Mr. President, Please Get a Clue

Dear Mark: Terrorism still exists even though our current administration does not want to use terminology such as "war on terror" or "terrorist." There is no bigger evidence than the recent terror plot uncovered involving the detonation of backpack bombs in the New York City transit system. When will President Obama get a clue? — Anxious in Anaheim

Dear Anxious: I'm not sure if the president will ever get a clue as to how the real world operates. Just listen to his apologetic speech to the United Nations. He seems to believe that today's international problems are the fault of George Bush, when the reality is that there are Islamic extremists whose sole mission is to destroy Israel, the United States and any other country that remotely appears to have a Western lifestyle.

Obama's 1960s hippy mentality of wanting to get along with everyone and rid the world of nukes is somewhat noble but very naive. Ronald Reagan's attitude of "trust but verify" would better serve our country.

Your comments about this administration are not unfounded — just look around the globe. Iran and North Korea are closer than ever to nukes. Vladimir Putin and Russia are selling missile defense systems to Iran. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is forging alliances with Iran and Russia in order to spread communism throughout South America. Islamic insurgents continue to kill in order to disrupt any progress in Iraq and Afghanistan. And where is Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during all of this turmoil? President Obama in his infinite wisdom has the No. 1 person at the State Department focused on some two-bit dictator wannabe down in Honduras.

With all of this going on in the world, the administration should heed the advice of the seven former directors of the CIA and drop the ridiculous investigation and let the agents do their job.

Forget about world opinion, let's get all of the information we can out of these NYC backpack terrorists. You bring the boards; I'll bring the water.

Dear Mark: Michelle Obama has finally spoken out on health care reform, calling it a women's issue. She is an Ivy League educated attorney and should speak up. You conservatives probably think first ladies should just shut up and stay in the White House kitchen. — Liberated Lady in Lincoln

Dear Liberated: The big question is why hasn't the first lady spoken out about health care reform sooner. After all, she worked in an executive position for the University of Chicago Hospitals. I believe the real reason Michelle Obama is speaking out now is the racism card did not move the health care debate, so now team Obama is trying the sexism card. If that doesn't work, maybe the administration should try the "truth" card.

Dear Mark: My grandmother is pretty upset. She just read about the new government policy that would crack down on garage sales. She says people selling stuff could be fined thousands if not millions of dollars. Tell me it ain't so. — Garage Sale Granddaughter in Grand Rapids

Dear Garage Sale: It is so. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 would impose fines on people who sell recalled products or products containing lead.

According to one legal analyst, the new law does not make a distinction between businesses or individuals. Therefore, if a sweet little old lady is caught selling the wrong toys at a garage sale, she could pay up to $100,000 per infraction. And the lefties actually wonder why the tea parties are so popular.

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