Skazski. . musings of a malcontent (formerly Why? . . . thoughts of an angry old woman)

Happy New Year GOP

2012-02-10T18:42:00.000-08:00

As I see it......with the GOP running the Legislative branch and doing only what the top 1% ordain and the Judiciary solidly on the side of the Right wing, this country is heading straight to being a Fascist Nation. From cutting social programs to voting restrictions to undermining education we are becoming more like a third world state where the ruling class has all the wealth and advantages and the common people have little or nothing! Have a Happy New Year.....it may be our last. ~ Comments by Skazski

Tea Party and Repubs: Keeping the Lower Class in their Place

2011-10-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

Gee, how naive I was in believing that the Republican promise of " Jobs! Jobs and more Jobs" was the objective in the last election! Now it seems that the "Jobs" mantra was a smokescreen for putting an end to social issues that go against their ideology i.e.,Social Security, Healthcare the EPA and all the other programs that make up the fabric of our society! I pray that when the next elections roll around the voters remember the political blackmail that the Tea Partyers used and the disaster they caused in 2011 and vote these terrorists out of office!

Keeping the lower classes in their place...........The President, and most politicians claim that "Education" is the Path to the Future for our children. Yet all over the country one of the first things cut from all budgets are funds for schools, the reduction of teaching staff to schools and repairs to those schools that have not been closed.......all of which continue the "dumbing down" of our country.After all,people who are uninformed and semi-literate are more easily manipulated.....this seems to be the mind-set of the Tea Partiers and the Far Right

It seems that the Tea Party's concerns about the government being "too big" and Sarah Palin's worries that President Obama is leading us away from what the "founders of our country had in mind for us" are so far from reality that it boggles the mind.Don't these folks realize that our country, today, is vastly different than it was when the Constitution was first drafted?For one thing the physical size of the nation.....we now have 50 states...and several territories....each with their own geographical,economical and social problems. that the Federal government must oversee......not to mention the international trade agreements,treaties and global affairs that concern us all! We have problems today that didn't exist in those days, for example ,the Atomic bomb,terrorists, global warming and diseases....get a grip on reality folks!!!

~ Comments by Skazski

Tea Party Madness: Lies and Cluelessness

2011-05-16T20:17:00.000-07:00

Keeping the lower classes in their place...........The President, and most politicians claim that "Education" is the Path to the Future for our children. Yet all over the country one of the first things cut from all budgets are funds for schools, the reduction of teaching staff to schools and repairs to those schools that have not been closed.......all of which continue the "dumbing down" of our country. After all,people who are uninformed and semi-literate are more easily manipulated.....this seems to be the mind-set of the Tea Partiers and the Far Right

It seems that the Tea Party's concerns about the government being "too big" and Sarah Palin's worries that President Obama is leading us away from what the "founders of our country had in mind for us" are so far from reality that it boggles the mind. Don't these folks realize that our country, today, is vastly different than it was when the Constitution was first drafted? For one thing the physical size of the nation.....we now have 50 states...and several territories....each with their own geographical,economical and social problems. that the Federal government must oversee......not to mention the international trade agreements, treaties and global affairs that concern us all! We have problems today that didn't exist in those days, for example ,the Atomic bomb,terrorists, global warming and diseases....get a grip on reality folks!!!

Tea Party Taxes

2011-04-07T20:29:00.000-07:00

Cut the Fat at the Top, Layabouts!
Here's a suggestion for cutting the budget....how about decreasing those congressmen's salaries? God knows they do little or nothing do deserve the obscene amount they are paid......and they don't even work full-time! They are eligible for the best of healthcare, a housing allowance plus the perks from lobbyists and other interests.....if we all should have to "tighten our belts", why the hell shouldn't those layabouts!!!!!!

We Need a REAL Tax Revolution!

What with the impending shut-down of the Government due to the Tea Party's stance on budget cuts......and its disregard for the citizens of our country (their salaries will continue to get paid) ....again I say cut those incompetent SOB's wages and benefits.. And as for that top 1% that pay little or no taxes....change the tax laws to a more equitable level....including those corporations that ship production overseas. What we need in this country is a REAL tax revolution!! Not an ideology that wants to include Planned Parenthood, NPR, and abortion related items that have no impact on fiscal responsibility. I wonder if those voters who elected these no-nothings now realize what a mistake that was!

Tea Party's "Moral Compass": Chaos, Not Progress

Granted, I am not an expert on many things,but neither are those fiscally ignorant members of Congress who dreamt up this recent solution to the deficit problem. It seems to me that in order to achieve economic stability we must create a more healthy job market and increase the tax base....neither of which the Tea Party is willing to consider.I t seems the "moral compass" of said Tea Party is set at chaos not progress..Their mantra of "not putting a tax burden on our grandchildren" is just a tad ingenuous.....if those grandchildren won't be able to breathe9 due to the slashing of funding to the EPA) or have safe drinking water(same as above),if they will be working in unsafe conditions and for minimum wage( due to the elimination of labor laws and unions) and if those sainted grand kids continue to fall behind the rest of the world academically and cannot compete for any type of job or leadership role (thanks to cutting funds for education) and of course, the country will be overrun with many,many more people all competing for the necessities of life(health care, food shelter etc.( thanks to the elimination of such organizations like Planned Parenthood)........would you want YOUR grandchildren to have to exist in such a world? I don't think so.

Layabouts in Congress

2011-02-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

Here's a suggestion for cutting the budget....how about decreasing those congressmen's salaries? God knows they do little or nothing do deserve the obscene amount they are paid......and they don't even work full-time! They are eligible for the best of healthcare, a housing allowance plus the perks from lobbyists and other interests.....if we all should have to "tighten our belts", why the hell shouldn't those layabouts!!!!!!

Keith Olbermann

2011-01-28T17:50:00.001-08:00

It was with shock and sadness that the word of Keith Olberman's leaving his show,on MSNBC' was felt by his many fans. His program brought out issues to our attention that the mainstream media ignored and did it in a way that was not only informative but with humor....to make them more palatable..... he treated his guests with respect and actually listened to them.....something that few other commentators do..I wish him well and hope that his absence from TV will be short-lived.

~ Comments by Skazski

Availibility of Deadly Weapons Deranged

2011-01-14T15:55:00.000-08:00

Putting aside for the moment the horrific cause of Saturday's tragic events in Arizona, one basic premise STILL exists....the availability of deadly weapons to those who are truly deranged..Current gun laws are too lax and are too often circumvented..A simple criminal background check is obviously not enough, some sort of psychological test should be included (like in the armed forces) before any gun permit/sale is issued..When one considers the fact that we are the most heavily, privately armed nation in the world it should come as no surprise when something like the Arizona massacre occurs. . .

Guns in Bars

2011-01-14T15:50:00.000-08:00

Oh,Goody! Now there are some who want to not only allow guns in bars and college campuses but to allow them in Congress! Just what we need.....solve the gun problems with more guns! Can you imagine the outcome of the often nasty and heated arguments if those members were to be armed?!

Remedy is the Vote, not Bloodshed

2011-01-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

I'm no Constitutional scholar but isn't it an act of sedition to advocate the use of arms to overthrow a tyrannical government if some think that is our own? I always thought that the 2nd.Amendment meant that we had the right to form a militia against a foreign, invading body. Our nation/government is formed by all of the people and if there is dissension the remedy is the vote. Not bloodshed.

The Future and Nincompoops

2010-11-20T14:33:00.000-08:00

Apparently Civics,Political Science and World History are no longer being taught in our public schools, because this current crop of younger candidates is woefully ignorant.....I don't worry about my grandchildren being "saddled with debt" I am terrified about the kind of world they will live in if these nin-com-poops win!

So Many Crackpots, So Little Time Left For Sanity. . .

2010-11-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

OMG! Never before, in my lifetime, have there been so many crackpots running for public office! Based on their collective campaign proposals we are heading back to the early days of our country's history......no women's rights (we are still chattel),no labor laws/restrictions (get those kids to work), slavery is fine and dandy (stimulates the economy) no more Health Care or Social Security (no more old folks cluttering up the landscape) because life expectancy has dropped....and only the wealthy landowners will have the right to vote.....what a world to look forward to!! I can only hope and pray that there are enough fair and realistic voters out there to prevent this from happening.

Grow A Pair

2010-11-20T14:28:00.000-08:00

Regarding Don't Ask Don't Tell.....a judge has ruled that it is unconstitutional but the Obama Administration plans to appeal that ruling because Obama wants the Congress,not the Courts, to overturn it....and we all know how Congress supports anything that the President wants....especially a Republican Congress that includes that fraud, John McC. Is it any wonder that the Prez.' supporters are losing faith in him?! C'mon, Barak, grow a pair!!!....

Big Money In, Reason Out

2010-11-20T14:22:00.000-08:00

When Big Money comes in the door Reason flies out the window......as the recent election results show.......helped by that infamous ruling of the Supreme Court re: campaign funding/secret contributions ......so much for Democracy,ha! As was written by P.J.O'Rourke......the average American is below average intelligence.

House Speaker John Boehner: Dead Wrong on Health Care

2010-11-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

Soon to be Speaker of the House John Boehner, says that "America had the best Health Care in the world" as a justification to scrap the current Health Care bill..... he is ill-informed! I don't know if it his ideology that is the reason for such a stupid remark or if it is genetic, but either way he is dead wrong!

