Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day 2011 is here. Many of us are hitting the beaches, getting together with friends, attending parades and enjoying a long weekend away from work. But this weekend has a much more important meaning: remembering the ultimate sacrifice those who have fought for this country gave. Be sure to take a moment to somehow reflect; whether by thanking a veteran, saying a prayer, visiting a war memorial or attending a Memorial Day remembrance.

"The 'Right' Solutions," again, would like to thank those in the military for serving and doing all they do to keep us free!

Bibi Gets It

Today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to a joint session meeting of Congress. (Part 1, Part 2) This is one of the best speeches by a head of state that I have ever seen! This consummate professional did not use a teleprompter, yet he appeared relaxed and nostalgic, while readily being able to transition to speaking in a direct and honest manner. He also disarmed (figuratively) a crazy Code Pink heckler. As stated earlier, a strong leader has a strong resolve and Benjamin Netanyahu has one of the strongest! I can watch this over and over again and recommend you do too!

It is my hope that one day Prime Minister Netanyahu can have a true partner in peace and friendship in America that a Republican president can provide!

Education of a President

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Obama in the Oval Office last Friday. In the following video, Netanyahu spoke of the president's speech earlier in the week. (Netanyahu speaks at 7:20)



Benjamin Netanyahu will go down in history as being one of the strongest and most principled Prime Ministers in Israel's history, withstanding the American President's wrong and ill-advised policy on his home country. He showed not only Strong leadership and resolve, but guts; addressing directly, the president's speech, in full view of a media that tends to be friendly to the President. Note Obama's body language during the video...he could not have been enjoying that. Kudos to Benjamin Netanyahu for the effective articulation of his position!

Cannot wait for "Bibi's" Congressional Address this week, as that's likely going to be the best ticket in Washington!

We Must Stand With Israel!

Since her creation, Israel's enemies have attempted to push her people into the Mediterranean and have either fought for an end to her existence, either through military action, terrorism or the United Nations. Through and through, Israel has defended herself and not only survived, but thrived, while embracing Western ideologies and freedom.

Israel's closest ally since her creation, the United States, has done her a great disservice, when President Obama, in a "major speech," endorsed the Palestinian position for an independent Palestinian state: a return to Israel's pre-1967 border. In response, Benjamin Netanyahu has already rejected this position, stating Israel would be put in an indefensible position. At its most narrow point, Israel is 12 miles wide; the same distance of the length of Manhattan. Another example, Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel's international gateway, is located 3 miles from the West Bank territory, which would be given to the Palestinians as per the pre-1967 borders, just enough space for shots to be fired at arriving and departing jets; a disaster in the making, not only for the passengers flying into Israel, but the overall Israeli economy.

This has angered many in Israel and could have the potential to be detrimental to his numbers in the United States, but politics aside, it is dangerous for an American president to stab it's ally in the heart the way he did today. We already know Obama is no fan of the Netanyahu government, but this policy is flat-out dangerous, not only to Israel, but to the Western world, as Israel is the most stable nation in the region. If she falls, we may be entering into some uncharted territory that can have deleterious effects worldwide. It is for these reasons that Americans must stand with Israel, despite what the president believes!

The Donald is Out for 2012

Big announcement today out of Trump Central today: Donald Trump has decided against running for president in 2012.

I'm honestly not surprised and speaking as a conservative, I am pleased! That's not to say I dislike Trump. I rather respect his direct way of speaking, his tenacity and his business acumen. It was that tenacity that eventually forced the President to showing his birth certificate...and then brought out the fangs of the media and the president, especially when one watches his speech at the White House Press Corps reception. Some of Trump's solutions, while against free market positions, made sense and would return a sense of respect to the United States, while allowing them to get back the upper hand in their dealings. On the other hand, I am troubled by his diversions from Conservatism, which were discussed here in the past. Many conservatives also, and rightly so, questioned his level of consistency when it comes to endorsing conservatism.

In the end, it looks as if NBC gave him "60 million reasons" not to run and was about ready to replace him on The Apprentice.

While Trump won't be running, the other candidates still in it would be wise to follow his precedent and show no fear.

In & Out

Two big announcements this week for the Republican field for 2012.


Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, has now fully jumped in and will seek the Republican nomination for the Presidency in 2012. Over the years, Newt has shown himself to be quite a brilliant man, whether in his writings, speeches and ideas for solutions given. With this brilliance also comes a few missteps, be it the commercial with Nancy Pelosi and his leanings that may not be considered Conservative, from the environment to immigration. There are some who also question his personal past, but much of it is overdone and currently, he seems to have reconciled with his past. Having met Newt and Callista (his current wife) they seem to have a strong marriage and have both embraced Catholicism in their lives. (Newt converted when he married Callista.) Best solution for Newt to win the nomination is for him to fully re-introduce himself to the Republican voters and articulate his positions so that he is clearly understood. One thing for sure, a Gingrich-Obama debate would be the showdown of the century, with Newt trouncing the President!


Former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee, tonight on his Fox News show, announced he will not seek the presidency in 2012. To me, this was not much of a surprise, as I think he seems happy in his current path in life as a pundit and television guy. While he seems like a very nice man (A friend's interaction with Huckabee proves this statement) and he is a strong social conservative, his overall consistency in endorsing conservatism could be challenged, and that makes me wonder what ramifications it would have had on his candidacy. Despite those questions, many see him as a strong conservative because of his social views and his decision will definitely open it up for the more consistent conservatives who are/will be in the race.

Happy Birthday to The 'Right' Solutions

One year ago, The 'Right' Solutions was born! This blog was started in the interest of not only to showcase my writing, but to bring and apply the topics featured in my yet to be published novel, The Calling to Lead, into the real world.

With politics in the center of the news for much of the year, it was a central topic of posts. I will continue on that path, yet if any news breaks about The Calling to Lead, you will also be made aware. Thank you for reading and I you continue to read and check back!

Condoleezza Rice and Lawrence O'Donnell

Seriously, what is with MSNBC analysts??? (Rhetorical question)

A few days ago, we saw Martin Bashir go after Andrew Breitbart and today, we see Lawrence O'Donnell, who has a reputation of shouting down and interrupting guests, interview Condoleezza Rice. She masterfully performed and did not allow his interruptions and leading questions to guide the interview.

Conservatives must take lessons from Condi Rice on how to handle these aggressive interviews. Never accept a false premise, call out dishonest statements and never allow the interviewer to lead the subject away from the topic!

Back to 9%

The media could put as much spin on it as they want, but the numbers still state the facts. Unemployment (U-3) is back up to 9%, while the U-6 rate, those who have "given up" is at 15.9%.

In the United States of America, these numbers should not be the case, but because of the actions of the Federal Government in increasing their role in our everyday lives between more regulation, the healthcare law, the wasteful stimulus and looming tax hikes, Americans are held hostage by these numbers and many Americans are spending their early years of their professional lives idle because they cannot find a job. The reversal process of these horrible numbers could be put into action if the Federal Government can do a total 180.

We can only hope that Americans who have been struck by this horrible, government-created jobs situation, realize the reasons behind it and vote with their wallets in 2012.

The "Most Transparent Administration" in US History will not Release UBL Photo

News broke today that President Obama, who once claimed he would have the "most transparent administration in history," has decided not to release the photos of a dead Usama Bin Laden. Conspiracy theorists aside, this decision at which he finally arrived, will likely anger Americans.

Too many people have died, not only in the World Trade Center, on the planes and in the Pentagon on 9-11-2001, but especially those fighting on the battlefield to keep those who would harm America, away from American soil, for that photo to be hidden from view. Furthermore, the president doesn't need to be the arbiter of what is and isn't appropriate to be seen, as half the shows on television and many of the movies made these days can be brought into question. If we can handle a Jack Bauer torture scene or an action film from the Die Hards to Total Recall, we can sure as heck handle a picture of a dead terrorist. That role should go to the parents.

Obama also claims that releasing the photo will anger the terrorists and make us more susceptible to attack. Did this happen when the photos of Uday and Qusay being "dead-ay" were released? No! We were not attacked during the Bush Administration after 9-11!

This politically correct nonsense, especially the events leading up the "burial at sea" of UBL, which angered some Americans, is dangerous, as it is viewed by our enemies as weak. It also puts American interests in second place. Apparently, Obama and the Democrats only like pictures such as those in Abu Ghraib, that don't put the American military in a positive light, as those pictures released had more potential for danger than those of a dead terrorist.

This was a bad decision on the president's part and for the sake of Americans whose lives were affected by this barbarian, he should have released the photos. Tomorrow's decision to, in the president's words, "Spike the Ball," at Ground Zero is not too wise either.

