The has come for term limits

The time has come for Congressional term limits.

One indicator from this political season, particularly when viewing the conservative portion of the nation, is that a majority of voters are disgusted with elected officials in both the US Senate and House of Representatives.  So the time has come.

It is time for an amendment to the Constitution limiting the terms of those elected to Congress.  Such limits can be constructed rather simply.  Specifically, an individual could serve no more than two cumulative terms, elected or appointed, in either the House and/or Senate.  Pure and simple.

If a two term limit is appropriate for the presidency, then it is equally appropriate for the members of Congress.

One cannot help but be aware of the vitriol aimed at members of congress from both parties.  Almost uniformly, those attracting the most negative comments are those who have been there the longest.  And, it can reasonably be argued, those there the longest have become the least connected with their constituents.

For obvious reasons, it is not likely the current congress would submit such an amendment for consideration by the states.  Therefore, the states must convene a Constitutional Convention to pursue this objective, per Article 5 of the Constitution.

Now is the time.

Clinton's comment provides insight

During a recent town-hall type meeting in New Hampshire, Clinton said of the Congressional Select Committee, “I would never have done that, and if I were president and there were Republicans or Democrats thinking about that, I would have done everything to shut it down.”

As she is prone to do when angry, Clinton provided great insight into her character and view of the role of the president.

Her statement clearly conveys repudiation of the separate but equal constitutional premise of the three branches of our government.  She clearly believes of legitimate congressional action that she can "shut it down."  For the moment, suspend any thoughts or suspicion about the motivation of the committee.  

Congress has the right, the duty to oversee the actions of the president.  That is exactly why the Constitution provides Congress the power to impeach a sitting president.  The Constitution does not provide the president the power to shut down congressional activity.

Looking to the future, another of her statements has once more disqualified her from the office she seeks.  Together with her long, checkered history of prevarication and misrepresentation, Clinton's periodic statements providing insight into her character and her view of the role of the president offer clear and convincing evidence of her unsuitability to be president. 

Supporting our wounded warriors

A beautiful day for bikers in the San Diego region.  Also a heavily military themed day, as the annual MCAS Miramar Airshow, complete with the Blue Angels, hosts tens of thousands of visitors to the air station.  The theme for this year's airshow is Salute to Veterans.

Elsewhere in the region, another group of veterans is putting their money where their mouths are, by undertaking a fundraising ride to benefit the wounded.

A relatively small group of riders arrived in town from Arizona to support the wounded at the Navy Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD).  Operation Wounded Veterans is an all volunteer organization focusing on supporting the wounded.  Recognizing that sometimes a wounded Marine, sailor, or soldier may spend 2 or 3 years at NMCSD, this group of patriots also knows our wounded will not wake up tomorrow and be "unwounded."  Legs and arms taken by the violence of combat will not grow back overnight.  The patriots know the country must be all in supporting our wounded for the long haul.

Staging at El Cajon Harley Davidson, Operation Wounded Veterans were welcomed by the dealership and the El Cajon Harley Davidson Harley Owners Group (HOG) Chapter.

After registrations were completed, money donated, coffee and "fat pills" (military slang for doughnuts) consumed, and head calls (naval jargon for hitting the rest room) made, the bikers lined up behind the El Cajon HOG road guards for the pleasant trip to the Rosecrans National Cemetery.  At times the main pack was split into smaller groups, as the traffic lights in downtown San Diego, along Harbor Drive, and up in Point Loma worked against keeping all the bikes together.  Not a problem, as the El Cajon HOG folks ensured everyone eventually arrive at Rosecrans safely.

For our brother and sister veterans from Arizona, this first trip to Rosecrans was inspiring.  

Somberly looking over the grave markers and then across the bay to Naval Air Station North Island, even the Navy vets, like former submariner Jimbo (see above) were awe struck.  As they walked through the cemetery, one commented that he'd seen a marker of a veteran of the Spanish - American War, adding that most Americans probably do not even know about that war.

