That is the headline of a very significant opinion piece that appeared in the Wall Street Journal by Martin Feldstein who was the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors under President Ronald Reagan, and is currently a professor at Harvard University. With our economy in the tank I strongly recommend that you take a few minutes of your valuable time to read Feldstein’s explanation of our nation’s problems.
This is not casual reading, but it is a very important way to broaden our collective understanding of these critical issues, and find a way to address solutions to reverse the trend lines ASAP.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303657404576363984173620692.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read#printMode
Your Commander would like to see every single American read this piece, but tragically a very small percentage of our fellow citizens will take the time and an even fewer number will understand just what Feldstein is talking about. Tragically that is precisely why our economy is in the gutter and I am not too sure that our political leadership wants the electorate to be knowledgeable. All they want is their quiet obedience and votes at election time.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Thursday, June 9, 2011
WHITE HOUSE ARROGANCE
With the American economy in the toilet, with massive unemployment across our country, with an increasing number of our fellow Americans requiring food stamps, and our brave fighting men and women continuing to die in three Wars, we are told that First Lady Michelle Obama will be traveling to Botswana and South Africa June 21-26.
Accompanying the First Lady are her mother and two daughters for this journey announced to be “focused on youth leadership, education, health and wellness.” One wonders just how many staff and security personnel and friends will join this group and how many support aircraft and Secret Service personnel will be assigned to this extremely expensive trip (vacation) at taxpayer expense. Remember last year’s vacation in Spain?
With our country borrowing millions of dollars daily to just meet our financial obligations, this trip is pure and simple arrogance on the part of the Obama Administration and family. Regarding sacrifice, President-Elect Obama told the country in an interview 1/11/09, “Everybody’s going to have to give. Everybody’s going to have some skin in the game.” Since he took office the only thing that he has truly accomplished is a massive increase in the size and expense of Big Government and a series of extremely expensive trips (vacations) for himself and family at the expense of the American taxpayer who is required to sacrifice increasingly on a daily basis. Tell me, just what has he and his family sacrificed?
Permit me to draw your attention to the fact that there has been little mention of this trip in the major media outlets, but when darling Michelle steps off the plane in Africa with mom, daughters, Secret Service, perhaps a hairdresser, staff, and no doubt some friends, there will be plenty of photographers and reporters praising her contributions to mankind. Will the American taxpayer ever know the cost of the trip? What would be wrong with a vacation in the continental USA giving a little economic push to some area?
Bend over America we are about to take another kick in the ass from President Obama and his family. Along with the members of Congress, there are no better examples of total disregard for the American taxpayer. The present occupants of the White House display defiant arrogance.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Accompanying the First Lady are her mother and two daughters for this journey announced to be “focused on youth leadership, education, health and wellness.” One wonders just how many staff and security personnel and friends will join this group and how many support aircraft and Secret Service personnel will be assigned to this extremely expensive trip (vacation) at taxpayer expense. Remember last year’s vacation in Spain?
With our country borrowing millions of dollars daily to just meet our financial obligations, this trip is pure and simple arrogance on the part of the Obama Administration and family. Regarding sacrifice, President-Elect Obama told the country in an interview 1/11/09, “Everybody’s going to have to give. Everybody’s going to have some skin in the game.” Since he took office the only thing that he has truly accomplished is a massive increase in the size and expense of Big Government and a series of extremely expensive trips (vacations) for himself and family at the expense of the American taxpayer who is required to sacrifice increasingly on a daily basis. Tell me, just what has he and his family sacrificed?
Permit me to draw your attention to the fact that there has been little mention of this trip in the major media outlets, but when darling Michelle steps off the plane in Africa with mom, daughters, Secret Service, perhaps a hairdresser, staff, and no doubt some friends, there will be plenty of photographers and reporters praising her contributions to mankind. Will the American taxpayer ever know the cost of the trip? What would be wrong with a vacation in the continental USA giving a little economic push to some area?
Bend over America we are about to take another kick in the ass from President Obama and his family. Along with the members of Congress, there are no better examples of total disregard for the American taxpayer. The present occupants of the White House display defiant arrogance.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Sunday, June 5, 2011
WHAT THIS NATION NEEDS IS...
It is your Commander’s suspicion that many of my readers can complete the above statement with “What this nation needs is a good 5 cent cigar.” If you can do that, it is probably a fact that you come from Indiana, because the statement is attributable to Vice-President Thomas R. Marshall (1854-1925) who was born in North Manchester, Indiana. His two-term Vice-Presidency under President Woodrow Wilson was clouded with concerns of inadequacy, but he is best remembered for that famous, humorous statement.
