The Haggle over Hagel

The haggle over Hagel is nearly over. Sen Rubio was one of the first to speak, he would not vote for him because of Hagel's previous comments in regards to sanctions on Iran and direct negotiations with North Korea. " I don't believe I will be able to support his nomination after his answers the last hour."

Fellow republicans followed suit, with Blunt raising the same concerns over Iran and our relationship with Israel.

Sen Donnelly tried to continue to ask about Iran, but Hagel cut him off with "he could not speak on questions about Iran." Donnelly queried about 2.5 Billion is aid to Pakistan, but Hagel merely resounded the same we have heard over and over that Pakistan is complicated.

The hardest hitting was Sen Ted Cruz saying that the nominee had made hundreds of speeches and yet only four were delivered to them. Also financial records were missing. He blasted Hagel on  whether Israel had committed war crimes and Hagel chimed back, no they were defending themselves. Cruz also hit on a speech in 2006 where Hagel had said that "Israel had committed a sickening slaughter. "A 2009 interview on Al Jezeere Hagel had called Israel the worlds bully. Once again Cruz got Hagel to back down from his statements.

McCain came out pouncing at Hagel for a statement in 2001 where Hagel called Iraq a quagmire and disagreed with the surge in Irag and Afghanistan. McCain "The surge assisted with the objective." " Were we wrong or were we right?" Hagel "It was the most dangerous decision since Vietnam."  "Going to Iraq most dangerous decision since Vietnam."

Sen Linsey Grahm pressed Hagel on a letter sent to the EU by the senate urging them to impose sanctions against Hezbolah. Hagel refused to sign.

Sen Inhofe mentioned in 2000 Senators wrote to reaffirm their support to Israel and Hagel refused to sign. Another letter written with harsh sanctions on Iran, Hagel refused to sign. For these reasons Inhofe refused to vote for Hagel.

He was hard pressed and at times, unnerved, sometimes not able to respond. Even admitting at one time " I don't know enough about the defense department." One of the poorest nominees for one of the highest positions in our country. And yet he in all likely hood he will receive the call to serve.

Nobody Does It Better - The President's Speech

Nobody does it better, no one can take us to loftier heights and fill our hearts like the President Obama. That is until you start to try to figure out what he just said and suddenly it drifts away. Like my son says "Mom, he's talking pretty again."

However he did make some statements I did like. From the beginning of his speech "That while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by his people here on earth." And it had some of the same ring of rising on hope for America that he had in his first election.

But if you thought he might edge a little closer to the right, it ain't going to happen. He clearly stood for his progressive left and rang out a clear message to tickle their ears. And he did. He is going to stand for the same agenda, equality for gays, climate control, immigration reform which will be basically allowing everyone to stay.

There was clear message that a few enjoy the privileges and barely a few are making it. "For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely making it."  "Can't do things individually must need the community." It was a clear call to expand his progressive message of sharing the wealth.

"The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and difficult" We aren't against new energy sources, we just like to pay for those sources that work.

At least we didn't have to wait until the fat lady sang, the musicians were wonderful. Kelly Clarkson did a wonderful rendition of an American favorite and Beyounce was great.

Nobody does it better than you Mr. President, but your policies fail and the economy is still in a dismal rut. And it doesn't sound too much like you are going to work with congress the one thing most Americans want. That's change we could have believed in.

Are we Heading over the Cliff??

Well, the last word we heard last week was that the President rejected Boehner's Plan B. Which reminded me of my husband as we were leaving the church after doing something which did not turn out as well as expected to which  I said, "We have to do plan B" and he said "Marna, that was plan B."

Now we hear of a double zammy when it was announced yesterday that  we could hit the debt ceiling on December 31st.

The president is caught in his own calamity when it was his plan to severely reduce the military in order to fend off what is happening now. His wisdom was that the congress would reach some kind of conclusion before what is happening could happen. That they would stalemate and there would be no agreement was not in his calculation.

Yesterday he said that he was hopelessly optimistic that a plan could be reached. It is reported today that the President is offering a scaled back budget as part of the solution.

On top of all this we had a bad report on Christmas sales rates only rising to less than 1% and that in many areas of the country we were at 2008 levels of spending because of falling consumer confidence.

I think with the storm Sandy hitting at the height of the Christmas season and the constant media drum roll of the fiscal cliff, consumers became weary and decided to keep things down as things looked pretty good until  black Friday. What ever caused the let down, it is not good on the economy and sending us unto a questionable winter season.

For our sakes I hope they reach some kind of reasonable agreement and not send us over the cliff because they can't work together. This is one time they have to become grown ups and do the right thing.

