Manipulating To The End

I'm not an advocate of capital punishment but sometimes  the guilty party has so few, if any, redeeming qualities it seems just.  I'm always torn as to whether losing one's life is worse than having to live with what one has done.

In the case of Jodi Arius I've heard both sides argued. In order for there to be any justice in one having to live with their crime they'd first have to have some remorse.  A conscience.  I don't see that Ms. Arius does.  All I see is a woman trying to manipulate even now as she faces her final penalty.

It takes a lot of gall to sit in front of the family of her slain boy friend and plead for her life in order not to hurt her family.  Excuse me?  What about Travis Alexander's family?  If she is put to death she won't begin to suffer as he did at her hand. Either way, her family is going to have to live with what she did. No matter what happens to her, her family will bear that shame just as Travis's family will bear their grief.  I'm having trouble with one deserving more, or less, than the other.

In her own defense she claimed she loved Travis and never wanted to cause his family pain. Strange way to show love. Then she pulled out  dozens of pictures of her family and friends and claimed she didn't commit suicide in consideration of them. All heart, this woman.

She went on to tell of how she could contribute if allowed to live.  Donate her hair for wigs for cancer victims.  How much time between donations?  Hair has to grow back.  She could design T-shirts that would raise money for victims of domestic abuse.  Because of her great artistic talent.  Does she honestly think T-shirts by Jody Arias would be big sellers?  Maybe they would, but I wouldn't buy one and you can bet she wouldn't do it anonymously so that an unsuspecting public wouldn't know. Besides, how may would she design?  Would it really be retribution? It's almost laughable.

The jury can also consider that she has no previous criminal record and that she is a good friend.  How commendable.  On the other hand she wasn't a particularly good daughter and she certainly wasn't a good friend to Travis.

I wondered if I could vote for death for this woman who was so cavalier about it just after she was found guilty.  Now push comes to shove. Her life really is at stake. To me she's now grasping at straws knowing the jury already thinks the brutality her crime meets the criteria for death.

Somehow I can see her smirk should they settle for life without the possibility for parole. In my mind she is the last one who should get any satisfaction from the whole sorry episode.

The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste

Watching the hearings on the current package of scandals made me realize a couple of things.  One, going into politics is definitely dangerous for your health.  And two, I now know we don't get the best and the brightest going into public service. The best and the brightest have some degree of knowledge and an ability  to recall.

One doesn't have to be in politics very long before the mind begins to go.  This is not a partisan affliction.  It happens to everyone.  It  appears to be partisan only because one side is grilling the other at any particular time.

Everyone from department heads to the most lowly of clerks is subject to infection.  Look how many claimed they couldn't remember any detail of anything they were asked, or claimed to flat out not know.

"Chuck, did we send drones to Yemen yesterday" "Gee, I don't remember." "John?" "I don't know. " "Joe?"  "Maybe we did.  I  read something about it in the paper." "Me too.  That's why I asked."

Wow.  Doesn't it make you comfortable that these mental giants are running the country?  No wonder Nancy Pelosi said we'd have to pass Obamacare to know what was in it.  No one could remember!  If they'd forget they passed it we'd all be a lot better off.

Today the administrations surrogates were out in force saying all this scandal stuff is much ado about nothing.  I'd think they'd try a different strategy to pull the wool over our eyes since it was only the end of last week they were telling us they either didn't know or couldn't remember anything!

It's really rather sad.  All these once great minds collectively destroyed by politics.  Or does it just seem that way because once you lie it's more difficult to remember what you said and when you said it. It seems to me this would all go away if they'd just answer the questions put to them truthfully.

Our political mind set has changed though.  So much energy and effort is put forth by both sides to destroy the other, it's hard to keep track.  Plus, it's exhausting.  I only wish it really was forgettable.

One thing that puzzles me though is why Obama's approval ratings remain about the same.  Can you tell me why or have you forgotten? I just don't know.

Partisan Media Personified

It had to be painful beyond belief for Chris Matthews to admit the thrill going up his leg for President Obama has been severely diminished.

I wonder if he realizes he has just put a name and a face to what the media has become.  The President's lap dog.

I quote Mr. Matthews:

"What part of the Presidency does Obama like? He doesn't like dealing with other politicians - that means his own cabinet, that means members of congress, either party. He doesn't particularly like the press. He likes to write speeches, likes to rewrite what Favreau (one of Obama's speech writers) and others wrote for the first draft. So what part does he like? He likes going on the road campaigning, visiting businesses like he does every couple of days somewhere in Ohio or somewhere. But what part does he like? He doesn't like lobbying for the bills he cares about. He doesn't like selling to the press. He doesn't like giving orders or giving someone the power to give orders. He doesn't seem to like being an executive."

Well, well, well.  It seems Mr. Matthews has know all along what a lot of us have known.  My question to him is, knowing all this how could you have such blind allegiance?  Do you understand how you've negated your responsibilities to the public because of it?

For years you and your ilk have had a smug, smirking presence on MSNBC denigrating anyone and everyone who didn't  think the same as you.  Are you proud of that now?  Now that your idol has been proven less than worthy of your worship?

