Fab Five Win Gold in Gymnastics

AFP

The "Fab Five" lived  up to all the pre-Olympics hype, scoring a full five points higher than the second place winners, Russia. The last time the women's gymnastics team won gold occurred during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, and McKayla Maroney and Jordan Wieber dominated from the beginning and held the lead throughout. Jordan Wieber performed a flawless floor exercise demonstrating the soul of a true competitor, after failing to qualify in the all-around finals last week-end and proving why she is the reigning world champion.

Gregory Bull/AP

Ham on Wry holds all of these teens in awe for their remarkable dedication, determination and focus throughout. Their smiles and the medals draped around their necks tell the story without words. Congratulations to all!

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Americans Win Gold in Men's and Women's 100-Meter Backstroke

Clive Rose/Getty Images

Missy Franklin earned her first gold of the London Olympics for the 100-meter backstroke, recovering quickly from her semi-final heat 14 minutes previously. Calling her reaction, "Indescribable," the 17-year-old beamed as the realization hit her full force. Ham on Wry has seen her interviewed several times, and her down-to-earth attitude and winning smile reveal a person who has a handle on what it takes to succeed in the swimming pool and in life.







 

The 100-meter backstroke offered two more medals in the men's finals when Matt Grevers won the race and the gold medal signifying his accomplishment. Grevers, a native of Illinois, swam in the Beijing Olympics four years ago and took home a silver medal. This time, Nick Thoman won the silver medal, finishing close behind his teammate. Grevers commented, "I feel incredible. It was something I wanted since I was 10 years old."



Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images



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Ryan Lochte and Ye Schiwen Win 400 Meter Individual Medley

Chuck Myers/MCT

In a stunning upset, Ryan Lochte  of the United States won the 400 Meter Individual Medley at the London Olympics, winning the first gold medal awarded to a US athlete at the XXX Olympics.

American sportscasters predicted the outcome, noting that Lochte had been training longer and harder than his teammate for this event. He won the first gold medal for the US.







Michael Phelps finished forth in the event and stared at the results in apparent disbelief. In an interview, his coach told Matt Lauer that Michael was not as prepared as he was for Beijing, but he was now a better man.  Phelps had battled some personal problems and stopped swimming for over two years before choosing to return to the pool.  The hype that surrounds him places him under tremendous pressure because if he wins three more medals, he will have the honor of winning the most medals of any athlete who has competed in the modern Olympics.

Nhat V Myer/San Jose Mercury News/MCT



Verrnon Bryant/Dallas Morning News/MCT

Later, in the women's 400 Meter Individual Medley, Ye Schiwen from China set a new world's record with a time of 4:28:13. China has shown vast improvement in swimming events and are set to win many medals at the games.

Elizabeth Beisel US, pictured in the forefront below, took home a silver medal, finishing second in the 400 Meter Individual Medley.

Chuck Myers/MCT





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Romney's Obvious Discomfort During Interview With Brian Williams



mediabistro.com

 NBC Night New Anchor Brian Williams sat down with Mitt Romney last evening and asked some pointed questions of the Republican presidential candidate. Throughout the interview, Romney adopted a "deer in headlights" expression and blinked rapidly as he answered every question. That kind of demeanor and response to direct questions causes this blogger huge concern. In my classes on human behavior, professors indicated rapid blinking usually signals that someone is not telling the truth. At best, Romney was clearly uncomfortable for the approximately five-minute duration of the interview.





muckrack.com



Williams asked Romney about a remark made by someone from his campaign staff about the type of vice president he will name. That person responded, "He's looking for a boring white guy." Romney then quipped that he had called Williams about the spot, but Williams wasn't available. Ta dum! That remark fell flat and provided further evidence that Romney doesn't do well without a script.

He danced around the subject of the gun control issue in general and skirted the question of the gun control legislation enacted when he was governor of Massachusetts. Ham on Wry believes that he doesn't want to anger the NRA. Since he doesn't think the United States needs laws aimed at gun control, I guess he's satisfied with the manner in which mass murderers can obtain assault rifles with ease, such as occurred last Friday in Colorado.

