It's True -- there is no governmental solution -- Thing

Dear America,

"...to decide the important question, 

whether societies of men 

are really capable or not 

of establishing good government 

from reflection and choice..."  

Alexander Hamilton, 

The Federalist Papers, No.1

To the first paragraph, in its entirety:

To the People of the State of New York: 

AFTER an unequivocal experience of the inefficiency of the subsisting federal government, you are called upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for the United States of America. The subject speaks its own importance; comprehending in its consequences nothing less than the existence of the UNION, the safety and welfare of the parts of which it is composed, the fate of an empire in many respects the most interesting in the world. It has been frequently remarked that it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force. If there be any truth in the remark, the crisis at which we are arrived may with propriety be regarded as the era in which that decision is to be made; and a wrong election of the part we shall act may, in this view, deserve to be considered as the general misfortune of mankind. This idea will add the inducements of philanthropy to those of patriotism, to heighten the solicitude which all considerate and good men must feel for the event. Happy will it be if our choice should be directed by a judicious estimate of our true interests, unperplexed and unbiased by considerations not connected with the public good. But this is a thing more ardently to be wished than seriously to be expected. The plan offered to our deliberations affects too many particular interests, innovates upon too many local institutions, not to involve in its discussion a variety of objects foreign to its merits, and of views, passions and prejudices little favorable to the discovery of truth.

I have started this morning's musings based upon the September issue of Imprimis, the readers monthly from Hillsdale College.  This month, featuring an adaptation of a speech made by Myron Magnet, the author of the book, Clarence Thomas and the Lost Constitution.

Being just a few pages, it's surprisingly a difficult read; expect to become engulfed in a rather tight weave of the finer points of a few hand-picked Supreme Court cases -- dabbling in precedence, findings. and usurpation of the law, if any, and tying the knot with a brief biography of Clarence Thomas (advancing the belief, his grandfather saved him from a life of victim-hood and despair). 

At the end, Myron confirms what Clarence Thomas grew to know firsthand, and what very well could serve as the saving grace in the days ahead:  "there is no governmental solution."

Exactly.

..to decide the important question, 

whether societies of men 

are really capable or not 

of establishing good government 

from reflection and choice..."

...in conjunction with the understanding that there truly is no governmental solution to most things.

As Magnet magnifies in his final words:  "Regardless of race, everybody faces adversity and must choose whether to buckle down and surmount it, shaping his own fate, or to blame the outcome on powerful forces that make him ineluctably a victim -- forces that only a mighty government can master.  The Framers' Constitution presupposes citizens of the first kind.  Without them, and a culture that nurtures them, no free nation can long endure."

The establishment of good government requires that it's most precious content IS not only it's citizens, but good citizens -- good, honest, hard working, conscientious, kind, citizens, with the integrity and wherewithal to behave appropriately in all places in society, especially within the powers of government.

To that end, we have lost touch with this kind of service to God and to country.  We have totally lost touch with establishing good government from reflection and choice.  We have totally lost our sense of responsibility to be self-reliant, dependent upon the virtues and outcomes of what may come simply by being a nation elevated in good, decent self-government, fastening the security of a nation from one generation to the next.

This nation was intended to be built upon GOOD people.  

No law can take the place of just being good decent people; and every solution to our problems lies within our own, purely independent, power to change behavior.  Like George said just yesterday:

“Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.”

― George Washington

I'm alarmed by what is happening in D.C. these days.

The more light shed upon the swamp, the uglier it gets.  Our Framer's would be so ashamed of us.

Just imagine how the history books will tell it in the years to come....speaking of which, while bouncing around La Jolla on Sunday, hitting an art show and the local farmers market, my baby and me walked into a used book store -- always a good move.  Talk about falling down a rabbit hole and losing an afternoon amid musty bindings, and all the while sensing it would be a marvelous way to go, being buried in books with one wrong move (picture a game of Pick-up Sticks, only with volumes of good reads stacked to the ceiling and three rows deep).

Lucky me, though, I came away with what is titled, the Concise Dictionary of American History. printed in 1962, by the Editors of Charles Scribner's Sons, New York (first printing in 1940).  It amounts to about 1050 pages from A to Z and begins with what was called "A.B.C. Conference, which met at Niagara Falls May-July 1914, after Argentina, Brazil and Chile tendered mediation to prevent a conflict between the United States and the Huerta regime in Mexico" and ends with ZOUAVES -- "The Zouaves were a class of light infantry regiments of the French Army serving between 1830 and 1962 and linked to French North Africa, as well as some units of other countries modelled upon them. The zouaves, along with the indigenous Tirailleurs Algeriens, were among most decorated units of the French Army".

Put in another light -- this girl is proudly in possession of this Concise Dictionary, weighing in at all of 4.8 lbs,  for only a dollar!  And I haven't even got to the best part; its previous owner signed the inside cover --  "Leslie & Sam Hinton"  -- written in fancy script.   

And, of course -- I had to Google it.

Lo and behold, discovered a sweet biography through Sam's obituary at the LA Times.  He died ten years ago -- at the age of 92! -- after making La Jolla his home (apparently Leslie passed away five years earlier).   In matters of context and life intersecting life, Sam died about the same time this thing called It's a G Thing came to be; Obama was president and we were knee deep in the creation of a brand new entitlement program, better known as Obamacare.  And I just couldn't keep my mouth shut any longer, that summer of 2009, I just couldn't.

I can appreciate how Sam's life seemed a wee bit all over the place -- what a kindred spirit of mine, right.  I loved this part about him, too:  "In 1942, he became a director of the Desert Museum in Palm Springs. In 1943 he took a post doing war-related research at the University of California’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla. The research involved helping the U.S. Navy find better ways to carry the fight to the enemy or, as Hinton later put it, 'how to sink and not get sunk'.”  The personal overlap of family ties to Palm Desert and the Navy solidifies that feeling of interconnected lives we all weave, all our lives.  Indeed, how to sink and not get sunk...familiar with that kind of old-school humor.

The thing is -- establishing a good government from reflection and choice requires us to respect this kind of societal interconnection; every move we make bears an outcome, be it by one or by all.

Proving my ongoing theory meeting up with the amusing, age-old Monty Python skit--  it's my theory, and mine alone, and my theory is that we connect in the beginning, disconnect in the middle, and reconnect in the end.  (say it with a slightly high-pitched British woman's voice)

The Forward in my new Concise Dictionary of American History notes the following:

"Twenty years and more have passed since the Dictionary's first publication, years full of event and shock, glory and anxiety, the widening of our horizons and the deepening of national responsibilities.  Amid the complexities of our present course, a clear, accurate, unprejudiced knowledge of what we have been and what we stand for is demanded of every intelligent American.  Realms of knowledge which were once comfortably regarded as of value only to the teacher and scholar are now of immediate importance to us all.  Those for whom the Dictionary of American History was originally planned -- thinking, concerned men and women who wanted to know the facts of our national being so that they might make their present judgments with wisdom and without prejudice -- are counted no longer by the thousands but by the tens of thousands..."

The more history changes, the more history stays the same.

yet, again, there is emphasis on the thinking, concerned men and women -- this thing called reflection and choice continues to come up, no matter what happens.  And event and shock, glory and anxiety continue to play together, politely like taking turns.  The widening of horizons and the deepening of national responsibilities ever clear, ever present, and ever more important.

Yes, There it is again, that called anxiety.  It's like I'm back to the good old days, running on a theme.

Deep, deep breaths.

Everything will be okay, eventually. 
For a good start -- just aim for being good, in general.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's About the Place Where Good Endings Begin Thing

Dear America,

"Do not be misled:  

'Bad company corrupts good character.'"

1 Corinthians 15:33

it is awfully important to recognize that which we conform to, voluntarily and of our own volition, while doing this thing called life.

are we conforming to the  things of this world, putting all of our attentions to the places, people, things of this world...things that may, or may not, be out for our best interests --- or --- are we conforming to something Not of This World....something of a Higher Purpose under Heaven, preordained by God Itself?

As the Corinthians had come to know quite well -- all things go according to this law, one way or the other.

Bad company -- can truly be bad for us; thus, let us be alert, aware, cognizant of the company we keep.

In keeping with the fullness of proper understanding, that thing called company can look an awful lot like our thoughts, our friends, our families....our vices and our politics....our teammates and our co-workers.... and here's a real shocker -- even our loves.  That very company --  along with the entire community of company that we keep -- reveals just who we are right now, in this present moment, as well as, who we ultimately grow to become...somewhere down the road; both light and dark forces share the road, and it takes courage and strength to continually choose the right side. 

And it is no more different now, then it was in the day of Corinth.  Human nature is the one kind of constant we can all depend; it's human nature, it's human nature, it's human nature.

When the Apostle Paul traveled hundreds and hundreds of miles -- preaching the Gospel --  he chose to leave everything behind and make a career as a traveling salesman, of sorts -- selling something he truly believed, with every fiber of his being:  the Word and the Absolute Presence of God, in, and of, this world; it is the beginning and the end. 

