Two Pillars of the G.O.P., Objecting to ObamaCare, Three More Senate Race Predictions and Sid "Channels" with a "Varmint"!

And Here Are
Three More Paragraphs about Classical South Florida - and I'll shut up for a while.

If you missed it, the July 12 posting contained a comprehensive discussion of my argument with Classical South Florida.  In addition, the reader should be aware that when Classical South Florida acquired WXEL, its press release stated that news and information programming would continue to be provided. Don't take my word for it.  Take a look at CSF's own press release at 

http://classicalsouthflorida.publicradio.org/standard/pdf/WPBI_Press_Release.pdf 

                                      

Of course, the release did not say at that time that such news and information programming would be transmitted from a 250 watt FM transformer instead of WXEL's (now WPBI's) 38,000 watt transmitter and that those unable to receive that signal would have access only via computer, smart phone or HD radio, which  are inadequate substitutes for a readily receivable FM signal.  I do not know if the FCC was aware of this at the time they approved the purchase of WXEL by CSF.  They should have been. 

                                               

Finally, Classical South Florida has just announced the purchase of a station in  Fort Myers which will be broadcasting CSF's musical fare to the Fort Myers area and to the Naples/Marco Island area via a repeater transmitter station.  Contrary to what CSF did to the listeners of non-classical music public radio in Palm Beach County, however, listeners in the Fort Myers area were not deprived of any news and information programming.  Fortunately, there still is a 100,000 watt public radio FM station in Fort Myers (WGCU) broadcasting that kind of programming, similar to what WLRN provides from their Miami transmitter, so folks in Collier and Lee coutnies, like those in Dade and Broward counties,  are much luckier than their fellow Floridians in Palm Beach County.

JL


                                                            


So You're Against ObamaCare ?

Okay, here's an opportunity for you to tell me exactly what there is about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to which you object.   Please Email me at riart1@aol.com.

1. Are you against the Mandate, which puts pressure via a tax on those who choose not to purchase health insurance and sponge off of everyone else by just showing up at a hospital?

2. Do you feel, despite its utilization of private insurance companies to provide coverage, that it is a government take-over of health care, as "Medicare for Everyone" would have been?

3. Do you feel, that despite the Supreme Court's decision, that it is unconstitutional?

4.   Do you feel that while improvements in our health care delivery system are definitely needed, ObamaCare is just a first step toward a "nanny" state wherein we will depend on the government for more and more services, whether we want them or not?

5.    Do you feel, that despite our paying out more per capita for health care than other industrialized Western nations do and having less availabiliity to health care than most do, we just cannot afford such a program?

                               
If you were Mitt Romney, pledged to repeal ObamaCare if elected, what would you do to bring the availability of health care in the United States up to the level of the rest of the industrialized Western world?   Or wouldn't you do anything?
JL



                                                             



The Two Pillars of the Republican Party

In a recent posting, in talking about raising taxes to pay for health care reform, I said that Republicans generally feel that increased taxation falling heavily upon the wealthy creates economic stagnation by reducing the funds available for investing in business growth, thereby creating unemployment and economic hardship.  I have had this “economic” discussion with many Republicans who sincerely believe it, and although I disagree with them, I respect them for their convictions.

On the other hand, I also feel that some of those who might talk this way really don’t give a hoot about how taxing the wealthy impedes job creation.   

Although they won’t readily admit it, I believe that their real objection is to being taxed for providing various benefits such as food stamps, aid to dependent children, Medicaid, welfare payments, free pre-natal nutrition help, subsidized housing and a host of other benefits for people who in their estimation are too lazy to get up and look for a job so that they can support themselves and their families on their own, including immigrants.  They often make the point that that many of these "families" need such help because they are single parent households with more than just one or two children, and to a great extent, not taking personal responsibility  for the situation they find themselves in. And if you inquire further, you might find that their perception of these people has a racial cast to it.

