The Company Change That Didn't Happen

As a friend and I would discuss a particular topic, I'd often say, "I don't know why we're here (i.e. in this situation)...if it's solely for our friendship, that's good by me.  We may never know."

"We may never know."

"We may never know."

That thought struck me as other realizations hit home this morning.  I was THIS CLOSE to having a different job this past February.  More money.  More responsibility.  More like my previous job, but bigger.  More recognition, more spotlight. The person for whom I would work selected me for the job; that person's boss selected an internal candidate, pointing to the company's hire from within policy.  I ended up not getting the job.  

 

Another friend told me about an opening at their company about the same time I started interviewing for the job I did not get.  I liked the opportunity, thought it would be a great fit and that I would enjoy the work.  I got the job.  It is a great fit, and I do enjoy the work.  A big win!  Fast-forward to today....

 

"We may never know."

 

Hindsight is 20/20, and I can now play Monday Morning Quarterback on the company change that didn't happen.  Thinking about it, I was hit with such a sense of overwhelm that it, figuratively, knocked me off my feet.  Had I been selected for the other job, I'd be:

• Working, minimum, 60 hrs per week, plus normal air travel to two other locations.
• Missing everything relative to my daughter's growth, schooling, and baking pursuits.
• Missing everything relative to my son's growth and musical accomplishments.
• Making my wife play career widow, yet again.
• Missing my brother and sis-in-law have their first child.
• Not having any time to join my current band, or make new friends that have come through that experience.
• Likely not having enough time to remain with my previous band, either.  And...
• Not having any time to pursue my original music dreams.

That was enough to freak me out.  Then I also realized:

• I would have been supporting a system I didn't believe in
• For an industry I don't like
• And a political entity in which I have no confidence, at all, yet likely...
• Out of a job today due to the performance of the systems I was to support.

I can't put into words how thankful I am to my family and friends for their support as I made a decision to change companies.  The extended time with my wife and kids, the new friendships I've made, and the existing friendships that have been enriched, wouldn't have been possible if not for the way things worked out.  Thank you, God, for your grace and mercy!

Coming Clean

Okay, it's time for me to come clean. I've been hiding something. Most of you won't like it.

I have become numb to the abortion issue.

Yes, there, I said it.

No, you didn't correctly see what I said. Either that, or your brain didn't process it correctly. I did not say that I no longer take a stand on abortion. I didn't say that I no longer care about the almost-moms or the never-to-be-children. I said the issue itself has made me numb.

Why discuss the issue? No one listens. (I'll bet that at least half of you have stopped reading already, simply because you "know what's coming next.") Everyone walks into the discussion knowing that they are right, and that the opposition is wrong. All for morally-correct reasons, depending on your definition of morality. All depending on what you define as a right, and who has that right.

I could shock you by presenting a picture of an aborted, post-birth baby. It will make a great visual affect, and take hold of you for mere minutes.

But then, like everything else that shocks you, you will see it, again and again, and become desensitized to the image. Just like you did to Columbine, just like you did to 9/11, just like you will to Newtown. Some of you might have an epiphany, but most of you will go on with your lives, as if nothing here affects you. Unless it's "for the children". Then, you'll stop listening to reason, and go all in for whatever our glorious politicians are selling. Get out the little violins, please, the politicians are acting on behalf of "the children". Ironic, isn't it? But I'll get back to that later.

I could pull the Rahm Emmanual slogan, and say, "Never let a crisis go to waste," or go all Alinsky rules-for-radicals on you. But I won't; look at the establishment's response to the Occupy movement to see how well that went. They figured out an effective approach to Alinksy-type protests: let them peter out or self destruct. I could go all Cloward-Piven on you, but our federal-government loving Statists on both sides of the aisle have already succumbed to that one, so why belabor the point?

Or, I could argue a pro-abortion point. I can show that some people don't deserve to be born, because their mommas, or their baby daddies, won't support them. Practically, socially, and economically speaking, why put them through that misery? But then, Christians will get riled, go all Westboro on the pro-abortion crowd, and forget that all have fallen short of the glory of God, that all our good works are as filthy rags, and that, yes, even Christians sin, and continue sinning to their dying day.

