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Words on the Week (11/1-11/8)
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11/1-11/8
Welcome to the first edition of “Words on the Week” where the top news and political stories from the past week are recapped with overall observations and occasional satire.
Here are five thoughts on the last seven days:
1. “Everything but marriage”- what both heterosexuals and homosexuals can mutually experience.
They can serve in the upper echelons of the legislative branch, and even get elected mayor of some of the nation’s largest cities, a possible outcome in Houston from what we saw on Tuesday. In Washington they were allowed domestic partnership rights with the passage of Referendum 71, the “everything but marriage” bill. However in Maine, medical marijuana was let out of the gate, while gay marriage remained behind the wall of ideas that are deemed too “transformational.” In other words, gays can walk anywhere…except down the aisle.
2. Tuesday was a backlash…but not against Obama.
The Democratic Party suffered some setbacks on Tuesday and in a sense Obama was the problem…he wasn’t on the ballot. Therefore, less-charismatic, idea-less, and in Governor John Corzine’s case, downright unpopular candidates went down to defeat. However those Democrats had company in fringe “tea party” conservatives who while being able to derail a more elect-able Republican candidate didn’t have such luck in the general election. Consequently the GOP lost control over a congressional district they had held for over a century. Anyone else doubt that DNC chairman Tim Kaine isn’t praying that the Limbaughs, Palins, and Coulters get involved in more races?
3. Madness at Fort Hood shows disarray in media credibility
First the shooter was dead. Then he wasn’t. At one point the media could confirm his name, and then they couldn’t. Also the fact that several pundits took the opportunity to turn a mind-numbing tragedy into a propaganda bonanza doesn’t really help in the integrity department. One pundit went, as far as to point out how Islam was the main religion behind all the monumental terrorist attacks “over the past 30-40 years.” Guess the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing doesn’t count, nor is it worth noting the massive amount of faith-motivated killings by Christians over the past several centuries. Perhaps it hasn’t occurred to some that the shooter’s motives were possibly more psychological than theological.
4. Economy goes up, job opportunities stay down
The U.S. economy’s current tailspin showed signs of slowing down as a 3.5 percent growth during the last quarter ended a full year of decline. The same however can’t be said for the national unemployment rate, which hit 10.2 percent, it’s highest in 26 years as payrolls were cut by nearly 200,000. Then again, a problem that employers find themselves running into is a lack of qualified candidates for the jobs that are available. Looks like there’s a need for a candidate and resume stimulus. However, those aren’t up to congress.
5. Healthcare reform is possible. All it takes is a little “dominance.”
It’s not the final answer, but a possible step in the right direction. The healthcare overhaul passed by the house Saturday night along a nearly strict party vote is far from perfect, but considering the majorities the Democrats currently hold in both chambers of Congress, something was bound to get through. Now the torch is passed to the senate and the “super majority” of Democratic strength that may see some dissent courtesy of Connecticut’s Joe Lieberman but possible GOP support from Maine’s Olympia Snowe. After the clearing of that hurdle, comes the highly anticipated outcome, which along with the release of James Cameron’s new film “Avatar” could quite possibly become the wildest Christmas the country has ever been through.
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