A couple of days ago, a participant from the "other side of the aisle" posted in a - let's call it "split level" instead of "bi-partisan" - online discussion group. I asked permission to use it here, but have not heard back from him. Therefore, I will paraphrase, and interject a few of my replies. He is in bold. I am in italics. Read more about Apres' le Deluge
Amid the euphoria of Tuesday night's election results, there was one blue note. The woman I had enthusiastically supported for an open seat in our state legislature was defeated. Results of the Washington vote came in around the same time as Ohio's, so in the midst of jumping up and down in frabjous joy, our little table became seriously subdued as the results for District 46, Legislative Position 2 rolled by on the screen. Read more about Blue Note
The last article in the December, 1911 issue of The National Geographic Magazine is a piece written by William Howard Taft, then President of the United States. It concerned The Arbitration Treaties, treaties that would bind the United States to arbitration with their co-signers instead of proceeding directly to war. Read more about Mr. Republican Pere
Media memes are all the rage these days. We see them everywhere. Paul Ryan pumping iron. Hillary Clinton on a plane. Invisible Obama. Romney and the 47%.
But they're nothing new. The two I remember best are Carter's sweaters and Reagan's Great Communicator. The latter is still remembered as a reality. There exist books and memoirs, astute political essays, that give him the title, The Great Communicator. Read more about The Great Communicator - NOT!
Is there anything more suitable than the last couple of weeks of October and the first week of November for the final battles of the election season?
Glorious Indian Summer (is it still okay to say that?) alive with bright promises under cerulean blue skies, crispy morning air, and the earthy odor of fresh pumpkin rising from the first cut for the Jack-o-Lantern. The year never looks so promising as when it's drawing to a close. Read more about Election Weather
In advance of the debate tonight, I would like to make some corrections to Obama's debate responses from last Thursday. Just gonna pretend that he's in my writers' group, and do a little critique.
Jim Lehrer asked: What are the major differences between the two of you about how you would go about creating new jobs?
Cut the 1st and 3rd paragraphs entirely, and don't start sentences with "I think."
So:
Years and years ago, when the Phil Donahue Show still came out of Cleveland, Ohio, there was an episode featuring a group of American citizens who had decided to rebel against the "consumer society."
They had decided, they said, to think carefully about their purchases. Did they need it? Would they use it? So - if they bought skis, they would also take skiing lessons. Skis and ski gear would not be allowed to pile up unused in the basement or garage. They would, indeed, ski. Read more about Citizen Consumers
Setting aside the percentages of the now infamous 47% who, like me, are on Social Security, veterans' benefits, Pell grants or Medicaid for conditions that inhibit independence, there does persist a percentage of those who are, otherwise, poor. This is for them. Read more about Poor 'r' Us
Put a sock in it.
That's what I'm advising any and all out there who feel compelled to instruct us all on the evils of Islam. It being a religion, I'm sure it contains its fair share of what some folks might construe as evil - at least as much as any other ol' time religion. I don't think I need to mention proving one's allegiance by knocking off one's son or stoning this, that and the other guy for this, that and the other thing. And then there's that little incident of blaming the Jews for what was obviously a public relations ploy that got out of hand. Read more about Put a Sock In It