holy hell!

Thousands of old white people went ga-ga. They crowded into Market Square here in The Villages. They cheered and cheered. Their very white baby boy, Glenn Beck was here. Half of their excitement was in anxious anticipation of his well-advertised promise to reveal "My Plan to Save the Republic!"

And he did! What a plan. In case you missed it, here it is. There will be seven meetings held in the United States in the coming six months where all you people can develop a plan to give to Congress. Is that pure genius or what? To save the Republic, he plans to hold meetings. What a brilliant stroke.

And here are two things he wants these meetings to demand: That Congress put an end to corruption, and that it return to honoring the Constitution.

The old white folks screamed and cheered, according to press reports here. Turns out they really agree with him that corruption is a bad thing, and democratic constitutionalism is a good one. This will distinguish the patriotic Beckwads from all those millions of Americans who, conversely, love corruption in government, and hate our freedoms and our Constitution.

Readers, beware. We are not talking about 1787 here. We are not talking about the Constitutional Convention here. We are not talking about Jefferson and Washington. We're talking more like community militia, and persons of far, far less significant goodwill than, let's say, John Adams. We're talking about the Palinesque dimension of brilliance here, not that of the intellectual calibre of Gouverneur Morris or James Madison.

Watch this operation with amusement, all ye well-meaning and intelligent Americans, for you are going to see a circus!

to Nadia

I have recently heard from a school mate from our high school years. You have written some comments on my blog. I am so glad you thought to do this.

I remember you as being a happy and friendly high school kid, and I hope you are even more happy now.

So, answer me this question.

The great debate revolving around the government's decision to try the World Trade Center bombers in New York is completely understandable to me.

First there is that group of mindless fools who will oppose anything the Obama government does. This bunch has several motives for its enduring negativity, as nearly as I can see, and none of those motives is laudable. Some of them are racists, some of them are stupid captives of far right propaganda, some of them real evil people who won't be happy until the government is overthrown and we're living in some sort of semi-fascist hell that pretends to be "American" and "Christian." Some of them seem to be cowards and we cannot follow them. These are people who say the trial will invite violence or will cost us money, etc. I simply cannot comprehend that sort of ostrich-like head hiding.

But, some people are asking perfectly legitimate questions. To me the greatest one is this: Should terrorists who were captured in Pakistan receive the rights and privileges --- and the protections --- of American citizens in an American court of law?

I 'd be very very happy if some of you would take a stab at that question before I DO.

(Bud)

Thursday Morning Smile-Maker

Kids and old people have this in common: They talk too loud and often shout.

Forwarded by Powerteach.

Many thanks!

random notes

I have been gone a couple of days, so I'm running a little behind on my duties and my emails.

Marsha has gone, and with her the wisp of sadness that accompanied the loss of her team to Florida. S. Carolina put up a valiant fight and might actually have pulled off an upset, but "what-ifs" always accompany the song of the victims.

We golfed today and decided to walk the nine-holes. It was the noon hour when we teed off, and the sun was hot, and I admit by the end of the walk, I was thoroughly bushed. But, on the last green, I made a great putt, which just goes to show you that God favors a fool. We had Dashmann as our third, and we were assigned a fourth who turned out to be a very nice guy from Canton-Plymouth MI area.

As I write just now, Mike Huckaby is in The Villages making his mark on a bunch of books bearing his name as author. I don't like him, just as I don't like any of the far right wing delusion-ados. (Whatever happened to the reasonable and intelligent Republicans?) What a pack of weenies. I have gone past any sense of ordinary rebuttal and am reduced to ad hominem renderings , like "weenie." This I can do knowing full well that most of them can't do any better. On the other hand, I could give a reasonably thoughtful set of commentaries about whats-'er-name from Wasilla. I'll work on that.

I saw my old European History professor on the History Channel last night discussing the attempts on Hitler's life. It was a like a refresher course to me. And I know what HARD! exams he writes. I almost felt like I should be taking notes. I see he is now at North Carolina. Hmmm

whilin' away some time

Dashmann and Skuzza are staying in The Villages just now, and Marsha has come to visit. Last night we went out to eat at a very good Italian Restaurant and then went to the movies to see The Fourth Kind. It was a fun movie, scary, and very involving. Afterwards, we went to a local joint and heard some good and bad Karaoke, and had a few sips. All-in-all, it was a great evening.

Today is a football Saturday, but really there aren't many games that interest me. The Wolverines won't be on here. No one could ask for a more beautiful day. The day is bright and warm, and the "girls" - as they refer to themselves - have gone "shopping," so I decided to update my blog. Later we will watch South Carolina try to defeat Florida. (As you know, everyone who ain't a Gator hates 'em.) Then we'll probably go swimming --- at least I will.

We are trying very,very hard to enjoy our stay. Does it seem to be working?

Here in Central Florida, there is a report this morning of a gentleman who at the age of 76 keeps a gun. Two fellas burst into his home, beat him into a mess, and then stole his gun. There you go: see, at least no one got shot, huh?

letter from Alice: Afghanistan scandal

"Jeremy Scahill, investigative journalist and author of Blackwater, was on Dylan Ratigan this morning(Friday). The topic was financing of the operations in Afganistan. According to his discoveries, not only is the brother of Karzi the head of the drug cartel in that country and on the CIA payroll, their 2 cousins are intricately involved with our country. The cousins own the trucking coumpany which the U.S. hires to help transport troops from Kabul along the road to the fighting front. The Taliban was blowing up our troops shortly after leaving the base at Kabul, so we pay the trucking company millions of dollars to protect the troops. They in turn pay(bribe) the Taliban millions of dollars not to attack our troops on the road. The Taliban then uses the money to buy war supplies to attack us after we get to the end of the road. In effect, we are finanacing both sides of the war in that country. Google Ratigan's site and Scahill's to check the details. No wonder Obama has rejected the proposed alternatives so far. I think he is doing the right thing to be so deliberative and I strongly hope that he decides to get us out of there as soon as he possibly can. Ratigan said it sounds like mob protection in NY."

Happy Birthday

to MARI

... our favorite barista.

a devil in Paradise

We are so excited here.

There has been a shooting

in THE VILLAGES, FLORIDA.

This is the center of the earth for peaceful elderly folks who just wouldn't dream of violence, for goodness sake! And now poor Dennis has been shot by his wife. Shot down like a dog in the street -- oops, I mean like a dog in his bathroom. He escaped out through the bathroom window and was helicoptered out to an emergency room. Now he's in surgery.

Well, Sarah Palin would be proud. And Glenn Beck. And that preacher guy, umm-m, oh ya! Mike Huckleby. You see they're all strong advocates of guns lying around in the homes where people (in this case, a pissed off frau) can grab them and shoot their loved ones. And they will all three be here in the next couple of weeks to sign autographs for people who buy their latest books.

A virtual circle-jerk of right wing gun huggers. They should all go visit Dennis in the hospital and Denise in jail. (Yes, her name is Denise and isn't that cute? Dennis and Denise.)

Did I mention that Dennis is (or was?) a retired cop? He knows all about how to protect himself against gunshots. And of course, he has own shootin' irons.