RANTS FROM OBLIVION

It's interesting to see in the midst of recent MAJOR FEAR MONGERING by the Republicans, that when info comes out confirming that we are, in deed, less safe as a result of our presence in Iraq (let's face it - every freakin nut within a 1000 mile radius couldnt wait to get their gun sights set on a REAL American, and consequently barreled into Iraq), now all of a sudden according to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte - "We are better prepared...We are safer.'' Sounds like they're talking out of both sides of their Grand Old Portals.

So if you noticed that at the same time that we were being reminded, and reminded often during the weeks preceeding and following the 5th anniversary of 9/11, that there is a growing threat of terror (as well as an actual recent "red alert"), we are almost simultaneously led to believe we are really, in fact, safer.

C'mon guys, get your act together! Are we hunky dory or doomed?
Red alert, Green alert, what's it gonna be? I guess it's like this: "there's definitely a threat, but let's just not finger the Boss"

I remember in the 50's when they had little kids do the "duck and cover" drill - like ducking under a desk was gonna save your ass from the Atom Bomb! HA Hell I was digging a hole to make a bomb shelter out in the back yard when I was 5 or 6 years old. Fear was a powerful motivator. And it still works.

And today I heard some Bush Qwakkin about the "political" use of classified info (namely above) by the Dems. but he forgot to mention the use of his own OVER-classification of info in order to keep the truth out of the hands and ears and eyes of the public - a blatant use of bully pulpit partisanism.

God, I gotta stop watching the news, it's too damned depressing. Not only have I had to ponder, in the last month or so, Armageddon at the onset of the Isreali/Lebanon war, now I have to fear for the Pope and the rest of Christendom, since al queda has decided to ratchet up the jihad. And to top it all off, the smell of sulphur permeating the United Nations has been attributed directly to my President, AKA "the devil".

But seriously, I'm truly appalled at the fact that Religious Leaders are nowhere to be found in these perilous hours, calling on people to adhere to principles of God's Love. Where are the Ghandis and Martin Luther Kings of today, as the world spirals out of control. The Pope said that this would be a good time for leaders to have a dialogue! Ha! Jesus, Mary, and Joseph man! Call the meeting right then and there. What kind of leader is the freakin Pontiff?!?! Shall we wait for Muctada Al Sadr to call for one? Maybe Nasrallah will invite the Pope and the leaders of the Muslims over for tea. Einstein said that the problems of the world would have to be solved on a higher plane.
I guess they must not pass collection plates at these meetings.

WHAT "WE" SAW

thank god the elections are coming - I never thought we'd see gas prices go back down.
Gotta love those big oil companies. Sacrificing the nations economy/stability for unimaginable profits. Now THATS the new American way! I remember when greed was popular in the late 80's. Drop in the old bucket compared to this, PLUS, havin the big guy in the oval office bein' a real team player - why it's like owning the refs at the superbowl - your team just cant lose.

Playing with the economy is too much like russian roulette - ya gotta know when to quit. That "hey, I'm on a roll" mentality can keep you in the game just one hand too many and then, boom....
It's much more complicated trying to put things back in order when they're all splattered about.

And then to leave the mess to someone else - that's the rudest cut of all.


(RIGHT - [you cant make this madness up]: Kaba Kick is a Russian roulette for kids. The player points the gun at his or her own head and pulls the trigger. Instead of bullets, a pair of feet kick out from the barrel (which is shaped like a pink hippo). If the gun doesn't fire, the player earns points.)

Marie, my mother in law, was here for a few days last week. She's spry as can be for 79 or 80, but some faculties, as we found out then, ARE deteriorating. Di bought her some crackers at the store and Marie had them beside her as she was watching Law and Order - Criminal Intent. Now I, unlike a few un-named, easily identifiable members of the family, have never been known for having my sentences trail off into unrecognizable mutterings.
So when I asked Marie "Are the cheez-its right there?", and she responded unhesitatingly, "Jesus is right here with me all the time", we knew, as well as she (after I repeated the actual question again), that the new hearing aid she's been casually neglecting to accept/wear, was gonna need to be dusted off/recalibrated real soon. There's no coming back after mistaking Jesus for Cheez-its. Next thing you know you'll be bringing a shopping cart to mass, or even worse, finding yourself kneeling down, praying in the canned meat aisle.