I can understand that people get upset with me sometimes, but I can't understand why they would be upset with me for telling the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts and I seldom sugar coat it or my opinion and I guess that disturbs some people. But I am befuddled when they get so upset that they won't even talk to me about it. Last week it happened twice on the same day.
The first time was when I saw an old friend in a local store; at least I always considered him as a friend. He saw me, but he ignored me; yet I knew that he knew that I knew that he saw me and that he ignored me. So, because we've known each other for more than 15 years, I approached him and tried to strike up a friendly conversation. He'd have none of that. My friendly greeting brought an irritated retort -- "After the election I hope you will write something good about Democrats; and stop blaming President Obama; and after that, recognize that Republicans haven't done anything good." I was taken aback and had barely begun to reply when he strode off before I could catch my breath.
Because he didn't give me a chance to respond and knowing that he reads my column (I'm sure that's what set him off) I'm going to respond now, knowing he'll have to hear me out, or stop reading right now. First, about Democrats, I will say something nice when they do something that I believe deserves a compliment. But I find it hard to be complementary when the Senate (controlled by Democrats) leave on vacation without even trying to solve the border crisis. And don't point to the Senate Immigration bill passed last year. All it does is legalize 11 million illegals, grants them amnesty and does nothing to secure the border. I'll stop there lest I appear to be griping.
Next, about the president: It's hard to not blame him when I look around and see Iraq disintegrating with the evil ISIS on the march to establish a caliphate. This would not be happening if Obama had negotiated a status of forces agreement leaving some troops in Iraq to keep the peace our brave armed forces had won. I could go on about the rest of the Middle East (Christians being slaughtered), the lies Obama told about ObamaCare (if you like your doctor you can keep him), the scandal involving the VA (he heard about it on TV), IRS persecuting the TEA party (Obama says not a smidgeon of evidence), Benghazi (he and Hillary claim caused by a hateful video), and I dare not even mention the Ukraine/Russian crisis, or his nearly 200 rounds of golf because that would be piling on, so I'll stop now.
Finally, I must to set the record straight about what Republicans have done. According to Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, in this session the House has passed 356 bills, many with a two-thirds majority meaning they had support from numerous Democrats, but Harry Reid will not bring them up in the Senate. Thirty-one deal with reducing waste and fraud, 16 bills deal with energy including the Keystone XL pipeline, seven bills are aimed at reducing taxes on middle-class taxpayers (not millionaires), and a bill that would toughen sanctions on Iran.
So, my friend, I hope you will talk to me and not blindly believe the interpretation of the news from Obama's cheerleaders.
You can look up anything I've quoted here. It's the truth. About the only time I stray from the unadulterated truth is when I give my opinion about Obama, and my opinion about him is that he's the worst president we've had in my lifetime. I've said that before, and I'll probably say it again, although at times Jimmy Carter tries very hard to reclaim the title, like last week when he absurdly said that "Israel should recognize Hamas as a legitimate actor." Sure Jimmy, so is the Mafia.
I opine, you decide.
-- Willie Williams is a Siloam Springs resident. He can be reached at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 08/13/2014