Sean Hannity Was Right!

Back when the turmoil first began in Egypt, Sean Hannity did little but harp on the possibility of the Muslim Brotherhood taking over the government should Mubarak fall.

Never having thought Hannity is much more than a parrot for conservative causes, I listened to the "experts" who assured us that the Muslim Brotherhood had a miniscule presence in Egypt and the chances of their gaining a foothold was basically nil.

So much for self-proclaimed experts!  The Egyptians have now elected a member of the Brotherhood to the presidency. I harken back to the thought we had best be careful of what we wish.

He was elected democratically.  That brings me to a Dogwalk theorem. A democratic election doesn't necessarily bring democracy nor  do democratic elections necessarily mean a change in culture.  Consider that an Egyptian plumber beat his pregnant wife to death because she didn't vote for the Brotherhood candidate, Mohammed Mursi.

That aspect of Islamic culture isn't going to change.  We're now stuck with keeping our fingers crossed that the military will keep him in check.  This will be no bed of roses since the military are no fans of democracy in the first place and you have an Islamist to lead what had been a secular country.

As is usual the rest of the world will be expecting the United States to take the lead in how relationships are handled.  There may be a lull until after our election since the world, though wanting it, has come not to expect such leadership from this administration.

To make matters even more sticky, the mother of Hillary Clinton's chief of staff has served in the women's division of the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood, and is a close associate of President Mursi's wife.  She alledgedly represented a charity known to have spawned at least one terror group designated by our government as an official al Qaeda front as well as other activities with terrorist ties.

Secretary of State Clinton has spoken at the university where Saleha Mahmood Abedin teaches and praised her work.  It brings back memories of when than Hillary, then wife of President  Clinton, spoke at a Palestinian function and exchanged a kiss of affection with Yasser Arafat's wife.

Oh the intrigue of international relations!  I can't help but wonder if blood runs thicker than water in this instance. Will we find out?  It's a concern to me when someone with the power of the Secretary of State has a person related to another with known terrorist ties on staff - especially chief of staff.

It's one thing to have no foreign policy.  It's so much easier to turn a blind eye to the atrocities in other countries but to have people with known terrorist ties in top positions in the most sensitive areas of government seems to be recklessly putting the country at risk.

It bears watching and is one more reason I keep harping on our lack of direction in foreign policy.  Keeping our back turned to what we'd rather not deal with doesn't mean it isn't there.  The adage 'the best defense is a good offense' should be heeded, not ignored.

Can They At Least Eat The Cake?

As June draws to an end so does the traditional month of weddings.  How many of you were June brides?

I hope a lot of marriages are taking place today as I write this.  The government should hope so too, because it's a great boost to the economy.  Just think about it.  The cost of a bridal gown and brides maids dresses.  Tux rentals or purchases for the groom and the groomsmen. The brides and grooms gift to each other. The rental of a facility for the reception plus the cost of that reception.  The mother's of the bride's and groom's new outfits.  The rehearsal dinner.  The rings.  Don't forget the rings.  Both engagement and wedding.   No wonder father's brows are sweating!

And the gifts!  But wait?  This is an election year and the President's fund raising isn't up to snuff!  Don't look for gifts!   Ask your friends and loved ones to send the President's campaign the money.  It's for a much better cause!

Whoa.  Wait a minute.  This can't possibly be true.  The intrepid investigator in me went to work and, gasp, look what I found on the campaign website! The Obama Event Registry !  If you're not getting married, you can register for your anniversary or birthday or whatever!  Who needs a gravy boat anyway?

Well, the President wouldn't be asked to my wedding were I having one!  I would want those gifts to help set up housekeeping and to have remembrances of those who shared the happy event.

On top of that, if I were having any Hispanic friends, they'd not likely be able to eat at the reception! At least if the secret service holds true to it's actions at the   National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials luncheon on Friday when guests had to give up their eating utensils before the President arrived.  I'm sorry, but I would not tolerate my guests being thus insulted considering how many dinners and luncheons he attends on a regular basis where such is not the practice!

It makes me wonder if the bride and groom would even be able to exchange the traditional first bite of cake.  This is often done with the fingers so no utensils would be necessary.  Except for the knife with which to cut the cake of course.  Breaking off a piece with your fingers could prove rather messy.

My guess the cake would be outlawed anyway because it no doubt would contain sugar and butter and all that other stuff that makes it taste so good but is deemed bad for our health.  So maybe no cake.

What have we left.  No gifts.  No meal.  No cake.  Doesn't sound like much of a celebration to me. Is a champagne toast allowed? If a glass was broken it could be construed as a lethal weapon! Dad might as well wipe his brow and stash his wallet.  Why bother with all the trimmings if you can't have the steak?

Elope.  Take the money and have a grand time on a fabulous honeymoon.  It's your time.  The President will just have to settle for taking candy from babies.

Republican Sheep And He Who Herds Them

Why would any politician in his right mind sign a pledge put forth by anyone who is not a constituent? Or at all, considering the fluidity of governing? Ask 276 Republican members of the House and Senate.

It's because Grover Norquist, the head of Americans for Tax Reform, threatened them if they didn't sign.  Heaven forbid they should think for themselves, for the country and their constituents!

It was beginning to look like a few of them were getting some backbone then along came Norquist to remind them of the pledge and the consequences of breaking ranks.

You'd think they'd have learned that inflexibility like the Tea Partiers espouse does more harm than good.  It creates stalemate and partisanship.