In good company, hand in hand with God, Paul spent his days and nights spreading the good tidings of God's Grace, God's Promises, and God's Word; this became his entire focus.  And certainly, to know and experience God's Good -- His Grace, Promises, Word, and Love -- is to also know and appreciate God's conditions and expectations upon this world, upon us, living in the world that God made; to demonstrate that kind of love right back, by following in the ways, in the truths, of God, is the very least we can do, right?  [But the greatest, of course, is love :) [1 Corinthians 13:13]

Taking this kind of Apostle-lonian faith even further, is to believe that no matter what comes our way (the good, the bad and the just plain stupid), that in the end, everything comes together for our good.

God always has a plan for us.  And if we are distracted in the ways of this world, if we are not in alignment with our gifts, our purpose, the plan designed and mapped out by God, then things happen to get our attention...
Things begin to happen in order to bring about the deeper mission -- a mission only meant for us, individually, and rippling out in the collective.  And naturally, as we grow closer to God, this awakening, this path, becomes better illumined, and more defined.  Nothing in our lives should be of higher priority/reality than the actual walking, and loving, and living, in a life with God -- making God first, for all else shall be added unto you...

From one of my favorite spiritual gurus, Ernest Holmes, founder, and author, of The Science of Mind (which has nothing to do with Scientology, just FYI...) --

"God is not only an infinite Presence, the Spirit is also an indwelling reality.  The silent whisperings of this inner Presence come to each as a divine revelation, an inner communion of the individual spirit with the Over-Soul; that vast and invisible Presence in which we live, move, and have our being."

The Apostle Paul knew of these things, because the Apostle Paul lived these things accordingly; he knew of this kind of intimacy with God,  intimately and firsthand and without wavering, in spite of horrendous things happening to him throughout his life, doing the work of God.  Paul was unshaken -- even through beatings, imprisonment, troubles, hunger, sleepless nights...with every bit of it being hard work and often bringing pain and anguish (paraphrasing 2 Corinthians 6:3-6); it would seem correct to say, that the work Paul was destined to do, with an unfathomable kind of love and devotion, was the ONLY true company he meant to keep.

If only a t-shirt could have been marketed way back when, for it would read:  eat, speak, sleep G  [as in BIG G! not little me, g, okay]

Oh happy day...

It's Sunday!  

and so of course this girl will be all up in praise, giving it her Sunday best!

And that was where we left it.....on Sunday....and in a huff and a puff.

"RET ROW," (just being one of my favorite Scooby Doo lines ever).... It's no longer Sunday...it's not even Monday...it's now a Tuesday.  And a time warp has just snatched 48 hours from me like nobody's business.  What happened?

Computer Down is what happened...

Just as I was rolling along, almost singing a song, on Sunday afternoon -- suddenly, everything stopped.  The computer was having none of it; it logged off  Wi-Fi not to come back, no matter what coaxing and Spiritual Mind treatments this girl could muster -- and to add further mystery, not to be explained by even the likes of Microsoft some odd two hours later... ugh.

Then, after having left it alone, after a nap and a shot of Makers Mark, I came crawling on back --  crossing my fingers and toes and begging for leniency.  And boom.  Ping bada bing.  It can't be explained; it can't take away hours of frustration; it can't even make the day begin again on Sunday, pretending it never happened. 

Reality is, it's Tuesday.  And there is no fighting with reality here, right...

So this girl is heading straight back to center, returning to Holmes, in a little book called, This Thing Called Life:

 The Science of Mind teaches us to look for good instead of evil; to praise and not to condemn; to bless and curse not; to live each day as though the Spirit were guiding us; to have a firm conviction that we are counseled by Divine Wisdom and protected by Infinite Love.  We should at all times sense this overshadowing Presence and have implicit confidence in Its direction.

No matter what the doubts and fears of yesterday were, the affirmations of today may rise triumphantly over them.  If we persist in seeing beauty, beauty will appear.   Let us no longer weep over the mistakes of yesterday.  This is futile.  We must learn to forgive ourselves even as we forgive others.  Let us remember that 'each day is a fresh beginning, every day is the world made new'.''

Oh how essential the company we keep.

Lastly, before this girl must make her way to the rest of her busy day --- let me leave you with a really, really good read.  In one regard, it explains the company I like to keep -- linking with The Patriot Post; and in another, it explains the greater urge, deep inside, to further educate myself on how this great nation was made.  I firmly believe that these founders of ours, not only recognized the plan orchestrated by The Divine, but they also understood the great mandate before them, respective of each generation of ours being required to align, and fully unite, for the common good -- even knowing it was not a guarantee....as things happen.  Oh human nature, human nature, human nature...

1.  The Federalist Papers 230 Years Later.  yes, please. 
2.  Alexander Hamilton's Federalist Paper No. 1. 

It's just a good start to begin to explain how "bad company corrupts good character" and can be so vewy vewy bad for us, in so many, many ways.  But let us not weep over the mistakes of yesterday...or, even the last hundred years when this government of ours has gone completely off the rails, off the trails, and have landed completely upside down and ass backwards.  Not one thing can explain it -- for its innumerable. 

But please, let us not dwell here.

Let us go here, instead, for this is where good endings begin:

"There is a shelter of a rock in every man's soul."

Make it a Good Day, 
Keep Good Company,
G

It's Peace Arguing with a False-Sense of Security Thing

Dear America,

As expected, it is dizzying the number of ways we could go with this this morning.  It's the Day After the third and final presidential debate.

One thing's for sure, old G is gonna attempt to take this slow and easy...kind of like our measured Mitt of last night, who began the evening with this:

"But we can't kill our way out of this mess.  We're going to have to put in place a very comprehensive and robust strategy to help the -- the world of Islam and other parts of the world, reject this radical violent extremism, which is -- it's certainly not on the run.  It's certainly not hiding.  ..."

Obama's first chance to respond went like this:

"Well, my first job as commander in chief, Bob, is to keep the American people safe,  And that's what we've done over the last four years.  We ended the war in Iraq, refocused our attention on those who killed us on 9/11.  And as a consequence, Al Queda's core leadership has been decimated..."

This is where Romney had an opportunity to go on the attack, but chose not to -- he could have immediately questioned all of what the president had just said, beginning with something like 'not all Americans have been kept safe, we just lost our first Ambassador to Islamic Extremists AND three others!, first time in like thirty years....even after he asked for reinforcements, even after your administration turned him down, even after the consulate had been attacked twice before....Bin Laden may be dead as you have made perfectly clear over and over again, even to the extent of "spiking the football" @ your convention... but Al Queda is alive and well, as we have clearly, horrifically, seen in the last few weeks."

NO.  He didn't go that way - - our measured Mitt.  He took the high road all night long, all the way home.

And more important, Romney never took the bait.

"Well, my strategy is pretty straightforward, which is to go after the bad guys, to make sure we do our very best to interrupt them, to -- to kill them, to take them out of the picture.  But my strategy is broader than that.  That's  -- that's more important, of course." Mitt

It wasn't long after this, the entire debate went south, in my humble opinion.

We arrive at the first sign of the core character of the man Romney was sitting next to ---

"Governor Romney, I'm glad that you recognize that Al Queda is a threat [oh you pompous ass], because a few months ago when you were asked what's the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, you said Russia, not Al Queda; you said Russia, it's the 1980's and they're now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War's been over for 20 years...you seem to want to import foreign policies of the 1980's, just like social policies of the 1950's and the economic policies of the 1920's...."

catty, petty, arrogant  and chock-full of disrespect.  It sounds like we've got Peace arguing with the False-Sense of Security in you, Mr. President.

And accordingly,  liberals far and wide this morning think this sort of performance should be rewarded; this is the kind of president and Commander-in-Chief they Like -- if the office of the presidency were a facebook page, his page wins.

Romney:

"Well, of course I don't concur with what the president said about my own record....but I can say this, that we're talking about the Middle East and how to help the Middle East reject the kind of terrorism we're seeing, and the rising tide of tumult and -- the confusion.  AND -- and attacking me is not an agenda.  Attacking me is not talking about how we're going to deal with the challenges that exist in the Middle East...

...Excuse me.   [Russia] It's a geopolitical foe, and I said in the same -- in the same paragraph I said, and Iran is the greatest national security threat we face.   ..I have clear eyes on this. I'm not going to wear rose-colored glasses when it comes to Russia, Mr. Putin. AND I'm certainly no going to say to him, I'll give you more flexibility after the election..."

And you know what else, Romney wore the bigger Flag on the lapel, nana nana na na.

Sure.  I could go through the entire debate.  Page by page, zing by zing.

But long before sunrise, America imploded with 'horses and bayonets' -- what more is there to say on that?

