Hagel Chucked Out

It seems President Obama is losing key members of his administration left and right. The latest loss from Obama’s Administration comes from Chuck Hagel, a former Republican Senator and the Secretary of Defense.

It was announced yesterday that within a few weeks Secretary Hagel will be stepping down as Secretary of Defense, one of the most powerful posts in the United States. While he has officially resigned he will still remain the acting Secretary of Defense until a replacement is found

While officially the White House sends Secretary Hagel out the door with praise there are “rumors” from administration insiders that Hagel is seen as a lackluster Secretary of Defense whom has done little to make good on President Obama’s agenda.

I for one find the announcement quite surprising. While Hagel is not particularly effective I did not find Hagel particularly ineffective. The question is, Was Hagel really looked down upon by administration insiders or did he just wish to leave what he may see as a sinking ship?

I hope that President Obama chooses a Secretary of Defense that can lead this nations vast military bureaucracy and just as importantly be confirmed by the United States Senate. We are transitioning to a new era of conflict and thus need someone in charge of the Pentagon whom can lead the US military through multiple crisis.

O Executive Action, How we need you

O executive action, that time honored pseudo legal power that modern Presidents possess, is coming under scrutiny as President Obama vows to act unilaterally on immigration reform.

Americans universally acknowledge that the United States’ immigration system is broken. While we may be divided on what to do about immigration we all know something must be done. Our political leaders, elected to lead us, have not been able to compromise on this important issue.

President Obama feels, as do I, that if Congress does not act he has the responsibility to enact immigration reform to benefit the nation. This has naturally lead to outrage from Republicans as an abuse of executive authority. I would rather Congress act on immigration but politicians from either party have shown a reluctance if not an inability to compromise

The political back drop, is of course, the shellacking Democrats took in the midterms elections earlier this month. With the lame duck congress gridlocked and the following Congress to likely follow suit; President Obama will most likely act on immigration if Congress cannot pass meaningful legislation.

The problem of President Obama acting unilaterally is dubious legal reasoning (which other presidents have exploited in the past), the weakening of Congress’ power (though they have weakened themselves), and overreach of the Executive Branch. While the claims may be valid President Obama cannot preside as a figurehead over a nationally debate that will effect the lives of millions and potentially the future of the United States.

First Picture of Comet

First close up picture of a comet, courtesy of Philae!!!!

The Rosetta touches down

The Rosetta Spacecraft, has dispatched its lander Philae, in the process becoming the first man made object to land on a comet. This landing will come to revolutionize space exploration, we now know humanity can land on an object as fast moving and hostile as a comet. It stands to reason that other celestial bodies similar to comets can be landed on, such as asteroids.

Humans have never landed a spacecraft on an asteroid, which like a comet (though there are some differences) is at its most basic definition is a large rock hurtling through the darkness of space. Unlike a comet, an asteroid is not covered in ice as a result it doesn’t grow a majestic tail that comets are so famous for as it approaches the sun. I believe though, following the success of Rosetta’s and Philae’s landing, we will naturally attempt to land on an asteroid. Landing on an asteroid, while amazing in its own right could truly transform human space exploration.

Landing on a comet paves the way for the theoretical enterprise that is Asteroid mining. Asteroids are known to have large amounts of rare earth metals, anyone whom could harvest the untapped wealth of an asteroid would reap unseen amounts of riches. Humans have not yet landed on an asteroid nor attempted to mine; fortunately Rosetta and Philae has shown that such a venture could succeed.

The work of the European Space Agency (ESA), whom is responsible for the creation of Rosetta and Philae, is truly revolutionary. The ESA has completed a herculean task, which many people in recent years would have deemed impossible. I believe that Rosetta’s and Philae’s mission may very well pave the way for asteroid mining and the development of further space technologies.

The Rosetta Spacecraft, has dispatched its lander Philae, in the process becoming the first man made object to land on a comet. This landing will come to revolutionize space exploration, we now know humanity can land on an object as fast moving and hostile as a comet. It stands to reason that other celestial bodies similar to comets can be landed on, such as asteroids.

Humans have never landed a spacecraft on an asteroid, which like a comet (though there are some differences) is at its most basic definition is a large rock hurtling through the darkness of space. Unlike a comet, an asteroid is not covered in ice as a result it doesn’t grow a majestic tail that comets are so famous for as it approaches the sun. I believe though, following the success of Rosetta’s and Philae’s landing, we will naturally attempt to land on an asteroid. Landing on an asteroid, while amazing in its own right could truly transform human space exploration.

The Rosetta Spacecraft: Landing where nothing has Landed before

The Rosetta spacecraft, an one billion dollar aluminum marvel of astronautically engineering created by the European Space Agency was launched into space ten years ago. On this day, Rosetta and its lander, Philae, will finally complete its mission; its mission is nothing short of landing on a cold rocky briefly inflamed sphere we know as a comet.

Rosetta has been cruising the cool, silent black that is space for ten years now. While, the project had not always been on the public’s radar, it now sits at the crest of human space technology breakthroughs in recent years. Never before has a man made object landed on a comet, a comet hurls through space and traverses our solar system at a speed of over 60,000 km/h.

As I write Rosetta is on the comets tail, and of course a pun was intended. With only a few hours away till landing this period is still the most dangerous for Rosetta. While a contingency is in place the margin for error is extremely low, furthermore since comets have low fields gravity fore keeping objects weighed down Rosetta has a tiny amount of time to attach itself to the comet lest Rosetta fails in its mission.

