Democratic Presidential Debate a Love Fest? - January 31, 2008

Down to two, so that is good. But tonight was almost a love fest. All smiles and hearty Hillary laughs. They seem to agree on more things tonight, just a smidgen of difference according to both of them.

They nearly fell all over themselves making nice to the other. I suppose that is good in some ways, but we need to have a clear division between them to differentiate our votes.

Nothing new tonight. Even some of the questions were softballs tonight. Wolf, tried to press Barack on what was not "humane" about Clinton's immigration policy. He waffled and was pushed a few more times but still gave no real answer.

So, I didn't learn much tonight. But it was nice neither of them turned away when the other offer their hand to shake. Indeed.

Republican Debate More Like Feud - January 30, 2008

It sure is nice to have the number of "debaters" drop a little each time. Easier to really get some depth from those still standing. I was impressed again, overall, with Mike Huckabee in his common sense answers, his ability to think on his feet, and his ability to avoid shoving out the the same cliched lines. I want to give McCain a wedgy each time he says "transcendent". Enough, Senator...find another couple of words.

I was disappointed with the Romney-McCain feud over what "timeline" means. So silly to continue that tete-a-tete after Wolf read Romney's actual relevant comment. So petty and not impressive. Of course, Mr. Romney has got to learn not to get so excited about some of the critcisms leveled at him. He reminds me of a CEO who has total control and therefore can intimidate his employees without risk. That could be scary in a President, I suppose.

Ron Paul continues to have good but Pollyann-ish answers. Would that it were true and possible, but the reality is that some of what Paul says is just not possible in this real world.

I like Senator McCain for a lot of reasons: his straight talk, his patrotism, his service to the country. Yet, I wonder how he would fare against Barack Obama. I think he would lose. A race against Hillary would be better for McCain. She has enough negatives that can be brought to bear, that he could win the country to his side. Any disagreement here?

State of the Union

Well, I have to give it to President Bush. Despite his low 30% approval rating, he came across as self-confident in his last State of the Union address tonight. He was cordial, accomodating, but forceful where he needed to be and essentially challenged Congress to get some things done.

Noting that he had laid out a plan to save Social Security that was not accepted, he challenged the members to come with their own plans to keep the massive entitlement programs from going under.

Although the Dems did not applaud at some points, I always hope that other regimes across the world are watching this gem of our democratic process. It is good for them to see that political opponents can come together, and even pull together when it comes to any attacks on our country and its basic principles.

We certainly have our troubles these days, but I am confident we will prevail as a country. Now on to picking the best person to be our next leader who will inspire us to further greatness. I am beginning to see who that will be. What do you think? Oh, and did anyone see who was wearing the U.S. flag lapel pins?

Speaking of Pregnancy - Juno - a Review

In the previews of Juno, we decided that it looked like an entertaining enough premise to warranted our $13 tickets. So off we went to the multi-plex.

We agreed that the story was a good one, and one that could happen in real life. Yet we were slightly dismayed at the cavalier attitude of Juno toward having a baby and then decided that her true feelings were, at first, disguised in her bravado personality. She was scared, and was concerned about who might raise this child. She wanted to see something real in relationships, not just based on having children.

Some will be put off with the premise of an unmarried teen girl, but here it was less of a choice than many movie types make when they procreate. Juno certainly had sex, obviously without protection, but young people have less internal control than adults, and too often this leads to these consequences.

So after some thought, we decided that this was a good movie that did not proclaim that having babies, either so young or out-of-wedlock, was a great thing. I am just not sure that it was Academy Award material and doubt it will win in the end.

Shame of Out-of-Wedlock Babies...Antiquated Concept?

I don't quite get it. Why do Hollywood couples (many of them anyway) have this need to produce a child without first getting married? It seems endemic, at least in the media reports. Last week it was Matthew McConaughey and his gal pal. This week I was disappointed to hear about Chris Noth and his girlfriend were expecting an illegitimate child.

Oh such charged words those are. Illegitimate, out-of-wedlock, love child, and on and on. Yet where are the morals, the ethics, the concern for the child's future well-being?

My disappointment about Noth, who I seldom have seen in anything I watch, is that he is from Madison, Wisconsin, my home city since I was 18. I generally cling to good old Midwestern values and hoped he might too. Of course, Wisconsin had Spencer Tracy too.

My concern is really for the child's future. He or she will eventually know that his or her parents conceived their bundle of joy before marrying. If the couple is no longer together, it is just more baggage that kid will carry around for a lifetime. If a couple is committed enough to have a child, then shouldn't they be committed to a marriage as well?

They can't be ignorant of birth control options, or of what causes babies. So why do they feel that as icons and models for others, that this behavior is acceptable?

Super Bowl Without the Packers

I have finally begun to get over the Green Bay Packers loss to the NY Giants. So close with so many chances. I am not that great an NFL fan, but when our Pack gets this close I can even get my wife to watch.

I am doubly dismayed this year because we are wintering in Arizona, east of Phoenix, waiting to return to our native Wisconsin in April. And I thought for sure the Packers would come here to visit us (well, figuratively). We had already scoped out the University of Phoenix stadium, although we never would have attended the game (have you heard about Phoenix traffic?). We were ready to see many more Wisconsin license plates in the Valley, and even those god-awful cheesehead hats. Not all Wisconsinites follow the Pack, but the numbers increase dramatically when they approach the Super Bowl.

