Age of Reason
In The Car In Lawrence
We all do it. Stuff we shouldn't do while we drive. Some of it dangerous. Some of it weird. Some of disgusting. Some things just make you stare at them wondering what they were thinking. What have you seen around town that made you scratch your head
In the Car in Lawrence
We all do it. Stuff we shouldn't do while driving. Some of it dangerous, some of it funny. Some things that make you stare at someone like they have lost their minds. Leave you favorite observation here.
We were let down by Journalists,too.
It is dismaying to realize that there really isn't any investigative journalism done anymore. No one with the mindset of protecting the public against graft, corruption, fraud, etc. Whether it comes from business or goverment, you just don't see much of it anymore. My guess is that when the news got much more corporate, they got much less unbiased and independent. Not that news organizations don't have individual slants. They do. But does anyone remember tuning into 60 MINUTES on Sunday nights at 6 just to see who they were going to screw to the wall that night ? I miss that. And I can't help but think that if "the press" as a whole, hadn't forgotten their duty to the public and forgotten to dig for the real facts instead of regurgitating what they got from a press conference, we wouldn't in quite such a mess.
What’s The Point, Really? There is no Trust.
Much has been said recently about the stock market and the collapse of Wall Street. Quite a bit of the blame for it's demise has been laid at the feet of the new Administration. I would agree but for a much different reason. A lot of the conservative talking heads on radio and TV have placed the blame on his grandiose plans for recovery. They are massive in scope and questionable in the possibility of success. That is granted. But that's really not it. The bankrupting of America was indeed criminal. No doubt about it. Some of it came from twisted,greedy individuals cheating the system for their own personal gain. From the bankers,investment specialists,insurance execs and stock brokers, on down to the loan officer who inflates the numbers to get the loan approved. He gets a cut too. Our elected in Washington with pockets stuffed with lobbyist cash helped craft laws to make some of it technically legal. I have yet to see people led off in chains. I have yet to hear about investigations into crimes associated. On the contrary, we are now throwing cash at these people. Literally, tons of it. I don't believe investors will be willing to jump back in the water until they have some faith that the system isn't rigged, there are people watching to keep them honest, and new rules and regulations put into effect to prevent a similar,near future disaster. This is the real reason Wall Street is crumbling. We don't trust banks,insurance companies,politicians, and Wall Street to tell us the truth.
Would it change your opinion ?
If it were possible to comb through the past capital punishment cases in the U S, a find a case where it could be proven (possibly DNA testing) that an executed person was in fact innocent. Would that change your views on the subject of the value of capital punishment ?
Where does the GOP go from here ?
Returning to being the bastions of fiscal responsibilty is first and foremost. Co-opting good Democratic ideas like affordable college education, which is good for the business sector. There has to be a rebirth of the party or it will wither. Subtracting the Dixiecrat Republicans would be a spectacular first move.
New Sec. of Defence in 2009
Who would you like to see as the new Sec. of Defence ? Colin Powel ? Chuck Hagel ? John McCain ?Robert Gates ? Give your opinion here.
Where do we go from here ?
