Senator John McCain
IS THERE not a double sadness about the death of American Senator John McCain? He served in Vietnam, where he was taken POW when his plane was shot down.
He went into politics as a mainstream Republican, in the mould of people like Eisenhower and Reagan – the antithesis of today's populist rabble-rousing. He reached across the aisle to his Democrat counterparts and voted with them when his conscience dictated so.
Yet President Trump (unbelievably) derided the fact that McCain had been taken prisoner in Vietnam. Trump did not serve there, on medical grounds. It's a great sadness that matters should have descended to this.
And now, on McCain's own bequest, Trump is excluded from the funeral, where leading Republicans and Democrats – and probably people from all over the world - will gather to pay tribute to greatness.
Correction: It's surely a triple sadness when a President of the US becomes an outcast in his own country.
Grumpiness rules OK!
INVESTMENT analyst Dr James Greener returns with his regular grumpy newsletter after a spell in hospital – fully recovered and in an enhanced state of cantankerousness.
He tackles the finances of the SABC. "The utterly insolvent SABC has announced that it will be showing live many of the matches of the English Premier soccer league.
"Since that is probably the world's most popular and in-demand sporting package, it is good news for fans. What's unexplained, however, is just how the SABC will afford this when apparently it still owes Bafana Bafana (the national soccer team) for matches broadcast long ago.
"Ah, the magical mysteries of South African parastatal finance."
Greener goes on to look at the spat with the US.
"It was a few weeks ago when one of our particularly ignorant and foolish diplomats started issuing threats against the US. President Trump obviously noted this and has now instructed one of his staff to find out just what is happening down here.
"The fun bit is what the reaction has been among our numerous so-called leaders. They are simply furious that the most powerful man on the planet should take an interest in this sad country being run so badly by mostly incompetent thieves and looters.
"The commissions of inquiry into matters like why the tax collection system was deliberately broken do cast tiny beams of hope but we are almost out of people who can fix these disasters. "When the front-page picture in the paper shows a posse of councillors and luminaries proudly cutting the ribbon to open a new toilet then you grasp just how low we have fallen."
Read all about it!
My commercial photographer colleague Roy Reed sends in a collection of newspaper headlines:
· Rangers get whiff of Colon
· Homicide victims rarely talk to police
· Barbershop singers bring joy to school for deaf
· Miracle cure kills fifth patient
· Bridges help people cross rivers
· City unsure why the sewer smells
· 17 remain dead in morgue shooting spree
· Starvation can lead to health hazards
· Man Accused of Killing Lawyer Receives a New Attorney
· Parents keep kids home to protest school closure
· Hospitals resort to hiring doctors
· Federal Agents Raid Gun Shop, Find Weapons
· Total lunar eclipse to be broadcast live on Northwoods Public Radio
· DIANA WAS STILL ALIVE HOURS BEFORE SHE DIED
· Meeting on open meetings is closed.
· Tiger Woods plays with own balls, Nike says
· Republicans turned off by size of Obama's package
· New sick policy requires 2-day notice.
· Statistics show that teen pregnancy drops off sharply after age 25
· Bugs flying around with wings are flying bugs
· Study shows frequent sex enhances pregnancy chances
· Marijuana issue sent to a joint committee
· Worker suffers leg pain after crane drops 800-pound ball on his head.
Yep, makes ya kinda humble and kinda proud.
Tailpiece
A VISITOR goes into a bar in Aberdeen, Scotland, and is astonished to find the beer selling at twopence a pint. The barman explains that it's the pub's centenary and this is a special, beer selling at the price of 100 years ago.
"Then why am I the only person at the bar? Where are the locals?
"Ah, they're waitin' for happy hour."
Last word
Cynically speaking, one could say that it is true to life to be cynical about it.
..
No comments:
Post a Comment