A case for a Divided States of America ...

... or reasonable facsimile thereof ...,

United States, States! of America. It used to be that the Federal Government served at the pleasure of the States. It used to be that the 10th Amendment actually meant something. It used to be that from state to state, the differences in architecture, peoples, cultures, geography, micro-climates and to some extent micro-politics were something to behold, love, admire and appreciate. The diversity of America was natural, not legislated. There was a time that crossing a state border was akin to going from Spain to France. Starkly different it was. What happened?

Many things happened. Amongst them, the commerce clause in the Constitution gave way for "cookie-cutter" legislative powers to Congress. This in turn, led to one-size-fits-all mentality. A case can also be made for the effects of franchising and branding. When McDonald's goes nationwide, one can't tell if you  are in a strip-mall in Kenosha, Wisconsin or Albuquerque, New Mexico. The building of the Interstate Highway system in the 50's led to the faster criss-crossing of the country. But most of of us can agree that forced Federal legislation has made once proud, independent and unique states simple "counties" of Washington, D.C.

It will change, and much sooner than I think. The globalization of the economic mechanisms, the light speed communication access to most citizens, and the recent multi-trillion spending by the Administration has opened up a psychological fissure not even considered a mere 4 years ago. Some states like Texas, are already barking up the secession tree. Other states are rejecting forced accepted of bailout dollars. The beginning of the end of "... a more perfect union", and in my mind a good thing. This country has outlived a 50-state union matrix. The time has come for States to either go their separate ways, or voluntarily form regional "American Provinces". This will help each state, each region deal better with their unique needs of population, culture and socio-political dimensions. The needs of schools in Amarillo, Texas are far from the needs of Provo, Utah; and that is but one of 50 other examples I can spell out to better buttress my argument. Division of states does not have to mean an end to the Federal Government need, but rather a return to basics Federal intent such as national defense, trade policy and protection of national borders. Let each state or regions decide for themselves what is best for their population's needs in health, education, economic engines, tax law and immigration policy. 

In closing, I leave this microcosm for consideration. We each live in towns and cities. While we share some common things like schools and hospitals, at the end of the day we go home, to our roofs, our furniture, our taste of foods and preferred TV programs. As unique a thing to each family or household as a fingerprint. The "American City" has to allow the states, or its "homes" to have the unique stamp that makes them culturally autonomous to their population and history. Otherwise, states are merely a piece of land with names like "Alabama", "New York" and "Arizona" .... nothing more. It is time to decide what is it that "unites" us, but allow that which makes us unique not get lost in translation. 

Long live the States of America, not America the master of the States.

Recoil ... (oh the pain...)

A very funny thing happens when you get full of yourself, ... you just get punched in the mouth. Maybe not physically, but the pain is just as lasting. 

A few months ago, I decided to temporarily close the House of Pain so that I could entertain a joint-venue with other fellow Bloggers. Suffice to say that it failed to become what we all wanted it to be. No guilt, no regrets, and certainly no finger-pointing.  Although it fizzled away for many reasons, it left some good lessons on what works, what doesn't, ... and at the very least, why a little humility is always a sweet vile to swallow. 

This is my first posting in many months, and with this new effort I have decided to do some things differently. Not because change for the sake of change is good or warranted, but because this version of the Emporium is one I have not tried and am curious to see if this version takes those lessons to heart and makes this a better Blog than it has been in the past. 

Here is the short of it: 

*   I propose to be thrift in verbiage and my postings to be a quick read. Who after all has the time to read 10 minutes worth of my blog? Many of us read a few, if not dozens of Blogs on a daily basis. It is the height of hubris that allows me to think anyone has this sort of time to invest in their daily read. In my view, short and summarized is better for this Blog than long and self-gratifying. Enough said. 

*   Videos will be part of the Emporium arsenal. If a picture can paint a thousand words, a video can paint a Federal bailout-sized one. But not just any videos..... , my own. 

*   I should post on a frequent and consistent manner, if not daily. At times some of us Bloggers feel that every posting has to have Earth-shaking importance written all over it. It doesn't. 

*   I have put a reminder in my Blackberry so that it will prod my Ass with 125,00o mili-volts of go-go juice everyday at 5:00 p.m. so that (as some love reminding me) posting more than twice a year will actually be a possibility. 

Thanks in advance for stopping by, ... I have much to say, ... and less words to use in the process ... 

On second thought ...

I do want to know how sausage is made ...

Transparency. Go ahead and do a search on how many times somebody has mentioned that word in the past week or so. Transparency. What does it mean? Or better yet, what is the symbolism behind the word? Its a great idea; transparency. The problem is, the land of the free and the home of the Atlanta Braves is also the most secretive, compartmentalized, technocratic, red-taped and dysfunctional form of government the world has ever seen. And those are our virtues. We are not wired for transparency. We can talk about it all day, and espouse the wonders of a "clear and transparent" government, but until we get a peek at how the sausage of public policy is really made there will be no such day.

I really hope this blog goes viral. That 150,000 people read it in the next week and the inertia of its message is so pulverizing that Obama himself has to mention my name on his weekly You-Tube dog n' pony. I really think it will change the world. But I know it wont. So here I go talking to myself again....

Here's a few things Government can do to really be transparent:

* Make every high-level economic meeting's minutes public within 30-days of their occurrence. Why 30 days and not immediately? The news cycle is too quick. You got to allow the politicians to be able to take problems head on and make logical decisions without being subject to the emotions of the moment. They will still be aware that their language -salty as it is- and content of their conversations will be published in a month. That alone may edit the way they talk, but at least America will see the type of argumentation that goes on behind closed doors up on the hill.

* TARP Money? Immediately launch a super-duper Treasure Dept web-site that keeps a line-item by line-item and clearly-identified narrative of where the hell every printed dollar winds up, who spent it, where it's kept and where its going. 700 billion is a lot of fuckin' money, pardon my English 101, and we are letting 535 politicians play and haggle with it like it was an obscure and abstract thing that really has no meaning or value to us today. If we don't flood Washington with this demand then we demand to get our asses boinked.

* Economic Stimulus?... I want somebody in Government (and Prez Obama would be a nice choice,... if he has the stones), to stand up and say the following for the sake of my transparent needs: "The economic stimulus plan will work because we have X and Y model-examples of the past where the same type of spending occurred and this type of result was immediately apparent. Not only do I guarantee it is going to work, but I will back it up with this promise. If it doesn't work, then both the Treasure Secretary and I will resign within 24 months of the day the bill is signed into law" ... Transparency I can believe in ...


* I think every Congressman, Senator, President, State and local Legislator should put their daily meeting and visitor logs on their website for all the world to see. You say special interest Lobbyist will not have any influence? Then let it be the law that you have to disclose EVERY single lobbyist you come across during your public service tenure. Be it in your office, at dinner, or while sitting in the commode at some Airport. Oh yeah, while you're are it, put in a summary of the minutes and agenda in there as well. After all, my tax dollars are paying your salaries, so like a good supervisor I want to know what the hell you are doing during my time. Can't be done? Well hell, College Football Coaches have to disclose what recruits they "bump into" during recruiting season, right?....

* Finally I think President Obama should install a web-cam in the white house. I will even say kill the audio (OK, so people will still read lips). But whats wrong with that? Jefferson used to let people walk into the White House and see him with no appointment or email. He didn't even have a Blackberry. I just want to make sure he is working and not trying to break my record on Brickbreaker ...

There. I fixed the lack of transparency in 48 minutes. I did it without a blue-ribbon commission, a bi-partisan panel, a consultant's blessing, or by following the will of the people. I just went into "Nike" mode. I just did it.

Barry,... you play basketball, right?... .c'mon man... try on a pair Nike's on your dome.... Just do it.

Coda ...

I've been having some good heart-to-hearts with Robert, my friend and blogging colleague, about many things as of late. We tend to use the other as an idea-foil when the writing-block Monster turns up unexpectedly. This morning as I cracked the knuckles for the last posting of 2008, my mind is remembering those conversations and banters. What better way to end the year than to pay homage to those good chats, the ideas they hatched, the postings themes that were left in the shelf and those mental itches left unscratched...

