So the AP thing is what it is. I think they have to look at what is appropriate when balancing national security leaks and freedom for all people, not just the press, to communicate.
I think there are three things the president needs to address in full, with a ton of transparency - the kind that has been lacking in government for decades and has only worsened with each administration.
Number one. The IRS. One time when I was a kid I saw a KKK march on the news. And someone had one of those hoods on a 1 year old. And the anger swelled in me like never before. I wanted to kick my TV. I hate these fuckin people. But sans any criminal activity, our government has no right to get into their business. I hate that people stomp on our flag, but this is America and those folks should be treated just as fairly as me and given all the same rights. And the right to stomp on that flag should never be taken away. And if someone choose to stomp on or burn the flag, that is none of the government's business.
The IRS has some of the countries largest powers. They can, on a whim, choose to really mess with someone's life, livelihood, and frankly their sanity. The number of terminations and jail sentences relating to what has been going on should be such that it sends a message to every single person that works for or will work for any government agency. And that message should be agree or disagree, everyone is treated equal.
To target someone's group based on it's political leaning is no different than any other kind of prejudice, be it racial, sexual orientation, or what women do with their bodies. If the IRS cannot be a fair organization, then it's time to get rid of the income tax system and do something that works with a whole lot less bureaucracy.
But why is this such a problem for the president? Because i believe he demonizes from the pulpit and he empowers all liberals to see the other side as evil enemies. He's the Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity of politics. He chastises the supreme court in a highly disrespectful manner over citizens united, which trickles down to IRS management and workers believing that Tea Party groups are fraudulent. All the while using the same freedoms in his own 2012 campaign - to the nines.
I've never seen a president treat the other side with such disdain and disregard. Yes - all parties do it to each other, but I don't ever recall Clinton or Bush talking in the manner that Obama does. He looks so down on others and it's really brought things out in others.
Number two: Benghazi. I would like to see the president and Hilary come out and just apologize for misleading the American people. They did it. Everyone knows it. I say misleading - but they simply lied. If anyone wants to debate that, they are intellectually dishonest. I know politicians lie all the time, but it seems when it's an attack and lives were lost, you just eat the shit and move on.
Someone somewhere brought up that there were 10 or so attacks on various targets during the Bush Administration. But no one is suggesting that we won't be attacked. In all of those 10 attacks, they were over within minutes and no one could do anything. Here, we have a situation where there were opportunities to act. And I don't recall Bush or Clinton ever coming out after an attack and laying the blame on anything other than what it was. I can't think of single time, in my lifetime, where they tried to downplay the seriousness. In fact, it's always been the opposite.
Someone told our military not to help. That person, even if it's the president, should have to prove to our satisfaction why we let those folks die, or they should be gone. If there is a good reason, then fine - let's hear it. Hilary, who you know I have supported, should have been fired and should not seek the presidency. And the President should be admonished or whatever they can do to slap his wrist for lying. Oh, and they should stop lying about it.
Number three. The president owes it to the American citizens to stop partying and vacationing and golfing far more than he is working. If he wants immigration reform and gun control and real job growth, it takes someone getting in there and leading, rolling up their sleeves, working harder than everyone else. Otherwise, you get an auto-pilot process like we have now. I think even his biggest supporters have to wonder about the imbalance of his schedule. For all the liberals angry at Republicans that some things aren't getting passed, they have to be frustrated at the lack of effort from Obama himself. I think I heard even Chris Matthews commented on his absentee style. By the way - my company is run that way and so I know what a leaderless environment looks like.
So that's how I see it folks. Short version. No more lies. Stomp on the flag if you like. Get to work.
