I hope you enjoy all 20 of these mini-essays/comments.
ONE:
[Referring to Herman Cain, GOP presidential wannabe.]
This is too ironic, that Cain’s father was a chauffeur for the CEO of Coca-Cola. And now his son is a “driving force” (a chauffeur, in a manner of speaking) for the Coke brothers. And, yes, “Koch” is pronounced the same as “coke.”
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“There are a lot of reasons to laugh at Herman Cain; ‘chauffeur for the Coke brothers’ must surely count as one of them.”
TWO:
[In response to Yahoo article: Mitt Romney thinks the Occupy Wall Street protestors are dividing the country.]
So Mitt worries about dividing the country, eh? When voters fully realize they might be offered the choice of voting for a man who believes the Book of Mormon is superior to the Bible, then you’ll see some real divisiveness. In your face, Romney!
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Romney isn’t, and the Mormons aren’t, Christians. Let this sink in. This is not to be glossed over.”
THREE:
[Concerning why Gadaffi loyalists are still fighting.]
"So from that perspective, it just does not make sense to see what these few remaining forces are doing,"
Uh, excuse me, Mr. Secular EU Military Guy (who probably never saw a day of combat in his life), but maybe these guys (should we start referring to them as the “rebels” now?) are fighting for God. Or fighting against the NTC’s version of God? Or fighting because they believe in Gaddafi? Or fighting for their lives because they fear NTC retribution?
As for NATO’s (now) embarrassing bombing campaign, if the NTC can’t finish what should be a routine mopping up operation, then they don’t deserve NATO’s support.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“As for ‘“…because the fighters can't hope to reverse the situation on the battlefield…,” it’s not over until the fat lady sings.”
FOUR:
A lot of not-very-bright people are gleefully pointing out how Cain is surging in the polls. Apparently, they don’t know a case of Premature Ejaculation when they see one.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“There’s nothing funny about PE (especially in full view of millions of people!), so what’s to be gleeful about?”
FIVE:
For the past four years, I have been telling the EU the same thing I’ve been telling the US: Unless you change your governing system, you will fail. And the only change that can work is a system I’ve developed called “Cross-Sectional Representation.” This will achieve the integration you’ll need to achieve maximum efficiency, while at the same time reducing bureaucracy. It may well already be too late, but pray it isn’t: CSR is the only way out.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Google these words for more info: Steven Searle Cross-Sectional.”
SIX:
…”eurozone chief Jean-Claude Juncker admitted a write-down of Athens' debt could cost creditors much more than first thought.”
Oh, I rather suspect Juncker et al knew way in advance how much of a soaking the creditors were going to take. But then, saying so would have given creditors cold feet and that would have ruined the Great Con, now wouldn’t it?
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“The eurozone has a system that requires all 17 nations to cooperate? Just knowing that should be enough to freeze the blood.”
SEVEN:
[Herman] Cain’s 9-9-9 plan is a great way to sell pizzas: 9 pizzas, with 9 toppings each, for $9.00 each. But even that would only appeal to a limited market – say, for people ordering for a Super Bowl party who aren't thinking how messy and indigestible would be nine toppings!
It’s only a catchy slogan, not a viable economic plan. And we can’t “slogan” our way back to prosperity. What we really need is to rewrite our nation’s tax code, sparing none of the sacred cows. And a good rewrite can only happen with independents in Congress; without them, lobbyists will lean on legislators to include favorable language for their clients. And Cain isn’t talking about the need for an independent (that is, a non-Dem/Pub) Congress. None of the candidates are – except me.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“The only meaningful action voters can take is to vote out all incumbents. If we do that, then independents will be encouraged to run.”
EIGHT:
9-9-9? How about 8-9-7? Or can Herman Cain only think in terms of rigid, across-the-board simplicity?
How about 8.5 – 9.3 – 7.8? Or can Cain only think in terms of whole numbers?
And why tax all corporations at the same rate, as if one size fits all? Even in his role as Pizza Man, he knew customers would want more than one size. The more I hear Herman Cain speak, the more I hear a blowhard simpleton speaking. If we are simple enough to buy into a slogan, then we will truly have earned the horrible fate about to befall us.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Mr. Cain, since your bachelor’s degree was in mathematics, surely you must know it’s not always desirable to use whole numbers.”
NINE:
[This is what HeadTater posted; my comment follows immediately.]
FIVE: I will void US diplomatic recognition of Israel.
SIX: I will bestow US diplomatic recognition on Palestine.
Why? Are you Islamic?
SIX: I will bestow US diplomatic recognition on Palestine.
Why? Are you Islamic?
Ah, HeadTater looked at my blog and asks some questions.
Fair enough. No, I am not Islamic; in fact, I am a Buddhist who is a member of a sect having only one member - me. But you asked “Why?” Israel hasn’t been a very good ally of the US – for instance, remember the USS Liberty, and the spy Jonathan Pollard.
