The source of my “nom de plume” goes back several decades.
First, the Granger part comes from where I have resided for the last 10+ years.
The very first time I was referred to as Commander was in the summer of 1949 when I was appointed the Company Commander of the 7th Naval Company at the Culver Summer Naval School. I can remember clearly just how proud I was with that designation and also because it made my Father almost burst his buttons. My Dad had also attended Culver as a teen and was a Cadet Lieutenant in the Culver Black Horse Troop and a member of the famous life saving Corps of Cadets during the devastating Logansport floods back in 1913. Additionally, my Dad was designated as Aide to Culver’s Superintendent when Indiana’s own Thomas R. Marshall was inaugurated Vice President in Washington, D.C. in 1913, which was Culver’s Black Horse Troop’s earliest appearance in the Presidential Inauguration Parade, but I digress.
The second time I was referred to as Commander goes way back, too. If memory serves me correctly it was sometime around 1970 when I was the Vice-President/Sales Manager of a Chicago television advertising representative firm. I had hired a young man from Milwaukee as a new sales representative. For the sake of his privacy, let’s call him Graham.
Graham turned out to be, at best, a satisfactory salesman, but was never what I considered a hot-shot. To my total amazement he was highly regarded by our clients and the advertising agencies he called upon. I could never figure out just why everyone loved Graham, because he was totally disorganized, and was a nightmare in his dress. Sometimes he would arrive with a black jacket and brown pants, and when I questioned him his response would be, “Ohhh Ha. I’ll be darned Commander”. Rarely did Graham’s socks match. His hair was always messed, but the young ladies loved him. He lived in Chicago’s fashionable Rush Street neighborhood, and was a frequent visitor of the night spots along that legendary avenue.
One day Graham arrived at our morning sales meeting with a brown suit, white shirt and tie, but a big “S” was showing through his white shirt. He had on a Superman t-shirt under his dress shirt. Upon bringing this to his attention he said, “Thanks, Commander” and drifted on about his day. Times were good in our business with Graham and the company thriving.
After two years, much to my surprise Graham resigned telling me that it was time for him to move on. Within a short period of time he became the sales manager of an independent television station in Buffalo, NY, followed by general manager posts in major markets, and later a Programming Vice-President for Tribune Broadcasting in Chicago. Our paths crossed frequently in Chicago, and Graham always seemed to be walking around in a fog. Don’t misunderstand me, I am not suggesting that he ever used drugs, but he surely was in his own unique world. Every time we met over many years, he always gave me a big “Hello, Commander”, so that’s how I chose my blog moniker.
I have lost track of Graham over the years, but when I decided to establish a nom de plume for my new blog his reference came to mind. Incidentally, my dear wife and editor has called me by many names, but never Commander.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
CONGRESS - WORK AND ETHICS
When I sat down and began to prepare this commentary, I had just finished viewing the Sunday Morning major newscasts, such as CBS Sunday Morning, Face the Nation, and Meet the Press. The usual talking heads from Washington were spinning their party’s official line, and not one of them answered the question directed to them. Some days I believe nothing ever changes, and you and I are seeing our secure future slip away from us on almost an hourly basis.
After browsing my ever slimmer local Sunday newspaper I just sat in my lazy-boy contemplating recent developments, and I have come to the conclusion that there are very few people in our Congress that are like us, the common people. First, in order to get elected one must have a great source of major amounts of money. Once the campaign begins the candidate must start making compromises of his/her integrity in order to receive the necessary campaign contributions. Once elected to office the official is required to follow the party line that is established by long entrenched political elders. These party leaders are so conflicted, and obligated to special interests that their logic and oath to the people is significantly impaired.
In order to stay in Washington as an elected official he or she must immediately begin to play the game with lobbyists, and special interests to fill up the campaign coffers for the next campaign. The cycle continues year after year, and it isn’t often that the elected official ever loses office unless he/she really screws up. As history has proven even the worst possible actions do not necessarily mean the end to one’s political career.
