Political BS.

Fresh.

Jeb Bush formally announced yesterday that he is actively exploring the possibility of running for President in 2016. I don’t know much about the former Florida Governor; all that I’ve seen thus far is that he’s not convinced that Global Climate Change is a thing. Honestly, to me that’s like a frog saying that he’s not convinced that the water around him is boiling, but that’s just my spin on it all.

With Mr. Bush’s announcement of actively exploring an official announcement someday, I have to admit that I find this all disheartening. I thought that the choices for both the 2008 and 2012 Presidential Elections were tepid at best; with Hillary Clinton always hinting that she may run for President in the next election, the idea that we may have a Clinton v. Bush Presidential choice in 2016 irks me.

Is this all we have left? Are there no bright up-and-comers inside the Beltway? How about outside the Beltway?

I can’t help but think that if we have a Clinton v Bush election in 2016 that voter turnout will be mediocre at best. I can’t be the only one in the United States that would find this choice too mundane, too much of the same same same. Do you know what happens when voter turnout is low? The crazy people make the decisions, because they’re too crazy to realize how crappy the choices are and they go out and vote and vote crazily. They vote on things like “who believes the Earth could be flat”, “who was there when Jesus was celebrating Christmas” and “who will make laws so the government can prevent me from burning my nether regions with coffee in the McDonalds drive thru”.

At one time I was rather worked up about the possibility of Hillary Clinton becoming President. Given the choice with what’s being bandied about right now, I’d probably vote for her, but honestly my gut says she’s been around too long and is way too entrenched in the political machine.

I know that my ideal candidate will never run, but I’d love to see some up-and-comer come in, be broad minded about social issues, be really conservative about fiscal issues and be super sane about world and national policy. My ideal candidate would the person that believes in a strong work ethic, that you earn what you get and that your life is your own business. Government would be small. Focus would be on the future, not the past, and we would double down our efforts to rebuild our country (infrastructure, etc) and then build from our rebuilt solid foundation.

I don’t think we’re going to get that with more of the same old, same old.

17 December 2014 by Political BS. 0

Politics.

Over the past week I have read a few online articles indicating that marriage equality legislation has been passed by various governments recently. This is wonderful news because it shows that things on that front are moving in a sensible direction and that even though the steps are very small, at least the steps are headed the right away.

Yay for small victories. Let’s keep up that momentum.

I have little faith in our government. I have lots of faith in the United States and her citizens, but I don’t have faith in our elected leaders. “It’s good enough” is never an acceptable answer for me, but when it comes to electing people into office you kind of have to just choose the one that seems the least evil. “He’ll be good enough, I guess.” That’s how I feel when I pull the lever color the little dot next to the name of the person I’m voting for.

I try to keep tabs on what’s going on in Washington but lately I’m finding that that sort of activity just depresses me. Usually an avid listener of POTUS 124 on Sirius/XM, I’ve stopped listening to coverage of inside the beltway for a while so I can regain my sanity.

I just found myself deleting about six paragraphs of a rant because I could feel my blood pressure rising and I’m trying not to let that happen these days. I guess I just can’t write about politics. It makes me feel too hostile. Like many of my fellow citizens, I think I’ve grown tired of blatant stupidity and ignorance. Inaction. Lack of compromise. Grandstanding. Stupid people vote for stupid people and by golly, I really think we are in the prologue of that movie called “Idiocracy”. I know ignorance is chic these days, but quite frankly, I’m proud of my 144. I pride myself on my knowledge seeking ways.

Since I’m starting to fume to the point of incoherency, I think I’ll take a nap.

25 April 2013 by Political BS. 1

180º

So a while back I was blogging about the fact that I couldn’t take anymore about politics and news, it was simply just burning me out and all of the information, commentary and rhetoric was overflowing my brain with information that I couldn’t use anymore. Inside I had decided that I was going to be one of those typical Americans that went into the polls in November 2012 and stab blindly at the ballot box that contained the name that sounded the least menacing, or if I was familiar with the candidate, was the better looking of the choices.

Now that’s not the right thing to do.

Over the past 48 hours I have done a complete 180 degree turn when it comes to politics and the news and quite frankly, I now completely give a damn, I can’t know enough about what’s going on in the U.S. and in the world and I want to be a very informed and engaged citizens when it comes to make the important choices at the polls in November (even though it’s 11 months away).

Bored with hearing Billy Joel and Elton John on 70s on 7 and/or 80s on 8 on Sirius/XM last night, I tuned into POTUS (Not red, not blue, red, white and blue, Politics of the United States for the People of the United States) and caught the last hour of “Stand Up with Pete Dominick”. Pete’s an ok guy and show host, after all he is a native of Central New York. There are times when his show sounds like a poor-man’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” but I think his schtick works 90% of the time. For a station that isn’t suppose to lean in any particular direction, Pete will admit that he leans squarely to the left in his political beliefs but he lets those that disagree with him have their say and he asks the good questions, so for the most part, I enjoy listening to his show.

