Quote of the Day
We have, I fear, confused power with greatness.
Stewart Udall
Post # 900
With my third anniversary late next month, I never really expected almost daily posts. The observant reader knows that my current miscellany format (with occasional alternative posts) began on a regular basis back in November 2009, although I started publishing it on a semi-regular basis about 6 months earlier. I earnestly thought that I would run out of comments to make to push regularly--I don't like repeating myself. No, it turns out in posting to this blog, writer's block definitely has not been an issue. I have, of course, rephrased some salient arguments.
For example, I find it incredulous that up to 15% of GOP voters would vote for Sarah Palin to be President, but then I remember reading that most Democrats were very satisfied with their 2008 choice between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, neither of whom had salient administrative experience (but in fact were unaccomplished junior senators in their first or second term in office). The supporters of these politicians may be outraged by this comparison, but I really think all of these politicians are different sides of the same coin. They engage in red meat politics, are more interested in political spin and one liners than substance, and aren't very creative or constructive from a policy standpoint; they play the victim card, speak from a perspective of political correctness, and refuse to accept responsibility for their performance.
Whoops! Obama's In The (Hot) Doghouse With Michelle!
For example, I find it incredulous that up to 15% of GOP voters would vote for Sarah Palin to be President, but then I remember reading that most Democrats were very satisfied with their 2008 choice between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, neither of whom had salient administrative experience (but in fact were unaccomplished junior senators in their first or second term in office). The supporters of these politicians may be outraged by this comparison, but I really think all of these politicians are different sides of the same coin. They engage in red meat politics, are more interested in political spin and one liners than substance, and aren't very creative or constructive from a policy standpoint; they play the victim card, speak from a perspective of political correctness, and refuse to accept responsibility for their performance.
Whoops! Obama's In The (Hot) Doghouse With Michelle!
I should post this in my nutritional blog, but I can't resist... I'll never forget the first time I tried to eat a hot dog in Chicago. I honestly thought the vendor was going to take back the hot dog and refund my money rather than to helplessly stand by while some uncultured barbarian defiled his glorious sausage with ketchup. I never realized there were unwritten laws about condiments; my mom didn't realize that raising me. Thank God there wasn't a nearby Chicago cop to write me a ticket....
Obama, a Chi-town politico, gently explained to Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur her faux pas at the Toledo Rudy's Hot Dog as he wolfed down two chili dogs and fries. With a bottle of ketchup in front of him. (Now this is a personal preference but since my first trips to McDonald's as a kid, I have always loved lightly-salted shoestring french fries--without ketchup. I have never quite understood why someone would need to mask the taste of delicious Idaho potatoes. Unfortunately, as a lower-carb dieter, I almost never eat potatoes.) But I do understand the Chicagoan sensitivity about ketchup. I have a brother-in-law whom eats ketchup--on everything. It really didn't bother me that much until we sat down at a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner; he had a generous slice of succulent, steaming turkey breast which he promptly doused in ketchup, and my 3 young beautiful blond nieces followed in turn. I wanted to cry. (Turkey is my favorite food.)
Obama had two chili dogs and fries. But what would Dietitian in Chief Michelle Obama say, after introducing choosemyplate.gov? What's not to like about the all-American hot dog, with its typically high doses of fat, sodium and nitrates? A chili dog typically consists of over a gram of salt and more than 20 grams of fat, roughly half of it saturated, and up to 30 grams or more of carbohydrates. Two chili dogs exceed the total recommended daily saturated fat consumption and almost a full day's intake of salt--and that's before the President attacks his fries. Most nutritionists frown on deep-fried foods (heating vegetable oil can result in trans fats, which raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol), starchy vegetables like potatoes are high in carbs, and don't get me started on counting ketchup as a vegetable....
Libya Intervention Policy Rebuke: Thumbs UP!
At first I was supportive of a measured Goldilocks-style intervention because of Qaddafi's open threats to commit war crimes on unarmed civilian supporters of the revolutionary opposition. Still, I was troubled by the moral hazard that basically relieves the global and regional community of any "bad cop" responsibilities or necessary mechanism for rapid intervention under genocidal conditions. It seems Americans and the British pay a disproportionate portion of blood and treasure, while other nations like China empathize with the victims of cowboy diplomacy and are eager to exploit any resolution with lucrative commercial contracts.
President Obama is playing games with the Constitution; the Constitution on matters of military affairs is unambiguous: the ultimate responsibility rests with the people through their elected representatives whom must approve funding. The President cannot simply pay lip service to the Congress' authority in these matters and unilaterally decide the nature and timing of his briefing: the Constitution provides a check against a warmongering President. Yesterday I would have voted in favor of House Conference Resolution 51 to remove the US military from Libya within 15 days in accordance with the War Powers Act, which lost 148-265 (ironically over half of the ayes came from GOP members). I would have supported an earlier, weaker compromise resolution Resolution 292 which chastised the President for not provided a suitable rationale for our ongoing operation and demanded a detailed report within 2 weeks, which did carry 268-145.
Donate to Yellow Ribbon Fund;
Get Stevie Nick's Track Download Free
Donations start at just $1.99; any Fleetwood Mac fan like me rejoices at a renewed collaboration between the extraordinarily talented songwriters/performers Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. Props to Stevie, whose loving heart shines through the song's lyrics.
What does the Yellow Ribbon Fund do?
Since the Yellow Ribbon Fund first began five years ago, we have stayed true to our mission of welcoming our injured service members home. We do this through our transportation program of free rental cars for family members and cab vouchers; our lodging program of hotel rooms and apartments; our many activities for both the recovering service member and family members, both on and off the hospital grounds; our job mentoring program; and our family caregiver program.
Soldier's Angel - Stevie Nicks (excerpt)
I'm a soldier in their army
They are the soldiers of my heart
I try to make them smile again
Though it tears me apart
Their bravery leaves me spellbound
I try to be a small part
Bringing them back again
They are the soldiers of my heart
Killebrew Moment:
Late Show/David Letterman Appearance
Top Ten Perks of Being a Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
9. If I don't have the money for the Domino's [Pizza] kid, I hand him any old bat and say, "I used this to hit my 500th home run" (He hit 573 home runs in 22 seasons, Harmon Killebrew)
Political Humor
Ten Delta baggage handlers were arrested for smuggling drugs into Detroit. You could tell it was Delta, because the drugs were supposed to be smuggled into Chicago. - Jimmy Fallon
[The DEA first got suspicious when both baggage handlers and luggage turned up missing after a flight. And Louie showed up at baggage claim, vehemently arguing the street value of his luggage was more than the $3,300 liability limit. And they learned that Jamaican immigrants in their quest for the American dream had moved to Detroit.]
Arnold Schwarzenegger was spotted on a bicycle without a helmet yesterday. What a surprise! Arnold riding something without using protection. - Jimmy Fallon
[Well, to be fair, the Governator's friends and colleagues already told him he had lost his mind for risking his marriage and family over an affair with a frumpy maid...]
Musical Interlude: My Favorite Groups
Chicago, "Hard Habit to Break"
