FLYING UNDER THE RADAR

The news media outlets enjoy increased ratings when compelling events such as the missing Malaysian passenger jet disappears from the sky without a trace. They know that the public is drawn into the mystery by a combination of compassion for the missing passengers along with sympathy for their families and the fascination that in today’s fish bowl of technological voyeurism momentous events can still avoid detection.

What happens when major news events strike at the same time? When like today, there is another arguably bigger and more historic story happening, Russia’s invasion of Crimea, why does the media gives it second coverage billing?

The debate over what to cover and how much time to devote to one story over another invokes the age old enigmatic question “which came first, the chicken or the egg”, or in this case, which comes first, viewer driven ratings or significant news that could lead to a world war? 

Some in the news business will tell you that the public always controls the coverage, while others will argue that real news reporting should not be concerned with ratings and instead be governed by simply reporting significant news stories. They claim to not write or make-up the news but merely report it. However, media exercises sole control over whether a story is the lead or buried in the news, along with the amount of time devoted to a story and how comprehensive the coverage is on any news story.  

Therefore when Americans complain that our newsrooms are corrupt, and in the tank for either (mostly both) entertainment ratings or the Obama Administration the proof is in the coverage of the Malaysian jetliner versus the Russian takeover of a sovereign’s state’s land. One story seems to be fueled with more speculation than facts as it flies all around the airwaves constantly focused on the mystery of the Malaysian plane. However, the other major story (Russia annexing Crimea) which is a clear act of unbridled territorial aggression, that has the real possibility of escalating to a world war in the near future is in a holding pattern at the media airport of landing coverage priorities. 

The point is this; if newsrooms want to be taken seriously, claiming they are not info-entertainment like supermarket tabloids and the John Stewart Daily show then why is the Malaysian jetliner story topping the news coverage? If the argument is that we are covering the stories people want to hear then, why not cover the Benghazi and the IRS corruption scandals that somehow have gone media dark and silent?  If the argument is that there is nothing more to report on those stories, then that fails to explain hours of news reporting on speculation as to the whereabouts of a plane when no new information has been discovered. 

Where is the news coverage speculating that the Obama administration covered up Benghazi to win election? Similar to using retired airline pilots to wax about possible theories about the missing plane, why then has media not used ex-diplomats and ex-CIA agents to fill a panel to speculate on what happened in Benghazi?

 

Where is the speculative reporting that the IRS was used by the Obama administration to silence the growing Tea Party groups to organize educated voters to the polls in 2012? 

The news media cannot have it both ways. They can’t argue that they don’t control the news and merely report it and then filter it through their elitist’s lens of priority. They may not make up the news stories (ahem I guess) but by controlling the air time, front page space and the extent of both coverage and investigative follow-up, they do set the news table. They do determine what news is important. They do influence what news Americans are informed about and what news is not noteworthy for Americans. Media does control the information agenda and they have not acted responsibly or fairly to a simple standard of unbiased honesty.

To argue that the repeated lies told by this administration over a terrorist attack in Benghazi during the 2012 election is not at least (we think much more) as egregious as Watergate is not credible. Equally, to have no follow-up investigations and no questions to the White House amid the many still unanswered questions about Benghazi shows more than political bias, it bespeaks a media cover-up.

The IRS scandal is a huge criminal-political corruption yet it has been ignored by our so-called professional journalists. For the majority of media outlets to just take the President’s word that there is not a “smidgeon” of corruption done by one of the most intimidating of government agencies is an appalling indictment of media collusion not just bias.

Congress has low polling numbers because it ignores the will of the American people and seems only responsive to inside the beltway lobbyists. Media is a close second in those low polling numbers because it enjoys a platform to bring important information to Americans but it squanders that for ratings revenue and whines that it is the viewers fault.

Those in media that argue that Justin Bierber latest folly is more popular to the viewers than the NSA spying scandal are using excuses, allowing their network-needs to continue feeding Americans “Bierber celebrity-Pablum” to distract us from their media malfeasance. We might agree that too many Americans are obsessed with celebrity news and might be bored to change the channel but then so aren’t school children easily bored. Do we then teach children only information they deem popular and throw away vital curriculum?

Responsible journalism requires reporting important news stories period. Otherwise they are misusing the freedom of the press to pander for ratings, pick political sides, hide unflattering revelations about our government and making all Americans more vulnerable to tyranny.

