ChaucerDaisy

Puh-leeze.

The idea of "national service" by "young people" is the most unimaginative idea Obama could offer. It targets (or brainwashes?) the "youth of America" in an archaic, 1940s, "this is what patriotism to one's country looks like" way. It is discriminatory. If "serving" is such a fantastic idea, then why isn't everyone, of all ages, required to serve the country?

Puh-leeze.

Enough with the syrupy, do for others or else how will the country survive with such narcissistic youth routine. I could argue this is a backdoor draft, a minority rights issue, a form of slavery (do the young people have a choice or is this a forced experience?), the antithesis of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

I could also argue this is rhetoric appealing to authoritarians and the uber-religious.

If service is so important for "young people" (Hitler Youth?) then why isn't every American of every age being told to "serve?" Wait. Wouldn't be freedom, choice, liberty or the pursuit of happiness, would it? Yet aren't our youth, "Americans?"

Value teens for what they know, their technological brilliance, their view of the world. Establish voluntary "think tanks" for fresh ideas on national security, race relations, immigration, global warming, the economy, etc. Cheer young people as the most innovative thinkers among us. Encourage them to put oxygen masks on themselves first BEFORE giving oxygen to anyone else.

The synonym for freedom is choice. posted 07/09/2008 at 11:00:15

Get rid of marriage licenses.

No marriage licenses allowed? No divorces.

Have a religious ceremony if one chooses. No more government decrees.

Now. Let's move on to what's important.

By the way, marriage has absolutely nothing to do with qualifications vital to be a parent. Parenting skills and child development awareness are not reliant on a piece of paper called a marriage license.

Children most thrive from the knowledge and the emotional skills of qualified, educated, non-abusive parents which a marriage license could never measure, monitor or merit. posted 06/26/2008 at 12:01:03

My 18 year old son first saw Carlin's face when George Carlin was the original "Conductor" on the TV series, "Thomas the Tank Engine." Carlin's replacement? Ringo Starr.

George Carlin, wherever you are, you will be missed by those of us who loved your irreverence, your passion for language, your awareness that the "seven dirty words" are the seven most perfect words depending on the circumstance, and your championship of the First Amendment rights of Americans.
Thank you for the life you lived ~ on your terms ~ and for welcoming my son into a world of imagination. posted 06/23/2008 at 14:06:01

"Sam" was Earl Woods' nickname for his son, Tiger. To honor his dad, Tiger and Elin named their daughter, "Sam." Of course, the name would've worked for a son as well.

What a darling baby. posted 06/17/2008 at 11:09:29

Candy,

Condolences to you and your family on Aaron's death and the void his absence creates.

Congratulations also to you and your family on the births of Liam and Stella. How blessed you must feel.

I wonder, Candy, if you meant to exclude or forgot to include your son-in-law, Dean McDermott's name in your comments. It would have been the perfect time to wish Dean a "Happy Father's Day" for without him, Liam and Stella would not be here.

Thank you and best wishes. posted 06/16/2008 at 10:28:30

Thank you, fignozzle.

I just gave her a piece of MY mind too. Congress needs to start impeachment HEARINGS, at least HEARINGS. Find out everything about King George and Prince Dick now. No pardons, no niceties. Bush, et. al., are criminals who deserve to be booted out of office.

If we want the first woman President and the first "American with a paternal African heritage" President, then kick out the king and his prince so Nancy Pelosi becomes President in 2008 and Barack Obama becomes President in January 2009.

YES WE CAN! posted 06/05/2008 at 14:05:08

Want to end the "war?"
Want the first female president in '08?
Want the first American-African president elected in '08?

Simple.

Shock and awe: Hold impeachment hearings now to expose King George and Prince Dick as criminals. Focus on lies, costs, deaths, despair, manipulation, crimes, arrogance. Cheney will parrot, "I serve at the will of the President." Idiot. He works for each American citizen. Remove them both before 1/20/09 with no pardons possible.

First female president: Nancy Pelosi.

Elect Obama in November '08. Our first American-African (Washington: our most important name is AMERICAN) President.

End the war? There is no WAR. No "war" has ever been declared. Congressional authorization (thanks, Clinton, McCain) to find WMDs has expired. On day one, President Obama has only to say,

"There is no legal authority to call the U.S.-led invasion to search for WMDs by any other name. It is not legally "the Iraq War," "Iraqi Freedom," "Bringing Freedom or Democracy to Iraqis" or any other name. Logic informs us that one fact distinguishes this as a major conflict in the history of the United States: The number of soldiers killed. Honoring each of them leads me to declare the search for WMDs officially over. Between this moment and May 1st, 2009, "Law Day" in the United States, talk of "war" is inaccurate. Instead, we will leave Iraq to its chosen leaders, agree upon diplomacy, and name our troops "peacekeepers" until they return home." posted 03/30/2008 at 10:51:17

Immediately if not sooner.

Please, Oliver, dig deep into the fundamentalist Christian redemption angle and also into the regal, monarchist aspects of W too, aka King George. Let's not forget the entitlement either, not just from "41" but from Barbara's ancestor, President Franklin Pierce.

