Hubby and Son made it to their destination among the rolling hills of southern Indiana. Grandma is happy and enjoyed receiving her George Foreman Grill and her book that were sent with them as gifts. Who doesn't like presents? Today Son is to tour Indiana University.
Yesterday the Congress held a joint session to welcome and listen to a speech by the newly elected female president of the African country of Liberia. First woman president. She thanked the people of her country, she thanked them for their courage to make the country better, and she thanked President Bush and the American people for their support and strong resolve to force out a tyrant. She made a point of saying Liberia does not want patronage from the US. They want to be a full partner striving for independence in the world. The American embassy in Monrovia is the most evacuated embassy in the world and it has been evacuated 9 times in the past 15 years. She promised there would not be a 10th time needed to rescue Americans and dependents out of the country for safety.
She is a strong woman. Her vision is that Liberia is the U.S. success story in Africa. Wish her well.
Ryan Theodore was a chef in New Orleans. He had a deep faith in God and he was a big smiler. During the evacuation of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina he drove his family to Sealy, a small town just west of Houston, to safety. After the hurricane he was left with his family and the clothes on his back. He kept smiling.
Carol's at Cat Springs is a far cry from Sweet Lorraine's and the Bourbon Orleans Hotel, but it is the fanciest restaurant in the small town. He took the opportunity to start anew and make a name for himself.
He was known as Theo. His story was told on the front page of the Houston Chronicle in October. His story of success over adversity. He was interviewed by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram earlier this month, touted as one of the few chefs that had been successful in Houston after leaving New Orleans. His friends say his life was never better.
Theo was a husband and a father. He and his wife were raising his nephew who they took in at the age of 3 when Theo's sister died. They had no children of their own.
Veronica Theodore and Theo were to celebrate their 10th anniversary this year. He was a bear of a man, standing 6-foot-8 and he was a gentle man. The town of Sealy wrapped their arms around the family as they settled in and provided everything for them.
Theo told the Houston Chronicle, shortly after moving to Sealy, "I've lived in big cities all my life, and now I see cows and horses and they're not on milk cartons. It's like I've died and gone to Mayberry." The community is devastated with the loss.
Tuesday his 1998 Ford Explorer rolled over on FM 2187, six miles northwest of Sealy. He was en route to a benefit in Houston. He was not wearing a seat belt . He was ejected from the SUV and died at 3:21 p.m., according to a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Ryan Theodore chose to live a positive life. He smiled through some tough times and inspired those around him. He took opportunities that came his way and built a better life for his family. He was full of life, living the dream.
Rest in peace, Theo.
"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice." - Indian Proverb
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
That Was A Close One!
That huge exhaling sigh of relief coming from this part of the world was made by me last night. Hubby and son called to say they were at the hotel and settling in for the night. During the conversation hubby says it's a good thing the anti-lock brakes work well on the car. A driver in front of them in Memphis, for no visible reason, spun out as they were going 70 mph. Missed son's passenger seat by inches. They are fine, no actual accident. Frayed nerves, though! Needless to say, I said a little thank you prayer after I put down the phone.
Laura Bush received another honorary title Monday from a group of HIV positive mothers from South Africa. They said they consider her their "grandmother". They were at the White House on the invitation from Mrs. Bush after meeting them during a trip to South Africa last year. She was inspired by the work the women are doing to help each other cope with HIV, many discovering they are HIV positive during prenatal care. The women are part of a group called The Mothers' Programmes, a private organization receiving assistance from President Bush's five year $15 billion anti-AIDS effort. Mrs. Bush also announced a new partnership between the U.S. government, drug companies and international organizations to develop more effective treatments for children with HIV and AIDS.
I learned of a group yesterday that gets little to no publicity called the Patriot Guard Riders, founded in August 2005. This group attends funerals of fallen soldiers, on motorcycles, and provide barricades between the family and anti-war protesters as a show of respect and support to the family. They provide a visual shield with 3' x 5' flags and motorcycles. How sad that there is a need for their service for military families.
In Aurora, Colorado Monday, Jay Bennish went back to teaching geography at Overland High School. He was put on administrative leave, paid, on March 1 after a 10th grader's 21 minute tape recording from Bennish's class was made public. He was reinstated after 2 days of meetings with Cherry Creek School officials, himself and his attorney. In support of Bennish, the principal of the school, Jana Frieler, said "It's not about maps anymore, it's about politics, it's about religion, it's about culture." Contrary to Bennish's assertions, the First Amendment rights to free speech was never meant as speech free of consequences. "Nowhere else do people think that it is ok to engage in politics instead of doing the job for which they are being paid. When you hire a plumber to fix a leak, you don't want to find our home being flooded while he whiles away the hours talking about Congressional elections or foreign policy" wrote Thomas Sowell in a recent column. "Inbred ideological narrowness shows up, not only in hiring and teaching, but also in restrictive campus speech codes for students, created by the very academics who complain loudly when their own "free speech" is challenged."
Which brings us to Dan Rather. Jim Walsh of the Courier Post (NJ) relates a lesson he learned from former CBS anchorman Dan Rather. Rather spoke to a Cherry Hill, NJ audience about the need for imporvement in reporting. He told the audience of 600 "What's gone out of fashion is the tough question and the follow-up." So, Walsh went to the floor mike to ask a question after the lecture. He asked, " You left the anchor desk last year after your report questioning President Bush's military service was discredited. Key memos could not be authenticated. Do you think the failure to ask questions then affects your credibility now?" Rather responded with civility that the independent review "couldn't determine whether the documents were authentic or not." Walsh asked a follow-up "The Courier-Post won't run something if we're not sure it's authentic. Are you saying it's OK..." and his microphone goes dead. Do as I say, not as I do should be the mantra for Rather, it seems. After making a whole speech about the absence of tough questions and follow-ups in journalism today, this is how a reporter was treated with his follow-up: a dead microphone. Posturing rather than supporting aggressive reporting again.
"No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation." - General Douglas MacArthur
Laura Bush received another honorary title Monday from a group of HIV positive mothers from South Africa. They said they consider her their "grandmother". They were at the White House on the invitation from Mrs. Bush after meeting them during a trip to South Africa last year. She was inspired by the work the women are doing to help each other cope with HIV, many discovering they are HIV positive during prenatal care. The women are part of a group called The Mothers' Programmes, a private organization receiving assistance from President Bush's five year $15 billion anti-AIDS effort. Mrs. Bush also announced a new partnership between the U.S. government, drug companies and international organizations to develop more effective treatments for children with HIV and AIDS.
I learned of a group yesterday that gets little to no publicity called the Patriot Guard Riders, founded in August 2005. This group attends funerals of fallen soldiers, on motorcycles, and provide barricades between the family and anti-war protesters as a show of respect and support to the family. They provide a visual shield with 3' x 5' flags and motorcycles. How sad that there is a need for their service for military families.
In Aurora, Colorado Monday, Jay Bennish went back to teaching geography at Overland High School. He was put on administrative leave, paid, on March 1 after a 10th grader's 21 minute tape recording from Bennish's class was made public. He was reinstated after 2 days of meetings with Cherry Creek School officials, himself and his attorney. In support of Bennish, the principal of the school, Jana Frieler, said "It's not about maps anymore, it's about politics, it's about religion, it's about culture." Contrary to Bennish's assertions, the First Amendment rights to free speech was never meant as speech free of consequences. "Nowhere else do people think that it is ok to engage in politics instead of doing the job for which they are being paid. When you hire a plumber to fix a leak, you don't want to find our home being flooded while he whiles away the hours talking about Congressional elections or foreign policy" wrote Thomas Sowell in a recent column. "Inbred ideological narrowness shows up, not only in hiring and teaching, but also in restrictive campus speech codes for students, created by the very academics who complain loudly when their own "free speech" is challenged."
