barbara friedland

George Clooney

Hollywood bachelors are not what they used to be.

Yes, Clooney is yummy.  And smart, talented as well as civic minded.

But as boyfriend material, not so much.  He refuses to commit and/or enter into

a relationship of equals.  How skewed is the power between a couple when one

is considered the most fabulous of men and the other is a ...

fill in the blank....

Bar maid.  Waitress.  Game show contestant.  Reality show "star."

Women continue to date Clooney knowing that they will be dumped in..

fill in the blank...

Days.  Weeks.  Hours.

Look at the so called catches in show business.

Owen Wilson.  Yes, that Owen Wilson.

What is more beguiling, the suicide attempt or the reported drug use?

Hide the names of either these two and describe them to your mother.

She will bar the door.

But he only tried to kill himself once. 

All of his movies aren't horrible.

We can probably date for a few months before he starts seeing someone else.

How about P. Diddy?  Besides the constant name change, and the girlfriend with all

the children- baby mama as they say- any relationship would be a menage a trois.

Diddy, you and his ego.

Ditto for Kayne West.

Some guys have tamed down after marriage.  Ben Affleck ostensibly comes to mind.

Others have serious anger issues and problems with their exes.  Alec Baldwin, just to cite one.

Politicians are a species apart.  Republicans have black hearts.  And no amount of praying

and finger pointing will stop some from prostitutes or bathroom solicitation.

As well as page ogling.

Most have bad teeth.

The Democrats can be mealy mouthed and generally just as forgetful of their vows.

For people with power, too many leaders are pliable, easily challenged, risk aversion

wimps.  Harry Reid.  Governor Paterson. Just to name two.

That is why the now former Governor of Illinois was so captivating.  Okay, horrible hair.

Foul mouth.  But what guile and chutzpah!

I know girls, A-Blog is taken.

Which dovetails to sports.  A-Rod anyone? Or how about football players legendary for

abuse or affairs?

Add steroids, groupies, posses and parties to the mix, and you have trouble.

Not to mention potential injuries.  

Still, I would have to say that war criminals, murderers and traitors would make the 

worst lovers.

Indict Bush and Cheney.

You see George

It's not just about making your friends rich.

And it is more than taking too many vacations.  

This transcends the trips and pageantry.  Being President, elected or otherwise, supersedes dancing.  In public.

Being leader of the free world entails releasing petty motives and seeking short term objectives.

And I never thought that I would have to state this, but as Chief Executive there are more important tasks

than tossing out a ball at the World Series.  Really.

Stealing the election for the Presidency is not a get out of jail free pass.  Nor is it an opportunity to raid the treasury.

Or.

Torture people.  Start unnecessary wars. The fact that both current conflicts had virtually no intelligent planning is simply a side bar.

George, being Chief Executive does not transform tax dollars into a giant ATM for your friends to hit like drunken sailors at dawn.

Nor does being Commander in Chief allow someone, especially a military deserter who imbibes as they say, to start wars on a whim.  Or a grudge.

If one is elected President, or not, then a leader grows beyond his original base of support to represent all citizens.  Even poor folks.

I am not kidding George.  The oath of office does not limit your attention to the executives at Halliburton, Blackwater and SAIC.

President of the United States.  All fifty of them.  Yes George, there are fifty.

That means if a natural disaster strikes a city or part of the country, then drrrr- do something.

As well as read intelligence memos.

Again, it is shocking that one has to insist that the President of the United States not talk like a 12 year old boy.  I am not referring to the crazy syntax and muddy meanings. 

No, the bragging and boasts.  When our soldiers are in harm's way, no one should shout:

Bring it on.

To post a Mission Accomplished banner indicates that a:  the actual mission is known and b:  it is in fact, accomplished.

Don't touch foreign leaders in an inappropriate manner-  like giving a neck massage to the Chancellor of German. 

One should not holler: "yo" when attempting to capture the attention of another country President or Prime Minister.

If one has the honor of leading this nation, then one must work hard.  And study.  Try to find solutions and identify the greater good,

If someone's goal is to ride a bike a few hours a day, then other career options exist:  like personal trainer or a member of le tour de France team.

Wait the latter takes discipline and talent.  Never mind. As does the former.  Whoops.

