BALTIMORE, Maryland June 5, 2014 - Understanding the Bergdahl Prisoner Exchange from Obama's Perspective: Theories and opinions abound on what caused the Obama administration to exchange five extremely dangerous Taliban Officers - apparently you are very close to being correct if you say that the five men turned over the Qatar authorities were the most dangerous men who were at the Cuban detention facility - for one American Desterter. Some describe it as a terrible mistake born of simple incompetence. Some say it was not a mistake but simply a matter of an administration not wanting to leave a soldier behind as it winds down the Afghanistan War. I think the explanation is far more base. I think you have to remember who our President is. He is an über Leftist; that is, an "over" or "beyond" Leftist. Try: Super Leftist. His orientation as an über Leftist defines so much about him, especially his actions. As an über Leftist, he dearly wants to close Camp Guantanamo is Cuba, because that camp houses only Hardcore Islamic Radicals, a group he has amazing sympathy for. The exchange reduces the number of Hardcore Islamics at the camp. The exchange shows express sympathy for someone who became anti-U.S. Military. When you add this up, there was only good things about the deal as far as Obama the über Leftist is concerned. At the very same time, with just one decision, he shows express sympathy for Islamic Radicals and Anti-War Anti-Military Americans. Add to this the fact that, as a Lame Duck, not up for an election ever again, he doesn't care a bit about what the average American thinks about the deal. Add to this the fact that he is also a quintessential elitist, He knows better than you, always. He knows this is a good deal because it advances a whole list of über Leftist goals. As he said today, he has no intention of apologizing.
This is where there is a huge disconnect for the average American trying to understand this administration. You read about something like this and think, "is he so isolated there in the White House that he didn't vet Bergdahl, didn't know his own Pentagon had long ago concluded that he was not only a deserter, but quite probably a collaborator with the venemous Taliban?" Of course not. He knew exactly who Bergdahl was. He knew exactly what the father was up to with the beard and the anti-Gitmo language. He is sympathetic to the same things. He leaves it up to his functionaries couch his actions in whatever language they can to sell it to the people. And he has the mainstream media to ease the sell job.
The people who have a real tough job with Obama's über Leftist tendencies are Democrats who are not nearly as far left as the President is. One is Baltimore County Democratic Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. I was livid at Ruppersberger when he knuckled under to Obama and Nancy Pelosi and voted for Obamashame. Now, he knows what he is up against with Obama and Company, and, at least on this issue, he has come out front and expressed his anger at the deal. He told Channel 13, WJZ in Baltimore that the deal sets a “dangerous precedent that puts all Americans at risk throughout the world.” And be certain about what he says: it does. Any American the Taliban or Al Qaeda can get their mits on is fair game for a prisoner exchange. At some point Obama will have to say that the Bergdahl deal is "different" from the kidnappings that will follow. I wouldn't want to be his out-front operatives when they start.
Despite Ukraine Elections, Violence Rising and Crisis Far Fram Over, Swiss President Tells Economic Forum The President of Switzerland, Didier Burkhalter, told the opening meeting of the 18th Swiss Economic Forum today that the crisis in Ukraine is far from over and despite recent elections, violence, especially in the eastern part of the bleaguered nation, is on the rise. Burkhalter has an insiders view of the situation as the acting leader of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe), the group which supplied observers for much of the recent crisis and also served as international observers at the recent Ukraine Elections. At one point, nearly one half dozen OSCE observers were captured and held hostage by pro-Russian Separatists. There is no international group that has been closer to the events in Ukraine than has the OSCE. The leadership position of the OSCE is rotated among its 57 member states. This year, Burkhalter is the acting leader.
He has high praise for the OSCE's ability to function in the extreme pressure of the Ukraine crisis. Speaking in Interlaken, Switzerland, Burkhalter said "The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine was established with the consensus of the 57 participating States in March. This is significant as it demonstrates that cooperation among all main international actors remains possible despite diverging views on the causes of the crisis. The 238 monitors (from 41 nations) currently in the country are doing important work. They provide unbiased and verified information about security incidents and human rights violations and are tasked with supporting the government in implementing de-escalation measures. These civilians personify the impartiality of the OSCE and its commitment to Ukraine".
