RappCity

Banana Bush

(There's no place like home....There's no place like home....There's no place like home).

There once was a cowpoke named Bush
Who luckily got the right push
First from momma, then poppa,
(Then corporate connections, the military industrialist complex,  crooked fundraising,  the coverup of a brother who almost bankrupted the country, a governorship, where he finally (we hope) put down the bottle and coke spoon long enough to be conveniently "Born Again," at the knee of the most famous Christian Evangalist in America, which, in turn launched him to the White House (in the most contested election "steal" in history...TWICE) and where the people who pushed him could finally use him best ... as King George)
Then a "Shotgun" named Dick
And that's my Nantucket Limerick.

Loving You Has Made Me Banana's

Folks ... Reality Check:
When FIFTY (count 'em) Bi-Partisan Senators ... and 99% of Congress (both sides of the aisle)  say you are wrong about something ...(Letting our SeaPorts be run by the United Arab Emerites) you should NOT do it anyway!
Only a THIEF, a TRAITOR or an IDIOT would go ahead with it.
Take your pick.

I say Bush needs a sunny week in flip flops at Guantanamo (on the inside) to quietly sort things out.

#####

Still on the road and I miss you Cape Cod!  Hey...if my car takes a "Silkwood" off the road ...we will know the new "Internet Police" did not care for my Limerick. : >

"Judge Dread"

SEASONS GREETINGS

A Tree Grows In Boston

What's in A Name?

Thanksgiving is over.  And I hope we all had something to be thankful for.  Now that our bellies are full we can all get ready to empty our wallets as we speed towards the December "Holidays."  It's almost time for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and, perhaps some other holiday I don't yet know about.

These past few weeks there's been a lot of hoopla in Massachusetts (where else) about the possible renaming of a certain "Christmas Tree." 

Yup, those folks in charge of  "stuff" are trying to decide if the official state "Christmas Tree" should instead be called a "Holiday Tree" (to better include other religions and secularists during the "Holiday Season."

And they better decide fast...it was cut down late last week and is on its way to be trimmed and topped as we speak.

As Mayor Mennino and Governor Romney point out the pros and cons of such a change, other politicians are "skittishly" taking (or not taking sides) on this one.  Changing the name of this tree could get "sticky" around election time.  Personally, if I were a politician anywhere near Boston I think I'd be, "Unreachable at my winter vacation home in the Bahamas until Jan. 3rd." 

That's not to say that as "Citizen Rapp" I have not had a thought or two of my own on this controversial subject.

I'm actually amused ... although a bit concerned.  I'm amused by what appears to be the silliness of the whole thing... and concerned by the inherent complications and underlying consequences of any decision that would change the name of such a beloved icon.                                                            

My God!  The "Christmas Tree" could end up another symbol for the separation of Church and State

Holiday Complications                                                                               

Grinch Alert:  Holy goodness,  "Merry Christmas," itself may be in danger!   

Although many people still send out Christmas cards, others have, for many years already, chosen to send out secular cards with sayings like, "Seasons Greetings" or "Happy Holidays."  It's all about sharing good will... and not offending anyone.

When I was growing up, not too many Christians sent, "Merry Christmas" cards to their Jewish friends.  And as far back as I can recollect, Jews  never sent out Happy Chanukah cards to their Gentile friends either.  I mean Chanukah and Christmas are never very far apart on the yearly calendar, but in a religious sense you might say, they've got more than a few "testaments" between them.

But, somewhere during the middle of a last century December (probably during the Sixties), some Americans started sending friends of differing faiths more and more "secular" cards, with simple wishes for a happy holiday.  It just seemed the thing to do.  I mean that whole era brought more people of different faiths and creeds together to work and play than at any other time in our history.  People just wanted to show respect and love for each other at holiday time without crossing any religious boundaries that were foreign to them.  Secular cards just seemed "politcally correct."

And this seemed to work for quite a while... except for the "purists" (both Christian and Jewish).  To them it would always be either Christmas or Chanukah.  One or the other.  Not both!  But that was OK too.  There's nothing wrong with being traditional about certain things.  Let some people celebrate the "Holidays" ... and let others observe their religious traditions.  Live and let live.  And Hallmark wins no matter what the card says.

Now we have another December celebration:  Kwanzaa.                                     

This is not a religious, but a "cultural" holiday, celebrating African Americans.  It seems like a fine holiday to me, but I think a lot of people just wish Kwanzaa wasn't also in December.
Nothing racist meant  (Many African Americans are Christian and Jewish as well as other religions), but it does sort of complicate what is already a double sided holiday card by adding yet another page to it.  And I have to ask (feel free to let me know), is Kwanzaa in December because it's based on any old African traditions, the winter Solstice, or some ancient custom?  Or is it possible that some clever Madison Avenue types added it to the growing "consumerism" that's been attacking all American religious and cultural holidays (Be My Valentine?) for years?  I'm just curious.

And what about everybody else who's not Jewish, Christian or African American?  What about the  Hindus, Buddhists, Native Americans, Taoists and Muslims?  Do they feel "left out" or will they ask for some winter "Holiday" time too?  Well, December looks a little crowded for the moment.  Hmmm.... I think we might have a nice opening sometime in February or perhaps March?

I mean I can totally understand why some people have thrown their hands up in the air after trying hard to hold onto their old traditions.  It's not easy keeping things the same in a changing world. But, there's a very thin line between trying to hold on to benign forms of tradition, and certain virulent forms of fundamentalism that can quietly creep in, folding back on itself like a Black Hole trying to close all the doors behind it.  And if one of those Black Holes (in the form of some radical religious group) starts wanting to run public policy in favor of their own group, you usually end up having to deal with that pesky, "Separation of Church and State" Constitutional amendment thing.

But, let's not ruin the day by jumping ahead.  The Supreme Court top ten list discussion can wait for another time (Like when we're discussing abstract notions of Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and Native American Presidents).  Sadly, Muslims are temporarily off the waiting list for this century.

The Way We Were

I'm sure many of you Bay Staters already know that the very religious Puritans did not even celebrate Christmas. They considered it an abomination to throw parties, give gifts or pass around the eggnog like the rest of the growing colonial world was beginning to do to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus.

And when visitors (even other Christians) from New York, Rhode Island and other such, "worldly" places brought back some of the new and increasingly popular "American" Christmas customs, they were told to ignore these wicked practices or they'd burn in hell.
I have no doubt they would have hung Santa as a witch ... had he shown up in Salem wearing his red suit and carrying a bag of gifts back in 1630. 

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

The "Christmas Tree," custom (with all its lights, bells and whistles) was actually only brought to America by Northern European Immigrants in the mid 1800s.  Evergreen trees had been part of old pagan winter solstice celebrations and holidays (like Saturnalia) for centuries back in the old country.  And when these people eventually became Christians, they just incorporated their beloved holiday trees right into their new religion (Cut down a tree for Jesus! Hallelujah!).

Hey, these colorful people also brought St. Nicholas, Santa Claus, Father Christmas and a bunch of elves with them when they later crossed the pond to the new world.  Now who doesn't love them and that great Toy Shop at the North Pole?

But allowing old "Tannenbaum" a prominent place in the celebration of the birth of Jesus was a very clever move by the Church.  Convincing Northern Europe and Britain to convert to Christianity was much easier when the people were allowed to keep some of their Celtic/Wiccan/Pagan holiday customs (although toned down and properly directed) like their Winter Tree. 
It was a compromise of sorts.  A good one (This idea worked well with many other cultures around the world as well).  Everyone was happy ... well, most of the time anyway.

So, is the Christmas tree really a religious symbol?  Or just a pagan leftover?  Heck, I'm even willing to wager that Santa Claus and Jesus never even met!

You Light Up My Street

As for Christmas.  The birth of Jesus.  The Christ Mass.  That's another story.
This truly is a very holy occasion for many in the world.  Lots of people actually still go to Midnight Mass on the Eve of the event and spend the following day gathered with extended family for a simple, traditional, Christmas dinner.

But for others?  Well, it's just a darned good reason to get on the "Birthday Bandwagon" and party from Thanksgiving until Dec. 26th.  Yee-ha!  You know it's begun when suddenly the houses on your block start to light up. One of my neighbors threw the switch yesterday, at dusk (While I was still eating leftover turkey and cranberry sauce).  That dilapidated old house looks like it may fall down any minute ... but they've got those strings of Christmas lights up and running!  Truthfully, the lights actually make the place look more habitable (daylight brings back grim reality).

