Just to confirm what I wrote recently about the continued parental rights of the Heene family in Colorado (“Balloon Boy Family”) — now comes news that a rap video has been uncovered where the boys in this family rap about the “pussification” of America.

SheWired.com – ‘Balloon Boy’ and Brothers Perform Offensive, Anti-Gay Rap.

It’s hard to believe that 2007 has come to an end already.

I haven’t blogged much this year because 2007 was FULL of many personal and professional changes in my life.  In the coming months I intend to recommit myself to the blog and to raising the issues that we all need to understand as we enter into the 2008 election cycle.

So, what happened in 2007?

1. We lost the always entertaining seldom intelligible Anna Nicole Smith
2. The U.S. allowed Turkey to conduct air and ground raids on Iraqi Kurd territories on the border with Turkey
3. Jerry Falwell met his maker
4. Evil-doer extraordinaire Karl Rove left the White House
5. Albert Gonzales got busted, lied to cover his rear, lied about the lie, and lied even more about political revenge terminations of Justice Department prosecutors
6. Oprah went off the deep-end
7. Congress failed to pass one single piece of legislation that dramatically improved the lives of Americans
8. Congress failed to pass a significant measure that reduced the number of troops in Iraq
9. Some elements of a 20,000+ troop surge in Iraq showed signs of success
10. George Bush failed to complete an intelligent thought…again
11. Television producers and writers proved just how greedy our society has become
12. Idaho Senator Larry Craig was arrested for lewd behavior in a Minneapolis airport restroom, pleaded guilty, changed his mind, resigned in shame, only to change his mind about that too — ONLY IN AMERICA!

I’m sure there is plenty more that I have either forgotten about, or simply blocked out.

Last week I suffered the loss of a dear member of my family — my grandfather. While his accomplishments in life were not broadcast on the nightly news or printed in the daily papers, his life meant a lot to our family. He always had a sparkle in his eyes and always something quick witted (never mean spirited) to say to anyone who walked in the door. And while those memories are common across all members of the family, I also had my own special relationship with him that I will always cherish.

My grandfather grew up in a much different time. It was a time when this nation suffered in the grips of the Great Depression. That time, I think, shaped him to become very frugal with his money while always remembering that his first priority was to provide for his family. As a young lad he went to work anywhere he could to help his dad support the family at home. Sometimes they didn’t even have a roof over their heads, and when they did they shared their own roofs with others who were not so fortunate. He talked about this time with me and, in reflection now, no one else.

When the depression was over the nation was drawn into the second World War, and so into battle he went. He talked to me about the war more so than he did to other family members. He talked about his memories of fighting in Africa, of suffering from Malaria and of watching good friends not come home. He talked about watching one soldier die as he walked into the spinning propeller blades of an airplane, and of others who did not return from routine marches into combat.

Those events shaped his life, his values, and his personality. You never had to guess where his political views lied, not because he yelled it or ran around telling people, you just knew by his values that he was a Democrat.

From the Washington Posttoday comes an article on the President’s “inadvertent” mispronunciation of “Democratic Majority” (he called it “Democrat Majority”).

 Bush also said he “didn’t mean to be putting fingernails on the board,” while noting that the parties need to work together on addressing problems with the Social Security system. “I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town,” the president said. “And I’m sorry it’s the case, and I’ll work hard to try to elevate it. So the idea that somehow I was trying to needle the Democrats, it’s just — gosh, it’s probably Texas. Who knows what it is? But I’m not that good at pronouncing words anyway.”

 There are several points I want to make about this statement that are absolutely disturbing to me, and should be disturbing to people across this nation:

