"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." - President Ronald Reagan
It looks that the Romney/Ryan ticket will win the election. We are seeing more and more polls predicting a Romney victory.
The Battleground Poll is predicting Romney winning 52-47%.
Gallup's "daily" tracking poll has Romney 51-46% ahead with "likely voters".
I am confident about Romney. Unfortunately, I am less confident about the GOP picking up the US Senate.
The GOP needs a net gain of 3 (50-50) or 4 for a 51-49 majority. Sadly, our candidates in Missouri & Indiana may be in the process of blowing 2 pickups. I am not saying it's over but our candidates have not helped themselves with abortion remarks.
We will see but we need a GOP Senate to give Pres Romney a better chance to govern.
Click here for the Monday show with Barry Casselman about the US Senate. Barry went down the list and reviewed each of the races:
Tags:We have to win the US Senate or Pres Romney will have a hard time getting things doneTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
"THE WEEKLY STANDARD understands that it will take some time to "gather all the facts" about what happened on the ground in Benghazi. But presumably the White House already has all the facts about what happened that afternoon and evening in Washington—or, at least, in the White House. The president was, it appears, in the White House from the time the attack on the consulate in Benghazi began, at around 2:40 pm ET, until the end of combat at the annex, sometime after 9 p.m. ET. So it should be possible to answer these simple questions as to what the president did that afternoon and evening, and when he did it, simply by consulting White House meeting and phone records, and asking the president for his recollections.
1.) To whom did the president give the first of his "three very clear directives"—that is, "make sure that we are securing our personnel and doing whatever we need to?"
2.) How did he transmit this directive to the military and other agencies?
3.) During the time when Americans were under attack, did the president convene a formal or informal meeting of his national security council? Did the president go to the situation room?
4.) During this time, with which members of the national security team did the president speak directly?
5.) Did Obama speak by phone or teleconference with the combatant commanders who would have sent assistance to the men under attack?
6.) Did he speak with CIA director David Petraeus?
7.) Was the president made aware of the repeated requests for assistance from the men under attack? When and by whom?
8.) Did he issue any directives in response to these requests?
9.) Did the president refuse to authorize an armed drone strike on the attackers?
10.) Did the president refuse to authorize a AC-130 or MC-130 to enter Libyan airspace during the attack?
THE WEEKLY STANDARD has asked the White House these questions, and awaits a response. "
My guess is that the White House will not answer these questions. They are running out the clock and hoping that no one will cover the story until after the election.
Tags:Questions for Pres BO about Libya To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
The Libya story just got more confusing. FOX News is reporting that pleas for help were denied. That's awful! Pres BO needs to answer these questions and the sooner the better. On the economy front, the GDP growth was 2% in the 3rd quarter. Again, this more awful than awful. It frankly stinks and makes you wonder how the Obama White House can believe that things are getting better. We also remind you that the Obama White House predicted that the GDP would be growing at 4.3% at this point in 2012. I guess that we can safely say that's another "growth" prediction that did nt come true. Click here for the Friday show:
Tags:BAD NEWS ABOUT LIBYA & NOTHER FRIDAY AND MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE STIMULUS DID NT STIMULATE To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
First, let's talk about Pres BO. Can this man say something other than "Obama killed Osama"? Is there another accomplishment? The answer is no and that is why we hear this over and over again. Also, didn't we get Osama because of info from GITMO? Candidate BO opposed GITMO and the rendition jails that got info from terrorists.
Can we stop hearing that Pres BO ended the Iraq War? In fact, the Obama administration implemented the plan that Pres Bush negotiated at the end of 2008. The real story is that they failed to leave a residual force and secure the gains that we made in Iraq.
Can we stop hearing about how our allies love us more now? There is no evidence of that. This is "a talking point" based on a fantasy that the world hated the US because we invaded Iraq.
Gov Romney had a good night because he tied our national security to our economy. You can not project power with big deficits and anemic GDP growth. You need a sound economy to finance the kind of military that we will need in the 21st century.
Gov Romney is correct about China, i.e. they are indeed manipulating their currency at the expense of our manufacturers. We can't compete with China and it has nothing to do with our workers or productivity.
Last, but not least, I was happy to hear Gov Romney talk about the economic and strategic importance of Latin America. We have huge markets for US exports from Mexico to Argentina and we need to start developing them China is all over Latin America. Unfortunately, Iran is also expanding its influence and that makes our porous border with Mexico even more dangerous.
