Powers on Politics
Issue XI
There are things that I believe that I shall never say, but I shall never say those things that I do not believe.
Hello: Hi everyone, glad to be getting onto the next issue of Powers on Politics with a little bit of renewed vigor-well at least with some actual facts to base my rantings off of instead of going by pure memory-which I might add is kinda hard. Fun, but hard. This week I have no idea what I’m going to talk about so it will probably end up being anything that strikes my fancy-that’s a warning to everyone out there. I suppose that isn’t much different than what usually happens, but you know…I feel I should at least give everyone ample warning in case they decide they aren’t interested in randomness. Which leads me to also note that in the randomness we might be having another history lesson, I don’t know…haven’t decided at this point, but let’s put it as a definite probably. Any of you out there who are allergic to history (I actually think it was “against my religion” at some point…) may freely extract themselves from situation when it arises. Other than whatever I come up with to discuss I’ll also-as mentioned in the end of the last issue-be telling you about going to get my book signed by Glenn Beck. It was intense. That’s basically the jist of the situation then, I guess, so let’s all have a good time! Enjoy!
Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 (Dec. 7, 2008): Sixty seven years ago today Japanese fighter pilots attacked Pearl Harbor bringing the United States into World War II.
As has been the pattern with America entering wars we were attacked first, which left FDR with little choice but to enter the Second World War. Japan had been waging a war with China since 1937 and was running out of oil and other raw materials, and they were no longer getting them shipped in to them. Because of this Japan turned its attention to the oil and mineral-rich East Indies and Southeast Asia threatening to begin a war in the Pacific.
By November 1941 none of the U.S officials who knew that there were imminent attacks aimed by the Japanese at the Indies, Malaya, and even perhaps the Philippines had any idea that an attack would be launched on our own soil.
Pearl Harbor was easily reached by aircraft carrier force and it was this way that the Japanese Navy would attack. Unbeknownst to the U.S the Japanese had been secretly moving a carriers toward the base. At 8am on the 7th of December the base was attacked, and within just a short time five of eight battleships were sunk or sinking. Most everything on the base was destroyed including the lives of 2400 Americans and not long afterward Japanese planes eliminated most of the American air force in the Philippines, and the Japanese landed in Malaya.
I just wanted to remind everyone about what happened that day, sometimes it just isn’t worth forgetting.
For more information please visit: www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm
Meeting Glenn: Saturday the 6th of December (which is today…I’m writing it now so I don’t forget anything…hopefully) Glenn Beck came down to Utah to do a book signing for his tour. The location was Layton Hills Mall inside the Deseret Book store. He was to arrive at noon and spend an hour there signing books. Because I was going to be unable to go to his concert due to my little sisters Sage and Autumn getting baptized (Congrats girls!) this opportunity to just receive his quickly scribbled signature on my book while I stood a foot away was more than this fan could handle it seemed. However to make it even more interesting my mother and my good friend Gypsy told me to give to him the first issue of Powers on Politics just to show him what I’ve been up to (you know…attempting to inform anyone who reads this). I told my mom that “that would be a great idea” even if it made me feel almost sick thinking about handing my little newsletter over to The Mr. Glenn Beck so that he could read it, and she printed it out for me with the added bonus of what I did in memoriam of September 11, 2001 (this almost embarrassed me more than giving him the first issue itself).
Now to be clear, for the past month or so (since I’ve known I’d be going to this) I’ve been insanely excited about it, I mean how many people actually get to meet someone like Glenn Beck in person (tons I know, maybe it should be rephrased as “how many people like ME get to see someone like Glenn Beck)? He’s so cool after all. Therefore the wait for this day was long and arduous to say the least and it was truly beginning to kill me the past couple days as I really began to stress over nothing but handing over my newsletter. I had to rationalize with myself that the worse thing that could happen was that he saw it as ridiculous and threw it in the garbage can-a scenario that would take place where I was not present and would never know. But there was also the fact that I am nothing but a kid giving my negligible opinions to a man who hosts his own radio talk show that is the THIRD most listened to show in America…no pressure at all right? Riiiiiiight.
