Well, it has taken two Presidential elections, a turnover of several Congressional seats, and six years, but President Obama finally got something right. Actually, he got two somethings right. The President made his "End of the Year Speech" - perhaps a little early since we still have a couple of weeks, but I'm sure he has a vacation planned- to nation and world already used to his lies and demanding speeches. However, this time he finally got something right. This time he finally sounded....well, he finally sounded like an American President should sound.
The first thing Obama got right is that he waited until the FBI had pretty much concluded that North Korea hacked the Sony computer files before he announced that North Korea did it. In the past this President has been quick to jump out with his opinion before the facts are known. He usually does in response to police officers having to defend themselves or having to arrest someone associated with the President in some way or another. However, this time he waited, allowed the FBI and other agencies to develop their theory and their case and then he came forward and said North Korea did it. Good job Mr. President....now if you had been doing this for the past six years, maybe we wouldn't be in the mess we're in right now and maybe some of your Democrat buddies would have kept their seats in Congress... oh, well so we learn.
The second thing the President did was he said Sony should not have stopped the release of the controversial movie. Link The President said, "We cannot have a society where some dictator someplace can start imposing censorship here in the United States, because if somebody is able to intimidate folks out of releasing a satirical movie, imagine what they'll do when they see a documentary that they don't like, or news reports that they don't like -- or even worse, imagine if producers or distributors or others start engaging in self-censorship because they don't want to offend the sensibilities of somebody whose sensibilities probably need to be offended," The President went on to say that Sony should not have withheld the release and that he wished they had spoken to him first.....well, in all fairness to Sony Mr. President, you don't have the best track record in responding to this sort of stuff.
So at the end of the speech the President left us wondering what sort of action will be taken against North Korea. After all, we have never experienced a cyber war before....in fact, is there really a cyber war being waged? If there is a cyber war, exactly how do we fight it? Well, however we fight it, one thing is for sure....If this President will act - encourage Sony to release the film - heck, release it for free on the Internet and have the entire world view it, not just people paying at the movies! - and truly stand up to North Korea for their actions and do something, then he will have gained a small bit of respect from Democrats who have felt betrayed by him and some Republicans who have been trying to warn America for six years now. Besides, if America is going to fight a cyber war, then President Obama already has all the key weapons he needs right here in the U.S. Consider that Linux, Apple, and Microsoft pretty much run on the universal Unix that they helped develop and grow and North Korea may just find everything from their files being hacked and missing to their missiles and weapons being turned off from some remote IP address located in North America.
Dec 19, 2014
Dec 12, 2014
The Times They Are A-Changin
It is perhaps ironic that this evening as Congress battled over yet another budget crisis people could be reminded of the old Bob Dylan song "The Times They are A-Changin". In 1964 the song came out with a verse that states "Come senators, Congressmen /Please heed the call/Don't stand at the doorway/ Don't block up the hall" (Song). It's been fifty years now since that song opened up and tonight we found senators and congress once again being asked to "heed the call" and "don't stand in the doorway, don't block up the hall," which would have essentially shut down the federal government. Unlike previous battles though, this one found President Obama firmly supported by....wait for it....Republicans. Democrats were hesitant to jump on with the spending bill and in fact the battle went late into the night before the outcome could be decided. (decision)
The question has to come up: Why were so many congress members standing in the doorway and trying to block this bill tonight? After all, Democrats have stood by Obama now for six years. Further, for six years Obama has stood firmly against Republicans. So why the sudden shift in alliances? It's really simple as you'll see.
