You gotta love this. The old gray lady, as she was known when she was the queen of the print machine, the New York Times, runs a story insinuating that John McCain and a lobbyist had an "improper" relationship when he ran for President....the FIRST time. That's right. Let's sit on a story for nine years and call it research time.
What's fascinating to me is that the NYT endorsed McCain in the primary because of his integrity and principles. Apparently they think slinking around with another woman while you are married is a hallmark of integrity. Either that, or they KNEW IT WASN'T TRUE BUT RAN A STORY WITH ANONYMOUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WITHOUT ANY CORROBORATION, AND, THE STORY IS NINE YEARS OLD. Phew, the lack of integrity in journalism these days is getting exhausting.
The kicker in this? I was not a McCain supporter. I am still angry with him for all of the policy differences I have stated earlier. But today, I considered, yes considered, sending the campaign money. It was a maternal reaction to my party's lead candidate being railroaded by a story that would not make the cut for journalistic standards at a junior high school paper. I am hearing at this hour, that McCain's campaign reports that this story has garnered this same kind of support for him today and it's bringing in money...I am not alone! (I have yet to send a penny, still just considering...)
Now, if you're really a conspiracy theorist you might think that McCain's people pushed for this story to leak for just this reason...right-wingers like me detest the liberal leaning mainstream media so we would believe the NYT had malicious intent in printing this, and my initial reaction today might be just what McCain's people wanted to shepherd the conservative masses his way. I think though, that this is even too contrived for modern day Washington politics. (Or, as it turns out, New York politics...) I think the NYT has lost its way, and has never fully rebounded from its debacles over the years that have brought it crumbling down toward National Enquirer level, (although, the NE does sometimes get things right...) My thoughts are that this story belongs in the same box as CBS and Dan Rather's National Guard story. And then, it should be burned.
Senator McCain? If you did nothing wrong, move forward, point this out for what it is and you and Cindy can pity the left wingers who salivated over this story this morning. If you did do something wrong? Get out of the race now. It will never get better, more will come out, and it is indeed a sign of a lack of integrity. Cindy, either way, God Bless you and keep smiling, there is a tougher road ahead.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Congress needs a playpen
Dear Nancy Pelosi,
QUIT WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS. I certainly hope your grandchildren are better behaved than you are. The U.S. Senate, even in the midst of hearings on steroid use in Major League baseball, (which they shouldn't be involved in...) managed to pass a FISA bill. You and your minions in the House decide to play games a pre-schooler would delight in..."Let's demand a cookie before we pick up our toys..." it's your job to vote on this bill. It's not new, it's been around a long time, and sure since 9/11 we have had changes. Some people don't like those changes, and some of those people are in the House, fine, DEBATE AND VOTE. Isn't that what we pay you people to do? Tell the people what you don't like and why and work it...get it done, however it needs to be done.
This ridiculous position you are taking demanding Harriet Myers to testify about the U.S. Attorney firings has nothing to do with FISA and is an exercise in futility. U.S. Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President and you know it, you are just trying to make mountains out of specks of dust. (No, I don't even see the slightest molehill.) So now, I am looking at the Republican House members assembling on the Capitol steps to protest your protest and all I want to do is go to Wal-Mart (yes, WAL-MART...) and buy a carton of pacifiers to send to you folks so you can have "time-out" to think about what you've done wrong and make the decision to come out and do what you are supposed to be doing.
It's called the "people's business." And, we pay you to do it. GET TO WORK!
QUIT WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS. I certainly hope your grandchildren are better behaved than you are. The U.S. Senate, even in the midst of hearings on steroid use in Major League baseball, (which they shouldn't be involved in...) managed to pass a FISA bill. You and your minions in the House decide to play games a pre-schooler would delight in..."Let's demand a cookie before we pick up our toys..." it's your job to vote on this bill. It's not new, it's been around a long time, and sure since 9/11 we have had changes. Some people don't like those changes, and some of those people are in the House, fine, DEBATE AND VOTE. Isn't that what we pay you people to do? Tell the people what you don't like and why and work it...get it done, however it needs to be done.
