As we are leaving the first quarter of this Presidential Election season, I decided to ask myself who would be my perfect candidate. What issues are really important to me?
Would it ever be possible to have a person agree on all the things I agree on, would a candidate ever step up and do something just because they believed in it and not because it would be really popular or improve their ratings.
In some ways I do believe that George Bush did that with the Iraq war. He and some of his closest advisers decided that a war with Iraq was the bet thing for America and America’s interest abroad. In turn, they made the nation swallow it and pay for it. In some ways, I guess what they did should be respected. They stepped out on their own, against the will of the American people, and did what they thought was the right thing to do. Too bad we are now paying for that decision with the lives of 4000 Americans, trillions of US dollars in debt, and a weak economy that may take years to repair. Those are just the major consequences; and there are so many secondary consequences as a result of the Iraq war that I am going to ignore them for now.
What got me thinking about this whole question of the perfect candidate is the current NAFTA debate running between the Clinton and Obama. Could you really as a candidate take a hard line on a position like free trade and then stand by that commitment once you get to the general election. Or what about more controversial issues, the most controversial issues tend be issues that affect our social lives. The republicans have managed to do that really well—take hard firm stances on issues during the election season even at the risk of alienating voters. For instance, I could never ever vote for a republican because of the party’s stand on hand guns, abortion, gay marriage, evolution, and lapel pins. It is sometimes crazy to me how they shroud these decisions in religious reasoning.
In addition to all the other major topics on foreign policy, healthcare, border security, et al, my candidate would also take a firm stance on some issues that may slightly controversial, but in my opinion a good step forward. So, I guess my ideal candidate would take a page from the republicans and really stand firm on some social issues. First, my candidate would take the new Ron Paul approach; getting the government out of my bed room and my weekend. The only problem with Ron Paul’s approach is that his libertarian approach did not apply to a woman’s right to choose. Funny! I guess that is why he is a republican. My candidate would support gay rights and gay marriage. My ideal candidate would get the government out of a woman’s right to choose. I don’t think that this even needs to be a discussion in the 21st century.
My candidate would have to get the guns. This doesn't mean that people can't hunt or certain person wouldn't have the right to bear arms. But the right to bear arms would be necessity. For instance, I have no problem with people hunting with single shot rifles, but no way would you ever have the right to hunt with a semi automatic. Second, no hand guns on the street at all. You are more safe without them. Further, gun collectors would have to take out all firing pins, if you are really just a collector they do not need to be working t all times. I would also like my candidate to take a firmer position on environmental standards--go after pollution and get the cars. As a car afficiando this is hard for me to say, but I want to breathe in cities without my snot turning black.
Further, my ideal candidate would get GOD and religion out of all conversations dealing with the government. I mean honestly, I want people to stop hiding their racism, homophobia, xenophobia and fear behind the veil of the church. I am believer in God and I grew up in the Church, but I am stronger believer in the separation of church and state. Our forefathers were religious people, that strong belief is probably one of the only ways they could have forged a new nation against a mighty empire; however, they also knew the evil and danger that lurked if religion hand to much power in the decisions of the government.
Lastly, I wish everyone would stop wearing an American flag lapel pin as if it is some secret entry into an all boys club that you were never a part of growing up. If you want to wear a lapel pin go the Olympics in Beijing and collect them all. Honestly, only dorks wear lapel pins. The same dorks who wear buttons on the collar of their shirt with a tie. Come on, I hope the next president brings some style back in the White House. Just say NO to lapel pins.
I wonder if Bill Buckley ever wore a lapel pin. He will be missed.
You have to love the US for mere fact that I, we, can have this kind of conversation with out fear. How fun. How significant. How poignant.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Do you ever miss that feeling of accomplishment ?
Do you ever miss that feeling of accomplishment? I have been out of school for four years now, and I miss that feeling of accomplishment that I use to feel when a semester was over, or when I did well on a final exam or when I really put my all into a project or competition and I was rewarded and congratulated by my peers.
