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Hyperbole and hypocracy: Touchstones of pro-gun nuts.

Hyperbole arrives at its zenith during presidential election years. One has to admit though, exaggerating truth or telling just damn lies, have become standard operating procedure by politicians and their supporters for years now.

Nowhere does the folks who think they know constitutional law when it comes to “pro-gun” and radical Second Amendment enthusiasts. The current Supreme Court ruling asserts the amendment means the people of the nation becoming armed is equal to militias as set forth in the language of which was ratified in three-fourths of the state on Dec. 15, 1791. Let’s see how many states that would be? Nine? Ten?

Today President Obama announced several executive actions he will sign to curb gun violence. These proposals are only a silly millimeter more than actions with which even many gun owners would agree.

To hear it from the radical right, like our Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the sky is falling. Those of you who know me also know I will not use some disparaging remark against Abbott. The current governor became a paraplegic when a large oak tree fell on him in 1984 as he was jogging in the ritzy River Oaks section of Houston. Abbott, a lawyer who became a judge and later a justice in the state Supreme Court, and who was elected Texas attorney general before his election as governor, did what any good (or bad) lawyer would do. He sued the homeowner and a tree service connected with the falling tree.

A settlement in the suit which mandated payments to Abbott in the sum of about $14,000 a month may ultimately fill the governor’s pockets with some $9 million.

Lawsuits filed by Abbott and his successor, currently indicted Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, have filed a total of 38 lawsuits on behalf of Texas against the Obama administration. This has cost Texas taxpayers more than $5 million. But no one should be surprised that Abbott advocates tort reform like any of his good Republican cronies would.

But wasn’t I talking about hyperbole and not hypocrites? Well, it seems Governor Abbott can have it both ways.

 “Today, the President trampled the purpose and substance of the Bill of Rights by unilaterally imposing Second Amendment restrictions, Abbott said in a press release. “After failing to pass gun control measures through Congress, the President is yet again resorting to unilateral executive action in place of the democratic process. Despite the President’s latest attempt to undermine our liberty, Texas will take every action to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.”

If anything, the proposals Obama intends for executive order are mostly symbolic. One part of the actions would use present laws to close a badly-needed loophole, making those who sell at guns shows to be licensed and would thus have to conduct background checks through the government.

In any event, the orders the President seeks could be tied up in court for a while. More costly lawsuit by Republicans who want to limit rewards from civil suits. But to paraphrase some smart person: “If hypocrites were not permitted to run for office, we wouldn’t have anyone representing us in Austin or Washington.”

And just a local note. We are in day two of Open Carry Texas. I’ve yet to see anyone packing but I have seen plenty of — legal — signs telling customers: “Don’t take your guns to town son, leave you guns at home … ”

Oh and just one more thing. These morons out in Oregon who have taken over a federal wildlife refuge, some are being labeled in social media: “Vanilla ISIS” and “Ya’ll Queda, need to get while the getting’s good. I don’t think the “militia” folks have much sympathy built up in that Oregon county. That county has a sizable amount of federal employees working as well as plain folks who see what is happening there as an assault on government as an affront to themselves.

 

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Think. Think. Think. About what Trump’s gonna do to us

Sitting here on Christmas Eve, with a little sip o’ Dew, — think Irish and not Mountain — I can’t help but laugh at the 2016 presidential elections so far.

It seems as those of us who are of the Democrat persuasion should think hard and long about holding our nose to vote in November.

I am not a fan of Hillary Clinton. I didn’t care for Bill all that much. It makes me a bit sad to know Chelsea has to hear things like that, but she grew up with it. Bernie Sanders has his heart in the right place — the chest cavity, right? — I admire that he doesn’t feel the least bit ashamed to say he is a socialist.

The word “socialist” brings fear to the hearts of Americans who never studied sociology or political science. Here is a disclosure: I minored in both fields in college. I think I am short six hours having a second degree in political science. I’ve thought about doing it, getting my second degree. Why with my experience in reporting on government for many years and working for municipal, state and federal governments, it seems like a university should go ahead and just award me my second degree. I am not bragging. I am proud of my varied background.

Back to socialism, the short-sighted ignorantly believe socialism is communism. It’s not. Then, say the S-word haters, it is like France. Well, that is a little closer but it is no cigar. I think Bernie hits on one aspect of our society on which he is absolutely right. That is, the middle class is and has been, an endangered species. You are either rich or you are poor. There is no in between.