Last night he had Will Cain, a political commentator frequently seen on FoxNews and LZ Granderson, a writer for ESPN who happens to be black and gay (only brought up because this was a prevalent topic in the conversation) as his guests. Like all of Pete’s shows, the format is listener participation driven. Much of the conversation had to do with what being gay or black was like in the United States and how it contributed to political campaigns.

Will Cain, who leans solidly towards the right, is a very smart man. I wish I could grab a transcript of the show because he had brilliantly worded explanations and analogies for his arguments during the conversation. His Republican-centric point of view actually made sense to me. Which is saying a lot, because the campaigns leading up to the primaries and the caucuses has been rather crazy. There is no one currently running for President that gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. Ron Paul gets into the ball park with his Libertarian ways, but I can only buy into 80% of what he offers (when he gets into the racist stuff I become very uncomfortable). I have never been a big fan of President Obama; back in 2008 when given the choice between McCain and Obama I wanted to vote for Hillary. I still think she was a stronger choice for the Democrats and I think that the country wouldn’t be in the same spot we are in today if she was to hold the office of President (though I think we’d still be in the same ball park, just not way out in outfield somewhere). I said this back in 2008 and I stand by that today. Do I respect President Obama? Absolutely. Do I think he’s been a stellar president? No. I rate him around Jimmy Carter.

The problem is that the alternatives are weak. What bugs me most about the current Republican folks trying to win the primary is the hypocrisy. Mitt Romney, who will most likely get the nomination, wants the government out of our personal affairs (unless you’re gay). Rick Perry wants to guarantee the “pursuit of happiness” as decreed by the Declaration of Independence (unless you’re gay). Michelle Bachmann is such a mess it’s hard to tell where that woman stands, but I know she said something about gas being $1.79 a gallon within three months of her taking office and her husband has more chiffon coming out of his mouth than Charles Nelson Riley (no offense to Chuck intended) so I don’t know why she is so angry towards the gays.

I feel like the choices that have been handed to us, even this early in the game, are “none of the above”. And that’s why I have to get myself educated. Voting for the next president is not a clear, cut choice for me. None of them really tailor to my Libertarian beliefs; some of them want to spend so much money that quite frankly it makes me fearful for the solvency of future generations of Americans, others want to practically give soldiers the right to “shoot to kill” as they patrol the U.S.-Mexican border and yet others want to just get rid of those pesky gays to the best of their ability.

I grew up in a Republican family with steadfast beliefs on the individual responsibility each of us to contribute to our society and to not be a burden on it. This is where my core political beliefs are fueled – small government, fiscal responsibility, respect the rights of others and contribute to the greater good.

It’s not a difficult concept. And I’m going to do my part to make sure that I know everything I can do to make sure we are headed in the right direction.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

28 December 2011 by Political BS. This Ain't No CNN. 0

Equality?

Earl and I decided that as a married couple we were going to take advantage of the medical benefits offered by his company. His health care plan is better and as we get on in age, that’s always a good thing. Once we confirmed that I was on his health care plan, I would cancel the policy I currently have at my job.

Earl went to add me to his health care plan at work this morning when he was presented with a lovely message on the web-based portal form.

I’m sorry, your married spouse must be of the opposite sex.

The general manager of three of the most profitable facilities in the entire corporation is not allowed to sign his spouse up for medical benefits on the company plan simply because he is married to a man. It seems Earl’s company will not recognize same-sex marriages (which of course, are completely legal in New York State) until the Federal Government recognizes same sex unions under the federal tax code.

Well, now there’s something to think about as you make your selections at the elections coming up over the next couple of years.

The extremist in me wants both despises the facts that we work for large corporations. I don’t enjoy the politics of working at a corporation and I certainly don’t like the “one size fits all” mentality that is handed out on a whim. The realist in me realizes that we have a really good life because we work for large corporations.

But is not being recognized equally really a good life?

Ultimately, it’s up to Earl and me to be more vocal about how we feel on these issues and to educate people. Earl has made a difference in his HR department by getting them to admit that there are gay men and lesbians working for them in the first place. I have been vocal with mine.

It looks like that Earl and I will be on my company’s insurance plan instead. It’s a decent plan but not as robust as what we would have had on Earl’s plan. All because someone, somewhere decided that love is only valid between a man and a woman.

Equality. Ain’t it grand in America.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

25 October 2011 by Political BS. Why. 4

Engaged.

I have been trying to be a responsible American citizens by paying attention to the news again, more specifically, politics. This is a cyclic thing for me, because it often results in bouts of depression and general glumness after paying attention to what’s going on in our country for a few weeks. It can be so disheartening.

That being said, I couldn’t bring myself to watch the Republican debates that took place in Nevada the other night. There is a part of me that just can’t believe that Michelle Bachmann has been able to stay around for this long, being as bat-shit crazy as she is and all that. I hear she wants to have a double walled fence along the Mexican border in a few weeks or something. Or am I mixing that up with $1.99 gas in three months? It’s hard to keep track.

I keep hoping Rick Santorum will liven up the debates by wearing a dress that matches the one his daughter and her doll wore a few years ago…

… but given his feelings on “living on the edge” I am doubtful that that would ever happen.1

I don’t know much about Herman Cain but I do know that I have never had his pizza. I don’t know that I had even heard of Godfather’s Pizza before he came along, we are in local pizzeria country where you are practically flogged (not in a good way) if you’re seen near a Little Caesars or Pizza Hut, though I enjoy both. $9.99 is cheap for pizza though, I hope his plan works out for him.

