Issues of the Day

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

This and That for Tuesday

~~~ Scared. That one word sizes up my general feeling about our current times. Scared the lunatics in Iran may decide to use the nuclear device they are now near completing. Scared the Israelis attack to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities. Scared the Israelis may not attack to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability.

What do we do if the Straits of Hormuz are shut or blocked by Iran? Do we send in the fleet and force it open? By the time we reopen the Straits lots of economic damage would have occurred.

Consider the current situation. We cannot stop Israel from saving the lives of their people by destroying Iran’s nuke facilities. What if Israel attacks and fails? Is it possible Iran has nukes already in their arsenal? That’s not likely but a possibility. Is it still possible the opposition could again organize as they did three years ago only to be hung out to dry by President Obama who, by his inaction made us think he had been neutered? Would he act any differently if given a second chance? Doubtful!

The next few months will determine what our plight will be the next few years. The president who wants to lead from behind could have his country’s security left behind.

These are some of the thoughts which caused a sleepless night. The worst part is last night may not be the last sleepless night.

~~~ Who do you think is our number one enemy? Gallop conducted a poll early last week asking who our greatest enemy is. Over a thousand of us were asked who we viewed as the countries we felt would do us harm, who is our biggest enemy?

No big surprise that Iran was chosen number one by 32% while 25% said China. North Korea was chosen by 10% followed Afghanistan and Iraq polled 7% and 5%. 2% each went to Russia and Pakistan. 1% said we are our worst enemy.

To add real confusion, 41% named China favorably.

~~~ As we by now know the price of crude is $105 a barrel. Most experts expect $150 soon. Could $200 be far behind?

What makes this so frightening is that much of our oil is heading overseas because prices are higher there than here.

This is surely an upside-down world.

~~~ The news is full of “what if” type questions lately? Is the GOP race for president down to a two person race? Is newt Gingrich down and out? Down maybe, but we doubt out. Gingrich seems to run best when is on the brink of elimination. He now has $10-million to make one last move?

The more we hear about a brokered convention the more we think the talk is being orchestrated by the down line party traditionalists who are frightened down to their boots one of their guys won’t be the nominee. Romney would be OK to them but he is looking more and more like a loser, even if he survives next week of primaries in Michigan and Arizona. After all Arizona should be Romney territory given the large Mormon population there.

Hence, we hear the names of all the usual suspects. With the exception of Sarah Palin all are Eastern Moderates cut from the same cloth as Romney.

The race for the Republican nomination is anything but settled.

By the way, Rush Limbaugh predicted yesterday Newt Gingrich could make what would be his third comeback in this GOP presidential race. Romney’s demise would give Gingrich yet another opportunity. What was it Yogi was fond of saying about it not being over until it’s over. Well it ain’t over.

This just in from Newsmax: More good news for Gingrich. Gambling guru Sheldon Adelson said he may give up to $100 million to the Winning Our Future super PAC supporting Gingrich. You can find the rest of the story here: http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Adelson-super-PAC-campaign/2012/02/21/id/430022

~~~ Can you imagine what the “mainstream media” would be saying if a large number of American missionaries were held hostage by a foreign power and the president was not Barak Obama? The hue and cry, if say, it was President Bush instead of Obama. As it is the coverage has been nearly nonexistent.

Some young Americans (including the son of an administration cabinet member) are being held on a bunch of trumped up charges. They’re being held because they are American Christian Missionaries doing good deeds and trying to bring democracy to this part of the world.

~~~ Is there anything new on the “Fast and Furious” front? I didn’t think so.

Imagine the comments if this was a conservative Republican president?

Second thought, it probably would never have reached this far.

~~~ Reverend Franklin Graham says President Obama has “given Islam a pass,” including ignoring atrocities against Christians in the Muslim world — so much so that the evangelist says he cannot “categorically” say Obama is not a Muslim. In a stunning interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Tuesday, the renowned Christian leader and son of Billy Graham expressed shock that President Obama was doing little to protect Christians across the Muslim world against a wave of persecution.