Morning Joe 3/1/2013 -- CPAC/Christie, Woodward and sequestration

On Morning Joe today, the crew discussed sequestration, making fun of the hyperbole surrounding the devastating effects predicted by the administration, the Democratic Party and some Republicans like Lindsay Graham who's predicting national security problems. You can tell who's worried about defense contractor cronies by how loud they cry at these small cuts in defense spending when there's so much waste in defense spending. Graham and Mccain can shake Karzai down to find the billions he's stolen to offset the cuts, if they want to protect their defense contractor relationships.

Like Chuck Todd said this morning on the show, it's ridiculous. Bob Woodward was a guest, and he actually thinks that the sequestration cuts will have serious effects. Woodward thinks that the focus on his back and forth with Gene Sperling is a diversion by the administration to take the heat off government's incompetence. Morning Joe brought on David Axelrod to face Woodward, and Woodward did a good job of explaining what happened and why he reacted the way he did. Axelrod amazingly continued the lie told by President Obama, saying that Woodward is not telling the truth about Obama's role in setting up the sequestration and agreeing to only spending cuts. What happened is that Obama didn't think Republicans would go along with the defense spending cuts in the sequestration, so Obama made the deal of spending cuts only. If there had been an agreement to raise taxes in the sequestration deal, then Obama would surely have embraced it from the beginning rather than saying sequestration wouldn't happen.

Now Obama wants to include tax hikes through loophole closing. Woodward says that since the sequestration is going through, Obama is moving the goalposts, and this is a fact. Axelrod was even saying it's untrue that Obama come up with the idea of sequestration. Woodward wins. Woodward says he never claimed Sperling threatened him. Woodward said that Sperling's warning that Woodward would regret staking out his position is no way for a WH spokesperson to handle this situation. The media and the Left made up the rest of the story. Axelrod continued to say Woodward claimed he was threatened and intimidated, and Axelrod made fun of him, but Woodward said he's not intimidated --he revealed WH tactics because they could intimidate young, inexperienced reporters. The WH doesn't like that their manipulations have been exposed by Woodward -- that's it. The Left can spin this and try to marginalize Woodward, but it doesn't change the facts. The President lied, and a powerful media personality exposed the lies and manipulations. That's the story.

Al Cardenas was on as a guest to answer Joe Scarborough's criticisms regarding the snub of Chris Christie at CPAC this year. Cardenas easily dismissed the charges. Yesterday, Christie said that conservatives need to be more welcoming of hispanics. This was surely Christies way of dissing CPAC because he wasn't invited. It's funny though, because Cardenas fits the hispanic bill, and Cardenas told Joe that they've asked 30 conservatives to speak and many are hispanic, black and women. Scarborough and Christie should be glad that they bypassed Christie to give minorities a large voice at CPAC. Surely they'll see it this way after Cardenas schooled them. Oh, and Cardenas said that Christie was invited last year when he appeared to be more conservative, but doesn't make the grade this year. I'm not a conservative, but I can tell one when I see one -- Christie is no conservative.

Morning News 2/28/2013 -- Woodward, gun control, sequester, Syria

As I surfed the cable news channels this morning, several news items popped up. One hot item is the back and forth between Bob Woodward and the White House. Woodward reports he got into a heated discussion with someone in the WH regarding his recent revelation that Obama originated the idea of sequestration, even though Obama said he had nothing to do with it. Woodward said someone at the Whitehouse threatened him by saying he will regret reporting the President's complicity in creating sequestration. The WH says the "threat" was based on their conviction that Woodward is wrong and will regret he's holding onto his mistake. Woodward said it was a threat that relates to denying access to the WH. Then David Plouffe compared Woodward to an old baseball great who's facing modern pictching. Some pundits defended Woodward, but most pundits are questioning Woodward's accusations. Media outlets are circling around Obama. Woodward said he's tired of the truth being covered up, and he's afraid new reporters will be intimidated by WH bullying tactics.

The pundits this morning, for the most part, wrote off Woodward's response by saying the Bush WH did the same thing. This is getting old, especially to a non-partisan like myself. Who cares if the Bush WH did it, or the Clinton WH, or the Reagan WH? Woodward is likely tired of the games being played and he's speaking out. Good. Period.

Another subject discussed on cable news is the gun control battle. Those promoting tougher gun control laws say the current system that government created is broken. Some in Congress, like Lindsay Graham, believe that current laws aren't enforced. Some who oppose background checks are afraid that if they give someone a gun as a present, then the person has to then go through a background check, and that it's criminals who are the problem not law abiding citizens. Ralph Reed made this argument on Morning Joe. Government has made laws regarding guns which have had unintended consequences, so now interventionists say that more laws are necessary -- what happens when these new measures don't work? They'll create even tighter controls until, in frustration, they'll  call for registration of all guns, then when registration causes unintended consequences, they will create tighter controls.

