Blogging about b*llsh*t

Image by Kristina B

I scan my Facebook news feed every morning to get information, ideas and inspiration for “What’s the Diehl?” I want to make sure my blog covers the most current news, the latest political developments, and topics of interest to others, not just me.

The problem is that there’s so much negative news out there right now.

In just five minutes this morning, I was confronted with the following potential topics for a blog post:

• Michele Bachmann says God sends messages through natural disasters and pledges to consider drilling in the Everglades.

• Ick Perry (no, that’s not a typo) says Social Security is a Ponzi scheme and signs a gay marriage ban for Texas.

• The “liberal” media refuses to report that just five people showed up in Republican Naples, Florida, for a Christine “I Am Not a Witch” O’Donnell book-signing.

• Republicans think they can use Hurricane Irene – which was much ado about nothing in many quarters, I hear – to force more cuts to popular government services.

• The Obama administration just moved toward approving construction of a 1,700-mile, $7 billion pipeline that would bring 700,000 barrels of oil per day from Canada to Texas.

• A report says foundations paid $42 million to spread anti-Muslim propaganda.

• The New York Times’ Paul Krugman points out that “one of these years the world’s greatest nation will find itself ruled by a party that is aggressively anti-science, indeed anti-knowledge."

• Michigan lawmakers are considering bills to end the state’s no-fault auto insurance requirement.

• Charities are bracing for the worst as Michigan welfare recipients are cut off.

• Detroit Mayor Dave Bing wants to use $316,000 of Head Start funds – which are supposed to help feed poor kids – to improve facilities.

• GOP Congressmen put constituents who asked tough questions on a ‘Watch List.”

• It's a myth that 47 percent of Americans pay no taxes; in reality, 86 percent pay taxes.

• The child poverty rate climbs in 38 states.

• U.S. support and aid to Israel – at least $10 billion every year – is more than the rest of the world combined.

• A number of stories reported by Fox News have turned out to be lies.

• Wall Street loves it some Obama. In 2008, Goldman Sachs contributed $1,013,091 to Obama’s campaign, JPMorgan Chase & Co. gave $808,799 and Citigroup Inc. gave $736,771.

• Ick Santorum (no, that’s not a typo either) says gays are waging “jihad” on his anti-gay, anti-Constitutional ideas.

• Texas lawmakers are fighting to insert Christian language in funerals for non-Christian soldiers.

• Salmon is disappearing from Lake Huron; marinas, charters and towns are suffering from the loss of game fish.

• Convict and disgraced former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is “excited” about returning to the Motor City to speak and promote his new book.

I don’t know why we didn’t let Texas secede when it was threatening to. I don’t know how much longer I can write about all the crap currently swirling around this country’s toilet (it’s not like I’m getting paid for this). I don’t know why I can’t just stick my head in the sand and leave the blogging to the thousands of others who have been doing it longer anyway.

Oh, that’s right. I care. Dammit.