We're totally beating a dead horse by now. badump ba

Obama:

"Well, I'll be quick.  What you just heard, Governor Romney said is he doesn't have different ideas.  And that's because we're doing exactly what we should be doing to try to promote a moderate Syrian leadership and a -- an effective transition so that we get Assad out.  That's the kind of leadership we've shown.  That's the kind of leadership we'll continue to show."

So on a positive spin  -- didn't the president just say they are equally measured?

It's like Peace arguing with a False-Sense of Security.

Oh it doesn't matter.

In the end, the overall third impression left upon the voters is what stays with us.

And if we are keeping tabs -- in the aftermath -- Obama is said to have won in debate sputter and zings; but Romney won on behaving like a president.

Romney seemed relaxed (maybe too relaxed).  Romney held his tongue.   He was the one who kept taking the step back to look at the bigger picture.

Obama looked like he had daggers in his eyes.  He looked evil.  I can only imagine what this guy is like across the table from Bibi...especially that evening when he left Bibi hanging downstairs while he went up to have dinner with Michelle and the girls.


The thing is, Romney had a plan -- a strategy for the night, if you will -- and it wasn't exchanging jibes and swings below the belt all night long [and me thinks that's a pretty good omen for Romney's foreign policy of the future].

As much as many of us would have wished we were watching a pay-per-view, with Round Two of knock down drag out ringing our bells -- Romney selectively opted to take the road less traveled by politicians.  He chose the high road and simply gave the sitting president a night with all due respect. For the president, not so much.

For example, as Romney duly noted with regards to the Navy -- he said,

"The Navy said THEY NEEDED 313 ships to carry out their mission.  We're now at under 285....that's unacceptable to me."

we get from BO:

"You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships that we did in 1916.  Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military's changed...And so the question is not a game of Battleship, where we're counting ships."

I know, after just saying we didn't need to go 'horses and bayonets," I just did.  But what's one more comment on horses and bayonets, right?

Folks, just listen to the petulance, the snippy-ness, the grandstanding upon a remark from this president of ours...

It's like Peace arguing with a False-Sense of Security.

But this is where Romney had a chance to come back and come back hard, but he didn't.  He let it go.  Not out of weakness, but out of strength.   FACT CHECK:  The Navy said THEY NEEDED more ships -- it wasn't just something he thought of all by himself.  And that Battleship dig...really?  That says something more about Obama's sophomoric knee-jerk reaction, then one of a measured diplomat... black-hawk down.

And wait, there's more, only seconds later, from BO: "and you know, we visited the website quite a bit and it still doesn't work."  [referring to Romney's plug of his plan on the website]  ooooh burn....

Grow Up, Mr. President.

YOUR foreign policy is not working no matter how many times you say --

"...now that you have a democratically elected government in Egypt...."   yeah right.

"...I will stand with Israel if they get attacked...we have created the strongest military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries in history."  yeah right.

"...and so we decimated Al Queda's core leadership in the border regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.."  yeah right.

"roads and bridges"

go teachers.

Oh my, and how enlightening the final thoughts on the night....

Included in Obama's, he says "and we've been through tough times but we always bounce back because of our character, because we pull together..."

On that note, perhaps you should stop asking for transcripts and get yourself a mirror.  Do you like what you see?  

Is the Obama we saw last night putting his best character forward?
How can he even speak character and keep a straight face after the way he acted?

After all, doesn't this behavior personify what we see as being wrong with Washington -- that being, the bitter partisanship that has blocked the possibility of real reform?   This behavior of the president just might explain everything.

Ugh.  How did we get here -- when the community organizer with NO foreign policy experience at all, when the guy who had to bring on Biden to give him substance on the subject (oh the irony) -- decides to chide and ride Romney all the way through?   Unbelievable.   Send away 'the crown' and bring me a leader.

Here's Romney --

"This nation is the hope of the earth.  We've been blessed by having a nation that's free and prosperous thanks to the contributions of the greatest generation.  They've held the torch for the world to see -- the torch of freedom and hope and opportunity.  Now, it's our turn to take that torch.  I'm convinced we'll do it.

We need strong leadership.  I'd like to be that leader with your support.  I'll work with you. I'll lead you in an open and honest way, and I ask for your vote.  I'd like to be the next president of the United States to support and help this great nation and to make sure that we all together remain America as th the hope of the earth."

Romney came in peace and left.... exhibiting it in every way.

And Obama, well as much as Obama wants to believe, what's happening in the Middle East is not the rise of democracy, all thanks to him.  This line pretty much says it all:

 "One thing I think Americans should be proud of, when Tunisians began to protest, this nation -- ME, my administration -- stood with them earlier than just about any other country."  

first, he sounds juvenile...we stood with them before anybody else; but second, it's that ME thing that gets me every time.

the third -- [just G, revisiting a little thing called Iran] "well, first of all those are reports in the newspaper. They are not true."

so there you go...  What I, Me, Obama got wrong is not true; what I, Me, Obama got right, is everything else, and as to Mitt, well, he just wants to copy me...[cue the tongue sticking out]

It gets down to who do you believe and trust more.

It gets down to who do you believe IS more presidential.

I believe that the entire night could be characterized as Peace arguing with a False-Sense of Security.
Good Job, Mitt.

But let's get back to this morning.

The reality is, as Americans, we must  not be feeling very secure in our commander-in-chief - - otherwise, our response to the debate last night would be more demonstrative; our natural, organic gut check this morning, from sea to shining sea, would be far more evident; our hearts would be at peace...  

...and it's not like that at all.

As a matter of fact, we wouldn't even of needed to watch the debate on foreign policy if we felt good about what's going on around the world;  we would have just watched the game, instead. But that wasn't the case, now was it?  We needed to be convinced, reassured, and told the truth for an hour and a half.  Not sure if we got that either.

Of course, as we are all well aware, there is a virtual tie going on between the two sides; our loyalties are in stone.

Thankfully, come November 6, independent thought and decision will reign. Hopefully, it is in favor of the only candidate who truly stands for self-reliance, independence, free enterprise, and peace...lots and lots of peace.

Make it a Good Day, G 

Need more feedback on the night?  Go here.  Or here. Or here (yeah, you're right, this one is not like the others...but run with it anyway... free your mind a little.)

It's About One Good Thing

Dear America,

so Africa has lots of roads and bridges;

Cuba has a military;

even Egypt gets the Internet (just remember how that Arab Spring spread?);

for goodness sakes, the people of Iran posted crazy scary videos....on the Internet...when they were crying for help from the leader of the free world.

What, pray tell, is the difference?

What separates America from all of these places?  How did America create the environment to grow wealth for every living breathing soul with an ambition, to pursue their own happiness?

It's certainly not the infrastructure, provided by our government (paid for by us, the taxpayers).

Hardly.

Everything America has become we owe to Something far greater than government.

Our success was earned -- every penny of it -- through the vehicle of capitalism working within and around a free market by the grace of God, our Creator.

At the risk of repeating myself, of course, Mr. President, we are indebted to Something -- and it sure ain't the government.  

Whether one chooses to accept it as their truth, or not, everything that we are -- individually and collectively -- is built upon a foundation that truly believes in our heart of hearts "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

It's not a talking point.

These words have carried the power and the might to lift all people in this fine nation to aspire for making the greatest of achievements, experience the greatest of wealth, creating the greatest humanitarians and champions for democracy in the entire world.

Nowhere in the world comes anything close....which, not surprisingly, is why other people do anything and everything to get here.

Listening to Mike Slater again this morning, I am humbled by the realization of just how great the mistakes we have made as a people, all together.   Trying my best to paraphrase, as I only caught about ten minutes of a much longer conversation, the gist of it was this:

that we, the people, have allowed the government to usurp the moral responsibility of taking care of our own.  And  subsequently, we, as a people, have left to the government to do the work that in the 'olden days' made us better people; basically, what we have done to ourselves is  "OUTSOURCED" our moral duty to each other --  allowing for the unconscionable growth of entitlements and government dependency -- and thereby greatly adding to our debt we can no longer afford -- and all the while, chipping away at the personal connection, releasing the individual from any real or perceived moral mandate and obligation.

And this downturn doesn't stop there, for we have traveled so far away from our moral obligations -- to each other and ourselves -- that we no longer acknowledge, let alone respect, from where this stirring even comes.

We owe everything to our Creator -- whether it is our voice, our athleticism, our smarts, our aspirations, our character, our gifts, our talents...to our roads, bridges, airplanes, the Internet, and any and all other flights of fancy and feats of engineering.... to our founders, our system of government, our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, our Rule of Law, our People of Character... our beautiful Republic -- all of it comes from our Creator.

Sure, Mr. President, we owe much of our success to the people and opportunities and roads  which touch our lives -- whether they be positive or negative; it all grows into our character contributing to the kind of person we ultimately become, illuminating the very thing that separates the wheat from the shaft, deeply rooting us into all the things worth remembering, keeping, respecting, and honoring as we build a business and create a life all in the pursuit of Happiness.

Good people create good business, a simple principle that withstands the test of time.

