tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145923192024-03-06T22:52:53.790-05:00Progressive RepublicanCommentary on current events with a dash of humor from a curious student of human and political behavior.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-47239952628147155962007-07-08T11:32:00.001-04:002007-07-08T11:40:38.559-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhIDBQk6JAEpBmLzyqnPY49U-cTb3ik5bKimB6Ko8EitQnwW9uMfT7rNO9JneNBcgO24ucWL-i6OTt4hyP9rXwKmVK8hjw2Jb3xnTCix2mz57ER-6aROC00sLtoUpWxOuGn6QeQ/s1600-h/Opus+070708.gif"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKEqMk_Vq7lo6cezBg_oRJdxjuP_NhSo32fRfqX4EbLK6AqOMyK8Fbmz-d0wNi0GUPB6khP8TbjONTyhIHbV02KnEkJuiWxsU41Mj4pw-lhvF0fAGlNylImcdAzJg7Ka0e_UMrA/s1600-h/Opus+070708.gif"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#3366ff;"><a href="http://www.uclick.com/client/wpc/wpopu/">We Don't Need Another Hero...</a></span><br /><div><br /></div><div>Once again, Berkeley Breathed sums it up visually. </div><div></div><div></div><div>What we need are ideas and someone with a vision.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-75572309004922284892007-03-05T21:54:00.000-05:002007-03-05T22:06:51.197-05:00<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiMOZQ2rMOszee1IzLJUYHktUb3W2dtvBnaO4t1crwJM8xzMeLNu6_zA0w_i1Sf6dGkP4H_9zUMXiL1I7_fievfvMtDo2k7UGV1D050GP5FjWFs8XwjVZCX1a9I6kgAPVP_hiJw/s1600-h/Ann+Coulter1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038639429277653186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiMOZQ2rMOszee1IzLJUYHktUb3W2dtvBnaO4t1crwJM8xzMeLNu6_zA0w_i1Sf6dGkP4H_9zUMXiL1I7_fievfvMtDo2k7UGV1D050GP5FjWFs8XwjVZCX1a9I6kgAPVP_hiJw/s320/Ann+Coulter1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#993300;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Ohmigosh!!! They are B-R-O-T-H-E-R-S!!!</strong></span></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><br /></span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;"><strong>Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.<br /></strong><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#993300;"><strong>Excuse me Ms. ur, Mr., umm, Ann or is it Arnie, ho geez, anyway, would like fries with that?</strong></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-40121623567116137952007-01-22T23:11:00.000-05:002007-01-22T23:20:21.815-05:00<div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a style="__styleDocument: [object]" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyhsAMVrzlg2XG9MDpJkPSFGXXu6n3deh1lvv9mb7vPDJI9tb8kfL71jdRveUNV1Abyk2-fNybo1fgnByz_rfZbil2G5JYEapcMw5JijLU46_TQ86CbBNMAQ6pC0P6WfoSRoEiw/s1600-h/Abbott.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5023073946446536466" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyhsAMVrzlg2XG9MDpJkPSFGXXu6n3deh1lvv9mb7vPDJI9tb8kfL71jdRveUNV1Abyk2-fNybo1fgnByz_rfZbil2G5JYEapcMw5JijLU46_TQ86CbBNMAQ6pC0P6WfoSRoEiw/s320/Abbott.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;">Coming to a Theatre Near You!!!<br /></span><br />Paramount Pictures and Academy of Motion Pictures Award Winning Director and Producer Francis Ford Coppola announced today the early release of Godfather IV starring University of South Dakota President Jim Abbott in the title role of Freddie Corleone…<br /><br />What in the heck was Jim thinking when he posed for this photo that was featured in Sunday’s Argus Leader? "I'm gonna make them a deal they can't refuse."?!? </div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />I would advise Mr. Abbott to reconsider accepting any fishing trips on the river...<br /></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-52933254996055522332007-01-21T20:36:00.000-05:002007-01-22T11:49:45.105-05:00<div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6nq4kvxeXrlqX8m3qEdWlh4oYBS4kTkKxNTVQkgzGvH06E0ZhzA9108eak5DwPoautHBdN0i-2K-Yylw57UO8opDlAAyOod5AYQ1nLJVRTVb2BxD-rkMgtPnkYpvSrLb0lQvAw/s1600-h/Larry+Long.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022657991748820738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6nq4kvxeXrlqX8m3qEdWlh4oYBS4kTkKxNTVQkgzGvH06E0ZhzA9108eak5DwPoautHBdN0i-2K-Yylw57UO8opDlAAyOod5AYQ1nLJVRTVb2BxD-rkMgtPnkYpvSrLb0lQvAw/s320/Larry+Long.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-size:180%;" ><strong style="__styleDocument: [object]">Help me Understand</strong></span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />I think Larry Long is the archetype of an outstanding Attorney General. He has done a terrific job in continuing the tradition of keeping politics out of decisions made in the office of the state’s chief prosecutor. He is a model public servant and I have no doubts about his integrity. </div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />Today the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports on Long’s analogy to help reassure us that the Senate’s awkward decision to hold hearings on the alleged groping of a page by one of its own is the proper for thing for them to do. He compares their actions to a school board investigating the possible inappropriate actions of one of its teachers.</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />I don’t think the comparison works.</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />From the Argus: “Long compared the Sutton case with a hypothetical situation in which a 16-year-old student falls for an adult teacher and the two end up having a romantic relationship.</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />The student would be old enough under state law to consent to such a relationship, but a local prosecutor would investigate whether the student did in fact consent.</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]">However, regardless of that investigation, the school district still would consider the relationship ethically inappropriate and would conduct its own investigation and take action against the teacher if it deemed it necessary to do so.In that case, "it might be criminal as well, or it might not, but that doesn't lessen for 30 seconds the school's responsibility," Long said.”</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />So let’s see, if this is true, a school board (or any other governmental body) could decide to conduct a criminal hearing or investigation MINUS sufficient evidence for any prosecutor to move forward with the same case. Such a decision would be based on politics, not on a legal basis.</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />That is how politics is played in Cook County or Louisiana. In those jurisdictions one might not hesitate to use the power of the office to distract the public, smear an opponent, or gain a cheap political advantage. But this is not how we do things in South Dakota, or at least how we used too.</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not blaming Larry Long for how we got to this point. He is only trying to rationalize how the Senate made its decision to move forward with the hearings absent enough proof for even his own office to prosecute.</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />And although I am amazed and disappointed with their decision, I am not overly critical of the legislature either, or at least most of the present and past membership. While I expect a bit more fortitude, the body has been placed between the rock and the hard place in this situation: either they hold hearings based on little, if any, real evidence or they essentially perpetuate the swirling speculation and rumors. Worse yet, by doing nothing the legislative body can be seen as part of the problem as a group covering things up for one of its own. So while I don’t agree with their decision, one can appreciate how they made it.</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />No, there are a select few who can be held accountable for whipping all of this into a tawdry public scandal. I refer to those that drop bombs from their official capacities with slimy assurances to the accused that all will be forgotten if the “troublemaker” will just quietly go away. That, or the accused will be responsible for everyone becoming entangled in the snarled mess, and nobody really wants that, do they? It all seems like legitimized extortion and abuse of power.</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />So we go forward. The victim is victimized again, the accused will remain forever guilty in minds of most without real due process, and everyone else is left to clean up the mess. And others, like Long, are left to explain how we arrived at this embarrassing political situation.</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />Meanwhile the perpetrators remain deluded with the notion they are our moral heroes and are ever ready to stir up more chaos. It is unbelievable, unfortunate, and unnecessary how some advance by stepping all over the lives of others.