As I did last year, here is the link to the classic "Turkeys Away" episode of "WKPR in Cincinnati."
FDR couldn't keep his power-hungry hands off anything, to include Thanksgiving.
President Reagan's 1985 Thanksgiving Message
President Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation (In case you think everything back then with an S is spelled wrong, a form of a lower case "f" frequently was used in its place)
The Real Story of Thanksgiving
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Fun with ClimateGate
These guys are pretty clever. Naturally, they are from Minnesota.
They have plenty of other parodies on their YouTube site.
On a serious note. ClimateGate confirms what I have thought of the broader AGW movement -- it's a way for a small group of people to make money and gain power at the expense of the rest of us. Now lets have honest, apolitical, non-agenda scientists evaluate ALL the data and critically examine ALL the climate models before we pass a bunch of laws that will strip us of our rights and take all of our money.
They have plenty of other parodies on their YouTube site.
On a serious note. ClimateGate confirms what I have thought of the broader AGW movement -- it's a way for a small group of people to make money and gain power at the expense of the rest of us. Now lets have honest, apolitical, non-agenda scientists evaluate ALL the data and critically examine ALL the climate models before we pass a bunch of laws that will strip us of our rights and take all of our money.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Blah, blah, health care reform, blah blah . . .
I am tired of digging through the tortured political minutea of the health care debate and its status. So instead I will let Rich Lowery of National Review sum it up.
If Obamacare is so necessary and wise, there’s no true need to hurry. If it fails to pass the Senate, Democrats should campaign on it around the country. They should keep talking of its wonders, and build up public support for it, turning around the polls. They should enhance their majority in the House and the Senate, bringing new Obamacare Democrats to Washington. That’s how you build toward passing historic legislation in a system such as ours naturally resistant to large-scale change.
Democrats don’t want to do that because, in their heart of hearts, they know they can’t do that.
When I see Democrats get on TV and offer up specific parts written in an actual bill as reasons to support this plan then I will be willing to re-engage and listen. They have a responsiblity to pursuade me about the real merits of a specific plan, not try to BS me with platitudes while you attempt to strongarm this thing through Congress.
Until then, my answer to any of these plans is a resounding NO.
If Obamacare is so necessary and wise, there’s no true need to hurry. If it fails to pass the Senate, Democrats should campaign on it around the country. They should keep talking of its wonders, and build up public support for it, turning around the polls. They should enhance their majority in the House and the Senate, bringing new Obamacare Democrats to Washington. That’s how you build toward passing historic legislation in a system such as ours naturally resistant to large-scale change.
Democrats don’t want to do that because, in their heart of hearts, they know they can’t do that.
When I see Democrats get on TV and offer up specific parts written in an actual bill as reasons to support this plan then I will be willing to re-engage and listen. They have a responsiblity to pursuade me about the real merits of a specific plan, not try to BS me with platitudes while you attempt to strongarm this thing through Congress.
Until then, my answer to any of these plans is a resounding NO.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Ford Makes Profit, UAW Redoubles Effort to Kill Company
Ford made a profit for the second quarter in a row, increased its share of the US market, got stellar Consumer Report reviews that put it on par with Honda and Toyota, all without taking bailout money from Uncle Sam.
Which means that the UAW has naturally voted down contracts that would have put them on par with GM and Chrysler UAW workers -- which they had to take as part of the bailout. I guess the UAW doesn't want the company to pay off its debt and put itself on firmer ground.
The best rated Ford vehicles are made in Mexico by non-UAW workers. I suspect more models will be moved there. Good for Ford, Good for Mexico, Bad for Michigan.
Which means that the UAW has naturally voted down contracts that would have put them on par with GM and Chrysler UAW workers -- which they had to take as part of the bailout. I guess the UAW doesn't want the company to pay off its debt and put itself on firmer ground.
The best rated Ford vehicles are made in Mexico by non-UAW workers. I suspect more models will be moved there. Good for Ford, Good for Mexico, Bad for Michigan.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Free Advice for Scott Walker
Mr. Walker,
I am all on board for your race for governor and you are one of about three politicians to whom I donate money. You have done a great job first as my state representative and now as my county executive.
Examine closely Bob McDonnell's victory in the Virginia governor's race. I would say look at Chris Christie's race in New Jersey, but since Governor Doyle has not chosen to run for reelection that race is not as instructive. Mr. McDonnell ran true to his conservative ideals but campaigned in a manner that was practical and not overly ideological. His message and agenda was positive and was about moving Virginia forward. As a result, independents and moderates flocked to him. Conservatism strongly expressed to the electorate as solutions and not mere slogans will carry the day.
