Politically Correct

Give me a break!

Much is being made of the unsavory comments made about Obama. So what! Political jokes and poking fun at elected officials is a way of life in this country. President Clinton was attacked on every front (mostly personal), no one had more jokes told about him than President Jimmy Carter - and it extended to his family (remember Billy Beer), and what about our cowboy movie star President Reagan. The list goes on and on. It comes with the territory and it goes deep and personal.

President Obama is not treated any differently and if he and his supporters want to keep whining, so be it. There is too many "unknowns" about the man which fertilizes the field of opportunities. From unanswered questions surrounding his birth, his college years and extends all the way to his term in the Senate. If the American people received some viable answers to honest questions it would cut the comments and jokes by more than half. Well, maybe not - he still has those ears.

At a time when the United States is still cautious and insecure as a result of the attacks of 09/11, the people have elected a bi-racial Muslim president. That in itself is an astounding fact. The people saw something in this man, whether it was charm and charisma or an exceptional intelligence, that drew the interest of millions of people to his side. His promises gave people of this country hope and revealed he was at least aware of their concerns and problems and wanted to help. He appealed to the people. It has been many years since a candidate recognized the needs of the people and promised to address those needs.

Now after the fact, people are asking questions and it is not only those who opposed President Obama in the election, but his supporters want documented answers and the list of questions grows daily.

My first question is who is responsible for ensuring that candidates for federal positions are qualified to run for office. The documentation should reside with that person or office and should be made available to the public. If that person or office failed to adequately perform their duties, the election should be declared null and void and that person should be replaced with someone eligible and capable to perform the duties. There are too many people doing just enough to get by and not performing their duties in a responsible manner.

Bless you Mr. Reid. You are on the hot seat now. You have admitted your comments were inappropriate and apologized. It is now up to your colleagues to determine the best action for you to take. The post that you fill requires caution in comments and actions and there have been too many errors in both among out leaders.

It all goes back to the old adage - think before you speak. In this day of political correctness it is most important to keep personal opinions jailed.

Happy reading!
Belle

I am so sorry to hear of the death of Ted Kennedy. I know his family is feeling great loss at this time. Mr. Kennedy was a powerful figure in the political arena, but I have a question. Did he fairly represent the wishes of his constituents or was his and his family's legendary fame keep him in office for some 45+ years? Mr. Kennedy, the father, wanted his sons to become Presidents and guided them in pursuit of his dreams - not those of his sons. The father had built an empire and was a rich man. Through those sons, the Kennedy family attained political power never before experienced by one family in the American political arena. The boys made mistakes, but they were quickly covered up and made to go away. They were the American First Family of politics and must be protected.

If John Wayne had run for President, he most likely would have won. A larger than life figure on the screen, he was well known, his character was always the good guy, he represented what any woman would admire in a mate and was the idol of many a little boy. He was a known figure, but do we know how he would have performed in a different arena? Would he have made a good President - probably not, it wasn't his thing.

There are so many gifted, educated people in America. How do you choose? The choosing of which candidate can go forward must be done with careful consideration and a wary eye for the temperament of the American people. The political parties must be satisfied that the candidate is malleable and will conform to the issues, policies and practices of the party. The people must be satisfied that the candidate can make them believe they care for the rights of the citizens and will listen to their complaints and needs. Will the lobbyist be satisfied so their funds will keep pouring in to support the campaign process? There is so much to be analyzed, evaluated, investigated before the right person can be put forth.

I know many men and women I feel are extremely intelligent with good moral character and above normal social graces, but how would they perform in the political arena. Already many are looking for the man or woman to successfully challenge Mr. Obama in the next election. Will it be a high profile legislator? Will it be a common sense Governor who isn't ashamed of being human? Could a man or woman off the streets of Tennessee guide the people of the United States and stand tall and proud of America when dealing with foreign entities?

Again my sympathies go to the Kennedy family. Who will be the next first family of politics?