Or, I could argue an anti-abortion point. I could use scientific and medical fact to make my points, but the pro-abortionists won't listen. See, science only matters when negating religion, not when dealing with an emotional issue of a woman's right to choose. It matters when disputing creationism, but not when discussing when life begins. Funny how we speak out of both sides of our mouths: we will create designer babies, which implies understanding that life begins at conception because "that's when you have to fiddle with the wiring", but then say that the developing life is not a life. 

Or, from the medical perspective, I could argue that those with a mutated 23rd chromosome shouldn't be born at all. After all, the parents' lives will be changed greatly, and they then have to sacrifice so much for the sake of a single child, while the rest of society has to suffer the selfishness of those parents and, ultimately, deal with the child's "shortcomings". (Oh, and BTW, please don't use the slur "retarded" around me, it is very offensive.) 

Or, I could take the athiest's view: religionists are assholes, simply trying to ram their views down my throat. Hence, I will never, ever listen to a religionist because they are simple folk, who obviously couldn't hold their own in an academic environment, and therefore could never understand this issue. Discredit the source, don't you know; don't discern their information and discredit THAT. It would take too much thought. It's easier to discard the whole person than to have to decipher and vet their message. 

(Disclaimer: Since I've taken special care to piss off practically everyone, note that I recognize not all people fit nicely into any one of these categories. But, come on! Even if you know that, isn't that your first thought when you have to digest an opposing view point? Isn't it easier to stereotype than to suck it up and process what someone else is saying?) 

------------------------------- 
If I know all this walking into a discussion, then why should I bother? If everyone already knows what they think, and no one is open minded or willing to accede on even a single point, what does it matter? Because, you know, compromising on one point of fact, and checking your emotions at the door, is like taking a gateway drug: once you take that step, you have to keep going down that path. 

And why should I care, knowing that the media could play a marvelous muckraker role in this issue, but that wouldn't fit the contemporary meme? 

------------------------------- 
Over a decade ago, I penned a tune, which had the lyric "where is the line of demarcation?" In other words, when is it an abortion, and when is it murder? (Yes, I know there is a premise in there. Whether you agree with it or not, follow me on this one.) 

Still with me? 

I thought the question was valid. I thought it was reasonable. Partial-birth abortion blurs that line, depending on your perspective. Gosnell-ing crosses the line. 

And this is why I am numb. 

I'm happy to debate with anyone about my views on abortion. I'm happy to debate with anyone on practically anything...if it is rational to do so. This debate is no longer rational. 

If you've read this far, you've probably agreed with a couple of my points, and disagreed with a few more. You've probably said that, yeah, this is what we argue. 

That's the problem, it's what we ARGUE. 

And it's not even on point. 

The "line of demarcation" question is moot. That, woefully, is a game changer. If there is no line of demarcation, then anyone, at any time, can set the precedent for premeditated murder of anyone, at any time, for socially practical reasons: 

• Overpopulated demographic? Too bad, so sad. 
• Wrong political view? Take 'em down. 
• Active dissenter? No longer any need to plead "enemy of the state". 
• Economic problem for the state - wipe out whole wards of the inner city. 
• Pre-existing condition that will never be cost-effective to cure? Good bye. 
• Mentally unstable adult? Not any more. 

Some of you are calling B.S. I don't think so, and am willing to go on record here. Think of it this way...wasn't partial birth abortion supposed to be an anomaly? Wasn't abortion supposed to be safe, legal, and RARE? Wasn't abortion "for the safety of the mother" supposed to be a worst-case scenario? Did you ever think that a doctor would be on trial for killing a birthed child (a living human) because he fouled up an abortion? As I stated earlier, those things that we find vulgar, we tend to accept as we receive additional messages of similar nature. 

The Declaration of Independence states our inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Think about the order: without life, liberty doesn't exist. Without liberty, you cannot pursue happiness. Yet, for the sake of health care, the federal economy, and politics, we are discussing what constitutes a viable life. How sad. 

The real issue isn't one of faith or lack thereof, prayer in schools, or even parental responsibility. It's a culture of death. We've permitted it to permeate everything that we do. We don't value life; we reason why some shouldn't have it. We are not shocked by anything, and we let everything slide. We've decided to discount the professional research of blocs of professionals, even when we should listen, because it's easier than dealing with nuance. And we'd hate to have our bubble burst when proven wrong, or maybe only proven inconsistent. Because our value is based on our own self-worth, our "brand", or our ability to keep up with the Joneses. Hence, our self-worth is vain and fleeting, not based on any substance. 

