Stop 'Gunning' For Political Advantage

From 'cops and robbers' to 'cowboys and Indians' to paintball games, guns have been a part of kid culture for what seems forever.  At least for as long as I've been around which seems like the same.  I wasn't allowed to have a toy gun when I was a kid but not because of what it represented.  My Mother was always trying to make a lady out of me and guns didn't fit into her scheme.  Dad really didn't care.  I guess he knew a tomboy when he saw one.

Times have changed. Since the Virgina Tech shootings it seems there have been an inordinate number of gun incidences or maybe they're just getting more press.  However, when two kids get suspended from school for playing cops and robbers and pointing their fingers as guns, we've really gone over the top. After all, they see it all the time on their televisions and computers and game gadgets so they aren't going to understand what the fuss is all about any more than those who stood on the stage with the President today. Unless they were well rehearsed by their teachers and/or parents.

You talk about polarizing issues!  If I weren't talking about politicians I'd suggest it's time to slow down and get our heads on straight.  This is going to make the spending debate look like child's play.  Both gun advocates and opponents have some good points. We don't need military style assault rifles to shoot Bambi or Thumper.  Limiting the magazine size won't do the job either. Those so determined will just get more small ones. Not to mention loading their own. Also, there are already many laws on the books which aren't being enforced and adding another bureaucracy in the neighborhood of $500 million, which we can't afford, won't solve the problem either because we're not addressing it as a whole.

What I fear is happening is the administration is using a tragedy to chip away at more of our rights and not just the second amendment.  Take the idea that would have doctors talk to their patients about guns.  I doubt mine would bring it up, but I'd tell him it's really none of his business whether or not I own guns.

Having the justice department determine who should and who should not own them is another assault on privacy.  While HIPPA goes a bit far in some instances, it would be undone here if the criteria was to be determined by the medications you take.  Anxiety?  Depression?  High Blood Pressure?  OMG you're a walking time bomb!

I predict a battle royal over this and doubt a lot will change.  They had their chance when the assault weapon ban expired but as usual they did nothing.

Meanwhile the government has a new facade to hide behind while the debt crisis builds behind the scenes.  Like the Democrats introducing a bill to repeal the debt ceiling altogether. Reminds me of a certain You Tube video and a terrorist attack in Benghazi.

If ever our government did it's business in a timely and well thought out manner I think I'd faint.  Not much would be made of it I don't suppose because I'm not Hillary. But if I hit my head and developed a clot I might too develop fuzzy logic that could lead to a plot!

Next thing you know there will be drones in the sky keeping an eye on me, my Facebook page will be watched as will this blog, my phones will be tapped and my flying days will truly be over.

Mr. Obama has claimed, showing his diplomatic finesse once again, that Netanyahu doesn't know what's in Israel's best interest.  Maybe he should pay more attention to what's in ours.  Over reaching one more time isn't it.

The Death Of Democracy?

As our government touts the desire to see every government in the world suffering unrest achieve democracy, I'm wondering if we're seeing the demise of our own.

We have laws yet both our Congress and our President break them.  Yes.  Break them.  It is law that the White House submit a budget by February 4th.  They have let it be known it will be late. Again.  It is law that the Senate produce a budget.  They haven't for the past four years.

I wonder why these laws are on the books?  Obviously there are no consequences for breaking them.  On top of that the President has developed a penchant for going around Congress by issuing executive orders.  I have no problem with that in itself.  All Presidents do it.  But somehow the possibility of 19 of them to enforce his gun control agenda seems to be a lot.

I guess what bothers me is his tone.  When a reporter actually asks a tough question he gets touchy.  His press secretary is always snarky.  When he suggests that the Republicans see a conspiracy in everything it reminds me of the Clinton years and their vast right wing conspiracy theories.  Now it seems the shoe is on the other foot according to the President. The trouble is he's manufacturing truth to fit what he wants.

I've seen nothing conciliatory since the election. It's nothing new.  It's how Obama does business, but it's unsettling.  He keeps pushing the envelope. From gun control to the debt ceiling, the President is trying to dictate the terms by a combination of political theater and intimidation.

