President Trump Winning Admirers in Strange Places March 18, 2020
Posted by Dr. Robert Owens in Politics, Politiocal Philosophy, Uncategorized.Tags: Corona virus, Dr. Robert Owens, pandemic
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A global pandemic ricochets around the world. Suddenly we find ourselves someplace we never thought we’d be. The world shuts down, millions isolated, separated, and alone. Basic commodities cleaned off shelves by consumers who just yesterday were laughing at preppers who now sit back calmly ready for a world turned upside down for possibly months.
Our president spent his life as a real estate developer who has changed the skylines of cities around the world. One skill that any successful Real Estate developer, like any producer of major films, must acquire is crisis management. Even a short course on crisis management will show that President Trump is a master at it. He’s assembled a team of widely accepted experts, he’s taking decisive actions aimed directly at the root and branches of the current Corona virus crisis, and he’s holding regular briefings to keep all major stake-holders up-to-date on what is happening and what is being done.
Even though as soon as he’s done with his daily briefing the Democrats who identify as journalists for the Corporations Once Known as the Mainstream Media follow close on his heels often saying he said the exact opposite of what he said the President is winning admirers in strange places.
CNN’s chief political correspondent Dana Bash commented on the president’s Oval Office address and Corona press briefing saying, “If you look at the big picture, this was remarkable from the president of the United States. This is a non-partisan — this is an important thing to note, and to applaud from an American standpoint — from a human standpoint. He is being the kind of leader that people need, at least in tone, today, and yesterday, in tone that people need and want and yearn for in times of crisis and uncertainty.”
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo praised the Trump administration’s efforts to handle the corona virus outbreak on Tuesday, “His team is on it. They’ve been responsive,” Cuomo said at a press conference. “I want to say thank you.” Going further, the Democrat governor said that he spoke to Trump on Tuesday and that the president is “100 percent sincere” in his desire to work with the state to control the virus outbreak, which has mushroomed in the U.S. over the past week. He added, “The administration is ready and willing to help, especially on the hospital capacity issue.”
On Sunday (3-7-20) Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, a Democrat and one of Mr. Trump’s most vocal critics, at a news conference praised Mr. Trump, saying of the president “He said everything I could have hoped for. We had a very long conversation and every single thing he said, they followed through on.” The governor added, “We are very grateful for this partnership.” Newsom also said he has received “consistent” support from Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the administration’s response to the Corona virus outbreak.
From a slightly less surprising source, the experts he’s assembled President Trump is also receiving high marks.
Seema Verma, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was asked by FOX News whether she was concerned that there could be patients who don’t get a ventilator — or if actual physical equipment that is needed to serve the people who get sick is out there? She answered, “And that’s why the President has taken such bold and decisive action. We’re not waiting for this to get worse. We’re not waiting for this to be a crisis in our health care systems.”
Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accompanied the president to the CDC’s headquarters in Atlanta last Friday. When he was asked to address the press he took the opportunity to lavish praise on the man standing next to him. “First, I want to thank you for your decisive leadership in helping us, you know, put public health first,” Redfield said. “I also want to thank you for coming here today and sort of encouraging and bringing energy to the men and women that you see that work every day to try to keep America safe. So, I think that’s the most important thing I want to say, sir,” Redfield added.
On Wednesday 3-17 at his daily presser President Trump called the Corona virus fight “a war against an invisible enemy.” As ever sounding the encouraging note he went on to say, “One day we’ll be standing up here and say, ‘Well, we won.’ And we’re going to say that, as sure as you’re sitting there, we’re going to win. And I think we’re going to win faster than people think, I hope.” He added, “If we do this right, our country, and the world, frankly, but our country can be rolling again pretty quickly. Pretty quickly.”
Even such a virulent and vocal critic of the President such as Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar in a series of tweets heaps praise on President Trump’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic, saying it was “incredible and the right response in this critical time.”
Omar quoted Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., as saying “unprecedented times require unprecedented leadership” adding, “we are seeing that in our country right now.”
She concluded her praise by adding, “Finally, we should never let politics get in the way of good policy. This is a great start and hope others will be part of a united front to push for good policies that will help us work through the economic anxiety the country is feeling right now.”
Omar’s final reflections were a response to a post by The Intercept’s Lee Fang, who tweeted: “Trump suspending mortgage foreclosures, demanding cash payments to Americans, now invoking the Defense Production Act to force private firms to produce needed supplies is incredible. Kind of a shell shock for anyone who reported on any economic policies in the Obama years.”
All I can add is Amen.