If fighting taxation which impedes job creation is one pillar of the Republican Party, the other one is resentment of the government taxing them to provide all of these benefits for those they consider to be the undeserving poor.  

You won't hear a G.O.P. candidate talk this way, but it's easy to find their supporters saying these things and of course, this stuff is all over conservative talk radio and the internet.

Jack Lippman

                                                        


Predictions for the 2012 Senate Races in Virginia, Wisconsin and North Dakota

A few postings ago, I made the following comments on the 2012 Senate races:

Right now, the Senate is divided between 53 Democrats (including two Independents who usually vote Democratic) and 47 Republicans.  There are 33 Senatorial races scheduled for November and of them, 23 are for seats presently held by Democrats or Independents who usually vote Democratic and only 10 are Republican-held.  It is likely (according to www.realclearpolitics.com) that including those Senators whose terms are not expiring this year and those seats which can be considered to be "safe" seats or at least seats presemtly leaning in their direction, the Democrats will end up with 47 Senators and the Republicans with 45. The other eight Senatorial races are considered "toss-ups" at this point and their outcome will determine the make-up on the next Senate.  

In my most recent posting, I predicted that the G.O.P. would win three of these "toss-up" races where incumbents were running for office (Nevada, Missouri and Montana) and that Democrats would win two (Massachusetts and Florida), reducing the Democratic majority to one seat, 49 to 48.  That still leaves three close races, none of which involve an incumbent, which will determine the final make up of the Senate.  Here are my thoughts on these three races.

Former Republican Senator George Allen and Former Democratic Governor Tim Kaine square off in the Senatorial Race in VIRGINIA.  The race, as of now, is too close to call.  Whichever candidate can get more supporters to the polls on Election Day will win.  The race is so close that inclement weather on November 6 could determine the winner.  My pick, if I am forced to make one, is that Kaine will be elected on the coattails of Barack Obama.

                  Kaine                                       Berg                                                Thompson

Not so close is the race in NORTH DAKOTA where Republician Rick Berg had a slight lead over Democrat Heidi Heidkamp, and will probably win.

In WISCONSIN, the Democratic Candidate is U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin.  The G.O.P. candidate will be determined in a primary on August 14, where Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly Jeff Fitzgerald,  former U.S. Representative Mark Neumann, former governor and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, and businessman Eric Hovde will vie for the nomination.  Right now polls indicate that Baldwin would easily defeat Neumann, Hovde or Fitzgerald, but would lose to Thompson in a very, very close contest.  I suspect Thompson will win the primary, leading to his election as Senator.

Adding these results to those I have already predicted (See posting of July 12), it appears that the Senate will be evenly split, with 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats (including Independents who will vote along with them).  The Vice-President, then, will be in the position of casting a tie-breaking vote when necessary.

JL

                                                             

Sid's Corner



 A RACOON SPEAKS   

Sid Bolotin

Have you ever heard of channeling, the phenomena of someone from another dimension, or the afterlife “speaking” to someone “here” to tell their story?

Brian Weiss, a prominent psychiatrist from Miami wrote “Many lives, Many masters” about past life regression, and Helen Schucman, a professor of psychology at Columbia University wrote “A Course in Miracles” in 1965 based on what she called an "inner voice" which she identified as Jesus. 

This introduces you to this true story as “whispered” to me by the raccoon that my son, Scott, killed recently on his farm in Vermont.

“When I saw the bag of trash, I was ecstatic. From its aroma I knew it was full of goodies, so I climbed onto the porch to begin rummaging. Because it was about 10:30 p.m., I figured that everyone was asleep. Now, I must explain that I was not being malicious, I was just doing what all creatures who live on the planet do…microscopic to mammoth, including humans…just trying to survive so that I could fulfill my destiny to procreate.

                             

Suddenly your son came out of the house on his way to close up his chicken coops, caught sight of me, and stamped his feet to scare me off. Well, I was well into my treasure trove of goodies and not about to be shooed away…especially so since I didn’t feel well. So, although I was a good-sized mature adult, I humped my back to make me appear even larger and snarled loudly in an attempt to scare off the intruder.

