Monday, September 27, 2010

QUOTES TO CONSIDER

In recent writings I quoted economist Steve Moore, who is currently a member of the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board. He is frequently seen on television programs addressing the state of our economy, and I was particularly impressed with his following statement:

“We reward vice and punish virtue.”

Just think about that when you consider the state of our government today and the way it addresses the legislative agenda. I further suggest you consider that quotation when you enter the polling booth come November, 2010.

In thinking about Moore’s statement I found another two to consider:

Actress Mae West said: “Virtue has its own reward, but no box office.”

Statesman Benjamin Franklin said: “God will certainly reward virtue and punish vice, either here or hereafter.”

I think these are interesting thoughts to consider on a beautiful fall day; leaves are changing, the sky is a vibrant blue, and temperatures are so pleasant. Enjoy life to its fullest as long as it is granted.

COMMANDER GRANGER

SMILE!

With all the bad news floating around our lives these days, I believe it is essential that we all take a few minutes to appreciate all the wonderful and positive things we experience each day. Those of us who are uniquely privileged to live in the United States of America have much to be thankful for every minute of our existence.

A good friend recently shared with me a comment he said his late father frequently spoke when he was a young boy growing up in central Ohio.

“You’re not fully dressed for the day until you put a smile on your face.”

Don’t you feel the love and family values that father shared with his child? Sadly we have far too little of that in this hectic, fast paced time.

My well-read Editor suggests that the comment, which might have been common during the Great Depression, reprised itself in the Broadway play “Annie”, and may have had its roots in the comic strip Little Orphan Annie. I do not know about you, but I frequently find great joy and comfort in expressions and stories that date back to my childhood or as I call them, THE GOOD OLD DAYS. There is a big life lesson in one word...SMILE!

COMMANDER GRANGER

Sunday, September 26, 2010

LIBERAL POLITICAL COVER

Scanning the vast information resource that is the internet I ran across an article that caught my ultra-conservative eyes, and I would like to share it with you. The title of the composition is “OBAMA IS A VICTIM OF BUSH’S FAILED PROMISES” by Chuck Green, who happens to be a Democrat who writes an opinion piece “Green Pastures” for the Aurora (Colorado) Sentinel, which is one of the more liberal papers in the country. You should know that the piece appeared February 7, 2010...more than 6 months ago! He is one of the early critics of the Obama myth.

Take a minute and hit this link:

http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/obama-is-a-victim-of-bushs-failed-promises---by-chuck-green---democrat/blog-330905/

Green is no wild eyed wacko, because he formerly was editor-in-chief of The Denver Post and has a long, highly regarded record of supporting the Democrat Party. He is but one of many liberal Democrats who are bailing out on the Obama myth while the getting is good.

Your Commander is not ready to start patting himself on the back for predicting a Republican landslide in November 2010, because the Republican Party continues to shoot themselves in the foot daily, but the flood waters are starting to seep over the levees across our nation. I pray that whoever wins this November has the integrity to lead our great nation back to a centrist, well-reasoned, fiscally responsible course that represents the will of the people. If we fail to support the intentions of our visionary Founding Fathers, and the will of the people, our society will spiral into economic chaos and oblivion.

COMMANDER GRANGER

PRESIDENTIAL CABINET APPOINTEES

Everyday I receive emails from friends and old business associates and I have become suspicious as to the authenticity of everything that I receive, because the world has become so accusatory. I am taking the liberty to present some details that were transmitted to me, but I have been unable to check the veracity after several attempts on my computer.

Based upon what I have read I feel this information is at the least somewhat valid, but I must admit that I truly hope it isn’t true, because experience is an essential ingredient in successful achievement. Here goes:

“Subject: You will not see this in the media

The percentage of each past president’s cabinet who had worked in the private business sector prior to their appointment to the cabinet. You know what the private business sector is…a real life business, not a government job. Here are the percentages.

