TOO LITTLE; TOO LATE OR HAS THE CAVALRY FINALLY ARRIVED?

At last, some Republicans care more for their fellow citizens than following the ideology of Grover Norquist to political oblivion.  Believe it or not, some are daring to speak out logic.

Unfortunately the public is conned into an erroneous assumption which is: 'vote for the 'other' person if you don't like the firs; it will improve your situation and the economy..The unemployment numbers haven't gone down fast enough but the media doesn't like to balance their numbers with the reality that states are dropping people off government jobs in large numbers and there is not a replacement for the jobs of teachers, fire fighters, police and those supporting them.

For more pf the nonsense going around, especially a bit about the third Koch brother, listen to Rachel Maddow on MSNBC by clicking here.  

It still boggles my mind how the Supreme Court can really feel they have done their job with the result of the Citizen's United decision and the billions of dollars thrown into campaigns while so many people remain jobless, families hungry, foreclosures and people devastated by lack of medical care.  Isn't that enough to tell us the people with the power are not caring for the welfare of the people.  They care only for more power.

PRESIDENT'S JOB DEFINED

Answers,com responds to the question "What are the duties of the President?" as follows:
"The President is the head of the executive branch and plays a large role in making America's laws. His job is to approve the laws that Congress creates. When the Senate and the House approve a bill, they send it to the President. If he agrees with the law, he signs it and the law goes into effect. If the President does not like a bill, he can refuse to sign it. When he does this, it is called a veto.

If the President vetoes a bill, it will most likely never become a law. Congress can override a veto, but to do so two-thirds of the Members of Congress must vote against the President.

Despite all of his power, the President cannot write bills. He can propose a bill, but a member of Congress must submit it for him. In addition to playing a key role in the lawmaking process, the President has several duties. He serves as the American Head of State, meaning that he meets with the leaders of other countries and can make treaties with them. However, the Senate must approve any treaty before it becomes official.

The President is also the Chief of the Government. That means that he is technically the boss of every government worker. Also, the President is the official head of the U.S. military. He can authorize the use of troops overseas without declaring war. To officially declare war, though, he must get the approval of the Congress.

The President and the Vice-President are the only officials chosen by the entire country. Not just anyone can be President, though. In order to be elected, one must be at least 35 years old. Also, each candidate must be a natural-born U.S. citizen and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years. When elected, the President serves a term of four years. The most one President can serve is two terms, for a total of eight years.

Before 1951, the President could serve for as many terms as he wanted. However, no one had tried. After two terms as President, George Washington chose not to run again. All other Presidents followed his example until Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt successfully ran for office four times. Early in his fourth term, he died, in 1945.

Six years later, Congress passed the 22nd Amendment, which limits Presidents to two terms."

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_duties_of_the_President_in_the_United_States#ixzz1zo0nK5N9

When there is an obscene amount of money to use to campaign, marketers take over and they can do a great job of raising a great deal of money but they know nothing about running the country, not ( it seems) do they know anything about the people who are qualified to do it.   When Rupert Murdoch's Wall Street Journal writes that he thinks Romney is not a good choice (he is reported to have been in favor of Chris Christie). nto be the Republican nominee.

OUR UNUSUAL ESPLANADE 4TH IN bOSTON

For all the years I remember, I do not recall a deluge at the Pops Concert.  This year at the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812, it began to thunder and lightning as the 1812 Overture was being played.  People had been told to hide under the bridge around the corner of Storrow drive.  After a delay,m the show went on.  For pictures, click here.

To appreciate the spectacular, learn more details of it by clicking here.  Some of my neighbors had some fireworks shot in the air that were quite astounding for a back yard.  Meanwhile, as I stayed in my cool, mosquito-less home, family members walked down the long hill to the town fireworks celebration.  I could hear the booms but,since living here the trees have grown too high for me to see them now.

Keith Lockhart - current conductor

The tradition goes on and it is a thrill to see that much of the country joins us through the wonder of television.  Arthur Fiedler, the father of the Boston Pops is always acknowledged and remembered.  John Williams, who conducted the Pops for a few years and who turned 80 this year had many songs played of his.  The orchestra was conducted as it has been for 17 years now, following John Williams.  It is thrilling to be there to hear and see the actual performances, but it is also great to be able to miss the crowds and enjoy it from the living room.

OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGNERS

During the primaries there many things said by candidates which I found offensive but none reached the level of Joe Walsh.  Click here to see a bit of his campaign speech.

Col. Tammy Duckworth, flying a Blackhawk helicopter lost both legs and the use of her right arm in Iraq.  She has stayed in the service and has been in the news frequently for all the fighting she has done for veteran's rights.  She has given more to this country than all those body parts in her dedication to service for the country and all those who serve it.

This Congressional Teaparty Representative has called our President Obama a liar, and decrees that Col. Duckworth is not a hero because she talks about her service record too much.  This criticism from a man who while serving in the House of Representatives was not paying his child support which was over $100,000. I mention this as a reflection of responsibility.  Of the two, a comparison of what they have done for their country and the people in it loses him even an honorable mention by comparison to what Col. Duckworth has done.

This shocking stump speech tops Rick Santorum's selfish stand on contraceptives, abortion and women's rights.  It rises above, in its evilness, by someone who never served in the military but gets to vote on issues for them and who clearly has no idea what that means. Romney's lack of plans and being such a puppet to the conservative right doesn't even begin to qualify on a par.  If the voters in Illinois vote this ridiculous man, who is in need of anger management, will have no one to blame but themselves for listening to his ravings about himself rather than looking at his lack of achievement for those whom he represents.  Some people are speaking out.  "The petition from VoteVets.org says it's time to teach Walsh that "all of our veterans are heroes and that we can never recognize them enough for their service." The petition from EMILY's List, which supports Democratic women who favor abortion rights, urges: "Stop the GOP from taking down our pro-choice champions. Tell Joe Walsh to stop questioning Tammy Duckworth's heroic service to our country!" -Chicago News Tribune.

THE EVOLUTION IN THREE YEARS OF A SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE.

Three years ago, a brilliant little boy of fourteen wrote a book Defining Conservatism.  His thinking, at the time, proved that conservatism ideology is at a fourteen year old's level.  Today, at seventeen, he is about to enter college in New York and, having giving up politics for the moment, he has been reading the great philosophers.

Today he is no longer a conservative and says he gave it up when he began to hear ideas which turned him against social conservatism.  He leans more to the left than the right but reserves the right to avoid labels and says he does accept the total ideology of either party.



For a view of his evolution, click here.  Remember it starts with the before and you must read a bit to get to the today.  Politico reports CPAC's  Wonder Boy Swings Left.

Does it suggest you have to be brilliant, well-read, and young enough to absorb the world around you to forget about being a Republican?  Or, do you have to grow up and leave Georgia for New York? 

CHANGES AND LOSSES

One things we are losing are the 3000 year old glaciers in the Arctic.  Having seen the Mendehall Glacier a little over two decades ago, even flying over that beautiful agua to turquoise shading, it is seriously diminished from melting and calving.  Read more on the Juneau Icefields by clicking here.  "

1894

 

The Mendenhall Glacier reached its point of maximum advance in the mid-1700s, and its terminus rested almost 2.5 miles (4 km) down the valley from its present position. It started retreating in the mid-1700s because its annual rate of melt began to exceed its annual total accumulation. The glacier's terminus currently calves into Mendenhall Lake, where the water is 220 feet (67 m) deep. The ice is retreating at a rate of 100 to 150 feet (30 to 46 m) a year. At this rate, the glacier would take several centuries to completely disappear.
For Mendenhall Glacier to advance, the icefield's snowfall needs to increase, the glacier's rate of melt needs to decrease, or both. Glacial advance would require a reversal of the current warming trends."

2008

National Geographic has pictures of the and now.

It really doesn't matter why the change has happened for the average person.  It is scientists who are studying the rate of climate change.  However, to people who live near where farming is changing, water levels are rising, and the continuation of what they have done in the family for many generations is no longer viable becomes a serious problem.

Nevertheless, life is full of changes, not just the climate but technology is making many things obsolete but more expensive and replacements. are unaffordable to many   Without retraining for new jobs, many are no longer fit for available employment.  People ,who have refused to learn what computers demand, will not understand robotics.  They may take over jobs people used to have, but they still need people to run them, telling them what to do.

The most difficult part about change is that so many people view it as a loss rather than a gain, That, to me, is one of the major elements to distinguish Republicans from Democrats...the ability to adjust to change without great resistance.