What a great time. The elections are over, with a lot of change in store (I hope). The big presidential trip to India is coming up, so many exciting things!
Here on the home front, exciting things are happening too! The my final review of Bailey Black proofs is completed and the proof are now at the publisher for final editing. I don't know when the first printing will run, but I am keeping my fingers crossed for a pre-Christmas release. This has been a learning experience for me, with mistakes made, but knowledge gained as well. I don't know that I will use the same publisher next time, or maybe so. Another book is in the works, as well as some articles pertaining to Texas history, which is my true love, as far as writing is concerned.
I am currently typing in the beach house, but I will certainly be out of here by the end of the week. My Internet service will be turned off today, so after this posting, I will be forced to pirate free Internet somewhere to keep the blog going. I hope if you don't here from me for a day or two, you will bear with me. Within a few days I will be up and running again in a new base of operations, as we used to say in the PI business. Of course my "base of operations" was a spare corner that my wife let me sit in and use my laptop. She is sometimes picky about my "office space."
So, I will have news about Bailey Black hitting the shelves soon, I hope. And I will be taking my final walk along the beach. After this, strolls along the beach will be only at vacation time. And I can't wait! But, having said that, I also look forward to returning to the desert. There is sand there, just not as much water. But the deepest blue sky is waiting out there, and those sunsets that just can't be equaled. So, while there is some sadness at leaving the beach, there is a lot of anticipation about returning to the desert and the new job out there. Sweetie will follow me in only four weeks, instead of TWO YEARS!
I appreciate everyone who has taken time to read my little blog. I am grateful for each one of you. I am honored to have some readers from Mexico, Canada and from overseas as well. So again, bear with me a few days while I relocate, then I will be back to spouting out non-essential knowledge and stuff (that is the professional term for it). Take care, and I will be back soon!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Elections: The Day After
On Wednesday, the day after elections, President Obama addressed the American people. He noted that the American people "had spoken" and that Americans were not happy with the current situation of the nation. Further, he said that he would do his best to find "common ground" with the new Congress. This was a very conciliatory and promising statement. Too bad it did not reflect the President's true intentions and beliefs.
In an a statement President Obama issued to Move.org, what he said was a little different, but, I believe, much more accurately reflected his true intentions and plans during the next two years he has in office. Mr. Obama said "the message I got from the election results were that Americans were upset because changes were not coming FAST ENOUGH (my emphasis)." The President went on to say that "we" (himself and his supporters) must go on with their agenda and keep the nation headed in its current direction, IN SPITE OF THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION(! My emphasis again). He further said that the "rest of the people" needed a little more time to be brought on board. Nevertheless, he intends to proceed with his plans regardless of the elections.
President Obama obviously did not get the message that the vast majority of the voters (which of course is the American people) DO NOT SUPPORT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION OR THE CURRENT CONGRESS, NOR THEIR POLICIES. How much more clear can the point be made, Mr. Obama!? The people do not want MORE of your change, and they do not want your change FASTER. They DO NOT SUPPORT YOU ANY LONGER, Mr. President. Read the people will no longer tolerate the arrogant and out-of-touch government, that business as usual will not work. Unfortunately, the survivors have a lot of time to pass some really bad legislation without fear. They are now lame ducks, but lame ducks with a lot of power and time left on their hands.
Now is the time for the American people to keep track of what is happening in Congress and in the White House. Laws that are passed in the Lame Duck Session can be repealed by the new Congress IF the American people will hold the Congress accountable and demand action. The President is here for two more years. Unfortunately, the Senate is still in the hands of the Democrats. The possibility of a deadlocked Congress is very real until 2012. But a deadlock is much preferable to the current situation. Let us keep our memories fresh, and demand action in 2012. Those who are not responsive to the people can be turned out in 2012 just like the old crowd were this Tuesday.
In an a statement President Obama issued to Move.org, what he said was a little different, but, I believe, much more accurately reflected his true intentions and plans during the next two years he has in office. Mr. Obama said "the message I got from the election results were that Americans were upset because changes were not coming FAST ENOUGH (my emphasis)." The President went on to say that "we" (himself and his supporters) must go on with their agenda and keep the nation headed in its current direction, IN SPITE OF THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION(! My emphasis again). He further said that the "rest of the people" needed a little more time to be brought on board. Nevertheless, he intends to proceed with his plans regardless of the elections.
President Obama obviously did not get the message that the vast majority of the voters (which of course is the American people) DO NOT SUPPORT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION OR THE CURRENT CONGRESS, NOR THEIR POLICIES. How much more clear can the point be made, Mr. Obama!? The people do not want MORE of your change, and they do not want your change FASTER. They DO NOT SUPPORT YOU ANY LONGER, Mr. President. Read the people will no longer tolerate the arrogant and out-of-touch government, that business as usual will not work. Unfortunately, the survivors have a lot of time to pass some really bad legislation without fear. They are now lame ducks, but lame ducks with a lot of power and time left on their hands.