The Republican party has many candidates this year. But none of those are really a choice as far as I am concerned.

I still expect, somehow and some time, that Donald Trump will hit a bump. Hey, it’s still okay to rhyme. It’s a free country — for now. Should he make it all the way to the convention next year I still think it will mean turmoil for the Republicans. Perhaps it will not end like the Whigs. But the situation could become a replay of the (God forbid) 1948 Democratic convention.

Former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, then mayor of Minneapolis, pushed the Democrats to adopt a strong civil rights stance. The measure passed, but barely. Harry Truman was nominated and became elected for the first time. Alben Barkley, a former U.S. Senate majority leader from Kentucky, was the vice president.

The civil rights plank in the Dems platform back in 1948, looking back today, seems like a cynical though proved an accurate way to encourage black voters to elect more Democrat leaders. However, many Southern Democratic leaders back in the day were appalled at the thought of promoting civil rights. The Mississippi and Alabama delegates to the convention, joined by other Southerners, walked out. The bolting members founded what was called the “State’s Rights Party,” a.k.a. the “Dixiecrats,” and nominated that long-living reprobate Sen. Strom Thurmond and Mississippi Gov. Fielding Wright for president. Obviously, the Dixiecrats, were a party in name only. Thurmond served for 48 years as U.S. Senator representing South Carolina.

After dying at the age of 100, a retired Los Angeles school teacher, Essie Mae Washington-Williams, revealed that the long-time senator was her father. Washington-Williams, who was African-American, was acknowledged by the Thurmond family as a relative.

Small world.

Just a few words to say about the Trumpster. He can’t deliver on all his promises unless he plans a military coup. Trump will not drive all illegal immigrants from the states. He is insane to think he can order with a snap of the fingers bombers to “bomb the hell” out of Middle Eastern oil fields. Trump is a blow hard. If he is elected, scary as that sounds, he will be even more isolated from the U.S. Congress than Barack Obama.

Friends, I’m just telling you. Think. You better think (think, think) about what Donald’s going to do to you … Oh freedom, (freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom, yeah freedom.) To paraphrase that great song sang so soulfully by the First Lady of Soul, Aretha Franklin and was written by Ted and Franklin White.

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Hot air and plenty of it on CNN

If some big news story broke — like the bomb threat emptying the Los Angeles school district — would CNN or any of the other cable news networks cover it? CNN has given it little thought today, this being the Republican presidential debate day. Well, there is Fox News, but we won’t talk about them. Al Jazzera perhaps, or not.

But all of the CNN stars are back from the terror attack in California and talking non-stop from Las Vegas with the clock ticking away: “15 min. 36 sec.” “22” “11” “02.”

Well, CNN got a record 14 million viewers during the first debate and 13 million in the second one in August. Yeah, buddy. We are talking lots and lots of money. Wolf Blitzer will moderate. Let’s see how many times he says “shocking.”

I will probably watch a little of it — very little. There are new episodes of “NCIS” and “NCIS, New Orleans” to watch.

Oh well, I’m sure the hot air from the Republican candidates on CNN will remain into the 9 p.m. (Central) hour. If not, that’s all that that will be discussed on whomever is hosting the after-debate programs.

Crap. I’m already tired of this election and it is still many months from today.

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VA medical care perseveres despite a few challenges. Some timely and others … ?

More often than not the Department of Veterans Affairs manages to deliver adequate to exceptional health care for former service members. This is done despite many challenges. Just a few examples:

  • A history of inadequate funding. In addition to the incredible numbers of jackasses and fools the American public has elected to Congress, the type of funding for the VA itself does not encourage planning for a steady stream of dollars. That is because the VA does not have full mandatory funding. Much of the veterans healthcare program comes from discretionary funding over which congressional members can wheel and deal to get pork barrel dollars for their districts. Full mandatory spending does not seem likely in the near future. And the Continuing Resolution that was passed to keep the government running expires on Dec. 11. That is something I don’t want to think about.
  • The clusterf**k that George W. Bush, Dick Cheney et. al. got us into will likely send more veterans to war and return them home — with various health and mental problems — which strains the budget even more.
  • The dead weight from the high-dollar VA executives who, while relatively small in number, will continually find reward for their greed. Meanwhile, what does that do for the rank and file?
  • Timeliness. The wait for appointments have improved though not uniformly. Medicines that are shipped in the mail get lost. Why can’t you just get more medicine to replace what hasn’t arrived? Sometimes you can. Lost in the mail is still a problem and not just with meds.