Giant Step Backwards

2010-11-20T14:19:00.000-08:00

The results are in....and we have taken a giant step backwards. The "Tea-Partiers" will have their say, the Democrats will remain indecisive, and every politician will now be focusing on the 2012 elections....therefore, nothing of any importance, nothing will be done. Anything that Pres. Obama has accomplished will be either undone or overlooked by the Republicans in the hope that they will return to power.......its all downhill from now on, folks. This has become too disturbing for me, a world where blatant lies count as truth,ignoring those who need help in order to protect megacorporations,supporting wars that drain us monetarily as well as morally and ,instead of encouraging proper education for our youngsters we fill their heads with utter crap and give them no chance against the rest of the world to flourish.. So, I say....Finito, and God bless you.

The Silly Season

2010-10-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

Well, after a summer of escaping into the world of Tennis it is time to get back into the "real world"......and what a mess it is! I really didn't think that matters could get much worse but when I see and hear some of the candidates for the U.S. Senate it is clear that the inmates have taken over the asylum!

We are now entering the silly season, AKA pre-election campaigning. We must go through a daily barrage of political half-truths and some downright lies by those who want our votes. Every hour of every day these ads are in our face and there seemed to be no escape but one......our Churches. However, now thanks to the Alliance Defence Group even that last refuge from all that blather, would vanish! This misbegotten group would have it that Pastors and other clergymen could not only campaign for candidates but allow them to be guest speakers to their congregations all the while maintaining the Churches' tax exempt status! This is so wrong,on so many levels that I hope and pray it gets the fate it deserves!! The purpose of a Church is to offer solace in times of despair and to offer hope by the words of The Almighty.!

~ Comments by Skazski

A Republican Myth

2010-10-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

The greatest myth of all.....the Republicans Pledge to America....they claim that thousands of jobs will be saved by cutting taxes and by cutting spending.

Statistics show otherwise. Their tax cuts would only benefit about 4% of the population,who pay the same taxes on millions of dollars as those who earn less than a quarter of that amount... and by cutting spending on such items as repairing /expanding our infrastucture, health care and the environment jobs will be sharply decreased....a situation that we cannot afford in this difficult economic climate.

~ Comments by Skazski

Bechtel, Just a Small Mom n' Pop Store

2010-10-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

A finding in a recent investigative report on Tax Law and the definition of a "small business" was a shocker! One would think that a small business was the Mom N' Pop store in the neighborhood,or the family run hardware store...but, no....it refers to the least number of owners, even if it is a megacorporation (i.e.Bechtel) and rakes in profits of millions of dollars a year ! Equality under the law? I think not! And we have the audacity to call ourselves a "democratic" country....Ha!

~ Comments by Skazski

2010-09-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

New Grandchild!

note from a very happy old woman; Congratulations to Kelly and Mark for bringing a brand new baby girl into our family..

Rafa Did It!

At last! Rafa has completed the Grand Slam!...and he is only 24 years old! I can't think of a more deserving champion. He will be tested in the coming year but let'ssee if he can repeat by winning all four majors in one year.

Tennis Rants

Thoughts while watching the U.S.Open. If a player intentionally smashes/breaks his racket during a match he is given a warning and if he does it again he gets a point reduction......but, if a player berates and demeans an official,i.e. a linesperson nothing is said or done! Does the Tennis Association consider an inanimate object( racket) more valuable than a human being? This is not only unsportsman like it sets a very bad example for young players.

Intentional advantage???? The last 3 players that Federer met were "lefties"....in anticipation of a Nadal-Federer Final?Too bad RF met Djokavic in the semis!Who decides the match-ups?on what basis do they make their decisions? By comparison Nadal faced much tougher opponents in his early round matches......is bias afoot here?

Tea Party In The Garden: Wrong Path

In a weird way I understand the Tea Party's frustrations, but I think that their aim is misdirected. They should be angry with the members of Congress and Senate who have constantly blocked almost every action of the President to improve our financial situation. Cutting taxes is only going to make matters worse....it is a pity that they (Tea Partiers) are being led down the garden path and would take the rest of us with them. The Republican Party has a history of backing "Big Business" and the wealthy elite and to hell with the underdogs(us)....seems like sour grapes to me.

2010-08-15T12:42:00.001-07:00

Well, now President Obama is getting flack for his scheduled appearance on the View.....a program that has a wider viewing audience than most press conferences or "news" shows....this after accusing him of being aloof and only giving scripted appearences......what a hypocritical bunch we are!

Why Hysteria Ove Wikileak Disclosures?

2010-08-15T12:41:00.000-07:00

Why the hysteria about the Wikileak disclosures? They contain nothing about our troop movements and only disclose matters that almost everybody already knows or guesses. If anything they have brought home the fact that our involvement in Afghanistan is a losing proposition, in lives and taxpayers' hard earned money.....the sooner we get out of that quagmire the better. Some pundit stated that if we are to succeed in that region we should send in competent civilians to help that infrastructure instead of blowing them to hell.......bread makes more friends than bombs. And why are we giving such vast amounts of money to Pakistan when they support the Taliban in its war against us?

Done vs. Finished

2010-08-15T12:39:00.000-07:00

Pet peeve #1...Lord knows the English language is tricky and, the older I get the use of "ence" and "ance" gets harder to remember....but the use of the word "done" instead of "finished" really gets my goat!...as in "I'm done eating" instead of "I've finished eating"....as my mother used to say " you are not a batch of cookies, you are a person". Nowadays that seems quaint, but it still rankles me when I hear it.

Celebs in Jail and "Overcrowding"

2010-08-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

Another thing that doesn't make sense.....if a "celebrity" is sentenced to a jail for say, 90 days and is confined to an isolation cell....why is that celeb. released after only a couple of weeks due to "overcrowding"? How can that isolation cell be overcrowded? It's not as though that celeb was put into the general prison population.....hmmmm.

Common Courtesy

2010-08-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

Pet peeve#2...rudeness and thoughtless behavior ........ Emily Post is long gone, and politeness seems old-fashioned...but common courtesy and good manners, such a simple "thank you" or "please" are the threads that make up the tapestry of a civilized society.

Medial Marijuana in Jail?

2010-08-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

Odd thoughts that pop into my head while trying to get to sleep........if prescription meds are allowed in jail, what about medical marijuana?

Michele Obama: Too Busy For TV Watching?

2010-08-15T12:18:00.000-07:00

Prez. Obama's statement, on the View, that it is the only daytime show that his wife watches....to which his critics say "hooey"....she is far too busy, in the morning, to watch TV...and besides she is s Harvard grad......funny that those critics haven't heard of TIVO, just saying.

Trash TV: Exploitation of Young Girls

2010-08-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

Sex sells AKA Trash TV.....let's be honest, we all watch one or more of these so-called entertainments but some go too far in matters of immorality, and one of the top ten, (in my opinion) is devoted to the misdeeds of a family who has an obsession with one letter of the alphabet in their names. The matriarch has no problem with the exploitation of her daughters. A younger one is 14 and since she is an "aspiring model" two of her older sisters posted pictures of her, in very poor taste considering her age, taken during a photo shoot at the beach. The message to all the young girls who watch this trash seems to be.....its O.K. to look like a hooker and if that gets you publicity great! Oy vey!

Trash TV: A Mug's Game

2010-08-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

More Trash TV....They say it's just a game but does that excuse fraud???? Also in the top ten of Trash TV is a show about a group of people, locked in a house for the summer with cameras following every move as they compete for a half million dollars by lying, back-stabbing and even "romancing" their fellow roomies......but the ugliest ploy used by one of these contestants is claiming his wife has an extremely rare disease of a leg, that can only be cured by very expensive surgery. This not only diminishes those who actually suffer from catastrophic diseases but demonstrates the skewed thinking that it is O.K. to win anyway you can and honesty is a mug's game.....and,yes, the wife is going along with the scheme....God! I hope they don't have children!

Bring Back the WPA

2010-08-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

Bring back the WPA!!!! In the 30's when times were tough,money was tight and jobs were scarce FDR created the WPA which put people to work in meaningful jobs. In one small corner of our state many of the highways, that are still in use today, were built by the WPA...as was Timberline Lodge in the Mt. Hood National Park. Why can't the government recreate such a program today? It would provide much needed jobs and our country would benefit from the revamping of its infrastructure.
Image source: Timberline Lodge 1938 Bartking.net

2010-08-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

Vacation time is here and so are the Tennis Games......back after the U.S.Open in September. Shalom.

Rafa's Ritual

2010-08-15T11:43:00.000-07:00

Thoughts while watching the opening games in Toronto.....Rafa Nadal's 1st serve....tug at pants, tuck hair behind left ear, rub nose, tuck hair behind right ear, wipe hand on pants leg, bounce ball 6 or 8 times, toss ball up, hit ball into net.

Plea to Rafa: No Pink!

2010-08-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

An ardent plea to Rafa.....please,please,please discard any and all shades of pink from your tennis court apparel.....pinks are a jinx!!