Which brings us to Dan Rather. Jim Walsh of the Courier Post (NJ) relates a lesson he learned from former CBS anchorman Dan Rather. Rather spoke to a Cherry Hill, NJ audience about the need for imporvement in reporting. He told the audience of 600 "What's gone out of fashion is the tough question and the follow-up." So, Walsh went to the floor mike to ask a question after the lecture. He asked, " You left the anchor desk last year after your report questioning President Bush's military service was discredited. Key memos could not be authenticated. Do you think the failure to ask questions then affects your credibility now?" Rather responded with civility that the independent review "couldn't determine whether the documents were authentic or not." Walsh asked a follow-up "The Courier-Post won't run something if we're not sure it's authentic. Are you saying it's OK..." and his microphone goes dead. Do as I say, not as I do should be the mantra for Rather, it seems. After making a whole speech about the absence of tough questions and follow-ups in journalism today, this is how a reporter was treated with his follow-up: a dead microphone. Posturing rather than supporting aggressive reporting again.
"No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation." - General Douglas MacArthur
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Lois Ann
Today would have been my mother's 75th birthday. Lois Ann. An old fashioned kind of name not used much anymore.
She was born in Bedford, Indiana.
She was blonde and green eyed.
She was the 5th child of 9, born to a contractor and a housewife.
She remembered the attack of Pearl Harbor as a young girl.
She remembered ration books.
She lost a sister to leukemia at an early age.
She lost her mother at the age of 13.
Her father later re-married and relocated to Tulsa, OK and built many limestone buildings downtown.
She was awarded a scholarship to nursing school.
She didn't become a nurse as she discovered she couldn't handle blood.
She married at 19.
She moved to Ocean Springs, Mississippi at the age of 20.
She gave birth to two daughters in Biloxi.
She moved the family to New Orleans as my father's work changed three years later.
She moved the family to Shreveport as my father's work transferred him there two years later.
She gave birth to another daughter in Shreveport.
She moved the family to Atlanta some 11 years later as my father's work transferred him there.
She was a widow at the age of 44, 3 years later.
She moved herself and her youngest daughter to southern Indiana to be around family and begin anew.
She opened an antique shop and ran it.
She studied and received her realtor's license.
She enjoyed being a granny.
She lived a full life.
She was born in Bedford, Indiana.
She was blonde and green eyed.
She was the 5th child of 9, born to a contractor and a housewife.
She remembered the attack of Pearl Harbor as a young girl.
She remembered ration books.
She lost a sister to leukemia at an early age.
She lost her mother at the age of 13.
Her father later re-married and relocated to Tulsa, OK and built many limestone buildings downtown.
She was awarded a scholarship to nursing school.
She didn't become a nurse as she discovered she couldn't handle blood.
She married at 19.
She moved to Ocean Springs, Mississippi at the age of 20.
She gave birth to two daughters in Biloxi.
She moved the family to New Orleans as my father's work changed three years later.
She moved the family to Shreveport as my father's work transferred him there two years later.
She gave birth to another daughter in Shreveport.
She moved the family to Atlanta some 11 years later as my father's work transferred him there.
She was a widow at the age of 44, 3 years later.
She moved herself and her youngest daughter to southern Indiana to be around family and begin anew.
She opened an antique shop and ran it.
She studied and received her realtor's license.
She enjoyed being a granny.
She lived a full life.
Chef Silenced
Soul singer Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef on the cartoon show South Park has opted out of his contract with the show. The producers and creators of the show, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, have agreed to not enforce the contract with Hayes.
That means no lawsuits.
Through his spokesman Hayes issued a statement in New York which said, "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs and others begins."
Hayes, age 63, has been a follower of the Church of Scientology for the past 14 years. He sees the show's parody of religion as part of a "growing insensitivity toward personal spiritual beliefs" in the media, including the recent controversy over the depiction of Mohammed in the Danish cartoons.
So, after 10 seasons and that time of paychecks and exposure, Hayes is now offended by the crude and rude nature of the show. Nothing is sacred with South Park and the creators make no bones about it.
And, yes, they did a show last fall that poked fun at Scientology and celebs like Tom Cruise that are strident followers.
Hayes made a big splash in the 1970's with the soundtrack of the movie, "Shaft" and the theme song is forever linked to him. I think that's what he gave Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
Ah, irony.
That means no lawsuits.
Through his spokesman Hayes issued a statement in New York which said, "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs and others begins."
Hayes, age 63, has been a follower of the Church of Scientology for the past 14 years. He sees the show's parody of religion as part of a "growing insensitivity toward personal spiritual beliefs" in the media, including the recent controversy over the depiction of Mohammed in the Danish cartoons.
So, after 10 seasons and that time of paychecks and exposure, Hayes is now offended by the crude and rude nature of the show. Nothing is sacred with South Park and the creators make no bones about it.
And, yes, they did a show last fall that poked fun at Scientology and celebs like Tom Cruise that are strident followers.
Hayes made a big splash in the 1970's with the soundtrack of the movie, "Shaft" and the theme song is forever linked to him. I think that's what he gave Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
Ah, irony.
Up Before Dawn
We got an early start this morning so the guys could hit the road before morning rush clogged up the roads. So, I've been drinking coffee - Starbucks Bold Roast Italian - and started a load of towels in the washer. I thought about going back to bed but that never really works out like I hope. So, I'm up and starting my day, too.
Remember that Cindy Sheehan was to appear at an anti-war rally in Germany at our big medical base? Well, she was a no-show and didn't even bother to notify her peeps there that she wouldn't be showing her solidarity. Nice. She claims she was injured by police brutality during her arrest at the U.N. demonstration last week. It would be a normal assumption that if you don't support the military you also would not support your police. She claims police brutality whenever possible, even during her arrest at the State of the Union speech where she was simply lead out of the building and taken away.
Cindy's comrades in Europe sponsoring her trip claimed that if Cindy couldn't make the events in Europe planned then it was due to "the political repression in the U.S. This means that it is all the more important to carry out our events here in solidarity with Cindy." Europe good. U.S. bad.
The groups supporting the troops came anyway and it was a good turnout. Several anti-war people came over to scream in their faces, as the photos show, but the German police sent them to the other side of the street. The pro-troop supporters were very complimentary of the German police and mentioned it was nice that their freedom of speech was protected.
Interesting group of people as finalists for Pulitzer Prizes this year. James Risen for exposing the NSA al-Qaeda eavesdropping program and Dana Priest for telling the world about the existence of secret terrorist prisons in Europe.
Betray your country and endanger our troops at a time of war;
get a prize.
"Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing." - Albert Schweitzer
Remember that Cindy Sheehan was to appear at an anti-war rally in Germany at our big medical base? Well, she was a no-show and didn't even bother to notify her peeps there that she wouldn't be showing her solidarity. Nice. She claims she was injured by police brutality during her arrest at the U.N. demonstration last week. It would be a normal assumption that if you don't support the military you also would not support your police. She claims police brutality whenever possible, even during her arrest at the State of the Union speech where she was simply lead out of the building and taken away.
Cindy's comrades in Europe sponsoring her trip claimed that if Cindy couldn't make the events in Europe planned then it was due to "the political repression in the U.S. This means that it is all the more important to carry out our events here in solidarity with Cindy." Europe good. U.S. bad.
