Random Thoughts 11/10/06

Ah....so much to talk about.....where to start?

Election:

• Well, I guess it had to happen sometime. Consistently sloppy behavior from the numbskull members of the Congressional GOP for starters. Let's round it all up: Foley, Ney, DeLay, Cunningham, topped off with Jack Abramoff with a cherry on top. As for Bush, I don't blame him for Katrina per se (the governor and the mayor, who were largely responsible for the evacuation, rescue, and security of New Orleans revealed themselves to be empty suits), but he underreact in the aftermath, and clearly did not show leadership. Bush's appointment of this "Brownie" character to FEMA, obviously a sinecure granted as a favor to someone, paid bitter dividends. (Patronage NEVER works!) The nation isn't angry at Bush because of Iraq (in my opinion), they're angry because we're not playing to win. (We're quite clearly playing not to lose...which inevitably leads to losing.) Kudos to the Dems for finding right-of-center Democrats to run, which inevitably lead them to their majorities in both the House and Senate. (I do like Jim Webb of Virginia, btw.) In the end, a lack of competition in the war of ideas leads to sloth and corruption, and the GOP needs to get back to their core values: cuttings government spending, cutting taxes, vigorous defense. I'm also starting to gravitate towards Pat Buchanan's philosophy that perhaps its time for America to withdraw from the world and stop being everyone's nanny. Western Europe, with their sanctimonious tut-tutting, should take the leadership with this stuff. No more Americans in Germany, South Korea, or the former Yugoslavia. In the abstract, all of these people hate us. In the real world however, they quiver at the thought that the blanket of security that we provide the Europeans and the Asians (South Korea in particular) could possibly be removed. I also think it is high-time that America consider suspending its active participation in the United Nations. If the world hates us for all that we do for it, perhaps they should taste the bitter fruits of a world without the United States protecting it. That's my two-cents on that note.

Other Stuff:

• I'm shocked, shocked at the news that Britney Spears and her "trash-tastic" (a New York Post phrase) hubby Kevin Federline are breaking up. I'm similarly shocked about the Ryan Philipe/Reese Witherspoon break-up. I'm also utterly amazed at the new shampoo I'm using...Pantene. I've never gotten more compliments about my hair. Awesome.

• I pulled back from reading anymore ancient history stuff written by ancient historians. I recently got the urge to read Herodotus' The Histories, which documents the Greco-Persion wars. Written approximately 2700 years ago, this work is considered the first historical document in history. But after slogging through Thucydides' History of the Pelopennian Wars, I just couldn't bring myself to read another 500 to 700 page tome that is the textual equivalent of eating sand. So I settled on reading some relatively light stuff, like Lance Armstrong's biographical It's Not About The Bike, Andy Summers' (of The Police) One Train Later, and Neil Peart's journal on touring with band (and in-between gigs) on motorcycle, Roadshow. What I read after this welterweight fare, I do not know. But at this point, I'm not sure I can read anything political or martial for a while, so I might stay in this relatively light-hearted zone for the time being. Truth be told, I'm in a better mood when I'm reading the lighter stuff.

• Very much looking forward to the Borat movie. Might catch it this weekend. Jeshamesh.

That's all for now, folks. May the road rise up to meet you, and may the wind be at your back.