HRC cost Obama his LEGACY - Trump Era

Daily Mail: Reports " EXCLUSIVE: 'This stings!' How Obama saw Trump's victory as a 'personal insult,' watched the movie Dr. Strange to distract himself from election results and blamed Hillary for the loss because of her 'scripted, soulless campaign'  "

Lets Get Real:

The only President to have served two terms and to see the nominee of his Party win in a 152 years was Ronald Reagan, the Gipper could hand over to Bush 41, his Vice - President, and this in many respects and the fact that the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, few months after Reagan left office and then the fall of the USSR placed Reagan in the league of GREAT American Presidents.   The very FACT that President Obama thought that HRC would of course naturally win, shows how touch a President can come after serving two terms as President.  When your staff say your great ALL THE TIME, it can mess with your head, and President Obama's great black hair went white after serving two terms, Reagan hair was still black and he was in his late 70s.   The Gipper showed that the Presidency can not be a burden, if you have the right character for the job.  It can be argued that Bill Clinton looked great after serving 8 years, and he had deal with the fact that he took over from Bush 41 and his successor was Bush 43.  In the late 1960s, LBJ's greatest fear was that he would be seen as the President between the Kennedy's, that being JFK and RFK.   In many respects Obama allowed the pressure to get to him, well at least his hair, Jimmy Carter really aged in Office, 1977-81.  It can be argued that he faced some of the greatest challenges of any President. 

The FALL of Donald Trump? - Election 2016

BBC News: Reports " The campaign manager for presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is to leave his job. "

Lets Get Real:

The Trump Campaign made a mistake in keeping its Campaign Manager after winning the nomination, the Donald needs staff who know how to run a General Campaign, of keeping the base happy and getting them money in, the mistakes of Trump are down to the fact that there is no one to tell him he is wrong and to shut up, every campaign needs a Robert Kennedy or a Nancy Reagan, people who understand the candidates and who can not get sacked.   It looks like the Trump is heading for one of the biggest political loses in history, think 1964 when it was LBJ vs. Goldwater or 1984 when it was Reagan vs. Mondale.   The ego of Trump will be its downfall. 

Leonard Nimoy A Profile

BBC News: Has a profile of the great Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy who died today.

Lets Get Real:

It is sad day if your a fan of Star Trek and the arts, Mr Nimoy was a man of great intelligence, and bought the half Vulcan and half Human Spock to life.   This blog has always thought that the success of Kirk and Spock was down to the political climate of the US at the time.   In 1963 Kennedy was killed in Dallas and then there was Vietnam.  In 1966 the USS Enterprise and its five year missio was bougt to TV.  For future generations Kirk would represent the heoric view of JFK and then the less known facts about his private life, Kirk always had a woman on the go!  While Spock represnted it can be argued Bobby Kennedy, as he was seen in the start of the 60s, the cold ruthless brother.  Kirk and Spock had heroic aspects but they also had their down sides, that made them human and also appealing for the generations that have seen them since the 60s.   Thus a sad day for the Nimoy family and friends and for the arts, LLAP all Star Trek fans. 

IS Update - New War on Terror

Telegraph: Reports " Islamic State lose only one per cent of captured territory in Iraq after airstrikes..US-led strikes have allowed Kurdish peshmerga forces and Iraqi government troops to retake just 270 square miles of ground in northern Iraq "

Lets Get Real:

If after all the air bombing and the millions spent on the operation ALL that IS has lost is 1% then the West has a problem, modern missiles cost hundred of millions dollars, and this rate the WAR will last years, not just the expected three.   The IRAQI army wants to take Mosul, but for that they will need US troops, one can see that the Obama Oval is waiting to hand over the problem to the next President.   The rise of IS is down to the move by President Obama to withdraw all troops from Iraq in 2011.   THE REAL WORLD has a way of making an out of control ego look foolish.   The problem is that Obama has no RFK or Nancy Reagan, all his staff kiss his backside and the press are worse. 

Holder OUT as Attorney General - 2nd Term Blues

BBC News: Reports " US Attorney General Eric Holder is to announce his resignation, White House officials have confirmed. "

Lets Get Real:

This has come out of nowhere, so far as this blog can recall there were no rumours that Holder was going, it might be the cynical political hack in the dark soul of this political blog but WHY?.    Attorney General Holder was Obama's RFK, protected the Oval at all costs, even if that bought critics down on his head, it can be wearing being Attorney General, but just to leave, Fox News states that " Holder has "no immediate plans" after leaving the post.   The choice of successor will bring the Party arguments front and centre, the Democrats have the votes in the Senate to confirm any new successor, but they might not have after the Mid term elections. That could be the reason for the resignation, Holder does not fancy being grilled by a Republican controlled Senate. 

