TSA To END?

Finally!  As I had hoped for what seems forever, if the TSA harassed the right member of Congress something would be done about these thugs. Finally, it may actually be happening.

Not so long ago Senator Ran Paul was detained by the TSA.  Why?  He refused to be patted down after already having passed through a scanner.  It grew contentious enough that the Senator missed his flight.

The adverse publicity from that incident did not keep the TSA from continuing its invasive and humiliating pat downs, especially egregious when it came to young children, the elderly and the handicapped.

To my knowledge not one single potential terrorist has been stopped by this methodology.  I could be wrong.  The TSA doesn't release such information.

They picked the wrong Senator with Rand Paul, however. He has launched a campaign to end the TSA .   I love his quote, "It's time to end the TSA and get the government's hands back to only stealing our wallets instead of groping toddlers and grandmothers."

Every time something outrageous occurs Janet Napolitano comes out and defends her "highly trained" agents who are just following procedure.  I can't help but wonder who established procedures that included the removal of a prosthetic breast or a mother to open formula bottles thus contaminating the only food available for her baby on the upcoming flight.  We've all heard more and worse.  What kind of people supervise this kind of behavior?  What kind of people consent to engage in it?  I see nothing worth redeeming in the entire agency.

I hope if Senator Paul succeeds and gets the government out of the airport security business, the airlines review the entire process before establishing new guidelines. As with everything,  the private sector will do it better.

Think about the pluses.  While the lines won't disappear, they should be shorter.  You might be able to take more than a day's supply of shampoo with you and carry on a bottle of water.  You won't have a knot in your stomach from the time you plan your trip until you're home again because of the stress of waiting for what you know is coming.  You just don't know how bad it will be.

So here's to Rand Paul.  Go for it Senator.  I signed your petition .  I hope many of my readers will follow the link and join with me!

Me Me Me! It's All About Me!

If there is anyone more into themselves than the President strutting his stuff on the anniversary of bin Laden's demise it has to be the last three Republican primary candidates after it became clear Mitt Romney would become the nominee.

Graciousness, if nothing else, would have the President heaping praise on the officers who planned the mission and most certainly the Seals who carried it out.  But no.  It's all about him.

The same seems to hold true with Santorum, Gingrich and Paul. Each wants his pound of flesh. Hello?  They lost.  Paul continues to say he won't drop out due to his differences with Romney; that he may not even endorse him.  I've often wondered what value there is in a begrudged endorsement in the first place.  The endorsements that count are those that come from the ballot box and those are the ones that went to Romney.

Mr. Santorum agrees that Romney will be the nominee.  He is withholding his official endorsement until Romney promises to accede to conservative demands. I don't know Rick.  Enough of them left you high and dry that Romney has the nod rather than you.  A bit cheeky, aren't you?

Of course there is Newt too.  Not only does he want help in rehabilitating his reputation, such as it is, he wants help in forgiving his campaign debt.  I know it is not uncommon for the winners to help the losers for the sake of common cause, but really.  For someone who came across as a loose cannon more than a man of bold vision, who was continually condescending to the voters and even worse to the other candidates, you're asking a lot.

The "me generation" has put a different face on politics it would seem.  Now the losers are making demands of the winners in exchange for rather dubious support.

I don't know if Romney can beat Obama or not.  It's really too soon to tell.  One thing that might be indicitive is how well the "me's" did in the primaries versus a more "we" oriented Romney.  There is no bigger "me" out there than the President.  Just listen to him.

It's The Pits

I've gone and done it.  I've totally lost my sense of humor.  I define more and more of what I hear as tasteless.  Jokes included.  Take for instance Obama's crack at the White House Correspondents Dinner regarding Sarah Palin. Was it about Sarah? Or something else?

"What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull?  A pit bull  is delicious."

I guess there are some things of which I find hard to let go.  One is the horror story of football's Michael Vick and his dog fighting ring of pit bulls. I'm still reading progress reports on those rescued by Best Friend's Animal Society.  I've crossed paths with a lot of pit bulls during my years and have yet to meet one that deserves the reputation they have as a breed.  Oh sure.  They can turn and do but it's not a trait exclusive to them.  Even my beloved Saints can be nasty and believe me a nasty Saint is no Saint!  I guess that's why the President's joke left me cold.

I usually weigh how men treat their wives in public when forming an opinion.  Maybe I should pay more attention as to how they joke, or even just talk, about their dogs!  Neither Mitt Romney nor Obama rate very high on the Arf Scale!

Sure, Obama was referring to his previous comment about having eaten dog as a youth.  I know it's considered a perfectly legitimate food in some societies.  But not ours.  It's the connotation in the form of a joke.  Animal lovers in this country fight so hard to give our voiceless companions the best lives possible.  They fight the idea that an animal is no more then a possession and can be treated anyway you please.  They aren't inanimate objects.  They are living, breathing, feeling creatures. Does how you treat your possessions carry over to how you treat your animals?  Does it carry over to family too?  Some would say yes.  I'm not sure.  I've never experienced the circumstance.  Our dogs have always been treated  like the most revered of people.

