Day 2 Day radishes

February 11/ Disgust

Well, I guess  now I am a socialist, which is what Newsweek and others say. I am wondering if the government will pay all my health care now. That will save money on insurance. Wait, I might be too old. We are thinking about a new car as we have heard that there is $7,500.00 tax credit. We need to buy our leased car, will that count? Mr. Radish says that maybe we should get two, which would be $15,000.00 saving. I am wondering when they start building those roads tomorrow, if the little secretaries who lost their jobs at the banks etc will be willing to work shoveling gravel on the tar for the roads.

If we were English socialists, we would at least have a queen and bad boy Harry. Here is a quote from I don’t know who, “When the world wearies and ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden.” In my case, I think I am going to bed for a week.

December 9/ a December political harrangue

You have to ask yourself just how weird American’s can be. Illinois Govenor Blagojevich now on bail for among other things trying to sell President elect Obama’s old senate seat and being wire tapped saying, he could not just give the f------ thing away it was worth something and he would take it himself if he did not get the right price. That is corrupt, corrupt, corrupt. But the weird thing is why do Chicago American’s put up with the corruption? Perhaps someone really does go into the voting booth with you in Chicago to help you vote. The event of inditing Mr. Blagojevich gives us some insight into why Obama is distancing himself from Chicago politics, by putting so many Clintonians in the close new Administration circle.

I am embarrassed for the gullibility of Americans. I am embarrassed that Americans are pretty short on caring about truth. Truth having been left behind in the 40-50’s. In some cases looking at truth is right in your face because crime is directly in front of you, particularly in Chicago where people do know what is going on. Corruption is accepted. Louisiana was pretty good at corruption. Same in New Jersey. I forget who the New Jersey congressman was who ran his seat from jail.

No one is sure how deep the indictments will go. But you will not hear much of it in the written press. Alas true scandals are for Republicans. Americans are stupid and complicit. Logic is a foreign concept to us. Our stupidity grieves me. I anticipate this to be a four day crisis, because then comes the weekend and no one has a memory beyond two days. What is selling a little senate seat? Plus then the newspapers will need bailing out, which will give us something new to talk about.  I say let the press file bankruptcy. 

I am going to my daughter’s on Saturday for the big, big Mr. Radish birthday party. And when I get there I want my young grandsons to tell me the three branches of American Government. You may ask what does this have to do with the price of beans? Well, you got to start somewhere.

December 1/ Ivan and Boris

Several things political. Several weeks ago I heard Mitt Romney on the radio. What a gracious man! So positive about the possibilities that could happen with our new government. Allowing the Democrats this time of satisfaction. He single handedly raised my hopes .

This past weekend Dr. Thomas Sowell wrote a column about an old Russian fable. Ivan and Boris were brothers and they were the same in every way except that Boris had a goat. One day a genie appeared to Ivan and told him that he could have one wish, anything at all. Ivan said he would like to shoot Boris’s goat. What that related to in the column was that the press and the politicians are up in arms about CEO salaries and how much they make. But in fact the salaries make no difference at all on the price tags. And no one hassles the big sport figures or Oprah about their salaries. Greed is not mentioned in the same breath as Oprah. Dr. Sowell suggests that we are taking our eyes off the ball, if focus on the salaries of the rich. By making CEOs take the fall, we are opening up space for the government to go and infiltrate companies. So far the government wins no prize for overseeing any business, including the business of schools or mortgages. Dr. Sowell says the Ivan Boris fable says a lot about Russians and a lot about human nature.

November 5/ Election day plus one

Here we are !!!!

Believe it or not, I had the best nights sleep in weeks.  I am up and cleaning that which should have been cleaned three weeks ago.  Clean is my new happiness and control strategy.  I am delaying depression until all is clean. 

I do feel that I did my part, so it is not as if I feel guilty like I should have done more. 

