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¿Cómo se dice: The fun is just beginning?

It’s the attack of the attack ads as Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich et. al. bring their merry little traveling road show to South Carolina. Want some grits? What’s a grit?

Gingrich has sounded downright Bolshevik in his broadsides against Romney and the latter’s role with Bain Capital. This comes, of course, after Gingrich complained of being “Romney-boated” and vowing not to campaign negatively.

The fun is just beginning though. You know more and more attack ads will come. Hell, the primary season has just started! Negative campaigning is as American as Apple pie, especially with Republicans. The historically, sleazy 1894 campaign between Republican James Blaine and Democrat Grover Cleveland is perhaps the best example of nasty politics with a near-modern media flair. Ah, history. You can’t live with it. You can’t beat it with a shovel.

One can only hope for a little moderation in the nastiness when, most likely Willard Mitt Romney, squares off with Barack Hussein (what an unfortunate name for the time, but he got elected didn’t he?) Obama. If it is Romney who is nominated, why he seems like a pretty genteel fellow and Obama is normally Mr. Cool. Unfortunately, there are no gloves to come off from all the PACs and other groups that can fill the campaign coffers as high as an elephant’s eye thanks to the dunderheaded Supremes who signed off onCitizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

¡Bienvenidos a los Estados Unidos!

Photo: U.S. Air Force

¡Ataque los anuncios de televisión, no! ¡Perros de ataque, sí! No. ¡Ataque los anuncios de televisión, si! ¡Perros de ataque, sí!

Ed. Some weird stuff going on with the finished product. Nevertheless, Spanish translation from Span¡shD!ct.

 

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The Caucuses: Okay, but keep an eye out in the Middle East

Yes, there is a political race — of sorts — taking place today. The Iowa Caucuses are important why? Well, supposedly it is important to the people of Iowa although not so much those of the Democrat stripe during this presidential election. Surely millions of dollars will have been spent before this first step on the road to the Republican presidential nomination begins. Perhaps that is important. Still, something is brewing that could prove of major consequence to not just the 2012 elections but likewise the worldwide economy.

That would be the tensions between the U.S. and Iran. At the present, the Iranian government is engaged in major saber-rattling amid new sanctions signed Saturday by President Obama which are aimed at Iran’s central bank. The sanctions come amid growing nuclear ambitions in Iran that Western leaders say are meant for developing weapons. Already the rial, Iran’s currency, has reached a record low against the U.S. dollar as of Monday. The Tehran government said the falling rial — which has lost a third of its value since September — is unrelated to the sanctions although that is open to speculation, one might say.

The Iranian Navy is engaged in a large-scale exercise off its coast near the Strait of Hormuz, between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. A new cruise missile known as the “Ghader” was test-fired Monday, leading the Iranian Navy head to boast of “proof” the Islamic republic controls the petro-strategic strait that Iran has threatened to close. Such a blockage of the strait and thus idling petroleum tankers could cause dire consequences, according to foreign policy experts such as the Brookings Institution’s Vali Nasr.

“Iran notes that Western economies are under stress and predicts they could not afford higher oil prices. Even the threat of disruption in oil supply would send energy prices spiraling sky high, and that would plunge the already struggling economies of the United States and Europe into deeper recession. Iran is hoping to change the conversation in Western capitals from how tightly to squeeze Iran to what could be the cost of doing so.

 “Nor would economic woes caused by conflict in the Persian Gulf remain limited to the West. Persian Gulf exports already account for 60% of Asia’s energy consumption. Economies from India to China would be impacted by a Persian Gulf oil cutoff and higher energy prices. Iran is in effect threatening global economic crisis.”

Still, U.S. officials say they have no intention of letting any government impede shipping in the vital Gulf area even though the Iranians have warned the U.S. to not replace the carrier USS John C. Stennis which recently departed the area.

The U.S. Navy operates under international maritime conventions to maintain “a constant state of high vigilance to ensure the continued safe flow of maritime traffic in waterways critical to global commerce,” said Pentagon spokesman George Little.

It is clear the Strait of Hormuz is a volatile area right now although the Iranian Navy has only a few destroyers and corsairs in addition to a fleet of speedy patrol craft. In short, Iran’s Navy is no match for that of the United States or perhaps even a carrier or carrier task force.

