ONE WELL HUNG DICTATOR

Yesterday all day the newscasters were referring to Hussein being hung. Everytime I heard it I would yell back at the television, "Hanged, you idiots." I really had to laugh about it but finally, as one might know, they got it right last night on PBS. Now today the more popular news media are getting it right by saying, "Hanged." I suspect someone more erudite than I corrected them. Saddam may have been hung, that I will never know, but last night he was hanged, for better or worse. Only God knows.

THE NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

Tis the night of Christmas,
My belly is full
And that is because
I ate like a fool.

There are many cards
That came in the mail.
From one and all
They tell quite a tale.

On the eve of this day
To church we did go.
Scriptures and sermon
And a beautiful solo.

The only glitch
In all the to do,
I got a case of the crud
Called the flu.

As Clement Moore
so aptly said right,
"Merry Christmas to all,
And to all a good night."

TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Twas two days before Christmas,
And all through my house,
The presents were all unwrapped,
And I looked like a louse.

Made one last run to the grocery
For the grits I'd forgot.
Skipped the Honey Baked Ham Store
In that line I'd stand not.

There was laundry to do,
And a whole lot of cooking,
Dreaded to start,
But had to get working.

Baked a quiche and some brownies,
And made sausage balls,
A couple of cheese logs,
Before a phone call.

Polished a few things,
And cleaned some glass.
My son and his girls coming,
Want to show a little class.

Ere I retire for the night,
This one thing I'll exclaim,
One more day before Christmas,
Hope I get the work tamed.

PROUD HOOSIER

Being the corn fed Indiana girl that I am, I usually take great joy when someone from my state does its citizens proud. That was the case yesterday for me. I was so joyed to see my former 9th Distric Congressman, Lee Hamilton, along with James Baker making the presentation of the results of the Iraq Study Group. Although it seems pretty clear that we are losing in that area I thought it was a great example of what Republicans and Democrats can do when they are challenged to work together. It seems pretty clear that cleaning up the mess and getting out of Iraq is bigger than all of us. It will take a miracle for us to save face and come out looking like we have won.

One of the things that I haven't heard anyone ask or comment on is, "Can Iraq's soldiers, law enforcement and politicians even be trained to do the jobs that it is necessary for them to do?" It sounds questionable to me. Otherwise, I'm thinking, they would be more help to us after 3 years of our trying to train them. Are they merely a bunch of ragtag fighters who can't learn to fight in a prescribed unified manner? If that be the case, I wonder if there is much chance for any kind of order in that country. I guess that is the result of living under dictatorial rule for so many generations.

Thank you, Lee Hamilton, for being a voice of reason along with your committee members in an otherwise unreasonable situation.