National Security:
Back in July, I tweeted about the agreement between Russia and the United States to cut the number of nuclear warheads to between 1,500 and 1,675 each. I commented at that time, this may signal the closure of a Minuteman missile base in the future (there are only three left).

This week, the Obama administration bowed to Russia again, deciding to not build the missile shield in Europe and slapping our friends, the Pols and the Czechs, in the face. Obama is attempting to get Russia’s help with Iran. I don’t trust Russia or Iran. These were both dumb moves.

Recently a group of Senators have introduced a bill to weaken the Patriot Act. It seems our leaders have forgotten 9/11/01 and that the world is still a very dangerous place.

Healthcare:
After almost a year, Max Baucus unveiled his healthcare bill and everyone hated it – liberals, moderates, and conservatives.

Baucus stood alone trying to smile and promote his plan. He looked old and out of his league. His whole year of work and dozens of his staffers’ blood, sweat, and tears came to this.

Former Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean was quoted in U.S. News and World Report saying, “The Baucus bill is the worst piece of healthcare legislation I’ve seen in 30 years,” “In fact, it’s a $60 billion giveaway to the health insurance industry every year,” he said. “It was written by healthcare lobbyists, so that’s not a surprise. It’s an outrage.”

The funny thing about the Baucus bill is it may not even make it out of his own committee.

People are seeing Baucus as I have seen him for years – a weak legislator, no backbone, and very little to bring to the national stage. Now he’s at a point that the he cannot tell which way the wind is blowing to take sides.

Probably the nicest thing said about the bill came from Congressman Denny Rehberg (R-MT) who said, “Max’s hard work in putting together a bill on such a complex issue is a testament to his genuine desire to do what’s best for our country.”

Baucus’ understudy, Senator Jon Tester, said, “Max has worked tirelessly on this proposal, and I am reading it closely.”

I can’t imagine who came up with that quote, but isn’t that what a senator should do with a bill, read it closely? Geez.

Port Pork:
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has put the border projects on hold after it was discovered that several politicians had lobbied for the funding, instead of going by the (nonpolitical) real-world needs of the agency.

$31 million was to go to a couple of checkpoints in Montana that see few travelers a day. CNN sent a couple of people to Montana to check them out. Montana’s Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus were happy to take credit for pushing the Obama administration to fund the projects. Now they have to backtrack. To most folks they have egg on the faces, and if it’s funded now, it will be a surprise. Maybe next time the boys will let the real needs of the country come first.

So what’s a senator who has gotten caught and sautéed by the national media do? You write a letter, making sure you’re covered, saying you want what is fair and transparent, and above all else, you want good government. You betcha.

Nobody likes you:
According to Gallup, the approval ratings for the two major parties in congress are still very low. Thirty-six percent approve of how the Democrats in Congress are doing their job and 27% approve of the Republicans.

I very much agree with is this paragraph: “A key reason for congressional Republicans’ depressed ratings in recent months is that rank-and-file Republicans’ support for their own party in Congress has descended to unprecedented depths.”

The GOP is leaderless. Nobody has stepped forward to take the helm of the ship. There are many wannabes running around, but I have not seen anyone who has what it takes to lead the party – and all this is happening while the Democrats are struggling with being in charge.

That is all – catch you on Twitter!