Hanged in the Balance

Saddam Hussein's execution is noteworthy for Iraqis, however anticlimactic for Americans. No doubt those Iraqis who suffered under the Hussein regime will experience: revenge, comfort, and finality.

Those in Iraq who are looking for a reason to be violent will be violent. Those in the world who always blame the US will blame the US.

This is a milestone for the Iraqi people and the Iraqi government and offers little for the US or the ROW (Rest of the World).

Watch the Iraqi government. This is an inflection point which can be leveraged by them to assert their sovereignty effectively. In the next few weeks, they'll make clear by their actions and/or inactions what they intend to do from this point forward. Their next steps will have great significance for the Middle East, the ROW and the US.

What would really be nice is some Tax Reform

Before raising or lowering anyone's income taxes, Congress should reform IRS code and the corresponding bureaucracy.

Don't even bother to look at the IRS code. The whole system is beyond beneficial revision. Start with the amount of revenue needed (not desired) then formulate a simple tax system to generate that revenue, less earmarks.

With regard to earmarks, they should be funded by a new tax on members of Congress.

Balance of Power?

Often we hear, especially from the partisans out of power about the imbalance of power. However, the Constitution defines the balance of power quite clearly. The office of the Presidency is most often accused of exceeding its authority. The Courts are accused of legislating from the bench.

Congressional lack of action, makes it appear that the Executive and Judicial branches are exceeding their authority and/or legislating. When in actuality the inaction of the Legislative branch just makes the Executive and Judicial branches appear to be over reaching.

Write your Congressperson and tell them its time for the 110th to pull their share of the governance load.

P.S. This will entail more than just oversight.

Party Alternatives

No, not Holiday Party alternatives.

Senator Lieberman was forced out of his party's nomination for the Senate seat in CT by single issue and extreme members of that party. Others who have a greater interest in their country should likewise consider that the parties are not serving the majority of the voters but have been hijacked and are being held hostage by single issue contributors and extremists.

An unaffiliated or "independent" Pres./VP slate just might be quite successful in the 2008 federal election. If a party name is required, I suggest: "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore" Party.

Fix the AMT

The Alternative Minimum Tax was a good idea, brought to legislation, probably 10 years too late. The AMT is overdue for significant revision by about 10 years.

Rep. Rangel if you are not going tackle a complete revision of the IRS tax code to make it more simple, then please at the very least fix and not just patch the AMT.

Stabilizing Iraq

If a stable Iraq is so important to Syria and Iran, why have they attempted nothing to stabilize Iraq. For that matter, why haven't Saudi Arabia and Jordan and Egypt and Turkey and Kuwait been more demonstrably involved in the stabilization of Iraq?

♫ Doo...doo doo doo, doo doo doo, du, di, do, do..do...do ♫.

Times up....and the answer is: They all prefer that the US fight the insurgents and terrorists and sectarians and fundamentalists in Iraq rather than have to fight them in their own countries. Do they want help or for the US to do their dirty work? If the later, quit whining and appeasing the troublemakers in your own countries.

Ah, the Internet

Information and alternative analysis is more readily available and accessible at nearly any of your local library. The Internet and all of its instruments: websites, blogs, social networks, etc. almost makes the need for political parties and traditional (print and broadcast) media as sources of info and news nearly redundant.

The parties and media keep thinking they can put the genie back in the bottle and have us all, only get our info from their websites, blogs, etc.

Pity. They should have been more responsible with their information dissemination pre-Internet.

Though, the parties and traditional media have been good for something recently. they have been very entertaining. Their disappearing and recanting sources. The illusory photographs. It is magical.

Voting and Democracy

"It's not the voting that's democracy, it's the counting". Tom Stoppard [British dramatist & screenwriter (1937 - )], from his play "Jumpers" (1972) Act 1.

How true! In some countries, the voting takes places with a single candidate or single party on the ballots and the counting takes places in great secrecy.

In the US voting takes places in firehouses, churches and schools. The ballots are filled with many candidates, representing Dems, GOPs, Greens, Independents, Libertarians, etc. Counting takes place openly, sometimes chad by hanging chad, with reporters watching intently. Between elections, voters of all sorts argue the merits of different ways of voting - paper ballots, punch cards, e- voting, e-voting w/paper backup.

Now that real democracy.

Congress - Neither Conservative nor Liberal

Our Congress is Preservative!

For the most part our Representatives seem more interested in preserving their political power base, their incumbency, their seniority, etc.