</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />Maybe it really is justice for “just them.”</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-7344980270981229232007-01-13T20:39:00.000-05:002007-01-13T20:53:27.139-05:00<div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a style="__styleDocument: [object]" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7TvUgDfVKEyK14MAlpcwU-Oib2bB3bOo8ObfbDAkvOR9iu-HlUWKPeYPpM_0Z7hRyGt10qi8lqyByeiogdlYWR50VsqjTKyjraYOiQTLhb672JNIei1mMw8INGcL8dSxd5C8JA/s1600-h/Checklist.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019694921568933586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7TvUgDfVKEyK14MAlpcwU-Oib2bB3bOo8ObfbDAkvOR9iu-HlUWKPeYPpM_0Z7hRyGt10qi8lqyByeiogdlYWR50VsqjTKyjraYOiQTLhb672JNIei1mMw8INGcL8dSxd5C8JA/s320/Checklist.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="font-size:130%;">Top Five Reasons to Read, Subscribe or Bookmark the </span><a style="__styleDocument: [object]" href="http://www.hoghouseblog.com/"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-size:130%;" >Hog House Blog </span></a></span><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-size:130%;" >by Denise Ross</span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />5. Amaze your friends and family about your knowledge of current events in South Dakota.<br />4. Decision makers talk to Denise.<br />3. Denise is informative.<br />2. Denise is insightful.<br /><br /></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]">And the number one reason to Read, Subscribe or Bookmark the <a href="http://www.hoghouseblog.com/">Hog House Blog </a>by Denise Ross...</div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br />1. Denise writes really good.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-56762669254272564412007-01-11T01:56:00.000-05:002007-01-11T02:12:35.011-05:00<div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a style="__styleDocument: [object]" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg881Spup5bipGB0jKn10ozZYau1xq7trxvLIubzCgt8_vf-S84PFvmxt6OpSJcX0XLJlfhV7I2_tHRNX5JCrvV99iNs3DJvT-vc9okI71hxik6IMHpq7fn8GpIHtTrtYdMsfzM1Q/s1600-h/Crying+Game.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5018663317669074610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg881Spup5bipGB0jKn10ozZYau1xq7trxvLIubzCgt8_vf-S84PFvmxt6OpSJcX0XLJlfhV7I2_tHRNX5JCrvV99iNs3DJvT-vc9okI71hxik6IMHpq7fn8GpIHtTrtYdMsfzM1Q/s320/Crying+Game.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><br /><p style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="font-size:180%;">She Is Really A Man!!!</span></p><p style="__styleDocument: [object]"></p><p style="__styleDocument: [object]"></p><p style="__styleDocument: [object]"> </p><p style="__styleDocument: [object]">It all makes sense now. Before I really had a tough time understanding how everything got to this point. The uncompromising position, the resentment and bitterness, along with the absolute conviction to change the attitudes of the unwashed. Blend all of this together with a large dose of anger and hate to fuel a determination to win a moral, righteous, and unconditional victory. Yes, it all does make sense now.<br /><br />And yet, it was all there right in front of me the whole time. She is really a man! I just didn’t see it. All the signs were there. They always had been. I just didn’t notice. (Or I didn’t want to notice.)<br /><br />First there is the slight but detectable moustache that match the sideburns and unibrow. (Ever notice how unibrow and unborn are almost spelled alike? That is kind of creepy. Maybe the unibrow is actually like a symbol or signal or something. A discreet way to send a message to the disciples.) Don’t forget the deep almost guttural and masculine voice that cracks when she, I mean he, gets excited. And the preference for pant suits with matching blazers. Oh, it was all of it was right there in front of me.<br /></p><p style="__styleDocument: [object]">Wow. She's a man! I can’t believe I didn’t put together before now. But it all just clicks into place. Just like the movie The Crying Game. Isn't it amazing?</p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-83832564075406865642007-01-10T14:27:00.000-05:002007-01-10T17:24:35.777-05:00<div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbvPzccLTeF5fdVf51gKof-c2tJIqMH7qqmRufvs7Oela7Iy9fsxZH-oOOIdyn8hzvRzKYta2BPx2lVm815u0D9qOE-Wnt107hYZnD8Zf_dNWny9JnI2_xfTTZ2ABytZkbZKCKg/s1600-h/Book+and+Luntz.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5018492523999581858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbvPzccLTeF5fdVf51gKof-c2tJIqMH7qqmRufvs7Oela7Iy9fsxZH-oOOIdyn8hzvRzKYta2BPx2lVm815u0D9qOE-Wnt107hYZnD8Zf_dNWny9JnI2_xfTTZ2ABytZkbZKCKg/s320/Book+and+Luntz.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-size:180%;" >A Book I Will Be Reading</span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><p style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-size:100%;" ></span></p><p style="__styleDocument: [object]"></p><p style="__styleDocument: [object]">Today National Public Radio Fresh Air host Terri Gross had an interview with Frank Luntz, a notable and national political and business consultant. Lutz was stooping for his book, “Words that Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear.” Despite the mixed reviews for the book, I want to read it given the author’s premise that we ought to describe things as what we believe them to be and not necessarily for what they are.<br /><br />Luntz explains how “energy exploration” instead of “well-digging” in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is more palatable to the public, as is “conversationalist” to “environmentalist” or “gaming” to “gambling, and “electronic intercepts” to “eavesdropping” or “wiretapping.”<br /><br />He also is dismissive of the Administration’s use of the word “Surge” in relation to the proposed escalation of troops in Iraq. (Luntz suggests that realignment, reassessment, and refocus would be better.) It is at this point in the interview where he begins to sound at worst as though he was upset not to be consulted by the White House, and at best, like a snake oil salesman with the elixir for every type of pain or problem: Don’t like a description or explanation, let’s just consult the Thesaurus to find a word or cliché that will make you more comfortable. (<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=13&prgDate=9-Jan-07">Here is a link for an audio version of the interview</a>.) ,<br /><br />This “wordsmithing” likely explains political apathy at all levels. Maybe we spin so much that we make the general public nauseous.<br /><br />Clearly Luntz is very good at what he does. I share his appreciation for the power and influence of words and language. However, I can’t just help but feel handled or manipulated with this type shading or exaggerating. Most disturbing is how it is presented under the guise that our understanding of situations or events just isn’t quite accurate or that we really don’t grasp the intricacies and complexities. How patronizing.<br /><br />I don’t have a problem with someone trying to persuade me. I prefer though to weigh the evidence and make a decision minus any posturing. Besides, I am not sure anyone could convince me that “electronic intercepts” are any less invasive.<br /><br />Although, maybe Luntz could come up with a better way to describe that portion of the annual physical I hate so much… </p><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></p></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-62221315329801677382007-01-06T12:07:00.000-05:002007-01-06T12:13:09.105-05:00<div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuymnASWZDM_BsISyUg1yfF8k-FldxWETsbbOYW8SjT-H9DfzTDNdx4qFeVdcX7eWqYar8KLaoIlHI8oZ5MSG5eY4TF8rbqvhXqzK0z_i2tyg5OJ7Usj2F2t6sA2djThCt8H44wA/s1600-h/Oligarchy3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016965591458630738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuymnASWZDM_BsISyUg1yfF8k-FldxWETsbbOYW8SjT-H9DfzTDNdx4qFeVdcX7eWqYar8KLaoIlHI8oZ5MSG5eY4TF8rbqvhXqzK0z_i2tyg5OJ7Usj2F2t6sA2djThCt8H44wA/s320/Oligarchy3.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-size:180%;" >Things that make you go "Mmmhmmm!"</span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"> </div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]">Dana Milbank of the Washington Post reporting on Thursday’s US Senate swearing in ceremonies…<br /><br />“…Senators, meanwhile, waved up to President Clinton, who was sitting in the second row of the public gallery with his daughter and mother-in-law, greeting a line of fans and talking on a cellphone until he noticed the opening prayer had started.