Thursday, February 18, 2010

So many congressional representatives are bowing out, for one reason or another. Senator Evan Bayh, the moderate Democrat from Indiana, has declared that he will not seek reelection in November. He says he no longer believes in the Senate. This is the way it usually happens, the good usually are driven out of office. The legislators who want to make a difference for the good of the people are usually few and far between. If the current partisan disease in congress continues, then the lawmakers will eventually be those people who are in it for their own agendas. This is too bad. Is it the end of the American democracy? No, I don't believe so. This too will pass. I only hope that this passes quickly and painlessly. I still believe that a shared leadership is essential for a successful government. President Obama, the Democrats and the Republicans all share the blame for this partisan impasse in government. I just don't have faith that President Obama will be as politically astute as former President Bill Clinton was after the 1994 midterm elections. For that reason, among others, I believe President Obama will probably be a one term president. Now this doesn't mean that I will be voting Republican in 2010 and 2012. Quite contra, I will still be voting Democrat, but I will do so more responsibly. In 2012, I would very much support a Democratic primary opposition to the President. I still believe that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would be a great presidential choice. Senator Evan Bayh would also be a compelling contrast. On the Republican side, former Governor Mitt Romney would be my preference over a Obama candidacy. These are just suppositions. There's plenty of time to let the political course of events to transpire. And then there's December 21, 2012? Coincidence? 

It's Lent again. "Lord who throughout these forty days..." I was thinking about the Roman Catholic Lenten fast and abstinence regulations. Do we have to follow these laws? I don't think so. I believe that it is more important to have the proper attitude about Lent than following any manmade rules. Let's face it, most religions are full of manmade laws. One may say that the only laws that are truly from God are the Ten Commandments. I even doubt that God had anything to do with the compiling of the Ten Commandments. Some may say that it's in the Bible and the Bible is the word of God. I doubt it. The Bible is man's or the human interpretation of the word of God. I'm not saying that I am 100% correct and my word goes, excuse the pun. Rather each person is responsible for his or her own set of beliefs on this subject as well as many others. Just don't condemn me or anyone else for his or her religious beliefs. As long as the beliefs do not involve the demise or harm of others or ourselves, we as free thinking individuals have the right to our own beliefs. So now, how does this belief rectify itself with religion? I believe that religion or a religious community should be based on a set of beliefs, but the members of this religion should have the freedom of thought to judge the validity of the beliefs on an individual basis. With this construct, I feel very Catholic, even though I have my own personal beliefs concerning Catholic doctrine. So, I guess I go to Mass on Sunday and submit my envelop. Not financially supporting one's place of worship is another of my pet peeves. We will save that one for later.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Is it Valentine's Day already? I guess so. Valentine's Day comes but once a year, but the love you share should be expressed every day of the year. Too often we fail to tell the people in our life's that we care. We say that they know how we feel. But do they? Everyone likes approval. Everyone likes to hear that he or she is special. We don't have to be gushy, just honest. An honest, real, and thoughtful expression of love and appreciation is not asking too much. If you care about someone, then let them know that you care. It takes a minute, but it lasts a lifetime. Life is so short and unexpected things happen. You may not get another opportunity to let the people in your life know that they are loved and appreciated. Do it now. Don't wait. A simple, "I'm glad you are in my life" says so much. In the end, it's the people and the love that will endure. It's the people and love who will sustain you. It's the people and the love who will give you eternal peace. 

Monday, February 8, 2010

The Saints won the Super Bowl. Way to go. Who Dat? It didn't look so good in the first half, but the Saints rallied and the second half was theirs. Peyton Manning hardly played in the second half. I thought he went home. Even though I like Peyton Manning, he lost. I usually go for the underdog. That's the American way. Anyone can do anything that they really want to achieve. The Saints are on top, New Orleans is on the mend, Louisiana is renewed. Speaking of New Orleans, the voters chose Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu as it's new mayor on Saturday. Brother of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu and son of a popular former mayor, the Mayor-elect has summoned his family roots to win an overwhelming majority in the election. A great weekend for New Orleans.