First and foremost, many of those Democrats feel betrayed. Their anointed President, the hopeful replacement of the Democrat strong-man Bill Clinton, did not live up to the expectations. Democrats followed him blindly even when Americans overwhelmingly said, "Don't do it!" Perhaps they were hoping that in the end Obama would be proven right and the nation would have a six-month memory loss concerning their representatives and the betrayal to listen to the people back home by the Democrats. The people did not forget. In fact, many of those Democrats will be on their way out this January. Their Democrat President will continue for another two years, retire from office to the fanfare of his supporters, raise money, build a library somewhere-likely Chicago even though I'm sure Hawaii wants it too- and settle into post-presidential life where he jokes with other ex-presidents, does good deeds, has a major charity and gets interviewed whenever a current crisis needs an ex-president's input - don't worry, they all do it with each other. Basically, Obama has two years in the final stretch and then it's out to graze and enjoy life. The Democrats who were beat though, will return home, or move to a new area, fade back into private life, maybe teach at a college or some major university, run a blog, and if they are lucky then a major network will high them to "comment" on current events. Regardless of what happens though, they are out of the spotlight while their leader continues down the path of stardom.
The second reason for the sudden shift is Obama himself. Obama may be a lot of things, but he is no dummy. He knows that to get anything done in the next two years, he has to work with a Republican dominated Congress. He spent six years talking about how the "Republicans" made a mess of everything and how bad Republicans are in general. Now he has to spend two years with them and being the intelligent man he is, he is drawing his enemy near. He now wants to be friends with the new Republicans, the old Republicans, and in the eyes of the people he has two years to show that he likes Republicans and that the people voted right in November 2014. Don't hate Obama for all this. He's just doing what any good politician would do...he's surviving. Look for him to be friends with Republicans, talk with them, work with them, and if we are lucky we'll even get things we want pushed through and signed by Obama during the next two years.
If all this worries you in anyway, well don't let it. When Bob Dylan first sang about the times changing and included senators and congressmen in his lyrics he knew that some things would never change. Fifty years later Congress is looking out for themselves still, blocking what they don't want, and often standing in the way of progress, but so is the President. Perhaps, if we are lucky, then come January when so many new Republicans walk into office, they will remember the reasons we sent them there. If they don't, then we always have the next election and if anything has been proven in fifty years, the people can make those time change at the ballot box.
The question has to come up: Why were so many congress members standing in the doorway and trying to block this bill tonight? After all, Democrats have stood by Obama now for six years. Further, for six years Obama has stood firmly against Republicans. So why the sudden shift in alliances? It's really simple as you'll see.
First and foremost, many of those Democrats feel betrayed. Their anointed President, the hopeful replacement of the Democrat strong-man Bill Clinton, did not live up to the expectations. Democrats followed him blindly even when Americans overwhelmingly said, "Don't do it!" Perhaps they were hoping that in the end Obama would be proven right and the nation would have a six-month memory loss concerning their representatives and the betrayal to listen to the people back home by the Democrats. The people did not forget. In fact, many of those Democrats will be on their way out this January. Their Democrat President will continue for another two years, retire from office to the fanfare of his supporters, raise money, build a library somewhere-likely Chicago even though I'm sure Hawaii wants it too- and settle into post-presidential life where he jokes with other ex-presidents, does good deeds, has a major charity and gets interviewed whenever a current crisis needs an ex-president's input - don't worry, they all do it with each other. Basically, Obama has two years in the final stretch and then it's out to graze and enjoy life. The Democrats who were beat though, will return home, or move to a new area, fade back into private life, maybe teach at a college or some major university, run a blog, and if they are lucky then a major network will high them to "comment" on current events. Regardless of what happens though, they are out of the spotlight while their leader continues down the path of stardom.
The second reason for the sudden shift is Obama himself. Obama may be a lot of things, but he is no dummy. He knows that to get anything done in the next two years, he has to work with a Republican dominated Congress. He spent six years talking about how the "Republicans" made a mess of everything and how bad Republicans are in general. Now he has to spend two years with them and being the intelligent man he is, he is drawing his enemy near. He now wants to be friends with the new Republicans, the old Republicans, and in the eyes of the people he has two years to show that he likes Republicans and that the people voted right in November 2014. Don't hate Obama for all this. He's just doing what any good politician would do...he's surviving. Look for him to be friends with Republicans, talk with them, work with them, and if we are lucky we'll even get things we want pushed through and signed by Obama during the next two years.
