I remember during the presidential election campaign in 1992 that the Democrat’s theme was something along the line of “It’s the economy, stupid.” People supposedly weren’t all that interested in foreign policy or other non-monetary matters. They were only interested in the economy and how it affected them. Although it looks like this election cycle will be a repeat of that theme, I’d like to offer the Republican campaign the “It’s the character, stupid!” for their theme.
I’ve always felt that the character of an individual trumped all other qualities when running for office. For that matter, I think it’s the defining characteristic for most things in life, not just in running for political office. Anyway, I’m not saying that knowledge and experience aren’t important when dealing with foreign policy or economic issues. They certainly enhance your credibility in tackling these problems, especially in our current environment. Now is not a good time to be learning via on-the-job training. However, having said that, I think that anyone who can think on their feet and has a basic grasp of these fundamental policy issues can make the transition rather quickly and with little negative impact on their office. Anyone can get up-to-speed by surrounding themselves with competent advisors and trusted colleagues. But they better be very competent and trusted in the present situations we face.
No, the problem is taking this information and experience and making the right decisions with it. A person with character bases their decision on what is morally and ethically right. It’s simply a decision to do the right thing. It’s that little voice in your head that always pops up and gives you pause if you’re about to make a decision that doesn’t quite seem right. I think we’ve all had experiences in life where we wanted to take the easy path or make the best choice for ourselves but ended up making a decision that was not in our best interest but deep down felt like it was the right thing to do.
Don’t get me wrong. Neither candidate is a paragon of virtue. We all have our failings in life. We’re only human. However, when I look at the candidates, their contributions and choices in life, their mentors and friends, then the choice becomes very clear for me. This election will be at a critical juncture in our country’s history. The stakes are as high as they’ve ever been. Do we come to our fork in the road and turn left toward a one-way street of socialism and feel-good policies or do we make a right turn toward individual and collective responsibility for our countrymen and ourselves? The decision on whom to vote for this election has never been easier.
Now that the Olympics are over, did we get a true glimpse of the real China or a high-priced imitation? The games sure looked impressive on TV. The opening and closing ceremonies were well choreographed and quite colorful. The “bird cage” and other athletic venues were impressive looking. The various scenic shots of the landscape, the palaces and the Great Wall were certainly a marvel to watch. But was this the real China?
Current estimates put the cost of hosting the Beijing Olympics at 40-60 billion dollars – almost 3 to 5 times the cost of any previous Olympics. Additionally, numerous factories were completely shut down and others were operating part-time. Only a month or two ago, the pollution level in Beijing was that of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington and Atlanta, combined. The photo above was taken at Tiananmen Square before the Olympics started. Tens of billions of gallons of water were diverted from outlying farm areas to provide enough water for the city to irrigate the millions of new shrubs and trees planted as well as to provide safe drinking water for the citizens, tourists and athletes. “Safe” food had to be diverted for the influx of people. It will be interesting to hear of the sacrifices that were made by many of the people in the outlying regions who didn’t have a choice in the reallocation of resources. I also wonder what the long-term economic impact will be on the areas whose resources were diverted or completely shut down during this timeframe.
To appease the International Olympic Committee, designated “protest” zones were set up around Beijing to allow legitimate protests to be heard. However, to use a protest zone, a permit had to be approved. Guess what? Not a single permit was approved and many who had filed for a permit were arrested or deported. Web access was severely restricted to any type of site that had any negative connotations in the eyes of the Chinese government. Most hotel phone systems were being monitored.
Naturally, most of these things were never mentioned during the telecasts from NBC. We wouldn’t want to upset the Chinese government, would we? Virtually all the special story segments showed how great and beautiful and harmonious it is to live in Beijing.
So, was this the real China? Looks like Chinette to me.
Above Empyrean is a recent novel written by Bruce Herschensohn. It’s based on a scenario in which Islamic terrorists have taken over the U.S. Although it certainly can be characterized as a thriller-type novel, it is much more. The author presents a very clear and reasoned history lesson on U.S. conflict and provides much food-for-thought concerning the use of diplomacy versus a military response. The writing style makes this book a very easy read and his humor and wit is evident throughout. There is even a budding romance and spiritual component to the story. I found the book to be very entertaining as well as educational.