The Chief Executive of the United States must care about history and worry about his- or her- place in the ongoing legacy of our country.

To be apathetic, to state that all concerned will be dead when judgement is reached, is moronic.

And it is criminal to disregard the precepts of our Constitution, laws of the land and the Geneva Convention.

Someone is a traitor when they, or protect or allow staff, to leak covert information.

If we wanted thugs, war criminals to lead us, then why have elections at all?  And our nation is not a banana republic with the melding of courts and executive. 

Again, if the Supreme Court is tapped to cull our Presidents, then why have separation of powers?

George, that is from the Constitution.  The document that your administration used to wrap fish in and toilet train puppies.

Our leaders should be the best and have a record of achievement and courage trailing behind them.

Of course, the big tent that is the United States can accommodate serial losers and drunks, but they should not be reeling at the pinnacles of power.

Public service must be about sacrifice, commitment to the greater good, prodigious effort and vision.

Indict Bush already.

Simmer Down

Okay people, many folks, for a variety of reasons, will try to harm, criticize or thwart President Obama.

Pundits, who seem to be talentless boobs, will have to pontificate and it is always easier to target the status quo.

However, very few seemed to do it for the Bush criminals.  

But I digress.

My heart is light and cheery as I think about having a smart, thoughtful, truly compassionate visionary as President.

Bonus, he was actually elected.  By a majority of the voters.  

But he must be watched.  I have my concerns.  The way that Senator Obama voted on the FISA bill, allowing the government to sloppily spy on citizens, is truly frightening.

He is a man, hence fallible.  Obama's idea of having a big tent could allow in folks with truly misguided or evil viewpoints.  Like Rick Warren.

I worked in politics for years.  An excellent piece of advise is don't chase after people who will never support you.  

By the way Mr. President, Karl Rove wants your assistance in dealing with a Congressional subpoena. 

This time, I believe he has to show up.

Before he deigned to even post.  

Ignore him.

This dovetails into general advice for Obama.  If you want to divert attention and scrutiny and redirect the fourth estate, go after the felons of the previous administration.

He, as candidate claimed that a President must be able to multi-task as Chief Executive.  This was in response to John McCain crazily wanting to postpone the second debate because he was going to fix the economy singlehandedly.  After going to a spa and talking to Katie Couric.

So, accomplish many things at once President Obama.  Work on the economy, our wars, the deteriorating environment and basically fixing up everything that Bush/Cheney ruined.

And prosecute them.  Go after the war criminals and those who have admitted to torture.  Or found some legal pretzel allowing it.  That would be the idiot Gonzalez.  

Just to spice the stew, have the new Treasury Secretary investigate some of the scions of Wall Street.  It is implied that his forgetting to pay taxes is a minor concern because of his vast ability.  So, sic Geithner on those thieves who used bailout money- our tax dollars- for planes, party and office decor.

As well as bonuses.  1.8 billion.  Dollars worth of bonuses to people who should not be allowed to run a cr wash. 

Believe me, if the legal proceedings are mixed up- the former head of Lehman Brothers one day, Cheney the next - not many can find fault.  The criminal spectrum is so vast, there are villains for everyone.

Besides this being the right action, it is politically expedient.  When folks see what others have been up to, minor lapses or missteps on Obama's part will pale in comparison.

Indict Bush and Cheney.  And most of Wall Street.  

Also, Gonzalez.

"I hope he fails."

That is what Rush Limbaugh has said about President Obama and his administration.

Really?  I guess, he does not care about the people out of work, those about to be laid off or

businesses that are going under. 

He is not a compassionate conservative in regard to folks losing their homes or savings.  

Apparently he has no care nor concern about our military, fighting in wars with not enough planning, strategy, equipment or troop levels.  Not to mention a clear cut mission.

To wish that the President of the United States fail clearly means that Limbaugh wants science to falter.

Our environment to continue to deteriorate and the aggression around the world, left unchecked.

He wants children to suffer in poverty and more industries to need bailouts.

He is asking that our nation not prepare to resist terrorists and work, certainly better than last time,

to prevent or mitigate an attack.

He wants our cities to be laid waste by weather.

Wait a minute, I have just described the Bush years.

