Mamamontezz's Mental Rumpus Room

Breaking News

Helen Thomas was not put on suicide watch today after threatening to kill herself if current Vice President Dick Cheny were to run for President in the 2008 election.

In a statement to The Hill, Ms. Thomas stated, "The day I say Dick Cheney is going to run for president, I'll kill myself. All we need is one more liar." This only brought to light her current efforts to restrict the number of new liars on the Capitol Hill, and to further consolidate her own standing in the District of Columbia Ring of Active Prevaricators (D'CRAP).

When asked for comment, Vice President Cheney was unable to express the humor he found in the situation, although he did manage to say that "now [he] understand[s] that phone call Lynne made to Dick Morris earlier today. Not to mention that mysterious voice mail from the White House printer about the single Yard Sign she had called about."

"Yes," Cheny went on to say, "Lynne is quite the kidder."

In a related story, one bystander was killed, and several mental health workers and an ambulance team were hospitalized this afternoon after a failed suicide intervention on Ms. Thomas.

"It was awful, like something from Jason and the Argonauts," claimed EMS worker Bartholomew Sandusky of Georgetown. "We thought we had her convinced that it was for her own good when suddenlly she turned on us. She pulled off that wig and there were vipers and... We didn't think we'd make it out alive."

"That poor guy outside her office never saw it coming," Sandusky continued. "She blew out of that office and straight at him, and there was just no way he could look away. It was awful. Just awful. I don't think I'll ever forget the sounds of his screams."

The bystander, who's identity has not been released at the family's request, was released to the National Museum and will be part of a future exhibit of modern marble sculptures. A museum spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

The Right to Grieve Unmolested?

If a person hurls racial ephithets at another, it's hate speech.

If a person demeans another because of their sex, it's hate speech.

If a person vandalizes a synagogue, church, mosque, or temple, it's a hate crime.

If a person burns a cross on someone's yard, it's a hate crime.

But what is it called when someone pulls 20 American flags from the yard of a grieving family less than 24 hours after they have buried the young man who died for his country? What is it called when this person then sets fire to them underneath a car, burning it beyond repair? What is that called?

Free speech? Political speech? A precious freedom?

Well, what of the freedom of a family to mourn their loss, unmolested by those who hated the young man who passed for no other reason than the uniform he wore and the circumstances of his death? What of the free speech of the father-in-law who wanted to express his love by placing 20 flags on his own private property?

There is a line, people, a very distinct and unmoving line beyond which actions are no longer a free expression of political speech, but become evil, vile, and comtemptible. Just as there are laws for libel and slander which protect individuals from venomous and unfounded attacks, there must be some enforcement of current laws to protect individuals from attacts of the kind inflicted on the family of Pfc. Timothy Hines. No lawyer from any civil rights advocacy group should be allowed to equate these acts with free speech. In fact, no self-respecting lawyer should sully his hand with the defense of such cowards, aronists, and vandals..

Sadly, however, there will be droves of them. Even more sadly, there will be a judge somewhere who will, in a fit of deluded idiocy, decide that this act was protected political speech.

Selective Memory

Now this bit of interesting news from the Washington Times doesn't have anyone scratching their head in confusion does it? Not really.

Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, and Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii Democrat, met with several soldiers during a visit led by Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John W. Warner, Virginia Republican.

Pentagon officials said soldiers criticized the harsh comments made recently by Senate Democrats.

So Kennedy and Akaka allowed currently serving members of the Amerikan Gestapo KGB Armed Forces to enter their offices to voice their complaints against his statements about the war and those who are fighting it.

A spokesman for Mr. Kennedy had no comment. A spokeswoman for Mr. Akaka confirmed that the senator met with soldiers from Hawaii but did not recall receiving any complaints during the meeting.

Are any of you really surprised? Really?