I believe this is a must read before the November presidential elections. I think it cuts through the current politically correct mindset we seem to be bombarded with in our media and our elected politicians. Highly recommended.
I’ve been out of town the past week. I just got back from a road trip to Vero Beach, Florida. My brother-in-law and I drove a car down last Tuesday (22 hours straight — woo hoo!) and flew back the following Monday. We took care of business and managed to sneak out just before Tropical Storm Fay hit. It was definitely a lot warmer than Michigan this time of year. It felt good getting back to the cooler and drier weather.
I no sooner got back home and the next day my wife left for a planned visit to see our daughter. Needless to say, we didn’t see each other very long. Gassed up the car, had an ice cream, talked a little, watched some of the Olympics and went to bed. A quick hug the next morning and off she went.
Now that she’s gone, it’s kind of lonely at the old homestead. I do enjoy my peace and quiet but I still miss not having her close by. Funny how that works. We’re pretty much together 24/7. When you’re together that much, you take each other for granted. There are definitely times when we get on each other’s nerves. It’s only natural. People need their alone time every now and then. You just don’t appreciate the people you’re close to until they’re not there.
Fortunately, this is just short-term. If you’re together with someone you care about right now, let them know. Be thankful, be grateful.
The Lone Ranger is captured by Indians…
The Indian Chief proclaims, “So, you are the great Lone Ranger. In honor of the Harvest Festival, you will be executed in three days. But, before I kill you, I will grant you three requests. What is your first request?”
The Lone Ranger responds, “I’d like to speak to my horse.”
The Chief nods and Silver is brought before the Lone Ranger, who whispers in Silver’s ear and the horse gallops away. Later that evening, Silver returns with a beautiful blonde woman on his back. As the Indian Chief watches, the blonde enters the Lone Ranger’s tent and spends the night.
The next morning the Indian Chief admits he’s impressed. “You have a very fine and loyal horse but I will still kill you in two days. What is your second request?”
The Lone Ranger again asks to speak to his horse. Silver is brought to him, and he again whispers in the horse’s ear. As before, Silver takes off across the plains and disappears over the horizon. Later that evening, to the Chief’s surprise, Silver again returns, this time with a brunette, even more attractive than the blonde. She enters the Lone Ranger’s tent and spends the night.
The following morning the Indian Chief is again impressed. “You are indeed a man of many talents, but I still kill you tomorrow. What is your last request?” The Lone Ranger responds, “I’d like to speak to my horse….alone.” The Chief is curious, but he agrees; and Silver is brought to the Lone Ranger’s tent.
Once they’re alone, the Lone Ranger grabs Silver by both ears, looks him square in the eye and says, “Listen very carefully you stupid horse, for the last time … BRING POSSEEEE!”
I find that “changing” only one word in the Democrats’ latest slogan makes it much more believable. Here are a few examples.
Senator John Edwards – finally admits to extramarital affair after constantly lying to the public and denying it. The following was Edwards’ response in 2007 to CBS News anchor Katie Couric’s question about whether voters should care if a presidential candidate is faithful to his spouse:
“Of course. I mean, for a lot of Americans — including the family that I grew up with, I mean, it’s fundamental to how you judge people and human character — whether you keep your word, whether you keep what is your ultimate word, which is that you love your spouse, and you’ll stay with them. … I think the most important qualities in a president in today’s world are trustworthiness — sincerity, honesty, strength of leadership. And — and certainly that goes to a part of that.”
