Thoughts Before The Alarm Sounds

      Finally I can turn on the TV without having to watch Arlen Specter Swiftboating Joe Sestak’s military career, nor do I have to put up with Sestak holding forth on Specter’s switch of parties and cozying up to President George Bush throughout most of his Senatorial career.       Both stories were true; Sestak repeatedly showed a clip of Specter admitting he changed parties in order to be re-e-lec-ted, and another of President Bush telling how he could always count on Arlen. Of the two, the switching of parties was probably the most effective; in the eyes of the voters it branded Specter as untrustworthy and not a true Democrat.       As to Sestak’s military record, the following is from the Navy Times of July 25, 2005: “Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) Vice Adm. Joseph Sestak was administratively reassigned July 25 by new Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen, according to Rear Adm. T. McCreary...

      Much to no one’s surprise, a front page story yesterday proclaimed “No Faith In Government.” The latest Pew Research Poll shows that Americans’ faith in government at all levels is at its lowest point in the last half-century. The March poll indicated that only 22% of Americans trust the Federal Government, compared to lows of 29% during the administrations of Jimmie Carter and Bill Clinton. Only 12% of Republicans trust the government, and although their party is presently in office, only 33% of Democrats trust the government.       52% think the political system is just fine; it’s the politicians, particularly members of Congress, who are receiving most of the blame for the poor numbers.       People’s reasons for their feelings vary; when questioned, one tea party member said, “Politicians make promises to get elected, and when they get elected, they don’t follow through.” But this is not new – politic...