US President’s weekly Yahoo News updates

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 June 18 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 18 of these mini-essays/comments.

Posted on Yahoo! News

ONE:

Lagarde?  Carstens? There are easily 1,000 people in this world who are as qualified (or more) than these two [to lead the IMF]. How did they manage to bubble up to the top? I disagree with Lagarde - this process has been far from transparent.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

"I hope Carstens isn't one of the Chicago Boys, philosophically speaking."

TWO:

[Hillary Clinton] asked, "Are you on Gadhafi's side, or are you on the side on the aspirations of the Libyan people and the international coalition that has been bringing them support?"

If Clinton had dared to ask such a question in my presence, I would have said: “I am on the side of due process and the constitution, Madam Secretary. And as far as the ‘international coalition’ is concerned, the EU (which is really what we’re talking about) was and still is more than capable of conducting this operation without any of our support. And if our President thought the EU not up to the task, that would be the proper subject for a forensic audit by Congress. Any questions about any of this, so far?”

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“As you can well imagine, I’m not the kind of person the DC establishment would embrace.”

THREE:

[Yahoo News article’s title: “Short debt limit hike possible” – according to US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell]

"'And we'll be back having the same discussion again in the fall,' McConnell said."

Ah, ha...McConnell blinked first. And when fall rolls around, he'll blink again...

"This time for sure, folks, for real and for true - we'll raise the ceiling for just a few more months. And if we don't get those cuts, we'll hold our breath till we turn blue...and then give the Democrats another few months." Hey, Mac, do you happen to know what a War of Attrition is?

Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"And it's one, two, three, what are we fightin' for?"

FOUR:

"This would 'snatch defeat from the jaws of victory,' Kerry said on the Senate floor.”

Hey, John, isn't that what the administration was saying about our involvement in Vietnam - about the time you turned against that war?

Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"John Kerry, military interventionist - who woulda thunk it?"

FIVE:

The prosecutor must be sweating bullets by now. This case wasn't quite the slam dunk he led us to believe. If [ex-guv Blagojevich] walks, I can't wait to see the expression on Chicago Tribune "journalist" John Kass's face. Not to worry, he'll find something cute to say - on that you can rely. I still say, even though the guv was ham-handed and too obvious in his approach, he didn't do anything illegal and nothing any of those other elected bastards haven't tried by subtler means.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"We're running out of time - 'cute' won't cut it any more."

SIX:

"By the end of 2014, when all U.S. troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan..."

And by the end of 2015, the Taliban will have taken over (yes, it will happen that quickly) and Karzai will have fled to Switzerland (or to Camp David?). Mission accomplished.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

"Of course, by the end of 2014, Obama won't have to worry about reelection...and that of course is precisely the point."

SEVEN:

According to D [a fellow Yahoo News poster]: “This is one …[child molesting doctor] who's not going to live very long in prison no matter WHERE they put him. He's a dead man walking.” Others gleefully post stuff like “I hope he suffers at the hands of his fellow inmates.”

(sigh) I’ve read comments like these many times before. Why should any of us hope that prisoners do for us what our lawfully appointed guardians do not? We want prisoners to do our bidding for us, is that it?

Nothing we could do to this man could possibly satisfy a certain basic blood lust for revenge. The Bible says: “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” A lot of Bible thumpers don’t feel that way, I’m sad to report.

I, as a Buddhist, claim, “Karmic retribution covers all bases but not necessarily in this lifetime; try – force yourselves if you have to – to have a little compassion for this man.” I know, I know…some of you will say, “But what about the kids and the families?” Of course…for them too, but the greatest benefit for the compassionate occurs when we direct it toward those we detest.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“I guess too many of us aren’t very consistent with our beliefs after all.”

EIGHT:

“You have no idea who I am.”

David [Letterman, late night TV comedian], I’ve known about you for decades and care less now than I did back then…which was “not at all.”

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“I have no idea why people fanatically follow this moron.”