If all this worries you in anyway, well don't let it. When Bob Dylan first sang about the times changing and included senators and congressmen in his lyrics he knew that some things would never change. Fifty years later Congress is looking out for themselves still, blocking what they don't want, and often standing in the way of progress, but so is the President. Perhaps, if we are lucky, then come January when so many new Republicans walk into office, they will remember the reasons we sent them there. If they don't, then we always have the next election and if anything has been proven in fifty years, the people can make those time change at the ballot box.
Dec 1, 2014
The Protest Tragedy of the Brown and Wilson Tragedy
Disagreements and protest are going to happen in a country where we have free speech and free thought. Nobody will deny that it is our right as American's to speak up when we do not agree. No matter what side you were on with the recent issues in Brown/Wilson tragedy though, there are just certain things you should not do for reasons of right as well as reasons of legality:
1. Don't burn down other people's businesses - burning of businesses occurred in both Caucasian, African-American, and other minority business. These people are operating businesses in their community - They did not shoot Brown and they are not Wilson- They are fellow American's trying to get by, trying to survive, and trying to live in their community-They did nothing wrong to deserve to be burned or destroyed.
2. Don't loot and steal - Looting and stealing is wrong, period. It's against the law as much as burning down businesses and churches is against the law. Because Brown was shot, or because Wilson was found innocent does not give you or anyone the right to steal. The logic is wrong and completely irrational - stop and think- A young man is shot and killed, and an officer is found innocent of any wrong doing, therefore I should be entitled to a new television set! This is not protesting - This is stealing.
3. Don't burn YOUR flag - One of the many things that broke American's hearts over the Ferguson riots was seeing our fellow American's burn the flag of this country. While it is certain that some countries in the world will rejoice as they see the pictures, and doubtless use those same pictures in new propaganda ads, it is simply wrong. Your nation did not wrong you - we can still debate, discuss, and maybe find solutions on all sides, but the fact is this- An American young man was killed, regardless of what he did or did not do, and an American young man shot the other young man, regardless or justified or not. Two Americans had a tragic moment that ended one man's life and will forever change the other man's life. It is horrible that it ever happened, but it did. Now, the law has investigated, and it is very certain that other laws will be used in future lawsuits-that is part of the American justice system - it is the same laws that says you can protest, the same laws that says no a man can not be shot without justification, and the same laws that says that if a man is shot and the justification is questioned, we can ask the law to check into the issue....no, we can demand the law check into the incident. The flag that you chose to burn in Ferguson is a symbol of all those protections and more....it is YOUR symbol, my symbol, America's symbol. Men and women, African American, Caucasian, Asian, Indian, Native American, and on have stepped forward under that flag and defended YOUR right to protest....Don't trample and burn the one symbol that stands for everybody in Ferguson and the country.
4. Don't hold all law officers as the same - the fact is there are some bad law officers out there. There are some who simply use their power as a weight to throw around and "rule" others, but not all of them do. One picture of a young man hugging an officer has gone world-wide as a symbol that we can protest, disagree, cry, and even mourn what might have been or what is going on without hating our law enforcement officers. When we have a bad one, protest, demand justice, write letters, make verbal demands, but do not hate them all because of one or two. I have seen officers crying at the death of children regardless of race, I have seen then putting their lives on the line regardless of race, and I have seen them stand up to protect and enforce our laws when nobody else would-to the point of giving their own lives. They aren't rich - check the public records- few officers make the kind of money that you can make in other fields. Just remember, they are not all the same.