Tags:Romney won on style, substance and finally we are taking about expanding trade with Latin AmericaTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
"More and more clearly, the Obama administration has put its faith in the view that the governed, who must be told what is best for their lives, whether they want it or not (see ObamaCare), can also be told that they have not seen what they've seen, have not heard what their ears clearly told them.."
Yes, the Obama administration has banked on the idea that the public is stupid or incapable of seeing the truth.
P.S. Speaking of the election, we discussed the Hispanic vote & the 2012 election on Monday's show:
Tags:Early vote Day 1 and I voted for Romney To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
According to Gallup, Romney is up 7 or 52-45%. In other words, something is happening out there and it looks like the voters are trending Romney.
At the same time, we caution everyone that things could change very rapidly one way or another.
On Monday night, the candidates will talk foreign policy and national security.
Here are some of my ideas:
On Libya, Pres BO needs to explain just what happened. Who gave Amb Rice to instructions to go out and blame it all on a video? Why did Pres BO and Sec Clinton make such a big deal about the video? Didn't they know that it was a terrorist attack rather than a spontaneous reaction tot he video?
On Iran, we need to hear what the US is prepared to do. We've reached a point where military action may be necessary but a diplomatic solution is always best.
I would also like to hear about Latin America. The Obama administration has not paid much attention to the region. We need a president who understands that Latin America is a huge market for US exports.
On China, we need some discussion of currency manipulation and the military expansion underway.
On Afghanistan, I would like to know what our policy really is. Getting out in 2014 is not a policy.
Tags:Lots of foreign policy to talk about on Monday To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
"Obama’s Democratic supporters would argue that no one could have succeeded in what he inherited, that the nation’s problems were far more severe than anyone could handle in four years.We respectfully disagree. On the central issue that will define his presidency — a stalled U.S. economy weighed down by crushing annual deficits and accumulated debt — Obama showed himself to be less leader than follower. While he expended his political capital on new government programs, unemployment stayed at debilitating heights.For that reason, this newspaper recommends Republican challenger Mitt Romney for president."
"Romney is an agent of change whose primary campaign thrust has been the economy and his plans and qualifications to improve it.On this front, he is highly qualified, both by business experience and public service."
We agree. Pres BO has failed to lead and that is why Gov Romney should be elected.
Tags:The two major DFW newspapers endorse Romney To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
Pres BO has been avoiding the media for quite some time. Incredibly, the media does not seem to mind that Pres BO will not answer simple questions about a terrorist attack that killed 4 US citizens, including the US Ambassador.
Sorry but enough is enough.
We need a Dem to stand up and call on Pres BO to get serious and stop going on "The view" or "Comedy Central" to answer questions about the Middle East.
This is an insult to the families of the 4 dead US citizens.
We know now that Ambassador Stevens was concerned about security. We understand that national security is messy and that you can't tell the public everything to protect people on the ground.
However, someone needs to answer a simple question: Who told Amb Rice to go public with the "video" story? Who told her to say that when we know now that it was a terrorist attack not some spontaneous reaction of a video.
It's time to come clean and tell us what really happened. Furthermore, Pers BO needs to stop visits to shows like "The view" or Comedy Central.
Sorry, it is insulting to watch Pres BO talk to John Stewrat rather than the American peple. Tags:Obscene for Pres BO to be talking about 4 Americans killed in Libya on The Comedy Central To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
A couple of years ago, we greeted Sr Santos' presidency in Colombia. He seemed like the right man to follow up the good works of Pres Uribe.
I guess that we were wrong and very wrong about that.
First, you don't negotiate with rats because a rat is always a rat. What exactly has the FARC done to earn this kind of treatment?
FARC is and has always been a terrorist group. They are in the business of killing innocent people and threatening the sovereignty of Colombia. They are now in the drug trade!
Second, you don't accept meetings in Cuba. This is crazy because Cuba is not a neutral party in terrorism or peace.
Third, Colombia should be negotiating from a position of strength not weakness. Colombia dealt a serious blow to the FARC and should not throw a lifeline to terrorists.
Again, we were optimistic about Colombia after Pres Uribe. We are not anymore.
We ask again: What are you thinking Pres Santos?
