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Bad days are still bad but ice is cool

Let’s talk about something else. Let’s not talk about what happened at that theater in Aurora, Colo., or the guy who made himself look like a poor imitation of Carrot Top.

I say that not to be a “happy news” type. I have reported enough bad news in my life. I have seen enough bad news to boot. I have my opinions on guns. Like Chris Wall’s great song, “Give me Jack Daniels whiskey and something to shoot.” Take it whatever way you want.

Let’s not talk about Penn State. Or State Pen for that matter.

As I rode back from training with my cohorts on Friday we digested the bad news out of Aurora and spoke of many other subjects such as high school football which is on the horizon in our area. It’s not life. It’s a part of life. That is just as Penn State football should be held in thought.

Let’s not even talk about the idiot leader of Syria. He has warned that he will use chemical and biological weapons if his country is attacked. Real weapons of mass destruction — not the imaginary kind that had our nation’s armed forces subjected to death and destruction in Iraq — has no business in this day and age. Some might make the same argument about the ability to possess so-called “assault rifles” but I said I wouldn’t speak of this topic.

What does that leave me to speak of on this day of topics of which I shall not speak?

Ice.

Ice, baby, ice.

My fridge makes ice like a homma domma. I have six ice trays and have yet to run short of ice since living in my tiny, tiny extended stay hotel/apartment for almost a month now. There is a lot to be said for not running short of ice, especially when a bag a day was not unusual during past times. Happy days are here again.

Ice. Is having plenty of ice a major reason for celebration in days of such darkness? Well, partially it is. But it certainly helps put an ice lover in a loving mood. Ice plus water on a hot day makes for a drink like no other. Ice can keep bottles of pop or Gatorade or beer at just the right temperature. One must also realize that a vodka tonic without ice is like a day without sunshine, or a screwdriver without orange juice, if you are so disposed.

Ice is frozen water. It is such simplicity. It is such good over evil. I would be happy to talk about ice all day but I happen to be enjoying an iced drink at the moment.

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Finally …

Some Republican leaders are finally showing a little intestinal fortitude and joining Sen. John McCain in denouncing attacks from some far right congressional members of a top Secretary of State Hillary Clinton aide.

Rep. Michelle Bachmann and goofball East Texas Congressman Louis Gohmert, and other fellow right-wing GOP members have made accusations that State Department official Huma Abedin could have ties to Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood. McCain denounced these attacks and now has been joined by others who see these attacks rising to the level of McCarthyism.

It’s about time.

 

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Breaking News and more or less.

It’s lunch time! I have been in training all morning and when I stood up to leave the room I felt as if something had stolen a great portion of my butt. That hasn’t happened, yet, at least. Back in my room, CNN has breaking news about a tour bus explosion in Bulgaria. Apparently, Israeli tourists were killed. The Israeli defense leader Ehud Barak is blaming Iran. It’s still too early to tell.

Meanwhile, the Republican Veepstakes go on. Willard is in Ohio. Bobby Jindal is campaigning for Romney in the Buckeye State as is Jeb Bush. Could it be? Can we breathe? What’s your favorite color? It’s all one and the same. The media has their short lists. They could all be wrong. Buzz. Buzz. For Joseph Smith’s sake Mittens J. Willard, pick someone. Pick anyone. Get all this silliness over with to make room for more silliness.

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Waiting for Vice President Godot

Willard Romney seems poised to pick a running mate if you believe all the campaign news one reads today. Personally, I will believe it when I see it.

A lot of speculation is growing that Romney will pick Condoleezza Rice. Condie is a very attractive potential candidate. She’s sharp as a tack, seems engaging and, in particular, she is a black woman. But she carries some baggage that voters might overall — as in independent and crossover Democrats and even far righters — frown upon.

Can you say: “Gee Dubya?” Being a part of Dubya’s war trust in 1-to-2 unpopular wars can cause a pause for those crossover voters. On the Republican negative balance sheet, she has expressed pro-life sentiments and, in particular, she is a black woman.

Now there might be a lot of the “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” feeling among the more racist right-wing element. But truth be told, many of the folks who don’t like Obama dislike him — hate him if appropriate — because he is black. He is a real not-dyed-in-the-wool African-American with a Kenyan pappy and a mother who was from Kansas.

That is not to say Romney wouldn’t pick Rice. He might just do it. However, one might feel that many more of the far-right “base” would be urging Romney to pick someone like Rep. Paul Ryan or Sen. Rob Portman. Even Indian-American Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal would seem more palatable, or at the very least, passable.

We shall see what we shall see what we shall see.

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You won’t see this …

A lot of my more conservative friends — more conservative than what I do not know — sometimes send me e-mails about something on the reactionary side that many times bears the subject line: You Won’t See This on CNN, or CBS or blah. I usually delete it with much haste. No just kidding.

Well this time, I have a story that I can say “You won’t see this … ” on CNN or Fox or maybe anywhere except in Spanish-speaking local TV stations in  South Texas. It is a bizarre little story from Texas Observer columnist Cindy Casares, who specializes in issues of the Latino community. The story concerns the shooting of an “ICE” agent, or agent of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in South Texas near the border with Mexico. The agent was expected to recover and was not wounded by drug cartel members, as far as anyone has said.

The incident apparently stemmed from the agent, Kelton Harrison, staking out a rural neighborhood northeast of McAllen at 3:30 in the morning. Pedro Alvarado, 41, reportedly believed the car in which Harrison was in and which had its lights turned off, had been casing the neighborhood for some kind of  criminal activity. One might think of it as a rural South Texas neighborhood crime watch, if you will.

Alvarado began pursuing the unmarked car while his sons, one 18 and the other 16, shot at the vehicle Harrison was driving. The adult Alvarado suspects were charged in federal court on assaulting a federal officer and knowingly carrying a gun during a violent crime. I suppose one could UN-knowingly carry a gun during a violent crime. Just sayin.’ The Juvenile was charged with attempted capital murder in state court. The 18-year-old reportedly gave a full confession, according to the story by Ms. Casares, and told authorities the father told the sons to get their guns. They dutifully responded with a .22-caliber rifle and 9-mm handgun. Harrison crashed his car during a pursuit and, luckily I suppose for him, was soon joined by fellow Homeland Security investigators. The agent was then soon taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery for his wounds.

The whole episode was apparently complicated by the fact two undocumented men from El Salvador were found during a search of the Alvarado home and are being considered material witnesses.

Ms. Casares raises some interesting questions about the incident. I will let you make your own decisions as to the situation. I just think it was a really strange story and this was the first time I had heard anything about it, not that my lack of knowledge of the incident means anything.