WELL, WE'RE HALF WAY THROUGH -- WHAT'S NEXT? - for Just A Minute Radio Friday 110701

No use frettin’ over it – half of 2011 is history and now we slide down the other side.

 

Let’s trust that we’ll make more progress than we did during the first half of 2011. (J)

 

Perhaps we can convince the President the shortest way out of high oil prices would be if we can declare a moratorium on using that four-engine jet called AF-One – which is NOT conservative in the amount of fuel it uses.  Possibly we could encourage him to use one of those ‘corporate size’ jets at which he points fingers so readily – oh and get him to downsize the fleet of bulletproof limo’s to the number he inherited on inauguration day instead of the 300% increase in fleet size which has accrued since he set foot in the Oval Office in 2009. If you’re gonna fuss about too many corporate jets exemptions … shouldn’t that apply to campaign planes too?

 

Wouldn’t that be a good example to set for the country?  Latest numbers I received when they came across last evening were that when he finishes today’s fund raising trips he will have made 37 fund raisers since he declared he’s off and running – most of them via Air Force One.  Every time Air Force One flies to Des Moines Iowa – the Jet fuel bill runs just shy of 9000 gallons – round trip. Of course you also have to have a back-up plane… which doubles the cost and consumption – plus each trip means there are at least four positioning trips from the White House to Andrews via Marine One, totaling something like 1800 additional gallons of fuel consumed – depending on how long the distances are involved. Anyway… it looks like we could use a little restraint there.

 

Of course I’m being a penny pincher – that’s the way we Republicans are – mostly. I read that Glenn Beck, in an interview as he left his Fox Studio location yesterday, told a reporter who asked him if he was Republican, said he was bi-partisan… that he hated Republicans too.  I suspect there’s something wrong with that quote and shortly there will be some kind of clarification before long.

 

I’m just a bit peeved that we do have such a LONG campaigning season. It’s terrible. In Britain they limit it to one month. Wouldn’t that be wonderful. I suspect the newspaper and other print media would love it if the candidates had to cut back on radio and TV and all that… and just go with newsprint. But there’s not much we (I) can do about it. Maybe we can ask Glenn to help us out here and see if he can’t get a law passed reducing the length of campaigning. If we can pass laws to reduce air pollution… surely we can make progress on this front.

 

Ah well – food for thought. Have a great weekend -- stay cool!

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack & Barbara

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

WELL, WE’RE HALF WAY THROUGH – WHAT’S NEXT?

            Just a Minute: As I prepare today’s program – I’m hearing the preparatory warm up of Fourth of July fireworks. Often when I’m ready to speak into the mike it’s after dark -- and on this occasion I guess those who’ve spent their dollars on fireworks find it burning a hole in their pocket and so they have to set off a few. Odd it should remind me of the bombardment in Baltimore Harbor.

          The lyrics of our national anthem come from a poem written in as the “Defense of Fort McHenry", by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key who witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships in Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812.

          The Star-Spangled Banner" was recognized for official use by the Navy 1889 and the President 1916. It was declared the national anthem by a Congressional Resolution March 3, 1931 which was signed into law by President Herbert Hoover.  Long may it wave o’re the land of the free and the home of the brave. 

          <> I’m Jack Buttram.        

                                                  Jebco Editorial Service

www.wmuu.com

E-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

 

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