<br /><br />The attention quickly shifted -- to Robert Byrd. The 89-year-old West Virginia Democrat, beginning his ninth term, wore a red-white-and-blue tie and punctuated the opening prayer with shouts of "Yes!" and "Mmmhmmm!" and "Yes, Lord!" and "Yes, in Jesus's name!" When he was sworn in, he twice cried out "Hallelujah!" and then "Amen!" Minutes later, he was installed as Senate president pro tempore, the majority party's most senior member. "Yeah, man! Yeah, man!" he shouted. "Hallelujah!" "I do, so help me God!" he shouted when the oath was administered. Yeah, man!"<br /><br />His colleagues were amused. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) at one point pretended to tilt a bottle into his mouth, though it was unclear whether Byrd was the target of that gesture.”<br /><br />No wonder Milbank entitled his article “Reid Takes Center Stage, but He's Hardly the Star of the Show…”<br /><br />And after all, it is unfair to say Senator Kennedy was suggesting that Speaker Pro Tem had been imbibing. The distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts may have only been suggesting he was thirsty. Or he might have been signaling to a friend in the second row of the gallery it was time to blow the scene, toss back a couple, and go cruise for some chicks.<br /><br />“Yes! Yeah Man! Hallejuha!”<br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-45495554512700359182007-01-05T13:09:00.000-05:002007-01-05T13:22:23.442-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIqvT6US-ir2-47gDaoj345scMeL-2sd6IH7BIMuJGHIai-pXsWPhKFMuloOsPDvoUHDKDn4yY3RYpPN_De57jv4bcgRb5flQ7ndXJY5USn-st6Xs9lct3GV_V3czU5xDeQnZcA/s1600-h/Trumpet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016613301061143586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIqvT6US-ir2-47gDaoj345scMeL-2sd6IH7BIMuJGHIai-pXsWPhKFMuloOsPDvoUHDKDn4yY3RYpPN_De57jv4bcgRb5flQ7ndXJY5USn-st6Xs9lct3GV_V3czU5xDeQnZcA/s320/Trumpet.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-size:180%;" >Play that Funky Music…</span></div><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]">I write today from Arizona and news from home this week literally trickles to me through a dial-up modem (the good old days really weren’t all that good.) From what I have been able to gather, it appears that political environment in Dakota South continues to be dry, brittle, and flammable. It is easy to imagine that all of us will be swallowed up in a conflagration which means that once again, we all will be burned out on the political scene in the land of Rushmore.<br /><br />We are distracted. Our focus needs to be on the issues before us rather than trying to shape the debate and outcome of matters that have yet to be decided. Whether it is the accusations about one member of the legislature acting inappropriately with young employees or another bending campaign finance reporting statues into a twisted pretzel, there are plenty of other issues that deserve our attention and ought to be discussed.<br /><br />What do we do about school funding? How can we address the availability of affordable housing for new families? (This challenge is a serious threat to continued economic development in many of our communities.) What kind of efficiencies can be realized in local and state government through greater cooperative efforts and technological advancements? How do we enhance the relationship between higher education and the private sector in areas of research and development? What do we do about water development? And how do we ensure that our children continue to receive the best possible education?<br /><br />Instead we are preoccupied by the salacious and dim behavior of miscreants. Some would say that is just human nature to become mesmerized with the scandalous and aberrant. And while that may be true, it is time to evolve to the next level on the Darwinian Chart.<br /><br />Our elected leaders need to sound a clarion call and we all need to respond to it. We need to discuss the issues calmly without flamboyance and grandiosity and with the goal of resolution rather positioning. This is can be accomplished if we all make an effort to keep our attention on the issues before us rather than the misguided actions of a few.<br /><br />The best campaign slogan emerged from the din of this past campaign season, “It’s time to get back to work.” Yes, yes it is time we got back to work.<br /><br />And maybe we need to have them blow the trumpet a little louder.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-23531442514516658382006-12-30T19:33:00.000-05:002006-12-30T19:41:51.111-05:00<div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-pjWSZ608KwjB8TsT_cS1wjhl_31yp8tAwYKh49Qt_VdJsx-ierNlv-3M43l9btAKD09V5tl73h3_gLfTbTeVFiM0fIDVpnEwBanGjcUFmlowvSwILPml7k22gj1BCCqFJZ1Iw/s1600-h/dollar%2520sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014483894132003554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-pjWSZ608KwjB8TsT_cS1wjhl_31yp8tAwYKh49Qt_VdJsx-ierNlv-3M43l9btAKD09V5tl73h3_gLfTbTeVFiM0fIDVpnEwBanGjcUFmlowvSwILPml7k22gj1BCCqFJZ1Iw/s320/dollar%2520sign.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY_hGePSS69Q_NAuRNj2t8z-tdVWxm6p4yTRpOCW_Mf_GMmzcNG-NABuZkKPbWpFOE3fV49BPs6N65wsoaagK-EIx8Y9NdvUUSALfecMl4yxbQ3EStOasNXEswgf6Y1Dx16WHGg/s1600-h/dollar%2520sign.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="font-size:180%;">Campaign Finance Reform in Two Easy Steps</span></div><ol style="__styleDocument: [object]"><li style="__styleDocument: [object]"><div style="__styleDocument: [object]">End all limits on the amounts individuals, PACs, Unions, Corporations, and cats can give to candidates.<br /></div></li><li style="__styleDocument: [object]"><div style="__styleDocument: [object]">Full and immediate disclosure on every dollar donated to a campaign.</div></li></ol><p style="__styleDocument: [object]">Money can play a significant roll in any campaign. Money however is not the issue. The issue is who is giving and what do they want from the candidate they support. Let the voting public decide if there is a problem with the contribution.</p><p style="__styleDocument: [object]">There. Next problem please. </p></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-54541670370419579582006-12-30T08:45:00.000-05:002006-12-30T09:27:45.162-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BhHhdV0VCHI-8tqb_uo3Dap5FuCK9_E1wZ3pA5VCte1U8gcmoWvhjGJModP0VGNEsDdbn8iWQkEZrJ9i86hiEgqGsRpPQpFxJnY_TTKczt1mbTFqEaCcowi1RoIMh1MmQ_Ixng/s1600-h/Zune.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014326371911455426" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BhHhdV0VCHI-8tqb_uo3Dap5FuCK9_E1wZ3pA5VCte1U8gcmoWvhjGJModP0VGNEsDdbn8iWQkEZrJ9i86hiEgqGsRpPQpFxJnY_TTKczt1mbTFqEaCcowi1RoIMh1MmQ_Ixng/s320/Zune.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-size:180%;" >Update</span></div><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a href="http://www.medialoper.com/hot-topics/microsoft/whatever-happened-to-the-zune/">Medialoper</a> reports that Zune is currently fourth in sales of portable music players (behind SanDisk, Creative, and titan Apple). </div><br /><ul style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br /><li style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]">Estimates are approximately 1 million Zunes have been sold since the player was introduced in July </div></li><br /><li style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]">This pales in comparison to the 20 million iPods sold over this holiday season alone</div></li></ul><br /><p style="__styleDocument: [object]">So, whatza Steve Ballmer to do? The site hints that changing the name of the device, loosen the restrictions on its wireless file sharing, and alter the promotion of its "squirting" feature. </p><br /><p style="__styleDocument: [object]">Maybe. I suppose we could call it Zit, let everyone share as much and for as long as they want, and call it leaking instead. Yeah, that could work. </p><br /><p style="__styleDocument: [object]">Anyone have Steve's address where I can send a statement for my consulting fee?</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-19820260451818064642006-12-29T10:25:00.000-05:002006-12-29T12:03:30.443-05:00<div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a style="__styleDocument: [object]" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcw0KY5vUY6PXCQr5kquB9l7T6HYXvId8xZkOih8gYYkzcvjjylFCuYwrFVEaueBGcidMeav2Bx67tm4GB_R2DltIiMWcq0qBxKklKJZKzc9F6nJb89MQDwViq1iMvaXDkuziGw/s1600-h/CARI_Woodward.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5013970465151505058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcw0KY5vUY6PXCQr5kquB9l7T6HYXvId8xZkOih8gYYkzcvjjylFCuYwrFVEaueBGcidMeav2Bx67tm4GB_R2DltIiMWcq0qBxKklKJZKzc9F6nJb89MQDwViq1iMvaXDkuziGw/s320/CARI_Woodward.