Early this morning I was thinking about all the problems facing our great country, and frankly they are just too numerous to even list unless I totally ignore the interest of brevity. Somehow this old mind drifted back to my childhood when I was growing up in Chicago.
My late Irish Mother was a Registered Nurse who practiced her beloved profession into her mid-70’s. My Dad was scared for his entire life by the impact of the Great Depression, and he, too, worked into his 70’s, and was the family spokesman for all matters political. He was conservative to the core with a strong work ethic due to the influence of the Depression upon his entire family.
Whenever my Dad or I experienced a health issue, however minor, my nurse Mother dragged out a bar of Ivory Soap and her enema bag, which sent my Dad and me running for cover. A soap-suds enema was Mom’s remedy for any health problems, and I reluctantly admit it often was a completely effective solution.
With all of the above in mind, it is your Commander’s suggestion that my Mom may just have had the solution to our nation’s current economic and social problems. WHAT THIS NATION NEEDS IS A GOOD SOAP-SUDS ENEMA. I can just imagine Mom stepping forward pronouncing the need for a soap-suds enema to President Barack Obama and every single member of Congress, if not the entire Washington D.C. bureaucracy.
It seems that a good flushing of the Administration and Congress is just what the nurse ordered. The country’s needs and the results could prove to be the solution to all of our current domestic and international problems. Sometimes the old wives tales are still appropriate, and worthy of consideration.
Currently we get a lot of talk, a lot of posturing, a lot of spending, the continuation of three wars (Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya), devastating economic problems, massive unemployment, a private sector unwilling to create new jobs due to unknown Obamacare health costs, blatant lies, little or no resolution to our many mounting problems, and let's not forget our minute by minute escalating national debt.
Your Commander suggests our government needs a good flushing so the United States of America can get back to its good health. Looking back, it is hard to argue with Mom’s remedy for good health and a happy life. It surely is worth a try, because what we are doing now simply is not working and we all need quick relief. November 2012 is not all that far away…WE have the power to change things.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Early this morning I was thinking about all the problems facing our great country, and frankly they are just too numerous to even list unless I totally ignore the interest of brevity. Somehow this old mind drifted back to my childhood when I was growing up in Chicago.
My late Irish Mother was a Registered Nurse who practiced her beloved profession into her mid-70’s. My Dad was scared for his entire life by the impact of the Great Depression, and he, too, worked into his 70’s, and was the family spokesman for all matters political. He was conservative to the core with a strong work ethic due to the influence of the Depression upon his entire family.
Whenever my Dad or I experienced a health issue, however minor, my nurse Mother dragged out a bar of Ivory Soap and her enema bag, which sent my Dad and me running for cover. A soap-suds enema was Mom’s remedy for any health problems, and I reluctantly admit it often was a completely effective solution.
With all of the above in mind, it is your Commander’s suggestion that my Mom may just have had the solution to our nation’s current economic and social problems. WHAT THIS NATION NEEDS IS A GOOD SOAP-SUDS ENEMA. I can just imagine Mom stepping forward pronouncing the need for a soap-suds enema to President Barack Obama and every single member of Congress, if not the entire Washington D.C. bureaucracy.
It seems that a good flushing of the Administration and Congress is just what the nurse ordered. The country’s needs and the results could prove to be the solution to all of our current domestic and international problems. Sometimes the old wives tales are still appropriate, and worthy of consideration.
Currently we get a lot of talk, a lot of posturing, a lot of spending, the continuation of three wars (Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya), devastating economic problems, massive unemployment, a private sector unwilling to create new jobs due to unknown Obamacare health costs, blatant lies, little or no resolution to our many mounting problems, and let's not forget our minute by minute escalating national debt.
Your Commander suggests our government needs a good flushing so the United States of America can get back to its good health. Looking back, it is hard to argue with Mom’s remedy for good health and a happy life. It surely is worth a try, because what we are doing now simply is not working and we all need quick relief. November 2012 is not all that far away…WE have the power to change things.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Saturday, June 4, 2011
GIVE 'EM HELL, HARRY
Way back during the closing days of World War II I fondly remember the Presidency of Harry S. Truman. He was a feisty politician who came under a great deal of criticism, but he stood his ground and was legendary for standing up to the hostile Washington press corps. Truman told off the press when they ran critical comments about his daughter’s singing abilities.
