When did the GOP become the great protectors of the American coffers? How was the bottomless spending pit of Iraq/Afghanistan justified and legitimized so vehemently and the stimulus package proposed and passed by Congress demonized? The irony of course is lost upon all factions of the Republican party. The complaint from the Right is that the current stimulus was pushed through and not even Congress had a true chance to read the bill. How does this truly differ from the passing of the Patriot Act, which both parties initially hailed, but Democrats have since called certain provisions into question? It certainly behooves this country to have the minority party keep the majority accountable. It is another for the minority to act like a petulant child. For the GOP to vote as a bloc minus the three bipartisans against the stimulus, primarily because there was too much spending seems a little hypocritical. Didn't the Bush stimulus seek to jump start the economy solely through the disbursement of funds to a majority of families? The same demographic that received funds from Bush are slated for a tax cut from the Obama administration. A convenient piece of information dismissed by many Republicans that lump themselves with those not realizing tax relief. I wholeheartedly agree in supporting a healthy military and providing for the common defense, but that shouldn't be the sole function of our government. How does the GOP reconcile spending hundreds of billions in the middle east with no discernible exit strategy, execution of infrastructure, or stable government to assume command in the void left behind by the United States' absence?
Again, where was this dedication to fiscal responsibility and commitment to smaller government as the Dept. of Homeland Security grew exponentially and our national debt continued to climb? Any attempt by the Democrats to question or remedy either of these things were labeled by the Right as weak foreign policy and an invitation for further terrorist attacks upon American soil. The absence of further attacks was hailed by the GOP as proof that Bush's homeland security agenda was successful. By this standard, Clinton was just as effective at protecting the country after the first Trade Center incident and the country had a budget surplus when he left office.
True Obama's stimulus is not panacea for the ills of this country, merely a single step to returning this nation to its former capability. Keep this in mind. Bush had 8 years to bring us to this point in history and Obama has had less than a month to bring an discernible change to the country. So while there are those praying for him to fail -- which would only tear down their house around them -- there are those willing to begin the greatest effort of their lifetime and leave the nation truly better for subsequent generations. Can this really be done? Certainly not as a lone individual, but together? Yes, we can!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Fools Rush In
As a parent we want what is best for our child(ren). We hope that the lessons learned in childhood will take root and serve as a guidepost for their own encounters with the world after they leave our home. As such we can understand that while viewpoints can differ, core values remain as a legacy, testament to the involvement and nurturing they received.
One of the greatest cautions parents have is to be careful of who you choose as a friend. The impact friends have upon our behaviors can even supercede the instructions from parents. I’m sure we’ve all been posed with the rhetorical ‘ if your friend jumped off of a…’ and depending on how we viewed that other individual, our answer may vary. There is another bromide that cautions that we must be careful of the friends we keep, as they keep us as well. Of course parents are just trying to keep children away from the wrong element, something that discerning adults can do for themselves.
Which is why I have a difficult time understanding how so many Americans can rely upon a known bigot and drug abuser as their moral compass and political stalwart. Strangely enough Hollywood didn’t create this individual, but is in fact radio’s spawn, Rush Limbaugh.
How the GOP can continue to be influenced from the bile this man generates is beyond me. Senators, keep in mind they are elected to represent the people in DC, kowtow to this man for fear he can influence the voting base for coming elections. If this pompous windbag is that powerful why isn’t he running the country? The GOP already nominated one candidate with drug issues and he was elected President. Twice.
Limbaugh’s legal problems with drugs are well documented. There will be some that will make the case he was never convicted of drug possession or falsifying prescriptions and they would be correct. He agreed to a plea deal so that his case wouldn’t be heard in court and after 18mos would vanish from his record. Sweet deal the State of Florida gave him and he was all too happy to have the case leave the headlines and shortly thereafter, the nation’s short-term memory. Doesn’t he continue to rant about how drugs corrupt the moral fabric of our country? I guess that on this he is something of an authority.
Even more baffling to me was Limbaugh’s appointment to Monday Night Football. Whoever saw this as a good idea is probably now unemployed; let’s hope. His credentials come from political radio, not sports. It seems that a strong background in sports would be hand in glove to your job as a sports commentator, even if you were the color analyst, which Limbaugh was. Limbaugh stated, on air, that the Eagle’s QB Donovan McNabb was getting a pass from the media because they (media) wanted to see a black QB succeed. I can see where that statement wouldn’t be construed as anything but holding McNabb in esteem, while showing contempt for the media. Bravo Rush for speaking-out against the liberal media and taking a stand on uppity Negroes!
To be fair, both these instances did occur at the same point in Limbaugh’s life. I’m sure the drugs did influence him to act in a way that was possibly inconsistent with his true behaviors. Which begs the question, What drugs are being abused by him now?
Since the GOP holds dear the family and claims to be the last bastion of normalcy in a world gone LEFT, why is it that the last two Democratic Presidents are/were so vilified? Perhaps with a small drug addiction and a shot at rehab the Dems can win-over some moderate Republicans and incorporate some true sense of protecting the moral fabric of the family.
One of the greatest cautions parents have is to be careful of who you choose as a friend. The impact friends have upon our behaviors can even supercede the instructions from parents. I’m sure we’ve all been posed with the rhetorical ‘ if your friend jumped off of a…’ and depending on how we viewed that other individual, our answer may vary. There is another bromide that cautions that we must be careful of the friends we keep, as they keep us as well. Of course parents are just trying to keep children away from the wrong element, something that discerning adults can do for themselves.
Which is why I have a difficult time understanding how so many Americans can rely upon a known bigot and drug abuser as their moral compass and political stalwart. Strangely enough Hollywood didn’t create this individual, but is in fact radio’s spawn, Rush Limbaugh.
How the GOP can continue to be influenced from the bile this man generates is beyond me. Senators, keep in mind they are elected to represent the people in DC, kowtow to this man for fear he can influence the voting base for coming elections. If this pompous windbag is that powerful why isn’t he running the country? The GOP already nominated one candidate with drug issues and he was elected President. Twice.
Limbaugh’s legal problems with drugs are well documented. There will be some that will make the case he was never convicted of drug possession or falsifying prescriptions and they would be correct. He agreed to a plea deal so that his case wouldn’t be heard in court and after 18mos would vanish from his record. Sweet deal the State of Florida gave him and he was all too happy to have the case leave the headlines and shortly thereafter, the nation’s short-term memory. Doesn’t he continue to rant about how drugs corrupt the moral fabric of our country? I guess that on this he is something of an authority.
Even more baffling to me was Limbaugh’s appointment to Monday Night Football. Whoever saw this as a good idea is probably now unemployed; let’s hope. His credentials come from political radio, not sports. It seems that a strong background in sports would be hand in glove to your job as a sports commentator, even if you were the color analyst, which Limbaugh was. Limbaugh stated, on air, that the Eagle’s QB Donovan McNabb was getting a pass from the media because they (media) wanted to see a black QB succeed. I can see where that statement wouldn’t be construed as anything but holding McNabb in esteem, while showing contempt for the media. Bravo Rush for speaking-out against the liberal media and taking a stand on uppity Negroes!
To be fair, both these instances did occur at the same point in Limbaugh’s life. I’m sure the drugs did influence him to act in a way that was possibly inconsistent with his true behaviors. Which begs the question, What drugs are being abused by him now?
Since the GOP holds dear the family and claims to be the last bastion of normalcy in a world gone LEFT, why is it that the last two Democratic Presidents are/were so vilified? Perhaps with a small drug addiction and a shot at rehab the Dems can win-over some moderate Republicans and incorporate some true sense of protecting the moral fabric of the family.
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