It's Just What Happens When We Let Ourselves Go Thing

Dear America,

you know what I'm thinking this morning...I'm thinking much of what we are witnessing today, experiencing today, enduring today, stems from having let ourselves go in America.

Initially this thought came from an unexpected candid remark of a remarkable and conservative and beautiful woman, my mom.   But that's what happens, right?  Something takes root inside us, we marinate on it for a little while, and just when we begin to think we have totally let it go, escaping  all recollection, it rebounds off the back of our mind like a boomerang.  bing.

It takes great effort, and good energy, to keep something alive, to stay in relationship, to uphold the integrity and strength of any given thing.

It's not like we can buy a home and expect it to maintain itself.

It's not like we can buy a plant and expect it to water itself.

It's not like we can bear a child and expect the darned thing to raise it's self [as a mom, I feel privileged to say things like that in an endearing way, of course.]

It's not like we can be in a marriage and expect it to nourish itself.

And we could go on and on....but will keep it to just one more:

It's not like we can live in America and expect it to honor itself, all on it's own, without every single one of us doing our duty to protect and defend and most importantly, understand, what this great land is all about.

The ideals set forth by our founders required all generations that follow to actually follow!  And they knew -- because they also recognized the weaknesses of being human -- that it would be a constant challenge; "If men were angels, no government would be necessary.  If angels were to govern men, neither external controls on government would be necessary."  (James Madison, the Federalist Papers)

The founders counted upon the nation to maintain the integrity of  the Republic by recreating an informed, educated, virtuous, and morally upright citizenry.   As Madison said:

"Is there no virtue among us? If there is not, we are in a wretched situation.  No theoretical checks, no form of government, can render us secure.  To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea.  If there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men; so that we do not depend upon their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them."

Compounding this notion with a thought from Thomas Jefferson :  "Virtue is not hereditary."

Meaning, we have to work at it -- collectively and individually, we must learn and develop and maintain and dare I say, even nourish! our own virtuous life in the every day.   For if we were to let ourselves go, then "no form of government can render us secure."

In The 5000 Year Leap, the author, W. Cleon Skousen, spends a great deal of time on our nation's foundation; I'm inclined to say 'America's foundation' is the red thread throughout the entire book.  Everything seems to bounce back to the firm, structurally sound, reliance on good self-government in order to create a good, foundation-ally and functionally enlightened Republic to last the generations.

Not only do we in America no longer teach the ways and means of a virtuous life - - we neither model it, speak it, or defend it....in the collective, that is....generally speaking, of course.

We can't even talk about living by our virtues (and that especially goes for all the time our children spend in the public school  domain) -- unless of course, we wish to be quickly labeled a fanatic, an extremist, a religious zealot.

Indeed, "a wretched situation" may be upon us.

The aim of our founders was an emphasis on creating an enlightened electorate in every stretch of the imagination, in order to keep this republic whole.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.

...a crusade against ignorance; establish and improve the law for education the common people.  Let our people know that the people alone can protect us against these evils [of misgovernment]."

...all in for more Jefferson, all the time.

It takes work --  it takes effort -- it takes energy, to maintain a free people in a republic; we cannot expect it to grow and nourish itself.

The wretched thing is, we seem to be more disenchanted these days to do the work; or, we expect other people to do the work for us.  And now, it appears, to even utter so much as one word about it, we might as well have committed an act of violence against all humanity.

Take for example Bobby Jindal, yesterday....

Oh wait... first, it all started with this -- Mitt Romney, to supporters on a recent conference call:

“In each case they were very generous in what they gave to those groups,” Mr. Romney said.

 “With regards to the young people, for instance, a forgiveness of college loan interest, was a big gift,” he said. “Free contraceptives were very big with young college-aged women. And then, finally, Obamacare also made a difference for them, because as you know, anybody now 26 years of age and younger was now going to be part of their parents’ plan, and that was a big gift to young people. They turned out in large numbers, a larger share in this election even than in 2008.”