It just hit my hot button.  I've been saturated with mean spirited and truth challenged commentary over the months since political season began in earnest.  It's going to get worse before it gets better, I know.  Go ahead,  tear one another apart.  Lie about one another.  Leave it to the bewildered brain power of the voters to sort it out.  But leave our dogs out of it.  Don't joke about eating them while legalizing the trapping of wolves.  Keep your attacks aimed at those on equal footing who are equipped to fight back - other politicians.

As words and phrases are being banned on what seems nearly a daily basis, maybe we should do away with "It's a dog eat dog world."  More appropriately it should be " It's a politician eats politician world." After all they are the ones cannibalizing our way of life.

Veep Sweeps

I don't remember this much attention ever being given to a potential Vice President, but since John McCain chose Sarah Palin I guess I understand why.

Usually chosen to counter balance a weakness in the Presidential candidate, the only thing Palin did for McCain's ticket was to be a female.

I haven't the worry I had with McCain.  Romney doesn't appear senile nor tempting the grim reaper.  Well, McCain is still with us so that was a worry I needn't have had.  For all my other thoughts about him, however, I have no apologies.

Now it's time to look at the choices being floated for Romney.  Have you noticed how many seem to share his lack of personality?  Maybe the theory is sleeping through his administration might be the preferable way to survive it.  Forget that many have already said they aren't interested, let's have a look.  If you follow politics you will know some of the names, but probably not all of them.  If you don't, you aren't likely to know any.  McDowell? Portman?  Martinez? Haley?  Not a lot of name recognition there.  Going into their weaknesses isn't necessary at this point.  The name or lack thereof is enough.

Who might you know?  Marco Rubio?  He says no, but never say never.  I will suggest he hasn't yet enough experience.  Condoleezza Rice?  Once a part of the inner circle was probably enough to last her a life time.  I could think of worse things than being a dean at Stanford.  Being Vice President is one of them.

Paul Ryan?  Too controversial.  Chris Christie?  Too abrasive and his weight/health might be cause for concern.  Jeb Bush said he'd 'consider' it if asked.  That's big of him.  He wouldn't run for President when asked.  And he's still a Bush and Obama might have too much fun with that.

So who's left?  I conjured up the spirit of ole Bacchus of Dogwalk fame and he sniffed out the answer in no time.  Mike Huckabee.  Perfect.  He's chunky, but not quite like Christy.  His personality runs rings around most of the others.  He has experience governing.  He's not Mormon. Wait for it.  He's an evangelical!  Talk about balancing the ticket!  Rick Santorum, eat your heart out!  You too Newt.  This guy is the real thing.  A true Christian conservative.

So there you have it.  Another Dogwalk solution front and center.

Obama may think he's the rock star, but Huckabee beats him hands down.  He can actually pick that bass.  He's pretty good, too!

One Man's Delusional Love Fest

If there was ever a reason to not vote for Newt Gingrich it's because he's truly delusional!  Yes. He's still in the race, such as it is, for the Republican nomination.

He's been spending all his time of late in Delaware, according to Politico . Even with seventeen delegates at stake in the winner take all primary, taking place today, what good will it do?  Unfortunately it will boost his confidence that he can yet become the nominee even though he needs five more wins to even get on the ballot in Tampa.

If this isn't delusional than I am.  Which could be.  Remember, though,  Delaware gave us Christine O'Donnell!  That paragon of conservatism yet even she has endorsed Romney!

One thing that is worrisome in all states is the need to be wooed by candidates.  Even though logistically it isn't always possible a certain element of voter will hold out for that personal attention whether or not the candidate is actually worthy.  This is rumored to hold true in Delaware too, though I can hope not.

Why the Republicans weren't able to field a better selection of candidates puzzles me.  There isn't one of them I feel comfortable with but at least they've winnowed it down to perhaps the least offensive.  Heck, how can someone who can't articulate an idea be offensive?

Those remaining are just as puzzling.  Ron Paul, I suppose, just wants a platform for his ideals hoping at least some of them might catch on.  Recently departed Santorum wandered too far to the right and left the comfort zone of the average voter.  Then there's our Newt. The man is the poster child of self love from his opinion of his own intellect to the sound of his own voice.

Hopefully Delaware will have learned it's lesson with Ms. O'Donnell and will not give Newt the victory he craves.  Perhaps then our attention will no longer be divided with thoughts of 'what next?'

As imperfect as the choices are, at least we'll be down to two.  My apologies to Americans Elect. Of their top five declared candidates I've heard of one and he's one in which I have no interest.  One more time it looks like our choice will be for the least offensive of two who shouldn't be there in the first place.