Being the hearty soul I am you know I wouldn’t be one to complain about the cold temperature or my winter’s discontent or anything like that.  This morning, however, it was 1 degree, one, the single digit of single digits, less than two degrees outside when I made my way to the family truckster to head for work.  All I can say about that is, “hey, it was better than nothing.” 

*****

           

This hit my inbox yesterday in a slightly different format but I have modified it to make it more palatable for you loyal Red Hog Readers.

 

GEORGE BUSH’S FIRST NIGHT AS PRESIDENT

       In January 2000 George Bush was elected President and was spending his first night in the White House.  The ghost of George Washington appeared, and George asked, "How can I best serve my country?" Washington replied, "Never tell a lie."  "Ouch!" replied Bush, "I don't know about that."  The next night, the ghost of Thomas Jefferson appeared.  Bush asked, "How can I best serve my country?"  Jefferson replied, "Listen to the people."  "Oh! I really don't want to do that."  On the third night, the ghost of Abe Lincoln appeared. Bush asked, "How can I best serve my country?"  Lincoln replied, "Go to the theater."

 

            I found that infinitely funnier than the original version I received where Hillary Clinton was the subject of the story.  The sender of that original version shall remain nameless but suffice to say he is older and less good looking than I. 

 *****

I almost feel guilty about the next portion of my post.  I kind of cheated my way into getting my email address added to the press release distribution list of the Barack Obama Campaign.  Not being one to be ungrateful I am going to live up to any expectations the Obama Campaign might have with giving me the privilege of being on that list.     

 

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:07:47  For Immediate Release:

 

Fact Sheet: The Iraq War De-escalation Act of 2007

 

Today, Senator Obama introduced the Iraq War De-escalation Act of 2007.  The Iraq War De-escalation Act of 2007 is binding and comprehensive legislation that not only reverses the President’s dangerous and ill-conceived escalation, but also sets a new course for U.S. policy in Iraq that can bring a responsible end to the war and bring our troops home.  It implements – with the force of law – a phased redeployment of U.S. forces that remains our best leverage to pressure the Iraqi government to achieve the political solution necessary to promote stability.  It also places conditions on future economic aid to the government of Iraq and calls for the United States to lead a broad and sustained diplomatic initiative within the region.  This plan is based on Senator Obama’s November 20th, 2006 speech before the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and it implements key recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. 

The Obama plan offers a responsible yet effective alternative to the President's failed policy of escalation.  Realizing there can be no military solution in Iraq, it focuses instead on reaching a political solution in Iraq, protecting our interests in the region, and bringing this war to a responsible end.  The legislation commences redeployment of U.S. forces no later than May 1, 2007 with the goal of removing all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008, a date that is consistent with the expectation of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group.  The plan allows for a limited number of U.S. troops to remain as basic force protection, to engage in counter-terrorism, and to continue the training of Iraqi security forces.  If the Iraqis are successful in meeting the thirteen benchmarks for progress laid out by the Bush Administration, this plan also allows for the temporary suspension of the redeployment, provided Congress agrees that the benchmarks have been met and that the suspension is in the national security interest of the United States. 

In short, the Obama plan halts the escalation and requires a responsible, phased redeployment of American forces from Iraq in a manner that protects U.S. troops and exerts leverage to achieve the political settlement among the Iraqis.

 

Key Elements of Obama Plan

 

Stops the Escalation: Caps the number of U.S. troops in Iraq at the number in Iraq on January 10, 2007.  This does not affect the funding for our troops in Iraq. This cap has the force of law and could not be lifted without explicit Congressional authorization.

De-escalates the War with Phased Redeployment: Commences a phased redeployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq not later than May 1, 2007, with the goal that all combat brigades redeploy from Iraq by March 31, 2008, a date consistent with the expectation of the Iraq Study Group.  This redeployment will be both substantial and gradual, and will be planned and implemented by military commanders.  Makes clear that Congress believes troops should be redeployed to the United States; to Afghanistan; and to other points in the region. A residual U.S. presence may remain in Iraq for force protection, training of Iraqi security forces, and pursuit of international terrorists.

Enforces Tough Benchmarks for Progress:   These 13 benchmarks are based on President Bush’s own statements and Administration documents and include:

 

Security: Significant progress toward fulfilling security commitments, including eliminating restrictions on U.S. forces, reducing sectarian violence, reducing the size and influence of the militias, and strengthening the Iraqi Army and Police.

