I found this a fitting analogy to the Administration’s actions, or lack of action, regarding the state of affairs and determining ultimate responsibility for recent events involving terror suspects, their actions, and future possible attacks. I watched the slough of Sunday Talk shows earlier as each tried to crack the nut of the impenetrable John Brennan, a Top Obama Counter Terror Advisor and former Deputy Director of CIA under Bush, and the apparent Point Man to absorb the increasing criticism of the Administration regarding counter terror policy and recent events. I give Brennan an “A” for his apt display of Public Policy Discussion Management 101 techniques. He clearly illustrated the first rule of media policy discussions, which is “I may not know the first question, but By God, I know the first answer”… However, the sixty four thousand dollar question leveled over and over again from Chris Wallace to Terry Moran, even David Gregory was, “Who is responsible for these breakdowns in security or perceived breakdowns”? Brennan, a long time security and high-level intelligence and policy official was deftly nimble in saturating the discussion with retort after retort and empty feel good rhetoric about “doing a better job, “good people doing tough work”, “systemic issues”, “lots of blame to go around” etc, but when confronted with the obvious question about Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano’s direct role, inept comments and actions of late, and possible resignation, Brennan dug in like a good Administration lackey and praised Napolitano for her “good job over all”. Behold the quintessential “Outcome based” versus “performance based” philosophy. I guess the NFL should also start awarding quarterbacks for tight spirals, even if they beautifully sail into the  hands of a defender.

It is unconscionable to me as a former Marine Officer of 20 years to see so many high level security officials, including the President, obfuscate direct acknowledgement to a person or specific group of people in inept or derelict duty. It is equally dumbfounding to witness a level of scrutiny and second guessing our senior officials are willing to apply to likes of hardworking, patriotic, and under appreciated CIA operatives in pursuit of information from apprehended terrorists and their use of authorized enhanced interrogation techniques (which, by the way, are no more “torture” than a college fraternity initiation), or the upcoming court martial travesty with Navy SEALS for supposedly “roughing up” a notorious killer-terrorist in his capture (perhaps next time, it may be more understood and administratively less burdensome for them to just have killed him in combat). However, we have the actual threat of an airliner being bombed out of the sky, over a major US city, and all the administration officials can do is to say the “system worked”. (of course, the system failed miserably, and the DHS Director actually had the gall to say after the bomber succeeded in every stage of his operational plan except successful detonation, which had nothing to do with Ms Napolitano’s “system”) They proceed to eek out the phrase, “War On Terror” and begin to talk tough and use military jargon and lexicon to play the “heavies” against the “man made disasters”. Probably fearing pitch forks and torches from angry Americans more than immediate political and international diplomatic fall out, the Administration suddenly came to the epiphany that there are people and their ideologies in this world that want to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. Yet, no one has yet been publicly identified for this supreme failure in US security, especially after 9/11 and with a previous 7 year track record for safety and relentless vigilance from the senior security officals and their apparatus.

Let me make sure I got this straight, because I certainly don’t want to appear unfair or unduly critical; The Terror suspect (or should I say “alleged perpetrator” since the would be bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, will be tried with the same rights as a US citizen, and not as an enemy combatant in a war) was identified by his own father to harbor Jihadist, even extremist views, to officials at the US Embassy in Nigeria, undoubtedly to both CIA and State Department officials (you know, the ones that actually work at embassies world wide), and as the New York Times is reporting, was the subject of NSA intercepts about an “Al Qaeda trained Nigerian” planning an operation against the West, plus was on a “Watch List” (Albeit, a rather large Watch List, but one none the less…if it isn’t effective, change it!!), plus slipped through US Customs Visa preliminary checks, and eventually paid cash for his ticket, and checked in with no luggage. And now, Townhall is reporting that the President was briefed of this potential threat before the holidays! Yet all Brennan could muster, and echoed by his Administration cohorts, was, “Well, that doesn’t constitute a smoking gun…”. Brennan, of all people, should know better from his extensive work in intelligence, and his recent, real time capacity over the last several years post 9/11 and certainly from all the sensitive intelligence that he was privy to at the time that has trickled out to the general public. I understand with intelligence and multiple threads of data and information that it isn’t always going to be an “Ah Ha!” moment, when you can stand up and proudly announce “It was Colonel Mustard, in the library with the candle stick”, but any monkey can be trained to react to “actionable intelligence”. It is a crutch senior leadership has fallen into for decades, and it certainly sounds as if the Administration is fallen into it now regarding the Christmas Day Near-Catastrophic Success terror act. To actually say, “well, it didn’t happen, so the system worked” is a lot different than the 7 year track record of previous successful programs, methods, and actions that thwarted Mainland attacks, not just using “Hope as a Strategy”. 

It may have been ominous for the Obama Campaign Marketing folks to use the symbol of the rainbow for the moniker for the campaign stickers, posters, and billboards. Because, you see, when you take solid light, representing the steady and increasingly obvious information and intelligence clues leading to the recent terror disasters, like Major Hasan, and Abdulmutallab, and you refract it through a prism of derrière-covering, back peddling, self promoting political figures like senior officials in this Administration, you get a responsibility-avoiding, “we are all guilty”, therefore no one is guilty, security-endangering “rainbow” of obfuscation.

Well if Leon Panetta, the Director of Central Intelligence, was of the same mindset as his fellow Administration Officials were on the use of “War On Terror” versus “Overseas Contingencies”, I’m positive he no longer views it quite that way. Fox News is reporting (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,581571,00.html ) the attack by a suicide bomber on a Forward Operating Base in the Khost Province in Afghanistan was a direct attack on operational CIA officials. The confirmation by the CIA that seven of its personnel were killed in the attack may perhaps be the largest single loss of CIA operations officials in a single attack in the 6 decade history of our premier intelligence service.