"You Can't Legislate Rightrousness" - the Late Dr. Robert Meyer

This is our third Chritsmas without our Dad and Mokena Baptist without their Pastor. Yes, the church has gone on but there are still times of remembrance. One thing I remember my husband saying you can't legislate righteousness. You can't pass laws and expect sin to end. Of course I expect a new gun law controlling these type of guns. And more safety concerns at schools. But that doesn't control the heart of men.

More laws don't really stop the lawless. There is only one who can change a man's way and that is God himself. We have a heart problem in America. We need to be a nation that has a heart for God and to respect his teachings.

There is only one who can change a nation, the Lord Jesus Christ himself. This is the true reason for the season. This is the reason he came to earth. He taught peace, love, forgiveness and a desire to live right.

There is no way to really know what went wrong. A young man from a single parent home who deeply needed something in his life. A mother who struggled most his life to try to help him. Psychiatrists have tried to explain what happened but he needed the Great Physician, the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Jesus was the greatest physician who came to earth. The gospel of John says at the end that books could not contain all the healing works he did on earth.

What can change a heart? God reaching down to man and man reaching up to God and receiving Christ as Lord and Saviour. This is what this young man needed. You can't legislate righteousness, but you can change a person's heart with the help of God.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and Thou Shalt be Saved."

What Went Wrong?

It has been time to absorb what actually happened, listen to the commentators and analysts, and lick our wounds. But the election still hurts. I know for myself and many others we are heartsick at the loss of Romney's bid for the White House. And think how the Romney's must feel. I feel Romney did his best and gave it his all. Oh, I have heard the ones who have made criticisms and yes no one runs a perfect campaign. But all in all he did a good job.

He did not mislead people by giving their children amnesty to stay in the country. Or give money to failing green companies by the tune of 50 Billion dollars. Our used his pen to make new laws he could not get through the right way. Well, you know the list as well as I do. He just tried his best to run a fair and honest campaign.

In a small piece by Jim Gerghty he says Romney lost the presidency by 407,000 votes. He added the votes in Florida, Ohio, Virginia and Colorado and said if he had increased in these four states he would  be measuring the drapes for the White House with a win of 275 electoral votes.

I have spent the week listening to my friends and thinking about dealing with four more years of Obama. Fortunatetly for us we still have the House and a few more in the Senate.  Some say Obama's mandate is small and doesn't give him much to work with. But he still has the pen and uses it often.

We can still take some more time and lick our wounds and then get back to work. We have a lot to do, the battle is not over. And we need to spread the conservative message that is still the same as when I heard it for the first time when I was 17 years old. It made sense then and still does, of smaller government and power to the states. Of a people's government run by and for the people. Someone years ago invited me to some meetings and it has stuck with me and I must share it with others and pass it on. The principles of conservatism work. They will save our nation and give our children a future to go on. Our time is not done, and we must continue to work to save our country.

Romney Looked Calm, Cool and Collected

Romney had the appearance of a president from the beginning, while Obama looked like the student.  He showed that the policies of Obama have not been as a leader, but as the absent commander-in chief, calling Obama's presidential campaign an apology tour.

The reason Romney took this form was to not give the appearance of a war hawk, that so many have given of the Republican party. The form Obama took was to make Romney look bad and appear like he was a good foreign leader. In form he looked good, in reality his foreign policies have failed.

Romney spoke on Libya of having a comprehensive plan to overcome extremism. "The key is to have a pathway to get Middle East countries to reject extreme Islam themselves," Romney said. We have an opportunity in Syria, Iran's only ally, with removal of Assad. He also spoke that countries don't trust us now and perceive us as unreliable to come to their aid. Do they really trust us to be there if they need us?

If you want a real expose' of Obama's foreign policy look at Benhazi, which happened September 11th, 2012 and we still don't have answers.

On the statement Romney made that we have fewer ships than in 1916, the president's one good line ""we also have fewer horses and bayonets" is backfiring on him because marines still use bayonets and are calling him out. Donald Rumsfeld said this morning, the fact that we are deminishing in our war ships is serious business.

Romney again came in on him about the need to keep our friendship with Israel and that the president didn't visit Israel once in four years.

 One of the president's statements recently made on his foreign policy is "It hasn't gotten worse." Mr president we have no allies now who trust us, how we are perceived in the world is much different than when you took office. Do countries now perceive us as reliable? Do they trust us to be there if they need us? It's going to take a long time for the world to respect us again.

The need for foreign policy being corrected is important, but many still believe it's the economy that will be the main thrust of the 2012 vote. As James Carville has recently restated "It's the economy, stupid." Also, last night, some would have liked some discussion about the European Union. Other's are regretting that Fast and Furious wasn't mentioned.

