I managed to watch the entire speech... thanks to the President's slow walk to the dais... and I wanted to share my thought.
There was nothing new in the speech, of course. More plans for the the woes of the world to be fixed by greater government control and intervention, paid for by higher taxes and a $9/hour minimum wage.
It wasn't what was in the speech that I found particularly fascinating... it was the manner in which the speech was given.
In my opinion, Obama hit a home run with this speech, and it was out of the park. He played the room like a consummate expert, without a stumble or hiccup that I could notice. His words were mapped out to evoke the maximum amount of emotion, without once drawing ire or anger from the other side of the aisle. Now, I admit, the Republicans in the chamber didn't stand up very often... but there wasn't much they could point to as being confrontational or antagonistic in the speech. Even the gun control legislation that the President brought up with such emotion and passion, knowing it probably won't pass, wasn't a call to get guns off the street or out of the hands of criminals (which would have been asinine in the extreme... every law on the books wants to do that), he simply called for Congress to give it a vote. The grieving Chicago parents, the stoic Wisconsin police officer shot 12 times in defense of Sikh worshipers, the parents of Newtown, CT children who will never have another birthday... stating that they "deserve" a vote. Frankly, I have to admit that I agree with him on this.
Put the legislation in front of Congress. Put it to a vote. Obama said this time and again in the speech, and the more I heard him say it, the more I thought about what he was asking for.
When bills are blocked along party lines, the Left can always blame the Right for not working in a bipartisan manner to improve the situation... and Obama brought up the "fiscal cliff" issue with masterful effect several times. When Congress stalemates and does nothing to address major issues, the issues return year after year, perpetuating party line political drama and eroding American confidence in the very system that could fix the nation's problems once and for all. The flip-side of this is that the Right cannot point to agenda-based legislation and its failure or success to support their position on conservative issues... and are routinely seen as about as helpful to the effort as mammary glands on a boar pig. THIS is the status quo for the last 25 years... do-nothing Congressional sessions that simply point fingers across the aisle and blame the other side for the lack of results. The very few times in the last 25 years that this hasn't happened were in '94-'95 and in '02-'03. Real government reform (for good or bad) can happen... but only if something is done.
This President took the weight of the most pressing issues facing the nation OFF of his shoulders and placed it squarely ON those of Congress for the next four years. This is EXACTLY what Clinton did in '93... he didn't "balance the national budget and usher in a government surplus" as he and the Left so often claim, but he DID let Congress do that, allowing him to take the credit for decades after OR (had it failed) to blame Congress for irresponsible action in a time of need.
I really think this is the only viable solution... let Congress vote on these issues and live with the results. If they actually ARE voting the voice and will of the majority of Americans, then America will be what it is destined and intended to be. If they are not, then the People will see the fruits of their vote... not in 10-second sound bites on CNN, but where it really matters: in their day-to-day lives and paychecks. And as we all know, nothing swings a vote like a paycheck... or lack thereof.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Sunday, February 3, 2013
America's Deadliest Sniper
Chris Kyle was a member of SEAL Team Three from 1999-2009. He holds the record for the highest confirmed sniper kills in U.S. Military history at over 150, with another 90 or so unconfirmed. Some unofficial reports put the real total at 255. The previous record holder, a Vietnam era Vet, had 90.
His military record includes four tours in Iraq, two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with Valor, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation. In addition he holds the Navy's record for longest confirmed sniper kill at 2,100 yards with his beloved .388 Lapua Magnum. It's the third longest kill shot in US Military history, the seventh in world history. He also survived being shot twice and he lived through six separate IED explosions... Charlie Company of SEAL Team Three saw significant combat.
In 2009 he retired to "save his marriage", according to his publisher. Kyle wrote a NY Times best selling book entitled "American Sniper", detailing his 10 years of special operator service. I came across his book, and subsequently his bio, some months back. My sons (and lets just admit it, me) have a fascination with all things SEAL related. So I discussed his bio and some of Kyle's exploits with my eldest, at some length. His first kill was a woman, an Iraqi female wielding a grenade at some of his brothers-in-arms. A funny story (to me at least), completely unrelated to typical duties, happened aboard the USS Kittyhawk. Team 3 was enforcing a ship embargo and after returning back from an inspection the CO on board told the Team he had a problem. According to Kyle there are "gangs" within the Navy and military in general. Former (or current) street gang members whom join the military and then "link up" when serving together. And one such internal gang on this ship had gotten fairly rowdy out at sea and commandeered, for lack of a better word, the gym facility as their personal "hang space." The CO told the Team he had scheduled their work out at a particular time, and they were going to quote, "take care of this problem." The Captain didn't want to officially involve the MPs, such a thing might prove embarrassing if it went on the record. As Kyle recalls he and the Team entered the gym, "we went in chalked up, not in PT gear", and locked the doors behind them. "Either we were coming out of there or the gang was." He concludes the story this way - "Afterwards the door opened, we walked out, they went to the infirmary, and from then on we all worked out whenever we chose."
