"Politics as usual..."

The words flew out of my mouth entirely too fast: "If I had to choose between
cutting PBS/NPR funding and getting rid of bargaining rights for public employees,
I'd have to cut PBS/NPR." And after I'd made that statement during a somewhat-
lively debate with my father, I wanted to curl up in the fetal position and cry. Dad
looked almost relieved when I said that; it was as if my statement signaled that I
was slowly losing my Liberal ideology. To that, I'll use the words of our forty-first
president:

"Not gunna do it...wouldn't be prudent."

Gov. Scott Walker (R ((what else?))-Wisconsin), didn't exactly have prudence in
mind when he unleashed his full-frontal attack on unions, in an apparently rather
pro-union state. All governors and legislatures have the responsibility to budget,
save money and be pro-active when it comes to reducing shortfalls. Unfortunately,
the Governor made a bone-headed move when he went after the unions. You just
don't assail an already-economically challenged group of people, thinking that
they'll just bend over and take it. You cut services like NPR, PBS, state parks
and other 'extras'. You don't cut essential benefits. Gov. Walker could've taken a
lesson from ex-Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher: mess with the unions, and you only
serve one term. Gov. Walker has only been in office for less than three months.
But when he signed that ridiculous and controversial bill, he also signed his
political death warrant.

Speaking of political demise, let's move on to 2012 Republican Presidential
Nominees. Sure, we're still in a recession. Sure, the President isn't the most
popular kid on the playground. But he sure looks good compared to some of the
goobers who are contemplating take-overs. Tea Party favorite and Favorite-SNL
topic, Sarah Palin, is well on her way to finally convincing a majority of Americans
that she isn't smart enough to be President. I think that people are seeing her for
what she is: someone who has gotten so use to fame and money that she could
really care less about learning enough about the issues to help people. It is being
suggested that U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) is the Tea Party's up-and-
coming frontrunner. This is truly frightening. Bachmann, who has been touring the
country, displaying her second grade comprehension of U.S. history, sounds much
more scary than she looks--which is saying a lot. Be warned. Lastly, we have the
likes of former U.S. Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Mars), whose personal credibility with
those supporting "Republican Values" resembles that of the other rumored potential-
candidate, Donald Trump. "Dear God, hear my prayer: If you really decide to end the
World on May 21st, please do the rest of us a favor...and take these people first.
Amen."

Departing is most likely bittersweet for one-time "inevitable nominee" and gutsy
U.S. Sec. of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who indicated that she would not
continue her service to the Obama Administration after next year's election. For me,
this news is both half-surprising and half-not. On one hand, I really thought that Sec.
Clinton would stay in for the full eight years, transitioning from one-time shrewd
politician to elder, competent statesman. But a leopard never changes his spots,
and although I like Hillary's politics, her hardcore ambition is her downfall. She said
that she didn't want to be president, either, but I can't help but think that she's up to
something. Rodham-Clinton has served her country well, but her only real chance at
the presidency was 2008 and she blew it with her cockiness. What now?

Lastly, my only wish for the upcoming Kentucky gubernatorial election is that just
one of the candidates wouldn't sound so 'backwoods'. I know that it's a really mean
thing to say, but I've been listening to speeches from Gov. Steve Beshear (D) and his
opponent, Sen. Pres. David Williams (R) and they both couldn't sound more 'gravelly'
if they'd drank three gallons of moonshine.

I'm just sayin'...