This "pledge" has been around since 1986 and, ohh how it hurts to say it, even Mitt Romney has signed it.  I could ask what he was thinking, but like all the others he obviously wasn't.

What's at stake?  Political careers of course.  More importantly, the continued butting of heads by these political rams with no end in sight. It makes me angry.  Every single person who signed that pledge, to raise no taxes, no way, no how, no matter the consequences, should be turned out of office.

Who elected this guy king anyway?  I had no part in it.  Did you? I would guess many of you don't even recognize the name.  Grover Norquist.  Remember it.  He has done more with his pledge to prevent progress in getting our economic mess straightened out than any other one individual.

All taxes are not bad.  Doing away with an entitlement or closing a loop hole is not a tax increase.  He would have you believe it is.  The frightening thing is those 276 members of Congress have fallen prey to him.  They should be ashamed of themselves.

Every day something happens that brings me closer to understanding what's happening to our country.  Today's lesson is that a self appointed demagogue is able to hold an entire party hostage with threats and blackmail.

It is astounding that one man has this sort of power over the people we have elected to do right by the country.  Yep.  Government bennies are great.  Those 276 have them now.  It's time to turn them out to pasture.  Maybe the next herd we put in their place will include a few sheep dogs able to herd them in a better direction.

Baaa!

Political Stench

I rarely dedicate a post to another blogger, but this is for Betty who pens A Piece of My Mind . She is about as devout a Democrat as I am not. I know she will never see things as I do and I dare say the same about her.  I like her anyway; she writes a great blog!

In one area, however, I think we might agree. Neither party seems as concerned with the country as they are of party.

I took Lawrence O'Donnell to task for his commentary on Ann Romney and her horseback riding therapy.  Betty came from an entirely different point of view.  Viva la difference!

I wonder if she will agree with me today.  First, I will say the reporter  from The Daily Caller who insisted on interrupting the President's statement on his new immigration policy was way out of line.  There is a protocol for reporters just like everyone else and he broke it.  No excuse excuses his behavior.  Like him or not, the President deserves respect.

A story out of Montana is even worse. Dana Milbank reported on it in this morning's column. It seems the Montana Republicans held their convention this past weekend. Someone, or ones, with bad taste beyond description had placed an outhouse outside the convention signed "Obama Presidential Library." It was painted to look like it was shot full of holes and inside there were fake phone numbers "For a good time" call Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton and Michelle. There was also a fake birth certificate for Barack Hussein Obama.

The culprits obviously spent a fair amount of time planning, constructing and placing this monument to stupidity.  Too bad the effort couldn't have gone toward something constructive!

What makes it worse is the attitude of the state party chairman.  While finding the outhouse in "not real good taste", he also dismissed it as a "sideshow" and something he was "not going to agonize over".

Well, he should.  It reflects badly on politics in general and in this case the Republicans in particular.  When  "management" , the state chairman or Tucker Carlson  among others,  give a thumbs up or a pass to sophomoric, distasteful behavior,  it's no wonder the voting public turns a deaf ear to politics.

I love following politics but sometimes I get so sick of the outright boorishness and nastiness that comes with it I just want to turn it off.  The trouble with that is the nastiness continues whether I listen to it or not.  There are times when it just makes me feel better to call them on it rather than letting it eat at me.  No matter the party. It's a tone all too familiar from both.

Lawrence O'Donnell - Wrong On So Many Levels

One reason I watch so little of MSNBC any more is because of the mean spiritedness of their commentators. Lawrence O'Donnell is a good example like when he chose to twist the fact that Ann Romney, along with some partners, has a horse that has qualified for the Olympics in dressage. A beautiful sport enjoyed by many; not just the rich.

The ever diligent reporter, and I use the term loosely, found that Romney has the horse listed as a business expense while he told Bob Schieffer that dressage was therapy for Ann's Multiple Sclerosis.

Let's look at the horse first.  A dressage horse is very highly trained, often more so than its rider.  If you own a dressage horse for professional  competition then it would qualify as a business expense, would it not?  The horse was not purchased specifically for Ann to ride for therapy.

However, riding for therapy is indeed used to help those who suffer from MS, be it in the dressage ring or elsewhere.  It helps maintain flexibility along with hip, pelvic and trunk motion.  It certainly  helps with balance.  There are so many things riding therapy helps with beyond the physical too.  A sense of accomplishment, relief of stress, relaxation and the sheer joy of being in fresh air and sunshine.

That Mrs. Romney's MS is at a point where she can partake in such activity is wonderful.  That she is enthused about the sport to the  point of investing in a horse and being able to participate in it's training is even more so.

But no.  O'Donnell has to try to make something sneaky, underhanded and ugly about it.  Insinuate it's not Ann's horse and the business deduction is fake because she doesn't ride it is so off base I'd like to smack the sneer off his face.

Actually we don't know if she rides it or not.  Obviously she doesn't in competition any more than most show dog owners show their own dogs or race horse owners ride their own horses.

Mr. O'Donnell should do his homework before castigating the intentions of some one's ownership of something that is none of his business in the first place nor presume to know what is best for treating what can be a debilitating disease when he obviously doesn't.

They say never believe anything you read on the web.  I understand that.  Truth gets skewed.  Sometimes intentionally, sometimes not.  What Mr. O'Donnell did is more than skew the truth.  He showed himself to be uninformed, spiteful and mean spirited.  Maybe I shouldn't, but I'm inclined to believe that is the truth.