Pen-pricks
• The GOP health care bill died a second time when the usual few Republican senators killed it before it got to the floor. Republicans are having a terrible tortuous time trying to vote together on a health care bill. Laurel and Hardy looked better trying to push a piano up the staircase.
• Saudi Arabia yielded to international pressure and lifted its ban on allowing women to operate a motor vehicle. It opens up a whole new world. Saudis can finally go to a movie theater and watch Thelma and Louise in its entirety, not just the 12 minutes where women aren’t driving.
• North Korea’s foreign minister said at the UN that a state of war now exists between North Korea and the U.S. He said they’ll start shooting down U.S. planes. When reporters asked North Korea’s foreign minister what life is like under such a brutal regime, he said he can’t complain.
• The CDC cited a world survey showing that Americans work longer hours than people in any other country. On top of that, a UC Berkeley study says that lack of sleep has reached catastrophic levels in the United States. So it’s really nice to see Congress finally showing leadership on something.
• NYC former Congressman Anthony Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in prison for sexting with a minor. He will be in federal lock-up until he’s served his time or gets released. So Weiner’s got almost two years to figure out how to send nude photos of himself through a pay phone.
Argus Hamilton is the host comedian at The Comedy Store in Hollywood and a speaker. His email address is argus@argushamilton.com.
What a month for the United States. We had Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, the devastation in Puerto Rico, the controversial display of NFL players taking a knee and tweets by our president attacking the same.
First off, the federal response to the southeast states affected by Irma and Harvey has been more than adequate. Katrina in 2005 was a disaster. We now have a more capable response plan in place. Someone deserves credit.
Our president made some disparaging comments regarding a number of NFL players disrespecting our flag, our heritage and our anthem. Sometimes what is generated in the cerebral cortex should not run across our lips. President Trump seems to struggle with this issue. His detractors have run the gamut from calling for his impeachment to his demise. There have been many despicable references indeed. Quite frankly, I thought we were better than that.
This is exactly the type of behavior that our adversaries have been waiting for. Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and the puppet regimes in Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority (Hamas and Hezbollah) revel in this tumult. They savor disruption and discord in our nation. We are playing into their hands but are so distracted by our own minutiae that we can’t see the forest for the trees.
So many folks are clueless about the big picture. It’s time to stop navel gazing and get on board.
After 9/11, we were a nation united. We came to the aid of our brothers and sisters in need. We were unified more than we have been since World War II. What happened to that unity and brotherhood?
We need it now more than ever.
Professional athletes are disrespecting our flag, our national anthem and the American people by refusing to stand during the national anthem. If they have a disagreement with our president, then direct it toward him, not the American people who made them rich and famous.
If you don’t like our national anthem, our flag and the American public that gave you all your fame and money, then pack your bags and leave the country.
As for the fans of these athletes that have been so insulted, may I suggest that all of us stop attending their games, stop paying outrageous prices to attend their games and stop watching their insults on TV. When the money stops coming in to pay all of these millionaires, the message will be quite clear to them.