This & That

THIS & THAT

Today’s column will have some short comments on subjects much in the news these days.

Secretary of State Kerry announces the US will up the number of refugees admitted to the US to 85,000 in 2016, and 100,000 in 2017. 

Yet there was not one statement as to how such a program is to be managed or financed. I suggest that is because they haven’t a clue how to manage that many people crossing our borders and they know, but don’t wish to say, exactly how it will be financed: through our taxes.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was kicked of the navy for mental issues and then allowed to enlist in the army. 

Do these people never talk to one another. 

When the sergeant decided to abandon his unit and go over to the enemy his attorney said he simply wanted to bring attention to unsavoury things happening in his unit. Hmmm. Did he think the Afghans would give a darn? 

Now the President has met him at The White House, called him a hero, released five of the worst terrorists at Guantanamo in exchange for this guy. This suggests to me that there are other organizations in DC not talking to one another. 

A well run White House would never have allowed the president to expose his naïveté that way. And the bottom line for me, and for many, is that seven American servicemen are reported to have lost their lives searching for their missing compatriot, Bergdahl, after he was reported gone. Try as I might I cannot fathom how this deal ever happened.

The questions being asked candidates for president have been really naive, often an attempt to simply embarrass, and most questioners have made no effort to ask for policy ideas from these people who want to run the nation.  

The problem is not with the candidates, it is with the press. The press has abdicated its historical responsibility to get to the bottom of issues, not personalities.

 President Barack Obama on Friday nominated Eric K. Fanning to be secretary of the Army, which could make him the first openly gay secretary.

So what. 

If he is the best qualified it should not matter if he dates crocodiles. Lets hope we don’t see him identified as “gay” in every report that comes out of the years about his work. Can you imagine every day seeing in the newspapers “the heterosexual president” said this or that?

This week everyone seemed to have their undies in a wad over remarks made by Donald Trump and Ben Carson when asked if Muslims should have a role in government. 

Why shouldn’t an American citizen of good repute who happens to be Muslim but has through his life performed admirably, demonstrated leadership abilities, operated as an American citizen first and foremost, not be qualified. Religion is never to be a test for leadership positions in our nation.

I thought we solved all this stuff when we elected Jack Kennedy. Remember back then people said the Pope would be calling all the shots! 

We are better than this.

The Speaker of the House, John Boehner, invited the Pope to speak to Congress. This is only acceptable if he has constructed a list of the leaders of other major religions in the world who will subsequently be given the same honor. 

Will we see the Archbishop of Canterbury under the dome any time soon? And when are the Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, etc., getting their 15 minutes? Heck maybe we could just have one protestant leader and they could represent all those smaller groups.

At one time in our nation’s history you took your kids to see the three ring circus when it came to town. Well, clearly we have increased the number of rings and you can watch the circus on your television almost anytime you want.