WHAT HAPPENED -- WHERE ARE WE NOW? - Just a Minute Radio for Wednesday 100609

            Good to have you folks with us – after all the tumult and the shouting dies. (That’s favorite phrase from Rudyard Kipling.) And just think – we have the opportunity to go through it all again on June 22^nd  and multiple other times before the real showdown in November when we have the midterm elections.  Ain’t that fun?  [Well, possibly it is for all those campaign consultants who have snagged well-paying clients who swell their coffers.]  It reminds me of the band of highly priced ‘robbers’ otherwise  known as lobbyists, who sell their skills to the highest bidder for whatever cause or candidate that comes along – and “devil take the hindmost.”

 

            Now maybe that is a bitter attitude. One that people who know me would say I arbitrarily adopted once I cooled off the lobbying activities in my own office.  Actually, I did work for a very responsible firm for a brief length of time and then went on my own representing mainly Christian clients who needed help from being sandbagged by thugs and yeggs – as a cohort of mine used to describe them.  And I suppose it is a bit of what must appear ‘sour grapes’ as I detoured around the mirey potholes others split wide open no matter what the damage they did their own consciences.  But that’s another story.

 

            Truth is,  character and an old fashioned word called righteousness is mighty scarce when some of these issues come along.  Various friendly types of ‘consultants’ (some would call them ‘influence peddlers’) have stalked the streets of Washington and various state capitols.  But one can be upright – law-abiding and scandal free – while being relatively successful.  You may not make the headlines of the NYT or the WaPo… but you can certainly sleep better at night.

 

            However… today – in the aftermath of the past run up to the several primary state contests – well it’s either ‘lickin’ my wounds time… or chortling over “one we pulled off”  back room deals.  It’s a (to borrow a WWII adjective) “Sad Sack” time to be in the field.  We’ll just have to look to the Lord to make it better – and believe me HE will! Buck up… the sun will shine another day.

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack

 

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“JUST A MINUTE”

 

WHAT HAPPENED – WHERE ARE WE NOW?

 

Homer: Jist A Minute –What in the worl has done happened?

MizP: Awl  Ah know is Miz Helen Thomas don’t sit on the front row at th’ White House no moah.

Jack: That’s a come-down of her own doin’ Miz Pearl.

MizP: Well don’t ah know … She ‘bout knocked me down to say tha-ut nasty thang…

Homer: ‘Tellin’ th’ Jews ta go home?

MizP: At’s perzackly whut Ah mean, Mr. Homer. 

BB: We make ‘em stop at th’ Bait Shop an Sushi Bar when they gits obstreperous.

Jack: How’s that again Billy-bob?

BB: Ah’m a gittin’ powerful tired of people a throwin’ off on us down South … an they let people like Miz Thomas run a-round an never even cawl ‘em down on hit.

Homer: Well they’s done more about Miz Thomas’s outburst Mr. Bill… her speecifyin’ agency done drapped her.

BB: A high school graddiation done un-invited her.

MizP: But th’ White House Correspondent’s ‘sociation let her sit permanently on th’ front row…

Jack: Mmmm … not any more Miz P…

MizP: Tha’tl sho improve the looks of th’ place.

Jack: Miz Pearl… you don’t want to go there. Glenn Beck wrote something ungentlemanly about her …on his blog… That’s just lowering yourself to her level.

Homer: Yeah Miz Pearl… you don’t wanta git inna gutter yo sef…

MizP: Well… I reckon you’s rite…

Jack: Just think on this: --  “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. --- (Matt 5:11)

MizP: Mr. Jack… you’s rite thank you…

BB: Hit’s hard ta do.

Homer: Special hard in th’ po-litical season.

Jack: Right on, Homer.

MizP: But ---- oh … we ain’t said a word ‘bout th’ lections yestiddy…

BB: No …

Jack: You’ get it all from the radio, &  TV – And we’ll be back next Wednesday.

