Where have the statesmen gone?

Where have the statesmen and or stateswomen, enlightened leaders and dedicated legislators gone? They must be out there someplace. Or have they been repelled by greedy politicians? Low blow! I'm sure the preference is pragmatic politicians. Whatever or whoever they are, our representatives are letting us down. Politicians have made it perfectly clear that their first loyalty is to their political party. If there is any loyalty to spare their countrymen may be tossed a bone.

Needed legislation is on a merry-go-round.The chances of  immigration reform are practically nil until the mid-term elections are over. Raise the minimum wage? Don't bet on it - another third rail before elections. As a matter of fact any meaningful bill that impacts the wealth of the one per-centers is dead on arrival. They have so many congressional wimps in their hip pocket. Then there is gun control. The NRA not only has Congressmen in its hip pocket it has most potential presidential candidates in its front pocket.

Any action designed to fight global warming has about as much of a chance as a snowball in hell. Climate change action not only is a no-no around election time, it is a no-no supported by "Big Money" lobbyists year 'round. As one politician after another stands in denial of global warming, one can picture Nero fiddling while Rome burns. Not even the scientific evidence that the Antarctica ice shelf has disintegrated has stirred much comment in government circles. For that matter, neither has the media taken up the fight for climate control. Everyone is too busy with the NBA team owner scandal and the NFL draft.

It could be argued that once the midterm elections are over the new Congress will set aside witch hunts and will address the problems facing the country with a sincere desire to resolve them. Whoa!! Someone is forgetting that the big prize is up for grabs in 2016. There will be no time to focus on any action which might give one party or the other an edge. There will only be time for posturing and digging up material to destroy a perceived front runner.

Lets face it. Modern politics in the United States is all about winning elections. Nothing wrong with that except it has become a full time effort. Its as though the legislative branch of government is on a perennial recess. What to do?  Reform campaign laws - fat chance. A strong executive branch willing to lead at all cost might help but that's where I began. Where are these statesmen and enlightened leaders?

March Madness

March Madness has crossed the line. It was bad enough when we had to suffer the interminable basketball tournaments but now March Madness can't handle a gentle welcome to Spring. Spring is here but we will fall back to below normal temperatures and possibly snow. The Ukraine will see no Spring. The Cold War is back and Russia will spring forward. Add to the list Malaysian Flight 370 which is a MIA and you must conclude that indeed March events are meant for a loony society. Further proof? Baseball season will open this weekend but not in the USA. Opening day in MLB has been outsourced - the Dodgers will play Arizona in AUSTRALIA. How mad can March get? How about Obama and Congress kissing and making up. It will not happen. Making out is more likely but have no fear, April is near. God is merciful. Allah is great. If ever the twain meet, it sure would be neat. Oops, I've crossed the line into March Madness.

The Unmentionables

I'm not going to mention what is really going on with superstorm Sandy. I'm taking my cue from Campaign 2012. There are least two unmentionables during this epic (as in costly) campaign. I can't mention them ( if they pop up it is merely a slip on the keyboard) but they do have something to do with weather and massacres.

As for the weather, it is changing.That's not unusual. Weather is supposed to change but why is it getting to be so catastrophic? Could it be climate change, a.k.a. global warming? Evidently, in the spirit of bipartisanship, it has been decided that what we are seeing throughout this country of ours is weather change and nothing more. Global warming is an unmentionable.

As for the massacres, Campaign 2012 has decided that the National Rifle Association knows best. Massacres have been going on long before guns were invented, so we can't blame today's problems on the proliferation of guns - at least not if we want to win an election.

As for these unmentionables (dare I mention global warming and gun control), we can at least be content with bipartisanship at work. Republicans and Democrats alike have swept the issues under the rug at least for now.

Next week we will go to the polls and vote. Nowhere on the ballot will we have an opportunity to express our views on the unmentionables. Well, maybe there is. If we re-elect Obama, we have the best chance of climate issues and gun control issues being tackled. Re-election should give him the balls to fight The NRA and big business.  After all, he can't run for a third term so he might as well go for it- Congress be damned.

