Spud Nuts

When I get to wondering why the Obama's don't get the idea that Michelle visiting Spain with 40 of her nearest and dearest plus the government entourage it takes to accompany them, at our expense, doesn't sit well with the public when so many can barely afford to get themselves to the food bank, or we have the likes of Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters facing ethics charges, I look no further than the state of Idaho as a starting place.

Today's mail brought the perfect example. A flier screams at me, Idaho Voting Laws Have Changed! Photo ID is now required at our polling place. Or - drum roll - vote absentee! Does anyone see the irony in this besides me?

Of course this is the state that in recent years saw the the election and following departure of Senator Larry Craig famous not for his legislative record but rather his rest room activities in Minneapolis. And Congressman Bill Sali who must have the cleanest feet around since one or the other was in his mouth so often. We mustn't forget the Aryan Nation folks who continue to jab at us and the fact that you can get a pass on darn near anything if you're a Republican.

I've been commenting on ideas in Net Roots: Online Progressives and the Transformation of American Politics by Matthew Kerbel. One point I thought essential in weeding out bad candidates and where Independents could make some inroads, is let no candidate go unchallenged. It's far from becoming a universal practice, but it might have saved Idaho the embarrassment of having Phil Hard running unopposed. Phil Hart believes taxes are unconstitutional therefore he doesn't pay them. He has lost case after case, is breaking the law which he has sworn to uphold and yet is on the state House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

To add insult to injury, the House ethics committee, unlike in DC where they've had the sense to have equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans, has a majority of Republicans since they are the majority party. So Mr. Hart gets a pass and even retains his seat on the committee. And they worry about showing ID at our polling place!

So here we are. Karzai is complaining about us again, this time for backing his own ethics people for removing one more corrupt official, the Muslims want to build a monumentl unto themselves yards from ground zero in New York while we agonize over political correctness and the President's wife and "friends" choose to vacation at a Ritz Carlton resort in Spain!

Does anyone anywhere "get" it?

What Can I Possibly Say?

I'm sitting here crying. Absolutely. Crying. My friend Hannah, the vet tech who usually was with Bacchus when he visited, Oly's Mom, just called. She offered to give Oly to us.

She loves him dearly, adores him, but thought he'd be the ideal match for us. He's well trained. He's no longer just a puppy but by no means old. And he's a Saint. She had everything answered. When we wanted to travel, with our old kennel closing, she'd keep him. If something happened to us, he'd go back to her. Even my vet, at lunch the other day, said if we got another dog and something happened to us she and her husband would give him a home. Wow. If you wonder why I've thought so highly of these people, there is no better explanation than this.

No. There are two that have to be in concert with this decision and there aren't. Hub has made up his mind and there is no changing it. There is our age. My medical condition, whatever it is. The expense. Not immediately but as we age and the dog ages, the expenses increase. Just like with us. We were fortunate to be able to give Bacchus the very best care available. But it was expensive. Very.

And the heartache. The final months with Bacchus were bittersweet. We knew we were going to lose him. We just didn't know when or how. It was difficult. It was more than difficult. I was a mess. I'm more open with my feelings, but Hub, too, hurt more than I knew. And still does.

As much as I miss having a dog in the family, the rest hasn't faded to the point that I'm ready to look down a similar road again.

Oly has a wonderful, loving home with two Labs as playmates, and humans much younger and more energetic than I will ever be again. I couldn't, wouldn't, remove him from that. It's where he belongs. It's his home.

But the thought, the gesture is unlike anything I've ever experienced. I will never, ever forget it. Thank you Hannah. From the bottom of my heart. What more can I possibly say?

This Was My Dog Day Of The Summer!

Remember that little fuzz ball? The one on the right not too sure about the big guy next to him? It was about this time last year and I haven't seen him since. His Mom and I and Dr. Prince had lunch together and talked mostly about dogs. What else!

How I've missed that over sized bundle of joy that is a Saint Bernard! The scent of the fur, the softness of it. Even "the look" of saintly tolerence while receiving hugs for which he really wasn't in the mood. Too hot!

Sigh. It was a great change of pace for a summer day. Great memories and a short nonsensical piece of video by which to remember a close encounter with a furry kind.

Charlie The Wrangler

In a last ditch attempt to save face it's reported Charlie Rangel agreed to a last-minute plea deal which will probably go nowhere, nor should it. I'd like to think Congress doesn't even need an ethics committee, but of course they do. It is one arena where partisanship cannot be claimed. Both sides err. Even the likes of John McCain faced accusations during the Keating five investigation.

What irritates me is the contempt shown to we, the people, who elect them, put our trust in them. I am especially irritated by a man like Rangel who has been in Congress for 40 years! I'd think he'd have the 'can' and 'cannot dos' down by this time! But no. And when caught he drags his feet for two years all because he's worried that his legacy and career may end on a "tarnished note". Well, it should if he's indeed found guilty. And since he's been dragging it out I'd cautiously assume he will be.

Another thing that irritates me, my I am irritable these days, is the plea deal ploy. That's like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear! Why should he even be allowed? After thirteen, thirteen violations! He even gets to choose which violations he will accept!

I have absolutely no sympathy for members of Congress who get themselves into these pickles. To blame their accountants or even their wives is nonsense. I had to laugh when Rangel chided young Luke Russert last week about showing him a lack of respect. I'd say the one with the lack of respect is Rangel toward his constituents and the public in general.

He should step down. He won't. Fortunately the ethics panel is made up of an even number of Democrats and Republicans so the Democrats can't bail him out. It's probably naive on my part to think if the evidence against him was truly shaky, he'd not be in the position he finds himself and even numbers wouldn't matter. Heck, he wouldn't be in this position in the first place.

His legacy? Tarnished? He should have thought about that before he decided to shine up to the wrong side of ethics.

If We All Looked The Same We'd Still Have The Illegal Immigration Problem!

Is anyone besides myself disgusted with the way the illegal immigration problem is playing out?

I find it thoroughly offensive that the Mexican President dare take us to task for the way his people, here illegally, are being treated. How dare he! This country that prints "how to" comics for those who wish to leave. I find it thoroughly offensive that U.S. citizens of Hispanic descent, attorneys, stand before judges defending illegals by claiming they're just people like the rest of us. No they aren't. They're breaking the law.

I find it thoroughly offensive the Federal government won't enforce the law for political reasons. I find it even more offensive that no one in Congress has the guts to shout it out!

Profiling Hispanics is not a personal affront; it's because they are the ones streaming across the border! Just like people of middle eastern descent are the Islamic terrorists. If they were French or Canadian or Chinese they'd be the ones we'd be scrutinizing! Or should be.

Why must we play politics with everything? So Obama can win the Hispanic vote? What's the matter with the Hispanics? The ones who are here because they did it the right way? Again, it's like the American Muslims. Why aren't they putting together a loud cohesive voice condemning radical terrorism? The Hispanics condemning the illegals? I say hooray for Arizona for their effort. That parts of their law have been shot down isn't surprising. It won't be surprising either when the government's promises don't play out.

Why is it we can't accept the simple truth as reality? There aren't two truths we have to decide between. Why can't the House ethics committee go ahead with their trial against Charlie Rangel rather than playing politics with it? What kind of country have we become?

Totally political. Totally dysfunctional.