           

Political Accommodation: Significant progress toward reaching a political solution, including equitable sharing of oil revenues, revision of de-Baathification, provincial elections, even-handed provision of government services, and a fair process for a constitutional amendment to achieve national reconciliation.

 

Economic Progress:  Requires Iraq to fulfill its commitment to spend not less than $10 billion for reconstruction, job creation, and economic development without regard for the ethnic or sectarian make-up of Iraqi regions.

 

Should these benchmarks be met, the plan allows for the temporary suspension of this redeployment, subject to the agreement of Congress. 

           

Congressional oversight:  Requires the President to submit reports to Congress every 90 days describing and assessing the Iraqi government's progress in meeting benchmarks and the redeployment goals.

 

Intensified Training: Intensifies training of Iraqi security forces to enable the country to take over security responsibility of the country.

 

Conditions on Economic Assistance:  Conditions future economic assistance to the Government of Iraq on significant progress toward achievement of benchmarks.  Allows exceptions for humanitarian, security, and job-creation assistance.  

 

Regional Diplomacy: Launches a comprehensive regional and international diplomatic initiative – that includes key nations in the region – to help achieve a political settlement among the Iraqi people, end the civil war in Iraq , and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and regional conflict.  Recommends the President should appoint a Special Envoy for Iraq to carry out this diplomacy within 60 days.  Mandates that the President submit a plan to prevent the war in Iraq from becoming a wider regional conflict.

 

For any Neo-Cons in the audience today who have been fond of claiming the Democrats only complain about the war but offer no plan, you can shut up now.

 

            Talk about suffering a complete loss of touch with reality; President Bush was interviewed by NPR’s Juan Williams Monday and was questioned about partisanship.  His response to part of the line of questioning was, “There is a lot of politics in Washington – in my judgment, needless politics. And it's almost like, if George Bush is for it, we're against it, and I – and if he's against it, we're for it. And the American people don't like that.”  Um, no Mr. President, we just don’t like YOU!

            Last night my daughter and I braved single digit temperatures and drove across the state to Grinnell College to hear a speech by Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Hodierne.  Hodierne is the senior managing editor for the Army Times Newspaper and wrote an editorial calling for the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld that has been attributed in some circles to have contributed to the Rumsfeld resignation. 

            I asked Mr. Hodierne what grade he would assign to the main stream media for the job they do in giving the American public an accurate view of what is really going on with the war in Iraq.  The seasoned combat journalist rated his industry with a B+.  One of the things we have learned, thankfully, is that it is possible to support the troops and not the war.  He pointed out that many people who support the war continually claim that we are not the recipients of good news coming out of Iraq.  To which he explained, “That is because there isn’t very much good news coming out of Iraq and in fact there is less and less all of the time.” 

            My question was followed up by a Grinnell student who asked. “Lou Dobbs recently wrote a book that claimed a majority of reporters are on record as being registered Democrats.” and he wanted to know "if they could be objective in covering the war.”  Hodierne answered that nearly all of the professional journalists he knows, whether Republican or Democrat, very actively seek to keep their personal bias out of their reporting.  To be sure he has personal political views but in the practice of his profession he strives to leave that aside.  As an additional note he pointed out that almost all major news outlets are owned by publicly traded for profit organizations and there is nothing more Republican than that.  He went on further to point out that the demographic of reporters; college educated middle class citizens were to be extrapolated across any industry the numbers of political affiliation would be similar. 

            To conclude his response to the question of bias by reporters he summed up liberalism beautifully.  “If you are asking if reporters by being liberal means that they believe in the potential perfection of mankind and that government can be an agent to that end; then yes, most reporters are liberals.  “We are optimists.  We are driven by the idea that if we can only explain things to people, get the real facts of the story to the public then everything will be okay.”  Being liberal means that you believe in the potential perfection of mankind and that government can be an agent to that end.”  It just doesn’t get any better than that.

 

            You know how people from the northern states and the Mid West are always saying how they live where they live because they love the change of seasons.  They are full of crap.  We usually say stupid things like that when we are talking with someone who is smart enough to live somewhere more temperate.  I don’t know why we think we can fool them.  They were obviously smart enough to migrate to warmer regions in America and I have yet to hear one of them say they miss freezing their butts off in winter.  We are dead on in the heart of winter here in Iowa and days where the high temperatures are in the single digits have a tendency to make me just want to roll over in bed and not come out until the spring thaw. 