Most concerning to me is the fact that there are few, if any, individuals serving our interests in Congress that is not extremely wealthy. If they did not have much money when they got elected they soon are flushed with a big bank account. Don’t you wonder how that happens?
Back in July an old friend from Idaho sent me an email that was widely distributed, which outlined the fact that numerous members of Congress were accused of spousal abuse, had been arrested for fraud, wrote bad checks, had bankrupted at least two companies, done time for assault, had bad credit, were arrested for drug-related charges, were arrested for shoplifting, were defendants in lawsuits, and had been arrested for drunk driving recently.
Virtually all of the offenders are still serving in their positions, and only a couple of members were forced to resign when convicted, but they continue to collect a life-time pension.
Where are the House and Senate Ethics Committees when it comes to cleaning up the misbehavior? We have all recently seen example after example where a double standard was shown for many members, such as:
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)
Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-CA)
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA)
Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID)
Repeatedly members of “The Club” were permitted to get away totally unscathed, but you and I would have lost our jobs, and probably be in jail. The most grievous example was the conduct of now multi-millionaire ex-President William Jefferson Clinton, and he struts around the world today as if nothing ever happened.
Please tell me why our Congress is permitted to work only about three days per week, allowed to vote themselves pay raises, authorized to fly all over the world at government expense, and fly home most Thursdays when in session to their home districts at taxpayer’s expense so they can pass out Pork or raise more campaign funds. When you consider the number of recesses the Congress also takes annually, they actually work for you and me very few days per year. No one in this country has more perks, better health insurance, or a more lucrative retirement plan than our elected officials.
Where you and I came from we had to work five or six plus days per week to earn a two week vacation. We worked overtime when required, and came in on the weekends when necessary. Many Americans work sixty plus hours per week just to meet their work and financial obligations.
How can our Congressmen and Senators criticize any company for holding meetings in Las Vegas, when both the Republicans and Democrats held lavish gatherings this past January at expensive resorts on the east coast all at taxpayer expense? The bonus plans at AIG were wrong, but Congress and several Administrations are complicit.
Especially during these perilous economic times wouldn’t it be appropriate for Congress to stay in Washington working five or six days per week, and accomplish something significant, rather than all this political posturing. How about not flying home every weekend, and staying in Washington preparing to complete real objective goals on Monday morning. Executives from Ford, GM and Chrysler flying private jets did little to pollute the skies compared to what Congress does every weekend flying home or on junkets worldwide.
We are ruled by elitist multi-millionaires who do not have the foggiest idea what you and I must contend with everyday of our lives. I no longer believe they care, because they have got it made in the shade. We did it to ourselves, because we had it too good for far too long. We voted these unethical corrupt hypocrites into office, and our apathy permits them to remain in office.
CNN.com recently conducted an interesting poll which asked the question: “Do you think your representative would take a bribe?”
Yes, but the price is high 41% 20,194 votes
Yes, for free meals 41% 20,566 votes
No way 18% 9,030 votes
Total votes 49,790
Now that is not a scientific poll, but I find it to be very revealing of how the average citizen rates their representatives in Washington.
We the people of these United States can do something about it in less than two years. The average person and I believe that the majority of people living in America are average, better get off his/her behind. We must vote for individuals of real integrity and decency. Our political parties must do a better job of vetting their candidates, and I believe the situation is so dire that it is not beyond the possibility that a third party could come into viable existence.
Your Commander once thought term-limits were the answer, but I am no longer certain that is correct. People like Rep. Jeff Flake R-AZ are needed in Washington, because people of his character are what are necessary to lead us out of the current destructive path. We are approaching the later innings of this game, but it is not too late to salvage a victory, and return this great nation to its position of envy, glory, and prosperity.
Greed and complicity got us into this pickle, but if we select individuals with ideals much like our Founding Fathers we can, and will, move onto the correct compass heading. We desperately need guidance, so May God Bless America.