If the Kennedys thought THEY were "America's Regal Family," just try to get the scoop on the "Bush Family Dynasty" plans. posted 03/26/2008 at 14:10:42

Al Gore didn't mention "Love CANAL." He mentioned "Love STORY." And, if you read Gore's comments in context (what a concept!), (just as if you read Jeremiah Wright's comments in context), you'll discover that the exaggerations blamed on Gore were actually mistakes and exaggerations by a zealous or gullible media who had an agenda and a clueless citizenry. posted 03/25/2008 at 02:12:57

Please. See the movie, "Definitely, Maybe." The subtext of the movie is that the main character, played by Ryan Reynolds, is working to get Bill Clinton elected President in 1992. Ryan's character moves from the University of Wisconsin in Madison to New York to be on Clinton's staff at the beginning of the movie.

There, he witnesses all his hopes for a Clinton Presidency jeopardized by the Gennifer Flowers mess. Later, after Bill Clinton is elected, he watches the coverage of the Monica Lewinsky mess, Paula Jones, Whitewater, etc. ~ and is shocked, disgusted and disillusioned.

I encourage you to see this. It gives a gut-level reminder of events as they were happening in the "Clinton White House" days and how frustrating it was to witness Clinton's hubris and deceit. Being confronted with those years of duplicity while sitting in the dark of a theater offers time to reflect on how no one stands in the way of Clintons who want what they deem is rightfully theirs.

posted 03/22/2008 at 21:04:56

CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU to Courteney Cox, David Arquette, James Marsden, Rashida Jones, Jennifer Aniston, Orlando Bloom, Kate Beckinsale, Eva Longoria Parker, Brad Pitt, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale for your contributions and for the contributions of other donors ~ both financial and educational ~ to esteem, enlighten and energize those with Epidermolysis Bullosa.

My husband was born with Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica. He is 52 years young. We've been married 30 years. When we first met, I imagined his hands had been burned in a fire or he'd been in a wreck. He has no fingernails or toenails. He wears long pants to golf tournaments to cover and protect the blisters on his knees and ankles. When he was in second grade, teased by classmates, he told them he'd rescued two children from a burning house! He became their hero! He is beloved by his friends and our 18 year old son for his humor, optimism, awareness (he earned degrees in Biology, Math, Psychology, Microbiology and Genetics and earned an Executive MBA from Northwestern), and his exuberant view of life.

To all those enduring the pain of EB, please know you are loved and admired for your endurance and competence with pain, for your own knowledge of the importance of each day of life, and for your courage. For those with EB and for families experiencing this rare condition affecting the largest organ of the body, one's skin, please know my husband, our son and I are kindred spirits cheering you on!

With love and appreciation to the Cel'EB'rities and to the families with EB! We're all in this together!

ChaucerDaisy

posted 03/21/2008 at 14:57:36

No worries, Jane. You do a fantastic job with recaps of the show. You're funny and insightful and I value your perspective. Please know "you're welcome." I'm glad you found my comment helpful. Cheers! Carol (aka ChaucerDaisy) posted 03/22/2008 at 21:24:55

I enjoy your writing. Just wonder, however, could you go back and edit this and get the names straight? Re-read the parts about Richard and Andrew.

Richard (with the mohawk) bought the eucalyptus.

Andrew curses up a storm and is intense!

Thanks! Bon Appetit!
posted 03/22/2008 at 17:29:52

Dear Fellow Citizen of America,

Please remember this as you consider for whom you will vote. Barack Obama invoked the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence when he began his speech on Tuesday. As Americans, we benefit from this awareness:

Reverend Wright, as an American citizen, has the "right" to First Amendment protection. Rev. Wright can say whatever he chooses to say. I remember my father, a Constitutional scholar, stating again and again this philosophy. "I may disagree with what you say but I will fight to the death to defend your RIGHT to say it."

My father served in WWII in the Navy. Rev. Wright served in the Marines. Are we so judgemental that we can encourage Reverend Wright to "serve" his/our country and DIE for his/our country but Rev. Wright is not allowed to voice HIS beliefs, HIS opinions, HIS views, HIS social commentary as a citizen of his/our country?

Reverend Wright can say whatever he wants to say.

Your concern may be guilt by association. But wait. Isn't everyone in America innocent until PROVEN guilty? Barack Obama does not use the words Rev. Wright uses. Barack Obama is not guilty of associating with Rev. Wright and mimicking his language or mirroring his belief system.

If we are to change as a society we MUST be critical thinkers. Passion and EMOTION led us into the fiasco of Iraq. Read about "logical fallacies." That's what is being played here. Emotion. Anger. Reactions to "God Damn." Reactions to Rev. Wright's reaction to 9/11. Reactions that are based on EMOTION, not LOGIC.

When you THINK about it, Barack Obama's measured speech in the face of crisis is the antithesis of Rev. Wright. When you THINK about it, whenever we are faced with a dissenting or minority view opposing the "popular or traditional" view, we benefit by examining, "why does that person think that way?"

Adlai E. Stevenson once said, "ALL PROGRESS HAS RESULTED FROM PEOPLE WHO TOOK UNPOPULAR POSITIONS."

Thank you for your consideration of my views.

ChaucerDaisy posted 03/20/2008 at 21:32:58