Why Is Obama a No-Show at Paris Unity Rally?

Though 44 world leaders attended Sunday's Paris march in support of free speech, including Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, President Barack Obama stayed home. So did Vice President Joe Biden. AG Eric Holder was in Paris, but skipped the rally. Secretary of State John Kerry was MIA as well.

I thought it would be too cold for Obama to golf.

America's best cartoonist, Keep On Truckin's Robert Crumb, did submit a drawing of Mohammed's hairy ass, flies and all, which was published in Liberation. He got his start as an underground cartoonist in the 70's, drawing pretty much the same sort of thing that got 12 people killed in France.

This icon was interviewed by exactly one American reporter. He told The New York Observer, "You don’t have journalists over there anymore, what they have is public relations people. That’s what they have over in America now. Two-hundred and fifty thousand people in public relations. And a dwindling number of actual reporters and journalists."

The public relations people would kill the Mohamed cartoons. Stories here are driven by money, not any desire to tell the truth. That's why The Morning Call is a cheerleader for J.B.Reilly, while The Express times waves the pom poms for its new landlord, developer Mark Mulligan.

Dem Strategist Douglas E. Schoen: "I have been disappointed by President Obama many times during his six years in office, but perhaps never more so than this weekend."

Daily Mail: "Obama told the French on Friday that 'the United States stands with you today, stands with you tomorrow' – but he didn't stand with them in Paris."

CNN: White House official "did not address how other prominent world leaders were able to work around the security requirements."

What Was Appeaser-in Chief Doing During Free Speech Rally?

Watching the football playoffs, silly. Too cold to golf.  The White House has not admitted it was a mistake not to have someone of higher stature at a rally to stand together with our oldest ally. The Atlantic asks, "Isn't that what vice presidents are for, to represent America at solemn foreign events and moments of occasion?"

Last updated 2:53 pm

Dent On America's Failed Foreign Policy

Let me tell you something about LV Congressman Charlie Dent. He's a foreign policy expert. I learned that when he once called me from Islamabad, probably not the safest place to be, right before the surge, Dent was unable to stop describing the people, right down to the decorated buses that are used as taxis. A former International Politics major, he pays attention to what is going on in an increasingly scary world.

That's more than I can say for President Obama

Dent released the statement below right before President Obama's televised but uninspired speech to the nation last night on the threat posed by ISIS in both Iraq and Syria. Dent's more comprehensive views below, which sound as though they could have been uttered by President Kennedy, are more comprehensive. Obviously, we need a strategy. More importantly, we need real leadership.

"Tonight the President will speak to the country and propose a strategy for dealing with ISIS. The President is late coming to the table with a plan, and not just concerning ISIS.

“The Tide of War is receding," President Obama has declared. Except when it's not.

Just ask the people of Syria, Iraq and Ukraine. These conflicts, while complex and distinct, collectively represent the most serious threat to global peace and stability since the end of the Cold War. And I’m alarmed. We need decisive leadership and action.

These on-going situations raise two questions: When will the United States develop a real strategy to deal with ISIS? And when will Europe understand the threat posed to the post- Cold War order by the Russian revanchist Vladimir Putin and respond accordingly?

Both questions need coherent answers. I sense President Obama is too passive, disengaged and defeatist in tone at this point to deal with these real threats. Members of his Administration including – UN Ambassador Samantha Powers, General Martin Dempsey, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and even Attorney General Eric Holder – have made stark, sobering assessments about ISIS and Russian aggression only to be contradicted by the Commander-in-Chief. Caution and circumspection are laudable traits, but these attributes should not be excuses for inaction or indecision.

Putin is a determined, ruthless autocrat who knows what he wants as he seeks to establish a renewed Russian sphere of influence. By contrast, the hideous monstrosity of hatred, barbarism, fanaticism and delusion – better known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) – is a cancer that continues to metastasize as it works its wicked will across the Arabian desert – murdering, plundering and pillaging every gruesome step along the way.

The good news is there is a genuine consensus that ISIS must be defeated and that a containment strategy is not a viable option. The United States, Europe, the new Iraqi Government, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, the Kurds, Iran, Russia and what's left of Assad's Syria all agree on that point. The Sunni's of the region, especially the Sunni Arabs, must realize it is in their best interests to end ISIS and shoulder more of the responsibility in fighting the ISIS menace.