* The election of Barrack Obama changed politics forever; and for the most part -in my opinion-, for the good. The "experience" factor is forever gone as a strength and virtue for any politician. From hereon, we will judge them by their managerial ability to forge a strong team of advisers and cabinet members. Say what you will of Messier Obama, but he rarely lost his cool, he stayed on message, he went toe to toe with both the Clinton and Republican machines and came out without a sweat bead on his forehead. In the process, he forever changed fund-raising mathematics, got the country excited about a candidate for the first time in 28 years, got the world to salivate and an incoming President, completely filled his Cabinet a full month before he took office, -something I don't think has ever happened to my knowledge-, and finally, and in spite of a full-plate of serious and grave national dangers awaiting him, looks and projects himself as presidential, thoughtful and eager to tackle the Dragons. I never thought I would say this, but I am proud to have Barrack Obama as my President. I will be vigilant and watchful that his words and deeds conform to law and Constitution, ... but for now, and can do nothing but admire the man. Amazing...

* After 9-11-2001, a commission was set-up to inquire on the lead-up to that catastrophe and (hopefully) set recommendations to avoid such an event in the future. Its finding were published in a 600-page tome that is still holding up my Chevy's axle. One can make the argument, that the housing market collapse, the affiliated meltdowns of Fanny Mae, Freddy Mac et al ... the domino effect of the AIG, Bear Stearns failures etc... , at least merit the same type of commission to identify how this all happened, who was at the wheel when it happened, and the triggers needed to avoid similar disasters. Has anybody heard anybody calling for this? Not me. Which tells me both parties have had their hands in the largess of money coming in from these industry groups. Nobody, not the parties, not the Governors, not the Senate, not Pelosi, not Bush... and probably not Obama, ... nobody wants any flashlight of transparency shining in on any of this.

Memo to my President-Elect. If by 3:00pm on January 20th, you sit in the Oval Office and call for a neutral commission to investigate this economic meltdown, and allow the Justice Department to set up a Special Prosecutor to hire thousands of investigators and to the full extent of the law castigate those responsible for putting us in this pickle...., If you do that, and shake the rats off of the good Ship America, then you will have gone a long way in making me salivate to vote for you in 2012. C'mon, do the right thing! No matter where it leads...even if it sinks half the members of both parties,... let justice be done. Sure the mushroom cloud will be ugly, and your presidency may loose the luster it sorely needs to govern. Bu that one act alone will tell Joe Citizen that you are truly a transformational figure that will govern above and outside your own core ideology. This election after after all,... is about me Mr. President, ...not about you.

* The continued fall of the bastions of traditional media outlets such as newspapers, while fun to watch, is not something I wish continues. Sure at times I disagree with many an editorial piece, and yes the majority of them are of left-liberal persuasion and rarely give the other side "fair and balanced" access. Still, ... we need them. Look fellas, as much as I love to Blog, read other Blogs and peruse the web for my information and news, the truth is, the majority of Americana still sits in a Diner or their lunch-room and gets 99% of their news from the same crappy paper and ink that our Forefathers did. While there are some noteworthy Bloggers out there putting out some incredible and well-written pieces, most Bloggers, and I include myself in this category, do not have the training, education, will and responsibility to do the who-what-where-when-why of responsible journalism. We don't call 3 different sources to back up our writings. All most of us have is a laptop and a modem... that's it! We are opinion-makers for the most part. If the day ever comes that the majority of America or the world gets their public information and news source from the Blogosphere than I assure you we will be in the mother of all elephant dung-piles. Support your local paper and spend a buck a week to keep them alive and printing. It is the fourth power, it is the way we keep our Government accountable. A free, responsible and professional press corps is as vital to our way of living as the oxygen we need to sustain our lives. Think about that the next time you revel in the NY Times having to mortgage their building to survive.

* Finally, I marvel at one of the side-benefits of the blogosphere. About 2 years ago, I bumped into Conservative Commentary, a Blog run by a guy named Robert. I found him to be articulate, a great writer, heavy in his postings, funny as only an ex-Marine can be and as American-loving a person I've ever met. In time we began a mutual admiration society; him commenting on my postings, me commenting on his; and before you knew we were jumping the casual Blogging fence of camaraderie and delving into personal parts of our lives.

Fast forward to the end of 2008. Robert and I have shared emails, great chats, banter-ish conversations and comments on our Facebook pages, and are co-sponsors of his newest Baby-Blog, www.conservativeconvictions.blogspot.com, a place we hope turns out the virtual Town square Bazaar for all things conservative and all things that make America beautiful, interesting, noble, flawed and worth saving. Robert has not only become my co-worker, but we've become confidants on thoughts, life and other matters of life, ... I am proud to call the man my friend. I have never seen his face in person, nor felt the warmth of what I am sure is a firm handshake. Yet through the vessel of both our Blogs, through this very laptop, and across thousands of miles of fly-over country, I am closer in friendship to him, than many of the people I call my friends right here in Silicon Valley, California. Amazing the things than can happen in this medium, ...is it not?

Robert, here is to you my friend. Our Blogs have seen chaos and bliss, rain and sun, periods of activity and (in my case) endless absence. I have family, blood brothers, friends, musician buddies and many a kindred spirit that live in my heart. I welcome you as one of the few, the proud..... , the ones daring to sit in the House of the Pain Man and come out unscathed (Ha!). Happy New Year to you and yours, and may 2009 bring us closer to our shared goal of making mother USA a better place to be ...

..... OK, now that the man-love segment of the show is over, go back to your your things.... move along ... nothing to see here...... As to the rest of you?... I love you all, cherish the agreements and disagreements. 09' may not get better, but just give me a more interesting country and time and I can surely live with that...

Coda ...

The Ghost Of All Things Past ....

.... the beauty of drinking yourself silly on Christmas eve (An unnamed fruit-punch concoction) is that one wakes up particularly ornery, impatient at most things and just wondering why it is that you do the things you do in the first place. So please allow me to indulge in my annual year-end venting. It is in no particular priority or logic.... just T-P being , well.... a roll of paper...

As I get older, I find myself amused in that I am attracted to things that as I child I would have never looked twice. Gardening? Poetry? ... Bird watching? Book classics? Those I call my friends here in California (... and Alabama?) say I am maturing and appreciating the simplicities of life. Knowing my cousins in New Jersey and Puerto Rico, they will rip me a new one and think I am for certain turning metro-sexual, or worse. My mind tells me its something more apparent. I have been watching a ton of documentaries on American History and Biographies. That John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two figures I have grown fonder by the minute, were lovers of nature and read everything they got their hands on has certainly been influential. As an example, I recently looked up who the hell Cincinnatus was, based simply on a reference from one of Jefferson's letters.

Why is it that age takes away physical strength, yet gives us better clarity to understand the poignancy and relevance of history? Its easy to put it all on the maturing of the mind, but could it be that age awakens a level of beauty in the eye of the beholder that can only be uncovered by unidentified colors of pain, our unplanned catastrophic reference points and the drip-drying of tear ducts?...

In thinking of history and appreciation of the proverbial days of yore; the writings of Americans from the past has me physically spell-bound. Last night, while nursing said drunkenness in bed, I watched the Ken Burns' documentary of Lewis and Clark's westward expedition under President Thomas Jefferson. The letters from Meriwether Lewis to Jefferson, while simple, elegant, non-contrived, and devoid of angst, are as powerful and emotive as a punch to the solar plexus. The letters from Lincoln to his Generals during the Civil War?,... nothing I've read in my life has made me as embarrassed of my own ability. Has there ever been a love story with a natural grace as told by the letters between Abigail and John Adams? How is it that these times had such great writers? How did these people, without a public education system of note acquire such expression-dexterity? Such eloquence of syntax and penmanship? It would be so easy for me to drop in an example of how Washington (the General) would have texted his concerns to John Hancock were he to have had a Blackberry, .... but I won't.......Ok, this is too temping not to, so I will.... "Yo JH, pls snd $ for guns. We R chillin' in V-Forge. Benedict A. keepn us warm with jokes LMAO. Say Hi 2 Gen. Howe if U C him. Peace out" .... It just doesn't quite have the same regal gait and aplomb, does it...