T. Roosevelt…….38%
Taft……………..... 30%
Wilson…............. 52%
Harding………….49%
Coolidge………...48%
Hoover………….42%
F.D. Roosevelt….50%
Truman…………50%
Eisenhower……..57%
Kennedy………..30%
Johnson…………47%
Nixon…………..53%
Ford……………42%
Carter…………. 32%
Reagan…………56%
GH Bush……….51%
Clinton…………39%
GW Bush………55%

And the winner of the Chicken Dinner is:

Obama………… 8%

Yep! That’s right! Only Eight Percent!!! The least by far of the last 19 presidents!! And these people are trying to tell our big corporations how to run their business? They know what’s best for GM…Chrysler…Medical Care, Wall Street…and you and me?

How can the president of a major nation and society, the one with the most successful economic system in world history…stand and talk about business when he’s never worked for one? Or about jobs when he has never really had one??! And neither have 92% of his senior staff and closest advisers! They’ve spent most of their time in academia, government and/or non-profit jobs…or as “community organizers” when they should have been in the employment line.

YOU WILLL NOT SEE THIS IN THE ‘LAME-STREET MEDIA’!!!”

Your Commander believes the above to be true, and it concerns me deeply. Obviously I know some of you will question the success of Bush #2’s achievements, but you get my point. In fairness I would like to see a similar percentage analysis for both the Senate and Congress, because they vote the legislation into law frequently without even reading the content of the bills.

This is another solid reason to go to the polls this coming November 2010 to express your opinion and fulfill your patriotic responsibility.

COMMANDER GRANGER

ENCOURAGING STUDENT EXCELLENCE

“What is the most effective way to encourage student excellence?” That was the question of the day on one of my local television stations, and I was shocked when they graphically listed the responses received from their audience. The answers were all over the map, but some of them called for additional spending from federal and state governments.

Shockingly, only a few comments addressed what I believe are significant core ingredients to achieving educational excellence. Your Commander believes that educational excellence begins within the home of each student. Without role models and strong parental support of achievement, student motivation is frequently lacking. I always felt it was important to not let my parents down or disappoint them, so strived throughout my school days to receive good grades.

Your Commander believes that our schools are weakened by politically influenced school boards, and teacher unions frequently have a misdirected mission of teacher protection when, in fact, student achievement should be paramount. This is not to say that all teachers are politically corrupted, but far too many are unqualified and greedy.

Teaching is not an easy profession today, because parental support is frequently lacking, particularly in inner city schools, i.e. the importance of homework assignments. Good teachers face daily discipline as their first priority, while educating their students becomes secondary. Government throws money at education without proper accountability due to political considerations brought forth by teacher unions and their political campaign contributions.

Again I call for a review of teacher tenure and restrictive clauses in union contracts that binds the hands of school boards. I also question the high cost of administrative overhead. I do not believe the federal government should be in the education business, because it is a state and local obligation.

Don’t get me wrong. I strongly support and appreciate the value of teachers to the educational development of all children. My grandson has proudly served for three years in a John Hopkins University education program in the inner-city of Baltimore.

After working for one year after college graduation, he felt the corporate world was not for him and tried his hand at teaching 7th and 8th grade mathematics through this program. He took this position very seriously and usually spent 80 or more hours a week in class or preparing lesson plans in a school that did not give the children text books! (The school experienced huge losses in text books, so only issued them to the teachers.) He was able to markedly increase his student test scores and was named Teacher of the Year at his school.

I also have a niece who teaches in the Chicago Public School System at a unique high school that only serves special needs students. I hear first hand stories from both of these young people about their jobs and feel very comfortable in saying to you, “Teachers deserve our sympathy and strong backing.”

Accountability is a three-legged stool that supports educational excellence and achievement. Any weak leg (parents-teachers-school boards) will result in a poor educational environment with equally poor learning achievement. This also causes massive financial obligations upon the local, state and federal governments in future years that bear little fruit.