Elected Moron Official Disrupts Marine's Funeral

I have come to the realization of just why so many celebrities and politicos have handlers: They absolutely need them. A huge number of these people just do not possess the common sense G-d gave a goose, and if unminded would inflict their idiocy of the public to such an extent as to render themselves unelectible or unpopular at the box office or whatever other venue by which they hustle their over-inflated salaries.

Let's take a case in point. In Indiana, PA this past week the Goodrich family gathered to mourn the passing of their loved one, Staff Sgt. Joseph Goodrich, a young Marine who had died for his country during the war in Iraq. The funeral was filled with uniformed Marines there to support the family and to honor their fallen comrade. Also well represented was the police force, of which he had also been a member.

And then there was the uninvited mourner.

Catherine Baker Knoll, the first female Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania who proudly proclaims this claim to fame on the state websites, entered the funeral unexpected, unwelcomed, and uninvited, sat near family members, interupted prayer during Communion to ask who one of them was, and passed out her business card.

And then, and here's the "good part" for those of you keeping score, she had the audacity to state to the grieving family, "I want you to know our government is against this war," further upsetting an already fragile situation.

This woman doesn't need a handler. She needs a keeper. Her boss, Gov. Ed Rendell needs to put a muzzle and a choke-chain on this idiot after she issues her formal apology to the Goodrich family. And please, make certain someone else writes it. I can only imagine the further damage she may inflict if allowed to use her own words. And no, I'm not going to give her political affiliation. You won't have any trouble finding that out on your own.

Stress can have it's positive aspects.

In the midst of chaos and dread and fear and self-doubt, sometimes good things happen. It can happen with amazing subtlty, or it can strike like a lead pipe to the back of the head complete with stars and delerium.

And the things that can happen. Oh, the wonderous things! And the people. People who give support and help and love... who open their hearts and carry the load for long enough to let your own heart sing, if even briefly, and to heal.

Since the my week of happiness and acceptance in March at the Texas Blogfest, I have endured financial hardship, the loss of my cars, and blessings beyond compare from beautiful people. I released my bitterness, opened my heart, and was found by love in places I never imagined.

I found and celebrated my own power, and the knowledge that it does not come from any other person, but from that place deep within me where I sit and converse with G-od. I also learned that submission and surrender are not weakness, but are the natural companions of trust, love and respect, to be given or accepted as beautiful gifts.

And I lost 30 pounds. I didn't even know that I had until this morning.

So we will get though it all. I will get through it all, dragging the rest behind me if need be, kicking and screaming. Today, I begin to sell off the useless trappings and posessons I have accumulated for which I have no use. Today, I start up my website for the items that were too specialized and different for the crowds at Ebay to notice. Today I begin anew, naked, at square one, a rebirth. I have reached the bottom, there is no place to go but up.

I'm sorry, Ladies.

To the Ladies of the Cotillion, I extend my sincerest apologies. I have been reduced to dial-up on a system which does not tolerate such coarse and common things as line noise or static. Also, I have been imbroiled in some personal issues which have taken away a lot of my desire to write. The issues I cared about, well, I've become jaded and uninterested. The news and events that once got my knickers in a knot don't even turn my head. And much of what I have written... well, it's entirely too personal for this blog, so I will share it with the ones for whom it was written for now.

These things have conspired to make my blog unwieldy and my writing unpostible until I manage to either get my DSL back or find an alternative place from which to post.

At this point, I'm sequestered in the hospital library, busily trying to get something up this week, as I do not know when I will have another opportunity for a few days.

Go, take in the Cotillion. It breaks my heart that for the last two weeks I have been unable to participate, but with some luck and a little intestinal fortitude I'll have something for inclusion next week. If they will still have me, of course. I wouldn't blame them a bit for cutting my ass loose.

Go. Read. Just know that at this point, I'm both the happiest and unhappiest that I ever have been, and that soon I will explain why.

