OBAMA, GITMO, AND THE NEWBURGH TERRORISTS

At the same time President Obama is vague on his plans for closing Gitmo and dealing with its dregs-of-humanity-prisoners, he has been rebuffed by Congress in his attempts to grab another bunch of billions of dollars. They insist on an exit strategy first. Finally!

Obama is still so convinced of his popularity that he sees no reason to be transparent, forthcoming, or honest with the American public, and it looks like Congress, anxious about the next round of elections, is beginning to take note. Obama is a “show me the money” guy and probably a very poor chess player. He cannot see the consequences of each move nor think several moves ahead. Chess strategy competence would be useful as long as the president realizes that combating terrorists is not a political game.

Hopefully the country will hear the wake-up call of this Wednesday's failed homegrown-terrorist plot to use explosives to destroy a synagogue and community center in Riverdale, Bronx, New York. They also planned to use Stinger missiles to down military planes at Orange County’s Steward International Airport. We need to remember 9/11 and to understand that the war on terror—domestic as well as international—is not over.

Particularly frightening is the birth of this homegrown plot. Only one of the four men was born outside of the country and a Muslim by birth. The other three were thugs from Newburgh, New York. They converted to Islam in prison where the four became friends and hatched the plot. Finalized plans emanated from a mosque in Newburgh, New York. An informant notified authorities. Thank goodness for that informant and thank goodness that the FBI and State Police Swat teams were prepared and ready. What if there had been no informant?

Let’s look at the bigger picture.

1. Our prisons are a fertile breeding ground for recruiting proven violent people to act out their psychopathic disregard for human life, laws, values, and customs. ARE THESE PLACES TO SEND THE GITMO DETAINEES AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD THEIR POISON IN THE “BLAME AMERICA FIRST” TRADITION?

2. Will the Obama administration—indeed, the entire anti-Bush contingent—after unrelenting and unremitting attacks on methods used to foil homeland terrorist plots admit to the success of those methods and retain them or, as in the case of Gitmo where even the New York Times reports that seven out of ten released detainees return to terrorist activities, continue to rail and abandon successful methods?

3. At the expense of our country’s safety will Obama loyalists downplay the importance of these attempts and try to paint the participants as bungling idiots as they did with the Ft. Dix plot terrorists and the terrorist plot in Florida?

Already the Associated Press quotes Sen. Chuck Schumer as saying, “the group was relatively unsophisticated, penetrated easily and not connected to any outside group.” The idiocy is not on the part of the plotters. The idiocy is on the part of self-serving politicians who surmise that unsophisticated people cannot find ways to manufacture bombs. Just look on the internet. Hijacked aircraft took down the World Trade Center.

WABC news reported that the alleged suspects did not appear to have the ability to execute the plot. Perhaps they suggest we wait to see if they did. Pull back our experts and intelligence to level the playing field.

Returning to the Gitmo detainee connection, one has to wonder how these haters and murderers will fare once under the jurisdiction of Federal judges and the slew of lawsuits (probably ACLU) I prophesize will deluge the courts demanding swift trials, no isolation (cruel punishment), right to confront their accusers, government classified documents as evidence, etc. Will they be freed into society? They cannot be deported. No country will take them. (France took one person) Who will support them? Your tax dollars.

Obama should have learned a lesson after de-classifying enhanced interrogation documents. The backlash about releasing the photos (which I bet will be “leaked” anyway) caused problems. Then he denied the release of the documents outlining enhanced interrogation successes which Dick Cheney requested. He seems incapable of thinking ahead. Obama has to learn, before it’s too late, that when you put the cart before the horse, you aren’t going anywhere.

politics commentary opinion politicians Obama Gitmo detainees prison Newburgh "home-grown terrorists" terrorists plots Riverdale synagogue bombs FBI SWAT mosque Islam Muslim Congress Schumer WABC "enhanced interrogation" taxes elections Bronx "New York" missiles Bush York Times" "Ft. Dix" Florida France "Not With a Whimper"

NEW YORK STUDENTS AXED BY TAXES

A shocking article in the April 15th edition of the Times Herald-Record reported that SUNY New Paltz is axing its RN program as well as closing its graduate programs in teaching. The closings will make the SUNY Albany campus the nearest affordable state graduate school to residents of any area between New York City and Albany. The cuts are in programs where students typically work full time and attend classes part time. This is a tough cut. For students it will cost time and money. More change at the expense of the middle class.

College President Steve Poskanzer downplayed the nursing cuts. “These people are already nurses.” A student countered by saying, “The program is all about making better nurses.” Doesn't the college president know that's what further education is all about? It hones skills.

