Headlines: Pardon Me!

Pardon Me! We pardon scooters all the time as they zoom by us on the sidewalks of life. Why not this scooter? I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was found guilty on Tuesday by a reportedly saddened grand jury on four of the five charges for lying to investigators during the Plame leak case. It would be a political move of varied motives for the President to pardon Libby, but wouldn't it be nice for the fall guy to get some justice, too?

Success in Iraq is counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed. General David Petraeus, US Army commander in Iraq commented recently that it will take more than military might to end the violence in that war-torn country. Gen. Petraeus hinted that resolution in Iraq would need political negotiations to create peace. Political negotiations, eh? I think it's time for the US President to pardon Iraq.

"I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden." would likely be a hummed tune for the fired Maj. Gen. George Weightman and Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley were singing before the bad press came out for the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Sure, military service is tough. However, we are talking about our injured soldiers here. I think we can lay off the tough guy act in a hospital, can't we? Just think what these vets will say to their grandkids: Yeah, it was difficult fighting off those rats and cockroaches, but the moldy stench was the worst. I survived Iraq because they gave me a gun and ammo, but surviving Walter Reed was the biggest battle I faced. No guns, no ammo. Not even rodent bombs or roach motels. Conditions were deplorable. I needed to raise the black flag, but the Army didn't supply us with any. So, we had to use our crutches and wheelchairs to squish the enemy! No pardons likely here. No matter how hard they beg.

"Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again!" I don't know if Pierce Brosnan will need a pardon after this one, but he is slated to sing, yes I said SING... ::LOL:: Sing ABBA tunes... ::ROFL:: With, get this... Meryl Streep! ::LMAO:: Okay, okay, Brosnan is a handsome actor, a remarkable artist, but I don't recall any singing scenes in the Bond movies. The big question now is, will I be walking out of the theater singing S.O.S. out of desperation or under a euphoric state of enjoyment? By the way, Pierce, I'll pardon you in advance on this one.

No Pardons for Captain America! I was completely saddened by the news that our superhero, Captain America, ::sob:: is dead. Captain America is dead apparently due to his resistance to register with the federal Super Hero Registration Act? Is this a sobering reflection of the state of affairs in our country? What will our country do without Captain America? Is this the end? Will Tek Jansen be able to fill such big shoes?

Well, if there are pardons to make, lent is a good time to make them, as we forgive others and forgive ourselves for all the blunders and ignorantly foolish things we do and forget to do. I hope you have it in your heart to pardon me, as well. I promise I will pardon you, too.

Headlines and Metaphors...

North Korea's Yummy Omelet
Watch out Denny's and Perkins, I've heard North Korea's cookin' up an omelet, and they say it's da bomb! Apparently for Condi Rice, the international language of peace is now Metaphor. The metaphor Rice referenced here is the old adage, "I don't count my chickens until they hatch." I just want to say, this is an egg I would rather see scrambled with some cheddar, onion, ham, --and no mushroom cloud!

Eggsrava-Gaza?
Not to be outdone, peace talks in the holy city of Mecca have brought the two political factions in Palestine together in governing the war ravaged area. Our good friend, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was the king pin instrumental in bringing Hamas and Fatahs to make amends. They have decided that the Palestinian parliament majority Hamas will have their delegate Ismail Haniyeh reappointed as prime minister, and Mahmoud Abbas, Fatah's leader, will continue to be president. For some people, they may be wondering: Will this stop the fighting in Gaza? Me? I'm wondering: Who's the head of the henhouse here? Is it the President, or the Prime Minister? Regardless who gets to be the rooster and the hen, I'm sure they'll be serving it up overeasy. Hey, where's the bacon?

Putin Eggs on the Frypan
The US and Europe are scrambling international security with their unilateral policies, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mixing it up at an international security conference, Putin suggested that the US-led "unipolar world" has brought worldwide instability, insecurity, and has pushed countries to seek weapons of mass destruction. Unipolar world? Really?? Now I've heard all the hype about the polar swap in 2012, but this unipolar world intrigues me. Globally, that would really stir things up. Heck, we may not know where the compass points, but I bet I'd still like a little cheese in my scrambled eggs.

