It’s summertime. That means it’s hot, humid, I’m spending my days getting filthy dirty, and trying to figure out how to fix things like these. No time for profundity – too much rotten wood to be dealt with!
Currently I have several of THESE in the works. Couple that with the dog days that are coming and I won’t be very prolific here for a while!
Update: News HERE seems to be all positive about “effectively ending the gusher.” So why did this take so long?
Since I mentioned the campaign for one of North Carolina’s U. S. Senate seats in the previous post… And since the attack ads have already begun… I figured I should go ahead and post this.
It’s not funny. I know that. It actually is a little bit… despicable? Making use of an unprecedented disaster to “score” a political point? I guess that word (despicable) works as good as any.
But I confess – I laughed. God help me, I did. (Now I feel a bit dirty myself.)
Stay tuned – there will be an attack ad against Elaine Marshall along any day now. You can count on that.
On Monday Robert Byrd, Senator from West Virginia died. He was the longest serving Senator in American history, having been elected to a 9th term in the Senate in 2006 and serving for 51 years.
Respected by many, criticized by perhaps just as many (He never met “pork” he didn’t like!), he holds a rather unique record – in fact two records. His three terms and six years in the House of Representatives representing the West Virginia 6th district make his total of 56 years in Congress another record.
Both are records that won’t quickly be broken, according to most news reporters and political pundits.
Both are records that I believe SHOULD NEVER be broken. With all due respect, 51 years in the Senate is too long. One of the most pernicious aspects of American politics at the moment is this strange sense of entitlement our elected representatives seem to have – not toward the districts and states they represent – but toward themselves. The win-at-all-costs mindset that pushes a candidate to practically do anything, make any promise, tell any lie to win the next election, then conveniently forget those promises made is perhaps one of, if not the most telling, contributing factors to an approval rating that should embarrass every person who walks the halls of our Capitol. (Last week, 12 % of Americans thought Congress was doing a good job.)
Am I the only person troubled by this? An evaluation of such poor performance that would see any other worker – in any other profession – fired for cause is business as usual for those who have perhaps fed at the legislative trough just a bit too long? I’m not at all sure this was what our founders had in mind when they crafted this “representative” democracy.
So… as I say, with all due respect, let’s at least deal with one of the “elephants” in the room. (No political pun intended.) As an independent voter with left-leaning tendencies, I really do vote my conscience in any election. In our past gubernatorial election, I cast my vote for the libertarian candidate even though I knew he had little chance of winning. But listening to him, reading his positions, and believing what he said was important enough to support him. (And sure, I’ve listened to all these folks rant and rave how my support cost this guy the election.)
Moving forward: I hereby pledge that I’m willing to cast my vote to either Elaine Marshall or Richard Burr, based on nothing more than ONE SPECIFIC ISSUE. That’s it – I’ll swallow all the others, be it abortion rights, gun control, illegal immigration, tax cuts… they don’t matter. Mr. Burr, Ms. Marshall: Promise me that you will support term limits for ALL elected offices and I’m in. Promise me that you’ll call it quits at two terms and if nominated will decline to serve another, you’ve got me. Mr. Burr, that means this coming one is it: Prove to me you’re done after this next term and I’ll find an absentee ballot next week. Ms. Marshall, show me you mean it and I’ll order my bumper stickers today. Make your plans now to join the lobby firm you’ve got picked out, get elected, serve, and move on to make a million bucks lobbying your successors. That’ll do… for a start.
We’ve got serious problems. Everyone seems to know that. What I don’t understand is why so many politicians keep telling us how “experienced” they are at being a politician… like that somehow is going to help or reassure us in any way. Some records should not be broken. Senator Byrd’s is one of those.
Friday night… watching television… and “Whale Wars” comes on.
I’ve watched a few episodes now – and I’m wondering if it’s just me, or does anyone else think the same thing?…
That these folks seem to be the most stupid people ever to take to the open ocean in ships? I’m having a hard time wondering how on earth they keep raising enough money to do their “thing” if people actually watch these shows and see their absolutely stupid, amateurish, foolish antics. I mean, how can these folks keep screwing up the way they do? Unless this is just another version of “reality” TV?
Don’t get me wrong – I’m totally opposed to whaling by the countries that continue to defy international law and treaties. I just don’t think these folks are our best effort by any stretch of the imagination. Check them out – or watch an episode or two. I’d love to know what others think.
Watch and learn… and be afraid… be very afraid…
File this one in the “truth is stranger than fiction” folder!
1986 – a transition year for me – from the old life to the new…
And these guys’ music was brand new and fresh… like it sounds tonight!
There aren’t all that many bands or musicians left that I still have vinyl from. This one deserves to be listened to. Too bad that there’s no live version of Tsunami.
Listen… and enjoy. Remember the 80s when you do!
To listen to a true master – no lights, no jumping around, no… ANYTHING most folks think of when they think “concert…” But true magic, that’s certainly true.
Keith Jarrett is truly one of our generation’s masters.
