Polygamy Question

We have all been hearing a lot about the polygamist group in Texas that was recently raided by the authorities.

I truly don’t care what they do until it comes to children. The idea of a little girl, as young as 14, being forced to marry an older man repulses me.

But here’s the question that keeps bugging me and maybe you can help me out here. Why didn’t the authorities remove all the adult men from the ranch and leave the children there with their mothers until this whole thing can be straightened out? It would have been much less stressful and frightening for the little kids if they could have stayed in familiar surroundings with their mothers. There could have been some authorities on the site to see that everything was kept in order for however long it takes to decide what happens next.

As bad as the situation at the ranch may have been, it seems to me the little kids have suffered the most since the raid, and some of that suffering seems to me could have been prevented…at least for a little while.

Egotistical Pundits are highly over rated

The talking heads and pundits are trying to justify their existence by telling you they know what you are thinking, what you should be thinking, where your values are, and what they believe is best for you and your future. If they can convince you that they are better at making up your mind than you are, they feel they and their jobs have been justified.

Don’t let them do that. Don’t let them tell you what your concerns should be. When gas is sneaking up to four dollars a gallon. When the price of milk is keeping up with the price of gas. When the value of your home is going down due to the foreclosures in your neighborhood. When we have two wars raging and the threat of yet even another. When there are so damned many problems facing our country and our future, don’t let a bunch of egotistical pundits and talking heads dictate to you what they want you to be concerned about.

We’ll make our own decisions, thank you Mr. and Ms. Pundit. We don’t need you to coax our feelings to match your prognostication. We know what is really important to our lives and your professional future is not a factor in our reality. While you talking heads and pundits wring your hands over the words of Rev. Wright, most Americans are more concerned about our everyday lives and which candidate will work to make more things right in our future.

Yes, egotistical pundits and talking heads are over rated, not so much by us, but by their feeling that we need them. They believe they are necessary to help us wade through political waters. I believe they could easily drown us with their babble and minutia. Don’t let them muddy the water, not in a year when we must all view everything more clearly than maybe ever before.

In or Out?

For a long time our backyard has been semi private. We have a wooden shadowbox privacy fence about seven feet tall on the east and north side of the backyard. On the west side was a hedge kept at about six feet tall.

Two weeks ago we had the fence company fence the yard totally in by adding a fence behind the hedge. Now we have complete privacy in our backyard. At least until the next hurricane comes and knocks the whole thing down.

We were talking about this over the weekend and we wondered did we fence ourselves in or did we fence the world out? I’d like to think we fenced the world out. Sometimes you need to be outside in your own private little world. Now I have mine.

Treasures and Pleasures from Fred the Cat’s Patio

As you probably know by now the Pops have a large screened patio with a wall around most of it that’s about three feet high. That wall is my perch early and late in the day. Maybe throne would be a better word than perch.

From that wall, this time of year, I experience all sorts of things. When the breeze comes from the east, the fragrance of the gardenia bush soothes my feline soul. Right now the bush is loaded down with gorgeous large white blossoms. I can see day lilies, roses, amaryllis and sea grapes all in bloom.

I watch two cardinals building a nest in the hedge. I watch doves getting romantic at the bird feeder. I can listen to the mockingbirds serenading one another. I can see a black racer snake search around the fence posts for lizards. I can watch the slow little box turtle make its way across the lawn to a bowl of cat food that’s put out for the little stray cat. If I look up I can see up to six swallow-tailed kites soaring and doing acrobatic maneuvers in the sky.

Who needs tee vee and such when you have things like this to fill your day?

Have a great weekend and tell me what you see from your perch.

Sincerely,
Fred the Cat (the cat who loves you guys!)

A Case of Political Fatigue

My emotions have been like a yoyo these last few months. The political pundits blathering on endlessly creating nothing but noise. Everyone thinks they are saying something no one else has said before, as they repeat the same tripe over and over.

Numbers are thrown around, juggled and created. Prognostication runs amok and maps are colored and re-colored. We have been given mental paralysis by analysis. No one knows the future but everyone seems to feel they have the gift or ESP.

Questions are asked to fill in the void where answers are not available. It’s frustrating to most of us. Some are deeply angry as well.

