Paris Rally Against Terrorism ... Oh Where Oh Where Has Our Leadership Hid ....

Where's the United States At?
Aren't they the supposed leader
against world terrorism?

This last Saturday, more than a million people, including 40 world leaders, rallied in Paris, France and marched in a show of unity against world terrorism.  It was a moment for the world to stand up and tell terrorists that they will no longer be tolerated, and that their type of anti social behavior is unacceptable.

This last Friday, President Obama was in Tennessee.  According to his public schedule  (Schedule of the President), he was due to arrive at the South Lawn of the White House at 5:45 p.m.  There was no public schedule on his agenda for Saturday or Sunday.

My guess is that he was in front of his television watching the NFL Playoffs, munching on a hamburger and "Freedom" fries, and ignoring Michelle's showing off of her new French designer gown she'd purchased for the next big event at the White House.

"Yeah, I'd love to be there, but I've got
$50 bucks bet on today's game and
$50 on tomorrow's.  Damn straight
I'm gonna be watching!"

This would usually fall to the Vice President if the President was unable to make it.  However, there is no word on where the Vice President was during the weekend, either.  It seems as though the United States just doesn't care about an international show of unity against terrorism and its principles.

Now, here's a thought for you.  One that may not be popular, but one that when thought about could be justified and unfortunately correct.

Could it be because as long as terrorism exists, the United States government can get away with doing just about anything?

If you've been around long enough to remember the days of the U.S.S.R., you'll remember that the United States couldn't get away with a lot of the crap they pull today.  Why?  Because the U.S.S.R. was one foe that could stand up to them and say, "What the hell do you think you're trying to pull?  Get your ass back home unless you want nuked!"

Nowadays, there's no one big enough to say that.  So, like a big bully, the United States, under the guise of being a foe to terrorism, does exactly what it wants, whenever it wants, without anyone being able to stop them.

In essence, the United States government needs terrorism. 

As horrible as it sounds, terrorism gives our government power.  Can you imagine how much power it would never gained without the fear of terrorism ruling the American public?  Plus, without America shivering in fear of terrorism, who would have ever accepted the invasion into personal privacy rights the Patriot Act imposed upon?  And, what other country can get away with ignoring the laws, borders and procedures of a foreign country to take out a terrorist, regardless of that country's wishes?

Doesn't say much for integrity and diplomacy, does it?

Our government still uses this fear to do what they want today!  How else could it validate the billions of dollars used to develop and expand the almighty and secret NSA, the pain in the ass TSA, and every other agency that makes up the secret police state we now reside within?

Dollars suddenly become available when fear is present!

Some of these were tricks that the old U.S.S.R. might try to pull, and the U.S. would say, "Now you know better than that.  We've got nukes, too.  Don't push us to push the button!"

Now, displaying the latest in
Washington, D.C. fashion wear,
it's the new White Hat Series for
the politicians who don't give a damn!

Notice how each held each other in check.  Now, there's only one truly big kid on the block, and he can pretty much do as he wants.

So, is the United States accepting the role of the "bad guy" here?  Of course not!  Being a country of lawyers (mostly crooked ones employed by the government in one form or another), we will always find a legal loophole to get what we want, and still make it appear as though we're wearing the "white hats" of sorts.  Even when Americans are killed via acts of terrorism, they are simply discarded as "casualties in the war", form letters sent out by the White House, and the game continues.

Of course, there are those in the world not afraid of the United States and the legal impotence it presents.  These countries show little respect to our government and have no regard to the color of the hats they show.  One of these countries was a primary part of our old Cold War foe, now simply just known as Russia!

The U.S. doesn't like the current Russian leadership.  There's no secret about that.  Not only does our politicians and news agencies insult and minimize Russia's President's Vladimir Putin's importance, he is made to look like a complete ass for standing up for his country and it's belief structure.  Granted, some of the things he comes up with don't need a whole lot of help to demonstrate he is somewhat of an ass (such as Russia's recent homophobic driver's licensing laws), but all in all, the man is proud of his country and wants to see it regain the world status it once had.  For that, you've got to be impressed.

"Germany ... here,  Pakistan ... here ...
United States ... United States ...
Okay, where's the leaders from the U.S.?

By the way, Russia sent their Foreign Minister to the rally.  Israel and Great Britain sent their Prime Ministers.  In fact, most countries sent either their top people or extremely highly ranked leaders there.

The United States let their "live in" Ambassador to France, Jane Hartley, represent our country.  She's not a football fan.

Sorry, Planet Earth, no one in Washington of any importance could get the White House to spring for a plane ticket.  Besides, there are other NFL fans besides the President in Washington, and a weekend is a weekend!

Perhaps, if France would have decided to present the rally on a weekday, attendance from the United States may have been better.  Besides the football playoffs having been played, what politician wouldn't love to have a good excuse to keep from doing any work?

Oh, that's right, this Congress doesn't need an excuse!  

(*I wonder if who won the $50?)

Rambling Tuesday: Shrinking T-Shirts, Tampons and Dick Cheney

So I'm sitting here trying to figure out how I can top my previous blog topic of God taking a dump.  

Shouldn't be too difficult.  

In fact, if I really give it a thought or two, I might even be able to write something clean for a change.  

Wouldn't that be a surprise?

Speaking of clean, I need to give a shout out to the maker of Fruit Of The Loom T-shirts for keeping America's economy flowing.  (Or, has Fruit Of The Loom moved all of their plants to Mexico?)  Anyway, only Hanes has surpassed the ability to shrink a T-shirt in length over 7 inches in two washings!