Already Rosetta’s landing module did not power up properly with Philae not responding as rapidly as it should. Even with such concerns the Rosetta spacecraft and the experiments it will conduct are an amazing way to understand these celestial bodies and perhaps even unlock the mysteries of life formation on Earth.

Obama: A Mislead Legacy

Barack Obama, the political scion, whom infused a nation with hope is no more. Instead Obama the man, Obama the Presidents of the United States, lives in his place. He was faced with high expectations, a nation left destitute, and was elected in a hyper partisan political system.

Barack Obama may have lost the faith of his party and the people, yet the good he has done has been hijacked by the obstructionism and narrative of the Republicans Party, a narrative that the Republicans crafted in order to “win” the contest that are the midterm elections.

During the recession President Obama, was able to stabilize the economy and prevent the US from sliding into a second Great Depression. He was able to the Affordable Care Act (popularly known as ObamaCare), while suffering problems decreased healthcare cost for millions of Americans. When President Obama took office GDP (Growth Domestic Product) growth was one percent, its current growth rate is now three point five percent.

President Obama’s foreign policy has been lampooned by Republicans and the public alike. Yet he successful pulled us out of the quagmire that is the Middle East and Middle Eastern Politics, furthermore his economic warfare against Russia is working, as I type the Russian ruble (Russia’s currency) is collapsing. President Obama was elected, in no small part, due to his promise to wind down wars in the Middle East, the American public does not wish to send ground troops into combat. Furthermore under President Obama AL-Qaeda’s core leadership, including but not limited to Osama Bin Laden, has been eradicated. Mission Accomplished I believe.

And yes Republicans have attacked Obama with attacks such as “ He’s not doing enough to combat ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). Yet when pressed for what Obama should do the Republican Party has no answers. Republicans accuse Obama of being weak against ISIS yet are also “adamantly” against deploying troops to the Middle East.

Obama no doubt is a major factor in the Democratic Party getting overrun in the congressional midterms; Republicans, through extensive planning have been able to take control of the national mood of the nation and forge it into anti-Obama sentiment.

Were the positions reversed Democrats would use similar tactics, such as they did in the 2006 mid terms elections, by framing the midterms as a referendum on then-President George W. Bush the Democrats were able to control the Senate and House of Representatives. The Republicans now have a chance to compromise and forge a political resume that would allow a Republican to win the White House in 2016.

To the credit of Republicans Obama has also had demonstrated some measure of incompetency. From pledging US action if Bashar Al Assad crossed a redline by gassing Syrians to the failed ObamaCare rollout, Obama has shown that he is perhaps not the most effective governor of the state.

If no compromises can be found then Republicans will damage their national reputation and Obama’s legacy will truly be tarnished. If there’s one thing all Americans can agree on is that our political system is broken. Something must change.

The question is what?

A promise of change, A potential for progress

November 4th is no more, with November 5th comes promise not of progress but of change. The Republicans easily keep control of the United States House of Representatives and took control of the United States Senate. Regardless of what Democratic leaders said publicly we all expected it; from the historical lack of seats for a Presidents party six years into his term to Obama’s particular problems regarding executive leadership, the Democrats were due for a loss.

The count for the next Congress is this: Republican will have at least 246 house seats, and 52 seats in the Senate( Two races are undeclared in Louisiana and Alaska but easily lean Republican.)

I do not see the next year being productive for Washington with a Democrat executive and republican congress its quite unlikely to pass legislation

But Hope does remain.

If Obama embraces a centrist philosophy, such as Bill Clinton did throughout his presidency (but particularly in 1998), and Republicans attempt to compromise, our national leaders have a chance to rebuild America from Washington. With that said egos and political difficulties on both sides will make such a scenario improbable.

My fellow Americans do not fret about the integrity of our newly elected officials, after all we get the government we vote (of don’t vote for).

The Midterms Are Here

Get out and vote!!! Through the ballot we are in control of our nation’s future.

The Midterms: A Test for America

“They be a corrupt one and the hour be late,” kinda said author of Herman Melville. In two days time the fate of which political party controls our two chambers will be decided, though in reality the fate of both the House of Representatives and the United States Senate was decided along ago.

Basically pundits, citizens, and anyone with halve a brain believes that the Republican Party will undoubtedly capture control of the United States.

The nation can look forward to a Congress controlled by one party and Executive Branch controlled by another. I cannot say with certainty what will happen but only look at the state of the government during the last two years of George W. Bush’s Administration. During this time the Republicans may have controlled the Executive Branch but Democrats had captured control of the House of Representatives and the United States Senate due to President’s Bush unpopularity. This period of divided government lead to political grandstanding and gridlock.

I fear with Republican control of congress complete and Democrat’s controlling the Executive Branch for at least two more years this government will maintain its current lack of productivity.

There are several reasons why Democrats will lose control of the senate and undoubtedly lose a few more House of Representative seats. One there is a historical trend in the US where the party in power, after an incumbent presidents reelection, loses Congressional seats. Two President Obama is very unpopular in the minds of most Americans, they will not reward Obama’s party with Congressional Representatives in light of his perceived failures.

Third, people whom would vote Democrat such as the young, poor, and ethic minorities rarely turnout in large number for midterm elections. Instead you are simply left with a subset of the population, the Republican subset, whom include the white, the old and the rich.

With the above factors in mind, Democrats, undoubtedly will lose control of the Senate. Obama has failed in the mind of the public, his party will be hurt because of such perceptions. I hope the new Congress will be able to work with the President, I believe though that we are going to see continual legislation coming from Congress and President Obama continually vetoing such legislation.

In the end few members of this new congress will standout and few notable pieces legislation will be passed. Simply put the current political system is broken, these midterm elections will do little to change that.