THE MODERATE RICHARD NIXON

THE MODERATE RICHARD NIXON

Richard Nixon was elected President in 1968 after being defeated by JFK in 1960. He crushed George McGovern in his re-election in 1972 but of course had to resign shortly after due to the Watergate scandal. At the time, he was thought to be one of the most right wing presidents ever. But watching the Republicans move the bar further and further to the right gives us pause when we think of what Nixon would be considered today. To explain; 2 states in the US, Texas and Utah, have speed limits of 80 mph. Republicans feel that isn’t fast enough and want to raise the limit in Texas to 85 mph. It was Nixon that said we have to limit dependence on foreign oil and created the speed limit of, get this, 55 mph! We also cant forget his opening a relationship with communist China, and introducing title 9 which allows women to get recognition on the sports field. This makes us think that the right wingers of the past, would be “blue dog Democrats” today. And if you happen to be driving through Texas, keep an eye on the rear view mirror. Do the same while looking at the political direction of this country.

EQUAL OPPURTUNITY IDIOCY

EQUAL OPPURTUNITY IDIOCY

In France, they have just outlawed the wearing of veils for Moslem women. While personally I don’t consider that a great fashion statement, that isn’t our call to make. Many Moslem women feel that the veil is a sign of respect for G-d. We tell all Christians and Jews to pay heed; the day can easily come again when they make Jews remove those Yarmulkas from your head. It’s a slippery slope and it ends in a muddy muck. Its pure bigotry towards the Moslem women, and doesn’t say much for the morality of the French people. Especially as other nations will no doubt follow.

REAL FOX FAUXLOSOPHY

REAL FOX FAUXLOSOPHY

The sign of how polarized our nation is, can be seen by how polarized the truth is.

UCONN, UCANN

UCONN, UCANN

An unbelievable year has just concluded for the UConn basketball program. The women seeking a third championship made it to the final four but went no further after being eliminated by a hot and deserving Notre Dame team. The men had a run that was so improbable that the laws of probability themselves were challenged. They completed a 14-0 tournament on neutral sites for Coach Jim Calhoun’s third national championship. Its puts them in elite company and this year goes into the category of elite years. No doubt Coach Calhoun appreciated his elite team in ’99 and ’04, but I think in his heart of hearts he would say about this year “I never had a better one”.

THE FINAL FOUR AND PRAISE FOR ALL GALORE

THE FINAL FOUR AND PRAISE FOR ALL GALORE

As a UConn booster having just come back from the final four, needless to say I am one happy guy. The run our team had this season may not be matched again for a generation. But I have to say, while in the hotel I was charmed by some lovely classy folks from VCU (Virginia Commonwealth) who were constantly being talked about on ESPN as not belonging in the tournament. Clearly ESPY was wrong and VCU was GREAT in the tournament, making it to the final four. While I am not a VCU alumni, I am now an official supporter and I advise ESPN’s Dick Vitale to come speak at the VCU dinner and rehash what they did wrong, and more importantly what they did right.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

In Houston (TX) I saw a truly remarkable billboard. As you know people like to have letters and numbers to form words and help catch your attention and in this case avoid detention. This billboard showed a criminal defense attorney whose phone number is 713-wasnt-me.

FOR A MORE PERFECT (OR LESS IMPERFECT WORLD)

FOR A MORE PERFECT (OR LESS IMPERFECT WORLD)

Politics today has become, well, so political. And by any other standard in PKR (Pre Karl Rove) era, I would be a middle of the road person, sometimes voting Democrat and sometimes Republican, as I have voted both in the past. But things have gotten so extreme, that what used to be called the middle is now called by those that wish to attack it “the far left”. That said, how do we make it a less imperfect world? Two things that makes it more imperfect is 1. confusing terms and 2. People who claim to know G-ds plans. To be continued…

MICHELLE BACHMANN, A HISTORIC MIND

Speaking in New Hampshire Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann a leading tea partier who is frequently mentioned as a potential presidential candidate congratulated the people of that state for their "contribution to the American revolution" when she noted that was where the "shot heard round the world was fired". This surprised many in the audience, as well as the people of Massachusetts...where the American revolution actually began. Why is it that it seems that so often every tea bagger who would want to shrink the budget for our country's education, proves whenever they speak just how much there is still to learn?