Obama on THE VIEW

2010-07-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hysterics Over Wikileak Disclosures

2010-07-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

Why the hysteria about the Wikileak disclosures? They contain nothing about our troop movements and only disclose matters that almost everybody already knows or guesses.. If anything they have brought home the fact that our involvement in Afghanistan is a losing proposition, in lives and taxpayers' hard earned money.....the sooner we get out of that quagmire the better. Some pundit stated that if we are to succeed in that region we should send in competent civilians to help that infrastructure instead of blowing them to hell.......bread makes more friends than bombs. And why are we giving such vast amounts of money to Pakistan when they support the Taliban in its' war against us?

Blows Up Real Good! (and it's better with beer!)

2010-07-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

Could anyone please tell me how getting drunk,blowing up such large fire-crackers that it sounds like WW3, scaring the bejeesus out of countless dogs and cats and jolting other people out of sleep is symbolic of Patriotism?? Most communities have 4th.of July Parades and Fire-works displays...fine and good....what I have a problem with are the reckless firing off of (usually illegal) fire-works in the days preceding the 4th, and for several days afterward...and into the wee hours of the morning. Even though there are city bans on such actions they are often overlooked.....and the mind-set of those scoff-laws is..."I'm proud to be an American"...Huh?

At War with the Almighty?

2010-07-28T17:53:00.000-07:00

According to a new law people now will be allowed to carry concealed weapons in Churches, Synagogues and Mosques! Are we at war with the Almighty or are we there to worship the NRA? This goes so far beyond the ridiculous...it is lunacy!...and further proves that we are fast becoming a nation of idiots!!

Will USofA Be Here in 250 Years?

2010-07-28T17:49:00.000-07:00

In the lifetime span of civilized nations of the world we, the USofA, seem to be in the "terrible two's" phase of development...Reason and learning are resisted as being too boring, in our greed for a more comfortable life style we blow the tops off mountains (for coal), pollute our waterways and atmosphere, lie to protect us from paying the consequences of our actions and have temper tantrums (wars) when opposed by more rational minds. I wonder if this nation, as it is today, will still be in existence in 250 more years?

Patience

2010-07-28T17:47:00.000-07:00

So the President's approval ratings are down......I have been as guilty as the rest of the country in expecting a whirlwind of changes to happen overnight,but on seriously thinking about the changes that have occurred since his inauguration I have realized that he has accomplished more,overall,than the previous administration in the same length of time. With all of the matters that are facing this country, both foreign and domestic, and with the Republicans using the filibuster tactics at every turn, it is a miracle that ANYTHING has been done.....after all, isn't it better to have a President who studies every situation before deciding on a plan of action rather then dashing madly off in all directions?!

Cut Obama Some Slack

2010-07-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Good Lord! cut the guy some slack! Now, some of our patriots on the right, have scolded President Obama for taking his family on vacation....not to The Gulf,but to New England! Did President Bush take his family,on vacation, to New Orleans after Katrina?....and do those same critics remember that in the same length of time in office, Pres.Bush had taken 216 days of vacation? In the dictionary "petty" should be synonymous with "politician"!

~ Comments by Skazski

BP's Greed

2010-06-30T22:01:00.000-07:00

It is said that there are 3 evils that we must overcome in order to better ourselves, both physically and spiritually....they are Greed, Envy and Ignorance. A current example of what can happen when one or more of these are overlooked, the BP oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. Greed ...because in order to earn greater profits the company cut corners by decreasing qualified staff and using inferior equipment. Ignorance....by not thoroughly exploring all the aspects of drilling at such great depth and for not having proven back-up plans in case of failure.. These principles also apply to the bodies that diminished regulations, oversight and previous " mishaps"......they didn't learn a damn thing from history and so it goes....the ruination of the environment,wildlife and livelihood of thousands for generations to come.

Author Stieg Larsson (Spoiler)

2010-06-30T21:59:00.000-07:00

(Rare editorial comment: WARNING SPOILER)

In view of the horrors that are occuring in our world today, this may seem to be trivial to the max....but, what the hell, we all need a diversion....mine is an addiction to Mysterys and novels of Suspense/Intrigue......and some of the best that I have read lately are those of Stieg Larsson..I just finished his last book and was left with such a profound sense of loss after reading the final paragraph.....knowing that the characters are to be gone forever. The author had completed 3 books before his untimely death and the situations/plots were so well thought out and his characters so interesting you couldn't help being invested in them that Larsson's demise became personal..It was reported that he had planned a series of 10 novels based on "the girl" and had left notes on the proposed books, but even if the publishers found someone else to complete them,it would be impossible to recreate his style..Too often writers of this genre are overlooked,,more's the pity.

Obama: All the Right Things But Incomplete

2010-06-30T21:56:00.000-07:00

After listening to our President's "Oval Office" speech last night I was left with a feeling of disappointment.....altho he said all of the "right things" it was not complete.....he didn't mention the heavy handed approach that BP has used in the clean-up efforts that should have lead to the Coast Guard taking command. .He was quite right to call our attention to the hazards of our dependence on oil and the urgency to find more environmentally safer energy sources,but in the current climate of this country, I fear that's not going to happen in the near future..There are people out there today who are fighting the moratorium on deep sea drilling, saying that it is taking food from their tables.....this disaster is going to effect the Gulf for 10 to 20 years....another such event would, perhaps, effect them forever!

Pray For Sarah

2010-06-29T16:42:00.000-07:00

As to Keith Olbermann's remarks about Sarah Palin being an "idiot".....in my opinion she is just ignorant and is too stupid to realize it. We should pray for her and God will heal her....just as she recommends for the oil disaster in the Gulf.

~ Comments by Skazski

Odious Comparisons

2010-06-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

Isn't it odd that most of the people who criticize President Obama and compare him to Hitler weren't even born when Hitler came to power? Maybe if those people were more knowledgeable about History they wouldn't make such odious comparisons!

~ Comments by Skazski

Not a Tea Party Adherent But Damn Angry

2010-05-30T17:26:00.000-07:00

Altho I am not a Tea Party adherent I, too, am very, very angry.....not with the Federal government in general but with the Congress in particular.. It is a body of either comfortably ensconced old men who have enjoyed being re-elected for decades due to the apathy and ignorance of the voters, or a body of newcomers whose only focus is getting re-elected. . .The fault lies partially with us for not paying enough attention to what they are doing. Perhaps term limits is the answer...and instead of the smears and lies that are the base of modern campaigning....the only criteria would be the publishing, for all to see, of their voting record on every issue that comes before them..Maybe that would diminish the roles of the lobbyists and the corporations that they represent.

~ Comments by Skazski

Underwear Bomber vs. hotel maid

2010-05-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

This is another thing that really bothers me....on one hand we have groups of young men entering our country from known "terrorist" countries (Somalia, Afghanistan and Pakistan) who seem to have no problems obtaining visas, in traveling back and forth between their birthplaces and here, in becoming citizens of the USA,are able to buy firearms with impunity....and whose mission in life seems to be the destruction of our country. On the other hand we have people who come to us from across the border in hopes of making a better life for themselves and their families. Who work hard and aid in our economic growth, yet they are subjected to discrimination and rigorous barriers to achieve citizenship......so why the disparity in our attitudes and laws???? Car Bomber vs. field worker, Underwear Bomber vs. hotel maid,....the choice seems clear to me.

~ Comments by Skazski

In Vampire Mode, and Nadal's Nike Curse: The Clown of the Courts

2010-04-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

Time for Spring Break..aka...The Monte Carlo Tennis Tournament. Since there is a 9 hour time difference, that means going into "Vampire" mode,....up all night and sleeping until noon. This will also be the time to see if the Nike Curse,on Rafa Nadal, will finally be broken. Ever since Nike began tinkering with Nadal's tennis attire the guy hasn"t won a title...even the Sports Commentators have taken to critizing his "horrendous" costumes! Nike has taken a great young player and turned him into the Clown of the Courts....shame on them. This young man has won 5Grand Slams and 35 other championships, all by the age of 23...you would think that Nike would have more resect for him.....but obviously they are too busy trying to polish up Tiger's image.

Oy Vey! Nike is still at it.......as one sport's announcer said..."these (blue and white plaid) shorts would look right at home on a Scottish Links, but at Monte Carlo,NO!" Nike should spend their time and energy(?) on making Rafa a pair of tennis shorts that actually FIT rather than how outlandish, and ugly, they can be! He is a brave lad for even appearing on court in those disgraceful rags!

Tiger Woods, Morality and Money

2010-04-15T18:07:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else as sick of the Tiger Woods saga as I am? Every damn TV show spends more time on this self-centered,egotistical bozo than they do on real news! So he can hit a hole with a golf ball...its not as though he has done anything to benefit the world...enuff already!

Do you think that the United States of America, as it is today, will still be in existance in 100 years?

When Money walks in the door, morality and ethics join hands and fly out the window.....case in point....the latest ad from Nike regarding Tiger and his deceased father. Apparently going to the uttmost extreme to refurbish the tarnished image of their money making "idol" is just fine and dandy. Morality be damned!.

Poker is NOT a Sport!

2010-04-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

Can we get real?....Poker is a "sport"? By what criteria does that make sense? It requires no athletic ability, acuity or physical prowess....if all of those things don't matter then, taking into consideration all the years I've spent playing gin rummy and solitaire, I must be a great sportswoman.....even if I can't walk 50 yards to my mailbox and have the eye to hand coordination of a newt....Ha or rather, Bah! Humbug!!