That brings me to a real danger to the American way of life - former Governor Sarah Palin. What a nasty woman. She has absolutely no leadership ability. Her followers, the so-called tea partiers as well as others, are being mystically attracted to her. Her popularity among the "real" Americans has been extraordinary and dangerous. By real Americans, I'm being facetious. Palin has characterized herself and her followers as the real Americans as opposed to liberal, big city, religiously diverse, social advocates, etc., in short anything not her. This is so wrong. First, America is the land of the free for all people. No one is more of a real American than any other. All Americans share the exact rights as delineated in the Constitution. One group of people has no special rights or considerations over any other groups of people. Palin has no intellectual awareness. I believe that she is currently being tutored on American History, World History, American Government and World Government. She just doesn't have that gut feeling one must have to be an effective and successful leader. Can you imagine a President Palin meeting with world leaders? That is laughable. Palin lacks the objectivity, knowledge and leadership aptitudes crucial for a national leader. Plus, if things didn't go her way if she was president, then she would quit and walk away just like she did two and one half years into her four year term as governor of Alaska. By the way, a lame duck governor is a current governor after a newly elected governor is determined. A lame duck leader is usually lame duck for a few months, not one and a half years. The American people must wake up and see the lady as she is - definitely not a national or international leader. Palin may be a great mother and an Alaskan state governmental office holder, but she is in no way a national or international leader.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Scott Brown is scheduled to be sworn in as the junior senator from Massachusetts this afternoon. I am very impressed with the man. He seems to be a moderate Republican. More importantly he seems to be beholden to no one. I hope he is his own man, but Washington politics has a tendency to change people. We will see.

President Obama spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning. He does spout off quite a bit. He emphasized his support for ending the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. I wonder if he is genuinely supportive of this position. It is heartening to hear military officials as well as many governmental and "ordinary" people supporting Gay Rights. They say a person should be himself or herself. I couldn't agree more. The military's current policy on gays and lesbians urges them to lie about their sexual orientation. This is in direct contradiction to the military code of ethics. Lying is wrong, in any context. Many Republicans support gay rights. Many Democrats and Republicans are against same sex marriage, but support civil unions. Perhaps gays and lesbians are pushing so hard for same sex marriage in an attempt to justify same sex unions. Same sex unions may be seen by the American people as a suitable compromise. In any case, good news for sure.

Monday, February 1, 2010

President Obama met with the Republicans in Congress on Friday. He met them on their own turf and pledges to meet with them regularly. Has Washington become a more gentler place? I don't think so. Does anyone really believe that the Democrats and the Republicans are going to work together? Looks are deceiving. Time will tell. President Obama hasn't been totally  honest with the American people. Is any politician totally honest? His proposed budget is a continuation of his agenda, but with slight modifications in order to sooth the Republicans and the American people. It won't work. Most politicians exist in a semi-honest, somewhat quasi real world. They conduct business in the down low and then say that they are operating in an arena of full disclosure. In other words, they plot and contrive in secret and then reveal to the public what they feel that the public needs to know. Few politicians are honest, open and the selfless representatives of the people. Most politicians govern with a sense of superiority, power and eventual corruption. The best we can do is to explore the candidates and vote for the lesser of the evils. Make no mistake, most candidates are not independent of their political parties. Once a candidate wins an election, the party is the real winner. Then is the political party the problem? No, not really. The framers of the constitution had it right. The human factor, particularly of the current generation of politicians, has run amok and has gotten off course. It's the human factor that must be reigned in and realigned with the intent of the constitution. No easy feat. This has occurred many times in our American history and it always resolves itself. The current situation seems so bad because we are living in it, but this too will pass. A shared governing model seems to be the best immediate solution. A possible solution lies in the 2010 midterm elections. The Republicans must win the majority in one or both of the houses of congress. This would force President Obama to negotiate with the Republicans. One party control of government never works in a democracy. Democracy works best with a shared government.