What do you call a government body with the worst credit rating in the nation, a $100B pension shortfall, $5B in unpaid bills, one party control of Governorship & both chambers that each hold a veto-majority and a Speaker of the House of Representatives that is a career politician of 43 years who recently boasted that he's just getting warmed up?  Is this Libya?  Syria?  No sir, it's our own Land of Lincoln...Illinois.  

At this point, the best strategy for the state is to go bankrupt while a former resident and politician still resides in the White House.  If that doesn't work maybe the President can use one of his super human, uncontrollable executive powers to pardon a state guilty of absolute neglect and total disregard of fiscal responsibility?  

I could be wrong, but I don't think our most honorable Abraham Lincoln would have welcomed the following mashup to his most famous words... "A government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth, but those bills ---- fugedaboudit --- fore a government of the taxes, by the taxes, for the taxes, under single party control, can fool all of the people all of the time." 

I jest, but this is no laughing matter.  A great state is Illinois that is in dire need of great leaders.  Our government seems coerced to action only in crisis and then driven to resolve only in terms of non-negotiable, partisan outcomes.  Illinois urgently needs a balance of political power and respective party leadership that is willing to negotiate and compromise on very difficult issues.  

By Christopher O'Malley

Definition of INSTINCT
1  a natural or inherent aptitude, impulse, or capacity <had an instinct for the right word>
2 a : a largely inheritable and unalterable tendency of an organism to make a complex and specific response to environmental stimuli without involving reason
    b : behavior that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level

In American history, we have always been a country that comes to the rescue of the men and women that serve our nation when in peril.  It is not a matter of policy or politics.  It is a matter of moral instinct...the "American Instinct".

Ty Woods was a Navy Seal in Benghazi on the night of the terrorist arrack on the US Ambassador.  He was not responsible for the security of the Ambassador, but when he heard the call for help, he instinctively responded.  He was ordered to stand down.  For American heroes like Ty, there are some military orders that defy moral order and, with God's grace, the "American Instinct" prevails.  He disobeyed the order and voluntarily put himself in harm's way to rescue American citizens in distress.

When the violence reached an uncontrollable level, Ty's own calls for assistance went unanswered.  After hours of bravely fighting, Ty must have realized at some point that the country he had so honorably served; the country he loved; the country that lead the formation of his own "American Instinct" was never going to come.  Ty Woods was found slumped over a machine gun fighting to save a group of fellow Americans until his last breath.

When Christopher Stephens (the American Ambassador to Libya) needed us, we turned away.  Ty Woods ran to save him.  When Ty needed us, we turned away.  I ask you, "What is a nation that turns its back on those that so courageously serve it?"  The United States of America?  Of all our past Presidents, I do not believe there is one that would have done anything other than respond instinctively and decisively to such a situation.  On that evening of 9/11/2012, the man demonstrating the most Presidential of qualities and following the most fundamental of "American Instincts" was Ty Woods.

God bless Ty Woods, an Honorable American Hero.  

God bless Christopher Stevens (American Ambassador to Libya), an Honorable American Hero.

The greatest tribute that we can give such lost heroes is to exercise our right to vote for those who represent the true "American Instinct".

Sincerely,

Christopher O'Malley

There are two videos of Ty Woods' father, Charles Woods, discussing the tragedy. Also, find a timeline of events that transpired since the evening of 9/11/12 in Benghazi that drove me to write this blog.  Please watch/read them.  They made me cry.

Charles Woods, Father of Ty Woods, interviewed by Glenn Beck - 10/25/12 8:09 Minutes
Charles Woods, Father of Ty Woods, interview by Sean Hannity - 10/26/12 8:00 Minutes
FactCheck.org: Benghazi Timeline - 10/26/12

New information since my original blog appears to contradict statements made by the President in the 2nd debate and raises questions as to why CBS withheld the information until a day before the election.

USA Today: CBS transcript: Obama wouldn't call Benghazi terrorism - 11/5/12

 I encourage any and all comments (good, bad or ugly), "tweets" and "likes" as the case may be.