See With Clearer Eyes

Despite the media's attempt to blur the lines between the issues, the NYC mosque is about only one thing: One group is asking another group to change its mind about where it builds its mosque. Simple.

As often happens, a difficult and contentious issue is twisted by the press and made into something it really is not. As explained above, the mosque issue is about only one thing. But the press, as well as certain politicians, have taken two distinctly different issues regarding the mosque and have tried to make us believe they are one and the same.

Those who wish to build the mosque near Ground Zero absolutely have the right to do so. The U.S. Constitution guarantees it. As it currently stands, no reasonable people, either left or right wing, are disagreeing with this assertion. So, the "rights" issue has been resolved, agreed upon, settled. This is a non-partisan agreement. No compromise between left and right, no appeasement or sacrifice, just simple agreement. We haven't seen the two major political parties so easily agree in a long time.

The second issue, however, is completely different. Is it appropriate to build the mosque that close to Ground Zero? They have the right, but is it wise? We cannot seem to solve this problem as easily as we have the other. Part of the problem is that they have been melded into one issue. This is neither correct nor helpful.

This blending of two separate issues is irresponsible regardless of who initiates it, and the mosque situation is not the first time we've seen it. For instance, illegal immigration is vastly different than the need, or not, for immigration reform. By combining these two issues, those who stand against the unlawful practice of sneaking into our country can be painted by others as racist. This is inappropriate at best and perhaps altogether sinister.

In the case of illegal immigration vs. immigration reform, one is a matter of law-breaking and the other is a matter of rethinking standards. They overlap to some degree, but each is specific enough to warrant exclusivity to each.

We as Americans need to be sharper listeners, viewers, observers. We would rather formulate good comebacks than listen to another's point of view, consider ideas and then respond respectfully. If we cannot pay attention long enough to see the basic structure of the issues, how can we expect our words to be heard? Further, if we don't hold our leaders accountable for muddying the waters of these issues instead of providing clarity, we will get exactly what we ask for.

We can be vociferous defenders of our ideas and stances, but if we refuse to listen to others, and demand forthright communication from our leaders, we prove to be nothing but clamorous fools.

...it's bush's fault?

President Obama's penchant for blaming former president George W. Bush for everything negative in America has long ago grown old. And really, George Bush has been out of office for quite some time. President Obama is happy to take credit for anything he deems positive; apparently Mr. Bush has done nothing positive at all, however. Well, let's take a look at just a few items:

1) Unemployment - The average unemployment rate during the Bush administration was 5.3% compared to Obama's approximate 8.8%.

2) Terrorism - During Bush's term, no terrorist acts occurred on U.S. soil. During Obama's term there have been several.

3) Jobs - Obama has so far lost more jobs than any president since Hoover. Bush's first term had marginal job loss, then in his second term he added jobs.

4) Illegal Immigration - Neither president sports a good record here, but President Obama has gone so far as to shut down one state's (Arizona) effort to protect itself from illegal immigration . This despite the fact that Arizona's new illegal immigration law goes no further than federal law itself. President Obama has, by fighting Arizona's ability to protect itself, confirmed he intends to do nothing to protect the U.S. from a huge influx of illegal immigrants.

5) Taxes - President Bush cut taxes. President Obama intends to overturn the "Bush tax cuts," which have been law for nearly ten years.

6) Liberty - Bush allowed federal phone tapping to ferret out potential terrorists. President Obama is forcing all Americans to buy insurance or face financial penalty; he is proposing to force every American to report his/her Body Mass Index (BMI); despite promises to the contrary, President Obama is forcing every tax payer to help pay for abortions; he has admitted to being a proponent of wealth distribution, and in some ways has already implemented this ideology.

7) Patriotism - President Bush immediately reacted to 9/11 by bringing U.S. military might to bear on those who intend us harm. President Obama has attended a ceremony in Japan marking the dropping of the atomic bomb by the U.S. in WWII. He has failed to stand up to Iran, and has publicly disrespected the leader of one of our staunchest allies, Israel. President Obama continues to apologize for America's behavior around the globe, while refusing to recognize the tyranny associated with Islamic countries and organizations. He vacationed instead of attending a Memorial Day service at Arlington Cemetery and he went on "The View" instead of honoring the 100 year anniversary of the Boy Scouts.

President Bush has never uttered a word of blame toward President Obama, while Mr. Obama has spent his entire term blaming Bush for everything from the economy to rough toilet paper in the White House.