Many on the Left and in the Center laugh at the slippery slope argument, but it's a reality. The problem is that when technocratst want to control something, they can't start out with complete control because the public will push back, so government gets partial control. Partial control is not sufficient to achieve the stated goals of the particular control, so government has to incrementally tighten the controls until the goals are achieved.

On the subject of sequestration, it appears the country is not falling for the Democratic Party's fear campaign to shut down spending cuts. No one appears afraid that these relatively small cuts will hurt much. The President appears foolish, though, as he travels from city to city predicting doom and gloom if the growth of government spending is slightly trimmed. Sequestration simply adjusts some projections on how much more we need to spend in the coming years -- it doesn't reduce spending below the current level. After sequestration, spending will still increase, just not by the amount they had projected. This is hardly an occasion to waste more money campaigning around the country for higher spending. Our President is out of control, and it's good that people in media like Bob Woodward have had enough.

Regarding Syria, we've been told lately that current cabinet picks like John Kerry and Chuck Hagel will create a new era of non-interventionist foreign policy. No sooner than the last cabinet choice was made, we hear that the US is covertly aiding the rebels in Syria (which we knew) and will now expand our aid to the rebels. These rebels are likely as bad or worse than the current regime regarding tyrannical control over the people, so why we're intervening and taking sides in a civil war between gangs of thugs, I don't know. It doesn't appear to be non-interventionist to me. Progressives need to shield of national security fears to keep the public pliant.

Morning Joe 11/3/2011 -- Ron Paul and Bob Woodward -- Two Americas

This morning on Morning Joe, I have to hand it them, they put on a good show, despite the continued Herman Cain-bashing. Interspersed in serious conversations was the repeated accusation that Cain didn't know China has nuclear weapons, yet the Cain campaign has answered that charge by stating  Cain meant attack capabilities on submarines and such -- Mika's father, who was on the show later, even alluded to this in a back-handed way. Even if this expanation is not believed, Morning Joe should have reported the explanation. It's petty to withhold such information.

But enough about Cain, and enough about how Obama is helped politically by Republican weakness. The media play up the weaknesses of Republicans and ignore the strengths, and this is why I commend Morning Joe for puitting Ron Paul on the show, as well as Paul Ryan. Before Paul came on, the panel talked about no viable, intelligent and informed Republican candidates to challenge Romney. Paul has been basically ignored by the media, and when he gets play, it's usually to frame him as extreme, but when you listen to Paul you realize he is far more informed and intelligent than most people in DC. Paul understands our fundamental problems regarding government spending, the Fed central planning, foreign intervention and corporate welfare. If Republicans can embrace these ideas, perhaps they can become relevant once again.

Bob Woodward was on the show, and contrast between Woodward and Paul is striking. Woodward represents the liberal status quo and Paul represents the new opposition to statism and the liberal status quo in DC. Scarborough represents the old Republican Party which has become irrelevant, although, as usual, ever the people pleaser, Scarborough tried to identify with Paul. Scarborough and Paul do agree on Afghanistan and Iraq and mideast interventions in general. As Paul was making his case for bringing home the troops, Woodward sounded pathetically out of touch as he parrotted the administration's position of keeping al qaeda out of Afghanistan. It's such a tired defense of this decade-long slog in the mideast.

Paul might not have the poll numbers, but he has strong and loyal support of many young people, and the support of soldiers who are suffering the consequences of our foreign policy. Paul's time is drawing near as the nation learns more about our government's failed statist interventions, and as the nation understands the power games in DC. Paul Ryan was on later, and his explanation of what the new Republicans are attempting is at odds with Obama's nation-wide dissing campaign as he attempts to frame Republicans as haters of the poor, the environment, safety in the work place, etc. Ryan makes sense, and he has a plan to back it up. Obama should justify his plan over the Republicans plans rather than dishonestly frame the Republicans as evil.

Today, the Morning Joe crew had some useful conversations, and at least we got to hear different perspectives. As Paul said, this is about philosophy and direction. If we as a nation don't decide we must empower the private sector and limit government, then we'll get the same statist results over and over as we decline. Jonathan Capehart and Rick Stengel were on, and they talked about lack of economic opportunity and the failure of public education, but what they didn't talk about is how government intervention has played a major role in creating these problems. The welfare/warfare State is broken.

Morning Joe 7/27/2011 -- What would Edmund Burke do?

On Morning Joe today Scarborough is channelling his inner-Edmund Burke. Oh, you know that Scarborough is a "small" government conservative, but when the heat is on and the status quo is threatened, you have to get your Burke-funk on and make a deal -- face reality and do what's necessary. Yessir, Scarborough had his true colors flying this morning. Surprisingly, there were three Republicans sitting around the table first thing this morning, with Michael Steele and Pat Buchanan joining Scarborough and all deciding it's time to make a deal. Boehner's trying to make a deal, and he's now negotiating with his own party. The Democrats and the President are on the sidelines watching Republicans squirm as the media does their job framing Republicans as extremists obstructing a compromise.