            Sunday the high temperature was a whopping 7 degrees and it was windy.  The second you step out the door on a day like that your testicles, if you are a male, instantly retract deeply within your body and you lose your ability to inhale for the few seconds it takes your body to adjust to the mind numbing cold.  I don’t know what happens if you are female.  Just a second, I’ll ask “She Who Must Be Obeyed.”  …Um, that wasn’t a good idea.  Some people just have no sense of humor.  Funny but a vicious rebuking from the mother of your children can have side effects very similar to those of stepping out the front door on a 7 degree very windy day.  I think I may have phrased my question a bit too indelicately. 

            One thing is for sure, this isn’t Harley weather.  I ventured to the garage yesterday in search of the plumbing snake after my seven year old jammed up the downstairs toilet.  My God, what did that boy eat?  Sorry, too much information.  While in the garage, shivering, I could not help but notice my trusty ride slumbering in the corner.  Sigh.  I’m wishing I were one of those transplanted Iowans who had demonstrated the intelligence to move somewhere more temperate some time ago.  The forecast for Monday is a balmy 26 degrees with snow.  After a day like Sunday it will seem like a heat wave.

            Hillary Clinton spent the weekend campaigning in Iowa.  I wasn’t invited.  The former First Lady was well received but has yet to match her national lead numbers in the Hawkeye State.  In Iowa much of Presidential campaigning is done on a personal level and the Clinton entourage, complete with secret service protection and a horde of reporters did not play well with some observers.  In particular Mrs. Clinton will need to overcome a 41 percent disapproval rating among Iowans.  Currently the Senator from New York is in fourth position among likely Iowa voters.  John Edwards is the front runner in Iowa with Barack Obama second and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack running third.  It’s early kids.  This could get interesting.

 

Hey Red Hog Readers!  I got tied up and was unable to come up with a post for Sunday but  thought I could at least share something I received in my inbox last week.  Enjoy, see ya tomorrow!

 

 

This is a strictly mathematical viewpoint...it goes like this:

 

What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

 

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

 

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.  Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K

  8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But ,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

And,

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T

2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.

A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G

1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

 

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Bullshit and Ass kissing that will put you over the top.

Visit their site and read the review and comments here.

            Robert Gates, the new Secretary of Defense had high praise for President Jimmy Carter in his 1996 book, "From the Shadows."  The book claims Carter was far tougher on Moscow than is generally recognized.  According to the Washington Post, Gates wrote, "I believe the Soviets saw a very different Jimmy Carter than did most Americans by 1980, different and more hostile and threatening," In both conventional weaponry and in the nuclear arena, he argues, Carter would "provide a strong foundation for Ronald Reagan to build upon."  Carter's emphasis on human rights cast a spotlight on the Soviets' greatest vulnerability. The rights theme, Gates says, made Carter "the first president during the Cold War to challenge publicly and consistently the legitimacy of Soviet rule at home." In his view, these were "the first steps" toward the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union.   Gates even defends Carter's handling of Afghanistan, reporting that the president and his advisers reacted far earlier than is generally understood, most notably by authorizing covert aid to Afghan insurgents.”   I just thought you might want to know that.   

 

            ********

NPR is running a series called “Crossing the Divide” on their afternoon program, “All Things Considered” which airs during drive time in my neck of the woods.  Crossing the Divide is a series exploring the pros and cons of bipartisanship, compromise and cooperation in politics, business and everyday life in America.  Tonight’s program focused on the balance between competition and cooperation.  The timing of the program is good for a lot of obvious reasons; the least of which was helpful with some of my own personal struggles after the 2006 election.  About half of the time I look back on the abusive manner in which the GOP lorded their majority over the majority of Americans and I wanted the new Congress to strike back.  By clever congressional districting and questionable election methodology the GOP was able to control the House, Senate and White House even while the Democratic Party represented a larger percentage of our population.  When I wasn’t fantasizing about vengeful legislation, reversals, investigations and prosecutions I was thinking of how wearing it was to witness the partisan bickering and tried to remind myself to treat others the way I would like to be treated.

