Thursday – May 25, 2011
I can’t let go!
When the left talks about compromise, they speak in lofty terms of a balanced approach to governing. In reality, it is another story. What they really mean is you give and we will take. When the dissidents in the Middle East speak about compromise they will speak in lofty terms of a balanced approach to governing. However, what they really mean is you give and we will take.
There is very little difference between those who fight to impose their way over a segment of the population here and those who want to eliminate a whole country half way around the world.
The Democrats will stop at nothing to preserve the status quo in this country and how they campaign. The Senate voted down the House GOP Medicare plan today. The Republicans claim that the Democrats are distorting, they employ demagoguery and scare tactics so that seniors will vote for Democrats. This is true and this is what will be the case in the 2012 election.
In New York, a special election was held and the Democrat won in what was a Republican stronghold. The Democrat, Kathy Hochul, won because she lied and distorted the facts of the Ryan Medicare plan. She offered nothing in the way of an alternative plan. The reality is that the Ryan Plan will guarantee current Medicare coverage to anyone over 55 years of age -it will not decrease any coverage, as she campaigned on. For those who are 54 years and younger they will be given a choice for their coverage which is very similar to what the Congress and the Senate get. The Ryan approach will save and provide the path forward to solvency while the continued approach of the Democrats and Kathy Hochul will provide for a bankrupt system sooner than later.
I won’t get into the specifics of the Ryan Plan, but it does not do what Hochul claimed. It does the exact opposite. Bill Clinton said today that he hopes the Democrats won’t take this victory as a sign of things to come. He said, “You cannot have Healthcare devour our economy”. He said that someone has to move reform forward. If it is the Ryan plan, that shouldn’t be substituted for a short term gain politically. I never thought I would favor anything that the former Impeached President said, but I guess this is a case of the older you get the wiser you get. He is not pleased with the Democrats and how they haven’t proposed a thing. Truer words were never spoken!
President Obama is on the world stage this week on his European tour clarifying what he said last week. He is speaking about a Mid East compromise for peace. I don’t know how anyone could follow his lead. Did he compromise on his signature piece of legislation? The answer is no. He took while the others gave. Did the President compromise when he said the country needed TARP? The answer is no. He took the money and gave it away to those who will help protect the votes he needs now.
Next years election will be the most important in history. I know we hear this claim every two years, but believe me, this will be a test for the country and for our future. The left, and the President, have demonstrated that they will stop at nothing to win. Their agenda is far too important for their survival than the survival of the country.
This is why every race, be it a local, county, state or national must be taken to the people. The smallest race must be publicized so that the truth is known and the electorate knows the facts and are not forcibly made to vote one way out of fear. Every candidate in every race must be able to articulate, defend and explain what conservatism is and how conservatism works.
Our bench is getting deeper with every new candidate that enters the field. The Republican Party must ensure that the candidates that run for office will not detract, but rather attract the voters with the truth. A message must be sent to the opposition that says if you campaign like Kathy Hochul, you will have to defend the lies in a public FORUM. We should not have to lie to get the vote. We should debate the ideas and let the people decide. For instance: the cost of entitlements like Medicaid and food stamps double every five years. Funding and alternative funding ideas must be debated. We cannot just kick the can down the road any longer like the politicians in Washington have done for years. The Republicans are at least willing to have the debate. Where are the Democrats? Oh, I forgot it was the creation of their entitlements that got us to where we are today – I am not the only one asking this question. Bill Clinton asked it as well, today.
What I do know is that the people of New York’s 26th District were duped and they will be sorry with the results that their precious vote will now get them.
New York’s 26th District is what JFK feared when he said, “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”
John F. Kennedy, speech at Vanderbilt University, May 18, 1963
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: I thought that I would take time off this week to get some other business out of the way. I admit I couldn’t, because I can’t let go!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
An historic moment!
Tuesday – May 24, 2011
An historic moment!
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had his moment with destiny, while he addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress today. A Joint Session of Congress is reserved for the President of the United States. The Prime Minister sounded more like what we would have expected from a U.S. President.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Great Britain had made the most appearances before a Joint Meeting of Congress, during the War years of WWII.
Both Netanyahu and Churchill gave rousing words of inspiration in the speeches they gave and were able to provide the guidance with the words they used.
Churchill denounced Hitler and the free world applauded. Netanyahu denounced terrorism, Hamas, and Iran and he was greeted with boo’s by the free world. The President addressed AIPAC and the audience was told not to boo the president, because of his remarks and requested that Israel give back the land they won to their pre 1967 borders. The land would then be given back to the Palestinians.
The Prime Minister said that Israel would give concessions, but indefensible borders would never be conceded. He then went to say that he would recognize a Palestinian State, if an Israeli State would also be recognized. His remarks were met by words of defiance from the Palestinian leader saying that the words of Netanyahu were words of a declaration of war.
The Prime Minister was greeted with great applause by the joint meeting today except by the Vice President. This was a symbol of the administration’s approach to the two state solution. This was also a symbol of where the administration is but not where our Congress is.
The Prime Minister said that Israel is not the problem, democracy is not the problem. "Israel will never give up its quest for peace," Netanyahu said, adding that he is "willing to make painful compromises to achieve this historic peace."
"Now, this is not easy for me. It's not easy, because I recognize that in a genuine peace we will be required to give up parts of the ancestral Jewish homeland,'' he said, referring to the occupied West Bank.
In outlining his peace vision, Netanyahu said Israel would not negotiate with terrorists and urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to rip up a power-sharing agreement that his moderate Fatah faction has signed with the militant group Hamas — which does not recognize Israel's right to exist — and shelve efforts to win U.N. statehood status unilaterally in September.
"I say to President Abbas 'Tear up your pact with Hamas and sit down and negotiate, make peace with the Jewish state.'"
"The Palestinian attempt to impose a settlement through the United Nations will not bring peace. It should be forcefully opposed by all those who want to see this conflict end," Netanyahu said.
I wrote last week that the opposition to Israel will never agree to peace until Israel is eliminated, this is the heart of the issue.
Just as Great Britain and the Winston Churchill were our allies during WWII, Israel is just as important to us now. It is delusional to think that democracy will thrive if Israel gives up land. It is delusional to think that peace will ever come to the mid east if Israel gives up land, their destiny and their state hood.
There are many references of our fight for independence in Israel’s own fight for independence. One such example is an exact replica of our Liberty Bell in Israel’s Liberty Bell Park. Is there an exact replica of the Liberty Bell on display in any nation in any other part of the Mid East?
This is the time to stand up and be counted among those who support Israel. Our nation has more in common with Israel any other country in the Mid East and possibly the world. The people of Israel carved out a state and a nation where there was none. The people of Israel carved out a democracy where there was none. The people of Israel have fought like any other nation to protect themselves from harm. This has been their story in history. It will continue to be the story until Israel’s safety is guaranteed and the enemies of Israel accept them like Israel has accepted their enemies and their right to exist.
“Israel is not what is wrong in the Middle East, it is what is right in the Middle East” this according to The Prime Minister today in the halls of our congress where he practiced democracy in the home of democracy. It is time we put that same practice on display in the Middle East before the Arab Spring turns into the Summer of fear!
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: An historic moment is a moment in time that can be recognized or dismissed. So far the Obama administration has chosen to dismiss the opportunity and they should be booed for that dismissal!
An historic moment!
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had his moment with destiny, while he addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress today. A Joint Session of Congress is reserved for the President of the United States. The Prime Minister sounded more like what we would have expected from a U.S. President.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Great Britain had made the most appearances before a Joint Meeting of Congress, during the War years of WWII.
Both Netanyahu and Churchill gave rousing words of inspiration in the speeches they gave and were able to provide the guidance with the words they used.
Churchill denounced Hitler and the free world applauded. Netanyahu denounced terrorism, Hamas, and Iran and he was greeted with boo’s by the free world. The President addressed AIPAC and the audience was told not to boo the president, because of his remarks and requested that Israel give back the land they won to their pre 1967 borders. The land would then be given back to the Palestinians.
The Prime Minister said that Israel would give concessions, but indefensible borders would never be conceded. He then went to say that he would recognize a Palestinian State, if an Israeli State would also be recognized. His remarks were met by words of defiance from the Palestinian leader saying that the words of Netanyahu were words of a declaration of war.
The Prime Minister was greeted with great applause by the joint meeting today except by the Vice President. This was a symbol of the administration’s approach to the two state solution. This was also a symbol of where the administration is but not where our Congress is.
The Prime Minister said that Israel is not the problem, democracy is not the problem. "Israel will never give up its quest for peace," Netanyahu said, adding that he is "willing to make painful compromises to achieve this historic peace."
"Now, this is not easy for me. It's not easy, because I recognize that in a genuine peace we will be required to give up parts of the ancestral Jewish homeland,'' he said, referring to the occupied West Bank.
In outlining his peace vision, Netanyahu said Israel would not negotiate with terrorists and urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to rip up a power-sharing agreement that his moderate Fatah faction has signed with the militant group Hamas — which does not recognize Israel's right to exist — and shelve efforts to win U.N. statehood status unilaterally in September.
"I say to President Abbas 'Tear up your pact with Hamas and sit down and negotiate, make peace with the Jewish state.'"
"The Palestinian attempt to impose a settlement through the United Nations will not bring peace. It should be forcefully opposed by all those who want to see this conflict end," Netanyahu said.
I wrote last week that the opposition to Israel will never agree to peace until Israel is eliminated, this is the heart of the issue.
Just as Great Britain and the Winston Churchill were our allies during WWII, Israel is just as important to us now. It is delusional to think that democracy will thrive if Israel gives up land. It is delusional to think that peace will ever come to the mid east if Israel gives up land, their destiny and their state hood.
There are many references of our fight for independence in Israel’s own fight for independence. One such example is an exact replica of our Liberty Bell in Israel’s Liberty Bell Park. Is there an exact replica of the Liberty Bell on display in any nation in any other part of the Mid East?
This is the time to stand up and be counted among those who support Israel. Our nation has more in common with Israel any other country in the Mid East and possibly the world. The people of Israel carved out a state and a nation where there was none. The people of Israel carved out a democracy where there was none. The people of Israel have fought like any other nation to protect themselves from harm. This has been their story in history. It will continue to be the story until Israel’s safety is guaranteed and the enemies of Israel accept them like Israel has accepted their enemies and their right to exist.
“Israel is not what is wrong in the Middle East, it is what is right in the Middle East” this according to The Prime Minister today in the halls of our congress where he practiced democracy in the home of democracy. It is time we put that same practice on display in the Middle East before the Arab Spring turns into the Summer of fear!
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: An historic moment is a moment in time that can be recognized or dismissed. So far the Obama administration has chosen to dismiss the opportunity and they should be booed for that dismissal!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Tea and economics = results!
Monday – May 23, 2011
Tea and economics = results!
On today’s date, in 1774, tea was dumped into the Chester River in Chestertown, Maryland.
The Chestertown Tea Party was a protest against British excise duties which, according to local legend, took place on May 23, 1774 in Chestertown, Maryland as a response to the British Tea Act. Chestertown tradition holds that, following the example of the more famous Boston Tea Party, colonial patriots boarded the brigantine Geddes in broad daylight and threw its cargo of tea into the Chester River.
In 1767, in an effort to raise money for England by taxing the thirteen colonies, Parliament passed the Townshend Act. The Townshend Act placed taxes on several important items in the Colonial economy including paper, paint, lead, glass and tea. Reaction to the Townshend Act in the thirteen colonies was so negative that on March 5, 1770, Parliament decided to repeal most of the duties; however, they decided that the tax on tea would remain.
As a result, many colonists refused to buy tea that came to America from England. Instead they smuggled in tea from other countries or made their own tea from local spices. Soon merchants in England began to lose money, especially the East India Company. In order to keep this company from going bankrupt, Parliament passed the Tea Act of 1773. For reasons of economics and social liberty, the colonists were outraged and the seeds of dissent began to grow.
When news of the closing of the port of Boston reached the Chesapeake Bay port of Chester Town, (now Chestertown) on the Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the spring of 1774, town leaders called a meeting to discuss what actions should be taken. The local chapter of the “Sons of Liberty” boldly put forth a list of grievances, which became known as the “Chestertown Resolves”. These stated that it was unlawful to buy, sell, or drink tea shipped from England.
The “Resolves” are a matter of historic record, reported in the Maryland Gazette, shortly after these resolves were printed, word came to the citizens that a ship in the local harbor, the brigantine Geddes, had come to port with a shipment of tea.
As the story is told, on May 23, 1774, a small group of men (unlike their brethren in New England, in broad daylight and without Indian disguise) forcibly boarded the ship and threw its cargo into the Chester River.
The action that took place 237 years ago was the result of actions by Parliament. The actions of Parliament would have had a dramatic impact on the local economy of the colonies. There is no difference from what our government does to us today with our tax policy and the needless burden that government imposes on us because of the cost of the Federal Bureaucracy and the impact of entitlements and federal programs. King George had to pay for the costs of his Parliament and the cost of his decisions.
Our President is on a grand tour of Great Britain this week. 237 years ago Great Britain was turning into a foe to the original 13 colonies. Great Britain was on the road to war and did not know then how the original thirteen colonies would eventually win their independence.
The fight for Independence was a result of bad policy and a King that could not see the forest through the trees. Great Britain is now an ally and friend to the U.S. and not just to the President. The Office of President is what is respected and the pomp and ceremony that will accompany his visit is the tradition that Great Britain can so aptly put on display.
Our President is, once again, in a foreign visitation mode. Last week he was lectured in the Oval office by an ally, this week he will visit the Queen. I do not think the Queen will lecture him, but she will expect the formality that comes with being Queen. Long live the Queen!
Presidential elections are all about results. The field of Republicans is deep and will provide what I hope will be a tough campaign for the Democrats. I hope the Republicans will run a truthful campaign so that the American people will be able to judge for themselves the affects of the Obama results versus the promise of what I hope will be a Republican year in 2012.
Like the “Chestertown Resolves” of 1774, it is once again up to a group of patriots to clearly define the differences and clearly define who will be the best leader. The President is beatable, it will take a determined candidate who is not afraid to speak up and make it a resolve to win. After all this is why we pick a candidate!
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: We will begin the countdown to the Presidential election very soon. We will have a front runner. The cost of Tea in 1774 is no different from the price of a gallon of gas or a gallon of milk. The price of these items reflects a strong or a weak economy. The results of the economy will equal who will get the vote!
Tea and economics = results!
On today’s date, in 1774, tea was dumped into the Chester River in Chestertown, Maryland.
