I have spent much of the last year or so writing either on the Chronicle or here about this and that. Most of the time the topic has trended to education, but I hate to dominate the conversation with shop talk. Recently, our conversations have trended towards poverty, welfare, and NASA. Now, those are three you normally don't see in the same sentence. It's high time we take stock in where we are and where we were going.
The president is an excellent communicator when he gets around to it. I don't think we have heard his voice often enough. Yes, he had the state of the union and the address to Congress on health care, but in his interview with Katie Couric, he managed to simplify things in what is increasingly becoming an complicated world. Things are never as easy as he may make it or as difficult as the rest of us make it. Sometimes, the noise just needs to be shut off so we can have a time to think.
I'm one of those rare people that gets overly stressed when there is a lot of noise. I think we are called introverts or something like that. I do a lot better on a keyboard than I do in person. Ironically, I work in the people business and today was one of those days where the incongruency came to the forefront. I have to check out and decompress. The same is true politically. When the yelling starts I have to take a step back or my head might literally burst.
With the craziness of the teabaggers, progressives, liberals, libertarians, conservatives, and anyone else I may have forgotten, those of us that exist more in the middle get the proverbial squeeze. In the movie Primary Colors, Larry Hagman's character "Fred Picker" asks the people to calm down and have a conversation. I'm asking everyone to do the same without having the cocaine problem that Hagman's character had. I see an increasing amount of people that say they don't want any incumbents to come back. Usually, that translates into "I don't want anymore of those liberal or conservative scumbags."
The issues facing our nation are serious. We are fighting two wars at the same time. We have an economy that is still bleeding jobs (although the latest news shows the gash may not need a band-aid). We have a health care system that is quickly bankrupting families and the nation. We have a deficit that is going through the roof. Meanwhile, we have the same question that every generation faces: What kind of country will our children or grandchildren live in?
This doesn't even include pesky issues like don't ask, don't tell or gigantic issues like how we should reform our financial institutions and system. This president has a whole lot on his plate. It's easy to blame the predecessor I suppose, but sometimes a president is blessed/cursed to be in the right place at the right time. Abraham Lincoln could have bitched about James Buchanon all he liked, it wasn't going to end the Civil War. Franklin Roosevelt could have complained about Herbert Hoover, that wasn't going to end the Depression.
So, I am saying two things. First, we shouldn't waste time on issues that don't matter because there are too many that do. For every moment we worry about birth certificates, teleprompters, and Haitian conspiracies, we aren't worried about poverty, health care, deficit spending, financial regulation, or the environment. Second, we need to remove the word "no" from our vocabulary for a second and have an honest conversation about where we stand on all issues. This is where we need to put aside political correctness for a moment just to see where everyone is.
If someone wants a literacy test or a poll tax for voting them let them say it. Yes, they are completely wrong, but at least we know where they are at. If someone wants to turn the poor into soilent green then let them say it. Of course they are wrong, but at least we will know where they are at. If someone wants to use a Cadillac Deville as a space capsule then let them say it. The stupidity may make us twitch, but we know where their head is (shoved up another body part). So, I am establishing an open mic. I invite our conservative friends in on the conversation. Where do you stand on these issues? If we continue to just say no then there can be no dialogue.
Dialogue? Is that what we are missing? Or maybe this country is run by a bunch of money grubbing whores and the dialogue has been manipulation to distract while they deny children health care...
Liberal - Moderate - Conservative
I think anyone with common sense on any of those sides should know when something is just plain wrong and not a question of ideology.
This country has had centuries of "dialogue". But yet we still ended up where we are today. Run by the rich minority...
Welcome to your Plutocracy folks!
By "America's pasttime" you mean "surfing the web" for porn, right?
Just kidding. Baseball, apple pie, and 1955-73 Chevrolet. That's America!!! Welcome back.
I own Diehard, but will not drink Busch. I want to drink real beer. As for the others, I'll pass. I'll stick with America's pastime and 18 holes on the local links.
We try to accommodate everybody here in America.
Scott, if you will watch three episodes of WWE professional wrestling, the PBRA bull riding championships from Las Vegas, Powerblock/HOrsepower TV on Spike network this Saturday morning AND rent and watch the original "Die Hard" with Bruce Willis whilst drinking a six-pack of Busch, we'll give you temporary re-instatement.
Barbie: I was NOT referring to anybody, actually. Honestly, when I composed that post, I had not even read any of the contributions, yet.
I just don't want this space to become a chron.com. I'm prety sure it won't. But all you need is 2 or 3 really determined and persistent morons to monopolize the discussion.
