Catching Up

A computer crash and a death in the family have kept me away for quite awhile. I hope to get back in the political swing of things shortly.

My estranged husband, who was still my best friend, passed away on September 2. Rather than go into all the details, I wrote about him on my primary blog Irish Eyes. Click here to read the entry. I've been helping his brother with arrangements and other details, so the last week has been like a blur and quite difficult.

The day before my birthday last month, my computer literally sizzled inside the tower and gave up the ghost. There was no reviving it, I'm afraid. I dragged out my old computer (Windows XP, last updates from 2007), and managed to work with that for a short time. I now have a newer system. Just yesterday I finished re-loading all my essential software programs and documents. I hope everything holds out until I strike it rich! ;)

Today I will be spending some time watching the commemoration events for 9/11 victims. It's hard to believe ten years have passed by so quickly, yet the memories are still fresh. In fact, it was right around this time ten years ago that Wilbert and I began to date.

Today is sad for many reasons.

True Colors

Come next election time, I don't think people will forget how the "Repugs" were willing to sacrifice them just in order to make President Obama "look bad." If the right-wing's lack of concern for their constituents or the American people in general wasn't obvious before, it surely is now. Their rabid hatred of the President seems to override all else, even common sense and basic compassion.

Them Girlies

Sarah Palin and Michele Bachman have given women in politics a terrible name, lending credence to "air head" theories sometimes perpetuated by men in similar positions.

Being a woman, I'm likely to support a female candidate if she makes sense on issues and doesn't seem to be primarily driven by self-advancement (and little else).

Palin and Bachmann are both major embarrassments, frankly.

I can only think of three female candidates I could in all conscience vote for if they ran for the highest office after President Obama's second term: Hillary Clinton, Claire McCaskill and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

Big Surprise

Oh, for crying out loud! Both political parties have their equal share of perverts and idiots. Let's just get back to the business of governing already.

Well-Said

A remark from Dublin Taxi about President Obama's recent visit to Ireland:

I can say that after listening to the words of Mr. Obama you have the future in a safe pair of hands.

Well said.

Tenderfoot Slash

Here's a novel idea: Let's cap congress/senate salaries at 40K per year; limit their pension amounts and force them to find and pay for their own medical insurance coverage instead of sponging off the taxpayer.

Who'd run for office then? Only those truly motivated by the needs of their voting districts.

Pay Freeze

Typical:

> Who gets a paycheck in a shutdown? Congress

If there's going to be a government shutdown, the first pay freeze should occur in Congress. They don't deserve their exorbitant salaries in the first place, and it's their fault the shutdown is looming to boot. Why should they get paid?