As inevitably occurs, small group discussions took place in the spectacular panoramas surrounding the bikers.  Veterans, both men and women, vets from all four services, proud parents of serving members of our Armed Forces, old and older, shared thoughts and feelings about what it means to be a veteran.  Almost universally, statements regarding the ever increasing gap between the nation's military and the average citizen were made.  Many such statements were tinged with a bit of disgust, because too many civilians are believed to disparage the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces and their families.  Shortly, though, the comments returned to the purpose for which they had gathered, supporting our wounded.

In the end, these men and women stand out by helping our wounded.

U. S. Army needs leaders with moral strength

There has been a convergence of related stories.

As reported by Fox News, the Army is discharging Sergeant First Class Martland on 1 November (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/09/22/army-rejects-appeal-from-soldier-kicked-out-after-confronting-accused-afghan/?intcmp=hpbt2).  His crime?  A physical altercation with a notorious Afghan militia commander who kept a young boy chained to a bed as a sex slave.

This comes on the heels of a New York Times editorial speaking to reports that soldiers were "told to ignore" sexual abuse and the rape of children by Afghan militia and police (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/opinion/ignoring-sexual-abuse-in-afghanistan.html?ref=international&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=Moth-Visible&module=inside-nyt-region&region=inside-nyt-region&WT.nav=inside-nyt-region).

It is absolutely unbelievable that the U. S. Army leadership is discharging a combat decorated Green Beret for asserting American values in a combat zone, for taking action that may have saved the rape victim and prevented future rapes, and for doing the morally right thing.  It is incredible that no senior Army leader, uniformed or civilian, has shown the moral courage to step in and stop this miscarriage of justice.  From my perspective, it seems they are more concerned with getting the next star or promotion, than they are in displaying such moral courage.  For the spineless general officers unwilling to come to the defense of SFC Martland, I say, "If you do not have the moral courage to do what is right in garrison in a political matter, then it is clear you do not have the physical courage to lead soldiers in combat."  They should all be forced out of active duty.   

For the Pollyannas of the world, men of moral strength and courage at times have to step forward and take physical action to stop the abuse of others.  This is what occurred, according to reports, when Special Forces Captain Quinn and Sergeant First Class Martland confronted the Afghan militia commander with allegations that he had raped a boy and beaten his mother.  Reportedly the Afghan confirmed the allegations and laughed at our American soldiers.  At that point Quinn and Martland took physical action to educate the Afghan that his behavior would not be tolerated.  The result?  Quinn and Martland were relieved and sent back to the states.  While Quinn subsequently left active duty, Martland intended to remain, though the Army initiated discharge proceedings against this solider who has served his nation for 11 years.

In spite of Representative Duncan Hunter, Marine Corps combat veteran, coming in hard supporting Martland, an Army memo informed the soldier his appeal of the discharge has been denied.

Where is the moral courage we demand of our leaders?  Where is the Army senior leadership in this case?  Where is the Secretary of the Army?  Where is the Secretary of Defense?  It is patently offensive for these leaders to wax and wane in their comments about sexual assault in our Armed Forces, then do nothing to prevent the discharge of a soldier determined to stop the sexual assault of children by an Afghan militia commander.  The lack of action in support of SFC Martland is the height of hypocrisy and demonstrates a clear lack of moral courage.

For those throwing out the tripe that child rape is an Afghan cultural issue, into which our soldiers are not to insert themselves, let us remind them of all the comments made by senior military leaders and some elected officials about the imperative for our Armed Forces to be models of American values wherever they serve.  Certainly, taking the culture of the foreign nation into account is important.  But some acts are so egregiously contrary to American values that action by good men is required.

Unfortunately, the good men of which I write do not include the senior, uniformed and civilian, leadership of the United States Army.   

