The Senescent Man

The few from the Ozarks

When I leave work to go home, I pull out of the parking lot and turn right on “I” Street. A mile and a half down the road I reach Arkansas Highway 102, and have a decision to make: do I turn right or left? Either way gives me about an equal length to get home. One is more urban; the other is more rural. In traffic, either one can take about the same amount of time. Normally I turn right.

But suddenly, both routes are lined with skunk roadkill, and I mean real skunks. I turned right last Friday, and encountered five dead skunks along the road. I turned left last night and encountered six dead skunks. Why the sudden influx of useless, smelly carcasses on what could be a pleasant journey to my final destination? These ugly cadavers emit no sound. They look awful (a few have mostly intact bodies, but most have their bloody guts spread out), and the only thing coming out from them is an awful stench.

Where are the usual critters, good and bad, that we used to see lining the road home in past years? Where are the turtles, those plodders who take things slowly but always seem to get there? Where are the cats and dogs, those affectionate animals who just want nothing more than to be in your lap? Where are the raccoons, who seem dumb but who are amazing critters? Where are the deer, those fleet footed, beautiful creatures who raise our spirits by their mere appearance? Where are the possums, who somehow mislead us into thinking they are benign when they are not? And where are the robins, who just happen to land in the right place at the right time?

I’ll head home tonight, trying to keep my eyes on the road, hoping to see a fox worth watching.

Tomorrow, Sunday, February 18, RI US Senator Jack Reed is to appear on Meet the Press with Tim Russert. I can hear the questions from Tim now: "Senator Reed, on such and such a date, you visited Iraq, and upon returning you said (roll the tape) 'we need to send more troops to Iraq...' Now you are in the forefront of attempting to deride and derail President Bush's prosecution of the war, FAVORING a resolution defeated yesterday in the Senate that opposes the President Bush's troop surge. What say you???"

In the mean time, lo and behold what is happening in Baghdad and why? Well I'll be, the MSM reports that "Violence is Dropping in Baghdad!" But why??

I really believe the public is ALREADY sick of the idiots that the voting public rushed to on election day. My stomach churns each time I hear the whine of the other Reed from Nevada.

It was like dating on the rebound. Ooops! I suspect 2008 will be a good year for Republicans once the public wises up to what they got for their votes last November.

Could he be any more go-gah over this guy?

M. Charles Bakst at the Projo, long known for his liberal positions, and particularly on the Iraq war doesn't know how to take real heroes who understand duty to country.  But he is impressed as per his column in today's Projo, and thanks to Governor Carcieri's invitation to his "state of the state" address.  The key excerpt:

Now Carcieri paid tribute to the military serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He said, “Please join me in thanking two of their representatives here tonight, Lt. Col. Kathleen Sullivan and Lt. Col. John Sullivan, pilots for the Air National Guard. They also happen to be married to each other.

“Both flew combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.…Their children in Rhode Island would be cared for by Kathleen’s parents.”

The couple, who returned in December, rose on the House floor and basked as a prolonged standing O flooded over them.

It was a tremendous moment, leading up to the singing of “God Bless America.”

I spoke with the Sullivans later at a State Room reception.

I asked Kathleen Sullivan how it felt to be introduced by Carcieri and applauded so warmly.

She said, “It took my breath away, you know? We’re honored to serve our country, and we’re even more honored to be here to represent the men and women that are overseas.”

John Sullivan said, “It was very humbling. We’re very proud to be here, of course. We feel like other people deserve it more than we do…. Our unit’s been activated for over four years now and it’s been a long road, but at the same time everyone is upbeat about what they’re doing.”

I think the war in Iraq is a tragedy, but I have enormous respect for the troops, and the Sullivans took my breath away.

I asked what they thought of the war. Kathleen said, “It was a real honor for me to serve. The men and women over there are doing an unbelievably wonderful job and working really hard, and morale is extremely high. And I think that people want to go back and finish the job we started.”

Does she want to go back?

“Sure. Absolutely.”

John said it was true for him too. “We’re just proud to be able to do what we’re trying to do.…We stand by the commander in chief.”

All I can say is: God bless the Sullivans. It was an honor for me to meet them.