As a rule, I only refer to people on this blog in a positive way. If I don't have something nice or funny, I just shut up. OTOH, I don't shut up very often.
For the record, I generally agree with Offshore and I do in this instance.
Comrade, comrade, I lost my citizenship
Carguy said"IMO, should be only one rule here at Scott's Blog, THINK FOR YOUSELF. If you want to be a parrot for the republican party, Sarah Palin, Rush or an other of those brain-dead idiots, go away."
---------Well, CarGuy, although I do believe everybody is entitled to voice their opinion and their thoughts still have value even if we don't agree with them so you were referring to Offshore's post, then you need to re-read it because I know for a fact that he's an Independent and I usually like what he has to say.:)
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Ohh Bubba that's funny! I didn't promise anything soooooooo..Who Dat?? Saints Dat!.....I sooooooo want to go to Mardis Gras this year! whaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh
Carguy said"IMO, should be only one rule here at Scott's Blog, THINK FOR YOUSELF. If you want to be a parrot for the republican party, Sarah Palin, Rush or an other of those brain-dead idiots, go away."
---------Well, CarGuy, although I do believe everybody is entitled to voice their opinion and their thoughts still have value even if we don't agree with them so you were referring to Offshore's post, then you need to re-read it because I know for a fact that he's an Independent and I usually like what he has to say.:)
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Ohh Bubba that's funny! I didn't promise anything soooooooo..Who Dat?? Saints Dat!.....I sooooooo want to go to Mardis Gras this year! whaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh
Carol...send me the cushion. You got my address. Check out Des' blog at chron.com. You'll see I need it BAD.
No matter how much beer you drink, NASCAR without wrecks is BORING.
Scott, you are developing QUITE a sense of humor.
And, for the rercord, I don't have a clue what we were talking about either.
But, Carol is right, see a NASCAR or Indy race and you'll be hooked. For me, I 'm not a race FAN, but I do follow all the important races. Hell, NOT watching the Daytona 500 and/or the Indy 500....damn, that's, hell....that's frickin' UN-AMERICAN.
Make that sense...Lord!
You guys are funny!!! I could have cared less about racing until I went to the Indy 500 - hooked for life!
Carguy, you need a whoopie cushion - lol!
Scott, good post - as always! Sometimes, when things look the bleakest, a warped since of humor really helps...that's why I love Carguy.
Scott,
that's hilarious...I-45...now that would be some entertainment.
Actually, My brother got some complimentary tickets to see BOTH NASCAR and Grand Prix racing in the same day (same track). It was kind of cool. I bought me a hat, drank as much beer as I could and watched the cars going round and round and listened to the vrooommmm...vroooommm...vrooommmm. It was quite dizzying AND boring after awhile...no wrecks, the NASCAR guys were driving trucks that just wouldn't flip and the Grand Prix, featuring Al Jr. was not really a sanctioned competitive race. I'd do it again, though.
Not to get off the subject, but I have never gotten Neckcar (er I mean Nascar). I drive a considerable distance to work as I'm sure many of you do. I fight traffic to and fro and occasionally drop an F bomb at some idiot doing something stupid. So, after a hard week's work and driving I settle down on the couch and watch.....traffic? I watch it five days a week. What's more, they don't actually get anywhere. They drive in circles. Why not mix in right-hand turn every now and then? Why don't I just bust out a lawn chair, a cooler of beer, and sit along I-45 rooting for wrecks? Anyways, just a pet peeve of mine. What were talking about again?
Nice job Scott. Spot on.......mostly.
We DO have some really big problems such that (Daytona 500 is this weekend so I have a racing matephor) while we are losing a cylinder in the engine, right rear tire is about to blow, ignition is missing and we are about to run out of gas, the fact that the Pennzoil decal on the fender is crooked should NOT BE our primary concern.
But you know, that's how our government works sometimes because our moronic congress CANNOT assign priorities.
I got nothing against our more conservative citizens. I DO object to the moronic nature of their comments here and elsewhere.
IMO, should be only one rule here at Scott's Blog, THINK FOR YOUSELF. If you want to be a parrot for the republican party, Sarah Palin, Rush or an other of those brain-dead idiots, go away.
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Sorry, I had the Colts -3.
Just kidding.......... But for any of you who read yesterday, my hemorhoids are acting up and that always puts me in a bad mood.
Duct tape is still the go-to joining implement. Where else can you find such results, with such class?
offshore - I just wanted to report that I have repaired many things with doses of Mighty Putty, and you will be amazed at what you can really do with it! I fixed both interior and exterior auto part mounts with it after a deer strike a few years ago, and it still holds like welded steel!!! You can definitely put that hose reel on the side of your house PERMANENTLY! Hahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What? Me Worry???