It is essential that we stop buying votes with federal funding of education, and address the educational experience rationally and objectively. Accountability, leadership and achievement leads directly to educational excellence.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Thursday, September 23, 2010

OBAMA TOWNHALL, CHICAGO MAYOR, & WOODWARD BOOK

If you missed Paul Hewitt’s article of this date at Townhall.com I suggest you take a peek by hitting the attached link.

http://townhall.com/columnists/HughHewitt/2010/09/23/obamas_cnbc_townhall_was_a_disaster

While I suspect that it is far too early to suggest that the wheels are coming off the Obama administration limo, it is clear that there is great upheaval within the halls of the White House. I believe that several of the inhabitants are jumping ship before getting painted by the brush of election failures this November. Clearly the knives are out of their sleeves, and they are now in self-preservation mode.

Today’s release of a Republican Manifesto is clearly an effort long overdue, but seems to be a little late to generate the maximum desired effect. What little I have heard about it thus far sounds a little thin, but time will tell.

The recent announcement that the City of Chicago’s long serving Mayor Richard M. Daley will not seek re-election has set off a scramble of divergent forces from that city to Washington D.C. The long knives are being sharpened for what promises to be a bloody war for control of a fiefdom that guarantees vast fortunes for the knighted one.

Yesterday’s news of potential mayoral candidate Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.’s after hours dalliances is not a surprise, and may have saved Chicago from a period of unbelievable abuse and corruption. The acorn does not fall from the tree that shades his father, The Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Your Commander can’t wait until next Monday’s release of politically renowned author Bob Woodward’s new book “OBAMA’S WARS.” I am certainly anxious to read all the details that even White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is trying his best, but failing, to positively spin.

In the meantime you can take a look at Steve Luxenberg’s review of the book from today’s Washington Post at:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/21/AR2010092106706.html

Based upon the first newspaper reviews, I am most concerned that President Obama wants an exit strategy in Afghanistan without emphasis on winning the War. If we are not there to win, why are we there losing the lives of loved American soldiers? In fairness I want to read the entire book, but I am most anxious to learn the full context of his quoted remark, “I can’t lose the whole Democratic Party.”

If that statement says what I suspect, Obama is playing politics with the lives of our brave young men and women and abrogating his Oath of Office. While I know politics impacts presidential decision making, I firmly believe that once an individual becomes our president, the role as leader should elevate the interests of the entire nation above party political considerations. The quotes I have seen thus far in Woodward’s book are extremely troubling to your Commander. It is one (bad) thing to announce our exit date to the enemy, but to put the lives of our soldiers at risk founded upon political considerations is unconscionable.

Once I have read “Obama’s Wars” I will write a review. Enough vetting of my spleen for today.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

BELL'S BEST NOVEL YET!

I have read all eight of Ted Bell’s novels and I consider his latest, WARLORD, to be his best work to date. From the first pages to the very last there is action and suspense to hold your interest along with beautifully written character development prose. Surely, Warlord will be another award winning New York Times bestseller.

Bell’s character, Alex Hawke, again takes you across the world from his elegant home in Bermuda to England, Scotland, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. I purposely will not divulge further details with the fear that I will spoil your reading enjoyment. I will tell you that the book caught my attention to the degree that I finished it in three enjoyable reading days.

One suggestion should you have not already been drawn to Bell’s work is that you read the six Alexander Hawke series books in order of their release. Frequently the reader is reminded of previous adventures by Lord Hawke making the stories flow nicely. Start with Hawke, Assassin, Pirate, Spy, Tsar, and move on to Warlord. You will not be sorry, and once you’ve completed the series I believe you will agree with my recommendation. Bell is a master at his craft.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

GANDHI - A MAN FOR HIS TIME AND TODAY

The more I read about Mahatma Gandhi the more impressed I am regarding his influence upon hundreds of millions of citizens of the world. I firmly believe he was a man for his time and would be of equal influence today. Tragically he was assassinated on January 30, 1948 by a Hindu nationalist with ties to an extremist Hindu Mahasabha.

As an ardent practitioner of non-violence he was to the independence movement in India what Martin Luther King was to the non-violent agenda to end discrimination here in the United States. Gandhi’s leadership ended the British Colonial rule. Were Gandhi permitted to live a full life I am certain that many problems facing India and Pakistan today would be far more peaceful.