There was a moment in time, when this porcine creature announced that he would cease carrying water for the Bush administration.

He was disgusted.  But that lasted a moment and soon Limbaugh was back, defending the indefensible.  I guess when a pig flies, even for a second, it is of note.

Limbaugh, in explaining his treasonous sentiments, for that is what they are, claims that Bush wasn't given a chance.

Well, dur, he wasn't actually elected.  And he chose to run with Satan.

Still, many were praying from the onset that Bush somehow manage not to fail.  This time.  As Chief Executive. Panning over a lifetime of disgrace.

After 9/11/ 2001, this country rallied around Bush, who had done nothing.  That day or before.  And continued to fall short.  He wanted to prevent a commission. There was no warning to workers about the health risks around the twin towers.  Just to cite two examples.

Still, Bush had some political currency and squandered it on a war of choice that was moronically planned and sent many soldiers to certain death or harm.

He took this attack and used it as a wedge to divide this country. He called people who disagreed with him traitors.  Spied on citizens.  Jettisoned our ideals.

He failed on his promises.  Bin Laden remains at large.  In fact, the illegal invasion in Iraq has engendered support for our enemies while our torture and hideous abuses of prisoners are used to defame the United States.  In the Arab world. And beyond.

If some folks distrusted Bush from 2000, he still bulldozed his policies through a criminally compliant Congress.  The result- just look around.

Keith Olbermann refers to this preposterous windbag as the comedian Rush Limbaugh.

But that is incorrect.  He is a coward, a man of no moral compass and a traitor.

Arrest him.

And indict Bush.

Caroline Kennedy

Someone explain the adverse blowback to the idea that Carolyn Kennedy be appointed to the United States Senate.

Or as I refer to these folks- the federal clown car.

I have a theory.  Perhaps if she had saluted her father at his funeral possession, America would have been as captivated with her as they were, and continue to be with her brother.  He started a magazine with no publishing experience and seemingly, few detractors.

With some exceptions, it seems that the males capture the stunning looks in the Kennedy tribe.

Occasionally outside DNA works well with the various generations, but as a rule, the men are more attractive.

Which is not to say that Caroline Kennedy is not pretty.  And accomplished.  Well educated and a scholar.

A citizen of New York City, who cares about the public school system.  She has helped to raised tens of millions of dollars.  

Kennedy also supported Obama, early and at a seminal stage of the campaign.  Her endorsement was an important factor in his continued momentum.

She has written several books and I would wager that some members of the Senate have not read that many.

By the way, isn't prostitution a crime?  Both the selling and the buying?  Why hasn't Senator Vitter been charged?  How come he is allowed to continue to serve?  And noisily too.  Be quiet and demonstrate that you understand shame.

Vitter apparently has been forgiven by God and his wife.  But not me.  Arrest him.

I digress.

Governor Paterson, if Spitzer wasn't an idiot I would be going to library openings, apparently never liked the idea of Kennedy as Senator.  Sources say he was displeased that she asked "could" instead of demanding the appointment.  Okay.

Apparently Paterson feels that Kennedy demonstrated that she lacked strategy and communication skills.

Really, next to the Governor of New York, she looks like Machiavelli.

When are the voters going to retire him?  Not soon enough.  Maybe if he frequented prostitutes.

That only works sometimes.  Remember Vitter is still in the Senate.

A huge portion of the American public embraced Sarah Palin who was vying to Vice-Present-

to a 72 year old man who suffered through several bouts of cancer.

Here was a total ignoramus who probably could not pinpoint Russia on a map even though one can see it

from her bathroom window.

Palin was unable to cough up the name of a newspaper or magazine in response to a softball question in

a television interview.  Her daughter was pregnant and husband a proud secessionist.  And she denounced

sex education and "terrorists."

Palin herself proved to be an incurious, vicious, greedy, lazy opportunist.  And yet, where was the outcry?

But I thank John McCain.  It was nerve wracking electing the first black President.  Thanks for the help.

Back to Caroline Kennedy.  I don't believe that she would enjoyed being the junior Senator from New York.

Even though this seems to be a great job, folks keep trying to escape.

I hope that she will continue her good works and scholarly pursuits.  

Indict Bush.