Wouldn't it be great if Congress were Deliberative and/or Legislative?

The Ups and Downs of Globalization

Now here's and interesting article by Stephen S. Roach at Morgan Stanley regarding the brief history, status and prognosis of globalization - "From Globalization to Localization".

Let's hope that Congress reads and heeds his analysis. It will make for a nasty recession if Congress over reacts and causes the pendulum to swing wildly to an extreme.

If you knew then....what you know now...?

That was the media question most over used in 2006.

If voters knew then that the Carter Administration would allow inflation to run rampant, energy supplies to become so vulnerable and fail miserably in trying to settle the Iranian hostage situation would the voters have elected Jimmy Carter President?

If voters knew then that Richard Nixon was an insecure individual prone to enable so much illegal activity in his name would the voters have re-elected him President?
If Deep Throat knew before the election then what he conveyed to W&B after the election.....?

If....if.....if. Reality happened.....Voters didn't and voters did. Deep Throat didn't and W&B did eventually. Move on to the solution space for today's issues and problems.

Our Representatives, Presidents, and Supreme Court Justices are not chosen to second guess each other. They are chosen to make considered decisions with the information they possess at the time to defend and protect the Constitution and Americans.
We can argue about whether chosen individuals do a good job or not in making those decisions. However, let's leave the analysis of history to historians.

By all means read history. By all means learn the lessons of history. But don't be held captive in the present from future action by a consideration of your place in history or your desire for the recognition of your peers with a Pulitzer.

What's next - the LSG, PASG and SSG?

If the US decides to withdraw from Iraq prior to stabilizing the Government in Iraq, Congress had better commission the Study Groups for Lebanon, the PA and Somalia.

And have the Pentagon, develop plans further for dealing with a nuclear armed Iran. Then increase CIA funding to monitor the movement of nuclear materials out of the Middle East. Oh and since the "front" will be moving closer towards the US, Homeland Security should probably start developing plans to create a nuclear material shield around the US.

Withdrawing from Iraq without stabilizing the Iraqi government does not end the US problems, it only pushes out even bigger, future US problems.

Too Much Focus on Iraq?

No, but if we only focus on Iraq, we'll be making a mistake.

There is no denying that there are problems in Iraq. There is also no denying that resolving Iraq is an important issue. But it is not the only issue of importance to American citizens. Some say that the voters asked for change in Congressional leadership, because they wanted a change in Iraq. This is only partially correct.

The American voters want substantive changes in government. The change desired goes beyond a change in leadership. There are problems in the Middle East other than Iraq. The continent of Africa has all the potential to become the next Middle East, for much different reasons and it will have nothing to do with Israel. And domestically, there are huge problems with: Social Security, Medicare, Immigration and taxes, to name a few.

Will the politico-media's focus on Iraq blind the Nation to all the other problems? Hopefully the new Congressional leadership will focus on all the issues and on providing solutions to as many issues as possible. I fear that both sides of the aisle are going to concentrate on the 2008 elections to the exclusion of substantive action of any kind. Speaker Elect Pelosi, please lead a Congress that can walk and chew gum at the same time.

P.S. The purpose of Congress is legislative AND oversight. Don't forget those legislative responsibilities. Our laws are behind the curve in many areas.

Sympathies to Sen. Johnson and his Family

The Senator and his family are having to deal with this sudden serious health problem, which is bad enough without the full, "inside the beltway", media circus hovering as if covering a car chase in CA.

If that weren't bad enough, that same media is making it appear that Sen Johnson's only friends are Senator Reid and Senator Daschle.

God's speed, Sen. Johnson. Hope and pray for your swift recovery and return to the Senate floor.

How did politics get such a negative connotation?

Politicians! Politicians have given politics a bad name.

What we need in politics is:

• statesmanship
• leadership
• passion
• compassion
• strength
• conviction
• principle
• candor
  

What we don't need is:

• Republicans
• Democrats

Who should be our next President?

Not Sen. Obama....but someone with the compassion and demeanor of Sen. Obama.

Not Sen. McCain....but someone with the loyality and sense of duty to country like that of Sen. McCain.

Not Sen. Clinton....but someone who understands the middle is where the voters are like Sen. Clinton.

Not Mayor Guiliani....but someone who has some proven executive experience like Mayor Guiliani

Not Gen. Clark....but someone who has leadership skills like Gen. Clark

Not Speaker Gingrich....but someone who understand how the Congress does and doesn't work like Speaker Gingrich does.