If you are interested, I urge you to read a very good analysis of his influence in the Wikipedia report on Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi at:

http://en.widipedia.org/wiki/Mohandas_Karamchand_Gandhi

Here are a couple of words rendered by Bapu (Father) as he was referred to by his followers:

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall – think of it, always.”

“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?”

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”

“There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for.”

This last quote is confusing, because he urged his followers to join the British armed forces during World War II, yet he remained a proponent of non-violence. I certainly believe that the world would be significantly different today had Gandhi’s vast influences been permitted to further impact world events.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Monday, September 20, 2010

EDUCATION EXPENSES

As recently as September 8th I wrote a commentary titled “EXPOSING EDUCATION EXPENSE Vs RESULTS” and it drew a response from my daughter regarding my granddaughter who attends a regional community college in the western Chicago suburbs. Families struggle with the impact of the national economy while the expense of higher education continues to climb beyond the cost of living percentage increases.

Here is an example of only her BOOK costs at the Junior College level.

ETHICS Class – required book: Ethics for Professions
Purchased new $110.75: used $83.25
School buy-back price $15.00

MACROECONOMICS Class – required book: Principles of Macroeconomics
Purchased new $161.75: used $121.50
School buy-back $14.00

PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY Class – required book: Biology
Purchased new $192.75: used $144.75
School buy-back $19.00

Need I say more? Someone is making a financial killing and it is not students or parents. If I were a betting man, I would bet that many of these books are issued with frequent revised editions, therefore ever increasing the price tag.

This same granddaughter also had to pay for her books in high school, which is an expense that never was imposed back in my good old days. When I graduated from the University of Illinois back in 1956 my goal was to someday make $10,000 per year, fortunately I exceeded that goal.

Your Commander has great sympathy for families trying to educate their children today, and we have a responsibility to demand greater accountability and results for today’s education dollars.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Sunday, September 19, 2010

DINNER PARTNERS

Recently I have written separate pieces about New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd and Sir Winston Churchill, which I suspect lead me to a dream last evening.

Both are legendary prolific writers who have a magnificent command of the English language with a writing style that appeals to a multitude of readers, however during distinctly different times in history. Both authors have at times exposed their ability to sting with their words, and maybe that is why they came into my dreams.

Can you imagine Maureen Dowd and Sir Winston Churchill being dinner companions? In my dream they were dining during one of Sir Winston’s frequent travels to the Colonies. Maureen leaned over to Winston and said “If I were married to you, I’d put poison in your coffee.” Winston replied, “If I were married to you, I’d drink it.”

At that point I woke up with a start, and sleep was completed for the night. That exchange did occur, but not between Dowd and Churchill. It is reported to have occurred between Lady Astor and Winston.

Checking into this quotation I have learned for the record that the attribution is further questionable. (1920 – Churchill biographer Sir Martin Gilbert said this exchange was more likely to have occurred between Lady Astor and Churchill’s good friend F.E. Smith, Lord Birkenhead, a notorious acerbic wit. But both Consuelo Vanderbilt (The Glitter and Gold) and Christopher Sykes (Nancy: The Life of Lady Astor) say the riposte was by Churchill. The argument was rendered moot when Fred Shapiro, in the Yale Book of Quotations, tracked the origins of the phrase to a joke line from a 1900 edition of the Chicago Tribune.

Whatever, I thought I would share my dream and that wonderful exchange no matter who actually said what to whom.

COMMANDER GRANGER

TOP 25 RECRUITER PICKS

I recently ran across a very interesting and informative article in the Wall Street Journal’s on-line edition. With jobs being in short supply today, our university and college graduates are finding it harder and harder to locate employment. At the same time, business is striving to improve its employee solicitation efficiency within the graduation pool. I suggest you take a look at the article.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704554104575435563989873060.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read#printMode

While I am not a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, those of us who live in the vicinity of the famous campus hold this legendary institution in very high regard for its educational integrity, and not just its storied football prowess. I found it most interesting that Notre Dame ranked #22 and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranked #23 and were the two smallest in student bodies of the ranked schools.

