SHOW ME YOURS...

537 SHOULD DO SO

     Mitt Romney is creating trouble for himself.  His wife Ann has thrown fuel on the fire. But there are a lot of hypocrites being exposed, even if not their tax filings.

     Yes, Romney should release his previous tax reports, but then so should President Obama and every member of the House and Senate.  That's my take at least.  Every one who stands for election should be honor, if not duty, bound to release their tax reports.  If you stand in the public square and ask your fellow taxpayers to "hire" you, to pay your salary and your benefits then yes, by all means as your employers we should see your records.

     It is disingenuous and worse to demand that Romney release his filings and refuse to volunteer your own. All we can do is speculate how the wealthy Romney might appear to us through his tax records, but his wife hinted as much when she said something about there would be more to criticize.  It could be that way for many of the 100 members of the Senate and the 435 members of the House as well.  

     Official Washington has become a kind of club with privileges, probably excessively so.  If it is good enough for members of Congress, should it not also be good enough for 

their employers-you and me?  I'm talking about insurance, pensions, inside options on stocks, perks, favors and privileges.  If every tax paying citizen is not entitled, then why should "official Washington" be entitled?  

     Plumbing out tax filings sort of gets at that itch. But it is only a little scratch at a big problem.  Government professionals have become a class unto themselves.  We used to mock the old Soviet Union where the pals of the politburo were "more equal" comrades than the proletariat. Well, to quote the Beatles "Back in the US, back in the US, back in USSR, boys!"

     Give 'em up Mitt. Give 'em up Peosi, Reid, Boehner, Ryan and for that matter, Geitner, and every member of the cabinet and everyone on Capitol Hill. What are you hiding?

DAY FILE

REFLECTIONS

      We continue to play with our newly claimed hill top.
From collected driftwood and an old thrift shop mirror, Lana created a hanging for the fence.  I love the way it 
captures the neighboring mountains.

    It is dry here, but that is normal for the Central Coast this time of year.  Not so normal for some of you who are suffering through historic droughts.  We hope you get the rain you need, soon.

      See you down the trail.

RUFFLED-CAMPAIGN FEATHERS AND CLOUDS

GET OVER IT NEWT, IT WAS A JOKE!

     The latest flap in the presidential wars underscores a

couple of things.  1)As a nation our sense of humor is rapidly diminishing.  2)Newt Gingrich becomes more sanctimonious 

by the moment.

     Actor Robert De Niro cracked wise at an Obama fundraiser and the desperate Gingrich sought to make some political hay.

      Here is the "offending" joke:

    "Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white First Lady?" he asked the crowd. "Too soon, right?"

      Even the Obama camp, when pressed for a response,

said it was inappropriate.  Well, what else could they say?

It was "edgy" I suppose, but if we can't laugh at ourselves

we are taking it all too seriously.  

       I think if one can joke about color, ethnicity, sexual preferences and yes even religion in appropriate, non offensive language, then it shows maturity and real cultural health.  Isn't that coming closer to being color blind than Newt's little hissy fit would be representative of?

      Accept facts for what they are. If you are a person of color the line may have been funny for reasons beyond the fact it was a good line and made even better by the edginess of it. Both the edginess and the personal color matters fueled the effectiveness of the joke, and obviously the Gingrich lack of humor.

      You know what they say you can do if you can't take a joke. Humor is a balm for frayed nerves.  We should all laugh a bit more.  Lighten up!   

DAY BOOK

RUFFLED SKY

Heard any jokes about thrice married candidates?

See you down the trail.