The grad teaching programs (and one must have a graduate degree to be a fully licensed teacher in New York), will eliminate programs in chemistry, earth science, French, Spanish, and math. This at a time when there's a cry for math and science teachers. Once-upon-a-time-candidate-Obama suggested that we all learn Spanish. With the cry out for “more qualified teachers,” is seems sickenly ironic that these cuts are seen as a way to save money.

At the same time, the college is increasing parking, academic-course and gym fees.

The SUNY system is also increasing tuition by $620.00. But read this from the Times Herald-Record: “Poskanzer blamed the 'deep cuts' on the state's decision to 'break faith' with the SUNY system by instituting a $620 tuition increase, most of which was swept into other parts of the state budget.” IN OTHER WORDS, THE STATE IS TAXING STUDENTS IN THE NAME OF TUITION INCREASES BUT USING THE MONEY FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

This debacle brings up, once again, the issue of what is happening in the country. The powers that be do not call these money-grabbing forays into our pockets TAXES. But they're taking the money just the same, and using the money for??????? In this case it's not for the students.

It’s important for us to realize what is happening. Are we being lied too? I guess that depends on your definition (as it so often does nowadays) of a lie. But at the very least, we are purposefully not being told the whole story. We better wake up and make our outrage heard!

"New+York" SUNY taxes tuition students school college "grad+school" nursing teaching "grad+programs" "graduate+school" gym parking "Times Herald-Record" math science Spanish French chemistry "earth+science" government

NEW YORK TERROR WARNING--NOT THE FIRST

Somehow the Bush-haters are so mindlessly addicted that they are incapable of ceasing and desisting even as the President enters his final days in office. He was lambasted for attended the economic summit in Peru; dimwitted utterly contemptuous op-ed columnist Gail Collins called for the President to resign (after VP Cheney resigns) and simply hand over the government to Nancy Pelosi (ugh) until Messiah Obama takes command of the ship of state; even a numbskull Colorado State University newspaper editor cost his paper $30,000. in advertising after printing a “F**k Bush” column. He, at least, has been asked to resign. I’m still receiving not-funny anti-Bush slams from a woman who gets her “facts” from the Huffington Post, the Daily Kos, and bathroom walls.

I look at the President in a different way although his second term was hardly up to par. The United States, unlike many countries around the world, has not been hit with any more attacks. Under President Bush, we have been kept safe.

Read these excerpts from an Associated Press release, November 26th:
…
NEW YORK – Police bolstered security in subways and trains Wednesday after the government warned that al-Qaida suicide bombers were contemplating an attack on New York's mass-transit systems during the holiday season. An internal memo obtained by The Associated Press says the FBI has received a "plausible but unsubstantiated" report that al-Qaida terrorists in late September may have discussed attacking the subway system…A Pakistani immigrant was arrested and convicted for a scheme to blow up the subway station at Herald Square in 2004. There was also a planned cyanide attack on the subways by al-Qaida operatives that authorities say was called off in 2002; another aborted al-Qaida plot to destroy the Brooklyn Bridge in 2003; and a plot to bomb underwater train tunnels to flood lower Manhattan, which was broken up in 2006 by several arrests overseas.

How many foiled plots were there of which we are not aware? Under President Bush’s watch, we have not had a repeat of 9/11 even as the ACLU, activist judges, anti-warmongers as well as members of our own Congress have sought to limit or eliminate our ability to gather intelligence or punish those who have sought to destroy us. Fifty of the released “unfairly treated” prisoners of Guantanamo have been re-captured as they’ve tried to kill American military.

It will be interesting to see how our next President deals with Guantanmo and the scum imprisoned there. No country wants to take them because they are exactly what they appear to be. Let’s leave that to see what develops.

Meanwhile, thank you President Bush, for working hard to keep us safe.

news opinion politics "political+opinion" terror "New+York" subways 9/11 Bush Obama Collins Cheney Pelosi "Colorado+State" "Huffington+Post" "Daily+Kos" President "Associated+Press" immigrants "Herald+Square" al-Quaida "Brooklyn+Bridge" ACLU Guantanamo Congress judges

GOV. DAVID PATERSON--LOOKING GOOD

While there’s no difficulty in finding fault in government and politicians, there are some good things going on as well. New York’s governor, David Paterson (D), is proving to be worth his mettle. He’s good about announcing his legislation, and he’s been doing some good things for New Yorkers. That’s what we expect and what we are entitled to.

Here’s one of several improvements I’ve noticed. On Sept. 5, Gov. Paterson signed legislation to allow pharmacists, once they are state trained and certified, to administer flu shots. This sensible and seemingly small change enormously increases access to the vaccines by virtue of pharmacies' hours and locations. The result should be a healthier winter for many New Yorkers.

On a side note, the bill was sponsored by Long Island Republican Sen. Charles Fuschillo, and that indicates Paterson's willingness to support positive efforts by both sides of the aisle.