Scott, true dat (sorry, I couldn't resist). I agree with you completely. No one knows sports misery as a longtime Saints fan. And no one deserves this win more than those fans. And I am thrilled that your grandfather-in-law got to experience this pinnacle of joy. I think (I hope) all the bandwagon jumpers are on more to show support for the Saints and their longtime and long suffering fans than to co-opt the magic of their stunning ride to the top. i.e. everyone was a New Yorker after 9-11.
By the way, now that we have it in print, don't think we're not going to hold you to your vow when the 'Stros win the World Series! ;-)
I hadn't read Bart's response, though he has one in the hopper here. Therefore, carry on my good man. My wife is from Baton Rouge and went to Tulane. So, I went along with her. To be a little serious here, my wife's grandfather is an original season ticket holder (abandoned that venture years ago when the family moved to Oklahoma). He is on hospice care. I am most happy for him that he lived to see it.
I suppose my bandwagon point is that there are long suffering fans of sports franchises and it kind of cheapens it for them when people with no ties (your ties are obvious) somehow claim them as their own. I was happy for the Saints, but I was crazy with excitement when the Rockets won their titles. I would be running down the street naked if the Astros win the series. I don't begrudge anyone their happiness, but the true joy belongs to those with definite ties to New Orleans.
Hey Barbie, I admit to blatantly stealing this from a T-shirt I saw on the local news last night:
Hou Dat!
Ok Scott I promise for real this time. Last off topic Saints post here. ;-)
bubbabobcat wrote: | "How about my degree from a Louisiana University? Or my time volunteering in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina? How about proposing to my wife in a Nawlins restaurant? Is that enough Creole cred to root for the Saints? I can even pronounce the name of the city as one syllable like a local"
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Hey Bubba you forgot.. How about it's my favorite city in the USA... and I love to Laissez les bon temps rouler plus I like saying Who Dat?? Saints Dat!
We worry about birth certificates, teleprompters, and Haitian conspiracies, Scott, because these are the things we are fed by usually one of two big media outlets. Do you recall the East Coast vs. West Coast rapper wars? Perhaps there was some kind of tiff there but, wow, look at what it did for marketing on both ends. I really don’t see much difference in that and what both of the big news corporations are doing now. It has people not only talking, but begging for more.
I have never (at least I can’t recall in my 35 years) seen the kind of division in my countrymen that I see now. It’s actually kind of saddening. The good news, though, is that it sells. “Sarah Palin was in Houston to endorse Rick Perry! OMG! I’m going to have to read and watch a lot more about this non office-holding woman that really doesn’t make any difference whatsoever! And while I do that, maybe I’ll order some Mighty Putty for that pesky garden hose rack on the side of my house”.
And since bart injected a Debby Downer of a whine into Bob's Saints celebration blog, I thought I'd return the favor and toss a spicy little Louisiana lagniappe into your serious gumbo.
Bobby Boucher rules! Aiiiiiiieeeeeeeee!
Point well taken, I was rooting for the saints too. I was just saying that that kind of blog has been done so I moved on to politics.
Jeeze Scott, you really are hellbent on staying on the grim stuff huh? I was just trying to inject a little levity. Based on the fact that this was the highest rated Super Bowl and highest rated TV program ever, I would think there are a LOT of people "jumping on the party bandwagon". And is that necessarily a bad thing for the party capital of the US? My Giants or the Texans weren't there. So should I only watch it dispassionately as a result? How about my degree from a Louisiana University? Or my time volunteering in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina? How about proposing to my wife in a Nawlins restaurant? Is that enough Creole cred to root for the Saints? I can even pronounce the name of the city as one syllable like a local!
Given the symbolism of their Phoenix like rebirth from the ashes (or mud) of Katrina, the Saints are a "feel good" story, in addition to the American penchance for rooting for the underdog that succeeds against all adversity. Not to mention the fact of our geographical proximity to New Orleans and the influx of New Orleanians in Houston, what's wrong with a little solidarity with our neighbors to the East and in our midst? C'mon Scott, loosen up and mambo a little! ;-)
The Saints angle has been done. I'm trying to keep us moving. Besides, how many of us are true New Orleaneans and how many of us are jumping on the party bandwagon?
Scott, whaddayadoin?
The Saints just won the Super Bowl!
Superfluity rules till Mardi Gras!
Who Dat!
Haha
NO!
NO!