Sarah Palin has the same effect on me as she does with many people. She makes me excruciatingly angry. A woman so mixed up in her own self-importance that she fails so catastrophically when it comes to simply acting like a normal human being.
Earlier this month, a man opened fire on a public meeting in Arizona killing six people including a nine year old girl and wounding 13 others. One of the 13 wounded was Democratic representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head at close range. Fortunately she survived the attack, and is recovering in hospital.
Showing posts with label Barrack Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barrack Obama. Show all posts
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Saturday, 25 December 2010
In all the places you find love it feels like Christmas.
Well it’s Christmas Day and it’s all winding down here. It’s been as fun a day as ever, I hope it has been a good day for you too.
Unfortunately I was awoken at 2am this morning, not because of the Ghost of Christmas Past, he came at 1, no it was because I was in a great deal of discomfort. This abdominal pain decided to keep me awake for a while, which annoyed the hell out of me! I mean, c’mon of all days to get ill it chooses Christmas Day? Thanks a lot!
Anyway, I did manage to get some sleep before I got out of bed in the morning. But I’ve spent the majority of the day with it, how fun. It’s not really the pain that bothered me really, I’m more than used to it, it’s just the timing of it. You spend all month looking forward to Christmas and then when it comes, you’re ill. Brilliant.
So after Christmas Dinner, which I did manage to enjoy, I decided to admit defeat and head to bed for a while. Whilst lying in bed, it got me thinking about how annoyed I was at missing out on Christmas thanks to illness. But after a while I started thinking about all those people in the world who don’t even have the luxury of being with their family and friends on Christmas Day.
Those people who spend Christmas alone, people without family, people stuck in a hospital bed, working or serving their country overseas. These are the people I thought of whilst I was lying there in pain. It dawned on me at that moment just how fortunate I am to be home for Christmas, some people don’t even get that luxury.
The people I thought of most were the soldiers out serving their nation. Unfortunately war doesn’t stop for Christmas, it would be good if it did, but it doesn’t. Today, the Queen didn’t mention the troops in her speech, which I felt was a bit disappointing, instead she opted for a message about sport and togetherness in communities. One of the reasons we can even celebrate Christmas is because of the bravery of the servicemen and women, some of whom are stuck in a war zone on the 25th.
Barack Obama and his wife Michelle paid tribute to the American troops spending Christmas overseas:
A poignant and fitting message I thought, and it would have been nice if someone from Britain would have said something like that for our troops. I haven’t seen a mention of them today. I haven’t seen David Cameron all day either, he’s probably spending Christmas with his family, which is fair enough, but he could have at least recorded something. I just feel as a nation we’re starting to become a little too selfish when it comes to Christmas, and you can’t get much more oxymoronic than that.
All in all today has been a great Christmas, even if I was ill for it. Being unwell made me realise how lucky I am and that there are people out there in far worse situations than I am. It was quite a humbling realisation as I’d spent most of the day being irritated at the fact I was poorly and that Amazon hadn’t delivered my stuff. We take so much for granted at Christmas and in the end I’m just happy spending it at home with the ones I love.
Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
I hope you’ve had a great Christmas yourself, and here’s hoping those who aren’t as fortunate as me today, will be with their loved ones sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately I was awoken at 2am this morning, not because of the Ghost of Christmas Past, he came at 1, no it was because I was in a great deal of discomfort. This abdominal pain decided to keep me awake for a while, which annoyed the hell out of me! I mean, c’mon of all days to get ill it chooses Christmas Day? Thanks a lot!
Anyway, I did manage to get some sleep before I got out of bed in the morning. But I’ve spent the majority of the day with it, how fun. It’s not really the pain that bothered me really, I’m more than used to it, it’s just the timing of it. You spend all month looking forward to Christmas and then when it comes, you’re ill. Brilliant.
So after Christmas Dinner, which I did manage to enjoy, I decided to admit defeat and head to bed for a while. Whilst lying in bed, it got me thinking about how annoyed I was at missing out on Christmas thanks to illness. But after a while I started thinking about all those people in the world who don’t even have the luxury of being with their family and friends on Christmas Day.
Those people who spend Christmas alone, people without family, people stuck in a hospital bed, working or serving their country overseas. These are the people I thought of whilst I was lying there in pain. It dawned on me at that moment just how fortunate I am to be home for Christmas, some people don’t even get that luxury.