While we recognize that we need to cooperate as members of society there are times when our logic suggests to us that, even if compromise would be acceptable now, doing so could possibly be disadvantageous to us in the future.  Experts claim there are two types of conflict: destructive and constructive.  Destructive conflict is where opponents do not listen to each other but rather raise the rhetoric of the argument at each opportunity.  Constructive conflict is where each side attempts to gain an understanding of the oppositions view point and both sides seek to find a middle ground.  The key to resolving conflict is an attempt to find a place where there are no obvious winners and no obvious losers.  I would like to see the 110^th Congress work together for the advantage of all Americans.  I would love nothing more than to see cooperation exist not only inside our border but outside our border as well. 

There are enough problems facing humanity that we would do well to work together with other nations but we seem to have enough trouble getting along at home for now.  When we look back in history and when future historians look back at our time one of the key elements of societal survival is whether the populace was able to manage conflict in a constructive manner.  A snapshot of 2006 would not bode well for us.  Here is hoping we get better at working together in 2007.

 

            I had a talk with one of the great friends of my life last night.  When you look back on life there are times when people come in and out of your world and times are just right for making connections that last a lifetime.  TD was one of those guys.  We were college roommates in my first attempt at college.  Back in the day TD was a lot more academically focused than I was.  He graduated in six years where it took me all of ten.  Ah, the glory days.  Anyhoo, I was waxing nostalgic last night anyway because it was Senior Night for the wrestlers at Kennedy High School.  Clayton, Mad Dog, went out and pinned his opponent in forty seconds.  I guess he was anxious to get it over with.  After his match there was a ceremony honoring the wrestlers and the parents got the opportunity to walk out mat-side with their grapplers.  On our walk I was reflecting on how it seems like it was just yesterday that we were running around the state going to pee-wee tournaments. 

            Back in those days of club wrestling Mad Dog had another nick name.  It was “the smiling wrestler.”  He loved being out on the mat so much that he was always sporting a big toothy grin that never went away even when he got the worst of it.  I suppose it is not too far of a reach that by this time in his life his passion for stand up comedy exceeds that of his wrestling career and that is just as well as the wrestling chapter in his life came to a close tonight, at least with regards to home meets.

            Originally we had intended to cut out after the JV meet and head for the comedy club so Clayton could continue working on his standup routine.  I guess this is as good of time as any to confess to publishing the fact that Clayton would be performing at Penguins Comedy Club last night.  Frequent commenter, Scott, will delight in the fact that something published on this site can now be held up as testimony that everything printed here is not unquestionably accurate.  You see, I had forgotten that Senior Night activities would prohibit our “cut and run” to the comedy club and there lies the nugget of my inaccuracy.  So there you have it.  A retraction from the Red Hog. 

            And this is where my great friend of life, TD comes into the picture.  TD, his wife Cheryl and one of their daughters had driven seventy miles to surprise us and see Clayton’s performance.  My bad.  I have not seen TD since late summer so I was greatly disappointed to have missed them.  My apologies TD; rest assured that everything else you have ever read on the Red Hog Diary is 100 percent accurate…or as close to accurate as I was willing to be.  So I’ve got that going for me.

 

            Speaking of questionable accuracy; in his State of the Union address our President said, “We set a goal of cutting the deficit in half by 2009 -- and met that goal three years ahead of schedule.”  I love that kind of Washington logic.  The new forecast from the Congressional Budget Office was released yesterday and stated that the deficit for the current year will reach approximately $200 billion.  Last years deficit was $248 billion.  Current national debt as of January 26^th, 2007 at 4:52 AM GMT was $8,681,718,517,849.31.  National debt is currently growing at $1.48 billion per day.  There is a Federal Debt Limit of $9 Trillion.  It looks like the President might want to get busy on balancing that budget!  Sorry, I got a little carried away with the facts there.  My point was, I find it somewhat disingenuous that our President would stand before us and tell us he cut the deficit in half when all he really did cut the amount of money we spend that we don’t have in half.  The Bush brand of fiscal conservatism is killing us.  It kind of makes me anxious for those tax and spend Democrats to control the Executive Branch and the Legislature.  It does.

