The Verdict

Judging Judges

(by RPEdwards)

Wayward Judges

What to do

Amendment?

Heavens NO!

Have People's Reps

Take simple steps

And have the judge

de-robed

In the news: Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg thinks the new Egyptian government should "not" use the U.S. Constitution as their model when drafting a foundational document of their own. Alas.

Now, I don't think such comments by the honorable jurist warrant "resignation," but it does remind me of Supreme Court decisions past that would have the founders, at the very least, scratching their wigs.  Abortion, Gay marriage, prayerless schools, eminent domain gone a muck, to name a few.  Yes, when high judges get it wrong...it's hard to fix. That's why, rather than the tedious Amendment route, impeachment needs to be seriously considered. Better yet...let's keep presidents in the White House that don't want to rewrite...what was written.

For your amusement; The American Kings...  

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Santorum

At Stake

(by R.P.Edwards)

Freedom at stake

The sacred thread

From barely born

To patriots...dead

Precious cargo

Ship of state

But how few know

That

Freedom's...at stake

"Freedom's at stake." Words from former Senator, Rick Santorum, upon his victories in the Colorado and Minnesota caucuses, as well as the non-binding Missouri contest.  Just caught a little of his speech...and it was stirring.

You know, I've always liked the Senator, but, like many, I figured he didn't have a chance...so I didn't want to invest too much emotion or attention on his candidacy.  But now...well, perhaps these recent victories will cause others...to consider.

I'll not belabor his conservative positions, but there is something about the man--in this day when "character matters" is too often a slogan, and not a practice--there's something about this man that grabs at that part of my being that yearns; no, cries out! for examples of honor.  And though I'm a firm believer in repentance, and the second and third chance, oh, for those who never stray too far.  For those who wrestle into submission those wayward thoughts and drives (and we all have them)...before they become attitudes...and actions.

So, congratulations to the Senator.  I hope he goes far and, without question, if his is the name on the ballot this coming November, my personal portion will go...to him.

In the little research I did for this piece I ran across the following youtube video where Mr Santorum speaks of his precious daughter, Isabella. If you have a few moments...please watch.

Worthless Words

(by R.P.Edwards)

Words that woo

Are wonderful things

They draw the lover...near

But with time, and lies

Now "words" despise

Save these

"Get out of here!"

My thoughts on the President's State of the Union address? Didn't listen to it.  Didn't care to. Didn't want to. Sure, I was at work--that would have been a good excuse to excuse ("Excuse" [noun and verb] is an example of a "Heteronym," words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and meanings. Did I know that? No. I just looked it up) but, with a little effort I could have garnered a line or two but, frankly, honestly, after over three years of "deeds"...I cared not a whit what silky sentences were uttered by our chief executive.

Again, I have no personal animosity towards President Obama.  And yes, I acknowledge his skill in the media's measure of worth...speech.  But, alas, his actions are as the overpowering industrial noise of my job; they drown out all but the most deliberate utterances.

On second thought, did I listen to the State of the Union address? Yes...I, over the last three years have listened to it; seen it; felt it; travailed over it.  And, the State of the Union is, unquestionably...dire.  I only hope that the majority of Americans, this coming November, are not so, AGAIN, enthralled by the rapturous wrapping paper...that they forget to look into the empty box.

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Our betters (Not!)

Who owe we?

(by R.P.Edwards)

Tell me, Sir

Who owe we?

The lofty

or

The less

Those who speak with eloquence 

Or those who beat...the breast

Those from Ivory towers

Or those who bend the knee

Tell me, Sir

For freedom's sake!

To whom

The debtors

We?

Now, some would say

The former

Who rule the words

And waves

Who view themselves

As masters

All others

Merely

Slaves

But I contend the latter

Who grasp the ancient thread

That ties them to Creator

Whose power

Raised...the dead

The question, sent by a viewer, carefully coddled and displayed affectionately before the Republican candidates for President at a debate last week. Thus: 

"Given that you oppose gay marriage, what do you want gay people to do who want to form loving, committed, long-term relationships? What is your solution?"

