The O'Finky Factor

“I want this, I want that, I want this, I want that!”    “It doesn’t make any sense!”    “I said I want it!” “But!” “I want it! I want it! I want it!” “   OK, whatever you want…”  (Published October 1, 2008)

In Europe they call it Neoliberalism.  Here we call it Neoconservatism.  Practically speaking we have been more and more submerged in Neopsychosis since the 1970’s...(Published July 23, 2008)

Every “good man,” I think, goes to his grave with regrets about those things he did wrong. The rest of us go with a clean conscience either because we deny the validity of our “sins” or at one point we suddenly “believe!” Joe (Scarborough), you’re stuck. You will go with your sins on your sleeve... (Published July 16, 2008)

July 4^th, 2008, U.S. Independence Day. Last night we watched Charlie Wilson’s War. It is the remarkable account of how Congressman Charlie Wilson and a maverick CIA agent managed to secure arms for Afghan freedom fighters. It is the story of how they helped a rag-tag army of peasants destroy the mighty army of the Soviet Union and eventually the entire Soviet Empire... (Published July 5, 2008)

July fourth- a good day for John McCain to be making his Vice Presidential choice. Right now McCain’s campaign is in total disarray- actually, I feel, through no fault of his own.. The man, John McCain, is, of course, in the wrong party... (Published July 4, 2008)

They say that “a coward dies a thousand deaths,” which may explain the fate of our “fourth estate,” the “Press Corpse.” They’ve done it again...(Published July 3, 2008)

It is time! As the new Presidential election draws ever closer, most people, Republican and Democrat, take the mistaken view that George Bush is almost out of office, that mercifully he cannot cause more trouble. Beware! Nothing can be further from the truth!... (Published July 2, 2008)

Yes, I disagree with George Will. This is not the Classic American Presidential Election. With George W. Bush, the attempt at such extreme division of wealth and power, the creation of hugely divided classes of wealthy and powerful, makes this election different... (Published June 11, 2008)

I disagree with George Will when he says that the McCain-Obama election is a Classic American Election. He states this because, as he points out, the confrontation represents the “classic” Republican concept of privatization and free enterprise vs. the more socialistic Democratic idea of sharing or dividing the wealth. The concepts are classical, but the contest is not... (Published June 10, 2008)

Most of my recent writing started out as “silly me” allowing myself to think out loud. Things started to get more serious when I tried so hard to make sense of Mr. Bush and his Neopsychotic policies. To my amazement, I found fully half of Bush’s Neopsychotic accomplices were actually Jewish... (Published June 6, 2008)

It is sad and painfully ironic when we criticize Mr. McCain for saying how he truly feels: Mr. McCain does not ever want to send soldiers to the Middle East to defend our oil interest. The horrible irony is that even I, as a liberal democrat, and you people that are loyal Republicans, both wish in our hearts that the reason that we attacked Iraq were our lust for oil... (Published May 5, 2008)

If I were 12 years old, as President, would I decide to attack a country like Iraq? Would I ask about the consequences, whether they actually had WMD’s? Would I ask what it had to do with Saudi Arabians attacking our country? (Published May 5, 2008)

They eat their young. When nothing else is left, they will eat their young. When is enough enough?... (Published May 2, 2008)

I am certainly not a religious person, but I respect religion when it accomplishes its function in society: to make us better people and to help us to accept our role in the universe... (Published April 24, 2008)

Recently, Reverend Wright was rightfully criticized for comments labeled “over the top” by most media sources. These included various subjects, including accusations that the present administration conspired to bring on the 9/11 attack on our country... (Published March 28, 2008)

Hillary Clinton is not a particularly good speaker. So What! Adult voters wanting to hear about real issues: education, economics, foreign policy, individual, constitutional rights, don’t care as much about being entertained as they do about understanding what is said... (Published March 28, 2008)

Perspective is a guiding light, not a preordained magic bullet like “Capitalism,” “Socialism,” or even “Communism.” They all work, ironically, but only under the right circumstances and none of them on their own. They are all “concepts,” and like religious concepts, no one has the patent on the “ideal” economic system... (Published March 28, 2008)

Let’s do all of the Presidential Candidates, Democrat and Republican, and our own country a great favor... (Published January 30, 2008)

It is the measure of the religious person as to whether he uses his religion to better himself- to make him (or her) a better soul or does he let his religion use him? Does one vote his conscience or his religion?... (Published January 30, 2008)

One of the most curious phenomena, found primarily in Republicans, is the practice of severe self-mutilation. The practice started, of course in the Catholic Church, but recently was reinforced when Jesus appeared to Mitt Romney in the Mormon Tabernacle... (Published Jan. 4, 2008)