Good people creating good business, under God -- only allowing for the intrusion of a small, limited good government -- characterizes America's first intention, and all in all bringing it down to the only thing that really matters right about now.

 I have nothing more to say today.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's Half-Time in America Thing

Dear America,

"If the day should ever arrive (which God forbid!) when the people of the different parts of the country shall allow their local affairs to be administered by prefects sent from Washington, and when the self-government of the states shall have been so far lost as that of the departments of France, or even so closely limited as that of the counties of England -- on that day the political career of the American people will have been robbed of its most interesting and valuable features,  and the usefulness of this nation will be lamentably impaired." 

John Fiske, 'expert witness' of American History

so the president says he deserves re-election cuz the 'job's not done'.

please.  run with that.  with scissors if at all possible.

because that's exactly what we're afraid of -- more -- of your policy. your play calls. your winning the future kind of strategies.  as if you haven't done enough already.

-- cue commercial for jcp --

"enough. is. enough."

but now back to the regularly scheduled program,
the way I see it, Obama is asking for four more years and a do-over.

so given the close proximity of the greatest sports day of the year, Obama asking to play it again Sam is virtually the same thing as Bill Belichick calling for four more quarters.  he didn't get it done the first go round and all he wants is another chance...

the president should probably run it by Michelle first, for I think she would take issue with the really bad Vegas odds, landing somewhere between slim-to-none and fat-chance (especially the latter, as it runs counter-productive to her healthy eating campaign).  but we digress.  quickly.  almost as fast as the final two minutes of the game last night.

what a finish it was. a nail-biter (really not a good situation for us girls).

On a more personal note, I was quite pleased with my play calls from the couch.

Kidd you not -- 3rd quarter was on its last tick-tock  and I was screaming at the T.V. for a defensive turnover [wanting Giants to get the ball back in a very big way]. Within seconds -- and now furiously morphing into the first tick-tocks of the fourth quarter -- I got my wish. It was beautiful.  [thank you.  thank you very much.]

and my magic didn't stop there. oh no.

so skipping a whole lot in-between (which I'm sure you will all thank me for later) there is now about 48 seconds left to the game, and I'm now screaming,   'S A   A    A   A  C  K     H    I   M !'

and what up.

they did.

Fast forward:  man down with only a hail Mary left to save himself.  [but she didn't...you know, save him]

Giants win.  Hip Hip Hooray.

Now football must have been on everybody's brain all weekend.

Saturday's lineup included an episode of Harry's Law addressing the liabilities of the sport.  [the story wrapped itself around two parents who lost their son -- a High School quarterback -- suing the school for everything they got for putting their son, who died from multiple head injuries, in harm's way in the first place]

as if they didn't think football might be a wee bit dangerous all on their own. can we get a round of "duh" ...altogether now.  now in a wave...here we go...d  u  h   d  u  h   d  u h

Anyway, Harry is making her final arguments to the court [standing on the side of the mourning parents] and doing so with her usual finesse and deliberate remarks... so well in fact that she almost convinces me of the school's wrongdoing.  And I'm thinking, go Harry; I'm thinking, gosh she's good.

but then all of a sudden it hits me.  harry isn't even real.  harry is only as smart as the writer back behind the actor.  hello.

The true brilliance is in David E. Kelley, the writer and creator of the show.


[alright, alright.  Kathy Bates is pretty good being Harry, too]

but this got me thinking deeper.

Presidents are made.  And America happens to create new ones all the time.

But much of what we see -- much of the day to day we watch once that president gets there --  much of it has to do with a score of writers and choreographers, coaches and trainers, and all of the president's men behind the scenes.

Our success comes when we make the connection that who we pick to be made relies unequivocally upon the character of the man we choose. it is all up to us. we make the call.

The thing is, Americans get a do-over this year; we are getting a chance to re-evaluate everything -- from forming new strategies, creating new play calls, to even giving somebody totally brand new the ball.

and speaking of Harry.  the best ad of the night came at half time.

and I know you know which one I'm thinking of.

Clint.
as in, Eastwood.
narrating a story of US -- using Motor City as the quintessential backdrop.

I'm not sure if they cared more about selling cars (happy nod to Chrysler) or just giving us the proverbial pep-talk for what's ahead for the country.  either way, it had me at 'it's half-time in America...how do we come from behind'...hypnotically reminding us, we have done it before, we can do it again...

oh talk to me.

I could listen to that 30 second spot all day.  I can't believe it has sparked  such controversy already -- I realize we, the little people, paid for the ad in a round-about way; but honestly, don't you think America needed somebody to shake us up a bit, smack a little sense into us?

Good, strong, unrelenting -- tireless, faithful, endearing -- timeless, ageless, virtuous character does not grow on trees; it needs to be taught, perhaps told to us through story time, movies, speeches, classroom lectures, even commercials.

However, it is best, and usually most effective, growing this kind of character from the ground up, beginning with the family(tree). While it is also true, we grow presidents and countrymen in the very same way.  Whether it's half-time during the greatest game on earth, or half-time in the greatest country on the planet, the pep talk we got via Chrysler, through Clint, speaks to the character inside each and every one of us.

for the equation is simple: we cease making good people of character, and we quickly cease making good actors... good car makers... good lawyers... good students... and even a few good presidents... And we gotta get a hold of ourselves.  This is no time to breakdown.

but the kicker:   if WE, ourselves, have already lost our way, what are the chances we could continue to recognize, and ultimately reward, good character when we see it?

enough. is. enough. indeed.

Forget about it being half-time in America.   "We" got four seconds left on the clock and the team is down to you; you are the kicker;  you have the ball; all you have to do is kick the ball through the goal post and we win.
....did somebody call for a little pressure?
....who called for that last minute time-out just to ice us just a wee bit more?

this is the kind of pressure that is on each one of us, to equally to do our part. It has nothing to do with the money we make, or the distribution of wealth on the team; it has everything to do with the distribution of good character and our individual ability to dig deep down inside ourselves to make it, no matter what the conditions.

If we simply allow our individual good character shine through, the rest is golden... worthy of perhaps a Lombardi trophy or maybe the America's Cup  [I know.  I know.  wrong sport but it fits well, doncha think?]

Make it a Good Day, G

of course, another good commercial was from Hyundai - featuring the Rocky Balboa theme...being hummed and be-bopped out of the mouths of co-workers -- after the words "it's never gonna work" were uttered out loud and in the company of basically the entire company.  bada baa bada baa bada baa bada baa  Within thirty seconds, he arrives at a brand new mindset, and totally willing to keep on trying... cuz "that's just our wa  y ---  Hyundai"

last thought, Madonna rocked. enough said.

It's TipToeing Threw the Tulips Thing

Dear America,

Sorry, but we have to get this Cain Scandal out of the way.

For starters, I remember, way back when -- like in the nineties sometime -- we elected, of our own volition, to the highest office of the land -- our very own Womanizer-in-Chief:  Bill Clinton

And boy, did that come back to bite us, no?

None of it really mattered for the democrats, or really the press, for that matter; everybody made hay and had a good chuckle...oooh Jennifer Flowers  oooh [just another e pluribus unum storyline].... while in the end, the American people still elected him president of all things.

And it's funny, it seems we still get a good laugh over it, don't we -- be it just Jennifer, or Monica, or anybody else that was in his sights.  We just think of good-ol'Billy boy as some kind of wonderful; as if, thinking back, he was the president who had it all going on -- and even right under our noses, mind you, if not also under the oval office desk. badump ba  [and did I mention, he, like, plays the sax? -- gotta say that like a valley girl]

good times for America, yes indeed.


c'mon, get over it, it was just a little hanky-panky, right [for which he was nearly impeached....but details schmeetails]


And Cain....well he 'enjoys flowers' like everyone else.

After all, he is a man ....ah so many flowers, so little time...

While it must be true that only men "look"...if not also pluck... no?

oh woe is me...
I do declare... 
whatever will you do, Rhett?
which is not really the line, but whatever.
[which just takes us for a spin back to a person's true character...la di da di da]

But seriously -- does he have a roaming eye?  or hands, lips...or anything else?  Flat out he said, "no." [to Greta, last night...you can read more about it here.

From what we now know, as of today -- being about three days into the story -- it was not sexual harassment.

It was more like a making of a general comment, likening the body of one woman in the office to the height and shape of his wife...with doors wide open...with people around...and nothing more (oh, except that little gesture he used to show how his wife comes up to his chin....nooo....he didn't.....)

Women are funny creatures, aren't we. [statement.  because I am one]

It's like on the one hand, we want men to look at us, admire us for our beauty and brains...as we spend gobs of time working out and putting make up on and getting the new Victoria's Secret Wonder Bra and all -- but heaven's to betsy, give us any more than just a quick glance (without our notice, of course) that's when there's real hell to pay, by golly [using the term 'pay' totally on purpose].  Letting the cynicism freak flag fly.