The people I thought of most were the soldiers out serving their nation. Unfortunately war doesn’t stop for Christmas, it would be good if it did, but it doesn’t. Today, the Queen didn’t mention the troops in her speech, which I felt was a bit disappointing, instead she opted for a message about sport and togetherness in communities. One of the reasons we can even celebrate Christmas is because of the bravery of the servicemen and women, some of whom are stuck in a war zone on the 25th.
Barack Obama and his wife Michelle paid tribute to the American troops spending Christmas overseas:
“Today, we’re also thinking of those who can’t be home for the holidays, especially all our courageous countrymen serving overseas. They’ve been everything we’ve asked them to be, and even as we speak, many are fighting halfway around the globe, in hopes that someday, our children and grandchildren won’t have to”
A poignant and fitting message I thought, and it would have been nice if someone from Britain would have said something like that for our troops. I haven’t seen a mention of them today. I haven’t seen David Cameron all day either, he’s probably spending Christmas with his family, which is fair enough, but he could have at least recorded something. I just feel as a nation we’re starting to become a little too selfish when it comes to Christmas, and you can’t get much more oxymoronic than that.
All in all today has been a great Christmas, even if I was ill for it. Being unwell made me realise how lucky I am and that there are people out there in far worse situations than I am. It was quite a humbling realisation as I’d spent most of the day being irritated at the fact I was poorly and that Amazon hadn’t delivered my stuff. We take so much for granted at Christmas and in the end I’m just happy spending it at home with the ones I love.
Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
I hope you’ve had a great Christmas yourself, and here’s hoping those who aren’t as fortunate as me today, will be with their loved ones sooner rather than later.
Friday, 24 December 2010
Duck Season.
Well it’s been one memorable week across the pond. No I’m not talking about Doctor Who being aired at the same time as us Brits, this is much bigger news! Something actually got done! In the senate of all places!
Yes, I am of course talking about the bill to finally give US first responders to the 9/11 attacks healthcare funding. This bill took forever to get passed. I can’t believe I just wrote that. I mean, it’s such a no-brainer. Healthcare for 9/11 heroes and survivors, who in their right minds would oppose that?
Republicans. Of course, who else. Apparently this thing was going to cost too much or maybe that money would end up in the hands of an illegal immigrant who went in to save people. Those inconsiderate migrant bastards, how dare they go in and save people’s lives!
Let’s face it, the Republicans were only blocking this thing because Obama wasn’t doing what they wanted, like a child who walks off with the ball, we all know that child, and we all hate him. That’s what they are at times: children. Alright, block some things in some sort of childish protest, but to sit there on your back-sides blocking a bill that gives healthcare to the brave men and women who saved lives during the 9/11 terror attacks in New York is just plain wrong. The same men and women who Republicans won't stop going on about when it suits them!
I think we can all agree that this is a good bill. We can argue about the new healthcare bill (not Obamacare by the way, whoever coined that needs to be jettisoned into orbit as soon as possible) as there are actual arguments to be had, but this one is so painfully without fault the Republicans do nothing but look like idiots opposing it.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican just vote yes and be done with it! Your issue is with Obama and the other Democrats in the senate, don’t take it out on people who quite frankly deserve to have healthcare funding, not to be hindered in their daily lives while you swan around in a large room waiting for the end-of-school bell doing nothing! Thankfully they passed it on Wednesday, and none too soon!
But that wasn’t all! The senators clearly had their Weetabix that morning as they passed another bill! And yes, it was yet another no-brainer, this bill allows US troops to serve in the military as themselves. Yes, I can’t believe I just wrote that either. Yes, it’s the gay issue. The senate has decided to overturn the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, meaning gay and lesbian servicemen and women can openly serve in the military whereas they would previously be forced to lie about their sexual orientation.
It came out of the blue really, I thought Republicans, in particular John McCain, would never be turned on this! He had demanded to see surveys, analysis of surveys, more surveys, more accurate surveys, a survey on the surveys, before he would even talk about the idea of possibly looking at the policy, let alone change it! All the evidence pointed towards the military being fine with it, but McCain needed more than this. You did get the feeling he just kept on batting it away and asking for something he thought was impossible, like a jubilant manager telling a rookie employee to go and find a long stand, only for them to return with a long stand.