Iraq's Sunny Side Cafe
The new commander for the US Forces in Iraq is calling for 'cooperation' between American and Iraqi forces in that conflict. Gee, that sounds familiar. Hmm. Oh, yes. I remember my kindergarten teacher using that big word. Maybe our plan for peace in Iraq is this. Yes, all I really need to know I learned in kindergarten. Now there's a policy for international relations! And that's serving it sunny side up!

Tek Jansen: Egg Beater
I think we need to enlist an experienced warrior for this battle of the eggs: Tek Jansen! It seems that there's been a krono-rift in the space time continuum that has caused this outbreak of eggs-traordinary portions. Hmm... Could it be, Condi Rice is Tek Jansen's biggest fan?

Do I have egg on my face, or what?! I've heard it's great for the pores.

Headlines In My View

Unity -- That's the Ticket?
You may see something odd on the ballot November 2008--the "Unity" ticket. A grassroots push has begun to get a mixed presidential ticket in '08 with actor Sam Waterston leading the crusade. Waterston made his case for a bipartisan presidential ticket first on Tuesday's Hardball. Actor, lawyer and financial advisor, that is Waterston. Now, a political advocate? Apparently, Waterston needed to expand and broaden his resume. And, what's with the bipartisan ticket? Who'd be in their right mind to mix the lion with the lamb? I'm sure there'll be two people with enough balls to come forward and... Huh? You don't think there's anyone willing to do that? Okay, okay. So, the ultimate question will then arise, at some point, I'm sure--Who wears the pants? Someone is going to have to wear the pants. Someone is going to have the buck stop with them. Which one? Republican? Or Democrat? Now, there's bipartisan bickering at its finest! I'd like to see that one!! Where do I sign up? (www.unity08.com)

Harvest for the World
Well, maybe the world is an exaggeration, but sometimes it takes a village to fuel the nation. As President Bush talks aggressively about pushing for renewable fuels, the heartland of America responds. Broin Company's Voyager Ethanol Plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa plans to expand its ethanol producing capacity by using the cornstalks and leaves to produce 125 million gallons of fuel per year. Pretty soon, we'll see people trying to squeeze ethanol out of grass clippings from their lawn. Imagine that!

Global Warming--My A$$!
This morning I came into work and it was -8 degrees F! I now believe that the F stands for f'ng cold!! I thought it has to be colder in Iceland, what with the name and all. But, NOOOOooooo! They're forecasting in Iceland between Zero and 15 degrees C--You know what that converts to in F'ng degrees? That's 32 to 59 degrees F! It may be Iceland Warming, but I sure as heck ain't calling it "Global Warming"!

UnBEARable Valentine's
"Oh, it is soo adorable! *squeee squeee* It's soo much bigger than I thought! *I know.* I could just kiss it and kiss it. Oh, *reading the card* 'I sent you this love bandit to steal your heart, because you've stolen mine. Love, Jim'* squeee squeee*" No! NO! NOOOOO! Fake O's for a stuffed teddy bear? Phuuleeeease! I am repulsed by the thought that any woman can get swept away by a teddy bear. How does a woman respond to this? "Oh, Jim, let me do your sensuous bandit teddy bear, since you apparently have no balls to steal my heart yourself!"

Apocalypse Nears...

Current events dictate that the foreseen apocalypse is nearing, just read on...

The Police reunite for the Grammys... And they won't be pulling you over in your gramma's oldsmobile, either. Hopefully, a little bit of Synchronicity will be in order!

A Resurrected Castro Meets with Chavez... There's no other way this previously thought to be dead dictator could travel to Venezuela. And to meet with President Hugo Chavez. Obviously, to barter for the fountain of life. I think we all know the fountain of life is in Paraguay, right Jenna?

US Under Pressure to Stop Saying No... What these poor fleeing Iraqis don't realize is that the US spent most of the 1980s learning how to Just Say NO. The only Yes we know is the one who sang "Owner of a Lonely Heart."

Bush Accused of Distorting Evidence on Global Warming... Oh, c'mon! There are obviously much bigger fish to fry! Hmmm... maybe the bigger fish are too tainted.

Harry Potter Strips... Oh, dear! The world is coming to an end! Eeeeck! Wa..wa..wa...wait! Oh, my. Haaaary Paaahhhhhter! Oh, yeeees! The end times are near.

