Some Disappointment and An Overdue Apology

As a resident of a state that usually has no real power in DC, I should probably be pleased with the power wielded recently by my two Senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.  Instead, I am truly ashamed of them for their recent activities.  Snowe for her helping to snuff out a sensible law, called the Dream Act.  And Collins for holding up the vote on "Don't Ask Don't Tell" while she arm twisted 15 amendments into it so her cohorts would be happy.  All in all, the most shameful display of DC politics at its worst from any legistaor sent to DC from my state in my recent memory.

I refused to vote for Collins this last election not because she had gone down there and become a classic party hack, but because she lied to me when she was elected the first time.  Part of her platform was term limits back in 1996.  She promised to only serve two terms and then retire.   Now, I have never been a fan of term limits other than the ones provided by our regular voting system or when a candidate uses the notion of term limits to get elected.  They talk the talk, they should walk the walk.  She ran again this year for a third term.  She lost me for sure.  I am holding her accountable for that one lie.  Whatever else she has done or not done matters little now.  She is on my shit list.  Let her stay in DC.  The two deserve each other.

Olympia is my biggest disappointment.  I actually had hopes the intense polarization that has overcome DC would not spoil her no nonsense  and cool Senatorial deportment.  I was wrong.  She may still be considered a moderate by her bretheren, but she is now just another party wolf in sheep's clothing.  Her spewing of the party line on the Dream Act -

"Millions of illegal immigrants could attempt to become legal residents as a result of this proposal, according to some estimates, and it is incumbent upon the Senate to ensure our policies never again lead to a situation where we are confronted with upwards of 12 million illegal immigrants residing within our borders."


What moron came up with this logic?  I would assume it was not her, but more than one source uses this quote.  The Dream Act is the first sensible legislation I have seen in quite awhile to begin to address our huge problem of illegal immigrants.  Start some clean up on the mess made from our not dealing with it in the past.  Set some time frames for the children of illegals who want to stay and make the process tough enough that when it is all said and done, they will have proven their love of this country.  And in the meantime, one old hanging problem is taken care of and we can move on to the more pressing problem of keeping the flow of new illegals down to a dull roar.

Instead of attacking the Dream Act on the actual merits or lack there of, she reads from the Republican playbook a half cooked response that plays on what might happen if...........  

Well I know what happens if we don't.  We lose maybe a hundred thousand or so potential good citizens who have a proven track record of good citizenship.  What a moron.  She is now also on my shit list.

Now the Apology

I don't even remember when it was...............Uh, let me back up some for some background.

I think I have mentioned before that at one time in my life I was semi related to Senator Dick Lugar.  My brother married his sister back in the early 1960s when Senator Lugar was mayor of Indianapolis.  I was I think about 10 or 11.  Hell it was a long time ago and it was just another road trip among many I was always taking with my gypsy parents. 

My brother got on with his career and his marriage to Senator Lugar's sister.  I continued the haphazard struggle to grow up.  Senator Lugar became a Senator.  Being twenty-something at the time and  prone to duck any family conversation that even smelled of politics, I was not impressed.  "So what", I thought.  "I know a guy who knows a guy, blah, blah blah."

It was also at this time I made the discovery that open bars and I were not good together.  Friends had begun to marry and when the free likker flowed, I usually ended up flowing with it.  Had I been coherent, I am sure I would have died of embarrassment over the tales told to me as I recovered the next day covered in mud, sticks, and my own puke.  Weddings and I did not get along.  I found I could drink most anyone under the table and still stand.  Problem was I never remembered it.

Fast forward to my nephew's wedding in California in the 1980s.  Big shindig and yes Senator Lugar was there in all his glory.  After all it was his sister's son.  And there at the back of the reception hall was ............yep, an open bar.  It had been many years since I lost control.  I was sure I would be able to handle it.  I was wrong.

I got stinko very fast as I had not been working my drinking muscles for several years.  Yeah, I was obnoxious.  With Reagan still in power, I was also not feeling very kindly towards Republicans, which meant 99% of my family.  And though the exact memory of what I did still escapes me, I do remember shouting something about "Fuckin Republicans in Senator Lugar's general direction.  Apparently my just shy of Limbaugh brother who had married Dick Lugar's sister wanted to kill me.  I guess my mom saved my life that night.  The next thing I remembered was sitting on a curb outside of our motel and my brother driving by.  I am guessing he had no firearms, because I was able to make it back to Maine somewhat intact.

Senator Lugar - if you should ever happen to run across this blog or these comments, I want to apologize for my behaviour that night.  You have always been one Republican I respected and my lashing out at you was just stupid and I have no excuse.   Your recent backing of the Dream Act has caused me to remember how unfair I was to lump you in with your other brain dead party members.  I always said that if you had ever run for President, I would vote for you.   You are a decent man who did not deserve the tirade of a drunk.  It is one moment of my life I wish I could do over.

Later.......................................