It's not easy being THE

Sitting in traffic on the way to work this morning, at that moment when the hot brewed liquid of life I so greedily consumed released its magic into my bloodstream and my eyes opened, I had a realization. I owe Paris Hilton an apology.

You see, I've been hard in my comments toward the rich little hotel heiress. In an obsessive manner befitting a restraining order, I've ranted to everyone from a college tour group from Paris, France to a bartender in Paris, Texas about how the dead between the ears spoilt one was amazingly,famous for being famous and that I wished all manner of pestilence would rain down upon her. Yeah I was vicious in my distain.

Was I jealous of her fame or was I morally outraged at the “one night” (WARNING: this link contains adult material) that it took her to, pardon the pun, rise to it? I mean, surely it isn't her fault that the press began its fawning. Is it? Did she ask for it by placing herself in the public eye? It's not like she could control the photographers at the many runways she walked down or the night club openings she so often attended. She was just being her and the press forced itself upon her and then her upon us.

She's just a poor little rich girl after all. One the world seems to love, adore, admire and to which they ascribe talents well beyond any she has exhibited.

It could be worse couldn't it? It's not like the media helped her, as someone without demonstrated leadership skills, to be put in charge of anything important right? As I sat in my car under the Red Roof in which I was driving down the road, I though about the power of celebrity and that given enough of it, someone could go far. Farther than anyone could imagine: from relative obscurity to “king of the world; in a meteoric rise that begins One night in Boston and culminates one hot night in Chicago with a sycophantic crowd of devotees chanting in hysterical euphoria like underage girls at an Akon concert. Or even like Akon chanting hysterically for underage girls!

The Courtyard near my office is a place of gathering where conversations range from the latest movies to the Best Western swing dance club in town. Political discussions where being good at being elected is touted as a reason for being elected. Where community organization demonstrates leadership and questionable associations don't require questioning. Where celebrity instills confidence and greatness seems destined. There seems to be the joy of a Holiday in everyone's mood regarding political futures while doubt and skepticism clouds the financial outlook. It's amazing what celebrity can do.

We talk about Paris too. Not the city of lights Paris. We talk about THE Paris. You know THE ONE. She just broke up with her boyfriend and is back on the market. She'll find the right one someday. The one she is to Marry Ought to be sure to get a pre-nuptial agreement.

The fickle press can turn very quickly. Well maybe not but hopefully soon they will examine more closely the real person. We will find the things we should have known before anointing her to a position of social influence.

She is now hunting for a BFF and many in the running are retreads and throwbacks to previous times. We've seen them before. If she isn't careful the bloom will fall from her rosy glow and she'll be exposed for who she is. Once that happens and we see the real ONE, we will have to decide if the devotion afforded her is warranted and should continue. Eventually she will have to do something! Pray it is the right thing.

I feel just a little bad for judging her harshly. I suppose it was a knee jerk reaction to having an onslaught of one sided, biased media stories thrust on me in an effort to promote her. Then again, it could be that I saw through the veiled coverage to the real person and didn't allow myself to be influenced. All I can do now is watch and Hope for the best along with the devotees.

Oh well, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

S2

The fat lady tipping Justice's scales seems about to start singing.

In the 6 days since Barack Obama has been elected President, the news has been filled with unbiased reports of Republicans running around claiming the end is near: this is the end of conservatism, the end of the free market and the end of America as we know it. While it is true there may soon be a Chicken Little in every pot under the new “New Deal” Obama administration, cooler heads have reassured us that the foundation of our nation is stronger than a Hatian school and one man won’t be able to change all that much. I too have expressed that I have more fears than Polygamist bride on her pre-arraigned wedding night that the Obama/Pelosi/Read trifecta of socialist wannabes are about to launch us down the road to a farm where all we will have left is chicken feed.

Most of what I am fearful over are things that, once changed, can pendulum back under subsequent administrations. That is assuming we will have other administrations. There is already a movement for an Obama national holiday. Soon after his consecration, I mean coronation, I mean inauguration we might well see the repeal of the 22nd amendment to allow him to extend his rule permanently.

I don’t have much concern that Obama will rule more than the maximum allotted eight years. My money is that he will go “four and out” like Penn State did against Iowa all too much last Saturday to be replaced by a resurgent Reaganesque candidate. Yes, I too have Hope! So, honestly, how much irreversible damage can be done? Where the damage can be done is in an area that both the press and candidates avoided for the entire campaign.

Turn your eyes to the Holy Ghost of our governmental trilogy; the Supreme Court. Possessing neither the grandeur of our messianic new leader nor the all too human like visibility of the all-knowing Congress, the Supreme Court is behind the scenes and kept out of sight and out of mind. They sit dark robed in the Star Chamber-like Federal Courthouse and dole out decisions that none can overrule. They are the highest authority in the land. They’ve the ability, if you believe the left, to elect a president. They’ve the ability, if you believe the right, to set child molesters free.

The current composition of the Supreme Court is as balanced as an anal retentive accountant’s checkbook. A single new conservative judge could provide the needed vote to overturn Roe vs. Wade. A new liberal judge could provide the impetus to again ban capital punishment and provide late term abortions on demand (including partial birth).

An activist court at this level could do more irreparable damage than the Japanese National Sumo team at an all you can eat buffet. Issues near and dear to a conservative’s heart like partial birth abortion, stem cell research, gun rights and freedom of expression may be brought before a soon to change court that will bear as much resemblance to the current one as a Biggest Loser winner does to their former self.

There is every indication that during Obama’s first term, the vacancy sign to this permanent residence could go out for as many as three rooms. Four justices are in their 70’s and Justice Stevens is 88.

President Obama will nominate for these positions barristers whose values he admires and whose opinions he shares. Having a Democrat controlled House and Senate means these nominees will be approved faster than Exlax laden feed goes through a diahritic Goose (our should I say chicken?).

For the past few years, judgeships all over the country have been held up by Congress because the appointments were made by George Bush. The floodgates are soon to be open and a plethora of nominations from Obama will flow through. These appointments will have the ability to shape our society for many years to come.

Lifelong appointees to the Supreme Court definitely will shape our country. Am I concerned? You bet.

I suggest a prayer for the health and welfare of those currently on the bench. May they serve a long time.

S2