Planning for and enjoying retirement

Retirement is and should be the opposite of what some see as a full time vacation. It is not perpetual play, nor should it be. It is a meaningful time in one's life for which planning in advance is advised. Like most things in life, if the plan is simple, realistic, and practical, its implementation will provide for success.

The planning, of course, will likely center on financial and health matters. Can't spend what you don't have and can't spend at all if in ill health. Taking these two matters into account in the pre-retirement planning makes possible true enjoyment of the actual retirement.

For the sake of this post, it is assumed one has properly addressed the financial and health aspects of retirement. So now here are key elements for the retired years: maintenance, physical, intellect, and giving back.

Maintenance refers to those necessary activities required for our day-to-day lives. Mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, shopping for groceries, etc. While these activities are present pre-retirement, once in retirement we have far more flexibility on when we undertake them. Instead of being more or less forced to do the grocery shopping over the weekend or on the way home from work, we can now choose a more convenient and less crowded time. The maintenance activities will still need to be completed, but in retirement you can flexibly control the when.

Physical refers to strenuous physical activity and exercise. Pure and simple, without daily strenuous physical activity and exercise, health issues will be more frequent and severe as we age. Find those physical activities that provide aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, and that you enjoy (or at least can tolerate). Dedicate the time each and every day to completing them. Further, including competitive sports is also highly recommended. Not only will it add to the physical exercise routine, but will also provide a social outlet.

Intellect refers to daily intellectual pursuits. Reading, writing, debating, solving the New York Times crossword puzzle. Find and undertake enjoyable intellectual activity that is as strenuous for your mind as is the physical exercise you undertake daily for your body. Keeping the mind active is crucial to a long and happy retirement. So as not to be confused, watching television, mindlessly surfing the Internet, and similar activities are not intellectual activity.

Giving back simply refers to finding a volunteer activity that provides some challenge and accomplishment. Strongly suggested is a volunteer activity that includes interacting with others, such as being a mentor or tutor. There is not enough to be said for giving of some time each week to assist in an area of passion. By products of giving back can be the joy of social interaction with others, as well as intellectual stimulation.

Scheduling physical exercise and intellectual pursuits on a daily basis, combined with regular weekly maintenance and giving back activities will permit time and space to pursue those activities that provide personal pleasure; avocations if you will. If fortunate, the physical exercise, intellectual pursuits, and giving back may also fall into the category of avocations. So much the better.

Travel. Painting. Riding a Harley. Gardening. Walking on the beach. Fishing. Whatever activity provides that pleasure you seek from retirement can be enriched by maintenance, physical, intellectual, and giving back activities. It is neither feasible nor realistic to plan to spend eight hours per day in pursuit of your avocation. But, it is entirely possible to enjoy your avocation as part of the other activities comprising a happy retirement.

With this simple approach, retirement can be fulfilling and thoroughly enjoyable.

Sad state of American politics

American politics are certainly in a sad state, when the two candidates running for President that are leading in the respective party polls are Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Neither individual is worthy of the office.

Neither political party is well represented by either individual.

Sad, sad state of American politics.

By peddle or throttle

Definitely a benefit of living in SoCal is pursuing the two wheel lifestyle.

Whether as a cyclist...

Or a biker...

It is great being rolling long on two wheels, by pedal or throttle.

Bikes, not balls

It is the first Saturday in September and the sun is shining and the temperature promises to be near perfect outside.  So naturally my thoughts turn to bikes, not balls.  Footballs that is.

The local and national TV stations (is the phrase "TV station" even relevant with the advent of cable TV?) are all atwitter (no, not that kind of twitter) at the beginning of professional and collegiate football (not to be confused with the round football known everywhere else in the world).  Sports writers and commentators wax eloquent about season predictions, this or that player, coaching moves, and (heaven to Betsy) "deflate gate."  (The only deflating that concerns me involves the two tires on the Harley in the garage.)

The obscene amounts of money involved in both professional and collegiate football mightily add to my lack of enthusiasm, in spite of all the hoopla being generated in print, on line, on TV, and on the radio.  And from a purely sporting perspective, a football game is rather boring.