Steny Hoyer came on later and performed his duty by reminding everyone that the Tea Party conservatives are radical, and that Democrats simply want to do what is best for the country. Bob Woodward then showed up and said Obama tried for the Grand Bargain but couldn't get it through, and that Obama might be frustrated because he can't just make things happen. Woodward basically contradicted himself, as did Scarborough, by saying that Obama is basically a centrist, but then later said  that Obama wants to make decisions on his own, that Obama has tried to compromise and has also been political and partisan by trashing Republicans. They are just talking to be talking now.

What appears to have happened is that weeks ago the leaders of both parties -- the establishment professional politicians - decided they would attempt to manipulate the Tea Party representatives and box them in to agreeing to a watered down compromise at the last minute which does nothing to cut spending, nothing to deal with entitlements, nothing to change the statist system, but does raise the debt limit. Now the professional politicians are waiting, and Boehner has become the fall guy. There have been pundits who've said that Democrats control the Senate and the Presidency, so they have the upper hand, and they ought to be able to guide the negotiations -- well, they have guided the whole process. Neither the Senate nor the President have put forth anything, so they can avoid blame when our economy blows up and interest rates rise because we've been downgraded by the credit rating agencies. Boehner and the Tea Party will get the blame because they're the only ones acting by putting forth proposals to deal with the debt crisis.

This is DC -- this is the work of professional politicians -- the Tea Party conservatives address the fundamental problems, and they are excoriated and framed as extremists -- the professional politicans manipulate and hide from responsibility, and they are exonerated as moderate, grown-up, realist, compromisers. Scarborough called the party leaders grown-ups and said they would pass a clean bill to raise the debt limit if they could -- and this is responsible, according to Scarborough. Scarborough said it's time to act like Edmund Burke. Scarborough went down memory lane back when he was a hot-headed Reagan revolutionary, and how he now understands the difference between standing on principle and compromising when reality comes calling. Scarborough is full of it. It's hilarious -- yes, Scarborough missed his calling as a professional clown. MSNMC picked the right Republican, if their intention was to make Republicans look ridiculous.

Morning Joe 5/19/2011 -- Pakistan, Greece and the Arab Spring

I have to hand it to the Morning Joe gang -- this morning there was serious analysis of current events. Although there were a few more gratuitous hits on Gingrich, the whole show wasn't wasted on this nonsense. Pat Buchanan and Bob Woodward provided the gravitas as they discussed our national debt, Pakistan, Greece and the Arab uprisings, and how Israel is in a bind.

There was still no serious discussion of fundamental problems, but they did a good job of identifying symptoms. Joe Scarborough lamented the Republican capitulation regarding serious spending cuts, and most on the panel believe that serious cuts will not happen -- they also all agreed that financial collapse is a coming reality if we continue on this path. This hinted at the fundamental problem, but no one took it to the next step, which is that our statist system is geared for collapse, just like Rome and Britain. Our empire is crumbling, and there's much fiddling going on -- fiddling, spinning, dodging, obscurantism, misdirection, rationalizations and delusion.

Yesterday Neil Cavuto showed a progressive ad with someone who looks like Paul Ryan pushing an old lady off a cliff -- this was an ad from a progressive group attacking Ryan for suggesting reform to Medicare. In this atmosphere, Republicans will back down and Medicare will roar on eating everything in its path, along with Medicaid and SS. There is still no serious opposition to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Obama's mini-war in Libya, so defense spending roars on eating everything in its path. This type of statism can't be sustained, yet liberals, moderates and statist Republicans fear China is going to get some kind of "lead" over some international something. So, you see Rachel Maddow on commercials calling for America to do great things like the Hoover dam, and there are commercials begging government to create jobs by creating work for Americans, like building roads, producing green energy and building more schools and bureacracies.

Like Rome we're crumbling and doubling down on the actions that got us here, or at least promoting doubling down. We might be stopped by our creditors, or simply by reality. Reality always wins. Andrea Mitchell was on this morning and she said our most dangerous problem is Pakistan. It wouldn't be if we left that region. Pat Buchanan said the most dangerous situation is Greece, Ireland, Spain, etc, and this is right -- our problem is that we are following these countries, and the IMF is making sure that American money is wasted in these failed countries, too. Bob Woodward said the most dangerous situation is the Arab Spring --- we don't know what's really going on and who has the power. Yes, we know. Islamist radicals have the power, and they will control the region. But we don't have to be in the middle of it.

America needs to come home and show the world and ourselves how to peacefully create prosperity for the most people -- how to allow a free market to operate -- how to limit State power -- how to inspire people to create and innovate -- and how to defend it all. But, instead, we fiddle, intervene, spend, posture, manipulate and cry like babies when our entitlements are threatened by a small reduction. Collapse is the biggest threat, and crying will then do no good.