Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Condi and Hugo, Among Other Things

Secretary Rice is in the 'Middle East' making an appearance but doesn't seem to be accomplishing much.  I wonder if her trip was to accomplish anything or if she was basically interested in just making the appearance.  I would most definitely like to see a cease fire in the situation, but I really don't think going over and telling people that they need to do this or that before they are subject to a cease fire is a little ridiculous.
 
On a marginally related note:  While I was out getting my lovely lunch today I briefly listened to Rush.  While I don't agree with much he says, I was frightened to realize I agreed with what he was saying about Israel.  Or more to the point, that Israel is 'winning' the real war even if they are losing the PR war.  (Maybe I was just delirious or something.)
 
Hugo Chavez was in Belarus today and he and the 'President' of Belarus announced that they came to a strategic alliance to stand up to the march of dictatorships in the world.  I am not sure whether the man is sane or not, but you have to admit, even he sees that the Unitary Executive is leaning toward becoming a dictator.  I am not really sure what the two countries can possibly do to help each other, but it generally a bad sign when tier two and tier three nations are threatening you.
 
I have heard a number of explanations on why Hezbu-Allah chose this moment to make the snatch and grab on the Israeli soldiers.  I discussed my position yesterday to some extent.  But I am wondering rather seriously whether Iran is feeling frisky because the US is so obviously bogged down in Iraq.  (Not that I think that Iran would have thing to do with that.)  It also explains the attitude of Kim Jung Il in North Korea.
 
The ABA has come out against the signing statements that the Unitary Executive has been adding to many of the bills that he has signed.  My understanding of what a signing statement is, is rather . . . confused.  But it seems, from what I have heard, that the Unitary Executive has been adding his notes to many of the bills he signs saying basically, I will ignore this, or I see this this way, even if that is not the intent of the legislature.  In the wake of this, Arlen Spector has decided to exert himself and say that he feels the President has overstepped his authority.
 
In Ohio there have been two polls released in two days on the Governor's race. One should the Democratic Candidate up by 20 points the other showed him up by 6 points.  I think the 14 point difference in polls is rather interesting.  I also heard someone basically explaining why the Columbus Dispatch poll was wrong. (the 20 point lead)  Oddly, the 20 point lead is the margin I have been hearing all summer.  (Frankly, the Republican candidate Ken Blackwell gives me the creeps when ever I hear him talk.)
 
Wife is not feeling quite as well as yesterday, but she still is feeling better.  We are seeing her doctor tomorrow, and then she will be talking to her boss about what work she will or won't be doing after tomorrow.  (She only has a limited window to do work, August 4 she is having Carpal Tunnel surgery and she was going to be off for 4 weeks anyway.)
 
Well I think I have babbled far more than I intended so I will just say, have a good one, and I will try to be back tomorrow.
 

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

A Quick Update

I don't have much to say today.  I spent most of the time since my posts last night at a near by hospital with my wife.  She will be fine, but will be in the hospital that we went to at least until sometime tomorrow, when she will transfer to another facilities to treat the problem that lead to the hospitalization.

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Monday, July 17, 2006

Some General Thoughts

As I haven't been around much here are some thoughts to kind of get myself back in to the swing of commenting.
 
1.  I find the fact that the President used language that is 'inappropriate' with his public profession of Christian faith to be rather amusing.  I also find that the media making a hugh deal of it to be a rather silly thing as well.
 
2.  I find the fact that the Administration continues to have leaks revealing new and exciting ways in which they are violating our constitutionally protected rights to both rather amusing (in terms of the fact that the leaks continue to occur) and disturbing (in that the violations continue period.)
 
3.  Israel:
      a:  I am keeping all in my thoughts and prayers.  I find the situation to be very anxiety inducing.
      b:  My instinct is the only way to remove Hezbu-Allah as a threat in Southern Lebanon is to have ground troops go over the border and remove them in ground fighting.  The same instinct tells me that Syria will probably come back in to Lebanon if that occurs.
      c:  The sooner the surrounding Arab countries come to grips with Israel's existance and acknowledge her right to exist, the sooner the Palestinians extremist groups will come to grips witht the same.
      d:  The sooner the surrounding Arab countries come to grips with Israel's existance the sooner Iran will become an isolated anacronism.  Of course I don't expect that to happen anytime in the next 1000 yrs or so, so I guess we have time to get used to the situation.
      e:  I am hoping a resolution to the situation will occur rapidly.  I am have a feeling I will be hoping that for another week or two.

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Sunday, July 16, 2006

A Call from Holon.

I have a first-cousin once-removed that lives in Holon. I periodically get phone calls from him when he can't sleep late at night Israel time. A week ago I got a phone call from him at about 6:00pm our time. We had a brief conversation about the situation, at that time, about what was going on in Aza.

I have been worried more and more this week as the situation in the north has deteriated. I am not really concerned about him at the moment as he appears to be out of the direct line of fire currently. But the direction that the situation is heading in makes me very worried about him and every one of our 'larger family' in the line of fire.

Well it is getting late and I do have to go to work in the morning. I will comment more about that and other things on the morrow.

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Trying to Get Back

It has been several weeks since the last communication. It is not for lack of things to say, only for lack of time in which to say them. I have been working on a rather substancial multistate project at my job that has been leaving me rather . . . 'exhausted' at the end of the day. That having been said, I will be trying to put up post with a bit more regularity as there are far to many things going on to not comment at all.

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