Pope's Turkey Visit is This Week!

Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Turkey is this week! Apparently, the article I read from last week made it sound like it was to happen last week, which, of course, it didn't. I was just one week ahead of the times.

Or maybe the Vatican has decided to postpone the trip to this week, as many of the media spinners and satirical news shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report had the week of Thanksgiving off to truly enjoy some turkey. Good thing, because all the talk this week will be about what to do with that leftover turkey.

Speaking of leftover turkey, the pope's visit to Turkey will likely not be a leftover affair. And hopefully, Pope Benedict XVI will not use leftover remarks during his speeches in Turkey, as he did several months ago during his German lecture that sparked the Muslim controversy with the pontiff. (Just because the pope quoted from an old byzantine saint that claimed Islam was a violent religion, doesn't mean that Muslim need to prove it, does it??)

After reading stories about this historic visit, I realize that this visit has more to do with the future of Turkey, than the remarks the pope will make. Sure, each word that the pope speaks in this Muslim country is going to be scrutinized to pieces, but this visit is bigger than that. It is going to deal with differences between what the pope represents and the Muslim people. Look at it this way, Turkey has more to lose than the pope if this visit goes down horribly.

So, it's going to be all about differences in ideals and religion, right? It's more than just those basic issues. It's about civilization. Western civilization vs. Eastern civilization, specifically. Right now, Turkey is vying to become a part of the European Union (EU). Turkey officials apparently feel that it would be advantageous for them to be a part of this economic union.

However, to connect with the EU, Turkey would be connecting with predominantly Christian countries. Not only are they Christian, but they are a part of Western civilization, a culture that most Muslims would consider repulsive. It is a clash of cultures.

Beyond the clash, it is about Turkey's past, present and future. Turkey is a historically pivotal country between Western and Eastern civilizations. Turkey is where Christianity saw its rise into prominence with mandated state and country religion, thanks to Emperor Constantine, and it is this role that changed Rome's stance from burning Christians to embracing them. It was at this point in history that Turkey (Byzantine Empire) affected both Eastern and Western civilizations.

Then, Turkey's Byzantine traditions were taken over by the Ottoman empire and changed from Christianity to Islam. Another pivotal moment for Turkey, as Constantinople changed to Istanbul and the Haghia Sophia, Church of Holy Wisdom, was converted to a mosque with minarets and all (and within the last century has been restored and is now a public museum).

Turkey is now facing another pivotal moment. On one side, there's the East with primarily Muslim belief, culture and government states. They offer Turkey their traditions and views of proper Muslim societies, along with isolated cells of muslim extremists. On the other side, is the West, with their free-thinkers, Christian fundamentalists, and (perspectively corrupt) capitalist (and some socialist) countries with their advanced technologies and crazy middle classes.

My personal hope is that the pope sees this visit like a good samaritan. I also hope that Muslims in Turkey will show and prove to the pope that their beliefs are not about violence. Non-violent, peaceful acts can go a long way to prove a point of non-violence. I also hope that Turkey's decision is what truly is best for its country considering their prospects with the EU and working with both Western and Eastern neighbors.

Last thoughts:
I do hope that the pope can enjoy Turkey this week. And I do hope that Turkey will enjoy the pope's visit.

Pope to Enjoy Turkey This Week?

Pope Benedict XVI hopefully has packed his courage, along with the extra baggage of almost two centuries of crusades and his recent remarks regarding Islam's apparent tradition with wars and violence.

I'd like to back the Pope on this, really I would, but I'd be running scared with my tail between my legs. The Catholic Church does not have a pristine record on peace. We are just as guilty of instigating war and violence in our Maker's name. Sigh.

Pope Benedict certainly is showing that he has more balls than I would have imagined. The question does linger in my mind regarding his trip to Turkey: Will he take Istanbul by the horns and command them like a true matador? Indeed, this meeting will be a clash of religions. It will also possibly be the moment of truth when each side will show the world the true tenets of their religion.

It seems ironic that this meeting falls during the week Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on the story when the newly settled pilgrims "shared" a feast of the harvest with their new neighbors, the "Indians". Maybe this Thanksgiving will be a sharing of peace between Christians and Muslims around the world to embrace the peaceful love of our Maker.

