It's About a Divide that keeps on Giving Thing

Dear America,

"One of the things [Uncle Alex] found objectionable about human beings was that they so rarely noticed it when they were happy.  He himself did his best to acknowledge it when times were sweet.  We could be drinking lemonade in the shade of an apple tree in the summertime, and Uncle Alex would interrupt the conversation to say, 'If this isn't nice, what is?'  So I hope that you will do the same for the rest of your lives.  When things are going sweetly and peacefully, please pause a moment, and then say out out loud, 'If this isn't nice, what is?'  Kurt Vonnegut, writer, z#289 from my little book of "Nothing is worth more than this day."  Kathryn and Ross Petras

about that State of the Union ....whether it happens on Tuesday, or  not, we all pretty much have an idea of what the state of the union is.  And it may be widely different, depending upon the politics of the person and direction of the conversation.

Yesterday was Book Club with my ladies.

The book:  Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans, by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger.

confession -- I just now ordered it...

But the conversation was such that this girl was able to grasp a smidgen of the grand scheme of things, and came away, not only wanting to read the book -- but also having an even wider view than I already had of just how often history repeats itself.

Often, in today's political climate, we hear people say things like, 'we've never been this polarized before' or "we are more divided than we've ever been..." -- and it's like poppycock, our country been here before , and then some, now please pass me the lemonade.

Nothing against our eight grade history teachers, but one of the things greatly lost on perspective  about this war of 1812, is that this war is taught more like a blip on the radar, with other moments hijacking its significance; even it's name comes from only when the war started.  When, in fact, this WAR  of 1812 was a hard fought battle, after hard fought battle, after hard fought battle, against the well-established and organized British Navy (yes, again) and it carried on for years.  

This miracle of New Orleans we speak of, was in the year 1815 -- and it would seem that if it weren't for the masterful tactics and command of General Andrew Jackson, our young country may not have survived, let alone been able to expand to the west of the Mississippi.  And he did it while organizing the not so merry band of misfits --  an unlikely union -- of the only resources and people available.   

And bear in mind, that it was the British -- unaware of the Treaty of Ghent (recognized as Belgium, today) signed at the end of 1814 -- who launched the attack in New Orleans, on January 8, 1815...

And as Brian says, "What the British didn't count on was the power of General Andrew Jackson. A formidable military leader with a grudge against the British and a heart for the common man, he rallied the divided inhabitants of New Orleans, bringing together Frenchmen, Native Americans, freed slaves, pirates, and Kentucky woodsmen."

Not bad for the outsider --  as Jackson was not part of the military elite, having the powers that be in D.C. describing him as "a stubborn and crude westerner."  But, "his troops loved him.  He was fearless in battle, but not reckless" as Brian continues, while giving a brief characterization in a short video on his website.  

Now -- just to be clear -- the issues that led to the War of 1812 was one of great D.C. divide as well; and be that as it may, by the end of the war, the Federalist Party met up with its bitter end, as well.   

This thing we call divide within the union is nothing new.

Just look at how some divisions -- as in,  the forces that conspired to create the perfect storm that led to the Civil War in 1861 -- met up with history, at the corner of courage and cultural shift.

America has met division, has weathered conflict within and without the world, and has seen plenty of polarizing days  -- in political measure -- way more than once or twice -- like, way.

It's how we do things around here, right?

The thing is.....what's changed in a very big way.... the thing that has impacted this division, of all the things we carry, in ways unseen before, IS best described as a cultural breakdown.     

Buttressed by the antics and widespread narratives -- some entirely manufactured --  through the left-leaning mainstream, from traditional media to social media, everything gets tilted through the eyes of a liberal lens; and, like, long gone are the days we had to wait for the morning paper --- cue the non-stop streams of buzz, whether true or false.

While at the same time -- a growing fraction of people, who uncharacteristically think of themselves as Americans, are being romanced, totally manipulated, brainwashed, into believing a new green deal, a new wave of socialism rising, is the answer to their every need.   

Socialism is rising in America, and, like, who ever would have thought.  [that is just plum scary stuff]

 

Just Like, I'm increasing the use of the word 'like' just to channel my inner AOC...it's easy to be influenced, like, you know?

It's all just surreal really.

The things that are suddenly becoming acceptable on American soil...

Take for instance, New York.  Please.  

This new bill -- allowing late term abortion all the way up the due date?  And celebrating it?

New York went from legalizing abortion up to 24 weeks...to full term...like, what?

Terminating a baby who has nearly reached full term?   Is this the only answer, or am I crazy?  IF the mother's life is in danger, what happened to delivery by c-section and offering the baby for adoption...that is, if the mother no longer wants the baby?  I just don't get this at all.

Some Americans are celebrating this legislation, while other Americans are in mourning.

Shocked, actually.

From Tony Perkins, posted at The Patriot Post:   

"In a state where the womb was already the most dangerous place for a child, this law begins a new era. Open season on our own. From now on, nothing stands in the way of a woman taking her baby’s life — days, hours, or even a minute before she’s born. A fully grown, healthy human baby that thousands of struggling couples would give anything to have. 

That’s the savagery New York leaders call 'progress.' That’s the 'achievement' Cuomo turned into a pink beacon, shining 'a bright light forward for the rest of the nation to follow'.”

Newsflash: not all of us agree on this one.

But perhaps here's a silver lining -- millennials are becoming the generation more aligned with a return to the sanctity of life....huh?   Even though a majority [75%] consider themselves to be "pro-choice" -- the same survey also revealed that 65% believe are "pro-life."   hallelujah

And this is rich -- read this from Ben Shapiro.

And don't even ask me to give you the crib notes for it.  Read Ben.

And in a move to be a little more provocative than usual, just before I make my exit, let me just add that Americans seem to LOVE and HATE different things.   

Please allow me to direct you to Nate Jackson, also at The Patriot Post, giving us wit and incite on commentary made by freshman congresswoman, Ilhan Omar...just cuz, you won't hear about it in the mainstream.  GO.

Who was marching peacefully for March for Life? 

Who was doing the taunting and screaming of racist chants?  

And who spread flat out lies about both?

Oh this divide...it's called the constant, state of the union; like, our system of checks and balances, our life and times as a republic, is entirely dependent on continuing this kind of divide.

It is real.

And it probably isn't going away anytime soon, if history dictates anything.  Some days are better than others; some days we get to sip a little lemonade under the shade of an apple tree and think good things...and some days, not so much.

all the more reason to follow this advice: "When things are going sweetly and peacefully, please pause a moment, and then say out out loud, 'If this isn't nice, what is?"

that about sums it up, I need to go make lemonade.

the end.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's Let's Roll with that New American Moment Thing

Dear America,

"Were we directed from Washington [city] 

when to sow, and when to reap, 

we should soon want bread."  

Thomas Jefferson

well, there you go.  perfect.

spring up, oh well! Hail to the people's true independence -- of self-reliance and freedom, and surely with the grit to make anything happen!  Because that kind of spirit is back in business.

but about that other well......

after watching last night's first State of the Union address from President Trump...

seems nothing's changed, that well of discontent and divide -- that which is supplied and overflowing with tired cliches and poor in spirit,  the one bubbling over with astounding disrespect for the Union, itself, if  not every foundation upon which this nation was built -- oh that well still runs deep and wide.

In the most simplest of terms, Trump made about fifty points during the entire speech (ranking third longest in history) -- and it was primarily domestic, all the way up until we hit  #40:  Dealing with Rogue Regimes.  But even that was quickly made a domestic concern, as he trumpeted the Call to Congress to END the Sequester and fully fund our military.  amen to that.

The thing is, I could take each point one by one -- but I'm banking on the fact that you heard what I heard, so why repeat it, right?

This speech was all about bringing the two wells of thought together, to tap into what is good for ALL Americans -- and to sit on your hands with some blank expression, or worse, with a frown, upon the celebration of good things happening across the country -- oh that takes amazing showmanship.

