Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Afghanistan: McChrystal Struggles To Make Sense Of Obama's Communication Break Down

General Stan McChrystal was appointed by President Obama to orchestrate the war in Afghanistan as the new U.S. Commander. This was not only an honor bestowed, but also a testimony to his leadership, extensive military knowledge, and situation analysis. As a graduate from West Point (1976) he has brought a resume worthy of America’s confidence. But who is the President now deferring to in order to sort out the mission statement and requirements in this arena? General McChrystal disclosed to David Martin (CBS) in an interview that he had only talked to the President once in 70 days. Mr. Obama has talked more to his golf caddies! Why, he has even taken time out to address the Olympic committee. Doesn’t he know we have come so far and that there are dire consequences for just PLAYING WAR? Every American soldier should enter combat confident that his leaders are on his/her side. If we allow Al-Qaeda to overrun Afghanistan, then they will confidently set their sights on their next conquest. Now, I know it is easier to let the “other guy" stand up for what is right; but we are the “other guy". We need to realize when we get comfortable, we are most vulnerable. There is only one way to win a war... DECISIVELY!

Note: No one wants to start a war...But someone has to finish it!

May God bless America...and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 9-30-09

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

'Nuclear Option'...It's Not Just For Country Vs. Country...Right, Senator Reid?

Senator Harry Reid (Nevada-D) has yet another ace up his…okay…I’ll say sleeve. It is a handy little option called RECONCILIATION, fondly know as the “Nuclear Option”. No, he isn’t going to blow up a section of the United States, however, the impact (economically) could be just as devastating to Americans. It would allow the Democrats to push through major parts of the health care plan with a majority vote instead of the usual votes needed to avoid a filibuster (60 votes). Apparently he threatened to use it Tuesday. "If we can't work this out to do something within the committee structure, then we'll be forced to do the reconciliation," Reid said. Senator Reid and the President (like so many in the House and Senate) are taking the position…DO SOMETHING, EVEN IF IT’S WRONG! Well, it is just that…wrong. When President Obama took office the American people chose as their number one priority to FIX THE ECONOMY. Choosing health care as the priority is like wanting to paint a house that is on fire. Until we get our economy stabilized, with facts and figures all economists can agree are “reality based”, we need to keep plugging away at the health care plan until we get it right. Concerns emanate from both sides of the aisle. There are fears that some middle-class workers (there are always more than some) including those in risky occupations such as mining and police work being inflicted with the new tax on high-premium insurance plans. I’m wondering about the military, myself. And what about the illegal immigrants? Well, it offers no guarantee that they won’t get assistance from the government…our government…to buy insurance. The list of sticking points has reached well over 500, Harry. We are heading for a “Nuclear Nightmare” if we don’t wake-up and work-out the core problems.

Note: Wisdom dictates a timetable; Foolishness chooses helter-skelter.

May God bless America…and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 9-22-09

Monday, September 21, 2009

George Stephanopoulos' Obama Interview...And You!

In a White House interview with Barack Obama, George Stephanopoulos (ABC) engaged the President in a "sticking point" of controversy for millions of Americans. Stephanopoulos: Probably the most definitive promise you made in the campaign is that no one in the middle class would get a tax increase on your watch... Yet this week, Senator Rockefeller and several other Democrats say that this bill by Senator Baucus is a big middle class tax increase. Do you agree and does that mean you can't sign it? Obama did not agree. What is alarming is that he started with the words "I think what they were referring to..." and began to wax eloquently from there. When it comes to something of this magnitude in cost and taxpayer responsibility...everyone should be on the same page and there should be no surmising. If Congress and the President cannot give us book, chapter, and verse on what something means...consistently...then they had better "hold off" while we "hold on" to what we can understand.

Note: Life should be what you make of it...not what the government doles out.

May God bless America...and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 9-21-09

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

"Trigger Option" Or Bait And Switch?

In a perfect world...where honesty reigns supreme...if the Washington congressional leaders (and the President) told us that a "TRIGGER OPTION" would be used only if private insurance companies failed to provide affordable health care...I would almost get onboard with that plan...almost. You may recall that our "transparent" government...ahem...has on more than one occasion said one thing and done another. I for one want a little more than their word...which isn't worth too much these days...that the "TRIGGER", which just so happens to be the name of Roy Rogers' deceased horse, doesn't manifest itself into a horse of a different color...a trojan horse. There are too many escape hatches in the belly of that beast. Couldn't the government come out the back door and squeeze out the competition? Don't forget there is that lovely leverage of legislation. After all, you know about their insatiable appetite for making rules, guidelines, and laws. They could bury the competition in paperwork, lawsuits, and fines while they ride off into the sunset knowing their TRIGGER should have been named SWITCH...as in BAIT AND SWITCH.

Note: When an option is forced upon you...it is no longer an option.

May God bless America...and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 9-09-09

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

I WENT TO A TOWN HALL MEETING...

Last week I went to an official TOWN HALL MEETING. There was clapping for favorable remarks and booing for unfavorable ones. An unremarkable event I'd say...Well, except for one 22-year-old man who was legally blind and had beat all odds and predictions that he would never live more than six weeks, at his birth. Fighting back the tears, he wanted to know if the new proposed health care would have let him, and others like him, die. Oh, there was also the young lady, who would turn 90-years-old in two short days, wanting to know if her health care plan would be done away with under the "New Deal"...It had thus far served her well. Come to think of it...there was a retired military serviceman who had read the entire health care proposal and was alarmed at how drastically it was going to affect servicemen and women...especially retirees. I went to the meeting to hear about health care and I got more than I bargained for when one tear-stained woman expressed an inability to even give hope to her two elementary aged sons because clearly, she was not getting anything concrete to cling to from Washington. Charisma and vagueness can only get you so far, Mr. President. People are actually starting to listen to what you say. I have even heard you state something and contradict yourself in only three sentences. I guess the saddest comment of the night was made by a woman who said that for the first time in her life...she was hesitant to put her name on the attendance sheet, of the TOWN HALL MEETING, out of fear of some type of retribution. Mr. President...that speaks volumes about your administration. Is this the legacy you seek? Well, it's the reputation you've got. The first and cheapest health care you could give us now is MENTAL HEALTH CARE...by telling Americans that you are not here to abbreviate one single freedom expressed in the Constitution, but rather to celebrate our rights. It won't cost you a cent, but it will certainly add to the wellness of millions of Americans who are downing antacids in greater number these days.

Note: Washington cannot hear the words of the loudest mime...Get verbal!

May God bless America...and may America deserve it!
Zanne Booker 9-09-09