Those 2nd Term Blues and Hillary Clinton - 2nd Term Blues

The Washington Post: Reports " Clinton and Pelosi leave Obama in the lurch on trade deals "

Lets Get Real:

The Weakness of the Obama hand is shown by the fact that the prospective Democratic Nominee for President Hillary Clinton cut him lose and so did the Democratic Minority leader.  Politics is politics at the end of the day, although POTUS has said kind words about Secretary Clinton the Clinton Camp deal with the polls, they see that the left of the Democratic Party opposes trade deals, thus the jump on the wagon, if the polls were different you know they would support the deal.   That is the price that POTUS pays for keeping his distance from the House and Senate members, there is no personal friendship there to exploit, in 2017 Obama will be out of office, and the Democrats are looking at the new leader already, wanting to make sure they follow her lead, Presidents come and go, US elections never end. 

US Targets Al Qaeda in Libya - New War on Terror

The Hill: Reports " The U.S. military targeted an al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist in a “counterterrorism” airstrike in Libya late Saturday, the Pentagon announced. "

Lets Get Real:

Thus the removal of Colonel Gaddafi has had long term ramifications for Libya and the West, the Country has fallen to terrorists and ethnic groups who like fighting each other; than fighting the growing power of IS; the failure of Libya has allowed thousands of people to try to get to Europe via Libya, there have been many deaths.    The case of Libya will haunt the Hillary Clinton Campaign, she pushed for the US to support the rebels against Gaddafi, then there is the death of the US Ambassador, and the growth IS in Libya.   The latest action by the US could see a more active role for the US in Libya, they broke then they have to fix it, General Powell said that about Iraq, well the same goes for Libya.  There are always ramifications for actions. 

Obama and his Legacy - 2nd Term Blues

The New York Times: Reports on the failure of President Obama to get the Trans Pacific Partners trade deal through the House of Representatives, the article notes the following, " As it turned out, the biggest challenge to securing that legacy has been at home, and not overseas, as Mr. Obama’s fellow Democrats  ..." refused to support President Obama with their votes in the House. 

Lets Get Real:

This happens to ALL 2nd term Presidents, they find the power they once had on the Hill has gone,  the full House and part of the Senate are up for re-election, thus they have to get money in their campaigns, the Unions are against TPP as they see the deal as a job killer.   Thus President Obama will have tough time over the next year and half getting his agenda through Congress.    The Democratic nominee for President will have to careful, they need the support of the Oval Office but they do not want to be seen as a third term for Obama,  it is interesting that Hillary Clinton is using the campaign book for Obama this time, but HRC is no Obama, she is not that good on the campaign trail.      It can be argued that the HRC campaign is fighting the last campaign not the new one in 2016.    Of course there is the problem of Iraq, Syria, Libya and Afghanistan, the next President will have the same problem as Obama found in 2009, it can be postulated that the US will have thousands of troops in Iraq to deal with IS, the war in Syria will be on going, the disaster of Libya might haunt HRC as she supported the removal of Gaddafi, and then we have Afghanistan, the US will need to keep troops there for years, so the new President will not have a rosy time. 

The FAILURE that is Greece - Greek Crisis

Telegraph - Greece Live:Reports " Europe tells Greeks to prepare for 'state of emergency' as talks collapse in acrimony..Eleventh hour bail-out talks last just 45 minutes as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is accused of "swindling the world" with his demands " "

Lets Get Real:

If there is a last minute deal it will not work for the long term, Greece is a dead parrot when it comes to economics, its has NO MONEY, and will not get a new economic structure as long as it is in the Euro.    One has lost count of the billions that has been spent on Greece to keep it from falling off its perch, it is time to cut the cord, allow Greece some dignity by having its own currency, new business friendly economic system.    The German taxpayer will revolt sooner or later if more money is thrown at Greece and for what, to keep the Euro stable, the currency will either go on or it will fold, if at its core there is no stability then the EU has to let it go, and find something new, one thing about the EU they always have ideas, not great ideas but they have ideas.   

Greece and the Markets - Greek Crisis

Guardian: Reports " Markets slide as fears grow that Greece is close to defaulting on debt.Collapse in talks with creditors heightens default fears as Greek PM Alexis Tsipras attacks ‘five years of looting’ under bailouts "

Lets Get Real:

The money markets will take a hit once Greece has the grace to default, the question of the Euro will come up, can it last, what does it take for a long term secure Euro.   Those are questions for later.   Greece must think about bringing its own currency back, therefore the banks have to close to prevent people taking their money out in Euros and hiding them away.    Then Greece needs a fire sale of ALL its assets, even historic buildings and Islands.   The welfare system of Greece needs to scrapped, only the young and old should be looked after, everyone else should be forced to find their own lifeboat.    The Greeks net to cut regulations on business and make Greece the place to have a business, no government red tape, become a safe heaven for business.   These measures are hard but it will work for the future of Greece.

The DEATH of Greek Dignity - Greek Crisis

BBC News: Reports " Greece crisis: PM Tsipras tells creditors to 'get real' "

Lets Get Real:

The Greek Gods must be looking down from the heavens and wondering what has become of Greece and its people, the Classic Greeks would wash their hands of the Greeks, they spent money they did not earn or have, and expect others to pay the bill.  When that does not work they attack the Germans  for World War 2, when that strategy fails they make noises that the money lenders should be easy on Greece and that the creditors should get real.  It is about time to end this mess, kick Greece out of the Euro and let the Country find its classic dignity.    Poor Greece, Poor Greece.