More Random Thoughts

1. NASCAR. President Obama welcomed NASCAR driver Jimmy Johnson to the White House today. As one pol noted, "Jimmy Johnson turns left faster than most". Coming on the heals of his Beer Summit a couple weeks back the President is increasing his populist function.

2. Bomber. The New York Times reports that the only person convicted of the in the Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie will be set free from a prison in Scotland: "...Tuesday, lawyers for Mr. Megrahi, a 57-year-old former Libyan intelligence officer, say that he is close to death from terminal prostate cancer.

The BBC reported last week that he was “likely to be released on compassionate grounds,” so that he can return to Libya to die."

Humm. For those who don't remember, this man was responsible for having his pregnant girlfriend carry the bomb in her personal effects as she flew back to the United States.

I am truly astonished at Scotland applying compassion to a cold blooded murderer of innocents and expect a significant backlash by Americans.

3. Dissent Across the Fruited Plains. Health insurance reform continues to be an issue as the President has been unable to get his party in line for this takeover of 18% of the U.S. economy. Of course, this will be portrayed as Republican obstructionism. The truth of the matter is that Americans are fed up with the debt with which the President has burdened this nation - rightly or wrongly.

It is my opinion that a lot of the anger and frustration one sees in the evening news are individuals who are frightened of their lack of control in the process and this is the FIRST OPPORTUNITY that ordinary citizens have been able to have their voice heard in policy matters. Absent from this mess is any sense of self-awareness by the President or his Party regarding genuine concern by their electors. That they characterize dissent as "mob tactics" is not helpful.

Perhaps it is the failure of the Republicans, but it is only their failure in that the plurality of the Democrats have made their participation largely unnecessary. So, emboldened and unrestrained the Democrats have moved without benefit of critical negotiations with their opposition. It would be well for the President to remember that 53% of the popular vote does not equal a landslide and that President Bush (41) had a 92% approval rate two years before Bill Clinton unseated him from office.