There is a reason that freedom of speech is the first Amendment in our Bill of Rights. There is equally a reason that Obama’s promise of an open and transparent government was and is a fairy tale.

There is a reason why Americans have anger and distrust for our government when both Congress and the Press owned by corporations tell us to look up at the sky, “Da plane Boss, da plane” in order to distract us from their manipulation of our constitutional rights.

More than ever Americans believe that our government is flying under the radar and increasing its covert corruption under our noses with the oligarchic Press turning off the transponder of truth and burying the black box of facts in the propaganda waters off the coast of Fantasy Island. We are rightfully worried that instead of America living out her dreams those elitist power brokers are creating America’s nightmare.

“The very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world. Lies will pass into history.” (George Orwell)

 Claudia Roazen is a writer from Maine. Her book “ARE WE THE SHEEPLE OR THE PEOPLE? AN AMERICAN WOMAN ON FIRE!” can be purchased at AMAZON.COM or on her website http://claudiawrites-rights.blogspot.com/

POLITICAL FRENEMIES

There continues to be confusion as to whether the Tea Party and the GOP are friends and allies or enemies and foes. During this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference we heard this debate between conservatives explained as either tactical differences among allies or real distrust by both. 

Yet isn’t it clear by now to most Americans that the GOP and the Tea Party Movement are at best “Frenemies”? I think a good analogy to the cause of friction between the GOP and the Tea Party Movement is similar to the angry vitriol between a drug addict and an enabler that both sit at an intervention.

We the People are the enabler of many in the GOP establishment that are hooked on the drug of power as they mainline their elitist belief thinking only they (candidates and consultants) are special. Some in the establishment GOP view the Tea Party involvement as an unwelcomed kibitzer at the political roulette wheel that only distracts the real players, rather than help. Yet the Tea Party would argue that the GOP rigs the game by endorsing candidates that have more loyalty to the GOP than to honestly represent conservative principles for the people.  

The GOP pundits like to point out the few failures of the Tea Party Movement candidates such as the lost races of O’Donnell in Delaware, Angle in Nevada and Todd Akin Missouri. Yet like the drug addict that blames his addiction on everything but his own poor choices, the GOP has lost many more elections over many decades than hands and feet can count and should be loath to point fingers. They lost the majority they had in the House in 2006 well before the Tea Party was ever formed.

If Angle (NV) was a bad choice in 2010 then so were these GOP backed candidates in 2012, Linda McMahon (CT), Denny Rehberg (MT), Tommy Thompson (WI), George Allen (VA), Connie Mack (FL), Heather Wilson (NM), Josh Mandell (OH), Pete Hoekstra (MI) and Linda Lingle (HI). They all lost, and lost because they were moderates. Therefore the argument that the Tea Party is backing unelectable candidates in the primary races and that the GOP choice would have won is a false narrative. Bob Dole and Mitt Romney were not Tea Party candidates and well, you can do the math.

Sure there have been blunders by both sides but just as the enabler shares blame by supporting the drug addict, the time for lament must be replaced by resolve. The GOP needs to stop listening to their drug dealers (liberal media, Beltway consultants and Democrats) and instead listen to the people that pay their rent (Tea Party, conservative and libertarian voters). In fact, the eclectic center right electorate is more in harmony and accord than the self absorbed Washington politicos. 

The GOP needs to stop spitting vile at good conservatives that no longer want to tolerate Republican candidates that sidle left under the guise that moderates win elections in blue or purple states. Apparently some of you in the GOP don’t get it, moderate Republicans are just as responsible for the huge expansive government, onerous legislation and unconstitutional rulings by our court system.

Liberal light or moderate conservatism is like a drug addict switching from heroin to prescription drugs and alcohol. We the people are fed up with the constant relapse of conservative principles that these moderate candidates and incumbents revert to once they are elected or re-elected into office.

The other charge of criticism that the GOP has used to disparage the Tea Party is this nonsense notion of political purity. They suggest that unless a Republican candidate agrees 100% with Tea Party values the activists bash and disparage good conservative candidates or Representatives based on single issue disagreements rather than assessing more fairly the full body of their policy positions over all.

