Military pulled into immigration battle

By Daniel Cortez

As volatile and at the same time delicate remains the subject of immigration, Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot with the huge independent Hispanic voting community by blocking legislation to allow immigrants who can pass the rigid military qualifications service in our military. Our national history, if revisited, depicts thousands if not millions of illegal and undocumented families that were part of combat operations since World War II. And again history notes scores of illegals have been decorated with the nation’s highest medal for bravery, the Medal of Honor, and other heroic medals for their service. I personally fought with many of them in Vietnam and saw numerous give their life for this country.

Jeb: GOP needs to show it can lead

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Jeb Bush came out again on the side of common sense and pragmatic leadership when he addressed The Wall Street Journal CEO Council annual meeting (see Jeb Bush details political vision at The Hill). Noting that the GOP nominee should “lose the primary to win the general without violating your principles,” he expanded on that:

He said voters are looking for an “uplifting, much more positive message.”

Bush’s apparent strategy not to try to appeal to the most conservative elements of the party contrasts to some degree with Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign, where some questioned whether he tacked too far to the right in the primary, hurting his ability to get back toward the center for the general election.

Republicans most likely to be 2016 GOP nominee

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Hill has their list of 13 Republicans most likely to be nominees for the Republican presidential nomination for 2016 (see 13 Republicans most likely to win WH). I don’t agree with some of their choices but it makes for interesting speculation.

Second American journalist reportedly beheaded by terrorists

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Video has surfaced reportedly showing a second American journalist being beheaded by terrorists (see ISIS video purports to show beheading of American journalist by reporter Kristina Wong at The Hill).

Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has taken credit for the murder of 31-year-old freelance journalist Steven Joel Sotloff.

Pragmatic Lamar Alexander prevailing in Tennessee

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Hill takes a look at Congressional races throughout the country but I was particularly interested in Tennessee for a couple of reasons. My daughter and her husband live in Nashville and I’ve told them about what awesome representation they have in U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander. Now the tea party wants to take him out. Why? Sounds like it’s the usual “not conservative enough.”

So I found it particularly interesting to read The Hill’s analysis of that race (see Lamar rises over Rocky Top):