Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That

There’s a lot going on in the world, so it’s time to hit a few subjects all in one shot.

The three Republicans who have declared their intentions to run for president have gotten off to a good start by criticizing Hillary Clinton. While surely my idealism will not last, modern liberalism should be the focus of Republicans. Modern liberalism is what got us into this economic and social mess (including liberalism by the Republican Party, at times) and modern liberals need to be publicly rebuked. The other area of focus should be the candidates’ own plans to overcome modern liberalism.
 
Germany had to face its sins after WWII and deal with the fact that their youth needed to be taught about the evil that rose up in their land. Japan had to deal with the same issues. Both nations dealt with their histories in different ways, at different speeds, but both confronted their pasts. Both struggled with how to approach the topics publicly and how to teach their succeeding generations. 

But they did it, sometimes imperfectly. But they did it. 

Now it is time for Turkey to face their national past. History has marched forward 100 years, yet Turkey has been unable so far to take the one step forward that would show the world that the Muslim nation is serious about being a legitimate, responsible partner to the civilized nations. The alternative is to remain a transitional, often confused nation that is neither completely relevant nor completely trusted; neither completely embracing of liberty and the rule of law nor completely embracing the radicalism that knocks at its door. 

Turkey committed genocide against Armenians in 1915, killing approximately one million innocent people. Face it; admit it; learn from it; overcome it with future actions furthering human rights. A century is long enough.

The Obama administration is confident that Cuba is not a sponsor of terrorism because the communist nation has not sponsored terrorists, that we know of, in the last six months. Six months and they are reformed. Rehabilitation does not come slowly in the Caribbean breezes, apparently. Under that theoretical timetable, why didn’t the president open negotiations with Osama bin Laden? Who knows, maybe UBL would be funding Habitat for Humanity by now, with his many millions of dollars, in Newark, New Jersey, cleaning up neighborhoods one by one? If only President Obama could have worked his magic with UBL as he has with the Castros, the world would be a softer, daintier, sweeter place.

Hillary Clinton is trying to reinvent herself again (again, again). Can she reinvent herself into someone with accomplishments? At least into someone who isn’t corrupt? If she can pull off that miracle, she deserves to be president, because as long as witnesses are alive and evidence has not been destroyed... uh, never mind. We’re just stuck with obnoxious, corrupt, vicious, unaccomplished old Hillary. But at least she’s good at that. 

I can envision a 2017 online ad:  “For sale:  King-sized mattress that once resided in the White House; belonged to President Obama; like new- rarely used.” Of course, with President Obama wanting a new Air Force One, the ad selling the old one would read to the contrary:  “For sale:  Former Air Force One; electronics stripped out per NSA requirements; has almost as many zeroes on the odometer as the national debt; worn out- great amount of metal fatigue; new tires; cool paint job; the crew is too exhausted to accompany the buyer; asking price:  equal to the amount George Soros has contributed to front groups over the last 8 years, OBO.”

President Obama said recently that he is not interested in battles that began before he was born. With that short-sightedness, thank goodness the Soviet Union already collapsed or we might be sending them foreign aid by now. Then again, how does Gorbachev afford to travel the world? Hmm. 

There’s a lot going on in the world. Isn’t it nice to know that you understand it better than the average White House aide or spokesperson? Well actually, that’s not very comforting...