President Pelosi??

If the democrats have enough balls, we may be saying "President Pelosi" before 2008. As the democrats have taken charge of the US House and now the Senate, as well, there's nothing stopping them from making some yummy impeachment pie for Bush and Cheney. I'm sure they will enjoy it. Yum. Yum.

Okay, okay. It really is time for every elected official to hold fast to their oath of office and to preserve (and restore), protect and defend the Constitution of the United States... from enemies both foreign and domestic.

Living Dead: Time to Vote Zombie! Or--Daylight Saving Republicans??

Newsflash: Halloween has been extended through Tuesday, November 7th.

"We have lived as if in a trance. We have lived as people in fear," commented Keith Olbermann on October19th.

Keith, Halloween was just around the corner. TV campaign ads are just following custom--vote zombie! With the midterm elections right after the scaring ritual, it just seems fitting to continue scaring the living daylights out of people. Daylight saving was not immune to the scaring as it abandoned us at 2 a.m. on Sunday, October 29th this year, leaving us to wake in total darkness.

Although we walk in darkness... to work and back home again in pitch black... there is a light at the end of our scary darkness. The midterm elections? No. Still darkness.

The light, or rather daylight, which our great and fearless president has recently modified, will return early in 2007 on Sunday, March 11th. Is this a ploy to ruin St. Patrick's Day celebrations, as festive partiers will have to adjust to an earlier time to get to mass the next day?? Or is there a more sinister and diabolical plot?

I can't deny that the daylight saving-standard time changes in the spring and fall changes the way we act and live our day lives--it does. Standard time sucks. How do I hate standard time so? Let me count the ways...

So, how do these seasonal changes affect our perceptions on things like politics and other scary things? I'm sure it does alter our perceptions to wake in darkness and come home in darkness. Everything seems dark. It is a bleak time. Obviously.

And, although we must rise earlier for daylight saving, we wake in the spring of sunshine. It is a glow of hope, and a glimmer of summer that we rise to celebrate daylight saving in the spring. And in the spring there is no taunt of political mudslinging, no robo-calls of candidates barking their message before the elections.

Get this: The changes on daylight saving and standard time extends the length we get to "enjoy" daylight time. That's right. Yea! I love daylight time.

As far as I can remember, we have always changed the clocks the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October. Now, according to King George, beginning in 2007 we will change clocks the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in NOVEMBER! That's three more weeks of daylight! WoooHoo!

Wait... The first Sunday in November? (...sounds of gears clicking and whizzing in my head...) Now, don't we have general elections in November? That means I get one less week to adjust to the time change before the elections. So, I get to enjoy waking to the sun one more week before the elections... Hmmmm... Does this mean I get one more week of optomism before the dreaded darkness sets in?

In 2008, the general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4. Do you know what this means? In 2008, we will endure only two days waking into complete darkness before the next presidential election. I think we need to change it from "daylight saving" to "republican saving" time.

Sa__ __ a__ H__sse__n: Hangman

There's nothing like playing an exciting game of hangman in Iraq, is there?! Exciting, indeed. And depending on which side of the fence you claim, it could excite (or incite) joy or anger. Shiites were indeed happy. Sunnis were upset. Both sides continue to disagree.

This isn't just a little cat fight between Muslim factions, this is about a clash of ideologies. Not just within Iraq, but with "us" "occupiers", as well.

Iraq will not become an instantly peaceful, tyrant-free country once Saddam Hussein is hanged. The Iraqi people have too many reasons to be excited. Ideology is a difficult thing to modify, especially in a people of tradition.

Peace and tranquility cannot be achieved with a verdict. It cannot be achieved by war and occupation.

It is acheived when all sides can value all human life, and humanely live together with their differences. It is about consideration for our neighbors. It is observing, protecting and defending those inalienable rights that all humans on this great planet have been endowed with by our creator. Sounds a lot like the documents that started a country several centuries ago, founded on those same principles.

Whatever happened to those principles?

Oh, right. Hanging chads... (Florida 2000 game of hangman: __ __ __ __ w__n!)

Political Camouflage?

What do you do when you are a red republican in a very true blue state, like Maryland? If you're Michael Steele, you wear political camouflage.