Some people decorate for Christmas very tastefully.  Maybe a well trimmed wreath on the door, a few well placed non blinking white bulbs. A single candle in the window.  Classic.
But for others?  Look out ... It's showtime! Don't you just love your neighbor's nightly display of tawdry, twinkling, red and green light bulbs timed to the dancing and prancing of reindeers, elves and little snowmen all over the front lawn?  Come on ... It rocks!

Not to be outdone, what about that twenty foot tall Rudolph with the enormous red "Neon Nose" in front of the house directly across the street from you? He's lighting up your block like Times Square on New Year's Eve.  Zzzzzzt ....  Zzzzzzt... Oh Lord ... Rudolph seems to have a short in his left nostril ... but what the heck, they're gonna leave him on anyway ... and he's right across from your bedroom window.  "Rudee!  Rudee!  Rudee."

And who needs headlights when the dark street you're driving down suddenly lights up with the glow of a 25 foot high Super-Sized Santa, rocking back and forth and waving at you from his "Snow Covered Space Sleigh" atop some guys roof?  Hell, there's enough light coming from a thing like that to play a game of street hockey at midnight.  It's got enough blinkers and blonkers on it to be seen from space! But, then again, people do feel somewhat redeemed from the madness if they can find a small spot to stick a nice manger scene in the middle of all this razzle dazzle.  Although, I've also seen some manger scenes that look like Spielberg productions.  "Jesus, call home."

It's What's Inside That Counts

Back inside the house stands the beloved Christmas tree.  They've gotten a little pricey lately.  Have you noticed?  But so what, right? It's Christmas. Go for it!  What's one car payment more or less when you think of all the joy it will bring?

Now some people still like go the traditional way, simply threading popcorn around the modest Dutch Elm ... trimmed with the traditional candles that end up causing all the traditional Christmas fires every year.  Others love the modern approach.  Lots of pretty, personalized ornaments, colored balls, ropes of garland, tons of tinsel (watch the cat) and hundreds of tiny little electric light bulbs crisscrossed around the big Blue Spruce.  Some prefer the star on top ... others like the angel.

Either way, just remember to unplug all the those pretty little lights at bedtime, or you and your neighbor with the popcorn may be trading Yule Log stories standing in your frozen underwear at 4 AM while waiting for the fire engines.

And those of you who have the synthetic, reusable trees with the new fibre optic lights? You're pretty safe ... even if you forget about everything and pass out from the punch.
But, no matter what type of tree you have, the best part is that there will hopefully be lots of presents under it on Christmas morning.

An interesting phenomenon to also ponder at this time of year is something called, "Christmas Tree Envy."  This usually happens to Jewish kids, but it can be found in other non Christian religions as well.  It stems from never having had a holiday tree as a child (Yet seeing them looking ever so beautiful and magical while visiting friends).

Occasionally, when these (obviously unorthodox) Jewish kids become adults, they finally feel free to do what mom and dad never allowed:  Bringing home a nice Scotch Pine and trimming it from top to bottom to their hearts content.  The trick seems to be in calling it a "Chanukah Bush."  Somehow that transforms it into some kind of  hybrid that can "almost" be explained to their kids, or anyone else who may seem puzzled (I have even seen Chanukah Bushes with dreidel ornaments on them).

This is true. I wouldn't kid you.  Some Jewish folks love the lights and razzle dazzle just as much as your wild and crazy Christian neighbors!  But, there is kind of a limit to how far even a Reform Jew can take this.  So, many settle for just a nice big lavish tree inside, and one modest electric menorah in the window.  Look, some things (like twinkling lights and bells and whistles) transcend all religious, ethnic and cultural boundaries...

Shop 'Til You Drop

There are lots of people that think the "Holidays" are just a time for good cheer and nondenominational shopping.  Shopping?  To celebrate the birth of Jesus? To celebrate the miracle of the eight days of burning oil called Chanukah? To celebrate African Pride?
You bet!   Check the Malls.  I was out there myself first thing Friday afternoon.  I got a great deal on some toy ponies and dump trucks for the kids.  Hey, I had to go.  All the good stuff may be gone by next week.

If you don't buy the kids, the wife, the husband, even the boss a gift, you're going to be in the "Christmas/Chanukah/Holiday/Seasonal" dog house!  Woof!  Actually, gift wrapped pet toys, cookies and even clothing for your best friends dog or cat has become quite the rage.

This is big business folks.  We all need to get with the program and buy as much as we can, spend as much as we have, and "Give" 'til it hurts.  Merchants are waiting to hear from you now.  Pick up a phone, click onto a website, interact with your home cable system;  There are people standing by to take your orders (and you can still get delivery before Christmas).
Just accept that for the next four weeks, we belong to the advertisers, the retailers and the American economy!  Act accordingly and this country stays solvent.  Let your spending "Trickle Down" to those that need it ... as well as those that don't.

You don't want to be the one responsible for a bad economic quarter, do you?  Do your civic duty!  Buy lots of stuff!

Just remember, whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Saturnalia or a nice simple Solstice ... it's really just semantics to Corporate America.  The real religious values of Christmas and Chanukah are still there for those that want them. They always have been.  And anyone who is very devout and pious, probably would not (or perhaps should not)  get too involved with national holiday obsessions over Santa Claus, (Hanukkah Harry, if you watch SNL), Elves, Snowmen, Pagan Icons, electric light shows and boisterous buying frenzies anyway.  Don't you think?

But,  for the rest of the population?   'Tis the Season!  Ho Ho Ho and Chai Chai Chai... Whether you send out "Holiday" or "Christmas" cards ... just send them with lots of love and wishes for a good new year.  If you want to enclose a check, be my guest ...  and thank you very much.
Throw a party, buy gourmet food and a nice bottle of top shelf booze.  Be generous and spread some cheer.  Give everyone that works for you a bonus so they can go out and spend some too.
If you receive a bonus ... be sure to blow it all before New Year's Eve.  And use your credit cards too.  It's American as apple pie.  These days it's actually downright patriotic!

Go buy a Christmas tree!  Buy two.  Get yourself a nice Chanukah Bush while you're at it.  Real or fake, buy the biggest one you can, and decorate the heck out of it with lots of gorgeous ornaments and lovely lights.  Then wrap as many wonderful gifts as you can with lots of bows and ribbons ... and tuck them all under that tree for those you love.

So, is it a Christmas tree?  You bet.    Is it the "Christmas Season?" You bet.  Is it also the  "Holiday Season" (sure).  Other than that I haven't got a clue what the fuss is all about.  But, whatever you celebrate, enjoy it.  It only happens once a year. And, as the old saying goes, "Eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow waits for no man.
                                    #######
 ***To paraphrase Dave Letterman, have fun because, "We all may be dead from Bird Flu by next year anyway."

UPDATE - Dec. 1st: Washington DC lit up the National  "Christmas" Tree this week, after it's own debate on the subject.   I was sure I heard the tree "debate, was also settled in Boston but the final result is as confusing as the reason it all started.  Mayor Mennino insists he lit a Christmas Tree tonight, but Parks Commissioner, Antonia Pollak, was quoted on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Web site Wednesday as saying the Blue Spruce, a gift from Nova Scotia, was dubbed a, "Holiday Tree" because, “A lot of people celebrate various religious holidays but also enjoy the lights, and we’re trying to be inclusive.”  As it stands now, the renaming back to a "Christmas Tree" will have to wait for next year.   Channel Five reported in the first half of their broadcast tonight that the "Holiday Tree" lighting was, "coming up soon," and then referred to it later in the same show as the as the, "64th annual Christmas Tree Lighting."   Well, whatever it is, it sure looked good.  And, remember:  This blog is your official source  for any future public Chanukah Bush Lightings for Cape Cod and all points north to Boston.

"Something Wicked This Way Comes"

I think the vegetarians are to blame.  They want us to stop eating meat.  Vegeterrorists have been making up all these weird animal diseases ...just to scare us into becoming a meatless society living on whole grains, fruits, vegetables and occasional forms of soy..shaped into faux animal parts. This group means for us to chew the cud, not the fat!

Wild Turkey
I don't know about you, but I'm worried that a nice, fresh, wild Turkey may not be the "thing" to eat this Thanksgiving.  Well, not unless I first take it to the Vet and make sure it doesn't have a temperature ... before I cook it!

