This Is The Party of Compassion?

We evilllllllllll   Republicans are at it again. According to 1st term Florida congressman, Alan Grayson (landslide Alan 52-48% winner), Republicans want people to die. That is the Republican health care plan, he says. Either don’t get sick or get sick and die quickly. He quotes from a study that says some 40-45 thousand people die annually from lack of good health care. How in the world does someone verify such a number? Don’t know that you can but if the numbers suite your purposes you use them as Rep Elijah Cummings did today in an interview on MSNBC.

And just wait, there is much, much more. Many people are  familiar with  Garrison Keilor of Prairie Home Companion. He has been in declining health in recent years due to a stroke but has apparently not mellowed in his old age which isn’t all that old, just 67. Shucks,almost 40% of the Senate is at least that age or older. Keep that figure in mind.

Mr Keilor is rather crotchety about the state of political doings, specifically health care but encompassing other issues such as abortion, euthanasia, the Supreme Court.etc. Another expert preparing to sound forth, so here it comes.

He heard Minnesota Governor tim Pawlenty critiquing the education speech and apparently lost it. Keillor says in regard to republicans, “One starts to wonder if the country wouldn’t be better off without them and if Republicans  should be cut out of the health-care system entirely and simply provide with aspirin and hand sanitizer.Thirty two percent of the population identifies with the Republicans , and if we cut off health-care to them, we could  probably pay off the  deficit in short order.”

Thanks to the Chicago Tribune for publishing that uplifting article. Kinda makes yo wonder how many people agree with him and just haven’t said it aloud. You know of course, what a one party political system looks like. I think you could look at several examples; Russia, China, etc.

For the icing on te cake he went on to say these words. “Old men shouldn’t be allowed  to doze off at the switch and muck up  the works for the young who will have try to  repair the damage. Get over yourselves. Your replacements have arrived,and you should tink about them now and then. Enough with the shrieking. Pass health-care reform.”

Wonder who is dozing at the switch? Is it Byrd, Spector, Lautenberg, Feinstein? All are in the old category to which he refers.

Just hope that no one with real power believes like he does. At my age, I need  a bi tmore than aspirin and hand sanitizer, don’t you?

It’s Alive, It’s Alive

What is it? Why it is the vast right-wing conspiracy. Or so says Bill Clinton. And he says that it is out to get Obama, just as it wa  sout to get him. Short refresher course. It was then first lady, Hilary Clinton, who first came up with term during the Lewinsky years of days gone by. She told Matt Lauer that this amorphous thing, this conspiracy, was after her husband.

So, now the term has resurfaced, about 12  or so years later. I believe if I were Mr Clinton, I would have chosen another phrase to describe this idea of his . The first thing it does or should do is to bring back memories of times that were not his finest. Why he used that term, who knows.

He says that it isn’t as strong but it is just  as virulent as ever. This in an interview on  Meet the Press with David Gregory. This was on Sunday, just a few days after a great and glorious New York meeting hosted by Clinton. At that time the President hailed him as a person “… who has helped improve and save the lives of millions.”

Now it is Clinton a bit morose, but just a bit. Interestingly, he talks about  the Republicans actions ( and makes  a veiled Limbaugh reference) as  being    not very good for the country. That echoes what Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said just a few days ago. It brings me back to this thought. What  does Clinton, et al want Republicans to do? Vote aye on all the Democrats proposals, cheer Obama on the world stage or just quietly go away? What did Democrats  do when they were the ” loyal opposition” ?

You are loyal and you oppose, right? How much and what do you oppose? Who decides how much opposition is alright? Sure, any party in power wants  as little opposition as it can get. Where is the line and who draws it?

It was also a bit amusing to note that some disagreed with Clinton and almost called the conspiracy, not  diminshing in size, but rather growing. So said  Lawrence  O’ Donnell on MSNBC. Who knows? Is there really a right-wing conspiracy, who belongs,how does one join, how does one even knew if they belong?

Alas, probably only ” The shadow knows.”