The interview occurred in London where Romney is meeting with British political leaders and will attend the opening of the Olympic Games tomorrow night. According to AFT, he made a serious gaffe when he commented on London's preparation for the games. "It's hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting," he remarked. "The stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials--that obviously is not something which is encouraging."

If one couples those words with his interview, it's hard to imagine how he would handle meeting Angela Merkel or Vladamir Putin. He might have successfully rescued the 2002 Olympics, but that doesn't mean he can handle global politics as a world leader. His interpersonal skills one-on-one leave me with doubts about his ability to relate to people. He would do well to observe President Obama's warmth and compassion, because Romney fails to demonstrate those human qualities and presents in a wooden, automaton fashion. Perhaps he should hire a personal coach.

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Sally Ride Succumbs to Cancer



commonswikimedia.org

 Sally Ride died July 23 at the age of 61 after an eighteen-month battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving behind a legacy of accomplishments and dedication to America's space program. Most people will remember Ride for her precedent-setting 1983 journey on the space shuttle Challenger, the first time a woman formed part of a space crew.

President Obama paid tribute to her soon after heaing the news of her death. As the first American woman to travel into space, Sally was a national hero and a powerful role model. She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars and later fought tirelessly to help them get there by advocating for a greater focus on science and math in our schools. Sally's life showed us that there are no limits to what we can achieve, and I have no doubt that her legacy will endure for years to come."

Sally Ride earned a PhD in astrophysics from Stanford, one of four college degrees she amassed. She was among 8,000 women applicants seeking to join the space program in 1978 and was selected as one of the astronaut corps to train on the shuttle. Anyone old enough to remember her first time in space will remember that the refrain "Ride, Sally, Ride" from Mustang Sally was played endlessly as stories of her Challenger journey abounded in the media. The next year, she was aboard when the Challenger traveled into space for a second time. While in training for a third mission, the Challenger exploded in 1986, killing all seven crew members. She left the space agency a year later, and served for years as a physics professor and director of the California Space Institute.

Throughout her professional life, she advocated for more emphasis on science in education and encouraged girls to explore careers in science and dream large. Ham on Wry honors Sally Ride in this post and believes she inspired many young girls who wanted to "go where no woman had gone before." In doing so, Ride has touched infinity.

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Who's Afraid of Gun Control?

AK-47 Assault Rife/Wikipedia

Ham on Wry offers reflections on gun control in the United States in today's post, after reading a disturbing article in the LA Times written by Morgan about an hour ago. He postulates that gun control has little chance of passing currently because a majority of Americans are contented with the current gun ownership laws in this country and states statistics from recent studies that support his premise. Really?

This blogger finds it unfathomable that people support the discontinuation of the assault weapons ban and wonder why any law-abiding citizen would need an AK47, for example. It has a range of 400 meters/440yards and shoots 600 rounds per minute. Who, exactly, needs a weapon of that type for the defense of a home, property, or personal protection? I can't think of anyone who would need something with that kind of overkill.

Oh, wait a minute. I can. The shooters at Columbine, the gunman at Virginia Tech, and our most recent tragedy in Aurora, Colorado when James Holmes clothed himself in riot gear and took and arsenal of weapons to a theater complex, killing 12 and wounding 59 in a rampage at a showing of The Dark Knight Rises. People who have the intent of killing others in premeditated fashion use AK-47's, not people who are trying to defend themselves.

Why is anyone afraid of gun control that would limit purchases to hand guns and hunting rifles, except in the case of collectors? No one need be concerned. It would not inhibit legal use of weaponry in any way. Assault rifles, gas canisters, bulletproof vests and other similar gear belong in the hands of the military, police, or other is legal organization whose job it is to protect citizens of the United States.

The NRA has resorted to fear tactics when it comes to gun control, and much of its reasoning lacks true logic and common sense. Those who want to own guns legally have the right to do so in this country, but we should have regulations in place to make it as difficult and as expensive as possible for those who have criminal intent to purchase weaponry designed as protection against aggressors in war or criminals.