<>I’m Jack Buttram  (END)

JEBCO Editorial Service

wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk.com@arrl.net

 

 

 

TOMORROW IS INDEED A VOTING DAY -- DO IT! Just A Minute Radio for Monday 100607

            Howdy on a Monday… And tomorrow’s an Election day… I hope you’re prepared –

 

            As I noted last week… the Gremlins are at it again… eating my already prepared scripts… and hiding.  But we’ll rout them out some time soon (we hope.)

 

            Just as long as they don’t foul up the election booth voting machines.  My wife and I have been through the training. She’s much more experienced than I… having been an election official in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.  All these years I have merely been a participant… Now I are an election poll worker too… (J).. But I have good help… people who know more about what not to do than I.  So… make it easy… just don’t start campaigning when you walk through the door of the voting place. That’s not allowed. (L)… and I know you wouldn’t want to get me in trouble for my first day on the job. (J)… We’ll hope for the best.

 

            Until you think about the people in Venezuela who get to go to the polls and vote… and perhaps dodge bullets… or bombs… and have to listen to Bro. Hugo non stop… and of course vote for him or someone in his party since those are the only names on the ballot… well… it’s not a cheerful thing to contemplate.

 

            Let us be thankful it hasn’t come to that place here… yet.

 

            Well… I’d better not go down that dark alley.  We’ll be up before the crack of dawn on Tuesday… and dragging home well after 7 or 8 PM… after helping  the ‘clerk’ take down everything and get it back to the HQ.  Then I think on the 22^nd… if I’m not mistaken, we’ll get to do it all again.  But I’m reminded… that’s a lot better than to have no choices at all – by a long shot. 

 

            What I am tired of all ready is the rather continuous stream of commentary from the national media that happens to include the phrase something like…”Well what else do you expect from South Carolina… the land of dirty tricks and dirty politics.”  That surely isn’t happy talk.  And I think we’ll all be better off when we can erase it.  Let’s be cheerful – as well as prayerful… and I’m sure the Lord will have a blessing for us all.

 

            Better get my ‘beauty rest’ as Homer opines… and if there’s someone who needs it … I guess I’m the someone.

 

            All the best.

 

            See you after election day… over at the Bait Shop and Sushi Bar… we’ll find out what’s been a-goin’ on.

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

            Jack

 

 

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“JUST A MINUTE”

TOMORROW IS INDEED A VOTING DAY – DO IT!

 

Just a Minute: -- Tomorrow’s election day – if you’re registered -- vote for the candidates of your choice in whichever party you choose.  Ask Voters in Venezuela how often they get to do that?

Out in Nevada, Senator Harry Reid says *all* opposition candidates “scare him” – So perhaps you’d like to drop him a sympathy card.

In California it’s BOXER against everybody – Round one!

In South Carolina it’s Carroll Campbell III, Paul Thurmond and Tim Scott with I think six others who will most likely be eliminated for House District 1 runoff. It will be a long night waiting for all the returns from a large part of the Nation.

In the South Carolina Governor’s race it’ll most likely be a runoff between Nikki Haley and Gresham Barrett, but Henry McMaster may pull a surprise.

For the 4^th District of SC House seat – all the static says Bob Inglis will be retiring but that may have to be a settled by a runoff between him and Trey Gowdy and/or David Thomas.

All in all I think you’re safe to say it’ll be an interesting evening nationwide.

<> I’m Jack Buttram  (END)

Jebco Editorial Service

www.wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

 

 

 

HOW LONG CAN WE LOOK THE OTHER WAY? Just A Minute Radio for Friday 100604

            Good Day Mate….HIT’S FRIDAY – as we say in Yancey County –

 

            And this week has been, and still is most active.  I’m not so sure how *important* some of the political news is. It’s kind of like the papers that are stuffed around breakable things in a big box… lots of stuff to pull out, examine and throw away… but what do you do with all that paper… Good thing we got a BIG trash can.

 

            It’s just my somewhat confused way of wading through a field of weeds to try and find a rake you left lying on the ground.  Then it comes up and knocks you in the noggin.  That’s a hard way to find something – but effective.  Tends to make you want to remember things more directly in the future.