Paterson has vetoed 49 bills showing he is not afraid to use his authority when he sees the correlation between budget and policy decisions as they impact local governments and taxpayers. To me that means he is on the right track. New York is a mess, and its state officials on both sides of the aisle, by and large, spend their time bickering over power. If Paterson can pull in the reins on this runaway horse of a legislature he inherited, he can have my vote as long as he wants it.

"New+York" governors Paterson "David+Patterson" health flu vaccines vaccinations pharmacists pharmacy healthcare medicine Democrats Republicans Senate Fuschillo "Long+Island" illness

CONGRESS CONTINUES TO RUN AMUCK WITH OUR TAX MONEY

The Senate's vote on Wed to TRIPLE spending for a much acclaimed program to protect against AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis is a sign that the U.S.A. remains a leader in helping those around the world. We actually deliver what we pledge unlike many other countries in the world. It is the most ambitious health program ever in the history of the United States.

Unfortuately, this $48 billion dollar package DOES NOT HELP ANYONE HERE. It all goes to Africa--granted the continent is being decimated by these diseases, internal wars, external wars, corrupt governments, sectarian fighting, genocide, racial strife and practically every other man-made and natural disaster there is. BUT...

1. This is the same Congress that does not pass spending bills to keep our military safe and well-equipped. Replacement truck parts in Iraq, for instance, may be a year in waiting because vendors are unpaid; the newspapers are full of reports of faulty electrical work and shoddy electrical equipment resulting in military deaths and injuries, and Congress keeps screaming about the expense of the Iraq war.

This is the same Congress that complains about a "recession," "bad economy," and the plight of Americans who can't afford to buy the things they need WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING SUBSTANATIVE to control the situation.

This is the same Congress that talks about energy and reducing oil independence to bring down prices but which doesn't legislate consistent tax breaks for people to afford solar or wind energy or who add doors, window, etc. to lessen their individual use of resources or for companies to afford technological development. (Remember that Kennedy and Kerry opposed wind farms that might mar their Massachusetts views of the Atlantic ocean)

This is the same Congress led by that despicable Nancy Pelosi who damns the President with his low approval rating while leading a do-nothing Congress with an approval rating 20 points below President Bush's.

This is the same Congress that WILL BREAK FOR SUMMER RECESS WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING about any of the problems that beset us.

WHAT A WASTE THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE!!!!

This bill, this latest assault on our wallets, is their own "feel good," global way of looking busy. It goes along with their interest in any possible sports irregularities such as steroid useage--obviously problems of vital national interest. Ha Ha It goes along with their constant supoenas issued to presidential aides, etc., to get headlines for their party while ignoring, with the media's complicity, the wrongdoing of such members as Charlie Rangel with his four rent-subsidized apts.--three to create a spacious home for himself and one as an office, or Chris Dodd's special treatment in getting mortgages, etc. Or my own Senator, Chuck Schumer (photo upChuck) whose comments may have contributed to IndyMac's bank failure. According to NPR,

"Twelve days earlier, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, had written to bank regulators warning that "a significant move by IndyMac's depositors to redeem their deposits could leave the firm in a disastrous financial situation." Once those letters became public, Schumer's worst fears were realized.

More ironically is that Schumer, when blamed, quickly pointed out that those pointing fingers at him were using "Bush tactics." DUH!

I know I'm rambling a bit, but launching the biggest health initiative ever--in Africa--at a time when we can't balance our budget, don't adequately fund the military (including Veteran hospitals, etc.), need to develop an energy policy (which will be expensive), seek to lessen the tax burden for our citizens, protect the Homeland (also expensive), rebuild failing infrastructure, and help those damaged by floods, fires, and other recent natural disasters is another example of Congress' misguided thinking, its inability to focus and accomplish anything positive for our country, its self-congratulatory smugness, and its damaging partisanship that puts party above country. Would that we could toss the whole lot out!
Congress politics politicians "political+blogs" Africa AIDS malaria tuberculosis health USA military Iraq recession economy energy Kennedy Kerry Massachusetts Bush Pelosi senate Schumer IndyMac

DID YOU KNOW NEW YORK NO LONGER REQUIRES NATIONAL GUARD PROTECTION?

Once again the Democrats are working on ratcheting down our military. Last time they were able to accomplish that was when Bill Clinton “streamlined” the Federal payroll by cutting the military. The result was that our early Iraq warriors were not decently equipped. Now, New York State is cutting use of the National Guard, and the result is that high target areas like Grand Central Station, airports, and subways will no longer be guarded. Our infamous and thankfully former Governor Eliot Spitzer even wanted nuclear power plants to pay for the Guard’s protection—the only installations required to do so—but in that case cool heads prevailed and the legislature turned it down.

