A Potpourri of Foolishness; A Waste of Time

The politicos in Washington are in full ‘pander mode’ and those in Concord are being led by whackos on the extreme Left. Then, our enlightened politicians have placed baseball on trial; that’s right, baseball, America’s pastime is being examined under a microscope in a venue that pales in comparison to a Hollywood production.

The Economy

Economic stimulus was embraced by Democrats who, through their support of the stimulus package (that is little more than a temporary fix), puts money in the hip pocket of taxpayers. I do not agree with this approach as our economic problems are more complex and call for a review of trade and tax policy.

However, Democrats have admitted through their support of lining the pockets of constituents that discretionary spending stimulates the economy and that if people keep more of their money, they will spend it and that is the fuel on which the economy thrives. Translated that means that in their heart of hearts, they are aware that the tax cuts work and allowing Americans to keep more of their money fuels a good economy. Of course, they would really never admit that because tax cuts are really not a cut in taxes; they are a cut in entitlement spending. Unbridled spending is the real issue.

America’s Pastime

That takes us to baseball. There are two wars taking place, the economy is tanking, trade deficits are climbing, we are in the middle of a volatile election cycle, terrorists still threaten our republic, illegal immigration is unchecked and Congress is investigating whether or not professional baseball players have taken steroids.

Watching the hearings, Henry Waxman was in true authoritarian form. This is the same Waxman who is a staunch advocate of needle exchange programs. You know...... the program where the most extreme drug addicts can get themselves a fresh needle so that they can continue to use illegal drugs; without being arrested or prosecuted and avoiding dHIV. Waxman finds no ethical problem with that, but then again, Roger Clemens is a big target and an opportunity for Waxman to raise his own stature.

I think that if Clemens used steroids that he should never be inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame and should be prosecuted but that is something for MLB to deal with. If an employee at Microsoft took illegal drugs that inspired them to go on to write a fantastic software program, Congress would not be involved. Forget about the fact that it is a ‘national pastime’ and the lame excuses that our representatives have used to become involved and meddle in baseball…..they need to stay on the critical issues of importance…not entertainment and political theater.

What is next? Investigations into Lindsay Lohan or god forbid, Brittany Spears in an attempt to understand how Hollywood is causing young empty souls to abuse drugs?

It is fine for a woman to decide what to do with her body in the eyes of Waxman and other Democrats; then why not Clemens? What about those on the Left who support legalizing marijuana while outlawing liquor and cigarettes? What's next...prohibition of vitamins or foods that the Washington Politburo deems unhealthy as they parent the masses.

This debate is not about the influence that steroid abuse has on a young athlete’s perception of right or wrong. It is not about “Americas Pastime”. It is certainly not about the best interest and well being of our country. It is about Congress grandstanding and testing the limits to which Americans will allow them to abridge the rights and freedoms of others.

It is also about a thirst by Congress to find a perjurer who can be handed over to the Justice Department and prosecuted; an attempt by Congress to be relevant.

The point is that Congress has far more important things to worry about than steroid use in baseball. Beyond that, their recent agenda has begun to focus on what we put into our bodies, including food. Is that the role that our founding fathers envisioned for those who represent us in Washington? I think not.

Looney Left Legislature

Finally, the NH legislature is in full swing with the inmates taking charge of the asylum. Hillsborough District 5 voters must be really proud of their curmudgeonly obtuse representative, Betty Hall, who proves that wisdom does not always come with age. Calling for the impeachment of President Bush, Hall quoted the NH Constitution introducing her legislation:

GOVERNMENT BEING INSTITUTED FOR THE COMMON BENEFIT, PROTECTION, AND SECURITY OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, AND NOT FOR THE PRIVATE INTEREST OR EMOLUMENT OF ANY ONE MAN, FAMILY, OR CLASS OF MEN: THEREFORE, WHENEVER THE ENDS OF GOVERNMENT ARE PERVERTED, AND PUBLIC LIBERTY MANIFESTLY ENDANGERED, AND ALL OTHER MEANS OF REDRESS ARE INEFFECTUAL, THE PEOPLE MAY, AND OF RIGHT OUGHT TO REFORM THE OLD, OR ESTABLISH A NEW GOVERNMENT. THE DOCTRINE OF NONRESISTANCE AGAINST ARBITRARY POWER, AND REPRESSION, IS ABSURD, SLAVISH, AND DESTRUCTIVE OF THE GOOD OF ALL MANKIND.

This comes from Article 10 of the NH Constitution and was written in 1784. How this relates to impeachment could be a script for an episode of the Twilight Zone.

I am sure that Hall would not agree with anyone on the other side taking the stand that we should overthrow the government in the face of suspension of parental rights that has taken place in NH with the notification debate concerning teen abortions. Betty, you are wasting time and using your office for partisan politics; it is not surprising that you are a Dennis (I’ve seen a UFO) Kucinich supporter.

Then, Democrats attack one of their own; Rep Martha McLeod was removed from her vice chairmanship of the House Finance Committee by House Speaker Terie Norelli who was angry at McLeod for speaking out about naming a road for Bruce McKay. Norelli explained that because of her position McLeod was not allowed to challenge other committees when they brought a bill to the house floor. Norelli stated: "I think it's fair to say that when someone takes on a leadership position, there is a certain amount of autonomy and freedom we give up," Norelli said. "For instance, I don't get to vote."

That is really great representation of the peoples business and very “democratic”. Kudos to Rep. McLeod for taking a principled stance. Seems like the Democratic leadership is drunk with the power of governance.

Parental notification will come to the floor of the house and is an issue far more important to NH voters than impeachment of a president with 9 months left on his term.

We restrict adolescents on drinking alcohol, driving, seat belts, bicycle helmets, smoking and in some towns, curfews; involving parents in all of those decisions. A school nurse can’t give a child an aspirin and parents are involved in whether or not their child can get a tattoo, ear piercing and tanning salon use. Children can not purchase lottery tickets but in their infinite wisdom, our legislators want to offer teens an abortion without parental consent. Talking about Nero fiddling while Rome burns……

Thanks To All

So, thank you to Democrats in Congress for buckling to an empty stimulus package while admitting though, that allowing us to keep our money is a good thing for the economy.

Thank you to Congress for wasting taxpayer money and our time on major league baseball and steroid abuse while supporting other more heinous issues like needle exchange, abortion and legalizing drugs.

Thank you to Rep. Hall for wasting legislative time grandstanding for what seems to be a personal legacy.

Thank you to the NH legislature for last year’s terrible agenda and for starting out 2008 in a grand fashion with the introduction of bills supporting income taxes, impeachment and socially destructive initiatives.

I hope that those among us who voted many of these individuals into office will wake up and realize that the last thing we need is a potpourri of foolishness and legislative action that amounts to a waste of time.