That's what made me uncomfortably numb. It won't end any time soon. Sanger, the eugenicist, would be proud. So would Kevorkian, and anyone else arguing for a societal, utilitarian rationale for killing live babies. The abortion issue is not the issue. Acceptable, premeditated death, as defined by our allegedly caring government is. And we are foolish enough to fall for it, every time.

Eighteen!

May 25, 1991

Seems like a ways back, but it's always fresh in my mind. It was an 80+ degree, 95% humidity day. The Cleveland Cavaliers were in the playoffs. My buddies and I were sneaking off to find a TV showing the Cavs playoff games. But it wasn't the temperature, the humidity or the Cavs that make that day special.

May 25, 1991. Eighteen years ago, it was the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. This year, May 25 is Memorial Day.

Lots of things have changed since then. Beer commercials show guys sneaking off during parties to find a TV showing their sports games. The Cavs are back in the playoffs on a consistent basis. And the Cleveland temperatures still reach the mid- to upper-80s with a significant dose of humidity added.

Eighteen years ago, I was in a limo with my brother and buddies, sneaking a peak on the limo TV of the Cavs playoff game. A mere hour earlier, I was sweating like crazy through my shirt, cumberbun, and jacket, being wed to my wife in a very hot and muggy church.

One thing hasn't changed. That is the love, adoration and admiration I have for my lovely bride. The Cleveland weather may change every fifteen minutes, but not Marie. She is the most consistent, stable and supportive person I know. She is simply amazing. Marie runs our household, home schools our children, knits like no one else I know, and puts up with me, 24x7. Whether it's ranting and raving about work, talking politics or bands, or just figuring out where we want our life to go, Marie is always there for me. I couldn't have asked for a better helpmeet if I had designed that person from scratch. Who says God doesn't know what He's doing?

Happy Anniversary, Marie. Thank you so much for a wonderful eighteen years. I can't wait for the next eighteen to unfold along with you, side by side. I love you!

The Repetition of Life

If I were to tell you what I did on a daily basis - oh, yeah, I have several times throughout the course of this blog - many of you would find it boring, mundane. Many times, the job is not that exciting. What you think about the job, though, doesn't matter to me. To me, it is satisfying and financially accommodating for my family. It enables me to pay the mortgage, pay bills, put food on the table, and still have time to engage in community and recreation activities as I choose. You would never see my profession made the key character in a b-grade movie, let alone a marquee production.

With those thoughts in mind, I introduce you to Animal Crossing: City Folk, available on Nintendo DS and Wii.

My brother and sister-in-law bought Animal Crossing for our kids for Christmas. It does not disappoint. If you are looking for high-energy, action-packed activities, this game is not for you. But, if you want your children to learn about our common, everyday existence - you know, the one TV doesn't show any more - this game is great.

You start by moving to a new town. In that town, you first meet the proprietor of the community store - Tom Nook. He gives you directions to follow before you can officially settle in with the game. You need to meet everyone in the town, work for him, and select the house you are going to purchase. After you work for Nook, then you are on your own. Yep, you are an employee for your first hour or so in the city, then you are a sole proprietor. Good luck!

How do you win in this game? You don't. It is not a "game". It is a simplified version of life. You earn "bells" by fishing, harvesting fruit, digging for gold, and other various ways. You have a mortgage, and can start a savings account which eventually earns you interest. And after you've paid off your first mortgage, you automatically get upgrades requiring a second mortgage. There is even the equivalent of a stock market - they call it the "Stalk" market, and you buy and sell turnips that have a fluctuating market value - but we haven't figured out how to use it yet.

You also continually run into the characters you met originally before you settled in. They often ask you to deliver packages for them, or they want to buy something you have. They have events you can attend - I attended the flea market and the fishing tournament - and you can visit the city for shopping and entertainment. You can also donate items to the city museum and recycle tin cans, boots and tires that you catch while fishing; the recycle bin is located conveniently in the Town Hall, which is also where you pay your mortgage and conduct other banking activities.

Whenever you decide to stop playing Animal Crossing, you retire to your bedroom. And the weather approximates our seasons because the game tracks current date and time. For example, there is finally no snow on the ground! Spring is here! (Okay, not really.)

You can send letters and gifts to other characters. If your Wii is internet-connected, you can even invite other friends to your town.

