Being Tone Deaf in Politcs

I spotted former Chicago alderwoman Sandi Jackson entering
federal court in DC wearing a full length fur coat, ostensibly mink.
She's there to plead guilty to tax evasion, while Jesse Jr. will
admit to more serious crimes ($750 thousands' worth), also
today. How tone deaf can anyone be? Such a thoughtless
display will not help the judge to look more favorably on Mrs.
Jackson, whose wardrobe has undoubtedly been paid for, at
least in part, by misusing campaign funds.

Our government in DC is also tone deaf, in far more serious ways:
bungling and inattention there now means we will be without our
five NOAA-operated  weather satellites after 2014, as they will
"die".  New replacements aren't scheduled until 2017 or later--
with evermore severe weather having become the "new normal",
what will be giving the U.S. necessary advanced warnings? In
this last year alone NOAA satellites' weather predictions saved
lives, enabling evacuations before Sandy. The usual
meteorological technology, absent these satellites, does not
provide particularly precise forecasts.

But such inattention DOES have consequences; what will the
reaction be, I wonder, if many lives are lost in a bad storm that
we weren't warned about in enough time? Lost seats in Congress,
even changes in  the White House, anyone?

Memo to our leaders: get the wax out of your ears and the dust
out of your eyes. Heed the music of reality--being tone deaf
doesn't  help anyone, especially in emergencies.

A New Cabinet May Sweep Policy Errors Clean

Mr. Obama has named new cabinet heads, with more to follow.
Buh-bye, Tim Geithner, we knew ya way too well, good riddance!
Dr. Steven Chu, too much a tool of industry to be a real, fact-based
scientist, sayonara.  Leon Panetta, quite the disappointment, as
his previous roles in government seemed satisfactory, adios.

Let's wish the newcomers well and hope for better policies;
President Obama wasn't particularly served by many in the
last crop. Hillary Clinton did do a masterful job at a tricky,
roiling moment, and Sen. Kerry has enough experience to
perform adequately or better.

Here's to the new guys-- get out your brooms and  sweep
those policy errors clean!   

Stop Sexualizing Our Children, Straight, Gay or Otherwise

The Boy Scouts of America is temporizing on its vow to be more
open and accepting, including "gays". I can understand that sexual
orientation might be important to those in their late teens, and
adults. Most Boy Scouts, however,  are young children and have
no business being concerned about sexual matters, gay OR
straight. Aren't they supposed to be learning skills for
maneuvering around in the Great Outdoors?  There is entirely
too much talk about sex and the scouts.

An impassioned aside:
Why is it anyone's business what someone's sexual preference is?
Allowing gays their full rights, including marriage, affects no one
but the couple and their immediate families. The financial angle,
absent here, is therefore a non-issue.  There are no gay gangs
out in mobs gone wild recruiting more to their ranks. So, hey,
to those who don't like the idea/practice of same sex partners
--don't do  it. Just mind your own darned business.

There are other disgusting ways our children are being sexualized,
to their detriment. I've seen clothing catalogs with 7-8 year old
girls in obviously sexy  poses, butt and face forward, looking
enticingly at the viewer over their shoulders. I'm a latina, and
have often been dismayed at the attire all too many very young
Hispanic girls wear.

This all comes down to adults. Stop sexualizing our  children,
straight, gay or otherwise. Don't you have anything better to do?

Hillary's Pilloried by Sour Grape Republicans

Say what you will about Hillary Clinton, she has distinguished
herself beyond any American woman. The latest hue and cry
about what happened in Benghazi is all about sour grapes
politics, not a need to know. Ms. Clinton acquitted herself
well in committee hearings, even after illness and a  blood clot.
I wonder how well the posturing republicans grilling her would
have done under the same circumstances.

There was misinformation, speculation, miscommunication
surrounding the murder of Ambassador Stevens and three
others, especially during the week after the incident. So what?
Accuracy in reporting seldom occurs immediately after horrific
events, not surprising. I AM surprised whenever we do get the
actual facts from parts of the world in chaos. Why didn't the
Ambassador and the others just leave the embassy days
before? Surely they knew just how dicey the situation was.