The Chestertown Tea Party was a protest against British excise duties which, according to local legend, took place on May 23, 1774 in Chestertown, Maryland as a response to the British Tea Act. Chestertown tradition holds that, following the example of the more famous Boston Tea Party, colonial patriots boarded the brigantine Geddes in broad daylight and threw its cargo of tea into the Chester River.
In 1767, in an effort to raise money for England by taxing the thirteen colonies, Parliament passed the Townshend Act. The Townshend Act placed taxes on several important items in the Colonial economy including paper, paint, lead, glass and tea. Reaction to the Townshend Act in the thirteen colonies was so negative that on March 5, 1770, Parliament decided to repeal most of the duties; however, they decided that the tax on tea would remain.
As a result, many colonists refused to buy tea that came to America from England. Instead they smuggled in tea from other countries or made their own tea from local spices. Soon merchants in England began to lose money, especially the East India Company. In order to keep this company from going bankrupt, Parliament passed the Tea Act of 1773. For reasons of economics and social liberty, the colonists were outraged and the seeds of dissent began to grow.
When news of the closing of the port of Boston reached the Chesapeake Bay port of Chester Town, (now Chestertown) on the Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the spring of 1774, town leaders called a meeting to discuss what actions should be taken. The local chapter of the “Sons of Liberty” boldly put forth a list of grievances, which became known as the “Chestertown Resolves”. These stated that it was unlawful to buy, sell, or drink tea shipped from England.
The “Resolves” are a matter of historic record, reported in the Maryland Gazette, shortly after these resolves were printed, word came to the citizens that a ship in the local harbor, the brigantine Geddes, had come to port with a shipment of tea.
As the story is told, on May 23, 1774, a small group of men (unlike their brethren in New England, in broad daylight and without Indian disguise) forcibly boarded the ship and threw its cargo into the Chester River.
The action that took place 237 years ago was the result of actions by Parliament. The actions of Parliament would have had a dramatic impact on the local economy of the colonies. There is no difference from what our government does to us today with our tax policy and the needless burden that government imposes on us because of the cost of the Federal Bureaucracy and the impact of entitlements and federal programs. King George had to pay for the costs of his Parliament and the cost of his decisions.
Our President is on a grand tour of Great Britain this week. 237 years ago Great Britain was turning into a foe to the original 13 colonies. Great Britain was on the road to war and did not know then how the original thirteen colonies would eventually win their independence.
The fight for Independence was a result of bad policy and a King that could not see the forest through the trees. Great Britain is now an ally and friend to the U.S. and not just to the President. The Office of President is what is respected and the pomp and ceremony that will accompany his visit is the tradition that Great Britain can so aptly put on display.
Our President is, once again, in a foreign visitation mode. Last week he was lectured in the Oval office by an ally, this week he will visit the Queen. I do not think the Queen will lecture him, but she will expect the formality that comes with being Queen. Long live the Queen!
Presidential elections are all about results. The field of Republicans is deep and will provide what I hope will be a tough campaign for the Democrats. I hope the Republicans will run a truthful campaign so that the American people will be able to judge for themselves the affects of the Obama results versus the promise of what I hope will be a Republican year in 2012.
Like the “Chestertown Resolves” of 1774, it is once again up to a group of patriots to clearly define the differences and clearly define who will be the best leader. The President is beatable, it will take a determined candidate who is not afraid to speak up and make it a resolve to win. After all this is why we pick a candidate!
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: We will begin the countdown to the Presidential election very soon. We will have a front runner. The cost of Tea in 1774 is no different from the price of a gallon of gas or a gallon of milk. The price of these items reflects a strong or a weak economy. The results of the economy will equal who will get the vote!
Friday, May 20, 2011
What's left?
Friday – May 20, 2011
What’s left?
On Tuesday, I wrote: The Two State Solution between Israel and the Palestinians will be demanded and will be actively sought by the enemies of peace. Our only remaining ally in the Mid East, Israel, will be asked to stand down and give back the land that is in dispute and that many have died for.
The President, in essence, said the same thing yesterday in his much touted speech on the Mid East. He is saying that “we” want Israel to give back their border regions to pre 1967 boundaries. Like it or not, Israel is an ally. Israel is a recognized nation that was created for the sake of peace. Israel is the bridge and the border region of the Western way of life in the Mid East. If Israel is forced to give up the land that it won, then the western way of life is one more step towards non existence. Israel will be one step towards non existence.
If Israel is forced to surrender their land to pre 1967 boundaries, Jerusalem will cease to exist. East Jerusalem is the most holy spot on Earth, the most Christian place on earth, would be turned over to Hezbollah. In every step of this conflict, the anti American and anti Jewish State terrorists have pledged to get rid of Israel and to make the U.S. suffer. One way they will accomplish this is to take the Holy City of Jerusalem and wipe out any religious history of the Christian and Jewish faith not to mention their existence. What better place to do this than Jerusalem.
I have said many times don’t listen to what the president says, watch his actions. This week his actions have told the story. He is looking for the easy way out, because he has no courage and does not have the stomach to fight the struggle. He will fight the battle here at home to wipe out our history, our traditions and our liberty, because it’s easy. He can pass laws. Look at his actions that have accomplished this so far.
The problem with the enemy of peace in the Mid East is that the more you give, the more you are asked to give. This was the reason we fought the Muslims in the Barbary Coast Wars and this was the case when our first emissaries were sent to the Mid East as negotiators. Many Americans believe that our first exposure with the Middle East was around the time of WWI and again in WWII. If this is the notion that most Americans have then it makes sense that many would be against Israel and not know the importance of the debate over land that has been at the epicenter of the debate between Israel its enemies and our foes. Our history there is long and it is one that we have unfortunately never fully understood. John Ledyard, the first American citizen who stepped foot on Arab soil, said in 1787, “An American face does not wear well like an American Heart.”
The president now has bought into the fake statesmanship of the emissaries of peace and the fake notion that the Arab Summer is occurring for our benefit and our benefit alone. Surrender is not an option it never has been and it never will be. Israel must stand firm and our president will learn very soon that you cannot bargain with lives and the only ally in the region, when freedom itself is at stake.
When I ask, “what’s left”, I am asking what is left of the Western allies. What is left of their strength and what is left of the leverage that once made the strength of the allies so great? These are questions that are not asked anymore and these are questions that a person that has the power to lead and stand with an ally won’t ask, because he does not want to stand, he wants to bow!
Giving up land will not guarantee peace and will not set the borders for a new two state solution in an area of the world where one Arab state is the goal.
I am taking next week off to complete work that needs my attention. I am not sure if a FORUM will be written, so I would like to leave you with a few more thoughts about our lives and the importance of our way of life.
For far too long we have taken many things for granted. We have taken our liberty and freedom for granted. We have taken our soldiers and our defenders of freedom for granted. We have taken our politicians who represent us for granted. We thought they were acting in our best interests. We all expect not to stand in lines for food, because we have taken for granted what it takes to deliver us our food. We all expect to buy a car with credit and to enjoy the ride, even when we fill our tanks. We never thought that our home values would drop and that our mortgages would be more than our homes are worth. We never thought that our premier industries and companies would be in bankruptcy courts and the Unions would be its benefactors. We all took for granted that when the president of the United States took the oath of office we would not be sent down the stream with out a paddle, nor did our allies.
When I ask what’s left, I think of better days and I think that we all still can lead that extraordinary life that our fathers wanted for us. I think of that extraordinary experience that we have all lived, because we are Americans. When I ask the question, “what’s left” I think of our pristine pastures that Americans crossed to see the other side of the nation. I think of that shining city on a hill, as Ronald Reagan put it. I think about family and friends. I think of Christmas past and the Christmas’ to come in the Christian world. When I ask, “what’s left” I still believe in that gift of the extraordinary experience that each one of us is given when we are born in a country such as ours. I believe in that extraordinary fuel that we charge ourselves with. That fuel doesn’t come from the ground it comes from that extraordinary first breath that we take when born in this land.
Our President is not turning out to be extraordinary, because he has not experienced the many things that I have just written. He has not experienced them, because he does not believe in them. That is not extraordinary. That is being ordinary, just as every other person who wants to do away with liberty and freedom around the world.
A leader is not extraordinary when his actions are calculated for votes and calculated to make him look good for the short term. We should not take this ordinary action as the cure in an extraordinary time. When I ask the question, “what’s left” I only have to look at a map of the Mid East and see that the enemies of peace want it all and are now in a position to take it all.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, met with our President today. The Prime Minister has seen more and has experienced more in five minutes than our president has in his life time. That is the extraordinary difference between the two men. What I hope the Prime Minister sees is the same thing I do; an ordinary man that is not extraordinary and that has nothing to give, and everything to lose. If this is what he sees, he will also be asking, “what’s left?”
Ronald Reagan said in a speech to the American Legion, Seattle, Washington on August 23, 1983: “We can’t build a safer world with honorable intentions and good will alone. Achieving the fundamental goals our nation seeks in world affairs - peace, human rights, economic progress, national independence and international stability – means supporting our friends and defending our interests.”
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: These are extraordinary times, I know the Prime Minister is extraordinary because he knows what will be left if Israel is forced to give its land in order to create a two state solution. There is not enough land to separate the two because no matter how much land separates the two one party does not want the country of Israel to survive.
What’s left?
On Tuesday, I wrote: The Two State Solution between Israel and the Palestinians will be demanded and will be actively sought by the enemies of peace. Our only remaining ally in the Mid East, Israel, will be asked to stand down and give back the land that is in dispute and that many have died for.
The President, in essence, said the same thing yesterday in his much touted speech on the Mid East. He is saying that “we” want Israel to give back their border regions to pre 1967 boundaries. Like it or not, Israel is an ally. Israel is a recognized nation that was created for the sake of peace. Israel is the bridge and the border region of the Western way of life in the Mid East. If Israel is forced to give up the land that it won, then the western way of life is one more step towards non existence. Israel will be one step towards non existence.
If Israel is forced to surrender their land to pre 1967 boundaries, Jerusalem will cease to exist. East Jerusalem is the most holy spot on Earth, the most Christian place on earth, would be turned over to Hezbollah. In every step of this conflict, the anti American and anti Jewish State terrorists have pledged to get rid of Israel and to make the U.S. suffer. One way they will accomplish this is to take the Holy City of Jerusalem and wipe out any religious history of the Christian and Jewish faith not to mention their existence. What better place to do this than Jerusalem.
I have said many times don’t listen to what the president says, watch his actions. This week his actions have told the story. He is looking for the easy way out, because he has no courage and does not have the stomach to fight the struggle. He will fight the battle here at home to wipe out our history, our traditions and our liberty, because it’s easy. He can pass laws. Look at his actions that have accomplished this so far.
The problem with the enemy of peace in the Mid East is that the more you give, the more you are asked to give. This was the reason we fought the Muslims in the Barbary Coast Wars and this was the case when our first emissaries were sent to the Mid East as negotiators. Many Americans believe that our first exposure with the Middle East was around the time of WWI and again in WWII. If this is the notion that most Americans have then it makes sense that many would be against Israel and not know the importance of the debate over land that has been at the epicenter of the debate between Israel its enemies and our foes. Our history there is long and it is one that we have unfortunately never fully understood. John Ledyard, the first American citizen who stepped foot on Arab soil, said in 1787, “An American face does not wear well like an American Heart.”
The president now has bought into the fake statesmanship of the emissaries of peace and the fake notion that the Arab Summer is occurring for our benefit and our benefit alone. Surrender is not an option it never has been and it never will be. Israel must stand firm and our president will learn very soon that you cannot bargain with lives and the only ally in the region, when freedom itself is at stake.
When I ask, “what’s left”, I am asking what is left of the Western allies. What is left of their strength and what is left of the leverage that once made the strength of the allies so great? These are questions that are not asked anymore and these are questions that a person that has the power to lead and stand with an ally won’t ask, because he does not want to stand, he wants to bow!
Giving up land will not guarantee peace and will not set the borders for a new two state solution in an area of the world where one Arab state is the goal.
I am taking next week off to complete work that needs my attention. I am not sure if a FORUM will be written, so I would like to leave you with a few more thoughts about our lives and the importance of our way of life.
For far too long we have taken many things for granted. We have taken our liberty and freedom for granted. We have taken our soldiers and our defenders of freedom for granted. We have taken our politicians who represent us for granted. We thought they were acting in our best interests. We all expect not to stand in lines for food, because we have taken for granted what it takes to deliver us our food. We all expect to buy a car with credit and to enjoy the ride, even when we fill our tanks. We never thought that our home values would drop and that our mortgages would be more than our homes are worth. We never thought that our premier industries and companies would be in bankruptcy courts and the Unions would be its benefactors. We all took for granted that when the president of the United States took the oath of office we would not be sent down the stream with out a paddle, nor did our allies.
When I ask what’s left, I think of better days and I think that we all still can lead that extraordinary life that our fathers wanted for us. I think of that extraordinary experience that we have all lived, because we are Americans. When I ask the question, “what’s left” I think of our pristine pastures that Americans crossed to see the other side of the nation. I think of that shining city on a hill, as Ronald Reagan put it. I think about family and friends. I think of Christmas past and the Christmas’ to come in the Christian world. When I ask, “what’s left” I still believe in that gift of the extraordinary experience that each one of us is given when we are born in a country such as ours. I believe in that extraordinary fuel that we charge ourselves with. That fuel doesn’t come from the ground it comes from that extraordinary first breath that we take when born in this land.
Our President is not turning out to be extraordinary, because he has not experienced the many things that I have just written. He has not experienced them, because he does not believe in them. That is not extraordinary. That is being ordinary, just as every other person who wants to do away with liberty and freedom around the world.
A leader is not extraordinary when his actions are calculated for votes and calculated to make him look good for the short term. We should not take this ordinary action as the cure in an extraordinary time. When I ask the question, “what’s left” I only have to look at a map of the Mid East and see that the enemies of peace want it all and are now in a position to take it all.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, met with our President today. The Prime Minister has seen more and has experienced more in five minutes than our president has in his life time. That is the extraordinary difference between the two men. What I hope the Prime Minister sees is the same thing I do; an ordinary man that is not extraordinary and that has nothing to give, and everything to lose. If this is what he sees, he will also be asking, “what’s left?”
Ronald Reagan said in a speech to the American Legion, Seattle, Washington on August 23, 1983: “We can’t build a safer world with honorable intentions and good will alone. Achieving the fundamental goals our nation seeks in world affairs - peace, human rights, economic progress, national independence and international stability – means supporting our friends and defending our interests.”
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: These are extraordinary times, I know the Prime Minister is extraordinary because he knows what will be left if Israel is forced to give its land in order to create a two state solution. There is not enough land to separate the two because no matter how much land separates the two one party does not want the country of Israel to survive.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Waivers and subsidies-lets just wave them goodbye!
Thursday – May 19, 2011
Waivers and subsidies – lets just wave them goodbye!
