Les héros américains - In their own words

The heroes are:  Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone (injured not on this video) and Chris Norman (Brit)

Another fine mess

The two newcomers – never before seeking the top political job – could not be more different, could they?

One thinks the answer is more government control or outright ownership of the economy.  He believes that capitalism is behind our malaise.  The greed of those who own the production and commercial activities of the nation has come home to roost by taking not just a good, healthy share of the output and its profits but by grabbing the lions share.  The rich get richer and the poor have children, would be a workable campaign slogan for this man.  And he will fix it.  The masses are wandering into his tent by the thousands, without any form of inducement or the managed way his principal challenger sets up her audiences and messaging.

On the other hand, the others who have long suffered but not silently, they’ve got so many wannabe’s its boring.  Each one is thinking – this is their chance – go for it – surely America will not wish to extend the malaise of the last 10 years or so.  Surely, change will come our way.  Its gotta be my/our turn, yes?

Mostly governors and senators.  Bright eyed and bushy tailed.  Telling us how they fixed this and that and I can do the same for the country that I did in Wisconsin or Ohio or Florida or wherever.  But no one believes them.  So a showman, shows up, with no political experience, thank the gods, and no concern about saying anything other than what all the others, the senators and governors might have been thinking but were too afraid to say.  He is one of the rich fellows the other guy (see above) blames for the mess we are in.

One guy, the socialist, wants to be Robin Hood – the other guy basically tells us, he has been robbing the hood.  Big time.  Billions.  But it’s all legal.  And he can fix anything because he is a capitalist.

So, now what?  What the heck are we to do with this fine mess you got us in Barack (maybe we just call him – Ollie?)



Immigration reform - à la Trump

Here are a few specifics (details) from the just released Trump plan –

·         Triple the number of ICE officers

·         Nationwide e-verify

·         Mandatory return of all criminal aliens

·         Detention—not catch-and-release

·         Defund sanctuary cities

·         Enhanced penalties for overstaying a visa

·         Cooperate with local gang task forces

·         End birthright citizenship

·         Increase prevailing wage for H-1Bs

·         Requirement to hire American workers first

·         End welfare abuse

·         Jobs program for inner city youth

·         Refugee program for American children

·         Immigration moderation

Read it in its entirety at:  https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/immigration-reform  The several paragraphs on controlling the border and getting Mexico to pay for it is alone worth your time.

Put together it is the most detailed plan we have ever seen, involving common sense and reality, from anyone seeking high office.

Compare it with the generalities and gibberish offered by Mrs. Clinton – here is a snippet: 

“The American people support comprehensive immigration reform—not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it strengthens families, our economy, and our country. Congress must pass comprehensive immigration reform that provides a path to citizenship, treats every person with dignity, upholds the rule of law, protects our borders and national security, and brings millions of hardworking people into the formal economy.”

Read it in its entirety at:  https://www.hillaryclinton.com/the-four-fights/strengthening-americas-families/

 

 

Pride before the fall

Old expression – Bible based – Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

While cavorting with his ancestors (well, half of them) in Africa the other week your president must have been feeling his oats because he was quoted as saying, ““Under our Constitution, I cannot run again.  I think if I ran, I could win.”

Now if you are or think you are a thinking American these few words, uttered by an American president in a land beset with wealthy, embedded dictators, kings and potentates has to qualify as one of the most incredibly arrogant and stupid remarks ever uttered by an American leader who claims to be the leader of democracy and democratic movements anywhere.

Or, you can just be charitable and write it off as youthful foolishness – pride; hubris seasoned with a strong sprinkling of arrogance and stupidity.

We are tempted to say – give it a go Barack.  Tell your harridan; your novitiate that you want to keep the job.  Why not?  You have not paid much attention to the constitution heretofore.  You have created a mess of lasting significance with no apparent solution other than free college, free health care, free abortions, free food and useless but free diplomacy for both our allies and our enemies.

Who is going to want to clean up this mess of yours?