Instead of backing off, Scott took a hammer from the tool box at his feet, and before I could react, flung it at me as if he was throwing a bowling ball down an alley. The four pound missile slammed into my side throwing me about six feet off the porch. With the wind knocked out of me I scurried away towards the barn.

Dang if Scott didn’t head the same way en route to the coops…his two Golden Retrievers eagerly tagging along. As soon as they caught my scent, they began to bark fiercely, ready to attack. And I turned to face them, snarling and humping up, ready to battle them both. I was fearless as is usual for my species…maybe more so because I suspect I had a touch of rabies. Because he didn’t want to endanger the dogs, Scott pulled them off and headed for the coops, allowing me to circle back to the porch.

To my disappointment the trash was gone. Hoping to find where he moved it, I was searching the backside of the wraparound porch when Scott returned and began to stalk me. Not wanting to face off with him, I found various hiding spots among the piles of wood planks, furniture, and fireplace logs that are stored on the porch. I was able to evade being found, hoping that I could escape later.

Unbeknownst to me, Scott had decided to take desperate measures…maybe he had noticed me shaking from the rabies, or assumed my aggressiveness to be caused by the disease. He called his friend, Jim, to come over with his gun, a 357 Magnum, and end the dispute.

In a short while Jim was on the scene, found me, and shot me dead with one shot.

Scott was humane…placed me in a bucket, carried me way far out in the field, and buried me deep so that scavengers would not tear my body apart. And, when Scott reported the incident to the game wardens the next day, they decided not to exhume me to run an autopsy…leaving me to rest in peace.

I harbor no anger toward your son. He and I were simply doing our thing as two of the multitude of species that inhabit the planet.”


                                  * * *   * * *   * * *

 ABOUT MY WRITINGS

Sid Bolotin

Although my recent ode to my muse addressed a singular person, in truth there is an other, a secondary person in my community who whispers critiques in my ear. This individual professes love for my writings that appear in our community magazine but says that my stories are mostly sad and heavy. To which I reply that they reflect the reality of life. This other then says, “I have enough reality in my life. What I want to read is fantasy, Sid. Lighten up!” This other is unaware that many of my “light” writings are rejected by the editors of our community magazine because they are too long or considered inappropriate.

In contrast muse number one reads all my drafts and lauds my writings because: “They’re from your mind, your heart, your gut.”

So, although I do strive to honor the request to lighten up, I invariably fall back on influences from my earliest, formative years, my readings of Kafka, Saki, Greek Tragedies, Shakespeare, combined with metaphysical/spiritual pursuits of Eastern culture, Zen Buddhism, Kabbalah, Joseph Cambell, and New Age teachers ala Alan Watts and Ram Das. Adding to this eclectic mix Victor Frankel, Jon Kabat-Zin, Dr. Herb Benson, Old and New Testaments, Woody Allen, the writings of Alice Hoffman, and a slew of others…along with studies of psychology, neurology…my writings formulate with a life of their own, sometimes light fantasies, sometimes not, especially now that I’m almost an octogenarian and the patriarch of my clan – seeing phases of my life being duplicated by my children and grandchilidren.

Some influencing aphorisms garnered over the years are:

“Human beings keep so busy because it distracts them from knowing they’re going to die.” is a Woody Allen quote that is humorous, dire, and truth.

Zen teaches that the world is perfect just the way it is…warts and all.

Buddhist teachings present “the Five Remembrances”:

I am of the nature to grow old.
There is no way to escape growing old.

I am of the nature to have ill heath.
There is no way to escape having ill health.

I am of the nature to die.
There is no way to escape death.

All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature of change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.

My deeds are my closest companions.
I am the beneficiary of my deeds.
My deeds are the ground on which I stand.