That well is not happy even if conservatives promise to give a path to citizenship of 1.8 million illegals, I mean, "dreamers!"   That well can't even crack a smile if the market is booming, bonuses are bursting in air, and taxes slashed -- for both individuals and corporations.  That well hears of a 1.5 TRILLION dollar partnership between private American businesses and government, to rebuild and maintain sorely needed infrastructure improvements, and all the while, creating lots of jobs....and all that well can do is dig deeper into its own abyss of victimization and despair.  

The best line of the night, "because Americans are Dreamers, too!"

yeah, so shut up.

Every single point made centered upon one reality -- that which is true and good for America and all Americans.

This spirit is what paved the way for Trump's lead early into the primary;  it's the same spirit that carried him over in the Electoral College, taking out the pathetic, lying, democratic candidate - Hillary Rodham Clinton; and it is the same spirit that will lead us into this New American Moment, as noted in the speech, and then some.

Every personal story -- represented and seated next to the First Lady or elsewhere within the Capitol Building  -- had a purpose, woven into his address, and dealt a solid blow to anyone who thinks America has seen better days, or is on the decline.  The level of human interest, invoked by the president, of each and every one of these people was not contrived, nor was it manufactured to make a point -- for Trump made them THE POINT.    It was genuine.  Sincere.  And at every moment, this girl was brought to tears.

And even though this day will not be about taking each point by point, this girl loved the moments when Trump went grand.  Here's a portion worthy of repeat --

The United States is a compassionate nation. We are proud that we do more than any other country to help the needy, the struggling, and the underprivileged all over the world. But as President of the United States, my highest loyalty, my greatest compassion, and my constant concern is for America's children, America's struggling workers, and America's forgotten communities. I want our youth to grow up to achieve great things. I want our poor to have their chance to rise. 

So tonight, I am extending an open hand to work with members of both parties -- Democrats and Republicans -- to protect our citizens of every background, color, religion, and creed. My duty, and the sacred duty of every elected official in this chamber, is to defend Americans -- to protect their safety, their families, their communities, and their right to the American Dream. Because Americans are dreamers too.

who doesn't like this?

This is who this president is, it is the LEFT and the liberal media who wishes to show you otherwise.

Just after pointing out Mr Ji Seong-ho, Trump says this, as he begins to wrap everything up --

Seong-ho's story is a testament to the yearning of every human soul to live in freedom. 

It was that same yearning for freedom that nearly 250 years ago gave birth to a special place called America. It was a small cluster of colonies caught between a great ocean and a vast wilderness. But it was home to an incredible people with a revolutionary idea: that they could rule themselves. That they could chart their own destiny. And that, together, they could light up the world. 

That is what our country has always been about. That is what Americans have always stood for, always strived for, and always done. 

Atop the dome of this Capitol stands the Statue of Freedom. She stands tall and dignified among the monuments to our ancestors who fought and lived and died to protect her. 

Monuments to Washington and Jefferson -- to Lincoln and King. 

Memorials to the heroes of Yorktown and Saratoga -- to young Americans who shed their blood on the shores of Normandy, and the fields beyond. And others, who went down in the waters of the Pacific and the skies over Asia. 

And freedom stands tall over one more monument: this one. This Capitol. This living monument to the American people. 

A people whose heroes live not only in the past, but all around us -- defending hope, pride, and the American way. 

They work in every trade. They sacrifice to raise a family. They care for our children at home. They defend our flag abroad. They are strong moms and brave kids. They are firefighters, police officers, border agents, medics, and Marines. 

But above all else, they are Americans. And this Capitol, this city, and this Nation, belong to them. 

Our task is to respect them, to listen to them, to serve them, to protect them, and to always be worthy of them.

The thing is:  Trump gets US, for real.

No question in my mind.

The most hilarious thing of the night -- was the democratic response, by Massachusetts Representative Joe Kennedy III.  Given Joe was given a copy of Trump's speech in advance, it was as if he ignored everything the president addressed.   Going into his own description of "who we are," he rattled off a bunch of professions and positions in society in the same way as Trump, only different.  He tagged the phrase "out of many, one" with the same conviction as yours truly in yesterday's blog....and just as the president called upon in the same spirit, of this shared heart, in his address.

I guess, Kennedy wasn't pleased with the latest Call to Congress for 1.8 million new paths to citizenship, either; nor was he gleeful over the tax cuts, the bonuses, or the growing confidence in America getting back to business.  Think little Joe got stuck in the well, somewhere in Fall River?  Might explain the added spit in the corners of his mouth.  teehee

The problem is -- after getting such a punch from the president last night -- getting an immediate downer, with the spews of demagoguery, and a woefully pathetic return to driving the divide deeper and wider between the parties, playing to the sad liberal agenda that keeps going further and further left.....it just doesn't line up, it doesn't make sense.

Kennedy said: 

"They are turning American life into a zero-sum game. 

Where, in order for one to win, another must lose."

seriously, Joe?

Is that what you take away from the president's State of the Union?

Actually, people, if you read the full transcript, it reads like a list literally spitting out bullet points.

It  is biting, choppy, ripping from one wrong to another, as if the democrats had no involvement to the state of the union we are in, let alone the abysmal last eight years.  In just ONE year, Trump has begun to turn the tide; consumer confidence, corporate investment in America, paychecks, all round opportunity for all Americans, is growing like a tsunami --  and no shoddy, pissy little leftist well will contain it.

So.  As the Dems sit divided still, I see a rainbow.  a real freeking rainbow.

Hail to the chief who hails the PEOPLE of the United States of AMERICA; for truly, it IS the people making America great again, and Trump is not too big or too proud or too full of himself to admit it, even if he fails to convince a single lefty.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's About the Real Fire and Fury in our Belly Thing

Dear America,

It's the State of the Union... 

According to G

AMERICA IS ON FIRE!

and this works no matter which direction you are coming from, whether left or right, America is truly on fire.

RIGHT: Business is booming, optimism is blazing, and America is neither self-contained or about to burn out.  We are so running hot, we can almost hear the sizzle...

LEFT:  It's all Fire and Fury --  Trump is raging out of control, and about to get us nuked by the rocket man of North Korea; and whether it be the snowflakes on college campus' living afraid of their own shadow, of any opinion that differs from their leftist indoctrination from the leftist professors who teach them, or whether it be the socialist dreams decades in the making and running off of the likes of politicians like Bernie or the lies of HERlary -- it all thrives under the cover of a mainstream liberal media, Hollywood heavyweights moonlighting with their intellectual, leftist, elitist, smack, and a simple, blatant, all-round, disregard of having any intention to co-exist with people outside their worldview...all in all, the commonality of the spark, the fire under their fury, is ignited by the justly seated president of the United States, President Trump, along with just about anyone who voted for him, or continues to support.

Two things are for certain this morning:  America is divided nearly right in half, and duly evident is that that last paragraph was some kind of run-on sentence.... what a scorcher.  my bad.

If you will, please read this quality piece from Hillsdale's Imprimis: Are We Free to Discuss America's Real Problems?  And many thanks for your bravery, Professor Amy L. Wax.

The truth sometimes stings, but for goodness sake, isn't it better to talk about it?  Doesn't Alcoholics Anonymous begin with the addict, that the addict must recognize that the problem exists before they can even take their first step of the mighty twelve?

It takes bravery to admit we have a problem; it takes bravery to question the system and break free from the safety of the politically correct/charged agenda; it takes bravery to sail into the unknown; it takes bravery to dump the tea and question a king and start a war that would prove revolutionary.  It all counts as part of doing the steps necessary to be responsible to the whole, generation after generation. 

Characteristically, this would systematically look much like this: 

"Get married before you have children and strive to stay married for their sake. Get the education you need for gainful employment, work hard, and avoid idleness. Go the extra mile for your employer or client. Be a patriot, ready to serve the country. Be neighborly, civic-minded, and charitable. Avoid coarse language in public. Be respectful of authority. Eschew substance abuse and crime." 