Keep all the national political figures who are not running for office in 2010 out of your race. They are not there to help you, they are there to push their own agenda and collect political chits. They won't be there to help you out when you are in office. Don't become a pawn in someone's proxy war, because at the end of the day they hop on a plane and go home.
Focus the race on fixing Wisconsin and not as part of sending President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid a message. That is the job of the opponents of Steve Kagan (who is toast) and Ron Kind (who is vulnerable). Caveat: Paul Ryan is the exception who can join you on the campaign trail to express these concerns.
The issues are in favor of the candidate who has a platform of addressing pocketbook and good government concerns. It is not fertile ground for the culture warrior. Pragmatic conservativism is a breeding ground of new ideas on how to approach problems, not the same of liberal song of tossing Other People's Money around without accountability.
There are alot of people in the state who are either angry, frustrated or disappointed. They are by and large good people who sense a problem. They are expressing themselves at rallies and townhalls. It is grassroots populism that at this point illustrates the concerns of the majority who don't participate in such activities. This power needs to be harnessed and directed in a positive manner because populism abhors a vacuum and if left unrecognized it will latch onto an ideolog. Capture and focus this energy before the ideologs do.
But you know all this...otherwise you would not be where you are today.
Good Luck
I am all on board for your race for governor and you are one of about three politicians to whom I donate money. You have done a great job first as my state representative and now as my county executive.
Examine closely Bob McDonnell's victory in the Virginia governor's race. I would say look at Chris Christie's race in New Jersey, but since Governor Doyle has not chosen to run for reelection that race is not as instructive. Mr. McDonnell ran true to his conservative ideals but campaigned in a manner that was practical and not overly ideological. His message and agenda was positive and was about moving Virginia forward. As a result, independents and moderates flocked to him. Conservatism strongly expressed to the electorate as solutions and not mere slogans will carry the day.
Keep all the national political figures who are not running for office in 2010 out of your race. They are not there to help you, they are there to push their own agenda and collect political chits. They won't be there to help you out when you are in office. Don't become a pawn in someone's proxy war, because at the end of the day they hop on a plane and go home.
Focus the race on fixing Wisconsin and not as part of sending President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid a message. That is the job of the opponents of Steve Kagan (who is toast) and Ron Kind (who is vulnerable). Caveat: Paul Ryan is the exception who can join you on the campaign trail to express these concerns.
The issues are in favor of the candidate who has a platform of addressing pocketbook and good government concerns. It is not fertile ground for the culture warrior. Pragmatic conservativism is a breeding ground of new ideas on how to approach problems, not the same of liberal song of tossing Other People's Money around without accountability.
There are alot of people in the state who are either angry, frustrated or disappointed. They are by and large good people who sense a problem. They are expressing themselves at rallies and townhalls. It is grassroots populism that at this point illustrates the concerns of the majority who don't participate in such activities. This power needs to be harnessed and directed in a positive manner because populism abhors a vacuum and if left unrecognized it will latch onto an ideolog. Capture and focus this energy before the ideologs do.
But you know all this...otherwise you would not be where you are today.
Good Luck
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Mr. President: Do not dither
Mr. President,
You ran for president promising to pursue the war in Afghanistan with vigor and focus. You have had since March to decide what you want to do. Dithering while your the general you selected asks for more troops is irresponsible. As a leader, it is your job to provide a clear mission, resources to accomplish the mission you select and provide the time necessary for the mission to be implemented. Dithering away only makes it harder on those who will execute whatever you want to do. I will support you if you pull out or if you go all in because both decisions are decisive. The military is a decisive organization that if placed in the vacuum of indecision, its morale will be sucked dry as it is slowly bled for no apparent reason.
Be a leader and lead.
You ran for president promising to pursue the war in Afghanistan with vigor and focus. You have had since March to decide what you want to do. Dithering while your the general you selected asks for more troops is irresponsible. As a leader, it is your job to provide a clear mission, resources to accomplish the mission you select and provide the time necessary for the mission to be implemented. Dithering away only makes it harder on those who will execute whatever you want to do. I will support you if you pull out or if you go all in because both decisions are decisive. The military is a decisive organization that if placed in the vacuum of indecision, its morale will be sucked dry as it is slowly bled for no apparent reason.
Be a leader and lead.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Today is a great day....
to own Bucyrus (BUCY>. Especially when you buy nearly a year ago when it was worth $18.
