In Memoriam - Senator John S. McCain III

 

With the passing of a patriot like John McCain

My hopes for the country that he loved went down the drain.

No one else has shown the courage he showed 'til the end;

Few have tried to reach across the aisle and make a friend.

(My dad shared a room at the Academy with John

And the stories of the escapades those two went on

Kept us entertained and made me love John even more...)

Would have made a better President than Bush or Gore.

Sixty years of service to the country he adored;

I'm sure heaven has already welcomed him aboard.

He was an example to us all throughout his life.

Praying for his friends and family and lovely wife.

Dear Senator McCain... Thoughts and Prayers

 

Cancer, like Ted Kennedy's, has stricken John McCain.

It was just discovered but would probably explain

Why he seemed confused the day that Comey testified;

Symptoms of this type of cancer seem to coincide.

John McCain was legendary in my Navy days

For the courage, wit, and honor he always displays.

If someone can beat this cancer, John McCain's the guy;

Ask the Hanoi Hilton's staff...  The man's too tough to die.

Foreign Policy Isn't For Dummies

(Mr. Bennett's cartoon/Courtesy of The Christian Science Monitor)

President Obama's seen approval ratings drop

Because there are conflicts in the world he cannot stop.

John McCain can name you three the U.S. should invade;

Plus another couple where he thinks we should have stayed.

I don't think he understands how that would be perceived.

When we throw our weight around the Arabs feel aggrieved.

Libyans are mad we grabbed a suspect off the street,

Hustled him aboard a ship, and sailed off with our fleet.

"Well...  It took us long enough," said everyone on FOX

(Proving true the nickname for TV - the idiot box.)

These wars are religious...  They're the kind that can't be won

And we shouldn't risk the life of one more mother's son

In a fight that's lasted for at least a thousand years.

When we've jumped into the fray before it led to tears.

Once we put our foot down innocents are always crushed.

Thankfully, this President won't let himself be rushed.

Dear Mr. President... I've Got Your Back

It's better than an F

In the U.S. Senate, John McCain's been talking smack.

Do not worry Mr. President...  I've got your back.

Just ignore the insults you've been getting from McCain.

No one wants a war with Russia over the Ukraine.

Experts said you've been too weak in foreign policy;

They were asked to grade you...  Sir, you only got a C.

(It's still better than the F your predecessor scored)

You're accused of forging plow shares when you need a sword.

Didn't act in Syria when acting might have helped;

Never mind that, since the days when Romulus was whelped,

There've been wars with roots and causes we don't understand.

U.S. can't impose a peace upon a foreign land.

We could help the refugees who've fled that civil war.

Situation's tragic... 'though we're helping, let's do more.

Send aid to the countries who are in the neighborhood.

This time, when we get involved, perhaps we'll do more good.

Unsolicited Advice for Arizona's Governor

I say, "Let them eat cake!" (Photo/Courtesy of WeddingCakeCreations.com)

Governor of Arizona has a choice to make;

Can a shop refuse requests to bake a wedding cake

If the owner thinks that God would strongly disapprove?

Arizona's Senate passed the bill.  It's Brewer's move.

Will she sign it in to law or veto it instead?

Is discrimination based on who you want to wed

Similar to that about the color of your skin?

Either way she chooses though, Jan Brewer cannot win.

If she signs it in to law it doesn't end the fight;

Only ones who want her to are the religious right.

Even John McCain and Romney asked her not to sign.

It's all up to her right now but, if the choice were mine,

I would like to think that I would choose for equal rights.

But I'd ask LGBTs to pick some better fights.

If a person doesn't like you just because you're gay

Why would you spend money at their business, anyway?

Even if you have the right to force them to, what for?

You could never trust the people working at that store.

Find a better bakery, with folks who wish you well.

Tell religious bigots there that they can go to hell.

How About Some Real News Coverage (For A Change)?

Tea Party Senator Ted Cruz (R) of Texas.  (Photo/TheBlaze)

Scandals plaguing Washington - the media's enthralled.

They're more fun than news reporting budget talks have stalled.

Budgets don't get ratings; not the way that scandals do.

Don't they think their viewers would be angry if they knew?

Senator from Texas (of the Tea Party) Ted Cruz

Makes sure any reconciliation efforts lose.

Blocked it from Committee 'cause he says he doesn't trust

Any party and, therefore, the budget's gathered dust.

Even some Republicans, like Senator McCain,

Seem to understand this situation is insane.

Congress needs to do its job and get a budget deal

And news media should cover scandals that are real.

Syria - What Do You Do When All of Your Options Suck?

(Photo/Slate.com)

Assad's using Sarin gas - or so it would appear.

Evidence, they're saying, isn't absolutely clear.

Assad told the UN they could look but changed his mind,

Indicating he's afraid of what they're gonna find.

President Obama said that gas would cross a line;

(I guess bombing your civilian population's fine)

John McCain, and others, say that line has now been crossed

Thus, we have to arm the rebels, never mind the cost.

You can't guarantee which way a well-armed rebel aims.

When it turns to civil war, guess who the region blames.

I think, first, we need to get the Russians on our side.

Only way to do that is to prove Assad has lied.

Give AID to the countries where most Syrians have fled;

Make sure they have shelter, clothes, and water - that they're fed.

Prove guilt beyond shadow of a doubt before we start

Interfering as a country tears itself apart.

The Boston Marathon - "Book Him, Danno"

Bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev wrestled for Cambridge Rindge & Latin. My eldest was at this match... Different weight class. (Photo/BostonHerald.com)

Friends of Boston's bombing suspect - shocked by recent news -

Can't believe Islamic martyrdom's a fate he'd choose.