 

            I’m just amazed at how quickly data I put in my mental card file gets misplaced.  It’s like the left hand puts it there and the right hand comes along and moves it somewhere else. (Left hand doesn’t let the right hand know?)  How does it work so fast… and how does the memory just dump itself out… especially when you’re looking someone squarely in the eye and have forgotten his name… although you’ve worked with him for 20 years.

 

            Well.. that’s a convoluted mess… but it’s accurate for the record of what I think has been accomplished this week on my watch…perhaps yours has been more productive… I hope so.  We had a grandson graduate from HS this week… and that was fun… but sort of confusing… As a Grandpa… I look at the young people and realize how much “out of it” I am…but my wife keeps telling me … ‘don’t make so much of it… after all how old are you after all…’ and I agree she’s right… it’s just aggravating. I feel like someone has purloined my address box.  But it’ll show up I suppose.

 

            Well… Have a good week end.  They seem to be getting hotter now.  But I found this week if you carry an umbrella… it’s just as useful in the sunshine as rain… You’re carrying your shade with you!  Think of it that way and it’s hardly a burden at all. (J)

 

            Have a blessed weekend…

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Barbara and Jack

                        Grandma & Grandpa congratulating the graduates.

 

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“JUST A MINUTE”

HOW LONG CAN WE LOOK THE OTHER WAY?

Just a Minute: -- This news turns my stomach. I’m currently ignoring the massive oil spill and incompetence of our government. I do not mean those stories are not important – they are. But they take us to a very low level in our concern.   

Here was the headline I saw: “ABORTED BABY CRIES BEFORE CREMATION” --- I stopped. These words formed slowly in my understanding: (quote) “On June second, 2010, Xinhua, China’s official news agency. crematorium workers in Guangdong Province found an infant crying in a ‘medical waste’ receptacle on its way to being cremated.”

That’s horrible. The child was returned to the hospital and died later that day without any official report provided according to Dr. Reggie Littlejohn, an expert on China’s “One Child” policy.

What depth of irrationality have we reached when this filters through the Internet with so little notice?

Twenty one other fetuses and aborted babies were found – treated as medical waste – in an East China River.

          I plan to have more information on this another day.  Meanwhile – pray.

 

<> I’m Jack Buttram  (END)

Jebco Editorial Service

www.wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHO ARE THE PLAYERS -- WHERE IS THE PROGRAM? -Just a Minute Radio for Wednesday 100602

            Hello Once Again Favorite Friends –

 

            Glad to have you on board for a short ride over to the Caroliner’ Line where t he friends are a’waitin’ to discuss the latest happenings on the primary front.  I’ll bet most of you (us) didn’t know there were primaries yesterday in Alabama, Mississippi, New Mexico and Hawaii… Somehow it just didn’t hit the ‘lame stream media’s bull’s eye’ like other stuff does most of the time.

 

            So… today’s program attempts to make up for the big boys’ omissions – at least a little.  If it fills a hole in your keeping up with the program drop me a line at n4zhk@arrl.net and I’d love to have your reaction. [One of these days *somebody* is going to shock me and respond. (J)

 

            Anyway it’s sort of fun trying to keep up with the ‘firehose’ of information that I sort through several times a week.  Today I’m sure I missed some things because I was looking so diligently for other jewels…such as finding out Al Gore – and Tipper --- that Sahlie couple crashing WH State Dinners … have mutually decided to ‘support’ one another by splitting up that which they had pledged before witnesses and the whole world to remain true to ‘till the end.  Well… sometimes we just don’t have the right lenses to look through. I don’t wish them ill… It just means we have to be a bit more acute in selecting the pronouncements of our public figures and sorting the wheat from the chaff…

 

            Oh by the way – if you’re interested in mixed metaphors – how about this one describing the problems on the Gulf shores: ”The oil washing ashore from the gigantic leak BP bequeaths us, is building to a huge flame that threatens to consume the fishing and tourist industry in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida – plus points north.”

 

            Perhaps they could just get this imaginative metaphor to flick itself into an energy source we could all use to heat our homes next winter and convert frosty the snowman into a beach bum.  Nah… that’s too far fetched.

 

            Enough word-play for today.  See you again on Friday.