Israel will never negotiate for an independent Palestine and they don’t respond to US pressure or even pleas very well. The atheist Netanyahu still continues to build and expand settlements in the West Bank. My proposal is intended to put the fear of God into the Israeli Zionists – which is something they don’t seem to have much of any more. I as POTUS would grant diplomatic recognition to the Palestinians because they’ve waited long enough – an occupation of 40 years is obscene.
Take heart, though: If I am elected POTUS and remove Israel’s recognition (which I will, immediately), that doesn’t have to be permanent. Depending on a demonstration of good faith on their part, I would be more than happy to restore it – but not the $3B in aid we give them (that’s off the table). In any event, since my contract states I would not seek reelection, all the Zionists would have to do is wait for the next POTUS to wrap his ever-loving Democratic/Republican arms around them and re-recognize them while accepting AIPAC's campaign "contributions."
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“I hope you take the time to read more of my blog, since I expand my themes in very great detail therein. Google these words: Steven Searle US President 2012."
TEN:
[REF: Article entitled “NY judge: Al-Aqida owes $9.3 billion for 9/11 harm”]
You don’t think a “magistrate judge in New York” might have been biased in any way, do you? [“Even though I’m from New York [might have said such a judge], I can be neutral and dispense dispassionate justice to those who perpetrated these terrorist attacks – a bunch of dirty A-rabs who murdered 3,000 Americans on a day that will live in infamy.”]
This judge should have dismissed this lawsuit as frivolous, since there could never be any way to collect damages. What are we going to do, start harassing the Saudi Arabian embassy for payments? Put a lien on the properties of Wahhabi Muslims who inspired al-qaeda? While we're at it, why don’t we sue the Russians for having dared to acquire nuclear weapons, thereby “forcing” us into the arms race? Where do lawsuits stop? Where does stupid stop? This judge should be removed from the bench for wasting taxpayers’ time and resources by even thinking about this suit.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“This is exactly the type of lawsuit which should appear before a World Court, but we might not like their verdict.”
ELEVEN:
[Alf had this to say: “Steve, you sound interesting young fellow but your political aspirations, though quite noble, indicate a moderate level of naivety.”] To which I responded:
Alf,
Thanks for the “interesting” attribute. But I am not a young fellow – having just turned 60 in May. As for my political aspirations, I may or may not end up getting elected POTUS in 2012. But I’m not losing any sleep worrying over that.
On my blog, I’m trying to post ideas that might end up influencing others. Perhaps even others, who happen to hold elective office. Deep down in their hearts, our leaders know we can’t continue on our current path. Either something has to give or we’ve got to make something happen.
In all honesty? I think it’s too late for the latter option. We’re simply too set in our ways to think outside the box. That, and the fact that we are no longer sole controllers of our own destiny will cause the Great American Experiment to fail. God, I hope I’m wrong, but I’ve got a very bad feeling about this.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“If interested in some of my innovations (including a new Constitution) google these words: Steven Searle US President 2012.”
TWELVE:
"[Cain’s] run a business and paid the bills. He's authentic." That describes tens of thousands of businessmen, large and small, all across the US. But those two virtues don’t necessarily translate into a good (or even competent) US Chief Executive.
As for singing “Impossible Dream,” Herman Cain would do well to remember what happened to Don Quixote. While also keeping in mind that the good Quixote was delusional, and noting this sentence from the Wikipedia article on the famous Spanish knight: “Near the end, Don Quixote reluctantly sways towards sanity: an inn is just an inn, not a castle.”
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Herman Cain has accomplished much in his life and deserves to stand as an example for others. His background and accomplishments, however, do not mean he deserves to be President of the United States. Many have made that mistake, and we have elected some of them to that high office. Much to our sorrow.”
THIRTEEN:
“Advisers,” you say? We started out in Nam with advisors, didn’t we? And we learned nothing from that.
What would we do if the LRA captured all 100 (or 90? Or 50? Or…?) of our troops, beheaded them, and stuck each head on a pole in some village square, with that scene splashed all over the internet? Then the call would go out: “We must avenge the dead.” Riighhtt!
By going into Africa, we’re basically saying two things: The Black man can’t handle his own affairs, and we’re not hesitant about trying to counter Chinese influence on that continent (not that China is in any way involved with the LRA).
If we were to be consistent in our approach to interventions, we should have sent US troops to the West Bank as soon as it became obvious that Israel intends to annex the West Bank or significant parts of it (called “settlements”). Where was US outrage when the USS Liberty was sunk? Where was the outrage when Jonathan Pollard spied for Israel – and he’s not the only spy BTW?
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“I read Obama’s letter to Congress, noting that he did not confer with Congress first, but claims (in his letter) to be acting in the ‘national security and foreign policy interests of the United States,’ but fails to mention how his (yeah, it’s his) intervention serves those interests.”