So, I ask again, "Who's afraid of gun control?" The answer should  be, "Criminals". Law-abiding citizens should have no fear of it, because it would still allow them to own weapons not intended for the battlefield. Fear has overtaken reason, which explains the current attitude toward gun control. It's time for a reasoned national dialogue about the problem we face here. Our country loses more people in shooting deaths not related to war than all other countries combined. How long will we continue to allow the legal purchase of assault weapons?

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Guman Kills 12, Wounds 58 in Colorado



Denver Post



A shooter dressed in riot gear replete with a bullet-proof vest broke into Century 16 Movie Theaters in Aurora, Colorado near Denver during the midnight launch of The Dark Knight Rises where he killed 12 people and wounded 58.

Police arrested the suspect, 24-year-old James Holmes, in the parking lot outside the theater, after he made no attempt to flee  He later told police that he was "The Joker", referring to a character in an earlier Batman movie.


His apartment, located in a building approximately four miles from the crime scene, had been trip-wired with sophisticated explosives or flammable material, according to police. The evacuated everyone from the building and have not yet determined a course of action to handle the explosives.

Holmes’ victims included a six-year old and a four-month-old baby, both of whom were treated at a nearby hospital, but the six-year-old girl later died of her wounds.  At least six area hospitals are handling the wounded victims of this horrific crime, man of whom are in critical condition.

Witnesses said Holmes entered the theater through an emergency exit after the film had begun and tossed a smoke bomb into the audience. He focused on moviegoers seated near the aisles, shooting people at random.  Some viewers thought that Holmes was pulling a prank at first and using fireworks that made the popping sound.

The Dark Knight Rises, the final film of the Batman trilogy, features a villain named Bane who wears a bulletproof vest and gas mask. Trailers for the movie show explosions at public events including a football game. Many moviegoers dressed in costume to attend the opening night screening, so Holmes blended in with the crowd.

NBC News.com

Ham on Wry believes that this tragedy should start a national dialogue on gun use in this country.  Many citizens cite the right to own guns as a reason to buy one, but statistics reveal that guns are used much more frequently in killing innocent people than in defensive situations. The United States operates as though it is still an undeveloped, primitive society with few law officers to protect us. We no longer live in the Wild West. No one needs a bulletproof vest for legitimate purposes, nor does anyone require assault rifles for legal reasons.

The NRA should take a hard look at its policies in light of reality. It has morphed from an organization comprising hunters and sportspersons to one that promotes gun ownership without the necessary checks and balances to ensure the safety of innocent people.  Let us remember the attack on President Reagan and his Press Secretary James Brady.  Chacha.com states that 30,000 people in the United States die each year  from gunshot wounds. We have a huge problem in this society that needs to be addressed at the Federal level. It’s far past time for a change to the manner in which gun ownership is handled in this country!

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Hope, the Brutally Abused Dog, Has a New Home

Parker County Sheriff's Office

Ham and Wry can't find words strong enough to express the level of contempt for anyone who would cruelly leave a dog in the condition pictured below. The blog has experienced some technical difficulties, causing a delay for the post to appear.

Hope was found July 9, after someone spotted her wandering aimlessly with her tongue protruding and her muzzle wrapped in electrical tape. The dog spooked and bolted when the woman who tried to help approached. Parker County Animal Control then spent nine hours searching for the abused animal.

Parker Country Sheriff's Office July 9

 Animal Control lost no time in delivering Hope to Bowie Drive Animal Hospital, where Dr. Kevin Buchanan operated and gave Hope100 internal and external stitches. He also treated her tongue, which was punctured when her abuser placed electrical tape on her muzzle. He performed the surgery to repair the damage from the five cut wounds that the human monster inflicted on her. If the adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words" is true, the picture at right would fill a book.