Oh Hail to the free speech!  Hail to the free speech! for Amy is on fire; ripping through the valleys and across the plains, with a pointed and rather potent truth, wreaking havoc on the sanity of the Left...will they even survive?  teehee

I have a new little book of quotes, The Founding Fathers, Quotes, Quips and Speeches, captured by the editor, Gordon Leidner....and when I opened it up this morning, this is what was top of the page:

Suppose the colonies 

do abound in men, 

what does that signify?  

They are raw, undisciplined, cowardly men."  

-- Lord Sandwich, Britain's First Lord of the Admiralty

isn't that a hoot!  America's rag-tag band of brothers and patriots of long ago were so dismissed -- we showed them, didn't we?  And when I say we, I really mean not me....how grateful I am, how grateful I am.... 

....never underestimate the power of Divine Providence, and never forsake the foundations of sound self-government, self-reliance, and sheer grit, all of which brought us through the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the World Wars....the war against terror.....and even this cultural war between left and right.  Funny how the right side always seems to win.....hmmmmmmm

The thing is, this generation's luxury of misunderstanding -- or is it more being misinformed -- of the truths of America's founding, and of our individual duty to uphold the rule of law, in order to keep the republic healthy and happy for not only the present day, but way into this nation's future, will be the death of us; if we are not wide awake -- to smell the smoke -- and band together in unison against this growing fiery fury and enemy of the state, we will lose it all.  Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, that which came upon the fire and fury of our early founders and patriots will be lost forever.

My hope is that the democrats will make fools out of themselves tomorrow -- whether wearing all black as if going to a funeral, or what have you; already a supreme court justice -- a lady who is under oath  and supposedly steady under the rule of law, to be non-political and non-biased -- is saying she will NOT attend.  Um, Ruthy, you need to recuse yourself from all decisions pretty much from here on out, k?  Hello?  What a coward; how unprofessional; how loony is this decision?  A supreme court justice unable to even sit like a lady and listen to THE PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES?  Seriously? [ Gonna have to tape Maxine's response, too...just for kicks and giggles.]

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness.

And it's weird... as The Right managed to do sit tight, out of respect for the office (aside from that Joe Wilson moment...oops) all the while Obama was president for each of his 'eight States'... has the snowflake virus hit every leftist from sea to shining sea, even those who are presumed to have had a decent education?

[hope you clicked on Joe, cuz there are some astounding things coming out of Obama's mouth during that moment when Joe screamed, you lie!  Astounding moments -- from illegal immigration to abortion...liar liar oval office pants on fire]

My hope, too, is that Trump stays on point, sticks to his speech, and stays measured, as he goes about the business of unifying the country, not dividing us.  WE ARE, in fact and according to every truth, all about the  e pluribus unum here, in America....The Left has no business telling you otherwise, let alone tearing it all asunder.

Truth is -- having a fire in our belly is good for every one, every business, upon every corner, of every neighborhood, for every child, in every home, when it is part of every effort in the protection and security and welfare of the common good; having a certain fire and fury aimed to divide us, destroy us, and leave us for dead, that is not so good.

SO to close, let me call upon a few words from Thomas Jefferson --

"We are all Republicans, 

we are all Federalists. 

 If there be any among us who would wish

 to dissolve this Union

 or to change its republican form, 

let them stand undisturbed as monuments

 to the safety with which error of opinion

 may be tolerated 

where reason 

is left free to combat it."

beautiful

just beautiful

can we talk about it?

penny for your thoughts?

After all, "the ultimate arbiter is the people of the Union." (again, Thomas Jefferson)  And by definition, this term, in the macro, characterizes a colorful, multifaceted, whole; there may be times when we do not all agree, times it may look a lot like a conflict of opinion.  Are we seriously raising a society unable to deal with this?  

wow.  we do have problems.

Until tomorrow, hail to the chief facing this divided country.  

May God be with you, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's Fifty Shades of Grey Thing

Dear America,

But for my final address

 to this chamber, 

I don’t want to just talk about next year. 

I want to focus 

on the next five years, 

the next 10 years, 

and beyond. 

I want to focus on our future.

Got that right.  Who would want to focus on the present with a past like his?

In the middle of it...his "final address," Obama says...

It says America will always act, alone if necessary, to protect our people and our allies; but on issues of global concern, we will mobilize the world to work with us...

leading us to this...

That’s our approach to conflicts like Syria, where we’re partnering with local forces and leading international efforts to help that broken society pursue a lasting peace.

making it sound more like we are simply organizing a bake sale to support the local police chapter respond to a neighborhood ruckus before things really get out of hand, before he adds this...

That’s why we built a global coalition, with sanctions and principled diplomacy, to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. And as we speak, Iran has rolled back its nuclear program, shipped out its uranium stockpile, and the world has avoided another war. (Applause.)

which is hilarious, considering he left out a couple of pertinent things....things like, and 'as we speak, Iran has rolled back its program, shipped out its uranium stockpile, and has gone on to test a missile or two, even while such actions go against the "global agreement" made only a few months back, and not only that --  has commandeered the capture of ten of our troops -- yes, as we speak, here, tonight -- and leaves me hanging this evening as to what the hell is going on while they hold our men (and one woman) hostage for the night in a place I like to call Tom Ayatollah Sawyer Island of Farsi.  Who knows when they will be given back to us, surely by morning; but not to worry. I have a point to make and a legacy to fake.'

indeed.  Now just for kicks, let's put side by side Iran's response to a Reagan Administration and Barack Obama's, shall we?  Let's see who gets the stand down first.  Our current Commandeer-In-Chief couldn't bend over any more if he tried; but of course, to admit to that, we would also have to agree there is evidence of a backbone to begin with -- but I digress. [btw, that's a great link there to American Thinker...don't miss the boat.]

Allow me to save us all some time.

The entire State of the Union was its usual propaganda puff piece, chock-full of lies and exaggerations, all while making a plethora of abusive ties to America's foundation -- the very principles and ideas to which this president defies and mocks, with great audacity and reckless abandon, mind you, in his every day to day to day... times seven years.

I am SO GLAD I didn't watch a lick of it!

[Including that SNL response that came right after, featuring Nikki Haley... SNL standing for Somebody's Not Listening...as in that somebody being the entire GOP Establishment.]

When will Republicans ever stop eating their own young, for pete's sake?!

All things considered, Trump is not America's enemy number one, okay.

Now, perhaps if we wanna go there for a moment,  Hillary Clinton could be a good candidate of an Enemy of the State...little miss I never said anything about a video, yeah right.  Liar, liar, pants suit on fire.

Here you are, Hill, ON VIDEO talking about a video, [fast forward to right around the half way mark].  And following your address to the families of Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods at Andrews Air Force Base-- you spoke intimately and directly to the family members, and let me show you the quote from the diary of Charles Woods, Tyrone's father, recorded the moment.  And then let's add this,  from Breitbart in 2012, go here.  And fast and furious forward to 2016, from The Daily Caller, Charles Woods repeated the memory, saying with a certain and consistent truth:

She said, ‘we’re going to have that person responsible for that video put in jail,'” he recalled, adding that Clinton’s comments “struck me as being very strange.”

 And they did, too.  They put the guy in jail.

SEE HERE.  See also The Benghazi Patsy story at Politico, here.

How Hillary -- and Obama -- can get away with such blatant manipulation of truth and dares, have no idea.   Scratch that; for the real state of the union tells me so.

With the pathetically uneducated and misinformed being led by the unconscionable progressive body politic, left and right...and with such wanton betrayal -- the homeland is ripe for the taking; while the prevailing short-term memory issues that seem to run congruently with the loss of the critical thinking plays another key role and makes it all look    oh     so      easy.

