Two Close Calls

The kind of Christmas we almost had this year should have all of our security people back at work imagining the worst possible tragedies in order to prevent them. On Christmas Eve, as he was entering St. Peter's for Midnight Mass, the pope was assaulted and dragged to the floor. If the assailant had had a weapon the world would today be dealing with a murder that would be considered one of the most shocking in history. Who would believe that one "unbalanced" woman could have done this alone?

About twenty-four hours later a terrorist was able to set off a highly destructive powder on a plane near Detroit with almost 300 on board. If his plan had been completely successful, and with an assassinated pope lying in Rome, Christmas 2009 would be the start of another, and much darker, New Reality. No thanks to bodyguards and airport police two disasters were averted--this time; this kind of luck will not hold.

The security systems we rely on to stay alive and keep our world stable have been proven, in the past few days, to be Wizard of Oz trickery full of special effects and authoritative voices that do not deter the ones determined to hit us. The little dog has pulled back the curtain and we now can see how very vulnerable our sense of daily order and safety is.

Sit Down and Shut Up

It was a treat today to see Sen. Al Franken in the presiding chair in the Senate tell Sen. Lieberman that his time had expired and he would not get another minute's extension. "Oh really?," laughed the Traitor Joe. Yes, really; the senator from Minnesota informed the senator from John McCain's backyard that enough was quite enough and that he should return to his seat as any other coddled brat would be told to do.

There is justice in this world and not far away is the day when Democrats will settle the score with Sen. Lieberman. He has much to answer for and he deserves as much mercy as that smirk on his face affords the party that nominated him for vice-president not so long ago.

May We See Your Invitation?

The two NWA pilots who overshot Minnesota recently seem to have found new positions--working security at the White House for State Dinners. Two people without invitations or places on the guest list are allowed in by the pilots--sorry, Secret Service--shake hands with Obama, write about it that night on their website and are still--one week later--not in jail. Is there no law against this? Illegal entry at the White House?

That picture of the pretty,uninvited and unknown blonde shaking hands with President Obama in his house should be freeze-frozen into the mind of every Secret Service agent. If there had been a tragedy, who would believe it was not an inside conspiracy? Very important people would now be under suspicion of assassinating the president and the trust between the people and their government that our Republic rests on would be ruined. Why are these two interlopers not in jail? And why have no heads rolled at the Secret Service?