Republicans gone bonkers

What is with Republicans these days? First we have the President who is now so completely out of touch with reality that he keeps insisting we will stay the course and win a victory (no one else in the world believes this as far as I can see). Then we have McCain who says we need to put more troops in Iraq (which, again, no one else in the world believes). Newt Gingrich (the world's number one hypocrite) thinks the American public will insist he become president because he wants to do away with free speech. Guiliani, who is pro-choice, anti-gun, and gay rights positive (all anathema to the Republican base) somehow thinks he might be their candidate of choice. Romney suffers from the delusion that his good looks will keep people from thinking about his Mormonism. Jeb Bush is mentioned as a candidate, no doubt some think he can capitalize on his older brother's illustrious career as president and establish a Bush dynasty once and for all. Who else might be lurking in the depths of the Republican cesspool? Oh, yeah, Condi, but she says she isn't interested (how sad). I suggest they run Strom Thurmond. Then if the democrats run Byrd we could have a real battle of the titans (of yesterday). This is going to be so much fun!

We had another four to five inches of snow last night and it remains cold - COLD! Our book business, Arabella Books, proceeds at a snail's pace. Someday I would like to meet the sadist who decided that property taxes should become due on December 20th! Personally, I think there is no excuse for this. I suppose it must be the same miserable sadist that decided people in Idaho should have to pay taxes for food - FOOD! This strikes me as the functional equivalent of telling citizens they cannot kill the King's deer (no matter how hungry they become - see Robin Hood).

I have just finished a very thorough and most interesting biography of Harry Houdini. I recommend it (by Kalush and Sloman). There is also a fine biography of Charles Addams (by Linda H. Davis) which I found quite fascinating. I think there are far too many books being published nowadays, most of which we could certainly do without (but there are also some truly fine ones - I wish I could afford them). It is cold, we have fire in the living room, books to read, cats to cuddle, life is good.