Much Ado About Nothing

link:

Valerie Plame Lawsuit Thrown Out

About the only thing that got done in D.C. in 3 years.

While two fine men sit in a jail house because they shot two drug smuggling illegals.

link:

Choose your read from a Google Search Results for this story.

Why can't these guys get a pardon?

So I ask the left, if you impeach Bush and Cheney will Pelosi free these men?

'cause I'd be cool with that.

What is really sad, a commentary on our press too, is that Valerie Blame has gotten more headlines and justice.

NO, what is really sad is that there is no real pressure on Bush to free these two men. I recollect one congressman speaking out and I'm sorry I don't have his name.

I guess they're all too busy running filibusters, or what they would have us believe are filibusters, all night long.

On Compromises and Betrayal

In the wake of the recent cave in, er compromise, between the President and the Congressional Democrats regarding Iraq War funding and the question of a time line for a troop withdrawal I began to wonder about the pressures the peace crowd is putting on the Democrats and I then began to think of how little the shortcomings and or down right betrayals of the Party on the fold has had little affect on voter loyalty made manifest in the ballot box.

I was trying to think of a time in the political world in my lifetime when or where there was a cost to bear on the party for their multitude of unfulfilled promises. I thought of one time when the price was paid, although I can recollect many times when a bill, or lack thereof, was present.

The Democrat majority paid a price in 1994 when they lost their hold on power in D.C., but that was also after more than 40 years of running roughshod over the minority, and it seems that since then loyalty has only gotten stronger.

Naturally, the minority party gets not only its core voters but also an underdog minded segment of voters who will vote against whomever is in power, but in my lifetime it appears that there is seemingly no sin that would shake a large majority of Democrats from voting for the party. These are a group that has earned the name "Blue Dog Democrat" because they would certainly vote for a blue dog in an election if the bitch(couldn't resist) ran as a Democrat.

But that is old news, most people know this, and it does cut both ways, to a certain degree. However I could list many Republicans and conservatives who have ran afoul of their base, and subsequently I witnessed that base turn from the party. Bush the elder, and the GOP last year immediately come to mind, and its no stretch to name two handfuls more.

This is in reality a strength of the GOP that trims the party of dead wood, so that despite efforts to embellish the smears, no one in the GOP measures down to Ted Kennedy(man-slaughter) or Robert Byrd(long time KKK member).

The news yet to be written is that like a VA hospital threaten with closure, coincidentally in the same year a powerful congress person is up for re-election, a save will be made. Before the next national campaign I wouldn't doubt nor be surprised if Pelosi, Bush, and Reid all made nice again only with the legislature claiming an accomplishment to rally the base in an election year.

But it would be surprising if those who claim the label of liberal and who want to end the war today would actually demonstrate a little resolve themselves and abandon the party that had abandon them years ago.

Six Pack

"If there's an original thought out there, I could use one right about now."
- Bob Dylan

• Prewar intelligence was wrong when it said that Iraq had WMD's and administration critics are certain of that validity. . . .Postwar intelligence says that Iraq had no ties to Al Quaida and administration critics are certain of that validity, how can they be so certain of what is right and what isn't?
  
• If you listen to spin doctors, Democrats are alarmed about everything in this country except terrorism, while Republicans are alarmed about terrorism and nothing else. . .
• According to Bush Bashers, W has done terrible harm to our international standing, as evidence of him not getting along with rogue nations and France, what do they think of Nancy Pelosi reaching out to the Syria's of the world while at the same time upsetting long time friend's like Israel?
  
• Speaking of Pelosi, critics of Bush often say he has thrown the constitution out the window, what do they think of when Mrs. Pelosi has arguably violated the Logan Act and the Constitution when she conducted foreign policy in Syria?
  
• If the science of Global Warming is not settled, why do proponents act as though it is, while the science of Free Trade has undoubtedly been settled a long time ago and opponents act as though it hasn't? Usually these are the same people!
• When I read the profanity riddled post from some people on topics that are political, it makes me happy to know that I don't agree with them. Usually.
  

Cell Phones, and other things.

• Last September my family turned off our cell phones, and the world didn't end. I was paying $70 a month for what? To talk to my wife more often was about it. Now I love my wife, but as it turns out, there really isn't much to say that can't wait. . . .
• Reflecting on recent presidential modus operandi it seems that there was virtually no criticism that Bill Clinton wouldn't respond to, while our current President responds to virtually nothing.
  

Its an interesting approach for a President to let his critics define his term in office, but that is what Bush has opted to do. It may be hard for the Bush Bashers to pause for a moment and consider the lessons to be learned from him, but not responding to every criticism does have some merit.

Not reacting may have tempered the emotions of the Republicans. Considering the raging angst of the Democrats, it can be appreciated that one side has kept its cool. What if Bush did send out his lackeys to attack his critics at every turn? We've seen that during the 90's and consequently both sides were in a bitter mood. Polls show that Republicans are happier than Democrats today. I blame Bush for that.

• For years we've been told how big money is bad in politics, that it corrupts politicians. Well, that is a decided different bent on how the recent release of campaign contributions have been reported. The impression I've been getting now a days is that more money is good. I suppose this impression will hold until the general elections, then well see what happens when the GOP out gains the Democrats. . . .
• Two games into the new baseball season and the Pittsburgh Pirates are 2-0, A-Rod is taking curtain calls in the Bronx, and the Brewers are favored to win the NL Central. Three signs that the end is near.
• Can you explain why wrestling is so big in this country? Fake wrestling that is. Men in underwear, watched mostly by men. Lest you smirk, I bet you knew Wrestlemania was this past weekend.
• Should I assume Nancy Pelosi's congress has solved all our domestic problems now that she has time to visit rogue nations abroad? She is still the Speaker of the House isn't she? Where or what in her job duties require her to go anywhere outside of the U.S. except for a vacation?
• A friend of my wife was telling me how the Bush's stole Florida in 2000, and that the government should not pay the Electoral College because they are robbers. . . thankfully I can't be embarrassed that he and I agree on much in way of politics. We do agree that the original Batman movie is a work of art, though. The 2000 elections? Thats old news, get over it!