Posted on 05/12/2007 4:34:00 AM PDT by Kaslin
Pompous political windbags have a distinct odor, speaking of which, reminds me of a story that you have likely heard from Uncle Dan or Grandpa Gus. There are families that avoid bathroom humor at all costs; however, if you sprouted from one of those, it is unlikely that you are reading a column that has "cut the cheese" in its title. If you have never heard, "cut the cheese" used to describe something that does not compliment the bouquet of a fine wine; then brace yourself. You are about to be utterly violated.
A minister was on his way home from the church picnic. He had gorged himself on Martha Bergstrom's pork-n-bean casserole. For some reason, he could not get enough of it, and old Martha Bergstrom could not have been more delighted.
While turning the corner at Laramie Avenue, his car began to sputter, and he realized instantly that he had forgotten to stop at the filling station. He pulled over in front of a little white house. Spring flowers were growing everywhere, and a perfectly manicured lawn set the entire scene ablaze with color.
He rang the doorbell, and asked the woman who answered if he could use her telephone. She recognized the minister and graciously invited him in. He called his son, and arranged for him to bring a can of gas. The woman invited him to sit in the living room while he waited.
As he took a seat, she reappeared, rolling an old man in a wheelchair. She parked him across the room and excused herself as the old man fixed a suspicious gaze on the intruder. A beautiful golden retriever trotted into the room, sniffed him a bit, and then sat down next to the minister's chair.
He was about to compliment the old man on his wonderful landscape, when suddenly he felt an urgent rumbling. Obviously, Martha Bergstrom's pork-n-been casserole was at work, and it came on with such a ferocity that a bit of gas slipped out before he could gain control.
There was no sound, but a foul odor was soon evident. The old man in the wheelchair looked at the dog and sternly said, "Sammy."
The minister gratefully realized that the old man thought the dog was to blame. By now, the casserole was really churning, and the pressure was too much to bear. He decided to take advantage of the dog and relieve a little more pressure.
The old man called the dog's name again, but this time louder.
By now, the minister was really struggling. The pressure was so great and painful, that tears began to come to his eyes. He simply had no choice; relieve the agony, or he would surely rupture something internally. He was startled at how much gas escaped, but again, he was grateful that the dog was there to deflect the embarrassment.
He was nearly ready to let go, one more time, when the old man leaned forward in his wheelchair, this time yelling urgently at the dog… "SAMMY… Git over here right now before he poops on you!"
Yeah, I know that Grandpa Gus's version utilized more colorful language; nevertheless, there is a surprising bit of wisdom in this water-closet tale. Perhaps it is little more than a vulgarized version of the "King has no clothes" story.
The bottom line, as it relates to our esteemed windbags in Washington, is that more and more of us are watching. Our ability to sniff out the odorous stench of self-delusional finger pointing and deflection, which is continuously oozing from the House and Senate, is causing us to lose respect for those institutions. There is an awful lot of talk about the President's dwindling approval numbers, even from those who are themselves regarded with disdain by the public.
They stomp and holler about irresponsible pork, because they believe it is what fiscal conservatives want to hear. However, even as they speak, they know that if they do not bring home a few pounds of the bacon for their own constituencies, their connection to the beltway power grid will soon be disconnected.
Many of us believe that change is critical in Washington politics. We cannot imagine how certain states re-elect the same scoundrels time after time after time. If we honestly face reality, the problem with Washington politics is not what so-and-so is or is not doing about it; rather, it is what each one of us is not doing about it.
We have all failed this country, because we have allowed the phenomenon of the career politician to thrive. The office of Congressman and Senator was to be a position of duty, carried out by honorable citizens for a brief time. Then that citizen was to return home and live under the consequences of his decisions in office.
This is something that we can fix, and I implore my fellow citizens to recognize the odor for what it is. It is not the dog; rather, it is from the creatures of the beltway, who have entrenched themselves there. They have welded themselves onto the political power grid, and the festering stench is far more offensive than any byproduct of Martha Bergstrom's pork-n-bean casserole.
Phil Harris is a software engineer, author of Cry for the Shadows and blogs at Citizen Phil.
—brings to mind Harry Reid and Dianne Feinstein-—
The writer hit the nail on the head. You vote for someone who reflects your values. This article raises a fine point as to why we need term limits. You’ve got a traitor and a murderer in the senate from Mass. You’ve got a speaker who thinks she’s president and is willing to lie in bed with the enemy because she hates and is unwilling to compromise with the person that is President. If people don’t wake up and start putting people in office that care about the people they represent instead of how much power they wield, I’m afraid this country will go the way of the Roman Empire. The parallels at this stage is frightening.
Today in Washington, we have royalty.
This is one reason that TERM LIMITS are so IMPORTANT. We want people in Congress that want to serve not that want a good retirement.
The elephant in the room is organized crime. Clintonistas are fighting the Daley machine and our crime fighter is being disqualified over abortion.
Do you honestly think any DC Pol will vote for anything that limits his own power?
Wow....
Let's try it this way:
The Gambinos are fighting the Sopranos and our crime fighter is being disqualified because he thinks it's ok to kill children."
L
Beware of politicians growing old in office - Napoleon
Right on!
Eight hundred words to say, “term limits.” This software writer’s code must be a real memory hog.
This is why I never vote for anyone more then twice. Napoleon was right
Maybe, but he also knows that the
Supremes seized control of that issue a long time ago. You are being played, you know.
Not me dear Lady. The only one trying to play me is Rudy. He just basically gave us 'conservatives' the finger telling us he supports abortion 'rights' and if we don't like it, well don't vote for him.
So fine. I won't. I won't vote for him in the Primary and I sure as heck won't vote for him in the General.
I
don't
vote
for
liberals.
Period.
L
C’est la Vie. Fortunately, there are several other choices. But please tell me that is the same way you felt about him a week ago. Surely, you knew this all along. I know that I did. I have always felt that the R’s would never nominate one of these three wives men. That is just painting with a slightly wider brush.
It is.
Although to tell you the truth I find my opinion of Rudy plummeting on an almost weekly basis. So the way I feel about him this week is probably less charitable than the way I felt about him last week, and so on.
L
This made me think of how Peloser and Ried said no to everything the Republican's tried to pass. Then in 2006 the Demorats said, 'look how inept the Republicans are'.
They cut the cheese and pointed at Sammy.
They are good at cutting the cheese because they are demoRATS and that is all they eat.
Not only do they cut the cheese well, they cut and run, cut our Military, cut our Intel, and cut unborn babies in the womb. And for cryin' out loud:
Back in January, I thought I could vote for Rudy but no McCain.
Now I feel the opposite way. Rudy, unfortunately, reminds me more and more with each passing day of a GOP version of Bill Clinton - except Rudy isn't even a very good liar and really doesn't seem to be all that smart at the end of the day.
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