Romney said Obama followed what he called the “old playbook” of seeking votes from specific interest groups, “especially the African-American community, the Hispanic community and young people,” the New York Times said. “In each case they were very generous in what they gave to those groups,” Romney said.

continue reading here.

Mitt was only calling attention to a reality created by, and for,  the political life-force of progressives (we can't even call them liberals anymore).

But just how did Jindal -- aka one of his own -- respond?

"I think that's absolutely wrong," Jindal said. "We have got to stop dividing the American voters. We need to go after 100 percent of the votes, not 53 percent. We need to go after every single vote. ... So I absolutely reject that notion, that description. I think it's absolutely wrong. I don't think that represents where we are as a party, where we're going as a party. That has got to be one of the most fundamental takeaways from this election."

continue reading here.

With all due respect, dear Bobby, the GOP is NOT the party doing the wooing and the dividing; that civic infidelity honor goes to the progressives.  And it isn't anything new, by the way; they have been working this demographic bombardment for a century.  How about we talk about that, Jindal?

For the Left, for the typical progressive, this kind of divide and conquer is so fundamental to their trickery and tactics, apparently, for some of us, it goes unnoticed, as if totally acceptable -- as if the Left holds a special clearance, some kind of politically-warped exception to the rule,  to systematically, unilaterally  (and oh so clandestine) be allowed to go there.

The problem is NOT in the governor going there.  The problem is that we, the Right, behave as if we are afraid to go there.

Earth to the new reality, and to the so-called new demographics we must compete against, and to the republican establishment that wishes it were bigger, brighter, bolder just like the democrats -- find some balls, juevos rancheros, cajones, before speaking up in public.  [yeah, and I don't even care if I spelled any of that wrong]

It is US - -conservatives in general, the masses in particular, and the liberals in droves -- who seem to have let ourselves go.

We have let ourselves go -- virtually without a fight for what I can see -- to those just waiting to pounce and take advantage of the unimaginable evolution of a certain wretched situation amongst us!

One of my favorites from Samuel Adams:

"The Utopian schemes of leveling [re-distribution of the wealth] and a community of goods [central ownership of the means of production and distribution], are as visionary and impractical as those which vest all property in the Crown.  [These ideas] are arbitrary, despotic, and, in our government, unconstitutional."

Perhaps Mitt stopped just shy of calling our new, cool governance "unconstitutional" -- but why not?

It is true, Bobby.

It is as true today, as it was in yesterday, in yesteryear.

[These ideas -- our Nation's Ideals]  Just because we have stopped teaching it, leading with it, modeling it in every way, doesn't make it any more unreal or untrue in the real world.

we've let our Truth go, America...

that is just the sad, sad truth.

But make no mistake:  Our Truth about Good Governance is not the problem; it is not the evil one. Our truth about maintaining Good Governance is by the Grace of God what has protected us, united us, and enriched us in every possible way....until quite possibly now... clearly stuck, aimlessly, it would seem,  in a wretched situation.

Contrary to popular belief -- or is it just a wave of modern day mainstream propaganda -- our ideals truly do work for every one, equally under the law, in true free form.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the foundation -- unless of course, you consider how humanity has perverted, corrupted, abridged, defiled, and defied our most precious principles, virtues, and Constitution, bringing it's very integrity into question and, ultimately, ripe for utter ruin.

other than that, let's keep on keepin' on, right?

Make it a Good Day, G

It's an Eat, Sleep, Pee Thing

Dear America,

How to Handle

Stress Like a Dog:

If you Can't Eat It 

Or Play with It,

Then Pee on It

And Walk Away

stress.

we all have it.

some of us a little, some of us a lot.

sometimes it goes away and sometimes we live with it for days, weeks, months, years.  It can eat us up if we let it.

For many, acting out of character becomes the new modus operandi -- we drink too much, we eat too much, we lash out too much --  meanwhile, nothing seems to fit quite right in our life.  And one drama leads seamlessly to the next.

