“The world is young
today: Forget the gods are old, Forget the years of gold, When all
the months were May.”
— Digby Macworth Dolben
This little poem bounced
around in my head the first two weeks of May, trying to dislodge
sad, springtime-spoiling thoughts about all the tragedy in today’s
world while also trying to ignore the fact that Digby Macworth
Dolben died at the age of 19 before getting to experience many gold
years.
I’m not often depressed
but this year it seemed somehow wrong to enjoy the spring, and all
the good things in my lucky happy life, when so much awful is
happening here and around the world.
But then, last Friday, I
realized why I’d been feeling unusually down when my mood suddenly
lifted, at the moment the news came over the radio that the jury had
sentenced the Marathon murderer to death. It was seeing that creepy,
evil face for weeks during the trial, never seeming to be able to
escape it, that placed a local pall over the season.
Like many people, I’d been
torn between the death penalty with its many appeals and a quicker
sentence to some miserable prison existence without possibility of
parole, even though one can never count on the latter. But when I
heard the sentence of “death” I knew it was correct. Regardless of
what happens next, a jury had made the right decision: “You choose
to murder innocents, prepare to die.” Justice lives! I was out
running errands, and noticed other people smiling too.
Thanks to that jury, I’ve
discovered a renewed confidence in the American people that I’d
begun to lose. Maybe they will wake up in time to save America and
the free world, after all, despite the terrible problems.
I was already enjoying the
previous day’s story about Dukakis-Clinton political operative
George Stephanopoulos, who’s been pretending for years to be an ABC
journalist. Maybe an awakening citizenry will make his now obvious
hackery the beginning of the end of outrageous mainstream media bias
before the presidential election.
I’d seen his previous
week’s alleged journalistic interview with Peter Schweizer about his
new book, “Clinton Cash,” which exposes the Clinton Foundation for
Bill and Hillary’s “accumulation of massive personal wealth,
cronyism and the lack of transparency,” for the secretary of state
and now a possible future president taking contributions from
foreign entities. Stephanopoulos attacked the author and defended
the Clintons without noting his connections to them.
So on May 14, I posted an
exposé by Washington Free Press, by way of Politico, on my Facebook
page:
“ABC News chief anchor
George Stephanopoulos has given $75,000 to the Clinton Foundation in
recent years, charitable contributions that he did not publicly
disclose while reporting on the Clintons or their nonprofit
organization, the “On Media” blog has learned.”
I added “Oh George, say it
ain’t so. More accurately, admit you were a flack for the Democratic
Party and Obama campaign when acting as moderator for the debate
between Obama and Mitt, when you gratuitously raised the subject of
birth control opening up the Democrat campaign theme of the War on
Women. Long past time to fire the hack, ABC.”
Well, ABC hasn’t fired the
hack yet, but on Sunday I posted this:
“Steffie the Democrat
operative was back hosting ABC’s ‘This Week’ this morning, in his
role as pretend-journalist. He did his little half-donkey apology
for getting caught giving $75,000 to the Clinton Foundation, then It
was kind of fun to watch him being super-careful not to appear like
a Democrat operative; e.g., he did the derailed train story without
encouraging his guests to blame Republicans, and let them all — R
and D alike — agree that Hillary should start answering media
questions.”
Republicans do not seem to
be boycotting his show but I’ll bet he expects to be called out if
he is partisan again.
Can Hillary’s candidacy
survive the Foundation scandal? Once again, the answer depends on
voters paying attention.
I’ve heard analysis from
various sources, leftish and right, that because we are used to the
Clintons being greedy and sleazy, we barely register more of the
same behavior from them, while we’d notice and deplore bad behavior
in candidates who still retain a reputation for honesty and
trustworthiness. Interesting.
It seems likely that
Massachusetts voters are paying attention to the dispute between
Governor Baker, with some support from the House, and Senate
leadership including my state senator, Thomas McGee, D-Lynn, about
MBTA reforms. This week Republicans led by Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester,
are urging other Democratic senators to support the governor’s
proposed financial control board and some privatization; if they are
successful, we can all celebrate the beginning of reform. But if
senators put union demands for keeping the status quo ahead of
concern for T riders, stranded in the snow, I can at least feel good
about working from home.
What else feels good these
lovely spring days that I must share with you? Here’s a
non-political nice. I heard guests on Barry Armstrong’s WRKO show
(10 a.m-noon) talking about spring allergies, and noting an unusual
remedy: a few frozen blueberries. I gave a package to Chip and he’s
eaten a handful the last few days, reports immediate relief. Barry
says they work for him too, mixed with yogurt. Worth a try!
Finally, as we approach
Memorial Day, a resolution. Chip just got the spring magazine of
“The Association of Mature American Citizens.” Its cover features
the outline of a military man, filled with many words including
“Honor, Character, Courage, Freedom, Hero,” with the title “Saluting
our Veterans.”
I would never join the
AARP, which opposed Proposition 2½ and supported ObamaCare, but I
think it is time I become a “mature American citizen.” I’ll be
joining Amac this week. And my flag will be flying gratefully and
more optimistically all weekend.
Barbara Anderson of
Marblehead is president of Citizens for Limited Taxation and a Salem
News columnist.
