Irony

I found this quote, attributed to US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice, on another web site:

“This is not 1968 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia, where Russia can invade its neighbour, occupy a capital, overthrow a government and get away with it. Things have changed.”

Apparently things have not changed, Madame Secretary.

A four-letter word comes to mind:  I R A Q

May You Burn

Sophmom recently posted an article on her blog referring to a story in Salon, entitled How Karl Rove played politics while people drowned. I highly recommend the article, as it delves into the despicable political games played while the people of New Orleans, that happens to be a city in the United States, suffered in one of the worst disasters in our short history.

The Bush government is not only inept, it’s corrupt and just plain wrong. It’s a government that’s more than willing to sacrifice those it serves for its own political expediency.

I usually don’t read they myriad of comments found after stories like this one, but this particular comment by someone known as “tangerine” got my attention:

burn in hell forever
Bush, Rove, all of them. They stole the White House, then eight years of our national life, and actual lives in New Orleans and Iraq. I can’t really express my rage properly.

Economic Stimulus

Today, our family received our “Economic Stimulus” check from the US Government. A check, by the way, that our country can ill afford to be sending when they are trillions of dollars in debt.

The theory behind these checks is that the American people will go out and spend that easy money on more consumer goods that they don’t need, thus stimulating the economy. Or at least the bottom lines of the large corporations and their lobbyists who concocted this scheme.

Some will spend more than their check on much more stuff they don’t need, charging purchases to their already overloaded credit cards, thus economically stimulating the bottom line of selected financial institutions.

In this household, we plan to take this blood money (and it is), and use it to provide economic stimulus to our own family. The bulk of those dollars will be used to pay off debt, the remainder being invested for our future. Folks, the consumption orgy is over. Turn out the lights and put a few bucks back for your future.

That’s the best Economic Stimulus I can think of.

As my Economics professor reminded us just about every class, in his pre-lecture monologue, “there is no such thing as free lunch.“

An American View

Let’s move from President Bush being the worst President ever to another world perspective. Take a look at the linked map, entitled The World According to Americans.

What connection might be made between this map and our current “sitting President”, the man they call “W”?

Bush: Worst President Ever

I don’t know if I ever stated in this blog that I thought current President of the United States George Bush will go down as one of the worst Presidents ever. But I’ve sure thought it.

According to this article in Harpers Magazine, a poll of 109 historians who have actually done the comparisons, agree, find President Bush the worst ever.

History News Network’s poll of 109 historians found that 61 percent of them rank Bush as “worst ever” among U.S. presidents. Bush’s key competition comes from Buchanan, apparently, and a further 2 percent of the sample puts Bush right behind Buchanan as runner-up for “worst ever.” 96 percent of the respondents place the Bush presidency in the bottom tier of American presidencies.

Do take a moment to read the article, to see on what grounds they base their evaluation.

As I mentioned about, I agree, because Bush and his cronies have lead our nation down a very destructive path. During his time in office his administration has:

• Bankrupted our country with this ridiculous war in Iraq.
• Trampled our civil liberties and the Bill of Rights.
• Ignored all warnings of possible ecological disasters.
• Placed our nation in such debt that my children will not be able to get out from under.
• Destroyed much of the goodwill other nations felt towards the US.
• Made our nation much less safe from both terrorism (”tearism”) and other threats.
• Established a corrupt government acting with little regard to the needs of our citizens

Our nation direly needs a change in direction. Fortunately, within a year will have a new president in office. In the meantime, study these candidates for President carefully and thoughtfully. Consider their values, leadership abilities, and their vision. Turn off the television, listen, and read what these folks who are going to guide our country have to say. Register to vote! In November, exercise your right! Vote!

As I completed that last paragraph, the thought flashed through my mind that my son, Joshua, is now eligible to vote in his first Presidential election. I must remind him to register and then vote, even though he is away at school.

Obama Wins Again

Democratic candidate Barack Obama has gained much momentum recently and on this Tuesday, won primary elections in the states of Hawaii and Wisconsin. Candidate Hillary Clinton is struggling a bit to keep up, and might be expected to make a major effort in my state of Ohio. Actually, she is already doing that; her campaign visited Cincinnati last week to order Skyline Chili from a store in Oakley, while our household has already received several phone calls right from the ex-First Lady herself. Recorded, of course.

It’s time for a change, and I believe the country is tired of Bush style divisiveness and arrogance. Our nation needs some new energy and leadership.

This is where Obama appeals to me. He is saying the right things, and apparently doing the right things that attract the voters of America.

The problem I have with Hillary is that she does not have this appeal. Although she appears to have some good ideas, I see her as an “insider” and more of the same old Washington. I’ll open my eyes and ears to what she has to say when the campaign road show come rolling through Ohio in the next weeks, but I’m going to need some convincing to cast my vote her way.

I can’t help wondering, however, what will happen come the Democratic National Convention this summer. What about an Obama-Clinton ticket?

What say you?

Hall of Fame

No! We’re not talking about the National Baseball Hall of Fame in beautiful Cooperstown, NY. Nor the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Not even the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

No! The Hall of Fame we’re talking about is likely discovered only in the minds of a few people in Ohio. The Hall of Fame we’re talking about is the Ohio Tax Hall of Fame.

Yes! You read it correctly: The Ohio Tax Hall of Fame.

The Ohio Tax Hall of Fame is “created to acknowledge those people who have significantly contributed to the development, administration or operation of Ohio’s state tax system.”

Wow! Lofty goals.

I discovered this astounding Governmental Tribute from an article in Porkopolis, a blog for a Cincinnati alternative and excellent newspaper, CityBeat.

Isn’t this a great country we live in? Only in America, would we have an Ohio Tax Hall of Fame!

Economic Stimulus Explained

As everyone worldwide understands, the US economy is a real mess. With a friendly and helpful attitude, our Federal Government steps in to bail America out of this impending financial morass. Helping us out the same way they do with the good folks of New Orleans and the people of Iraq, of course. But I digress.

Anyhow, the plan is that The Government gives each and every American money that they can then go and binge out on spending. That spending, of course, will stimulate growth, making everyone happy, and once again fill those dwindling corporate coffers.

A more detailed explanation can be found at this link, where our good friend Uncle Jay Explains the News. The highly original, humorous and educational three minute video will help you see the light in these dark times.

Quotable

“Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it’s important.”
– Eugene McCarthy

“If God lived on earth, people would break his windows.”
– Jewish Proverb

“A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many bad measures.”
– Daniel Webster
Attention all politicians, please read the above. Carefully.

“On account of being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does.”
– Will Rogers

“Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.”
– Ronald Reagan

“I get a lot of cracks about my hair, mostly from men who don’t have any.”
– Ann Richards (former Texas governor and leading Democrat)

Wrong Again

And while we’re on the topic of our President and his morally corrupt government…

They try to sell the American people on the use of “harsh interrogation techniques” that they’d like to use on our enemies, those terrorists who are behind every door and window, just like the communists before them. Harsh interrogation techniques, indeed!

It’s torture! And it’s wrong.