"Yes - I am a - middle of the road - type guy", specifically a Moderate Democrat.

"Ok, now that - that is out of the way - let's move on to getting some of the -jokes/un-truths - out of the way.

The 1st one might be "Rush's line" about - 'what do you find in the middle of the road'?

Of course the answer is ---- "roadkill".

Hahahahaha ......... ha

A comment I hear a lot about 'moderates' -- "is that they have no 'strong' feelings about anything".

That, of course is blatantly un-true by any standard.

For example; "I strongly believe in a 'Strong Defense", for my country".

*It is the way we "supposedly" defend ourselves, i.e. by attacking/taking over - small countries - on weak/bogus evidence - that I have qualms about.

Also, I strongly believe in "abortion".

*But - only in cases - where the mother's health (physical/mental), is part of the equation, and only - "after every alternative avenue has been explored - and dismissed as not possible/feasible", i.e. adoption of the unwanted child for one.

Also, I am "strongly" - in favor of - "eliminating" the need for abortion - through "serious" sexual education, and even "financial incentives", for not having "unwanted" children.

*For example: why couldn't we (federal/state/county/city) offer "one time" bonuses to young women, who upon reaching the age of 21, have not borne a baby? Now, that's a novel idea, eh? But, as a taxpayer, I would rather my tax dollars be spent that way - than to fund legal abortion.

I strongly believe in the "right" to live an alternative (sexual) lifestyle, as long as it is conforms with "my" accepted morality.

*Of course - what is/is not "accepted" morality", is an argument without a conclusion. The above "emphasis" on - my - is not by accident, and neither is the "lack of emphasis" on - accepted morality.

For, it is the many "different" definitions of morality, and the desire to make one's own definition, the universally "accepted morality", that fuels the endless debate of - "an argument without a conclusion".

The logical solution to this problem would be - "majority rule", which is what - in essence - we have today in this country. But, that, in and of itself, is based on the premise that "the majority knows best", which we all know is not always the case. For example; the "majority" at one time supported The Vietnam War, The War in Iraq, Richard Nixon, and so on. It reminds me of what a great philosopher once said, "when I find myself on the side of the majority, I always back up and carefully re-examine my reasoning".

So, if not "majority rule", ....?

How about we all adopt my definition of morality? No, I guess that won't work, cause, Tom, (one of my co-workers) would have a frigging fit.

So, how about Tom's definition of morality? Nah, that won't work cause he believes that "oral sex", is morally irreprehensible, so, I couldn't go along with his ideas, no, no, not at all.

Such a quandry we find ourselves in. I guess it would be too simplistic to just "live and let live", eh? I mean, after all, we are - all here together - hurtling through an unknown universe, on an abandoned piece of dirt, which none will ever get off alive, so, why couldn't we just try to make it agreeable to all concerned.


To summarize - these are "three issues" that I have strong beliefs.

What makes me a "moderate", is the way I feel about them.

"Strong Defense", but prudent use of it.

"Abortion", but for a reason, and, as a solution to a real problem, not to be done on a "whim", to satisfy flimsy wants/desires, laced with even flimsier excuses, for basic "lack of planning", and lack of sexual education, i.e. the birds and the bees.

"Choice of lifestyle", as a personal decision, and not legislated morality.

So, that's me. I like it here in the 'middle of the road', I'll leave the ruts/ditches of the far left/right to those who choose to travel them.

with regards, icemelts

I'm not much of a Pat Buchanon "fan" since I'm a "moderate Democrat", but every once in awhile he hit's upon something. When I read this article - I thought he hit it right on the button.

Failure of an idea
... and a people

Posted: September 14, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2005 Creators Syndicate Inc.

In his 1935 State of the Union Address, FDR spoke to a nation mired

in the Depression, but still marinated in conservative values:

"[C]ontinued dependence" upon welfare, said FDR, "induces a spiritual

disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To

dole our relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle

destroyer of the human spirit."

Behind FDR's statement was the conviction that, while the government

must step in in an emergency, in normal times, men provide the food,

clothing and shelter for their families.


And we did, until the war pulled us out of the Depression and a

postwar boom made us, in John K. Galbraith's phrase, "The Affluent

Society." By the 1960s, America, the richest country on earth, was

growing ever more prosperous. But with the 1964 landslide of LBJ,

liberalism triumphed and began its great experiment.

Behind the Great Society was a great idea: to lift America's poor out

of poverty, government should now take care of all their basic needs.

By giving the poor welfare, subsidized food, public housing and free

medical care, government will end poverty in America.

At the Superdome and New Orleans Convention Center, we saw the

failure of 40 years of the Great Society. No sooner had Katrina

passed by and the 17th Street levee broke than hundreds of young men

who should have taken charge in helping the aged, the sick and the

women with babies to safety took to the streets to shoot, loot and

rape. The New Orleans police, their numbers cut by deserters who left

their posts to look after their families, engaged in running gun

battles all day long to stay alive and protect people.