No one wants to admit it, but the recent surge of terror related activities and direct probes and successful and near-successful operations against Americans, in my estimate, may be a direct second order effect to the difference of approaches, philosophy, and perceived softness promulgated and exuded by our Commander-in-Chief and his security leadership officials regarding the War On Terror. The enemies of America smell the blood in the water and are seemingly taking advantage of the Administration’s pre-9/11 mindset of “criminality” versus a firm “war” mentality. Yes, the president did finally sign on to the surge of forces into Afghanistan, but less than what was requested, and at a decision making  pace and process that make newly commissioned Second Lieutenants look like seasoned battlefield leaders. This decision also was not a direct Counter Terror (CT) action as much as it was a decision based on continuing conventional and political military actions against an increasingly embolden insurgency force that has had and still may have ties to Jihadist terror elements. The Brits and the Russians were fighting the same lot those many years ago, and it wasn’t considered CT operations.

Couple this delay and perceived indecision with all the atmospherics from this Administration thus far regarding terror policy and operations; parsing of “statements” and official releases and discussions on terror or contingencies for political and diplomatic consumption, the trial of 9/11 conspirators in New York as a criminal trial vice a military tribunal, the “Apology” Tour conducted by the President and the confusing of leadership and combat initiative with “arrogance”, the Attorney General, Eric Holder, and his persecution of CIA officials in their prosecution in this war against Jihadist terrorists, Navy SEALs facing Courts Martial for allegedly “roughing up” a terrorist in his apprehension, waning on reaction and clear definition of Ft Hood murder and terrorist, Major Malik Hasan, and the continued delay and response by the Administration after the near-successful Christmas Airline Bombing and Director of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano’s, embarrassing and completely inept comments that followed. America’s enemies like nothing better than to see her teetering and wincing after petty but humiliating blows.  

What may be more ominous and disturbing is the terrorists, for the most part, conduct these actions at a very low cost (financially, though we are killing lots and lots of terrorists on the battlefield) and can strike nowadays with near impunity, thus bolstering their morale and recruiting websites for global Jihad. What happens as our more strategically threatening, old foes and detractors, like China, Russia, North Korea, and even Iran and Venezuela become more embolden with nibbling, if not downright chomping, on the margins of American National Security interests.  We see enhanced and sophisticated cyber attacks being launched against our financial, infrastructure, and military nodes. These have been both State sponsored and transnational perpetrators. What if something was coordinated along with a conventional or clandestine military or geo-strategic action in such hot spots as Taiwan, North Korea, Iran, The Caucuses, Straits of Malacca or Hormuz, Southern Philippines, or Mexico? It may not need to be that well coordinated. Like sharks, our enemies may just be sparked by certain geo-political imperatives that trigger a “frenzy" of actions and reactions as America’s perceived weakness is exploited. Do we not see the lengths Russia is going to in order to weaken our nuclear deterrent in Eastern Europe, or China’s or Iran’s, even Russia’s glee at the irritant Hugo Chavez has become and his nonsensical ranting on a potential war with the US in Latin America? Is a possible failed state event in Mexico not one of those potential imperatives as America’s enemies, terrorist or State actor, might seize and react to as America is spread do thin militarily, diplomatically, and financially?

Now, add in ballooning deficits, a struggling economy, political divisions internally, and a perceived weak and exploitable leadership, and you have all the makings of the next Tom Clancy novel. Unfortunately, this is very real and very possible given the sharks swimming around our threatened boat. Let’s hope it is just sharks, not prone to coordinate, rather than wolves…They know all too well how to attack and bring down a wounded beast, perceived or not.

I had an interesting discussion with a group of friends the other day. Admittedly, we are all acknowledged conservatives, and it didn’t take long for our discussion to careen into the present state of affairs. Each of us presently own or have owned our own small business, and naturally our concern turned toward taxes. As a result of the unprecedented looming deficits, imminent passage of the Health Care Bill, the CBO acknowledged increase in Health Care premiums and seemingly endless borrowing, the previous Administration’s tax cuts being rescinded, regulations imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency to circumvent Congressional Legislative processes, and the 10% sur tax levied on hard working California small business owners, when is the unilateral actions by a government, clearly not heeding the voice of the majority of its people as noted by overwhelming public opinion, considered tyrannical and dictatorial? As we saw the perversion of the legislative process unfold resulting in the flagrant cash for votes scheme cooked up by the reigning Democrats to buy Nebraska Senator Bill Nelson’s vote to pass the Senate Health Care version, when do the free and law abiding people determine that enough Congressional and Executive Branch meddling and behind the scenes chicanery is enough?  An interesting topic came to light.

What if the taxpayers simply didn’t pay their taxes (or delayed them significantly) to protest the government’s actions?

Considering the majority of those speaking on this topic that evening were former military and their spouses, the initial broaching of the topic for a fleeting moment was uncomfortable. However, it took on almost a Parlor Game flare and we started to ask…What would it take to spark a real tax revolution? Not some Cable Talk Show Host manifested- feel good -call your congressman- campaign (though it is a start) , but a real stance based on conviction to the present scope, scale, size, and pervasiveness of unfair and possibly unconstitutional tax burdens to the detriment of some basic tenants of American economic life?