Judge Roberts

Reactions to President Bush's nomination of John G. Roberts to the Supreme Court:

Oh, yes, we knew there would be reactions. The Greatest Minds of Our Nation (the liberals, of course, just ask them) and a few from the Intellectual Wasteland (that's us, folks) have been working up suitable and quoteable quotes for days, just waiting for the opportunity to hit that send button on their faxes.

"The president has chosen someone with suitable legal credentials, but that is not the end of our inquiry. The Senate must review Judge Roberts' record to determine if he has a demonstrated commitment to the core American values of freedom, equality and fairness." - Senate minority leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Now, if Harry Reid can just remember that "Freedom" means freedom from governmental interference and not "Freedom to inflict governmental interference" we'll be fine.

"Judge Roberts is the kind of outstanding nominee that will make America proud. He embodies the qualities America expects in a justice on its highest court: someone who is fair, intelligent, impartial and committed to faithfully interpreting the Constitution and the law." - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

Well, I would expect no less from Sen. Frist. I mean, it's easy to give verbal support. The real sign of supporting this choice will be in how he manages to corral and contain those damned Renegade RINO's.

"We are extremely disappointed that President Bush has chosen such a divisive nominee for the highest court in the nation, rather than a consensus nominee who would protect individual liberty and uphold Roe v. Wade." - NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Oooooo, I'm so scared of you, NARAL. And what the hell is a "Consensus Nominee" except someone who is more concerned about keeping the squeakiest wheels quiet regardless of what the real Consensus believes is right or wrong? Consensus nominee... I've heard it all now.

Roberts "rules based on the application of existing laws and specific facts of the cases before him, rather than making new laws or creating new policies based on personal opinion." - Sean Rushton, director of the conservative Committee for Justice.

Yes, we've thought that before about others and were disappointed. Let's hope this is not the case.

"I look forward to the Committee's findings so that I can make an informed decision about whether Judge Roberts is truly a guardian of the rule of law who puts fairness and justice before ideology." - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

Yes, Hillary, and what you really mean is someone who puts your concepts of ideological fairness and justice over genuine fairness and justice.

"Senate Democrats, especially those seeking re-election next year, should know that we will be watching them carefully. If they again attempt to attack a nominee's faith or pro-life convictions, their constituents will know about it and they will be held accountable." - Father Frank Pavone, national director, Priests for Life.

Father Frank, if only it were true. But you and I both know that in this generation of Cafeteria Catholics and Buffet Baptists few have the will it takes to vote their convictions. That would imply, of course, that they had any strong convicitons beyond some strange notion that they cannot miss a single episode of Big Brother.

"Judge Roberts is an exceptional judge, brilliant legal mind, and a man of outstanding character who understands his profound duty to follow the law." - Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

And Sen. Cornyn, it is up to you to help enforce party solidarity and get him voted on. Take no prisoners, Sir.

"The burden is on a nominee to the Supreme Court to prove that he is worthy, not on the Senate to prove he is unworthy." - Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

No, Charles, it isn't. It's up to the president to decide if he is worth or not, and for you to either accept his choice or not. Judge Roberts need prove nothing. His record speaks for itself. It's not up to you to conduct some insane witchhunt through his past, merely to gain clarification of his past decisions. Read your copy of the Constitution, Sir, not the Clift Notes version you have in your breast pocket.

"He's the kind of judge that all of us want - someone committed to applying the law impartially rather than legislating from the bench." - Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

Put your money where your mouth is, Orrin. You've squirmed and wiggled your way out of being a Solid Supporter before. The people of Utah will be paying attention.

"I'm hopeful that in the coming weeks we can avoid vicious character assassinations and attacks in this confirmation process." - Sen. George Allen, R-Va.

Open your eyes, Sir. "In the coming weeks" is here now. Take a trot through such founts of Liberal Togetherness as the DU and see how deep the love is.

"I look forward to a full process, a direct vote up or down of a majority, not a supermajority, and also really a healthy debate about the role of the courts." - Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.