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-size:180%;" >I Me Me Mine</span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]">I love history. It was one of my majors in college. My love stems from the wonderful teachers I had in middle and high school. They made the past vivid with their reflection of the lives of individuals whose decisions, passions, and actions influenced how things have evolved. And I suppose my love of history sparked my parallel interests in literature along with a fascination with human behavior. And when history, literature, and human behavior are combined the result is something I perhaps enjoy more than anything: a good story.<br /><br />Nobody tells a better story than Bob Woodward. The first book that I read of his he co-authored with Scott Armstrong, “The Brethren” which describes from an insider’s perspective the machinations of the Supreme Court for several of its terms after Warren Burger became Chief Justice. I remember buying the book for my father as a gift at a not long after it was first published. As a judge, I thought it was an appropriate gift although it was like giving a gift you really wanted for yourself (you know, like a father who gives his daughter an Xbox for Christmas--can you imagine?)<br /><br />Initially, it was an amazing book for me as it combined all the elements described earlier. After finishing it I remember asking my father how could Woodward write in such incredible insight about the inner workings of the court, especially the debates between the justices in conference (attended only by the nine Justices—no staff allowed) laced throughout with amazing quotes and insight into the thinking of each of the judges with so much responsibility and authority. I wanted to know how Woodward and Armstrong got such detailed information given how the deliberations in the conferences are strictly confidential and how no one was supposed to know the positions taken by the justices until after the decision was announced publicly.<br /><br />Even though he hadn’t read the book my father suspected it was the combination from three sources: first, clerks and other employees may have talked to the authors about what the justices may have told them about how they and their colleagues viewed each of the cases, the justices themselves unintentionally (or purposely) may have revealed some bits and pieces to the writers, and, a lot of the material was made up and based upon the authors speculation based on the information they received from the other sources.<br /><br />Oh how desperately I wanted the book to be accurate because it was such a good story. I did have to concede though that is all it was, just a good story. In reality there was no way to substantiate many of its tantalizing anecdotes and attribute several of its amazing quotes.<br /><br />I am reminded of all of this by the recent reports of Woodward’s interviews with Gerald Ford about the former president’s perceptions on the War in Iraq and Richard Nixon. Here I can’t doubt Woodward reports of what Ford said on these and other topics. I heard for myself the taped interview on the Washington Post web site.<br /><br />Instead my interest is over Woodward’s decision to release information when and how he did along with the commentary on these actions. I agree with those who are critical of the decision to release the interview even before the former president has been placed in the ground of his home in Grand Rapids. On its face is appears to be nothing more than a shameless attempt by Woodword to draw attention to himself in an effort to possibly be defined as the a super journalistic sleuth who was able to get the inside scoop among the powerful and mighty.<br /><br />If left there and without any further analysis it could leave one cynical and skeptical. However the story that fascinates me is how someone like Woodward thrives so much on personal attention (negative as well as the positive), the incredible effort he goes to maintain his celebrated image, and how the rest of us (myself included) continue to reinforce (unknowingly and sometimes willingly) his narcissistic behavior despite our own revulsion of it, and how all of this influences our own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.<br /><br />This is why I love history. And this is why I love a good story. </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-64169994036921308962006-12-28T12:52:00.000-05:002006-12-28T16:05:19.591-05:00<div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDqfV1RsJPQ2ArJtmKXhfH295Bki955LXHfQjyYlFmfvGjlqWGumGKh5OyXSFZhvgjYR7MV2soF4bqYye2kl-GQMsDLLn0MU4HWBIDGQi2NVOlG_HTKLuJLaqfTyS30xjoWhyphenhyphenLg/s1600-h/ilink-ipod-dock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5013637081200054930" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDqfV1RsJPQ2ArJtmKXhfH295Bki955LXHfQjyYlFmfvGjlqWGumGKh5OyXSFZhvgjYR7MV2soF4bqYye2kl-GQMsDLLn0MU4HWBIDGQi2NVOlG_HTKLuJLaqfTyS30xjoWhyphenhyphenLg/s320/ilink-ipod-dock.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="font-size:180%;">Nagging Quandary</span><br /><br />For the past several days I have been carefully weighing the merits of Ipod versus Zune only to get thrown off by the sleek design of Clix. No, I haven’t come from a meeting of Gene Roddenberry disciples at a Star Trek convention. Instead I am referring to the sophisticated portable music players which everyone and their cat seem to own, expect for myself.<br /><br />The players offer all kinds of tantalizing alternatives. Consider the iLink pictured at the right. As reported in <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/28/ilink-dock-brings-digital-output-to-ipod-with-a-catch/">Engadget</a>, connecting the iLink to an iPod reproduces true digital (rather than analog) sound reproduction. Amazing. And for just a mere (GASP) $2K.<br /><br />While out of my price range, further development of this sort of technology will help to resolve one of the dilemmas I face when considering buying a portable music. More, specifically I lack enthusiasm for listening to hours of music through headphones, ear buds, headsets, etc. My fear is that I will end up with a hearing loss similar to Beatle producer <a href="http://http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/8841090/music_making_fans_deaf">Sir George Martin and other music icons</a> from head phoneyism (my term related to overindulgence of loud music through headphones, ear buds, headsets, etc—although believe the term could be used in the political context as well. Used in a sentence, one might say, “Lee suffers from head phoneyism.” Yeah, that could work.)<br /><br />Another personal predicament centers on having to decide which music service for where I would purchase my digital music. Should I decide upon an iPod the choice will be made for me with iTunes although its non-compatibility with other players in order to create a false consumer base leaves a bad taste in my mouth in my free enterprise mouth. There are almost as many music services as there are players. I literally suffer from paralysis trying to determine the best alternative.<br /><br />But it isn’t too difficult to keep things in perspective, especially after reading news accounts from around the country and world. My family and friends are healthy (for the most part anyway), happy, and secure, I have had more than enough to eat, I am warm, and I have several things that interest me and that I anxious to learn more. And what portable music player and music service I choose will likely be influenced on what the cats are buying. </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-74070464376988725472006-12-27T10:35:00.000-05:002006-12-29T11:54:23.631-05:00<div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAtsX_tuQQAIYrF2RxCDvS6ZA-Ja5oN_0EMnA3F6zsXY4ebwitCxFEoDQKM-X0_eGV586nNJ0jFbamy50T7c8TICDVY2mdu9VAHnEWl7oV0G07Vbl53Ts9bRgUF0nngclDd9tXQ/s1600-h/Gerald_Ford.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5013249769639236226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAtsX_tuQQAIYrF2RxCDvS6ZA-Ja5oN_0EMnA3F6zsXY4ebwitCxFEoDQKM-X0_eGV586nNJ0jFbamy50T7c8TICDVY2mdu9VAHnEWl7oV0G07Vbl53Ts9bRgUF0nngclDd9tXQ/s200/Gerald_Ford.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]" align="left"><a style="__styleDocument: [object]" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNa5drmpKXx1UqZA3WLxegwPMdcXdDoYS5fgztX9E7m7nfmOrGQJvB05r6X4HdWgF1qTi-qlesK0omM0GmwBjSIqE8IW5A0ok-IRdjFML1JMfwi0j411WJ_JGe072ueq2YxRBsA/s1600-h/Gerald_Ford.jpg"></a><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:verdana;" ><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-size:180%;" >"I'm a Ford, not a Lincoln."