My investment criteria with this stock (when the S&P ceiling had it at $38) was to sell it once it hit $40. It did that a few days ago and I decided to hold a bit since my short-to-long capital returns date was 28 October. Well, now the S&P ceiling is now $60. Shall I hold to my plan or revise my plan? NOTE: Dividend yield is only .21 percent...I do better with my Wells Fargo CD so that is not a reason to keep the stock)
The case for revision: The company destroyed its 3Q predicted earnings by 30 percent. The strength of the company was that it had a backlog of orders so it could weather a downturn in business. The company is now completing new sales and the mineral/energy market is catching steam right now as the world moves out of the its economic funk.
The case for the old plan: I would still double my investment. Commodities markets are a rollarcoaster and big sudden moves up also mean big sudden moves down. Small fry like me should stick to a plan because we can't keep up with all the particulars of day to day stock action.
Solution: Put a trailing stop to sell if the price drops to $42. I capture the gains of my initial plan plus an extra $2 and I don't get hooked into praying that the stock goes back up if it plummets below that point for some reason. My new sell consideration price is $58 and I will bring my trailing stop price higher if the stock continues its upward trend. This will lock my returns and let me continue the fun with house money....because why let the fun stop?
NOTE: I am simply expressing my thought process behind my play-money portfolio. I am a pure amateur who took a personal finance class once in college and I typically do not stay at a Holiday Inn Express.
My investment criteria with this stock (when the S&P ceiling had it at $38) was to sell it once it hit $40. It did that a few days ago and I decided to hold a bit since my short-to-long capital returns date was 28 October. Well, now the S&P ceiling is now $60. Shall I hold to my plan or revise my plan? NOTE: Dividend yield is only .21 percent...I do better with my Wells Fargo CD so that is not a reason to keep the stock)
The case for revision: The company destroyed its 3Q predicted earnings by 30 percent. The strength of the company was that it had a backlog of orders so it could weather a downturn in business. The company is now completing new sales and the mineral/energy market is catching steam right now as the world moves out of the its economic funk.
The case for the old plan: I would still double my investment. Commodities markets are a rollarcoaster and big sudden moves up also mean big sudden moves down. Small fry like me should stick to a plan because we can't keep up with all the particulars of day to day stock action.
Solution: Put a trailing stop to sell if the price drops to $42. I capture the gains of my initial plan plus an extra $2 and I don't get hooked into praying that the stock goes back up if it plummets below that point for some reason. My new sell consideration price is $58 and I will bring my trailing stop price higher if the stock continues its upward trend. This will lock my returns and let me continue the fun with house money....because why let the fun stop?
NOTE: I am simply expressing my thought process behind my play-money portfolio. I am a pure amateur who took a personal finance class once in college and I typically do not stay at a Holiday Inn Express.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Recipe: SauerApple Pork Roast
Saw a reference to a sauerkraut and apple pork dish. It sounded great and since I did not have a recipe, I made up my own version this weekend.
3 lb pork roast
3 pint sauerkraut
2 apples
1/3 cup brown sugar
10 baby red potatoes
1/2 tbsn caraway seed
1 tspn black pepper
3 tbsn dijon mustard
Drain and rinse sauerkraut. Mix with peeled and sliced apples in a crockpot. Add caraway, pepper, 2 cups water and brown sugar. Make an indentation and add a lightly browned pork roast that is trimmed of fat. Add potatoes around the roast. Mix equal parts dijon mustard and brown sugar and place on top of roast. Crockpot on low for 5 hours.
3 lb pork roast
3 pint sauerkraut
2 apples
1/3 cup brown sugar
10 baby red potatoes
1/2 tbsn caraway seed
1 tspn black pepper
3 tbsn dijon mustard
Drain and rinse sauerkraut. Mix with peeled and sliced apples in a crockpot. Add caraway, pepper, 2 cups water and brown sugar. Make an indentation and add a lightly browned pork roast that is trimmed of fat. Add potatoes around the roast. Mix equal parts dijon mustard and brown sugar and place on top of roast. Crockpot on low for 5 hours.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Hey liberals! Sucks to lose a talking point
Milwaukee County liberals just love to rip on County Executive Scott Walker for "destroying" the Milwaukee County Parks System. They point to some long grass or an closed-down picnic shelter and lament how such a marvelous jewel was being systematically destroyed. Whenever Mr. Walker tries to replaced full-time parks employees with Rolls Royce pensions and benefits with part-time seasonal help so that the system has more workers when it needs them they are agast with horror. And it is also simply horrible that Mr. Walker directed the parks department to cultivate private/public partnerships to assist with park maintenance and development rather than simply hike taxes and shovel more money into the system without a plan. To listen to a local liberal, the Milwaukee County Parks System was only years away from total collapse.