Click here and listen to our Colombia segment with Cecilia Torres and Fausta Wertz:
Tags:Dear Pres Santos of Colombia: What are you thinking? To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
We are back into "La tierra de la fantasia", or the place that Pres BO always speaks from when he is adressing Hispanic issues.
Let's start with immigration reform even though most Hispanics are not really talking about it much as the media wants you to think. Nevertheless, let's start there. Pres BO said during the debate that he could not get any bipartisan support for immigration reform. We are back to the "blame game" or "it's their fault".
What's wrong with that answer?
First, Pres BO did not have bipartisan support for BO-Care but he pushed it through anyway. He even used all kinds of gimmicks, such as special deals for Nebraska and Louisiana Dem Senators to get their vote.
Second, he had 60 votes in the US Senate & a majority in the House. He could have made an Oval Office address (like Pres Bush did in 2006) and put the issue for a vote in Congress. He did not do that!
Third, Pres BO did nothing. He didn't demand or fight for a bill.
Again, I'm not passing judgement on immigration reform. I'm simply responding to Pres BO's outrageous untruths that the GOP "blocked" him from doing something.
We repeat: Pers BO has had a Dem Senate every single of his presidency.
It is the Dems who chose not to pass immigration reform! They know that big labor would oppose it and the Black Congressional Caucus would scream about handing out "work visas" when there is 50% unemployment among black youths.
Let's move to free trade agreements. Again, Pres BO is promoting more untruths.
Pres BO opposed NAFTA. He ran against the South Korean and Colombia Free Trade Agreements. He eventually approved them when it became clear that Congress would go around him and put the agreements in place.
Nevertheless, Pres BO names "free trade agreements" among his accomplishments. We have a word in Spanish for a man who does that but I can not say it in a family friendly blog.
Let's move to Iraq. The agreement to end the Iraq War was negotiated by Pres Bush in late 2008. Pres BO merely implemented the agreement. In other words, Obama is Bush III on Iraq. He just can't tell his base that he simply followed the Bush plan for Iraq.
Let's move to "Obama killed Osama". Yes, Prs BO gave the order to shoot Osama. However, he forgets to tell us that we got "the tip" to kill Osama from Guantanamo, the same facility that he promised to close.
We have a word in Spanish: "Mentiroso" or liar.
Yes, Pres BO said a lot of "mentiras" last night. It's too bad that Candy Crowley of CNN did not interrupt Pres BO like she did Gov Romney.
Wake up Hispanics! Pres BO thinks that you are stupid! He really does!
Tags:"Dios mio": Pres BO thinks that Hispanics are "muy estupido" To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
Can someone tell Pres BO that he is been president for the last 4 years? He is either running against the Republican Congress or the last 10 years or the last 20 years? He is always avoiding the reality that he is been president since January 2009.
Yes, Pres BO came out with a bit more charge than the last time around. At the same time, did he say anything different?
We know that he wants to raise taxes on the rich. However, he had a Dem Senate majority for his presidency but never called on them to pass any tax changes.
We know that he wants more clean energy but can not explain Solyndra and all of the companies that have gone under.
Last, but not least, the moderator had a bad night playing referee. In fact, she was wrong about Pres BO's "terror" statements. Pres BO repeated the "video" comments over and over again including the UN speech.
On another matter, why didn't the moderator throw the flag when Pres BO said that he ended the Iraq War? In fact, he didn't. It was Pres Bush who negotiated the end of the war and Pres BO who carried out the plan.
Why didn't the moderator throw the flag when Pres BO said that he negotiated free trade deals? In fact, he didn't. The free trade agreements were negotiated by Pres Bush, stalled by the Dem Congress and eventually implemented.
I was a bit appalled at the questions. We did not get a single question about small businesses but we did get one about birth control.
What happens now? The Dems will get some of their beat back. The GOP will find a lot to like from Romney.
My guess is that the debate was a draw and that helps Romney.
Tags:A bad night for Candy & not much change in the raceTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
Tags:The story of Juan Kudalka in Bolivia To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
The 2012 debates have been the strangest since 1976 when Pres Ford and Gov Carter faced each other 3 times. (The last debate before that was the Nixon-JFK debates of 1960
The first one gave us a very lively Gov Romney vs an anemic Pres Obama.
The second one gave us the "wonkish" Rep Ryan and the overbearing VP Biden.
