Keillor joins ranks of grumpy old white guys

In response to Garrison Keillor's Jan. 23 admonishment to tea partyers (sic) and other discontents of Congress and the president in America to “wake up and smell the coffee,” I can't help but feel for this angry old progressive who sees his hopes fading for the European model becoming law after the people of Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia have said enough is enough.

In his disjointed essay, he broad brushes about uncaring people (conservatives) feasting and vacationing in the Caribbean while uncounted, unidentified people a hundred miles off are being dumped into mass graves.

He tries to connect a right to universal health care to churches being afraid of offending conservatives. Sweeping health care reform in either the House or Senate versions with all of the wheeling and dealing behind closed doors does not translate into a panacea to help the poor and uninsured. Labor unions with their “Cadillac health care plans” are excluded from paying their share of the price tag.

Accolades and affection for gentle and patient Harry Reid is most laughable. No mention of Harry's comment on Obama's light skin color and non-negro dialect. Why not?

Mr. Keillor, you have joined the ranks of grumpy old white guys in the likeness of Andy Rooney, Jimmy Carter and the late Walter Cronkite. You were once funny and folksy. You've become a disgruntled, uncompromising ideologue lashing out to any who oppose the policies of the president and those caring progressives you call realists. “We shall prevail.” Indeed.

Dennis Ungs

Riverside