Sen. Johnson, all puffed up in righteous indignation, really was
no match for Hillary, who batted back right  at him. Certain
republicans, still smarting from recent election defeats,
apparently decided to tackle Ms. Clinton over Benghazi--
a mistake. 

Tsk, tsk. Sour grapes behavior, so unattractive.

The NRA Shoots Itself in the Foot, Again

The NRA is no stranger to adopting extreme views and tactics.
Lately, though, dragging the Obamas' children into the fray via
a scurrilous ad crosses a significant line, to the NRA's detriment.

It has been accepted practice, for decades, to leave a president's
minor children out of controversy and criticism. That didn't stop
the NRA from claiming hypocrisy or privilege on the part of
Mr. Obama in the latest NRA ad, which reminds us the
President's children are protected by armed guards, while he
promotes gun control.

The NRA's logic is sadly lacking here:
it should be obvious, even to them, a president's family is at
higher risk than everyday Americans.  Too, Mr. Obama's
actions are sensible limitations to the current guns gone wild
reality, while scarcely rescinding our Second Amendment
rights. Who, for example, other than the military, requires
military style assault weapons?

What's logic got to do with it, logic, it's just a second hand
emotion....

The NRA shoots itself in the foot, AGAIN.

What's Wrong With Georgia?

SOMETHING is, alright: no fewer than two of its politicians,
Gingrey and Broun, both medical doctors, have recently
espoused anti-intellectual and factually erroneous views.
Maybe the Dark Ages are beginning in Georgia; that could
explain such anti-diluvian opinions, stated as fact.  To review:

(1) Aikin (R-MO) claimed that legitimate rape pregnancy won't
happen, as the female body would protect against such an
occurrence. Gingrey essentially agreed, saying his ob/gyn
practice experience bears this out.

(3) Broun abjures  his previous medical and science schooling,
claiming Embryology, Evolution, the Big Bang, etc., are ideas
from the pit of hell to keep us from understanding that we need
a savior.

A modest proposal to the citizens of Georgia and Missouri:
Read a book! Demand your political representatives be
educated and sane, as minimum requirements to hold office.
I bet all this has embarrassed former president Jimmy Carter....

I know it's embarrassed ME.

The U.S.: Our Republic, If We Can Keep It

Founder Benjamin Franklin, entrepreneur, scientist and politician
is very likely spinning in his grave right about now, as a dangerous
anti-intellectual climate has recently gained a foothold here. Look
no further than the the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space
and Technology: Rep. Paul Broun, science apostate, has one of
its seats. He's an interesting case, a medical doctor who now
abjures the Big Bang Theory, Embryology, Evolution, etc. In
the December 2012 issue of Scientific American, he's quoted as
believing that all his teachers taught from the pit of hell, so as to
keep people from understanding that they need a savior. (He also
opines the Earth is a mere 9,000 years old. Hello, carbon dating,
anyone?) 

What is this crazy person doing on that committee? Is there a way
to remove him? Shouldn't his medical license be revoked?
(I plan to look into it.)  It's people like Mr. Broun who well may
propel us into another Dark Age, if we let him.

The people are to blame, electing  some of the less than qualified
we now have serving in the 50 statehouses and Congress. What we
have here is a republic, requiring a thoughtful, educated populace
to endure. That's what Mr. Franklin meant after signing the U.S.
Constitution, 1787: What kind of government have you given us,
he was asked. "A republic, madam, if you can keep it", he
answered.

Yeah, IF we can keep it. It WILL take better than the likes of the
Paul Brouns  in power to retain our technological and economic
preeminent position, that's certain.


P.S.: Plenty of scientists have no problem believing in God while
accepting basic science principles, Mr. Broun. Benjamin Franklin,
respected scientist, believed in God.