YOUR NEW "FAMILY"

Naval Secretary Ray Mabus attended a ceremony at the Washington Naval Yard yesterday and spoke briefly about the shooting tragedy.  In doing so, he alluded to how the tragedy had affected the Naval “Family.”  This seems to be the new road of “change” that is being impressed upon the nation by the Obama reign.  A recent news release by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius reads: “While our federal family is becoming better prepared to support the nation, we know that being truly resilient requires the whole community coming together.” 

COMMENTS:

So, now that we’re all family, that gives our parents in Washington the authority to dictate where we live, how we live, what we do for a living, who we work for and what fraternal organizations we can belong to.  That, of course, explains why the N.S.A. simply must have that vast data storage and processing center in Utah to keep track of us.  

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. I see FOX NEWS is changing everything around.  What gives?  (Nellie ~ Vista, CA)

A. Things change over time.  The advent of THE BLAZE channel has brought a new dynamic to the news media.  FOX NEWS must regret parting with Glenn Beck, because he heads THE BLAZE.  Roger Ailes is a respected and cunning manager, and the changes he are instituting will help restore FOX to the role of prominence it has enjoyed in the past, he hopes.  Greta Van Sustern will start the evening “prime time” at 7:00 PM Eastern Time, followed by Bill O’Reilly at 8:00 PM, Megyn Kelly at 9:00 PM and Sean Hannity at 10:00 PM.  I would have moved O’Reilly at 3:00 AM and put Judge Napolitano in the 8:00 PM slot. 

Q. Everyone knows what a great job under adverse conditions our military performs for our country.  Now I hear that Obama is planning to slash their pay?  (Suet ~ Seattle, WA)

A. Obama has made no secret of his disdain for the military.  The first move he made after assuming the Presidency was to try and force the military personnel to pay for their own medical care.  He is also working to prevent retired military personnel from collecting retirement pay until they reach the age of 65.  By Federal Law, the military gets a 1.8% pay increase every year.  Obama has cut that by issuing yet another dictatorial Executive Order to 1%.  And he wants our military to go into Syria?    

Q. I heard that major companies are canceling insurance benefits for their retirees?  (Saundra ~ Ogden, UT)

A. Not quite true.  They are, however, working to force their insurance programs for retirees onto the ObamaCare regimen, thereby cutting their costs significantly and in most cases reducing insurance coverage.  While retiree health benefits have been shrinking for years, the newest cutbacks may quickly become the norm. About 44 percent of companies plan to stop administering health plans for their former workers over the next two years. 

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2678738609001/cdc-warns-of-drug-resistant-bacteria/?playlist_id=2114913880001

ISRAEL HAS DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN

Netanyahu has had the unpleasant opportunity of watching Obama’s handling of the Syrian crisis. 

COMMENTS:

He saw that Obama waffled and floundered and then let Putin pick up the pieces.  He saw Putin say that he was giving Iran a missile defense system and some missiles of its own, followed by the promise of a Russian-built nuclear reactor as a gift for Iran.   Now, as far as Israel is concerned, the “red line” has truly been drawn.  If it is going to act to protect itself, it has to do so before the Russian installations are completed.  There have been no warnings from Obama to Russia not to interfere in Iran or to make good on its promises. Bye-Bye Israel? 

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. The U.N. team has now concluded that a very deadly form of nerve gas was used in Syria.  Do you think that will change any of the current strategy?  (Randy ~ La Mirada, CA)

A. No.  I think all of the players knew what the U.N. team was going to conclude, although they were not saying so.  There is no way Obama can ratchet things up again now until something fails with the “Putin Initiative.” 

Q. A couple of years ago, Standard & Poor’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating, although they had been warned by White House officials not to do so.  Now, I understand that the government has filed a lawsuit against S&P.  Can they win?  (Nancy ~ Albuquerque, NM)

A. Standard & Poor’s alleges the $5 billion lawsuit is in retaliation for the downgrading.  In its lawsuit, the government accused S&P of inflating ratings to win more fees from issuers, and failing to downgrade collateralized debt obligations despite knowing they were backed by deteriorating residential mortgage-backed securities.  The issuance of a credit rating is simply a matter of opinion, although generally based upon interpretation of certain facts.  Just because someone says you have excellent credit does not mean that you will not file bankruptcy tomorrow.  I think the government will have to prove that the ratings issued by S&P were malicious and done solely for monetary gain. 

