"I will never relent in defending America no matter what it takes." - George W. Bush (otherwise known as DUBYA according to his Mama)
Yes, indeed. The end justifies the means. We've been kept SAFE from those 14 men living in a cave for eight full years now. Doesn't anybody get it? The torture of those held in secret American detention camps around the world has MADE US SAFE!
Oh wait ....... wha? Turns out that the guy who gave up his information immediately was saying the same thing after being waterboarded 189 times? Well why the hell didn't they waterboard him the 190th time! No doubt that would have done the trick. I mean, it's like gambling ....... it's like pulling the handle on that damn slot machine. Just ONE MORE TIME and I'll win the jackpot. ONE MORE TIME!
Oh sure, now yer gonna tell me that I can't prove a negative. I can't actually PROVE that torturing prisoners held without due process, without lawyers, without any kind of legal representation and without being given any rights, has kept us safe for eight years.
Well maybe I can't PROVE it. But hey, I know it in my heart. I KNOW that's the reason no one has blown up or supposedly hijacked a jetliner and run it into more of our skyscrapers. The heck with this guy:
Who did it?
The world is full of nut cases, ya know?
Logic tells us that 14 guys in a cave are WAY more adept at attacking the world's most technologically (for now) advanced nation in the world ......... with the world's largest and best defense system, than anyone from INSIDE the US of A.
But back to the matter at hand. Torture. The best, safest, most effective way of keeping our nation safe. So PRESIDENT (our President ... ya, right) Obama thinks that in the past (and you just KNOW he's pointing right at DUBYA, as always) we've lost "our moral bearings."
Well first of all, how dare he criticize the man who kept us safe for EIGHT YEARS following the cavemen's attack. How DARE he suggest that torture is not the moral high road (isn't it?).
I mean, FOX news is my gospel and they think it's the way to go. So I'm just sayin' ........ well ....... what other choice is there?
Oh sure, yer gonna say that in order to lead the world (which is what we've always wanted, right?) we must walk the walk, talk the talk (oh, and mean it, too?) and actually lead via a higher moral compass. But really, where will that get us?
I can't think this hard. It's too troublesome to have to imagine a world where we take the time to contemplate, understand, and empathize with those in the world of different beliefs/lifestyles/environments. I could go on but hey, my brain is hurting already. I mean, just try to imagine it: TALKING? Compromising? Understanding? Puhleeeeeeeeeeeease!
Time for me to go turn on the screaming rantings of Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. Now there's something that doesn't torture my brain to understand. Why? Because it's so simple!
. . . . . . . . .On the Mind Road with MoJo
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I detest paring down to $53,000 a week, don't you?
Today's news: we have a 36-year-old Swedish countess who is divorcing her 66 year old former CEO husband. The poor guy is worth a paltry $300 million (which does seem schmaltzy given the bonuses many CEOs receive, doesn't it - he musta spent the rest on coffee) ..... but of course he was only CEO at United Technologies Corp, not AIG.
The David family in a lovelier, albeit just as expensive a moment.
She's a former investment banker. Guess they don't earn much, either.
So the poor thing has protested that she can't live on the $43 million he promised her in a post (ya, POST) nuptial agreement which she signed. Well that's obvious ..... she needs $100 million because she could not possibly live on $53,000 a week. Which includes $4,500 a week for clothing, $1,000 for skin care (I SO understand that part) and $1,500 for food (caviar be expensive, dahlink!) and of course a whole buncha dough for traveling.
It's good to know that the age of greed is not yet over.
The David family in a lovelier, albeit just as expensive a moment.
She's a former investment banker. Guess they don't earn much, either.
So the poor thing has protested that she can't live on the $43 million he promised her in a post (ya, POST) nuptial agreement which she signed. Well that's obvious ..... she needs $100 million because she could not possibly live on $53,000 a week. Which includes $4,500 a week for clothing, $1,000 for skin care (I SO understand that part) and $1,500 for food (caviar be expensive, dahlink!) and of course a whole buncha dough for traveling.
It's good to know that the age of greed is not yet over.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sarah Palin is Special
Yes, President Obama made an unfortunate comment on "The Tonight Show" while disparaging his own bowling ability. Hmmmm ...... how many of us have done that, I wonder? Ya ..... all of us.
So we knew what would happen next. Sarah Palin, who is an expert on foreign relations because she can see Alaska from her backyard ..... and evidently is now an expert on Special Olympics because she has a Down Syndrome baby, had to chime in with yet another well thought out comment.
Palin: “I was shocked to learn of the comment made by President Obama about Special Olympics,” Palin said in a statement. “This was a degrading remark about our world’s most precious and unique people, coming from the most powerful position in the world."
According to THE BEAST, Obama's office has tried to clarify his remark since the initial blunder and the president apologized to Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver. Meanwhile, Palin has come under fire this week for refusing stimulus money slated to help special-needs education programs. Her stance on funding for such programs as governor led to attacks during the campaign as well.
- quoted from THE BEAST, March 23
Sigh.