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack

 

Delayed audio link:

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“JUST A MINUTE”

 

WHO ARE THE PLAYERS – WHERE IS THE PROGRAM?

 

Homer: Jist A Minute – Mr. Jack, We hardly kin keep up wif th’ small state primaries.

Jack: Which are you interested in Homer?

MizP: Ah’ like ta know if’n Alabama is a gonna have th’ first black Governor thauh?

Jack: Early last nigh MizP, the AP said it looked like Artur Davis – the black U.S. Congressman, had lost his bid to be Alabama’s black Governor. And 5th district Rep. Parker Griffith who had switched from Democrat to Republican was trailing in his race.  

BB: Well whut about that Congersman frum Hawaya – Mr. Djoe – is he goin’ ta stay in Congers?.

Jack: He is the first GOP Congressman in a long time from the 50^th State.

Homer: Hawayee is purty hard fer a Reepublican ta git ‘lected in. 

Jack: Right Homer, Mr. Djoe (d’jew) has to run again in November -- registration is about 60% against him.  

BB: But they is awlways upsets… Ah likes upsets.

MizP: Well you would, Mr. Beelie. – They’s a lotta dirt bein’ thrown in th’ South Car’liner Guvnor’s primary--   ah don’t like hit.

Homer: None of us does Miz Pearl.

Jack: Back to the voting for a minute…

MizP: Yeah… we cain’t skip plumb over ta November.

BB: Fer my part we cud…. ah gits tard of these squabbles.

Jack: Mr. Bill, the self-governing… process isn’t a neat system.

Homer: When hit stops gittin’ contested – well… Mr. Chavez don’t have ‘lection problems in Venezueli…

BB:  No… at’s rite… He jist tell’s ‘em ta close down th’ papers an TV stations an he’ll tell ‘em whut to do.

MizP: And we know tha-ut ain’t rite… thas th’ way Hitler an’ Muscledini come ta power.

Homer: An tha-ut wuz terribul,

MizP: Terrible fur th’ chirrin of Eyetalia an’ Germany.

BB: An we don’t want tha-ut ta happin’ here… So we better get with hit an keep ‘a prayin’.

Jack: We’d better… Time’s about up for this week -- be back next Wednesday. I’m Jack Buttram.

(END)

                                                            JEBCO Editorial Service

wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk.com@arrl.net

 

 

 

EMPATHIZER-IN-CHIEF -- Just A Minute Radio for Monday 100531

            Howdy… Great to have you with us today…

 

            Today’s news, I thought, brought forth a pinch of repentance on the part of one of the leaders of the Washington Press Corps – Mr. David Broder – who is the long-time syndicated columnist at the Washington Post.  He’s been around longer than I have. (L)… Which makes him senior…(J)….

 

            It’s largely that the new guys (and ladies) having to jostle for position in the White House briefing room and getting their jollies by marking down how often Robert Gibbs says “uh”  don’t often want to be caught out in right field saying something that the older (and presumably wiser) heads aren’t saying – or writing.  The only upstart rapscallion group in this sea of conviviality are the folks running FOX news – who seem to be winning the Cable ratings war by being the ‘brash kid on the block.’

 

            If you follow the ‘inside press box’ kind of game played in DC… it’s a rather tough pecking order.  The old guys (and gals – excuse me) don’t like to be upstaged or ‘scooped’ by somebody newly come to town – so it’s a rather invisibly ordered affair.  And the oldies don’t care for the greenhorns upsetting the apple cart…  All that to say the ‘independence’ of the press corps (which more properly ought to be ID’ed as ‘media persons’ is being challenged all over the place.  They don’t like the bloggers (the P.J. kids) at home or thumbing their blackberries, who have got a nasty way of beating out the older folks… or at least scaring them a lot… so it’s a rather more hostile ground than a mine field – which makes news competitiveness these days nearly a blood sport.