According to a 2010 Wall Street Journal study mentioned in this article (http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=475), of the 60 minutes allotted for play in a football game, there is an average of 11 minutes of play.  It was also reported a 2014 game had 152 advertisements, more than the number of plays from scrimmage.  (152 advertisements goes to the earlier observation about the obscene amounts of money in the sport.)  So, if the entire time at the stadium or watching on TV equals a rough average of three hours for football (180 minutes), the 11 minutes of play comes out to roughly 6.1% of action.  So, yes, football is rather boring.

Conversely, 180 minutes out on the Harley are not boring.  Whether on the freeways or back county roads, riding for three hours is an engaging, exhilarating experience, enjoyed (by the way) at a fraction of the cost of attending a football game.

So, after cleaning up and having breakfast and a cup of coffee, it will be bikes, not balls this Saturday.

State of California public education

According to Wikipedia, California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) is a requirement for high school graduation in the state of California, created by the California Department of Education to improve the academic performance of California high school students, and especially of high school graduates, in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. In addition to other graduation requirements, public school students must pass the exam before they can receive a high school diploma."  Wikipedia also shares the following data, which was provided by the California Department of Education. 

Percentage of 10th graders passing the test on their first attempt

School year	Passing math test	Passing English test
2003-2004	74%	75%
2004-2005	74%	76%
2005-2006	76%	77%
2006-2007	76%	77%
2007-2008	78%	79%
2008-2009	80%	79%
2009-2010	81%	81%
2010-2011	83%	82%
2011-2012	82%	79%
2012-2013	85%	83%

But this conflicts with passing rates reported for the summer of 2014 by KQED, "According to state data, last summer 4,847 math tests were given with 1,286 (26.5 percent) students passing and 5,826 English Language Arts tests were given with 1,248 (21.4 percent) students passing."
The above are brought to attention, because of an article about how California is scrapping the CAHSEE (http://townhall.com/columnists/michaelreagan/2015/09/03/draft-n2047514).

I'm not sure which figures are correct, but the following are certainties.  The exit exam can be taken beginning in the sophomore year, seriously calling into question how such a test can evaluate what knowledge and skills a California student is expected/required to acquire by the end of four years of high school.  And, whatever the design or intent, according to the above article, the exit exam has been done away with, also seriously calling into question the exam, its construct, and the effectiveness of California public education.

Obama's false claims display ignorance

President Obama has on multiple occasions declared, self righteously in my view, that the war is over. In October 2011; "We've ended the war in Iraq," Obama said at a June 25, 2012; and in May 2013 he declared the global war on terror is over.

Despite these and other similar declarations, combat has not ceased, thus displaying Obama's fundamental ignorance of national security and warfare.

It is no secret that Obama has approved continued combat missions and strikes by manned and unmanned aircraft, all the while uttering false claims that the war is over.

Combat manned and unmanned strikes are acts of war, pure and simple. The definition of war is not exclusively linked to an infantryman holding a rifle and engaging the enemy. Let us be absolutely clear about this point. Aerial bombardment is war, pure and simple.

Tell the English they were not at war during World War II, as Germany used manned aircraft and missiles to bomb their cities.  There were no German troops attacking London during the Blitz.  It was war from the air.

So President Obama simultaneously declares he ended the war in Iraq, while he authorizes and even brags that military forces (manned and unmanned aircraft) are striking targets there and elsewhere.  His spokespersons have even lauded the recent approval by Turkey to use their facilities to continue this warfare. 

Such gross ignorance of national security and warfare can be no clearer than that demonstrated by his false claims.

When the first pilot flying one of these combat missions is killed or captured, when the first soldier or Marine is killed or captured in Iraq, what will Obama claim?  Will he deny to the family of the fallen or captured that their husband, son, brother was at war?  If one of our military is captured, will Obama declare he/she is not a Prisoner of War (POW)?

