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The rambler
Monday, August 16, 2010
Politics and a hungry
pocketbook overrule common sense. Despite
objections,- LifeCare is said to be planning a new
nursing home in Dayton without considering the location. It's
set for construction in a flood zone and near a railroad track.
Some officials see the danger but facts of the geography are not
considered. Let's hope the residents can swim and are hearing
impaired. And we know there wouldn't be any sweetheart,
under the table deals involved. For these are honest men,
as MARK ANTHONY would say.
********
Yes, it's true, as the media brags, that the cost of
borrowing money is "so low" it helps the economy. But what
good is that if the banks won't lend money to solid borrowers.
One developer can't get a modest loan from any lender for a
restaurant with a history of success and profit.
Public opinion stampedes on the slightest whim. Take the
case of SHIRLEY SHERROD. Everyone was ready to hang her
over the televised remarks on her prejudice toward a white
farmer who asked her help. Then the whole tape was
disclosed, where she went back and helped him. Everyone
from the media to President BARACK OBAMA begged her forgiveness
and put her on a pedestal. What's the bottom line?
She overcame her prejudice and went back to help him.
But--she initially was racist and the NAACP audience enjoyed her
having contempt for a white farmer. That was racist on her
part when she first acted, and prejudice by the audience to
enjoy the act.
********
Chalk up another blackmail victory for the ACLU. They
robbed $35,000 from the Georgia school district that cancelled a
prom rather have two lesbians come in drag. There was a
time when the organization had some relevance and scruples.
Now they only care about the money they can extort from anyone
available, who feel it's easier to pay then co to court.
Bottom line is they took it from the local taxpayers and money
that could go for education goes to fatten some ACLU bureaucrat.
********
Anyone who has been at the top as long as Gen. STANLEY
McCHRYSTAL knows better than to speak casually to a reporter.
But the Rolling Stone reporter could have been a bit fairer than
to indicate his remarks criticizing the administration on
Afghanistan wouldn't be published.
********
Another person who let the mouth override common sense was
HELEN THOMAS. She's been a reporter too long than to
criticize any ethnic group and not be quoted. Shame she
couldn't just ride off into the sunset instead of being forced
out. She picked up the pace when MERRIAM SMITH retired
from United Press, which became UPI when it merged with
International News Service. At a White House news
conference, the dean of reporters always asked the first
question. First it was Smith and then Thomas.
*******
An interesting but boringly thorough book by GRADY McWHINY is
"Cracker Culture, Celtic Ways in the Old South." It
focuses on New England being settled by somber, austere people
from England and the South populated with Celts from Scotland
and Ireland who loved a good time, a dram of the spirits and fighting
and hunting. He blames the clash of the cultures as the
main cause of the Civil War and not slavery. Bottom line
is he looks as Southerners as slovenly, dirty, lazy and
irrational. And--he has served as a professor at Texas
Christian University in Texas. That's living dangerously.
********
A good example of the English versus Celtic style is shown
by the BP upper echelon people trying to soften public opinion for the oil
spill in the Gulf of Mexico. They talk as calmly as if
they are discussing how to play a bridge hand. American
Celtic and emotional blood comes up when something like this
happens. They want to see some emotion, if not tears at
least words more caring than they hear.
********
If your music listening experience hasn't included LOUIS MORAEAU
COTTSCHALK, you have an experience waiting for you. His
album "Gottschalk the Banjo & Other Creole Ballads, Cuban
Dances, Etc., with EUGENE LIST at the piano is a delightful mix
of classical and jazz. It's as fresh as today's easy
listening music but was written nearly 200 years ago. It's
a treat waiting for you.
********
It is good when fresh faces get involved in politics.
RICKY CROOK is stumping for the candidates he favors. He's
supporting BILL HASLAM for governor and TIM GOBBLE for US House
of Representatives. Both are good men.
********
Now he's sheriff of Bradley County and has built his own
political base, but a few years ago TIM GOBBLE had political
problems. His career had been with the Secret Serice and
was once part of the detail protecting BARBARA BUSH. He
was still with the Secret Service and elected to Cleveland City
Council. Full details were never made public but there
seemed to have been a problem with the police chief, who had a
friend who was a friend of someone in the Secret Service and
they came up with a ridiculous of interest complaint against Tim
for being on City Council. Supporters of Time wanted to
ask Sen. BILL FRIST to look into it, but someone said to leave
it alone.
*******
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