bluescribbler
bluescribbler's JournalPlease do not thank me for my service.
Nobody thanked men when I returned from Nam in 1972. Nobody thanked me until the Bushes needed cannon fodder for their adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Military-Industrial complex tried to use me for jingoistic propaganda, and they are still trying. I won't have it.
If we, the Democrats, can't get our s**t together, and get stuff done, we don't deserve to be in the
majority, There's too much important stuff to do, and an arcane rule in the US Senate is holding it up.
We need:
An infrastructure bill to repair and upgrade our roads, bridges, etc..
Voting rights,
Women's rights,
criminal justice reform.
All these items are overwhelming popular with voters. All these items are winning programs. We get them done, and we win in 2022, and have a fighting chance in 2024. We fail, we may never have another chance. But the filibuster rules make it impossible to get it done. If we fail on the filibuster, we will never have another chance. If we can't do it, we don't deserve to lead.
My new nightmare scenario.
As I watch the loaded transport planes take off from Kabul, I can't help but wonder what would happen if some rogue element of the Taliban or ISIS-K were to launch an RPG at the plane before it had achieved cruising altitude. That would be catastrophic. What is there to prevent such an occurrence? I don't know, and just the thought of it scares the living shit out of me.
America's longest war?
Now that the USA is winding down our involvement in Afghanistan, pundits and politicians say it is America's longest war. I beg to differ. Putting aside the fact that the USA never formally declared war on the Taliban, instead opting for the Authorization to Use Military Force, I argue that, after 20 years, it isn't close to our longest war. The genocidal war against the Native Americans went on much longer.
Why do the GOPigs want to murder us all?
That seems to be their objective. They want to eliminate all regulations on pure food and drugs, workplace health and safety, police accountability, air and water pollution, etc. On top of that, they reject common sense public health measures to control and to eliminate this pandemic. I can't tell if they are just ignorant, in thrall to big business, or just plain evil. It's a puzzlement.
My thoughts on Cheney and Kinzinger
They will most likely lose their seats after next year's election. They may not survive a primary, or they may just retire. I suspect they will be OK with that. It seems to me that they gave no more fucks to give about that.
I lost my oldest friend.
He was 69. Terry and I grew up across the street from each other in a quiet residential neighborhood. He once said that his first memory of me was when I asked him how old he was. After consulting his mother, he reported, "I'm 4." I was either 4 or 5 at the time as I was 8 months older than he. Apparently, he was diagnosed with COPD and COVID. The last time I saw him was just before the pandemic hit.
I blame the former guy. If he had taken his job seriously, Terry might still be with us.
51 years ago today
Members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed students protesting against the violation of Cambodia's neutrality. 4 students were killed.
Never forget.
One of the things I liked best about last night's speech.
Seeing Madam Speaker and Madam Vice President on the dais behind the President. I had been looking forward to seeing that since Joe picked Kamala to be his running mate. They were styling big time.
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Massachusetts
Home country: USA
Current location: Massachusetts
Member since: 2002
Number of posts: 2,124