So today is 12-22-12.  Below is a story of the Old World known as Earth I. That world ended yesterday if you didn't notice.  I did.  And I'm sure many of you did, too.  So, please remember the new rules of Earth II:

I. Be kind to everyone, even your waitress and the greeter at Walmart.
II. Hug your kids at least 5 times a day and check their homework.  
III. Take an opportunity at least twice a day to make someone else smile
IV. Remember RAOK (Random acts of kindness) 
V. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

Thus there is no need for guns or the NRA.  Obama and the Republicans will hug.  Trump will stop talking and get a haircut.  Murdoch will give ALL of his $ to Operation Smile.  Lindsay Lohan will join a convent.  Honey Boo Boo and her mother will go vegan.  The Cubs will win the World Series. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will  rent a nice summer cottage in Miami next door to Benjamin Netanyahu and they'll play pinochle every night for Hanukkah gelt.  Apple and Samsung will make nice and give away free computers to everyone in the new world.  Arabs and Palestinians and Israelis will join hands and sing IMAGINE, GIVE PEACE A CHANCE, and ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE! 

Let's make it happen...TODAY!!!

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20121221_World_War_II_survivor_of_a_dark_day.html#recent_comm

Armed, dangerous, and unaware

The NRA defends it's stance by quoting the Second Amendment.  I would advise them to read Alexander Hamilton's analysis in Federalist #29.  The intent, following the Revolutionary War, was how to protect the State (meaning a state such as NY, not the US as a whole) from foreign incursion.  It is important to remember that when the Amendment was written the US had no standing army due to fears of a potential monarchy subsidized by a strong military alliance.  Thus the need for local militia for protection. Militias were local, and the need was there for them to be trained to be ready at any time for service.  Thus they needed to be armed as well as ready.  The Amendment is written as one function, the need for armed militia.  If there were two separate functions it would have been written thus: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, [AND] the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."  The Amendment read in conjunction with Federalist #29 is clear.  Hamilton's analysis was used to limit gun rights right through until 1939, when the Supreme Court heard a gun case, but not until 2008 were the limits removed. Claiming the right to own weapons as a Constitutional right is in error.  The right came directly from a conservative Supreme Court which used their authority to usurp the Constitution and become legislators rather than judges.  

OUCH!

Many things on the conservative agenda strike me as not only odd but also un-American.  First, abortion rights.  If Roe v Wade is overturned it will give the Fed control of American women's bodies.  I do not condone abortion.  But I do think that those who cry out for less government need to understand where this may possibly lead.  Beside the obvious illegal abortions, what about men?  Men are half of the story, correct?  Women are not asexual.  They need a partner in order to become pregnant.  Who is to say that vasectomy may be next?  If the Fed can control a woman's body, why not a man's?  Perhaps those crusty old men on the religious right might think twice about limiting a woman's right to control her own body if there's was also controlled.  Is this far fetched?  Not at all when there is talk of involuntary vasectomy for rapists.  Once the Fed steps into this area there will be no stopping them.  

A reminder to the far right Tea Party.  Someone once said, "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 

John Quincy Adams

If you are sick and tired of Washington and the lack of concern for the real issues rather than attacks, you really should read Harlow Unger's biography of John Quincy Adams. JQA gets short changed by historians, but we really need someone like him to lead our country. He was a man of principles, did not give in to the worst of politics, never sought office but was often chosen, fought against slavery and nullification, helped establish the Smithsonian Institution, and was without doubt our greatest and most qualified Secretary of State. His career extended from watching the battle at Bunker Hill with his mother at age seven, to passing away on the floor of Congress at age 80.  He was ambassador to Russia among other European nations.  As Secretary of State under James Monroe he initiated what became the Monroe Doctrine.  He and his father, the second president, were the only two non-Virginians to win the presidency and the only two to serve only one term among the first six elected to office.  Adams antagonized every president from Jefferson to Monroe to Jackson, to varying degrees, but Jackson led to his failure as chief executive.  But JQA rebounded by becoming a man of the people while serving in Congress.  Sadly, he is forgotten and usually ranked with the worst of presidents, well deserved.  Greatly misunderstood, hopefully others will reassess Adams through Unger's book.

Monday morning quarterbacks

The Monday morning political analysts are hurling barbs at BHO, and partially they are correct. He was a somnambulist on stage and didn't come off as the orator we are used to. But, isn't it easier for Romney to be critical of the POTUS who has been there than it is for the incumbent to defend himself. After all, Obama has tried and the Repubs from day one have undermined him every step of the way. So Romney lies his way through the debate and just because he seems chippie they claim him the winner. Well, when you are the POTUS you have more on your mind than a debate, or you should. And it's much easier for Romney to throw crap against the wall that nobody will remember just a month from now. Hopefully the American voters will READ the debate rather than judge by the TV version. The debate reminded me of the little drops of sweat on Nixon's upper lip during the Kennedy debates in 1960. Yes, I do remember that and many people believed that was a sign that Nixon wasn't quite presidential enough. They later changed their minds but that's another story. So, as I told my daughter Anna, don't just watch them, read them. And remember that it's easier to be on the offense when you have nothing to lose.

A sandwich with just bread

Does a debate without any real meat persuade anyone to vote for either candidate? Romney completely threw his campaign speeches under the bus. Obama was lackluster and looked as though he would rather have been having a 20th anniversary dinner with the Mrs. But in the long run, to me, it shows how our system no longer works. Two candidates is just not enough to choose from. There was no real concrete difference between the two of them because all we heard were empty words. Ugh.

Mitt and Newt...a laugh riot...

Listen Mitt, about the debate with the POTUS, be sure to use more of that tanning lotion and be sure to crack a couple of jokes.  Maybe a few about not overpaying your taxes...oops not that one.  Or maybe something about 47% of Americans are moochers...maybe not that one either.  Hey, how about a knee slapper about how the Palestinians can't compete...er maybe not so funny.  I've got it, tell one about Michelle making pancakes with her pearls on...oh, that was Ann?  This is getting tough.  I heard one the other day about how many Iranians does it take to develop nuclear rods...can't remember the punch line.  Maybe you can tell one about drinking cool-aid with the Tea Party fruitcakes.  That would be funny...get it...cool-aid Tea Party.  Yuk.  Got it!  Tell one about how the uninsured won't die at home because they can use the emergency room at their local hospital.  That was pretty funny.  Oh, you weren't joking?  Maybe those funny guys over at FoxGOPNews can give you some ideas 'cause I gotta go pee.