My poetry education continues. I've known about Rudyard Kipling's "Gunga Din," since childhood, and have read it several times since, but it wasn't until I tried writing a poem of my own, based on his, that I noticed the first part of each verse is in third person and the last rhyme is in first person. Pretty tricky. I didn't know that was allowed.
Anyway, the subject of my ire is Newt Gingrich. Not that I don't like Newt, he has his moments, but of all the people to be gaining the top spot in the primary campaign, he would seem the most unlikely. The rank and file in the TEA party seem to have evolved. Where was Mr. Gingrich when the revolt started? He was busy being a million dollar "historian" for some of the very people who were crashing the economy. And where has he been since? I don't recall him being at any of the rallies, or even having an opinion on them. Strange, since he thinks himself an expert on everything else.
What is especially bothersome is that Ron Paul has been fighting the TEA party fight since about 1972. He has been a consistent standard bearer on every issue the TEA party has. You don't like his foreign policy? Answer this: How does a minimalist government support a global military empire? Where will the money and resources come from?
Well, enough. The poem is supposed to be funny, so enjoy.
Gung-Ho Newt
Showing posts with label 2010 election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010 election. Show all posts
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, January 24, 2010
No Fear, Much Loathing
I'm not the first one to notice this, and I won't be the last, but our country is in desperate need of a paradigm shift in the "political process". Not to pick on Sue Lowden, although she does make a fun target at times, I'll use her HQ "Grand Opening" yesterday only as an example. If I was a Democrat, I could just as easily use Harry Reid, or any other candidate for any other office for that matter. With my experiences in 2008 in mind, where I was an increasingly discouraged rookie volunteer, I came away from Mrs. Lowden's event feeling as if I had just seen Dracula rise from his coffin. The elections approach, the darkness has fallen.
Half way down a dead-end side street, not far from the airport and just off the flight path, is a row of one story offices. A sign in the parking lot says there are 24 hour security cameras, which seems wise since this is prime wine-o territory. Around the corner, unseen from the street, is the headquarters of a major candidate of a major party for one of the highest public offices in the land, in the greatest nation the world has ever known. It's opening day, but there is no band playing, no banners waving, no flags flying, no hot dogs for the kids, no Uncle Sam guy on stilts walking around; not so much as a single balloon or a funny hat to be seen. Could somebody please put a John Phillip Sousa record on the phonograph, or something? I've been in bus stations that were more lively than this. I left early.
Later that evening, I received an email from Mrs. Lowden; that is to say, an email from her campaign. She/It informed me that she/it had raised $800,000 in the last quarter, along with the standard "I need your help now more than ever" plea. How is it that someone who made $800,000 in 3 months is asking for "even $5" from someone who has never seen $800,000 in his life, and likely never will? Does this seem just plain wrong to anyone but me? Doesn't the high dollar amount of the campaign war chests seem odd compared to the cheapness of the events and complete abandonment of personal word of mouth advertising? It's not just the money itself that is offensive, but the lack of seeing it being put to good use.
I'm sure anyone with campaign experience could show me a binder full of statistics that would show why this is necessary. Where are the statistics for how many voters are disappointed with it? There was a time when candidates didn't campaign at all. It was considered unseemly by both candidates and the general public alike. They didn't ask for anyone's money either as any individual in a free society should be self-sufficient. To ask for a handout would be a sign of failure. Both of these perceptions still exist in the general public and are the reasons why so little faith is put in elected officials.
Half way down a dead-end side street, not far from the airport and just off the flight path, is a row of one story offices. A sign in the parking lot says there are 24 hour security cameras, which seems wise since this is prime wine-o territory. Around the corner, unseen from the street, is the headquarters of a major candidate of a major party for one of the highest public offices in the land, in the greatest nation the world has ever known. It's opening day, but there is no band playing, no banners waving, no flags flying, no hot dogs for the kids, no Uncle Sam guy on stilts walking around; not so much as a single balloon or a funny hat to be seen. Could somebody please put a John Phillip Sousa record on the phonograph, or something? I've been in bus stations that were more lively than this. I left early.
