Speak Out 6/2/14

Photo IDs

I heard Howard Dean, the Democrat that ran for president several years ago, saying the Republicans were un-American because they wanted to pass legislation that would require voters to have photo ID, and the only reason they were going to do that was to keep poor people from voting. So I guess the states that require a photo ID to drive a car are un-American, also. And the banks that require you to have a photo ID to cash a check, I guess they're un-American, too. But it doesn't seem to be bothering the poor people a lot to have photo IDs for that.

Snowden, Obama

The big man John Kerry recently said Snowden needed to "man up" and made this statement regarding Snowden, the NSA employee that leaked intelligence, and I quote,"I think he's confused," Kerry added. "I think it's very sad. But this is a man who has done great damage to his country." Hey, Mr. Secretary Of State, I think you could say the same about your boss ... Obama! What a bunch of clowns!

Promise the moon

Since winning his primary, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) -- the man who has repeatedly voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act "root and branch" -- is embracing key tenets of reform, which has provided health-care coverage to hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians. They will say anything to get votes but will not follow through with what they have said. He is just lying, as usual, to get votes.

Not enough

U.S. lawmakers moved Thursday to boost funding of the national background check system for firearm sales, a small but symbolic step toward broader gun law reform following recent mass shootings. That isn't enough. They need to also ban assault rifles and all magazine clips over eight shots. No one needs more than eight shots. You are lucky to get two shots off at a deer, elk or bear. We don't need someone out there mowing the brush down. That is when someone gets shot. The police, law enforcement and military are the only ones that need assault rifles. But they will not go that far, as they will cave into the NRA.

No conspiracy

There is not a darn thing wrong with it. I hate this undercurrent of whispered communitywide commentary that the purchase of the old federal building by a sitting Cape city councilman doesn't pass the smell test.

Trickling

Russia and China ink a deal for Russian petroleum. China buys oil from Russia with U.S. money for our debt service on the paper held by China. Wish Ronald Reagan was around to see whether this was the trickle-down economy that he had in mind.

All talk

The top Republican and Democrat in the House aren't ready to join other members of Congress who say Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki should resign. Yes, because they know they themselves are the main problem and now are feeling guilty. But they won't take any money to help relieve the problem from the 1 percent. No, sir. That would be taking money out of their pocket. They will just be talking about it for the next year or two.

Jensen's phrase

Mike Jensen wrote these may not be the worst of times. May not be? You think? Come on, Mike. The Black Plague, wiping out up to two-thirds of the population of Europe. Or, in modern times, World War I, World War II, the Great Depression (25 percent unemployment), the Vietnam War, Watergate, 9/11, the tragic and totally unnecessary war in Iraq. Compared to these events, we are living the dream, a dream often interrupted by your nonexistent nightmarish scenarios. Stop it, Mike. Just stop it.

Congress

Remember when you go to the polls in the next election that this (DO NOTHING) Congress is the worst yet. Lets get rid of incumbents and start over.