Hope, a pug-mix female, is progressing well. Charlie and Kit Moncrief have agreed to adopt her, and she will be living on the Moncrief ranch, where she will share quarters with horses, eight other adopted dogs and and their human benefactors. Parker Country Sheriff Larry enthusiastically endorsed the adoption and stated, "I can't think of a better family for Hope to belong to."

Donations totaling $35,000 have funded all of Hope’s medical bills. Crime Stopper provides $1,000 of the total, which is being held in reserve for the person who provides tips leading to the arrest, indictment, and conviction of Hope’s abuser (s). Anyone with information on the case cancontact the Parker County Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-817-599-5555.

Ham on Wry has two wishes for Hope. The first is that she have a happy life in her new home, and the second is that whoever tortured her is found and punished to the full extent of the law.

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Florida Plummets in CNBC Ranking Under Governor Scott's Leadership

thinkprogress.org

Well, what a surprise!  The man who promised to make Florida a mecca for business couldn't deliver results. In just one year, Florida plummeted from an overall rank of 18 to29 in CNBC's 2012 ranking of America's Top States for Business. Worse than that, it ranked 39th for cost of business, 30th for quality of life, and 47th for economy. Ham on Wry finds this information disturbing, in light of the monetary incentives Scott approved to attract new business to the state. In this time of economic uncertainty. Florida has flagged under his leadership and wasted taxpayer money.

How ironic that the photo in the post came from thinkprogress.org! Florida has shown no progress with Scott as governor. Instead, it has regressed. Earlier Ham on Wry posts discussed polls that identified St. Petersburg, Florida as America's saddest city and Tampa Bay as America's most stressful metropolitan area.     Governor Scott has presided over many cuts to programs and services that benefit the citizens of Florida, but has yet to show innovation in handling the complexities of state government. 

Take heart, Floridians! In a little over two years, we can vote him out of office. Why not act sooner? Voters have no means of ousting him because no recall provision exists in the Florida constitution. Patience, readers.  If we can endure hurricanes and sink holes, we must tough it out until the next election.

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Penn State Report Released Today

abc.go.com

This morning, the findings of an independent investigation  commissioned by Penn State officials in November was released.

Penn State University president, Rodney A. Erickson, stated, "It has become clear to me that I need to reconsider our community's leadership culture." He then announced a partnership between Pennsylvania Coalition against Rape, and creating a center for the protection of children and the university, explaining, "This is a problem that plagues our nation, and we have a special duty to prevent and treat child sexual abuse."

postgazette.com

Former FBI chief, Louis Freeh, compiled the 267-page report, which blasted some of Penn State's top officials, including former university president Graham Spanier, former head football coach Joe Paterno, former athletic director Tim Curley, and former vice president for finance Gary Schultz, for the way they handled Sandusky's behavior.

The report states, in part, "The most saddening finding by the Special Investigative Counsel is the total and consistent disregard by the most senior leaders at Penn State for the safety and welfare of Sandusky's child victims. These men concealed Sandusky's activities from the Board of Trustees, the University community and authorities. They exhibited a striking lack of empathy for Sandusky's victims by failing to inquire as to their safety and well-being, especially by not attempting to determine the identity of the child who Sandusky assaulted in the Lasch Building in 2001. Further, they exposed this child to additional harm by alerting Sandusky, who was the only one who knew the child's identity, of what McQueary saw in the shower on the night of February 9, 2001."

Ham on Wry experienced outrage and revulsion in reading the following information revealed in the report. "In critical written correspondence that we uncovered on March 20th of this year, we see evidence of their proposed plan of action in February 2001 that included reporting allegations about Sandusky to the authorities. After Mr. Curley consulted with Mr. Paterno, however, they changed the plan and decided not to make a report to the authorities. Their failure to protect the February 9, 2001 child victim, or make attempts to identify him, created a dangerous situation for other unknown, unsuspecting young boys who were lured to the Penn State campus and football games by Sandusky and victimized repeatedly by him.

