TALE OF TWO FLIP-FLOPPERS - Just a Minute for Friday 7-25-08

Howdy Folks – Paul Harvey always says IT’S FRIDAY!  Like we might not have one every week…

 

            Truth is this week has seemed to run over into next week. I have Barak on the trail with three anchors trailing behind him. Reminds me of Dr. Luke’s description of the people with Paul sailing for Rome and about to be shipwrecked. I’m always gripped by the realistic language in the 27^th Chapter of Acts (verse 29) ”Then, fearing lest we should fall upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern and wished for the day.” Kind of odd for Obama to be followed about by three anchors… I wonder who’s missing? Chris Matthews maybe. Anyway its been a raucous week… and I don’t think it’s over yet.

 

            But today’s program takes a 60 second look at the record of flip flops that became such a hassle four years ago when John Kerry’s stories of his Viet Nam war effort (you probably forgot all about that didn’t you) started being mentioned by him in every story – his shipmates in the Swift Boats decided they’d had enough and “being swiftboated” has entered our political parlance. I’m thinking we have many more miles to go, hills to climb and creeks to ford before we get to the first week in November. It is my fervent hope Congress can pull itself together enough after this is over to somehow shorten the campaign marathon. This has been the longest campaign in my memory which goes back a long way. [g]

 

            Anyway, we’ve had a little relief from the heat – perhaps soon we’ll get some relief from the hot air. If the current polls are to be believed the issue most in the mind of the voters right now concerns bringing gas prices back to earth. And polling numbers out yesterday indicate the presidential race is a close one – although you wouldn’t know it from BIG media. Let’s just all cool it for a while.  The bridges to be crossed are mostly still ahead of us.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama07-25-08.mp3

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt07-25-08.doc

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

TALE OF TWO FLIP-FLOPPERS

Just A Minute – Today we compare two flip-floppers:

 John McCain now wants to drill for oil on the seabed – says four dollar gas changed his mind. OK… people may still wonder why he still won’t drill on two thousand acre in the 19 million-acre Arctic Wildlife Refuge. But, -- OK.

He flipped also on the ‘01 and ‘03 tax cuts wanting to “… see them shared more by working Americans." Now supporting the cuts he says if you let ‘em continue they amount to tax hikes… OK – well at least McCain fesses up and explains.

Barak Obama has flipped on political funding, free trade, NAFTA, welfare reform, D.C. gun ban, Terrorist Surveillance,  status of Jerusalem, lapel pins, and disowning Jeremiah Wright (among others) – not only not explaining but acts as if they never happened.

Then there’s Iraq: In ’06 and early ’07 it was ‘everybody out now – even voting to cut off funds while troops were in combat. All that’s flipped!  Last week in the New York Times he talked about missions for his “residual forces” perhaps sixty to eighty thousand still in Iraq still in 2010.

            Hey – wait a minute man -- this ain’t checkers!

<> I’m Jack Buttram

(END)

 

 

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"YOU LITTLE JERKS!" - Just a Minute for 07-24-08 Thursday

Howdy…

 

Gittin’ on toward the end of the week. This ‘campin pain’ – as Billy-bob is wont to call it, is gittin’ mo *bitterer* -- looks like we’re like to scrape the bottom of the barrel of common sense. Generally major candidates tend to reach a modicum of composure and quietness when it comes to the opposition. But it looks like this time around might turn out to be the exception.

 

It’s possible John McCain figures he lost out in 2000 because he played Mr. Nice guy – although I’m sure Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, and George W. Bush weren’t sure of it at least at the time. But… time heals all wounds they say – Or is it wounds all heels?  In any case most of the political nuts I’ve known… (and I’ve known a few) … are at least glad when the campaign is over--- but of course they don’t like losing. Nonetheless when the fire bell goes off again… they’re chompin’ at the bit to get in the trenches again.

 

If you’re a regular Bible reader, you’ve run across the passages where some of the disciples were getting angry – or at least touchy – toward the sons of Zebedee because they were ‘lobbying’ if you will, to see who would get to sit at the Lord’s right hand and who at the left when he took on his kingly role and stepped up to the throne. And even though Jesus tried several times to disabuse them of the notion that His was going to be an earthly kingdom like the ones they had already experienced under Jewish, Roman and Greek rulers (as well as other oppressors) they still seemed to specialize in ‘missing the point.’