Now is the time for the American people to keep track of what is happening in Congress and in the White House. Laws that are passed in the Lame Duck Session can be repealed by the new Congress IF the American people will hold the Congress accountable and demand action. The President is here for two more years. Unfortunately, the Senate is still in the hands of the Democrats. The possibility of a deadlocked Congress is very real until 2012. But a deadlock is much preferable to the current situation. Let us keep our memories fresh, and demand action in 2012. Those who are not responsive to the people can be turned out in 2012 just like the old crowd were this Tuesday.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The War In Mexico
War is raging in Mexico now! Did I say "war?" That is exactly what I meant to say.
I demand that our new and returning legislators look to the events transpiring daily in Mexico and take action to protect our borders now!
In Mexico at this moment, the government is drawing plans to build a "police city" near the city of Monterrey. This project will be a protected subdivision where police officers and their families will reside in relative safety, according to the Nuevo Leon Secretary General. This project is the first of four planned across Mexico. The intent is to shield the families and off-duty officers from the constant threat of retaliation at the hands of the drug gangs. I applaud this effort on the part of the Mexican government. It is a step forward in the ongoing drug wars. But let us look at the deeper meaning here.
As well-intentioned, and necessary, as the "police city" may be, the project ultimately tells us that the government of Mexico is not able (or willing in some cases) to curtail the violence and rein in the criminal gangs. This is a loud and clear message and one that should not be misunderstood. Mexico is in a state of chaos. There is a very real war being waged, with each of the participating factions facing a two-front war. The military/police of the legitimate government are fighting the drug cartels AND corrupt officials and police. The drug cartels are fighting government forces and other drug cartels.
War, of course, means gunfire, bombings, killings, executions, kidnapping, and all the other evils associated with one force trying to defeat another. Unfortunately, the ordinary Mexican citizen is caught in the crossfire. And, increasingly, tourists are being targeted as well. The death toll since 2006 is well over 28,000 people. For years the Mexican government insisted that the casualties were drug gangs and police officers or soldiers. But the truth is that Mexican citizens have been casualties since day one. If they were not killed outright, they were terrorized by the cartels and on occasion mistreated by the police and the military. And now, even the "mainstream" press of the United States cannot ignore the suffering of the Mexican citizenry and the mounting death tolls. Mass graves containing scores of bodies are common-place. Just a few days ago, persons unknown shot at least fifteen people at a drug rehabilitation center. I have lost track of how many police officers have been killed since Commander Flores was found beheaded last month.
It is a sad commentary on the press and maybe on you and me as well, that as long as those dying were "only" Mexican citizens, there was not a lot of American press coverage, and not a lot of American interest, in the killings and the misery being experienced in Mexico. But after a few American citizens, and a Canadian, were killed, suddenly coverage was a little wider, and maybe a few more people were paying attention. Maybe for the wrong reasons, but paying attention, just the same. For instance, people planning trips to Acapulco, and even Cancun, have suddenly revisited their plans. Tourists wanting to visit the Mayan ruins are thinking twice. Now that Americans are in danger (really they have been for some time) there is growing concern and outrage at the situation in Mexico.
The Mexican people are somewhat upset at the coverage of the murder of David Hartley, and the rather lengthy investigation, that ultimately cost Commander Flores his life. They have good reason to be upset. Mexicans are murdered and assaulted at a daily rate that is mind boggling, to say the least. If the police are not able to help them, and the military is not able to secure the countryside, why should the police spend so much time trying to solve the murder of an American who strayed into a dangerous area and paid the price. Many people in Mexico are afraid to cross the street. Weddings and parties are becoming favorite targets for cartel terrorists. Store owners across the nation must either pay one or more cartels "protection" fees, or they must close their doors, if the stores are not burned down first. Can you imagine sending your children to school under these circumstances?
I am not sure what the United States government can do for Mexico. It may be that the only course for Mexico is all out war for the very existence of that nation. But I do know what the United States government can do for United States citizens. Indeed, I call on and demand that the new government take action to protect our borders and our border cities from the war raging just across a narrow river. And I propose two steps that the government should take immediately.
First, I demand that we pull all United States forces from all the "brush wars" and "police actions" we are engaged in world wide, and return these forces to the United States. I include Afghanistan and Iraq in this demand for one reason: we have been fighting in both of these countries for over nine years with nothing to show for the high price we have paid. I did not agree with the Second Gulf War, but it happened, and the goal was obtained, that Saddam was captured and eventually executed. Why are we STILL THERE? In Afghanistan, no victory is in sight, and no real objectives have been set. The people of Afghanistan do not want us there. I know, they will go back to growing poppies and to a fundamental Muslim government...but that appears to be what they WANT. Do not the people of a nation have the right to choose what form of government they want? I don't approve, but it is not my business. But we in American should not forget one thing: it was the Soviet War with Afghanistan that brought about the economic downfall and eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. I do not want history to repeat itself in regard to the United States. Again, WHY ARE WE STILL THERE? Bring all of these troops and their equipment back to the United States.
