On the Prowl For the Day w/Thoughts On #AidRefugees; @GOP & Other Thoughts....

It has been quite a week in #Outsiders as I have worked on supporting the curation of the channels and assessing the key developments in our World.    It was quite a challenging week as the GOP continued to wrestle with a post-Boehner era under what I deemed "The Tyranny of the Minority".        It was just quite funny how the GOP was trying to "paper over" the differences in the aftermath of Kevin McCarthy's withdrawal.    .    This is as I continue to be amazed at how the GOP Presidential Field continues to advocate for a practical dismantling of the Federal Government in spite of the profound challenges on a multitude of fronts our team has been commenting on throughout the week.

One of the profound challenges the World is faced with is the refugees.   I "dropped by" the White House Website earlier to see whether there were any updates on President Obama's visit to Oregon and was so glad to see this prominently displayed on the Home Page which I was very glad to send it off to my personal Pinterest Board as I continue to assess what I can do further: 

What I found especially troublesome was the reports on two recent shootings in Texas and Arizona.   It is true that these make the news and the daily carnage in Chicago and others do not.    The need to do something is ever so critical.      It was fun, though, to support the curation of the Friday Musical Interlude as the team settled on Earth Wind & Fire.

Despite all the challenges, I did "step back" to reflect as I dug up one of the compilation of +Jonathan Huie that the team looks at daily which the team was again gracious enough to let me use as another weekend is before us:

We can only be said to be truly alive in those moments

when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

- Thornton Wilder 

Gratitude bestows reverence,

allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies,

those transcendent moments of awe that change forever

how we experience life and the world.

- John Milton

  

Onward to the Weekend....

On The Prowl For the Day (With Updated Comments on Late Breaking Developments)

It has been quite a morning already in Washington.    It is ever so worrisome as our team has been assessing the aftermath of Congressman Kevin McCarthy dropping out of the race to replace the House Speaker.   It was horrifying to me personally as I heard one of the members of the House Freedom Caucus on changes that is necessary and I noted now the "Tyranny of the Minority" seems to be the order of the day in Washington right now.    It is of profound concern as the nature of Government is itself and the issue of Governing itself.  I went into the #Outsider archives to assess the "Conservative" read on why the Speaker resigned--although he did issue a statement that he will stay until a new House Speaker is elected--and as Donald Trump just "chimmed" in taking credit by saying how everything is a "mess" in Washington: 

Sept. 25, 2015
NEWS 6 Times John Boehner Clashed With Conservatives John Boehner, who announced he would leave Congress by the end of October, was elected as House speaker in 2011. He's clashed with conservatives on several occasions since then. Read More
NEWS Former Speaker Newt Gingrich Explains Why John Boehner Resigned Gingrich left the speakership in 1999 with members of Congress frustrated by his leadership, similar to the circumstances facing Boehner. Watch the Video
NEWS 37 Tweets About John Boehner's Resignation Twitter was buzzing Friday morning as news spread about Boehner's resignation. Read More
NEWS Flashback: John Boehner Boasted of 'Broad Support' Just Two Months Ago Facing a motion to remove him as speaker, Boehner pushed back at his critics in July. Watch the Video
NEWS Meet the Man Who Challenged John Boehner's Speakership The Daily Signal visited Rep. Mark Meadows last month while home in his Western North Carolina district. He reflected on his decision to present a motion to oust Boehner. Read More
COMMENTARY

I am glad to see Peter King of New York notes how Donald Trump is a "funny guy", but this is not a funny matter--and so glad he's noting that America is turning into a "banana republic".    The Tyranny of the Minority is ever so in evidence--and it is of profound concern.

Beyond the National Concern our team is focused on,  I have also been assessing some late breaking developments here in our home base of Orange County about a shortage of Skills that Orange County seems to be facing which we will talk about in our Community Channel.   It is also of note that Cities have begun the process of recruiting for Commisions and Committees.  The City of Laguna Niguel has already begun the process and other will be following suite.

