Defense Spending re Debt Issue

On the first page of the Virginian Pilots "Hampton Roads" section is a picture of two Blue Angels jets flying over the region. One is upside down and it appears the tail fins on both planes are touching. Nice operation and I am sure a great show, however, at $ 18,000 an hour to fly one of these planes, isn't there a better use of $ 36,000 of tax money than to hot-dog it in a mega-million dollar toy?

Sex Scandals and Politics

The Herman Cain campaign's attorney-Lin Wood-made the following comment regarding an accusation-by a Georgia woman-that she had a 13 year affair with Cain. "This is not an accusation of harassment in the workplace-this is not an accusation of an assault-which are subject matters of legitimate inquiry to a political candidate. Rather, this appears to be an accusation of private, alleged consensual conduct between adults-a subject matter which is not a proper subject of inquiry by the media or the public". Well, they didn't say that when it was Clinton doing the boinking.

Political Logic

A family GOPer tells me that the European debt crisis is the key to US politics. That being because if the southern countries in Europe devalue their currency it would adversely impact the US currency. Now those southern Europe countries all have socialist governments and because Obama is a socialist-so they say-then it is important to vote him out of office. How can one argue with that kind of logic.

Miscellaneous News

Some items of interest to this writer. A letter to the editor of the Virginian Pilot on 11/26/11 stated that the congressional panel-"Debt Panel"-should resign due to their failure to come to a final decision on the debt. These were members of congress noted for their commitment to their country and their "ability to accomplish a task". Unfortunately this request will be totally ignored by the congressmen in question.

Second item was the news that since 2001 there have been 23 CIA agents killed in the line of duty. The article was asking people to donate money for the future education of their children. One of the agents killed was part of a team that went into Afghanistan 16 days after the 911 attacks. The site to send donations is "ciamemorialfoundation.org".

US Budget Problems

A news letter from the office of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, notes that while Bush II inherited from Clinton a budget surplus, he managed to convert that into "record-breaking deficits because of Bush's huge tax breaks for the rich, two wars, the Medicare Part D prescription drug program written by the insurance industry and the Wall Street bailout-all unpaid for. Now, having driven up the national debt, those same Republicans are hell-bent on moving toward 'deficit reduction'". Why is Bernie Sanders the only politician making this point? It seems to me that the republican party has intentionally created this trillion dollar deficit problem in an effort to cut domestic programs which they can't stand, or take credit for.

Political Priorities

I thought the following quote from The Record newspaper was a good indication of where the two major parties stand on the issue of debt reduction. "...Republicans demanding large cuts in benefit programs such as Social Security and Medicare while Democrats pressed for additional tax revenue as a condition for agreeing to make deep spending cuts". That still leaves me in dismay. If the GOP gives in to the tax increases will the democrats then agree to cut Social Security and Medicare? That is a proposal I would never support, knowing that the present economic crisis we face was caused originally by the fighting of wars we didn't need to fight and giving away a trillion dollars to the rich under the Bush II tax plan of 2003. Social Security did not cause the problem thus there is no reason to make Social Security pay for it.

(Source: "Democrats revamp super committee offer" by David Espo and Andrew Taylor of the AP. In The Record on 11/10/11).

American Politics

Herman Cain is a candidate for president of the United States; a position that has been described as the most powerful office in the free world. Cain has presented a plan to radically change our income tax structure and the way the federal government funds itself. It is referred to as the "9-9-9" plan and would alter individual, corporate income taxes, capital gains taxes and sales taxes. It is an important topic for Americans to discuss and decide on. At the same time he has been accused of sexual misconduct that occurred some 20 years ago. Guess which of these issues is getting major coverage on nightly news programs? I will not insult your intelligence to answer that question.

Another view on this issue is the following. I am not going to vote for a republican-maybe not a democrat either-and I would most certainly not support the flat tax concept that is part of the "9-9-9" plan. Thus the negative issue that Cain now faces regarding his behavior toward women, for me, serves and important purpose. That being to discredit Cain and thus in the process, his tax plan. By my way of thinking, if you can't get him one way, you get him another. It is almost akin to the feds going after Al Capone in the 1930's. They couldn't get him for murder so they went after his income tax return. I know, this is a hell of an analogy but I throw it out there anyway. I am not comparing Cain to Capone, but if his income tax program won't sink his candidacy then hopefully the sexual misconduct issue will.

Herman Cain

Herman Cain-the GOP candidate for President-stated on FOX news online that he believes "race" is a factor in the stories that have come out about him and the issue of sexual harassment. He also believes that "Democrats, liberals" are behind the attacks and "some people on the right" are also to blame. However, he stated that he believes "race" is the motivating factor for democrats and liberals. What a crock, republicans spread negative personal attacks on each other and they blame democrats for them. Charles Krauthamer on FOX news asks him about the issue and its the "liberal press" that is out to get him? It would seem to me that his response to the sexual harassment charge is worse than the charge itself. If he would have been forthright and contrite from the first, the story would have faded away, and as Nixon would tell you, when you start lying the molehill becomes a mountain.