Getting ready for Presedent!

That is the title of the story that The Girl started yesterday.  Here is the rest of it, and I have not edited it in any way (Remember, she’s only 6!):

Goerge Bush was before Brock-O-Boma.

Brock-O-Boma is Browned sKin.  A very good color for Presedent.

Long ago Brown Peaple where not alowd to vote or be Presedent Because white peaple used to Be dum and we didin’t know What was Different on the inside and outside.

I know that she did not word things quite right, but I get her point.  I am so proud that she would, on her own, decide that brown is a very good color for President.  In fact, I am also proud that, when I told her that “Brock-O-Bama” had won, and that it was a big deal because he was the first president ever who wasn’t white, she didn’t get it.  She didn’t understand why there had never before been a president who wasn’t white.  Why wouldn’t there be “brown skinned” presidents?  And Korean presidents for that matter (most of her friends here are Korean).  Made no sense to her.  And, while I understand the history, it makes no sense to me either.  I can’t wait to see what the future brings.  Maybe The Girl will be “Presedent” some day!

Advertisement

Read Full Post »

My Take On Politics

photo by jmtimages

Well, now that the election is over, I figure I can give my opinion on politics now. Brian usually handles the political posts, but today I’m going to give it a whirl. Bear with me.

Let me begin by saying that this is the first election that I have ever voted in. Ever. I’m 31 years old, so it’s not because I couldn’t. I had that “Generation X Apathy”. I didn’t care about politics, I didn’t follow politics, and I truly believed that if I wasn’t informed, I shouldn’t vote. To be honest, I still believe that if a person isn’t informed, they shouldn’t vote, but I have come to the conclusion that it is our responsibility as US citizens to at least make an effort to be informed.

That being said, I beg for forgiveness for my previous apathy. This election has changed me. I have never felt more confident in a candidate than I do in our newly elected President. And, conversely, I have never feared someone as much as I did McCain. And, I have never had more sour feelings for a vice presidential candidate than I do for Palin.

I won’t go into why I believe in Obama, but I will say this: I am inspired by him. I am inspired by his story. And I can’t wait for to see what he’s going to do to change this country.

Read Full Post »

Picking Pumpkins in California is WEIRD!

Jack o’ Lanterns

Originally uploaded by Teo

I took the kids out to a farm yesterday with The Girl’s friend’s family. It was so strange for me. Being from Michigan, going hunting for the perfect pumpkin always involved at least a jacket, but more often than not, we wore hats, gloves, winter coats, and boots. Yesterday, we wore shorts and t-shirts, and were still sweating. It had to have been 100 degrees out. And there were probably 1,000 people there! It was just craziness.

That being said, we had a good time. We had some caramel apples, pet some farm animals, and the kids played on a mountain of hay bales. The Boy felt a unique bond with a llama because of the spelling of its name (for those of you who do not know us, The Boy’s first name begins with 2 L’s. That’s right, 2 of ’em. LIke a llama). We only bought some tiny pumpkins because we aren’t carving one this year, because we see no point in doing so while living in an apartment…we don’t anticipate any trick-or-treaters, and we won’t be home anyway.

After we left, I took my 2 kids and The Girl’s friend out for some frozen yogurt (shh, they think it was ice cream!) to cool off. The girls bamboozled me into buying a bigger size than they would normally have, so no one ate dinner. It’s all good though. Sometimes it’s nice to have “ice cream” for a meal. 🙂

The best part of the day, though, was bedtime. The kids were all clean from their bath, snuggled in their beds, and were sound asleep in minutes. That’s when you know you’ve had a good day!

Read Full Post »

We’re at a crossroads… I love climbing trees… you?

Photo posted by Vincént

Confused? Taken aback? Surprised? Disappointed? Scared? Economic failure, and what will the next president do to help us?

I warn you reader, whoever you are, that I ramble… I do. But, not as much as at least one of the candidates…

A lot of things have changed in the last 8 years, and we are just now paying attention. I actually will admit to a time when I found myself a supporter of, if only in a small way, George W. Bush. I am proud to admit that that time is past. I can chalk that up to inexperience, hope, and the belief that to support one, is to dislike the other. Or at least choose the lesser of two evils based on statements they make when exposed. But, we should base our votes on our beliefs of what needs to be done, and which man or woman will do those things. One place to see their own views is the presidential debate.

The Debate is an opportunity for us to see the candidates personally and without clouded and loaded speeches full of misdirection and contradiction. Instead we can see them contradict themselves without the help of written words. We see first hand how they respond, not only to each other, but also to questions they are not prepared for. I for one was frustrated with what I have seen and continue to watch over and over again.

We have to vote one of these men to be our next president. One speaks of the need of flexibility. One speaks of the need for security. One speaks of the need for health care increase through reform, and education. One speaks of long term change and growth. One speaks of quick fixes to boost economy. Both agree to agree… Both disagree to disagree… And yet, both do agree on some things and not on others although I am still not sure what any of them are. I found it ironic that McCain mentioned the need of flexibility then frowned on Obama’s own flexibility. Citing Obama’s change in position on spending over the years. Is it not flexible, whatever the reason, to acknowledge that your past advances did not work, or were no longer the priority so you will now choose a new approach? McCain remains vigilant that he will remain steadfast in many areas. That is not flexible. I will say that much of what both men said sounded, as usual, like a lot of talk with promise of action. But, I refuse to base my vote on their history and experience. Why? That seems silly Brian. What else can you go on? Well, let me tell… me.