In a related topic, and as I have been spending time at my newest Blogging collaborative effort, (www.conservativeconvictions.blogspot.com) I've been scratching my dome about many things. The founding Fathers and Mothers were for the most part Statesmen yes; but they were not foreign to dropping the F-bomb here and there and using the saltiest of words to make their case. Good language and conduct was considered of good manners and social-form; not something to be done due to the pressures of a politically correct atmosphere, as is the case in today's discourse. So I ask myself, why should I have to be a "kinder and gentler" T-P? Why?.... I know, I have spewed many times on not letting the messenger derail the message. I am an ardent believer that -for the most part-, when one delivers a message on a bed of flowers it is going to get more of a look-see that if it were on a bed of thorns...... still, why Do we have to be so nice? Why DO we have to be the bigger persons of ideology when the other side is message-vile and holds no quarter in putting our philosophy down? Is there not a virtue to let your unbridled passion of expression give your message the gravitas it needs? ... (Screw Rodney King, I say..., we DON'T have to get along....)

And speaking of "Gravitas" (as I have a fast-forward philosophical turret moment)... , in 2000, the media had an orgasmic time with the word. G.W. Bush was said to have no "gravitas" so he needed Cheney to buttress his lack of foreign policy yada-yada. Hmmm. Fast forward to 2008. PEBO (Pres Elect Barry O.), had zero foreign policy, executive or economic "gravitas", ... nothing. Heck, he had to get Biden just to get a few pounds of it. Yet,... did anybody hear the Media utter the "G" word once? I'm not saying anything new of course, and truthfully I don't put too much weight on experience anyway,.... but it just makes me laugh at how much of an attention span we have. The media thinks we are suckers,... and for the most part, I heartily agree with their assumptions.

Ok, back to my time capsule musings. Thomas Jefferson really screwed up, in my opinion. He should have never bought the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon no matter how good the bargain. Think of it, then the United States had the Atlantic as the eastern wall, the Gulf as the southern wall, the Mississippi in the west, and the British Territory to the north. Nice little nation without worrying about the Spanish/Mexican territory or the Oregon/North West passage. How much more manageable could we be right now? ... Did we really think expansion (The Southwest? The Oregon territory? Guam? Alaska? Hawaii? ...) was that important? I may have to do one of those "What if.." postings just to make myself feel better. We are too big, too varied, too multi-cultured and too .... whatever it is. Xenophobic? call it whatever comes in handy, but we are a 50-state Jabba-the-Hut nation whose eaten way too many cultural donuts and we can barely get out of our beds and do the dirty work we need to survive.

All this rummaging through history has my hangover feeling worse.... not better. But I do have one idea that has as good a chance to get national traction as Barrack Obama getting a breast-lift. It wont fix my headache, but it will amuse me to no end to share it. It goes like this:

Let's split the country 50/50. Why not do an experiment that calls for 25 states (for the next 25 years) to be ruled by me, by Fiat, without a democracy, a Republic, a Contitution or even the nuisance of voters to get in my way. Make me Benevolent Dictatus for 25 years, then decapitate my head at the end of my "term" for all to see no matter the final outcome. The other 25 states can continue on this 2-party system of Government that is as obsolete as the treadmill looking at me from the corner right now. You guys do it your way, I will have my little 25 States do it my way. I will bet you my country and my subjects would be the envy of the planet. And just to make it fair? I will let the traditionalists get to pick their 25 States first .... JUST as long as mine are contiguous, .... Just sayin'...

..... Finally, as of today's count, I have a Blog of my own, a Blog or two to which I contribute, 8 different email addresses to stay in touch with friends and family, a home phone, cell phone and smart phone, texting capabilities, a Facebook and MySpace social networking page, a web page for my band, two computer programs to make sure I stay "organized" and in control of my life, and God knows how many other ways to communicate with everybody in the Planet. Still, I wish I lived in a world that had but the pen.... the simple quill to write and express...., nothing more. Because in spite of the many windows of communication available to me today, I am far more isolated -and probably much lonelier-, than Meriwether Lewis and William Clark ever were..... even in their darkest of days humping over the Rockies, and paddling upstream,... always upstream ....

..... Uh oh... , my Blackberry is humming.... gotta' go and see what important matters await me. Be well America, feel free to make yourself a sandwich of both hope and despair, and down it with a swig of thoughtful introspection.

..... Only 991 more years until the new Millennium ....

Change Happens ...

When Blogging, most of the time one falls into a few categories: The casual blogger who does it for fun and without fanfare, regardless of the passion for the Blog's theme; the passionate believer who has time I can only envy and posts once or more per day; and lastly the one who has time to post but hates to do snippets of quick hits. This Blogger refuses to post anything unless it has a semblance of depth, a little humor, and a piece he can be happy to put his or her name to it. I am clearly in the last hump.

In the two and a half years I've been doing this I've had runs where I go loony on the postings and do 5 or 6 over a few days, and many more times where I disappear from the grid until somebody awakens me from my slumber. Work, life, other hobbies, varied interest, changes and overall joy for variety keeps me away from taking a vested interested in the maintenance of my Blog. I don't do structured things very well, at least those not having to do with my job, that is. I get ants in my pants. I love doing this,... LOVE IT!, but i don't have the passion to do it with the time and effort it takes to maintain a blog interesting on a daily basis. That's just a fact.

A few days ago, Robert, my dear online friend whom I've known for a while (www.conservativeobservations.blogspot.com) told me about this new collaborative effort he had going. After a day of perusing the idea and the site, I was invited to join as a collaborator and was happy to accept. The other collaborators (Jenn and Sam) are both familiar to the conservative blogging nation within our circle of commentators and together, this foursome is hoping to make Blogging history. The concept we are beginning to develop is quite unique, ambitious and (to us) pretty darn bold.

I cordially invite you to visit "Conservative Convictions" at www.conservativeconvictions.blogspot.com. I think you will be happy you did.

In the meantime, Truth-Pain Emporium will remain in publish mode, albeit for a lesser-altruistic purpose. Most of you know my style, and believe me, it may not work well with the seriousness of the new endeavor. But here, I can blast away and wax poetic on the many stupidities than keep me amused, without offending anybody. To be further truthful, this is quite liberating in that I can maintain the topics that deserve a serious treatment over there (Conservative Convictions), while doing whatever the hell my mind conjures in the comfort of the Emporium's front lawn. I kind of like that...

To those of you here for the first time, welcome. I hope you can honor us in visiting both blogs. If you are a returning friend or pseudo-enemy,... well, welcome again and I hope I can maintain your interest with more frequent postings that will lighten up your spirits during these most heaviest of times.

Onward ...

The end of the best and brighest ...

The third and last Presidential debate last night was not extraordinary because of the answers to the Moderator's questions, but just ordinary because of the answers he did not get. You can love Barrack or John, -and God love ya' for you have every right to do so-, but there is no denying that both of them lost a precious opportunity to either seal the deal (B.O.) or make a grand case for reconsideration (J.M.)

Both B.O. and J.M. could have knocked some softballs clear out of the Hofstra U. ballpark last night, and both failed at getting some lumber on the ball. The following are two examples of how I would have replied to specific questions posed by Mr. Schieffer. I know what you're thinking, "well hell TP, its real easy to have a whole night to come up with something clever. Let's see you do that Live you idiot!...". You may be right, but after you read my replies, you must also admit that the logic was there for the taking. You decide:

Mr. Schieffer: Senator McCain, is your running mate qualified to be President?

John McCain: Bob, there is not a single person that can be honest to Americans and say with conviction that he or she is ready. How does anybody know what "ready" is? What you want to know is whether or not the person has a history of surrounding him or herself with the best and brightest minds to help make the choices and decisions in the areas where experience is not a strength. Sarah Palin has shown she has the temperament to take on her party when it was the best thing for her State, the wisdom to select a Gubernatorial cabinet worthy of the great State of Alaska, and pragmatic enough to select both Democrats and Republicans to her staff. THAT is the idea our Founding fathers had when they envisioned "citizen government". Sarah Palin is a person that came up through the circumstances of her community and in the span of 10 years went from House wife to PTA to City Council Woman, to the Governor's chair and now near the White House! That is America; a country where anything is possible and where Government should be composed of professional citizens, not professional politicians! Heck, her story is more compelling than mine! I was first famous for getting shot and being in prison at a foreign country... I envy HER story! How can you not say she is not prepared for the presidency? Has Barrack, Biden or even myself had to balance a budget? No! She has! Have any of the men in these two tickets been in charge of a State's Energy Commission? No. She was! .... At the risk of diminishing myself in stature here,... I can make the argument that she has proven that experience is not necessarily the best barometer for success, but the ability to surround yourself with the best, and the moxy to take on corruption and the status quo regardless of the party affiliation. Was Washington ready? Was Lincoln? Was Truman? How much experience did FDR have? What about Monroe? Even Governors like Carter and Clinton? Besides being Governors, which Sarah Palin is,... what other experience did THEY have that made them qualified and beyond questioning? None. Absolutely none. Yes, Bob... unequivocally yes. She is prepared to lead, and prepared to step in for me where I incapacitated to do so.