 

But that’s hardly unusual – when we figure out how we got here and who we descended from – we ought to get a pretty good (or bad, depending on your viewpoint) picture of the human condition. Given the chance men who have the opportunity will grab power and do their best to hold onto it -- Think Hugo Chavez or Fidel. George Washington was an exception. James and John were not – at least initially.

 

But today is not one for pointing fingers – these days are provided to study and read the scriptures… pray and ask the Lord for wisdom in the choices before us. Tomorrow I’ll write about what the major political pollster… one specializing in focus groups has found out about Americans and elections – particularly this one.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack

 

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama07-24-08.mp3

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt07-24-08.doc

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

“YOU LITTLE JERKS”

Just A Minute – John McCain fights for every scrap of attention from national media while Barak and company (including the three musty TV anchors) surge to gigantic accolades.

But Senator John ought to remember what goes around comes around – especially in Washington where character assassins are cheaper by the dozen. Columnist Bob Novak says a top McCain aide suggested he put the impending veep announcement in his column -- mainly to upset Obama’s parade meeting world leaders. Now Novak believes the announcement was just noise planted by Team McCain since the announcement never came. Novak and the press corps were used as a stick with which to beat Obama.

Confronted with that accusation on the Straight Talk Air-Express – Fund reports McCain blew ‘em off with a smile and asked: (quote) "’What do you want, you little jerks?” Then waved off any questions.

            John McCain doesn’t need to manufacture more enemies; he’s winning the prize as his own worst right now. Washington’s not a town in which you deliberately want to play ugly.

            <> I’m Jack Buttram

            (END)

 

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AN AFGHAN ADVENTURE - Just a Minute for July 23, 2008

Hello again Folks –

 

            I just never quite know how to answer the question this time of year… “Hot enough for you?”  If I say yes… am I being sincere? Or a masochist? – If I say no… am I just being stubborn or trying to live above it all and apparently giving the impression of a down the nose look? Maybe just best to retreat to the air-conditioned room if I can.

 

            Anyway…it has been entirely hot enough --- AND humid enough too just to fill out the picture. But I think he heat has gotten to the squirrels enough that their load of fat from scoffing down the bird seed combined with their all-season fur coat makes them just lie up in the tops of the trees where they may catch a breeze.  Even the birds that do come to the feeder do so with beaks apart like they are panting… and maybe they are.

 

            I wonder how the Washington press corps – and the three network anchors are feeling the heat over there in the Middle East?  Barack’s visit just flew by almost without my notice. Time flies when you’re having fun. I noticed the Media Research Bureau caught Diane Sawyer sort of trying to hammer John McCain for laughing about Obama – similar problems for Jack McCafferty of CNN. Everybody seems a little uneasy in the heat.

 

            Anyway there’s a lot of chatter on the net now that the obvious and overwhelming bias of major media people becomes more of a factor in their coverage. “Will it help or hurt?” Seems to be the theme of a lot of the discussion.  Most everyone chooses “It will help.” – A few look a little more realistic saying it’ will hurt especially if the public – “The great ‘unwashed’ as H.L. Mencken of the Baltimore Sun used to characterize his readership – decide all this super sweet coverage is a bit too much. It is ‘over the top’ as the current saying is – but what the harvest is in unintended consequences – I’m not sure.

 

            Just stay cool, stay in the Word, and don’t get panicked by big media. They are *very good* at NOT admitting any mistakes.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama07-23-08.mp3

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt07-23-08.doc

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

AN AFGHAN ADVENTURE  

Jack: Just a Minit – What are you makin’,  Miz Pearlie?

MizP: Hit’s an Afghan, Mr. Jack.

BB: Afghan like Afghanistan?

MizP: No, Silly Billy-Bob

Homer: Looks like a rug you’s a-knittin’...