The groups supporting the troops came anyway and it was a good turnout. Several anti-war people came over to scream in their faces, as the photos show, but the German police sent them to the other side of the street. The pro-troop supporters were very complimentary of the German police and mentioned it was nice that their freedom of speech was protected.
Interesting group of people as finalists for Pulitzer Prizes this year. James Risen for exposing the NSA al-Qaeda eavesdropping program and Dana Priest for telling the world about the existence of secret terrorist prisons in Europe.
Betray your country and endanger our troops at a time of war;
get a prize.
"Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing." - Albert Schweitzer
Monday, March 13, 2006
Contrasts
The guys have been hogging the computer and I don't feel ambitious enough to connect the notebook computer in the other room. But, it's all mine tomorrow for the rest of the week. I'm busy getting the guys ready for their excellent adventure together. They'll leave very early in the morning tomorrow, much to son's dismay, and head to Indiana to visit Grandma.
While there, son will receive the tour of Indiana University, located in Bloomington, also home of Grandma and where hubby was born and raised. I can't believe my son is at the age where it's time for college touring. Yikes.
We had a very pleasant evening Saturday. The food was excellent at the Indian restaurant again. We met a food editor from Food and Wine magazine there. Hubby struck up a conversation with him on our way out to the car. Hubby has never met a stranger and we never know who he'll be talking to! The editor was pitching his latest idea for a story to us to see if readers would be interested. The idea was about the trend of Indian cooking being so popular and the use of spices in the cooking having a lot to do with it. As opposed to, say, Paul Prudhomme and Cajun cooking he brought the country from New Orleans. Having lived in south Louisiana for many years, we could talk about that and the fact that Prudhomme was from Opelousas, not New Orleans. The difference in Cajun and Creole.
I like the intimacy of the theatre. Especially smallish theatres. Before the play began and at the end of the play a group of gospel singers performed and they were really good. Made you clap your hands along kind of good.
I like the theatre for the unglossiness of the experience. Live people making mistakes and the unexpected happening. They had a bit of a lighting glich towards the end of the play but the cast rolled with it.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
While there, son will receive the tour of Indiana University, located in Bloomington, also home of Grandma and where hubby was born and raised. I can't believe my son is at the age where it's time for college touring. Yikes.
We had a very pleasant evening Saturday. The food was excellent at the Indian restaurant again. We met a food editor from Food and Wine magazine there. Hubby struck up a conversation with him on our way out to the car. Hubby has never met a stranger and we never know who he'll be talking to! The editor was pitching his latest idea for a story to us to see if readers would be interested. The idea was about the trend of Indian cooking being so popular and the use of spices in the cooking having a lot to do with it. As opposed to, say, Paul Prudhomme and Cajun cooking he brought the country from New Orleans. Having lived in south Louisiana for many years, we could talk about that and the fact that Prudhomme was from Opelousas, not New Orleans. The difference in Cajun and Creole.
I like the intimacy of the theatre. Especially smallish theatres. Before the play began and at the end of the play a group of gospel singers performed and they were really good. Made you clap your hands along kind of good.
I like the theatre for the unglossiness of the experience. Live people making mistakes and the unexpected happening. They had a bit of a lighting glich towards the end of the play but the cast rolled with it.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Smiling Because It's Saturday
The weather continues to be strange here. It's quite warm, in the low 80's but it's windy and cloudy. And humid.
Taking son for a haircut later this morning. Tonight we are going to the Indian restaurant before we enjoy "To Kill a Mockingbird" at the playhouse. Been looking forward to a relaxing night out all week.
Today I read in the newspaper that one of the men in the group called the Christian Peacemakers Team was murdered in Iraq and his body was discovered earlier this week in Baghdad. I wrote about this group a while back. They are a Quaker group that borders on sedition in their anti-war activities.
This man, Tom Fox, was a 54 year old resident of Virginia. He was an assistant manager of a Whole Foods store before he quit to be a full-time activist. He was the father of two college age children. He had been going to Iraq since 2004.
Tom Fox's activities in Baghdad focused on helping the families of detainees in the area. He was trying to be a conduit between the families and the family members being held. So, he was helping the enemy's families to make their life better.
I think if it was truly a humanitarian gesture of this group, they would have been working with normal, everyday Iraqis and helping out in their lives, not the families of terrorists. I think that is a big distinction in this group's mission. This group puts ideology above their country or Iraq.
Fox graduated with a double degree in music performance and education from George Peabody College for Teachers, now a part of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, according to the newspaper article. He was an accomplished clarinetist and spent 20 years playing with the Marine Corps Band. The Marine Corps Band. How many Marines did he and his group do harm to while he was in country?
Fox was not required to undergo Marine Corps boot camp to be a member of the band.
Rest in peace.
Taking son for a haircut later this morning. Tonight we are going to the Indian restaurant before we enjoy "To Kill a Mockingbird" at the playhouse. Been looking forward to a relaxing night out all week.
Today I read in the newspaper that one of the men in the group called the Christian Peacemakers Team was murdered in Iraq and his body was discovered earlier this week in Baghdad. I wrote about this group a while back. They are a Quaker group that borders on sedition in their anti-war activities.
This man, Tom Fox, was a 54 year old resident of Virginia. He was an assistant manager of a Whole Foods store before he quit to be a full-time activist. He was the father of two college age children. He had been going to Iraq since 2004.
Tom Fox's activities in Baghdad focused on helping the families of detainees in the area. He was trying to be a conduit between the families and the family members being held. So, he was helping the enemy's families to make their life better.
I think if it was truly a humanitarian gesture of this group, they would have been working with normal, everyday Iraqis and helping out in their lives, not the families of terrorists. I think that is a big distinction in this group's mission. This group puts ideology above their country or Iraq.
Fox graduated with a double degree in music performance and education from George Peabody College for Teachers, now a part of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, according to the newspaper article. He was an accomplished clarinetist and spent 20 years playing with the Marine Corps Band. The Marine Corps Band. How many Marines did he and his group do harm to while he was in country?
Fox was not required to undergo Marine Corps boot camp to be a member of the band.
Rest in peace.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Frisky Friday
Just returned from a visit to the salon. My hair is lots blonder than it has ever been! Born a red head, my natural color is brown or auburn so when I started having my hair highlighted the blondness began. This time we went whole hog and it is looking great, I think. The cut is really good, too. Nothing makes me happier than having a good stylist.
Remember when we went to the beauty shop and it was beauticians working there? Ah, dating myself again.
I just saw "thousands" of illegal aliens marching in protest in Chicago of new immigration legislation that criminalizes illegal immigration and imposes fines and the like. Wow, so something illegal is criminal? What a concept.
And in this country illegal aliens feel empowered to march and protest as if their rights were the same as citizens of this country. They feel entitled to all the rights and priviledges of this country, except that pesky paperwork, I guess.
No other country on earth would allow such behavior. My stylist is first generation Vietnamese and her husband is an immigrant of Rumanian descent. People who play by the rules, or laws in this case, are not at all pleased with the illegal alien situation in this country.
God Bless America.
Remember when we went to the beauty shop and it was beauticians working there? Ah, dating myself again.
I just saw "thousands" of illegal aliens marching in protest in Chicago of new immigration legislation that criminalizes illegal immigration and imposes fines and the like. Wow, so something illegal is criminal? What a concept.
And in this country illegal aliens feel empowered to march and protest as if their rights were the same as citizens of this country. They feel entitled to all the rights and priviledges of this country, except that pesky paperwork, I guess.
No other country on earth would allow such behavior. My stylist is first generation Vietnamese and her husband is an immigrant of Rumanian descent. People who play by the rules, or laws in this case, are not at all pleased with the illegal alien situation in this country.
God Bless America.