Q. What is your opinion of the shootings in Washington [yesterday]?  Was it terrorism?  (Greta ~ Portland, CA)

A. Of course, there was terror on the part of all of the victims.  As of this posting, I don’t have enough information to give a good answer.  I am inclined to think thus was a lone nut, but there is still one suspect out there to be considered.  By the time you read this, they may have determined if there really was a second suspect; they’ve already ruled out one guy.  Unfortunately, as I understand it, the facility had a rule that only law enforcement could carry weapons, so everyone there was a sitting duck just like in that theater in Colorado. 

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“If Russia rises, it means that the USA falls down.” ~ Vladimir Zhirinovsky

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2674740726001/did-president-obama-punt-power-to-putin/?playlist_id=2114913880001

BACK

I'm back in Burney and my blog with resume tomorrow.

The Hermit

I'M SORRY

I fully intended to keep this blog up.  You don't know it, but I started a combination business trip and vacation on Thursday.  I'm managing so far in keeping all of my blogs going, but I'm running out of steam and not really enjoying my vacation.  This particular blog takes the majority of my time, because I have to read comments and questions and pick the best before putting the blog together.  I'm really getting a lot of good response and I don't want to disappoint you folks, but I've got to lay off of this blog until September 17th. 

Please forgive me for not posting.  I know Obama will.

Hermit

RUSSIANS HINT AT HELPING SYRIA

Vladimir Putin has said that Russia might supply the Syrian government with a missile defense system if the U.S. attacks and military strategists think Putin might also have committed to replacing any Syrian military assets that we destroy. 

COMMENTS:

The ante seems to be going up every day. I disagree with those who say if we don’t act now Assad will use the chemical weapons again as he pleases. All we have to do is make it clear that the next time, we will obliterate Damascus and then do it immediately if he does.  But, Obama doesn’t have the testicles to say that or to follow up if he has to.  

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. Obama claims the world set the “red line” when it voted overwhelmingly against the use of chemical weapons, so we can’t blame him and say he set the “red line.”  Is that true?  (Bud ~ Jackpot, NV)

A. Yes, members of the U.N. voted to ban the use of chemical weapons.  However, there is nothing in that treaty which describes or authorizes retaliatory action by any nation against any nation in the event someone violates it.  Furthermore, Syria did not sign on to that treaty.  All legal scholars are arriving at the opinion, as did I, that a strike against Syria would be illegal and in violation of International Law. And, by the way, he owns that "red line."

Q. News came out [yesterday] that thousands of North Korean prisoners may be been killed.  What is that all about?  (Mary ~ Lake Elsinore, CA)

A. There were about 30,000 prisoners in the camp when it was closed; there was a severe food shortage going on.  After accounting for the ones who were transferred, there are several thousand still unaccounted for.  North Korea is not answering questions made by the international community.    

Q. If the Suez Canal gets blocked, oil prices will soar. I heard Syrian rebels have been trying to sink cargo ships passing through the canal. If that is true, why do we want to help them?  (Gary ~ Kingman, AZ)

A. A terrorist group calling itself “The Furqan Brigades” has tried to sink a cargo ship named “COSCO.”  Any connection to the rebels is not known. 

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.” ~ Mark Twain

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2646019448001/krauthammer-on-obama-he-doesnt-have-a-strategy/?intcmp=obnetwork

CNN CAUGHT FAKING WAR FOOTAGE… AGAIN

CNN has been caught again faking footage in an effort to bolster Obama’s position on wars.  The first time was in Desert Storm, using fake backdrops.  Then, there was Bahrain and fake claims of atrocities.  Now, recent video evidence proves that “Syria Danny”, the supposed activist who has been begging for military intervention on CNN, is really just a paid actor and a liar. 

COMMENTS:

Evidently, CNN, MSNBC and NBC are establishing themselves as “in the tank” for Obama. I thought the press and media were supposed to be honest and neutral.  

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. What’s your opinion about protesters against Wal-Mart marching for higher wages?  (London ~ Hurricane, UT)

A. It seems to me they have three choices: (1) quit shopping there, (2) quit working there, (3) shut up and butt out.  Wal-Mart has no problems getting applications for jobs at the wages they are paying. 

Q. Obama says he never set a “red line.”  He says the international community set the red line.  I never heard any other country or leader set a “red line.”  Now, he’s trying to spin his way out of his dumb, dumb move that he made, by way, to avoid dealing with the Syrian problem way back when.  He is such a liar.  (Boyd ~ Turlock, CA)

A. Welcome aboard.  The real thing that should happen is for Congress to turn him down; that will emasculate him and we will have fewer of his dumb-dumb moves to contend with until he gets out of office.    

Q. In the meanwhile, what is going on with Iran’s nuclear program?  (Cameron ~ Lincoln, NE)

A. The U.N. agency monitoring the situation, I.A.E.A., says that Iran now has enough enriched uranium to produce up to eight nukes.  The fact that they are cutting back on their production of uranium is indicative that they are ready to start the final process of creating the actual weapons- grade uranium.  If that’s what we know, what is it that we don’t know?