One of the interesting historical facts was that President Franklin Roosevelt never told his Vice-President anything about the development of the atomic bomb, and Truman learned about it upon Roosevelt’s death. History has proven that Truman was one of our better Presidents, and of course will be known in our history books for his decision to drop the atomic bomb that ended World War II. Here is a copy of an email that has been floating around the internet which provides an extremely interesting perspective to his methods of operation that certainly could be beneficial in today’s economic circumstances.
"We will never see this again
Thought you'd enjoy this one! This one you want your Children and Grandchildren to read.
They won't believe this happened, but it DID.
Harry & Bess
This seems unreal.....
Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or more, important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.
The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri. His wife had inherited the house from her mother and father and other than their years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.
When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.
After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There was no Secret Service following them.
When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, 'You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale..'
Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, 'I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise.'
As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.
Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale. (e.g. Illinois )
Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, 'My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!'
I say dig him up and clone him!!
This is not sent for discussion."
Harry Truman was a strong willed Democrat to his core, and I am certain he would address our current economic problems in a totally different way than the current occupant of the White House.
COMMANDER GRANGER
One of the interesting historical facts was that President Franklin Roosevelt never told his Vice-President anything about the development of the atomic bomb, and Truman learned about it upon Roosevelt’s death. History has proven that Truman was one of our better Presidents, and of course will be known in our history books for his decision to drop the atomic bomb that ended World War II. Here is a copy of an email that has been floating around the internet which provides an extremely interesting perspective to his methods of operation that certainly could be beneficial in today’s economic circumstances.
"We will never see this again
Thought you'd enjoy this one! This one you want your Children and Grandchildren to read.
They won't believe this happened, but it DID.
Harry & Bess
This seems unreal.....
Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or more, important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.
The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri. His wife had inherited the house from her mother and father and other than their years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.
When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.
After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There was no Secret Service following them.
When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, 'You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale..'
Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, 'I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise.'
As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.
Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale. (e.g. Illinois )
Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, 'My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!'
I say dig him up and clone him!!
This is not sent for discussion."
Harry Truman was a strong willed Democrat to his core, and I am certain he would address our current economic problems in a totally different way than the current occupant of the White House.
COMMANDER GRANGER
SACRIFICE IS A TWO WAY STREET
Over the week-end I have been investigating various websites in an effort to determine some definitive information about the sacrifices we Americans have been called upon to make by our President Barack H. Obama. Interestingly I found numerous sites and various reports from both the left and right relative to comments made by our President.
Permit me to draw your attention to a specific Editorial titled “Sacrifice Today Needed for Prosperity Tomorrow” written by Representative Martha Roby (R-AL):
http://roby.house.gov/press-release/editorial-sacrifice-today-needed-prosperity-tomorrow
After reading Representative Roby’s editorial I was most impressed with this freshman Congresswoman’s comments and it is encouraging to note there are some people in Congress who get the severity of our economic condition. I was drawn to the specific remarks of President Obama’s historic inauguration in January 2009 when he said the following speaking of a growing deficit and a costly recession: “Given these realities, everyone in the chamber – Democrats and Republicans – will have to sacrifice some worthy priorities for which there are no dollars. And that includes me.”
We have continued to hear about sacrifice from the President since his early days in office, and more than two years later we have witnessed millions of Americans sacrificing under the pressures of this economy. Is there one single incident where our President or any member of Congress has sacrificed as a result of this devastating economy? I always thought sacrifice began at home, but apparently our President and Congress believe they function in a totally isolated and privileged world. Thanks for nothing guys, because what is good for the goose is good for the gander, and we voters should not forget that when we return to the polls.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Permit me to draw your attention to a specific Editorial titled “Sacrifice Today Needed for Prosperity Tomorrow” written by Representative Martha Roby (R-AL):
http://roby.house.gov/press-release/editorial-sacrifice-today-needed-prosperity-tomorrow
After reading Representative Roby’s editorial I was most impressed with this freshman Congresswoman’s comments and it is encouraging to note there are some people in Congress who get the severity of our economic condition. I was drawn to the specific remarks of President Obama’s historic inauguration in January 2009 when he said the following speaking of a growing deficit and a costly recession: “Given these realities, everyone in the chamber – Democrats and Republicans – will have to sacrifice some worthy priorities for which there are no dollars. And that includes me.”