Health Reform Bill: Know the Facts

2010-04-15T18:03:00.000-07:00

For God's sake, know the FACTS! I heard one woman's angry response to the passing of the Health Reform bill in which she ranted "I don't want anyone (i.e. government) coming between my f---ing doctor and me"...doesn't she realize, or understand, that the final say-so about her health care is NOT in her doctor's hands but that it lies solely with the accountant at her insurance company? ..If you are going to protest at least know what the facts are!..

Utterly Bizarre Do-Nothings

2010-04-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

A new Party in town...."The Do-Nothings"......does anyone else find this utterly bizarre? An ex-governor, who quit half way through her term is campaigning for a senator, who recently said that he wasn't going to do anything, in the senate, for the rest of his term. . . How little those two must regard the intelligence of the voters.

Storm Troopers

2010-03-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

Do the words "Storm Troopers" ring any bells?? Now a far greater danger is rising in our country.....no, it is not the GOP...it is the lunatics who would take over the asylum.....they are the ones who do not believe in the democratic process but instead embrace the policies of fear and intimidation, who advocate overthrowing the government by criminal acts. Based on half-truths and utter lies they are conning the gullible and naive into civil disobedience......it reminds me of prewar Nazi Gernany and of what followed. Are we going to sit passively by while this happens??!

Where is Civility?

2010-03-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

What the hell has happened to this country? Not only has common sense fallen by the wayside but civility has met its demise and we are all the worse for it.. Children in Middle School tell their teacher to "F___ off" without fear of reprimand, members of Congress shout insults to each other like kids on a playground and grown up(?)people throw bricks through the windows of those with whom they disagree! there is a vast difference between freedom of speech and hate mongering and incitement to violence.

A Ray of Hope

2010-03-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I was about to give up and call this exercise quits.... but then Congress finally got something done and a ray of hope is now showing on the horizon. The Health Care Bill that is now, after more than fifty years, is in effect....it is far from ideal and needs a lot of adjustment but at least it is a step in the right direction....and for that I am grateful and encouraged.Maybe that "Change we believed in" is now on its way!

Tax on Smokers Unfair

2010-02-21T15:24:00.000-08:00

Whenever a governmental body needs money the first thing they do is raise taxes on cigarettes..to be fair..why not raise taxes on alcohol? Alcohol is far more injurious to ones'own health as well as the side effects on others.....such as domestic violence, time lost from work, property damage, DUIs and the list goes on.. Air pollutants are every where and to blame smokers is hypocrisy....but wine drinking has a certain snobbish charm appeal that is hard to fight with reason.. Drinking is considered to be more socially acceptable and sophisticated.....ergo,let the common folk/smokers bear the tax burden. That is unfair taxation! I protest!

Racism in the Republican Party

2010-02-21T15:01:00.000-08:00

Is former Congressman(R) Tancredo a Native American? Unless his ancestors were here to greet the Pilgrims, what language did his forefathers speak when they arrived on our shores?...and just how perfectly did they speak or write English? More appalling than Tancredo's remarks was the applause he got for making them! It is obvious that racist attitudes are still thriving in the Republican Party.

The Spirit of Christianity: Where the Hell is it?

2010-02-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

Along with calling ourselves "the worlds richest nation" we also pat ourselves on the back for being a "Christian Nation". We make a big deal about our generousity to other countries when disaster strikes....but here at home it is a different story......one political party sees helping our fellow citizens as a "handout" that encourages lack of responsibility and fight tooth and nail to stymy any legislation that would improve their lot.....where the hell is the spirit of "Christianity" in that?

Bet on Health Care

2010-02-21T14:58:00.000-08:00

As unpleasant as taxes are they are a necessary part of life......no money in, no money out....this is how our government gets funds for projects that provide services and jobs..Sometimes it takes money to make money......you will never win the lottery if you never buy a ticket..We are a Nation of gamblers....whether it is space exploration, planting crops, having a family, buying a new car, playing the Stock Market,...it is all a risk that we take every day......so why not bet on health care? The odds of a universal health care system are in our favor over the long run....if we get rid of the Health Care monopolies, their lobbyists and Senators who are on the take.....level the playing field,so to speak.

~ Comments by Skazski

Tea Baggers, the Other Meaning

2010-02-21T14:55:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of anger out here against those who have, time and again, been elected to represent us in the Federal Government and who have, year after year, served their own political interests/gains......and now there is a faction who has seized on this anger to build a political platform that goes far beyond all reason....the Tea Baggers. I wonder how many of them are aware of the other meaning of that phrase? The real issue is not too much government but the incompetence and corruption of those IN government.

~ Comments by Skazski

Sarah Palin: "You Cannot Be Serious!"

2010-02-21T14:52:00.000-08:00

In the immortal words of Johnny Mac......." you cannot be serious!"....The very idea of S.Palin even being considered as a Presidental Candidate is enough to make us the laughing stock of the entire civilized, diplomatic community! Under that cutesy,"just plain folks" facade of "you betcha" and using "ya" instead of "you" lives an absolutely incompetent woman who has a certain amount of cleverness but no amount of intelligence or intellect..... if this is an example of the Tea Partie's ideology we are in deep trouble if they gain momentum!

Rush and Health Care: Get Real!

2010-01-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

Health Care at its best!!! So Rush Limbaugh says that our health care system "is just fine" and that he wasn't given any special treatment...really? Not to belittle the health care in Hawaii, which is about as good as it gets in this country, but I worked as a health care professional in hospitals for many years and know how the system works...when a wealthy celebrity is admitted, for care, you can bet your bottom dollar that no time, or effort is spared seeing to his every needs.....and the fact that Limbaugh said he didn't get special treatment shows how delusional he is.....he didn't have to worry about seeking medical attention when he felt ill, because he knew he could afford it....unlike thousands of his fellow Americans who aren"t millionaires! Get real,Rush!

Dial It Back A Bit Rush

2010-01-28T19:10:00.000-08:00

OMG!....just how far will that racist hate-monger, Rush Limbaugh, have to go before his GOP fan club says "tsk,tsk,maybe you should dial it back a bit"...but,of course, nary a word of reproach to their front man......but then, he isn't a Senator or the Speaker of the Senate. The very idea that our President is sending help to those in Haiti because he wants to influence black voters is so outrageous that it is an affront to every sane person in this country. Democrat, Republican, and Independent,alike.

Time to Change The Way We War

2009-12-31T17:56:00.000-08:00

Modern warfare has changed...why haven't we? Somehow the idea of using large armies to invade other countries in order to vanquish small, mobile terrorist groups seems like a waste of lives and funds. Wouldn't those resourses be better used by overhauling, and improving,"intelligence"? Establishing a world-wide network of "police forces" in one unified system, and maintaining smaller more mobile task forces whose sole agenda would be the eradication of terrorist cells all over the world rather than occuping sovereign nations seems more plausible....fight the terrorists with their own tactics.

~ Comments by Skazski

False Modesty vs. Safety

2009-12-31T17:54:00.000-08:00

Making Air Travel Safer.....false modesty vs. safety? A child of 3 could answer that question in a flash! When standard "pat-downs" will not detect the type of device that the would-be underwear bomber was sporting and only a full body imaging is that capable....why such a hue and cry about "invasion of privacy"? After all the images are not going to be shown on a large, Multi-plex screen, complete with popcorn and a soda! What the hell is the problem...and why is it even being argued!

~ Comments by Skazski

Hawaii Is Not A "Foreign Place"

2009-12-31T17:50:00.000-08:00

So President Obama was on vacation in a "foreign place" and did not respond immediately to the news of the would-be terrorist attack on Christmas Day.....so claim the GOP....never mind the fact that Hawaii is not only a part of the USA (but is actually a state) and the
birthplace of our Pres.....and like many other Americans, he went home for the holidays.....but he did address the issue in a matter of hours...not after 5 days, a la Bush! By the way, does anyone remember how many days, during his term of office, that Bush was away from Washington on vacation?

~ Comments by Skazski

GOP: Hypocritical Blusterings

2009-12-31T12:47:00.000-08:00

As much as I am a firm believer in freedom of speech there comes a time when, for the good of the Country, a muzzle should be applied....case in point, the former Vice-President, Dick Cheney. Not only does he conveniently forget the massive failure of "intelligence" pertaining to the dreadful 9/11 attack (which occurred on his watch) but the false "intelligence" that led us into 2 wars....wars that have not made us safer but have increased anti-American feelings/actions in the Middle East and other Muslim countries. The Republicans have been quick to leap on the "It's Obama's Fault" band wagon....even though 1 Republican Senator has held up the appointment of a new head of the TSA for reasons that have nothing to do with national security. A New Years Wish...that the American public will see through these hypocritical blusterings and will realize just how far the GOP will go to undermine the Obama Administration. How very patriotic!

~ Comments by Skazski

Ice Skating in Hell: Health "Reform"

2009-12-23T22:43:00.000-08:00

WTF!!....this is health care reform? No public option? Tax-payers support for the State of Nebraska? Mandatory requirement to buy insurance? No strict regulation of the health insurance companies? This present bill is a gift wrapped prize to those health care monopolies....and the politicos who are beholden to the lobbyists. Our politicians are saying that necessary changes can be made "over time".....not that I'm cynical, but when that happens we will all be ice skating in hell!