What's worse the Republicans have forgotten how to fight back.  They seem to be so afraid of being 'blamed' for something, they cower like a beaten dog.  They're going to get blamed no matter.  I wish they'd forget about their political career paths and dig in.  The fact that Obama had a testy press conference indicates the press may finally be paying attention.

He may also have pushed the envelope close to the breaking point. Two different Congressmen are rumbling about impeachment if he takes both gun control and/or the debt ceiling into his own hands, by passing Congress.

That's ugly talk but desperate measures for desperate times.  I hope cooler heads on both sides prevail. Obama has an arrogance problem he needs to resolve.  As President he should be above using some of the rhetoric and tactics he seems to hold so dear. He's the one who should be looking for common ground but again he defines that as being only what he wants.

It would be a shame if he should cross the point of no return and someone actually takes action.  Even if he'd be found not guilty a la Clinton, the shame would be forever.  It would permanently tarnish what could have been a brilliant Presidency all because he either will not or does not know how to play nicely with others.

Al Jazeera America

Green has gone black with the sale of Al Gore's Current TV network to Qatar's Al Jazeera.  This seems a case where truth is greater than fiction.

Al Jazeera has it's English language version up and running with 65 bureaus in 100 countries.  Hardly a small operation and one that has been highly praised.  Their problem has been getting a foothold in the U.S. When all else fails, buy your way in.  Their problem now is whether anyone will watch.  With Current having less than 50,000 viewers at any one time they certainly did not acquire a base audience.

Would you watch it?  After all we have BCC America which has decent enough viewership to keep them around. Of course news from the viewpoint of the British is considerably different than that of Arab countries.  Which, of course, is the point.

There is a problem for me, however.  Our cable service is Time Warner and they say they will not be carrying it.  They have just recently dumped Current due to lack of viewers and I would suppose are taking a wait and see attitude.  I don't hold out much hope because they don't carry Canadian TV either and we're only 90 miles from the border.  It's unconscionable.

That being said, I will sign a petition and hope while continuing to browse it on the web.  Any one who is seriously interested in what is happening in the Middle East and for that matter the world should want to watch it.  It gives a perspective without our media bias and governmental filters.

Too many of us have sworn allegiance to MSNBC or FOX which have diametrically opposed viewpoints filtered through their own biases.  Other than FOX they all lean left.

It isn't necessary to agree with Al Jazeera's point of view any more than it is to agree with the BCC but it adds a dimension we do not readily have by watching our networks alone.

Owned and operated by the culture which it mostly serves opens a window that until now has been closed and curtained.  Some worry about anti-Israeli/pro-Islamic propaganda.  If we can decipher what is propaganda versus truth on our own networks, we should be able to do so there.  At least it is coming to us more straight forward than if coming through our networks.

I'm all for accessing every source of information available in order to keep informed as to the whys and wherefores of the world.  It's critical this day and age.  May the cable companies have the courage to give them an opportunity to build an audience and may we have the wisdom to watch them and learn.

Good luck Al Jazeera.

Oprah And Lance -The Non-Story Of The Month

Maybe by the end of the week Lance Armstrong will finally fade away.  Until then we will endure the hype of his upcoming appearance with Oprah on a network that probably has about the same number of viewers as the now defunct Current.

The purpose, as the teasers would have us believe, is for him to confess that yes, he did use performance enhancing drugs during his years of competitive cycling which allowed him to win a record number of Tour de France races.

Since just about every other cyclist who has been on the winners stand also used them I'm not sure why it's such a big deal.  Well, actually I do.  It's because he denied it so vociferously for so long and even figured out a way to beat the random testing.  Unfortunately he didn't repeat the lie convincingly enough for it to become the truth.

The payment for that lack of talent has cost him every title he ever won and a life time ban from competing not only in cycling but other sports too.  How the mighty do fall.

He hasn't much left from those glory years.  He has even been distanced from his own Foundation in order for it to continue the good work it does - once under his lofty name.  It is a tragedy of immense proportions considering what could have been.  It's a shame ego and greed had to intervene.