COMMANDER GRANGER
After browsing my ever slimmer local Sunday newspaper I just sat in my lazy-boy contemplating recent developments, and I have come to the conclusion that there are very few people in our Congress that are like us, the common people. First, in order to get elected one must have a great source of major amounts of money. Once the campaign begins the candidate must start making compromises of his/her integrity in order to receive the necessary campaign contributions. Once elected to office the official is required to follow the party line that is established by long entrenched political elders. These party leaders are so conflicted, and obligated to special interests that their logic and oath to the people is significantly impaired.
In order to stay in Washington as an elected official he or she must immediately begin to play the game with lobbyists, and special interests to fill up the campaign coffers for the next campaign. The cycle continues year after year, and it isn’t often that the elected official ever loses office unless he/she really screws up. As history has proven even the worst possible actions do not necessarily mean the end to one’s political career.
Most concerning to me is the fact that there are few, if any, individuals serving our interests in Congress that is not extremely wealthy. If they did not have much money when they got elected they soon are flushed with a big bank account. Don’t you wonder how that happens?
Back in July an old friend from Idaho sent me an email that was widely distributed, which outlined the fact that numerous members of Congress were accused of spousal abuse, had been arrested for fraud, wrote bad checks, had bankrupted at least two companies, done time for assault, had bad credit, were arrested for drug-related charges, were arrested for shoplifting, were defendants in lawsuits, and had been arrested for drunk driving recently.
Virtually all of the offenders are still serving in their positions, and only a couple of members were forced to resign when convicted, but they continue to collect a life-time pension.
Where are the House and Senate Ethics Committees when it comes to cleaning up the misbehavior? We have all recently seen example after example where a double standard was shown for many members, such as:
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)
Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-CA)
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA)
Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID)
Repeatedly members of “The Club” were permitted to get away totally unscathed, but you and I would have lost our jobs, and probably be in jail. The most grievous example was the conduct of now multi-millionaire ex-President William Jefferson Clinton, and he struts around the world today as if nothing ever happened.
Please tell me why our Congress is permitted to work only about three days per week, allowed to vote themselves pay raises, authorized to fly all over the world at government expense, and fly home most Thursdays when in session to their home districts at taxpayer’s expense so they can pass out Pork or raise more campaign funds. When you consider the number of recesses the Congress also takes annually, they actually work for you and me very few days per year. No one in this country has more perks, better health insurance, or a more lucrative retirement plan than our elected officials.
Where you and I came from we had to work five or six plus days per week to earn a two week vacation. We worked overtime when required, and came in on the weekends when necessary. Many Americans work sixty plus hours per week just to meet their work and financial obligations.
How can our Congressmen and Senators criticize any company for holding meetings in Las Vegas, when both the Republicans and Democrats held lavish gatherings this past January at expensive resorts on the east coast all at taxpayer expense? The bonus plans at AIG were wrong, but Congress and several Administrations are complicit.
Especially during these perilous economic times wouldn’t it be appropriate for Congress to stay in Washington working five or six days per week, and accomplish something significant, rather than all this political posturing. How about not flying home every weekend, and staying in Washington preparing to complete real objective goals on Monday morning. Executives from Ford, GM and Chrysler flying private jets did little to pollute the skies compared to what Congress does every weekend flying home or on junkets worldwide.
We are ruled by elitist multi-millionaires who do not have the foggiest idea what you and I must contend with everyday of our lives. I no longer believe they care, because they have got it made in the shade. We did it to ourselves, because we had it too good for far too long. We voted these unethical corrupt hypocrites into office, and our apathy permits them to remain in office.
CNN.com recently conducted an interesting poll which asked the question: “Do you think your representative would take a bribe?”
Yes, but the price is high 41% 20,194 votes
Yes, for free meals 41% 20,566 votes
No way 18% 9,030 votes
Total votes 49,790
Now that is not a scientific poll, but I find it to be very revealing of how the average citizen rates their representatives in Washington.
We the people of these United States can do something about it in less than two years. The average person and I believe that the majority of people living in America are average, better get off his/her behind. We must vote for individuals of real integrity and decency. Our political parties must do a better job of vetting their candidates, and I believe the situation is so dire that it is not beyond the possibility that a third party could come into viable existence.
