On Politics
Here’s my advice to the Capitol Hill representatives squawking about their pay – Don’t run for re-election!
I know that budgeting for FEMA regarding unpredictable natural disasters is a blind wild guess. On the other hand, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) says that additional funding for disaster relief for Americans must come from cuts elsewhere in the budget. To Mr. Cantor I ask, Are you treating the expenditures $10 billion dollars per month for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with the same lens? Of course, not, so stop being an ideological twit.
This troubles me: The number of people believing that each state (recently Missouri, Vermont, etc) is responsible for their own disaster relief, thus nothing coming from Feds.
President Obama announced that his upcoming jobs proposal will have bipartisan appeal. I say Good luck with that because the Republican pattern is to disagree with him after he uses one of their ideas.
I’ve been saying for some time that Gov. Romney was only the GOP front-runner because Republicans didn’t have many alternatives, thus view him in a similar light as John McCain. Meanwhile, the current polls with Gov. Perry in the field is bearing that out — well, at least for now.
Recent Quinnipiac Poll: favorable, unfavorable, haven’t heard enough
- Rick Perry: 22%, 23%, 55%
- Mitt Romney: 36%, 27%, 35%
- Michele Bachmann: 26%, 36%, 37%
Partisan wrangling and gridlock has been part of Washington for a long, long, time. What is new is the public’s awareness through the availability of information.
I remind Speaker Boehner that it is Week 34 of the Boehner-led House without a jobs bill. To quote Speaker Boehner, “Where are the jobs?”
Interesting Reads
Kathleen Parker on Rick Perry
Star Tribune (Twin Cities) on Michelle Bachmann
Kathleen Parker on a Political Diva
Relating Neanderthal Sex and the Immune System
Interesting Headlines I Saw this Week on The Onion
Failing US Economy No Reason to Stop Investing in Print Media, All Experts Agree
Charman Introduces New Disposable Toilet Paper
Neurosurgeon Gets Heckled from Observation Deck
Small Town UFO Scare Revealed to be Alien Hoax
Enraged Man Fails to Destroy TV
Other Real Headlines of Note
City Pays Band not to Perform
Man had Sex with Inflatable Pool Raft
On Potpourri
Thoughts and prayers to all those affected by Hurricane Irene.
Last weekend at the driving range, I used all my clubs to hit about 100 balls. My shoulder feels good enough that I can play. Unfortunately, my work project has extended through September. Well, subject to change.
College football starts this weekend – and schools continue to demonstrate (in a variety of ways) that it is all about dollars! Meanwhile, I’m hoping at least one of my schools will have a winning record – but that could be a long shot.
Earlier this week I saw an image that amazed me – an aerial view of rice fields in China’s Yunnan province. Check out this Google Images search result.
Using headlines from last week about the new Martin Luther King Memorial, the following words touch me: Mountain, justice, equality, freedoms, respect, hope, quality, transcending, compassion, dignity, and rights.
I appreciate this closing statement from EJ Dionne:
We have rendered Dr. King safe so we can honor him. But we should honor him because he did not play it safe. He urged us to break loose from “the paralyzing chains of conformity.” Good advice in every generation — and hard advice, too.
In the words of Garrison Keillor: Be well, do good works, and stay in touch.
A Frank Angle 
I can’t help but wonder how Dr. King would feel about his statue. He was FAR from a self-aggrandizing figure. To see himself in stone, I think, would cause him a bit of pause, at the very least.
I’ve known a lot of bands I would pay NOT to play.
Hey, you pull the wrong cord on a self-inflating raft, you may end up having its’ kids! Cut the poor yokel a bit of slack – unless he WAS trying to inflate it. (EWWW!!!!!!) 😀
Bachmann is putting out ads attacking Perry. The candidates are going cannibal. This is starting to feel like decadent Rome!
And as the day closes on the 72nd anniversary of the start of World War 2, there was a second tragedy of equal, epic proportions. I am now officially an Ohio resident. Had to do it – it got me a HUGE chunk of money. But it still sucks. 😦 I may have to put on WGN and rip the batteries out of the remote, just to OD on Windy City-ness.
Happy Friday, and have a good weekend, all!
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John,
The general play of the King Memorial is interesting – that is the person breaking through the mountain. To me, the statue itself seems to have too many sharp (well defined) edges … not smooth … which gives it a character that to me is not him. But I can live with it because he deserves the recognition.
Congrats on being an official Ohioan. Gov Kasich is so proud of you. 🙂 Thanks for visiting and commenting.
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Oh sure … It ain’t bad enough that you congratulate me on reaching a lower level of Hell, but now you tell me die Grosse Arsche is proud of me. That’s it, soon as the wife’s car is fixed, me and Blackjack are comin’ ta get ya!
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I love your summary reviews–thanks for sharing. This week, the rice paddy photos are amazing.
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Patti,
When I first saw the photo as one of the daily Bing covers, I was thinking a Dali painting. Once I discovered what it was, I had to see more … and like you … WOW! Glad you enjoyed them … and maybe I can deliver another good one next week. Thanks for visiting.
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someone ask kathleen parker if hillary clinton depended on hair stylists or cosmeticians to get as far as she did. she didn’t spend $4700 in one month on makeup, and she didn’t have her face shot up with botox. instead, she studied and worked her ass off. what parker left out of her commentary is that botox batshit bachmann was late getting to the stage for her speech, because her people had to readjust the lighting for her and get her entrance music ready. botox batshit bachmann, like princess sarah before her, is treating this campaign as a beauty pageant. all surface, no substance.
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Nonnie,
Why am I not surprised the Parker column would bring forth a comment. 🙂 Interestingly, I was thinking about Hillary Clinton when I read the article … quite the contrast. Meanwhile, I keep trying to ignore the one from Minnesota. Thanks for commenting.
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OK, had to check out the Neanderthal story … interesting. And may explain some things about my family. 😀
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D-Fae,
Alright …. I appreciate you admitting that headline grabbed your attention. Genealogy is quite the interest these days. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
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Cantor’s remarks leave me speechless. (almost) What sort of nation does he want us to be?
Meanwhile $12 million wasted in Iraq and Afghanistan A DAY for 10 years. http://nationaljournal.com/nationalsecurity/war-related-contracting-wasted-up-to-60-billion-commission-reports-20110831
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Nancy,
One thing for sure … in many ways we are in a mess as looking out for each other is not important to these people. Thanks for sharing the link.
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Failing US Economy No Reason to Stop Investing in Print Media, All Experts Agree
😆 I love it!!
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Spinny,
Each week I post these, I very much appreciate knowing the headline that gives you the best chuckle. Have a safe holiday weekend.
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The big corporation answer to the question, “Where are the jobs?” is, understandably, “First show us the demand.” Given the August zero new jobs report that just came out, I’m hoping Obama and Boehner are both getting desperate enough to do some serious out of the box thinking/compromising to come up with a jobs bill that puts people back to work. Meanwhile I’m curious to know what the average small business owner’s answer is to the question, “Where are the jobs?” The standard GOP answer for what’s killing small business is, “Too much taxation and too much regulation.” I’m curious.
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Tim,
You bring up a good point. Anyone saying “too much tax & regulation on small business” is giving no more than a sound byte. For instance, does the lodging industry, restaurant industry, and the tool-and-dye industry have the same regulations and subject to the same taxes? Of course not. Of course the candidates should be specific, but I won’t count on them doing so. Thanks for commenting.
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