<br /></span><br /><span style="__styleDocument: [object]">I was only 13 and already I had enough of politics. My father had lost a bid for the Republican nomination for the US Senate two years earlier in a primary that included a cast of characters from a John Irving novel. Nixon was in the midst of his desperate attempt to hold onto the Presidency and at the national, state, and most certainly at the local level, to stand with those who identified with the Grand Old Party was to be viewed by others with suspicion and distrust. There was something slimy and sleazy about membership in a party led by liars, cheats, and crooks. </span></span></div></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]" align="left"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:verdana;" ></span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br /></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]" align="left"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:verdana;" >I didn’t understand. My father had impressed upon me a responsibiity for doing the right thing even at one’s personal expense, my mother was very vocal in her criticism of Nixon, and those who they were closest too politically were decent, hardworking people with a strong sense of integrity. Yet as our elected leader, Nixon had besmirched and tainted anyone associated with public service with his criminal behavior and transparent denials. It was a very dark and cynical time. </span></div><p></p><p></p><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]" align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br /></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]" align="left"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:verdana;" >Onto the stage appeared Gerald Ford. Selected to replace disgraced and indicted Spiro Agnew as Vice President, Ford assumed the Presidency once Nixon vacated the office after being ordered by the Supreme Court to turn over the White House tapes. The tapes contained the evidence needed to impeach and forcibly remove Nixon from office and likely convict him. </span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]" align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br /></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]" align="left"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:verdana;" >I remember watching Ford as he assumed the oath of office and his words, <em style="__styleDocument: [object]"><strong style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object]">“My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works. Our great republic is a government of laws, and not of men.”</span></strong></em> Using plain language and speaking directly to the point, Ford perhaps did more than any other to restore a sense of confidence in our government and political process at a time in our country’s history when we needed it the most. </span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]" align="left"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:verdana;" ></span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br /></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]" align="left"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:verdana;" >What I admired most about the late President was how much relished the contest instead of just the result or outcome. He played to win and also could accept that one always didn’t finish as the victor. He recognized the value of the contest rather than just the end result. He appreciated that a vigorous, thorough, and respectful discussion of the issues leads to the best possible outcomes and that the ends can never justify the means. </span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]" align="left"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:verdana;" ></span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br /></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]" align="left"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:verdana;" >We have a lot we can and should learn from Gerald Ford. We are fortunate he emerged to lead our country when he did. Let us all help to ensure his legacy continues.<br /></div></span><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><br /></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]" align="left"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-43087179632462558062006-12-22T11:18:00.000-05:002006-12-22T11:23:27.936-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ozAJtq9JZWiQ-IJcsglPLDRnQ7Ao7anKtiDbCZBNu84h7oaJJlA6tv3W7N3GX6BwNjdrFQbUchQKfQIVybwQGJ8ptqqRz9nV4tH5nuohgu3qJ3dJiCcHj0OViI5MLsgyNvVHfw/s1600-h/Virgil+Goode.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ozAJtq9JZWiQ-IJcsglPLDRnQ7Ao7anKtiDbCZBNu84h7oaJJlA6tv3W7N3GX6BwNjdrFQbUchQKfQIVybwQGJ8ptqqRz9nV4tH5nuohgu3qJ3dJiCcHj0OViI5MLsgyNvVHfw/s320/Virgil+Goode.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5011387334380737106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Virgil Be Goode<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Enough said.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-1166740228083310022006-12-21T17:23:00.000-05:002006-12-21T17:30:28.103-05:00<div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><a style="__styleDocument: [object]" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5511/1323/1600/408575/W%20with%20Baby.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5511/1323/320/773888/W%20with%20Baby.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;" ><strong style="__styleDocument: [object]">Caption This...</strong></span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><strong style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;" ></span></strong> </div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:Verdana;" ><span style="__styleDocument: [object];color:#000000;" >From our friends (at least I hope they are our friends) at </span><a href="http://thrillingwonder.blogspot.com/2006/12/president-george-w-bush-holds-baby.html"><span style="color:#000000;">Dark Roasted Blend</span></a><span style="__styleDocument: [object];color:#000000;" > here is your chance to show us how funny you can be. </span></span></div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;"></span> </div><div style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;" >Send your ideas today!</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-1130434221431176472005-10-27T13:29:00.000-04:002006-12-29T11:57:50.191-05:00<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:22;color:red;">Rosalinda’s Eyes<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:Georgia;font-size:12;" >We need more people like Rosa Parks.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Quiet leadership.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span><span style="font-size:0;"></span>Taking action without concern for attention, praise, adulation, or congratulation. Character.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Doing the right thing even when nobody is watching.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Strength. Standing up for what one believes even when the same opinion isn’t shared by others.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Perseverance. <span style="font-size:0;"></span>Determined to alter the status quo despite the odds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:12;">We need more people like Rosa Parks.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>She represents important lessons for us all.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>She saw a bad situation and decided she had to do something to help change it.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Her statement was not aggressive or passive, just assertive. <span style="font-size:0;"></span>She was not consumed with hatred for those who didn’t agree and instead looked for opportunities to enhance relationships with anyone who shared at least part of her vision.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>She was gracious and unassuming.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>She encouraged and inspired others to step up and make their opinions known.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>She made a difference.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="__styleDocument: [object]"><span style="__styleDocument: [object];font-family:Georgia;font-size:12;" ><o:p></o:p>We need more people like Rosa Parks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-1125202034174494272005-08-28T00:06:00.000-04:002005-08-28T00:07:14.183-04:00<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">Baby What a Big Surprise</span></span><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The successful effort to get the BRAC committee to reject the proposal to close Ellsworth Air Force Base is reason for celebration. All of those involved have plenty of reasons to feel good about what they were able to accomplish. Against all odds they were able to successfully pull together and work for the common good and achieve something significant. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I find it interesting the surprise some are expressing about how our elected leaders can join forces and work together. Such amazement is part of the ugly residue of the campaign that started in the fall of 2001 and which seems to continue today.