Often I have wished to be my dog. If you could only see him right now -- not a care in the world.  He just had his morning kibble...while even though he has barely been up and around for an hour, there he is, sleeping something off as if he pulled an all-night'r.  For this dog, it is more like 'eat, pee, sleep' all the live long day -- his playtime amounts to one fetch to where he quickly retreats to his crib.  put a fork in it. done.

The thing is, in this foggy San Diego morning,  the stresses of the American life are adding up.  Matter of fact, as I sit here contemplating all things seen and unseen around me, underneath it all, in the hidden shadows of my world, my papa is undergoing surgery right now.  I can't do anything but wait  (and write...look out...if you think I get pretty long winded before...just you wait my little pretties.)

So, last night, I didn't get to sleep at all.

So, did you take five there, and listen to a little Fifth Dimension?

Great song.

So country-wise... these days, these dark days that we are all experiencing together, are keeping us from being our very best, aren't they?  Each and every one of us are walking around with some level of PTSD.  We are trying to function as best we can, but it is so much easier to ignore responsibility, stay in our shell with perhaps a glass of wine to comfort our weary heads, or maybe open that carton of Ben & Jerry's to have all to ourselves, or even take in a ballgame (or soccer, if you are in the Pasadena area...did any of you catch wind of this stunner?)

here's a little kibble and bit of it to wet your appetite: "Why would spectators raise a ruckus during a national anthem, except to manifest contempt for the country whose anthem it was?" -- Pat Buchanan thinks to himself.  ahh poor Pat, just preaching to the choir, preaching to the choir.  Does anyone really care what is happening to us -- the US as a WHOLE, as a COUNTRY, as a NATION -- and clearly in dire need of rebuilding?

Oh sure, America is doing just fine.  No problems here.  We are on the upswing, right?  The housing market was up .7% in April. wow.  hold me back I am so excited;  however, that number, not being adjusted for seasonal flow isn't exactly accurate -- for when you do, you know, pee on it, the number you get is a bare drop of .1%.        really?

Nation building -- how can we expect things to go well in this area, when everything around us is screaming some variation of '...if you can't eat it, or play with it, then pee on it and walk away?'

This sort of thing is even happening at the big house -- you know, that big white house, that beacon of hope, shining on a hill.  And proof is in the plastic cup-- furnished by the AARP and covered under one of a myriad of supplemental plans through nothing less than heartfelt efforts, financial and otherwise, welcoming a new day in America and fully sanctioned by the Affordable Care Act.

I need to go no further than one of my favorite places for shelter in a pee-storm, The Heritage Foundation.

[and if g's too crude it is due to my mood.  bite me]

And all I got to add is that 'the Heritage' must have been reading my mind.  As let's go back to last night -- there I was tossing and turning...like I said, I couldn't get to sleep at all...and I just kept rolling over with the headlines.    The red thread my little head kept returning to was our rise and fall of our Ethics and Standards.

And you say, yo G, what ever gave you that idea?

So -- circumventing the entire Twitter-Twit of late with our dear Anthony Weiner, as that is the least of our worries.  really. trust me. it is -- we move to just the headlines of the last couple of days:

• Blago down for 300 years, ethics violations, trying to sell Obama's seat in Senate
• Laura Richardson (CA-37th, Star Parker's opponent), down, may be thrown in the clinker for ethics violations from 2010 election
• Obama, found walking a very thin line, using the White House for a back drop for a campaign ad

wow.  might I add, we've got ourselves a party just begging for a theme; color scheme and party favors to be decided at a later date; million dollar question, will the lamestream media have the courage to tie this all up in a bow, or what?

Now, ya see, this is just the last two days -- and we haven't even touched on the wave of violations from the 2008 elections (voter fraud and intimidation violations... by the Black Panthers at the front door of some polls... dead people and felons casting their vote...)  And we haven't even begun to talk about all the ways this White House is subverting the Constitution, usurping the powers of Congress, and otherwise, making up new law and regulations on the fly -- and basically peeing upon the Rule of Law any chance they get. 

