Once per week, I consolidate comments I’d posted to recent articles appearing on Yahoo News. I share my views, written as if I actually were the US President. [I’m working on that.] The following were posted between Nov. 13 and today, though appear below in no particular order. As is my usual custom, if I open with a quoted item, that’s from the article itself.
I hope you enjoy all 21 of these mini-essays/comments.
ONE:
I hereby dub thee – Newt Gettin’Rich. Actually, Newt’s biggest sin was his Contract with America, which I hear he’s thinking of resurrecting for this campaign. If so, I have a piece of advice for Speaker Gettin’Rich:
“Your Contract was fatally deficient because it didn’t have any built-in provisions governing non-performance. In other words, no teeth, just a lot of promises. My contract has teeth. If I fail to deliver on any of my campaign promises, I lose my office. Are you willing to match me on this, Mr. Speaker?”
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“The Contract with America served only to disrespect the venerable American tradition of the business contract. How ironic, coming from the GOP. What a sham!”
TWO:
"Talk about Jordan as a Palestinian state damages Israel."
I know what Avigdor [Lieberman] was thinking when he said that. Here’s the complete version of his thought: “Talk about Jordan as a Palestinian state damages Israel because that would complicate our ultimate goal of annexing Jordan, which really isn’t Jordan at all but was part of the land God gave the Jews.”
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Which is exactly why the Palestinians will never be allowed to have their own state – Israel wants to formally annex all of it.”
THREE:
“Israel stopped transfer of tax funds [to the Palestinian Authority] as punishment [for seeking to attain statehood by means of direct UN action]…”
A: Judge not that ye not be judged.
B: Thou shalt not steal.
QUESTION: Do you know what would happen if the US ever really pissed Israel off?
ANSWER: Detonate the nuke they buried in DC.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Think I’m kidding?”
FOUR:
“…a [proposed] constitutional draft…which would give the [Egyptian] army exclusive authority over its internal affairs and budget.”
If I am elected president in 2012, I will do all in my power to end the $2 billion in (mostly) military aid the US gives to Egypt on an annual basis. [Same goes for US aid to Israel.] There’s no good reason on God’s green earth to have been giving $2 billion annually since 1979 to these SOBs. All that did was stoke their arrogance.
Oh, by the way, you might not fully appreciate this, but we have a military arrogance problem of our own. If elected, I promise to sack at least 10% of the generals, forcing their early retirement. They don’t yet know who I intend to sack – but I know…and they’ll find out soon enough.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“I will sack these generals for much the same reason J. Edgar Hoover should have been sacked way earlier in his career - as a general (pun intended) threat to our democracy."
FIVE:
One of the prime traits of an effective leader is delegating authority. We don’t need the gargantuan military we’ve got unless our real goal is to conquer the world. [Which it is, in my humble opinion.] We could do quite nicely with a lot less by delegating. For instance, why is Willard Romney saying he’ll take no option off the table to deny Iran nuclear weapons? We don’t have to do anything! The EU, Russia, Israel, and India are in the immediate neighborhood. Let them take care of business.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“The sooner we get that conquer-the-world stuff out of our system, the better.”
SIX:
“John” took exception to my immediately preceding sentence, by writing: “From Loss t loss to loss is not conquering the world.” So I responded:
John,
That depends on what you mean by “loss.” As long as the US is still in Afghanistan and Iraq, our Elite don’t chalk those up as losses. Yes, these might well turn out to be expensive wins or stalemates. But that “expensive” aspect is very much a part of the plan. If we didn’t have these wars, our people might prosper and decide to challenge the status quo. So keeping us in a state of high unemployment and low productivity discourages any uppitiness on the part of We-the-People.
The grand strategy also involves keeping the troops busy and on their toes for (shall we say) the real missions of the future. The ones we can’t afford to lose or stalemate…especially in Africa. Google these words to read my analysis of Obama’s secret African strategy: Lords Resistance Army Searle
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“There are many subtle parts to our conquer-the-world plan, but make no mistake about this: That is exactly our intention.”
SEVEN:
The following post was based on this article, which I’ll partially quote:
HONOLULU (AP) — The Army on Thursday [11-17-11] conducted its first flight test of a new weapon [AHW: Advanced Hypersonic Weapon] capable of traveling five times the speed of sound.…The weapon's "glide vehicle" reached Kwajalein Atoll — some 2,300 miles away — in less than half an hour…[AHW] is part of the military's program to develop "prompt global strike" weapons that would allow the U.S. to strike targets anywhere in the world with conventional weapons [my emphasis] in as little as an hour....The objective of Thursday's test was to collect data on technologies that boost the hypersonic vehicle and allow it to glide.…
My response:
Too many of the Pentagon’s R&D boys were hooked on Flash Gordon as kids. And we’re paying for their masturbatory fantasies. Stop this nonsense now. Why do we keep looking for newer and faster ways to stick our nose where it doesn’t belong (aka, “projecting American power”)? The more we assert ourselves as the world’s policeman, the less other nations will come to rely on their own resources. And their own capacity for forming alliances – for peace and protection.
