Notes From Norm Friday December 30th: The Top Ten Stories of 2011

The year 2011 has been a reflection of all that is good and bad that encompasses human behavior and human events.

We saw remarkable kindness and joy in the actions from those who serve our nation on the front lines of public safety – men and women who put their own lives and safety on the line to preserve the peace and protect our communities from those who seek to do us harm.

Throughout the world, our American fighting men and women continued to lean forward, showing the world that our nation will defend the God-given rights to freedom and liberty for all people from the tyranny and despotism of evil men. 

In between these acts of kindness and courage, still stands the suffering of millions of Americans who are without jobs, many more who have lost their homes and for far too many, those who have lost hope in their future and that of their children.

As I have said before, these are challenging and difficult times for all Americans.  But, as with past generations of Americans, we are not a nation without means, nor a nation without the conviction of our beliefs to simply fold up and walk away. 

American Exceptionalism remains alive and well throughout our nation.  It remains one of my most sincere hopes that we find that leader for our nation that will harness it again, and restore the confidence in our future that we desperately need.

I asked followers of the American Action Network for their “votes” on the top stories and events of 2011.  For some it was the weather events of the year, for others, it was the failure to repeal ObamaCare or the resolute disaster that is “Operation Fast and Furious”.

One of the most common top vote getters, and one that I believe was critical to stopping the massive expansion of government under the Obama Administration and the Democratic controlled House and Senate, was the success of Republicans to gain control of the United States House of Representatives.

Or, as one reader put it best, “The swearing in of the new Tea Party legislators and Pelosi having to give over her gavel to Boehner!!”

I asked the American Action Network Team to offer some of their own top stories of the year, and they included:

* Conservatives making an aggressive effort to gain the support of Hispanics through the efforts of the Hispanic Leadership Network

*  President Obama calling for a return to the 1967 borders in Israel – in a continuing repudiation of our historical support of our ally by an American President

*  ObamaCare goes to the Supreme Court

*  The national debate over spending begins, with the Ryan Budget setting the stage for a seismic shift in the debate over the role of government in our lives

*  Republicans winning the NY-09 special election

*  Osama Bin Laden is brought to justice by our nation’s military for his crimes against American on 9/11

*  The ongoing fight over the nation’s debt ceiling

*  The Arab Spring

*  The ongoing European debt crisis

*  The challenges, and opportunity, of divided government

*  Congressman Gabby Giffords assassination attempt and her courageous recovery

*  The failure of the “Super Committee” to reach an accord to cut $1.5 trillion from the Federal Budget

While I wouldn’t argue with any of these as some of the most crucial stories of 2011, I would rank the following as my Top Ten stories of 2011 as having implications for America and our safety and security:

#10.)  The $15 trillion debt ceiling/Failure of the Balanced Budget Amendment to pass Congress

The financial security of America continues to decay as Congress and the President failed to stem the bleeding.  Given a chance to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Democrats and the President successfully blocked it, and made it clear that fiscal responsibility is not a primary issue of concern to them.

#9.)  Downgrade of America’s financial stability

For the first time in history, key rating agencies downgraded the United States’ debt.  A direct reflection of the inability to curb spending and the growth of government, the implications of this downgrade will be felt for generations.

#8.)  Terrorist plot on U.S. soil involving Iranian officials

American officials were seemingly surprised that Iran might be involved in trying to kill diplomats in the United States.  Given the fact that nobody else in America was surprised to learn they might do such a thing, it raises troubling questions about who is in charge at the White House.

#7.)  The Arab Spring

Millions took to the streets to demand freedom and liberty, putting their own safety and security at risk. 

#6.)  Syria killing its own people.  And, continuing to kill its own people.

President Bashar Assad continues to murder his own people – and the Obama Administration continues to remain indifferent.  In an effort to deflect focus on the failure of his domestic agenda, the President has tried to rally political support for his foreign policy agenda “successes”.  The death of Osama Bin Laden is not a foreign policy agenda.

#5.)  The death of Gadhafi

To paraphrase Lincoln, “The world will little note, nor long remember” the life and death of this evil.

#4.)  The Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

In a reminder that despite the power of humans to create and destroy, God and Nature are all powerful.  For the thousands who died and suffered, our prayers and thoughts continue to be with our Japanese ally.

#3.)  Sudan becomes independent

Freedom lives in the hearts of all people.  And, when given the opportunity to choose liberty over oppression, the hunger to be free will win every time.

#2.)  Millions of Americans are without jobs

While the unemployment rate “dips”, what is really happening is people are just simply giving up looking for jobs that don’t exist anymore.  The Obama Administration owns the economy and its unacceptable disregard for doing anything substantive for two years to address the plight of unemployed Americans will be its ultimate downfall in 2012.

#1.)  The Obama Administration loses Iran

For any foreign policy failure such as Iran achieving the ability to develop nuclear weapons on the watch of any President in this decade, one would have had to have willingly accepted its own malfeasance.  The President has not only accepted it, but embraced it.

Any list of the top stories of the previous year is never complete, and there are so many other options one could choose.  Be that as it may, I do know that 2011 will be a year that many of us will remember, some of us would like to forget, but all of us who are reading this will be fortunate to have survived!

It is my great hope for 2012 that your year will be much better than the one before it, and that for those of you still hard at work trying to find work, that you will find success.  For those of who are in faraway places, standing at the forefront of America’s promise to the world, I wish you and your family a happy, peaceful and blessed New Year.

My own family has been deeply blessed and grateful for our friends, family and those that continue to support and encourage us throughout the year.  We are ever grateful for being given the good fortune to live in the greatest country in the world.

To you, your family and your friends, my best wishes for a wonderful 2012!