A House Divided

There are more than a few political commentators who are mewing that, since the majority of Crimeans (but not the 96% as the recent voting indicated) believe that this part of Ukraine should be reunited with Russia, who are we or others to object? Interesting point … but then one must also ask why were not the Confederate States allowed to secede from the United States back in the early 1860’s? Why cannot all or part of Montreal split from Canada whenever it chooses? If Scotland soon votes to depart the United Kingdom should this be opposed or even penalized in some way?  Venice, from Italy?

As long as we are exploring the notion of national self-determination, why cannot Chechnya or other predominately Muslim republics secede unopposed from the Russian Federation? Isn’t what is good for the sow bear also good for the boar bear?  Why are not Tibet or other western Chinese provinces allowed to go their own way independent of Bejing’s tight control?

And how about the real poser … what if large portions of the American southwest, including California, now that they are predominately Hispanic, vote to rejoin Mexico?  Should this be permitted … or even encouraged? One could argue that this might significantly shift the United States’political balance rightward … and also relieve much fiscal stress on other neighboring American states.

President Abraham Lincoln once said, “A house divided cannot stand.” But as that other U.S. President, slick Willy Clinton, might have added, “It all depends on what your definition of ‘house’ is.”

AWOL

President Obama skipped his National Security Meeting today which dealt with the current and critical emergency in the Crimea and the Ukraine ... caused by the movement of a large number of Russian troops into this region … see: Weekly Standard Item. Is Obama our Commander in Chief or not? I believe he is and, as such, I can't fathom any possible reason for such a clear dereliction of duty. 

Or perhaps Joe Biden was prophetic when he was overheard on an open mic early in 2012 … speaking to the then President of the Russian Federation, Demitry Medvedev, confiding that, once Obama was re-elected, he would have much more flexibility in dealing with Russia. Medvedev nodded and responded by saying he would pass the message on to Vladimir Putin, the next (and current) President of Russia.

President Obama could not be any more "flexible" or detached than the behavior he is currently exhibiting. (Perhaps he was doing his all-important March Madness brackets?) This shameful indifference in this time of international crisis (see: Washington Pos Story), were he an actual member of the armed services, would most likely cause a general court martial hearing to be convened.

But this won’t happen because, as we all know, we are now living in a Liberal vortex ...