Jon Huntsman’s exact words

I’m not going to quote Jon Huntsman’s entire I’m-running-for-President speech but here’s a link:

http://jon2012.com/campaign/Jun-21-2011/Jon-Huntsman-Announcement-Transcript

What I am going to do is comment on selected portions of that speech. Some of my comments are within brackets. For other comments: the first word is highlighted in yellow; the last, in blue.

Selections from

Huntsman’s speech with Searle’s comments

I've lived overseas four times, where the view of America from 10,000 miles away is a picture of liberty [Patriot Act], opportunity [even for undocumented workers] and justice [if you can afford it]. People secure in their rights [those the Supreme Court and the police still allow us to enjoy] and in love with their liberty. People who have done more good for more people than any other nation on earth.

That last sentence might say more about what’s bad about those other nations than it does concerning what’s good about ours. Besides that, just ask the descendants of slaves and American Indians for their take of this “more good” claim.

And today, I'm a candidate for the office of President of the United States of America. [Me, too!]

You see today Americans are experiencing, through no fault of their own, something that is totally alien to them - a sense that the deck is stacked against them by forces totally beyond their control. No matter how hard they work, save, and plan, the opportunities are not there for them as that were present for previous generations.

…“through no fault of their own?” – the fault is exactly our own, and nobody else’s, for refusing to rein in our own government…

”forces totally beyond their control?” – Jon’s right about that – our government has proven to be a force beyond our control, due in large part to our own complacency.

And yet Jon writes (below), “We have…our abiding belief in personal responsibility.” Which is it, Jon? Talk about talking out of both sides of one’s mouth!

Perhaps, saddest of all, we have lost faith in ourselves.

Not as much as we’ve resigned ourselves to perish at the hands of a Two Party System, which is in desperate need of overthrowing.

For the first time in history, we are passing down to the next generation a country that is less powerful, less compassionate, less competitive and less confident than the one we got.

“less powerful?” – We won the Cold War and now we’re less powerful? Maybe Jon’s referring to a power we never had – the ability to police the entire world and micromanage to our hearts’ content.

“less compassionate?” – I would love to hear a reporter ask Jon what he meant by that. If we’ve become a mean-spirited, less-empathetic people, I’d love to hear Jon’s take on how that came to pass.

We have the power, we have the means, we have the character to astonish the world again by making from adversity a new and better country…

Where did that “adversity” come from, Jon? From speculators engaging in Bubble Economics, whom we refused to regulate?

We have our freedom [subject to the parameters of virtual class warfare], we have rule of law [subject to the whims of our various institutional enforcers], the longest surviving Constitution [which has outlived its usefulness and is in dire need of replacement], our abiding belief in personal responsibility [another way of saying, “Don’t expect government to help you unless you’re big enough to qualify for a bailout”].

We have freedom of speech [not much use unless you have money for access to mass media], religion [no we don’t – Jon’s fellow Mormons could tell you how they had to give up their religiously-sanctioned practice of polygamy in order to join the union], and press [which is thoroughly dominated, along with all major media, by corporations].

And we are the most productive society on earth [we also produce a lot of crap, pollution, and weapons to sell to a wide variety of war lords].

We have…the most…selfless armed forces.

The Taliban and Colonel Gadhafi’s troops, fighting against overwhelming odds, must surely be considered “selfless” as well – and they don’t get compensated nearly as well as our own forces.

What we now need is leadership that trusts in our strength. Leadership that doesn't promise Washington has all of the solutions to our problems, but rather looks to local solutions from our cities, towns and states.

While it’s true Washington doesn’t have “all of the solutions,” our local entities are just as corrupt with Two Party politics. The real solution is to oust all Dem/Pubs from DC and get a really independent Congress in place. In fact, the locals should do that as well. Without an independent legislature, it won’t matter who becomes our next President.

Leadership that knows we need more than hope, leadership that knows we need answers. [Ditto my comment above.]

We must make hard decisions that are necessary to avert disaster.

Only Independents can make those decisions – since they wouldn’t be shackled to the whims of the party bosses or of the lobbyists who lay daily siege to their offices.

Our country will fall behind the productivity of other countries. Our influence in the world will wane [That’s alright with me and will be better for all of us…not to mention a lot cheaper]. Our security will grow ever more precarious [if we keep insisting on finding newer and more creative reasons for going to war]. And the 21st Century will then be known as the end of the American Century. [Opposed as I am to nationalism, I would welcome the beginning of a truly International Century.]

