Ron Paul and America -- part I

The Republican Party is frightened by Ron Paul. Even Glenn Beck, who usually has a fairly good understanding of Paul's limited government philosophy, has now joined the chorus relegating Paul to the margins. Ron Paul upholds non-interventionism in foreign affairs, and this is too much for those Republicans or conservatives who preach "small" government out of one side of their mouths while proposing government intervention out of the other. Paul says we should end the sanctions on Iran and trade with them economically, just as we should trade with Cuba. This enrages conservatives and hawks like Rick Santorum who believe we should do something about Iran and Iran's nuclear program. What should we do? What should we do with North Korea and Paksitan? The only way to stop them is to attack the countries and take them over, then make the countries conform to our wishes. Is this what they want? Sanctions and tough talk won't deter Iran from building a nuclear weapon. And if Iran is stopped, who's next? Where does it stop? Do we have to control half the world to feel secure?

So what do the hawks want to do? Our government has caused problems over an over by interfering in the business of others countries. Is Iran a threat to our national security? If Iran attempted to bomb America, we'd destroy the entire country. It's dangerous for America to start making war-like moves toward Iran, escalating a situation in which there's war between our countries. Even if we attacked Iran and destroyed it's nuclear program, what then? We'd have to fight the whole mideast region, and there aren't enough volunteer soldiers to get involved a a great war in the mideast. The draft would have to be resurrected, then half our young men and women would be called into combat duty -- it would be a disaster.

By not interfering, and by trading with Iran, we send a message to the Iranian people that we aren't concerned with Iran's government -- it can do what it wants to do -- but if it ever attacks us, we'll have to respond with great, destructive force. The Iranian government is tyrannical, but the people of Iran have to deal with this situation -- they'll have to make the sacrifices, if they want a different government. Our involvement can only lead to many deaths and no resolution -- a long deadly slog in a no-win situation. Our history of involvement in the mideast has resulted in tragedy and failure, over and over. Paul also wants us to disconnect our government from Israel, and we should. We should be a friendly trading partners with Israel, and that's all. America can no longer play the role of Global Cop. It's tearing our country down, and it's not helping anyone. Israel can take care of its own security, and Israel's government can make its own decisions.

Ron Paul truly believes in limited government. Glenn Beck said Paul looked frail in the debates. His body might be frail, because Paul has put a lot of energy into being a true limited government patriot, but his mind and ideas are still strong. America is sort of like Ron Paul at this point in time. The idea of America is still alive with some Americans --liberty, limited government, free maket -- but like Paul, too many people ignore the ideas -- they say the ideas can't work in modern America -- they say the ideas are extreme. The media has ignored and marginalized Paul, just like the political class has ignored and marginalized the idea of America. Paul's probably tired. America is tired -- downgraded -- burdened with debt -- shackled by statism -- yes, America is tired, but the idea still lives, and as long as there are pols like Ron Paul, there's a glimmer of hope.

Morning Joe 8/11/2011 -- Rick Perry, the anti-Joe Scarborough

On Morning Joe today, the crew spent a lot of time talking about Rick Perry. Joe Scarborough obviously believes Perry is a joke and can't win over independents and NE Republicans. But, by God, Joe could win 'em over -- he understands those Long Island voters. I think my earlier analysis of Scarborough as a wannabe presidential candidate is getting to him. He has practically eliminated every Republican candidate, but when he was running for office, he knew how to cross lines and make things happen. Scarborough says that Palin is over, and that Glenn Beck's influence is over, and that Perry and Bachmann will burn out and fade. There's a pattern here of opposing anyone who has Tea party support. Scarborough is a true faux-elitist, with "faux" being the operative word -- thus, he's frustrated, torn between his country-lawyer act and the desire to be close to the seat of power and political influence. When Scarborough gets frustrated he acts out and does the twirling tie and honking red nose thing to get attention. I wish there was some support for him to run for President -- he wants it so badly.

There's still a push among the Morning Joe crowd to bring back congress and announce that government will do something big to address the economic situation, with FDR as the model of leadership. Nevermind that FDR's big actions prolonged the depression and human suffering during the 30s, they just want to do something Big so that government doesn't look so pathetic. Scarborough did appropriately react to a NYT's article comparing London's problems to Tea Party austerity -- Scarborough said it's ridiculous, and it is. The funny part of the article is that it said Cameron was planning austerity -- planning austerity. What the pundits and journalists are missing is there has been no austerity, just talk about austerity.

Journalists and pundits are babbling now, and in their moments of honesty they say what is obvious to everyone, and it's what the Tea party has been saying -- we need economic growth. Now, they just need to accept that government doesn't create economic growth but a free market does.