FOURTEEN:
[RE: Article about foiling assassination plot against Saudi in the US]
What’s all this talk about “taking nothing off the table?” When I hear that, I assume the speaker is ready to use nukes, carpet bombing, or biological/chemical weapons. I’d like to see our officials stop using such a stupid phrase.
Will we decide to punish Iran on the basis of secret evidence, as in “we don’t want to reveal how we obtain our intelligence but we know they’re guilty?” Maybe rogue operatives in Iran were responsible – we surely have rogues of our own to worry about, now don’t we?
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Frankly, I’m highly suspicious of the timing of this bust, since Eric Holder was feeling a lot of heat lately for the Fast and Furious operation. I hope we don’t end up being too Fast (to draw conclusions) and Furious (with our response), since that kind of knee-jerking has gotten us into a lot of trouble before.”
FIFTEEN:
Cain at 27%? All that means is, out of a deeply flawed (at best, mediocre) field, the leading candidate didn’t even poll one-third. And how many voted for Cain simply as a protest vote – against politicians in general? Remember: All of his opponents either currently hold elective office or did at one time (that latter group may be referred to as has-beens or wants-to-run-agains).
As soon as Cain’s novelty wears off, he’ll hit the lecture circuit and sell more books. This is all about two things: feathering his own nest, and getting to sit at the same (debate) table as Whitey and being taken seriously (wow, can you feel the swelling of pride within the breast?).
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“Cain’s survival instincts are pretty good, though; look at the foresight he had during the Vietnam War years, amply shown by getting a civilian job with the US Navy, thereby snagging a draft deferment and (here’s the foresight part) giving him bragging rights decades later about having served his country.”
SIXTEEN:
[This is my response to a poster who thought my “argument [above] doesn’t hold a lot of weight.”]
You overlooked the part about Cain being the non-politician outsider. In that respect, his novelty will wear off as soon as people start sobering up and asking, "Are we ready to vote for another inexperienced candidate? This time, one who hasn't had any exposure at all to the legislative process?" Yup, I think my argument holds a lot of weight, thank you very much.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"Dude, you've got to read the whole thing (no skimming allowed). My postings are a lot weightier than any 9-9-9 plan."
SEVENTEEN:
[This is in response to a poster who thought the US has to overwhelm the rest of the world with how “big” we are.]
But...we aren't larger than life, and everybody knows that. So what's your point?
We have degenerated to the point where we need to see ourselves as larger than life. And that’s the classical definition of an inferiority complex. That’s what we really have to overcome - our own insecurity. When “they fear our sword,” they will simply look for other ways to attack us – say (as in the case of China), by keeping us in debt by loaning us more money.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“The only real solution is for us to lose our militaristic mindset, believing the whole world is out to get us.”
EIGHTEEN:
[Panetta talks about the army of the future.]
“…the Army will still need to provide troops for counter-terrorism and for overseas training missions.”
Why must these two tasks always fall on us? The mark of a good manager is to delegate authority. It’s about time to start delegating. EU? Saudi Arabia (to finance this force)? India (to give their forces the training they’re going to need someday – very soon)? Besides, isn’t “counter-terrorism” (in too many cases) merely a euphemism for supporting right-wing death squads? Are we still in that business?"
This nation needs an Army that can... decisively overwhelm any enemy land force…” Why? Strategic undercutting can render “any enemy land force” useless, and it doesn’t require (only) an Army to do that.“
The Army of some 570,000 soldiers could be cut by nearly 50,000 by 2016…” We could achieve that reduction NOW by pulling out of Afghanistan NOW.
“What do we need to retain in the force today to allow us to rapidly expand in the future if necessary?” That’s obvious – “we” need the ability to rapidly train large numbers of civilians quickly. And that can’t happen unless we have mandatory National Compulsory Service, one version of which would require military training (or pre-training, actually) which will come in handy if we should ever start drafting young people again – which we will.
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"Google these words to see how I would void any future military draft: Steven Searle military draft.”
NINETEEN:
“In what could be a game changer for Mitt Romney's 2012 bid…” Or not. I mean, we’re talking about the always-influential Chris Christie here. And we’re still talking about Mitt Romney who, last time I checked, is still a Mormon. And, no, that one will not be going away. [Note to CC: “Sorry, Chris. I know how badly you want to defeat Obama but Romney’s non-Christian faith will assure that won’t happen.”]
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“It’s not the Church of Jesus Christ as much as it’s the Church of the Latter-day Saints, as invented by Joe Smith.”
TWENTY:
“Or Rick Perry, who was viewed as a GOP savior when he entered the race in August…”
Rick Perry can take heart from John McCain. His poll numbers were so low at one point (at only 8% of registered GOP voters), pundits wondered when Mac would throw in the towel. Hey, that’s it! Why doesn’t the GOP draft Mac? If at first you don’t succeed…
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“The GOP has got to figure out a way to thin the herd; 8 candidates on stage undergoing a lightning round of speed-dating Q&A are about 4 too many.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Steven Searle for US President in 2012
Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party
“Vote against all incumbents – bar none.”
Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com