His ignorance would be laughable if the subject were not so deadly serious.

Clinton's problems will continue

The reporting on Mrs. Clinton's deliberately established private email server, which has been indisputably shown that she and possibly others transmitted and received classified information from multiple sources, is just one story capturing headlines.  Associated is her claim that she turned over printed copies of all government related communications, which was thoroughly debunked by the emails provided by Mr. Blumenthal that were not in the estimated 55,000 pages provided by Mrs. Clinton.  (That she provided printed rather than electronic copies of the emails is also a curious decision.)

That the server and email issue is gaining in momentum and seriousness, much to the dismay of the Clinton apparatus, is but one issue.  Others will continue to plague her campaign.

As the damage is reflected in public polls depicting growing rates of distrust of and dishonesty by Mrs. Clinton, more problems will capture the attention of the nation.  For example, her dealings connected with the Clinton Foundation while she was Secretary of State.

It is quite likely that investigative journalists are thoroughly examining that issue, even as the private server and email story dominate the current news cycles.

It is equally likely Congressional investigators are thoroughly examining the email communications released by Mrs. Clinton to the State Department, focusing on the time before, during, and after the Benghazi attacks of nearly two years ago.  From reports thus far, there appears to be large gaps in email traffic to and from Mrs. Clinton during this critical period in our nation's history.  Gaps that led Bob Woodword of Watergate reporting fame to speculate on and compare the missing emails to the the missing 18 and one-half minutes of the Nixon tapes.

Additional problems of her own making will continue to dog Mrs. Clinton.  The special status of one of her closest aides.  Her lifestyle of the rich and famous, while falsely claiming to be a champion of the middle class.  Her rejection of the media.  Her famous temper.  The aforementioned quid pro quo arrangements with foreign governments and companies.  All these problems and probably others will not go away.

And some of the matters are so severe that legal jeopardy may very well attach.  

So as Clinton's problems continue, all of her bombastic rhetoric, lame attempts at blaming "partisan politics," avoidance of the media, implausible excuses, shifting explanations, and insulting attempts at humor will not obscure one immutable fact.  She is unworthy of seeking election to the highest office in the nation.  It is not that a woman can not be president.  It is that Hillary Rodham Clinton is not that woman.     

So her problems will continue.

Word games

In an all too consistent pattern of behavior, perhaps learned from her husband's example, Mrs. Clinton is engaging in word games concerning the rats nest of a story about her email server.

Parsing language, deflecting commentary, indignation, anger, blaming "partisan politics," hollow attempts at humor, and equivocation abound.  Even the likes of the Washington Post's Eugene Robinson see through the attempts at obfuscation (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/apologizing-for-the-e-mail-mess/2015/08/17/d8853068-4514-11e5-8e7d-9c033e6745d8_story.html).

But the word games can not and do not hide from view the very clear truths.

• Mrs. Clinton deliberately chose to use a private server to conduct official government business, contrary to regulations.
• Mrs. Clinton deliberately chose to have close confidants and staff use the same private sever for the conduct of official government business, contrary to regulations.
• Mrs. Clinton deliberately chose to selectively provide paper, not electronic, versions of self-screened emails, rather than all of them to the government.
• Mrs. Clinton deliberately chose to clean the server, then allow a improperly vetted third party to hold it.
• Mrs. Clinton deliberately chose to have electronic copies of emails downloaded to thumb drive(s) and given to third parties, some of whom may not have security clearances.
• Mrs. Clinton deliberately and emphatically stated that she turned over all government related emails to the Department of State, which has been proven on at least one occasion to be false.
• Mrs. Clinton deliberately and emphatically stated in March 2015 that there was no classified material in her emails, which has been proven to be false.
• Multiple reports have clarified Mrs. Clinton received and transmitted classified material via her unsecure private server, contrary to regulations.

