The Most Vile Kind of Racism - The Caning of Cain

I intended the topic of this week’s Rant to be how I “got” the Herman Cain's smoking television ad that everyone was dissing this past week. (See the video on the MKIA page) It’s abstract political art and genius. In thirty seconds, Cain tells the do-gooders to shove it where the sun don’t shine. That ad, smoking and all, represents the American spirit…Don’t Tread on Me!!!!

Then the ugly hit. The Politic, in what was nothing less than a hit piece, wrote a story about Herman Cain’s alleged sexual harassment of two female employees of the National Restaurant Association. Wow. But then it went on to say that the allegations were based on physical gestures that may, or may not, be interperated as being sexual. It was clear there was no touching. There may have been some verbal communication, and perhaps a gesture. The Association settled with these two ladies for what CNN called a "five figure" settlement, approximately $10,000.00 to make the problem go away.

This story is so wrong on so many levels, it would laughable if it weren’t a racist hatchet job of the worst kind. Ann Coulter said it best. Nothing threatens the liberal establishment more than a successful conservative black man. It shakes the very foundation of plantation liberalism that believes the African American community has to be taken care of, and they in turn will give the Democrats their unending homage and votes. I find it personally disgusting.

All of the innuendo was second hand hearsay at best. The worst claim was he propositioned these women. Have you ever propositioned a woman? Hey, babe, how about coming back to my apartment. No? Really? That is not sexual harassment. That is called hooking up, and is as American as apple pie. Cain claims the gesture he made was telling one of the women that she was as tall as his wife, lifting his hand to his chin. Okay…but even if it was worse…maybe giving someone the finger. Or maybe dropping the F bomb in an office setting (one of my favorite things to do…seriously)…none of this merits what is going on right now. That, my friends, is how most of us live today.

Even at that, I have written that the standard for this type of behavior is oral sex in the oval office, sitting at the Presidential desk, with a 20 year old intern (not to mention the alleged rape of another and more sexcapades with still another). That is where we as a nation have set the bar as to what is acceptable sexual behavior. Teddy Kennedy driving a girl to her death then leaving the scene of the accident is okay. Martin Luther King’s peccadilloes are okay. We won’t even talk about Jesse Jackson. John Edwards cheating on his dying wife is okay (but not using campaign funds to cover it up…that is not okay).

Once again, as with Clarence Thomas, the way to derail a powerful conservative black man is to raise the specter of sexual impropriety of the worst kind. Watching CNN tonight I was physically sickened as Wolf Blitzer interviewed the author of the Politico article completely ignoring that even according to the article he wrote, what happened was open to interpretation. Even Fox News commentators had jumped to a “cover up” mentality  forgetting that for there to be a cover up, there has to be something to cover up!!!!

When this type of base politics rises to the surface by a bunch of pig reporters that is when I am sorry that I am involved in our political system if only in a minimalist manner. With all that this country is facing, the Politico and other media that is propagating this racist bile should be ashamed.

Warrior or Assassin?

Do we have a warrior President? I have to give credit where credit is due. I honestly didn’t think the guy had it in him to go after bin Laden with the shoot to kill directive these guys obviously had. His drone attack on al-Awlaki was another surprise given that he was an American. And of course, last but not least, the participation in the capture and disposition of Qaddafi was a little fall surprise given that we were “leading from behind.” All of these are great achievements. Nothing like a little Chicago justice to make the world a better place. And his liberal base must be shaking in their shoes wondering what happened to their soulmate?

But individual “take outs” like these do not a foreign policy make. And American foreign policy has been positively bogus since the Korea. It’s time for America to stand up, grab its crotch and strut its stuff around the world. Enough already. If we win a war, for once in a century lets act like it!!!!!!

Obama’s diplomatic fiasco in Iraq necessitating the pull out of all American troops by January 1 is a complete foreign policy blunder. Oh…we didn’t go in there to conquer. Oh…the Iraqis should be able to decide their own destiny. Horse manure. How many times do we have to fight for the same piece of real estate? HELLO. Iran is right next door, and they are ready to move in for the prize won by our blood and treasure….TWICE in 15 years. What are we doing? The bad guys are across the border. The oil is right there. For God’s sake, can’t we just once act like a conquering country and do what conquerors do…set up shop and run the joint? My God, we are still in Japan, Germany, and Korea…and we are leaving Iraq to the radical Mullahs of Iran?

And things ain’t much better in Afghanistan. Karzai said that if there was ever a war between the United States and Pakistan, he would side with Pakistan. His bony Arab ass is sitting there in Kabul due to our largesse, and he is making deals with the devils that surround him; Pakistan to his west and Iran to his east. HELLO AGAIN. Our troops are already there and there are bad guys all around with nuclear bombs…and Obama wants to pull out by next fall? Is he nuts?

