Notes from All Over
I don't have appropriate words to talk about what happened on Sunday in Joplin, MO. The pictures ... I mean it's just gone. I'm not overly familiar with the city or anything, but it's been a staple of my life. I have most definitely visited the Wal-Mart that is just ... gone.
Joplin is twenty five miles from where my aunt and grandmother live. Joplin is the nearest "big city" for that part of Eastern Kansas. I'm so sad for the residence.
Israel. Oh dear heaven what has President Obama done? I'm loosely following the results of his speech last week and it's not very pleasant. Do I think we need to focus on Israel with so much wrong at home? No. Do I think the United States needs to play moderator in a 2,000 year old conflict right now? Um, has it worked before? But I also don't think we need to alienate another ally. And I definitely do not think that said ally needs to go into negotiations with known terrorists (hamas). Geez. It will be interesting to see what Netanyahu says today.
2012. I'm excited about no one. Right now I don't think I have a candidate. I'm glad that I'm reading that Palin is not expected to run. I have no thoughts on Mitch Daniels not running. I like Pawlenty, but I'm afraid his chances are slim as ... well do you know who he is? I'm also glad Huckabee bowed out. He's an alright guy but he's got some wierd skeletons in his closet. Newt needs to GO AWAY. The 90s called, they said it's over. So who's going to get the Republican nomination? I have no clue. It remains a mystery.
Do I think President Obama will be re-elected? Right now, I think it's his election to lose. Incumbancy is a powerful thing, and the field - from a general election standpoint - looks weak. I think there are strong fiscal conservatives to consider, but I fear that in a general election popularity contest that wont translate to votes. His biggest threat? Gas prices. If gas prices continue to go up, inflation will hit the roof and that recession will deepen by the fall, as temperatures fall, heating costs go up and pocket books are empty. Unlike welfare, foreign issues, bridges to nowhere and even unemployment gas prices hit everyone. No one individual or company is immune.
If a candidate can convince enough people that he will help with this basic issue, I believe they have a strong shot of beating him. This election will not be won based on foreign policy issues - save an unforeseen event - but his starting of a third war does not bode well for those Independents who are war weary. But aren't we all, war weary? I don't think anyone is happy about wars. But I like to believe that we've made life better for Afghani's and Iraqi's and hopefully the Libyans as well.
Either way. All I know is I'm tired already of the conversation. Can't we just let him be President until like, September of 2012? And then we have an election and then it's over. Why does the campaign have to begin in January of 2011? I mean the President has already been out campaigning for dollars. It makes me election weary. I'm not critizing him, they all do this. I just get so tired of these marathon election seasons.
On a personal note ... Jackson Hole in 2012! Woo-hoo! I can not wait.
*Updated*
I'm watching Netanyu's address to joint Congress and I have to say I've always been impressed by this guy. I know he's not perfect and he's got his own baggage but he is a great leader / speaker. He rarely uses the word I, he doesn't stumble with the English language, and he speaks about facts. Namely, that the conflict is not that Israel wants to deny anyone land or a nation, but that Israel's enemies do not want the Jewish people to have a nation. You can not negotiate with people who's only goal is to wipe you off the map.
I applaud him for standing up to those that want to destroy his country, and for standing up to President Obama and his call for a return to the 1967 borders. His strength and determination is respectable.
Joplin is twenty five miles from where my aunt and grandmother live. Joplin is the nearest "big city" for that part of Eastern Kansas. I'm so sad for the residence.
Israel. Oh dear heaven what has President Obama done? I'm loosely following the results of his speech last week and it's not very pleasant. Do I think we need to focus on Israel with so much wrong at home? No. Do I think the United States needs to play moderator in a 2,000 year old conflict right now? Um, has it worked before? But I also don't think we need to alienate another ally. And I definitely do not think that said ally needs to go into negotiations with known terrorists (hamas). Geez. It will be interesting to see what Netanyahu says today.
2012. I'm excited about no one. Right now I don't think I have a candidate. I'm glad that I'm reading that Palin is not expected to run. I have no thoughts on Mitch Daniels not running. I like Pawlenty, but I'm afraid his chances are slim as ... well do you know who he is? I'm also glad Huckabee bowed out. He's an alright guy but he's got some wierd skeletons in his closet. Newt needs to GO AWAY. The 90s called, they said it's over. So who's going to get the Republican nomination? I have no clue. It remains a mystery.
Do I think President Obama will be re-elected? Right now, I think it's his election to lose. Incumbancy is a powerful thing, and the field - from a general election standpoint - looks weak. I think there are strong fiscal conservatives to consider, but I fear that in a general election popularity contest that wont translate to votes. His biggest threat? Gas prices. If gas prices continue to go up, inflation will hit the roof and that recession will deepen by the fall, as temperatures fall, heating costs go up and pocket books are empty. Unlike welfare, foreign issues, bridges to nowhere and even unemployment gas prices hit everyone. No one individual or company is immune.
If a candidate can convince enough people that he will help with this basic issue, I believe they have a strong shot of beating him. This election will not be won based on foreign policy issues - save an unforeseen event - but his starting of a third war does not bode well for those Independents who are war weary. But aren't we all, war weary? I don't think anyone is happy about wars. But I like to believe that we've made life better for Afghani's and Iraqi's and hopefully the Libyans as well.
Either way. All I know is I'm tired already of the conversation. Can't we just let him be President until like, September of 2012? And then we have an election and then it's over. Why does the campaign have to begin in January of 2011? I mean the President has already been out campaigning for dollars. It makes me election weary. I'm not critizing him, they all do this. I just get so tired of these marathon election seasons.
On a personal note ... Jackson Hole in 2012! Woo-hoo! I can not wait.
*Updated*
I'm watching Netanyu's address to joint Congress and I have to say I've always been impressed by this guy. I know he's not perfect and he's got his own baggage but he is a great leader / speaker. He rarely uses the word I, he doesn't stumble with the English language, and he speaks about facts. Namely, that the conflict is not that Israel wants to deny anyone land or a nation, but that Israel's enemies do not want the Jewish people to have a nation. You can not negotiate with people who's only goal is to wipe you off the map.
I applaud him for standing up to those that want to destroy his country, and for standing up to President Obama and his call for a return to the 1967 borders. His strength and determination is respectable.
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