The first four evoke sadness; the fifth evokes hope of being remembered after the others take effect. Is this heavy, light or both? Aren’t all just the Isness of Truth?
                                       

Buddhism teaches that human suffering is caused by our desire, our attachment to cling to what we like while striving to get rid of what we don’t like in our life…and suggests acceptance (not resignation) of what is.

A message taught to my sons and they to their children:

Bring the rainbow to whatever you do…doing it with a little bit of love, leaning into it with your best effort…even if you don’t like doing it.

Joseph Campbell, famous mythologist, who wrote “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” has opined that each of us is the hero of our own personal saga with all the elements of any heroic odyssey…seeking, losses, death. And triumph. 


                                                                    


Most readers of this blog are alerted by Email every time a new posting appears.  If you wish to be added to that Email list, just let me know by contacting me at Riart1@aol.com.  

Also, be aware that www.Jackspotpourri.com is now available on your mobile devices in a modified, easy-to-read, format.

Our family of web sites includes:   www.computerdrek.com  - www.politicaldrek.com  -  www.sportsdrek.com  -  www.healthdrek.com.   
Check all of them out, find out what “drek” really means and feel free to submit your thoughts and articles for publication on these sites, which, while still “under construction,” already contain some interesting content.

Additional new material will continue to be posted on www.politicaldrek.com until the Presidential election.  New material will resume being added to the other three “drek” sites after November of 2012.

Jack Lippman

                                                    * * *   * * *   * * *

To send this posting to a friend, or enemy for that matter, whom you think might be interested in it, just click on the envelope with the arrow on the "Comments" line directly below.

 

The Last (?) Word on Classical South Florida, Five Senate Races, Two Politicians You Shoud Not Trust and Something from Sid

                                                           

                                                              

Is there a Delay in the Re-licensing of Classical South Florida’s WPBI ?

I haven’t brought you up to date lately on my “battle” with Classical South Florida, which purchased Palm Beach County NPR outlet WXEL back in May of 2011.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with my crusade, here is a thumbnail sketch.  If you have been keeping up with my efforts, just skip to the final few paragraphs.

After securing FCC approval, the sale of WXEL was finalized in May of 2011.  The purchaser, Classical South Florida, is owned by Minnesota-based American Public Media which also owns a similar classical music station, WKCP, serving Dade and Broward Counties with 24 hour classical music programming.  WXEL was then renamed WPBI.  Both stations have strong transmitters and can be easily heard within their listening areas 24 hours a day.  A good deal of the time, their musical content is identical.

Before the sale, WXEL, which had a history of poor management under the ownership of Barry University in Miami, broadcast a mixture of classical music and NPR news and information programming.  Once the sale was consummated, it became, as was its sister station to the south, a strictly classical music station (except for a mandatory minimum amount of local public interest programming required by FCC regulations).

This had not been a problem for WKCP listeners since Dade and Broward Counties were well within the range of WLRN, an NPR station in Miami owned by the Miami-Dade Board of Education which broadcasts only news and information programming during the day, supplemented by jazz at night.  Thus, listeners in those counties had a choice.  That was not the case in Palm Beach County where, once WXEL’s news and information programming was removed from WPBI, most listeners had no other local public radio choice besides WPBI’s Classical South Florida musical programming, unless they were able to tune to Miami’s WLRN or Fort Pierce's WQCS, neither of which are always heard throughout Palm Beach County. (Living in the southern part of the county, I am fortunate enough to manage to receive WLRN most of the time on one of my FM radios.)

Complicating the matter was a “transformer” station which WKCP had been utilizing in downtown West Palm Beach to broadcast its Classical South Florida musical programming to a very limited area in Palm Beach County.  Right now, that station has been increased in power to 250 watts, far less than WPBI’s 38,000 watts.  Once WPBI took over WXEL and it became Classical South Florida, WKCP stopped broadcasting its musical programming on this “transformer” station and leased it to WPBI which promptly turned it into a 24 hour a day NPR news and information station.  This would have been fine, except for the fact that the station’s 250 watt transmitter, now broadcasting as WPBI-News at 101.9, can only be heard in homes in a limited area roughly approximating the city of West Palm Beach, although automobile radios can pick it up outside of these limits.

