Can we trust Obama with Our National Security? Why? Why Not?

[Sarah Brown]

How do you feel about Obama being the Commander and Chief? He's about to have his first National Security Briefing. Can we trust him? Why? Why Not? Don't tell me you trust him because he gives pretty speeches.

Why can I really trust him? I’m concerned about the safety of our nation. How do we know he is honest? How do we know he will not betray us?

[Rhett N. Cochran]

I trust him because he is my president and I refuse to give Obama the same Day One hate that Democrats gave Bush when he beat Gore (and YES, he DID beat Gore!). I didn't vote for Obama but I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Nicki Laycoax]

Rhett, I love that way of thinking.

[Jeff Bowe]

We should be scared because he has said "the constitution is a flawed document" and that is the basis of our country. We expect him to defend something he thinks is flawed?

He wants to have a second private army. Like the comparison or not, private armies were also created by Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and Castro.

He wants to take away the public's right to bear arms. It's an extreme position but an armed public is the last defense against a dictatorship. Just ask Cuba, or the people of Iraq, or Russians from the mid 1900's.

He has no military background and on his trip to the Middle East, he would not interact with the common soldier to get their perspective.

These are not the traits of a good Commander in Chief.

[Chris Horn]

you know jeff, ive lost a lot of respect for you over the last few days

[Jeff Bowe]

Because I put out the FACTS? Since when did a summarization of facts become a source for lack of respect? Every one of those was reported in the mainstream media, not conservative talk radio.

[Chris Horn]

but you dont put out facts, thats the problem. You are putting out half truths. Obama doesnt want to make a private army, he wants an increase in the number of police officers on our streets. He doesnt want to take away our right to bear arms. You've previously said that he wants to weaken the military when he in fact wants to increase the army by 65,000 soliders and 27,000 marines.

You honestly dont think he will defend our country? I fully respect your right to not support this candidate, but the way in which you do it is what makes me lose respect for you.

[Rhett N. Cochran]

While I can't agree with the allusions to Hitler, Hussein, and Castro, Jeff is partially correct in the "private army" thing.

As for the second amendment issues, Obama has straddled the fence on that one. I think it is safe to assume that while the 2nd Amendment won't be overturned by another Constitutional Amendment, I would suspect bills will follow which do restrict and limit the 2nd Amendment.

The combination of these two ideas (and, again, the cart is WAY ahead of the horse here but it's still worth examining the idea), could it be that to own a weapon/firearm that you'll have to belong to this "civilian militia" that Obama alluded to during the campaign? I don't want to be alarmist, but this is one thing that was brought up during the campaign that for some reason didn't get a lot of life in the news cycle.

[Steve Stuck]

He won't take away guns. He personally doesn't believe in them and that is alright with me. Of course his beliefs and support of Chicago politics are showing true colors with Chicago having the highest murder rates in the nation. Chicago also has one of the strictest gun control laws.

The Congress will probably raise taxes on guns and ammunition in order to implement some sort of punishment for owning a firearm.

His statement in this video is naive and he didn't mean it for an addition of military or police. Your not being an alarmist by bringing this video up.

[Nicki Laycoax]

I didn't watch the video, but am responding to Steve's statement about the correlation between the high crime rate and stricter gun laws in the Chicago area. I'm assuming this also means East Chicago and Gary.

When I first read that, I thought, wow... maybe having strict gun laws are the reason that the crime is so high.... But then I remembered that the region is one of the most poverty stricken places in the U.S. with some of the worst education available. Do you think that has anything to do with the crime rates? Do you think that the gun laws may have been tightened up because of the crime? Chicken or the egg....

Here's my perception of that area:
Bad education>Not capable of getting a good paying job>Constantly struggling to make ends meet>Depression>Drinking and drugs to find temporary relief from depression>Run out of money to purchase the substances that "make you feel better">Resort to alternative ways of making money-drug dealing, prostitution and other crimes and eventually violence.....

This cycle is passed on from generation to generation. With undereducated parents, parents that don't have a chance because the chance is not available.... How the heck can the cycle change?

For kicks, check out Career Builder. Search for jobs in Gary, Indiana. The majority of the jobs are in the healthcare industry, requiring a degree. With the dropout rates in the high schools, what are the chances that there are enough college graduates to fill the positions?

Here's some info that I found on Wikipedia:
Chicago crime rate:
Chicago has experienced a decline in overall crime since the 1990s.[51] Murders in the city peaked first in 1974, with 970 murders when the city's population was over three million people (resulting in a murder rate of around 29 per 100,000), and again in 1992 with 943 murders, resulting in a murder rate of 34 per 100,000.[52] After adopting crime-fighting techniques recommended by Los Angeles and New York City Police Departments in 2004,[53] Chicago recorded 448 homicides, the lowest total since 1965 (15.65 per 100,000.) Chicago's homicide tally remained steady throughout 2005, 2006, and 2007 with 449, 452, and 435 respectively, and the overall crime rate in 2006 continued the downward trend that has taken place since the early 1990s.[54]

East Chicago income:
The median income for a household in the city was $26,538, and the median income for a family was $31,778. Males had a median income of $32,588 versus $21,678 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,517. About 22.5% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.

Gary, Indiana income:
The median income for a household in the city was $27,195, and the median income for a family was $32,205. Males had a median income of $34,992 versus $24,432 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,383. About 22.2% of families and 25.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.9% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

Check out Gary's school ratings

Here's a forum talking about Gary that I found. Side note-check out some of the great grammar coming from some of the G.I. residents: http://www.topix.com/forum/city/gary-in/TN1NV0MPRMD0GHF8O


Some additional stats: http://www.city-data.com/city/Gary-Indiana.html

Article in Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: 10 Indiana Schools Called "Dropout Factories"

Indiana schools join national drop-out prevention, workforce develo...

Just food for thought...

[Steve Stuck]

Please breakdown how massive government regulation and taxation in Chicago equals higher jobs for people. It doesn't.

When citizens cannot protect themselves crime rates go up and Chicago has one of the most strict gun laws there is. Crime can always be prevented through criminals having fear. Jobs loss in the area does have some impact on crime, but you cannot discount gun laws being strict. Criminals are very smart and they know what areas to hit.

Gun laws only hurt law abiding citizens and not criminals. Please read this about Chicago.

[Nicki Laycoax]

Thank you for sharing that, Steve.

I think that it starts with the education system. Producing more intelligent citizens would lead to less violence, wouldn't it?

I don't know about the gun laws.... I was trying to consider all of the elements that I could think of when posting that... I have no idea what the answer is, but I would love to be a part of the solution!


We have a friend that feels that everyone should be allowed to carry guns at all times. How do you feel about that?

(It's Friday night... What are we still doing online? :) )

[Steve Stuck]

I used to carry on my ankle when I had my permit. I don't anymore because I let my permit expire.

I say we should be able to carry at all times as long as you are registered.

There is a reason why the Founders put the 2nd Amendment in the Constitution. They were very strict in it not being messed with. They had lengthy discussions on it.

Your website below is interesting.

Its Friday Night........yikes!!!!