Oh, I don't think you'll be disapponted, Sen. Brownback. Just remember, this will not be some cordial debate between persons of refinement and gentility. I hope you're prepared for the bloodbath ahead.

"Who knows about this guy?" - Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.

I'm not even going to diginfy that question with a response. Like he hasn't had intel on this and every other potential nominee for months, since Rehnquist took ill. Please. Go peddle that elsewhere, Tom.

"I can't help but think that he will continue to impress as a person of fairness, thoughtfulness and just the kind of judge who will bring a nonpolitical approach to judging. ... I think he's going to be well received." - Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.

From your mouth to God's ear.

"He's brilliant. ... He's someone who is I think obviously well respected on both sides of the aisle. At a time when circuit court nominees were being filibustered left and right, he just really sailed through his confirmation. Given that, I think the president did what he promised during the campaign. He looked for the best and the brightest and he chose someone who would meet the test, the high test, that Supreme Court justices would be required to meet." - Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.

Ah, sailed through, hmmm... Yes, but how quickly they will forget that now that the ante is raised.

"This is a task so important that partisan politics must be set aside." - Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.

Amen, Kay. Amen.

Thanks to the AP for supplying a roundup of quotes today. Although, all told, I'll bet they've had them for a week.

Untitled

I wish that I could come for you
To take your lovely hands,
And you would follow through your door
And into virgin lands.
I’d come to you with cedar chests
By satin ropes entwined,
Bejeweled with opals filled with fire
And carved, richly designed,
Heavy with garments of leather soft
And of the finest lace,
With gowns of light and sheerest silk,
Smooth as your youthful face.

Then from your father’s home you’d come
And take your place with me.
On carpets spread beneath my feet,
You’d rest on bended knee
To feel my hand upon your cheek,
And know you hold my heart
Within your sweet and tender hand,
A work of heaven’s art.
In darkest night you’d lay with me
Upon my cushioned bed,
To rise each gray and rose-washed morn
And by the sun be wed.

When long our lives had been as one
As though one heart we shared,
Rejoicing in the blessed truth
That we alone are paired,
I’d take you for my chosen one
And on your neck I’d place
A circlet, smooth, of finest gold
In permanent embrace.
With this light band, you would be bound
Forever to your one,
And you would be the moon to me
And I, your blazing sun.

For the men of Darkness...

I do not know your names,
nor will I ever.
I only know that you are dead and gone,
casualties of war,
fallen heroes,
who's deeds will never be shared
except by those who were with you.

I do not know your families,
nor will I ever.
I only know that in the hours
and days
and months of their grief and anguish,
there is nothing that can be said to ease their pain.
Only their memories
and the knowledge of your courage
can soothe them
and give them solace.

I do not know your comrades,
nor will I ever.
I only know that their pain is great
and their guilt at not having been
the one
in your place
gnaws hungrily
at their exhausted
and dusty souls.

I do not know your lovers,
nor will I ever.
I only know their hearts,
once tender and ripe,
lie wounded,
bloodied by the death
of your bodies but not their love for you.

I do not know your pasts,
nor will I ever.
I can only look into the eyes of Darkness
and see the lives you shared,
reflected,
glimmering in the bright tears
that refuse to be shed willingly.

I do not know your futures,
nor will I ever.
I can only hope you have found
the company of good men
with good hearts,
and strong minds,
and a bravery that rivals your own.
For it is with these men,
these fallen brave,
where you belong,
not with us,
we who will never be worthy
of lifting a drink in your names.

Please keep Darkness and his men in your prayers. These days have not been kind to them, and they mourn their losses. I know not where, nor how, nor whom. I only know why...

Because they did what they needed to do.

I'm sorry.

I want to apologize for my absence over the last several days. It has been a stressful time and eventually things reached a point where I needed to hide, even from myself, to keep from just losing it.

I wandered into the world of my other self, that stimulating, indulgent netherworld where even someone like me can be accepted and desired and attractive. I found refuge in this place where my words, an assortment of bits and bytes displayed on an everchanging screen, bring me much pleasure and relief from "Real Life" and all it entails.