The election is over and the euphoria has settled down to a lull of reality. We find ourselves as a nation in a deep hole. Dug there by a previous, bellacose Administration, a rubberstamp Republican Congress for six years with no fiscal restraint or checks and balances. And a Democratic controlled Congress whose game plan for the last two years has been "Shhhhhh, don't do anything until after the '08 elections. We might win and take all the credit." The excuse for the Democrats has been that they were, for 6 years, completely shut out from the Bush Administration's authoritarian rule and Congressional majority. And for the last two years when they were in power, an obstructionist opposition party bent on no progress with a Presidential veto almost assumed. Mostly all true. It does not however excuse the rationale of do-nothingness. Throwing up your hands in disgust and walking off the job. That is equal to just wasting this nations time, and at worst, political cowardice. The convenient scapegoat for the Republicans the last few years has mostly been the war in the Middle East. Just about everything the electorate has complained to their legislators about can be traced back here. Ballooning deficit/Overspending? - A: Cost of the war in Iraq/Afghanistan. Legislating away Constitutional liberties or Presidential fiat? - A: War of Terrorism demands it. Lack of any Congressional oversight? - A: The President needs all the tools he asks for to fight the terrorists. Don't bother him. Again, this is nothing less than irresponsible leadership and political cowardice. The Bush Administration, warts and all, is in its waning, final days. If the opinion polls are to believed, most won't shed a tear. There have been way to many negatives outweighing the positives for me to miss it either. I could never be accused of being a rose-colored glasses wearing optimist. Just ask my wife. However, last week after the election had been decided, I got the overwhelming sense that ,we the people wrestled back the control of the country. That a grey cloud had lifted and we won something. Something intangible but very real. I hold no idealistic, dreamy thoughts that President-elect Obama is our savior. I do feel like the message from the American people was sent and this time heard. The message is that "We the People" are listening, paying attention, and watching closely. I sincerely hope the new Congress understands our expectations. Punishing the Republicans by doing to them what they did to you while they were in power is pointless. They probably will though. On the other side of the coin, the Republican can't just be a door stop just for political reasons. They probably will though. I have little sensible, pragmatic faith in the House and Senate. My faith in the new President hasn't been tested yet. We shall see. For now, I have more optimism than pessimistic thoughts. For the first time in years.
Nice guys (gals) can finish first
It was refreshing to see Marci Francisco prevail over Scott Morgan. It was the local race that brought the biggest smile. Not a Democrat won over a Republican or visa versa. It brought me a little hope that nasty campaigning doesn't always win. I watched a debate with her and Morgan the other night, She came off as smart, on the ball with facts, and comprehensively intelligent
Rumor Has It…….
There is a rumor going around the web that McCain picked Sarah Palin to actually fracture the party. I wish I could remember the site. The gist of it is that McCain figured that he couldn't win and didn't want it to be all for naught. This would be his legacy of reform. The reform of the Republican Party. The unvetted pick of Palin would be an embarrassment and put a wedge between the moderate and conservative wings. The theory is that when she would be put up in the spot light, front and center and they would lose, this would show the GOP that it needs to distance themselves from the religious right for success. This is all a little far fetched but interresting if true. It would explain quite a few odd things of this campaign.
- City approves Menards store next to Home Depot at 31st and Iowa streets June 18, 2013 · 55 comments
- Letter: Two is enough June 19, 2013 · 18 comments
- Transfer Hunter Mickelson to sit out, soak it up for a year June 19, 2013 · 2 comments
- Kobach considering filing charges against protesters who came to his home June 17, 2013 · 119 comments
- Blog: City to consider using gated, pay-as-you-leave system for new downtown parking garage June 19, 2013 · 7 comments
- Blog: Student residents forced out of KU apartment building because of drought-related damage June 19, 2013 · 2 comments
- Blog: State seeking proposal to develop resort at Clinton Lake State Park June 18, 2013 · 28 comments
- Blackmail charges dropped against Baldwin City woman June 18, 2013 · 4 comments
- Opinion: Dick Vitale loves life, wife and Andrew Wiggins June 19, 2013 · 3 comments
- Opinion: Redskins mascot can’t be justified June 16, 2013 · 99 comments
- City approves Menards store next to Home Depot at 31st and Iowa streets June 18, 2013
- Transfer Hunter Mickelson to sit out, soak it up for a year June 19, 2013
- Opinion: Dick Vitale loves life, wife and Andrew Wiggins June 19, 2013
- Report says schools underfunded $657 million in FY 2015 June 17, 2013
- KU dean blasts negative national report on teacher preparation programs June 18, 2013
- Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center to host "Beach Bash" June 18, 2013
- Agencies join forces to help homeless population acquire financial literacy June 6, 2013
- Police investigate string of almost 20 auto burglaries in west Lawrence June 18, 2013
- Location of Superman's hometown sparks geographic divide June 17, 2013
- Reformed drug dealer wants to thank Clinton May 20, 2004
