Archive for November, 2011

GOP National Security Debate

November 23, 2011

Watched the entire GOP national security debate last evening. Analysts on today’s news shows wondered if Newt shot himself in the foot voicing his immigration policy.

Speaking about being kind to the “other” doesn’t go down well with the Christian, family values party … apparently. We’ll see.

I actually believe that anyone on the debate stage with whom I occasionally agree could be in big trouble with the GOP base. But you know what? Thoughtful comments spice up the debates.

An unwillingness to govern for the common good.

November 22, 2011

I have said before, and I’ll say it again: One need not fear our country’s being under a theocracy of Islamic law. What we need to be vigilant for is the prospect of a Christian theocracy. Read what GOP candidates were talking about the other day in Iowa.

This is the kind of talk that has kept me away from voting Republican for the past several years. But it does fit right in with their platform of selfish indifference and an unwillingness to govern for the common good.

A withering stigma

November 14, 2011

Comparisons of the sex abuse scandal at Penn State to those within the Catholic church are being made easily and without hesitation.

An examination of how things have been handled, however, yields little in common.  The cover-ups and disregard for the consequences of such indifference by the Vatican and involved dioceses are inexcusable. Such inactions and obliviousness have, in my opinion,  rendered the hierarchy  voiceless for some time to come on nearly any pronouncement or directive they bring forward,  especially any regarding pelvic issues – their ever-present, uninformed fixation.

Penn State’s Board of Trustees cleaned house. Perhaps if a few red hats or mitres were sent home to live with relatives … years ago … things could have been different, fewer young children would have been irreparably harmed, our faithful and effective priests would not be living and ministering under a withering stigma.

Silly me

November 13, 2011

So in last evening’s debate, Herman Cain and Michelle Bachmann both would favor reinstating waterboarding.  Christian beliefs? Disregard for others? I didn’t think there could be any more flaws in their characters. Silly me.

Reports continue to liken being waterboarded to simulated drowning. I continue to object. The person is drowning and will die if the process goes uninterrupted.

As long as I am up there

November 2, 2011

Beautiful fall colors. 75 degrees. Windows open … especially the ones I am staining during the first two of a three-step process.

Keeping up with the leaves a bit at a time seems to be a better strategy than half killing myself in a marathon of gathering and bagging. The front yard and most of the backyard took little time this morning.

Spent time on the roof as well this morning. Tomorrow’s forecast is for moderately heavy rain, and piles of leaves and pine needles needed to blown out of roof valleys and off of the gutter screens. Leaks and stained ceilings are not in our decorating plans.

A neighbor lady walking her dog looked all around our yard for the source of the blower noise. Her reaction was amusing when she finally located me on the top of our house.

The bathroom skylight always gets a thorough cleaning as long as I am up there.