These are two of the most boneheaded, ideological election based foreign policy decisions I have seen in a long, long time. Reagan had it right: it should be “We win. You lose.” But not Barry. He can’t even negotiate a lease like we have in Cuba where our troops would stay in a self confined area like Guantanamo. Nope. Get them out of there.

So, when Pakistan implodes, and that nut case in Iran finally gets the bomb, what are we do? Float around in the Gulf of Persia holding our ass? Beg the Turks, the Chinese, and the Russians to use their airspace? How many Americans will have to die AGAIN to get back in to where we already are so we can pursue the Pakistanis and Iranians?

Obama is a sneaky little assassin who is going around the world in 80 days taking out those individuals who would do us harm. That is a noble gesture, and will ultimately cost him the election as his base runs the other way.  But the real risk to America is in Iran and Pakistan, and right now Obama is giving our strategic advantage away. I say stay there, and we should do a little pillaging and plundering just to let them know we are serious.

And oh ya, don’t forget the oil to pay for all we have done for these people.
UPDATE:  The head of Libya's Transitional Council has announced that the new Libya will be based on Sharia law.  He is already banning banks from charging interest and reinstating polygamy.   Oh joy!!!!  This is what we paid for? 

Foreign Aid to China?

As part of an aside on a news program today, the moderator of a discussion group happened to mention that the United States is still giving foreign aid to China. Really? The discussion panel chuckled. I didn’t. So I did some research, and here’s the skinny.

China still receives $2.6 billion/year in foreign aid from western countries. These sap countries in order of decreasing aid are Japan, Germany, France, Britain, then the United States. Our country gives to China $65 million/year. You heard me. We give China, the second largest economy in the world, $65 million. Can anyone tell me why?

We are in hock up to our necks…with a good portion of the blame resting with massive trade deficits with China. Consider the following: China spends $100 billion/year on its military. It spent billions on its Olympic extravaganza. It spends billions on a space program. It is second only to the United States in the number of billionaires in its country. It holds $2.5 trillion in foreign reserves….most of it in dollars. It is the largest borrower of money at preferential rates from the World Bank. All of this while it is sticking it up our ass in Iran and Africa, propping up some of the most brutal regimes in the world…and don’t even mention North Korea.

In addition, India receives $126 million; Russia $71.5 million; Brazil $21 million; Mexico $316 million, and Egypt $1.5 billion. Israel is in a class by itself at $3 billion.

Let’s leave Egypt and Israel out of the equation where foreign aid is predicated on things other than actual economic need. But look at the rest. None of these are poor countries. Sure, there is poverty within those countries, but that is a result of individual government policies. Russia, Brazil and Mexico are natural resources rich…and nobody seems to know where the money goes. India is not exactly poor either. Sure, there is huge amounts of poverty in India, but they are a linchpin in the BRIC powerhouse (Brazil, Russia, India and China).

So while we are borrowing our way to the poor house, while our infrastructure is collapsing, while entitlements are being whacked….we borrow money from China to give money to China?

If this isn’t an outrage, nothing is. And while the government seems to be looking at the issue, and has cut back this year from last…much of this should be gone all together outside of military aid to countries who are our FRIENDS, and who are strategically important to the United States.

And you wonder why the United States are broke!!!!!

(Thanks to Investors.com editorial Why Does The U.S. Still Give China Aid? for source material)

Dudes. Let's Occupy Wall Street...got a joint?

So the now the truth is out as to just where the President hangs on the issues. His class warfare rhetoric, either by chance or design, has rallied his “peeps” under the banner of “occupy Wall Street.” Thousands of leftists and anarchists and God knows who else, have taken up residence in front of the New York Stock Exchange calling for an end to capitalism and worse. Supporters like Michael Moore and Roseanne Barr have made such incendiary comments saying all of the bankers should be beheaded, and the people should march into the banks and take what they want. It is going to get worse.  Today they are going to march on the private homes of the "rich".  Shame on them.

The press has gone gaga at the gogo of these folks. The glory days of the sixties are back again with the radicals marching in the streets. They call these folks the left wing Tea Party. Nice sentiment, but far from the truth. While the Tea Party people brought their families, and sang patriotic songs and prayed…these folks are outrageously vulgar, have no clear vision other than hate, and are vile and violent. Seven hundred were arrested last week on the Brooklyn Bridge, and now they are suing New York and Mayor Bloomberg. Pardon me while I smirk about Mayor Busy Body. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy!!! Hey Mayor, want some salt for your burger? Why not require the "movement" to post calorie counts on whatever it is they are eating.  Are you arresting them for smoking in a public place?