We must make broad and bold changes to our tax code and regulatory policies [these changes can’t happen with Dem/Pubs in charge – they’ll skew any reform package they cobble together; only independents can succeed]; seize the lost opportunity of energy independence [after various administrations chose to lose those opportunities in order to follow their own hidden agendas] and reestablish what it means to be a teacher in society [Jon, do you mean like “school teacher” – What do you think it means to be a teacher in society compared to being a teacher in a school?]

Now, we did many of these things in the great state of Utah when I was governor [Face it, Jon, the US has a lot more challenges than ever did the great state of Utah].

You see, we proved that government doesn't have to choose between fiscal responsibility and economic growth [uh, huh…maybe that’s because Utah doesn’t have to spend to fight the terrorists, deal with minorities, or rehab an aging infrastructure].

And let us not forget that we are a nation at war.

The Global War on Terror has to rank as one of the biggest scams of all time. When do we bring the troops home, Jon?

We're at war, ladies and gentlemen, and we must manage the end of these conflicts [how about “managing” by just pulling out immediately, without a lot of fanfare?] without repeating past mistakes that made our engagement longer [“longer?” – that choice was always ours to make and those were not really “mistakes” at all] and our sacrifices greater than they should have been [we didn’t have to sacrifice anything at all except our sense of self-righteousness].

… we believe the best long- term national security strategy is rebuilding our core here at home. [No, it’s not. It’s best achieved by ceasing our role as policeman of the world.]

And I respect the President of the United States.

I don’t…Barack Obama was a callous fraud who blatantly lied to the American people – from Day One and well before.

We are a resourceful, ingenious, determined, problem solving people.

So are the Chinese, but I think the real problem to be solved is, how much should be our share of the world’s pie? Oh, and how will we (or our elites) rein in the temptation to take more than that share?

This is the hour when we choose our future.

I hope ethical and compassionate concerns help shape those choices.

I'm Jon Huntsman, and I'm running for President of the United States.

I am Steven Searle, and I would never dream of offering such a lame speech (as Jon’s) when announcing my own candidacy. In fact, I offer no speech at all – just my innovative written contract. Americans are tired of baseless promises, Jon. If you want to convince us, put it in writing – as I have.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party

“Join the New American Revolution. Declare your independence by voting for independents.”

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com

US President’s weekly Yahoo! News updates

[NOTE: No, I am not really the US President. However, by acting the way I think he should act and saying the things I think he should say, perhaps that could change.]

Once per week, I share comments I’d posted to articles appearing on Yahoo News. These were posted between May 22 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.

Posted on Yahoo! News

ONE:

“I wish Jeb Bush had a different last name. He’d be fantastic,” said Henry Barbour...

Not so fast...Maybe being a Bush is an asset. Obama followed in Bush's footsteps to such a profound degree, he basically rehabilitated the name. I even wrote a blog about Obama adding Dubya's head (that is, a sculpted version thereof) to Mount Rushmore. Blogging can be such fun!

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

"Wouldn't it be amazing if Obama, who magically took away much of Dubya's stigma, lost the election to Jeb...for precisely that reason!?"

TWO:

[This was my response to an article about a search warrant executed in the California home of a 91-year-old woman who sold suicide kits.]

“...but said he could not comment on the contents of the warrant..." Could not or would not? Sounds like the feds were acting way beyond the bounds of what the warrant authorized. Unless they found a judge who gave them a blank check (not supposed to do that).

“…and spent the next 10 hours packing up ‘boxes and boxes and boxes’ of stuff and leaving a mess.”  If these invaders can spend 10 hours executing a blank-check warrant, they can spend an hour, under the strict guidance of the homeowner, to clean up. What’s wrong with people? Doesn't Obama's terrorist squad have anything better to do? Remember, people, you're paying for this.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“(sigh) This is just another instance of the feds trying to make an example out of someone.”

THREE:

"...reconsider the deadline for the sake of the country's security."

No extension of deadline will enhance Iraq's security. Only pulling out those troops will give the better chance of long-term success. But...we don't anticipate long-term very well.

Five years ago, I predicted that the "real" War in Iraq will begin once our troops were significantly drawn down. Reassertion: We should never have gone there in the first place, and should have left way before now. But Obama won the election and decided to maintain the Bush Doctrine. Fool! And fool on us for going for the Change rap.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

"The more things 'Change,' the more they remain the same."

FOUR [I wish some reporter would actually ask this question.]

Reporter to Romney after he announces prez run: "Mr. Romney, if you're elected, will you take the oath of office with your hand on the Bible or on the Book of Mormon [which, as an article of faith, you claim to be superior to the Bible]?"

