Congratulation, President Obama!

Comment

Comment by Japa on July 25, 2010 at 10:39am

Cool!!! I loved your essay. We could install Championsway system at the white house after that. Big hug

Comment by Burt Maben on February 12, 2009 at 10:35am

Politics is life and life is politics. Joe you are full of shit . . . and that is why the vast majority of schools continue to close- they don't live in reality. Obama is a breath of fresh air.

Comment by John Graden on November 18, 2008 at 8:53am

Just to be clear, Joe Brignoli does not speak on behalf of MATA or Pro-Star. These are his personal views only.

Comment by Mike Dolpies on November 11, 2008 at 12:30pm

Here's one that will leave out the politial views (many of you know mine already) and give you something to take from this that will help you run your business better. Obama is more persuasive, way more charismatic and ran a campaign that blew John McCain away. He comminicated a simple compelling message in a clear way.

If you want to study Obama - study his Marketing. If you want to get political and make this country a better place- start at home. I sit on my town zoning board becuase I am concerned about the economic future of my area. Think of JFK and "Ask what you can do for your country!"

I am here asking "What can I do for My Industry?"

Be sure to go to my page and check my lattest podcast- then
join my Secret Society group.

Comment by Rodney F. on November 7, 2008 at 11:57am

Only in a discussion tinged with politics can facts be spewed forth with such candor, and yet with no discernment for factual integrity or contextual appointment. Mr. Brignoli if you have been writing political books under a pen name could you please list them in a reply as I would be more than delighted to spend an afternoon in verbage you have produced. I think the biggest problem that the international community has with the United States of America is that the U.S. government and many of its citizens are devoid of the concept of complicity. Your actions and your foreign policy have killed millions of people since 1952. Your economy is based on how fast you can mobilize your army for the sole purpose of feeding this "war-industrial complex" created by the government. I think how the international community views the USA is as a country that solves the bulk of its problems through war. I think if you read over your posts and your subsequent replies you would agree with this. You've brought the issue of war to a discussion that did not warrant such a position. Has America, since 1952 lived a single year where they have not bore their arms and sent their sons and daughters to far-off lands to kill or be killed?

Are you not tired of war?

What purpose do your wars serve other than to serve the interests of a generation entwined with greed, competition and over-consumption? Even when your country preaches freedom, liberty and democracy for all, we find that after your tanks and bombs have razed the land of all life, the democracy you implement is a puppet regime that will readily give you whatever resources you desire cheaply and quickly so that the average American Joe doesn't have to pay $4.00 a gallon for gas. Does that in anyway sound "American" to you? Your opinions reflect a government message that has been prevalent for so long that it has deluded people into thinking that whatever America does it just and holy. You've ostracized countries that have not supported you, you've invaded peaceful countries without just cause, and your tax dollars have supported military dictators who have propagated the black market arms and drug trade. There is no such thing as a "War on Terror." And yet, your media and government has used this form of literature and so poignantly idnetified your enemies and "Axis of Evil" in order to create fear and a pliant population that will serve the government diligently and without question. How can you win a war against an enemy that has no face? How can you win a war against a population that is not afraid to die? How do you win against an enemy that is so ardent and zealous in their cause that they will strap a bomb to their chest and let it go off in an open crowd? You may think that the world needs to be rid of such people. But the way I see it is you've pushed people to the brink. Your country has brought so much suffering to innocent people that they see no other options and no other channels to live a life free of war and death. Do these people not deserve freedom, liberty and justice? Why is that these tenets and ideologies are for the American first, and then the Canadian, Iraqi, and Chinese second?

Why should a country give up its resources, or drain its oil reserves so that you can fill up your gas tank at $2.50 a gallon?

How do you as a person justify these things?