I wallowed in it, lounged in it, sought and even found both affection and gratification in it. I rejoiced in it, shed tears of ecstacy, joy and anguish in it, and then was forced to leave it and return, to once again find my way back home...

Home.

Where the heart is.

Where responsibilities clutch at my throat and choke the breath from me. Where the news on television taints the hearts and minds of those who have a right to know the truth but are not given it. Where everyone's wants supercede their real needs. Where once there was great pleasure with little pain, but now?

I have been doing some writing, but cannot seem find my voice or my focus. Each time I do find a small quiet whisper of my voice, the surrounding grumbles start and the victims find their voice as well. Soon all the joy is gone. My fiction, my poetry, my blog, all have suffered from the frustration and anger that wells up, so I escape into that annonymous place again for solace and understanding and peace.

Hopefully, things will work out. I have found a young person who needs a safe and caring place to stay, and an opportunity to both go to school and find employment. He will be moving into the unused bedroom at the front of the house and will make this his home for as long as he either needs or wants to stay. He will be helping as much as he can as soon as he has found even menial employment. I trust him to do what he can to help himself and to help me. I cannot do it alone any longer.

My Nephew, the blogger.

Most of you know that my nephew is a Milblogger, Slaglerock. Because of it being 4th of July week, and because if you cut me now I'd bleed red, white and blue, I thought I'd tell you about him and how I got to know him as well as I do.

Before the invasion of Iraq, the Spousal Unit's best friend PapaSlagle told us that his son had been transfered to Prince Sultan AFB in Saudi Arabia. I wanted to do something, anything, to make things a little better for him so I asked PapaSlagle for his email address, and gave him mine with a request to offer it to him if he ever wanted to email someone back home.

After waiting a few days, I sent my first email to Slagle... And it hasn't stopped since.

There were days when the lack of IM capabilities was no problem at all, since our emails zipped back and forth so fast and furious that you could hardly tell the difference. I would be on my shift just as he was ending his, so we shared a few hours of time "in the office" together each day to talk. We solved the problems of the world, talked about family, kept up on each others' lives, and basically "shot the shit" for weeks, then months. I got him reading blogs through this one and such other notables as Kim du Toit and the Rottweiler, and soon he was reading them pretty regularly.

That was when he asked how to be a blogger. Oh man, that was like having my own kid say he wanted to be what I was "when he grew up". Talk about proud and excited. So I set him up at MBlog (yes, that terrible place) because he could access it from the base, did his banner, and got him started.

He was a prolific blogger. And opinionated? Hell yes. Even when we didn't see eye to eye on something, we could argue it online or in comments and stay buddies. It was great watching his blog grow, develop a readership, and watching him grow too.

When MBlog went belly-up, Pixy Misa at Mu.Nu was kind enough to allow him refugee status, and blogging continued practially uninterupted.

Slagle's home now, on base stateside, and dealing with all life pitches at him. And he got excellent news on the 15th of June... He made the promotion lists and will assume his new rank soon. Not soon enough, as far as I'm concerned, but perhaps that's because I have a vested interest in this particular sergeant.

So on the 4th, when you're kicked back, enjoying time with your families and watching the fireworks, remember that for a time this young man and many thousands like him were seeing a real Rockets Red Glare, and hearing the pounding of artillery up close and personal to make this day possible.

Happy 4th of July, my nephew, my friend, my blog-son. Happy 4th of July, Slaglerock. I'd salute you, but I prefer a big old hug.

Found

After several days of grief over the loss of 16 service members in the downing of a Chinook helicopter in Afganistan, one small bright piece of news came today. One member of the team on the ground who had called for reinforcement, a team which has been missing since the incident, has been found alive and transported from the area.

For obvious reasons, no information on his identity or condition has been released. We can only pray that he is well, and that the rest of his team is found soon.