THE GOOD BOOK GETS “GOODER”

For the benefit of those most ideologically driven politically particularly those on the right, and for those who are fundamentalist religiously driven changes have been made in the Bible. One fascinating one we found was taking out the word “booty” and replacing it with “riches”. Some things never change except when slang and laughter make them change. If you want to get the guide in advance for the next 100 years as to how responsive the ideological and fundamentalist folks can be the “cliff notes” are already available by former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who titled his own biography “Bad as I want to be”. Because those that are so driven by ideology and fundamentalism can look at Dennis Rodman’s  book and know that they are going to be “fair as they gotta be”. I hope the good book keeps getting gooder.

THE DIABETES BELT – AND IT’S A LARGE ONE

The CDC has identified a portion of the USA which is not overly petite. Its called the diabetes belt. Its mainly deep south and lower Midwest states e.g. Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana etc. The grand news is this; whatever they have missed in nutritional education, they have sadly not missed in meals. The national average of diabetes is 8.5%, and in these regions its over 11%. They might want to listen to this government study, because this belt can tighten and it can strangle. Anyone who makes light of diabetes its because they have never had it seen it or read about it. What these people need is education and culinary discipline. Of course, all this has to do with facts which as we all know (and out friend Stephen Colbert says often) have a liberal bias.

BECKERHEAD ALERT

Glen Beck recently said that Michelle Obama has 43 people on her staff and Nancy Reagan only had 3. Apparently the only thing wrong with Mr. Beck and the Beckerheads that follow him is math because records show they were identical.

POLLS APART FROM REASON

Here’s the latest result of the NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll; 79% of Americans think that government workers should have the same collective bargaining rights as unions and only 19% say no. They however feel that workers should contribute in the following ways; 68% feel that contributions should be made to raise their retirement, 63% said they should raise their healthcare contributions and 58% said one year salary freeze. The poll continues; how to balance deficits, the most unacceptable ways they say are cutting Medicare, Social Security, and kindergarten through 12th grade education. And the most acceptable ways are eliminating tax credits for oil and gas industries, eliminating earmarks for congress. And the number one most acceptable way would be going out the millionaire tax. Well you weren’t paying attention folks because not enough of you voted in the last election. But I think your heart’s in the right direction. It does show that the Tea Party people are polls apart from reason.

PROOF THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY, THE HAIR APPARENTLY

A lock of Justin Bieber’s hair went for somewhere between 15 and 40 thousand dollars (accounts differ) but these accounts should lose no accounting for what folks think is worth spending on. Not that we have a country and a world where there is some poverty, hunger and suffering, but if the heavens want proof  that there is economic disparity and too much funny money rolling around in people’s lives the answer is the hair apparently.

BRUTAL BILLIONAIRE BASTARDS

BRUTAL BILLIONAIRE BASTARDS

Guess how rich Moammar Kadafi is after having looted the Libyans’ for only 4 decades. Many claim he's worth in the range of 32 billion dollars, but that’s not even a billion a year since he’s done that for 40 years. Still keeping in mind what J. Paul Getty said many years ago when he was worth billions when no one else was; you have to remember a billion doesn’t go as far as it used to. But speaking of bumbling billionaire bums; Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is worth 70 billion. Now these assets are hidden in various banks and properties around the world as the forces of Egyptian democracy and others are attempting to seize them as is the US with Libyans. But 70 Billion and he did that in only 30 years. Kadafi, you have something to learn from Hosni.

THE AYE OF THE NEWT

Newt Gingrich has said yes to an exploratory committee which might mean he would give another yes to running for president. That’s what this country needs, a man who can head the government while devoted to shutting it down. We can’t wait and we hope the aye of the Newt says aye, aye and all aboard, this guy is fun.