There are days when the strange and odd seem to be begging for attention. Today is one of those days.
That it is a day for strangeness was impressed upon me when my path was crossed by an oddly named Chevrolet early in the afternoon. In fact, though, the strangeness began much earlier with a morning read of the newspaper.
Front-page news was the story about yesterday's speaking appearance in front of the U.S. Congress made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. There were many strange aspects to that event, but the strangest to me was his statement regarding Iran's nuclear program that "nuclear know-how without nuclear infrastructure doesn't get you very much." (Could that be interpreted as a sly threat to attack Iranian territory? Some might think so.)
Mr. Netanyahu is not a fan of Iran and its nuclear program; that's understandable. However, it seems very strange that the official representative of a nation that prides itself on success in the face of adversity would assume that Iran--also a nation of people with pride in national accomplishments--would not feel compelled and able to redouble efforts to enlarge its nuclear efforts if the infrastructure for those efforts were to be damaged by a deliberate attack. Instead, in the face of open hostility, and in the absence of negotiations, it is likely that Iran would simply continue its efforts in developing nuclear technology in a more clandestine and secretive way. That would be something that could lead to increased and continuing danger for Israel. It seems strange to me that Israel's PM would not appreciate that possibility.
(Also strange about all the reporting on Mr. Netanyahu's visit is that there has been no visible commentary on the security that Israel enjoys because of its own nuclear arsenal. Has that aspect of the current situation been entirely forgotten?)
Far from completing the strange behaviors associated with this non-official official visit of Mr. Netanyahu's, but sufficing for the present: Isn't it strange that John Boehner, Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives--who breached long-standing diplomatic protocol by inviting the Israeli PM to speak without first consulting with the Administration--seems pleased with himself for allowing Congress to be a forum for what was a campaign speech in advance of Israel's elections in mid-March? (The speech was scheduled during prime-time television viewing in Israel.) Does Congress have nothing better to do with its time than allow itself to be used this way?
Next to seem strange in the morning news was today's Supreme Court case challenging the Affordable Care Act by claiming that people who enroll in insurance through the Federal marketplace are not eligible for premium subsidies. The phrase "frivolous lawsuit" comes to mind here. While the plaintiffs'--in other words, Republican--assertion that the Obamacare statute uses the phrase "established by the State" is true, their conclusion that this means that subsidies are legally made only in states that actually run their own marketplaces--in other words, excluding the Federal marketplace, commonly known as Healthcare.gov--is almost laughably erroneous. The only way to arrive at that conclusion would be to separate that one phrase from the entire context and intent of the ACA. Hoping for such a judicial decision is very strange if only for the fact that the Supreme Court has a history of deciding cases in favor of legislative intent.
Let's not forget that for years now the Republican opposition to Obamacare has been in large part an objection to the national fiscal aspects of providing premium subsidies; much of this opposition has been spoken by Republican Senators and Representatives who publicly and loudly object to the ACA's intent of providing these subsidies nation-wide. If that has been their objection, then it seems that they have known that the law's intent has always been to provide these subsidies to people in every state of the land. Are these people now afflicted with mass amnesia? Strange behavior, isn't it?
The next bit of today's strangeness comes courtesy of Ben Carson, potential Republican presidential candidate and the current darling of the GOP's right wing. Strangely, Dr. Carson seems to have chosen today to remove himself from any presidential candidacy by announcing that America's prison population provides proof that homosexuality is a choice. Where did that come from?!? Is Dr. Carson--supposedly a highly intelligent individual--truly that many decades behind medical science? Does he enjoy sharing social prejudices with the likes of Vladimir Putin, president of Russia? Very strange behavior, isn't it?
As for the car with the strange name -- it was a Chevrolet Captiva, a mid-size SUV. Perhaps it's just me, but that's a name that doesn't seem to say "go out and buy one of these!" Chevrolet used to like naming its cars in lyrical and evocative ways -- Impala and Caprice for comfy sedans; Stingray, Camaro and Z28 for edgy, fast sports cars. And now -- Captiva. Well, it's not offensive, it's just. . .odd.
But the strange and the odd can make for focus. Thank you, Chevrolet, for helping me focus on today's strange things.
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