It is not enough to express condolences in the after effects of a 'Sandy' or a 'Columbine'. It is not enough to commit ourselves to rebuilding. We need a commitment to do the things to keep us from destroying ourselves.

Musing about Isaac

• Isaac is making the Republican PR people earn their keep. They are being forced to compete with Mother Nature for headlines. Me thinks they will lose the battle. I'd rather be watching a shivering reporter out in a tropical storm than an interview with a male right to life blowhard.
• I can't get too excited about a political party which picks Florida for a convention in the middle of hurricane season.
• I wonder if some relative of Isaac will rain on Obama's party in the Bank of America stadium. Bank of America? Didn't know they hob nobed with the Democrats. Why do politicians insist on challenging Mother Nature?
• Isaac may very well do convention viewers  a favor and keep Jindal home.
• A hurricane may not hit Tampa but a pseudo category 3 hurricane will rage through the convention hall regardless; bullshit will be flying around at 120mph, causing extensive damage.
• Will Mother Nature finally put an end to mega poltical conventions?
• Romney plans to reintroduce himself to the American public if Isaac gives his OK. I knew there was something phony about him right along.

Whistling In The Dark

Congress’ version of ‘Nero Fiddling While Rome Burns’ is to take a five week vacation. I guess our esteemed representatives must have made some deal with the Devil ( or their lobbyist masters) to put on hold anymore massacres ala Aurora, Colorado and to put on hold any further disasters caused by global warming. The poor bastards have been working awful hard. Bringing a nation to its knees by playing political games instead of legislating is hard work. What makes it so difficult is choosing the lobbyist with the most money.

Charles Leck through his ‘ad astra’ blog has been on a tear lately trying to bring his reader’s attention to the necessity to do something about global warming for the benefit of our children. His quest is well taken but the reality is that we are not hurting enough yet. It will take a disaster of major proportions before our politicians will dare incur the wrath of big business by implementing regulations which will keep global warming at bay. Remember a bullet to the head of a Congresswoman was not enough to influence any meaningful gun control legislation.

Our politicians will argue that they can’t tackle issues like gun control, global warming, Social Security and health care and still expect to be elected. The fact of the matter is that they probably would dare snub the big money lobbyists if they had just one champion willing to get on his horse and lead the charge no matter the political fall out. Such a champion has not come forth. The odds of one coming out of the closet are pretty slim.

No, it will not happen after the November election. The day after the election it will be time to start Campaign 2016 and that costs money.

I hope some group takes a page out of the Tea Party success story and comes up with a third party movement willing to mess with the real issues confronting the country.

If I may resort to some clichés we need a battle royal with the big money interests. We need to rake our representative s over the coals starting with The White House. Only a pitched battle will do the trick. I know that I’m whistling in the dark and at best talking through my hat. Why the clichés - hoping to prove that my clichés are as stupid as those floating around Washington and the campaign trail.

On this Sunday morning, this is the Gospel according to Tony. Go in peace and hope the AC does not break down.

Nostradamus Visits My Blog

I had a dream! In that dream Nostradamus made these predictions:

•  Sometime in the near future college football will retreat to being a game played by students in good academic standing as an extracurricular affair. The NFL will have to look elsewhere to stock its teams.
• Herman Cain's wife will file for divorce claiming gross sexual negligence.
• Governor Perry does not remember why, but he recommends the  elimination of the State of Texas.
• Romney will drop out of the  race for the Republican presidential nomination.
• Romney will oppose Obama for the Democrat presidential nomination.
• Obama will decide to run as an Independent.
• The super committee will turn in its final report on reducing the deficit highlighted by a recommendation that tosses the ball to Congress to do its job.
• Congress will fumble the ball and Obama will declare a state of emergency, cancelling all elections until the deficit is manageable.
• The last I recall of my dream was that The United Kingdom had come to the rescue of its former colony and sent Prince William here to reign as Regent. Prince William's son will be born here, making him an American citizen. In 35 years, Prince George will run for President and become the first English president. President George's first executive order will be to declare an American monarchy with English as the official language.