From the perspective of a girl of never a few words: America is getting peed on, left, right, front and center.

And this is where my Heritage boys and girls come in.  Save me...Calgone, take me away.  From people who know way more about this than little old me -- and more specifically, it is Lachlan Markay who writes:

"The Obama Administration generally employs one of two strategies to legislate without—and often in spite of—congressional action: (1) administrative decree establishing a new federal rule, or (2) a refusal to enforce existing federal law. In five separate policy areas, the President and the federal agencies under his command have spurned congressional authority to achieve Obama’s objectives."

Oh yes.  He read my mind, as I was counting sheep and all the ways this administration is doing me and my America wrong.  Talk to me, Lachlan.

Five.  It is the number on the day.  And Lachlan, in turn, went on pontificating the one, the two, the three, four, five, right then and there.  And suddenly, everything was made so clear.

And look, the fog is beginning to lift.

Oh, what?  you think I am going to spoil all your fun.  you really don't know G at all, do you?

No.  This is where you step in and go to Lachlan yourself.  It is grab a bag of cheetos and play nice with Lachlan day.  I have gone as far as I can.  Be engaged.  Know the species -- Know the stain -- and take part in understanding all the ways our ethics and standards have changed.  Scratch that. Make that fundamentally transformed right before our very eyes, in the cover of darkness.

Yes. While lame brains are more interested in Weiner's weinergate -- or making their digs on a potential presidential contender against the chosen one -- or reacting in waves of spontaneous combustion over what ever flits and flutters off the Yahoo! page...all the while, our Rule of Law, America's standard of being, relating, and getting along in this world, is being feverishly radicalized in every way.

Some may think, myself included, we are in this mess because we, the people, have had our head in the clouds, the sand, in la la land, for way too long now; we have not done our part to stay informed and respect our Rule of Law, the law of this land -- and do our duty in order to keep it. 

We are a Republic -- while it demands we honor the checks and balances under three branches of government under the Constitution, it also requires the people to take full responsibility for ourselves, and each other, respective of a collection of natural rights and enumerated duties, and many more even left unsaid.  And creating a body of people engaged, educated, and empowered was key. [G loves her happy place @ smartgirlpolitics, indeed]

The idea of being an 'enlightened electorate' was one of America's cornerstones.  For the founders recognized that we are smart creatures, able to think for ourselves, right?  and smarter than the average pooch.

Unlike the leisure-world of a typical hound, we think, therefore I am.  We think of what is right, and wrong.  We think united -- or we break apart in little tiny itsy bitsy pieces by our differences and illusions of superiority of one ideology over another.  We can get pretty messed up actually.

From The 5000 Year Leap, a montage of Jeffersonian ideals of America's blessed electorate:

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. (Ford, Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 10:4)   No other sure foundation can be devised for the preservation of freedom and happiness...Preach...a crusade against ignorance; establish and improve the law for educating the common people.  Let our countrymen know that the people alone can protect us against these evils [of misgovernment].  (Bergh, Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 5:396-97.)"

Maybe a dog gets a free lunch, a fetch, and a nap all day long -- but for us, the happy little people responsible for feeding the happy little canine into oblivion each and every day, the nation expects more, much more.

And indeed, this would be a fine time to expand upon the poetic words uttered of a president one fine Inaugural morning in 1961, begging us to contemplate, 'ask not what your nation can do for you, ask what you can do for your country...but let's not and say that we did.

Our founders, as noted in The 5000, were each and every one well read.  Even though coming from entirely different backgrounds -- religious, economically, politically, philosophically -- they were able to have a meeting of the minds because they were educated, and well versed on world history, civilizations large and small.

"Although the level of their formal training varied...the thinking of Polybius, Cicero, Thomas Hooker, Coke, Montesquieu, Blackstone, John Locke, and Adam Smith salt-and-peppered their writings and their conversations.  They were also careful students of the Bible, especially the Old Testament, and even though some did not belong to any Christian denomination, the teachings of Jesus were held in universal respect and admiration.