Between Mad Cow, Avian Flu, and Mercury and PCB's in much of the the fish we buy... today I'm even scared of my Pork Chops!
Did you even know there is even a new Pig disease out there?
Streptococcus Suis... a bacterium, killed at least forty farmers in Sichuan Province this past summer.  But, don't worry say the Chinese,  the fatal outbreak is now, "Under control." 
Let's hope so.  We're starting to run really low on dinner choices!

The World Health Organization (WHO)  announced this week that Avian bird flu (H5N1) will probably mutate into a human to human form any day now, with a Pandemic to follow.
But fears about a Pandemic may be, "exaggerated," according to a European Union (EU) spokesperson from Great Britain.                

Now let me see...  
Scientists and doctors are saying, "Look out, " and politicians (representing tourism, trade and money) are saying, "Don't worry." Tough call....
It kind of brings back memories of a little flick called JAWS ... and that nice little summer resort of AMITY not wanting to lose summer business.
Well, I'm going with the scientists on this one, filling my pantry and staying out of zoos, bird stores and public statues and fountains this winter.

Dominos
This flu is tearing though Asia and Europe like gossip in a small town.
Millions of birds have died or been euthanized already, and at least 60 people are known dead in Asia ... and this  flu has not even jumped to human form yet!
But a report this week says a sick Indonesian boy may be the first case of "Human to Human" transmission. 
His father died after handling infected birds, and the boy, at home, had never been near them. Testing is ongoing.  We should know soon.

Poultry all over the world are now being enclosed in pens. Those of you hooked on "Free Range Chicken" may want to reconsider it  for a while ... (OK... so you get a few hormones and antibiotics in your food, how bad  can it be? Cough...Cough).

H5N1 has passed through most of Asia (where it began) and is now in Europe.  Romania, then Turkey were first. 
This week, Wild Swans were found dead in Croatia, making the EU pass an "Emergency Ban" on poultry imports from all of the Balkans.
Greece may also have it, but tests were inconclusive, and new results are pending.  But the Greeks are very scared.  Sales of poultry are down 70% in just the past week! 
Panic stricken neighbors are reacting as well.  Albanian television reported thousands of Greek chickens were killed at the border, when Albanians refused to let them enter the country.

Pet bird smuggling  is also a big problem. Taiwan seized a big haul of Flu infected exotic pet birds from Mainland China last week. The Taiwan Coastguard has now set up a dragnet for illegal trafficking. They are taking it so seriously they are offering  3.6 million Taiwan dollars (US $107,462) for tip-offs on smuggling!

In Great Britain this week, a parrot (part of a shipment of 148 other parrots) imported from Suriname, (South America), tested positive for H5N1.  The bird was already in quarantine, caged next to a shipment of 216 nifected birds from Taiwan (that was real smart).  
The UK's Chief  Veterinary Officer said since the bird was in a quarantined biosecured area, there is no reason to worry that Great Britain is now infected.  However all the birds were destroyed, and all personnel were given antiviral just as a, "precaution."
Finland recently reported "possible" bird flu in Seagulls!
Finland also shares an 800-mile eastern border with Russia and a western border with Sweden, Norway and the Baltic states.

I even heard a rumor this week that the flu is already up in northern Canada (Not a far flight for a bird from or Russia).

On the Homefront
Cape Codders should be very concerned about all of this.
Bird migration is the number one spreader of this disease, and we have one of the richest areas of bird migration in the country. 
Living here is like living in a natural bird sanctuary. 

Dozens of species live here all year,  but migratory birds are a large part of the Cape too.
I love watching the Canada Geese, flying in V formation across the sky.  They always let me know how soon to get out the sweater or the bathing suit.
But the Geese don't just do a "Fly By." 
They stop and visit us too. They rest in our ponds and wetlands. They "hang out." They share the airways and waterways with  Ducks, Swans and many other waterfowl.
They fly the same airspace as Hawks, Osprey's, Falcons and Eagles. 
And they all drink from the same water fountains as the Seagulls.

It sounds so nice, but these days it's, not so good," say the experts. 
And if you have any kind of outdoors birds (even pets), it gets even worse.

No Jackpot
H5N1 is not a winning number.  And is headed our way. 
This is no longer conjecture, but fact.  It's now just a question of when...
And as sick birds approach our shores, they will probably first infect the birds that already live here.  That will probably be the first sign. Most human deaths, so far, have been when people either handled or ate sick birds, or came in contact with them in some other way.

When we see the signs that people are beginning to pass the virus from person to person (instead of just from bird to person), we'd better be ready!
Usually a simple flu shot keeps us from getting sick.  And although some years the flu is worse than others, this flu is a whole other ballgame! 

Immunity
H5N1, as you may have already heard, has never before been seen by scientists. The H5 part is old hat to doctors, but this N1 part is a brand new strain, and we humans have no antibodies or defense against it.
Our immune systems don't have a clue what to do if infected.
And that's the very reason we need to take this very seriously and prepare for the possibility of a worldwide Pandemic, which could kill (according to some estimates) up to150 million of us!

It's a very much like when the Native Americans were introduced to Smallpox by Europeans. Their bodies never saw the bug beforem and had no defense against it at all.  It pretty well killed every one of them that came in contact with it. 
Same thing here.  We are now the "New" Native Americans.

The hardest part is knowing that it's coming, and knowing we have no vaccine to prevent it ... and no antibiotics to cure it.
I don't mean to sound alarmed, but......(Can anyone hear us out there??? Hellllllp!!!!)!

The Drug People
Many countries around the world have been stockpiling one of only two antivirals available for months already.  They are hoping to to be able to fend off, or at least hold back the tide of this looming threat.
EU officials, again this week, urged member states to "stockpile" all they can.

How much do we have?  At last count, maybe 100,000 doses. 
And the USA  is way down on the waiting list of the drug companies  that make the drugs.  Far behind many other countries, we are actually closer to the bottom of the list than the top.
Why? 
Well, it's not because people hate us (although so many do), but it's because NO ONE in this administration (Someone hold me back...) ever asked to be on the list!   Not until just a few weeks ago!
Can you believe that?  This is bewidlering....but true!
Good work Washington.  Take another bow George.  FEMA?  Surgeon General?  Anyone else want to take some credit?  Curtains coming down.
Grrrrrrrrr...

Anyway, the H5N1 virus has already shown resistance to one of the antivirals that showed great promise at one time: TAMIFLU.
It seems the TAMIFLU pill has been totally overused to battlle common influenza for the last few years in Asia. 
The LANCET medical journal reported resistance to anti-influenza drugs was growing worldwide, and that in China alone, drug resistance to antivirals exceeded seventy percent!  
Despite that, this week in the US, druggists are working overtime filling prescriptions for all the TAMIFLU they have in stock (Shades of the CIPPRO stockpilings.).

An antiviral flu medicine that doesn't work anymore is not what we want to be hearing with a Pandemic knocking at the door!
But take heart people.  Another antiviral called RELENZA (generically known as ZANAMIVIR), is being tested as we speak. 
This one will be inhaled, rather than taken by pill.
It is also being made into an injectable/intravenous form ...to make it stronger and faster working.

But the biggest reason research and supply are taking so long, is that most drug companies are not even equipped to make flu drugs.
It seems there is no profit in making them.  Since flu viruses mutate from year to year, at the end of the season the drug companies get stuck with a lot of product, and whatever is left  ... gets tossed. 
That's why we occasionally have shortages and why only two companies are even in the "Flu Biz."

The Bacon Needs to Simmer
It's times like this when our Government could actually do something to help us.
Washington (Are they awake yet?)  should be throwing a lot of money, at this. Tossing it wildly at any and all the people who can actually help for a change! 

Let's back burner the Pork and corruption for a few months ...and take the monies good American taxpayers have already paid (in good faith, for good government), and have Washington use as much of it as they need to save some American lives!

The crooked politicians can come back to extort, divert, overbudget, give themselves raises, take  junkets and steal all they want again next year.  But right now, let them please give us back our stolen money so we can  fix this problem.  Deal?
Let's Wake Up over at the White House, at Congress at FEMA and at the Treasury.  Open up those "Cabinet Doors" and send forth your Secretaries with arms full of Federal Funds for Flu!
Point of fact:  The President was all set to cut $25 billion from the Centers for Disease Control (among other cuts in Medicare, AIDS research and more) to cover the costs of Hurricane Katrina.
Let's just hope he has the sense to "table" the proposal for the moment.

I think Washington insiders really think they are immune from a real Plague (Gee, I wonder how many doses of antiviral Congress has stockpiled for themselves).
I say: "A Pox on  Phony, Patronizing, Pork Barrel Politico's. You WILL Pay the Piper!"