Although the Tehran saber-rattling is pesky it is still preferable to what would be the first sea battle since the 1983 Falklands War between Great Britain and Argentina. Nonetheless, an itchy-trigger finger or mistake by either Navy could set the whole Gulf on fire, disrupt oil shipments and most importantly, would likely result in casualties. A battle might also prove the right time for Israel to take out the Iranian nuclear facilities. While there are some hawks who would like to see the latter, another war is not what the U.S. needs at the moment. Neither does the economy need a war or even more threats. The price of oil in the U.S. jumped $4 per barrel today just over all the Iran-U.S. rhetoric.

So, let Iowa have its day in the sun. But keep an eye toward the Strait of Hormuz. If something happens there then all bets are off on the state of the economy and the presidential election. Significant changes affecting either should not be a cause for great expectation nor a general state of great joy.

 

 

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What passes for reality in “Election 2012” a.k.a. “The Twilight Zone”

What is reality?

That is a question asked by those whose station in life run from philosopher to stoner as well as folks who meet at the intersection and on the edges. As we enter into a presidential election year the inquiry seems particularly appropriate. That is due, in part, to the wildly unreal race during 2011 for the person who will become the Republican nominee this year to run against President Barack Obama.

A week or so ago, I spoke to my friend Paul in a Skype conversation in which this very topic emerged. Paul, who is an educator in Tokyo and a former journalism classmate of mine at Stephen F. Austin in Texas, said the whole shebang might just as well be one big TV “reality” show. That begs the question then, what form would that show take? “Dancing With Republicans?” Well, maybe not. At least Newt Gingrich has made his feelings known about reality shows, in his particularly cynical and hypocritical way.

In fact, Gingrich — whose star hopefully has fallen in the GOP race once and for all — illustrates just how unreal is our daily reality show that has become the Republican race and has been egged on by the national media.

The former Speaker of the U.S. House and veteran pol has in the past couple of weeks whined about the attack ads unleashed upon him by the likes of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. The Newt claims Romney is attempting to “buy the vote.” The charge of Gingrich’s “Romney-boating” is made, of course, because Gingrich has not yet accomplished the funds he needs to buy the vote.

In what most people see as reality there is little difference between the negativity of campaign ads and the viciousness Newt has let loose among his colleagues while House speaker. Gingrich has shown himself adept at both. Then there is the speaker’s problems with marital fidelity in between the periods he decries the national lack of family values caused by liberals.

As the Iowa Caucuses come to a head Tuesday one could find in that state more two-faced politicians than in a circus freak show.

Rick Perry is as guilty as they come in the “do as I say, not as I do” brethren. Here we have our good-haired governor of Texas who can both assassinate a coyote while jogging and shoot off his mouth about his state seceding from the U.S. Perry decried the federal handouts to help the economy but had a hissy fit when he could not get more government largess for Texas. All through the campaign, Perry talked tough until suddenly during an autumn New Hampshire speech he acts like a cow who stumbled upon loco weed. Ol’ Good Hair wildly gesticulated, cradled a bottle of maple syrup and just generally acted a fool leaving many wondering if the governor himself might have been into to the loco weed.

Speaking of acting a fool, the Godfather of Pizza Herman Cain had some wondering if his presidential campaign was not itself an act. Liberal msnbc host Rachel Maddow seemed convinced that the Cain campaign was a piece of performing art. Just think, not in terms of a presidential campaign itself but rather a compendium of bizarre acts — quoting from “Pokeman,” Uzebeki, beki-stan-stan, his 999 economic plan being written by a guy who works in a Wells Fargo bank. Art? Perhaps.

Then there is the reality of Ron Paul who many in his own party find him too real. He wants to bring all the troops home — from everywhere. When’s the last time that happened? In 1812, maybe?

The list goes on. Santorum. Bachmann. Two evangelical right-wingers who would really like to rule a Christian theocracy.

Finally, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. How real is he? Romney has pulled off the “being for it before he was against it” act to a degree that exceeds his fellow Bay Stater, former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry. Romney is opaque to the extent that if George W. Bush was to look into his eyes, he’d likely see Vladimir Putin’s soul provided Putin was standing behind of Romney.

The reality show will roll into high gear later this summer once the television networks attempt to pull some entertainment value out of the national political conventions. Then, here come the zingers!

The story starts out real-ish, then along the way one wonders if reality is what one is actually witnessing, until finally one questions their own sanity. Like that wise old sage Rod Serling said: ” You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You’ve just crossed over into the Twilight Zone!”

