What Is The President Trying To Accomplish?

I really don't understand where the President is coming from. His missteps are becoming legendary in diplomatic circles. He bows to the wrong people. He declined to meet with the Dali Lama, he declined to join the King of Norway for lunch while in Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He snubbed Gordon Brown.

Now, according to The Wall Street Journal, he has returned a bust of Winston Churchill to the British. This particular bust is from the British government's art collection and was lent to this country by Tony Blair as a sign of solidarity after 9/11. It sat in a place of honor in the Oval Office. Due to be returned after the end of Bush's administration, the British let it be known they'd like the Obama administration to keep it for the same reason. As a sign of solidarity. After all, they are our strongest ally in two wars, just as we were in the days of Churchill.

Bad manners? Yes and no. One, Obama looks to the European Commission as a stronger ally than individual countries. Our alliance with Great Britain is a relic, a thing of the past. Strange, since both France and Germany are not huge fans. It is Britain who has men fighting along side ours.

The second reason, and more troublesome, is a grudge. It seems Mr. Obama has a grudge against Britain for it's colonialist past. During this period his paternal grandfather was labeled a subversive in the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya, detained and treated accordingly. That is somewhat akin to bearing a grudge against Great Britain for the Revolutionary War!

This from a man who has yet to send a cent to his family members who today live in an impoverished village in Kenya. It seems contrived.

I look at the support we've gotten from European nations as a whole versus what we get consistently from Great Britain and wonder if we're going down the wrong foreign policy path one more time. We picked the wrong side in the internal business of Honduras, the Cubans are unhappy with us again, Iran is seeing how ineffectual we are with quelling North Korea's nuclear ambitions thereby ignoring pleas for negotiations.

Over and above those implications, there is world image. He is no longer viewed as the super star he was. I find myself wondering if he is arrogant or ignorant of the ways of the world. Either way, someone needs to clue him in. Or does he choose not to listen?

What A Concept!

Bacchus. He was an old boy when he left us. For a Saint Bernard. A few months short of ten. His disease took it's toll, aging him even more rapidly than had he been younger.

As Christmas rolls around, we find ourselves still missing him. There is an emptiness to the house. It's not quite the home it was when he was with us. Many friends encouraged us to get another dog. Others understood why we said no more. We're not so young any more either. We had two major concerns.

One was the pain. We've been through it six times. We don't want to go through it again. Especially since with Bacchus it was such an emotional roller coaster. I'm not sure I could survive another bout of anxiety that intense.

The second concern is what if our pet would out live us? We have no family to take him. What would become of him? What would the upheaval do to him?

Most of our friends, scattered throughout the country, are animal lovers who share our intensity of devotion. Yesterday we received a Christmas card from just such friends. They expressed their sorrow about our losing Bacchus and shared that they understood our thinking. They, however, have an alternative!

Living in the country, they have a collection of strays and mutts that become instant family. They also live not far from Texas A & M which, in conjunction with it's Vet Med school, has a retirement home for pet's who have lost their owners!

What a fantastic concept! They are not put up for adoption, they are just given a home for as long as necessary. They have shelter and albeit a new family and surroundings, one that will be consistent. They have medical care from the vet med school and 24/7 care from the students. They are not caged but allowed to roam. Like home.

I did a google search to see if there were other facilities of this sort and could find none. Not that there aren't any, but none were readily apparent. Someday, when money isn't so tight and good works can find funding once again, this is a concept I'd like to see blossom! It isn't inexpensive, but isn't beyond budgeting. It may just be the comfort zone seniors need in order to have pets during their later years.

What about us? I doubt it. It's a decision for the two of us and being at odds doesn't help. You see, it's the pain.

Coffee, Tea And Me

What a week! Instead of blogging I've been running errands with Hub and decorating. We decided to do more this year. Ha!

I did take time, however, to attend a coffee hosted by the Kootenai County Democratic Chair. Not being a Democrat I'm not sure why I was invited other than being on a lot of local Facebook friends lists and having been a strong supporter of Obama during the campaign. Plus we're acquainted through the local blogging crowd. The reason for the gathering was to hear an explanation of the challenge of the recent city council and mayoral election by one of the challengers. I was interested to hear if what I understood from the papers was on track.

The other reason was because our Congressman, my favorite Blue Dog, was due to stop by and say a few words. I really wanted to get a feel for the man in person. So I went.

I was pleasantly surprised to find another non-Democrat present. She, as am I, is a strong supporter of the candidate who's razor thin win sparked the lawsuit. I found it funny that we stood reflecting on her being a part of the Palin book signing experience just two days before as we waited for our Democrat.

A very nice lady joined our conversation and somehow the fact that two of us were not Democrats came up. "Isn't this wonderful," the lady exclaimed. "Here we are, a Republican, an Independent and a Democrat having a nice conversation with no animosity."