REWARD
How about a Reward? 
How about a Billion Dollars for the first company to come up with the "Cure" or a "Working Vaccine" for H5N1?
How about another "Three to Four Billion," to get a few more companies to set up labs to reproduce whatever is eventually made and marketed by the main flu team?
We need "plenty of product!"
Hell..Let's toss TEN Billion at it!

Do those amounts sound big? President Bush has been spending a few Billion here, a few Billion there for a while already.  He knows how to do it.  This shouldn't be so hard.
A Billion is "Chump Change" to the corporate friends of Washington.

Hey ...if the Treasury is a little short, why don't we Borrow a  Billion from Halliburton?
At  NO interest. 
We can offer the same deal to a few other big corporations too.
It would be a very patriotic thing for them to do, especially after all we've done for them!

Wait.  I have another idea.
How about eliminating the tax cut?  
Oh come on, just for the next two years or so. 
Living is so much more fun than saving a few extra dollars, isn't it?
Oh wait, I forgot.  The people with all the big money will get the antiviral anyway.  How silly of me.  Nevermind.

Scientists have told us it will could take about six months to even make a vaccine ...and that's only after we even know the final mutated form of the virus.
But, with BILLIONS of bucks attached to a drug contract (including extra bonuses for individual scientists), we could be swimming in alternative cures faster than we thought. 
I say, "could," but, research might very well speed up (with a lot of overtime, double time and bonues).    Who knows...
Money has an amazing way of getting things done.

For The Birds
Speaking of sick birds ... they do tend to leave little "packages" behind as they pass through our towns and villages (and usually on my car).
It also puts me in mind of a visit I had with some friends from New York a couple of summers ago.
I brought them to one of my favorite little Capespots for lunch.  A nice little clam shack on the water.  Nice fresh fried sifh and chips. The best! 
So, there we were, eating and laughing, and having a grand old time, when a big fat Seagull (they sure know where to hang for the best meals) just swooped down and left a nice little gift for my friend ... right on her head!  No joke.  Then, adding the proverbial insult to injury, it also left a little present on her fried clams.
Now, I don't know how that ranks with any of you folks for embarrassing moments, but I was speechless.  I couldn't think of a thing to say (yes me).  In retrospect, however, I think it was probably a good thing my mouth was closed (for a change).  I think I might be eating inside for a while.  That Seagull might have friends.

Today,  looking back at that amusing moment ... I somehow get the feeling that those carefree, beachfront, bird loving, "Who cares what crapped on my car," days may soon be gone forever.
I sure hope not.

How about declaring war on Avian Flu!
That's  a war we can ALL support.
  ###JC

"NINE" (The Supreme Court Musical)

Double Edged Swords?
When Judge Roberts was being questioned, the Republicans argued loudly that Democrats should NOT be asking him how he would vote on Roe VS Wade and other "touchy," subjects.  That is was not ethical or necessary to know in advance.
They said Roberts was to get to the court with an open mind (Sure...wink wink).

But, how quickly the tide changed when Republicans (especially the Far Right) started clamoring for Ms. Miers to tell them how she stands on Roe VS Wade before getting their support.  Is that a wee bit hypocritical, or is there another explanation out there?

This woman, surrounded by the Bush inner circle, cannot tell people often enough how she is an Evangelical Christian, not once, but TWICE over, as if that should be enough of a "hint" (wink wink) that they are getting her vote on all the Right Wing Religious  issues.  But that still is not clear enough to the Conservative, "Radical Fringe" of the Republican party.  These "Fringers" are still concerned that once upon a time, back in the eighties (before she knew Dubya), Miers was not only a Democrat, but actually sent Al Gore $1,000 for his Senate campaign.                                                                                          

Wow, talk about Elephant's never forgetting!  Shades of:  "Are you now  ...Or have you ever been?"

"Stay Little Valentine, Stay"
Despite the fact that Ms. Miers was once a Democrat, who voted for and contributed to Al Gore for Senator, she also left the Catholic Church to became a Born Again (and, "Again") Evangelical Christian. Now Bush tells us, that she will "Never change."

*If anyone out there wants to take a laugh break along with me right here ... feel free.  It's still a constitutional right (so far)                       

So, I can rest assured that Harriet Miers "Changing" days are over!
She is now a rock.  An island.  She is solid and immovable!
I suppose now, even if the right guy came along, she still would not marry, since that could, reasonably, signify "change."

It makes me feel very secure (cough cough), knowing that if Harriet Miers sits on the Nations Highest Court,  no matter what happens,  she will never change her religion, her political views, her friendships, her loyalties or even her mind again (I would, however, encourage at least a change of underwear every now and then).

Bush, Bush, Bush...  (He knows not what he does ... Or if he does ...that's even scarier).

With House Majority Leader, Tom Delay (Who claims people have been, "After him,"  since his first indictment in 1992), Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist (Who just happened to sell some family stock...right before it tanked),  plus Bush's personal GURU ("Da Puppetmeister"),  Karl Rove,  all  fighting off indictments as we speak, President Bush must have his hands full.

With everyone around him so busy, The President might even have written (and proofed) some of his own speeches and decisions recently.
Good Lord....  That would explain a lot (wink wink).

Pssst....   Would someone please tell the Emperor that his clothes are ready,  and that ANYONE (including himself)  who is finished, "Changing" ...is usually legally DEAD.       ###JC

"Bill Bennett Won't You Please Go Home"

"Clowns to the Left of me, Jokers to the Right..."

Well, another "Right Fielder" took a tumble this week.  And I'm not talking baseball...

I'm not even talking about Tom DeLay (Republican House Leader) who was indicted this week on campaign fraud.  Not even not Bill Frist (Republican Senate Majority Leader), who may also face indictment on a "Martha Stewart Type" insider stock tip sale (Will he get the same treatment as Our Lady of the Kitchen?).

No, I mean Washington "Insider," radio host and self proclaimed, "MORALIST" for America, Bill (William J.) Bennett. 

This "Moral Moron" made the mistake of speaking his real thoughts out loud on his daily radio show a few days ago when he said,    "...You could abort every Black baby in this country and your crime rate would go down."  Yikes!  (Full quote at bottom of page.)

As the Press, along with numerous Black and other social  leaders swooped down on him, Bennett compounded the issue further by appearing on the Hannity and Colmes show (where else) offering explanations so lame,  I thought I saw a "cringe" cross Hannity's face.

I tuned in the show myself, wanting to actually give the guy a chance to explain.  Maybe his words were taken out of context.  I do agree that many people get pounced upon for a simple slip of the tongue (Cindy Sheehan accidentally said, "America is not worth dying for," when she really meant to say, "Iraq is not worth dying for"), and look at the mess that created.

A hungry Press can  tear into flesh just to keep their ratings up.   So, bearing that in mind, I wanted to hear Bennett explain his words himself.

So I watched. 

Obviously distressed, Bennett  just went on and on... Occasionally (it seemed to me), looking at Hannity for reassurance (kind of like, "You won't let me down will ya buddy?")
But after explaining what he, "Really meant to say," for the fourth or fifth time, he started attacking ...instead of  defending. He was turning red as he spoke angrily of the critics of his "racist" statement.  And many prominent people had taken great offense at the statement and said so publicly.

But then, in what could only be termed a desperate move, he took direct, personal aim, at Sen. Ted Kennedy, saying, "Kennedy has no right to judge me when he killed a girl."  

Oh my...   Folks, that had to be the most tasteless and offensive comment I have ever heard on Prime Time television (And I've been watching TV since Murrow lit his first cigarette on camera).

What an awful thing to say ... even if your arse is on the line!

Bennett then rambled on for another minute or so before  Hannity mercifully wrapped the segment (BTW and coincidentally,  Bennett's web site has a link to Hannity's book, eerily  titled:  DELIVER US FROM EVIL).  You know, I generally find Sean Hannity a dangerous,  muck-raking, lunatic, right wing extremist, but I will give him a point for loyalty. 

Anyway, the real KICKER is that Bennett, whom Ronald Reagan appointed as Chairman of the National Endowment Fund (no wonder Art class has been dropped in school) and Secretary of Education (no wonder kids can't read), has often called Liberals, "Inherently less moral than Conservatives." 

Hmm..."Inherently less moral"... an interesting  concept.  It now has me  wondering if Conservatives are born that way, or actually just choose it.  Well, let them marry if they want.  It's none of my business.

But, wait, this gets even better...