Marie and the kids have been playing since Christmas. I just started a couple weeks ago. Marie is on her fourth home improvement, and now has a basement. She has also planted several peach trees and is harvesting her bounty. The Artist is on her third home improvement, and the Engineer on his first, just like me.

I kept waiting for the game to get fun and exciting. You know, to have something really thrilling happen. Then I realized that the game is like life, especially for us who believe in the Lutheran definition of vocation. All four of us in the Quipper household have our preferences in home decor, how to earn bells, how much to spend and save, and how to contribute to the community itself. All along the way, you inherit the responsibility for paying down a mortgage and earning your keep. Mundane? Yes. Pertinent to your existence? Of course!

If you get annoyed with the entertainment industry constantly bombarding you with rock star type lifestyles, where you've failed if you only live a clean, safe, orderly, respectful life, and raise responsible children, then I strongly recommend Animal Crossing. It will give your children a good view of the day to day activities that we all conduct regardless of our vocation and talents.

What is the Cloward-Piven Strategy?

If you think the latest attempts at reviving the economy through the politician stimulation plan (a.k.a. the stimulus bill) and the mortgage plan make President Obama and Congress look like total doofuses, then you are looking at their activities through the wrong lens. See, you are thinking only of your own self-interest, and not of the politicians' self-interest. They know exactly what they are doing.

If you've never heard of the Cloward-Piven Strategy, it's worth reading. This is all organized chaos, and happening according to plan.

Hmm...

Looks tantalizing...doesn't it!

How to get that day off work...hmm....

Change You Can Count On Not Happening

Last week, Marie and I stopped into our local second amendment support center and picked up some new hardware. The gal assisting us happened to be the owner of the business, and spoke freely about anything and everything. (She was very helpful, too.)

She started talking about how both Bush and Obama blew it. If they really wanted to help the economy, they could have taxed guns and ammo an additional 5%, and they would be in tall cotton. I thought she had a good point there. Not that I liked it, but that it was a good point.

On the way home, Marie and I started talking about this. We came to the conclusion it would never happen. Why, you ask? That's easy: Democrats and RINO's would never, ever formally admit that the gun industry is a significant part of the consumer economy, and would never knowingly support it by depending on taxes from it. That would be like a Christian knowingly and purposely supporting the porn industry.

So, instead, Obama will increase regulations on things like foreign manufactured guns and ammo, and put wholesalers and American manufacturers in a position of not keeping up with demand. If you haven't heard yet...yes, that is the plan. That way, Obama can say he will defend the Second Amendment but still eradicate our ability to use the arms we now own.

This One Is Too Easy

How is the Democrat-led recession affecting you? Go here to let our beloved federal leaders know. Be sure to use terms that let them know. Like "Democrat-led recession".

I wonder if "transparency" means letting us see all the stories, even the ones that include phrases like "Democrat-led recession".

The anti-socialist/big brother side of me says you may want to set up a separate yahoo, google or msn e-mail address and use it. We all know that Google is already in bed with the lefties, so why push it?

The Propensity to Lie, Then to Increase the Lie

If you live in Ohio, you've no doubt seen or heard the annoying "get your Congressman to change their 'no' vote to a 'yes' vote on the Obama Plan" commercials. In the first place, anyone who has paid attention to politics for longer than, say, the last Presidential election cycle, knows that the ads lean far left.

For those of you who haven't followed politics that closely, let me explain. One of the sponsoring groups for those ads is Americans United for Change. If you go to their About page, then Wiki on their leader, Brad Woodhouse, you'll see very plainly that this is a progressive organization that is all about the "little people". I don't use that word to judge those less fortunate, but to give my take on how that group of people is viewed by libs, progressives and Democrats - but I repeat myself.

Spread the word that these ads, which are full of lies anyway and getting more fallacious by the day, are not for the benefit of the working class, but for the benefit of the Democrat leadership class.

Oh, and by the way, if you would be willing to help support a third party or two, many of these folks would change their stripes in a heartbeat. They will follow the money as long as they can, since they are all money whores anyway. (Sorry, had to use that word to make my point.)

Freedom is Dead

In his first public speech after the 9/11 attacks, President Bush said, “Freedom was attacked.” How right he was.

Now, a mere eight years and five months later, freedom is dead. Well, at least in the United States. The Partisan Democrats were joined by three Bipartisan Republicans to pass the largest socialist reform in America since, well, since, I don’t know. I haven’t done the compare/contrast to the New Deal to know for sure. I can say that thanks to the traitors in both parties, nationalized socialized health care is a certainty.