Oh my.
May we correct the direction America is leaning before we all fall down.
But in the meantime, one more line from a presidency reaching its end:

I told you earlier all the talk of America’s economic decline is political hot air. Well, so is all the rhetoric you hear about our enemies getting stronger and America getting weaker. Let me tell you something. The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period. (Applause.) Period. It’s not even close. It's not even close. (Applause.) It's not even close. We spend more on our military than the next eight nations combined. Our troops are the finest fighting force in the history of the world. (Applause.) No nation attacks us directly, or our allies, because they know that’s the path to ruin. Surveys show our standing around the world is higher than when I was elected to this office, and when it comes to every important international issue, people of the world do not look to Beijing or Moscow to lead -- they call us. (Applause.)

Period...it's not even close...it's not even close.
And for a moment there, you make it sound like America is pretty exceptional, Mr. President; it's as if you almost respect this beautiful country.
 
Oh my, how you personify fifty shades of grey, right on cue.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's Just the State of the Union Unplugged Thing

Dear America,

I sat there thinking...is this really the way it's gonna go?  He's just so predictable, you know.  Right out of the gate he gave us this:

"Tonight, thanks to the grit and determination of the American people, there is much progress to report. After a decade of grinding war, our brave men and women in uniform are coming home. After years of grueling recession, our businesses have created over six million new jobs. We buy more American cars than we have in five years, and less foreign oil than we have in twenty. Our housing market is healing, our stock market is rebounding, and consumers, patients, and homeowners enjoy stronger protections than ever before.

Together, we have cleared away the rubble of crisis, and can say with renewed confidence that the state of our union is stronger."

And just in case you haven't caught on yet, "together" is the new "I" -- it's his go-to phrase to capitalize on the collective consciousness.  It's not about HIM anymore (yeah, right) -- it's about all of us, together.

"It is our unfinished task to restore the basic bargain that built this country – the idea that if you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or who you love.

It is our unfinished task to make sure that this government works on behalf of the many, and not just the few; that it encourages free enterprise, rewards individual initiative, and opens the doors of opportunity to every child across this great nation.

The American people don't expect government to solve every problem. They don't expect those of us in this chamber to agree on every issue. But they do expect us to put the nation's interests before party. They do expect us to forge reasonable compromise where we can. For they know that America moves forward only when we do so together; and that the responsibility of improving this union remains the task of us all."

But again, he says the "basic bargain" includes working hard and meeting responsibilities -- however, how does that explain all the emphasis on "redistribution," the blatant, unconscionable transfer of wealth, hard work and responsibility to  people who have done nothing to deserve it?  Does he really understand, even respect, what true free enterprise is and how it works?  Don't answer; these are simply rhetorical and asinine questions I ask myself here in my happy place...

"In 2011, Congress passed a law saying that if both parties couldn't agree on a plan to reach our deficit goal, about a trillion dollars' worth of budget cuts would automatically go into effect this year. These sudden, harsh, arbitrary cuts would jeopardize our military readiness. They'd devastate priorities like education, energy, and medical research. They would certainly slow our recovery, and cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs. That's why Democrats, Republicans, business leaders, and economists have already said that these cuts, known here in Washington as "the sequester," are a really bad idea."

So if it's such a bad idea and so harmful to the economy, why would we even be considering it any kind of viable option?  Who says we have to do it then?  We don't do other things we are "supposed to do..." like function from an annual, fully operational budget...by law, congress is supposed to do that, too.

This part was really wonderful --

"...So let's set party interests aside, and work to pass a budget that replaces reckless cuts with smart savings and wise investments in our future. And let's do it without the brinksmanship that stresses consumers and scares off investors. The greatest nation on Earth cannot keep conducting its business by drifting from one manufactured crisis to the next. Let's agree, right here, right now, to keep the people's government open, pay our bills on time, and always uphold the full faith and credit of the United States of America. The American people have worked too hard, for too long, rebuilding from one crisis to see their elected officials cause another."

From the party of "never let a crisis go to waste" taken to an art form.  Hard to believe he could spit this out keeping a straight face..."cannot keep conducting its business by drifting from one manufactured crisis to the next."  Unbelievable nerve.

And then we get this --

"Let me repeat – nothing I'm proposing tonight should increase our deficit by a single dime. It's not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth."

All this president has done is grow a bigger government!   This is just total deception.

How does trying to enforce a new minimum wage hike to $9/hour favor investment, business growth, hiring more people instead of less?   YOU ARE AN IDIOT.

Here we go:

"Tonight, I propose a "Fix-It-First" program to put people to work as soon as possible on our most urgent repairs, like the nearly 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country. And to make sure taxpayers don't shoulder the whole burden, I'm also proposing a Partnership to Rebuild America that attracts private capital to upgrade what our businesses need most: modern ports to move our goods; modern pipelines to withstand a storm; modern schools worthy of our children. Let's prove that there is no better place to do business than the United States of America. And let's start right away."

Because we always get back to the roads and bridges.... says the Agitator-in-Chief in a twisted sort of way, like, "you didn't build that."  He seems to only respect private money and investment only when it's handed over by the boot to the neck for his administration to use and abuse.   And maybe just because adding 6 Trillion dollars to our national debt (over just four years mind you!) is not nearly enough.

AND on a totally different subject -- so what, we wear green ribbons now for victims of gun violence?  Does Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, just wear them 24/7 now, or was that just for show for the night?

This is fascinating --

"Study after study shows that the sooner a child begins learning, the better he or she does down the road. But today, fewer than 3 in 10 four year-olds are enrolled in a high-quality preschool program. Most middle-class parents can't afford a few hundred bucks a week for private preschool. And for poor kids who need help the most, this lack of access to preschool education can shadow them for the rest of their lives. "

Never mind that the nation's Head Start program has just recently been discovered to have added no value whatsoever for the nation's poorest children.  [We talked about this just week's ago, why would the president include something like this, its so fresh, but we digress]

And here's an interesting agenda sounding more like something out of an era gone by:

"But defending our freedom is not the job of our military alone. We must all do our part to make sure our God-given rights are protected here at home. That includes our most fundamental right as citizens: the right to vote. When any Americans – no matter where they live or what their party – are denied that right simply because they can't wait for five, six, seven hours just to cast their ballot, we are betraying our ideals."

Never mind that in this day and age ANYONE can get an absentee ballot mailed to their home weeks in advance; and never you mind about the number of military personnel each election struggling to vote from combat, or having their ballots "lost in the mail" or simply not given to them in a timely fashion.  While this may be just being nit-picky, but is our right to vote really our MOST Fundamental Right?

But Oh! how he brought it all to a ruckus close, no?  How many times did he point out that somebody, anybody, everybody, deserves your vote?  Gun control gone wild finished the night off with a bang.

And now let us raise our glass TOGETHER:

"We are citizens. It's a word that doesn't just describe our nationality or legal status. It describes the way we're made. It describes what we believe. It captures the enduring idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations; that our rights are wrapped up in the rights of others; and that well into our third century as a nation, it remains the task of us all, as citizens of these United States, to be the authors of the next great chapter in our American story.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America."

WOW.  What he really wants us to take away here, is that it no longer matters if you are even legal -- if you live within our borders, we are all citizens and we are in this together; we need to "fix this" together.  It would be a beautiful thing if it weren't so Chavez-esque, disrobing  the naked socialist beneath.  Surely a little TMI for the lot of us who are still capable of seeing right through him, but for the walking dead who adore him, they just eat this stuff up.

Makes me cringe the line, "that our rights are wrapped up in the rights of others."  NO, they aren't.  Read the Declaration of Independence, Mr. President!   Our rights (from the MOST fundamental to the least...if there is such a thing)  are certain TRUTHS, self-evident and righteous, and endowed by our Creator.  Individually speaking for all of us, these rights are unalienable and independent from one to another.   And you, acting on behalf of the governed, dear sir, get the magnificent opportunity to lead this nation, lest we forget TEMPORARILY, directly from the consent of the governed.   And never you mind that these rights come complete with duties and obligations and great responsibility to be the best citizen we can be, for the sake of the State of the Union.  Government has very little, and nearly nothing, to do with our success.

Make it a Good Day, G

For a great review, go to National Review, here.

And thank you to ABC News for the use of the transcript, here.

