Simple Man Politics

Yesterday saw an extraordinary political event occur on the national stage and brought to all of us by our favorite news outlets. This extraordinary event that I am talking about is the back to back speeches made by President Barack Obama and former Vice President Dick Cheney both of which were on national defense and the war on terror. Both of these speeches were in stark contrast to each other as well and immediately sparked sharp debate from both sides of the argument.

I found both of these speeches to be very well thought out and written by and for their respective speech makers. What I mean to say is that if you support the Obama position on the war on terror, closing Gitmo, and national security then his speech was just what you wanted to hear, and if you support the Cheney position then likewise he said just what you wanted to hear. As I said both sides of this argument will be talking about the speeches for a couple of days at least.

I applaud Obama for his choice of venues for delivering his speech, which was the National Archives where the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are enshrined, which are the three documents that he said in his speech he would defend. However I found the consensus that Obama was giving this speech from a position of weakness. On the other side Cheney chose to give his speech from the American Enterprise Institute and seemed anything other than weak from his position.

He also restated his intention to close down the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility stating that it was not only illegal but a sore point with our enemies and a recruitment tool for them also. He likewise stated his position on the Enhanced Interrogation Program and its termination saying that it was illegal, inhumane, and immoral. He also said that it was a recruitment tool for terrorists also. He further stated that bringing the Gitmo detainees to the US and trying them here with all of the rights of a criminal defendant was the right thing to do under the law.

On the other side of this argument Cheney said that the construction of Guantanamo was designed to house just these sorts of animals that attacked our homeland on September 11th, 2001 and was legally developed. He also staunchly defended the Enhanced Interrogation Program stating that it was not only extremely effective, but constitutionally legal as well. Cheney went on to say that Gitmo was there so that we wouldn’t have to bring these vermin onto US soil and implied that the detainees were not eligible for the rights our legal system affords its citizens.

Now I will give you my own thoughts on this subject. I agree with Obama that he has sworn to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and likewise the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and he should defend them. These documents are the very foundation, heart, and soul of our nation and its democracy, but there is little if anything else that he said yesterday, which I do agree with.

On the other hand I do agree with Cheney that 9/11 changed forever the way I look at our enemies and in particular those in the Middle East that support, harbor, fund, equip, train, or otherwise take part in terrorist activities against our country. I do not believe that they are eligible for Geneva Convention Protections because they are not a recognized national military. I will also tell you that I think we should leave them in Gitmo or put them in some more inhospitable environment where they could not survive without our assistance such as a place like ANWAR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or maybe Alcatraz Island, which is a federal military reserve.

As enemy combatants I also do not believe that they are eligible for habeas corpus rights or any rights afforded a simple criminal in our federal criminal court system including legal defense. I say a military tribunal is just what is needed for them. With regard to our Enhanced Interrogation Program and its apparent success in gaining intelligence from high value detainees I believe that it was not only a successful program, but legal as well and as far as water boarding in particular it was only used on three of those terrorists and with great effect. By the way their recruitment tools are nothing more than their hate of freedom and democracy.

I personally don’t care what we do to the detainees or what happens to them for that matter as long as it is extremely unpleasant. I don’t believe that animals and these animals in particular are deserving of the rights and protections of law abiding citizens of the world or of the United States in particular.

I would just as soon shoot them like rabid dogs myself personally and if I cannot then send them back to their countries of origin, but apparently we can’t do that because it would be a death sentence for most of them at least, but I don’t care if they are killed by us or their own kind. All I care about is that they never again have the ability to raise their hands against another citizen of the United States or any other democratic country.

Well that is my Friday rant for all of you to read and I hope it leaves no doubt where I stand on the issue of this nation’s defense and its enemies. I hope you all have an awesome weekend and I will be back again on Monday CIAO4NOW!!!!!

Welcome to the T.G.I.F. post for Simple Man Politics my friends and faithful readers. Today we are going to talk about something that has been causing quite a stir and not a little controversy as well in the past couple of weeks. Todays topic of conversation is Obamas expected commencement speech at Notre Dame this Sunday May 17th 2009.

While Obama has recently given commencement speech’s at a couple of universities lately the most recent being ASU (Arizona State University) the big difference between ASU and Notre Dame is that ASU is a secular university while Notre Dame is a theological university. This is where Obamas visit becomes a problem especially for those who attend and work at Notre Dame.

Here is the reason that this makes the Obama commencement speech such a bitterly opposed event. Since Notre Dame is a theological university and a part of the Roman Catholic Church. As a result Notre Dame is obviously a Pro Life advocate rather than Pro Choice, teaching that human life begins at conception and thus is a sacred living person and soul at that point.

Obama is obviously a Pro Choice advocate, which automatically puts his belief system opposite of the Roman Catholic doctrine. He has also recently implemented a couple of policies that are in direct contradiction to the Pro Life point of view. The most perceived direct assault to the Pro Life movement is the implementation of funding overseas for organizations who promote abortion as a family planning alternative.

Because of these to totally opposite points of view there is a lot of anger and frustration from students, faculty, alumni as well as the rank and file of the Catholic Church at the invitation from the President of the University of Notre Dame to President Barack Obama to make the commencement speech. These same people are also opposed to the honorary law degree for Obama from the university saying it honors an individual who does not honor the Catholic ideal.

Unfortunately this commencement speech event has also caused a rift in the Catholic Church also. Many of the more moderate Catholics will say that to have a US President give the commencement speech at Notre Dame will only add more prestige to an already very prestigious university. These moderates within the church will also say that by having someone like Obama with his beliefs visit the campus will help to promote greater understanding with his kind and the church faithful.

I will tell you all that I was baptized in the Catholic Church however I am what one would call a lapsed catholic. I cannot even remember the last time I attended a mass. I will also tell you all that I have my own ideas about what this invitation to Obama is all about. I think it is all about the money for the President of Notre Dame and his administration. Money is tight and federal funds are usually free.

I also think that even with Obamas speech at Notre Dame that the core principles and teachings of the university will not be corrupted. I do find it a shame however that the Laetare Medal will not be awarded at this commencement this year to Mary Ann Glendon who declined the honor. I also believe that both sides of this issue have to right to protest either side of this issue as well. Organized public protest and debate are rights we as a democratic society enjoy under the 1st amendment.

Whatever side of this argument you might fall on I only hope that you and I both pray for a peaceful day this Sunday. There is enough hate, discontent, and hostility going around elsewhere and it is not needed at Notre Dame on the day the next new crop of bright young minds enter the real world to try to make their dreams come true. I wish them all good luck, Gods speed, and Gods blessings in their new lives.

That is all I have for you all today but I will see you all again on Monday. Have a wonderful weekend my friends and CIAO4NOW!!!!!

P.S. The Video is from ndresponse.com check it out.