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Yet should anyone really be surprised or amazed? The idea that our elected officials will work together despite their political differences should be the rule, rather than the exception. After all, they are our elected “leaders.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Hopefully the BRAC announcement can help shift the acrimonious tone for a while, at least until the next election.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-1124508979588683802005-08-19T23:30:00.000-04:002005-08-20T00:11:16.550-04:00<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1in;"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:14;color:red;" ><span style="font-size:180%;">Victim of Love</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Check today’s comments at the <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://northernbeacon.blogspot.com/2005/08/its-not-about-winning-its-about.html">Northern Valley Beacon</a> for one of the more incredible posting I have come across.<span style=""> </span>Actually some of David’s notions are quite fascinating.<span style=""> </span>They are filled with some amazing assertions and incredible conclusions.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Of course I am happy to oblige for those looking for an abridged version:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt 42pt; text-indent: -6pt;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:100%;" ><i style=""><span style="font-family:Georgia;">“Republicans appear content to let people live their own lives as long as they live them like the Republicans do. But they reserve the right to blackball people.”</span></i></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">– </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >Well, at least we reserved the right to blackball people.<span style=""> </span>That shows we were at least polite about it.<span style=""> </span>My mother would have been pleased. Come to think of it though, I have never been invited to the blackball meetings.<span style=""> </span>Oh great, I suppose this means I have been blackballed?!?</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt 42pt; text-indent: -6pt;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt 42pt; text-indent: -6pt;"><i style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">“Many Democrats think the war on <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> is the moral lowpoint in the history of our country. They thought that the 2004 election campaign should have confronted the moral issue of this war--win or lose the election. The moral point lost its edge when people feared being labeled unpatriotic, soft on terror, and even treasonous.”</span></i><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">– </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >It’s the pits when you lose your ‘moral edge.’ <span style=""> </span>To get a new moral edge you have do another poll, run a bunch of focus groups, and try to figure out which way the political wind is blowing,,.all that work <span style=""> </span>just to get another ‘moral edge.’<span style=""> </span>It just isn’t fair that you can’t have a moral position that won’t keep its ‘edge’.<span style=""> </span>You have to change your ‘moral edge’ all the time.<span style=""> </span>It's such a hassle. They just don’t make ‘moral edges’ like they used too.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt 42pt; text-indent: -6pt;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt 42pt; text-indent: -6pt;"><i style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">“The salient record of the war on <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> is not one of removing weapons of mass destruction, of subduing Al Qaeda, of implanting democracy, or of rebuilding an infrastructure that supports the people. It is a record of fabrications and bungles, war-profiteering, prisoner maltreatment, lives sacrificed to political expedients, and a betrayal of the trust of the American people.”</span></i><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" > <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I guess that is what it all boils down too, doesn’t it?</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >We are just a bunch of fabricating, bungling, profiteering, maltreating, life sacrificing, betraying sons-of-britches. <span style=""> </span>And just when I thought no one would catch on.<span style=""> </span>Darn.<span style=""> </span>I suppose this means we need to go out and get a new ‘moral edge’?<span style=""> </span>Oh rats. I HATE having to get a new 'moral edge.'</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">And then my personal favorite, already commented on by the fastest Republican in bloggerdom: <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com/2005/08/nvb-chimes-in-on-new-sddp-hiresit-is.html">PP at SDWC</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">,</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt 42pt; text-indent: -6pt;"><i style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">“Winning elections are not the issue. Keeping the world's last best hope alive is the task. And the regime in power is killing it.”</span></i><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >You might want to get that looked at.<span style=""> </span>I mean, that could be a sign of something serious and you don’t want it to fool around with thoughts like this.<span style=""> </span>It could poison how you view everything else and then where would you be?<span style=""> </span>Being suspicious of everyone, always wondering about their motives, trusting only yourself and your cat…well, yourself anyway. (I know you have always felt you had to be careful about what you did or said around that cat.)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Losing elections is tough.<span style=""> </span>Learning that most people don’t agree with your position is difficult.<span style=""> </span>Not being able to convince more people to your point of view is hard. However, this is not adequate justification for claiming that the electorate was, and continues to be, misled.<span style=""> </span>That implies the electorate is stupid, which is wrong.<span style=""> </span>It only enourages more contempt for an already </span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:10;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">besmirched</span> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> political system. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">No one ought to stand by while anyone is victimized, yet no one ought to tolerate the perpetual victim.<span style=""> </span>David, tell us more about what you want to do and less about what you don’t like.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-1124313869111888022005-08-17T17:23:00.000-04:002005-08-17T17:24:29.113-04:00<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Georgia; color: red;">Johnny B. Goode<br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />I just filled my car’s gas tank. Uggghhh! The prices are outrageous.<br /><br />I am reminded of the following joke Johnny Carson told when gas prices were high in the mid-1970’s during one of his infamous monologues:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I have got bad news and good news.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The bad news is that Martians have landed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The good news is that they pee gasoline.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p>This joke had me laughing for hours as a young adolescent.<span style=""> </span>Just thinking of it could make me laugh out loud.<span style=""> </span>And I guess it still does.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I miss Johnny.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-1124283599070733592005-08-17T08:54:00.000-04:002005-08-17T08:59:59.076-04:00<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: red;">My Little Town<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia;">Brooking is a great place.<span style=""> </span>The tag line used to be “Brookings, Someplace Special.” <span style=""> </span>Sounds hokey, but it fits.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia;">A contentious issue is bubbling to the surface in my little town.<span style=""> </span>It is likely provoke each of us as it grows and eventually bursts.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia;">Signatures are being gathered to refer a recent decision made by our City Council to offer substantial incentives to entice and secure a large retail store. Lowes has expressed an interest in opening one of their “Improving Home Improvement” outlets in our fine city.<span style=""> </span>However, Lowes is only interested in coming to Brookings if they secure the financial encouragement.