Not Sen. Bayh....but someone who understands the importance of candor and bipartisanship like Sen. Bayh

Not VP Gore or Sen. Allen....well....let's just leave it at not VP Gore or Sen. Allen

So far, there are a lot of people that the media are touting as running for the 2008 presidential election that are not just right, although they all have some good qualities. Hopefully, the voters won't have to settle for someone that is not quite what we're looking for. Or voting the lesser of two evils.

The media should stop surmising and the voters should just keep looking.

Trees and Menorahs in Seattle

Happy to see that Christmas trees have been returned to the SeaTac Airport after having been removed out of PC fear of a Menorah. NOW...allow Seattle's Jewish community to place a Menorah at the airport and celebrate the diversity of this "holiday" season.

If the Airport Authority wants to do something - write some sensible rules regarding the placing of things to celebrate the various secular and non-secular holiday celebrations throughout the year.

• Indicate items that the Authority will place each year.
• Develop a process to consider other items to be placed: 1) not at the cost of the Authority; 2) with limitations of quantity and location; 3) and limit participation to groups that can demonstrate a reasonable representation of membership within the communities serving the Authority.

Rather than denying them, let's reasonalbly celebrate the US's diversity of cultural and religious celebrations throughout the year.

The ISG makes rounds of the SNP

The big story on the Sunday News Programs, MTP, FNW, and LE was the Iraqi Study Group.

Everyone wants things to be better and over in Iraq.  The ISG has presented an analysis of the existing situation and made recommendations.  They claim and the media has confirmed that their offering is a bipartisan report.  The ISG should be commended for their work and participation.

On Meet the Press, Fox News Sunday and Late Edition the Congress did not make a good showing.  It is most regrettable that the partisans in Congress could not come up with their own analysis and recommendations in a bipartisan way. 
If all the Congressional person-trips to Iraq were added up....they would have dwarfed the number of person-trips made to Iraq by the ISG.  While the ISG spent nine months to prepare their report. Congress spent more than nine months running for their political place in the House and Senate.

If things do not go well in Iraq, Congress will say: it was the ISG, it was the President, it was the ISG and the President, it was bad implementation, it was this, it was that, BUT it is not our fault.

If things do go well or OK: they'll trip over themselves trying to take credit for first recognizing the wisdom of whatever strategy did have success.  First they'll claim wisdom for themselves.  Then of their party.  They have given little indication that they wish to be part of the solution, only that they can hold someone else responsible for things that don't go right.

An Activist Media

Here's an excerpt an, 18Nov2006 issue of the Economist review of the book, Khrushchev's Cold War: The Inside Story of an American Adversary - Aleksandr Fursenko and Timothy Naftali.

"Western journalists also served as unlikely accomplices in fomenting cold war terror.  In one of the book's more startling sections, the author's detail how American columnists repeated and exaggerated false claims about the extent of Khrushchev's arsenal.  President Dwight Eisenhower knew that the so-called "missile gap" tilted in America's favour.  Nevertheless journalism created a public clamour for more missiles and was used by defence industry executives to press for purchases."

Jounalists should stick to reporting.  Their activism rarely seems to work to the benefit of the US public.

Only English should be Mandatory

For the purpose of conducting business between the US government and its citizens, all the other languages should be optional.

Its a nice gesture to have street signs, menus, advertising, etc. in multiple languages to assist our guests and visitors.  And Hotel's are very wise to have concierges that speak several languages, especially in NY and DC.

And our hospitals, police departments and courts should have a means to provide translator services for those guests and visitors that require legal or medical assistance during their visit to the US.

But, there is no compelling reason to "require" providing voting ballots and other US government to US citizen communications in languages other than English when the requirements for naturalized US citizenship is a demonstration of competency to read, write and speak English.

Yes, Let's Talk!

The Iraqi government should talk to their neighbors, Iran and Syria about helping to stabilize the Iraqi government.  The US should not be talking to Iran and Syria about Iraq's stability.  If Iraq wants the US to attend their meetings with Iran and/or Syria, I'm sure that Iraq would invite the US to attend.

The US should continue to engage the World and Iran in discussions regarding Iran's nuclear programs which does have implications to the security of the US, the EU and many others. At present the EU is taking the lead to discuss Iran's nuclear programs and they are being stonewalled and threatened.

The US should continue to engage the World and Syria in discussions to keep Syria out of the government and affairs of Lebanon.

The US should continue to talk to Iraq and Afghanistan to coordinate the stabilization of those two young governments.