As I was supporting the work of #Outsiders and other projects, I could not help but wonder about this admonition and whether the  +GOP  can truly live up to the admonition noted below--This is why I am supporting #Outsiders so that the conversation can be changed:

 My basic principle is that you don't make decisions because they are easy; you don't make them because they are cheap; you don't make them because they're popular; you make them because they're right. ~ Sophocles

As A New Week Dawns in #Outsiders: On-Going Thoughts.....

It was quite a busy weekend throughout #Outsiders as we "hit the Virtual Ground Running".  On the Business front, I was personally not too surprised as Walmart continued to rightsize and American Apparel declared bankrupcy.    It was also tragic to see the demise of Haagan's that will result in some 11 stores closing in Orange County.   I will never forget the face of a long-time Vons employee who decided to stay with Haagan's.    Yet, Albertson is planning to go public.

I was quite proud to see the City of Laguna Niguel announcing a "Jr. Statesman" program which our team will be releasing an update in our Community Channel, South County Matters, within the next day or so.   I have also been quite amazed at how the City of Laguna Niguel has been so committed to the safety of Pedestrians as the Community gears up for National Walk-To-School Day and the on-going Community Service Initaitive for Pedestrians on-going at the Traffic Commision which I currently serve as the Vice Chair.   It is also exciting times in South County as the developments of the Downtowns in Mission Viejo, Dana Point and Laguna Niguel continue 

I have also been quite interested in the race for the House Speaker as I saw this from the Heritage Foundation's Daily Caller:

Oct. 5, 2015
NEWS Meet the Underdog Republican Running for Speaker of the House House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy may have emerged as the frontrunner in the race for speaker of the House, but Florida Rep. Daniel Webster is emboldening his Republican colleagues to buck leadership's status quo in favor of a new approach to legislating. Read More
NEWS Jason Chaffetz Announces Speaker Bid: Americans Don't Want 'Status Quo,' but for 'Us to Fight' "We were entrusted by the American people with the largest majority the Republicans have ever had since Babe Ruth was swinging the baseball bat." Read More

I think the Fortune's Geoff Colvin was rigtht in his daily "Power sheet" that our team has featured as part of its' on-going curation in the Education Channel that the outgoing Speaker, John Boehner can make history.     What I found disturbing was this comment by Jason Chaffetz that the American People want them to "fight".   I respectfully disagree with it--The American People want you guys to govern.       I was not too impressed with Mr. Chaffetz during the planned parenthood meeting as he ended the meeting with a chart supposedly from Planned Parenthood--which ended up being from an Anti-Abortion Organization.       On the Presidential Front, I am amazed by the continued rise of Senator Sanders as he draws bigger and bigger crowds.    

Beyond the beauty and majesty of Orange County and the challenges of US Politics, it is also a World that is burning around us.    One interesting piece of news was (and our team will be working to assess it) was the agreement on the Transpacific Partnership that would create a free trade zone with 11 countries that encompass 40% of the World's Trade (and encompass the Countries of "NASIIM" we're rolling out).      There is also the inferno of the Middle East too.      Russia is now "all in" in Syria as Israel again is under siege and potentially facing a third Intifada by Palestinians.    This Haaretz Editorial I saw was quite telling in how the Israeli Prime Minister was taken to task:

An article has been sent to you from Haaretz.com:

Netanyahu: A PM detached 
from reality

There is no question Israel Matters--and this interesting tidbit our team was analyzing underscored this:

Hi , Of the many peoples and issues that comprise today’s Middle East, few are as fascinating – or as complicated – as those that define Israel. The threats and challenges to Israel’s existence and territory are many – including an aspiring nuclear power in Iran, the proximity of Islamic State jihadists in Syria, or even closer to home, where policies toward or adopted by Palestinians are a source of perennial tension. No study of current events in the Middle East is complete without an understanding of the pivotal, frequently controversial role that Israel plays in this region. Add to your own insights on the issues with this FREE e-book, “The Geopolitics of Israel: Biblical and Modern.”

It will be quite an interesting week......