The most recent waivers for Obamacare have been granted to many companies, eating establishments and even a Health Spa in Nancy Pelosi’s (D) home district in California. Though the Democrats say these waivers have nothing to do with politics, it brings the total number of companies who get to opt out of Obamacare to 1,300.
Obamacare was created to insure the 30 million Americans who don’t have health care coverage. The other 230 million Americans who are not part of this number will continue to pay the price, even in a mandated system. When waivers have to be extended, because companies say that they cannot afford the cost of the plan, then something is structurally wrong with the plan.
It is our government who continues down the road of structural impropriety in its programs and it is our government who continues to pick winners and losers. In this case, 1,300 companies are the winners and the tax payer is still the loser.
The case of Obamacare is not over with. Court challenges and the threat of repeal by the Republicans and the upcoming elections will ensure that this story will continue. I only hope that the companies in Pelosi’s district are listed along with their campaign donations, if any. I hope that the 1,300 companies who are getting the waivers are made public in this debate. I hope that the transparency that was promised at the on set of the Obama administration becomes part of the record when the reasons for these waivers become the question especially when more companies get them going forward.
The Democrats want to stop the subsidies that are being given to big oil companies. The Democrats want to tax the handful of large companies who, according to them, make grotesque profits. The Republicans on the other hand want to continue with the subsidies and want to provide an environment for exploration and drilling with these subsidies here at home.
The price of gas has begun to fall. It is falling, because the demand has gone down and the speculators can no longer afford the risk. When the price of gas falls it is not because of government. However, when it rises it becomes the fault of government because we do not have an energy policy. The President has failed to create an effective energy policy. Light bulbs and electric cars do not make an energy policy.
A true and effective energy policy will be one that promotes demand and that can deliver energy in many forms at the most cost efficient and most productive means available. Part of the equation is competition.
Competition works every time. Competition will bring the cost of healthcare down and competition at home in the oil industry will not only provide for more oil but will keep the cost of a gallon of gas permanently down.
If our Congressional Representatives and the members of the Senate can be convinced to get rid of all waivers and all subsidies in all industries and for every business, I believe competition will work. Most of the corruption and favoritism will stop and the American people will have plenty of choices not only in where to purchase their healthcare needs, but also the amount of gas they buy and where they buy it.
The big picture is the structural improprieties that occur when government gets involved in our lives. When improprieties exist, government has never been there with the answer to cure them government only expands them out of fairness. When structural issues in society exist, government has never been there with the answer to cure it government only expands them out of of fairness. I don’t know about you, but I see no benefit in making these waivers a part of the solution. I see no benefit by giving subsidies or keeping them going, not only in the oil industry, but in all industries.
Nothing will really change, because the same old things are going on. The same old style of partisan games and decisions are made because of lobbies, unions and campaign cash is still how things work in Washington. Until these structural impropreities are cured we will not only have Obamacare, but we will have more waivers and more subsidies given to those who don’t really need them at the cost of our treasured resources and our treasured wealth as a nation.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: Everyone has an opinion on the cure, but no one wants to cure the obvious because the ones that can cure don’t want to say good bye to the waivers and the subsidies because that’s what generates votes!
Waivers and subsidies – lets just wave them goodbye!
The most recent waivers for Obamacare have been granted to many companies, eating establishments and even a Health Spa in Nancy Pelosi’s (D) home district in California. Though the Democrats say these waivers have nothing to do with politics, it brings the total number of companies who get to opt out of Obamacare to 1,300.
Obamacare was created to insure the 30 million Americans who don’t have health care coverage. The other 230 million Americans who are not part of this number will continue to pay the price, even in a mandated system. When waivers have to be extended, because companies say that they cannot afford the cost of the plan, then something is structurally wrong with the plan.
It is our government who continues down the road of structural impropriety in its programs and it is our government who continues to pick winners and losers. In this case, 1,300 companies are the winners and the tax payer is still the loser.
The case of Obamacare is not over with. Court challenges and the threat of repeal by the Republicans and the upcoming elections will ensure that this story will continue. I only hope that the companies in Pelosi’s district are listed along with their campaign donations, if any. I hope that the 1,300 companies who are getting the waivers are made public in this debate. I hope that the transparency that was promised at the on set of the Obama administration becomes part of the record when the reasons for these waivers become the question especially when more companies get them going forward.
The Democrats want to stop the subsidies that are being given to big oil companies. The Democrats want to tax the handful of large companies who, according to them, make grotesque profits. The Republicans on the other hand want to continue with the subsidies and want to provide an environment for exploration and drilling with these subsidies here at home.
The price of gas has begun to fall. It is falling, because the demand has gone down and the speculators can no longer afford the risk. When the price of gas falls it is not because of government. However, when it rises it becomes the fault of government because we do not have an energy policy. The President has failed to create an effective energy policy. Light bulbs and electric cars do not make an energy policy.
A true and effective energy policy will be one that promotes demand and that can deliver energy in many forms at the most cost efficient and most productive means available. Part of the equation is competition.
Competition works every time. Competition will bring the cost of healthcare down and competition at home in the oil industry will not only provide for more oil but will keep the cost of a gallon of gas permanently down.
If our Congressional Representatives and the members of the Senate can be convinced to get rid of all waivers and all subsidies in all industries and for every business, I believe competition will work. Most of the corruption and favoritism will stop and the American people will have plenty of choices not only in where to purchase their healthcare needs, but also the amount of gas they buy and where they buy it.
The big picture is the structural improprieties that occur when government gets involved in our lives. When improprieties exist, government has never been there with the answer to cure them government only expands them out of fairness. When structural issues in society exist, government has never been there with the answer to cure it government only expands them out of of fairness. I don’t know about you, but I see no benefit in making these waivers a part of the solution. I see no benefit by giving subsidies or keeping them going, not only in the oil industry, but in all industries.
Nothing will really change, because the same old things are going on. The same old style of partisan games and decisions are made because of lobbies, unions and campaign cash is still how things work in Washington. Until these structural impropreities are cured we will not only have Obamacare, but we will have more waivers and more subsidies given to those who don’t really need them at the cost of our treasured resources and our treasured wealth as a nation.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: Everyone has an opinion on the cure, but no one wants to cure the obvious because the ones that can cure don’t want to say good bye to the waivers and the subsidies because that’s what generates votes!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
As the world turns, so does our money:
Wednesday – May 18, 2011
As the world turns, so does our money:
Today’s title means many things, but in the world of politics it is the accepted way of life!
As you know, Dominic Strauss – Kahn, the Head of the International Monetary Fund, is under arrest in New York City on attempted rape and assault charges. Kahn was a Presidential hopeful in the upcoming French elections. Kahn was running on the socialist ticket and was responsible for many of the European bailouts that have resulted in billions of dollars wasted in lost efforts by the IMF.
The United States has given the IMF 100 billion in just the last year alone. The 100 billion comes from the tax revenue that we donate every year to our treasury. The 100 billion dollars goes to support the lavish lifestyle of this socialist. Kahn has many luxury homes around the world and was staying in a $3,000 a night luxury suite when the alleged attack and attempted rape occurred. Kahn has had two other known allegations of this type in past years.
Kahn, a multi millionaire in his own right, was living off our money and the rest of the world’s money. What ever country gave to the fund, he was living off of. A man with the title he has can take advantage of the many perks that the IMF obviously gives.
Someone told me yesterday that they were surprised that he was staying in such an expensive suite and that he had many homes around the world. They were surprised that he was so generous and was charged with these crimes. As this one person said “he did such great charity work!”
The information coming out of the delegation that John Kerry is presiding over in Pakistan is alarming. In a statement, a government source said they are alarmed at the type and scope of the nuclear style military facility that Pakistan has built in the last three years. Yesterday, I wrote about Pakistan’s nuclear program as being the worlds most advanced and fastest growing in the world. Our government said they don’t know how Pakistan was able to pay for it. Did we just find out that the United States has given Pakistan 20 billion dollars in aid over the past ten years? I don’t wonder at all how they were able to pay for it.
It never ceases to amaze me that there are these types of abuses and these types of men who, without any conscience, can take advantage of a maid or of an entire country.
And so goes the money! This week our country has reached our debt limit. This week, our country, in essence, does not have any more money to spend. This is not such a bad thing, because if we don’t have it to spend, we can’t borrow it. If we can’t borrow it, we must start to live within our means. Even if this is for the short term, it is still a good thing.
While both parties are making their debate rebuttals about raising the debt ceiling we must consider one thing. The money that is spent comes from us. I know that this is a tired worn out theme, but now is the time to contact your representatives and tell them not to raise the debt ceiling. Tell them to live within their bloated budgets and tell them that the organizations like the IMF and countries like Pakistan can save us 120 billion dollars. This is a start down the road to recovery.
I know there are a whole host of political implications of reducing our funding for organizations and countries like the two I have mentioned today. I know our money buys some protection and security. However, when you have a socialist and what ever kind of leader the Pakistani military has in place, in the long run, they don’t provide the security and protection that we think we are buying. In the long run, our interest and our money are being wasted. In the long run, assaults occur not only in foreign lands, but in our own backyard by a socialist that wanted to be the president of France.
The main part of the problem that I see is, like our own government and the many people that serve it, they are unaccountable. The main part of the problem, as I see it, is that we hand out a blank check with Uncle Sam’s signature on it knowing that it is helping to perpetuate corruption. The main part of the problem, as I see it, is that we don’t require the accountability that these sums of money require.
As the world turns, so does our money!
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: Everyone looks for a quick turn on the buck. This should be reserved exclusively for the folks who work for it the citizens of the United States of America!
As the world turns, so does our money:
Today’s title means many things, but in the world of politics it is the accepted way of life!
As you know, Dominic Strauss – Kahn, the Head of the International Monetary Fund, is under arrest in New York City on attempted rape and assault charges. Kahn was a Presidential hopeful in the upcoming French elections. Kahn was running on the socialist ticket and was responsible for many of the European bailouts that have resulted in billions of dollars wasted in lost efforts by the IMF.
The United States has given the IMF 100 billion in just the last year alone. The 100 billion comes from the tax revenue that we donate every year to our treasury. The 100 billion dollars goes to support the lavish lifestyle of this socialist. Kahn has many luxury homes around the world and was staying in a $3,000 a night luxury suite when the alleged attack and attempted rape occurred. Kahn has had two other known allegations of this type in past years.
Kahn, a multi millionaire in his own right, was living off our money and the rest of the world’s money. What ever country gave to the fund, he was living off of. A man with the title he has can take advantage of the many perks that the IMF obviously gives.
Someone told me yesterday that they were surprised that he was staying in such an expensive suite and that he had many homes around the world. They were surprised that he was so generous and was charged with these crimes. As this one person said “he did such great charity work!”
The information coming out of the delegation that John Kerry is presiding over in Pakistan is alarming. In a statement, a government source said they are alarmed at the type and scope of the nuclear style military facility that Pakistan has built in the last three years. Yesterday, I wrote about Pakistan’s nuclear program as being the worlds most advanced and fastest growing in the world. Our government said they don’t know how Pakistan was able to pay for it. Did we just find out that the United States has given Pakistan 20 billion dollars in aid over the past ten years? I don’t wonder at all how they were able to pay for it.
It never ceases to amaze me that there are these types of abuses and these types of men who, without any conscience, can take advantage of a maid or of an entire country.
And so goes the money! This week our country has reached our debt limit. This week, our country, in essence, does not have any more money to spend. This is not such a bad thing, because if we don’t have it to spend, we can’t borrow it. If we can’t borrow it, we must start to live within our means. Even if this is for the short term, it is still a good thing.
While both parties are making their debate rebuttals about raising the debt ceiling we must consider one thing. The money that is spent comes from us. I know that this is a tired worn out theme, but now is the time to contact your representatives and tell them not to raise the debt ceiling. Tell them to live within their bloated budgets and tell them that the organizations like the IMF and countries like Pakistan can save us 120 billion dollars. This is a start down the road to recovery.
I know there are a whole host of political implications of reducing our funding for organizations and countries like the two I have mentioned today. I know our money buys some protection and security. However, when you have a socialist and what ever kind of leader the Pakistani military has in place, in the long run, they don’t provide the security and protection that we think we are buying. In the long run, our interest and our money are being wasted. In the long run, assaults occur not only in foreign lands, but in our own backyard by a socialist that wanted to be the president of France.
The main part of the problem that I see is, like our own government and the many people that serve it, they are unaccountable. The main part of the problem, as I see it, is that we hand out a blank check with Uncle Sam’s signature on it knowing that it is helping to perpetuate corruption. The main part of the problem, as I see it, is that we don’t require the accountability that these sums of money require.
As the world turns, so does our money!
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: Everyone looks for a quick turn on the buck. This should be reserved exclusively for the folks who work for it the citizens of the United States of America!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
To not speak is to speak. To not act is to act!
Tuesday-May 17, 2011
To not speak is to speak. To not act is to act!
These are prophetic words. These words tell all - these words mean all.
As we enter the summer of discontent, history will be made on many fronts. The Arab Spring, as it has now been named, will turn into the Arab Summer of assent. The discontent in the Middle East is turning into a movement to silence Israel and split the Christian –Jewish side apart from the Arab – Muslim side.
The Two State Solution between Israel and the Palestinians will be demanded and will be actively sought by the enemies of peace. Our only remaining ally in the Mid East, Israel, will be asked to stand down and give back the land that is in dispute and that many have died for.
The struggle for freedom is not limited to our shores alone. Our only remaining ally in the region, Israel, is being threatened by all sides of their borders. Egypt is calling for an end to their peace treaty with Israel. Lebanon continues their mortar assaults daily and now Syria’s border assaults are growing. To think Israel shouldn’t be allowed to exist is a mistake. The United States will be asked to pick a side. This is something that we cannot afford to say no to. It is also something that we cannot ignore any longer.
The Arab Spring did not just happen. It occurred with purposeful deliberate action and with purposeful deliberate speed by the enemies of peace. The sad part of this story is that if Israel didn’t exist the enemies of peace would find something else to protest against and to coalesce around.
The title of today’s FORUM is a description of what we must consider in the coming months. This administration is not capable of doing the right thing and stand with our ally, Israel. The administration’s silence and its actions tell all. This administration is not capable of doing the right things to expand our economy to remain strong. The administration’s silence and its actions tell all. This administration is not capable of projecting peace through strength. The administration’s silence and its actions tell all. This administration is not capable of preserving the needed liberty and the needed freedoms to do all of the above. The administration’s silence and its actions tell all.
I began yesterdays FORUM with the title of “Who’s in and who’s out.” The political stakes in Washington have never been bigger. For example, if this President is allowed to serve another term, I predict that John Kerry will become the new Secretary of State. How will this improve and even shape our foreign policy to our advantage? These are some of the things that we must now consider when we start the process of selecting our candidate to run against President Obama.