After going down the line--each "debater" gently offering a palatable defense of the sacred institution of traditional marriage--former speaker, Newt Gingrich, offered this addendum:

"Since we're spending this much time on these issues; I just want to raise a point about the news media bias. You don't hear the opposite question asked [he then listed difficulties that certain Catholic institutions had and have encountered because of their stand on traditional marriage, and then he concluded with]...the bigotry goes both ways, and there's a lot more anti-christian bigotry today than there is concerning the other side; and none of it gets covered by the news media."

Now, the reason for this simple piece--as the primaries amble on--is that there really is an adversarial force to be recognized and reckoned with. It's a body of believers, if you will, that preach a gospel quite foreign to the faith of the founders; quite distant from the traditionalists whose long ago contributions in blood in treasure secured the ease and idleness of this present age that has spawned, from godless institutions (whose beginnings were not so), the reprehensible persuasion that those with the "media microphone"--whose appearance is appealing, and words wooing--that these somehow "know" right from wrong; good from evil; truth from error.  Truly, they often do not.  But, since they "own" much of the communication venues...theirs is the filter through which sympathetic "choices" are often given preference.  And so...we decline a bit faster.

Now, I'm not offering a solution.  Just a hope that we be a bit wiser in the future and, since much that has been "championed" by the chosen is now proving to be without foundation; perhaps more than just we conservative types will be less apt to ascribe wisdom to the polished prose and purrings that gush from the biased media.

I recall writing a poem a couple years back concerning the influence of the media.  For your enjoyment:

4 + 5 = 0
(by R.P.Edwards)

The fourth estate
The column…five
A champion…that takes a dive
Depending on objective words
Instead…a swooning sound is heard
And we, the bearers of their lack
May never have our nation back
For Murrow’s children
Gone astray
Espouse “their” whims
Their preference…say
The heralds voice
A barkers jive
The fourth estate
Now…column five

Here's a link to hear Newt's remarks:  Media Bias

Iowa Caucus Coffee

Caucus anyone?
(by RP Edwards)

Through the grinder

Through the mill

Through the gauntlet

Through the still

Through the fire

Through the blade

Iowa Caucus

Sausage

Made

Their names were Kopi and Luwak and, aside from residing on the island of Sumatra in the mid nineteenth century, these two teenagers were much the same as the modern versions; curious, mischievous, seeking--by nature--to bend the established rules and push, whenever they could, past the line of "don't do it!"  However, unlike the nearly know-nothings of today, these strapping young lads had no electronic gizmos to occupy their "not mature by a long shot" brains and, thankfully, no illicit drugs to skew their path towards normal, boring, adulthood.  However, just because there were no "mind-bending chemicals" readily available (indeed, only the nearby Dutch plantation had any "spirits" of consequence [heavily guarded]), these, never-the-less, were not beyond popping something in their mouths to see if a "buzz" was possible.  And this, dear reader, is the real story of how partially digested coffee beans were harvested from Civet droppings and transformed into one of the most expensive, and exquisite, coffees of the planet.

_______

Yes, of course the above story is a fiction (or is it?) But, the "Civit coffee" (also known as 'Kopi luwak') does indeed exist and, as a notable novelty, one of my sons bought me 2 ounces of the stuff as a Christmas gift.  The price? Thirty five dollars!  And, although I cringe at the thought of it's pre-roasted journey, I will, someday soon, carefully brew the treasure and offer a sip to all present.


By now many of you remember that this very same coffee had a prominent place in the not-too-long-ago movie titled, The Bucket List.  Staring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two death-bound cancer patients, these two polar opposites constructed a list of "must-dos" before they each...kicked the bucket.  One item on the list was "Laugh till I cry."  This was achieved when Freeman's character pointed out to millionaire Jack that the coffee he insisted on...came from a jungle cat's butt.

So, today is the day of the much anticipated Iowa Caucuses.  And, dear reader, the whole process; the terrible, inhumane, sometimes brutal and downright nasty process where one goes from candidate to office holder, well, it reminded me of the exotic coffee with the rude beginnings.  I dearly hope, when all is said and done, that the final "product" is as refined and revered as the coffee from Sumatra.


