Because there is no bottom to the Teapublican Dumb Bucket, we were treated to another helping this week – this time in the form of a petition. Meanwhile, North Carolina will be dusting off its “Whites Only” and “No Colored” signs any day now. And finally, the mess of a morass in Egypt is yet another lesson on why restraint has to be the watchword in American foreign policy.

The Bottom of the Dumb Bucket

One of the developments of the new media/communications age in which we live is that virtually any group or organization or cadre of insane asylum escapees can get the White House to post a petition with the requisite number of signatures.

This is why last week the White House had to respond to a petition filed by right wing of the right wing gun worshipers who wanted to disarm the Secret Service security detail that guards President Obama.

Their theory was that if public schools should be made gun free zones then so should the White House.

A brief review of history shows that there has never been a proposal to disarm the Secret Service since there has been a Secret Service – until now.

Can’t wait to see what’s next in The Bottom of the Dumb Bucket.

Back to the Future

This past week the governor of North Carolina signed a bill that so severely restricts, restrains and represses voting that it might have been modeled after the laws that used to govern the Old South at the turn of the century, the 20^th century that is.

Without even a fig leaf of propriety or a passing reference to justice, it will quite simply be a lot harder for some people to vote in that state. And it was the intention of this legislation that “some people” would be minorities, the poor, the young and the elderly – most of whom typically vote Democratic and most of whom voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.

It is ironic that, as we approach the 50^th anniversary of the March on Washington North Carolina is providing reasons to march all over again.

Beware of the Slippery Slope

The turmoil and violence in Egypt should be a lesson to all of those who think that it would be a really great idea for the United States to “do something”, that “something” being the start of some kind of military presence and involvement. We have heard the same drumbeat being played when the song was about Syria and Libya not too long ago.

The sad reality is that there are simply times when the United States really has to stand back. Unless and until there is some clear action that this country can take that will unequivocally protect the United States while actually solving a conflict somewhere else diplomacy will have to suffice.

Vietnam was the lesson 40 years ago; Iraq was the less 10 years ago. We do not need Egypt to be another lesson.

Have a great weekend – stay strong and be great!