Your Commander once thought term-limits were the answer, but I am no longer certain that is correct. People like Rep. Jeff Flake R-AZ are needed in Washington, because people of his character are what are necessary to lead us out of the current destructive path. We are approaching the later innings of this game, but it is not too late to salvage a victory, and return this great nation to its position of envy, glory, and prosperity.
Greed and complicity got us into this pickle, but if we select individuals with ideals much like our Founding Fathers we can, and will, move onto the correct compass heading. We desperately need guidance, so May God Bless America.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Thursday, March 26, 2009
SHOULD PRES. OBAMA SPEAK AT NOTRE DAME?
Your Commander is going to put his toe in the water on a very emotionally and politically charged question. First, understand that I am not Catholic, but I am a Christian. Living in the shadow of the Golden Dome, a number of my good friends are either Catholic, worked at Notre Dame, or attended the school.
When President Jenkins of the University of Notre Dame announced the invitation for President Obama to speak at the May commencement, the sparks immediately began to fly. Our new President’s frequently announced position on abortion and stem cell research goes directly against the long established positions of the Catholic Church.
Some have said that it is a long-standing tradition for the University to invite the sitting President to speak, but I do not remember an occasion when the speaker had policies so diametrically opposed to the Church’s long established and firm positions. Sure, President Bush’s position on the War was opposed by many members of the Catholic Church and Notre Dame’s Institute for Peace, but I believe this latest issue is much more debatable.
Now Bishop John D’Arcy of the South Bend/Ft.Wayne Archdiocese who has attended graduations at Notre Dame for twenty years has announced that he will not attend if President Obama speaks. Local media are having a field day interviewing young Notre Dame Students for their opinions, and they have expressed responses intelligently on both sides of the question.
The South Bend Tribune asked its readers to respond to a poll today and the results are almost evenly split, 49% Yes; 51% No on the president’s appearance.
As a total outsider on this question, it is my opinion that this is a controversy that the University did not need to take on at this time. I believe, too, that President Obama was ill-advised to accept the invitation, and walk into the middle of a well predicted controversy. Is an Honorary Degree from Notre Dame worth getting 50% of his Catholic constituency upset? I think not.
I believe the University is placing their desire to be a friend of the new administration above their basic Catholic principles. Pleasing Obama surely gets the University in a stronger position to attract large government grants, however it ignores its core values.
Numerous Universities and Colleges have made similar judgmental errors. Harvard’s former president spoke out on the lack of abilities by women in the Sciences; Duke University failed to support its Lacrosse players prior to full disclosure of rape allegations, the University of Illinois bowed to unwarranted political pressure on Chief Illiniwek, etc.
Emotional issues of this nature lead to absurd reactions, such as one I just heard on Sports Talk Radio: We could expect President Obama’s brother-in-law to be the next basketball coach at Notre Dame following his speech at Notre Dame’s Commencement. This ridiculous statement implied that the entire invitation was a Pay for Play deal like the Blagojevich fiasco in Illinois. That kind of talk does not even deserve my repeating, but it shows you how issues gain traction and distortion.
Notre Dame has enough people who dislike their very existence, so why walk into the middle of a highly emotional public relations controversy? President Father Jenkins’ invitation and announcement appears to try to walk both sides of this controversy, and curry the favor of President Obama. Incidentally, Mr. Obama has accepted the invitation. It just proves that priest’s can make mistakes, and sometimes be a little hypocritical, too.
COMMANDER GRANGER
When President Jenkins of the University of Notre Dame announced the invitation for President Obama to speak at the May commencement, the sparks immediately began to fly. Our new President’s frequently announced position on abortion and stem cell research goes directly against the long established positions of the Catholic Church.
Some have said that it is a long-standing tradition for the University to invite the sitting President to speak, but I do not remember an occasion when the speaker had policies so diametrically opposed to the Church’s long established and firm positions. Sure, President Bush’s position on the War was opposed by many members of the Catholic Church and Notre Dame’s Institute for Peace, but I believe this latest issue is much more debatable.