So, I give the VA give a pass for many of the screw-ups I have seen during my time as a VA patient and as a journalist who covered the Department for nearly a decade. That isn’t easy though.

My patience is tested on a number of occasions when I have to drive around for 45 minutes to an hour at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston to find a parking place in just one parking lot. The Houston VA has signs that announce something to the effect of: Good news. We are building a new parking structure. But in the meanwhile take advantage of our valet service.

I don’t want wait another hour for a valet to take my auto. I don’t like other people to drive my 17-year-old Toyota Tacoma. It has to last me for some time and I would not at all like someone screwing up my pickup.

The VA phone system in Houston has long been a contentious issue with me. It does seem to have slightly improved. I am afraid to say that, though, because I am afraid something will screw it up. I think a lot of myself, huh? Well, a VA counselor playing psychiatrist gave me a diagnosis as having a “narcissistic personality disorder.” I guess that makes me a narcissist then. Yep.

Finally, today in the mail I received one of the “new” cards from the VA reminding me of my appointments. These two cards are printed on all four sides and are held together by a perforated strip. They replace the old letters notifying veterans of appointments.

On the side with my address it says: “Dated Material — Open Immediately.” This makes me think: “Are they going to send the VA Police to arrest me because I didn’t open the card immediately?”

So I opened it within 30 minutes or so, only to find:

“ALERT! Unfortunately, your upcoming appointment has been cancelled. This appointment is cancelled: Date :Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015 … “

Oops.

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Doc Carson, lies, and totes a loaf of bread while he walks like an Egyptian

This week has been the one week of the presidential “silly season” that I have come to enjoy and find fascinating.

I am talking about the “Lying Dr. Carson.” I could call it something like “Lying-Gate” or “Carson-gate” or even “Doctor-gate.” But isn’t the whole “Watergate” use to describe scandals way, way dated?

Veracity x Veracity = Veracity²
Veracity x Veracity = Veracity²

The Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. — developed by an Italian firm — opened in 1965. The hotel was certainly meant as “the” place for anybody who is anybody. In the District that would mainly mean pols or high-powered lobbyists. And why wouldn’t it? Vatican money was used to build the hotel, with its view of the Potomac River, and its architect had been a favorite of the infamous strong-man Benito “Il Duce” Mussolini.

But it was Watergate as a “third-rate burglary” that made the hip 60s hotel immortal. That heist took place in 1972. And though it seemed back then that the American tragedy played out for ever and ever, it climaxed some two years and one month later, when President Tricky Dick Nixon raised his hands as his bye-bye with a “V” sign on each hand, for victory. I am not sure if anyone has developed a solid theory in what victory Nixon believed he had fomented. In reality, the president had essentially saved the nation from the spectacle of Nixon as the first president to be jailed. Vic-to-ry!

So, Watergate became a starting point more than 40 years ago as a partial synonym for scandals that were developed and used with no real objections by lazy journalists everywhere.

Holy crap!

Therefore, with a little — though necessary — social history we come up with a presidential scandal even though the person involved is only a candidate for the GOP nomination for president. As to whether the whole dust-up about Dr. Ben Carson is officially a scandal, we will have to see how this plays out.

We have, so far, learned that the acclaimed Dr. Carson, who separated conjoined twin babies, is apparently fudging on his claims of being a young tough in Detroit. And the good doctor also wasn’t telling the truth, or perhaps just flat out lied, about having been offered a “full ride” scholarship to West Point.

But there is more and it doesn’t particularly have any bearing on his veracity.

Carson, a Seventh-Day Adventist, has expressed beliefs that are not only anti-science but as well, lack any common sense. Exhibit A is that Dr. Carson believes that the Egyptian pyramids were built to store grain, a belief he allegedly developed from the Book of Genesis. No matter that the pyramids weren’t hollow and thus would not be an optimal granary.

So does this mean that the Bangles need to revamp their 80s hit music video for “Walk Like An Egyptian?” If you’re old enough to remember:

“Slide your feet up the street bend your back
Shift your arm then you pull it back … “

Oh well, just watch the damned video.

Perhaps one should walk like an Egyptian with one hand up and thrust forward while the other carries a loaf of bread. No?

One would think a pediatric neurosurgeon would be a man of science. Maybe Carson comes from the Gump School of Medicine: Science is as science does.

As an old high school friend used to say: “That fellow is as odd as a flying snake.”