I hope you enjoy all seventeen of these mini-essays.
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ONE:
“…Gov. Romney needs to find someone who WANTS [my emphasis] to run with him." Well, Condi [Condoleeza Rice] sure hit the nail on the head with that observation.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Besides, the prospect of a President Rice [yeah, stuff happens] doesn’t exactly thrill – unless you’re a nostalgia freak.”
TWO:
“The [Muslim] Brotherhood signaled it would not retreat.” I fully believe that. In fact, it will be the generals who will retreat, though I suppose it will take them a bit longer than when they “fought” the Six Day War against Israel. The times they are a’changin’.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“I’m hard put to figure out why Egypt even needs a military – except to suppress its own people. I’m even harder put to figure out why we’ve been giving these guys billions in weapons for over 30 years.”
THREE:
By choosing not to share this personal information [disclosing his past income tax forms], Romney is exercising one of his rights under the law. Since when do we have a problem with people exercising their rights? Obama ought to be ashamed of himself for trying to a**whole this into an issue.
However, Obama still has a chance to show his “leadership” here: Simply ask Congress to pass a law mandating that all seekers for federal office make all of their financial information public, not just tax returns. Somehow, though, I don’t think the Big O is going to be doing that any time soon.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Maybe we’re too petty for self-governance.”
“Maybe we’re too petty for self-governance.”
FOUR:
“…things [that is, the state of the US economy] could get much worse before they get better." Things won’t get better – not ever, again. This is it, folks, the high point of our glory. Revel in it while you have a chance and pray for your children. Pray, especially, that they don’t curse your name till the day they die. After all, this is YOUR fault.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“I don’t suffer fools gladly.”
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“I don’t suffer fools gladly.”
FIVE:
[This is my response to an article about the US Olympic team’s uniforms being Made in China.]
“Some suggested making a bonfire with the outfits, which include … blazers." Making a bonfire? With “blazers?” [Then, presumably, you won't need matches!] Hilarious! But not as funny as this:
"If they have to wear nothing but a symbol that says USA on it…” Sounds like [Senator] Harry Reid would be okay with our athletes being completely naked, except for this symbol. Oh, wait…even funnier (in a blackly comedic sort of way), this offering from Pelosi:
“…the Olympic athletes represent the very best in America…” Oh, stop. They don’t even represent the very best in America among those whom are athletes, since most professional athletes would show the “Olympians” to be way outclassed. And "funniest" of all:
The suggestion that we burn these outfits as an expression of childish tantrum and of our willingness to waste. And to think: This comes from our lawmakers who should be showing a little more fiscal restraint.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Any supporter of unfettered free markets should be horrified at the anti-Chinese sentiment being expressed here.”
SIX:
"There is always, sooner or later, a crisis, totally unanticipated.” That’s interesting especially coming from Cheney, whom I suspect knew way more about the 911 “crisis” before it happened than he would ever dare admit.
And how does Cheney know that Romney in particular would be able to lead in case another 911 were to hit the fan? His own boss, Dubya, didn’t exactly handle that crisis with anything remotely resembling leadership. Remember how long it took Bush to think about how to respond? I dare say, the man was out of his league, was in shell shock, and knew it.
Also remember how Dubya tried to bums-rush the 911 commission and underfund it, even suggesting that Henry Kissinger run it? Henry Freaking Kissinger? Now there’s a man to inspire confidence that the investigators get to the bottom of what happened that fateful day.
Now, Dick Cheney isn’t one to talk about who is or isn’t qualified to respond to a national crisis. Though he surely is one to talk about how to profit from it.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“If the US had a Siberia and we exiled people there, Cheney would surely be a candidate for that treatment.”
SEVEN:
[This is my response to an article about Jews and Muslims being united in common cause against the ruling by a German court that bans circumcision of underage boys.]
Jews and Muslims have in common Abraham who, truth be told, was one seriously sick dude (a real deek, as it were). As for circumcision, what better way to put the fear of God into the young than when they're young and helpless and have no say. Which is how we’re supposed to take our faith, I suppose.