Finally today came and I was picked up by my mother and we headed out to Layton at about 10:30am and arrived just after 11am. We didn’t have the best place in line, or so we originally anticipated before the rest of the line came and people were literally throughout the entire store, into the mall itself, and then finally back out the outside door of the mall. Due to our early arrival we, of course, had to stand for what seemed like an eternity. That eternity got just a bit longer when we were told that he was going to be fifteen minutes late. But that was okay, so long as somehow I got to see him in person-even if my book didn’t get signed.
At long last 12:15pm came and he arrived. He entered the bookstore through some super secret entrance and stood up on what I guess was a chair (I was too far back to see) only to address all of us in the store. For about five minutes he just talked to everyone; thanking us for coming and telling us that he knew that we understood what he’s been talking about then asking us to pray for each other and his family and he would do-and is doing-the same in return.
Then he disappeared from view and the line began to move, rather rapidly to my utmost surprise. Before I knew it I was just about three minutes away from him, and as I stood there I again admitted to my mother that I wasn’t sure that I could actually give him the first issue of the newsletter. Her reply was simple “if you don’t I will” and it was more than enough to persuade me that it was up to me to do this. At long last my mother was next in line with me behind her. The person ahead of us moved and my mom’s book was given to Glenn who took it signed it and handed it over to another person who would give it back to her only after Glenn had a chance to shake her hand. As she walked away he caught sight of her Boston Red Sox jacket and suddenly engaged her in a quick conversation. “Are you from Boston?” I was shocked, he was so busy and yet he still took even that moment for his question, my mom to tell him that she used to live there, and for him to reply quickly before turning to me shocked me.
As I said “turning to me”. My book was given to him and he shook my hand, which I did quickly and extremely nervously as I tried to remember the way I’d rehearsed giving my issue to him. (I’m not a psycho fan-girl or anything, just so we’re all clear, but I was seriously meeting one of my heroes face to face…I couldn’t believe it!) Words nearly failed me but I managed “you inspired me to do this” as I handed the newsletter to him. He smiled, took it, thanked me and said that he would read it on the bus. That was all before I was handed my book and shooed on so that the next person could have a turn. Though it was truly amazing to me, it was so cool just to have him say that he would read it and (to me) sound sincere when he could have just as easily told me that he was too busy.
I’m sure nothing will come of my giving him the first issue of Powers on Politics, in fact I’m sure I’ll always wonder what he could have possibly thought about it, but for just that moment I could not have cared less, because I knew that he would at least read it.
Auto Czar: I know what you are thinking-what the heck is a Czar? That my friend is a simple question, and I shall give you a quick answer. Czar –noun 1. An emperor or king. I know what you’re now wondering…we have a car king? Sounds like the title of some auto lot with that annoying salesman who wants you to buy the most expensive car on the lot. Unfortunately it isn’t that at all, though there are some similarities. This auto czar is going to be the answer to Congress’s problems with the Big Three because it is an individual who will be able to-in essence-control where and how the loaned $14 billion dollars is to be spent. But that won’t be the extent of the auto ruler.
This all time ruler of the auto industry shall be appointed by his highness President Bush (I might actually start calling him that…it kinda makes me want to cry…or laugh…I can’t decide) to make sure that someone doesn’t screw up the spending of this doled out $14 billion. We don’t need another financial bailout fund complication where the money they made us fork out went to something entirely contrary to what we were told it went to! No-sir-e-bob! But wait, it gets better, this czar (for some reason every time I type this word I hear the Budweiser “Real Men of Genius” voice) will also get the power to force Detroit automakers into bankruptcy (weird how that’s where this should all be going anyway) in the spring-if and only if-the “haven’t cut quick deals with labor unions, creditors, and others to restructure their businesses and become viable”. I’m going to suffer from a hemorrhage…I really am…I don’t-good Moses-I can’t even begin to put into words my anger at this fool move. Bloody LABOR UNIONS! We have to bend down and kiss the shoes of THOSE PEOPLE?! Why, they shouldn’t even be doing half the things they are doing! However, that won’t happen because (where’s my liberal voice inside my head…oh-wait-there it is!) “Chene’ you can’t cut out the unions, they keep the workers safe, they make sure rights are kept by the employees!” If I didn’t enjoy arguing with this voice in my head so much I’d have it evicted. Uh-uh-uh little voice, wrong again! The labor unions were designed to protect the worker, but that isn’t what this is all about, you are trying to sneak out of sight of the REAL issue! These unions are a big reason why the auto industry is having the problems that it is! Unions make it possible for the employees to retire, be continuously paid pension (a LARGE pension), if someone gets laid off then they can choose to move to a different company or if they don’t want to then they can still get paid! We’re paying people for sitting at home and eating TWINKIES! Moving back to the subject at hand….
