A "Prisoner" Of Love

Ah, Michelle, we know you didn't mean it the way it came out, as you stated living in the White House is akin to living in a prison.  You qualified it nicely by saying it was a very nice prison.  And we know you were thinking of it as having lost your autonomy.

Somehow I don't think you garnered much sympathy.  When I think of prison I think of total loss of freedom, isolation, the barest of essentials and in many cases around the world far worse but I guess it means different things to different people.

It could be said you are a prisoner of your love for the good life.  Nearly nightly entertainment with entertainers most of us will never see.  Lavish dinners with the most expensive foodstuffs to be found.  Then there are the designer duds, ski vacations, trips to Paris and London and everywhere else under the sun.  Hotel accommodations costing in the thousands and entourages in the millions and most of it from coffers not your own.  You have live in help for every possible need, chefs, housekeeping, transportation. Kids don't even haunt the great corridors of your house anymore, except your own.  Some prison.

You know, I don't begrudge you your life.  I do begrudge your thinking of it as burdensome.  You see, the rest of the country is still struggling to make ends meet.  The military is closing some of it's swimming pools and axing fire works displays for the troops. Of all people to be made to sacrifice the smallest of pleasures.  Oil has gone over $100 a barrel again so already punitive gas prices will be going back up.  Parts of our National Parks aren't open or being maintained for the lucky few who would like to vacation in them.

And the trip to Africa you and family just returned from cost how much?  $100 million?  I know we see things differently.  I know the President likes to and does spend freely and many times indiscriminately. It brings to mind the French Revolution where the aristocracy lived the high life while the serfs suffered.  That's the image. Just once I'd like to see the Obama family make some sort of meaningful sacrifice to show that they are one with the people.

The President being one with the people seems to be a forgotten concept.  That's the way it is and we'll manage.  But please, at least have the good graces to think before you speak. There are specific connotations to certain words and prison is certainly one of them.  May those around the world who are rotting in the worst of them for no reason other than not agreeing with their governments be spared from hearing your comment.  We don't need another layer of contempt on top of that which we already have.

There Are Times When NIMBY Makes Sense

Republicans and Democrats working together to keep the administration in line is something out of the ordinary but it has actually happened!

Yesterday the Senate cut $80 million slated to be used for closing Guantanamo Bay. Now if only the media quits over reacting by insisting it's a huge setback for Obama, things will be fine. Yes. He pledged to close the prison. There's just one little detail he has overlooked and that's what to do with the prisoners.

Their own countries don't want them nor does anyone else. Including us! I can't say that I think it's a great idea to house these people on our soil. It's too much of a reminder of the injustices they've suffered under international law, like not ever being charged, that could cause resentment to bubble over. Should revenge be sought having those prisoners in the U.S. might not bode well!

That of course is the reason for closing the prison - those injustices. There comes a time, however, when symbolism isn't always the best avenue. The prison itself is functional. No one has ever escaped.

Maybe keeping the prison open and extending the prisoners their rights would be just as effective as trying to relocate everyone. How often are prisons closed because of unpleasant happenings within? Change the behavior!

Regardless of the solution decided upon, I applaud the Senate for denying funds for a proposed action without a plan. Bailing out car companies and making up the rules as you go along is one thing. Making up the rules as you go along for dealing with alleged terrorists just to change a perception is something entirely different.

I go back to raising that cautionary hand of mine. It's better to proceed after things are thought through. Victories are empty when more harm than good is done!

Charm Vs. Protocol

After the hubbub over Michelle Obama touching the Queen, I decided to see what other gaffes have been made. In our country the Obama's have huge approval ratings. They are bright, articulate and attractive. I like them both. That being said, they would be wise to get a protocol officer in place. Citizens of other countries, not to mention their leaders, may not be as inclined to take such breeches in stride. The Obama's might be viewed as arrogant or even disrespectful even if not so intended. Being a little more traditional in their gift giving might also be a good idea. DVDs that don't work on the British system really doesn't cut it.

I did a quick search to see what gaffes have been attributed to them. I found ten for Barack. Only eight seemed at all worth mentioning. The most arrogant, I think, was the presumptuous use of a Presidential Seal look-a-like during the campaign. Other than that they were all slips of the tongue that any one of us could make with no malice intended. Like the comment about his bowling being best suited for the Special Olympics or the Nancy Reagan seance comment.

Others were simply interpretations of what he said spun to suit the purpose on whoever was commenting. That goes for the misquote of Michelle's "proud of her country" statement too.

Actually, I'm quite pleased with the President and his spouse thus far. I listened to his post G-20 summit news conference and liked what he had to say and the way he said it. I'm going to criticize his actions when I feel they deserve it along with the actions of his appointees. It's my right as a citizen. I'll also praise when praise is due. That too is my right as a citizen.

In a world where many will be waiting for the charm to fade, however, I'm merely suggesting more attention to protocol will give less fuel for the fire.