MizP: Well hit ain’t a rug – and I ain’t a-knittin’ hit – I’ze crocheting (croshaying).

BB: Both use them needle thangs …?

MizP: Yeah… but ast any woman – knittin’ ain’t crocheting and vice versi…

Homer: Ah don’t git hit, Miz Pearl…

MizP: Thas th’ point, Homer… you an the fellers at th’ Bait Shop an Shushi Bar thank you know everthang… but sometimes you don’t know …

Jack: You’re speaking an object lesson, Miz Pearl?

MizP: Egg-zakly.

Jack: So you want to say … ?

MizP: Obama has done run off, spent about two hours each in Iraq an Afghanistan – now headed fer Jordan an Europe an he don’t know nothin’. Even tho he din’t support th’ surge an, even tho hit’s now a-workin – maybe – He thanks a surge ought to be done in Afghanistan with more troops …  

Jack: And you think … ?

MizP: Hit’s two different countries… I been readin’ up. The jogaphreey is different, The Russkies know now th fightin’ has to be different … Well – if I kin croshay this Afghan does he thank he can?

BB: You don’t thank he knows…

MizP: He don’t know knittin’ frum crocheting an thas a fack.

Homer: I’ll try to git Secretary Gates on th’ line …

Jack: <> I’m Jack Buttram.

 (END)

 

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THE NARROW STRAITS GET NARROWER - July 22 - 2008

Hi Folks –

 

Like a large – a very large – pot simmering on the back of the stove, emitting a column of steam from time to time, we have the spectacle of China, its’ people suffering under poor leadership, bad government and a devastating earthquake.  When is this pot going to boil over?

 

There is no question the world’s largest Communist government knows how to oppress people, keep outward order, and to a degree make the trains run on time. (As Mussolini promised when he took over Italy.)  But how can such an internally fragile society, hovering on the border of an increasingly porous information border, bedeviled by the Internet, fax machines, cell phones and other gadgets of modern technology continue to plug the dikes of knowledge of what’s happening out there – especially when thousands of journalists come to be embedded into society for several weeks while the world’s sports cameras are focused on the “Middle Kingdom?” It is indeed a Chinese puzzle. And the oppressive Chinese regime is laboring heavily to bring it off. But there are problems.

 

One of them is the CAA – China Aid Association – headed by Bob Fu. I get several press releases a week from his organization (more than I can readily use) telling about continuing acts of oppression, intimidation and outright gangsterism as the Red Chinese government attempts to hold back the tide. A giant hole in the dike has been created – at least for now by Amity Press which has the capability of printing a million copies of the Bible per month – and is set up to distribute them to the thousands who flock to see the Olympics.

 

At the same time I have 25 or so recently documented and filed stories of oppressive behavior against house churches, individuals and organizations to make your hair turn white. As Abraham Lincoln said – “No nation can long exist half slave and half free.” The Scriptures say effectively “You shall know the truth – and the truth shall make you free.”  It seems the Lord is setting the stage for either a blood bath (possibly after the Olympics) or a showdown on religious freedom that must accompany China’s entrance into being a major trading partner on the world market. Let us be seriously involved in prayerful efforts for ourselves and our Chinese Christian brethren in the prospect of these hard times.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

 

Jack Buttram

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama07-22-08.mp3

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt07-22-08.doc

 

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

THE NARROW STRAITS GET NARROWER

Just A Minute – Often Yogi Berra is quoted – “It’s déjà-vu all over again.” – Across the Taiwan straits now we believe the tectonic plates of Chinese politics move languidly but inexorably toward change revealing changes not imagined 25 years ago.

I say 25 years for that was the period of time I worked as head of an American -- Chinese friendship organization watching US-Taiwan relations transform themselves from after WWII, through the Korean effort, Vietnam and during the Nixon – Mao exchange. Now the world holds its breath as China approaches the waterfall event of Olympics 2008 – which will either give evidence of cataclysmic clashes between growing freedoms in China and recalcitrant Red Chinese efforts, or reluctant realization the world won’t stand by to watch totalitarians maintain their throat-hold on Beijing’s people.

