Rosie

My mom was born in 1924...she lived through a lot of major milestones in our country's history: the Great Depression, the bombing of Pearl Harbor and World War II to name a few. Her favorite music was from the Big Band Era: the Andrews Sisters, Tommy Dorsey, and Glenn Miller.

After the US was bombed by the Japanese and officially entered into World War II, the women were called upon to fill the roles of the men who were sent overseas to fight. The movie "A League of Their Own" is an example.

My mom was a riveter in an airplane factory in Dallas. You've probably heard of "Rosie the Riveter." Well, that was my mom. In their factory, the bomber airplanes were built...B24's and B52's. Growing up, we saw the rivet test plate she made...I guess they had to pass a test to make sure they could rivet straight!

In my mom's obituary, it was mentioned that she was a member of Rosie the Riveters and helped build B24 bombers. When we were at the graveside, one of the funeral directors mentioned that there would be a presentation by the military. I wasn't sure what he was talking about...none of us were.

But after the Lord's Prayer, a Marine came under the tent, and presented a United States flag to my dad, "from the President of the United States" in grateful appreciation for my mom's service to her country. I can't remember all of the words, but it was very touching. He saluted my dad, and then marched away. What an honor, and what a surprise! It made us all very proud of our mom.

My Heart Hurts

This has been the hardest week of my life, and it probably won't get easier for a while. As most of you know, my mom, Wanda Fayne Bush, passed away on Sept 21, one week ago today. She was 84, and had been in very poor health for years; I'm glad she isn't in pain anymore, but that doesn't mean that I won't miss her, and long to have her company again.


The week is a blur, really; in some ways, it feels like it has been years instead of days. I got to see my mom for the last time six days before she died. I am so thankful for that week, and I will never trade those memories for anything. On Sunday, Sept 14, Tyler came down to Jal, and we watched football with my mom, my dad, and my brother, and I grilled steaks. I got to feed her, because she was unable to feed herself. My mom was an avid sports fan, and we have watched football on Sunday afternoons for as long as I can remember.


I left the next day because I had to catch a flight home to Denver. I gave my mom a long hug and kiss, and told her that I loved her and would see her soon. Whenever I had to leave, she would always cry and ask me when I was coming back home again. One of my New Year's resolutions was to spend quality time with family this year, and I have been able to spend quite a bit of time with my mom and dad.


It will be really weird not having her around, like a void you'll never be able to fill. You get used to little things, like walking into the den, and she's in her chair, and you say, "Good morning, Mom." Or picking her brain about events that happened years and years ago. Even though my mom's health was fragile, her brain was sharp as a tack. She was an intelligent and strong woman.


The holidays will be hard this year, but we will make it through, and be thankful for the time that we had with our mom, and also be thankful and grateful that we still have our dad. I will never take time with my family for granted again. I'll write more about her later...

Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator

My Palin name is Bash Budweiser. I'd be interested to know yours.

http://www.personal-space.com/palin/index.php

Savage...Graphic Content

1982

Oopsy Daisy!

Someone needs to get McSame and Caribou Barbie on the same page so they don't disqualify each other...oh the insanity of being a Republican!!!!! The "oops" in the article are mine.

McCain Pre-Palin: Mayors And Governors Can't Handle National Security

When does being a governor or mayor for a short period of time not disqualify your credentials on national security? When you are John McCain and your task is to defend your vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

When does being a governor or mayor for a short period of time ABSOLUTELY disqualify your credentials on national security? When you are John McCain and your task is to defeat primary opponents Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani. (oops!)

Back in October 2007, when McCain's candidacy still appeared dead and buried, the Senator berated the two Republican front runners for lacking the necessary political experience to handle commander in chief responsibilities.

"I have had a strong and a long relationship on national security, I've been involved in every national crisis that this nation has faced since Beirut, I understand the issues, I understand and appreciate the enormity of the challenge we face from radical Islamic extremism," the Senator declared. "I am prepared. I am prepared. I need no on-the-job training. I wasn't a mayor for a short period of time. I wasn't a governor for a short period of time." (oops!)

Fast-forward nearly a year, and the argument McCain made back then is being used against his vice presidential pick today. Only Sarah Palin held the post of mayor of Wasilla for less time than Rudy Giuliani headed New York City. And her gubernatorial stint in Alaska is shorter than that of Mitt Romney's in Massachusetts. (oops!)

McCain, not surprisingly, has changed his tune. His campaign has suggested that as head of Alaska's national guard, Palin had more national security experience than Obama. The Senator himself went on Fox News and declared:

"I'm so proud that she has displayed the kind of judgment and she has the experience and judgment as an executive... She's been commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard ... she's had judgment on these issues. She's had 12 years of elected office experience, including traveling to Kuwait, including being involved in these issues. I'm so proud she has the experience and judgment as an executive."

And yet, for critics, Palin's interview with ABC on Thursday evening was an apt demonstration of the criticism's McCain raised about mayors and governors back in October. In her first interview since being tapped as McCain's vice president, Palin showed, in some respects, the limitations of her foreign policy capacity. Time's Joe Klein wrote, "A joke... This woman clearly has no idea what she's talking about. What an embarrassment." Unable to define the Bush Doctrine and contradicting McCain on Pakistan, she acknowledged that she had only visited a handful of countries and never met with another world leader. Then, it was her turn to ridicule the lengthy Washington resume that defines McCain.

"Charlie, again, we've got to remember what the desire is in this nation at this time," she said to the ABC host. "It is for no more politics as usual and somebody's big, fat resume maybe that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment, where, yes, they've had opportunities to meet heads of state." (oops!)

ENOUGH!

Don't Be Distracted

Don't be distracted by a "hot babe" (comedian Rush Limbaugh's words, not mine) who can read a teleprompted speech written by a Bush speech writer. McCain is McSame...more of Bush; just older, and maybe not as dumb.

Honest Question

How can a man (John McCain) who proudly voted with George Bush over 90% of the time, who chose a Vice Presidential nominee (Sarah Palin) who is MORE conservative than he is, truly represent change???????? Isn't that more of the same? I'm confused.

Small Town Values My Ass...