Fool of the Week
This week the Fool of the Week is Jimmy Carter.
Once upon a time there was an unspoken courtesy that former Presidents of the United States did not bash the current President while said current President was holding office. As partisan politics have become more and more bitter, some have chosen to take the low road. It's all about them and nevermind about the country they governed.
Jimmy Carter seems hell bent on destroying any shreds left of a legacy of human rights advocate. His was a failed presidency, both domestically and internationally, and he has tried for years to be relevent on the international level. His method is to bash whomever is in office. He bashed former President Clinton and since the get-go has criticized President Bush, preferrable on foreign soil.
The latest assault on the country by Carter has occurred over the process of voting this week at the UN on Kofi Annan's proposal that the Human Rights Council be replaced by a new Commission. This would relieve the UN of the embarrassment of having countries like Cuba, Venezuela, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe on the Human Rights Council. The new Commission doesn't seem to be much of an improvement as some of the world's worst would still be eligible for membership. Annan watered down the strict membership rules he orginally proposed to appease objections.
Ambassador John Bolton has stated the U.S. won't go along with it. Many other nations have privately raised misgivings but only the U.S. has been willing to object publicly. Poor Mr. Annan is frustrated.
So, here come Jimma. He aligns himself with the Third World bad guys against the United States. "My hope is that when a vote is taken, the other members will outvote the United States," he told the Council on Foreign Relations according to the Wall Street Journal.
There is no political dignity left for Carter. Foreign policy from his administration led to the Ayotallahs taking Iran over the Shah and fanatical Islam was firmly planted in the region. American citizens were held hostage for 444 days due to his incompetence.
He lobbied Secretary of State Rice concerning his opinion of the new Commission. From whom does he think Ambassador Bolton receives instruction on this country's official policy?
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest." - Mark Twain
Once upon a time there was an unspoken courtesy that former Presidents of the United States did not bash the current President while said current President was holding office. As partisan politics have become more and more bitter, some have chosen to take the low road. It's all about them and nevermind about the country they governed.
Jimmy Carter seems hell bent on destroying any shreds left of a legacy of human rights advocate. His was a failed presidency, both domestically and internationally, and he has tried for years to be relevent on the international level. His method is to bash whomever is in office. He bashed former President Clinton and since the get-go has criticized President Bush, preferrable on foreign soil.
The latest assault on the country by Carter has occurred over the process of voting this week at the UN on Kofi Annan's proposal that the Human Rights Council be replaced by a new Commission. This would relieve the UN of the embarrassment of having countries like Cuba, Venezuela, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe on the Human Rights Council. The new Commission doesn't seem to be much of an improvement as some of the world's worst would still be eligible for membership. Annan watered down the strict membership rules he orginally proposed to appease objections.
Ambassador John Bolton has stated the U.S. won't go along with it. Many other nations have privately raised misgivings but only the U.S. has been willing to object publicly. Poor Mr. Annan is frustrated.
So, here come Jimma. He aligns himself with the Third World bad guys against the United States. "My hope is that when a vote is taken, the other members will outvote the United States," he told the Council on Foreign Relations according to the Wall Street Journal.
There is no political dignity left for Carter. Foreign policy from his administration led to the Ayotallahs taking Iran over the Shah and fanatical Islam was firmly planted in the region. American citizens were held hostage for 444 days due to his incompetence.
He lobbied Secretary of State Rice concerning his opinion of the new Commission. From whom does he think Ambassador Bolton receives instruction on this country's official policy?
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest." - Mark Twain
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Thursday's Here
Ready or not, it's a new day. It is dark and lightly raining this morning. My son is trying to go to school today after being under attack from spring allergies this week. I imagine I will get a phone call later from him asking for a ride home. Poor guy.
Nice to see yesterday that Gov. Blanco and Mayor Naquin could make it for the photo ops with President Bush and Laura Bush in New Orleans. What with touring the country looking for votes and begging for more money, it must have took some calendar clearing on their part. President Bush asked Congress to get his request of $4.2 billion for homeowners to re-build in place ASAP. It's only for New Orleans. Didn't hear the big cry for the coast of Mississippi, though.
Maybe the coast of Louisiana would bounce back quicker if it really had some involved leadership on a state and local level.
Sigh.
Something that has been rattling around my grey matter: the grave of Casey Sheehan still has no headstone. Cindy is a jetsetting celeb with her sedition against this country and being rewarded monetarily for it but her son, in whose memory she claims to being protesting, goes without a simple headstone in the cemetery. You'd think with the $250,000 she was allotted after his death, she could have set aside some money to take care of that.
Seems that Reuters, the wire service that loves to hate the US, now has published a story that is putting Guantanamo Bay prison in a decent light. Seems the deputy head of Brussels' federal police anti-terrorism unit, a Mr. Alain Grignard, told a news conference that "prisoners' right to practice their religion, food, clothes and medical care were better than in Belgian prisons." Hmmm. I guess Dick Durbin better rush to the floor of the Senate and well up with tears about the gulags flourishing in Brussels.
The governor of Arizona has called for the state's National Guard to be placed on the border to handle the illegal immigrant situation. However, in the decree, she states they are not to be a military presence on the border. Huh? She orders them to help take care of the border patrols' vehicles, do maintence, and monitor with surveillance equipment. She doesn't state the number of National Guard soldiers to be deployed. This is the same governor that is in favor of issuing drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. Quite the politician, no?
Nice to see yesterday that Gov. Blanco and Mayor Naquin could make it for the photo ops with President Bush and Laura Bush in New Orleans. What with touring the country looking for votes and begging for more money, it must have took some calendar clearing on their part. President Bush asked Congress to get his request of $4.2 billion for homeowners to re-build in place ASAP. It's only for New Orleans. Didn't hear the big cry for the coast of Mississippi, though.
Maybe the coast of Louisiana would bounce back quicker if it really had some involved leadership on a state and local level.
Sigh.
Something that has been rattling around my grey matter: the grave of Casey Sheehan still has no headstone. Cindy is a jetsetting celeb with her sedition against this country and being rewarded monetarily for it but her son, in whose memory she claims to being protesting, goes without a simple headstone in the cemetery. You'd think with the $250,000 she was allotted after his death, she could have set aside some money to take care of that.
Seems that Reuters, the wire service that loves to hate the US, now has published a story that is putting Guantanamo Bay prison in a decent light. Seems the deputy head of Brussels' federal police anti-terrorism unit, a Mr. Alain Grignard, told a news conference that "prisoners' right to practice their religion, food, clothes and medical care were better than in Belgian prisons." Hmmm. I guess Dick Durbin better rush to the floor of the Senate and well up with tears about the gulags flourishing in Brussels.
The governor of Arizona has called for the state's National Guard to be placed on the border to handle the illegal immigrant situation. However, in the decree, she states they are not to be a military presence on the border. Huh? She orders them to help take care of the border patrols' vehicles, do maintence, and monitor with surveillance equipment. She doesn't state the number of National Guard soldiers to be deployed. This is the same governor that is in favor of issuing drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. Quite the politician, no?
I wish the governor of Texas would order the National Guard to our border. I want it to be a military force. Enough is enough. The crime rate continues to rise, the cases of TB continue to increase, the strain on medical facilities and government services is at crisis level.
"Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway." - John Wayne
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Wednesday
Strange feeling morning. The humidity is high and the sky is cloudy and dark. Blech.
Son stayed home again as he is not quite up to going to school. The doctor gave him a perscription for a nasal spray and told him not to eat or drink dairy. Same old, same old. He also was told to continue taking Claridin as he has been doing.