Just one problem with that "the sky is falling attitude": The Milwaukee County Park System just won The National Gold Medal for Excellence in park and recreation management. Simply put, the Milwaukee County Park System is the best managed in the nation. OPPS.
Liberals, it must really suck to lose your favorite talking point especially when Mr. Walker is running for governor.
Congratualations to Parks Director Sue Black, county park employees and all of the citizens who have worked/donated/volunteered for the park system. Part of Mr. Walker's intent for the Parks Department was to cultivate such partnerships and find innovative ways to maintain/improve the system. The system found a way to make more efficient use of its limited resources and to gather resources outside of tax revenue. Also, such volunteerism and public/private partnerships brings a sense of ownership of the parks among the citizenry. As a general rule, things are better run and maintained if there is ownership.
What I like about Mr. Walker's approach to Milwaukee County Government is that he is respectful of the taxpayer's dollars and seeks innovative ways to expand limited resources. Unlike many liberals, his first instinct is not simply throw more money at something. While not always successful, Mr. Walker has sought to focus Milwaukee County Government on its core mission and find new ways to approach issues. We need that type of approach at the state level. All levels of government in Wisconsin have reached the point that they cannot simply reach down and grab more revenue out of our wallets. Liberals claim they are all about innovation and new ideas, but their only idea in government in the past 45 years is to simply shovel more money at something. When revenue falls short, then nothing must be cut and taxes must be raised. That is not innovation, that is an unsustainable status quo that invites rot and corruption.
Mr. Walker is a great example of what it means to be a pragmatic conservative. Approach problems as opportunties to improve and change the system. Bring in some accountability and create a sense of citizen ownership. It can be painful, but this parks award shows that it can be done.
NOTE: Notice how small of an article the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel had on the county winning such a prestigious parks award? One would think such good and rare news would be more prominently situated in its online edition. The county has been nominated for this award for awhile. Would it not be a great story to have in the interim to have written an article about how the parks system evolved in order to garner this achievement? Instead, we get the routine newsbrief. I am sure this news approach has nothing to do with the MJS thinks of Mr. Walker
Check out the Parks Dept's website about the award.
Just one problem with that "the sky is falling attitude": The Milwaukee County Park System just won The National Gold Medal for Excellence in park and recreation management. Simply put, the Milwaukee County Park System is the best managed in the nation. OPPS.
Liberals, it must really suck to lose your favorite talking point especially when Mr. Walker is running for governor.
Congratualations to Parks Director Sue Black, county park employees and all of the citizens who have worked/donated/volunteered for the park system. Part of Mr. Walker's intent for the Parks Department was to cultivate such partnerships and find innovative ways to maintain/improve the system. The system found a way to make more efficient use of its limited resources and to gather resources outside of tax revenue. Also, such volunteerism and public/private partnerships brings a sense of ownership of the parks among the citizenry. As a general rule, things are better run and maintained if there is ownership.
What I like about Mr. Walker's approach to Milwaukee County Government is that he is respectful of the taxpayer's dollars and seeks innovative ways to expand limited resources. Unlike many liberals, his first instinct is not simply throw more money at something. While not always successful, Mr. Walker has sought to focus Milwaukee County Government on its core mission and find new ways to approach issues. We need that type of approach at the state level. All levels of government in Wisconsin have reached the point that they cannot simply reach down and grab more revenue out of our wallets. Liberals claim they are all about innovation and new ideas, but their only idea in government in the past 45 years is to simply shovel more money at something. When revenue falls short, then nothing must be cut and taxes must be raised. That is not innovation, that is an unsustainable status quo that invites rot and corruption.
Mr. Walker is a great example of what it means to be a pragmatic conservative. Approach problems as opportunties to improve and change the system. Bring in some accountability and create a sense of citizen ownership. It can be painful, but this parks award shows that it can be done.
NOTE: Notice how small of an article the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel had on the county winning such a prestigious parks award? One would think such good and rare news would be more prominently situated in its online edition. The county has been nominated for this award for awhile. Would it not be a great story to have in the interim to have written an article about how the parks system evolved in order to garner this achievement? Instead, we get the routine newsbrief.
Check out the Parks Dept's website about the award.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Dow 10K
The Dow hit 10K today. It's fun to see one's stuff go up.