But what it takes to change this whole thing around, I now see,  is education, and that is something that I could not do.  Education in the field of Economics, Constitution, and Foreign policy.  We do not need economic liberal classes in college.  As it turns out what I think will help is the school of hard knocks.  For that we must be patient. For example: When you tax more, there is less to trickle down and there is the cost added to the consumer.  Maybe we are in a place that at last our young will know everything is not their right.  This will really take patience and will. 

The US Constitution should be studied in school. I think that the young people of the nation have no idea what is in the Constitution or the ideas behind it. Who was Thomas Jefferson?   I shudder to think of the number of 22 year old who can not name the three branches of government.   I guess I can go to the local high school and check on that. 

And the sadist thing of all is, really young people do not know how close they may be to war. 

About the party.  I ate a pint of clam dip, and dribbled it down my front.  This was before the other snacks and dinner.    One man started to cry, several women used the “f” word many times.  Not me for a change, but I was pleased for them.  I could not be appropriately behaved after 9:15 and I had to come home and play solitaire. 

It is too early to know yet, but my Solitaire compulsion may be over. 

Oh, just go and open up your refrigerator  and eat all the leftovers.  If not throw them out.  You too could start to get some control. 

November 2/Sleepless in Seattle

Today, change the clock day, I got up very early as I could not breath through my nose. This could mean that I forever have to take off my down comforter from my bed, which I do not like much anyway. But a cloud is hanging over me because of the election. Let’s be honest about that. I got up and made cream cheese with olive, onions and sunflower seeds  tea sandwiches for the Bishop’s visitation. Then I made lamb shanks and prunes for the slow cooker for dinner. It was before seven am and I had a whole kitchen to clean up. I got on the Internet and there were many pictures of Barack madly, widely, smiling.

I returned to kitchen clean up. I am thinking how I need to have this election over. Then it occurs to me. This is like child birth in the old days. By the time you get to delivery, you do not care if it is a boy or girl. You do not care the pain of the ordeal. Bring it on. You do not care if you are ready to be a mother or not. Be done with it. It is God’s way. So let it be done.

October 31/ Press

I was listening to Michael Medved today and he said that during the same period, Time Magazine had ten issues with Obama on the cover, and four issues of McCain on the cover. The Obama issues were about the wonder of Obama, and three issues of the four of McCain were negative. Not having verified this information, let us say that Obama had six cover issues and only two of the McCain cover issues were negative. This is a big difference.

The press has ignored Rev. Wright. If you hear a tape of Rev. Wright, you can not conclude anything other than the man has hatred for America. Rev. Wright is not the norm. Mr. Radish and I have driven leisurely across the southern part of the United States listening to black preachers. Although they were addressing a black audience, and acknowledged the fact. They were still focused on the Gospel, discussed God, and how to meet God’s needs with our lives. And . . .they were very entertaining while doing so. I do not believe that I ever heard hatred.

I feel that the press is a major hidden issue for this country. Part of this election is about freedom. Part of the election is about reporting reality and facts. A lot about this election is about what you do not know, because it has been hidden from you.

October 29/ Election party

My friends and I are getting the election day party ready.  We are getting the stage and dance floor ready. Even though Mr. Radish does not know dance music if he waltzes into it, he can be in charge of music.  As I write the radio is saying that Obama is 16 points a head.   But distress us, not at all. Although comfort food has been suggested for a menu, we are going ahead with gin, steak, baked potatoes, and apple pie, the last, a little Americana.

We are coming with our suggestions for appointments to McCain’s  cabinet.  We are going to send in our applications for Nannies for the Palin children.  We are going to dance the night away. We are going to get out our check books and start Christmas shopping via the Internet.  A friend knows where to get Eileen Fisher on the cheap. We are going to have some wine (we will even give the dogs wine should they care to imbibe) and really, truly thank God. Maybe I will get a pen pal in Israel.  Oh yes, maybe I can continue to pledge to the church.  We are going to help hunt down the corrupt.  We are going to petition Congress to try McCain’s health plan.  We may invite people  in off the streets. Oh that’s right, they are going to be rioting.  I am going to make good my bargains with God. 