President Bush (once off the sauce himself) liked Bennett's, "Get Tough Approach" to drugs," so much, he made him the first "Drug Czar."  He liked Bennett's argument that, "Individuals have a moral responsibility to own up to their addictions." 

Then it was revealed that Bennett had a severe gambling problem!

Ironically, after finally leaving public office, Bennett wrote a book called THE BOOK OF VIRTUES, and remarked the morning after the 2004 elections:  "Having restored decency to the White House, President Bush now has a mandate to affect policy that will promote a more decent society, through both politics and law." 

With his contant barrage against the immorality of "Drinking, "Homosexual Unions" "Wife Swapping" and even, "The RIKKI LAKE Show " (Say what?) ....Bennett always seemed to avoid any words about his own vice: High stakes casino gambling!

This may not seem important now, but this man worked with two Presidents, the Congress and the Cabinet helping to form Public Policy! 

When he arrived in Washington, casinos were only allowed in TWO states.  By the time he left Washington, casino gambling had expanded to twenty-eight states!   Currently, the Governor of Maryland (Bennett's current home) is trying to introduce slot machines to the state. The Washington Monthly and Newsweek Magazine reported that over the last decade Bennett has been a "Preferred Customer" in both Atlantic City and Las Vegas, where they put his total losses at more than Eight Million Dollars!

Why am I taking this time on Bill Bennett?  Corruption, greed, breaking laws and racism is very common in the Political and Corporate arena. It's certainly not new.  But what is so appalling about Bill Bennett, in particular, is that while this man continually preached to us about Morality and Virtue (and urged prominent friends to join his stances against social issues like Gay rights, Open Marriages ... and even Drinking for goodness sake ...he considered himself above it all.  HE had the right to HIS vices!

Not only that, he let his guard down and showed us that a man we trusted and believed to be an intelligent leader of people is just a low down, run of the mill Racist if you scratch the skin. Add "Hypocrite" as well, to the egomaniac who finally got, "Outed" by his own stupidity and big mouth.

From Jim Jones and his brainwashed suicidal flock,  to Jimmy Swaggart and his hookers, to  Pedophile Priests and the Rabbi that put a "Hit" out on his wife, we have once more been assaulted by a sheep in wolves clothing.   A prominent person of some authority  thinks he has the obligation and even the  right to plan everyone elses lives, while living his own according to his own rules.

It will be interesting to see how the radio network he currently works for deals with the outcome of this racism issue.  I think they will be singing along with most of us, "Bill Bennett Won't you Please Go Home."

*Incidentally.... as of this writing, President Bush himself has now condemned the statement made by Bill Bennett.

On a different political note, but of extreme local importance:        

Ex Governor Bill Weld (who is considering a run for Governor of New York), told the NY Post yesterday that he will be rooting for the Yankees this weekend for a win against the Red Sox.

Weld, who admitted changing his loyalty just "a couple of days ago" (???) then said, "With the Red Sox having won last year, I don't have to root for them anymore."   Grrrrrr.....
And to think I once liked him...   Interesting Fact:  Bill Weld is a native New Yorker, born on Long Island.  

As Promised...Bill Bennett's full quote:   

"I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down.So, these far out, these far reaching extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky."

Notes from a Maligned Blogger

Attacks versus Comment and Debate

As Bloggers, most of us who write on these pages are very used to getting comments; Pro and Con.

We speak our minds, and hope that some share our opinions, or at least enjoy what we have to say.  Sometimes people disagree with us, and wish to debate a point or two, or offer an opinion of their own.  That's a good thing.

Disagreement is as old as our Founding Fathers (much older, actually).
They, themselves agreed to disagree on many issues, before finally forming the document that gave everyone the right to their own opinions, religions, and freedom to say whatever the heck they wanted to say (only later amended to prohibit yelling, "Fire" in a crowded theater).

America is one great nation.  There is no where else on earth I would rather live.
But, our country is currently going through a rough time.  

Call it, "Growing Pains," or even a metamorphasis of sorts, but we all need to be ready to, "Stand beside her, and guide her...," when necessary. 

And we all have different ways of doing that.  My way is to write what I think.   

Of course, I also pay taxes, vote, give blood and do other things that are not necessary to put into print. 

Some people think we need, "This".  Some people think we need "That".
But somewhere in between "This" and "That," remains our freedom  to speak our minds ... and to even criticize our President and any other politician when we think they are wrong!

In America, we're even free to assemble in groups to complain about our leaders and their policies.  This very weekend an Anti-War rally was held in Washington.
It was very well attended, and would probably have had even more people in attendance if not for Mother Nature's stormy onslaught down south.

My point is, that whether you support the war in Iraq or not is irrelevant when it comes to our constitutional right to march on our nations capital (or anywhere else) in peaceful protest.
Supporters of the war are equally welcome to march. That's America!

As a Blogger, I have my own style of writing.  I see things in my own way, and often even find humor in all the seriousness of life  ..even when others don't.

I make no apologies for that either.   
If we can't laugh at ourselves, in the midst of all our human tragedy, we are doomed.

Whenever I put my opinions out there (the reason we all blog), I know that people are going to both agree and disagree with me.  And that's fine.  They should.
My door is always open to comments. Either way.            

Just click my "comment button" and let me hear you loud and clear.

The day I am too old to learn something new, I will stop writing.

But, sadly, when another Blogger chooses to publicly attack me in "Blog Form," (continually taking my words out of context, and bringing up subjects I never wrote about in the first place), just because they disagree with my politics, or sense of humor, or views on religious fanaticism (no one religion in particluar), well then, that's another story. 

This person may not be yelling "Fire" in a crowded theater, but it sure isn't what Blogging is all about.

So, I am hereby exercising my own freedom of speech, to let everyone know  that RappCity is not only alive and well, but bustling with comments (in all the the right places) as we speak. 
And me?  I stand by every word I've written! 

Come take a peek for yourself, and see the real Blog.  But see it from the source, not from the selective clips of someone else's "opinions."     ###JC               

"Nature is an Awesome Force" GW Bush

"Nature is an Awesome Force"  President George W. Bush
Yes, that is a quote from our Commander in Chief.  It was said during his speech in New Orleans about a week after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.  In blue shirt against blue background (Reminiscent of the Magic Kingdom at Disney...replete with a statue of Andrew Jackson on a fiery steed), Bush added that, the "Armies of Compassion" were coming to help.  He also said, "God welcomes us to a house not made with hands," and closed with the very poignant sentiment that, "Plymouth, Jamestown and Chicago are fine, we always come back."

Deja Vu All Over Again
We on Cape Cod watched again (on TV) as Gulf Coasters fled their homes, grabbing everything that would fit in a car, a camper, on a motorbike or a bus.

Hurricane Rita, the storm that could not make up her mind where to land (Houston? Galveston?),  finally decided.   After teasing us for two days while swirling around in the Gulf, Port Arthur and Lake Charles on the eastern fringe of the Texas coast finally caught her eye.

Gridlock on Texas roads stopped the state cold this past Thursday and Friday.  Between Houston and Galveston, and all small towns in between, over two million people sat in gasless un-aircondtioned cars (some for up to 30 hours) with temperatures hovering around 100 degrees.  Feeling like sitting ducks if Rita decided to hit before they could get to shelter, some abandoned their cars and just began walking.

This time buses were there for all who needed them, but, sadly one bus, carrying senior citizens caught fire and exploded on the highway, killing over twenty-five people. 
The rest of the northeastern coast of Texas hunkered down and out of the way of the monster storm.  In Texas City, Texas, a woman who owns a cat sanctuary refused to leave her 300 cats behind, and stayed with them, depsite much urging. I hope to see her face on the news later today.

Incidentally, Texas got lucky!  The actual eye hit in a marshland/wetland/bayou area where people were smart enough not to live!

And New Orleans took another  hit.  The outer bands of this huge storm opened patched levees and once more let water fill the city. Beleaguered Louisiana Governor Blanco (of  Hurricane Katrina fame),  wisely asked for evacuation of the city on Wednesday.  But by Thursday, when it was evident some people would not leave, she said "...If you decide to stay, at least mark your social security number on your arm in indelible ink." 
That made perfect sense to me.  At least they would who to call if they found you.

Attention Please: Global Warming Arriving at Gate 17
All of this furious weather has some people wondering, "Why is Mother Nature suddenly being so mean?  Suddenly?  Well, shame on Her.  It certainly couldn't be anything we did.  Could it?
Maybe we're all just paying more attention to dear Mother ... since she turned her recent wrath towards us.  How dare she!  This is America, where major catastrophes and other natural disasters are simply, "Not allowed" to happen! 

