Popularity

Let’s see, President Obama aced a recent Gallup Poll conducted internationally and here at home. He was named the most admired man on the planet. For the seventh straight year! Of course political enemies abound and they are fuming. They wonder how they can hold such a negative view of Mr. Obama while a clear majority in and out of our nation feel the opposite.

The other day John McCain said the Syrian foreign policy is a debacle. He should know; he and Mr. Bush helped create that policy. And McCain continues to push for more American arms in Syria and more American boots on the ground as well. War is Mr. McCain’s business. He can’t wage war if he doesn’t foment it in Libya, Syria, Somalia, Turkey, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and most of the –stans (Turkestan, et. al.). If McCain had his way we would be at perpetual war throughout the Middle East. Of course the reason is dimly viewed. I guess it is to protect the oil supply which is funny because we really don’t need Middle Eastern oil. If we pursued other energy policies and supplies we wouldn’t need any foreign oil. Or perhaps his warlike stance is an exaggerated posture of machismo? 

And Chris Christie thinks the Syrian problem is so bad and so obviously Mr. Obama’s fault that he pushes Obama to leave the White House early so republicans can get an early crack at settling the regional problems there. One wonders if he will align with John McCain and go to war throughout the Middle East as well.

You know republicans made this mess in the Middle East. And anytime someone tries to add a voice of reason and renew peace talks, the problem makers claim Israel would be wronged and thus the peace talks fail. With a guy like Netanyahu as Israel’s prime minister, no wonder nothing gets done. And the republicans have not seen a law they liked that attempted to make Israel more accountable for its own troubles and trouble making.

Mr. Putin loves this disarray in Congress. He sees it as an opportunity to step in and make some hay. Don’t the republicans get this? Don’t they see what they are doing with America’s reputation and reliability? America’s woes in the world are because we take strong steps to protect the innocent and keep the peace. We don’t give in to tyrants and despots. But we don’t rattle swords and shoot from the hip with real guns because others have to make up their own minds about what is what.

Putin enters Syria, shoots at American allies and supports the tyrant Assad. He does this to goad the US. He does this to goad China and other nations into taking a stronger position against the West and western allies. It is in his DNA to do this. He is also posturing for his citizens. He knows he is powerless in assets, cash and military materiel. He struts for show, not for purpose. The rest of us get this. Why don’t the republicans?

Because they do get it. They just want you and I to think that maybe they are right. But not so!

In other posts I have often said republicans state what they want you and I to believe and think. They support this tactic so much that they repeat the statements over and over again. Evidently they are trying to convince themselves as well. After all, repeating something must make it true or truer with time.

Not really. Two plus two still equals four. Russia cannot win a war in the Middle East. He has no friends, no armies among allies, and most importantly, no funding sponsor to make this happen. Wait him out. Assad is a goner. Do not implant our troops and arms in that nation any more than we already have done so. Putin is fighting a pipe dream like most bullies. He thinks his presence is all it takes.

Well it doesn’t. And I think he knows it.  This is just a game for him. He knows it. The republicans evidently don’t. More’s the pity.

If this is the case, then it’s time for the wannabe republican presidential candidates to do the right thing and press forward a positive view of America, one filled with support and commitment for doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. Currently you would never know they are loyal Americans at all.

Tsk tsk!

October 13, 2015