We quickly cited the Draft Card burning days of the latter part of the Vietnam War. It was covered in great detail by our press, and many Americans saw it as treasonous and un-American behavior. Yet, many prominent political and pop culture figures either directly or tacitly agreed with the act of conscience displayed by thousands and thousands of young men who burned their Draft Cards and did not serve their country during its expressed time of need. Whether one agreed with their decision or not, they conducted an act that can be seen as an act of political conviction and conscience at best, and un-American and perhaps seditious at worse. As Sun Tzu wrote two thousand years ago, without the protection and security of the Nation, all other matters of public policy are mute if you can’t protect your nation. So in that context, the act of refusing to register for the Draft or outright refusal to report once drafted can be seen as a greater rebellious and seditious act than tax avoidance.  How many young men were rounded up and hauled away as a result of refusing to serve their country in her expressed time of need? Were any? If so, were they imprisoned, or given citations?  Does anyone believe the government wouldn’t target, detain ,arrest, imprison, and financially ruin those participating in a tax revolt? Certainly, no previously law abiding, taxpaying, hard working family man (person) with mouths to feed and mortgages to pay would want to be the first guy to walk into the government’s band saw and end up on the evening news hauled off for being a “tax cheat” and embarrassed, humiliated, or financial ruined.

However, would, or even could, the government do that to a million such guys? Yes, the initial people would be targeted and prosecuted, likely, but could the government sustain that level of diligence on hundreds of thousands or millions of people? Is there a prominent figure in the Tea Party or conservative movement to be the “first” rebel in this act?

We determined it would have to be some one that could take the financial and societal repercussions as the Point Man. They would incur the wrath of the government as witnessed by such acts as the Davidian Raid, or The Elian Gonzales Repatriation Case, or the countless number of tax cases involving seizing of bank accounts, property, and a severe impact on one’s livelihood.  Who could that be? Is there one figure out there willing to take the necessary stand to be that first rebel and still have the gravitas to have thousands, if not millions to follow? Glenn Beck? Sarah Palin? Rush Limbaugh? Newt Gingrich? Mitt Romney? Former Vice President Cheney? Of course, all those people are vilified and detested by the left…maybe Nicholas Cage. I hear he has had some tax difficulties of late (to the tune of 36 million dollars worth) We are only talking about a small percentage that actually pays the majority of taxes? There are a great deal more people riding in the chariot than pulling it. It is a considerable asymmetric advantage the “chariot pullers” have over both the “chariot riders” and the government. It makes a tremendous statement, and it hits the spend-drunk liberal democrats and their media and political enablers where it hurts…their coffers filled with your money!!!

We did agree that night on one thing…though we didn’t know exactly where that point was, we each agreed that a boiling point is approaching. The question was if our conviction on this deteriorating state of affairs was morally just and operationally executable, and would it be considered seditious? We agreed it would probably be considered both.  We also agreed this must have been similar to discussions our brave and equally concerned Forefathers might have been having as King George and the British Parliament were encroaching on their fair mindedness and moral conviction.  I fear, at present, the stakes are much higher, and the trespasses by this government against the people much graver.  

Subject: We No Longer will accept your Maligning Our Opposition Conviction as Intolerance and Racism.

Author’s Note: This is a revised version of an article originally written 23 July, 2009

Like hundreds of thousands of my fellow Americans, I am an American who happens to be a Caucasian, Christian, conservative, military veteran, and small business owner. I have lived and traveled all over the world. I have many close friends that happen to be from different ethnic backgrounds and experiences. My family is a mix of those who can trace their ancestry to the Mayflower, to those who are legal immigrants and recently became US citizens. Yet, it is simply unconscionable to me that Media continue to ardently skew any opposition or disagreement with President Obama as something latent in racism, jingoistic xenophobia, anti-immigration, intolerance, and fear mongering.  I categorically reject your incipient propaganda of passive and direct innuendos that if you oppose President Obama, you must be intolerant, a racist, right wing, and of course, nuts. The irony is, while the Main Stream Media busily deflects the charges of the increasing perception of the Administration’s liberal, even socialist, agenda, this tactic of maligning your political opponents as immoral, even evil, in their God given right to opposition under the Constitution, is classically Bolshevik in its approach. One only needs to study and familiarize themselves with the works of Saul Alinsky to unpeel this ideology.

I, and hundreds of thousands of my fellow hard working, small business owners, on the economic "precipice", maliciously maligned by "reporters" on your networks, are becoming increasingly fed up and taxed, both figuratively, and literally, by this President and this Administration's clear policies cloaked in "needed drastic change now”.  While all along it is abundantly clear it is a concerted attack to fundamentally shift the socio-economic structure that resulted in immeasurable success of hundreds of millions of Americans and citizens of allies abroad over two centuries by way of the free market economy, rule of law, and a Republic form of government that is the greatest single achievement in the history of the human endeavor. Mr. Obama's own words, however, leading up to the election were, "We are 5 days away from fundamentally changing the course of America." Yet, those of us, from all ethnic backgrounds, struggling to achieve the American dream, and share it with our employees, B2B partners, and communities will be irreversibly stunted economically as "health care", more "stimuli" and "cap and trade" will eviscerate the already razor thin margins we balance on as the "distribution agenda” leviathan proceeds while masked in the mantra of "change and hope". As we become strapped by the President's policies that are fervently supported by your networks, what do you think millions of small business owners will do as they are taxed beyond the margins, and forced to slim their expenses as cap & trade, health care and more bail outs for large organizations, such as yours, require? That's right, Kids... lay off workers...