Selfishly speaking I was proud to see my old school, the University of Illinois, ranked #3, and the fact that six Big Ten schools made the top 25 recruiting list, namely Penn State, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. Interesting too was the notation by author Jennifer Merritt that reveals recruiters are shifting their attention away from elite private schools to focus on state universities.

Your Commander draws the conclusion that business recruiters have determined that they receive better results in employee value from these institutions of higher learning than the long highly touted elite private towers of learning. Surely any parent would be proud to have their child graduate from any of the fine schools listed in this report.

This article appears to suggest that you need not send your child to an expensive, Ivy League school to get a good job after graduation. Harvard, Yale, etc. do after all have failures in success. Once you have a job in your given field, the promotions, salary increases, etc. come with your own hard work!

Remember, the finest wine does not always lead to a satisfying dining experience.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

BLAGOJEVICH WILL NOT GO AWAY

Well the jury rendered a decision, and impeached former Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich was recently found guilty of one felony count, but the Prosecution announced that they will move forward with a retrial on the remaining 23 deadlocked counts. This decision had all the television stations going wall to wall with coverage and analysis of this latest episode of political corruption which Chicago and Illinois are now long famous for perpetuating.

Personally, I am disgusted with the entire chain of events, but honestly someone and something will someday get to the bottom of this story, because it has extremely far reaching tentacles. It does not take a scholar to know that this tale reaches into the highest levels of our federal government, state politics in Illinois, and it blankets every level of government in the Windy City machine politics.

WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune owned independent television station, ran a poll asking the question, “Do you think the government should retry Rod Blagojevich?”

Yes 34%
No 66%

Are you surprised? I am not, because the citizens of Chicago believed that their ex-Congressman and ex-Governor would not be found guilty on the significant charges, because that is just the way business has always been conducted for as many years as I can remember. The already over-taxed residents of Illinois do not want another trial costing another $20 million dollars of their money.

It does not take a leap of faith to suspect that the fix was in with the lone juror who could only find Blago guilty of one of the 24 counts, but I suspect we will never know. How the prosecution team did not get at least a few of the charges proven with the extensive audio tapes in evidence leads me to my conclusion of a poisoned jury, since we know the jury voted 11 to 1 to convict on many of the 23 counts.

I would also wonder why the big-wigs would want this trial to continue, because there are voices of significant influence that should have been heard but were never called, i.e., Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., Presidential Advisor Valerie Jarrett, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Senator Roland Burris, and currently buried deep in a federal facility Anton “Tony” Resko who could sing like a canary if called to testify. Anyone who does not believe that this scandal reaches deep into the White House must have blinders, because President Obama knows far more than we have been permitted to hear regarding Blago’s attempts to gain from choosing the successor to Obama’s vacated Senate seat once elected to the nation’s highest office.

Your Commander believes it would be wise for the Administration to have a little talk with Attorney General Eric Holder and the ego-driven U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick J. Fitzgerald, and let this matter go quietly into the sunset. If they have the Judge sentence Blago to the full five years that is possible under the sentencing guide-lines on his felony conviction he will be neutralized and busted financially.

If only the television cameras would go away and ignore Blago he would fade away faster than an old soldier. That would be an inexpensive solution to a long festering embarrassment.

After all these months we all know what Blagojevich really is. It is time to move on without any further waste of the taxpayer’s money. Someday somebody will sing and most of the story will come before the full light of day, but in the meantime let’s all move on to turning the economy around without further expense, additional deception, and deflection from the big issues of the day.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Monday, September 13, 2010

POLITICAL ADVERTISING AD NAUSEUM

You must be living under a rock if you haven’t realized that the Mid-term election date is nearing, because our local television airwaves are already flooded with commercials from all the candidates and various special interest groups. It is further obvious that both the Republican and Democrat Parties are equally guilty when it comes to flinging negativity and deceptive half-truths with little or no regard for an honest appraisal of their opponents.

Indiana is experiencing a very competitive campaign for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Senator Evan Byah (D-IN). The Democrat candidate (Brad Ellsworth) has commercials airing that fail to mention the fact that he currently serves as a Democrat Congressman, and he is smearing his Republican opponent (Dan Coats) as one who represents a return to old style Washington politics. The Republican is an ex-Senator who is returning to the fray and thus far is running a rather clean commercial shooting directly at the Obama policy administration of debt/union connections.

