Tonight President Obama described the contents and attempted to justify his "memo" to the executive branch of government that he will sign tomorrow regarding immigration.  The Republican party leaders have been making all kinds of statements regarding the legality of President Obama's actions.  The Republicans accuse Obama of abuse of power and doing things that are not constitutional.  They accuse him of choosing the lame duck session of Congress for release of his "memo" for political reasons.  According to the Republicans the sky is falling as a result of Obama's actions.  The Democrats point out correctly that prior Presidents have taken similar actions on a smaller scale.  All of the political statements in recent days by both sides accomplish nothing.

The Senate passed a bi-partisan immigration bill in 2013.  The Republicans in the House of Representatives refused to bring the bill to a vote.  The House Republicans have spent the past four years making no progress in dealing with the Democrats controlling the Senate. The Democratic leadership in the Senate has refused to bring many House passed bills to the Senate floor for votes. We have had legislative gridlock to the ultimate degree.

Now the Republicans have gained the majority and will establish the legislative agenda in the Senate.  They also increased their majority in the House of Representatives, effective January 2015.  The time has come for the Republicans to pass a number of major bills very rapidly and put them on the President's desk for signing or veto.  The time has come for the Republicans to present their comprehensive immigration plan in legislative form.  There is no excuse not to pass an immigration bill in the first half of 2015.  Once the Republicans have a complete bill drafted and ready for passage they can negotiate a compromise bill with President , if possible.  If the President refuses to negotiate or vetoes the bill the Republicans will have the moral authority to challenge the details of the President's "memo" to the fullest.

The time has come for the US government to create a comprehensive immigration plan.  Our nation needs this to be done.  It should have been done many years ago.  There is no excuse for our current leaders not to have a plan passed and effective into law during the first half of 2015.  If they can't or won't get the job done they should all be condemned to the dust bin of political history.  This issue is simply not that hard to fix to the satisfaction to the vast majority of the American people.

Get the job done Congress.  Get the job done President Obama.

TPM

Some books I read are exciting, some are informative and some make me sad.  Dr. Feelgood - The Shocking Story of the Doctor Who May Have Changed History by Treating and Drugging JFK, Marilyn, Elvis, and Other Prominent Figures by Richard A. Lertzman and William J. Birnes made me sad.  This book fully explains how Dr. Max Jacobson turned President John F. Kennedy into a drug addict, a major user of methamphetamines beginning with the 1960 election campaign through the entire period of his presidency.  It should be note that other books I have read about JFK also discuss JFK's relationship with Dr. Jacobson but the discussions are a very small aspect of the books.  Not only was JFK a drug addict, but his wife, members of his family, his friends, the Secret Service. the FBI and CIA new about it.  Perhaps other people did as well.  Basically, the entire JFK presidency was a lie.  JFK's presidency was a continuous steam of lies concerning JFK's health, marriage to Jackie and his drug use.

It should be noted that the drug laws that are currently applicable to methamphetamines didn't exist into the 1960's.  They were enacted in the 1970s at least partially as a result of Dr. Jacobson's actions. Therefore, it appears that JFK's use of the drugs wasn't illegal.  However, Dr. Jacobson lost his medical license in the 1970s as a result of his grossly excessive use of methamphetamines with his patients and illegal distribution of methamphetamines (plus other charges) over many years.

JFK was on drugs when he met with foreign leaders, when he made major decisions during the cold war and had control over nuclear weapons. This was clearly unacceptable.  No matter how bright JFK was or how the nation was infatuated with his vision for the future, the fact was that he was extremely negatively impaired during his entire presidency.
 
This book made me sad.  For everyone that thinks JFK was some kind of hero, this book offers a sobering reality of the real JFK, the drug addict.

TPM

I just finished reading Walter Isaacson's new book, The Innovators.  On the front cover of the book there is a statement, "How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution."  Isaacson does a wonderful job of explaining the history of the computer industry, the history of the development of digital electronics and the evolution of the Internet.  Who were the inventors of the computer?  Who really invented the transistor and microchips?  How was the Internet developed?  Isaacson does a great job of telling us about the people that lead the charge forward into the digital world we live in today.

Isaacson makes the point over and over in the book that major developments in technology are not normally created by one individual but by teams of people with different skills and personalities.  People working in collaboration are much more powerful than any single individual.  He also explains how major advances are created by people that are willing to make extreme efforts to make their vision reality.  People willing to work day and night for long periods created many of the critical breakthroughs that evolved into the products and services that we use today.  Extreme efforts paved the way for their ultimate success.

Governments, corporations, academic institutions and individuals working alone have all contributed to the digital world that we live in today.  People working for profit and people willing to give their technology to the public domain have contributed to the digital revolution.  It has been an amazing ride so far and it is not over yet.

If you have the interest and opportunity read The Innovators by Walter Isaacson.

TPM

The US 2014 midterm elections are finally over with the exception of the Louisiana Senate runoff in December.  The Republicans have clear control of the US Senate but not a super majority.  The Republicans have their largest majority in the House of Representatives in many decades.  The time for significant legislation action is now.

The Fix the Debt organization has created a blog that says it all, Weary Voters Demand Action at the Polls, http://www.fixthedebt.org/blog/weary-voters-demand-action-at-the-polls_1#.VFpzmigtOzohttp://www.fixthedebt.org/blog/weary-voters-demand-action-at-the-polls_1#.VFpzmigtOzo.  In the blog they note "a poll just before Election Day highlights the issues voters had on their minds as they headed to the ballot box. The top five issues were:

1. Job creation and economic growth
2. Breaking the partisan gridlock in Washington to get things don
3. The deficit and government spending
4. Health care
5. Social Security and Medicare

These issue are all interconnected. Policymakers will have to work together to enact a comprehensive fiscal plan that addresses the deficit, which in turn, will help advance economic growth and job creation. Health care costs and the aging of the population will be the biggest drivers of the national debt going forward, materializing in the federal budget primarily through skyrocketing Social Security and Medicare spending that will imperil the financing of those vital programs."

The Republicans have two years to demonstrate to our nation that they can provide the leadership to lead our nation forward.  If President Obama decides to veto any legislation he will be held accountable.  The time has come for legislative action.  Beginning in January the entire world will be watching.  Get it done!

TPM