 I am filled with conviction on this issue, Ladies and Gentlemen, and not intolerance as your networks insidiously, yet desperately, attempt to portray me and millions of my fellow Americans as bigoted, xenophobic, and narrow minded. I attended a Tea Party despite Anderson Cooper's and MSNBC commentator's "dirty jokes for little folks" attempts to marginalize and demonize the Tea Party participants as they expressed their 1st Amendment rights. Your networks minimized and ridiculed these protesters as fringe, racist, dimwitted NASCAR-watching, agitated evangelical white people, but gave ample and wide spread positive coverage of the anti "AIG", ACORN sponsored, paid participants and their orchestrated "rage" against "The Man". The thousands of people with whom I attended the Tea Party were people of conviction; multiracial, multi-ethnic, yet all bound by their inalienable right to protest their government as Americans, not motivated as depicted in some feign attempt to slander and libel them as "intolerant". It is abominable that your networks can be so biased and yet pretend to be so impartial toward tens of millions, perhaps hundreds of millions, of their fellow citizens. If there is any doubt of this blatant race and class baiting in the Media, just watch a YouTube of Bill Maher, Janeane Garofalo, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Chris Mathews, David Gregory, Susan Roesgen, and scores of other “journalists” on major, main stream channels. Less blatant, but equally as incipient in their classic race baiting, code wording, divisive class envy, and anti-traditional American rhetoric are CNN, NBC, MSNBC, CBS, and NPR, and of course the print media such as most major US newspapers and weekly national periodicals. Fox News, though certainly afflicted with its own hyperbole, seems to address some "other perspective" issues, and truly strives to be balanced in its news coverage, though its commentators are clearly conservative and openly supportive of traditional American morals, values, and historic exceptionalism. I watch that network routinely, and they go to great lengths to not “racial-ize” issues as is done routinely on the other networks.

Case in point...CNN's "Black in America" series...to whom exactly is that targeted? Is it for “informational purposes” only? Or is it a politically motivated “propa-mentary” by just another Obama-adoring "news" organization. Will it be a much needed argument for African Americans to embrace true change emphasizing policies and ideologies as professed by the likes of Thomas Sowell, Condoleezza Rice, Harry Alford, Bill Cosby, even Juan Williams, or will it be another tired old regurgitation of the same old policies, producing the same old excuses and results that insinuate "liberation theology" and other continued failed liberal approaches from the same old characters like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Tavis Smiley, and many others that claim they speak for the "black community".  Will it just be a "glossed up" version of the eye rolling diversity training many of us have been subjected to, cursing ourselves that we will never get back those crucial 2 hours of our precious "life points"? I can tell you as a small business owner, former government official, and public school education recipient, I, like millions of my fellow Americans, was "afforded" gobs of diversity training, EEO discussions and panels et al, ad nauseum. I learned more about Asian Pacific Month, Hispanic Heritage Week, and Gay-Lesbian-Transsexual Awareness than I ever would have imagined. It was always a bit over the top and not very productive. Most of it was inaccurate, blatantly ethnocentric, and ideologically driven, and nearly always premised with the notion that every American is secretly biased, racist, and steeped in an intolerant Neanderthal mindset. As we bombard our youth, young leaders and employees with politically correct liberal-biased re-education “diversity” training, we sheepishly observe that many young Americans don’t even know the most basic civic, geographic, and historic facts that make this country, and our form of government, our mark on world history and the contributions to international justice and freedom for hundreds of millions of oppressed peoples, the most envied and sought after political and economic structure of all time. Despite dark marks on our unique history as Americans, regarding issues like slavery, Jim Crow, harsh treatment of Native Americans, Women’s suffrage, among others, Americans naturally capitalize on the attributes that continue to make us and our nation truly exceptional, and have overcome injustices through the political and social systems offered by America herself by accentuating our strengths and holding firm to our convictions, all powered by the rights bestowed upon us by the Constitution. I learned more from my friends and acquaintances about their unique heritages and life styles in the hospitality of their homes and amidst their families and friends while attending Little League games, community celebrations, Church outings, Scouts, etc, than any government mandated, force-fed, guilt-laden, heterosexual Christian white man bashing politically correct "seminar" could ever portray. Since I, and nearly every single friend and acquaintance of mine throughout the years hadn't, nor would they have, acted in an inappropriate way regarding the proud and rich heritages of their respective multi-ethnic friends and colleagues, the whole "diversity" training thrust appears to be some kind of re-education program, where the Three Cs (Caucasian, Christian, and Conservative) can and are attacked with impunity and all the ills of every single difficulty America experienced in its proud and tumultuous history can be traced to the "evil white man".

So many young American minority students and would-be entrepreneurs are coddled and "institutionalized" to see only hopeless skepticism in their lives and taught to tacitly, and in some cases, openly dislike and loath their own country. Instead of being guided and enlightened by the greatest gift a founding body such as our Founding Fathers have given us, and in many cases with their own lives and livelihoods, their potential is robbed by crooked politicians, biased bureaucrats, and liberal policies that usurp their very freedom in order to control their "entitlements" in exchange for votes and power.   

I'm sure, as with many Americans from different backgrounds and ethnicities, I have about 5 to 7 real mentors and positive role models as a slightly than lower middle class kid from the San Francisco Bay Area...one was of Mexican heritage, one was of Filipino heritage, and one, was an African American. This is not unique, but uniquely American. My proudest letter of recommendation I received for a military officer program early in my career was written by an American of Japanese descent who was an occupant of the Interment Camps in California as a child. I had a rich and wonderfully diverse upbringing, and all of us were proud Americans... and with NO-hyphens...Therefore, as with millions of my fellow Americans, being of the Three C's does not automatically classify one as racist, intolerant, narrow minded, or ignorant to the rich and diverse fabric that makes America truly great. It is clear to me that the vast majority of present day racism and intolerance comes from the very sources that claim they abhor it. Opposition to policies and programs is not racism, even if it is embodied by some of color. However, more and more, they, and their proponents in the media, government, and various "rights" groups quickly attempt to categorize those in opposition of the President's agendas as "racist." I am not a racist, and I will not accept your labeling me thus any more. I am, however, becoming increasingly determined with conviction to express my rights to oppose your agenda and your unmitigated support to the Administration's policies advocating detrimental "fundamental" change.

