The Spitzer – Saddam Connection

What did Saddam Hussein say when Coalition forces crossed the Iraqi border in 2003? What did Elliot Spitzer say when his predilection for prostitutes came out a week ago?

The same thing: “D’OH!!”

To paraphrase Senator Larry Craig – “Let me be very clear.” I’m not saying that the former governor of New York is any thing like the  monster who ran Iraq and had hundreds of thousands of his enemies killed and invaded two other countries.

What I’m saying is that both of these men couldv’e avoided the fate they received.

If Saddam had totally cooperated with the UN and others after the first Gulf War instead of hiding vast stores of WMD materials and fully cooperating with the weapons inspectors he would be alive today. Probably still in power as well.

But, our boy Saddam decided to let his pride get in the way. Instead of cooperation he had banned materials and equipment moved out the back door of various facilities while inspectors came in the front. And he did this for more than 10 years. Don’t believe me? Go ask David Kay and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

All sorts of WMD were found in Iraq but because these things weren’t encased in warheads atop SCUD missiles no one believes they existed. It’s so bad even the Bush Administration says no WMD were found in Iraq.

Unbelievable.

Saddam evaded his responsibilities and Iraq was invaded in March of 2003. The rest, as they say, is history. So is Saddam. He’s taking a very long dirt nap right about now.

Elliot Spitzer made his name by being a law and order Attorney General in New York. He went after all sorts of criminals. Organized crime, drug trafficking, prostitution.

Oh, oh……. Mission Control, we have a problem. Spitzer was caught with his hypocrisy down. Probably around his ankles. Ouch!

He prosecuted people who ran prostitution rings and he gets caught up in one!! How can this be? More than $80,000 flew out of his pocket to the g-strings of prostitutes. How can this be?

Is it true that power corrupts? He turned into a big time hotshot and thought he could get away with serial whoring? Is that it? Or is it simpler than that?

Maybe despite his career success he ultimately is just another empty man trying to fill an empty heart. The man is to be pitied. Actually, when I think about it maybe Saddam should have been pitied as well.

Both of these men in one form or another were empty. It’s too late for the executed former dictator of Iraq. It’s not too late for the former governor of New York.  

This is not to say that Spitzer shouldn’t have taken responsibility for his actions. He had to resign. There was and is no alternative for what he did. He had no choice. It was time to go.

When it came to marriage fidelity Spitzer chose poorly. When it came to cooperating with the international community Saddam chose poorly.

I can’t speak to whether or not the victims of Saddam Hussein will ever forgive him. I do know it’s not too late for the family of Elliot Spitzer to forgive him. Will they? Hopefully.

Forgiveness is the key component here. As a christian writing what I have so far tonight in this entry I’m reminded of something that crossed my mind some years ago.

If someone murdered any person I love I would forgive that criminal. It wouldn’t be easy but I have to share the forgiveness given to me by Jesus. If I don’t share what’s been given to me than how can I expect to truly claim the forgiveness of GOD?

The murderer still has to pay a price to society. Prison sentence or death penalty. Responsibility must be accepted. I certainly hope I would have an opportunity to lead this person to Jesus before punishment. For if that would happen we could someday walk the streets of Heaven together.

If I, in a period of rage, killed somebody I have to pay the debt to society as well. I would hope that the loved ones of the victim would forgive me but I would have to pay a price.

After having said all that I’ve said about hypocrisy and morality please don’t think that I think of myself as a morally superior guy.

Hey, I know better. I need the blood of Jesus as much as the next idiot.

How’s this for a connection: Spitzer-Saddam-Me-You?

Coin flip: Values or Political Party?

I, the one and only misterlevittown, am or are a political and social conservative. I am also a christian. I gave my life to Jesus waaay back on June 14th of 1989 in the parking lot of Calvary Chapel Phila…… wait a second. That’s a story for another time.

Despite being a christian who is a social and political conservative I do have friends who are….. dare I say it?… DEMOCRATS!!!!!

Really.

While walking away from my office with one of my dumocrat.. I mean democrat friends I thought I would beat him about the heart and mind. It was fun too.

“Fred, what’s more important voting your values or your political party?” Fred is a christian too. I could feel him emotionally running into a bridge abutment. God, it was great.

I asked him that if Obama or Clinton had political views that could be shown not to line up with christian principles would you still vote for them because they’re democrats? His response was a classic non-answer answer.

“I can’t vote for McCain!” “I did’nt ask you about McCain.”

I posited the scenario to him that let’s say the democratic presidential nominee had positions on the top ten issues that went directly against biblical principles would you vote for that candidate? I hit Fred with this question multiple times.

His evasiveness was telling.

“So Fred, if you vote for a candidate you know goes against your values aren’t you telling God that His values aren’t as important as your political affiliation?”

He never really gave me an answer to that question. 