There are 2 debates left. My guess is that Pres Obama will come out swinging next week but the town hall format will make it difficult to go one on one with Gov Romney.
Pres BO's main problem is that he has a lousy record and a scandal in Libya. Furthermore, he also faces a candidate in Gov Rmney who will be prepared and not intimidated by "class warfare".
He smiled at the wrong time, such as when discussing the Libya tragedy. Hard to see the funny angle of that story! He interrupted Rep Ryan hoping to distract or make him angry. (Some of us remember the same tactic by VP Gore with Gov GW Bush back in 2000) He was determined to prove to the Dem base that their ticket has a pulse. He probably did accomplish that goal but it may have come at the price of the independents who are not motivated by slogans and "class warfare talking points". Worse than that, he was wrong on big issues:
"“We have no choice but to eliminate the threat.This is a guy who is an extreme danger to the world.” “He must be dislodged from his weapons or dislodged from power.”(NBC)
VP Biden was wrong about the BO-Care mandates and Catholics:
"Today the Catholic Bishops have issued a statement putting the lie to Biden’s whopper:
Last night, the following statement was made during the Vice Presidential debate regarding the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to force virtually all employers to include sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortion, in the health insurance coverage they provide their employees: “With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact.” (PowerLine)
VP Biden may have persuaded a few Dems that he could stand up and fight after Pres BO's very weak performance.
I don't think that the polls will change much after this debate. At the same time, I do think that most viewers will agree with me that VP Biden reminds you of that unpredictable uncle who doesn't always control his mouth.
Tags:Biden was rude and forgot some big things To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
Let Big Bird fly and let the taxpayers keep their money.
Click here for "Disco Duck", a good example of how a bird can do just fine in the private sector:
Tags:It's time for Big Bird to join "Disco Duck" and all of the birds doing well in the private sector To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
A month ago, we were shocked to hear that Ambassador Stevens was killed in Libya. We also lost 3 other embassy personnel, including two former Navy Seals.
My reaction was cautious anger. Like most of you, I understand that the Middle East is dangerous.
I was a bit surprised that the Obama White House made such a deal of a video. It made no sense to give the terrorists encouragement by attacking a video that no one had seen.
Tags:The Libya story just get crazier by the day To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
We saw a pathetic turnout among Hispanics in the Texas Democrat primary. In fact, District 33 was created for the sole purpose of electing a Hispanic Democrat. It elected a black Democrat because Hispanics stayed home. Only 19,000 voted in the runoff.
"And then let me give you this last one here, because this is, I think, the most important one. And that's Hispanics. The President's winning Hispanics by 50 points. He hit the 70% mark. However, look at this in terms of interest in the election. 59% now, it was 77%. What does that mean? President got 65%, I believe, of Hispanics four years ago. So even though he's going to get more Hispanics, if less of them turn out, it's a net zero. And yet, you look at Republican enthusiasm, up, senior enthusiasm, up. It's a huge problem. And by the way, all of this, pre-debate."
I am not surprised and let me tell you why:
First, Hispanics have been hit hard by the economic slowdown, i.e. 11% unemployment for much of the Obama presidency.
Second, many Hispanics are really angry over immigration reform. They voted for the promise but Pres Obama did not call on a Dem majority to send him a bill.
Contrast that to Pres Bush or Sen McCain or Pres Reagan who granted amnesty in '86. I think that a lot of Hispanics are catching the drift that the Democrats are better at talking than actually making something happen.
Third, Pres Obama's anti-free trade rhetoric turned off a lot of Colombians & Mexicans who saw through the demagoguery. Free trade creates jobs in the Hispanic community because it allows many to use their country and language skills.
Fourth, there are probably 15,000 Hispanics serving in Afghanistan. I can not believe that their parents or spouses are happy with Pres Obama incoherent policy.
Tags:Obama will win the Hispanic vote....the few that show upTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
Put me down as someone who believes that Chavez stole the election. Again, I don't know of any serious Venezuelan who thought that Chavez would get 54% of the vote.
Chavez' election means that Venezuela will now join Cuba as the other socialist failure in Latin American.