Senator Ted Kennedy – He’s all for the environment and alternative energy but has been fighting tooth-and-nail to keep a wind turbine farm from being constructed a few miles from his own home. Also, he has basically gotten away with murder or at the very least voluntary manslaughter. He drove his car off a bridge after drinking at a party and without a valid driver’s license and left his mistress-for-the-night to drown at the bottom of the pond. Didn’t report the accident for over eight hours. The first people he contacted after the accident were two of his lawyer friends. The only thing he was cited for was leaving the scene of an accident. Four years later, at the height of Nixon’s Watergate scandal, Kennedy thundered from the Senate floor, “Do we operate under a system of equal justice under law? Or is there one system for the average citizen and another for the high and mighty?”
Senator John Kerry – “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.”
President Bill Clinton – one of only two presidents ever impeached. After lying to the public about his sexual encounters with a White House intern, he later lied under oath on more than one occasion. His pardon of friends and felons only hours before leaving office speaks volumes of his true character.
Vice President Al Gore – goes trotting around the country and the world in his private jet and SUV spewing tons of carbon telling all the “little” people about global warming and how everyone needs to sacrifice. Maintains a residence in Tennessee that uses more energy than 10-20 normal homes.
General Wesley Clark – Concerning his support of the Congressional resolution authorizing the President to go to war in Iraq, Clark said to the New York Times, “At the time, I probably would have voted for it, but I think that’s too simple a question.” Again, when asked by a Times reporter, he said, “I don’t know if I would have or not. I’ve said it both ways because when you get into this, what happens is you have to put yourself in a position — on balance, I probably would have voted for it.” However, when asked the next month by CNN whether he would have supported a Congressional resolution on the Iraq war, he said, “The answer is very clear. The answer is, I would have voted for a resolution that took the problem to the United Nations. I would not have voted for a resolution that would have taken us to war. It’s that simple.”
These are the standard bearers for the Democratic Party. Democrats should feel proud. I could list dozens more, but I’ll get too nauseous. Yes, there are some Republicans that have been guilty of less than stellar behavior, too. However, they don’t normally stay in prominent leadership positions in their party. They’re usually honorable enough to go quietly. Democrats seem to be enamored with these people and think their transgressions are perfectly normal. Do you really think the current Democrats’ slogan, “Change We Can Believe In” really means anything?
A few months ago, I wrote that one way to fix our political system was to term-limit our Congress. Putting limits on them would reduce their propensity to deal with issues based on how it would affect their chances for re-election. Unfortunately, with all the seniority in Congress, the chances of getting them to pass legislation limiting their terms are slim-to-none.
With this in mind, I’ve come up with a simple solution that would effectively provide the same outcome without any help from Congress – Always vote for the non-incumbent! This will provide the exact same benefit as having term limits. Whether you’re Republican or Democrat, just vote for the person not currently in office. This sounds a little crazy, but hear me out.
One objection I’m sure many of you are thinking of is that if, for example, I’m a Democrat, and a Democrat is currently in office, I have to vote for a Republican. Not necessarily so, or at the very least, highly unlikely. During the primary season for your party, just vote for the incumbent’s opponent. If the challenger wins the primary, this will effectively allow you to keep voting for your party. Ideally, I would like to see the two-party political system disappear. There’s too much divisiveness and voting going on strictly based on party lines. In its place, I would put in a system where the top four vote-getters during the primary season are put on the ballot. No party affiliations whatsoever. Each candidate would garner their votes based on their stand on the issues. The perfect situation would be for some non-partisan panel to come up with a list of questions on the most pressing issues for that state/district and require each candidate to provide a written response for publication in the local newspaper.
As I’ve said before, limiting a politician’s term will hopefully make them focus on their real duties and responsibilities of the office that they hold. A perfect example of this loss of focus is the adjournment of Congress yesterday. Rather than tackle the energy crisis facing the American people, Congress voted to adjourn for five weeks. In doing so, the Democrats avoided having to vote on any energy package that would have alienated their environmental friends. They weren’t looking out for the American people; they were worried about re-election and offending all their big money campaign contributors. I don’t think our forefathers envisioned or would have approved of a system of lifelong service as a politician. Too few politicians are holding too much political power. It’s time the American people wake up and reclaim their power by voting.