A Little Humility Goes a Long Way

After Sunday night's speech, laddened with personal pronouns and a lack of thanks to his predecessor, President Obama has decided to invite President Bush to his Ground Zero visit this Thursday (On another note, it warms my heart to see the new Freedom tower rising above the New York City Skyline). Bush has declined this invitation, and in that action, shows the class and grace with which he carries himself. All evidence of my knowledge of Bush, through observation, his memoior and what others have written/said about him, point less to the reason of not wanting to be "Ryan-ed" or "Alito-ed," but more to the fact that he is no longer president, therefore, does not need to share the stage with the current president. It's also nice to see President Obama, for once, lean toward "we" than "I."

Bin Laden's Death and Political Implications for Obama

Just as I expected, many in the media are out there cheerleading for President Obama with the military's capture of Usama Bin Laden. For example, Barbara Walters, among others on the left, are nearly giddy about the prospects of Obama having a cake walk in 2012. While he likely will get a nice pop in approval ratings; not equivalent to Al Gore in 2000 after his DNC speech, or George W Bush in 2001, it'll be enough to send his supporters into a tizzy.

If we look back in history, George HW Bush had a 90% approval rating at the close of Operation Desert Storm, and George W Bush had very high numbers right after 9-11. Bush 41 ended up losing and while Bush 43 won, it shouldn't have been that close. The Election of 2012 is about a year and a half away and the American people are still dealing with nearly $5/gallon gasoline, very high employment rates, an unpopular (and maybe unconstitutional) health care "reform" law that was rammed down the throats of the American people and coming inflation.

Some on the left get it and that's why they're getting started early, but for those on the right to wave the white flag of surrender for 2012 is rather premature. Hopefully the right will use this "deck stacked against us" attitude as incentive to step up their game and clearly articulate to the American people why their solutions and leadership will be better than what Americans have seen since January 20, 2009.

UPDATE, 5/3/11: No immmediate bounce in approval ratings for Obama.

The Death of Usama Bin Laden

Before I get going with some analysis, it is necessary to, again, give thanks to and say God Bless the US Military and Intelligence services for their role in finally taking out Usama Bin Laden!

With the death of Usama Bin Laden, Americans must realize the War on Terror is not over. Yes, it's a big psychological boost that this barbarian, the leader of this evil organization, was killed, but al Qaeda will live on, as it's a worldwide organization whose tentacles have a long reach. America had a big night, but it's not over. Americans have already been warned about reprisals, both domestic and abroad. American citizens can supplement the military and law enforcement, in that they have a role in the protection of the country. As was done in Times Square one year ago, they can simply do their job by staying vigilant and speaking to a law enforcement official if something does not look right.

There will likely be politicians who will attempt to take credit for Bin Laden's death. Americans know the truth, should be watching and if an attempt takes place, they need to speak loudly against that politic an, expose them and not allow him/her to discount the sacrifice the men and women of the military have made, not only during the War on Terror, but throughout history.

Usama Bin Laden: DEAD

It's all over the Internet, news and Facebook, but it is now public, Usama Bin Laden is dead!

First and foremost, we must say THANK YOU to the US Military and Intelligence services in their diligent and committed work, as they're the ones who did this! God Bless them all!

Look later on for analysis and thoughts. I'm staying away from that for now, and will instead, celebrate our American military!

Times Square, One Year Later

One year ago today, terrorist (and American Citizen) Faisal Shahzad attempted to detonate a car bomb in the heart of Times Square.

I was in the city that day and as I was driving to the Lincoln Tunnel, I saw a surge of people heading toward the West Side and wondered what was happening. Thanks to some quick thinking by a tourist and vendor in Times Square who was smart enough to alert a police officer, the bomb did not explode and those walking through/spending time in the Crossroads of the World were safe.

Shahzad is now serving life in prison, and in light of this lucky break (the fact that the bomb did not go off), politicians must realize that we fight in the War on Terror and must take Homeland Security seriously in order to defeat animals who would want to kill the innocent in the name of their sick ideology.

Hypocrisy in Action

This weekend, MSNBC Executive and Producer Tammy Haddad, hosted a brunch in Washington DC, leading up to the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. One special guest at this brunch was Sarah Palin, who garnered much attention from reporters and guests alike.

The hypocrisy in action is cited in an article about her appearance, as the reporters and pundits who badger her and run her into the mud every day wanted to pose in a picture with her. Personally, if that were me, I wonder if I could go along and pose in photographs with people who hate me, but Sarah Palin likely did, and this is more evidence that she is a class act!