My son-in-law's view was that they'd best not get to the Super Bowl, or they (and we) would be embarrassed by their loss to the Patriots. Well, geez, give up already! I still would have liked to see them play in the great game.

I might even have worn a cheesehead in our resort that day. Do they have size 7-7/8s?

Bucket List is...cute

Despite some panning, we decided to see this movie about two old guys with terminal illnesses. Even though the plot was contrived and mostly predictable, it was a "cute" film especially for older folk. I suspect the younger crowd (the critics no doubt) will not see the film for what it is. Nicholson and Freeman got together for a fun film about dying, but with the punch line of "going out with a bang".

It is rentable, but if nothing else tickles your fancy at the multiplex and you want that good popcorn, then this is a fun flick.

Speaking of Las Vegas...What is Excess?

To be clear, we visit Las Vegas once or twice every year and we enjoy the glitz, the excitement, and the chance to strike it rich. We are not BIG gamblers but manage to leave a little of our green with the casinos. For that, we get occasional free (!) nights of lodging.

This last visit we saw even more construction going on - it never stops here - and still are amazed at what certainly has to be built on the backs of losers. OK, my hand is up here, but we are careful to lose only what we can afford. We don't spend the rent, the food budget (heaven forbid), and other needed dough.

Yet, I am torn between my conservative (read cop) views, allowing people to be responsible for their own actions and allowing businessmen to spend their earned money as they see fit. So another hotel and casino, the $1.9 billion Palazzo, has risen from the desert like so many before have done.

Another project, City Center, will be selling condos for millions (that's plural) and then my social worker side wonders what kinds of good things could be done for kids or others with those excess millions. Wow, the project is set to cost over $9 billion! Just for a hotel, condos, and probably another casino or two.

I guess I am ambivalent (maybe). I will visit those casinos when they open and likely contribute to their balance sheets. I already "gave" at the Palazzo "office". But I still wonder if this is all excessive and where does it all end? I recall the mighty Romans built edifaces to themselves and lived to excess as well. Could all this be a part of the Rise and Fall of the American Empire?

Las Vegas Obama Rally

We needed a break from our retirement life in Arizona, so we headed over to Las Vegas for a few days. It was the week of the Nevada caucuses so we asked a TV and radio journalist friend of ours to let us know of any candidate rallies during the week we were there.

We first heard of a Romney meeting at a Claim Jumper Restaurant in Henderson, but then we got a scoop on an Obama Rally at Rancho High School in Las Vegas. Being independent politically (leaning conservative), we wanted to hear the candidates' views in person if we could.

We stood in a long line despite our early arrival. Once inside we got good seats and enjoyed hearing first from Michelle Obama, a great speaker, and then to the candidate himself.

Although I had heard much of the "rhetoric" on TV already, the presentation and delivery was very good and inspiring. This man may have a future in politics. Maybe not this time, but we will hear from him again if he doesn't get the nod in 2008.

We are still undecided, want to hear more from others, but Barack Obama is in our "possible" column.

I Am Legend Review

Well, why not a movie review? Diana and I see a lot of movies now that we are in Arizona for the winter. We saw Will Smith's I Am Legend af few weeks ago and left disappointed.

Now, Will Smith is great, the fx were great and the story had lots of potential. Left to contemplate the story line, one could really become scared. Well, mildly wary.

It was the ending that left us a little short. We felt that many other endings could have been better. Rather, it seemed the screenwriter had to "wrap it up" quickly (It IS a long film), and we kind of wanted more. I am open to other opinions, as always.

Flying the Flag for All

Just something I've noticed. Maybe it is just anecdotal, but on the street where we live in our winter home in Arizona, there are a number of people who display the U.S. flag outside their homes every day. If I were to ask, I'd bet any money that the majority of those households would have a conservative bent, or maybe even be Republicans.

The same goes for those who wear little metal flags on their lapels. The more I think about it, the more I believe this is true. And if so, what a shame. What a shame that displaying our flag as a sign of support for our country, dare I say patriotism, is seen as a conservative trait.

For those who don't believe this, take your own poll in your neighborhood, office, school, and ask this question: A person displays a U.S. flag pin on his or her clothing. Is that person more or less likely to be a conservative?

You will be surprised, or if you are like me, maybe not.

Slamming Obama

I should have expected it. Once Barack Obama was getting close to being a seriously considered Democratic candidate, the slurs and half-truths start. Not so much with his current opponents, but those on the Internet wishing only to cloud the issues. First, I have to say that I have not come close to choosing who will get my vote in November (could even be a Republican), but I do have a great sense of fairness.

I am referring to a much-forwarded piece of Internet information that states Obama is a Muslim, that his step-father was a revolutionary, that he refuses to say the Pledge of Allegience, and many other half-lies.

If one takes the time to check http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp, you would see that most of what was written is simply not true, but with just enough of some tidbits on which to build the lies.

I am reading Obama's first book, Dreams From My Father, written in 1995 likely before he seriously considered running for president. It certainly is interesting and he does have a varied background very much unlike other candidates. But nothing he experienced would scare me away from considering him for our leader.

On the other hand, I am also reading Carl Bernstein's, A Woman in Charge, about Hillary Clinton and to the extent that I feel that Bernstein is a truthful, responsible journalist, I have decided that I could not vote for her -- oh, let me count the reasons. Another time, maybe.

There is so much negative in political races, so what little I can do to keep it above the line, I will try to do.