SMART INSIGHTS

The USA Today has a section of their editorial page that is called "Smart Insights." Articles by various writers, bloggers, and people of strange but unknown classification are edited down to about 3 inches of type.

There has been a strong demand for this blogger to do the same. But, did anyone ever demand that of Michener? Of course not.

Well, this non-famous blogger ( and definitely not Mitchner quality) will attempt to do that. Following is word for word the edited version of an article by Evan Thomas in Newsweek.

"With the possible exception of FDR in wartime, presidents have been careful not to demand too much. And broadly speaking, American popular culture is not very amenable to sacrifice, to choosing the harder right over the easier wrong, as our sterner parents and grandparents might have said.

We have built a society of safety nets, a lawyer-constructed web where no one really has to take responsibility, where there's always someone else to blame, where all the children are above average, or at least deserve a trophy for participation. . . . But, deep down, I think people are perfectly aware that something has to change."

There is a thin line of light at the end of the post-election tunnel. We are hearing indications that the banning of "earmarks" - the pork belly movement - may be in our future. Even old "Mitch The Republican" seems willing to hear arguments in favor of doing that.

We are too jaded to accept that there won't be a trick play - or end run - before "the end of the game". But, if not, it's a good sign people are starting to listen to the voters.

Me? I'm just going to wait and see how the Charlie Rangel soap opera plays out. The head of the ethics committee said yesterday that Charlie was guilty of nothing more than some sloppy bookkeeping.

If that position is allowed to influence the outcome then we have yet another vote for "same-o same-o" Let's hope there are enough people on the committee capable of demonstrating "smart insights."