And before you all jump down my sweetandsexybad-ass, let me be clear -- true sexual harassment from an office predator is wrong and the accused should make all things right --  however the matter needs to be settled just short of cutting off you know what from you know where...just sayin'

But you -- girls everywhere -- better really have a case; and you better not have contributed to it in any way (and you know exactly what I am talkin' about).

But this thing, with Herman Cain, is pure and simple a witch-hunt to get him out of the way.  For we can't even begin to ask the question as to "why now" without looking at the suspicious eyes of impeccable timing from God knows where, now can we?

This is like twenty years later!  This is months into his campaign!  This is after substantial gains everywhere we turn.  And besides, this is after"everybody was doing it" in the nineties  --  flirting with political disaster like so -- just look at our past president.

So why now?
BECAUSE....
he is kicking butt in the polls and in the hearts and minds of all Americans!   He is a real honest to goodness threat for all the right reasons.

AND ANOTHER THING --
as much as many of us may try -- women cannot have it both ways.

We can't scream look at me [from mass appeal in general, to the single lady in particular] -- and then cry foul when "they" do!

The truth is -- the American culture -- if not the entire world -- has created this phenomenon and it is a little late to begin to ask for special rules, protections, and exceptions.  While perhaps, it makes quite clear the case for returning to a time calling for more restraint, doesn't it? Maybe calling on Hollywood to clean itself up.  Maybe going back to using all those hours in school teaching the golden rules and respect of women, like true gentlemen; while teaching women to be little ladies.

[I KNOW!  I hear  you...oh G this sounds so Victorian and all....way to take us back a hundred years or more].

Maybe it's just me; but I am just so sick of this sort of thing -- the games people play; like, look at me, woo who over here and then turn around and slap him across the face with a lawsuit; it just doesn't work for me.  And it especially doesn't work for me twenty years later, only to surface just in time to throw a live grenade into a worthy presidential opponent's campaign.

Sure, there are some real dogs out there in the real world; but I truly do not believe Herman Cain is one of them.

And are you really going to try to tell me women have never done the same thing while making small talk around the water cooler?  oh, Charlie, you're almost as tall as my husband... like I come up to here on him [making a gesture]....seriously?

Now certainly, I am not defending anything goes, whether in part, or in whole. I am, however, of the firm belief that we can return to an age of being better grown ups all the way around.

And more than that, I believe we can do a better job in and around the water cooler, the holiday office party, and the corporate retreat in keeping a firm grasp of our own set of scruples -- to treat people with respect; and, if I may be so forward, be better at loving our neighbor as ourselves [in the biblical sense, that is].

Okay, so can we get back to the real Cain campaign now?

Just maybe if he sings us a new song we will all get a good laugh and move on.org. Time will tell -- but without a doubt, we will all know in a lot less than twenty years (more like in about twelve months).

Make it a Good Day, G

G note:  'Office Predator Drones' are a whole 'nother species separate from the case of men who rape women.   Please do not equate the two, or misconstrue the message of sexual attraction, or believe G to be of the mindset that women can "ask for it" by how women dress.  NONE of these issues have been addressed in THIS Day in the Life.

This attack on Herman Cain is, by all journalistic standards, neither substantiated or proven; from all appearances,  this story, driven by POLITICO.com,  is just making hay.

It's All About an Attack Watch -- Leave King B Alone -- Thing

Dear America,

remember back a few years when we all heard that rousing cry going something like this... 'leave britney alone!'
it was the passionate, uninhibited, grassroots, totally organic outcry from evidently a huge fan.

...clearly a lovely girl...
a staunch supporter, adorer, follower, perhaps even a card carrying member of the captivated Britney base.

She was simply sick and tired of her baby getting used and abused by the spinning media and mayhem following what else, the self-inflicted wounds of too much media and mayhem. 

But the desperate plea stuck with us for awhile..it was a vicious cycle of tears for fears, hit me baby one more time, now hit me with your best shot with just more tears for fears, hit me baby one more time, now hit me with your best shot, followed up with a chorus of oops, I did it again each and every time.

While looking back on it, it may very well have been some of the nation's first episodes of pop culture leading a campaign with a personal agenda that is best described these days as "going viral."  We heard the cry everywhere and often.

What made me think of this, you ask?

Attackwatch.com

yup, that's all it took to send me back to the piercing ramblings of 'leave britney alone!'

so this "attack watch" thing would be highly entertaining if it wasn't so true.

The Obama Administration morphed from socialism to communism today, marked by the introduction of a brand new campaign to make the people mindful of attacks against the Chosen One.  They want you to speak up; they want you to make note of it and tell them all about it...to "fight the smears."  And it is fully paid for, by the way, from an outfit simply called, "Obama for America."

In essence, America is being asked to 'Leave King B Alone.'  waaaah

Evidently, censorship of our liberty to speak freely against tyranny is not only in vogue, but it is organized, advocated, with a killer website running viral homegrown video as we speak to support it -- feed it -- if not spin the followers out of control with it.  how cool is that? is this a great country, or what?

I would be shocked if only it wasn't so expected.

For this president has his bronze thin skin showing once again....oooh baby baby as the buttons come flying off.

Adding another twist, last night captivated a nation with a couple of Special Elections -- the most widely watched being the seat in New York, replacing an idiot a.k.a. Anthony Weiner.   News this morning is claiming that the two [GOP] wins stand as a direct rebuke of the Obama Administration, mostly having to do with his overspending and overreaching of the federal government.

I would say it runs a whole lot deeper than that.


This week on G Thing began with a quote from the president who had the audacity to call for Congress to act on behalf of his brand-spanking-new-jobs-act with "no games, no politics, no delays."

This -- coming from a president who is manufacturing controversy and corruption and crony capitalism antics to the millionth and billionth power -- exponentially surpassing the number of green jobs saved or created [nod to Solyndra...oops] -- let alone making so much as a dent in comprehending what makes America really really work (for real).  (being really redundant. tell me something I don't know already). 

It isn't just about a rebuke to the policies of the Progressive/Socialist/Redistributionist-In-Chief -- it is baby baby so much more than that.

What America really really wants is a show of ethics.  We want America to get it's &$%* together.

we are so sick and tired of the unethical, immoral, unaffected elite leading us over the bridge to nowhere to the land of missed opportunity and stomped on dreams.  We want the government to not only shut up -- but get the &*#$ out of the way.

we expect all of you [in government] to be honest, lawful, thoughtful and responsible.  It is neither left or right -- we just want someone else -- because what other choice do we really have but to follow the Rule of Law in place until we get it right, right?  [God help us...].

we are saddened by the display of government gone wild -- it goes against everything we thought we ever were...even if it was only in our own mind.  for oh how easy is it to hang our star on an aberration of reality.  we inflicted these wounds upon ourselves, no one else is to blame.  It is a free country -- everything is up for grabs --  anyone can capitalize on any thing at any given time, right?     Doing nothing is just the same as doing something every single time, huh shuga'. And right now, I don't even care if I make any sense -- that's how out of control things really really are.

Too bad we haven't learned -- scratch that, more like have forgotten --  how to capitalize upon our good.

Oh if only we could grow our prosperity by doing the right thing for the right reasons and begin to manufacture more of that.

If only we could grow the good.

If only we could get all our kids to go school and genuinely want to learn.

If only we could encourage all immigrants to follow the rules of entry and citizenship.

If only we could glorify a moral and civic duty to ourselves and each other to respect one another and our laws.

If only we could all remember that the free market, and a truly free society, relies on maintaining real freedom for all; recognizing that with our inherent self-reliance to live, grow, work, and play, creating our own successes and failures, that it comes in direct proportion and relationship with how we live, grow, work, and play.  huh. well I'll be, imagine that.

If only we could keep a humble allegiance and greater faith as one nation under God  -- for divine intervention, divine providence, and in keeping with our covenant to country and each other.

If only.

Stimulus is merely a cosmetic answer revealing a deeper issue running viral, if not totally out of control, on substance. Faces can change [as in: so what about District NY 9 Special Election!...so what about President Hope and Change!....so what about the latest pop star of the hour....so what].

The reality is nothing will change until WE DO; nothing will change until our hearts and minds and actions align with principles and values of real character -- and that goes for all of us.  and as always, myself starting center stage.

Oh baby baby one more time... we can all do better.

Make it a Good Day, G

baby baby one more thing: isn't it [the outcome of the latest special elections] more like a referendum on ourselves, upon what we have turned into, more than anything else? just askin'

It's a Two Faces of a President Thing

Dear America,

Abraham Lincoln supposedly said, "if I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?"

which, clearly, shows a keen sense of humor, coupled with his natural, and charming, and thoroughly disarming ability to poke fun at even himself and bring people in...

...but then, he is also quoted as saying, "I hope to stand firm enough to not go backward, and yet not go forward fast enough to wreck the country's cause."

In any event, they detail two faces--  perhaps two cases -- presumably two traces of the very same man.