Copenhagen Or Bust

By now we know that both the president and first lady will be off to Denmark this week. Why, not just the shopping, but maybe there will be  time for that also. No, we have bigger fish to catch,the 2016 Summer Olympics for Chicago. Do sitting presidents usually throw the   prestige of their office behind  such efforts?  Not sure. Maybe he already had a Denmark trip on the schedule. Sure, major ally there. Of course, nothing is too good for Chicago.

Perhaps even more interesting than the Obamas  joing the campaign is word that maybe Chicagoans don’t really want the games so much anymore. The cost figures are probably a bit scary, the city’s finances are not so good and    why  did we want this honor anyway?

Chicago Tribune numbers showed a 2-1 majority in support of the bid in February. Now it is about even;47% for and  45% against. Suppose that $300 million city budget deficit which had to be covered was a factor. Oh yes, there have even been mandatory shutdown days for some  city services,such as  libraries and sanitation. But not to worry. Obamas + Mayor Richard Daley may yet bring home the bid.

After all, who possibly could Madrid,Tokyo or Rio de Janeiro match in starpower. Still, I vote for Rio. Brazil has never been a host nor has any other South American country. Tokyo  had it in 1964, Barcelona, Spain in 1992 and we  just had it 1996. Better make  that  call to the International Olympic Committee quickly or the Chicago mafia will take over the show,

Election Sloganeering

Sans national  and even statewide elections this year, I am devoting  my attention to the  Elizabeth City, NC  election scene. It is rather interesting and is becoming more so  as the campaigns unfold. One particular aspect that I notice as I usually do with campaigns, are the signs that candidates post. They seem to fascinate me every election that comes along.

So, as I wander around our fair city, I try to notice the signs. You remember the song, Signs, by the Canadian group, Five Man Electrical Band, from te 70′s. Sign, sign everywhere a sign, etc. That is the state we are approaching and I so enjoy it. Politics a its most basic, the local election.

I shall try to avoid naming candidates, at least for now. So many interesting things We have 3 candidates for mayor, one of whom has 0 signs that I have seen. Almost half of the candidates, including city council and have very basic signs. Name and position for which they are running. Call it the Dragnet approach. You know, Jack Webb, “Just the facts, ma’am.”  Or, all you need to know is my name.Others choose to tout their experience; still others  focus  on the concept of change. Guess that is opposite of experience. That worked rather well in the 2008 presidential race, did it not? But this local politics, so I digress. Anyway, it intrigues me that the newcomers use such basic signs. The incumbents have the advantage of name recognition, so it would seem desirable for a challenger to attempt a catchy, memorable slogan. But, alas. there are no catchy  slogans.

experience or change or a voice of or for the people. So many even used the same color scheme; navy blue on white. That must be in this  season. Two signs did make me think a  little. One incumbent has a sign saying leadership for  a change. Seems hard to be for change when you are already there. My favorite though was one that used  a play on words. The candidate’s last name is the make of a vehicle. Without using a name it is hard, so I’ll make an exception. Her last name is Hummer and the sign was “Move forward with…Hummer.”‘ Not bad. If I were voting just based on the signs I have seen, I wouldn’t.

But, then again, What do I know? I have only run one campaign for office, vice-president of my 8th grade class, Joe Biden wannabe, huh? My catch slogan  was derived from Hitchcock’s movie, The Birds, The slogan, the birds will get you if you don’t vote for me. Needless to say, I lost.

One last tidbit for the separation of church and state folks. We have an ordained minister running for office. The individual is using the title reverend in their campaign ads. Violate separation of church and state or not? Just wondering.

“A Spoonful of Sugar Makes the Medicine Go Down”

…. in a most delightful way.” Or, so said Julie Andrews in the classic Mary Poppins from way  back in 1964, her movie debut and the winner of 5 Oscars. Today, we have substitutes for the sugar and the med. They are courtesy of my Tar Heels. The sugar is the spine tingling win by the Lady Tar Heels in soccer over Duke(even better) and the medicine is alas, courtesy of the football Heels. Having reached giddy poll heights, they trekked to Atlanta and were wrecked by the Yellow Jackets.