Of course it was. If it hadn't been a political gathering we'd have had the same pleasant conversation.

Our Democrat was there and ready to speak. He told us of the regulatory legislation that just passed and how proud he was to have had a hand in writing it. My feeling is that some parts are good, others not so. That will be with any legislation written by a Democratic Congress - or a Republican one.

He spoke a bit about health care reform and cap and trade and his thoughts on time frames. He told us he was not yet sure how he was going to vote on health care. I was delighted. No foregone conclusion. That's why I like him.

I got to say a quick hello after my friend had her picture taken with him. I told him I was one of those "dreaded" Independents but that I support him. He laughed a good laugh and thanked me.

I don't attend many of these events because I tend to stay away from local politics. I like too many people on both sides. This gathering, however, was encouraging. My friend and I talked a bit about those who will challenge our Democrat and we both agreed they are weak opponents. As she said about Walt Minnick, she has no good reason not to vote for him. He's a good man. He thinks. He listens. What more can you ask for in a Representative?

I wish I had the photos my friend has. A picture with Sarah Palin. A picture with Walt Minnick. What an indicator it would be of my political mood! On the other hand, to be true to myself, I guess just the picture of myself would do. It's what I am. In the middle. Independent.

Oh, You Beautiful Doll

Wow! Somewhere in China Sarah and Barack Cabbage Patch look alikes are being made! Is that the ultimate symbol of success or what?

I was reading today that Palin is but one point shy of Obama in approval ratings. This struck me as odd since she is selling books like gang busters and he is trying to sell bad policies. She is the rising star and his is falling!

Does this mean anything at all? Is it really news worthy? Well, maybe it has more serious implications than the Tiger Woods ad nauseam that is filling far too many news cycles. After all, Obama is President and I do think Palin would like to be. 2012 is not that far away and I'm not sure selling books qualifies one to be President. It will be interesting to see if any substance lies beneath the charm offensive.

One thing that concerns me is how attracted we are to empty suits. It's something to think about when the real campaigning begins. The country bought into eloquence this go round. Mostly because Bush was so lacking. We mistook the ability to deliver a dynamite speech as ability. We'd be wise not to do the same with a book seller.

When you come right down to it, however, Palin has more experience in governing than Obama did when elected. He hadn't done much of anything in the real world before entering politics. Not to demean community organizers. Surely they have there place in society, but it doesn't necessarily make them Presidential material. He's struggling with the job and the people know it. Thus the declining approval ratings.

I'm worried about what our choice may be in 2012. Will we even have one? Is there anyone out there? Or is this what a generation much younger than mine has set for their standard.

How Green Is YOUR Valley?

As I write this the high for the day is to be 13 degrees. The wind chill is in the minus range. The howling of the wind is a distraction. It is expected to last the remainder of the week.

The climate change/global warming hoopla is just getting started in Copenhagen. It is a gathering that is expected to produce little more than a lot of hot air. Is that a toxic emission?

Okay. Let's set aside for the moment the fact of the e-mails pointing to purposely altered data. I just have to chuckle at the image that's being portrayed. We know cows and those who raise them are getting hammered while Boeing and Air Bus are competing for the "We've Got the Biggest Gas Guzzling Plane Ever Built" award. We know the driving forces around this movement want us to revert to cave man status. No electricity, no cars, no beef. Wow. What a life. Yet the city of Spokane is considering adding electric trolleys and buses to their transportation dreams. Something has to generate that electricity!

Consider the carbon foot print of Al Gore. The size of his home and the private jets he tools around in must certainly be an 'inconvenient truth'.

The biggest guffaw, however, is the conference itself. Liken it to the heads of the auto companies being summoned to Washington. Remember? They all came in their private jets! According to London Telelgraph.co.uk there will be some 15,000 delegates, 5,000 journalists and 98 world leaders. Not to mention the celebrity element. And the protesters.

Expected, also, for those who simply do not fly commercial, are 140 private jets, many of which will have to shuttle in and out due to the lack of space.

Then there are the limos. Twelve hundred of them. It will be like sitting in line with your engine running while waiting for your car's emission test! We're supposed to be taking all of this seriously. Every time I write something like of this nature I inevitably get e-mails or comments pointing out my ignorance of the seriousness of the situation.

I just can't help wonder what those space aliens think when they look down at the unsightly 'wind farms' that are popping up on the horizon when we have the technology to utilize perfectly clean and safe nuclear energy.

Oh, about those limos. The country of Denmark doesn't have enough of them. More are being driven in from Germany and Sweden.

How many are hybrids? Five. You see Denmark doesn't have hybrids because they are so heavily taxed. A spoke person says it make no sense but is very Danish.

She's right. It doesn't make any sense. However, the Danes do not suffer the analysis alone. They have lots of company!