Friday, August 27, 2010

Good News...is Bad News...is Good News...

My topic this week is, of course, the fall elections. I've already attempted to put your mind at ease; i.e. that all should be well (soon) in that the Republicreeps won't be making any significant gains in either house of congress. Yes, I have MORE good news...the master prognosticator (NOT!), he of the former Clinton war machine and (now) talking head on the Fox News channel, none other than Dick Morris, has predicted that the GOP will take over BOTH houses of congress after elections this fall. Whew!


Yes, I feel much better...not just because I have already predicted the opposite (i.e. that we Americans aren't quite tired of the stimulus just yet); that GOP gains will be minimal (if any), but also because President Clinton's former political advisor is wrong on just about every prediction he's made while profering his wares. I remember querying once whether he or (the eye of) Newt Gingrich was wrong more often. It's all good though...because they're both wrong a lot...


However, it's not all good news. I read Charles Krauthammer's newspaper column this morning. Krauthammer is a conservative pundit and psychiatrist (former Chief Resident of Massachusetts General Hospital). Krauthammer is part of the Washington Post Writers Group and has even won a Pulitzer Prize for commentary. Interesting to note, during his earlier writing career, the (now) conservative thinking Krauthammer was a speech writer for a liberal politician, Walter Mondale. But that's not the bad news...


The bad news is...that Krauthammer has also predicted a GOP takeover of both houses of congress, subsequent to the November elections. What?! Krauthammer's a smart guy. What's the deal? Rest easy, folks...the good doctor should be forgiven since he's on the right side of so many issues. However, he's not perfect...unlike many in the media who believe they are...ehem, Glenn? Keith? Are you listening?


Krauthammer's column erroneously travels into the land of public opinion, as if "public opinion" can never be wrong. He draws the parallel of congressional GOP takeover with his mistaken perception of the public view that the expansion of big government is bad (conversely, we still love freebies), or that illegal immigration is always wrong (we still love cheap labor), or that gay marriage is an abomination (even though it WILL be the law of the land...very soon), and that the people are against the "mosque" at Ground Zero (religious freedom will win out). Further, Fox pundit Bill O'Reilly has guaranteed the mosque won't be built, thus ensuring that it will...

Therefore, have no fear...if these pundits stay true to their records (and I'll give Krauthammer a pass on this one), we should have two more years to allow the Obama agenda to kick in...or to fail if that is your view. One thing is certain...if he loses his majorities in congress, he'll have cover in two (important) ways...for everything that might go wrong (those obstructionist Republicreeps) AND for everything that might go right (I'm so good, I succeed DESPITE the GOP). Good luck to us all...



Thursday, August 19, 2010

Evil...EVIL...Wal*Mart

Those corporate fat cats...ALL that is wrong with the country...the very reason we have such a trade imbalance...those "hedgehogs" from Arkansas, none other than behemoth retailer Wal*Mart. According to critics, Wal*Mart ships good paying jobs overseas while paying poverty wages at home, costs taxpayers billions of dollars to subsidize its workers, fights unions, hurts local businesses and is a major contributor to the dismantling of the manufacturing base and the disappearance of the middle class worker in America. True? Yes, yes it is...

I must agree, seriously, that Wal*Mart has done all those things. But, if not Wal*Mart, who? I know, President Obama could appoint another Czar...let's say, a Behemoth Czar? What the heck, there already IS a pay czar who reportedly tells, uh, I'm sorry, advises how much a (private) corporate executive can earn, etc., with very little oversight from anyone. Why not add the word "behemoth" to the title?

You think I'm not being serious? Look, I didn't start this "dumbing" down of our manufacturing base (i.e. the closure, dismantling, destruction, eradication of any "good" jobs in America). But since we've gone down that road...and decided that responsibility, respect, simple concepts such as "right" and "wrong" are becoming increasingly taboo in America today, well, I believe if you (the government) want to assume the responsibility, as Frank Costanza (portrayed by Jerry Stiller) of "Seinfeld" fame would say, "you want (a piece of me), you got it!"

Where have all the good jobs gone? Have they exited courtesy of greedy corporations and their willing accomplices on Capitol Hill, via NAFTA, etc.? Sure...but even IF those jobs HAD stayed, who would be filling them...the folks being educated in American schools, both public and private, even our colleges and trade schools? Hah! Perhaps relaxing our immigration standards (I know, I know, WHAT standards?) and allow more people to come and fill the jobs Americans won't do? I guess that's kind of what we're doing now...and it's NOT working...

It appears, rather than hold ourselves to higher standards...or at least halt the downward slide we are currently experiencing, we're going to expect even LESS of ourselves. I was recently AT a Wal*Mart store...now, now, it was to buy Don Francisco coffee, Meow Mix cat food, and Suave anti-perspirant, ALL products reportedly made in America, AND at a near HALF PRICE savings (over any supermarket chain)...I know, I know, loss leaders...like ALL STORES!! Anyway, as I was leaving the checkstand, the clerk yelled at me, "hey, you can't leave that cart there!!" Hmm, thank you for shopping at Wal*Mart, my ass."

Friday, August 13, 2010

When was THAT moment?

