Dangerous Roads

Just some of several dangerous roads in the weeks/months to come:

+ A Utah Theater cancels it's showings of "Brokeback Mountain.." Now.. I know that "Fahrenheit 9/11" was not shown in some theaters.. Much for the same reason that Brokeback Mountain isn't: selected theater owners believe that they have the right to show (or not show) whatever content that they choose to..

Okay - for a minute, I'll agree with that notion.. That as a business owner, you can ultimately decide what you do with your business.. Seems fair enough -- except when the theater owner has a contract with the distributor who is putting out the movie.. Make a business decision should be the right of every small business.. Going back on your agreement, litigate it in court.. But to deny showing a movie solely based on your personally held beliefs is morally reprehensible..

I haven't seen the movie..

I have a general idea of what it's about..

And I'm disappointed that the theater owner is so prejudiced that he can't seem to work beyond his personal flaws.. I can say that in my life I was placed in the same position as he was -- making a controversial decision in almost an identical fashion.. I had a flood of pressure that in turn - forced me to make a decision.. I chose to show a movie that several tried to convince me that was inappropriate.. Good, bad or indifferent - I let the audience make its own informed decision about the movie.. Regardless of the outcome, I felt I made the right choice - and that was all I was concerned about.. I didn't let my personal feelings affect the responsible decision I made about letting the populace decide what was, or wasn't right..

The point is: the movie is released with the seal from the Motion Picture industry attached.. It's deemed appropriate and affixed a proper rating shield on it.. The public deserves to make the choice for themselves.. I sincerely doubt this owner chided away from King Kong on the basis that it's about a fake ape and hence, was unrealistic......

+ Iran, Sharon & Israel.. I hope that Prime Minister Sharon has a full recovery.. Afterall, he has played an integral, unpopular position in the Middle East peace process.. Something of which I hope the Palestinians leadership realizes so that there aren't any rash decisions in Sharon's absence.. While I continue to have grave concerns about the peace process, Sharon really did go out on a limb by the pullout of Gaza.. He's hated by Israel and by the Palestinians.. But he's making peace in a world that has a really hard time making peace..

But I laud Iran's lead guy's position that the Holocaust didn't happen.. Wow.. That's pretty bold considering he just built up a nuclear weapons program under Bush's watch without so much of a nugget of pressure from the White House.. Weapons of Mass Destruction, George?? Remember??

+ Alito's hearings are set to begin -- and it's one of those situations where I just shrug and move on.. I have no doubt that he will be confirmed and we'll have swung a very large pendulum too far in the other direction.. While I read about the detractors that continually reveal that Alito will set the nation back 40 years - I simply do not know if I agree.. Obviously it would've been better to have a swing vote like O'Connor, but admittedly Sandra Day was not well liked by the Republicans..

So to preserve "their way" of thinking, they want someone he exceeds well and beyond Scalia..... And Alito seems to fit that bill.. All of a sudden, Bush's first pick didn't seem that bad now, did it?? Remember what I said then, Democrats: "be careful what you wish for....." And viola'.......

Congratulations - we now have tipped this country on its ear......

*shrugs* Life goes on.....

Posturing...

The mud continues to sling from both sides..

It's amazing..

The majority of Americans question our motives in Iraq.. Democrats are calling for a timetable.. Bush said basically: we'll leave when we leave..

*sighs*

Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania reiterated a logical resolve when he said that the removal of US forces sends a strong signal to the Iraqi people that we have no interest in occupying their country.. Bush's assertion that we needed to stay until the Iraqi security was able protect themselves from the insurgents..

Okay - Murtha's comments make a lot of sense really..

Because as the Iraqi people are made aware that we are not looking to occupy their country -- then maybe there will be enough incentive to stand up for themselves..

See?? That makes sense..

But for Bush to agree with that - it would mean that his "ace in the hole" is gone.. Because without the war on terror - this President has NO clue how to govern without the war on terror; because this President knows ONLY how to govern with a war on terror in the background..

That's one thing that I wanted to mention..

Then there's Bush's reaction to the comments that Murtha is just like Michael "Fahrenheit 9/11" Moore.. Most notably was this quote:

"People should feel comfortable expressing their opinions about Iraq,"

Whoa -- wait a second..

We *CAN* have differing opinions about Iraq without feeling as though we are anti-American?? Wow.. Times really have changed..

Let's not forget that it wasn't that long ago that this administration came out and claimed that Democrats were wanting to re-write history.. Wow..

We'll see how long this lasts..

The DeLay mess / A Deficit Soars

He speaks, and everyone holds their breath..

No, I'm not talking about Bush or Michael Moore..

But whenever the PR machine doesn't go in favor of this administration or the republican party, Karl Rove usually appears at just the right time to quell any anxiety that is going on in the party..

And the press becomes enamored to the point of fear as a result of it..

The whole Tom DeLay thing is actually pretty comical.. He's nothing more than a political cartoon, a caricature of what really exists under the skin of some of the Republican regime.. He's the untamed animal in a zoo that, up until this point, was in clear control of their emotions..

The whole veiled threat things gets me..

Even tho the "talking heads" out there are basically saying that it was taken out of context.. So when Karl Rove emerges from the bunker - all is calm - all is quiet - all is well..

The Damage Control Specialist has spoken..

We can all put this behind us because it's trivial because it has no relevance of the man - even though he clearly violated the laws that govern the conduct of every senator and member of the House of Representatives..

Think of what we've "waived off" during this administration:
- the 9/11 commission findings
- rising gas costs (no investigation)
- the Terri Schiavo case (how this doesn't violate the Constitution is beyond me...)
- and the whole Tom DeLay affair/debacle
- the bankruptcy bill & rising deficits on an astronomical trend

With a soaring deficit, we should take solace that our Vice President has said: "Reagan taught us deficits don't matter."

Interesting viewpoint of someone who clearly benefits when we're fiscally irresponsible and let the deficits run free.. (ala Haliburton)

...but then again, I guess it's okay to tell everyone what they have to do, to be fiscally responsible, when they justify it in their minds that they don't have to..