The race for the 2nd Congressional District in Indiana is getting down and dirty. The current Congressman (Joe Donnelly) is airing spots that fail to mention his Democrat Party, and gives one the impression that he has never heard of President Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi or Leader Harry Reid. Hearing one of his spots you would think he is Mr. Clean and aggressively fights the Democrat Party majority’s big spending.

Donnelly’s negative commercials against his Republican opponent (Jackie Walorski) are totally misleading and overstate her position on numerous issues. He also fails to mention that he has voted 88% of the time for the Obama/Pelosi/Reid legislation.

The Republican is currently a female State Representative and is airing spots that contend she saved the Indiana budget and she alone can lead the District to a bright future. Thus far her spots mislead the voters as to her accomplishments, too.

All the commercials are so totally deceptive and misdirected leaving the voter completely underserved, confused and totally uninformed. No wonder so many people fail to even go to the polls, because I now have the opinion that I do not trust any of them to meet our legislative needs.

The politicians have brought our mistrust and disgust upon themselves. Obviously we need to clean the swamp, but voters must work extra hard to determine who is the best candidate, since the commercials are of little or no benefit in reaching a sound conclusion. We must not permit our concerns to keep us away from the polls. We just have to dig deeper to learn who will meet our best interests for a peaceful and financially sound future.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Sunday, September 12, 2010

THE VOTING CLOCK IS TICKING AWAY

In less than two months we will be going to the polls to vote in an election that may be the most important one in which any of us have participated. As I have repeatedly been saying lately, it is vital for Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to become active in the election process and make their voices heard. I urge each and every voter to examine the candidates closely by doing some research about their records and positions on the vital issues of the day.

With this in mind I suggest we all remember a quotation from Edmund Burke (1729-1797) who was an Irish political philosopher, Whig politician, and statesman who is often regarded as the “father” of modern conservatism.

“FOR EVIL TO FLOURISH, ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING”

The future of our country is in all of our hands, and if we do not participate in the election process we have nobody to blame but ourselves. Remember that many have given their lives to guarantee our precious right to vote. It is time to proudly step forward and cast your vote for America’s proud future.

COMMANDER GRANGER

THE MEDIA IS EATING THEIR YOUNG

When references are made to “Eating their Young” one normally thinks about savage wild animals, but recently we have seen clear examples of the mainstream media turning on their once adored President Barack Obama.

Let me draw your attention to a very recent article that appeared in the Wall Street Journal titled “The Obama Heyday is Over” at:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704644404575482122517174884.html

Now criticism coming from the Wall Street Journal is not a surprise, but I have observed strong negative words rendered lately in the pages of the liberal New York Times, and even The Washington Post. That means trouble for the Obama Administration as the November 2010 election rapidly approaches. Even Maureen Dowd has taken swings at the once highly praised Obama agenda with her strident quill, and that means big trouble.

Don’t you find it interesting to observe the media running for cover just in advance of what could be a historical swing in the electorate after less than two years? Your Commander finds it most amazing to witness the Commander in Chief continuing to display his arrogant, all-knowing attitude toward the American voters.

When the average “Joe on the Street” is hurting economically and unemployment continues to hover above 9.5%, and even higher in several urban centers, he jets off on his massive Air Force One for several vacations during August as if everything was hunkey dory. And I am not even going to comment on Michelle and Sasha Obama’s opulent trip to Spain and the cost the taxpayers incurred, other than to say couldn’t they have spent all that money somewhere in THIS country keeping jobs here?

Americans are hurting and they are frustrated and angry, but tragically our president just does not get it. He lives in a cloistered, isolated world protected by faulty liberal advisors who continue to push a series of programs that the American taxpayer opposes. One wonders if our president wants to drive the ship of state off a cliff, because he is sure acting like that with his action plan.

