It keeps happening -- every day the "news" is filled with statements that give me no other choice than to just shake my head and say, "Huh?" These stories just don't compute. And I've tried every way I can think of, including adding up the IQ's of the reporters and then dividing by those of the pundits. It's a wash. The politicians are no help. The ideas they put forth don't add up, either. So, once again, I'll share just a few observations. And, once again, I'll invite your help in trying to make sense of it all.
- At all of those "tea party" rallies, nobody said, "Put down the Nazi signs"? Not Boehner? Not Bachman? Not Beck? Nobody?
- To give Sean Hannity his due -- yeah, I know -- but, back in July, he rightly said that Obama overreacted after the Henry Louis Gates/Cop controversy. Yet after the tragedy at Fort Hood, Hannity called Obama an idiot for encouraging the public to not overreact. Sean should make up his mind, don't you think? I'm sorry, I keep forgetting that Hannity's chosen to hate Obama no matter what he does.
- I don't happen to have children but, if I did, I'd have no idea how to teach them right from wrong. There are so few people to point to and say, "Be like them, they're honest." Politicians, athletes, clergy and CEO's are in the news every single day making confetti out of The Golden Rule, The Ten Commandments and The Constitution. I'd list all of them by name, but it would use up all of my allotted space.
- I keep hearing Senators say, about a variety of different topics, "There's just no time to look into this." Well, that's your job. So how about making time? You know, like doing more of what you did this past weekend when you stayed in session over the weekend to work on health care. And quit whining about it. The rest of the world works long hard hours to get their work done, why not our legislators? My thought would be -- less recesses to go home and raise money for the next election, and more work to make good on the promises you made during the last election.
- Obama promised transparency. That, of course, means to look through something to really be able to see it. We were hoping we'd be able to see the workings of our government and not wonder what sleight of hand was going on behind the magician's curtain. But here we go again. Two wannabes manage to crash a state dinner and the First Lady's social secretary is asked to share her thoughts on how that might have happened. But the President invoked executive privilege to keep her from doing so. Come on, Mr. President, this is a gimme. If transparency is the goal, just take down the curtain.
- Liz Cheney recently criticized Colin Powell's aide Larry Wilkerson, saying that he'd made a cottage industry of trashing her father and defending his former boss. As opposed to Liz whose cottage industry is defending her father and trashing everyone else.
- And while we're on the subject of pots and kettles, Darth Vader's daughter said that there should be no trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in New York City because she was worried that then terrorists would have a public platform where they could spew their venom. Guess Liz Cheney doesn't get irony. Because, amazingly, she said this on Fox!
- For some reputation-shredding reason, C-Span had Tucker Carlson on to share his views. Apparently his bowtie's a little too tight, because one "view" that caught my ear was this: "Sarah Palin's more experienced than Obama and she's smarter than Al Gore." Really? So, Tuck, if the three of them were on "Jeopardy," you'd put your money on The Thrilla from Wasilla? Really?
- Rev. Rick Warren said that he won't condemn homosexuals being put to death in Uganda because he doesn't feel it's his place to be political. But lobbying for the passage of Prop 8 in California and being publicly against abortion, even though it's legal -- that he's fine with. I'm guessing he wouldn't condemn being a narrow-minded hypocrite, either. Hopefully, President Obama would like a "do over" on his choice of who delivered the prayer at his inauguration.
- Hannity again. Sorry. During a long-winded rant about the terrorist trials planned for New York City, he said, "I'm glad they waterboarded KSM." Why doesn't he just say he's glad the Bush administration broke the law? Now that would be fair and balanced.
- I believe that everyone should worship at the alter of their choice. Organized, disorganized, recognized or not. As long as you're not hurting anyone, do whatever gives you comfort. But be consistent. For instance -- Cardinal Barragan recently wrote that the Catholic church believes that gay people will never go to heaven because they're an insult to God and that homosexuality is a sin. But in the very same article he said that those comments are not discriminating against gays because, as human beings, we all have the same rights. Unless, of course, we don't.
- And Glenn Beck, compassionate Conservative that he is, complained that Obama's recent speech on Afghanistan would preempt "A Charlie Brown Christmas." He said it would be better to watch the gang from Peanuts because they had a message that "actually means something." You'd think he might feel there was at least a little meaning in the President's decision because it will put more of our soldiers in harm's way, kill innocent Afghanis and cost U.S. taxpayers billions. But, no. Glenn wanted his cartoons.
- And on the topic of Afghanistan - I don't happen to agree with President Obama about sending in more troops. History tells me that it's not a war that can be won. And since we've achieved our stated goal of chasing out Al Qaeda, I don't believe it's worth the taking of another life. However, nobody consulted me. That decision's been made. But, I did take some solace when the President announced that we'd start drawing down our troops in 2011. He did say that, right? Right. So why did Secretary Gates and Secretary Clinton go to Capitol Hill and say that there is no deadline or exit strategy? Why must his minions be sent out to tell us what the President really meant? Why must we parse his words so carefully? I think it would be great if our President would call a press conference and tell the country exactly what he meant and exactly what he wants to have happen and let his be the last word. But apparently he needs some wiggle room. Seems he wasn't completely transparent about transparency. Too bad.
And just so I won't be accused of only finding fault in the news -- I have some compliments to pay.
- First to John Stewart and his writers on The Daily Show because it is they who came up with this wonderful analogy: "The Special Olympics is to winners as Fox News is to experts -- if you show up, you are one." Brilliant and accurate.
