Author Archives: grannymaryg

With Friends Like These…

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I understand that diplomatic relations are complicated.  I also understand that diplomacy will never be one of my gifts.  But I also understand that having a weak President has put America at risk both now and in the future.  There is a lot to be said for being feared. Being liked is nice–not necessary–but nice.  Being feared prevents countries from doing things to you that will compromise your security and well being.

Today’s Financial Times reports that:

“The US now has information that Pakistan, particularly the ISI, gave access to the Chinese military to the downed helicopter in Abbottabad,” said one person in intelligence circles, referring to the Pakistani spy agency. The Chinese engineers were allowed to survey the wreckage and take photographs of it, as well as take samples of the special “stealth” skin that allowed the American team to enter Pakistan undetected by radar, he said.

That is not good news.  The article further reports that John Kerry, chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, went to Pakistan two weeks after the helicopter was lost in the mission that killed Osama Bin Laden to get the tail section of the helicopter back.

The Chinese have mastered the art of ‘reverse engineering.’  Between that art and the amount of computer hacking they have done and are doing, they are advancing rapidly in the area of military technology.  The fact that the Pakistanis were willing to show them the tail section of this helicopter shows how much credibility America has lost in that area of the world and how much China has gained.  It is time for the current leadership of America to stand strong and take action that makes it clear that this behavior on the part of Pakistan is unacceptable.  It really is time to review our foreign aid policies.

Putting The Iowa Straw Poll In Perspective

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The Washington Examiner reported the results of the Iowa Straw Poll late yesterday afternoon.  Michele Bachmann won by 152 votes, with Ron Paul coming in second.  What is the world does this mean?  Well, frankly, not a whole lot.

The article at the Washington Examiner reported that 16,892 Iowans voted in the straw poll.  The straw poll is something that generally only the truly motivated voter takes part in.  In 2008, Mitt Romney won and Mike Huckabee came in second.

In writing about the Iowa Straw Poll, Wikipedia (not my favorite source, but ok on this sort of thing) reports:

Non-Republicans are allowed to vote in the Ames Straw Poll. However, all voters must be at least 16 1/2 years of age, be legal residents of the state of Iowa or a student attending an Iowa university/college, and purchase a ticket priced at $30, however some campaigns pay the fee for their supporters.[3] Voters have their hands stamped or their thumbs dipped in ink when entering the voting area so that they cannot vote twice. Ballots are put into electronic voting machines.

The message I hear in this vote is that Iowa (which supported President Obama 53.93 percent to John McCain 44.39 percent in 2008) is not happy with the status quo.  The top three votegetters all campaigned on smaller government and cutting spending. None of the top three winners are what I would call establishment Republicans.  The message I hear in this vote is that the mainstream Republican Party had better get back to its conservative roots.  The voters want more Ronald Reagan and less John McCain.

Any poll or primary election that allows members of the opposing party to vote in the primary or poll should not be taken as a valid picture of that party’s voters.  I firmly believe that the mainstream media believes that the only way President Obama can win a second term is for the media to choose the Republican candidate.  I believe that they did that in 2008 with John McCain.  I suspect they will try to do it again.

If Republicans truly want to win in 2012, they need to start paying close attention to what is going on now–not wait until October of next year.  Americans need to learn to do their own research and to understand that there will be people attempting to throw roadblocks in the way of any candidate capable of beating President Obama. The attacks on Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, and Mitt Romney have already begun.  One thing I learned when I volunteered for a political campaign in 2010 was that campaign workers routinely check blogs and online news sources to leave comments that favor their candidate or criticize the opposing candidate.  I do not filter comments on this website according to content–only for language and relevance.  You may read a comment on this site put here by a campaign worker of a candidate I am not supporting.  Be aware of what you are reading and its source–but read everything about all the candidates you can find.  We elect the leaders we deserve.

Rick Perry Enters The Race

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John Podhoretz at Commentary Magazine posted an article about Rick Perry’s announcement that he is running for President.  In the article, Mr. Podhoretz quotes the new candidate:

“I will work every day to make Washington, DC as inconsquential in your life as I can,”

That is an idea I really like. 

Mr. Podhoretz concludes his article by saying:

“Most people outside Texas know very little about Perry, but given his standing as a kind of amalgam of George W. Bush and Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, he may soon occupy an unprecedented position in the imagination of liberals and the Left—perhaps the most frightening specter of anti-liberalism since Ronald Reagan​ precisely because he is electable. The conservative boogeyman is back.”

In the next few days look for the media to uncover all sorts of negative things about Rick Perry.  Someone will report that when he was five he tried to give the family cat a bath or that when he was two he ate the dog’s food.  Look for it.  It began with the leaking of Governor Perry’s grades at Texas A&M.  Notice that we have yet to see President Obama’s grades or college record.  Don’t hold your breath.  Anyway, look for the attack stories, they are on their way!