Cambridge Rindge & Latin classmates say their friend,  Dzhokhar,

Was a scholar, stoner, and a high-school wrestling star.

Popular with fellow students; never gave a clue

Bombing Boston's Marathon was anything he'd do.

FBI has questions for him - before rights are read.

Dzhokhar tried to kill himself but shot his throat instead.

Looks like he'll stay silent now; forget Miranda Rights.

Any statements from Dzhokhar will be the ones he writes.

 John McCain and Lindsey Graham say he's an enemy;

Want to take away protections granted you and me.

I think it's a bad idea and isn't Boston's style.

Even British redcoats got a fair and open trial.

Kudos to our law enforcement; well and bravely done.

Please don't stumble at the end or terrorism's won.

The 113th Congress - Bi-Partisan Immigration Reform

Photo credit/ PastorRicky99.blogspot.com

Looks like immigration policies will see reform.

Both sides came together in a nearly perfect storm.

President Obama keeps a promise that he made.

G.O.P. just watched their hopes for power start to fade.

John McCain acknowledged demographic changes had

Made the future chances for his party pretty bad.

If they didn't change their tune, the only people who

Would vote for Republicans were white (and older, too.)

Bobby Jindal says they have to keep from acting dumb,

Need to watch their rhetoric - throw immigrants a crumb.

Now it's in their interests, Republicans will act.

Nothing like elections to enlighten them to fact.

The 113th Congress - Hillary on the Hill

Secretary Clinton, faced with grilling on the Hill,

Answered questions civilly but, oh, if looks could kill...

Hillary, who's not a fan of Johnson's or of Paul's,

Might have left fresh corpses in the Senate's hallowed halls.

Paul (who would have fired Clinton), Johnson, and McCain

Focused on conspiracies and asked her to explain

Why she didn't know who killed our diplomats at first;

Pointing fingers, hurling accusations they'd rehearsed.

Mrs. Clinton took the blame but it's more widely shared.

G.O.P. would not have cut State's budget if they'd cared.

We have 20 Embassies which also face a threat...

State Department's coffers haven't seen an increase yet.

The 112th Congress - Because They've Got Nothing Better To Do

US Ambassador to the United Nations - Susan Rice.  (Photo/The Telegraph)

What, exactly, is it that Republicans oppose?

Nomination that Obama has yet to propose?

Susan Rice read talking points.  It turns out they were wrong.

Now the rumors of conspiracy are going strong.

FOX News is all over it; they say Rice told a lie.

Went and spun the facts so they'd look better for her guy.

Claim she knew al Qaeda was behind the whole attack;

That her motivation was to have Obama's back.

Never mind the fact the CIA said it was them,

And forget the other Rice (the one who's not a Dem.)

This Rice had no luck at all when she went to The Hill,

Now the voice of opposition's started growing shrill.

John McCain and Lindsey Graham are sure it's all a trick;

And it looks like others may have joined their little clique.

I guess, with elections over, there's air-time to fill.

Crazy controversies give the FOX and Friends a thrill.

The Benghazi Conspiracy? (cont.)

Lindsey Graham, Kelly Ayotte, and John McCain.  (Photo/Getty Images)

John McCain and Lindsey Graham - opposed to Susan Rice -

Went before the media to offer their advice.

Said they'd block Obama if he chooses her for State...

Personnel advice from Sarah Palin's running mate?

Both men say that, after our Ambassador was slain,

Susan Rice was wrong and thus, according to McCain,

There is a conspiracy that rivals Watergate.

They want Rice investigated... Not the head at State.

I was once a fan of John McCain's.  Not anymore.

Chose him in 2000; would have in 2004.

Not the man he was back then; now all he does is grouse.

Maybe he'd like Rice if she saw Russia from her house.

Student Loan Debt Reform - I Think I Have A Thought

 

If you ask a college student what's the biggest thing

They think that their higher education's gonna bring

I'd be more than willing now to offer you a bet;

10 to 1 their answer is a huge amount of debt.

(My 2 sons are fortunate 'cause we can help them out.

Lucky them, because with recent grades I sorta doubt

They'll be getting scholarships to any decent schools.)

Congress passed a compromise, but I don't think it fools

Students into thinking all their problems have been solved.

As the problem grows, my own position has evolved.

Had a driveway moment and I think I have a thought...

Let's expand Academies where Sciences are taught.

I was in the Navy and my father is a grad...

(Room-mate of McCain's - back in the days when he was bad.)

I am here to tell you that the brightest of our best

Choose to serve their country and give pocketbooks a rest.

Why don't we train scientists and doctors in this way?

Give them educations and use services to pay?

Industries are begging for some well trained engineers.

We are wasting talent.  We've been doing it for years.

Families who can't afford to pay the soaring cost

For a college education - don't... Their kid gets lost.

Think of all the minds that languish in the talent pool.

Time that we recruit them to a U.S. Service School.

Race for the White House - With Friends Like These...?

 

President Obama has some interesting friends

Who, perhaps responding to some recent polling trends,

May have told The New York Times some secrets they should not.

I bet David Axelrod wants all the leakers shot.

Senator McCain - who I supported (Not of late...

Not since when he lost his mind in 2000 and 8) -

Stood up in the Senate and accused the President;

Said it wasn't only drones and Stuxnet that he'd sent,

But a message - loud and clear - that he's the man in charge

And his role in National Security is large.

I think John McCain forgot that we already know

President Obama has been heading up the show.

Seems a rather sneaky way to change the story line.

The Attorney General's investigating...  Fine.

But, to say the President - who's prosecuted more

Leakers than has any other President before

Wanted secrets spread across the front page of The Times,

Or that he's behind the people who've been dropping dimes

Proves to me Republicans will go to any ends...

Enemies like that?  The President needs better friends.