For Memorial Day

I could have simply cut and pasted something.

My story Remembrance, for example.

A poem from an earlier war, where the memories are not so raw.

Instead, I will let the poet himself speak.

Brian Turner is a college professor, and a veteran of the United States Army. He saw service with the 10th Mountain Division in Bosnia-Hercegovina, and a year with the 2nd Infantry Division in Iraq.

He has seen. He is a living witness.

Let him speak.

Sure, Why Not?

The Same Game, With Different Names . . . Benghazi Is Not Ben Gazzara's Original Name . . . Capitalism By Any Other Name is Parasitism . . . 

Sure, it's only 2014.  The midterm elections are coming up in a tad over five months, but the Chattering Magpies of the Media are thundering about it.  Hell, even my coworkers will start nattering away about it.

So let's start handicapping the 2016 Presidential Elections!

It's pretty much a given, if you listen to Certain Serious People, that Hilary Clinton will be the Democratic Party's nominee in 2016.  She hasn't said anything definite yet, and the woman makes a very comfortable $250,000 every time she shows up somewhere to make a speech (even with the added cost of the shoes thrown at her).  My wonder is why she'd want to take a pay cut in order to be President, or put up with all the shit that's going to be flung at her.

Running for Leader of the Free World isn't for the faint of heart.

The Republican Party's field, being the party currently out of power, has a wider selection, of course.  Which, if you understand that the Grand Old Party is geared mainly towards Crusty Old Men Who Yell At Clouds, makes things a bit simpler.  Onward!  Allons-y!

Mitt Romney:  The standard bearer in 2012, and I'm sure he's at least contemplating another run.  Unfortunately, "Proceed, please" will dog his heels, as will all the other missteps, mistakes and outright stupidity people now associate this vampire capitalist with.

Paul Ryan:  The Eddie Munster lookalike still hasn't gotten over losing to the likes of Joe Biden, and it shows.  Unfortunately, he's considered a Flaming Liberal now by the Tea Party and the other lunatics in the Party.

Sarah Palin:  The Half-Term Governor is having more fun collecting money from people who want her to go away to concentrate on running seriously for President.

Rafael 'Ted' Cruz:  The Senator from Alberta still froths at the mouth, but even he is now looked at askance after he tried to buffalo the GOP House caucus into destroying the US economy.  The best way to destroy his chances is to follow him around with an audio recorder.

Marco Rubio:  The meth-addled weasel who was once House Speaker in Tallahassee is still talking like he's been sampling Walter White's electric blue, but now he's added climate change denial to his list of Things Which Excite the Lunatics.  Think I'm wrong about him being on the crank?  Why did he suffer such a case of dry mouth during his famous State of the Union 'response' that he had to slurp down some water while the cameras were still rolling?  Besides, he said nice things about immigration reform, which alienated the nativist fringe.

Alan West:  Who?

Mike Huckabee:  The Priest-Governor?  Um, no.

Michele Bachmann:  Crazy Eyes took a courageous stand against funding a National Museum to showcase women's accomplishments in our nation's history.  This is just the latest in a huge number of stupid statements made by this woman.

Eric Cantor:  Um, no.  The Tea Party hate him now.

Rick Santorum:  Again, no.  The Frothy Mixture had his chance.

Newt Gingrich:  One might hope that after 3 wives and 3 religions, Sheldon Adelson's Gimp will hang it up.

*****

According to a poll taken two years ago, many people thought Benghazi was on the north coast of Cuba, and not Libya, which is where it's supposed to be.

That hasn't stopped the GOP from squealing like sows in heat about "BENGHAZI!" in order to distract people (mainly their own Party's lunatic base) from the fact that Obamacare is here to stay and will likely be improved. 

The purpose of the Select Committee that was set up to "investigate" this matter is to raise funds for downticket candidates and diminish Clinton's chances of running for President.  The facts are not in dispute, unless you're a conspiracy theorist.

Of course, the attack on our consulate in Benghazi and the four American deaths can be laid at the feet of the House GOP caucus, who staunchly took a stand for protecting Americans abroad by cutting embassy security funding.

But I doubt you'll hear that at this kangaroo court.

*****


People who dismiss the unemployed and dependent as “parasites” fail to understand economics and parasitism. A successful parasite is one that is not recognized by its host, one that can make its host work for it without appearing as a burden. Such is the ruling class in a capitalist society.

—Jason Read

Politics, Religion and Anal Sex

Yes, dear readers, we have finally arrived at something that enables these three disparate ideas to intersect.  Isn't this modern age FUN?!

Earlier this week, South Dakota State Representative Reverend Steve Hickey (R-You Really Surprised?) sent a strongly worded, nay graphic, letter to the local newspaper.  As you might infer from the titles, this guy runs a church as well as helps run the state he lives in, and he has strong opinions. 

So, when the prospect of a legal challenge to South Dakota's ban on same-sex marriage loomed, State Rep. Rev. Hickey took pen in hand and wrote (among other things) the following (boldface is my doing):

"Certainly there are board-certified doctors in our state who will attest to what seems self-evident to so many: gay sex is not good for the body or mind.  Pardon a crude comparison but regarding men with men, we are talking about a one-way alley meant only for the garbage truck to go down. Frankly, I’d question the judgment of doctor who says it’s all fine."

The local paper refused to print the letter, citing its length and family-unfriendly content, but Hickey also posted it on his Facebook page, where such limitations do not obtain.

And - pardon the phrase - the shitstorm started.

Hickey claims that his church has been getting death threats directed at him, along with trolling letters asking for advice on anal sex and threats about raping Hickey, I guess to show him that it doesn't feel all that bad.

If I were inclined to take my pen in hand, I'd send him something like this:

"I find it interesting that you are a priest, or a leader of a church/religious organization, and yet you are an elected political representative.  I quote Matthew 6:24 - 'No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.'
If you find that you cannot relinquish either of your offices, I put it to you that you need to revoke your religious organization's tax exemptions, so that you can play the political game with a clear conscience.  You may not believe it, but one day you will be faced with the compromise of your religious beliefs in favor of political gain."

See?  Nothing about the third thing, but I'd tell him this about that:  "If it hurts, you're doing it wrong."

Judging from pictures of him, however, I think Mr. Hickey's had a bad experience at some time in his past.

My Error

I didn't do a May Day post.

My bad.

Well, long live the eternal struggle of the proletariat.