The United States, the indispensable nation, is conducting limited air strikes, reconnaissance missions, training and arming the Kurdish Peshmerga, protecting Christians, Yazidis and Turkmen -- while encouraging political reconciliation among Iraqi Sunni, Shia and Kurds. These actions by themselves have slowed ISIS but will not defeat them. If President Obama intends to establish a coalition of the willing, then he must lead the effort. The coalition will not form on its own without our leadership – period.

President Obama must have frank conversations with our partners and allies in the region, starting with Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Saudi Arabia needs to engage militarily. The Saudis have a capable, American trained and equipped Air Force. What is the House of Saud waiting for? ISIS is an existential threat to the survival of the Kingdom. It's time for Saudi King Abdullah to move beyond grand rhetoric and start acting.

ISIS is on the border of Turkey. Instead of inciting Islamists, cracking down on dissenters in his own country and making belligerent statements against Israel, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan should join the fight with ground forces. He should reinforce the courageous Kurds on the frontline, rather than taking comfort in a buffer zone provided by the Kurds along its southeast border.

If the United States continues to act as the region's Air Force, Americans must demand more leadership – skin in the game – from the Sunni nations who too often privately support American intervention but are too afraid of their own people to provide full throated public and material support.

And then there is tiny Qatar, mighty financier of Hamas and radical groups in Syria including ISIS. It is time for Qatar to choose sides: ISIS or the civilized world. We can move our military base elsewhere if they answer incorrectly. Stated another way, we can easily remove the American security blanket that protects them.

Our friends in Europe, too, must move beyond strong advocacy in support of NATO, ahem, the United States, to lead the charge against ISIS, which represents an immediate threat to their nations. Of course, Europe will always reserve the right to complain about their American protector, which provides nearly three fourths of NATO's funding. This is particularly galling given that only three of NATO's twenty five European members – the United Kingdom, Greece and Estonia – spend 2% or more of GDP on defense.

If ISIS isn't enough of a threat to move Europe to lead and act decisively in its own interest, then maybe Vladimir Putin is. And, let's not forget the three famous reasons for the establishment of NATO: to keep the Russians out, the Americans in and the Germans down. Thanks to Putin, a repurposed NATO still must keep the Russians out and the Americans in.

But, what about the Germans? I say let them play to their weight.

Same goes for the Japanese, as an increasingly aggressive China threatens stability in the Pacific.

The civilized world that operates within the “rules-based order” needs Japan and Germany – the 3rd and 4th largest economies in the world – to shoulder more of the global security burden that falls almost exclusively on the United States. The challenges are simply too great and too many for us to take on such a disproportionate share of the responsibility. These two nations cannot remain mighty economic forces while outsourcing too much of their security interests to the United States.

With Putin's recent escalation and overt invasion of Ukraine, it's time that European leaders get serious about stronger sanctions. Business is pretty good with the Russians for Britain, France and Germany, but accommodating the crocodile Putin to protect commercial interests while he violates the territorial integrity of his neighbors hearkens back to darker days when another European tyrant was "appeased" for eerily similar behavior – until it was too late.

And, yes, it is past time to provide defensive weapons to the Ukrainian government, which simply wants Ukraine to be a territorially secure, sovereign, independent nation. While I oppose admitting Ukraine into NATO, Ukraine must be free to form economic and political associations however they wish. Moreover, Ukraine is ground zero in this latest clash between east and west. The proud and thriving Poles once lived this brutal reality. That ground has now shifted. Ukraine is the new Poland.

Where do we go from here? No need to re-litigate the past – such as President Bush's controversial decision in 2003 to invade Iraq, or President Obama's decision to remove all American forces from Iraq in 2011 over the objections of so many in the national security establishment. Both decisions are history.

Yes. We must learn from them, but we must also deal with the here and now.

President Obama must provide real leadership in both the Middle East and Europe. Hitting the links after condemning the beheading of James Foley sent a terrible message that the President is not only disengaged, but detached from what's happening in the world. It’s time for President Obama to get off the 15th Tee, and stop blaming social media for the cause of people’s concern about the very real crises taking place. Facebook didn't send the “Little Green Men” (non-uniformed Russian soldiers), artillery and tanks into Ukraine, nor did it dispatch ISIS on its terror parade through Syria and Iraq. The Commander-in-Chief saying he has no strategy or plan for ISIS is dismaying to say the least.

