A Voice of Hope

An Open Thank You Note to Congress

Dear Congress,

Gee, thanks for passing the bill that will kill small business and employer-offered health insurance - forcing a single-payer system on us all - implode our national budget and effectively bankrupt the US -- not to mention send unemployment through the roof thus extending this economic depression for decades to come.

Oh, don't worry, though. It won't happen overnight - so the majority of the public won't have any idea that it was your Progressive agenda that destroyed our country.

No, it will die a very slow, and painful death, which gives plenty of time for you to distract most with all your smoke and mirrors. And by the time it's done I'm sure you'll have found a way to blame it all on George W. Bush.

I, however, will remember you, and will do everything I can to make sure history remembers it was ultimately YOUR fault (not Bush's) that our nation crashed and burned.

Sincerely,

Lu - An Average American just trying to make a living

PS - Marsha Blackburn, you're my hero. Jim Cooper, you, sir, are on my Epic Fail list.

An Historic Night

Whatever you may think about the candidates in this year's election; whatever you may think of the politics of the parties involved, you cannot deny this is an historic night!

The country once divided over slavery of another race has now elected as president a man from that same once-enslaved race. A country who lost a great president because of his determination to not only end slavery but keep the United States united has now elected as president a man for whom that great president so long ago died fighting to restore freedom and liberty.

Lincoln would be proud of that.

I have so often been troubled by the divisiveness that can arise between people simply because of one's skin color. I spent most of my early childhood completely colorblind. I had no idea that my best friend in kindergarten was "black" and I was not. I just knew I loved hanging out with her. Nor did I realize that one of my closest friends in jr high was Latina and I was not.... No idea. Yeah, I can be a little...blind at times. :)  Until my sister received a big beat down by some girls from who school who did not like the color of our skin; who felt we owed them.... something... because we are white -- did it ever dawn on me that color matters to some people.

I hate that. I hate that there are those in this world who look down on others with a different color of skin, different ethnicity, different... whatever. I hate it.

I always thought that the goal of uniting in diversity was to not notice another's skin color; to be colorblind. But this last year I've come to realize that it's not about not noticing our skin color/ethnicity, it's about celebrating the differences that strengthen us as a whole.

Nicole C. Mullins said at the Women of Faith conference in September, "it's okay to notice someone's color. Just don't stop there." It was good to hear that from a woman "of color." Sometimes we need those who are different from us to acknowledge those differences and give us permission to do the same before we can relax and see beyond them.

I disagree with our new President-elect on nearly every issue and ideal he articulated during this past election season. I'm a die-hard libertarian/Austrian School of economics gal, so a Progressive agenda just doesn't sit right with me. Individual liberty trumps collectivism almost every time in my book.

So in that respect I struggled tonight; I struggled to be happy or excited for our country. Rather, I worry for her.

Yet, at the same time, I am deeply proud of my country. Deeply proud. What happened today is historic, and that deserves to be celebrated.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: 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. -- The Declaration of Independence

No king succeeds with a big army alone,
      no warrior wins by brute strength.
   Horsepower is not the answer;
      no one gets by on muscle alone.

Watch this: God's eye is on those who respect him,
      the ones who are looking for his love.
   He's ready to come to their rescue in bad times;
      in lean times he keeps body and soul together.

I'm depending on God;
      he's everything I need.
   What's more, my heart brims with joy (!!)
      since I've taken for my own his holy name.
   Love us, God, with all you've got—
      that's what we're depending on. -- Psalm 33:16-22 (The Message)

So This is How Liberty Dies

With cheers and thunderous applause. (Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith)

At 1:21 p.m., applause and cheers echoed through the House chamber as the number of “aye” votes crossed the threshold needed for passage with just seconds remaining in the official 15-minute voting period. -- NYTimes.com Oct 3, 2008

Apology

In a recent post I called a few radio/television personalities a bad name, not to mention cussed a few times throughout the post. Not so good. I was very angry, and unfortunately, when I get that angry, my swearing can make a sailor blush. I'm sorry ya'll had to endure that crap in print. I've since edited that stuff out of the post.