Now Bishop John D’Arcy of the South Bend/Ft.Wayne Archdiocese who has attended graduations at Notre Dame for twenty years has announced that he will not attend if President Obama speaks. Local media are having a field day interviewing young Notre Dame Students for their opinions, and they have expressed responses intelligently on both sides of the question.
The South Bend Tribune asked its readers to respond to a poll today and the results are almost evenly split, 49% Yes; 51% No on the president’s appearance.
As a total outsider on this question, it is my opinion that this is a controversy that the University did not need to take on at this time. I believe, too, that President Obama was ill-advised to accept the invitation, and walk into the middle of a well predicted controversy. Is an Honorary Degree from Notre Dame worth getting 50% of his Catholic constituency upset? I think not.
I believe the University is placing their desire to be a friend of the new administration above their basic Catholic principles. Pleasing Obama surely gets the University in a stronger position to attract large government grants, however it ignores its core values.
Numerous Universities and Colleges have made similar judgmental errors. Harvard’s former president spoke out on the lack of abilities by women in the Sciences; Duke University failed to support its Lacrosse players prior to full disclosure of rape allegations, the University of Illinois bowed to unwarranted political pressure on Chief Illiniwek, etc.
Emotional issues of this nature lead to absurd reactions, such as one I just heard on Sports Talk Radio: We could expect President Obama’s brother-in-law to be the next basketball coach at Notre Dame following his speech at Notre Dame’s Commencement. This ridiculous statement implied that the entire invitation was a Pay for Play deal like the Blagojevich fiasco in Illinois. That kind of talk does not even deserve my repeating, but it shows you how issues gain traction and distortion.
Notre Dame has enough people who dislike their very existence, so why walk into the middle of a highly emotional public relations controversy? President Father Jenkins’ invitation and announcement appears to try to walk both sides of this controversy, and curry the favor of President Obama. Incidentally, Mr. Obama has accepted the invitation. It just proves that priest’s can make mistakes, and sometimes be a little hypocritical, too.
COMMANDER GRANGER
GOVERNMENT, STAY OUT OF THE BCS DISCUSSION
With all the problems facing our government today, I was shocked to read an article in today’s USA Today announcing the fact that Senator Orrin Hatch R-UT is pushing for Senate Hearings on the Bowl Championship Series.
Obviously this suggestion is coming from pressure instigated by President Barrack Obama’s critical comments about the BCS, and the fact that Hatch’s home state University of Utah was left out of the Championship game despite going undefeated last year. Good God, our government has many more important matters to take up during the few hours that they work than to hold expensive hearings of the Senate Judiciary Sub-Committee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights to study this question.
Even Representative Joe Barton R-TX is wasting taxpayer dollars sponsoring legislation to keep the NCAA from calling the play-off game “The National Championship”, unless it results from a play-off.
Citizens are losing their jobs, individuals are homeless, children are hungry, American boys are dying in Wars around the world, and these fools want to waste extremely valuable time talking about a game. The expression “Rome is burning while Nero fiddles” is most apropos. This kind of absurdity gets your Commander’s “hair on fire”.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Obviously this suggestion is coming from pressure instigated by President Barrack Obama’s critical comments about the BCS, and the fact that Hatch’s home state University of Utah was left out of the Championship game despite going undefeated last year. Good God, our government has many more important matters to take up during the few hours that they work than to hold expensive hearings of the Senate Judiciary Sub-Committee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights to study this question.
Even Representative Joe Barton R-TX is wasting taxpayer dollars sponsoring legislation to keep the NCAA from calling the play-off game “The National Championship”, unless it results from a play-off.
Citizens are losing their jobs, individuals are homeless, children are hungry, American boys are dying in Wars around the world, and these fools want to waste extremely valuable time talking about a game. The expression “Rome is burning while Nero fiddles” is most apropos. This kind of absurdity gets your Commander’s “hair on fire”.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
WILL THE POLITICIANS GIVE BACK THEIR AIG BONUSES?
This morning your Commander was in deep contemplation when he came up with the politically related question noted above.