I wholeheartedly think that neither Obama nor John McCain are the answer to anything. It's the people that need to wake up and realize that they live in a global community. And not just America, but the world. Resources are finite and the global population is too large. I think the Bible quotes that money is a god and that no man can serve two masters. We've all become slaves to money and have no idea that even the smallest of our actions affect others. Change can only come when the root of the problem has been dealt with. The election did not change the root of the problem. It did not even address the root of the problem. Everyone was quick to denounce Bush and blame him for all the world's troubles, but in reality it's the people and how they live their lives. It's the mentality that they have acquired through the government that they are the best and the most powerful country in the world and they should live as such.

I truly suggest you go to your local university library and spend some time reading on World history from 1900s onward. I would focalize on America's action during this period and you'll realize that it has been less than stellar.

The only glimmer of hope really is that as strong as the United States has been to arm themselves to protect their liberties, they have shown great resilience to stand up together as one voice to stop wars and gain freedom and rights for all American people. It's time you showed that character to the world.

Comment by Joe Brignoli on November 7, 2008 at 11:06am

My below reply is rather long (some would say, convoluted) but since everyone took the time to reply, I’ll take the time to answer questions posed and respond to comments. Some of this has been pasted from my newest political book, and I welcome your comments. After reading this, anyone interested in purchasing my latest political book (under a pseudonym) can send me a private message and I can have you placed on the waiting list.

First, let me say that I also feel all opinions matter. Uninformed opinions need to be educated, but everyone's direct experience and world-views should be allowed to express themselves and taken into consideration. I rather enjoy such enlightening debates.

I have to disagree with Daniel. I do not think Farid’s opinion, nor my passionate reply should alienate martial artists or organizations. (I emphasize the word “should”) I think such discussions, especially those that could possibly influence our schools should be embraced rather than fall into the oubliette of political correctness. This could affect our net profit, our staff, and possibly our children if my prediction of a draft materializes.

To answer the question posed by Darren is simple. How has our economy been handled thus far? Before Democrats won control of Congress In 2006, conservative leadership made the United States the greatest economy in the history of mankind (including inflation-adjusted economies during the height of the Roman Empire). We suffered a bubble-burst on the dot-com era, several horrible natural disasters, two major wars, 9 terrorist attacks under Clinton, and one HUGE attack under Bush. Yet the U.S. Economy was unstoppable from 94 until 2006! Notice a pattern? Who controlled congress during those EXACT years???

For our foreign friends to the north, and those who attended public schools here in the U.S. ☺, the U.S. Government is divided into 3 branches. The Executive Branch (the President) enforces the law. The Judicial Branch (The U.S. Supreme Court) interprets the law. But it is the Legislative Branch (CONGRESS!) who CREATES the laws. The U.S. House of Representatives in particular handles several TRILLION dollars of tax revenue each year. Besides raise or lower the Federal Interest Rate, the President has very, very little influence on the U.S. Economy. He can ONLY Veto a bill that has already been approved by Congress. He is not even allowed to do a “line item veto” which means he can veto some parts of the bill, but not others. And Congress can still overturn a Presidential Veto, making Congress MUCH more powerful than the President, as our founding fathers intended it to be, fearing another King George Monarchy. So Congress is SOLELY responsible for helping or hurting the economy. The PRIMARY job of the President is to act as the Commander in Chief (CIC) of the U.S. Armed Forces, which is why I focused on Military Implications in my previous post.

Until the Democrats assumed control of congress in 2006, we were experiencing the highest DOW Industrial Average and NASDEQ Index, and the highest GDP this world has ever known. (Conversely, the 2 days following the election this week created the WORST STOCK MARKET PLUNGE in 21 YEARS. CNN didn’t report that.) Until 06, we had the highest per capita income, a housing market boom, the lowest gas-prices (inflation adjusted) in decades, and 5.5% unemployment numbers (which basically means everyone who wants to work, is working). Compare that to the 15-19% unemployment numbers of France, which Obama openly compares his economic strategies to. France Fact: Before Sarkozy, did you know an employer could not fire his employees without paying their entire salary as severance until he/she finds another job? Ahhh….. Socialism. Our assistant instructors will LOVE it! ☺