 
If you reside in this area, you can tune into WPBI-News at home.

But if you reside elsewhere in Florida's largest county, you cannot.

Before the sale of WXEL was finalized, Classical South Florida had said it would continue news and information programming in Palm Beach County.  This was documented in an editorial in the Palm Beach Post in December of 2010.  They did indeed live up to this claim, but since they used the aforementioned 250 watt transformer to accomplish it, that statement had to have been made with tongue in cheek.  

Admittedly, WPBI-News’ signal is also readily available as a hybrid digital (HD) signal for those with HD recievers in their cars or at home.  Such a receiver for home use costs $400 according to the web site recommended by Classical South Florida.  The WPBI-News signal also can be received on smart phones and over the internet where it is “streamed.”  These alternatives, unfortunately, do not bring WPBI-News into most Palm Beach County homes, and that is where the sale of WXEL to Classical South Florida shortchanged most of the residents of the county.

(Actually, the hybrid digital (HD) signal is packaged within the bandwidth of WPBI’s analog FM signal, each carrying separate content, and then also fed onto the internet and onto the 250 watt transformer.  Apparently, this procedure is acceptable according to the FCC, although I have questioned it.) 

My involvement was that of an interested resident of Palm Beach County who felt he was being deprived of news and information programming from NPR and other sources on my local public radio station.  I wrote letters on several occasions to local newspapers and to Classical South Florida expressing this position.  In the final analysis, according to the Federal Communications Commission, once WPBI had been assigned WXEL’s license, they had great latitude and freedom in selecting what programming they chose to broadcast, as guaranteed under the First Amendment and the Communications Act.  And Classical South Florida, of course, chose to play classical music on WPBI.

                                                    
                                                      
I was not up against a brick wall, however.  From the online Public Inspection File (required by FCC regulations) of Classical South Florida, I learned that WPBI’s license was due to expire on February 1, 2012.  The Commission’s rules permit interested parties to file a “petition to deny” a station’s application for license renewal, or to file an “informal complaint” in such matters.  I felt that properly filing a “petition to deny” would have required the costly services of an attorney so I chose to make my position known in the form of an informal complaint.  I had nothing to lose.  According to the Commission’s rules, such a complaint to the FCC need not be sent to the station involved as well, as a “petition to deny” would have had to have been. That made it easier for me.  I also felt that a complaint made at the time of a station’s application for license renewal would receive more attention than one sent at another time.  Classical South Florida’s attorneys have since criticized me for complicating their application for license renewal with what they consider an unrelated complaint, as well as a letter to a newspaper reminding others that the license was up for renewal with the Commission. 

While my complaint included the argument that residents of Palm Beach County were being deprived of public radio news and information programming, I knew that this would carry no weight because a licensee, as explained above, was free to choose its own programming.  I needed an additional tool to include in my complaint.  Therefore, I chose to base it primarily on the FCC’s requirement that such stations publish a quarterly report including a brief narrative describing what issues of public interest  the station dealt with during the prior quarter, as well as the programming which addressed such issues.

I found that while public radio stations, including Classical South Florida’s stations, indeed do publish such quarterly reports, all they usually contain are listings of the programs dealing with matters of public interest.  One is left to assume that the issues which these programs addressed are the ones which would have been included in a brief narrative description if such a description had been prepared.  Apparently, over the years, the Commission has accepted this kind of reporting without a specific description of the issues.  This is contrary to the specific language laid out in FCC regulations (47 CFR Section 73.3527 [e] [8] [i]) which I clearly quoted in my complaint and which specifies that a narrative description of the  issues be included.  My hope was that this would give me some leverage in how my complaint was treated.  I suspect that it has. 

For those who are interested, here is a copy of the applicable citation from the Code of Federal Regulations.