Come on November 2010! It cannot come fast enough for your Commander, because I want to see the CHANGE in government we never received with Obama’s election.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Saturday, September 11, 2010

A DAY TO ALWAYS REMEMBER

Your Commander certainly hopes that you too bowed your head in reflection and respect to the thousands of fellow Americans and foreign nationals who lost their lives just nine short years ago when 19 terrorists gained control of four airplanes that struck the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and another crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The death toll was 2,996 and more than 80 countries lost citizens.

This is a date and day that will be permanently imbedded into my consciousness just like the bombing of Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941, both dates ending World War II in Europe and Japan, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the day man landed on the moon. Others have differing dates of remembrance, but 9/11 is a date that changed the lives for hundreds of millions around the world. Most of us will always remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when these events occurred.

Let us collectively never forget the forces of evil that exist on this magnificent planet. We must be unified in our diligence to preserve and protect mankind for a peaceful, beneficial future. This tragic attack changed us all, however, we cannot permit it to fade from our memory over the passage of time or the evil doers will have prevailed.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

COMMANDER GRANGER

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

EXPOSING EDUCATION EXPENSE Vs. RESULTS

Thank God I no longer have children attending a temple of higher education, because the cost of a university or college education has literally gone off the charts. I think it is tragic for young people to graduate today with literally thousands of dollars in financial obligations facing them in this challenging employment market.

In the USA Today issue of 8/18/10 there was a very informative and alarming article by Andrew Hacker and Claudia Deifus titled’ “Where’s all that tuition money going?” Let me suggest that you take a peek, and you will learn some startling abuses taking place that directly result in the staggering cost of higher education today.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-08-18-column18_ST1_N.htm

Now that you have read the article I am certain you are as shocked as I was in the obvious conclusions. Your Commander has long held great respect for scholars and teachers who work in education. It is not a walk in the park.

Regrettably the many education problems that continue to be unaddressed by our politicians are kicked like a can down the road rather than dealt with and solved. Throwing money recklessly at education does not guarantee the desired results. Teacher unions and their totally unjustified contract restraints are just one of the problems. Pay scales are unjustly off the charts especially for the presidents of far too many institutions of higher learning.

We are far past the time to address the operations of education just as we would any commercial business. Politicians have long pandered to the teacher unions as they have with many other voting constituencies, and it has to stop. For the University of Southern California to spend an additional $33,061 (over and above their scholarships) per player on its golf team is excessive. Harvard’s History Department permits 50% of their Professors to take sabbaticals in any one year. Doesn’t this represent poor management decision making which directly increases operational expenses?

Education has long operated as a sacred cow, because all parents want their children to receive a sound educational experience. They are not getting it any more! It is time to step back and look honestly and objectively at our education system from kindergarten through college.

Here is another article you should read. It appeared today in Walter E. Williams’ column and is titled “Racial Stupidity and Malevolence.” It tells a surprising story that black schools did not always receive second rate education. The link follows:

http://townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/2010/09/08/racial_stupidity_and_malevolence

It does not take a genius to know that this country cannot continue to undercut any level of educational achievement by our youth without jeopardizing the economic future of this country.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Monday, September 6, 2010

OUR DISTRACTED COMMANDER AND CHIEF

All America is concerned about the long running War in Afghanistan, and the President’s recent announcement that we will begin withdrawing our troops in July 2011 alarms many fellow citizens even more. As a veteran who served in-country during the stalemated Korean War, I was shocked that any Commander would announce openly the date he intended to withdraw from the battle front.

Already we are seeing examples of renewed conflict in Iraq and we only brought home our combat troops a few weeks ago, but there, too, Obama announced his intension to withdraw by a certain date. This action in a region of the world that has a history of tribal conflict covering centuries permits the enemy to sit back until their fighters will face a weaker combatant force.

An extremely revealing article recently appeared in the pages of The Washington Post and also in my local newspaper that reflects an interesting and revealing point of view that I would like to share with you. Please take a few minutes to read Charles Krauthammer’s article titled “Our distracted commander in chief” at:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/02/AR2010090203991_pf.html

Your Commander suspects that there are both Republicans and Democrats who will agree vehemently with Krauthammer’s words. I personally find the positions our presidents take once in office to be in conflict with the best interests of the American people. It is my opinion that once an individual ascends to the presidency he or she should leave politics at the front door and assume the role of Commander and Chief solely. If political considerations are influencing the president’s decision making positions then he is not necessarily functioning in the very best interests of the people. The president is the president to all the people, and not just one political party.