Not to mention: This AHW won’t work. No matter how fast it goes, it’s still got to slow down to reach its target, especially if the idea is to land troops who will be using these conventional weapons. Ample time to shoot it down. Not to mention: Where’s it going to land once it reaches enemy territory? [“Tehran Control Tower, come in. Requesting permission to land.”]
And maybe, just maybe Russia or China might mistake multiple launches of these things as a disguised nuclear first-strike attempt. Did Congress bother to set up criteria for deploying AHW – or did they just decide to leave it to the President’s discretion?
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“We need to put the Pentagon’s hi-tek thinkers to the task of reducing our dependency on foreign energy sources.”
EIGHT:
Two readers objected to my post, immediately above. So I answered them:
@ College Park,
It has to slow down because the idea is to land it to deploy troops. The article itself says “The objective of Thursday’s test was to collect data on technologies that … allow it to glide [glide = slow down]." Besides, it also says the Army conducted the tests. That’s because the Army is interested in means of transporting troops quickly without the need for deploying slow-moving, sitting ducks – I mean, US Navy troop carriers.
As for “we inform people about weapons tests beforehand,” I was referring to the time in the future when we’re done testing and we start deploying. Are we going to tell Russia and China “beforehand” about our intended use against a third nation, which might be one of their allies?
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“There’s way more to this than meets the eye.”
@ Girred,
We have enough missiles in quite a wide variety, so the reason the ARMY is testing this device is for suitability as a troop carrier [not, as you claim, as another missile].
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Time to beat the swords into ploughshares and stop acting stupid and spending like there's no tomorrow. Well, maybe not all the swords but we sure don’t need to build stuff like AHW because we can.”
NINE:
I post this in honor of Newt Getting’Rich’s ascendancy in the polls:
Now is a good time to alert you to a blog I wrote back on Oct. 24, 2010: “EMP threat: Our latest bogeyman.”
In that, I wrote: “Today’s blog will focus on the novel One Second After and the ‘threat’ of terrorist attack by means of EMP: Electromagnetic Pulse. Also, I will have some unkind-but-wholly-accurate words for the author of One Second After (William R. Forstchen, Ph.D.) and that shameless snake oil salesman who wrote its foreword, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (also a Ph.D. – believe it or not).”
I believe One Second After, viewed through the lens of my blog, will become Newt’s Achilles’ Heel.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Google these words: EMP threat bogeyman Gingrich Searle. I’ve been waiting a long time to spring this.”
TEN:
“France warned Iran to defuse world fears that it is working on nuclear weapons…” Why doesn’t France put the world at ease by getting rid of its 300 nukes?
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Here, I’ll answer my own question: Because France then (much like Iran and Pakistan now) wanted to have the same toys (and therefore be in the same league) as the Big Boys. What price glory?”
ELEVEN:
Some of my readers didn’t like my description of the United States as “the world’s first nuclear terrorist state.” So I cite two sources who would agree with me.]
"The Japanese had, in fact, already sued for peace. The atomic bomb played no decisive part, from a purely military point of view, in the defeat of Japan." Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
"The use of [the atomic bombs] at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender … My own feeling was that in being the first to use it, we had adopted an ethical standard common to the barbarians of the Dark Ages. I was not taught to make war in that fashion, and wars cannot be won by destroying women and children." Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to President Truman.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Come on, you Yahoo yahoos, man up and admit we made a huge mistake dropping those bombs.”
TWELVE:
All this talk about first strike is kind of silly, since first strike can’t be decisive. Too many people overlook the sub-launch capability. Even more overlook the fact that both sides have buried nukes in the other side’s major cities. So what’s the point of first strike if it can’t be last strike?
Actually, the US and the (former) USSR owe each other a debt of gratitude for the other’s existence. Without one, the other would try to take over the world. No, wait…it's the rest of the world that should be grateful for that.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Don’t forget: The US was the world’s first nuclear terrorist state – Hiroshima/Nagasaki.”
THIRTEEN:
Dennis said I had no proof that “both sides have buried nukes in the other side’s major cities.” My response:
@ Dennis S,
Come on, man, use your common sense. Tactical and highly portable nukes have been around for a long time. Since smuggling them into the US would have been easy (and into the USSR, difficult but doable), I don’t see how either side would have overlooked this option. Especially in the early decades of the Cold War, when the US had such a huge nuke advantage.
I admit, though, I wasn’t a fly on the wall watching this unfold, so I can’t give you the proof you seek. But war planners have to proceed on the very great possibility that this is exactly what transpired. Why else do you think both sides decided to also work on biological weapons? They knew they couldn’t rely solely on nukes, so they had to expand their options. It’s all really very elementary if you stop to think about it.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"Quite often, it's not necessary to find proof in the form of a smoking gun - not even in US courts of law."
FOURTEEN:
But it isn't a capital offense. However, I suppose there are some folks who would like to change that. And then hang Sandusky (after being found guilty in court "of course") based on that change of law. Even though he committed his offenses before that change. Oh, well. No one cares much about such a hanging being unconstitutional. Any Tea Partiers out there want to leap to Sandusky’s defense here? Sarah, what about you? Oh, that’s right. You want to bring the rope.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Looks like Sarah just hung herself.”