NINE:

[Comment: Someone posting as “K-Wee” took exception to my comment above, about David Letterman. You might wonder why I would bother dealing with David Letterman at all, since I’m a candidate for US president. Quite simple, actually. I maintain that US culture is in decline (a decline I’m campaigning to reverse), a point proven every night by Letterman himself. He is no small reason for our continued downward slide. Yes, I believe in naming names.]

Dear K-Wee,

[You wrote]: “so we can put down [sic] ignorants with delusions of grandeur.”

Is that why “we” watch Letterman? I’m sure David has other thoughts when he goes on the air night after night. Like…to entertain and to make us laugh. If David himself read your reason for watching, he’d laugh…at you.

Oh, BTW, I think you meant to write “One who couldn’t ‘care less’…” [Instead of “could care less.”] Nice try, though.

As for “and has ‘no idea,’” I’ve got quite a few actually, which would dwarf those of the other candidates. You might, if you can stop being cute long enough, want to google: Steven Searle US President 2012.

NOTE: The word I had used, which Yahoo decided to render as @#$%, was “moron”…for the record.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“I say what I mean and I mean what I say.”

TEN:

QUOTE: The House was scheduled to vote Friday [6/24] on…a bill to cut off funds for U.S. military attacks [in Libya]. The bill would make an exception for search and rescue efforts, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, aerial refueling and operational planning to continue the NATO effort. :UNQUOTE.

"The bill would make an exception for...to continue the NATO [which is really the USA’s] effort." Then what's the point? We'd still be waging war against Libya, though “only” in a support capacity.

Sounds to me like we're becoming victims of a Robotic Warfare Mentality." That results in/from two things: sending up drones (or, in the future, sending in actual robots!) which are controlled from afar and the robotic (that is, kneejerk) way we propel our way into conflicts. Isn’t it sad that our public would be more supportive of war if we could send in robots instead of flesh-and-blood troops? I guess the only thing which would hold us back then would be $$$$$ considerations.”

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“Be it directly or indirectly or by means of robots or ground troops, we cannot escape our moral responsibility for waging war – even if we could (ever) really do it on the cheap.”

ELEVEN:

 “…Petraeus said at his nomination hearing to become the next CIA director.”

Why is Petraeus saying anything about Obama’s Afghan drawdown – at a CIA confirmation hearing? He should have said, “Gentlemen, I follow orders. I do not offer my opinion on the conduct of our wars unless my Commander in Chief asks for one – and that opinion is and will remain for his ears only.”

I still don't understand how these military guys (Obama's subordinates and, presumed, confidants) get to spout off in public. Talk about giving “aid and comfort to the enemy” – yeah, I just said that!

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“For a guy who’s about to become our spy chief, Petraeus seems to have a problem knowing when to keep his big mouth shut.”

TWELVE:

[Spoken by Obama, regarding our Libyan adventure]:  “When innocents are being slaughtered and global security endangered..."

Innocents being slaughtered? If that's our standard, why did [Bill] Clinton sit on his hands during the Rwandan crisis [yeah, he knew what was going on]? What about innocents in Syria...now? Global security endangered? How, pray tell?

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

"I guess it's true after all: If outrageous lies are spoken with gravitas in front of a national audience with bells, whistles, pomp, and circumstance, we can indeed fool all of the people all of the time."

THIRTEEN:

[This concerns a new electric car about to be unveiled by Tesla Motors.]

The Model S (the “S” stands for static) has yet another feature which will help if you run out of “gas” in the middle of nowhere. In the trunk is a piece of carpet which you are supposed to put on the ground. Then scuff your feet rapidly after inserting your finger into the cigarette lighter. The static charge thereby transmitted will be enough to get the car to a convenient charging station.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“Nikola Tesla must be spinning in his grave about now.”

FOURTEEN:

"...we are passing down to the next generation a country that is...less compassionate…"

Hmm...is Jon [Huntsman] about to resurrect the Compassionate Conservative? Is the RNC asking him, behind closed doors, "What do you mean this country is *!@??& 'less compassionate?' That won't go over with the Base too well.”

“For once we could have a president who actually knows the world.” - Per CNN, those words appeared on Jon's website. Is Jon comparing himself to every US president? Tom Jefferson? FDR? Reagan?

