I started this blog in late August 2008 focusing primarily on politics and sports. At that time, the presidential campaigns were in full swing, and I had plenty of material to write. Forty-seven months later, I venture into a wide variety of topics, yet still enjoy politics. However, the recent U.S. presidential campaign bores me – and I can‘t see that changing.
We have two parties who control their candidates as a puppeteer controls the marionette.
We have two parties who answer to the big-dollar donors over their constituents.
We have candidates who don’t have much meaning in what they say – but they can deliver a tagline.
We have candidates who deliver speeches to achieve cheers from their faithful attendees (as if they wouldn’t) – and to raise money for their cause of rhetoric taglines.
We have candidates and surrogates who won’t say much beyond the predictable, scripted responses that probably won’t answer the question.
We have candidates whose campaign teams actively seek past sound bites by the opposition so they can deliver a message out of context in order to support their side.
We have candidates who focus on peripheral issues while avoiding engagement.
We have candidates who continually avoid facing the music in terms of making the tough decisions that require going against the grain.
We have candidates who essentially promote gridlock by proclaiming a lack of compromise based on self-serving principles.
We have popular commentators whose method of going beyond scripted taglines is by tossing firebombs of misinformation against the other side.
We have reporters who may want to ask the tough questions and dutifully push the responder to answer the question, but they also want the next interview.
Bottom Line: As partisans blindly accept whatever their side says while unquestionably objecting to anything coming from the other side, there is another segment that will decide the election. Although we are finally inside 100 days until Election Day, some are openly wondering why many independents remain undecided because there contrast between the two sides is somewhat defined.
True independents are pragmatic, and many will delay their decision until the last three weeks. Meanwhile, this population segment that will decide this election’s outcome has a difficult time shifting through all the crap in order to find an honest information, worthwhile dialogue, and potential solutions about the issues of the day. No wonder some of the independents are disgusted and bored. Then again, maybe we expect more from our leaders than they can deliver.
Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 159
Posted in Opinions in the Shorts, tagged Commentary, Conservatives, Debate Fact Checks, Democrats, Fact Checks, ginger ale, Independents, Liberals, Mitt Romney, Moderates, Obama-Romney, Opinions, Politics, President Obama, Presidential Debates, Republicans, Romney Obama, US Election on October 18, 2012 | 56 Comments »
On Politics
Here are fact checks on the presidential town hall debate.
Gotta love Greatsby’s notes through pictures of the recent presidential debate.
I appreciate this bit of advice from Chris at Nachos Grande (who also happens to be the first person to comment on this blog): I won’t engage in political talks with people I don’t know. You can argue with buffoons and too many people who want to argue politics are buffoons – and from both sides of the political aisle.
On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
Interesting Reads
On Potpourri
I just returned from a fun event playing night golf. Yep … the glow-in-the-dark ball, a glow stick on the flagstick and in the hole, my clubs, and a flashlight.
Sometimes timing is everything. When I wrote and published yesterday’s Movember post about cancer and Proctober, I didn’t realize that I have an appointment on Friday at the urologist.
Earlier this week I announced my candidacy for Worldly High President of the Not-Freshly Pressed Community (NFPC). Some wonder about the title. Any suggestions?
This week I met my first blogger who happens to be a very loyal reader here. Thanks for the delightful day John Erickson!
On my trip, I saw this office building approaching and drive by for the first time – the headquarters for Longaberger Baskets.
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A ginger ale update: I purchased more varieties and hope report next week. Meanwhile, Suranac Ginger Beer was on the smooth side and very balanced – thus bumps Hansen’s on advancing to the competition round.
Sorry – but no classic cartoon post this Saturday morning. HOWEVER, I want to something, so I hope to have a light post for your weekend.
Let’s go into the weekend with some class with the great voices of Katherine Jenkins and Placido Domingo Have a good weekend! In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
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