Life is Hard; it is Harder if You're Stupid!

"Life is hard; it is harder if you're stupid!" - John Wayne

I got a call from a reader last week, Terry Blankenship. He was as asking my thoughts on something he had read about Barack Obama not being able to get a security clearance. There has been a lot of controversy on this subject but mostly on talk radio shows and blogs; however it has hardly been addressed by the main stream media.

There are several levels of security classification in this country, the three best known are: classified, secret and top secret. Each level would allow an individual to sensitive information based on two things- 1) the level of security clearance and 2) the "need to know". Certainly, the President of the United States requires access to national and international secrets and information.

There have been several allegations made concerning Mr. Obama. I say allegations because there has NOT been a small army of lawyers and investigators sent out to confirm or deny them. Nor have there been any investigative reporters that I can find that have addressed these allegations, seems that kind of activity is reserved only for those opposing Mr. Obama. After extensive research, I've determined the allegations concerning Obama's personal and business activities include:

1. Obama has been in the middle of two international Communist networks – one in Hawaii and one in Chicago.

2. The Hawaii network included Communists Frank Marshall Davis, who was Obama’s personal mentor; actor/singer Paul Robeson; and labor leader Harry Bridges. The network was judged a security threat to the United States and the subject of a congressional hearing on the “Scope of Soviet Activity in the United States.”

3. Obama covered up the true identity of Frank Marshall Davis in his book, Dreams From My Father.

4. The Hawaii Communist network was organized directly by and from Moscow.

5. The Chicago network included identified Communists and Socialists, was committed to a Communist victory in the Vietnam War, and took instructions from the Communist Castro regime in Cuba.

6. In addition to Communist terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, who were members of the Communist terrorist Weather Underground, the Chicago network includes many veterans of the Communist Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) who now proclaim themselves “Progressives for Obama.”

7. Bill Ayers, who helped launch Obama’s political career, has traveled to Venezuela on several occasions and is an enthusiastic backer of the brand of Communism being practiced and promoted by Hugo Chavez.

8. It appears that Obama actually worked for Ayers in a Chicago educational reform program that dispensed millions of dollars of grants.

9. One of the leaders of “Progressives for Obama” is former SDS leader Tom Hayden, who wrote a letter to a Communist Vietnamese official during the Vietnam War hoping for a “victory” over the U.S.

10. The SDS openly promoted Communism, the regimes in Hanoi and Havana, and condemned alleged U.S. “imperialism.”

11. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a group that included a convicted espionage agent for Communist East Germany, backed and promoted Obama’s political career.

12. Illinois State Senator Alice Palmer, who picked Obama as her successor, has a record of involvement in Communist front activities.

13. Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod, as well as Obama himself, have not explained why Ayers, Dohrn, then-State Senator Alice Palmer, and Dr. Quentin Young came together at the Ayers/Dohrn home to launch Obama’s political career.

14. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, a client of Axelrod, issued a controversial and misleading statement defending Obama’s relationship with Communist terrorist Bill Ayers.

I have questioned my contacts that deal with or have dealt with security clearances and the consensus of opinion is that if you or I were applying for a security clearance with these allegations, and if those allegations were shown to be true - our clearance would be denied. I wonder what the truth is, and I wonder why it is not being addressed - whatever it is. One thing I can guarantee you is that if he is elected, he will be privy to all of our nation's security measures and plans. Hmmm.

I was talking to my neighbor Arthur the other day and we were discussing how to figure out what the truth is in all of this political theater. Arthur is a great neighbor and a pretty smart fella, but like me he was finding it difficult to navigate within all of the truths and half truths, the information and misinformation - not to mention the disinformation.

I was reminded of something my wife told me one time. "Don't believe your eyes - your eyes can go blind. Don't believe your ears - your ears can go deaf. Don't believe your brain - your brain can become confused. Don't believe your heart - your heart will lie to you. Believe your belly - if your gut is comfortable with a decision - it's probably the right one."

I grew up recognizing that I didn't know all of the answers but I truly believed there was someone in charge that did. I don't any more. Or if they do know the answers they don't have the integrity and courage to do the right thing.

During classes I teach on leadership and management, I always start with a question - "Can you shoot your own dog?" Note, I did not say "Do you want to..." - I asked can you?

I love dogs; I have three - Jack, Gibson and Annie. Jack is a Rhodesian ridgeback and Lab mix. Gibson is an Australian Sheppard we named after Mel. Annie is also a Sheppard and we're hoping for puppies this year. They are spoiled rotten and live the life of Riley!
I have a responsibility as their owner. I keep their shots up, feed them regularly and keep them from being a nuisance. It would break my heart if something happened to any of them, but part of my responsibility is to keep them from suffering. It's not for my neighbors to do, should it be necessary to put one down - it would be my decision. Should that ever become necessary, I would hope there was a vet that could help make the terrible decision easier on my pet. If not it IS my responsibility to lovingly end that dog's suffering.

Hard decisions are just that - HARD. They're uncomfortable. They can be gut wrenching, but none of that means they should not be done.

That is what is hurting our economy and our government now; our leaders are looking for quick fixes and the easy way out. They want to manage problems not problem solve. That just doesn't sound like common sense.

I wonder what ever happened to Common Sense. I admit to borrowing the intent of the following from an email I received. Common sense was a compilation of valuable lessons like knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn't always fair. Common sense understood simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge).

Unfortunately, it has been replaced by overbearing regulations and the zero tolerance mentality. Things like the report of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; or teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch or the teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student just don't make common sense.

I think it began when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves failed to do in disciplining their own unruly children. We lost more ground when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student, but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

It has continued to the point that the Ten Commandments became contraband; some churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. It progressed to the point that you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

I think we better get back to basics America, while we still can - if we still can.