MORT’s meanderings

Rocks & Shoals.   

I was introduced to ‘Rocks & Shoals’ during my U.S. Navy Boot Camp training in Memphis, TN in 1944. That was the informal name for the, ‘Articles for the Government of the U. S. Navy’.  Portions were to be  read to ‘all hands’, once a month in order that every sailor should become acutely aware that there was, ‘The Navy way – and no other way’. That specific education in addition to The Blue Jackets Manual combined to be ‘The Book’ a sailor lived by.  If you unfailingly ‘Went by the Book’, chances were pretty good that you could get through the day without becoming entangled in any serious trouble.

When I was in training as an Aviation Ordnanceman  / Combat Aircrewman (top- turret gunner), we were required to ‘Volunteer’ at the beginning of each new phase of that specialized training.  That meant, reciting and swearing to an Oath of Allegiance specifically relating to the nature of the information and training we would be receiving in order to carry out all future orders to fight our nations’ enemies and to protect & defend our citizens and our homeland.  We were never in doubt as to the seriousness of the charge we were given and had accepted as members of the U.S. Military in service to the United States of America.

It seems to me that many Members of the U. S. Congress, The Supreme Court, the President and his entire Administration - and even some elected officials elsewhere in the Federal Government complex throughout this country and all across the Globe, need to remind themselves periodically (like at least, once a month) of the Oath they swore to, that of ‘Protecting & Defending’ the Constitution of the United States, precisely as we did during WWII.  Surely, these busy people, these loyal servants of the people, can spare a few moments each month from their busy, busy schedules – to reiterate swearing of their ‘Oath’ to that sacred document gifted to all future citizens of this nation by the genius of our Founding Fathers.    Couldn’t hurt; might help!

                   

                                                                                                 MORT KUFF    © 9-26-2015

All Talk and No Action!

What explains the rise of Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, on the Republican side, and Bernie Sanders, on the Democrat side? Could it be that both ends of the political ideological spectrum, are fed-up with a do-nothing legislative and executive branches of government?

The leaders of our country don't seem to be really interested in what's best for our country, only what's best for them and their election and re-election efforts. You get the feeling that the public, both Republicans and Democrats, seem to think that their elected leaders are as worthless as a teat on a bull - and that's no bull.

In the case of the Republicans, in 2014 they gained the majority control in both the House and Senate, and most governorships and state legislatures, promising to do certain things that the electorate wanted, such as getting rid of Obamacare, cutting onerous government regulations, cutting government spending, properly funding our military, becoming energy self-sufficient, and reducing taxes and the size of the government. Well, have any of things come about? NO! Yes, most of those promises would've met a presidential veto if passed, but it seems that the leaders, Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, didn't even try or put the Democrats on record as opposing those worthwhile proposals. Many Republicans feel that that leaders gave in to the Democrats without a fight and they feel betrayed. The grass-roots Republicans feel that their leaders are “all talk and no action”.

The same could be said of the Democrats. When they had the majority in the House and Senate, hardly any legislation was passed because of political considerations, not considerations for the country as a whole. The stalemate has continued up until the present time.

The approval rating of the Congress and the Executive branches are at an all-time low, which probably includes all kinds of politicians. That's why they are looking to support the likes of Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, on the Republican side, and Bernie Sanders (a Socialist and independent Senator from Vermont) on the Democrat side.

Originally, our elected leaders, according to our founders, were only supposed to be in office only for a short period of time (citizen legislators), but it seems that many of our Congressmen and Senators have made their lifetime work and careers being an elected official. Some have been in their positions for 20, 30, and even 40 years and counting. Many have become millionaires on their modest salaries - how come? Have many of them committed “hanky-panky” by passing favorable legislation to benefit themselves, family members, and friends? Something smells rotten in Denmark, as the old saying goes.

It will be interesting to see who the eventual candidates will be in the 2016 election cycle. Will the “establishment” candidates come out on top or will the anti-politician candidates prevail?

The anger of the citizens of the country is quite apparent, but will they act out their frustration and pique and get rid of the “all talk no action” politicians? Only time will tell. Stay tuned.

Conservative commentary by Chuck Lehmann