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It’s About Obama and Democrats, Stupid!

by Colonel Bob Pappas, USMC, Retired

Those who can’t win on the merits use personal attacks to improve their standing.  In a recent offer to debate his chief opponent, Newt opined that his opponent feared the prospect. His opponent stated in return that they had a number of debates and more scheduled, and to the effect “that it would be inappropriate to narrow the field before voting began.” It is notable that Herman Cain wasn’t afraid and didn’t shrink away, and it was a productive dialogue for both candidates. What does Gingrich’s chief opponent have to fear other than being shredded?  If he can’t stand up to Gingrich, does he actually believe he can stand up to the Presidential Teleprompter Reader who is spoon fed the answers? Come on, man up!

Obama’s effort to paint himself as a tax-cutter and Republicans as spenders is full of irony; and stinks worse than rotting fish. Obama, a tax cutter? That’s one for political comedy books and late night shows and qualifies for the Washington Post’s Four Pinocchio award. Obama has spent more, appropriated, by the Democrat House and Senate in three years than all other Presidents in the history of the U.S. combined.  Alas, everyone knows that it is Bush’s fault that Obama has had to spend so much. B.S.! And, of course, everyone knows that Obama is in the top four of American Presidents, or at least he says so. Finally, he tells us that he needs another term to finish his work. Now, just what work would that be, the total destruction of the U.S.? Fortunately, most Americans have awakened from their “make history” stupor and are ready to guard against any further attacks by and from their own President.  Anyone besides me for evicting him before his term is up? Nice family man (Or is he? One wonders why Michelle goes on vacation by herself.); and that is what he should stick to.

One is compelled to wonder about the mental capacity and state of those on the left.  Given that workers who have a job are carrying the majority of the leftists on their backs, if the left was to get its way to do away with the free market capitalist economy, who would carry them then? Allow me to answer that: No one! And they would be forced to go to work for a change rather than live at the expense of those who do pay taxes; and I’m not referring to well known hidden taxes that accounts for billions in addition to income taxes.  Everyone would effectively work for the state, and I call that national serfdom or slavery, take your pick.

Speaking of taxes, the recent debate of the “payroll” tax prompted me to learn more about it than I care to know.  I was under the mistaken impression that payroll taxes were deducted from a worker’s paycheck and sent to Washington for politicians to waste; most know that sending money to Washington is a waste except for Defense; and there is plenty of waste there too. At least I had the waste part right. What I didn’t know was the change in nomenclature. It turns out that “payroll” taxes are the worker portion of social security taxes; the employer pays the other portion. All the while, I thought anything having to do with Social Security was Social Security taxes, and the other was Federal Income Tax withholding.  But nowadays it’s called Payroll tax (Social Security) and FITW or Federal Income Tax Withholding.

In typical Obama sleight of hand, and in keeping with his promise to “spread the wealth around” (what he actually meant to say was, “spread the poverty around” judging from what he is doing to the middle class) to keep the books in balance (and, that’s a laugh) he would add a fee (tax) on homebuyers since they are the ones with the money, to offset the loss of revenue from the “payroll tax” holiday which if it were to lapse would be touted by Democrats as a tax hike, which latter day Obama opposes.  Got it? Now, how’s that for clarity, transparency and honesty?  Keep in mind: who forced through "Obamacare," arguably the most despicable legislative action and legislation in US history; who has literally wasted over a trillion dollars of stimulus and other money; who has increased the national debt to both historic proportions and in record time; and, who has set the stage for Iran to have a nuclear weapon and civil war in Iraq? To his credit he approved the raid that killed Bin Laden, but lost a stealth helicopter in the process; and more recently lost a reconnaissance drone to Iran; or was it a handover? Does anyone believe that the designers didn’t make it hack-proof, or if hacked or otherwise located, didn’t build in a self-destruct mechanism?  The one that I like most (not), is that Obama uses taxpayer money under the guise of promoting his “Jobs Bill” to fly around the country campaigning. 

It’s an Obama mess of mega proportions, and who can best fix it? I’ll tell you who, Newt Gingrich! I encourage you to join in by sending this to your friends in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina! In fact, send it to everyone in your email account.

Semper Fidelis and Merry Christmas!
Bob Pappas

Copyright © December 23rd, 2011, by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed, except it may not be used in conjunction with any advertisement without the author’s expressed written permission.