I hope none of your parents are past their working years and in need of an organ replacement.

I hope you don’t have kids just starting a practice in the medical profession.

I hope you don’t pay taxes now, because you’ll only pay more.

I hope you don’t home school, because that implied right will probably be taken away when the U.S. adopts the UN Rights of the Child contract.

We are who we elect. We let this happen to us because race, emotion, and “getting along” were more important than doing the right thing. We are lazy and selfish, and know better how to boss others around than to discipline ourselves.

Sounds just like our Congress and their puppet leader, The Jerk:

The only things left to do now are to lay waste to this concept of a consumer-based economy by spending no more than we absolutely need to, saving or investing the rest, letting the house of cards continue to fall until only the resourceful and self-sufficient remain, and teaching our kids about the “outdated” priniciples of civility, respect, responsibility and accountability.

Oh, and voting these idiots out of Congress in 2010 would go a long way to resolving this problem, too.

(This post is cross-posted at So Many Idiots, So Little Time.)

Then End of an Office

I think tonight's press conference pretty much makes it official. The President of the United States is no longer a leadership office held by people who swear to uphold their presidential oath. Nope. It is now the highest-ranking sales position in the United States.

To say the press conference was narcissistic is an understatement. A person who takes accountability for their responsibilities does not blame past employees for current problems. Or, if they did, they would at least hold the right people accountable. The Jerk blamed Republicans for the current financial fiasco (geez, wasn't it the Republicans who tried to call attention to the Fannie Mae and Freddit Mac problems?). Then he says only government can solve the current problems. Then he lends his credibility to certain non-news "news" agencies by calling on them as though their representatives are really reports. Way to turn "fairness" on its head.

So, President Bush realized that playing cheerleader wasn't the way to go. Now, The Jerk has decided that he needs to make everybody feel bad for the country's current economic situation. All so his party can pass the socialism-in-a-single-bill plan.

And some people STILL wonder why I voted third party in the last election. The Republican idiots are complicit. Oh, and have you heard about the Daschle brain-child in the bill? Don't get old, it will kill you.

Clowns to the left of me, and jokers to the right? No, not really. They are on a much more sinister plane than I could ever be on.

Birds of a Feather

Hey, for those of you who are loathe to support the big box political parties, be sure to stop in at Coup d'etat. I stumbled upon her (Rani's) blog when researching the term 'Revolution 2010' for my shirt line - you'll quickly see why when you look at the shirts. Be sure to drop her a comment, and let her know who sent you.

Blurt Shirts - Phase Two Begins

The evolution of Blurt Shirts continues. Not only have I added several new lines of shirts - more athletic, music and Lutheran shirts to come soon - and reorganized the store a bit, but I officially started my Blurt Shirts website.

This site gives opportunity to link to my store at CafePress, but it also gives me a place to post blogs that are specific to Blurt Shirts material. Some of that stuff may occasionally overlap with material from this blog and SMISLT, but we'll see how that goes. I'm sure an idiot of the week here or there will give me fodder for a new shirt design.

And for those of you who are wise in the ways of website development - not necessarily the techie component, but layout and placement - I would greatly appreciate your feedback about the site. (Yes, a couple of you in particular know I am talking about YOU!!!)

The blog feature is RSS capable if you'd like to subscribe. Also, my storefront offers the ability to subscribe to the my "Monthly Blurt" newsletter, courtesy of CafePress.

Stop by the site and the store, come back often, and buy something if you like what you see.

Thanks,
Rick

Now, back to your regularly scheduled rant...oh yeah, I think I'm a day or so behind on my Idiot of the Week post. Someone mentioned a possible candidate, but I can't find the link....

Blocking, Tackling, and Gadget Plays

"Blocking and tackling" - it is a term you hear a lot, not only if you follow football, but also if you are in the corporate world. The term signifies all the basic things you need to do well to have a well-oiled machine, one that runs successfully no matter what is happening in the world. It identifies the fundamentals. Obviously, it means the same thing in football. Blocking is necessary on offense to make sure that your skilled players can do what they do - run, pass and catch. You know, make positive yardage and score. Tackling is necessary on defense to ensure that the other team neither moves the ball nor scores. They are the unglorious tasks to be executed by all players to make sure that the team can win its championship and get the glory.