I've had this problem since high school. I learned a slew of cuss words during those years and reveled in my freedom to use them as profusely as I desired while at school, and ability to use them so very creatively. Of course, I ultimately ran into problems keeping the cuss words at school; and a few times probably came very close to having my mouth washed out with soap by one or both of my parents, who were witness to at least some of my slip-ups.

As a writer's assistant I not only heard the most creative uses of the f-word I've ever heard in my life, but also had to type it (and other very creatively used cuss words) repeatedly in script after script. That seemed to embed those lovely words deep into my memory; that place in my mind that seems, sadly, to be the only one accessible when my anger flares. I seriously struggle to find intelligent words to use when I get that outraged.

I've also discovered recently how deep that rage runs. It's a long story, one I do intend to tell at least part of at some point here, but for now I think it's enough to say that the rage is there, and it runs deep, and for some very good, but up till now unresolved (unacknowledged, even!) reasons. Tonight, driving to my polling place, and then on to the grocery store and home, I found myself beating my steering wheel in angry frustration as I listened to these different radio/television personalities. I normally reserve that kind of screaming anger for  inanimate objects, such as Firefox's annoyingly quirky/bizarre behavior, not for people. But again, sadly, not tonight.

At any rate, my anger got away from me, and so did my fingers. I'm sorry. Especially if I offended any of my regular and wonderful readers.

Now That's What I'm Talkin' About!

Rock! On!

Open Letter to Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck

Excuse me for a moment while I get something off my chest.

My vote today for Mike Huckabee was NOT, I repeat, NOT for John McCain. If I had wanted to vote for McCain (which I most certainly do NOT), I would have voted for McCain. If I'd wanted to vote AGAINST Mitt Romney, I would have voted for John McCain. Whom I WANTED to vote for, and whom I WANT to win the nomination, is MIKE HUCKABEE. Please, all you biased pissed-off, cranky "conservative" radio talk show hosts -- yes, that means you, Sean Hannity, and you, Glenn Beck, and you Rush Limbaugh. Stop complaining that I'm not voting for YOUR candidate. Stop whining that he's NOT in the lead. And stop BLAMING MY candidate for HIS short-comings. It is not Huckabee's fault that McCain is crooked. It is not Huckabee's fault that Romney can't convince people he's not a slim-ball. So STOP blaming HIM because your boy isn't in the lead!

I am so angry right now I can hardly type -- can you tell? All those caps... I rarely do such nonsense, but I've just spent over an hour being scolded by these people that I usually agree with but who right now are being complete jerks and blaming ME and MY candidate for THEIR candidate's 2nd place problems, and vilifying John McCain while at the same time turning a complete blind eye to the fact that their Chosen One is just as slimy, just as dishonest, and just as arrogant as the man they are vilifying. I am under attack and from MY OWN PARTY, from people I usually agree with and like! And that makes me very, very angry.

Look, I know about West Virginia. But it's not my fault, nor is it Huckabee's fault, that McCain decided to be underhanded to keep his closest opponent from winning another state. And I know Huckabee has lied and misrepresented himself.

But let me ask you a serious question: Which one of these guys HASN'T lied? I'll tell you one: Ron Paul. He is the ONLY candidate that I know of that hasn't lied in this whole process. And look where that got him: he's running in a very distant 4th. And what about you? Have you ever lied? Even to your boss, perhaps? But the real question is, are you arrogant? Are you condescending to your peers? Do you treat those around you, those from whom you desire favor, with disdain? Because that is how McCain and Romney have behaved for months now; really, since this candidate process began. But I digress...

Here's the thing. The American voting system was originally designed for the American people to vote for the candidate they thought was the best person for the job of president. But it has devolved. It is no longer what the Founding Fathers envisioned it. It has devolved into a contest of who's the most elect-able against the opposing party. All I've heard in recent weeks is how this match-up between Republican and Democrat or that match-up between Republican & Democrat would play out and which side would win.

I am SO SICK of this. I am SO SICK of voting for someone ONLY because I think they can win against the "other side"; of voting for the lesser of two evils. I will NOT do it again. It has not helped me; not as a citizen and not as a person. And it has not gotten us a president that had character, that believes in America and what she stands for, for her ideals, not just their party's ideals. The last president whom I found that character trait in was Reagan.

