Democratic Power

I see that Vice-President Biden swore in Paul Kirk as temporary Senator of Massachusetts, giving the Democrats their 60 seats in the Senate.

Frankly, I am not happy that the Obama Administration used the Kennedy influence to insure he has enough votes to ram Health Care Reform through the Congress if the Republicans do not get any of the compromises they are seeking.

The state of Massachusetts decided years ago on a policy to replace a US Senator and I feel that policy should be respected. If the citizens of Massachusetts want to change the policy, then there should be a state referendum and a decision made by the people, not some lawmakers looking for payback at a later date.

Between asking the governor of New York not to run, and pushing for the governor of Massachusetts to give them a friendly man for the Senate, I think the Obama Administration are stepping out of bounds.

Blatant interference is not the way to inspire the confidence of the people.

These actions are a disappointment. Obama, and especially his team need to be a little more considerate of the feelings of the American public or they just might discover they are in for a short time in Washington.

Its Common Sense!

World Wide Unrest - Is There A Conspiracy?

It appears that unrest is spread across the globe. The Uighurs, an ethnic minority in the Xingjiang Province of western China and the majority Han Chinese are clashing over jobs and land in this mineral rich area. Chinese troops have been sent in to put down what appears to be a rebellion, which the Chinese government states was incited by a Uighur woman living in the United States using the Internet to spread rebellion.

As they have been doing in Tibet, the Chinese government is responding with a heavy hand. No doubt human rights violations are ocurring, but is the government of the USA protesting? Where is Hillary Clinton to make a statement?

In Iran it now appears that there is dissension in the ruling clerical body, with some of the imams coming forward and disagreeing with the Supreme Leader's decision on the recent election. Could these clerics be planning to join with the dissidents? Is civil war in Iran's near future?

Honduras also looks like it could be heading for a civil war. After the ousted president was unable to land his plane yesterday, rioters took to the streets. It is evident that the working class of this Central American country is not happy with the military take over and that they could get support from other Latin American countries, most notably Venezuela, to stage a revolt of their own.

And finally, there is North Korea shooting off missiles. Are they really crazy? What is their goal?

I know I left out other hot spots, the Balkans, the Sudan, Somalia, Thailand, etc, unrest appears to be everywhere, and one needs to ask, what is going on?

Is this just normal life, or are there forces behind the scenes manipulating things for their own profit and power? Is there a conspiracy out there somewhere? A multi-national conglomerate out for world power?

I know, you're thinking I've read too many Robert Ludlum books and seen too many shows like "Prison Break". Maybe you're right.

On the other hand, maybe I'm right. More than twenty years ago I read a book by Taylor Caldwell entitled "Captains & Kings", about international financiers manipulating world occurrences for their own benefit. Maybe the same is happening now.

Just because someone is paranoid, doesn't mean there aren't conspiracies.
Who really has the power?

Its something to consider carefully.

What's the truth in Iran?

Who is the real victor of Iran's presidential election? Is President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lying when he says that he beat Mir Hossein Mousavi?

You tell me. Something like thirty-eight million votes needed to be counted by hand, and yet that was accomplished in somewhere between six to eight hours. Amazing!!. No hanging chads, no questionable handwriting.

I would like to know who actually counted the ballots and that fast, because my understanding is that none of the process was computerized. That means people keeping a hand tally of votes and then all areas reporting to the central balloting office with the results.

Now I know that some of you will think I am cynical of Iran's Democratic practices, but you have to admit that even Superman would have trouble counting that many votes that quickly.

Of course the sad truth of the matter is that the clerics who actually run Iran - after all Iran is a theocracy, not a democracy- feel they have more power and influence over of Ahmadinejad than they ever would have over Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Logic told us the outcome even before the election took place. The question is, why did Iran even bother? Is there more resistance in Iran than we initially thought? Are things boiling up? Is there a possibility of a civil war taking place in Iran in the near future?

I don't know. I need to know more. Which way is the Revolutionary Guard leaning? Do the mullahs really have the power they think they have?

A lot of questions with no answers. However, trying to get those answers should be interesting, and the situation in Iran could bring on yet another new dimension to the troubles going on the Middle East.

For the time being we will have to sit back, watch, and hope that we (the USA) remain neutral observers and don't get sucked into the middle of it.

Its Common Sense!