At times, a team may also toss in the element of surprise by doing something non-traditional, non-fundamental. They may throw in a flea-flicker, a Statue of Liberty play, or something else like that. Those plays are termed "gadget plays". Why? They are not normally in the basic arsenal - you don't want to use them too much - but they are available as necessary. Teams usually use them for one of two reasons: 1) They are desperate and out-manned, and are not good at the blocking and tackling components of the game, and 2) A game is so evenly matched, so tight and difficult, that a team needs to do something different to shock its opponent.

But, when life is consistently bad for a decent football team - my local professional variety notwithstanding - coaches talk about going back to the basics, blocking and tackling, and repeating those basics until the team again gets them right, and becomes the well-oiled machine it once was.

Believe it or not, this is not a football post.

I thought about this last night as our family was in church, celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Our confessional Lutheran congregation is not glorious. It does not have any gadget plays in its repertoire. Spiritually speaking, it is a well-oiled machine, and blocks and tackles to full effect. The sacraments are distributed. Hymns are sung by the choir and congregation, with wonderful playing by our choir director and our substitute organists. Visitors familiar with the basic blocking and tackling of our confessional team can participate without question of what is going to happen next. No gadget plays. We don't need to sneak up on our rival - he knows Christ takes care of us through his Word and sacraments. We do not need the gadget plays of the modern Christian church - contemporary worship, bands, or topic-based sermons.

At our congregation, we just keep ungloriously blocking and tackling. The newborn Savior of the world does everything for us. He shows us our imperfection, yet through his death and resurrection, has saved us so that we can experience his glory. We don't need any gadget plays. Do you?

Merry Christmas!

Blurt Shirts!

I should be practicing for my next gig, but I'm just way too excited about something...


See those fancy, shmancy shirts that the Artist, the Engineer and I are wearing? They are my designs! And they are just two of the designs available at my new store, Blurt Shirts.

You all know that I'm not afraid to rant. I've done it here, and I even do it occasionally at my other blog. I decided to start blurting out my little quips onto shirts, and I am really pleased with the initial results. My Blurt Shirts store is hosted by CafePress.com. I purchased and received my first shirts this week - Marie has one, too, but she was too busy taking the photo above to be included in the shot - and I love the quality of the shirts and the quality of the printed designs.

The pic above, even at this size, does not do the shirts justice. I've been working on opening up my store for almost two months now, creating designs (sports, politics, and music are also fair game) and organizing my store front as I could make the time in my schedule. Now that I have my own shirts in my hand, and am satisfied with the quality of manufacturing and delivery, I want to blurt out to everyone that

BLURT SHIRTS IS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

I'm Voting for Pedro

No, this isn't live blogging at the Presidential debate. The debate would have to be a living event, attended by living beings for that to happen. These two characters can't hold a candle to watching paint dry. Heck, if they are not careful, they might motivate me to login and do some work for my office tonight.

I walked away from the TV less than ten minutes into the debate. I've been listening from in front of the pc ever since. Multi-tasking is keeping me from going insane.

I could barely sit all the way through Napoleon Dynamite. But this debate makes it look like an Oscar winner.

A commenter on Michelle Malkin's site said this debate sounds like listening to Charlie Brown's parents. I had thought the exact same thing a couple minutes before reading the comment.

My comments:

• Neither of these opponents can stray beyond their company line.
• Politics without competition sucks. When you get good and have no competition, you play it safe. Both competitors are playing it safe. Which sucks.
• The effeminization of our federal government is complete.
  
• I'm voting for Pedro. At least he'll make all my dreams come true: I could ignore him, and not worry about the government doing ANYTHING to destroy my family.

Fantasy Land

In my dreams, it's still the same
Your love is strong, it still remains
In my dreams, you're still by me
Just the way it used to be
-- Dokken, In My Dreams

My dream candidate for POTUS is not Sarah Palin. It's definitely not John McCain, Barack Obama or Joe Biden. It may not even be Alan Keyes, Chuck Baldwin or Bob Barr.

So who is my dream candidate? What qualities do they possess?

Instead of putting it in terms of "qualities", let me put it in the frame of a response to a debate question:

Candidate "X", how can the American people trust you to reach across the aisle and put your differences aside?

Why, thank you for asking, Mr./Ms. Moderator, I have been hoping you would ask me that question. I think there is a lot to the question, and I will do my best to answer it within the two minute time frame.