I've gotten a bit ahead of myself here.  Armstrong hasn't yet admitted to wrong doing though everything brought forth from numerous governing agencies indicates he is guilty.  I would guess the teasers are partially correct.  He is going to appear on Oprah in hopes of finding redemption.

But is he?  I expect her questions to him will be pointed.  I expect his answers will only hint at guilt while seeking forgiveness for something he still maintains he didn't do.  It depends on what the definition of 'guilt' is. Maybe it will be the type of drug he used that's questionable. Maybe it wasn't specifically banned but only categorically or some such.  I'm not familiar of all the nuances except to believe there are many.

Will Oprah forgive him for bad behavior because he had good intentions?  Will whatever he says open the door to deeper investigations?  No on the first, quite possibly on the second.  So why do it?

Beats me.  I know a little bit about confessions from having been raised Catholic.  Way back then penance amounted to reciting various numbers of 'Our Fathers' and 'Hail Marys'.  That was for everyday little sins. If I remember correctly the penance for mortal sin was denial of communion.  It's been years.

To equate that priest/sinner relationship with the Oprah/sinner relationship perhaps she will tell him to go forth and cycle without reward and forsake all competitive impulses for the good of his soul .

One more thing about confessions, though, even though confessions are required to keep you in God's good graces, when you thought the priest might know who you were you sometimes tended to lie. That negates the confession and defeats the whole purpose doesn't it?

I have no expectations that any 'truth' will ring true therefore it's a non-story; just one more attempt at obfuscation of what's already known.  It's over Lance.  Oprah can't fix it.  Maybe now it's a story and hopefully the end.

New York's Surgeon General - Oops, Mayor

There was a time I loved New York City.  Hub worked in mid-town and I often met him after work for an evening on the town. We could pretty much go where we wanted and dine where we wanted and eat what we wanted.

If you needed a doctor, the police were Johnny on the spot to help get one.  You could smoke where you wanted.  Heck, you could smoke, period.  If you had a baby you could have it fed formula and if in pain, a doctor could prescribe relief.

Not so much any more.  If there is any one man in America trying to dictate how we live more than the President, it is the mayor of New York City. The Big Apple.  One a day is supposed to keep the Doctor away - unless he's the mayor and it's where you live! We all know about his war on sugary drinks.  We know of his war on formula in favor of breast milk and now he is waging war on pain medications.

These are pretty lofty ambitions for one who has no medical degree.  I wonder if he could be cited for practicing without a license.  Surgeon General seems to fit though since he is waging so many wars.  I'm not sure the mayor is the one to be doing it.

There is a problem with people becoming addicted to pain meds.  I'm on one and very aware of what I can and cannot do.  Could I rid myself of it I would.  I will be looking for alternatives again at my next physical. Maybe some aren't as diligent as I am to stay out of trouble, but I don't think his scenario of what happens is accurate.

You go to the emergency room like I did a few years back after we rolled our car on black ice.  I had been pretty well bounced around within a steel box and ached all over.  I was given pain meds which I took for a couple of days.  The mayor contends that the remainder of that prescription will go in a drawer where anyone can find and abscond with it. Or that I'll take the remainder and become addicted.

Granted I don't live in New York, but that prescription from the hospital wasn't large enough on which I could get hooked.  That would be up to my local doctor and he wouldn't be prescribing more unless I needed them. Yeah.  I could lie, but if I'm not hooked it's unlikely.  I don't know many who want to get hooked.

As for those left overs.  Local police departments will take them off your hands and see that they are properly destroyed.

Mr. Bloomberg's suggestion that a patient in unnecessary pain is a small price to pay to prevent such misuse is insane.  But then many demigods are.

First we have Obamacare foisted upon us by those in Washington.  Now local entities want to jump on the band wagon.

Leave medical and other health issues to those who have studied them.   And forget rationing unless it's your own intrusive inanities.  It's way beyond the realm of governing unless you consider dictating acceptable.