OURSELVES AS PAT ANSWER PATSIES

Pat answers are the pattern of the scoundrel peddling patriotism.

The pat-riot act of the with-us-or-else crowd is beginning to show its iron intent. Even some in Congress too scared to oppose swimming in the red tide have come to question the un-American Patriot Act.

To debate the suspension of the Constitution is bad enough, but voting to suspend the American Bill of Rights, flimsy as they are, is the prime indicator of lunacy and irresponsibility in the media, the Congress, and in the public at large.

The red herring of terrorist threats are no excuse to give back what we bled for and snatched from the first King George. And to trust the current king g with royal power, in view of his party's and staff's cynicism and arrogance, is really dumb, even for Congresspersons normally inclined to despotism.

Holding human beings in jails and debating torturing them, and how to torture them, and using American law to try justifying it is about as morally bankrupt as we want to go. But the real test is not whether kidnapping, rendition to our axis of evil allies in terror, or just allowing them to die rather than admitting error are wrong, but that if it is allowed in these cases, will it become normal in normal courts. Using the ol' red herring to grease the slippery slope, as it were.

Wake me up when you decide high crimes, never mind the misdemeanors, are too much for you.

Although the NRA will protect our right to own anti-tank sidearms, no one is looking after my right to say that the other rights are being marginalized.

The prisoner who has been abused will say anything you want after a point. After a critical time, what he knows becomes unimportant. If my terrorist got captured, I would assume anything he knows is known to my enemy, therefore, I would change all routine procedures. What are we thinking when we violate all laws to deal with law violators?

We are behaving like some very bad actors, and like them, we are calling it Patriotism.

Heil und -30-bobby

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS W. BORGE HAS SPOKEN

When a despot does it, we call it despotism. Why is it not illegal when this resident select does it?

THE NSA IS THE SUPER SECRET GRANDDADDY OF THE CIA...PROHIBITED BY LAW AND THE US CONSTITUTION FROM SPYING ON THE AMERICAN CITIZEN PRACTICING HIS LAWFUL DUTIES TO QUESTION HIS GOVERNMENT, TO PROTEST EXCESS, TO VOTE, TO RESEARCH AND DIRECT HIS ELECTED REPRESENTITAVES TO PERFORM AT HIS PLEASURE.

(THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEONE MAY HAVE NOT BEEN DULY ELECTED SHOULD NOT EXEMPT THAT PUBLIC SERVANT FROM THE LAW.)

And the chutspah to stand there to say "i authorized it" boggles and insults.

When do impeachment proceedings commence? Or will Congress be declared out of order or out of session by Executive Order?

Maybe he'll reinstate the Constitution by Executive Order.

-30-bobby

PATRIOT ACT GIVES CONSTITUTIONAL DYSPEPSIA

WHAT DICTATOR WOULDN'T LOVE IT?

Congress is nearly sane by "delaying" renewal. It would save the country a lot of pain if they would declare Mr B a terrorist and lock him in Guantanamo, or impeach the usurper.

Debating what is torture, who can be spied upon, or into which country can we whisk abducted "non-combatants", AKA civilian citizens of sovereign countries: what are we thinking? The Patriot Act just gives license to abusive tendencies inherent in any authoritarian regalist. In this case, it is like turning the Bloodmobile over to Dracula.

The purpose of the military is INTERNAL POLITICAL CONTROL--Bobby's Axiom Nr 1, or 2, depending on whether The Purpose of Religion is to lead the people to the government is Nr 1.

That makes Ossama Bin Laden and every dictator our best friend: it means that Bin Laden did King G the favor of his political life. He gave him the power to take more power.

We are actually smarter than that, even if takes a while.

Maybe Congress will continue to improve and vote to give Iraq, and a few other places back to their rightful citizens. That don't mean back to the local U.S. favored Saddam or Generalisimo that acts on orders.

Maybe we can get back some of the Constitutional fine print we have allowed fear and grandstanding to melt away from us under the Usurper Spendthrift, Incorporated.

-30-bobby

HUNTING NOT EASY

Hunting elephants is not easy....there are too many messing up things.

It keeps me distracted on a myriad of foibles and corruptions. How can you keep on track when these whack-o s need help.

Let them eat cake.

POST SCRIPT, 15DEC

"I shot an elephant in my pajamas--how he got in my pajamas I'll never know."

Groucho

Maybe if I wore pajamas, an elephant....

-30-bobby

I SAVE YOUR BACON WITHOUT BEING PIGGY

I AM A FIXER.

A fixer is a person who can fix stuff, but in my case not like Tom DeLay, who fixes races; not horse races, though.

In my case, lets say I am at your house and your kitchen light won't light: I'll ask questions, get out my tool belt and voltmeter, and find out why. Most of the time the problem is loose wire, broken something or an incorrect installation. If we need some part, it is either at the local store, I happen to have it or know where to get it or a better substitute.

What if the computer can't go on line, the printer is out of ink or you need a wireless network: fine, I'm a fixer.

Washing machine? Dryer, water heater, your car makes a noise or won't start?

The front door has one key and there are three for the rest of the house: we just tell Bobby to rekey or set up a masterkey system so that you have one key and others have keys for restricted access. Good. The more important you are, the fewer keys you have.

Telephone systems or DSL or rewire the whole house for both or network-no problem. Stereo, radio or intercom is the same to me.

My '86 Aerostar van had a rusty place under the back window: it now has an aluminum riveted patch, like on an airplane. Its OK: I'm a pilot.

When the cold snap passes, I'll finish the front-end bushings and new shocks.

I built a fence in Clear Lake. It has a steel framed gate, Hardy Panel surface.

I have a few band and model risers, and once built one that could be collapsed for storage or transport.

When I see a problem, visions of solutions pop into my head.

It is a gift, and I do it every day in Houston.


-30-bobby

PAINTED TUESDAYS

IN HOUSTON, WE DO LIFE DRAWING IN PERSON, IN THE NATURAL WAY

There is a place on Westheimer called Helios, near Taft, where we can go draw nice models in close to nude Victoria's Secret things while sipping on a cool one.

It happens on Tuesdays at about 9 'till closing in the upstairs venue. Thuy Linh is the hostess and organizer, aided by her sisters and parents, abetted by a host of really good models, her band, and me, Bobby.

There is a cover, and for a bit more, a buffet prepared by the sisters for the occasion.

Live music on the stage is coordinated with the poses so that the drawings pace themselves beautifully. Single, dual, and multiple model poses are timed at 5 to 10 minutes or more, and I've seen some great art and gestural pieces from them.

It has been in operation for four weeks, and the last two were full house, so I know it will be a popular art hangout for as long as Thuy Linh sings, models, and hosts the Painted Tuesdays with her group and troupe.

I have enjoyed modeling with the girls. They are great together. This last Tuesday I did nice work with Lisa, who is a natural and demure young lady. We made a good team. I won't list the rest, because you have to see to believe, anyway. Suffice it to say that I draw on my downtime.

That's the news from here, Chet...

-30-bobby