July 2009

Panetta v. Cheney

Last week, 6/16/09, CIA Director Leon Panetta made a statement in The New Yorker that was bold and shocking –but I believe absolutely necessary to curtail Cheney’s relentless attacks on the Obama Administration re: how they are handling the issue of terrorism and our nation’s security and Cheney’s ridiculous ongoing defense of water boarding.

“Panetta said: “it’s almost as if Dick Cheney is wishing that this country would be attacked again, in order to make his point” that Obama is making America less safe.

When I first read that I laughed out loud, and thought wow, something must have happened – some convo took place or something – to push Panetta to go to the media with this statement.

Then I said ‘way to go Panetta!’. About time someone indirectly told Cheney to shut his trap!

But on a more serious note – Panetta is absolutely right.

Cheney is basically tempting the terrorists to try another attack on us, which the terrorists could easily state: “well, your own VP of 8 years informed you weren’t prepared and we were just proving him right.” Not that any terrorist attack could EVER be validated or justified, but you could almost say, the terrorists would be right in this situation.

Even more a significant possibility – scary actually -  with Cheney’s Haliburton company and his connections to the oil industry, the wealthy, and some of the secret deals that have taken place, he could actually be in the power and position to push the catalyst of any terrorist or terrorist supporting country to attack the US.

Now, that gave me pause. Before I could care less if Cheney was going on and on  – because to me he was just making a fool of himself. You don’t see Bush commenting on any of this or defending himself. Cheney has been for practically 7 months now on the same issue! Ever heard the phrase: “let it rest, move on!”, Cheney?

Panetta has all the right. Cheney is putting our country at risk. Cheney’s bold statements about how America is weakening our stance on terrorism is not wise. It serves his agenda, not the safety of America. If Cheney  really stood for our country, he would not make statements like this. The true character behind our former VP is being exposed and he is the idiot opening pandora’s box to that exposure. Cheney whines every day/week in front of the media to try to prove his statement. Each day he does this, as the weeks and months go by, he discredits anything that is remotely left as an image of a high caliber professional in the American citizen’s eye, and in the eyes of his equal colleagues and peers.

I find it interesting, as America’s Vice President for 8 years, we barely heard a peep from this man, and he basically did nothing. Now, we are hearing more from Cheney  in 7 months than we did for 2 terms! I would say that is pathetic, in terms of how took the responsibility of his role in the Administration.

I am not sure why he even thinks anyone cares what he has to say about anything anymore, regardless of the topic. He was with an Administration that grew weaker every year (partially his fault as well) and he holds no position of power anymore.  Furthermore, he clearly didn’t care about America and the American people for 8 years to take his position much more seriously and do a lot more.  His focus was always on Haliburton – making sure that company was always operating well and richly.

I am not sure who would have made a stronger impact to tell Cheney to get off his high horse, but I believe the Director of the CIA was the best one, whether he thought to do this himself, or was encouraged by others.

Countless others that are in pertinent positions aren’t even acknowledging Cheney’s ranting. I don’t blame them – not worth their time. So, something must have really edged the CIA Director to state something public about his colleague and supposed friend, instead of calling Cheney privately and telling him to keep his mouth closed. I am sure Panetta has Cheney’s number.

Cheney’s comment back – pathetic and weak:
“I hope my friend was misquoted.”

Not too often the media misquotes anyone, let alone the CIA Director.

Nope, they got what he said verbatim.

It just makes another point: Cheney is so dumb he missed the main point of the message! There was a reason Panetta chose to do so in public as I said before. Perhaps it was to embarrass Cheney the same way he is embarrassing himself and continuing to disgrace the already laughed at former Bush W. Administration. Perhaps it is something more important, such as him knowing something about a terrorist situation b/c he is the Director of the CIA.

No matter what the reason – Kudos Panetta!

If I was Panetta, I might have also said:

“Instead of constantly fighting Obama, why don’t you just accept him as your new president. As a professional who held the role of VP, it is courtesy and the respectful thing to do. It’s called exiting gracefully. Your superior did. So should you. Bush hasn’t gotten in front of the microphone to defend anything. You sound like a whining baby. You aren’t going to change anything. You aren’t in a position to.”

But I think Panetta’s comment was enough – for all of us who really got it. Shame Cheney didn’t and he still thinks Panetta is his ‘friend’.

Maybe it was better Cheney didn’t do anything significant in his 8 years. He might have made this country worse.