So, perhaps the blatantly Liberal-biased, Administration-worshipping, Media can stop the race baiting and concentrate on those issues that effect ALL Americans...Here's an idea...since small businesses employ more people in the US than any other sector, why don't the Liberal Media do a series on Minority Small Business Owners, and how they might be affected by the Administrations blatantly liberal socialist policies, specifically health care "reform", Cap & Trade, The Energy Bill, and their long term detrimental effects. If you did that, I, along with millions of other Americans, might actually tune back into the more traditional, once respected, once professional news outlets, on a regular basis and not be forced to only watch them as we languish in an airport, while racing to make our monthly budgets to pay for the increasing taxes you and your networks seem to have no problem with us paying.

Respectfully,

 Last Sunday morning, four Seattle area Lakewood Police Officers were gunned down in cold blood by a perpetrator who walked into the coffee shop where they were sitting and opened fired, killing all four. It was a devastating blow to the law-enforcement community, and these officers are survived by their families, including nine children between them.

What was the reaction from the President? Where was the White House Spokesman on President Obama’s’ outrage and desire "not to rush judgment". Normally, one might wonder, “Why would we care”? Was it mentioned that the victims were all white and the perpetrator was black? Does that not manifest the same level of scrutiny and outrage from the White House and President Obama as a white officer doing his job that happened to have ruffled the preening feathers of a hostile and combative black Harvard professor (and personal friend to the President of the United States?)? I fear it only manifests the growing reality of hypocrisy within the liberal political circles, academia, and media establishments

I will look forward to the President’s take on this, and see if there is the same level of concern regarding race relations in the US…and of course what beers everyone will be drinking at the upcoming summit…but I won’t be holding my breath.

As more information trickles out about Major Malik Nidal Hasan’s attack against fellow soldiers and colleagues at Ft Hood last week, it becomes abundantly clear that his actions culminated from a clear lack of fortitude and basic security awareness on the part of senior Army leadership. This lack of fortitude and security awareness illustrates the stark level of hypocrisy and political correctness permeating throughout the Army, the Armed Forces, and government organizations in general. It is coming to light that not only were Major Hasan’s views, open comments, and stated positions regarding US policy and his personal views about a perceived “war on Islam”, but he also is alleged to have made internet comments and even spoke in a public venue as to his perceptions and arguments against US policy “against Islam”.  There is preliminary reporting he may have had some tacit, loose connections with other Jihadist sympathizers.

Anyone who has spent any time working in the government or has been on active duty has been subject to hours and hours of what the Army refers to as EEO Training (Equal Employment Opportunity). It is code for mandatory politically correct seminars touting the virtues and recognition of minority groups within the organization, ensuring there are open lines of reporting and redress for alleged racial, gender based, or ethnic slander,  perceived or actual abuse, or innuendos that can cause, and have caused, tension, instability, or hostile working environments within military units.  It is almost exclusively tailored to minorities and how they can fend against perceived white Christian male-based pressures and abuses toward them. In the civilian world, Gay-Lesbian Transgender abuses and impropriety from heterosexuals is added to the mix of victimized groups. It is often tedious, poorly administered, and for those of us that were raised in loving, tolerant, and respectful homes, offensive in its simplicity to the root causes of true tensions and pressures in large organizations that may be racially, sexually, or religiously based. Yet, it permeates throughout all levels of the organization, and often hangs over like a dark cloud, or like a Zampolit, or political officer from the old Soviet days. Instead of being plus positive, it instead has good people questioning what is now appropriate to say, do, act, think amongst their colleagues within the organization.  It goes on the premise that all people (white males) are prone to these types of politically incorrect thoughts, and that the organization needs to stamp out that kind of thinking and actions that can affect the force, especially the minorities, women, and certain religious practitioners.

Anyone who spent any considerable time over the last 15-20 years in the military would recognize the unfortunate, but completely plausible, result of Major Hasan’s traitorous words, deeds, and ultimate act….an act of terror.  This terror, however, manifested from a lack of fortitude from the stench of hypocritical political correctness. A clear example of this hypocrisy is all the attention and ways to identify White Supremacy signs and potential activities within the military. Though, I can say emphatically, while on duty within the Marine Corps for over twenty years, I never once saw any signs of any organized, loose affiliation, or tacit approval of white supremacist activity. Yet, if one goes to a typical EEO Office, one would find all the literature, pamphlets, and posters identifying white supremacist logos, signs, tattoos, affiliations, and activities, giving the impression that the Neo Nazi SS is infiltrating the US military. Some information discusses Latino“gang” related activity, but the preponderance is identifying the scourge of Neo Nazi groups within the military. Those same Neo Nazis that I never saw, nor had any information or even rumor of existing in anything other than the mind of some stupid drunk belching some tirade that did nothing for his “cause” other than looking like a complete red neck ignoramus.

Enter Major Hasan. If we replaced the same words, deeds, thoughts, internet writings, and public speaking venues of Major Hasan, and replaced them with the tirades, ramblings, and hate filled, anti government rhetoric of a white supremacist, does anyone believe this situation would have ever culminated as far as it did resulting in the deaths of 13 people and the wounding of 30 others? It is clear that because Major Hasan was a Muslim, and was insulated by the chrysalis of political correction, he was not given the same level of scrutiny nor follow through action as a result of his seditious and traitorous views precisely because the force has been so eroded to not rock the proverbial PC boat for fear of career repercussions. Nowhere is this more prevalent than watching General Casey, Chief of Staff of the Army,on the Sunday News Shows painfully address the non-sequiter of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and the alleged abuse Hasan is said to have endured because he was Muslim while on active duty. Despite the fact that Hasan had never deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, and had not been subject to any stressors related to Post Traumatic Stress or “combat” stress, Casey was forced to deliberate and comment on all the Army is doing to stamp out the PTSD, and address allegations of perceived “abuse” toward Hasan as a Muslim. All because Casey, and much of the entire force, has been shaped and crafted to address the PC version of the story, not the security and Force Protection version.