Oh, and I know I'll get some nasty editorial comments from Volunteer Voters or NiT because I invoked the hated Reagan name (if not for the sheer "lunacy" of voting for Huckabee). But get over it. Say what you will about Reagan's policies, but one thing you cannot argue with is that, right or wrong, he believed in America and in her ideals. That was his true strength. He believed in us. And that, to me, is what matters most.

Reagan was a candidate I could vote FOR, rather than using as a vote AGAINST. Ever since, I've been voting against the other side, or against a Republican that I didn't believe was elect-able, regardless of what they stood for. And I'm sick of it.

From now on I vote my conscience, not my party -- and not against someone, or in order that "my party" wins the election. If my candidate loses, at least I've not compromised my integrity to vote for someone I don't believe in just to make sure someone else doesn't win.

Which brings us back to today, and my rage at these men to whom I've listened, and with whom I've agreed on so many issues. I'm sad and sorry that they do not have the integrity to vote for the candidate they believe in and let the delegate-chips fall where they may, but do NOT accuse me of voting for someone just so someone ELSE WON'T win. And DO NOT insist that I MUST vote for someone other than the candidate I believe in, or that MY vote FOR a candidate is really a vote for SOMEONE ELSE.

Let me give you a tip. I will never ever ever, read my lips, EVER vote for John McCain. Ever. If he wins the Republican nomination, I will write in Mike Huckabee -- or I might vote for Obama, if he is the Democratic nominee. EVEN IF Huckabee is named VP. I will NOT EVER vote for McCain.

Nor will I ever, ever, read my lips, EVER vote for Mitt Romney. Ever. If he wins the Republican nomination, I will write in Mike Huckabee -- or I might vote for Obama, if he is the Democratic nominee. EVEN IF Huckabee is named VP. I will NOT EVER vote for Romney.

And here's why. As I've watched the debates, interviews, ads, and sound bites, I have seen in both these men, McCain and Romney, an incredible arrogance and smugness that makes me sick. Both wear smug smirks that scream arrogant condescension for everyone else around them. I see in them a total lack of character, not only in their demeanor but in their actions. Forget the issues, it's ultimately character that will most impact how someone reacts/acts in the face of incredible stress. Have doubts? Take a look at how these two have conducted themselves in the last few weeks. Clawing and scratching like a couple of teenage girls in a childish cat-fight. They've all but pulled each other's hair.  You really want a president who fights like a tween girl? Character is what matters most.

I voted for Huckabee because, of all the candidates on the Republican playing field, I felt his character was the strongest. Please do not misunderstand me. I do not believe he is perfect, or flawless, or without guile or political savvy. I know he's lied to me as a voter about his tax cuts vs. tax increases. I know he's misrepresented himself. But, as I've said, I am hard-pressed to find a candidate who hasn't, except for Ron Paul. And as much as I want to like and vote for Ron Paul, I don't believe in his America-first-don't-get-involved-globally ideals. So I have to go to the next best, and to me that's Huckabee.

As I've watched him over the last five months, I've come to the conclusion that he is a candidate who takes the issues seriously and votes his conscience, isn't arrogant, doesn't look down on the rest of the candidates even if he dislikes them, and believes in America. He's not Reagan -- but sadly, I fear we've seen the last of the candidates with strong character and true American ideals. I just don't think the generations succeeding my parents' (and Reagan's) are capable of producing great Americans willing to enter the shit-throwing contest American politics has become. McCain sure isn't cut from that cloth. Nor is Romney.  Paul is, but as I've said he lacks the diplomacy a president needs. Fred is out of the race -- and truthfully I don't believe he ever wanted to be in it to begin with. At least that's the way he acted. Huckabee is the only one, from my perspective. And that's why I voted for him

I don't care if you agree with me. I don't care if you think I'm full of crap. You are entitled to your opinion, and your own vote. But do not, I repeat DO NOT tell me that I am not allowed to vote for whom I desire, whom I believe in, simply because you've lost the ability to vote for the candidate you believe in. DO NOT tell me my vote doesn't count for MY candidate just because YOU are upset that I'm not playing the political game by YOUR rules.

And don't insist to my candidate that he's lying and in it to mess up your candidate just because he refuses to cop to YOUR worldview of how the political game MUST be played.

