Lynell, to the vast majority of Americans, myself included, communism and socialism are still considered horrible, and are not what patriotic Americans want for this country.   

On a sadder note, Art Linkletter has passed away. He was such an honorable television personality. I think his interviews with the children were hilarious. His type of entertainment is missed. Good bye Art.

Charlotte, what I think you're expressing is both your frustration that everything, everything is now being politicized, and the fear that the majority of us have for the direction our country is being taken yet thoughts of the deliriously wonderful future most of us want it to have..................It was my personal hope that we could address the  crisis that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill has created without politicizing it.  No such luck.  I'm not even convinced that the federal government isn't approaching the solution only after first gleaning all of the political worth out of it that it can...............And the fear I think you feel is because of not only the direction of the country, but how little we as Americans can seemingly do to change it, except vote, and that's a long process.  I'm not offering any personal solutions (though I think I know a few), but rather that I think I know why you're feeling what you feel.  God Bless America.     

Why Kathleen, you haven't heard from me because you requested I stop emailing you.

Cousin Johnny, while people are on here blaming "W" for everything, including the recent oil spill, and being generally confused, I have a plan.  Could we convert the aft cabin of your 42' Hatteras to an oil holding tank, tune up your Kirby vacuum cleaner, and go suck oil out of the gulf.  My legal analysis is that it would be free oil, just floating, and not subject to paying a royalty, so we'd get to keep 100% of whatever we capture and sell.  With oil at about $74, we could make a killing, and save the coastline too............Jud, re-check those immigrant stipulations if you would.  Maybe we can get an exemption.   

Sounds as if Kathleen is beginning to see the light. FYI, the feds are blocking the states from acting. Requiring a EPA statement before they dump sand in the gulf to create temporary barrier islands to block the oil. What kind of effect can dumping sand in the gulf have??

I saw Joe Cocker's performance last night.  He's still got it.  I remember when he was soooooooooooo good looking.  Eek.  The years have treated him roughly.

My American Idol is Joe Cocker.  Oh, wait, he's British!  The original Mad Dog and Englishman indeed. 

I wonder where our Federal Gov't is in all this.  This mess could really screw up the Gulf, not to mention the seafood industry.    Oh, well.  Guess State dinners are higher priority.  BP has put in millions.  Shoulda been billions, in my opinion. 

I am soooo upset about this oil spill too.   Some of the people with the shelter I am associated with in Houston, Friends For Life, are being trained to rescue dolphins.  It is a very involved training and they will work very hard  24/7 out in fumes and sludge until there is a solution for this situation.  I am donating $ to support them, but I feel helpless and so do they.  It takes special people who are willing to spend the time to dedicate the time to be trained and then search for them 24/7 to rescue them. 
 
I know BP must be doing everything possible because this will effect their future reputation and bottom line. It is not enough.  I don't know what is enough.  Where are the Feds?  And why are they not out there putting booms and stuff (hay) to curtail the spread?  This is such a crisis for ALL the Gulf coast states.

Kathleen, for one thing, I wondered why the boxlike device they initially lowered over the blowout was a square box instead of being shaped like a funnel.  I'm no geologist or physicist or anything other than a SOC graduate, but the shape of that dome thing made no sense to me.  No wonder it failed.  The whole thing is sickening.