Obama looks like a President

Seeing pictures of the new Chief Executive it has hard to imagine that race was ever an issue.

Character is destiny.  Our country is fortunate that we have in place a leader who is intelligent and reasoned.

He appears to care for the entire citizenry, not just the .01%. The wealthiest folks.

Just an aside, the war criminal George W. Bush wanted to privatize Social Security.  He "won" by a point or two, Karl Rove called it a mandate-  I say thanks Ohio and Florida for whatever nefarious dealings occurred in those two states.

Anyway, aWol George wanted to spend his "mandate" by having non governmental firms manage these monies.

Merrill Lynch or Bear Sterns?  Citibank or Wells Fargo?  AIG perhaps?  No,  maybe Lehman Brothers.

Our nation would have witnessed millions of elderly, our mother and fathers, without any income.  

But I digress.  Back to the new face of the American Presidency.

I once worked on all three levels of government.  This was some time ago.  My observation was that certain groups were not more venal than others, but folks who came to the table later, were less finessed in taking theirs.

People who have been looting our treasury for generations seem to be able to get away with it.  Like the Bushes.

But often minorities, be it race or gender, can get caught because they don't know how to steal properly.

Case in point- start a war and direct no bid contracts toward your friends.  Or fiends is what I wanted to type.

Steal big and out in the open.

The Mayor of Baltimore has recently been indicted.  Frankly, I feel that she is doing a good job in an impossible situation.

A position made worse by the past 8 years of corruption which has trickled down to the municipal level,.

It is alleged that she took gift cards for the poor.  Oh Mrs. Dixon.  That is penny ante and crummy.  I didn't mind the shoes and the fur from the boyfriend who also did business with the City.  That was a tip.  A bonus.

But don't take from the needy and in a way that can be traced.  Also, appropriate large sums of money.  If you want a primer on how to do this, just review the Bush/Cheney reign.

Back to the issue at hand.  

The reason that a black has not been elected President is that only racist buffoons have run before. The exception was Shirley Chisholm- who did not have a chance in hell of winning.  But wanted to make a statement and protest the war in Vietnm.

Jesse Jackson?  Al Sharpton?  You have got to be kidding.  Review what Jackson said about President Obama's private area.  And what he wanted to do. As for Sharpton, look at anything he did in the past several decades, including Ms. Brawley.

Colin Powell could have been a fine President before he sold his soul to past administration and lied to the United Nations and the American people.

We need to evaluate our leaders on the basis of their actions and beliefs.

Like Governor Patterson.  Who is a bookmark.  A placeholder.

I don't care that he is black.  Or blind.  Or had affairs.  But he is an ass.  He couldn't have handled the Senate appointment any worse unless he handed the seat over to Rudy Giuliani. 

He dithered and waffled.  

Patterson finally disrespected Caroline Kennedy, when she stated she was not longer interested.  That was the time to praise her.  And it appears that the Governor of New York might have picked a Republican in Democratic clothing to fill a seat vacated by the Democrats.  

Somebody defeat this clown next election.  I don't care what color that person is.

And indict Bush.

Karma

First rule of fight club, don't talk about fight club.

First rule of karma, don't try to pinpoint it's trajectory.

Kathleen Parker, who is busy inching her way left, has taken on this profound concept.

She is eschewing past lives to light on what John Lennon et. al. referred to as instant karma.

Karma is Sanskrit for action.  Thus, in conjunction to another Buddhist precept, what one does is the basis of the law of cause and effect. Such actions are responded to by the universe.  

Of course resulting karma occurs which can not be predetermined and it is not subject to ongoing commentary.

Like providing color for a football game.  Like Bush has ruined the planet, so he will.......

Parker feels that Satan, I mean Dick Cheney had the universe slap him because he was forced, by a back injury, to attend the Inaugural proceedings in a wheel chair.  Honey, that ain't karma.  To offset all the causes that this evil man has made; including murder, war crimes and treason would take a lot more than not being ambulatory.

By the way, punishment can come from others, not just the universe.  So, we can indict Cheney to illustrate this point.

Parker also believes that George W. has built up some reservoir of fortune, based on some policies in, primarily, Africa.  Had to travel the globe to find something positive to say.  And I am betting that several Bush cronies benefited some how.