It's an Anti-Depressant Kind of Day Thing

Dear America,

*** sideshow alert *** 
*** sideshow alert ***

that takes us back a few blogs...

but here we are again, preparing our hearts and minds for another fun-filled evening getting our heads stuffed with propaganda.  it's gonna be great.

As I was rolling along this morning, trying to catch up on news and commentary, I came across a beautiful example of the way this man works it --  “I do worry sometimes that as soon as we leave the prayer breakfast, everything we've been talking about the whole time at the prayer breakfast seems to be forgotten—on the same day of the prayer breakfast...I mean, you'd like to think that the shelf life wasn't so short,” he added. “But I go back to the Oval Office and I start watching the cable news networks and it's like we didn’t pray.”  [for more, just go here.]

And just maybe, oh brilliant one, we pray for different things.

Oh but do go on...

"It's important not to read too much into any particular political victory—because this country is big, it is diverse, it is contentious, and we don’t have a monopoly on wisdom, and we need to remember that."

Sometimes, I really don't think he pays much attention to what he is saying.  It's as if his circles never meet up at all.  He just spins his wheels.

If nobody carries the monopoly on wisdom, then all of us have something to contribute to the cause.  IF we are diverse, then we may not agree...on anything.   If we are sooo big -- this country -- then why do you think, Mr. President, with such a small mind?   Instead of listening to the opposition, you ridicule it; instead of working with both sides of the aisle, you cut them off at the knees.  Like you said,  YOU don't have a monopoly on the wisdom...so act like it.

But I can see it all now -- you are going to be arrogant and smug, standing there at the podium with the perfect cock of the head, pausing at just the right moment, elongating that hand-picked syllable for emphasis and extra consideration.    As if you think harder, better, brighter than the rest of us.   At least the GW dripped with humility when he spoke; at least he addressed the American people as one body instead of cut up by demographics and agenda and color, flocking to your side like zombies.

I keep having to remind myself another four years of this has only just begun.

I was already worn out...and the reality is, we have just so much more of this to come! Maybe Obamacare should be passing out free anti-depressant drugs to all of us needing a little extra TLC -- I mean, honestly, what's going on is just so unfair for those of us aligned with the principles of common sense conservative solutions.   Perhaps we need to open a case with the ACLU.

So as we can all predict by now, he will be addressing gun control, reforming immigration, upending the war in Afghanistan, and if he has time, mention how much the economy is on track for a total turn around.    Oh as the seasons turn, turn, turn.

If you really think about it -- how come he didn't make all these changes that were always in his heart when he had all of Congress sitting in his favor?   He could have done it all bada bing bada boom.

I believe it would be because true fundamental transformation of an entire way of life and limited government takes time to grow on us; this president recognizes the wisdom of playing his cards right, taking into account the winds of political and emotional change, while taking all the time necessary to sway the minds of the collective to alter everything they have come to know and love.

welcome to the new world; welcome to the new wave of dictatorship; it's so much cooler now.

well, word of advice:  put on your Fat Tuesday pants, make a really yummy cocktail, and maybe go with the mac and cheese for dinner...then pop Reeses Minis as the evening dictates.

Make it a Good Day, G

 hey, and considering what we were discussing yesterday....how about that lightening strike upon St. Peter's...good stuff.

It's a Walk Back into a Day in the Life Thing

Dear America,

not even sure what to say right now.

good morning?

happy Monday?

top of the morning to you?

.....So would you believe I turned into a 'walk-er' for the last three weeks? 

Oh, do you happen to be one of those not entirely sure what that means? 
Am I talking in tongues, or something? 
Don't suppose you caught up with the weekend's AMC marathon, preparing for the arrival of a brand new episode of "The Walking Dead," which we all got to witness just last night?

Let me just say -- I feel like I was living the night of the living dead for days, weeks, nearly a month.  I have nearly no recollection of anything but a night that began in a life-threatening panic -- the dearest one in the family (aka the Angel In Chief) was struck with pneumonia --  and was on life support in ICU for nearly a week.

It all happened so fast, too.

He's the angel-in-chief because he was born an angel; and he's the only one in the family to be so lucky.  Some people might think being born with Down's Syndrome is a life resigned to hardship, unable to live life fully, if of the belief it's a disability.  But surely, anyone who has come across 'kissy face' would emphatically disagree.  He created a life magnificent not only for himself, but for all of us who have had the good grace to know him, to live with him, to enjoy his spirit of perpetual, childlike innocence and wonder (with a good dose of loving brutal honesty coming just when we least expect it, to be in close second).  Deep down -- he's brilliant, I tell you.

But let me not hold you in suspense even a moment longer -- the lad is still with us, thank our lucky stars.

It was then -- once he was in the clear -- I fell miserably ill with the flu.   I guess I let my guard down, for I never get sick.  And now, looking back, I realize I have never been that sick, ever.  And then -- my girl got sick! 

It was as if I was being surrounded all at once; the world was closing in on me -- threatening my very existence and life as we know it, having easily slipped into a twilight zone of sorts.  The safe harbor of the day to day humming right along, having clearly learned to take my health for granted, brings my life to a screeching halt.  I never really saw it coming.

But here I am.

I missed the opportunity to vent about women in combat -- think that's where things were left off...

Of course, we also missed having a deep discussion on the Super Bowl, or was it the Har-bowl?  Kind of funny how the NFL wanted to claim ownership of that tag line, no?  As if the league doesn't have enough to deal with pending the ongoing controversy of liability over brain injuries and personal accountability.   Even my Hall's cough drops lays it out pretty straightforward -- giving a pep talk in every drop -- saying things like "Go for it!"  "Get back in there champ!"  "Put your game face on!"  "Seize the day!"  Can we talk mixed messages?

Well, one thing is for sure -- we awoke to the world turning upside down all over again.  Can you even  believe the Pope would up and quit in the middle of Lent?  Lent!  Arrivederci my little flock.

I mean, seriously?  He is leaving his post on February 28th?

The Pope is going to throw in the towel?  Now?

Goodness gracious -- this is like The Season of all Seasons written into the ecumenical church year, for St. Pete's sake...Lent is all about renewal, reuniting in the spirit of being alive and being a child of God!  And the Pope wants to call it quits, right in the middle of it?  Has he been bitten? (That's just an inappropriate connection to the     walking       dead...father forgive me, I know not what I say).

When I was smack dab in the middle of mourning the condition of my brother, I happened to have caught Joel Osteen one Sunday morning.   As expected, we always hear what we most need to hear, and this morning was no different.  If my recollection serves me, Osteen told us the story of Moses being at a complete loss -- in spirit, as well as in provisions.  He couldn't feed his people.  Long story short, all of a sudden, the winds shifted and the skies opened up and falling at the feet of Moses were enough Quail to feed everyone, and probably for days.

Osteen's message was one of hope and renewal, but his point was simply this:  when we are open to receive...God breathes in our direction.  And the truth is --- we may very well have done nothing to deserve it.  It just happens.

This vision of God breathing in our direction carried me -- through the anguish of waiting things out while the angel-in-chief's wings were being poked and tweaked,  and even while I was down but not quite out.    This Life Force, this Breath, this abundant and everlasting Source for renewal and grace, unexpectedly gave me everything I needed.  I just had to remain open to receiving it.

I don't know how the Pope comes to a decision to stop.  All I can imagine is God has something, someone, better for the world waiting in the wings.  This Pope seems to have lost the fight inside himself.

And now, switching gears altogether -- is it just me, or is the president speaking on behalf of the State of the Union on Fat Tuesday chockfull of hidden messages and double entendre?  I worry that I may fall ill all over again with the event, but have promised myself to prepare myself for anything.  I will be popping Airborne, drinking my eight glasses of water, getting plenty of rest tonight, just to guard against any kind of crazy talk he plans on dishing out.    He's a walk-er, and a bite-er, in my mind...armed and dangerous; but given the vulnerability and susceptibility of at least half of the American people these days, all he needs to do is speak and people bite.  It's strange really -- people just accept whatever he says as the truth, as if he's the leader of the pack without questioning anything.   [For the non-walking dead, that's just another storyline]

We just had some sort of boat show run through town.  In their advertising they said something like, "come see how affordable owning  a boat can be!"  And I just had to laugh.   They could probably sell a few sail boats without any sails, too. [Can hardly wait til tomorrow night.]