The Vets Scandal - 2nd Term Blues

CNN - Politics: Reports " According to the sources, at least 40 American veterans died in Phoenix while waiting for care at the VA there. "

Lets Get Real:

This has become a major scandal for President Obama, and shown his weakness when it comes to management, the problems in the VA start before the Obama Presidency, but during the run for his 1st term as President, Obama stated on many occasions that looking after the Vets was a major concern for him, one assumes that the Campaign Staff did not think that this would come to bite them on the backside.   The fact that House and Senate Democrats are calling for heads to roll should make it easy for the Oval to sack people, but so far Obama has not moved, he must still be reading the IG report.   Lets be clear this blog is no fan of President Obama, but one has to be objective, the problems started well before he become President, he did not think it was this level of a disaster when he made numerous speeches on the subject.   The Oval hates to sack people, in that Obama has the same problem as Reagan.   The difference is that President Reagan had Nancy Reagan, in the end people were let go by President Reagan, the press dogs had the heads they wanted, who is that close to President Obama.   Every POTUS needs a Nancy Reagan or a Robert Kennedy, take the bark off during a crisis. 

The NSA and The US Public - 2nd Term Blues

Telegraph: Reports the following on the opinions of the US public to the PRISM leaks, " A solid majority of Americans support the US government's programs tracking telephone records to try to uncover terror, a Washington Post-Pew Research Center poll has found. ".

Lets Get Real:

If Obama was not always trying to end the War on Terror, he could use this support to close down the affair, but he is in a hole of his own making, he wants to end the WAR, without winning it, but also keep tracking ALL US Citizens and reading the Internet content of everyone not in the US, that is a problem folks, that is why the Oval needs a RFK or a Nancy Reagan, SOMEONE who can tell the Oval to get his EGO out of his HUBRIS, someone he can not fire and someone who knows were the secrets are, everyone has secrets folks.   The press are not going to allow this go, and the Oval can not closed down PRISM, what if there is another 9/11, thus the Oval is is caught between his ego and his hubris, lets see if the expert Chicago Pol can find a exit from this mess, without losing his LIBERAL base or allowing Republicans to paint the Oval as weak and a appeaser, fun times not in the Oval folks. 

North Korea threatens US Bases in Japan - Korean Crisis

Telegraph: Reports the following on the North Korean Crisis, " North Korea has threatened to launch a nuclear attack on US bases in Japan and Guam after Washington used B-52 bombers in a joint military drill with the South. ".

Lets Get Real:

Yes more bluster out of the Stalinist North, the question will they actually do anything, as the article notes they have had air raid drills, cyber attacks on South it seems from the North, the rhetoric is bloody hot, the question is WHAT NEXT?   Will they attack the disputed South Korean Islands on the border of the North; the North has told those on the Island to leave; they have made that threat, or will they go ALL IN, attack the Islands, direct cyber attack on South Korea, cause friction with US bases on personnel, it would be a risky move, the Oval would have to move and react, talking would not cut it folks.

Then folks talking is what North Korea might want, lets agree North Korea is not insane, okay is a big ask, could all these action be a SHOW, to force the Oval to send Secretary Kerry to the North for TALKS.    The question is can the Oval afford it, it will be seen as appeasement, thus the Oval needs a secret back channel as the President Kennedy had during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where is the modern Robert Kennedy when you need him, there needs to be talks, but under the radar, get the North back in to the box, while allowing for further talks.  Its a delicate operation  folks, if the Oval looks weak it links back to Israel and Iran,  if such talks become public the Israeli Government might think that Obama will sell them out to Iran, while Tehran would be looking for such talks.  Yes folks the North Korean Crisis has results outside Asia, watch this space folks. 

Bush 41 on Bush 43 - Bush Legacy

CNN - Politics: Reports on the update release of the letters and emails of Bush 41 in a new book by Bush 41.  The article notes the following, “  These newly revealed observations by the 41st president about his son the 43rd president, are outlined in an updated book "All the Best, George Bush; My Life in Letters and Other Writings," .. ”. 