Now, that I am working I don’t get that feeling as much or as often as I did when I was a kid. My work is very satisfying, but day and day out it is mostly the same. Plus, I hate putting so much stress on my accomplishments at work, because I want my life to be more than just my career. But it is hard, how do you fit in other things where you feel as though you have accomplished something and feel pride in your efforts when you work 60 hour weeks?
Sometimes I give myself a big pat on the back if I make it to the gym three times a week. But really, I want to consider going to the gym a part of my job as a person. I have responsibility to keep fit and try and to stay as healthy as possible. So I am trying to down play my efforts at the gym and really just look at it as something as important as showing up to work on time. However, about two years ago I decided to train for a 5K run and that was awesome. I had never run in an organized race before and I was so proud of myself for finishing and really accomplishing something. That was a great day. Recently, I have started to look at skiing in a new light and I have got quite into this winter sport. I am taking a four day ski trip to the Alps in two weeks, and for the first time, I am really looking forward to four days of skiing. I think I will feel a great deal of accomplishment if I can get to the point where I can keep up with my friends who have been skiing since they were 3 years old. However, that summit in a long way off.
But this weekend I did something that I forgot gave me such a great deal of accomplishment and satisfaction, which we all need. I did some work around the house. I love watching all the DIY shows on TV especially when I am on vacation and just relaxing at home. I love seeing the transformations and also the great ideas that people put forth that are both creative and inexpensive. So this weekend, my boyfriend and I decided to put some work into our apartment. I really wanted to move us away from living like college students, to having a more adult like apartment. A space that was both comfortable, and stylish. What we had was that kind of lazy comfortable apartment. But not any more, it is way cool now. I love sitting in my living room now. With a little effort over the weekend, I think we transformed our place.
First, we painted the kitchen which has made a drastic improvement. Then we also changed the light fixture in the kitchen, was not as hard as I imagined and now our kitchen looks stylishly retro. We also have hung some curtains in the bed room and bought some other curtains for the living room that are going to look fantastic with the accent wall that we plan on painting sometime this week. I have always dreamed of an accent wall. So the thought of having one in my apartment is so exciting. I always thought that I would have to wait to get my own place before I invested in such changes. But then about two weeks ago, I thought to myself, why should I wait? Why should I continue to look at these great shows on DIY and not actually put any of it into practice?
I can honestly say that doing DIY around my apartment was so completely satisfying. It is not that often that I get to paint my kitchen or do something really constructive around the house with my boyfriend. My old attitude was why would I put effort into painting my apartment. I am renting, I pay to live there, and they don’t pay me to make upgrades? But then I decided to toss that old thinking out the window and I decided to accomplish something that I have wanted to do for a long time. It felt really good to walk into my kitchen this morning and see how great it looks.
I couldn’t have accomplished any of it without my boyfriend because, as I discovered this weekend, painting our kitchen was a lot of work and he has much more patience for it than I do. I am so glad he felt up to the task because it wouldn’t look as good as it does now.
So, as I walk around my apartment this weekend, I can look around and see what I accomplished. I love having that feeling back. Let’s see what next week has in store.
Now, that I am working I don’t get that feeling as much or as often as I did when I was a kid. My work is very satisfying, but day and day out it is mostly the same. Plus, I hate putting so much stress on my accomplishments at work, because I want my life to be more than just my career. But it is hard, how do you fit in other things where you feel as though you have accomplished something and feel pride in your efforts when you work 60 hour weeks?
Sometimes I give myself a big pat on the back if I make it to the gym three times a week. But really, I want to consider going to the gym a part of my job as a person. I have responsibility to keep fit and try and to stay as healthy as possible. So I am trying to down play my efforts at the gym and really just look at it as something as important as showing up to work on time. However, about two years ago I decided to train for a 5K run and that was awesome. I had never run in an organized race before and I was so proud of myself for finishing and really accomplishing something. That was a great day. Recently, I have started to look at skiing in a new light and I have got quite into this winter sport. I am taking a four day ski trip to the Alps in two weeks, and for the first time, I am really looking forward to four days of skiing. I think I will feel a great deal of accomplishment if I can get to the point where I can keep up with my friends who have been skiing since they were 3 years old. However, that summit in a long way off.
