From now on please refer to me as Ms. Jenny Martin, H.S., B.A., M.P.S. I’ve worked really hard to earn these meager credentials, but should you feel the need to address me, that’s how I would prefer it. You know, maybe it should be Jennifer instead of Jenny – to make things a little more professional. And I don’t care how nicely you were going to address me; this is what I prefer. Got it?
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, I can get on with the real business of why I’m here – to blog.
Do you think the above seems at all ridiculous? You do? Good, so do I, but apparently if your name is Barbara Boxer, don’t call her anything other than Senator Boxer. If this news report has any grain of truth to it (take it for what it’s worth, as it comes from FoxNews), the Senator is more concerned about how she is addressed during a hearing than the actual answers coming from the witness.
According to Fox, “Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was testifying on the Louisiana coastal restoration process in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He began to answer one of Boxer’s questions with “ma’am” when Boxer immediately cut him off.”
She insisted that he call her “Senator,” because she worked so hard to get the title. Honestly, the guy is in the Army, and calling someone ma’am is a sign of respect. And please, shouldn’t your brain focus more on the problem at hand?
It’s because of people like Boxer and other politicians only concerned about themselves that have made me lose all faith in the political process. Can she make it through a hearing without coming down on someone? Is there anyone in Washington who actually wants to do anything because it’s right for the people, not because it will get you re-elected?
And here’s where I officially come off my rocker and commit myself to an institution. I was watching Glenn Beck yesterday. Yes, I fully admit to liking that show, but only because the guy is absolutely insane and crazy, but oh-so-fun to watch. It’s a trainwreck of a show. But yesterday, he made a good point – or rather one of his viewers did. He recited a letter the show had received, and I found myself agreeing with the general thesis of the letter: who in Washington is actually representing my best interests? The rest of the rhetoric about us rising up and coming to Washington to fire people and take back government is a little far-fetched. But, she’s on to something.
Barbara Boxer’s vanity and all the failings of our government to do something about actual problems in this country have me seriously considering shipping out to my own little island and setting up shop myself. And if you visit, I promise you can call me Jenny . . . just Jenny.