What In The Name Of GOD??

I hadn't quite finished my coffee this morning so I picked up the current issue of Arizona Highways. Hub said, "Inside the back cover." I turned to the story; a memorial to a young soldier who had written to the magazine asking if they would send copies to his unit to give them something to read and remind them of home.

The staff was so taken by the young soldier's humility and concern for his friends they sent far more then magazines and soon they had a special bond - plus an inside perspective of what war was like in Afghanistan. He was killed January 10, 2010. I was wiping my eyes by the time I finished reading. They were grieving because they would now never meet this young man to say a heart felt "thank you", not only for serving his country but what he gave them.

It reminded me of my own GI who picked up one of many Christmas cards I had sent to his unit, several years ago now. You know, one of those special requests that come around the holidays. He was serving in Iraq. We too have a special bond, a warmth that embraces me, even though we've never met.

The stories of these soldiers brought to mind the story of the father of a young Marine who is suing a group of protesters that invaded the privacy of his son's funeral.

We know people protest any and everything these days. There is something so ugly about this, however, I'm finding it difficult to articulate how I feel. This group is claiming first amendment freedom as they spew their hate. The Supreme Court is going to hear the case. Chief Justice John Roberts has shown in recent days, due to his flap with the President from the State of the Union incident, that he understands the frustration of humiliation.

Beyond the legalities of these actions, is the vileness of them done in the name of God. These people claim to be Baptists and most are relatives of the founder, one Fred W. Phelps, Sr. A crotchety old man who is reveling in the publicity for his cause - spreading hate.

It's hard to grasp how deep this hatred for Catholics and Gays, and who knows what else, runs! How twisted are minds that think the war is "divine retribution" for America's sins!

It's will be a fine line for the Supreme Court to deal with. In the meantime, it seems to me the Baptist Church should denounce this congregation at the very least or forbid them to claim the Baptist Church before it is diminished by their actions.

Short of that they should all be placed under psychiatric observation. No one that hates so deeply they use the funerals of fallen servicemen, those who have died serving their country, to get their message front and center can be considered sane.

It is beneath contempt.

Just STOP!

I'm beginning to think the Democrats have a death wish. It's puzzling to me since the Republicans are in no position to take advantage of it.

Back to health care once again. If you've been following it on the news you know Obama is on another of his campaign trips trying to convince us we're going to love the bill once it's passed. Since we don't know what they plan to do with it, I'd say that is iffy at best.

If the House passes the Senate bill without getting the language they dislike changed on the promise it will be fixed after the fact they are even dumber than I think. There is no honor in either of those august institutions any more.

However, the "no" votes seem to be in jeopardy. How can that be if they have the courage of their convictions? Easy. They don't. After all, what are all these closed door meetings with the President about? More deals! As Kathleen Parker pointed out in her column this morning, the "Cornhusker Kickback" wasn't rescinded, but expanded upon. Rather than eliminating the favor to one state, it has been adjusted down but extended to all the states adding billions to the cost! There was also the "Louisiana Purchase". Now there are special perks for Florida, aptly named "Gatorade" and goodies for "The Frontier States" of Nevada, Montana. Wyoming, North Dakota and Utah!

Where does it stop? Every little favor granted adds to the bill and we all know who gets to pay the tab. People are beginning to ask if the intent is to lower the cost of health care why is it costing $10 trillion to do so! Good question.

I have never, in my relatively long life, seen an administration spit in the eye of it's constituency the way this one does. How can there be any more doubt that it's all about ideology and having nothing to do with what the people want.

Today's piece of theater is Harry Reid attempting to change the Senate rules to get rid of the filibuster which is the minority's weapon of last resort. The timing is telling. It's one more slap in the face. It's their way or the highway.

I doubt he will succeed. As I said, it's theater. To me it's just another attempt at intimidation.

Powerful people who supported Obama have for some time advised him he was trying too much too fast. He doesn't listen to them either and has willing accomplices in Reid and Pelosi.

If the Blue Dogs who oppose the health care bill fold and Stupak and his people fold you'll know they've been bought. We do have recourse, though. Stronger than the filibuster. It's called the ballot box.

She Actually Said It!

Nancy Pelosi gave a speech this morning. In it she touted all the wonderful things the administration is doing including the health care bill. After outlining all it's wonders, she actually said this, “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy." Does that say it all or what?

We already know that at the moment there are two bills, one passed by the House and one passed by the Senate. The house has a lot of problems with the Senate bill but are being taken into the woodshed and told they'll either vote for it or else. What are they being promised this time? As I've said before, what a way to govern.

Whatever passes, or doesn't, is good for one thing - the President's legacy. It's any one's guess what that will be just as the Iraq war and it's end result will determine Bush's legacy. Will we ever have a President who is more interested in nation building, ours, than legacy building?