Dr. Owens teaches History, Political Science, Global Studies, and Religion. He is the Historian of the Future @ http://drrobertowens.com © 2020 Contact Dr. Owens drrobertowens@hotmail.com Follow Dr. Robert Owens on Facebook or Twitter @ Drrobertowens or visit Dr. Owens Amazon Page / Edited by Dr. Rosalie Owens
Veteran’s Benefits Aren’t Entitlements March 10, 2020
Posted by Dr. Robert Owens in Politics, Politiocal Philosophy, Uncategorized.Tags: Dr. Robert Owens, Forever GI Bill, Mission Act, National Roadmap to Empower Veterans, Veteran’s benefits, Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act
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Federal law requires everyone who enlists in the Armed Forces of the United States to take the enlistment oath. The oath is traditionally performed in front of the United States Flag. Everyone who has ever worn the uniform has said:
“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
When every veteran took this oath to defend our country, our Constitution, and our way of life they presented the nation with a blank check to serve and protect We the People. That check was written with their lives, their bodies, and their sacred honor. They pledged to give their all. And as the saying goes, “All gave some. Some gave all.”
Those of us who have enjoyed generations of peace need to acknowledge our country is the home of the free because of the brave. We live our tranquil lives unmolested by hordes lurking beyond our borders who would love to pillage the richest nation the world has ever seen. From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Normandy from Flanders Field, Inchon, Khe Sanh, Fallujah, and ten thousand nameless battlefields in-between America’s best and brightest have fought selflessly and heroically.
Often, they’ve come home and quietly taken up their lives unrecognized by those of us who reap the benefits of their sacrifice. Sometimes they’ve been ridiculed, belittled, and even spat upon for the debt they paid for the rest of us. Mostly they’ve been forgotten. The benefits promised by a government swift to call and send but slow to remember were often second-rate, slow in coming, or denied all together. Administration after administration paid lip-service to our veterans while doling out benefits with a stingy hand.
But then came Trump.
Since his inauguration President Trump works tirelessly to provide the benefits and services our brave veterans deserve. He seeks to keep the promises made to generations of veterans. He’s leading the charge and winning the battle to finally give our heroes the homecoming they were promised, the one they’ve earned.
President Trump has declared, “My administration is committed to taking care of every warrior that returns home as a veteran.” As a case in point President Trump is ensuring our veterans receive the student loan and educational benefits to which they are entitled and deserve. He has previously noted the process by which our disabled veterans apply for Federal student loan discharges is too burdensome. Which has led to this sad reality; only half of the roughly 50,000 disabled veterans qualified to have their Federal student loans discharged have received this entitled benefit.
Consequently, on August 21, 2019 the President signed a presidential memorandum ensuring our totally and permanently disabled veterans obtain the Federal student loan debt discharges they’re entitled. The memorandum directs the Secretaries of Education and Veterans Affairs to develop a new expedited process to help totally and permanently disabled veterans have their Federal student loan debt discharged with minimal burdens. This combined with the Forever GI Bill which the President signed into law in 2017 allows individuals to access their veteran educational benefits at any point during their lifetime.
Turning to a more general assault on the stone wall standing for too long between our veterans and their earned benefits in June of 2017 the President signed into law the Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, making it easier to fire failing VA employees and support whistle blowers.
Since the passage of this act, the VA has successfully fired more than 7,600 employees who’ve failed our veterans. Previously the archaic rules of the bureaucratic swamp made it almost impossible to remove these roadblocks to the healthcare of veterans. Using the new streamlined policies, the VA has instituted reforms to increase efficiency and decrease abuse.
Consequently, VA healthcare has now significantly improved since President Trump was elected and trust in VA outpatient health care has risen in all areas.
Building the foundations necessary to win the victory in his Battle for the Vets the President signed the VA MISSION Act. This provides more healthcare options for veterans by consolidating existing programs and expanding access to care in veterans’ own communities. Eligible Veterans can use VA health care services nationwide, including through mobile health clinics serving rural areas and via telehealth (care through a phone or computer). Under the MISSION Act, veterans have more ways to access health care.
This includes within the VA’s network and through approved non-VA medical providers in your community, called “community care providers.” Depending on the situation for example, if a certain type of health service isn’t provided by VA the veteran may be able to go to a non-VA provider, using their VA coverage. This is one way to break the logjam which kept so many deserving Vets waiting in line until they died. Because of the reforms spearheaded by President Trump this is a victory for our heroes.
Stepping into a tragedy that unfolds in too many lives of those returning from service, President Trump signed a new Executive Order on a National Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End Veteran Suicide (PREVENTS) to address veteran suicide prevention. The executive order creates a new cabinet level task force led by VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. The task force will create a comprehensive public health road map bringing together local government along with the private sector to improve the quality of life for our Veterans and turn the tide on the Veteran suicide crisis.
“It is about pulling together the resources of the federal government, our states and localities our charities non-government organizations and coming together with a road map and resources,” said Secretary Wilkie.
The President said, “Our mission is to mobilize every level of American society to save the lives of our great veterans and support our veterans in need.” The President added, “To every veteran I want you to know that you have an entire nation of more than 300 million people behind you. You will never ever be forgotten. We are with you all the way.”