~ Comments by Skazski

A Mad Convention of Used Car Salesmen; Good for You Al!

2009-12-23T22:37:00.000-08:00

The U.S.Senate.....aka "The Cuckoo's Nest" what a laughable institution it has become! From Sen. McCain's feigned indignation re the audacious Junior Sen. Franken's calling "time" on his bosom buddy,Sen.J.Lieberman (good on you,Al)...to the body of legislators who use bribery,pay-offs,and everything except armed robbery to achieve Party goals....Party, NOT the taxpayers. The majority of Senators (Reps.& Dems alike) behave like a mad convention of used-car salesmen with such a lack of conscience it would make a three-card-monte dealer blush with shame!

~ Comments by Skazski

2009-12-20T22:19:00.000-08:00

War: Share the Experience
The die is cast....we are sending some additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan......at this rate, with many of our men and women already serving their 5th 6th and even 7th tour of duty,where are these troops coming from? How many will be here at home for defense? It seems only logical,and fair, to reimplement the draft....we cannot continue fighting endless wars without fresh bodies! The suicide rate is up among our troops,families are being devastated, not to mention the physical and mental maiming of survivors...so why not share this experience with everybody?

Man Charged for Having Compassion
How twisted our compassion for human life has become! A fellow has been charged for leaving jugs of water, in the desert, to prevent more people (illegal immigrants)from dying of thirst...and because he refused doing "community service" (removing those jugs) he faces jail time......yet the Coast Guard rescues foundering people (also illegal immigrants) from the sea to prevent them from drowning .....an argument is made about "THEM" taking jobs from Americans.....that is another story.....this is about saving lives and basic concern for the well-being of our fellow human beings......or it should be!

Ashland, OR Scrooge
Bah!Humbug!....One family in Ashland, Oregon, has caused a school there to remove its Christmas Tree because it is "a religious symbol"! If the school had displayed a Cross,a Star of David or a Crescent and Star they would have a valid point...but the celebration around a decorated tree was, originally, a Pagan event. Over time the tree became a symbol of joy and good will among Christians and non-Christians alike. This tree was also a "giving"tree, meant for the more unfortunate children of the community.....makes me wonder what the hell is dancing in their heads....it sure ain't sugar plums!

Defense of Torture Memos
Who is really running our country? Compare Pres. Obama's pre-election stated goals, i.e., closing Gitmo, rescinding "don't ask don't tell" and bringing our troops home to his recent decision on Afghanistan...and now, his Justice Department is defending the author of the Torture Memos! It seems that the military-terror cabal is the force that is really in charge of our country/destiny! Some conspiracy theorists might believe that in exchange for keeping the President "safe" he will accede to their demands......such as prolonging wars and maintaining the status quo re. keeping homosexuals out of the military.

Our Multi-Tasking Congress
Our Congress at work!...one Congressman wanted to honor Tiger Woods with a medal (then had to back off when the present scandal broke) and another Congressman wanted to re-figure College Bowl games...such matters of importance! It is no wonder that public opinion of Congress is so low.....yet another Congressman said,in defense, "we can multi-task".....well, remember the old adage "jack of all trades but master of none"? Maybe the floor of Congress should be renamed to "stage for publicity hounds" or Trivia Pursuit.

Senator Joe Lieberman: Feh!
Why do the Democrats still kow-tow to Sen.J.Lieberman?? He has proved, time and time again,that he is really a Republican who is indebted to the Insurance industry and that his "word" cannot be trusted. We ,the people( voters),need greater regulation of the insurance industry as well as health care that is affordable for all citizens. Joe Lieberman should be ashamed of himself....but unfortunately , he doesn't seem to have a conscience.

Fund the War, Kill the Health Bill
The hypocrisy of our elected numbskulls in Congres is never ending......the Pro-Lifers' refusal to endorse any Health Care Bill that includes tax payer funds for abortions.....yet those same "Pro-Lifers" will, without question,vote to increase military spending(also tax funded) and troop redeployment. Where the hell is the logic in that?

Obama, Where Are You?
To President Obama.....Why you will be a one term President. Altho you have a wide international fan base,and have improved this Country's image abroad....you have done very little to alleviate the problems ,here at home of those who actually elected you. The campaign speeches that you made inspired us all and gave us hope....yet they have come to naught. Your desire for a bi-partisan government was admirable but sadly misguided.......there will always be a segment of our populace who dislike you,your ideals and everything that you stand for,no matter what you do....but by acceding to them you appear to be weak and indecisive.Instead of being remembered as a "Champion of the People",your legacy will be that of a "Great Orator"......what a pity!.

~ Comments by Skazski

Obama Swayed by Military Cabal?

2009-11-24T22:05:00.000-08:00

God, help us for we know not what we do......Pres.Obama says that we are "going to finish the job on Afghanistan" and he also says that we are going to "prevent Al Queda from ever attacking us again"....has he forgotten that Al Queda is not just in Afghanistan they are also in the Philippines, Africa, Indonesia and the Middle East? Has he been swayed by the Military Cabal? Is he unaware of the history of other "invaders" in that country? There is a mention of imposing a surtax to help pay for this war...brilliant!....maybe with a tax on this war some will think twice about expanding this futile operation.

Excluding Abortions

2009-11-24T22:03:00.000-08:00

Lord love a duck!.....according to the news on the Health Care mish-mash....there is a movement afoot to exclude abortions (which are still legal medical procedures in this country) from any, and all, insurance plans that include taxpayer dollars....it is one thing to impose a group's religious beliefs on all people, but the ProLifers are not the only people who pay those tax monies.....that makes this issue twice as discriminatory against women!! By the way, aren't those people the same ones who decry "government interference" when it comes to health care.....or anything else? Just wondering.

2009-10-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

High Speed Rails for the Holidays
With the Holidays rapidly approaching,and all the hassles of getting from point A to point B,it would seem that this would be the perfect time to push for the development of high-speed rail. The airlines are raising rates while cutting down on services,and flying is more at the mercy of the elements than going by rail..Many of the "developed" countries of the world have such systems,why can"t we? Aren't we supposed to be the leaders in technology? (Ha!)Just think of all the jobs such a program would create and resources saved..

Military Industrial Complex; Meet the Terror Industrial Complex
Does anyone else remember former General,and President,Dwight D.Eisenhower's warning about the"military-industrial complex"?...and now,another General(ret.) has warned us of the updated version..."the terror-industrial complex".It seems the new Big Business/Bugaboo is Terror...with the military Brass urging the Prez. to send thousands more troops into Afghanistan to fight the terrorists....never mind that for years we have been pouring billions of dollars into an unstable and corrupt government with nothing to show for it but the loss of lives......all to destroy a backward,religious sect( that has little credence or backing in the rest of the Muslim world...and the small group of cave dwelling fanatics who were responsible for the 9/11 attacks.Since traditional tactics of war-fare haven't been very effective so far why not try a different approach?

Increase Drones
The different approach....there has been quite an argument,lately,about the use of Drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Many complain that the drones kill civilians as well as the enemy...but didn't the bombings, by the Axis powers and the Allies, do the same in WW II? That was during the time of war...as is this. As long as we engage in wars innocent people are going to be killed. If we can utilize these drones,in a region where it would be suicidal to send in our troops then there should be no question about that use. Suicide bombs kill hundreds of civilians so isn't it ironic that Afghanistan and Pakistan are against the use of Drones? Instead of sending more troops into that treacherous region isn't it smarter to increase the use of Drones!?

Blockades
I'm curious....how do those mountain dwelling "terrorists" get their supplies? You know,things like food, arms,and medical supplies? With Winter coming on would it be possible to Blockade those passes that come down from the mountains.....no one in,no one out. The terrain seems to be unfit for agriculture so they must be getting their food from somewhere.....or somebody.

The 50 Year Plan
This is mind blowing!! Has anyone else(civilian) heard of the Pentagon's plan for a 50 year "Long War" of counterinsurgency for ,not only Iraq,Afghanistan and Pakistan,but fot the Philippines and the Horn of Africa? "experts" included in the making of this plan are a former advisor to Gen.Petreus and a current aide to Gen.McChrystal. The cost is staggering....an estimated price tag of an ADDITIONAL $2 Billion per MONTH on topof the current cost of $4 billion per month in Afghanistan! Remember the stated strategy of Al Qaeda to exhaust the U.S. militarily as well as economically?Where will these troops be coming from....will the Draft be reinstated?This is a plan that will increase antagonism against us for generations to come....meanwhile,while our home-grown terrorists seem to be growing in number,and when natural disasters strike our National Guard,and funds, are stretched thin....where is the sanity in such a scheme.....another example in the new "terror-industrial" mind set..God help us all !

~ Comments by Skazski

To that blathering bufoon, Rush. . .

2009-10-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

To that blathering bufoon, Rush, and his ilk....how in the world do you equate losing the Olympics to Rio as a loss to our Prez.? To hear you cheer and gloat it seems to me that you are more than just a little anti-american ....former heads of state have also campaigned for their countries to be awarded that lucrative prize...but then, facts and the truth have never been your strong suit..