Well, take a look at the candidates.  On your side – a woman who hides out in plain sight.  Refuses to take questions and when a few softballs are tossed, she smiles, grins and utters meaningless trite.  A socialist who must have a few screws loose because every time we seek just one example of a thriving, large example of socialism wonderment we always end up finding dust, despair and African style despots.

On the other side we have a collection of governors, senators and other statists who, for the most part, are part of the government can do it crowd.  The three who stand out – two business people and a doctor are usually dismissed in part because they are not part of or do not curtsy to the government gone wild crowd.  Go figure.

So, Mr. know-it-all; Mr. what constitution?, we say – give it a go.  We hope you studied some of your African government leaders and saw how they do it – how they govern for decades and we imagine you probably took note of the fancy dwellings they occupy and the vast wealth they have accumulated.  Clinton style.  Give it a go Barack.  Let’s see if you put your time and energy and money where your mouth is.

Extreme silliness

Have you ever watched a local evening news cast in a small or smaller town?  There is always some badly dressed guy and some gushy girl and a few “technical” difficulties livening up a bunch of happy talk chatter about the weather and the local sports teams.  The  “news” personalities do this one thing – they try too hard and in so doing they make the news about them.  Their personalities; their perceptions; their self importance.

We have actually praised Megyn Kelly in the past.  Suggested she get the moderator job at Meet the Press.  We were wrong.  We have never been a fan of Chris Wallace.  We think he fits perfectly into the badly dressed guy described above.  Bret Baier?  No opinion, jury is out.  But early returns are not good when surrounded by these amateurs.

 

Put them together?  They are not ready for prime time. 

This so-called debate was not good.  In many respects.  First the platform and presentation – 10 candidates is about 5 too many.  America is not going to elect a one trick pony former Arkansas governor financed by the pro Israeli gang.  And we sure don’t need a former bureaucrat and now governor of New Jersey – a spectacularly corrupt place. (We don’t know which place is more corrupt – NJ or Illinois – but follow up Obama with Christie and you can put a fork in America.)  John Kasich is running a big state well – so maybe he becomes a potential VP candidate but c’mon – on the stage with the top four or five?  Not needed.  If one of the other 10 or 12 get the VP slot – let them debate before the election.  If one of the five falls out and someone else rises in the primaries – substitute.

Next, move away from this Hollywood media run debate platform with the giddy commentators running the show.  Past performances by Candy Crowley and Gwen Ifil should have ended the involvement of the American Hollywood media in big time debates.  They are not up to the job – too biased but mostly just too out of touch with America – too beltway limited.  We all know what ADAD is – adult deficit attention disorder.  This gang has a slightly different disorder – AADD, adult awareness deficit disorder.

A few examples of “voters matter” issues that the giddy Foxer’s never touched:

• How are you going to beat Hillary?  She is laden with baggage.  But you and your ilk never seem to be up to the job.  So, how this time?
• Debt?  Will you commit to not run for a second term if debt is higher then than now?  Is there any principle you have that you will abide by – not even run for office if violated?
• Government does not work.  Tell us specifically what bureaucracies you will close, completely and what other measures you will apply to all bureaucrats to bring their pay, benefits and pensions in line (that means lowering) with other regular, working Americans.  We want numbers and commitments.  BTW, have you ever even thought of privatizing some bureaucracies?   Do you have even one original idea or plan or concept to share with us?
• The EPA.  It just created a horrible environmental disaster out west.  What would you propose to do with the EPA?  How about a few criminal indictments?
• Will you negate Executive Order #10988?  Do you know what it is?  What it did?

Those are a few, off the top of the head.  We could offer endless specifics that are on the mind of many Americans and yet the Foxer’s prepare a list of questions seemingly vetted by the national enquirer.  This is the Republican party nominee candidate selection process – not the Hollywood media selection process.  If you sell soap and soda water, for a living, time to step back.  The situation at hand is much more important than using your “not ready for prime time” anchors to fit in a bunch of contrived one-minute Q and A’s in between advertisements for the crap they sell on Fox.  If the network can’t or won’t deliver a couple of hours without commercial interruption while we try to decide which candidate might be president for the next four years, we, the people, need to boycott the network.