<span style=""> </span>Some cry the proposed incentive as a handout to a large corporation who doesn’t need it.<span style=""> </span>Others insist it is an investment to help recapture sales tax revenue lost to neighboring <st1:city st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:City> and <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Watertown</st1:place></st1:City>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia;">Should a community offer incentives to a retail business?<span style=""> </span>It is not a new question. The issue is representative of the kind of challenge faced and debated by other communities throughout <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">South Dakota</st1:place></st1:State> and the surrounding area for approximately 25 years.<span style=""> There has been lots of discussion but no true consensus after all this time. Each community has or is struggling with finding the best strategy to continue to grow, and in all to many cases, maintain the status quo or merely survive.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia;">I haven’t made up my mind on the issue.<span style=""> </span>Before I can come to any conclusions I need to gather more information.<span style=""> </span>As I do, I will try to post it here.<span style=""> </span>It may provoke some discussion, which would be welcome.<span style=""> </span>I believe it could be a worthwhile exercise.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com73tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-1123785000000304992005-08-11T14:30:00.000-04:002005-08-11T15:25:59.206-04:00<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:16;color:red;" ><span style="font-size:180%;">Message in a Bottle</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Erin</span></st1:place><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> writes, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">“I wanted to ask you to do a column related to how much our society judges women and girls by their appearance. This competitive atmosphere has caused me to lose friends to anorexia as they drove themselves to attain "perfection" and didn't live to tell about it. Jerry Hinkle of Holabird Advocate blogging fame, thought it was funny to point out how much "older" I looked on KELO on Monday. His insensitive actions have caused me to leave the blogging world in terms of posting or participating actively. I am extremely offended by conversations that involve anyone's appearance as opposed to other more important attributes.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Well, I was never one to pass notes back and forth for other classmate in class for fear I would get caught <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" >(my father is a retired judge and I have always had a healthy respect for authority figures)</span> yet Erin once again raises a good point.<span style=""> </span>Eating disorders are serious and too often have fatal consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">So, as I was struggling with my ambivalence you can imagine my relief after reading Jerry <a href="http://ponderosapost.blogspot.com/2005/08/special-report.html">posted his own apology</a> on his site where he concludes,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">“I want to say that I was out of line, I know that, and I will do better in the future. I had no business trying to make a joke at <st1:place st="on">Erin</st1:place>'s expense. For that let me say to Erin, Grandma Bergit, All of the Holabird Advocate Readers, and to the Heavenly Father himself, that am sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">That is very nice Jerry.<span style=""> </span>This is a big step.<span style=""> </span>A courageous step too.<span style=""> </span>It is a good first step.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Now I can only speak for myself (I’ll let Erin, Grandma Bergit, all of Jerry’s readers as well as the big dude watching over all of us do their own talking) although, to take thing to the next level, and really level things out between you, Erin and the readers, well, I think you ought to post a photo of yourself on your blog.<span style=""><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">You know, give us to a chance to see what you look like.<span style=""> </span>And then don’t forget to post of a picture of you from behind.<span style=""> </span>Don’t be afraid to show us your business.<span style=""> </span>That would be important in our evaluation as well.<span style=""> </span>And then we could talk about how you look and offer our suggestions for what you could do to enhance your appearance.<span style=""> </span>That would be fair wouldn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I am only kidding.<span style=""> </span>Jerry I am glad you offered the public apology.<span style=""> </span>It appeared sincere and heartfelt.<span style=""> </span>And <st1:place st="on">Erin</st1:place>, I really think you ought to create your own blog rather than try to communicate your concerns through hopeless surrogates like myself.<span style=""> </span>You do a much better job of explaining your perspective than anyone could ever do.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-1123646152716680672005-08-10T00:22:00.000-04:002005-08-10T00:22:43.540-04:00<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:16;color:red;" ><span style="font-size:180%;">It’s My Party and I Will <s>Cry</s> Speak Up if I Want Too</span><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" >(PP at <a href="http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com/2005/08/lots-of-mainstream-action-at-rcj-this.html">SDWC </a>caught up with his weekend reading and posted about two inflammatory letters to the editor which appeared in the Rapid City Journal.<span style=""> </span>One letter was signed by approximately a dozen self-defined “conservative” Republicans and the second by former candidate and former legislator Alan Aker.<span style=""> </span>Several readers had brought the strident declarations to my attention, asked me to comment, and until now I decided to stay silent.<span style=""> </span>I am amazed after reading them again.<span style=""> </span>I do not want to just sit there and let such fanaticism go unchallenged.)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">There was a time I used to envy people who had quick answers to complex questions and issues. <span style=""> </span>Their ability to voice their opinions almost immediately and so decisively suggested extraordinary intellect and a moral certitude.<span style=""> </span>It didn’t take long before I realized how wrong I was.<span style=""> </span><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">What I came to understand was that those with the fast responses and firm attitudes are actually limited in the scope and breadth of their ability to think thoroughly. and the quick or easy answers weren’t always the correct ones.<span style=""> </span>Instant analysis really only demonstrates knowledge and comprehension along and maybe some application of a philosophy to a situation.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">This doesn’t sound too bad at first glance.<span style=""> </span>However, the quick and easy answers lack the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate that same situation.<span style=""> </span>They further fail to take into account that not everyone shares the same outlook or perspective.<o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Thinking about things in absolute terms of good or bad and/or wrong or right is simplistic and fails to take into account the complexity of real life.<span style=""> </span>Life is not black or white, it is gray.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes a little darker than others, and other times is brighter than before.<span style=""> </span>We need to avoid seeing things on a two dimensional spectrum.<span style=""> </span>Life is three dimensional with height, width, and depth.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Am I suggesting that we be prepared to compromise and set aside our beliefs merely because others have different beliefs or ideas than ours?<span style=""> </span>No.<span style=""> </span>That is not what I am saying.<span style=""> </span><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I am trying to say we need to avoid the quick and easy answers offered by some to the complicated subjects that are being talked about in our homes, schools, workplaces, courthouses, statehouses, and capital.<span style=""> </span>We need to talk, listen, think, and pray more before coming to any personal conclusions.<span style=""> </span>We then need to see where we agree with others, take action, and later re-evaluate.