News, Opinion, Sex & Gossip - SMC 02/12/2012

Gather 'round kids it's time to share some stores that may or may not have made the media circles.  Sunday Morning Coffee is my regular rant about the stuff you love to follow.  Sex, Politics, Gossip all twisted with my opinion.  If you want to contribute feel free to leave a comment here or let's hook up on Twitter @MichaelLibbie or my personal Facebook Page.  My name is Michael P. Libbie (no hiding kids...) and I approve of this message.

Why?  Because We Hate...

Folks wonder what has happened to our nation.  How come we can't seem to move forward and get beyond today.  It's...hate.  We hate President Obama.  We're not talking dislike of his policies...we just hate him.   We hate Ellen DeGeneres because, well damn it, she is a damn lesbian and she's successful. (And cute.) We hate helmet laws for teen age kids who are on mopeds because they should "know better". (Ask Sen. Tom Hancock D-Epworth who sided with Sen. Brad "Personal Responsibility" Zaun R-Urbandale)  Hell, we hate helmet laws for everybody.  We hate gun owners because...I dunno let me get back to you on that.  We hate Roland Martin because he hates soccer.  We hate Asians, Blacks, Muslims, Jews...hell we hate everybody who is not like us.  I am so pleased, and comforted, we live in a "Christian Nation".  Weary...very.  But, I'm feeling better now.

I Am No Longer...Alone!

Last week I received, via e-mail, my Chris "Ain't Got No Damn Newsletter for You!" Hagenow Newsletter.  Following a year of begging, videos, notes I received this email: "Dear Mr. Libbie: Representative Hagenow asked me to forward you a copy of our most recent newsletter. The delivery statistics from our email service show that you have been receiving these emails since your request to be put on the list, but for some reason our emails aren’t making their way to your inbox. If you would like to have these newsletters individually forwarded in the future, please let me know.  Ashley Pospeschil - Clerk to Representative Chris Hagenow"  Thank you Ashley!!  I look forward to learning more about Mr. Hagenow and those darn automated messages.  They should be outlawed (hint, hint).  I can't attend any of the Saturday Forums (that silly religions thing and all) so this will be informative, interesting...and, on a personal note...it is nice to be connected and just in time for Valentine's Day!

Why? -  Prairie Meadows

Last night I went on a date with Mom.  She loves to go to casinos.  Since moving to Iowa in September we've not had the opportunity until...now.  What a stink hole we have in Prairie Meadows.  And, no...I didn't lose any cash (in fact I made $13) but I am livid at the fact our "smoke free state" allows folks to "puff away" at the casinos while mandating that if you own a public restaurant or bar smoking is forbidden.  I don't get it.  Having to endure four hours of second-hand smoke sucks.  I was not involved in the anti-smoking bill which "exempted" casinos because I don't go to casinos...until last night.  What is the Iowa Legislature thinking?  I'm told the casinos were given a pass because officials were concerned a smoking ban would reduce attendance and cut back on the revenue collected by the state.  But, they were not concerned about a local bar revenue or restaurant revenue. Duplicitous... It is time to change the law.  Or...if the excuse really is revenue I'll back the first law-maker who will introduce a bill to legalize prostitution. Besides, hookers have got to smell better than Praire Meadows.

Speaking of Sex

My friends who run the Catholic Church have their robes in a knot over...contraception.  President Obama ran headlong into a jihad when the administration set new rules that required employers to provde free contraception to their employees.  The White House had to reverse course...sort of and amend the ruling to say the insurance companies have to pay.  Not the employers. President Obama should have known better but he had this silly notion that health care for all women should come before archiac religious stands that very few pay any attention to.  BTW - Jews, and I know you don't know, also reject contraception practices. Some Jews.  It's based on the First Commandment and not the First Amendment.  I'll let you figure that out.

Speaking of Jihad

The word on the street is that the new darling of the Republican Party is Rick "I've got Jesus and You Must Too!" Santorum the front-runner for the GOP nomination.  My poor friends who consider themselves a Republican must, by this point, feel like a rubber band.  They have been pulled from one person to another over and over and over again.  Look, it is no secret that the folks at CPAC can't stomach Mitt "But the Choir is Fantastic!" Romney because he belongs to a cult.  But, at least this cult has loads of money.  Imagine how crazy(er) they would be if John Travolta had decided to run.  Cooler heads will prevail...or...break out it will become "break out the berka" as the big fashion trend headed to Washington.  Say, while I'm on it...  How much do you think it cost Newt "Goin' For Three" Gingrich to get his previous two marriages annulled?  I hear, but do not know, that is a MUST DO if you wish to become a "good Catholic".  I've also heard getting an annulment ain't cheap. Anybody know??