But this weekend I did something that I forgot gave me such a great deal of accomplishment and satisfaction, which we all need. I did some work around the house. I love watching all the DIY shows on TV especially when I am on vacation and just relaxing at home. I love seeing the transformations and also the great ideas that people put forth that are both creative and inexpensive. So this weekend, my boyfriend and I decided to put some work into our apartment. I really wanted to move us away from living like college students, to having a more adult like apartment. A space that was both comfortable, and stylish. What we had was that kind of lazy comfortable apartment. But not any more, it is way cool now. I love sitting in my living room now. With a little effort over the weekend, I think we transformed our place.
First, we painted the kitchen which has made a drastic improvement. Then we also changed the light fixture in the kitchen, was not as hard as I imagined and now our kitchen looks stylishly retro. We also have hung some curtains in the bed room and bought some other curtains for the living room that are going to look fantastic with the accent wall that we plan on painting sometime this week. I have always dreamed of an accent wall. So the thought of having one in my apartment is so exciting. I always thought that I would have to wait to get my own place before I invested in such changes. But then about two weeks ago, I thought to myself, why should I wait? Why should I continue to look at these great shows on DIY and not actually put any of it into practice?
I can honestly say that doing DIY around my apartment was so completely satisfying. It is not that often that I get to paint my kitchen or do something really constructive around the house with my boyfriend. My old attitude was why would I put effort into painting my apartment. I am renting, I pay to live there, and they don’t pay me to make upgrades? But then I decided to toss that old thinking out the window and I decided to accomplish something that I have wanted to do for a long time. It felt really good to walk into my kitchen this morning and see how great it looks.
I couldn’t have accomplished any of it without my boyfriend because, as I discovered this weekend, painting our kitchen was a lot of work and he has much more patience for it than I do. I am so glad he felt up to the task because it wouldn’t look as good as it does now.
So, as I walk around my apartment this weekend, I can look around and see what I accomplished. I love having that feeling back. Let’s see what next week has in store.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Why do some Politicians thinks we are stupid?
I am reacting to a picture of Hillary Clinton standing in Florida with some of her supporters proclaiming victory in the Florida Primary. I mean, really, with one week to go until Feb. 5, I am sure she has enough real campaigning to do in states where delegates are actually at stake, then to pretend that she won anything in Florida.
Does she really think that the American people are so stupid. I know she didn't "win" Florida. I listen to CNN, and I read Fox News. They have all told me that there were no delegates at stake in Florida. So why is she standing there with this great big grin on her face like she did something. She didn't do anything. Get back to work HC there is real campaigning to do. You better be careful before Obama creeps up on you in California.
I am sorry that my first post is about HC but I couldn't hold back. I have a really good friend of mine whom I value, love and respect very much. But if there was ever one thing that we could not ever agree on, that is HC. That is until recently, I am beginning to severely dislike HC. Which is kind of strange, because last year I never would have though that I could feel this way. But there is nothing more unattractive than a desperate woman and that is what she looks like now. Desperate.
I know she will be fine if she doesn't win, but I don't know how much better the United States of America will be if she does win. These are crucial times, things are not that great at home, and she is so divisive. Even is she does win, we might as well prepare ourselves for the Ken Starr Movie the sequel. I know he and his friends are just salivating at the thought of having someone as divisive as HC in the WH. It would be funny if it weren't so tragic.
HC likes to talk about how much experience she has gained over the last 35 years. She also has started talking about how great the 1990's were. Are you kidding me. In my home town of Washington, DC, we got the unfortunate honor of labeled as the murder capital. I mean really, come on, no one needs to be talking about how great the 90's were. Isn't that something that old people do, reminisce about the good 'ole days, because they know that there is nothing they can do for the future. When I was in school, some days people didn't show up because they got shot. I am in no way saying that this was a result of the Clinton's or that BC didn't do his best to reduce crime across America. But what I am saying is that the early and mid 90's were not so great.
Plus, I clearly remember that in the late 1990's there was one job that HC couldn't keep and she was replaced by an infamous woman wearing a blue dress. ( I won't mention any one's name, but just Google "blue dress" and see what you find out.)