Their historical readings included a broad perspective of Greek, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, European, and English history.  To this writer, nothing is more remarkable about the early American leaders than their breadth of reading and depth of knowledge concerning the essential elements of sound nation building."

to this blogger, ditto.

Do you think this is what our president has in mind for us, when he calls for "nation building"?  Do you think he wants us to run out and become well read on the masterpieces of civilization, history, art and science, questioning with boldness every step of the way?

This is what is wrong with America today.  Besides being glued to reruns of Beavis and Butthead, we have been lulled into believing we can settle down on the lap of the government and do nothing but eat, sleep, and pee, and once in awhile, rollover for a scrap of bacon.  And, just maybe, get our bellies rubbed when we follow along and do what we are told.  Oh my, a certain Jefferson would be so very disappointed with us... as our tail drops between our legs in shame.

finally reached my mama, and pops is in recovery (Thankya Jesus x).  now dare I say, it is time for a nap.

Make it a Good Day, G

Dear America,

Happy Monday.

Two words not often coupled with each other; but suitable for the sentiment of the day.

The world is ripe with contradictions, hypocrisy and double standards --  even white washing and fudging the truth should be thrown in while we're at it -- as it just depends on who is speaking, the audience, and the context in which the words are spoken, doesn't it.

For the most part, America is a propaganda machine; we churn it out so fast, not before Gore invented the internet did we ever have the ability to keep up with it -- or attempt to try anyway.

Some of these instances of contradiction to reality come to mind rather easily.

Take for example, all of the angst and hoopla over the airing of the Focus on the Family ad featuring Tim Tebow and his mother, during the Super Bowl.  Understanding it's old news already, I encourage you to stay with me for a bit.

The organizations such as NARAL and NOW just lambasted the audacity to air such a family friendly, prolife ideology during the biggest fantasy football day of the year -- and to actually tackle his mom in it, oh my, that act of violence towards women in general, and his mom in particular, quickly grew to become their second line of attack; and then, make no mistake, it was open season on Focus on the Family.  The weeks leading up to one of the largest television audiences of all time, this family, both literally and figuratively, were demonized and buried into the turf by the opposition, who came at them with the force of a million linebackers again and again and again.

How could such an organization do such a thing, they would remark-- and during the quintessential family day of all things, while everyone would be sitting around eating chips and dip, watching the biggest game of the year like that, as a family -- to have the gall to air such an ad as this -- what in the world is this world turning into, they would say.

They used whatever words they could muster in their feeble attempt to win the argument against the sponsor, Focus on the Family -- and in response, the Focus on the Family repeatedly clung to the same mantra --wait and see, wait and see, wait and see.

As calm as can be this family, along with the entire team and fans behind Focus on the Family, waited -- basking in the knowledge that they knew what the ad would say, and more importantly, what the ad would stand for; and they waited, sitting patiently in the light of principle and values unmatched and clearly unbeknownst by the opposition.

In spite of the continually unfair attacks coming in from the sidelines at all angles and at all costs, we all know how it ended.  After all the hype and character assassinations, after taking things out of context, or adding color and confusion to what is otherwise black and white, after attempting to turn 'little Timmy' and his mom into some kind of Christian coalition of Jesus Freaks or some kind of warped proponents of making violent attacks on women -- the ad aired.

And it was done.

Never did the ad make people, children or small dogs, feel uncomfortable.  Never did it preach.

It was simply a proud  moment of a mother and son -- and almost nothing more than that.  As the real call to action was to go to the Focus on the Family website, or not. The choice was left up to the viewer.

Oh sure, she was tackled -- to the floor!  (And if you believe that, I have swamp land in Florida to show you, oh the beauty of make believe TV at it again.)

But skip back into the real world if you will; what about Betty White?

I'm just not hearing anyone from NOW speaking out about Betty.
I'm just not hearing anyone get after the corporate creators of the likes of Snickers Bars everywhere.
I'm just not hearing anyone speak out on behalf of little old Betty hitting the turf in the Snickers Bar ad, poking fun at the idea that "you're just not you when you're hungry" -- an ad running rampant as we speak.

