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Time's up, Republicans. Join the Democrats and elect a Speaker

10/24/2023

There is no way – none – that House Republicans can elect a Speaker of the House. End of sentence.

No one in that caucus can put together the 217 votes he or she needs on the floor. That’s pretty much been proven by the fact that Steve Scalise, a conservative, experienced House leader couldn’t get the votes. That’s been proven by Kevin McCarthy being driven from the Speakership by a handful of Republicans. It was proven when Freedom Caucus co-founder Jim Jordan couldn't get the votes to win. Left to on their own, Republicans cannot elect a Speaker.

Blame the Democrats all they want; the out-party never supports the in-party electing a Speaker.

Which means nothing will get done in the House – nothing. The government will be shut down in less than a month causing all kinds of problems. Aid to Israel and Ukraine won’t be approved which means Russians will keep killing Ukrainians and Hamas will keep doing despicable things to Israelis, and Israelis will keep bombing Gaza.

It’s time for true bipartisanship. One has to believe that Democrats can join moderate Republicans and elect a speaker. The numbers are there.

It’s the right thing to do for the country. And, those moderates get elected in districts that support moderates, so their risk of loss is small.

The Freedom Caucus doesn’t want government to work. Just look at their record. Matt Goetz just likes to raise money and his “brand.” Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Crazytown) and Lauren Boebert (R-Public theater embarrassment) just want attention.

The only way is for Republicans to join Democrats and elect a Speaker. Anyone who knows me knows I'm no Polyanna. But there is no choice but for Republicans to join with Democrats and elect a Speaker.

For the good of the country.

And right away.

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More lessons on getting old(er)

10/6/2023

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This post is only for those readers who are getting older. (See what I did there?).

As the aging process (thankfully) continues, the signs of old(er) age also continue.

I earlier reported that I now have a team of medical doctors and others. My team includes doctors (primary care, neurologist, ophthalmologist, optometrist, podiatrist, gastroenterologist, hand surgeon, surgeon, dermatologist, a chronic care nurse (she checks on me monthly and cuts through any medical red tape I may (do) face), an audiologist -- OK, not a doc but on the team -- and probably others I’m forgetting in the moment. My health is fine, but it does take a village.

There are a couple of age spots. My hair is grey but that's been going on a while. Talking about hair, it's growing where it never grew before. And if you’re old(er), how about those feet and how much uglier they can get?

The hand surgeon is new. I had what I thought was arthritis in my right thumb so my primary sent me to him. He said it's "trigger thumb" (more later).

I talk to friends I've had for decades (I won't say "old" friends) and we wind up talking about our health issues. Something I never thought I'd do. But here I am.

My oldest daughter is a grandmother thus I am not just a great-granddad but the father of a grandmother. She will be 50 next year (aren’t I 50?). I won't out which daughter but, trust me, she doesn't look her age (nor do the others).

I was in Walgreens the other day to get a couple of vaccinations (RSV and COVID) and while waiting I noticed a woman standing who also waited and there was no chair for her. I, of course, offered mine and she said quote “On no, you’re older you sit, I’ll stand.” If she ever had a shot at the Christmas card list, she doesn’t anymore.

The neighbor across the street uses his snow blower on our driveway, because he wants to help me out since I'm, well, you know.

Words and phrases start to creep into your language you never heard before. Words like “trigger thumb,” which is what’s been causing intense pain in my thumb joint. I thought it was arthritis.

When I told my ever empathetic wife, she said: “I guess you’ll have to get rid of that Colt 45.” And, no, I’ve never owned any gun let alone a Colt. Well, a fake one in my childhood cowboy days.

My reward for finding out what the real problem was with my thumb? A cortisone shot in the thumb. I didn’t even know getting a shot in the thumb was a thing. (It's working though)

I now wear a hearing aid. Saw my audiologist last week and she said it's time to get one for the other ear too. It's not just the vanity element here, they ain't cheap!

I also learned, after wearing eyeglasses for close to 70 years that ophthalmologists don’t do a test for the amount of prism needed in your glasses (I've had a weak eye since early childhood, prism controls the double vision). This ophthalmologist told me it is optometrists that do prism tests. I always thought ophthalmologists did everything. I’ve since cancelled ophthalmologist visits and will just see the optometrist unless there’s a serious issue. Then, she'll refer me back to the ophthalmologist. So, I'm not tossing the ophthalmologist off the team. She's just temporarily benched.

I thought knew everything about my eyes. No wonder I thought I could shoot that Colt 45 and never get trigger thumb.

Thank goodness, though, the aging process continues. I won’t use the cliché "it’s far better than the alternative."

But it is.

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Time's up, Republicans. Join the Democrats and elect a Speaker

More lessons on getting old(er)

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