Mr. Schieffer: Senator Obama, what about the negativity of the campaign?... you especially ran on a new tone and above-the-fray mantra. How do you feel about the turn for the nastiness here?

Barrack Obama: Look Bob, every battle plan is a good plan, maybe even a great plan... until the first cannon shot or bullet is fired. Then -as they say- it turns to hell. I meant what I said when I said it and I am sorry that it has come to this. I meant to have a clean a smear-free campaign, but I am not going to sit idly-by when the attacks cross the line of being against the policy and starts to hit the front lawn if you will of your character. If I can't prove to the American people that I don't have the emotional stones to combat that which I think is slander or unjust, then how do I expect them to trust me with the real issues of Government? I am a gentleman, I respect Senator McCain for his service to country and his tenure in the Senate, but I don't take a backseat to no-one, no one, when it comes to attacking me unjustly just to make a political point. Because in this one I agree with John McCain,... I'd rather loose an election that to lose a war .... and I will battle for my dignity. Make no question about it.

With that answer, McCain would have put Palin's gravitas question to rest. Period. Barrack would have put his toughness front and center for all to see and may have buttressed his perceived lack of cojones in bellicose or military affairs. Barrack can afford to let the fastball go by. McCain has precious few strikes left.

I have a friend, Republican guy, who is voting for Barrack. Even made up his own bumper sticker... "Hold your nose and vote for B.O." Classic....

Changes I can believe in ...

I'm going to skip the preambles. I've been gone far too many weeks (or maybe not long enough...) to make this yet another blowhard moment. I'm not gonna lie and tell you my absence has been for anything noble or even justifiable. No. I have been feeling blue in many ways,... not depressed, not negative, not down.... just a soft shade of blue. Change is in the air, and of the type that not only affects me internally, but outwardly towards my daily life as well. In that spirit I would like to enumerate the changes that would (permanently) put a smile on my otherwise dour facade.

Changing the idea, of HOME: I don't know what that is. Period. I was born in New York, grew up in New Jersey, Florida and Puerto Rico..., moved to California to serve in the military; and while living in this state, I've relocated no less than 10 times in my 27 years here. Why the nomadic spirit?... I've never found home. My idea of home is a land that mimics my ideal of what my country means. Corny, huh? So sue me. Some of my new-found dearest online friends can attest to this. I have been hunting far and wide for a place that just smells and taste like Americana. I've not been searching for utopia,... I want the skeletons and all, ... I am still looking for a place that I can call home to settle-in for the rest of my healthy and happy days. When i find it, -and maybe i am closer than i realize-, i will post on it right here. I have a much larger posting about this theme, but I'm too darn lazy to even fathom writing the sucker. In the meantime, this little town will have to host my antsy ass until further notice...

Changing the idea of Elections: Memo to Barrack. You want change we can all believe? let's change the game not just the players. No more professional politicians in Washington. Everybody gets a single 6-year term then they get to get a real job requiring it to be farther than 1500 miles from the beltway. While we're at it, abolish the Senate. That 100-King pompous-ass body has nothing to do but ratify treaties and affirm laws? Screw 'em. Let there be a single uni-cameral system in Congress. Why have every freaking piece of legislation be vetted twice and go to "conference" when it does not mimic the other? What was the reason for the Senate anyway? Did John Adams long too much for the Roman model of a Republic?... please. Lets move on and streamline our Government. One term means no more running for re-election 15 minutes after the swearing-in. And speaking of swearing-in, let there be an electoral season that starts in August and ends in November...... of the same f***ing year! The Israelis and Britts can dissolve their parliaments and have a government installed in half an hour. Why is ours so bloated?...

Change of the word WAR: It occurred to me that the term war is applied liberally when we want to tackle something. The war on this, the war on that,... but the funny thing is the same rules don't apply to all wars, do they? For example we all know about the war in Iraq and Af-crap-astan, right?... but why is nobody commenting on the wars on drug and poverty? I mean surely we've spent untold trillions on those wars and nobody is threatening to cut-off funding for those wars, right? Why is it that although not one tangible and positive element has been gathered in those wars, no fat-assed senator has stood up and demanded on "exit" strategy on them? Did we not we go in too soon on the war on drugs? Where was the plan for the "occupation" once we had conquered poverty? Where was our exit strategy on that stupidity? its been 24 years or so,... should we not move on to something else to nuke or carpet-bomb or IED?.... I guess not.

Ok, enough for now,... time to take a day or two to catch up on my blog-reading... 

Political Party Coolness 101

.... or how the GOP can re-invent itself with the coolness factor.

The GOP has simply run out of cool. I don't think the GOP has had anything cool since,.... well since,..... hang on it will come to me,...

Seriously, think of it for a sec. The Democrats have the cool factor down pat. They have Hollywood pimpin' them, they have musicians jumping aboard, the seem to be light years ahead in the integrating the internet and TV to massage their message, and finally, having Eddie Murphy plan "Donkey" on Shrek just put the Elephant 6 feet under for good. Pachyderms no longer rule. They have the cool issues, they have the young cool mouth pieces, they have the cool love of the world, .... its cool to be a Democrat. I don't see too many Dubya 2004 bumper stickers anymore.....What to do? Well, the Pain-Man knows compassion and the Elephant Party is in dire need of an extreme makeover. Why am I doing this? Hey,... as an ex Republican myself I have a soft spot for my ex party brethren. Besides, at heart I am a true conservative in the mode of Thomas Jefferson (Yeah.... the founder of the Republican Democratic party back in the day of Washington). The original member of the modern-day Democrats was a true revolutionary small-government Libertarian. They just did not call themselves that. Pity. But I digress. So here are my TOP FIVE things the GOP can do to increase their coolness factor and start gathering votes from the next generation of voters.

1. GET RID OF THE OLD FARTS. Sorry, I know its rude and even mean, but it has to happen. Look at the stable of candidates you guys have rolled out since 1976. Ford vs Carter? (Ford looked like Frankenstein without the neck bolts. Carter even had hair over his ears! Very cool. The aberration was Reagan and Bush 41 (Carter just imploded with the hostage crisis thing). Although older than Carter, in 1980 Reagan just looked cool! And in 1988 Bush 41 had "Potatoe" Quayle to offset Dukakis' size 56 melon so he barely made it. But after that? Disaster! Bush and Quayle had no chance against Clinton and Gore in 1992. They looked cool together. Again in 1996 the GOP pulled out the oldest of war horses, Bob Dole as a sacrifice lamb. Skip the next two Bush 43 wins and what does the GOP do? Again they drop the oldest of war horses in McCain. C'mon! No matter what you think of Obama, the guy is out there playing basketball with the NC Tar Heels! That is cool! Seriously people, take a cue from Democrats. They are brutal with any ex candidates. You think they gave Dukakis, Ferraro, Kerry or Gore a second chance? Nope. They went to the ash-heap of democratic donkey-dung pile. Bring on the fresh meat.

2. GOP. Let's see, it stands for "Grand Old Party".... emphasis on old..... Nix it. Call yourselves the GYP (Grand Young Party), or NRP (New Republican Party) or BMJP (Bad Mamma Jamma Party).... anything but old! You want to connect with the next youth generations you have to market yourself much better than the word "OLD" and a freaking elephant. How about the Snake as a mascot? You know like the "Don't tread on me" Snake used in the flags of the original 13 colonies. That appeals to the bad-ass mentality of most men and it will have had a bonding thing with most woman (you know,... the garden of Eden's Snake with the apple thing....)

