View From The Ditch Bank

POTPOURRI---A word that has an origin in French and Latin, our old dictionary says it is a noun. The dictionary in my computer gives one definition as a hodge podge. Speaking of French, I don't know French, but I do know one word is "Oui" pronounced as "We" which in English is a word plural, meaning more than one, or a hodge podge. So that is what this blog will be. A hodge podge of things. Mostly a few comments or updates on blog posts past.
So I think I will start with Governor Bill and his obsession with Billy the Kid. As has been mentioned, New Mexico Territorial Governor Lew Wallace thought about issuing him a pardon, but didn't. Then Pat Garrett killed Billy in 1881. A man who called himself Brushy Bill came from Texas to New Mexico in, Oh, 1952 or so, claiming he was Billy the Kid, and ask Governor Mabry for a pardon. He didn't get it. Now Slick Bill wants to issue that pardon. To Billy, or Brushy Bill. Members of the Pat Garret family recently visited the Gov and requested that he not issue this pardon, claiming that Pat did indeed kill Billy, that Billy was an outlaw and a killer, and it would be an insult to the Garrett family if he gave this pardon. There have been so many people in the State weighing in on this matter, that the Gov is getting a mite testy, saying on the news that no decision had been made and for people to just chill out. Guess he don't have enough to do, governing the State.
And over in Arizona, a federal judge has struck down part of the Arizona immigration law. Makes one wonder why. Several cities, including Albuquerque, have similar laws, and many States also have similar laws, some as much as three years old. Is there some kind of retaliation going on, between the current administration and the State that Senator John McCain is from. Especially since McCain is struggling to hold on to his Senate seat, the news says. Is this a blow to his campaign? Probably not, but still, a person wonders.
And speaking of the current administration, have you been keeping up with the vacation of the first lady and her daughter. To Spain. Many people have. And there is a lot of controversy about it. Including from this blogger. She went to Spain, reserved 30 rooms of a plush resort to stay in. Reports are that the Obama's will pay for their own expenses on this trip. But in a time when the U.S. economy is in the tank, people are still losing jobs, while but a few are finding new ones, homes are being lost, the oil spill on the gulf is devastating the coast line there and affecting the economy of many , not to mention the effect it will have on the rest of the country, shouldn't the first lady and her husband have a little more sensitivity to the people of the country. While they may pay for their own expenses, this trip cost the U.S. taxpayers over $150,000.00 for the plane she flew in plus a little over $95,000.00 for the security and staff that accompanied her. Sure, other first ladies have taken vacations. Laura Bush, mostly hiking trips in our U.S. National Parks. And Hilary took Chelsea to Africa. But Hilary was on official business, and just took her daughter along. Neither of which cost the taxpayers a quarter of a million dollars. And the economy wasn't bad then, like it is now.
Now a little closer to home. The two ladies campaigning to be Governor of the State of New Mexico has kinda quit snipping at each other. There is a lot of what is wrong and needs fixed in this State that they agree on. What is not agreed on is just how to fix it. They each have their own ideas, and are advertising on TV on just how to accomplish it. One thing I have in mind. Mrs. Denish, the Dem. pushed for Pre K education while serving as Lieutenant Governor, and is using that accomplishment as one of her selling points. I'm an old man, and am not totally convinced that Kindergarten is necessary, and am totally opposed to Pre K, and the cost of such, so this is not a selling point to me. I think parents should take care of their children, and see to their initial education, you know, like learning how to spell and how to count. And if they just can't do that, or won't do that, cause they want or need to work, then pay for kinder care, with some one that will do this, at the parents expense, not the State. But the law makers will be elected in November, then go to Santa Fe' in 2011 and find a way to raise our taxes to pay for programs that are not needed, instead of cutting out those programs that are not essential. Like Pre K.

One last thing. Out in California, a judge has overturned Proposition 8. You know the one that voters voted on that said that marriage was between a man and a woman. I could do a whole post on that, and may do so yet. And I admit to one and all that I don't know much about politics and the law, but it seems to me that for a judge, one individual, to have the power and authority, to overturn the voted on will of the people, is just giving too much power to the judiciary, and I don't think that much power was in the mind of those who wrote the Constitution. You know, the ones that said a Government of the People, by the People, for the People. Maybe it is time that we, the people, said, enough is enough. And that is The View From The Ditch Bank.