Changes in China always seem to be accompanied by violent shocks. Tiananmen Square is the most prominent big one which, like the devastating earthquake in parts of the mainland, creates its own thunder. We look for even greater effects in coming days. 

<> I’m Jack Buttram

(END)

 

 

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LAST WORD -- FOR NOW AT LEAST -- Just a Minute for Monday 7-21-08

Hello again –

 

Well, it doesn’t happen too often – but the programs we put out for Thursday and Friday were trying to break through the mounting indifference on the part of some conservatives who believe McCain isn’t sufficiently in agreement with their views to warrant their vote… so they’re thinking about just not voting.

 

My point Thursday and Friday was – “That’s how we got four years of Jimmy Carter. Do you want to pay that kind of price again?” 

 

Believe me – having worked in the Nixon White House for a period during which Watergate was winding down to it’s ignoble end – and living through election night in November 1964 when as a staffer at the Republican National Committee I thought Barry Goldwater would pull it off – I’ve made more than my share of misjudgments on the political scene. But I just don’t want to see America have to go through all that political white-water again.  On the other hand – maybe the Lord has other ideas. If that’s the way he has to teach us…  Well, I’ll leave it at that for now.

 

What came as a surprise to me over the weekend was to see that Michael Barone – who is a Fox News contributor, a Michigan boy, who went to Harvard, got a Harvard Law degree, graduated into polling and writing for prestigious magazines etc. and is Chief Editor of what I think is the most politically dependable reference book in Washington these days ( The Almanac of American Politics) that appears bi-annually at a hefty price of above $60 but is, for those who need it, well worth the money and has the info needed when writing about politics – anyway  Michael agreed with me that the Carter-Ford race of 1976 is the *most like* our current contest for the presidency.  And he and I agree for basically the same reasons… America is fed up with Republicans abandoning their principles for expediency. (He doesn’t say it exactly that way – but I do.)

 

That’s how we got Bro. Jimmeh from down in Plains in the fall of 1976… and unless something changes reasonably soon… that’s how we’re gonna have to put up with Obama & company for the next four (or more) years unless the ‘wishy washies’ wake up. And in case you’re thinking of just staying home or … voting for Mr. O’… “c’mere let may knock on yo head” as my Uncle Pierce used to say to my cousins.

 

Well… we can’t keep up this totality of politics on through to November… we’re not even to the conventions yet (although from the lack of coverage of the Republican one by the 3 major nets you’d not know they are even gearing up to have one…) anyone care to guess where and when the GOP meets to anoint Sen. McCain? (No peekin’ now… e-mail me with your genuine guess – if you’re right, I’ll print your name but not your address right here.)

 

Tomorrow – Lord willin’ – we’ll talk about Taiwan (again) – and later in the week some additional news from China.

 

Anyway… Keep listening please.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack

 

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama07-21-08.mp3

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt07-21-08.doc

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

LAST WORD – FOR NOW

Just A Minute – Thanks for hanging with me Thursday and Friday about the importance of this election.

May I point out, Michael Barone, Harvard Law grad, senior writer for U.S. News and Editor of the bi-annual Almanac of American Politics – who’s visited not only every state, but every congressional district – wrote a TOWNHALL column Saturday agreeing with me the Carter-Ford race of ‘76 is, in the past 40 years, most like the current contest.

Was he listening to Just a Minute? Anyway - Barone also noted the Washington Post sums up Obama’s problem: quote: “… The message the Democrat sends, is he is ultimately indifferent to the war's outcome — that Iraq … must be speedily evacuated regardless of the consequences. That's an irrational and a-historical way to view [Iraq] at the strategic center of the Middle East, with major oil reserves. --  Whether or not the war was a mistake, Iraq's future is a vital U.S. security interest. If he is elected president, Mr. Obama sooner or later will have to tailor his Iraq strategy to that reality.” Unquote

All that to say – if you’re not inclined to believe me – believe them.

            <> I’m Jack Buttram

 (END)

 

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SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT - Just A Minute for 7/18/08 Friday 2008 in July

It’s FRIDAY again…

 

I won’t be long today… I’ve got to hurry to a meeting – But I think today’s program involves us in a program of ‘serious thinking and praying’ about the coming elections. That’s the perspective we should have had all along I think… but things are getting serious now!

