Three Mini-Rants: Congress Moves on Chinese Currency; St. Dominic's Shootings; Are These Obama's Friends?

Sometimes events happen so fast, you have to address all of them. Here are three mini-rants.

1) Giving Credit Where Credit is Due: While there has been plenty of duly earned criticism of Congress for leaving Washington without resolving the tax cut expiration issue, not much attention was given to a truly bi-partisan measure passed overwhelmingly today by Congress laying the groundwork for resolution of the China currency issue. As I understand it, unless China allows its currency to float rather than keeping it pegged artificially low to the dollar, Congress will enact a sweeping 25% tariff against all Chinese goods entering into the United States. Glenn Beck doesn’t like it, and ranted on his radio program this morning. But on this issue, both Dems and Republicans are stunningly united, and I say “huzza!” Now if they only have the courage of their convictions to enforce it. Outside of energy independence, resolution of the China currency issue is the single biggest thing that can be done to give a boost to the American economy.

2) The senseless shooting last Saturday afternoon of an elderly couple leaving St. Dominic’s Church, resulting in the husband’s death and the wife with an amputated leg, is the single most disturbing news story I have seen in a long time. In a case of mistaken identity, two men shot up the couple’s car, in broad daylight, on the busiest part the major north/south road in the city. Caught up in a drug/turf war, these poor seniors didn’t know what hit them. The car was pelted with at least 12 rounds of ammunition. This came several months after another incident at St. Dominic’s where another elderly woman was shot in the parking lot while entering her car after Mass in an attempted robbery. After the arrest of the perpetrator, his family tried to kill the witnesses. Both of these incidents were black on white crime. Black on white and black on black crime, already a major problem, is on the rise. It is deteriorating fast. Northern Boardman Township and the historic Forest Glen is in jeopardy as thugs from Youngstown’s southside attack people in their driveways or while walking down the sidewalk. City law enforcement needs to wake up before things get totally out of control. But it can only do so much. The violence in the black community has to be addressed from within, and unfortunately, I don’t think there is any solution.

3) Advice to President Obama: Dude, get some new advance people. In a staged CNBC Town Hall meeting, President Obama was berated by one of his “supporters” about the “new normal” of high unemployment, shaky medical insurance, and lack of confidence in the government. In an Iowa backyard picnic meeting, he was attacked again by those afraid of Obamacare. Both of these venues had an handpicked audience and question reviews. If these are Obama's friends, what about his enemies! What is really scary is that these were the toughest questions posed to him by anyone since before the 2008 election up until now. If Obama citizen supporters can ask the questions, why can’t the press?