Am I the only one who noticed?

It is hard to believe that in these days of 24/ 7 news and an abundance of commentary on three full time news stations on tv and countless radio shows that there is something that has been missed in a big news story. There are two recent news stories that the pundits seem to have missed out on. The first one is the episode with Al Gore and the massage therapist. I have heard VP Gore’s bizarre behavior blamed on everything from drugs to Bush Derangement Syndrome. There is a very logical explanation that I haven’t heard anyone suggest. “Massage” has long been a euphemism or front for prostitution. In recent years with legitimate massage maybe we have forgotten that. I think that when Al Gore told his assistant that he needed a massage a legitimate massage therapist was hired, when what Al Gore was expecting was an old fashioned massage, aka a prostitute. I’m not sure if that will help his public relations, but it makes his actions understandable.

On a completely unrelated topic, did anybody notice how President Obama introduced Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court. In his first line of introduction President Obama said, “I have selected a nominee who I believe embodies that same excellence, independence, integrity, and passion for the law -- and who can ultimately provide that same kind of leadership on the Court: our Solicitor General, and my friend, Elena Kagan. “ (emphasis added) In fact, Obama and Kagan first met years ago at the University of Chicago Law School where they both taught. It just doesn’t seem like the American way to place your friends in positions, especially the highest positions of influence in the country. I’m not saying you can’t have a history with a nominee, or not like who you nominate. I just believe that when you choose people for very important jobs that you cast your net farther than your circle of friends and you look for people who are the best qualified for the job. Noting Kagan’s thin resume it makes you wonder what indicates she will be a good judge. Naming friends to high places always seemed like what they do in other, not American countries. The kinds with dictators. Maybe he was just calling her friend to be friendly, but I don’t think so.