The TSA - Because They Can Doesn't Mean They Should

I'm beginning to think that if there is another disaster involving terrorists and the airlines it will be because of the TSA rather than in spite of them!

It is no secret how I feel about airport screenings - that they do little good since agents with fake explosives seem to readily allude them. And of course now pocket knives and golf clubs are going to be allowed while shampoo and mouthwash is still verboten. How can you respect this group of "highly trained professionals"?

I wonder about the requirements for employment for those $40,000+ a year jobs.  They must include a degree - in stupidity, mean spiritedness and hubris.  The more an individual has the more likely they'll become a supervisor never again to be seen.

You see, after all these years, they still haven't gotten to the point of using good judgement.  There must be at least a story a week regarding unnecessary and invasive searches.  This week is no exception.

This time an active duty Marine who lost both legs to an IED and was wheelchair bound. He showed the TSA his military identification and as the story reads it seemed to encourage them to go beyond total reason.  He was ordered to stand and walk to a different area, having been directed to the wrong one initially.  Though extremely difficult for him, TSA agents made no attempt to help. Then he had to remove his prosthetics, put them back on then stand again while his chair was searched.

My eyes tear up whenever I watch one of those Wounded Warrior spots on television and think what a waste of once healthy young men and women.  How inordinately brave they and their families are in dealing with situations that have no end.  Then to read how they are treated at an airport. It makes my blood boil.

This young man filed a complaint with his Congressman who asked for a detailed report regarding procedures for wounded members of the military.  While his treatment is egregious, no one should have to endure what he did and so many others who are are elderly or very young or exceptionally good looking or incapacitated in any manner.

Rather than spending her time purchasing more ammunition than has been used in the entire Afghanistan war, armored vehicles, drones and new uniforms, perhaps Secretary Napolitano ought better to spend her time setting some reasonable policies if indeed we even need them and actually training those who so love flexing their muscles in the ultimate power trip.

Then again, perhaps this is a new definition of the trickle down theory.  If there is nothing in the way of intelligence at the top there is nothing to trickle down!  You know what?  Both parties are little more than a collection of power hungry, bloated egos paying no attention to anything but self.  One of these days the people just might fight back.

If they do they will win.  They aren't power hungry, just hungry.  Their egos aren't bloated for they have little left after governmental abuses.  And they've more collective intelligence than those they would face. So much for 'representative' government.

The CPAC Sweeps Winner Is...

Chris Christie!  He may yet end up being the go to guy.  For the moment I'm going to put aside my worry about his health/weight and his abrasiveness and look at the positives.

First of all he wasn't there. Not only was he not there, he wasn't even invited. The Republicans have not yet forgiven him for his praise of Obama during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Never mind that he was doing what he thought necessary for the people of his state.  And never mind that Obama was all photo op and no action.  It's an action for which Christie should be given some slack.

The lack of the invitation alone tells me the Republicans have a suicide wish.  Especially considering who was there and their demeanor.  Rand Paul swiping back at John McCain and Lindsey Graham.  I criticized those two for washing their dirty laundry in public with their criticism of Paul.  So what does he do?  Returns the favor.

Then there was Ted Cruz prowling the stage like a caged animal chuffing and snarling.  I have no problem with him being aggressive but demeanor counts and his was condescending and rude.

Sarah Palin?  She is what she is.  Shrill and no longer relevant. Do the Republicans really still need her to light their fire?  Does calling the President a liar help? Does belittling Carl Rove help?

I come away with the impression CPAC is no more than a conservative love in.  A place for them to strut their stuff and those who may need their support down the road to shed their dignity and integrity.  In other words, it was a pretty sad display of partisan fealty.

I'm not sure they did the party any good.  It magnified the differences within and did little to set forth anything positive.  Becoming as computer savvy as the Democrats, running more diverse candidates and clarifying policy is something to be left behind the scenes, not in the forefront screaming, "We're a mess!"