I have been walking down memory lane these past few days; and it is funny, hindsight being what it is -- if we are truly open to the full extent of it's offerings, we can learn so much about ourselves.  Of course, whether or not we allow ourselves to tap into a greater understanding -- through an honest to goodness look back of both our faults and our successes -- it always comes down to one of civilization's most prized possessions.   And, to be sure, you can never tell just by looking at it from the outside, or by appearances... as it comes from something magically delicious from the inside -- our character.

So, whether our experiences build character, or wither it away,  it is up to us.

This morning, I just have this sharp memory of a man swirling through my mind -- who upon his inaugural day, came before the American people with his prepared remarks, mindful of the moment, and graciously accepted the duties of president of the United States of America.

President Obama used the Lincoln Bible when he was sworn in.

President Obama, at about two minutes into his address, noted:

"...America has carried on not simply 

because of the skill or vision 

of those in high office, 

but because We the People have remained 

faithful to the ideals of our fore-bearers, 

and true to our founding documents."

really now?

He then immediately proceeded to name all the things that appear to be going wrong --

"Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred [already couldn't call it what it was]. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.  Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered.  Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet."

"These are indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics.  Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights."

wow. when you put it like that...and that was in reference to the economy January 2009; but let us not get stuck on that side of the equation, let us take proper consideration that he knew all too well what he was getting into on this day in January, 2009.

Which makes me wonder, what do have to say now, with it being two point six years later -- you know, subject to data and statistics?  Of course, some stats more measurable than others.

Then, as quickly as he brought us all down, he masterfully began our ascent over to the other side:

"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real.  They are serious and they are many.  they will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.  The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming our greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given.  It must be earned."

have we, Mr. President?

have we put "an end to petty grievances and false promises?"

have we let go of "recriminations?" ...and tell me, just which "worn out dogma" are you referring to?

are we choosing "hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord?"

did you change all that?


Or have you just become the Commander in Chief in charge of all of it -- choosing what is petty, from what is not; proposing left-wing promises to prevail over right; uniting in conflict, and organizing against those who simply disagree with you.  And is your idea of "setting aside childish things"  --- "because you became man," as the verse according to Scripture further declares -- your way of saying you know better...you can choose a "better history" for us, remake the noble gift our founders gave, and fundamentally transform America, including the worn out dogmas and all,  of which you do not prescribe?

In other words, was this all code or just plain double talk?

"Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less.  It has not been the path for the fainthearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom."   

Now the entire transcript can be found, and read at your leisure, in multiple locations on the web.  I have only picked apart the first half page.  The truth is, I simply can't stomach any more of it.  Not after watching how the last two years have gone down -- considering the rhetoric, the ridicule, the divisiveness, the class warfare, the attacks upon the free market, all that along with the total "collective failure to make hard choices and prepare a nation."  Just where did the first impression of a president wander off?

They say that China is becoming more like US, while we, oddly, are morphing into something more like, what, Venezuela? (That last part I just made up, just a gut feeling)

Just note that the president "celebrated" the "risk-takers" (those who create the opportunity, absorbing all liability and making the investment) only for a nano-second before marching right into his true feelings: glorifying the "more often men and women obscure in their labor" -- who really make it all happen.

And speaking of hard labor, from a recent article published for the WSJ online, Ancient Roots of Chinese Liberalism, by  Liu Junning, we may very well be misunderstanding what in fact is happening inside the Great Wall, and beyond:

"China has indeed made great strides since 1978's "Reform and Opening" in alleviating poverty, opening up to the world, and making slow steps down the road of legal reform. Yet on closer inspection, the most significant transformations from the perspective of boosting prosperity have involved loosening of control over the people, not some alchemy of power and Marxism."   

Of course, China has issues; but still.  Think about this.

China is leaning forward, into the new age, by choosing to go the way of loosening control, while we seem to be slipping into steeper regulations,  with clear intent of strangulation of the free market, a deterioration of the private sector, while withering away at our mainstay -- the middle class; and all this, while creating cultural divides so deep -- partitioning the populace by creed, race, language, religion, sexuality, you name it.  All things we said we would never do in America.

Clearly, it is with great ease to talk about making hard choices; but it takes a real leader -- one who actually respects the fundamentals of the American economic system  -- to stand up with courage, conviction, and an unwavering belief,  when times are tough.  It takes a leader to transcend the politics of the moment, and make decisions for the betterment of the whole, for all future generations to come.  It takes a leader who recognizes that doing the right thing always prevails in the end, even if it were to cost his re-election.

But this leader of ours, is acting more like a Chairman, as in, Mao, than any American president we have seen -- this whole shared sacrifice thing he keeps layin' down; this whole redistribution of wealth thing [when already the top 10% wage earners pay 70% of the tax revenues, while the bottom 40% pay absolutely nothing, and knowing he wants to take even more from the top, i.e. the "risk takers"]; this whole climate of restricting prosperity thing, penalizing wealth building thing, limiting growth thing, punishing the entrepreneurial spirit thing-- these are all anti- American things.[based purely on the ACTIONS of a president, nothing more]

Just before Obama closed his inaugural address, he gave us this:

"...But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old.  These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.  What is demanded is a return to these truths.  What is required of us is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying  to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."

 -- he said, "what is demanded is a return to these truths"  -- and amen to that.

and then realize, this is from the mouth of the president we have in office right now, as we speak, and then say to yourself, say what?   It wasn't spoken by a Tea Party favorite; it wasn't from Sarah Palin; it wasn't from any one of the fine GOP candidates in the running for the 2012 election; it was from the liberal -   progressive - no, the Chairman sitting in the Oval Office. 


ah little one...do as I say, not as I do, let alone believe...... time to grow up, to set aside childish things.

And full circle indeed; we are back to our opening chatter of two faces, two cases, two traces of a president, past and present.   We arrive full stop on a prized possession -- something that no one can ever take away or redistribute, our character.   Just as the simple man (or girl), a president's character is earned; it is something that develops from the inside out, over time -- through adversity -- after failures and successes have been allowed to marinate within the psyche -- giving way to that one true spirit, flavoring our "better history" for all of time.

Perhaps as we come full circle, what we come to realize has nothing to do with the shape of the circle at all, but more about what we see inside.   For there, we find a Yin and Yang Thing going on; opposite forces are demanding a president's thoughtful consideration [wow, and isn't the G thing being just so sweet about it].

Now, most Americans believe -- including many presidents -- that it REALLY would be wise beyond measure [subject to date and statistics], sticking with the foundation that works, to the Truths we hold dear; some might even say, returning to the silly childish things we come across along that path looking a lot like the nation's steadfast values and proven ideals, appearing much like the building blocks of Divine Providence....some of us really do believe in that (still).

But before I go -- let us consider that, because he is so cute and all -- Obama would never utter a humorous self-deprecating barb at himself by saying something like Lincoln's first quote on the day; and in the second, "I hope to stand firm enough to not go backward, and yet not go forward fast enough to wreck the country's cause" -- something tells me it is a wee bit too late to even hope for this.

Make it a Good Day, G

And speaking of Childish Things: "Pull off the Band-Aid. Eat our peas. Now's the time to do it," the president said -- sometime around eleven, eastern time, in a press conference -- while pointing his little finger at the sissy's sitting next to him, the Republicans...of course, in the back seat of the car already run into a ditch -- if, in fact, the Debt Ceiling is not raised.  Do we need to remind you, Mr. President, what a certain Senator declared about raising the debt ceiling back in 2006?  Look it up.

And another thing, you think things are bad now, Mr. President, just wait until Christmas, when everybody who received a 99 week extension of their Unemployment Benefits get kicked off the rolls, and when Payroll taxes kick back in...  But who's really looking ahead with both eyes open anymore?

Dear America,

happy monday.
it is a brand new week... the birdies are chirping... the fishy's are jumpin'...I just might sing me a round of Moon River on the steps of a fire escape, strumming my old guitar, before the day is done (and if you clicked Dear America you would get that)... for Congress has just bought themselves another week of life!  It's a good thing.

And yet, there was something off with the first whispers from the president immediately after the announcement of a deal on Friday night (or was it Saturday morning).  He said "I normally wouldn't be in favor of these sort of spending cuts" ... [and carried on anyway, almost begrudgingly... saying "but we have to"...ho hum...heavy sigh later... "we have to live within our means" now...]

You normally wouldn't be in favor?  ...of little... puny...hardly making a dent...less than 2% of the budget...spending cuts?  seriously?  what is going to happen over the course of the discussion about the 2012 budget, the upcoming debt ceiling debate, or your overall response of the insistence by 'we the people' to return our government to responsible fiscal policy? and going back to our questions of just last week -- what about your campaign promises to go "line by line" and ultimately "halve the deficit before the end of your first term" (instead of quadrupling it)?  You say you "normally wouldn't be in favor of these sort of spending cuts"...um, just what would the conditions need to look like for you to abnormally be in favor of it (if that even gets us any closer)?

but let's not dwell, shall we.
it's spring time by golly.

