John's Blog

Sometimes, things just don't come off the way you might have intended. Poorly chosen words often get in the way of the message. Then in some other instances there are unfortunate associations that are almost impossible to overcome. Just ask any massage professional if they've ever been confused with a prostitute and you'll know what I mean. Other times you just get a piece of stupidity stuck in your head, and no amount of rational thought can displace it. One of my little demons is a mondegreen that causes me to hear the lyrics to the classic "Love Train" as people of the world, join in... on the love train... Lorne Green. Doesn't make a damn bit of sense, I know.

But it's certainly not the only incorrect association that caught on with no reason. Just look at Bush's reputation as being strong on terror, when the reality is something different. And last night's NFL game in the Superdome was an attempt to break an unfortunate link between the darkest moment of the Katrina tragedy and the structures role in hosting those who couldn't escape the hurricane. The presence of big name entertainers, a $180 million refurbishing, and the hoopla surrounding the first post-Katrina game were supposed to make us forget the pain and suffering. For many it probably did, but for most of us the memories and the association will remain.

Now, if we could break the untrue link between the Shrub and his assertion that he's making it safer for us. The recently leaked report from the intelligence community supports what most of us have long suspected. Our misfocused and inept foreign policy has actually sewn the seeds for new generations of terrorism. But as always, Dubya's denial and rejection of the conventional wisdom provided by experts should surprise nobody. He still insists that Iraq and terrorism are linked, and ironically he's made that come true. Hopefully, we can stop the neo-con cabal before they lie and distort and try to steer the ship of state towards Iran.

Tags: politics, rambling