What exactly does "support our troops" mean?

"The Vietnam War veteran and former Navy secretary - whose Marine son recently returned from a tour in Iraq - had urged Congress to impose restrictions on troop deployments to give soldiers and Marines more time to recuperate and train at home.

Webb's measure, offered as an amendment to an annual defense policy bill, would have required that troops spend as much time at home as they do on deployments. Active-duty Army soldiers now get 12 months at home after a 15-month tour overseas.

"Many of our ground forces are actually spending more time in Iraq than they are at home," Webb said. "This is four years into an occupation. There is not a strategic justification for this."

Webb actually has "skin in this game" per se is truly trying to help the fatigued military. I wonder what the service records are for those who have blocked his efforts?

Oh Mamma

I recently attended a graduation party for my college roommate's son. She held it in her brother's spacious tree lined backyard. The core of our little college possee turnout for the happy occasion. It was a wonderful mini-reunion.

Eventually, we chatted about our living parents. My hosts had to go through the painful exercise of finding and placing their mother in a nursing home. Their father passed suddenly years ago so it was not an issue. They struggled with where, how the rest of the family would react; and more importantly how their mother would respond. She had a stroke and has no idea where she is and struggles with who they are.....

These are tough issues facing the sandwich generation. Our seniors are living longer. With everyone working, keeping family members at home is rarely an option. The system is set up to house our families in these facilities for their final years.

Most of these places are funded by different government agencies. Instead of permitting reimbursable home care which would be best for all parties, care is reimbursed if you stuck in one of these places.

Compounding the problem, the caregivers do not make a living wage. Most have to work double shifts in order to pay their bills. Let's see changing adult diapers for 16 hours is not exhausting, mentally and physically.

Even when the caregivers give a shit, who can keep up quality care when fatigue sets in?

Regardless of how clean these facilities are, it is sad when a person's birthday party is cancelled because he literally " checked out."

When a person's body fails and their mind is still good, they are just pissed because they know this is their final stop on this side.

My mother who managed our family with great efficiency, is now experiencing short term memory loss. Talking to her at times is heartbreaking. If something happens to my Dad, me and my brothers will have to make a decision about her care. My parents promised just to die so they will not be stuck in one of these places. (My family has terrible sense of humor. This is how we deal with ugly circumstances.)

What should we do? I think the MSM, our elected officials should take a look at how these senior services are delivered and funded. Newsweek's cover story is a start.

But I guess that would be more difficult than passing non-binding resolutions or following young Ms. Hilton's prison stay.

Arlen Specter, Grabbing the headlines

I am not a fan of Arlen Specter. He has made a career of being in front of the cameras. He prides himself on being independent man of the people. Sounds a little too much like Lieberman. Even when Lieberman is wrong, you know where he stands. With Specter you just never know where he is going to turn up on an issue. Wherever it is, it is sure to get him in the newspapers.
He sold his soul to the White House in order to keep his job in the Senate. Now that Shrub's ratings are plummeting, Specter feels safe in attacking the policies of this administration.

The WSJ does not address the fact that Specter is now trying to overturn a piece of legislation that he voted for....

Thomas Jefferson is rolling over in his grave

Thomas Jefferson was John Adams' Vice President. Bored, he wrote a procedure for the U.S. Senate. A Manual of Parliamentary Practice was published in 1801.

Instead of getting anything accomplished this week, members of the Senate decided to practice every f@#$in procedure in the manual.

The entire Middle East is a mess and they are returning to their days as the geeks on the high school debate team.

For Arlen Specter, to suggest to his employers we the people, just don't get the Senate, is condescending.

Your wrong, Senator "Single Bullet Theory."

We get it, you bastards have mastered the inability to get anything done. TJ would not be pleased with how his procedures have been used to get so little done.