This ridiculous position you are taking demanding Harriet Myers to testify about the U.S. Attorney firings has nothing to do with FISA and is an exercise in futility. U.S. Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President and you know it, you are just trying to make mountains out of specks of dust. (No, I don't even see the slightest molehill.) So now, I am looking at the Republican House members assembling on the Capitol steps to protest your protest and all I want to do is go to Wal-Mart (yes, WAL-MART...) and buy a carton of pacifiers to send to you folks so you can have "time-out" to think about what you've done wrong and make the decision to come out and do what you are supposed to be doing.
It's called the "people's business." And, we pay you to do it. GET TO WORK!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Washington State Caucuses
Wow. It's been quite a day. Today I led my caucus in electing delegates to our county convention and turned in my caucus members' preferences for President for the Republican party. I am pleased to report that most, if not all, of my caucus participants were first time participants, and they were interested, curious, and anxious to have their voices heard. While so much apathy in the Republican party is reported, I saw none today. We had grass roots activism for everyone from McCain to Romney (who officially suspended his campaign this week) Huckabee and Paul...it was a fantastic day to be an American citizen and to be a Republican and see independent minded people coming together to find common ground, have their ideas heard, and participate in the democratic process.
I am listening to Barack Obama right now in Virginia giving his victory speech for his wins in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington. Did you know he is wiping the floor with Senator Clinton? Now, I am no Obama supporter. He is a wonderful speaker and he is even now poking fun at his critics that take issue with him over his perpetual hope with no actual policies to back it up. There is nothing wrong with hope. Without it, most of us would not get through the day. This, however, is not sufficient to get us through a war, staggering economy, faltering social security policies and everything else we face. He tells us that it is not blind hope, and for that I give him credit for moving forward on this platform and kicking Hillary's behind with it. Yet, while I do not agree with his policies of universal health care, (hey, wasn't that Hillary's idea?), pulling out of Iraq and "changing the mindset that got us into war in the first place"...(sorry Barack, still TOO naive for my taste...) I am heartened that many democrats and left leaning independents are pulling away from the tired old Clinton machine.
Just do not forget...for all his uplifting rhetoric, if there are not sound, firm policies that can be implemented on day one, we all suffer for the hope we desire that comes unaccompanied by actual policy that a country can be run on. But, I digress...what about those Republicans? Well, McCain is still the frontrunner, but I am so awestruck by the results here in Washington State with McCain being taken out by Mike Huckabee. As I write there are 37% of the precincts reporting and Huckabee is up by 4% with Ron Paul pulling in 11%. (Paul has a HUGE grassroots effort here...) This, as we are often told, is a BLUE state. Huckabee should not be anywhere near the percentage lead he currently has, yet, there it is. I have already spoken about the left's efforts to leave the Clinton machine, perhaps Republicans here in Washington are pushing against the Republican machine of putting the "inevitable" old guy whose turn it is to serve in place in the White House.
At any rate, democracy is alive, people's voices are being heard, and it is a healthy thing. Elections should not be predictable. As candidates are heard more and more from place to place it should be a logical thing that people change their minds, make up their minds, and perhaps in some cases, move forcibly against a frontrunner they do not agree with. This is a wonderful thing, and it should be embraced.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Mitt, we hardly knew ya...
So, as I sit here and watch Mitt Romney suspend his bid for President, I cannot help but wonder what has happened to the conservative movement. It's not just a "base", but a movement of people who want limited government, lower taxes, freedom to pursue their own goals, safety for ourselves and our children, judges who interpret a law's constitutionality, and a strong military to defend us and our interests abroad.
Now, some of you will say that John McCain wants those things too, and he is saying so, but his record often does not support that. BUT, now is no longer the time to harp on those things, but to look forward to what he can do for our country in the future. We in the conservative movement must remind him of the principles he says are at his core. We must hold his feet to the fire. Should we fail, we may end up with a President with but one issue we have in common, (national security against Militant Islamists) and the rest of the landscape looking like a democrat is in the White House.
Anyone out there not ready to give up on barraging him with questions about his record? Don't worry, the dirty laundry will come out in the debates with the democratic nominee, never fear. The only difference here is that the dirty laundry is not an affair while married, cheating on taxes, hiring illegals, (they tried that one on Mitt) but actual policies that will or at least could impact McCain's ability to be a good Republican President.