Burkhalter told the gathering that he will be in Kiev on Saturday to meet with the newly elected President, Petro Poroshenko. He says that the election, conducted in the glare of intense international scrutiny, gives Poroshenko a tremendous opportunity to implement reforms in a country where corruption is said to be rampant.
Obama visited Poland this week and spoke to some 6,000 Warsaw residents on Wednesday. He intends to tell Poroshenko - who he is meeting with today - that Poland is a great example of what Ukraine can be if it stays the course, roots out corruption, and follows a path to an open democracy. In Poland, Obama commemorated the 25th anniversary of Poland's first free (or partially free, depending on which publication you consult) election. The information on Burkhalter's address to the Swiss Economic Forum is from the Kuwait News Agency. It's web page is at http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2381116&language=en. Information on Obama's visit to Poland is from the Christian Broadcasting Network. It's web page is at https://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/June/Obama-Meets-with-Ukraines-Newly-Elected-President/
In another fascinating development in Poland, the citizens of Krakow have voted overwhelmingly not to seek the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. The vote was held May 25, and according to the Krakow Post, some 70% of all voters said "no" to the question of whether the City should make a bid to host the games. Krakow, among all European Cities, is one of the few to be spared extensive damage in World War II.
The Mayor of Krakow, Jacek Majchrowski, was an out-front supporter of seeking the Olympic Games, but he confirmed earlier in the week to the Post that the City will now withdraw its formal bid for the games. Despite the high stakes involved in the referendum, the turnout was only 34 percent, just 4 percent over the 30 percent minimum needed for the referendum to be dispositive of the issue. Voters in Poland's second largest city approved three other ballot questions: 55 percent were in favour of building a metro system in Krakow. 70 percent supported an increase in public security camera monitoring and a striking 85 percent agreed that Krakow should build more cycle paths. The results are all courtesy of the Krakow Post. It's web page is at http://www.krakowpost.com/article/8063
The Orioles have now won four straight games, but the condition of its starting staff is in question today. Miguel Gonzalez was scheduled to start tonight's series finale in Arlington, Texas, but was scratched due to pain in his right side that may be from a strain of his right oblique. He underwent an MRI that showed nothing too serious, but Oriole Manager Buck Showalter said on the club's web page that if Gonzalez cannot make a start on Saturday, he will be put on the disabled list retroactive to his last start. He has made four consecutive "quality" starts = in baseball talk, that means pitching at least six innings and giving up three or fewer earned runs - before this injury was reported. To make matters worse, Starter Bud Norris had to be removed from last night's start - a 6-5 Oriole victory, after he was hit on the right forearm by a line drive hit by the Rangers' Mitch Moreland. The initial news is that the injury is not serious and may not even cost Norris a start, but that was last night.
Last night the Orioles continued to get an outstanding run of offensive firepower and outstanding pithing from their bullpen in a 6-5 win over the Rangers in Texas. It was their fourth straight win. Nevertheless, their spate of poor play prior to this winning streak has allowed the suddenly hot Toronto Blue Jays to open up a lead in the AL East. Here are the up-to-the-minute AL East Standings:
American League East Standings
1. Toronto Blue Jays: 36 wins, 24 losses, .600 pct
2. Baltimore Orioles: 30 wins, 27 losses, .526 pct, 4.5 games behind
3. New York Yankees: 29 wins, 29 losses, .500 pct, 6 games behind
4. Boston Red Sox: 27 wins, 32 losses, ,458 pct, 8.5 games behind
5. Tampa Bay Rays: 23 wins, 37 losses, .383 pct, 13 games behind
And, on June 5, 2014 we will take a first look at the Wild Card Standings. The top two non-division winners in each league will make the playoffs and play each other in a one-game playoff. The three division leaders will not be listed in the wild card standings.
