18 January 2011

Latest reading

I keep hoping that at some point this blog will get a little more...streamlined? Cohesive? Whatever the word is, I'm not quite there. All over the proverbial map, that's me. Now you understand the subheading up top there. This whole experience is giving you just a teensy peek into my brain and the constant whirlwind in there. I guess it shouldn't surprise me when I can't sleep.

Anyway, I read A TON. Almost literally. In 2008 I read a grand total of 110 books. People go a little bug-eyed when I tell them that, it's funny. If you will glance to the left side of this page, you'll see two book lists. One is my favorites and the other is books pertaining to the political, things I'm reading specifically to educate myself. Yes, it is weighted a little heavily right - that's where my information has been lacking. But there are several left leaning things on there as well.

Most recently is George W. Bush's "Decision Points". Not a complete autobio, by any means, it highlighted the major things that happened during his administration - there is a chapter on 9/11 and one on Katrina, plus several other things.

I've come to one hardcore conclusion....the media are mostly a bunch of lying bastards. Why does he have such a rep for being dumb? Is it because he deliberates before he runs his mouth? Or because he has a tendency to misspeak? Plenty of smart people have that problem - open their mouths and out comes gobbledegook.

He acknowledges in the book where he made mistakes - hi, being voted President doesn't make you infallible. He also points out plenty of times where the mistakes were NOT his, but he was blamed anyway.

Like the Katrina thing and the "slow response from the Federal gov't". He couldn't take over until the LA governor asked for Federal assistance, and she DIDN'T.

Etc. The ridiculousness of the media makes my brain hurt.

Still have a knee high stack of books to read. Sheesh, I need to get on 'em. Next up is Palin's newest....

11 January 2011

Tucson

I live in Arizona. Phoenix metro, not Tucson. But this is still front row seats for the insanity.

For those who live under rocks and have missed it, Jared Loughner went to an event being held by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords on Saturday and opened fire. He killed 6 people, including a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl. The Congresswoman was shot in the head and is still recuperating.

I don't think the EMTs even had everyone scooped up and off to the hospital before people were blaming Palin, Beck, O'Reilly, Limbaugh, the Tea Party, violent rhetoric, and 'this climate of hate'. Even the County Sheriff is in on it.

First of all, there has been no evidence whatsoever that he was politically motivated in any way, left, right, or middle.

Second, he's been obsessed with Gabby for years. A friend of his told the press that Jared went to another of her events and came back disillusioned because she didn't give a satisfactory answer to the crackheaded question he asked her. This was in 2007. Long before Palin's appearance in Aug of 2008. Her map of targeted districts involved a horrible coincidence and that is ALL.

Third, it would appear that the politics he espouses run from crazy left to crazy right, without any stop at "rational" in the middle. I've read (and if I'm wrong, please do correct me) that his favorite two books are 'The Communist Manifesto' and 'Mein Kampf'.

Fourth, I have a question. Y'all remember the guy that opened fire at Ft. Hood? The one shouting "Allah Akbar" while he shot at fellow soldiers? Yeah, him. Why, praytell, did everyone immediately start hollering "Don't judge! Don't jump to conclusions!" But this time, oh, it's right away the fault of the Tea Party, et al.

It's time I officially out myself. The more I read, the more I watch, the more I research, the more "Tea Party" starts to define me. If that makes you hate me, then so be it. I don't agree with the crackheads out there any more than you do.

I like Glenn Beck. I like Bill O'Reilly. I like Laura Ingraham. I even like Sarah Palin. Do I agree with everything they say? No.

And before anyone starts at me, yes, Beck is a little crazy. Doesn't make him wrong. Yes, O'Reilly interrupts people - when they try to avoid a question. What else you got?

So now there are many people calling for restriction of free speech, gun control, closing down Fox News, etc etc.

At the risk of sounding like an 8 year old...."No, you shut up!"

Quiz time!! Subject - Violent Rhetoric. I have some quotes for you. You see if you can tell me who said them. Hint: they are all from the same person.

"We will continue fighting."
"If they bring a knife, we will bring a gun."
"We're gonna punish our enemies."

What's your answer?

Beck? No.
O'Reilly? No.
Palin? No.

Obama. Yes, really. Yet the media isn't blaming him. And where are his statements about not jumping to conclusions that he was quick to jump in with after the Ft. Hood shooting?


Congresswoman Giffords is coming along nicely, last I heard. Breathing on her own and responding to doctors and moving her arms. I hope she continues to do so and regains full health. I further hope that she can move past this horrid event without blaming anyone but the single crackpot who pulled the trigger.

02 January 2011

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

In which case, y'all should be loving me right about now. Been gone, baby, gone since just after the elections - obviously. First it was just overload, then the holiday craziness hit, plus I had bronchitis in there and stuff. Am back now and I'm planning on staying. So we'll see what happens.

My sis loaned me a stack of books today, including several on Reagan. She's a big fan of his, even named her daughter after him. Plus one on the Revolution and a couple of others. And my dad got a couple for Christmas that I've been waiting my turn on. So my incipient reading stack is rather tall just now. Knee high, at least.

Hm, current thoughts. I have none. The last week - well, 10 days, really - has been so busy that I have missed news and current events and everything. And I do NOT feel introspective just this second, even with it being a new year. Happy 2011, btw, hope it's a wonderful year all the way around.

Here's to new beginnings and better lives, yours as well as mine. I'll kick it off in the next day or so, after my brain shifts back to "normal", whatever that is.

See you soon - and stop drinking the champagne, sheesh.