Finally, remember that the Republican Party will always support your right to protest. The party was founded on the issue of protesting slavery in this country. We have learned that you can work, protest, push for new laws, and bring equality in this nation. The events in Ferguson, illegal and wrong, would bring tears to the Republicans who gave so much for equality in this nation. Lincoln, Eisenhower, and Dr. King never have wanted people to loot, steal, burn business, and burn our own flag to protest. They wanted us to demonstrate and protest, yes. But they wanted us to demonstrate and protest in a civil manner. As you go through the day, whether you support the Wilson side or the Brown side of this tragedy consider this one final thought from Dr. King:
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
1. Don't burn down other people's businesses - burning of businesses occurred in both Caucasian, African-American, and other minority business. These people are operating businesses in their community - They did not shoot Brown and they are not Wilson- They are fellow American's trying to get by, trying to survive, and trying to live in their community-They did nothing wrong to deserve to be burned or destroyed.
2. Don't loot and steal - Looting and stealing is wrong, period. It's against the law as much as burning down businesses and churches is against the law. Because Brown was shot, or because Wilson was found innocent does not give you or anyone the right to steal. The logic is wrong and completely irrational - stop and think- A young man is shot and killed, and an officer is found innocent of any wrong doing, therefore I should be entitled to a new television set! This is not protesting - This is stealing.
3. Don't burn YOUR flag - One of the many things that broke American's hearts over the Ferguson riots was seeing our fellow American's burn the flag of this country. While it is certain that some countries in the world will rejoice as they see the pictures, and doubtless use those same pictures in new propaganda ads, it is simply wrong. Your nation did not wrong you - we can still debate, discuss, and maybe find solutions on all sides, but the fact is this- An American young man was killed, regardless of what he did or did not do, and an American young man shot the other young man, regardless or justified or not. Two Americans had a tragic moment that ended one man's life and will forever change the other man's life. It is horrible that it ever happened, but it did. Now, the law has investigated, and it is very certain that other laws will be used in future lawsuits-that is part of the American justice system - it is the same laws that says you can protest, the same laws that says no a man can not be shot without justification, and the same laws that says that if a man is shot and the justification is questioned, we can ask the law to check into the issue....no, we can demand the law check into the incident. The flag that you chose to burn in Ferguson is a symbol of all those protections and more....it is YOUR symbol, my symbol, America's symbol. Men and women, African American, Caucasian, Asian, Indian, Native American, and on have stepped forward under that flag and defended YOUR right to protest....Don't trample and burn the one symbol that stands for everybody in Ferguson and the country.
4. Don't hold all law officers as the same - the fact is there are some bad law officers out there. There are some who simply use their power as a weight to throw around and "rule" others, but not all of them do. One picture of a young man hugging an officer has gone world-wide as a symbol that we can protest, disagree, cry, and even mourn what might have been or what is going on without hating our law enforcement officers. When we have a bad one, protest, demand justice, write letters, make verbal demands, but do not hate them all because of one or two. I have seen officers crying at the death of children regardless of race, I have seen then putting their lives on the line regardless of race, and I have seen them stand up to protect and enforce our laws when nobody else would-to the point of giving their own lives. They aren't rich - check the public records- few officers make the kind of money that you can make in other fields. Just remember, they are not all the same.
Finally, remember that the Republican Party will always support your right to protest. The party was founded on the issue of protesting slavery in this country. We have learned that you can work, protest, push for new laws, and bring equality in this nation. The events in Ferguson, illegal and wrong, would bring tears to the Republicans who gave so much for equality in this nation. Lincoln, Eisenhower, and Dr. King never have wanted people to loot, steal, burn business, and burn our own flag to protest. They wanted us to demonstrate and protest, yes. But they wanted us to demonstrate and protest in a civil manner. As you go through the day, whether you support the Wilson side or the Brown side of this tragedy consider this one final thought from Dr. King:
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Nov 20, 2014
The Election Aftermath Of 2014
The 2014 election cycle is over and the Republican sweep will go into the history books. How Republicans deal with spoils of victory will be seen in 2015 and beyond. How those of us not elected to office, or perhaps even on local and state levels, deal with the aftermath of this historic election has also yet to be seen.