In short, gentlemen, get over it. Stop whining. Stop crying foul. Grow some testicles and grow up. Your candidate will win or lose based upon HIS OWN MERIT, not based upon my candidate's refusal to quit, or my vote FOR MY candidate.

And now I will step off my soapbox, post this, and hide in my closet, as there is a tornadic supercell headed my way.

"The Republicans Have Eight"

Tonight's Republican YouTube Debate was good, I think. Interesting at times, crazy at others and boring in spots. Here are a few random thoughts I had. (PS the title of this post came from a song written by a YouTube-er about the CNN debates.)

• Huckabee is still my man. The more I listen to him, the more I like him. Though I admit, tonight he missed an opportunity or two and sounded rehearsed on a couple of points.

• But I loved his statement that he would eliminate the IRS, and that got a lot of applause as well. Though I admit I did cringe a little at the same time. It's an outrageous idea, scrapping the tax code and the IRS. One that I love, but at the same time cannot see ever actually happening. So do I vote for the person who's realistic and safe, and who's plans will probably succeed but not accomplish much, or for the person who's idealistic and a risk-taker and whose ideas may not succeed but if they do would accomplish a great deal of good (in my opinion)?
  

• I think some of my favorite lines of the night were also from Huckabee:
  • "In all due respect, we're a better country than to punish children for what their parents did. We're a better country than that."

• "Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office, that's what Jesus would do." (PS -- I really  liked what Huckabee said about the death penalty too -- which is what this line came from.)

• And by the way, who knows what Jesus would do... about anything, really?? I'm kinda getting sick of that question, because no one knows the mind of God, except God. And to pretend that you could know, or could discern, what He would do at every turn and for every choice is just crazy. No one knows what God would do when faced with the death penalty except God. I know, I know, the question is meant to cause us to think about what we do before we do it, but honestly. Can we please stop asking ourselves and each other "what would Jesus do?" and start asking, "Jesus, what do You want me to do?" One arrogantly assumes we can know the mind of God, the other humbly asks Jesus for clarity and direction. Huge difference.
  

• I will tell you, though, that God deals with the question of the death penalty every moment of every day. He is continually faced with the dilemma of who lives and who dies, and with what to do with those who do die and find themselves instantly before His throne. While He has made clear the path of salvation and redemption, none of us can know for certain what He does as each individual soul comes before Him for determination of where they will spend eternity. I believe His deep love for each person wrestles with His just-ness and holiness; one arguing for compassion the other arguing for justice; and that that person's decisions in life (even in the moments on the edge of death), most notably their humility, repentance, and confession of who Jesus is, play a key part in God's decision. But that decision, whatever it is, is between that person and God and not for any of us to know, or to judge (or to pretend we could discern). But I digress...
  

• Watching Mitt Romney stumble around when someone forced him off-script, and especially when asked if he believes "every word" in the Bible, was at times humorous and at other times just painful.

• McCain is just boring. His monotone alone drives me a little nuts. I can't imagine four years of that.

• One of the only two good lines McCain had all night (#2 is below) was when he stated he'd used many different guns while in the military but now he neither owns nor uses any. That last bit was almost a throw-away line, but I think it was his best -- mainly because I was rather disturbed that some of the other candidates were talking so flippantly about the guns they own. McCain's statement revealed a respect for guns as deadly weapons that, frankly, was sadly missing from most other candidates.

• Ron Paul was an OB doc? Yikes! I don't even want to imagine that...

• Fred Thompson seemed rather distracted a lot of the time, losing his train of thought, struggling for words, and occasionally rambling.

• Some of the "commercials/videos" made by the candidates completely baffled me; I didn't understand what they were about or what message, exactly, they were trying to make. Except, of course, "vote for me!"
  

• I liked Rudy's commercial the best. That was funny right there, I don't care who ya are! (text below)
  • As mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani faced unheard of challenges: runaway taxes, out of control crime, and, of course, the city's nemesis, King Kong.
    
    Yet, Rudy prevailed.  Crime down by half, taxes cut, and annual snowfall dramatically reduced.
    
    Time called Rudy person of the year. Newsweek -- the new mayor of America. And when asked, Hillary Clinton called him --[Censored!]  ...but she probably planted the question.