So what if Indonesia, China, Switzerland, Romania and Germany have recently had the worst floods in their histories.  That's them.  Not us!  Who cares if England and Ireland have seen the strangest weather in years.  They're not us!  Everyone around the world is worried about changing climate, pollution and Global Warming.  But not us.  We're America!
Ironically, waterlogged Venice and Amsterdam seem to be the only two cities saying to Mother Nature:  "Hello, we hate you, but we have been expecting you."  Hmm, what do they know that we don't?

Does it really take a hammer to our heads (Thwap) before we can accept being part of a Global Community called EARTH, and that "those things," that always seem to happen "to those people," are now happening here ... to us?

Cape Cod had a little "Wake Up" call last week.  Some outer bands of Hurricane Ophelia caused bad flooding on many parts of the Cape.  People were actually walking around in waist deep water in Sagamore (Front page/Cape Cod Times 9/16),  and parts of Sandwich and the Scusset Beach Campsite were actually evacuated!  If this is what a Tropical Storm (100 miles away) can do,  imagine what a Category Five would be like?  Hurricane Bob would be remembered as a lovely autumn shower.

Disasters don't discriminate.  America is as good a place as any for one.  This is one planet.  Cape Cod is part of Massachusetts, which is part of the USA, which is part of North America which is one of five continents that make up EARTH!  And we are all little Earthlings. Every one of us. 

Kurt Vonnegut said on his recent book tour, "Earths immune system is trying to get rid of us humans."  He may be right.

The Emperor Has no Clothes
Just because we have a President and a majority in Congress who don't agree with scientists (HA!) doesn't mean Global Warming isn't real.  They could say the Pentagon has nine sides, but that would not make it so.  Not even if Pat Robertson and Justice Scalia backed them up (Although a few might believe them just because they said it with conviction).                                                         

But no matter what they say, we still share our nuclear waste, toxic sludge, oil spills and fossil fuel emissions with everyone else on the planet.  And where do you think that stuff ends up when we're through playing with it?  It goes into the air, the soil and the water (and our lungs).  It even clogs up the atmosphere (Has anyone seen my Ozone?  I seem to have misplaced it).

The byproducts of industry produce waste (The byproducts of human sexuality produce the same thing, but we call them people).  There are more people on the planet than we used to have (have you noticed?),  and it is not because of Area 51 or a Martian invasion.  We just keep begetting more and more of those little Earthlings. It's habit forming.

And the more people we need to feed and clothe and sell things to, the more industry we create and, in turn, the more waste we produce.  Most of this waste transforms into HEAT, which then ends up warming our air and our water (oceans).  And warmer oceans cause icecaps and glaciers to melt, which in turn raises water levels, thus creating "wetter" and more severe storms with bigger tidal surges.  This is NOT rocket science folks.  Even I understand it, and I can't even balance my checkbook!

And now, as third world nations awaken... some of their HEAT is coming at us too.  It's getting pretty warm out there.  With so many people (and so many more to come if Bush gets the Supreme Court he wants and women don't even have a "morning after" pill to take with their "morning after" coffee) what will we do?

The Emperor may be naked, but do we have our pants on right?

Get Our of the Kitchen
A recent combined study by the Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) and NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Agency), found that Global warming is not just happening, but  happening faster than we thought.  Thomas Knutson, head of the GIT group said, "A sharp increase in intense storms is predicted,"  and NOAA spokesman Peter Webster agreed, adding, "Are we to blame?  Well, population and burning increases are warming the oceans."  These are scientific facts folks. Ignore them at your own peril (Hey wait, it's MY peril too).

Global Warming has been denied by the "Powers that Be" for years. "Nonsense," has generally been the comment from Corporate America and their political puppets.   Of course it's "Nonsense," to them, it may slow down industry production, profits, dividends and "perks" like Lear jets, penthouses and second homes in Aspen for company CEO's if they admit the truth!

Some everyday people don't accept Global Warming either, because, gosh darn, they just believe the President, and what he and the Oval Office are supposed to stand for (see my blog about Creeds, Motto's and Flags next week). These folks are convinced our Commander in Chief is doing what is best for us (This would be kind of "cute" if it weren't so dangerous).  Didn't we already have a guy named George who really never told a lie? 

Then of course there are the religious fanatics who see every flood, hurricane, tornado or other natural disaster as the beginning of the end; Armageddon.  The Apocalypse.  Revelation in progress.  Convinced the end of the world is coming any minute,  most of these folks carry a toothbrush and are all ready for the "BIG" one.  They're just hanging around until the end, telling everyone else what to do (to kill time?) while they await Gabriels trumpets, Angel Michael, and the whole "Rapture" enchilada.  God speed and have a nice trip.

That leaves the rest of us, who actually believe in science and the reality of  not only global climate changes, but even weirder things like Magnetic Pole shifts, Quantum Mechanics and even Chaos Theory. Oh and let's not forget Evolution.  And you know what?  We're actually in the majority despite all the propaganda!  Even odder?  Many of us still believe in God (Really? Yes!).

Shock and Awe
America is in the midst of Culture Shock as well as climate change. 
We're at war.  And during war we've  gotten used to seeing dead bodies on TV news (since Vietnam).  But, that's still, "Over there." Them, all of a sudden we're seeing dead bodies on our own streets.  This is very different.  Seeing sick, starving, homeless people on our front steps is something a little harder to ignore.

I don't care what your party affiliation is (I'm certianly too picky to stick with one party over another),  but most of us, have crossed partisan lines and shared tears and prayers together while reaching for our wallets in recent weeks.  And that part was good! 
I don't know about you, but seeing human kindness sure gives me a shot of HOPE now and then. 

Meanwhile, these displaced people are going to need more than temporary shelter and a few crumbs of food very soon.  They'll need houses and jobs.  Schools for the kids.  And, we need to find a way to PAY for all the things we need to fix and supply, inlcuding the cleanup and building of a new infrastructure for at least three, maybe four cities across the Gulf Coast.
Those donations we all sent in to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army (among other charities) did some real good.  Evacuees got medical help, food, clothes and more.  Even pets were rescued.

But the rest of that cookie jar change is not going to be spent on rebuilding.  Not one dime of it.  If there is a surplus, it will stay with the charities for future use (as I am sure it will be needed after Rita).

Say What?
When I first heard that the Salvation Army  flew some evacuees out from Camp Edwards to other states to relocate and start new lives I was thrilled.  I was still in awe that "our" evacuees (Lifted off rooftops  and flown directly here),  already had kids in school, while other victims were STILL living in the Houston Astrodome! 

But then I heard what I hope is a rumor (anyone?). That the Salvation Army is expecting reimbursement from the MA for monies spent on airline tickets for these folks.   Say what?  State reimbursement?  What was all the money we gave them for? 

The Red Cross and the SA had told us to "Stop giving anything but money"  they had enough food and toys and clothing.  So we gave more money.  Lots of it.

And I am happy to say that the 209 evacuees here on Cape Cod were well fed, given new clothing (Used clothing was not even being accepted),  got a $200.00 gift card at Filenes, had a BBQ with the Governor while watching a football game on a giant screen and are now being recruited for jobs in the local area (those that want to stay).  But the ones that opted to leave?  The SA wants their money back?  Someone explain this to me please?  I am at a loss. Just how does this work?
                                                                                                         Someone Diddled While Rome Burned
As for the paybacks on a larger scale: Did you know that President Bush plans to pay for much of this Hurricane rebuilding by cutting the brand new Drug Bill that would have helped the needy, disabled and elderly with prescriptions?  Out of everything in the federal budget ... why pick that?   One aide lamely tried to explain that since it has not yet been put into action, it seemed the perfect bill to cut.

I guess the idea is we won't miss what we never had.  Right?  Or maybe the Administration just hopes all seniors and poor/sick people will die before they get a chance to vote, "Anything but Republican" in the next "Pick a President Pageant."

What about just cutting back the 5% tax cut Bush gave out as we went to war?  That tax cut make no sense to anyone other than the very wealthy people that paid for Bush's Presidency anyway.  And even a few of them might not even complain if it was rescinded after all this havoc.  Right (Someone, Anyone)?

As this country falls deeper and deeper into debt, and with no money left in the treasury,  old people, poor people and those on fixed incomes will just have to keep to choosing between medicine or food.