Some would say that our potential field of candidates is deep. Some would say our potential field of candidates is shallow. Among the field of potential candidates, we can still expect that a dark horse will appear. We must make sure that the mistakes that were made in the 2008 election don’t happen again. The party can no longer afford to run a candidate like John McCain and expect to win. The candidate we select should have, without a doubt, a better pedigree than the President. The candidate must lead and must project a strong demeanor that will not be met with questionable doubts by our enemies.
One more reason why a better pedigree is needed is that Pakistan now has the world’s fastest growing nuclear weapons program. This has happened on this president’s watch. With new reactors being built, that will produce plutonium, they now have upward of 100 nuclear weapons. They can produce at least 8 new ones per year, from one single plant. This is just a side note to consider when we start to field our candidates.
Another threat that conservatives have along with Republicans and all Independents is that the press will now be more favorable to the president and this administration, more than ever. The press has already started to raise the race card by labeling Donald Trump and now Newt Gingrich as racists. When this happens, each and every candidate must be ready to launch a full frontal campaign to discount the racist claims that will ultimately occur on a daily basis, even if they are not aimed at them. This is sad, because this is the only thing the Democrats have in their arsenal of defense. However, it works, because the press makes it stick and the president is able to escape criticism. He is able to take the high road every time, even though he and his men are behind the attacks. Remember: “To not speak is to speak. To not act is to act!”
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: We have seen on too many occasions that words alone are not enough. Its time to speak with purpose and act with purpose! The other guys do it all the time.
To not speak is to speak. To not act is to act!
These are prophetic words. These words tell all - these words mean all.
As we enter the summer of discontent, history will be made on many fronts. The Arab Spring, as it has now been named, will turn into the Arab Summer of assent. The discontent in the Middle East is turning into a movement to silence Israel and split the Christian –Jewish side apart from the Arab – Muslim side.
The Two State Solution between Israel and the Palestinians will be demanded and will be actively sought by the enemies of peace. Our only remaining ally in the Mid East, Israel, will be asked to stand down and give back the land that is in dispute and that many have died for.
The struggle for freedom is not limited to our shores alone. Our only remaining ally in the region, Israel, is being threatened by all sides of their borders. Egypt is calling for an end to their peace treaty with Israel. Lebanon continues their mortar assaults daily and now Syria’s border assaults are growing. To think Israel shouldn’t be allowed to exist is a mistake. The United States will be asked to pick a side. This is something that we cannot afford to say no to. It is also something that we cannot ignore any longer.
The Arab Spring did not just happen. It occurred with purposeful deliberate action and with purposeful deliberate speed by the enemies of peace. The sad part of this story is that if Israel didn’t exist the enemies of peace would find something else to protest against and to coalesce around.
The title of today’s FORUM is a description of what we must consider in the coming months. This administration is not capable of doing the right thing and stand with our ally, Israel. The administration’s silence and its actions tell all. This administration is not capable of doing the right things to expand our economy to remain strong. The administration’s silence and its actions tell all. This administration is not capable of projecting peace through strength. The administration’s silence and its actions tell all. This administration is not capable of preserving the needed liberty and the needed freedoms to do all of the above. The administration’s silence and its actions tell all.
I began yesterdays FORUM with the title of “Who’s in and who’s out.” The political stakes in Washington have never been bigger. For example, if this President is allowed to serve another term, I predict that John Kerry will become the new Secretary of State. How will this improve and even shape our foreign policy to our advantage? These are some of the things that we must now consider when we start the process of selecting our candidate to run against President Obama.
Some would say that our potential field of candidates is deep. Some would say our potential field of candidates is shallow. Among the field of potential candidates, we can still expect that a dark horse will appear. We must make sure that the mistakes that were made in the 2008 election don’t happen again. The party can no longer afford to run a candidate like John McCain and expect to win. The candidate we select should have, without a doubt, a better pedigree than the President. The candidate must lead and must project a strong demeanor that will not be met with questionable doubts by our enemies.
One more reason why a better pedigree is needed is that Pakistan now has the world’s fastest growing nuclear weapons program. This has happened on this president’s watch. With new reactors being built, that will produce plutonium, they now have upward of 100 nuclear weapons. They can produce at least 8 new ones per year, from one single plant. This is just a side note to consider when we start to field our candidates.
Another threat that conservatives have along with Republicans and all Independents is that the press will now be more favorable to the president and this administration, more than ever. The press has already started to raise the race card by labeling Donald Trump and now Newt Gingrich as racists. When this happens, each and every candidate must be ready to launch a full frontal campaign to discount the racist claims that will ultimately occur on a daily basis, even if they are not aimed at them. This is sad, because this is the only thing the Democrats have in their arsenal of defense. However, it works, because the press makes it stick and the president is able to escape criticism. He is able to take the high road every time, even though he and his men are behind the attacks. Remember: “To not speak is to speak. To not act is to act!”
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: We have seen on too many occasions that words alone are not enough. Its time to speak with purpose and act with purpose! The other guys do it all the time.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Who's in and who's out!
Monday – May 16, 2011
Who’s in, and who’s out!
The field of Republican candidates for the office of the President of the United States has never been more varied, wider and more diverse, in any election in our history. The 2012 election will break all the records and will bring out even more outspoken pundits.
The field is open and the field will be one that will be watched closely. Barack Obama will raise 1 billion dollars in campaign money and he will change his political colors like multiple rainbows to win his reelection. He will talk the talk, but won’t walk the walk.
Ron Paul is in and Mike Huckabee is out. Mitt Romney has not yet committed and we know Donald Trump will not. There are hopefuls Rick Santorum, Mitch Daniels, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Michelle Bachman, Herman Cain, Gary Johnson, Tom Miller, Fred Karger and Vern Wuensche. To many, these are possible contenders for the office of president. There are also those who have declined: Chris Christie, Jeb Bush and Haley Barbour to name a few. But none the less, these candidates are all contenders that deserve a look and that deserve their day on the stage of debate.
What needs to happen now is a sorting out of the field with vigorous public debate. What needs to happen now is that the debate must center on sensible politics and sensible arguments, as to why the President does not deserve another term. Each candidate has two jobs. They must each get out front and they must make the argument as to why the president doesn’t deserve another election victory. There is a fine line between victory and re-election. Victory means you have won and re-election means you have not only won the election, but that the voter has voted for your continued agenda over the other guys.
There will not only be public debate on stage, but a debate in the public itself. This is why it is so important to challenge those who still support the president’s agenda.
The GOP traces their roots back to the politics of Jefferson. The Republican Party can trace their roots back to the Democratic-Republican Party of Jefferson’s day. The belief in the time of Jefferson was anti monarchy, pro-decentralization of government and pro entrepreneurial leaning. The party of old believed in a strong republic. This is where our roots come from and this will be an argument that the strongest candidates can still rally around today. In 1860, only six years after fielding its first National Candidate the Republican Party or the GOP as it is also known, won their first election by electing Abraham Lincoln to the office of President. Since then, there have been 17 Republican Presidents serving a total of 88 years.
The list of Republican Presidents reads like this: Lincoln 1861-1865, Grant 1869-1877, Hayes 1887-1881, Garfield 1881, Arthur 1881-1885, Harrison 1889 -1993, McKinley 1897-1901, T. Roosevelt 1901- 1909, Taft 1909 – 1913, Harding 1921 – 1923, Coolidge 1923 – 1929, Hoover 1929 – 1933, Eisenhower 1953 – 1961, Nixon 1969 – 1974, Ford 1974 – 1977, Reagan 1981 – 1989, H. Bush 1989 – 1993, Bush W. 2001 – 2009.
If this list can be put on a time line and the dates plotted between which a Democrat held office, you would see how the liberal agenda in our life time has grown starting with Wilson, then FDR, then Kennedy to some degree, and on to Johnson, Carter, Clinton and now, Obama. With each Democrat, the push toward the left has been with greater agility and purpose.
It is the purpose that I worry about and now is the time that the potential candidates should start to articulate what the debate is all about. No matter who wins the nomination, the script of the election is now being written by the agile president and his purposeful press.
The growth of the Federal Government started with Wilson. The New Deal was ushered in under Roosevelt. Kennedy was a fiscal conservative, but was also a social liberal. Johnson was deliberate in pushing the most liberal agenda of the time. However, his great society failed, in time. Carter was a complete failure with a 22 % inflation rate, high unemployment, a misery index and the build up of Iran, the world’s first terrorist nation. Some would say we were fortunate, because his agenda was never fully enacted, thank God. Clinton was a practicing liberal that could demonstrate a political agility that was never before seen, even after his impeachment. Obama ,the greatest liberal in history, has purposely enacted the complete liberal agenda that has been written for nearly sixty years. His legacy will be felt, but we don’t completely know the impact, except for what we have seen and felt so far. His legacy appears to be similar to Johnson’s and Carter’s. This is why he doesn’t deserve another term. A jobless recovery, an economy that is growing at only 2%, increasing inflation and a world that is widely torn, because of the lack of American leadership, are all reasons not to vote for him. In a sensible election, that would be the case.
Some would also say many negative things have also occurred during Republican terms. Eisenhower was the first post war president that balanced our power with greatness. Nixon made his mistakes, but Ford strengthened a failed administration, due to the flaws of the man who previously occupied it and not because of a political ideology. Reagan saved the country after Carter, whose actions were flawed and an ideology that was greatly flawed. Bush continued the Reagan legacy of building a strong defense, bringing down a world threat with the tearing down of the Berlin Wall and the demise of the Soviet Union. His son G.W. Bush knew what a strong America was and once again brought greatness back to the Oval Office, with the respect he had for it. He also knew that a strong America would guarantee a safer world. Obama has purposely destroyed all of the good history only to re-enact the failed history of the past all over again.
However, I am only a one pundit who is writing about who’s in, who’s out and who should be out. You noticed I didn’t say who should be in. I am still waiting for that perfect candidate that will need to do what Reagan did, after Carter almost destroyed us. Carter was once in and he was once voted out. It’s not really a bad thing to do, when it becomes necessary.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: The Republican party boasts nearly 55 million registered voters. It advocates American conservatism, espouses the role of religion, nationalism, patriotism, a strong growth oriented economy and strong national defense, while promoting family values. When you ask what should be in and what should be out, then it is easy to answer who should be in and who should be out.
Who’s in, and who’s out!
The field of Republican candidates for the office of the President of the United States has never been more varied, wider and more diverse, in any election in our history. The 2012 election will break all the records and will bring out even more outspoken pundits.
The field is open and the field will be one that will be watched closely. Barack Obama will raise 1 billion dollars in campaign money and he will change his political colors like multiple rainbows to win his reelection. He will talk the talk, but won’t walk the walk.
Ron Paul is in and Mike Huckabee is out. Mitt Romney has not yet committed and we know Donald Trump will not. There are hopefuls Rick Santorum, Mitch Daniels, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Michelle Bachman, Herman Cain, Gary Johnson, Tom Miller, Fred Karger and Vern Wuensche. To many, these are possible contenders for the office of president. There are also those who have declined: Chris Christie, Jeb Bush and Haley Barbour to name a few. But none the less, these candidates are all contenders that deserve a look and that deserve their day on the stage of debate.
What needs to happen now is a sorting out of the field with vigorous public debate. What needs to happen now is that the debate must center on sensible politics and sensible arguments, as to why the President does not deserve another term. Each candidate has two jobs. They must each get out front and they must make the argument as to why the president doesn’t deserve another election victory. There is a fine line between victory and re-election. Victory means you have won and re-election means you have not only won the election, but that the voter has voted for your continued agenda over the other guys.
There will not only be public debate on stage, but a debate in the public itself. This is why it is so important to challenge those who still support the president’s agenda.
The GOP traces their roots back to the politics of Jefferson. The Republican Party can trace their roots back to the Democratic-Republican Party of Jefferson’s day. The belief in the time of Jefferson was anti monarchy, pro-decentralization of government and pro entrepreneurial leaning. The party of old believed in a strong republic. This is where our roots come from and this will be an argument that the strongest candidates can still rally around today. In 1860, only six years after fielding its first National Candidate the Republican Party or the GOP as it is also known, won their first election by electing Abraham Lincoln to the office of President. Since then, there have been 17 Republican Presidents serving a total of 88 years.
The list of Republican Presidents reads like this: Lincoln 1861-1865, Grant 1869-1877, Hayes 1887-1881, Garfield 1881, Arthur 1881-1885, Harrison 1889 -1993, McKinley 1897-1901, T. Roosevelt 1901- 1909, Taft 1909 – 1913, Harding 1921 – 1923, Coolidge 1923 – 1929, Hoover 1929 – 1933, Eisenhower 1953 – 1961, Nixon 1969 – 1974, Ford 1974 – 1977, Reagan 1981 – 1989, H. Bush 1989 – 1993, Bush W. 2001 – 2009.
If this list can be put on a time line and the dates plotted between which a Democrat held office, you would see how the liberal agenda in our life time has grown starting with Wilson, then FDR, then Kennedy to some degree, and on to Johnson, Carter, Clinton and now, Obama. With each Democrat, the push toward the left has been with greater agility and purpose.
It is the purpose that I worry about and now is the time that the potential candidates should start to articulate what the debate is all about. No matter who wins the nomination, the script of the election is now being written by the agile president and his purposeful press.
The growth of the Federal Government started with Wilson. The New Deal was ushered in under Roosevelt. Kennedy was a fiscal conservative, but was also a social liberal. Johnson was deliberate in pushing the most liberal agenda of the time. However, his great society failed, in time. Carter was a complete failure with a 22 % inflation rate, high unemployment, a misery index and the build up of Iran, the world’s first terrorist nation. Some would say we were fortunate, because his agenda was never fully enacted, thank God. Clinton was a practicing liberal that could demonstrate a political agility that was never before seen, even after his impeachment. Obama ,the greatest liberal in history, has purposely enacted the complete liberal agenda that has been written for nearly sixty years. His legacy will be felt, but we don’t completely know the impact, except for what we have seen and felt so far. His legacy appears to be similar to Johnson’s and Carter’s. This is why he doesn’t deserve another term. A jobless recovery, an economy that is growing at only 2%, increasing inflation and a world that is widely torn, because of the lack of American leadership, are all reasons not to vote for him. In a sensible election, that would be the case.