In our local little corner of the world, a hint of animosity started in the 2012 election season. Democrats began to follow the President's lead and blame Republicans for everything. That mindset rolled over to state levels, county levels and even local county committees. People who had been friends with Republicans and friends with Democrats began to see the mindset that Republicans were wrong about everything. Republicans responded in kind and began to point out how Democrats were wrong about everything. Then the unthinkable started to happen. Both sides began letting their feelings rise up publicly.
We have a world where 2012, 2013, and 2014 has seen Democrats and Republicans across the nation go from mild disagreements and small jokes about party lines to outright attacks against the opponents religious beliefs, sex, national origin, and even to attacks about the opponents participation in various civic and local events. With the on-set of social media becoming an easy avenue for release, people in both parties began using phones, computers, and even Internet based televisions to post hateful and often hurtful things about the opponents. Republicans and Democrats alike fired the shots in public forums, community meetings, and party meetings. Then something happened in late 2013 that ran full stem into 2014. The attacks began to target anyone regardless of whether the person was a candidate or not.
Simple rumors such as "Mr. Jones supports that Democrat," started resulting in attacks on Mr. Jones. Both parties participated and both parties should be ashamed. As stated before attacks were often vicious and hate-filled. If someone was a different religion, they were called, "Godless men" or "Godless women". If someone associated with certain groups, they were said to be "Associating with them." Things were said like, "I can't believe they would spend time with a Republican," or "Can you believe all the Democrat friends she has?" As social media continued to grow, these hurtful and vicious attacks began to bleed into everyday society.
People forgot one important thing, in both parties, as these attacks went on daily through the campaign. First, they forgot that once the election is over, many of these candidates who listened and supported this talk will go away. They will go back to Washington, or to Little Rock, or back to various offices. The mailings won't be coming out anymore, the candidates won't be showing up daily, and life will resume....that is, a life will resume where local Democrats and Republicans will once again be going about daily events together. They will go to the grocery stores, to Wal Marts, to the malls. They will go to church, civic events, libraries, bookstores, and restaurants. We will all once again simply be "citizens." It has not mattered since about midnight on November 4th whether your best friend is a Republican or a Democrat. It has not mattered whether your pastor voted for a Democrat or a Republican. It doesn't matter whether the guy who fixes your car is a Democrat who happens to be Baptist, or a Republican who happens to be Lutheran. None of that matters because the elections are over. Once again, we will be a simple community of people living in towns, counties, states all across the land. Nonetheless, I am left to wonder how many of the hurtful, mean, and cold-hearted things that have been said during the election season will linger? I am left to wonder can we get past a mean-spirited Facebook post, or a Twitter post, or a public statement made at a Democrat or Republican rally? I am left to wonder, can we all remember that many of the things we complained about regarding our neighbors, our friends, our community members, and even our family members were simply politically motivated? Can we actually remember that we are all still, and perhaps most importantly, Americans?
In our local little corner of the world, a hint of animosity started in the 2012 election season. Democrats began to follow the President's lead and blame Republicans for everything. That mindset rolled over to state levels, county levels and even local county committees. People who had been friends with Republicans and friends with Democrats began to see the mindset that Republicans were wrong about everything. Republicans responded in kind and began to point out how Democrats were wrong about everything. Then the unthinkable started to happen. Both sides began letting their feelings rise up publicly.
We have a world where 2012, 2013, and 2014 has seen Democrats and Republicans across the nation go from mild disagreements and small jokes about party lines to outright attacks against the opponents religious beliefs, sex, national origin, and even to attacks about the opponents participation in various civic and local events. With the on-set of social media becoming an easy avenue for release, people in both parties began using phones, computers, and even Internet based televisions to post hateful and often hurtful things about the opponents. Republicans and Democrats alike fired the shots in public forums, community meetings, and party meetings. Then something happened in late 2013 that ran full stem into 2014. The attacks began to target anyone regardless of whether the person was a candidate or not.