Personally? I was circumcised when I was 7 years old. My dad thought getting cut was a Jewish plot, which is why it wasn't done when I was born (common among most white, middle class families), but my mom saw the pain me and my bro went through because we didn’t (um) take care of our uncut selves as we were supposed to. Although, I wonder how cavemen, who obviously weren’t circumcised, “handled” it.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
Personally? I was circumcised when I was 7 years old. My dad thought getting cut was a Jewish plot, which is why it wasn't done when I was born (common among most white, middle class families), but my mom saw the pain me and my bro went through because we didn’t (um) take care of our uncut selves as we were supposed to. Although, I wonder how cavemen, who obviously weren’t circumcised, “handled” it.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Leave it to the Germans to do something to unite Jews and Muslims. Let’s give them Obama’s peace prize for surely they deserve it more.”
EIGHT:
I guess we better start sucking it up. I can imagine some future Olympics where an American wins gold, but the Chinese demand he fork [over his medal] because he’s their indentured servant.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“That isn’t a very pretty picture, now, is it?”
NINE:
Does Hank [Williams Jr.] write his own lyrics? This guy seems massively illiterate. In the article: “When asked to elaborate why exactly he thought the president hated America, Junior again minced no words…” He didn’t even answer the question! This sounds like a man who very much likes to hear the sound of his own (ignorant) voice.
If Butt-See-Fuss thinks Obama is “the worst,” then I can’t understand why he “doesn't plan to actively help out his campaign.” That probably means he won’t even donate a little cash. Oh well, with an attitude like that, no wonder we end up getting “the worst” to govern us.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“I wonder how active junior was in McCain’s campaign. Just saying…”
TEN:
“… [to give Ron Paul] enough support to grant him a 15-minute speech…” It would be easy to joke about Ron Paul desperately seeking the so-called 15-minutes of fame to which all of us are supposedly entitled.
However, if Paul were to get his 15 minutes, he could use it to shake a scolding finger to warn the GOP about the trouncing Romney is about to face in November. He could say, “From what I see, you’re unwilling to change. Unless you do, the landslide Barack Obama is about to pull off will only be one of many the Grand Old Party will suffer in years to come. If you don’t adapt, you die. Simple as that.”
Of course, Ron Paul could use his 15-minutes in a humorous way. Walk up to the podium hand-in-hand with his “running mate” Bruno (aka Sacha Baron Cohen). After Paul speaks, he could plant a big kiss right on Bruno’s lips. That ought to fire up the base!
Worst case scenario? Ron Paul is denied a chance to speak, thereby denying the convention any chance to rise above the expected humdrum.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
However, if Paul were to get his 15 minutes, he could use it to shake a scolding finger to warn the GOP about the trouncing Romney is about to face in November. He could say, “From what I see, you’re unwilling to change. Unless you do, the landslide Barack Obama is about to pull off will only be one of many the Grand Old Party will suffer in years to come. If you don’t adapt, you die. Simple as that.”
Of course, Ron Paul could use his 15-minutes in a humorous way. Walk up to the podium hand-in-hand with his “running mate” Bruno (aka Sacha Baron Cohen). After Paul speaks, he could plant a big kiss right on Bruno’s lips. That ought to fire up the base!
Worst case scenario? Ron Paul is denied a chance to speak, thereby denying the convention any chance to rise above the expected humdrum.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Without Ron Paul, I can’t imagine why anyone would tune in to watch the Pubber Con.”
ELEVEN:
But isn't it strange how their [Egypt's] court said parliament was set up illegally - after the results were in? In the good old US of A, court challenges would have been swift in coming and ruled upon well before ballots were even cast.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"If these 'judges' aren't careful, they might find themselves dangling at the end of a rope - along with the militarists who (basically) seized power."
TWELVE:
[This is my response to someone who made this sage observation concerning ELEVEN above: The US and Egypt don’t have the same constitution.]
@ Windwalker,
When I said “isn’t it strange…,” I was referring to generally-accepted norms of common sense which, hopefully, cross borders. Generally speaking, wouldn’t you say it sounds strange to have a system (agreed, it’s not our constitutional system) that allows millions of dollars to be spent in a poor country and millions of citizens to be inconvenienced to trek to their polling stations only to find out (after all that) that the election was illegal from the get go? Maybe (just maybe) I was trying to hint (perhaps too subtly) that the Egyptian High Court wasn’t exactly going by its own Constitution in making this ruling.