Second, I demand that we "militarize" the United States border. What? You cannot be serious! We are the freedom loving United States of America, where everyone is welcome! I am serious, and yes, I said MILITARIZE. There is a WAR being fought in Mexico, and the government there IS NOT WINNING at the moment. The Mexican military has its hands full fighting the drug cartels. The military cannot possibly seal its own borders...they can barely keep ahead of the cartels. The ease of crossing from Mexico into the United States has assured that the war WILL spread into South Texas, and probably across Texas, as time goes on. We have no right to ask the Border Patrol, a POLICE agency, to defend our borders against heavily armed drug cartels and other criminal gangs. That is not the mission of the Border Patrol, and they are too few and too poorly armed to carry out that mission. But the returning United States forces could be deployed along the border, and at much less expense than stationing the same forces overseas. Of course, the armed forces would have to be actually authorized to use force, too. That should have gone without saying, but currently national guard troops that are deployed have orders not to use force, so this is not as inane is it sounds.
So there is a war going on right at our back door. So far our government is doing nothing to protect us. I demand that the new government respond to the wishes of the American people by protecting US, not occupying nations that do not want us there in the first place. The war is here!
I demand that our new and returning legislators look to the events transpiring daily in Mexico and take action to protect our borders now!
In Mexico at this moment, the government is drawing plans to build a "police city" near the city of Monterrey. This project will be a protected subdivision where police officers and their families will reside in relative safety, according to the Nuevo Leon Secretary General. This project is the first of four planned across Mexico. The intent is to shield the families and off-duty officers from the constant threat of retaliation at the hands of the drug gangs. I applaud this effort on the part of the Mexican government. It is a step forward in the ongoing drug wars. But let us look at the deeper meaning here.
As well-intentioned, and necessary, as the "police city" may be, the project ultimately tells us that the government of Mexico is not able (or willing in some cases) to curtail the violence and rein in the criminal gangs. This is a loud and clear message and one that should not be misunderstood. Mexico is in a state of chaos. There is a very real war being waged, with each of the participating factions facing a two-front war. The military/police of the legitimate government are fighting the drug cartels AND corrupt officials and police. The drug cartels are fighting government forces and other drug cartels.
War, of course, means gunfire, bombings, killings, executions, kidnapping, and all the other evils associated with one force trying to defeat another. Unfortunately, the ordinary Mexican citizen is caught in the crossfire. And, increasingly, tourists are being targeted as well. The death toll since 2006 is well over 28,000 people. For years the Mexican government insisted that the casualties were drug gangs and police officers or soldiers. But the truth is that Mexican citizens have been casualties since day one. If they were not killed outright, they were terrorized by the cartels and on occasion mistreated by the police and the military. And now, even the "mainstream" press of the United States cannot ignore the suffering of the Mexican citizenry and the mounting death tolls. Mass graves containing scores of bodies are common-place. Just a few days ago, persons unknown shot at least fifteen people at a drug rehabilitation center. I have lost track of how many police officers have been killed since Commander Flores was found beheaded last month.
It is a sad commentary on the press and maybe on you and me as well, that as long as those dying were "only" Mexican citizens, there was not a lot of American press coverage, and not a lot of American interest, in the killings and the misery being experienced in Mexico. But after a few American citizens, and a Canadian, were killed, suddenly coverage was a little wider, and maybe a few more people were paying attention. Maybe for the wrong reasons, but paying attention, just the same. For instance, people planning trips to Acapulco, and even Cancun, have suddenly revisited their plans. Tourists wanting to visit the Mayan ruins are thinking twice. Now that Americans are in danger (really they have been for some time) there is growing concern and outrage at the situation in Mexico.
The Mexican people are somewhat upset at the coverage of the murder of David Hartley, and the rather lengthy investigation, that ultimately cost Commander Flores his life. They have good reason to be upset. Mexicans are murdered and assaulted at a daily rate that is mind boggling, to say the least. If the police are not able to help them, and the military is not able to secure the countryside, why should the police spend so much time trying to solve the murder of an American who strayed into a dangerous area and paid the price. Many people in Mexico are afraid to cross the street. Weddings and parties are becoming favorite targets for cartel terrorists. Store owners across the nation must either pay one or more cartels "protection" fees, or they must close their doors, if the stores are not burned down first. Can you imagine sending your children to school under these circumstances?
I am not sure what the United States government can do for Mexico. It may be that the only course for Mexico is all out war for the very existence of that nation. But I do know what the United States government can do for United States citizens. Indeed, I call on and demand that the new government take action to protect our borders and our border cities from the war raging just across a narrow river. And I propose two steps that the government should take immediately.
