Matters Closer to "Home"

Two political biggies in the headlines today. Barack Obama is giving his “I promise change speech.” Of course, this happens to be the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “I have a dream.” As I’ve noticed for some time, and it really has been an exceedingly lengthy campaign, Obama is telling us we need change and all along he’s been telling us how much work we are going to have to do to bring about this change. I’m thinking when he becomes president, he’s going to expect the American people to be much more diligent at our work and taxes than he was in attendance in the Senate . . .
I also read that the Republican Convention may have to be postponed due to the possible return of hurricane Gustav. If the hurricane causes the convention timing to change, I’d have to mention something about “an act of G-D.” I mean, wasn’t Katrina warning or judgment on New Orleans?
Now that we’ve got the political spectrum covered from both sides of aisle, I want to talk about toilet paper. Feel free to draw your own conclusions.
My husband and I went to town yesterday and I once again suffered sticker shock. Three years ago, we could go to town, buy the feed for the animals, stop at the store and get the items we don’t raise ourselves, such as paper products, coffee, etc., all for about $100.00. Now those same items for the same time frame has nearly doubled.
I always check the “necessary items” aisles for sales. Things like flour, cleaning supplies, and toilet paper; and if there’s a sale, I stock up. As I was wandering down the paper products aisle, I couldn’t help but notice all the new packaging for toilet paper. There are the standard 24 roll packages and there are still the 4 packs. But there are 9 packs that are triple rolls, 12 packs that are double rolls, 8 packs that contain as much as 12 rolls, 6 rolls that contain as much as 18. As I stood there just looking and commenting, as to how anyone would truly arrive at the best deal, I told my husband I just didn’t take enough math in college to buy toilet paper.
Clearly, there is no standard in politics, a 3 pound coffee can now contains 34 oz., the gold standard is ancient history, we tossed the silver standard, and now there is no standard roll of toilet paper.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to YHVH. A Proverb of Holy Scripture

They've Certainly Come Along Way!

I'm finding this year's DNC to be interesting. I'm sure the GOP convention will also reflect the state of America. I will give it adequate coverage when the time comes, but now is the time for the Democratic National Convention and it's easy to see "things are changing!" Hard to believe just four short years ago, State Senator Barack Obama stood behind the podium as the Key Note Speaker for the convention, and now voila! he's just a few votes away from the Oval Office. Only in America! Is Obama proof that we still need to be telling our children, "This is a great country. Why anyone can grow up to be the President!" Well, anyone that can raise millions and millions of dollars from people that are much poorer, less educated, and struggling to make ends meet in their two income household. Most of the people that have contributed to this man's campaign millions certainly don't live like he does.
"So children, if you can charm a dollar out of someone working for minimum wage and convince him that you relate to his challenges, then you too, can grow up to be President of this great land."
And as for Obama's statement awhile back "leave his wife out of this . . ." Then this woman who is going to be the main speaker this evening needs to keep her mouth shut, smile and wave. If she's going make political comments, then the media and the opposition are entitled to repeat it, chew on it, take it in or out of context, and basically run with it, just like they do any other person that is using a political platform to be heard.
Clearly the Obamas are comfortable with preferential treatment and don't mind demanding it when they think it's absent, for them. I noted Michelle Obama's comment early on about "first time she was proud of her country . . ." I'm not very proud of a number of the things my country is doing and standing for right now, but then I'm just preaching and blogging, I'm not asking anyone to make a way for me to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
I've heard Obama compared to Messiah, a rock star, and President Kennedy. Frankly, I can't see any of those comparisons, but I do see those responses in his followers. If only the Obamas really stood for change, or even Camelot, but Camelot was merely a mythical "might have been" and every American politician expects special treatment and truly believe they are deserving of it.
The only change I perceive is the slight of hand in the political puppet theater, behind the scenes.
Whether it's the mega-church promising faith based prosperity or the rock star politicians promising hope and change, the rich and comfortable seem to always be supported and attain their stature by the hard earned money of the poor.
For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment . . . New Testament