The UN should promote the discussion of world wide issues amongst the whole of the UN membership, including Iran, Syria and the Middle East.  And to discuss Global Terrorism that effects nearly everyone except those who support Global Terrorism.

As a UN member, the US should engage in any and all UN discussion. Now all that has to be done is get the UN to engage in promoting discussion. Seems like the UN has become like the US Congress: lots of finger pointing, lots of talking, very little discussing, and absolutely no consensus building or substantive action.

Iraq Study Group and Gates Nomination

After nine months of study the Iraq Study Group (ISG) sez....the mission is correct. Consider some of "our" ideas, but come up with your own and get together and decide a course of action for the American and Iraqi People. The mission can have success.

After one day of hearings: Senate Committee sez....Gates is OK with all (bipartisan) of us on the Committee. A little something for everyone.

Dr. Gates satisfied Senators McCain and Levin. ISG satisfied Senators Levin and McCain.

Senator McCain - the mission is correct; increase troop levels in response to increased violence against US armed forces. Senator Levin - the mission is flawed; redeploy US forces out of Iraq within six months.

Mistakes have been made. Continue on the mission. Correct tactics as required. Round and round we go.

Seems they should Actually be Congressional Hearings

Wondering if Congressional Hearings would be enhanced by not allowing members nor those giving testimony to read prepared speeches.

Would like to see Congress consider two additional rules:
1) Keep separate time on members and those giving testimony. Promoting concise query rather than members using speeches on behalf of their own ego, party or agenda. No long winded narrative non-questions.
2) Allot twice as much time to those giving testimony than to the members of the Committee, thereby keeping with the basic definition of hearing, which means to listen. Listening to those to whom their is question, not to those whose purpose is to question.

These simple rules changes might not improve the quality of our representation, but it would certainly increase the efficiency of hearings. Who knows, this could be one small step toward increasing citizen interest and participation in government.

New Media versus Old Media

The speed of communications have been accelerating in my lifetime. Look at the progression to the Internet: Pony Express (OK, before my time) - telegraph - phone - fax. Look at the progression to 24/7 news channels: letters - periodicals - dailys - radio - TV - cable.

More and more information, provided faster and faster means that the truth and the lies have less places to hide.

Media will not just avail itself of the speed, but also utilize and adapt to it. The Old Media will long for yesterday and either figure out how to join the New Media OR mistakenly hope that the old ways will still be valid even in the near future. The New Media will be composed of leaders and survivors of the adaptation to the increased information, speed and the new communications methodologies.

Presidential Campaigning

We Americans, at the urging of the media, spend too much time debating who would make the best President from those who declare they want to be President.

We, the voters, should spend more time, up front, discussing what kind of qualities are required for the next President.  We could discuss the job description.  List the qualities desired and required. THEN, let prospective candidates interview for the job based upon:

• ability of the candidate to perform the duties of the job
• suitability of the candidate's qualities versus those desired

The media could be quite helpful by reporting the discussion on the job description and the qualities listings.  It would be so much more beneficial to the voters if the media would report on the process rather than try to engage in the process.

Go spend some time at the local coffee shop and talk about the kind of leaders we should have.  Engage your favorite online political blog on the topic of Presidential qualities.  Try to avoid for the moment discussing who is the least objectionable amongst the Presidential wannabes.

That Is What Religious Freedom Is

I have no objection to Representative elect Keith Ellison placing his hand on the Koran while swearing allegiance to the US and to upholding its Constitution.
I have no objection to any book that someone might use for their swearing in ceremony, as long as the book used is made part of the public record.  As our representatives, the voters have right to know.

I have no objection to having an Imam occasionally provide the Congressional opening and closing prayers as long as it is done in English.
 
I have no objection to having a "thought of the day" presented by someone with an exclusively secular point of view.  All reflection is good.  Some may disagree with certain thoughts and prayers and even the persons offering them.  But they are all good for consideration or to respectively listen too.  None of the thoughts or the prayers should be feared or debased.

The founders and framers of the US government had primarily a Judeo-Christian viewpoint, however, they didn't intend to exclude any religion from the freedom of religions that was to be a major tenet of the US Constitution.  They certainly didn't intend to exclude any expression of thought.

By the way, I would have an objection to anyone who takes the oath and does not give allegiance to the US and/or uphold its Constitution.  This is how our elected and sworn representatives should be judged not by the book upon which they decide to use in the "swearing in" ceremony.