"The stated reasons by Messrs. Spanier, Schultz, Paterno and Curley for not taking action to identify the victim and for not reporting Sandusky to the police or Child Welfare are:

"(1) Through counsel, Messrs. Curley and Schultz have stated that the “humane” thing to do in 2001 was to carefully and responsibly assess the best way to handle vague but troubling allegations.

"(2) Mr. Paterno said that “I didn’t know exactly how to handle it and I was afraid to do something that might jeopardize what the university procedure was. So I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did. It didn't work out that way.”

"(3) Mr. Spanier told the Special Investigative Counsel that he was never told by anyone that the February 2001 incident in the shower involved the sexual abuse of a child but only “horsing around.” He further stated that he never asked what “horsing around” by Sandusky entailed.

"Taking into account the available witness statements and evidence, it is more reasonable to conclude that, in order to avoid the consequences of bad publicity, the most powerful leaders at Penn State University – Messrs. Spanier, Schultz, Paterno and Curley – repeatedly concealed critical facts relating to Sandusky’s child abuse from the authorities, the Board of Trustees, Penn State community, and the public at large.

The most abhorrent part of this situation, beyond the actual sexual abuse, lies in the fact that university officials placed football as a higher priority than protecting children. Some of the victims would never have been abused if those who knew about Sandusky's behavior had reported it to the police. Covering up Sandusky's abuse can not be forgiven by the excuses those involved have given. They must eventually face the crime of their complicity.

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Mitt Romney Lacks a Compelling Case for Presidential Bid

addictiveinfo.com 

Somehow, Ham and Wry has missed the evidence that would suggest Mitt Romney will lead the country out of the doldrums and return it to its former state of prosperity. 

In fact, I don't think most voters know who Mitt Romney really is.  I certainly don't, and I have read extensively in various types of publications. Perhaps a just-released biography can offer some insight about him.

The Real Romney by Michael Kranish and Scott Helman, two Boston Globe reporters, concluded that the Republican presidential front-runner "is one of the least colorful Romneys." The authors examine the backgrounds of Romney's more interesting Mormon ancestors and analyze his relationship with his father, George Romney, who served three terms as the governor of Michigan. I can certainly buy the idea that Mitt is not one of the most colorful of the clan. Frankly, he lacks charisma and warmth in his public persona and doesn't relate well to people one-on-one. He behaves like a caricature of himself.

Romney tries to make the case that he knows how to create jobs while glossing over the fact that he sent many jobs overseas when he led Bain Capital, and some of the companies he "helped" went bankrupt.  Oddly enough, Bain always made beaucoup bucks, regardless of the outcome for the troubled organizations. Frankly, that doesn't earn him the moniker of "jobs creator." In fact, it provides no measure for how he would lead a government when Congress doesn't have to do what he tells them to do most of the time.  His power to hire and fire exists only in his administration and that has some restrictions as well.

Of one thing, I am sure. Mitt Romney has never had to make some of the hard choices that most of us have had to do in this time of economic uncertainty. He most likely hasn't seen the inside of a grocery store and has no need to worry about whether his bank account is overdrawn or choose between paying the mortgage or making needed home repairs. He does not understand the middle class and the poor viscerally because he hasn't experienced the gut-wrenching angst that accompanies financial strains. That makes him different from the vast majority of Americans.

With all of the global unrest and trouble spots, why should we switch leaders and vote for Mitt Romney?  He's not well-informed about all of the places our troops are deployed, and he would have a huge learning curve to catch up to President Obama's knowledge. Even if voters aren't crazy about President Obama, Osama bin Laden was eliminated, as were many of his top lieutenants, under Obama's leadership.

He also supported the health care law, although Congress voted to make it law. Ham on Wry finds it curious that people object to it because it's socialized medicine. One third of our country is covered by socialized medicine, over 100 million people, because they use either Medicare or the military health system. It has worked for years and could have simply been extended to cover the rest of the population with a similar sysem.  People complain that they shouldn't be forced to buy health care insurance, but taxpayers pay when people aren't covered. Preventive care is far less expensive than fixing something that has gone horribly wrong with the body, and people without insurance don't receive preventive check-ups.