 

            All that to explain why when you see someone like Dave Broder seemingly take a ‘softball’ approach to the President’s news conference (the first he’d had in over 300 days) … not mentioned much by the ‘lame stream media’ as Mrs. Palin has come to refer to them – is news in itself.  See  the newsmen (er … people) are for the most part supposed to keep themselves out of the story – they are reporters, not performers.  At least that’s the way the script is written.  But lots of people are caught stepping over the line nowadays.

 

            Well… that’s all rather shot through with jargon… I’m not sure I understand it all because as the guy selling the $5 program sings out when you come in the stadium: “You can’t tell the players without a program.”  And the people with access to the programs don’t want to share. (L).

 

            We’ll take another crack at explaining that sometimes on a slow news day… meanwhile… let’s just keep paddlin’.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack

 

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“JUST A MINUTE”

EMPATHIZER-IN-CHIEF

Just a Minute: -- As I began to read Dave Broder’s Sunday piece in the Washington Post I thought for a moment the blinders finally had come off -- but it was a  false hope. I’ve known David since the ’64 Goldwater days. He wrote for the now shuttered Washington Evening Star and is the acknowledged ‘un-retired’ dean of the Washington press corps. .

His opening sentence began: “It took almost a full hour of Barack Obama's news conference for the professor-president to come down from his lecture platform and show [his] human reaction to the gulf oil leak accident..”  I thought the press corps might *finally* be peeking through the blinders.  But it was not to be. Concluding his 700 words or so, he was back in the Obama pocket saying: “What began as a defensive academic exercise ended on a much better note.”

This just illustrates the difficulties encountered this year – and other years – as the overwhelmingly liberal(slash)progressive opinionators of the heavy-duty press people slave away under their  double standard.

It’s difficult for the public to get a clear picture – and turns out to be equally confusing to their supporters.

<> I’m Jack Buttram  (END)

Jebco Editorial Service

www.wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

 

 

 

 

IS REFORM GOING TO *REALLY* REFORM? -- Just a Minute Radio for Friday 100528

            Howdy – it’s FRIDAY and another one of the giants of the airways is gone… Art Linkletter… RIP

 

            For about a year I worked with former California Senator George Murphy – and we often had entertainment figures drop in the Washington office.  One was Art Linkletter who began his broadcast career in the ‘30’s and carried it on up through part of the 70s.  He passed away yesterday at 97 at his home in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles.  He was as cheerful and friendly in person as he was on the air.

 

            But back to politics – The President held his first full-fledged press conference in over 300 days yesterday and finally got some *real* questions – to which he gave rather soggy answers.  Questioned by Fox’s White House Correspondent – he said I’ll get back to you on that --- soon… I didn’t hear the specifics, but I expect they’re flexible.

 

            From the first the Obama team does not seem to be able to appreciate just how much they miss the communications mark.  I’ve never seen James Carville, with his N’awlins accent be so upset about his leader’s apparent political indifference to the plight of the Louisiana coast – never mind the rest of the Gulf of Mexico – or the world for that matter. 

 

            Being President is a tough job…  I’ve often wondered why so many seek it.  Obviously as Warren Buffett proves yearly, you can make more money doing other things if that’s your goal.  Is getting your face on TV and riding twice in one week from coast to coast (never mind the cost) in AF-One worth the grind?  Apparently.

 

            I’ll give the Prez a pass on golfing and playing with the guys in a game of hoops… never been a golfer and not too good at hitting the basket either – but there comes a time of self-reckoning. “Why am I here? What am I accomplishing?  To what end? What happens then?” Those are all questions that are important – and have eternally important answers – even if you can hop on a helicopter and get transported to the Camp David retreat at will. 

 

            I don’t mean to be flippant or mean, and am not in the slightest angry except for the nation and my fellow citizens.  I share the feeling we are careening down a slippery slope nationally – and I know we are spiritually.  My prayers are with those who have not come to know a saving relationship with the God of the Bible – and that’s not said just because I’m sectarian. I’m also American and I hate to see all the innocents being put through the wringer to satisfy anyone’s misplaced ego.  Some days I feel like Tiny-Tim.  God bless us – everyone.

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack

 

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“JUST A MINUTE”

IS REFORM GOING TO REALLY REFORM?