Now THAT is Darwinism, Mr. President.  Not Creationism or even Intelligent Design!  It is simply and scientifically called, "Survival of the Fittest."  So, I guess science is OK when you're making money and not hungry.

Let Them Eat Cake
President Bush, at an all time low in the polls, has been handed a chance to redeem himself, and yet still chooses to turn a blind eye to the long term needs of people. He instead chooses once more to stick his finger in the short term political dike called "cronyism."
Shame on you George!  But after hearing his mother Barbara's comments about the poor being in better shape at the Astrodome than they were back in the slums of New Orleans, somehow I am not so surprised anymore.

To think Barbara Bush once had the respect of not only our Nation, but the world makes me now cringe.  "Face Value," folks.  That's all it is.  "Face Value." 
It's OUR job to find the truths.

So what will our "Compassionate Conservative" cut next to pay his Federal bills?  School lunch programs for kids?  Day care centers?  How about some free clinics? There isn't much left in the public schools to take away...except maybe freedom of speech!
And all this, to make the GOP look good to the well heeled in 2008.

Fireside Chat?
The only people that will benefit from all the newly created jobs stemming from these terrible hurricanes (ironic isn't it? How tragedy creates jobs?), are political pals of the administration.  Four companies have already been chosen for the cleanup in New Orleans and Mississippi: Shaws, Fluor, Bechtel..and, everyone say it with me:  Halliburton!

And guess who Bush put in charge of this massive spending project? Can you say Rove?  As in Karl Rove.  The brand new Director and Architect of  the approximately $100 billion (and growing) reconstruction project for the Gulf states (Pre Hurricane Rita rates).

And the local people?  They're screwed.   Can someone tell me why the government cannot even pay people the "going rate" for jobs, yet can pay billions to the Fat Cats?  So much money being spent and promised and being "negotiated," that is has caused some some to say Bush is spending like Liberal!  Even Conservative right wing "elder" and  professional TV guest, Pat Buchanan, told Keith Olbermann on MSNBC that, "He (Bush) spends lavishly," adding this could cause a battle over spending in the Republican party that, "Could make 'Oil for Food' look like shoplifting."  Hmmmm...

I say again, as I did last week: Toss all these corporate crooks out  and bring back a Franklin Roosevelt type of WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION (WPA) program (OK call me names again).

Hire anyone who wants to work.  Give them a shovel, some food, a trailer and let them build their own city back with nice BIG donations and advisers from...the BIG four contractors (who got this project, as usual, without bidding for it). 

Heck, I'll even contribute to a WPA program.  Put it on my next tax form:  "Check this box if you want to donate $10, $20, $50, or more...to the new WPA program to rebuild the Gulf Coast without big corporations making money on the backs of poor people."

Of course, I would also like to know who would be handling all that money (Like NOT Arthur Anderson).  I mean this could be a great thing.  It should not be turned into a PORK roast at a Kosher BBQ!                                                  

People Are Talking 
Forget all of the above.  An NBC poll this week said that the National deficit ranks at the BOTTOM of the barrel to voters who are much more concerned with keeping tax cuts, keeping God in the Pledge of Allegiance, keeping Gays from marrying and keeping women from having abortions.  OK.  Let's all go home. Come on folks.  Don't you get the Tax Cut Game yet?   They screw you every time ... and you yell, "More."  Hey, This is Rape!  You should be yelling "NO!"

Haven't you noticed that every time the Republicans give us a little tax cut...everything else always costs more right after?  Think about it.  For instance, if the tax cut is 5%,  food somehow sneaks up about 10%.  Gas goes up 20%., etc., etc., etc. It never fails.  Never mind your gasoline, have you checked the price of milk lately? How about the price of water?  How about a nice steak from Stop and Shop?

It didn't work when Reagan tried it (although his mirrors were shinier) and it does not work now.  Republicans give tax cuts, then run up deficits, then bow out and leave the mess to the Democrats, who then get blamed for inflation. This is not new. It's older than the horseless carriage!

"Goobye Yellow Brick Road"

(Note: The  fourth anniversary of September 11th is today, and still deeply felt by all Americans. I'm a native New Yorker, who worked right across the street as they built the South Tower of the WTC in 1969-70 . It's hard.  But, right at this very moment,  Six Hundred of NY's Bravest (FDNY) are in New Orleans fighting fires and saving lives!  That's New York!  Many of my friends and relatives are still in NY.  My prayers and thoughts go out to my home town, and to all those, everywhere, affected by what happened that day.)

Split Brain
This odd phenomenon happens when the brain is split, or separated down the middle from (disease, trauma, etc.), leaving the left and right hands not working well together.  In my case it causes the humorous and serious sides of my brain to act independently, as in, "The left hand didn't know what the right hand was saying" (OH WAIT..that's the Federal and State Governments)! See what I mean?

Today, my right hand is very serious.  But my left hand is forcing jokes and making me poke fun at "pious pundits" who have so totally screwed up (and us), that they ought to just do us all a favor and leave quietly.   The world is sad, gone mad, and yet, the Divine Comedy of our lives (Through the incompetence of elected morons and appointed a-holes) has got to make us smile  occasionally, through our tears.  If not, we would all lay down and die.

The Blame Game
~FEMA FEMA, Bo Beeble, Banana Fana Fo Feeble = FEMA~
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the ensuing mismanaged disasters that followed, the Director of the (The Federal Emergency Management Agency) FEMA, Michael Brown has been fired.  Wait, that's not right.  He's been retired.  No, no..that's not it either.  He's been...um...returned?  Wait, OK, wait...I've got it now:  Mr. Brown has been "Recalled" (Like the CORVAIR and PINTO with their exploding rear-ends).  Replacing him will be Coast Guard Admiral,  Fat Albert (oops) I mean Thad Allen (It truly took me four or five times to get that name right).    Are you still wondering WHY?  Well, it beats me.  Just because the man did a lousy job, had no skills and lied on his resume', is it really fair to remove him (Especially if he is the President's friend)?  But here's more:

FEMA Faux Paus
Ted Koppel/Nightline (9/3): Koppel reports that US Special Forces were available.. sitting around, doing nothing and waiting for orders.  A guest on the same show also said,  "Two trucks of food were sitting and not moving for over a day because no one was there to help move it."
Anderson Cooper/CNN (9/4): After having walked in and through, then boated around the waters of New Orleans Cooper noted that troops were, "Milling around with conflicting orders and doing nothing."  
(This report reminded me of the TITANIC....where everyone rushed to one side of the ship and crammed into the few lifeboats, while on the others side, lifeboats were being lowered with more than half the seats empty!  The captain?  He killed himself).
Brian Williams of NBC: He too, was there when it all happened.  He was in the Superdome, with all the other evacuees, reporting all the way.  He claimed everyone there was forgotten.  As the power died, and the water started leaking in around 5AM they left, to check for others as they watched the waters rising.  He said that a few days later, the Armed Forces, with M-16's just sat around doing nothing..awaiting orders.  He saw looting, heard shooting and said it was the worst thing he had seen in his life!  "There are now more M-16's in new Orleans than anywhere else in the world,"  he added.
Sen. Mary Landrieu CSPAN 9/8/05:   She lost her home to Katrina, and stood on the floor of the Senate, speaking to whomever would listen (I did), telling us that even the cartoon character Mr. Bill had been doing PSA's on TV for over two years now about the dangers of levee breaks in New Orleans.  She said President Bush had a video conference with state officials only one day before Katrina hit land, "Yet Bush and FEMA did nothing." "It seems Mr. Bill knew more than Mr. Bush," she added.
Trent Lott, National News: The Republican Majority Leader from Mississippi lost a home and was "outraged" (although I am still not sure he would have been as outraged had it been MY home on Cape Cod).
President Bush:  "We could have done better."

Perhaps the words I enjoyed the most this week, were part of the verbal exchange between House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi and the President. It began with her asking him if anyone at FEMA would be fired.  He said, "For what?"  She said, "For what did not go right."  Bush quickly replied, "What did not go right?"   Pelosi has since been quoted saying, she finds Bush, "Oblivious, but dangerous."

Haven't you wondered (I have) what our reaction would have been if it had been Cape Cod flooding that fast, and as we were drowning, the powers that be were standing on shore fighting over who was in charge of what?  "Someone just toss me a life preserver while you chat please!"  Good riddance Mr. Brown.