Want Real Solutions or Vacuous Personal Attacks?

by Colonel Bob Pappas, USMC, Retired

Newt Gingrich has risen in the polls because of his command of the issues, proposed solutions to those issues and his incomparable delivery.  Yet, never in one’s lifetime has one observed the level of vitriol directed toward a candidate than is presently being directed at Newt. Fox News has all but abandoned any pretense of being “Fair and Balanced” as it pushes as hard as possible for its chosen candidate.  Fox’s tactic is as old as politics, trumpet one while maligning the other. Although Fox tries to obfuscate its evident bias by turning to selected third party apologists who on the one hand tear down Newt while trumpeting the virtues and electability of another candidate, its tactic is transparent.  Then there are direct venomous attacks by Fox senior commentator Brit Hume. One can raise a valid question: “With friends like that, who needs enemies?” There is no doubt on this score that Fox can absolutely claim to not be in the tank for one of its former analysts.

That noted, whenever a competing candidate turns to personal attacks it is a signal that he, she or they have lost the battle of ideas and strategic position. With the Iowa caucus two weeks away it is apparent that vacuous personal attacks are all that Newt’s opponents have to offer. The same attacks wouldn’t stand a chance against the billion dollar Obama campaign and multi-billion dollar media machine where for practical purposes campaign and media machine is one and the same.  Until now, one could count on Fox to be even-handed but in this case has shed its objectivity. It is so bad that any response by Newt to a personal attack is immediately analyzed then trumpeted as disqualifying. 

When one reads or hears, “Newt is scary,” “Newt is this or Newt is that” or, “so-and-so looks presidential,” one has to wonder whether or not there is any concern about the present occupant of the White House. If Obama’s first four years are any indication of the direction he wants to continue to take this country (i.e. more debt than all other administrations in history combined), one must conclude that the economy and the nation would be unrecognizable in another four. Now, that dear reader is a genuinely frightening prospect not only today but for future generations. College readers: PAY ATTENTION!

There is a Bible story where Jesus figuratively inserts Himself between a hostile crowd and a woman who was about to be stoned to death.  Imagine the scene, holding up His hand and looking each in the eye, Jesus said to the effect: “Any one of you who is without sin, step forward and I’ll move aside for you to cast the first stone.” Those who know me can attest that I am no Jesus of Nazareth, but I challenge anyone who is so pure in personal and political behavior to step forward and cast the first stone. Let me disabuse any would-be pretender: “don’t bother, there isn’t one!” (Oh, yes, this despite what the media would have all people, everywhere believe about Obama.)

Message to Newt’s Republican opponents: One is well aware of his past, his present shortcomings and his humanity.  This campaign is not about Gingrich, which of course is the focus of opponents’ efforts since they are incapable of competing in the realm of ideas and solutions; and, Newt will use those ideas and solutions to consign Obama to the ash heap of Chicago politics.

For Republicans voters in Iowa and across the country: Newt Gingrich has contributed more substance to the debate and to this country than all his competitors combined; I stand with him!  Learn more at: http://www.newt.org/

Semper Fidelis

Copyright ©  December 21st, 2011, by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed, except it may not be used in conjunction with any advertisement without the author’s expressed written permission.

Friendly (?) Fire

by Colonel Bob Pappas, USMC, Retired

For a number of years, FOX News was under contract with Newt Gingrich for political analysis and commentary. Once he announced his candidacy for President the contract was timely and properly terminated. What is notable is FOX turned on Newt following his announcement.  One has to keep in mind that FOX is in business, specifically, the “ratings” business; because “ratings” equate to viewership, viewership equates to advertising and that equates to income. Thus, the more they “stir the proverbial pot,” in this case turning on one of their own, they can say they are “Fair and Balanced” and continue to ride the top of the cable news charts.

The emphasis here is on “Fair and Balanced,” since it is clear that the other cable networks are “in the tank” for Obama. Those networks evidently believe they must be “in the tank” or would be labeled as: “racist turncoats, Judas, Benedict Arnold” or any number of other generally denigrating terms.  Therefore, as the giant among pinheaded, pigmy cable networks, FOX is obliged by its slogan to make certain it does not become an advocate for a specific candidate, left or right.  In my not-so-humble opinion, in the process they could afford to be a little less vicious and a little more balanced toward Newt.

Interestingly, the Republican Primary Race seems to be an exception to the “Fair and Balanced” slogan. Any fair-minded person can deduce that FOX is actively advancing Romney as its candidate of choice. I like Romney, and if elected he would be the first Mormon President and would bring both business and governance experience to the White House, neither with which is Obama endowed. If Romney is the nominee, he will have my undivided, wholehearted support in his run for Presidency.  But, it is noteworthy that in a recent TV interview on “Hannity” (a conservative show on FOX Cable Channel), Democrat Willie Brown, former Mayor of San Francisco opined that the candidate Democrats fear most is Newt Gingrich. Interestingly, Willie’s assessment didn’t get much air time or debate.  Nancy Pelosi’s not-so-veiled threat to release what she implies would be damning information about Newt’s not-so-brilliant foibles while Speaker is another illustration of who Democrats really fear, their attacks on Romney are a diversionary tactic; and I know “little bit” about diversionary tactics.