Hasan was not just a member of the military. He was an officer, granted special trust and confidence within the military. Additionally, he was a doctor, and a psychiatrist, both granting him additional trust and confidence in the physical and psychological well being of his patients. This guy was as vetted in this organization as one can get. However, he began showing signs of breaching that special trust on each of his special conditions within the organization…and no one did or said anything to affect it. Had he been in the intelligence field, his actions alone would warrant an inquiry for a number of reasons, one being the fact that he was interacting on websites, and voicing his anti-US policy opinions to colleagues, patients, friends, and soldiers. He was proselytizing Islam, clearly with Jihadist views, to his colleagues and subordinates, his patients and coworkers. Can you imagine anyone doing the same thing as a “born again” Christian with supremacist undertones? Yet, he remained on duty.  Why wasn’t this issue brought forward by one single official to affect a course correction? How was this person allowed to have and voice these views, views that are the antithesis to good order and discipline, let alone traitorous and completely in step with the propaganda spread by our Jihadist enemies?

Political Correctness.

I used to watch MSNBC, and CNN, nearly as much as I watched Fox News...sometimes more, until about 5 years ago. One of the reasons I watched MSNBC and CNN was because I had access to them when I was living in Europe and caught snippets of MSNBC on CNBC late night, and CNN on CNN International. These were the only "American Centric" sources we got (though the incessent bashing of the US, its Policies, and Mr. Bush often became a bit too much for this Ex-Pat to stomach)Since I came back to the US, I sometimes (rarely) can get past the gag reflex and hunker down, hold my nose, and watch MSNBC (honestly, more out of sheer morbid curiosity)...though CNN, I rarely watch as it clearly shifted from its desperate perception of impartiality as it has snickered at, if not down right ignored, incredibly powerful and important stories of late (Van Jones, and accurate Tea Party coverage, not to mention Anderson "Potty Mouth" Cooper's unraveling as he titillatingly commented on "Tea bagging"...so mature that Anderson)... I digress..

As I watched about 10 minutes of MSNBC's "Countdown" with the increasingly bafoonerized and desperate Keith Olbermann, I was struck with the clarity and simplicity of their self inflicted demise...I have never been compelled to write Keith Olbermann (figuring my email would be in an infinite queue lambasting and ridiculing Mr. Olbermann for so many juicy and obvious malaprops, inconsistencies, and seething envy-laced hate rants..)  However, I couldn't help but attempt to point out some really obvious and strikingly ironic statements made by Mr. Olbermann. Below is my quick note to him.

Dear Mr. Olbermann,

Your increasing tirades against the personalities at Fox News are becoming quite tiresome. The MSNBC recipe for disaster is quite clear...to which you continue to contribute; as long as Fox reports and discusses salient issues of the day and MSNBC continues to discuss "Fox", you will never...ever ...pull yourselves from the doldrums of last place in the coveted Ratings.

In tonight's theatre of the "original", you blasted Glenn Beck for being perhaps the "dumbest man in the world"...two issues come to mind..1. Despite what one might think of Mr. Beck and his "9/12" Project, it can not be said that it is not original, and passionate....As the MSNBC line up repeatedly bashes and attacks personalities at Fox, one can't help but think of Albert Einstein's comment on insanity (paraphrasing..) "Doing the same thing, over and over, and expecting change is the definition of insanity"...you need a new approach besides "we hate Fox, and so should you..."...

And 2....how must it feel to be so far behind in the viewer-ship ratings of the man with the show you claim is the "dumbest in the world"?... I'm not sure how smart it is to bash the one beating you as "dumb"..."lucky"..maybe..

I guess dumb like a Fox...

Good Luck,

 ...now we just have to keep the pressure on the other radical quasi-socialist/communists commi"czars" that have penetrated the vetting process and FBI background checks. This is FAR from over, and the Administration needs to explain how a "Van Jones" is even considered, let alone hired, as a White House Adviser. They will no doubt, in consultation with their Media and Legislative enablers, try to down play and minimize both Jones, and his dismissal. However, the American people are awake and becoming increasingly skeptical of the true "change" this Administration is peddling. Van Jones is just one indicator...there are certainly more to follow...

Well, well. It seems old Van Jones' past is catching up to him. Fox News is reporting that apology number 2 has been released from the WH now that Jones' reprehensible comments and acknowledged signing of a 9/11 Conspiracy Petition claiming the attack on 3000 Americans that day was an "inside job", and expressing his solidarity with Muslims and Arabs around the world and others oppressed by American Imperialism...

So we now know, irrefutably, that Mr. Jones is a self proclaimed revolutionary communist, racist, anti-American, 9/11 conspiracy kook and race baiting, class envy sparking radical...in YOUR White House...can you imagine if David Duke, after all the disclosures and phony politics he was able to manufacture, trying to soften his racist and KKK ties, was then appointed to the WH of Reagan, or either Bush?..That's right, it would be 24 hour, wall to wall burning crosses and white hooded sheets on every news lead...the difference, is Obama brought this guy in, and must have known his views and policy positions..why else would he bring him in? Comic Relief?

Van Jones is the David Duke of the Obama Administration...the difference is, as with the right, and republicans, Duke was rejected and scorned. Jones is hailed as "brilliant, edgy, "uppity" (his words), and progressive.." Nope..he is just a kook...and, hopefully, will be shown the door this coming Monday.