So, as the planet warms and cools in cycles, (yes, I don't think man is all to blame for the melting of the ice caps, just ask those woolly mammoths..) the conservative movement ebbs and flows. We are still here, we will not be quiet, and we will not give up. But, we can see the writing on the wall, and it simply redefines our job for us. We may not be on top, but it is our calling to continue to educate, persuade, and rally around our principles to remind people of what they are, why they are important, and why moving too far in the other direction would be bad for our country, our families, and our future.
Mitt understood this. To divide the Republican party any longer made it easier for Obama or Clinton to win. This is not, and never was about ego, but what is best for the nation. Mitt, I salute you, and look forward to seeing you in the future. I know you're not going away, and neither are we.
Now, some of you will say that John McCain wants those things too, and he is saying so, but his record often does not support that. BUT, now is no longer the time to harp on those things, but to look forward to what he can do for our country in the future. We in the conservative movement must remind him of the principles he says are at his core. We must hold his feet to the fire. Should we fail, we may end up with a President with but one issue we have in common, (national security against Militant Islamists) and the rest of the landscape looking like a democrat is in the White House.
Anyone out there not ready to give up on barraging him with questions about his record? Don't worry, the dirty laundry will come out in the debates with the democratic nominee, never fear. The only difference here is that the dirty laundry is not an affair while married, cheating on taxes, hiring illegals, (they tried that one on Mitt) but actual policies that will or at least could impact McCain's ability to be a good Republican President.
So, as the planet warms and cools in cycles, (yes, I don't think man is all to blame for the melting of the ice caps, just ask those woolly mammoths..) the conservative movement ebbs and flows. We are still here, we will not be quiet, and we will not give up. But, we can see the writing on the wall, and it simply redefines our job for us. We may not be on top, but it is our calling to continue to educate, persuade, and rally around our principles to remind people of what they are, why they are important, and why moving too far in the other direction would be bad for our country, our families, and our future.
Mitt understood this. To divide the Republican party any longer made it easier for Obama or Clinton to win. This is not, and never was about ego, but what is best for the nation. Mitt, I salute you, and look forward to seeing you in the future. I know you're not going away, and neither are we.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Senator McCain, could Rudy be your VP?
Okay, so I'm not as melancholy as I was watching President Bush's last State of the Union last night. Now I'm just plain scared. There was a time, oh, six months ago, when I could have seen John McCain as our Republican nominee in the general election; electability when faced with Hillary Clinton was so important and I thought he could probably do it. Then, other candidates surfaced and did really well...Rudy was out front there for a long time and McCain faded far, far away.
Tonight we see McCain pulling yet another victory over Mitt Romney, and Rudy pulling a poor third with a drop out in the near, near future. Rumor has it that he will support McCain as early as tomorrow. I watched McCain's speech and he touched on security and strict constructionist judges...good, but what else? I guess a lot of what I don't like that much about him can be construed in a different way. Maybe I'll take some of that psychology I learned and start "framing" things differently and I will soon become a hard core McCain supporter.
McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, and the Gang of Fourteen...instead of looking at these past positions as moving away from conservative ideals I will start looking at them as "reaching across the aisle." If McCain has a good working relationship with these democrats perhaps it will be tougher for the dems to fight him on policy once he moves into the White House. As much as I was a fan of George it is clear, there are those that LIVE TO HATE HIM, and it drove them in their votes, their policies and their point of view while serving in Washington.
It is ironic because as I listened to Senator McCain tonight I found myself being uncomfortable with one of the same things I first fought when I listened to W...his speaking style. Where George was a plain spoken cowboy McCain is grandpa reading me a bedtime story. (Nothing seemy here, I swear...) I start wondering if I can listen to the guy for four years, during good times and bad, and I have to hope that as I got used to George I will, if necessary, get used to John McCain.
I heard a very interesting thing on Rush Limbaugh's show today...a gentleman called in who had a friend that was a blogger and considered himself a conservative, and explained his support for McCain this way: Because of McCain's age he will only seek one term. Because he will only seek one term, he will not do ANYTHING with an eye to a future election for himself. He will get things done, take no prisoners, (no pun toward the Hanoi Hilton...) and just plain move things on through. This will leave his VP in a firm position to be the nominee four years later so we do not have to fear another democrat for some time to come.