American League Wild Card Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels: 31 wins, 27 losses, .534 pct, +0.5 games ahead of base line
2. Baltimore Orioles: 30 wins, 27 losses, .526 pct
3. Seattle Mariners: 31 wins, 28 losses, .525 pct
4. Chicago White Sox: 31 wins, 30 losses, .508 pct, 1 game behind
5. Cleveland Indians: 30 wins, 30 losses, .500 pct, 1.5 games behind
6. New York Yankees: 29 wins, 29 losses, .500 pct, 1.5 games behind
7. Texas Rangers: 29 wins, 30 losses, .492 pct, 2 games behind
8. Minnesota Twins: 28 wins, 29 losses, .491 pct, 2 games behind
9. Kansas City Royals: 28 wins, 31 losses, .475 pct, 3 games behind
10. Boston Red Sox: 27 wins, 32 losses, ,458 pct, 4 games behind
11. Houston Astros: 25 wins, 35 losses, .417 pct, 6.5 games behind
12. Tampa Bay Rays: 23 wins, 37 losses, .383 pct, 8.5 games behind
American League East Scores from Wednesday, June 4:
Toronto Blue Jays 8, Detroit Tigers 2
Baltimore Orioles 6, Texas Rangers 5
Oakland Athletics 7, New York Yankees 4
Cleveland Indians 7, Boston Red Sox 4
Miami Marlins 5, Tampa Bay Rays 4
American League East Schedule for Thursday, June 5:
Toronto Blue Jays at Detroit Tigers, game now in progress at 2:30 pm, EDT
Baltimore Orioles at Texas Rangers, 8:30 pm
New York Yankees at Oakland Athletics, game now in progress at 2:30 pm EDT
Boston Red Sox are idle
Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays, 4:10 pm EDT
The University of Maryland Baseball Team is in completely uncharted waters. No Maryland Baseball team in history has ever gone this deep into an NCAA Baseball Tournament. Saturday at noon, EDT, the Terps begin a best of three Super Regional Showdown with the powerful Virginia Cavaliers. The winner advances to the College World Series. Even writing that seems totally improbable. Maryland and College World Series do not belong together in the same sentence. And yet, here they are. Game two will follow at noon on Sunday. If a game three is necessary, it will be played at 4 pm on Monday. All three games will be televised on ESPN2.
There are a total of eight Super Regional Series this weekend. Some start Friday and some start on Saturday. Here is the schedule for all of the games in each series"
Super Regional Games Friday, June 6, 2014
Stanford at Vanderbilt, 1:00 pm, EDT
Houston at Texas, 4:00 pm, EDT
Kennesaw State at Louisville, 6:30 pm, EDT
University of California at Irvine at Oklahoma State, 9:30 pm, EDT
Super Regional Games Saturday, June 7, 2014
Maryland at Virginia, 12:00 pm, EDT
College of Charleston at Texas Tech, 1:00 pm, EDT
Texas at Houston, 2:00 pm, EDT
Stanford at Vanderbilt, 3:00 pm, EDT
Pepperdine at Texas Christian, 4:00 pm, EDT
Kennesaw State at Louisville, 7:00 pm, EDT
Mississippi at Louisiana - Lafayette, 8:00 pm, EDT
University of California at Irvine at Oklahoma State, 9:30 pm, EDT
Super Regional Games Sunday, June 8, 2014
Maryland at Virginia, 12:00 pm, EDT
College of Charleston at Texas Tech, 3:00 pm, EDT
Pepperdine at Texas Christian, 6:00 pm, EDT
Mississippi at Louisiana - Lafayette, 9:00 pm, EDT
Stanford at Vanderbilt, if necessary
Houston at Texas, if necessary
Kennesaw State at Louisville, if necessary
University of California at Irvine at Oklahoma State, if necessary
Super Regional Games Monday, June 9, 2014
Maryland at Virginia, 4:00 pm, if necessary
College of Charleston at Texas Tech, if necessary
Pepperdine at Texas Christian, if necessary
Mississippi at Louisiana - Lafayette, if necessary
Incidentally, this was a banner headline, not in Maryland or someplace comparatively close, but, on Monday morning, right after the Maryland victory, in Miami, Florida: "Maryland stuns South Carolina to win NCAA regional."
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/01/4152415/maryland-stuns-south-carolina.html#storylink=cpy
In fact, the game was headlined all over the United States. I googled the phrase "Maryland Stuns South Carolina," and got over 1500 hits, including many from the largest newspapers and TV Stations, Networks, Blogs etc.
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