Guide to Politics

Okay, I found the video that I mistakenly deleted. Helpful tips as we chug towards November 2!!

Paolo Nutini - last request

Okay...I am posting this because I was cruising around the furniture section of HomeGoods (my spiritual "happy place") when this song came over the loudspeakers. I literally sat down in a (very comfortable, reasonably priced) chair, closed my eyes, and put my head back to soak it up. I eventually opened my eyes, to see many other mom/wives, sitting all around me in a little soul circle, carts askew in the aisle, doing the same thing. Well...not really, but doesn't it sound good? Very "Message in a Bottle/The Police." Anyhow, take a few minutes to enjoy this - I am definitely going to sing this at karoake.

Christine O'Donnell...witch candidate will win Delaware?

Firstly, I have deleted my latest youtube triumph from the internet by accident, so hope you caught it before it's very limited engagement.  Another coming soon...
In terms of November, I am hoping Christine O"Donnell will win.  She is inexperienced, but so is the President, and I feel like his election opened the door to newcomers stepping into politics.  She needs to fight back against people who are painting her as crazy, or witchy, and show what exactly she is made of.  I do think she has a good sense of humor.
Delaware's a crazy little state, and Christine would be good for them.  I'm just sayin'...

Tea Party Conundrum - Helping or Hurting?

With big primary wins on Tuesday, the Tea Party is indeed a force to be reckoned with.  Are they good for the country, or will they ultimately hurt the battle against Obama's presidential agenda items that some of us are interested in waging?

My concern wth the Tea Party is that you get a lot of politically naive, largely un-vetted, sometimes radical candidates who are coasting a wave in reaction to the governed's fear of all the changes Obama is proposing - not to mention the current economy, which is hurting most people in some way, large or small. (Another casualty of Obama's ambitious, tunnel-visioned agenda - we are going to get a reactive government in the short-term, if Tea Party candidates are successful.) You must have a fundamental understanding of government to participate in it effectively, or before you know it your term is over and you have gotten nothing done.  That's the harsh reality of the way it works.

That said, it is exciting to live in a country that is bigger than it's leader.  The Tea Party is made up of Amercans who are brave enough to step forward, inexperience and all, and be counted.  They are willing to suffer the scrutiny (mostly cruel) of current mainstream media, and they are willing to put their own lives on hold.  And love her or hate her, Sarah Palin has proven what a quick study an interested person can be.  She may not be presidential material, but boy has she learned the ropes.

The Tea Party may siphon off votes from the GOP candidates, and hand the Democrats their retention of the house and senate.  In the balance, though, is it worth it?  I am going to say yes, because even the Democrats are learning to respect the voice of the people.  All you hear is crickets when it comes to national (socialized) healthcare on the stump - just months ago their prizefight.  As long as the people are heard and represented, America churns on.

America's Got Talent 2010 - Audition 3 - Prince Poppycock

I really do love this guy, and I don't know why!  He's an amazing singer, and so original...and I love the clothes.  Reminds me of Liberace, Queen, Elton John, maybe??

Whew, That Was A Long Break!

Hello, blogosphere...it's good to be back after a lazy summer.  Had to crack my knuckles before I began typing; hands starting to atrophy from dis-use.  (Is that a word??)

Okay, so first the political stuff.  I am actually starting to feel bad for Obama.  Why did no one close to him advise him about just how hard this job was going to be?  He clearly did not know.  He's a nice man with many, many talents - but this is not the job for him.  No one told him to start with the economy, which everyone needs, and not socialized medicine, which only a handful wanted?  The man is just ill-prepared, not evil.   He's young, and had the Democrats left him to season for a few terms, instead of putting all their hopes on him, who knows how good he could have been in the future.  What was so wrong with Hillary, for Heaven's sake?

Speaking of Hillary, she had a great idea today: the press should not go near the Quran-burning Gainesville fool on 9-11.  Before 24-hour media, this man would have been an idiot in front of a fire, with about 10 people watching, feeling guilty like they should.  Because of the media, he has a bully pulpit and is possibly threatening our troops with his insanity.  Hills has it all goin' on in the idea department, (although I didn't care for her rehearsal dinner dress, to be honest.)
We are America; it's our job to be better.

Talk to you soon!

Caution: Mom explains the 4th of July

Here's my first Youtube effort; enjoy and Happy 4th of July!!

Sunset Beach Cape May Point, New Jersey

Perhaps the best into the person to tell you about the wonders of the Jersey shore is not a New Jersey resident but instead someone who travels miles to get to the shores of Jersey.  Yep, that's me; every year I cram all my beach gear, my husband, kids, and myself into the car to drive to the best place on earth: Cape May Point, NJ.  I'm not making the drive this year because I'm afraid of catching "HPT" - High Property Taxes - in the way one might catch the flu. I used to tell the kids that the protrusion in the water was a magical rock, but now that they're older and two of them are 21 or over, I say it's a bar.  They haven't swum over yet, so I am assured that there are no alcohol problems with these young men.  Thanks, Jersey...for the best place in the world in the summertime.  Bar none.

Missing Boy

Ask any parent - the horror over all horrors is a missing child. Imagine not knowing where - and how - your child is, day after day, wich stretches into month after month?

When I was growing up in Maryland, there was the story of two missing siblings, abducted from a mall and never found. Now, I am following the case of the little boy from Oregon, whose father, looking tirelessly for his son and cooperating fully with investigators, just separated from his step-mother, and has taken his eigtheen-month old sibling with him. Sad. Where are you, little boy?

It serves as a harsh reminder that when I am at the amusement park, at a mall, anywhere with my youngest son (the older two are grown) you can never be too watchful. Restrooms ar potentially unsafe, and so is that stranger pulling over to ask for directions.

Please God, let this family know, finally, what has happened to this little boy and if possible, bring him home.

D.

Obama and McChrystal

Whew, it's been a long tme since I've blogged! We have moved into a new home, and settling in takes all my energy.

Some thoughts about the Prez's decision on the loose-lipped General and his firing: I think he did the right thing, and I loved the statement post-meeting yesterday. However, the reasons I agree with it are less than encouraging; Obama has so much that is going poorly right now, if he doesn't show some leadership, he could be doomed. This, with McChyrstal, was his chance, and he pulled the trigger. He has the oil spill, doctors dropping out of Medicare, the economy, and world-wide tensions on his plate, and nothing seems to be going right. His speeches are more and more hollow, and that is his strongest skill - soaring rhetoric.

So, he did the right thing. Now, on to un-packing another box.

The pictures of the wildlife being killed, harmed, or forever changed due to the oil slick are making most of us just heartsick.  The reaction of most people to not only the wildlife but the people of the gulf coast, and what they have been through, is spontaneous, immediate, and sincere.

Why has the President, as a man and a human being, not had that reaction?  Why does it take polls and public outrage to get him to care?  This troubles me almost more than anything else about him - just as many were troubled by Bush not going directly to aftermath of Katrina.  Obama, however, has the advantage of learning from his predecessor's mistakes, and still it takes pressure and polls to get him out there.  I'm sure he thinks back to the healthcare debates as the good ol' days.

Mr. President, get a hotel room at the gulf and stay awhile.  Pull an over-nighter.  And change the pressed white shirt for a workshirt, for Pete's sake.