Ever wonder what possessed someone to "try" the coffee-beans in the first place?  Wiki knows


That amusing clip from the movie "The Bucket List." Just one nasty word to deal with.

Tis the season...

Holiday tears

(by R.P.Edwards)

Sorrow often comes with "days"

Memorials of

The loss

When hearts were torn

Bereavement born

The constant

Crushing

Cost

So with the mirth

Of Peace on Earth

Be watchful for

The tears

Then pause to care

The burden...share

And hold the hurting

Near

Holidays, especially the festive ones, are "reminders" to many...that a loved one has passed on.  Not so "jolly" for these.  They often withdraw and endure...until the storm has passed.  

Just a gentle reminder to be watchful this season; watchful for the tears that many of our fellow travelers are quietly shedding.  What say you and I add to our "Christmas List" the priceless gift of a listening ear, a warm embrace, a genuine concern.  After all, it was compassion that compelled "Him," to come to our aid; to take on human flesh.  Let us, therefore, allow "Him" to use our arms, our voice, our homes...to remind these dear ones that "love" was the reason; and that His love for these...is stronger than death.

Following is a very simple video that was made a couple years back.  It reminds that there are, among us, those who are suffering this Christmas season.  It centers on those whose loved one died in the military.  But, if you will, please expand the message to include "all" who are less...this Christmas.  It's titled, "You're My Christmas Gift." View. Consider. Then be watchful...for tears.

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Moral Climate Change

Climate Change?

(by R.P.Edwards)

Climate change?

The answer's "YES!"

By season

And by year

From cold to hot

From wet...to not

Then back again

My dear

But some say Man's the reason

The source for weather woe

That gives me pause

For what's the cause

Of Changes

Long

Ago

He was simply known as Khulu Umuntu; which is Zulu for "Big Man," and, in environmental circles; for those whose passion and purpose is a clean planet, he is, or should I say "was," the point of the spear.  However, after much personal sacrifice and decades of toil, Ben Flager (his given name), suddenly dropped out of the "clean scene" and devoted himself to a more personal healing: body, mind, spirit.  Indeed, hardly seen for the last fifteen years, the Council of Concerned Scientists considered it a stroke of incredible good fortune that the, now eighty, Khulu Umuntu would agree to share a word at the Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa.

After rousing applause and a standing ovation of many minutes the elderly, fragile, slightly stooped "legend" began his remarks.  

"My fellow World Changers!" (applause) "I am honored that you would ask an old activist, such as myself, to speak a few words on behalf of your very important efforts concerning the climate change." (applause) "Back in my day it was clean water and air. Removing toxins from food and the soil.  These were our objectives." (standing applause)"But you, you! have undertaken a much more important task. You have chosen to address the deteriorating climate and it's causes." (applause with whistles) "You see, over the last twenty years I too have come to realize the importance of the intangibles such as honor, respect, love." (applause) "And I, like you, have seen a change in the climate.  Where once words like honor and respect and fidelity had meaning; now the world's climate is one of arrogance, selfishness and immorality." (crickets) "I remember the time when human life was sacred.  Now we abort the unborn and call it a right." (murmuring)  "I remember when a man and a woman was the natural, God ordained, pairing for marriage.  Now, ha!, anything goes!  So yes, we need to change the climate!  We need to...excuse me a minute." (the moderator's gentle hand on his left shoulder causes the Big Man to pause in order to tilt an ear to receive modifying information.) "Man made climate change? Yes, that what I... What? Global warming? Carbon footprints?  C'mon, this is no time for jokes. You've got to be kidding.  What a colossal waste of my time..."

___________

Yes, dear reader, the above story is a total fabrication.  Oh, there certainly was a conference this past week in Durban, South Africa.  And yes, it had to do with "climate change" folk who want nations (especially the U.S.) to do more.  But, I don't buy the whole climate change, global warming hysteria.  However, the real "climate change" alluded to by the fictional character, Khulu Umuntu; the one having to do with our universal slide into the moral cesspool; now that is the real issue that needs to be addressed.

For the lighter side of Global Warming/Cap n Trade, may I suggest the amateurish videos (below) I made some time back.

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