• A few more of my favorite lines:
  • "A nation that cannot and will not defend its own borders will not forever remain a sovereign nation." and "One of the things I would do for his generation is protect him from our generation." (Fred Thompson)
  • "... I have a few ideas, and maybe Hillary can be on the first mission [to Mars]." (Huckabee, which caused much cheering)
  • "I would hope that we would understand, my friends, that life is not "24" and Jack Bauer." (McCain)
  • "...when I was Mayor of New York City the Yankees won four World Championships.... and since I've left [office] the Yankees have won: none." (Giuliani)

• I don't understand the issue regarding gays in the military. While from a moral and spiritual aspect, I believe homosexuality is sin, I don't believe I have the right nor the responsibility to force everyone to believe as I do, or live as I believe is healthiest and best. And I don't understand why it is an issue that keeps someone from serving in the military. No one on the stage tonight, including Huckabee, adequately explained their reasoning for keeping the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in place. A policy, by the way, that I believe causes a person to live without integrity; forcing them to either pretend or at least not be open about who they are and what their motivations, intentions, and lifestyles are. I would think that integrity, authenticity and transparency would build more cohesion in a military unit than open homosexuality would tear it apart. I just don't get it. Can anyone help me with this?

If you missed the debate, you can read the transcript here. And I would encourage you to do so, especially if you're a Republican. The primaries are quickly approaching for many states and we all need to make an informed choice when we go into the voting booth.

Vote 2008

I have always taken my privilege as an American to vote very seriously. I made sure to be informed about the major issues, propositions, and candidates and not to vote for someone I didn't know anything about.

That said, I often picked my candidate based more on who the pundits said was electable,  and/or who was my party's candidate than I did based on my own serious study of the candidates themselves, their character and their personal convictions.

This election is very different for me. I am so very disappointed in President Bush. I had high hopes and expectations for him, based on the campaign he ran in 2000. He claimed he would do so many things, and accomplish so much, yet most of it has never come to pass. And many things he's pushed hard for in recent years are things with which I strongly disagree. And he's blown it over and over -- New Orleans/FEMA is a great example -- and never once owned up to the fact that he screwed up. No humility. And that's very disappointing.

For the first time ever I'm closely watching every debate and looking very closely at every candidate -- even the democrats -- to see not only who's convictions most closely mirror my own on issues I've decided are key for me at this time, but also who's character really does seem to be genuine and solid.

For a while now I've hadn't seen someone I felt I could really trust. I liked some of what some Republican candidates say, but not all of it. While some have me on a couple of issues, they lost me on many others. I want to like Ron Paul, but too often he shoots himself in the foot spouting off some radical ideas with which I don't agree. There's something about Mitt Romney I just don't  like; he smiles too much. I don't trust someone who smiles all the time (which is one of the reasons I don't trust Joel Osteen, btw). And his smile is---smarmy -- at least to me. I like Fred, but sometimes he scares me. Giuliani is okay, but not my favorite; McCain is a little too hawkish for me and Tancredo doesn't even show up on my radar. Only two candidates have consistently risen to the top of my list; Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee.

But I think I've found my candidate.  Friday evening I watched Mike Huckabee on Glen Beck -- you can read the transcript of their conversation here and I gotta tell ya, I was very impressed with him. Very impressed. I've been watching him closely anyway; he's impressed me in the debates -- especially when he held his own against Ron Paul. But Friday evening he won me over.  He clearly, concisely, and passionately but intelligently laid out his convictions and his platform and I heard much of my own heart echoed there. His stand on energy, the economy, taxes, securing our borders and national security, and even health care not only made incredible sense but closely mirrored my own opinions and convictions. We're certainly not "of one mind" on everything, but then again, can you ever find that?

Also, Huckabee's demeanor and body language was appropriate to the topics of conversation; he didn't smile too much or smirk at all. I sensed no pride or arrogance or any sense of entitlement. What I saw was a humble, passionate, rather witty man absolutely convinced of his convictions and convinced he had some answers (not all; again, humility) to America's problems and a way make America an even better nation.