3. Streamline your platform so that, a) most people know what you stand for and b) put some things in there than the youth and generation X'ers can relate to. No, I am not saying pander to a specific group, I mean massage the message in a way that makes it compelling to everybody, not just middle-age, white, Christian, conservative voters. There is a nobility and coolness about "conservatism" that transcends age. Show it to them! Show the masses that being progressive is not exactly what the work implies! Look, if you ask anybody in the street what the GOP stands for they may say... "uh they're for the rich, they hate blacks and Latinos, they appoint Nazi-era judges, are against woman's rights and want to shove God down our throats"..... do you want the media to continue to propel this bullshit? Hell, I don't even know what the GOP stands for anymore. Small government, no nation building?... less spending? paying down the debt? ... Speak up in a language what we can ALL understand. Find a messenger, a good one, not just a bunch of politicians who are after their own asses...., find a voice, an image, a standard bearer that is not politically vested and can transcend political cycles!

4. Don't settle for mediocrity. Bush?... regardless of what you think about the man, do you believe he was the best and the brightest we had in 2000 amongst 290 million citizens? Seriously people, this is not just you but all of us settle for shitty quality simply because the only ones who run are the ones who have either name recognition or more money than Trump to GET name recognition. Where are the citizen-politicians envisioned by John Adams? where are the people that don't want to make it a career out of sitting their acne-laden asses on the Capital Rotunda? Scour the land and find them. Find the next generation of people that believe in the original intents of conservatism, find the voices who can project the good of the cause, find the examples of people that went from welfare to self-care because they found the winning formula of self reliance and hard work. Find cool examples of conservatism in everyday life. They are out there you know...

5. Lastly, don't let the Democrats hijack the cool issues, please! Teddy Roosevelt started the Antiquities movement and (to some of my own disagreement) reserved huge areas of the nation to be conserved in perpetuity for generations to come. The environmental movement is about "conserving" the planet and the nature of things. How the f**k did you guys let the Democrats hijack your issue? you could have owned it forever? Freedom of choice? the only choice the Democrats espouse is choice to abort, that is it! Freedom of choice should extend to schooling, health care and retirement plans! How did you guys let them hijack the word freedom to the point that people really thing the Democratic party is the party of Liberty?....

This party of Lincoln, Teddy and Reagan needs a makeover folks. And the fellas and gals running the show are not going to be the ones to do it. We are in a renewal era of politics and communications where mediums of expression are born everyday. The media no longer controls all the venues of messaging. We have our own. Put a bullet to the Elephant and let him pass on. He is done, tired and symbolically dead. Wake up GOP,..... wake up!

P.S. That's the very cool-looking Republican Governor of Alaska, Sara Palin, by the way.....

What if illegal aliens looked like her?....

Race. The word has taken a high visibility exam in the past year, has it not? It always has been this "under the radar" thing. We felt it, thought about it, pondered about the changes needed to be made, yet it remained -for better or worse-, in the closet of discussion until Mr. Obama did his race speech and it was "release the hounds" time; everybody jumped in after the elusive fox. All the networks including the major cable channels were trampling over themselves to put hour-long specials on the air. NBC did an interesting piece called "Finding David Wilson" where a black "David Wilson" traced his roots all the way to a white "David Wilson" plantation in the modern day south. Touching. All the talking heads put race front and center in their "talking points" and before you knew it race was in the middle of what is considered a seminal moment in American politics. I've never seen the populace so willingly delving into this self-flogging moment. My October 27th posting called "Its the wiring, stupid" made even more sense to me as I watched with mild amusement and fascination the nation having a full pledge discourse on the topic. Then I made the mistake of getting on a mental tangent that took me to race as it applies to the immigration discussion (still) being held in this political cycle...., and one thought laid into the other like moss on a redwood's north side...

I started to ponder things and began looking at socio-politics as the related to borders in other parts of the world. to correctly gauge comparisons and have apples to apples examples, one must look at places where 1st world countries (like us) have a 3rd world country at its border (like Mexico). What if our southern neighbor countries were all of "white" European descent and culture?, and were mostly Caucasian?.... What if Europe itself was there and not Mexico. What if say, Denmark, Finland and Belgium were right across the Rio Grande instead of Tijuana, Sonora and Rosarito? Think of the possibilities and ramifications as it applies to today's socio-politics. Is it really the idea of illegal immigration that most of America is harping about? or is it the type, culture or racial mix of illegal aliens to which we particularly disapprove? Would the cross-border problems of health, drugs and language be as blatant? or would they be more palatable? If a bunch of "Inga Bjornson's" and "Sven Ikea's" were coming across dropping blue-eyed and blond anchor babies, would we we as intolerant? What if Great Britain was across the border and since they all spoke English there would be no issue of bi-lingual schooling needed; would that change our opinion? I have to confess that I paused at the idea and wondered if I would have the same visceral reaction to a culture that mimics my own coming across, rather than the implied "invasion" of illegals that some portray due to the fact that they are all brown, don't speak the language and (for the most part) come to gain the economic advantage instead of integrating themselves into the bastion of Americana...

Remember when the wall came down in Berlin?.... After the initial euphoria and celebration of reunification, what happened? Was there not a massive backlash from the West Berliners against their eastern brothers and sisters? Were they not treated like dog meat in spite of being of the same race, culture and language? Did they not piss on them due to the perceived "lower class" status and the massive hit to social programs? .... sound familiar? What about when the iron curtain fell and a myriad of Soviet satellite countries found themselves fending for themselves? did they reach out and touch someone? of did they circle the wagons to those of similar design and ejected anybody else that looked or spoke differently? When Israel became a country back in the 40's, did the displaced Palestinian territory emigrants feel welcomed in warm Arabic fashion in the bosom of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt? or were they put in refugee camps hoping to dump their "Arab brethren" into somebody else's lap?....

Maybe I just answered my own question.... maybe I would still feel the same way about social services being stretched to breaking points and schools busting at the seams to handle the cultural cauldron. Maybe. But I have to admit, if I saw her swimming across the Rio Grande wanting to "come to America"..... don't think I would not toss her a life ring, shower her with confetti, Chocolate bom-boms, a night at the holiday inn express and a tour of Disneyland; ... oh yeah, and putting lotion on what has to be terrible sunburn in those silky-skinned shoulders of hers...

Ok, were'd that rant come from?.... my estrogen levels must be wavering ...

Bring on the Summer! ...

Feb 27? Has it been that long?... Well, I have been busy ya' know...., the real estate swamp that has hammered the country finally caught up to my company. The cutbacks were brutal and many fine people lost their jobs. I thought I was a goner for sure. Being a Quasi-Libertarian in a sea of Utopian semi-socialists can leave you about as comfy as a puppy next to Michael Vick. But I'm good.

The living situation is another animal. I am really dying to get the hell out of the left coast. Mostly to be closer to the little one in Pennsylvania, but also to live in small-town America and become a "fly-over country" citizen. I'm looking at Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Florida currently. My goal is to move somewhere there in about 18 months (I can hear Robert going "Oh sweet Jesus....not in my state...").

To be honest I hate my cave-dwelling sabbatical, seriously. I just impale myself in books, research and other life minutia that by the time I come up for air 2 months have gone by.... I ask the forgiveness of my bloggerland brethren. I deserve to be flogged....

So what is new in the past two months?.... like we don't know... politics! I will be getting deep into this for the next few postings, but here's a sampling of my thoughts,...

1. McCain? If he pulls this out of his ass, er ... hat, it would not surprise me. Don't underestimate the power of the voter in the solace of the voting booth going "... Obama?.... what? oh hell no......". I'm not saying its going to be racially motivated (it will have some effect), but i just don't think America has the stones to put his relatively green, young, and liberal butt in the oval office; no matter how cool he looks in relation to McCain. But I have been wrong often as my last post so condescendingly noticed...
2. Obama? Part of me is dying to see him win...., think of the blog material for the next eight years! But then my brain kicks in again and I just stare at the wall in amazement that I can even consider the thought...
3. Hillary? I'll give her credit for making my news-watching nights more fun. That she went from the inevitable candidate to an underdog in 3 months, is proof that I am an idiot for not believing in God. He's gotta' be up there smoking a fat one going "I got to screw-up these elections more often..."
4. Super Delegates? Its funny that the "Democratic" party has such an undemocratic way of crowning their candidate. But then again, their party has changed, no? Their wonderful founder (Tommy Jefferson) was a real Revolutionary who battled to have the smallest Government footprint on society. Imagine,... a democrat who believes in small government. But I digress. The Super Delegates are gonna' stick their wet finger in the air around the end of May and try to run for the bandwagon,... only that wagon may already be a few miles down the road with no room for front-runners any more.
5. Speaking of God. Many of my postings have espoused my agnostic tendencies. No more. I swear I am not kidding. I realized that having faith is the greatest leap possible. It transcends logic and all that is sensible. There is something romantic, tragic, hypnotic and eternally blissful in believing in something for which you have no proof of its reality,... but your faith. A year ago, if I would have written that, I would have laughed. I am really looking forward to finding out where my new-found acquiescence leads me ...

