The Politics of Powell

This country could use a lot more politicians like Colin Powell. Though I doubt he considers himself such after a less than successful stint as Secretary of State in the Bush administration.

Considering that less then stellar tenure, why do I think so? Because the cause of his failure is the mark of the man. Integrity. He staked his career and reputation on bad information. Though knowing he was being left out of large parts of the loop, his integrity and belief in others made it impossible for him to believe the administration would take us to war on manufactured "truth".

He is far more cautious now, but is unafraid to tell the truth as he believes it. He was very forthright in saying Sarah Palin was not ready to step into the Vice Presidency. He had the courage to cross party lines and endorse Obama because he believed he was the better candidate.

Now he is taking on his own party, the Republican Party. In an interview that will air Sunday on CNN he speaks of many "truths" which will leave segments of the party seething.

He talks of how the party will have to reach out to minorities for within two decades the majority of the population will be made up of minorities. He talks of how the use of polarization didn't work for the Republicans and is unlikely to in the future. I'd add I hope that is a "truth" both parties will recognize.

Along that vein, he asks if the party can continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh, "Is this really the kind of party we want to be when these kinds of spokespersons seem to appeal to our lesser rather than our better instincts?"

Powell is being politic. I would be less so. The answer goes far beyond whether the party should listen to Limbaugh and the other right wing hate mongers that fill the air waves. It's whether anyone should.

Mr. Limbaugh claims he has answers for all our problems but isn't interested in running for office because he doesn't want the pay cut. Now there's conviction!

If Mr. Obama is successful in his desire to create a new type of governance, the Limbaughs of the country will become the dinosaurs of the air waves and hopefully suffer the same fate. Disappear.

I think there is a pretty good chance Obama will succeed. Or at least gain a good foothold in the time allowed. He showed he is capable of it during the campaign. He appealed to our better instincts and because of it was rewarded with a win.

Negative campaigning got it's long overdue comeuppance. Hate mongering didn't take. The third strike against these self appointed spokespersons is their penchant for loose facts and lack of knowledge.

Now if the politicians will follow Powell's lead and be honest when questioned, regardless of party, a lot of contentious behavior will fade and with it the meat on which the likes of Limbaugh feed.

Talk about a "Brave New World"!

Silence Is Not Always Golden!

Okay, the Blagojevich mess in Illinois isn't what Obama and his transition team need at the moment. What puzzles me is why Obama doesn't speed things up by clarifying who has talked with the governor and why. How long does an internal investigation of his inner circle take? It isn't that large! If someone lied to Obama, even if it's his designated chief of staff, he ought to be out of there immediately if not sooner!

I would expect, if it wasn't Obama himself, the filling of his Senate seat would have been talked about in some sense without it having any degree of impropriety. After all, the Governor is the only one with the power to fill it. This parsing of words on Obama's part and the stone walling by Rahm Emanuel makes it look like business as usual rather than the "change" Obama has been espousing!

The stories are full of conflict. It is reported that Obama and Blagojevich didn't like each other. It's a different story with Rahm Emanuel. One story has it that he may have been the one who tipped authorities. Others place him in a far more compromising position.

When he skips a news conference and refuses reporter's questions because he's being a "father" attending a concert in which his daughters were performing, it smacks.

If he was the informant I should think he would be applauded. If he merely had a conversation about who the candidates might be, what harm is there in that? If he tried to influence the decision and was held up for it, that's a whole different ball game. That isn't just Chicago nor Illinois politics. That's politics as usual.

If there is indeed an attempt to cover up someones involvement, mark my words it will come out. If Obama is trying to sweep this under the rug it won't work. As it stands now, if it isn't fully resolved by January 20 he will take the oath of office under a cloud that may never lift.

Politics as usual. What a sacrifice of promise that would be. Especially since it can all be saved with a moment of truth.

The Atheists Are Winning!

I was looking for an illustration of a symbol of Atheism for this post and this is what I found. Talk about an identity crisis! The suggestion I like the best is just a blank space. It has far more dignity than any of the symbols represented in the religious war being fought in Olympia, Washington over Christmas displays at the Capitol.

Christmas displays. Like the one a Kansas group wants to erect that states "Santa Claus Will Take You To Hell." And another that states Santa is a child molester and the cause of U.S. troop deaths. "God's hate" is the cause of our economic woes.

We still lived in the area when Christmas Trees became Holiday Trees. That was at least fifteen years ago! I'm willing to wager a sign stating "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," is no where to be seen!

Having recently finished reading The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins, I find the case made for non-belief in God seems more sound than most would find comfortable. If actions speak louder than words, the happenings in Olympia are a testimony to that premise!

Is it not bad enough that most wars are based on the hatred bred by religious differences? Is it not a warning when in our own country people who don't even reside within in the state of Washington are taking cases to court for the right to express their hate for those who don't share their views?

How does this apply to Atheists? At least for those who feel no need to organize? They can look at all the conflict and walk away unaffected. They don't believe in God, nor heaven, nor hell so there is no basis for hatred.