There were two losers during last week’s debate.  Any American seeking to evaluate a possible Republican candidate and Fox.  One deserves being a loser; we the people do not.  We need and deserve a much better forum for our decision making process.  It appears that we are not going to get it mostly because our Hollywood media is a second and third class group of performers, all with AADD.  The ratings bonanza last Thursday night is not about the media, it’s about our desire to find a good leader, for a change.

To slightly paraphrase the Donald – it’s not just the government that is stupid.

Community Organizers - the Kawa Brothers

Our president claims to be a “community organizer.”  At TheFundamentals, the only community organizers we’ve ever known are the men and women in our neighborhoods who work hard to make the community a good place in which to live, work and raise a family.  It is tough work – mostly goes on 24/7 – pays very little – tends not to be acknowledged in any 15 minute of fame way – and those who successfully practice the profession do not become millionaires or give speeches for hundreds of thousands of dollars or attain high public elected or hired office and then set up foundations to collect even more millions of dollars from special interests and other wealthy patrons currying favors, tax breaks and other forms of governmental goodies. 

So, we figured it made sense to meet a few real community organizers - the Kawa Brothers.  Never heard of them?  Their political careers?  Foundations?   Millions?  John Carlisle of the Detroit Free Press tells us all about the ups and downs of real community organizers.  Thank you John.   We encourage you to read Mr. Carlisle’s article.  Please click on –

http://www.freep.com/story/news/columnists/john-carlisle/2015/08/01/detroit-chaldean-town-last-days/30993903/

In his own words – Charles Koch

After reading these Q and A’s taken from Mateo Gold’s interview in the Washington Post, we can see why the Democrats attack the man personally rather than his ideas and positions:

Q: How important is it to you to see a Republican in the White House?

A: It depends on the Republican. I am not a Republican. I consider myself a classical liberal. I believe in certain principles and I am looking for candidates who are advancing those principles. The trajectory of this country is not positive and particularly for the disadvantaged, as we see what’s happening. The gains in productivity have dropped, the gains in income for the middle class and the least advantaged have slowed, at best.

Q: What do you say to those who believe you have too much influence?

A: Wow, believe me, if I had too much, a lot of things would change. Just like the very things we’ve been talking about -- this trend toward a two-tiered society and the trajectory we’re on that’s taking us there and criminal justice. There are over 1,000 low-income occupations that in some communities, you’ve got to get a license. Florist: what, you’re going to stick your finger? Bartender: he’s going to make your drink too strong? I mean, this is nonsense!

Q: How is it fair that people who have more money have more of a voice in politics? Isn’t that an imbalance?

A: Well, voice, what does that mean? I mean, the government is largely influenced by people who advocate corporate welfare and advocate these policies that create this two-tiered society … So I mean, a voice, yeah, we get more press. You all are interested in what we say. But are we really having an influence? I mean, I would get rid of all the corporate welfare. We fight against all of it. We make a lot of money out all this corporate welfare because we can’t do anything about it. If you aren’t allowed to export natural gas -- we are the biggest industrial user of natural gas. We use 4 percent of the industrial consumption of natural gas. And if it was allowed to fully export, the price of natural gas would go up, our costs would go up … But I believe unless we do that, we’re not going to preserve our free society.

Please go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/04/charles-koch-on-the-2016-race-climate-change-and-whether-he-has-too-much-power/?hpid=z5 to read the entire interview.

Final comment – there is no one man on the face of this earth who benefits more from “corporate welfare” than Warren Buffett.  He supports Hillary Clinton for President and the media does not attack him in any way, shape or form.  Yet, Charles Koch, a business man who unselfishly opposes such greed is pilloried by the Hollywood media (Democrats.)