For the first time in my life I am actually making a decision on a candidate not based on electability first but based first and foremost on my own convictions of what needs to be done and what is best for America. And it feels good. :) And I'm actually willing to, and considering, volunteering for the campaign -- again, for the first time -- to help get the word out about Huckabee so he will be electable. He impressed me that much. I encourage you to read the transcript of the Glen Beck show, check out his website and his stand on the issues, and decide for yourself whether this is a man of character who would a) return America to the constitution it was based upon, and b) lead America into a better future. As for me, I think I'm sold.

Real Debate, Real Value

Real debate; honest to God, true, respectful even if passionate debate is of immense value. It opens doors to deeper understanding, better communication and lasting change.

Sadly, when you watch these televised debates of candidates you usually get a lot of fake/faux debating and a lot bullshit you have to shovel through to find the one teeny-tiny diamond they pooped out during their two hours of windbagging. I experienced just such drivel when I tried to watch a recent local debate between the two run-off candidates for Nashville mayor and I tuned out after about three minutes. It was obvious that one candidate was incredibly fake and his opponent was just boring. I don't remember their names... maybe someone in town can help; the faker was the guy claiming to have made a 'pledge' to not raise property tax and goading his opponent to do the same; the opponent, the boring one, was himself obviously bored with the first guy's nagging. Neither one impressed me. Me thinks Nashville's in trouble... but I digress.

As I said, usually these debates are void of any real honest-to-God debate on a real-people level. It's all posturing and politicking. Tonight's Republican debate on Fox News Channel, however, became a whole different ballgame about half-way through. And a whole lot of fun!

Two candidates -- well, all the candidates, really but two in particular -- really got into it about Iraq and what needs to happen now. Ron Paul was passionate and forceful and so was Mike Huckabee, in his own way. ----You can tell the guy's a Southern Baptist pastor. He talks like it -- not in rhetoric, but in cadence and calm demeanor. ---Both made very good points; very good points.

I agreed and disagreed with both, and each gave me much to consider. But the thing that really got me most excited is that this is exactly the kind of debate going on in the American public. This is what we voters are tussling with, struggling with, grappling with and trying to come to some sort of conclusion about. Both men argued passionately, yet respectfully, the main points that so encompass the public and private debates happening across dinner tables, lunchroom tables, water-coolers and living rooms all over the country:  Do we admit error and miscalculation in going into Iraq and pull out or are we whining just because it's hard and ugly and nasty; do we need to just suck it up and realize this is what war is, and not the stuff we see in movies? Are we a divided country that needs to admit failure in Iraq and regroup around an exit strategy or one country that needs to unite around the decisions of leaders and stay in the fight to the finish?  Is this about humility or is it about honor?

Tonight's debate was good because, finally, at least two politicians truly entered the real debate going on in the American public. Finally, for at least a moment, there was no rehearsed speechifying, practiced disgust or feigned anger. There was only passion, conviction and debate that was real and valuable and honest. Oh my gosh how rare that is! Not even Reagan's "There you go again," can compare with the Paul/Huckabee mini-debate tonight. Would that all the debates from here on would be thus.

PS -- On top of a moment good debate, I learned a new word tonight: complementarity. I thought the guy was just making it up, as people are wont to do these days (all too often!). But it's for real. Check it out. Who knew politicians actually know what they are saying when they use big words?

Way To Go

Dear Democrats,

This is the best you could come up with, turning Iraq into the next Vietnam? What are you nuts?!?! 

Yeah, that'll work. That'll fix all the ills of a war that was a bad idea to begin with. That'll show those wascally Wepublicans (and turn-coat Democrats) who "started" the war. Instead of actually using your new majority to come up with an intelligent and wise exit plan out of Iraq, let's turn this thing into a true copy of the Vietnam war by sending lots more kids off to die in Iraq by "random" lottery. Way to turn Kerry's fake "botched joke" into actual botched reality. 'Cause, you know, the last time ya'll tried this crap the only kids going to, and dying in, Vietnam were the children of senators and congressmen. Yeah.

There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way," said Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.

This legislation better not ever see the light of the House floor, nonetheless a vote. That is, if the Democrats actually want to hold on to their majority for more than two years. America's voters just proved they don't want another Vietnam. Why on earth do the Democrats think they got the majority job in the first place???