Let me state some things I think are really basic ideas to all everyday citizen-types and politicians:

1.  We, as believers, need to stand up for righteousness in  politics. By this I mean that more  than  policies should be our focus. How about the idea of taking care of the People’s Business instead of “now that I’m here how do I make sure I stay here?” 
2.  ”Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” should mean something. But, how can those words have meaning when we, as a nation, still kill the unborn innocent? Where is their life? Where is there liberty? What kind of happiness are they achieving after the abortion?
3. When politicians of either major party claim a christian faith shouldn’t that fact carry over to their campaigning? Something is wrong with this picture when candidates start trashing their opponent who just so happens to have a christian faith as well. Don’t these people realize that someday they will be walking the streets of Heaven together?
4. Shouldn’t your faith influence you when it comes to your job? Or should we divorce our faith from our work just like it was portrayed in “The Godfather”. Hey! I’m a good catholic even though I kill people for a non-existent criminal organization.
5. After saying all the above can we all agree that Jesus is so much bigger than political parties. Please.

This is not to say that the one and only misterlevittown is perfect. I ain’t.

A passing thought: why is it alright for democratic presidential candidates to speak at churches but when republicans speak at churc… when was the last time you heard of a republican candidate speaking at a church? Don’t forget the false charge that evangelical republicans want to create a theocracy.

It seems to me that it’s a good idea to just let Jesus be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Works for me.

Factcheck.org – thanks for being around

Several years ago I became aware of factcheck.org and their analysis of political campaigns and the truthfulness that comes from them. Here in the 2008 primary season more often than not whenever I would read a factcheck alert I would be yelling at my monitor. Could these politicians kindly tell the truth about there own record let alone their adversary!!

We’ve all heard of “spin” and the “meisters” thereof. We’ve all told lies. Big, little, white as well any other color lies. We’ve thought’em and we’ve said’em. It just seems that politicians just take lying to another level.

Without getting into specifics about McCain, Obama or Clinton and all the state and local politicians out there but they “all” say the same thing when it comes to their campaign ads: I’m wonderful and my opponent is Satan. Or a variation of that theme.

This is where I get into borderline blasphemy. Danger! Will Robinson. Danger! Danger!

Over the years I’ve told many people when it comes to this kind of thing in politics that “GOD damns this!”.

Why do I say this? Because even in politics we can bring dignity, honor and truth. Twisting the words of your opponent to make he/she to appear to be a total crook is not dignified. It’s not honorable and it’s sure as hell not telling the truth.

Something in the Ten Commandments about  telling fibs or… bearing false witness! Sound familiar people!!

In total frustration last friday I angrily told my friend Al that I was fed up with Republicans who did this sort of thing.

Republicans, tell the truth! Let the Democrats lie and then counter with the truth. The truth. The truth. The truth.

Let that be you clarion call. Your rallying cry. Tell the truth. And at the same time I know that they’re many Democrats that feel and think the way I do. They want their candidates to speak the truth.

Bottom line: Tell the truth and it won’t need to be spun or massaged.

Politics and Morality: who would’ve thunk it?

Halloween and old radio people.

How ridiculous is it to hear every year on a radio station near you at Halloween people who have’nt gone trick or treating in about 50 years ask each other about their costumes?

“Hey, DJ Doofus. What are you going out as this year for Halloween?” “Well, Sidekick Squirrel Nut Zipper Face I really can’t answer that now because we have to go to Captain Bill in the 97.5 Traffic Copter for the lastest traffic report.”

Never mind that many smaller markets can’t afford to pay the electric bill let alone have the finances to fund an helicopter and crew. Don’t forget to insert the helicopter sound effects while the traffic guy is giving his report.

All the while the zany people in the studio are taking pictures of their wacky costumes for the station website. And all these morons are more in need of Viagra than a sugar rush from all the candy they’ll supposedly get while trick or treating.

I had to get that off my chest. I feel so much better. Now where’s that Spider-Man costume?

Signed, Your friendly neighborhood MisterLevittown

Watchers of the weight

Here it is the third day of March and I’m almost at the end of my first day doing the weightwatchers thing. Breakfast and lunch were within limits and took care of my hunger very nicely.

Dinner on the other hand…..

 I had a huge carnivorous craving when I got home. Before I got home I found out that I could not go to physical therapy tonight due to a paperwork problem. Prescriptions that cover my right elbow, back and both legs were not renewed in a timely fashion so I was not allowed to go to physical therapy tonight. Bummer.

So I came home and cooked up probably 8 ounces of hot italian sausage. Hot Italian was all that was available when I went to the store last week. On top of that I wilted a bag of store salad with some Adobo, a mexican spice blend, and munched away.

I was unfulfilled.

I don’t know precisely why either. Meat: good. Salad: good. Adobo: ok. Adobo was only “ok” because I accidently sprinkled too much on the greens.

Maybe because I did’nt finish on a high note when it came to dinner. Cut the meat portion in half and it would have been sufficient. The wilted greens were fine. Proper limits. But……

The psychology of food and it’s place in our lives. A complicated and simple thing this creation called food.

Two thirds discipline on a three thirds kind of day. Give me time and I’ll succeed with this math thing. Someday.

I leave you with two free pieces of wisdom. 1. Wherever you go that’s where you end up after you started the trip and, 2. Never draw to an inside straight.

Peace, misterlevittown