Musings 50--Cheney, payoffs, hope and reality.

According to fellow blogers, Blackheart Dick Cheney was admitted to the hospital with chest pains over the weekend. (See Link). I could make all kinds of tasteless remarks here, but I will refrain from doing so. Someone has to hold a higher standard.

In California, where son Mike now resides, there is an interesting investigation by a newspaper into the probable payoff of a member of the House of Representatives. (See Link). Congressman Randy Cunningham, ex-fighter pilot, swears he has done nothing wrong. Why it is just natural for a contributor to buy his house for $700,000 more than it was worth--especially when he is helping with legislation that could help said contributor. Well, you know, if it walks like a duck...

Sometimes it feels like everything is negative. But there is good news out there too. All one has to do is look to find it. The month of June is fast dwindling away, but there have been scores of June weddings with couples starting their lives together. That is a positive thing. The Shriners raised a bunch of money for their cripple children's fund. That is a good thing. The fireflies are back on Greasy Ridge. We watched them rise out of the grass last evening. I got word from Lt. Col. Pat Ward that he is still safe in Iraq. He is counting the days.

Of course, then I read the news headlines and see that Secretary Rumsfeld says that we might be in Iraq for 12 years. That's a lot of sand and, no doubt, more American Treasure will be lost.

I still wonder if Mr. President had any idea that he was beginning something that would never quite end. In my experience, narrow minded people never think of the consequences of others when they make decisions. He didn't start it, you say. Well, Afghanistan was a needed move, and I could have understood whacking Saudi Arabia--most of hijackers were from there. But, the move to Iraq is still puzzling, and never ending. History will present us with a much clearer picture of things.