Gallagher...Who Won Last Evening's Presidential Debate?

Good Question.

I know that I am in the midst of a two-parter Blog but it would be remiss of me to delay writing about the last eve's Presidential Debate of the Century.

Okay - back to the question.

Short answer...I do not know.

I say that because often debates are not won or lost in the doing but are determined by which side has the best Spin Meisters.  And, I suspect Hillary will have a big edge there - plus most of the Media trying their best to depict her as victorious.

In the final analysis though it will come down to the Polls ...as it always does.

But, for the record, here is my analysis:

• Clinton won the first half;
• Trump won the second half;
• Hillary looked the more Presidential throughout;
• But the edge goes to Trump simply because few believed he could go toe to toe with his more experienced opponent.

So by a slim margin, I believe Trump came out on top.

So now we leave it to the above-noted Spin Meisters to work their magic....and in the meantime, we await the Polling Results over the course of the next few days which in the final analysis will determine the real winner. 

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

ONE BRIDGE TOO MANY...

Today's title is taken of course from the 1977 British - American Epic Film concerning World War Two Operation... Market Garden.

British, American and Polish forces went behind lines in 1944 to capture a number of bridges leading to the final one at Arnhem, The Netherlands.  It was one bridge too far resulting in the British Airborne losing 80% of its 10,000 crack troops. 

My Bridge, on the other hand, is not one of steel and concrete; rather it pertains to my Heart.

Permit me to explain.

Two years ago this month, I was cleaning up some paper work from a Rally two other couples, with my wife and I, had organized on our Capital Hill seeking the Government's support to come to the aide of Christians who were facing genocide in the Middle East.  The Rally  took place on a Saturday ... and two days later - on the Monday morning, at 9:10 am, just 10 minutes after my wife Anne had left for work, I began to feel some pressure ...(no pain) in my upper chest but did feel pain on my left side through to my left shoulder-blade.  I also experienced pain up through the left side of my face. 

I was suspicious that I was having a heart attack although admittedly, I had never had one before. 

I took 3 baby aspirins and laid down.  And after but a few minutes, half the intensity of my symptoms disappeared.

I decided to drive to my doctor's office located in a clinic but 5 minutes drive from our home.  I told the receptionist that I thought I may - or may not, be experiencing heart trouble.

She soon had me before one of the clinic's nurses who, after berating me for having driven to the clinic, placed some nitroglycerin under my tongue.  

"How did I feel" she asked - I told her the balance of my symptoms had miraculously disappeared.

She went to find an available doctor - my own happened to be off that day. 

The Doctor checked me out and opinioned that she did not think I had nor was having a heart attack.  I thanked her profusely and made for the door whereupon I ran into the Nurse.

"Where are you going" she asked - "home" I said - "No you are not" she responded.  "I am a former Registered Nurse from the Heart Institute and I can tell you - you are having a heart attack".

And not only that, "an ambulance is on route to take you to the nearest Hospital".

While waiting - I called Anne.  Bad news and Good news I said, - I am off to the hospital for fear I may be having a heart attack but not to worry, the Doctor does not believe I am...having a heart attack that is.

Silence on the other end.  "Anne...you still there?"

Finally Anne responded, "I will meet you at the Hospital".

Oh, No, I thought - what have I gotten myself into.

To cut to the chase - I was having a heart attack and for the next three days made the Hospital my new home.

Two Stents later - I was discharged but the story does not end here.

I was soon back to meet with "my Cardiologist" for a recap of what had occurred and what my post hospital treatment would consist of.

My Cardiologist informed me that in dealing with my recent heart attack it was discovered that I had an aneurysm located on major artery leading from my heart.

More tests were ordered and included an MRI.

I was by now calling my heart attack the Good Heart Attack since had I not had it - the aneurysm would have gone undetected. 

In due course I was back before my Cardiologist who informed me that the recent MRI had found not 1 but 2 aneurysms along with a defective valve.

Good Heart Attack was now replaced by Great Heart Attack.

She explained to me that the aneurysms averaged 4.8 in size ... (I am not totally sure but assume we are talking about millimeters). She went on to say that if and when they reached 5.5 in size, they would be operated on to repair them. 

She then let slip that most aneurysms burst at below 5.0 that is to say roughly the diameter of my two. 

I ask her what was I missing in this - if most burst at below 5.0 and both of mine fall into that classification - why wait until 5.5 for repair?

She calmly explained to me that my case would be different because she would be monitoring my situation closely in the hope that the major restorative surgery would not be necessary. (apparently some aneurysms stop growing) 

Needless to say, I was happy with her explanation since who in their right mind would want to undergo major surgery if it can be permanently avoided. But it still left me somewhat unsettled.

We are now about to encounter my Bridge Too Many.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

A Few Miscellaneous Thoughts About Donald Trump's Candidacy

Boy is dear Hillary running scared ....in response to the ISIS attacks in the United States over the course of the last 48 hours.

Hillary called for an all out effort against ISIS.  To that point she - like her Boss - the little guy in the White House, has been loath to say who exactly was committing this Mayhem.

