The ZZZZzzzzz Have It

You know it's a slow news day when the media finds need to point out Hillary dozing during Obama's speech in Myanmar.

In her defense, have you ever tried to listen to one of his speeches all the way through?
Snore.

Considering the schedule she's been keeping, I'm going to giver her some slack.
Flying can be tiring.  Even with your own quarters you probably don't rest as well as you should plus she's no kid any more.  And the partying she supposedly did in Australia, the wine tastings and all, probably took their toll.

All things considered, she's in some pretty good company when it comes to dozing off during a Presidential speech.  What happened to the guy who gave that rousing red state, blue state speech that enthralled a nation and boosted him into the presidency?

Now don't get upset with me because these are all Democrats.  I'm short of time today and these were the only pictures I could find.  I'm willing to concede just as many Republicans were probably dropping off during the same speeches.

As for the President, it's a tough job holding everyones attention.  One reason why they look like jack-in-the-boxes during his speeches isn't necessarily to applaud points but maybe to stay awake.

Oops!  What's this?  Well, all that policy stuff is pretty boring and since no one is listening anyway...

Okay, they probably all had a big meal before sitting down to listen.  We can empathize with that, right?  Think about tomorrow after you've finished up the pumpkin pie and cleaned the kitchen.  What's most likely to happen?  You'll repair to the couch, curl up and turn on the football game.

What's the score? ZZZZzzzzzz.

The Politics Of Race As Hate

I've been writing a lot lately about thing of which I'm just plain tired.  Today I've got one more.  The idea that every time a black is criticised it's equated with hate.  That's a really strong emotion.

Today Representative James Clyburn, D-SC, is at it again.  If you don't know, he is black and has made such accusations before.  I wonder if he realizes that he, and those like him, are the ones who personifies hate rather than the people being accused.

His case in point today is Susan Rice, not to mention the President  The idea that they have been called incompetent and lazy and a lot of other descriptive terms is "code" for hate.  Yup.  There's that code that no one hears but the likes of Mr. Clyburn.

I've accused the President of a lot of things.  I would guess some readers think I'm racist because of it.  If I am I'm becoming one because of such accusations.  It's time, Mr. Clyburn, to evolve into the 21st century and try to move beyond it.  ANd no, 'evolve' isn't code for anything unless it's attitude.

Sure it sticks in his craw and I don't blame him, but to see every utterance made as racist is nonsense.  I was a huge supporter of President Obama when he first ran.  Since he's been in office I've found I disagree with his policies and think he is under qualified for the job.  Does that mean I hate him?  No.  Nor do I hate Eric Holder nor Susan Rice nor any other member of the administration that happens to be black  My criticisms would be the same were they white.

Think of all the black Americans of accomplishment that don't dwell on the color of their skin. I'd hope neither do those with whom they associate.  Athletes, entertainers, politicians not to mention doctors and lawyers and reporters and anchors and thousands upon thousands of ordinary citizens.

Should anyone not be called out for incompetence, or laziness or lack of good judgement no matter what race or ethnicity they may be?

Let's face it, since Susan Rice was the one who went on television and made what we know were false statements about the attack in Benghazi, it begs a lot of questions.  If she knew nothing about it why was she chosen?  Why did she repeat what was known to be wrong?  For that matter why did the President?  And too, why did Petraeus and Hillary?  If I'm not mistaken they are white.  The same charges have been leveled at them.

I suppose we'll hear that Jesse Jackson Jr's bout with bi polar disorder and Allen West's defeat in Florida are both hate based.

Please, Mr. Clyburn.  Yes, the country still has an uncomfortable undercurrent of racism but the more you make every slight as being about race and hate the more it's likely to manifest itself in truth.  If you really want to conquer racism and hate at least put it in perspective.

Bush Giveth, Obama Taketh Away

George Bush has been blamed for so much that is currently wrong with our country you'd think the President could give credit when credit is due. None, however, has been forthcoming.

We know Obama has made the first ever presidential visit to Burma, a long oppressive country.  It should be known that it was  Bush foreign policy that paved the way by emphasizing human rights, placing and maintaining sanctions and providing humanitarian assistance. It was also the Bush administration that began senior level talks that brought in opposition groups and ethnic minority groups to further the cause of reform.

Upon review after Obama took office, it was decided to leave well enough alone.  After the Burmese version of the Arab spring, the generals fearing the loss of their power began a gradual transition in return for a reliable partner. Are we?  What was begun by Bush is now left to Obama to continue.  Push reform.  It is still sorely needed especially in the area of repression of minorities and drug as well as human trafficking. Leading from behind won't get it done nor will empty platitudes.

The idea of visiting Burma to encourage reforms is commendable.  Before Obama undertakes these missions, however, it would be nice if he did his homework so as not to embarrass himself and our country.  Getting a protocol officer wouldn't be a bad idea either. Or a new one if indeed one exists.