Favoritism

I am surprised Senator Ted Kennedy was allowed to give President Obama a gift.

I am even more surprised that not one Republican jumped all over that (was Cheney asleep)? It would have been a quick and easy one!

Very delicate matter.  Perhaps the media is too scared of Kennedy to call him on it. Perhaps the Republicans to respectful of the man. I honor and hold a great deal of respect for Senator Kennedy and his family legacy. That is not what this is about.

Isn’t there some rule? “A sitting Congressman can not give a sitting President a gift.”

To me there should be. It could easily be considered a bribe/favoritism (even though I know that was not what this was).

The head of the most powerful Democratic family in the US, and a leading US Senator for over 45 years, gave our new President a gift. Not just a cigar for a ‘congrats for winning the election’ gift. This is a cute dog given to the President and his family in April –one that is now an intrical part of the Obama Family, and ultimately a part of the historic Obama Legacy Presidency.

Why does it matter what he gave him? Because as sad and horrible as it is to point out, most likely, Ted Kennedy will not be around for the end of Obama’s Presidency, should it be 4 or 8 years. (I pray I am very wrong!)

What will happen then? All attention back to the dog. The dog now becomes more valuable and more important in some odd way to the entire first African-American Presidential Legacy due to its tie to this powerful Patriarch, leading Congressman, and brother of JFK (the media will create this, no doubt).

Now the dog will need a Secret Service Agent by itself (well, at least that will create one more job – GRIN).  Think about it, kidnapping it, etc. The price of that dog would be priceless!

Still baffles me not one journalist, not one ‘I hate Obama’ person, not one Republican didn’t call this one. Well, it was on April 15th, tax day, so perhaps everyone was focused on that. Weird day to initiate a dog into the White House, dontcha think?  Anyway…

Kennedy didn’t give Reagan or any of the Bush’s a gift. He didn’t even give Clinton a gift (same party)!  That’s a lot of presidents he has been Senator though. How can this not be considered favoritism, even if not his intention.

Since 1962 when Kennedy was elected into the US Senate, he has been a vital and key player in some of our most significant legislation over the span of years, including civil rights, rights for women, etc., has championed some very important causes, held the position of Chairman on several committees and is currently sitting on several committees including the Senate Armed Forces Committee (during a time of 2 wars).  Kennedy’s role of representing the voice of the Democratic Party is extremely powerful and as one of the oldest and leading Senators, he holds significant weight.

So now let’s factor in his medical condition, coupled with his age. He knows he doesn’t have a lot longer to live. That might have been a hidden agenda. Perhaps his thought: Anything he has worked towards all the years as Senator that never came to fruition, due to timing or votes, should he pass away, Obama will feel obligated to make sure happens during his term(s). That would then be a bribe in a way, or favoritism without Kennedy even asking. How could Obama not honor that at least…as he gives his dog a bone each day and is reminded of Kennedy’s agenda?

I think the gift is great. I think it was a fantastic gesture. I think the dog is cute. I am glad they have him. I think it’s awesome that Obama and Kennedy share such a friendship for him to do so. I think there should be a law against this.

Congress is our watchdog over the President. Who’s our watchdog over Congress? (No pun intended)

A President and his family should not be able to accept any gift while in the White House from any Congressman. To me, it’s a bribe or favoritism whether ever called upon or intended.

This might come back to bite them in the butt one day, should the dog fail to do that for them.

Make No Mistake

This must be part of an ‘understood’ secret oath a president elect takes when he becomes President on the day of his Inauguration.

Maybe it’s the tip one exiting President gives to the incoming President during that (often awkward) drive to the Inauguration event where no one knows what to really say to the other and they just shoot for small talk as the limo drives down Pennsylvania Avenue.

“Oh, Mr. President, I forgot to leave this tip in the letter I left for you on the Oval Office Desk. Be sure, you use the phrase “make no mistake” in your speeches every now and again each month before you want to say something really profound. It’s a winner. Boy, you really stop that audience with this one” (includes a nudge on the side of the rib with a jest of a laugh, hardy har har har)

Please!

I am so sick of hearing this over used, non effective phrase. If you have a good speech or a good oral presentation, it shouldn’t even be needed.

Plus, I wouldn’t imagine Obama would want to copycat any previous President’s verbiage, especially not from Bush W!

