The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands on moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
The great difference between one person and another is how he takes hold and uses his first chance, and how he takes his fall if it scored against him. - Thomas Hughes
Okay, yes, I got out my "positive quotations" book today. But I knew there would be something apropos of the godawful situation with the Coleman/Franken election.
I have met Norm Coleman and on many occasions have heard him speak. This is a man with a good heart, a man with integtrity, and one who conducts himself with decorum in adverse situations.
Contrast him with Al Franken, who is angry, bitter, rude, selfish and boorish. I could go on, but you get the point. And when I saw him on TV this morning saying he demands a recount and that "the Obama admistration and I have received reports of irregularities," my first thought was, how classless and predictable.
We should have known this man couldn't accept defeat with dignity. Meanwhile, Coleman has grasped his victory with humility and grace.
"The Measure of a Man..." That's what I think of when I look at Al Franken. I just want to shake him and say, "Man up and stop whining. For once in your life, show some integrity!"
I can't do that, but I just wish he would get an epiphany and stop this silliness. Just let it go Al, let it go. But he won't. That's not who he is.
That's why we have to hope and pray that Norm's victory sticks. I don't trust the "Franken Machine" not to try to steal this election. And I can't bear the thought of sending that despicable man to the Senate.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
The difficulties of life are intended to makes us better, not bitter. - Anon
Yesterday, and for the many months prior, I felt that an Obama win would be devestating to our country. I believed it so strongly that I volunteered and called voters, wrote letters--some published and some not--and did everything I could to make sure McCain came out on top.
Yesterday, while driving my son to school, he asked, "So what's so bad about Obama winning?" This is a 16-year-old kid who has forgotten more about American history than I ever knew, who teaches me something new every day, and who is deep into the subject matter of his AP Euro class, in which, lately, the discussion has turned to this election. I was tired and made a big mistake.
I had just heard an economist on TV say the ideas Obama has for the economy are a modern-day version of what Hoover did at the beginning of the depression that prolonged it for another 6 years (raising taxes on the "wealthy," etc.). He also said that what Obama has in mind for this economy will bankrupt the next two generations. They will not know prosperity. In a moment of, I don't know, insanity, I repeated this to my son.
As the day went on, I was volunteering and buying champagne to celebrate my candidates' election victories. A thought crept into my mind that if Obama pulled it off and won, I had just given my son a picture of his future similar to the one I remember was given to my generation in the eighties: you have no future, so why bother. Russia's going to nuke us anyway, so party now before the world ends. Still, I tried not to think negatively, and focused on a McCain win.
As we all know, it didn't happen. I was exhausted and fell asleep on the couch about the time the talking heads declared that a McCain win was a mathmatical impossiblity. I awoke to President Elect Obama giving his acceptance speech.
The house was quiet, and I thought everyone had gone to bed. As I started up the stairs, I noticed my boy, sitting in the dark, watching Obama speak. I went and put my arm around him to watch the historic moment with him. We saw the faces of African American people in attendance with tears streaming down their faces as Obama spoke. Believe it or not, the sight of Reverend Jesse Jackson, a man whom I don't respect, with tears running down his cheeks, looking like an old man who had just seen something he never thought he would see in his lifetime, opened my heart.
This morning on the way to school, I told my son that even though we didn't want Obama to win, he is going to be our president and we must respect that. I told him that we can't be bitter about something that clearly means so much to so many. All we can do is pray for him, I guess. My son agreed.
He has told me that he feels an Obama administration will echo the Carter administration, and he'll be gone in four years after everyone gets fed up with his running the country into the ground and ruining our foreign policy, and they'll throw him out of office.
That was yesterday. Today we should focus on what electing the first black president means to this country. Today we must stand behind Obama and pray that he makes the right decisions for our great country. Tomorrow, we shouldn't make the mistake I did of letting our young people think there is no hope. That kind of message can destroy a young life.
After today, Obama's fair game. But lets keep the kids out of it.
Yesterday, and for the many months prior, I felt that an Obama win would be devestating to our country. I believed it so strongly that I volunteered and called voters, wrote letters--some published and some not--and did everything I could to make sure McCain came out on top.
Yesterday, while driving my son to school, he asked, "So what's so bad about Obama winning?" This is a 16-year-old kid who has forgotten more about American history than I ever knew, who teaches me something new every day, and who is deep into the subject matter of his AP Euro class, in which, lately, the discussion has turned to this election. I was tired and made a big mistake.