So, in light of my american girl diary being abruptly hijacked with the hi-jinx of congress all last week, I certainly don't want to dwell on the past any more than I have to; what's done is done; what is left undone, is yet to be done -- or will never get done; what's undone and broken is now a matter of record -- and how.  History will decide, as they say.

This week officially begins 'spring break' for me and my girl. And I very much intend to move forward looking forward...in every way.

And proving the magnificence of the universe (again) -- because there are no accidents -- just the right stuff arrived fresh and flirty in my Saturday's mail to help me along (of course, a certain William McGurn might find that context a wee bit odd).  But pour me a scotch and light my ciggy anyway, I do believe a little spring forward is overflowing with possibility with ah, how do you say, a certain je ne sais quoi now that I have something truly tantalizing in front of me.  Oh darling, move over Holly Golightly, "dismal science" is so yesterday.

A Publication of Hillsdale College, the Imprimis, has arrived: "The Not so Dismal Science: Humanitarians v. Economists" is an adaptation from a speech given March 3, 2011, presented by William McGurn, while at Hillsdale taking part of a two-week residency "as a distinguished visiting fellow in speech and journalism."

As he prepares his audience for the argument in store for them, he begins:

"...when it comes to seeing the potential in even the most desperate citizens of this earth, our economists, business leaders, and champions of a commercial republic are often far ahead of our progressives, artists, and humanitarians."

McGurn leads us through a number of windows in history, from slavery to population control to impoverished nations, from the economics side to the humanitarian supply side, from the civil war on through to the present, and for a second, all the way back to the book of Genesis.  He makes ample and abundant the relationship of sound economics when applied with the firm belief that "free men and free women can accomplish for themselves."

Building upon the cornerstones of our society, he reminds us of "the unalienable dignity and matchless potential in every human life...The book of Genesis tells us we possess this dignity because we have been fashioned in the image and likeness of our Creator.  Adam Smith told us that we are equal because we share the same human nature."

and adding an observation from a conference McGurn attended nearly a decade ago, he quotes Gary Becker saying, "I am struck by the similarity between the church's view of the relationship between family and the economy and the view of economists -- arrived at by totally independent means, Economic science and spiritual concerns appear to point in the same direction."

And making a strong close, McGurn gives us this:

"One does not have to be an economist to recognize that societies that open their markets are better fed, better housed, and offer better opportunities for upward mobility than societies that remain closed and bureaucratic. Nor does one have to be a religious believer to recognize that the source of all man's wealth has been just this: that he does not take the world as given, but uses his mind to find new and creative ways to take from the earth and add to its bounty. 

If, however, we do believe, can we really be surprised that the Almighty who created us in His image also bequeathed to us a world where we are most prosperous when we are most free?"

I am feeling so springy that I believe I'm beginning to feel, ah, how do you say, a wee bit woozy.   hiccup.

In the beginning, of America, a long, long time ago, the connection with our Creator wasn't necessarily out of an organized religious force, as something that we had to do, as perhaps a stipulation against our will or fancy, under the commandment of some kind of heavy handed, vengeful, mean God who just wanted to rule the world in conjunction with a power synonymous with government control.  No.  We purposefully aligned, as individuals, and together as a society, protected Under God, endowed by our Creator, because doing so opened our hearts and minds to the creative Life Force that is God, that is Love, that is Creative (just look around and this sort of Intelligence affirms It's Presence everywhere...in every tiny living breathing thing).

And as McGurn pointed out, we don't even have to believe, or follow, an organized religion to do it, to create; all things being equal, whether accepted as your Truth, or not, all people, of all walks of life, are fully equipped to tap into the Source and create something out of nothing (shhhh, we are even doing it unconsciously at times, shhhh).  

We do it following natural urges and inclinations, for better or for worse, because we are kinda free like that to do so (emphasis on "kinda"); it is purely our talents, our application, our ability to transcend the trappings of humanity that may test our souls and stifle our god given purpose with a vitality and passion that is uniquely "fashioned in the image and likeness of our Creator."  We, as human beings, tap into the very same Goodness and Godliness of the Creator Itself.

The thing is -- being at the start of this happy-go-lightly spring break from school and normal routine -- is that it has equally stirred my senses to think about our schools and normal routines just the same. (weird)

Unless attending a private school to which time is generally, if not specifically, allotted, NOT once in our children's day in the public school system is turned over to reflect on the Creative Life Force within, or without; not once.

No moment of silence.  No re-alignment with the Great Equalizer that can shape a life from a pea to a princess, a pauper to a king, a Lula Mae into a Holly Golightly (I know, I know, a strange twist and a stretch, but humor me, if you will).  But in this modern era, even though we are said to have "progressed" over time, we now create children only to send them off to school to have their God given life force snuffed right out of them, or simply ignored altogether, if not also, demonized and sent to the back of the class.

...because, heaven forbid, we try to teach them a moral conscience, a connection to mankind, the differences between good and evil, and the essence of the Creator itself planted deep within their soul, individually and collectively, and their inherent duty to live in relationship with It, whatever you want to call it...or even, for just a moment, THINK about just what It Is, and ponder It, question It, learn something from It.

yeah, heaven forbid we do that.

We used to teach these things -- back in the eighteen hundreds -- every day.  In addition to church on Sunday, our schools would teach our children through stories, like those captured in what became known as the McGuffey's Readers.  These books used fables and prose, poems and Bible verse, all to make a point:  to urge children to think, ponder, dwell upon the deeper questions and concerns we all have in common with being human.  And not only think about these things within themselves, but debate them with one another -- further allowing the creative life force to work It's magic through the classroom, and ultimately touching each and every child through osmosis, if nothing else.

Of course, McGuffey's Readers were not used everywhere, but when people joke about the olden days and only having an eighth grade education (yes, like the beginnings of certain Abraham Lincoln) they may not have considered how serious the studies were way back when...you know, back in the day. Some might even say, immediately following the age of enlightenment, came the age of what comes next -- how to best use this new found enlightenment in daily life for the betterment of the whole (taking into account economists and humanitarians alike, of course) while, not to mention, making striking advances for oneself.

From the author of Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach, came a companion book simply called, Something More.  In it, she makes an incredible claim saying, "We're not meant to fit in.  We're meant to stand out."  think about that!

And goes on to tell of a response to such a quandary for self-esteem from Marianne Williamson -- who is, in my opinion, one of the greatest New Age writer's of our day (especially during the 90's, when she was often on Oprah). Marianne laid things out like this:

"We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  [But] actually, who are you NOT to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  [You] were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within [you]."

Adam Smith meet Marianne Williamson.

Yes!  Don't you just love that, "your playing small does not serve the world."  (and yet, if we get just one more charlie sheen...oi vay)

Our Judeo-Christian heritage, following the great escape from the Church of England, in order to create a more perfect union separating the church and state, had nothing to do with creating a separation from our Creator, nothing of the sort.  Whether authentically Christian, Jewish, or Deists, our founders connected to God as a Life Force, and a Life Force NOT intended to ever be separated.   For this creative principle is always beginning and never ending.  They believed in the manifestation of Divine Ideas through and through, and likewise, equally shared within each person, making it very easy to devise a system of government surrounded around freedom, liberty with as little government intervention as humanly possible (oops).

From the Science of Mind visionary, Ernest Holmes, "The profound thought of all ages has stood in awe of Life itself, realizing that here is a power and potentiality, the highest possibilities of which the human intellect cannot fathom.    Universal principles are never respecters of persons; the Universe has no favorites."  Another way to look at it, respective of the law that Thoughts are Things, is  -- what you think about expands...so be very, very careful of where your thought goes in the first place (but that we shall save for another day).

This is the stuff that we are made.  It is incredibly powerful -- while also wondrously fair. Our founders gave us the greatest gift ever by recognizing certain unalienable truths and principles  for all people -- for all free people, that is.  To be certain, societies falling under the unlimited, overzealous government umbrella, those perhaps deemed "closed and bureaucratic," fail to teach, and reach, potentialities and divine destiny every time.

While in one final argument, made by another stellar professorial type, Dr. Tibor Machan of The Daily Bell, reminds us how lucky are we that even our own morality, and choices thereof, must remain free to be or not to be (and perfect timing if I do say so myself... in my In Box.... just this morning....strange):

"It is impossible to do the  morally right thing at the point of a gun.  Coerced morality is a contradiction in terms.  Only when one does what is right or wrong voluntarily, of one's own free will or initiative, does it amount to something morally significant...But if one has a moral obligation to help one's unfortunate fellows, promote the arts, conserve resources, or guard against the destruction of ancient ruins – all of that and anything similar has to be undertaken voluntarily, not at gunpoint.  That's the nature of moral or ethical obligations and responsibilities."

exactly;  which is why the left (and right) cannot simply make it so by force through regulation by government commandments; which is why the education of our children must include simple discussions examining just that -- with no child left behind.