Since 1980, Democrats have held the Senate majority for 2 years, the House majority for 6 years, and full Congressional majority for 10 years. Conversely, Republicans held the Senate for 6 years, the House for 2 years, and both for 10 years. Oddly enough, over the last 28 years, Democrats and Republicans have both held or shared control of the legislature for 18 years. You can see that both parties share in the creation of the problems over this period of time.

Now, to the question: "reaching across the aisle" is a myth that is meant to sound as though you are talking about compromise. But let's look at who is asked to "reach across the aisle". In my years of political experience, it is only the Republicans - and more specifically, conservatives - who are asked, and practically demanded, to reach across the aisle. Conversely, Democrats and liberals treat the aisle as though it's some type of invisible fence; should they cross it, there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth, and maybe even death. (smile)

So let's take off the blinders, and say what this really means: "Reaching across the aisle" is a call for conservatives to give up on their beliefs and ideals in order to write law that benefits Democrats and liberals. While Democrats continue to judge conservatives by their own values and call them on their indiscretions when they occur, Democrats are never called out on theirs, or called upon to compromise and sacrifice their beliefs and ideals for the good of the country. Shame on the Republicans for letting them get away with this! And shame on the Democrats for putting party over country!

As of today, right now, the term "reaching across the aisle" died. I will play by the same play book the Democrats do. If they want compromise, they can walk into the aisle just as easily as I can, but I will not reach across the aisle any more than they currently do.

And then, the response to a second debate question:

Candidate "X", what will you do to work with Congress and make progress on behalf of the American people?

That is another great question that I am excited to answer. On behalf of the American people, I would not work with Congress. As defined in the articles of our great Constitution, which I, on inauguration day, will promise to uphold and defend, I will work to fulfill the responsibilities of my office. My expectation would be that the 535 members of Congress would do the same. We will do no more, and no less, otherwise we would be abusing the powers and duties granted to us in the Constitution.

What does that mean? It means that it is the legislature's responsibility to create bills that they deem appropriate for the country. When I believe Congress gets it right, I will sign those bills into law. And, when I believe Congress gets it wrong, I am to veto those bills. And if Congress disagrees with my veto, then they have the ability by super majority vote to override my veto. These checks and balances were created so that the federal government doesn't become some type of super power, meant to be taken over by two political parties or special interests.

See, this isn't about how well the President and Congress work together. That plays to our desire to get along, but doesn't lead to good government. This is about performing our duties and obligations as stated in the Constitution. So I will not work with Congress, and I will not expect them to work with me. I will expect that they will do what they are required to do by the Constitution, and nothing more, and that I will do the same.

The candidate who answers those two questions in this manner will be my dream candidate. That would prove country over party, regardless of the party.

I can dream, can't I?

(And doesn't George Lynch play a wicked solo on the song at the link?)

Party in power facts taken from here.

Obama? Left-leaning?

Whatever you've heard or know, I think you are wrong. You need to read this.

For my e-mail friends who think Obama is a bit left of center, they'll be receiving this article so they can see that they are wrong.

Full Moon?

I get the impression that we will have a full moon from now until all the November election votes are counted, and maybe even longer. I've been taken in by the reporting and commentary regarding the Dem and Rep conventions and the events that followed. Not in a good way. You can read about it here.

I say they are all idiots, and we should start over. What do you think?

Men & Women, and Their Choice of Tools

Sometimes, tools and talents go undiscovered by people for their entire life. Other times, it just takes a little frustration, inspiration or time for those tools and talents to be discovered.

My wife, Marie, has always had a talent for writing, and over the past couple years learned that she's pretty good at this knitting thing, too. (BTW...Happy Anniversary, Marie. We turned 17 years old yesterday!) She's decided to spread her wings, and start a second blog. You gotta see her new digs at Picking Up Pen and Needle.

As for me, I'm trying to upgrade Running in Circles a little bit, and make us more party- and event- available, instead of just having us play bars and deal with lots of the baloney from bar owners and booking agents. Plus, it'll keep us playing a couple years longer - getting home by 1am from parties instead of at 3am, like we do now.

I created this video, which I hope to use as a promo cd for the band. Let me know your thoughts. (Photobucket cut off the last 30 seconds, but the full video is viewable on CD.)

Finally, have you stopped at So Many Idiots, So Little Time yet? I'm looking for this week's submissions.