Once the Democrats took over Congress in 06, the housing market went to hell-in-a-hand-basket, taxes rose, the Dow plummeted from an all-time high of 14k+ to now just 8k, and the gas prices skyrocketed to over 4 bucks a gallon, thanks to the liberal ideology. The banking crises was a DIRECT result of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debacle, caused entirely by Democrats. If you don’t believe me, LISTEN TO THEIR OWN WORDS, that CNN/ MSNBC refused to air: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QBRIsCkGQ0

Oil prices went up because we cannot drill for oil off the coast or bother the Caribou in Alaska’s Anwar. We can’t use coal power, can’t build nuclear power plants (even France, Sweden and the Netherlands use more Nuclear Power than we do!), we haven’t built a new oil refinery since 1970 thanks to the environmental lobby, we charge an average 40 cents per gallon federal gas tax, and oil companies need to produce over 30 different grades of fuel to meet different state “environmental” standards. Not to mention OPEC (Oil Producing Exporting Countries in the Middle East) are hell-bent on reducing our economy to shatters, so regularly fluctuate production to wreck havoc on our financial markets. But noooo….. none of these common sense reasons are why gas prices rose… it was… it was … because there was “an oil man in the White House!” I swear the birth of the Internet was the death of common sense. ☺

Trust me… I’ve been writing books on this for the past few years under a pseudonym, so have been studying this intensely as a part-time job since I was discharged from the service. Until now, I haven’t had the proper motivation to announce my political world-views to the marital arts world. But thanks to the emotion this post sparked when a client sent me the link, I’m out of the closet! Normally, politics doesn’t really belong in a martial arts community, but the extreme policies to come make an exception, in my humble opinion. I don’t think anyone commenting in this room (thus far) will buy my books, so for now I’ll keep my pseudonym under wrap.

And international opinion, Darren? When the overwhelming majority of the media is controlled by a single party, including ownership, producers, commentators, and pundits, and when CNN International is played around the world claiming, for example that “Bush lied about WMD,” on a daily basis for 8 years, of course the world opinion will decline. (CNN formerly owned by Ted Turner, who openly admits to leftist leaning bias.) If you compare world opinion numbers, the same charges were levied throughout the western world with Reagan. The media throughout the 80’s made him out to be a madman dedicated to bring about Armageddon. The only difference was, Reagan was a master communicator, while Bush, setting policy aside, is the WORST communicating leader since Ulysses S. Grant (who was intoxicated most of his presidency). When CNN International openly displays disdain for everything American, and is one step shy of Al Jazeera in terms of borderline propaganda, OF COURSE world opinion will slowly erode. When the majority of Western Europe consists of Socialist style governments, far left of the current American Administration, you’ll get a daily drumbeat of anti-American comments from foreign governments as well. This will all eventually, and inevitably lead to a massive loss of world public opinion. So my point is, presidents have far less influence over world opinion than the media does. You’ll need to look at the media to find fault with world opinion – not the current or any future administration.

Your comments about Obama wanting to focus more on Afghanistan would make sense on the surface. But this is yet another example of Obama’s ignorance on military matters. Here’s a crash course in Strategy 101. A “troop surge” in Afghanistan is NOT a tactically sound plan. The Soviets failed miserably by committing large armored divisions in the 80’s. When you INCREASE the size of the force, you DECREASE its MOBILITY. And mobility is KEY when fighting small, lightly armed jihadists in the most inhospitable terrain outside Antarctica. Afghanistan and Pakistan lie in the shadow of the Hindu Kush and Himalayan Mountain Ranges. Temperatures can range from below freezing to over a hundred degrees Fahrenheit in a single day. Most engagements are between 10 and 14 thousand feet ASL, and skirmishes above that lose the all-important helicopter CAS (Close Air Support). A large, mechanized force would have to travel through obvious mountain passes which would be a turkey shoot for anyone deploying IEDs. So if Obama does what he says he will do, many more of my friends in the service may die.