Let's hear it for keeping the American farmer and the modern day version of the cotton gin in full operation!

Seriously, I used to blame my wife's ineptness in being able to figure out the dryer's thermostat control for the shrinkage.  After all, she is blonde and from a small town in Alabama.  When she chews gum ... well, let's just say, "Lets not overload the circuit board!"

Two weeks ago, I finally decided that even though my current T-shirts allowed me to use my index finger to contemplate my navel without any hindrance, perhaps it was time to cease the bare tummy look and buy some T-Shirts that would at least tuck into my pants.  Knowing that there was to be some expected shrinkage, I exceeded all supposed requirements and purchased the 2X size instead of regular X size.   

Two washings later, over seven inches had disappeared from the length of these.  I know this because I’ve measured those washed against their T-shirts yet to be washed.  At one time, they were the same size.  

I can once again put my index finger to work and contemplate my navel without hindrance.   

So, to the makers of the original replaced Hanes T-shirts, as well as the makers of the replacing Fruit Of The Loom T-shirts, your offerings are making great shoe shine rags.  Never again will I purchase your products, as I now have more shoe shine rags than I’ll ever use in my remaining lifetime.

Some good uses for the material you offer (instead of the T-shirts you pretend to make to last) might be:

"Just Think, Rich ... another couple of washings
and it will fit me!"

1)  Diapers for freshly cut baby eunuchs
2)  Underwear for Barbie and Ken dolls
3)  Togas for unsuspecting sorority sisters who don’t mind showing some skin after a wet toga contest
4)  Dog sweaters for Chihuahuas and their pups
5)  Toe warmers for the little people in “Oz, The Great And Powerful”
6)  Sleepwear for pet mice
7)  Wristband coverings for Paris Jackson, and
8)  Finger padding for masturbation addicts.

The Ultimate T-Shirt Shrinkage Product

Perhaps, with a little effort, the marketing department might be able to use the phrase “From T-shirts to Tampons” to bring some variety and multi use into your product line.  “Today underarm sweat, tomorrow further under you get!”   

(You can keep the ideas for free.  It’s my contribution to recycling!)

I have apologized to my wife, who was watching “The Voice” at the time and didn’t hear me.  I’d do it again, but now I have ammunition for the next time she accuses me of not hearing what she supposedly said to me.  Besides, she’s also chewing gum.  “Let’s not overload the circuit board.”

Okay, so this is where I normally cover news items in my Rambling Tuesdays offerings.  I’d like to say everything was used up in last week’s FTSF, but it wasn’t.  So, here goes:

"Yep!  I'm still dead!"

1)  Jimmy Hoffa, the teamster leader that vanished decades ago, is still believed dead.  Since no one has seen him in decades, there is little to disprove this.  Still, he’s back in the news as no one can find where he was buried.  In the year 2332, they’ll still be looking, but will be more agreeable to the fact he is still dead.
2)  Former Vice President and secret tyrant, Dick Cheney, has sided with President Obama and defended his actions in the NSA episode.  That and $4 will get Obama a cup of coffee at Starbucks and 200 shares of stock in Halliburton.  Cheney agrees that weapons of mass destruction are being used in Syria.  Haven’t we heard him say that before?  “Those that fail to remember history...”
3)  A teenager is in trouble for riding a 30 foot whale shark.  Says the teenager, “I learned my technique from watching Debra Winger in the old classic movie, “Urban Cowboy.”  “Wasn’t I grand!”
4)  Another teenager is in trouble for wearing a NRA T-shirt to school.  Says one teacher, “We shouldn’t have to be subjected to such atrocities.  We should just shoot him!”
5)  Federal agents raided fifteen 7 Eleven stores in search of illegal aliens.  Each agent carried a Slurpee in one hand, and a voter registration pad in the other.  Spokespersons for the Republican Party stated, “Damn, I wish we’d thought of that!”
6)  Sarah Palin returned to Fox News once again.  She is still weak on the topics of National Economy, Foreign Aid and Affairs, and United States history, but claims to have made great forward leaps and bounds in Geography.  She now knows it’s the Japanese trash from a Tsunami a few years back that she can see out her window instead of Russia.  
7)  Justin Bieber was ignored by his own country’s Polaris Music Award Committee again, as none of his five albums have ever been considered great music by them.  Shows the Canadians have a much better sense of music appreciation than their Southern neighbors, doesn’t it?
8)  and finally, Russian President Putin has given his support to the Syrian political regime stating that to give guns to rebels would only create more terrorism.  Let’s see, the United States gave guns to Osama Bin Laden and his rebels during the Russian war with Afghanistan in the 80’s,  and found it to be a grave error in judgement as 9/11 came about and the U.S. got caught up in a war in the same place ... and still isn’t out of it.  “Those who fail to remember the past ...”

But then again, let’s not forget that the U.S. has always armed the little guys in hopes of taking down a political structure that didn’t quite agree with U.S. policies.  At times, it paid off for a little while.  However, in the case of Vietnam, the Afghan rebels, and the Contras, it has come back to bite us in the tail.  Still U.S. Industry mostly thrives in a wartime climate, except for the Iraq War where Halliburton received a no-compete contract to make money while others sat starving in the wings.  Let’s see, wasn’t VP Cheney a CEO of Halliburton at one time?  And who, once again, is speaking out for getting another war started?  And, doesn’t war tend to increase the gap between the rich and the poor for the most part as profiteers reap all the cash, and the poor do all the dying?

Maybe we should start to “Remember the Past.”

Or, would that “overload a circuit board?”

Non Shrink T-Shirt recommendations ... anyone?