The Bigger They Are, the Harder They Fall - Obama's Future?

No one is more surprised than I am at the precipitous fall in the President's approval rating (well, there might be a few others). From those heady post-election days when even some Democrats were secretly hoping for some positive change they could believe in.

Today, even Mr. Obama's base is blaming him for spilled oil, Wall Street greed, unemployment, lack of oysters, and maybe even the widespread flooding. Gosh, GOD he is not, despite what those people say.

I, too, was hopeful when Mr. Obama promised to end the rancor and bickering in Washington in the hopes of getting things done. Now even he bashes the Republicans for everything from tax policy to government regulation. He offers no more olive branches to the other side, probably because they just take the olives for their martinis, and return the charred branch. You can only get burned so much before you back off a little.

But I still cringe when Mr. Obama makes light of a ranking conservative using some of the same hyperbole and innuendo he sought to bury. Maybe he has the adopted the age-old philosophy, that "if you can't beat 'em. join 'em." No, not take their side. Oh no, join 'em down in the gutter where playing dirty is now part of the game. The audacity.

My Pet Peeve is Wrong - Use Both Lanes

How many times have you dutifully obeyed the sign to "merge right" when the upcoming left lane was closed? And how many times have you cursed at the drivers who continue in the left lane and then finagle their way into the right lane much further up the road than you? It has been a pet peeve on mine for years, and law abider that I am, I still merge early to I don't have to be one of those "entitled" people who zoom up on the left and then with puppy dog eyes, beg to be let in. Or worse, just keep moving right until your choice is to let them in or bash your left fender.

Come to find out that we are doing this all wrong. Marilyn vos Savant, the high-IQ genius in the weekly Parade magazine, has determined that merging right only slows traffic. By using both lanes right up to the point of merge actually makes the traffic move much faster.

But how do we convey that message so that road rage does not escalate to fist fights between families on the median?

Signage! Instead of the stupid "merge right" signs, motorists can be warned of a lane closure ahead, but then be encouraged to "Use Both Lanes". "Aha," you say, but at the merge choke point, won't the fists still fly?

Signage again! How about a large sign at the bottleneck that says simply, "Alternate with Your Neighbor." Calling them a neighbor lowers the temperature right away and even most aggressive Americans can live with "Take Your Turn" that they should remember from Kindergarten. Then traffic will flow more smoothly, the left lane will not be wasted and empty (save for those miscreants trying to cut in), and all can move along feeling good that they waved their neighbor through before they took their turn. Don't you feel better already?

Financial Reform Bill - Help from Both Sides?

I don’t know whether the upcoming financial reform bill is exactly what is needed to “fix” the system, or not. My hope is that it is a start that a majority can support and then tweak the “unforeseen consequences” or the other gritty issues that were left out.

I am most surprised, pleasantly I think, that three Republicans plan to join the Dems in supporting this reform legislation. They are taking great risks, maybe not as great as the signers of the Declaration of Independence who risked their very lives, but who still could face a political death from those on the right who see any bipartisanship as treason.

Even John McCain, at this time in his re-election fight, could not mount another McCain-Feingold type of bill, joining with the “enemy” to actually move some things forward. He could not risk the wrath of right-wingers who might convince even the moderates that he is selling out to liberals. Good thing McCain-Feingold passed a long time ago, despite its “milquetoast” effect on real campaign finance reform.

Now I wish some Democrats, who feel that they are statesmen and stateswomen, could see their way clear to back some moderate Republican proposals. I doubt it will happen, but that would be a change I could believe in.

Who's to Blame for Lindsay's Messes?

I really could not care less about Lindsay Lohan and her infamous escapades. Yet I still write this blog about her. My irritation today is less about Lindsey than it is about her parents, particularly her father.

Now that their Golden Goose is in real trouble, they are side-stepping the real issue with their daughter -- their lack of parenting of a willful child when they had the chance.

Mr. Lohan most recently appeared on camera after his daughter's 90 day jail sentence condemning the penalty and then went on to say that the "system" has failed his daughter. While he is an apologist for Lindsey's behavior, he deflects and blame from himself by blaming the "system" for not doing something.