The other day I heard that many elected officials in Washington had received political contributions from AIG, so I went to Google to secure some substantiation. Shockingly, I learned that your Commander and the Huffington Post are on the same page on this interesting question. Jamie Court reported that AIG gave $9.3 million over the last decade in political contributions, and they were split 50/50 between Republicans and Democrats.
Here is a list of recent recipients:
Senator Barack Obama $104,332
Senator Chris Dodd $103,900
Senator John McCain $ 59,499
Senator Hillary Clinton $ 37,965
Senator Max Baucus $ 24,750
Candidate Mitt Romney $ 20,850
Senator Joe Biden $ 19,975
House John B. Larson $ 19,750
Senator John Sununu $ 18,500
Candidate Rudolph Giuliani $ 13,200
House Paul E. Kanjorski $ 12,000
Senator Dick Durbin $ 11,000
House Edwin Perlmutter $ 10,500
House Charles Rangel $ 9,000
Candidate John Edwards $ 7,850
Senator Bob Corker $ 7,400
House Chris Smith $ 6,900
House Richard Neal $ 6,500
Senator Jay Rockefeller $ 6,500
Senator Jack Reed $ 6,000
This certainly is a very interesting list of names, which makes this subject one of major conflicting relationships. The House of Representatives passed retroactive legislation requiring employees who were given contractually promised bonuses from companies that received government TARP money to repay them or pay a 90% tax. The Senate has yet to vote on similar legislation. The question is: Wouldn’t it be appropriate for politicians who received campaign contributions from AIG and other TARP recipients several months ago return those funds to the companies, or to the government?
Remember, politicians returned monies they received from Enron to charities after that scandal broke, so should they not do the same with AIG.
I hope you know how much it pains your Commander to agree with anything suggested in the Huffington Post. Already President Obama is making noise that he has concerns about the 90% tax proposal, so it should be very interesting to see the political dance as it unfolds in the coming days and weeks. Are we experiencing CHANGE and TRANSPARENCY or just a cunning political plot?
COMMANDER GRANGER
The other day I heard that many elected officials in Washington had received political contributions from AIG, so I went to Google to secure some substantiation. Shockingly, I learned that your Commander and the Huffington Post are on the same page on this interesting question. Jamie Court reported that AIG gave $9.3 million over the last decade in political contributions, and they were split 50/50 between Republicans and Democrats.
Here is a list of recent recipients:
Senator Barack Obama $104,332
Senator Chris Dodd $103,900
Senator John McCain $ 59,499
Senator Hillary Clinton $ 37,965
Senator Max Baucus $ 24,750
Candidate Mitt Romney $ 20,850
Senator Joe Biden $ 19,975
House John B. Larson $ 19,750
Senator John Sununu $ 18,500
Candidate Rudolph Giuliani $ 13,200
House Paul E. Kanjorski $ 12,000
Senator Dick Durbin $ 11,000
House Edwin Perlmutter $ 10,500
House Charles Rangel $ 9,000
Candidate John Edwards $ 7,850
Senator Bob Corker $ 7,400
House Chris Smith $ 6,900
House Richard Neal $ 6,500
Senator Jay Rockefeller $ 6,500
Senator Jack Reed $ 6,000
This certainly is a very interesting list of names, which makes this subject one of major conflicting relationships. The House of Representatives passed retroactive legislation requiring employees who were given contractually promised bonuses from companies that received government TARP money to repay them or pay a 90% tax. The Senate has yet to vote on similar legislation. The question is: Wouldn’t it be appropriate for politicians who received campaign contributions from AIG and other TARP recipients several months ago return those funds to the companies, or to the government?
Remember, politicians returned monies they received from Enron to charities after that scandal broke, so should they not do the same with AIG.
I hope you know how much it pains your Commander to agree with anything suggested in the Huffington Post. Already President Obama is making noise that he has concerns about the 90% tax proposal, so it should be very interesting to see the political dance as it unfolds in the coming days and weeks. Are we experiencing CHANGE and TRANSPARENCY or just a cunning political plot?