Beck's last Fox show

Glenn Beck is an authenitc American character and a brave defender of liberty. You don't have to agree with Beck to admit he's got a gift for presenting information and starting meaningful conversations. Beck has been attacked like no other personality in media -- he's faced the attacks, and he's been rewarded for his courage -- he's made a lot of money, but Beck is taking another brave chance by risking a large amount of that pay-off on a risky venture. This is the American entrepreneurial spirit, and I salute for keeping it alive.

Morning Joe 5/25/2011 -- Beck and Scarborough

First of all on Morning Joe, Joe apologized to Steve Ratner for ranting at Harold Ford yesterday about Medicare and communication to the American people. Joe's original stance was that if the right person lets the American people know the truth about Medicare, then the Democrats can't spin the issue, but later Joe backtracked and then this morning capitulated to the Democrat position that major change in Medicare is too radical for the American people to accept. This is how a political animal operates.

Now, let's talk about Glenn Beck, the polar opposite of Joe Scarborough. Later in this morning's show, there was a discussion about Fox, Roger Ailes and Glenn Beck. Joe characterized Beck as a Fox creation, unable to succeed on his own, although Beck was already wildly successful before going to Fox, and as someone who sets his hair on fire and says the world is coming to an end. Mika said that Joe could make as much money as Beck if he didn't have morals, or something to that effect, agreeing with Joe when he said he could do what Beck is doing, setting his hair on fire and saying the world is ending. The guest who was on and had written a book about Ailes had a different take -- he said Beck has built a media empire and that Ailes felt like Beck has become too big for Fox. Joe tried to frame the situation as Ailes was worried about Beck setting his hair on fire and saying the world is ending. Joe is clearly envious of Beck. Beck is not saying the world is ending and I've never seen him get anymore passionate than Joe gets, except Beck really means it when he's passionate, unlike Joe who changes positions in the timeframe of one show. Actually Beck has covered this world ending charge many times, and he says he doesn't know when the world will end. Joe is clearly envious of Beck, and it's unattractive.

As for the Medicare discussion, both Joe and Ratner made the point that even Tea Partiers don't want government touching their Medicare, and how ironic this appears, so certainly the public at large won't accept major change to Medicare. It's convenient to overlook the fact that people pay into Medicare which was forced on them, and they were promised these payments will give them insurance in old age. Now Ratner and Joe think it's funny that people are angry? Nevermind that government created the Medicare monster and have run it into insolvency, let's make fun of the people who were conned, then patronize them by saying "Okay, little people, we know that you can't accept the reality of complex government, so we're going to control the expense of Medicare and let you down easily -- just be calm and carry on -- it won't be painful". Actually, government has no idea how to solve the dependency they forced on the American people. Now, the American people will have to take responsibility, and hopefully they learn the lesson about grand government promises and "entitlements" -- they are bogus.

Update on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 08:35AM by M. Farmer

I just caught the tailend of Paul Ryan's appearance on Morning Joe. It appears Joe has changed positions twice within one show, but don't ask me what he stands for. You'll have to watch a replay of the show yesterday and the one today -- I don't know what to say.

As I keep saying, Morning Joe is a microcosm of the flawed political realm. If you listen closely, you hear the admission that nothing said in the political realm is truthful -- it's about political spin and winning, and although this isn't a revelation, it's odd to see such joy in the process as you witness on Morning Joe.

Update on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 08:40AM by M. Farmer

One more thing -- I also saw most of the interview with Henry Kissinger. Kissinger represents the dinosaurs and their dinosaur children who today still promote international power games. Kissinger, in his cautious, rambling way, reminiscent of George Soros, wants America and China to get on the same page and control the Mid-East -- by Gawd, this is how real international men do it.

If we don't stop intervening and trying to run the world, we'll wind up like Great Britain -- oh, did you see the clips of Obama in England -- now that's funny. Can we at least put some limits on Obama's travel? I mean I know we can't limit government when we're needed to join with China and tell other countries what to do, but can we at least limit Obama's globe trotting?

Glenn Beck 2/25/2011 -- sorry Glenn

On Beck's show today he had David Barton and three other religious leaders and I couldn't go there. It's not that I'm not a spiritual person, just not religious. In a broad sense, I agree that maintaining certain principles is vital to a good life, but I can't buy the religious moral superiorty over the agnostic, necessarily, and some of his guests started making that claim. To Beck's credit he said just being a Christian in name is not enough, but you have to walk like you talk.

I understand Beck is a religious person, and there is nothing wrong with this, and Beck is smart enough and open enough to not push his particular religious dogma on anyone -- I'm not so sure about his guests.