Standing next to the icon of human rights activists, Aung San Suu Kyi, Obama mispronounced her name repeatedly. Just as Queen Elizabeth did when touched by Michelle, she was gracious enough not to correct him.  This continued as he spoke to reporters after their meeting.

He also addressed the new President incorrectly by not using his full name as protocol would have it.

The final gaffe was referring to the country as Myanmar, the favored name of the authoritarian regime. It was considered an appeasement.  Burma is the name the U.S. uses after all, as well as being the name preferred  by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Had Bush made these gaffes the medias would have screamed.  All I hear are the sounds of silence

I don't know if our President is lazy, sloppy, doesn't care or what but it seems like he tries to play all sides which results in the appearance of placating the unsavory.

He only has four more years to fly around on that big fancy jet, but if he's going to continue to compromise us and embarrass us around the world I wish he'd just stay home.

Some choice.

Look For The Union Label - Twinkies Or Devil Dogs

Both actually.  Made by the now kaput Hostess brands.

How many times when you read about mass lay offs or company closures do you find union contracts a part of the problem?  I don't know why the rank and file, nor union leaders especially, don't understand in these days of economic woes there is a limit to money available to appease them.

I especially don't understand why one union would refuse concessions while their brother unions have agreed to them resulting in the loss of jobs for everyone.

If it's just plain selfishness it backfired.  Hostess closed it's doors.  Should someone buy them and assume their debt you can bet the union employees who brought them down won't be rehired by the new owners.  So where will they go? How many jobs for bakers are begging to be filled?

So what's to be done?  A petition has gone up on the White House web site calling for the nationalization of the company.  Is this a joke?  Who knows.  So far there are over 2000 signatures.  Twinkie lovers unite!  Right. Michelle Obama would never allow the government to nationalize a junk food company! Or even give them a Solyndra type infusion of cash.  How hypocritical would that be?

In all seriousness, I can't help but wonder about the thought process of union bosses.  For instance, union rules require two different trucks to deliver bread products and cake products to the same retail outlet.  That requires two drivers, double the fuel and two vehicles.  Drivers couldn't load their own vehicles either.  Separate crews loaded the bread on one truck and the cakes on the other. So two crews rather than one.  It's ridiculous and costly.

'Make work' rules like these are why many companies have moved their operations off shore. It's more cost effective, period.   Rich benefits and high salaries only add to the financial burden.  You can get into greedy corporate leaders and greedy venture capital firms if you want to and in some cases it's justified.  I'd just like to see along with the criticisms of management, a fair assessment of union contribution to the financial strain.

In the case of Twinkies, Hostess, the blame game is playing out as it has so many times before.  The company could not recover from outlandish financial demands.  Twinkies, Devil Dogs, Ho Hos and Wonder Bread are gone.  So are 18,500 jobs that didn't have to be.





  

Being Relevant

Our country in in flux.  Morals, character, integrity such as I knew them growing up now seem to be ignored with abandon.  We're in attack and blame mode yet there is no satisfying end.

I'm in the same mode.  I told a reader today to, literally, take a hike.  I was tired of what I perceived as  being put down.  Thin skinned?  Maybe, but there are ways to disagree without being patronizing and like with so many things today I just got tired of the tone. Will I regret it? At the moment I have no idea.  It's not the way to encourage readers, that's for sure.  But suffice it to say this has been going on for a good while.  It has always been civil which has always been my criteria, I'm just tired of the contentiousness.

Flux?  I'm in that mode too.  In one post I'm encouraging our citizens to look for younger leadership yet quick to find fault with those chosen.  I expect too much I guess.  I expect more common sense and less sense of self than many seem to have.

Still, I think there comes a time when we who have lived and experienced much should perhaps spend our energies mentoring rather than being activists.  Not that we need to be couch potatoes, but don't need to run marathons to prove our worth either.  We have much to offer, we just need listeners.

So how does this work?  Imagine this.  A college football team from a school nicknamed 'Silo Tech'.  It reminds me of my college days at 'Moo U'.  They have one set of uniforms for away games and one for home games.  Not multiples of each. "No earrings or hats in the football complex, no dreadlocks hanging out of helmets ", no missing classes or team meetings.  Players, some good, some not so, came to the program none-the-less and they're winning.  The players have risen to excellence in their positions and function as a team rather than an amalgam of super stars. It is possible they will reach the BCS championship against Oregon, a team that is their antithesis.

What I hope these young man take away from their football experience is that team work is more important than showboating. Education is important and attending classes is how to get one.  Commitments are to be kept and team meetings are commitments. Substance is more important than dazzle.

Just who is responsible for this phenomenon in the world of college football, of all venues? The coach of course.  One Bill Snyder.  73-year old Bill Synder.  This is being relevant!