Category Archives: Politics

INSIGHTS 178 — INTERROGATION, THE REAL STORY

Enhanced interrogation! Torture! A rogue CIA! Illegal activities!

No matter what newspapers you read, what TV channels you listen to, or what comes to you online, these terms have been flooding the media market. The case for enhanced interrogation is a strong one unless you fear the power of the United States more than you fear Islamic terrorists who have a known track record of killing Americans. Other than the progressives of President Obama’s party, most Americans disagree with Obama’s approach to defending them from terrorism.

This blog is addressed to mainstream Americans who believe in the rule of law, the Constitution, and are proud of our history.

First, a few general observations about interrogation and the line between enhanced interrogation and torture. You can talk to those people who have been interrogated in the CIA’s program. They are alive and well either at Guantanamo or some place where they have been transferred. They are still alive and not crippled physically or mentally deranged. Many have gone back to the battlefield to try and kill more Americans and our allied supporters.

The deaths from enhanced interrogations are reported as one. On the other hand there is the drone program where the terrorists targeted are all dead, along with any friends, family or bystanders who happened to be nearby and all the intelligence they had died with them. At least one terrorist of those killed by a drone strike was an American citizen. I generally support the drone program but don’t understand the American left’s hatred of the CIA program while they accept reports of drone strikes with their morning coffee.

Very few people know anything about interrogation techniques. I do. A skilled interrogator will be successful. He or she will get the subject of interrogation to give up useful information. A skillful use of rewards and punishment (not torture) and a deep knowledge of the subject area gets results. Torture of the InquisitioDianne_Feinstein,_official_Senate_photo_2n type or that used by our enemies in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam was so severe that the subjects would tell their captors anything just to stop the pain. The experience of being tortured does not make you an expert on interrogation, only on being a courageous survivor.

Now the politics of the Democratic senators’ report on terror. That is the right title for the report. Republicans on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence did not contribute to nor agree with the report’s content. It is strictly a left-wing progressive report to attack the CIA. Why was the report released now years after the program ended? Simple: After the Republicans assume control of the Senate, Senator Feinstein will lose her chairmanship position and will not be able to carry on her vendetta against the CIA by publishing a remarkably unprofessional report similar to those self-serving reports we have seen come out from our enemies. No one actually a part of or associated with the Enhanced Interrogation program was interviewed or allowed to contribute to the report.

The CIA deserves a nation’s gratitude for keeping our homeland safe.

 

Written by the author of the Jack Brandon thriller/mystery novels and “Insights: Transforming America — Is This What We Fought For?” available now as an ebook, in paperback or hardcover on Amazon.com or BN.com. Another analytical book on the transforming process, “Insights: Stepping Stones to Tyranny,” is now published and available in paperback at $9.95 and on nook and kindle at $6.99.  Follow the author on Twitter @factsfictions80.

 

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Filed under Barry Kelly, Conservative views, Intelligence & Politics, Politics, Progressives, Terrorism

INSIGHTS 175 — POLITICAL CORRECTNESS IS A VIRUS

Most of the phenomenon of political correctness is rooted in liberalism. But it seems to be immune from messages from the ballot box. Common sense is a better antidote to political correctness than conservatism. Maybe there should be a common sense party. They would get my vote.

Political correctness is often wrapped in angry statements or charges of racism and the violation of minority rights. Let’s expose a few of the most common uses of political correctness:

Racial profiling is often mentioned when used by law and order authorities in fighting crime. This use of PC is used almost 100% of the time in discussions of police abusing black citizens, especially in high crime areas. In these areas, most of the crime is committed by blacks on blacks. If a local population has a very high percentage of one race, most of the crime will be performed by that racial group within the predominant racial group they share. It doesn’t matter what ratio of blacks or other races are on the police force. The police force will attack crime where it is and will be not be on the alert for racial groups that do not have a history or record of violent crime. If young black men are committing most of the violent crime who will the police, regardless of procedures or sensitivity training, profile?

This same anti-common sense thinking has worked its magic in a group that is supposed to protect us from all dangers, foreign or domestic. None of the people who try to manage an unmanageable Department of Homeland Security believe that elderly American men or women are likely terrorists. Yet they are treated as if they present the same profile as a Middle Eastern appearing traveler from Muslim countries. Why? Simply because they are afraid to say publicly that Arab Muslims  are a much higher threat than any other group. A common sense approach would be to openly conduct security operations with the concept that all Muslims are not terrorists, but most terrorists have been Arab Muslims.