Our economy is tanking while we take grocery money to fill up our gas tanks. We all know the problems we are facing now and will face in the future. The scenario is not even a blush of rosy.

Yet the political creature moves on and on. It sucks all the air and the intelligence out of the air waves. It trumps all other news. It eats up everything in its path.

For me, the monster of politics is going to take a backseat. It cannot be stopped, but for a while, for me, it can be ignored.

Condi tosses a match into Iraqi gasoline

“BAGHDAD — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mocked anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as a coward on Sunday, hours after the radical leader threatened to declare war unless U.S. and Iraqi forces end a military crackdown on his followers.”

and

"I know he's sitting in Iran," Rice said dismissively, when asked about al-Sadr's latest threat to lift a self-imposed cease-fire with government and U.S. forces. "I guess it's all-out war for anybody but him," Rice said. "I guess that's the message; his followers can go too their deaths and he's in Iran."

And exactly where was the leader sitting who declared the invasion of Iraq? Was it all out war for anyone but him? Was he there with the soldiers fighting and dying due to his command? Whose troops went to their deaths in Iraq while their leader cleared brush, rode his bike and made incoherent statements in the USA?

(Quote source)

Happy Earth Day!

Let’s make everyday Earth Day. Let’s also take time to enjoy the beauties of Mother Nature.

I took this photo in my backyard a couple of years ago. This wee creature was resting contentedly among the rose petals. Even little tree frogs take time to stop and smell the roses.

Which team is she playing for?

These are the words of one of our own candidates.

" Clinton said to a meeting of donors. "We have been less successful in caucuses because it brings out the activist base of the Democratic Party. MoveOn didn't even want us to go into Afghanistan. I mean, that's what we're dealing with. And you know they turn out in great numbers. And they are very driven by their view of our positions, and it's primarily national security and foreign policy that drives them. I don't agree with them. They know I don't agree with them. So they flood into these caucuses and dominate them and really intimidate people who actually show up to support me."

These are Senator Clinton’s words. These aren’t the words of her minister or a business associate.

Um, thanks Senator Clinton. Which party do you represent exactly? You have praised McCain’s lifetime of experience. Your husband praised McCain’s patriotism. And now you turn on the activists in your own party? Are you patterning yourself after Senator Lieberman?

Senator Clinton are we Democrats the enemy?

And for the record, I do not recall MoveOn speaking out against going into Afghanistan and I don’t believe they did.

Life’s Characters

Okay, here’s one of my many concerns about the debate Wednesday night.

Besides feeling like you guys were being insulted by the quality of the questions the moderators asked, I have a pet peeve. Yes, cat’s can have pets too.

What is this guilt by association? Because Senator Obama knew some questionable characters during his life, is that supposed to make him a bad guy? Jeez, who hasn’t known some unusual people in their lifetime? Knowing different sorts of people makes life interesting.

I don’t know if Pop would tell you this, but I will. She has known Earth First members, sadly both have passed away due to natural causes. She has known someone who served time in federal prison for drug distribution. She has known all sorts of people and she isn’t a law breaker in any way.

While I lived on the street before I decided to move into the Pop home, you wouldn’t believe some of the character felines I met at that time. Crazy rascals of all kinds. But look at me. I’m the most gentleman of feline gentlemen.

As for Obama’s minister, deeds speak as loud if not louder than words. His sermons are his performances, his deeds are something else all together.

Okay, before someone comes along and sits in the rocking chair hoping to rock on my beautiful black tail, I better get outta here.

Have a wonderful weekend. Keep a warm heart and an open mind.

Sincerely,
Fred the Cat (the cat who loves you guys!)

It’s Debatable

Did you watch the debate last night? If so, what did you think?

Fred the Cat may give you his take on the debate tomorrow.

Smells Like a Mouse

I probably should let Fred the Cat write this post with a title like that, but hey, let him get his own posts.

Something strikes me as a little strange about this presidential campaign. We all know that Senator Clinton said both she and Senator McCain had a lifetime of experience. Bill Clinton chimed in that both Senator Clinton and Senator McCain were patriots who loved their country.