Maverick, Indeed

I'm getting more and more fascinated by this republican candidate, John McCain. I don't agree with all of his politics, but I really like his style. He's moved from a very defensive campaign to quite a strategy. While Obama is calling him, 'out of touch,' he's reminding us just how unfamiliar Obama is with the American way of life, for the average person. McCain says, "Yeah, I'm a career politician with a rich wife!" Obama, on the other hand is living in his mansion, with his multi-million dollar income and he wants to come across like he's just a regular guy! Please, McCain wins that one hands down! We know politicians are not in touch with the real people.
The next deal with McCain is his openness to admit he's not the favored of the republicans, but he got the most votes and that's just the fact of life.
McCain is also taking some heat for having Joe Lieberman at every event. Joe Lieberman is a tough one to guess. I, personally, have watched him change parties, sides, and affiliations. Wouldn't it be a hoot for him to be a republican VP, just 8 years after he was VP on the democratic ticket? And what are the conservatives going to do if he is? This is where John McCain takes the cake! If he chooses a pro-choice candidate for VP or if he cooses an anti-war candidate for VP, what will his party do? Change party affiliation? Hardly! Stay home and let Obama win by default? I think not! John McCain can pretty much make any decision he wants regarding this campaign, his party has their back against the wall and he knows it. And truthfully, I find it just a bit entertaining.
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Enigma

I'm just a bit confused and it would seem my question simply will not be answered in this life. I really would like an answer and if not, I would at least like to know other people are questioning this, too.
Facts we have been led to believe: 15 of 19 Passports belonging to 9/11 terrorists were issued by the country of Saudi Arabia, "two from the United Arab Emirates, one from Egypt, and one from Lebanon. In sharp contrast to the standard profile of suicide bombers, the hijackers were well-educated, mature adults, whose belief systems were fully formed." - wikipedia
"Dubai Ports World (DP World), a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-owned company, recently bought the British-owned Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O). Effective March 2, the purchase gives Dubai Ports World control over facilities in six U.S. ports: New York, Miami, Newark-Port Elizabeth, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Baltimore. Politicians in affected states and cities have raised alarms in the media over vital infrastructure "falling into Arab hands." Others in Washington are questioning the Bush administration's quick approval of the sale . . ."
I can't say much about our relationship with Egypt, but I do remember all the denial of assistance to Israel when Lebanon invaded in 2006. Oh, I know, we were told it was Hezbollah, but Lebanon's "democracy" has a number of Parliament chairs occupied by Hezbollah.
So far, America's war on terror has made political parties out of Hamas and Hezbollah and we've declared war on two countries that didn't give any 9/11 attackers, their walking papers or Passports.
So what gives? Supposedly Osama bin Laden was in the Afghanistan/Pakistan neighborhood, so we went and air bombed the behinds off every camel there and NO bin Laden. Then by late 2002, G.W. was arbitrating and negotiating the land give-away in Israel, and by March of '03, he had 70% of Americans convinced that Iraq was somehow tied to 9/11 and we no longer cared where bin Laden might be, we could find Saddam Hussein and since he wasn't a terribly popular guy, we could just murder him!
I don't get it! I can't find any answers and I can't see any logic in this, other of course than, Saudi is quite a rich and powerful nation that has a ton of oil. EAU, for some reason, has been allowed to invest in our ports and that doesn't make sense, considering they gave travel papers to 2 attackers. Why did we invade Afghanistan if G.W. really didn't care where bin Laden was and hasn't bothered with him since . . . and why did we go to Iraq on the pretense they might have had an alQuaida training camp or weapons of mass destruction? Only if they were American made from the early 80's, would they be of Mass Destruction . . .
This "war on terror" needed to be directed at the places that authorized the passports, if in fact, it was supposed to be a legitimate war on terror. And if we didn't have the courage to face off those directions, we certainly didn't need to become dependent upon them for oil, give them our ports and sell them $20 billion dollars worth of weapons. That's right, G.W. just did a deal with Saudi to sell them $20 billion dollars worth of American weapons and all the survivors of those that died on 9/11 were told they cannot hold the government of Saudi responsible for the terrorists acts. So then, once again, why were we worried that there might have been terrorists training camps in Afghanistan or Iraq? The governments aren't responsible for the individual terrorists according to US Federal Judges and the US President. So, while all the neo-con sheeple continue to remind us of the fact we had to invade Afghanistan and Iraq because of the 3,000 people that died on 9/11, I must say, we went to the wrong places if it's about 9/11 and the survivors of those that died on 9/11 have truly been shown just where our government stands when it comes to the truth about 9/11.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. a Proverb of Holy Scripture

