Memorial Day

It's been too long since I have posted here but that does not mean the brain has shut down. In fact it's been busy on other writing projects and I have learned that I can't finish all at the same time...my brain just is not like that...and so politics took a back seat to psychology.

What got my brain back to politics was a torrent of tears last night as I watched the Memorial Day concert from D.C. The story of the family whose son lost most of his brain got me and from that point to the end I sobbed.
When we lived in D.C., my son and I, along with friends, always went to the Memorial Day concert - ditto the 4th of July and Labor Day concerts. They were picnics on the lawn, kids climbing trees, music and good food.

We left D.C. in '96 and things have changed since then and last night's concert was certainly an example of that. It was more somber than any I have seen on tv since I left D.C. and also in that period of time I was a military mommy for 8 years.

I think all women and most men cry at the loss of a child - it happened in the 40's 50's 60's and 70's during WWII, Korea and Vietnam - and it still happens. I have been weeping for those lost in war and other conflicts since WWII when my dad was in the military. Both my dad and son were fine and were never in harms way - for which I was/am selfishly happy. But I had a stomach ache/ongoing worry for 8 years when my son was in and wondered on a daily basis if he'd be sent into war - especially after Sept 11, 2001. We, as parents, are never supposed to outlive our babies - it's not part of our psyches.

And so last night and still today - I weep for those mommies and daddies who have lost their children and for those children who have lost their mommies and daddies...and for those who lost husbands, wives and partners.

I hate that those who never served are so fast to send other people's children off to die in undeclared wars. This has been true since WWII - the last war that was actually declared by Congress. And not only did they never serve - death personified cheney got many deferrals - he really really actively did not want to go...but he's still making the media rounds with his war mongering.

To quote George McGovern: "I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in."

Do not spend the day celebrating war or conflict - spend it in sober reflection about those who died and those who are wounded....and hug your kids.

Two must watch videos: Obama and Sykes

These are from the 2009 White House Correspondents' Dinner via C-Span [thank you thank you]

PRESIDENT Barack Obama http://cli.gs/SR7A01

Comic Wanda Sykes http://cli.gs/HYZ6m2

Save the links - you'll want to listen to Sykes again and again

How nice to have a president with a real sense of humor - who can poke fun at himself, his staff and at Republics :D

And kudos to Wanda Sykes - who hits it out of the park with her edginess!

Mustard Lovers - Unite!

I can not believe the amount of nonsensical blabbering the wingnuts are dong about Obama's preference for Dijon mustard instead of ketchup.

My guess is that with Obama's ratings so high they need to invent faux news for their faux noise network in an attempt to keep a frenzy going among the wingnuts.

But seriously people - mustard ? ketchup? get a life....go do something useful.

These fundits support a group of white christian men who can only look backwards - so they latch on to any trivial excuse to knock Obama and his supporters. They remind me of the ugly American tourist who thinks that by screaming English at someone who does not understand the language is the way to make them understand the language. I once saw this in action in Mexico and I see it now with the wingnuts. They say the group is not conservative enough, the tax cuts for the wealthy were not big enough and that if they yell longer and louder for their principles - all American will come to understand what they are saying - mustard and all :D

Hey wingnuts - we had an election about those ideas you look back upon YOU LOST ! [and you'll lose the mustard war too]

Belated opining on non-dialogues

My last post was the day before "teabagger" day. I think the rhetoric I saw and read that day turned me off and made me ponder if there was any reason to post what was in my mind.

It usually doesn't take much for me to speak or write my mind but I was trying to give more serious thought about the non-dialogue between most Republicans and the rest of us. I am still conjuring and writing that essay on my computer and want to do more work on it before posting it here. I want to choose my words more carefully than do the teabag crowd...

To be continued...

Unfair and Unbalanced - Definitely

Saw this on DailyKos and decided it needed posting here - not just because it shows Faux Noise at their most feverish "hate President Obama" pitch - but in watching a few times - I've noticed the "looks" on the face of Beck...[and well the stupidity of Gingrich which he just keeps documenting]

Either he is auditioning to be the clown of Faux Noise and competing with Falafa Man for something - or he is having some mental issues - or maybe both?

It is worrisome that at least a portion of people still think this is "news" and that it is correct news.... they won't admit to the possibility that they are being lied to and used - more serious mental issues here?

[disclaimer - I am not a licensed professional and am only stating a personal opinion] :D