Day: July 6, 2009

Barack Obama has accomplished a major agreement on his trip to Russia, and it holds the potential for much better relations between the US and the Russians.

The agreement deals with nuclear arms limitations, as a renewal and improvement of the arms agreement signed during the first Bush Administration nearly twenty years ago.  It calls for reduction of missiles and nuclear warheads in a legally binding way, therefore cutting down the dangers of nuclear war between the two nations, who together have the vast majority of nuclear arms.

This agreement, along with the willingness of the Russians to allow US planes and supplies to use Russian airspace to supply troops in the Afghanistan War, marks a new beginning in the relationship between the two former Cold War rivals.

It would create a much more peaceful world if the Russians and the Americans could continue to cooperate in the foreign policy challenges presented by North Korea and Iran on the  issue of nuclear proliferation.

Most of the country, including the vast majority of Republicans and conservatives, are stunned beyond belief by Sarah Palin’s withdrawal from her term as Governor of Alaska, and are in a quandary as to her motives and intentions.

George Will  and Karl Rove are two of the many who are mystified by her actions, and almost no one can rationalize or understand what she is doing, and cannot see it as a positive if she intends to run for President in 2012.  To say that resigning after only two and a half years as Governor qualifies her to run for President is seen as preposterous,  although I would contend that even had she finished a full term, the thought of her being President is ridiculous!

But yet, we have some so called "intelligent" conservatives and Republicans who seem to believe that it could be a positive move,  including Bill Bennett,  Mary Matalin,  and Bill Kristol  (the editor of the prestigious Weekly Standard conservative journal of opinion).    Of course, Kristol, earlier in his career, was a big supporter and aide to Vice President Dan Quayle, so one has to wonder about his judgment! :)   This is the same person who thought that Iraq was a winnable war and that it would not last as long with as big a commitment by this nation as it has turned out to be.   Also, Mary Matalin was an aide to both Vice President Dick Cheney and President George W Bush,  so can one really believe her judgment is of any value?  And Bill Bennett has long been known to be an arrogant, cocky, egotistical man who plays by his own drummer, so to say.

So the fact that these three people see Sarah Palin’s actions as rational has to make one wonder how intelligent and sensible they are!  🙂

The news last week that Walmart, the nation’s largest employer, and the American Medical Association leadership, both agree on the concept of national health care is a big step toward adoption of such a national plan.

Who would have imagined this back in 1993-94,  when President Clinton faced such strong opposition from many quarters and failed to accomplish any move toward a national health care plan, with the result being now that about 47 million Americans have no health care.

Despite strong opposition from the Republican party and conservative talk show hosts,  the hope is now that a decent national health care plan will be enacted this year, but President Obama is concerned that left wing groups are exerting too much pressure on congressional Democrats that could lead to major splits and failure to enact this necessary legislation.

I say give the Democrats support in their quest for legislation, without doing anything to antagonize or divide the party, which should now, with its strong majorities in both Houses, accomplish its goal of a decent, reasonable national health care plan.