Vice President Joe Biden says: “we will follow ISIS to the gates of hell.” I assume hell is ISIS-controlled Syria. If that’s the plan – to return American ground forces to Iraq and into Syria – what is the exit strategy from hell? And will our friends, allies and partners join us on this mission to hell and back?

Congress will insist on a say in this matter. That’s why President Obama should view Congress as more than a speed bump on the road to enacting his agenda. Congress must be a partner with the President in addressing these grave challenges that our country and the world face today.

Events are unfolding rapidly. As I said earlier, I’m alarmed. I wish there was some indication that the President is too.

Ukraine: Time Correspondent Pisses Off More People Than Me!

Time Correspondent Michael Crowley tweeted the above pic with this comment: "not a character judgment, but this does kind of capture the moment". He's on his way to Kiev right now with Secretary of State John Kerry.

He's received responses like these:

"I keep telling y'all White folks are all fucked up in the head because there's a Black man in the WH taking care of business."

"Dear @assholeofday: I have a nominee for you."

"Congrats, @TIME. Your Moron of the Day"

"@CrowleyTIME You're trying my patience.Putin is a power hungry bigot and he can't touch our President's shine.You value the wrong shit."

"Big ass, pasty, balding white man with boobs and a beer gut, riding an old ass horse gives dudebros like @CrowleyTIME a hard dick. Lmao"

Incidentally, Russia and China are in complete agreement about Ukraine. So there you have it.

President Jello

While President Obama skips out on a National Security Team meeting on the Ukraine, and tells fellow Democrats it's "Happy Hour," at the very moment that Russians are invading Crimea, can anyone really doubt he's the Neville Chamberlain of the United States? Yes, the very man who ridiculed Mitt Romney for calling Russia our greatest geopolitical foe, has allowed a former KGB to make a fool out of us time and again. Putin's Crimean gambit is just the latest example.  

Whether it is Afghanistan, Iran, Syria or Israel, Obama has forged a new image of the United States as a weak and undependable ally.

We all should have known. After all, before his re-election, he was overheard telling a Russian President that, after the election, he'd have "more flexibility" to discuss Europe' missile defense.Then he went to cancel every part of the deal that bothered Russia. So basically, he's already thrown Eastern Europe under the bus. What's one more state? Given Obama's weakness, the only question I'd ask the Kremlin spy is, what took you so long?

At least Obama is not talking about crossing a red line again.

Obama's SOTU Pageant Praised and Panned

Don't know about you, but the President's annual State if the Union address is a real turn off for National Review's Kevin Williamson. He was just at a porn convention, so a SOTU might be a letdown in comparison:

"The annual State of the Union pageant is a hideous, dispiriting, ugly, monotonous, un-American, un-republican, anti-democratic, dreary, backward, monarchical, retch-inducing, depressing, shameful, crypto-imperial display of official self-aggrandizement and piteous toadying, a black Mass during which every unholy order of teacup totalitarian and cringing courtier gathers under the towering dome of a faux-Roman temple to listen to a speech with no content given by a man with no content, to rise and to be seated as is called for by the order of worship — it is a wonder they have not started genuflecting — with one wretched representative of their number squirreled away in some well-upholstered Washington hidey-hole in order to preserve the illusion that those gathered constitute a special class of humanity without whom we could not live."

He claims it's wore than the Oscars.

As you might have guessed, local Congressmen Charlie Dent and Matt Cartwright offer less entertaining, but more substantive opinions of President Barack Obama's address last night.

Cartwright praised the President for his Executive order increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 for federally contracted workers. "July will mark five years since the federal minimum wage was last raised, that’s why I support legislation introduced by Senator Tom Harkin and Representative George Miller that would raise the minimum wage of $10.10 by 2016. This policy would directly provide higher wages for close to 17 million workers by 2016," noted Cartwright.

But while agreeing with Obama about an increasing income equality, Dent complained that "the more the President talks about income inequality the more income inequality we seem to get. Unemployment remains high and the economic recovery remains unacceptably slow. Meanwhile, Washington has never been more divided."

