Before we start with anything, at the end of today's program, Mr. Gregory noted the tragedy in Russia where the President of Poland, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, died along with many in the top leadership of the Polish government, in a plane crash. We wanted to note it here - at the beginning. The author of this column lived in Poland for three years, in Lipno outside of Torun and in Warsaw, the capital.
I just want to say that today I think of the good friends that are still there and how hard this must be for them. Poland is a special place, one of the key historical countries in understanding not only Europe, but the world. It's people are warm, highly intelligent, and gracious hosts. The profound lessons I learned there have stayed with me for my entire life. My heart is with them today and always.
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What is so frustrating and will eventually seriously cripple this country is we can't get together on anything. Senator Sessions (R-AL), in today's interview alongside Senator Leahy (D-VT), that the government is overreaching against the will of the American people, but we would contend that some in Mr. Sessions party would say that the government isn't doing enough on job creation. But isn't the government overreaching when they start tampering with the job market? We could go around and around on this ad nausea.
With regard to the nomination of a new Supreme Court justice, following Justice Steven's retirement announcement, Senator Leahy said today that the court now is an activist court. Justice Stevens, known as the leading liberal on the court, it was noted, said that he hadn't changed but the court dynamic has in fact changed. To which, Senator Sessions disagreed, but it's difficult to agree when the court, along ideological line that favor conservatives, the court empowered corporations further by ruling that they could contribute monetarily to political campaigns. Who wouldn't be against that?
New York Times columnist David Brooks, later in the program, feels that since the court is dominated by Harvard/ Yale grads that President Obama will go outside of that sphere and nominate more a man [person] of the people. One who has more of the 'common man' experience. And we all hope as Senator Leahy stated that it is some one who brings the country together. But that's highly doubtful. Of the mentioned nominees, Janet Napolitano's name came up, and we're not convinced. She's been exceedingly mediocre as the Secretary of Homeland Security, almost as if her opinion doesn't care any weight. Politics is perception as they always say and the court is now political. We've reached a dangerous stage in that regard and given that, Ms. Napolitano would definitely not be our choice. However, we do strongly believe that another woman is needed for the court, most importantly for the fact that woman are underrepresented!
Finally, Senator Sessions left open the possibility of a filibuster of the nominee, after he once stated that it would not be a good idea. If in fact the Republicans do filibuster, which this column suspects they will if the nominee is deemed 'too liberal,' there will be a sea change in our political system where bipartisanship will cease to exist in any context - foreign or domestic policy. Both parties will be reduced to crippled foes.
With regard to our foreign adversaries, namely Iran and its nuclear ambitions, the Administration is taking the correct and shrewd approach event though the Republicans and their brethren [e.g. Ms. Palin and the Tea Party] don't think so, but here's why. Signing the S.T.A.R.T. treaty with Russia is a smart move. It reduces our and Russia's respective stockpiles, which now only gives our countries the ability to kill each other a hundred times over instead of a thousand times over. So when these two major nuclear powers focus their attention, the rest of the world will listen and Russia is an essential in making this happen. The nuclear summit will additionally raise the world governments' collective consciousness.
In addition to the necessary subversive tactics being employed by us and our allies, these initial moves will compel others to step up sanctions and other diplomatic pressure on Iran to hamper its nuclear ambitions. We have previously stated in this column that Iran as a nuclear power is inevitable - unfortunately and the we shouldn't make it easy. As strongly as our stance is with regard to Iran and its nuclear ambitions, we would under no circumstances advocate for war.
Also, as Secretary Gates stated, in today's joint interview with Secretary of State Clinton, we still have a very powerful nuclear arsenal (see above), but with our advanced technology with regard to missile defense, we have the capability of protecting ourselves via more conventional means.
There seems to be a dearth of shrewd thinking in this country when it comes to our foreign adversaries. This acting from the gut with false bravado stems from our need for instant gratification. Shrewd thinking takes time and patience, it just knowing when that patience needs to be turned into action. However, as David Sanger pointed out, in the roundtable, President Obama hasn't definitely what that redline is. Also, given what Secretary Gates said about us not really knowing even when or if Iran has assembled a nuclear weapon, is The President being shrewd by not saying? We would hope so but it does appear that he hasn't exactly defined it himself. Kathleen Parker made the good point that engagement is not foreign policy. However, it is a necessary tool. Remember that a great chess champion always wants to sit opposite is his most dangerous opponent - to beat him face to face.
Again, Secretary Clinton stated this this treaty in no way makes us weaker but tactically it gives us greater leverage with other countries, foes and allies alike.
P.S. David Brooks had a great Newt Gingrich quote on today's program that's worth noting. Newt Gingrich has a billion ideas, six hundred of which as good.
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