Random Questions and Thoughts

After reading (and re-reading) the speech given by Pope Benedict XVI at University of Regensburg, I have to say that the reaction of the Muslim world proves his contention. It's as if I beat up someone because they had the audacity to say I react violently.

If anyone should apologize - which is what the Muslims want - then it should be the Islamic leaders who fuel the Arab street's hatred. I would be stunned if any one of the rioters heard and understood what the Pope said. If they did, then their reactions would not have been so extreme. Although in the Muslim world, one can no longer be sure.

I must say I'm impressed with what Hillary Clinton said regarding the film, "Death of a President." While her comments carry more weight since she is not only a former First Lady, but also someone with Presidential aspirations as well, I believe they were an honest reaction to vile excrement created as "entertainment".

Truthfully, nothing else would be acceptable for Mrs. Clinton to say. However, the fact that she not only said it, but said it with such disgust impressed me. For those who didn't hear it, She made the comments in Chappaqua at the annual New Castle Community Day:

"I think it's despicable. I think it's absolutely outrageous. That anyone would even attempt to profit on such a horrible scenario makes me sick."

You see, I agree that once in a while a Democrat gets it right.

Why is it so hard for people to understand that the price of gas at the local filling station is based not on the cost of gas sold to the station, but on the price of gas that will have to be purchased by the station to replace what he has.

Seems simple to me. However, when I think of all those dollars going to our dear "friends" in the Persian Gulf, I get a strong urge to either ride a bike, or beat up an environmentalist.

While walking everywhere may be heathy, my knees and back will never again be strong enough to sustain that kind of exercise. Until the discover a way to fix my arthritis without taking anything that will destroy my already weakened kidneys, driving is my only viable alternative. And as far as I'm concerned, the caribou can find another place to sleep - after all, It's not as if Alaska doesn't have enough room.

Former Texas Governor Ann Richards passed away Wednesday. While not particularly a fan, she was certainly entertaining. I had the pleasure to meet her in the late-'80s when she spoke at an Israel Bonds banquet I worked on. However, while she certainly still had a sharp tongue, she was less than charming to my staff. Her demands were quintessential diva-esque and her language would make a sailor blush.

Clearly at the time, you could see she was losing steam. She was soon to defeat Clayton Williams - well actually, Williams defeated himself. While holding a substantial lead in the polls close to the election, Williams, a real "good 'ol boy" from Midland, was sitting around on a rainy afternoon with some reporters, when likening bad weather to rape, he quipped, "as long as it's inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it."

Within the next few weeks, he lost his 20-point lead and the election as well.

As for Richards, she stayed on and came close to another re-election in 1994, but her own unfortunate slip of the tongue gave her opponent - a young Republican upstart named George W. Bush - the victory. Richard's comment, calling Bush "some jerk" (spoken like a true Democrat), was the last straw to a population that had already grown tired of her unpopular stances on many election issues.

Two outstanding articles I wish to recommend to you: Firstly, Carolyn Glick's The Free World's Achilles Heel, a superb study in who is and who isn't Israel's ally, and secondly, the incredible Charles Krauthammer's The Tehran Calculus.

The latter article is at best a chilling slap of reality and at worst a depressing look at the future, should Tehran aquire nuclear arms. I don't blame anyone for wanting to remain oblivious to the very real threat of Iranian nukes, but ignoring the truth will only make the shock all that more painful.

I leave you tonight with my prediction for tomorrow night's Cowboys-Redskins game:

Without Portis, Washington will not be able to run. The Cowboy defense, embarrassed by the loss to Jacksonville a week earlier, will be on fire and will shut down Washington's passing game. Bledsoe will find T.O., Glenn will have a huge game and Dallas wins 34-13.

You heard it here first!