FIFTEEN:
I see 18 people gave Skydiver a thumbs-up on his comment: “Death by lethal injection with battery acid.” Yo, listen up you 18: Any of you happen to be Tea Partiers who bleat about restoring the Constitution? There happens to be a provision barring "cruel and unusual punishment."
You might want to check out a movie by Herzog (“Into the Abyss”). This features an interview with a former Death Row executioner – a captain of the guards, no less. He quit after participating in 125 state-sanctioned slayings, saying “capital punishment is wrong.” By the way, quitting cost him his pension. His act was difficult – a lot more difficult than giving a “thumbs up” to nonsense.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Too many of these thumbers have too much time on their hands.”
SIXTEEN:
And if Obamacare gets flushed down the toilet by the Supreme Court, will anybody make a move to repeal the exemption from anti-trust laws the insurance industry has enjoyed for decades? Even if Obamacare survives, that exemption has got to go.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“The only way out is to vote all incumbents out of office – that will mark the beginning of our renaissance.”
SEVENTEEN:
I posted this in response to Obama’s move to station US Marines at a base in Australia:
This is exactly what we shouldn’t be doing. In fact, we should be phasing out our presence, letting local nations know they’re going to have to rely on each other instead of an omnipresent US. If we keep stationing troops here, there, and everywhere, local nations will not seek each other out for mutual support and defense.
India, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines have ample resources to contain China. And let’s call it that, shall we? China wants to expand, just like the US did (and still does). Large economies tend to do that. But it does not have to be our job to protect everybody. And that goes for the EU as well. I’m definitely in favor of pulling out of NATO.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“The other nations of the world can get along quite nicely without us.”
EIGHTEEN:
“Iran has had a history of hiding information from the IAEA.” And the US has a long history of meddling in Iran’s affairs – including the overthrow of its democratically-elected government.
Even if Iran had the bomb, it wouldn’t be our problem. It’s time for the EU and Iran’s neighbors to man up and deal with this. If they want to attack Iran, they may do so – without US support. We don’t have to do everything. But I’ll tell you this much: Any who attack Iran had better be prepared for long-term consequences. I truly hope they think this thing out in advance.
One piece of advice for those who really believe military action to be necessary: Target the ayatollahs and their financial assets.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“I couldn’t believe it when I first heard: An ayatollah is actually a billionaire – Rafsanjani. No way a billionaire cleric is a man of God.”
NINETEEN:
This was in response to Cicero who thought I was “delusional” in my defense of Barack Obama:
Well, Cicero, I think you lost count, since you wrote, “Delusional about both counts.” My point? You say nothing about one count – “good looking guy” – while piling on nonsensically about the other count – “book worm.”
As for his smarts – you’re exaggerating to say he can’t “construct a sentence without…” Come on, man, that’s simply not true. As for Obama’s smarts, you’re trying to lay down a blanket indictment simply because you don’t like the man’s politics. One doesn’t get to teach constitutional law at U of Chicago Law School for 12 years without sufficient knowledge of the constitution. You might not agree with how he interprets that document, but you cannot honestly say he “has no understanding” of it.
I could return the compliment and call you “delusional” – but you’re not. You’re just plain dishonest.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Obama graduated from Harvard Law and was president of the Harvard Law Review, so he’s no dummy. Get over it.”
TWENTY:
My response to this observation by “Dave” follows his words: “and then theres the real world. he might be right.”
Dave,
Even if [Gingrich] is right, it's not our problem. I'm fully confident in the ability of the EU, Russia, Israel, and India (the immediate neighbors) to take care of business. That's "real world." Thinking the US has to micromanage every far-flung situation is sheer paranoia and smacks of a massive superiority complex. Which isn't "real world" at all - it's delusional.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"As far as 'real world' is concerned, I wouldn't put too much stock in what Gingrich knows about that, him being a writer of historical fiction."
TWENTY-ONE:
Gloria Cain says, “I’m thinking he would have to have a split personality to do the things that were said.”
Well, Gloria, you may well be on to something there. You know the old saying: The wife is the last to know, and the first to exclaim “I should have known!” This is where Herman’s claim that his wife supports him “200 percent” gets interesting.
First, I’d rather hear that from his wife than from her “spokesman.”
Second, if his wife supports him 200%, that would break down to 100% support for each of his split personalities (hmm...maybe she does know).
Third, if that isn’t true, then I have to seriously question Herman’s math – and he was a math major in college, wasn’t he? Go figure!
Oh, BTW, if Herman Cain cared anything at all for his wife’s heart condition, he should not have allowed himself to be photographed (recently) with his arms around two white college-age honeys. That picture sent a message: No one tells Herman Cain what to do.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“This man is a dog; and I’m not spelling that d-a-w-g.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party
“It won’t matter who gets elected president in 2012 – and ‘who’ includes me. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do the right thing. It’s never too late for that.”
Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com