And the list goes on and on, with new revelations coming to light on almost a daily basis.  And still she plays word games.  For example, in the announcement regarding the server being turned over to the FBI, she attempts to make it sound like it was her decision from on high, when in fact the government was preparing to seize it.

At the end of the day, it is patently clear she chose to employ a private, unsecured server to receive and transmit official government communications, including classified information.  Whether or not marked as such at the time, the transmission of classified information over unsecured means is a crime.  NO amount of word games can or will change this fact.  

Even John Kerry has publicly acknowledged that he assumes foreign entities hack into his insecure email, so we are left to believe the same happened during Mrs. Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State.

As the word games continue, while the Clinton machine works feverishly at damage control and containment, we are left to wonder what will next occur?  Will even more damaging information come to light?  Will the FBI complete its investigation, leading to indictments?  Will POTUS pardon Mrs. Clinton? 

More word games to be sure.

I wonder no more

In an earlier post, I wondered if POTUS would attend the memorial service to honor the Marines and sailor killed in Chattanooga.

On Saturday August 15, POTUS was vacationing in Martha's Vineyard, while the Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, and Commandant of the Marine Corps attended and participated in the memorial service.

While others honored the fallen, POTUS played golf and attended a birthday party.

I wonder no more. 

Actions speak louder than words.

Iran's actions speak louder than words

It has been recently reported that one of Iran's military leaders, General Qasem Soleimani, travelled to Russia to meet with high level officials, in direct violation of one of the many existing UN sanctions.  Iran has confirmed the trip took place.

Well, folks, it seems to me that Iran's actions speak louder than words.  

Iran regularly violates UN sanctions, calling into well earned serious doubt about the country's word as it pertains to the so called Iran deal.  Our POTUS and SecState would have us believe that Iran is an honorable nation, intent on keeping its word to the nations who sign on to the deal.  

Preposterous!

More than disappointing is the simplistic and naive manner in which our nation's leaders treat the populace in this matter.  Trust us, they say.  Trust Iran, they say.

Absurd!

It must be THIS deal or war, they say.

Ridiculous!

The Ayatollah leading chants of death to American and Israel is only being done to satisfy internal Iranian politics, they say.

Unbelievable!

All a reasonable individual need do is a little research on the current UN sanctions pertaining to Iran that have been willfully violated to understand that actions speak louder than words.

All the political hyperbole and posturing in the world will not change facts, though POTUS and SecState are insistent that they do.

Put away the paint brushes

Put away the paint brushes folks.  There is an increasing and profoundly disturbing propensity on the part of far too many to paint everyone in a racial, gender, cultural, ethnic, or religious group as evil, bad, deranged, thugs, racist, etc. because of the actions of one person identified as being in the castigated group.     

Neither you nor I are defined by the actions of another, so it wrong for folks to bring out that wide paint brush and slather on heavy coats of condemning generalizations and characterizations when an individual commits an unspeakable act, or even one with which someone disagrees.

All too often, in the wake of such an unspeakable, mind numbing, unfathomable, heart breaking tragedy, there are pundits, elected officials, activists, and commentators who quickly bring out their paint brushes.  Rather than focusing on individual responsibility, they slop on coats of empty and unsubstantiated rhetoric, telling the reader or listener that all people in the same group as the perpetrator are somehow at fault, share the same characteristics, and are likely to commit the same type of act.  Ridiculous.

People are not bad because they are white, black, hispanic, asian, muslim, male, conservative, liberal, male, tall, short, etc.  Most assuredly, however, there are bad people who are white, black, hispanic, asian, muslim, male, conservative, liberal, male, tall, short, etc.  One group does not have a monopoly on perpetrating the most horrific of acts.  The outward appearance  of a person does not define his/her internal character.  Thus, an individual's character can not be determined by merely looking at him/her.

Evil can and does exist in the internal character of some individuals from all groups.  Just as does unfettered good, love, accomplishment, and every other positive human quality. 

So put away the paint brushes folks.