Oh sure, it's funny when Betty gets flung through the air and buried under a pile of boys, not just one son, landing in a pool of mud up to her eyeballs. Yeah, that's funny; but a Heisman trophy kinda kid who's wearing bible verses in his black under-eye, not so much.

Dennis Blair, an admiral with  personal experience dealing with radical Islam and a history of making it's clear distinctions, can sink to new lows as Director of National Security, by way of whitewashing terrorism the Obama way; telling it like it is, Franklin Graham, not so much -- matter of fact, now, an invitation from the army to speak on National Day of Prayer it is rescinded on just so much.

Newscasters can make general remarks and accusations about the NY Subway bomber as to having "weapons of mass destruction" --

"Mr. Zazi, 25, pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Brooklyn to charges that included conspiracies to use weapons of mass destruction and to commit murder in a foreign country, and to provide material support for a terrorist organization. He faces a possible life term when he is sentenced on June 25."

but the W, in his every intent and aspiration to protect a nation, makes such a claim against an evil dictator, not so much.  Let alone the reality right here and right now, that the entire middle east now has the makings of weapons with mass destruction... perhaps everyone could use a swallow of the get real pill, but let's keep going...

Then we have Wall Street.  The federal government gives a pass to Fannie and Freddie, featuring Frank and Dodd, and makes Goldman Sachs the evil one. The same Wall Street and Goldman who bank rolled the Obama administration getting in are now on the chopping block -- oh paybacks are a bitch, aren't they?  Goldman gave nearly one million dollars to the Obama campaign -- almost 4.5 million dollars to the democrats in 2008 combined (to the other side, a measly 1.5 million in all)  Who is kidding who here? Or is it really just all a part of some hidden agenda, masterminded from a think tank of George Soros and his imperialistic empire leaning to the far left?  Ahh, but now I would be sounding like some kind of conspiracy theorist, and we wouldn't want that now would we?

GM is gloating on ads these days, featuring their own Ed Whitacre, gushing over the fact that they have repaid their government loan -- interesting to note, these ads began on the very day of this announcement on all news wires!  Does the AP have a room in the back of the factory?  Or is it in the White House?  That must have taken some doing, to create and produce the ad and make the market watch announcement by the government all on the same day.  How about that kind of timing for a propaganda masterpiece.  Ahhh stop with the conspiracy theory, enough already...

Oh sure, he says  they have repaid the 8 BILLION dollar government loan -- five years ahead of schedule.  How could it be anything less than joy to the world....it is done...and it was good....happy days are here again.

Oh right.
He made no mention of the 53 BILLION the taxpayers are still on the hook for; because that's not a loan, it is called ownership -- we bought stock in a business that was about to go under.  We bought into a business which was failing in every which way to Sunday against the competition, without blinking an eye.  We are banking on GM rising out of the weeds, making tread on the pavement and leaving Toyota in it's tracks.  And if GM can do that, we, Americans, could still stand to make billions! 

Once upon a time the Department of Education had a budget of 12 Billion dollars.  It was 1965 and much of the school of thought managed to keep most of the responsibility to the states and local jurisdiction.  Times have changed, however, and we now have a budget of over 100 Billion dollars -- in an area that has yet to prove it's ability to manage the education of our children any better.

Look around.  Are kids seeing the benefits of this 100 Billion, or is it merely the bureaucracy that's booming?
Look around.  Are more kids graduating from inner city schools or joining a gang?
Look around.  Understanding sports can maintain keeping the kids off the streets and keeping their focus on the straight and narrow path of higher education, how many kids do you know still write links to bible verses under their eyes and have the conviction to stand up to it in front of the entire world?  One in a million.