First, I demand that we pull all United States forces from all the "brush wars" and "police actions" we are engaged in world wide, and return these forces to the United States. I include Afghanistan and Iraq in this demand for one reason: we have been fighting in both of these countries for over nine years with nothing to show for the high price we have paid. I did not agree with the Second Gulf War, but it happened, and the goal was obtained, that Saddam was captured and eventually executed. Why are we STILL THERE? In Afghanistan, no victory is in sight, and no real objectives have been set. The people of Afghanistan do not want us there. I know, they will go back to growing poppies and to a fundamental Muslim government...but that appears to be what they WANT. Do not the people of a nation have the right to choose what form of government they want? I don't approve, but it is not my business. But we in American should not forget one thing: it was the Soviet War with Afghanistan that brought about the economic downfall and eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. I do not want history to repeat itself in regard to the United States. Again, WHY ARE WE STILL THERE? Bring all of these troops and their equipment back to the United States.
Second, I demand that we "militarize" the United States border. What? You cannot be serious! We are the freedom loving United States of America, where everyone is welcome! I am serious, and yes, I said MILITARIZE. There is a WAR being fought in Mexico, and the government there IS NOT WINNING at the moment. The Mexican military has its hands full fighting the drug cartels. The military cannot possibly seal its own borders...they can barely keep ahead of the cartels. The ease of crossing from Mexico into the United States has assured that the war WILL spread into South Texas, and probably across Texas, as time goes on. We have no right to ask the Border Patrol, a POLICE agency, to defend our borders against heavily armed drug cartels and other criminal gangs. That is not the mission of the Border Patrol, and they are too few and too poorly armed to carry out that mission. But the returning United States forces could be deployed along the border, and at much less expense than stationing the same forces overseas. Of course, the armed forces would have to be actually authorized to use force, too. That should have gone without saying, but currently national guard troops that are deployed have orders not to use force, so this is not as inane is it sounds.
So there is a war going on right at our back door. So far our government is doing nothing to protect us. I demand that the new government respond to the wishes of the American people by protecting US, not occupying nations that do not want us there in the first place. The war is here!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Election Today
I hope everyone was able to get out and vote today. Many of you may have voted early. Either way, perhaps more than any other time since the War Between the States, this mid-term election is crucial. I believe that the very Constitution of the United States is under attack. The results of this election will directly determine how much more of our civil liberties we are willing to yield to the Government. Capital G means to me the emphasis over that part of the government that we (The PEOPLE) did not elect, vote for, have input in, and otherwise are not in favor of. Bad grammar yes, but true sentiment.
So many bills these days are placed before legislators (who represent US!!) who have no idea what is actually contained in these bills. How could they? Many bills are documents consisting of over two thousand pages. These bills are many times drafted by "special interests" who will directly benefit from passage, as well as by congressional employees acting at their employers' directions. Of course, added into the already too large to comprehend bill packages are "riders," those extra little measures that are included, but have nothing to do (generally) with the original bills. Many times these riders consist of measures so distasteful, that they would never be passed into law if they were viewed on their own merits. But, inserted to other bills, these measures are passed because the main piece of legislation is passed by Congress.
So the Obamacare national health bill is now law. Who knows all the things this new law will entail? Unfortunately, it is much easier to pass laws than it is to rescind them later when time shows these laws to be misguided, ineffective, and even unconstitutional. The DISCLOSE Act, for instance, is being passed off as means of protecting voters at election time. Instead it effectively gags smaller political groups, organizations, and individuals while allowing large political and special interest groups and large corporations to promote political advertisements right up to poll time. This same bill also makes it easy to "investigate" dangerous persons or groups (such as the Tea Party) while cloaking major corporations, political action committees, and INCUMBENT politicians in secrecy.
No, sir, this did not start with President Obama, "Let me be perfectly clear about this!" to quote our leader. Civil rights were on the way out as far back as in the nineties, with various assaults on the First and Fourth Amendments by those in power, both Democrats and Republicans. The most vicious attacks on the Constitution; however, occurred in the post-9-1-1 America, when the PATRIOT Act was rammed through Congress. Much like anyone who opposed the Second Gulf War were branded as traitors, those Congressmen who dared object to the many blatant unconstitutional measures contained in this very vile bill were called, of course, UN-patriotic. Actually only a very few received this treatment, as most Senators and Representatives bleated their obedience and joined the ranks of the common Sheeple. Incidentally, when did it become unpatriotic to support the Bill of Rights? I thought our Senators and Representatives took an oath to UPHOLD the Constitution. Oops, my bad!
So Mr. Obama is not the first to thumb his nose at civil liberties. Mr. G. W. Bush and Mr. G.H.W. Bush were right up in the pack, as was Bill Clinton. And, ironically, many of those who voted for King Hussein...er President Obama, were actually voting AGAINST President Hillary Clinton. I can understand that, actually...take the unknown evil over the known and feared evil.