Oh the winds, they are a changing...

I keep wondering why do I care?  Why is it important for me to come back and spill it day in and day out -- or three weeks in and three weeks out, as the case may be?  [Bite me]  Why even show up at all -- it's not like anybody would really miss me, right? 

Well, I would miss me.

I am going to keep coming back whenever I can, saying whatever it is I need to say, for as long as I live.   It's MY diary of a day in the life of an American girl and I promise not to take any of it for granted.  I suggest you all do the same.

At the risk of being uber cheesy --   Be awake!  Don't be a walk-er.  Accept today as maybe your last and commit to the renewal of making your life better than the day before...for the sake of all of mankind, if nothing else.

Make it a Good Day, G

 

Dear America,

First let's clean house a bit:

The opening page of yahoo, told of a different headline than what was really going on... declaring, oh my gosh... something that is terribly untrue -- oh, the shock, the horror, be still my broken heart.

Bristol Palin was not "out for revenge" on the "haters" -- and she did not think ill of Jennifer Grey winning the shiny sparkly globe of dancing jubilation, okay; when she said she had "the time of her life" it wasn't a dig, alright.  She was gracious and probably, very happy it was all finally over.

And you know, I really can't understand the controversy; when you have a show that allows voters to stem the tide, and sway a certain way, for whatever reason -- popularity or skill -- then you just have to two step with it; it's what it is.  You think Emmitt Smith got the big dancing ball by just his dancing shoes?   Against Mario Lopez? ...who were side by side with identical scores in the end? when it came down to "popularity" -- or who's got a bigger "fan base."  Pulleeze.

 America, we can't be a bunch of poor sports now, we've come too far, for too long, to have a bad attitude and snide comments get in our way.   Fair and balanced means anything goes, competition doesn't play  favorites, except sometimes, maybe it does!


Some could say, Jennifer Grey had a clear cut, pointy toe advantage  -- is that fair?  really? to have made history making the moves on our dear Patrick Swayze so long ago?  Who came from the family jewels of a rather famous father, a dancer and choreographer, Joel Grey, no less.  C'mon.

All is fair in love and dancing, especially when it is made for TV (and you know who really benefited, was ABC -- if anyone wants to get after somebody, how about we take a look see at the corporate media mogul over there sitting pretty on a table for what, five million, sipping champagne).  FYI, just guessing on how many people actually watched the series...I have NO idea, so don't quote me.

So, having said all that, I feel better; but let us move into other feats of journalistic wonderment, and review an article simply titled: FOUR IN 10 say MARRIAGE IS BECOMING OBSOLETE...November 18, by HOPE YEN, of the Associated Press.  Hmmm Hope, is that really what is happening?

Oh, and it's not just Hope who carried this drumbeat, much of the media picked this story up...kind of like a big mass of haters, sneering at the sacred tradition with contempt, as if marriage is soooooooo nineteen eighty-nine.

The article went on to note "in 1978, just 28 percent believed marriage was becoming obsolete..." after claiming it was "indeed, about 39 percent of Americans said...obsolete" only a sentence before. So in thirty two years, the idea that marriage is becoming obsolete is up by 11%.

after decades of divorce, Hollywood, and the ever so popular use of a cultural and relationship killing phenomenon -- none other than the arrow through the back by way of a sordid affair of the heart and soul, or after decades of children being raised with virtually one parent, trading weekends (myself included in this group) at about the rate of "29 percent of all children under the age of 18",  or after distancing ourselves from God, as a culture, slowly, recklessly, mindlessly, over the last several years to maybe an entire century -- the IDEA that MARRIAGE is becoming OBSOLETE is only up by about ten percent???  THAT IS AMAZING ...have God's grace on thee.

Personally, and being a half full kind a girl, I don't know how we did it.

I think that is remarkable, given where we have taken our culture, meandering the streets of dirty dancing, drugs, selfish ambitions, personal careers at the expense of family, greed, loss of spirituality and a connectedness to Something greater than ourselves, only to name a few.

Having said all that, Hope does make some alarming, but well thought out observations of the changes we are making, as a people: pointing out the effect of the "changing views of family are being driven largely by young adults 18-29, who are more like than older generations to have an unmarried or divorced parent...have more liberal attitudes when it comes to spousal roles and living together before marriage."

Hope also mentioned the number of people who would be sitting around the table this Thanksgiving could be in the range of about twenty people -- a family more than likely piecemeal-ed together with extended family, friends, step parents and siblings, and maybe even both parents -- but then again, maybe not (got about a fifty-fifty chance).

The thing is, not until you get about two-thirds of the way in do we discover a number that really counts:

"Still, the study indicates that marriage isn't going to disappear anytime soon. 

Despite a growing view that marriage may not be necessary, 67% of Americans were upbeat about the future of marriage and family. 

That's higher than their optimism for the nation's educational system (50%), economy (46%), or its morals and ethics (41%)...

about HALF of all currently unmarried adults, 46% say they want to get married. Among those unmarried who are living with a partner, the share rises to 64%."

You can read more at http://pewsocialtrends.org

Make no mistake, and let me be clear, now:  67% of Americans were upbeat about the future of marriage and family, according to the same survey, the same study, who declared Four in Ten say marriage is becoming OBSOLETE.  wow.

I guess it's all in how you look at it.

Funny could it be that the same haters of Bristol Palin (who really hate her mom) be in the same group as those declaring marriage as going away some time soon??  perhaps even, hoping and wishing and praying that marriage itself might meet it's ultimate fate, dancing off the stage, in a runaway bride sort of way, along with any and all family tradition whatsoever, in a warped Cinderella style Disney destiny...

Now, could it be that those who are upbeat about marriage and family --  the 67% crowd -- might actually be the ones who were voting for the underdog, in droves, that kept Bristol dancing, and smiling, all the way to the very end?  Just sayin'

And looky here, full circle, isn't this just a perfect week to give thanks and praise for what really works in society  (and what doesn't) in everything from marriage, to family, to faith, to humanity rising to the levels it really needs to be, in order to make a more perfect UNION...we can always strive AS A PEOPLE OF MANY OPINIONS and VIEWS to be better, in all we do, in all we say, in all we think about, as we go about dancing about in our own little world.

We can only hope, and give thanks,  and maybe even try a little harder from now on.

Make it a Good Day, G

Dear America,

It's another "day after;" nothing like a State of the Union from a wanna-be progressive trying to act like a Democrat who's most magnanimous applause comes from hearing Republican ideals -- tax cuts, exploring nuclear power - offshore drilling - clean coal energy, freeze on spending, and the ever so rousing appeal of an anti-lobbyist/anti-earmark campaign.

The good news, we can all be rest assured our President has "never been more hopeful about America's future before tonight."

Even if we, the people, are confused in figuring out how the 700 Billion in the Recovery Act and 787  862 Billion (adj. for the real change factor) in the Stimulus Plan can, in the end, equate to tax cuts we can all believe in;

even if we, the people, are still perplexed by the scale and damage of the last twelve months of selling ourselves short on health care legislation (and for all intents and purposes forgetting about jobs),  by (not) watching the escapades behind closed doors (with republicans not allowed), with Obama and his entire crew ignoring criticism (at town hall meetings and otherwise), can, in the end, equate to the flat response "I don't quit" no matter what the circustances;

even if we, the people, watch him increase government spending by almost 25% in the first year, can, in the end, equate to finding our fearless leader practicing without a license and prescribing a spending freeze -- oh, but not starting until 2011 -- amounting to an ounce of prevention after a gluttony of overeating, when in fact what we really need is the lap-band across the board.

even if we, the people, hear him chastise the banks and the system too big to fail, which warranted extreme measures by pulling a Robin Hood on the good ole taxpayer, entrusting the system to be bailed out and ultimately reap a return from our investment, can, in the end, equate to, whoa, hold up, let's use the monies we promised you in return to create a new jobs bill....one that is shiny and red and may cost billions more... um... one that isn't like the last one...um... as that one didn't work so much...trust me, we know what we're doing....even though we have a Treasure Secretary and a Chairman of the Federal Reserve just waiting in the town square to hear of their own demise as we speak.

ah but "I want a new jobs bill on my desk without delay!" said the king.