Some would also say many negative things have also occurred during Republican terms. Eisenhower was the first post war president that balanced our power with greatness. Nixon made his mistakes, but Ford strengthened a failed administration, due to the flaws of the man who previously occupied it and not because of a political ideology. Reagan saved the country after Carter, whose actions were flawed and an ideology that was greatly flawed. Bush continued the Reagan legacy of building a strong defense, bringing down a world threat with the tearing down of the Berlin Wall and the demise of the Soviet Union. His son G.W. Bush knew what a strong America was and once again brought greatness back to the Oval Office, with the respect he had for it. He also knew that a strong America would guarantee a safer world. Obama has purposely destroyed all of the good history only to re-enact the failed history of the past all over again.
However, I am only a one pundit who is writing about who’s in, who’s out and who should be out. You noticed I didn’t say who should be in. I am still waiting for that perfect candidate that will need to do what Reagan did, after Carter almost destroyed us. Carter was once in and he was once voted out. It’s not really a bad thing to do, when it becomes necessary.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: The Republican party boasts nearly 55 million registered voters. It advocates American conservatism, espouses the role of religion, nationalism, patriotism, a strong growth oriented economy and strong national defense, while promoting family values. When you ask what should be in and what should be out, then it is easy to answer who should be in and who should be out.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Because I know!
Friday-May 13, 2011
Because now I know!
Remember when you had an argument with your father or mother and it ended with them saying, because I know!
Well, that can be said every time you argue with a liberal or a misguided follower of the liberal agenda. It’s called taking the high road, because you do have the facts to win an argument.
I had a conversation with a friend about the politics that are now being played out in Washington. The conversation centered mainly on the upcoming presidential election in 2012. The person I was talking to is a staunch supporter of the president, but now has softened a bit due to the one sided policy measures that have been enacted under this administration.
I argued many points. I argued against deficit spending, I argued against entitlements, I argued against the unprecedented expansion of the federal government under this President’s rule. Then I stopped and I realized that I was arguing for a moral purpose. I interjected this thought and the person that I was talking to demonstrated a response that I haven’t seen in a long time. The response then went from adversary to someone wanting to know more about what I was saying.
I started to illustrate that the President, when he was a Senator, voted for every spending program since the Republicans lost the House and Senate in ‘06. I argued that the problems today are a direct result of how he voted then. I said the Democrats have been in control since then and under Pelosi and Reid have furthered this immoral liberal agenda. I further bolstered my argument by saying that the liberal policies of deficit spending and expanded government is choking the life out of you and me and will choke our posterities as well. How can this be moral? I brought in the politics of favoritism that the Unions enjoy and the unfavorable politics that corporations must put up with, just to stay in business. How can that be moral? I brought up the fact that most of what has been done to please people like you is just window dressing by another liberal administration, because you want Big Business and Big Oil to pay for the ills of the nation. Big Oil for example controls only 5% of the world’s oil reserves the other 95% is controlled by governments around the world. General Electric for example gets away without paying millions of dollars in taxes because of the loop holes that politicians build into the tax code. You have been conditioned to believe that they are at fault. How can this be moral?
Liberals like Evan Thomas and Rob Reiner call the 58% of Americans who identify with the Tea Party, Nazi’s because they are fearful. How can this be moral and how is this dialogue considered appropriate?
I asked a question. What has this president done to improve the deficit, reform entitlement spending and even with his healthcare plan that is being constitutionally challenged. How has this president and the liberals improved anything?
I then went on to say the President did the appropriate thing in hunting down and killing Bin Laden but is this really moral? However, this is another discussion for another day.
I then made a particular point to stress the question of moral history. This is something that is never addressed and not recognized. From the inception as a country and as citizens, there has been this moral code that we were taught to live by. Though the code is not defined, it still remains a guiding light in the decisions that our politicians make. Some politicians practice this moral code more than others, but none the less, the moral code of doing what is right fortunately is still recognized by some but not enough.
We discussed how this president came to power based on the absence of a moral code. The person I was talking with was bothered by some of the things that the press didn’t delve into and should have. This is not me talking; it was the person I was talking to. I brought out the past and present associations of the president and the continued pattern of denial when an association of the president doesn’t pass the test of appropriateness. This was the case this week when the President and the First Lady invited the Rapper Common to the White House where children were invited to listen to poetry.
I was thinking about my conversation and I realized that the term of appropriate doesn’t mean anything anymore. I see many people who do not behave appropriately in public. I see many people in businesses who don’t behave appropriately. I read and I see many people in the news who don’t behave appropriately. I see many who try to make an argument, but who come up short, because their arguments are not appropriate. How can many of the laws that are passed be moral when they might not be appropriate?
I can remember my parents making an issue about the importance of behaving and conducting yourself appropriately and practicing the morals that you were being taught.
I didn’t think that was so important then, but now I can see that it is now more than ever, because now I know.
In a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to Don Valentine de Feronda in 1809 he said: “I never …believed there was one code of morality for a public and another for a private man.”
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: It is appropriate to say I know when you know you are morally right!
Because now I know!
Remember when you had an argument with your father or mother and it ended with them saying, because I know!
Well, that can be said every time you argue with a liberal or a misguided follower of the liberal agenda. It’s called taking the high road, because you do have the facts to win an argument.
I had a conversation with a friend about the politics that are now being played out in Washington. The conversation centered mainly on the upcoming presidential election in 2012. The person I was talking to is a staunch supporter of the president, but now has softened a bit due to the one sided policy measures that have been enacted under this administration.
I argued many points. I argued against deficit spending, I argued against entitlements, I argued against the unprecedented expansion of the federal government under this President’s rule. Then I stopped and I realized that I was arguing for a moral purpose. I interjected this thought and the person that I was talking to demonstrated a response that I haven’t seen in a long time. The response then went from adversary to someone wanting to know more about what I was saying.
I started to illustrate that the President, when he was a Senator, voted for every spending program since the Republicans lost the House and Senate in ‘06. I argued that the problems today are a direct result of how he voted then. I said the Democrats have been in control since then and under Pelosi and Reid have furthered this immoral liberal agenda. I further bolstered my argument by saying that the liberal policies of deficit spending and expanded government is choking the life out of you and me and will choke our posterities as well. How can this be moral? I brought in the politics of favoritism that the Unions enjoy and the unfavorable politics that corporations must put up with, just to stay in business. How can that be moral? I brought up the fact that most of what has been done to please people like you is just window dressing by another liberal administration, because you want Big Business and Big Oil to pay for the ills of the nation. Big Oil for example controls only 5% of the world’s oil reserves the other 95% is controlled by governments around the world. General Electric for example gets away without paying millions of dollars in taxes because of the loop holes that politicians build into the tax code. You have been conditioned to believe that they are at fault. How can this be moral?
Liberals like Evan Thomas and Rob Reiner call the 58% of Americans who identify with the Tea Party, Nazi’s because they are fearful. How can this be moral and how is this dialogue considered appropriate?
I asked a question. What has this president done to improve the deficit, reform entitlement spending and even with his healthcare plan that is being constitutionally challenged. How has this president and the liberals improved anything?
I then went on to say the President did the appropriate thing in hunting down and killing Bin Laden but is this really moral? However, this is another discussion for another day.
I then made a particular point to stress the question of moral history. This is something that is never addressed and not recognized. From the inception as a country and as citizens, there has been this moral code that we were taught to live by. Though the code is not defined, it still remains a guiding light in the decisions that our politicians make. Some politicians practice this moral code more than others, but none the less, the moral code of doing what is right fortunately is still recognized by some but not enough.
We discussed how this president came to power based on the absence of a moral code. The person I was talking with was bothered by some of the things that the press didn’t delve into and should have. This is not me talking; it was the person I was talking to. I brought out the past and present associations of the president and the continued pattern of denial when an association of the president doesn’t pass the test of appropriateness. This was the case this week when the President and the First Lady invited the Rapper Common to the White House where children were invited to listen to poetry.
I was thinking about my conversation and I realized that the term of appropriate doesn’t mean anything anymore. I see many people who do not behave appropriately in public. I see many people in businesses who don’t behave appropriately. I read and I see many people in the news who don’t behave appropriately. I see many who try to make an argument, but who come up short, because their arguments are not appropriate. How can many of the laws that are passed be moral when they might not be appropriate?
I can remember my parents making an issue about the importance of behaving and conducting yourself appropriately and practicing the morals that you were being taught.
I didn’t think that was so important then, but now I can see that it is now more than ever, because now I know.
In a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to Don Valentine de Feronda in 1809 he said: “I never …believed there was one code of morality for a public and another for a private man.”
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: It is appropriate to say I know when you know you are morally right!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
On a roll!
Wednesday – May 11, 2011
On a roll!
The president is on a roll. It’s good thing to see, if you are in his camp. It’s good to see that he is changing to yet another initiative. Let’s slow down a bit and take time to see what is really happening.
The President has changed from Commander in Chief to the nations top immigration official. The President is in El Paso, Texas talking about his immigration reform package. The Republicans say it is dead on arrival, because it doesn’t address security.
The big difference between the Democrats and the Republicans, when it comes to the immigration reform question, is security. The Democrats want to give the green light for immigration reform through the so called Dream Act. This, in essence, would give a fast track to anyone who wants to become a citizen of the United States. The red tape, the waiting and every other restriction that comes along with immigration would be lifted. This type of approach gets instant votes and also creates instant appeal to those who want to be fast tracked.
The Republicans favor a system that would be quicker, but doesn’t give up security. The Republicans have told the president that if there are appropriate security measures in his immigration reform package there would be bi-partisan support. The President, on the other hand, says the Republicans are putting up barriers. He is using the same argument that is being used with the budget. The Republicans have done their job by offering up a new budget plan, only to be rejected by the President and the Senate. They say the Republicans have shirked their duty, when the Democrats have not proposed a thing.
The president and the Democrats have resurrected the same old plan that has proven to be fraught with irreversible policies that, if enacted, would weaken our border and weaken the nation’s ability to approve and disapprove citizenship. We have laws and we have a system. If we use the system and enforce the laws that are already on the books then there would be no need for immigration reform. The crux of the argument is this: should we, as a nation, have the ability to reject certain individuals from becoming citizens? I say, yes!
The President went to El Paso to garner applause during his speech. This applause would be broadcast to millions over the news wires. The question I have and as my wife said why doesn’t he go to Arizona and give that same speech?
The President used some interesting statistics in his appeal for reform. The statistics showed improvement in control, because the statistics were a direct result of Bush era policies that provides security and that also provided for fair treatment of immigrants and illegal aliens.
This is another case of taking credit when credit should be given to someone else. The problem is, if people knew that the success should be given to Bush, they would not be supporting Obama. So what is his game?
The President is out for votes and nothing else. The Democrats are out for votes and nothing else. When you give something to someone with no strings attached, you will be liked. When the other side wants to give the same thing, with some conditions attached, they are more likely to be hated.
This is the same with the budget, healthcare, union reform etc. etc. The question is: should we allow our politicians to play this game? The problem, in most cases, is not entirely the politicians. The big part of the problem is the citizenry voting for the politicians with the biggest giveaways. I read some thing the other day that said, in essence, that we will survive Obama, but will we survive a citizenry that continues to vote for people like the President and his Party? Don’t get me wrong. The same can also be said of some Republicans that have been elected to office.
The President said in his speech in El Paso, “anyone can write the next chapter in our story.” This is true and this is accurate. Let’s not forget that it is up to us to make sure that when the next chapter is written, it is written with passion for liberty and freedom. When the next chapter is written, the author must be versed in the tradition of the liberty and the freedoms that made us great and that made us strong. It can not be written by one man who writes a successful chapter by taking the credit for previous chapters. This is not what I call being on a roll!
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: “Anyone can write the next chapter in our story” lets make sure it is a true author who can write the next chapter with words of liberty, freedom and prosperity. That’s what being on a roll is all about!
On a roll!
The president is on a roll. It’s good thing to see, if you are in his camp. It’s good to see that he is changing to yet another initiative. Let’s slow down a bit and take time to see what is really happening.
The President has changed from Commander in Chief to the nations top immigration official. The President is in El Paso, Texas talking about his immigration reform package. The Republicans say it is dead on arrival, because it doesn’t address security.
The big difference between the Democrats and the Republicans, when it comes to the immigration reform question, is security. The Democrats want to give the green light for immigration reform through the so called Dream Act. This, in essence, would give a fast track to anyone who wants to become a citizen of the United States. The red tape, the waiting and every other restriction that comes along with immigration would be lifted. This type of approach gets instant votes and also creates instant appeal to those who want to be fast tracked.
The Republicans favor a system that would be quicker, but doesn’t give up security. The Republicans have told the president that if there are appropriate security measures in his immigration reform package there would be bi-partisan support. The President, on the other hand, says the Republicans are putting up barriers. He is using the same argument that is being used with the budget. The Republicans have done their job by offering up a new budget plan, only to be rejected by the President and the Senate. They say the Republicans have shirked their duty, when the Democrats have not proposed a thing.
The president and the Democrats have resurrected the same old plan that has proven to be fraught with irreversible policies that, if enacted, would weaken our border and weaken the nation’s ability to approve and disapprove citizenship. We have laws and we have a system. If we use the system and enforce the laws that are already on the books then there would be no need for immigration reform. The crux of the argument is this: should we, as a nation, have the ability to reject certain individuals from becoming citizens? I say, yes!
The President went to El Paso to garner applause during his speech. This applause would be broadcast to millions over the news wires. The question I have and as my wife said why doesn’t he go to Arizona and give that same speech?
The President used some interesting statistics in his appeal for reform. The statistics showed improvement in control, because the statistics were a direct result of Bush era policies that provides security and that also provided for fair treatment of immigrants and illegal aliens.
This is another case of taking credit when credit should be given to someone else. The problem is, if people knew that the success should be given to Bush, they would not be supporting Obama. So what is his game?
The President is out for votes and nothing else. The Democrats are out for votes and nothing else. When you give something to someone with no strings attached, you will be liked. When the other side wants to give the same thing, with some conditions attached, they are more likely to be hated.
This is the same with the budget, healthcare, union reform etc. etc. The question is: should we allow our politicians to play this game? The problem, in most cases, is not entirely the politicians. The big part of the problem is the citizenry voting for the politicians with the biggest giveaways. I read some thing the other day that said, in essence, that we will survive Obama, but will we survive a citizenry that continues to vote for people like the President and his Party? Don’t get me wrong. The same can also be said of some Republicans that have been elected to office.
The President said in his speech in El Paso, “anyone can write the next chapter in our story.” This is true and this is accurate. Let’s not forget that it is up to us to make sure that when the next chapter is written, it is written with passion for liberty and freedom. When the next chapter is written, the author must be versed in the tradition of the liberty and the freedoms that made us great and that made us strong. It can not be written by one man who writes a successful chapter by taking the credit for previous chapters. This is not what I call being on a roll!
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: “Anyone can write the next chapter in our story” lets make sure it is a true author who can write the next chapter with words of liberty, freedom and prosperity. That’s what being on a roll is all about!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Then what?