~ Comments by Skazski

The Greed of Health Insurers, the Thin Skin of the Gop

2009-10-09T13:39:00.000-07:00

re....Congressman Alan Grayson's comments on the GOP and Health Care....Bully for him Isn't amazing how thin-skinned the GOP becomes when the Dems answer back to their own dirty tactics......true, the word "holocaust" was ill-used due to recent usage...but originally it meant "great or total destruction". This new Bill that is proposed will further enrich the Health Insurance companies and leave our citizens out in the cold, without a Public Option....I can only hope that we, as voters, remember the names of those who have so royally screwed us when election time rolls around!

~ Comments by Skazski

2009-09-30T17:24:00.000-07:00

The SSA's Piggy banks

They say that Social Security is in financial trouble...ergo,it being a government run program that proves how incompetent any government health care bill would be...perhaps if other government agencies/departments would stop using the SSA as their piggy bank we wouldn't be in this fix.There should be laws to protect the SSA funds from such pillaging...then,maybe, they could afford the Cost Of Living increase that is now going to be cut.

Insomnia is my name

And, on the subject of Health Care Reform.....any Senator,or Congressman ,who received more than $500. either personally or for his/her campaign from any health insurance company, should be prohibited from any involvement in the formulating or drafting of all health care bills.This whole issue is getting to be so ridiculous that "insomnia" is now my name! If I could afford going to the doctor and getting sleeping pills I would be the drug companies' best customer...hmmm....could that be their plan?sorry,lack of sleep is catching up to me.

Water on the Moon

One of the more disturbing things on the news.....the discovery of water on the moon.With that announcement came the statement that"we could build factories there to extract that water and then could use the Moon as a base to further our efforts to reach other planets"Apparently it is not enough that mankind has despoiled this planet....we now have our sights set on the ruination of the Universe.

Talk with the Russians. . .

The Military Brass wants more troops in Afghanistan...have they considered talking with the Russians about such a strategy? I don't believe that " conventional" war fare tactics and troops will ever "win" there....just look back to history. Any success there will depend on new thinking and strategies. perhaps by rebuilding the infrastructure and aiding the people....rather than bombing them to hell...might be a start in the right direction..

Funding Wars

Once again our elected representatives have put their own interests before the wishes/needs of their constituents....citing the prohibitive costs of Health Care reform and the Public Option,they voted NO.Democrats and Republicans alike...who received millions of $$$ in bribes, excuse me, in "contributions" from the Insurance and pharmaceutical companies will vote to increase funding for wars but will not vote to save lives at home......they are still in office why???

~ Comments by Skazski

Where is Decorum in Politics?

2009-09-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

Among the many things our society has lost in the last generation is the sense of decorum, of politeness and of decency. The latest example being that outstanding member of Congress, J.Wilson. of S.Carolina.....I can't help but wonder if the Congressman would have behaved in such a rude manner if it was anyone else rather than Pres. Obama? Would he have called Pres. Bush a liar in such an inappropriate way?

~ Comments by Skazski

Jellyfish Politicians and Health Care

2009-09-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

"Politics is a nasty business".....we elect people to Congress to represent our views/wishes...to work for the needs of those who elected them....yet all too often all of that flies out the window once they get to Washington. Obama was elected to office mainly because the nation saw a great need for health care reform and the voters thought that he was the one who could bring this about..For over forty years the health care industries,lobbyists,and the GOP have blocked any changes....so what do our elected ones do now?...they waver,become jellyfish.....what the hell is so toxic in Washington D.C.??? is it in the water? the air?? the Kool-ade??

~ Comments by Skazski

TV a Mirror of our Society. . .

2009-09-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

TV....a mirror of our society. On a current "reality" network program we are shown how a morally challenged young person, who, by deceit (and out and out lying) stands to win a half million dollars....and is applauded for "playing a good game "!!!....we should not be surprised by this blatant dishonesty...take a look around. We have TV and Radio personalities who, on a daily basis, distort the truth to fit their own agendas, government officials who cheat the taxpayers and their families....all for personal gain. The sad truth is that we have become a nation of hypocritical fools....and where honesty, and fair play are no longer virtues, but are considered to be handicaps.

~ Comments by Skazski

Racist Citizens: Get Over It!

2009-09-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

Never,in all my born days(which are many) have I heard/seen such nonsense about the President of our country giving an address to our school children, or having his speech pre-examined by anyone...this is not some wild-eyed soap box orator....this is our elected leader of this country! Reagan did it as did Bush...so the ONLY inference that can be drawn is .... he is suspect due to being African American! Shame on us!!!He won the election,by a whopping majority so to all those sore losers out there...get over it and get with the program!

~ Comments by Skazski

Among the Myths Re: Public Option

2009-09-08T20:33:00.000-07:00

Among the many myths that are circulating about the "Public Option" in the Health Reform Bill.....that a politician, not a doctor, would be making the medical decisions....who the hell do you think is making those decisions now in those giant, private health insurance companies....can you say "accountant"?! The bottom line takes precedent over all medical diagnosis/treatment. These are not altruistic,humanitarian outfits....they are in the business of making money.

~ Comments by Skazski

Ted Kennedy: Rest in Peace

2009-09-08T20:31:00.000-07:00

This is a sad day for America.....we all,Republicans,Democrats and Independents alike,have lost a great champion for the American people.True,as a young man,he was as flawed as any of us, but over the years he rose above the scandals and became a leader in the causes that involved every segment of our society and for that he should be remembered....and honored.

Death Panel Bozos Looking in the Wrong Direction

2009-08-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

Well,this is going to be interesting.....food prices are up,gasoline is up,utilities have also risen, yet the "cost of living" increase in Social Security is being dropped for the next 2 years. The "death panel" stalwarts are shooting at the wrong target...they should be aiming their arrows at the Social Security Administration.!!!

~ Comments by Skazski

When Money Talks, "Christian Values" Walks

2009-08-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

Where is all this talk about "socialism"coming from? Do those people consider Social Security,MediCare,Public Education, Interstate Highways and regulations that oversee our food and drug safety socialistic? The Health Insurance(for profit) industries are a scam,the drug companies spend more on advertising than on research and the ones who profit are the lobbyists and their paid stooges in Congress. Why can't the rest of us, with absolutely no health insurance,get an even break?It is obvious that the "Christian Values",that we profess to hold so dear go out the window when money is on the table.

Hurray for Barney Frank!

2009-08-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

Hurray for Barney Frank! at last one democrat has the guts to stand up to those ill-informed rabble rousers who disrupt the Town Hall meetings on Health Care Reform...if only more Dems would develope a back bone and do the same!.

2009-08-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

As for counseling terminally ill patients about options for their care (again, euphemism for euthanasia)....there are still many people who are unaware of facilities available to them,such as Hospices, Home Health care etc. during those final days. This is not advocating termination of life,rather it is to relieve the patient of worry and make their end a more peaceful one...isn't this something that everyone would want for themselves and their loved ones?

Living Will=Euthanasia?!

2009-08-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

How can anyone, with an ounce of common sense, believe that making a Living Will is the same as euthanasia? By that "logic" anyone who has Funeral Planning is on Morticians' "hit list". Several years ago I made out a Living Will so that in case I were to be unable to communicate with medical staff as to what treatment I would want (or not)...even though my family knows my wishes, unless I stated/signed those wishes they would count for nothing. How in the real world does that equate with euthanasia!

~ Comments by Skazski

Demented Domestic Terrorists vs. GitMo Detainees

2009-08-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

there have been so very many odd things happening while I was on "vacation" that it is hard to pick any one thing to rant about......let's start with the most comical.....I I find it laughable that with all the demented,domestic terrorists at large in our country, the people in Michigan are upset about moving the detainees from Guantanamo to a prison in that state.....at least we would know who and where they would be...not like our homegrown threats....who could be living right next door....armed and free to go about their daft business...

~ Comments by Skazski

If It Happened Before I Was Born, Nuts to That!

2009-07-12T15:52:00.000-07:00

Remember back in the day when our parents would say that this next generation was "going to hell in a handbasket"?....well,from some of the things I've been hearing lately....it is our turn to quote that old adage. This younger generation seems to take pride in being oblivious to events that occurred before they were born....like a 5th grader in my daughter's class who didn't have a clue about WW11, or a young woman in her late 20"s who is at the top of her profession not knowing much of anything that happened in her field before her birth. History just isn't important,as good old George believed......so much for "No Child Left Behind"......ignorant and ill-prepared most definitely, but not "Left Behind"....remember when Education was considered primary in our schools?,.

Well, the silly season is upon us so this is as good a time as any to take a break.....besides the grandkids are coming for their yearly visit (nothing like living at the beach to ensure seeing family) and there is much to be done before the big arrival,including dog,!....so until some other time....hasta la vista.

~ Comments by Skazski

2009-07-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

Dangerous Rhetoric
Tonight, after listening to an interview with Sen.John McC.......I was infuriated by the s--- that came out of his mouth! He obviously doesn't remember(and hopes that we don't either) our involvement in other countries affairs when he spoke of "America stands as a symbol of freedom and has always been against any regime that oppresses its people",He spoke of Pres.Reagan and his courage in speaking out....where? in Nicaragua?? in Chile?? Peru? Guatamala in 1950 ? We have always backed a regime that was beneficial to our interests! This is the type of rhetoric that is so dangerous....and tonight,we should be thanking our lucky stars that McC didn't win the election.....because as a statesman, he is a disaster.