Lets Get Real:

It is interesting folks, Bush 43 was seen as the political son of Ronald Reagan, to the right of his father, for Bush 43 retaking the Oval was revenge for Bill Clinton defeating his father in 1992, he defeated VP Gore in 2000 by few hundred votes in Florida.   Thus Bill Clinton was the man in between the Bush Presidencies, the nightmare for LBJ was if Senator Robert Kennedy had lived and won in 1968, he would have been the guy between the Kennedy Presidencies.   In many ways Bush 43 was totally different from his father, he pushed for lower taxes, he was going in to Iraq one way or another after 9/11.  In the first Gulf War, Bush 41 had not gone to take down the Iraqi Regime, he stated that he would have lost his allies and gone beyond the UN resolution.   Bush 43 allowed UK PM Tony Blair to try the UN route before he was blocked by the French, after that the US was going in to Iraq.  Then it can be postulated that at his core Bush 43 wanted a 2nd term as show he was not his father, and thus he beat Senator Kerry in 2004.   One can tell from an article or book the slant if it about Bush 43, the way Bush 41 dealt with Iraq as compared to the son, it is of course interesting, but its all to recent folks, it will take 20/30 years before father and son can judge and their time in the Oval.  This blog read the first edition of the Bush letters, it will buy the new version when it comes out. 

The Politics of Gay Marriage - 2012 Races

The Hill: Reports that vulnerable Senate Democrats up for re-election are keeping their distance from President Obama when it comes to his support for gay marriage.

Lets Get Real:

As this blog has noted folks, the Oval just might have handed the Oval over to Mitt Romney with its support for gay marriage. This what comes when you don't have a RFK or Nancy Reagan by your side who can tell your the unvarnished truth, someone you cant sack or use the race card against. It also helps if your not narcissist, does not help if you get the Nobel Peace Prize for doing nothing, yes that is President Obama. To be fair, POTUS was pushed in to the move by VP Biden, that is another good reason for Obama to dump Biden. Only a uber liberal would think that this support of gay marriage would go down well in fly over States, not every State is New York or some elite liberal College. Also there is major flaw in the theory that young people are out there liberals, who follow the line of the editorial page of the uber NYT, in fact they can be even less tolerant, more fly over states than Harvard. Dumb move Mr President, at least if you lose in November you can polish your Nobel Prize till the end of time, that might be some solace, not a lot, but arrogance goes before a fall, and November might just be that fall POTUS.

The VP with Foot in Mouth - VP Biden

The New York Times: Reports on the relationship between Vice President Biden and President Obama, how after a few up and downs they have a working relationship that works.

Lets Get Real:

If President Obama wants to make sure he gets re-elected he has to dump VP Biden and place Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has his VP choice of 2012. The lack of the Oval doing this does recall LBJ, he could have chosen Senator Robert Kennedy as his VP in 1964 but didn't want to be seen as having been elected due to Robert Kennedy. This was a political mistake by LBJ, if he had chosen RFK he would have had a good chance of winning the 1968 Presidential Election, also as the Vietnam War went badly he could have used RFK to blunt the liberal attack, but that is counter factual history folks, you can never tell. Lets look at more recent history, it can be argued that Bush 43 should have replaced VP Cheney in 2004 with a candidate who could run in part on the Bush record, has Bush 41 ran on being the VP to Ronald Reagan in 1988. A 2nd term President has to face the fact that without this VP running after the first year he becomes less important, if the VP is running he can not afford to burn his bridges with his President. Thus POTUS has some power, if only the ability to hurt his VP, Richard Nixon was hurt when Ike told reports that he would need a week to work out what Nixon has done over eight years. The Reagan legacy looks good because his VP won, the Bill Clinton less because Al Gore lost in 2000. Thus POTUS should consider Hillary Clinton for VP, then he will have some power in a 2nd term win, otherwise he will find he has become a silent screen star with no voice as the press will be in Iowa quite early for 2016.

2nd Kennedy Shooter - RFK

Daily Mail: Reports that a eyewitness to the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy has stated that there was 2nd shooter that night in California.

