In the aftermath of the devastating carnage in Tucson, Sarah Palin continues to avoid acknowledging her role in the climate of dysfunction that has gripped the country. Although she cannot be held directly responsible for the acts of this madman, she should realize that her rhetoric has been influential in the behavior of many who are mentally ill and capable of acting out their aberrations. But her entire focus is on herself and her image. She’s pathetic.

I am amazed at Gabrielle Giffords’ resilience. There is, apparently, room to hope she will make a recovery that will allow her to function again at a high level.

I answered a poll today (I’ll live to regret it since I’ll now be on the hit list for this outfit, Newsmax) in which I supported the health bill with no repeal, and supported restoring funds to seniors on Social Security (we got no cost of living increase this year, nor last – not a problem for me, but my friend Penny was counting on it to stay afloat -- at 80, she is pet sitting for funds.)

Re health care, there was no option to say that I not only was against repeal, but wished to add to it to restore the public option, etc. These polls are often so worded as to guide the responder to a certain result. For instance, why didn’t the poll ask if I thought it was a good idea for the Republicans to hold tax cuts for the lower classes hostage to tax cuts for the very rich?

Moving on to the mundane doings of moi, the weather down here today is forecast as between 40 and 67. It definitely feels 40 now and I am bundling up. Yesterday I walked over the bridge to finally see Susan, noble tailor lady, with a bag of stuff. I had started out with same bag three days ago and was waved off the bridge because the Mickey Mouse Construction Company building the new bridge alongside it, had dropped a girder and it snapped and all traffic on and off was held up for 5 hours. Susan suggested that, perhaps, my karma was bad for the bridge. I got to see Sally, her small dog, adorable and very friendly, and I met a couple of her other customers who were, for a wonder, reasonably intelligent. This is, after all, SW Florida.

Ed finally got the transmission seal on the Isuzu SUV replaced and we are no longer in danger of being stranded. We haven’t been able to go far with the car for fear it would give out totally. He’s off to Sears this morning to get the tires rotated on the warranty. Our neighbor, Gary, has a Ford truck he wants to sell and Steve, our aces handyman just returned from Costa Rica and “big waves”, ventured to say that Ed should buy it and I took the moment to explain that Ed would drive the Isuzu until the fenders rusted off and our rears were dragging on the concrete.

Nadine, aces go-to friend for practically everything, also ventured to say that perhaps it was time to get a new car, or would Ed feel “pushed” if I suggested it and I said, oh, yes, in fact, maniacally pushed. She thought that was droll.

xx, Teal