We find ourselves in a completely new situation. COMPLETELY new. A situation we created (by WE I mean whoever has been making decisions these last 2 terms… er 8-ish years…) through mistake after mistake and oversight after oversight. For years we formulated tax programs and other economic strategies that rewarded greed and single-minded money making by the biggest of the big money companies. All the while, they made even more money sending jobs elsewhere, cheating and well acting irresponsibly. We entered a war without a focused plan. But, I digress…

NEW issues means NEW strategies. I am not interested in a conservative republican, liberal democrat or any variation thereof, if they are not willing to approach a NEW issue with NEW ideas. We don’t need a president who will continue any policy as is. An overhaul is needed. If your car were not functioning at all, and you hired someone to look it over and they told you, “it’s all wrong and that is why it is next to complete failure” would you do the standard tune up, and oil changes as needed? Or would you order a complete overhaul. Sure, the belts may all be ok, and maybe the fuel pump functions properly, but what good will it do you if EVERYTHING else broken?

Why is it that Obama had the audacity to answer most questions given, if sometimes in a round about way, and McCain had to begin nearly every answer with something negative about Obama and he couldn’t move on from previous questions? Flexibility? Their may be a lot of negative things to say about both running mates, believe me, I have plenty of negatives about those two, but the real issue should be the candidates themselves, and now, I find I have more negative feelings about McCain. Maverick or not, he scares the hell out of me when he speaks. He can’t stop attacking Obama. He can’t stop attacking. He mispeaks moore than any other, except maybe the father of the mispoken word… and he has no chance of reigning any longer.

Am I missing the point? I will continue watching coverage of the debates. I will watch the running mates embarass themselves and the presidential candidates. I will have more to say, and if I am wrong I will admit it. If only those we vote for could do the same.

Read Full Post »

Presidential conundrums… who to vote for?

Photo by reso438k

Well, this is an age old question I used to pose to many an adult in my youth, if only to see them squirm around telling me that it is their right not to publicize that information. What was a 7th grade, pimple faced class clown going to do with that information? I may never know.

These days however, things are different. I receive dozens of emails explaining why one candidate is better than the others. I have received such information since the First George W. candidacy and will most likely receive such information for the remainder of my days. In truth, I welcome it now. I has opened my eyes. Not to what the senders hope to ‘open my eyes’ to, but to something deeper. I have realized that it bothers me when people make a claim about a president. Take for example: “Vote for (name of wonderfully inept, not and all suitably self-centered candidate) because he is a good christian man, with good christian morals. OK, just for a side note, I am a Christian. I believe in God, and read my bible and attend services (admittingly not as often as we’d like) we live our lives and raise our children in a manner we beleive is morally concrete. But, will I vote for a President because he holds the same religious beliefs as I do? Not in the least.

When someone makes a claim about a candidate I wonder, “How do they KNOW that to be truth?” Candidates make many claims, and Hitler himself claimed to be a Christian doing God’s work. I don’t understand why we pull such things into the equation. It’s confusing enough balancing the lies and slander.

The reason for this rant? Well, the emails and calls they keep coming. And, it seems more of a circus or high school class president race to me. People using popularity comparisons, grabbing a new and (improved?) gender card and of course the slander of past failures and lack of accountability. People are actually basing a vote on the fact that Palin represents hockey moms. “Hockey moms for Palin” the signs read. Really? Honestly? If the world were on the brink of utter destruction and one decision would save or destroy us all, would YOU seek the hockey moms for the answer? Sad but true. I know we all need to base our votes on something, and the candidates self contradictions and lack of ability to tell the whole truth (they train for years to learn that skill, just as the best attorneys do) make it difficult to choose that something, but her family? The fact that she has a kid who plays hockey? That makes her the best choice? Or on the other hand, DON’T vote for them because her daughter became pregnant before marriage? What, praytell, does that have to do with her ability to run this country, which, let’s face it, is not too unlikely to disregard.

Maybe the best thing to do is vote party then… yes, that seems to be a reasonable solution. Only, here’s the thing, we miss the point of our country. We have been missing the point for quite some time. It isn’t about party, and when it becomes that, NOTHING gets accomplished. We fight to have republican ideals met, or democratic ideals until the real issues build a shaky floor beneath the feet of the American people, the ones THEY are suppose to represent, and that floor collapses. Maybe a recession, or a housing crash, an economic crisis of some sort points out one major truth… Nothing has been being done to help or prevent it. If my basketball team had a problem with free throws and all I did was focus on an imaginary rebounding problem guess what? When the big game is on the line and it requires a free throw… not only will the rebounding problem not exist, we will lose.

I don’t know exactly who to vote for or how to come to that decision just yet, but I know one thing: WE have the choice. It is OUR vote, and allowing ANYONE to sway that decision is irresponsible. Educate yourself. Don’t take what others say as truth, especially much of the ads and slogans of the idio… er, candidates themselves. We have a say, allbeit a small one, we have a say, and the most we can do with that is say it.

I am really not sure where this was originally going, and less sure where it ended, but I know one thing, if you’ve read this far… well, I would vote for you any day.

Read Full Post »