It was the character and conduct of its people that makes the New

Orleans disaster unique. After a hurricane, people's needs are

simple: food, water, shelter, medical attention. But they can be hard

to meet. People buried in rubble or hiding in attics of flooded homes

are tough to get to. But, even with the incompetence of the mayor and

governor, and the torpor of federal officials, this was possible.

Coast Guard helicopters were operating Tuesday. There were roads open

into the city for SUVs, buses and trucks. While New Orleans was

flooded, the water was stagnant. People walked through to the

convention center and Superdome. The flimsiest boat could navigate.

Even if government dithered for days – what else is new – this does

not explain the failure of the people themselves.

Between 1865 and 1940, the South – having lost a fourth of its best

and bravest in battle, devastated by war, mired in poverty – was

famous for the hardy self-reliance of her people, black and white.

In 1940, hundreds of British fishermen and yachtsmen sailed back and

forth daily under fire across a turbulent 23-mile Channel to rescue

300,000 soldiers from Dunkirk. How do we explain to the world that a

tenth that number of Americans could not be reached in four days from

across a stagnant pond?

The real disaster of Katrina was that society broke down. An entire

community could not cope. Liberalism, the idea that good intentions

and government programs can build a Great Society, was exposed as

fraud. After trillions of tax dollars for welfare, food stamps,

public housing, job training and education have poured out since

1965, poverty remains pandemic. But today, when the police vanish,

the community disappears and men take to the streets to prey on women

and the weak.

Stranded for days in a pool of fetid water, almost everyone waited

for the government to come save them. They screamed into the cameras

for help, and the reporters screamed into the cameras for help, and

the "civil rights leaders" screamed into the cameras that Bush was

responsible and Bush was a racist.

Americans were once famous for taking the initiative, for having

young leaders rise up to take command in a crisis. See any of that at

the Superdome? Sri Lankans and Indonesians, far poorer than we, did

not behave like this in a tsunami that took 400 times as many lives

as Katrina has thus far.

We are the descendants of men and women who braved the North Atlantic

in wooden boats to build a country in a strange land. Our ancestors

traveled thousands of miles in covered wagons, fighting off Indians

far braver than those cowards preying on New Orleans' poor.


Watching that performance in the Crescent City, it seems clear: We

are not the people our parents were. And what are all our Lords

Temporal now howling for? Though government failed at every level,

they want more government.

FDR was right. A "spiritual disintegration" has overtaken us.

Government-as-first provider, the big idea of the Great Society, has

proven to be "a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit."

----Either we get off this narcotic, or it kills us.

The past few days have been really chaotic around here. Mr. Debunkem's disappearance and subsequent reappearance 48 hours later, disrupted this paper to the point that we came close to not publishing an issue today.

Most of the staff had been sent to various locations all over the globe - in a fruitless, and somewhat comical search for Debunkem, who reappeared -in good shape - though - "blabbering quite incoherently", about meeting "Abe", along with some other stuff never specified. Everyone "welcomed him back quite heartily," and never a word of "thanks" for our enormous efforts - to locate Mr. DeBunk - at "great expense" I might add, which says nothing of our sister company "Channel One News, which was knocked clean out of business because of the debunkem shenanigans.

But, even with a severely decimated staff we still bravely sought to put out this paper. Then came the news this morning - that 16 of our staff had called in with "Reindeer Flu", due to all the reindeer shit "mildewing" in the front yard.

This development was followed by a visit from the town constable, who was investigating a complaint about us having "several reindeer" in the front yard. Although the "reindeer in question" were gone by this time, we had no good explanation for all the crap in the yard, except to blame it on Mrs. Gable's cat, which I doubt that Constable Morganthau really bought, although like I said, there was no reindeer, so we dodged that bullet, I guess. At least we have heard nothing more from the city on the subject, so far.

Also, as most of our readers know, we lost an investigative reporter for 36 hours. The really distressing part is that after finally locating him; he's now come up missing again!

The reporter in question, Mr. Hymus R. Peckersmith, IV, was being debriefed by S.J. Hump, when Mr. Hump left the interrogation room to fetch some coffee. Upon his return, he found the room empty, with a window standing open; curtain flapping in the breeze.

The only clue, was a folded napkin, laying in Mr. Peckersmith's chair, with "Et du sred" printed on it, in "red ink". Even more ominous was the words "Kings and Queens" stamped on the upper left hand corner.

As we mount all of our resources, in an effort to find Mr. Peckersmith again, we appeal to the U.S. Gov't for assistance in this time of great distress - "hep us, hep us, hep us, hep us." But, alas, we know that our pitiful cries will fall on "deaf ears", cause after all - we don't have a "Shep Smith", or a "Geraldo" to plead our case.