COMMANDER GRANGER
Saturday, March 21, 2009
AIG - WHO KNEW WHAT AND WHEN DID THEY KNOW IT
When historians look back upon the actions of the House of Representatives fifty or one hundred years from now, they may consider Wednesday March 18, 2009 as the date the United States of America took a giant move toward socialism, a monarchy or even a dictatorship. Clearly the precipitous near panic actions taken by an almost mob incited Congress leads me to feel our government has dangerously moved toward the destruction of our democracy.
I sat through the hypocritically staged televised session of the House of Representatives Committee that grilled the Government appointed Chairman of AIG Edward Liddy. It is beyond belief the way in which Congressmen from both sides of the aisle attacked an honorable man who had absolutely nothing to do with the establishment of the inappropriately paid bonus programs.
Even the liberal media is now reporting the fact that both the Bush and Obama administrations knew of the AIG bonus program, and Obama and/or his people were complicit in the insertion of language protecting the bonus payments. That was the rushed through legislation that the Congressmen did not even have a chance to read before voting approval. Now the cat is out of the bag, and Congressmen who had dirty hands in this deal are running for cover. Congress is playing the old bait and switch game in an effort to deceive the voting public with their unrighteous indignation.
Yes, the American public is up in arms that the bonus program existed and was paid after massive public funds were awarded. But the fact of the matter is that it is against our Constitution to go back and break legally executed contracts.
Were I to have been in the chair getting the unwarranted attacks from those political hypocrites, I would have stood up and said: “Members of this Committee you have uncaringly attacked my integrity, and you know full well that I had absolutely nothing to do with the creation of the AIG scandal. I was asked by this government to take this job for one dollar a year and I will not stand here and be your whipping boy. You know who is responsible, just look into the mirror. You will receive my letter of resignation tomorrow, and you can take this job and shove it.”
It is my opinion that the current administration has organized its Union friends to demonstrate outrage in the streets of America inciting a class-warfare struggle to off-set the voter’s attention to the true source of responsibility in the AIG fiasco. Again we see a perfect example of Rahm Emanuel’s plan to take advantage of any crisis and get other questionable legislation passed successfully. In this case it is the “Card Check” program to payoff the Unions for their support of the Obama election. The Unions want to eliminate the secret ballot, which is a basic American right. This program is wrong in many ways and it is detrimental to the long-term benefit of our economy.
If the Courts do not reject this recent Congressional taxing legislation, assuming the Senate supports this rush to judgment or cover-up, then we are all in for big trouble in the years ahead. If the U.S. Constitution is not upheld then much is lost. Your Commander believes fervently that we need to clean house in Washington, and I wonder where the Justice Department is in announcing indictments against the real culprits of the AIG scandal. We are experiencing another perfect example of transference to cover-up the real criminals.
My wonderful Editor and Consigliore has repeatedly urged me to refrain from frequently attacking our political leadership, but it is impossible to ignore the obvious. We the voters and citizens of the United States of America have much to lose, but we have no one to blame but ourselves.
Benjamin Franklin said; “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety”.
Equally appropriate are the words of Thomas Jefferson when he said; “When the government fears the people there is liberty, when the people fear the government there is tyranny”.
COMMANDER GRANGER
I sat through the hypocritically staged televised session of the House of Representatives Committee that grilled the Government appointed Chairman of AIG Edward Liddy. It is beyond belief the way in which Congressmen from both sides of the aisle attacked an honorable man who had absolutely nothing to do with the establishment of the inappropriately paid bonus programs.
Even the liberal media is now reporting the fact that both the Bush and Obama administrations knew of the AIG bonus program, and Obama and/or his people were complicit in the insertion of language protecting the bonus payments. That was the rushed through legislation that the Congressmen did not even have a chance to read before voting approval. Now the cat is out of the bag, and Congressmen who had dirty hands in this deal are running for cover. Congress is playing the old bait and switch game in an effort to deceive the voting public with their unrighteous indignation.
Yes, the American public is up in arms that the bonus program existed and was paid after massive public funds were awarded. But the fact of the matter is that it is against our Constitution to go back and break legally executed contracts.
