Had Enough??? Have you???

Okay... so I've got to tell you that I'm really sick of all of the political ads. All of them! Right, Left, Middle...you name it! At the moment I'm not too enthused about this election. Yes, I know who and what I'm voting for, but after watching hours of commercials and debates and such I've decided that what I look for in a candidate is no experience whatsoever!

(Yes, I'm kidding!) I just wish there were more Dave Hellings (KC STAR), Michael Mahoneys (Channel 9 KMBC Kansas City) and that guy at KY3.COM in Springfield, Missouri to tell us who is telling the truth.

So far all I know is that some of Clair's ads are false. Some of Talent's ads are misleading. The Springfield paper says vote no on #2 and the St. Louis paper says vote yes. Everyone has an opinion and the other side is dead wrong.

The only problem with this theory is that one political party cannot be correct all of the time!
I tend to vote Republican and plan on voting that way 99.9 percent this election, save for Mike Sanders, who is the one Democrat I want to vote for this time.

I rarely vote straight ticket, but don't see much of an option this time other than Sanders. This brings me to the "Had Enough? Vote Democrat" crowd. Yes, I'm rather unhappy that this Congress hasn't done more, but the Democrats had the House and the Senate for more than 40 years and accomplished next to nothing, and yet they want to hold the Republicans to a higher standard than they were willing to reach for themselves?

Granted, the Republicans have dropped the ball....A LOT! However, if the Democrats want to go digging for scandals they'd better be sure they don't uncover some of their own...many of which might make the Foley scandal seem rather tame.

This "Had Enough" crowd is probably the same group that touted "Anybody but Bush" which if anyone seriously believed that slogan I have some land for you off the coast of Florida that I'd love to sell you. Please!!! Mistaken laden though this administration has been, you can't tell me that Bush has been worse than Carter, Ford or Fillmore for that matter!

In our country's past we have had a worse economy, worse wars and worse crime. Worse drug problems, worse etc.... and more worse etc.... (fill in the blank) and sometimes all at the same time! The only thing that I think is worse this go-round is the sense of hatred spewing from the left. Whatever happened to "Hate is not a family value?"

We have countdown to eviction calendars (anti-Bush), We have "Bushisms," we have Bush T-shirts calling him a Terrorist and killer...(Did anyone wear those during the Truman administration when we blew up a good portion of the civilian population of a certain country?)
Did we have country singers calling any President a "F-Head" or telling him to go "F" himself?
No, because regardless of who our leader was, we still respected the office that he held and exhibited a certain amount of manners and decorum with our "free speech."

Do I think, as some people do, that we are a country that is failing? Going down the drain? Causing all the world to hate us? No.... I do think we're a spoiled lot and that we need to grow up a bit, but do I think we're corrupt? Rotten? Killers? Maybe the people who are saying that have a problem with low self image, but I still see a country where freedom exists...where people can still come from all over the world to seek out and live a dream. I still see the greatest country in the world!

Can we do better? Of course! And we should strive every day to be a better people and country! But we need to start from within and make changes within ourselves. We can't expect our leaders or country to change if we don't do the same ourselves. Get involved...do something positive instead of sitting around griping or badmouthing our leaders... Take Action! Write letters to elected officials....Pray for our country and our elected officials...put signs in your yard....Campaign....run for office....VOTE!

Don't tell me that your vote or your opinion doesn't make a difference!!! MAKE THEM MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

And another thing....don't assume the other side is stupid just because you don't agree with them. They have their reasons for voting the way they do....it doesn't make them stupid or "Wrong," it just makes them different. As long as they're pulling their weight by voting and not just throwing their weight around...MORE POWER TO THEM!

Good night and May God Bless America!

David

Emotional Rescue

Okay, so maybe I'm feeling a bit emotional after watching 9.5 hours of Buck O'Neil memorials on TV, and so what if I got teary-eyed at Filmmaker Ken Burns' assessment of Buck's life? Hey! I loved Buck O'Neil and I love baseball...and I love a good speech when I hear one...so, give me a break!

On top of that, Pastor Fred had yet another of his brilliant sermons today...you know the kind, the ones that make you want to go out and change the world. During his sermon he showed a video about a young autistic boy named Jason, who never knew he couldn't change the world.
(or his world at the very least). I found the video online by googling "Jason autistic basketball Rochester" and it brought me to CBS news who had at least 4 videos on him at their site.

Pastor Fred said it was okay to complain to God (in the right way) and that God often helps us find our greatest strengths in our weaknesses. (David and Goliath being a prime example)

(which also reminds me of the great Steven Curtis Chapman song that says "I've got to keep my eyes on Jesus through the Weak Days...")

I think the goal of Fred's message was for us to "Take Action," which I think is what Buck O'Neil's philosophy was as well. Here was a man who was denied the right to play in the major leagues; denied his place in the baseball hall of fame (which will forever be a bone of contention with me...so don't even get me started!) and still had not an angry or hateful thought or moment of regret.

I'm all over the map on this stuff today...but I find that sometimes just meandering around in thoughts is somewhat cathartic...don't you agree? Those of you who know me know that I talk this way too... I can be discussing politics, religion and "Green Acres" in the same paragraph and still find time to lament the problems in Iraq, the price of gas, and the fact that food preservatives are killing us. (I might even work in a pun or two so that I don't sound preachy...no offense to you, Pastor Fred!)

So, here I sit...a bit sad at the loss of a great man, Buck O'Neil...and still I stand ready for action.
I want to change the world...(at least my little portion of it) I want to make someone happy and proud. I want to make someone smile and laugh. I want to lead by example and follow God's word. I want to keep my eyes on Jesus through the "Weak Days" cause even on the weak days he'll make me strong...

David

Life and nothing but...

So this past week was "hectic" if I may say so... We had something going on every night of the week and I was beat by the time Friday arrived. So what did I do? I took Jared camping with the Scout troop!

It was fun....but it was also very COLD! The next morning we got up and did about a million activities before we broke camp at noon and headed home. Once there, I took a nap, then a shower and then got ready to go work at that Bookstore I work at.

When I got home (midnight) I finally settled in to read the paper, only to discover that Buck O'Neil had died. (Read my nice vs. nasty Celeb column if you don't know who he is....) I may even have my Buck O'Neil column on here somewhere as well. (I digress, but Greinke finally did send the boys some autographs, so kudos to him for stepping up!)

I went to bed depressed and very tired. Woke up late on Sunday...Sher didn't feel well so Dustin and I did the Church thing. Pastor Fred was on the money once again and then gave his opinion on the Stem Cell issue. Needless to say, we both agree that "No" would be the best way to go on #2. Watched the "Great debate" between Claire and Talent and came away underwhelmed. I think Talent will win, and why not? He's a good guy! I don't trust Claire, and I loved watching her squirmy answer to Tim Russert's question about her comments that Bush left black people to die during Katrina. (She said maybe she could have said something better... duh!!!???)

Jared had a baseball game Sunday afternoon and after hitting a home run, he shouted to his teammates "I got a home run, Baby...go tell your Sisters!" (I have no idea where he got that, but he got a big laugh!)

Today was a 12 hour day at the LIBERRY and now I think my ongoing cough has become a cold... GREAT! Tonsillitis, allergies, and this week: A COLD! (Do I know how to have fun, or what?)

Anyhow....I'm beat again and it is only MONDAY! How will this week go? Do I really want to be a part of it? Why can't I be rich enough to just live at Disney World....

Dave