My Pal Joey:

Wednesday – September 8, 2010

My Pal Joey:

Last week, we found out that my companion of almost 12 years has diabetes. The prognosis is not good and we have decided not to go the route of insulin treatment because of his advanced stage. My Pal Joey has been loyal. He has been there every second with me when I was down. He has given me joy and has never complained. The only vacation he has taken was to the Bed and Biscuit, when we took our vacation.

My Pal Joey came to us when we needed a pet. I never thought that a dog would be so connected to me and I connected to him. Any body that knows me knows that I am a devout dog lover and knows that I love My Pal Joey. Joey and I have had a routine for nearly 12 years. We take our early morning walk and we end our day with an evening walk. We go places and we enjoy our trips to visit family and friends.

My wife Lisa picked Joey out of the litter, because he came to us. She woke up that morning and said its time, we need a dog.

The merchants in our town know Joey and he is the mascot of sorts with the Fire Station No.1. My neighbors volunteer to take care of him when we are going to be late. Our mail man Barry always has a treat; and Joey loves his treats.

My dog, my pet, my companion had a job and he excelled at it. Never complaining, never showing up late. Joe has thick skin and he stands his ground when we wrestle. He plays fetch like a champion and he loves being outside.

At night, he curls up by me. At night, his eyes tell me, “don’t worry about the day, it will be alright tomorrow”. Just as his eyes are telling me now, I will be ok just be there for me. I have always believed that dogs are a good judge of character and they will bring the best out in you. My Pal Joey has done that for me.

I bring up this story, not for sympathy, but because the President brought dogs into his picture of the world. Over the weekend he said, “my critics talk about me like a dog.” The President said this as he was addressing a crowd in Milwaukee. He was talking about yet another stimulus bill. This time it was about infrastructure, and green highways. As the president said, “what we are talkin’ about here.” Mr. President, what I am talking about is your failure. You cannot bring a dog into this picture and draw a correlation. People and your critics talk about you, not because you are a dog, but because you have failed. You have failed as your party will fail and will become a regional party.

My dog has not failed me yet and when he leaves this life, he will be a memory that will never leave me or my family. Dogs do not fail, but people do.

Mr. President, you have given your critics, our enemies and the people we fear most a vision that your skin is not thick. Just as Paul Krugman, from the New York Times said, “you lack vision.”

Your own party is now running from you. You have failed to enact their agenda, as well. This is another story for another time.

Unemployment is at 9.67%. This is not anybody else’s fault. The party in control has been complaining about the Republicans saying “No” to everything. They should, because they know your policies are wrong. Mr. President, your party is in control. You guys make the rules and you guys propose the laws. The Democratic Party can make law and they can enact the law, without the Republicans. Mr. President, you cannot play the blame game any more, but we can and we have plenty of evidence.

I took the comments of the President to heart, because it tells volumes about a person when they bring the argument to a public FORUM and they make a comment about dogs. I take note when a person distorts the loving kindness of a dog and masks that around a tasteless joke. This tells us leagues about the man who now has let the world know he has - thin - skin.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: With limited days left until my dog faces the inevitable, I will not let my dog down I will do my job because he has done his!