To target Bin Laden and Al Qaeda, you’ll simply need actionable intelligence and a 2 man SF team to act as spotters/ target illuminators for air launched GPS/ LGB munitions. We’ve been doing this since 9/11 with great success. In less than 3 weeks of November 2001, one Special Forces A-Team linked with AGLICO (Air-Ground Liaison Control Officers) able to coordinate B-52 air-strikes, and backed up by the Northern Alliance, were able to rout the Taliban, take Kabul, and effectively destroy Al Qaeda’s ability to conduct organized attacks. This was perhaps the greatest outnumbered military victory since Thermopalayae and remained so until the 2nd Brigade Combat Team from the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division conducted “Thunder Runs” into Baghdad March 20th, 2003. We have not yet killed the man, but HAVE killed the leader. We’ve denied Al Qaeda a nation-state in which to launch attacks and have prevented Bin Laden from exercising any effective command and control capability. We’ve boxed them into the Pushton region of Pakistan, where they are unable to train or coordinate future attacks. You won’t hear about his on CNN or the NY Times, of course, but the last 7 years have been our military’s finest hours. The strategy HAS worked. We’ve killed or captured over 5,000 top Al Qaeda terrorists since 9/11, many in Iraq. Including:

* Khalid Shaykh Mohammad: One of history’s most infamous terrorists and one of al Qaeda’s most capable senior operatives. He was the driving force behind the 9/11 attacks.

* Abu Mus’ab al Zarqawi: Commander of al Qaeda in Iraq; before 9/11, Zarqawi ran a terrorist camp in Afghanistan; had longstanding relations with senior al Qaeda leaders and had met with Osama bin Laden and Ayman Zawahiri.

* Muhammad ‘Atif: Bin Laden’s deputy before 9/11 and al Qaeda’s military chief.

* Ramzi bin al Shibh: A key facilitator for the 9/11 attack and a lead operative in a plot to hijack aircrafts and crash them into Heathrow Airport.

* Abu Faraj al Libi: Al Qaeda’s manager, a subordinate only to bin Laden and Zawahiri.

* Abd al Hadi al-Iraqi: Osama bin Laden tried to send Iraqi-born terrorist Abd al Hadi al Iraqi to Iraq. Abd al Hadi had been a senior advisor to bin Laden and served as his top commander in Afghanistan. He also directed plots to assassinate Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Abd al Hadi never made it to Iraq, as he was captured in late 2006.

* Fatah Da’ud Mahmud al Mashadani: Al Qaeda in Iraq Media Emir; intermediary between al Qaeda Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al Masri and senior al Qaeda leadership.

* Abu Zubaydah: A leading extremist facilitator who operated in the Afghanistan/ Pakistan region in the mid 90’s. At the time of his capture, Abu Zubaydah was trying to organize an attack in Israel.

* Mullah Obaidullah: Ranked second in the Taliban hierarchy at the time of his capture in Pakistan.

I can go on with dozens more from memory. I don’t blame many of you for not knowing all this, but Obama should if applying for the job of CIC. The strategy HAS worked in both Afghanistan AND Iraq.

And finally Darren, I won’t dive into a debate about the necessities of pro-active offensive action in the war on terror (we can do that privately if you wish) but instead I’ll leave it up to the troops... Only 7-11% of the U.S. Military agrees with your view. We have experienced the highest enlistment and re-enlistment rates from 9/11 until Wednesday. The troops are volunteering to join, and go back to Iraq for 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th tours. Many of these patriotic selfless troops are my military buddies and former students. If our troops on the ground thought it was “an unnecessary” war, why do they choose to go back again, again, and again?

