Posted on 09/09/2014 11:49:00 AM PDT by jazusamo
The recent bribery convictions of former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell and his wife are only the latest in a seemingly never-ending series of convictions of government officials.
A little item on the Internet featured government officials in prison, either currently or in recent times. Among them were a mayor of New Orleans, a mayor of Detroit and a mayor of Washington; a governor of Connecticut, a governor of Louisiana, two governors of Illinois and four members of Congress.
However much these and other government officials may have richly deserved being behind bars, the country does not deserve to have its confidence in government repeatedly undermined. A country with 100 percent cynicism about its government cannot be governed. And nobody wants anarchy.
In short, the damage done by government officials who betray the public's trust goes far beyond the money stolen or misused, or whatever particular abuse of power landed them behind bars.
The difference between a government united behind its leaders and a government where no leader can take decisive action with an assurance of public support is a difference between a country that can, and a country that cannot, deal effectively with the challenges it will inevitably face, whether at home or abroad.
When President John F. Kennedy took the United States to the brink of nuclear war in 1962 — justifiably, I believe — he did so with more public support than any president could muster today, even though Kennedy had been elected with the thinnest of margins.
His immediate successors — Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon — were both big-time liars who lost the implicit trust that previous presidents had enjoyed, and that none has enjoyed since, even when these later presidents were truthful.
(Excerpt) Read more at creators.com ...
Cheap? They seem awfully darned expensive to me!
On one hand, he is 100% correct that superstars in the private sector can earn a LOT more than their counterparts in government.
On the other, those in the private sector are expected to produce real, actual, tangible results, whether it be base hits, touchdown passes or enhanced shareholder value.
Most politicians, meanwhile, gear their appeal to the lowest common denominator of idiot voters, whom they promise free sh*t paid for by somebody else.
Yeah, we occasionally get lucky and elect a Ronald Reagan, Ted Cruz or Mike Lee. More often we elect a worthless (or worse) celebrity like an Obama, Clinton or post-JFK Kennedy whose main talent is bamboozling lowest common denominator idiot voters.
Paying them more isn't going to attract real talent, just those even more talented at bamboozling lowest common denominator idiot voters.
The only long-term solution lies in educating their constituents to demand more real performance and less free sh*t paid for by somebody else.
“bamboozling lowest common denominator idiot voters”
because they outnumber us...
Bob McDonnell was a moron, why take a direc t bribe when you can take a billion dollars of state funds and launder them through pet projects and get a several million dollar kickback, you know like hopw the Dems have mastered....
They don’t seem to care about spending trillions of other people’s money in order to a few measly millions....
And three - count 'em, three - Speakers of the Massachusetts House in a row!
I know what he meant, but could have worded it better as in, "When the Soviets took us to the brink of nuclear war by putting nukes in Cuba, Kennedy put up a blockade and the Soviets stood down and remove the missles from Cuba". Yes, I know that we had to remove or stop installation of Pershing missles as a compromise. So what? He stopped nuclear war!
Interestingly, JFK as a democrat, was more conservative than most of our current GOPe. He believed in the greatness of the American model and it's founding ideals. Most, if not all of us are alive today because he had the strength of character to make the difficult decision against the Soviets' plans. He called their bluff and they went a way. He made his mistakes, Bay of Pigs and having Lyndon Johnson as vice-president (the "Great Society" socialist). I miss leaders like JFK and I was just a child.
Also wished his brother had not been murdered - they were of like mind and Robert Kennedy would have probably made a good President being as insightful and determined as John for the good of America.
1. Then we get Lyndon Johnson who not only increased FDR's socialist programs, but micro-managed the Viet Nam war to the loss of 58,000 troops, not to mentioned the countless injured/maimed;
2. Next up was Nixon who was okay, but just stupid about the Watergate cover-up;
3. Then the feckless Carter who even announced our "malaise" instead of talking about the potential of America's future. The economy went to sh*t under his administration;
4. Then Ronald Reagan announced we are "The Shining City on the Hill" and brought belief back into our Constitutional system and street morale. He was all positive and through his and Margaret Thatcher's efforts brought down the Berlin Wall and devastated the Soviet Union. Yeah, he made mistakes also when believing if he signed the Congressional Amnesty deal, he would get further concessions which never occurred; 6. Bill Clinton, the womanizer, did a good thing by signing welfare reform, although he kept moving the line in speeches until the Repub congress forced him sign it, when the Repubs would fight for principles. But then he lied to the entire world, got impeached, and loss his lawyer license and became the butt of jokes world wide;
7. George W. Bush was somewhat of a Reagan reincarnation. However, he increased Medicare entitlements and I now believe he made a mistake by going into Iraq. Still, he honored the Oval Office;
8. Now we have the usurper Barrack Hussein Obama. What is there to say about this marxist? Too much to list here.
So that's my basic take on our presidents as I've read and heard about them. I know there is much more to each, but that's how I see them.
Yes, like you I know what he meant about JFK taking us to the brink of nuclear war, he could have worded it better.
I was not a fan of JFK but was proud of the way he stood up to Khrushchev and the USSR.
6. Bill Clinton, the womanizer, did a good thing by signing welfare reform, although he kept moving the line in speeches until the Repub congress forced him to sign it, when the Repubs would fight for principles. But then he lied to the entire world, got impeached, and loss his lawyer license and became the butt of jokes world wide;
As an aside, who will be the Demorat party nominee? Hillary? I doubt she will run for the presidency. She's getting old and feeble. Think Liz Warren will be their nominee. Getting lots of press lately.