Moving beyond profiling, our local governments and all educational institutions should start applying common sense in the management of their respective responsibilities. Refusing to allow public displays of traditional Christmas scenes, religious or not, is not in keeping with our history, traditions, or freedoms. The common sense approach would be allow all religions to celebrate their traditions without local governments or schools having a say, yea or nay. As long as the government doesn’t discriminate among religions, what is the harm?

Displaying the American flag and maintaining English as the language of our educational system is another area where political correctness raises its loud, ugly head. This is America, the United States. The American flag should be at home wherever it is raised. Repeating the “oath of allegiance” in school and saluting the flag is a good thing. Unlike many other nations with enforced political correctness of a more ominous kind, people who don’t want to respect America’s flag and traditions are free to go elsewhere. English is the national language. Every citizen should know how to use it. Not teaching English in our schools handicaps non-English speaking children.

Lastly, if other religions want to respect their fallen with a different symbol than the cross, they should do so. But don’t object to the use of the cross to mark the resting place of our dead or of our monuments. After all, you are here by choice. The door swings both ways. We welcome those who want to come here and understand those who want to leave.

Let’s all forget about and ignore the rules of political correctness. They don’t belong. Common sense does. Forget the liberal leap to defend the criminal. Show more concern for the victim.

 Written by the author of the Jack Brandon thriller/mystery novels and “Insights: Transforming America — Is This What We Fought For?” available now as an ebook, in paperback or hardcover on Amazon.com or BN.com. Another analytical book on the transforming process, “Stepping Stones to Tyranny,” will be published before Christmas. Follow the author on Twitter @factsfictions80. Please forward this message to your Republican representatives.

 

 

 

 

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INSIGHTS 174 — WHY IMMIGRATION NOW?

obamaBefore jumping into the trenches to fight Obama’s executive action on immigration, remember that is exactly what he wants conservatives to do. His tactics haven’t changed. He doesn’t care one smidgen (a presidential word) about Hispanics. Never has and never will. He proved that when he chose Obamacare over immigration.

But he cares a lot about the immigration issue. This issue is tailor-made for a ranting progressive to mislead the people into believing his opposition is anti-immigration and wants to break up families and keep illegal immigrants from ever getting a path to citizenship.He wants to use the immigration issue to attack the Republican congress.

By making villains out of his opposition he can show he still is a force to be reckoned with and that he still has the support of the large number of people who didn’t come out and vote for him. I can understand how Hispanic illegals think the president’s illegal action is a wonderful thing. Finally a step toward becoming a legal resident and all that means.

In fact, nothing has changed. No one was going to deport the people affected by his action. Most of them have been here for a generation. The vast majority of conservatives are very willing to have law-abiding, hardworking people stay here and become citizens.

My single reservation is one most conservatives share. You cannot have immigration reform, including a clear and obtainable path to citizenship, until the border is secured. Otherwise making it legal for millions of illegal immigrants to stay here will only attract a flood of new people illegally crossing our open border. That is what happened under President Reagan when many illegal immigrants were allowed to remain in America. The Republicans told us then that part of the bill would make the border secure. It never happened.

How can anyone trust the word of a president and his administration who have deliberately and knowingly lied several times to the American people? There is no longer any trust of this government. Only the progressives who are intent on transforming America into a socialist nation believe in the leadership of President Obama.

I can’t find a better example of the president’s slavish adherence to Saul Alinsky’s political creed, the issue is never the issue. Never try to solve national or international problems, just capture an issue and attack the opposition. Any means to take power from the haves and give it to the have-nots is good. The end justifies the means. That, fellow Americans, is what Obama’s immigration order is all about.

Written by the author of the Jack Brandon thriller/mystery novels and “Insights: Transforming America — Is This What We Fought For?” available now as an ebook, in paperback or hardcover on Amazon.com or BN.com. Another analytical book on the transforming process, “Stepping Stones to Tyranny,” will be published before Christmas. Follow the author on Twitter @factsfictions80. Please forward this message to your Republican representatives.

 

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Filed under Alinsky, Barry Kelly, Conservative views, Eight Decades of Insights, Intelligence & Politics, Obama, political solutions, Politics, Progressives

INSIGHTS 173 — GOP, ACT LIKE A WINNER

I readily admit to being a proud right-of-center conservative, but I have mixed feelings about being called a Republican. The establishment party is both timid and dumb. No conservative should be timid in announcing what they believe and what they want to accomplish. The Republicans are afraid to tell the people their legislative goals and plans. They are afraid the progressives will challenge their programs.