We, the people, had to be reminded last night -- as somehow it had escaped us over the last twelve months -- that we were still in fact looking at "change we can believe in." 

We had to be reminded that He was not really of Washington, that He's not like the other guys (and dolls),  that He was -- and IS still -- an outsider just like you and me.  Oh that Washington, it is "noisy and messy and complicated" -- and you little people out there have no idea how hard it is for me to do my shape-shifting and redistribution in the midst of such division; the petty displays, the lack of true character, and the constant campaign mode running rampant in the halls of congress (looking left) -- it must all come to an end -- and that goes for my fellow democrats as well (looking right).

He came in on the dream of bringing partisan politics to a standstill -- only for us to watch him shun the right at every turn, close the door to real change, and leave all hope for a new era of governing strewn across the front lawn.  After a year of watching this happen day in and day out, he thinks he can convince us that he is serious this time?  Who is he trying to kid?  Is congress really going to listen to the guy who runs on a do-as-I say-not-as-I do 24/7 campaign, bringing back his Hope and Change Commander in Chief, David Plouffe, for extra help?  Interesting to note the similarities of an article written by Mr. Plouffe for the Washington Post on January 24th...it's like Obama copied him or something. 

One thing that made me raise an eyebrow was the comment "I do not accept second place for the United States of America" -- what is that?  Air America to Obama, they could figure out a way to land a factory on the moon and still pay their people two cents an hour, but there will never be a day when we feel second to China -- never.  That's just a mindset that cannot be destroyed, but apparently must be taught at a very young age, otherwise, this American President of ours would get that.  

But now if we could just figure out a way to own our own real estate, collateralize our dollar with something worth it's weight in gold perhaps, and strip the federal government of most of it's bad habits and regulations and entitlements and perpetual blank check spending we might just resume the number one spot in the eyes of our leader, as that seems to be the root of our failure -- no allegiance and no respect only breeds more no allegiance and no respect.

In the end, he just doesn't get that the American people put BIG government in the same light as BIG banks right now; how Barack Hussein Obama has personally and actively handled the job as CEO and President is part of the problem and Americans are rather disenchanted with anything that equates to more growth, more expense, unknown costs, and unknown liabilities, all the while taking the power of the people away. (hey, and whattup with that dig on the Supreme Court...they're right there and they can hear you...)

Things just keep coming back to me like, "let me be clear, I am not interested in running GM"...and then running it; "I am not interested in taking over insurance companies."  "I'm not interested in punishing banks." "I didn't say it had to be universal health care." "This is where I differ from John McCain, I don't believe in a spending freeze across the board." 

"Now, I know Wall Street isn't keen on this idea, but if these firms can afford to hand out big bonuses again, they can afford a modest fee to pay back the taxpayers who rescued them in their time of need."  (he said last night) -- but really, you taxpayers can't have it either, on second thought I think we need to give that money to small community banks instead, so that they can in turn loan it to those companies who expand or increase wages. 

Control. Regulate.  Control.  Regulate. Punish.  Fine. Tax Break.  Regulate. Control...that's how government works and the people don't.

"Now, I know that some in my own party will argue that we can't address the deficit or freeze government spending when so many are still hurting. And I agree, which is why this freeze won't take effect until next year, when the economy is stronger. That's how budgeting works." 

What?


Governor Bob McDonnell gave the customary rebuttal immediately following the State of the Dysfunction and pointed out the real "common sense" solutions (why it is so funny to hear Obama say those words last night, I don't know...)

Beginning with the first priority:  RESTORE proper limited government at every level.

One of his finest lines of the short response was a reminder from our founding fathers, saying :

"A government closest to the people governs best."

I would imagine McDonnell went to work this morning preparing to be the first to drill off the state of Virginia before the President changes his mind.  While last night, he laid out immediate no fault solutions to health care that wouldn't cost a dime -- other than the embarrassment of taking a year to do something with nothing to show for it -- and without it taking 200 attorneys and 2000 pages of legislation that nobody truly understands for trillions of dollars; and added the simple truth, and cornerstone of this nation, that "no government program can ever replace people caring for another" -- a little concept we Americans embrace every day.

And more real common sense ideas can be found at: http://www.solutions.gop.gov/

To say there was disappointment when Obama did not acknowledge the two officers, Sgt's. Munley and Todd -- who stopped Nadal Malik Hasan -- after they were expressly invited to sit next to Michelle is probably an understatement, maybe that's just G.  Did he mention Fort Hood or the Christmas Day bomber at all? Given the issues as to how we responded, the subsequent reporting of what happened, and how we intend to provide a couple of terrorists an opportunity to defend themselves in civilian courts,  I guess I would avoid it at all costs, too. 

Granted, it isn't a pleasant conversation to have with the American people, I know, but was this just an attempt to forget that it ever happened?  I would bet terrorists were listening somewhere in the hills of Afghanistan or streets of Yemen and hanging on his every word -- or maybe they have already figured this president out and didn't believe anything earth shattering would change. Time will tell. 

I think what pleased G most last night was the clear limitation of the use of his favorite phrases:

"Let me be clear"

"Make no mistake"

"I inherited"

He's getting more clever, I guess, in saying the same thing but different; in the end, this may equate to a one-term president of mediocrity with a lot of pomp, Plouffe, campaign and circumstance -- all he needs is a wig.

Make it a Good Day, G

Dear America,

Happy Wednesday...

aka National Hump Day for this presidency.

I wonder what we will be chatting about tomorrow? 
Will he do it?  Will he crack us one more time? 

Will His Eloquency turn the tide, make peace with the prevailing winds of disaster, and bring down the house in shouts of praise and adoration -- only for the hour he speaks -- or will it be a lasting impression, one that can survive under the rubble of an America we can no longer recognize, and bring new life in all of us (not just to those who idolize the man)?

We shall see.

One thing I would like to hear is an apology...

My fellow Americans,


I am deeply saddened by my behavior over the last several months, dating back to the very first day in office.  I never should have said I would close Gitmo right out of the gate -- that was naive of me, and only showed the world just how unprepared I was to take the nation's highest honor, that of being Commander in Chief.  Make no mistake -- The world -- it's complicated.


My other not so finest hour was bowing to world powers all over the place, embarrassing myself and this great country of ours and apologizing for a few things that actually make America truly remarkable...now that was acting stupidly...  So let me be clear about this -- I know now, for I  have seen it in action over the last couple of weeks in Haiti -- that our compassion for all people, not just ourselves runs far and wide in this wonderful land of the free and home of the brave.  I have never been more proud to be President of this country than I am right now.  [and maybe even showing some emotion here]


I realize -- while it may have taken some time, I know -- but I realize just how great the nation I inherited truly is. I have inherited, by virtue of your trust and confidence, a mighty nation who serves and stands for one thing -- and that, my fellow Americans, is Freedom -- liberty and justice for all.  I would like to take a moment and give a little shout out to footsteps I follow, G-Dub, thank you for creating the opportunity for me to come in, for passing along to me not only my greatest challenge but an extraordinary gift.  Thank you [motioning a chest pump and a salute towards Texas].


I realize, too, that I have veered more often than I should have in this first year, taken my eye off the ball -- what comes to mind in this moment of reflection, is the err to hop across the pond, taking with me a jet full of celebrity and arrogance, only to be shut down by the powers that be who apparently were mightier than me.  I wanted Chicago to win the bid so bad, I could have tasted it...I sure wish I could blame Bushie for this one, but in any event, Rio, I wish you every success that should have been mine, no hard feelings, yo?


