Jasper Journal

As I suspected, today’s health care monstrosity was nothing more than a show for the president and his democratic allies to attempt to demean and embarrass the republican leadership. From what I saw and heard though, I dont think it worked. The republicans refused to back down and the president and his churlish courtiers appeared out of sorts. The president himself looked peeved, imperious, arrogant, and in the end stated that they would do it their way anyway. So nothing real was accomplished. Just another PR event for the Obama administration. Hopefully the American public will see through this sham and tell their representatives to vote for it at their own peril. We want change, but not this! How arrogant of them to continue to force their agenda on the people who want no part of it. I hope Pelosi and Reid enjoy the perks of their office now… I dont think they will have them long. Enjoy the weekend, and God Bless our country!

This time tomorrow the post mortems will be written on the long awaited “health care summit,” or as I see it, the greatest theater since Romeo and Juliet. The spurned president seeking love from the evil republicans.  Why wont they play nice with me? All I want to do is work together. Should have thought of that when you started this health care process a year ago and froze out opposing views! This is the biggest insult to our intelligence yet.  The only possible reason to watch this is to see if there will be any blood or tears. It will be like watching a car wreck in slow motion. As it is on TV, no one will back down. The president will posture and plead and pretend he wants to be bipartisan, but it is a political sham dreamed up by the White House puppeteers. 

 Do I sound cynical? If he really wanted to do something he would have met privately with key leaders out of the public eye. This is his way of saying that he wants an open process ( now that he’s been embarrassed), and that he will listen. OK, how about tort reform. interstate buying options, portability , no special deals for unions and Louisiana. etc.  If the republicans come in with a list of good ideas it will stop them cold. Like a clove of garlic or a cross to a vampire.

 Well the fighters are about to enter their corners…. unfortunately we will be the biggest losers. For yet one more week the administration did not focus on the economy but on the presidents signature issue. This is about his legacy and the future of the party. Get over it and fix the economy. That’s what the people want. Are you listening?

Sometimes I think I am in the twilight zone things are so bizarre. Take for example an article in this weekend’s paper concerning the new body scanners planned for airport security. It seems that Muslim American groups are supporting a  “Fatwa” or religious prohibition for Muslims to go through the scanners. They claim it would violate Islamic rules on modesty. One body of Islamic scholars has already issued such a ruling. They would rather a separate security patdown. ( And we know how good that would be!)

While I really don’t care about individual religious beliefs, I do care about airline safety. Flying is a choice . We all have to give up  pieces of our personal freedoms to fly safely.  Oh for the days of going right up to the gates to meet people; having wine and alcohol in your carry-ons; not having to go through taking off most of your outer clothing and shoes; having your toiletries with you and available when you land. Remember when flying was fun? When you could get to the airport within an hour of your flight and still make it?  All that changed because terrorists from Saudi Arabia decided to use airplanes as weapons of mass destruction. I am having a hard time thinking of groups other than radical Muslim fundamentalists who use airplanes for terror. Not the Swedes or the Irish or the Germans or the Italians or the Baptists or Catholics or Lutherans.  But we are being told that Muslims need an exemption from this security measure.

Here’s my solution: don’t fly. Take a train or drive. The body scanners are being used because other methods are flawed! We cannot make exceptions! I remember when my 81 year old dad with one leg and in a wheel chair was subjected to extra scrutiny by the airport nazis. He didnt complain or demand special treatment. He took it to fly. We have already seen the folly of political correctness all around us; witness the terrorist army Major Hassan who was able to rise in the ranks and massacre his fellow soldiers at Ft Hood because people were afraid to identify him for his radical religious beliefs; or a homeland security apparatus that is petrified to single out any group even those that really do wish us harm for extra screening. Yes it really is the twilight zone. But I plead  again  with those in charge, if you intend to go ahead with the body screening apparatus, there should be NO exceptions. This is a no brainer… but that assumes brains.