 

            This blog became the topic of conversation at work yesterday.  Not in a good way.  Late in the afternoon the poor soul responsible for my supervision called me into his office for a confidential discussion.  My place of employment is maybe not unlike the place you work.  There are positions in the organization that most people would see as desirable and then there are positions that, if you asked, would have a desirability rating of; “um, not so much.”   From the strictly historical perspective of the way I have been passed around the senior management team I’m thinking that my supervision falls under the “not so much” umbrella with regards to desirability.  I’m developing a complex that my reputation in the organization is that of Milton Waddams, played by Stephen Root in the movie Office Space. 

            Let’s look at the similarities.  I work in the IT department of a large credit union.  I have been known to mutter when the work load becomes unbearable.  I am the proud owner of a red Swing Line stapler, my desk has changed locations five times in five years and I am scheduled to be moved to a basement in about six weeks.  I’m thinking this doesn’t bode well for the old Red Hog.  I am still getting a pay check, however, so I have that going for me. 

            So anyway; I was in my meeting and as things were about to wrap up my supervisor became uncharacteristically uncomfortable and fumbled his segue of discussing network security to talking to me about my blog.  Suddenly I was all ears.  My mind began racing about how I saw my First Amendment Rights coming into play in defense of my employment.  I reminded myself to hear him out with the full understanding that Iowa is a Right to Work state.  That basically means that your employer can pretty much fire you at any time for any reason.  I quickly flashed over the last year’s worth of postings trying to glean a hint of anything I had ever posted that reflected negatively on my employer, our industry or any person, event or standard associated with it.  Nothing.  My blog is not so much a personal diary and work has never been the focus of any post that I could recall.  Until now, that is.

            Early in the life of the Red Hog Diary I had some business cards made to help promote the site and to be honest, since that time I don’t think I have offered one of the official business cards presented me by my employer.  It seems that it has become a problem that even when engaged in official credit union business I was quick to reach for the Red Hog Diary cards.  Presentation of the blog cards was never complete without an invitation to visit the site.  I was swift to agree that perhaps that might be interpreted as less than professional but then again I never knew that anybody ever expected me to behave in a professional manner.  Once I overcame the confusion that perhaps my boss had confused me with somebody else I assured him that it would be no problem for me to resort to the company issue business cards.  So it goes.

            At first I was a little disappointed that my promotional opportunities for the web site had been limited but then I remembered that I have to pay my site host bill before next Thursday or the Red Hog Diary will be history.  I hate that an artist such as myself has his talents encumbered by the demands of a material world.  Uh huh.  I asked my employer if there was anything else and I kind of held my breath, waiting for the inevitable rebuking of my content but that was it!  Nothing more.  We both sighed a deep breath of relief.  My supervisor was thankful that I had not ranted before “going postal” after hearing his concerns and I was appreciative that he had such a reasonable request in light of the fact that I work for a notoriously conservative industry. 

            I kind of have the feeling I dodged a bullet today.  A blogger never wants to blur the lines between their hobby and their day job.  I was going to say “a blogger never wants to blur the lines between their passion and their day job” but that wouldn’t be right.  Those who know me best could surely tell you that were I able to subsist on either my job at the credit union or blogging but could not do both…  Well maybe it isn’t important what those who know me best would say.  If my power-ball ticket comes up a winner I’ll tell you tomorrow.

 

            Saturday January 20^th I shared an email that was forwarded to me from a friend who is clinging to his discredited Neo-Conservative values.  The email was a subtle warning about the dark and hidden agenda of Barack Obama and was at once offensive to any progressive thinker.  Enlightened minds dismissed the email immediately as more of the same swift-boat lies that the GOP would do well to distance themselves from.  Red Hog reader Mike sent me this:

 

• Report alleges Illinois senator attended radical Muslim school as a child
• CNN reporter visits Indonesia school in question, sees no radicalism
• Former classmate calls school "general," with multiple religions

           

Insight Magazine, a conservative current events magazine, reported on its Web site last week that associates of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-New York, had discovered information Obama attended a Muslim religious school known for teaching the most fundamentalist form of Islam.  A spokesman for Clinton denied that the campaign was the source of the Obama claim.  He called the story "an obvious right-wing hit job."  Insight stood by its story in a response posted on its Web site Monday afternoon. 

            Here we go.  It is hard for me to imagine that the Clinton Campaign is behind such sleazy politics, especially this early in the game.  If Insight Magazine is reporting accurately the Clinton Campaign should be dead in the water.  If the report is a distortion or fabrication the authors should be prosecuted.  I’ll keep an eye on developments for ya.

