Blog Against the Machine

When Did We Become so Ugly?

First, an apology to my friend, Keith Wilhite. Keith is a fine Christian man with whom I would entrust my children. Nonetheless, I just went off on him just because he was the nearest Republican.

It was like I was in a Democrat/Republican hockey game. When the fight breaks out, you grab the nearest opponent and start wailing on him, even if he did nothing.

I'm a registered Democrat. And the fact that you probably just thought "a liberal!" is exactly the problem I have with American politics. The truth is I'm a fiscal conservative. I think there should be a rock-solid connection be taxes and spending. If you lower taxes, you have to lower spending. If you raise spending, you have to raise taxes. It seems pretty straightforward to me, but nobody has the balls to actually behave that way.

I'm Saving up For ...

I'm saving up for a new kitchen stove and I'm giddy as a schoolboy about it.

I was actually on consumerreports.orglast night comparing ratings and getting animated. "Honey, check out the convection oven!" I was torn over the GE and Amana models. My wife, Rhonda, looked at me like I was insane. I displayed excitement usually reserved for sports involving my children or open-wheel racing.

Paul Krugman Gives John Edwards a Shout Out

Mega outstanding column in the New York Times today by Paul Krugman. In it he represents that John Edwards deserves credit for basically all the great ideas in the campaign. He just happened to not be a rock star candidate, is all. Read it here.

For Better or Worse, America Still Matters

I just read an awesome column by Roger Cohen on washingtopost.com. (Read it here.) In it, Cohen talks about how Europe and the world is riveted to the American presidential campaign.

That fact, Cohen notes, is in stark contrast to the conventional wisdom that America's importance is receding in the world. It's not. And that's both good and bad.

The Wave of Voter Rage

Here's what I think is going on around the country:

People are pissed.

OK, maybe "pissed" and "rage" are too strong of words, but I think that people are tired of the same old Washington bullshit. It goes like this:

One side elects their guys and girls so they can game the system and get a disproportionate share of the government largess. The other side schemes to get back in power so their peeps can return to the government trough. Meanwhile, we all set out land mines for the other party so as to make them look bad and keep them down or keep us up, whichever works.

Iowa Caucuspalooza 2007

7:06 a.m. -- Today is The Day, Caucus Day, here in Iowa. The caucuses begin at 7 p.m. Central in schools and churches and fire halls and community centers over the state. I'm wearing my lucky John Edwards for President T-shirt under my sweatshirt which will be under my coat as I trudge from house to house in West Des Moines knocking on doors today.

Don't Hate Us Because We're First

I'm seeing a few stories out in The Media about how much it sucks to have Iowa and New Hampshire as the first caucus and primary.

Iowa and New Hampshire are too small and too white, according to these stories. Hey, I think the primary process is goofy too. If I lived in another state I'd think it was extremely bogus. I've said before that the whole caucus process and concept is weird. It's a holdover from the days that dinosaurs roamed the earth and the parties used caucuses to establish party platforms. That went out right after Lincoln, but yet we cling to them.

Pretty much the only reason we cling to the caucus here (right on cue, I just got a recorded call from Ron Paul for President) in Iowa is because it keeps us first and lets us revel in the candidate and media attention.

Christmas 2007

Welcome to "Dead Week," the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. I'm on the job, working from my underground lair. Got a marketing mailer done yesterday. It's ready to go out on January 2.

I've been trying to think of something to write about Christmas for about two weeks. When I was a kid, I was powered up about Christmas, like most kids are. Since my family existed on an auto mechanic's income, it wasn't like we got presents every week, so Christmas was a pretty rare occasion.

Male Behavior Breaks Out, Parents Survive Birthday Party

Haley had her 16th birthday party on Nov. 30.

First of all, we rolled to the DMV to get her new license. Rhonda and I arrived in our van suitably decorated with "HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY HALEY" all over it. (See horrible photo.)

"Dad, I can't believe you did this. We saw it FROM THE DOOR of the school. This is so embarrassing."

Happy 16th Birthday Haley

Seems like only yesterday I was sheepishly changing her "poopy pants" and taking picture of her in her "Dender (Denver) dress."

Today is my daughter Haley's 16th birthday. We're off like a flash to get The Driver's License after school today. (Still waiting on the Mustang Fairy.) Lord help and protect us all.

A birthday get-together is planned for our humble house, and Rhonda and I have been BANNISHED to our room for the duration (or until screaming breaks out). "Dad, it will be so embarrassing if you come down stairs so just stay in your room, OK?"

Note to parents of young children: don't blink. Soon enough that little girl who loves to sit on your lap and laugh-laugh-laugh will be texting and driving and getting ready for college and concerned with very womanly stuff.

Take it easy on the old man, Haley! Love ya!