But no.  This man has too much to atone for to get off the hook that easily.  And if some of the programs, including helping to reduce AIDS in Africa, is in the plus column; how about the liabilities?

By the way, if Bush the intolerant had not limited the AIDS assistance to recognize that people actually have sex, such would have been exponentially more effective.

The tragedies and trespasses of this evil man has been enunciated ad nauseum.  But think of all who have died or suffered directly related to corrupt commands of this unelected President.

Be thee Buddhist or Christian, one would think he would have some level of concern about retribution.

Eternal damnation or karma playing out for lifetimes to come.

We should not act cruelly or with malice and evil and not expect punishment.  The family and money that has always protected George W. Bush can not intervene when ethereal justice is being hammered out.

"Somewhere Tony Blair is smiling," Parker writes in reference to other leaders' misfortunes.  Excuse me, but Bush's lapdog, I mean Blair has a lot of 'splaining to do himself.

In the brilliant novel, Picture of Dorian Gray, a soulless man has delegated aging to his portrait.  Every cruel misdeed is recorded on his once handsome visage.  It is the picture that ages and thus the rouge remains handsome for years.  One day he decides not to hurt a young woman.  He rushes to the attic, to view his alarming image and finds that it has not improved and in fact, worsened slightly.

We can not speak for karma, or inexact retribution.  

But we do have law and courts.

So Indict Bush and Cheney and demonstrate American justice.  Now.  

That means they will be granted a trial, under Obama leadership.

too stupid

Okay, the newly elected President notwithstanding, I have witnessed an ongoing dumbing down of America.

The evidence is everywhere, ubiquitous and frightening.

For example, when ordering online, many sites offer the abbreviation for one's state in case there is question.

Okay folks, take thirteen seconds and memorize your two letter designation.  Hint, both- name and shortened version always start with the same letter.

A tocsin for people who can not figure out the numeric equivalent of a certain month.  Please, we are talking about a set of 12 options, worst case scenario.  You can count and use your fingers.  Here's a clue; January is one.  See, it's easy.

Shame on anyone who can not calculate sale percentages in one's head.  Especially ten percent.  I once had to tell a sales clerk, excuse me a guest associate what ten% of 20 dollars was.  Just move the decimal point over one space.  I'll wait.  Yes, two bucks.

It is alarming to see signs posted in stores displaying what sales amount will be after different discounts. Added to the fact that clerks have machinery which tells them how much change to proffer.  

I question the IQ of everyone who believed anything that George W. Bush said.  Or felt he was a nice guy and that was a legitimate reason to vote for him.

Most of this is probably addiction but why do some folks think they can drive if they are too drunk to walk?

And female, as well as male teachers who are sleeping with their students; don't you think they will talk about it- in either pain or wonderment?

How can any adult hope to keep such sex secret?

If any person is taking valuable time from this veil of tears to watch reality television, or court programming, then they should have their priorities and values re-evaluated.  We have 70 or 80 years on average and you are watching people cook and cut hair?

Frisky folks, pregnancy is an option, unless age or disease totally preclude the possibility.  Even with birth control, eggs get fertilized. To eschew any contraceptives, could translate into buying lots of diapers.

People of faith, any religion, who interpret the writings as an excuse to harm or hate, are morons.  Period. 

Such belief should expand one's life not collapse it down among prejudice and narrow thinking.

People are not so smart, if they accept what Ann Coulter has to say, believe that Dick Cheney was working hard for the greater good or buy into the myth that Sarah Palin's family only weaseled out 150,000 dollars in free stuff.  

And if one can not understand why we must prosecute the criminals who have ill served this nation for the past 8 years, then there are problems both with the ability to assess the damage and possessing the ken to atone for it.

Indict Bush.

An eye for an eye

I have never believed that justice as evinced by this slogan was the best.

The corollary is that soon the whole world goes blind.  But I have been thinking about this facile system and want to see it used.

On Bush/Cheney.

Not the extremes.  Granted they are both murderers who surrounded themselves with war criminals, but I am willing to take that capital offense off the table.

Let's proceed.

Deja vu-  George W. your business is failing.  Wait.  It seems that has occurred, thrice, in the past.  A business career littered with loss.  So this is hardly new for Bush the younger.  Let's put a new spin on it.