To The "Eyeroll Woman"

Last week First Lady Michelle Obama was in town to celebrate the second birthday of "Let's Move" her fitness, food and health program that encourages kids to eat better and get up and...MOVE.   Over 14,000 folks packed "The Well" to see her, Shawn Johnson, Bob Harper, Governor "For Life" Terry Branstad, Secretary Tom "I Can't Dance"Vilsack and a host of others.  Knowing what was going on I decided to ask a uniformed parking lot security guard; "Hey, I know the home show is starting today but the place is packed.  What else is going on?"  She gave me the "eyeroll" and said, "That Michelle Obama is in town."  Oh.  You mean the wife of the President of the United States of America...the First Lady who's husband:

• Ended the war in Iraq so your son or daughter won't have to go;
• Who is drawing down that questionable war in Afghanistan so your son or daughter won't have to go;
• Who got Osama and weakened our enemy;
• Who, if your son or daughter is gay, believes in equal protection for them as well as all citizens of our country;
• Who extended medical care benefits for your children and kept insurance companies from charging or denying benefits for pre-existing conditions;
• Who supports your right to collective bargaining;
• Who has, slowly, been working to bring our country back from the economic brink caused by the worst financial collapse since the Great Depression;
• Who proposed rural broadband Internet to level the economic playing field for Rural Americans.
• Who has been married once and has a strong committed family...

You mean...THAT Michelle Obama.  Weary...I get...weary.

Rep. Steve King & Stasi Troops

I was going to rant about this but I realize that Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) was simply joking when he addressed CPAC last week  He really can't be this addle brained...right Western Iowa?  BTW Christie Vilsack, in the most recent campaign finance disclosure statement, outraised Rep. Steve "I Love Joe McCarthy!" King by several hundred thousand dollars.  Here is the story from our friends at the Huffington Post.  (I know...Commies!)

Partly Personal

Our grand-daughter, Taylor, turned three last week.  Here she is with, what I think, was the best of gifts...from her Zaydee.  Notice how excited she is!!  This is going to be a great gift when watching the Iowa Hawkeyes football team...especially if they don't get better in 2012....much better.  Also, this weekend was the birthday of our daughter Hunter.  We were going to take a washer and dryer to her but our friends from UHaul in Des Moines said..."No!".  But that is a story for another time.  Have a great Sunday and thanks for coming by! - Michael 

Comments

[mike devine]

Jihad?

[Michael Libbie]

Yep... Jihad...nothing like a religious war.. Or call to action huh?

[Chuck]

Regarding Stasi comment: Because the Ultra right wing blubbermouths started using A Nazi term first, would it be OK if I started referring to them as National Socialists? Many of them openly respond to my center-of-the-road political statements by stating, "I didn't know you were a socialist." I've been rerading "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" and I'm seeing to many uncomfortable parallels.

[Michael Libbie]

Chuck - That is what is so scary. "Middle of the Road" isn't even a starting point with this crowd. Reason, conversation and communication are shouted down with, often, hate speech. OK, I get it when people are a little snarky...but this is over the top. Hey, being a socialist ain't so bad.. At least my grand-father would have said so. Thanks so much for reading and for the comment. - Michael

[Jon Russell]

Upon settling down after a year long courtship and then a first year of marriage we decided to check into making our marriage "legal" in the Catholic Church. We are required to provide all marriage licenses and divorce records in each of our past unions; provide a reason (from a list of acceptable reasons) that the marriage was not holy, attend classes to teach us how to live a Catholic marriage, and write a check for nearly 500 dollars. I don't care to drag my prior relationships into my amazing new marriage, nor do I feel that a fee would be required to make God happy. Maybe as I get closer to the end of life this will become important to us but for now it just feels like emotional and financial extortion.

[Michael Libbie]

Jon: Interesting...it is the same with Orthodox Jews. Before one can marry any prior marriages must be granted a "get" or a divorce. Very similar procedure...except the cash. Understand how you feel about this...I do know that in the "Jewish World" having to receive a "get" is not universal across the various Jewish groups....however it looks to be that way among Catholics. Thanks for your input and for reading. - Michael