What the Hell is Going on with our Prez?
What the hell is going on with our Prez? On Inauguration Day he proclaimed that his presidency would be one of "transparency"...and on many issues he has been forthright.....however,on many important matters he has been behaving more like the previous holder of that office,much to the dismay of a large segment of his followers....he appears to be embracing the same cloak of secrecy( a la Cheney)i.e.public disclosure continuing the wireless wire-tap actetc.,etc.,Why is he covering for the Cheney Gang?Why is he stalling on DADT? What is going on behind the scenes?Why the about face? This ain't "Change",Bro!

~ Comments by Skazski

2009-06-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

Hawks Circle Obama and Iran
Well! the hawks are at it again!.....they are calling out Pres.Obama for "not taking a stand"(???)on the Iranian election and ensuing protests.....that is an Iranian,internal affair and the Prez is quite right not to get involved....the U.S. has a long history of meddling in other countries'policies and has created many problems,not to mention enemies,for us. Already the ruling regime,in Iran,is accusing us of fomenting their troubles.It is obvious how Obama feels,which is good,but for him to take formal action in any way would be a serious mistake!

Obama and Health Care
re Bill Maher's comments about our Prez.....in one respect Bill is quite right....if George Bush could stand up and get us into a war (which takes lives)....President Obama should get tough and get a Health Bill (which saves lives) through! As for being on TV too much.....he is an unusual,charismatic leader who attracts attention whether it is wanted or not...and he promised,in his campaign,that he would keep the country informed on what he does....that's a good thing. However he hasn't acted fast enough on some issues that are important to many of us....but I realize that he got a terrible mess handed to him as a "welcome to the White House" present and it will take time to get it all sorted out...so,Bill,just have patience and hope for the best.

Iran Protesters: Refuse
Since the Grand Ayatollah has prohibited the opposition to the "election" from further marches and demonstrations....what would happen if all of those disenfranchised voters,throughout Iran,stayed off the streets,remained in their homes,did not shop,did not attend school or transact any business all on the same day?They could call it having a "day of private prayer".What kind of reaction would that have on Iran's economy, on the Mullahs???

Geezers in Congress
Don't any of those old geezers in Congress think before they shoot off their mouths?We are involved in 2 wars at the present., and face a real threat from North Korea,..do they think we need another one with Iran? Who do they think would be doing the fighting?....certainly not THEM.!!solution to follow........

On George Bernard Shaw and the "Romance" of War
solution;over 50 years ago I heard a record by George Bernard Shaw on which he spoke about the "romance" of war....(the glorification of battle,the mystique of banners and uniforms and the hyperbole of jingoist slogans)...he said,in effect,the sight of young people(our future generation) marching off to slaughter brought tears to his eyes....instead,he suggested conscripting all those old,doddering war mongers.Send them off to battle,to feel the "glory "of being shot at,of being blown to smithereens send them to the front lines not to some office job or high above in planes....maybe then we would see the folly of war....the futility of "bomb first ask questions later."..

~ Comments by Skazski

2009-06-19T23:26:00.000-07:00

Hawks Circling Obama on Iran
Well! the hawks are at it again!.....they are calling out Pres. Obama for "not taking a stand"(???)on the Iranian election and ensuing protests.....that is an Iranian,internal affair and the Prez is quite right not to get involved....the U.S. has a long history of meddling in other countries policies and has created many problems,not to mention enemies,for us. Already the ruling regime in Iran is accusing us of fomenting their troubles. It is obvious how Obama feels,which is good,but for him to take formal action in any way would be a serious mistake!

To Maher: Have Patience With Obama
re Bill Maher's comments about our Prez.....in one respect Bill is quite right....if George Bush could stand up and get us into a war (which takes lives) ....President Obama should get tough and get a Health Bill (which saves lives) through! As for being on TV too much.....he is an unusual,charismatic leader who attracts attention whether it is wanted or not...and he promised,in his campaign,that he would keep the country informed on what he does....that's a good thing. However he hasn't acted fast enough on some issues that are important to many of us....but I realize that he got a terrible mess handed to him as a "welcome to the White House" present and it will take time to get it all sorted out...so,Bill,just have patience and hope for the best.

~ Comments by Skazski

2009-06-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

Far Off The Map of Reality: Kill Pills
well,this is a new one and one that really stretches the imagination........apparently birth-control pills (and contraceptive devices) are listed with abortions as killers of the unborn!...thus the proliferation of "The Pill Kills" signs. Just how far off the map of reality these folks have strayed is yet to be determined,but according to their logic next it may be the sex act itself.....just thinking NOT to have sexual relations might be in the same category......."prevention kills" might become a new theme! Lord,help us all! We have truly passed thru the Looking Glass into topsy-turvy world!

Dr. Killers=Taliban
Does anyone else find the murder of a doctor, who conducted a legal practice, not only sad but very,very scary?....and this is not an isolated case....there are too many groups whose ideologies and goals are more in line with the Taliban and other extremist groups as are their methods ...terror and murder! These people live among us,in our neighborhoods,and freely go about their business.....yet we are afraid of having some Gitmo prisoners locked up in maximum security prisons in the US.....where the hell is the sanity of that???

Suds Makers:Pay Up
In the state I live in, the lack of funds/revenue has caused a huge deficit.....meaning more school closures, more teachers laid off, a decrease of social services and fewer law enforcement officers....and,the early release of many prisoners. Yet our elected officials,in their wisdom, have rejected the proposal to raise the tax on beer,wine and other spirits.......we have a large Micro-Brewing industry,in this state, yet these suds makers pay the same tax that they paid 30 years ago!!! It seems that the drinkers of these brews should be kept happy and not inconvenienced....illiterate,perhaps,but happy.

Disappointment
Where ,oh ,where is our "fierce advocate" who promised to end "don't ask, don't tell???" Over 13,000 skilled people,including translators, have been ousted from the military....people we need...yet nothing is being done to change matters. During his first 6 months in office,Pres.Obama has done a good job of correcting the mistakes of the past,but on Civil Rights issues he is sadly lacking....guess the idea that he would be a different kind of leader, not just a politician was just too damned good to be true.

Saber Rattling
The question making the rounds....did Pres.O's speech in Cairo "weaken America"?...how, in the name of sanity could any reasonable person ask! By speaking openly,without any posturing,he has made us appear to be what we claim to be...a free and open society. Those past chants of "we are #1" the saber rattling (to get our own way)and the bully-ing tactics have not endeared us to the rest of the world and has without a doubt, made us more enemies than friends.....remember the old saying....." you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar".

Jon Voight: Over the Top
re the recent tirades against our Prez.....calling for an end to his "reign of terror"(Jon Voight) is just a tad over the top! This President has only been in office 6 months.....where were those cries of outrage during the last 8 years altho I am not happy with some of his decisions /non-actions I believe that it is early days...and he should be given a chance to prove himself.before the traditional smear campaigning begins....egads,!give the guy a break!...

~ Comments by Skazski

Reptilian Fat Boy

2009-06-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

With all the filth being spewed by Fat Boy and his cronies(didn't the FCC have rules about such language)...with the lies of a reptilian former vice president being repeated ad nauseum ( in hopes of avoiding charges of war crimes?) it is high time to take a break from all of this nastiness! Onward to the French Open! Adieu,mon amies.

~ Comments by "Skazski,"

2009-05-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

On this day when we remember and honor those who have lost their lives in defense of our ideals/country....wouldn't it be a wonderful tribute if we,and every other nation in the world,decided that warfare was not only a terrible waste of lives but of resources? that each country decided that it would be better served by investing that energy to improving the lives of its citizens rather than sending them off to be killed.....and wouldn't the Gods of all people be more honored if their followers respected each others religions and actually followed their teachings? This should also be a day of repenting the wastefulness of mankind.

here's another thought on Prop.8.....marriage was originally a social contract,written by men,that conveyed property/chattel to one party from another, often times for a price (women were considered as chattel) Religions stepped in,(eventually) and created ceremonies to sanctify those transactions.That church in California that fostered Prop.8, that organized the campaign to get it on the ballot went far beyond the "separation of church and state"...it became a public,political entity,forcing it's agenda on those who are having their civil rights denied them....for that they(church) should have their tax free status revoked for now they are clearly a political party, not just a religious organization!

~ Comments by Skazski

2009-05-24T12:05:00.001-07:00

Pelosi
The recent attacks on Speaker Pelosi and calls for her to be removed from office...by none other than morally bankrupt former Speaker Newt Gingrich...are blatant attempts to shift the spotlight from the misdeeds of the former administration ie. Dick Cheney and gang.For us elderly folk,who have long memories, her arguments about being "mislead" by the CIA comes as no surprise nor do they seem unreasonable.....just look to history..

The Value of Newspapers
Even in these days of faxes,internet,etc.,there are many of us who do not have access ,or do not use computers.....ergo,most of our local news,accounts of community events,regional sports,and other items of interest are supplied by our newspapers.. TV gives us only brief selected items....and certainly no in-depth reporting on issues of importance nor can TV coverage begin to cover all of the communities in a region....what may be of interest to viewers in,say,Mountain Home,Ark., is of little meaning to viewers in Medford,Ore......enter the newspaper...it is so sad that so many of them are folding today...to me the written word has more impact than a 3 second sound byte.

