On the Contrary

The news this week has provided ample ammunition for some pondering and edification.  To wit:

• The Senate defeated the bill to allow bankruptcy judges to adjust mortgage rates (USA Today).   All the Republicans voted against it along with 12 Democrats.  President Obama did not fight for it.  Apparently Banks rule in Washington.  I wonder when the interest of the general public will finally overcome the interest of the rich?  Makes you wonder if we will be able to do the right thing in identifying and taking over banks in the Bank Recapitalization Plan.
• Arlen Specter has changed sides and everyone thinks that is just peachy.  I don’t.  He would have lost to Attila the Hun in the Pennsylvania primary and then we would have probably gotten a real progressive in the general election.  As of now we are saddled with Senator Arlen, “big ego” Specter who is just too big to fail.
• The Republicans are heading out on a road trip to reinvigorate their party’s ideas and looking for “outside” Washington thinking (Fox News).   Let’s see, that would be John McCain, Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, Bobby Jindal, Haley Barbour, and they are thinking about asking Sarah Palin.  So we are looking for new thinking with the kings of conventional Republican wisdom and our first stop is Arlington Virginia?   The George Washington bridge is a mighty thing to conquer when you are on a quest not to learn anything new, but to reinforce old thinking.
• In California and Oregon, the Federal government released $53 million to help the salmon industry that has been hurt by the collapse of the salmon population.  Now I happen to think this is a good idea because these are hard working Americans, and through very little fault of their own, lost an important industry that just might come back.  But if I had my conservative, banker glasses on, I might see this as a government handout to an industry that we ought to let die.  I guess it all depends on your perspective about who should get corporate welfare.
• The media is making a big deal about Joe Biden’s gaff when he honestly told us that he had advised his own family members to restrict their travel in confined spaces while the flu bug is out and about.  Now I understand that a public official is suppose to also support the economy and keep dollars flowing, but I cannot help thinking about the mayor in the movie Jaws who kept telling everyone that it was safe to go back in the water.  I actually found Joe’s honesty refreshing and it is the same advice I would give my loved ones until we understand the true nature of this bug.  Sadly he is one of the few politicians who some people think is a loose cannon because he actually tells us what he thinks and believes.  Thank you for being you Joe.
• There is a rise in the violence in Iraq and some are wondering if we need to rethink our withdrawal plan.  Talk about ultimate denial.  Iraq is going to become a very violent place, but the violence is going to be a civil war that has always been festering and it is not our job to police the world.  Iraqis have to solve their own problems and not with our blood.
• It is interesting to watch the torture debate.  Many, myself included, are calling for a full investigation including whether it worked.  President Obama has avoided this like a plague and the media interpretation is that he wants to look forward (he has said that himself) and avoid a political food fight that might endanger his agenda.  I thought this meant he did not understand that we could not heal and reconnect with our basic values without a full airing of the facts and was taking the easy route out.  I may be wrong.  He may understand that a partisan food fight would be bad, but if he just stays back and continues to let the facts dribble out, the swell of public opinion might force the issue and he could stay out of the partisan rancor.  I wonder if he is really that smart and calculating?
• “A North Carolina congresswoman said Thursday she chose her words poorly when she called claims that a Wyoming college student was murdered because he was gay a “hoax.” Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx said during debate in the House that Matthew Shepard’s 1998 death wasn’t a hate crime and shouldn’t be invoked by supporters of a bill to expand the definition of such crimes to include violence motivated by sexual orientation.” (Associated Press) I am amazed at the level of stupidity we elected to represent us in our government.  Then I am struck by the even more fearful thought that they are representative of the level of stupidity in the electorate.  I would blame this on the South, but when I look at my own California fruitloops, especially the Republicans, I have to relent on the South.

All and all, another fine week.