 

The audio track will explain what I mean … and if you don’t have a sound card… the script is posted below.

 

If you’re at all interested in the future of your family and friends and our nation… then I believe it’s time we buckled down to some serious praying about the coming elections.

Doomsaying isn’t my forte – but seldom have I seen – in fact never – a situation in which more serious threats hang over our nation… and remember I’ve lived through WW II, the Korean War, the Cold War and whatever else you want to throw in the kettle.

 

Well… see you next week – Lord willing.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama07-18-08.mp3

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt07-18-08.doc

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT

Just A Minute – Time to do some serious thinking about the next four years. For those conservatives who can’t quite make up their mind… toying with the idea of not voting at all or for someone who doesn’t share their values – thinks this over carefully:

After Watergate the nation was fed up with Nixon’s lies and Ford’s pardon of Nixon and concluded -- “Oh well – let’s try a ‘new face’ …” so many voted for Carter, and spent four years regretting it.

We’re likely to have more than one Supreme Court appointment in the next four years. Recent decisions have turned on one vote. Who do you think the Barak/Billary crowd will pick?

I’m not seeking the perfect candidate now. [I even disagree with myself some of the time.] But Bible-believing Christians need to spend serious time in prayer about this election. Ask the Lord for His for you – and me about the decisions affecting your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren – assuming they are allowed to be born.

<> I’m Jack Buttram

(END)

 

 

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SOME INTERESTING SIMILARITIES - Just a Minute for Thursday 7-17-08

Howdy Once More –

 

Time to do a little retrospecting. I couldn’t do it all in one minute – so, I’ll take two: one today – another tomorrow.

 

There’s a lot to be said in comparing Barak and John McCain. First they’re both running as outsiders – but note: That’s how Jimmy Carter ran his campaign. He was largely an unknown quantity to the ‘Old Bulls’ of the Democrat party in Washington. Hamilton Jordan (pronounced Jer-den) Jimmy Carter’s White House Chief of Staff -- saw how chaotic the Democrats had become in the wake of events leading up to the Carter-Ford race and thought it would be a great time for “Bro. Jimmeh” – to take a run at it. David Broder dug out an interview Ham had given about a year after the Carter presidency and before Jordan passed away. Ham pointed out there were four liberals in the field in the New Hampshire primary … and Jimmy, as the only conservative, consolidated an extremely chopped up pie fought over by Morris Udall (AZ), Sergeant Shriver (MA), Birch Bayh (IN), and Fred Harris (OK). Hamilton saw an opening he thought Jimmy Carter could squeeze through and he took it.

 

Just like Carter, Obama, has profited from the splintering of the Democrats in the primary battles. --- And like Carter, while he hasn’t claimed the White House yet, he is campaigning as if he’s already there. The problem is if elected, he’ll have to go around and patch up the fences and smooth out the bomb craters he’s left in his path on the campaign trail. Although Jimmy Carter tried to appease his Washington critics by giving the VP post to one of them – Walter Mondale – that apparently simply heightened their disrespect. Carter even awarded some Cabinet posts and important responsibilities to people who were not his loyalists. That just meant the liberals figured they had landed a dumb Southern who couldn’t figure out the score.

 

Most seasoned observers think those same land mines await an Obama presidency. Only Dick Morris seems to talk about it – and his venom is largely discounted as being a oft repeated song of sour grapes. Nonetheless, left unresolved they’ll be back to bite an Obama administration where it hurts – and are liable to further exacerbate race divisions within the Democrat’s party.

 

I have a couple more observations about Jimmy Carter’s place in American history and the likelihood of history repeating itself. I plan to do that tomorrow.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack Buttram

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama07-17-08.mp3

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt07-17-08.doc

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

SOME INTERESTING SIMILARITIES

Just A Minute – I’m going to depart from our usual format and do a couple of programs on the similarities Jimmy Carter and Barak Obama evidence.

