Welcome back to A New America! Please bear with me as I am a tad bit rusty. For those of you who are reading for the first time, I will briefly explain the premise behind my political ramblings. I have spent most of my life following politics, discussing and arguing about politics, and reading, watching, listening to everything I could get my hands on with regard to politics. It is my passion. Most of my friends have been on the receiving end of one of my rants and have learned to not bring up current events. The fact that the majority of my friends are liberal progressives certainly plays a key role in our interaction. This passion at first led me to aspire to be a diplomat for the Department of State but after passing the Foreign Service Test, I quickly realized it was not for me. I have since turned my career ambitions towards running for and winning election to the US House of Representatives and then from there, either the US Senate or possibly the governor’s mansion in Richmond. Therefore, what better way to express my views than to create a blog for all to see!
My intention is to have a new post publicized every Tuesday by 11pm. I shall refrain from my former practice of disclosing the topic of my next post, as this allowed you to choose whether or not you wanted to read my next publication a week in advance. I believe an element of surprise is just what A New America needs.
I want to thank all of my regular readers for your continued encouragement and support. A New America would be virtually meaningless without you. I also want to thank all of you who arrive from Facebook and Twitter, as you make up the majority of my following. Finally, I want to extend a special thank you to the readers who specifically came upon A New America via amazing internet searches such as, “fundamentalist environmentalism,” “enviro-wackos,” and my personal favorite, “how to become a crazy liberal who can win an argument.” The viewership of my blog would not have tripled since my last post in June if you had not found your way. You all rock!
This week, I have decided to chronicle some of the most important political events in the past six months and briefly, very briefly, give you my opinion of the matter if it’s warranted. I will unfortunately have to use bullet points as there have been quite a few events and most people’s attention spans are short. Let us begin.
The Gulf Oil Spill
- An oilrig owned by British Petroleum exploded, breaking the pipeline and spilling millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The Louisiana shoreline and economy were deeply affected and BP along with the Obama Administration was ultimately held responsible for the damage.
- The oil spill was the first environmental disaster of Obama’s presidency (the disastrous flood in Tennessee was barely covered and the earthquake in Haiti was not in the US) and he received harsh criticism for something he really had little control over. However, if President Bush was blamed for Hurricane Katrina, then I suppose it was fair to blame Obama for the oil spill.
- The leaking pipeline was eventually capped and everyone who was up in arms quickly forgot about it.
US Withdrawal from Iraq
- The final US infantry brigade was quietly withdrawn from Iraq on the night of August 18, 2010, marking the end of major military operations in Iraq.
- The US was then able to focus most of its attention on the war that truly matters the most, Afghanistan. Was it the right decision to have invaded Iraq in the first place? I think so, but it is certainly time for the Iraqis to take care of themselves.
- Random acts of violence continue and a report the other day claims that hundreds of jihadists have moved back into Iraq but at this point, I think the Iraqi military can handle their presence.
The Escalation of Drone Attacks in Pakistan and Yemen
- More drone attacks occurred in September and October than in any month since the beginning of the war in 2001.
- I believe they are a necessary tool in a frustrating war. However, I find it funny that President Obama is willing to kill terrorists with a missile shot from 10,000ft but believes captured terror suspects should be given a civilian trial. We could capture them and send them to Guantanamo Bay prison but Obama shut that down because its existence is morally reprehensible. Oh wait.
Julian Assange and Wikileaks
- Mr. Assange is the head of the website known as Wikileaks, a site dedicated to publishing damaging videos and classified US government documents. The site has released hundreds of thousands of these documents and US foreign relations have been strained as a result. Mr. Assange was recently arrested and charged with sexual assault; he is being held without bond in an English prison.
- This guy should have been arrested and charged under the Espionage Act of 1917 a long time ago. He is a detriment to our government and to our standing in the world and he has certainly committed many crimes. I hope his incarceration results in a favorable outcome.
The Mid-Term Elections
- Just in case you have been living under a rock, the Republicans essentially destroyed Democrats at the polls and regained a majority in the House of Representatives while also picking up more seats in the US Senate. This was a major victory for conservatives and Tea Partiers and explicitly showed the Obama Administration that America has had enough of big government and ludicrous spending.
- Hopefully a Republican-controlled House will help cut government spending and help facilitate job growth.
M1 Abrams Tanks to Afghanistan
- In a show of massive strength and resolve, the Obama Administration has sent a few brigades of tanks to Afghanistan. Designed to produce shock and awe, the arrival of tanks to the battlefield will hopefully turn around a war that has seen little advancement and a lot of criticism.
- I am torn over their arrival and only time will show us their effectiveness.
Extension of Bush-era Tax Cuts
- President Obama recently announced that he has reached a compromise with Republicans over the tax cuts set to expire at the end of this month. Obama has conceded that Republicans will not budge and has agreed to extend them for all Americans for two years, in exchange for continued financing of unemployment benefits.
- The Left is furious and speaking out; the Right is relieved and rather amused.
- I believe an extension of tax cuts for all Americans will help keep our country from entering a double-dip recession and I applaud President Obama for making one of the tough, oftentimes unpopular, decisions that come with the job of the presidency. It will be interesting to see how this spectacle plays out.
Well, there you have it. I hope everyone enjoyed my latest publication and continue to visit in the weeks and months to come. Please feel free to pass on my web address to your friends and family and as always, comments are welcome. Thanks everyone!
-Ryan
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