In a recorded appearance today on CNN's Situation Room, it was clear that Michael Steele's favorite color is rrrrrrr-royal blue! What? Not red?? That's right, red republican Michael Steele's bid for Maryland senator was all blue. From the blue signs that supporters shook behind him, to the blue jacket he wore, and even to the blue striped button-down shirt and blue tie that peeked through his jacket.

Apparently, this is not a case of the blues for Steele. Even his website is predominately blue. The color red is completely absent on his website, with the possible exception of a photo with a supporter wearing red.

So, is this just another sign that Steele is one of many campaigning republicans that are supposedly turning their backs to the president? According to Steele's interview with Wolff Blitzer, the answer is no.

So, what's wrong with red, Mr. Steele?

Democrats Whimper

Whimper is the sound an injured animal makes. The Democrats seem to be whimpering a lot lately. You'd think that with all the Republican scandals, the Democrats would have licked their wounds and become prepared to attack. Wrong.

Harkin made a comment that practically burst the bubble for many democrats in the room for last Sunday's Democrat Rally. He said that if the Democrats gain the majority in the House and Senate that they will not impeach. Some in the crowd made some noises, most of them sounded like whimpers. I whimpered inside, as well.

Harkin tried to redeem himself by saying that if they didn't want to impeach (the president), because they didn't want Cheney as president. Apparently, that appeased much of the crowd as they clapped and cheered at the comment.

It did not appease me. C'mon, if President Bush is found to be impeachable, who's to say that Cheney also has impeachable advances? I was hoping that it would be the Democrats, but apparently I am wrong there.

Harkin went on to say that the Democrats want to hold them accountable, and they want to investigate. I whimpered. I thought, what's accountable anymore? Hold them accountable is like telling the school yard bully to stop name-calling.


Well, that's all fine and dandy if Harkin wants to take the low road, but why vote Democrat on Nov. 7 if the democrats aren't willing to impeach and punish those who've mangled the Constitution, and to right the wrongs that were made against the Constitution and freedoms of the American people?

Accountability is one thing. Responsibility is taking the bull by the horns and doing what needs to be done to make the Constitution a valid, living, breathing document vital to our country. I hope the Democrats will change their tune, but I won't hold my breath.

Is there anyone out there willing to defend, protect, and resuscitate the Constitution out there? Defending the Constitution should be the platform the Democrats should take, but no, they just sit in the corner and whimper.

Elections Like Drivers Ed

US Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, spoke at the Democrat Rally on Sunday, October 8, 2006. He had an interesting way of discussing the election with others:

Harkin: "As you go out and talk to all your friends and neighbors about this coming election, after church, in your social clubs, down to the local cafe, wherever it might--here at the casino--wherever it might be, when you talk to your friends about the election, keep it simple.

Keep it real simple. Don't get involved in all this, just tell them:

All you ever needed to know about this election, you learned in Drivers Education.

I mean think about it.

If you want to go backward, you put it in "R".

Ok, stick with me here.

If you want to go forward, you put it in "D"! "


I thought that was too cute. Very nice, Mr. Harkin. I'll have to remember that the next time I get in my car. Ok... "R"=Reverse/Republican... "D"=Drive/Democrat... Republicans are elephants. Democrats are donkeys. Either way, I guess it's a slow go.

Doublethinking the Democrat Rally

There's nothing like getting a bunch of local Democrats together, and last night's rally at Wild Rose Casino in Emmetsburg reaffirmed my belief that Democrats are wild for their country.

Sure, it was like a high school pep rally, with all the rah-rah cheers and coaching staff hyping everyone to think that we can make a difference. Yes, we can make a difference, I thought. Yes, my vote just might make a change in our country's direction.

As an "unbiased" member of the media, I extinguished those thoughts for the rest of the rally.

Note: Although I serve a very, very small base of listeners, I am apparently exempt from the first amendment, lest others think I am partial and drawn to one side simply out of loyalty. Which, to me, is complete hogwash, as I am about as impartial as they come (with the exception of the truth, which I support over any bias I might hold) and I want to expose various perspectives and views that surround an issue.

