Okay, so I was over at Luka's blog and she had posted a piece that Bill Maher did on his show. And I found that I had issues with some of his statements. This started off as a comment to her blog - but then it got long, sooooo - yeah. Now it's here. I'm only going to put up the part I have issues with. To see the whole thing, run over to Luka's place.
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Herbert Hoover was a shitty president, but even he never conceded an entire metropolis to rising water and snakes.

On your watch, we’ve lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airliners, two Trade Centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans...Maybe you’re just not lucky!

I feel that some of this was more than SLIGHTLY out of line on Bill Maher's part.

You can hardly blame President Bush - in office approximately 8 months - for the four airliners, the two Trade Centers, and part of the Pentagon. I mean, come ON. I know he was trying to make a point, but - really. I'd like to see him put up some proof that Bush was behind THAT one.

And then the City of New Orleans. The State Government of Louisiana has to ASK the federal government for help in such a situation. (Gotta love checks and balances.) And from what I understand - the State told the Feds where to go. I assume to not create panic - or something - but, yeah. From what I understand, Louisiana didn't ask Bush - who needs their permission to go in with the National Guard - for help. So - where's the logic in THAT arguement?

Those last four things DID occur on Bush's watch - but they weren't Bush's fault. It'd be like blaming FDR* for Pearl Harbor. (Yes, I went there. (; ) But - honestly - I find it to be true.

You cannot blame the acts of, for the lack of a better term, terrorists on the President - unless he knew without a SHRED of doubt that something was going to happen, when, and where. How do you act if you do not know what's coming? You cannot blame an act of nature (Hurricane Katrina) that was combined with uncertainty in a state government on the federal government. Perhaps more COULD have been done, but it requires that the state meet the feds halfway, ne?

I'm not saying Bush is the best president ever. I'm not saying everything he's done has been UTTERLY justified. I just have issues with blaming some of these things on him when, in reality, it was mostly out of his control.

I welcome all thoughts on this. Whether you agree or disagree, it doesn't matter. However, if you feel the need to flame me - please do the proper thing and leave your name and blog (or email) address for me so I can respond. I do like to respond to all commenters - even the flamers. (=

Posted by: Pandora - 09.14.2005 - 1:09pm - Permalink - Comments (1)
Posted in: News

I was saddened on Tuesday to hear that Bob Denver had died some time last week. Due to Katrina, it hadn't been widely reported.

So, let's sit back and raise a glass to our dear Gilligan. As much as he was a clutz, he was lovable. And Bob Denver did well playing such a character.

Here's to you, Little Buddy! May your paradise in the after life have ALL the luxuries in life.

Posted by: Pandora - 09.08.2005 - 8:09am - Permalink - Comments (2)
Posted in: News

So, I'm in my car, driving to work at the ungodly hour of 5:30 am. Now, I generally flip back and forth between Z104, which has the Matthew Blades Radio Program, and DC101, which has Elliot in the Morning. While both of these shows are advertised to run from 5:30 am - 10:00 am, I know from years of listening that Elliot doesn't actually start until about 5:45 or 5:50 am. Matthew Blades I have just started listening to, so I am still not quite sure if they start on the dot of 5:30, but I do know he and his crew gets started before Elliot in the class.

I tune into Z104 then, because DC101 is on commercial. I hear an ad for 'Radio Relief'. I'm like - what? Eh? What's this? Well, I had to get out of the car before I could find out. So I turned on the MBRP when I finally got a chance at work. They were talking to the head of the Fairfax Rescue Squad that was dispatched out to New Orleans to help out there. I surf to the Z104 site to see if there's information there - and there is.

Radio Relief

A - freaking - mazing.
The morning show people are going to work about 12 hours straight. They are on until 6pm tonight. Radio personalities work 4 hours - if that. That's totally cool. They are pimping out the Red Cross and the Salvation Army like crazy to their listeners, hoping donations would be sent to those organizations for the Hurricane victims.

Guess who's going to be tuned into Z104 all day? Uh-huh. You got it. And you can, too. You can Listen Live to them from their website.

My new favorite Radio Program for mornings. Oh yes.

(PS - is it weird, considering last night's rant, that the current song on Z104 is "It's the End of the World as we Know It" ? ::snickers::)

Posted by: Pandora - 09.01.2005 - 7:09am - Permalink - Comments (0)
Posted in: News

That's right. Today is a very important date. July 18, 1982 . . .
Sis came into this world. Tiny, red, a screamer. Man. What a tiny personage she was. Course, I was four at the time, but - yeah. I couldn't imagine anything being that small.

Well. It's 2005 and she's now six feet tall. Yes, dear readers, Sis is six feet tall. And going to attend Graduate school in the fall. I'm so proud of her.

Happy Birthday, Sis. You done good.

Posted by: Pandora - 07.18.2005 - 8:07pm - Permalink - Comments (1)
Posted in: News

. . . for those of you in London. My thoughts and good wishes go out to the families and friends of those affected by the horrible events of today. And for those in Edinburgh, even though it is considered a 'copycat'.

The events are shattering and it is completely unimaginable. Yes, I live outside DC. Yes, that's the nation's capital of the United States. Yes, 9/11 was horrible. But I only really had to watch it on the news. Aside from some brief, frantic panic about my father who works in DC, it did not touch me personally. The two family members I have in New York did not work in the Towers.

So I can only imagine. And it's hard. I try - but it's hard.

So you have my sympathy. I'd offer empathy - but that I cannot give. And, if the elements are watching, I won't have to. Let's send up a prayer for that. That no one else will have to give empathy.

Mil - I'm glad you are okay.

Posted by: Pandora - 07.07.2005 - 8:08pm - Permalink - Comments (1)
Posted in: News