One thing I have noticed that has aroused my curiosity. All the "religions" involved have their names capitalized. Baptists, Evangelicals, Jews, Muslims, Catholics, and so on. Never atheist. Why is that?

As for Olympia and it's struggle with what to and what not to allow. Heck, let anyone put up a display celebrating whatever holiday that is meaningful to them. But leave the other guys alone. No more of this my god is better than your god nor damning others for not agreeing with your view. And send the out of state folks back to their own turf!

That just might incorporate the right tone for "good will toward men." One can only hope.

Oprah Winfrey - Heavyweight

When I read the AP article about how upset Oprah is with herself I could empathize. So can just about every other woman in the world who has trouble maintaining a medically acceptable weight. So many of us belong to the "Sisterhood of the Yo-yo"!

The ads at the end of the article added insult to injury. They were Drop 13# with Acai, Dr. Oz Diet and Simple 2 Lose. Ha!

I had a health professional brighten my whole day awhile back. We were discussing my issues and the weight I've put on since vacation and Thanksgiving. "You're not going to obsess over losing a lot of weight are you?"

"Well, I'd like to shed 10 or so pounds and the first of the year brings my annual stint on the South Beach to accomplish that," I replied.

"Perfect." It's a good, sound plan, it works and it's easy.

It was music to my ears! Yes. I'd really like to lose more than that 10 pounds but realistically I realize I probably won't. And that's okay. Even that amount will help keep the blood pressure and cholesterol in check; the physical therapy and treadmill which is part of it, will help keep the old cardio vascular pumping at peak and I won't need to beat myself up.

I think the same goes for Oprah. As long as she's been a star she has had, shall we say, a zoftig physique. I think it bothers her far more than it does her fans. To confess that she's had to starve herself to achieve the weight losses she's had is no more healthy than being severely overweight. She worries that she's to be a role model and she let people down. Nonsense. Promoting something that is unachievable by most and certainly unsustainable isn't what role models are about.

All the special diets and pills in the world won't help anyone maintain their weight. Most of them don't work. If you already have high blood pressure you probably put yourself at even greater risk by taking them.

What does work is a modicum of discipline and realism. When you find yourself gaining, just stop and take it back off. Right away. I've done it and if I can anyone can.

True, as a "senior" no one expects me to look as I did in my 20s. The important part is that I don't either. Oprah, in her 50's is what she is. She doesn't have to get back into her Calvin Klein's to be healthy or please her fans. She doesn't have to look like Cher. All she has to do is be okay with herself and know that a whole lot of women like her just the way she is.

I'm always going to have those extra pounds I'd like to lose. So will Oprah. It's a female thing. We just need to be realistic, like ourselves and worry less about what we imagine others may be thinking. We're probably wrong anyway. That's another female thing. We're full of them!

Oprah is a heavyweight all right but it's for all the good she has done, her phenomenal accomplishments. That's a figure that cannot be measured in pounds!

Politicians - The Gift that Keeps On Giving!

I was doing a stretch that needs to be held for several minutes when I heard Hub come into the house. He's usually very good about leaving me to myself while I'm going through my routine so I was somewhat surprised. He stood in the doorway and said, "You Democrats!" Knowing I'm not a Democrat, I knew he had something pithy to say. Well, that ended the serene stretch as I burst out in a belly laugh.

"The Governor of Illinois arrested for trying to "sell" Obama's Senate seat? The Governor?? "

As soon as I could I came out to the office and began reading. Where to begin? It's all over everything! A couple of things caught my attention right off the bat. Chicago based (don't you love it?) Patrick Fitzgerald, the U.S. Attorney that handled the Valerie Plame/Scooter Libby mess was in charge of the investigation that led to the arrest of Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff (sound familiar?). I mean, how dumb can you be Rod? This Fitzgerald guy is good! It's like deja vu all over again!

The second thing that caught my eye was his mop of hair. What is the correlation between male politicians with "big" hair and the sleaze factor? Read John Edwards. Maybe none. Eliot Spitzer had barely any hair!

The allegations against Blagojevich are more far ranging than merely trying to make a few bucks from selling a senate seat. The U.S. attorney's office released a 78 page criminal complaint to coincide with the arrest! Wow!

Just Sunday I wrote a post making light of some Australian politicians being threatened with breathalyzer tests before entering Parliament due to some indiscreet behavior at parties following meetings. I commented at the time, rather proudly, I was glad our politicians didn't really need anything more than an IQ test. It is not required, obviously.

Heck, Alaska's Ted Stevens, a Republican, was just defeated in his re-election bid after being found guilty of corruption charges. The same holds true for Louisiana's William Jefferson, Democrat, who was under indictment for similar charges. Don't these guys ever learn?

The comics have been mourning the loss of the Bush administration because it has been such a treasure trove of material. I don't think they need worry! Especially if Al Franken, the Democratic challenger for Norm Coleman's Minnesota senate seat keeps "finding" votes that had eluded election officials all this time.

My solution for the Australians was to nix the breathalyzer test in lieu of fewer post meeting parities. My solution for our politicians is to make the IQ test mandatory!

But then, what would the comedians do?