Recently when Senator Clinton was caught fudging on her combat experience in Bosnia, I didn’t hear a word from Senator McCain or his campaign staff. They let her slide on that one and the bizarre follow-up by Bill Clinton days later wasn’t mentioned either.

Last weekend when the smoke began to be fanned about Senator Obama’s “bitter” story, both Senator Clinton and Senator McCain feigned their indignation about his remarks.

So why ism Senator McCain so easy on Senator Clinton and so quick to leap on Senator Obama? Why do the Clintons kiss up to Senator McCain? Why have they said things about Senator McCain that can easily be used in campaign ads against Senator Clinton if she wins the nomination? The Clintons have furnished material for at least three possible ads. One of her saying that McCain brings a lifetime of experience to the office. Another of Bill Clinton saying McCain is a patriot who loves his country. And finally Bill Clinton saying that his wife is sixty years old and sometimes forgets things when she’s tired late at night. I imagine we’ll be hearing a phone ringing in the background when McCain’s production staff sets that ad up.

What do we have here, some sort of tag team consisting of Senator Clinton and Senator McCain? Something smells funny. I think I smell a mouse. I’m not sure what it is, but something seems a bit strange.

It’s April 15th, do you know where your tax money is going?

Today call your congress critter and ask them, should I make my tax check out today to the country of Iraq or the country of China. You know damned well that’s where your hard earned money is headed, so you might as well send the check directly to it’s final destination.

Media Priorities

Senator Obama made comments a week or so ago that the media hyped all weekend long. I heard Senator Obama called “elitist” and “uppity”, because of those remarks.

Guess the media missed the part about bush admitting he approved of torture.

“In a stunning admission to ABC news Friday night, President Bush declared that he knew his top national security advisers discussed and approved specific details of the CIA’s use of torture. Bush reportedly told ABC, “I’m aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved.” Bush also defended the use of waterboarding.”
-ACLU-

Maybe all this week and next weekend the media could spend a whole lot of time talking about the President of the United States publicly saying he approved of torture.

This calls for a heap of discussion and, in my opinion, the appointment of a special prosecutor.

Everybody Cries

Yeah, even us manly type felines cry. When was the last time you cried? What happened that brought tears to your eyes?

I’ll tell you the last time Pop cried. It was this past Thursday morning when a hot air balloon floated over our house. She cried because it reminded her of when Murphy used to see these big bright balloons and he would wag his tail and bark like crazy at them. We think he thought he was scaring them away.

Funny how a memory can cause a smile or a tear or maybe both at the same time.

Have a great weekend and I hope your smiles outnumber your tears.

Sincerely,
Fred the Cat (the cat who loves you guys!)

My Day!

Today is my birthday.

I love birthdays! Good thing too because I’ve had a bunch of them.

Time to Bring Them Home

I watched the show yesterday as the Republicans cheered on the war and the Democrats tried to find out what in the hell is going on in Iraq and when if ever we are going to bring the troops home.

There was an interesting bit. Petraeus said that the US forces were planning to go into Basra and deal with the problems there. But, apparently al-Maliki thought the American plan wasn’t going fast enough so he decided to take his own military or police and head out for Basra. Petraeus said he tried to warn al-Maliki that his plan wouldn’t work. Of course we all know how that worked out for al-Maliki. He ended up in over his head and had to call for the US military to help him out.

If the Iraqis want to start battles on their own time schedule, against the advice of Petraeus, why must our military end up doing the dirty work?

As if it wasn’t bad enough that our military was sent into this war by men who didn’t know what the hell they were doing, now they are having to fight to help the leader of another country who apparently doesn’t know what the hell he is doing either.

If al-Maliki doesn’t want to take the advice of our military then what are we doing there even one more day?

Hot seat and Popcorn

It’s going to be interesting today to see what General Petraeus has to say about the progress of the “surge”, while at the same time trying to deflect the fighting in Basra, Sadr City and what seems to be the daily mortar attacks on the Green Zone.

I believe the testimony will begin at 9am, eastern time and I’m fairly sure you can watch it on C-span or at their website. It might be a little early in the day for popcorn, but you know it’s going to be an interesting show. It would be nice if the cable news channels gave this the uninterrupted coverage they gave Anna Nichole’s death and subsequent events.