Thankfully, I had to work  and was spared the sad but necessary duty of watching the Heels football miseries. I knew it was bad when Mrs THT, nominal football fan, could only say, I saw their touchdown,singular. At least they were not shut out and as the saying goes, there is always next week. Ironically, I attended their game against Georgia Tech last year in Chapel Hill, which had aa positive outcome. Shoulda seen this one coming. Bright side, the Associated Press voters saw fit to eject Carolina from the top 25. Glad that overconfidence is gone.

Ok, got that medicine ready, sugar is on the way via  a  2-1  overtime soccer win at Fetzer Field. The Heels were missing some key players due to injuries and national team commitments ( go USA, I guess) so other players had to step and  that  they did. Freshman Alyssa Rich of Cincinnati,Oh scored with 3:01 left in the first overtime to seal the win. Quite a way to celebrate her first career start.

High point soph Maria Lubrano scored the match’s first goal with less than 7 minutes to go but Duke to credit tied the match with about a minute to go. Great conference opening win. Oh, forgot to mention that the Heels are numero uno in the nation. Also freshman goalie Hannah Daly acquitted herself well in her first career start.

Playing like a girl indeed and  quite well thank you very much. Remember Carolina is  a   women’s soccer school anyway as Coach Smith observed many years ago, slightly tongue-in-cheek.

2012 Anyone?

Ted Nugent, Vice-president ?

Today I saw what for me at least is the first bumper sticker of the 2012 presidential election. And it caught me completely off guard. Palin/Nugent. How about that for unique, unconventional etc. ? Can you imagine Ted Nugent and Joe Biden having a debate? That would be so much fun.

I am not greatly familiar with Nugent other than through his articles on Human Events. But the thought of such a pairing brings a bit of  a smile.

Are We Having A Coarse Discourse?

According to some, both in the media and in government, indeed we are. Om  of the latest to opine is Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. The Secretary made his comments to the Columbus, Oh. Dispatch newspaper in response to criticism of the President making 5 appearance on Sunday news shows this past week. He said”trash talk” on conservative talk radio and tv shows( hint: Limbaugh and Beck although he did not name anyone).He said that the nation’s ability to solve its big problems is being impeded.

“‘He( Obama) can’t even compete with all this stuff that people are saying about him, so the idea that he did five interviews Sunday, that’s just miniscule compared to the kind of trash talk that goes on all week prior to that.”

“All of this background, all of this trash talk in the background, it does not contribute to civil discourse…”

Now , pay close attention to this next response and see what comes to mind( Does the term Fairness Doctrine sound familiar?). He was asked if he could envision any changes in the media that might reverse this trend of incivility.His response,”In a word, no.Unless the people decide…to shut it off, to turn it off.” Inadvertently, he mat have said more than he intended. If people don’t want to hear or watch Limbaugh or Beck, et. al, they can watch Olbermann or Maddow or Cooper or listen to Air America. Apparently, th have not made that choice , in significant numbers, at least to this point.

One other thought. What level of discourse is  acceptable and who decides. Perhaps Mr LaHood should check out some of the criticism that Lincoln  faced and see how civil that was.

Are You A Betting Person?

If you are, I have a bet for you. What if the wager were this? Do you think that Iran will get nuclear weapons? And just to make it interesting, ler’s put  a timetable on it. Let’s make it in say, three years. What do you think?

Based on events of the past few days, combined with previous known activities and stated aims and rhetoric, I am afraid that the  answer to our hypothetical bet is yes, I may be off on the time frame, but the again, who knows. I don’t think the Administration does.We have just learned or Iran has revealed, take your pick, that Iran has a 2nd  uranium enrichment plant and there are also 2 previously unknown sites in and around Tehran being used to build nuclear warheads. This latter info comes from the National Council of Resistance of Iran. The IAEA ( International Atomic energy Agency is looking into theses claims. The NCRI is also the who forced Iran to reveal this previously unknown 2nd uranium enrichment site.The gropu also revealed the existence of site #1 in Natanz.