Dent is unhappy with Obama's use of executive orders to accomplish what he can't do by legislation. "The President should not look for creative ways to subvert Congress to address these challenges," he noted. "He should reach out and work constructively with those of us who put forward solutions and are willing to work with anyone, regardless of party affiliation, to solve problems and advance our great nation."

What would Dent do?

"We can encourage domestic energy production to create jobs, reform and repeal provisions of the President's health care law that are destroying jobs, make the tax code simpler and fairer, and focus on improving the education of our children to make them better prepared for the 21st century job market."

A NBC News poll indicates that 68% of Americans think the country is stagnant or worse than it was when Obama first took office.

Is Barack Obama the Neville Chamberlain of the U.S.?

According to Slate, the Geneva accord is a "good deal" that "makes it impossible for the Iranians to make any further progress toward making a nuclear weapon in the next six months—and, if the talks break down after that, and the Iranians decide at that point to start building a nuclear arsenal, it will take them much longer to do so." Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu agrees, but calls it a great deal for Iran.

It's a sad commentary on our President, but I trust Netanyahu over a guy who couldn't even get his facts right over Obamacare. I tend to agree that it is a "historic mistake.," Obama looks to me like the Neville Chamberlain of the United States.

Thanksgiving Turkey Crosses Obama's Red Line

President Obama is growing increasingly irate at a Thanksgiving Turkey on the White House grounds, and has warned its noisy antics have crossed the red line. So he plans to convene a joint session of Congress to authorize a military strike. In the meantime, Russian Badass Vladimir Putin is claiming he would eat the turkey live, feathers and all.

Is Obama Done?

Internationally, President Obama has been played by Putin and has angered one of our strongest allies. Domestically, his vaunted Obamacare rollout has been a bust. Fast on the heels of a malfunctioning web page comes the news that the President has broken his "If you like your health plan, keep it" promise. Now it is beginning to appear that his "if you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor" claim may very well be his next broken promise.

His approval rating is down to 42%, with 63% of Americans disgusted by the way he's handled the Affordable Care Act rollout.

Here's my question. Does Obama have any political clout left for immigration reform? Or an actual budget?

I believe he has made himself a lame duck already.

Dent: Let's Not Piss Off the Germans

Congressmen Charlie Dent (PA-15) and Tim Ryan (OH-13), as co-chairs of the Congressional Study Group on Germany, have sent a joint letter to President Obama about the interception of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cell phone calls.

According to a news release, these legislators told Obama that they viewed the alleged surveillance of the German leader’s phone conversation as a "serious error in judgment" – one which needs to be rectified.

Here's the way I would have put it:

"Seriously, what were you thinking? Are you out of your frickin' mind? You have a wife and two daughters and should know not to mess any woman's cell phone. But you decide to pick on the Chancellor of Germany, a country that decides to take on the world every forty years."

Dent and Ryan want President Obama to send an apology, telling her he thought she was Hillary. They also want him to give Merkel a brand new iPhone with hardly any spy gadgets at all. Last, they want him to offer Germany membership in the Five Eyes pact. That's a long-standing intelligence gathering and sharing arrangement convened between the United States Government and the governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

So then I guess it would really be Six Eyes.

The "Grand Bargain" For Our Working Poor

President Barack Obama will reportedly visit Scranton late next week to tout his "grand bargain" for reinvigorating our middle class with a corporate tax overhaul to fuel another domestic stimulus. It will also increase our deficit. Our growing deficit will be paid for by our new middle class - the working poor.

Don't get me wrong. Republicans rightly slam this "raw deal," but like Obama, are incapable of thinking outside the box.

Instead of liberal or conservative thinking, we need to embrace realistic thinking. Except for the fringes, nobody on the left or right disputes that government should provide for our national security and should take care of those who can't take of themselves. But our ways of delivering those services have become bloated and ineffective.

I've often derided and laughed at Lehigh County's Commissioners, but they are absolutely right to question their role as bagmen for state grants that can't be given directly by the state. They are right to question a federal grant that translates to $220,000 for a 1-BR apartment. It appears that HOME and CDBG funding, which serve laudable goals, need critical examination that neither side is willing to do.

The focus of local government is off, too. Bimbo Bakeries, has operated in Wilson Borough since 1884, just 30 seconds from Route 22. It's moving to nicer digs, thanks to a TIF in Upper Macungie, next to the new Ocean Spray plant. That company got a $3.15 million loan and $182,700 in grants from the state, in addition to the TIF.