Rush said he'd not heard this before, but it clearly interested him. When the caller said that he too had thought about it quite a bit but hey, McCain has come out for term limits so this might make sense...Rush LAUGHED.....Sure, he said, McCain has supported term limits, BUT HOW MANY YEARS HAS HE BEEN A SENATOR? This is the problem with John McCain...he says the right things when it matters, but does he really believe it? If this IS true, who could be a VP pick for McCain if he takes this win on through Super Tuesday? Rudy? Thompson? It was just announced that Rudy will bow out tomorrow and endorse McCain...Who would the conservatives that are so far bucking the McCain trend want to see as a VP if the McCain train keeps on rolling through the St. Paul convention?
Another interesting thing off Rush's show today...(I do listen to everyone a bit, today was just a great Rush day...) Rush was mentioned prominently in Carol Devine-Molin's blog, American Daily, where she asked, "Who is Rush Limbaugh..." and asked why is he trying to tear apart the Republican party? It is clear, if you listen to him, that he disfavors McCain and thinks a little more highly of Romney...but while he has a huge audience, of which I have been a regular member for many years, he is still free to give his opinion! He is not a "spokesman" for Republicans or conservatives...he just happens to BE a conservative, albeit a prominent one. Devine-Molin missplaced her comment that Rush should enjoy free speech...well he sure should, he's a private citizen!
Who's Rush Limbaugh? He is a dedicated commentator, conservative, and private citizen who enjoys sharing his opinions, researching political stories and the future political landscape, and telling us what he thinks of the past, present and future, with respect to the politics within our country. He is funny, human, sarcastic and self-depracating, and he is not responsible for the rise or fall of any particular political candidate. Rush takes pride in the fact that his audience is full of people smart enought to think for themselves, and he will never take them for granted.
And...I'll be listening tomorrow to see what he has to say about his home state's pick for the GOP candidate...
Tonight we see McCain pulling yet another victory over Mitt Romney, and Rudy pulling a poor third with a drop out in the near, near future. Rumor has it that he will support McCain as early as tomorrow. I watched McCain's speech and he touched on security and strict constructionist judges...good, but what else? I guess a lot of what I don't like that much about him can be construed in a different way. Maybe I'll take some of that psychology I learned and start "framing" things differently and I will soon become a hard core McCain supporter.
McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, and the Gang of Fourteen...instead of looking at these past positions as moving away from conservative ideals I will start looking at them as "reaching across the aisle." If McCain has a good working relationship with these democrats perhaps it will be tougher for the dems to fight him on policy once he moves into the White House. As much as I was a fan of George it is clear, there are those that LIVE TO HATE HIM, and it drove them in their votes, their policies and their point of view while serving in Washington.
It is ironic because as I listened to Senator McCain tonight I found myself being uncomfortable with one of the same things I first fought when I listened to W...his speaking style. Where George was a plain spoken cowboy McCain is grandpa reading me a bedtime story. (Nothing seemy here, I swear...) I start wondering if I can listen to the guy for four years, during good times and bad, and I have to hope that as I got used to George I will, if necessary, get used to John McCain.
I heard a very interesting thing on Rush Limbaugh's show today...a gentleman called in who had a friend that was a blogger and considered himself a conservative, and explained his support for McCain this way: Because of McCain's age he will only seek one term. Because he will only seek one term, he will not do ANYTHING with an eye to a future election for himself. He will get things done, take no prisoners, (no pun toward the Hanoi Hilton...) and just plain move things on through. This will leave his VP in a firm position to be the nominee four years later so we do not have to fear another democrat for some time to come.
Rush said he'd not heard this before, but it clearly interested him. When the caller said that he too had thought about it quite a bit but hey, McCain has come out for term limits so this might make sense...Rush LAUGHED.....Sure, he said, McCain has supported term limits, BUT HOW MANY YEARS HAS HE BEEN A SENATOR? This is the problem with John McCain...he says the right things when it matters, but does he really believe it? If this IS true, who could be a VP pick for McCain if he takes this win on through Super Tuesday? Rudy? Thompson? It was just announced that Rudy will bow out tomorrow and endorse McCain...Who would the conservatives that are so far bucking the McCain trend want to see as a VP if the McCain train keeps on rolling through the St. Paul convention?
