Rove is Right!

I can’t remember a time when I’ve agreed with Karl Rove about anything – until today.  In a Wall St. Journal column he suggests that the Republicans in Congress give Obama the authority to decide where the $85 billion in sequester cuts are to be made rather than to just do it sledge hammer style across the board.

His hope, of course, is that if Obama is given this power he will be held accountable.  Then any public dissatisfaction with these cuts will shift from the electorate blaming the Republicans for being intransigent to blaming Obama.

I agree with Rove’s suggestion.  I don’t agree with the reason he’s taking this position, but as a way to make some sense out of a bad situation I’d rather see thoughtful cuts rather than the across-the-board variety.

A year and a half ago when our leaders agreed to this sequester deal the rationale was that this draconian measure would never happen because in the end common sense would dictate that the disagreeing parties would get together and make a deal.  That they underestimated the level of dysfunction that exists in Washington is an understatement.

Oscars!

The Academy Award show was terrible.  I don’t have much to say about the awards themselves, since I haven’t seen many of the films.  For the terrible show I blame the writers and producers rather than the host, who was there to appeal to the 18 to 34-year-old audience.  If he is responsible for the offensive comments and segments, then fine, let’s blame him too.

I don’t mind irreverent jokes or taking on sacred cows – if it’s well done.  I saw little that was well done Sunday night.  Even if the stuff was meant to appeal to teenagers it missed the mark.  Insipid.  Boring.  Shallow.

One thing was wonderful, setting a gold standard for what the whole show should have been.  That was Barbra Streisand singing “Memories,” cued by Marvin Hamlisch’s death last year.  How nice it would have been if we’d had more moments like these.

Themes!

From today’s news:

Bombs and death, bombs and death, there is no end to it:  India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Mali, Iraq ++

The sequester:  Consensus is that it’s a stupid move and no one is doing anything to avoid it.  More evidence of dysfunction in Washington, but not to worry, Congress is on vacation this week.

Pistorius is out on bail.  At first it was a slam-dunk ‘he did it.’  Since then doubts have been raised.  So for now the slam-dunk is in question – or not – depending on your point of view.

At Academy Awards Sunday night Daniel Day-Lewis and Spielberg will win for acting and directing.  There is less certainty about all the other categories, including best picture.

Hagel now has the votes to be confirmed.

Gun control, or the lack of it, is a lively topic of conversation around the country.

Republican Governors who strongly opposed Obamacare are now signing on to take advantage of increased federal funding for Medicare.

As we approach March Madness, the race to the Final Four is wide open.

Not the Whole Story!

We’re not being told the whole story about:

Why the Pope is resigning.

How we choose who to kill with drone attacks.

Our relationship with Karzai and other Afghan leaders.

Our role in the Syrian civil war.

How Dick Cheney moved to the head of the list and got his new heart.

Cyber attacks on U.S. Government operations.

The Libor rate-fixing scandal.

How the Supreme Court makes decisions.

Match fixing in the world of soccer.

The relationship between the U.S. and Israel.

Collusion between banks and bank regulators.

Contamination in the food we eat.

Price manipulation in the (take your choice) industry.

Why the U.S. Internet is slower and more expensive than in other countries.

Feel free to add your own examples.

Have a nice day!

Did You Notice?

Did you notice that most of the rare, precious documents housed in Timbuktu were hidden and not burned by the rebels when they withdrew from the city after the French came in to chase them out?  It had been reported earlier that they were destroyed.  Good news.

Did you notice that a lot of processed food in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe contains horsemeat?  And not just that – it is contaminated horsemeat.  Makes people sick.  Bad news.

Did you notice that a big asteroid is doing a flyby of our planet in a few days?  Not to worry, the scientists say.  It’ll miss us by 17,100 miles.  Good news.

Did you notice that something like 100 million people will come to Allahabad in northern India for the Kumbh Mela?  Once every 12 years, if you bathe in this spot where the Yamuna, Ganges and mythical Saraswati Rivers come together, you will wash away your world sins.  Good news about your sins.  Bad news if you die in one of the inevitable stampedes that occur during the Mela.

Did you notice that it is Chinese New Year?  In with the Year of the Snake.  Out with the Year of the Dragon.  Good news/Bad news, depending on whether you slither or breathe fire.  I was born in the Year of the Water Rooster.  Very undistinguished.  Bad news.

Did you notice that Joe Paterno’s family is fighting to restore the legacy of their patriarch?  Good luck to ‘em.  Not a chance.  Bad news.

Did you notice that gay rights in Australia aren’t doing well?  They are out of step with the commonwealth brothers in England and Wales.  Bad news.

Did you notice that it’s easier to find bad news than good news?