I had just heard an economist on TV say the ideas Obama has for the economy are a modern-day version of what Hoover did at the beginning of the depression that prolonged it for another 6 years (raising taxes on the "wealthy," etc.). He also said that what Obama has in mind for this economy will bankrupt the next two generations. They will not know prosperity. In a moment of, I don't know, insanity, I repeated this to my son.
As the day went on, I was volunteering and buying champagne to celebrate my candidates' election victories. A thought crept into my mind that if Obama pulled it off and won, I had just given my son a picture of his future similar to the one I remember was given to my generation in the eighties: you have no future, so why bother. Russia's going to nuke us anyway, so party now before the world ends. Still, I tried not to think negatively, and focused on a McCain win.
As we all know, it didn't happen. I was exhausted and fell asleep on the couch about the time the talking heads declared that a McCain win was a mathmatical impossiblity. I awoke to President Elect Obama giving his acceptance speech.
The house was quiet, and I thought everyone had gone to bed. As I started up the stairs, I noticed my boy, sitting in the dark, watching Obama speak. I went and put my arm around him to watch the historic moment with him. We saw the faces of African American people in attendance with tears streaming down their faces as Obama spoke. Believe it or not, the sight of Reverend Jesse Jackson, a man whom I don't respect, with tears running down his cheeks, looking like an old man who had just seen something he never thought he would see in his lifetime, opened my heart.
This morning on the way to school, I told my son that even though we didn't want Obama to win, he is going to be our president and we must respect that. I told him that we can't be bitter about something that clearly means so much to so many. All we can do is pray for him, I guess. My son agreed.
He has told me that he feels an Obama administration will echo the Carter administration, and he'll be gone in four years after everyone gets fed up with his running the country into the ground and ruining our foreign policy, and they'll throw him out of office.
That was yesterday. Today we should focus on what electing the first black president means to this country. Today we must stand behind Obama and pray that he makes the right decisions for our great country. Tomorrow, we shouldn't make the mistake I did of letting our young people think there is no hope. That kind of message can destroy a young life.
After today, Obama's fair game. But lets keep the kids out of it.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Star Tribune Omitting Important News?
A regular reader of the Minneapolis Star Tribune might believe no one cares about Joe Biden’s strange, frightening comments about Barack Obama. They’ve hardly been mentioned.
During speeches last weekend, Biden said, “Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama …” “Remember I said it standing here, if you don’t remember anything else I said. Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.” “We’re going to face a major international challenge. Because they’re going to want to test him…”
Yet when congressional candidate Michelle Bachmann commented that Obama might have “un-American” tendencies, people acted as if it were the most important thing on earth and flooded the media with outrage.
Wednesday’s Letter of the Day was concerned with comments by Rush Limbaugh, who isn’t running for office, and who makes idiotic statements daily.
Oh, and did you catch Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live last weekend? Everyone’s talking about that.
But when vice presidential candidate Biden—in very strong language—predicts calamity if presidential candidate Obama is elected, people ignore it.
Is it because it’s easier to focus on these petty things instead of important things, like Obama’s own running mate expecting a “generated” international crisis if this unqualified man is elected? Or is it because it’s easier than admitting how Biden’s comments show why we should vote for John McCain, whose “mettle” has already been tested?
During speeches last weekend, Biden said, “Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama …” “Remember I said it standing here, if you don’t remember anything else I said. Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.” “We’re going to face a major international challenge. Because they’re going to want to test him…”
Yet when congressional candidate Michelle Bachmann commented that Obama might have “un-American” tendencies, people acted as if it were the most important thing on earth and flooded the media with outrage.
Wednesday’s Letter of the Day was concerned with comments by Rush Limbaugh, who isn’t running for office, and who makes idiotic statements daily.
Oh, and did you catch Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live last weekend? Everyone’s talking about that.
But when vice presidential candidate Biden—in very strong language—predicts calamity if presidential candidate Obama is elected, people ignore it.
Is it because it’s easier to focus on these petty things instead of important things, like Obama’s own running mate expecting a “generated” international crisis if this unqualified man is elected? Or is it because it’s easier than admitting how Biden’s comments show why we should vote for John McCain, whose “mettle” has already been tested?
