What I thought was a hangover seems to be more a bug. Good.  No one should be so humiliated and such a woose as to be hung-over after one margarita!   I made it to the book signing, but I felt like you know what.  At least it wasn’t a hangover.  The crowd wasn’t a book buying crowd, but the show was something else!  Nothing was much fun today because I feel so rotten. But, I have come up with an interesting observation.  There’s no news from home, so the kitties and Rumsfeld must be okay.  I actually miss the little monster. 

 

MY RANT OF THE DAY

Someone once wrote the only way to truly know the heart and mind of America is to know and understand baseball.  I agree, whole-heartedly, but I think there is more too it.   As I watched a very diverse crowd gathered to celebrate “Ed Schieffelin” days here in Tombstone, I was struck by the fact that Tombstone, perhaps more than baseball, is America.  We have a violent society, for good or ill.  The sooner we accept it and our national heritage the sooner we can truly define who and what we are as a nation.  We are much more the land and psyche of a George W. Bush than we are a pacifist like John Edwards. 

 

Modern America was born on October 26, 1881 at approximately 2:30PM in Tombstone, Arizona.  There four men, representing law and order, faced four men representing the American idea of an independent thinker, winner take all, don’t fence me in, and I’ll do darn well what I want.  Law and order won.  I’ll do darn well what I want to do has been playing catch up ever since, manifesting itself in the libertarian mindset of wanting to flaunt every rule and law for the sake of personal independence.

 

Both law and order and personal independence have deep roots in American History.  Both are part of our soul, our culture, who we are.  It is the right to wear a gun in town vs. the right of the town to maintain a sense of order.  It is the right of the ‘rancher’ to gather up unbranded calves and put one’s own brand on them, even they don’t belong to you.  It is the right of the rancher to demand unlimited freedom of range, no matter who it harms.  It is the right to ‘string up’ anyone poaching on one’s territory, run ‘em off, and keep ‘em off, no matter who is harmed.  We see that mindset today in the anti-immigration movement.

 

Law and order brings with it responsibility.  One must take responsibility for one’s actions.  One must accept social responsibility for those less fortunate.  And, the ‘I’ll do darn well what I want to do faction must grow up or be marginalized. No matter how glamorous this unbridled freedom to do and say anything is, it isn’t practical or conducive to civilized behavior.  Law and order requires grown up actions and the ability to make unpopular decisions.  “I’ll do what ever I darn well please” is always looking for a leader.  We see this behavior in our non GOP conservatives.  They aren’t capable of playing by the rules or bending enough to even comprehend the rules. 

 

Today I watched a cross section of American society tread the boardwalks of Tombstone.  Rich, poor, black, white,  Hispanic, native American, all interested in watching the Earps shoot it out with the Clantons and the McLaurys.  The day began with the National Anthem then became ‘corny’ with a ‘wild west show’.  The Greatest Generation stood at attention, hands over hearts.  Younger people just stood there.   Every possible attire was seen from authentic 1880’s costume to shorts, athletic shoes and fanny packs.  There was young and old, cops and Iraq vets.  All were there to celebrate the founding of a mining town in the middle of nowhere in southern Arizona. 

 

That is America.  It is swagger, six shooters, violence, boots, jingle-bobs, cowboy hats, guns and amo.  To those liberals who would subdue it and mold it into something different, I have one word of advise.  Deal with it.  It isn’t going to change.

 

One of the reason George W. Bush is so disliked by the rest of the world is because he has the Wyatt Earp mentality.  "It all ends now."  He has the ability to stand up for what is right.  Standing up for what is right and doing the honorable thing isn't popular.  If you are a politician it just might get you kicked out of office, even if you are a Republican because today's conservatives have gone so far off the deep end they wouldn't recognize right from wrong if Wyatt Earp stepped out in front of them. 

 

Frankly, I would rather be on the side of Wyatt Earp and George W. Bush.  It is the side of right and honor.  It may not be popular, but someone needs to stand up for honor these days, so it may as well be me.  

 

I see Blog Lizards is having site meter problems.  Join the crowd.  I’m still trying to find a counter that actually reflects the number of hits The Pink Flamingo receives.  So far, nothing is working well. 

  

The NYTimes says HRM Nancy I has “cautioned” GWB not to veto the Iraq bill.  I think it’s more along the line of a threat.   

 

PRIMARIES 2008

Would someone please explain the Fox “Obama” thing?  After all, Teddy was the first to call him Osama Obama.

 The Thompson rumors continue.

Will Newt be in or out?

 Novak suggests we keep an eye on Bill Richardson. 

Romney taking the low road. 

I like the way Mark Margolis over at Red State describes Edwards’ departure from the NV debate.

The Firefighter’s Union attacks Giuliani. 

SC Firefighters endorse Giuliani.