 

The State of the Union: Madame Speaker, Nancy Pelosi!  Woohoo!  It was a refreshing site to see the new Democratic Speaker positioned behind the President.  The President put out some olive branches for work on health care and immigration last night.  It seemed his message on renewable energy was a step in the right direction.  Did you hear it?  He actually used the term, “Global Warming!”  It was refreshing to hear the president agree to increase the overall size of the military as proposed by the Democratic Party three years ago.  His commitment to fighting HIV-AIDS and malaria around the world was also refreshing.  The President lost me when he talked about balancing the budget without raising taxes.  I would have appreciated that comment when his Republican Congress was on a six year spending frenzy.  Silly man. 

I think 9/11 was referenced over six times as the President once again tied to tie Iraq and Al-Qaeda together in our minds.  I guess because he can’t separate the two in his own mind he believes we are incapable of doing so ourselves.   That tactic didn’t work well in the mid-term elections.  I think it’s time he give that one up.

Discussion will be heavy in coming days regarding the effectiveness of the President’s speech.  The speech was far from upbeat.  An optimistic message of hope was far from evident.  Little from the speech reflected on great accomplishments and hope for the days ahead.  That may be appropriate considering the way the war in Iraq has progressed.  Was it effective?  I believe it was.  I saw signs of cooperation from the President.  Whether he took that position grudgingly or is enthusiastic about finally having a Congress to work with that will support the more liberal elements of his agenda was not evident.  One thing is certain.  He will have to be responsive to the Democrats if this country is to move forward.

A blogroll of Democratic Candidate websites has been added to the Red Hog Diary.  Please visit these sites often to keep updated on news from the candidates.

            Tonight the President will give the annual State of the Union Address.  I wonder if anybody will watch.  It is hard to imagine that there is anybody left who finds the man relevant credible but I am sure many of us will tune in.  Our interest will be similar to the reasons we are so fascinated by the audition segments of the TV show, American Idol.  Sometimes it just makes for good entertainment to see people unabashedly willing to make fools of themselves.  I had to double think my use of the word relevant in describing the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania.  As Commander in Chief he is in fact relevant.       

            In fact I would imagine a big part of his State of the Union Address is going to be devoted to a military buildup in the Middle East.  We would do well to pay close attention to the language he uses when talking about Syria and Iran.  A lot of what the President said about Iran, in his speech to the nation describing his “surge” plan, was eerily similar to the language he used before leading us into Iraq.  We will need to be vigilant to ensure that our new Congress pays close attention and lets the President know in no uncertain terms that spreading this war geographically is not an option.  I just hope the President can keep that god-awful smirk off his face when he gets all pumped up and giddy talking tough about his plans for his ill advised war on terror.

            I would imagine the people of the Gulf Coast will want to listen closely Tuesday evening to see if the President has completely forgotten his pledge of quick, comprehensive and effective federal assistance made in the first weeks after Hurricane Katrina. 

            Parents and Educators may wish to tune in to see if No Child Left Behind will finally receive the funding that was promised to make the plan feasible. 

Anybody with a brain and love of life will want to watch the President’s speech to see if he will recognize that 2005 registered as the warmest year in history for the planet and 2006 was the warmest year on record for the United States.  Can the President hear when the whole world cries out that we need to address this ever more threatening problem?  USCAP is a new alliance of major businesses and leading climate and environmental groups that have come together to call on the federal government to enact legislation requiring significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.  You would hope he could hear the CEO’s of companies such as Alcoa, Caterpillar, General Electric and environmental organizations such as Environmental Defense, the FPL Group, and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change who have partnered up to warn the world we are on a slippery slope with regards to global warming.  We know he will not listen to the electorate.

Will we hear any hope inspiring news regarding health care or immigration reform?  Will we hear an apology for the misguided erosion of our Fourth Amendment Rights?  How about a renunciation of the practice of holding un-charged “detainees” or the human rights disaster and embarrassment of extraordinary rendition?   My guess is that we will hear none of that and we will only hear more of, “you are either with us or you are against us.”  The President will demonstrate that his handlers are capable of learning if he avoids any reference to 9/11 in his discussion of Iraq but I am sure he will not be able to resist saying he is open minded and will listen to any ideas if only those opposed to his plans will come forth.  Forget that numerous plans have been presented from bi-partisan coalitions and the Democratic leadership.  Forget that the American public has practically unanimously stood against his plans for escalating the war in Iraq.  He will only say that such plans are “cut and run” and he is determined to “stay the course.”  And that is the State of our Union.