Just a Minute: -- Dan Henninger, Wall St. Journal Columnist, suggests not to get in a lather for reform until a *real* leader steps to the plate.

All the palaver about cooperation, -- finding common ground --, and corralling Republican Senators to a White House lecture session, is pure window-dressing.  The White House is assuming a real leader for 2012 election won’t appear because Democrats think they already have a reform leader in Barack Hussein Obama.

Nonetheless, some cross currents are stirring the electorate.  The Pew Poll continues to peg trust in government at 22 percent -- approval rate for Congress is 23 percent. Something’s got to change.  Henninger believes when people call themselves “Americans, Californians … or even New Jerseyans Persians… they’re talking about a place name … with a grand political history.”  Underneath it is rage at much misgovernance. He sees real reform seeking better politicians who will end gerrymandering and repeal campaign-finance limits that keep good candidates from seeking public office.

Well – that’s a determined start. Lets’ put some powerful prayer behind it.

<> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)

Jebco Editorial Service

www.wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

 

 

IS THERE NO MIDDLE TO THE POLITICAL ROAD? - Just a Minute Radio for Wednesday 100526

            ‘Tis once again the middle of the week… How pleasant!

 

            Possibly the politicos involved in what’s happening in DC and other locales are believing the electorate is hanging on their every word and action.  But it appears the public at large is getting the drift of what’s going on behind ‘closed doors’ as well as what’s happening in the wells of the House and Senate.

 

            Gerald F. Seib – of the Wall St. Journal, writes a Capital Journal column twice a week I believe – and it gives devoted wanna be pundits a high standard when it comes to handicapping the gossip that wafts over ‘foggy bottom’ -- and the rest of the swamp that has come to be called “The District.”  Jerry – who has served as the Journal’s bureau Chief for some time now, seems to keep a steady hand on the throttle and tiller.  He’s not given to chasing every rumor that flashes over the Potomac --- at the same time he catches nuances of what’s happening, possibly because it’s his charge to keep a hungry herd of Journalists under his own surveillance – which is not the easiest high-wire act in the city.

 

            At the same time because of his exposure to what various writers are working on in the political shadows, as well as serving in overseas news posts, he is perhaps about as well suited to the clash and grinding of the political grist mill as anyone in George Washington’s former backyard.  Today’s JUST A MINUTE is grateful to Mr. Seib for his insightful finger pointing and keeping track of who’s moving up and who’s moving down.

 

            If you’re looking for data to feed into your Crystal Ball …his columns are not fluffy gossip … nor so heavy laden with the minutia of counting states, counties and PAC reports that you can’t tell the forests for the trees.  For my take on my former haunts on the banks of the Potomac, I believe he gets it right most of the time and does so with apparent ease without ostentatious egalitarianism.

 

            It’s nice to find a subdued, but most often accurate, voice in the cacophonic bedlam that passes for the news stream coming out of the national capital.  We welcome the quiet.

 

            Cordially. IN HIM

 

            Jack  

IS THERE NO MIDDLE TO THE POLITICAL ROAD? - Just a Minute Radio for Wednesday 100526

            ‘Tis once again the middle of the week… How pleasant!

 

            Possibly the politicos involved in what’s happening in DC and other locales are believing the electorate is hanging on their every word and action.  But it appears the public at large is getting the drift of what’s going on behind ‘closed doors’ as well as what’s happening in the wells of the House and Senate.

 

            Gerald F. Seib – of the Wall St. Journal, writes a Capital Journal column twice a week I believe – and it gives devoted wanna be pundits a high standard when it comes to handicapping the gossip that wafts over ‘foggy bottom’ -- and the rest of the swamp that has come to be called “The District.”  Jerry – who has served as the Journal’s bureau Chief for some time now, seems to keep a steady hand on the throttle and tiller.  He’s not given to chasing every rumor that flashes over the Potomac --- at the same time he catches nuances of what’s happening, possibly because it’s his charge to keep a hungry herd of Journalists under his own surveillance – which is not the easiest high-wire act in the city.