Iowa Senator Jack Kibbie emceed the rally, in Jack Kibbie style, of course. Local and state Democratic officials and candidates were on hand to voice their views and concerns about the state of affairs. Chet Culver, candidate for Iowa Governor, was there promoting his ideals to lead Iowa. Dr. Seldon Spencer, candidate for US Congress in Iowa's 4th District, spoke how he wants to motivate change in congress.

Same old, same old talk. Go, team, go! Rah! Rah. Rah... Don't get me wrong, rallies are a good way to motivate your base. It's just that they don't usually motivate the people that need motivating. Democrats talk of values and morals, just like the Republicans have done in 2000, 2002, and 2004. Neither side is innocent.

"We are in perilous times...," headliner John Kerry told the standing room only crowd. This Kerry fellar has some "idears", some big "idears" for these perilous times

Kerry's first "idear": Tell the Truth. Ok, Ok... This is a big one, because we all know how difficult it is for any politician to do this, Republicans and Democrats alike. And even those other political parties are not immune. Politicians will do whatever it takes for their constituents, whether they be in Iowa, California, Texas, Exxon, Diebolt or Halliburton. That's just the fact of the political process in the good ole US of A. Kerry went on, saying how he wants to "hold people accountable" and "fire incompetence."

Kerry's second "idear": Export Products, Not Jobs. But how would Wal-mart be able to keep their prices low with a smiley face? We all know that it is better to keep prices low over jobs, because if we gave the lower classes jobs, then that would mean that there is hope, and the only hope there is, is located in Arkansas, and we all know that's where Bill Clinton is from. And that is why Republicans don't want to create any more Hope, because that may create more Bill Clintons.

Kerry's third "idear": Energy independence. Sure, maybe one week of the Iraq war could pay to put an alternative fuel pump in every gas station in the US, but do we really need it? Isn't so much nicer to share, like with the Saudis? They apparently make great bed pals, just ask our president. Moving on...

Kerry's fourth "idear": One of the biggest challenges facing us: Global Climate Change. Kerry says we have ten precious years to change our environment. This is a non-issue for Republicans, because it doesn't exist in the Republican world. 'Nuff said.

Kerry's fifth "idear": A Tax Code that Values Work, Not Wealth. I'm sure Kerry's wife cringes when he starts off on this. What Kerry and others on Capitol Hill fail to realize is that our capitalist society rewards wealth and power. And it is that wealth and power that makes the rules. Which is why the tax code will always value work and tax the working class to the limit, just because it can. Every policy this country has put into place in the last five years, from No Child Left Behind to the Iraq War, is all about winners and losers. None of these policies define an "everyone wins" situation, only because it does not exist in a capitalist country. If we want everyone to win, we'd be called a "socialist" or "communist" country, now, wouldn't we?...

Kerry's sixth "idear": Set a Date for Iraqis to Stand Up for Iraq and Set Up a Democracy for Themselves as much as We Want it for Them. Then, bring our heros home. Kerry explains that having deadlines is how teachers and bosses work. Hasn't Kerry heard the song "You Can't Hurry Love..."??

A wonderful pep rally, really. I just kind of wonder if we aren't playing the wrong game??...

Well, there's my doublethink on the local Democrat Rally. Doublethink. Devil's advocate, if you will. There's always two sides to a story, and then there's the truth. At least, that's how I see it.

Ah... Gravitas!

Seriously... We need to get serious. And finally Keith Olbermann is giving true gravitas to the grave concerns of the state of the union.

As I read about the references to the traditions of network television news after Katie Couric's premiere performance, the accomplishments of those early pioneers in television news are indeed amazing. They were cowboys of their era, riding into a new frontier of journalism, with the ability to truly make a genuine difference to better this world because of their honest reporting.

Where have all the cowboys gone? Up until now, I thought they had gone to Comedy Central, because it seems in our culture today, the only way to say there's a major SNAFU here, is to pepper it with laughter. It takes balls to call out someone's bluff, or to point at authority and say they've done wrong, or to do some serious investigative reporting and publicize the real truth behind the smoke screens.

It was such reporting by CBS News that changed the tide for Nixon and quite possibly ended the Vietnam War. We, as the collective people, do not fully understand the impact television news has when they offer us their reporting perspectives on today's stories. And we should be concerned when the rhetoric of governmental offices are echoed in the evening news without the least bit of questioning, probing, or indepth independent investigation. We do not understand the full impact of the reprimand CBS News received after the whole investigation into the president's alleged time in the national guard. This was grave.

