Radical Politics

Paul Ryan and Sarah Palin have something in common: they're a lot more fun and interesting--and more dangerous--than the men at the top who selected them.  Paul Ryan is now electrifying the campaign of his wooden boss in the same way that Sarah Palin did four years ago. 

It's a curious contradiction: while Republicans seem to want some kind of steadfast predictability, as seen in their selections of Mitt Romney and John McCain, they're drawn at the same time to the risky proposals of the Tea Party--but not enough to put forward such candidates for president.  It's as if they're marrying the sure and steady guy and flirting with the unreliable one.

And yet, curiouser still, is the fact that Mitt Romney in some ways hasn't been a sure and steady guy.  He gives off the appearance of a soothing "Father Knows Best" figure but without a consistent record to show what he believes.  Paul Ryan as his choice for vice president, on the other hand, has such a long record of specific policies that we know exactly what he believes.  And what he believes is a problem for women, for the elderly, for students, for workers, and for pretty much all of us--except the wealthy.

In the end, though, his presence on the ticket is a problem for Mitt Romney and the Republicans, for he highlights the party's internal conflicts and its attraction for "radical social engineering," as Newt Gingrich so aptly put it.  The wheel has turned once again: Republicans have replaced Democrats as the party of radical politics.

Some Enchanted Evening

In honor of Newt Gingrich, and his official departure this week from the presidential primary.  Sing to the tune of "Some Enchanted Evening" from South Pacific:

Some enchanted evening

You might meet Newt Gingrich,

You might meet Newt Gingrich

Inside a crowded room.

And somehow you know

You know even then,

You’ve met someone big with

An ego again.

Some enchanted evening

You will hear a lecture,

You will be reminded

That Newt knows everything.

He’s right about this

He’s right about that,

And if you dissent you will

Endure his wrath.

Who can explain Newt?

Who can say why?

Fools give you reasons,

Wise men never try.

Some enchanted evening

Newt will make a big speech,

Newt will tell us all how

We’ve lost our chance with him.

He could have been Prez

He should have been Prez,

Such talents as his have been wasted

He says.

Once you have lost Newt,

Better let him go.

Once you have lost Newt,

Better let him go!

The Garden: Yard Art

Although early signs of spring have started to erupt in our yard, it still looks pretty stark. Browns and grays dominate, and the sky is that pale blue shade of late winter. With this landscape as a backdrop, my yard ornaments take on new life.


This fairy's face reminds me of my face as a child, though I didn't have curly hair. Nor did I sprout wings. I was a Brownie, however, and the beanie on her head resembles the beanies we wore with our uniforms. Interestingly, brownies are a sub-category of fairies who lived in Scotland and northern England. They didn't talk with humans and were visible only to those lucky people who possessed second sight. I would love to see a fairy, but I don't think they exist. The world seems too harsh for such delicate creatures.


Mosaics are found all over the world in Christian, Jewish, and Islamic art. I saw spectacular mosaic floors and ceilings in Ravenna and Venice many years ago. This tile was made by my daughter when she was in pre-school. It's my all-time favorite. Take that, Amy Chua, Tiger Mom.


Bird Bath and Beyond.


The salamander, or eft (if you do crossword puzzles), is a lizard-like type of amphibian. Newt is another crossword answer for salamander and brings to mind, of course, Newt Gingrich--whom we hear nothing about these days. Funny how the Republican candidates for president rise and fall so quickly. My newt, or eft, or salamander lives more simply at the edge of a small pond; he can, however, regrow his leg or tail if it falls off. Take that, Newt.


St. Francis of Assisi looks sad here, perhaps because he's drowning in the leaves that I have yet to clear away. Or perhaps he heard what Mitt Romney said recently about poor people: "I'm not concerned about the very poor," Romney said. "We have a safety net there." St. Francis, on the other hand, devoted his life to poverty. He took Jesus at his word, from the Book of Matthew, and cast aside all worldly goods to spread the news of love and repentance to ordinary people. Sometimes I wonder what version of Christianity our Republican candidates subscribe to.

Southern Sensation

How did Newt Gingrich stage such a spectacular upset in South Carolina? What magic did he use? Hmm. . . he must have consulted the Bard.

From Macbeth (a great source of political wisdom)
Act IV, Scene i

1. WITCH
Round about the cauldron go;
In the poisoned entrails throw.
Mitt, who in New Hampshire won,
Must be stopped from having fun,
Bits of Bain I think we’ve got,
Boil these first i' th’ charmed pot.

ALL
Double, double, toil and trouble,
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

2. WITCH
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of Newt and vest of Rick,
Governor Perry’s running stick,
Callista’s hair and Tiffany jewels,
Liberals, elites and all those fools,
For a charm of pow’rful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

ALL
Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

3. WITCH
Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witch’s mummy, maw and gulf
Ron Paul’s grin and half a brow,
If he knew, he’d have a cow,
(Doctors don’t like witches’ brew,
Nor do Mormons, they might sue,)
Add the flag the Confederates flew,
At the State House, yes it’s true,
Don’t forget to pluck Mitt’s mettle,
For the ingredients in our kettle.

ALL
Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.