What does Mr Obama have to say? he spoke today at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh. “All nations have the right to peaceful nuclear energy(betcha hadn’t heard of that right before).Those nations with nuclear weapons must move towards disarmament. those nations without nuclear weapons must forsake them. Let me see if I get this. The nuclear nations club is composed of the United States, Russia, China, Pakistan, India, and Israel  as  far as we know. Anybody in there planning on disarming? Well us , Russia, we shall see. That is  about it.

Now factor in those statements with the earlier Iranian info and mix in this next. Just a couple of years ago, then Senator Obama agreed with the National Intelligence Estimate that said Iran had shelved its nuclear weapons program and had only peaceful intentions and Bush was lying yet  again. Fast forward and what do we have? A member of the “axis of evil”  who Obama once called too small to be a problem; now being a real problem.

Allow me to close with this. Why would a nation with all the energy resources  of Iran ever have planned all this effort just for nuclear energy? Maybe I am greatly oversimplyfing but it just  seems that there were red flags all along the way.

So now we say, you have got to stop this or, or what?

The Accidential, Temporary Senator

Meet your new Senator from the commonwealth of Massachusetts, Paul G Kirk, Jr. Mr Kirk was appointed today by Governor Duval Patrick. Thus one of Senator Ted Kennedy’s final requests has become a reality, as if there were ever any doubt. First, about Senator Kirk. He will be sworn in tomorrow by our good buddy, Joe Biden and will serve until  a special election is held on January 19, 2010. He, again fulfilling Kennedy’s wishes pledged not to run for the seat permanently.Kirk has been Chairman of the Democratic  National Committee, an active lobbyist, an aide to Kennedy, and ironically is the executor of Kennedy’s estate. An insider’s insider.

Predictably, Kennedy’s  widow praised the  appointment , adding that it was strictly the  Governor’s  choice, although the family had pushed for Kirk. Nothing against the late Senator, but what Kennedys  want, they invariably get. I posted about this scenario on  August 21, shortly before the Senator passed away. Quick summary, Kennedy wanted state law changed back to where it was before 2004, so  a quick replacement for him could be named. Why was  it changed in 2004? To prevent Republic guv Mitt Romney from being able to appoint  a Kerry successor if Kerry  won the presidency.

Kennedy led that charge in 2004, somewhat eerily, he has done so again. The Massachusetts legislature passed the needed legislation, despite really futile Republican efforts to block. Skillful political maneuvering, oh yeah.

What almost amuses me is the stated rationale that there are too many important issues such as  health care, climate change etc., for Massachusetts not to be fully represented. Sureeeeee!!

Why would Mr. Kirk want the job? Doesn’t really need it although  it may look good on his final resume. But the Kennedy call is oh, so hard to resist. Oh, might I add that the president was strongly behind this action.

Happy Birthday Ducky(aka David McCallum)

I know it is belated but I had to wish Dr Mallard  a happy  76th birthday since he and i share September 19 as the anniversary of our birth. You will note that for convenience sake, I am using Ducky and David McCallum intrchangeably.For those of us from an earlier time, he was known as Illya Kuryakin, partner to Robert Vaughn on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. which actually began on this date in 1964. He was  a bit of  a heart-throb in that role as a Russian born secret agent.

As is true with a number of NCIS characters, elements of the actor’s  real life surface in their character. With Ducky, the Scottish ancestry is often refered to and McCallum himself was born in Glasgow. One of the neatest pieces of info I learned about him was that he and his wife are big supporters on charities that benefit the US Marine Corps, as his wife’s was a marine who served in the Battle of Iwo Jima . Of course, we all know about Jethro and the Marines.

Diehard NCISers will remember Gibbs being asked who Ducky resembled when he was younger.He repiled, “Illya Kuryakin. McCallum may never again have reached the heights of those secret agent days, but we NCIS  fans wish many more years as our favorite medical examiner.

Ducky-Then

Ducky-Now