So, why should I vote for Mitt Romney? I can think of no good reason. In my view, he will do more to protect the wealthy than he will for the rest of us.

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Savannah Guthrie Supplants Ann Curry on Today

Today Show website

The Today show team welcomed Savannah Guthrie to her new role as co-host July 9.  Matt Lauer, Al Roker, and Natalie Morales celebrated her contributions to the third hour of the show and revealed some little known facts about her childhood.

Savannah's engaging personality, hard driving interview style, and charm make her a likely winner at occupying the coveted seat next to Matt on the set.

Ham on Wry wishes Savannah success, but tempers that with an emphatic criticism of NBC's handling of Ann Curry's departure.


Curry dedicated herself to tough assignments on the road and landed interviews with people that others couldn't accomplish.  She deserved the kind of send-off that Guthrie received when she replaced Ann. NBC owes Ann a public apology for its insensitivity toward her. Matt, Al, and Natalie all had a "deer in headlights" look and appeared ill at ease throughout Ann's good-bye. I haven't watched Today since she departed June 28 and have tuned in to Good Morning America instead. Perhaps if other viewers have opted for the same action, NBC will realize that a drop in the ratings was far more complex than replacing one person. Executives should examine the format more closely.

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Jon Huntsman and Olympia Snowe-Two Views of Problems in Congress

unews.utah.edu

Jon Huntsman announced yesterday that he will forgo this year's RNC convention being held in Tampa, Florida, the last week of August. The former Republican presidential hopeful, who served one term as the governor of Utah, released a statement explaining his refusal to participate in the 2012 convention or future gatherings until his fellow conservatives start tackling the bigger issues. This will be the first time he will miss the Republican convention since he served as a delegate for Ronald Reagan in 1984.


“I will not be attending this year’s convention, nor any Republican convention in the future, until the party focuses on a bigger, bolder, more confident future for the United States – a future based on problem solving, inclusiveness, and a willingness to address the trust deficit, which is every bit as corrosive as our fiscal and economic deficit. I encourage a return to the party we have been in the past, from Lincoln right on through to Reagan, that was always willing to put our country before politics.”


Ham on Wry supports Huntsman in his choice, based on the mean-spirited, lock-step mentality displayed by Republican members of Congress during the 112th session.


Olympia Snowe, a Republican senator from Maine, cited the lack of compromise as a major factor in her decision to leave the Senate after serving three terms. The full text of her statement appears below and is worth reading in its entirety. It eloquently sums up the failings of the both parties in the Senate to follow the tenets delineated in the United States Constitution.

mainebusines.mainetoday.com

Two truths are all too often overshadowed in today’s political discourse: Public service is a most honorable pursuit, and so is bipartisanship.
I have been immeasurably honored to serve the people of Maine for nearly 40 years in public office and for the past 17 years in the United States Senate. It was incredibly difficult to decide that I would not seek a fourth term.

