Boehner FAILS Reagan Test - US Financial Cliff

CNN - Politics: Report that Republican House Speaker John Boehner has stated the following, " Taxes on the wealthy are going up...conceded on Wednesday.. ".

Lets Get Real: 

It seems that Speaker Boehner has fallen in to the trap of Bush 41, he does not have the nerve to face down the Oval.    The Republicans should start to look for a new Speaker, the Oval will be able to push the House after this failure of nerve by the leadership.   The Reagan Agenda was lower taxes, smaller government and a big defence, the Obama Agenda is BIG GOVERNMENT, HIGH TAXES and a SMALL US DEFENCE.  The Republican Establishment has shown that it has no spine, it should have taken the cliff the option, taxing the rich will only be the start, the Democrats will back for more taxes, the concept just does not work.   The Democrats will NEVER cut WELFARE, that is how they get elected.   SHAME on Speaker Boehner, you have failed Reagan. 

Talks or Financial Cliff ? - 2nd Obama Term

BBC News: Reports that Republican House Speaker John Boehner has stated that he wants one to one talks with President Obama over the prospects of the US going over a financial cliff. 

Lets Get Real:

The Republican Establishment might want to cave to Obama but the Conservative Republicans and Tea Party supporters want the Republican House to say a flat NO to the Oval.   Those Republicans that want to sell out should recall the fate of Bush 41, he promised NO NEW TAXES, and he broke his word, he lost to Bill Clinton in 1992.   The Republican House has two years to get back the voters it might lose if they say no to the Oval, the Oval will be politically dodo by the 2014 Mid Terms,  both Republicans and Democrats will be looking forward to 2016,  expect the contenders to visit Iowa late in 2013, the election cycle is now two years.   President Obama wants a legacy, it wont be VP Biden as his successor in 2016, thus he needs a deal even if he does not get the fact.   The Republicans should be clear with the Oval, if they go over the cliff then it will cost the Oval in 2013, the more time the less he gets, to the point ALL he will get will be a Bill that extends ALL the Bush 43 tax cuts.   It is time to show this Son of Chicago politics that the lessons of Chicago politics is a two way street, lets play hard ball folks, lets WIN. 

The US Financial Cliff and Taxes

CNN  - Politics: Reports that Republican House Speaker John Boehner has rejected the idea of tax hikes on the rich.  The new Republican Plan cuts welfare and does not increase tax rates. 

Lets Get Real: 

The Oval has worry about a Obama Recession, the Republicans have to run in two years, Obama in many respects is a political dodo, thus the Republican House has nothing to fear from liberal voters who want tax hikes.  Also should the US go over the financial cliff the Republican House can make the Oval pay for any deal after the event.   As going over the financial cliff, would mean tax hikes and major welfare cuts, thus the liberal left would go bonkers, the tax payer might blame the House at the start but its the Obama Era, he is the President, the buck stops with him.  The Republican House should call the bluff the Oval, the Democrats in the House and Senate should worry that they will have to defend ObamaCare and tax hikes in 2014 and 2016.   The Oval needs this deal or his 2nd term is over before it has started, the Republican House should say NO to tax hikes, and keep to that line.   

The US and Syrian Chemical Weapons - Syrian Crisis PT2

Guardian: Reports on the US reaction should Syrian Regime use chemical weapons on its own people, " The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, who had warned that Washington would take action if Syria used chemical weapons.. ".

Lets Get Real:

As the US has to worry about its close Middle East allies of Israel and Turkey, IF and its a big IF the Assad Regime uses chemical weapons and these weapons hit Israel or Turkey by accident or on purpose as to draw in the US and unite the Syrian people against the West.   It would be Assad calling Obama's bluff, does the Assad Regime think that POTUS does not have the political courage to take action after the disaster that is Libya, if your in Damascus you have to think that Obama might give the green light to drone strikes but taking on Syria is something else, it would take US ground troops, the 2nd Obama term would be over before it started, lets recall that great US President Harry Truman had his poll numbers tank after the War in Korea started.  Also look what happened to Bush 43 after the Iraq War, the US left would go bonkers and Obama's domestic aims would be destroyed should he try to take ground action in Syria, also the Syria Regime has an air force and is supported by Iran.    Thus a no fly zone would not be enough, there would have to be ground troops, do you see Obama putting in ground troops. 

Syria and Chemical Weapons - Syrian Crisis

Telegraph: Reports the following on the Syrian Crisis and the possible use of chemical weapons by the Assad Regime, " The White House issued a stark warning that it feared President Bashar al-Assad might be turning to his arsenal of chemical weapons... ".

Lets Get Real:

Lets hope the Israeli Intelligence Mossad is on the case, they should know before anyone else, one would expect that the CIA and MI6 have agents on the ground in Syria, just checking to make sure the Assad Regime does not cross this red line.   If the Assad Regime is found to be in the process of going to use chemical weapons lets hope the UK's SAS and the US Special Forces are close to Syria to take them out, or even in Syria, but that would be only a theory.  It is clear that Israel should it find that Assad is going to use chemical weapons it will attack, what if the effects come across the border, or Assad gives chemical weapons to his terrorists allies in Gaza or Lebanon.   It can be postulated  that Iran would support Syria in the use of chemical weapons as it would divert Western attention from its own nuclear aims.   This could be a tense Christmas period folks, if the Assad Regime fears it is going down it could use WMDs. 

Good News Day - Royal Baby on the Way

BBC News: Reports that the HRH the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby.

Lets Get Real:

This is fantastic news folks, a great day for the UK, after all the doom and gloom from the domestic and international front this is nice for the Royal Couple and the Country to have something to celebrate, the Throne has now three successors, ALL the petty domestic stuff is just nothing compared to the Royal Succession.  God Save the Queen and the Royal Family. 

Syrian Update - PT2

Guardian: Reports the following from Syria, " Rebels say.......that Assad's forces are due to launch a concerted offensive in the capital. ".

Lets Get Real:

As long as the Assad Regime controls Damascus and the airport it will remain in power, as noted the military support from Iran will allow the Regime to have TIME, its ally Iran knows if it loses Assad it influence in the region will be hit, also it can not cause problems for Israel through using its terrorist network in Lebanon.   Thus do the Syrian rebels need air cover from the the US and the UK and was the Western reaction in Libya, the simple answer is YES, the question should the West take such action is another matter, who will replace the regime in Damascus, will they be an ally or a enemy, how much REAL influence will the West have over a new Government, look at how powerless the West has been with the new Egyptian Government.   Thus folks, do you contain the killing in Syria, in other words keep the sides at the same level, if they are killing each other they are not causing problems for the region or do you take action.   The RIGHT answer is you give air cover to the rebels and take your chances with a new government,  at the end of the day innocent people are being killed, you have to save them, or what is the point, might sound bit on the idealist side but sometimes you have to get on that donkey and charge at windmills.