Observations

It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.

All you need is ignorance and confidence, and success is sure.

. . .  Mark Twain

Bad Luck/Tough Fall

Not an Occupier

Houston, We Have a Problem . . . and It's No Small Thing

Our government and virtually all of our major institutions are run by, and under the control of individuals who are intellectually and morally retarded.

The Republican Contenders

There presently are only two viable ones:

*  Newt Gingrich -- Clearly a big and active brain, but also a guy with a history, and that history -- notwithstanding what he now is saying -- shows that he has been a friend and advocate of big and ever expanding government and government spending. He also is impulsive to the point of recklessness that may not be controllable by even the able staff that he undoubtedly would assemble were he to reach the White House.

*  Mitt Romney -- Another big government guy and the favorite of the GOP establishment that bestowed two Bush administrations and the McCain candidacy on us. He strikes me as an attractive, decent, and even self effacing guy with a good head and administrative, business, and financial gifts though he seems to be ashamed of his achievements in these areas. And finally, he is as cautious and timid as Mr. Gingrich is daring.

Either would be less damaging than the creature we've got now, but I am hoping for a convention that deadlocks and then gives us someone like Paul Ryan.
______________ 

P.S.  Nobody is perfect but me and thee . . . and sometimes, even ofttimes, I wonder about thee.

Sunshine May Be Breaking Through Wisconsin's Storm Clouds

The badger state's governor continues to be under attack for having taken on Wisconsin's public employee union thugs, but the state is benefiting greatly from the courageous actions of its embattled chief executive, as spelled out in this report.  

Disgustingly Two-Faced Penn State

Penn State now is distinguishing itself as a prime example of the blatant dishonesty, politically correct moral cowardice and corruption, and the shameless hypocrisy of the nation's elite educational institutions.

It now purportedly is "honoring" Joe Paterno, the distinguished football coach who now has died after having been sacked by Penn State for failing to do what the guy who was his boss was responsible for doing.

A Shame Indeed

That cruise ship captain has brought more shame than even the Olive Garden restaurants to the Italian people.

Insights

It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.

. . . Mark Twain

The REAL reason the government jails people for theft is that the politicians don't want any competition.

Free Passes Produced President With No Achievements or Qualifications

The hallucinatory process by which well intentioned and hopeful illusions combined with politically correct wishful thinking to make it possible for the empty suit that currently occupies the oval office to reach the White House is spelled out in this account. 

Funnies

President Obama took Michelle out to a steak restaurant for her birthday, marking the first time the words “Obama” and “well done” appeared in the same sentence.

Last week, a British Airways crew mistakenly told passengers that their plane was about to crash into the ocean but it turns out a flight attendant just had hit a wrong button. I don’t know what’s worse -- getting lied to about crashing into the ocean, or knowing it happens so often there’s a button for it.

. . . Edited Jimmy Fallon Jokes 

An Inadvertant Contribution

After three years in office, it appears that the current occupant of the oval office in fact has furthered the well being of our republic in one positive and important -- though completely unintended -- respect, according to this account.

Political Truths

*  The problem with political jokes is they get elected.

. . . Henry Cate, VII

* We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.

. . . Aesop

* If we got one-tenth of what was promised to us in these acceptance speeches there wouldn't be any inducement to go to heaven.

. . . Will Rogers

* Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.

 . . . Plato

* Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.

. . .Nikita Khrushchev

* When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it.

. . . Clarence Darrow

* Why pay money to have your family tree traced; go into politics and your opponents will do it for you.

. . . Author Unknown

* If God wanted us to vote, he would have given us candidates.

. . . Jay Leno

* Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel.

. . . John Quinton

* Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.

. . . Oscar Ameringer

* The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it.

. . . P. J. O'Rourke

* A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country.

. . .Texas Guinan

* Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically,  by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so.

. . . Gore Vidal

* I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.

. . . Charles de Gaulle

* Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.

. . . Doug Larson

* Don't vote, it just encourages them.

. . . P. J. O'Rourke

* There ought to be one day - just one - when there is open season on senators.

. . . Will Rogers

Are We There Yet?

As democracy is perfected, the office of President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a downright moron.

. . . Henry L. Mencken

Editorial in The Baltimore Evening Sun

July 26, 1920

Ultimate Hubris and Possibly Beneficial Warming

Your not so humble blogger has long believed that the idea that human beings can determine the most beneficial temperature of the globe or the best climate for it and any of its regions is high on the list of the greatest possible conceits of our species. That idea assumes we possess a capacity for godlike wisdom even without getting into the mind boggling hubris of the belief that we can design and significantly impact any of these things.

Now there is an authoritative report that indicates that if the earth is in fact warming -- irrespective of whether human activities contribute to it -- that phenomena may be holding off the onset of another in the world's recurring ice ages and the devastating famine that inevitably would accompany it. One can read about the report here. 

Targeted Threats

It is worth noting who Obama threatens to cut off when it appears he may not get his way on raising the debt ceiling.

He threatens to not pay Social Security retirees, military retirees, Social Security disability benefits, and federal retirees. 

He does not threaten to stop payments to illegal aliens, 

He does not threaten to withhold such frivolous benefits as internet access for incarcerated criminals, 

He does not offer to fire some of the thousands of superfluous federal employees,

He does not offer to curtail his use of Air Force One or to cut down on his or his wife's frivolous gallivanting and multimillion dollar vacations,

He does not threaten to not pay the senators and representatives or any of their staffs, 

He does not threaten to withhold benefits from welfare recipients, 

He does not threaten the food stamp programs, 

He does not threaten to not pay foreign aid, or contributions to the UN, and 

He certainly never threatens to cut back on anything that involves his base voters. 

        

The list could go on and on. He is in full political re-election mode! 

True Patriotism

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.

. . . Samuel L. Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain)

The Ventriloquist

From the Late Night Comics

Funny Sad Truth from Jay Leno:

2012 is supposed to be the year the world ends. Have you seen the national debt? If the world doesn't end, we are so screwed.

. . . and Snobbishness from Conan, the Oh So Superior Snot:

Political analysts are saying that Mitt Romney is having trouble generating enthusiasm among Iowa voters. Now, ladies and gentlemen, you know you have a problem when people in Iowa find you dull.

Iowa is a state in the Midwest that manufactures pigs, corn and old people.

Today are the Republican Iowa caucuses. Or, as it's also known, “old white guy Mardi Gras.”