When the Gipper came to the UK - Reagan Era

Telegraph: Reports on the song and dance that it took to arrange the visit to the UK of then US President Ronald Reagan in 1982. 

Lets Get Real: 

This is an excellent article but also fun folks, it shows how Diplomats get their knickers in a twist over all matter of things, before the new year this is fun read folks.    The President must have been popular with the Queen, as they both rode, and later after leaving office the President was given a knighthood, also when the Queen visited the US after the Reagan Era the Reagan's were invented on board the Queen's Ship for tea.    In all President Reagan was a great ally of the UK and of Lady Thatcher, they helped bring down the USSR. 

The Fiscal Deal and the Obama 2nd Term

Guardian: Reports the following from inside the D.C Beltway, " Senior senators say they believe a deal can be reached as US markets nervously await news from 3pm Washington meeting ".

Lets Get Real: 

The Republicans are going to CAVE folks, the elite media has been running this narrative for weeks, any deal will be seen as a victory for Obama, and in many respects it will be real, the Oval will have forced the Republicans to agree to tax hikes, the same mistake that Bush 41 did in the 1990s.   The Democrats might say the will cut welfare but they never do, that is the base of the Democratic Party, the need people to be poor and afraid.    They need to make the impression that its the fault of the rich, why else would anyone vote for a Democrat or Labour politician.    The Democrats will spend the US in to a former Empire, the same fate of Rome and British Empires, when the money is gone your power is gone.   The US voter can not say they were not told, they are not even sleep walking in to being a lesser power, they are running to such a fate, what would the Gipper say of present day America. 

POTUS and the Fiscal Cliff

BBC News: Reports that President Obama is meeting Congressional Leaders at the White House at 8pm tonight in attempt to cut a deal before the US goes over the fiscal cliff. 

Lets Get Real: 

The Republicans should hold the line, NO TAX HIKES on any Americans, and that should the Oval force the issue the Republicans will block the entire Obama Agenda on the Hill next year, NOTHING get through.   The Obama 2nd term would be over before it starts, all 2nd Term Presidents want a legacy, Obama only has  healthcare, or ObamaCare and he cant count that it wont be repelled by Republicans after 2016.   Thus the Oval should be treated to a Chicago lesson, if you overreach you get bounced hard by the other side.   Republicans hold the line, if the US goes over the cliff because of the Oval make the Oval pay in 2013, even further tax cuts not hikes, time to play hard ball folks. 

The Snowmen - Doctor Who Review

Doctor Who News: Reports that the good Doctor was the fifth most popular show in the UK on Christmas Day with " 7.59 million viewers, a share of 33.9% of the total TV audience ".

Lets Get Real: 

The overnight figures do not show those that recorded the show to watch later, the true position of the show should come next week, when those that watch it later will be added.    As to review the episode itself, well the Snowmen was fantastic, but the real horror was that the Doctor could not save Clara/ Oswin again, at least Oswin was not a Dalek in this episode, but the fact that the Doctor thought she was his next companion but only to see her die was a real kick in the Tardis.   The Victorian setting and the Doctor's retreat from the World was excellent, also nice nod to the Ponds, ( there are no spoilers here folks, you will have to watch the show ).   The Blog can not wait for next near,the Doctor (Matt Smith) and Oswin (Jenna-Louise Coleman) are a great pair, fun, flirty, either not sure what the other is up too, and great 1930s sexual chemistry, what would Rose, Martha, Donna, Amy say, one can only guess the reaction of the Doctor's wife, YES River, put that gun down again!! lol 2013 should be a great Doctor Who year folks.     

Hagel for Defence - 2nd Obama Term

The Hill: Reports that the expected nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel as the next US Defence Secretary is in trouble, the article notes the following, " ..has been criticized for prior statements on Israel lobbyists and a gay ambassadorial nominee, as well as his positions toward Iraq, Iran and Cuba. ".

Lets Get Real:

Lets recall Bush 41 lost his choice of Senator Tower to be US Defence Secretary because of Senate opposition, Hagel has managed to annoy both the left and right, lets see how much the Israeli Lobby really want to block Hagel, they might think that if Israel is going to attack Iran it does not need a US Defence Secretary that is hostile to Israel.   Lets recall folks the Mid Terms are in 2014, one of the biggest money givers to Democrats are Jewish groups, in other words folks the Democrats in the Senate and House can not afford to bite the hand that gets them elected.   The Republicans have serious national security concerns about Hagel, he opposed the Iraq War and wants talks with Iran, yes folks, if POTUS wants to talk to Iran he will have support from both Kerry at State and Hagel at Defence.    On the Oval side POTUS has to go to bat for Hagel, if he is rolled even more he nominates Hagel the 2nd Obama term will start from a weak position, and power fades from a 2nd term fast folks.   POTUS threw his UN Ambassador under the bus even  before an official nomination, he can not afford a 2nd defeat, a US President should have his choice at State and Defence, he WON, it does not matter the political views of Hagel, the case with Rice was different, she fell on her sword during the election due to Libya,  she was seen by Republicans as spinning for the Oval, when the truth did not match she was toast.   Thus far nothing like that has come up when it comes to Hagel, having left wing views in itself should not be a block on a nomination, that is the same when its right wing views for the Cabinet or being a Judge.  Lets see how this story develop folks. 

Chemical Attack in Syria ? - Syrian Update

Guardian: Has the following in its 4.46pm post, " Subtitled video has emerged purporting to show some of the victims of a gas attack in Homs....it appeared that Chlorine or Phosgene Gas had been used. ".

Lets Get Real:

This has been reported on Fox News folks, also the Guardian, but this blog wants to see confirmation from either Sky News, CNN or BBC.   This would be a game changer in the current civil war in Syria, the Oval Office has made it clear the use of WMDs would be a red line, this would be a threat to Israel and Turkey, close US allies.   If it has happened lets see if Mossad comes out with proof.   Also the Oval will know about it soon, this is not something they can over up like Libya.  But before we start to drum for military action lets see some proof folks, this could be a spin job by the opposition, before we let lose US and UK planes over Syria this blog want to see confirmed evidence.    As to if the Assad Regime would take such action, of course, and it would be clever to take it now, the Western world is focused on Christmas, the Oval is on Holiday, it has a major battle with the Republican House, if your a clever murderous Regime its perfect timing, in this period peace to all men, the last thing any wants to hear about is the next War.   Harsh but true folks.   After the Iraq War lets be right folks, even if it takes time. 

Happy Christmas and New Year

Happy Christmas 

And

New Year 

Lets hope for a Peaceful New Year