October 18/ Hope

Yesterday, I did indeed go to wave a sign at our main drag onto our island.  It was an invigorating experience.  Not only was it chilly, but the approximately 30 people were nice, and our reception was terrific. 

Washington, being a blue state, leaves a Republican feeling isolated.  The papers report only Democrat news, and only if the Republican news can be conceived as bad.  You do not know if people are Republican or Democrat because Republicans are afraid to ask, and Democrat friends assume because you are nice that you too are a Democrat.  This last statement has happened again and again to our family. 

Yesterday waving signs was a shot in the arm.  It was encouraging.  Republicans were very keen on honking, or waving, or giving a thumbs up. One large dump truck came by and gave a blast on the horn that nearly blew us off the street.  One little and very old lady jumped up and down in her passenger seat.  Republican drivers were so happy to see us.  Once I counted 6 cars in a row that were Republican. 

I did profiling.  The hardest to read were young women.  They could have just been concentrating on the road, but they nearly all stared straight ahead. We have to give them up to Obama.  People with children were split, but the kids were all into it, no matter who they were backing. Pick up trucks were for McCain.   The people in sad cars were for Obama.  Skuzzy people were for Obama.  Only young men gave the finger.  And there was not a man or woman on a motorcycle that was not for McCain.  Senior citizens were for McCain.  However there were so many of them, that is maybe only wishful thinking. 

Here is the bottom line.  There were more people for Obama, but I try to remember that east of the Cascades there are more Republicans.  Maybe we can help them.  We are not alone.  And lastly, waving the signs and flags was a lot of fun.  It helped my mood a lot. 

October 27/ Gumption

Alas it has happened, I have writer's block.  I am having a great deal of trouble being positive. 

Today on the Internet is a picture of a mannequin of Sarah Palin with her head hanging from a noose. Maybe the way to look at this election is that I do not want Sarah to win due to what may befall her.  Although it is Halloween season, it seems that for some, this idea of hanging her, is viewed by likely more than one person.   Talk about your high tech lynching.

My mother would have said that Sarah has gumption.  Let me tell you there are worse things than gumption.  Sarah has the ability to see clearly and make the right decisions.  Harvard or any Ivy League school cannot give you gumption. Perhaps Kansas state, but I am not sure.

Gumption is the courage to take what action is needed.  It comes from within.  Gumption is common sense.  For instance:  it is common sense that if you lend money to someone who cannot pay you back, they will not pay you back.  It is common sense that you are known by the company you keep.  It is common sense that if you distribute the wealth, some people are going to be mad. 

There is little to do, but I am going out this afternoon to wave a sign to the homeward bound traffic.  Sounds geeky, doesn’t it?  I do not expect to change one vote.  But perhaps the local Republicans will feel comforted that they are not alone. 

Also there is encouragement by a Catholic Bishop to pray to Our Lady of Victories this week. 

October 21/ Taxes

Obama is going to hold a job conference with all our governors. That event will put about $500,000 or more directly into the economy, which will pay to have their suits cleaned, shoes polished, transportation, the work up for the presentation, hotel rooms, tips for the cab driver and room cleaners, food and a few drinks. A half a million is good.

Let me give a Joe the Plumber scenario for me. If my taxes are raised, since my stocks are so low, I will cancel the house cleaner, never have anyone to work in my yard which will infuriate my neighbors. I will go to fewer movies but there are not that many anyway. I do not know if I can avoid buying books. There, I am weak. My husband and I support restaurants in town for lunch. It is now pea soup at home. No more good waitress tips from my husband.

But the main thing which will change is my charitable donations, mostly to church. I will feel that I have given at the office so to speak. I have never understood why our donkey friends have begrudged the charitable work that is done by churches, but feel that it is patriotic to pay taxes. At least te churches decide where the money is to go and see where is the greatest need. The food bank is very big in my town and supports many of the seasonal workers, among others. Many churches here contribute money and time. Those volunteers know who the poor people are.