gilmorelogic

Steve Stockman has decided to put some spice in a Texas election cycle that with all due respect to Wendy Davis, promised to be bland and largely ignored by the national media. Texas politics has long ago become an after thought on the national stage. Our governor proved why in his comic filled run for the presidency. Steve’s challenging of Senator John Cornyn is a hint to the Texas power structure, that all is not well.

I have had some personal interaction with Steve in the past. I do not view him as a crackpot, I will admit that his politics run counter to mine, but he is no crackpot. In my humble opinion, Texas will be a big loser in the outcome of this Senate race. Cornyn will probably win and continue his role as a one way conduit of Texas  money to other states. I realize this is the only thing that keeps Texas politically relevant nationally given our current state of statewide elections.

Personally I like Steve and when I learned that he had won his congressional seat I was happy for him. I knew that he had to cater to his perceived constituency, but I hoped that he would moderate some of his rhetoric and have some time in office. I find myself personally amused at some of his wild statements such as, if fetuses had guns there would be no abortions. Admittedly this is ludicrous and is no laughing matter because it affects women’s health especially in Texas. I personally abhor the use of abortions for birth control, but having lived through the horrors of back alley abortions, clothes hanger abortions, and who knows what, they should not be illegal.

I look forward to Steve giving me a chuckle as he moves Cornyn further to the ridiculous. I hope one day Steve decides to use his talents for good. For now I’ll have to settle for him being the spice in the Texas Republican primary.

As an aside to the Texas political inside power brokers, remember while you are engaged in denying healthcare to your citizenry and making it almost impossible to get an abortion, it was outsiders like the club for growth that elected our Junior Senator Ted Cruz. On further review Steve, I don’t think I’m chuckling I think I’m crying. Yes, I’m crying.

Just seen an article where Senator Robert Menendez is going to pursue sanctions against Iran in opposition to the agreement that President Obama has received through the commendable efforts of  Secretary Kerry. I understand that he and Senator Schumer are upset over the deal with Iran that  Bibi Netanyahu opposes vehemently. I have pledged this blog to fearlessly go in directions that may not comport to conventional wisdom or any wisdom in fact, but. The but is because there are in reality places I don’t want to tread. But If I am true to the purposes of this blog let me venture into one of those forbidden zones.

Senator Menendez and Senator Schumer should review their oath of office. Have they pledged allegiance to America or Israel. Senator Menendez and Senator Schumer are presently engaged in a show of loyalty to AIPAC and let America be damned. Senator Menendez seems to be upset that the Obama administration has framed the agreement with Iran as a choice between war and diplomacy. Senator Menendez is engaged in an exercise of pure folly if he pontificates otherwise. Israel does not want to bomb Iran they want us to. Bibi is a war monger and even his own people do not want to follow him in this endeavor. Senators Menendez and Schumer I have a question for you. Does Israel have nuclear capabilities? We all know they do. Has any nuclear possessor other than the USA unleashed this devastation on another country? Would we use an abundance of caution before we invaded a country with nuclear capabilities say Pakistan?

I realize that Iran might not be sincere or above board in these negotiations and it may all be for naught, but our elected officials should put America first. Time is past for our sons and daughter to spill their blood, their mental health, their in fact futures needlessly.

I hear what you are saying Senator Menendez and I know why you are saying it. The media won’t call you out, but I just did.

It is with great sadness that I must report the untimely demise of much venerated “60 Minutes”. It seems that Jeff Fager the executive producer of 60 Minutes allowed his star reporter Lara Logan to air a now discredited version of the Benghazi tragedy. Logan proudly allowed an obviously lying security contractor Dylan Davies to use the CBS airways to tell a fictitious version of the events on the night that Ambassador Stevens was killed. It was obvious to any layman with common sense that Davies was not being truthful. It appears that Davies was allowed to recite his tale of fiction to buttress Lara Logan’s view of a misstep by the Obama administration in fighting al-Qaeda.
As always is the case the cover-up is worse than the indiscretion. Enter Jeff Fager, the head honcho of CBS news whose first reaction was to deny, defend, deny. Then it seems it became clear that some penance had to occur because of this bogus story so Lara Logan used “60 Minutes” airtime to give an insincere non-apology for this fiasco. “60 Minutes” was now in the throes of a potentially life threatening seizure but the patient with prompt attention could be saved. An internal report came out that confirmed external reports about the miss-steps in reporting on Benghazi, by Lara Logan.
What can we do skipper Fager? Well go find Lara Logan and Max McClellan and throw them overboard. But Admiral weren’t they acting in accord with your guidance. Yeah you’re right, tell them they’ve done good work in the past and we greatly appreciate them and then throw them overboard.
Now go tell everyone that the ship is not taking on water I now declare this ship a submarine. Oh, make sure you tell everybody that I will remain in charge and all is now well. With this last declaration from Jeff Fager “60 Minutes” breathed its last breath. May it rest in peace.

