Joshua fit ..........almost ..

I spent last evening at the Phoenix Symphony. Joshua Bell was the soloist who was truly wonderful but there was just one little discord.

That happens quite a lot in politics too. A man or a woman can make a great speech and because of a mistake in the delivery or the content or that indefinable something, it would have been better left undelivered. “I did not have sex with that woman …..” springs to mind.

First there was Joe Biden a few months ago when he declared that paying taxes was an act of patriotism. And now we see the truth of that statement especially when you look at the most recent tax returns of the last two Vice-Presidents.

Biden’s reveals that they earned $3 million last year and gave $2600 to charity.

On the other hand, the Cheneys’ earned $8 million and gave $6 million to charity.

So, the answer is clear. Biden eschews the deduction and chooses to pay income tax instead. What a patriot? What a guy? Surely a model for us all?

Next, came Obama when he declared further last week that he may think yet again about releasing not just the memos but the pictures as well as they relate to Gitmo and Abu Graib.

Obama may pay lip service to our military when he visits Annapolis but, just like Clinton, he detests it. Why else would he, on the one hand, revile the military when he speaks at ASU or Notre Dame and still laud it as John McCain’s son becomes an officer in the United Stated Navy. And please don’t tell me those things didn’t happen. They did. Last Week!

So why would Obama release the Abu Graib stuff etc, whatever it is?

Easy really when you think outside the box of regular human beings and begin to think like a lawyer politician thug. When the next attack happens, and it will, it wouldn’t be his fault. Blame it on Bush!

Again Cheney struck, as he pointed out that half-measures leave you 50% exposed and that the concept of a “middle ground” and that of terrorism are incompatible. A half-successful dirty bomb in Scottsdale, or Chesterfield or Worksop or wherever leaves a legacy of death that will linger for years.

Obama appears to be prepared to take that chance.

Which brings us back to last night?

Joshua Bell, as talented as he is, as charismatic as he is, as vital and as dynamic as he is, lost some of his audience as soon as he entered the stage.

The orchestra was dressed up. The conductor was dressed up. I was dressed up and so was my date as well as most of the audience. Even young people and even little boys were wearing ties. I know this valley is casual and I know that summer is coming but he …………….

For the want of a nail ………