Getting back to the election today...it is imperative to vote if you are fed up with the way things are going. Unfortunately, the choice is often the incumbent versus a person who will bleat right along with the other Congressional Sheeple. It is wise to remember that the incumbent, Democrat OR Republican, has probably toed the line, with the exception of the few such as Ron Paul, who dare uphold the Constitution and do what they can to thwart the Congressional sheeple, who are really minions of the President. Remember, the incumbent, even if it is a Republican, has more than likely stood with the President on many issues. These incumbents should be turned out like the rest.
If, on the other hand, you are totally satisfied with the situation of our nation at the moment, then vote for the Sheeple...and God help us, everyone!
So many bills these days are placed before legislators (who represent US!!) who have no idea what is actually contained in these bills. How could they? Many bills are documents consisting of over two thousand pages. These bills are many times drafted by "special interests" who will directly benefit from passage, as well as by congressional employees acting at their employers' directions. Of course, added into the already too large to comprehend bill packages are "riders," those extra little measures that are included, but have nothing to do (generally) with the original bills. Many times these riders consist of measures so distasteful, that they would never be passed into law if they were viewed on their own merits. But, inserted to other bills, these measures are passed because the main piece of legislation is passed by Congress.
So the Obamacare national health bill is now law. Who knows all the things this new law will entail? Unfortunately, it is much easier to pass laws than it is to rescind them later when time shows these laws to be misguided, ineffective, and even unconstitutional. The DISCLOSE Act, for instance, is being passed off as means of protecting voters at election time. Instead it effectively gags smaller political groups, organizations, and individuals while allowing large political and special interest groups and large corporations to promote political advertisements right up to poll time. This same bill also makes it easy to "investigate" dangerous persons or groups (such as the Tea Party) while cloaking major corporations, political action committees, and INCUMBENT politicians in secrecy.
No, sir, this did not start with President Obama, "Let me be perfectly clear about this!" to quote our leader. Civil rights were on the way out as far back as in the nineties, with various assaults on the First and Fourth Amendments by those in power, both Democrats and Republicans. The most vicious attacks on the Constitution; however, occurred in the post-9-1-1 America, when the PATRIOT Act was rammed through Congress. Much like anyone who opposed the Second Gulf War were branded as traitors, those Congressmen who dared object to the many blatant unconstitutional measures contained in this very vile bill were called, of course, UN-patriotic. Actually only a very few received this treatment, as most Senators and Representatives bleated their obedience and joined the ranks of the common Sheeple. Incidentally, when did it become unpatriotic to support the Bill of Rights? I thought our Senators and Representatives took an oath to UPHOLD the Constitution. Oops, my bad!
So Mr. Obama is not the first to thumb his nose at civil liberties. Mr. G. W. Bush and Mr. G.H.W. Bush were right up in the pack, as was Bill Clinton. And, ironically, many of those who voted for King Hussein...er President Obama, were actually voting AGAINST President Hillary Clinton. I can understand that, actually...take the unknown evil over the known and feared evil.
Getting back to the election today...it is imperative to vote if you are fed up with the way things are going. Unfortunately, the choice is often the incumbent versus a person who will bleat right along with the other Congressional Sheeple. It is wise to remember that the incumbent, Democrat OR Republican, has probably toed the line, with the exception of the few such as Ron Paul, who dare uphold the Constitution and do what they can to thwart the Congressional sheeple, who are really minions of the President. Remember, the incumbent, even if it is a Republican, has more than likely stood with the President on many issues. These incumbents should be turned out like the rest.
If, on the other hand, you are totally satisfied with the situation of our nation at the moment, then vote for the Sheeple...and God help us, everyone!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Bailey Black
I had some good news from the publisher this week. Proofs of my book and cover art are ready for my review. This happened so much quicker than I thought it would. My contract allowed a deadline of one year from the effective date in September. So I am really pleased at the speed at which everything was done.
My next order of business is to do a review of the "editing" and get all the little quirks, as many as possible, worked out and corrected. I am really pleased with the cover art. It really complements the theme of the story of Bailey Black. I will not describe it any further so you will have to wait until it is for sale to see it. I appreciate my little group of fans, and I hope you remain fans AFTER reading the story. Regardless, it was an adventure writing it, and it will be an even larger adventure as I go through the process of publishing and actually getting the book available in stores. It will of course be available on line as well.
I have not been able to blog for a few days due to some strange problems with the Internet service on the island. That is one of the drawbacks of living in paradise; as life is laid back, so are repairmen. I am not sure when it will actually be fixed. Tonight I am borrowing Internet the local hospital. So my blogging will be sporadic, and will coincide with the availability of free Internet, and the eventual repair of my home Internet service.
Again, I would like to express my appreciation for all of you who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Bailey Black. It should be fairly soon now!
My next order of business is to do a review of the "editing" and get all the little quirks, as many as possible, worked out and corrected. I am really pleased with the cover art. It really complements the theme of the story of Bailey Black. I will not describe it any further so you will have to wait until it is for sale to see it. I appreciate my little group of fans, and I hope you remain fans AFTER reading the story. Regardless, it was an adventure writing it, and it will be an even larger adventure as I go through the process of publishing and actually getting the book available in stores. It will of course be available on line as well.