Another interesting thing off Rush's show today...(I do listen to everyone a bit, today was just a great Rush day...) Rush was mentioned prominently in Carol Devine-Molin's blog, American Daily, where she asked, "Who is Rush Limbaugh..." and asked why is he trying to tear apart the Republican party? It is clear, if you listen to him, that he disfavors McCain and thinks a little more highly of Romney...but while he has a huge audience, of which I have been a regular member for many years, he is still free to give his opinion! He is not a "spokesman" for Republicans or conservatives...he just happens to BE a conservative, albeit a prominent one. Devine-Molin missplaced her comment that Rush should enjoy free speech...well he sure should, he's a private citizen!
Who's Rush Limbaugh? He is a dedicated commentator, conservative, and private citizen who enjoys sharing his opinions, researching political stories and the future political landscape, and telling us what he thinks of the past, present and future, with respect to the politics within our country. He is funny, human, sarcastic and self-depracating, and he is not responsible for the rise or fall of any particular political candidate. Rush takes pride in the fact that his audience is full of people smart enought to think for themselves, and he will never take them for granted.
And...I'll be listening tomorrow to see what he has to say about his home state's pick for the GOP candidate...
Monday, January 28, 2008
Dear Mr. President....
Dear W,
Pardon my familiarity, but I feel as though I know you so well. You are family. You see, in 2000 I was a reluctant voter, but I just could not ever, EVER, send a democrat to the White House. I was a recent law school graduate and you seemed, well, to have the right ideas, but you had a hard time expressing them in a way that I felt would reach as many people as possible. I had friends who just couldn't listen to you...You had my vote, but I was ambivalent about your ability to do the job, to be meaningful, to be a President for the ages.
We coasted on into 2001 and I had no problems with you. I had just had a baby girl, the youngest of five in our family, and my life was gravy. You were superfluous, but I was glad, in a non-aware way, that you were there. On September 11, 2001, my world changed. I awoke to my husband urging me to wake up and turn on the tv...he and our middle-school aged daughter had watched earlier the reports showing the first World Trade Center Tower burning, after a plane had hit it. While they watched, a second plane hit the second tower, live. By the time my husband woke me he had taken our daughter to meet her school bus which took her to a private school some 25 miles away, across a large suspension bridge, into another city. I watched in disbelief and after a bit, my phone rang. It was a good friend, a woman who did child care for my infant daughter, and had taken care of our two older daughters, one who had just boarded a bus to cross a bridge to what now seemed a far-away place.
"Are you going to let her go to school?", she asked. I had to think. "Yes," I said...rationalizing that in the grand scope of things, the suspension bridge my daughter had to cross was small potatoes for terrorists who were now going after American icons...the trade towers, the Pentagon...I had to believe my daughter would be safe. She was, and in very much a minority, became a supporter of yours and your administration's position in fighting terrorists where we find them.
Later, I watched footage of you at that elementary school in Florida. I cannot even imagine what went through your mind at the time, but as a leader, you moved forward, fought with your Secret Service detail and returned home to Washington, DC to perform your job....to be our President. I turned on my tv every day looking for reassuring words in a new, dangerous world.
In the years since I have looked at you as a beloved family member. I lost my own father two months before the September 11 attacks, and I have always maintained that it would have killed him; I am glad he moved on before witnessing this event. As a family member, I have loved you, supported you, funded you, voted for you, but I have not always agreed with you. Yet, in those disagreements, I have found understanding, acknowledgement of the basis of your beliefs.
As a taxpayer, well, I can't forget that the money we send to DC is moved toward certain programs, some of which I believe in and some that I don't. Again, even in those that I do not agree with, I understand your compassion and why it is there. Your plan to expose other societies to democracy is admirable, and those that embrace it will be our allies for decades to come. Anyone's failure to see that is shortsided and smarter than everyone else in the room, and I cannot support them. Pell grants for school kids? Interesting...have to see the plan to see if I support it, but maybe it works. Just worried about what it costs. Our education in my area certainly needs help. Vetoing earmarks? GO FOR IT.....Please...I wish you'd been tougher in this area in the past years.
It was lovely seeing Laura and the girls there this evening. I was to watch your speech at an organized event that I have attended the last three years, and due to weather it was cancelled, and I watched at home. BIG mistake. I'm a Mom. I'm a somewhat emotional Mom. When you began your speech, though I knew this long ago, I realized it was the last time I will ever watch you give a State of the Union speech. Was this your best speech? Probably not. You're on your way out, you know it, and while I will never doubt your desire to "get'er done" before you walk out the door there is a finite amount of time until you and Laura retire to the ranch and enjoy more private life...BUT, it hit me when you started. I will never see this again. I sobbed. I hid it fairly well from the rest of the folks in the room, but I have to tell you, I will miss you.