And Nick, it is my understanding that you also are from New Jersey. As a fellow New Jerseyite (if that is a word), I can tell you with experience we are from the liberal Mecca of the United States that makes B.C., Canada look like Australia. The entire education system, the whole population, and the city, county and state governments have been firmly in the hand of Democrats since the elimination of the Federalist party. So OF COURSE your students are excited about Obama! But assuming that the rest of the country has the same mindset is a little short sighted, with all due respect. You are the exception, not the rule. The fact that I was raised in this liberal bastion is evidence that my opinions, although strong, were NOT influenced by my geographic upbringing, and solely through world experience, primarily as a member of the US Military with an (IS) MOS, and attempting (unsuccessfully) of becoming a Navy SEAL.

Also, according to SGMA, the vast majority of martial arts students and school owners are predominantly white, middle to upper class suburbanites. These are the people most likely to suffer from the Obama tax increases, and also the people from which martial arts school owners derive. These are ALSO the people that supported McCain by a two-thirds margin. That’s a super-majority, folks. For the record, I wasn’t happy about McCain, and almost didn’t vote at all. I could possibly have voted for Hillary, primarily because her career didn’t begin in the living room of Wlliam Ayres, founder of the Weather Underground, an unrepentant terrorist who claimed on 9/11, “He wished they would have done more.” That, coupled with Obama’s 20-year weekly attendance to Reverend Jeremiah Wright, whose racist, anti-Semitic remarks were common, and anti-U.S. statements were constant. Answer me this? Would you listen to a man every Sunday, that said the U.S. government released the Aids virus, blew up the levies in New Orleans, and rich white people deserved to be killed on 9/11? Would you allow this man to baptize your children, and marry you and your wife? Would you refer to him as “your spiritual advisor?” Obama did all the above. Why do you think McCain was such a rock-star in front of the military, and Obama was booed at every attempted appearance?

And to answer your honest, well written question, Jon, about whether the middle class would benefit from the Obama plans, therefore benefit the school owner - Simply put, if that were the case, you would be correct. But it’s not. The only people who will truly benefit from pseudo-Robin Hood plans are those who are currently living off welfare. I ran schools in 9 different counties of the U.S…. from the richest areas of Palm Beach to teaching for free in the projects of Perth Amboy, NJ. I didn’t have too many students living off welfare.

I suggest everyone pick up a book written by Herman Cain, a great African American U.S. Congressman, called, “They Think We’re Stupid.” He explains how the people who are ALWAYS hurt by tax increases are those in the middle class. The middle class pays all the taxes, and the middle class looses most of the jobs that tax increases cause. Tax increases hurt the very people they are intended to help. The only people who benefit from “social services” in the U.S. are those who don’t work, and sponge off the system. The best thing the republicans did after the 94 takeover of congress was prevent people from staying on welfare forever. It put millions of our poorest to work and gave them new self-worth. But now, welfare will increase, and those dependent on the government (ie dependent on Obama) will rise. They will NEED to vote for Obama again in 4 years in order to keep getting, “ their check.”

Most of my income is from capital gains made from owning schools. I’ll pay a LOT more taxes next year, and my water pressure won’t come out any stronger. If I call the police or fire department, they won’t arrive any faster. And I certainly do not want free health care. Besides “free” health-care isn’t FREE if you save 6 grand a year in health insurance payments, but have to pay 10 grand a year more in taxes!

I don’t blame Canadians for not knowing the intricacies and realities of the convoluted US Tax code. But I tend to come down much more harshly on Americans who are ignorant as to what happens with taxation. Before I knew any of these realities, ignorance was bliss!

FACT – every time you CUT taxes, you ADD more money to the U.S. Treasury. The less money that gets bottle-necked in the hands of governmental bureaucracies, the more times it changes hands. The more times a dollar changes hands, the more times the government gets a piece of that dollar.

