This is congressional overseeing in the same sense that Col. Klink and Sgt. Schulz were guarding a POW camp. — Tam, talking about how Congress must draw information out of the agencies it oversees, rather than the agencies just being open, honest, and forthcoming.

Here’s the deal, folks.  We’re all supposed to be on the same team.  Yes, I know that no branch of government likes the others ‘meddling’ in their business, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be.  The President orders the NSA, the DOD, the IRS, or the EIEIO to do such and such.  The agency in question then comes up with what resources are necessary to do such and such, and takes that to Congress for budgeting and oversight purposes.  Congress is supposed to be given all of the necessary information for them to make a good decision on legislation and oversight, not just what they can think to ask about.  If what the agency is doing or plans to do comports with A) the Constitution, B) existing legislation, and C) the will of Congress’ constituents, then the Congressmen are supposed to approve the funding to do it.  If it doesn’t, then they tell the agency to go back and try to come up with something that fits those criteria.  Executive branch agencies aren’t supposed to do things that they aren’t willing to tell Congress about, and the Congress isn’t supposed to play politics with the truth.  Sadly, at least since the Nixon administration, and possibly for much longer than that, that’s what we have.

Oh, and by the way, a very wise government lawyer once told me that ‘need to know’ and ‘classification’ stop working when you start testifying to Congress.  Congressmen and Senators, by reason of their position, automatically have a need to know.  Hiding behind “that’s classified” and “Senator Blotarski doesn’t have a need to know” should be a way to get yourself thrown into a federal lock-up.

Irish Woman and I were looking at the sections of picket fence that I’ve put in so far.  Since our back yard slopes downward from front to back, each section has a bit of difference in the distance from the bottom of the first picket to the ground versus the distance from the bottom of the last picket to the ground.  In a couple of sections, it’s more pronounced than others (Hooray for ugly grades!)

Irish Woman – That gap is 9 inches.  So is that one down there and that one down there.  You need to lower all three sections.

Me – No it’s not!  That’s only six inches, and we can build a raised bed there or something to cover that.  It will take me hours to undo those sections and re-do them!  We can live with the way it is!

Irish Woman, patient as ever – No, it’s 9 inches, and that’s too much to cover.  It doesn’t make any sense to put up a fence to keep in animals and small children when you leave a gap big enough they can get their heads under and get hurt.

Me – Fine!  I’ll measure it. Don’t tell me it’s too big a gap.  I know what we can work with.  Let’s see here….. There you see, it’s…… 9 inches.  Fine!  I’ll lower the verdammte sections!  Are you happy now?

Irish Woman – I told you it was 9 inches.  I’m a woman.  I know the difference between 6 and 9 inches.

Me – ………

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations. — Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865

History has shown time and time again that handouts hurt more than they help. The cliché of giving a man a fish vs. teaching him to fish is perfectly valid. Society benefits more by holding Fishing Clinics versus handing out all you can eat tilapia. Expecting people to work for their sustenance is not cruel or heartless, teaching them a life of dependency is. — Robb Allen, “How I feel about the poor and downtrodden“

A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.  — Malcolm X

For us in Russia, communism is a dead dog, while, for many people in the West, it is still a living lion. – Alexandr Solzhenetsyn

Irish Woman – Boo, show daddy the candle you made today. Tell Daddy how you learned about candles.
Boo – Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack….um mm
Me – Jack burnt off his…..
Irish Woman – Hey!  Who wants cobbler?

I never claimed to be a good influence on impressionable youth.

Stand your ground; don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here — Captain John Parker, Battle of Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775.

I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it. ~ Jonathan Winters, November 11, 1925 to April 11, 2013