I know, too, that I said in July, we had to have a health care package before I would let anyone in congress leave for their summer vacation -- then I said  we have plenty of time -- then Pelosi said we didn't -- then Reid said it had to be done before thanksgiving, before Christmas, before the State of the Union -- oops, that's tonight -- moveon.org shall we...So here we are, no health care yet, but make no mistake, we will have it, just not sure when, this is hard, being in charge of a bunch of bumbling idiots that only make me look bad. 


Rest assured, I am listening to you -- all of you, even you tea party fanatics and all you old people with nothing better to do but attend a town hall meeting when the better thing to do would be to take a vacation -- you know like normal people,go to Europe or Hawaii -- maybe that only happens for people I surround myself with, don't know. 


Anyway, I hear you loud and clear:  you don't want this 1 Trillion dollar health care package that still won't fix the problems and still won't cover the uninsured -- I get that.  I will only do what's in your best interests -- deficit neutral, even if I have to fudge the numbers -- and it must not burden our children, only the rich kids...only kidding -- really, I hear you.  It may not look like it, but I hear everything you say.  It only appears like I am ignoring you -- it only seems that way because I have inherited such a mess I know nothing about.  


Seriously, I know in the campaign I sounded ready to take it all on -- including Afghanistan, that that was the war we had to win, that was where our resources and attention should be all along;  I knew,  being a part of congress and all, that good ole Barney Frank there, and Chris Dodd [pointing out to the left side], put us in harms way with the Fannie and Freddie fiasco -- I knew what was going in. 


As a Senator, I watched our nation go further into debt to save special banks and insurance companies and investment bankers -- it's not like I didn't know what was going on, ya know.  I was there.  I saw the writing on the wall -- as I'm just that good -- and I still wanted this job -- how's that for showing a little commander in chief special qualities, huh? I saw the dangers lurking on every horizon and didn't think twice about it.  In spite of all the troubles and all the nation's worries and all of the immediate actions it would require of me, I wanted this job, more than I wanted Chicago to host the Olympics -- and my ability to take it ALL ON AT ONCE should speak for itself and prove my every good intention and the faith I have in my own abilities.


One thing I wish I could take back were all the times I said on my campaign that I would put the health care debate on C-Span -- nix-ay on the upid stay -- clearly, I made a mistake here and wish for goodness sake I could just take them all back -- all six, eight, who do we appreciate, each and every one of them.  Enough said. 


No, it's not enough -- I guess by now you have figured out that the honorable Mr. Wilson was right about a little thing under wraps and undercover in the old health care bill, the HR3020, the one that didn't make the cut -- if we were on C-span the whole time, you would know just how right he was, but I digress.  SO let's just have a rounding chorus of "you lie" here all at once and get it out of the way...on a count of three...


As we have learned desperately over the course of the last year, in order to move forward we must not look back, ever.  Even if that requires of us to disavow every promise we made to ourselves at the birth of this great nation.  Our founding fathers -- those crazy characters whom so many of you cling to at will and unafraid --could no more come up with a health care plan either, okay? They didn't know then, and certainly wouldn't have a clue now, what it takes to prosper and grow a modern world -- have no idea...as we're not talkin just about America anymore. are we?  No, we have higher aspirations, a higher calling, and stronger urgency about us and evils we must fight -- the overbearing live free or die patriots amongst us.  Holding tight there to your guns and religion, I see, and posing a more serious threat than I previously thought.


Oh darn it, some of your children may be listening, to all you kids -- read your American history [looking down and without conviction], it's important [clearing his throat as it is really hard to put it to words], just keep it in perspective and understand that progress requires us to take a more progressive stance, if you will, it's not like they were bad, or evil, or lacked intelligence, they could only do so much, you know, and this goes for your folks, too...  Now we must sally forth and change everything, in order to make a more perfect union, as the one in place holds way too many limitations.


Moving along, considering how important the war on human error, not terror, is to the security of this great country, we have had to make some changes -- we have had to take action immediately --except for that tragedy beyond comprehension at Fort Hood [hey hey up there findng his beautiful wife, Michele, and letting the audience applause for Sargent's Munley and Todd] and that tiny little flair up on Christmas day in Detroit -- all of my grand and glorious efforts have centered around this task right from the start, don't you see that?  I wish it didn't take so long to meet with my newly appointed General McCrystal.  I managed to find an hour on the tarmac in between the big diss from the Olympic Committee and much needed R&R in Paris.  But, what's done, is done.


The task of bringing in 30,000 more troops was daunting; that took time, but I had to reassure my constituency that the decision was not taken too lightly or too hard [making him think of a beer commercial in his head and cracking an inappropriate corner smile].  Oh my friends, it was all about how I would look, you know, and I didn't want to err in either direction -- which is why when I finally made the announcement in front of all of you cadets out there at West Point, that I appeared bored with myself, I wanted to look like that.  TO give too much emotion would have made me look like a war-monger, anything less, would have put you to sleep [ah oh] maybe we should just continue...


I do have a vision for America's future; but right now, I'm just having a hard time not understanding why you all aren't happy with just allowing me do what I wanna do.  Remember, I was the one who told you that we were "five days away from fundamentally transforming America"  -- what part of that did you not understand?  My mother and father were both socialists, people.  Hello?  What did you think you were gonna get when you hired me?


But all that aside -- especially, every act of desperation of the last year --  I want to give you all jobs.  That's what my goal is today -- the government is hiring all kinds of people right now, and as the fastest growing employer, we are proud to say that we offer the best benefits money can buy, because we can, because we don't really pay for anything, you actually do, but that's not the point I wanna make here.  I can make jobs happen and on the seventh day, I will rest  -- as I have earmarked and invested 787 Billion dollars on you to make it happen -- adjusting for the recent increase in the actual cost of that program via our fine officers of the Congressional Budget Office, we're a little off, it costs about 75 Billion more than we first thought, poppycock, details.  And doncha know, I'm gonna put a freeze on everything we really don't need from here on out.


I have a vision, a dream if you will, that all of us will share everything we have -- equally and proportionately to every one's ability -- so that all Americans can be beholden to the same dream, the same ideals, the same wish that not one American stands out over another.  Our greatness should be of equal portion -- our compassion should look the same for all -- our homes should shelter a robotic nation proud to create children indoctrinated by a school system who blatantly changes history right before our eyes.  That they should grow up and live in a world where America is just one small piece of the global economy -- one that prioritizes the needs of third world countries over the gluttony of the western world; that our children become attorney's to settle the score for all the disenchanted, become doctor's making minimum wage out of the goodness of their own heart, and work for green companies, and green companies only, all the rest of you need not apply, or become actors.


This is the American dream I will protect all the days of my presidency; I will not give up...while if any of you think I'm tired yet, guess again, I'm just getting started.

So on this day, may we push the re-set button and press forward, leaving the days of yore gone in sixty seconds, welcoming in a new era, and collectively enjoying the fruits of our labor all together, and separately, according to every special interest and lobby known to man -- just one more thing I said I would never let in the front door, but truth is, one lie just leads to another, it's complicated like that, which is how this day got started.   I better stop while I think I'm still ahead in the polls.

Thank you, America, for putting your faith in me.
God Bless you and may God Bless America, or not,
praise Allah,
namaste',
peace be with you,
 
Oh my, and to Hopenhagen -- almost nearly forgot -- my most heartfelt apology cries out to you yet, as I thought it would have been enough just for me to show up -- may I offer up my sincere condolences.  While you must know,  you live forever in our hearts and minds. 
 
Oh snap, and to Coakley, Deeds and what's that other guy, the one from Jersey, right, Corzine -- mia culpa, my friends, better luck next time, my advice is to do a little something that I like to do and blame it on Bush -- as make no mistake,  it just couldn't have anything to do with me.  


So, we will see what the big guy says -- one thing's for sure, no matter what comes out of his mouth, it will not dissappoint.

Make it a Good Day, G