But it somehow managed to pass through the senate on Wednesday! It really is a landmark bill, especially for America. It’s amazing how the senate, after months of pretty much doing absolutely nothing, decided to do so much on one day. Were they up for a review or something?
But that wasn’t all! They even passed a bill to reduce the amount of nuclear warheads between themselves and Russia by 30%. Which I think we can all agree is a good thing. I honestly don’t know how the Democrats have done this, how did they manage to get the Republicans out of bed? Never mind vote in favour of these bills! What, did they find some dirt on Boehner or something?
Either way they somehow managed it, and during the so called ‘lame-duck’ period too. It doesn’t get any better than that. Barack Obama has called it “the most productive post-election periods in decades.” And he’s probably right, Obama has been under fire in recent months, he took a big hit at the mid-terms and he’s been having serious problems getting things done with the Republicans opposing even his lunch orders. But this week he can be proud, as he’s managed to get some major bills passed and he’s got the senate producing some form of productivity again.
What’s so lame about that?
Yes, I am of course talking about the bill to finally give US first responders to the 9/11 attacks healthcare funding. This bill took forever to get passed. I can’t believe I just wrote that. I mean, it’s such a no-brainer. Healthcare for 9/11 heroes and survivors, who in their right minds would oppose that?
Republicans. Of course, who else. Apparently this thing was going to cost too much or maybe that money would end up in the hands of an illegal immigrant who went in to save people. Those inconsiderate migrant bastards, how dare they go in and save people’s lives!
Let’s face it, the Republicans were only blocking this thing because Obama wasn’t doing what they wanted, like a child who walks off with the ball, we all know that child, and we all hate him. That’s what they are at times: children. Alright, block some things in some sort of childish protest, but to sit there on your back-sides blocking a bill that gives healthcare to the brave men and women who saved lives during the 9/11 terror attacks in New York is just plain wrong. The same men and women who Republicans won't stop going on about when it suits them!
I think we can all agree that this is a good bill. We can argue about the new healthcare bill (not Obamacare by the way, whoever coined that needs to be jettisoned into orbit as soon as possible) as there are actual arguments to be had, but this one is so painfully without fault the Republicans do nothing but look like idiots opposing it.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican just vote yes and be done with it! Your issue is with Obama and the other Democrats in the senate, don’t take it out on people who quite frankly deserve to have healthcare funding, not to be hindered in their daily lives while you swan around in a large room waiting for the end-of-school bell doing nothing! Thankfully they passed it on Wednesday, and none too soon!
But that wasn’t all! The senators clearly had their Weetabix that morning as they passed another bill! And yes, it was yet another no-brainer, this bill allows US troops to serve in the military as themselves. Yes, I can’t believe I just wrote that either. Yes, it’s the gay issue. The senate has decided to overturn the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, meaning gay and lesbian servicemen and women can openly serve in the military whereas they would previously be forced to lie about their sexual orientation.
It came out of the blue really, I thought Republicans, in particular John McCain, would never be turned on this! He had demanded to see surveys, analysis of surveys, more surveys, more accurate surveys, a survey on the surveys, before he would even talk about the idea of possibly looking at the policy, let alone change it! All the evidence pointed towards the military being fine with it, but McCain needed more than this. You did get the feeling he just kept on batting it away and asking for something he thought was impossible, like a jubilant manager telling a rookie employee to go and find a long stand, only for them to return with a long stand.
But it somehow managed to pass through the senate on Wednesday! It really is a landmark bill, especially for America. It’s amazing how the senate, after months of pretty much doing absolutely nothing, decided to do so much on one day. Were they up for a review or something?
But that wasn’t all! They even passed a bill to reduce the amount of nuclear warheads between themselves and Russia by 30%. Which I think we can all agree is a good thing. I honestly don’t know how the Democrats have done this, how did they manage to get the Republicans out of bed? Never mind vote in favour of these bills! What, did they find some dirt on Boehner or something?
Either way they somehow managed it, and during the so called ‘lame-duck’ period too. It doesn’t get any better than that. Barack Obama has called it “the most productive post-election periods in decades.” And he’s probably right, Obama has been under fire in recent months, he took a big hit at the mid-terms and he’s been having serious problems getting things done with the Republicans opposing even his lunch orders. But this week he can be proud, as he’s managed to get some major bills passed and he’s got the senate producing some form of productivity again.
What’s so lame about that?
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