Now I am not sure who is to blame here. His speechwriters, and Obama is so numb to hearing it himself for all the years he has listened to presidents spew it out, so he is not even catching it on his own when he reviews the speeches. Or blame Obama himself, because he is known to write some of his own speeches, and/or parts of them and he really thinks it is ‘a winner’.

Actually, really doesn’t make a difference. It should just be ditched forever.

There are many other ways to make a profound statement or grab your audience. With all the skilled writers circulating in the White House, plus Obama’s talent of some excellent writing, I am surprised we are resorting to this again.

Not to mention, the phrase doesn’t even make sense if you break it down.
Think about it.

“Make no mistake.”

To me that is insinuating someone made mistakes before and they won’t happen again on the topic you are referencing with the sentence following the dumb phrase.

Who’s made the previous mistake, Mr. President?

Your audience is who you are addressing, so be very careful who you are ‘accusing’, even if it’s not meant to be used in that way, literally.

Americans? Have we made the mistake? Oooh – be careful! We decide if we want to hear you say this ridiculous phrase (which from previous presidents led to empty promises about the topic anyway) for another 4 years after this term. So perhaps that might give you some ‘stop your audience pause”.

None of us (Americans) have made mistakes on the topics you are using this phrase in reference with. It’s previous Presidents that have. That is why you are up there giving this speech addressing the issue you are addressing! Because it needs re-addressing yet again. Still not solved!

The “make no mistake” comment sounds all grand, but if we look back on the history of that precursor phrase on the topic each President has used it with, previous President’s have failed on whatever that “make no mistake” sentence was about.

See, that’s twice it’s ineffective, both in its content and about the topic itself.

Sounds like you should drop it to me. Ineffective shouldn’t be a part of a President’s speech or any part of his common dialogue.

If anything, I would say let’s turn this statement around on you, Mr. President.

So, “Make No Mistake” Mr. President, you loose credibility in your words when you throw that (once powerful but now empty) phrase in. Make the point more poignantly without it.

How can I get this point across to you better, just in case you are still so numb to this phrase Mr. President that this glosses over you as well?

It’s like when someone says to me: “to be honest, blah blah blah.”

As a former investigator, this is what I think in my mind:
So – what? Is this the one part in the conversation you are going to be honest with me and everything before and after it is just bs?

Maybe that is just investigator thinking, I don’t know. But that phrase is another pet peeve of mine.

Anyway, while you are at it, don’t try to replace this phrase with another to ‘grab your audience‘ or try to make you point sound stronger. Just forget the fancy wording and just act on what you are stating in this sentence!

Perhaps a goal to shoot for in your 3rd 100 days, if not, at least by end of your 2nd year.
Thanks!

The Best Acronym I Have Known

Today I learned the best acronym I have known since living in the D.C. area.

This is better than anything the govy or DoD/Pentagon has conjured up over the years to essentially abbreviate the excessively long titles they feel the need to come up with when they create a new program or new department.

But this isn’t any program, etc. This is based off an ordinary word that we all use. But now I will never think of this word for its original Webster’s definition anymore.

It was in the NY Times July 9, 2009 op-ed section where Bono wrote about Obama’s trip to Ghana, Africa this week.

Now, I am not sure if Bono thought of this or not, but if he did, man – he should coin this one! He must be getting the hang of acronym creation from all his meetings with the Presidents and other top US officials over the years.

This is what he wrote:

“That’s Smart as in sustainable, measurable, accountable, responsive and transparent.”

Brilliant!

Now if he did think of it, he should trademark it and sell it to the government! Now that would be true brilliance.

Currently, there are 109 government acronyms for “smart’, and a Irish rock singer with a passion for America and Africa thought of this one. I can’t believe Obama or his ‘08 campaign staff didn’t. This “SMART” is everything Obama’s Presidential Mission stands for! Bono captured it perfectly.

So, given that precious little gem —ooh, a goody for a re-election 2012 possible campaign slogan: “Obama: Your SMART Presidential Administration” {or something like that}— and the fact Bono is famous, his asking price could be pretty high, of course, with all the money being put into the places/causes he is involved with and supports (One/Africa, etc.).

I’d say that is two reasons the US government, if not Obama alone, should want to pay Bono – right?

To grab a word that defines Obama’s legacy Presidential mission and because the money will go to a Continent that Obama is focused on making big strides with in both partnership and helping change the world’s relationships with Africa as well.

So, two smart (pun intended) reasons someone should offer Bono money for his creativity

Well, we would like to think….