1. YOU, Mr. President, created the distrust that exists in this town today. Let’s be perfectly honest. You are the son of a life-long Washington politician, you fabricated evidence against an entire nation in order to retaliate for planned attempts on your father’s life, you lied to the American people, you lied to Congress, and you lied to the World. YOU, Mr. President, drove the Republican majority (or, “Republic Majority” if we need to speak your language, sir) to steamroll the minority rights of house members and Senators in order to further your failed agendas (of which there are many). So, I’m not sure why you are surprised, unless, of course this is another example of how far you are removed from reality.
2. You are the leader of the free-world (what you haven’t destroyed or allienated at least). DON’T USE THE WORD “Gosh“…EVER…AGAIN!!
3. “…it’s probably Texas…”– Huh? What the hell does that mean? Are you implying that Texans don’t speak well? Are you trying to blame your personal inadequacies and lack of a logical mind on the fact that you are from Texas? If that was your intent, then I would have to congratulate you on succeeding at something…finally. As a Texan, I would like to point out that you are not a product of the Texas education system (something you were responsible for during your do nothing term as Governor) and that your inability to formulate a coherent sentence has absolutely nothing to do with were you are from. Furthermore, I would like to point out that if Texas has done this to you that you seek another state to place your Presidential Library/Think Tank/Out-house (Alaska might be a good choice. I hear they have newly cleared land in the ANWR region of the state).
4. “But I’m not that good at pronouncing words anyway.”– Pronouncing words. That is your major fault? Mr. President, you are poor at pronouncing words beacuse you lack a clear command of the English language and simply lack the brain power to formulate logical thoughts into words that anyone can comprehend.

We have all known for sometime that this administration will say anything to gain or keep it’s abusive grip on power, but this is too much. Jim VandeHei at Politico.com is reporting that the administration has spent most of this weekend begging GOP Senators to oppose any resolution condeming the troop surge in Iraq. The article sites that administration has come to the realization that if Senators vote the way they spoke to the President this weekend, he could easily have 70 votes against him and his new, new, new strategy in Iraq.

Military commanders are entering the fray now by telling Senators, that the plan has a chance to work in Iraq, but only if Congress is seen as supporting the plan:

 On a more substantive level, White House officials are arguing that U.S. commanders are confident the escalation will work, but only if Iraqis and world leaders understand the plan has congressional backing. The White House has sent signals that it would stomach a resolution establishing firm deadlines and accountability requirements as long as it does not outright condemn the surge, congressional sources said.

 Um…since when do world leaders and Iraqis watch American politics for their queues on how to support or fight against U.S. military action? Did we have a flood of responsible nations coming to our side in 2003 when Congress voted to go to war? To assert that the world needs to hear Congress support this President and his seventh plan to save Iraq is absurd. Once again, this administration will say anything to get what it wants. The people in Iraq made up their minds years ago on opposing peace and seeking the ethnic cleansing Saddam had long denied them and we were the suckers who went in and opened the flood-gates of civil war. Insurgents, or whatever we wish to call them this week, are planning today for dealing with our troop surge, and don’t give a damn about Congressional support or opposition to the plan. In fact, I would imagine that the anti-U.S. elements in Iraq are on the same side of this debate as George W. Bush.

This week I had the privlege of hearing a C-level executive say that since he is the Cxx, he should not have to read a report about deteriating margins. Do you think George Bush suffers from this mentality too? The sad part is that I can almost imagine him saying, “I’m the F-ing President of the United States. I shouldn’t have to read a report about Iraq, and I certainly shouldn’t have to listen to Congress.”

Does power cause one to forget their senses ?

A science research project in England has come under a storm of criticism for trying to determine the physiological reasons why roughly eight percent of male sheep prefer the company of other male sheep. Many can infer from this research that scientists are attempting to understand where homosexuality occurs in the brain, making it easier to predict markers of gay tendencies, and possibly develop a treatment for the disorder — in sheep.

Many have inferred from the project that scientists would like to eventually eliminate gay sheep all together, with further speculation that any treatments for sheep could eventually be developed for humans. The lead scientist has been quick to point out that homosexuality in the human brain is far more complex than that for sheep, and that any “treatment” for humans is highly unlikely.

What enrages me about this story is that the project is being funded by the National Institutes of Health, a federally funded entity. What possible benefit is there to this nation or the world in eliminating gay sheep? Does the NIH not have more important scientific research to fund? Have we cured Cancer, Alzheimer’s, AIDS or Lou Gerigh’s disease yet? No.

To me, it proves that this goverment (run by Republicans for the last 12 years) is out to define homosexuality as a disorder, and to further control nature to please the delicate sensitivities of small minded individuals who are threatened by the mere existance of homosexuals. Perhaps the NIH should be more concerned with solving issues related to ignorance in this country, first.