Category: Politics

Never would I have expected Rick Santorum as front runner for the Republican presidential nomination.

I know it’s just February. I also know that several candidates have been out front in this race, or the weekly media buzz, that I really couldn’t have imagined. There was Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Michelle Bachmann, and, of course, Willard Mitt Romney. Well, I suppose if Cain and Bachmann could generate excitement then I should have imagined that the same goes for Santorum. Still.

Of all the major GOP candidates, Santorum is the biggest demagogue. He also happens to be an extremely dangerous sort of demagogue. When it is convenient for him Santorum wants “big government” off our backs. He has no trouble, however, with government in our bedrooms and even in our private parts.

Santorum has railed against modern health care for women and infants such as blasting contraception and saying prenatal testing leads to more abortions.  

He portends to know what is in the hearts of people — President Obama in particular — and attack their “theology” even when they don’t know jack about it. His new press secretary said Obama had radical “Islamic” policies before she called back to the MSNBC program on which she was talking in order to say she misspoke. Don’t they all … misspeak?

Among the other trash talk which comes from the man his critics, me included, like to call “Man on dog,” is attacking environmental science that does not match his own beliefs.

I think he is a dangerous man because he doesn’t tend to consider the views, including the religious ones, of others. Those sentiments, which he has expressed endlessly are of an unbending evangelicalism that I fear he would try to put into law. I have no problem with tempered religious discussion in school, nor prayer. People are free to pray, in silent, just as millions do every day. I don’t believe religion should be mandated in public schools though, and if symbols of Christianity are placed in government facilities there should be no denial of other religious symbols including, yes, Islam.

Frankly, I hope Santorum is the GOP nominee because I believe the majority of Americans have trouble with the thought of his neo-Puritanical mindset injected into government. I don’t see the Republican nomination going to Santorum though. The big party men with the cigars and tons of money want someone with a chance to beat the black man. That’s pretty much the long and short of it. The old party rich and powerful will prevail, and if it not, we will finally see the destruction of the Grand Old Party. I’ve predicted such a split before, this is just another way it can happen.

Remember Mr. Peabody and Sherman? They were the cartoon characters in the “Peabody’s Improbable Tales” segment of the popular 1960s “The Bullwinkle Show.” The fictional Mr. Peabody was a dog, who along with his “boy” Sherman, would revisit history in the WABAC (pronounced “wayback”) machine which resulted in some awry version of a historical event.

Alas, some state legislatures — especially those conquered or heavily influenced by recent Republican waves — are producing laws which seem as if they were the result of a trip in some WABAC machine. Some legislation passed by GOP-led state houses are more in step with Colonial America than the U.S.A. of present. Sometimes one wonders if the neo-Puritan Republicans seek a return to the good old days of the 17th century when a man who dissed the Sabbath by kissing his wife, after returning from three years at sea, would get several hours in the stocks. Such was the time that men might also find themselves a bit “taller” after being stretched by the pillory for such offenses as slander, drunkenness or fortune-telling.

Here are some examples of what “enlightened” state houses are passing these days for the betterment of its citizens:

• Let’s say you are a junior high school teacher in Arizona and you have just had the crap beaten out of you by several of your darling little students. That’s bad, of course. But if a law being considered is passed, make sure your sudden, unexpected pain does not cause you to utter one of the words considered obscene by the Federal Communications Commission. You know, those words such as s**t or f**k! Arizona State Sen. Lori Klein — the same smart person who pointed a gun at a reporter last year while demonstrating a laser sight during an interview — has introduced a law prohibiting teachers from using such dirty words in front of students. While it is common sense not to talk dirty to students, it would be tempting to call the “brainy” senator a dumb f**king b***h upon her pointing a gun at someone in an attempt to be clever.
• Florida lawmakers are setting in motion a bill that would give them immunity from having to testify or turn over documents in lawsuits. Lawmakers who proposed the law say its timing has nothing at all to do with a lawsuit filed against redistricting that was done with clear Republican advantage. Oh no, wouldn’t do that. Not at all.
• GOP members of the Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill that would define human life beginning at conception, not at birth. The Republicans of the Oklahoma Senate have okayed a similar bill. Critics of such “personhood” laws believe passage of similar legislation could cause restrictions or even bans on use of contraceptives. Why not go a step farther? How about banning that 1st drink you take about five or six hours before … Oh, and maybe they should consider banning those “Daisy Duke” shorts and halter tops while they’re at it. I’m sure they wear those somewhere in Virginia and, if not, I know they do in Muskogee.

It is fully expected that states such as those aforementioned will also be passing laws soon in which the minimum requirement for election to state government requires the candidate to possess no larger than a pea-sized brain. Such legislation will no doubt ensure continued domination of state legislatures and offices by Republican party members.