An Old Plame
Valerie Plame is still in the news, this last time showing her leaving the CIA for good. How long has this thing been going on? Well, that's too long.
I've read in several places that she had been out of covert operations too many years for the 1982 law regarding outing such people does not apply to her. These stories said that fears that she was compromised by one of the spies the CIA turns up in their midst from time to time (Aldrich maybe; I forget) led to her being put on a desk job. If true, then where's there a crime to investigate?
Fitzgerald certainly should know if a crime might have been committed before beginning an expensive investigation, convening grand juries and such. So, does she qualify under existing law as being a covert agent? Is she or isn't she? While there have been one or two indictments regarding lying, there has been none for outing Ms. Plame herself. And from what I read, there won't be.
No Need To Write This Congressman
Following my retirement in 2002, my wife and I moved back to Alvin from the Kansas City area where I had spent the last ten years of my working life. And I moved back to a nice surprise. The reapportionment following the 2000 census had put us back into Ron Paul's congressional district after Alvin had been a number of years in Tom DeLay's.
I had never really cared much for DeLay since we came into his district sometime during the Reagan administration. To me he just seemed another party hack. Nor was Dennis Moore of Kansas my cup of tea. I never voted for or against DeLay but did vote against Moore in the 2000 election. No doubt because his constituency is primarily up-scale Johnson County, Kansas, Moore is more conservative than most Democrats. That pleased me.
For a couple of years, I subscribed to the New American magazine, a publication of the John Birch Society, as they published every quarter, I believe it was, all the major bills coursing through congress, both in the House and Senate, and how how each member voted on them. Before I got bored with all this and let the subscription lapse, I don't recall being upset enough with Moore to think about contacting him.
Once, though, not long after he'd taken office, I had some business in the building in Overland Park where he had his local office. I stopped in and told the receptionist there (Moore was in Washington) that I would appreciate very much the congessman's vote for the Bush tax cut bill. She agreed to pass this along. Maybe three weeks later I received a very curt form letter from Representative Moore stating that he considered himself a fiscal conservative and had already voted for the bill. True enough. I had failed to notice that the tax cut had already passed the house before that day I was in his office.
But, now, of all 435 members of the House of Representatives, I feel that Ron Paul probably shares more of my views than anyone in there. He's actually read, and understands, the Constitution. A lot of them haven't or don't, I feel certain. And he bases his votes on what it says. Although he's a Republican nominally (he once was in the Libetarian Party), he votes against the Republicans often enough that there was some talk of the party itself financing an opponent to run against him in the primary. Apparently this went nowhere as Dr. Paul was unopposed last time. I really like it that he's not a big party man--like Tom DeLay. I'm not a party man myself. So, I don't feel the time will ever come that I'm going to be writing this congressman to try to influence how he's going to vote. Most likely his vote will be to my pleasing.
However, I did write him once asking a question about a particular bill. Some days later I received a form letter which explained why he was going to vote against it without addressing the particular question I'd asked. Oh, well. I know these guys are busy.
Last of the Seventh, Part Two
Back in July I wrote about being weary of "God Bless America" being sung during the break between the halves of the seventh inning of every baseball game. At that time I wrote that I wasn't aware whether it was still being done as I would, when watching a game on TV, tune out during that period. Well, it's still being sung then because I kept the channel on during one of the World Series games and there it was.
Also, I heard earlier this week something about Carlos Delgado having some problem signing with the New York Mets because he was against having to stand with the rest of the Mets during its singing.
I don't know what Delgado's motivation may be, but mine is simple" I don't we Americans should be calling for God to bless this nation when we, as a nation, show so little interest trying to please God in the first place. (I am not referring to individuals but to us as a collective.)
Changing channels to avoid "God Bless America" may sound very silly to readers. Is this some sort of one-man boycott? Not at all, but considering the circumstances, it's something I choose not to be a part of, if only in my own living room.
After the World Series I printed the original blog read it in a life story writing class I attend at Alvin Community College. One week later (the next class) a woman read her piece and it seemed to refute everything I had said. Her thinking was that we should asking God's blessing on this country in every way we can including a song ritual at baseball games.
I didn't speak with her about it, nor she with me. But then I thought, we're not so far apart at all. This was because she had read II Chronicles 7:14 in making her point.
2 Chron 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
KJV
I have no problem with that. Maybe we should follow the song with a prayer asking for the blessing of humility and repentance. But, nah, that wouldn't be legal in America, would it?
Jim Fleming Seminar
Two weeks ago my wife and I were at a seminar in downtown Houston (almost) conducted by Jim Fleming. The day was very educational and very enjoyable. His title was "The Difficult Sayings of Jesus." A number of Jesus' sayings became much more understandable after they were put into historical and cultural context.
Fleming comes to Houston about this time every year to speak. We try to make it when we're able. We were there two years ago, but missed last year.
He splits his time between Jerusalem and LaGrange, Georgia (an Atlanta suburb maybe?). There, his organization is building a Bible era museum called "Explorations In Antiquity Center." From their brochure and the slides he showed at the seminar, it looks like it would be great to go through.
Both today and last Saturday my wife and I have longed for something like Dr. Flemings presentation to take part in. We hunger to be taught, to be taught truth. Two weeks ago we certainly were.
Let's Start Over
Wow, it's December 1st. My last post was on August 1st. For four months I've entered nothing here. Either this is worth doing, or I need to just scratch it. But I think it's worth my time, time I obviously haven't been giving it. So, today I'll renew my commitment toward the blog.