The entire campaign now comes to those swing states. Ohio is of course the main target. If Romney wins Ohio he needs only one other swing state to win. Romney is now edging ahead in Florida with Romney 48.4% to Obama's 46.6%. A recent national head to head poll was Romney 47% to Obama's 47%. Last night's debate probably had little effect on the undecided voter, who many still remain undecided.

This election comes down to the day when they walk in the booth and pull the lever, well used to be the lever, and make their final decision. It will be a 'who can they trust decision?' Can they trust a president who has driven our country into deep debt, left for our children and grandchildren to pay? A president who has turned away from our allies? A president who has made so many regulations the small businessman is choking to death? Or can they trust a man who has been a proven winner in creating jobs? A man from all accounts is respected and has high integrity.To me the decision is clear. I choose a winner. A man that stands for right and wrong. That's were my vote goes.

The Boxing Match Was On Romney Vs Obama

I had the impression from the beginning by the way the questions where read it seemed a concerned audience. The questions seemed as though they were from a negative view. The first came from a 20 year old college student and was very direct. He threw the first volley at Obama. "I am a college student working three jobs," directed straight at Obama "I have had little opportunity for employment." Obama answered I am glad you are continuing with your studies and I have  increased  government loans. And I personally have been happy about that but Romney hit the nail on the head when he told the student that under Obama college kids have more in debt and had less work. Obama went on to explain he would change the tax code to help small businesses to create jobs. He must be taking lessons from Romney, but my question why hasn't he done this already to take the burden off small businessmen? Romney continued on that  "the President's policies have been exercised for the last four years and have not worked."

And that is how the evening kept going with Romney and Obama taking one blow to the other over and over. Some say there was too much contention, but others, especially men said they like the heavy hitting. And at times it was up close and personal with evading one another's air space. Another questioner, an African American was pretty blunt, "I voted for you and it has been rough." Obama continued in his usual defence of being handed a bad deal but that we are beginning to climb out of it. There also was an assault gun question, and both candidate's answered to their party lines with Obama wanting more banns which I read today now he is going to do something. More than likely an executive order to pass soon for the women voters. Romney answered his usual we have enough laws, they need to be enforced. But had also bought up the problem of children's home lives needing to improve to stop the situation. And I hardily agree.

At times it was serious, at times humorous, but the battle continued without either giving up. Some say Obama won and others say Romney won in substance. Romney went after China on their currency manipulation allowing tariffs. And one of the lines of the evening Obama slamming Romney "your the last one to get tough on China" One of my favorite phrases of the evening trickle-down government by Romney.

Romney tried to drive home his five point plan, energy independence, increase even trade, balance the budget, fixing learning programs for work, and championing small businesses. Obama came back with Romney doesn't have a five point plan. He has a one point plan, he went on to explain, a plan for the rich being exempt from Obama's 20% across the board cut.  But Obama pushed his points too hard and Romney finally came back asking Obama about his pension plan, that Obama had the same type investments overseas as Romney....Guess he's had it with that.

Finally the woman question came up on equal pay and I wish she had mentioned that even with the passing of the Bettty Leadbetter Bill women are still making 72% of a man's income, even in the White House. This gave Romney the advantage to mention that 580,000 women lost jobs the last four years. That under Obama 31/2 million more women are in poverty.

The saddest mention last night was that America is not number 1 in manufacturing, China is. Romney said we need to cut down on outsourcing, that 1/2 million manufacturing jobs have gone off shore.

Charles Krathhammer: "It was like a boxing match." On Obama "He didn't even try to answer the questions." It was clear that these two don't like each other very much. Some of the looks on Obama's face showed he was not amused by Romney's comments.

Of course we knew Benghazi would come up. The key words being from the Rose Garden the following day of the attack Obama said "no acts of terrorism" and Romeny picked up on this. He was corrected by Crowley who later that night said that Romney was right. Crowley also repeatedly stopped Romney from finishing his points. It did seem at times one sided. Romney had 40.58 minutes to Obama's 43.47. Many have said Romney should have gone after the timeline of the two weeks following Benghazi when he went on the View on Sept 25th and at the UN he mentioned the video 6X's. As one put it the President got caught. Sununu said "the President lives in his own world, "it was an act of negligence." Sununu continued, "the president knew because he watched it that night by video."

In my estimation the President was on defence most of the night, Romney seemed forceful, on the offence. articulate and had more substance. It's hard to run on a nothing record. The best quote of the evening for me "we don't have to live like this."