After returning home Kyle, considering his expertise a "craft", co founded a security and sniper training firm, Craft International, and a charity, FITCO, that provides at-home fitness equipment for physically and emotionally wounded veterans. Craft International had scheduled a $2,950-per-person civilian training event at Rough Creek Lodge (about 50 miles Southwest of Fort Worth, TX) called the “Rough Creek Shoot Out!” for March 1-3. The price included lodging, meals and shooting instruction. Kyle was scheduled to teach the first class, called “precision rifle.” It was perhaps in anticipation of this event, or just as likely to simply be of some help to a fellow Vet, that Kyle and his work out buddy/neighbor Chad Littlefield had taken a 25 year old Marine veteran suffering from PTSD to Rough Creek Shooting Range on Saturday. At 3:30pm the very Vet Kyle was trying to help turned the gun on him and shot him at point blank range. Chris Kyle, America's deadliest sniper, died yesterday at 38 years of age along with his friend, Chad. The killer than fled in Kyle's truck and the police have since arrested him.
I don't know why this has affected me to the edge of tears. Maybe because my discussions about this warrior (and there is no other word to describe him) were so recent, and with my 13 year old son who marveled at Kyle's accomplishments. Maybe because this just isn't supposed to happen - surviving multiple IED's and gun wounds in Iraq only to be killed at home. Or perhaps it's the thought that Kyle died doing what he made a career of - trying to save fellow soldiers.
There's a foundation, started by Kyle's friend and former teammate Brandon Webb, called Red Circle Foundation, that provides gap money for immediate needs for the families of fallen special forces operators, it can take time before the official benefits kick in for these families. I donated eleven dollars. It's all I can afford today. But as they say, no amount is too little.
Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle, America's deadliest sniper, is survived by his wife and two children.
"It was my duty to shoot the enemy, and I don’t regret it. My regrets are for the people I couldn’t save: Marines, soldiers, buddies. I’m not naive, and I don’t romanticize war. The worst moments of my life have come as a SEAL. But I can stand before God with a clear conscience about doing my job."
His military record includes four tours in Iraq, two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with Valor, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation. In addition he holds the Navy's record for longest confirmed sniper kill at 2,100 yards with his beloved .388 Lapua Magnum. It's the third longest kill shot in US Military history, the seventh in world history. He also survived being shot twice and he lived through six separate IED explosions... Charlie Company of SEAL Team Three saw significant combat.
In 2009 he retired to "save his marriage", according to his publisher. Kyle wrote a NY Times best selling book entitled "American Sniper", detailing his 10 years of special operator service. I came across his book, and subsequently his bio, some months back. My sons (and lets just admit it, me) have a fascination with all things SEAL related. So I discussed his bio and some of Kyle's exploits with my eldest, at some length. His first kill was a woman, an Iraqi female wielding a grenade at some of his brothers-in-arms. A funny story (to me at least), completely unrelated to typical duties, happened aboard the USS Kittyhawk. Team 3 was enforcing a ship embargo and after returning back from an inspection the CO on board told the Team he had a problem. According to Kyle there are "gangs" within the Navy and military in general. Former (or current) street gang members whom join the military and then "link up" when serving together. And one such internal gang on this ship had gotten fairly rowdy out at sea and commandeered, for lack of a better word, the gym facility as their personal "hang space." The CO told the Team he had scheduled their work out at a particular time, and they were going to quote, "take care of this problem." The Captain didn't want to officially involve the MPs, such a thing might prove embarrassing if it went on the record. As Kyle recalls he and the Team entered the gym, "we went in chalked up, not in PT gear", and locked the doors behind them. "Either we were coming out of there or the gang was." He concludes the story this way - "Afterwards the door opened, we walked out, they went to the infirmary, and from then on we all worked out whenever we chose."
After returning home Kyle, considering his expertise a "craft", co founded a security and sniper training firm, Craft International, and a charity, FITCO, that provides at-home fitness equipment for physically and emotionally wounded veterans. Craft International had scheduled a $2,950-per-person civilian training event at Rough Creek Lodge (about 50 miles Southwest of Fort Worth, TX) called the “Rough Creek Shoot Out!” for March 1-3. The price included lodging, meals and shooting instruction. Kyle was scheduled to teach the first class, called “precision rifle.” It was perhaps in anticipation of this event, or just as likely to simply be of some help to a fellow Vet, that Kyle and his work out buddy/neighbor Chad Littlefield had taken a 25 year old Marine veteran suffering from PTSD to Rough Creek Shooting Range on Saturday. At 3:30pm the very Vet Kyle was trying to help turned the gun on him and shot him at point blank range. Chris Kyle, America's deadliest sniper, died yesterday at 38 years of age along with his friend, Chad. The killer than fled in Kyle's truck and the police have since arrested him.
I don't know why this has affected me to the edge of tears. Maybe because my discussions about this warrior (and there is no other word to describe him) were so recent, and with my 13 year old son who marveled at Kyle's accomplishments. Maybe because this just isn't supposed to happen - surviving multiple IED's and gun wounds in Iraq only to be killed at home. Or perhaps it's the thought that Kyle died doing what he made a career of - trying to save fellow soldiers.
There's a foundation, started by Kyle's friend and former teammate Brandon Webb, called Red Circle Foundation, that provides gap money for immediate needs for the families of fallen special forces operators, it can take time before the official benefits kick in for these families. I donated eleven dollars. It's all I can afford today. But as they say, no amount is too little.
Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle, America's deadliest sniper, is survived by his wife and two children.
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