Currently, there is a new bill on the agenda to cover 32 BILLION dollars to tend to the GREENING of our schools -- 32 BILLION DOLLARS, one third of the entire DoE budget added in new legislation!  Just to cover the costs related to simply the changing few light bulbs, replacing fixtures with low-flow toilets, and upgrading schools everywhere with enough solar panels and eco-friendly whatnot's to fuel a third world country a million times over.  Making superficial changes to the epidemic disparity happening each and every day may make for a good soundbite, but in the end proves to be money far from being well spent.

If you are gonna throw your money around like that, shouldn't the benefactor be the children? Can you just imagine a troubled school system, take Chicago for example, getting a gift of just one of those billions?  Maybe it's just me, but go ahead and squander, don't let me stop ya.

"The way to have good and safe government is not to trust it all to one, but to divide it among the many, distributing to every one exactly the functions he is competent to [perform best]. Let the national government be entrusted with the defense of the nation, and its foreign and federal relations; the State governments with the civil rights, laws, police, and administration of what concerns the State generally; the counties with the local concerns of the counties, and each ward [township] direct the interests within itself. 

It is by dividing and subdividing these republics, from the great national one down through all its subordinations, until it ends in the administration of every man's farm by himself; by placing under every one what his own eye may superintend, that all will be done for the best. 

What has destroyed liberty and the rights of man in every government which has ever existed under the sun?  The generalizing and concentrating all cares and powers into one body, no matter whether of the autocrats of Russia or France, or of the aristocrats of Venetian senate."

                                                            Thomas Jefferson

Again and again, it's all in how you look at it.
Again and again, it comes down to who is speaking.
Again and again, it gets down to what's in it for them -- coupled with what's in it for me -- if I choose to follow.
And sometimes, if we're lucky, it's nothing more complicated than telling the truth and standing by such truth.

Make it a Good Day, G

Note to self: do your homework -- and remember, not everything that you read, or hear, is true.

Dear America,

If I could turn back time.  Never liked the song but love the sentiment right about now.

I would take a Jimmy...or even a Clinton -- even if it takes reliving the escapades of getting it on in the oval office.   I would take either of them in a heartbeat.

I guess the weekend brought us all kinds of little sweet somethings in the political bag of tricks...it was a smorgasbord of candidates stepping down left and right.  Starting with the NY state of mind in a congressional district 3500 miles from my front door, Scozzafava was the first to call it in and turn off the porch light.  A lesson for all of us and hopefully a disposition of days to come.

Then around the world, the Abdullah Abdullah va va va va va stepped away from the race, leaving Karzai all alone in the dark.  Such a disappointment really after all of the hullabaloo.

The funny thing is...there ain't nothing holding back our scare-dy-cat of a President from making a decision now, batta -bing batta boo; will it be door number one or door number two -- or even door number three -- exemplifying the prophetic all or nothing or somewhere in between? 

My guess, Monty, as celebrity deaths and no stone goes unturned happens in threes -- Obama-San was pushing for door number three all along. And who am I to also point out it will maintain a smack daddy Bush-Lite version -- stay in, but half-assed, and not give in to what the Commander General, really, really wants -- you know, in order to save face and mask the taking of the better part of a year in a state of ambivalence and insecurity, as if it were well thought out months of  contemplation and angst -- and let it ride. He's just not that into it.

Oh my mistake, correction, it was Michelle dressed as the feline this weekend, the President merely attempted to pass himself off as Presidential -- busting out in a Mr. Roger's sweater -- as they were both hosts in the redistribution of candy to area students ages 5 to 11. 

Trick or treat smell my feet, give me something good to tweet. Why do I find the whole thing so contrived?  Is it just me?

So anyway, candidates seem to be dropping like glucose after a couple days of speed-balling Smarties® and Air Heads®.

Just waiting for Daggett to see a ghost, as he's got a snowballs chance in he** to make it and all he's doing is muddying the water; even though that's normal for Jersey, no need to add to the polluted political state of disarray.  Never been to Atlantic City, but my money's on an upset; throwing down a marker on red anything is looking pretty good.