- And, lastly, three cheers for Fox's Shepard Smith. He pointed out that when Bush took months to make his decision about whether or not to surge the number of our forces in Iraq, nobody accused him of "dithering." It was nice to hear it said out loud. And on the network least known for its objectivity. Wonder where Shep will work next?
Unfortunately, I have no doubts that there will be many more "Huh?" moments in my future. I'll share them here.
Thanks for your time.
Is a Cheney Candidacy in 2012 really in the cards? Probably not. Given his precarious health, it's not very likely that he will even live to see the next election.
But like the imaginary science fiction screenplay I've written about the man "The Thing That Wouldn't Go Away", he remains - tormenting the daylights out of us for as long as his precarious mortality will allow.
Wretched Richard!
What we have here is one of those mixed-blessing kind of moments. Dick Cheney won't be going away anytime soon, of that you may be certain. And as long as he remains at the extreme-right-of-center-stage of this extremely amusing review, I think I just might stick around for the show. It is the type of scenario destined to provide truckloads of joy for progressives all over the country: Cheney and Sarah Palin, ripping each other to bloody shreds in the primaries of 2012. Can you even imagine what fun that would be to watch?
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
I once visited an executive of one of the biggest newspaper companies in Germany. Their soaring skyscraper HQ overlooked rubble. I told him I found that odd. He said that down there was what had been the Fleet Street of Berlin, before Hitler. His company wanted to rebuild right there, as a constant reminder of what can happen when the press doesn't do its job and lets fascist propaganda rule the day.
What he said haunts me just about every day now.
What passes for journalism today is nonsensical BS. Newspapers print commentaries, opinions, editorials that are not even based on facts. The latest example is the WaPo published Palin's op-ed on climate change. On the most part cable "news" show hosts, pundits, journalists just make stuff up, exaggerate trivial issues, make mountains out of molehills, elevate people like Sarah Palin, allow politicians to make the most inane and insane remarks without questioning or challenging them on it ... the list goes on and on and on...
And equally or maybe more frustrating are the audience members who take what they say as gospel.
I've been in the UK for a couple of months and the difference is striking. There, political leaders (not so much pundits) appear with interviewers, and they get asked good questions, and the interviewers actually challenge the answers. And let them reply! It's very informative. (But they all tend to apologize for everything all the time, which gets a bit tiresome.)
I'm so sick of "interviews" that are just forums for electeds to repeat their talking points..
Unfortunately the demise of newspapers and rise of opinion shows means there's hardly anyone left that is competent to conduct an intelligent , probing interview any more.
Most of them are like Balloon Boy's dad: they don't want to have an actual job, they just want to be famous.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/23/palin-supporters-struggle_n_367800.html
recent speech on Afghanistan would preempt "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
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Yet another example of the [hypocritical and ign0rant?] drivel that comes out of Beck's mouth...
Glenn Beck Slams Obama Encouraging Volunteerism: "Almost Like We're Living In Mao's China"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/19/glenn-beck-slams-obama-en_n_326632.html
...conveniently forgetting that many US Presidents have requested some form of volunteerism.
From JFK, to Nixon, to Reagan, to Bush 41, to Bush 43
"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
-- JFK; 1961
"I urge all Americans to observe that week by seeking out an area in their community in which they can give to a needy individual or a worthy cause by devoting a few hours, or more, each week to volunteer service."
-- Nixon; Apr. 1974
Forgets "Bush Calls on Nation to Volunteer"
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,418884,00.html
REAGAN
The Red Cross is always there for us; now we need to be there for them. You may be surprised to know that, as big as it is, the Red Cross receives no government funding; it is entirely dependent on private contributions for support. Just since the beginning of July, the Red Cross has spent a record $48 million responding to emergencies, and they are quite simply running out of funds. So, they are launching an emergency disaster relief campaign, and they've set a fund-raising goal of $20 million. It's now time for all of us to volunteer for the volunteers, to give to those who've given so much of themselves. In recent years we've witnessed a resurgence in the great American spirit of neighbor helping neighbor. Now more of you are volunteering your time and contributing money to charity than any time in our nation's past.
-- Reagan; Nov. 1985
BUSH 41
"For we’re a nation of community; of thousands and tens of thousands of ethnic, religious, social, business, labor union, neighborhood, regional and other organizations, all of them varied, voluntary and unique.
-- George H.W. Bush; 1988
"I have spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good."
-- George H.W. Bush; Jan. 1989
In regards to Hannity:
"Sean should make up his mind, don't you think?"
I'd like to remind people how Hannity, and the rest of the FOX crew (and GOP) who were the perpetual and unequivocal cheerleaders for Dubya and his Iraq adventure, continually harped on about how it was unpatriotic to criticize a sitting President during wartime, had NO problem doing such themselves..!
In regards to Clinton (and Kosovo):
"No goal, no objective, not until we have those things and a compelling case is made, then
I say, back out of it, because innocent people are going to die for nothing. That's why I'm against it."
-- Hannity, Fox News, 4/5/99
"Explain to the mothers and fathers of American servicemen that may come home in body bags why
their son or daughter have to give up their life?"
-- Hannity, Fox News, 4/6/99
"Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is."
-- GWB (R-TX)
"This is President Clinton's war, and when he falls flat on his face, that's his problem."
-- Richard Lugar (R-IN)
"You can support the troops but not the president"
-- Tom Delay (R-TX)
"If we are going to commit American troops, we must be certain they have a clear mission, an achievable goal and an exit strategy."
-- Karen Hughes
Thx.
To paraphrase Clubber Lang speaking to Rocky Balboa in the ring in "Rocky III":
"Got a LOTTA MO [fo you Balboa]! A LOTTA MO!"