"IS IT FRIDAY ALREADY?"

It's been quite an interesting week in our world. Not really, but I am going to try to make it seem so. Not really... I'm not going to try that hard.

Earlier this week someone working with R-word.org or just angry with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel leaked a partial transcript from a closed-door meeting that occurred six month sago. During this meeting Emanuel reportedly referred to some liberal activists as "f**king retarded." Almost immediately a firestorm erupted with folks objecting to his language calling for his immediate dismissal.

"We find Mr. Emanuel's language extremely offensive. We have worked hard at eliminating this word from the English language," said Carol Schumacher of the Invitro Fertilization Association. "It shows just how insensitive this administration is to-"

I'm kidding, of course. The firestorm came from one Sarah Palin, the upcoming Fox News show host, who wrote in a Facebook post entitled "Are You Capable of Decency, Rahm Emanuel?":

Just as we’d be appalled if any public figure of Rahm’s stature ever used the “N-word” or other such inappropriate language, Rahm’s slur on all God’s children with cognitive and developmental disabilities – and the people who love them – is unacceptable, and it’s heartbreaking.

I'm going to have to draw the line here. Now, I can't stand Rahm Emanuel or anyone else in the White House. But this is ridiculous. The man wasn't attacking children with "cognitive and developmental disabilities." He was using a phrase every single one of us used as a kid to describe a friend's behavior we thought was stupid. "Quit acting retarded, Jimmy. Right field ain't that bad."

Now, I'll admit that I have phased that word out of my repertoire over the years because it is a rather juvenile usage, but what do you expect from an administration that thinks the best way to deal with one's enemies is to bow to them? Did you really expect more mature behavior from Rahm Emanuel, Mrs. Palin? THAT would be retarded. Let's give him a break. It's not like he compared his bowling performance to the Special Olympics.

Since Nobel Peace Prize Winner Barack Obama has ended all wars around the globe people have begun looking closely at his economic strategy. The Savior described a recent unexpected drop in the unemployment rate as "cause for hope but not celebration." It would seem, Mr. President, that would be the way most of your former supporters would describe November 2008.

To take attention off the economy the Obama administration has Declared War on Toyota. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has taken credit for prodding the automaker - known for its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction - into action concerning sticky accelerator pedals and sluggish brakes through phone calls. It's good that the Obama Administration is looking out for our well-being and protecting us from those evil Japs who took over a week to profusely apologize for failing the auto consumer and providing a full recall.

Meanwhile, Ford was thinking about accepting some responsibility for the Pintos, Lincoln Town Cars, F-150s, Rangers, and other models that have randomly burst into flames over the years... then decided not to. GM: Part 2 breathed a sigh of relief knowing they don't even carry liability for vehicles produced prior to the bailout. Chrysler continued to Dodge the subject.

To wrap this up, I think Toyota should leave the brakes on the Prius alone... for Sarah Palin's sake. If people using words in empty, unthinking ways hurts others, what better vehicle for eliminating those people? Who drives Priuses? (Priusi?) College professors and the Hollywood "elite." Talk about emptiness. If an actor wants to look down his nose and admonish me, bragging about the fact that he drives a Prius - all the while ignoring the Hummer and Porsche in his garage, which is attached to a 6,000 SF home that stays heated and cooled year round, and the fact that he acts in movies, which, between lighting, computer usage, support crews, distribution, projection, and promotion, use more fossil fuel-based electricity each than the entire state of Arkansas produces - I say f**k his brakes... he's retarded!