Can you save face?  I doubt it.  My guess is that you will be back in his corner as soon as you feel it's safe.  You and yours will find no haven anywhere else because you've been so tarred with your own vindictiveness.  Norah O'Donnell at least had the good sense to move on. The rest of you dug in your heels and in doing so such people who had at one time been good reporters, like Andrea Mitchell, lost all credibility

I used to listen to you.  Before NBC and especially MSNBC became the network of the administration.     I rarely do so any more because I can get more civil slanted news elsewhere. You remind me of a bunch of kids in a snarky clique having a mean spirited gossip session.

What you do isn't news.  It isn't even commentary. Heck, it isn't even entertainment.  You had best be thankful for the first amendment, otherwise there would be no place for you on the airwaves.

Do I feel your pain or sympathize with your disillusionment?  No.  That would be reserved for someone caught up unknowingly.  If anything what I feel for you is contempt for misleading the public when you full well knew better.  But then you are the reflection of the administration you serve.

        

Rubber Duck Diplomacy

Have you seen the rubber duck on steroids that has been floating in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour?  How did it make you feel?  Did it bring a smile to your face?

How could it not?  I think the duck should be adopted as the official bird of the world.  There's just something about them.

I remember a pair at the Shiloh Inn in Richland, Washington.  The entire morning staff had adopted them and come time for breakfast there they would be.  Fat and happy. The guests of course loved them - and fed them - and photographed them.  And smiled.

We had ducks when I was a youngster, though I have no idea why.  Probably Easter left overs.  I remember playing with them in the bathtub.  We were living in an apartment in Chicago of all places.  I think the folks finally gave them to friends who lived in the country. But I remember them. And I smile.

Okay.  They aren't as regal as our bald eagle though their plumage is awfully pretty.  They don't scream like an eagle.  They quack. It's like the difference between an operatic soprano and...well, me.  I've never seen an eagle walk but my guess is they strut.  Ducks waddle. I'm closer to the duck.  They're right in between that regal eagle and the goofy turkey Ben Franklin wanted for our national bird. Rather like most of us. Not dazzling, not silly, just us.

Their greatest asset is that they bring people together and make them smile.  What other bird do you know that cops will hold up lines of traffic for while Mom escorts her brood across a busy street?  How many birds do you know that can call a fancy hotel lobby home?  How many birds do you know that have rubber images of themselves raced all across the world in the wild water of spring time streams?

Ducks.  Every place in the world that has a body of water should have a rubber duck as resident water fowl.  I can see one here on Lake Coeur d'Alene. Maybe the powers that never quite squabbling could take a break and actually smile.  I won't tell them a lot of us think they're all quacks.  I'd not want to insult our duck! The same would apply to state, national and world leaders.

Why not?  Just think what a bright, sunny, smiling world it would be if every body of water in the world had a big yellow rubber duck bobbing on it. If it didn't bring us peace it would certainly give us pause that something so simple could bring happiness to so many. No matter what race, nationality, color or creed.

Life In A Bubble

I know our President has a great deal of contempt for those who don't agree with him, but I'm thinking he's really living in a bubble he himself blew.  Mostly full of air that's getting hotter.

I realize his words at a fundraiser last night in New York were geared toward his audience, but really.  He wants to take the spirit of togetherness shown in the recent tragedies in Boston and West, Texas to shape his governance for the next three and a half years.

To pass his agenda of course. In his own words he had hoped his winning would break the Republican "fever" that has resulted in the hyper partisanship engulfing the country.  It wouldn't, of course have anything to do with a very unpopular health care overhaul, Benghazi, the AP debacle and the IRS vendetta against conservative organizations, over regulation, crushing debt and an intolerance for any other opinion than his own.

Funny, it's his administration that is approaching the pinnacle of a perfect storm of governmental incompetence and sleaziness, yet it's the Republicans that have the fever.  Okay.  Maybe they are sick.  Sick of his administration and hopefully their own weaknesses.  Heck, even the media is beginning to come around.  Where there's life there's hope.

I find his analogy to be patronizing and sorely out of touch.  He goes so far as to say the reason more reasonable Republicans are reluctant to work with him is because they're worried about what Rush Limbaugh will say about them.  Is he serious?

Granted Mr. Limbaugh talks a lot and sometimes actually says something.  He often gets things wrong too.  And he no longer has the power of persuasion he once did.  He certainly isn't responsible for the gridlock we face on a day to day basis.  Nope.  The President and Congress need look no further than one another.  Forget the pundits.  The more they talk the more you realize they don't get it either.

The question is, does anyone?  Or are we all living in our own little bubbles hearing and seeing only what we want.  Including the President. Including Congress.  All of us.

What happens when bubbles burst? A whole lot of little bubbles form and go off which ever way the wind blows. Does that accomplish anything other than each of our bubbles replicating themselves? That's a lot of bubbles!

What we need is someone on the outside looking in, other than our adversaries, to throw salt on all the bubbles to eliminate them.   Then maybe the President, Congress and the rest of us could come together in the spirit of a crisis resolved. But then I wouldn't want to Rush to judgement.