The working poor get to pay for it.

They might be able to work for Bimbo, too. For less money.

This rising tide, advocated by both Republican and Democratic politicians and businessmen, is drowning our middle class.

Some bargain.

Dent Calls On Congress to Work Together

LV Congressman Charlie Dent: "Today as we celebrate the life and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Barack Obama was sworn in for his second term as the President of our United States. Dr. King's Dream continues to be a great statement on the possibilities that are available to all our citizens.

"I wish President Obama and his family success and happiness as he begins his second term. I believe the entire country has a dream that its politicians will work together to solve the big problems facing us. The American people do not fear solutions; they fear their elected leaders do not have the capacity to find the answers. We must do better."

This Democrat is Splitting His Ticket

This has been an incredibly tough decision for me. Unlike the partisans, I think both President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney are genuinely good men. Neither of them is particularly inspirational to me.

Mitt Romney was a conservative when he had to be, and now he's a centrist. But I seem to recall that Obama was a centrist, or perhaps a realist, when he ran for his first term. Once elected, he took a hard left.

I've been disappointed by his obsession with an unpopular medical insurance act, while dithering about our floundering economy. Although his foreign policy approach is better than I expected, his approach to Israel leaves me concerned. What really bothers me is not his so-called apology tour, but his failure to recognize that a Putinized Russia is becoming a very real threat to our national security. This is evidenced by its recent failed attempt to supply Syria with arms. What bothers me most of all about Obama is that the man who promised to be accountable and transparent was not, at least not with Obamacare.
If you don't like Romney's position on an issue, do some research and I'm sure that, sooner or later, you'll find that he had a completely different one a few weeks ago. His alienation of the English, during the Olympics, was absurd.

But unlike Obama, Romney does have quite a bit of Executive experience. He has turned companies around. It appears that his waffling might be an indication that he is, like FDR, a realist. He's willing to do what works, regardless whether it is a Republican or Democratic idea. But does he understand what it's like to be out of work? Will his solutions impose more hardships on an already overburdened middle and lower middle class?

I'm impressed by the way President Obama reacted to Hurricane Sandy. But I'd like to think that most presidents would react the same way.

We've tried the "hope" and "change" for four years. The only change I've seen is in the wrong direction. Instead of hope, I see despair as millions of people have stopped looking for work.

They may both be good man, but neither is an exceptionally appealing candidate. I probably would have voted for Obama. After all, I am a Democrat. But what tilted me towards Romney are two things.

First, the notion of revenge against those who dared oppose Obama. I'm not speaking about Obama's "voting is the best revenge remark" but am instead bothered by what his chief political adviser, Valerie Jarrett, reportedly said to two Obama campaign staffers: "After we win this election, it’s our turn. Payback time. Everyone not with us is against us and they better be ready because we don’t forget. The ones who helped us will be rewarded, the ones who opposed us will get what they deserve. There is going to be hell to pay." Obama's very own Karl Rove, Jarrett has also been tied to foreign policy decisions, where political repercussions should take a back seat.

The second thing that swayed me is the venom from so-called liberals, hypocritically attacking Romney over his religious beliefs, about which they know nothing. I thought those days were over.

So although I think Obama is going to win, I'll be voting for Romney.

Hurricane Sandy - The October Surprise

Move over, Donald Trump. Take a hike, Gloria Allred! These two publicity hounds have tried, and failed, to unleash the dreaded October Surprise that comes with every Presidential race. But Hurricane Sandy is doing one helluva' job of throwing a gigantic monkey wrench into an already tight race. If President Obama does a reasonably good job of handling this crisis, he'll win. If he fails, or if there is some major screw-up by some fed, he loses.

Is it fair to keep on playing politics during a natural disaster? Of course not. In baseball, games are called when it begins to rain. The tarps come out and everyone goes home. But this is Presidential Baseball, and like it or not, Barack Obama is the dude on the mound. True, he's mostly throwing screwballs, but look who he's playing against.

He's bearing down right now, in the closing innings. He's canceled political events and is instead sending email blasts every five minutes so everyone knows he's on top of this thing. He might be out there right now, helping someone with sandbags.

But if Hurricane Sandy sends one right into the glove of one his FEMA dudes, who then proceeds to drop the ball, Obama will be blamed and the game will be over.

