Unfit to serve

I read an article today that characterized the youth of our nation as unfit to serve in the military.  Retired General Wesley went so far as to say this constitutes an national security threat.

As a father I helped raised two children and both are in the age group referenced in the article.  One child went to Iraq and came back safely.  The other is in college working towards an engineer degree.  Both were active in high school sports and have an appreciation for exercise in their adult life.

So here come the rant, I do not believe that their lifestyle is unfit.  I believe they can achieve what they set out to accomplish.  I believe the threat to them is the future of America.

I'll clarify that by saying that I love America.  I don't love our leadership and the decision making at our government level.  Our government is corrupt.  We just do not use that word.

We choose to say special interest groups.  We choose to say bipartisan politics.  We choose to say in the best interest of America.

How dare our public leaders say our children are a threat to our national security when the decision makers in Washington chose to waste our youth on a poorly defined war.  You throw on top of that a president who is selling out our troops and what you have left is nothing but an insult.

Our youth deserve to grow up happy and without the stresses we face today.  Parents losing jobs separating under the stress of today's economic pressures, doubt, uncertainty, double digit unemployment, they deserve a dream of happiness for their future.

Leaders who can not lead resort to blame.  Take a look at the finger pointer and you find a failed leader.

Our children should not be told they are unfit to die in a distant war. 

Obama's Popularity Freefall

How hard and how fast?  Are these the only two questions left for our president to answer?    Is it any wonder that his own freefall from nine months ago is mirroring main street   America’s freefall?

Where are the declarations of change, hope for the future, America’s shining beacon?   Where’s our hero? 

Obama was criticized in his campaign for changing opinions.  Criticized for telling America what it wanted to hear.  In my opinion it was just criticism.  His magical ride on the bumbling coat tails of his predecessor George Bush came to a rude awakening when of responsibility landed on his shoulders. 

An awakening not smoothed over so easily with political rhetoric; an awakening of indecision over the Afghan war; an awakening over a selfish bipartisan congress; an awakening that his most prominent accomplishment to date has been his spectacular freefall in popularity.

Others will argue that he is getting what’s coming to him…I would not go quite that far, but I will say he is getting what he asked for a presidency in the middle of an economic recession.    It should come as no surprise that his popularity will rise or fall further on economic outcomes for the very segment of society he campaigned to help.

Dick Cheney recently focused harsh criticism towards Obama for his lack of decisions and lack of support for our troops.  Dick did you do a good job with the same issue?   Words of advice for Obama do not go hunting with Dick.

So how hard and how fast will Obama fall?  How long will America reel from the impact of his weakening leadership? 

As long as Americans are left wanting it’s going to be a rough road.  I won’t dance on your grave or declare political incompetency, I will hope you have something in you that can set America back on track.  We have been hurting too long now.

Cass Sunstein what are you thinking?

Our newly confirmed regulatory czar believes it’s ok to harvest organs from helpless patients without consent.

He postures in his book that the state owns the rights to body parts. Funny I think I overlooked that in the Bill of Rights. We as individuals have the right to donate organs and perpetuate health and life in strangers. We have the right to choose.

What happens to the ethics of dying with dignity? We have the right to formulate advance directives. To make decisions regarding life sustaining measures. We have the right not to be placed on machines or to have invasive procedures performed. We have the right to face our death hopefully with the support of family and loved ones.

How could anyone choose to willingly impose more anxiety during an already emotional time? Who wants to wake up every day with the task of carving up people for parts? How do you explain this decision? Dear Mr. and Mrs. Smith sorry your mom is dying and by the way she really doesn’t need to see you sobbing over her so we are going to arrange to remove her corneas today. Please do not worry we will pump her full of drugs and she won’t feel a thing.

How insane is such a concept? Cass Sunstein what do you put on your Wheaties in the morning?

He also makes the statement that harvesting organs from involuntary donors would not be impossible to defend. Pay a lawyer enough money and anything can be defended. What’s your point here? The idea is wrong, wrong and wrong.

What do you think is the idea of harvesting organs relevant to everyday people?

More Disturbing News

Its getting hard to find good news the kind that makes you smile and lifts your heart.  I don't know why its so hard I know I have to reach deep inside sometimes to find the motivation that just a few years earlier ran with endless passion.

I read today an article discussing the status of the Social Security System, a system as we know we pay into.  Every payday its there on your pay stub a percent to the medicare program and a percent to the retirement program.  The article states costs will out strip revenue by 2016 and the systems trust fund will cover the deficit through 2037.

Hey maybe that's when I'm supposed to pass on to the next life.  I'll be 81 by then and a little short on time to explore and discover my inner self.

So what's the answer?  Let congress legislate changes to keep the system going?  No Congress can't get it together on the issue of health care reform so why should we expect anything different with social security  Hope it gets better?  Hope inspires people to want to change it won't change a system on its own. 

Look to me...nope I'm working towards just paying the bills.

What's you idea?  What's your solution?

The Debate over Health Care Reform

Do you ever have one of those nights when you just can't sleep?  I do not often, but last night was one of them.  I was surfing the web and reading redent articles on Obamas health care reform "push". 

Aside fro the main points of the debate which are 1. Public Insurance, 2. Mandated Insurance, 3. Expansion of current programs,4. Regulation of private insurance and 5. Who Pays the rest of what I read drew me back to the absurd mess on capitol hill.

If Obama really wanted to reform health care why did he charge congress with the task of authoring a bill?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't greed, favoritism, and back door deals still a part of normal congressional business?  One article stated both democrats and republicans are unsatisfied.  I hope that wasn't meant to be a late breaking exclusive.