Remember the late Ham Jordan (jer-den) – He was Carter’s Chief of Staff who recognized the “chaos” (his word for it) in the Democrat party and figured good ole Jimmeh could make the most of it and sneak off with the prize. Carter won the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary with about 30 percent of the votes, while a quartet of more liberal contestants (Udall, Shriver, Bayh and Harris) fought over the rest.

Carter and Obama bill themselves as outsiders able to reform Washington but once the peanut farmer from Plaines was in the White House, the liberals who pulled the congressional strings, put their loyalties to their own special interests ahead of his and after three years his presidency had become unraveled mostly because he could not control his fellow Democrats.

We’ll conclude the comparison on tomorrow’s Just a Minute.  Tune in –

<> I’m Jack Buttram

(END)

 

 

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DON'T BUY ANOTHER NEW YORKER -- Just a Minute for 7-16-08 - Wednesday

Hello –

Time to listen in to our friends over at Playfair on the Caroliner line where Earl ‘n’ Lester run their Bait Shop ‘n’ Sushi Bar – for those who don’t recognize the Wednesday cast of characters –

The genial host is “Mr. Jack” – who also acts as referee and reference from time to time. Next comes Mr. Billy-Bob Catlett, who loves to fish and tell tall tales – and is kind of the resident wise man – at least he thinks so.

Next comes Homer Leadfooter – who is a denizen of the local Playfair Library where he reads the latest periodicals and new books – and generally keeps up on things to stimulate the Sushi Bar discussion that goes on most of the time.

And then last but not least – there’s Miz Pearl or Miz Pearlie Goodlady, if’n you happened to go to high school with her back a few years ago – we don’t go there.

Today the discussion follows much of what’s been going on for the last two days about the cartoon on the front cover of the New Yorker Magazine. It’s a depiction of Barak Obama in a turban and what would normally be taken as Muslim street clothes; then his wife Michelle sports an ‘Angela Davis’ “afro” in the 60’s tradition – and totes a machine gun that bears a resemblance to an AK-47; and finally there’s an American flag smoldering in the fireplace. Taken altogether – and depending on your viewpoint – it is either a reprise of some of the ‘misunderestimations’ of Mr. Obama that have existed since he first expressed his interest in running for president: or it is simply satire in the tradition of the New Yorker magazine which has run outlandish cartoons before satirizing (or despising) Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and other Washington figures.

There’s been a fairly spirited debate going on in the blogosphere as well as the ‘mainstream media’ as to whether the rednecks and others who live west of the Hudson are sophisticated enough to appreciate this art form – or is the rest of the world who do not live on the West side of upper Manhattan are sophisticated to get the satirical humor which the Editor says he intended to convey. You pays your money you takes your choice. It’s a rather pointless argument – and pretty strange to hear it being thrashed out in the ‘flyover’ country that was depicted once on the New Yorker’s cover when Manhattan Island was depicted larger than Greenland, crowding out the rest of the United states except for a sliver on the west coast labeled Caleefornia with not much else in between.

That’s probably to be expected when Congress is sent home to play while getting ready for their month long August recess – since they’ve been working at such a breakneck speed all this year… especially since the end of January by which time they had accumulated approximately six partial legislative days. Oh well… I think it was Will Rogers who said when the legislature was in session no man’s wife or property was safe. But that was long ago.

Cordially, IN HIM

Jack

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama07-16-08.mp3

“JUST A MINUTE”

DON’T BUY ANOTHER NEW YORKER!

Homer: Just a Minit – Mr. Jack – didja heer ‘bout the boycott of THE NEW YORKER?

BB: Elliott Spitzer?

Homer: -- Naw, Mr. Billy-bob the New Yawker magazeen -- a Obama cartoon on th’ cover.

MizP: Wuz hit funny?

Homer: Fellers at th’ BAIT SHOP ‘N’ SUSHI BAR was a-wavin’ hit around – Mr. Obama in a turban -- Miz Obama in an Afro – a U.S. flag a-burnin’ in th’ fire pl---

MizP: Oh, thas terribul.

Jack: Why, Miz Pearl? It’s just satire.