Lets Get Real:

Nina Rhodes-Hughes was there that night, and has stated that the FBI changed her story. Folks like the JFK assassination its one of the great Ifs of history, had the assassination attempt not happen or had Kennedy lived would US history have been different. One can postulate that RFK would have beaten Nixon in 1968 as President Kennedy had beaten Nixon in 1960. But and, and this is a big BUT folks, LBJ at the end tried to help the Democratic Nominee in 1968, it was a close result in Nixon’s favour, one can argue that LBJ would have done all he could have done to make sure Nixon won in 1968 if RKF had been the nominee, they hated each other with a fury unmatched in modern US politics. The worse fear that LBJ had was that he would be considered the man between the Kennedy’s, thus it can also be argued that Nixon with the underhanded help of LBJ might have won with a bigger victory. As to the new statement on the assassination, if there had been a 2nd gunman the story would have come out, it’s a get out of jail car in many respects either for the information or coming forward with the proof. Although this blog does not dismiss the statement it would need more evidence, thus far none, thus it was s sole killer.

“ Hanoi ” Jane Fond as Nancy Reagan ?

Daily Mail: Reports that Jane Fond, the very LIBERAL actress is up for the role of former First Lady Nancy Reagan. This is appalling stunt casting folks, the fans of Nancy Reagan and the late President should make sure that Hollywood gets the message that WE Reagan supporters could care less who they get to play the Kennedys or how they trash them, but not Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Lets recall folks that former First Lady Nancy Reagan is still alive, one doubts that the film will be as great as the recent Iron Lady, what ever ones views on the decline years one has to say it was a great film, a great performance by the Oscar winning actress. One can see Nancy Reagan MIGHT be happy that a Hollywood Star is playing her, but it’s the Liberal, anti Vietnam War Jane Fonda, there are limits, lets hope this idea is dropped. If you’re an actor or actress don’t expect a get out of jail car if you allow politics to get in the way of your art, its one or other, even the great Ronald Reagan made a choice, he didn’t to badly did he, Governor of California for eight years and later President for eight years, and considered the most influential President in half a Century by a recent Gallup Poll.

UN’s IAEA and Iran

Telegraph: Reports that the UN nuclear watchdog the IAEA has warned that Iran’s nuclear programme might have a military aspect. The Oval has to be careful that he does not lose Congressional Democrats when it comes to his Iran policy, if Hill Democrats think that Obama is weak on the subject they will throw him under the bus, at the end of the day when it comes to it, Congressional Democrats will support Israel over Obama, if Obama is under the delusion that this wont happen he really needs his own RFK or Nancy Reagan to show him the real world. The Jewish vote is part of the Democratic base, if Israel strikes then Democrats will support Israel, Obama better be on the Israeli train, or he will be stuck in the Windy City of Chicago after serving only one term as POTUS.

Debt Ceiling DEAL

Here is the take of President Obama on the debt ceiling deal, “ ..I want to announce that the leaders of both parties, in both chambers, have reached an agreement that will reduce the deficit and avoid default -- a default that would have had a devastating effect on our economy. The first part of this agreement will cut about $1 trillion in spending over the next 10 years -- cuts that both parties had agreed to early on in this process. …Now, I've said from the beginning that the ultimate solution to our deficit problem must be balanced. Despite what some Republicans have argued, I believe that we have to ask the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share by giving up tax breaks and special deductions. Despite what some in my own party have argued, I believe that we need to make some modest adjustments to programs like Medicare to ensure that they’re still around for future generations. That's why the second part of this agreement is so important. It establishes a bipartisan committee of Congress to report back by November with a proposal to further reduce the deficit, which will then be put before the entire Congress for an up or down vote. In this stage, everything will be on the table. To hold us all accountable for making these reforms, tough cuts that both parties would find objectionable would automatically go into effect if we don’t act. And over the next few months, I’ll continue to make a detailed case to these lawmakers about why I believe a balanced approach is necessary to finish the job. Now, is this the deal I would have preferred? No. I believe that we could have made the tough choices required -- on entitlement reform and tax reform -- right now, rather than through a special congressional committee process. But this compromise does make a serious down payment on the deficit reduction we need, and gives each party a strong incentive to get a balanced plan done before the end of the year. …We’re not done yet. I want to urge members of both parties to do the right thing and support this deal with your votes over the next few days. It will allow us to avoid default. It will allow us to pay our bills. It will allow us to start reducing our deficit in a responsible way. And it will allow us to turn to the very important business of doing everything we can to create jobs, boost wages, and grow this economy faster than it's currently growing. ”. Thus on one level this is a victory for the Oval, its get the debt ceiling off the agenda for 2012 but politically it’s a major defeat, the Republicans have got what they wanted, no tax hikes, major cuts. The Oval needs a RFK or a Nancy Reagan, Obama is still going on about tax hikes, its not going to happen, the Republicans would rather take cuts, this will drive the liberal base of the Democratic Party up the wall, its going to be a tough 2012 for President Obama.