Ok, but enough about me, I am heading over to the neighbors house to see what everybody has been writing about....

WHAT WAS I THINKING? ...

Isn't revisionist history great? Especially when applied to one's self? My mind has been musing lately on all the things I've said, done, prognosticated, hoped-for or just plain gotten wrong going back to my "Yute". Here's a sampling:

* When I was a kid (mid-60's) the year 2000 seemed like a Star Date right out of Sci-Fi. I was dead certain we would all have flying cars like the Jetson's, our watches would have little monitors (like Dick Tracy) and I would have a lot more hair. None of them came true.

* I prognosticated that Rudy and Huckabee would be the wining ticket for the GOP. I may have batted .1000 here if Rudy had not run the worst campaign since McGovern in 1972. Mike Huck may still join McCain, but I still won't vote for him. I'm staying home in November.

* I also said Hillary was going have the primary wrapped-up by January 2008,... life does have a giant sucking sound, doesn't it Rodham? (Quote by Perot so I am still plagiarism-free)

* I said Arnold was going to clean Gray Davis' clock in the California Governor's race (I was right). Then I got stupid and said he was going to ride his Hollywood bully pulpit down the Democratic Legislative body and make California a truly centrist GOP state. I forgot to count the Maria Shriver factor. Arnold is a R.I.N.O (on steroids at that). That's "Republican In Name Only" for those of you politico-lingo challenged.

* I swore our troops were going to be met with flowers and fanfare in downtown Baghdad when they first went in. They were. I just figured it would last more than 15 minutes. It did not. I also predicted Playboy would have a "Woman of the Sunni Triangle" edition immediately thereafter. I'm still waiting on that...

* I thought the Minuteman movement down at the border would be a seminal moment in the history of border politics and that it would start a much-needed reversal of policy. It didn't.

* In feeling sorry for white America, I lobbied for a "White History month" to be taught in our schools; you know, just like black and latino history months are?.... Not that I am white by any measure but I just though the Caucasians where taking it in the ass with not having one. It went over like a wet fart after bad nachos at Taco Bell.

* Having failed at the above, I lobbied for 2 token white guys to be part of every NBA team. Sort of like a affirmative action for white boys, ya' know? Amazingly they scoffed at my idea due to something called "competition"....? the horror! What was I thinking.

* I though Ray Nagin would be toast after his "New Orleans will always be a chocolate city" comment. I failed to take into consideration the everlasting patience, stupidity and spineless disposition of some (most?) voters.

* I tried to pimp the principled disposition of my party, the Libertarian party that is (www.lp.org), and both Democrats and Republicans laughed at my sorry ass. I have one more post coming on that one.

* I glowingly said that "In our Hands" by Charles Murray was the coolest, most though-provoking book I had read the whole year,... and got lambasted for supporting eugenics. Do you see a pattern here?...

So what the hell; here a sampling of my bold predictions for the rest of 2008.

* Barack is taking the White House, but not by the landslide the talking heads are yapping about. McCain is going to surprise some people with his strength in the south and (trumpets please) that he loses California by only 2 points. And no, he is really not picking the Huckster as his VP. It's Lieberman baby.

* Speaking of Barack, twenty minutes after he sits his boney ass in JFK's old chair (shouldn't they retire that freakin' thing?) Russia, China, Iran, Bosnia, Venezuela, and a half dozen other countries will begin planning how to test the new American President. The first 100 days will be ugggglyyyyyy.

* Thirty minutes after his boney ass is still plastered to the cracked leather, the House will bring forth a resolution to impeach Bush, Cheney, God, Condoleeza, Ralph Nader and any other person or entities who pissed of the party of the Donkey in the last 8 years.

* Fifty minutes after his boney............. Mitt Romney will move to Iowa to begin campaigning for 2012. John Edwards will be 2 doors down the hall.

* Not wanting to go through the impaling process again, Hillary will back-stab Harry Reid at the first opportunity and try to run the Senate for the next 20 years. Yes, she will win the leadership role and probably be King-maker for the next 4 democratic primaries.

* Speaking of Hillary, having no use for Bill, she will finally dump his useless butt and have Ellen Degeneres move into her digs. Ellen will be quoted as saying "Shame on you Bill!".

* Your think McCain is a pugnacious, hot-tempered little shit now? Wait till he loses the election. His arms will retract another 6 inches, the comb over will look like David Gergen's, and his wife Cindy will divorce his ass too...., just in case he really did boink that lobbyist.

* The U.S. will really put the hammer down in the Summer Olympics and kick serious booty in most of the events. The success of the Americans will further piss the world off, and the crowds will chant "Ste.......roids!" during each medal presentation. Barry Bonds will not be allowed into the country. His larger-than-Godzilla head will be deemed a "clear and present danger" to the communist government.

* As to me? I will still be making inroads to the local political apparatus, I will still be going to the cave quite often, and my Blog postings will still get a Blog readability test of "Elementary School". (I swear that made me laugh my ass off...)

Coda

LIBERAL REARING 101 - (Part of my fair and balanced forum)

After a posting like my last one (and no reported suicides), I NEED levity going into President's Day weekend.

(Editor's note: Are you humor impaired, satire-phobic or sarcasm-challenged?... just skip this and have a jolly good day)

A few months ago, I was having lunch and discussing the merits of good parenting with a former co-worker; he of serious liberal / progressive dispositions. After much bellowing as to how his kids "better not ever THINK of voting Republican as long they are under my roof" (or words to that effect), I went back to my corner office with a view of nearby U.S. Highway 101, and a jovial yet evil smile formed in my otherwise handsome facade.
(soft music intro in the background)....