Some people were surprised by my conclusion, yet I have spoken on the floor of the Senate for years about the dysfunction and political polarization in the institution. Simply put, the Senate is not living up to what the Founding Fathers envisioned.
During the Federal Convention of 1787, James Madison wrote in his Notes of Debates that “the use of the Senate is to consist in its proceedings with more coolness, with more system, and with more wisdom, than the popular branch.” Indeed, the Founding Fathers intended the Senate to serve as an institutional check that ensures all voices are heard and considered, because while our constitutional democracy is premised on majority rule, it is also grounded in a commitment to minority rights.
Yet more than 200 years later, the greatest deliberative body in history is not living up to its billing. The Senate of today routinely jettisons regular order, as evidenced by the body’s failure to pass a budget for more than 1,000 days; serially legislates by political brinkmanship, as demonstrated by the debt-ceiling debacle of August that should have been addressed the previous January; and habitually eschews full debate and an open amendment process in favor of competing, up-or-down, take-it-or-leave-it proposals. We witnessed this again in December with votes on two separate proposals for a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution.
As Ronald Brownstein recently observed in National Journal, Congress is becoming more like a parliamentary system, where everyone simply votes with their party and those in charge employ every possible tactic to block the other side. But that is not what America is all about, and it’s not what the Founders intended. In fact, the Senate’s requirement of a supermajority to pass significant legislation encourages its members to work in a bipartisan fashion.
One difficulty in making the Senate work the way it was intended is that America’s electorate is increasingly divided into red and blue states, with lawmakers representing just one color or the other. Before the 1994 election, 34 senators came from states that voted for a presidential nominee of the opposing party. That number has dropped to just 25 senators in 2012. The result is that there is no practical incentive for 75 percent of the senators to work across party lines.
The great challenge is to create a system that gives our elected officials reasons to look past their differences and find common ground if their initial party positions fail to garner sufficient support. In a politically diverse nation, only by finding that common ground can we achieve results for the common good. That is not happening today and, frankly, I do not see it happening in the near future.
For change to occur, our leaders must understand that there is not only strength in compromise, courage in conciliation and honor in consensus-building — but also a political reward for following these tenets. That reward will be real only if the people demonstrate their desire for politicians to come together after the planks in their respective party platforms do not prevail.
I certainly don’t have all the answers, and reversing the corrosive trend of winner-take-all politics will take time. But as I enter a new chapter in my life, I see a critical need to engender public support for the political center, for our democracy to flourish and to find solutions that unite rather than divide us.
I do not believe that, in the near term, the Senate can correct itself from within. It is by nature a political entity and, therefore, there must be a benefit to working across the aisle.
But whenever Americans have set our minds to tackling enormous problems, we have met with tremendous success. And I am convinced that, if the people of our nation raise their collective voices, we can effect a renewal of the art of legislating — and restore the luster of a Senate that still has the potential of achieving monumental solutions to our nation’s most urgent challenges. I look forward to helping the country raise those voices to support the Senate returning to its deserved status and stature — but from outside the institution.

Ham on Wry urges all voters to inform themselves about every candidate that will appear on their ballots and choose people who are not running on a single-issue platform. We live in a complex society and a fractious world that requires politicians who have a world view and understand myriad issues that will face them if elected. The United States Constitution granted us certain rights, but, along with those rights, it emphasizes the responsibilities associated with them. This blogger firmly believes that many members of Congress have never read the constitution, nor do they uphold its tenets. People have power only when they exercise their right to vote. No excuses, please!

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Katie Holmes Moves On

Andrew Burton/Reuters

Katie Holmes wasted no time in moving out of the NYC home she shared with Tom Cruise and has taken residence in posh downtown digs at the Chelsea Mercantile with Suri in tow.

Officially, she filed for divorce June 28 and media reports claim that she wants sole custody of their daughter. However, in a statement Thursday, her attorney said that Holmes does not want details of the case made public and is not seeking an emergency motion to grant child support and custody, as some reports stated.

Cruise, an avid supporter of Scientology, has not spoken to the media since Holmes announced her plans to divorce him. Bert Fields, Cruise's attorney explained his silence by saying, "We are letting 'the other side' play the media until they wear everyone out, and then we'll have something to say." 


Rumors have swirled around the reason Holmes wants a divorce. One points to Scientology as a factor in her decision, purporting that she doesn't want Suri in the hands of an organization that many countries in the world regard as a cult, Germany and France among them. 


Shortly after she revealed her plans to divorce Cruise, she fired her security team and publicist, all of whom had ties to Cruise, and hired five bodyguards to accompany Suri and her on their outings. The Tampa Bay Times, formerly known as the St. Petersburg Times, has published several articles about David Miscavige, the leader of the Church of Scientology and his alleged physical and emotional abuse of former aides. Check 
www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/article1016927.ece for one such story.


Holmes is Cruise's third wife and was preceded by Nicole Kidman and Mimi Rogers. Oddly, divorce proceedings for all of them began at the age of 33. Ham on Wry makes no comment on that fact and leaves it to readers to seek additional information online if interested.

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