Add to the mix an assortment of Obama supporters feeding the beast. George Soros and Moveon.org have thrown their financial support behind these folks, especially as the “movement” spreads to other cities. And guess who else showed up!! Why it’s the public employee unions and SEIU…Obama supporters all. Add the mix Obama’s radical friends like Van Jones, and it is just one big happy socialist “let’s go blow up the Pentagon” family.  How about those pre-printed signs!!  Look for the union label.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that this group blossomed from Obama’s hate the rich rhetoric. And given the presence of the unions and Soros and a plethora of Acorn-esque organizations, this is community organizing in its purist form. This is what these people do, and no one can tell me that Obama is not behind these marches. This is the change and post partisan politics promised by this president.

This piggy backs on the comments by the Democratic Governor of North Carolina who said that we should forego elections this time around so Congress can work in a non-political atmosphere. Sounds goods…except the scandals are growing. Both financially busted Solyndro and the Fast and Furious gun scandal is going to reach right into the inner circles of the White House. These are serious issues that had they occurred in a Republican White House, the mainstream press would be shouting for the impeachment and special prosecutors. Here, the fair hair boy and his posse barely get a mention on the news, right behind the story about a sign on Rick Perry’s father’s rented ranch allegedly naming part of the landscape "Nigger Rock", which may or may not have been there six months ago or longer…depending on whose story you choose to believe.

To paraphrase Herman Cain, if these folks aren’t rich, don’t blame the people who are They should blame themselves.  Don't steal somebody elses Cadillac.

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Dave Betras?

Unless you live under a rock, you probably know that Dave Betras, the Democratic Party Central Committee’s choice to fill the vacant seat on the Board of Elections, was rejected by Jon Husted, Ohio Secretary of State. Husted cited Betras’ involvement with Mark Dann, the now disgraced former Ohio Attorney General as part of the reason for the rejection. Betras was his former law partner and campaign treasurer. The Central Committee was given a week to come up with a new nominee, or Husted will appoint a Democrat of his choosing to fill the slot.

Some strange bedfellows have popped up out of the woodwork. The Vindicator’s Bertram de Souza and former Mahoning County Republican Chairman Bill Binning jumped to Betras’ defense. On the other hand, many Dems as well as other residents of Mahoning County have quietly applauded the decision.

Dave Betras is a Youngstown original. Binning referred to him as Bombastic Dave. He certainly lived up to that reputation in his full frontal attack against the local Chamber of Commerce. The focus of his attacks was Tom Humphries, President of the Chamber, raising money for John Kasich in the last gubernatorial campaign. Of course, there was no objection when Humphries raised similar money for Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan. I have written several times that attacks on the local Chamber of Commerce in tough economic times was probably not a good idea, but nobody asked me.

In response to all of the above, Betras has taken a somewhat reserved public response stating that he is now considering options available to him, including a possible lawsuit and/or appeal of the decision to the Ohio Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is controlled by Republicans…probably not a good idea.

I have known Dave Betras for many years. I ran against his father for Boardman Trustee too many years ago, and lost by a few hundred votes in a three way race. Dave has always been an interesting person, and the few times I dealt with him professionally, we got along well. He is a tough lawyer, but then again he is representative of how many of the lawyers practice law in Mahoning County.

He has been a tough Democratic Party Chairman. He has raised lots of money for lots for candidates at all levels of the political spectrum, from national all the way down to Board of Education. He is mentioned as a possible candidate for state party chairman, and has been awarded Democrat of the Year awards from the state party several times.

Maybe the problem is that he represents a different kind of politics. His style is Don Hanni-esque. No matter what you think of it, it apparently appeals to a certain strain of politics peculiar to the Mahoning Valley, a strain that produces a certain type of politician…think Jim Traficant. There is a reason why this area is called Little Chicago.

Unfortunately, the state is changing, and so is the Mahoning Valley. The steep decline in the population over the past 10 years has cost us two Congressional seats. We are now competing not with China or Korea, but with states like Texas, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee, all right to work states with low taxes and limited state governments. As Ohio begins to reinvent itself, political attitudes are also beginning to change. While the dreamers envision a tech belt in Youngstown, the reality is that we are becoming a center for oil, gas, and coal production and are returning, to a degree, to our manufacturing roots. Except the rules are different!!!!

Folks who are still here tend to be more serious. They are entrepreneurs who have chosen to stay here against all odds, or are willing to pioneer into the areas of Marcellus and Utica shale development. The rewards are huge, and this Valley does not fully comprehend what is coming down the pike. But the folks in Columbus do, which is why you see so many Republican politicians continually visiting one of the strongest Democratic areas in the country. And maybe, just maybe, the Betras style is one that is becoming passé as the state and the Mahoning Valley move forward.

I don’t know the legalities of what happened with the Betras nomination. That will be a matter sorted out by people a lot smarter than me. But I do know that sometimes style does matter over substance, and perhaps Bombastic Dave isn’t what the doctor ordered for a Board that is traditionally low key and whose focus is fair elections.  

On the other hand, don't be surprised to see the state Democratic Party choose him  as its leader for the very attributes that may have contributed to his Board of Elections problems.  There is only one question.  Is Ohio ready for Bombastic Dave?