I have not been able to blog for a few days due to some strange problems with the Internet service on the island. That is one of the drawbacks of living in paradise; as life is laid back, so are repairmen. I am not sure when it will actually be fixed. Tonight I am borrowing Internet the local hospital. So my blogging will be sporadic, and will coincide with the availability of free Internet, and the eventual repair of my home Internet service.
Again, I would like to express my appreciation for all of you who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Bailey Black. It should be fairly soon now!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
The War in Mexico: Every Police Officer in Los Ramones Resigns After Firefight!
The news this morning was that the entire twenty-one member police force of Los Ramones resigned after the police station was attacked. None of the officers inside were injured, fortunately, through no fault of the attackers. At least two hand-grenades exploded, and all six police vehicles parked at the time were either blown up or riddled with bullets. Having myself been a police officer in the past, I cannot blame these men for quitting. I honestly don't know that I would return to work under the current conditions. As of this moment there has been no news as to whether any of the officers have been attacked in their homes.
The attack on the Los Ramones police facility was carried out by one or the other of the local drug cartels. I suppose it is not inconceivable that, just for a moment, the two cartels could drop their differences and attack the police in unison. Whether this was the case or not, the police were outgunned, and probably outnumbered. Whether or not the cartels acted separately, either of them could muster more than enough manpower to overwhelm the local police force. Unfortunately, the Los Ramones incident is not the first of its kind, nor will it be the last, as the drug war continues. No Mexican citizen is safe. Local police officers are virtually assured of imminent death if they continue to serve. Yet many of them do. The state and national police are not much safer, as was so tragically illustrated with the death of Commander Flores. In fact, the Mexican military forces are in the firing line as well, with near daily confrontations with drug cartels all across the Mexican nation.
I believe it is time for the United States to acknowledge what is going on in Mexico. There is three-cornered civil war underway that pits the drug cartels against the civil authority and against the people. The drug cartels are bent on destroying the legitimate government, indeed they are well on the way to meeting that objective. The military and police are clearly a weak corner of the triangle, barely able to hold their own against the criminal gangs' daily attacks on government forces. The weakest angle in the triangle is, of course, the honest residents of the various towns, cities, and countryside who are caught in the middle, and have been since at least 2006.
In 2006 the beloved President Calderon declared war on the the drug cartels. Since that time, over 30, 000 people have died in the conflict, including criminals, soldiers and police, and of course, the innocent (and mostly unarmed) citizens who happen to get caught in the crossfire. The emotional cost, of course, is incalculable. Not only are the Mexican people grieving their dead, they increasingly are forced to endure the further horror of knowing that their loved ones were tortured beyond endurance, their corpses then mutilated, many times beyond the point of recognition. I have deep sympathy for the Mexican people, and like I mentioned in my previous blog, a deep respect for those officials that courageously carry on with their duties in the face of overwhelming odds. The situation in Mexico is tragic and outrageous.
The situation in the United States at this time, while not nearly so tragic, as far as loss of life is concerned, is equally outrageous. I am speaking of two things: first, the almost total lack of current and informed coverage of the situation in Mexico; second, the total lack of response from the United States to the situation in Mexico. In tomorrow's blog I will address the latter, the lack of response on the part of the United States government to the Mexican civil war. Suffice for now to say that there is in fact a civil war raging in Mexico. That war has already spilled over the border into Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and other locales north of the Rio Grande. It will only get worse as the government of Mexico falls further into chaos. In the face of this clear and present danger, President Barack Obama has failed to act to secure the safety of American citizens IN AMERICA. He has in fact snubbed the Texas governor, and by extension, the people of Texas, when the governor attempted to personally meet with Obama at the Austin airport. To me the President's lack of concern for the American people is outrageous. Obama's gross negligence toward the safety of the American people may well be the first tangible impeachable offense King Obama has committed to this point.
The attack on the Los Ramones police facility was carried out by one or the other of the local drug cartels. I suppose it is not inconceivable that, just for a moment, the two cartels could drop their differences and attack the police in unison. Whether this was the case or not, the police were outgunned, and probably outnumbered. Whether or not the cartels acted separately, either of them could muster more than enough manpower to overwhelm the local police force. Unfortunately, the Los Ramones incident is not the first of its kind, nor will it be the last, as the drug war continues. No Mexican citizen is safe. Local police officers are virtually assured of imminent death if they continue to serve. Yet many of them do. The state and national police are not much safer, as was so tragically illustrated with the death of Commander Flores. In fact, the Mexican military forces are in the firing line as well, with near daily confrontations with drug cartels all across the Mexican nation.
