S. J.,

What koolaide was that-hope?  What would you have prefered for him to do?  He told the truth and then set about to find ways to solve the problems.  Seems to me, a reasonable thing to do.  If you have a complaint,  offer some alternatives that would work.  No one seems to want to do that-they’d rather complain.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if President Obama,  who took office January 20th and only two months later have everyone who has been jobless, working again?  Everyone who are losing their homes through no fault of their own, managing to hold onto their homes?  Finding a way to feed the hungry in our own country?  With just a wave of his wand, in 2 months he would have solved all our problems that have been accumulating for many months.  Now, that would be a miracle and no one would think anything unusual there.  However, if he can’t solve all that is wrong with our country in 2 months, then he is a liar?  Damn him for trying to make things better than they were.  We want instant solutions and gratification.

DeB* Where did you see that?  I went back to look and all I saw was Obama in the Title.

I watched"Enemy of The State", a few nights ago with Will Smith and thought Regina King, who played Will Smith’s wife in the film looked an awful lot like Michelle.  I think she would be a good actress to play Michelle.

Sarah,

That’s true, but perhaps if there were more train travelers, the prices might come down?  Isn’t it cheaper in Europe to travel by train where more people choose to travel by train?

Belinda,

Wish I had your courage-my solution has been complete abstinence, but if I ever did venture into another relationship after my long-time marriage with an unfaithful husband, I would insist on a health exam, especially for STD’s and I would expect my partner to expect the same.  Just friendship and companionship would be nice, but I doubt I could expect that from a healthy male.

I’ve never read anything that sinister into it. Greed, yes, but not any takeover if the country as you’ve described.  I listen and watch for a long time before I speak about what I think and see. Bankers, Investors, Corporations who line the pockets of politicians to get favors, without any thought as to what the effects will be on the general population as long as they make a profit, these are the ones who aren’t hurt by the downturn of our economy, but I think it may be catching up to them this time. There will be a day of reckoning for those who have caused this.

What if, the apparent alternative had happened? I wonder…

If there had been no bail out of AIG or the Banks, would the Banks have closed? Who would have insured Bank deposits and bank accts., insurance, retirement funds? Would the Banks close with all the members money, since there would have been no insured accounts? Would everyone’s funds covered by AIG have been lost? Would the Stock Market have crashed? Would the Automobile manufacturers have closed their doors and laid off all their workers? How many more people would have been out of a job than there is already? What would it look like now, if a different choice had been made to do nothing? Our current solution is not perfect and I’m not any happier than most of you that it has come to this, but could it have been worse? It seems to me, the only ones who might have survived the government doing nothing, are the very wealthy who have money stashed away.

I live near a military base and military cemetery in a small town area. Prior to moving here, I lived in a large metropolitan area where there were also military bases and cemeteries nearby. In the past few years, I have seen hearses pass with an entourage of the usual cars with their lights on and scores of motorcycle club members carrying military dead to their final resting place moving in a dignified slow procession to honor the deceased military member, but the part that impressed me and brought tears to my eyes, were the cars on both sides that pulled off the road, got out and stood quietly beside the road to honor those passing and some even coming to attention and holding a salute as the hearse and funeral group passed. 

This would be for miles from one small community to another and I was touched by their respect and tribute. 

It was so quiet, no one spoke but all paid attention and honored those passing.  I never saw that in the larger city I used to live in, although it may have happened and I just never saw it.

Pam,

I did not mean to imply that you were.  I remember when it happened, but couldn’t remember the year/years, so I looked it up.  From what I found, it started in 1991 when Bush Sr. was President.  Did not appear to be the case during the Clinton years 1993-2001 and then the ban was re-instated in March 2003 during Bush Jr.s presidency.

I wonder how he rationalizes his view? 

He must have something to back it up to make such statements when there is so much evidence to the contrary.

Thank you Franny,

There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of him and mourn his loss.  I just don’t want so many others coming home that way and no one knows about it except their immediate families. 

 It was our own government that decreed not to let the public know of our immense number of casualties.