I don’t remember exactly where I was when President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed. I don’t remember how I found out he had been shot. It had to be soon after the fact because the news was reporting he had been shot and not his death. All I remember is being in a long hallway. I had to be at school, yes it had to be at the high school but why do I remember a long hallway, our school was small and thus the hallways weren’t very long. I suppose it was the shock of the news, so much hope had been placed in this president. He was going to change things, he was Jim Crows nemesis and he had old Jim in rapid retreat. I could forget about getting off the sidewalk when whites approached, no more back of the bus, even though the bus hadn’t run for years and I never remember having to get off the sidewalk for anyone. Don’t look a white person in the eyes I had been told but I don’t remember from whom It didn’t come from my mother or step-dad, Grandpa or Grandma hadn’t told me this but it was the prevailing thought in the colored community. Yes I said colored, being called black without hitting someone in the mouth was a thing of the future. Negro was acceptable but “Black” dem were fighting words, but I digress.

I remember Jack Ruby killing Lee H. Oswald, I was watching the television screen as it happened. I remember the initial feeling of glee then at some point in the future the questions of the assassination wiped away this euphoria. It was not these two events that raised a political conscience within me, it was the caissons. Yes it was the funeral procession, it captivated me, I was no longer an innocent child shielded from the ways of the world by my mother, I was fully aware. I had not been oblivious to events of the day, I remember seeing a newspaper showing the newly killed body of Emmett Till and there was the brutal beating death of Mr. Greenwood by a white policeman in front of his kids who were my peers. Yes I was aware of the perils of being a black in the south, yes the unspoken terrors of being black in my beloved Texas, in my beloved hometown. But the veil of innocence was not lifted until those horse drawn caissons were rolling along carrying the lifeless body of President John F. Kennedy.

I watched all the news intently, I wanted to know the why of this event was it Lee Harvey Oswald and if he did it was he acting alone and why? They told me it was John Harvey Oswald with an old rifle and acting alone and they debunked all theories that suggested otherwise but to this day I remain unsatisfied as to the who, why, and what.

I remember that I had lofty visions of what he would have accomplished during  his presidency if he had lived. As we again revisit that time fifty years ago, I become uneasy as the time of Camelot is revisited. I hear the lofty expectations of his presidency again revisited as if they remain unchanged by history, but in retrospect history has shed a jaded light on my memories of what if.

John F. Kennedy’s life and legend changed the race relations in this country in many ways, mostly positive. President Lyndon B. Johnson saw to that. I think history has been greatly unfair in giving him his proper credit. Things had to change for the sake of this country and President Johnson did his part skillfully. However President Kennedy’s health and personal life raise questions about Camelot but I think for today we will suspend those thoughts for another day and celebrate the hopeful memories of a life ended far too soon. Oh I still can’t accept the official conclusion of what happened that day and why. Maybe some day I’ll tell you my theory.

The media drumbeat continues in its callous disregard for those without adequate health insurance. I guess you can’t beat a good story, the people be damned. “Hail”, to the Insurance magnates.

Bravo to the Houston Texans as they follow the Indy Colts blueprint in search of a franchise saving quarterback. Andre Johnson got mad, the implosion is complete.

Who leaves in Pittsburg, the quarterback or the coach?

Big ups to Shannon Sharpe on his stand on the use of the n word in the Miami locker room. It’s unacceptable, especially in a public forum.

Sean Payton is really that great of a coach. Geaux Saints.

Did an Eric Cantor, and Tea Party backed candidate lose a U.S. congressional seat in Louisiana. And did the Republican winner endorse Obama care?

Wow the day is just getting started and the thoughts keep coming.
Before I forget, welcome back to my daughter on her return from California. I wonder how losing those two hours is treating her today.

And in a huh moment, are the Frenchies really ready to go to war with Israel against Iran without the USA. If not they should dial back the bluster.

Well we’re off to a roaring Monday folks. Is there a full moon or something?

This is a comment I wrote in response to an article on a Jason Whitlock commentary. It was not posted because I don’t do the face book thing. It is in response to the Richie Incognito, Johnathon Martin, Miami Dolphin controversy.

I agree with Jason on most of his commentary except this is not a black culture issue. This is a football culture issue. The myth of athletes being role models simply because of their physical prowess has been perpetuated far too long. I submit that this behavior of Richie Incognito is not isolated to Miami. If NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is as astute as he is portrayed he will put a lid on this in a hurry.As deputy Barney Fife would say, “nip in the bud”, nip it nip it nip it. Coaches have been kicking, hitting, and beating and demeaning athletes  at all levels for years. Thugs have been held up as heroes in the locker room for years. I’ve been black all my life, even to the ” colored days”, and thug life has never been nor will it ever be the predominate black culture. Mr. Whitlock black parents have been teaching good morals for a long time and they didn’t need an IVY league education to learn this.

It’s football Sunday and writing is hard. I will find some time before the clock strikes midnight. Hey I guess I should feel blessed. I got an extra hour in this month thanks to daylight savings time.

What to write about. A novel requires inspiration. Well I’ve got supporters it’s up to me. Well keep tuned for updates and maybe even some excerpts.

Just read the e-mail about NaBloPoMo. I wasn’t intending to post today as I was pondering writing a novel in 30 days. Well if I’m going to get serious about writing why not write every day. Hey my Texas congressional members are every day fodder. Ted Cruz is the gift that keeps on giving and John Cornyn is not averse to folly, then there’s Sheila Jackson Lee and my Republican representative contingent I’ll be fine. Stay tuned for a month of fun.