I predicted a few months ago that the Dow would hang in the 8000-8500 range for quite some time. Well, I was wrong. That is why I put my musings up on a blog instead of selling them.
So now what to think?
I still like Ford. I sold it for a profit awhile ago and its continued to rise and fall from that mark. Its rises are a bit higher each time as its sales figures have been consistently better than its competitors, both foreign and domestic, for much of the year. Dips below $7, I am back in.
I still hate GE. It is so close to breaking the $17 barrier. Once it hits $19 I am out. That company has still given me no reason to think it will change its crappy business plan of rent-seeking and lobbying instead of making stuff.
I like Johnson & Johnson and own a ton in my regular portfolio. Pays a great dividend. However, this is a stock that makes me very wary about the future of the 10K DOW and why it may take a tumble. JNJ made its earnings targets last quarter, but it had reduced sales. Flat and reduced sales eventually erode the stock price. 10% unemployment hurts and that impact still has to be absorbed by the economy. We haven't had unemployment this high since the late 1970s and early 1980s. Will these sales figures be a one-time blip or a warning for some turbulant times ahead. I still like the company and will not sell anytime soon because I consider it a recession-proof stock, but I am going to remain wary of the overall market for awhile.
Over the next few months, I will have a lot of stuff that will reach its one-year anniversary buy date -- moving it from short-term to long-term capital gains. Lots of bargins out there from Oct 2008 to Feb 2009 and lots of people scooped them up. Its easier to take stuff off the table when you will pay less taxes on it -- especially if you don't feel confident about further market growth. I would have to believe this is a factor, but how much of one I do not know.
On the political front: 10K Dow firmly puts the economy on Obama's shoulders. He can no longer blame stuff on GWB. Dow tanks....it's on Obama. Dow shoots up to 15K....he gets relected in 2012.
And finally, if Iran nukes somebody then the whole market will be as worthless as Obama's NPP.
I predicted a few months ago that the Dow would hang in the 8000-8500 range for quite some time. Well, I was wrong. That is why I put my musings up on a blog instead of selling them.
So now what to think?
I still like Ford. I sold it for a profit awhile ago and its continued to rise and fall from that mark. Its rises are a bit higher each time as its sales figures have been consistently better than its competitors, both foreign and domestic, for much of the year. Dips below $7, I am back in.
I still hate GE. It is so close to breaking the $17 barrier. Once it hits $19 I am out. That company has still given me no reason to think it will change its crappy business plan of rent-seeking and lobbying instead of making stuff.
I like Johnson & Johnson and own a ton in my regular portfolio. Pays a great dividend. However, this is a stock that makes me very wary about the future of the 10K DOW and why it may take a tumble. JNJ made its earnings targets last quarter, but it had reduced sales. Flat and reduced sales eventually erode the stock price. 10% unemployment hurts and that impact still has to be absorbed by the economy. We haven't had unemployment this high since the late 1970s and early 1980s. Will these sales figures be a one-time blip or a warning for some turbulant times ahead. I still like the company and will not sell anytime soon because I consider it a recession-proof stock, but I am going to remain wary of the overall market for awhile.
Over the next few months, I will have a lot of stuff that will reach its one-year anniversary buy date -- moving it from short-term to long-term capital gains. Lots of bargins out there from Oct 2008 to Feb 2009 and lots of people scooped them up. Its easier to take stuff off the table when you will pay less taxes on it -- especially if you don't feel confident about further market growth. I would have to believe this is a factor, but how much of one I do not know.
On the political front: 10K Dow firmly puts the economy on Obama's shoulders. He can no longer blame stuff on GWB. Dow tanks....it's on Obama. Dow shoots up to 15K....he gets relected in 2012.
And finally, if Iran nukes somebody then the whole market will be as worthless as Obama's NPP.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Dear UWM Student
Dear UWM Student,
Congratulations on your decision to pursue a college education. I hope you are successful and it brings you rewards commensurate with your level of effort.
I was at your university today utilizing the fine Golda Meier Library to research an item for my job. I needed to use one of the several hundred computers in order to complete my research task. I was thwarted in this task due to the large numbers of you using these computers for FaceBook and YouTube, etc.
As a taxpayer who helped buy you these computers (your tuition barely pays the UWM electric bill) I would appreciate that you use these items only for scholarly pursuits when there are people waiting in line to use these machines. As a non-student I would expect to wait in line behind students using these machines for their studies. That is why I helped buy them.
When there are open machines and no one else is waiting, I would not have a problem with you using these computers for FaceBook and watching Family Guy reruns on Hulu. After all, the internet is full of fun things and we all like to have fun.