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

"This is not a 'religious test' question, it's a question of consistency of values. FYI, were I to be sworn in, my hand will be on the Lotus Sutra. Nothing less will do. [I don't have a problem with such questions.]"

FIVE [On the proposed introduction of NATO helicopters in Libya]:

Well, looks like we're trying to pick a winner in Libya. Be careful what you ask for. As soon as an RPG brings down one of those choppers, the din of cheering from the EU will turn to stone silence. Even worse? If one of those choppers has to land due to mechanical problems and the locals decide to take the crew, skin them alive, and post that on the internet.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

"These kinds of decisions make me wonder about the effects of inbreeding among the leadership."

SIX:

“The 12,000 police officers securing the seaside town of Deauville…spent most of their time checking entry badges.”

If those 12,000 officers are tied down to petty duty in Deauville, that means there are security gaps where those officers would normally otherwise be. French authorities worried about Islamic militants have just made it that much easier for militants to attack the unguarded places.

The basic principle of judo: When facing a bigger, stronger opponent, just look for the places where he’s vulnerable (that is, where his forces are absent). It doesn’t get any simpler than that. No wonder these guys can’t take out Gadhaffi.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“The most telling part of this story is that the police found it necessary to take away the [Buddhist] monk’s banner. What on earth are these people afraid of?”

SEVEN:

Let’s get one thing straight: The people of these Middle Eastern nations aren’t necessarily clamoring for democracy. What they oppose are their crushing autocratic regimes, and lack of opportunity to live decent lives. They would accept a benevolent king if one could be found. Problem is: Corruption and cronyism. Which are problems found everywhere the world over – even in democracies.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“As a Buddhist, I don’t support democracy simply because it can’t work (all pretensions to the contrary); I support either a benevolent kingship (example: rule by Jesus) or a pure democracy – without the thwarting mechanisms we find near and dear (like the filibuster, for example).”

EIGHT [My reply to another blogger’s observations]:

What do you mean "as long as?" Even if all of these negatives you cite magically disappeared, Israel still would not allow for an independent Palestinian nation to arise. The Zionists within Israel are too strong and they think they're entitled (by God, no less) to keep permanent possession of all of the West Bank. And a lot more than that, truth be told, but that's another story.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

"When God told the Israelites He was 'giving' them that land, he was only testing them. And they've failed that test miserably."

NINE:

“[Huntsman] must strike a balance between emphasizing the fiscally conservative policies likely to attract GOP primary voters and explaining others certain to repel them.”

“Explaining” will turn out to be quite easy. All Huntsman will have to do is simply tell the GOP base the facts of life, “You can’t nominate the dream candidate who adheres to all of your positions with any hope he’d actually win the presidency. Those things that repel you might attract votes from those who otherwise wouldn’t vote for me. That’s how elections are won.”

If elected, though, I’m afraid we’ll all find out much sooner than later what Huntsman himself must already know: “What I did as governor for the state of Utah cannot be replicated as President of the United States.”

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“No matter who the GOP nominates, Obama’s going to be reelected – so that’s that. And the GOP knows this, which is why they’re really aiming for election 2016.”

TEN:

“Canada will back Israel whatever the cost."

Hey, wait a minute, I thought that was the job our leaders foisted on us.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

"I guess everybody missed the part PM Harper mumbled under his breath. Here's the full quote, 'Canada will back Israel whatever the cost to the ideals of human decency, honor, and fair play."

ELEVEN:

"We are not trying to physically target individuals in Gaddafi's inner circle on whom he relies but we are certainly sending them increasingly loud messages," British Defense Secretary Liam Fox said in a statement.

The UN mandate was for a no-fly zone and to protect civilians. How do bunker-buster bombs protect civilians? Where in the mandate does it say Britain gets to send them "increasingly loud messages?" Sounds rather indiscriminate to me.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"Without the rule of law, we are no better than terrorists."

TWELVE:

Consider these two statements side-by-side:

“NATO spokesman Maj. Tim James … didn't confirm the airstrike and provided no details about it...” [and]

“President Karzai blamed “American troops for airstrikes that killed the 14…”

Looks like NATO doesn’t have to bother to confirm that strike because Karzai already did so. Isn’t coordination among allies a wonder to behold? Although…it seems a lack of coordination caused those 14 deaths in the first place.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“If I’d been elected instead of Obama, we’d have been out of Afghanistan long ago and those 14 wouldn’t have died. Now that’s a change I can believe in!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party

“I amazed that even someone as low down on the social totem pole as I can read the heavily censored/controlled news issued by an outlet such as Yahoo, and can still punch holes in their mainstreamed propagandized narrative.”

Contract me a bpa_cinc@yahoo.com