Notes and Updates

Update on Gov. Rick Perry's day of prayer and semi-fasting  for the U.S:  The media is reporting an attendance of 30,000, but according to people who were actually there, it was more like 15,00 or so.  The gullible media always takes the word of the organizers of these affairs.  In any case, that means that anywhere from 10,001 to 19,999 people had to sit in unblessed and uncomfortable stadium seats.

And, upon further prayerful consideration and an opportunity to speak to a captive audience, Gov. Sam Brownback of Kansas decided to attend.

Look for Gov. Perry to announce his candidacy sometime this weekend. 

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Why should we be surprised that Standard & Poor's  downgraded our credit rating?  Considering the way the House and Senate have conducted (or not) business since the last election, what else did we expect?  And, they will downgrade us further if they keep on acting like jackasses and refuse to cooperate with each other. 

The only problem is that their arithmetic was way, way off to the tune of 2 trillion dollars.  It is being speculated that Standard & Poor's was making a political statement.  And, now they've downgraded Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's  rating.  Good grief! They didn't downgrade Lehman's, AIG, etc. Political? I think so.


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 Look at that face, just look at it.  Have you ever seen anything scarier? Look at those eyes. Do you think they glow red in the dark?

The next photo on the front of Newsweek will probably be Gov. Rick Perry.  Would you say Newsweek is biased against Democrats?  Or, do they, like the rest of the lame-stream media just want to keep things stirred up ahead of the campaign?





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The Iowa Straw Poll is this Saturday.  Will someone explain to me why this is so all-fired important? It's just a poll, people! Not an election.  It actually means nothing in the grand scheme of things.  I don't think these little straw polls and caucuses should even be reported on in the national news. They don't mean anything. Nothing.  Wonder what they cost the states who have them?

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OK, my Social Security check will be electronically deposited Wednesday.  So, why do I not feel relieved? I'll tell you, why.  Because I know that there are still too many nasty, mean-spirited people lurking out there in the weeds, plotting ways to take it away from me.  I used to work with a man (a well-heeled Republican) who was of the opinion that Social Security was Welfare.  That didn't stop him from lining up for his check every month, but never mind.  If he were still alive, I have no doubt he would be a vocal member of the Tea Party.

Stay tuned.

Batten Down The Hatches

It looks as though, in spite of our best efforts to keep it from happening, Congress is going to start messing with Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. If anyone believes that seniors and the poor will be better off when the dust clears, I have some swamp land I'd love to sell him/her.

Various Republicans have appeared on television lately, claiming that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are a drain on the deficit because they are unfunded.

Wrong, on both counts. The only thing unfunded about them is the Medicare Part D Prescription plan that was passed by Republicans during the Bush Administration.The entitlements have never affected the deficit because they are self-funded. Social Security has never been counted in determining the deficit. Why must the Republicans keep telling this lie? And, why doesn't someone in the Media correct them?

This is the first year that Social security has suffered any kind of shortfall, and it wasn't much of one.

It is amazing to me that so many people in this country want to blame the elderly and poor for the country's financial problems. And, now, they want to punish them by cutting back on the only safety net they have. I can't think of any good reason for this attitude except that they are simply mean-spirited and lacking in compassion for those less fortunate.

Personally, I think if we can bail out the banks and auto industry while conducting two wars, we ought to be able to bail out Social Security. The Veterans' Administration could stand a little help in that way, too.

Where are the Grey Panthers when we need them?

Say tuned.

14 And Counting

Well, mistress number 14 appeared yesterday, and apparently, she's a cougar. Older than Tiger. Do we believe this? Sure, we do. By my reckoning, there will be 4 more. Because we all know Tiger never plays fewer than 18 holes. All right, all right. Stop the moaning.

It has been reported that Elin is consulting a divorce lawyer in California. She is trying to find a way to file there because in California, she can get half of his income. In Florida, she can only get part of it. Then, again, she has that pesky pre-nup to deal with in both states. Her lawyer is 86 years old, so I hope he lives long enough to do her a good job.

All right, I'll shut up.

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There's no telling what kind of healthcare bill we'll get out of the Senate, but I wish they'd go ahead and pass it, and give it back to the House. They've made such asses of themselves, I'll be surprised if any of them get re-elected.

I'm still wanting something passed. At this point, anything will be better than nothing, despite what Howard Dean thinks. Because, once it's passed, it can be "tweaked" and added to over time. If nothing is passed, there will be nothing to work with.

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And, by the way, in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette letters to the editor yesterday, some woman claimed that her Social Security check was going to be lower by $300.00 and her premiums were going to be raised by some $68.00. Liar, liar, pants on fire. She is also against healthcare reform. Big surprise.

I have been notified that my Social Security check will remain the same and premiums won't be raised. I must be one of the lucky ones.

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Rush Limbaugh has announced that he is going to get married again July 4, 2010. Goody for him. Proof that if any sleazy man is rich enough, he can find a wife. Give it a couple of years, and she'll have earned her alimony.

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In local news, our Colton's restaurant has managed to get a liquor license in order to serve beer and wine to their diners. This makes the 7th license allowed in our very dry county that is actually awash in alcohol. There is also a concerted effort afoot to place the local option issue on the ballot at the next election.

I am proud to announce that I was instrumental in helping the local Holiday Inn get a liquor license back in the '70s. That Holiday Inn is no longer there, but they were helped immensely by having a lounge for weary travelers who didn't want to have to drive to a local private club to have a drink with their dinners.

It has just never made any sense for this county to be "dry". Less so these days, when we are literally surrounded by "wet" counties and by Missouri, none of them more than a 30 minute drive away. Being dry has never stopped anyone who wanted a drink from getting one.

The times, they are a-changing.

Stay tuned.

Somebody Call the Gray Panthers!

According to an article I read the other day, someone in the Obama administration wants to freeze Social Security payments for the next two years. AND, at the same time, raise the Medicare premiums from $96 to $123!

It is possible that this is only a trial balloon, but if it is, it's full of lead. This smells like a Republican scheme to me. You know, they want to do away with Social Security altogether. The Democrats didn't accomplish a whole lot during the Bush years, but they did hold the line on Social Security "reform". But, just in case it's the warped idea of some delusional Democrat, we'd better tell the AARP to take a break from selling insurance and get busy mobilizing the seniors against this threat.

Social Security was set up as a self-sustaining entity, the theory being that workers would pay in a certain percentage of their earnings and by the time they were ready to retire, they would receive monthly payments to help out with their sunset years. This is the only social program ever devised that worked exactly as it was supposed to, until about the 60s, when various administrations started nibbling away at it to supplement other, not so successful programs.

Today, Social Security is said to be "in trouble" due to those same people who allowed it to be watered down. They're called Baby Boomers, and they are about to reap what they have sown. Of course, the rest of us will reap it, too.

But, I have a solution. I have a solution and/or opinion about most everything. It's called being opinionated. Something that is ok for men but not for women. But, that's another matter. Today, I'm ranting about Social Security.

President Obama has been busily bailing out the banks, the auto industry and the homeowners. So, why not throw a Billion or so at the Social Security coffers to shore them up? Then, he can decree that, henceforth, not one penny of it would be "borrowed" to use for any other program from now on. That infusion of cash would help Social Security remain afloat until future generations of workers pay in enough to sustain it.

The Republicans and the Media joined forces to make fun of many things that Al Gore said during his campaign for President. I guess nobody is laughing at his Social Security "lockbox" now.

Stay tuned.