Bill Maher Says Exactly How I Feel about Republicans

Bill was off last week and was obviously thinking long and well about what's happening in this country and I think the 5-minute video says all too well:



I wish I had text for those of you who have problems with video.

It's definitely a stand alone piece and I hope that Obama didn't miss it!  I said long ago that I was tired of his trying to play nice with the other kids because the other kids are a poorly-raised bunch of spoiled brats and bullies who don't know to play nice and share their toys.  Mr. President, it's time to take a lesson from Teddy Roosevelt and carry a big stick -- and use it, if necessary -- or if you prefer, do a Harry Truman and give 'em hell so they know how you really feel and take care of the people who gave you your job.   You weren't elected by the highest 1% -- you were elected by elders and the middle and lower income folks who had "the audacity of hope" to believe in you!  It's time to remember us and restore the hope and faith we placed in you!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

Kay

Sunday Morning!

I've been buried for a couple days -- lots to do and lots to read and lots of issues to address. Is anyone ever really caught up and organized? And if any of y'all are good at that, tell me your secrets.

Happy Mother's Day to all the good ladies who visit here!!!! I hope y'all are spending it with the one's you love and love you back!!!!! And guys -- I hope y'all gave the ladies their propers today!

Here are two of my all-time favorites, Eric Clapton and the lat, great Luciano Pavarotti to sing for you!



And y'all know I'm a huge fan of Bill Maher. I think his thoughts on the past week's events really say it all to those who are trying to marginalize President Obama and his recent accomplishments. It will make you laugh and cheer unless you are a Donald Trump fan.



Sorry this is short -- I've got places to go, people to see and blogs to visit!!!

Happy Mother's Day and Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

A Couple Notes

Thanks for all the good words yesterday -- especially the ones from Gene who made my Monday so very nice!!!

* Today getting in the swing of things was difficult but I did manage to get some visiting in and if y'all didn't see me, I'll be around.

* My computer woes continued and I finally decided to switch my default browser to Firefox. Hopefully, MSN can stuff it where the sun don't shine. We'll see how that goes so please bear with me as I adjust to the ins and outs as well as the peccadilloes that are always inherent in any software one encounters. Helpful hints and advice are always welcome.

* Glen Beck really did it this time . . . in less than two minutes! Y'all can see and read about it here.

* The Ohio Democratic Party is holding a 'Good Jobs, Strong Communities' Rally at the Statehouse in Columbus again on Thursday!!! I wish I could go but I can't. Think maybe we're fed up here in Buckeye land?

* Have y'all seen this man? He looks like a man to be reckoned with carefully.

I just wish he'd use some of that with certain members of Congress.

* Here's the song that's been (annoyingly) nagging at me since my birthday and I'm hoping that by posting it, it will go away and leave me be 64 my way. It's really sort of a guy song but it won't go away. Sigh.



Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

Obama's Speech

Y'all know I don't trust politicians of any stripe so I see them with jaundiced eye and last night was no exception as Obama delivered his State of the Union message.

I saw it. I listened to it. I read it. I sat here for 45 minutes staring at the screen thinking about it. And I only have one question:

Was it real or was it rhetoric?

You tell me. I don't know what to believe anymore.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

Escalate in Afghanistan?

I have been a great fan of author James Michener since I was about fourteen -- that's fifty years of reading and re-reading but who's counting? I loved the wonderful, well-researched lessons in history, culture, and geography that he taught in his novels as he wove "can't put it down" story after story of people and places both here and abroad.

And it's one of his novels that is very much on my mind these days and it causes me to look askance -- to put it mildly -- at President Obama's plan to increase our presence in Afghanistan.

Published in 1962, Caravans gives an excellent perspective of post WWII Afghanistan. It is, even now, a nation that holds tightly to its old ways. Change comes at a snail's pace. Tribal infighting and haggling for power among the varied Islamic sects are the norm and women and children are still chattels. The 21st century hasn't taken a foothold there.

This country has been in a state of civil war since the 1970s. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and and spent nearly 10 years fighting there to no avail.
I would think that there would be a lesson for our leaders in that. These people don't appear to want change or freedom.

So why are we investing our money and our sons' and daughters' lives there? Ask your Congressman. I may be over-simplifying but the bottom line is that we can't afford to keep playing policeman to the world when there are pressing issues here at home.

Just my take.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

A Friend for Obama

One of the most humorous, quotable presidents we've had in this country-- in my not so humble opinion -- was Harry S Truman, aka "Give 'em hell Harry", because of his bluntness. He was direct and to the point and no one ever had to ask how he really felt and I've always admired him for that. Probably my favorite quote from him is, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." It's probably "more truth than poetry" as my Daddy used to say.

