What the World Needs Now…

The old song says “what the world needs now is love sweet love.” Love is good. We definitely need more of it—no doubt. But what the world is actually getting these days from the leader of the free world is, at best, mixed messages and, at worst, the impression that the United States cannot lead where freedom is concerned because we had a “value malfunction” after 9-11.

Sure, Barrack Obama has crisscrossed the globe apologizing for the “arrogance” of the U.S. and declaring the United States one of the largest Muslim countries in the world. Sure, some may believe that this is a golden road to a new golden age of understanding and worldwide happiness since America finally has a president who gets it. They will tell you how much better Obama is over Bush. They were so eager for Bush to be gone that they may not have thought through what it means to truly have the Anti-Bush take over and try and talk to the bad guys.

Case in point: No matter how you slice it, the recently sham election in Iran and subsequent crackdown by Mullah Control was one of the most horrific scenes we have witnessed in a long, long time. Our country’s official reaction was to reiterate that we “respect the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Finally, after some behind the scenes pushing from none other than Secretary of State Clinton, Obama said we were “appalled.” Anything less than total support for those seeking freedom is going to come across to the Iranian government and those countries that are rooting for it as weakness. The Mullahs must be absolutely giddy over the idea that the Iranian people can be cut down in the streets and nothing really happens. Make no mistake; they will take our official response as a sign that we are tired of standing up, tired of “paying any price” and “bearing any burden.”

The idea of waiting to see who wins out, the Mullahs or the people, will come back to haunt us. Freedom will eventually emerge in Iran someday based on what the people there have expressed. When that day comes, will they wonder where the United States was? Will they understand that our government did not want to meddle or be a “foil” for the two warring factions? Will they understand?

The truth is the United States is a foil. It is seen as the archetype for freedom by those who love freedom and by those who want to take freedom away. Like it or not, the United States will always come up in any conversation about those struggling to see dictators and repressive regimes be put where they belong—on the ash heap of history.

So, given that, I hope that our government and President Obama will wholly embrace the idea that United States should always openly support those that want to put off the shackles of tyranny. It is our place in the world. So many of our allies who love freedom have already eclipsed us in being outspoken on the Iranian elections. We should not fall behind. Even though Iran’s elections are now “officially” over, we can still support those who want a better day in that country. The ongoing, sustained support from the American president means something. Just go ask those who emerged from Soviet rule how the words and support of Ronald Reagan meant something over the long haul.

Things can change. We can have a better world. But we have to always stand for right and for freedom and for free elections. But there are those that also seeking to repress. Just ask the Hondurans. Let’s hope President Obama gets on the right side on that one—and fast! What the world needs now is support it can count on.

And Now The Hard Part...

While America can certainly be proud of the historic election of 2008, January 20th will soon be here. After the last notes are played at the various inaugural balls, after the last of the parades pass by the viewing platform in front of the White House, and after the media lovingly covers the final goodbyes of the President and Mrs. Bush as they leave town and head for Crawford, the real work of the new Obama administration will, at last, begin. Up until that time, President-Elect Obama will be able to stay somewhat in campaign mode. That is to say that he can continue, for a little while, to bask in that warm fuzzy feeling of being all things to all people.

However, on January 20th, President-Elect Obama will find that being President Obama might be a little different. For example, the nation will look to him, not President Bush, when the stock market dives 500 points in a day. The nation will look to him, not President Bush, when fear and trepidation come from the release of employment numbers and the like. In short, Mr. Obama will have to make decisions on issues of the economy and foreign policy that have consequences—consequences that not everyone will love or hail as inspired (as they did in the campaign). For that is what a president must do many, many times a day: make decisions. President Bush was very good at making decisions. They weren’t always popular (some will seem better in hindsight, I believe) but President Bush made decisions and let the chips fall where they may.

If President-Elect Obama truly wants to live up to his legendary status that has been conferred upon him, he will need to truly embrace the idea that a president is to take into account all the people, all the nation and all the nation’s interests before making a decision. Now, I don’t expect him to suddenly be open and supportive of conservative ideals (although that would be nice) but I do, as many Americans who also voted on November 4th, believe that our new President make good on the ideas he advanced and campaigned on during the campaign of 2008. Namely, that this is supposed to be a time of unity, of a break from the past. Sadly, the signals we seem to be getting from the Congressional leadership smack of a new partisanship that is descending across the land. So many people voted—many for the first time—in this election and they deserve a country and a political landscape that really does address the issues and challenges that face us in such a way that allows for good ideas—from either party—to be considered.

The crises that we are facing are daunting indeed and, in many cases, unprecedented. From the financial bailouts to the latest news that automakers like GM are literally running out of money in a couple month’s time, confidence in the economic system is fading fast and Americans are paying close attention to what is being done and what will be done starting January 20th. They are watching for tax increases that could send the economy over the edge completely. They instinctively know that higher taxes can hurt Democrat and Republican voters alike. They are looking for real answers and will accept nothing less knowing that their votes are powerful. Creating a partisan juggernaught—even an Obama one—simply will not work.

Saturday Night Live McCain Opener

Hi All,

Please give me your comments on the recent opening skit on SNL that took on John McCain's "approvals" of campain commercials. You can view the skit at www.kylewarrenshow.com.

I wonder if they will poke fun at Joe Biden who said that the Obama ad implying John McCain is out of touch and doesn't know how to send an email was "terrible."

Best,

-Kyle

Why Obama's Friends Are More Interesting Than Sarah Palin's Email

Someone may have hacked Sarah Palin's personal email but, please don't forget, Barack Obama still has not totally distanced himself from William Ayres of Weather Underground fame. In fact, Obama had the perfect opportunity to do this in his big interview with Bill O'Reilly on Fox News recently.

So, I guess we don't have to really worry about any of that, or the kinds of friend Obama has chosen in his life and what that means for us as a country if he is elected--but we really need to get to the bottom of Gov. Palin's personal email which no one would be talking about anyway if it weren't for a hacker who broke the law. Pics of the kids, mundane conversations, and other items of a personal nature will certainly overshadow Obama's protestations that he never was at that church when all the offensive racial stuff was being said.

It turns out that Palin may have an email from another state official. This obviously disqualifies her to run for office now. I don't know how many email addresses you have but I have several and, in today's world, they are going to overlap. The point is that nothing so far shows some pattern of misusing her state or personal email.

The focus should be on who did this and there should be universal condemnation for the illegal act of hacking her email in the first place.

The funny thing is that most people are going to rally around Palin even more because they identify with her and will see this as just another dirty trick--and it will backfire again.

When will they learn?

Best,

-Kyle

www.kylewarrenshow.com