Unfortunately there are law officials who wish that this so called “czar” could have even MORE power! "The car czar that they put in this bill, first of all, doesn't have a lot power -- has a lot of ability to suggest things -- but doesn't have enough power to cause the restructuring," said Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, who opposes an auto bailout and would prefer to see the companies in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Not enough power, not very much power? Are we looking at the same thing here Senator Ensign? I don’t think so because to me it looks like this here czar is going to have the run of the auto industry with the flick of his finger-sort of like the bloody Secretary of Treasury has but to say that “his will be done” and the whole system will jump!
As for this complaint about having to purchase vehicles from bankrupt businesses…I can only ask…so what? “Chene’ no American wants to buy a product from a bankrupt business!” Oh, really, I seem to disagree. In fact if you recently purchased a plane ticket-you know earlier this year, you were probably flying with a bankrupt business. Just because a business is bankrupt doesn’t mean they suddenly stop producing their product, and it certainly doesn’t mean that their product is suddenly eradicated from everyday life. The argument is just another way to skirt around the issue, especially because it’s such a flawed argument in the first place. Come on people we aren’t in high school debate, hit me with some real negatives!
“If the bill becomes law, the car czar will be required to have expertise in economic stabilization, financial aid to commerce and industry, financial restructuring, energy efficiency, and environmental protection. The czar can also employ, appoint or contract with others who have similar expertise.
Jack Young, founder of Jack Young Personnel Services Inc, an executive search firm that recruits senior level candidates for the automotive industry, said that's not a bad start for a job description. But he said the czar also should have a deep understanding of the automotive industry.”
Alright now this detailed description of what a car czar needs to know gives a little hope-you know the kind of tiny flash of momentary light in an entirely black room. They could at least get a capitalist for this gig-right? Wrong. You know who Young thinks is the one and only one who can pull this off? (Find some sharp object to hit your head on…you’ll need it) The one and only Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg! Wait…where are the cheers…I can’t hear any…in fact all I can hear is the sound of my throwing my arms in the air and thinking “we’re so going to hell in a hand basket”…really, really loudly. Michael Bloomberg, well I guess. He already has the Czar thing covered since he’s now officially in his third ILLEGAL term as mayor (without elections), but other than that I don’t see why his name hasn’t been laughed at, the piece of paper crumpled up, and then lit on fire. (I have a small candle torch if anyone wants to borrow it).
There is one extra ray of sunshine in this ridiculous story though…not that it counts for much. There are a few Republicans left out there who oppose it completely…basically it won’t stop this thing from being passed on Monday (that’s the scheduled day of our big step forward further into Socialism…I encourage you all to mark it on your calendars) but at least you know that there’s someone at the least PRETENDING to want America to stay free. Lately that’s all you’re going to get.
Bye Y’All: That’ll do it for this issue, not much I know…but I think you’ll like next issue. Just so everyone knows the day the issue will be released weekly is now officially changed to Wednesday and or Thursday-at least until I have to change it again. Let’s just suffice it to say there will at least be one a week. Hope everyone’s having fun, and if you have a Facebook account look for my new Group called Powers on Politics-I’d love to see you there! Thanks y’all!
Chene’
Works Cited:
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