I believe it is time for the United States to acknowledge what is going on in Mexico. There is three-cornered civil war underway that pits the drug cartels against the civil authority and against the people. The drug cartels are bent on destroying the legitimate government, indeed they are well on the way to meeting that objective. The military and police are clearly a weak corner of the triangle, barely able to hold their own against the criminal gangs' daily attacks on government forces. The weakest angle in the triangle is, of course, the honest residents of the various towns, cities, and countryside who are caught in the middle, and have been since at least 2006.
In 2006 the beloved President Calderon declared war on the the drug cartels. Since that time, over 30, 000 people have died in the conflict, including criminals, soldiers and police, and of course, the innocent (and mostly unarmed) citizens who happen to get caught in the crossfire. The emotional cost, of course, is incalculable. Not only are the Mexican people grieving their dead, they increasingly are forced to endure the further horror of knowing that their loved ones were tortured beyond endurance, their corpses then mutilated, many times beyond the point of recognition. I have deep sympathy for the Mexican people, and like I mentioned in my previous blog, a deep respect for those officials that courageously carry on with their duties in the face of overwhelming odds. The situation in Mexico is tragic and outrageous.
The situation in the United States at this time, while not nearly so tragic, as far as loss of life is concerned, is equally outrageous. I am speaking of two things: first, the almost total lack of current and informed coverage of the situation in Mexico; second, the total lack of response from the United States to the situation in Mexico. In tomorrow's blog I will address the latter, the lack of response on the part of the United States government to the Mexican civil war. Suffice for now to say that there is in fact a civil war raging in Mexico. That war has already spilled over the border into Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and other locales north of the Rio Grande. It will only get worse as the government of Mexico falls further into chaos. In the face of this clear and present danger, President Barack Obama has failed to act to secure the safety of American citizens IN AMERICA. He has in fact snubbed the Texas governor, and by extension, the people of Texas, when the governor attempted to personally meet with Obama at the Austin airport. To me the President's lack of concern for the American people is outrageous. Obama's gross negligence toward the safety of the American people may well be the first tangible impeachable offense King Obama has committed to this point.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
A Persistent Haze Over the Third Coast...and America
Even though the weather today is warmer than usual, in fact, record breaking for the area, there is a persistent haziness in the air that obscures a clear view of the ocean right up to the nearer surf. The oil derricks and passing ships were virtually invisible. I went about my business through the day, had a nice lunch, later picked up my wife at her work and raced back to the island. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the haze had not blown away. Anything more than a few feet off shore was effectively invisible.
As I looked into the haze, I realized that the political and economic view of our great nation is just as hazy and obscure. Our leaders at all levels seem to have purposely set aside the Constitution and the oath each of them took upon their election to public office. No, I am not singling out the current set of politicos, from the president on down to the local county commissioners. Much of the trouble started well before Obama took office, his coat tails overladen with the hangers on who would occupy the lesser offices. George H. W. Bush continued what has become tradition by initiating a war with Iraq that was, among other things, a war to retake oil for western nations at the cost of our American soldiers. The villains, Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Ladin lived to fight another day. President Clinton, with all his antics here at home, failed to complete the task of catching Bin Ladin and dealing with Saddam. Both George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton continued to hack away, or support others who hacked away, at our great Constitution and our civil liberties.
In 2002, George W. Bush, no doubt feeling great pressure to act, ordered the invasion of Iraq (again) with the goal of capturing Hussein. That was accomplished, but now, ten years later, that war rages on, AND we have a new (old) war in Afghanistan that we obligingly took over from the failed Soviet Union. At the same time, George W. Bush also continued the tradition of hacking away at the Constitution by supporting, and signing into law, the infamous PATRIOT Act, one of the most serious attacks on our civil liberties in the history of the United States. Now, Barack Obama, whose patriotism was questionable BEFORE his election, doubly so now, continues to wage the endless wars initiated by his successors, and continues to use his power and influence to dismantle our Constitution at an alarming rate. And we cannot forget the outrageous way King and Queen Obama are frittering away our tax dollars for the largest, most extravagant, most bizarre series of state trips of all time.
As the national assault on our Constitution continues on one front, other issues are tearing this nation apart as well. The never ending wars that our forces are fighting around the world continue. The seemingly endless trillion dollar bailouts (read your money and mine lost instead of that of the criminal bank board members and auto executives), with more on the way. Our "representatives," meantime, are busy passing such Constitution stomping measures as the DISCLOSE Act, the blatant attempt to curtail Internet freedom, the equally blatant attempt to silence the voice of small organizations and political action committees at election time while leaving the huge companies, organizations, and special interest groups free to shout out loud right up to the front doors of the local polling place. One especially outrageous bill (among the many) is a bill that would call for unionization of all public service agencies throughout the United States, effectively taking local control out of the hands of elected city councilmen and county commissioners, and placing command of these agencies in the hand of union leaders (which of course includes members of five certain Families). Do you think you have no control over your police and other public servants now? Just wait till that law passes. And you should know that this very bill will be voted on AFTER the coming election. Those legislators who were afraid to pass these bills BEFORE the elections will have no incentive at all not to trample the Constitution by passing these laws in the "lame suck" session upcoming. These politicians have nothing to lose...BUT YOU AND I HAVE OUR NATION TO LOSE!