Were I to have been in the chair getting the unwarranted attacks from those political hypocrites, I would have stood up and said: “Members of this Committee you have uncaringly attacked my integrity, and you know full well that I had absolutely nothing to do with the creation of the AIG scandal. I was asked by this government to take this job for one dollar a year and I will not stand here and be your whipping boy. You know who is responsible, just look into the mirror. You will receive my letter of resignation tomorrow, and you can take this job and shove it.”
It is my opinion that the current administration has organized its Union friends to demonstrate outrage in the streets of America inciting a class-warfare struggle to off-set the voter’s attention to the true source of responsibility in the AIG fiasco. Again we see a perfect example of Rahm Emanuel’s plan to take advantage of any crisis and get other questionable legislation passed successfully. In this case it is the “Card Check” program to payoff the Unions for their support of the Obama election. The Unions want to eliminate the secret ballot, which is a basic American right. This program is wrong in many ways and it is detrimental to the long-term benefit of our economy.
If the Courts do not reject this recent Congressional taxing legislation, assuming the Senate supports this rush to judgment or cover-up, then we are all in for big trouble in the years ahead. If the U.S. Constitution is not upheld then much is lost. Your Commander believes fervently that we need to clean house in Washington, and I wonder where the Justice Department is in announcing indictments against the real culprits of the AIG scandal. We are experiencing another perfect example of transference to cover-up the real criminals.
My wonderful Editor and Consigliore has repeatedly urged me to refrain from frequently attacking our political leadership, but it is impossible to ignore the obvious. We the voters and citizens of the United States of America have much to lose, but we have no one to blame but ourselves.
Benjamin Franklin said; “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety”.
Equally appropriate are the words of Thomas Jefferson when he said; “When the government fears the people there is liberty, when the people fear the government there is tyranny”.
COMMANDER GRANGER
Thursday, March 19, 2009
WHO WAS THOMAS RILEY MARSHALL?
Thomas Riley Marshall was the Vice-President of the United States during the administration of President Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1921. He was born in North Manchester, Indiana, and became famous for his remark “What this country needs is a good five-cent cigar”.
Marshall served as Vice President for both of Wilson’s terms as President, which included the difficult World War 1 years, and when President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke. Your Commander suggests you take a peek at the Junto Society site as a diversion from the trials and tribulations of the day.
An interesting aside is the fact that Marshall invited Indiana’s Culver Military Academy Black Horse Troop to represent the state for the first time in the Inauguration Parade of the Wilson/Marshall Administration in 1913. That invitation began the now long established tradition of Culver’s participation in Presidential Parades that continues through the recent Obama/Biden Inaugural in January, 2009.
In doing some research for this brief essay, I ran across a very interesting website titled “Junto Society”. It is a non-profit educational site whose managers “are politically active citizens seeking to assist others in gaining a better understanding of the American political process.” If you are a history buff, as I am, you might be interested in taking a look at the Junto Society site: http://www.juntosociety.com
To read more about Marshall you can go to:
http://www.juntosociety.com/vp/marshall.html
COMMANDER GRANGER
Marshall served as Vice President for both of Wilson’s terms as President, which included the difficult World War 1 years, and when President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke. Your Commander suggests you take a peek at the Junto Society site as a diversion from the trials and tribulations of the day.
An interesting aside is the fact that Marshall invited Indiana’s Culver Military Academy Black Horse Troop to represent the state for the first time in the Inauguration Parade of the Wilson/Marshall Administration in 1913. That invitation began the now long established tradition of Culver’s participation in Presidential Parades that continues through the recent Obama/Biden Inaugural in January, 2009.
In doing some research for this brief essay, I ran across a very interesting website titled “Junto Society”. It is a non-profit educational site whose managers “are politically active citizens seeking to assist others in gaining a better understanding of the American political process.” If you are a history buff, as I am, you might be interested in taking a look at the Junto Society site: http://www.juntosociety.com
To read more about Marshall you can go to:
http://www.juntosociety.com/vp/marshall.html
COMMANDER GRANGER
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