In anticipation of your intellectual retort of "You don't go to school here, %^%$ off old dude" I would like to remind you that the state university system is for all state residents and the library does welcome visitors. University libraries contain resources for all the residents of Wisconsin because learning does not end once you toss your mortarboard into the air.
I am not asking you to completely abandon your state-subsidized internet experience, I am just asking that you recognize your surroundings and be considerate to the other people who need to use these resources for their intended purpose. Good luck with your academic pursuits
Sincerely,
A pre-internet college grad.
Congratulations on your decision to pursue a college education. I hope you are successful and it brings you rewards commensurate with your level of effort.
I was at your university today utilizing the fine Golda Meier Library to research an item for my job. I needed to use one of the several hundred computers in order to complete my research task. I was thwarted in this task due to the large numbers of you using these computers for FaceBook and YouTube, etc.
As a taxpayer who helped buy you these computers (your tuition barely pays the UWM electric bill) I would appreciate that you use these items only for scholarly pursuits when there are people waiting in line to use these machines. As a non-student I would expect to wait in line behind students using these machines for their studies. That is why I helped buy them.
When there are open machines and no one else is waiting, I would not have a problem with you using these computers for FaceBook and watching Family Guy reruns on Hulu. After all, the internet is full of fun things and we all like to have fun.
In anticipation of your intellectual retort of "You don't go to school here, %^%$ off old dude" I would like to remind you that the state university system is for all state residents and the library does welcome visitors. University libraries contain resources for all the residents of Wisconsin because learning does not end once you toss your mortarboard into the air.
I am not asking you to completely abandon your state-subsidized internet experience, I am just asking that you recognize your surroundings and be considerate to the other people who need to use these resources for their intended purpose. Good luck with your academic pursuits
Sincerely,
A pre-internet college grad.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Final thoughts of the Obama NPP
Obama supporters when confronted with facts that Obama hasn't done anything yet despite the fact that he owns the House and the Senate cite that he has not been in office long enough yet do accomplish anything.
However, when you win a Nobel Peace (Political) Prize with no treaty signed, no troops removed, no wars ended, no brutal dictators vanquished, no nuclear weapons destroyed and no fruitful diplomatic initiatives accomplished (not to mention whistling past the graveyard while Iranians were slaughtered by their repressive government last summer) then the aforementioned point becomes moot and utterly meaningless.
It is not Obama's fault he won the NPP...but if you get accolades from others for doing nothing, then you are also subject to criticism from others for the same.
With the NPP, Obama now fully owns US foreign and security policy. He can no longer blame things on the past. GW Bush, for all current intents and purposes, is dead. According to five Norwegians, Obama in less than a year has had a big enough impact on the world to earn a NPP. The bar is now raised to superhuman heights and anything less can now be classified as failure. This is not fair to our president, nor is it fair to the people of the United States. Partisans on both sides should recognize that in the long term this is not good for the United States.
Obama will rue the day this was given to him, if he does not, then the American people will.
However, when you win a Nobel Peace (Political) Prize with no treaty signed, no troops removed, no wars ended, no brutal dictators vanquished, no nuclear weapons destroyed and no fruitful diplomatic initiatives accomplished (not to mention whistling past the graveyard while Iranians were slaughtered by their repressive government last summer) then the aforementioned point becomes moot and utterly meaningless.
It is not Obama's fault he won the NPP...but if you get accolades from others for doing nothing, then you are also subject to criticism from others for the same.
With the NPP, Obama now fully owns US foreign and security policy. He can no longer blame things on the past. GW Bush, for all current intents and purposes, is dead. According to five Norwegians, Obama in less than a year has had a big enough impact on the world to earn a NPP. The bar is now raised to superhuman heights and anything less can now be classified as failure. This is not fair to our president, nor is it fair to the people of the United States. Partisans on both sides should recognize that in the long term this is not good for the United States.
Obama will rue the day this was given to him, if he does not, then the American people will.
Friday, October 9, 2009
NPPWOTUS
Obama is now the Nobel Peace Prize Winner of the United States
Here is my long-time position on why the Nobel Peace Prize, as an award that truly embodies personal dedication and sacrifice in pursuit of meaningful peace, is worthless.
Yassir Arafat won and Ghandi did not.
Here is my long-time position on why the Nobel Peace Prize, as an award that truly embodies personal dedication and sacrifice in pursuit of meaningful peace, is worthless.
Yassir Arafat won and Ghandi did not.
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