A new year is supposed to bring with it resolutions based on both mistakes and appreciation of things well done. Somehow, I cannot help but think of the seven new years preceding this one. They were “lean” and they were “fat” as the bible would say- the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer... (Published Jan. 1, 2008)

“Perspective”- You are a little pest. As our beloved President Reagan said: “There you go again!” ... (Published Dec. 24, 2007)

Many far right wing Christians act toward the “Islamic fascists” just as the crazed and unthinking left wing fanatics act toward right wing Christians... (Published Oct. 11, 2007)

[The following questions were submitted on 9/25 to Tim Russert (emcee) of MSNBC to be heard for the 9/26 Democratic Presidential Debates in New Hampshire]... (Published September 25, 2007)

If I were a Presidential candidate, say Joe Biden, I would say: I believe that General Petraeus is lying. I hope he is not... (Published Sept 17, 2007)

In the past 5 years, blindly following our leader has made traitors of us all. It has made both the Republicans and Democrats cowards as well... (Published September 11, 2007)

From the beginning, we needed a coalition to go into Iraq. We could not entice Arab countries into the coalition, even Turkey, because they knew it was wrong to go in. Period... (Published September 7. 2007)

In light of the ever-expanding role of illiteracy in this country, with an administration that rejects research like a black plague, the greatest and most tragic irony of this new millennium is the absurd “Faith Based Initiative.”... (Published August 27, 2007)

America is at a true crossroads. For the first time in over 200 years, our most prized national treasure, the Constitution, is under siege from all directions... (Published August 27, 2007)

...The military draft is justified only for defense of the country, not for overthrowing sovereign nations after a delusional President hears the voice of God... (Published August 16, 2007)

As I plod through “Cobra II” and Rumsfeld’s Folly, as I see the sick saga of Dick Cheney continue to unfold, I cannot help but note the most serious psychological factors at play... (Published August 14, 2007)

"In the oft quoted, but usually forgotten words of President Reagan: 'There you go again.' 'Business as usual.'... (Published July 3, 2007)

“These people” keep saying that the “enemy of the world” is the “Muslim Jihadist.” Let’s see. For 1500 years or so the enemy of the world was the “Christian Jihadist,” now it’s the “Muslim Jihadist.” Let’s take turns… “my dance…, your dance…”...( Published June 6, 2007)

When it comes to the U.S. Constitution, I feel like one of the last of a dying breed; the “strict constructionist.”... (Published May 15, 2007)

As I listen to George Tenet lie about his "doubts" regarding the war in Iraq (knowing "for sure" is not "doubt")... (Published May 2, 2007; Edited May 8, 2007)

Perspective- damn pesky thing- interferes with what you do, worse, with what you want to do... (Published April 26, 2007)

A Continuation of "Taking Refuge From Ignorance"... (Published April 25, 2007)

I am truly underwhelmed especially by two Democratic candidates for President... (Inadvertently left off blog... Originally Published March 12, 2007)

WASHINGTON: Jim Smith, owner of an assault rifle, was gunned down by Meyer Litsky, a 64-year old furniture maker, this past Monday. Litsky, apprehended by police immediately after the shooting, claimed he had just killed a terrorist... (Published April 19, 2007)

Where people are not naturally endowed with stupidity, how can it best be cultivated? This is the title and main concern of a paper that should have been written thousands of years ago...       (Published April 10, 2007)

In a more serious vein, I have to say that I’ve never really taken the idea of Good (i.e. “God”) vs. Evil (the power of evil: the Devil) seriously.  It makes you wonder, however, how “good people” like Misters Wolfowitz, Mehlman, Kristol, Fund, to name only a few, can be seduced into embracing Neofascism...    (Published April 10, 2007)

Mr. Fund- please drop the naïve act...   (Published March 12, 2007)

I agree- Scooter Libby should be pardoned...    (Published March 8, 2007)

War Crimes are... well... war crimes...    (Published March 8, 2007)

Part I of a Multi-Part Series     (Published Feb 8, 2007)

Ask not what your country can do for you, Ask what you can do for Mr. Bush!...    (Published Jan 11, 2007)

The other day, I tried to explain to my 9-year old grandson why we cannot win the “war” in Iraq...     (Published Jan. 9, 2007)

Yuletide Reflections: A Rare Visit To The Inner Man        (Published Dec. 23, 2006)

I am a small town family doctor. I find that physicians often need to “oversimplify” situations in order to treat and cure illness. Most physicians, it seems to me, make poor politicians for this reason. In politics, simple solutions may often lead to “throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”...       (Published May 4, 2006)