Tuesday – May 10, 2011
Then what?
This is the question that the White House must answer!
After the dust has settled, since the announcement of Bin Laden’s death, we must start asking the tough questions. When tough questions are asked it is assumed that leadership is occurring. However, when questions are asked and answers are given that doesn’t yield a thing then what?
The true test of leadership in any White House is getting the answers to needed questions. Just because a devil (Bin Laden) was killed doesn’t mean that the threat he created is over and the accomplices of his crimes are now on their best behavior.
As the Republican field of potential candidates are making themselves heard, the left is actively starting their campaign to disqualify each and everyone. Trump is now being called a racist. Ron Paul is now being called an extremist and the list goes on. This is only a diversion, because no one in the White House can answer the question. Then what?
There are those who favor eliminating the billions of dollars that we give to Pakistan in aid. There are those who are saying that our relationship with India should be leveraged to pressure Pakistan into a passive ally of the U.S. The facts are now clear, we cannot take away the aid to Pakistan and we cannot use India as a wedge, if our leaders are unable to use these two scenarios then what. The answer is we need a leader that will stand tough and be as tough as the questions that must be asked and answered.
When we prosecute members of our own intelligence community for performing two cases of water boarding that gleaned the information that led to the elimination of Bin Laden by U.S. Troops it sends the wrong message. The environment presently in Pakistan is very dangerous. The Pakistani’s see the hypocrisy of the prosecution here and they are now demanding that we account for our actions there. They are charging the U.S. with invading a sovereign territory and essentially shooting an unarmed man. We see this as being totally ludicrous, but those in the world who hates America is seeing this as one more case of American Imperialism and America’s continued violation of invading foreign lands.
We all favor the tough decision by our president to invade. We all favor the tough response that our country is capable of when it is necessary. We all favor the patriotism that ensued upon the announcement that Bin Laden was dead. We all favor the threat that was eliminated in the short term. We all favor the victory that the SEALS had.
When the president gets around to demanding answers to the questions that every American is now asking and he doesn’t get the response that is required then what?
When all else fails to reconcile the question of why Osama was living undetected amongst the Pakistani military is not answered then what?
The problem with American diplomacy, in any given crisis, is that we continue to throw money at it just like we do with our problems here at home. We continue to encourage containment in our own management of American affairs at home, as we do with our diplomatic efforts abroad.
The question of how do you stop practicing the policy of containment, must be the question that is asked of the potential field of candidates that will run against the president next year. This question must also be asked of the president. It doesn’t make sense to continue with giving financial aid for containment purposes any more. The world is being divided up into two camps. It is obvious that the two camps have ideological and cultural differences and instead of buying time to coerce the two camps to put up false walls we should be demanding that our leaders set a course that will encourage security and not the same containment practices that work against our interest every time.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: When our leaders cannot find the means to get answers to the questions that we need answered and our money does not provide the security that we think we are buying, we must begin to consider the question: then what?
Then what?
This is the question that the White House must answer!
After the dust has settled, since the announcement of Bin Laden’s death, we must start asking the tough questions. When tough questions are asked it is assumed that leadership is occurring. However, when questions are asked and answers are given that doesn’t yield a thing then what?
The true test of leadership in any White House is getting the answers to needed questions. Just because a devil (Bin Laden) was killed doesn’t mean that the threat he created is over and the accomplices of his crimes are now on their best behavior.
As the Republican field of potential candidates are making themselves heard, the left is actively starting their campaign to disqualify each and everyone. Trump is now being called a racist. Ron Paul is now being called an extremist and the list goes on. This is only a diversion, because no one in the White House can answer the question. Then what?
There are those who favor eliminating the billions of dollars that we give to Pakistan in aid. There are those who are saying that our relationship with India should be leveraged to pressure Pakistan into a passive ally of the U.S. The facts are now clear, we cannot take away the aid to Pakistan and we cannot use India as a wedge, if our leaders are unable to use these two scenarios then what. The answer is we need a leader that will stand tough and be as tough as the questions that must be asked and answered.
When we prosecute members of our own intelligence community for performing two cases of water boarding that gleaned the information that led to the elimination of Bin Laden by U.S. Troops it sends the wrong message. The environment presently in Pakistan is very dangerous. The Pakistani’s see the hypocrisy of the prosecution here and they are now demanding that we account for our actions there. They are charging the U.S. with invading a sovereign territory and essentially shooting an unarmed man. We see this as being totally ludicrous, but those in the world who hates America is seeing this as one more case of American Imperialism and America’s continued violation of invading foreign lands.
We all favor the tough decision by our president to invade. We all favor the tough response that our country is capable of when it is necessary. We all favor the patriotism that ensued upon the announcement that Bin Laden was dead. We all favor the threat that was eliminated in the short term. We all favor the victory that the SEALS had.
When the president gets around to demanding answers to the questions that every American is now asking and he doesn’t get the response that is required then what?
When all else fails to reconcile the question of why Osama was living undetected amongst the Pakistani military is not answered then what?
The problem with American diplomacy, in any given crisis, is that we continue to throw money at it just like we do with our problems here at home. We continue to encourage containment in our own management of American affairs at home, as we do with our diplomatic efforts abroad.
The question of how do you stop practicing the policy of containment, must be the question that is asked of the potential field of candidates that will run against the president next year. This question must also be asked of the president. It doesn’t make sense to continue with giving financial aid for containment purposes any more. The world is being divided up into two camps. It is obvious that the two camps have ideological and cultural differences and instead of buying time to coerce the two camps to put up false walls we should be demanding that our leaders set a course that will encourage security and not the same containment practices that work against our interest every time.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: When our leaders cannot find the means to get answers to the questions that we need answered and our money does not provide the security that we think we are buying, we must begin to consider the question: then what?
Monday, May 9, 2011
The sounds of silence:
Monday-May 9, 2011
The sounds of silence:
As I watch the President speak to our military and expound on the essence of American values, I accepted it with skepticism. I fear that the president if he is learning about the values that our forefathers set before us is learning about them late in life and for the wrong reasons.
His speech, his words and the attitude was right but I am still suspect. I am suspect about the drastic turn in his desire to use the military and to speak and support about everything he campaigned against. If he has made the turn and has seen the light that’s one thing but if he is using our military strength to prop himself up that is something entirely different.
Many Presidents go out of office different from when they entered office. I suspect that the pressures and the ability to do great things does put a perspective on things that we idle citizens don’t see. Friday I related a quote from Ronald Reagan, he said: “Don’t be afraid to see what you see.” What I am beginning to see is of great concern.
The killing of Bin Laden on sovereign territory in another country was a necessity because it was a raid that no one knew anything about. You might say, Pakistan harbored Bin Laden illegally and had full knowledge that he was there. You might be right. However, consider this for a minute. Pakistan is run by the military. Pakistan’s president is mainly a figure head. He can be thrown out at any time. The military might have known about Bin Laden and have information on the other terrorists that remain. If the military knew then there is a reason they did not share the intelligence with their president and the United States. This is how the sounds of silence work and there is a reason why some are silent about the obvious.
There was a 25 million dollar bounty on Bin Laden. If that didn’t cause someone to turn him over I don’t know what else would. The unintended circumstance that our president might now have caused is a military quo that will oust the Pakistani president and that will usher in enemies of the U.S. and India. This would become an intolerable situation in that part of the world because of the nuclear weapons Pakistan has.
While the president is telling us not to spike the ball over the killing of Bin Laden he is on the road taking credit and giving a pat on the backs to those who did the heavy lifting. Its one thing to try and galvanize a nation over a great event but it is an entirely different thing to perform an act just to get the credit and not concern your self with the unseen events that could occur in the path that was created.
It’s been a week since the news of Bin Laden’s death was announced to us here at home and the world. I have heard many opinions from liberals and conservatives about Bin Laden’s death. For once my liberal friends favor the fact that he was killed and the military did their jobs. Some of my conservative friends have mixed emotions. I believe some of the feelings that are mixed are that it was under this president’s watch that Bin Laden was killed and they only see the hypocrisy.
What I see is a danger that we might not have anticipated and that no one is talking about. After a week of presidential travels and presidential back slapping and handshaking all of our secrets have been made public. We know that a stealth helicopter now exists. We know that the remains of the destroyed helicopters tail section is in Pakistani hands and the Chinese want to see it and possibly buy it. We know that SEAL team 6 conducted the raid. We know where SEAL team 6’s home base is. We know that there were up to 24 participants. We know that a K9 unit was involved. We know that there was a treasure trove of information that was retrieved. We know that the raid took 40 minutes from start to finish. We know just about every detail including the weather. We also know that our new method of fighting the war on terrorism is with covert military teams similar to SEAL team 6 conducting covert missions through the CIA. We know that General David Petraeus is being tapped for the director of the CIA. Do you see the reason why he is being tapped now? We didn’t know any of this a week ago and our enemies didn’t either. Our enemy is still crafty and is now energized more than ever to do us harm. We now know they know all the details.
I believe that it would have been a far better approach to perform the raid as it was planned but not take any credit and let the news circulate by it self as we deny any involvement. We have stealth technology that no one knew about and so I guess we would have that plausible deniability that politicians like to have and use. This would have been a far better, braver and far gutsier move if no credit was taken. The enemy would have had no doubt over Bin Laden’s death but could not point a finger of blame. It would also have sent a quiet message that someone now has the ability to get anyone, anytime anywhere. This tactic would have caused for uncertainty and mistrust among the trusted in the ranks of our enemy especially in Pakistan. This is a tactic that a smart tactician would prefer over a public proclamation that Osama was killed. But then again this was not a military victory in as much as it was a political victory.
When politics are concerned there is no code of silence even when the sound’s of silence is a far better strategy in the long run.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: The sounds of silence work. During WWII the saying of “loose lips sink ships” was the rule of the day. The same should still hold true today however, the participants with the loose lips need the political victory more than the smart victory
The sounds of silence:
As I watch the President speak to our military and expound on the essence of American values, I accepted it with skepticism. I fear that the president if he is learning about the values that our forefathers set before us is learning about them late in life and for the wrong reasons.
His speech, his words and the attitude was right but I am still suspect. I am suspect about the drastic turn in his desire to use the military and to speak and support about everything he campaigned against. If he has made the turn and has seen the light that’s one thing but if he is using our military strength to prop himself up that is something entirely different.
Many Presidents go out of office different from when they entered office. I suspect that the pressures and the ability to do great things does put a perspective on things that we idle citizens don’t see. Friday I related a quote from Ronald Reagan, he said: “Don’t be afraid to see what you see.” What I am beginning to see is of great concern.
The killing of Bin Laden on sovereign territory in another country was a necessity because it was a raid that no one knew anything about. You might say, Pakistan harbored Bin Laden illegally and had full knowledge that he was there. You might be right. However, consider this for a minute. Pakistan is run by the military. Pakistan’s president is mainly a figure head. He can be thrown out at any time. The military might have known about Bin Laden and have information on the other terrorists that remain. If the military knew then there is a reason they did not share the intelligence with their president and the United States. This is how the sounds of silence work and there is a reason why some are silent about the obvious.
There was a 25 million dollar bounty on Bin Laden. If that didn’t cause someone to turn him over I don’t know what else would. The unintended circumstance that our president might now have caused is a military quo that will oust the Pakistani president and that will usher in enemies of the U.S. and India. This would become an intolerable situation in that part of the world because of the nuclear weapons Pakistan has.
While the president is telling us not to spike the ball over the killing of Bin Laden he is on the road taking credit and giving a pat on the backs to those who did the heavy lifting. Its one thing to try and galvanize a nation over a great event but it is an entirely different thing to perform an act just to get the credit and not concern your self with the unseen events that could occur in the path that was created.
It’s been a week since the news of Bin Laden’s death was announced to us here at home and the world. I have heard many opinions from liberals and conservatives about Bin Laden’s death. For once my liberal friends favor the fact that he was killed and the military did their jobs. Some of my conservative friends have mixed emotions. I believe some of the feelings that are mixed are that it was under this president’s watch that Bin Laden was killed and they only see the hypocrisy.
What I see is a danger that we might not have anticipated and that no one is talking about. After a week of presidential travels and presidential back slapping and handshaking all of our secrets have been made public. We know that a stealth helicopter now exists. We know that the remains of the destroyed helicopters tail section is in Pakistani hands and the Chinese want to see it and possibly buy it. We know that SEAL team 6 conducted the raid. We know where SEAL team 6’s home base is. We know that there were up to 24 participants. We know that a K9 unit was involved. We know that there was a treasure trove of information that was retrieved. We know that the raid took 40 minutes from start to finish. We know just about every detail including the weather. We also know that our new method of fighting the war on terrorism is with covert military teams similar to SEAL team 6 conducting covert missions through the CIA. We know that General David Petraeus is being tapped for the director of the CIA. Do you see the reason why he is being tapped now? We didn’t know any of this a week ago and our enemies didn’t either. Our enemy is still crafty and is now energized more than ever to do us harm. We now know they know all the details.
I believe that it would have been a far better approach to perform the raid as it was planned but not take any credit and let the news circulate by it self as we deny any involvement. We have stealth technology that no one knew about and so I guess we would have that plausible deniability that politicians like to have and use. This would have been a far better, braver and far gutsier move if no credit was taken. The enemy would have had no doubt over Bin Laden’s death but could not point a finger of blame. It would also have sent a quiet message that someone now has the ability to get anyone, anytime anywhere. This tactic would have caused for uncertainty and mistrust among the trusted in the ranks of our enemy especially in Pakistan. This is a tactic that a smart tactician would prefer over a public proclamation that Osama was killed. But then again this was not a military victory in as much as it was a political victory.
When politics are concerned there is no code of silence even when the sound’s of silence is a far better strategy in the long run.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: The sounds of silence work. During WWII the saying of “loose lips sink ships” was the rule of the day. The same should still hold true today however, the participants with the loose lips need the political victory more than the smart victory
Friday, May 6, 2011
Friday – May 6, 2011
A wild week!
This was a wild week that saw the culmination of a whole network of individuals who devoted the last ten years of their lives to capturing Osama Bin Laden pay off. This was a week that started with an unprecedented announcement by the President late Sunday night, when most people were in bed.
To some, this was a week that the other guy lucked out and was able to grab that brass ring. To others, this was a week when the deaths of loved ones were answered by an announcement that proclaimed a murderer was brought to justice. I prefer to view it in that manner and at the same time point out some of the hypocrisy that accompanied the announcement. After all, that’s the politics of the situation.
It is okay to view an event of this magnitude with zeal and with a sense of national pride. Our pride is not a selfish pride. Our pride does not tell us to gloat over our strength and over a military that can carry out the most difficult of missions. Our pride does not tell us that our nation won. It tells us that we persevered.
