Category Archives: Politics
Bergdahl Not Left Behind
The U.S. swapped five Taliban commanders from GITMO for one hostage/POW (depending on whose definition you believe). That would be one jihadi for each of Bowe Bergdahl’s five years of captivity. The swap may have been illegal because the president failed to consult with Congress – something Jay Carney promised would happen a year ago.
The official government story was that Bergdahl was “captured on the battlefield“. His comrades say he either deserted or went AWOL. They also claim that lives were lost searching for him. The Washington Times say opportunities to rescue Bergdahl were declined on the grounds he wasn’t worth the risk.
Bergdahl Not Left Behind
President Obama justified the high price paid for Sgt. Bergdahl saying, “We never leave our men and women in uniform behind.”
Most Transparent Administration
President Obama promised us the most transparent administration in history. It hasn’t worked out that way. Leonard Downie, Jr., the former executive editor of the Washington Post, said, “the administration’s war on leaks and other efforts to control information are the most aggressive I’ve seen since the Nixon administration”. NYT reporter James Risen has called Obama “the greatest enemy of press freedom in a generation”.
But he’s getting better reviews from the Taliban, and not just because he gives them such great deals. They know when we are bugging out of Afghanistan because the president told them so. They might also know who runs the CIA in Kabul because the administration accidentally leaked his name.
West Point Speech
The president gave the commencement address at West Point this week. The speech apparently didn’t have enough trigger points or insensitive comments to get him thrown out. The graduating West Point cadets tolerated their commander’s speech but didn’t give him a very rousing response. Quiet as a mouse according to Krauthammer.
West Point
Patching up his previous comments, Obama insisted he believes in American exceptionalism with every fiber of his being. But just because we are strong like hammer doesn’t mean everyone else is a nail. We must lead by example. Presumably North Korea, Syria, and Iran will follow. It was a little confusing.
Dick Cheney was not convinced.
Victory Tea Party
Mitch McConnell stomped his Tea Party primary opponent on Tuesday. The Daily Beast says the Tea Party is “losing battles but winning the war” by pulling establishment Republicans their way.
If You Like Your VA You can Keep Your VA
When a vet asks for treatment at the Phoenix VA his request is entered into one set of books. When the time draws near that he will actually be treated he’s entered into the real set of books. That way long waits look short and bureaucrats get bonuses.
Veterans Affairs boss Eric Shinseki says he’s mad as hell about this. It’s all news to president Obama. He found out about it on CNN. Now he’s madder than hell. But not mad enough to fire Shinseki.
VA for the 21st Century
You can go here to see the President bragging in 2009 about resetting the VA for the 21st century.
