Don't Get Me Started

Ok, now I am really angry. In fact, I am so upset that my teeth are clenched in a fit of rage. My fury stems from a collection of news articles over the last few weeks that show how completely out of touch some Americans really are. Now, this may sound like one of my typical "spouting" columns, but it's not.

This exceptionally dangerous politician has shown incredible audacity. Remember how over the last couple of years when Iraq became less popular that the junior senator from New York claimed she was misled? She screeched that anyone who calls her claims into question doubts her patriotism. What did she do recently? She voted against funding the troops. Now we learn that she is one of 94 senators who did not read the National Intelligence Estimate that provided the data necessary to make an informed vote on Iraq. Ninety-four senators! And she is leading the pack. That, my friends, is unmitigated gall.

Oh, the fun-loving, mushroom-munching, flower-sniffing, peace-at-any-price crowd. How they would love to "buy the world a home and furnish it with love, grow apple trees, honeybees, and snow-white turtle doves." After what happened just this last Memorial Day, nothing can be further from the truth. Out West, the flags marking fallen heroes were burned and replaced with hand-made swastikas. When volunteer guards replaced the flags, it happened again.

There are a lot of words I would love to use, but the ones fit for print can't describe how a former Marine Sergeant like me feels about that. Know this: it had better not ever happen in my presence.

If everyone gets "15 minutes of fame," then Cindy Sheehan has used up her time roughly 1.6 million minutes ago. George Bush did not kill her son. Terrorists did.

If it's true that she will actually "resign" as an anti-war protestor, then good riddance. She extols the virtues of dictatorial thug Hugo Chavez as if he deserves the Nobel Prize and calls President Bush a terrorist. Ever wonder what would happen if a Venezuelan citizen even once criticized Chavez? You'll probably never know, since they are either involuntarily silenced -- or worse. The United States

As I noted above, only six Senators and a "handful" of Congressmen actually read the report on Iraq before deciding to go to war. Remember that the Constitution clearly states that it is the power of Congress -- not the President -- to declare war. The President and all his intelligence agencies gave the Congress everything they needed to make an informed decision over war and peace. What did they do? They read the Executive Summary.

Sorry. Not good enough. I understand that these highly paid, well polished, members of elite government have a lot to do and very little spare time. But if they cannot read a 90-page report before deciding on sending troops into harm's way, then I personally hold every single one of them in contempt of this country. We as citizens should demand that our Congressmen and Senators prove that they actually read the report. Failure to do so should be immediate grounds for announcing their retirement from politics. Forever.

They have betrayed their oath of office. That is dereliction of duty -- in its purest form.

I won't rehash my feelings about celebrities (hint: ask me if I really care!). But what I now call into question is why on earth news editors are bent on putting low-life scuzzballs like Joey Buttafuco and Amy Fisher on TV, Radio, and in Newsprint. Have we as a nation forgotten what they did?

And, oh by the way, would Paris Hilton please just go to prison quietly? And after she has "served her time," would this empty-headed tramp simply go away? Please?

Finally, I have a stern demand of smokers: Keep your butts to yourselves! Not a single day goes by where I drive down Interstate 10 without seeing some fool flicking their still-lit cigarette butt out the window. Stop that! Now! Do you not realize that we are living in a tinderbox? Your carelessness just might burn my house down and kill my family. Put it out in your ashtray, and then empty it later. Is that too much to ask?

It’s astonishing how many articles with content-free headlines are appearing. What’s it about? Stream of consciousness as the world flickers by on the tube.

3 posted on 06/08/2007 9:49:08 AM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland (I will respect illegal aliens civil rights, when they respect the sovereignty of the US!)

Ever wonder what would happen if a Venezuelan citizen even once criticized Chavez? You'll probably never know, since they are either involuntarily silenced -- or worse.

Chavez is still frequently criticized in Venezuela, and most of his critics don't disappear or get beaten up.

The mass institutions to spread the criticism (press, media) are being gradually shut down or co-opted by the government, but he hasn't for the most part gone after individuals for talking too much.

Yet.

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