Being dumb is harder to understand. The House and Senate Republican  leadership have never understood what Obama is about. He is not a typical left-wing Democrat or liberal president that battles over issues with the opposition. He has told everyone he is about transforming America. He has steadily worked toward a one-party socialist system of government and a re-distribution of wealth. He controls the agenda of government. The Republican Party, with the energy provided by the various tea parties, just won a resounding victory. But who is controlling the government agenda? Not the victors, but the loser!

Instead of telling the American people what great things they are going to do to restore economic growth, protect the rights of the people, re-establish our military and diplomatic prowess, and preserve the separation of powers doctrine, they are letting Obama dictate the agenda. The Republicans charge as long as the master manipulator flicks the red cape of executive power. He doesn’t care about Hispanic immigrants. If he did he would have passed legislation in the first two years of this reign when he controlled both houses of Congress. He only wants the Republicans to keep their identity as the party of anti-immigrants.

Why let a defeated president control the agenda of politics? Let him do his immigration executive order and work to pass a real immigration bill that will supersede Obama’s executive order. Strengthen the borders and give more border authority and funds to the border governors to fix their borders. They’ll do a better job than the federal government ever has or will. Ignore the rambling rhetoric of the president. Draft and pass real legislation. So what if he vetoes it. Keep legislating. That’s what you do. That’s your power base. That’s what you know how to do. Do not spend your energy and our time battling the president on his turf and his rules. Take charge. Let him pout and threaten to rule America with his pen and phone. See how far that gets him. The people have said Obama is irrelevant. Why don’t you believe them?

Written by the author of the Jack Brandon thriller/mystery novels and “Insights: Transforming America — Is This What We Fought For?” available now as an ebook, in paperback or hardcover on Amazon.com or BN.com. Another analytical book on the transforming process, “Stepping Stones to Tyranny,” will be published before Christmas. Follow the author on Twitter @factsfictions80. Please forward this message to your Republican representatives.

 

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Filed under Barry Kelly, Conservative views, democrats, Eight Decades of Insights, Intelligence & Politics, Obama, Progressives

INSIGHTS 169: OBAMA’S IMMIGRATION WEB

Watch carefully as President Obama spins his immigration web. The purpose is not to help Hispanics or to fix a national disgrace. Like all web weavers what the web traps is for them. Obama executive orders or agency directives on immigration are to make the Hispanics believe he cares about them and to show Hispanics and others that the Republicans are against immigrants and their children. The president’s web is spun with a weave of inter-tangled issues. Look closely and you will find in the immigration web these issues.

Border Security

All Americans and all Hispanics know the border is not secure and if you are caught, you will soon be released in America. No matter how many Democratic border governors preach the border is secure we know it is not. When Republicans push for border security, Obama twists their concern for border security into an issue that reads “Republicans do not want Hispanics in America.” The border is open because Obama and his progressive lemmings want as many Hispanics crossing into America as possible for Hispanic votes for Democrats.

Work Permits

As part of immigration legislation, work permits are a good thing but we must also be aware that adding more potential workers to the workforce does not help citizens looking for work. Once we get the progressives’ feet off the brake of economic growth we will need the Hispanic workers. Their work ethic and entrepreneurship will be welcome in the economy. The Obama message regarding work permits is: “Republicans do not want Hispanic workers unless they can get away with very low wages and no benefits.”

Amnesty

This is a word that has no place in immigration legislation. It is only a word that stirs up Republican and labor union fears. Does it mean immediate citizenship? No! Does it mean no more fear of deportation or court appearances? Maybe. But this word has no positive connotation. It is only web material that makes meaningful legislation and the necessary bi-partisanship more difficult. It is, however, an issue progressives use to destroy the opposition. Is that you?

Citizenship Path

These two words add nothing positive to Immigration legislation. Any immigration bill will have not one, but several paths to citizenship. For instance, military service for a stated number of years, competence in the English language and American history, and no record of felonies. That should be enough to qualify for American citizenship. Obama progressives make real legislation difficult by hinting at paths to citizenship that are ill-defined or not acceptable by the opposition just so they can preach, “Republicans don’t ever want Hispanics to become American citizens.”

Don’t get caught in Obama’s immigration web. It will not be easy to escape the web spinner’s goal of progressive one-party rule in America.

Written by the author of “Insights: Transforming America — Is This What We Fought For?” available now as an ebook, in paperback or hardcover on Amazon.com or BN.com. Follow the author on Twitter @factsfictions80. If you think this message is important, please share it.

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