Winners and Losers, March 25, 2006

Odds and Ends from the Week Gone By!

Winner: The United States Navy

Chalk another one up for the good guys! It was announced this past week that while on duty with the multinational maritime security force (in the southern Persian Gulf/Indian Ocean region), two US Navy warships...the USS Cape St George and the USS Gonzalez intercepted another suspected pirate vessel off the coast of Somalia in the Indian Ocean. Automatic weapons fire was exchanged, but no US servicmen were injured in the incident. One suspected pirate was killed, five injured, and 12 more taken into custody. A cache of automatic weapons and at least 1 RPG were confiscated. The USS Cape St George and the USS Gonzalez are homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.

Loser: The American Moviegoing Public

It would seem that Cindy Sheehan's proverbial 15 minutes of fame still isn't over. Now we learn that Susan Sarandon will play the lead role in a soon to be filmed Sheehan bio-pic. I would say it's a safe bet you won't hear much in this movie about son Casey's heroism and patriotism. Nor will we see much about how most of her family has condemned her actions and distanced themselves from her. I guess this movie is a good reason not to spend money at the theatre and rent a dvd from Blockbuster instead.

Winner: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R) Tennessee

It would seem that Americans concerned with border security and the continued increase in illegal immigration have finally gotten the attention of those "other Americans" that have no respect for the rule of law. Today we saw several protests against proposed legislation from Senator Frist. The only question I would have for the gentleman from Tennessee...."Why do we need new legislation when there are already laws on the books concerning immigration issues? Why is it so unreasonable for us to expect the government to enforce already establish law instead wasting "your time" and "our money" creating more law that probably never be enforced either?"

Loser: State of Texas

Ok...I'm gonna preface this one by saying that I know I'm probably gonna catch some flack from some of you for this one......but here goes anyway. The State of Texas has decided, in its infinite wisdom, that an adult of legal drinking age can be arrested for having one or two too many, even while they're still inside the bar. Forget designated drivers, forget walking home, calling a cab, or taking an elevator three floors up to your hotel room. If you hit .09 on a breathalizer inside a drinking establishment in the Lone Star State, you're going in the pokie no questions asked. This is a bad idea for a number of reasons not the least which is that this will drive people to have more private parties in remote areas where they can't be observed and less likely to conduct themselves in a responsible manner (ie: designated drivers, cabs, and so on). Finally, If you can't get drunk in a bar then where? Don't you dare say home, because if this is allowed to stand, there's a real good chance that's where they're going to try and come look next. The theory of preventing crime before it occurs by arresting the potential offender without just cause before he or she ever commits an offense just doesn't wash in a free society. As long as the person isn't causing a disturbance or being a hazard to himself or others LEAVE HIM/HER ALONE!

(originally posted 3-25-06 on Yahoo 360)