cynthia ryan's Page

If there is any sure takeaway message for the week, it's this: Obama needs to understand once and for all time that the Republican party just isn't that into him. They don't want to play bipartisan any more than they want to date Fidel Castro. Well, perhaps we should excude Larry Craig from this. But, really, can Obama get over this?

Any hope of gaining bipartisan support for the health care reform bills circulating through Congress lies only in guaranteeing the right wingnuts that the current… Continue

It's been a week of dreams deferred and dreams answered. I'm just grateful that I've got a great crop of heirloom tomatos coming along as it takes the sting out of the dreams deferred ... healthcare reform denied until at least September when Congress reconvenes.

Here's the bottom line. They'd better damn well get it done by years' end, or it won't get done at all.

I have my doubts, because I believe the summer recess from that 'special needs' school known as Congress, will give the finge wing… Continue

“I think the Republicans would like to see us fail.”

Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

That's the latest in wisdom to leak out of the steamy backrooms of Congress, as the Democratic cousins fight amongst each other like sweaty, bored kids in the back of the family station wagon. They're missing the salient concept here of course ... yes, the Republicans would sure like to see a huge, resounding failure of any effort toward enacting a modern health insurance system.

Don't think… Continue

This week's Wrap begins with some thoughts from the road ... as in bicycling along Reno's beautiful backroads, and highways.

In as many weeks, I nearly bit the dust for a second time ... uh, asphalt, actually, as a car pulled out in front of me. I had turned from McCarran, south on Talbot Lane. I saw the older man in the big SUV sitting in the driveway of some commercial offices on the right, preparing to enter the street.

As is my custom, I raised my hand in a friendly gesture, to indicate… Continue

Can we all let Michael Jackson rest in peace, and perhaps get a little peace ourselves from the biggest, wierdest funeral of the new century. You'd have thought Elvis, the pope and a brilliant, young new president had just died by all the media driven hoopla. I felt really sorry for his kids, being tearfully paraded on stage. That was obscene.

… Continue