Simple rumors such as "Mr. Jones supports that Democrat," started resulting in attacks on Mr. Jones. Both parties participated and both parties should be ashamed. As stated before attacks were often vicious and hate-filled. If someone was a different religion, they were called, "Godless men" or "Godless women". If someone associated with certain groups, they were said to be "Associating with them." Things were said like, "I can't believe they would spend time with a Republican," or "Can you believe all the Democrat friends she has?" As social media continued to grow, these hurtful and vicious attacks began to bleed into everyday society.
People forgot one important thing, in both parties, as these attacks went on daily through the campaign. First, they forgot that once the election is over, many of these candidates who listened and supported this talk will go away. They will go back to Washington, or to Little Rock, or back to various offices. The mailings won't be coming out anymore, the candidates won't be showing up daily, and life will resume....that is, a life will resume where local Democrats and Republicans will once again be going about daily events together. They will go to the grocery stores, to Wal Marts, to the malls. They will go to church, civic events, libraries, bookstores, and restaurants. We will all once again simply be "citizens." It has not mattered since about midnight on November 4th whether your best friend is a Republican or a Democrat. It has not mattered whether your pastor voted for a Democrat or a Republican. It doesn't matter whether the guy who fixes your car is a Democrat who happens to be Baptist, or a Republican who happens to be Lutheran. None of that matters because the elections are over. Once again, we will be a simple community of people living in towns, counties, states all across the land. Nonetheless, I am left to wonder how many of the hurtful, mean, and cold-hearted things that have been said during the election season will linger? I am left to wonder can we get past a mean-spirited Facebook post, or a Twitter post, or a public statement made at a Democrat or Republican rally? I am left to wonder, can we all remember that many of the things we complained about regarding our neighbors, our friends, our community members, and even our family members were simply politically motivated? Can we actually remember that we are all still, and perhaps most importantly, Americans?
Nov 6, 2014
The Awakening of America
President Obama spent most of his presidency in a very comfortable position. He was surrounded by people who praised him, he had a solid majority in Congress to back him, and it seemed like the bulk of entertainers (because you know their political opinions are important) the media, and even the world thought Obama could do no wrong. The president was so popular that he even won a Nobel Peace Prize almost before he could sit down in the Oval Office! On November 4, 2014, that comfortable position got a lot less comfortable.
While he had all the power in Washington, Obama pushed the Affordable Healthcare Act (an oxymoron if ever there was one) into the face of every single American and basically said, "Deal with it." His supporters rallied behind him when the Supreme Court side-stepped the issue and ruled that "Congress has a right to tax"- a ruling that neither the plaintiff nor the defendant had argued for and both seemed surprised. He caused the government to shut down and then used his friends in the media to paint a picture that portrayed Republicans as shutting down the government. The president even pushed at the greatest generation by trying to close the World War II Memorial in Washington - consequently, few noticed that the World War I Memorial was not closed, but then again there were no aged veterans going to that memorial. Finally, whenever the president did not get his way, he informed everyone that he has a "pen and a phone" and that he will make the things happen that he wants to happen with or without support from Republicans. The president also spent more time than any of his Democrat predecessors have ever done blaming the previous administration and blaming Republicans - Even Bill Clinton, the golden Democrat "Come Back Kid," only named Republicans in his speeches as "Our opponents," or "They" as he crossed the state of Arkansas hoping his charm and the fact that he stressed, "Vote for the candidate, not against the President" would win voters. It did not.
In World War II as England clung to life with the threat of a German invasion lingering across the water, America was bombed by the Japanese. Americans who had been against the war, American media who had stressed it was not our business, and a President who had wondered how to help our allies without American direct involvement woke up. Both Admiral Yamamoto and Winston Churchill realized that on that day that the sleeping giant, or the American public, had been woke up. Much like that attach that woke American's up for World War II, the president's actions finally woke up the American population on November 4, 2014. Americans rolled out in the early vote and the election day vote in record numbers and in record numbers they voted Republican. States that had not been Republican since Reconstruction once again turned red. Democrat voters themselves were no longer willing to sit by and be sad and blue, they were now red with anger. In overwhelming numbers Obama saw states turn red, he saw the House of Representatives go to a solid majority of Republicans (244 to 179) and he saw the Senate turn Republican (52-43). The message was sent clearly to the doorstep of the White House - Obama's polices, his pen and his phone, would no longer be tolerated by the American people.