Ragin' Cajun
When "DUBYA" really gets in it over his head you can always tell.  Dick Cheney appears out of nowhere.  Cheney, on his way to the "Big Easy" mugged and waved for the camera's as he drove downtown accompanied by a brand new face to the National scene; Three star General Honore' Russel (who is also Black, a War Hero and a, "Cajun from the streets of New Orleans," according to Cheney's PR people. Look for this guy.  He is destined for great mediocrity (Hanging with this group anyway).   A General is a terrible thing to waste....

The American Diaspora
Now, let me take a fresh breath  ...and offer a belated, but hearty welcome to our guests at Camp Edwards.  All 208 of them hail from Louisiana.   I don't know about you, but I'm proud to be their host, and plan to show them some real "Northern" hospitality.  I'm also glad these people are finally being called "Evacuees" ... and not "Refugees" (that was really messing with my head)!  The local papers say the kids from this group will attend school in the town of Bourne.  A new life on the Cape always begins with being, "Bourne Again."   (Ohhh...forgive my left hand).

When the Hebrew people were forced out of their original homeland (Judea and Israel), it was termed the Diaspora (From the Greek word for disperse).  But, as the dispersed and displaced Jews wandered the earth, settling in many new places, they tried (as much as possible) to stay connected to each other -- no matter where they landed.  Most hoped, as dispersed people do...to eventually return home.  Some finally did.  But the rest, did manage, no matter what, to still maintain their identity. Many Gulf Coast residents, descended from long ancestries in that area, are now hoping for that same thing.  Let's hope they make it.
There are now over one million displaced people in America due to Katrina. It is the largest displacement of people since the Civil War.  It even beats the Dust Bowl migrations during the great depression over 70 years ago.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Although its been a busy news week, It was also reported that the famous "Ruby Slippers," from the WIZARD OF OZ were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids Minnesota (Where Garland was born).  There is something eerily ironic in those shoes being stolen now.  Everyone knows you can't get down the road to Oz (and home) without them. 

Personally, I believe, the Wicked Witch of the West stole them.  And, I think she walks among us in the form of Ann Coulter (Republican "Strategist" and media hound... "woof woof").  These (always blonde) "strategists" (What are "strategists" anyway, and where are the brunette Democratic "Strategists"...and redheaded Libertarian "Strategists?"), make my skin crawl anyway, but Coulter takes the cake. She is so obsessively Anti-AnythingButBush that she could find a partisan position against Lassie!

I only bring this up today, because actor Sean Penn spent last week wading through diseased muck, mire and sewage in New Orleans, helping people get food and waterand shelter.  Asked by a reporter if some might consider his involvement a "publicity stunt," Penn, well known for past charitable work (and direct demeanor) answered, "People will say what people will say," as he turned back around, and lifted another heavy bag of food onto someone's porch.

Well, Coulter (Who should have taken Bill Maher's offer to smoke a joint with him and just "Chill"), had something to say.  Appearing on the "Double Right Handed" Sean Hannity show on FOX (where else), with her freshly done manicure, she spewed mucho drivel about celebrities doing nothing to help during this disaster (what was she doing to help?), and then specifically singled out Penn and sneered, "And what has Sean Penn actually given (she meant in dollars)?  Folks, this was one of those few times when I totally understand why Elvis shot his television!

Do people really take this "Witch" seriously?  Penn may need a Typhus, Cholera and Hepatitis shot after what's he's been through, but we all need an anti Coulter shot!
Click, Click, Click.  We need those "Ruby Slippers" Ann!  Some people want to get home!  I can almost hear Coulter's screeching voice in the horrific person of Patty McCormick's murderous child in the THE BAD SEED....  "Give me back my shoes!!!"   (Yikes)

Roosevelt, Bush and the WPA
Bush asked Congress this week for $40 Billion more for disaster help (they have already given him $62 Billion).  He (we) will need much more before this catastrophe is over.  Where will it come from (Halliburton does not work cheap). Hey, we could stop the war...  Nahhhhh.  They'd call us "Chicken." So, I came up with another idea this week.  How about if Bush formed a type of WPA (WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION) similar to what President Roosevelt initiated during the Great Depression?  

FDR was smart enough to realize during those dark days that "personal dignity" as well as money was important. His WPA gave jobs (and dignity) back to people by hiring them to build roads, bridges and dams.  People grabbed a shovel, a pick, or a trowel and laid brick, drove trucks and learned new skills right on the job!  I'm sure, some of the good people currently displaced by Mother Nature (with no other particular profession to go back to) would eagerly want to join in rebuilding their own hometowns without corporate friends (halliburton etc.) of the Bush family telling them to, "Go home, we've got it covered."   Go home where?  Since we need to rebuild three states, why not put the people who live in them back to work and send Halliburton home!

Local companies from these devastated areas should be hired.  The "homeless evacuees" with the "Debit cards" could use some of these jobs. Bush could save a lot of face (and other parts of his anatomy) and actually do some good for a change by considering such a plan.  Mobile homes (like after Hurricane Andrew) could house people... as the government (Federal, Sate and Local) all chipped in to pay a decent wage for a decent days work.
I bet it would still cost less than if Halliburton did the cleanup and billed the Feds at 10 times market rate! Some basic medical care, a few community food pantry's and some temporary schools and day care centers could be set up for the approximately 298,000 kids (ABC news figures) who are now homeless.

All week I've heard talk of the Louisiana National Guard troops returning home from Iraq, some without jobs and now without homes. This might be an answer for them too.  Let's even go National.  ALL vets,  returning from the war...and even those who did not serve overseas (If you served this country in a uniform...anywhere) should be offered a paying job! THAT would do more for Homeland Security and FEMA than just hiring another bunch of incompetent department heads. Go ahead....call me a "Commie."  Call me a "Liberal."  But If what I said above earns me those titles...I'll be proud to wear the badges!

Take my Life, Please (Rimshots)

The way this Administration is going, the DIXIE CHICKS should start practicing for the Democratic Inaugural Ball in 2008!              Let me also take this moment to also say how glad I am that the recent "Tropical Depression" named Hilary disappeared without a trace.  I wonder who picked out that name?  Ya  think a Republican meteorologist? Can you imagine if Katrina had been named Hilary?  NOT nice kiddies! To even the score, I suggest that next year the National Weather Service be forced to name hurricanes, Condaleeza, Dick, George and Rummy!                                 

Cape Cod and Recover 
The Discovery Channel ran a special last week on how ocean temperatures in the northern hemisphere are 1 degree centigrade warmer than they have been in many years.   It goes like this:  Warmer ocean waters, spawn more Red tides and Fishkills, especially in abused and overbuilt marshes and wetlands. Warmer temperatures also cause higher evaporation rates, which casues more rain, which makes heat rise and get picked up by wind spinning it up inside a vortex.  This creates a kind of  "perpetual motion" steam engine that just keeps feeding itself, causing more frequent and severe hurricanes and other storms.  Heavy stuff folks...heavy. They also explained how temperature changes occur in twenty-five year cycles. This last cycle started about 1995.  So we have about fifteen more years to go folks.  So, let's be EXTRA careful what we do in the meantime.

Take heed Cape Cod.,..experts looking at the Gulf Coast disaster are finally discussing all the overbuilding on the coastal plains and marshes that once protected the region.  Overbuilding did not cause ...but certainly was partially to blame ... for much destruction and more than a few deaths.  In the end, the overworked dams and levees, along with the fragile coastline were just not strong enough to hold back the tides.

Good People and Goodness
Many of those devastated by Katrina and her aftermath are now being taken in and/or helped in other ways by many kind people, out of the "Goodness of their hearts." But, human nature still being human nature, I must wonder how long those "Good hearts" can last.  Eventually even the  "Goodhearted" find their own problems taking over center stage.
So, as we all push our way through the tragedy, heartbreak and chaos of the past two weeks (amidst nightly finger pointing over "Who did, or didn't do what," and repeatedly debating, "Looting" versus "Foraging" (depending on skin color), ...we should  all  just stop for a minute and take a lesson from fifteen year old Anne Frank. Hiding from Nazi's for over two years in a cramped, cold attic, she just kept writing in her now very famous diary. Right before she and her family were arrested and ultimately murdered, her last entry read: "It’s a wonder I haven't abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.  It's utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more" - July 15, 1944 -   ##JC
*NOTE from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services   Physicians and other medical professionals  with any state license who can commit to short-term, long-term or rotating coverage are urgently needed in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.  If  interested in volunteering your  services to the relief effort, visit the Health Care Professionals and Relief Personnel Volunteer Page (above link)to sign up.You can also call (866) 528-6334.