It was only recently - as you will recall, that they began even admitting that these acts were done by Terrorists. For most of their term they were calling these animals mere criminals.

Indeed, the Governor of New York's initial reaction was to state 'there is no evidence to assume these acts were committed by Terrorists'.  

To which I would have responded 'no evidence other than the fact that 10 out of 10 such attacks are committed by Muslim Extremists such as ISIS'

Democratic Governor Cuomo is apparently a very slow learner - thankfully, Hillary seems to becoming at last somewhat more aware. Do you think her conversion may have anything to do with the fact that she is in a tight race for President?

The Bottom-line in all of this has been and continues to be the fact that Muslim Extremists have Declared War on the West and until that registers with the Powers That Be ...we in the West will continue to flail at shadows.

All in all though the timing of these Terrorists attacks could not have come at a better time for Donald Trump ...watch his poll numbers continue to rise.

The Presidential Debates

Not surprisingly with the coming of September the American Electorate was able to focus on the 2 year extravaganza to elect their President.  And with that, Donald Trumps poll numbers began to compete with Hillary's.

Despite this and despite the timely affect of the ISIS attacks this weekend, the race for President is by no means over.

It will come down to who does better in the 3 Presidential Debates especially the first and most important is slated to occur on September 26/16.  This will be the most watch and critiqued of any debate in US History.  I can't wait for it.

I predict that whoever wins the most marbles on the 26th will be victorious in November.

As I see it.

'K.D. Galagher'

WHAT'S TO ENVY...

As in who in their right mind would wish to be a politician.

Take what is going on in the USA for instance....

Their every move is watch and their every utterance is parsed in hopes for a gaff.

By 'Their' I mean of course The Donald and The Hillary.

Donald Trump is not the dunce he is portrayed to be nor is Hillary the Crook she is thought by so many to be.

Day after Day, Month after Month their Presidential Campaign has been raging on - long flights, long hours and what do they get in return - abuse.  By the pundits, by the Press, by the Opposing Party and too often by Members of their Own Party.

You have to be a Masochist to get any joy out of this.

The only job I see worse is being a Royal and having to feign interest in inane ceremonies held across the Commonwealth supposedly in their Honour.  Plastic smiles anyone?

But it is not just the top politicos that get this treatment.

Recently our local Member of the Provincial Legislature (comparable to a State in the US) was chastised severely for telling a slightly off colour joke at an 'off the record gathering in support of a local charity).  Word has it that he was advised to lighten things with this joke by his wife.  I have known this chap for a long time and have never heard him so much as say 'damn'.

Anyway the poor guy lost all his Parliamentary responsibilities - was forced to take Politically Correct Sensitivity Training and then forced to apologize to his Political Colleagues.

I would have told the Party and its Leader to 'shove it'.

But this is the Politically Correct fishbowl our politicians are now living in.

A few years back a very senior Cabinet Minister in our National Government was forced to resign for jokingly saying he had a bomb on him.  He was wrong - dumb thing to say - but he was booted so fast from Cabinet ...  a little overkill is you ask me and just another example of fishbowl politics. 

So if you do not like the quality of our politicos these days ... this might just be one of the big reasons why.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

SOME THINGS DON'T MIX...

LIKE CARS AND BICYCLES.

Our city of slightly less than 1 million has had a rash of bicycle injuries and death of late ... indeed it seems that deaths of cyclists are occurring almost weekly.

This at a time when our city is going big on green (read more bikes, bike paths, bike lanes, more public transit) and of course ....less reliance on the dreaded automobile.

A 1 metre (mol 1 yard) rule was recently enacted by our Progressive Province which requires cars to be at least that distance from a cyclists when passing.  No such constraint is placed on the biker.  This despite the fact that in 10 times out of 10 when a car / truck collides with a bicyclist, it is the latter who sustains injury.

Just this past week a foreign student was tragically killed by a dump truck on one of our city's busiest downtown roads.  Cyclists are up in arms even though severe criminal charges were laid against the hapless truck driver.  

Note to irate cyclists ....It was an accident.  He was turning right and could not see the female cyclist in his blind spot. There was no criminal intent.

The road in question was only recently retooled to allow for bikes. As mentioned, it is one of our city's most busy ... and that is with cars.  But in their wisdom, City officials reduced driving lanes and replaced them with bike lanes.  Plus don't forget the 1 metre requirement.  (Lots of room for bikes - less so for cars).

Cyclists now say the work there was flawed ...new expensive studies are needed to determine once and for all how bikes and cars can coexist on the same pavement.  City officials are onside and promise that no amount of money will be spared in solving this problem.

Except dear Reader, the Problem of course cannot be solved.

Anytime a roadway is shared, the big guy ...aka the car / truck...is going to win out.

The other problem that tends to go under-mentioned is the fact that the cyclists themselves are in many cases terrible at adhering to the rules of the road.  They cut in and out of lanes, ignore traffic lights, and generally make a pest of themselves when in the presence of cars.

If auto drivers behaved like that - they would have had their licences suspended long ago.

Bicycles do not even have to be licences - nor do they pay the heavy gas taxes that car owners do.  