This may not be a perfect solution, but I think it’s a lot better than what we have right now. What do you think?
1. I’m trying to see things from your point of view, but I can’t stick my head that far up my butt.
2. The fastest way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
3. Stupidity is not a crime, so you’re free to go.
4. Beer: making women look better since 1965.
5. Before giving someone a piece of your mind, be sure you have enough to spare!
6. Behind every successful man, there is a woman. Behind every unsuccessful man there are two.
7. Condoms are easier to change than diapers!
8. Confucius say “Man who stands on toilet is high on pot.”
9. Confidence is the feeling you have before you understand the situation.
10. Dewey, Skrewem, & Howe (attorneys at law)
11. Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else get your way.
12. Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.
13. Energizer bunny arrested; charged with battery.
14. Flies spread disease. Keep yours closed!
15. God gave man a brain and a penis but only enough blood to operate one at a time.
16. First the engagement ring, then the wedding ring, and then the suffering…
17. Follow your dreams, except the one where you’re at school in your underwear.
18. Help stamp out and eradicate superfluous redundancy
19. House guarded by shotgun 3 days a week. Guess which days?
20. I took a pain pill. Why are you still here?
21. If everything is coming your way, then you’re in the wrong lane.
22. If you can read this, I can deploy your air bag!
23. If you’re against logging, try wiping your butt with plastic.
24. Relish today…Ketchup tomorrow
25. The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
I’ve never been a real fan of people that wear tattoos. For the most part, it seems like an attempt to garner attention. In particular, those with a large portion of their bodies tattooed seem to scream, “Look at me!” Others seem to do it as a novelty or to be cool and hip. There is also the full range of tattoos from tasteful to totally tasteless.
Last night, I was watching a TV show on The Learning Channel (TLC) called Miami Ink. It’s a show about a tattoo parlor in Miami, Florida. The show follows the daily experiences of its tattoo artists and the customers that come in to get tattooed. I have to admit, some of the tattoos that are created are truly artistic. The quality and realism of some of them really leap off the skin. From a purely artistic point of view, some of the workers are exceptionally gifted. Their craft really shows.
What has made me change my mind concerning tattoos is listening to some of the reasons that people are giving for their decision. For some, it’s a way of memorializing a friend or loved one. For others, it’s to commemorate a significant or memorable event in their lives. Last night’s show featured a young lady who was getting a tattoo of a piece of Kryptonite with the name Ivan stenciled below it. Ivan is her brother who is severely handicapped and is probably not going to live much longer. He is a big fan of Superman and she wanted to get the tattoo to always have a little something to remember her brother by. If I had seen that tattoo on her without knowing the story behind it, I probably would have thought it was stupid. There was another person, a pastor, who got a picture of a Phoenix on his chest and arm. He had been close to dying due to a medical misdiagnosis, but has since recovered. The Phoenix was a symbol to him that he was getting another chance at life, rising from the ashes, if you will. Again, had I not known the story behind it, I would have probably thought it a foolish display.
So there you have it. Sometimes what you initially perceive about an individual may be misguided. People have many different ways of dealing with events in their lives. For some, a tattoo is a sincere expression of their love or respect for someone or something. Try and factor that in the next time you meet someone. I sure will try.
The above photograph of Mount Shuksan was taken at the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in the state of Washington. If the rest of the national forest is anything like this picture, it would make a fine destination for any nature-lover. I’ve had very little exposure to the state of Washington. I once flew into Whidbey NAS in Oak Harbor and spent a few days there in the late eighties. I remember it being a friendly and quaint little town that reminded me of the small towns in southern Maine that I once lived in.
What I really like about this picture is the contrast between the mountain peak and the foreground. The vibrant and varied colors around the lake and the deep green of the treeline stand in sharp contrast to the monolithic shading of the mountain.
The name of the photographer who took this photo is Don Paulson. He hails from the state of Washington and is an accomplished professional photographer with numerous works in books, magazines and websites.
To see a gallery of his many and varied photographs, click here.
To view a higher resolution image of this photo, click here.