That quote was very apropos yesterday as First Dog, Bo, a Portuguese Water Spaniel, was introduced to the press and what a darling, well-mannered, handsome fella he is! A gift to Sasha and Malia from Sen. Ted Kennedy, 6-month-old Bo arrived completely trained and ready for life with the Obamas. (I'd like a dog if I didn't have to train it -- I haven't the patience or know-how for it. Maybe if I call Teddy . . .)

I saw some video of Bo's introduction here. The smiles of delight on the faces of the First Daughters -- and Dad and Mom. too -- brought to mind another Truman quote: "Children and dogs are as necessary to the welfare of the country as Wall Street and the railroads." And Obama has a friend.

Here's another quote that Obama should keep in mind should the occasion arise and it very well could: "Whenever you put a man on the Supreme Court he ceases to be your friend." Such is life on the Potomac.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Day After

I am as a very Cranky Old Broad today. I recall presidential elections of my younger years when people still had brains and manners and by the time the election was over and the new president inaugurated that people let go of their differences and hoped and prayed that the new president would perform his duties well and handle whatever challenges our country faced with grace and courage.

Not this election. The idiots who were spouting nonsense before the election are still spouting it. Rush Limbaugh had the audacity to say, "I hope he fails." What a horrible thing to say!!! He obviously doesn't care what happens to this country. Maybe he has enough cash stashed to afford his drugs and cigars to survive the collapse of this nation. Do his dittohead supporters think he'll save them? If they do, then their collective IQ is a lot lower than I thought. (Are there IQs in negative numbers?)

The tired venom -- like "Barack Hussein Obama" as an attempt to imply that Obama is a Muslim is still around -- and indicates a mentality that I can't deal with rationally or logically understand. If it's meant as a joke -- and I doubt it -- I don't see the humor in it. These people scare me and I fear for the safety of Obama and his family.

If John McCain had shown the class he's been showing in recent weeks (and chosen a different running mate and kicked Karl Rove to the curb) it might have been a different election but he chose to let the extreme right wing dictate his campaign. That he and Obama have been meeting and they are working together is a good example for all of us but obviously some people can't open their hearts and mind to the fact that we are all in this together -- like it or not -- and will suffer the consequences: if Obama fails, we all fail.

Here is a comment I saw today in my travels: "Obama the Antichrist. Mark my words. :)"

Horrifying no?

I am ashamed to be a Christian which is why I always refer to myself as a Catholic. Then again, I'm guessing that these are the children of the people who said in 1960 that if Jack Kennedy was elected, the Pope was going to come over and run our country. Right. And I know that they don't think Catholics are Christians and I'm not in the mood to give a history lesson that would fall on deaf ears anyway.

I have a problem with bigotry of any stripe or color. These bigots teach me to believe that Gandhi was right when he said, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."

I suppose I should, as a Christian, be praying for these people who seem to want the downfall of our country but right now I can't. Instead I'm going to pray that God protects us from their misbegotten ideas and helps Obama lead our country forward. And oh yeah, I'm going to ask him to forgive me for ranting.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!






-

What's Next?

Today Barack H. Obama will take the oath of office and become the first American of African-American descent to be President of the United States. It will be a day of great celebration (to the tune of $170 million) with a star-studded cast thay carries on what some pundits called his "rock star" image from his high energy campaign.

Tomorrow his work begins as he faces the monumental task of fixing all the things that have gone awry in our country -- and that's putting it mildly. I know it won't be done overnight and I hope others don't expect it. We the People are going to have to be patient and keep the prayers for him going. I expect he will ask our help as we rebuild this nation when he speaks today. I hope we answer his call as do many did during his campaign. If we all make an effort to help him, we can make the United States the nation that was our Founding Fathers' dream. Yes, we can.

Here's a little fun with what is probably my favorite video from campaign 2008:





Happy Blogging and Happy Inauguration Day!!!!!!!!!!!

Random Thank God It's Saturday Thoughts

It's been quite a week for the Obamas and it was quite a week for me (I think the Obamas had more fun than I did) but I weathered it -- both literally and figuratively!!!!! I'm just glad I'm off until Wednesday and will, hopefully, get some rest.

* Speaking of Obama, I thoroughly enjoyed the Inauguration and think he's off to a pretty good start. I think the operative phrase is "hit the ground running", don't you? No, he's not going to be perfect but he looks to be working hard and being open in his activities. Good stuff!!!!!

