Obama moving quickly

Six-year-old German girl found
in train station with five-year-old
boyfriend, eloping to Africa.

Wolves were re-introduced into Idaho several years ago. Many residents, including the Governor, now want them eliminated because they eat elk and deer. What did they think they would eat – potatoes? I would bet that automobiles and trains kill far more deer, elk, and moose every year than do wolves. Let’s eliminate them.
George Mitchell has been chosen as a special enjoy to the Middle East to try to bring about peace in that troubled area. He is a great choice, especially after his incredible success in bringing about an end to the Irish problem that had been festering for 800 years. He told a marvelous anecdote today that had to do with a speech he once made in Damascus: During his speech he mentioned that the Irish problem had been settled after 800 years, trying to emphasize that anything is possible. After his speech an elderly man (I don’t know if he was a Jew or an Arab) approached him and asked, “How long did you say, 800 years?” Mitchell allowed as to, yes, that was what he said. The old man then said, “Such a recent problem, no wonder you could solve it.” That should be a reminder of just how difficult a settlement is going to be, if, indeed, it is going to be.
Holbrook was selected to be our representative in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, another first-rate appointment. But he, too, faces an almost impossible situation. Hilary was widely cheered when she showed up at the State Department. It was as if the employees there were waiting to be liberated. Obama is certainly not wasting any time in getting started on problems that have been ignored and festering badly for the past eight years. Bush/Cheney had such a singleness of purpose (to spend every waking moment enriching their corporate and wealthy friends) they just didn’t seem to care about anything else. The greatest criminal conspiracy in history and so far they have pulled it off without a hitch. Hopefully, justice will catch up with them. If not, the U.S. will never recover its former position among the nations of the world.
The Republicans have “lost it” so badly they now have recourse only to petty obstructionism that has no purpose other than grandstanding and trying to get a bit of publicity. They held up Hillary’s appointment for a day only for Cornyn to show off, and now Spector is holding up Holder’s appointment for a week for the same petty reason. They also delayed the Geithner appointment. Pathetic. But let’s hope they stay just that, pathetic, for a very long time, those, that is, who can stay out of jail.

FIRE AND ICE
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Robert Frost

TILT:
The poet and anarchist, Jean N. A. Rimbaud, did his best work as a teen, and gave up writing further poems before he turned 21.