47 CFR Section 73.3527 [e] [8] [i] : Issues/programs lists. For nonexempt noncommercial educational radio broadcast stations, every three months a list of programs that have provided the station’s most significant treatment of community issues during the preceding three month period. The list for each calendar quarter is to be filed by the tenth day of the succeeding calendar quarter (e.g., January 10 for the quarter October–December, April 10 for the quarter January–March, etc.). The list shall include a brief narrative describing what issues were given significant treatment and the programming that provided this treatment. The description of the programs shall include, but shall not be limited to, the time, date, duration, and title of each program in which the issue was treated. The lists described in this paragraph shall be retained in the public inspection file until final action has been taken on the station’s next license renewal application.                                                               


By this point, Classical South Florida’s Washington law firm was involved, and after chastising me for not sending Classical South Florida a copy of my complaint (they were unaware that an “informal complaint” did not require that}, filed a lengthy “Opposition to Informal Complaint” with the Commission.  Along the way, an error in the filing of WXEL’s final “Quarterly Report” which I had pointed out in my Informal Complaint, in which WKCP’s second quarter of 2011 programs were listed instead of WXEL’s, resulted in Classical South Florida amending (on February 13, 2012) their original application for license renewal.  As of this date (7-8-12), to my knowledge, WPBI’s license has not been renewed, at least according to that station’s on-line Public Inspection File.

Although it is water over the dam, I also took issue with the station’s law firm in regard to their repeatedly referring to the station’s providing service to West Palm Beach, where the station is indeed located,  and ignoring the fact that it is supposed to serve all of Palm Beach County. This geographic and demographic misconception makes the use of their 250 watt “transformer” for news and information broadcasting seem acceptable, which it is not.  **Please review the officially filed contour maps at the locations provided below by copying and pasting their location on your browser line.  Also refer to a *copy of a posting on the Palm Beach Post's "Opinion Zone" blog which I submitted on July 8 and which touches on the demographics question.

As of this time, I periodically monitor the station’s Public Inspection File regarding (1) the renewal of its license which expired over five months ago as well as (2) to see whether the Commission will view seriously my complaint about the station’s non-compliance with the Quarterly Issues Listing requirement and (3) whether there was a lack of candor in representations made by Classical South Florida at the time of the purchase of WXEL.  Their position in regard to such representations, according to the language in their lawyer’s "Opposition to Informal Complaint" filing with the FCC, was as geographically and demographically flawed at that time as it remains today, with the Commission not questioning any of their contentions.

                                  
                        The FCC is Headquartered in this building in Washington, DC

(In South Florida, WPBI is at 90.7 FM, WPBI-News is at 101.9 FM, WKCP is at 89.7 FM and WQCS is at 88.9.) 

**To view a contour map of the area served by WPBI, the same area formerly served by WXEL, go to: 

http://classicalsouthflorida.publicradio.org/about/fcc/files/wpbi/wpbicontour.pdf 

**To view a contour map of the area served by WKCP, go to:  http://classicalsouthflorida.publicradio.org/about/fcc/files/wkcp/contour.pdf 

That map includes the miniscule area in West Palm Beach served by the 250 watt translator, designated W270AD, which is leased by WPBI from WKCP and which broadcasts as WPBI-News at 101.9.  

I doubt that the FCC ever saw these maps when the sale of WXEL was consummated.  They are available on the Classical South Florida web site.
JL

                                                             ***   ***   ***   ***     

    

*On July 8, I posted the following message on “The Opinion Zone,” a blog forming part of the Palm Beach Post’s web site, where I had posted an earlier message in a section devoted to this WXEL's sale.

“This issue is not dead.  My informal complaint to the FCC caught a clerical error which resulted in WPBI having to amend its application for license renewal back on February 13, 2012.  Their license, which expired on February 1, 2012, and which had been pending since October of 2011, has not to my knowledge been renewed yet, over five month later!    