My Thoughts Regarding the GOP VP

These past few days have been interesting with news other than politics.
I'm just thrilled about Michael Phelps! I remember watching Mark Spitz in the '72 Olympics. This past week, I've checked every morning as to what is going on with Michael Phelps and I was quite impressed to know that he'd already won 6 Golds in Athens in '04, and now 8 in '08. This young man is an amazing athlete. My 6 year old grandson, who just happens to be a natural in the water, has been pretty amazed by this athlete, as well. So, who knows? But special KUDOS to Michael Phelps.
I also noticed as Michael Phelps took center stage around the world, the mega-church pastor Rick Warren took center stage at his own church, to host the presumed Presidential Candidates. From what I've read, I gather that his crowd is leaning toward McCain. And now, the grand unveiling of vice presidential choices is at hand. I think Obama will have to name some middle aged white guy or woman, but I'm thinking man, with "experience" to balance his multi-cultural freshness! McCain, on the other hand has a very unique voting bloc with which to deal and I think that will definitely allow him a great deal of freedom in his choice of VP. I've read, Senator McCain may consider a pro-choice candidate. And who could miss the fact that bipartisan, independent, who knows how he'll vote, Joe Lieberman; has been regularly seen on the McCain campaign trail. I think McCain can pretty much go conservative or liberal in his choice, as the primary issue in his main voting bloc is simply "against Obama."
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

How Do We Stop the Draft, if We Don't Close the Door?

We do not have the military muscle to back the presumptuous politicians. Contentious posturing on the part of our administration is liable to lead to an exhausted, stretched military or a mandatory military. Oh, that's right, we already have an exhausted, stretched military. So I guess that leaves only one other possibility. . . Or the current administration could just stay home and be quiet. I was truly shocked at the headlines I read this morning. Dr. Rice is in Georgia and proclaiming globally, that Russia needs to get their troops out! They are causing instability in the area . . . Well, I guess, I need to give her credit for knowing something about the topic. No one would know better about causing instability than someone in this present American administration. She also thinks the rest of the powers of the world need to come up with some sort of consequences for Russia's act. You know, if I were sitting in the middle of a country that had not attacked mine and had for some time, asked me nicely to leave, after I tore it with war, I don't think I'd want to call anyone's attention to a similar situation.
My geography is not the best, so I looked on the map. Georgia just isn't very far at all from Iran, and of course we know Iran isn't far from Iraq, and Afghanistan is just on the other side of Iran. Closer, I think than say China and Japan, when President Bush mentioned "being in the neighborhood" at the G8 Summit. I checked and sure enough, we are in Iran's neighborhood, on all sides. Surely there aren't many here that are still buying that tired story about "keeping it over there." We are doing everything in our "diplomatic power" to stir it up over there and in doing so, making ourselves anything but an innocent victim of a future attack. We're offending so many, that if something does happen, we'll have to wait to see who takes credit, to even know who did it!
He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Because 'We' Can . . .