I can imagine one of the conversations between said Father and his 14-year old Son, to go something like this:
....
Son: "Dad, why are you a liberal?"
Dad: "Why?.... It's in my blood Son! and in your blood,... and the blood of any self-respecting and enlightened American to be of left-wing persuasion. I am a liberal because of the legacy of FDR and because I believe the State has a duty and responsibility to care for the needs of its citizens, no matter how trivial or large. Everything,... schooling, health, medicine,.. the whole Magilla. We get taxed up the butt, so Government should care for our butts after taxing us as well. To think any other way is to be a selfish capitalist who only believes in his own good, and not in the good of the collective..."
Son: "So.... is that the best system we have? or is that that best system YOU chose to vote for?"
Dad: "It's not a "system" Sparky! its a way of life (grinnin' ear to ear). To live a liberal life it to care for those less fortunate than you, to open your arms to the weak, sick and hungry, to give freely so that those more needy than you can have a better Day. To be a liberal is to take from those who have, and give it to those who don't. A kinder, gentler way of socialism..." (futher smug grinnin')
Son: "Ok,...I guess I don't know why you rolled up the car window so fast when that homeless guy came up to us at the stop light..... but anyways, is being a liberal a better choice then?"
Dad: (clearing the throat... ) Well, about the homeless guy,... I did not want to endanger you or your Mom, Son. You never know who is passing as oppressed nowadays,... besides, the guy behind me was rolling down HIS window so I knew that Bum, er I mean homeless soul was getting something.... (laughs uncomfortably) ....... but let me explain this to ya'; Choice is the pre-eminent word in our beliefs. We are the better choice of culture, we are pro-choice for keeping a woman's right to choose, we are a better choice to give the poor and dis-enfranchised a better choice for gettin' back on their feet, ... yes Son, its about choices"
Son: " So... , if I chose to say vote Green, or libertarian, .... or Republican, especially after hearing your pimpin' of the liberal way, you would say that would be ok, since it was my choice, right Dad?,... and speaking of choices, does the unborn fetus get a choice to live or die in the opinion of Roe V Wade or is this a selective type of choice?"....
Dad: (chuckles in a condescending way...) "well, lets not get ahead of ourselves kiddo, you've a long way to go before you are of age to vote and intelligent enough to make such a choice on voting, for that matter. As to Roe V. Wade, well that is a very complicated issue there...., the fetus is just a bunch of molecules and cells held together in the amniotic sack,... it is not a "person", its a, er,... a soon-to-be-human, you know?, and as such is not protected by the laws of the land.., and who taught you about abortions anyway......?"
Son: "But Dad, if choice is so important, why did you get upset a few years ago when National Public Radio was considering adding conservative-based programming?... after all, most of their programs are pretty liberal, no?"...
Dad: (shift uncomfortably in the lazy-boy...) "That was a blatant attempt by that pin-headed G.O.P.-installed FCC Commissioner to interfere with an independent publicly-financed institution. Public Radio is fine the way it is, why the hell should they be another FoxNews conglomerate or Clear Channel dangit! NPR is as fair and balanced a media as we have in this County! "...
Son: "Ok, what about your Union dues Dad? I don't see those going to support anybody but liberal candidates... what if I were in a Union and wanted the CHOICE to give my dues to somebody else. Can't I have a say in that?"
Dad: "Thats different Son, (shifting to the left butt-cheek) You have to trust that ol' Hoffa Jr. knows what is best for us. God knows that man has seen his share of travails and hardships. He is fighting for you, for me, for our American Manufacturing, he is......."
Son: "... but Dad, you just bought a Korean made Toyota Scion..."
Dad: "Again, a choice Son. I though saving the planet and the environment by getting a better fuel-efficient car was the price to pay for my beliefs. Besides, its built in Ohio, and we need to keep those Buckeye Union members employed, don't we Sparky?"
Son: "Hmmm well the Chevy Aveo has better mileage than your Toyota, its built here and most of its parts are US-made,...but what about Education, Pops?... what if say you decided that the Teacher's Union here in Coulterhateville was doing a crappy job at hiring the best teachers at our district? and that the school could not fire the worst ones, you now?, -like most companies can fire someone who does not produce the expected results would?-,... what if say, Charter schools, home-schooling and vouchers were presented as choices to all Americans so WE could decide what is best for our needs,... would that not be good?"
Dad: (developing a zit at the tip of the nose...) "Look Boy, there is NOTHING wrong with Teacher's Unions; nothing at all! They can handle their own, believe me. The ONLY way to have a one-America, a consistent education for all kids -legal AND undocumented-, a better way to prepare the youths for the challenges of a global economy is for all of us to pool our resources under one banner and make the U.S. Education system the best in the planet; and that is something that without Unions we could never do. Do you honestly believe we can leave the choice of education to un-educated parents? to Christians and other right-wing Bible thumpers?, to care-takers of special-need kids?, ... to Republicans? God forbid, to Libertarians?......, C'mon Son, who is putting all these moon-baty ideas in your head?, Have you been listening to Glen Beck again?..."
Son: "No one Dad,..... (thinking...),... well, to be honest, I think I'm getting them from you, Pops...."
Dad: (bouncing from the lazy-boy and kneeling next to Sparky) "From me? (horror look on face), how did that happen? I thought you were my little liberal-in-training?... what did I do wrong?..."
Son: ... "Dad, nothing... you did nothing wrong. But did you not tell me to think for myself? I though you said I should never follow the herd and make my own way in life no matter what I was up against!.... isn't choice universal Dad? Why should freedom of choice be for abortions but not for education?, or health coverage?, or even Government policy? I think that by listening to both sides of any issue gives me the best opportunity for making the best choices for me, don't you think? Did you not say critical thinking is..... well, critical?"
Dad: "Of course I do,... well uh, to a certain extent, as long as it doesn't interfere with the code of Liberalism, Son. But as a Father I have a moral duty to guide you to that which best represents what I view in life as right, as righteous, as sensible for all,... but especially for you, for you!... , don't you see that the needs of the many sometimes outweighs the needs of the few?.... or the one?"
Son: "Dad, I heard that line from Spock in Star Trek V or something, but anyways,... look, I'm sorry you are upset. I will try to get a better understanding of your perspective. I know you love me and all you want to do is guide me to the right path. Don't think I see your thoughts as dichotomous, .... I know there isn't a hypocritical bone in your body........ I love you Dad! (beaming with pride)...
Dad: "Thanks son, I love you too (misty eyed), .... and I appreciate the vote of confidence in me. Dichotomous,... wow!, nice use of the word, Kiddo! where'd you pick that up?"
Son: (sheepishly) "er.... the Rush Limbaugh Newsletter........"
(fade to black,... as Dad twitches on the hardwood floor.....)

REQUIEM FOR A LAND ONCE CALLED CALIFORNIA...

In 2058, after nearly half century of demographic shifts in its population and burdened by the steady exiting of most manufacturing and technical industries to easterly neighbor states, Canada and Asia, the state of California -after a decade of political and Supreme Court decisions supporting it-, seceded from the Union and declared itself the Republica de California Norte (As opposed to Baja).

The results of this action were apocalyptic in its effects and unforeseen by the remaining vestiges of the once-magnificent American population. Mexico, having annexed Guatemala to the south just 4 years before, instantly declared bi-lateral talks with the new Government and a free-immigration zone was quickly declared along the Mexican-California border. A makeshift border fence constructed by the Army Corp of Engineers in 2031 was demolished over 16 months and the existing border was declared void by the new Republic and its neighbor to the south. Most major cities in the state, -now shadows of their former selves due to urban decay and rampant corruption-, became bastions of anarchy like the wild-west times of bygone eras. The agricultural middle valleys were quickly nationalized, as were Federal lands and antiquities, natural oil and gas reserves and whatever was left of Government fixed asset surpluses. Cities such as Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco, mirroring images from Hollywood post-apocalyptic films, were ripe with looting of such magnitude that the States of Arizona, Nevada and Oregon were forced to open refugee camps by the thousands to comfort Californians fleeing the Golden State. Border skirmishes at Oregon and Nevada quickly erupted by ex patriots trying to salvage the remaining union of western states against further aggression. The Governments of Venezuela, Cuba and Uruguay purchased large swaths of land of what once was Orange County and Santa Barbara and immediately commenced nationalizing the off-shore oil fields long laid dormant by the zealous environment movements of the time.

The falling of the former 6th largest economy in the world started a domino effect of a magnitude never imagined by the founding Fathers of a once-great Country. Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi immediately coalesced into the United Gulf States and recalled its entire congressional body in the spring of 2059, thus starting the disintegration of the US system of government as it was known. Middle America, -or what was left of the original union- became a loose confederacy of states inter-depended on each other for trade but the large Federal might of the economy and military power faded rapidly.

Signifying a never-before seen socio-religious movement, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio had grown to be 26% Muslim with torrents of illegal Arab immigrant coming through the Canadian border by the tens of thousands each month. Within 6 years from California's secession, Sharia law was declared in all but one of the great lake States. The last President of the Union, -the honorable Mathew Schwarzenegger-, ended the final body of Congress -and the dissolving of the Union on July 04 of 2076-, with these words:

"Had we known the effects of such things, had my father not listened to my mother Maria in terms of the burgeoning immigration crisis of 2011, has we been disciplined in our stewardship of the Republic and not kneeled to diversity for diversity's sake, had we tempered our naive road towards tolerance in blind worship of political correctness, our nation would still be one, and still be great. Three hundred years old we would have been today..... what happened? Oh God what have we done..."

And then we all awoke,... happy to have been dreaming, happy that it was but a nightmare.

The destruction of America, of the idea of being an American and of the American dream will not come through attrition, through foreign invasion, or even by political shifts. It will only come via the minute by minute, hour by hour and the day by day effects of us forgetting how good we have it, how much blood and capital was paid to get here, what the nation was originally intended to represent and ultimately by the failure to remind our children that this idea of Lady America is as fragile as it is unique.

You think this can't happen? I humbly say to you that we all better wake the fuck up, find out where we left our collective balls (or ovaries) at, and take a stand, take a fucking stand no matter the political consequence, ridicule, blow back and pain. I'm going to be long dead before this shit happens, but my kid, my darling little girl is going to inherit my inactions, my blasse attitude of change, my apathy and my assumptions that "somehow" we will prevail, that somehow we will be ok.

You hear me?.... anybody?...

Early thoughts on the political season ...

Ahhh, ... my first post of the year of our Lord 2008; and you guys thought I was gone for good....