The country can move on now and, more importantly, the families that lost loved ones can now move on, because the mission to bring Bin Laden to justice is done.
We will now debate and we will now analyze more of the changing facts of the raid that will ultimately become known, as the days wear on. Some of us will continue down the partisan road in this debate. Why not, after all it is the political season. This is what gives the nation its potential and what ensures our liberty and freedom.
The political season is viewed as boring by most, but others view it as the most exciting aspect of their day. Some of us make predictions and some report the facts. However, all of us have an opinion and that is what is constant.
What we must remember from this wild week is that there is justice. Sometimes justice takes a little longer and sometimes justice can be difficult to achieve. However, in the end, the good guys always get the bad guys. This is true in the war on terror and this is true in the world of politics.
I am ending this week with a quote by Ronald Reagan. He was one of the good guys on the golden screen and also in the world of politics. Reagan said, “Don’t be afraid to see what you see.”
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: During a wild week, you cannot be afraid to make the facts known. If some of us don’t, then many will not see the facts, let alone be aware of the facts. This is how opinions are made and how opinions can change the day!
A wild week!
This was a wild week that saw the culmination of a whole network of individuals who devoted the last ten years of their lives to capturing Osama Bin Laden pay off. This was a week that started with an unprecedented announcement by the President late Sunday night, when most people were in bed.
To some, this was a week that the other guy lucked out and was able to grab that brass ring. To others, this was a week when the deaths of loved ones were answered by an announcement that proclaimed a murderer was brought to justice. I prefer to view it in that manner and at the same time point out some of the hypocrisy that accompanied the announcement. After all, that’s the politics of the situation.
It is okay to view an event of this magnitude with zeal and with a sense of national pride. Our pride is not a selfish pride. Our pride does not tell us to gloat over our strength and over a military that can carry out the most difficult of missions. Our pride does not tell us that our nation won. It tells us that we persevered.
The country can move on now and, more importantly, the families that lost loved ones can now move on, because the mission to bring Bin Laden to justice is done.
We will now debate and we will now analyze more of the changing facts of the raid that will ultimately become known, as the days wear on. Some of us will continue down the partisan road in this debate. Why not, after all it is the political season. This is what gives the nation its potential and what ensures our liberty and freedom.
The political season is viewed as boring by most, but others view it as the most exciting aspect of their day. Some of us make predictions and some report the facts. However, all of us have an opinion and that is what is constant.
What we must remember from this wild week is that there is justice. Sometimes justice takes a little longer and sometimes justice can be difficult to achieve. However, in the end, the good guys always get the bad guys. This is true in the war on terror and this is true in the world of politics.
I am ending this week with a quote by Ronald Reagan. He was one of the good guys on the golden screen and also in the world of politics. Reagan said, “Don’t be afraid to see what you see.”
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: During a wild week, you cannot be afraid to make the facts known. If some of us don’t, then many will not see the facts, let alone be aware of the facts. This is how opinions are made and how opinions can change the day!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
I really don't care!
Thursday-May 5, 2011
I really don’t care!
During the last few days, many people in the country and around the world have been giving their opinions, including me, on the lead up to the death of Bin Laden. His death and the reporting of the details of his death, as I predicted, have become the political question of the day.
Bin Laden changed our country and the world forever. The reason it changed is that we let it and we let him change the way we live. This is why I really don’t care to see the photos of the dead Bin Laden. If the photos are released, I really don’t care if it offends some followers of his empty rhetoric and his now empty façade. I really don’t care if he was accorded the ritual of a proper Muslim burial and the symbolic dump into the sea. I really don’t care about the details of his life and I really don’t care about the details of his departure. The most interesting fact that has emerged is that the occupants of the compound he occupied for six years liked Coke and Pepsi products from the country they hated. Other than that the rest I don’t care about.
What I care about are the true facts of how his capture and death was achieved. However, I don’t think that we need to know those details, because, as I predicted, the revision of history and the revision of how the credit can be given has already occurred.
What I don’t care about are the excuses that Pakistan is giving, while being Bin Laden’s host country. What I care about is the 3 billion dollars in aid we give to Pakistan and how we will deal with that country to insure characters like Bin Laden can’t take refuge there now and in the future. What I care about is the incompetence or the lack of loyalty that has been demonstrated by Pakistan’s leaders. Other than that, I really don’t care about anything Pakistan says or does to reconcile there complicity in terror.
Bin Laden is one of those characters that come to life and whose sole purpose then is to take life. These types of characters come along every now and then and unfortunately the now and then of their existence is the threat that we must get better at identifying. Other than that, I really don’t care about what happens to people like Bin Laden.
To give details of the mission, the capture and the subsequent death of Bin Laden have begun to fuel the flames of his immortality and his martyrdom. Unfortunately, we in this country don’t know the power of martyrdom,, because we have an opportunity to change our leaders and the course they set by virtue of our vote. This is why our system is a threat to the system that Bin Laden would like to have achieved in his name.
The problem with making every detail known for a bump in the polls and to take credit is that someone, somewhere and somehow will make a legal argument against the action. Once the legal argument is made, then the fact that the devil is gone is no longer important. What then becomes important are the facts of his death. What then becomes less important are the thousands that Bin Laden killed in his lifetime in the name of Islam.
An argument is now being made that since the Obama administration classified terrorists as law breakers and not enemy combatants or combatants on the battlefield, his death becomes a legal question. The argument that is being made is that our military shot and killed an unarmed man, who was not a soldier in any army. This might sound crazy but, believe me, the argument is being made. I really don’t care about this argument, because I don’t care about the kind of people who would make that kind of argument.
This is why our leaders must understand that silence is the best policy when an important military achievement is accomplished. The fifteen minute speech announcing his death could have been made in a simple two minute announcement. This is all that was needed. The other details I really don’t care about! The simple way out is most often the best way to bring a very complex and very personal situation to an end. The knowledge that Bin Laden is gone and his body is forever lost in the deep depths of the abyss is enough for me to get on with the hard work of returning our country to a solid footing and bringing closure to the dark era that Bin Laden wrought.
I really don’t care about anything else than that!
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: The secrets of the military action that brought Bin Laden to his ultimate fate are best kept in a file marked confidential. We must trust that our military is doing their job. We must make our leaders accountable when a country like Pakistan demonstrates incompetence that puts the world at risk. Our job is to make sure that we work daily at being good citizens and we exercise our right to liberty and freedom through expression and the power of our vote. We must also remain vigilant so the likes of a future Bin Laden can never perform another evil act here again. Other than that I really don’t care about anything else!
I really don’t care!
During the last few days, many people in the country and around the world have been giving their opinions, including me, on the lead up to the death of Bin Laden. His death and the reporting of the details of his death, as I predicted, have become the political question of the day.
Bin Laden changed our country and the world forever. The reason it changed is that we let it and we let him change the way we live. This is why I really don’t care to see the photos of the dead Bin Laden. If the photos are released, I really don’t care if it offends some followers of his empty rhetoric and his now empty façade. I really don’t care if he was accorded the ritual of a proper Muslim burial and the symbolic dump into the sea. I really don’t care about the details of his life and I really don’t care about the details of his departure. The most interesting fact that has emerged is that the occupants of the compound he occupied for six years liked Coke and Pepsi products from the country they hated. Other than that the rest I don’t care about.
What I care about are the true facts of how his capture and death was achieved. However, I don’t think that we need to know those details, because, as I predicted, the revision of history and the revision of how the credit can be given has already occurred.
What I don’t care about are the excuses that Pakistan is giving, while being Bin Laden’s host country. What I care about is the 3 billion dollars in aid we give to Pakistan and how we will deal with that country to insure characters like Bin Laden can’t take refuge there now and in the future. What I care about is the incompetence or the lack of loyalty that has been demonstrated by Pakistan’s leaders. Other than that, I really don’t care about anything Pakistan says or does to reconcile there complicity in terror.
Bin Laden is one of those characters that come to life and whose sole purpose then is to take life. These types of characters come along every now and then and unfortunately the now and then of their existence is the threat that we must get better at identifying. Other than that, I really don’t care about what happens to people like Bin Laden.
To give details of the mission, the capture and the subsequent death of Bin Laden have begun to fuel the flames of his immortality and his martyrdom. Unfortunately, we in this country don’t know the power of martyrdom,, because we have an opportunity to change our leaders and the course they set by virtue of our vote. This is why our system is a threat to the system that Bin Laden would like to have achieved in his name.
The problem with making every detail known for a bump in the polls and to take credit is that someone, somewhere and somehow will make a legal argument against the action. Once the legal argument is made, then the fact that the devil is gone is no longer important. What then becomes important are the facts of his death. What then becomes less important are the thousands that Bin Laden killed in his lifetime in the name of Islam.
An argument is now being made that since the Obama administration classified terrorists as law breakers and not enemy combatants or combatants on the battlefield, his death becomes a legal question. The argument that is being made is that our military shot and killed an unarmed man, who was not a soldier in any army. This might sound crazy but, believe me, the argument is being made. I really don’t care about this argument, because I don’t care about the kind of people who would make that kind of argument.
This is why our leaders must understand that silence is the best policy when an important military achievement is accomplished. The fifteen minute speech announcing his death could have been made in a simple two minute announcement. This is all that was needed. The other details I really don’t care about! The simple way out is most often the best way to bring a very complex and very personal situation to an end. The knowledge that Bin Laden is gone and his body is forever lost in the deep depths of the abyss is enough for me to get on with the hard work of returning our country to a solid footing and bringing closure to the dark era that Bin Laden wrought.
I really don’t care about anything else than that!
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: The secrets of the military action that brought Bin Laden to his ultimate fate are best kept in a file marked confidential. We must trust that our military is doing their job. We must make our leaders accountable when a country like Pakistan demonstrates incompetence that puts the world at risk. Our job is to make sure that we work daily at being good citizens and we exercise our right to liberty and freedom through expression and the power of our vote. We must also remain vigilant so the likes of a future Bin Laden can never perform another evil act here again. Other than that I really don’t care about anything else!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The revision:
Wednesday – May 4, 2011
The revision:
It didn’t take long. I wrote on Monday about America taking that deep sigh of relief at the death of Bin Laden. I wrote yesterday: I am a bit more positive today about how the events over the weekend played out, because that huge sigh of relief has been experienced and herd by a nation that wanted its just reward. Our nation has demonstrated to the world that we can preserver and that no matter how long it takes we do get our just reward!
Our problems domestically are another story. The problems we face will once again be met with partisan debate that will send us to our respectful corners. However, before I go back to the corner, I am enjoying the sights of millions around the world who, as I wrote yesterday, has taken that sigh of relief and enjoyed what a good breath of fresh air can do for the mind, the spirit and the soul. These are the things that bring people together and these are the things that can bring a permanent change to the face of a nation that has been united again for a few brief moments.
I am back in my corner now and I am deeply concerned over the taking of false credit by this administration in the capture and subsequent death of Osama Bin Laden. My concern came very quickly because of the changing stories about the raid and the continued revision of history in just two short days by the administration and by the Democratic machine.
The administration can take all the credit, they should but they must also be honest in giving some of the credit they enjoy to the past administration. It is true that Democratic operatives were busy creating the story line on how this administration made the tough calls and was responsible for the outcome of the raid that took out Osama. They also instructed their members to discredit the republicans in this effort this is the politics behind the story.
It was the President, when he was a candidate that denounced all the Bush policies in the fight against terrorism. It was the Secretary of State, when Hilary Clinton was a candidate for President, who denounced the Bush policies in the fight against terrorism. It was the Democratic machine shortly after 9/11 that came out in memorandum after memorandum that instructed members of Congress about the politically detrimental outcome to the democrats if George Bush was successful in the war against terrorism.
It is the Democrats who put this country at risk by their insistence that political correctness rule the day in international and domestic relations. It was the Democratic Party who fought tooth and nail over the policy of enhanced interrogations that have now been proven to be a valuable tool in collecting intelligence in the war on terror. It was Senator Obama who wanted to repeal the Patriot Act something that he enjoys now. It was the Clinton Administration who built the firewalls that prevented governmental agencies sharing crucial information about the terrorists who ultimately attacked us. These agencies included the CIA, The FBI the NSA the list goes on. It is the policy of every Democratic Administration to reduce defense spending. It was the Carter administration that gave rise to the Radical Islamist. It was the Democrats who wanted to give our Constitutional Miranda rights to captured detainees in the war on terrorism. It was the Democratic Party who put Bill Clinton into office to only let Osama Bin Laden escape capture on two known occasions, because of the question over legal authority. It is the Democratic Party that insisted that the war on terrorism be fought in the courts of the United States. It is the Democratic Party that labeled SEAL Team 6 – Cheney’s Executive Assassination Team when Bush was president. Then, when Obama is President, they say they had full trust in the team and praise their efforts. The list goes on and on over the lowering of our defenses that made it possible for the attack on 9/11 and the needless murder of thousands. It was Obama who eliminated the words the war on terror from the nation’s vernacular.
The word character comes to mind, when I relate the facts that have been conveniently revised through revision of history past, present and now future by the Democratic machine. Just yesterday, the Democrats went on a campaign to disallow any possible credit be given to George Bush in the capture and elimination of Bin Laden. Though the Democrats in the White House used and now enjoy every policy initiative that was created by Bush in the war on terrorism, they continue to denounce the policies only to keep them in place for their own political gain.
My Mother always told me to do the right thing when no one is watching. Many including our enemies are now watching the events of last weekend play out this week. With more and more information being released and with the revisions we are now seeing the lack of character will again be the issue going forward.
True character would have dictated that the president make a joint statement with Bush about the capture and death of Bin Laden. Bush’s character would have without a doubt told him to do that. Bush’s character would not have permitted him to take credit where credit was not entirely due. This is how you unite through crisis.
The president and the former president’s character are two different things. Unfortunately, this nation will now suffer, because when the White House had a chance to stand united with its past occupant, the president and his party didn’t permit it, because they desperately wanted and needed a bump in the polls.
The revision of the war on terror’s history is now being written for tomorrow’s events. This is what bad character permits, while good character will let history be the judge.
I fear that the revision of these events and the release of many details that should remain secret will now be used against this country. The president will have to answer to that when our enemies revise what is being revised now.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: History is a story of events. History’s revision is the result of authors with no character!
The revision:
It didn’t take long. I wrote on Monday about America taking that deep sigh of relief at the death of Bin Laden. I wrote yesterday: I am a bit more positive today about how the events over the weekend played out, because that huge sigh of relief has been experienced and herd by a nation that wanted its just reward. Our nation has demonstrated to the world that we can preserver and that no matter how long it takes we do get our just reward!
