NAFTA multiplied

NAFTA has been a mixed story of success and failure. It appears now that we just can't get enough, that the three governments (US, Canada, Mexico) are looking into ways to make it stronger. The plan in the works approaches EU-style dissolution of borders -- a rose is a rose by any other name. The problem here is that we cannot accomplish the EU type of integration with our backwards, leeching neighbor to the south. We get the hardest of their workers and now we're essentially supposed to take on the less willing? We cannot afford to inherit an iota of their corruption or mismanagement.

Canada would be a welcome addition to any agreement, so long as they don't expect to get our excellent health care for free.

I don't think NAFTA should be expanded in this way. i firmly believe a firm alliance of English-speaking nations could go a long way -- even to the blurring of the borders. The network would be far-flung, geographically speaking, but it's not an insurmountable obstacle. We share many common values between us and the world would shake in fear.

But anything that provocative is too risky.

Could the Dems have Learned Nothing?

With the disastrous leadership of Terry McAuliffe coming to a close, the Democrat Party is naturally looking for a new Chairperson. A name near the top of the list appears to be Howard Dean. Let me get this straight: McAuliffe led the most extreme, left-wing party this nation has seen in mainstream politics. And Howard Dean is overtly more extreme than McAuliffe on any given Sunday. If the Left wants to win elections, it needs to find someone a little less... chaotic.

Nectar for an Economy

If John Kerry had won, he would have been the undeserving beneficiary of today's fantastic economic data. Economists had predicted 169,000 jobs; we added 337,000 jobs and revised upward the previously criticized job numbers for the past couple of months. The stories on the radio and on the big news sites speak of a "bad" statistic that came out concomitantly with the job numbers. The bad news? That the tremendous increase in payroll jobs was accompanied by an increase in the unemployment rate.

Now tell me: if there are jobs everywhere, and people are scrambling back into the workplace to seek them, is it a bad sign? And the rise to 5.5% still puts us in a superior position to the world's greatest economy boasted by Clinton (at only 5.6%).

Note to the news organizations: The election is over, the economy is up. The glass-is-half-empty outlook can end, at least until your friends on the Left start new political campaigns.

Speicher Found?

LT CMDR Scott Speicher's fighter jet went down in the first days of the Persian Gulf War I. After being declared KIA, the Pentagon (a couple years ago) changed his status to MIA, then Missing Captured, and President Bush swore to find him. Well, we may have found his remains in a place we didn't expect -- and far from his plane.

If the remains are his, then Saddam was holding onto him for awhile and let him die. What a hero, and what a terrible tale he must have had to tell. Rest in Peace, Hero of America.

Nation Unguarded

When I was in the Air Force, I heard stories of operations handed to National Guard units that would go awry because the National Guard training isn't always in sync with the training from Active Duty units. This latest story is kind of similar, but not really. A National Guard F-16 strafed an elementary school in Jersey. I feel bad for the pilot; a court-martial and public shame will follow as the Air Force tries to purge itself of a bad reputation.

Some happiness, some sadness

A lot happening in these few days after the election.

First, the eternal optimist, Peggy Noonan, resurfaced in a new article, finding all the reasons to be happy after this election. It is a big lovefest, her article, and I recommend its reading.

Second, Yassir Arafat is fading quietly into the night. If I could cheer loudly over the Internet, I would. The world will be a much safer place with him safely in the arms of God. He has an eternity to let the Eternal reprimands sink in.

And a note of sadness: Elizabeth Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer. It is a common type with the very real risk of spreading to other places in her body from the milk ducts whence they begin. On the bright side, her husband is unemployed, holding a substantial fortune with which to buy her the best of treatments. Let us all hope for her speedy recovery, remission and a long life.

Dazed

It really could have been a lot worse. If any State had been closer, if Florida hadn't finished with a 300,000 vote margin, it would have been 2000 redux. I don't want to gloat, because I didn't earn this one -- GWB did.

Look at the mandate handed over by the people: 54-45 (probably 55-45 after FL recounts for Mel Martinez) in the Senate, a 29-seat lead in the House, and a President firmly reinstated. The nation is divided, yes, but not to the extent of 2000. There are no Presidential recount battles, no entrenched lawyers, no battle cries of stolen elections or hanging chads. All is quiet on this Western Front.

Daschle is gone, there will be a power struggle for the face and power of the Democrat Party, and George Soros gets to keep swimming through his billions. If there will be a realignment of the Democrat Party toward the center, it will take place with Hillary at the front.

Hillary will now start fundraising and consolidating support for her Presidential run in '08. Unlike most Presidencies, we do not have a Veep with any desire for the Oval Office (no jokes about him already controlling it, Lefties). So Bush will have to almost immediately groom his successor -- whether it's Condi, Jeb, or both (which would indeed be a strong ticket).

Between 2-4 Supreme Court Justices will announce their retirement over the next 36 months. We needed this mandate to prepare the government for that immense transition. We have a lot to accomplish, from the seemingly insurmountable foreign policy issues (democracy in the Middle East, international Islamofascism, an out-of-control UN, and more), to the failing Social Security system, to our struggling schools, to the all-out assault on the family, we need a united government to tackle these problems and get something done, or at least significant movement in the right direction.

Mr. President, the country gave you the keys to the government and to our very lives. Spend that capital well.