It Isn't Easy Being Obama

Some remarks on the latest nonsense coming out ot the pundit class, both MSM and on the Blogs, concerning he situation with General Stanley McChrystal and his insubordinate remarks made in an ill considered expose in Rolling Stone. Being a vet, and for all the vets out there, it is an easy call to state that this General not only crossed over the line, but turned around and spat on it. The chain of command in the military is like reverence to Jesus, and when you break that vow of disrespecting those who outrank you, especially at the level of POTUS and top field commanders, then something must be done

It goes to the heart of our separation of military from our civilian political leadership that is crucial to separate us from military juntas and the like. The constitution is clear that the military is subordinate to the whims and orders of the POTUS. No exceptions, ever. Historically, when commanders disagree to such a degree they cannot carry out POTUS commands or feel they need to criticize them publically, they resign, and then exercise their free speech rights as a civilian. These things cannot be tolerated in this society. The most famous example of this sort of breach of our constitution, was Harry Truman sacking General MaCarthur over Korea.

Obama does not have to remove, or accept McChrystal's resignation, but the general must submit it, and Obama will have to weigh the need, or relative critical need to maintain operational momentum in the Afghanistan theater of war we are currently bogged down in, and how the general's departure would effect that, and to troop morale.

But of course this is not the first time this general has pulled such a stunt, running his mouth in public concerning the Obama Administration and individuals in it. There is a pattern, and also McChrystal apparent role in the Pat Tillman cover up of the army putting out lies concerning the nature of Tillman's death in Afghanistan. For me, this should have kept him from ever being put in such a high command position  in the first place.

But on to Obama's no win decision in this problem, and his eternal political trap that has even military personnel matters polarized politically. On the one hand, he has a liberal activist base, mostly on the internet that hates us still being in Afghanistan, and many who thought we should have never gone, being reactionary and demanding McChrystal's sacking, mostly as a matter for objection to the war itself, and getting a scalp to further their cause. Then there are the wingnuts and neocons, who adore this particular general as being some kind of military wunderkind that can do no wrong. And if Obama cans the general, will cry that Obama and liberals hate the military, and it's mission. The cable teevee pundits will flop back and forth and stoke the controvery between these political tribes, all the while fanning the flames of partisan warfare for the drama that attract viewers.

I do not have enough info on the decision Obama has to make, but my instinct is that this guy needs to go. There is a principle here, that outweighs all the other considerations pro and con. And that is the sanctity of the military doing the bidding of our civilian leadership. There is pattern that has developed with Gen. McChrystal, and he has had his second chance, and maybe a third.

You Can't Make This Shit Up

Former Rep. JD Hayworth is making a pretty strong run against Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) as a True Conservative, Tea Partying stop-all-the-government-spending insurgent. But it turns out that right after he got bounced from Congress back in 2006 he signed on as a celebrity endorser for one of those late-night You Too Can Get Free Money from the Government informercials.

The hypocrisy, it burns.

Stay Classy Mike Huckabee

"The only thing worse than a torrid affair with sweet, sweet Nancy would be a torrid affair with Helen Thomas. If those were my only options, I'd probably be FOR same-sex marriage!";

He's just a Gawd fearin' good ole boy from Arkansas

via - Political Wire

It's hard to keep up

Charlotte Hays, a conservative, from something called the Independent Women's Forum, wrote a little blip on June 18, 2010 on an event she attended at the Hudson Institute. Apparently what she heard was SO profound that she had to write 2 blips. She wrote:


"One of the panelists...made the point that it is not enough that politicians have a commitment to the Constitution and small government, though that is important. And it is not sufficient that they get elected, though that is essential. They need to be prepared to govern."


OMG....Elected officials elected to govern need to be prepared to govern. Wow!


Not to rain on her parade, but I would point out to Ms. Hays that Republicans in Congress are governing...Being an elected official in Congress is being part of the governance structure. That the Republican approach to governance under the Obama administration has been nothing but obstruction, smears, etc., seems lost on Ms. Hays. The Republicans ARE prepared to govern. It is not their preparation that is the problem -- it is what they deliver.

Legal system, what legal system?

Hmmmm. Republicans, or now as they are known -- FBPs (friends of BP) -- say that the $20 billion escrow account is not needed because we have a court system already in place where claims against a corporation can be litigated. In fact, they argue that this escrow account amounts to a "shakedown" of the US government against private business.


Interestingly, FBPs are now crying out for the US court system and due process, arguing that the system for submitting claims already is in place and should be followed.


However, when it came to actual humans and unlawful detention, Republicans believed the US court system and due process were not good enough. Using the US court system would somehow favor the "terrorists."


I would argue that what BP has done in the Gulf does amount to a type of terrorism. Lives have been lost. The environmental disaster is one of the worst ever on US soil. Individuals, families and businesses have lost their incomes.


So the main question is, why suddenly is the US court system sufficient when it comes to BP vs the US?

Sarah Serendipity Is Poutraged

RahmEmanuel= as shallow/narrowminded/political/irresponsible as they come,to falsely claim Barton's BP comment is "GOP philosophy"Rahm,u lie

Sarah needs some quality mirror time.

via - Political Wire

Conflict of Interest

Virgina Thomas (Clarence's wife) is a prominant member of one of the organized Tea Party groups. She is even speaking at a "Tea Party Convention" in Las Vegas in July. Something about this doesn't smell right.