How Wrong is Wrong

Dylan once sang you don't need a weather man to tell you which way the wind blows, but you do need a barometer to tell you the pressure. My disillusionment with Obama arose out of his continuation of the Bush's policy in Iraq and Afghanistan, his appointment of the jackals of finance to run the economy and his endless and futile attempts to negotiate with the disloyal and recalcitrant opposition. On top of that, he has made deals with the devils of health care, drug companies and single minded senators. The litany is one who wanted change not a continuation of the status quo. But ironies of all ironies, Dick Cheney endorsed the president's policy on the two wars and the appointments of generals. Does Obama need any other evidence that his polices need a complete overhaul?
When he first took office, Obama stated he wanted to look forward not backward. With that statement, whatever wrongdoing the previous folks did they were given a "get out of jail free card." The consequence of this fool hardly policy is that the likes of the former vice president can't pollute the air waves with his constant self-serving observations. It isn't enough we have him but also his daughter who constantly spin along with the sirens of the Fox News about the benefits of war mongering.
When you get an endorsement of the former vice president than you need to review your policy. Frank Rich observed that rather being cute about the Palin issue they need to focus on what is wrong and what needs fixing. The first thing that should be done is to draw a line in the sand with the Republicans and detail what “hope” and “change” represent in terms of legislation. Rather than a sausage makers' delight health care bill, a simple plan with simple but profound meaningful change needs to be offered. He rattled those fundamentals enough time and with the plethora of lawyers running around the White House perhaps they a bill can be drafted and sent to congress. He needs to line up Pelosi and Reed and the rest of the Democrats and forbid them to add on to the bill. Next he needs to present it to the people and insure every provision of the new bill relates to people and not private interests. He also needs to fire his finance team and re-hire people who are muckrakers and who will attack the jackals of finance – first rule should be banks are banks and investments banks are casinos for the risk takers. Insurance companies need to follow a plan where their assets are available for the things they insure. Last of all, the president has got to stop talking and forbid his flacks from rationalizing the non activity. The president has listened for over a year, now he needs to act.
Admittedly, these observations are naive at best. But to take a Jacksonian position as oppose to some corrupted Lincolnesque one is a move in the direction of change. We are country divided and unfortunately we will always be divided. Fox News and its legion of pundits along with Palin can capture the hearts and minds of those who fill the ranks of the no nothing segment of our electorate. It is an American tradition as old as the republic itself. Nothing can change the mind of those who have made up theirs and refuse to listen to logic and reason. The fact is that in any noble endeavor where right has triumphed over prejudice, strong and persistent action is needed. Non-violent, yes. But mainly, tough dogged politics is a necessity. Compromise is good, when you can compromise. But when you can't it is a waste of time. If Democrats want to be the party of the people, then it has to go back to doing the people's business. Like a junkie who needs to kick a habit, they need to stop taking corporate money and get down to the people's business. And remember if Dick Cheney agrees with you, you must be doing something wrong. After all, he is not a clock that is broken, hence he is never right not even twice a day.

Now For Something Entirely Different

So we are told to stop and smell the roses. I guess that means to take stock of one's surrounding and revel in the gift of life. Well, that action doesn't necessarily bring one to some Pollyanna conclusion of the living experience. At times, stopping and smelling brings one to the awareness of passing time and its effect on life.

On Aging

As the days dwindle down to a few,
As the page gets further from the eyes,
And the hair grows straw like, wispy,
As clothes becomes fashion-less,
And others wait impatiently while we dawdle – purposefully,
While we linger with the next act – methodically,
And others have since sped to their appointments,
When the hours blend and purpose remains elusive,
When talks turn to things long gone --
The eyes, crow feet-ed blink looking for tears,
When the music is unknown,
When the cold is colder and the hot unbearable, death like,
What once was known is forgotten,
When what was once certain is uncertain,
When the sunsets and sunrises collide,
And simple things amuse – rapport with a child,
When the mind grows vacuous,
And the wind scatters the soul piecemeal,
When the lonely days and lonely hours diminish
To a precious few, while the breath fades,
And the body relents and we exhale but for the last time
And, then silence and cold conjoin,
And our soul burns out like an ember.