Friday, March 13, 2009

Fools Rush In


An angry child says, “I wish you were dead.” Even to a beloved parent, in cuttingly measured tones, “I/ wish/ you/ were… dead! That’s a child speaking.


Every mother and father knows that two minutes later they get their loving, caring child back. Every child knows that in less time than that he or she is forgiven.


In the world of adults, it’s different. Or at least it’s supposed to be. The Sixth Commandment should have a VI-a. to it: Thou shalt not kill off others. People can get into serious trouble by wishing someone dead.


So, what is it with the Republicans?


Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning chose an annual Lincoln Day Dinner (of all occasions) to pronounce Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsberg “half-dead.” As reported by Joseph Gerth in Louisville’s Courier-Journal:

“Ruth Bader Ginsburg … has cancer. Bad cancer. The kind that you don't get better from. Even though she was operated on, usually, nine months is the longest that anybody would live after [being diagnosed] with pancreatic cancer," Bunning said.

GOP-Leader-By-Default Rush Limbaugh polluted radio airwaves again by ranting about the passage of health care reform legislation:

"Before it's all over, it'll be called the Ted Kennedy memorial health care bill.”

Rush-To-Judgment’s dittoheads justly point out that he didn’t specifically mention death. Anyone with half an education should point out to them that memorials are not held for the living. Except, perhaps, for the living dead, under the guise of caucuses (dangerously close to carcasses), conventions and the Conservative Political Action Conference (dangerously close to falling off the right side of the Earth). Which brings us to the Republicans’ death wishes for themselves, and for the once-grand old party.


Is it premature to pronounce the GOP DOA? Probably. Still, there’s a quasi Jim Jones’ Jamestown quality to their rapture.


When Paul Krassner, the creator of the irreverent 60s and early 70s magazine, “The Realist,” was asked on British radio if, based on a satirical piece he had written, he condoned necrophilia, he answered, “Only between consenting adults.”

3 comments:

  1. GOP DOA? Hardly. Yes, we may have lost our way after the "Contract with America" but we are finding our way again. President Bush and Sen. McCain found out with their Immigration Amnesty Bill and many GOP congress persons found out in the 2006 midterm elections that we didn't like their profligate spending which Bush signed into law. I disagreed with Bush on those issues but I thank him for saving us from Al Gore and/or John Kerry. I also thank President Bush for keeping us safe from terrorist attack over the last 8 years. I truly hope that President Obama can do the same.

    Sen. Bunning had a lapse of foot in mouth disease; and perhaps we should call the Health bill the "Mary Jo Kopechne Memorial Health Bill" since it would be a shame to memorialize Kennedy in any way.

    HW

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  2. I am willing to pronounce the GOP half-dead, but won't make any funeral plans yet. With Palin and Jindal and Rush as their loudest voices these days (and, let's not forget, the embarrassing Michael Steele, whom they elected to speak for them because, let's face it, they thought all they needed was a black guy, no matter what he is saying or how he is saying it), it is hard not to think of them as so far gone they must be on their way out. But we've seen it rebound before. I would love it if they kept their loose - and somewhat idiotic - cannons talking because it might just mean 16 years for us! Here's hoping...

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  3. I mourn the for the free thinking that was the America I once knew. Heaven forbid, though, that someone respresents himself as a Republican that some with other views declare (her) and immediate pariah. "George Bush is a moron", "Sarah Palin is a redneck" and "Rush Limbaugh is a fat idiot" they cry. Sure they have all said stupid things.It isafter all the nature of politics to do so. Upon examining the record of gross srupidity in politics it would seem that stupidity is something that is equally shared among the parties:
    A zebra doesn't change its spots-----Al Gore 1992

    In 50 years there will be no North Pole in the summertime.......Al Gore 9-26-200

    The gavel of the speaker of the House is in the hands of special interests, and now it will be in the hands of America's children......Nancy Pelosi

    You know, education -- if you make the most of it -- you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq. ....Jon Kerry

    I've now been in 57 states -- I think one left to go. ....Barack Obama candidate

    No, no. I have been practicing...I bowled a 129. It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something. Barack Obama President

    these 2entities, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not facing any kind of financial crisis....Barney Frank 2003

    Stupidity has no ownership, neither Democrat or Republican; Liberal or Conservative; Limbaugh or Olberman. The death of statesmanship and journalism both seemed to coincide with the universal lack of the genetic code for integrity.
    It would seem to me, then, that the premise of this blog is fallacious at best. Perhaps the republics are down for the mandatory 8 count, this has happened before to both parties. learning from their Demcratic counter-parts, the GOP will rise again like the Phoenix in a sleight of hand show that will baffle you with bullshit rather than dazzle you with brilliance. The elephant will stand on her rear heels and all will applaud the mystery of the magic as she stands on the back of the hee hawing donkey. As Columbia the once proud gem of the ocean sinks slowly on the horizon the lunatics of both parties will be dancing a jig in celebration of the job they did in helping her sink.

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