General Pray-for-us?

Well, here we are again, folks, and it's Monday, June 28, 2010, and it's hot, and it's even hotter for the politicians as we get closer to the November election. I fully support President Obama's decision to accept General McChrystal's resignation bearing in mind that President Obama handpicked this officer and promoted him to implement the President's strategies. (Photo: President with General McChrystal.) But the stakes are much too high to allow this public airing of insubordination to go without consequences. The general himself would never have accepted this type of publicized criticism from anyone within his command. But, here's the rub. All the things the general and his staff said, even though rude and slanderous, that ended up in the magazine article are for the most part backed up by the facts. Many experts have concluded the Obama civilian team chosen to coordinate and prosecute the war to be a total disaster. From the Vice President to those closer to the war, the current approach is almost a textbook definition of dysfunction and disarray. This puts our men and women in harm's way in greater jeopardy as they are charged with trying to implement these discombobulated strategies. Yes, the general should have lost his job and he did. Now the administration has turned to General Petraeus who was previously labeled by the administration as an utter failure. Because he took issue with some of the Obama doctrines being advanced and was hated by some of Obama's ultra-liberal supporters, they paid for a full page ad in the New York Times branding him as General Be Tray Us. (See actual ad copy.) Now they can't stop talking about this appointment and how it may be the most significant act taken by the President since he took office. How amazing! General Petraeus is an American hero, patriot, and outstanding military mind, but he was President George W. Bush's general and that's what makes this move laughable in its dripping irony. President Bush could do nothing right according to President Obama and especially when it came to the war effort. Now Bush's general is being heralded as brilliant by the same people who trashed him before. I suppose, if taken literally, this means the greatest move by President Obama since taking office was to choose President Bush's general to try and save the war effort. Go figure. More dysfunction. Why does all this matter? Because of the increasing casualties being announced daily. That's why! Interestingly enough, the mainstream media triumphed the president's quick action but failed to dig into the reasons behind the remarks that were reported. Typical. The war effort is so precarious and the strategy so murky, one headline read: General Prayforus.

Meanwhile, the President's poll numbers continue to plummet and the big wig announcers on the big channels are at a loss as to why. One commented that he believed the president is being unfairly blamed in the Gulf oil spill. Others think it might be racism. Here's my take: People in the United States are for the most part reasonable but they want effective action on the part of our government in making things better, especially when we are in this horrific cataclysmic economic quagmire. What does the common man see? Trillions spent that we do not have which they are willing to accept, IF, and that's a big IF, it does anything to help the situation. Thus far, 62% of our fellow countrymen believe we are headed in the wrong direction. The poll numbers reflect this sadness on the part of hurting people. They hear from our President and his team how that the top guy at BP should be tarred and feathered for taking a day off to attend a yachting race. Yet, it is well known that President Obama played two rounds of golf and hosted numerous parties during that same weekend. The American people are told the President is entitled to these respites due to the many stresses he must deal with everyday. In fact, we were told that it was good for the American people for our President to do these things. Folks, we are not stupid. Does anyone other than me see a mammoth sized double standard here? Someone have Brian Williams, top news reader at NBC, now dealing with perplexed grief over these negative poll numbers, call me and I'll be happy to give him my input that might help clear up this mystery.

I could go on and on but many of you would rather not dwell on depressing political shenanigans. We do know from experience that when times really get tough we typically turn to God for help. That old saying is true. You can never be taller than when you are on your knees communicating with your heavenly Father. America became a remarkably religiously devout nation for a few months after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. We also became a fiercely patriotic nation. Suddenly the flag business went out of sight as everyone wanted to wave old glory in the breeze. But, alas, as they say, this too shall pass, and it did. This is supported by polling data that shows we have returned to the pre 9/11 approach to life. Now we are in crisis again. Maybe it will be a time of renewal as together we seek God's intervention. I can remember driving around with that little flag attached to my car window. Sometimes I would be in slow traffic and there were literally dozens, if not more, cars carrying the symbol of who we are as a people. And, there was the connection that came as a result. We did not rise up as mere individuals but we united as a nation and my how powerful of a force for good that could be today if we would humble ourselves before our God, and return to Him and His ways as a people. That's a wrap for Monday and I send it out with a prayer that God will bless you and yours, and that He will bless our needy land! Amen. .....More later.