Protests at Notre Dame Hypocritical
this is an issue that continues to cause my blood pressure to rise.....the protesters at Notre Dame re: President Obama's speaking to the graduating class...."we do not believe in Killing,we believe in Life"...a noble statement, but just a tad hypocritical.....there was nary a peep when a former President was a speaker there....altho,when he was Governor of Texas,he condoned the execution of more prisoners than any previous Governor,or that he instigated a war that has killed and maimed thousands of souls.By the way,where were the cries of outrage when Humanitarian Aid was denied to thousands of starving Africans( children included) because information on birth control/family planning was included in that package.Once again,the "rights" of the unborn supersede those who have actually seen the light of day

Terrorists: We Have Our Own
NIMBY....those governors who say they won't have "those terrorists" in maximum security prisons within their states sound as though those same terrorists would be strolling in their parks or having "slurpees" at the local 7-11. What about our homegrown terrorists who are currently incarcerated in our prisons? How often have any of them been seen out and about in our communities?Guantanamo has been a blight on our national honor since it opened.....to those Democrats who voted against funding for closing Gitmo...you are reverting to the Demos of old....never mind doing what is right,do only what is politically advantageous.

Armed Citizens
With so very many of our citizens armed to the teeth with every kind of armament(with the exception of heavy artillery),why be concerned about the transfer of Gitmo prisoners to the States?In a country where people shoot each other every day,for no reason at all,if I were a terrorist I would be shaking in my boots at the thought of being transferred here.

Obama
What the hell!!!..."indefinite,prolonged detention" those words out of the mouth of President Obama!....what happened to vowing to uphold the Constitution,Mr. President???You are sounding more and more like George Bush!Detaining those might pose a threat but cannot be prosecuted due to lack of evidence? Are we going to be employing mind readers to suss out the bad guys? Seems like someone has been watching too much TV.

~ Comments by Skazski

2009-05-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

Arlen Specter
re Arlen Specter....the Democrats need this man like they need the plague....he left his own party(GOP) because he didn't think that he could win reelection as a Republican....not because he changed his attitudes/values ideology. He proved this by voting against the bill that would have given those home owners who needed a break with the banks/mortgage holders..If the Democratic Party had a lick of sense they would not back his campaign for reelection nor would they trust him on any vote that involves the Banking Industry.`

Texas: "Buh-Bye!"
So the Great State of Texas wants to withdraw from the U.S.A.....Yahoo and Yippee! The "new country of Texas" could become the home for all of those old die-hard Republicans and Far Right loonies who repeatedly vote down anything that smacks of gun control,humanitarian acts or civil liberties. Perhaps a fence could be built around this "new" country to keep out undesireables...passport/visa needed,Since Texas ,at present, gets more funds back from taxes than any other state it would be interesting to see how Texas would fare as an independent entity during hurricane season for example.... ,given their philosophy on big government and Federal "hand outs",etc.

Obama: What Change?
another day,another back step from our President......waffling on the withdrawing of troops from Iraq,the timely closing of Guantanimo,the continuation of Bush's policy of warrant less wire taps,etc.,and now the reversal of"transparency". pix relating to illegal/immoral torture. Now,today,out the window went the pledge to put a stop to "don't ask,don't tell." Where is this change you promised us,Mr.President?You say that all of this is on the advice of the "CIA and the Generals"Who is really running this country, Mr.Obama? If memory serves,the C.I.A. is not the most reputable(or reliable) outfit in our government....remember Nicaragua?just one example of their mistakes.

The Orally Flatulent, or Thank God for the Tennis Channel
Oh,Dear Heaven!....what a mess,this week,on TV..."who knew what and when" who's lying about briefings, will Kate continue on? should Miss California keep her title? will that orally flatulent, overweight "entertainer" continue to destroy the Republican Party?.....and the list goes on......thank God for the Tennis Channel! without it I would have lost my mind!

Weird Beliefs: Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, CIA . . .
just one more reason why we should be more careful about the people we send to Washington as our Representatives and Senators......the idea, put forth by Rep.Boehner,et al.,that the CIA "might lie to others but they would not lie to Congress" is not just laughable it is akin to a child's belief in the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny! Do these elected officials read (anything but the Comics and Sports pages)? Can they pass a standard I.Q. test? Do they have any knowledge of history? the law or the Constitution?Do any of these talking heads know anything about the history of the CIA???!!!

Auto Industry in a Looking Glass World
What did I miss here? Wasn't the point of that automotive "loan" meant to encourage said industry to retool production and produce more efficiently functioning cars.....not to put thousands more people out of work,such as .....auto dealers and their employees.....if someone buys a dealer franchise,pays for the cars from the manufacturer pays his support staff and pays for their health insurance....how does closing those dealerships benefit the car makers? The dealer and his employees are tax payers who contributed to that "loan"....how does this help anyone? The only ones to profit from this Looking Glass world would be the German,Japanese and Korean car makers.

~ Comments by "Skazski," aka Regan's mom.

A Collection of Posts: Guns, God, and More. . .

2009-04-19T19:15:00.000-07:00

here is something else that baffles me......WHY do politicians, of every party,feel it necessary to mention God at every possible opportunity? This is unheard of in most of the civilized nations around the world.....even though they are every bit as religious,Church attending,and God-loving as we profess to be......could it be that others consider religion to be a private , spiritual matter not to be used as a "battle flag"??.....just wondering`

here is something else to consider....why does the NRA continue to mislead the public about assault weapons??No citizen of this country has the need for such armament,not for personal safety and certainly not for hunting.....remember a few years ago when the LAPD had to go to gun stores to get those weapons because they were being out gunned by some bank robbers?Banning such weapons has nothing to do with hunting rifles or hand guns for personal protection......and just look at the "Drug wars" that are being fought ,not just in the country next door to us,but along our borders....and where are these weapons being smuggled from? from us!Our politicians must forget the NRA and it's lobbyists and really crack down on the manufacture and sales of these weapons....there is no rational excuse to do other-wise.

Holy Smokes!....the tax on cigarettes has just gone up another$1 plus....that's on top of whatever individual states choose to tax....in some places that amounts to over $9 per pack.....while I applaud President Obama's reasons for the increase ,could we have a bit of equity here? When will he announce an increase in the tax on alcohol? Guess we will have to do what we did in WWII...relearn to roll our own...with my arthritic old hands that will be lots of fun!

Viva Espana.....at least one country has the moral/ethical guts to call out the Bush administration on torture/war crimes....too bad it wasn't us...you know, the nation that " reveres" the Constitution that extols "freedom" and "human rights"...it is a shame that President Obama has chosen to be a politician rather than uphold that Constitution.

Conspiracy theory # who knows......the most secretive Veep of all time has an underground network of operatives( who are loyal to him and the GOP) in the Pentagon, Intelligence agencies and other government offices....and fronting the operation are such public personalities as Limbaugh Gingrich Glen Beck etc.,...and their mission is to overthrow the present Administration......it is said that in every rumor there is a kernel of truth....hmmmm....isn't it odd that we have been hearing more from him in the past few weeks than we did when he was actually in office??

When the Constitution was being drafted "the Right to Bear Arms" referred to the right of householders to keep firearms in order to have a militia....a civilian army....to fight off any external forces such as an invading army.I think it unreal that our ancestors were sanctioning gangs of teenagers waging wars on the streets( Bloods v. Crips )assassination of leaders whose dreams were considered dangerous(Dr.King,for one) or disgruntled ex employees shooting up a place of work or mentally ill misfits slaughtering their classmates/spouses/families.This "Wild West" mentality has been a curse on us far too long.It is time for serious, unemotional discourse on the dangers of guns and responsibilities of gun control.

What has this world come to??? after seeing some of those loonies on UTube ranting about the need to stockpile guns NOW ("before President Obama bans weapons") makes me more than just a little afraid....just the thought of those nut cases being armed is enough to make me want to go out and buy a gun.....for protection against them.... .What the hell happened to common sense??

Bring it on!

2009-03-19T19:29:00.000-07:00

Any port in a storm??....if, after thirty years, the "super rich" must pay their FAIR share of taxes, if Universal Health care is on the horizon, if the Banking and Securities businesses are now subject to greater regulation and control, if all of the above fall into the category of "socialism"...then I say...bring it on!

Stem Cell Opposition

2009-03-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

I just cannot fathom the so-called logic of those who oppose stem cell research.....on one hand they proclaim that such research goes against God's will....yet they condone keeping people alive by artificial methods....who, if according to "God's will" would otherwise be dead, or by organ transplants extending the lives of those would also die,etc., etc.,...how do they suppose those life-saving measures came about? does the word RESEARCH ring any bells?? Are not intelligence and imagination and creativity gifts from the Lord to us that we may bring about the betterment of mankind?

~ Comments by Skazski

Gormless Obstructionists

2009-03-19T19:20:00.000-07:00

F***ing unreal!!!Outrage doesn't begin to describe the feelings I experienced upon seeing the report that our officials in Washington want a pay raise....those poor politicians only get $174,000 per year...and an excellent health care package,plus who knows what other perks! At a time when unemployment figures are the highest in years,when the economy is tanking, when businesses are folding and people are losing their homes......these gormless obstructionists,who are fighting the President at every step, think that they are worth more money is nothing short of criminal! Maybe they should get out of Washington and go home......see how their constituents are trying to eke out a living!

~ Comments by Skazski