So who will be the Repub nominee?
1. Romney? Maybe, but he will lose due to the huge conservative movement.
2. Cristie? Too non-optic and liberal;
3. Jeb Bush? Please, enough of them already;
4. McConnell? Too liberal.
5. Paul Ryan? GOPe;
6. Sarah Palin? Damaged goods due to the biased media;
7. Rand Paul? Too wishy for conservatives;
8. McCain? Too old and too accommodating for his elite brothers in both parties;
9. Ted Cruz? Not certain if he's qualified, but he would be my choice!!!
So what Repub elite or conservative has the best chance to clean our White House? You guys know better than I. It's some years from now so maybe someone will appear out of nowhere like Obambi did.
Just remember, it's all about appearance and the talk that make LIV and reality show voters head to the poles. I'm okay with a good talker as long as he/she is dedicated to restoring Constitutional principles. Of course that would be Sarah Palin, but no chance in hell.
To the true, principled conservative, no candidate is good enough! Don’t tread on me! All that jazz!
Ted Cruz is following Maggie Thatcher: win the argument, then win the vote.
Romney is going to prop up Perry.
And three - count 'em, three - Speakers of the Massachusetts House in a row!Among them were a mayor of New Orleans, a mayor of Detroit and a mayor of Washington; a governor of Connecticut, a governor of Louisiana, two governors of Illinois and four members of Congress.
He mentions as many Republican as Democrat miscreants. I don’t think that ratio is at all representative . . .
Cheap? They seem awfully darned expensive to me!
Exactly his point - we need much better people, and to have better candidates you would have to attract people who can command serious money. And term limit them.If - I, and Sowell, do say if - we can get the quality of elected official we pay for, it would be well worth it to pay elected officials well. Instead of electing a Bill Clinton, who as governor of Arkansas was reputedly eager to tell people what a lousy salary he had. Meanwhile, his wife was engaged in Cattlegate and Whitewater.
People so driven by greed as to knowingly break felony laws to obtain money will NEVER be satisfied by any salary, however large. We could pay our representatives 10 times more & some would never be satisfied.
People who love this country & want to serve it will not be deterred by what some people believe is a low salary. What deters these people is our greed driven political system, where money routinely trumps right. Decent people don’t want to wallow in the slop with hogs.
This is another reason that our government must be as small as possible; severely restricted in its domestic power & reach. The smaller the government, the smaller & fewer the frauds & thefts.
Yes, I know that we had to remove or stop installation of Pershing missles as a compromise.
Not to quibble but the Pershings were 1980's missiles that Reagan put in Europe in response to the Soviet SS-20s. They backed down and removed them so we took the Pershings out.
Kennedy took the Jupiter missiles out in Turkey when Krushev "blinked" and removed the missiles from Cuba.
We also had GLCM's at Greenham Common UK and Comiso AB, Italy. Reagan really called their bluff! We took the GLCMs out when we took out the Pershings. All told, I only think we had them in theater for 4-5 years tops...
When I got to Italy in 1991 they were just closing Comiso, which was a brand new base to house the GLCMs, and we got all their refurbished "stuff" (Trucks, cars, vans, furniture, desks, computers, radar, radios, etc, etc.) at San Vito, which was some pretty nice stuff, too.
Hope your doing well, Sir. Although VetsCoR never worked out, I can still remember you being so frustrated that you had to leave. SO understand. It was just a matter of Veterans not really wanting to deal with politics or remember their bad times or just wanting to drink up in whatever lodge or bar. Good idea, bad demographic, not to mention how amateur we were.
While I'm a dues paying member of American Legion and tried to fit into the local Post, they were just too small and too cliquish. Now it's about my wife and my 1958 Chevy Impala, with continental kit and rear skirts (remember back?). I'm also a member of Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) who originated when the Westboro Babtist cult started protesting Veteran funerals. PGR now gathers for any active military or Veteran funerals to give a biker procession to the funeral home/grave site IF invited by the family. I couldn't keep my eyes dry the times I rode and attended.
Anyway, yup, got the missile names wrong, but you got the gist why Kennedy did that exchange. Hell, the man saved America and Russia and probably much of the world. Only wish our Republicans were as conservative and dedicated as he was to American principles even though a Democrat.
Those were the years of leaders and men of principles. They believed in America's greatness and the vision of our Founding Fathers. With the self-serving politicians and biased media in our face everyday, I just thank that I grew up in a time of integrity and honor. I still hold those values dear to my heart. Best to you and your loved ones. Write me anytime...
Well, for a few pieces of silver they can be bought to sell the whole industry.
Bill Gates Common core foundation... Non profit ram job crap education, plenty of PCs and stupid software he can sell.
socialism works that way.
The qualified is squeezed between crooked sales people selling garbage and the government paying wanna be entrepreneurs with other people’s moneys.
“post-JFK Kennedy whose main talent is bamboozling lowest common denominator idiot voters.”
What makes you think that wasn’t true of JFK? Or, as my dear, sainted mother used to call him, “That pig-eyed, inbred, shanty Irish trash.”
Without TV, he wouldn’t have come anywhere near close enough for election fraud to put him over the top.
He may have been right to take us to the brink of nuclear war, but the way he got us off that brink was to give Khrushchev everything he wanted.
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