Off to bed now. 2 am here. To be continued….

.
Make no mistake about it, we have regressed racially in certain places. No doubt about it though I would caution one to take careful note of from whence the violence and anger is coming.

This will ultimately inure to the advantage of cool and calm heads. Whenever tumult reigns, the winners are those who are calmest.

BRC
.

So, in a word, yes — the USA is in war mode.

Not in military terms, but in rhetoric. Internal strife only weakens the external facade. The language is of “us” and “them” (fill in as appropriate based on racial or political views). Not much bridge building and mucking in going on.

A divided country is not a strong country.

True, it’s the democratic process in action, but — as you have pointed out — other countries have noticed.

.
In a global sense, there is very bad timing at work here. The US is in a riot over this Ferguson, which as a matter of the law is totally insignificant but which as a matter of starting a riot is a tinder box.

The Obama administration has lost control of almost everything. The domestic situation, the foreign affairs, the Iran situation, the quality of the sunsets at night.

He was never up to the job which is now encouraging our foreign enemies to become more bellicose and he has injected race into everything domestically.

War is always just the last step in diplomacy. When the guys in the pinstriped suits fail, they send it over to the devils in baggy pants to sort things out. Unfortunately, the Commander in Chief is the President and therein lies the problem.

It was hilarious hearing President Obama invoke the “rule of law” in regard to Ferguson and the racial tension therein while having just taken an executive order to overturn American laws pertaining to immigration.

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

When the race baiters show up, the riots begin. The race baiters have shown up in Ferguson and Ferguson is on fire. The great stupidity is that the rioters are burning down their own infrastructure.

In January, there is likely to be a bit more adult supervision when the Republicans take over the Congress but until then it is going to be dicey. Thank goodness this is happening in the winter when it is freezing outside.

Until then, be kind to all Big Red Cars cause you may need a ride to safety.

BRC
.

I don’t live in the States so I’m not qualified to comment on what goes on there.

But I will say one thing. The Boss is a wartime consigliere. Now, Tom Hagen was a very good consigliere, but not in war. Tom built bridges, he sought consensus; he didn’t do anything rash. But when it came to war? Sorry Tom, you’re out — as the quote goes.

If I were in a trench — which thank God I have never been, and hope I never will — I would like someone like the Boss at my side. Someone with not only a very clear idea of who is right and who is wrong, but, much more importantly, someone who can get me to the end of the battle with my heart still pumping.

In other words, the Boss is good in a fight.

But this leads me to ask: why wasn’t the wartime consigliere the permanent consigliere? Why switch consigliere personality types based on the likelihood of your ass getting popped? Why not stick with the guy with the biggest and brassest of balls regardless of the situation?

I don’t know the answer to that question.

All I can say is: if we’re at war, I want the Boss; if we’re not, then I don’t know.

BRC, please ask the Boss: are we at war?

.
We should expect consistency from our leaders and not have to constantly check where their heads are at any given moment. Consistency is a mark of effective leadership.

The Pres dumped Hagel — who I thought was a very weak Sec of Def — because he wouldn’t toe the “no troops” line.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

BRC
.

Mac

Is it the process or the policy? Or is it both?

http://themusingsofthebigredcar.com/immigration-in-the-rear-view-mirror/

That rear view mirror makes Lubbock and immigration look a bit different.

BRC
.