Homer: Chris Matthews, over at “Hardball,” thought hit was terribul … reminded him of th’ cartoons ‘bout “NO IRISH NEED APPLY.”

Jack: So he was offended?

Homer: Yep -- he thanks mos people don’t git th’ joke. L.A. Councilman Bernie Parks wants us to boycott the New Yawker…

MizP: Well is hit a joke or not?

Jack: James Carville…

BB: The one who’s wife calls him ‘snake-head?” -- That’s offensive.

Jack: Carville said no big deal -- most of the other commentators didn’t agree –

BB: Don’t the New Yawker have a lot of comics?

MizP: Cartoons! – Sophisticated cartoons -- only New Yawkers git hit.

BB: Then – ‘parently they don’t thank th’ rest of us in ‘flyover’ country will be bothered.

Homer: Chris Matthews is bothered – he thanks they’ll be tee shirts wif that dumb cartoon on…

MizP: Oh tush… who’d we-ah a tee shirt wif a cartoon?

BB: You’d be s’prised, Miz Pearl.

Jack: Tempers are at the ready everywhere … I’m Jack Buttram.

(END)

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GONE TOO SOON -- Just a Minute for Tues. 7-15-08

Hello again –

Looks like this is a week for obituaries. Probably a good thing to remind us all of our mortality and our need to take the long perspective of what’s important about life. Also we learn new things – often brand-new information seems to show up in the last words written about someone famous.

In Senator Helms' case, I learned from his grandchildren he loved to fix a BIG breakfast for his family – and his most recent pet was a big blue Manx cat which sat on the arm of his recliner and purred with a mighty purr – imitated by his grandson during the funeral service.

As to Tony – it was a first for me to find out he was a musician who played several wind instruments – flutes, saxophones – and guitar. Also one of the obits said when he was a student at Davidson he had long hair down to his shoulders and a full beard. Hard to get a handle on that picture considering how he rather dominated the White House press room with cheerful, almost boyish good looks – and good humor to go with it. His demeanor took the edge off what had been a pretty tense scene almost from the beginning of George W. Bush’s presidency. He gave every evidence of enjoying the job and his words at his last press briefing were, “I’m just sorry I can’t stay longer.”

He wrote speeches and he gave speeches. His last major speech was to the CEPAC convention in February – in which he utilized some of the most inspirational and challenging rhetoric I’ve heard. I quote a little bit of it in today’s program.

I guess my affinity for the work he did is because I share some of the same outlook he did – and know something of the difficulties of dealing with hostile media in a situation that sometimes seems terribly stacked against you. I don’t think Tony ever took notice of that. One writer said he just assumed everyone liked him – and that’s not often seen in Washington.

So we say farewell to someone who, even from a distance seemed like a chum and an essentially good guy to be around. His White House colleagues as well as those he worked with in the media all seemed to speak of him with genuine affection and admiration – which is saying a lot in an atmosphere which abounds with super-sized egos.

Tony – our sadness is mixed with joy in knowing you’re not going through any more pain or illness. It was good to know ya.

Cordially, IN HIM

Jack

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama07-15-08.mp3

http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt07-15-08.doc

“JUST A MINUTE”

GONE TOO SOON

Just A Minute – Tony Snow passed away last Saturday – commended by President Bush and John Podhoretz, a former colleague who wrote this:

[Tony Snow]… wrote speeches, hosted television … and radio shows, and gave endless speeches. In all these pursuits he was agile, deft and successful. But I think it's safe to say it turned out Tony's greatest achievement was his time as White House press secretary. At this crucial job… he proved to be the best -- the best ever, without qualification. He could speak with fluency, honesty, wit, and clarity on every subject under the sun; he remained poised, unruffled…. sure of himself on the podium, in the press room.”

My guess is you’ll be hearing again his final challenge to the troops at the CEPAC convention last February (quote): “This may be a time of testing. But it's not our swan song. Not by a long shot. Instead . . . this is our moment. This is the time to do what we do best -- turn adversity into strength."

Tony’s B.A. In Philosophy came from Davidson College. He was a loved man with genuine friends.

<> I’m Jack Buttram

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