andrew Napolitano has raised a very interesting and important question for every American to ponder, “Where does it say in the U.S. Constitution that Congress has the right to pass legislation for health care?” For many years our Congress has applied the passage in the Constitution addressing the transaction of Inter State Commerce as justification for passing many laws. Napolitano and many fellow American citizens feel our Congress has acted unconstitutionally, and were the question to be brought before an honest Federal Jurist, the passage of health care reform would die.

While most Americans want some kind of health care reform, it is equally clear that a majority does not like the proposed legislation and many polls support the opinion that the action is unconstitutional. Only time will tell, but again your Commander suggests that you not hold your breath. Our all-knowing power-conscious federal leadership will plow their will upon us lesser beings. We will have to step forward and pay for their actions whether we want to or not.

COMMANDER GRANGER

MORE READING RECOMMENDATIONS

While my worthy Editor was recently basking in the sun on Marco Island while attending a seminar with her friends in an investment group, I slaved away catching up on reading. Lately I have been bouncing between several different books, something I find easier to do than one might suspect.

Jon Meacham’s very detailed tome AMERICAN LION which covers Andrew Jackson in the White House is taking me a long time to read. Personally I am finding it difficult to stay with this book, having trouble being very interested in details about Jackson’s cousin’s love interests, but time will tell if it is really vital to the work.

I have just completed Steve Forbes & John Prevas’ wonderful POWER AMBITION GLORY which covers “The stunning parallels between great leaders of the ancient world and today and the lessons you can learn”. I find this to be a very important book, especially for future business leaders to read. As a fan of history there is much to absorb and utilize from the parallels outlined.

I have been reading but have not yet finished THE TRUE STORY OF THE BILDERBERG GROUP by Daniel Estulin. This is a very interesting behind the scenes revelation of influences that are and have impacted governments and events of the world. I intend to write about this compelling and divisive group shortly. I am quite sure the results of the read will shock you and you will want to read this one yourself.

I’m just getting into Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen’s novel of George Washington and the fight for American freedom titled TO TRY MEN’S SOULS. After only four chapters I find their fictional approach to historical detail to be a rewarding read.

Lastly, be sure to get a copy of Vince Flynn’s newest Mitch Rapp CIA action adventure thriller PURSUIT OF HONOR. As always Rapp conquers all forms of violence and danger to achieve his goal of saving the good old USA. This book is also high on the best seller list.

Your Commander hopes you enjoy reading as much as he does. He is saddened that he did not recognize the joys and rewards of reading at a much earlier age. When you are young and chasing your dreams, time is spent reading many documents that involve your employment. Recreational reading is difficult when life, work, and family occupy much of your time. Your Commander feels most fortunate that he now has time in retirement to share his hobby of reading and the many worlds the home computer has to offer.

COMMANDER GRANGER

HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION

With all the rhetoric being spewed across our newspapers and airwaves, the level of emotion on the Health Care Bill has reached a fever pitch. I will not waste space discussing all the false information being tossed about, but a few facts should be obvious.

First, we all agree that Health Care and health insurance coverage needs improvement, because many fellow citizens are under-served and it is just too darn expensive. Insurance companies must be held accountable, and their services must be made available across State lines.

The recent elections in Virginia and New Jersey clearly announced the growing fears of the electorate regarding our current economic uncertainties. Democracy is defined as government that responds to the will of the public. I do not see that happening, because what little I do know about the pending legislation is that the Bills are trying to address far more than what is necessary, and they are including provisions that are not supported by the will of the people.

My local newspaper ran a poll today, and they asked a simple question. Is a national health care insurance mandate constitutional? The answer shows that the people in my community do not think so. They voted and say that 22% think it is constitutional, but 78% think it is un-constitutional.

Apparently our government leaders and our President do not read newspapers. Thus, we the people are going to get shoved down our throats what they want and not what we want. I suggest they take a close look at what happened when politicians did not follow the will of the people in New Jersey and Virginia.

COMMANDER GRANGER

THREE CUPS OF TEA

Recently my cousin visited from South Carolina and was kind enough to give me a gift copy of THREE CUPS OF TEA – One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace… One School at a Time - by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

Without a doubt this is one of the most inspirational books that I have ever read, and while Mortenson is without a doubt a unique individual, the world would be one hell of a lot better were there more Mortensons within our populous. He appears to venture into the extremely dangerous lands along the Pakistan and Afghanistan borders without one ounce of fear, or he is just crazed by his desire to regress the massive injustices that occur in this god forsaken area.

This paperback book has been listed as a best seller. I can strongly recommend that you add it to your reading list. The leadership of all countries should read THREE CUPS OF TEA, because they just may see one peaceful way to address the conflicts in that part of the world. Obviously Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfield certainly did not have the wisdom or knowledge this important first-hand account portrays of what is really going on inside Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan when they chose their deadly military actions.

COMMANDER GRANGER

THE MOUSE IN THE CORNER

The election in up-state New York and the voting for the governor’s offices in both New Jersey and Virginia are thankfully over. Today the Republicans are running around with exaggerated claims of total victory considering they really won in two-thirds of the big contests. The Democrats are spinning their position, and ignoring the fact that a newly awakened group of voters have spoken.

Certainly the results in New Jersey and Virginia have sent a signal to the Obama administration that dark storm clouds are forming on their political horizon. It will be necessary for the Democrats to step back, and consider a slower approach to taking advantage of chaos. The senior citizens and the Tea Party crowd are obviously a force to be reckoned with for the long-term interests of both parties. The media has finally recognized that the sad state of our economy is a key issue in the electorate’s mindset.

Wouldn’t you have liked to have been a little mouse hiding in the corner of the Oval Office this morning when President Barack Obama and his inner-circle met for a morning-after council? Somebody will pay for the failure to deliver the desired poll results, and it will not be pretty. Your Commander suggests that all-knowing Rahm Emanuel, and David Axelrod have some questions to answer, and they will be required to eat a healthy dose of crow. Hold on to your seat because the spin doctors will be working over-time in the days ahead.

It is clearly apparent that the base of Obama’s supporters in the minority, youth, and the Independent voter communities are fickle, because they voted in substantially lower numbers or switched parties in these elections. Why? Hopefully the strong voices that did speak will have sufficient influence to slow-down the madness surrounding the excessively expensive Health Bill legislation, and the Cap and Trade Bill, among other Democrat causes. Do you suppose that Washington got the word that America wants them to stop spending money, and act responsibility?

The Blue Dog Democrats will not be sleeping well tonight, and yesterday’s elections just may be the needed arrow into the heart of the Obama administration’s conceit.

COMMANDER GRANGER