We Forgive... but NEVER Forget

Over the past few days, President Barack Obama has gestured to the center on some issues. I applaud the president for being presidential and encourage this activity to continue. However, it must be noted that these gestures are 'too little, too late' when it comes to the 2012 election.

The president visited Afganistan on Sunday and spoke to our troops there. This was the president's first visit to the country since taking the seat in the White House. Americans are proud of our troops and support them, and I applaud the president for at least visiting... heck, even for a good speech. But Mr. President, we were paying attention and we have not forgotten. We were paying attention to the extremely short nature of your visit. We paid attention that you went in under the cover of night. We couldn't help but remember as you said "America doesn't quit. You don't quit. We don't quit. We're not going to!" that it wasn't long ago you said in reference to our troops in Afghanistan "We've got to get the job done there and that requires us to have enough troops so that we're not just air-raiding villages and killing civilians..." and of course, we know when General McChrystal requested 40,000 troops, you took months to fulfill the request, sending fewer than requested by your trusted advisor on the ground. We also didn't forget what you said about our troops in Iraq, Mr. President, calling for an early withdrawal. We hope you mean what you said to our troops on Sunday, sir. We applaud you for it, but you'll have to excuse us when as we learn from history and see this as a good political move for your party right now. We support you in doing it, but question your character due to your very own words to the contrary, spoken just months ago.

President Obama announced today that he is open to considering the possibility of drilling to become energy independent. All this was surrounded with talk about being competitive, saving and creating jobs for the American people. Mr. President, we thank you for your words, finally considering this vastly bi-partisan movement that you rejected so critically on your campaign trail. However, 'the proof is in the pudding' and don't think we didn't notice that you won't actually authorize any exploration 'on the ground' until 2012.

I've talked about this already, but to review: we paid attention to the healthcare bill too. We know why the really good stuff won't take effect until 2012, and we know why the most heinous of the bill won't take effect until after 2012. If you had begun your office reaching out to the right side of the aisle instead of closing doors in faces, we might believe you.

However, as it is, this is all too little too late, Mr. President. It's too late because you suddenly seem to have a change of heart, just after wide-spread outrage around the country by the people on the street (that's us, for those of you reading) over your administration rejecting freedom and moving to take away our liberty. All of a sudden, when many in your own party are crossing the aisle in togetherness, you are talking the talk. Mr. President, we've seen you walk your walk for more than a year now. We Americans are pretty observant folks. We hear you, and we support what you're SAYING right now, but we've gotten to know your character, and platitudes won't change your heart overnight.

Granted, this is very intelligent political maneuvering; you're feinting moves to the center in hopes to save some of your own party that are starting to see the light. Maybe it will work! ...but for those of us that have been paying attention all along, it's going to take action, sir, not empty words.

Mr. President, you said "America doesn't quit. You don't quit. We don't quit. We're not going to!" You should listen to yourself, because you're right. We don't quit, and we're not going to. We love this country, we love freedom, we love liberty and we VOTE, sir. We can and will forgive you... because that's what America is all about. But we NEVER forget... your administration has lost it's second chances with the American people. So keep talking the talk, and start walking the walk you're talking... perhaps you can save your one term from being completely poisonous to the American people and your one term will be remembered in history fondly, if only in part.

With love, compassion, remembrance and reverence for the Truth,

-The American People

Our Resolve on Healthcare

Friends, we are all concerned about the state of our country right now. These are very real and valid concerns. However, there are those on both sides of the aisle that are distracting attention from what is important right now. Granted, these attempts at distraction are weighted more on one side than the other, but still, they exist and should be acknowledged.

We're concerned that a National Sales Tax is being considered, because that's the only way we could possibly pay for where the feds are taking us. We're concerned about the cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. We all know someone who needs this vital assistance and have paid for it many times over in their lifetime. Unfortunately, that money they paid doesn't exist any longer, the fund has been robbed and we all know it. Now the feds pass very expensive legislation and not only tell us they're going to pay for it by cutting funding to Medicare and Medicaid, but account for the cuts twice in their explanation and expect us to believe you can cut funding to a service program by a trillion dollars and *not* reduce the quality of care provided. Seriously!? Who believes that!?

A commission has been appointed to oversee the deficit reduction, and this comission doesn't go into effect until *after* the presidential election. We're listening, and you're not fooling us.

Monies to fund this program will be collected by and penalties enforced by... the IRS. We're turning the best healthcare industry in the world into a government controlled utility! Again, we're listening, we're intelligent, and we are not fooled.

We have the self-proclaimed 'most transparent' government in our history, yet the bill that was just shoved through wasn't available for public scrutiny with anywhere *close* to enough time for public review... much less for the people that voted on it!

"...but we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it." ~ Nancy Pelosi. Come on, Nancy! Do you *really* believe that Americans (regardless of political affiliation) are stupid enough to fall for that!?

Thankfully there are some states filing suit against the government for ignoring (or at the very least abusing) the Constitution that empowers the feds. It is unfortunate that there is even question about whether this will work or not. It is more unfortunate that it will take so long to get anywhere with this tactic. It shouldn't take a year for the American people to defend its Constitution!

How about the abuse of reconciliation? The people of this great country know what it is for! This was yet another blatant abuse of power, but it's no wonder they did it... they knew they'd never pass it any other way. You should be at least a bit comforted in that... it means they knew you wouldn't fall for it, so they pushed it through by force. At least they acknowledge that you have a clue.

But why are the feds taking over the student loan industry? Well, to pay for this monstrosity, but do they really think we won't notice them preying upon students? ...raising interest rates and making it harder to get an education? I thought they were all about educating this country, not charging them interest to pay for their pet programs to grow their control and power base which everyone knows is already out of line and too far-reaching!

All this is horrifying, and we have a right to be upset. It's abuse, and we shouldn't have to take it. However, there is a greater game being played right now and I warn you not to get involved in the game. Cries of violence and racism are all over the place. If you speak up, the first attempt to shut you down will be with violence. No, they won't hit you or shoot you, at least not yet. They'll call you any name they can find, pigeon-hole you into a villainous argument, using strong fighting words in a feeble attempt to demonize you. I've got news for you if you think this won't work... the more you fall for the bait, the worse it will get. So my charge to you today is this: Don't be taken in by the racists like Andy Ostroy who recently said in a blog post referencing the American people speaking out against governmental takeover "...it's about a bunch of angry, bigoted white racists who see reform as little more than a black president doling out more welfare to other blacks and minorities..." (Apparently Andy can't see past the colored lenses he's wearing to acknowledge how many 'colors,' as he'd put it, are in this debate.) Don't fall for it, friends. Granted, there are those that will, so I say let them fight it out with Andy and Nancy! Let the extremist bozos fight and yell and scream at each other... but don't you get caught up in it. No, dig in your heels and stay on topic. Continue asking the questions over and over, calmly, without getting pulled into the violence. They're exposing themselves for who they are and we have a responsibility to be true to ourselves and our children by helping them take the mask off.

Lead the way, friends. Let's show our children what a calm, peaceful protest is all about. It's not about giving in or shutting up... it's about using truth with strength and resolve, not violence. Those that insist it is about violence... let them bury themselves in it as you continue to walk resolutely forward, restoring our nation.