Our children require the tools to make up their own mind and construct the moral foundation from which they choose to live... creatively, abundantly, freely, in the pursuit of their own happiness...I mean, for goodness sakes, can't we at least talk about It?

Our children require time open for discussion -- giving ample time for real, deep, meaningful thought and debate to occur...so that maybe, one day, they too, "add to the bounty" of this great earth and not simply take things away. 

Our schools could be designed as miniature THINK TANKS for good, all over the country.  Not out of coercion, but from a place of learning, giving, for broadening horizons and even, "winning the future."  But a shutdown of the debate itself not only hinders our growth and expansion, but it suffocates even the tiniest possibilities to bud.  Our last hundred years took Spirit out of our schools and routines, may in the next, we bring It back.

At one time, we were all taught to tap into the Divine as if it were child's play, as if every day was like spring time. How on earth did we get here?  Think progress?

I think NOT.

Make it a Good Day, G

Dear America,

the world going a little nuclear... and that is my rhyme and reason of the day.

Overreaction meets ignorance meets blame meets partisan politics meets the perfect storm for total destruction -- even in areas far, far away from the center, for all intents and purposes, of the end of time as we know it.

Here, in so cal, people are popping iodine like its ecstasy on steroids -- my girl comes home from school yesterday and tells me one of her friends is already on the stuff...I'm like, girl, if anyone offers you one, just say no; unless in immediate danger, that stuff can mess you up. But the scariest news on the day, is drugstores can't keep it on the shelves...here.


Insight from the Wall Street Journal:

"Our larger point is less about nuclear power than how we react as a society to inevitable disasters, both natural and man-made. Because a plane crashes, we don't stop flying. Because an oil rig explodes in the Gulf, we don't (or at least we shouldn't) stop drilling for oil. And because the Challenger space shuttle blew up, we didn't stop shuttle flights—though we do seem to have lost much of our national will for further manned space exploration. We should learn from the Japanese nuclear crisis, not let it feed a political panic over nuclear power in general."

I used to leave my office sometimes  making the off hand remark, 'see ya tomorrow, unless I get hit by a bus...'; but the reality is, it's kinda true.  As human beings, nothing is guaranteed -- even life itself; sometimes, things unforeseen and unimaginable happen, with absolutely no rhyme or reason;  the question is, is it acceptable to stop living life entirely when they do?

Do we shut down -- do we begin to live a life sheltered from all that may or may not come to harm us just because it can?

Or, do we live by faith -- making the connections to the greater life that surrounds us and all that remains, with a sense of grace and peace, trusting in our ability to transcend anything that might come our way -- and of course, assist others to do the same? (if you live in Japan, this is how they do it)


Some might think, based on the last few days of growing evidence, we, as a whole or in part, totally overreact; and then, with a look at the last few years...

How about the reaction to Gabrielle Giffords tragedy?

How about the reaction to the Gulf Oil Spill?

How about the reaction to Wisconsin leadership taking control of the fiscal budget?

How about the reaction to Michele Bachmann making an American history gaffe?

How about the reaction to GM -- AIG -- and failing to stand up to the risks of a free market?

How about the reaction -- 865 Billion Dollar reaction -- to unemployment?

How about the reaction to waste and fraud in health care meeting the uninsured, creating more waste and fraud, leaving even more uninsured (disguised by the Affordable Care Law, or simply, Obamacare?

How about the reaction to the nuclear emergency in Japan?

You know, reading some of the responses on Yahoo! to the Bachmann brouhaha is entertaining...besides a slurry of reviews claiming Bachmann (throwing in Palin, too) to be an idiot -- and various other things of ill repute...we had equally as many chiming in with a not so gentle reminder, that one day along the journey during the last presidential campaign, Obama said this:

“Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states? I think one left to go.”

-Barack Obama in a campaign speech, Portland, Oregon, May 2008.

posted by a guy calling himself, "OncealwaysaMarine."

 having also shared this little tidbit just a moment before...

Obama has as much trouble with numbers (and telling the truth) as he has with maps.

March 2007, on the anniversary of the Bloody Sunday march in Selma, Alabama, and using his "black Southern dialect" while speaking in a black Selma church, Obama claimed his parents united as a direct result of the civil rights movement:

“There was something stirring across the country because of what happened in Selma, Alabama, because some folks are willing to march across a bridge. So they got together and Barack Obama Jr. was born.”

Obama was born in 1961. The Selma march took place in 1965.

(as a side-note: My kind of Marine)

Yet, do we see the left wing media running stories highlighting gaffes and blunders from the left with equal verve alongside the vicious contempt in response...hardly.  No, those stories just get buried, swept under the rug, drowned out by the intrepid and concerted rescue efforts stirring our immediate attention away, calling to us like a siren and leading us into an even greater disaster totally unaware -- hoodwinked by our own ignorance, negligent of placing all the facts in proper order, and giving way to a general sense and inability to think for ourselves (or the absence of just cutting somebody a little slack, as we all make mistakes).

more from Wall Street Journal:

"The paradox of material and technological progress is that we seem to become more risk-averse the safer it makes us. The more comfortable we become, the less eager we are to take the risks that are the only route to future progress. The irony is that one reason Japan has survived this catastrophic event as well as it has is its great material development and wealth.

Modern civilization is in the daily business of measuring and mitigating risk, but its advance requires that we continue to take risk. It would compound Japan's tragedy if the lesson America learns is that we should pursue the illusory and counterproductive goal of eliminating all risk" 

Just because we spill a little milk from time to time, doesn't mean we should simply stop buying it altogether; that is just stupid, ignorant, irresponsible, and in a word,  lame.

How can we justify making long term security and prosperity risks BY CHOICE simply because of the occurrence of baseless, overreaction stemming from unforeseen circumstances, initiated by an unpredictable, incredible, natural disaster (in Japan's case, make that two) -- and thereby use a crisis to take political policy to a whole 'nother level of idiocy -- as if running government (and indirectly our lives and our world) from a perspective of total fear based legislation and regulation only because...it might happen tomorrow!

Yes, there is nothing wrong being prepared (I was a girl scout); but cutting off all possibility in the face of danger -- isn't that running counter-clockwise to the American way of life itself?

Life, itself, calls upon us to "continue to take risk" every day -- and be smart about it.

When my girl goes off to school every morning, I can't protect her every move; I can't predict whether she will be easily swayed by her peers to do something that may, or may not, hurt or harm her; I can't shelter her and keep her in her room safe and sound, keeping life and all the world around her, away.  If I should ever attempt to control the variables of her life like that, she would not be truly living, would she?

I mean, if the president was really concerned about our health, why not just take away cigarettes completely -- like in the same vein of his many feeble attempts of his administration to control what we eat... including advocating whether restaurants can use salt, and by adding huge taxation to soda and snack foods to curb our appetite through the pocketbook?  Acting as if, some people just can't make good choices on their own, so let's just take away the liberty for all.

SO with an oil disaster, we place a moratorium on new oil drilling -- even if THAT causes greater harm.

SO with the tragedy in Tucson, we place the blame on the gun versus the content of the character of the person who pulls the trigger -- even if THAT never truly solves the problem (and it never will).

Expanding and nurturing a nation honoring responsible citizens, those of good character, is what we need; one that teaches our children to protect each other from harm; one that engineers energy solutions that can withstand attacks by nature (and human nature) to the best of our abilities; one that minimizes risk, but maximizes growth, innovation, and fundamental change, making us all the more smarter and wiser and richer and self-sufficient (and not just in gold, but in Spirit too).

To steal a phrase commonly used by our president, 'it's not that complicated.'  More often than not, good people usually do good things all the way around...going full circle...'paying it forward' so to speak...some might even venture to say, reinforcing the possibility of creating a global force for good everywhere and often (and a GO Navy slogan to boot).  good in, makes a whole lot of good out...

And a nation built upon the content of our character we get -- what a concept, works like a charm (while unfortunately, the adverse is also true); this content of our character, our nation's moral code of honor, just so happens to be one of the many universal truths this country was founded on...somewhere in Lexington, or was it Concord, New Hampshire (lol)...of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention, an idea striving to move forward in free abandon, within the hearts and minds of all 57 states (lol)... albeit struggling to take hold, appearing a wee bit diluted and adulterated in the minds of a few.

what's that saying -- and erring on the side of caution here --  let's not throw the baby out with the bath water okay; and yet -- this administration would have us all believing otherwise, isn't it?  isn't it?  Indeed, if according to precedence meeting up with human nature, meeting up with an agenda, meeting up with fundamental transformation, meeting up with our permission (by our silence) tells us anything at all.

 Make it a Good Day, G

play GTV ...just a click on Dear America...let us inspire each other to grow way more good and a whole lot less evil; expand the YES, with a whole lot less no; and BE the change you want the world to be. 

and just in case you missed it, because it is March Madness after all, because the whole world is basically on fire...here's some news on the president's picks on b-ball.