<span style=""> </span>Failure to do so results only in stalemate, the halt of progress, and eventual bitterness toward anyone who doesn’t share our beliefs.<o:p> </o:p><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">The model I endorse has no room for stridency because in the real world, no matter how convinced we are that we are right, we still have to work with others to get anything done.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-1123598955292341692005-08-09T10:44:00.000-04:002005-08-09T10:53:23.576-04:00<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:16;color:red;" ><span style="font-size:180%;">Dear Prudence, Won’t you Come Out to Play?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:16;color:red;" ><o:p></o:p></span><a href="http://www.cleancutkid.com/"><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Chad</span></st1:place></st1:country-region></span></a><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" > writes,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >“I find it interesting that you want to lay out a bunch of personal attacks at a group of bloggers in the same post you write about "what is important".<br /><br />No one is out to get Senator Thune. His politics is something a lot of <st1:place st="on">South Dakotans</st1:place> happen to disagree with. Why is everyone so surprised that a group of politically active Democrats are criticizing him? We're in the fricking minority party -- we need to push back.<br /><br />Are we supposed to just roll over and play dead? Would that make you happy?<br /><br />That isn't going to happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >Yes, <a href="http://progressiverepublican.blogspot.com/2005/08/its-all-up-to-what-you-value-quite.html">I did it</a>, and I regret it.<span style=""> </span>I really do.<span style=""> </span>I am just not ready to say I am sorry.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p>This is disappointing.<span style=""> </span>I didn’t want to stoop to such a level when I started my blog.<span style=""> </span>Yet I am not at point where I feel ready to apologize to anyone, at least right now.<span style=""> </span>What I did and how I expressed myself is not much different than what I have read on many of the blogs over and over again.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p>This is an observation, not an excuse.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p>Such comments are tedious and only provoke the most negative and violent emotions toward those with who we disagree (take my previous post and/or your own comments in reaction to it as an example.)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p>Yep, I got pulled into the muck.<span style=""> </span>I am not proud of it and I should have avoided it. <span style=""> </span>I feel dirty. Now all I want is to stand under the shower and scrub and rinse off all of this slimy, smelly stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >So I am ready to move forward.<span style=""> </span>Maybe we can together.<span style=""> </span>I certainly don’t want anyone to “roll over and die.”<span style=""> </span><o:p> </o:p><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >What I would like is a more honest discussion of the issues along with some discussion about possible alternative solutions.<span style=""> </span>And an obvious yet unwritten rule guiding this kind of discussion is that there is no room for personal attacks.<span style=""> </span>Such discussions take us off topic and don’t resolve any problems.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >How about you?<span style=""> </span>I may have missed something and I hope you won’t hesitate to tell me.<span style=""> </span>I think a thorough and honest discussion of the issues would be refreshing.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:12;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>I am starting to feel somewhat better.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I might be ready to apologize later.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14592319.post-1123552628431651312005-08-08T21:57:00.000-04:002005-08-08T22:04:08.660-04:00<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:16;color:red;" ><span style="font-size:180%;">It’s All Up to What You Value</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Quite a weekend in blog-o-land.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">There were plenty of accusations, charges, assertions, demands, insinuations, hints, colluding, attacks, counter-attacks, strategizing, hypothesizing, loving, hating, screaming, and whispering in the virtual world of the dozen or so bloggers commenting on the <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">South Dakota</st1:place></st1:state> political scene.<span style=""> </span>I won’t bother to try and summarize all of the action here (you can find a full account on any one of a number other sites.) Of course I will offer some observations.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Georgia;">As things started to return to normal today, it would appear that a few children’s need for attention has been met </span><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:10;color:olive;" >(According to <a href="http://web.csuchico.edu/%7Eah24/dreikurs.htm">Dreikurs</a> it doesn’t matter if the child gets their needs met in a positive or negative manner, what matters to the child is that their needs be met.)</span></b><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Georgia;">We now learn </span><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:10;color:olive;" >(S U R P R I S E)</span></b><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> that there have been some who have been paid by our former Senator’s campaign to rant, stir things up, and kick up a bunch of dust about our current Senator.<span style=""> </span>This doesn’t upset me largely because this group of “professionals” has been so ineffective.<span style=""> </span>Zero, zlitch, nada. <span style=""> </span>The current Senator’s standing with the public remains good and we haven’t seen mass defections from his party to the former Senator’s party.<span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:10;color:olive;" >(As far as I concerned, keep paying them boys to be doing such fine work.)</span></b><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Georgia;">This also begs the question: who is responsible for paying the boys to post their venomous attacks?<span style=""> </span>It is not hard to imagine that first disciple Steve H. when pressed, will gladly fall on his sword and take total and complete responsibility.<span style=""> </span>Yet what about the former Senator?<span style=""> </span>After all, it is HIS campaign account that is writing the paychecks.<span style=""> </span>What did he know and when did he know it? </span><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:10;color:olive;" >(Cue the former Senator to take a page from Raffy’s playbook: “I didn’t do this intentionally or knowingly.” Yeah, that ought to work.</span></b><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> I would prefer believe that this went on without his knowledge, </span><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:10;color:olive;" >(I would also like to believe in Santa Claus.)</span></b><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I am beginning to get more fed up with any blogger, commentator, or e-mailer who doesn’t have the decency to identify themselves.<span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:10;color:olive;" >(I am this close to giving each of your posts to <a href="http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com/">PP</a> at <a href="http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com/2005/07/did-i-say-we-speculated-as-to-who-blog.html">SDWC</a> so I can write to all of your parents and tell them how ashamed you are of your own first and last names. <span style=""> </span>Step out from behind there and let us all get a good look at you.)</span></b><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;">And finally, we are reminded about what is really important after reading TE’s posting today at <a href="http://thunewatch.squarespace.com/sdwatch/2005/8/8/dear-readers-sd-watch-is-going-on-semi-hiatus.html#comments">SD Watch</a>.<span style=""> </span>Todd definitely got his priorities straight.<span style=""> </span>I join everyone </span><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:10;color:olive;" >(even those who remain anonymous)</span></b><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> in wishing Todd and his family the best as they take care of the family business.<span style=""> </span>See you back at the virtual round table soon.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3