The Obama administration is incompetent at best, and possibly evil. The president has no regard for the U.S. Constitution, no economic skill or knowledge. He's flailing in a job that is way over his head. His arrogance is monumental and bordering on narcissism. He's the biggest spender this country has ever seen, and while the country buckles under this irresponsible and immoral frittering, he and his wife have been taking lavish vacations at the expense of suffering constituents.

Recently he spoke to the Ford Motor Company, ostensibly to congratulate them on turning a profit during this recession. He recognized Ford's accomplishment, which they managed without taking any bailout money. Then, he tried to take credit for Ford's success by claiming that, "without the bailout of GM and Chrysler, Ford would not have succeeded." He said that if GM and Chrysler had gone under, they would have forced many of Ford's suppliers to fail, which would have then caused Ford to fail.

Essentially, President Obama said that if Ford's competitors had gone out of business Ford would have followed. Think about that one for a moment: If your largest competitors go out of business, what do you think would happen to your own business? It would boom, that's what would happen! That would be every business person's dream. Somehow, our president isn't smart enough to figure this out.

If you're a person who still believes in this president, I don't know what to say. His policies are horrible and he's ruining this country. If you don't see this then you must be either blind, or blinded by your own pride.

Help Arizona fight back.

If you would like to assist Arizona in appealing this repugnant decision by the courts, brought on by an immoral, controlling and socialist Obama government, you can donate at www.keepAZsafe.com.

I donated because our current government is the worst I've seen, and it's time the American people stood up for what's right.

All hail Arizona!

What do you call hundreds of thousands of people illegally entering our country, using our resources and sometimes committing additional crimes? I call it an invading force.

What do you call a federal government whose utter failure to secure our borders has made this invasion an almost inevitable reality? I call it incompetent at best. With really only two major jobs to do, protect us and fix our roads, the current government has solidified itself as one of the poorest administrations we've seen.

Rising before the Obama government's immoral reluctance to deal with illegal immigration is one lone state: Arizona. Before Arizona flipped the bird to political correctness, the rest of us cowardly buckled from the sheer terror of being labeled racist. Arizona, however, has given this country enough room to grow a backbone. Thanks, Arizona, for the splash of cold water.

It's time to quash political correctness forever in favor of basic common sense. Those who try to blur the line between immigration and illegal immigration should be called out and held accountable. We have always been a country open to immigration; no country, however, is open to illegal immigration. There is a huge difference between these two terms; those who equate the two as synonymous are irresponsible at best.

We should jam the federal government's phone lines with complaints about its lawsuit against Arizona. The highest priority of the American government is to keep its citizens safe, yet if the Obama administration wins its lawsuit against Arizona it will actually advance the cause of illegal immigration and make us much less safe. Our safety is priority one. Priority one!

I don't need Obama's help to choose a doctor, nor do I need his help deciphering a proper diet for myself. President Obama said he would sign an executive order ensuring that my tax dollars would never pay for abortions; it disgusts me that he lied about this and is now taking my money and using it to kill children. He wants to force me to report my personal body fat! How is that his business? All I need is safety, and his administration is doing a crappy job protecting me. He's not interested in keeping us safe; he's interested in controlling our lives.

No other administration has come anywhere close to the control Obama is wresting from the American people. Does this not frighten you? Anger you? Disgust you? The American people are asleep at the wheel. We are so sure that a Hitler, Mao, Stalin could never rise to power here, meanwhile Obama is slowly taking our liberty from us one by one. Do you think any of the aforementioned "leaders" came to power by admitting they would kill a lot of their citizenry? No, they came full of promise and ideals, but they grabbed almost total control of their constituents' lives. The Obama administration is doing this same thing.

I'm not accusing President Obama of genocide, evil or even entertaining designs on dictatorship. He has admitted, however, to having the goal of wealth redistribution, and he is most definitely taking a number of our freedoms away from us. As for dictatorial designs, he has appointed how many "czars"? These appointments, most of them, are not subject to the will of the American people, nor are they subject to the scrutiny and approval of Congress. They are simply appointed by the president.

Nearly the only real assignment the government has is to protect us. Obama is not even trying to hide his antipathy toward this lofty but simple call. He is brazenly snubbing his nose at the very idea of protecting our borders, but he's certainly and arrogantly embracing a desire to control each of our lives.

You can either wake up, show up at the polls and kick this fool and his minions out, or you can remain ignorant, give up your liberties and join the Obama chorus in blaming George Bush.