This time, it is the Government's fault.  Actions and lack of regulation has caused too many companies to retrench or close.  

In other words, Bush policies theoretically could be more fatal, from a mercantile perspective, than Bush actually running the enterprise.

Please sir, may I more poetic justice?

Where to begin.  W. Bush will lose his house.  As will Jenna.  Seems the blond scion bought right here in Baltimore.  She and hubby secured an ARM- an adjustable rate mortgage, just as the the market was collapsing.  The recent past proves that homeowners need to know their interest rate, ongoing.

George, are you retiring?  Bad news about any investments you might have.  Wait, all your stocks are in Halliburtion and SAIC- okay your money is fine. 

Hey, this is my fantasy.  W- your portfolio has dropped to a tenth of its worth before, well your Presidency.

Plan on playing golf?  New rules- the most strokes wins.  If necessary, the Supreme Court will weigh in.

Oh personal tragedy in your family.  Illness?  Good news. The state will step in and inveigh against allowing the person to die with dignity.  Feeding tubes can not by removed except through an act of Congress.

You've contracted a disease that would benefit from stem cell research, like Ronald Reagan did-  sorry.

I know you plan on living in Texas, but weather happens.  Your house is destroyed.  Oh well.  Toddle over to the Astro Dome and habit there for awhile.

There is a war and someone found your military records.  Pack up George W.- you owe us time.

Apparently the ex Prez loves hopping around in pretend uniforms.  Well, here is a real one, start fighting.

Bad news aWol-  the government is regulating your sex life.  Sexual orientation doesn't matter because you made private matters the purview of the private sectors.  Nothing kinky now.

More problems GWB- gas prices have skyrocketed again.  Things are tight in the old Dallas homestead. Your job, the village idiot, has been outsourced to India.  No one wants to hear you speak. Or whatever that verbal regurgitation is.

You like shopping incurious George?  Too bad, because retail establishments keep failing.  You can use The Google, however.

Going out- darn it.  Someone leaked this information so it will be harder to provide security.

What would be proper punishment is if Bush 43 spent eternity enduring what he he inflected on others.

And the ultimate, instead of due process of law, let's use extraordinary means to find out what these men really did for two terms.

Back to reality.

Indict them.

Gone but not forgotten

I am like the woman on a date with a great new guy, but I simply can not stop talking about my last boyfriend.

I know its a turnoff.  It's clear that man number two is overtly uncomfortable when I bring the subject around to his predecessor.

But instead of carping about leaving the top off the toothpaste tube, the issues are far more serious.

Torture.  War crimes. Treason.

The level of ineptitude that this nation has never seen.

Oh sure.  There were the corrupt Presidents.  And those who showered friends with public largess.

Incompetents and fools.  There was one other time when a candidate ascended to the office

without having the majority of the popular vote.  Hayes versus Tilden.  But that Chief Executive

did not have a brother machinating tallies in a crucial state.  

Thus, while our nation has suffered through all types of Presidents, never have all the horrific traits

been combined in one man.  

Harding or Grant, I hear you cry.  The former did not allow us be attacked nor did he execute an illegal invasion.

The latter was in fact a war hero.  That meant actually showing up for service.  Again, something old aWol Bush never bothered to do.

America has witnessed the paradox of great men, seeing flaws intersect brilliance or courage.

Our nation has had ordinary men occupying the Oval Office.  We have seen those of promise stumble and others look deep into their soul to bring forth what was needed to deal with the problems hurting America and our people.

Some have not risen to challenges while others probably shirked some duties.

But never, ever in the history of the United States, did we have lazy/craven/incompetent/greedy/deluded/evil at the helm.

The press is finally, at last, taking Bush to task.  After years of softball questions and mindless reiterating of phrases like  the "war for Iraqi freedom.'  a level of accountability has been set forth.

Too little and too late.  The country is happy to see Bush leave.  I was petrified to see him arrive.

I knew it would be bad, but never to the extent of damage that lays before us.

Good luck President Obama.  I wish you well.  But part of your job, your mandate, your mission, is to restore the ideals of our great land.  And for that, Bush, Cheney and a host of others, must be held accountable.  In court.

Indict Bush so the country can move forward.