We have continued to hear about sacrifice from the President since his early days in office, and more than two years later we have witnessed millions of Americans sacrificing under the pressures of this economy. Is there one single incident where our President or any member of Congress has sacrificed as a result of this devastating economy? I always thought sacrifice began at home, but apparently our President and Congress believe they function in a totally isolated and privileged world. Thanks for nothing guys, because what is good for the goose is good for the gander, and we voters should not forget that when we return to the polls.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
TWO DIFFERENT PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHES
If you have read my essays as I vent comments, you may remember the fact that I have drawn attention to the contents of President Obama’s speeches on more than one occasion. In the last few days I have received several emails containing the comparison below between addresses of President George W. Bush and President Barack H. Obama. On the chance you have not seen this, here is a reprint.
George W. Bush speech after capture of Saddam:
The success of yesterday's mission is a tribute to our men and women now serving in Iraq.
The operation was based on the superb work of intelligence analysts who found the dictator's footprints in a vast country.
The operation was carried out with skill and precision by a brave fighting force. Our servicemen and women and our coalition allies have faced many dangers in the hunt for members of the fallen regime, and in their effort to bring hope and freedom to the Iraqi people. Their work continues, and so do the risks. Today, on behalf of the nation, I thank the members of our Armed Forces and I congratulate 'em.
Barack Obama speech after killing of bin Laden:
And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network.
Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and I authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice. Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Enough said and a shocking comparison! In my nearly 80 years, I have never heard a U.S. president refer to "himself" so frequently. This is the "I, ME, MY" administration. I am certain you get the point that your Commander has been harping about for far too long, and this just proves it . God Bless America.
COMMANDER GRANGER
George W. Bush speech after capture of Saddam:
The success of yesterday's mission is a tribute to our men and women now serving in Iraq.
The operation was based on the superb work of intelligence analysts who found the dictator's footprints in a vast country.
The operation was carried out with skill and precision by a brave fighting force. Our servicemen and women and our coalition allies have faced many dangers in the hunt for members of the fallen regime, and in their effort to bring hope and freedom to the Iraqi people. Their work continues, and so do the risks. Today, on behalf of the nation, I thank the members of our Armed Forces and I congratulate 'em.
Barack Obama speech after killing of bin Laden:
And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network.
Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and I authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice. Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Enough said and a shocking comparison! In my nearly 80 years, I have never heard a U.S. president refer to "himself" so frequently. This is the "I, ME, MY" administration. I am certain you get the point that your Commander has been harping about for far too long, and this just proves it . God Bless America.
COMMANDER GRANGER
LIMOUSINE LIBERALS
Early this morning when at my computer, an article from HuffingtonPost.com written by Joe Eaton jumped off my AOL screen and grabbed my attention. The piece contained shocking revelations about the number of limos owned by Uncle Sam. As he noted some of these vehicles were ordered back in the good old days of the George W. Bush administration…trying to be fair and balanced.
On the chance you missed it here is the link to the story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-center-for-public-integrity/limousine-liberals-number_b_868922.html
It is one thing to place the blame for the increase limos on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but I place the blame at the top where the buck stops...give me a break, a 73% increase in the number? If we need so many secure armored vehicles to protect our diplomats and dignitaries then I suggest we probably should not have our people in those places anyway. Both Iraq and Afghanistan are two places we should leave to their various unlawful tribes to self-destruct and figure out another way to keep those countries from being a safe haven for terrorists who want to harm us.
When in the hell is someone with one ounce of sense going to step forward and bring some sanity to our government? If you or I were guilty of misdeeds such as those disclosed in this article we would be in the slammer, and it is about time that the same action should be imposed upon many of our privileged self-serving government officials.
COMMANDER GRANGER
On the chance you missed it here is the link to the story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-center-for-public-integrity/limousine-liberals-number_b_868922.html
It is one thing to place the blame for the increase limos on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but I place the blame at the top where the buck stops...give me a break, a 73% increase in the number? If we need so many secure armored vehicles to protect our diplomats and dignitaries then I suggest we probably should not have our people in those places anyway. Both Iraq and Afghanistan are two places we should leave to their various unlawful tribes to self-destruct and figure out another way to keep those countries from being a safe haven for terrorists who want to harm us.
When in the hell is someone with one ounce of sense going to step forward and bring some sanity to our government? If you or I were guilty of misdeeds such as those disclosed in this article we would be in the slammer, and it is about time that the same action should be imposed upon many of our privileged self-serving government officials.
COMMANDER GRANGER
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