Well, let’s chew on this a bit, shall we? First, isn’t it ironic that the GOP complains that a single issue difference should not dissuade the conservative vote for their candidates, yet their whole logic for engaging in immigration reform is that by legalizing illegal aliens, that single issue policy change, will buy them Hispanic voters in 2016? All I can say is “DAH”, because nothing else is more eloquent to explain that thoroughly hypocritical and stupid logic that will fail if the GOP pursues it after the 2014 elections.

Equally, the GOP and indeed both political Parties have used the single minded policy issue to entrap voters for years. Democrats have successfully used the Social Security scare on seniors, the welfare scare on inner city poor, the war on women and the dirty air and water on environmentally concerned voters. While Republicans have used to ad nauseum cry that taxes and spending will be increased if you don’t support Republicans. I grant that the Democrats are better at this game than Republicans but don’t spike our drink with drugs and then blame us for being under the influence of slandering pandering single issue campaigning. In fact isn’t the repeal of Obamacare the single issue drumbeat the GOP plans to use against Democrats in this 2014 election?

 

But the most compelling of all to prove bare and vacant, is this erroneous charge of “Purism” of the Tea Party by the GOP is the difference between fluff and core basic conservative principles. If for instance you only want to associate with a moral minded person that claims to believe in the Ten Commandments but then somewhere along in time with your friendship they confess that they only believe in some, not all, of the Commandments, would that bother you? Would you not be very curious which ones they are ignoring? Wouldn’t the ignoring of some of those Commandments be more intolerable than others? If you try and follow diligently all of the Ten Commandments does that make you a purist or strong principled Christian?

There are many inconsequential political issues and then there are core conservative principles that when breached by Republicans rightfully causes a furor among conservatives and rightfully raises questions or in some cases betrays the heart of conservatism.

Case in point, Senator John McCain of Arizona was in a fierce primary battle in 2008 because he had partnered with Ted Kennedy (D-MA) on an immigration reform package. Aware that conservative Arizonians were of the complete opposite mindset and ready to oust him in the primary for J.D. Hayworth, he sang a much more conservative song about the need for border security. He asked to be forgiven by the voters for his waywardness from conservative principles and vowed to use seniority clout to make Washington address the crises on the border. Conservative voters forgave him and he was re-elected by the so-called “purists” that wanted to forgive his lapse of principles.

Interesting that McCain didn’t just talk conservatively in his primary race but had to re-affirm his conservatism to win in the general election. Then after winning (hoodwinking voters) re-election the so-called contrite reformed John McCain then partnered with Charles Schumer (D-NY) (perhaps only because Ted is dead) on an eerily similar amnesty bill. Conservative Arizona voters now regret forgiving and re-electing McCain. They now know that his first attempt at amnesty for illegal aliens with Kennedy was a breach of conservative principles so key to the core that they should have made him clean out his desk. They should have known that trust for this Republican turncoat was no longer possible. In fact, the Schumer-McCain bill thumbs its nose at Arizonians that tried to overlook the single minded policy difference in light of McCain’s service. 

Winning a Republican House or Senate majority that then proposes leftist legislation is not the Tea Party’s idea of winning back American values and constitutional integrity. Therefore, if as the GOP claims that Tea Party conservative voters should not be “purists” then, I guess under that logic, we all should all make friends with murders because at least they follow all the other nine Commandments? 

No Tea and GOP are Frenemies with the Constitution and the core American values being that which will either bring us together or pull us apart. We reach out our hand to the GOP in friendship with the hope that they will join us in the fight for limited government and maximum liberty. But when some of their candidates act like leftists, then we will treat them as leftists, and when they act like Democrats then we will treat them like Democrats, and we don’t vote for leftist socialist big government statists.

Go to rehab GOP because conservative voters are fed up and we will no longer support your habit of betraying principles for imaginary votes.

CHARGE OF THE LIGHTWEIGHT BRIGADE

The ancient adage “Peace through strength” implies that in order to avert war one needs to increase one’s military might making enemies back away from engaging in war with a formidable foe. It can equally be said that empty bluffs and inaction signals weakness, opening the door and inviting aggression.

Our Commander in Chief Obama has employed a foreign policy that at best can be called naïve and at worst advocating chaos. Starting with the insipid ideological belief in the moral equivalency in the ongoing conflict between Muslim terrorists and the state of Israel, where Obama promotes the Palestine state myth rather than denouncing Mideast Muslim’s immoral hate filled anti-Semitism. 