* Yesterday we were above freezing in the balmy upper 30s. Today it's back to Ice Station Zebra -- with temperature in negative numbers tonight. Have I mentioned that I'm tired of winter?

* Here's my I Ching reading from yesterday: Kuai: Decision,Now you can finally take that decision which puts an end to your hostile and unfavorable situation. Remember that it'll be enough for you to make the first step, the rest will come alone. Take this opportunity and correct once and for all everything which is not right around you. (I like it -- the trick is figuring out which hostile situation I need to fix first and how I go about it.)

* Miss Ruby is finished with the car doctor -- for now -- and she seems happy. I thought the rattle sounded similar to the one she had last month that cost me four hundred fifty bucks. It was *only* two hundred fifty bucks but Nick says she looks pretty good and should be okay for a while. (From his lips to God's ear!)

* I'm finally remembering to publicly say thank you to my good friend Joy of Six for honoring me with the Van Gogh's Ear Award. It means a great deal to me because Van Gogh is one of my favorite painters -- his "Irises" hangs above my computer. I am sharing this honor and passing it on to Steph at Incurable Insomniac, Marty of TravelinOma's Library, Amy at An Authentic Life, The Limerick Savant, Jan at Life in Westcliffe, Mary at Mary Contrary's Blog, Alice at My Wintersong, Ell at Pomegranate Tiger, Suzz at Suzzwords, Parapluie at Umbrella Painting Journal, Dave at Five String Guitar, Fran at Sacred Ordinary and M.E. at XtremeEnglish.




* I got in to see the managing doc at the clinic where I go because I was unhappy with my doctor. These people aren't used to being questioned about treatment. It wasn't fun and I still don't have a proper answer but I agreed to go to Occupational Therapy an you can bet I'll be raising hell if they're as stupid as the doctors have been in understanding my concerns with this. We're talking about my only good arm here and I'm sure as hell not going to do anything that might make anything worse. I think these doctors at the clinic are used to no one questioning them. Guess what? I don't care. It's my body and I'm gonna raise hell when I think they're wrong.

* The program through which I'm employed is raising hell because I haven't gotten a job in the real world and some of the thongs said to me can only be described as abusive. The main thing they tell me is that I'm well qualified and should get hired. Right. I'm almost 62 and only type with one hand in a county that's losing jobs daily. They plan to move me to another job at the end of next month (doing data entry -- yikes! Ugh!) because I've been with Jeff too long. Neither of us is happy. Trust me when I tell you that I'm not going down without a fight. I will be making an appointment with my Congressman or one of his minions on Monday. I found out from a couple of the other women in the program that they're getting a load of you-know-what, too. This is elder abuse plain and simple and I'm going down fighting. I might even drop Obama a note.

* Yesterday morning was my appointment with the endocrinologist and I really like him a lot. I don't get to see him often but when I do, it's all good. He is extremely thorough and actually listens and takes time with his patients. What a concept!!!!! I think my Internist needs to take lessons from him. I've a whole bunch of tests scheduled for the beginning of the week and I hope my thyroid problem finally gets settled. He also decided that I need a bone density test which I've thought I needed for a while because I fit the profile for osteoporosis but no one would listen. I'm going to be a busy girl.

* From my Cool Stuff department: I discovered at the grocery that an Ohio dairy has come up with a new flavor of ice cream. It's called Buckeye Blitz after you-know-who if you read here a lot. It's chocolate ice cream with a peanut butter swirl and mini-buckeye candies. Serious yum!

* Tonight is a night at the symphony. What a lovely way to end a wretched week! I like the idea of getting dolled up (as much as the old gal can) and hearing glorious music and dining with friends afterward. I plan to get there early for what they call the prelude where Maestro discusses the programme -- it's really an education in music appreciation that he offers with wit and style. Definitely good stuff!!!!

Hope y'all are enjoying a great weekend!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

A Local Perspective on the Election

Charita Goshay was the first black woman hired as a news reporter by our local newspaper. She was also the first black woman to have an op-ed column in our city. Her weekly column is always interesting as she comments on local and national events as well as the foibles and failings of society -- politics, social issues, life in our city, ad infinitum. Her rapier wit and style has hit home with all of us at one time or another. I have had the pleasure of meeting her and have heard her speak on various occasions and she is excellent as well as a really nice person. I email her when I particularly enjoy her column and she always writes back -- her mama raised her well.