Our problems domestically are another story. The problems we face will once again be met with partisan debate that will send us to our respectful corners. However, before I go back to the corner, I am enjoying the sights of millions around the world who, as I wrote yesterday, has taken that sigh of relief and enjoyed what a good breath of fresh air can do for the mind, the spirit and the soul. These are the things that bring people together and these are the things that can bring a permanent change to the face of a nation that has been united again for a few brief moments.
I am back in my corner now and I am deeply concerned over the taking of false credit by this administration in the capture and subsequent death of Osama Bin Laden. My concern came very quickly because of the changing stories about the raid and the continued revision of history in just two short days by the administration and by the Democratic machine.
The administration can take all the credit, they should but they must also be honest in giving some of the credit they enjoy to the past administration. It is true that Democratic operatives were busy creating the story line on how this administration made the tough calls and was responsible for the outcome of the raid that took out Osama. They also instructed their members to discredit the republicans in this effort this is the politics behind the story.
It was the President, when he was a candidate that denounced all the Bush policies in the fight against terrorism. It was the Secretary of State, when Hilary Clinton was a candidate for President, who denounced the Bush policies in the fight against terrorism. It was the Democratic machine shortly after 9/11 that came out in memorandum after memorandum that instructed members of Congress about the politically detrimental outcome to the democrats if George Bush was successful in the war against terrorism.
It is the Democrats who put this country at risk by their insistence that political correctness rule the day in international and domestic relations. It was the Democratic Party who fought tooth and nail over the policy of enhanced interrogations that have now been proven to be a valuable tool in collecting intelligence in the war on terror. It was Senator Obama who wanted to repeal the Patriot Act something that he enjoys now. It was the Clinton Administration who built the firewalls that prevented governmental agencies sharing crucial information about the terrorists who ultimately attacked us. These agencies included the CIA, The FBI the NSA the list goes on. It is the policy of every Democratic Administration to reduce defense spending. It was the Carter administration that gave rise to the Radical Islamist. It was the Democrats who wanted to give our Constitutional Miranda rights to captured detainees in the war on terrorism. It was the Democratic Party who put Bill Clinton into office to only let Osama Bin Laden escape capture on two known occasions, because of the question over legal authority. It is the Democratic Party that insisted that the war on terrorism be fought in the courts of the United States. It is the Democratic Party that labeled SEAL Team 6 – Cheney’s Executive Assassination Team when Bush was president. Then, when Obama is President, they say they had full trust in the team and praise their efforts. The list goes on and on over the lowering of our defenses that made it possible for the attack on 9/11 and the needless murder of thousands. It was Obama who eliminated the words the war on terror from the nation’s vernacular.
The word character comes to mind, when I relate the facts that have been conveniently revised through revision of history past, present and now future by the Democratic machine. Just yesterday, the Democrats went on a campaign to disallow any possible credit be given to George Bush in the capture and elimination of Bin Laden. Though the Democrats in the White House used and now enjoy every policy initiative that was created by Bush in the war on terrorism, they continue to denounce the policies only to keep them in place for their own political gain.
My Mother always told me to do the right thing when no one is watching. Many including our enemies are now watching the events of last weekend play out this week. With more and more information being released and with the revisions we are now seeing the lack of character will again be the issue going forward.
True character would have dictated that the president make a joint statement with Bush about the capture and death of Bin Laden. Bush’s character would have without a doubt told him to do that. Bush’s character would not have permitted him to take credit where credit was not entirely due. This is how you unite through crisis.
The president and the former president’s character are two different things. Unfortunately, this nation will now suffer, because when the White House had a chance to stand united with its past occupant, the president and his party didn’t permit it, because they desperately wanted and needed a bump in the polls.
The revision of the war on terror’s history is now being written for tomorrow’s events. This is what bad character permits, while good character will let history be the judge.
I fear that the revision of these events and the release of many details that should remain secret will now be used against this country. The president will have to answer to that when our enemies revise what is being revised now.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: History is a story of events. History’s revision is the result of authors with no character!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
A new Chapter:
Tuesday-May 3, 2011
A new Chapter:
I have been thinking long and hard about the events that unfolded Sunday night and throughout yesterday, with regard to Bin Laden’s death. I will give the president credit where credit is due. The job that had to be done was done and it happened on his watch.
Today, I realized that the first chapter in the war on terror is now complete in my book. I watched the events of 9/11 unfold from the beginning of those horrific events ten years ago. I heard for the first time the name of Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. I watched with horror when the second plane hit the World Trade Center, after the first was reported. I watched when the Pentagon was hit and when the fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania. I watched this history live on TV and I wondered how those events would affect the people of this nation. I watched the end of the first chapter on Sunday night, when I switched to the FOX news channel at 10:00 pm and heard for the first time that the president was going to address the nation. I watched history unfold again!
For me these last ten years have been consumed with finding out every detail in the news every day. My days have been consumed with listening and hearing the stories that were reported on the news. I have seen one presidency consumed by a war that it did not ask for. I have seen that presidency set the plans and policy in motion that the current president used to bring the chapter of Bin Laden to a conclusion this past weekend.
My first thoughts upon hearing of the news of Bin Laden’s death were consumed by the innocent souls that were lost at the hands of the devil himself. I knew people who lost friends and relatives on that day and I am grateful that it didn’t touch me with personal loss. I guess that I was one of the lucky ones that were looking in from the outside.
I am also just one of the millions of Americans that have been affected by this war and the repercussions of how that one man by the name of Bin Laden changed the way we live and view our own existence.
I wrote yesterday that there are many lessons that we must now learn from the past ten years. The first lesson we must learn is that the friends we thought we had just might not be the friends we thought they were. The world has changed and the way we deal with that world is something we must now embrace for our own survival.
We must learn that nationalism and patriotism is part of the fabric that can unite and that can destroy. We must look to the uniting threads of that fabric so that we are able to move ahead and write the second chapter on this war so that the continuing chapters are written about a successful America.
I am a bit more positive today about how the events over the weekend played out, because that huge sigh of relief has been experienced and herd by a nation that wanted its just reward. Our nation has demonstrated to the world that we can preserver and that no matter how long it takes we do get our just reward!
Our problems domestically are another story. The problems we face will once again be met with partisan debate that will send us to our respectful corners. However, before I go back to the corner, I am enjoying the sights of millions around the world who, as I wrote yesterday, has taken that sigh of relief and enjoyed what a good breath of fresh air can do for the mind, the spirit and the soul. These are the things that bring people together and these are the things that can bring a permanent change to the face of a nation that has been united again for a few brief moments.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: As we move towards the ten year mark of the anniversary of 9/11, we must remember the day and we must never forget how one man could change millions of lives. A new chapter can now be written. Let’s make sure the title is one that we choose.
A new Chapter:
I have been thinking long and hard about the events that unfolded Sunday night and throughout yesterday, with regard to Bin Laden’s death. I will give the president credit where credit is due. The job that had to be done was done and it happened on his watch.
Today, I realized that the first chapter in the war on terror is now complete in my book. I watched the events of 9/11 unfold from the beginning of those horrific events ten years ago. I heard for the first time the name of Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. I watched with horror when the second plane hit the World Trade Center, after the first was reported. I watched when the Pentagon was hit and when the fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania. I watched this history live on TV and I wondered how those events would affect the people of this nation. I watched the end of the first chapter on Sunday night, when I switched to the FOX news channel at 10:00 pm and heard for the first time that the president was going to address the nation. I watched history unfold again!
For me these last ten years have been consumed with finding out every detail in the news every day. My days have been consumed with listening and hearing the stories that were reported on the news. I have seen one presidency consumed by a war that it did not ask for. I have seen that presidency set the plans and policy in motion that the current president used to bring the chapter of Bin Laden to a conclusion this past weekend.
My first thoughts upon hearing of the news of Bin Laden’s death were consumed by the innocent souls that were lost at the hands of the devil himself. I knew people who lost friends and relatives on that day and I am grateful that it didn’t touch me with personal loss. I guess that I was one of the lucky ones that were looking in from the outside.
I am also just one of the millions of Americans that have been affected by this war and the repercussions of how that one man by the name of Bin Laden changed the way we live and view our own existence.
I wrote yesterday that there are many lessons that we must now learn from the past ten years. The first lesson we must learn is that the friends we thought we had just might not be the friends we thought they were. The world has changed and the way we deal with that world is something we must now embrace for our own survival.
We must learn that nationalism and patriotism is part of the fabric that can unite and that can destroy. We must look to the uniting threads of that fabric so that we are able to move ahead and write the second chapter on this war so that the continuing chapters are written about a successful America.
I am a bit more positive today about how the events over the weekend played out, because that huge sigh of relief has been experienced and herd by a nation that wanted its just reward. Our nation has demonstrated to the world that we can preserver and that no matter how long it takes we do get our just reward!
Our problems domestically are another story. The problems we face will once again be met with partisan debate that will send us to our respectful corners. However, before I go back to the corner, I am enjoying the sights of millions around the world who, as I wrote yesterday, has taken that sigh of relief and enjoyed what a good breath of fresh air can do for the mind, the spirit and the soul. These are the things that bring people together and these are the things that can bring a permanent change to the face of a nation that has been united again for a few brief moments.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: As we move towards the ten year mark of the anniversary of 9/11, we must remember the day and we must never forget how one man could change millions of lives. A new chapter can now be written. Let’s make sure the title is one that we choose.
Monday, May 2, 2011
With a great sigh!
Monday-May 2, 2011
With a great sigh!
All the people of the world should all be taking a great sigh of relief today over the news that Osama Bin Laden is dead. In this country, we can now also take that great sigh of relief.
We should be thanking our military and we should also remember the souls that were lost at the hands of that devil. Though Bin Laden was reduced to just a lonely symbol of the movement that he started with inherited wealth, in the end, his corpse gave up his DNA.
We should be taking a great sigh of relief, because this is a game changer, not only for this country, but for the world. It is hard to imagine that one man could have had such an impact over a country and the world at large.
Each generation over the course of history has had a devil like Bin Laden knocking at their front door. Last century it was Hitler. We started this century with Bin Laden and, in both cases, it has been met with the outcome of their deaths. In each case, their death was not as brutal as the pain they inflicted on the innocent. That is what we call humanity.
This is now an opportunity for each Muslim to decry terror and to walk away from Bin Laden’s personal brand of Radical Muslim Extremist ideology. This is also an opportunity to join together as a world to denounce terror and realize the grief that Bin Laden’s brand of terror has brought the world for over two decades.
This is also an opportunity for our country to regain that once solid footing that we all can remember and believe in, it is called patriotism and faith. With this death a great opportunity can arise. It is up to our leaders now to balance this opportunity and move towards abolishing the rest of Bin Laden’s terror franchise operations. The first place to start is the town in Pakistan, where he was killed by a small American military team. This town is also known for housing some of the Pakistani Military.
We can also take great solace in knowing that a lead from Gitmo four years ago led Navy S.E.A.L. team six to this moment.
There was chanting that could be heard outside the White House gates last night. The people who gathered were yelling, “USA, USA”. This is a chant that we have not heard for years. This is that solid footing that made us great and that has brought freedom to many parts of the world.
On today’s date, in 1776, France and Spain agreed to give weapons to American rebels to fight a revolution. This was one time in history that arming rebels was probably a good idea. However, we must now consider what these types of deals can create and remember the story of how Bin Laden started his terror network. We must remember that every time the world is confronted with a Hitler or a Bin Laden it is up to free people to answer that threat.
It is also important to remember what the President said last night: that it was his decision to act on the intelligence and it was his instruction that brought the action. We must also remember that it was George Bush who issued the executive order to bring Bin Laden to justice dead or alive. We must slow down and realize that the president did his job and nothing else. It was the military that did the heavy lifting. It was also the lack of necessary actions in the 1990’s that created the window for Bin Laden to kill innocent souls.
This is the history that we cannot forget, but for now we can take that sigh of relief and make sure our leaders take that next step to eliminate the evil that still lurks as a result of each breath that Bin Laden was allowed to take.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: Today, take that sigh of relief and be thankful that you can take that sigh in the free country we know as the USA.
With a great sigh!
All the people of the world should all be taking a great sigh of relief today over the news that Osama Bin Laden is dead. In this country, we can now also take that great sigh of relief.
We should be thanking our military and we should also remember the souls that were lost at the hands of that devil. Though Bin Laden was reduced to just a lonely symbol of the movement that he started with inherited wealth, in the end, his corpse gave up his DNA.
We should be taking a great sigh of relief, because this is a game changer, not only for this country, but for the world. It is hard to imagine that one man could have had such an impact over a country and the world at large.
Each generation over the course of history has had a devil like Bin Laden knocking at their front door. Last century it was Hitler. We started this century with Bin Laden and, in both cases, it has been met with the outcome of their deaths. In each case, their death was not as brutal as the pain they inflicted on the innocent. That is what we call humanity.
This is now an opportunity for each Muslim to decry terror and to walk away from Bin Laden’s personal brand of Radical Muslim Extremist ideology. This is also an opportunity to join together as a world to denounce terror and realize the grief that Bin Laden’s brand of terror has brought the world for over two decades.
This is also an opportunity for our country to regain that once solid footing that we all can remember and believe in, it is called patriotism and faith. With this death a great opportunity can arise. It is up to our leaders now to balance this opportunity and move towards abolishing the rest of Bin Laden’s terror franchise operations. The first place to start is the town in Pakistan, where he was killed by a small American military team. This town is also known for housing some of the Pakistani Military.
We can also take great solace in knowing that a lead from Gitmo four years ago led Navy S.E.A.L. team six to this moment.
There was chanting that could be heard outside the White House gates last night. The people who gathered were yelling, “USA, USA”. This is a chant that we have not heard for years. This is that solid footing that made us great and that has brought freedom to many parts of the world.
On today’s date, in 1776, France and Spain agreed to give weapons to American rebels to fight a revolution. This was one time in history that arming rebels was probably a good idea. However, we must now consider what these types of deals can create and remember the story of how Bin Laden started his terror network. We must remember that every time the world is confronted with a Hitler or a Bin Laden it is up to free people to answer that threat.
It is also important to remember what the President said last night: that it was his decision to act on the intelligence and it was his instruction that brought the action. We must also remember that it was George Bush who issued the executive order to bring Bin Laden to justice dead or alive. We must slow down and realize that the president did his job and nothing else. It was the military that did the heavy lifting. It was also the lack of necessary actions in the 1990’s that created the window for Bin Laden to kill innocent souls.
This is the history that we cannot forget, but for now we can take that sigh of relief and make sure our leaders take that next step to eliminate the evil that still lurks as a result of each breath that Bin Laden was allowed to take.
Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives
A footnote: Today, take that sigh of relief and be thankful that you can take that sigh in the free country we know as the USA.
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