State primary elections held yesterday produced the expected low voter turnout. On a national level, you may be interested in knowing that Tom DeLay won his district, no run-off necessary. He won, big, too. I'm sure many are disappointed by that.
I went to the monthly meeting of a group I belong to Monday morning. It's a woman's political group, a political action committee, otherwise known as a PAC. Our speaker was a local political columnist in the Houston newspaper. He was really interesting. His columns run twice a week, with Wednesday being one of the days. Today's column was a lot of what he was talking about Monday morning. And he is really relieved that the mayor pro-tem of Houston is in a controversy now as he is frequently critized as only bashing Republicans or conservatives with his writing. Now, he says, he can be an equal opportunity basher!
The office of Mayor Pro-Tem is a mostly ceremonial office that has been eliminated in most other places. Here it is used for events where the Mayor is unavailable to attend and the Mayor Pro-Tem goes and cuts the ribbon or waves to the crowd at a gathering or welcomes a visiting celebrity, etc. The current holder of the title is a city councilwoman who was thought to have bigger political ambitions than Houston City Council. She is Hispanic and very popular in her district. She was recently re-elected to her council seat.
During her last campaign, it came out that the degree from the University of Houston she claimed to have was a bit of an exaggeration. Ooops. She really didn't have the diploma. So, amid all the publicity of that disclosure the University "worked with her" and she got the actual piece of paper. Now she is embroiled in a financial scandal involving 4 employees, hired by her, in the Mayor Pro-Tem's office. They gave themselves huge bonuses, it seems, and forged her initials to the paperwork to ok the bonuses. She says she knows nothing about it, the employees deceived her, let her done, yada, yada. She finally, after waiting almost 2 weeks and after hiring a top criminal lawyer and a p.r. guy who used to work for Hillary Clinton, stepped down from the office. She says temporarily. We'll see. One employee claims her boss knew all about the bonuses at the time.
The City Council office is separate from the Mayor Pro-Tem office, so she remains on the City Council.
On a different note, I read that Cindy Sheehan is going to Germany this weekend to protest at the military base where the soldiers go for medical care from the battlefield. A counter-protest is being organized this time so that she knows she is not welcome. Cindy Sheehan, world traveler.
"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." - Saint Francis
Son stayed home again as he is not quite up to going to school. The doctor gave him a perscription for a nasal spray and told him not to eat or drink dairy. Same old, same old. He also was told to continue taking Claridin as he has been doing.
State primary elections held yesterday produced the expected low voter turnout. On a national level, you may be interested in knowing that Tom DeLay won his district, no run-off necessary. He won, big, too. I'm sure many are disappointed by that.
I went to the monthly meeting of a group I belong to Monday morning. It's a woman's political group, a political action committee, otherwise known as a PAC. Our speaker was a local political columnist in the Houston newspaper. He was really interesting. His columns run twice a week, with Wednesday being one of the days. Today's column was a lot of what he was talking about Monday morning. And he is really relieved that the mayor pro-tem of Houston is in a controversy now as he is frequently critized as only bashing Republicans or conservatives with his writing. Now, he says, he can be an equal opportunity basher!
The office of Mayor Pro-Tem is a mostly ceremonial office that has been eliminated in most other places. Here it is used for events where the Mayor is unavailable to attend and the Mayor Pro-Tem goes and cuts the ribbon or waves to the crowd at a gathering or welcomes a visiting celebrity, etc. The current holder of the title is a city councilwoman who was thought to have bigger political ambitions than Houston City Council. She is Hispanic and very popular in her district. She was recently re-elected to her council seat.
During her last campaign, it came out that the degree from the University of Houston she claimed to have was a bit of an exaggeration. Ooops. She really didn't have the diploma. So, amid all the publicity of that disclosure the University "worked with her" and she got the actual piece of paper. Now she is embroiled in a financial scandal involving 4 employees, hired by her, in the Mayor Pro-Tem's office. They gave themselves huge bonuses, it seems, and forged her initials to the paperwork to ok the bonuses. She says she knows nothing about it, the employees deceived her, let her done, yada, yada. She finally, after waiting almost 2 weeks and after hiring a top criminal lawyer and a p.r. guy who used to work for Hillary Clinton, stepped down from the office. She says temporarily. We'll see. One employee claims her boss knew all about the bonuses at the time.
The City Council office is separate from the Mayor Pro-Tem office, so she remains on the City Council.
On a different note, I read that Cindy Sheehan is going to Germany this weekend to protest at the military base where the soldiers go for medical care from the battlefield. A counter-protest is being organized this time so that she knows she is not welcome. Cindy Sheehan, world traveler.
"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." - Saint Francis
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Tuesday Talk
Son is home today with a spring allergy cold and sore throat. Taking him to see the doctor this afternoon.
RIP Dana Reeve. She was a strong and brave woman. She stayed by the side of Christopher after the tragic riding accident and they started a foundation to help others. Then after his passing, her mother died, and now last night she lost her battle with lung cancer. So tragic, especially for their young son. I believe he is only 14 or 15 years old.
Yukky Geography teacher - the term used loosely - from Colorado, Jay Bennish, I see is on the media tour, complete with a makeover. Talking to Matt Lauer on the Today Show this morning. Of course Lauer takes out his hostility on the student who taped the class. And the nerve of his father to take it to a conservative talk radio show in their town. It's those conservatives, I'll tell you. Inappropriate teachers below the college level have nothing to do with it, you know.
Military recruiters must be allowed on college campus again after the Supreme Court's ruling yesterday. Forfeit federal dollars if they don't. I guess the whole freedom of speech thing is for everyone, after all.
I've purchased tickets for the Saturday night performance of "To Kill A Mockingbird" at the local playhouse. Looking forward to it. I will be in the company of my two guys. Sunday they plan to leave on a guys road trip. Spring Break for son is next week so him and dad are driving up to Indiana to visit Grandma. Male bonding and all that on the road together. I'll be here with the dog and cats. And my books. And the remote control all to myself. And the computer all to myself. Sweet.
"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it." - Margaret Thatcher
RIP Dana Reeve. She was a strong and brave woman. She stayed by the side of Christopher after the tragic riding accident and they started a foundation to help others. Then after his passing, her mother died, and now last night she lost her battle with lung cancer. So tragic, especially for their young son. I believe he is only 14 or 15 years old.
Yukky Geography teacher - the term used loosely - from Colorado, Jay Bennish, I see is on the media tour, complete with a makeover. Talking to Matt Lauer on the Today Show this morning. Of course Lauer takes out his hostility on the student who taped the class. And the nerve of his father to take it to a conservative talk radio show in their town. It's those conservatives, I'll tell you. Inappropriate teachers below the college level have nothing to do with it, you know.
Military recruiters must be allowed on college campus again after the Supreme Court's ruling yesterday. Forfeit federal dollars if they don't. I guess the whole freedom of speech thing is for everyone, after all.
I've purchased tickets for the Saturday night performance of "To Kill A Mockingbird" at the local playhouse. Looking forward to it. I will be in the company of my two guys. Sunday they plan to leave on a guys road trip. Spring Break for son is next week so him and dad are driving up to Indiana to visit Grandma. Male bonding and all that on the road together. I'll be here with the dog and cats. And my books. And the remote control all to myself. And the computer all to myself. Sweet.
"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it." - Margaret Thatcher
Monday, March 06, 2006
He's Baaaack
Mayor Ray Naquin of New Orleans was in Houston all weekend campaigning for the upcoming mayorial race. He would like to keep his job. He was praised by local black leaders but there were lots of questions for him from Katrina evacuees living here now.