Except one probably shouldn’t expect substance.

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Bits and pieces

My friend, Paul, called via Skype from Tokyo last night. I had just finished dinner and he was eating breakfast. Sometimes I think Paul keeps up more with what is happening here in the U.S. than I do. That said, he raised an interesting concept that I will try to write about, perhaps, when I am off work Friday or Saturday.

Paul said it is difficult to tell what is real and what is not in our stateside political world these days. He was mostly speaking, of course, of the race for the Republican presidential nomination. I agree and only have to point at Herman Cain’s ill-fated candidacy. Cain said his farewell address was from the “Pokeman” movie but it actually was from a song from the hot stuff disco lady Donna Summer who wrote the song for “Pokeman.” Too weird. Paul has called for some comments on his concept on his Facebook page. I will wait and see what kind of comments he gets to add these into the mix.

20 questions

A former co-worker with whom I keep up through Facebook has asked some strange “20 Questions” of her friends. Most are really interesting, thought-provoking questions such as what religion do you find interesting besides your own or if you have none and another, which tech innovation that has become mainstream do you most like. I put Catholicism for the first. I find it fascinating for many reasons. As for the latter, I wrote the PC with the cell phone camera No. 2. I added that I remember my family’s first TV.

A Who-Done-It Needs Solving

I live in a city of about 115,000 people and metro area of nearly 380,000. Although we are only 80 miles from Houston, I still live in a relatively small city. When a murder takes place in a city of Houston’s size, it being the nation’s fourth-largest city, it usually doesn’t make the front page of the Houston Chronicle unless it is a very out-of-the-ordinary type killing. It’s a little different here in Beaumont, for the most part and especially so when the case when it is something more than a domestic or a fight that got out of hand (cops sometime refer to these derogatorily as “misdemeanor murders.) I think I can also say a murder that stands out here as well is a who-done-it in which the victim is a white person, especially an elderly white woman. Is that racist? I don’t know, but such a murder generates a lot of interest if only because blacks make up a majority in this city.

One story that has received “front-page,” a.k.a. prominent media play, is the homicide of 72-year-old Robbie Rae Allen, who was found dead Dec. 16 in her West Beaumont apartment in the 6700 block of Prutzman Road. Relatives and neighbors described her as outgoing and even sort of the spunky type. She did have meals brought to her and received home health care. It has only been revealed recently that she was smothered to death.

Police have just released a video from a Fast Lane convenience store at Major Drive and Phelan Boulevard in West Beaumont — slightly more than a mile from Allen’s apartment. The video was taken about 48 hours before Allen was discovered dead and shows a woman wearing a red coat and blue jeans and a white hat who used the victim’s credit card. I initially thought this might be the victim herself but it is an unknown black woman.

All murders, for the most part, need solving but especially so this type of homicide. This type of killing is a source of dysfunction for a community. Sure, this thing happens all the time but thankfully not here. I have mentioned before that I don’t think a majority of our area’s news media is particularly adept at “investigating.”  There are various reasons for this that I won’t get into. I only say that because, often, we don’t know a lot and some of what we do not know, just maybe, we should. Some police, in my experience and I do have some experience as a police reporter, sometimes feel as if information they glean is theirs and the public has no business knowing anything whatsoever. This is especially true when a murder is involved. That isn’t to say police shouldn’t keep some investigative information close to the (bulletproof) vest. I’m just saying, more details may often be told and it can even be in the interest of the cops to release it.

I do give props to Beaumont police since new Chief Jimmy Singletary has taken charge in the area of public information. They seem to be making a good effort to help both the public and their agency with respect to crime information.

Now I hope cops and citizens can do their thing to help solve this crime. It sure as hell needs solving.

 

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Lampson files with the Texas Democratic Party for Congress

Former U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson has filed for the Texas 14th Congressional District, according to the Texas Democratic Party Web site. Lampson, a former longtime Jefferson County Tax Assessor-Collector and Beaumont native, will run in a district carved up by GOP Texas legislative members which rearranges the counties in a seat currently held by Ron Paul. That district includes Paul’s home Brazoria County along with Galveston and Jefferson counties.

Jefferson County, my home and once a “Yellow Dog” Democrat stronghold in Texas, has been represented in Congress since 2005 by former Houston district judge Ted Poe. He is a great congressman if you like them spending a great deal of their time on Fox News and other right-wing pursuits. I think that this is a positive development, Bubba!