There is no doubt that Newt is the intellectual giant among the candidates. While most struggle to put a cogent sentence together although they are doing better, Newt is eloquent, free flowing, and is master of virtually every subject brought forward. He so outclasses them that the other candidates are beginning to “beg off” the debate circuit because with every debate Newt gains more ground with voters.

When asked to rank them, only one stands out and the rest “also ran.” The one is without hesitation, Newt Gingrich.  But some retort, “what about his baggage?” Over the years since his departure from the House in ‘99 I have quizzed hundreds of conservatives and to a person, man or woman, they would vote for Newt over any other candidate. (In the interest of full disclosure is notable that responses to my endorsement of Newt run about 25% opposed many of whom are obviously Democrats, 75% in favor, likely including some Democrats.) But also to a man or woman they lament and fear his “baggage,” but would vote for him given a chance; and that chance they will have. His personal foibles as a younger man are well known; but unlike many, he had the integrity to openly admit and repent of his wrongdoing, seek forgiveness of those wronged and of God and then walk, within the limits of humanity and abundance of God’s grace, a consistently righteous life.  It baffles one that some people who profess to be Christian deny the very the hallmark of the Christian faith, “to forgive,” an act/characteristic without which one cannot be forgiven.  Their retort is “Yes, but look at his history,” and mine in return is, “Do you, or do you not believe in the ability of God to transform a human life?” (I for one, bear witness to God’s forgiveness and transforming power.)

“But what of his oft-times contradictory positions?” Newt Gingrich has likely contributed more to the body of political thought than any one person including Jefferson, not all of which is entirely consistent; and likely would eclipse him qualitatively given that he will be more self-disciplined going forward. Second, with the exception of the salient achievements of Presidents such as, Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, and Reagan, Newt has done more to advance “American Exceptionalism” than any politician in the 20th or 21st Centuries.  His record of writing, speaking and political achievement, even when including his personal and political foibles, is unparalleled in U.S History. Those Republican politicians who oppose him do so because they fear greatness, even their own. They fear that the light of Newt’s achievements totally eclipses their own lackluster performance, their diminutive legislative record and dismal political leadership. Newt’s “light” is central to their jealously and resentment, so they vainly tear at him to feel better about themselves.

“He has made mistakes.” True! But is there anyone who has not? An English proverb states: “People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.” But are his mistakes fatal? (Remember Bill Clinton.) Some argue that they are, but again, “People who live, etc.” But, Newt’s campaign is not about just “beating Obama,” it is about restoring the Constitution, setting the country on solid economic, national security foundation, and the best social and moral track to national unity. In short, “back to the basics.” No one is better equipped to lead the way, given his breadth of experience and brainpower than Newt.

“How about amnesty for illegal immigrants?” To set the record straight, the actual number of illegal immigrants is in question with estimates varying between 10 and 12 million, and as high as 15 million. Newt’s proposal applies to illegal immigrants who have been in the country for 25 or so years (there are definitely not ten million in that category), who are paying taxes and who are established their neighborhoods and churches. His proposal for those would provide a path to legal residency without any prospect of citizenship; and, it would grant citizenship to those who perform full length, honorable service in the Armed Forces.  He would deport all others, which by any measure would be in the millions.  (If one wonders where I stand on illegal immigration, check out the following link: http://gulf1.com/Columns/Pappas.html and read the essay titled, Racism, Illegal Immigration and Totally Changing America.)

“But, where does he stand on abortion?” Newt is a pro-life Catholic who also opposes Planned Parenthood.
“Well, how about jobs and the economy?” Newt would create a salutary environment for business activity by reducing or eliminating inhibiting taxes, reigning in suffocating union work rules, setting aside crushing Federal Regulations thus liberating and unleashing the nation’s powerful creative imagination and economic genius; and, when combined with entrepreneurship and sound business acumen America would reopen for business and experience explosive economic growth. And that, dear reader is the best hope for all Americans; even Democrats. 
To their credit, they try but no other candidate comes close; Newt Gingrich is the candidate who is best equipped to lead the way.  Readers are encouraged to visit the campaign website at http://www.newt.org/ to learn more and how to help.

Semper Fidelis

Copyright © December 6th, 2011 by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the author’s expressed written permission.