What absolute absurdity, I've read about in the past few days. Here's just one example. It would seem, that although there are an abundance of unwanted pets and a country that simply kills unwanted babies, someone actually paid $50,000K to have a pitbull cloned. I would say, only in America; but the person is only an American and had this mess of a procedure accomplished in Korea, South Korea, I believe. What's next? Don't you just wonder what in the world people are going to think of next? And be willing to finance? When I saw the picture of the woman holding one of the five puppies, I was embarrassed for her. I, personally, wouldn't embrace the idea of being famous for something ridiculously selfish. While she's revelling in already knowing her dog . . . What happens to the other 4? All of this, simply because science can accomplish it? I did a bit more checking on the matter. Turns out she sold her home to pay for this and she hopes more people will be able to do this in the future, because losing a pet is tragic. Here's her quote I found at msnbc.
"I had to make sacrifices and I dream of the day, some day when everyone can afford to clone their pet because losing a pet is a terrible, terrible loss to anyone."
Here we are in the biggest economic crunch this country has seen in years and people are losing their homes to foreclosure and their pets to the natural life cycle and she is truly this oblivious to anyone around her? With the cost of gasoline and well dog food for that matter, I truly hope the country doesn't adopt her set of values. In reading the next paragraph, I discovered she had owned the dog for 12 years and adopted him at a shelter, so he had a chance many dogs never get, and 12 more years is a relatively full life, anyway. In dog years, isn't that 84 or something? I'm sorry she lost her beloved Booger, but most of us simply understood death to be a fact of life in pet ownership, well actually, in life.
The entire subject was just rather sad in a nauseating sort of way. I was particularly saddened by her use of the word, miracle.
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast . . . the Revelation

What, What'd I Say Wrong?

Remember saying something as a kid and your mom or dad looking at you and saying something to the effect of "Better watch your mouth . . ." then standing there trying to sort out what you had just said, as to what was offensive or inappropriate?
Those flashbacks continue to run through my mind as I read the headlines about our "fearless" leader. For the longest time, I've thought he would be a great guest at a barbecue, but as of late, his manners as a guest just seem, well, rude. He made a major production to avoid airport security in China. Now, he knows how the rest of us feel. The day before arriving in China, he decided to cop a confrontational posture toward them. How ridiculous! China could shut America down in less than three days without firing a shot. All they have to do is tell Wal-Mart "NO!" No more trinkets, no more 30 day invoicing, no more nothin'! And you know, every time Americans just hold their breath, and wonder who he's going to try to offend next, he's standing there saying "What, What'd I Say Wrong?"
He's been trying to offend Putin for years and I think he's about done that by now over Georgia. We're providing transportation for the Georgians to leave Iraq to go fight the Russians. My thought there would be, if Iraq is wanting a time line and we have the available man and air power to help the Georgians get home, I guess our mission really is accomplished. Let's go . . . before Congress has to bluster about another bazillion dollars for the war, claiming they won't approve it, but they will!
So, in the last 7 years, we've started two wars, threatened another one, called the French all sorts of names, are desperately trying to offend Russia and Iran, we aren't even treated civilly at American airports and the license bureau is assigning a national ID number on driver's licenses. And all our leaders can say is "What, I didn't say anything wrong!" No wonder the world thinks Americans are rude, the high profile ones are!
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Time is Money, or is it Timing . . .

Well the feds met again and determined, nothing needed to be done to help our limping economy. It's just a matter of "wait and see," I believe is what I read. The wait and see idea is obviously a good one, since there are only 3 months until the election and only 2 more months until somebody else is sitting in the oval office trying to unravel this entire economic enigma. Actually, there is no enigma. Our President had a history of not so successful business endeavors and for those that think he was a big sports team owner, he only purchased 1% of the team and that was financed. Somewhere along the lines, Daddy's cronies, who were the real owners, gifted him with an additional 10%. As for the oil business, you'd think Zapata Oil could have been a real inheritance to a family of boys, but that just hasn't been mentioned since Neil's dinner with the Hinkleys and the unfortunate S&L situation. So now, he's had the entire US budget at his discretion and he's handled finances like the big mouth at the bar, yelling "A round of drinks for the house," well until the house changed parties and now it's the fault of the house, he can't do for us, anymore . . . I'm relatively sure, just like Grandpa Prescott in the 30's, his money isn't going to tank with the American economy. I don't know which country has the strong economy that Germany had in the 30's, but if I were a betting woman, that's where the neo-con interests are going.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. New Testament