At the Republican debate two nights ago, moderator Brit Hume asked about the use of torture. Senator John McCain, who was beaten at the Hanoi Hilton during the War in Viet Nam, said he was against the practice even in extreme circumstances. He added that torturing reduces America's stature in the world.
Mitt Romney, who wears gloves and a scarf when it's 40 degrees, came up with: "We should double the size of Guantanamo." Oh. great. Romney obviously has strong ties to Utah. Both Utah senators have praised Gitmo. Senator Bennett came away from there thrilled with the menu in the cafeteria. Sure, Utah folks love this war, and apparently they approve of torture too.
Countless pundits on the radio - and they are countless - made comments such as, "Of course we should use every possible means to extract information from the enemy." Bill O'Really insists that torture is a valuable and effective tool (even though generals have claimed that often the information gained is fictional.)
If these torture-people represent my America, I'm out of here.
Torture is inhumane. We've signed international agreements banning torture. The Geneva Conventions were signed by the United States of America. If we don't care anymore, we should renounce the agreements!
If your grandsons - and granddaughters, we send girls into battle - are shipped off to future wars in foreign lands, wouldn't you prefer them to be protected by the rules of war?
Consider the important fact that some of the torture victims are innocent and have no information to divulge.
Sometimes bad is bad.
Other Items
* Don't leave Utah to look for work. According to the Utah Department of Workforce Services, the jobs are coming here at the fastest rate in the nation. This is the place, however, you might need two of those jobs to make ends meet.
* Kentucky Senator McConnell says the Iraq government had better get with it. "They're moving too slow and not doing it right." Stop, senator, stop. Whose country is it?
* Mayor Bloomberg of New York City, is considering running for president. A news report claimed that this humble man is willing to throw a billion dollars into his own campaign. He's like George Steinbrenner, owner of the N.Y. Yankees who tries to buy championships. Sometimes it doesn't work. Bloomberg might blow the billion, but there's more where that came from.
* Money. It reminds one of Mitt Romney. The guy is worth $240 million. He could buy John Kerry, not that he'd want to. Sure enough, these super-rich power seekers can win the votes of the masses. The Roosevelts and Bushes did. Notice how they always claim to feel your pain.
* Half of the students in major American cities don't graduate from high school, about 50 million citizens are uninsured, insurance companies are prescribing for doctors, outsourcing is respectable, we have no idea as to the number of illegals who live here, and our chief exports are factories and jobs. Meanwhile, our leaders speak to us of trash and trivia.
* A doctor was arrested in Murray, Utah for overprescribing meds. No kidding. They can't do that? My aunt took six different prescribed meds a day. What controlling legal authority should I notify?
* If torture is acceptable, why can't the Senate investigators torture Alberto Gonzales to help him remember? They could also use it on Tom DeLay, Paul Wolfowitz and Bob Ney. We could torture Dick Cheney just to see what comes out of him. Bush? Never mind.
* Sadistic pleasures can be delicious. Watching the World Bank President Wolfowitz squirm and twist in the wind is rich stuff. If we get an impeachment, The Decider will squirm too.
The Dixie Thinker is serious fun, but not for the snug and smug.
Meetings & Events
* The Restless Leg support group meets the third Thursday of every other month on odd numbered years. That's tonight. More members are needed. We know you're out there (we see you.)
* A slide and video presentation will be shown at the Santa Clara library this Saturday at 10 am. Several middle class sightings have been made in the Dixie area recently. Skeptical cynics are invited, we have visual proof.
* Loiter Pride support group has changed its next meeting place from Ancestor Square to Blue Bunny.
* Height Watchers meets daily at 5:30 at Starbucks Cultural Center. Regular attendance is helpful. Never give up, you can beat this thing.
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