Hiding Behind The Flag

Who ever thought an enemy could hide behind the American flag.  We all should know the story of the Fort Hood shooter, Major Nidal Hasan, the army psychiatrist who while wearing Muslim garb killed thirteen and injured another 32 in a shooting spree on base.

This is one more government scandal that continues unresolved.  The shootings took place in November of 2009. Hasan has yet to come to trial.

We already know those injured have been refused purple hearts.  It's important to remember why.  Because they weren't injured in combat.  It seems the wrong words are always having their definition changed. As one of the wounded said it sure felt like combat.

It's hard to understand why this rampage hasn't been determined to be terrorism when an incident like the Boston Marathon bombing is.  This one is being considered "work place violence" which puts the entire process in a different light.

I'm not going to go into all the details about military versus civilian law but let it suffice to say it has had a tremendously deleterious impact on the wounded. You see, in some one's infinite wisdom the classification of work place violence doesn't only affect the awarding of medals, but also the pay and benefits of those wounded.

Had it been declared terrorism they would have been afforded the same pay and benefits as those wounded in combat but as is they receive no combat medical benefits, no purple heart retirement payments nor combat related pay.  Meanwhile they struggle to put groceries on their tables and gas in their cars. Remember these are active duty military serving their country. Okay, the devil is in the details, but it seems to be all the benefit is going to the shooter.

What makes it worse is that the good Major retains his rank and his pay having banked some $278,000 since his rampage.

None of it makes any sense and it is an outrage.  I wonder how recruiting efforts are going these days.  Oh, yes, I guess they're holding because young men and women can't get jobs any where else!

While we're sorting out who hung the men in Benghazi out to dry and why the perpetrators of that attack are being pursued as civilians in Libya rather than terrorists, and the IRS over reach and the Justice Department over reach with the AP, let's add this to the list.

Nothing is as it should be any more.  We know the news is slanted no matter which outlets we favor.  To accept that the President gets his information from the same sources is frightening.  One thing we can be sure, it's not FOX.  That's probably more comforting to many of you than it is to me.

No wonder his people don't know or can't remember anything.  No story comes out the same two days in a row.

Being the pessimist I've become, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I don't think it has.  I believe there is more to come including what our adversaries might choose to do while we struggle with chaos.

I wish we'd handle our governmental  disasters the same way we handle natural disasters where we come together as one and fight our way back. For that we don't need leaders, just each other. It's time to broaden our scope.

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.