Whoa, who raised this kid and let her run with her celebrity pretty much unbridled? The time for control was when she was a minor. It is so much harder to "help" an adult child, but they missed their opportunity many years ago. They could have taken away from the fast-paced

Hollywood world, kept her from making films until she matured a little more. But then, how could they do that with their meal ticket? The whole affair is sickening. It is clear from Lindsey's croc tears and astonished look when she was held to account for her actions, that she doesn't believe the rules should apply to her.

"Moi, going to jail...moi?" She really wondered how that could be. She TRIED to make her court-ordered meetings, but somehow could not. Not my fault she thinks. It is the "system" who is at fault. Wonder where she learned that, Michael?

"Saint James" Blesses Miami

I only peripherally follow NBA bball, but the LeBron James Story (capital S) was mildly intriguing, especially after the choice was made.

And it was a choice, wasn't it? Isn't that what Free Agency is about. The choice to stay or move on -whatever works out best for you?

I am not surprised by the Miami choice for lots of reasons, not the least of which is winning! And then their are his best buds there as well to help scope out the bars and beaches of South Beach.

But in this SPORT where one expects a scintilla of SPORTSMANSHIP, especially from management (fans are fickle, fair-weather, at best). The condemnation from the Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, along with the unnecessary and mean name calling ("cowardly") for someone you embraced just minutes earlier, is shameful and ludicrous at the same time. Had James chosen Cleveland, they would have been best buds as well, with lots of nice things to say. So that one decision made LeBron a coward and many other unspeakable things apparently.

Disappointment would be understandable, maybe even a little anger and sense of loss, but the unsportsmanlike conduct of so many who didn't get chosen is really appalling. "You pays

your money, and you takes your chances" to paraphrase "Punch".

When you lose, you should still act like a winner or at least a good loser. Clearly Cleveland doesn't get that. Too bad.

Patriotism Still Lives

Down with a very bad cold over the 4th of July weekend, I had the chance to watch the national Independence Day celebrations on TV. Yes, that was plural. I watched the shows from New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. I TIVOed them actually, but managed to get them all watched by the morning of the 5th.

It was a bit much, but not too much. I enjoyed the music, contemporary as well as patriotic, and was stirred as always by Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever. That, and the National Anthem and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Republic still brings me to shed a tear or two.

During these very tough times for our country, it might seem hard to rally the "rah rah" patriotic spirit of past years. Across the U.S. many fireworks displays were cancelled for lack of funds. Yet, as I watched all three shows, I made a point to watch the people attending. Many were adults, but the majority in my estimation were under 30. And while you might say that every one loves a party for whatever reason, I watched as people, old and young, sang along to "Yankee Doodle", or "It's a Grand Old Flag", and more than a few had tears after hearing and singing the "Star-Spangled Banner". That was a good sign that, "our flag was still there".

The many tributes to our Armed Forces, serving now and in the past, might seem a little worn after eight years of war, but what American cannot be moved by the sight of our wounded warriors, many still wanting to return to their units after losing an arm or leg.

Besides the obvious fun of a holiday, and the oft-heard complaint that most do not appreciate the real reason for celebration, I must disagree.

Despite some who have understandably given up because of the continued, unbelievable assaults on the Gulf states, or because they cannot find a job to support their families, there are exponentially more who still feel that the U.S.A. is the very best place to live, despite what we hope are soluable problems.

In fact, we cannot give up even if we have few or no real statesmen in Washington anymore. We cannot let those who signed that Declaration in July 1776 have all their work and real sacrifice be for naught after a relatively short 234 years.

There is lots to do, lots to think about, and much more hard work, and maybe even higher taxes to get us out of the current pickle, but I am sure that we will do it. The Stars and Stripes. Forever.

Help Afghanistan? Really?

I could buy that we needed to be in Afghanistan to "root out the terrorists". I could buy that we were doing good things there. But if Karzai doesn't buy any of that, and in fact, comes close to calling the U.S. "invaders", then it is time to leave.

We cannot responsibly pull up the tent stakes and Humvees precipitously, but we sure as hell can start to move out. The U.S. has always said that we don't want to be where we are not wanted. I assume that only means allies, and not enemies. But now I am not sure that this "ally" wants our help. We certainly could use the money it would save. And there are other ways to get to the terrorists (just ask Cheney). Oh, did I mention that Al-Qaeda is mainly in Pakistan anyway?

Let begin the pullout now; let's get the Navy team over to haul back our materiel and let's get the Air Force to fly our troops home to their families. When an ally calls us invaders, it is beyond time to go.