 

            At the same time because of his exposure to what various writers are working on in the political shadows, as well as serving in overseas news posts, he is perhaps about as well suited to the clash and grinding of the political grist mill as anyone in George Washington’s former backyard.  Today’s JUST A MINUTE is grateful to Mr. Seib for his insightful finger pointing and keeping track of who’s moving up and who’s moving down.

 

            If you’re looking for data to feed into your Crystal Ball …his columns are not fluffy gossip … nor so heavy laden with the minutia of counting states, counties and PAC reports that you can’t tell the forests for the trees.  For my take on my former haunts on the banks of the Potomac, I believe he gets it right most of the time and does so with apparent ease without ostentatious egalitarianism.

 

            It’s nice to find a subdued, but most often accurate, voice in the cacophonic bedlam that passes for the news stream coming out of the national capital.  We welcome the quiet.

 

            Cordially. IN HIM

 

            Jack  

DEMS BILL 'FAST EDDIE' AS A POL'S POL -- For JUST A MINUTE RADIO 100524SpeedieEddie

G’day Again…

 

Here we are on a Monday – starting a new week as the month of May rolls on. 

 

Although there’s been a lot in the way of rain promised locally – not much has actually arrived.  It’s easy to tell because the grass does not thrive… and I have to keep watering the Impatiens around the mailbox as newly planted. If I don’t, I fear they won’t make it and what we intended to be attractive will turn out as just a brown patch.

 

Well… those are often the results of good intentions but bad executions.  One thing I remember about my Dad as a gardener… he didn’t want to waste anything.  We even had a compost pile in the city.  It wasn’t very big and I don’t really think we produced enough compost to make it worth the effort – until apple harvesting and cider makin’ and it grew mightily then – but at least the efforts wasn’t lost on me.

 

Dad having grown up on a farm in the South… and married a girl from a similar background … was of the “Wear it out.” – “Use it up.” – “Don’t throw away something that could possibly be used for something else.” – school.  From the looks of my ‘cubbyhole’ tool room and boxes of things I wonder why I’m saving them… or what I’m saving them for… I think I’m fully enrolled in the same school. 

 

Even on both my grandpa’s farms – one in SC and one in AL – I can recall tool sheds, black-smith shop, wood sheds, smoke-house, barns of course, and multitudes of places where things were set aside and kept on the premise we “might” use them again… and so they multiplied.

 

In our own relatively small family – only five children in the household – we seem to live under the curse that clutter expands and multiplies in direct proportion to fill the available space no matter how much it is.   Our  youngest daughter is doing her best to make a living as an artist and a designer and manufacturer of… “Famsters”… as well as a painter on fabric… I can’t explain it all… but sometime I’ll post her website and you can go look if you’re so inclined.  There’s always a use… we think…

 

Matter of fact I had a distant cousin – second or third or “once removed” whatever those designations are.  She made little costume jewelry dolls out of buttons – as well as doing very attractive water colors… and I don’t know what all… I guess it runs in the family.

 

Sorry for the ramble… Wednesday may be better. (J)

 

Cordially, IN HIM

Jack

 

 

Delayed audio link:

http://www.wmuu.com/blog/category/audio/just-a-minute/

 

 

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

DEMS BILL ‘FAST EDDIE’ AS A POL’S POL

Just a Minute: -- A “Pol’s Pol” says the Wall Street Journal’s  week-end profile of Pennsylvania’s Gov. ‘Fast Eddie’ Rendell. I learned Rendell steered Hillary to a 10 point win over Obama, in 2008.

Currently he teaches a University class on “How to Win Elections.”  Sen. Arlen Specter fatally ignored Rendell’s first law: “inoculate your self against your weakness.” -- In an unguarded moment Specter admitted he’d switched parties “to get re-elected.”

Rendell break down the health care: “Find a young girl who’s being unfairly denied insurance and hold a press conference with her. Dump ‘Cap and Trade’ --  it’s too difficult to explain; tell ‘em how much the Stimulus has helped --  and cast Pat Toomey, as the man from Wall Street.