The most basic question was, why should we vote for you? And also, what were you planning to do with the people you didn't evacuate before the storm?
Both very good questions.
The tapes released by AP last week, even though they were widely available among the press and government officials since last October, failed to implicate the president and his administration asleep at the switch. They have shown the opposite. The president called the governor and the mayor and asked them to evacuate the city and surrounding areas a good 56 hours before the storm hit. It was further recommended by Max Mayfield from the National Hurricane Center. But no. Naquin waited until 19 hours before the storm to urge an evacuation. A fatal mistake. He was more concerned about the city losing money if the evacuation was not really necessary after all and more concerned to make a point that he was going to run his city, not the governor or the president.
A fatal mistake.
He complains now that very few of those running against him in the upcoming election "look like us" to the local audiences here. The mayor of chocolate city strikes again. Any politicians running to the floor of the House or the Senate demanding he resign for racist remarks?
No.
Concerning the absentee voting process he says, "This process that's before us is one that I'm getting more uncomfortable with every day. This is not about Ray Nagin. There is potential for major changes in the political structure."
We can only hope.
I watched some of the Oscars as I was not able to find anything at all on tv to watch last night. John Stewart was disappointing with the opening but seemed to warm up as the show went on. I felt bad for Lauren Bacall who was struggling to read the teleprompter and not at all comfortable on the stage. And it says a lot when it's all about glorifying the pimps with the song category. Plus George Clooney saying that he's glad Hollywood is not in touch with real life.
And they all complain no one goes to the movies and ratings for the Oscars show slip and slide every year.
Hello?
"Humility does not mean you think less of yourself. It means you think of yourself less." - Ken Blanchard
The most basic question was, why should we vote for you? And also, what were you planning to do with the people you didn't evacuate before the storm?
Both very good questions.
The tapes released by AP last week, even though they were widely available among the press and government officials since last October, failed to implicate the president and his administration asleep at the switch. They have shown the opposite. The president called the governor and the mayor and asked them to evacuate the city and surrounding areas a good 56 hours before the storm hit. It was further recommended by Max Mayfield from the National Hurricane Center. But no. Naquin waited until 19 hours before the storm to urge an evacuation. A fatal mistake. He was more concerned about the city losing money if the evacuation was not really necessary after all and more concerned to make a point that he was going to run his city, not the governor or the president.
A fatal mistake.
He complains now that very few of those running against him in the upcoming election "look like us" to the local audiences here. The mayor of chocolate city strikes again. Any politicians running to the floor of the House or the Senate demanding he resign for racist remarks?
No.
Concerning the absentee voting process he says, "This process that's before us is one that I'm getting more uncomfortable with every day. This is not about Ray Nagin. There is potential for major changes in the political structure."
We can only hope.
I watched some of the Oscars as I was not able to find anything at all on tv to watch last night. John Stewart was disappointing with the opening but seemed to warm up as the show went on. I felt bad for Lauren Bacall who was struggling to read the teleprompter and not at all comfortable on the stage. And it says a lot when it's all about glorifying the pimps with the song category. Plus George Clooney saying that he's glad Hollywood is not in touch with real life.
And they all complain no one goes to the movies and ratings for the Oscars show slip and slide every year.
Hello?
"Humility does not mean you think less of yourself. It means you think of yourself less." - Ken Blanchard
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Oscar's Night
On Oscar Night, I flip back and forth around the channels as I no longer really watch the Oscars. Haven't for years. Just lost interest in the whole thing. More and more it is just an auditorium of wealthy, pampered, self-absorbed, celebrities who are not very educated and certainly don't live outside of their high maintenance bubbles. Am I holding back too much for you?
I like to see the pretty gowns, provided free to the stars, so I try to see the red carpet thing. I sometimes flip to see the biggest awards being presented. Best Actress and Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Actor, and Best Picture. That's about it. The rest I will run through in the morning newspaper.
I have actually seen more movies at the movie theatre this year than in several years past, but even then I have not seen any of the movies nominated for best picture. I did see "March of the Penguins" and it is nominated for best documentary or something. Naturally, I really liked it and hope it'll win an award.
I did see "Syriana", nominated for best picture, I know, but did not see it in the theatre. Sshhh. Anyway, it was crap. The exact plot line I was expecting except the whole plot was so jumbled and incoherent. Just mostly blame big oil and white American men are corrupt and destroying the world with evilness. Not a lot of original thought going on there.
I really wanted "Walk the Line" to be nominated for best picture. But, no. It was a movie about a real American legend and his struggles to overcome adversity throughout his life and dealing with the love of a good woman, so that won't do.
I hope Joquain Pheonix and Reese Witherspoon win. They both learned to sing and play the instruments for the movie. Admirable.
So that's that.
I like to see the pretty gowns, provided free to the stars, so I try to see the red carpet thing. I sometimes flip to see the biggest awards being presented. Best Actress and Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Actor, and Best Picture. That's about it. The rest I will run through in the morning newspaper.
I have actually seen more movies at the movie theatre this year than in several years past, but even then I have not seen any of the movies nominated for best picture. I did see "March of the Penguins" and it is nominated for best documentary or something. Naturally, I really liked it and hope it'll win an award.
I did see "Syriana", nominated for best picture, I know, but did not see it in the theatre. Sshhh. Anyway, it was crap. The exact plot line I was expecting except the whole plot was so jumbled and incoherent. Just mostly blame big oil and white American men are corrupt and destroying the world with evilness. Not a lot of original thought going on there.
I really wanted "Walk the Line" to be nominated for best picture. But, no. It was a movie about a real American legend and his struggles to overcome adversity throughout his life and dealing with the love of a good woman, so that won't do.
I hope Joquain Pheonix and Reese Witherspoon win. They both learned to sing and play the instruments for the movie. Admirable.
So that's that.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Field Trip
So, the husband, son and I load ourselves into the car on this fine, warm and sunny afternoon and head out to a local micro-brewery. They do tours every Saturday afternoon for free and beer tastings, also free.
This is my husband's favorite beer. He is not much of a beer drinker but enjoys this brew. Being local and all, supporting the homies. They have been producing beer for 10 years and are finally starting to really hit it. They still are mostly in the state of Texas but are about to leave the category of micro-brewery and move to the next one up for volume of beer produced.
Now, however, as word has spread locally about this place, the tours are quite crowded. They say typically they have 450 or so visitors on Saturday afternoons. They are very friendly folks and lots of fun.
Hubby and I were disappointed that the tours are no longer actual tours where the visitor goes through the plant operation step by step and sees it all. Now they have someone talk to everyone at the appointed time and he explained how they make beer and the history of the company. Also some history of beer throughout the ages. It was interesting but too crowded to get a lot of it. A real tour would have been better. Alas, success.
Son, being 16, and me, being the designated driver, were not drinking any free beer. Hubby drank only one - they hand out 4 free tokens - and then he purchased a t-shirt (with design of his favorite of their brews logo on the back) and a glass mug with the logo. He also purchased a case of their root beer - brewed using their process - for son. That root beer is mighty fine.
So, that was our excitement today. Son and hubby are working in the backyard doing some landscaping maintenance. It really needs it after these colder months and the neglect that happens. They are also beginning to make the swimming pool swim worthy again.
I am roasting a fine, plump chicken for dinner. It will be accompanied with rice, gravy, steamed broccoli and cauliflower. Yummy.
"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." - Abraham Lincoln
This is my husband's favorite beer. He is not much of a beer drinker but enjoys this brew. Being local and all, supporting the homies. They have been producing beer for 10 years and are finally starting to really hit it. They still are mostly in the state of Texas but are about to leave the category of micro-brewery and move to the next one up for volume of beer produced.