Maybe that is why people are turning to the lighter side for their news. We all need a laugh ever so often, and sometimes we like to know what's going on around us, too. Thank goodness for Comedy Central's Daily Show and Colbert Report, where gravitas is spoken with a sprinkling of jest.

A new cowboy is riding on the horizon. Keith Olbermann. I've watched his show a couple of times, as I get a chance, since he is one of a few television newsmen that tries to tell it like it is, beyond the propaganda from biased agencies. Thanks to another cowboy, I've been able to see the continued rise of prominent people to speak up about the concerning state of our country. A couple of days ago Olbermann spoke up about his concerns on the direction of our country, lead by President G.W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

At the end of Olbermann's perspective look, he quoted Edward Murrow: "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty." Olbermann continues with a strikingly mellow and sobering countenance, in the fashion of those old cowboys, like Cronkite and Murrow: "We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear - one, of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of un-reason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men; Not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were - for the moment - unpopular."

If you look up Murrow's quote, some sources take that first sentence and end it with, "When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it." Murrow is not talking about terrorist opposition, but loyal opposition--a big difference. Loyal opposition, in my humble view, are among "we the people" who honestly question, research, and investigate actions and intentions that stray from our Constitutional foundations. Loyal opposition defends our Constitution.

Keith Olbermann is bringing television news back to the journalistic integrity of days gone by. (And for those naysayers who think the past is irrelevant to day, just look to our Constitution if you want relevence to your own freedoms.)

Keith Olbermann delivers gravitas! (And he does carry out, too! Check out his blog!)

Greatness in Television News?

“This is 'The CBS Evening News With Katie Couric.'” It was Cronkite himself, her most distinguished predecessor.

I really didn't get a chance to watch the evening news much, and I sadly missed this debut to the evening news, just as I missed Brian Williams' debut. From the many reviews, it seems I didn't miss much. Thank goodness.

Wow. Walter Cronkite voices the intro for Ms. Katie Couric. A legend in his own right. Cronkite. The same man, who showed the world that anchors have heart-felt emotions, when he dramatically and professionally took off his glasses to relay to the television world that President Kennedy had died. Walter Cronkite, what true gravitas.

Gravitas. Katie Couric. I am not sure if I can put those two words together in one sentence. Call me a bit old fashioned, or maybe this is how her other network portrayed her, but she seems to be better suited to hosting a cooking show over an evening news program. Weren't there other female candidates that would have echoed the same traditional journalistic gravitas as Walter Cronkite?

Unless Katie can shed that old gal next door persona, that's what she'll continue to deliver. No gravitas there.

Headlines: DemoIndeRepub... Who Wins? And More!

Ah, HEADLINES for the midweek crisis...

DemoIndeRepub--Where's the Party for Joe Lieberman? Who Wins?
Well, Iraq war loving Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman lost his bid for the democratic ticket to ... who is Ned Lamont? The Republican Party would love it if Lieberman had won or lost, because now they are just reviving the lost Democratic Party propaganda machine. And what a great diversion to this whole Israeli-Lebannon issue! Kill two birds with one stone on this one!! I don't know who wins, but the American people yearning for truth will ultimately lose. Sorry, truth, we are too busy attacking and/or defending the weakness of the Democratic Party.

Cease-Fire? I Thought You Said Seize Fire!
Isrealis push forward to more bombings and a ground war in Lebannon, as contemplations of a cease-fire seem to be ignored. Cease fire--seize fire?? I guess it's either cease fire and seize the day or seize fire and cease the day. Israelis continue to show the world that their policy is about "loving thy neighbor"--to death. Who wins? God only knows.

Fed Up?
The Feds decided on a holding pattern yesterday, but who knows what the future holds. Talks of recession (downers) and inflation (uppers)... Who wins? The ones with the most money. Sigh.

Egads! Headlines...

Egads! Has it really been two months since the last time I blogged? So much going on... so little time.