I have pointed out to the FCC how Classical South Florida may have made the point that the weak transformer broadcasting at 101.9 would provide adequate service by confusing the City of West Palm Beach (pop. 100,000) where the station is located, with Palm Beach County (pop. 1,300,000).  From my correspondence with Classical South Florida’s Washington law firm, it appears that the Commission routinely accepted Classical South Florida’s assurances, which may have been both geographically and demographically flawed, at the time of the purchase of WXEL, and continues to accept them.  I would hope I have made them aware of this error. This may be a reason for the delay in the relicensing of WPBI.

Jack Lippman 

                                                          

Two Republicans You Shouldn’t Trust

I hate to go out on a limb and accuse some Republicans of being dishonest scoundrels lacking integrity.  So I will merely cite two recent incidents and let you decide for yourself.

The first involves the efforts in many states dominated by Republican governors or legislatures to toughen laws on voter registration.  The excuse for doing this is to prevent voter fraud.  Even though evidence of such fraud is rarely if ever present, that is what they say when they push for such legislation.   The real reason, I suspect, is to disenfranchise those likely to vote Democratic.  Mike Turzai, Pennsylvania’s state house majority leader, agrees with me. Recently speaking before a meeting of the Pennsylvania Republican State Committee, Turzai mentioned the voter ID law they had passed, using these words: “Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania!”  So it isn’t about voter fraud after all.  The only fraud involved was that on the part of Speaker Turzai in shepherding this phony legislation through the Pennsylvania House.

In Mississippi, purportedly to protect the health of women undergoing abortions at the last remaining abortion clinic in that state, a law was passed saying the doctors working there had to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital for the sake of the patients.  None had, and getting such privileges was difficult since it required them to live nearby and admit a minimum number of patients annually.  But the real reason for the law was stated by Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves who points out that the law has nothing at all to do with women’s health when he said “It has been seven years since we have got good pro-life legislation passed out of the Mississippi legislature. That is a bill that gives us a great opportunity to accomplish what our goal needs to be. Our goal needs to be to end all abortions in Mississippi. I believe the admitting privileges bill gives us the best chance to do that.”  Fortunately, a judge was able to see through the deceit involved in this poorly disguised attempt to circumvent the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision and has postponed enforcement of the law.

Decide for yourself, but if I were you and I were ever in a room with Turzai or Reeves, I would keep my hand on my wallet, and not turn my back on either of them.

JL

                                                                   

Five Senate Race Predictions

A few blog postings ago, I mentioned that the outcome of the Senate races this November might be more important than the Presidential results.   Based on those Senate seats which are either not up for election this year, those which are likely to be retained and those which are clearly leaning in their direction, it looks like the Republicans will end up with 45 Senators and the Democrats with 47 (including the two independents who usually vote with the Democrats).  That leaves eight crucial races which will determine control of the Senate.  As of today, here is where I think five of these races stand.

Nelson     
In Florida, Sen. Bill Nelson (D) is likely to be opposed by Connie Mack, son of the former Senator with the same name.  As of this moment, Nelson is ahead in the polls and will probably win.

Warren         
In Massachusetts, Sen. Scott Brown (R) is a whisker ahead of Elizabeth Warren.  Whether he wins again will depend upon by how large a margin President Obama wins Massachusetts.  I predict Warren will win on the President's coattails.

Steelman    
In Missouri, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) will face the likely winner of a tough Republican primary, Sarah Steelman.  There is an enormous amount of money being spent in Missouri, which can cause some surprises, but Steelman will probably be the next Senator from that state.

Rehberg    
In Montana, Denny Rehberg is challenging Sen. Jon Tester (D) for his seat.  The race is a toss-up and may depend on who wins the state’s Presidential electoral votes.  At this moment, even though President Obama may carry the state by a slim margin, I feel Rehberg will still win the Senate seat. 