Now, however, as word has spread locally about this place, the tours are quite crowded. They say typically they have 450 or so visitors on Saturday afternoons. They are very friendly folks and lots of fun.
Hubby and I were disappointed that the tours are no longer actual tours where the visitor goes through the plant operation step by step and sees it all. Now they have someone talk to everyone at the appointed time and he explained how they make beer and the history of the company. Also some history of beer throughout the ages. It was interesting but too crowded to get a lot of it. A real tour would have been better. Alas, success.
Son, being 16, and me, being the designated driver, were not drinking any free beer. Hubby drank only one - they hand out 4 free tokens - and then he purchased a t-shirt (with design of his favorite of their brews logo on the back) and a glass mug with the logo. He also purchased a case of their root beer - brewed using their process - for son. That root beer is mighty fine.
So, that was our excitement today. Son and hubby are working in the backyard doing some landscaping maintenance. It really needs it after these colder months and the neglect that happens. They are also beginning to make the swimming pool swim worthy again.
I am roasting a fine, plump chicken for dinner. It will be accompanied with rice, gravy, steamed broccoli and cauliflower. Yummy.
"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." - Abraham Lincoln
Oops
So, the AP is now saying they got it wrong in their reporting that the president was briefed that the levees would breech during the approaching Hurricane Katrina. Oops.
They now admit that President Bush was orginally briefed that the levees would overrun. The next day, as the storm hit, President Bush ASKED about reports he was hearing about actual breeches.
Gee, you can spin history any way you want, but the facts are the facts.
Idiots.
They now admit that President Bush was orginally briefed that the levees would overrun. The next day, as the storm hit, President Bush ASKED about reports he was hearing about actual breeches.
Gee, you can spin history any way you want, but the facts are the facts.
Idiots.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Not Much
So, how much have you heard of an historic nuclear energy agreement between the US and India brokered by President Bush and his team while visiting there the past couple of days?
Not much.
How much have you heard about the "secret" stop in Afghanistan and the Afghanistan people praising President Bush for being their liberator and hero? The first president to visit Afghanistan since President Eisenhower, by the way.
Not much.
How much have you heard about reform pushed to the front of the agenda at the UN, thanks to the energy of Ambassador John Bolton? You remember, that evil man John Bolton, don't you?
Not much.
How much have you heard about the video tapes put out there by the AP to show the administration's actions leading up to Hurricane Katrina, which in fact show the administration in place and prepared? How much have you heard of Gov. Blanco telling the President and FEMA that the levees hadn't breeched and may not, even though this conversation took place a good 4 hours after the levees did, in fact, breech? But it is the sole responsibility of the administration in Washington, DC to control a natural disaster?
Just a little perspective, people. That's all I ask.
The local news stations here in our fine city have now for the past two nights talked about the video tapes and asked Katrina evacuees their thoughts on how the administration handled the situation. Not their mayor or governor, or even themselves, mind you, just the administration in Washington, DC. Of course they think the president should be impeached and all that utter nonsense.
No personal responsibility with these folks. They have all been healthy looking, capable people from what I have seen on camera. Just waiting for "the government" to do everything for them.
My question is - what were they doing to take care of themselves waiting for the storm to come? No preparation, no plan, just expect "the government" to do for you. Then complain afterwards because it didn't all go smoothly for you. Don't blame yourself for your life. Blame the president. Blame FEMA.
Personal responsibility. What a concept.
Not much.
How much have you heard about the "secret" stop in Afghanistan and the Afghanistan people praising President Bush for being their liberator and hero? The first president to visit Afghanistan since President Eisenhower, by the way.
Not much.
How much have you heard about reform pushed to the front of the agenda at the UN, thanks to the energy of Ambassador John Bolton? You remember, that evil man John Bolton, don't you?
Not much.
How much have you heard about the video tapes put out there by the AP to show the administration's actions leading up to Hurricane Katrina, which in fact show the administration in place and prepared? How much have you heard of Gov. Blanco telling the President and FEMA that the levees hadn't breeched and may not, even though this conversation took place a good 4 hours after the levees did, in fact, breech? But it is the sole responsibility of the administration in Washington, DC to control a natural disaster?
Just a little perspective, people. That's all I ask.
The local news stations here in our fine city have now for the past two nights talked about the video tapes and asked Katrina evacuees their thoughts on how the administration handled the situation. Not their mayor or governor, or even themselves, mind you, just the administration in Washington, DC. Of course they think the president should be impeached and all that utter nonsense.
No personal responsibility with these folks. They have all been healthy looking, capable people from what I have seen on camera. Just waiting for "the government" to do everything for them.
My question is - what were they doing to take care of themselves waiting for the storm to come? No preparation, no plan, just expect "the government" to do for you. Then complain afterwards because it didn't all go smoothly for you. Don't blame yourself for your life. Blame the president. Blame FEMA.
Personal responsibility. What a concept.
Fool of the Week
This week the Fools of the Week goes to Bill and Hillary Clinton.
The controversy over the port deals with the United Arab Emirates has shown again that the Clinton duo has no center. They have no center since they only have beliefs as long as the beliefs are politically expedient.
Bill Clinton is a featured speaker at summits in Dubai on a regular basis. His fee is $300,000 per speech. The money men in Dubai are heavy contributors to the Clinton presidental library in Arkansas. Two weeks ago, Clinton advised top officials in Dubai on how to appease US concerns about the DP World deal.
Hillary Clinton, hoping to be the first out of the gate to overreact to the deal, without all the facts of the deal, introduces legislation to stop any foreign country from responsibility of port operation in this country. Where was her concern as she and Bill were giving away our port operations to the Chinese? Or our satellite secrets to the Chinese, for that matter? Did she oppose Singapore or Taiwan operators? What about the Brits?
It is all about the politics of the subject, not homeland security. This administration has been stellar on protecting this country from future attacks. That is why we are fighting overseas. And of course she is beholden to the unions for campaign money.
Nothing changes due to this deal. The company is sold to UAE and our operations at the ports remains the same. How many people were aware that most of our ports in this country are operating with foreign owned companies unloading the containers from freighters? Our country doesn't have enough companies capable of doing the business. It's a global economy.
The Clinton duo hopes to play good cop, bad cop on this subject for the maximum effect come election time.
So, what else is new?
The controversy over the port deals with the United Arab Emirates has shown again that the Clinton duo has no center. They have no center since they only have beliefs as long as the beliefs are politically expedient.
Bill Clinton is a featured speaker at summits in Dubai on a regular basis. His fee is $300,000 per speech. The money men in Dubai are heavy contributors to the Clinton presidental library in Arkansas. Two weeks ago, Clinton advised top officials in Dubai on how to appease US concerns about the DP World deal.
Hillary Clinton, hoping to be the first out of the gate to overreact to the deal, without all the facts of the deal, introduces legislation to stop any foreign country from responsibility of port operation in this country. Where was her concern as she and Bill were giving away our port operations to the Chinese? Or our satellite secrets to the Chinese, for that matter? Did she oppose Singapore or Taiwan operators? What about the Brits?
It is all about the politics of the subject, not homeland security. This administration has been stellar on protecting this country from future attacks. That is why we are fighting overseas. And of course she is beholden to the unions for campaign money.
Nothing changes due to this deal. The company is sold to UAE and our operations at the ports remains the same. How many people were aware that most of our ports in this country are operating with foreign owned companies unloading the containers from freighters? Our country doesn't have enough companies capable of doing the business. It's a global economy.
The Clinton duo hopes to play good cop, bad cop on this subject for the maximum effect come election time.
So, what else is new?