Irene Disappoints CNN

Watched a little of CNN's coverage of hurricane Irene this morning. Had to turn it off when it became obvious, at least to me, that the anchors and reporters were somewhat disappointed that Irene thus far was falling short of the monster storm they had predicted. A lot of time was spent, in an apologetic manner, explaining that really out in mid-ocean it was a category 3 storm. I feel sorry for CNN - not really- but grateful  that Irene shot her wad in mid-ocean before toying with NYC.

 By the way CNN,  what's going on in Libya?

Evacuation And Ejaculations

As Hurricane Irene approached the east coast, the governors of the affected states rose to the occasion. One after another declared a state of emergency. Some went so far as to order mandatory evacuations. In the confusion surrounding the emergency, there was bound to be some misinterpretation of the well intentioned directives. At Joe The Bartenders place on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, cheers broke out as Joe informed his patrons that the Governor had ordered mandatory ejaculations until Irene diminished in strength. At last reports, Irene was holding her own as the semen flowed freely.

Not to be outdone , the witty Tea Party citizens of South Carolina misinterpreted evacuation by a mile. All the rest rooms in Myrtle Beach were busier than Macy's at Christmas time.

In NYC unprecedented evacuations have caused the sewer system to be overwhelmed!

A more lethal misinterpretation of evacuation orders occurred in Texas. Although Texas was not in the path of the storm, its brilliant governor decided that he should act also. In lieu of evacuations he ordered mandatory executions. At last reports, Texas had the lowest prison population in the country.

Shhh! The weather outside Is delightful.

The weather outside has been delightful. The Indians kicked ass and swept the Reds. My new Weber cooked up a delicious steak. My flowers hastily planted a week ago look as though they may survive. My finch diner is doing great.  To top it all off Obama got back at that asshole, NetanYAHOO, in a speech before a pro-Israel lobbying group.  Oh, as for the Rapture, it looks like the "chosen ones" will have to put up with the likes of me awhile longer.

The weather outside is sh##ty !

Oh the weather outside is sh##ty and the fire is a cracklin. And since we've got places to go, it will rain on our parade. Stop the rain! Stop the rain! Stop the rain!

 The middle of May and the furnace is running. Two days of sunshine and five days of rain, Temperatures drop and  depression rages. Four letter words about Mother Nature abound. What kind of a sadistic mother is she anyway?

 Hold on Mr. Blogger. Your home is not sitting in water up to your rooftop. There are no wildfires anywhere near your home. The earth isn't rumbling.  Mr. Blogger, you live in Paradise as imperfect as it may be.

The weather is  shitty in Paradise!

What is it with Mother Nature?

The videos of the devastation in Japan from the earthquake and the Tsunami provide nothing but shock and sorrow. Sitting in a comfortable living room watching the faces of victims, I wonder how I would manage in a disaster of this magnitude or any magnitude for that matter. It's just not today and tomorrow that the victims will reap the wrath of Mother Nature. They have been sentenced to years of struggles and rebuilding. What is it with Mother Nature that she treats the inhabitants of this earth so horribly. Have we intruded where we don't belong? Have we outworn our welcome? Have we abused Mother Nature? The pundits say that Japan with its recent history of political instability and economic woes has received a wake up call. Methinks that Mother Nature has given the entire world a wake up call.

Dealing With Tragedies

How do you deal with a tragedy such as occurred at the Tuscon mall a few days ago?  In a letter to the editor in The Plain dealer this morning , one writer had all the answers. First you angrily point out all the vitriolic remarks that Democrats have made including the President and the First Lady, then you make a plea for everyone to take advantage of the right to bear arms which is given to all red blooded Americans by the Second Amendment. Once this is done, you carry! If you stumble upon a shooter in the mall, you take him out  (even though he is exercising his right as a red blooded American to carry a Glock which can fire off multiple shots in a flash ) . He should have added to it would be advisable to be very accurate lest the protector becomes guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Is it too much to ask for gun owners to tune down their "wild west" rhetoric?