 Heller      
In Nevada, Congresswoman Shelly Berkley, who originally hails from New York, is running against Sen. Dean Heller (R) and trails by a few points.  Even if Obama carries Nevada, I feel Heller will be re-elected. 

If these five races turn out the way I have just predicted they will, and if  there are no unexpected surprises in the more certain contests, the Democrats will have 49 seats and the Republicans 48.  This leaves just three "toss-up" races, however, but in none of them is an incumbent involved.  These are in Wisconsin, Virginia and North Dakota where the present Senate seat holders are all Democrats.  In a future posting, let’s look at these three very interesting races.  They will determine who controls the next Senate.

JL

                                                             

                                                               

Sid's Corner

 Freddie, The Princely Frog   

 

Sid Bolotin

Freddie, the frog stroked quietly under the water toward the grass and reeds that were growing along the edge of the pond. When he came close into shore beneath a floating leaf, he allowed himself to drift to the surface. He let his legs dangle so that only his round yellow irises with their jet- black pupils appeared above the waterline.

From this hiding place he watched Hannah, one of the King’s twin daughters, thrashing through the shallow water at the far end of the pond. She had gathered her gown up between her thighs tucking it into the waistband in a valiant but futile attempt to keep it dry as she stomped through the decomposing vegetation that covered the bottom of the pond. She had placed her shoes and stockings high up on the shore and was squishing barefoot through the dead leaves, muck, and slime.

Again and again she plunged her arms into the water to pluck a frog from its sanctuary beneath the vegetation. She clutched each wiggling prisoner, ignoring the green crud its struggles flipped onto her once white, elegant gown; and stared deeply into the frog’s eyes as if to read its soul. Then, with her eyes closed she brought her crimson lips to the creature’s mouth lingering a moment as if waiting for something to occur.

                                     It seemed to Freddie that during these kisses all sound was stilled . . .the birds, the rustle of the wind in the trees, the hum of insects…as if the Universe stopped in silent witness. And each time that nothing happened, Freddie cringed at the moan of rage that burst from deep within Hannah’s being,

He watched in horror as she flung the frog away, not caring if it slammed into a broken heap on the shore, or skipped along the pond’s surface to be impaled by the heron standing nearby. Keeping a wary eye on Hannah, Freddie thought about how he had come to be in this predicament.

Only a few days ago he had been a handsome, rich prince traveling through the country in search of a maiden to be his life-long companion. He had come from his own kingdom because he had heard of these  twin princesses, Hannah and Heather.

When he was received at court, he fell instantly in love with Heather, the younger and the prettier of these fraternal twins. Her blue eyes and creamy skin combined with her most pleasing disposition to enslave his heart in an instant. She was the one he had been seeking…the girl of his dreams. In shocking contrast he found Hannah’s appearance and manner quite distasteful.

Because Hannah was the older of the two…even though it was only by a few minutes…the King had insisted that Freddie select her for his bride. And, when Freddie protested and prepared to leave without either of his daughters, the King angrily instructed his Chief Wizard to turn the prince into a frog and throw him into the royal pond.

The Wizard did as his sovereign commanded, telling Freddie that a maiden’s kiss would change him back…but cautioning that he would then be bound to her for eternity.

When the Wizard reported to the King, the King gleefully told Hannah who streaked to the pond to claim her eternal love. Although eager to return to his normal self, Freddie hesitated when he saw Hannah. She was one ugly maiden. The wart on her nose with its long hair and her snarling mouth stopped him cold as he had begun to hop toward her. He spin around in midair to plop himself into the pond to observe her from the safety of its depths.

Thank God he did! Her frustration at his escape exploded in a display of ranting rage, stamping feet, and pulling of her own hair. What a loony!

                              So, Freddie decided to avoid her kiss, choosing instead to wait for a chance to leap into Heather’s arms and plant a kiss on her sweet lips. He prayed that he could do this before Hannah, or the heron, caught him.

Or, he’d just remain a frog.                                    Copyright  2002   Sid Bolotin


                                                                      

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