So we knew what would happen next. Sarah Palin, who is an expert on foreign relations because she can see Alaska from her backyard ..... and evidently is now an expert on Special Olympics because she has a Down Syndrome baby, had to chime in with yet another well thought out comment.
Palin: “I was shocked to learn of the comment made by President Obama about Special Olympics,” Palin said in a statement. “This was a degrading remark about our world’s most precious and unique people, coming from the most powerful position in the world."
According to THE BEAST, Obama's office has tried to clarify his remark since the initial blunder and the president apologized to Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver. Meanwhile, Palin has come under fire this week for refusing stimulus money slated to help special-needs education programs. Her stance on funding for such programs as governor led to attacks during the campaign as well.
- quoted from THE BEAST, March 23
Sigh.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
30+ Years of Change?
Doing a little research this morning sparked by the latest Bush/Cheney controversy now being exposed ...... albeit as more or less of an aside, for now ...... by long respected reporter Seymour Hersh (who exposed the My Lai massacre, Pentagon Papers, Iran Contra, etc.).
I came upon this paragraph:
"They revealed that the government had knowledge, early on, that the war would not likely be won, and that continuing the war would lead to many times more casualties than was ever admitted publicly. Further, the papers showed that high-ranking officials had a deep cynicism toward the public, as well as disregard for the loss of life and injury suffered by soldiers and civilians."
Guess what that paragraph refers to .... go ahead. Sound familiar? Sure does. Could be referring to the Iraq war and Cheney, whose response to the reporter's statement that most of the United States population was against the Iraq war was ...... "SO?"
However, that paragraph does not refer to the Iraq war. It refers to the Vietnam War. It refers to the Pentagon Papers which were ultimately revealed by reporter Seymour Hersh. Hersh, who is now in the news as is Dennis Kucinich, for exposing "an executive assassination ring" which reported directly to former Vice President Dick Cheney's office.
This being the same Dick Cheney who publicly voiced his distaste and disdain for the citizens of his own country.
Now Dennis Kucinich is being impugned by Republicans (as is normal) for requesting an investigation into these illegal actions. They're calling him a lunatic, fraud, and worse. Once again ...... sound familiar?
It seems to me that the Republican Party is now the party of "don't upset the apple cart with the truth"! They scream "STATUS QUO .... STATUS QUO" via their actions and impugning of anyone who dares take them to task for their illegal and immoral behavior. It's the classic response of the guilty while making their attempt to retain their veil of secrecy. It's the typical teenaged tactic of using offense as your best defense. Impugn and degrade the accuser.
Nixon attempted to squash the publication of the Pentagon Papers. Cheney thought the public's desire to remove our country from an illegal, immoral war warranted a nasty "SO" as his response.
It would be easy to say, right now, a snarky "come a long way, haven't we?" But that would be too easy. I think we are about to travel a long way. At least, we have the potential now and are beginning to show signs of improvement. As we all know, change takes a long, long time.
Fortunately we have a new administration in place, working overtime to fix numerous major problems. Yes, it IS all right to say that our country has problems. The Republicans' "love it or leave it" absurdities aside, we know that it takes love, patience and very hard work to correct those things which have gone astray.
I do love my life in this country and feel that our environment and our country are worth fixing. You can't fix what you refuse to acknowledge.
I came upon this paragraph:
"They revealed that the government had knowledge, early on, that the war would not likely be won, and that continuing the war would lead to many times more casualties than was ever admitted publicly. Further, the papers showed that high-ranking officials had a deep cynicism toward the public, as well as disregard for the loss of life and injury suffered by soldiers and civilians."
Guess what that paragraph refers to .... go ahead. Sound familiar? Sure does. Could be referring to the Iraq war and Cheney, whose response to the reporter's statement that most of the United States population was against the Iraq war was ...... "SO?"
However, that paragraph does not refer to the Iraq war. It refers to the Vietnam War. It refers to the Pentagon Papers which were ultimately revealed by reporter Seymour Hersh. Hersh, who is now in the news as is Dennis Kucinich, for exposing "an executive assassination ring" which reported directly to former Vice President Dick Cheney's office.
This being the same Dick Cheney who publicly voiced his distaste and disdain for the citizens of his own country.
Now Dennis Kucinich is being impugned by Republicans (as is normal) for requesting an investigation into these illegal actions. They're calling him a lunatic, fraud, and worse. Once again ...... sound familiar?
It seems to me that the Republican Party is now the party of "don't upset the apple cart with the truth"! They scream "STATUS QUO .... STATUS QUO" via their actions and impugning of anyone who dares take them to task for their illegal and immoral behavior. It's the classic response of the guilty while making their attempt to retain their veil of secrecy. It's the typical teenaged tactic of using offense as your best defense. Impugn and degrade the accuser.
Nixon attempted to squash the publication of the Pentagon Papers. Cheney thought the public's desire to remove our country from an illegal, immoral war warranted a nasty "SO" as his response.
It would be easy to say, right now, a snarky "come a long way, haven't we?" But that would be too easy. I think we are about to travel a long way. At least, we have the potential now and are beginning to show signs of improvement. As we all know, change takes a long, long time.
