Michael Phelps

Yeah, everybody else is talking about it. Or maybe I just like the poster. So today the sheriff of the county he apparently smoked dope in had to say he wouldn't prosecute him. So we look at the penalties for possession of marijuana in South Carolina and what do we see. Something really surprising: a maximum of 30 days and a maximum $200.00 fine. Essentially, what you could get for a speeding ticket.

Hell Phelps had a previous DUI charge, but that didn't have anything like the negative effect of the marijuana. Good old booze.

The fact that marijuana is probably the least harmful drug you can put into your body for fun doesn't seem to interest those in the media or the people who are our rulers at all.

The New Guy

Well one can only hope our beltway media royality ends the same way.

Well its down to work for the new guy. And the MSM continues much as it did yesterday. By mistake I read this article without first noticing that it is from the Politico.

First, the authors bemoan the fact that so far Obama hasn't had his "Sister Souljah" moment where he could repudiate his base (by attacking a straw [wo]man) as Clinton did. With the thought I guess that that worked so well for Clinton. Then he points out that Obama is unlikely to screw his supporters the way Clinton with NAFTA. This is apparently a bad thing. I mean NAFTA did turn out so well for the working and middle classes and in fact this country in general.

Second, he very briefly quotes "one recent report" which claims that Social Security will go into steep decline after 2011. However, everything I've read is that is just hooey. Most of the reputable economists (those who did fore see this financial collapse) say that Social Security will be fine for the fore see able future. The authors do not even bother to mention that many economists (including the most recent Noble winner) disagree strongly with that "recent report."

The people who own DC or at least think they own DC are going to fight like cornered rats to keep their power. This will include simple lies like the one about Social Security and just listing something as a "good thing" which is in reality a very questionable thing like Clinton's pushing for NAFTA.

Apparently, once a moderate/progressive/liberal is elected to office it is necessary for him to repudiate his base to show he can really govern. Like a real American. They can't stop themselves. It's just as though we aren't in the middle of the greatest financial crisis in the last 75 years. But then of course, they aren't going to hurt. Just the rest of us.

I Really Don't Remember You No Matter How Unusual You Are

I saw a midget in the Law Director's office today. Or perhaps she was a little person, I'm not sure. I think I know her. I believe she was a client or the girl friend of a client. Yeah I think that's it. The client was full sized or a big person.

Perhaps I'm not remembering this quite right. I mean that she was in the Law Director's office and I do know her, I think. But there was a period in my life spanning several decades which for want of a better word could best be called hazy for chemical reasons. So that I often see people who I am pretty sure I know, but I can't be sure. I also can't be sure how I know them. So it's best not to be too friendly, since they could become hostile if I got too close, some of them. This is particularly true of people who were on the other side in divorces and custody cases. Those seem to bring out eternal enmity toward opposing counsel. She could have been on the other side in a divorce case. Or on the same side I can't really remember.

Of course I could also have known her from one of the foggier high times. Therefore, given all these posibilities I find it is just better to go on and not try to get too friendly in cases like this. I find it better for all concerned in the end.

A Couple of Short Thoughts

Our Current Rulers Having a Snack On Our Body Politic Before They Go

I think that this is just peachy. I do so love irony (which I truly think this is as opposed to mere coincidence). It does provide a warm after glow to see the fall out from our "War On Drugs" actually hit one of the people who make a good living from our war on drugs. I've read elsewhere that Mexico is moving closer and closer to anarchy as a result of the Mexican government's (should that ' be removed given the disintegration of the central government?).

The second thing I'm now seeing is the beltway praying for the traditional quad/octo-end of the presidency pardons given to those who committed serious crimes at the request of whoever happened to be president. Sooner or later one of these out going elected criminals will pardon themselves and people will be shocked. Shocked and appalled, I tell you.

And then go on as though this is the way things have always been. It always kinds of surprises me that the rulers have gotten away with so much more during my life time than they did before. I suspect that we are really fucked and we are just really close to our end as something resembling a democracy. And there is nothing that we can do about it. Waves of history don't cha know.

Professional Wrestling or Roller Derby, You Be The Judge

Well now I think I've got today's politics figured out: It's like professional wresting. The refs (news media) are always being worked by the bad guys (Republicans). The good guys (Democrats [OK, I know that's stretching it]) are constantly having their eyes gouged and being illegally hit upon by the bad guys and the refs are always looking the other way when it happens. Except when they are taking bribes, I guess.

The fans scream ineffectively and watch the bad guys beat the shit out of the good guys. Further it is all pretend. In the end the wrestlers and refs all go back into the locker rooms and are real good buddies and all is forgiven.

And they take the fans money and split it up amongst themselves.

Or maybe Roller Derby?

War on Terra, No War on Drugs

Well let's see we first piggy back the war on terror on the war on drugs and then the war on drugs on the war on terror.

On the other hand our Supreme Court decides that police are so much more professional now. So basically cops can kick in your door and shoot your dog and they haven't violated the Fourth Amendment. I mean let's face it if you haven't broken a law what do you have to worry about? Right Mr. Madison?

On the other hand other parts of the original Constitution [3/5ths any one?] Appear to be in full force and effect in Ohio at least. So the question: "Who do you have to lynch to be called a racist?" Is apparently a fair one as it applies to cops when they raid a house where the residents are black. Although, to be fair to the jury poor white trash would probably have gotten the same kind of justice.

Its just us good middle class white old line Americans that get the special deal. Slide along the edge of respectability just a little and you deserve to be punished. On the other hand you are more likely to be considered to have slid if you are poor or of a darker hue. And a a lot more if you are both poor and of a darker hue.

I did not see if the drug raid in Lima was one where a warrant was obtained before the raid or if it was a knock and kick in the door kind, like the one on the Mayor. The shootings would be, I suspect, much more likely if it was a raid without a warrant. I also suspect that there wasn't a lot of dope in the house, since the last story merely states that the cops found crack and marijuana, but doesn't mention the amounts. If there was r a lot you can bet your ass they would have told you to the cent the value.

Really dumb, no I mean really

So sometimes I think that perhaps we really do get the government we deserve. If the powers that be are able to convince a majority of the voters that it is in their best interests to vote republican yet again. Then perhaps we do deserve what we get.

"If you can keep you head while all about you are losing theirs, perhaps you simply do not understand the situation." (?)