I have no idea where the Republican party stands on much of anything. The front people are a failed candidate - Mitt Romney and a stand up comedienne, Sarah Palin. I don't see a bright future there but at least they are as one with their current dysfunction.

The Democrats are something else again! They seem to be imploding and are spending more time on damage control than doing the country's business. That may be a blessing.

Every once in awhile there is a blip of brightness. A few weeks ago it was the election of Scott Brown who was elected because he still hears the people. Today the "Thatagirl" award goes to Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, D-AZ, who has introduced a bill that calls for a 5% Congressional pay cut. The last time such a drastic step was taken was 77 years ago during the Great Depression. Well, we've got one on our hands now and her feeling it is at least symbolic for those who no longer have pay to cut!

At the moment she is the least popular member of Congress. Not with the people, mind you, but her own! That gets a huge thumbs up from me. Even more so because she already writes a check to the government giving back that 5%.

That's a bill one doesn't have to pass to know what's in it.

One thing I wish I knew that could really give me hope is how she plans to vote on health care! Congresswoman?

Delusional Leaders

What is it about power that turns once sane people delusional?

It starts with the way things are going for our President at the moment. Take a bill that the people don't like. Even the people of his own party are divided on it. It could be cap and trade, it could be jobs, it could be health care reform. It gets stalled but the President wants it no matter what. Suddenly it's all about him. He summons his party members to closed door sessions to do what ever is necessary to get their vote. It doesn't matter if they vote with him and it ends their careers because their constituents don't want it. It's all about him. It's success or it's failure will determine the outcome of his Presidency. He tells them so. That's delusional.

Secretary of State Powell had a spell of it leading up to the war in Iraq. He was skeptical about the evidence at hand regarding the existence of weapons of mass destruction. Yet he went before the United Nations and sold them a bill of goods of which he himself was not sure. Delusional.

It's worrisome to see people in leadership positions become victims of delusion. Iran's Ahmadinejad has mastered it. Remember awhile back the flap over his pronouncement that the holocaust never happened? Now he's claiming 9/11 was a carefully staged fabrication. That's going to new heights!

What happens to these leaders when they get lost in their delusions? They lose their people. The Iranian people know 9/11 is fact just as the know the holocaust is fact. We also know how they feel about Ahmadinejad!

Knowing what we do about Ahmadinejad's delusional bent, how can we even begin to believe him when he says he wants nuclear energy strictly for peaceful purposes. If we buy into that we're all delusional!

It's dangerous territory. When the people learn that their leaders are functioning in a different dimension, they lose faith. Here we are fortunate. We can vote them out of office. Unlike Iran, among others, who brutally suppress any opposition.

Power. It's an intoxicating possession. When entire governments get caught up in the euphoria of it, it becomes dangerous. "It" is not all about those who hold it. "It" is all about we who watch those who hold it. If abused we react. Whether it's positive or negative all depends upon whether or not the person who has it holds it well. It's so easy to get drunk.

Those drunk with power who think they can govern are, indeed, delusional.

Eh?

I've come to the conclusion that my parents were far more healthy than I am. Even with the huge steps that have been made in the field of both preventive and curative medicine. My Mother, especially, may bear that out. She was 95 when she passed away. She still might be chugging along had her doctor been more vigilant, but then she was just an old lady.

To what did she attribute her long life? One was not running to the doctor with every little ailment. Two, was not loading her system with a myriad of drugs so as to confuse her body to the point of not being able to function. An aspirin now and then usually sufficed.

Another thing she wasn't exposed to was the vast number of advertisements of various remedies which had side effects worse than the ailment. Therefore she just didn't think about such things. Hub is much like her and considers me, with all my aches and pains which I continually try to sort out, as nothing more than a hypochondriac.

Look at what we're faced with. Everything from the health benefits of coffee, or not, to how often we should suffer through a mammogram.

What usually keeps us going through thick and thin is the old stand by. "Take an aspirin and call me in the morning!" Now we learn that aspirin could damage our hearing! How many of us have been told to add a baby aspirin to our health regime as an aid for a healthy heart!

Further research pointed out that those at greatest risk are men younger than 50. It's a far cry from what the headlines scream! Reading further I found what has proven to be the norm when it comes to headlines dealing with health. Contradictions or darn right reversals!

The Hearing Loss Web has an article that claims aspirin can prevent hearing loss from certain medications. Keeping up with all of this is more than I really care to do. I wish I could be more like Hub and ignore it.

I've learned, however, not to panic. Wait a few months and what had been dire is no longer. Whew.

My hearing is no longer what it used to be. It could be I just need my ears cleaned but I doubt it. I probably could do with hearing aids. After all, though no where near my Mother's age, I am in most circles considered old.

That's one thing I know for sure that aspirin can't cure, though it sure can make it more comfortable!