Let's cut to the chase and debrief the headlines:

Lebanon and the Bombshell
There's nothing like making more terrorists in the Middle East. Al Quada is a has been as Hezbollah is the new catch phrase in terrorism. And there's nothing like a diversion from the Iraq civil war to get US thinking about other interests. Like the never-ending feud between Israel and any country that lies too close to its borders. Has anyone figured out why Israel just can't get along with its neighbors? Is it because Israel drives its boom car around late at night when the Palestinians are trying to get some sleep? Or could it be that Lebanon just has prime real estate that Israel envies so? You can blame the other countries only for so long before you are forced to look at the root of the problem.

Castro Comeback--Again
Fidel Castro, perpetual arch enemy of the United States, continues to survive after surgery on his intestine. You know what else continues to survive? Our embargo on anything from our neighbor to the southeast. How long do we need to continue this to prove--what point are we trying to prove, again?

More Moral Incompetence on the Iraqi Battlefield
And its not from the crazy terrorists. Again our US soldiers continue to embarrass the honor of our country, but you really can't blame them. Really, when you send soldiers off to fight a war with no goals, no mission and no focus, they aren't fighting for a specific cause. They have to psych themselves out. Faced with the reality, they put their game face on as they listen to violent gangsta rap and sexual provocative music. What do you expect?

Sexual Explicit Music Leads to Sex
Of course, all things considered, people are influenced by messages they hear over and over. And what better way to get a message across than the repetitive nature of music?! If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything. That is the message here. It is not just about sex, it is about marketing. Those who stand for something are not easily swayed, so forget about them. Go for those suckers who fall for anything, and that's what commercials do and, really, let's get to the root, that's what music does.

Zurg-Zarq Is Dead!?

Well, President Bush has announced that our archenemy Al-Zarqawi is dead. This link (just right click and open in new window) shows a large, framed photo of Zarq, presumably posthumous, after a bomb attack. Ok, first of all, he's looking pretty good for dying from a bomb attack. Maybe this was a photo taken post humus, when the humus was just not agreeing with him that day.

Zarq. Zurg. Zurg... Sworn enemy of the Galactic Alliance. Archenemy of Buzz Lightyear. Hmmm... Maybe Zarq is recharging his battery. Again.

Protecting the US Borders

So, why didn't we have this talk about immigration before 9/11/2001, or even just after that fateful day? How better to protect the US from foreign invaders like terrorists than to protect our borders?!

Where's the funding for our coast guard and border patrol, who truly protect our nation's borders? Where's the national guard, who really ought to be helping to protect our homeland at home? Oh, right, Afganistan and Iraq...

Well, I read on the DHS website (that's the Department of Homeland Security) that they have beent thinking about protecting the US borders since 9/11, and apparently into the distant future, as well... DHS Announces Long-Term Border and Immigration Strategy, November 2, 2205

Yes, you read that right--November 2, 2205! Now that's forward thinking! So, if you think our DHS isn't working toward the future, well, you're wrong.

New Stamps, Again??

It seems like I just went out and bought new stamps with the new rate, along with those weird looking 2 cent stamps with the alligator teeth on them, and now the US Post Office wants to raise the rate of stamps again!

They claim its because of the rising costs of gas. Hey, I see my postal delivery guy walking to deliver my mail everyday, they don't use gas.

Besides, no one is giving me more money to compensate the rising gas prices. Oh, wait. I guess congress was looking into doing just that this week with a $100, or even a $500 tax rebate. Hmmm... Wait a minute, if I pay taxes, and they want to give me money from the taxes to pay for gas so the gas companies will lessen their high price assault, but the gas companies are too greedy to lower gas prices, and our country is running a large deficit right now... Hey, I'm going to pay for it anyway. Ok, that's a bad idea. Relegate that one to the circular file.

USPS is also claiming the rise in the stamp rate is to pay for their employees' rise in health insurance. Pssst--businesses don't care about that silly rise in their employees' health insurance, they're just letting their workers foot that bill.

And, get this, they want to raise it to 42 cents! That means all those extra 2 cents stamps I have laying around wouldn't work--I'd have to get one cent stamps, too! Good grief!

Oh, they want to have a Forever Stamp?? Buy that stamp and I would never have to worry about adding stamps for rate increases?? Why didn't they come out with this idea sooner?