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.” ~ Donald Rumsfeld

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2649886933001/cavuto-a-president-without-precedent/?playlist_id=2114913880001

OBAMA TO DEMAND RUSSIA GIVE GAY RIGHTS

During President Obama’s visit to the G-20 Summit this week, he intends to visit with several gay groups and to try and push Putin into taking action to allow gay rights. 

COMMENTS:

That’s our President, always sticking his damned nose into someone else’s business when he can’t even run his own country. I can just hear him now: "By the way, Vladdy, could you possibly have a chat with and, while you're at it, you damned-well better allow gay rights in Russia."     

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. I know you have said, and I have double-checked myself, that FBI statistics show that violent crime decreases as more residents have guns.  How do we compare with European nations with strong gun control?  (Josie ~ Manteca, CA)

A. The same.  A recent Harvard study verifies that countries which do not allow gun ownership have much higher rates of violent crime. 

Q. Delta Airlines says its costs for providing employee healthcare programs will go up by $100 million next year under ObamaCare?  How can the government force companies to eat that much in additional cost?  (Lacrecia ~ Missoula, MT)

A. They won’t eat those costs; the costs will be passed on to you, the flying public.  You will pay higher food costs, higher costs for goods and services, higher local and state taxes, and you may see some earnings of companies decline, meaning the stockholders will pick up the tab.  This is a very high incentive for companies to trim lay off as many employees as possible.    

Q. What is your opinion on whether or not the President has the authority to go into Syria?  (Royce ~ Seattle, WA)

A. The power to declare war rests with Congress, period.  In 1973, recognizing that advances in technology and weaponry could possibly make it necessary for the President, in order to protect the United States from attack, to take limited military action for a period not to exceed 90 days.  Legal scholars argue that the new law is unconstitutional and, as a strict Constitutionalist, I agree; it would take a Constitutional Amendment to legalize such a law.  Although no one has yet challenged that law, I do not believeit would authorize a president to take military action against a country or faction of its citizens who pose no immediate threat to the United States.    

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“When you decide to get involved in a military operation in a place like Syria, you've got to be prepared, as we learned from Iraq and Afghanistan, to become the government, and I'm not sure any country, either the United States or I don't hear of anyone else, who's willing to take on that responsibility.” ~ Colin Powell

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=JVAhr4hZDJE&vq=medium#t=19*

COUNTDOWN TO OBAMACARE: ARE WE READY?

COMMENTS:

HELL NO. 

TODAY’S QUERIES & ANSWERS:

Q. I hear Joe Biden is really pushing gun control.  What is he doing?  (Seth ~ Torrance, CA)

A. He’s been busy writing new Executive Orders for Obama to sign, making speeches, and calling each and every member of Congress who opposes gun control to tell them they’d better do what he and Obama tell them to or they are going to regret it. 

Q. In light of what has happened the last few days, do you think we will go head and attack Syria or not?  (Beth ~ Los Alamos, NM)

A. Unfortunately, I am afraid we will go ahead.  My vote against it is based on several things.  If it so damned important for us to retaliate, why didn’t we do it the day after the chemical weapons were used?  I know of no legal justification for us to proceed in international law.  The danger of a counter-retaliation against Israel is immense.  The anniversary of 9/11 is upon us; we are inviting an international Jihad on that date.  Russia has indicated it may back Assad; it has told us not to attack and it has moved warships into the Mediterranean.   Egypt and Libya are both about to plunge into anarchy and our action could set the Middle East afire.  At this stage of the game, any attack by us short of invasion and commitment to another war can only be seen as something akin to a fart in a whirlwind.    The proper answer now is to give Obama full power to act in any way he sees fit if chemical weapons are used again. Nevertheless, I'm not aware of any Congress voting against a President who wanted to go to war; it's all about "face," you know.

Q. What do you feel about the claim that our military has been so degraded that we shouldn’t even consider an attack on Syria?  (Marty ~ Las Vegas, NV)

A. There have been several idiots who said that.  It is a slap in the face of the military personnel still dedicated to our country.  If there has been any degradation, it is at the leadership level.  We’ve lost a lot of talent under Obama.  How you can have the unmitigated gall to tell your troops that you are going to cut their pay and benefits and then ask them to go bomb anybody, I’ll never know. 

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“I'm just very wary that once you start military operations in any country, it's very difficult to predict what the outcome is.” ~ King Abdullah II

TODAY’S VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/c_VGxfmDmEo