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“(sigh) Looks like Jon is another candidate I’ll quite easily pick apart. Can’t wait for him to detail his platform.”

FIFTEEN:

One of these days, it's going to occur to some political gumshoe to track down some of those 23 foster kids [Michelle] Bachmann claims to have raised. Some of them might have "blurts" of their own to share with the world.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

"By the way, she didn't 'raise' [at least not from birth - the way most people understand the word 'raise'] any of them, since she'd only had her foster care license for 7.5 years. Typical exaggerating politician."

SIXTEEN:

"[Tunisia’s former president] did not leave his post as president of the republic..."

He didn't? Then why did he wait so long to set the record straight? Oh, well, we now all stand corrected, Mr. President. So why don't you fly back to Tunisia and start giving presidential orders once again. I'm sure your people would love to have you back.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

"I thought since Ben Ali made this 'pilgrimage' to Saudi Arabia, he might have gotten religion. Guess not."

SEVENTEEN:

“Israelis say…Pollard's punishment…harsh, given that he gave information to a friendly nation.”

Israel is not a friendly nation. They have no love of any other but their fellow tribesmen. In some countries, Pollard would have been shot for what he did. Now, all that being said, if I’m elected President in 2012, I would set Pollard free. If Netanyahu reads this paragraph, he’ll have reason to love and hate me. Que sera, sera.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“Jews were once mercilessly oppressed – agreed! Now in Israel they’ve become the oppressor for much the same reason an abused child later becomes a child molester. Both need help.”

EIGHTEEN:

[NOTE: Someone calling himself “Cloclo” decided to compare our debacle in Vietnam with our liberal lawlessness in Libya.]

Dear Cloclo,

Okay, here we go, point by point:

“[Libya and Vietnam are] different countries”….obviously…(Man, you really got me on that one!)

“different type of intervention”…Right you are: This time, we didn’t even bother with the faux legal nicety of a Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, thereby leaving Congress out of the loop.

“different context”…We had less (that is to say, no) reason for attacking Libya than we had in attacking Vietnam: We’re not trying to prevent a small country from being swallowed by a large one; this isn’t part of some global war like the Cold War between two super powers; we’re not attacking “the terrorists” (in fact, we may well be helping them by overthrowing Gadhafi); we weren’t attacked (as was alleged in the Tonkin Gulf); and none of our vital national interests were threatened.

“also our mentalities evolve [sic] harder to sell a war”…harder to sell a war? Not really – can you imagine (a Democratic*) Congress failing to fund our Libyan forces when asked by a Democratic president? And as people, we’re still too willing to go along with the program. Why? Because we ARE programmed and have forgotten how to rein in our leaders.

As you can see, Cloclo, I’ve thought this out rather carefully and would have to disagree when you characterized me as one who “would just lump all problems as ‘war’ or ‘no war.’” I appreciate differences which is why I can come right out and say our involvement in Libya was based on phony reasons (humanitarian concerns) and was wrong, wrong, wrong from the start.

I hope you turn out to be one of those people of at least average intel “who learn from history.” Libya and Vietnam aren’t the same – true enough. However, [US Senator, former dove] Kerry came out against Vietnam and should have come out against our Libyan adventure since that was even more wrong than our fling in Vietnam.

CORRECTION: “(a Democratic*) Congress…Of course the Congress is not Democratic – the GOP being in control of the House. However, as you will come to see, as far as Libya is concerned, we might as well have “a Democratic Congress.”

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“If you’re going to convince me of anything, try to flesh out your arguments a bit more.”

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

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party

Post script: Earlier today, I was standing within 50 feet of Rahm Emanuel. He was in Chicago’s Pride Parade – formerly known as the Gay Pride Parade. I myself, though only an observer this time, had marched in this parade a few years ago with some of my fellow Buddhists to show my support for GLBT community. As you well know from this blog, I have issues with Rahm. However, I must tip my hat to him for participating in this event by walking – not riding in a car. I saw him near the end of the parade route. He looked tired from trudging those few miles, and the back of his shirt was wet with perspiration.

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com