As I make my way through the entry, I do realise that I must be engaged enough in politics, probably more so than the average American because at least I knew that Rick Perry does a damn good W impersonation and Mitt Romney is from Massachusetts.

One of the things I find perplexing is that it seems WAY too early to be talking about the presidential elections that are more than a year away. By the time the actual election rolls around everyone will be so tired of these folks that voters will just color in a dot on a scanatron sheet (because that’s SO accurate) just to get the whole mess over with so we can either bitch about the returning champion or his new replacement with the pizza or the double walled fence.

God help us.

I think I’ll switch back to the 80s channel.

1 I can’t bring myself to post the more famous photo where the young girl has such a sad look on her face, because it’s such a sad look that it prompts me to cry for this country as well, albeit for differing reasons, I suppose.

20 October 2011 by Political BS. Ponderings and Musings 0

Exhibit A.


Exhibit A
Meredith Attwell Baker, Typical Government Corporate Employee.

This woman is Exhibit “A” as to what is wrong with the direction of the United States of America. This is Meredith Attwell Baker. She is one of the five commissioners on the Federal Communications Commission that approved one of the largest corporate mergers in history, the merger of Comcast and NBC.

Ms. Baker just accepted a job with Comcast as the senior vice president of government affairs. So on the taxpayers dime, she basically helped create one of the largest media conglomerates so she would have nice, cushy job to fall into.

Nah, there’s no conflict of interest there at all. None. Nada. And if there was, you’re not suppose to notice. Just keep lapping up what these big media corporations tell you and everything will be just fine.

It’s all plusgood.

12 May 2011 by Let's All Rant. Political BS. This Ain't No CNN. 0

Split?

A few weeks ago when New York voted down same-sex marriages I read several comments across blogs stating that the unfortunate turn of events was “because of Upstate”. One person lamented that “it’s really nothing more than an Alabama with snow up there”, obviously typing from their cushy office chair, cushioned from the rumble of the subway moving folks several dozen floors belows them as they sipped on their mocha-cocha-la-la-latte vente.

That comment really bugged me. And it’s still bugging me.

Now I have never been to Alabama but I believe the gross generalisation the commentor was striving for was that we are all stuck in “Deliverance” up here in Upstate New York. Apparently we are wearing straw hats as we drive around in our pickup trucks with several shotguns in the window and we are longing for the days of the commie blacklisting. Oh, and we have a lot of snow too.

One of the beautiful things about the U.S. is our diversity and while we do have people that meet this description, we also have folks up here just as cultured, prim and proper (and snotty) as the some folks downstate portray themselves to be.

Every few years someone in government tries to drum up support of splitting the City of New York and Long Island away from the rest of the state. Upstaters screech that the city wouldn’t be sucking us dry with outrageous taxes nor taking away our liberties with all of the legislation that doesn’t really apply up here and downstaters claim that they won’t have to pump all of their tax money into our roads and prisons and welfare recipients.

Now I’m going to reserve comment right now as to whether I think the five boroughs and Long Island should somehow separate from the rest of the state (though if they did, I think they should take everything below I-84 with them), but I’m curious as to what my fellow Empire Staters think.

Should New York split into two states?

18 December 2009 by Political BS. Politics. Ponderings and Musings 1

Being Sick In America.

The United States is the only country in the industrialised world without universal health coverage. The result: 47 million Americans are uninsured. If they fall ill, they can count on no one but themselves.

An important video that every American should watch.

US President Barack Obama is fighting for health-care reform that would provide health insurance for every American. But Democrats have been trying — and failing — to overhaul the system for more than 75 years.

The current system leaves 15 percent of Americans uninsured and countless more under-insured.

Perhaps surprisingly, the uninsured are not always the unemployed. Many small-business owners and employees are in charge of getting their own health insurance. They are left to deal with private insurance companies which often refuse to insure patients who have serious illnesses.

According to America’s National Academy of Sciences, 18,000 Americans die each year due to lack of health insurance.

Source: France24. Link: http://www.france24.com/en/20091002-reporters-united-states-america-health-care-reform-barack-obama-insurance

7 November 2009 by Political BS. Why. 0

Heckler.

This is an intelligent discussion on health care system? By the way, I’m referring to the heckler in the background.

I don’t believe in health care for me but I believe that everyone is entitled to health care. I haven’t paid a huge amount of attention to the debate. I need to start educating myself. If this woman is typical of what is out there and how some Americans are acting at these Town Hall meetings then I feel nothing quite a bit of embarrassment and outrage at what’s going on. Of course I realise this is an extreme. At least I hope it is.

I love my country, but our friends to the North are looking mighty inviting again.

199.365

18 August 2009 by Political BS. 2

About J.P.

Just a guy with a husband. We’ve been together 28 years and he still makes me see fireworks on a daily basis. Hiker. Storm Chaser. Private Pilot. Tech Guy. Hackerish.

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