It is amazing how much damage Chavez has done to a very nice country like Venezuela:
"His continuation in power for another six-year term will no doubt rob Venezuela of the economic growth opportunities that are spurring job creation and investment elsewhere in the region. Venezuela's professional class of lawyers, doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs have fled the country in droves." (Dallas Morning News)
Last, but not least, the Obama administration quickly blessed the election. Why? What was the point of legitimizing a stolen election? I don't get that! Venezuela now moves into uncharted waters. The nation's economy is in shambles.
The Iranian influence continues. Chavez will become more irrational specially now that he has the blessing of the US.
Yes Chavez wins and Venezuela loses! It's hard to find anything pretty about what we saw in Venezuela on Sunday night.
Tags:The "Cubanization" of Venezuela is now complete To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
Can someone make sense of these polls? The new Battleground Poll shows that Romney is +16 with independents and that the GOP is +13 on enthusiasm. Nevertheless, the race is a dead heat. How can that be? Let's assume that all Dems vote for Pres BO & that all Republicans vote for Gov Romney. Again, how can this be a dead heat?
Tags:Oversampling Dems is the only explanation for these polls To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
I was surprised that Capriles conceded so fast. I think that his voters and the nation's reputation deserved better. Does Capriles really think that we had an honest election on Sunday? Why wasn't he willing to hold out and put international pressure on Chavez?
Again, Venezuelans have apparently "reelected" a man who's destroyed a nation and gained absolute power by stealing an election.
"The people who reelected Chavez today know exactly what they voted for. They know about crime and violence. They know about inflation and scarcity. They know about vulgarity as a way of life. They know about political prisoners while the most corrupt cast of our history roams the streets free. They know about power outages that will never be solved, about public services getting worse everyday, starting with the vaunted governmental misiones.
So, why did they vote for Chavez? For a free washer? For the promise of a cheap and low quality housing for which they will not have good utilities and no job to keep it up?"
Yes, it is very depressing to see how Hugo Chavez has stolen an election. At the same time, there is little that we can do about it except to pray and hope that Venezuelans will come to their senses.
Tags:Chavez stole the election by manipulating the count To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
Let me say it loud and very loud: I don't buy these results.
We will learn over the next few weeks about the tricks and techniques used to steal the election. We will also learn that the high turnout was the direct result of using government resources to get people to vote.
Chavez has stolen the election and Venezuelans should not surrender. This is not over! Don't throw in the towel. Again, this is not over!
Tags:I don't believe that Chavez won! To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
Back in 2009, Pres BO turned his back on the people of Iran. They rose against the regime over a stolen election but Pres BO went mute.
Today, people in Venezuela will vote in the most important election in recent US-Latin America history.
On one side, Hugo Chavez is running for reelection by rigging the elections. He does not have a record. He has mismanaged Venezuela and destroyed a country. He has also stuck his nose in elections all over. He is keeping the Castro dictatorship afloat with oil subsidies. Last, but not least, he has developed friendships with characters in Iran, Syria and every other anti-US corner in the planet.
On the other side, Henrique Capriles represents a candidate who believes in free markets & focusing on making Venezuela a better country. Pres Capriles will not interfere in elections or use the nation's "petro-dollars" to create anti-US relationships.
Tags:Pres BO must stand with the people of Venezuela if Chavez steals the electionTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
We will sit back and watch Venezuelans vote on Sunday.
The good news is that people will vote. The bad news is that the Chavez regime has rigged things to such an extent that fraud may actually be the real winner.
Nevertheless, I am optimistic because Venezuela is a country desperately in need of change and honest leadership.
Hugo Chavez has been a disaster. He has mismanaged the nation's resources. He has interfered in other countries' elections, such as Bolivia, Peru and even Mexico.
Hugo Chavez represents a threat to Colombia, a friend recovering from war and slowly turning itself into a real success story in Latin America. (We thank Pres Uribe for his courageous leadership)
Hugo Chavez has invited Iran, and some of the world's worst elements, into the country. This is a disaster for Venezuela and a direct threat to the national security of the US.
Last, but not least, Hugo Chavez is the latest "sugar daddy" of Cuba's corrupt and failed dictatorship. (It would be more appropriate to say "oil daddy" since the Chavez regime maintains Cuba with cheap energy)
We encourage our friends in Venezuela to support Sr. Henrique Capriles-Radonski, an alternative to the crony capitalism, corruption and mismanagement of the economy.
Tags:Dear Venezuelan friends: You need to make a change today To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
