Sunday, June 18, 2017

So Much News; So Little Time

Let’s look on the bright side of the shooting this week at GOP congressmen practicing for their annual charity baseball game:
 
So far only 1 serious injury, the House GOP Whip, (I pray for his recovery)...with the nut case shooter dead.
 
Other good news:  House members are re-examining their relations with each other “across the aisle” 
with the leaders saying this could lead to better, less vitriolic understandings in the future. It’s about time.
 
Also we learned much more about Congressional “security," even more important than “jobs” to elected officials, it seems. I didn’t know the whip has his own, private security detail (which you & I pay for!) or that the capital police force numbers 2200 people. It’s leader recently asked for $33 million more to hire 72 new officers. With this shooting, he’ll probably get it. (Again, you & I will pay for this.)
 
But if the major reaction of Congress is “security” and not an examination of how this mental case got his weapons (legally bought we are told,) Congress will have failed again...and the fact that, this time, someone shot at them...then the lessons of Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, etcetcetcetc will be lost again. There ARE common sense things that Congress can do without seeming to capitulate, as usual, to the NRA:  (1) better record keeping on mental health cases and passing of this information on to ALL who need it, (2) close the gun show loophole, which adversely affects mom and pop gun stores, (3) outlaw AK47s, which we DID once, and expanded magazines so that nut cases don’t out duel the cops. Remember one congressman said the capital police had handguns while “he had a rifle..not a fair fight.”
 
OK, Congress, make it “fairer!”
 
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Finally, the NCAA reported on the sex scandal at Louisville...and boy, did it drop the hammer (with much more yet to come, possibly.) UofL will appeal, which as one sports reporter said was silly...because they had already admitted to all the NCAA charged violations.  And while Rick keeps saying he knew nothing about all the shenanigans which went on over 3 years, the NCAA said he should have—and so should the university. It’s sad—but it could be worse. If the NCAA decides it is worse, and orders Louisville to vacate its national title...then the litigation will really boil over (which Kentuckians will pay for.)—all because one guy and one madam screwed a good school.
 
But then, maybe Rick’s charmed life will end...maybe
 
Meanwhile..yes I will say it again..WHEN will the NCAA rule on North Carolina; an even worse case of lack of “institutional control” that went on for much longer.
 
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Gov. Bevin has asked for suggestions and comments from Kentuckians...which is both right and practical...but, as the CJ reported Sunday, he has blocked, so far, as many as 600 people from using his social media to contact him. His office said it was for “obscene or off-topic comments.”  Somehow I doubt that. It may just be one more example of thin-skinned public officials, including The Donald, from not wanting to receive criticism.
 
The Knight First Amendment Institute says this “suppresses speech. Your Twitter account is a designated public forum”..(which you&I pay for) just as are open city council and school board meetings.
 
Governor, please support free speech and set a better example for all Kentuckians...and yes, this is a way you can reaffirm our traditions...which that nut in Alexandria tried to kill.
 
I'm just sayin'...

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