In regular baseball, no pitcher is held responsible for a fielding error. If the runner scores, it's considered unearned. But this is Presidential Baseball, baby.

Now Romney is in the bullpen, warming up. He's got a screwball, too. It might be better than Obama's. It might be worse. With a name like Mitt, he should make no errors. But if Obama gets us out of the inning, we'll never know. If Obama fails, the American people will send in the reliever.

Final Presidential Debate: Is Romney Challenger or Incumbent?

Does Mitt Romney know something the rest of us don't? Watching tonight's third and final Presidential debate on what was supposed to be foreign policy, I got the distinct impression that he, and not President Barack Obama, was the incumbent. And Obama, who hounded Romney aggressively throughout the night, seemed more like a challenger who is down in the polls. Both kept straying into our domestic issues, where there are real divides. But in the foreign arena, they basically agreed.

As someone who has spent the last four years dealing with foreign princes and traveling across the globe, I thought Obama sounded like a President. But he failed to demonstrate that Mitt Romney is a war-monger or "all over the place," despite saying so repeatedly. For his part, Romney handled the constant attacks very well, and was even able to chide the President twice that he was there to discuss issues.

If Romney intended to establish that he's no neo-conservative itchy to start wars, he succeeded.

Obama wins on substance. Barely. Romney wins on style. Barely.

Overall, I say Romney won. I particularly disliked the way Obama evaded a direct answer to the question whether he would regard an attack on Israel as the equivalent of an attack against the United States. How hard is it to answer a question?

What's your call?

11:00 AM Update: A BBC Survey indicates that, in numerous nations throughout the world, Obama is the favored candidate. In France, he's supported by a whopping 72% of the people. Israel was not among the nations polled.

Who Has Better Gangnam Style, Romney or Obama?

A few weeks ago, I introduced you to Gangnam Style, the product of Korean artist Psy. He has since appeared and performed all over the place, from SNL to a MLB. There have also been numerous parodies, including equally insulting caricatures of both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

These don't help me decide who to support, but they're both funny.

Obama Style


Romney Style

Politifact: Obama & Romney BOTH Inaccurate

According to Politifact, in Wednesday's Presidential debate, BOTH candidates made inaccurate statements. In the mainstream media, I've been reading mostly about Romney's "lies." But according to this unbiased source, they both have growing noses.

The Battle of The Wonks

President Obama is downright inspirational when he delivers a fiery sermon before a huge, adoring crowd. But in a substantive debate against a surprisingly well-prepared Mitt Romney, he faltered just a wee bit in last night's presidential debate. In a gaffe-free battle of the wonks, I'd give Romney a slight edge, if only because he more than held his own against someone who's had the job the last four years. Unfortunately, with the exception of the discussion of Obamacare, most of their discussion was fairly esoteric.

When it came to Obamacare, Romney hit hard. He noted the differences between the federal law and his own plan, called Romneycare, which was adopted in Massachusetts when he was Governor. Instead of shoving it down people's throat, he noted that Romneycare is a product of both major parties. "Something this big, this important, has to be done on a bi-partisan basis," he said.

His plan does not raise taxes. It imposes no cuts to medicare. No unelected board will decide what treatment you ought to have. People who have insurance are in no risk of losing it.

Obama, somewhat disingenuously, insisted that a law opposed by every single Republican is somehow bi-partisan. He argued that Romneycare “leaves people uninsured” and in a position “to fend for themselves,” while his own tries to make the cost of care more effective.

It was a tad wonkish by my standards, especially for the first forty or so minutes. For that reason, a lot of people might have tuned out.

Romney's debate performance will certainly help his campaign, but there are two debates to go.I'm interested in what you think. When you do, please let me know if you support Obama, Romney or are undecided. I was leaning heavily towards Obama, but am less so now.

Best Smile: Obama.

Best Haircut: Obama

Most Presidential: Tie

Most Arrogant: Obama scolds moderator Jim Lehrer for interrupting him.

Most Whiny: Romney keeps complaining about the debate rules.

Funniest one-liner: Romney. When Obama complained that he was spending his 20th wedding anniversary in a debate, Romney wisecracked, "I'm sure it’s the most romantic place you can imagine, here with me."