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Gamesmanship
In an attempt to once again play gotcha style politics with the President of the United States, the AP released tapes of the President with former FEMA director Mike Brown and others in the time leading up to the landfall of Hurricane Katrina. It is video taping and shows the president talking to concerned officials. He promises the government will do all that can be done.
What the tapes show is confirmation that the president was engaged pre-Katrina despite the common complaint that he was late to respond and not paying attention to the situation. Hey, we gotta blame someone, right? The hurricane did not take out New Orleans. The levee breaches took out New Orleans. This was discussed on the tapes. So was Governor Kathleen Blanco's admission that levee breaches were a big concern. However, the officials were of the mind that the water would go over the levees, not actually breach the levees. Later the tapes verify everyone's breathing a sigh of relief that New Orleans dodged the bullet after the hurricane blew through. Everyone thought it had dodged the bullet, including the governor and the mayor of New Orleans.
The tapes show Max Mayfield from the National Hurricane Center stating how huge the storm would likely be to the Gulf Coast. Am I the only person who remembers Mr. Mayfield on tv before the storm hit stating his concerns? Am I the only person who remembers he said he couldn't sleep the night before landfall and called the mayor of New Orleans because he was concerned that the Mayor and the Governor were not getting the people out of there?
The major difficulties brought to light from Hurricane Katrina were mostly problems of communication and of local officials, whether it was the governor or the mayor, not following previously established hurricane preparedness procedures. Blanco and Naguin were the first to scream that the federal government was not going to tell them what to do. That they had their own powers to exert. That the governor was in charge of the state's National Guard. All true enough. But when things reach crisis level due to state and local incompetence, you can't have it both ways. It is disingenuous to blame everything on the federal government.
On a more positive note, I was happy to hear yesterday that 6 of the 9 hostages in Nigeria have now been released. The local man was released yesterday. It was his 69th birthday. I'm guessing his release is the best birthday present he has ever received.
I am proud to say my son is competing this afternoon in an annual National French Competition. He goes to that during the last period at school and will be back at school by 6:00 this evening, where I will pick him up. So, he'll go from 2 Sanford standardized tests at school today to the competition this afternoon. That's a lot of testing for one day, if you ask me. I'm proud he was invited to participate in the competition, I just hope he isn't too burnt out to do his best. And, oh yeah, he'll have a Boy Scout meeting this evening as it was moved to tonight instead of the usual Wednesday meeting in recognition of Ash Wednesday last night. Very busy day for the boy.
"The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running." - Anonymous
What the tapes show is confirmation that the president was engaged pre-Katrina despite the common complaint that he was late to respond and not paying attention to the situation. Hey, we gotta blame someone, right? The hurricane did not take out New Orleans. The levee breaches took out New Orleans. This was discussed on the tapes. So was Governor Kathleen Blanco's admission that levee breaches were a big concern. However, the officials were of the mind that the water would go over the levees, not actually breach the levees. Later the tapes verify everyone's breathing a sigh of relief that New Orleans dodged the bullet after the hurricane blew through. Everyone thought it had dodged the bullet, including the governor and the mayor of New Orleans.
The tapes show Max Mayfield from the National Hurricane Center stating how huge the storm would likely be to the Gulf Coast. Am I the only person who remembers Mr. Mayfield on tv before the storm hit stating his concerns? Am I the only person who remembers he said he couldn't sleep the night before landfall and called the mayor of New Orleans because he was concerned that the Mayor and the Governor were not getting the people out of there?
The major difficulties brought to light from Hurricane Katrina were mostly problems of communication and of local officials, whether it was the governor or the mayor, not following previously established hurricane preparedness procedures. Blanco and Naguin were the first to scream that the federal government was not going to tell them what to do. That they had their own powers to exert. That the governor was in charge of the state's National Guard. All true enough. But when things reach crisis level due to state and local incompetence, you can't have it both ways. It is disingenuous to blame everything on the federal government.
On a more positive note, I was happy to hear yesterday that 6 of the 9 hostages in Nigeria have now been released. The local man was released yesterday. It was his 69th birthday. I'm guessing his release is the best birthday present he has ever received.
I am proud to say my son is competing this afternoon in an annual National French Competition. He goes to that during the last period at school and will be back at school by 6:00 this evening, where I will pick him up. So, he'll go from 2 Sanford standardized tests at school today to the competition this afternoon. That's a lot of testing for one day, if you ask me. I'm proud he was invited to participate in the competition, I just hope he isn't too burnt out to do his best. And, oh yeah, he'll have a Boy Scout meeting this evening as it was moved to tonight instead of the usual Wednesday meeting in recognition of Ash Wednesday last night. Very busy day for the boy.
"The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running." - Anonymous
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday. A 40 day period of sacrifice and atonement for Catholics around the world. Some years I have given up a pleasure for the time. This year I am not. We are not a Catholic family but for my high school years I attended a Catholic girls school and learned of the ritual. Our son attended Episcopalian schools prior to high school and sometimes was encouraged to participate in the self-sacrifice. I understand it, I just don't do it much any more. I think the 40 day period is a good time for self-examination and try to encourage myself to be the best human being I can be. Most days I fall short, but I get up every morning and try again.
You want to know something that irritates me? People who steal yard signs showing support for a political candidate. Ours was stolen out of our front yard. Someone felt entitled to come onto our property and steal a sign. It's common but it's just a petty act.
Here's a head scratcher - how does an ex-Taliban ambassador-at-large with a fourth grade education and a high school equivalency degree get accepted into Yale University? He was admitted into a nondegree program for special students. He has a 3.33 grade point average. Who at the State Department approved his student visa?
Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi is studying at Yale University on a U.S. student visa. Sounds as though the politically correct doctrine of diversity has once again gone amuk. Yale University, had "another foreigner of Rahmatullah's caliber" apply for special student status. Richard Shaw, Yale's dean of undergraduate admissions, said "we lost him to Harvard, and I didn't want that to happen again."
Mr. Rahmatullah told the New York Times "in some ways I'm the luckiest person in the world. I could have ended up in Guantanamo Bay. Instead I ended up at Yale." Lucky indeed. He is taking a course called Terrorism - Past, Present and Future.
Why is Yale University of the impression that they really scored with this admission? Weren't there other bright students, American or foreign, who would have been grateful for the opportunity to attend Yale? Why did Mr. Rahmatullah's application trump those applications?
"Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it." - William Penn
You want to know something that irritates me? People who steal yard signs showing support for a political candidate. Ours was stolen out of our front yard. Someone felt entitled to come onto our property and steal a sign. It's common but it's just a petty act.
Here's a head scratcher - how does an ex-Taliban ambassador-at-large with a fourth grade education and a high school equivalency degree get accepted into Yale University? He was admitted into a nondegree program for special students. He has a 3.33 grade point average. Who at the State Department approved his student visa?
Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi is studying at Yale University on a U.S. student visa. Sounds as though the politically correct doctrine of diversity has once again gone amuk. Yale University, had "another foreigner of Rahmatullah's caliber" apply for special student status. Richard Shaw, Yale's dean of undergraduate admissions, said "we lost him to Harvard, and I didn't want that to happen again."
Mr. Rahmatullah told the New York Times "in some ways I'm the luckiest person in the world. I could have ended up in Guantanamo Bay. Instead I ended up at Yale." Lucky indeed. He is taking a course called Terrorism - Past, Present and Future.
Why is Yale University of the impression that they really scored with this admission? Weren't there other bright students, American or foreign, who would have been grateful for the opportunity to attend Yale? Why did Mr. Rahmatullah's application trump those applications?
"Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it." - William Penn
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