So, HC, were are not so stupid, so stop treating us like we are. You need to step up your game and stop pretending that you are Newt Gingrich (another flashback from the 90's) you are not that desperate. You are the last person I would have expected to start spreading lies about your opponents on the campaign trail after all the stuff that you and BC went through at the hands of the Republicans. Come one you don't have to bring down Obama to win, talk about what you want to do if you win the WH and stay focused. Let the American people decide, treat us as equals and you might get my respect back.
Even if you switch your game now, you lost my vote already. Sorry HC but I also remember Whitewater, Rose Law Firm, and the Board of Walmart. Come on, what makes me think that you are going to change America for the better, when for so long you might have been part of the problem. (a small part, but nothing in comparison to Cheney and Haliburton).
You know how much Americans love some new stuff; we have to get our hands on the latest, greatest, next best thing--and that just ain't you.
Does she really think that the American people are so stupid. I know she didn't "win" Florida. I listen to CNN, and I read Fox News. They have all told me that there were no delegates at stake in Florida. So why is she standing there with this great big grin on her face like she did something. She didn't do anything. Get back to work HC there is real campaigning to do. You better be careful before Obama creeps up on you in California.
I am sorry that my first post is about HC but I couldn't hold back. I have a really good friend of mine whom I value, love and respect very much. But if there was ever one thing that we could not ever agree on, that is HC. That is until recently, I am beginning to severely dislike HC. Which is kind of strange, because last year I never would have though that I could feel this way. But there is nothing more unattractive than a desperate woman and that is what she looks like now. Desperate.
I know she will be fine if she doesn't win, but I don't know how much better the United States of America will be if she does win. These are crucial times, things are not that great at home, and she is so divisive. Even is she does win, we might as well prepare ourselves for the Ken Starr Movie the sequel. I know he and his friends are just salivating at the thought of having someone as divisive as HC in the WH. It would be funny if it weren't so tragic.
HC likes to talk about how much experience she has gained over the last 35 years. She also has started talking about how great the 1990's were. Are you kidding me. In my home town of Washington, DC, we got the unfortunate honor of labeled as the murder capital. I mean really, come on, no one needs to be talking about how great the 90's were. Isn't that something that old people do, reminisce about the good 'ole days, because they know that there is nothing they can do for the future. When I was in school, some days people didn't show up because they got shot. I am in no way saying that this was a result of the Clinton's or that BC didn't do his best to reduce crime across America. But what I am saying is that the early and mid 90's were not so great.
Plus, I clearly remember that in the late 1990's there was one job that HC couldn't keep and she was replaced by an infamous woman wearing a blue dress. ( I won't mention any one's name, but just Google "blue dress" and see what you find out.)
So, HC, were are not so stupid, so stop treating us like we are. You need to step up your game and stop pretending that you are Newt Gingrich (another flashback from the 90's) you are not that desperate. You are the last person I would have expected to start spreading lies about your opponents on the campaign trail after all the stuff that you and BC went through at the hands of the Republicans. Come one you don't have to bring down Obama to win, talk about what you want to do if you win the WH and stay focused. Let the American people decide, treat us as equals and you might get my respect back.
Even if you switch your game now, you lost my vote already. Sorry HC but I also remember Whitewater, Rose Law Firm, and the Board of Walmart. Come on, what makes me think that you are going to change America for the better, when for so long you might have been part of the problem. (a small part, but nothing in comparison to Cheney and Haliburton).
You know how much Americans love some new stuff; we have to get our hands on the latest, greatest, next best thing--and that just ain't you.
Welcome
Thanks for visiting my blog and welcome to the anderson elevator. The purpose of this blog is to talk about things that will enrich, enlighten, and encourage you to think about some different things that may elevate your thoughts about the world we live it. Some days I will write about current events that strike me as absurd, funny, important, or just plain easy to talk about. Other times this blog may become a bit less serious and I may write about music, clothing, electronics or books that peak my interest. My purpose is to sometimes make you laugh and other times to make you shake your head and keep the conversation going in the different circles of life that you may encounter that day. I will try to write as often as I can and welcome all comments and feedback. Again, thanks for visiting my blog and I hope we can "talk about some stuff" together.
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