So, like the great Americans we are, we've decided to pick ourselves up by our loafers, and pull ourselves back on the front page of world news -- by bringing a "Blockbuster Interview" to all our readers, and the entire rest of the world.

Yes, it's true. We have requested and been granted an interview of Mr. D.E. Bunkem!!! The great man, just back from his "time traveling jaunt" will tell his exclusive story, never before told, nor heard. We will hear about his adventures with "Abe," and we will find out what "really happened', on that fateful trip. There is also a rumor that the "whereabouts" of one "Amelia Earhart" will be divulged by Mr. Debunkem.

To interview Mr. Bunk, we went after one of the top "interviewers" in our industry, --"lalepop's", late of Channel One News. However, Mr. LaPops request of $2,000.000 plus - half of the movie rights were too much, even for us.

Next, we tried to get Larry King, but, alas, when we contacted his agent, we learned that Larry had just left for Iraq, to interview Sadaam, about his thoughts of running for the Republican nomination for President, in "08." We personally think that he (Sadaam) will eventually settle for the 2nd spot behind Condy.

Anyway, we are proud to announce that the "Honorable Corny Hump", has agreed to interview Mr. Bunkem. It is our understanding that the details of this interview are being worked out, even as this rag goes to press.

Stay tune for details; and "remember," --- "keep buying this rag".

This morning going to work, I was listening to an old cd, one I hadn't listen to in a long time; heard a song I first heard over 30 years ago.

Anyhow...... "It's a song I wish I had written".

"Is that all there is"

SPOKEN:
I remember when I was a very little girl, our house caught on fire.
I'll never forget the look on my father's face as he gathered me up
in his arms and raced through the burning building out to the pavement.
I stood there shivering in my pajamas and watched the whole world go up in flames.
And when it was all over I said to myself, "Is that all there is to a fire"

SUNG:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

SPOKEN:
And when I was 12 years old, my father took me to a circus, the greatest show on earth.
There were clowns and elephants and dancing bears.
And a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads.
And so I sat there watching the marvelous spectacle.
I had the feeling that something was missing.
I don't know what, but when it was over,
I said to myself, "is that all there is to a circus?

SUNG:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

SPOKEN:
Then I fell in love, head over heels in love, with the most wonderful boy in the world.
We would take long walks by the river or just sit for hours gazing into each other's eyes.
We were so very much in love.
Then one day he went away and I thought I'd die, but I didn't,
and when I didn't I said to myself, "is that all there is to love?"

SUNG:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing

SPOKEN:
I know what you must be saying to yourselves,
if that's the way she feels about it why doesn't she just end it all?
Oh, no, not me. I'm in no hurry for that final disappointment,
for I know just as well as I'm standing here talking to you,
when that final moment comes and I'm breathing my last breath, I'll be saying to myself

SUNG:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

Sung by Peggy Lee - Released 1969

Written by - Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber

dateline, the Riviera. Mr. Peckersmith was finally located this evening at "Kings and Queens" a popular club, within walking distance of the famed beach.

He (Mr. Pecker) was discovered hiding in a coat Closet, and immediately outed from said closet, by S.J. Hump, with some assistance from Wee Wacky.

What follows is an interview conducted by S.J. Hump, with Mr. Peckersmith, concerning his whereabouts for the last 36 hours and the events leading up to his disappearance.

s.j. - This interview is being recorded. It is an interview of a Mr. Hymus Peckersmith, the IV, an employee of "The New Residencia." Mr. Peckersmith has been advised of his rights, and advised that this interview is being taped, and anything he says may be used as evidence against him. "Do you understand, sir"?

HYMUS - yes I do.

s.j. - ok Hymus, just relax; we've worked many cases together in the

past, so you know the drill. In your own words just tell us what

caused your disappearance?

HYMUS - I was in this joint, it wern't much of one, kind of small,

but I guess it served the purpose; a place where lonely people went

looking for other lonely people.

I had it on good information that Debunkem would be there that night,

so I'd arranged to be there early, before it got busy. I was sitting

at a table in the back, smoke was everywhere; I watched as it drifted

to the ceiling, and I wondered about the blond at the bar. She was

eyeing me - when she thought I wern't looking.

There were two tough looking characters lounging on stools next to

her, but they weren't paying any attention to the babe, and that got

my antenna up, cause she was a knockout, and, any joe would of been

forced to check out the headlights on that model.

Along about then is when I felt the hairs on the back of my neck

start to "stand up and stretch". In my business this was usually a

good sign to get up and vacate the premises; my 5th instinct was

yelling at me to leave - when this giant of a man sat down at my

table blotting out everything else. He just looked at me and

said, "can you find my Emma"?

"Jesus", I thought "of all the joints

in the world - why'd he have to come into this one"?

s.j. - "do you need a break Hymus"?

Hymus - yeah, they got any strong coffee in this place?

s.j. - I'll get us some; be back in a minute.