Now under our new “I did it too but I got a pass” governor, Patterson, we are getting a bunch of double-speak. Here’s a choice quote from Eric Durr, director of public affairs (you know Durr’s job creates lots of methane gas) for the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, “You might not see the guy at Grand Central Station everyday…but that doesn’t mean you’re alone.” I’d like to know what it does mean.

The new budget for the Division represents a $400 million decrease from last year that Durr assures us isn’t quite as bad as it seems because it represents “federal money for disaster relief stuff, for emergency preparedness stuff, for Homeland Security.” Huh???? I guess the Democratic controlled Congress is really concerned about our safety—NOT.

It all falls into place when you look at the entire Democratic approach to Homeland Security coupled with their salivating appetite for the White House. It’s all about the election. Lull us into the false security we felt prior to 2001.

Juxtapose this Democratic view with the fact that we have not had an attack since 9/11 although the government has foiled plots against us and the terrorists have continued to strike in other countries.

It’s a lot easier to sleep at night if you buy in to the Democrats. The trouble is you might not wake up in the morning.

"New+York" "National+Guard" security "Homeland+Security" Patterson Spitzer Democrats military Clinton airports subways "Grand+Central+Station" government election opinion commentary politics politicians congress

HOPEFULLY SPITZER IS ON HIS WAY OUT

Don't say I didn't warn you; way back in January, I wrote about Elliot Spitzer--his arrogance, his dis-service to the people of New York (http://a-big-bang.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20York)

Today's scandal as breaking news doesn't surprise me at all. Here is a guy who rode a wave of deceit into office, and with any luck, his deceit will wash him away with the tide. The statement he issued--read in a voice totally devoid of remorse--stated that politics is NOT about Private Individuals. NOT!!!! Even the NYTimes came out against that one! (I can't begin to deal with that hypocrisy here)

Spitzer billed himself a "clean-up" guy. When he was attorney general, he went after white collar criminals--big companies, etc. That's where he built his reputation. He was successful, but he didn't go after, for instance, drug conglomerates or other kinds of criminals. (contrast him with Rudy Guiliani, for instance)

He won big in New York, having fooled the populace (as skillful politicians often do), but immediately alienated people with "dirty tricks," using the State Police to go after opponents, particularly Joseph Bruno. Then he got himself into trouble offering illegals NYState driver's licenses. That even caught Hillary Clinton off guard, and that caused trouble. He talked about "steamrolling," and that backfired on him. During his short term, he has alienated the politicians, the press, and anybody who might have offered some sympathy to him.

With any luck, New York will be gone. No more busting prostitution rings; he's been busted. How's that for hubris (and irony)--a guy busted by a bust!

My advice is for Andrew Cuomo, our Attorney General. You go after high profile businesses too. How about working to clean up what immediately hurts us too. Your dad, Mario, used this tactic with high profile "causes." He didn't make it higher than governor. Methinks you've set your sights higher.
Spitzer "Elliot+Spitzer" politics "political+blogs" "Hillary+Clinton" NY "New+York" media NYTimes "New+York+Times" "political+corruption"

SPITZER IS SNEAKILY DESTROYING NEW YORK

Elliot Spitzer is one of the worst governors New York has ever had. He is out to destroy this state. Though he's been stymied in some of his plans, every once in a while he sneaks something in, and it's never good. I'm not talking about the driver's license plan that even got Hillary in trouble. But he does not want us to identify illegals--that's for sure. He's out to make New Yorkers even less able to sort out legal residents from illegal ones and to make us pay for everyone--no questions asked. Fingerprinting, Spitzer feels, is a deterrent to applying for food stamps, so let's stop fingerprinting. Hmmmmmm I wonder why it's a deterrent. Hmmmmm

The state has stopped taking fingerprints from some working families that apply for foodstamps. New York has been fingerprinting since 1998 as a fraud prevention program, but what the H--Spitzer doesn't care if people are stealing undeserved benefits. If one adult in a family works 30 hours a week or two adults each work 20 hours a week, they will not have to be fingerprinted. That means they will not have to be identified. That means that if they are illegal or are applying for benefits to which they are not entitled, the government won't know. New York is soooooo rich (or so Spitzer apparently thinks) that we have money to toss into the wind. Citizens don't care. (Actually this might be true because they did elect Spitzer.)

That brings us to the poor way in which government manages any program, but hey, let's leave that topic for another day. But try to think of one government program that is run efficiently. Keep trying....Bet you can't come up with one before New York goes totally down the tubes
politics "New+York" "Elliot+Spitzer" Spitzer "Hillary+Clinton" "political+commentary" "political+blogs" "Not+With+A+Whimper"