I received the following as an Email from someone who shan't be named. (You know who you are!)
No matter what your political convictions are this is an eye opener.
What a thankless people we are!!!
Subject: Jay Leno on President Bush (Surprising)
Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....
"As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark. 'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''
A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
A) No, it's because the Bush administration is squandering limited resources necessary to provide the above and seeing to it that we pay through the nose for what few resources remain. All the profits then go to the Paris Hilton crowd.
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
B) See above response.
C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
C) No, it's because two and three jobs are needed to maintain a diminishing standard of living. When I grew up as a middle-class kid, none of the moms needed to work and the dads were able to provide on a much shorter work week.
D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
D) Jeebus, have you seen what has happened to grocery prices lately? Jay's personal shopper needn't worry. You and me? I thought so.
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
E) Yeah, if you can afford the effing gas! (And remember, Homeland Security is planning national ID's for all.) Sure is easy and cheap to fly, too!
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
F) Maybe you would like to stay in one the new tent cities springing up all over the country to house the victims of predatory lenders?
G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
G) Genetically modified food, E. Coli, shrinking portions, rising prices; and don't forget the cost of the fuel to get to one of these fine establishments, either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
H) If you're lucky enough, you can afford insurance to pay for it all, if not , you'll lose your home. Bankruptcy? Forget it. Bush and his oligarchs will see to it your grandkids are still paying.
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
I) Perhaps you're lucky enough to NOT owe more than it's worth. This real estate crisis brought on by Bush's predatory lending pals has begun to speed up America's decline across the board.
J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
J) Yeah, like the way the SoCal wildfires were handled so well last year. (Snark!) Hey, San Diego County, how's that rebuilding coming along? New Orleans, love your new look. (More Snark!)
K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
K) No, CSI will come by to examine your remains (Since I'm packin', it will probably be the intruder's remains. But then a corrupt Repugnicant DA will get me for homicide to run a law and order re-election campaign).
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
L) Like Japan, England, Denmark, Australia, etc. ? I hope they know how much they owe Bush. (Has Jay Leno ever taken a course in logic or semantics? History? Econ?)
M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
M) Complete freedom to question the Holocaust, Evolution, Muslims, the shape of the planet? Freedom for white, christian, conservative males of certain means maybe. And I want my Habeas Corpus, Bill of Rights and private communications back while we're at it.
Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.
No, Jay, you've completely mis-read the mood of the country.
We are a good people who've found out we've been screwed, blued and tattooed by an ignorant, greedy, unsympathetic, war-mongering chicken hawk who only cares about his “base” and has no empathy for the common American.
We are embarrassed by a President who has diminished our standing in the world, emptied our common treasury for personal aggrandizement, driven a wedge into the heart of America for personal political gain and treated our Constitution as if it were bathroom tissue.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it.
The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?
Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like OJ. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!
Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
Jay Leno
I don't need this B.S. from a multi-zillionaire who lives the privileged life of a top one-percenter.
Bush and his cronies deserve prosecution, conviction and stiff, stiff sentencing.
Bush believes in America from the top down.
I believe in America from the bottom up.
I prefer the smarter, edgier humor of Letterman. So there. Bleah!
Catch You Later.....
UPDATE: Teaser just now for local newscast: "The plan for ambulances to get your credit card number... Up front." KNSD-TV Channel 39, San Diego
UPDATE II: Seems I was right to be skeptical, see next post