Mathew Dowd had a very interesting piece that caught my eye at www.realclearpolitics.com and made jot down some thoughts. Can you imagine Hillary Clinton not winning the primary popular votes, and horse-collaring the super delegates to vote for her to get the nomination? I want to see her explain why Florida/2000 was stealing votes and that "every vote" counts, except when it comes to the nominee of a political party. It would be suicide and gumption of the highest order. But what the hell; most of the populace is enamored with the idea of having Monica Lewinski's ex boyfriend's wife for president so who am I to argue?

Speaking of the primaries, I hope Barrack takes not just the nomination but the general election. Hear me out on this. The pro's of having McCain as president? Maybe coninuity of the war effort to a successful conclusion (whatever you define that to be), experience in Goverment (is that a pro or a con?), and keeping the left wing out of the white house. The cons? It gives the Republicans and independent conservatives like yours trully no "urgency" to look for the next great visionary. You think McCain is going to cede the White House after just for years to a VP-in waiting? That pugnacious, hot-tempered, Hanoi-Hilton Yoda is a lot of things but gracious he is not. He feels he is owed, and he will love nothing more than to have his brand of Republicanism be the event that changes the party forever. Having said that, here' my take on having Barrack as Prez. Presidencies are more about symbolism than substance. As much as MLK's words of judging a man by the content of his character and not the color of his skin is ideal, it just does not ring true in the real world. Having a Black man (ok, ok... so he's half black) take the oath of office would turn one big, wet and ugly page of our history and have a seismic shift in what kids of color think can achieved. The Caucasian males have had 240 years of being in charge. Let the country be headed by a man who mimics what the world is turning into... an osmosis of cultures and races. Can he fuck up the nation in 4 or 8 years? I don't think so. We had Nixon, Carter, Jackson, Harding..... Bush..., if none of those boneheads could cause a tectonic shift that was permanent and undo-able in the fabric of mother America then I doubt having Barrack sitting his skinny ass in the White House will either. I'm serious. Maybe this will be a good thing in the long run. Besides, think of how much fun talk radio and the cable taking heads will have! I personally can't wait to see Rush with an oxygen mask on his ditto-cam the first time Barrack the purple flag in the south lawn.... classic. In all seriousness, the conservative movement (in is classic definition) needs to have its collective ass kicked and new standard-bearers will have to be found. Not in the hallways of Capital Hill, but in the streets of regular small town or big town America. Where are the next great libertarian and fiscal conservative minds going to come from? Where will we find the next legion of leader who have the cojones to tackle the pain of the baby-boom retirees coming home to roost? C'mon people. Let's take one in the shorts and vote the fella' in. Congress will still be grid-locked so nothing will really change, except for the possible exceptions that symbolically the nation can puts its foot on the neck of its marginal racist past.... forever.

If I may put my sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek aside for a moment (as painful as that is....), I work in a pretty left-leaning organization that provides affordable housing in the lower bay area region of California. I find it mildly amusing (but more irritating lately) that they celebrate the term "Diversity"...., as in diversity of race, sexual preference and race whenever possible,... just no diversity in opinion. How conveniently selective. There are few Republicans here, and when one shows his or her political flag the collective left recoils and hisses like snakes crossing paths with a Mongoose ("...oh my God, there is a republican working here? amongst us?..."). I feel sorry for the non-left workers here. They work just as hard, care just as much, show their devotion to duty and mission with the same focus, albeit with different prims of opinion,... yet they have to live in the closet. How funny is that?.... the act of living shamefully underground and in "the closet" of life has passed from being a Gay issue to a political opinion issue. That's why I love being the independent libertarian that I am. Because I can see the sins and glory of both sides of the isle, .... and pucker with glee when I can lob a well-placed opinion grenade when needed. I'm pro-choice. The difference with me and everybody else on the left is that I am pro-choice..... for EVERYTHING, not just a woman's right to do the Hoover maneuver inside the womb. Choice is good. Competition is good. Diversity is good..... when it is elective and not selective.

Ok, back to my cave....

So i was waiting on my flight, when suddenly...

'Twas the day after Christmas, and the Pain-Man is stuck for 6 hours at Pittsburgh International until his flight to San Jose via Phoenix takes off......, 6 hours! That's what happens when your Beechcraft out of Franklin, PA breaks down and you jump on a commuter bus hoping to make your flight...., and you're 15 minutes late. Dammit! As good a time as any to post since all the books at the Hudson News stand looked un-appetizing to my dome at the moment.

Just some general observations ....

The Primaries: I called for Giuliani / Huckabee to win the whole thing back in the spring (I love harping about that), but I think I may have gotten it backwards. Its funny that all Howitzers have flung from Romney to Huck. Let's see if the Media things he is a "nice" guy now that his is the Alpha Dog. Do I still stand by my prediction?... Yep. I'm riding the Giuliani pony up until he impales himself in Florida, then I will mount the Ron Paul horse just for my own amusement. I'm writing myself in as a candidate, in case you were wondering.....

Christmas: As a religious agnostic, I have no problems with America's Judeo-Christian ethos, none. Is a matter of fact I love saying "Merry Christmas" and all the pleasantries that come with the holidays. I especially love saying it in California, where the word has been non grata for years now. My progressive friends get anal-cramps every time I say it (sorry for the visual), but screw 'em. My reason is simple. Some traditions are just good ol' American Apple Pie stuff and though you may not agree in principle with some of them, is it hurtful in any way to wish somebody a merry day in the time we celebrate the birth of a guy who -at the very least-, was a good man and tried to be a good example to us all? Shit, if someone wished me Happy Ramadan or Beelzebub day I would grin widely and say, "back at 'cha"! Yeah, I heard Romney's speech, and yes, I think it was inspiring, beautifully spoken, and a great illustration of what makes this country un-governable at times. So what! I don't believe in the day of the dead, but I celebrate Halloween. Besides, Isn't the new year something conjured up by the Judeo-Roman calendar way back when? Was it not influenced by religion? Why don't we have a problem with that too? If we start cherry-picking the crap we are not happy with then I really hope there is a God to save us from our own politically-correct sorry asses.

NFL Football: I hate New England. There is nothing to love them for, nothing. In spite of the magnanimous way Brady carries himself, Moss is a dropped-pass away from imploding, Belichik has the charm of a Rhino, and the uniforms themselves are stupid. That having been said, if they do roll over everybody, then they HAVE to be mentioned as the best team ever. Best dynasty? maybe they are getting close to that too, but you gotta' give them their props. And curse Baltimore for calling that bone-head time-out at the end of that game....they had them on the ropes, the bastards!

Local Politics: Things move slowly at the local level, at least that has been my experience with my new targeting of my own backyard issues. Its not that you need any more grease to be heard, its that you need the grease AND timing. Local politics is very chummy, and if you are a newcomer to your town then you are screwed because nobody knows you, trusts you or gives a shit about how altruistic your intentions are. So I'm motoring on, with nothing more to report other than the fact that it is amazing the differences are between your home-town news rag, and the national one. Much more transparent, full of caffeine, and yet utterly digestible.

(Hang on ... gotta' get my 2nd can of Red Bull....)

2008 Resolutions: ... ha! Like I kept half of my 2007 ones...

1. Take my Harley down California highway 101 to Santa Barbara and snap 1 photograph of every mile of coastline. Then post it so that you know why I call this God's country (see? I can say God....!)

2. Finally record a CD of covers. Yes, grab 12 of my favorite tunes, remix them on my laptop, re-record the vocals, and print them out under the name "Uncovered". Then have all the original artists sue my ass for copyright infringement, only to realize that they like what I did production-wise and make millions by re-packaging old shit into new shit. There are suckers born every minute,... I know,... I'm one of them.

3. Have coffee, somehow, somewhere, with at least one person I've met on this virtual cafe of ours. If nothing more that to see if the face matches the web persona.... that would be fun. I do have one concern in that a hell of a lot of you are ex-Marines and may want to bury my ass for all the smack I've laid on ya' the past few years, but I hope "Semper Fi" is not just a cute latin ad word :-) (Mustang, Robert?.... )

Gotta' roll, I still have 4 hours left until my flight and there are many worthless Magazines to read but not pay for........

Do enjoy a Happy New Year, a belated Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may God bless my un-believing ass...