I am not opposed to bicyclists in fact I admire them for their ? to keep fit.  I just have trouble with the stupidity attached for them to get from A to B in the presence of cars.

So I try to come up with a solution in cases like this....Keep Bikes and Cars apart.

Brilliant n'est pas?

Okay - quite elementary but that is what is comes down to.  Build Bike Paths that do not come in contact with cars or a lesser fix...split sidewalks in 2 - one side for pedestrians and one side for bikers.

In the latter case it is true that some pedestrians will unfortunately be injured but I can guarantee you the number of fatalities will significantly decline.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

WHAT TO DO WITH KIM JONG-UN ...

Why put a cruise missile through his bedroom window of course.

This Jerk is on his way to obtaining the ability to successfully launch long range nuclear missiles.

The guy, like his father and grandfather before him, is certifiable...he fiddles with Nukes while his Countrymen Starve.

His weakness stems from the fact that his control over North Korea begins and ends with himself.  Take him out and his people are free.

That said, I am not one to usually condone State Sponsored Execution - save for in time of war - but in Kim's case I gladly make an exception. 

The Stakes are just too high as evidenced by this week's major underground nuclear test which even the dysfunctional UN Security Council was quick to unanimously condemned.

Even the usually passive President Obama allowed that he would never allow North Korea to become a Nuclear State which may strike some of us as odd since it already is.  (Supposedly he was referring to it getting long range capability).

But keep in mind that the little guy in the White House has been known to draw 'red lines in the sand' before only to then run and hide.

If the little guy had a smidgen of smarts he would take out this Terrorist for two reasons:  first, the Jong-un is universally hated so no one, not even the Chinese, would mourn his loss and second, his popularity at home would soar and would continue well into his presidential retirement.

So ...just maybe.

In our weekend newspaper appears a front page picture of Kim asking whether or not he is the most dangerous man in the world.

He's not of course - that title still rests with the leadership of Iran. With the help of the United States - with money and the green light to continue to build their nuclear arsenal - this is where the real danger lies as it has for many years gone by.

Maybe it is time to give the green light to the Israelis to get rid of that threat as well.....

But don't count on that happening any time soon.

In the meantime dearest Leader - don't sleep too soundly and keep one eye open to the bedroom window. 

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher' 

Professional Columnists vs Us Amateurs

Let me be Quite Honest .... I have been Lazy of Late - Blame it on the End of One of the Most Glorious Summers that I can Ever Recall !!

But it is not just that - The News seems to be going in endless circles - Killings by ISIS and Their Ilk, the Never Ending Presidential Campaign etc etc.

Nothing is new anymore - same old, despite the fact the issues continue to be some of the most serious we've faced since the time of the Second World War.

For instance, on the US Presidential Election front - Trump continues to make stupid statements while each day's revelations regarding dear Hillary make it obvious the dear woman belongs behind bars.  That said, the Mafia Bosses were able to run their Empires while in Jail - so why couldn't Hillary run the Country from there as well?  If anyone could do it ...she could.

Us Amateurs have the luxury of taking a break from this 'same olde' ... the Pros do not.

Imagine having to be required to write weekly or even daily columns during this time of inertia.  Those poor devils.

They have to be the best self-motivators going.

So allow me to highlight those whom I believe are the best of the best both here at home and in America.

Andrew Coyne is by far and away the best here in Canada.  His ability to write and his insightful analysis is a pleasure to read.  His father, by way of interest, was the Governor of the Bank of Canada during Prime Minister John Diefenbaker's Government in the late 50s and early 60s.  Indeed the feud between these two luminaries was instrumental in bringing the Olde Chief down. 

Andrew is middle of the road and cannot easily be pegged as either Conservative nor Liberal which I believe is an essential attribute for a columnist to have. 

Our second best is Rex Murphy a Newfie, whose ability to manipulate the Queen's English is unparalleled.  The Guy is Hilariously but Yet Seriously Funny. 

At an earlier time, I would have added Journalist Chantal Hebert but over the course of the last several years she has retreated to her Quebec roots and now spouts analysis based on a parochial bias. 

That leads me nicely to the Best American Analyst ... Charles Krauthammer.  Krauthammer is a medical doctor, come psychiatrist come columnist / analyst who I find to be the Best of the Best. 

He rarely follows the crowded field of fellow pundits but follows his own insightful logic that seldom if ever fails to impress.  BTW, he obtained his medical degree after an accident which left him nearly quadriplegic.  The guy must have an IQ of 202.

But like our dear friend Chantal - he too has a human flaw - he despises Donald Trump ... no doubt rightfully since Trump turned his caustic tongue on Krauthammer in the latter part of last year.  

Accordingly, when Krauthammer comments on The Donald, his opinions are needlessly jaundiced for reasons that date back to the insult.

That said, he is still the Best out there - but he could be better - as Chantal Hebert could be better, if they left their personal prejudices aside in the interest of fair commentary.  

I would - if I could add a second pick from the American side - but none appear to warrant that selection. 

Maybe you have some suggestions and I would love to hear them.

Anyway - Summer is winding up and hopefully I will get back to some writing but am thankful that we have the Pros out there - day in and day out. They deserve whatever they are paid.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'