My Favorite Vet

As politicians make speeches today, flanked by uniformed men and women, and surrounded by flags unfurled, my thoughts turn to one serviceman in particular. My father served in the US Navy. His father, and namesake, died while serving in the Navy. Bill Moon bought our family home with VA financing. His widow receives a modest, but much appreciated, veteran’s benefit each month. He died in a VA hospital in San Diego in 1977, and was buried in a VA cemetery in Los Angeles, a stone’s throw from the UCLA campus that his son attended. He was the first in his family to graduate from college, thanks to the GI Bill. But I don’t think he’d understand a popular bumper sticker: “If you love your freedom, thank a vet.” Why not thank a teacher? When was the last time our “freedom” was truly at military risk? He dearly loved this great country, but did not support the Korean or Viet Nam wars. If he was alive today, I doubt that he’d support the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. He taught us to love freedom but to hate war. So, here’s to you dad. I miss you everyday. Not just on Veterans Day.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

When will it be Mitt’s turn to excite the Republicans? Realistically, he’s the odds-on favorite to be the standard bearer in next year’s two-man race for the White House. So why aren’t the party faithful cheering Mitt? Maybe because many believe he’s the GOP’s John Kerry. Bright, articulate, seasoned, and … boring. The presidential election is lacking enthusiasm for both parties. The Democrats’ base of socialist liberals, union bosses, gays and barely-American Hispanics are all lukewarm about Obama. They feel he’s been too cautious on closing Gitmo, defending public workers’ outrageous pensions, and championing immigration reform, environmental issues and sinful same-sex marriage. So, the time to enjoy the 2012 political season at its finest is right now – watching the round-robin of GOP hopefuls pick each other apart on stage at debates leading up to the Iowa caucus and early primaries. Pop some corn, crack open a cold one and settle in to your overstuffed chair in front of the TV; it’s the best political entertainment we’re going to see for quite a while.