The Trouble In These United States

As I think about what I have to do this weekend some random thoughts about our country and everything in it:

- Watching the current debate over Health Care Reform has really confirmed that unless there is true campaign finance reform, true change can never take place. If President Obama is able to pull this off with a public option, it will be the most significant policy initiative since the Great Society.

- The whole nonsense over the President's response to the question of what happened in Cambridge illustrates that race relations in this country is still less than where it needs to be. I have to tell you I hear the race comments regularly at work, with family and friends. As I told my wife the other day, the President has a big problem: many people can't get by the color of his skin.

- While I understand freedom of the press and free speech, the right wing talkers have been continuing the race baiting beyond belief. I've stated this in previous blogs, this disturbing behavior could lead to dangerous circumstances.

- Bringing it closer to home, I had to laugh the other day when the County Legislature expressed shock that no other county is joining them in their frivolous lawsuit against NYPA. The Leg is wasting money, casino money. Assemblywoman DelMonte was right: the Legislature can't be trusted with casino money. What a joke!!

- Speaking of jokes, have you read the Niagara Times blog????

- The situation at City Hall in Niagara Falls is another black eye for the city. I don't get John Gross. He has a great business and they do great work. I had a furnace problem and his guy came over and took care of it right away. The one thing that doesn't surprise me is Attorney Jim Faso's involvement. The guy really is disgrace to the legal profession that goes beyond this incident. Just ask the many clients he has screwed over.

- The racial overtones in the e-mails of a city official again illustrates there is a big problem in this city and in city government. I would hope that Mayor Dyster would address this more publicly.

- Am I the only one who wishes that Liz Cheney would go away. Maybe she can slide into the bunker her father was in for 8 years.

- Speaking of her father, interesting the Time Magazine article about how Dick Cheney lobbied hard for President Bush to last minute pardon Scooter Libby. I give Bush credit. Cheney was as guilty as sin and he tried to take care of his buddy. Cheney is a national disgrace!!!!

- And whatever happened to Tom "the Hammer" DeLay??