And remembering Ronald Reagan’s famous quote, “The best social program is a productive job for anyone who’s willing to work,” thanks to the roaring Trump economy since the President’s election, veteran unemployment has been reduced to the lowest level ever recorded.
The VA Secretary Wilke also said, “I’ve said many times that the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs is to remind our fellow citizens why they sleep soundly at night. They sleep soundly at night because of the sacrifices of a select number of their fellow Americans.” This is a sentiment we would all do well to ponder.
The sum of all this adds up to one thing; Veteran’s benefits aren’t entitlements. They’re payments for services rendered and the least a grateful nation can give to the faithful few who answered the call.
Dr. Owens teaches History, Political Science, Global Studies, and Religion. He is the Historian of the Future @ http://drrobertowens.com © 2020 Contact Dr. Owens drrobertowens@hotmail.com Follow Dr. Robert Owens on Facebook or Twitter @ Drrobertowens or visit Dr. Owens Amazon Page / Edited by Dr. Rosalie Owens
Trump’s MAGA Model on The World Stage March 3, 2020
Posted by Dr. Robert Owens in Politics, Politiocal Philosophy, Uncategorized.Tags: America first, DAVOS, Dr. Robert Owens, International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation, KAG, MAGA, The World Economic Forum, Trump’s agenda
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We’ve all heard of the annual conference at the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos. The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. It was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
According to the WEF website, “It is independent, impartial, and not tied to any special interests. The Forum strives in all its efforts to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest while upholding the highest standards of governance. Moral and intellectual integrity is at the heart of everything it does.”
On the other side critics such as Michael Ivanovitch, an independent analyst focusing on the world economy, geopolitics, and investment strategy describe the yearly conference in less than glowing terms. In a recent interview Ivanovitch said, “The forum is a talking shop without any consequence for world affairs … On the economic front, you will just hear platitudes you’ve heard ‘x’ times already.”
Good or bad this is one of the major platforms in the world of international economics and finance. Most of us out here in fly-over country may ignore it what with the Super Bowl and all, but the movers and shakers on the world stage attend or at least pay rapt attention to who’s moving and what’s shaking. So of course, despite the ever-on-going slow motion coup grinding on in the Emerald City President Trump made his appearance as the biggest mover and shaker of all. And he didn’t’ disappoint those of us who’re moved when he shakes up the collectivists plotting and planning to micromanage our lives.
Holding up the accomplishments of his America First agenda President Trump spoke of the rebirth of the American dream pointing to the success of economic nationalism in front of the globalist elites gathered at Davos. The President cited the fact that since he was elected and thanks to his economic policies, America has gained over seven million jobs, currently has the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years, and is experiencing rising wages and household incomes for the first time in decades.
At the annual conference in Switzerland according to the President it’s his economic nationalist agenda in a free market system that provides a successful model for the world not globalism. In his speech, which should be the center stage for forward thinking discussion, Mr. Trump said, “A nation’s highest duty is to its own citizens.” Trump also said, “Honoring this truth is the only way to build faith and confidence in the market system. Only when governments put their own people first will people be fully invested in their national futures.” And, “A pro-worker, pro-citizen, pro-family agenda demonstrates how a nation can thrive when its communities, its companies, its government work together for the good of the whole nation.”
Then getting very specific President Trump continued, “Today I hold up the American model as an example to the world of a working system of free enterprise that will produce the most benefits for the most people in the 21st century and beyond.” Speaking of how previous administrations negotiated we-lose-they-win trade deals that gutted America’s industrial base and impoverished our middle-class the President said, “I think it’s primarily the reason that I ran.”
Turning to those who tell us the sky is falling President Trump said, “We must reject the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse. They are the heirs of yesterday’s foolish fortunetellers.” Once again getting specific President Trump addressed the goals of their predictions of overpopulation, mass starvation, and an end of oil based on phony science and media hype saying, “These alarmists always demand the same thing, absolute power to dominate, transform, and control every aspect of our lives.” He went on to declare unequivocally, “We will never let radical socialists destroy our economy, wreck our country or eradicate our liberty.”
Highlighting who the culprits are our President took aim at the metastasizing legions of bureaucrats spreading like a festering fog around the world having the courage to say, “Today I urge other nations to follow our example and liberate your citizens from the crushing weight of bureaucracy.” Then in conclusion he let the world know America doesn’t want to control them instead he is shining a light on a successful way forward, “With that, you have to run your own countries the way you want.”
Dr. Owens teaches History, Political Science, Global Studies, and Religion. He is the Historian of the Future @ http://drrobertowens.com © 2020 Contact Dr. Owens drrobertowens@hotmail.com Follow Dr. Robert Owens on Facebook or Twitter @ Drrobertowens or visit Dr. Owens Amazon Page / Edited by Dr. Rosalie Owens
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