The Grade on Balls

Guardian: An interesting article in the left wing Guardian on the Balls scandal, the article states the following on Balls “ For all his energy and intelligence, the bullying strain still shines through and it troubles some of Ed Miliband's advisers. ”. If your Ed Miliband you have to ask how much of political liability is Ed Balls, does his history make him past his sell date with Labour and the voter. All this plotting from 2005 brings back all the bad memories of the feud between Blair and Brown, how much they could have achieved if they had worked together, in many respects like LBJ and RFK in the late 1960s. Lets be honest Ed Miliband is looking to get his brother David back in to the Shadow Cabinet, what about sacking Ed Balls.

US Unemployment = 9.1%

Guardian: Reports that unemployment in the US rose from 9% to 9.1%. As wise campaign manager once stated its “ the economy stupid ” in other words it does not how much the main stream media cover for President Obama the people on main street know that Obama’s economic policies are not working, his vast spending in the first two years has not created jobs or bought down the health costs. The only idea to come out of the Oval is to raise taxes, typical tax and spend liberal. One has to be blunt for a bright guy POTUS is an economic idiot, in his Liberal Hollywood world, you raise taxes on the rich and then everything is okay, problem, if you tax the rich at 100% why should they bother to create jobs, the PUBLIC SECTOR does not create jobs, it does not lead to a booming economy, it has the reverse effect, think the Cuba and the Soviet Union, if people cant make money they will no nothing, you have decline and fall, does Obama want a post imperial American, where the powers are China, India, at least JFK had RFK and Reagan had Nancy, people who told the President the unvarnished truth, TRUTH that can HURT, Obama can be beaten folks, in 1997 UK election Sir John Major had on the whole nice encounters with the voters, the reason they voters had decided to vote for Tony Blair, Obama should not mistake big crowds for the idea he is going to win, it could mean the reverse, but it’s a long road to 2012 folks.

Bay of Pigs and JFK

BBC News: Reports on the anniversary of the failed invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs by CIA trained Cubans. This was a major failure for the young Kennedy Administration, the plan pre - dated the election of President Kennedy but he had given the green light for the CIA to follow through under the Kennedy Administration. After the failure of the Bay of Pigs, President Kennedy and his brother Attorney General Robert Kennedy increase pressure on the CIA to get Castro, in the end in pure political terms Castor won, both Kennedy brothers were assassinated and it was ill health that forced Castro from power at the end. But if you going to understand JFK and RFK you have to understand the Bay of Pigs and its consequences. 　

The Kennedys - Review

Telegraph: Has a very negative review of the Kennedys TV drama. This blog found it very interesting, if you have a interest in the Kennedys there was nothing new in this drama, but if you have no interest in politics or the Kennedys then you would on the whole found it quite informative. The blog did have a problem with Joe Kennedy Junior being scathing about the heroic World War Two record of JFK, one can see the point, recall reading a biography of JFK that took the view that the episode either deserved JFK a medal or a Court Martial. In less that scene is taken from some historical source one has raise doubts, also would JFK really have had a affair; ( that’s being kind, there are rumours that he played away on the day he become President ); on the night of 1960 election. As to Greg Kinnear as JFK and Barry Pepper as RFK, they are excellent, Mr Kinnear has that JFK Kennedy charm, and Mr Pepper has that intensity of the younger brother. Lets see how the drama develops and what they cover and how they cover the historical episodes of the Kennedys. Out of 10, it would be fair to give the show 8.5. It could be real winner, and the Kennedys if anything were about winning.

Miliband vs Miliband

BBC News: Reports on the declaration by Ed Miliband that he would contest the Labour leadership. Thus we have two brothers running for the Labour leadership, the question is what does this say about David and Ed Miliband, if two brothers cant agree that one or the other should run what does that say about their character, it is like JFK and RFK both running to be President in 1960, Ambassador Kennedy would have gone through the roof. In pure political terms does not look good, can you see RFK even thinking about running against his brother, also it opens the Labour Party up to ridicule that it is creating family dynasty for a working class party. Lets hope others enter the race and that the brothers have a real good long talk about family loyalty, also from watching Ed Miliband he had the mannerisms of Tony Blair but not the charisma, Ed Balls is from the Brown Camp of the Labour Party but least he has passion, at the end of the day a Leader has to give a Political Party passion to win.