 

Additional recommended Reading for today: Parks for Peace by Wil Robinson at International Political Will.

 

            It was a good weekend in Red Hog Heaven.  SWMBO and I went to a wrestling tournament Saturday morning and saw our son get a pin and then we went to a district speech tournament where we watched our daughter earn a trip to State.  Sunday morning it was off to church where I had one of those experiences that might in fact be the reason I am not religious about attending religious services.  As I sat, squirming in the pew, I couldn’t help but notice that a bright beam of sunlight had broken through the stained glass window and seemed to only shine on me.  I like to take a low profile at church, kind of sit low in my seat towards the back and not be noticed.  You can imagine how uncomfortable this predicament made me.  Then, to make matters worse, the sermon seemed to be directed right dead center on me.  I felt as if the preacher was reading my mind and targeting the depths of my soul.  Occasionally I had eye contact with the flock leader and it was about all I could take.  It was so eerie that I thought for a moment that SWMBO had called ahead and conspired with the clergy.  I can hear the conversation now.  SWMBO, “I think today is the day.  He is up in the shower and says he is coming with us to church.”  Pastor Keith, “Are you sure?  The last time you thought he was coming I gave the sermon you requested and made three of the ladies in the quilting society cry.” 

            I didn’t think it was all that big of a deal that I went to services with the family but I did hear my wife telling her sister that she thought quite possibly my attendance was related to hoping for a good Karma transference upon my Chicago Bears.  Okay, I did wear my official NFL Gear Brian Urlacher game jersey to services (Yeah, I dressed up.) but the thought to pray for a Monsters of the Midway grid iron victory had not entered my mind.   In hind site the worship attendance may have been very serendipitous because the Bears were the victors and over the Saints no less!  (Sorry Brother Tim) My son, Mad Dog, is a huge Indianapolis Colts fan and if you hadn’t heard already; they won a wild contest against the Patriots and will square off against the Bears in Super Bowl XLI on February 4^th.  If the Colts win the boy will most assuredly need to find a new place to live.

            For the record, I called this Super Bowl match-up in the second week of the pre-season.  I was proudly sporting my official NFL Gear Bears windbreaker and riding the elevator to my office when two lawyers from the floor above got on.  The Bears had just suffered a 28-14 embarrassing loss to the lowly San Francisco 49ers and they were ribbing me a bit about the prospects for my team.  I assumed a fighting stance and hissed that they didn’t know what they were talking about and that they would eat their words when the Bears played the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl.  We arrived at my floor and as the door was closing they thanked me for the good laugh and then flinched like nervous little kittens as I spun and feigned reentry.  I love making lawyers flinch!  Looks like I will have to wait until Tuesday to visit their floor and gloat.  I am taking my daughter on a campus visit to the University of Iowa tomorrow.  You know, home of the Hawkeyes, the team that will be playing UCLA in the Rose Bowl next year.

 

            A more pleasant kind of email graced my inbox last night.  This little parable reminds us that when we consider the troubles around us we will always do well to remember that we are our brother’s keeper.  In particular the issues of economic inequality, health care, immigration and Gay rights require that we make sure our elected officials know that we want all citizens to be within reach of the American dream.  As we make our way into the next presidential election cycle (thank God!) candidates must know that these issues must be a part of their platform if they expect to receive our support. 

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.  What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.  Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning: There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me.  I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"  The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray.  Be assured you are in my prayers."  The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"  The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.  That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.  The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.  The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital.  After a few days she returned home with a fever.  Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.  But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.  To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.  The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.  So many people came for her funeral; the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.  So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.  We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another. 

Amen.

 

            Have you noticed an increase in small-minded email forwards since the re-examination of the Bush warrant-less spying program, the successful accomplishments of the first 100 hours of the new Congress and the fact that the vice president will soon be sitting on the witness stand of a criminal trial?  The desperation of debased Neo-Cons is becoming pathetic as decency and integrity has replaced the xenophobic and self-absorbed agenda of small minded faux-patriots.