Okay, I watch cable news. All day, every day, actually. I'm a cable news junkie. I float from MSNBC to CNN to FoxNews (for only the time it takes me to feel that little throw-up in the back of my throat), to HLN, back to MSNBC. Short stops at CNBC, local news, C-Span, etc. Talk radio news, online news, I check everything. Frequently.
So what's happening now is that everyone on the cable news channels is gearing up for that most random of milestones, the First 100 Days of the Progress of the President. Except that it might fit in someone's idea of a metric measure of time, I can't for the life of me understand this desire to look at exactly 100 days, and then "grade" the President. We as Americans do have a phenomenally short attention span, so I guess I shouldn't mind a little review: "What We Have Learned So Far" about our new president. Okay, whatever. Review away. But "grade" him? Against what? Against who? For what purpose? Or is it just for the pollsters, to keep them busy?
So I'm watching one of these guys who has a truth-o-meter, and he's saying that about half the time, the President is telling the truth, and about half the time he's lying, or some such thing. I wasn't really listening.
That's when I realized I didn't care WHAT the President was saying. I decided that I no longer care. It worked for the Republicans for the last 8 years. They all seemed to accept what Bush and Co. did and said as the Gospel Truth, and never even questioned what kind of b.s. came out of the White House (or out of whatever mole-hole Cheney was hiding in.) And I kept thinking, why? Why, when it's right in front of them do they simply close their own eyes tighter? What kind of freedom-loving, flag-waving, patriot-proving so-called Americans are they, to never question their leader? Isn't that the beginnings of fascism? But that's another topic. Just a thought.
That's when it hit me. (So to speak.) And here it is: I voted for Obama. I trust Obama. I want to continue to trust him. And I realize that the trust the Repubs put in Bush is exactly what I want in Obama. I want him to have all the information, make all the decisions, and do what's best for the country, and leave me out of it. That's right. I want to believe in the person I voted for, and be done with it.
I am not saying, by that way, that I don't care. I care very much. But I don't want to be bothered by all these yahoos running around voting or rating or grading the President after a very short 100 days. What I see is, his polls are good, he's been everywhere, he's pushed on a lot of issues, and he's run the Repubs into the ground. What else is there? What do I care about the minutia, or more specifically, the ginned up 100 Days extravaganza that will be all over the cable airwaves on Wednesday?
I care not. So on Wednesday, I will boycott this pseudo-news.
Unless something really exciting happens.
Swirls
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The Art of Spewing Forth
As I've no doubt said to many of you, I keep thinking I should write something. I get stuck when it comes to subject matter, though, and edit myself right out of the topic. It's too cliche, it's too "done", it's too personal, it's too boring, it's too common. Somebody's already done it, who needs it from you?
But then I remember a line from an song from a musical (because that's the kind of girl I am) and I think, Yeah, its been done, but not done by ME. That's what should make it different/special/worthwhile. I've used that advice on others, and it always seems to work. But what am I bringing to the proverbial table here, really?
Let's look at some options. Some say, write about what you know. Okay, what do I know about? Well, I know some things about art and design, I know some things about theatre and the art of visual communication, I know some things about debt (getting in that pool and getting back out), I know a few things about some health issues, I know something about failed relationships. But looking over my life, I see nothing of (very much) interest. In fact, I see these exciting and dramatic things happening to others, and I say, why can't something interesting happen to me?
Am I asking for trouble? You bet.
How about setting myself up as some kind of expert? I can't even type that without laughing. Well, I could become an Expert, then write about it. Yes, but it seems a person should be interesting in what ever their Topic is, and I can't seem to find a passion for anything. Now that's a problem.
Okay, how about fiction? Yeah, I think I could write some fiction. That comes fairly easily to me. But can I write something some other person would want to read? Probably, but that's not the issue, is it? I oughta be writing it because I can, not because I should. Clearly not a passion there yet, either.
I read other people, and I think, well, if I'm looking at their work and thinking, "I can do that", well then I should DO that. "Well, maybe..." Now even I am getting annoyed at my limitless ability to balk.
So I'll be trying out some different kinds of topics here. If you like something, let me know. If you don't, you could let me know that, too. I'll be taking your collective silence as a Go, though, so you'd better weigh in if you want me to quit. Goddess knows we really don't need one more wishy-washy writer. But if what I'm spewing forth in any way touches you, hit that comment button and spew right back at me. We'll both feel better.
But then I remember a line from an song from a musical (because that's the kind of girl I am) and I think, Yeah, its been done, but not done by ME. That's what should make it different/special/worthwhile. I've used that advice on others, and it always seems to work. But what am I bringing to the proverbial table here, really?
Let's look at some options. Some say, write about what you know. Okay, what do I know about? Well, I know some things about art and design, I know some things about theatre and the art of visual communication, I know some things about debt (getting in that pool and getting back out), I know a few things about some health issues, I know something about failed relationships. But looking over my life, I see nothing of (very much) interest. In fact, I see these exciting and dramatic things happening to others, and I say, why can't something interesting happen to me?
Am I asking for trouble? You bet.
How about setting myself up as some kind of expert? I can't even type that without laughing. Well, I could become an Expert, then write about it. Yes, but it seems a person should be interesting in what ever their Topic is, and I can't seem to find a passion for anything. Now that's a problem.
Okay, how about fiction? Yeah, I think I could write some fiction. That comes fairly easily to me. But can I write something some other person would want to read? Probably, but that's not the issue, is it? I oughta be writing it because I can, not because I should. Clearly not a passion there yet, either.
I read other people, and I think, well, if I'm looking at their work and thinking, "I can do that", well then I should DO that. "Well, maybe..." Now even I am getting annoyed at my limitless ability to balk.
So I'll be trying out some different kinds of topics here. If you like something, let me know. If you don't, you could let me know that, too. I'll be taking your collective silence as a Go, though, so you'd better weigh in if you want me to quit. Goddess knows we really don't need one more wishy-washy writer. But if what I'm spewing forth in any way touches you, hit that comment button and spew right back at me. We'll both feel better.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Why is anyone even talking to Cheney?
Why is anyone seeking out the former vice president for his opinion on anything, much less on the new administration? Cheney has made a point of speaking ill of the Obama Administration. Even with the "no comment" rule self-imposed on ex-presidents, Cheney has once again proved that neither the rule of law or rules of courtesy will deny the man his right to act irresponsibly. And after living in the shadows for eight years, now he decides to speak.
Well, it is a free country. A person can choose to ignore what he says. But what I don't understand is why on god's green earth would anyone seek him out and ask him anything, anything! I don't want to know what toothpaste he uses, much less what he thinks about the economy, or the deficit, or the health care crisis, or unemployment, or foreign policy. His response to the fact that the $128 billion surplus was not just lost, but fell to to a $1.3 trillion deficit,was, "Stuff happens!"
How helpful.
Which again, begs the question: why are we talking to this guy? Who the hell is interested in what he has to say? Isn't there anyone else to talk to?
What do you think?
Well, it is a free country. A person can choose to ignore what he says. But what I don't understand is why on god's green earth would anyone seek him out and ask him anything, anything! I don't want to know what toothpaste he uses, much less what he thinks about the economy, or the deficit, or the health care crisis, or unemployment, or foreign policy. His response to the fact that the $128 billion surplus was not just lost, but fell to to a $1.3 trillion deficit,was, "Stuff happens!"
How helpful.
Which again, begs the question: why are we talking to this guy? Who the hell is interested in what he has to say? Isn't there anyone else to talk to?
What do you think?
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