My friend and fellow concerned citizen (former military colleague and long time friend…”extremists” I know!!) and I arrived just as the Town Hall meeting was commencing. There were several hundred in the hall, and about three hundred people out side the hall, separated as “protesters” and “supporters” to the Health Care policy by County Sheriffs in the parking lot. There was a ratio of about 3-2 protesters to supporters. As we arrived, there were signs and bull horns, on both sides…but the differences in the crowds were stark and quite revealing. The first noticeable difference was the way the “supporters” were dressed. As if they were in some kind of uniform, they displayed both bright green and red tee shirts, from both a local San Diego Union Group, and ACORN. They were dutifully lined up in three groups of about 30-40 persons each, holding pre-manufactured, professionally designed and slick-printed hand held signs. The signs read, “Yes We Can on Health Care”, and “Health Care Now”, each with a graphic resemblance to the very recognizable “Obama” rainbow of red, white, and blue for the campaign. These were the vast majority. There were other smaller pockets of “supporters” that took on other personas; that of young student types (goatees and side burns, jeans and Obama tee shirts, but very few...maybe 4-5) and then the fiery eyed, frizzy haired 50 plus year olds looking like college professors and hippy age throw backs, and some “Volvo” liberal types” in their very nice pressed shorts, designer glasses, Gucci bags, and Obama buttons, just kind of taking it all in as if they could tell their other Starbuck, half  & half-decaff, Green Chai hold-the-foam liberal friends “I hung out with the rabble today…shouted ad hominem slurs at the Neanderthals” Each of the groups (those in the “uniforms”) had a kind of cheerleader in front of them, each with a bull horn, and a clip board or folder. They were the “commissars” of the “supporter” crowd, obviously displaying that this was not their first “rodeo” and were manically and desperately coaxing their respective group in the stale worn out chants. “What do we want? Justice, when do we want it? Now!”, and “Yes We Can”, “Honor Ted” (which really stunned me), blah, blah, blah…etc...However, in considerable contrast to the fiery and effervescent “commissars” in the front with their bull horns, the people in the groups were very stoic and non-animated, almost exclusively people of color, and many with a dazed “foreigners” gaze one might see from tourists as they mouthed the chants with the enthusiasm reminiscent of those standing in the DMV line…more on this later.

My buddy and I (who both had to negotiate rather vigorously to get our respective “kitchen passes” to shirk our litany of standard Saturday “honey-do” errands from our wives to go play protesters for 2-3 hours) walked right into the protester side of the mix and held up our homemade signs proudly. It was like a couple fish to water, and it was therapeutic to actually stand with people that agreed, vehemently, with your cause and position. As for the protesters, the crowd was an eclectic and diverse group of…well, Americans. Husbands and wives, young couples with children, older couples hand in hand, multi-ethnic and multi racial, though the slight majority were Caucasian and males from about 30-50. It could have been the line to a movie, or a fire works watching crowd...typical people, yet doing a very atypical act….expressing their First Amendment rights. They all stood about 2-3 people deep in a long spread out line with really no organization or real clue as to how this all was supposed to transpire. One gentleman had a bull horn in the back of the protesters chanting “Jesus Saves” and “Abortion isn’t Health Care” but he seemed to only be organizing himself.

I think one’s passion and concern in this debate can be measured as to the personal attention and artistic creativity one puts into their sign. They become some what of a personal moniker, and capture feeling, frustration, spirit, and one’s outrage and dismay as to how they feel. As for the protesters, the signs were obviously homemade, very colorful and expressive. Most with the theme “Down with Health Care”, but other more broadly based themes ribbing the Administration as socialists and Neo-Bolsheviks, comparing Obama to past socialist/communist leaders, and Rahm Emmanuel as a “Berea” figure from the heydays of the darkest periods of Stalin’s Pogroms. Most were much lighter, but equally as effective illustrating the “change” voted in was not the “change” desired, and so forth. The signs my friend and I were carrying read “Who Is Van Jones?” (a reference to the incredible appointment as White House Adviser on “Green Issues”, a man who is a convicted criminal, and devout, self proclaimed Maoist-Marxist-Leninist advocating the overthrow of the US Constitution, and considers America an apartheid nation…yep, you can’t make this stuff up), and the other side read “A.C.O.R.N.- Alinsky Communists Organized to Ruin our Nation” (yes…I came up with that!). My Brother in Arms had “Obama Lied, Grandma Died” and “Team Astroturf”… Many of our new Brothers and Sisters in protest had similar type signs addressing kitschy and clever plays on words, and railing against Health Care Policies and the Administration in general. Though contrary to statements from Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, there were no visible crass or “fringy” signs or even comments that made reference to any bigotry, racism, or blatant intolerance, even by “politically correct” American standards. Most people were energized, but with no real guidance, and just seemed like popcorn kernels popping their concerns and slogans. Some choice ones were “Say No For Mary Jo” in direct rebuttal to one of the supporters holding a sign and chanting “Honor Ted”, no doubt attempting to elicit sympathy for the late Senators’ passing…(though for the life of me I can’t begin to see the threads of this nonsequitur argument...but I digress) 

Ms. Davis addressed the crowd for nearly two hours. She made it very clear she was for the Health Care Bill (whatever that is in its present form) and was met with very…very strong opposition. Every time she regurgitated one of the President’s talking points about “won’t loose coverage…keep the coverage you have…no rationing…plan is budget neutral...Health Care is a Right” etc…she was met with open defiance and even chants of “Liar, Liar”…My observation was the “left” as defined by the “participants” at this rally, is quite simply stunned. All the momentum that was exhibited during the campaign, the fainting, and chants of exultation, Messiah-like reactions from the Left was nowhere to be seen. In fact, with the exception of a few truly crass and uncalled for outbursts from “supporters” in the form of “You are all crazy racists”, “You want another Auschwitz” and even one radical young woman “flipping off” a group of protesters as she walked by in clear frustration and deep anger, the other “supporters” had that look that athletic teams get when they know they are losing big, and its going to be a long, long game.