See, like a family member, while we have had our disagreements, you have been my leader, MY PRESIDENT, in some of the most important times in our history. I looked to you to see what kind of world my children will grow up in, and for the most part, I was reassured. There is so much uncertainty in our future. Hillary? Oh, I guess as a woman I feel compelled to apologize for her absolute heinous attitude and posturing during this, AND EVERY OTHER, State of the Union Speech. I don't know what gets into that woman, but I can't stand the thought of watching her in a joint session listening to a speech much less standing where you were....Oh....the nausea.
I will deal with my uncertainty. I will find the right candidate and I will move on. I never thought I'd ever find another President I trusted as much as Ronald Reagan, and you surprised me. You're different, but you earned my trust. I will miss you, but I will persevere. That's what American's do, don't we? Go, have a beautiful wedding with beautiful Jenna, do what you can to keep our country secure, (can we say, FISA?) and while I will bid you a bittersweet farewell after your term, I want you to know that you changed me. You made me believe again, and you reinforced my commitment to family and country.
You will always be that George, family.
Pardon my familiarity, but I feel as though I know you so well. You are family. You see, in 2000 I was a reluctant voter, but I just could not ever, EVER, send a democrat to the White House. I was a recent law school graduate and you seemed, well, to have the right ideas, but you had a hard time expressing them in a way that I felt would reach as many people as possible. I had friends who just couldn't listen to you...You had my vote, but I was ambivalent about your ability to do the job, to be meaningful, to be a President for the ages.
We coasted on into 2001 and I had no problems with you. I had just had a baby girl, the youngest of five in our family, and my life was gravy. You were superfluous, but I was glad, in a non-aware way, that you were there. On September 11, 2001, my world changed. I awoke to my husband urging me to wake up and turn on the tv...he and our middle-school aged daughter had watched earlier the reports showing the first World Trade Center Tower burning, after a plane had hit it. While they watched, a second plane hit the second tower, live. By the time my husband woke me he had taken our daughter to meet her school bus which took her to a private school some 25 miles away, across a large suspension bridge, into another city. I watched in disbelief and after a bit, my phone rang. It was a good friend, a woman who did child care for my infant daughter, and had taken care of our two older daughters, one who had just boarded a bus to cross a bridge to what now seemed a far-away place.
"Are you going to let her go to school?", she asked. I had to think. "Yes," I said...rationalizing that in the grand scope of things, the suspension bridge my daughter had to cross was small potatoes for terrorists who were now going after American icons...the trade towers, the Pentagon...I had to believe my daughter would be safe. She was, and in very much a minority, became a supporter of yours and your administration's position in fighting terrorists where we find them.
Later, I watched footage of you at that elementary school in Florida. I cannot even imagine what went through your mind at the time, but as a leader, you moved forward, fought with your Secret Service detail and returned home to Washington, DC to perform your job....to be our President. I turned on my tv every day looking for reassuring words in a new, dangerous world.
In the years since I have looked at you as a beloved family member. I lost my own father two months before the September 11 attacks, and I have always maintained that it would have killed him; I am glad he moved on before witnessing this event. As a family member, I have loved you, supported you, funded you, voted for you, but I have not always agreed with you. Yet, in those disagreements, I have found understanding, acknowledgement of the basis of your beliefs.
As a taxpayer, well, I can't forget that the money we send to DC is moved toward certain programs, some of which I believe in and some that I don't. Again, even in those that I do not agree with, I understand your compassion and why it is there. Your plan to expose other societies to democracy is admirable, and those that embrace it will be our allies for decades to come. Anyone's failure to see that is shortsided and smarter than everyone else in the room, and I cannot support them. Pell grants for school kids? Interesting...have to see the plan to see if I support it, but maybe it works. Just worried about what it costs. Our education in my area certainly needs help. Vetoing earmarks? GO FOR IT.....Please...I wish you'd been tougher in this area in the past years.