You know way back in 2008, the most important issue for the voters was the Economy; of course, this was after Barney Frank and sidekick Dodd set up the old one-two punch; first the left hook, the self destructive real estate regulations and misappropriations of credit worthiness just begging to be cracked kr pow! and then the eminent bank failure wham! -- the collision and collusion's creating whirlwind devastation, leaving no neighborhood safe, and pummeling Bush's presidency into the ground -- at the same time, sealing any Republicans fate draped in doom and gloom.

A year ago, the concern of the economy was at 60%, while both the Iraq War and Health Care were holding steady and tied at about 13% a piece.  

Fascinating how susceptible we are to public opinion -- while the root cause is initiated from controlled messages from our government, it digs in and settles into our mindset like a cavity so great, if we only drank milk for the rest of our lives the damage may still run too deep to fix. 

Why are we so namby-pamby -- we go from fickle to freak at light speed, while allowing our government to masquerade around us, creating a firestorm of fear and concern --connivingly bewitch us and tease us with benevolence -- all the while point their long twisted finger with a wart on its tip to everyone and everything accept that which can save us -- and that being taking full responsibility for our actions.

Look, if we put our faith in anything before going to the polls or answering a polling question or embracing any idea that may be of value for our children and this country, its starts within each and every one of us.  It is NOT the governments place-- nor is it one that can guarantee long term security -- to decide anything for us.  Our true liberty is in keeping the power, and only then can we control our day to day lives and the antics that carry on around us on the political front -- no matter where they happen in the world.

The scary thing is, we are simply too vulnerable to the whim of political production and corruption.

I had an ah ha moment while awaiting trick or treatr's.
The epiphany came when realizing even Halloween has been compromised and twisted into the secular realm, totally obliterating the first cause and the root of its higher intention and reason for the season; originally, it was All Hallows Eve.  Ring any doorbells for any of you?

It was celebration of the evening before a fairly new Holy Day of Obligation which dates back to the era of Pope Gregory IV, who anchored the Catholic Church between years 827- 844; having incorporated All Saints Day on November 1st under Pope Gregory III (731-741).  Over the years, the ritual has been prostituted for commercial gain, also having fallen victim to pagan origins and attributes which totally dismiss the original message and feasts of the Church -- which begs the question, isn't anything sacred anymore?

Much like Christmas and Easter and any other tradition or ritual based on the teachings of Christianity or Judaism -- holidays have been ripped out of our hands and stolen right out from under us; and it is in the words of Jesus -- the ONE person I turn to most, Ms. Anita Dunn -- I find shelter -- noting "forgive them father, for they know not what they do."

And if you will be so kind as to allow me to stray, the newsprint of the past week picks up on this very notion and includes stories that victimized a Home Depot Employee of wearing a christian sentiment upon his apron, another story of a hotel owner requesting his employees to speak English, while another story of women on a job interview being told she could not wear her abaya headpiece to the office -- all of which the endings do not play out the way that you would think, being that this is America and all.

"Where it is a duty to worship the sun it is pretty sure to be a crime to examine the laws of heat."

An old Brit said that over a hundred years ago.  He also claims this of himself,

 "I am a cautious Whig by temperament,

I am a Liberal by training,

and I am a thorough Radical by observation and experience".

Oh a penny for a free radical from yesteryear; aww, heck, I'd turn over every Reese's® peanut butter cup. 

We can't sit back and think that life continues on just as it ever was and will be for evermore; things are changing fast and furious and without caution.  Oh sure, you see the man think in the big white house, but what we don't see is the action back behind his every move, and at a pace which far exceeds his limits. 

For this administration makes its moves in the dark; going door to door picking us off one by one. 

We are mesmerized in this false prophet standing before us; and all I got to say is snap out of it! 

Something wicked this way comes.

This is where we brush the lamb of God upon our door, bearing down for the long cold winter ahead, perhaps stockpiling a little unleavened bread for the task of finding a mass exodus out; a counter-insurgency rested in faith and time tested for generations.

Make it a Good Day, G

"All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression."
                                                        Thomas Jefferson

"In politics the middle way is none at all."

            John Adams

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."  
                            James Madison