Ironically, even as Republicans rejoiced in the opportunity to set the nation on the right path again, Obama's Administration was trying to find a way to put a positive spin on the message sent by Americans. Today's Texarkana Gazette (November 6, 2014) noted that "Obama vows to 'get job done' with GOP," and that it's "time for us to take care of business." The president seems suddenly willing to negotiate, work with Congress, and push toward a positive outcome for the American people. What is truly sad and will linger well into history for this president is the fact that the American people had to wake up and send a clear message to a sitting president who refused to listen to the very people he was elected to serve. Consequently, while there was some hint of defiance in the president's message, but he did not seem too eager to say he had a pen and a phone anymore. Well done America....well done.
While he had all the power in Washington, Obama pushed the Affordable Healthcare Act (an oxymoron if ever there was one) into the face of every single American and basically said, "Deal with it." His supporters rallied behind him when the Supreme Court side-stepped the issue and ruled that "Congress has a right to tax"- a ruling that neither the plaintiff nor the defendant had argued for and both seemed surprised. He caused the government to shut down and then used his friends in the media to paint a picture that portrayed Republicans as shutting down the government. The president even pushed at the greatest generation by trying to close the World War II Memorial in Washington - consequently, few noticed that the World War I Memorial was not closed, but then again there were no aged veterans going to that memorial. Finally, whenever the president did not get his way, he informed everyone that he has a "pen and a phone" and that he will make the things happen that he wants to happen with or without support from Republicans. The president also spent more time than any of his Democrat predecessors have ever done blaming the previous administration and blaming Republicans - Even Bill Clinton, the golden Democrat "Come Back Kid," only named Republicans in his speeches as "Our opponents," or "They" as he crossed the state of Arkansas hoping his charm and the fact that he stressed, "Vote for the candidate, not against the President" would win voters. It did not.
In World War II as England clung to life with the threat of a German invasion lingering across the water, America was bombed by the Japanese. Americans who had been against the war, American media who had stressed it was not our business, and a President who had wondered how to help our allies without American direct involvement woke up. Both Admiral Yamamoto and Winston Churchill realized that on that day that the sleeping giant, or the American public, had been woke up. Much like that attach that woke American's up for World War II, the president's actions finally woke up the American population on November 4, 2014. Americans rolled out in the early vote and the election day vote in record numbers and in record numbers they voted Republican. States that had not been Republican since Reconstruction once again turned red. Democrat voters themselves were no longer willing to sit by and be sad and blue, they were now red with anger. In overwhelming numbers Obama saw states turn red, he saw the House of Representatives go to a solid majority of Republicans (244 to 179) and he saw the Senate turn Republican (52-43). The message was sent clearly to the doorstep of the White House - Obama's polices, his pen and his phone, would no longer be tolerated by the American people.
Ironically, even as Republicans rejoiced in the opportunity to set the nation on the right path again, Obama's Administration was trying to find a way to put a positive spin on the message sent by Americans. Today's Texarkana Gazette (November 6, 2014) noted that "Obama vows to 'get job done' with GOP," and that it's "time for us to take care of business." The president seems suddenly willing to negotiate, work with Congress, and push toward a positive outcome for the American people. What is truly sad and will linger well into history for this president is the fact that the American people had to wake up and send a clear message to a sitting president who refused to listen to the very people he was elected to serve. Consequently, while there was some hint of defiance in the president's message, but he did not seem too eager to say he had a pen and a phone anymore. Well done America....well done.
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