Friday, October 10, 2008
Senator Coleman Calls for Positivity
Here's the link to the blog post Norm Coleman wrote about calling off negative ads for his campaign. I think it's incredibly important for anyone who supports Norm to read this and follow his wishes:
http://www.colemanforsenate.com/blog-post/366/%22our-best-days-are-yet-to-come.%22---senator-norm-coleman
http://www.colemanforsenate.com/blog-post/366/%22our-best-days-are-yet-to-come.%22---senator-norm-coleman
Friday, October 3, 2008
It's Okay to Eat off the Floor This Morning Because Palin Wiped it with Biden Last Night
I'm in a rush, so it'll be short and sweet. Sarah Palin made Joe Biden look like and angry, bitter old man. Her genius for speaking directly to the American people as if she were sitting in their living room having a cup of coffee is what won her this debate.
While Joe Biden lectures, she converses. While Biden talks down to the people, she talks with the people.
My lauding her communications strengths so evident in last night's debate isn't to discount her obvious intelligence, ability to lead, and strength that the mainstream media are trying to smack down at every turn. She excelled in this medium, and it was a wonderful thing to behold.
While Joe Biden lectures, she converses. While Biden talks down to the people, she talks with the people.
My lauding her communications strengths so evident in last night's debate isn't to discount her obvious intelligence, ability to lead, and strength that the mainstream media are trying to smack down at every turn. She excelled in this medium, and it was a wonderful thing to behold.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Al, You Make Me Feel Uncomfortable
“…And for 35 years I was a writer. I wrote a lot of jokes. Some of them weren’t funny. Some of them weren’t appropriate. Some of them were downright offensive. I understand that. And I understand that the people of Minnesota deserve a senator who won’t say things that will make you feel uncomfortable…” Al Franken, Accepting the DFL Nomination in June
So it seems Al Franken had a hand in Saturday Night Live's most recent political skit featuring Darrell Hammond as Senator John McCain in a spoof about his approving radio ads for his campaign. There have been varying reports (some from within the Franken campaign itself) as to Franken’s level of involvement in the skit. Some say it was an idle observation he made while talking to an old friend; some say after SNL decided to try to make the idea into a skit Franken was involved, again by phone, in the formation of the skit; and some say Franken was listed as a co-writer on the script. Whichever story you choose to believe, the truth is Franken was involved.
I wasn’t born without a funny bone. I saw the skit and, frankly, I thought most of it was funny. Of course I don’t agree with the portrayal of McCain as an old, crotchety man who will take the word of anyone as truth and then agree to it. But sometimes you have to be able to laugh at yourself, or in this case, your own candidate or political party.
I stopped laughing, however, when the skit turned ugly:
Sarcastic Announcer: Barack Obama has fathered two black children in wedlock.
Hammond as McCain: My friends, I must say, that reminds me of an attack George Bush made on me in 2000.
Staffer: He won that election, right?
Hammond as McCain: (immediately leans into the microphone) I’m John McCain, and I approve this message.
I couldn’t believe it. Okay, so we try to have a sense of humor about ourselves. But to even bring up the horrible incident from the 2000 election concerning McCain’s adopted daughter was going too far. At that point, the skit became offensive.
The skit was referring to a smear campaign against McCain in which his opponents spread lies that his daughter Bridget was his illegitimate child instead of a severely ill orphan adopted by McCain and his wife from one of Mother Teresa’s orphanages. To suggest that McCain would, in order to win a campaign, endorse a message attacking Obama in the way he was attacked in the 2000 campaign is egregious.
The 2000 incident was deeply painful for the McCain family. This excerpt from a Newsweek article titled, “In Search of Cindy McCain" illustrates just how painful it was:
When her husband dropped out of the race, Cindy retreated once again to Arizona, furious. She now admits it took her a long time to get over it, much longer than her husband. "It was my daughter," she says. "I think any mother would agree with me. You can go after me, but stay away from my children."
Cindy decided not to tell Bridget about what had happened in South Carolina until she was old enough to understand. But not long ago, the 16-year-old discovered it on her own when she Googled her name. She asked her mother why President Bush hated her. "I did the best I could to say it wasn't President Bush," Cindy says. "But what she doesn't understand is … how could people say things like that." *
As in the case of Bristol Palin, this subject also involves the minor child of a candidate. Once again, Franken and his friends have shown that they don’t know when to stop or where to draw the line. That’s why Franken has to apologize so often for trying to be funny when he’s not.
His consistent display of faulty judgement is just one of the reasons we should feel "uncomfortable" with the idea of Al Franken as Minnesota’s senator.
