Because it is that time of year when we have to endure lists, and because all of the other lists are going to be some version of a Barbara Walters soft white light view of the world, I give you some holiday party talking points for what should be the top 10 news stories of 2010.
#10. Obama’s Health Care Reform
Depending on your point of view, Obama either accomplished something that many presidents have failed to do or he created what amounts to a huge gift to anyone with health insurance stock in their portfolios.
Either way, most of the meaningful provisions of this historic legislation don’t even go into effect until 2014 and in the intervening time the Democrats will be so busy trying to prevent Sarah Palin from becoming our next President that the they will acquiesce to amendments and compromises to the bill that will strip away all of the good and make even the cost of Advil out of reach for most Americans.
Isn’t that always the way with Democrats though, one baby step forward, 10 Andre-the Giant steps back?
#9 World Cup in South Africa
Most Americans would rather watch badminton, curling, or avant-garde French cinema than what the rest of the world calls football and we belligerently refer to as soccer.
Why?
Because football is for men and steeped in war metaphor with bombs and blitzes and aerial attacks. Football is American. Soccer, the ultimate team game, is for commies. If soccer were to catch on in the USA, what would be next, National Health Care? That is why the success of the World Cup offers a glimmer of hope to Godless commies marooned here in the USA.
“In a world of conflict, a world of victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people, not to be on the side of the executioners.” – Albert Camus
Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian leader, signed an arms treaty that will slash their respective nuclear arsenals to their lowest levels since the 1960s. If both countries respective legislative branches ratify the treaty, the two former adversaries in the cold war will now only have nukes to blow up the world 798 times over.
Commiserating with Russia. What would Ronald Regan say? Clearly this socialist bastard has finally gone to far in sacrificing defense.
The Obama administration set the stage for his overseas trip by announcing a new nuclear policy with the intent of limiting the threat of a catastrophic international conflict. Included in the new strategy is a vow not to develop new nuclear weapons and clarifying the circumstances under which the United States would use nuclear weapons.
“If a non-nuclear weapons state is in compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty and its obligations, the U.S. pledges not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against it. If, however, such a state were to use chemical or biological weapons against the U.S. or its allies, it would face the prospect of a devastating conventional, or non-nuclear, military response.”
And the Washington Post reported shed some light on what a future devastating response would look like, reporting that a new weapon being developed by the Pentagon, the so called prompt global strike weapons, are missiles armed with conventional warheads that could strike anywhere in the world in less than an hour.
A new super weapon that can strike anywhere in the world in an hour? That would surely be welcome news to the former runner up to Ms. Wassilla 1984 and current headlining act for the Tea Party Tour.
“You know that is kind of like, uh, getting out there on the playground, a bunch of kids ready to fight and one of the kids saying go ahead punch me in the face and I’m not gonna retaliate… go ahead and do what you want to with me.”
Obama, when reminded of this quote during an interview with Alex P. Keaton, was clearly miffed, and fired back with “Last time I check, Sarah Palin is no expert on nuclear issues.”
But in this partisan media-wrestling match, it is not so much what you say, but how you say it. Obama’s thoughtful, measured, rhetorical style, sharpened while president of the Harvard Law Review appeals to about 4.3% of Americans, while Palin’s down homey, if factually inaccurate, delivery honed as a communication major at North Idaho community College appeal to a much larger base of real Americans.
As always, both sides of this tête-à-tête miss the point. Simply put since World War 2, the metaphor of children fighting on a playground, and the U.S., as just another child is way off base. The U.S. is more like a bully, a fully-grown adult bully busting the skull of sixth graders who dare not turn over their lunch money.
The Tea Party would have you believe that Obama is the most radical President ever. I’ve got a radical nuclear proposal for you. Russia and the United States should distribute nuclear warheads to every country in the world.
Equally. Just level the playing field. Let all the kids on the playground have the potential to enact a Hiroshima or a Nagasaki on the other kids ass. Do this, and one of two things will happen:
1. The human race, embolden because all of the have not’s are suddenly in the “haves” column will make an evolutionary leap, born out of Darwinian necessity, and realize a heretofore unforeseen path to sustained peace and prosperity for all.
Or
2. The human race will exterminate itself quicker than you say Revelations, Chapter 16, verses 13 and 14.
I’m a gambling man; I think it is worth the risk.
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A freelance writer, Davis Fleetwood has worked as a writer/ media consultant for Dennis Kucinich’s 2008 presidential campaign and served as a contributing editorial commentator for The Uptake. His videos have been seen by over 14 million viewers. He has been called (among many other things) “one of the most prominent voices in YouTube politics.” (-You Tube News & Politics chief, Steve Grove) He was a “Best of YouTube, 2007” nomination. His book I Stay In So You Can Go Out, is due out in May from No Cure For That Press, and his first full length feature documentary, MANIFEST DESTINY’S CHILD, is due out on DVD this June.
THE HERMIT WITH DAVIS FLEETWOOD is a sometimes serious, sometimes satiric look at the top headlines, current events, and political trends. The show is Independently produced by a staff of one & runs on the fuel of your individual donations.
Depending on your point of view, Obama either accomplished something that many presidents have failed to do or he created what amounts to a huge gift to anyone with health insurance stock in their portfolios.
Most Americans would rather watch badminton, curling, or avant-garde French cinema than what the rest of the world calls football and we belligerently refer to as soccer.