So raising taxes isn’t about providing more money for social services, since it actually MAKES LESS MONEY FOR THE GOVERNMENT. It’s about power. It’s about class-envy and class-resentment. Many disgruntled lower class, and middle class workers voted for Obama on Tuesday. They wanted to “get even” with the rich, as one obviously well informed voter put it. But here’s my favorite quote about the Obama win:
“I don’t got to worry about my mortgage no more. I ain’t got to worry about my car-payment no more! We gonna take care a’ Obama, and he gonna’ take care a’ us!”

Well said! Obvious by-product of the U.S. public education system. ☺

I was raised in a blue-collar, lower-middle class household. My father was a Vietnam vet and a Sergeant for the N.J. Turnpike Authority, my mom a schoolteacher. It doesn’t get any more union-orientated that that, gang. I grew up listening to how the rich got rich by taking money from someone else. As if there was a finite amount of money out there and if someone had more, it means someone else had less. The beauty of the “American Dream” is how someone like me who wasn’t born with a sliver spoon, can make millions in this world, doing what we love.

Our constitution guarantees us the freedom to “pursue happiness.” It does not guarantee happiness.

Socialism and Communism live off the notion that everyone’s equal. History has shown us the only way to make that happen is to make everyone equally miserable. Not all of us are made to be professional football players. Not all of us can own super-schools. We have to use the talents and attributes given to us by our Creator, or by our genetics, whichever you believe (or both). It is my firm belief that anyone who works hard and plays their cards right, can achieve unprecedented dreams. I don’t think anyone needs or deserves “a special advantage” due to race, socio-economic background, religion, or any other uncontrollable factor.

“If you can dream it, you can do it!”
Walt Disney

Sorry this was so long. Anyone still reading this thesis-length post, I thank you for your time, and welcome your opinions. Anyone who was sparked by this post, and is interested in purchasing my next political book when it comes out, send me a private message and I’ll put you on the waiting list.

Joe Brignoli

Comment by Gary on November 6, 2008 at 11:04pm

I personally agree with Daniel Hect. I wish people would leave their politics out of this arena. I am here for the discussions on martial arts and growing my business not political views. Please do not take this as an insult in any way but it is like pouring salt in a wound when someone from another country is happy that we are getting a President I did not support. I would rather not know your political leanings. But since you decided to bring it up. Mr. Obama has said repeatedly how he is all about wealth redistribution. Taking from the wealthy and distributing to those who are not as fortunate. Tell me why I should bother working so hard to grow my business and become successful if my profits are to be taken away and handed over to someone else?

Comment by Jon Malach on November 6, 2008 at 1:36pm

I wish I was more well-versed on this particular aspect, so I humbly request anyone who is familiar with this one point to comment:

- Obama claims to redirect the tax breaks towards the middle class worker vs. the business owner.
- If we the business owners depend on the disposable income of the middle class worker, won't our student counts begin to increase when our direct market (usually the middle class parent) has more money to spend?
- Lastly, if taxes are increased, doesn't that create more of an opportunity to write-off expenses towards these increased taxes, i.e. more staff vs. firing our program director?

Again I reiterate that this is not my expertise and I seek the comments of those who know this area, I find these kinds of discussions really enlightening and hope others do too vs. feel offended...

Comment by Sensei Nick on November 6, 2008 at 12:40pm

I agree with you Darren, I see this a great opportunity for Martial Arts Schools.

And Joe, interesting eneough we have been even busier since Obama won the election. Many school owners that we have been talking to, are very excited and optimistic about the change. Champions System, Napma, and other consulting groups will not be the ones that are dropped unless the information and leadership on how to handle business during recessions or times of panic is more focused on the negative.

One of my favorite quotes " When your through changing, your through."

The Econnimic system needs a change, the white house needed a change, and the martial industry needs a change!

Leaders of the new school!

Congrats President Obama!

Comment by Farid Dordar on November 6, 2008 at 12:10pm

Thank you Joe Brignoli and Everyone for your comments! I want you to know that I deeply care about Martial Arts Schools and our Industry and I see this as a progress for our industry! This Community is about conversation and everyone's opinion counts! I do respect your opinions and I thank you for your support!

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