He says he admires GOP Gov. Christie of New Jersey who’s vetoing tax increases – saying, as Mayor of Philly, he sold ‘em on increasing taxes by saying short term pain for long term gain. Rendell also admires Bill Clinton – and laughingly calls himself and Clinton – “Fiscal Conservatives.”

The two-term Pennsylvania chief executive is term limited but would love to be the DNC’s top smoke-and-mirrors artist.

<> I’m Jack Buttram (END)

Jebco Editorial Service

www.wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

 

 

 

SHE SAID WHAT OTHERS DON'T SAY -- Just a Minute Radio for Friday 100521

            It’s FRIDAY once again…. Paul Harvey’s favorite day…             

 

            And here we are partially post primary elections… the big three we thought would chart our course for the future weeks.  Well…nothing’s perfect in the political world – and it seems this year is more uncertain than most. 

 

            People in the stock market are nervously looking over their shoulders after the 100o point DJA drop that occurred two weeks ago… not enough time has passed to mask the jitters that occasioned.  In addition the “gold bug” advocates seem more active than usual – about the only thing we don’t have at present (and that could happen before this gets on the air) is another outbreak of tidal waves, tornadoes or earthquake stimulating volcanoes – it’s just a shaky world out there by any measure.

 

            However… for those who have secured their ultimate destination according to the Word of God – the Bible, and following the best judgment afforded by that miraculous book – there’s a LOT more peace to be had than through any other avenue of which I’m aware.  You just can’t beat the odds put out by the creator of the Universe and all you may learn about His being from that wonderful record.

 

            I know,,, I know… there’s a huge contingent out there who mark me down as a ‘fruitcake’  -- but the problem is they’ve never given the evidence supporting the supernatural record of the Bible a fair hearing.  One of the best documented cases of a professed agnostic – Civil War Generla Lew Wallace – coming to belief in Christ is a case you should at least give an open hearing.  There are others also – but one cannot intelligently ignore the miraculous fulfillment record and history of the Bible – at the very least -- that’s my take on it.

 

            No doubt there will be things I do not fully understand – but that’s true of the nature of light – or of modern day electronics… even of statistical alternative probabilities.  I’m impressed by a simple illustration of the value in recognizing Intelligent Design:  Someone has said if you come across a Coke Bottle in the middle of hundreds of square miles of sand like you’d find in the Sahara – you would not reasonably assume that it happened by chance or natural process accident.  To all sensibilities it must at least present a crack in the door opening to Intelligent Design…

 

            Once I had a very engaging conversation with an ocular scientist on an aircraft flight from Singapore to Tokyo.  We discussed the probabilities of the human eye (or any other animal’s eye) evolving vs. being the product of an intelligent designer.  His final remark as we landed in Tokyo after traversing more than a thousand miles over ocean was:  “Well, you simply *have to* accept evolution ‘because it’s there.’ “  We parted amicably – but I obviously made no headway.

 

            Well… I rambled off the track today.  Lord willing, we’ll be together again Monday.  Drop me a line at  n4zhk@arrl.net if you’re so inclined.  I do my best to answer all notes and letters within a day or so.

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack

 

Delayed audio link:

http://www.wmuu.com/blog/category/audio/just-a-minute/

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

SHE SAID WHAT OTHERS DON’T SAY

Just a Minute: -- Candor may become the new vogue in Washington. Arlen Specter failed to get re-elected switching parties… (Quote) “So I can be RE-ELECTED!”  Which news anchor Chris Matthews says is “unacceptable.”

Chris, who used to flack for Tip O’Neil, -- should have given departing Campbell Brown a medal for candor when she released this statement asking to be cut loose early from her contract:

“To be clear: this is my decision, as for why, I could have said, and that I am stepping down to spend more time with my children (which I truly want to do). Or that I am leaving to pursue other opportunities (which I also truly want to do). But I’ve never had much tolerance for others' spin, so I can't imagine trying to stomach my own. The simple fact is not enough people want to watch my program, and I owe it to myself, and CNN, to get out of the way so [they] can try something else.”

Three cheers for Candid Campbell.  We wish for you a more rewarding job.

<> I’m Jack Buttram (END)

Jebco Editorial Service

www.wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk@arrl.net