Let’s say that you are one of the Senators who will be given an opportunity to question General Petraeus, what would you want to ask him? Do you think you would get a truthful answer?

I know I sure wouldn’t want to be in Petraeus’ boots today.

Start Prying

“Heston raised a flintlock over his head and challenged his detractors to pry the rifle "from my cold, dead hands."
-LA Times-

I guess it’s time to start prying his gun out of his cold dead hands.

I may have seen some of his movies when I was a kid, but if I did, I don’t remember anything about them. All I will remember him for is his being a jerk when it came to gun control and his alliance with the NRA.

I try to respect the dead, but I will shed no tears over this man’s death.

Fred the Cat with attitude

Think about this for just a minute. What if you ran your household the way this administration ran our country for the past seven and a quarter years?

Little if any regulation (no rules). No financial responsibility (didn’t watch your checkbook or what you spent) No real planning for a war (you acted without thinking of the consequences) And the only people given assignments were cronies. (You need a good doctor but since none of your friends are doctors, you go to your friend the mechanic to make you well)

If the Pops ran this household the bush administration ran our country, I wouldn’t want to live here. You have to have rules (okay, I make a lot of them) You have to be responsible for your deeds (okay, except for me) And you have to use good common sense. (okay, that includes me most of the time)

Any cat worth its catnip knows these things, but I question some humans. A lot of them should have been spayed or neutered

Okay, that’s my feline rant for the week. Whew, I feel better now.

Have a fun weekend and share a hug or two.

Sincerely,
Fred the Cat (the cat who loves you guys)

Living one year over

Yesterday I was just sort of reminiscing about some things and thinking about different years of my life. Then I asked myself, what year of my life would I like to live over?

My childhood years? Forget them if possible. Surely none of my teenage years is worth replaying. None of the years of my first marriage are happy rerun material either. But the first year Mr. Pop and I had our first house, now that one’s worth popping popcorn and enjoying all over again.

We didn’t have two cents to rub together for anything but necessities, but we had so much fun. We weren’t even married yet but we bought the house together. The neighborhood wasn’t very developed yet so it was common for us to see foxes, opossums, raccoons in our yard on any given night.

We had all sorts of snakes too. The coral snake was the only dangerous one and they were fairly rare. We built nesting boxes for birds out of scrap lumber and then we watched those boxes become homes for screech owls, fly catchers and two different types of woodpeckers.

Our total entertainment was our working in our flower gardens and watching all out fur and feathered neighbors.

We can no longer create some of what we had then due to the total over development of the neighborhood and the destruction of the tall pines by the three hurricanes. Most of the fur friends were forced to move on and we’ve no place to hang nesting boxes anymore.

Thank goodness we have that year of memories to play over and over whenever we want. It was a wonderful time.

Just so you know

You will hear that an awful lot of voters turned out in Florida to vote in the primary. They did, but here’s the main reason they did. Florida had a proposition on the ballot to raise the Homestead Exemption taxes from $25,000 a year to $50,000 dollars a year. Even though it would be bad for the state financially, the homeowners turned out in droves to vote for it.

Many people like me, also cast a vote for a Democratic presidential nominee. We knew our votes would not count but some of us just wanted to vote.

Bottom line, the Republicans in Tallahassee set the Democrats in Tallahassee up with a Catch-22 sort of vote. The date of the primary was on a bill that also included getting rid of voting machines that did not have paper trails. What Democrat in Florida government wanted to go on record as being against that? Very few.

From the start Obama played by the rules here in Florida and he’s still playing by the rules. If my primary vote doesn’t count that’s okay as long as my vote in November does.

Disenfranchise?

When Senator Clinton began falling behind in votes, she became determined the primary votes in Florida and Michigan should count. Her reasoning was that she felt these two states should not be disenfranchised.

Now Senator Clinton sounds as though she is willing to take this to the convention and perhaps rely on the super delegates to give her the nomination.

Seems to me allowing the decision to be made for the Democratic nominee, relying solely on the votes of the super delegates, might well disenfranchise a lot more states than just Florida and Michigan. Is Senator Clinton worried about that?