Monday Morning Super Blues

I actually enjoyed watching the Superbowl, thought it was a well played game with neither team really dominating. I would have been happy no matter who won. What struck me the most is what a short, little guy General David Petraeus is. So far, from what I can see, he doesn't suffer from the classic little man complex... 

Michael Phelps inhaled. A picture surfaced showing Mr Phelps smoking a bong pipe at a party. Yes, it was the dreaded marijuana, the old wacky weed, and he is very sorry and will never, ever, do it again! I spent over twenty years having to pee in the cup for random drug analysis, and I think its high time that all of our elected officials, including judges, must also be tested for illegal substances on a regular basis. After all, we don't want our legislators to be impaired while making laws. we could call it the Rush Limlaw...Or, better yet, all marijuana confiscated by law enforcement should be donated to medical marijuana programs. As a person who has been in pain 24/7 for the past few years, I can see how any relief is a welcome thing. If it wasn't for Ultram, I'd be a severely depressed alcoholic right about now, instead of a grumpy guy...

Today the Senate will consider Eric Holder's nomination for Attorney General. Its expected that Republicans will take him to task for his involvement with the Mark Rich pardon during the Clinton administration, but they won't go too hard on him because it was Scooter Libby who originally orchestrated the pardon. Yes, we need a bi-partisan approach to corruption because they are all up to it past their necks...

Depending which Party you are in, the economic stimulus package is either really needed right now, or not. Every economist agrees that something must be done as soon as possible. But for that amount of money, I want us to be able to debate and vote for every item in the package. I'm told that there is a lot of pork in it, I just haven't been able to read it for myself, and that is what the newspapers should be doing, showing us what is in the bill.

In the aftermath of the Davros Economic Summit, the world's top dogs are feeling embarrassed that the global crisis caught them with their pants down, and they are pissed at the US for being a 400 pound butterfly flapping it's wings. They want more oversight and regulation in the markets and more cooperation among disparate countries. Free markets will happen with new rules, players must learn how to color within those lines, and their work will be checked, hopefully by regulators not on the take... Look to see more emphasis placed on regional protectionism to put a dent in free trade in the future. I'm all for normalizing trade with Cuba; I can't wait to see how Cuban cigars have fared and hoping to bring the price down on over rated and over priced cigars at least back down to under $5.

We may never see Western style democracy in the Middle East because of the tendency towards forming religious states, but it is heartening to see how elections have gone in Iraq. After we are gone I hope that they will continue to happen, but they may have to have their civil war first. We were hoping to stop that from happening by occupying their country and forcing democracy on them. Our Civil War made our brand of democracy stronger, and the same might ultimately happen in Iraq. Or they might go with another tyrant...