I was really looking forward to her Sunday column because I knew she would have something well worth reading to say about Barack Obama's election and I wasn't disappointed. Here's a segment from it:

"Chances are, the wealth didn't "spread" your way last week. I'm betting you still have bills to pay.

Because there always will be forgotten corners of this nation, no matter who is the president.
Crime, poverty and discrimination did not vanish Tuesday night.

SO, WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

However, we would be remiss, even naive, to deny that some things have changed.

What's different is, if you're young, gifted and/or black, Obama has all but obliterated your excuses for not trying.

What's changed is, those who have acquired influence and power by peddling the pathology of victimhood should find another line of work, as their words ring increasingly thin. "

Do y'all see why I like her so much? She doesn't tiptoe around -- she cuts right to the chase. Y'all can read the editorial in its entirety here as well as some of her previous columns if you're interested.

And yeah, I emailed her and yeah, she wrote back.

Happy blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

Random Sunday Thoughts on the Week

The Kay has been off alllllll week. I had wonderful plans for getting caught up on rest and housework and going a-wandering. Robert Burns, the great Scottish poet, wrote: "The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley." I'm neither a mouse nor a man but I'll be damned if my plans haven't gone aft agley. The stuff I've been fighting for over a month decided to kick back into high tilt boogie mode so I've been sleeping a lot and generally feeling lousy. I haven't called the doctor -- my previous trips have been useless. I have an appointment with my regular doctor on Thursday, if I live. I'll spare you the list of my symptoms and just say that they're not fun.

Here are some thoughts that occurred to me during the highly-charged past week -- I hope to get back to the regular rants and rambles soon:

* Christopher Buckley, son of the late, great William F. Buckley, Jr., does a Q&A with readers in a wonderful article in Financial Times regarding where the Republican party should go from here. ('Out of the country.' is not a good answer.) As usual he is witty and articulate and rapier sharp in his answers.

* It didn't take long. The media is already criticizing Michelle Obama's wardrobe and panned the dress she chose for Tuesday night. I would have liked to seen her in something different and here's why: Michelle is about the same height and build as I am; She is tall, short-waisted, and long-legged. Her dress, while lovely, didn't suit her. As I well know -- part of the art of dressing is camouflage. A girl accents the positive and hides the negative. I was surprised because she usually looks great. She isn't a fashionista type so expect to see her in comfortable clothes like the the J. Crew preppy stuff she wore on the campaign trail and the media be damned.

* Did Sarah Palin fall off the planet? It sure looks like the GOP got her out of Dodge right quick! And like rats off a sinking ship, the truth is being told. Here's a video clip from The O'Reilly Factor outing her for what she is. So long Sarah! It's been real and it's been fun but it ain't been real fun!




* Marcia and I headed to First Friday on Friday night (when else?) because she thought maybe if I got out that I'd feel better. We went to lessons in salsa dancing at the church where I work. It was fun but we were pretty hopeless at it and laughed at ourselves a lot. I have trouble dancing anything more than a sedate slow dance since my stroke since one leg doesn't work right. We said we'll try it again but next time we'll have a drink first. It was rainy so it wasn't as much fun as usual and we wandered the galleries and chatted with friends we met. One weird thing: we ran into Marcia's stepbrother-in-law and one of his buddies and will she was talking with him about hubby, his buddy and I talked about stuff as one does when you first meet. Both of us divorced, we talked about that and work, dating, and all the other crap (sorry -- I can't think of a nicer way to say it) and he mentioned that he was forty-one. I said, "Well I'm sixty-one." He said, "Really? You don't look it.", and reached out and touched my face which really disconcerted me. I still can't figure out why he did that. Was he checking for face lift scars? Botox? Sorry -- none of that stuff here. Marcia thought it weird, too. I was glad when we extricated ourselves from those guys.

* Mark Steyn of the National Review, a leading conservative publication, wrote this interesting opinion piece that applies to both Democrats and Republicans and the future of our country. It really got me thinking.

* Neocon Michelle Malkin is muckraking as usual but has a couple disconcerting stories that give me pause. Racism is a two-way street in case no one noticed.

* I had to laugh when Keith Olbermann called Anne Coulter -- the woman I love to hate -- "Coultergeist". Points for creativity, Keith! I usually call her a venomous bitch.

* Let's finish up on a positive note with a sort of funny video from one of my heroes, Jack Cafferty. Some of the comments are priceless!



Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!

Kay

An Excellent Video

The Kay's been off all week and I'll tell y'all about it tomorrow. For now here's what I think is one of the best videos Jack Cafferty has ever done. The responses to his question are pretty amazing. Enjoy!!!!



Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

Kay