Later that evening, I received an email from Mrs. Lowden; that is to say, an email from her campaign. She/It informed me that she/it had raised $800,000 in the last quarter, along with the standard "I need your help now more than ever" plea. How is it that someone who made $800,000 in 3 months is asking for "even $5" from someone who has never seen $800,000 in his life, and likely never will? Does this seem just plain wrong to anyone but me? Doesn't the high dollar amount of the campaign war chests seem odd compared to the cheapness of the events and complete abandonment of personal word of mouth advertising? It's not just the money itself that is offensive, but the lack of seeing it being put to good use.
I'm sure anyone with campaign experience could show me a binder full of statistics that would show why this is necessary. Where are the statistics for how many voters are disappointed with it? There was a time when candidates didn't campaign at all. It was considered unseemly by both candidates and the general public alike. They didn't ask for anyone's money either as any individual in a free society should be self-sufficient. To ask for a handout would be a sign of failure. Both of these perceptions still exist in the general public and are the reasons why so little faith is put in elected officials.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Top Nine Biggest Possible News Stories In Nevada
No matter how the Democrats play it, the news of a Republican win in the Massachusetts senate race was a big deal. It got me thinking about what could be big news here in Nevada. Sure, Harry Reid losing would be big, but what else could happen that would really grab the nation's attention? I assembled the crackerjack Not-Ready-For-Letterman News Team for a little brainstorming.
The top 9 biggest news events possible in Nevada that could rival the outcome of the Massachusetts senate vote are...
9) Sue Lowdon announces she’s actually a man.
8) Harry Reid, speaking before the Nevada Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, uses the word “negro”, but pronounces it “naaahgraaah”.
7) The vote to unseat Harry Reid is diluted after every man, woman, and child in the state, enters the Republican primary race.
6) Danny Tarkanian stuns Tea Party revelers by not only saying nice things about their causes, but by actually showing up at one of their rally’s.
5) As part of a new fiscal austerity program, the governor’s mansion is declared a toxic asset, bundled with the eastern shore of Walker Lake and a vacant lot at Hallelujah Junction, they are sold to JP Morgan/Chase for $1.4 trillion. The new Governor’s Residence will be a room at the El Cortez.
4) A day goes by without a single Republican starting a new Facebook group.
3) After serving out his term, Jim Gibbons joins a monastery. John Ensign announces his intention to join his friend there, just as soon as he's done milking the senate retirement plan for all it's worth.
2) After looking over the field of candidates, Nevada Republicans start a write-in campaign to have Dean Heller serve in every public office there is.
And the number one biggest possible news event in Nevada that could rival the Massachusetts senate vote is...
1) Barbara Vukanovich comes out of retirement and kicks everybody’s ass.
The top 9 biggest news events possible in Nevada that could rival the outcome of the Massachusetts senate vote are...
9) Sue Lowdon announces she’s actually a man.
8) Harry Reid, speaking before the Nevada Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, uses the word “negro”, but pronounces it “naaahgraaah”.
7) The vote to unseat Harry Reid is diluted after every man, woman, and child in the state, enters the Republican primary race.
6) Danny Tarkanian stuns Tea Party revelers by not only saying nice things about their causes, but by actually showing up at one of their rally’s.
5) As part of a new fiscal austerity program, the governor’s mansion is declared a toxic asset, bundled with the eastern shore of Walker Lake and a vacant lot at Hallelujah Junction, they are sold to JP Morgan/Chase for $1.4 trillion. The new Governor’s Residence will be a room at the El Cortez.
4) A day goes by without a single Republican starting a new Facebook group.
3) After serving out his term, Jim Gibbons joins a monastery. John Ensign announces his intention to join his friend there, just as soon as he's done milking the senate retirement plan for all it's worth.
2) After looking over the field of candidates, Nevada Republicans start a write-in campaign to have Dean Heller serve in every public office there is.
And the number one biggest possible news event in Nevada that could rival the Massachusetts senate vote is...
1) Barbara Vukanovich comes out of retirement and kicks everybody’s ass.
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