Fortunately we have a new administration in place, working overtime to fix numerous major problems. Yes, it IS all right to say that our country has problems. The Republicans' "love it or leave it" absurdities aside, we know that it takes love, patience and very hard work to correct those things which have gone astray.
I do love my life in this country and feel that our environment and our country are worth fixing. You can't fix what you refuse to acknowledge.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Just Another Example
Poor Michael Vick. As the former football star twiddles his thumbs in jail his Atlanta mansion goes on the auction block for a minimum of $3.2 million. If you want to see a monument to hubris, check out the link.
Personally I see this home ...... well not really a home ..... this behemoth monstrosity ...... as a monument to what needs to change in our society. Ya, there's a ton that's good about our society and there's a whole slew of things which still need to change.
This is an example of one of those things. Our hubristic desire to do whatever we want even as it hurts other living things.
When I questioned a friend recently who was expounding (again) on how she loves German food, especially veal, she actually looked at me dumbfounded because I'd asked how the animals were treated prior to her enjoyment of them for dinner. It wouldn't occur to her to think of such a thing. She even responded in this fashion: "Who CARES?" Well, I care. Many people care, just not enough people. Hell, she keeps a lone horse running around her property, all by himself, loose and lonesome. Not even people for company. Is there any wonder the guy runs onto others' property to visit animals of a like kind? Horses are social! I won't go into the feral kittens left to die as raccoon food.
But I digress, as usual. There seem to be three ways of thinking about this issue of treatment of animals.
First is the attitude of my friend above ....... the disdain of even a question regarding how we would dare to treat animals. The hubris actually seeps off of these people, attaching itself to my brain and grubbing into my subconscious like maggots where they sit and fester until I write about it or send money to PETA.
Second there's the attitude that this just doesn't exist. People who are totally unaware and no doubt intend to stay that way.
Third there are people like me ....... who care. Some of us donate money, speak about this problem, do something about this problem.
Michael Vick thought that training dogs to rip each other to shreds was fine, upstanding entertainment. Many think that putting animals through a torturous lifestyle with the finale being a horrendous death should have no effect on their enjoyment of a good steak or German veal.
If your mind is not made up on this issue, it's always best to gain more knowledge in order to make an informed decision. I offer the following to you if you have an interest in knowing what we do to sentient, living beings in order to enjoy them covering our backs or on our dinner plates.
Personally I see this home ...... well not really a home ..... this behemoth monstrosity ...... as a monument to what needs to change in our society. Ya, there's a ton that's good about our society and there's a whole slew of things which still need to change.
This is an example of one of those things. Our hubristic desire to do whatever we want even as it hurts other living things.
When I questioned a friend recently who was expounding (again) on how she loves German food, especially veal, she actually looked at me dumbfounded because I'd asked how the animals were treated prior to her enjoyment of them for dinner. It wouldn't occur to her to think of such a thing. She even responded in this fashion: "Who CARES?" Well, I care. Many people care, just not enough people. Hell, she keeps a lone horse running around her property, all by himself, loose and lonesome. Not even people for company. Is there any wonder the guy runs onto others' property to visit animals of a like kind? Horses are social! I won't go into the feral kittens left to die as raccoon food.
But I digress, as usual. There seem to be three ways of thinking about this issue of treatment of animals.
First is the attitude of my friend above ....... the disdain of even a question regarding how we would dare to treat animals. The hubris actually seeps off of these people, attaching itself to my brain and grubbing into my subconscious like maggots where they sit and fester until I write about it or send money to PETA.
Second there's the attitude that this just doesn't exist. People who are totally unaware and no doubt intend to stay that way.
Third there are people like me ....... who care. Some of us donate money, speak about this problem, do something about this problem.
Michael Vick thought that training dogs to rip each other to shreds was fine, upstanding entertainment. Many think that putting animals through a torturous lifestyle with the finale being a horrendous death should have no effect on their enjoyment of a good steak or German veal.
If your mind is not made up on this issue, it's always best to gain more knowledge in order to make an informed decision. I offer the following to you if you have an interest in knowing what we do to sentient, living beings in order to enjoy them covering our backs or on our dinner plates.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
And NEXT ..........
I enjoy watching news shows in the morning while I drink my coffee, blog, play with the kitties and start my day. Generally I watch "The Today Show" off and on because I enjoy the camaraderie of the hosts.
There's a lot of news out there ..... good and bad. So here's my thought for the day. Can't we skip the constant "and next we have blah blah blah blah blahdeda" and just GET TO "the next"?
If the hosts didn't have to spend all their time announcing what's upcoming, we could just hear about it ..... and hear more.
Take this time to substitute all the wondrous things happening in our world.
Please?
There's a lot of news out there ..... good and bad. So here's my thought for the day. Can't we skip the constant "and next we have blah blah blah blah blahdeda" and just GET TO "the next"?
If the hosts didn't have to spend all their time announcing what's upcoming, we could just hear about it ..... and hear more.
Take this time to substitute all the wondrous things happening in our world.
Please?
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