As the event was closing, the crowds from in the building began to pour out. Both Protesters and Supporters walked side by side, each with their respective type signs as if they were exiting a sports event from some stadium. They would walk by those of us now on the outside, separated by police line tape as if transiting some kind of gauntlet. Originally, the “supporters” were closer to the entrance of the building, but when the event finished, the cops shifted both crowds, and by happenstance, the “protester” crowd was now lining the long path way as all the participants had to transit to leave the premises. There were approximately 150-200 “protesters” lined up behind the tape, and that is when the fun began. Now, the whole group inside, plus the media and even officials conducting the event had to walk through the chants and slogans from the participants. As the “protesters” walked by, someone on the bull horn would say “Give a hand to the brave Americans exhibiting their rights today”…and the crowd would erupt. As “supporters” walked by, the bull horn would ask, “Why would you sanction something for the people, their own representatives wouldn’t utilize?” or, “Your ACORN sponsored air-conditioned bus is waiting for you with juice boxes and wine and cheese platters compliments of George Soros”…and the limousine liberal types were quite embarrassed as they slunk on by…”Other shout outs were “Why won’t you insist your representatives read the damn bill before they vote yes on it?” Again, there were blank stares underscoring either rhetoric brain lock, or utter dumbfound-ness as to the sheer numbers and volume expressed against this proposal.

My only up close and personal engagement with the “enemy” was as I was asking/chanting, “Who is Van Jones?” Clearly, none of the “supporters” knew, as they stared with complete indifference lined up in their military style formations holding their pre-fabbed signs. However, nearly all the “protesters” who were walking by knew who he was, and I was getting scores of people coming up to me saying” That is an excellent question,” and “How did he get into the White House?”

As I was talking to a group of fellow “protesters” as to whom I thought Van Jones was, one of the more vocal “commissars” leading the “Stoic” Brigade came over to me. Separated by only the police tape and the “neutral” water bottle trash can compliments of the county (thank you…) she walk over, and initially very calmly, almost condescendingly said to me, “Van Jones? Oh, he is a well known community organizer, who founded the (unintelligible, but not “STORM”) Group, and has written numerous articles and spoken in many venues on the need to embrace urban Green projects”…blah, blah...she waned on poetic about how he is a true man of the people and how he was recognized and brought on by the President because he has worked in the “trenches” and really understands what the “people’s” need. I was cordial and respectful as she spoke, and waited until she was finished. I asked, “Tell me Madam, those books and speaking engagements, were those between prison stays, and his founding of STORM, and his espousing of Maoist-Marxist/Leninist views, claiming the US is an environmental apartheid state?” I asked. She said, “He does have some socialist views, yes, but to try to label him as a communist is wrong.” she said emphatically. I retorted, “Madam, I didn’t call him a communist, he calls himself one, on numerous video and audio appearances, again exulting the virtues of Marxist ideology and the revolutionary dogma of the socialist/communist figures seen in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.” She pointed her finger at me and defaulted to the classic liberal/socialist tactic when confronted with the facts, “You are just bigoted to different political points of view”, and she started to leave. I said, “the according to you, Madam, Nazism is “just another point of view.”…She turns around and says, “You all supported all those Nazis in the White House for 8 years….”…I went on ”And according to you Madam, Charles Manson was not a murderer, he was just a rambunctious sort with another point of view, right? Madam, more people died from the secular “isms” of the 20th Century, mostly Communism, and you would support that?”…She scurried off back to her “group”.

Speaking of “group”…remember the “stoic” dazed folks I commented on earlier? Well, as the event broke up, I witnessed nearly all the dazed ones around the corner of the building, as they returned their pre-fabbed signs, and many took off their tee-shirts. I briefly spoke to one older woman, who was of Filipino descent. Having grown up in the Bay Area with many “Pinoy” friends, I picked up a little Tagolag along the way. I said hello to her and asked how she was in Tagolag…she smiled and said, “Mabutay, Mabutay”…fine, fine. I noticed she and about 20 of her fellow older Filipino lady friends didn’t speak much English, and didn’t appear to me to be the fiery political types”. The other group of “supporters” was clearly of East African origin, either Somalis, Eritrean or Ethiopian. Having lived and worked for a time in East Africa, I concluded that is probably where they originated. They too, seemed to only speak their language and almost all of the women were shrouded in the traditional Islamic head dress. I tried to ask one of them his position on the Health Care debate, but he walked passed me with that typical look one has when they do not understand a word you just said, smiling and avoiding eye contact. Though I can not prove it, I am confident these groups didn’t speak much English at all, let alone were concerned citizens burning and yearning to express their “outrage” for the need to pass Universal Health Care. Having witnessed stage protests while living in the Former Soviet Union, I am quite convinced this was nothing more than some vulnerable, ignorant folks scooped up at some community center and given some form of compensation for their time. Seeing many of them pile into vans driven by their once energetic “commissars” only solidified my conjecture.

I concluded what my gut feeling was all along…there is genuine outrage and vocal dismay and frustration about the potential passing of Universal Health Care by both Conservatives, and independents (and as witnessed, even Democrats with serious buyers remorse). The passion, fire, and nearly Rome-like coliseum crowds of the campaign in support of President Obama were nowhere to be found. I am more appalled by what I saw by local “news” coverage, that masked the whole affair as something “even-steven” or that it was equal and balanced as to the “protester-supporter” levels of dissent…this is a complete and utter fabrication and skewing of the truth. The “protesters” were overwhelmingly more energetic, grassroots, and greater in numbers. The “supporters”, though some genuine, were much less energetic, almost dejected in their spirit, and far less convincing. If Ms Davis doesn’t see this for what it is, then she deserves to be out in 2010 for sheer ignorance, arrogance, or perhaps both.