Et Tu Nancy?

Eric Massa resigned from the House because of allegations he made inappropriate comments to an aide. Perhaps he did. The House leadership seems to have known about it since October. As is typical, nothing was done. He was a Democrat and since they are the party in power their members get passes for a whole lot more than if a Republican was the offender. Unless said Democrat dares go against what the leadership wants.

If being confronted by a naked Rahm(bo) in the locker room isn't enough to shake you up then they sic the ethics committee on you. Sweet.

Now they are after John Stupak, the pro-life Democrat and leader of the band of 12 against federal funding for abortions. The language is not in the Senate bill so he and his supporters had vowed to vote no. No more. According to NPR they are all getting pounded.

There is no intention of changing the language under the rational that if the Stupak amendment is added "more children will be born and, therefore, it will cost us millions more." I'm not sure I buy that. Somehow I don't see an upsurge of women having irresponsible sex and ending up pregnant just because they can get a Federally funded abortion! Lust and carelessness don't work that way.

Whether you agree with Stupak's stance or not, the way he's being treated is reprehensible. He is a pro-life Democrat. The Democratic party apparently has no room for him or the like minded. Don't they all have the right to stand firm on their beliefs without being threatened? Are their careers on the line? Are they being promised jobs with lobbying firms or ambassadorships? Another visit from Rahm(bo)? Good cop, bad cop tactics? What does it take to make a man go back on his beliefs? For most politicians, not much. Mr. Stupak seems to be a different sort.

What has he been promised? An investigation by the ethics committee. On what basis? I have no idea. Maybe it's because he has some.

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.