If sports officials made as many bad calls
as the average government official
they would all be gone.
But umpires and referees are watched
by interested fans who know the rules,
and care about the outcome.
Elected and appointed officials are watched
by a press that depends on them for access,
and hardly anyone else.

RUMINATIONS
In the magical realm of the Great Decider,
victories abound, but the situation gets tighter.
Morally superior, we have recourse to
torture only when we’re forced to.
by Joan Hoagland Milder

As teenage boys during World War II
we stood on the edge of the dance floor,
hands in pockets, feigning nonchalance,
debating the merits of girls jitterbugging
with each other ― squabbling about why
we wouldn’t approach any one of them..
Height, weight, attitude were discussed.
No one mentioned we were afraid of
rejection, or none of us could dance.
Today, congress wrangles over
power [...]

Republicans are upset over
Democratic bills being proposed
in the house. They think Democrats
want to micromanage the war in Iraq.
So ― isn’t that the next step up
from no management at all?

The party in power did nothing but wrong,
so we elected Democrats who do nothing at all.
They temper every action with fear
of what Republicans might say ― why?
Politicians’ rarely discuss reality, and anyone
who believes them is too out of touch
to ever vote Democratic.
If Democrats cut off funds for continuing
the Iraq war beyond a time certain,
they [...]