There's been THAT moment for all of us...the moment when we knew we could not continue. We've all had one...well, maybe except for Brett Favre...but there have been moments for us all; the moment when we knew we could not continue what we had been doing. For some, it was a career whether an NFL career, or (like me) police work...for others, it could just be the moment we realized that doing what we were doing, was not getting us what we wanted.

Many of us have been able to handle it with class and dignity...many of us have not. I left my law enforcement profession with ease. On the other hand, I had to be dragged kicking and screaming away from the (open mic) stage. Similarly, many can retire gracefully, attending their respective luncheons, etc., never to be heard from (figuratively) again...while others, just seem to never go away...

I've got to hand it to "W" ... he's handled his "fall from grace" with much aplomb. I know, I know...he probably doesn't even know the meaning of the word, but I digress. Unlike his predecessor Clinton/Gore, the dimwitted Texan has not been heard from...perhaps because he has a book coming out in November, "Decision Points." But, perhaps...maybe, just maybe, he believes in tradition and understands that "former" presidents do not criticize current presidents. Oh well, one can dream, can't he?

Where am I going with this? No, I'm not wondering what Obama will do in 2013...oops, did I let that slip? Actually, the only way he won't be re-elected is if the Dems hold congress (by close to similar margins) after the upcoming 2010 elections. If the Reeps take over (or make significant gains), the President will receive the much needed cover which he appears to be coveting. I mean, why else would he do "so many things," which have caused the people (on BOTH sides) so much distress?

"What the hell?" Oh, hi Jack...I suppose you don't get it, but allow me to break it down for you. Whether you believe the economy (or Bush recession) was worse than we first thought...or that the actions being taken by the current administration (Obama depression) have brought on a near-double dip recession, let's face it; NO ONE believes the country is doing better. Here in California, incomes have DECLINED for the first time in 80 years!!!

Despite assurances from the powers-that-be, that the "stimulus" and "jobs bill" would create or save jobs (and guaranteeing that unemployment would not rise above 8.5 percent), they have had almost the opposite effect. Couple that with the inevitable increase in taxes...whether or not you believe your taxes will go up (heck, we're not quote-unquote rich)...THEY WILL...if not federal, it'll be state and local. Put it all together and what do you get? That's right...another moment...

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Where have all the journalists gone?

Remember "All the President's Men?" It was a pretty good movie. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as (Bob) Woodward and (Carl) Bernstein...the Watergate Hotel...Jason Robards as Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee. I think he even won an Oscar for that role. But it's just a movie, right? I don't think so.

The Watergate story was much, much more. The movie might have taken certain liberties, as Hollywood does in all ventures...you know, "any rebroadcast, retransmission, or account without the expressed written consent of Major League..." oops, wrong disclaimer...but you get my drift. Sure, it WAS Hollywood...but would it be different today?

Over the last 20-30 years, there have been investigations-a-plenty. From Watergate to Irangate, even "government induced" investigations like Abscam or "pseudo-frivolous" ones like Monicagate; they were all part of the recent past and considered attempts, although many quite lame, to hold our government officials accountable. But today? It's almost like the media is running scared...or worse yet, complicit...

I understand the immediate response is, "hey, we've got to (now) compete with 24 hour news channels...and internet services...and bloggers." Hold it, right there, Jack. Investigations, TRUE investigations, are probably the ONLY thing that CAN get you back in the game. That is, bring newspapers back from the gutter of tabloid journalism to what it once was--a prideful profession of reporting and documentation and mostly, communication and TRUST with readers.

But still, you (media) guys continue to sit on your hands...afraid of being labeled racist, elitist, or sycophantic. WE NEED YOU NOW MORE THAN EVER. Oh sure, you can SAY you're simply reporting, maintaining your objective slant (i.e. that congress, legislature, civil rights groups, et al, do the actual investigating)...but that's a copp-out (heh-heh, copp out, get it?)...

I see you recently reported that the stimulus bill contained mountains of pork. Yes, we know. It was reported back when the bill was "rammed" through. This time, you are trying to show your "complete" objectivity, by "reporting" that the Republicreeps are attempting to re-make it an issue. Ah-ha-ha, hundreds of thousands of dollars on monkeys using drugs, millions more for smoking cessation activities, tens of millions for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction (isn't that one of the reasons for all the casinos)...big deal, right? Come on...dig deeper!!!

What about the "shovel ready" projects!?!? I mean, the main four lane road which intersects the neighborhood where I reside, has been paved THREE TIMES in the last several years...AND THEY'RE NOW DOING IT AGAIN. Plus, there are two "bicycle" bridges spanning our nearby freeway...both are BEING REPLACED (they did NOT need replacing)...and these jobs are ALL being completed using the Union Wage Rule provision from the Davis-Bacon act, thus driving the price of all these jobs through the proverbial roof...

...THIS, THIS RIGHT HERE, is what real journalists are supposed to investigate. So, where are these journalists? Cowering in fear? Afraid of their own shadows? Attempting to maintain their objectivity? Pshaw!! I think they're all working for (or hope to work for) the government...but that's another story...which needs INVESTIGATION!!!!

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