* (I highly recommend this article to people who want to know more about our potential first lady. Read it at http://www.newsweek.com/id/142650/page/1
So it seems Al Franken had a hand in Saturday Night Live's most recent political skit featuring Darrell Hammond as Senator John McCain in a spoof about his approving radio ads for his campaign. There have been varying reports (some from within the Franken campaign itself) as to Franken’s level of involvement in the skit. Some say it was an idle observation he made while talking to an old friend; some say after SNL decided to try to make the idea into a skit Franken was involved, again by phone, in the formation of the skit; and some say Franken was listed as a co-writer on the script. Whichever story you choose to believe, the truth is Franken was involved.
I wasn’t born without a funny bone. I saw the skit and, frankly, I thought most of it was funny. Of course I don’t agree with the portrayal of McCain as an old, crotchety man who will take the word of anyone as truth and then agree to it. But sometimes you have to be able to laugh at yourself, or in this case, your own candidate or political party.
I stopped laughing, however, when the skit turned ugly:
Sarcastic Announcer: Barack Obama has fathered two black children in wedlock.
Hammond as McCain: My friends, I must say, that reminds me of an attack George Bush made on me in 2000.
Staffer: He won that election, right?
Hammond as McCain: (immediately leans into the microphone) I’m John McCain, and I approve this message.
I couldn’t believe it. Okay, so we try to have a sense of humor about ourselves. But to even bring up the horrible incident from the 2000 election concerning McCain’s adopted daughter was going too far. At that point, the skit became offensive.
The skit was referring to a smear campaign against McCain in which his opponents spread lies that his daughter Bridget was his illegitimate child instead of a severely ill orphan adopted by McCain and his wife from one of Mother Teresa’s orphanages. To suggest that McCain would, in order to win a campaign, endorse a message attacking Obama in the way he was attacked in the 2000 campaign is egregious.
The 2000 incident was deeply painful for the McCain family. This excerpt from a Newsweek article titled, “In Search of Cindy McCain" illustrates just how painful it was:
When her husband dropped out of the race, Cindy retreated once again to Arizona, furious. She now admits it took her a long time to get over it, much longer than her husband. "It was my daughter," she says. "I think any mother would agree with me. You can go after me, but stay away from my children."
Cindy decided not to tell Bridget about what had happened in South Carolina until she was old enough to understand. But not long ago, the 16-year-old discovered it on her own when she Googled her name. She asked her mother why President Bush hated her. "I did the best I could to say it wasn't President Bush," Cindy says. "But what she doesn't understand is … how could people say things like that." *
As in the case of Bristol Palin, this subject also involves the minor child of a candidate. Once again, Franken and his friends have shown that they don’t know when to stop or where to draw the line. That’s why Franken has to apologize so often for trying to be funny when he’s not.
His consistent display of faulty judgement is just one of the reasons we should feel "uncomfortable" with the idea of Al Franken as Minnesota’s senator.
* (I highly recommend this article to people who want to know more about our potential first lady. Read it at http://www.newsweek.com/id/142650/page/1
Monday, September 8, 2008
Vote for Norm in Tomorrow's Primary
A lot of Republicans might feel they don't need to bother voting in tomorrow's (September 9) primary, but we should do it anyway.
The primary is mostly about deciding contested seats on the Democrat side (still another example, in my opinion, of how the Dems have problems even running their own election process), but it doesn't hurt for us to go out and show our support for Norm Coleman, Erik Paulsen, Shari May, Jennifer Loon, etc.
So, if you were thinking of skipping it, or didn't even know about it, drop by and drop in your Republican vote. Supporting our candidates never hurts.
The primary is mostly about deciding contested seats on the Democrat side (still another example, in my opinion, of how the Dems have problems even running their own election process), but it doesn't hurt for us to go out and show our support for Norm Coleman, Erik Paulsen, Shari May, Jennifer Loon, etc.
So, if you were thinking of skipping it, or didn't even know about it, drop by and drop in your Republican vote. Supporting our candidates never hurts.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Candidate Paulsen Addresses the RNC
Congrats to Erik Paulsen on his speech tonight at the RNC. Paulsen seemed very comfortable on the large, national stage. His speech was very natural; and I wasn't surprised, because he spoke of the traditional Republican values he stands for. There would be no need for him no over-rehearse because he was speaking about things he truly believes in.
After serving us well in the legislature in Minneosta, Paulsen is absolutely ready for the 3rd District seat vacated by retiring Representative Ramstad.
After serving us well in the legislature in Minneosta, Paulsen is absolutely ready for the 3rd District seat vacated by retiring Representative Ramstad.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
On Sarah, Short and Sweet
On television, I saw women with tears in their eyes and rolling down their cheeks after watching Governor Palin speak. I was one of those women.
