The Daily Dose/December 23, 2018
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Another year, another budget stalemate, another government shutdown. We’ve been through this before and it’s hard to believe we won’t go through this again. The actual effect it will have on us really isn’t that great because anything really essential is still getting done. Social Security checks will go out as scheduled. The FBI, Border Patrol and Coast Guard will still be on the job. Some national parks are receiving state or private funding and will remain open. As a practical matter, it means about one-quarter of the government is not being funded.
The usual people are ranting and railing about the usual things but none of this should be a surprise:
A contentious and fractured, partisan and bickering country once again elected a contentious and fractured, partisan and bickering government.
Two years ago we elected as president a petulant man-child whose only real talent is drawing attention to himself. This past November we re-elected 91 percent of incumbent Congressmen and 84 percent of incumbent Senators, taking a flier on making substantive changes to the way we are governed. We are not demanding anything better so we are not getting anything better. We can whine about this from here to Reno but, kind of like acquiring a case of the clap, we brought this on ourselves: we elected everyone there.
We will always – and always means every single time – get the government we deserve. As long as we keep electing substandard government we will keep receiving substandard government. We Americans and our government will always mirror each other.
The fault for all this is ours.
Today At The Site
The Diary of a Nobody: Sparrow makes biscuits and gravy at the hotel for the first time in a couple of months, The Wife makes short ribs for dinner and it is wall-to-wall go-backs at the retailer.
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On This Date
In 1968 – The 83-member crew of the USS Pueblo (AGER-2) is released from North Korean captivity, eleven months after their ship was attacked and captured off the coast of North Korea. A spy ship that had left a Japanese US naval base on January 5, the US maintains Pueblo was in international waters, however, Pueblo deck log entries say otherwise. Despite the fact it if remains moored to a North Korean pier, Pueblo remains a commissioned US vessel, the second oldest in the US Navy behind the USS Constitution and the only one currently being held captive.
In 1972 – The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Oakland Raiders 13-7 in the opening round of the AFC playoffs. Trailing 7-6 with 22 seconds remaining, Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a pass that was deflected by Raiders defensive back Jack Tatum and picked up right before it hit the ground by Steelers running back Franco Harris, who ran it 43-yards for a touchdown. History refers to this play as the Immaculate Reception.
In 1972 – Billy Paul is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the second of three consecutive weeks with Me and Mrs. Jones. The song also in its third of four weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart. Paul, born Paul Williams in Philadelphia, served in the Army in the late 1950’s with, among others, Elvis Presley. Elvis, however, preferred to drive the colonel’s jeep, so Paul toured Germany in a band he formed with Gary Crosby, Bing Crosby’s son. Me and Mrs. Jones remains Paul’s only appearance at #1 on any Billboard chart.
Quotebook
There is always something else to be done. But if you want the world you must forget insignificant places…
Gore Vidal
Creation
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Kordell Stewart finished his NFL career with 38 rushing touchdowns, fourth on the all-time list of quarterbacks behind Cam Newton (58), Steve Young (43) and Jack Kemp (40).
Today’s Stumper
What is the oldest commissioned ship in the United States Navy that remains actively deployed? –Answer next time!
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