Worst visual: Obama looks down too much when Romney is speaking. (Obama was probably writing notes to himself).

Best Argument: Romney, discussing soaring food and gas prices, claimed it has amounted to an "economy tax" under Obama.

The Romney I Never Knew

Let me tell you a bit about my flawed thinking. Before I can vote or support a candidate, I have to like him. His positions matter, too, but I first have to feel some kind of connection. And in the case of Mitt Romney, it hasn't been there. Aloof though he may be, I feel closer to Obama than some ascotted rich dude who just stepped off his corporate jet.

But do I have Romney wrong? According to BuzzFeed Politics, he's a much more likable person during "off the record" discussions.

With the cameras off and the journalists' notepads a safe distance from their pens, Romney candidly answered questions about his speech preparation, the impact his father's career had on him, and his Massachusetts gubernatorial record. He seemed, reporters said later, like a different person: funnier, more intellectually honest, comfortably dorky, and even prone to introspection.

Amazingly, this is the Romney being shielded from public view.

Maybe his handlers should rethink that position.

Armstrong: The Case Against Obama's Marxist World View

Allentown conservative Scott Armstrong is known for his strong opinions. As you might have guessed, he opposes what he calls Obama's Marxist world view.

In the race for re-election, team Obama portrays itself as the champion of the “middle class”. Average Americans more concerned with daily activities like holding a job and paying bills might mistake this rhetoric as a heartfelt concern for their plight as hard working folk just trying to get by. However, the truth is starkly different and becomes clear if one takes into account Barack Obama’s Marxist world view. According to this perspective the middle class is the 21st century’s proletariat; in other words, this is a class of people who must be protected against the exploitive nature of the capitalist system.

The American left/Democratic Party’s intent is to equalize economic opportunity and outcome. Their ultimate goal is for everyone (excepting themselves as leadership) to be middle class/equally poor. They would achieve this by wealth redistribution. Confiscatory taxes on achievers would be used to fund increased government programs, benefits, services… for the proletariat/middle class. In a nutshell, this is European style socialism. Although the continent is in the process of imploding as a result of these same policies, the Democrats and the president are true believers and are prepared to take the USA down the same road to ruin.

Clever politicians can hoodwink a beleaguered populace with well spun rhetoric. American’s workers would be well advised to keep this in mind when they hear the president’s siren song of protecting their middle class interests. They need to understand that the president does not view them as middle class in the American sense, i.e. as people working hard to make a better life for themselves and their children, but as proletarians who cannot save themselves or improve their own lives without government help.

Obama’s wish is to replace our free market/ capitalist system with what Marxists call a dictatorship of the proletariat, in other words, the state/government control. Sadly, history informs us that workers/proletariats in a Marxist system are mere wards of the state. Conversely, Americans have a robust history of profiting and advancing on the opportunity and desire to determine their own destiny. This tenet of the American way is foreign to Obama and the Democratic leadership. They simply don’t believe it. They see government as the solution to every problem while it is America’s history to see government as the problem.

Barack or Mitt? A Hobson's Choice

I voted for Barack Obama. His commitment to transparency and willingness to reach across the aisle appealed to me. I viewed him as a pragmatist, not an ideologue. I loved the way his candidacy energized minorities. My grandson, who is half black and half Asian, proudly planted an Obama sign in his front yard. On a cold January day, he attended Obama's inauguration.

Unfortunately, Barack the candidate and Barack the President are two different things. He rammed Obamacare down the throats of an unwilling American public. While sparring over that issue, he and Congress have both allowed our economy to deteriorate to its worst state since the Great Depression.

And don't get me started on Israel. Obama has managed to alienate our closest ally.

I'd vote for someone else, but Mitt Romney is an embarrassment. Not just as a GOP candidate, but as an American. His attempt to politicize the tragic murder of America's Ambassador to Libya tells me all I need to know about him. There comes a point when we should stop being Democrats or Republicans and start being Americans.

This is certainly no ringing endorsement of Obama or his policies. But Romney? In a country of 300 million people, is this the best we can do? If anything, this Hobson's choice tells me something is seriously wrong with our Presidential election process.

Updated 11 AM: Non-partisan FactCheck.Org makes clear that Romney's foreign policy criticisms are factually flawed. In addition to being unnecessarily divisive, he also happens to be just plain wrong.