Do you love President Obama and the things for which he stands? Do you support Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Leiberman? That is of course your business and your right. But do not allow your support for our first black president and these other power hungry politicians to blind you to our Constitution and the DUTY of our elected officials to UPHOLD it. The current politicians, as well as many of those now out of office, HAVE NOT AND ARE NOT UPHOLDING OUR CONSTITUTION, which is the LAW OF OUR LAND. The United States Constitution is the document that embodies the things that set us apart from most other nations of the world. This same Constitution is being ripped apart at the seams before out very eyes!
You should support those politicians who are truly representing you. But if these same politicians are tearing apart our Constitution and our nation, and you STILL support them, perhaps YOU need to review the Constitution for yourself. Many men and women have fought and died to preserve the rights embodied in that great document, but it appears that the people most hellbent on destroying it (AND YOUR LIBERTIES WITH IT) are our very own elected congressmen and senators. We do not have to let this happen. This is still after all, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is STILL OURS!
As I looked into the haze, I realized that the political and economic view of our great nation is just as hazy and obscure. Our leaders at all levels seem to have purposely set aside the Constitution and the oath each of them took upon their election to public office. No, I am not singling out the current set of politicos, from the president on down to the local county commissioners. Much of the trouble started well before Obama took office, his coat tails overladen with the hangers on who would occupy the lesser offices. George H. W. Bush continued what has become tradition by initiating a war with Iraq that was, among other things, a war to retake oil for western nations at the cost of our American soldiers. The villains, Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Ladin lived to fight another day. President Clinton, with all his antics here at home, failed to complete the task of catching Bin Ladin and dealing with Saddam. Both George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton continued to hack away, or support others who hacked away, at our great Constitution and our civil liberties.
In 2002, George W. Bush, no doubt feeling great pressure to act, ordered the invasion of Iraq (again) with the goal of capturing Hussein. That was accomplished, but now, ten years later, that war rages on, AND we have a new (old) war in Afghanistan that we obligingly took over from the failed Soviet Union. At the same time, George W. Bush also continued the tradition of hacking away at the Constitution by supporting, and signing into law, the infamous PATRIOT Act, one of the most serious attacks on our civil liberties in the history of the United States. Now, Barack Obama, whose patriotism was questionable BEFORE his election, doubly so now, continues to wage the endless wars initiated by his successors, and continues to use his power and influence to dismantle our Constitution at an alarming rate. And we cannot forget the outrageous way King and Queen Obama are frittering away our tax dollars for the largest, most extravagant, most bizarre series of state trips of all time.
As the national assault on our Constitution continues on one front, other issues are tearing this nation apart as well. The never ending wars that our forces are fighting around the world continue. The seemingly endless trillion dollar bailouts (read your money and mine lost instead of that of the criminal bank board members and auto executives), with more on the way. Our "representatives," meantime, are busy passing such Constitution stomping measures as the DISCLOSE Act, the blatant attempt to curtail Internet freedom, the equally blatant attempt to silence the voice of small organizations and political action committees at election time while leaving the huge companies, organizations, and special interest groups free to shout out loud right up to the front doors of the local polling place. One especially outrageous bill (among the many) is a bill that would call for unionization of all public service agencies throughout the United States, effectively taking local control out of the hands of elected city councilmen and county commissioners, and placing command of these agencies in the hand of union leaders (which of course includes members of five certain Families). Do you think you have no control over your police and other public servants now? Just wait till that law passes. And you should know that this very bill will be voted on AFTER the coming election. Those legislators who were afraid to pass these bills BEFORE the elections will have no incentive at all not to trample the Constitution by passing these laws in the "lame suck" session upcoming. These politicians have nothing to lose...BUT YOU AND I HAVE OUR NATION TO LOSE!
Do you love President Obama and the things for which he stands? Do you support Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Leiberman? That is of course your business and your right. But do not allow your support for our first black president and these other power hungry politicians to blind you to our Constitution and the DUTY of our elected officials to UPHOLD it. The current politicians, as well as many of those now out of office, HAVE NOT AND ARE NOT UPHOLDING OUR CONSTITUTION, which is the LAW OF OUR LAND. The United States Constitution is the document that embodies the things that set us apart from most other nations of the world. This same Constitution is being ripped apart at the seams before out very eyes!
You should support those politicians who are truly representing you. But if these same politicians are tearing apart our Constitution and our nation, and you STILL support them, perhaps YOU need to review the Constitution for yourself. Many men and women have fought and died to preserve the rights embodied in that great document, but it appears that the people most hellbent on destroying it (AND YOUR LIBERTIES WITH IT) are our very own elected congressmen and senators. We do not have to let this happen. This is still after all, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is STILL OURS!
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