Another article quoted a freshman democrat as saying it is better to get it right than to get it done.  What does that mean?  Yes its typical promotional rhetoric.  But what is right if nothing changes and nothing is accomplished?

One of my favorite quotes is from Obama stating Americans have forgotten just how bad things were when he took over office.  Wait let me think on this one.  Dear Mr. President what has gotten better?

Maybe what is truly being forgotten here is that talking is not doing.  Debate is supposed to be a process leading to action not an end in itself.  I would love to believe in affordable health care, I truly would.  I think what I will end up with is rising costs, less discretionary income and maybe more sleepless nights.

No, I haven't forgotten how difficult things are...

Have You?

Has the Bail Out Worked for You

Just about a year  ago I became interested in the news.  I had a reason like most the economic news was changing rapidly.  For many the changes were life altering in so many wrong ways. I guess through all that has happened an economic bailout here a new president there...I am wondering is it working for you?

For me I will shout out loud noooo way.  About two months after the bailout trickled money into the banking system I read an article about a bank that shall be nameless because it doesn't matter...I read how this bank received bailout money when it never really needed it and subsequently hosted a corporate party complete with a Sheryl Crowe concert.

Now maybe I'm wrong her but isn't that just a little stupid?  Here's the math on that Bank + corp bail out = big party and concert - lost home - lost job = FUBAR.

I used to believe years ago that it was frivolous to vote because it encouraged politicians to believe that they did something meaningful.  Well time changed that into your vote counts and I could not complain if I did not vote.

I voted ...I don't see a difference, but I have a right,

Hey George Bush the bail out did not work, the war in Iraq is not working, the war in Afghanistan is not working.

We followed the French into Indonesia and we did not win there.  Why is it any different following the  Russians into Afghanistan?

Why is the Iraq war censored so stringently...and please don't say it is not.

Why was the consumer not bailed out?  We would have spent the money on bills, food, necessities...probably not Sheryl Crowe concert tickets.

For the record I love Sheryl Crowe's music and think she is awesome just don't believe the economic bailout was so awesome.

comments questions ...dare to make a statement?

Dancing with the Stars

Okay who loves this show...I do...I do,,,I admit I do.  I love the grace and beauty of dancing...this is coming from what could be your worst nightmare...a white boy without rythm.  Yes its sad to say there is nothing worst on a dance floor.

Enough about that let's talk about the sculptured beauty of a dance pro.  Male or female atleticisam, grace, style and beauty is just simply a joy to watch.  Of course there have been a few not so hotties...the apple computer guy ..you make great computers and please stay with what you do best.

May I add the costume designers for the show your designs are first beautiful, second beautiful, and lastly beautiful.

please keep bringing it ...I love the show.

How about you, like it, love it or leave it?

Sunday Morning

Woke up early today and had time to make some coffee and get on the internet and browse through whatever seemed relevant.   The house is quiet no pressures or stresses of the week and I got to thinking about my favorite things to do on a Sunday.

     1.  Lie in bed and listen to the fountain outside my bedroom window.
           The constant sound of water in motion has a calming appeal.  It reminds me of growing up on the     
           east coast and playing near a creek bed.
     2.  Making coffee
           I love the smell of fresh ground coffee and the first sip...need I say more
     3.  Practicing Yoga
           Balancing mind, body and spirit....

     4. Finishing the movie I started to watch the night before
          At least I don't have insomnia
     5. Finish a Soduko puzzle
          Not the worst addiction to have especially for someone like me who is obsessive compulsive

So what are your favorite Sunday morning habits or self indulgent treats?

The Perfect Margarita

The perfect margarita ranks in my top ten list under pursuit of happiness. Why...? Because of the following recipe
     6 limes
     2 lemons
     1 orange
     Patron Citronge
     Grand Marnier
     Tequila preferably  Cazadores

Juice the fruit electric juicer of course this should not be hard work Salt the rim of the glass add ice (1) generous shot of tequila, fresh juice, (1) shot each of citronge and grand marnier and one more shot of tequila on top of that, give it a half stir and enjoy

Please feel free to send or post comments about your favorite margarita recipe

Football is back again

The season's started, beer is chilling , and there is enough chips and salsa for the next four weeks.  My favorite team if you want to know is the Pittsburgh Steelers...  Growing up near Pittsburgh was football heaven  Legendary icons like Mean Joe Grean, Jack Lambert, Mel Blount, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Mike Webster...the lists go on.  It wasn't always all glory and swagger. I remember watching Bradshaw in his first starting season...third and 64 was a common theme.

So why passion for football and not baseball.  Well I guess its because in baseball the perfect game is a game of catch... nothing really happens until nine guys collectively try 27 times to reach first base and don't succeed. 

Football on the other hand is entertaining on so many levels...have you ever been to a Raider's game?  Raider games are like Halloween meets extreme fighting.  You really can't get much better than that and the way that team plays nowadays it's more fun to watch the seats...a lot more action happening there.

Other pluses its a good reason to get drunk before noon, posture with bravado and swagger and second guess everything

Do I really need this...?

This is the first afterwards some posts are meaningful and some will be completely irrelevant. 

Social Phenomena #1  Guy with big truck...is it really necessary to drive down the highway and ride up right behind someone in the slow lane...I mean they are already in the right lane and you are not... So why is it necessary to drive like and idiot... Is the truck an extension of your penis?...Inquiring minds don't really need to know ...we are merely annoyed.   Thinking of writing to beer company and suggesting u for "real men of genius ad"  Oh and by the way the person driving the car was an older woman...genius