It was lovely seeing Laura and the girls there this evening. I was to watch your speech at an organized event that I have attended the last three years, and due to weather it was cancelled, and I watched at home. BIG mistake. I'm a Mom. I'm a somewhat emotional Mom. When you began your speech, though I knew this long ago, I realized it was the last time I will ever watch you give a State of the Union speech. Was this your best speech? Probably not. You're on your way out, you know it, and while I will never doubt your desire to "get'er done" before you walk out the door there is a finite amount of time until you and Laura retire to the ranch and enjoy more private life...BUT, it hit me when you started. I will never see this again. I sobbed. I hid it fairly well from the rest of the folks in the room, but I have to tell you, I will miss you.
See, like a family member, while we have had our disagreements, you have been my leader, MY PRESIDENT, in some of the most important times in our history. I looked to you to see what kind of world my children will grow up in, and for the most part, I was reassured. There is so much uncertainty in our future. Hillary? Oh, I guess as a woman I feel compelled to apologize for her absolute heinous attitude and posturing during this, AND EVERY OTHER, State of the Union Speech. I don't know what gets into that woman, but I can't stand the thought of watching her in a joint session listening to a speech much less standing where you were....Oh....the nausea.
I will deal with my uncertainty. I will find the right candidate and I will move on. I never thought I'd ever find another President I trusted as much as Ronald Reagan, and you surprised me. You're different, but you earned my trust. I will miss you, but I will persevere. That's what American's do, don't we? Go, have a beautiful wedding with beautiful Jenna, do what you can to keep our country secure, (can we say, FISA?) and while I will bid you a bittersweet farewell after your term, I want you to know that you changed me. You made me believe again, and you reinforced my commitment to family and country.
You will always be that George, family.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
President McCain?
Can I get used to saying that? Y'know, I was a reluctant Bush voter in 2000 but I was pleasantly surprised. I have been saying all along, and I'm certainly not alone, that this is such a historically odd election season that all the old rules go out the window. One rule that hasn't been thrown out yet, and may not be until after Super Tuesday, is that the Republican winner in SC goes on to be the party's nominee for the general election.
McCain is giving, at this time, a fairly decent acceptance speech for his win in SC, and I know he dearly wants the old adage about SC to be true, but is it? Keep watching, we simply don't know. While it is true that McCain will probably get a bounce out of this Romney still has strong support in many parts of the country, Rudy is still holding out for a strong showing in FL, and I don't think we know yet what will happen with Huckabee. I think we have seen the last of Fred Thompson, but if the rumors are true that if he's out he'll support McCain he might be able to sway staunch conservatives over to McCain's path by being an influence on McCain's balance of his campaign.
Hillary took another win in NV, even with the culinary worker's union standing behind Obama. It is starting to look clearer now that whoever the Republicans send up, he HAS to be able to beat Hillary. There is nothing more frightening for conservatives than four more years of Clintons and possible Hillary health care.
President McCain...has a nice ring for some I'm sure. I am not convinced yet. I do think Cindy McCain would make a lovely first lady...she has great taste and is beautiful but not showy. While looks and image aren't everything I have to tell you that with women especially, first physical impressions can make or break an image. But, the REAL important thing here is delegates. Start counting...the big count will be February 5.
McCain is giving, at this time, a fairly decent acceptance speech for his win in SC, and I know he dearly wants the old adage about SC to be true, but is it? Keep watching, we simply don't know. While it is true that McCain will probably get a bounce out of this Romney still has strong support in many parts of the country, Rudy is still holding out for a strong showing in FL, and I don't think we know yet what will happen with Huckabee. I think we have seen the last of Fred Thompson, but if the rumors are true that if he's out he'll support McCain he might be able to sway staunch conservatives over to McCain's path by being an influence on McCain's balance of his campaign.
Hillary took another win in NV, even with the culinary worker's union standing behind Obama. It is starting to look clearer now that whoever the Republicans send up, he HAS to be able to beat Hillary. There is nothing more frightening for conservatives than four more years of Clintons and possible Hillary health care.
President McCain...has a nice ring for some I'm sure. I am not convinced yet. I do think Cindy McCain would make a lovely first lady...she has great taste and is beautiful but not showy. While looks and image aren't everything I have to tell you that with women especially, first physical impressions can make or break an image. But, the REAL important thing here is delegates. Start counting...the big count will be February 5.
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