The problem with the reporting I’ve read is that absolutely no attempt is made to cite, chapter and verse, what part of the Egyptian constitution was being violated. Or, for that matter, under what legalism their military (which likes to pretend it’s enforcing their country’s constitution) gets to seize power.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“I’m going to go out on a limb here and say I highly doubt you’ve read the Egyptian Constitution (or even a summary thereof), so how could you know it differs from ours?”
THIRTEEN:
I head Mitt “Corporations are people, my friend” Romney wants to give corporations the right to vote. Maybe we should give corporations that are big, proportionally more votes.
If unqualified, ignorant, homeless people get one vote, it seems almost an insult to give us normal folks only one. Not to mention, the upper crust should get more than that. Isn’t that really how most people feel deep down inside? Something like this: “We worked hard for our advantages, so we should legislate even more for us, since we have more to lose.”
Let’s be honest and do away with this one-man, one-vote nonsense. Of course…codifying this won’t be easy.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“The devil always is in the details, isn’t he?”
“The devil always is in the details, isn’t he?”
FOURTEEN:
“The [Egyptian] military…took legislative control using a document granting the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) sweeping powers.” Ah, a document, you say? And (ahem) who wrote this document?
“The SCAF backed the court on Monday…” Knowing the fondness for democracy felt by the SCAF, I wonder how close was the vote within that body? (Uh, they do vote, don’t they?) And suppose the Court had decided to disband the SCAF instead, would the military support that move?
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Like it or not – and surely we don’t – the generals’ days are numbered.”
FIFTEEN:
If Mitt Romney’s not breaking any laws, he has a right to his privacy. And that means, he may (if he so chooses) keep his [income tax] info private. Some folks might feel uncomfortable with that – but so what? If they wish to hold his non-disclosure against him, there’s no law against that either and they may vote accordingly.
Does Mitt’s exercise of his right to remain “silent” mean that he’s hiding something? Perhaps, but how many of you would feel comfortable sharing your financial/personal info with the world? Unless the law says otherwise, your personal info is your business – and only your business. Now if detractors want to try to a**hole Romney into disclosing, fine. But I, personally, would think less of him if he responded to pressure from these Lilliputians.
Just because other presidential candidates have chosen to release their financial data doesn’t mean Mitt has to. That was their choice and apparently non-disclosure is his.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“If you don’t like how easily gazillionaires are able to hide their assets, then vote independent so that Economic Disclosure Laws can finally be passed.”
SIXTEEN:
"The test will come [in Egypt] when we see how the soldiers guarding the parliament building behave when MPs try to convene," the source said.
Who says the MPs will try to meet in the parliament building? Oh, they might try. Though if they fail, well…there are other buildings and even Tahrir Square. Imagine that! The MPs, surrounded by tens of thousands of citizens, claiming the support of the people crowding the Square as foreign news cameras send these images around the world.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Everyone talks about how tough the generals are but…they lost the Six Day War, didn’t they? Six frikkin days?”
SEVENTEEN:
“Iran has threatened to destroy U.S. military bases…within minutes of being attacked…” With what? All the US would need are a few minutes of attacking time, after which there wouldn’t be anything left for Iran to retaliate with. And even if there was, Iran doesn’t seem to appreciate the need for guidance systems in order to make any long-range missile attack effective. And they don’t have such systems.
However, if the leaders want to whip up the base (the Revolutionary Guard), they can claim all they want that they have all this response capability. And when the attack happens (which it will - by Labor Day, I’m estimating), and the Iran response (shall we say?) fizzles, the Ayatollahs can always blame the Jews for infiltrating their offensive missiles' computers with some kind of next-generation Stuxnet.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“It’s one thing to have targets, it’s quite another to hit them.”
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Steven Searle for US President in 2012
Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party
“Maybe I’m a fool for putting so much effort into political analysis, but I like thinking of this as part of my Buddhist practice.”
Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com
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