Shame on TV

Watch TV coverage of the floods ravaging Iowa. Listen to herds of people screaming for federal help. Where are they? In a disaster multiples greater than Katrina. How does coverage differ from the coliseum in New Orleans? Where is the hysteria? Black Americans in New Orleans came from the poorest precinct in the city. TV turned a pitiful situation into a front page racial issue. Shame on TV! Those people were the poorest in the nation. Pawns of a corrupt mayor. They deserved better.

Lest We Forget

General Schwarzkopf conducted the first Iraqi war. A brilliant victory was won with the least casualties in modern warfare. Our state department turned victory into a winless truce. Defense secretary Rumsfeld, listening to field commanders, adopted more modern technology to wage a faster war--fewer civilian and military casualties. Saddam's air force flew to Iran as communications were knocked out on the first day.

Rumsfeld's press conferences humiliated the left-wing press with his unprecedented civility. Then came an American Caesar. Who appointed him? In a castle, residing as a Roman emperor, he turned liberation into occupation, freeing the Iraqi's army, their arms left, to be grabbed by both Shia and Sunni. Ancient hatreds were fueled by Alcida, creating a civil war. American troops were surrounded, ducking fire from both sides.

Finally as in Aristophenes' Trojan Women, civilians turned on their oppressors, allowing the achievement of order. Then came the miraculous General Petraeus. He concentrated on educating the people and the war was won. Victory to the people. But death to Alcida.

Call Their Bluff !

Democrats rail about the 68 million acres leased to oil companies not being drilled. Is it not possible that there is no oil under those acres? Has anybody asked? Has anybody replied? Acres do not produce oil!

Character

What a Saturday! Watching the Democratic Party's handling of the Florida and Michigan primary votes, I found myself admiring Ione Herman, a hated enemy in the Clinton years. She was sad-faced but uncompromisingly open-minded and fair. Then Barack Obama delivered the most brilliant speech of this political season. Then came Harold Ickes, showing his deep hatreds. This election is not about Iraq, oil, the economy, or the environment. It's about character. On that basis, Senator McCain has no opposition.

Health Care Crisis

First, there is no health care crisis. No hospital denies care to anyone! As a result, hospitals are crowded in the emergency rooms by poor people looking for sympathy and companionship. Universal health care will free up the emergency room. My last two visits included a wide range of complicated tests, 80%-plus proving unnecessary. Gone is the house call internist. Every doctor's office administers blood, urine, and other tests. Doctors say that only by these tests can they exist with Medicare. Procedures pay—advice does not. When my doctor finally quit, he had figured out that 8 minutes was all he could afford per patient to break even. If government supported private health care, the screening triager, backed by well-paid internists, could reduce crowding in our hospitals. The idlers may wait all day. Legal?—probably not. Effective?—yes. A friendly government will create an effective health care system.

HARK!

Hark! Who ventures through these dank mists? Hail! 'Tis noble Alex! What brings thee to this dreary place? 'Tis talk of a quarter, perchance a half, me hopes a point. But sooth! Our foes would have us believe that a mere quarter would sink our nation into inflation, unemployment, or both. What say you? Fear not. Our great nation has withstood the pestilences of the past fifty years. Have we not slain the ghost of that double-speak, Greenspan? Stand up, brother Hamilton in defiance. Proclaim our paper to be money good that our economy is the best in the world--our confidence in master Bernanke is steadfast. Defeat the Keynesian dragons that I may sleep--perhaps to dream of that shining city atop the hill.

EXXON Wins; Public Loses

Exxon is selling its gas stations to independent entrepreneurs. Its profits will rise. Price at the pump will also rise. Entrepreneurs will no longer be funded by “big oil.” The public will suffer with “big oil" out of the loop. Pressure to drill will be intense. The price of oil from the middle east may rise as Arab kingdoms go for their last bite. Faced with deficits, our government may sell its low cost “strategic” reserve at market prices to pay off our debt. That reservoir was based on the last World War--tanks, planes, and carriers. The next war will be over in weeks! The loser goes naked. Why do you think Bush and Cheney worry about nuclear proliferation? Wake up America!