The Humanitarian Imperative

After America suffered from the economic dislocation brought on by recession and President Obama's anti-recovery policies, families might naturally be expected to consolidate their resources and cease or limit giving. Yesterday's earth shattering tumult in Chile and the catastrophe in Haiti reflect the continuing, in fact, escalating need to give to reputable, established charities, even when times are tough at home. Even Barack Hussein Obama's desire to eliminate tax deductions for charitable contributions does not mitigate the overwhelming needs that these charities are often the only ones left to address, and without the support of generous Americans, it is virtually certain more lives will be lost.

State of Catastrophe

An epic tragedy, possibly one to rival the Haiti earthquake in terms of scope of destruction and loss of human life, has struck the heretofore relatively peaceful and prosperous nation of Chile. Preliminary reports measure the temblor at 8.8 on the Richter scale, one of the stronger quakes ever measured, making mass destruction and casualties virtually inevitable. This shaking has also sparked fears of and a warning for a tsunami across wide areas of the Pacific. It is an absolute certainty that the people of Chile will need both foreign aid and prayers.

Talked to Death

While no entity specifically called a "death panel" may be found in the text of any of the proposed health care programs, I have found that Obama has an even more nefarious plan to do us all in- he will offer himself more in bipartisan forums, be more available to the press, and talk us all to death. In yesterday's summit, I noted two points. First, Obama is without doubt the most petulant human being that I have ever seen. Second, Obama drones on like Fidel Castro did before the Cuban dictator's health collapsed. A couple more hours of Barack Hussein Obama's talking points and straw man arguments and some might be tempted to invite a death panel over for their first and last visit.

The Sham Summit

Republicans will be brought into Blair House today to serve as props and whipping boys to President Barack Hussein Obama's power grab ambitions as they are couched for the moment in his health care rationing Obama care scheme. President Obama is not interested in any initiatives the GOP has to offer, only in advancing his plan and using those meeting him as stepping stones to an imposed socialism that the people of the United States do not want by wide margins. Why the Republicans deign to be used like this is beyond me? When they were invited to the media spectacle, these Republican politicians should have remembered Nancy Reagan's admonition and just said no.

For Shame Shamu

Shamu, or one of his species held in captivity for our amusement, lived up to the name killer whale today. At Florida Sea World, a massive beast who had previously been involved in the death of two people in separate incidents dating back to the early nineties, killed its trainer. Whales are animals that the left goes out of the way to praise, protect by attacking whalers, and even save with ubiquitous bumper stickers because the animals supposedly possess preternatural aspects of character and immense intellect. This beast was not as smart as most family dogs who know enough not to bite the hand that feeds them. All I have to offer is the hope that this beast who has a propensity to take human lives is placed in a position where it can do no further damage. Shame on you, people who venerate animals beyond all else- like the idiot who earned late night appearances on Letterman and/or Leno before his bear companions devoured him. Shame on you, Shamu- bad whale.

The Fouling Dutchman

(No, this is not a reference to Holland-born former Marist and Indiana Pacer star center Rik Smits although the title would have been equally applicable during Smits's playing days jostling opposing behemoths). I have mostly assiduosly avoiding partaking of the great Northerly winter games, but was briefly lured in as housemates were viewing the spectacle. I happened to witness the Sven Kramer catastrophe with incumbent joy turned to anger as the young skater from the Netherlands realized he had not won the 10,000 meter speed skate by over four seconds in a dominant performance but had been disqualified after being misdirected by his own coach. In an instant, those watching saw the exuberance of a lifetime of work, hard work- training as an occupation- rewarded, turned to bewilderment, then angry realization, cognizance that all that effort had been for naught. This was no simple blooper but a terminal error on the largest stage in the world for Kramer's rather esoteric sport. There can be little doubt that Kramer was the dominant athlete in his competition but that all was lost because rules are unforgiving, with no mere time penalty for a violation of lanes but an outright disqualification. Does anyone doubt that Kramer was the fastest man on the track yesterday?

Born to Betray

Barack Hussein Obama made emphatic promises during his campaign for the Presidency to his most fervent base, the anti-war activists, that if he won the office US troops would soon be withdrawn from Iraq. Over a year into his administration, American forces are still there to the dismay of the peacenik left. And the prospect exists, in fact is very real, that they will not leave Iraq in the foreseeable future. The commander of American forces there, General Ray Odierno, has just disclosed that he has developed a contingency plan for our military presence to remain in place if violence escalates in Iraq as it virtually must as we start to wind down our involvement there. So not only are the arch-leftist consistently let down by Obama's failures on the domestic front, Obama has escalated one foreign war in Afghanistan while our armed forces still languish in Iraq in an incursion that candidate Obama had pledged to end. Those ardent believers must be deeply chagrined that their champion used them for their campaign contributions and votes.