I strongly believe that the Office of the President of the United States should serve above political party considerations. The president should leave his/her political party coat at the front door of the White House. I recognize that all our presidents have played the political card while in office, but that does not make it right for the preeminent interests of both the country and the people. Rendering decisions based upon political considerations is actually an abrogation of the Presidential Oath of Office.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Friday, September 3, 2010

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT?

The Chicago Sun-Times recently reported that a South Side man was arrested for the 58th time when he was caught stealing from a women’s purse while she was shopping downtown. Reginald McNeil’s rap sheet includes arrests for pickpocketing, theft, and attempted theft.

McNeil has been arrested now three times just this summer! He is still permitted to roam the streets of the city. How can the judicial system continue to permit this career criminal the ability to ply his trade without extended confinement and serious consequences?

It would seem to me that during these times of economic strife, those perpetrators of petty crime such as this could and should be placed in programs that will provide sufficient supervision and some direct benefit to the local community. Why couldn’t McNeil pickup litter on the streets of the City, clean toilets in public washrooms, or work on the back of a City of Chicago Dump truck picking up garbage?

Individuals of this nature are not a danger to the average citizen, but should be required to pay their debt to society by working for minimum wages, without pension contributions during the adjudicated time frame. I would even go so far as suggesting the re-institution of the old fashion chain gangs, which could be a good deterrent. This would save the city money since the high cost of incarceration and employee benefit packages have placed the City in the dire financial position that it finds itself today.

Maybe I am just being logical. Apparently Chicago politicians accept this behavior and would not support my recommendations. They do not want to stop theft or save money as long as McNeil votes and votes often.

As a Sun-Times blogger noted; “So it’s root! Root root for the burglars if they don’t win it’s a shaaaame. For it’s one! Two! Fifty-eight strikes you’re out, at the old ball, game!!” I am ashamed to admit that I am a native of this Cesspool City of corruption.

COMMANDER GRANGER

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

THE OVAL OFFICE RE-DO

As the years quickly pass by your Commander is still amazed to experience the ebb and flow of the main-stream media’s sentiments toward our Commander and Chiefs. One minute they love our President, and the next they are writing scathing articles about his performance. It is particularly fascinating to witness the most recent 180 degree shift against Barack Hussein Obama; because the press has from the earliest days of his candidacy been spewing nothing but love and adoration.

If you have not already read the latest essay from the poisoned pen of New York Times writer Maureen Dowd, you will find it well worth your time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/opinion/01dowd.html?

Surely you will recall that I am not a fan of Dowd’s pen, and one must wonder what it would be like to be married to a woman who appears to have negative feelings toward everything and everyone, even her once beloved liberal political aficionados. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to sit in the White House this morning when the inner-circle read Dowd’s latest diatribe. I bet Rahm Emanuel said the big bad word.

Now that the media has realized that the Democrat Party is headed for a fall from its lofty perch, the pundits are running for cover and turning on their own just as some wild animals do when they eat their young. Personally I find this almost amusing, but also tragic that our media has totally lost its objectivity and ability to report any story honestly as called for in various publications’ mission statements.

William Randolph Hearst must be laughing loudly from his grave, because he was one of the most successful practioniers of tabloid journalism and political subversion. Shockingly, for a change I agree with Maureen Dowd’s appraisal of the new furniture in the Oval Office. It looks like a remodeled Holiday Inn somewhere in the middle of nowhere instead of the stately palace of power befitting the office of the President of the United States.

Obviously not all but an increasing number of the all-knowing, all-seeing elite liberal Press Corp on-board the U.S.S. Obama seem to have called an "ABANDON SHIP" alert. If you are like me, you’re starting to wonder just who you can believe in the journalism world as the crucial November 2010 election approaches.

COMMANDER GRANGER