Women have been waiting for centuries to see a woman rise to this level of power with a baby on her hip. Geraldine Ferraro wasn't that woman. Hillary Clinton wasn't that woman.
Tonight, Sarah Palin was that woman.
Women have been waiting for centuries to see a woman rise to this level of power with a baby on her hip. Geraldine Ferraro wasn't that woman. Hillary Clinton wasn't that woman.
Tonight, Sarah Palin was that woman.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
IT'S NONE OF OUR BUSINESS!!!
I was disgusted when I turned on the morning news shows today only to see that Governor Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy was the top news story of the day, even overshadowing the damage caused by hurricane Gustav.
Reporters are asking the McCain camp and pundits are opining about how this reflects on abstinence-only sex education. Their questions and speculations are disgusting and inappropriate.
How in the world do these people, who don’t know Sarah Palin or her family, presume to know what kind of sex education her daughter, Bristol, has had during her lifetime? How dare they try to use this young girl, who is clearly going through enough already, to push some kind of agenda about sex education?
This young woman is five months pregnant. She has probably had to endure first the realization to herself that she is pregnant, had to notify the father, and their parents. She is a senior in high school, and everybody at school has probably known for a while that the governor’s daughter is pregnant. That would be enough stress for any young woman.
Then her mom is chosen to be the vice presidential running mate for John McCain. Maybe she has dreaded the moment her pregnancy would hit the national news, maybe she is secure enough in the circle of love of her family that she is either insulated from it or no longer cares who knows about it because she has grown to love her baby and is proud to bring it to life. No one but she and her family know how she is feeling.
That is as it should be.
I can’t finish this blog without talking about the accusations that because Sarah Palin’s daughter is pregnant Sarah is a bad mother.
There is a list of things you don’t want to happen to your child. The biggies are: not graduate high school, do drugs, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, get arrested, get pregnant or get someone pregnant. When one of those things happens, you have to deal with your own private feelings of failure. Can you imagine the entire country weighing in on your parental qualifications under such circumstances?
The only people who should be judging Sarah Palin or her daughter are: people who were never pregnant or never got someone pregnant out of wedlock; people with grown children who can prove those children were never personally involved in an out-of-wedlock pregnancy; and people who have never had or will never have children.
Speaking of children, what happened to them being off limits in politics? Chelsea Clinton remained nearly untouched through the entire Clinton administration, including the campaigns. Even Obama rightly says Palin's children should be a non-issue.
If only the media would stop talking about it and move on. It’s none of our concern. Bristol Palin’s pregnancy makes absolutely no difference as to Palin’s qualifications for Vice President. That’s all that matters.
Reporters are asking the McCain camp and pundits are opining about how this reflects on abstinence-only sex education. Their questions and speculations are disgusting and inappropriate.
How in the world do these people, who don’t know Sarah Palin or her family, presume to know what kind of sex education her daughter, Bristol, has had during her lifetime? How dare they try to use this young girl, who is clearly going through enough already, to push some kind of agenda about sex education?
This young woman is five months pregnant. She has probably had to endure first the realization to herself that she is pregnant, had to notify the father, and their parents. She is a senior in high school, and everybody at school has probably known for a while that the governor’s daughter is pregnant. That would be enough stress for any young woman.
Then her mom is chosen to be the vice presidential running mate for John McCain. Maybe she has dreaded the moment her pregnancy would hit the national news, maybe she is secure enough in the circle of love of her family that she is either insulated from it or no longer cares who knows about it because she has grown to love her baby and is proud to bring it to life. No one but she and her family know how she is feeling.
That is as it should be.
I can’t finish this blog without talking about the accusations that because Sarah Palin’s daughter is pregnant Sarah is a bad mother.
There is a list of things you don’t want to happen to your child. The biggies are: not graduate high school, do drugs, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, get arrested, get pregnant or get someone pregnant. When one of those things happens, you have to deal with your own private feelings of failure. Can you imagine the entire country weighing in on your parental qualifications under such circumstances?
The only people who should be judging Sarah Palin or her daughter are: people who were never pregnant or never got someone pregnant out of wedlock; people with grown children who can prove those children were never personally involved in an out-of-wedlock pregnancy; and people who have never had or will never have children.
Speaking of children, what happened to them being off limits in politics? Chelsea Clinton remained nearly untouched through the entire Clinton administration, including the campaigns. Even Obama rightly says Palin's children should be a non-issue.
If only the media would stop talking about it and move on. It’s none of our concern. Bristol Palin’s pregnancy makes absolutely no difference as to Palin’s qualifications for Vice President. That’s all that matters.
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