Diggapedia

1)       Public polling is a colossal waste of time, and any elected official who lets it determine policy is both a fool and dangerous. 2)       Is it possible for our government to govern without first considering the political consequences? 3)       “Millions of our citizens do not now have a full measure of opportunity to achieve and to enjoy good health. Millions do not now have protection or security against the economic effects of sickness. And the time has now arrived for action to help them attain that opportunity and to help them get that protection." – Harry S. Truman 4)       President Obama reaching out to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, may lead nowhere in the short term.   But diplomacy is about engaging your adversaries to come to some common ground; it’s tedious and slow and is why neocons hate it. 5)       When the mall att...

“We live in a world of imperfect choices.” Those words were spoken today by President Obama during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly.   Eight simple words that adeptly describe most geopolitical situations and the decisions world leaders face.   We live in an uncertain world were the only certainty is being second guessed.   Second guessed by political pundits and opposition mouth pieces whose only skill is Monday morning quarterbacking and backseat driving. Imperfect choices indeed. Syria: Get involved to stop the slaughter and risk getting bogged down in another Middle East Muslim nation.   Force regime change to get rid of a despotic butcher, only to risk replacing him with a failed state home to terrorists or a radical Sunni regime committed to attacking Israel.   Arm the rebels so they can defend themselves, and in the process increase the rate of killing and perhaps arming the same guys we way fight in the near future. Egyp...

Politicrite (n): One who changes views soley based on political affiliation; one who agrees with something when his political party does it, but opposes it when the other side does it.   -           You rationalize it is OK for a president from your party to possess excessive executive power but you oppose it when the opposition sits in the White House.   You say it’s because you trust your guy, but do not trust the other guy. -           You oppose torture, but are silent on drone strikes based on the guy occupying the White House. -           You think Benghazi is a major scandal and cover-up, but think Oliver North is a hero because of Iran-Contra. -           You claim Bill Clinton cut and run out of Somalia, and think Reagan was American tough even though he split from Leban...

1)       While Syria boils, not a peep about Iran’s imminent nuclear capability.   Redlines shmedlines. 2)       What happened to the Somali Pirates?   Are they pissed that the Pittsburgh Pirates are getting all of the press? 3)       40% of Americans are opposed to raising the debt ceiling.   I bet 50% are receiving government assistance. 4)       The best TV Dramas feature morally conflicted protagonist: Sopranos, The Wire, Dexter, Boardwalk Empire, The Shield, Rescue Me, Ray Donovan, Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy, and of course the great Breaking Bad. 5)       43 shootings in which more than four people were killed in the same incident in the past four years: American Exceptionalism 6)       The hypocrisy of American foreign policy where we promote democracy but arm the repressive regimes of Saudi Arabia a...

Syria…what to do about Syria. As the debate rages, opinions, perspectives, ideas, and arguments are flying for and against action.   It comes down to quite a few talking points I have tried to summarize as best as possible: 1)       There is insufficient proof that Assad used chemical weapons.   After the Iraq ginned-up debacle, Americans are naturally more skeptical of their government and the world is a lot more untrusting of American claims. 2)       We haven’t exhausted all diplomatic solutions.   How do you know when more talking is frivolous?   If you believe President Obama is a ‘reluctant warrior’, has he not reached the point that further discussion is pointless?   3)       We shouldn’t go it alone.   If neither NATO nor the UN have called for military action, then why should America be the military course of last resort? 4)       I...