Archive for August 4th, 2008
Robert Novack Announces Retirement Due to Brain Tumor
August 4th, 2008
Robert Novak is retiring immediately due to the “dire” nature of his brain tumor.
Robert Novak has announced his immediate retirement following the diagnosis of a brain tumor, a prognosis the Sun-Times’ political columnist describes as “dire.”
“The details are being worked out with the doctors this week, but the tentative plan is for radiation and chemotherapy,” Novak said.
Our prayers and best wishes to him and his family.
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Injured by IED, Fox Cameraman Goes Back to Rescue Marine
August 4th, 2008
This happened in Afghanistan, the country everyone says we should be fighting in.
This man didn’t have to do what he did, but he didn’t think about his own injuries and went back to rescue one of the two marines still in the blazes. The other marine was also rescued. This man is a hero, but will never admit it.
(She’d Tell You All About It) If She Could
August 4th, 2008
Last night I dreamed of my great-aunt Pauline (who raised me), my grandmother, my mother and my Aunt Polly.
I woke up missing them all today. At one point or another during their dying process they all forgot everything and everyone.
This song was written and sung by Kenna West, my neighbor’s daughter and the daughter-in-law of the late country singer Dottie West.
She’s telling the story of her grandmother, who had Alzheimer’s. This is for everyone who has lost someone who lost their memory and would have told you all about it if they could.
Click the link and you will go to a quick time player to hear the song.
When It Rains..Well, You Know The Rest
August 4th, 2008
It’s been a tough couple of days for the Speaker of the House.
Cindy Sheehan has secured the signatures which will qualify her to compete against the Speaker in her upcoming re-election bid.
Now that could be quite interesting to watch. Not that I expect Ms. Sheehan to to a serious threat to Ms. Pelosi, but for the fireworks which might ensue.
George Stephanopoulos on Sunday grilled Ms. Pelosi on her decision to shut down debate and not allow a vote on off shore drilling.
I’ve read the transcript in its entirety at least twice and with all of the incomplete sentences offered by the Speaker, I could not make heads nor tails of her position. Please, if you do, let me know in the comments.
And, GOP members of the House plan to continue their debate on the House floor today:
ABC News’ Viviana Hurtado Reports: House Republicans tell ABC News that at least 30 members of Congress, emboldened by Barack Obama’s “shift” on off shore drilling, are flying back to DC from their Districts today and tomorrow to attend a special debate on energy policy. This “session” is scheduled for Monday, August 4th beginning at 10 am ET. As expected, no Democrats will participate.
One House Republican says, “I’m a 25 year veteran of the U.S. Congress, and I’ve never seen anything like this.”
GOP members say they would not be holding this debate tomorrow, if the Democratic nominee had not modified his position on off shore drilling.
They believe that with Obama and his Republican opponent John McCain, appearing to be in “agreement” about off shore drilling, then Speaker Nancy Pelosi should recall the Congress from recess, and put an energy bill on the floor in August.
We continue to hear that it will be 10 years before we see the benefit of drilling in Anwar and off shore. While there is a great deal of truth to that statement, it escapes me how the Speaker in her interview with Mr. Stephanopoulos blamed President Bush for a failed energy policy.
In 2002 the House and the President had a plan which would have taken at least a first step towards our energy independence.
If Congress had at least passed that legislation, we could then have moved forward towards developing other forms of energy which would begin to free our binds of substantial dependence on foreign oil.
Doing nothing is no longer an option for members of Congress if we hold their feet to the fire. Majority or minority makes no difference. Party affiliation should go out the window and as citizens we should work to make certain that those elected to represent us are earning their paycheck.
There are some very honest, intelligent, upstanding individuals elected to public office at all levels. They take an Oath of Office and do their level best to live up to that charge. But for those who do not, we must hold not only them but also ourselves accountable.
No,we have no say as to a Representative or Senator elected from a state other than our own, but we always have the availability of using email, phone or a letter to make our views known. When our citizens rise up as they have over the recent price at the pump, Washington takes notice.
After the past few days, I would bet Ms. Pelosi would agree.