The Democrats are loving it.  Hillary has reversed herself and is now for gay marriage. That's a huge vote generator. Biden becomes less of an issue to her every time he opens his mouth.  All they have to do is sit back and watch the Republicans continue to self-destruct.

The Republicans have two years and counting to get their act together and reinvent themselves into a cohesive unit or the Democrats will take everything just as Obama plans.  After that we'll have a country so different than what we have today we'll be hard pressed to remember it.  In four years it will be the norm.  If that happens those of us who are old enough will miss the country we once knew and we'll be blaming the Republicans.  Even if we once shared the name.  And rightfully so. Because they couldn't or wouldn't become a worthy adversary.

In My Easter Bonnet

Yep.  My inner child has been catered to and I have my new hat.  I first saw it at the Charlie Russell Museum last spring and even though I've pretty much missed this winter, I'm ready for next! I absolutely love it!

Actually, I am writing this in an attempt to prolong what was a really great break from the gloomy weather and even gloomier news. Heck, we had to ask a bartender in an Irish Pub in Missoula, MT last Wednesday who became Pope!  We were that disengaged.

On the next morning to Great Falls for the art shows surrounding the Charles M. Russell Museum art auctions.  We've begun alternating the shows we attend since there are so many about the same time of year.  Last year we went to Wickenburg, AZ for Cowgirls Up.

I love our drives through Montana.  Kids look for different license plates, I try to spot wildlife.  This trip was rewarding with two elk herds and a moose!  That's extremely unusual.  What is usual and held to form are the deer, antelope and eagles.

The art shows were of good quality too.  We arrived early and the venues weren't yet busy so we even had time to visit with some of the artists.  I spent and hour with Judith Syverson,  a member of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters based in London.  Her work is exquisite and I've long been an admirer.  We found we had a lot of common opinions and she  even gifted me with a special poem she had written.  I was quite touched and honored.  It will be framed and hung among along with our other art.

I had a chance to relay a story to Kevin Red Star's daughter about his grandson encountering us in Red Lodge as we looked at a gallery window full of his art.  "That's my grand dad," we were informed.  He went on to invite us to his grand dad's studio in Roberts, just down the road.  "Do go," she encouraged us.  Indeed we shall.

Then too there was Terry Lee, a local artist of some note who was sitting outside his display room. I introduced myself and by the end of our chat he too invited me to visit his studio.  And indeed I shall.

The last highlight was finding a gallery from Bozeman that had several paintings by Elizabeth Lochrie who was one of the first well known women artists in Montana.  She was also good friends with Hub's folks and we have quite a few of her paintings.  After her death they disappeared from the market for some time so it was great to see them regaining exposure.

All in all it was a wonderful, relaxing trip.  But all good things must end.  We're back and I'm already shaking my head over the headlines.  The Americans are already complaining about the new Pope.  Get over it folks.  He's Catholic and is going to do his best to preserve the Catholic beliefs, not change to meet yours!

And the politicians of course.  CPAC.  Wow.  And seeing that suddenly there is no immediate debt crisis.  I'm not sure I've re-entered in the same universe that I exited last Wednesday.

Oh well, tomorrow is soon enough to get back into the routine of trying to make sense of it all.  I'm not easily buffaloed you know!

The Skinny On Fat - Political And Otherwise

I don't think I've ever been witness to anything quite as petty and mean spirited than the cancellation of the White House Tours.

The kids from Iowa have a point.  It is our house, not the President's nor the governments.  People who are more than able have stepped forward and offered to pay the $17,000 a week it supposedly costs.  Donald Trump to name the most prominent - and the most financially able.  So why has the offer not been accepted?

If is truly to 'punish' us, those decision makers should be ashamed of themselves. Okay, maybe the tours aren't 'essential' to the running of the government, but they are for the good will of the people.

Let's look at one more ludicrous example of what has been funded. The National Institute of Health has allocated $1.5 million for a five year study to determine why 75% of gay women are obese and men are not.  Granted this is a different budget, but consider that it would pay for over 75 weeks of White House Tours.