Obama has been inconsistent and capricious with America’s long history of supporting freedom and denouncing the slaughtering of civilians by dictators. Obama then led America’s military into a mercenary mission for the United Nations under NATO command into Libya under the guise of humanitarian 

righteousness. Yet he did not intercede in Syria, where Assad had killed many more civilians than Kaddafi. 

In Egypt the Obama administration backed the Muslim Brotherhood (the parent terror founder of Hamas) under the sophomoric belief that this so-called reformed terror group was peaceful and not seeking to make Egypt an Islamic state. It was a policy that made little sense to Americans for three reasons. One, why would we backing any group in Egypt, beyond the Egyptian public that protested for their freedom from dictatorial rule? Two, why would America be backing a group seeking an Islamic state that is hostile to Israel’s right to exists and our western values? Three, is there such a thing as a peaceful terror group that seeks to force Islamic Sharia law on all non-Muslims?

To say the least, the Obama administration under both Secretary Hillary Clinton and John Kerry has not just confused our allies but confounded Americans with their rudderless values. Moreover from Benghazi to the feckless red line in Syria, America has become a toothless tiger in a zoo of foreign policy mistakes that could be summed up as “strong weakness and lame leadership”.

Now after hitting the “reset button” button with Russia and waving a professorial finger at conservatives admonishing them that the cold war is over, Obama allows Putin to throw borsht all over him “beeting” him in an Olympic game of diplomatic Gorodki over Ukraine. (Gorodki is a Russian game similar to horseshoes.) 

In the Crimean war of 1853 to 1856 there was a strategic military mistake by the British command in which a light cavalry of men were ordered to charge artillery positions of the Russians that ended in devastating loses. In the epic poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson “The Charge of the Light Brigade” the author described the battle as both a blunder by their commander and a feat of unquestioning bravery by the six hundred men that met a slaughter. Russia eventually lost to the alliance of Britain, France, Sardinia and the Ottoman Empire but the battle of the light brigade will forever differentiate between honoring brave deaths on the battlefield while rightfully condemning poor leadership. 

Unfortunately for America today under the baffling foreign policy of Obama, where brave men are left to die alone on the battlefield in Benghazi and our enemies watch our feckless response to aggression we should worry that this administration has embolden our enemies. Instead of meeting with our allies and showing resolve to fight both terrorism and dictatorships our Secretary of State John Kerry at the behest of our President preaches that Global Warming as the world’s biggest threat. Instead of presidential leadership of a superpower nation Americans are protected by a political partisan lightweight whose only regard is to charge forward with his failed domestic policies. Instead of fear and respect for American influence our enemies scoff at our nation while our allies no longer believe America can be counted upon to take the lead.

Meanwhile North Korea launches test missiles into the China Sea, Iran pursues the nuclear bomb, Syria continues to savage its people, Libya is a hotbed of terror, Christians continue to be killed in Egypt and Nigeria by Muslim extremists and now Putin threatens the sovereignty of Ukraine.

To top all of the blundering and unseemly bowing done by this community organizer and his cabinet full of gullible unworldly rubes pretending sweet talk disarms the lawless, the President proposes to slash the military budget. Can you see our enemies smiling? Can you see our enemies rubbing their hands together in glee?

It may be true that after two wars America is not ripe with an appetite for war but imagine with me if you will, an American President filled with patriotic resolve to keep freedom’s best ally strong. Imagine that President facing these crises. He or she would pull out of Afghanistan, work with Congress to quickly and radically bring down the debt, and signal to the world that America will react with restraint while we reposition our assets in the world.  

The world should know and certainly our enemies should take heed to understand that as flaccid and flip floppy this current administration may be on the world stage, do not underestimate the American people, our soldiers, and our die-hard commitment to lead the free world. No American blood was ever spilled in vain even when we lost battles; we stay committed to the ongoing war for freedom, everywhere.   

 

      

'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd ?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

 Claudia Roazen is a writer from Maine. Her book “ARE WE THE SHEEPLE OR THE PEOPLE? AN AMERICAN WOMAN ON FIRE!” can be purchased at AMAZON.COM or on her website http://claudiawrites-rights.blogspot.com/