Yeah, yeah, I know obesity is a huge public health issue.  Why else would New York's Mayor Mike Bloomberg be trying to fix it single handed?  Is it really more important to figure out the trend in Lesbians than the female population as a whole?

Heck, I've studied the issue by going to the grocery store and seeing how many of the female shoppers are obese compared to the males.  I guarantee you the women win hands down.  Maybe it's because they don't labor as hard as the men, maybe it's because they're exposed to more food with a passel of kids around.

A far as the 'minority sexually oreinted' group is concerned I find it interesting that among prominent women who I know are gay the only one I know who is obese is Rosie O'Donnell. Jayne Lynch, Suze Orman, Ellen Degeneres and Portia De Rossi are anything but.

Then there are the men.  Anderson Cooper is slender.  Barney Frank isn't quite. Why?  It could be physiology I suppose.

There are approximately 4 million in the gay and Lesbian community in a population of nearly 285 million.  That's about 1.5%.  Is it really worth $1.5 million to study this statistic for a group that is already studied as a part of the whole.  Let them be obese first and Lesbian second. Causes can't be that much different unless you want to get into all the mental gobbledy gook that goes with being any type of minority if one is inclined to exploit it.

As far as that goes a ton of money could go into a study of how being denied to their own house affects these students from Iowa along with every other youngster that will be turned away.  Or all of us who read about it and shake our heads and wonder what's next. But then I've done some studies on that too.  The kids come away with a bad taste in their mouth for government and so do we.  There.
Problem solved.  Where do I send my bill?

Now I'm off to Montana for some rest and recreation.  You all can do a study as to why I'm going to buy a fur hat with buffalo horns at the Charles M. Russell Museum Shop.  Hint.  It has to do with my inner child and an indulgent husband.

A V8 Moment On Illegal Aliens

I had a V8 moment this morning.  You know the commercial where someone whacks someone else on the head because they didn't have a V8?  That kind of moment.

When discussion turns to immigration and illegals most of the talk revolves around securing the borders and a path to citizenship. An article about a different approach that appeared in The Wall Street Journal  this morning got met to thinking. Are we really on the right track with this path to citizenship business.

The article suggest patterning reform after NAFTA, where goods from the United States, Canada and Mexico cross all borders with impunity.  Why not allow workers to do the same?

It's a good point.  Back when Reagan gave mass amnesty to 3 million illegals only 17% or 510,000 actually sought citizenship.  That means 2.5 million chose otherwise.  Today they estimate 11 million illegals are in the country and no one can agree what to do about it.

We have, in this country, a bad habit of making assumptions that don't necessarily pan out.  Like how  every country in the world wants a United States style democracy.  They don't.  The Middle East is a prime example.

Why then should we assume that every person who would like to come to this country to work wants to be a citizen? If there was a program that allowed them to cross borders freely with proper identification it would eliminate the need for them to criminalize themselves.  It would free up the border patrol from having to hunt them down and free up Janet's beds.  It would give the businesses that depend on migrant workers the work force they need without criminalizing themselves and would give Obama more of that revenue he so covets through their taxes.

If at some point if they want to apply for citizenship they go through the same procedure as every one else.  This isn't rocket science.  It's common sense!

Of course not all those who cross our borders are not so pure of heart, but dealing with them would be a whole lot easier. Those who want to remain citizens of their home country would be free to do so and if  they are seasonal workers they might be more likely to leave their families at home if they know they can rejoin them.

The EU operates in a similar manner and has found it far more workable than anticipated.  Low wage workers will no more take jobs from Americans then they do now.  Face it, we're lazy.  We won't do the grunt work. Yet the wages are more than they can earn in their home countries and offers them a legal opportunity to raise the standard of living of their families.  It could be win win.

I'll leave it to our erstwhile politicians to work out the details.  If they opt not to we should all whack them on the head and tell them to get that V8.  They'll be able to think more clearly than with three martinis in their systems.  Olives excepted.